Hey everyone,
Well, this chapter is going to be quite important. In this one, we're going to decide what to do with Lea's grandfather. To be honest, I don't think I'll keep him in the story all that much longer. However, I'm not going to just let him decide that he doesn't want to be a part of the family life. I may not like it, as I told you all in a previous AN, but I am going to create a bit more emotional strive for my characters, again through their "family".
Whoopie,
Venquine1990
Chapter 44
Pressing Matters
1st of January 1996
Ansem's Office, Radiant Garden
Braig's POV
"So that's why you have been roaming the Keyblade Graveyard these past few months." Isa mutters after a few minutes of silence as everyone lets my dreadful message sink in. I nod at him and say: "Yeah. After Ansem was defeated, somehow, the Keyblade came back to me, while I was still Xigbar. It's probably because of you, son. You and Roxas. The All-Seeing Eye must have feared that you lot would tempt me to try and change fate again."
"What did it show you this time?" Harry asks and while I worry for his child, I trust the young mother to know when he's had enough. I turn from him to Lea and say: "You remember the day Roxas walked out on us?" Lea frowns and grimaces, but nods nonetheless and I grimace myself as I say: "He hardly made it to the corner of the street. Axel stopped him." My son's eyes widen and Isa whispers: "What could have happened to make Axel do that?"
But I shake my head as I say: "I don't know. The All-Seeing Eye showed me that vision, alongside the actual future vision and then showed me what would happen to Xion, Sora, you, me and a few others. Needless to say, that was the whole reason I was so okay with becoming half Xehanort." And instantly Isa mutters: "Forget it, I don't want to know anymore." And everyone who was in the original Organization nods in agreement with him.
"Well, it doesn't matter now, does it?" A honing voice asks from behind the group and I remember that Lea's grandfather from his mother's side is in the room with us. We all turn to the man, yet before he can continue, Master Ansem says: "No, indeed it does not." And while his tone is firm, there is also a much friendlier undertone to the man's voice as he turns to me and says: "Braig, you have been living in guilt and self-hatred long enough. You paid for your sins and I, personally, welcome you back home."
"Paid for – I BEG YOUR PARDON!" The annoying man yells and he goes on: "Have you lost your mind or something? This man is nothing but a monster. He might not be the rapist my daughter made him out to be, but he's horrible nonetheless. He's careless and uncaring of others. You've heard what he's done. Why in the name of magic aren't you arresting him? You arrested my daughter for much less than this bastard's done."
"Your daughter directly assaulted your grandson and even did so with a weapon that was adapted to deal extra damage. Braig, on the other hand, only did what Destiny ordered him and showed him directly what would happen if he didn't comply. Braig committed his crimes under force, your daughter committed hers by her own free will. Also, I know enough of Sora's story to know that, if it weren't for Braig, Radiant Garden wouldn't exist."
The man splutters and spits, obviously so full of disbelief he can hardly think of a proper response and I notice Harry whispering something in Lea's ears. My son looks troubled and disgruntled for a moment, but then his eyes widen shortly before he nods at the other young man. He turns to Master Ansem and says: "Master, I'd like to add charges to the ones you already have against my mother. Several even that, I will admit, are years overdue."
This shocks everyone in the room, but Isa is the first to recover and a huge smile adorns his face as he says: "Good on you, Lea. I admit, that's the whole reason my mum and I even inspired you to try and become an Apprentice to the Master. We hoped that his warm heart and gentle demeanor and guidance could help you open up." The two friends share a smile, making me smile at the sight of them as it's obvious that they've reconciled since their break-up as Axel and Saïx.
"I cannot believe you." The grandfather suddenly hisses angrily, but Lea just ignores the man and says: "I'd like to press charges of mental and emotional abuse as well as mental, emotional and physical neglect.""MY DAUGHTER –." The grandfather tries to yell, but Sirius aims his wand at him and snaps: "Silencio." And instantly the man loses his voice, making him open and close his mouth stupidly for a few seconds before he realizes what happened.
He glares at Sirius, but the man just sends him back an unimpressed look and Lea smiles before he says: "I may not have any real memories of my time as a baby, but mother hardly ever changed anything about her house, so I still saw the evidence as I grew up. Because of this, I can personally testify that both my nursery and the room I would later have after I grew out of my crib were both more storage rooms for her to keep her things in than really rooms of my own.
