A/N:1 There is still time to vote for the last part of the book!
A- for one full long chapter
B- for separating it into a few, easier-to-read chapters, divided into three months at a time.
A/N: 2 For anyone keen on a spoiler, the second book is called "Harry Potter and the Resurfaced Legacy"
With Blaise by his side, Aurelius entered Highclere Castle's grand dining hall, glancing around to try and feel out the mood of the room. It buzzed with activity as House Elves scurried about, preparing the supper feast. Aurelius took in the sight of the long table adorned with elegant decorations and the faces of the people already seated. Aurelius and Blaise approached the table finding their pre-assigned seats, and it thoroughly pleased him he got to sit near Sala. Blaise smiled at the beautiful table settings, while Aurelius was more taken by the castle's grandeur, despite having seen it a few times before. They walked down the long table, waiting for the festivities to begin, and seconds after they arrived, the House Elves brought in platters of food, clearly delighted to serve.
Aurelius was happy to see Regulus and Sala again, though it was clear Sala had no idea who he was. Ursa knew, just like Regulus, and they both nodded. Draco tried to converse with Sala, but the boy was trembling and paid no attention to his twin. Aurelius was trying to figure out what to say to Sala but found his voice stuck in his throat.
Remus and Severus whispered softly together, much to Lily's disgruntlement. She fixed them with a hard stare and crossed her arms. "What are you two plotting?" she demanded. Remus and Severus sheepishly looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "You better not be up to no good," she warned sternly. They both shook their heads and mumbled apologies, not daring to look at her. She sighed and relaxed her stance before giving them a small smile. Aurelius figured they were plotting something, though he didn't know what.
The Duchessa sat primly in her seat, hands folded in her lap, listening to Narcissa speak about something she had seen that day in the Daily Prophet. Narcissa's voice was low and melodic. The Duchessa nodded in agreement and smiled. She was pleased to hear Narcissa's insights on the goings-on of the wizarding world.
"Mother," Aurelius greeted softly when she raised her eyes to meet his, delighted with how right it felt to call her that. Isabella smiled at him, her purple and black eyes crinkling at the corners. "My son," she said with a note of pride in her voice. "It's so good to see you."
Blaise smiled, too, formally kissing her hand, which Aurelius mimicked. "Mother," Blaise murmured, sitting in the place marked with his name, conveniently next to Aurelius'.
Aurelius hesitated, then stepped closer to the woman, and as if sensing his desire, Isabella embraced him with a warm hug. She held him tightly and whispered a blessing in his ear. Blaise watched them with a smile, feeling content and loved.
They finally took their seats, and Aurelius saw the livid look on Lily's face for the first time. He pretended not to.
The food materialised with a snap of the head house elf's fingers, and a soft sound of pleasure drifted amongst the diners. Aurelius saw Lily's expression change from livid to contentment as she began tasting the delicacies. He couldn't help but frown in irritation. The woman could enjoy and smile at the food, but not at him? He quickly pushed away the thought and put on a neutral expression, not wanting to let her know how her behaviour affected him. Instead, he focused on the food, determined to enjoy the evening and forget the awkwardness. Despite the situation, he smiled and laughed with the others, determined as he was to put on a good show. He noticed that Sala did not join in the festivities, nor did he eat. Worried, Aurelius put some food on his plate, as they usually had done in the orphanage. Sala treated him with such a broken look Aurelius felt his heart stop.
The first course was a selection of canapes with caviar, truffles, and foie gras, accompanied by various fine wines. There were miniature sandwiches with cucumber, cream cheese, smoked salmon, and a selection of colourful fruit jellies for the children. Silence fell, and the only sound left was the silver against ceramic and the occasional sound of vocal appreciation.
Just as the second course was served, Sala spoke up, unable to contain his worry any longer. Aurelius watched as he turned to Lily. "So, where's Harry? What happened to him?" he asked, his eyes watering. Lily sighed and shook her head. "I don't know, he said he'd be here, but he never showed up." Sala looked away, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "I hope he's okay," he said softly.
