Chapter 23
Harry was nervous. He'd traveled to Wiltshire with the others almost as soon as he'd arrived in London and knew that at some time today, Draco would be making his way to his own ancestral home - right next door to Harry's. There was a lot to do before the meeting that night but he already had a plan and as he ate his breakfast Harry chuckled, thinking of it.
As soon as he'd awakened, Harry had contacted Zebrawood's Headmistress and told her of Dudley's 'illness'. She seemed to doubt his sincerity but didn't ask questions, only looking unhappy as she set about making the arrangements. Moments ago, she'd sent two days worth of homework assignments through the floo.
"It's nice to have you home, Harry, but I think this is more than I would've gotten if I was actually in class." Dudley grumbled as he looked through the stack of pages.
Harry smiled sympathetically. "Sorry. It was the only thing I could think of. Sirius and Remus are adults and wouldn't need a fifteen year old to take care of them...and you are technically my dependent."
Dudley sighed. "I get it."
"Thanks." Harry grinned. "It's just two days."
Dudley nodded, resignedly. "If I get started this morning and only break for meals, I should finish in time to see you off to your meeting and then I'll have all day tomorrow to goof off."
Harry was proud of his cousin. He didn't think the other boy would appreciate the sentiment so he kept it to himself but the old Dudley would've put his assignments off to the latest point he could and Harry knew this was a big change in his cousin. Another big change was his waistline! Dudley had lost some weight and while he wasn't sporting a six- pack of abs, it was definitely a vast improvement. "I'll have some things to do too, Dudley."
Sirius and Remus joined them at the table and Harry told them about the founders' rooms and the things he'd found there. He filled them in on his plans for the new Founders Library and the plants from Hufflepuff's quarters. He even told them about the basilisk corpse that was well preserved enough to be harvested.
As they finished their meals the younger men agreed to spend some time doing homework together in the library that day.
While waiting for Mcgonagall to send along his assignments, Harry took the time to write some letters to his assistant, his solicitor, and his estate manager. The reports he received from each of them were well detailed and he was able to set several things in motion.
For one, Neville's grandmother was the next member of the wizengamut he'd be meeting and Percy wrote to inform him that she'd agreed to meet but had one condition. She was insisting on visiting the school one evening during the week instead of using the ministry office so that she could see Neville. Harry readily agreed, realizing that it would make his life easier.
Similarly, the minister and the toad-like woman that he'd met several weeks ago - the one who dressed all in pink - were bending over backwards to accommodate him...or rather, make up for the offenses he might've felt through the horrible media coverage over the summer. Most of the other members asked to meet at the ministry offices so he told Percy to try grouping them on a weekend.
On the other hand, an example of someone who wasn't making things easy on him was Madam Amelia Bones. She hadn't gotten back to Percy, so Harry decided to try writing to her in person.
Once that letter was sent off, he moved on to the package from his solicitor. It contained a book on the rules of wizengamut session meetings and he vowed to read it as soon as he could.
Korlag had written to let Harry know the state of his affairs and that Lord Lucius Malfoy had been asking about him. This reminded Harry to ask if he had any betrothal agreements in his name. Thankfully Korlag was able to ease the young lord's mind, stating that neither his parents nor Dumbledore had made those kinds of arrangements.
"What's with the huge sigh of relief, pup?" His godfather asked as he joined Harry in the library.
"I asked Korlag if I was betrothed." Harry replied. "Apparently, my mum and dad didn't believe in it and Dumbledore hadn't thought about it yet."
"Betrothal?" Sirius gaped at the younger man. "What would make you think about that at your age?"
"You heard Draco the other night - he's inherited some creature traits from one of his ancestors. One of them is the urge to find a mate and they're certain it's me because of... well, the other trait he inherited from the creature." Harry told him carefully. "He saw my dreams, you know... without any kind of rituals or Legilimency. That can only happen with this particular creature's mate, Siri, and I wanted to make sure I didn't have any obstacles to a happy relationship with him."
"I can understand that, pup." Sirius thought about this. "Will you ask for a betrothal contract from Malfoy?"
Harry shook his head. "I want to go out with Draco for a while and ask him to marry me when I'm ready."
Sirius nodded slowly. "Good plan, but what if he asks for a contract?"
"Then I suppose I'll do it..." Harry admitted with a soft smile. "...but he's the bearer and my title is higher than his dad's so isn't it my job to offer a contract for him?"
"There's no set rules for that, kiddo." Sirius chuckled. "Don't forget the other possibility. What if Dumbledore does something to obstruct your relationship?"
"Then, God help him, for Merlin will not." A devious grin suddenly spread across Harry's face. "I have an idea. I'll have to speak with Draco first, though, and make sure we're on the same page."
