Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It and any characters from the franchise that may appear in this fanfiction are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling. This story was written for entertainment purposes only and no profit is made from this story.
Author's note: Eternal thanks to my beta, GeekandProud (AO3) a.k.a. AnimeIsMyCrack (FF) who also made the cover image for this story. Especially for this chapter, they helped me out a lot with both editing out some parts, and adding some of my favourites descriptions/sentences in this chapter.
TRIGGER WARNING: Snakes.
- Myrtle's Bathroom, 9th of May 1993 -
Even though Hermione's mother had tried to stop Draco and Harry when they rushed off, Harry had been quite adamant that if they didn't leave right now, people might get hurt. Seeing no use in arguing with the two determined boys, she had instead tried to find Madam Pomfrey as quickly as possible, realising her daughter's two best friends were up to something dangerous.
Harry and Draco had both wanted to jump into action when they had seen the names on the Marauder's Map. Lockhart had seemingly taken Ron into the Chamber of Secrets. And since Ginny was missing as well…. They simply couldn't take any chances. They had to get there as fast as possible and hope Jean would rally the Professors so they would show up sooner than last time around. Draco was doubtful, however. Fate seemed to enjoy making Harry deal with his adversaries alone, no competent adult in sight.
They burst into the bathroom, Myrtle moaning at them to leave her alone at this hour of the night.
Ignoring her, Harry ran straight for the faucets, hissing at it to open. He no longer needed a silly picture of a snake to use Parseltongue. After he'd started visiting Sirona, most often together with Luna, he had gotten very proficient at being a Parselmouth.
Underneath the faucets, an enormous pipe appeared, slime covering it. Both boys looked at each other and made a face. Was this truly the only way down? Where would they even end up if they decided to jump into that?
$ Show me the fastest way to where that traitor is hiding them $ Harry hissed, thinking on his feet.
One of the unused stalls opened with a bang, the toilet disappearing into the ground. A door appeared in the wall at the end of the stall. When they walked closer, the door opened on its own accord. A set of torches lit a dusty stairway, seemingly going far underground.
The two Slytherins just started at one another.
"I'm not going to lie," Harry admitted as he stuck his head through the door, inspecting their way down underground, "I wasn't sure that was actually going to work."
"You are the owner of Hogwarts." Draco supplied. "The spirits dwelling in the leylines will always help you when you are in need."
The boys walked down the stairway, rubbing old cobwebs out of their faces and silencing their feet so Lockhart would not hear them coming. Draco cast a Muffliato so the two of them could strategise.
"Harry, just in case Sirona won't listen to you anymore…" The blond began.
Harry sighed, clearly frustrated because he knew what his best friend meant. "I know you and Hermione learned how to conjure roosters," he said. "If it needs to be done, then do it. Sirona wouldn't be able to live with herself if she actually killed someone. Her spirit has been trapped in that Basilisk since Slytherin found her."
"Harry is correct. She would understand why you did it, little dragon." Deandra whispered. "I visited her from time to time, when the castle was asleep. She would never dare to hurt anyone. She'd give her life to protect Harry and his friends. So please, if you deem it necessary, then…"
Draco nodded solemnly at Harry, hoping it wouldn't come to that.
After walking for a while, they came upon a hallway nearly completely filled by Sirona's shed skin. They must be getting close.
Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak from his pocket and Draco reapplied the silencing charm as both boys crawled under the cloak, wands at the ready.
It didn't take long for them to figure out where Lockhart was holding Ron and potentially Ginny. All they had to do was walk in the direction of the whimpering noises they heard.
When the two Slytherins entered the giant room, they saw Sirona curled up in a corner, her eyes luckily closed. Ginny was lying in a puddle on the floor, and Ron was on his knees in front of Lockhart, begging for his life. Their D.A.D.A. Professor was aiming his wand straight at the youngest Weasley son, ready to cast.
