Chapter Three

"Ah I see," Harrison and Ginny paused their conversation and turned to Luna who was nodding to herself.

"Have you just had a vision?" Harrison asked confused, it was not her normal reaction to Seeing something.

"Oh no, I understand now why Sirius keeps looking at you with a mixture of exasperation and as though he is going to burst into tears, and Remus looks like he is about to laugh all the time," Luna explained.

"Oh, why?" Ginny leant forward so that she could see past Harrison's chest to their friend. They were standing either side of him with their arms linked with his, the right hand was showing them around the mansion, and they had reached the garden and were catching up with each other as they walked. Luna had been a bit quiet, but her friends were used to this and had chattered away waiting for her to be ready to join in.

Except it seemed she had been puzzling out the changes.

"We are currently being glared at," Luna said in answer, discretely nodding to their right, Harrison and Ginny glanced over without the person noticing, and Ginny turned incredulously blue eyes to Harrison, who blinked back innocently.

"Isn't that Lord Voldemort's son, Harrison?" Ginny raised her eyebrow.

"It is indeed," Harrison nodded.

"Seriously," Ginny groaned shaking her head at him.

"Well, he was never going to choose someone simple was he," Luna laughed as she turned and started leading them over to where Malakhi and Lorcan were seated in the garden reading, Lorcan glaring at them with Malakhi looking faintly concerned.

"I will take that as a compliment," Harrison said primly.

"It wasn't meant as one," Ginny snorted.

"My Lord Malakhi, Heir Lord Lorcan, may I introduce my friends Ginerva Weasley and Luna Lovegood," Harrison said as soon as they reached the duo, bowing low as he always did.

"I prefer to be called Ginny My Lords, it is an honour to meet you both," Ginny said as she curtseyed low.

"It truly is an honour," Luna agreed matching her friend's actions.

"It is a pleasure to meet you both, particularly those that Harrison calls friends," Malakhi nodded, motioning to the bench beside them.

"We have been friends for a long time, Harrison took me under his wing and saw past what everyone else found odd, he was probably my first friend," Luna smiled sweetly as Harrison sat between them, ignoring the fact that Harrison and Lorcan seemed to be having a stare off.

"You are a seer, correct? I am afraid that that is the most significant information I know about you," Malakhi said apologetically.

"That is correct, it was something that I was a little embarrassed about, particularly because I am a vision seer and so have half a foot in the vision world most of the time. A lot of people thought me odd 'looney Lovegood' but Harrison saw past that and has been a good friend to me," Luna smiled.

"And yourself Ginerva, my apologies Ginny?" Malakhi smiled at the redhead.

"Oh, I had a raging crush on Harrison when I was a girl and first met him, I think I managed to embarrass myself so completely that even if Harrison was interested in the fairer sex he would never manage to have a romantic relationship with me considering I am sure he remembers me putting my elbow in the butter dish the first time we met properly over and over. As it is, we are far better off as friends," Ginny laughed.

"And the reason you are here?" Malakhi smiled, but there was a curious bite to it.

"You mean why am I one of the few Weasleys that he risked bringing over, and why have I betrayed centuries of my family being on the light side for him?" Ginny asked sweetly.

"I can see why you two are friends," Lorcan snorted.

"I find mincing my words as boring as Harrison does," Ginny agreed. "As for why I have chosen to follow Harrison into the Dark side, for one I enjoy fighting and my magic is darker and more violently inclined, something that I would have to suppress and hide on the light side, here I will not only be able to use it and be myself, but my magic will be of use as well. I also don't have to worry about being married off as the only Weasley girl into some other light family where my husband is likely to be beyond a limp biscuit, expected to have a dozen equally boring children, and pretend that I enjoy vanilla sex for the rest of my life while secretly plotting how I can get rid of the limp biscuit as quickly but discreetly as possible," Ginny shrugged.

Malakhi and Lorcan both blinked before they started laughing. "That is a very good reason," Malakhi agreed.

"Harrison is also exceedingly skilled at seeing people for who they are, underneath the masks and the bravado, or when you are hiding it. I am the youngest Weasley, the only girl, the bargaining chip to most people. Harrison sees me for me, and he saw my potential. He offered me a chance to use my magic, and be recognised in my own right, My Lord Voldemort has also recognised that, and for this I am faithful," Ginny added a little more seriously.

"Ginny is going to be my right-hand woman in the section that Voldemort has me setting up," Harrison explained. "She is vicious with her wand. Luna is taking the main position as Seer here, but she sees a lot more than her visions, she is a good person to speak to about people and their true intentions. She sees a lot anyway, but people also tend to dismiss her, and so she sees even more,"

Lorcan met Harrison's green eyes, and nodded in understanding to what Harrison was telling him, the Right Hand's face taking on that unusual seriousness that told the blond that this was something important.

"My Ladies, if I may take leave of you for a while?" Harrison stood.

