Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be intense. It's going to start off quite fine and nice and with a bit of a summary of what happened between the end of September and October, but it will turn a bit dark and painful by the end of the chapter. In fact, this chapter and the whole thing with Harry having to fight people over him wanting to keep the baby instead of giving it up for adoption is the whole reason I made the second genre Hurt/Comfort.
See for yourself,

Venquine1990


Chapter 14
The Tradition Continues

31st of October 1995
Grand Staircase, Hogwarts
Damian's POV

The last month has been quite interesting, yet also a little bit troubling. After the students heard about my dad being innocent and being cleared, it took only a few days before I started introducing myself as his son and explaining to the staff as to why I never told them. I even stopped using the slight bit of Metamorphmagus magic that I inherited from dad's side of the family to hide most of my aristocratic features, further proving I am dad's son.
There had been a few who had been shocked and even horrified and while they had tried to use this against me, had I just talked down on them and snarled: "Why do you think I never told you if this is how you behave after learning that my dad was never a murderer? Don't you think you deserve being lied to if this is how you respond to the truth?" And while none of the people who tried to bully me with this had been happy, had they kept quiet after.

Harry also had been given a bit of trouble from time to time as some of the students of his year didn't like the fact that he already had his mate, that he didn't go to the common room to introduce Lea and the others to them or that Lea or one of his other friends were often waiting to escort Harry from class to class, yet none of the new arrivals let this get to them. Even Kairi had a good excuse to keeping her mouth shut of her being from another world.
"It's part of the rules. Some worlds are better off not knowing that there are worlds outside their own and you all gave me the impression you never knew or believed in life outside your world. I just went along with what I learned from you and your kind. Don't blame me for your beliefs." And if anyone tried to attack her over this, she would summon her Keyblade and give a demonstration of her ability to control the Elements.
She mostly used Time magic and would freeze her attackers in time for a few seconds and then just calmly walk away. And because the attackers were left unharmed was even Professor Snape unable to give her trouble for it, especially because the girl annulled her registration as a student the day after her friends arrived. A few teachers had tried to prevent this and Dumbledore had inquired and Kairi had answered:
"My friends might want to leave at a moment's notice and I don't want to leave any stones unturned or loose ends untied when that happens. Plus, I only enrolled because I wanted to fit in and keep a low profile. And I prefer Keyblade magic over Wizarding, no offense." The man had been a little saddened, but he had understood her reasons and accepted the annulling. And because of that, she had been able to just be with her friends while waiting for Harry between classes.

Harry had tried to argue this after a week and told them to just do whatever they wanted. But Riku had argued this and said: "You're carrying the baby of our best friend. It's only natural that we want to make sure no one tries anything to hurt either you or the baby." And Roxas had actually made a bit of a running joke of saying: "Yeah, I got to protect my little godchild, right?" And Harry had relented every time this question was asked.
And I know my pseudo little brother well enough to know that he keeps arguing just to keep up appearances, that he is appreciating the whole thing a lot more than he's letting on. Yet there was one small scuffle that happened two weeks after the trial, when the whole group had been asked to meet the Headmaster during dinner. And when they had returned to the rooms, it was obvious just by looking at any of them that the conversation had gone quite wrong.
"And once again, I wonder why we're not just leaving this world behind." Isa had grumbled and Harry had asked why. "You know anything about a guard?" Sora had asked and Harry answered: "I know I had a guard over summer, one where one of its members left me to myself just when it mattered, but I thought that had stopped being a thing after I was escorted to the platform." Yet at this the new group of friends had shaken their heads and Ron had asked:

"Wait, Harry's still being guarded? You mean, he was being guarded when Umbridge was having him in detention? Why didn't they do anything? Why did they let her hurt him like that? And what does it even matter now? I mean, she's gone and everything and you guys are keeping all those stupid bullies and idiots at bay." And what was said next instantly explained why the gang had returned looking pissed off.
"Yes, he is still being guarded, except that the guards seem to have been unable to get into these rooms even when you lot come in and the floo won't let them have access either – whatever that means. And apparently a few of them have complained about this – and about us doing their job for them, for making their job unnecessarily harder or something. Dumbledore and McGonagall both tried telling us that awaiting Harry between classes should stop."
Riku tells us with clear annoyance on his face and in his voice and Lea goes on growling: "He even tried to persuade me to persuade you, love, to give these guards access. And when I asked why would you want access to the one place he is obviously the safest, Dumbledore said I'd just rather not risk any of you doing something you might regret."
This had infuriated Harry beyond words and he had stormed out of the room into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. "And the fact that Remus and I have been staying here these past few weeks? That we sit with Albus and Minerva at mealtimes and constantly give them updates?" Dad had asked the group, yet Kairi had snarled: "You don't want to know." And Lea had made that even more clear by saying: "That's why we're here early."

And the fact that they had left before the conversation had actually ended had said everything and I know that a lot of us are now slowly but surely growing to agree with Isa, that we are also becoming more and more in the belief that just leaving for their world is going to be better. Yet Harry proved the next day, after he spent the whole day cooling down in his bedroom, that he wasn't going to let himself be bullied from this world.
"Headmaster, a word." He had directly addressed Dumbledore like this the next morning, before the man could enter the Great Hall for breakfast and while I wondered how he knew exactly when he could confront Dumbledore like this, had I watched them leave. They had headed for a far corner of the Entrance Courtyard and Dumbledore had cast various privacy charms before Harry had laid into the man. And he had told us afterwards exactly what he had told the man.
"You really are trying to prove over and over again that trusting you is a mistake, aren't you? You dare to trust people who are complete strangers to me to protect me, but ignore those that I actually trust to be around me when they give you the information you, as Headmaster, deserve to know. How many times do I have to stick it to you? You – do – not – control – ME! You do not have a first right say over my life and you are not my guardian.
That's Sirius, my Regent Poppy and, to an extent, Remus. So accept the knowledge they provide you and stop being such a hypocrite. Oh yes, Harry, I totally want you to be safe, dear boy. I just won't let those I tasked with your safety keep you safe when you need protection and just want access to your private life. I just want to know everything about you, even things I don't have a right or moral reason to have to know.

There is a reason why I chose the matron over you as my Regent, Professor. And it's more than you thinking you can decide whether or not I should keep my baby. It's because she communicates with me what she wants to accomplish as my Regent and because she doesn't enter my private rooms if I don't want her there, when I want my privacy." And then Harry had actually dropped a bombshell on the man as he had coldly told him:
"Now keep those guards far away from me – before I make sure that Neville realizes where you do and do not allow them to come. Because you might not know this, Headmaster, but while Neville's forgetfulness has finally been overcome thanks to lessons he apparently took over summer, he seems to be missing a lot of gold. And I don't think I need to remind you of those Dementors that appeared last summer now, do I?"
And while Neville had been shocked that these guards were responsible for his loss of gold, had the threat proven necessary. As after Harry retelling this conversation, Remus and dad had taken to following us for the rest of the day. And every time they cast a spell to determine if there were more people around us than just our group, it had proven to be necessary. And the new group had instantly used their powers to scare these extra's off.

This had taken the entire day and had resulted in another summons to the Headmaster's office that same evening. Only this time Harry had asked Neville for a small something before heading there. And upon arrival, he had shown the Headmaster what he had taken. "This is Neville's communicator. If you don't stop this unnecessary spying and the fact that you trust strangers to protect me more than people we both trust, I will activate this. I warned you once, Headmaster, and unlike you I only give people one second chance, not multiple."
Dumbledore had been most upset with this and dad had taken it one step further. "And if Augusta isn't enough, Albus, then maybe this is. The more you keep pushing us just because you want things to go your way, the more you make us agree with Isa, one of Lea's friends, who recommends us to just up and leave Hogwarts as a team and a family for Lea's world. And we both know what happened between Harry and Pepper, so even that won't convince us otherwise."
"Albus, you might be in the belief that you're helping us, but you're not. You're trying to control us and because you can't do so while we're in Harry's private rooms, you're throwing a hissy fit. We have never done anything to prove you we won't do everything we can for our united goal; to protect and keep Harry safe just like Lily and James did all those years ago, so stop this bloody nonsense of yours. Last warning, Albus."