She kept most of her old cloths, that she wouldn't donate to charity until years after she stopped wearing them, in my nursery and my later bedroom was more of a storeroom for all of the food that didn't go rotten in a few days' time than really a bedroom. My first actual gift was from Isa for Christmas when I was eight years old." But to this the grandfather shouts: "THAT'S A LIE! I've been sending you gifts since you were born."
"Yeah, and twice a year, your daughter was told to pay a fine for causing a light arson in her own backyard. Geeh, I wonder if that's a coincidence." Aeleus mutters at the end, while both my and Harry's eyes widen in shock and disbelief at hearing this. And the shock seems to be shared with the grandfather, who has gone back to his earlier sputtering, mostly repeating the words: "No, it can't be – she wouldn't – why?" But Lea and I just ignore him.
"I was never allowed into the garden. Mother used a large amount of money to change her cellar into a gym room. I had to start training when I was only two years old. Even when I was five years old, she told me how I had just been lazy and clumsy and stupid as a baby as she had apparently taught me to walk even before I was half a year old. And if I didn't perform my gym exercises right or in time, I'd be locked in a locker for an hour. This, too, started when I was only two years old."
By now Lea is standing in the doorway to the computer room of the Master's castle and while I have no doubt that he wants to walk over to the part of the path that looks out over the huge vault, does he seem too caught up in his own memories to still care. And while I really want to move over to him and offer him my comfort and reassurance, do I feel like I need to wait a little while longer. Yet I still silently move my chair closer as Lea goes on.
"Whenever my mother had friends over, I was locked in my room, though mother did always raise her voice when she made comments like Oh, let me get some more wine or I'll just get you some more snacks, dear. This was, like I said, because my bedroom also served as a storeroom and there was one rule I had to live by. If I have guests over, you sit on your bed and do not move. Her raising her voice was to let me know that she was coming to check on me."
"A fear technique. That's definitely a form of mental and emotional abuse." Master Ansem mutters and I notice that he is writing notes as Lea speaks. I look behind me, spotting the other man wanting to object, but Aeleus asks him: "Wasn't that one of the reasons you yourself asked me to keep an eye on her when we were going to college together?" And the way the man's eyes widen makes me wonder if he's finally starting to see his daughter for the horrible person that she is.
And while I, again, remember how my Sixth Sense told me that this woman was nothing but bad news and that I should just give up, I turn my attention back to Lea, who continues talking. "However, it was this technique that first inspired me to really start paying attention to her and her schedule. And that, in the end, allowed me the chance I wanted and needed; to escape her wrath and punishment, even if it was only for a few hours a day.
In the end, I admit, I actually started using her own techniques against her. I started to entice her to spend more and more time out of the house, just so I could spend more time outside of the house. I even started misbehaving, enticing her to punish me even more as I got so desperate for time with Isa, time to get to the Master, that I wanted to annoy her out of her home. I'm not proud of the fact that I did this, but – I don't regret it. It got me chances to escape and I desperately needed them."
And with this I see my chance. I get out of my seat and move over to my son, putting a hand on his shoulder and gently pulling him to turn around before I pull him close against my form. And Lea actually softly starts to weep into my shoulder as he whispers: "It – it felt so – so good. When Xehanort told us how to denounce our hearts and I did so. I felt like I could finally stop caring. And – and for – for the longest time, I – I thought that I had."
But while I want to just whisper my usual catchphrase, I whisper instead: "You didn't, son. No one would be able to just stop caring, even if they denounced their heart. You did what you had to do to survive and you did an amazing job." I turn around and look from him to the rest of the group as I say: "In fact, you even did a better job than I did. You were able to return home a hero. I felt like I had to fake my death, because I didn't think I'd ever be welcomed back."
"Now what is this nonsense? A hero? Leonhard? What in the name of magic are you talking about?" My son's grandfather – and I definitely feel like using the term loosely – asks, his voice filled with disbelief and Damian asks: "You're kidding, right? I mean, Harry, dad and I are from another universe and even we know about Sora and Lea and how they battled in the Keyblade War together." The man's eyes widen and he turns to Lea and me.