"Oh get lost," Ginny waved.

"Don't get into trouble," Luna said cheerfully.

"Why is everyone so insistent that I am causing trouble?" Harrison sighed.

"Because generally, you are," Ginny huffed a laugh.

"My Lord Heir, may I have a moment of your time?" Harrison bowed to Lorcan.

"I have told you that you don't need to do that," Lorcan sighed. But he slipped his hand into Harrison's offered one, allowing him to draw him to his feet.

"And yet I shall have to be told a few more times," Harrison smiled. "My Lord Malakhi," He bowed to the other blond who nodded to him.

"What is it that you wish to talk to me about?" Lorcan asked as they started walking back towards the Mansion.

"You should use Luna and Ginny, get close to them, understand them, and understand the best way to wield them. Place Luna into as many parties as possible and make sure you discuss with her the people of the Court, if you have concerns about anyone, ask her about them. If you have need of someone to be dealt with and I am not available, speak to Ginny, if you need a message being given, send her to give it,"

"Are they not your friends?" Lorcan asked confused at the intent advice.

"Yes, they are, my close friends. But I am the Right Hand first and foremost, and they understand that, they knew that when they accepted your father's offer of their places here. And it is my job to inform you of the people that you have at your use, and the best way in which to use them," Harrison bowed his head.

"You are so intense sometimes," Lorcan sighed, his hand tightening a little on Harrison's bicep as they walked.

"Your safety, that of your family, and the continuation of what is being set up here will always be my priority, and my job is to assist you, which I take seriously," Harrison smiled though to soften his words.

"I am in no doubt of that," Lorcan rolled his eyes. "I take it that their presence here means that you are getting close to being ready for your mission?"

"Yes, they are here to assist me in the final steps. We have made out that they have been kidnapped, a few more of those that I have turned over to our side will be joining us over the next few days, the rest will stay in place for when the moment is right to strike," Harrison nodded.

"What is the first step in your move?" Lorcan asked.

"I am going to sneak into Hogwarts and assassinate Dumbledore," Harrison answered, and Lorcan stopped, staring up at him wide-eyed.

"What… but...surely that is ridiculously dangerous?" Lorcan gasped.

"Yes it is, but we can not risk him escaping, or being a figure for others to gather around. As long as Dumbledore is alive, no matter how chained up we believe him to be, or how secure the prison, there will always be a danger to Voldemort, and to you and your dad, it is a threat that I can not allow to continue, and it is something that I can not trust anyone else to complete," Harrison explained before a mischievous smirk crossed his face. "Are you worried for me?"

"No!" Lorcan snapped before glancing down. "Yes," he said quietly, so quietly that Harrison barely heard him.

"I am going to be fine," Harrison assured him.

"You can't promise that, Dumbledore is powerful, he could kill you!" Lorcan stopped walking, turning to glare at Harrison who also stopped and turned to face him, his face calm despite the conversation.

"I am going to be fine, I have worked hard to get to this point, and I have this planned out back to front with every possibility I can come up with thought through. It is dangerous yes, and there is not 100% surety, but I have a lot to look forward to, and I have no intention of not being here for it," Harrison's green eyes were intent upon his face, summoning a deep blush to his cheeks despite himself as he looked at the younger man.

"I will be pissed if you get hurt," Lorcan turned away from that intent look.

"Then I will endeavour not to get hurt for you," Harrison touched his cheek gently before leaning down when he turned to look at him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Lorcan blinked after him as the dark-haired man walked off after a polite bow, his hand coming up to touch his cheek absently where Harrison's lips had touched.

"What the hell was that? Did he kiss you! Where did he kiss you?! I saw him! I am going to hang him up by his toes!" His father hissed appearing from nowhere, looking as though he was about to blow a gasket.

"It is none of your business," Lorcan sniffed turning around.

"You're my son!"

"And? It is none of your business!" Lorcan glared at his father who was looking even more furious.

"What is going on now?" Malakhi sighed as he and the two girls hurried over.

"He is interfering in something that isn't his business!" Lorcan pointed at his father.

"Harrison kissed him! I saw it and he won't tell me where he kissed him!" Voldemort said at the same time, also pointing at his son. Malakhi just looked between them with an expression that was frankly insulting.

"Ginerva!" Lorcan barked, the redhead turning to him curiously.

"Yes?" She bowed slightly.

"Make sure that Harrison is not hurt during this mission, you are to watch his back," Lorcan demanded.

"That is not something you need to worry about Heir Lord," Ginny bowed deeper. "That is something that I will always do, I promise that I will make sure to guard him, I will do everything that I can to bring him back in one piece,"

"Thank you," Lorcan nodded before spinning and storming off.

"Where did he kiss you?!" Voldemort exploded.

"Be quiet dear," Malakhi patted his husband's chest as smoke was proverbially coming out of their retreating son's ears.