Aurelius felt an overwhelming sense of anger and resentment as he glared at the woman, though either she didn't notice or feigned ignorance. Sala was still trying to communicate with Lily, but all he could hear was how strangled Sala's voice was, which hurt. The woman who had given birth to him acted as if Aurelius was worthless and didn't even bother putting up a front for his friends. The young Zabini could tell Sala struggled to remain composed as he spoke, but he was failing. Aurelius felt a rush of sadness and regret. He should have spoken up sooner but felt too scared. Lily had somehow made him frozen in place, frozen in all the ways that counted. Aurelius was terrified to confront his biological mother and finally put an end to her mistreatment. When he thought about it, now his biological mother was the Duchessa, which, despite the situation, made him smile softly for the briefest of moments.
"Please, Ms Evans!" Sala begged her, but she shrugged. "It's Mrs Potter," was all she said in response. Aurelius didn't understand why no one else said anything. Hadn't they seen where "Harry" had disappeared to? It was him, after all. But perhaps it was because they didn't want to get involved in a fight they didn't want to deal with.
Sala's hand shook so hard that he dropped his fork.
Taking a deep breath, he stood up. "ENOUGH!" Aurelius bellowed.
The sudden silence in the room was unnerving, but he refused to back down. Sala was more important than that.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about, woman?!" he screamed when Lily pretended this wasn't about her and silently nibbled on caviar. As a result, he became more infuriated, and waves of his magic poured out of him. "I'm Harry! And you know that full well!"
Lily raised her eyebrows, her lips around her fork, in such a disrespectful, muggle way that Aurelius was suddenly happy he hadn't been raised by her, nor would he be. "Brutta megera malvagia! Spero che tu muoia!"
Blaise and the Duchessa gasped, but he didn't care.
"What did he say?" he heard Sala ask Blaise, who had a palm covering his mouth, though, from the spare glance Aurelius sent him, he could see the boy was really hiding his smirk.
"You horrible, ugly hag, I hope you die." Blaise translated softly. Regulus snorted.
Lily, who didn't seem to be aware of what his words meant, shook her head in denial. "No, you're not Harry. You don't even look like him; why would you lie to these nice people and say you are him? You're not who you think you are." Aurelius felt as if he would explode again, and from how both Regulus and Blaise immediately jumped to him, they knew it too. Blaise held the back of his neck in a protective, almost dominating gesture, and Regulus put an arm around his waist, stroking his side in a soothing up-and-down motion. The sound of Blaise whispering, "Calmati, respira, ti amo," while Regulus said, "I love you, I'm here, I got you..."
He coughed heavily, and his voice trembled as he said, "You all saw what happened last night, didn't you?".
No one dared answer.
He stood there, staring Lily down, waiting for her to acknowledge him properly. She swallowed hard and said meekly, though her softness was fake, her voice a lilting, tinkling laugh, "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else."
"You're lying!" the boy cried, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "You were there! You saw what happened, and you saw me drinking two cups!"
"I didn't see anything!" The woman denied, her voice rising in fury. She turned to run away, but Aurelius grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at him. "Tell me the truth," he said, his grip tightening, and he knew from the way she stiffened that she felt the power of his magic in his words.
"My son died!"
"You evil bi-"!
"Aurelius Lucien Zabini!" the Duchessa said softly, her voice talking over his, holding command, much like his did, and he let go of Lily, hating her. With loathing coursing through his veins, Aurelius hoped he had caused her pain when he grabbed her but doubted it was possible. Especially if her skin was as thick as her heart.
The Duchessa and her sons seemed to intimidate Lily at first. Still, she quickly recovered and stepped back as if to display her strength and lack of fear, as Blaise's eyes had darkened, turning into cold, unfeeling coals, the pretty indigo nearly disappearing. The taller Zabini son moved in front of Aurelius, protecting the younger boy with a protective arm, even though she couldn't see him now. Blaise also glared at the woman, though the daggers he drilled into her with his eyes seemed as ineffective as Aurelius' words to her minutes earlier.
"Is she daft?" Regulus muttered to Blaise incredulously.
"Gotta be," Blaise replied, his voice a breathless whisper.
"No knives, Blaise," Aurelius said, putting his chin against his brother's shoulder as if it was now Blaise who needed to calm down.
With the Duchessa involved, Regulus sat down, but he offered Aurelius his support quietly with a heart he had created with his thumb and pointer finger.
