The Bonds That Tie
Harry kept his word, he restored Frank Longbottom on the 22nd of June 1997. It didn't take eight hours as it had with Alice; it only took five with Frank because Harry knew what to do after repairing the brain. That was just go right for the door and save Frank, then they repair the memories together. As soon as Frank was back, he hugged his son, and wife, then his mother. Harry was done by lunch time, and only drink a little to recharge from Severus and took a nap until dinner time. The week went through calmly, Neville mostly spent time with his parents and grandmother, everyone just talking and getting the Longbottom parents up to speed; they joined Harry's movement right away understanding the corruption of Albus Dumbledore and the world itself. Bellatrix apologized to Frank and Alice for what happened, she's been forgiven. Now, it was the 28th of June and a meeting had been called to talk about the raid situation as Tonks reported to Harry that something big was about to happen, but she couldn't claim what.
"Now that we're all here," Harry said, and that everyone included the Longbottom's, Bill, and Fleur. Harry needed to get the adults on their side into things. The students, those graduated and those who were not; were being kept up to date by those who attended. It would still draw too much attention to have everyone in one place. Especially if this raid took place any time. Harry had everything ready for it, he would be ready when it happened. "Tonks, you said this was urgent?"
"I wasn't allowed in the meeting, Harry, but they're planning something. It'll be big, and I know there was mention of the Malfoy's. I think they're making the motion to storm the manor, via floo. I just can't say when because I don't know." Tonks informed. "The raids have been happening all week, obviously the homes they've attacked were those of the people here, finding them abandoned. The minister and Albus are working together, and it's been decided that Lucius having been Voldemort's right hand all these years, is probably hiding them."
"It's not like we didn't prepare for this." Lucius remarked.
"Harry, it gets worse. The minister has stopped the investigation you started on Albus last year…They're trying to move to have you removed from the Malfoy's guardianship. Yes, it was blood adoption, but just like other adoptions; if they're found unfit and they would be as death eaters; you're removed from their care. Same goes for Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Rabastan, even me and Remus." Tonks said.
"Doesn't matter. I turn seventeen in a month and I'm bonded to Severus. Soulmate bond, it's a loophole in guardianship of a minor if I'm married. Bonded and mating counts as marriage. The loophole is that because I'm married now, I'm emancipated as a minor from guardianship. It means I don't need a guardian because I have a spouse." Harry shrugged. "I'm not worried. Let the bastard get cocky and try to throw that lame excuse on me. It's against magical and vampiric laws; he can't touch me and if he tries, I'll put him in his place…In the ground, six feet under." He scoffed. "The only way this possibly works in his favor is if he kills Severus and severs the bond, and that's not gonna happen cause I'm turning Sev tonight. Also wouldn't happen if I wasn't because he has to go through me to get to Severus and that ain't happening either."
"You're not worried about anything, are you?" Ron asked.
"No reason to be. I've got Dumbledore right where I want him." Harry remarked.
"You know this is all a game to him, don't you?" Hermione sighed.
"Of course, Hermione. But it is a poor player who plays the game and a wise one who plays their opponent." Harry informed. "The only way to win is to not play, or let your opponent think he's won. Let him be cocky. Let him believe he has it all worked out. That's when he'll make a move that destroys him." He stated. "You win by sitting back and watching everything in play. Ron, you should know…In chess, which pieces go first?"
"The pawns, of course…" Ron paused. "Oh. Oh, I see what you did there. Well done, Harry. Bloody brilliant."
"All is fine as long as everyone has themselves prepared like discussed last week." Harry stated.
"We're ready." Narcissa informed. "And you took care of protecting everything here."
"We're all set." Pansy told Harry.
"You tell us when and we're good." Draco nodded.
"Wonderful," Harry remarked. "It'll happen tonight."
"What, you're sure?" Voldemort asked.
"Are you doubting me?" Harry questioned.
"Just curious how you deduced that." Bellatrix blinked.
"I'm more in tune with nature than you think. I sense shifts, something is going to happen tonight." Harry closed his eyes. "When it does, those under seventeen will not raise their wands." He added. "When it happens, don't ask questions and just go. Clear?"
"Got it." Others replied.