"But...but...he...he winked and...he kissed and…" Voldemort spluttered.

"Yes yes, I know, come on," Malakhi walked off, Voldemort trailing after him still spluttering.

"Well…" Ginny said slowly.

"This is going to be even more interesting than we thought!" Luna laughed linking arms with Ginny and leading her away.


"My Lords, Heir Lord," Sirius and Remus bowed as they hurried into Voldemort's living room, the three of them looking up at the two men who had barely knocked as they came in. Lorcan frowned and looked behind them for Harrison, and his frown got even deeper when it was clear he was not with them.

"Where is Harrison?" Lorcan asked before anything else could be said.

"At Hogwarts," Remus answered, and Malakhi turned to glare at Voldemort sharply as Lorcan straightened, his blue eyes widening.

"Has Lovegood seen something?" Voldemort asked sharply standing up.

"Yes, there has been something that has changed, she can't see what, and whether it is good or bad, but she is a little worried," Sirius explained, his face a little strained.

"When did he leave?" Lorcan asked concerned.

"An hour ago," Remus sighed.

"There is nothing that we can really do, going in wands blazing would not help, and it would not be something that Harrison would want us to do when we're not sure that he is in trouble," Voldemort sighed after a few beats where he had thought things through.

"Father!" Lorcan stood.

"Harrison knew that dangers going into this, and he took them on for the mission. Part of this is also for him to get the revenge that he needs. Harrison is my right hand, and this is part of his job, this is what he chose to do," Voldemort said with a mock calm, but he caught the expression on Lorcan's face, a mixture of anger and worry. "Harrison is powerful and smart, he has thought this through in a million different ways, and he is determined as well. I believe that he is fine," Voldemort added, Malakhi reaching out to take his hand and squeeze it with a soft smile before he wrapped his arms around Lorcan's shoulders.

"Let us trust Harrison, we will keep Sirius and Remus company and wait for his return," Malakhi said gently, and his son turned to look at the two men who seemed to see Harrison as their son, and nodded trying to calm his racing heart.

The five of them sat down in the living room and stared at each other silently as they listened to the clock ticking in the background, the time seeming to be going backwards.


Harrison slipped into the grounds of the school from the Forbidden Forest, keeping low to the ground as he scanned the Marauders Map to make sure that they were clear, then he nodded and they slipped across the small space to climb through the windows of the greenhouses that had been left open for them.

They slipped out of the greenhouses meeting with the rest of their group before Harrison led their way through the castle. They moved using the tapestries, secret passageways and sliding through the shadows, avoiding the people that were in the castle using the Marauders map as they aimed right towards the one dot on the map that Harrison's eyes kept going back to. There was nothing to show their presence which Harrison also kept checking, the spell that they had developed ensuring that they did not appear on Dumbledore version of the map that he had created to watch the comings and goings of everyone to control them better, and to ensure that he came across all the more all-knowing and powerful, appearing at the right moments and from seemingly nowhere.

They paused opposite the Griffin statue, meeting each other's eyes. It had taken them nearly two hours to get across the castle unseen, and the stress was starting to show just a little on all of them, they were sweating, and a little dirty by now, Ginny had a little blood on her from where she had taken out Hestia silently to get her out of their way.

They were close to completing their mission, and they all knew that this was the part where they need to focus the most and ensure that they did not allow their nerves to get the better of them. Harrison waited as they all caught their breaths, and calmly waited out the adrenaline surge that came with being so close to their target before he nodded again and moved to lead the way.

They hurried past the Griffin statue and further down the corridor until they reached the transfiguration classroom. Quickly unlocking the door they slipped into the room and headed straight for the back of the room, Fred staying on guard at the doorway.

The rest of them waited while Harrison whispered the parseltongue password, and they watched the tunnel that they hoped was still clear opened up. This was Plan A, and Harrison sent a wish to Mother Magic that the tunnel would not have any cave-ins as this was the best way to get to Dumbledore.

Moving along the passageway Harrison felt his hope rising when they did not encounter any cave-ins or blockages, the air got musty and bad-smelling the deeper into the tunnel that they got, enough that they all cast bubblehead charms as a precautionary measure before carrying on, moving at a slow and careful pace, until finally, they reached what seemed like a dead end.

Reaching out Harrison felt around, using his wand for light until he found the tiny little snake carving that he was looking for. He smiled slightly to himself as he brushed his fingers over the mark, Nagini slipping out from under his collar and twisting herself gently around his neck, hissing soft comfort into his ear through the tiny bubblehead charm that he had created for her.

Snakes were a beginning for him, for good or bad, and had gotten him to where he was now. Voldemort was the snake that had come along and tried to kill him, deciding on the course his life was going to take.

Nagini had found him and completely changed his life, she had guided him into being the person that he was now, taught him and raised him, she had given him love and care in a way that no one had before, and she had protected him more than anyone else.

