509"Harry," The soft voice startled Harry awake and he sat bolt upright sucking in a deep breath, feeling as though he had been holding it for about ten minutes. As soon as he took the breath he was aware of the fact that he was trembling and sweaty and feeling as though he were chilled to the bone.
Wide-eyed he followed the hands firmly gripping the tops of his arms and met concerned blue eyes, Barty was back in human form and looking at him worriedly. He sucked in another deep breath, and then a third, trying to allow the presence of the other to calm the panic of his nightmare.
"Harry, it is ok," Barty reassured him as soon as he realised that he had Harry's attention. "It is ok, you're safe,"
Harry froze for a second before tears burned his eyes and spilled over, tumbling down his cheeks as he moved forward and threw himself into Barty's arms, the other man quickly wrapping him up in them and hugging him so tightly it almost hurt, but was just what Harry needed.
He gripped tightly onto the back of Barty's top and pressed as tightly against him as he could, making a panicked noise when Barty pulled away just a little, but then the older man shifted so that he was fully sitting on the bed and placed his legs on either side of Harry, bracketing him in with his body.
He slid forward and held onto Harry as the dark haired teen pressed his face into his shoulder and tried to bury himself into the other as he body carried on trembling in Barty's hold. Barty reached up and cupped the back of his head as though he were trying to hide him from the world.
"I'm so confused," Harry whispered hoarsely into the space that Barty had created around them.
"About what?" Barty asked quietly.
"I dreamt that I killed… Lily and James, and they were asking me how I could do that to them, and Lucius and Narcissa were standing watching and I turned my wand onto them and…" Harry shuddered and let out another sob.
"Harry," Barty said softly.
"I don't know who I am anymore," Harry sniffed.
"You like Quidditch but you love flying, you're amazing at Defence and Duelling, you love cooking and enjoy others enjoying your food, you are a kind person but can be dangerous when those that you love are threatened, you…"
"What?" Harry looked confused, interrupting Barty.
"Just because your name has changed, where you have come from has changed, and what they have put you through is known now, that doesn't mean you aren't still you. Who you are hasn't changed. You're you, and all you need to do is decide where you want to go with the options that are now available to you," Barty said, wiping Harry's tear stained face gently with his own sleeve.
"You make it sound so easy," Harry shook his head.
"It is, decide what you want, and I will help make sure that you get it, your mother and father will make sure that you get it," Barty said firmly.
"All I want is a simple life," Harry sighed, dropping his face back into Barty's shoulder tiredly.
"You're too special for that," Barty shook his head.
"The prophecy isn't even real," Harry shook his head.
"Nothing to do with the stupid prophecy, you, you shine too bright, you could never be meant for a boring old life," Barty chuckled. "But you don't have to endure it by yourself either, you aren't alone, if you will let me, I will be with you every step of the way, for you to lean on when you need me," he added softer.
"You deserve better than someone who doesn't even know where he belongs, and doesn't want to join either side," Harry sighed.
"I deserve very little for the things that I have done in my life, no matter how much I believe in the reasons for doing them. You deserve better than me," Barty shrugged.
"But?" Harry opened his eyes and looked down through the darkness at his lap.
"But I want you, and I want to make you happy, and I do believe that I can do that," Barty said.
"I thought we weren't saying it out loud," Harry tightened his hands on Barty's top again.
"I don't want to push you, or pressure you, not with everything else that you are dealing with as well," Barty turned his head and pressed his forehead to Harry's temple, his eyes squeezed shut as his lips brushed over Harry's cheek.
"You confuse me so much," Harry took a shuddering breath.
"In a good way or a bad way?" Barty laughed softly.
"Yes," Harry said, getting another chuckle. "I don't…"
"You don't what Harry?" Barty asked gently, but his heart was thundering in his chest.
"I don't think I would have gotten to this point already without you helping me, and I don't think I want to get through whatever else life throws at me without you, I want to be selfish," Harry admitted.