"Stop whining, Weasley!" Lockhart spat at the redhead. "Now be a good boy and join your sister. I can't believe you toldher about the book. That you were stupid enough to run off to try and get McGonagall to come and save her, right after I warned you not to make me seem like a threat!" He sneered down at Ron. His visage flashing momentarily, taking on an almost snake-like illusion.
"I didn't want any of this to happen," the Gryffindor sniffed. "When I found that book in Ginny's cauldron, I just thought mum and dad had gotten her something new and I-"
"You're just a jealous little boy." Their Defence teacher answered menacingly. "You had no clue what the true power of this precious artefact was until you were stupid enough to leave it lying in my classroom. I have to say, I had my suspicions you were up to no good when you came back to Hogwarts after Yule. You weren't as driven to be famous anymore, not like me anyway. And why? Because your daddy had a talk with you? Because you almost hurt your little sister? No way someone like you could control the true power of the Gaunt family. A mere child like you could never live up to the powers of the Dark Lord's family. But I could." He stroked the backing of the leather bound book in a lover's caress.
"What do you mean I hurt Ginny?" Ron asked, suddenly confused. "The bludger? But that was the Slytherins, they-"
Lockhart kicked at Ron's feet, shutting him up and urging him on with his wand to lie down next to Ginny. All the redhead could do was oblige, scared that if he didn't, it would mean the end of both siblings.
"Now. All I need to do is kill the Basilisk and you and your sister can rot down here for all eternity. What a tragic story it will be to write and publish. Two young, poor, and courageous Gryffindors who wanted to bring glory and fame to their family by defeating Slytherin's monster, only to end up as victims. No one needs to know that the Gaunt family magic can control the Beast. That I control the Beast. If only you hadn't told your sister, Ronald. Then you would be the only one that had to die!" Lockhart finished with evil glee, his eyes burning red as he aimed his wand at the two siblings.
Harry was urging Draco forward now, the blond already thinking of how best to disarm their nutter of a teacher while not hurting Ron and Ginny in the process. Holding out his arm to stop Draco, the raven-haired boy whispered: "Sirona taught me how to evoke Slytherin family magic if she ever got controlled again. I get her while you disarm Lockhart. If it doesn't work then… The rooster it is."
Draco nodded in agreement and threw a silent Expelliarmus at Lockhart. Strangely, their teacher stood his ground. But how? True, Draco only had the magical power of a nearly 13-year-old boy, but Lockhart was basically a useless squib when it came to Defence. Then how… Oh no. The fucking book. It was giving him strength. Fuck!
The wanker turned towards where they were standing, firing a stunner straight at them. Draco pulled his best friend down with him to dodge it.
Harry quickly hissed and waved his wand towards the Basilisk, a dark green flow of magic reaching her and enveloping her.
$ Sirona. Your Master and his friends are being attacked by a traitor. Snap out of it. The book is just a curse belonging to the Gaunts, but you belong to Slytherin House. You are meant to protect the students of Hogwarts, and they need your help. I need your help. $
Right before Sirona woke up from whatever trance she was in, Draco closed his eyes, mentally wishing he still had Luna's ridiculous glasses in his pocket. He yelled at Ron to close his eyes too. Sadly, Weasley was so out of it that he got stunned almost immediately as he looked into the reflection of the puddle his sister was lying in. Fucking great.
Lockhart seemed to be scared for a moment, as he had lost control of the magical beast behind him. Draco could feel him seeping foul magic out of the book he was clasping in his hand, however. This didn't look too good for them.
"Open your eyes, Draco," Deandra urged him on. "Sirona taught me a counter-spell so you are immune to her stare, at least for a little while. Let my magic flow into you so she won't stun you."
Draco wasn't entirely sure about that one, but he trusted Deandra. When he felt her familiar magic reach the tip of his fingers, he dared to open his eyes.
Right at that moment Lockhart disarmed both boys, their wands falling to the floor. Fuck. What now? He could attempt to use wandless magic. After all, the bond between him and 'Mione had provided him with ample power just a few hours earlier. If only that damned calming draught hadn't done such a good job, it would be easier to tap into the magic.