She had led him to Voldemort and the changes that he had made in his life, instead of killing him he had given him an aim and place in the world, and though it was not easy between them, it had given him more than he thought he would have had in a different lifetime.

Now this snake was going to free him on the major danger to the life that he was creating for himself, the real thorn that had been in his side. Nodding to the encouraging words that Nagini gave him he muttered softly, and with a barely audible hiss, a seam down the wall opened, durst trickling down from it as the hidden door that had probably not been used in centuries opened.

Harrison cast a quick spell as soon as the door started opening, and all the portraits found themselves silenced and locked into their frames, unable to sneak out to give any warning for what was coming. His second spell had him freezing the door in place when the warning in his diagnostic spell came back to him warning that there were wards layering the office in crisscrosses.

Turning he quickly signed to the others what was happening and what they were facing, and then set to work on unknotting the wards without triggering any alarms that they were being taken down, Ginny crouched at his feet and worked with him, the two of them seamlessly working together to take down all the wards.

The others waited patiently, watching as the two of them cast diagnostic spells three times each to make sure that they had not missed anything before Harrison allowed the door to fully open and they stepped into the office.

A few of the portraits were making rude gestures at them, a few were clearly trying to break Harrison's spell to escape or shout out a warning, two were pointing in a specific direction and Harrison smirked at them, nodding his head and moved to where they were pointing, easily finding the hidden door now that he had the right direction that would lead to Dumbledore's private lodgings.

He had known from his research and from the years of watching Dumbledore that his private lodgings had to be here, he knew from reading through Hogwarts a History that the Headmaster's quarters had to be in here, he had just not been sure where the hidden entrance was, but with being pointed in the right direction it took away at least 50 minutes that he had allowed for them to find it.

George moved in front of the secret doorway to the Headmaster's lodgings that Harrison opened, bypassing the password and wards with the blood that Voldemort had donated, the blood of one of the founder's descendants bypassing the wards and safety measures as had been put in place during the founders time to make sure that Headmaster's office was not locked out from them.

They spread out as they stepped into the living room, moving like shadows across the space, Neville, Bill and Padma moved out to cover the other rooms while Harrison, Ginny and Blaise moved up the stairs to the bedroom area.

Nodding to each other they moved into position and had their wands ready before they stepped into the hallway, three doors were in the hallway, one on the left, one on the right and a door right ahead which was the only door that was cracked open.

They silently opened the door on the right and found a bathroom, they went to open the door on the left but found it locked. When they were unable to open it with a strong unlocking charm they shared a look, agreeing to move forward, Blaise partially turning to keep an eye on it as they headed for the open door.

Harrison glanced at Ginny who nodded to indicate that she was ok, and they slid into the room, their eyes locking onto the two figures lying on the bed fast asleep. Ginny and Blaise moved around to the left hand side of the bed to the second sleeping figure, holding their wands ready on them, waiting for Harrison to act first. He slid to the right hand side of the bed and readied himself, firing a quick spell at Dumbledore, watching as his blue eyes snapped open and landed on Harrison's face disbelievingly as he froze on the bed, his magic already visibly working to undo the petrification spell but Harrison just smirked wider. Ginny and Blaise stunned and bound Arthur Weasley, Ginny scrunching her nose in distaste but not looking away as her father's naked body was floated out of the bed, doing her job and making sure that they weren't taken by surprise.

"How... long?!" Dumbledore managed to mutter, his blue eyes full of loathing, disgust and fury.

"Since before I came to Hogwarts, I was playing you the whole time, I have been on Voldemort's side the whole time, I am his Right Hand, and I am going to marry his son, who will be taking over,"

"I will...stop you," Dumbledore managed.

"You really won't," Harrison laughed. He watched satisfied as Dumbledore's eyes widened in panic when Harrison pressed his wand to the old man's throat, obvious intent in his eyes. "You misunderstand, I am not here to take you prisoner, I am here to eliminate the threat. Avada Kedavra,"

Harrison stared down into those blue eyes as they went blank, shock prevalent in them, letting out a breath as the man who had truly almost ruined his life was taken out the way. Blaise and Ginny returned from delivering Arthur to a waiting Neville, and Harrison set fire to the body and the body in it, quickly setting the scene for a 'tragic' accident, including throwing the empty vial of sleeping potion onto the bed, and pilling up the collection of empty vials that held traces of pain and sleeping potions around the room.

"I want to check out that room before we leave," Harrison ordered without a second glance at the body on the bed, turning and making his way down to the locked room. He quickly set to work on the intricate wards on the door, frowning and glancing at Ginny and Blaise at the level of security on the door. Finally, there was a click, and they were able to open the door, Blaise and Ginny standing ready at his back, all of them bracing themselves as Harrison swung the door open, ready for an attack to come, readying themselves for what they might find in the room.