It was only 4:00 pm, and Harry seemed to have tuned out the conversation that started up; he was focused on the energy of the house. And then it happened. Flashes from the fireplace, sounds all over the house. Harry stood first and flicked his wrist to stop a blast from hitting anyone at the table. Aurors entered, and Albus with them. "Albus…How nice of you to join us? Come to surrender?" Harry asked.
"No, my boy, but we can discuss yours. You will return to the light, Harry. It's your destiny…" Albus informed.
"My destiny is my own. I don't take orders from glowing blue spheres or manipulative old bastards who started this whole mess." Harry told him. "You just want my influence. My money, the credit for raising up the weapon to defeat Voldemort. It's why you put me with my muggle relatives, I understand now. You wanted me beaten down and broken so I'd latch onto you as a protector, so you could mold me into your sacrificial weapon. It was never my destiny to defeat the dark lord. You wanted me to die so you could do it. I know all about the horcrux I was made into."
"Then you know you must die, Harry…Whatever Voldemort has promised, he won't deliver." Albus stated. "We must destroy the pieces to destroy him. You must sacrifice yourself for the greater good Harry. It's prophesized…"
"You mean these?" Harry flicked his wrist for all the containers to be thrown at the man's feet. "You might notice that Tom looks a little different than fifth year," He smirked. "I restored his soul, the only piece left is in me and Voldy over there isn't gonna kill me to get it back."
"No, I most certainly will not." Tom spoke up. "Harry will save the world, just not the way you wanted him to."
"You think this has anything to do with what he promised me, that he somehow convinced me to join him?" Harry inquired. "Oh, how wrong you are." He added. "No, no. Not at all, Albus. See…I don't work for Tom. He didn't bring me to his side, I waltzed in and took over. This is my movement to fix what you did. You created the dark lord, just as you were going to create me to be a savior for the world. No one was around to save Tom, he walked the path you put him on…But not me. Tom didn't start this war…You did. You're the one on a bid for power and if it's so said that I have the power to defeat the dark lord, then so be it that it's you." Harry grinned.
"Avada Kedavra!" Albus cast at Voldemort, but Harry shoved him aside and took the blast right to the chest before lifting his head and grinning.
"I-Impossible!" An auror shouted.
"That tiresome old spell? Yeah, it doesn't work on me. Neither to Crucio or Imperio, so wouldn't bother trying to hurt or control me." Harry remarked. "You're not strong enough to kill me, Albus. Look at you, trying to get rid of me when you don't have any proof of the situation to claim I went dark. I didn't, I'm just creating a new path that works for everyone. There is no more Dark and Light…And all I'm gonna do is out you to everyone as a lying, manipulative old fool."
"Y-You saved me?" Tom asked.
"I always protect my family and friends." Harry told him.
"Aurors! Attack!" Albus commanded.
Just like that, a fight broke out. Spells flying everywhere, but Harry's group held their own. It went on for a while, but despite how good his people held; aurors were trained for this. Harry avoided a blast from Albus.
"We can't keep this up." Severus told Harry.
"Fall back!" Harry yelled as his army backed off. "Stay behind me," He informed next as Harry stepped ahead and shot out his arms on either side of him and black flames shot out like a barrier in the middle of the room.
"The hell?!" An auror snapped.
"Home!" Harry hissed out as he tossed his Potter ring up in the air and it flashed to create a portal of black and white colors. "Evacuate!" Harry called. "Go, now. I won't be able to hold this long." He grunted as the flames kept others back who weren't in the army. In fact, anyone against them was getting burned. The aurors were attacking the barrier Harry hid risen to shield his allies. Confused, his friends began shuffling through the portal as the barrier was beginning to weaken and eventually, break. The flames began to die down as their enemies rushed forward. Albus shot a blinding yellow and white blast at Harry, who had fallen to one knee.
"Harry!" Draco yelled for his brother, rushing over and shoving Harry out of the way.
"Dray!" Harry panicked seeing the man lay motionless. "You fool, why did you do that!?"
"H-Had to protect you. You're my br-brother…" Draco winced in pain.
"Oh, that does it…" Harry stepped over Draco and his eyes went red as a black aura emitted from Harry's body and sent out a shockwave of energy to knock everyone back. Moving quickly, Harry grabbed Draco and rushed for the portal, grabbing the ring and jumping through as it closed behind them.
. . .