Sirona hissed at their Professor in anger, threateningly slithering closer. Her nostrils flaring as she arched into a better position to attack from.
In response, Lockhart pulled the tiniest rooster out of his pocket. "One step closer!" he warned, "and I will enlarge the rooster to its regular size. And we all know what thatmeans, don't we?"
Knowing that they needed a distraction, or to stall the Professor, Harry asked: "Why are you doing this?"
"Why not?" Lockhart replied, waving his wand and throwing them backwards.
Draco scraped his hands and knees against the stone cold floor and smacked his elbow into some rubble. Merlin that hurt. He could feel his arm starting to bleed as well. Luckily, he'd faced worse in the war.
"What better story than this when I am planning to publish my next book? I already have the title ready: Beating the Beast: Beautiful Boldness vs. the Basilisk." He flashed his most Prophet winning smile.
Harry actually laughed out loud at that, angering the Professor even more.
"As if you could come up with anything better, Potter!" Lockhart sneered. "No matter, even if the title would be considered rubbish, magic will be on my side." He held up the cursed book for the two boys to see and continued talking. "How Weasley ever forgotthis book in my classroom is beyond me. As soon as I saw the title, I knew it would lead me to live up to my true potential. To fulfil my deepest desires…" The Professor said as he admired the book, its foul magic seeping into him even more, making him stronger. Making him more unhinged.
Thank Merlin that idiot loved talking and admiring himself. He had been so distracted in his monologue, that Draco had managed to slowly get up, just like Harry. Sirona was ready to strike as well, but they couldn't risk it. Not right now. If she got killed by Lockhart, they would be done for. But what could he do to help them? He didn't have his wand.
It was then he saw Ron's wand lying right next to the boy's stunned frame. If Harry could just keep distracting Lockhart, he could perhaps summon it to him silently. He definitely had enough power for that. Draco mentally nudged Harry, encouraging him to keep the conversation going.
"So, you're the one who opened the Chamber?" Harry inquired, taking all the attention away from his best friend. "You set the Basilisk loose on the school just to increase your own fame when you finally killed it?"
The blonde idiotic author laughed menacingly. "No, opening the Chamber, that was all Weasley. The fool didn't know he was being controlled by the book. He thought that he would be the one to kill the Basilisk, making him the most famous student Hogwarts had ever known! How stupid. Soon after, he was under my control, however. So, I made the boy do the dirty work for me. You see, I didn't want to get my hands dirty while trying to get rid of you, Mr. Potter. " He sneered haughtily, way past the point of no return in his diabolical monologue now.
Harry blinked. "Of me? What the bloody hell have I ever done to you?"
Lockhart, in love with the sound of his own voice, ignored Harry and continued. Good. This was giving Draco the perfect opportunity to slowly but surely start stretching out his hand and attempt to summon Ron's wand.
"Of course, Weasley wasn't as smart as I gave him credit for. One would assume he has more brain cells, considering his older brothers are all so talented. But, I digress. When the boy cursed that blasted Bludger, he thought that no one other than a Gryffindor would be courageous and foolish enough to keep going after the snitch. So, the idiot cursed the bludger to follow the one player who wouldn't be going after the snitch. What a bigoted bastard. I will never understand this rivalry you Gryffindors and Slytherins have going on. Because of his own mistake, he was in a right state after the quidditch match. He hadn't thought the Bludger would be so aggressive, hadn't thought that you actually had more Gryffindor courage in you than he thought you would. He was going to quit it all, and would stop trying to bring about your fall from grace. Had forgotten why he was even doing it. He thought the book could bring him glory, bring him what he desired. To be as loved and famous as Harry Potter. To eventually become best friends with the Boy Who Lived. Pathetic. I obliviated him of course. Made him think what had happened to his sister was not his fault, but that of the filthy snakes. Making his disdain for you grow. The obliviation spell is a powerful thing, especially combined with a well-practised Imperius curse."