Remus entered the library at that moment with a handful of parchment scrolls. "I was just speaking with Minerva. She sent your assignments through."
"Great!" Harry said. "Thanks. Were you able to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Granger?"
"Not yet." Remus set the scrolls down and sat beside Sirius to join the conversation. "Apparently after dropping Hermione off at King's Cross, they went abroad for a while. I went to their dental office and the receptionist said there were several conventions they were set to attend but they'll be back in time for the Christmas holidays."
Harry sighed sadly. "Did you check out their house? Attempt to owl?"
"I'm sorry, Harry." Remus shook his head. "There were several hotel advertisements scattered through the house and most of their clothing was gone. The suitcases were missing. No signs of a struggle. Everything I saw indicates that the Grangers went away willingly."
"I don't like this." Harry frowned. "It feels off - wrong somehow."
"If it would make you feel better..." Sirius could tell that Harry was really bothered by this situation. "I can poke around as a dog tomorrow, pup."
"Really?" Harry smiled at his godfather as the animagus nodded.
Remus was relieved to be able to move on to the topic he felt was more pressing. "Now, how are we going to get Severus to agree to train you and your cousins?"
"First, I have to make sure he didn't help Dumbledore take me from my rightful place in the world." Harry told the older man. "Then we can discuss the possibility of him training us."
"I understand your caution, Harry. Truly, I do, but-" Remus started.
"Don't." Harry glared at him. "Just don't. I don't trust him. I barely trust you right now and I want to trust you."
Remus looked down sadly and Harry could tell the man was hurt.
"It's not your fault. I know that and I'm sorry." Harry sighed. "I love you, Moony, but until you've been cleansed of Dumbledore's magic, I have to be careful."
"This..." The first real flashes of anger sparked in the werewolf's eyes. He'd been upset about the things the old coot had done to Sirius and Harry, but he didn't feel like they really affected him. "This is the worst thing he's done to me ...he's made you doubt my loyalty." He fumed but deep down, he understood.
"I don't question your loyalty, Moony. I don't believe you'd act against me if you were given the choice." Harry explained sadly. "His magic subverts your loyalty. Once you've been cleansed, I'll be able to trust you with all of my secrets. I promise."
"I'm not going with you tonight, am I?" Remus asked, already knowing the answer.
Harry shook his head. "No."
"Just you and me, right, kiddo?" Sirius asked as his lover stood and walked sadly out of the room.
"I'm not sure you should come either, Sirius." The young lord looked at his godfather. "Your temper can lead you to rash acts. Can you promise not to let anyone's words or attitudes get to you?"
"You mean Snivelus." Sirius grimaced but he couldn't stand the thought of Harry going to this meeting alone.
"I mean anyone." Harry quickly corrected him. "The Malfoys will be there as well as Snape... and let's not forget that the whole reason for the meeting is that Voldemort himself wants to talk to me." When Sirius remained silent, Harry pushed the final button. "Now, I've asked that Wormtail be excluded for everyone's safety, but I can't exclude the main person of interest."
Sirius took a deep breath and set his resolve with a nod. "I promise to be good, pup."
"For Godric's sake, Padfoot!" Harry chuckled at the nickname. "Please don't call me that while we're there?"
"Yes, milord Potter, sir!" Sirius joked.
"It was agreed that I was coming. There was no mention of bringing a guest." Harry sighed. "I suppose I should write to Lucius Malfoy to be sure you're part of the agreement."
Sirius only nodded. "Why don't you see if Draco can visit before the meeting?"
"That's part of my plan." Harry grinned at the idea. "I want to wait until he gets there, though. I want to see if he can see me through the wards from his end."
"Like you did this summer." Sirius laughed. "Nice one!"
Harry grinned and pulled out a new sheet of parchment.
The morning had gone almost exactly as Severus said it would. During breakfast, Professor Mcgonagall announced that the arithmancy professor was ill and so her classes were canceled for the day.
The only real deviation from Severus' prediction was that Slughorn had kept him after class to ask about the search for Slytherin's secret quarters. Draco let him know that they had several theories of where to begin but no solid leads.
The excuse of meeting his godfather for lunch quickly got him out of a tedious conversation with his ex. He accepted the information he'd requested but noticed Roger's dodgy behavior and filed it away to mention to Harry.
He followed Severus to a Hogsmead cafe where they ate lunch. As they left the cafe, his father met them with the news that Draco was needed at home for a legal matter dealing with his inheritance. He said he'd already spoken to Dumbledore and handed Severus a letter which stated that he was to see the young Mr. Malfoy safely home and back to school the next morning.
