6th March 1995 - The Great Library, Skyfall, Volstar
There was something fundamentally wonderful, Harry thought, about actually being part of the construction team rather than always being in the background working on designs, on law and policy and building political relations with other countries.
It was slightly more familiar, something he could draw parallels to between the chores of his old life.
It was hands on, using his own strength of arms or magic under the hot sun to complete a task. For all the other things he did used his mind or the charisma that Remus and Sirius both swore he had - which Harry was relatively sure just wasn't true - they felt fundamentally different.
Like at its core it was something completely different, even though all of them served the same purpose.
To build something.
To fill an empty space and ease a need.
Guiding his magic to settle a large section of wall into place so it could be fused into place.
For all he was largely the 'muscle' at the moment, since he was one of only a handful of their settlers with the magical strength required to move about the larger than normal construction pieces, he was fairly certain that he preferred it over sitting behind his desk all day.
The whole process felt infinitely more interesting to him.
Clearing out large blocks of dirt, clay or stone to make basement levels and transfiguring or using alchemy to transform it into worked resources. Tile, paving stone, earthenware or bricks.
Building in foundational support and fusing large beams together so they would be seamlessly joined and therefore stronger for it. Using permanent sticking charms along with traditional joinery methods that been passed on as a gift to Harry from Akihito - to aid in the building a long lasting and peaceful home, he had said - each piece of wood and stone slotted and fit together in a manner that was far stronger and seamlessly than they could have achieved with screws and nails.
Pieces of a puzzle coming together to form new homes and now the most ambitious construction project yet.
As of that morning only half of the Great Library's base structures frame was in place. On one hand that seemed like brilliant progress considering it had only just begun construction. On the other though, given the sheer scale that would be the building's final shape, it was nowhere near as impressive.
Even with the benefit of magic and the near constant fair weather the island sported it was still going to take a significant amount of time to finish building the Library's shell.
It would take twice as long again to do all the rituals - some of which would require some particularly exact timing - and enchantments. Not to mention all the very exact carving of runes, most of which could not be done before all the various pieces were in their final resting places.
It was oddly soothing in a way, Harry thought, knowing he had a project that would take a while to see through to completion.
It didn't halfway feel sometimes like the only things that stuck around were the political bits and bobs or the messes he kept having to sidestep. Having something that would be important for their future but not somehow weighed down by politics was in all honesty a source of relief.
He was moving the next large section of wall through the air, well out of the way of unsuspecting heads when Remus sidled up next to him, a neatly folded envelope in hand.
"A letter arrived for you just now." The older man informed him in an even tone.
One black brow arched as Harry looked across at him. He received a wealth of mail almost every day without fail, from various governments mostly, but also from friends and acquaintances and this or that person trying to curry favour for themselves.
So a letter arriving was generally not worth a personal trip out of the office with said letter while Harry was at work.
"Oh?"
"Mm, from one Draco Malfoy." The werewolf stated, rocking a little on the balls of his feet.
Without meaning to, Harry lost his grip on the large wall piece he had been levitating which caused several worried shouts to echo around the area.
"Oi!" Mr Bolder shouted from across the way. "Watch what you're doing!"
"Sorry!" Harry shouted back as he stabilized his hold before turning his attention partially to Remus while the rest remained firmly on task. "Malfoy wrote to me?"
"Apparently so." The older man stated, lifting the envelope he was holding for emphasis.
Harry frowned. "What does he want?"
"Haven't a clue. Given who it's from I thought it might be a personal letter and I try not to read those, you know." Remus reminded him with a little smile that was somehow both patient and amused.
Harry huffed at him, turning glowing green eyes back to the section of wall as he started to lower it carefully into place. "You know that's not what I meant. The last time I saw him was just after the second task and he looked like someone had made him swallow boulders."
"Interesting mental image, that."
The young king huffed and focused on his task long enough to see the section of wall melded seamlessly with the one beside it and the foundation before signaling to Mr. Bolder that he would need a few moments.
The old builder waved him off and turned away to start shouting orders at his apprentices and the other workers, setting them to work on other tasks in the meanwhile.
Turning back to his werewolf aide Harry took the letter when offered and checked it for charms. Finding only a minor anti-tampering charm, Harry raised a brow. "It came in clean?"
"No charms or enchantments save the tamper charm." Remus dutifully informed him.