Lockhart kept pointing his wand at them, but was seemingly distracted as he wasn't looking straight at them anymore. Draco focussed on summoning the wand, hoping Harry would keep him busy for just a while longer. He hadn't need to worry, since Lockhart just kept going on.
"Luckily, the boy wasn't completely useless on the night of the duelling club. I wanted to make sure the whole school would think their great saviour, Harry Potter, was the one trying to get them all killed. I did miscalculate the influence the book would have on Ron, however, considering he's still just a child." He spat out the word as if it tasted bad in his mouth. How the fuck did this guy ever get hired by Dumbledore if he disliked children so much? "But then of course you, instead of being shamed by everyone and feeling miserable. You bloody declared yourself the Lord of Slytherin House! Imagine my surprise when I found it was actually true as soon as you spoke that vow. I realised then, that not only could I increase my reputation to be grander than Harry Potter's. I could also become Lord Slytherin by right of conquest."
For Merlin's sake. Was that his plan? To become Lord Slytherin? Write another book about his so-called heroics? Kill the Boy Who Lived? Achieve fortune and glory when he already had it? Gilderoy Lockhart was the British Wizarding World's heartthrob. What more could he bloody want? Fucking wanker.
"I'd lie if I said this wasn't personal, Mr. Potter. But you have been ridiculing me ever since that blasted day at Flourish and Blotts. I will be remembered as the one who tried to save poor Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Harry Potter and his friends dying in the process of trying to save said friends will just be a side chapter in my epic tale."
Lockhart turned back to Sirona now and pointed the vile book at her, dark magic seeping out of it. What the Professor did not know was that once Harry had arrived and invoked Slytherin family magic, it would override any Gaunt family magic that was in that artefact.
"Kill them!" Lockhart screamed at the giant snake, right as Draco silently summoned Ron's wand into his hand. Thank Merlin.
Meanwhile, the Basilisk didn't move an inch.
The professor panicked, as Sirona started hissing at him, slithering in a slow curve in his direction, her mouth opening slowly, rows and rows of jagged teeth behind the two massive fangs dripping in venom as she advanced on Lockhart. Draco was surprised that Deandra's spell was still protecting him enough to not be stunned by her gaze. Lockhart pulled out the rooster, not knowing Draco had gotten himself a wand and had cast a silencing charm at it.
When the rooster didn't crow, Lockhart realised that this was the end to his farce. "Impossible!" he yelled. "The beast should be under my control!"
Harry smirked, growing bolder by the second. "You see Professor, that book you are holding there might seem like it will make your deepest desires come true. But it was written by a Gaunt. By a descendant of Slytherin. That is where you made a slight miscalculation," the Boy Who Lived enlightened him. "Slytherin is the house of cunning. Do you really think one of our own would allow a cursed object to make the members of our own house fall victim to it? That its powers could be abused to hurt the true Lord of Slytherin?"
Lockhart gulped and stumbled backwards, dropping the book as he realised it would be of no use to him. He tried attacking Sirona with stunning spells, but the magic slid over her skin as water over stones.
$ Sirona why don't you show Professor Lockhart what the House of Slytherin does to its enemies? $
The Basilisk opened its mouth, all of its fangs showing, giving the Professor one chance to stand down.
Lockhart reacted with his most stupid idea yet, threatening Harry. "If I kill you, boy, then I will become Lord Slytherin and the snake will listen to me. Avada -"
Draco wasn't sure if Lockhart was actually this unhinged, or if it was because of that damned book. He would have to disarm him, and quickly.
His best friend immediately dropped his body to the ground when the green flash of light came for him, and Draco conjured a stone wall in front of the two of them. If Harry ever asked, he wondered if the adrenaline excuse would still work. For fuck's sake. Whatever crisis they found themselves in, always made him show too many of his powers. At least in a few years, he could cast what he damn well pleased, without having to worry of anyone growing suspicious of him.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake. You've lost, old man!" Harry yelled from his position on the floor.