"Wait, you're – you're – you're –.""That Lea? Yeah, I am. Keep it memorized." Yet Isa crosses his arms and says: "That still doesn't make a lick of sense. There was a huge party for Sora and the others after Sora stopped his search for Kairi and their group photo was in several news papers and tabloids for a good month or so.""Well, excuse me. I've only been back to my actual self for the past four months or so."
This makes Sirius and Harry turn to Master Ansem, who nods and says: "Even though Radiant Garden was entirely rebuild before the Keyblade War began, all of those who had their Heartless and Nobodies slain by the Keyblade still needed various amounts of time to fully recover. Some needed only a few days, others several weeks to months. Plus, it also all depended on the date and time that they had had both slain. Those that had their Heartless slain on the first journey and their Nobody in the second took longer than those who had both slain in the second."
"And I'm sure that those who had their Heartless slain by either Puppet or Kiddo had different times as well." I think to myself as I turn to Lea and gently tell him: "You know, I had a perfectly fine childhood and still had to turn rotten to the core for the sake of the future. You may have had the exact opposite, but you definitely turned out completely opposite as well. Though I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for abandoning you to – her."
"You're not half as guilty to that as he is." Harry suddenly tells me while aiming a thumb for the other man, who looks furiously affronted and snarls: "Excuse me!" Harry glares at him and snarls back: "Well, you are. Braig never had any reason to believe he had become a father and none of you – not even your horrible excuse for a daughter – Sir, I'm holding back on actually speaking my mind about her, be grateful." This makes me hold back a snort and Harry goes on:
"Like I said, none of you ever even considered telling him. Your daughter, instead of doing what anyone with a bit of common sense would do, decided that punishing herself and Lea was the better option over just surrendering rights as a parent that she never wanted to the other parent. And yes, I know that she only kept Lea because you told her, but you really should have convinced her to do so. And that whole rapist thing?"
Harry scoffs and rolls his eyes as he says: "You're obviously an overprotective father, so I don't believe for a second that you didn't want to press charges when she first told you. Though you really should have realized something was off when she talked you out of that. You could have easily realized that your daughter was lying and gone out to search for the other parent, for Braig." Yet then the boy suddenly stops and looks thoughtful as he mutters:
"And yet, I'm glad that you didn't." And this astounds everyone in the room. But then Harry turns back to look at me and Lea. And while he looks at us, I can tell that he really only has eyes for Lea as he says: "After all, if you had, Lea might not have turned out as he did. Heck, Braig might have even had to sacrifice him or his upraising just to achieve his goal, his destiny. And, I don't like admitting it, but his upraising made him who he is."
The boy walks over and I make sure to take a step to the side. Harry gently puts his hand on Lea's cheek, my son grabbing the hand with his own and the two of them having their gazes locked in such a way I wonder if they're even still aware that there are others in the room with them. And while I wonder if Harry is talking to Lea or to all of us, he goes on: "And I love who he is. I love everything about him, from his looks, to his character, to how he makes me feel."
I notice that there are soft tears running down Harry's face, yet the smile on his face proves that they are tears of loving happiness instead of tears that would worry me and the boy goes on: "But what I love most about him, more even than the fact that he got me back the chance to have a family or that I carry his child, is the fact that it was meeting him that first made me realize and getting to know him taught me – what it feels like to feel love.
I – I know that my friends love me, that dad and Damian love me and – and I know that I love them, but – it was meeting Lea that made me feel love to such a high and deep extend, with such incredible strength, that I finally understood what it felt like. Meeting him allowed me to grow closer to my friends, to my family, than I think I could have ever done if I hadn't met him. And then I'm not even talking about the fact that his baby saved my life.
I – I'm sure it sounds incredibly corny and stupid, but – while my friends and family are my heart, Lea is my life." And to this I turn from the lovely couple to the rest of the room, smiling as I see that Isa has gone to stand with Master Ansem, that Dilan joined Aeleus, that Sirius is side-hugging his son and that even the other man has tears of emotion running down his wide eyes. I turn back to my son and my grin grows even wider when I see the two of them locked in a loving kiss.
This next part was previously a separate chapter, but I considered it too short, so I added it to this chapter.
Sirius' POV
It's been a few minutes since my son and his mate shared their kiss and I could swear that their bond developed up to a whole new stage after the kiss as well as Harry's little speech of love. To hear that my son learned what love felt like by meeting his mate is something I suddenly realized I have been waiting to hear this whole time, ever since hearing Lea's own speech, back in November. And just like their bond, I feel like my son reached a new stage in his growth.