Aurelius smiled at him, sending him a heart back, using both his thumbs and pointers.
"Mine is better," he mouthed, relishing in Regulus' grin.
Even though Blaise was ten years old, he was already taller than Lily; he used this to his advantage, hovering and scowling, but despite having two tall boys give her death glares, Lily still glowered back. She was looking at Aurelius, wordlessly conveying her hatred to him, and he felt every iota of it and hoped that she felt his back.
For some reason, Blaise was staring at him now instead, trying to convey a message he didn't understand. If it was Regulus, using words would have been unnecessary, but with Blaise, his relationship was too new, and he understood nothing.
Aurelius held her gaze, his own expression unreadable, before nodding his head in acknowledgement, making up his mind. This woman was nothing to him now.
The Duchessa was waiting for him, and despite the heavy tension in the room, she was serene. He stepped aside, allowing the Duchessa to pass with Blaise before joining them in a room a floor above the hall. Lily watched them leave, her emotions still boiling beneath the surface.
They climbed the stairs to a side chamber where the Duchessa turned to face her sons, though her attention was on Aurelius.
"Please do not do that again, Aurelius Lucien," his mother said, her voice still calm. "We have a reputation to uphold, and I fully believe Blaise and Theodore's idea to help with Pureblood study plans is wise." Aurelius bobbed his head, understanding. He had embarrassed his mother but would learn to make it up to her. The boy promised himself he would put in the work and prove to her that he was capable of being a responsible Pureblood.
Aurelius' face turned red with shame as he recalled the events in the hall. He knew he had to do better after letting his temper get the better of him, and he needed to act politely in the future.
"It's just not fair," he replied once Isabella had gestured for him to speak. He did, his voice trembling and so soft he wasn't sure his mother could hear, though she nodded as he spoke, so he continued. "I know I'm not really her son anymore, but she is pretending I'm not Harry. Even with my name change, I'm still Harry. And she's treating me like I'm a stranger, but what was she doing? Just canoodling with that other man and forgetting I'm important. She didn't even know what I was talking about when I told her she left me with horrible people." Aurelius pushed back the tears that threatened to fall. He had to be strong. He had to show Lily that it didn't matter that she acted this way, as he was now part of a family that treated him like a prince.
The Duchessa sighed, her voice going impossibly softer. "Mio tesoro, we need to talk. Sit down, please."
Aurelius sat, his eyes searching her for any sign of judgement. Instead, he found only warmth and motherly tenderness.
In a gentle but firm tone, his mother said, "I know what just happened really upset you, but your behaviour was improper." Chagrined, Aurelius hung his head. It would have been better if she had shouted at him, but her soft acceptance and unconditional love tightened his throat, and his tears threatened to fall again. He was grateful for his mother's unwavering support, even in his moments of weakness. He knew she was right and needed to learn to control himself.
Aurelius lowered his gaze, guilt and remorse washing over him. He hadn't realised the extent of his actions until now, though he would refuse to apologise to Lily if anyone asked.
"I'm sorry, Mother," Aurelius said quietly. I didn't mean to cause trouble or disrespect anyone. I just... I felt lost and overwhelmed."
His mother reached out to touch his hand; her voice was filled with compassion. "I understand, mio tesoro, but remember, we are a family now. We care for you deeply, and with that comes certain expectations. We want you to grow into the best version of yourself, and we want you to feel like you can lean on us as we can lean on you."
Aurelius nodded, feeling the weight of her words. It was a realisation that he needed guidance and structure to navigate this altered life he found himself in.
The Duchessa smiled warmly at him, stroking his hair. "I will help you with your lessons from Theodore and Blaise, perhaps something beyond what they can teach. Obscure Magics of the Zabini family."
Aurelius' eyes widened with surprise and delight. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes for him. It showed they genuinely cared for his well-being and wanted to give him every opportunity to succeed. It was more than Lily ever did for him. Though he shook that thought, as Lily never did anything for him, why should he even compare?
As a result of the gesture, Aurelius was extremely grateful and thanked them profusely for their kindness. It was a feeling of warmth and gratitude, unlike anything the Zabini boy had ever experienced. It was a gift he would never take for granted. He knew he had been given an opportunity that he would not be able to let go of.
