Hello everyone! I know, I know, it's been a while. I'll go ages with no inspiration and then write an entire chapter in an hour when it hits me.
Before we begin, a few shoutouts!
Firstly to the lovely Kurinoone. Your messages to me mean so much, and I'm thrilled that you approve of what I'm doing. I love your work, and it is honestly so amazing to know that you have read my story!
Fatma Feyza - hahaha I'm glad you like the ending! I'm trying to stay true to Kurinoone's universe reactions wise, so I'm really pleased you approve!
smileylaugh - I'm really glad you're enjoying the story! Promise it's not going to be abandoned!
LadyAdnanref - So. I'm dedicating this chapter to you. Your review made me cry, I'm so happy to see people enjoying this work as much as you are. Sorry about that cliffhanger! I hope you enjoy the result!
So yeah everyone, this chapter is dedicated to LadyAdnanref! Love this girl so much!
Enjoy!
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"Damien!" Lily cried out, desperately spinning around in a circle. The Forbidden Forest loomed above her, its endless depths muffling her shouts. The eerie stillness stubbornly refusing to be disturbed.
"Damien!" Her husbands voice rang out, stronger than her own. Years spent trespassing in these woods in his youth aided him now, his voice penetrated the darkness more effectively than any lumos would.
"Damien please! Come out! We're sorry!" Lily tried again.
"We need to regroup," Tonks jogged over to the couple. "We're spread too thin. Everyone's meeting at the lake."
"I'm not leaving this forest until I find my son." James didn't alter his gaze from the path it tracked in the gloom. Lily wouldn't be surprised if he was using his Animagus ability to better see*, his eyes flitting to movement she could barely even hear.
"James, she's right." James turned, mouth agape as he stared at his wife. "We need a plan. We can't all just keep stumbling around out here, not if we actually want to find Damy." The corner of her mouth briefly turned up, "Come on. You're supposed to be the Auror. I'm just a Potions Mistress." She tugged at his arm. "Let's go."
James cast one more look around the Forest before reluctantly following his wife's pull.
xxxx
"What are you doing?" The boy struggled, fighting against the tight grip the other had on him. "Get off me!" His attempts, futile in his panic, grew wilder. "Let go!"
"No."
"Merlin kid, get off me!" Harry forced Damien's hands away from where they had been tightly wrapped around his body. "What is wrong with you?"
"It's called a hug, Harry."
"I know what a bloody- you don't even know me!" Harry stared at his brother incredulously. "What, do you hug everyone you meet?" Damien shrugged, grinning wildly.
"I do know you." Harry frowned at the answer and Damien's smile. 'Might as well have some fun.' "I know everything about you. Every little thought you've ever had, every-"
"I suppose you think you're clever," Harry interrupted. Damien continued to smile annoyingly at the Dark Prince. "Congratulations," Harry snarked. "You're able to read a book." His smile fell.
"How do you know about the book?"
xxxx
Dumbledore smiled softly as Sirius and Remus trudged up to the lake, joining the Potters at the edge of the group. The longing looks the four continued to cast at the Forest did not escape his notice.
"Did you see the children?" Molly stood with her husband and five oldest sons. "Ron, Hermione and Ginny?"
"I spoke to them before I went to get Lily and James," Tonks piped up from Kingsley's side. She cast a concerned gaze around the group. "They weren't that far, they aught to be here by now." She trailed off, shuffling her feet.
"We should go look for them," Charlie piped up, Molly nodding rapidly in agreement.
"I'm sure they're alright," Arthur reassured his wife, wincing at the tight grip she had on his arm.
"Yeah," Bill agreed. "They're probably on their way back right now."
xxxx
"We should be heading back!" Hermione hissed.
"Oh come on, it's just a bit longer."
"I agree with Hermione," Ginny grabbed her brothers arm. "Tonks spoke to us ages ago. They're probably already wondering where we are!"
"Mum'll throw a fit then. She's probably right pissed."
"Exactly," Ginny said, ignoring Hermione's admonishment for the curse.
"So, what's a bit longer right!" Ron trudged deeper into the woods, Hermione and Ginny exchanging a look before following.
"Ron!"
"Ron, come on!"
"We're leaving-"
"It's not like we're abandoning Damien, we're just-"
"Ron stop moving!" Ron froze, looking back at Hermione's pale face. "Did you hear that?" Her lips barely moved as she spoke. "There's someone over there." She titled her head towards a thicket of trees. Ron strained his ears, shaking his head in bewilderment.
"There's nothing-"
"I hear it too." Ginny's eyes were wide. Hermione raised a shaking hand, wand pointed towards the source of the voices.
"Homenum Revelio."
The spell swooped over towards the thicket, silencing the voices as it hit them.
"There's two people over there." Hermione's voice shook.
"Maybe it's just the others."
"They've all head back already," Ron hissed at his sister. "We're the only ones left out here. It's someone else."
Hermione scrambled back towards him as the bushes rustled, footsteps rapidly crunching towards them. The trio raised their wands, the crunching of leaves getting louder and louder. A figure shot out of the gloom, running towards them.
"Petrificus totalus!" The white light shot from Ginny's wand, enveloping the figure. They froze, the momentum causing them to topple face first onto the ground, limbs splayed awkwardly. Hesitantly, Ron stepped forward.