Yet while it's soft and muffled, a buzzing noise suddenly breaks the silence and I feel horrified as I realize that it's coming from my robe pocket. I pull my robe open and pull my own Gummi phone from my pocket, feeling slightly curious as to why Lucius would be calling me now. But as I answer the phone, Braig catches my eye and instantly an idea takes hold in my mind as I say: "Greetings, Lord Black." And the blonde man jokes back: "Greetings, Lord Black."
As this has become a bit of a joke between the two of us over the past few weeks. "So, what's up?" I ask and the man answers: "I thought I'd call to wish you and your family a happy New Year. I wanted to do it last night, but felt it would be better to do it today." I smile at the man at this and say: "Your senses were right. We were in Godric's Hollow.""You were in England? Why didn't you come over?" The man asks shocked and I mutter: "We visited Lily and James."
Instantly understanding dawns on the man's face and he mutters: "Yeah, it was a good thing that I waited. Anyway, I also wanted to call you about some updates that took place here in England. I think you'll be happy to hear that Draco has decided to follow in your footsteps. He'll be returning to Hogwarts in a few days and he has already arranged for a Resorting to take place upon his return. And both Narcissa and I are very confident he will be in Gryffindor this time."
This really impresses me and Harry mutters: "He sure has been brave enough to entice confrontations over the years, though he also has enough cunning to only do so when he feels sure he can come out on top." I look from my son to the phone to this and see Lucius smiling in pride over this as he says: "Exactly, which is why Narcissa and I are so sure about his decision. We just hope that, this time around, the Sorting Hat will give McGonagall the chance to put it on him." At this Harry snorts and mutters: "Right, it barely touched him last time."
But then I decide to change the topic and say: "That all sounds great, Lucius. And I also have news for you and the Purebloods over there. We discovered just earlier today that Lea actually descends from someone who, in this universe, is on equal level as the Founders. Basically he and his father's side of the family is this world's version of a Pureblood. Perhaps you can head for Gringotts and spread the news among the Goblins there?" The man's eyes widen and yet he nods as I ask this and says: "It'll be my honor. Consider it done, Lord Black."
And while I want to joke back, does Harry move over and say: "Lord Malfoy-Black, please let Draco know that I am going to ask Angelina, Alicia and Katie if they're okay with going back to Hogwarts, to see if they can support him while there. I know that the girls have already been thinking of going back, at least Angelina and Alicia, so I might be able to convince them." Lucius gives my son a grateful nod and then breaks the connection.
"So what do we do now?" Braig asks and instantly the other man, the greatest annoyance in this room, stands up and says: "I'll tell you what we're going to do. You, you sick bastard, are going back to your exile where you belong and I am taking Leonhard and Harry back home with me. And once my daughter's trial comes around, I am going to make sure that her attorney takes care of everything. I might have to settle for a contact ban between my daughter and grandson, but –."
But the minute he said he would take Harry home, my own patience with the man snapped and I angrily snarl: "I'll tell you exactly what you're going to do. You're going to leave, go back home and leave us alone from now on. And if you even think of objecting, I will press charges against you with Master Ansem. Because it seems that, in your arrogance, you forgot one vital fact. You are not Harry's guardian, I am. And I have no interest in letting my son live with the likes of you, or his soul mate, who is an adult."
The man looks at me, shock on his face, but his cheeks also colored to show that he feels embarrassed over the fact that he did indeed forget all of this and then Lea walks over and comes to stand between us as he coldly tells the man: "I will never live with you. I have a place of my own, I have a mate, who is also my fiancé and once the baby is here, Harry is moving in with me. This was a decision we made months ago and you have no one to blame for you not being in the loop but yourself.
You chose to accept a wrong deal with your own daughter, you chose to abandon your own grandson, you were arrogant enough to think that gifts could make up for years of abandonment and now you think you can barge into our lives and take control? To quote my actual father, my actual guardian, the only blood relative I will ever acknowledge as such. As – if." The two stand face to face for quite some time, each glaring at the other and the looks on their faces making it hard to determine who hates the other more before Lea hisses: "Goodbye."