They had gone through a number of possibilities as to what could be in the room to ready themselves, but as Harrison stepped into the room and met the hazel eyes of the figure chained up in the room, none of them could have predicted this.


"They're coming back," Luna walked into the room, but there was a troubled expression on her face.

"Come on," Remus wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and the six of them hurried from the room and down to the apparition room to meet the group that was coming back with Harrison and Ginny, all of them silent as they moved.

"Any minute now," Luna wrung her hands. They all practically held their breath, waiting for the sound that they were longing for. When it came, it was Ginny Weasley, Bill Weasley, Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom that appeared, Arthur Weasley naked and unconscious floating in front of Neville.

Harrison was not with them.

"Harrison is right behind us, we have come ahead from the secondary apparition point so that we can explain everything, while Harrison explains things to… we found something in Dumbledore's quarters, someone, someone unexpected," Ginny rambled, holding her hands up so that she could speak first when they all opened their mouths.

"Who was found?" Voldemort demanded confusedly. "Is Dumbledore dead?"

"He's dead. Harrison killed him, set the scene as he planned, everything went smoothly until we were leaving and opened a locked door in the Headmaster's quarters, we found someone who has been kept prisoner there for, about seventeen years," Blaise licked his lips, glancing around the group watching them nervously.

"Who was it?!" Malakhi asked frustratedly.


"We're going to go somewhere safe, where you can heal," Harrison said softly.

"Where?"

"Voldemort's mansion," Harrison answered honestly.

"Are you...imperioed?"

"No, imperio doesn't work on me. I chose to work with him, I am his Right Hand," Harrison sat down in front of the too-thin prisoner. "It wasn't an easy choice, but to ensure that I had the best future that Dumbledore wasn't going to control, or manipulate and then kill me, he was the choice I made. He helped me, taught me, protected me. It is...beyond fucked up, but it was the best choice I could make, and I trust him now,"

"I don't…"

"Sirius and Remus are there as well, they are working with him. I know that this is...I know this is beyond ridiculous and difficult, but I need to get us out of the open and somewhere safe, and we will be safe there. Will you let me apparate us, we can iron out all the crap later, but getting somewhere safe is the most important thing," Harrison held his hand out.

Hazel eyes considered him carefully, uncertainty clear in them, and Harrison was sure for a second that he was going to be turned away, but then the thin hand slipped into his, and he quickly apparated himself and James Potter into the mansion before his dad could change his mind.


"Dear, I don't think that you should be the one to go and speak to Harrison right now," Malakhi pressed his hand to Voldemort's chest, stopping his husband from storming out the room.

"But, I need to speak to him, this is a mess, he is my Right Hand and I need to know whether he is going to turn on me!" Voldemort hissed.

"You fucked up and your concern is whether you should kill the man who just killed Dumbledore for you first?!" Lorcan hissed back, fury rising through his face.

"That is not what your Father meant!" Malakhi held his hands up, trying to defuse the situation.

"You always think so lowly of me!" Voldemort glared at his son.

"Have you given me any other reason to think otherwise!" Lorcan snapped back.

"Both of you…"

"I am trying but you won't let me!" Voldemort raised his voice.

"You think that you're going to wave your hand and everything is going to be ok, you haven't been in our lives for years, I barely know you! This is your fault, and now you're trying to get to Harrison before he can do anything first!" Lorcan shouted right back.

"That is…"

"I need to know if he is going to be a danger to you and your dad! He is nearly as powerful as me, and knows our secrets if he…"

"...this is because of your…"

"ENOUGH!" Malakhi roared, and the two of them turned from where they were nearly toe to toe to stare at him wide-eyed. "That is enough! I have had enough of being the go-between for the two of you! That. Is. Enough! Stop, just stop!"

"Dad…"

"Malakhi…"

"No, this is enough! Voldemort, stop being such a hard-headed idiot and think about what you are saying and how you are coming across to our son, you say you are trying, but you need to try harder, and you need to actually spend time with him and talk to him, get to know him and try and let him get to know you, he is right, you barely know each other, and while it wasn't your choice, that is the situation that has happened! You can't be angry with him for misunderstanding your words when he doesn't know you well enough to read between your lines!"

"I…"

"Lorcan, I love you, and I know you're angry, and I understand why, but your father didn't choose to leave us, and he didn't choose not to be part of your life growing up. He hates that he missed so much of that time, time that he can't get back, he hates and he mourns for that time, for the fact that you don't know each other well, and he desperately wants to have a relationship with you, but he is scared that he won't be able to repair your relationship and it really will be his fault this time. You need to meet him halfway, how can you get to know each other if you won't spend time together!"

"I…"

"Your father is worried for our safety, but more than that he likes Harrison, he is feeling guilty, and he is worried for him and how this is affecting him, which is why he wants to go and see him, he's not weighing up the risk and trying to get the first shot in, he wants to see that he is ok," Malakhi sighed.