"There was another one!" Hermione grabbed his arm. He nodded sharply.
"Keep a look out, yeah?" The girls nodded, and he continued forward. Slowly he approached, noticing more details the closer he got. Black hair that was full of twigs and leaves, no doubt from the mad rush through the bushes towards them. Pale skin, dark robes. Ron's frown deepened. 'School robes...'
"Damien, you little prick!" Ron rolled the boy over. "Don't roll your eyes at me, you scared the hell out of us charging in like that. What were you running from?" He unfroze the younger boy with a flick of his wand.
"Nothing, I was just having a laugh," Damien brushed his robes off, laughing and running a hand through his hair.
"Who were you talking to? We heard voices." Hermione questioned, picking his wand off the ground and handing it to him.
"No one."
"We know that there was somebody else there Damien. Hermione did a spell."
"Maybe she got it wrong," he shrugged at Ginny. "Come on," he headed off into the Forest. "We should head back, right?"
The trio followed the younger boy, Ginny casting one last look at where he had come from, unaware of the watchful eyes upon her.
xxxx
"Damien!" Lily rushed over to the boy as he emerged from the Forest. "Oh, what happened?" She worried over his dishevelled appearance.
"Ginny petrified me."
"You scared us!"
"I didn't think you would petrify me!"
Lily engulfed her son in a hug, pulling back and scanning him for injuries. "What happened?" She asked again, taking his face in between her hands. "Where did you go? You shouldn't have run off like that, we were worried sick!"
"I was just-" Damien pulled from his mothers embrace, gazing longingly back into the forest behind him. "I just had to think things through. Don't worry," he smiled bemusedly at the concerned faces around him.
"Everything's fine now."
xxxx
"Somehow I doubt everything is fine."
Sirius and Remus walked side by side behind the trio of Potters, heading back to the Room of Requirement.
"Shhhh," Remus hissed, gesturing with his eyes.
"Come off it Moony, they're too wrapped up in Damy to pay attention." Sirius clutched at his ribs, Remus elbowing him sharply in the side. "You haven't said I'm wrong," he wheezed.
"I don't think you're wrong, or," Remus frowned, "I don't want to think that you're wrong."
"First time for everything."
"You'd know."
"Oi!" Sirius gaped. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Shut up."
"No, tell me what-"
"Sirius, are you going to enter the bloody door or stand there all day?"
Sirius whirled around to face James, one eyebrow raised as he waited, arm outstretched to keep the door open.
"Right," Sirius nodded, "yep, coming."
Remus, sighing, followed.
xxxx
"I think that we should call it for the day," James ran a hand through his hair, tiredly looking up at the rest of the group. He plucked his glasses off, rubbing the sudden sleepiness from his eyes and massaging his temple briefly, before sliding them back on. "It's been a bit much for us all, and-"
"No." He blinked owlishly at his son.
"What?"
"No. I want to keep going. At least one more chapter." Damien moved to the couches, throwing himself down. Ron followed loyally, Fred, George and the two girls following hesitantly after. "Besides, I think you owe me."
"I-" James looked to his wife, who nodded her head. "Okay, if that's okay with the rest of you-?"
"That's just fine." Arthur smiled, taking his seat with a soft groan. "I'll read, shall I?" He summoned the book to himself with a flick of his wand, and waited for the others to settle.
"Right then, let's see..."
"The Deal"
Some frowns of confusion as Arthur read the title flitted around the room.
The six teenagers stood in shock reading and re-reading the name over and over again.
"Harry Potter, who's that?" Ron asked quietly.
James squeezed his wives hand. 'Thats our son'.
Everyone looked at Damien. The thirteen year old stood with his mouth slightly open and his hazel eyes fixed on the name. Damien had always wanted to know more about his family, being an only child Damien was desperate to have even a cousin, however distant, to be able to have some sort of company other than adults.
"Oh Damy-"
"It's fine mum." Damien waved his hand dismissively. "I had the Weasley's didn't I? I wasn't all alone."
His parents had told him that his only cousin was his aunt Petunia's son Dudley Dursley,
Damien shuddered in disgust.
who was very obnoxious, like the rest of his family, towards Damien and his parents. They were muggles who hated magic
"That's awful!" Molly looked at Lily. "They're your family aren't they?"
"My sister was jealous, she desperately wanted to be able to do magic and, when she realised that for her it was impossible, decided to hate and fear it." Lily glanced at Severus, her old friend looking back at her knowing that she was thinking about the same thing he was. "And everything associated with it."
"It is real, isn't it? It's not a joke? Petunia says you're lying to me. Petunia says there isn't a Hogwarts. It is real, isn't it?"
"Its real for us. Not for her."
"- you think I want to be a - a freak?"
"He's a freak, Lily!" **
Dumbledore looked down, contemplating a letter he once received many years ago, from a little girl deeply saddened that she couldn't go to Hogwarts with her younger sister. 'We've always done everything together, you see. I think she'll be awfully lonely without me, I do so hate to see her upset.'