As Draco threw the floo powder into the grate at the safehouse, he realized that he'd missed seeing Potter at breakfast and in class. He then berated himself for being a sap and spoke the name of his family's estate.
When Draco arrived in the front hall of Malfoy Manor, it was bustling as it had the day he left for school. His mother was directing the elves in cleaning the house and preparing for guests. His father, having gone through the floo first, was now attempting to borrow one elf to clean his study and another for the library.
Severus exited the floo behind him and looked right in the direction of the Dark Lord who had just emerged from the upstairs hallway onto the staircase landing.
Draco noticed his godfather's attention was elsewhere and looked up as well. "Uncle!"
Voldemort's nod to the young Dragonlord was regal and reserved.
Draco knew his grandfather had been the one to tell Uncle Tom about the blood relation to Merlin and upon his return several months ago, Lucius had informed him of Draco's powers. Since then, he'd been keeping the man informed of every step... until Friday, when he'd allowed the secrecy spell to restrict him. Draco wondered what his father had told his mother and uncle.
Voldemort remained fairly stoic as he watched the Malfoy heir climb the stairs to meet him.
Lucius had arrived home on Friday night and immediately sought out his wife and old friend in order to tell them that he was under a secrecy spell and couldn't say much. This had frustrated them all but nothing could be done so Lucius had told them what he could and that amounted to two topics - the developments in Draco's powers and his burgeoning relationship with young Potter.
Draco's powers as a Dragonlord were expected to advance the next time he came into contact with one of the ancient species. He could already sense the presence of a dragon or flight of them and feel the emotions of one or more dragons. Apparently the next step was speaking to one but Lucius had revealed that something else had awakened in him instead - a creature inheritance that hadn't manifested since Merlin himself. The boy was part succubus - he'd dreamwalked and shown signs of being mated to the young Lord Potter.
The more time he had to think about the idea the more he became a fan of it. The two boys would look striking together - one with black hair and olive skin, one with pale blond hair and skin like porcelain.
"Draco." He said lightly. "Come visit with me."
Draco smiled. His father was busy and his mother hadn't yet noticed his arrival so he shrugged and moved toward the door behind his uncle. "You seem more ... yourself."
"Since last we met, I have reclaimed one of my enchanted objects." Voldemort confided in the boy. "Join me while they finish up. Lucius! Narcissa! I'm kidnapping your son for a while. Let us know when you are ready for our presence."
Draco chuckled at the surprised expression on his mother's face as she looked up at them. She hurried to greet him but quickly allowed him to go off with their friend.
"Your hair has begun to grow back and your skin has a more natural tone!" Draco commented.
Voldemort sighed sadly. "Indeed, but I didn't want to speak of such things just yet, young man! You've only just arrived and your guest will not be here for a few hours. Let us have tea and speak of happy things for now."
"Oh, come now!" Draco blushed. "You'll hardly wish to hear about silly things like how Harry flirts with me and if I kissed him last night!"
"On the contrary!" Voldemort's eyes lit up. "I want to hear anything my nephew wishes to tell me."
Draco replied primly. "I'd rather not, thank you."
Voldemort sighed. "Very well, what would you like to talk about?"
Draco sipped his tea slowly in an effort to figure out what to say. He couldn't talk about Harry's powers but only Blaise and Pansy had sworn secrecy about the secret rooms that belonged to Salazar Slytherin. "I'd prefer my father to be here when I speak about the secret quarters of the founders... but we could talk about my classes."
Voldemort sighed but understood. "Very well, how are things going?"
Draco told him all about his arithmancy and runes classes. Then he grinned at his uncle when the man asked about his potions classes and how Slughorn was conducting them.
Voldemort laughed at the mention of his former teacher. "Has he invited you to one of his parties yet?"
Draco frowned. "Parties?"
"Yes!" Voldemort cried. "Old Horace used to throw wonderfully intimate gatherings for his favorite students! Don't tell me that he's stopped!"
"Perhaps he doesn't have favorites yet." The young blond offered.
"Don't be absurd." Voldemort frowned. "You would be on top of his list along with Potter and Diggory."
"Perhaps Dumbledore has influenced him in some way." Draco suggested.
Voldemort hummed. "Perhaps so...Tell me, how is Severus doing with his favorite subject!"
"I am doing well, I believe, My Lord." Severus said as he entered the room. "Draco, you have a letter."
Draco took his mail and wondered how anyone knew he was here until he saw the handwriting. "It's from Harry!"
Severus made a face. "And what does Lord Potter have to say?"
"He wants me to go to the pool and look through the hedge." Draco frowned at his uncle. "How did he know I had one?"