"I…"

"Harrison, and making sure that he is ok is the most important thing right now. You are not the right one to go Voldemort, and Lorcan you are too emotional about your father to support Harrison right now in this. I will go and speak to him," Malakhi said firmly, standing and leaving the room before either of them could argue.

He hurried down the hallway to the room that Harrison had taken James Potter to, the healer being summoned considering the man had apparently been kept prisoner by Dumbledore for seventeen years and was not in the best condition from what they had been able to gather.

"Harrison?" Malakhi popped his head into the room.

"My Lord," Harrison looked exhausted, he was still sweaty and dirty from the trip through the Forbidden Forest and Hogwarts even though he had been back for seventeen hours. He bowed anyway to Malakhi though, and the older man felt hope in his chest at the action.

"Harrison, I came to see how you are doing, foolish though that question may be," Malakhi took Harrison's hands in his and squeezed them gently.

"I am tired more than anything else, to be honest. We're just waiting to see what the healer says. Sirius and Remus are in there with him, they suggested that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to be in there...he was kept chained in a bedroom, we don't know…" Harrison grit his teeth turning away, and Malakhi tightened his grip on his hands, the young man looking all the younger at that moment.

He gently led him over to a seat, Ginny snoring softly in her chair where she had been waiting with Harry. He eased Harrison into the seat and pressed a teacup with additional sugar in it into his hands, sitting down next to him.

"Whatever has been done to him over the last seventeen years is no doubt going to be unpleasant, but we will deal with it, he has you, Sirius and Remus, and though the situation is difficult myself, Lorcan and Voldemort will all be here to support you in taking care of him, as well as taking care of him as much as you wish us to. We will have the best healers for him, for his body and his mind, and we will get through this," Malakhi said firmly.

"How is Voldemort feeling about this?" Harrison looked at Malakhi, and the other man realised that this young man was the only other person that knew his husband as well as he did.

"He is worried, about your reaction and how this is making you feel, and how it will change your dynamic, personally more than professionally," Malakhi said honestly. "He is worried about how you are coping with this. He wanted to come himself, and though I understand now that you know him, he is in his bull in a china shop mode, and I did not think it would be the best thing for him to be the one to come here,"

"Honestly, I am so tired that it probably wouldn't have been the best thing," Harrison sighed dropping back into his chair. "I don't know what is going to happen now,"

"What happens now is we all deal with what comes along. You aren't alone in this Harrison, and you don't have to deal with it yourself,"

"Thank you," Harrison managed to smile, rubbing his hands over his face.


Harrison woke slowly, aware of the ache in his back and his neck from the way that he had been sleeping. He shifted a little and frowned when a blanket fell into his lap that he had definitely not had when he had been snoozing off in his chair.

Opening his eyes he blinked at the blanket lying in his lap before looking around for the source of it considering that when he had been nodding off Malakhi had already left and taken Ginny with him to get her settled into a proper bed on Harrison's insistence, and they had been gone for nearly an hour and a half when he had started nodding.

He felt a smile automatically forming despite himself when he found a blond head with a riot of curls laying on his arm where Lorcan was curled up in the chair next to him, his shoes kicked off and sitting on the floor, tucked under a matching blanket.

"He watched over you for about three hours before he fell asleep himself," a voice said, and Harrison's head jerked around to see his dad, James Potter, sitting on the sofa with his feet up on it, seemingly watching Harrison.

"You know who he is?" Harrison asked, casting a silencing spell over the other to make sure that he would not wake up.

"Hmm, yes Sirius and Remus explained, bit of a shock Voldemort having a son and husband," James nodded.

"It was for me as well,"

"They said that you were brought up by Voldemort's snake?" James asked a little awkwardly.

"Yes, Nagaini, she looked after me, raised me, taught me. She is a maledictus, she has been stuck in her snake form for nearly forty years now. She was the partner of Dumbeldore's brother,"

"Aberforth?" James frowned.

"No, he had another brother, Credence, his half brother, he absorbed his magic to give him the power to defeat Grindelwald," Harrison told him and watched his eyes widen in shock. "Losing him was what made Nagini lose the grip she had on the curse, she turned pretty soon after that, she didn't want to be human anymore,"

"Even after knowing that he was not the man that I thought he was, he seems to still manage to get worse," James huffed.

"This has to be...beyond difficult for you," Harrison frowned.

"It is, but I get to see you, and the man that you have become, and I get to see Sirius and Remus, and see that they're ok," James smiled a little. "You must have a lot of questions,"

"Just a few," Harrison nodded, leaning forward resting his elbows onto his knees.

"Before I explain anything, can I ask, is it true you killed Dumbledore?" James asked.

"Yes, right before we found you," Harrison wasn't sure how his father would feel about this, despite the fact that Dumbledore had clearly not treated him well, but he wouldn't lie either.

"Thank Merlin," James sighed dropping his head back.