He wondered at how someone could possibly change so much, looking over at Lily's dejected form. 'You were right, Miss Petunia,' the old man thought. 'She misses you.'
and anything to do with magic. Even though his aunt had been his mother's only sister, she and Lily had never got on.
"We used to," Lily assured the crowd. "Before my Hogwarts letter came, we did everything together."
"Oh dear," Molly fretted, smiling sadly at the younger woman.
James has told Damien that he had no aunts or uncles from his side and that there were no other Potters alive, other than them.
James and Sirius exchanged a glance, remembering the brave people that raised the both of them.
Damien was staring at the name again. Who was this? And if he was a Potter then why was his dad being so hostile towards him?
Draco snorted quietly.
Damien finally tore his eyes away from the map and looked at his friends.
"We need to find out who he is." he said quietly to them.
Fred and George's expression suddenly changed from curious to mischievous.
"Guys, this is serious. You should know better than to get involved." Bill protested. The twins looked at him, astonished that their 'cool' older brother was admonishing them. "No, don't look at me like that! Don't!"
"What Bill is trying to say is that you both know an Order meeting is going on." Fleur added. "You shouldn't be disrupting anything." Bill kissed his partners cheek in thanks.
"And didn't I tell you all not to leave the room?" Molly questioned. Fred pulled a face at his brother, who nodded sullenly.
The mock saluted him and rushed to the door. The other four hurried behind them. When they reached the first floor landing George hushed orders to everyone.
"You remind me so much of James. He was always in charge when we got up to- er, when we did, you know, stuff," Remus trailed off awkwardly when McGonagall turned slowly to look at him, missing the proud look on George's face.
"Okay, here's the plan, Ron, you and Damien take these and carefully slip them under the door, Hermione and Ginny, you both play spy and go downstairs." at this both girls started to object, rather loudly.
"That's not fair!" Ginny hissed at her brother, Hermione nodding furiously. "You can't just send us away like that! We want to see Harry too!"
"You want to see Harry, hey?" Ron sniggered. Ginny flushed, bright red all the way down to her neck. Hermione swatted at Ron.
"She means we want to know what's going on as well! Don't be rude, Ron!"
"Shh, in the name of heaven girls, keep it down! We need you two to tell us if someone is coming upstairs. We will tell you everything word for word, promise." Fred sent the two complaining girls away and turned to see that Damien and Ron had slipped four ear strings under the door.
Ginny grumbled, and Hermione crossed her arms. Both girls slumped against the couch with a huff.
"Perfect"
The four boys quickly stuck the ear piece into their own ears and began listing to the fierce argument coming from the room.
"…sneaking out in the middle of the night! I mean honestly Harry, do you have a death wish?" James's angry voice was ringing in their ears.
"He just wants to go home," Draco pouted.
"That's not his home!" James glared at the boy.
"The only wish that I have is to get out of this miserable hell hole and back home!"
Draco shot a smug look at the older Potter, who stubbornly refused to look at him.
Damien felt his heart skip a beat. That voice was oddly enough like his own.
"Really?" Lily looked up, excited. "Oh! How wonderful!"
"Odd that you two didn't notice that before," Tonks frowned thoughtfully.
"There was quite a bit going on." Remus replied, Tonks blushing as he addressed her.
'Or they just didn't care enough to notice.' Draco thought, spitefully.
He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. 'This is so creepy' he thought to himself.
"Home! Harry when are you going to accept that this is your home, your real home." James sounded thoroughly exhausted, like he had stressed this point before.
The four boys shared a look before continuing to listen in. At least this confirmed that 'Harry' was in fact a member of the Potter family.
"Only by blood," Draco hissed under his breath.
"Never! No matter how long you force me to stay here, I'm never going to call this my home. So you can just stop trying Potter!"
Damien let out a small gasp. Why did this boy just address Damien's dad like that? Damien looked over at the Weasley boys who were looking quite baffled.
"I'm warning you Harry, never talk to me like that again, do you hear?"
Draco paled. "What are you going to do to him?" He whirled on the parent's of the captured teen. "You can't hurt him! Not anymore!"
"What do you mean-?" Lily was cut off by Fleur.
"Draco, they didn't mean to hurt Harry before. It was an accident." Draco glared at the part-veela. 'Accident?' He thought furiously. 'The lies they tell themselves.'
Damien could tell that his dad was clenching his teeth and talking. 'Never a good sign' Damien thought to himself.
'What does he mean?' Draco thought. 'Merlin, is he getting hurt too?'
"Like what? I haven't said anything wrong, just stated the facts!" the boy called Harry replied with just as much anger.
"You know very well what I mean, if you can't address me as anything else then at least don't refer to me as 'Potter', after all you are a 'Potter' as well!"
"Damn right!" Sirius cheered.
Before Damien could hear the response to this, an angry shout was heard coming from downstairs. The four boys quickly tore the extendable ears out of their ears and ran to the second floor. They made it just in time, they flung themselves to different corners of the room, pretending to be busy with one thing or another.
"Honestly boys!" Molly fumed.
The door opened and a very red and embarrassed looking Hermione and Ginny came through the door, followed by Mrs Weasley.
"Boys! What were you doing, sending the girls like that, don't you ever think about the consequences?" Mrs Weasley was looking livid.