The others had no idea where they were when Harry ordered them through the portal, but it landed them in an empty area that was lit by wall torches. Everyone was sitting around while Narcissa and Severus were trying to heal anyone who got hurt, but nothing too bad. Harry was last to arrive, with Draco on his arms.
"Harry, Draco…Thank God…" Narcissa breathed a sigh of relief to see them, but then noticed Draco wasn't alright, and her face contorted to panic. "What happened?"
"Help him! He took a spell meant for me." Harry stated as he laid Draco down on the couch carefully.
Narcissa inspected her son. "I-I can't tell what's wrong. The spell won't diagnose him…"
Severus came over, trying as well. "I don't know this spell…It wasn't for humans. This was something to kill you, Harry…"
"Then what's going to happen to Draco?" Harry asked, staying at his brother's side.
"I-I don't know." Severus admitted. "I've never seen this before."
"Well we can't do nothing!" Harry snapped. "I need him to get better so I can kick his ass myself for jumping in front of it!"
"Harry, you know as well as I do that I can't just give him random potions without knowing the problem." Severus reminded. "Whatever it is, it's killing him moderately."
"My lord, can you…Anything, please?" Lucius asked Voldemort.
The dark lord walked over and knelt beside Draco, running a hand over him slowly. "Severus is right, this is meant to kill from the inside. It's not a poison, but a curse. It was designed to destroy vampires, it attacked like sunlight. It's burning him slowly…Making him bleed out from the inside. I suspect this was the spell Dumbledore used on Harry back before last Christmas, the one that burned him. This one had more power to it, and Harry likely would have died slower, but given us more time to reverse it." Voldemort stated. "Without knowing the mechanics of the spell, there is nothing that can be done. There isn't enough time…He has little over fifteen minutes, I'd say…" He said softly. "I'm sorry."
"Dray…Why?" Harry glared. "You knew he was desperate, why would you jump in front of me like that!?"
"Y-You protect us all the time, b-but we're family…C-Can't always…B-Be you…" Draco coughed up blood. "Y-You a-are m-my br-brother…L-Little brother c-cause you're…St-Still fif-teen…" He tried to laugh, but it was weak. "I-I didn't…Want to l-lose you."
"And I don't want to lose you, damn idiot…I told you I could lose whatever, but not my family…" Harry held his hand. "I-I'll stop this. There has to be a way. I figured out how to take apart the dark mark in seconds…I-I can figure this out."
"H-Harry, don't…There isn't enough time…" Draco told him.
"No. I refuse to accept your acceptance to die." Harry told him. "Maybe I can't do anything…But I know someone who has been around a lot longer than me." Harry let go of Draco's hand and stepped back to wave his right hand over his left, which revealed a green-gem ring. Harry pricked his finger with a fang and let a drop of blood hit the stone as it turned red. "Veni Auxilim…I need you, now." Harry muttered. The ring flashed red before turning back to green. Seconds later, a new body stood in the room just steps away from Harry, who was close to Draco, Lucius, Severus, and Narcissa. Harry faced the man, closing his eyes and bowing to him by taking a knee. "My lord."
"Who the-?" Ron blinked.
"Shut up." Harry ordered from his position.
The man put a hand on Harry's head. "Rise, my child," The male said as Harry stood fully. "What troubles you to summon me?"
"Our enemy tried to curse me with something designed to cause internal bleeding and burning from the inside. My brother took what was meant for me…And he's dying. Please, i-is there anything you can do to save him?" Harry asked.
"May I approach him? I'm getting the uncertain eyes from around the room." Sanguini told Harry.
"I've kept the secret, no one knows who you are…" Harry informed.
"Ah." Sanguini nodded.
"Mother, Father, Sev…Stand aside. He won't hurt Draco, I promise…" Harry assured.
"Who is he, Harry?" Lucius asked.
"His name is Sanguini…" Harry informed. "And he's the one who turned me."
"I thought you didn't know who he was…" Draco asked.
"I didn't…Not until I tracked him down last December. I've been part of the coven since February, but I wasn't supposed to reveal it to anyone who wasn't a vampire. I'll take whatever punishment that is, Lord Sanguini…J-Just help my brother, please?" Harry pleaded.