"He isn't the first person I have killed," Harrison admitted.

"I gathered that from what Sirius and Remus told me, they explained what your life has been," James nodded a little. "It is so odd and difficult having this conversation with you, I thought about what I would say to you a million and one times, but actually saying all this...I don't know where to start Harrison," James sighed, rubbing over his face.

"What happened that night?" Harrison asked the question that had been burning through him since he had realised that James Potter, his father, was chained in that room.

"I suppose that is the best place to start," James nodded, "I was badly injured that night, Dumbledore came and checked over the house, he took you and passed you over to Hagrid knowing that I was alive and leaving me lying there for him to see. Once he was gone Dumbledore took me to Hogwarts, and somewhat healed me, and then has kept me prisoner since, so that he can access the Potter vaults, and use guardianship powers to control you, which was also why he needed to put Sirius in prison,"

"Have you...did you discuss the fact that I am working with Voldemort?" Harrison asked.

"Yes, they talked over the choices that you have made. But I know what your life has been, from Dumbledore's perspective, everything that he has done to you he took great delight in telling me about and taunting me with, everything that you have been through he told me, how Petunia and Vernon treated you, he even let me see you a few times, when you were hurt and had been through one of the things he had forced you into as an extra brand of torture," James huffed. "It was a mix of torture and hope getting to see you growing up, just getting to see you, getting to see that you were growing and healthy, though not as much as you actually were,"

Harrison managed to smile as James laughed softly looking his son over, taking in the differences to the boy that he had seen.

"Couldn't look too good for Dumbledore," Harrison smirked.

"Honestly I think that you beat all of the things that the Marauders ever pulled off, this is on an epic scale of pranking," James grinned.

"Honestly it felt good being under the nose of them all, knowing that they thought that they were playing me and moulding me into being what they wanted me to be, and the whole time I was onto them and leading them exactly to where I wanted them to be. I have them all dancing like puppets, and I am nearly ready to finish them," Harrison said lowly.

"Good, all of them agreed and went along with Dumbledore, they put what he said, themselves, your money ahead of the wellbeing of my son, whether you were playing them or not, I hope they burn," James set his jaw.

"I plan on burning them," Harrison said firmly.

"Your mother would be so proud of you," James smiled.

"Mum...did she...has she...is she…" Harrison stammered, and James' face fell when he realised what Harry was asking.

"No Harrison, I am sorry, she didn't survive that night," James shook his head.

"Ok," Harrison nodded looking down at the floor.

"I am sorry Harrison, for everything that you have gone through, everything that you have lost, the choices that you have had to make. While I...while it is difficult, I understand why you have made the choices that you have made, and after everything that Voldemort has done for you, and Dumbledore has done to you, I think you have made the right choice,"

"You have nothing to apologise for, you have suffered as much, if not more at his hands. He explained to me why he did it, once I was old enough, he did it for Malakhi and Lorcan, to protect them, if he died and Dumbledore found out about them he would have made sure that they were killed, when he heard the prophecy he tried to get ahead of it by attacking us to try and kill me. It doesn't make it right, and it doesn't make it easier really, but I can understand why, and I can't blame him really for taking an action that I probably would take myself now to protect those I love,"

"You don't have to keep explaining yourself Harrison, this is going to be a whole barrel of awkward, no denying that! But, you rescued me, he is offering me healing and safety, and more than that he protected you, he protected you from the man who planned on raising you to be the pig for slaughter so that he could take all the credit, I think I can work with the man who saved my son, even if it is tangled up in the confusion of the fact that he also tried to kill you," James scrunched his nose.

"Thank you," Harrison smiled a little.

"He didn't...I know you have worried about what Dumbledore did to me, he never forced himself on me, he has with others that were also kept prisoner at times, including Quirrel, but for some reason - and I am wholly thankful for it - he never crossed that line with me. He tortured me, mentally and physically, and he obviously starved me, kept me locked away, but he never did that, and the healers have said that I will heal from what he has done to me, it will take time, probably a good few months to a couple of years, but I will heal with time and care. I would like to be part of your life, get to know each other," James smiled nervously.

"I want to help you heal," Harrison said earnestly. "I want to get to know you,"

"Good, well the first thing I am going to say as your father, is you need to go sleep in a proper bed, and get some proper sleep," James said softly.

"I...I need to go speak to Voldemort, and make sure of our position here, make sure he isn't going to panic and do something stupid because he is emotionally stunted, but then I will go to bed," Harrison smiled. "We could have our next meal together once we're both awake?"

"That sounds good, real good," James nodded. "You're so professional and determined," his dad sounded so proud that Harrison felt his ears turning a little red.

"I had better take Lorcan as well," Harrison chuckled. "Can I take you back to your bed first?"

"Thank you," James nodded, and looked as proud as he could as his son stood and moved over to pick him up and take him through to the rooms that had been assigned to him. "Could you pass that potion vial please?"