Sirona hissed in anger, her trunk-like tail whipping around to collide with Lockhart's body. Flinging him across the chamber was all Draco saw when he peaked around his conjured stone a moment later. The Professor's body lying in a heap against the mouldy stone walls. Oof, that must have hurt.
Harry started hissing back to the snake as he ran over to the two youngest Weasleys. Sirona slithered to put herself between her master, his friends and the entrance to the Chamber, while a portion of her lower half and even her tail curled around the two children laying motionless in her den. Her tongue flickering, tasting the air as she closed her eyes to not petrify anyone else. Perfect timing too. Deandra's strength at Hogwarts was nothing compared to what she had in Wiltshire. Her counter-spell wouldn't be holding up much longer.
Draco walked over to get both of their wands from where Lockhart had just been standing, putting Ron's in his pocket for safekeeping.
Harry and Sirona started speaking to each other in Parseltongue, discussing the night's events as the raven-haired boy watched over Ginny and Ron.
"Harry," Draco said, putting his hand on his best friend's shoulder to get his attention. "We should go and take Ginny and Ron to Madam Pomfrey." He gave Harry's wand to him.
His best friend nodded. He was quite concerned about the Gryffindors' safety and crouched down to wipe some of the sweat off Ginny's brow.
Draco turned his head and looked at their unmoving D.A.D.A. Professor. He walked over and nudged the Professor's leg with his shoe, checking if he was still alive.
"Is he dead?" Harry asked, entirely unimpressed by Lockhart's pathetic display of playing the villain and just having thrown an unforgivable curse at him.
"I think the wanker might be," Draco answered. "Could you do your best not to end up in some life-threatening situation with our D.A.D.A. teacher next year? The next one might actually survive."
Harry laughed. "If Dumbledore manages to hire one that isn't out to kill me, sure."
The boys levitated their professor's body behind them, trying to get him to the Hospital Wing as soon as possible, even if he didn't deserve it.
The wizard died just a few hours later. Madam Pomfrey informed them that, even if he wouldn't have suffered from physical damage to his body, his magical core had been completely corrupted and nearly sucked dry. He would've died a soulless husk soon anyway. Gilderoy Lockhart would be nothing more than a victim of his own fame.
- The Hospital Wing, 29th of May 1993 -
The story of their adventure had gone through the school like wildfire. Of course it did. Nothing like the Hogwarts gossip mill to keep the excitement going at the end of the school year.
Thanks to Luna, the Quibbler had released an article about all of Lockhart's misdeeds, turning the British wizarding world's mourning of the famous wizard into an outright rage at his actions. Apparently, he had been travelling around Europe, obliviating witches and wizards and claiming their triumphs as his own, making money off of it. This had never been common knowledge in the first timeline and Draco was glad that the man's victims might see justice one day. Hopefully, they would be compensated and get their real memories back. He knew all too well what it was like to lose such an important part of oneself, even if he had agreed to his Hermione obliviating him.
Before they left the Chamber with Ginny and Ron, Sirona had swallowed the cursed book whole. She claimed it would be best that no one would ever get a glimpse at Gaunt family magic again.
The Basilisk had also asked Harry to put her to sleep again, like Slytherin had, and to call upon her when she was needed to protect the school. She didn't want to risk anyone controlling her again.
Harry promised he would try and find a way to release her from her Basilisk prison, letting her roam the world again as a free spirit. If he wouldn't be able to do it, he would ask his descendants to do so. He did promise that he, and probably Luna as well, would sometimes come to visit to keep her updated on the outside world.
The Basilisk had flicked her tongue at him in a sign of affection, before she curled up behind the statue of Salazar, falling into a deep slumber. She would be waiting for the day she was called upon again.
Luckily, Luna had been very understanding when Harry told her their friend was back to sleep now. "Oh, don't worry, Harry." The blonde airily answered. "We'll see each other soon enough."
It was almost three weeks after that fateful day. Both Harry and Draco were waiting as patiently as they could once the Mandrake Draught was finally ready and all of the petrified students would be revived.
Hermione's parents were bound to arrive within the next few minutes. Sirius and Amelia were picking them up and helping them floo to the castle.