Humming quietly Harry carefully broke the seal and pulled the letter from the envelope.
Remus watched quietly as he read, then as he frowned, conjured a chair out of nothing and sat down to keep reading. It must be interesting, Remus reasoned if the teen was actually taking the time to read it slowly instead of simply glancing at it to absorb the words and moving on.
When finally Harry lowered the letter after what seemed his third re-read of it, he was frowning still but seemed more thoughtful than angry.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Remus asked, moving to crouch in the teens line of sight.
"He's asking for political asylum."
"Mr. Malfoy is?" Remus queried.
Harry nodded, posture slumped back in his chair and his arms crossed over his chest. "Yeah. He's of the opinion from overhearing his parents that the Death Eater attack on the World Cup won't be an isolated incident. He's also stated that he doesn't believe the British Ministry or Hogwarts has the ability to protect him and keep him from being dragged into the eventual mess."
"Given the messes he's seen lately, I'm not sure I could blame him." The older man remarked before tilting his head to one side. "What are you going to do?"
The teen sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. "I don't know. He's applying to the crown directly rather than our Ministry so it's up to me to work it out, but before I make any sort of decision I need to know if it's a legitimate plea."
"And if it is?"
"I can't say no just because I think he's an arse."
Remus cocked his head as he considered that. "Technically, you can."
"Yeah, well, I shouldn't." Harry grumbled then sighed, long and annoyed. "Besides, maybe being here away from all that will help him learn to be a better person. I don't know."
They sat in silence for a good while, quietly considering the problem that Draco Malfoy seemed intent to make of himself.
Eventually though Harry sighed. "I'll need to arrange for a meeting with him, though since he's still underage he'll need someone to be present. Though since it can't be his parents since he's asking for asylum from his parents as well, that'll have to be his Head of House and the Headmaster."
"I can write a letter and make a request for time and space for the meeting before the third task at the end of the month?" Remus offered, taking back the letter as it was handed to him.
Harry nodded. "That should do, the letter doesn't mention a time frame so I can assume it's defaulted to as soon as possible." He said before pushing himself to his feet and vanishing the chair. "On the up side it'll be a good opportunity to try out the mobile version of the truth curse."
Remus' brows both rose and he blinked in surprise. "I didn't realise you had figured that out. You were still struggling with it the last time we spoke about it."
"I figured it out last night when I went to bed." Harry informed him with a half-hearted shrug. "Rather than casting and removing the ritual effects, or trying to draw up a barrier in the space, I'll need to make a movable object like a statue the focus of the aura then at the same time as the ritual is being imbued into the statue, have a container for the statue imbued with the counter."
"So when the statue is in the container it effectively has no effect to speak of." The werewolf noted, bobbing his head as he followed the thought along.
Harry inclined his head, glowing eyes shifting to follow the moments of the rest of the construction team. "I'll get to work on that when I'm finished here, if you could arrange the meeting. Preferably before the third task. I get the feeling that I'll not want to stick around too long afterward."
Sighing softly Remus reached out and gave the younger male's shoulder a firm squeeze before turning on heel to make his way back to their shared office.
The sooner done, the sooner he could get back to poking fun at Sirius for his rather dubious plans for the new Black manor.
12th March 1995 - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Glencoe Highlands, Scotland
Sitting down across from Draco Malfoy was most assuredly a strange feeling.
Resting on the table between them was the statue Harry had carved from crystal with his magic, working a solid block into twining branches that weaved in and out of each other. For the moment it was resting shrouded in its box, a deceptively simple looking form.
To the side of the room sat Percy Weasley at a little desk that had been conjured for him. He had an array of parchment and quills laid out around him, already making notes as required while they explained the procedure of the interview.
The headmaster was seated at his desk with a cup of tea, a small pile of nibbles and a patiently curious expression on his face that was definitely not annoying at all.
Severus Snape sat beside Draco at the table, face caught somewhere between impassive and scowling.
In a twist that had been a bit of a surprise to Harry, it turned out that the potions professor was also Malfoy's godfather, which meant that he had an even stronger case when it came to supporting Draco's plea for asylum.
Though for all that their relationship had been prickly at best since Harry's first meeting with the man, the potions master didn't seem overly inclined to continued hostilities during the meeting.
It may have had something to do with the quiet - but not nearly quiet enough - comment from the slightly subdued headmaster, informing Harry that he had reviewed the trial information that had been forwarded to the ICW and had taken the liberty of sharing his memory of it with a few noteworthy people.