"Dreamless sleep?" Harrison asked looking curiously at it before handing it over.

"You're good at potions like Lily?" James asked.

"Oh, no no, I am pants at it, I have just had to take it a good few times," Harrison laughed holding up his hands.

"Oh thank Merlin, I sucked something awful at it, I only got through by the skin of my teeth because of Remus and Sirius, they were the ones to come up with any potions based pranks," James laughed.

"I will introduce you to Fred and George Weasley when you feel up to it, they are on my side, and they are pranksters as well, and they hero-worship you guys, they will be over the moon to meet you, and I think you will really like them," Harrison grinned sitting on the edge of the bed as his dad downed the potion.

"You join them ever?" James asked as he got settled on the bed, smiling a little sadly as his son tucked him in.

"Occasionally, couldn't too much without playing my hand. Though I couldn't resist giving them money when I was fourteen towards them opening a joke shop, one it made sure that the money I won on the triwizard tournament would just end up lining the pockets of one of Dumbledore's supporters, two it gained me their loyalty even more so that when I started turning them I had more of a way in with them. But more than that I knew it would kill Sirius to know that at fourteen I beat anything you guys could have done by helping found a joke shop that is going to beat Zonkos one day,"

"Oh yeah, that would have made him so proud, and chapped his ass at the same time," James laughed tiredly.

"It definitely did, he looked as though it was his proudest moment, and he had swallowed a lemon when I told him," Harrison grinned.

"I am sorry, I am about to…" James blinked tiredly at him.

"It is ok, I will see you in the...whatever time of day we are both conscious," Harrison smiled taking the hand James held out to him.

"I love...you Harrison," James smiled.

"Love you too, dad," Harrison said breathlessly back, staring down at his father as he fell asleep.

He didn't know how long he sat there holding his dad's hand, unable to believe that he was sitting here with his dad, holding his hand, with the chance to get to know him. He started when a hand gripped his shoulder, and he turned a little defensively, before relaxing his shoulders when he met gentle blue eyes.

"You need to sleep Harrison," Lorcan said softly.

"I...feel as though if I look away he is going to disappear," Harrison admitted.

"He is going to be here, and he is going to need you, so you need to look after yourself as well to be able to look after him," Lorcan said reaching out to take Harrison's hand and eased him gently to his feet, reaching out to steady him when the taller man swayed a little on his feet.

"I need to talk to your father first," Harrison blinked.

"No, you need to go to bed first, then you can talk to him, I will go and speak to him, and dad has already soothed his panicked feathers," Lorcan said firmly.

"But…"

"You said you would do as I ordered, well, I am ordering you to go to bed and sleep first, everything else will wait. Come on," Lorcan tugged him from the room.

"I am fine," Harrison insisted.

"You will be, but you need to sleep after everything that you have been through, your mission, what you found there, waiting for news, you're exhausted mentally and physically," Lorcan stopped at Harrison's door, just down from James' and turned to gently touch his cheek. "Go to sleep, we will deal with everything else when you're awake,"

Harrison closed his eyes at the touch, daring to reach up and cup the hand against his cheek, holding it there for a little longer before he opened green eyes to look down into icy blue ones that were glowing with warmth and showing no mask, or defensiveness for the first time since Harrison had met him.

Stepping back he took Lorcan's hands into both of his and held them tenderly, bowing low over them to press a tender kiss to the top of them, listening to the breath that Lorcan sucked in as he stayed bent over his hands for a few moments before he stood.

"Thank you, I will see you when I am a little more functional,"

"I will see you then, get some sleep Harrison," Lorcan reached up and brushed dark hair from green eyes before stepping back with a blush on his cheeks that brought hope to Harrison's exhausted mind and slightly battered heart.

He tumbled into his room under Lorcan's pointed gaze, stripping his clothing magically, sending a mental apology to the House Elves for scattering his filthy clothes over his floor. Completely naked, he stepped into his shower and soaked himself to wash himself down enough as that he didn't feel grimy anymore, and then still dripping wet dropped face down into his mattress, barely managing to awkwardly tug his covers so he was mostly covered before falling asleep.

Lorcan flushed darkly, quickly backing out the room from where he had poked his head in on the way back from talking with his father about Harrison, wanting to check on the man himself and make sure that he was sleeping and that he was ok. His large, muscled frame was sprawled over the mattress, tanned skin revealed to his eyes as he took in the sculpted chest, defined abs, delicious V of his hips which the white sheet was barely covering, down to his large, muscled thighs that were revealed, one leg hanging off the bed where he had dropped down out of tiredness.

Shaking his head he hurried away, sure that his cheeks would not calm down before he sat down with Malakhi, Sirius and Remus who were meeting to discuss where they were going to go from here and thought that he knew nothing about it. He wanted to be a part of it to make sure that Harrison didn't burn himself out.