And to everyone's relief, the man had taken the warning to heart as, the next morning, every Homenum Revelio spell came up with just the right amount of people being scanned. Yet dad and Remus had kept casting through the rest of the day, just to make sure there weren't people who would try to come back to spy on us later. And after studying the spell, had the rest of us taken to casting the spell as well whenever we felt like heading for Harry's private rooms.
This had resulted in only one event where someone followed us, but it had turned out to be one of Luna's old bullies instead of someone from London. And that night something shocking had happened as Molly Weasley had come into the rooms looking just as angry as Lea and the others had a few days before. "There, I just gave Albus a piece of my mind. I agreed with that whole guarding plan of his to keep Harry safe, not spy on his private life."
The woman had told us and while we had been shocked that the woman, who is known as a staunch Dumbledore supporter, had talked down on the man, had it meant a lot to us. After this, the whole topic of being spied on became inconsequential and we just forgot about it. Instead we just went back to focusing on something much more pleasant and important.

Whenever Harry's not in class or learning about things he can expect in his pregnancy from Madam Pomfrey, the boy spends almost every hour that he is awake in Lea's presence. And over the last few weeks, I have seen something I hadn't actually expected to happen so quickly. Every few times when Harry and Lea would come back from some private time, Harry would look as if a bit of a burden had been lifted off his shoulder.
"I can't believe how quickly Harry is opening up to Lea. I mean, have any of you ever seen him do so before?" Ron had asked us one night while we were all lying in our sleeping bags after Harry and Lea had left for their joined bedroom. "It must be the soul-bond, Ron. Their souls are perfectly aligned, after all, they're basically one soul when in close proximity. And Harry has always been someone who followed what his gut and his instincts told him and those usually come from the heart and the soul, not the mind."
"And besides, Sora might be the one in our group who can see the light in anything and everything, but there really isn't anyone who would go beyond his limitations and then some for those he cares for more than Lea. He may be stubborn and he may have made mistakes in his past, but if anyone's learned from those it's him. If anything, I would almost say that Lea had to go through those trials, just so he could become who he is today; Harry's perfect mate."
Riku had told us and the rest of the gang had agreed on this. And I had finished it all as I said: "I don't really think any of this matters. Harry is growing happier than he ever has been and is living the life his parents died for. And whether that's through Lea, dad or anyone else, who cares really, right?" And the whole group had agreed on this before we all fell asleep. And the last thing I had done before falling asleep myself was send a happy smile at the door.

Harry, dad, Poppy and I had also used the weekend after his trial to visit Gringotts as dad wanted to take care of a few things, if only to, as he said, thank my cousin for their help. We had made my relation to him official and had discussed things like his Will, which he, Harry and I had agreed would remain the same as Harry and I are close enough to know that we'd split the inheritance anyway. Harry and I had also both gotten our rings.
Harry had actually been told by the Goblins that he could take his Lordship ring if he wanted as he was with baby and the child would be considered the Heir. However he and Poppy had agreed that it would be best if he remained Heir and that, until he knew more about what it meant to run his family business, Poppy would remain Regent. The Goblins had questioned this, seeing dad, but the man had just said: "Why argue? She's the reason I'm a free man now." And they had accepted.

Yet today, everything is different and it almost feels like things are back to how they were when we ended our first week here this year. There is an incredible sense of tension in the air and Harry keeps wrapping an arm around his belly, which is now showing just a little, but can still be considered large enough that people would just say he's getting fat. The boy also constantly has his wand in his other hand and is looking around all the time.
"Love, what's wrong? Why are you so tense?" Lea asks as Harry returns to the Great Hall for lunch after a double History of Magic period and Ron goes to sit next to me as he whispers: "Even Binns wasn't able to get him to calm down. I slumbered for the better part of the class, but every time I woke up, Harry was just there, sitting rigid. I don't think he was even able to hear Binns, he was that tense." This really worries me, but I also understand exactly why.
"It's today, isn't it, Harry? It's because it's Halloween and things just keep happening today. That's what you're worried about, isn't it?" I ask the boy, who isn't even eating because he keeps his wand in one hand and his belly in the other. And while this makes Hermione, Neville and Ron cringe in guilt for not realizing the same, does Harry nod and mutter: "The Troll, the Chamber, the Fat Lady, that damned Tournament. I – I can't let my guard down, not today. I can't give anyone a chance to hurt me today, to hurt my baby."