"Don't be foolish, Harry. I've no intention of punishing you." Sanguini moved closer to Draco, scanning over him calculatingly. "I'm sorry, my child…This curse was designed for vampires, by wizarding vampire hunters. Had you been hit, there would be time to reverse the damage…But for a human. We don't have a counter to it for them. He is beyond my help, Harry…" Sanguini informed calmly. "However…There is still a way to save him."
"What? What is it?" Harry asked.
"You could change him, turn him into a vampire." Sanguini offered.
"But won't the damage happening now just affect him as a vampire?" Severus asked.
"No, because we have the counter measure for vampires and this curse." Sanguini stated. "Moreover, the curse would diminish with his loss of blood and then he'd been replenished with fresh blood." He explained. "This is your only option, Harry. Either turn him, or let him die. You only have moments to decide. If he dies with his heart no longer beating; it will be too late. You know the process, we spoke of it once. I will change him if you ask me of it."
Harry looked at Narcissa and Lucius. "He might be my brother, but he's your son too…What do you want me to do?"
"I won't lose my son because of Albus Dumbledore." Narcissa wept.
"Change him." Lucius nodded.
"Do it." Harry told Sanguini.
"N-No…" Draco argued weakly.
"Dray, we don't have time for debating this…" Harry remarked.
"Y-You d-do…I-It…" Draco forced out, grabbing Harry's hand. "Y-You…D-do i-it…"
"He's asking you to turn him, child." Sanguini translated.
"I'm sorry, Dray…" Harry shifted to get behind Draco and sit him upright.
Sanguini pushed everyone back and Harry listened to Draco's heartbeat closely. Harry shifted Draco's shirt out of the way tilted his neck slightly before his fangs extended. Harry didn't want to do this, but if it was the only way. Harry bit down on his brother's neck, drawing blood via his fangs and drinking it down. Harry didn't let up until he knew Draco was getting weaker and starting to lose consciousness. Harry pulled off when the teen was drained and listened for the heartbeat, it slowed and then Harry bit his own wrist to bring blood to the surface and put his wrist at Draco's lips. As if it was instinct to survive once blood touched the man's lips, Draco latched on and began drinking. Harry kept listening to Draco's heart, hearing it get stronger and faster. When Harry felt himself about to lose consciousness; he pulled his wrist away and Sanguini healed it gently. Harry moved out from behind Draco, letting the boy get stronger on his own.
"Rest child, replenish yourself." Sanguini instructed.
"I-I'm good," Harry told him.
"Don't argue, Harry…" Severus sighed as he gave Harry his wrist. Harry grabbed hold quickly and drank a bit, enough so he didn't feel weak anymore and stopped as Draco was starting to come to again.
"He needs human blood to finish the transformation," Sanguini informed.
"I'm his mother, I'll do it." Narcissa moved to get closer to Draco.
"Virgin blood would be best." Sanguini stated. "It's stronger."
"I-I suppose I could." Hermione offered.
"Or me." Luna put her hand up. "I'll do it, Hermione."
"It won't hurt, Luna. I promise…Just give him your wrist," Harry told her calmly. Draco sat up just fine, eyes opening to reveal red. "Easy, Draco…Easy. I know it's different, and new…You need to feed before anything else." He moved away from Severus to put a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Calm." Luna came closer, sitting on the couch and drawing up her sleeve before offering her bare wrist to Draco. "Gently, just like I used to do with you." Harry told him. Draco seemed timid about it, but his thirst was prominent too. The newly turned vampire lightly held Luna's wrist and brought it to his mouth, his tongue grazed over his fangs that were there now and then he bit down. Luna only winced for a second, but found it didn't hurt after that. "Slowly." Harry instructed.
It was silent as Draco fed from Luna for a few minutes, and stopped when the hunger seemed satiated. Draco withdrew his fangs, licking the wound with one swipe of his tongue, and letting her go. "How's this gonna work with you changing Sev?" Draco asked.
Harry sighed as he shook his head and hugged Draco tightly. "We'll figure it out…Right now, I'm just glad you're alright." Harry said softly. "Don't you ever do that shit again or I swear to Merlin, Draco, I'll kill you my damn self!"
Draco laughed a little, but hugged Harry back. "Thank you for saving me…"
"You're my brother, I'll always save you…" Harry told him. "You're welcome."