"You and I have very different ideas of being selfish," Barty huffed but then Harry turned his head and pressed their lips together, and everything around them seemed to stop. Barty cupped Harry's face and ran his thumbs over his cheeks as he pressed into the kiss between them properly for the first time, making sure to keep the kiss light despite wanting to devour Harry, but definitely not the brushing of lips from before.
He pulled back from the kiss, and then pressed gentle kisses to Harry's lips, cupping the back of his head before pressing gentle kisses to his cheek.
"Thank you," Harry pressed closer into the hug that Barty wrapped him in again, feeling like he was able to take a breath for the first time since the dream started.
"You have nothing to thank me for, are you feeling better?" Barty asked concerned.
"Yes," Harry nodded, pulling back a little so that he could look into Barty's eyes. He smiled when Barty's tongue flicked out in his tick, the action telling Harry that he wasn't as certain about the situation as he was letting on and that knowledge, the knowledge that he wasn't the only one feeling nervous about this helped.
"I wish that I could take even some of this stress from you," Barty sighed, running his fingers through Harry's hair soothingly.
"You are," Harry admitted.
"Try and go back to sleep," Barty stroked his hand down Harry's face, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to Harry's lips again.
"Will you stay?" Harry caught Barty's hand.
"Of course," Barty said right away. Harry laughed surprised when in front of him Barty melted away and turned into his Jaguar form, the Jaguar shuffled around before dropping down next to Harry on the bed, resting his head on his pillow. Harry turned so that he was facing Barty and curled himself into the large, warm body of the Jaguar, the heat of Barty's animagus form seeping into Harry and easing away the last of the chill of his nightmare.
"Harry I have…oh," Barty narrowed his eyes onto Samuel who blinked right back at him, a curious look on his face as though Barty was a bug on a pin and not a dangerous Death Eater glaring at him.
"Barty?" Harry looked up from his book.
"I didn't realise he was here," Barty narrowed his eyes, "your lessons should have finished 2 hours ago,"
"We were on a roll with this theory and Samuel said he didn't mind staying a little longer, he is going to join us for supper," Harry explained and then snorted when he realised the issue, "don't be jealous, Samuel is a friend, I have told you,"
"My father has been dropping hints about me seducing you if possible," Samuel said.
"Really?" Harry turned to him.
"Yes, I think he has gotten a little overexcited that we are getting on well," Samuel rolled his eyes.
"But you're not going to, are you?" Barty growled.
"Do what?" Samuel asked.
"Seduce Harry!" Barty said, frustrated.
"Oh no, I am no good at seducing, and anyway we are just friends," Samuel waved him off.
"Good," Barty dropped down onto the sofa behind Harry.
"Samuel has been a good friend to me," Harry nudged his elbow into Barty's legs before leaning back and settling against them.
"As long as it is friends I am more than happy for you," Barty huffed.
"I wanted to ask you about the vow you made for Harry actually," Samuel said, and Harry snorted before disappearing back into his book as Samuel started grilling a slightly wide-eyed Barty on the vow. A small part of him felt petty that Barty was getting a grilling on the vow he had cast without Harry's permission.
"Harry!" Killian called popping into the portrait frame that Lucius had bought and fitted for Harry in the living room so that Killian could visit him. "Oh hello," Killian smirked at Barty.
"Hello," Barty nodded.
"Supper is ready," Killian told them.
"Already? Thank you," Harry smiled.
"Your troublesome brother has invited some of his friends, I believe he is trying to make you uncomfortable," Killian warned.
"That is why you came to tell me about supper?" Harry smiled.
"Yes, I do not know what has gotten into him, he has not been my favourite descendant but this is ridiculous," Killian huffed.
"I wasn't meant to be here for supper tonight," Barty narrowed his eyes.
"Don't kill him," Harry murmured, tidying up his things.
"Not tonight," Barty grinned at him, flicking his tongue out in his tick. Samuel nearly swallowed his tongue when Harry leaned down and chastely kissed Barty before walking into his bedroom to drop his things off, the expression on Barty's face not helping Samuel at all.