Lea pulls Harry closer at hearing this and whispers: "I won't leave your side, love. Now please, drop your wand and use that hand of yours to eat something. Here, have this sandwich. Please love, remember that you're eating for two now, maybe even more. I get that you're worried, but you can't let your worries affect your health. You hardly ate at breakfast." But while Harry listens, does he use the arm wrapped around his belly instead.
And Lea instantly takes advantage of this and start to rub comforting and reassuring motions on Harry's abdomen himself as he whispers: "Don't you worry yourself in there, little one. Your daddy will take good care of your mummy. He won't let anything happen to either of you." And while Harry obviously takes great reassurance from how Lea is gently talking to his belly, does Roxas ask: "Speaking of the baby, when will you find out if you're expecting one or twins?"
"In a few weeks from now, Roxas. Madam Pomfrey has been using the last month to catch up on her knowledge on male pregnancies and she says you can start checking somewhere between the tenth and the thirteenth week. And Harry's about eight weeks now." Hermione explains the young man, who looks really excited about this, obviously because of the fact that he might also become godfather sometime in the coming months.

This knowledge also cheers the others up, yet the knowledge of why Harry is feeling so tense now also makes me feel tense with concern and a sense of discomfort. And this sense gets stronger as our afternoon classes commence as, in between my Arithmancy and my Herbology class, I actually notice that there are groups of students who are huddled together and whispering amongst themselves. Yet the fact that they halt in this as soon as they spot me makes me feel suspicious.
"Dobby, keep an eye on these guys. They're bad news." I whisper as I enter my Herbology class in the Green Houses. And then, just as I take my seat alongside Angelina, do I notice the girl beaming at me and she says: "Hey Damian, great idea to suggest to Harry to have him switch Potions for Herbology for his last class. Where is he, though?" And instantly my stomach vanishes. I jump from my seat, pull out my wand and shout:
"PROFESSOR SPROUT, I NEED YOUR HELP! SOMEONE TRICKED HARRY INTO COMING HERE! HE'S ABOUT TO FALL FOR SOME KIND OF TRAP!" And the woman wants to reprimand me, but then someone on the row behind me starts to curse and snarl: "How did Johnson find out. Damnit!""MR. DAVIES!" The Professor snarls, yet while I glare at my House mate, does he just glare back and snarl:

"It doesn't matter, you're too late anyway." And the lad seems to get proven right, yet it also happens in a way that shocks him as a very familiar and very infuriated voice shouts from far away: "YOU DISGUSTING PIECE OF HEARTLESS! YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THAT!" Only for another voice to shout: "LEA! LEAVE HIM TO US! GET HARRY TO MADAM POMFREY NOW! THINK OF YOUR BABY! YOU NEED TO SAVE THEM BOTH!"
And this last bit makes me turn to Davies in a furious rage and I snarl: "If, Davies, if anything – anything – happens to either Harry or his baby, your family will pay for it. I am a Black, Davies, and if this is the moment where I prove my worth to my House, then so be it. But it will be on you. Professor, please keep Davies where you can see him. I'll make sure someone will come in to question him later. For now, I need to go tend to my godbrother."