"Not good." George whispered. The two girls exchanged worried glances.
The boys in question glared at the two girls and looked in shame at the fuming Mrs Weasley. Before any of them could open their mouths to say anything she continued.
"Hermione has only been here once! How could you ask her to go and get you food, honestly! You had been told that you will get dinner after the meeting, you just don't listen to me."
"Really Hermione?" Ron exclaimed. "That's the best you could come up with?"
The four boys looked at each other and then turned to look at the two blushing girls who stood awkwardly next to Mrs Weasley.
"Sorry Mum." muttered Ron while the other three nodded their heads in agreement.
Mrs Weasley left the room, promising them that food would be ready in the next thirty minutes. Once she was gone the four boys rounded on the girls.
"We sent you to get food!" Ron asked Hermione.
Ron gestured wildly at the book in his fathers hands, making it clear that he very much agreed with his future self. Hermione scowled.
"Well you didn't give us any pre-made excuses, so we just had to come up with one on the spot." Hermione answered still looking very red.
"And that was the best you could do?" came Fred's sarcastic voice.
Ron gestured at Fred who returned it, evidently in agreement.
"Oh Ginny!" George groaned, face in hands. "Haven't we taught you better?" His voice came out slightly muffled, and he was seemingly in pain.
"Oh, who cares? She bought it didn't she? Now tell us, what did you guys overhear? Who is that boy?" Ginny looked excitedly at the four boys.
"My future brother-in-law at this rate," Bill mumbled under his breath, Fleur letting out a small squeal of excitement that drew a few puzzled looks.
It took less than five minutes to tell the girls exactly what they had overheard. The two girls sat silently, listening to the conversation that happened between this 'Harry Potter' and James Potter. Hermione was the first to speak up.
"So this Harry Potter said that he was being forced to stay here?" she asked Ron.
"Obviously, he is a prisoner." Charlie scoffed at Hermione, who blinked, confused as to what she had done to draw his ire.
"Don't talk to her like that!" Ron snarled, backing off when Hermione put a hand on his arm.
Ron nodded his head, looking thoroughly confused.
"It just doesn't make any sense and the way he was talking to Mr Potter. He sounded right pissed off with him."
"Yeah and what was the whole 'death wish' thing? Why would anyone here try and hurt your cousin?" Fred asked Damien.
Damien looked up at Fred with a startled look.
"My…my what?" he asked confused.
"Well, he has to be your cousin. Who else could he be?" answered Fred.
"My brother!" Damien grinned.
Damien thought about this. It did make sense. Was it possible that maybe this was a long lost relative that even his parents didn't know about until now? That was probably why they never told Damien, after all why would they keep anything from him, right?
Damien was lost in his thoughts while the rest of the teenagers made up other possible explanations that would solve this mystery surrounding Harry Potter. No one even came close to the truth.
xxx
"Harry this doesn't make sense! How could you of-"
"I didn't ask you if you thought it made sense!" Harry hissed at his brother. "I told you the truth, all you have to do is accept it!"
"But I can't accept it. Not that." Damien shook his head.
"You stubborn, little-"
"Brother?"
"Shut up."
Damien smiled briefly, before it faded into a concerned look. "Harry are you okay?"
"I said shut it!" Harry groaned, clutching at his forehead.
"It's your scar isn't it?" Damien asked, waving a hand dismissively when his brother peeked at him from behind his hands. "I read a book, remember." Harry smirked in reply, before he hissed in pain again.
"We should really get you checked out-" He cut himself off as other voices made themselves known.
"Oh come on, it's just a bit longer!"
Damien frowned. "That's Ron." He turned back to his brother, "they're looking for me, we should both head back-"
"Like hell." Harry straightened, Damien frowning at the redness visible in his scar. "I'm not going back with you."
"Harry come on! You have to! Mum and Dad'll be thrilled-"
"No."
"Did you hear that?" Harry and Damien stopped arguing abruptly, exchanging worried looks. "There's someone over there."
"You have to go," Harry hissed. He cut the other boy off with a look when he opened his mouth to argue. "Go, Damien."
"Promise me you'll look into what I said."
"Damien."
"Promise me Harry!" Harry's head snapped up as a spell waved over them. He cursed, recognising it.
"Get moving, you little prick!"
"Harry, you have to look into W-"
"I will alright! Now go!"
Damien took off without another look back, running right into the paralysis spell shot his way.
xxx
Damien looked at Mr Weasley as he continued to read.
Harry sat across from James. He had made himself comfortable on the bed as James paced the floor, still ranting on and about how 'dangerous sneaking out' could have been and 'why Harry was determined to hurt himself' Harry was beginning to tune him out.
"Hey!" James protested, Sirius snickering quietly at his friend.
He had been literally hopping mad when he was forced back into this room, Harry had argued with James and shouted at him. However, now Harry was getting tired and just annoyed with James. 'Why doesn't he just shut up and get lost!' he thought to himself.
"Well, I never!" Molly looked aghast. Lily furrowed her brow slightly, upset by Harry's attitude towards his father.
"Boy's got no respect!" Moody huffed. "Should teach it to him the old fashioned way." He shook one gnarled fist in the air threateningly.