After Madam Bones had learnt of Lucius throwing a cursed book into Ginny's cauldron, she had moved to get him removed from the Board of Governors of Hogwarts. There wasn't enough proof that he'd known that it was actually a dark artefact, so sadly she couldn't throw him into Azkaban.
When the elder Malfoy had asked her who had told her about the book, she said she'd fished the memory out of a bystander at Flourish and Blotts when he and Mr. Weasley started fighting each other. Thank Merlin for that. He really didn't want his father to start becoming suspicious of him. Draco had after all been the one to show the Director of the D.M.L.E. the memory of his father's misdeeds.
Penelope was waking up slowly, Percy holding her hand lovingly. Harry made a puking motion behind the redhead's back and Draco smirked back at his best friend.
Hermione was up next, and as the brunette magically swallowed the draught Madam Pomfrey was administering, her hands immediately started to move. In a flash, she sat up straight, staring at Harry and Draco. Before they could welcome her back, Draco could feel the panic in her rise.
"It's Lockhart!" She exclaimed, swinging her feet over the edge of the bed, not allowing anyone to interrupt. The silly little witch hadn't realised or remembered that she'd been petrified, and she'd been gone for multiple weeks. "I heard Ron tell Ginny in the library that-"After lying still for so long, she nearly fainted from jumping off the bed so quickly.
Draco was by her side in an instant, catching her. She gratefully smiled at him, and he could feel her fingers tighten on his arms, glad for his support.
"Slow down, 'Mione." Harry scolded her, flicking her forehead lightly with his finger as Draco helped her back into bed. "We know. Lockhart's dead. Everyone's safe. You're safe."
Shocked at the news at first, she eventually smiled up at her best friends and hugged both of her boys closer to her as they told her of their adventures.
"I'm glad you're alright." Draco whispered into her bushy hair, hoping she could feel his sincerity. "You gave us quite the fright, 'Mione."
Madam Pomfrey snorted at that comment as she bustled about and was readying the potion for Colin Creevey. "I'd say. Mr. Malfoy was about to bring the whole Hospital Wing down when he found you here after you got petrified."
Harry smirked and Draco couldn't help but blush as Hermione thanked him for worrying about her by kissing him on the cheek. She then demanded that both boys tell her what homework she'd missed in the past few weeks.
The Slytherins laughed in response, glad to have their best friend back.
Sirius and Amelia had come in with the Grangers not long after, all four adults hugging Hermione close to them.
One by one, all the victims were revived. Once it was Ron and Ginny's turn, the silver trio, Sirius, and Amelia walked over to get a final explanation. Madam Bones was very interested in learning exactly how Ron had received the cursed book which had caused all this chaos and despair.
When they arrived at the bed Ron was lying in, Ginny smiled weakly at them from the bed beside her brother. Harry cautiously went towards her and sat on the side of her bed, grabbing her hand, making both of them blush. Draco rolled his eyes. Lovesick fools.
Ron was crying as his mother and father were sitting on either side of his hospital bed. "I- I thought you'd given Ginny something new." He stammered. "So, when I saw she had something extra in her cauldron, I snuck into her room right after dinner and I took it with me. She didn't seem to be missing it, since she never mentioned it, so I just kept it…"
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were unsure why their son would do such a thing. Even if his little sister had gotten something new, that didn't mean that they loved him any less than they did her.
They tried to assure him of this, but Ron still seemed doubtful. "Bill was Head Boy, Charlie was Quidditch Captain, Percy is a Prefect, and the twins are, well… The twins. They make everyone laugh and they are so inventive. Ginny is a great quidditch player and she's the only girl in the family, so… Who am I? When I went to Hogwarts, I thought I would have something special too, and that I could become friends with Harry Potter… The Boy Who Lived. But then, he ended up getting sorted into Slytherin and I was still… Just Ron."