"Things are…moving between you!" Samuel spluttered.
"I was going to tell you, but then you dropped that Ancient Runes test on me," Harry grinned walking back in.
"So that was just for revenge?" Barty pouted at Harry.
"Exactly," Harry laughed but leaned down and kissed that pout.
"Oh I am happy for you, it is good to hear you laughing so," Killian beamed at Harry. "Hurt him and I will make sure that the family magic shrivels you to dust," He added to Barty.
"I would expect nothing less from the great Killian Malfoy," Barty nodded.
"Long as we understand each other," Killian nodded.
"Let's get this over with then," Harry sighed deeply.
"You don't have to keep taking his shit," Barty caught his hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it looking at Harry concerned.
"It isn't as easy as me turning him into a ferret," Harry sighed again as Barty stood from the sofa.
"Ferret?" Samuel asked bemused.
"No, you could hex his face off," Barty shrugged, grinning when Harry let out a startled laugh at the random comment.
"I am sorry, ferret?" Samuel asked again. Harry laughed and linked his arm with Samuel's as he explained the story while they made their way towards the dining room, Barty strolling behind them.
"...learning about the runes is…" Harry was saying when the three of them walked into the dinning room.
"What are they doing here?!" Draco demanded standing up sharply and almost shouting, cutting all conversation that had been happening around the table short, and getting every eye onto him. Blaise, Pansy, Greg, and Vincent were all familiar to Harry, the man sitting at the table wasn't someone that he recognised.
"We are here for supper," Samuel blinked.
"Draco!" Narcissa frowned at her son and then glanced pointedly around the table, clearly reminding him that they had guests. With a flush he sat down, sticking his chin in the air as Blaise seemed to reach under the table to take his hand. Harry glanced curiously at Samuel when he saw his friend looking at Draco in the way he did when he had a particularly interesting puzzle in front of him.
Samuel shook his head a little at Harry's glance, smiling reassuringly at him as Barty placed his hand on the base of Harry's back and the three of them moved to seat themselves.
"So you are the mysterious and yet not so mysterious Malfoy twin," The gentleman at the table said after a moment, bringing a laugh out of Harry.
"I believe I am the most known unknown person in recent history," he inclined his head.
"Talk about hiding you in plain sight. I am Lord Parkinson," The man smiled a little.
"It is nice to meet you," Harry smiled back, he was a little surprised to realise who he was, he and his daughter were nothing alike, in fact, Pansy was sitting there with a sour look on her face as she looked between them.
"I wasn't aware that you were going to be joining us," Barty narrowed his eyes on Lord Parkinson, who laughed a little when Harry gently elbowed Barty in the side.
"I believe that I missed my chance for this visit," Lord Parkinson said, eyeing the arm that Barty had placed on the back of Harry's chair.
"Indeed," Barty scowled.
"Indeed," Lucius sighed in a much more put-upon way, eyeing the arm with weary acceptance.
"You have to be kidding!" Draco snapped, and again all eyes were on him.
"Draco,"
"No! He gets to choose who he is with. How is that fair!" Draco spat.
"Draco," Narcissa repeated.
"No, he gets to have everything! He should be a political match! He shouldn't just get whoever he wants!" Draco stood slamming his hands onto the table.
"It is a political match, Barty is very high up in our Lord's circle, he is well funded, and he has a growing name that is good to add ours onto, yes it wasn't actively looked for but there is no reason for your mother and I to disagree with it. At the end of the day it is a smarter match than Harry marrying Pansy," Lucius said with an apologetic look to Lord Parkinson who shrugged in acceptance.
"He is getting what he wants!" Draco shouted.
"And you aren't happy with your match?" Barty asked lowly.
"Barty, no," Harry shook his head, turning and pressing his hand to Barty's chest.
"I…. this isn't about me!" Draco stammered.
"You seem to be making it about you, and insinuating that Harry is getting to be in a happy chosen match where you are not!" Barty glared.