The fact that he said this while his not quite twinkling blue eyes had been focused on Snape's somewhat hunched back was probably as far from subtle as he could have been without blatantly stating that he had shared them with Severus out loud.
"For the record, you understand once the statue is uncovered there will be a powerful force compelling truth from everyone within its range of effect. You will be unable to lie, even to yourself in the quiet of your own mind while you are under its influence and that long held untruths will be overturned if you think on them during this time." Frederick asked, having accompanied Harry to make sure there would be a healer that was familiar with the aura's effects on hand while it was in use.
"I do." Draco muttered, looking very much like he had taken a bite of sour lemon.
"And if Mr. Malfoy should become distressed during the interview thanks to these effects?" Professor Snape asked, dark eyes moving from the covered statue, to Healer Graves then to Harry and back.
Harry leaned forward in his seat, letting his arms rest on the table. "If any of us require it, the keyword to trigger the statues' shielding is 'Repose' accompanied by a small surge of magic. The enchantments in the shielding of this particular item allow that anyone within its area of effect can cease the interview and cancel out the effects of the artefact."
Beside him Frederick nodded. "I will have a general monitoring charm running that will allow me to monitor the heart rate of each person in the room. If I detect that any individual, Mr. Malfoy or otherwise is beginning to panic, I will trigger the shielding myself. I have a supply of Calming Draught on hand along with a few other mood stabilizing tinctures and will administer them if required."
"I would like to inspect your stock before we begin." Snape told the other man.
"Certainly." Frederick replied easily and reached for the pouch he had resting beside his chair.
In quick succession several phials were set out in a neat line on the table before being plucked up by the potions master and studied.
Eventually he set the last down and inclined his head. "Each is satisfactory." He stated before turning just slightly to give his godson a nod.
"You each have a copy of the list of questions I will be asking during the session, which you both agreed with beforehand. In addition I have here a sheet of parchment and quill, if an answer requires additional information or confirmation it will be written down and presented to you non-verbally so that you both can choose whether to answer or not without being compelled to do so by the statue." Harry explained, both for their benefit and for the record.
"And if we should have questions we wish to ask of you?" Snape asked, settling his dark piercing gaze to meet Harry's bright glowing one. "Will you deign to allow them?"
"I will. I understand how invasive this sort of questioning can feel, in the interest of fairness and helping Mr. Malfoy to feel like he's on something closer to even ground, I will answer any questions either of you put to me as completely as I can. However, I will veto any question that I believe could directly endanger my people." Harry replied, meeting his focus squarely before turning to regard Draco.
The pale teen inclined his head stiffly in response.
Harry nodded and cast a glance to Percy to check if he was ready and got a quick nod in response.
Reaching forward, Harry lightly placed a fingertip on a swirling design on the top of the casing and channeled a little of his magic to it. "Sincerum et verum." He whispered before drawing his hand away.
They watched as the thing glowed briefly before the casing started to separate into pieces that revolved around each other, twisting in patterns as if each piece was a lock in its own right that needed to be positioned just so to unravel.
When it was finally still the casing was resting beneath the twisting branch like crystal statue in a star pattern and the statue itself was glowing gently.
"Please state your name and intention for the record." Harry requested, eyes focused on Draco who was busy staring at the statue.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, I want safety away from the Dark Lord and his followers." Draco announced dutifully.
"Have you, to the best of your knowledge, ever committed a crime that upon trial could result in a prison sentence?"
"No."
Cocking his head to one side Harry regarded the other teen. "Do you harbour any ill intent towards the government or peoples of Volstar?"
"No." Draco replied steadily.
"Do you understand that as a minor, you will be expected to continue your education as part of your condition for asylum?" Harry queried.
"Yes."
"Do you understand that as one of the individuals that hold mastery in many of the topics you will be studying, you will be learning from me, myself?" The young king asked.
Though the question was one of the preapproved ones that had been agreed upon well in advance, but even still both Slytherins seemed shocked to hear him speak it while under the effects of the statue.
"I...yes. I understand." Draco replied, his expression turning both confused and thoughtful as they regarded Harry from across the table.
"Do you understand that as a minor you will be placed under the care of your cousin, Lord Sirius Black during your stay?"
"I do." Draco affirmed quietly, though he did frown at whatever thought popped into his head.