"One what? A pool or a hedge?" Voldemort averted his eyes and shrugged as he greeted Draco's father. "Lucius."
"You know something, Uncle." Draco scanned the older man's face. "Somehow...I know you do."
"Ooh! Massster, will you finally tell him?"
"Hush, Nagini." Voldemort glared at the snake who had just poked her head out from under the couch to join them.
Draco watched his uncle interact with his familiar. "She knows something..." Draco thought back to the day Nagini had found her way home. "Why would he...? No. It can't be that simple..." Draco snapped his fingers and an elf appeared. "My cloak, please, Dainty."
The elf popped away and quickly brought the young master his cloak.
Draco glared at the older men as he wrapped the fabric around himself. "I thought the area to the west was forest. Did you know, Father?"
"Know what?" Lucius asked innocently.
"That my boyfriend's ancestral home was directly next door?" Draco narrowed his eyes at his father.
"Now, how would I know something like that?" Lucius allowed his eyebrows to rise.
Draco glared a moment longer before sweeping off toward the lagoon. He hurried through the garden and as he entered his favorite place on the grounds, he tried to recall which direction Nagini had come from.
He heard someone following him and wasn't surprised when all three men joined him.
"Nagini says, it's that way." Voldemort motioned vaguely to the west.
Draco ignored his uncle's dismissive attitude and began to move branches to try and see through the hedge. At first, all he saw were bushes and leaves. Then, suddenly, there were green eyes.
"Harry." He murmured in pleasant surprise.
The other boy frowned and pointed to his ear while shaking his head.
"The wards are keeping him from hearing me, Father." Draco glanced over at him.
The older man sighed. "Oh, very well." He moved his wand and a silver spell hit the warded hedge.
"Draco!" Harry called; his happiness was visible.
The blond kept his amusement hidden. "You really couldn't have just told me you're my next door neighbor?"
"Nope!" Harry laughed. "You wouldn't have believed me! Can you come over for a while?"
Draco glanced at his father who frowned and looked at his friends for guidance.
"Didn't you say the boy had questions for Severus?" Voldemort asked, looking at his host. "If they could settle their differences before our meeting, it would save precious time."
Lucius nodded once. "Very well, Draco may visit... if Severus escorts him."
"If you insist." Severus grimaced disdainfully.
"Alright." Harry approved the idea.
"We'll be there by floo in a trice." Draco declared. "What's the address?"
"Potter Grove." Harry told him before backing away.
Harry sent Ziva to get Sirius and rushed into the floo room just in time to see Draco appear in the fireplace. "I missed you this morning."
"Sap!" Draco felt his face warm. "Me too. Now, share the secret! How did you know I live next door?"
"I'll tell you later." Harry laughed but they both sobered as Sirius joined them.
The older brunet smirked and bowed slightly. "Cousin."
Draco grinned as the fireplace came to life again. Severus came into view and Sirius' smirk fell flat.
"I swore to be on my best behavior." Sirius growled. "Don't make me break a promise to my godson."
"Interestingly enough," Severus replied, dispassionately. "I have made a similar vow."
Sirius huffed. "Remus is meeting us in the dining room...if you'll follow us."
The walk through the halls was silent, though that gave Harry a chance to sneak his hand into Draco's.
Remus was seated when they walked in. "Hello, Severus."
Harry offered everyone seats and allowed himself a smug grin as he took the chair at the head of the table.
"I've heard that you wished to speak to me outside of the school's walls." Severus lifted an eyebrow.
"Away from Dumbledore. Yes." Harry replied. "You see, I have certain experiences with you and my uncles have given similar accounts to mine but new sources bring the old ones into question and I find myself needing to get my answers from the hippogriff's mouth - so to speak."
"Oh?" In spite of himself, Severus admitted his interest was piqued.
"I'll admit that Draco is one of my new sources." Harry's eyes softened as he let them flick over to his partner. "Blaise and Pansy also have quite good opinions of you. I need to know where you stand, Professor."
"In regards to...?" The older man drawled.
"I'll come right to the point." Harry sighed in frustration. "I no longer trust Headmaster Dumbledore. This calls everyone he has made me trust into suspicion."
"If you have specific questions, ask them, boy." Severus snapped, to the shock of his godson.
Remus and Sirius took offense on his behalf as well but the young lord couldn't remain aloof in the face of the non-name his uncle used to use for him.
"How dare you?" Harry snarled but took a deep breath to try and calm himself as a low rumble sounded in his mind. "I am not your student at this moment, Snape. I am the Lord of this manor, and you will treat me with respect or I will banish you from these grounds!"
Severus snorted in derision.