"Barty!" Harry said a little firmer, pressing harder on his chest when he saw the hurt on Blaise's face.
"I…that isn't what I meant, stop twisting my words! This is about the fact that he has gotten everything that he wanted, he has gotten everything handed to him, he comes waltzing in here and just gets everything, everything that he wants, the life that he wants, the person that he wants! I don't want him here! I don't want him in this house, in my life, I don't want him as a brother, I wish he had died, it would have made my life so much better but instead I am stuck with him until I am Lord Malfoy and then I will make sure that he isn't my problem anymore!" Draco's shout filled the silent room, and everyone sat in stunned silence, the only sound filling the room Draco's panting breaths as his words sank in around them.
Harry stood and looked at Draco, those blue eyes burning with fire and hatred as they looked at him.
"I…" Harry started to say, but he could think of nothing that he could possibly say in response to that, and as tears filled his eyes he spun and left the room.
"You little…" Barty lunged to his feet, his wand drawn and glowing Crucio red.
"No, wait," Samuel reached out and gripped his wrist. "Harry wouldn't want you to do that. Go after him and make sure that he is ok, I have some things I wish to check here, and then I will be with you,"
"I am only trusting you because Harry does," Barty narrowed his eyes and looked at Draco with fury before he turned and hurried from the room after Harry.
"I think we had better leave. We will come back at a better time," Lord Parkinson stood as gracefully as he could and waved the other teens over to him.
"Of course, my apologies for…this," Lucius said uncomfortably, also standing. The group except for Blaise and Samuel hurried over to the fireplace and flooed out.
"Draco… how could you say something like that?" Narcissa turned to her son, clearly unsure as to whether to be sad, shocked, angry, or horrified.
"It is true! I wish he had been dead!" Draco spat.
"Why?" Samuel asked just as Lucius was opening his mouth, all 3 Malfoys and Blaise turned to him surprised.
"What?" Draco frowned.
"You aren't stupid, and you have been listening to a lot of the goings on around Harry, I have caught you watching him and listening to what people are saying about him. I also know you are aware somewhat of the situation with the people who raised him, if it can be called that, I saw you listening into one of our conversations, so I know that you do not truly believe that he has been given everything that he wanted from a child, and he has told you himself what all this is like for him. So, why?" Samuel asked.
"I…I hate him! He takes everything from me!" Draco stammered.
"What has he taken from you since moving in here?" Samuel pressed.
"I…I…time with my parents!" Draco waved.
"No, we have made a point of spending more time with you than we normally would to make sure that that isn't true," Lucius frowned a little, shaking his head.
"I…he is stealing my life!" Draco looked around the room a little frantically, seemingly becoming more agitated.
"No he hasn't, you have everything that you had before, and because of your behaviour you haven't had to share anything with him," Samuel shook his head.
"He is stealing the portraits!" Draco snapped.
"You never talk to us anyway!" Killian called from where he was watching with Draco's great great great aunt Lucinda.
"So, what is it?" Samuel turned back to Draco.
"I don't know! I just know I hate him! I can't stand him! I loathe him, is that what you want to hear?!" Draco threw his arms out.
"Have you always felt that way about him?" Samuel asked calmly, not reacting at all to the fury Draco was now in.
"No! When we first saw each other I…I wanted us to be friends, I don't even know why now, but there was something about him, but then he rejected me and I know everyone thinks I hate him because he rejected me, but that isn't why! It is because I saw the real him and I just hated him from there, I saw the real him!" Draco sneered as he shouted.
"So what was it that made you hate him?" Samuel asked.
"I don't know! I just hate him!" Draco screamed.
"Drake," Blaise stood and wrapped his arms around the blond who now had tears of frustration in his eyes and was panting as though he had run a marathon.
"Do you have a theory?" Lucius asked partly doubtful, partly hopeful.
"Twins have a close bond, magical twins even more so, it is why they are rare in wizards and witches, which you already know. Draco's response to Harry has been extreme, almost verging on maniacal," Samuel started to say.