Feeling emotional, Aurelius said, his voice quivering, "Thank you, Mother. I... I didn't expect this treatment. After everything I've been through, it's difficult to believe I've found a family who loves me and treats me like royalty."
The Duchessa's eyes shimmered with unspoken emotions. Without a word, she enveloped Aurelius in a soft, maternal embrace. It was a silent affirmation of the love and acceptance he found in their family. He melted into the embrace, feeling like he'd found a good home. He felt grateful for the unconditional love and support the Duchessa had given him. He knew he'd never forget this moment.
His mother leaned forward and whispered, "Tu sei prezioso, Aurelius. Remember that always. You are not defined by the past but by the love and support surrounding you now. And you may think of us as your real family as if you were born from my womb, as I will treat you as such."
Aurelius clung to her, tears of relief streaming down his cheeks. That was the moment he realised he had indeed found where he belonged. He was valued and treasured for who he truly was, and Lily didn't matter.
A genuine smile spread over Aurelius' face. Having all his brothers as well as a real family was now his reality. As soon as things calmed down, he would need to retest the bond Regulus and Sala had created a day ago to ensure it was still safe and whole. There was a sense that days, weeks, months, and years had passed, but not just 24 hours and in the aftermath of so much, he briefly felt whiplash-like effects.
As the embrace continued, time stood still, and strangely, tiny purple butterflies began to flutter above his and his mother's head. Blaise's laugh startled him from the embrace, and the Duchessa glanced at him while Aurelius peeked out from behind her dress robes, feeling small.
"He's definitely a Zabini, mother. He created the Zabini butterflies."
Isabella giggled, a sound he had never and likely would never hear again. "Indeed he is."
"Sorry, but," Aurelius muttered, sitting down next to Blaise to pull in the other boy's warmth in the draughty room. "What are Zabini butterflies?"
"It's part of the obscure magics I talked about," the Duchessa explained. "When a Zabini male feels happy and loved, his magic transcends into a visual phenomenon. Butterflies that fly within a purple mist, and is proof of the connection between him and his beloved."
"Or, in this case, a strong connection as a mother." Blaise put in helpfully as the beloved comment made Aurelius tilt his head to the side in confusion like a lost puppy. "What I mean to say," Blaise continued, "is that you two have a strong bond that surpasses that of a normal parent-child relationship. It's like you two share a soul." "And it will also happen for whoever will be your soulmate in the future." The Duchessa added, "Blaise also has the same kind of connection with me, which is probably why he is already so protective of you." The Duchessa smiled lovingly at Blaise before turning back to her second son. "It's an extraordinary bond that we share, and I'm so glad you have it too." Isabella paused momentarily, holding Blaise and Aurelius' hands and merging them, pouring magic into their intermingled hands.
"I love seeing how close you are to one another. I hope you cherish every moment you spend with each other because those memories will last forever. It's something you'll never regret investing in."
Blaise gasped simultaneously with Aurelius as a spark of magic dipped into their skin.
"No matter how hard life gets, you will have each other. Your friendship will be a source of strength and lift you up in difficult times. Cherish it always and never take it for granted."
"Yes, Mother," Blaise said hoarsely, leaning against the woman, who was stoic and cold to everyone except her children.
"Ti voglio tanto bene, mamma." Aurelius added as he, too, leaned against the woman.
"Are you ready to return to the dining hall now?" the Duchessa asked of both sons. The two brothers exchanged quick glances, and one nodded. "Yes," they replied in unison. They followed the Duchessa out of the room, though Aurelius was reluctant to return to the chaos and confusion they had left, which had hopefully calmed down by now.
Aurelius bit his lip, feeling the warmth of love and contentment course through him. Blaise protected him repeatedly since he was brought into the family. It wouldn't stop now, even if he did have to face Lily again.
He smiled at his brother and the Duchessa, knowing he belonged there. Together, they descended the stairs and returned to the dining hall. No one spoke, seemingly too awkward, though Aurelius caught Regulus' look, tapped his wrist as if a watch were there, held up ten fingers, waited for a nod, and then returned to his food. He would meet with the other boy later if all turned out well.