"I know I'm only fifteen, but my actions over the last four years warrant respect even if my title doesn't." Harry continued.
"Your actions?!" Snape's eyes widened in outrage.
"In my first year, I caught Professor Quirrell trying to steal the sorcerer's stone and stopped him... no thanks to the adults in my life who didn't believe me when I warned them it was in danger. In my second year, I fought and killed a basilisk when the adults couldn't figure out what was going on or how to stop it!" Harry railed. "Third year, I was being hunted by an escaped murderer and, not only did I survive, but I found out the truth! He wasn't a murderer at all! He was my godfather and he needed saving!"
"The sheer amount of rules you and your friends have broken-" Snape tried to argue.
"Rules only matter when they're of use to the adults." Harry spat. "They made a rule last year, didn't they? If we wanted to participate in the Triwizard Tournament we had to be 'of-age'. I was fourteen, Professor! I was fourteen years old and I didn't want to be in that tournament!"
Draco frowned at his partner but couldn't find a flaw in his argument.
"At fourteen, I outflew a dragon, saved my best friend from the depths of the Black Lake, and survived a deadly obstacle course only to be kidnapped by someone I thought was trying to kill me." Harry shouted at the older man. "When I got back to the school with new knowledge, I was sent back to my ordinary life of neglect and abuse at my relatives' hands! That was also soon disrupted. This time by dementors, forcing me to go on the run with my cousin who'd finally realized that they didn't treat me like they should!"
Snape was silently staring at him.
"I did all of that without killing myself or anyone else! Now, I'm fifteen and I'm taking control of my life." Harry told him decisively. "The old bastard has manipulated the world to get what he wants and I'm pretty sure he's disregarded a few rules in his time... but do those matter to you? Not as much as the ones I break, I'd wager...and his rule breaking gets people killed!"
Severus was speechless. He took a deep breath and sighed quietly. "I suppose I see your point."
Breathlessly, Harry waited to see what would come of it.
"Very well. What questions can I answer for you?" Severus asked, his gaze flitting from face to face.
Glaring at the older man, Harry skimmed over his discovery of Dumbledore's lies and manipulations before getting to the question. "The goblins found spells and potions in my system that had kept my full potential bound all these years." Harry swung his gaze to the man he'd known as a potion master. "Their healer had to perform a ritual and give me a potion to fix the damage."
"It was determined that the potions and spells affected everything from his mental capacity to his growth and muscle formation. It even affected his eyesight and ability to absorb nutrients as well as information." Sirius cut in, staring at the potion master. "From what I've been told, he was kept far away from the magical world until his Hogwarts letter arrived."
"After my parents died, only two people had access to me before I was left on my Aunt Petunia's doorstep." Harry put a calming hand on his godfather's arm while staring at his partner's godfather.
"Hagrid and Dumbledore." Snape confirmed.
"Yes. Now, Hagrid wouldn't hurt a fly so it had to be the old buzzard. The heart of the matter is..." Harry took a deep breath and stated his concern. "Everything he's done makes sense - from talking my father out of accepting the barony when he was alive to his disturbing interest in me. It all makes a twisted kind of sense...but only if he knew of my ancestry..."
Snape looked startled but he allowed Harry to finish speaking.
"The scrolls at Gringotts are treated with special potions that take one drop of blood to list their health issues or show a person's entire family tree and a master potioneer would be able to create those." Harry had seen the unusual reaction. "My question is... Did Dumbledore ask you to make any specialty potions around that time?"
"He didn't have to." Snape stood. "I didn't make it for him ... but I know how he got it."
Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The seventh year curriculum has contained the ancestry potion since I was a student, Potter." Snape sighed. "It's a sufficiently challenging potion for a young wizard or witch who is close to their NEWT tests. The ingredients aren't expensive or difficult to find so I didn't think anything of it when my sample was stolen that year."
"And the potions that blocked up my system?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes at the man.
"It may have escaped your notice, but the man is a powerful wizard in his own right." Snape glowered. "He could've made them himself or bought them."
Harry stared blankly. "So you..."
"He had nothing to do with depriving you of your inheritance and a healthy childhood with any of your family relations in the wizarding world." Draco smiled at his godfather. "I was certain you wouldn't do that to a helpless baby!"
"No. I wouldn't." Snape stood his ground. "I would not even do that to you."
"Ok! That's it!' Harry growled at the older man. "Get it off your chest! What do you have against me?"
"Harry, don't." Sirius sighed. "It's all my fault... mine and your dad's. We pranked him mercilessly in school. It was terrible, really, and I'm sorry! Ok? I'm insanely sorry for everything we did to you!"
