It was silent in the meeting room they had been led to inside Gringotts. In deference to Bill, since he was human and they did not want to subject him to the Realm, Harry and Laric were meeting him in the Gringotts in the Wizarding World.
Harry drew in a deep breath, feeling his wings twitch in response to his anxiety. How many of the Weasley's had been stealing from him, or knew about the thefts? It was bad enough Molly and Ron had done so. But Harry wasn't sure if he was ready to hear that more of them had been using him.
Laric was standing beside him, radiating a tranquility that Harry found comforting. The Warrior was so still and quiet, he could have been mistaken for a statue but for the gentle inhale and exhales. Laric's black and white wings were folded neatly against his back, his long black hair in his typical Warrior braids reaching half-way down his back.
Boredom and concentration appeared in the back of his mind, there and gone again. Harry sucked in a breath. He was imagining things. He was so worried about what he was going to hear, that his mind was inventing ways to distract him. He refused to deal with anything else right now, including the possibility of going crazy. It was just the stress he was under.
Just then, the door opened and Bill strode in. Just like the last time Harry had seen him, Bill was wearing worn-in blue jeans, and a tight t-shirt, this time in a deep blue. His dark red hair was pulled back in another messy ponytail, and the fang earring swung with every step he took. He was heading for Harry when he suddenly came to a stop and looked at Laric, then back to Harry.
"New friend?"
Smiling weakly, Harry shrugged one shoulder slightly.
"This is Laric. He has joined Fionn and I in our mateship. Laric, this is Bill Weasley. Fred and George's oldest brother."
Laric nodded, ice blue eyes locked on the eldest Weasley son. "A pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise" Bill responded. His gaze flickering from Laric's impassive face to Harry's tense form.
"Shall we get down to business then?" Bill asked, his tone carefully blank. He walked past them to take a seat on the opposite side of the grand, mahogany table, glistening with the sheen of years worth of polish.
Harry felt a tug in his stomach but nodded and followed suit, sitting at the bench on their side that had been put in specifically to cater to their wings. Laric, however, remained standing, his posture dignified and protective. He moved so he was positioned just behind Harry, like a vigilant guard. He practically loomed above Harry as he placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room as their gazes met across the table. Bill shifted slightly in his seat looking briefly at Laric before turning his attention back to Harry.
"So then. The best of the news I bring, is that Ron and mum were the only two stealing from you. Gin about hexed Ron into St. Mungo's when she heard. Dad..." He closed his eyes and his lips went white with how hard he compressed them. When his eyes opened again, they could see anger and sadness.
"Dad's been potioned for so long he's barely been aware of anything for most of my life. Mum's been doing it since before they graduated Hogwarts we think. The goblins are trying to purge it all out of his system, but even if they succeed, it will be a long time before he can function as he should."
Harry's eyes filled with tears. Arthur had always been so kind to him when he stayed at the Burrow. He couldn't imagine what the man must be going through.
Laric's hand tightened on his shoulder. The gesture, though slight, was enough to anchor him, to keep the tears at bay.
"Can't... can't they do anything?" Harry stammered, the words sticking in his suddenly dry throat.
Bill shook his head, his face carved from stone. "The goblins are doing everything they can, Harry. But with potions like this... it's tricky. It's affected his mind for so long that we're not sure what will be left even if we manage to remove it all."
Bill continued, his voice brittle. "Charlie is back from Romania. He's livid, as you can imagine. Wants to tear Ron apart with his own hands." There was a fierce edge to his words, suggesting he wasn't entirely opposed to the idea himself.
Harry swallowed hard, his throat felt raw and constricted. "And Percy?"
"He's been spying in the ministry. Had a huge public row with mum and dad, so people think he wants nothing to do with us. But he's been sending me coded letters. I won't lie Harry. It's starting to get bad out there. Dumbledore went missing, you are away for 'special training' according to the Order. Which of course, you are, but they have no idea where you are and are just trying to keep the public from panicking."
"Bill, I want to help Arthur." Harry knew the Weasley's didn't have a lot of money. Which didn't make a lot of sense, since Molly had been stealing from him. So where had all that money gone?
Bill studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "We can talk about that later. For now, let's focus on the immediate problem at hand. Fudge is an idiot as you know. But with you and Dumbledore both gone, he has the most power. Which really means Lucius Malfoy has the power. So the Dark is able to push their agenda while Voldemort still goes on random killing and recruiting sprees."
A chill ran down Harry's spine. He knew there was a war going on, but he had been so focused on his own changes and needs that he had pushed it from his mind. Sure, time in the Realm flowed faster than in the Wizarding World. He got 7 days there and only 1 day had passed in the world he had been born in. But how long had it been exactly? He was going to have to go back and face the monster who had killed his parents. But he wasn't ready, and for once, he was going to listen to the voice inside his head telling him he wasn't ready yet.
"Is there anything we can do? From here, I mean. Is there any way we can help? I still don't have enough control over my Demon magics, and I know I don't know enough Wizarding magic or fighting skills to take on Voldemort yet."
"Not that I would agree with you facing a madman." Laric said quietly, hand squeezing and then relaxing again on Harry's shoulder. "If you insist on doing so, you will have a great deal more training first, and you will not be going alone."
Bill regarded Laric thoughtfully, then nodded in agreement. "That's fair. For now, you can certainly help in some ways. If you're comfortable with it, I can bring you information, and we can discuss strategies. The Order is desperate for any advantage we can get."
Harry felt the weight of Bill's words settle over him like a heavy cloak. The Wizarding World was at war, and he was considered one of the key players. He had a part to play, but he was no longer just Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived; he was a Demon now, with a new realm to navigate, new powers to understand, and people whom he loved and who loved him in return that he had to live for.
"And... Molly?" Harry asked hesitantly. His memories of Mrs Weasley were tinged with warmth and safety that now seemed like a cruel illusion.
Bill's face hardened visibly. "As dad is currently incapacitated, I have taken over the Headship of our house. As such, I have already cast out Molly and Ron. They are not family in name or magic. Any further punishment I leave to you and your mates to decide."
"I... I don't know what to say," Harry admitted, his voice barely a whisper. He clenched his hand tightly under the table, Laric a solid support at his back.
Bill gave a resigned shrug. "You don't have to say anything, or make any decisions now. I just wanted you to know."
"Thank you Bill, for everything." Harry whispered.
Bill gave a small smile, that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"We're family Harry, no need for thanks." Pushing himself up from the table, he nodded to Laric and left quietly.