"I would like to officially express my doubts as to Black's state of mind and ability to properly protect and raise a kneazle, much less a child." Professor Snape cut in, scowling across the table.
Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing despite the tenseness of the situation.
It was a little amazing to him that Sirius had just the day before told Harry that Snape would say something similar. And similar in that Snape's comment was almost verbatim to what Sirius had told Harry he would say.
Getting himself under control Harry turned his attention toward the potion master. "As part of our own preparations to ensure Mr. Malfoy would receive the care required, Lord Black was interviewed extensively and evaluated for his suitability. Everything from his current mental state to his resources was put under scrutiny and he was interviewed while under the effects of the truth curse." Harry told him.
He paused and reached into his enchanted pocket and withdrew a red spherical crystal roughly the size of a walnut and held it out to Snape.
"This crystal contains the memories of all information and interviews gathered on the subject of Lord Sirius Black's suitability to act as primary carer for Mr. Malfoy. He has given explicit permission for that information to be shared with you both to allay any concerns you may have regarding his ability to care for and protect Mr. Malfoy." Harry explained. "To view the information you only need to make contact with the crystal and will it."
Snape eyed Harry for a long moment before he reached across the distance and took the crystal from the teens outstretched palm and let it rest in his own within easy reach of Draco so it could be viewed by them both.
When he noticed the way their eyes had glazed, telling him they were both focused on the information running through their minds, Harry cast a look towards Percy who was waiting patiently. "Please note for the records that both Master Snape and his godson, Mr. Malfoy have chosen to review the offered evidence."
Percy's bright head bobbed as he set to follow the instruction and Harry turned back to Snape and Malfoy as their awareness returned to the present.
The potions professor was scowling down at the red crystal in the palm of his open hand. "For all that you say the man you interviewed was Sirius Black, he's almost unrecognisable from the man I knew. Even having last seen him in person less than a full year ago."
Harry nodded at that and reached for the crystal when it was held out to him. "As mentioned in the interview, since seeking asylum from Volstar, Lord Black has sought out intensive physical and mental healing in order to recover from a tremendous amount of sustained trauma that dates as far back as his early childhood. The man you are most familiar with was a product of that systemic trauma and the comparative relatively mild mental instability of the House of Black."
Healer Graves cut in beside Harry. "In order to qualify he was tested extensively. He has healed sufficiently to pass qualification as a foster carer. Both mentally and physically. Had he not, Mr. Malfoy would have been deemed a ward of the crown if his request for asylum be granted."
"I want to meet with him in person to ascertain for myself his ability to care for my godson." Snape insisted, dark eyes fixed on Harry.
"Brief visitation to Volstar can be granted to you under two conditions." Harry replied, meeting his gaze steadily.
"Being?"
"That you make oaths to cause no harm during your visit and that twisted thing on your arm is removed."
It was very slight, the briefest twitch of an eyelid in reaction to Harry's demands.
"I beg your pardon?" Came the quiet response.
"I'm much more sensitive to the feeling of magic than I used to be, Master Snape. I can feel the aura it radiates, especially at such close distances. I can also feel the underlying malevolence in whatever that thing on your arm is and under no circumstances may it appear anywhere within my country's borders." Harry told him, knowing his expression had settled into the calm determination that had been more common of late when he was sharing his stance on any number of topics with others.
Snape frowned. "It can be removed." He said then blinked, for once visibly surprised. "I meant to say that it could not be removed."
"The fact that you were not able to means that it was a lie." Harry said, shifting to sit a little straighter in his seat.
"Unintentional." The dark man quickly stated. "It is what I was led to believe."
Harry nodded. "Accepted, you hold no blame for lies told to you. I would like to request that you show it to me so I can study its threads."
The potions professor stared across the table at him for a long quiet moment before his gaze turned to Draco before he breathed out slowly and pushed back his robes and the sleeves of his dark jacket and white shirt.
Harry took a quick look at it, just enough to before a gesture at his quill set it to quickly writing several questions before the parchment slid across the table to rest in front of Snape.
The man's eyes scanned over the questions before he sneered at Harry. "Trying to save me now, King Potter?"