"He's just a kid, Uncle Severus." Draco protested. "Nothing his father or any other family member did should affect how you treat an innocent child who wasn't even born when the offense occurred!"
"You think I'm angry over a few simple tricks and nonsense?" Severus snapped. "You nearly killed me!"
The room went so silent that Harry was sure he would hear a pin if it dropped.
"I remember that. You had gotten me a detention with Filch just before the Christmas holiday..." Sirius said in a hushed tone. "I went home and my mother's punishment was incredibly severe. I was so angry."
"Go on, Black." Severus demanded. "Tell them what you did!"
"I was annoyed by several other things that year too." Sirius shot back. "You stalked us to find out Remus' secret and ended up finding out all of our secrets. I told you to meet us near the Shrieking Shack..."
"On the night of the full moon!" Severus shouted.
"No!" Harry gasped. "Oh, Siri!"
"James saved him. It could've gone so much worse." Sirius said sadly. "I'm sorry about all of it. Really."
"I wanted you all to get expelled but Dumbledore refused." Severus hissed. "He said 'boys will be boys' and 'just a prank'. You deserved to be expelled and then forced to register your animagus forms!"
"James saved you! He kept Remus from getting to you and got you to the castle in one piece!" Sirius shook his head. "Once the event was set in motion there wasn't anything we could've done differently and you made it out completely unharmed! Stop taking it out on Harry!"
"He's just like his father!" Snape sneered. "The arrogance... and now this one is a lord and he has the audacity to insist on his title!"
"I barely get any respect from people as it is, so I sometimes have to insist on it!" Harry seethed. "Sue me!"
"Oh, but Severus! You're forgetting one key fact!" Remus aimed a hard stare at the other man. "He isn't just James' son, Severus. He's also Lily's, and damn, if she wasn't sassy herself, sometimes."
"Was she?" Harry asked in a small voice, making everyone in the room turn to look at him. "Nobody ever talks about her."
Severus stared at him for a moment before he sighed and spoke the first words of remorse. "I shall endeavor to change my behavior."
"One more thing..." Harry's voice was a tad shaky when he spoke. "Remus has been searching for a tutor to help me and my cousins learn occlumency. He says you're the best. I didn't trust you but I told him I'd consider asking as long as you weren't working with Dumbledore."
Severus sighed heavily as every eye turned to him.
"Uncle Sev?" Draco said carefully. "It's really important."
"Oh, alright!" The older man growled as he glared at Draco. "I suppose I can insert a brief overview of legilimency and occlumency into the Defense curriculum. If Dumbledore asks, we will tell him that you asked for special instruction in that area due to your wizengamut seat and I agreed because my godson badgered me into it."
Harry nodded his acceptance and turned back to the others. "Now that that's settled, I think we can go about our own business."
"Not quite." Draco interjected quietly. "The basilisk."
Severus frowned at his godson, but Harry's face lit up in surprise.
"I totally forgot about that!" Harry replied. "Sir, the basilisk I killed in my second year is preserved well enough for harvesting. Do you know how to do that?"
"I know the theory of it but they are so rare that I have never had the opportunity to attempt it." Severus' eyes widened. "I was told the chamber was inaccessible. I asked for the remains!"
"I'm not sure he lied, Professor... but I was able to access the chamber from Slytherin's secret quarters and my elf has indicated that the carcass is fairly well preserved." Harry informed him with a smirk.
Severus was reduced to staring at the boy again. A glance at his godson showed that he was telling the truth. "I know someone who has experience with butchering a basilisk corpse. I will ask her to visit. If we are through, I shall report to Lucius and The Dark Lord."
Everyone sighed in relief and Harry called Ziva to escort Severus back to the floo so he could bring Draco into the sitting room. As they sat, he told his partner about finding Nagini and accidentally helping her before transporting her to his home and chasing her through the garden. "She somehow got through my wards and then yours..."
"Well, that's easily explained." Draco interjected. "You brought her through your own wards, giving her temporary access so she could leave at any time, and she's always had access to ours."
"I see..." Harry paused to regain his train of thought. "And at that point I saw through your wards and you were sunbathing next to your pool..."
Draco's eyes widened as Harry blushed. "So you saw me in my bathing suit?"
Harry nodded.
"And?" Draco asked, one eyebrow rising.
"Stunning." Harry said softly. "Of course."
Draco smirked at him smugly.
"Ziva, call Dudley for a short visit so I can introduce him to Draco properly." Harry said, not looking away from the blond.
As they waited, Draco wandered the room and walked over to the piano. "Is this thing in tune?"
"Why?" Harry asked. "Do you play?"
"A little..." Draco murmured as he sat down on the bench.