Mrs. Weasley was crying now, hugging her son close to her. "Oh Ron, your father and I don't care if you turn out to be a quidditch player, or a Prefect, or Head Boy!" She exclaimed. "You are our son, and we will love you no matter what you do. I'm sorry if you felt that way and that we never had a clue. There's no excuse for this. And I'm sorry for reading you and Ginny all those stories about Harry when you were younger. I didn't realise you would expect to become friends since you would be in the same year…"
The silver trio felt more than a little awkward witnessing all of this, and Harry rubbed the back of his head, jumping off Ginny's bed. He looked sheepish when he said: "Well, technically, I would've been a Gryffindor. The hat was considering putting me in either Gryffindor or Slytherin. But I chose Slytherin," he admitted.
Ron looked dumbfounded at this confession. "You chose Slytherin? But… Why?"
"Well, on the one hand, I thought it would be cool to be in Slytherin because I was the actual Lord Slytherin. Sirius later told me that I missed out on the best political prank in history by getting sorted in Gryffindor instead, but it is what it is. On the other hand, my friends were sorted in Slytherin. Apart from Hagrid, Draco and Hermione were the first friends I ever made. Not just in the wizarding world, but in general. I never had any friends growing up, and… I just didn't want to be alone again."
Harry's words hung in the air, all adults looking at him sadly. Even if Hermione had not had any friends when growing up, she'd had her family. Harry had been completely and truly alone. Unwelcome in the muggle world. Abandoned by the wizards and witches who'd claimed he saved them from Lord Voldemort. It made Draco's blood boil just thinking about how Harry had been treated. No wonder his wife had wanted to give Harry a happier childhood with a true family if she could turn back time. He could only hope that reuniting him with Sirius had at least partially fulfilled his Hermione's wish.
Mrs. Weasley stood up and hugged Harry to her in one of her well-known motherly bearhugs. "Oh, you sweet boy," she whispered. "What happened to you after your parents died is unfair. You should have grown up with a loving family, instead of with those muggles. But remember, Harry, you will always have a home in the wizarding world. I am sure your godfather agrees."
Sirius nodded and smiled at that. "House Black will always welcome Harry James Potter into its home," he vowed.
Amelia smiled at her fiancé, knowing exactly what he was doing by stating it so formally.
All the other witches and wizards around Harry had also picked up on what was happening, even if Harry himself hadn't.
Mr. Weasley raised his eyebrows knowingly at his wife.
Draco only needed to glance at Hermione for her confirmation. She gave him a slight nod, understanding in her eyes.
Draco stood up straight and cleared his throat. "So will House Malfoy."
"And House Dagworth-Granger." Hermione supplied, tears in her eyes, noticing how her best friend finally had realised that he was not alone in this. That he would never be alone again.
"House Bones also welcomes Harry James Potter as part of their family." Amelia smiled at her fiancés godson.
Mr. Weasley stood up after a silent conversation with Molly. "And House Weasley".
Sirius took out his wand, and looked at all four of them. The two heads of Houses, and the two heirs, nodded once more to give their consent, Harry still being clueless as to what was happening. "So mote it be." Sirius whispered, five golden strands of magic reaching out to Harry and enveloping him in a warm comfortable blanket of pure magic.
"What just happened?" Harry asked, with utter happiness on his face as the golden glow around his body ebbed away. Draco noticed how Ginny smiled at her parents, and whispered a silent thank you.
"You're now magically bound to all of us as family, pup." Sirius said. "We will always come to your aid if you would require it. You will always find shelter with your magical family, and we will protect you as one of our own. You will never be alone again."
"You guys." Harry said emotionally, lifting his glasses to wipe the tears off his face. "You didn't have to…"
"We know." Hermione replied softly, grabbing her best friend's hand. "But we wanted to."
"Just wait until your father hears about this," Deandra mentally smirked. "He will be having kneazles knowing that you bound House Malfoy together with the Weasleys, just to protect Harry."
Draco shrugged and smiled at his chosen family. Who the fuck cared about what Lucius Malfoy thought? The days of wanting to get his father's praise and approval were long gone. All he needed was his friends. His family.