The man turns to look at Ansem, but the man just looks back questioningly, as if he's asking: "You're expecting me to disagree?" And at this the man snarls angrily and marches out of the room, throwing the door open the same way he did when he came in. "Something tells me we haven't seen the last of the guy." Dilan mutters and Lea says: "You guys are probably going to see him again when she has her trial. Though I hope you don't mind –." And Ansem reassures him as he says:
"Your testimony of just now will be enough, Lea. We will not ask you to return for the trial. However, if you want someone to come in your place to witness the event, please let one of us know in advance. For now, why don't you and your family return home? I do believe you lot have a lot of time to catch up on." And at this we all nod in happy acceptance before we walk out. Yet when we have left the castle, Isa turns to us and says:
"I'm going to head home. Mother will be happy to hear that you finally came clean about what you've gone through, Lea. Also, I suggest that, before the trial, you meet with Master Ansem one last time along with Braig. Just to make sure that, upon her sentence, she won't be able to call you her son anymore, if you get what I'm saying." Lea's eyes widen and I mutter: "I'm sure that bastard is going to try and object to that." But to this Damian says:
"It's not as if it's up to him. The decision befalls only Lea and his direct family. That only includes both of his parents and now that that woman has so many charges against her, she lost that right all-together." Lea's head tilts down at this and he mutters: "I – I can make her give up her guardianship rights? I – I thought those simply became null and void when I turned eighteen." But at this I shake my head and say:
"Your age is only a number, Lea. It doesn't hold up much when it comes to the law, other than give you the right to decide for yourself. The most it does right now is give you the right to decide if you want to do this or not. And personally I would have done it if I were you. Heck, when I first visited Gringotts as a free man, I actually denounced my own mother from the family, but still made sure I was Lord Black and that Harry and Damian could inherit."
I put a hand on his shoulder, making him look at me as I say: "And your ancient legacy comes from your father, not your mother. You have even more rights and reasons to denounce that side of your family than I did. And not just for your own sake –." And even without me telling him, we both turn to Harry, who again has his arms wrapped protectively around his pregnant stomach as I say: "But for your future as well."
Lea nods at this and Braig says: "I'll get in contact with the guys later to see if we can arrange this and if they can keep me up to date on the goings on with the trial and all that. Though to be honest, I'm kind of surprised that the Master is even holding a trial for that woman. He might as well just use Lea's testimony to sentence her. Heck, if I know him as well as I think I do, he probably even has some extra evidence to prove her guilt."
But at this I shake my head and say: "When Harry was little, after his parents were killed, I was sent to prison for crimes I never committed, just because the government had evidence against me and I never got even so much as a questioning. Master Ansem knows about this and swore to me that he would never make their mistake. Everyone in Radiant Garden will be trialed, no matter their case or the evidence against them." Braig winces and mutters:
"Looks like I have a lot to learn. Better make sure I keep my mouth shut from now on." But I shake my head and say: "You couldn't have known, Braig. Besides, it was many years ago. I wasn't reprimanding you so much as just explaining the agreement between me and the Master." Harry pipes up: "Now come on, let's head home. I don't know about you, but I feel quite excited telling our friends how Lea found a family of his own." And this makes us all leave the castle with large smiles on our faces, all of us walking close together.
Good for you guys.
I'm going to be honest, at first I was planning for Lea's mother to have a brother that no one knew about that wanted to kidnap Harry and take the baby from him. But I don't think I would be able to write something like that. I'd probably have either Lea or Braig or someone else save Harry before the brother could get very far. So instead of that, I think I am going to write one last chapter in regards to this family, where they will finally get a name.
However, it will also be the final chapter for them and they will never be allowed near Harry or Lea again. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do when it comes to the grandfather to get this done just yet, but I do think I will implement this little plan for the brother into the story in some way, just not a way that will have to involve Harry or the others directly. They are not going to play an active role in that chapter, just be mentioned from time to time.
Though before we can close of that chapter, I need to cover a little something else. The kids that moved and their parents. Yes, right now the Weasleys are all in Radiant Garden, but everyone else is there without their parents/guardians. And let's face it, Luna, Neville, Hermione and Katie are all still underage. Though there is also the problem of Hermione and Katie being Muggleborn and I am going to cover that before I cover the trial.
Let's do this,
Venquine1990