As Harry's family members began trickling in, Draco started playing something beautiful.
Remus smiled and let the music relax him as Sirius took the seat beside him. "Clair de lune was always a favorite of mine."
"The notes have a certain quality to them." Sirius said softly. "I wonder if the composer was a wizard."
"He was a squib." Dudley answered as he joined them. "Zebrawood graduate, class of eighteen eighty five... I think."
"I heard you were attending there." Draco smiled and turned around, quickly casting a spell to have the piano continue the piece until the end.
"There are some wonderful classes at Zebrawood." Dudley looked at Harry. "Art and Music are some of the squib magics."
"You know..." Draco smirked at his partner. "It is rumoured that the woman Debussy wrote Clair de lune about was a Malfoy."
"Alright!" Harry chuckled. "We need to move on. Dudley has to get back to his homework and I have to talk to Draco about the meeting and a few other things."
Draco stood proudly and bowed slightly at the waist toward Harry's cousin. "We met on the mirror but, since Harry insists, I shall introduce myself again. I'm Draco Malfoy."
"Nice to meet you all official like." Dudley stood and offered his hand to shake. "I'm Dudley."
"I am quite glad to meet a member of Harry's family." Draco grinned. "Since he and I are dating, I'm sure I'll see you often."
Harry grinned at the blond but shared a look with Sirius.
It didn't go unnoticed. Draco's demeanor changed instantly to a cautious one. "What?"
Harry shook his head. "Nothing. We are dating, but we are more than dating...and there are things we need to discuss. That's all. Relationship things."
"That sounds ominous." Draco frowned uneasily as the others left the room.
"It's not game changing stuff." Harry assured him. "We just need to prepare for the future and protect ourselves."
"From what?" Draco asked, wide-eyed.
"I have a feeling that the things going on with Dumbledore are going to get dangerous soon." Harry told him, leading his boyfriend into the more intimate sitting room. "In the not too distant future, he's going to realize that I'm not on his side anymore. I'm doing things he won't like and I know things he doesn't want me to."
"You really think he'll try to use me against you? Do you really think he can?" Draco asked, incredulously.
"I just want to be ready in case he does, Draco." Harry told him, reaching out to hold the blond's hand.
"Alright..." Draco sighed. "I'm completely out of sorts having this kind of conversation in a casual setting like this."
Harry sighed. "Would you feel more at ease in the library or study?"
"Study!" Draco blurted. "The study or your office!"
"Ziva?" Harry called. "Have I seen the study yet? Do I have an office?"
"Oh, Master Harry," Ziva giggled. "You isn't having an office, but the studies is being just off the library. Ziva will show you!"
Harry and Draco followed the elf upstairs and into the library.
"There is being three studies or small offices, Master Harry." Ziva told them. "Two are on the second level and one is on the third."
"Thank you, Ziva." Harry said softly as he peered into one of the indicated rooms. The desk took up much of the space in the room but there were also a few chairs.
"My father's study is much more formal, but I suppose it'll do." Draco said as he chose one of the two chairs that seemed situated for an intimate conversation. "So, what are you thinking?"
Harry spelled ot his idea.
Draco nodded along with each point Harry made but his expression grew angrier as the young lord drew to a close. "Wha - no!? Are you mad?" Draco snapped, completely taken aback.
Harry stared.
"We've barely been together for a week, Potter!" The blond ranted, standing up. "This is not the way or the time for our relationship to progress!"
"Draco?" Harry replied cautiously. "It's not the way I'd choose to move ahead, either."
Draco blinked and calmed down a little. "It's not?" His hopes rose.
Harry shook his head. "Please just hear me out?"
Draco sat back down and what he heard calmed his fears but didn't do anything for his temper. "So let me see if I've got this right - you think that Dumbledore will attempt to separate us."
Harry nodded.
"To circumvent this possible eventuality, you want to set up a secret betrothal between us so I can move into your suite at will." Draco frowned at him. "And you thought I'd agree to this?"
"It sounds bad when you say it like that but, yes." Harry frowned but nodded. "We would tell our families and friends. But if we keep the information contained then it keeps Dumbledore in the dark. It's just a failsafe, in case he bans us from each other."
"You don't even realize how insulting it is. Do you?" Draco sighed sadly. "First, the flirting in front of Mcgonagall, then the bet and now this."
Harry stared at the blond. "I'm trying to protect you; protect our relationship."
"Do you want to marry me, Harry?" Draco asked incredulously.
"Yes!" Harry told him seriously.
"Do you want to marry me?" Draco looked at the other boy carefully. "Or do you think that, because you're my mate, it's going to happen eventually anyway so 'why not'?"