The meal ended soon after, and Aurelius left the dining hall, anticipation coursing through him. He waved Blaise away with a gentle whisper, and the boy obliged, going ahead first. He waited outside the door, hidden from view in the shadows, until Regulus appeared. They shared a brief grin and headed out into the night. Regulus and Aurelius rushed through the darkness, their footsteps echoing in the still air. They stopped at the edge of the forest, looking back at the castle one last time. Then, they turned and disappeared into the night, allowing the large trees to offer them cover.
"Don't leave the wards, Harry," Regulus murmured, pulling the other boy towards him just as he was about to step too far out.
"I know it's only been a day that I've been Aurelius, but you're the first person to call me Harry with this face."
"No matter what kind of stupid nicknames anyone might come up with, you'll always be Harry to me,"
"Honestly, in private, it would be nice to be called Harry, though when we are in public, you will need to call me some version of Aurelius. No one outside these walls can know who I am, or rather, who I was."
"You're still Harry, don't worry. But yes, I genuinely understand."
A companionable silence fell over them as they lay on the grass, staring at the stars above them. It was a moment of connection, a brief respite from the worries of the world. As they lay there, they could feel the energy of the universe around them, a sense of peace and serenity.
"Where is Sala?" Aurelius asked, turning around to be half on top of the older boy. When he moved, he noticed that, funnily enough, Sala was standing a few meters away, looking out at the stars just like they were. It was so typical of him that affection bloomed in his chest, and the boy let out a hysterical giggle. Sala turned around, smiled at the two boys, and stepped closer to join them. Together, they all lay on the grass, taking in the beauty of the night sky.
"I'm glad you found us, honestly." Aurelius began, his heart pounding in his chest cavity. "I'm guessing by now you realise from the outburst that my face no longer matches my name."
Sala nodded, twirling his fingers around Aurelius'. "Lily was wrong for what she said."
Aurelius didn't answer, feeling shy suddenly at the attention he was getting. "It really should have been more obvious to me," Sala continued. "I'm not the same as I was either, and when suddenly one person disappears and is replaced by another..."
"Right, but don't forget that Blaise wasn't here yesterday either; you couldn't have possibly known that I, too, was not a guest that was brought into the Fidelius charm of Highclere Castle. Especially since I'm almost a copy-paste of Blaise, though I do have nicer and longer hair than he does," Aurelius teased.
Sala shrugged, fixing his position so his head was on Aurelius' stomach.
Aurelius paused, allowing his thoughts to form into words before he spoke. "I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner, but I was with Blaise all day, busy with endeavouring to get lessons, and by the time we came back, it was time to eat, and everyone was already at the table, and I didn't want to make a scene, though that ended up happening anyway."
Regulus and Sala were watching him, allowing him to speak and offering silent companionship. Though they were in a different place, with a completely new life, he felt like they were back in the orphanage once more, and it settled down his nerves a bit.
Aurelius took a deep breath, pulling in the comfort of his boys around him. "Last night, I...I was adopted," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, obviously, you know that."
Neither boy interrupted him.
"By blood," Aurelius added, wincing at how dumb he sounded. "Sorry! You know that too! I'm just nervous..."
Sala kissed his forehead, then lay back down on the grass, moving closer to Aurelius as he did.
Aurelius squeezed Regulus' hand and continued. "I found out that my real mum abandoned me, and...and that's why I've always felt like something was missing, you know? You saw how she acted today. You would think that after so much time without me, getting me back would be what's important, not what I look like or whether or not I still have her eyes..."
Sala inclined his head, reaching up in his typical way to stroke Harry's hair, even though it was no longer the same.
"Yes, I saw, Lily. We both did, and I didn't like her either. She said so many mean things after you left with your mum, and it took all I had to keep Regulus in his seat."
Aurelius snorted, startled. "Yeah, sounds like she's a right piece of work."
"Well, it's weird that 'mum' is effectively accurate - or was - with both women. But I'm glad that the Duchessa is yours now. She loves you more than Lily ever did, even though she only blood-adopted you yesterday. It's obvious in her every action." Regulus said thoughtfully.
It was both liberating and sad that Sala referred to the Duchessa as his mum. Still, with how he had bonded with the woman, he was glad everyone saw what a wonderful woman she was, and he wholeheartedly agreed with Regulus.