"I am not manic!" Draco spat.
"I am not saying you are, I am saying that your reactions have been," Samuel held his hands up.
"How is that different?" Draco asked frustrated.
"Because it is only your reactions to Harry that are such, or when Harry is involved, but they are not sensible. Normally when we dislike someone we can list a reason for it, even if it is something as general as we dislike their morals or what they like. You seem truly unable to list something about Harry you dislike, except for the fact you dislike him,"
"You think…it has something to do with what happened?" Draco said slowly, gripping Blaise's hand tightly.
"I do, a corruption of a family bond is bad enough, but a magical twin bond," Samuel motioned around them.
"But Harry isn't affected," Narcissa frowned.
"Perfect Potter always…" Draco started to say and then cut himself off, seeming to realise what he was about to do and say, like it was a reflex at this point.
"I would argue otherwise," Samuel shrugged. "He has told me in confidence about the anger he feels,"
"Because of that vow he 'tricked' you into making," Lucius said with slight amusement despite the situation.
"Exactly," Samuel mock grinned before turning serious again. "He has said he doesn't really know why he rejected Draco the way that he did, he grew up with no friends, he had only made one friend at that point, and though he thought Draco was a little arrogant, he wasn't sure why he rejected the friendship when being friends with people was all he had longed for for years,"
"It doesn't make sense with what we know now," Narcissa frowned.
"Also, Harry wasn't and isn't the type of person to reject someone in the humiliating manner that he did, especially not knowing what it felt like to try and extend a hand of friendship to someone and have it slapped away," Samuel nodded.
"So you think it was because of the bond?" Lucius asked.
"I think a good amount of that uncontrollable anger is as well. Yes, he has the right and should be angry about everything that has happened, but the way he describes how he feels the anger is different, much in the same way Draco can't seem to control his hatred for Harry, Harry can't control the anger inside of him, probably both from the contorted and damaged bond,"
"But why is it different between the two of them?" Blaise spoke up.
"Because of their upbringing, because of their magic, because the ritual was done to one and not the other, it is hard to tell, something like this hasn't happened before, it is uncharted territory. I am surmising here and do not know for fact that it is what is happening. But it makes sense," Samuel shrugged.
"It does. I should go and speak to Our Lord about this, if anyone knows…something about this it will be him," Lucius sighed, rubbing a tired hand over his face. As he walked over to the floo he reached out and gripped Draco's shoulder. "I am sorry that we have put this down to just your behaviour and didn't try and look into this deeper or help you with how you were feeling. We should have sat down with you and properly talked this through and not just thought, and hoped that you would get used to the situation,"
"It isn't your fault, it is the situation," Draco murmured shaking his head, he was looking more shell-shocked at the revelation than anything else.
"No it is our fault, we're your parents and we know who you are, you can be a tiny bit spoilt which is our fault," Lucius smiled tiredly but teasingly at his son, "but not to this level. It is a completely unknown situation, but we should have known something wasn't right,"
"Your father is right, we have let you down in trying not to let you down in a way, we were listening but not hearing what you were saying," Narcissa sighed.
"I will be back soon," Lucius ran his fingers through Draco's blond hair before moving to floo out.
"I think it is best to keep Harry and Draco apart for the moment. We don't know what is happening, and we don't want to cause more damage," Samuel advised.
"Agreed," Narcissa nodded.
"I will go and explain my belief to Harry and Barty before Barty decides to start throwing hexes," Samuel bowed slightly to them.
"Hexes?" Blaise blanched a little.
"I believe he said something about hexing Draco's face off, better to make sure they understand before that happens," Samuel nodded and left.
"Hex my face off…you're really going to allow him to marry into our family?!" Draco spluttered.
"I would hex someone's face off for you," Blaise muttered a little grouchy.
When Samuel walking into Harry's rooms he found Harry curled up crying softly on the sofa with Barty sitting in front of him with his arms wrapped around Harry, one leg was on the floor, the other was resting against the back of the sofa as he tried to console Harry, looking about he was about to go off like a bomb the moment he could.