"Is that really what you think?" Harry's heart sank. "Draco! I promise you, I wasn't thinking that!"
"Really?" Draco asked. "Because we've never had a date... we've never even kissed properly but you're proposing marriage!"
"I'm only proposing betrothal, Draco!" Harry shouted in frustration. "I'm proposing betrothal because we need to get to know each other and Dumbledore won't be likely to support us breaking the Slytherin and Gryffindor rivalry... but if a kiss is all that's holding you back... I can fix that." With that he grabbed Draco's wrist and slowly pulled him close. "Now's the time to protest..."
Draco's eyes widened as he watched Harry slowly approach but he said nothing as their lips locked. His eyes widened and then closed as he felt Harry's tongue rub lightly against his. He heard a moan but wasn't sure whose.
When they parted a moment later, their arms remained around each other and Harry's eyes held more emotion than Draco had ever seen there before.
"The mate bond will come eventually, Draco ... and marriage will come eventually..." Harry reasoned passionately using a thumb to lightly stroke Draco's cheek. "We're only fifteen. A betrothal contract will allow them to come when we want them to... especially if it's worded properly."
Draco considered this silently. "I propose that we table this discussion and speak with my father."
Harry took a deep breath and kissed Draco's forehead. "Alright. Let's take a walk. Get some fresh air."
Draco nodded but kept leaning toward his partner. Harry led him out to the courtyard and they strolled through the garden.
Suddenly, a tussle in the trees could be heard. Harry watched in horror as a pale brown barn owl and what appeared to be a young owlet tumbled through the air toward the ground. The owlet looked smaller than it should and it was so dark in color that it was almost black. It attempted to stand but the larger bird made a loud noise in its direction and flew away.
Harry rushed forward to see if the poor thing was injured. "I had no idea barn owls could be this color."
"They don't generally survive in the wild if they're that dark, Harry." Draco murmured.
"Bisbee? Tilly?" Harry called. As soon as they arrived, he asked for a box and a bunch of towels or old fabric. "This poor little owl was rejected by its mother. I'm going to find someone to take care of it."
"Who do you think will be able to?" Draco asked. "Hagrid?"
"Possibly. It can't hurt to ask." Harry said softly. He put the baby bird in the box and brought it into the shaded seating area near the house. "I'll write to him."
Draco shook his head. "At least it's safe for now."
Harry sent a quickly jotted note and the baby owl to Hagrid with Dobby. Within minutes, the elf was back with word that Hagrid would look after the little fowl. He apparently had a friend at a bird sanctuary to help with his duties as gamekeeper.
Leaving the matter in Hagrid's capable hands, the boys began to speak of the meeting to be held in a few short hours.
"I need to get his information but I don't know if I can trust him." Harry told the blond.
"Do you trust me?" Draco asked quietly.
Harry nodded. "I can't explain it but... I do."
"There has to be a reason. Why do you trust me, Harry?" Draco asked him reasonably.
"I trust you because I've always trusted my instincts and the dreams are telling me that you're a strong, steady support against the coming storm." Harry told him openly. "The dreams are supported by Luna's cryptic words."
"I'm not the only Slytherin, Harry." Draco reminded him.
"No, that's true." Harry sighed.
"If it would help, I can assure you that Uncle Tom is working on himself." Draco said encouragingly.
Harry bit his lip to suppress his amusement with this idea. "Like with self help books?"
Draco glared. "You'd better not laugh at him when he tells you about it at the meeting."
"Tells me about what?" Harry asked, confused.
"Look, I don't really understand it myself so I shouldn't be the one explaining it." Draco shrugged. "Suffice to say that, as a child, my uncle was told that his magic was out of control and he was convinced by a person he trusted that he needed to protect himself from becoming something called an obscurus and others needed protection from him in case he became one. This person taught him to enchant objects that would store some of his magic for that purpose."
"Objects?" Harry echoed.
"Yes, anyway, he's trying to reclaim the objects because they are...what?" Draco frowned as Harry stood and began to pace.
"Dumbledore." Harry said bitterly. "Albus bloody Dumbledore is the person Tom trusted."
"What? How do you know? He never named the person to me." Draco shook his head.
Harry related his last conversation with the headmaster and Draco stared in horror. "So the objects he reclaims... the work he's done on himself..."
Nodding, Harry asked urgently. "Can we go early?"
Draco nodded grimly. "I'll floo over now. You get what you need and grab Sirius."
Harry quickly walked him to the floo and ran to find his godfather.
Dark colored barn owls are incredibly rare. Only 1 occurs in about 100,000. I decided that Harry should meet one as a baby.