"You're not going to touch him!" Draco snarled at the same time as James, both parties exchanging slightly bewildered looks before breaking eye contact.
James stopped pacing and walked towards Harry. He stopped right in front of the raven haired boy and crouched low so that he could see into Harry's eyes...
"Harry, why can't you understand that I don't want you getting hurt?" James said with his voice full of emotion.
'Merlin, I don't know how much more of this I can take.' Draco sighed, slumping down on the couch, rubbing his hands over his face and through his hair in exsparation.
Harry looked at James straight in the eyes and replied.
"Why?" Harry watched as James looked fit to break down.
"Why do you care what happens to me? I am not your son anymore,
Frustrated groans resounded through the room.
why do…" Harry was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. He and James looked over at the door and saw Lily poke her head inside.
"What happened?" she asked as she saw the hurt look on James's face and the annoyed look on Harry's. James straightened up and looked at his son through glazed eyes.
"Nothing, just talking over something."
Harry looked at James, wondering why he was lying. Harry looked away and started to gaze out of the window. He wished the Potters would just go away. He hated this act they did, pretending to care about him, telling him outright lies of how much they had missed him and how they wanted to protect him. It made Harry feel sick with rage. He closed his eyes and tried to push down his anger.
"I don't understand," Lily looked around the room desperately, her lost look tugging on many heartstrings. "Why? Why does he-" she cut herself off with a choked sob. "Merlin, please, I don't understand?"
Draco swallowed uncomfortably, an unwanted lump having formed in his throat. He would not pity this woman. She was a liar.
"Well, the meeting is finished. Dumbledore wants you and Harry to come downstairs so he can fill you in."
Lily was looking at both of them curiously. She knew something was up. James would not have missed this meeting for anything, so why was he up here instead arguing with Harry? She shook her head a little. 'I'll just ask James later' she thought as she followed James and Harry out of the door and back downstairs to the meeting.
There was only Mr and Mrs Weasley, Sirius and Remus left sitting at the table with Dumbledore. Everyone else had gone home. Dumbledore looked up at the three people who came in. James was looking very anxious and tired and Harry looked just plain bored.
"Of course he does," Draco smiled slightly, shaking his head and looking down. He missed the desperate looks those most invested in Harry threw his way, hopeful for more information.
Dumbledore chuckled slightly to himself. It really should be Harry looking anxious and worried, since this meeting was about his future. Dumbledore motioned for them to sit down. Once the three Potters were seated Dumbledore cleared his throat and spoke.
"I am sure you are quite anxious to know what the outcome was of my meeting with the Minister." he addressed Harry.
"He couldn't care less, actually," Draco sneered. He looked away from the questioning gazes, clearing his throat in a desperate attempt to rid it of the uncomfortable lump that lodged itself there whenever Lily looked at him.
James nodded his head a little, while Harry merely looked at his hands, as though seeing them for the first time.
Damien snickered.
Dumbledore continued.
"I am glad to inform you that the Minister has agreed, to the most part, with my suggestion." he paused here again to see if his words had any effect on Harry. The raven haired teen continued to examine his nails in a very cheeky manner and was acting as if he couldn't hear Dumbledore.
"He is quite rude," Hermione whispered to Ginny. The red haired girl seemed to not hear her, Hermione looked to Ron who shrugged helplessly. Fred and George made kissy faces over their brother's shoulder, silenced by a fierce scowl from the bushy haired teenager.
"There are some conditions set which I am not entirely in agreement with but, hopefully the circumstances should not arise to enforce these conditions." Dumbledore continued.
Harry sighed and looked up at Dumbledore.
"Are you planning on telling us what your master plan is, or are you just going to talk nonsense all night?" Harry asked while boring his emerald green eyes into Dumbledore's midnight blue ones.
"Harry James Potter!" Lily hissed out, grasping desperately for the right words. "Well, I never-"
"It's quite alright, Mrs Potter," Dumbledore raised a hand to wave any concerns away, "I'm sure young Harry didn't mean any harm."
"Yes he did." Draco looked at the old man, incredulous. "Harry never says anything if he doesn't mean it."
"Well, I'm sure he was just trying to seem as though he isn't scared, is all." Molly said.
"Yes, the poor boy must be frightened out of his mind." McGonagall added.
"He's just acting tough, is all. Teenagers do it all the time," Arthur smiled reassuringly at the Potters.
"Hey!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He hates you." Steel grey eyes bored mercilessly into twinkling blue ones, ignorant of the shocked gasps around the room. "He would kill you, if given half the chance. He wouldn't even hesitate."
"No." Lily's lip trembled. "No, no, no! Take it back! He wouldn't! He's just a boy! What a wretched thing to say! Harry could never-"
"Because you know him so well, don't you?"
"Draco, shut up," Sirius hissed at his relative, Tonks flushing red with embarrassment.
"Arthur, if you wouldn't mind," Dumbledore gestured at the book laying limp in the man's hands.
"Yes, right..."
A collective gasp was heard around the table at Harry's insolence. Mrs Weasley looked like she would like nothing better than to go over to Harry and clip him on the ear for such rudeness.
"I certainly would, if he was my child to discipline!" Molly huffed.