"I do not believe that Draco's feelings for you are genuine," Samuel said walking in.
"Thank you for trying, but I think he made it pretty clear how he thinks about me," Harry sniffed.
"I wouldn't lie to try and make you feel better, you know me better than that. I believe that it is something to do with the twin bond between you and it being damaged due to the ritual," Samuel shook his head.
"You think…" Harry lifted his head from Barty's shoulder, scrubbing away the tears on his face as his brain clearly started working. "The Weasley Twins have a really strong connection to each other, and the Patil Twins, even though they're in separate Houses,"
"Magical twins are known for having powerful bonds between them, which is why it is so rare to have them," Samuel nodded. "I believe the ritual has warped the bond between the two of you, I also think that it has something to do with the anger that you feel so much," Samuel seated himself on the armchair.
"I thought that it might have something to do with Voldemort," Harry admitted softly, "I didn't even think about me and Draco,"
"It would make sense," Barty huffed.
"Are you disappointed that you don't get to hex his face off?" Samuel asked curiously.
"I still might, he said he wished Harry had died," Barty snarled.
"But it could be the warped bond between us," Harry cupped Barty's face gently.
"You aren't going around saying you wished he was dead!" Barty growled.
"No, but he is the older twin, he didn't have the ritual performed on him, there are a number of factors that could be as to why Draco is being more ...aggressive and it is aimed only at Harry where Harry feels angry in general," Samuel shrugged.
"I'm not really wanting you to make sense and the moment," Barty glared a little at Samuel.
"That's fine," Samuel said, "Don't listen then,"
"You little…"
"Can it be fixed?" Harry asked softly.
"Lord Malfoy has gone to the Dark Lord to ask his advice on the ritual, I know that will make you uncomfortable but if anyone has knowledge of the dark magic that was used and the possible implications of it, it will be him," Samuel said.
"Lila," Harry called with a sigh wiggling out of Barty's arms and kneeling in front of his coffee table.
"Yes Master Harry," The House Elf popped in smiling brightly at him.
"Do you know all of the House Elves by name?" Samuel asked curiously.
"Yes, they're living sentient creatures, why wouldn't I ask them their names," Harry glared a little at his friend before touching Lila's arm gently when she shuffled uncomfortably before he reached under the table and from underneath the top pulled out a thick stack of parchment.
"What the…how were you hiding that?" Barty frowned, bending a little to try and see under.
"I created a lip, I am kind of used to hiding things," Harry shrugged. "Take these to my…father please Lila, tell him it is the research that I have done on the ritual, and on undoing it,"
"Harry," Barty frowned at him when he turned and looked at the other man.
"Don't look at me like that," Harry smiled slightly shifting just a little so he was sitting against the sofa and resting his arms on Barty's knees, "I wouldn't have done anything rash without at least discussing it with Samuel first,"
"But not me?" Barty scowled.
"You worry," Harry smiled.
"Of course I do," Barty sighed, cupping Harry's face before tugging slightly on Harry's hair, "Because you do not worry about yourself!"
"I do, then I disregard that worry," Harry laughed before pouting when Barty tugged his hair slightly again.
"I wouldn't let him kill himself," Samuel shrugged.
"Well, that is reassuring," Barty said dryly, glaring at the other.
"Best I can offer when it comes to him," Samuel snorted.
"Hey!" Harry huffed.
"I don't care if I have to take you to the other side of the world to put space between you and Draco, nothing is happening unless it is safe," Barty said firmly, getting Harry's big green eyes on him.
"It is my choice, Barty," Harry said softly.
"I…damnit Harry," Barty said with so much emotion in his voice and face that Harry's heart clenched before the other rested their foreheads together. "I have lost you before, I will do everything that I can to make sure that I don't lose you this time," Barty said softly as they heard Samuel retreating, clearly realising that he needed to give them a moment.
"You said that you got better in case we met again," Harry tilted his head.