And to my relief does the woman, who is usually looking jovial and has a face that just shines acceptance, nod, frowning at Davies in obvious disgust and disappointment. I grab my bag and rush for the door. Yet Davies seems determined to have the last word as he snarls just as I reach the door: "That brat doesn't deserve to live." And I really want to comment to this, but hear everyone else in the Green House do so and just leave.
I summon the broom mum gave me for my 17th birthday and cast a point me spell to locate the voice I just heard, the one I recognized as belonging to Isa. My wand points to the North East and I instantly push my broom to go top speed as I rush over there. And luckily only a minute later I get proven why the voices sound so loud as they are quite close by. Yet the sight that greets me after flying a few feet makes me stop just as quickly as I can barely believe what I'm seeing.
Isa is standing in the center of a pile of bodies and his eyes look crazy. Instead of their usual marine color, the eyes are shining brightly and are pure golden yellow. His Claymore is held above his head, yet what shocks me most is the fact that he is encased in ice, which the others are constantly casting at him. I turn from the crazed teen to the attackers and notice that they all seem out-cold, but otherwise not badly harmed or anything. Sora spots me and shouts:
"They attacked Harry with cutting curses! They were actually aiming for his stomach! Riku managed to cast one Healing spell before Lea and Isa both almost went berserk on this lot. We took them out with Thunder, but we're trying to get Isa to calm down. Lea did so when Isa told him to tend to Harry before he himself lost control! GO! Go check on Harry and use Dobby to report back to us! HURRY!" I nod and direct my broom at the Hospital Wing.

Yet to my concern do I find it empty and instantly I fly up and over to Harry's chambers. And to my relief do I indeed spot Harry there, lying on his bed with his upper body stripped from cloths. And while I feel shocked and horrified to notice a scar running across his torso, does dad rush over to me as soon as he spots me and mutters: "Don't worry, he's fine. They both are. The curse didn't go deep enough to reach his womb."
I sigh in relief at this and mutter: "Dobby." The elf appears and I say: "Head outside. Report this to Isa and the others before Dumbledore spots them. Tell them to return home, to not come back here until tomorrow morning. They may not like it, but this requires a tactical retreat." And while the little being obviously dislikes this idea just as much, does he still comply and pop away. "What happened out there?" Remus asks and I tell him the story. The werewolf turns furious and mutters:
"That's it. This is the last straw. As soon as Harry's better and able to travel, we're heading to Radiant Garden ourselves. And we're not returning until after Harry has the baby." But at this I shake my head and say: "We can't. At least dad and I can't. I already swore revenge on Davies, who proved he was behind this and those bastards deserve more than just a bit of a scare and a bit of lightning to kick them out of commission."

Remus frowns in annoyance at this, yet dad sighs and mutters: "He's right. We can send Harry with Lea to keep him safe, but we can't all leave. That will just fuel those egos of these brats and make them think they can get away with an attempt of murder, of Line Theft. I'll make sure to join forces with Amelia, Augusta and Poppy, maybe even see if I can get the Black line to join their Alliance, and teach these brats a lesson. We have to, Remus, or they might just teach their own kids they can do the same to Harry's upcoming baby."
This convinces the man and he nods at us and I say: "I'm going to go and contact Madam Bones. Angelina and Professor Sprout are keeping Davies in the Green Houses. He even dared to claim that Harry's baby didn't deserve to live when I left. I'm going to report this to her and then I'll be back. Madam Pomfrey, do I have permission to –." But then another voice says: "Don't bother, young man." And to the shock of most of us does an Unspeakable step out of the shadow.

And to all of our shock is she actually with her hood down, her face showing the same distress and annoyance that is on the faces of everyone else. "I can't believe it. They were doing so well. It was getting weaker and weaker. It was – urgh, it was almost completely gone. Now it's going to take them even longer to get rid of it. I just can't believe this." Yet this muttering just confuses us and Madam Pomfrey asks:
"What do you mean, sis?" And the woman sighs as she explains: "The magic that is in Potter's scar. At first I believed that it was part of Riddle's immortality, but just on the first night, when Lea helped Harry with a nightmare, I realized I was wrong. Riddle hadn't made Potter part of his immortality, he had just accidentally transferred some of his magic into the boy. And the two being together, growing their bond, was weakening this magic."
This comforts me, but the woman is still frowning in annoyed disgust and she snarls: "But no, now that Potter has gone through this, now that he consciously experienced this attempt at his child's life, the magic of that damned scar has gotten back a lot of its strength. And if it keeps at this level, if it's not destroyed soon, it could hurt the baby. It could make him or her be born a Squib or even worse. It could cause –."

