Betrayals, Truths and Family

Chapter 15: A Not So Welcoming Welcoming Feast

It was time for the welcoming feast, and Harry was sitting in his newly edited robes at the Hufflepuff table, directly facing Draco as he sat at the Slytherin one. The staff, minus McGonagall, were all up at the head table, chatting amongst themselves. And Harry was trying exceptionally hard not to fidget too much. Also to try and calm the fine, nervous tremors in his hands.

He could hear the students starting to gather outside the hall and the doors opened just as he went to take a gulp of his drink.

He could hear some of the students stalling, and cutting off conversations as they looked at him. But it usually only lasted a second before they went to their own tables. Some Hufflepuffs started to sit at the table and smiled at him kindly, although there were plenty of questions in their eyes, too.

He just attempted to smile back.

And then a rather large group of Gryffindors entered the room and stopped in their tracks as they gazed at him. Not that he could see them. He was focussing most of his attention on Draco, who was smiling a small smile at him that somewhat reassured him.

"Harry," Hermione squealed, causing him to flinch, "Where have you been? We've been so worried. And why are you sitting at the Hufflepuff table, wearing their robes?" she huffed as she stomped over to him, the group of Gryffindors following close behind her.

"I got re-sorted," Harry said, a tremble in his voice as he focussed on Draco still.

He could feel her stop behind him and he tried not to hunch in on himself.

"Why would you get re-sorted?" she screeched.

"I don't believe that's any of your business," he whispered.

"Of course it's my business, Harry. We're your friends,"

He couldn't stop himself from scoffing, which caused a number of raised eyebrows but he didn't care.

"Answer me right now, Harry," she demanded, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him around to face her so hard that he fell off the bench.

Fred and George helped him to stand shakily and he could see Draco and his dad making their ways over, out of the corners of his eyes, scowls on their faces as they looked at the group of Gryffindors in front of him.

"Harry, why have you been re-sorted?" she said again, hands on her hips.

Harry, for his part, was trying to focus on breathing as he tried to relax in the twin's arms.

"I don't think it's any of your business, Hermione," Fred said as he rubbed Harry's back gently.

"If Harry wants to be re-sorted, he can be re-sorted," George added.

"If you were his friend, then you would support him in his decision," Fred said, a slight snarl in his voice.

"He can't just abandon us like this without an explanation," Hermione said.

Harry snapped.

"And you can't just steal from me, and pretend to be my friend, without an explanation," he shouted as he looked at nearly all of the people that were listed in his mother's letter, the ones that were still in school.

The ones who were using him.

The ones who were staring at him in shock and betrayal as his father and Draco finally arrived at his side.

"What's going on here?" his dad glowered at the group, who paled nervously.

"Nothing, sir," Hermione said.

"Hm, I rather doubt that considering I saw you yanking my son off his seat. Are you alright, Harry?" his dad focussed on him as the rest of the hall stared at them in shock.

"Erm… Not really, can we leave?" Harry said shakily, really just wanting to get the hell out of there.

"Of course," his dad said gently.

"I should think not, Severus. The sorting will start soon-" Dumbledore said from the head table.

"And I do not need to be here for that," his dad said, "I will do my customary greeting of the new Slytherins after the meal, but right now my son is my main priority. And someone who he had thought was his friend until this summer, has just yanked him rather hard off his seat. I need to make sure he is okay. And I will do so, where there isn't such a large audience,"

Severus thanked the twins for comforting Harry and gently took his son's shaking arm, leading him and Draco towards the door.

"Harry, you can't just leave. You need to explain yourself. Snape isn't your father. What is going on?" Hermione screeched again, and he flinched.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for hurting and upsetting my son, Miss Granger," his dad ground out, "Harry needs not to explain himself to someone who feels it's okay to steal and lie to him. I am his father, his mother left me a letter explaining what happened. It was given to me over the summer. And I went and got custody of my son. Harry is a Hufflepuff now, and there is nothing you can do about it. He doesn't need to explain his reasoning, although maybe all of you in that group who are glaring at my son's back should take a good look in the mirror, because then you will have your reason. He didn't abandon you. You are the ones who were using him for his fame and money. You know, the fame he doesn't want and got because the parents he had were murdered and he wasn't. The money he would have given to you all willingly if you had just asked because you were supposed to be his family. His friends. And he would rather have had none of it if it meant he could have a family. But I suppose none of that matters anymore, because we will get all of the money, books, and other things back no matter what it takes, payments have stopped, and we have enough evidence to take you all to court… Which we might just do, one day," he grinned at the rapidly paling faces of the group of Gryffindors before he turned back to the door and led his son and godson out of the room, towards the dungeons.

When they arrived in their quarters Harry collapsed onto the sofa, Draco next to him and his dad kneeling in front of him.

"Are you hurt, Harry?" his dad said gently, looking him up and down with worried eyes.

"I don't think so," Harry whispered, but that didn't stop his dad from running his wand over him to check for injury.