"As I've never particularly considered you to be a man in need of saving, the answer to your question is 'No'. However, depending on the answer to those questions, I may extend the offer of asylum to you yourself as well as your godson." Harry replied calmly, a little surprised he didn't feel as defensive of the others' tone and manner as he knew he would have been even a few months ago. "We did consider that the separation from his parents would be easier on Mr. Malfoy if he had another familiar face he felt he could trust."
The potion master opened his mouth as if to retort before he stopped and instead let his attention settle on Draco for a long moment, quietly weighing his own thoughts before he sighed. "Ask your questions."
It was that moment precisely that Harry realised just how much the jaded man cared for his godson. How much he was willing to endure and sacrifice for him and his continued well being.
The willingness to go into the unknown, to a place built by people that had been the cause of some of his childhood traumas or were active reminders of those traumas. The willingness to jump into pain and uncertainty, just to make sure his godson wouldn't feel alone.
It made Harry think rather intensely of Sirius and his own willingness to jump into the deep end of Harry's mad run away plan all those months ago.
Pushing past the thought he set half his attention to unravelling the dark mark emblazoned on the sallow skin before him while the rest started in on his questions.
"Have you knowingly performed an act that could, upon facing trial, result in a prison sentence?"
"Yes."
"Did you perform this act with the knowledge that failure to do so would result, with certainty, in severe punishment that would necessitate medical care to treat?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any intent to perform these acts upon any of the peoples of Volstar?" Harry asked as he traced the different threads of magic in the others' cursed mark.
"I do not." The man answered succinctly.
"If you are granted asylum by the crown of Volstar, will you work against its interests and attempt to divulge information about its people, government or defenses to anyone wishing ill upon them?" Harry asked.
"I have no such intention." The potion master replied.
"Will you, Severus Snape, during your time in Volstar territory, respect and adhere to its laws to the best of your ability?" Harry asked, taking his eyes momentarily off the threads of magic he was carefully pulling apart to examine.
"I will."
Turning his glowing eyes away from Snape, Harry regarded Draco, who had been watching the glowing threads of magic that had appeared from his godfather's mark, with the same intensity. "Will you, Draco Malfoy, during your time in Volstar territory, respect and adhere to its laws to the best of your ability?"
The pale teen blinked, obviously surprised to find himself being questioned again so soon. "Ah-Yes, I will." He quickly replied.
"You both understand that you will be required to makes oaths to that effect due to your past association with individuals that have held an adversarial stance towards some of Volstar's people?" Harry asked them both and received two quiet but firm agreements in return.
They sank into silence for several minutes as Harry worked before finally Harry shifted his attention back to them and away from his work.
"I can remove it." He told Snape, gesturing to the mark and was rewarded to a moment of unguarded surprise as the man looked from Harry to the mark, to Dumbledore then back before his expression returned to its typical closed off stoicism.
The man regarded Harry for a long moment before very slightly inclining his head, the closest he would allow himself to a request for help at present.
Taking the slight gesture as the consent he was sure it was Harry focused his attention back on the curse mark and focused his will and magic on it, easing through the different strands to the ones that anchored it to the potions professor.
The strand of magic that kept the mark anchored in place on his physical arm came away with little fuss. The secondary anchor that kept it, in part, attached like a weed to the man's soul was slightly less so. The dour man clenched his jaw tightly through it, sweat beading across his brow causing errant strands of hair to stick to it.
The thing finally came free with a gentle but insistent flex of Harry's magic resulting in an enraged shriek from the mouth of the skull and snake that made up the mark before they twisted in on themselves and faded from existence.
Frederick drew his wand to run some quick diagnostic charms over the other man before nodding slightly. "Slightly elevated heart rate but otherwise no danger or damage from the removal." He stated quietly before sheathing his wand.
"Well then, to Master Severus Snape and Heir Draco Malfoy of the Noble House of Malfoy, I, Harry James Hyperion of the Ancient and Royal House of Potter, sovereign of the territory of Volstar do officially award you both asylum and all the rights, responsibilities and protections associated with it."
Looking from one to the other Harry clapped his hands. "Well, I suppose we better help you collect some of your possessions and get you settled in. I have a feeling it's going to be a bit of a culture shock for you both."
Watching them turn to each other and start to exchange quiet words, Harry wondered briefly if he should reach out to Sirius or Remus through the link his crown provided to warn them about their impending arrival.
They knew Malfoy had been a possibility, before Harry had left for the interview.
Snape was very much not on the list of probable outcomes for the meeting.
Then again...what's the worst that could happen?