Yet before she can continue, does Lea snarl: "I won't let that happen. How do we get this out of him?" And while he had almost stormed over to the woman, does she raise her hand at him and say: "Don't let my words upset you. The negativity of your emotions will just further worsen the process. What you need to do is be there for your mate, make sure you do something absolutely romantic before Harry reaches the stage where his health will affect that of his child."
Yet this seems to upset Lea and he asks: "How much time do I have?" And the woman answers: "Three months, at the max, though I recommend you do this sometime between now and Christmas, New Year's at the latest." The teen sighs and mutters: "I was planning on something like that anyway. Just one question, would a first kiss count?""You two haven't kissed yet?" The Unspeakable asks shocked and Lea mutters: "No, we haven't. I wanted it to be special."
The Unspeakable nods and says: "Very well, make sure you have some mistletoe ready sometime soon. Now, I'm going to go and head out. I'll contact Amelia and take her to the Greenhouse. You lot just stay here and take care of Potter while I get things set up and make sure that Davies and his little friends pay their due." We all nod at this and the woman turns around, vanishing into the same shadow from whence she came as we turn to Harry.

A little while later
Harry's POV

I wake up, feeling warm and comfortable, but I also notice that there is nothing covering my upper body. I open my eyes slowly and hear a soft, warm, lovingly familiar voice whisper: "Thank the Keyblade you're awake, love. How do you feel? You need anything?" And while my throat feels a little rough, do I whisper: "A little water." And Lea lovingly helps me sit up before handing me a glass of water. And even without my glasses, do I manage to bring the glass to my lips and drink.
Yet when I look down again and see my bare chest, does a horrible memory instantly overtake me. "Diffindo!" A voice shouts from somewhere far away and I spot a soft red light streaking in closer, several others following closely behind. Instantly I wrap both my arms around my torso and my eyes widen as I feel something strange on my own skin. I start to tremble all over as I feel this, this line that runs over my torso.
"Easy love, it's alright. Madam Pomfrey healed you. The scar is our work, because your body's not used to our kind of magic and I wasn't really focusing on my healing spell when I cast it. Madam Pomfrey said it will be gone by morning." This makes my tremors stop and I sigh relieved as Lea pulls me close against his form, almost into his lap and he whispers: "I am so sorry, love. I never meant to hurt you. I should have seen the trap coming."

I shake my head and smile up at him as I whisper: "We all could have seen the trap coming, Lea. But the same could be said for what happened back in June, for what happened when my parents picked Pettigrew as their Secret Keeper over Sirius and so much else. It doesn't matter. What matters is that our baby is safe." Lea nods and then finally hands me my glasses. "And besides, dad and Amelia Bones are already taking care of the attackers."
Another voice tells me and I look over, shocked to see Damian sitting on the edge of Lea's bed, looking at the two of us with a smile of loving relief on his face. "Glad to see you're awake, little bro. Madam Bones was here earlier, so dad went with her to tell her our side of the story. He asked me to stay behind to talk with you about potential ways that we can react to this newest development." The boy sighs and leans back as he says:
"And to be honest with you, bro, all of us are feeling the same way. Pack our bags, get Lea to create a Corridor to Even – and just get the heck out of here. Make sure you're somewhere safe to have your baby." This, while it is definitely the same thing that I want, makes me sigh and mutter: "Let's – let's give it 24 hours. I – I know I'm giving them way too many chances, but – let's see how Dumbledore reacts to all this. Depending on that, we either leave or stay." My mate and brother grimace at this and Lea says: "Alright, we'll give him this one and only chance."


Good luck, Dumbledore.
And don't worry, he IS going to prove that he won't take this attack on Harry and his child lightly – though he is also going to prove that he just can't let things go and that he will always want to take advantage where and when he sees the chance. In other words, he'll do the right thing, but for the wrong reasons. Then again, that's basically the character I have been trying to build around him this entire story, so –
Yeah, fun,

Venquine1990