Harry smirked and continued to stare cheekily at Dumbledore. The Headmaster looked momentarily stunned but had overcome this quickly and bowed his head slightly towards Harry.
"My apologises, Harry. I really should have started with explaining the nature of my suggestion. Very well, I will explain it to you now." he was actually glad to be able to look at Harry directly than Harry's hung head as it made what he was going to say a lot easier.
"You see Harry, I went to see the Minister on the day you arrived here. I explained your true identity to Minister Fudge and asked him to reconsider his decision of handing you over to the Dementors without trial. I explained the sensitive nature of how you were tricked and fooled into carrying out those awful deeds and…"
"Oh, he's not going to like that," Draco muttered, rubbing his temples.
Dumbledore was cut off as Harry bellowed:
"I WAS NOT! I KNEW PERFECTLY WELL WHAT I WAS DOING! HOW DARE YOU SAY I WAS FOOLED AND TRICKED BY MY OWN FATHER!"
George mimed an explosion going off to his twin, who grinned back in agreement.
Harry lunged forward to grab Dumbledore by the neck.
"Merlin, Harry!" James sighed.
Instantly Sirius, Arthur and James had grabbed onto the boy and pulled him back into his seat.
"Thanks Arthur," James receieved a smile from the other man.
"Mr Potter, please restrain yourself or we will do it for you." Arthur said to the struggling Harry in a stern voice.
Harry stopped struggling and gave Arthur a death glare. Harry didn't fancy being tied down to his chair. He sat back and tried to shake off James's grip on his arm but James only tightened it.
Draco inhaled sharply, leaning forward to pay more attention. Were they finally going to have their true natures revealed?
Dumbledore had sat quietly as Harry had his outburst. He didn't even flinch as the boy had tried to attack him. He was expecting this kind of reaction from Harry, but he was not going to disguise his words, he was going to tell Harry the truth about his so called father.
"What truth? Harry knows what he is. He knows what he does." Draco met the gaze of his Headmaster. "Just as he knows what you've done," his gaze snapped, accusing, to James and Lily.
"What? What have we-"
"You know what! I won't be the one to say it! You can stop pretending, the truth will come out!"
"Cut it out, Malfoy!" The reply came not from James, but his son. "You and I will talk later, but right now you need to shut it!" He hissed under his breath at the older boy. Draco maintained eye contact, surprised by the intensity in the others gaze. He nodded slowly, turning his head away and refusing to look at anyone in the room.
"Harry, I understand how you must feel right now. You may think we are trying to deceive you and lead you away from the man you call father. I assure you we are not trying to deceive you. We are in fact trying to bring out the truth. You, my boy have been lied to most of your life…"
Draco's eye twitched, but he maintained his silence.
Dumbledore stopped as he saw Harry try to free himself from James and attempt to attack him once more.
"Bloody hell," Ron swore softly.
Dumbledore sighed to himself. 'This is not working'. The Headmaster looked at Harry again and this time leaned in closer to the struggling boy. Harry stopped struggling with James and scowled at Dumbledore, daring him to come closer.
"Don't go closer," Ginny squeaked, the rising tension grating on her nerves.
"Okay, Harry, we won't talk about that just yet. Please let me finish my say on what is to happen with you."
At this Harry opened his mouth to say he didn't care what Dumbledore had to say and that he would probably not do what he was told to do in any case. However the firm grip on his arm tightened just as Harry had opened his mouth. Harry winced and shut his mouth again, but not before glaring at James.
A sharp inhale was all the noise the Slytherin made as he eagerly awaited for the true nature of the Potter's to emerge.
"It has been agreed that you will remain out of the custody of the Ministry. There will be no trial as there will be no arrest."
James let go of Harry and sat open mouthed at this. Harry was not going to Azkaban! He was not being charged for murder! This was probably the best thing that could have happened. James had wished endlessly for a miracle that would leave them in custody of Harry and somehow keep Harry out of the Ministry's grasp. However, as wonderful as this sounded, James knew it wasn't the full story. 'There must be a downside to this' he thought to himself.
'He's stuck with you,' Draco thought miserably.
"However Harry, this does not mean that you are free to go back home. You are to remain in my custody until you are seventeen." Dumbledore took in the shocked faces of Harry and James.
"You see that was my suggestion to the Minister. I asked him to leave you in my custody. I would be responsible for you."
"But, Lily and I are his parent's Dumbledore! Surely we should-"
"The Minister would never agree to that." Lily looked down, grasping her husbands hand. "He would think it a liability." Dumbledore nodded in agreement,
"I am truly sorry, my dear."
James interrupted Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry Dumbledore, but how can you do that, I mean Lily and I are responsible for Harry. We are his parents! If anyone should look after Harry it should be us." James was looking at Dumbledore as if he were a traitor, trying to take away his son.
James still looked like he very much agreed with that sentiment.
"James, my boy. That is exactly what the Minister did not want. Harry staying with his parents, as it could lead to Harry's escape back to Voldemort."
"I am still going to go back home, whether I stay with you or them." Harry hissed at Dumbledore.
"If I can't get back home then my father will come looking for me."
Dumbledore smiled at him and said in a very low voice.
"That is why Harry, you are coming to Hogwarts."
...
"What?!"
"Are you insane!"