Sala's expression softened when Aurelius didn't respond. "Oh, Harry, no matter what happens, so many people love you for you, and it doesn't matter your appearance or your name. You're ours!"
Aurelius put a hand to his heart, his mouth falling open. He could feel a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thank you, Sala..."
Aurelius paused, putting his words together slowly, as when he was overwhelmed, putting words together was incredibly difficult. "I didn't have time to say all this, as I slept immediately after. I collapsed, you know…I made a mistake, and it almost caused a magical catastrophe. As it is, it's obvious I'm not Harry anymore. I mean, I'll always be Harry, but we have to work on not saying Harry in public. I'm a Zabini now. I was just telling this to Regulus before you came." Regulus nodded, looking regal even though he was sprawled on the lawn of Highclere Castle.
Sala shook his head. "Harry — Ah, Aurelius, you're not alone," he said his voice kind. "You have people who care about you, no matter what. Don't forget that."
After what felt like hours but must have only been minutes, Aurelius started shivering.
"We'd best get back," Regulus said, gracefully getting to his feet and pulling the other two boys to theirs.
Regulus, now in control of the situation, led the boys through the castle gates. It was clear that the excitement of their adventure had worn off, as the journey back had taken them fifteen minutes longer than expected.
The inside of the Castle was already quiet, and Regulus waved at them once he reached his rooms, which, although plentiful, he still shared with Ursa.
"Goodnight, my darlings," Regulus said softly before turning around and closing the door lightly behind him.
Sala bit his lip. "Aurelius is really a mouthful, do you know that?"
For the first time that day, Harry laughed. "Theodore said the same thing."
"Theodore?" Sala asked, pulling the boy into his own bedroom, and Aurelius obliged, getting changed out of his damp clothes.
"Are your clothes wet too?" Aurelius asked, watching the other boy pull his clothes off as if it were a second skin.
"Yup."
"I don't know where I'm supposed to put this," Aurelius muttered, holding it in his arms. "Um, Lysandra?"
The elf popped in, smiling happily at him. "Yes, Master Luxy."
Sala glanced at him, mouthing the word 'Luxy?' Harry shrugged.
"I don't know what to do with my new stuff," he told her as he handed her his clothes. Immediately, she handed him the loveliest pair of pyjamas he had ever seen in his life. They were sewn out of the silkiest, softest fabric that made him swallow, his heart aching with what must have been love. Aurelius gave himself a mental reminder to thank his mother in the morning. She deserved to be acknowledged, even if it was just a mere thank you.
"Put this on, Master. The Duchessa likes this for her sons."
"Can you find something for Sala too? He will stay here with me tonight." Lysandra nodded and handed him another pair of pyjamas made of the same fabric. Harry made sure not to say anything in case Lysandra wasn't supposed to share the expensive pyjamas with others.
"You know you're in my room, right?" Sala whispered cheekily once Lysandra left.
"I don't think it makes a difference to her what room she pops into, Sala." Aurelius snarked.
Once the two of them were ready for bed, Harry climbed in and opened the blanket, gesturing for Sala to do the same, and Sala did, scurrying over and wrapping his arms around him.
"It's not weird for you that I'm different?" Aurelius asked, feeling self-conscious.
"If you didn't notice," Sala drawled, gesturing to himself, "I'm hardly the same person I was yesterday. My looks changed just like yours."
"Yes, but you're beautiful now; you're perfect…" Harry said, lowering his eyes, terrified to look at Sala, who was staring at him with such intensity he couldn't take it.
"And you're not?" Sala whispered, pressing his thumb over the other boys' lips, not moving it even as Harry's tongue flickered out nervously. "You're just as handsome and stunning as you were yesterday, and no one will stop loving you just because you're different now. And if people can't know that you're Harry, that's okay. We can keep it among ourselves."
Aurelius felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Sala was right. He wasn't alone anymore. He had friends, and family, who accepted him for who he was, and he had Sala, who was here, loving him so much and being so good to him. Aurelius moved his face so that Sala's fingers fell over his cheek. He opened his eyes and looked at Sala, suddenly feeling like he was the luckiest person in the world. Aurelius wanted to thank him for everything and show him how much the other boy meant to him. He leaned forward and kissed Sala softly, remembering how he had thanked Theo and nodded solemnly.