Harry almost smiled.

"Okay, but if you start hurting, tell me,"

Harry nodded.

"Well, that was a rather welcoming feast, wasn't it?" Draco said, and Harry snorted.

His dad also snorted and stood to walk over to the dining table, tapping it a few times with his wand. Soon there was an array of food and drinks ready for them to tuck into.

Which they did. And Harry allowed himself to relax in the presence of his family. His dad and… well, he hoped, his mate.

But only time would tell, he supposed.

When they were done eating they went back to the sofa, Harry curled against his dad and laid his feet in Draco's lap. He was somewhat surprised that neither of them minded. But also not. And it bloomed warmth in him. The comfort, love, and hope he felt in their arms.

The safety.

"Are you okay, Harry?" his dad asked, concerned.

"No," he whispered, "But I will be, eventually, right?"

His dad smiled sadly down at him, "I will do everything I can to ensure that you will be,"

"I know," Harry smiled up at him, resting his ear against his dad's heartbeat, and wondering for what felt like the hundredth time since he was re-sorted, what could possibly be so painful for his dad that Harry would need to help him through it.

Harry would do whatever he could to attempt to help his dad through it, though. He was just worried he wouldn't be able to. He didn't know how to comfort people. Let alone someone so usually strong like his dad was.

A part of him wanted to tell his dad what the Hat had told him. And perhaps he should. But how was he supposed to tell him that something was going to be revealed to him that would be so very painful? How?

He didn't think he had ever been so conflicted before.

"Harry, are you okay? What's going through your mind?" his dad asked worriedly.

Harry sighed, "I…"

Maybe he should tell his dad. Then they could prepare themselves, right?

Maybe it won't be as painful if he is already expecting something?

Or maybe they can figure it out sooner?

He was so confused.

"The Hat said something before it announced my House," he sighed again.

"What did he say?" Draco said curiously.

"He… He said that he knew a lot of stuff about what Dumbles has been planning, and doing, and he wants to help us, tell us everything, but he can't because Dumbledore had charmed him not to be able to, and other manipulations. But he also said that… He also said that something was going to be revealed, he didn't say when, or how, that would…" how was he supposed to do this?

"Harry, it's okay, you can tell us," his dad said.

"I know. I just… He said that there were a number of things that would be revealed to us both that would be painful. But that is going to be especially painful for you, dad. He didn't say when or how it was going to be revealed, but then I guess nothing is really planned yet, so… But he said that I would need to help you through it. Through the pain," he said, looking up into his father's worried eyes with a worry of his own, "What could be so painful for you, dad, that I would need to help you through it? I can't even help myself," he whispered.

His dad sighed and kissed Harry's forehead, "Oh, I'm sure a great number of things could be revealed. But we can figure it out, and when the time comes we will work through it, together. I'm sure just being there, at my side, will help me immensely, Harry. You don't need to worry yourself so much about not being able to help me, I know you will do just fine, because you are my son. My little boy. And you being there, no matter what may be revealed, will be more than enough to help me through it, I am sure," his dad said gently, running his fingers through Harry's hair.

"But what if that isn't enough?" Harry worried his bottom lip between his teeth.

"Then… Then we'll figure it out when the time comes. Together. Always," his dad kissed his forehead again and Draco massaged his feet in comfort.

"I hope so," Harry said, "I don't want to see you in pain, dad,"

"And I don't want to see you in pain, either, Harry. But we will work everything out, I am sure. Eventually," his dad said, holding Harry a bit closer and Harry sunk into the embrace gladly, trying to focus on his dad's heartbeat.

And it was to the comforting sound of his dad's heart beat, the warmth of his dad's arms around him, and the relaxing feel of his feet being massaged by the boy he hoped was his mate, that he fell into a peaceful sleep.

Hiya, how are you all?

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. So... what do you think is gonna happen next? What is going to be revealed? How is the school going to react? Will Harry like being in Hufflepuff? Where do you think the story is going?

Also, I posted an essay/petition where I (un)officially explain why I think I should be cast as my favourite character, Severus Snape, in the new HBO series, despite the fact that I am a woman. It is on my AO3, called Maraudering_Paige. It would mean a lot if you went and read it, but no pressure. It isn't going to lead to anything, unless, by some miracle, it goes viral, but it was fun to write. Feel free to go and check it out.

Anywho, I am working on some Spotify playlists for my fanfics, so if you can think of any songs you think work with the stories as they are so far, or where you think they are going, or songs that give you the vibes you get from the stories, then please do let me know and I will give them a listen, then potentially add them to the playlists. I will let you know as soon as they are ready, though it may take a few weeks because life.

I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which you are all welcome to join if you would like to and are able to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where I have somewhat of an update schedule for my fics and will be keeping you up to date on what I am working on, in regards to fanfics, original works, and more things. So if you are interested in joining then I am more than happy to accept you all.

I hope you are having an amazing day!

Kind regards,

Paige xx