"You would endanger the lives of your students!"
"Please," Dumbledore said calmly. "I understand your concerns, but trust that I have a valid reasoning behind my decision."
Harry sat in shock. What was this old fool thinking? Harry couldn't go to Hogwarts. Harry knew that it was impossible to escape from Hogwarts and that it was the one place his father could never come to rescue him. Nonetheless did Dumbledore not realise the risk Harry would pose?
Dumbledore smiled. The boy was indeed a smart one, to deduce the reasoning behind his plan in a matter of seconds, a feat, it seemed, his Order was not capable of.
Dumbledore wouldn't endanger the entire school like that, would he?
"Dumbledore, how is that even possible?" James was sounding as shocked as Harry was feeling.
"Well it is possible and the Minister has given his consent for Harry to be enrolled into the sixth year of Hogwarts." Dumbledore smiled at the shocked looks that he was getting.
"Now you may be wondering why the Minister has consented to this, so let me explain. It is unfortunately not as simple as it seems. There are conditions set against this. Harry will remain in my custody until he reaches the age of seventeen. If by this time Harry has shown no intentions of returning to Lord Voldemort and working as the Dark Prince, then he will be pardoned and there will be no action taken against his crimes. It will be looked at as a case of the IIC, Imperio Induced Crimes. If he returns to Lord Voldemort or shows resistance to living in the wizarding world as a law abiding wizard, then he will be charged with the murders he has committed and will probably serve a life sentence in Azkaban. They might even give him the Kiss if he is found guilty of all charges." Dumbledore stopped here to look at the heart broken faces of James and Lily.
"But that gives us barely a year to change his mind!" Lily despaired.
"It is my intention to show you, Harry, the error of your judgement and to let you see the real wizarding world for what it is. I know that you have been told many things about me and what my beliefs are. I am giving you a chance to see for yourself." He looked directly at Harry as he spoke.
Draco looked puzzled at this, having never considered questioning what he had been told of the old man. A chance to see for yourself... perhaps Harry would even enjoy that.
Harry was looking at Dumbledore with a questioning look.
"Why are you so intent on showing me your ways, what makes you think that I will even listen to you?" Harry asked him.
"Because Harry, you are not what you seem. I can see beyond the mask you wear. I can see the true you in the Dark Prince. You are not evil even if you wish for us to believe that you are."
Harry snorted and glared at Dumbledore before answering.
"Whoever said that I'm evil?" he looked at the confused expressions all around the room before continuing.
"There is no such thing as good and evil," Draco said, drawing confused expressions himself. "Harry isnt evil, he's powerful. That's all there is, power."
"There is no good and evil Dumbledore, there is only power. Power is what everyone is really after. In the end it comes down to who is worthy of having it. You may think that what I have done is evil. Well I can say the same to you. Your Order and your Ministry will take a man down no matter what the consequences. They will not hesitate to kick someone when they are down. They are just as ruthless as any Death Eater."
The Order members exchanged hesitant glances.
He finished and looked directly at Sirius who was blushing furiously. He knew that Sirius was remembering the first day of Harry's capture. How he and Moody had tormented Harry. How Moody had viciously kicked Harry in his already broken ribs. Harry smiled to himself. 'Serves him right' he thought as he watched the black haired man squirm uncomfortably in his seat.
"I'm sorry." Sirius whispered.
"Harry, the words you speak are not your own. I want to show you the truth, after that you can make your own decision." Dumbledore was amazed to hear the words again which had been spoken to him years ago by a certain red eyed man.
Harry snorted once again at this.
"My own decision, hmm let me see, Azkaban or house arrest, yeah I see the clear winner!" Harry mocked.
"Harry, I knew that you would feel this way, but I am sorry to say that you really don't have a say in this. You will be coming to Hogwarts on the 1st of September, like all the other children of the wizarding world. You will learn the truth of this war." Dumbledore was beginning to sound tired.
'Good luck getting him on the train.' Draco snidely thought.
"And what if I refuse to come with you?" Harry asked already knowing the answer.
"Harry you will come along, one way or another." there was definitely a threatening tone to the old man's voice.
"Albus!" Minerva scolded quietly.
"Fine! But how are you going to stop the other kids from protesting against me being in the same school as them! And what about their parents. Surely no sane parent would want their child being in such close proximity to the Dark Prince." Harry was sure that he had Dumbledore cornered. Dumbledore merely laughed and replied.
"Well, that is not a problem as you have done us all a favour by being hidden behind that silver mask. No one has ever seen your face, so they will not know your identity. A few students who must be informed of your past will be instructed to keep that information secret, otherwise face expulsion."
"That'd be us, I suppose!" Fred puffed out his chest proudly.
Harry looked at the Headmaster in complete disbelief. He was ready to kick out children from their own school if they told anyone about Harry. He imagined the face of his best friend. Draco would probably strut around the entire school singing 'Harry is the Dark Prince' and that 'he is the Dark Lord's heir' and 'his best friend'.
Draco laughed. "Piss of you prat! Like you're any better!" The blonde was positively giddy, overwhelmed to once again hear Harry confirming that he thought of him as his best friend.