"Taking my first kiss and second, huh, Potter?" Sala drawled, kissing his nose before pulling the boy even closer to him.
"Thanks, Sala," he said, ignoring his flaming cheeks as he spoke, his voice filled with emotion. "I...I appreciate it." What else could he say? Words sometimes could not express what he felt inside, and it was then that he realised it would need to be shown with actions instead. Sala was good with that; he always had been. The boy was more brilliant than anyone gave him credit for.
Sala drew him impossibly closer that even a parchment couldn't fit between them now. It took a moment for them to realise they were nearly the same size, and after many adjustments, the two of them finally found the perfect angle where they could cuddle. "Anytime, Lucien," Sala said, grinning.
"Lucien?" Aurelius asked, rolling his eyes but pressing himself more firmly against the other boy and enjoying how Sala's arms tightened around him automatically. He didn't bother telling him how awesome Lucien sounded coming out of Sala's mouth with a perfect French accent, for he feared the boy would feel embarrassed and cease calling him that.
"I do not intend to call you some weird insipid nickname. Lucien is your name, just like Aurelius and Harry and all the other nicknames everyone will likely come up with."
"Indeed," Aurelius quirked.
It was then that in a quiet corner of Highclere Castle, Aurelius, now known as Lucien to Sala, found solace in the arms of his beloved brother. They nestled together, their bond strong and unbreakable, the weight of their hardships only bringing them closer together.
"I want to ensure our Parseltongue still connects us," Aurelius whispered. "Let's speak in the language of serpents and our hearts."
Sala smiled softly. "Lucien, it's still there, strong as ever. Our connection transcends words. But definitely, we can speak in Parseltongue, and I love that it's a language no one else knows."
"Unless we get a snake, of course."
"We should both get a snake. We can ask our mums to buy one for us."
Aurelius tried to imagine what the Duchessa's face would look like if he asked her for a snake and laughed. "I'll try."
They intertwined their fingers, their eyes locked, and a familiar serpentine language flowed between them.
Harry looked deeply into Sala's eyes and said, "~Sala, my dear brother, I want you to know that you mean everything to me. Your presence brings light to my darkest moments. I love you more than words can express.~"
Tears welled up in Sala's eyes as he responded, "~Lucien, you've become my rock, my guiding star. In a world that sometimes feels uncertain, your love is my constant. I love you with all my heart.~"
Their embrace tightened, sealing their unspoken promises in a language only they could understand. The air around them seemed to shimmer with the depth of their emotions, and a flicker of magic unseen by either of them fell into their beings, white and purple and flickering.
Aurelius leaned in and hissed, "~Sala, even when we disagreed, even when I was lost, your unwavering love kept me grounded. I treasure every moment we share.~"
Sala, his voice filled with emotion, replied, "~Lucien, you've brought light and laughter back into my life. You've shown me what it means to be loved and to love in return. You are my family, my forever.~"
Their hearts swelled with affection, their love transcending any words or labels. In that tender moment, Aurelius and Sala found solace and security in their bond, the power of their adoration erasing any doubts or fears.
Aurelius pressed a gentle kiss to Sala's forehead and said, "Tu sei speciale," before switching back to Parseltongue, "~our journey together is just beginning. Remember that we will always have each other no matter where life takes us. You are my home.~"
Nuzzling closer, Sala whispered with love, "~Lucien, you are my safe haven, my guiding light. Together, we'll navigate whatever lies ahead. I am forever grateful for the love we share.~"
Their whispered declarations of love echoed in the depths of their souls, a symphony of affection and devotion that would guide them through the trials and triumphs of their intertwined lives. In that moment, Harry and Sala knew their love was unbreakable, bound by a language and connection beyond words, and destined to create a future filled with endless warmth and happiness.
On any other day, Aurelius might have felt silly for expressing his love for the boy falling asleep in his arms, but today felt different. They had both needed it. With a soft smile, he kissed Sala's lips again before closing his eyes, happy with everything once more. He felt content, safe and loved, and for a moment, he forgot all his worries and the world outside of their embrace. It was just him and Sala, and that was enough.
"That's three kisses now, Sala," he mumbled as he began to fall into a slumber.
"Knob." Was the affectionate reply.