James and Lily exchanged quiet glances, James raising an eyebrow towards the blonde and Lily shrugging with a small smile. They would accept any friend of their sons, if it meant they got him back.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
"What if I told someone my true identity?" he asked thinking that he couldn't possibly suffer be the same fate as the other children.
"Oh, I am sure that you will be able to keep that a secret. As I am sure you feel the same as most do when in comes to the Dementors Kiss. I don't want that to be your fate Harry, but if you leave me no choice I will be forced to hand you over to the Ministry, who will subject you to the Kiss without hesitation."
"Blackmail." Bill nodded. "Nice." Fleur elbowed him, throwing a disapproving look in answer to his silent 'what?'
Dumbledore smiled back at Harry as he threw him the dirtiest look he could muster.
"Well, if that is all then I best be going. I shall send you your book lists and other documents soon so that you are fully prepared for your school year." Dumbledore stood up and made his way to the fireplace.
Before Harry could say anything James stood up and called out to Dumbledore.
"Albus! Wait, I have a question?"
Dumbledore turned around to face James and smiled at him.
"Will we be able to bring Harry home? Even if it is just for a day of two, you know over Christmas or something." he asked in a small voice.
"Oh, James." Lily whispered, knowing it upset the man that he would be unable to see his son a Hogwarts.
He couldn't bear the thought of not seeing Harry again for so long. He had just got Harry back and now his son was going to be taken away again.
"Of course, Harry can come home for Christmas, if that is what he wants. I am sure you all can discuss it with him as a family at Hogwarts." Dumbledore replied with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" asked a confused James.
"Did I not mention it James? You are coming to Hogwarts as well." Dumbledore replied.
"Oh sucked in Prongs!"
"Sirius!"
xxx
Lord Voldemort was not pleased. It had been seven days since his son had been taken by that wretched Order and there were still no improvements in rescuing him.
Proud smirks littered the faces of various members.
Voldemort had been told that Harry was being held at the headquarters of the Order. This was worrying the Dark Lord to no end. It would have been easier to rescue Harry if he had been held at the Ministry of even Azkaban, but if Harry was being held by the Order then it was near enough impossible to get to him.
"Damn straight," Remus whispered to Sirius.
Voldemort thought about Albus Dumbledore and felt the anger burn inside of him. He pushed all thoughts about the old fool away. He had to get to Harry. He needed his son back with him.
James hissed quielty. He was not his son!
Lord Voldemort hadn't realised how much he had depended on Harry. Not only for the assignments but for his company as well.
Bill blinked. "Come again?"
When Harry was much younger he would annoy Lord Voldemort in his childish ways for attention. At those times Voldemort could barely restrain himself from cursing the ignorant child.
"Huh?" Draco was befuddled. He shook himself, assuming that this was, perhaps, any adults natural reaction to an annoying young child. It wasn't like he actually ever hurt Harry. Besides, this was the Dark Lord they were talking about.
But now, Voldemort realised that somehow Harry had managed to crawl into Lord Voldemort's heart and had made himself a part of the Dark Lord. Harry had become someone Lord Voldemort needed in his life. If the Dark Lord was to ever lose Harry, there would be hell to pay.
"Bloody hell." Ron swore, loud enough to be heard though no scolding came, the rest of the room feeling much the same way.
Voldemort was brought out of his thoughts with a knock at the door. With a wave of his hand the door opened to reveal a Death Eater with long greasy hair. The Death Eater kneeled in front of Voldemort and waited for the command to rise to his feet. Lord Voldemort greeted his 'spy' Death Eater.
Snape grinded his teeth together, knowing that he was not going to like what was to come.
"Severus, I hope you have brought me some useful news about my son."
Severus Snape gave an involuntary shudder. 'Damn that Dumbledore for sending me in with such news' he thought to himself.
Snape looked away from the other Order members, not willing to meet any gazes and see pity in their eyes.
Snape picked himself up from the floor and tried to find the courage to tell his master his news.
"I have news about the Dark Prince, My Lord." Snape started.
Lord Voldemort stood up from his throne and silently walked over to Snape. He stood towering over the Death Eater.
"What news do you bring Severus?"
"My Lord, the Dark Prince is going to be moved to another location."
Snape hesitated for a second, silently cursing Albus Dumbledore.
"My Lord, The Dark Prince is going to Hogwarts."
Snape closed his eyes and bit back his cries of pain as the Cruciatus curse washed over him. He had felt the curse many times before at his master's hand but it had never been as intense as it was this time.
'Merlin, I hope Dumbledore knows what he's doing' was the last thought to cross Snape's mind as he plunged into unconsciousness.
The Order members looked uncomfortably at the dark haired man, who had his gaze fixed firmly forwards. He refused to look down, but would not meet their gazes either.
"Severus, I-" Lily began, looking at her old friend gently. "I'm sorry. Thank you for all you have done for us." Snape did not look her way, but he nodded once, firmly.
And that was that.
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*yeah turns out deer and such can see really well in the dark, hence the James/Animagus thing. (I only did a quick Google, so if I'm wrong I'm sorry).
** These are quotes both from the books and films. I do not own them in any way.
The story doesn't end here folks! I'll be back!
Gee, I sure do wonder what Harry and Damien talked about...
As always, review!