"Yeah, I didn't think it was really going to happen. When I first started getting myself better it was in the thought that further down the line you would see me, realise I was sane again, fall madly in love with me, change sides and we would ride off together into a sunset on the Dark side," Barty snorted.
"Sounds…not a hundred percent far away from what has actually happened, just with a bit more…" Harry threw his hands in the air, "Drama,"
"With you, that shouldn't be a surprise," Barty huffed. "Ow!" He pouted when Harry pinched his thigh.
"Mean, I don't go looking for trouble, it finds me!" Harry pouted a little.
"I know," Barty combed his fingers through Harry's hair again. "Once I was better, I thought the only real chance I had, not finding out you're actually the Malfoy's long lost child withstanding, was if I kidnapped you or something like that, and I knew you would never come to love me if I did something like that. So, getting to have a chance that I thought I never would, I am going to do everything that I can to make sure that I don't lose you." Barty looked so intently at Harry that the younger man had to lower his eyes, but Barty tilted his chin back up and pressed their lips together. The kiss was gentle and light but Harry couldn't help but sigh into the kiss.
"Barty," Harry hummed when they parted.
"Please do everything that you can not to get hurt, you're too important to me, and your parents," Barty said quietly.
"You're already protecting me with your vow," Harry tried to reassure him.
"Yes, because you don't have to do these things alone anymore," Barty kissed him again.
"I understand, I won't wander into things without thinking that I have people that I can talk to and listen to now," Harry nodded.
"I suppose that is the best I am going to get," Barty huffed, but he looked amused so Harry took it as a win. Then he spoke again, "So Flint gave you those books on the ritual huh?"
"I asked him to," Harry rolled his eyes.
"Ah ha, and he gave them to you," Barty narrowed his eyes.
"Don't give me that look, I just wanted to understand it better!" Harry huffed.
"And the reason you didn't ask your parents or me for those books?" Barty raised an eyebrow.
"Because I knew you would say no, Samuel wouldn't," Harry shrugged.
"Harry!"
"Barty!"
"Oh dear… what was that?" Narcissa turned to look in concern at the other side of the manor following the loud bang that just echoed through the manor.
"Master Harry is being apologising for the noise and promising that there is being no damage to anyone except Master Barty, Master Flint is with them now," Missy explained popping into the room with a bow.
"Thank you…everyone is alive?" Narcissa asked.
"Yes, though Master Barty and Master Harry are still shouting at each other," Missy nodded before grimacing when another bang went through the manor.
"I do not believe I shall be getting in the middle of them for the moment," Samuel said a second later as Lila apparated him into the dinning room with Narcissa, Draco, and Blaise. He looked as though he had walked into a gale-force wind and the top of his head was smoking slightly.
"Are they…ok?" Blaise asked.
"They're getting their frustrations out I believe!" Samuel nodded and sat down.
"You have…fire," Draco waved to the top of his head.
"Oh, thank you!" Samuel smiled and patted out the flames that had appeared amongst the smoke.
Barty huffed a little as he hopped up in his Jaguar form onto Harry's bed and dropped down onto the mattress next to him, he couldn't stop the small purr he let out when Harry rolled into him and pressed his face into Barty's soft fur.
"I promise not to do anything rash, not intentionally anyway," Harry said. Barty huffed a little but curled around Harry, his worry for the other still burning in his chest, not so much at what Harry might do, but the circumstances that seemed to form themselves around him that he had to react to. Harry was so used to having to deal with things himself that that was his immediate reaction to it.
"Harry?" Lucius and Narcissa called as they walked into his rooms. A small chuff caught their attention and they glanced down to see Barty walking out of Harry's bedroom in his Jaguar form.
"You had better have stayed in that form all night!" Lucius growled at the Jaguar feeling his eye twitching slightly.
"He did," Harry promised walking out in his pyjamas. "Sorry I didn't get to sleep till late," He apologised looking down at himself.
"No, it is fine, and also to be expected," Narcissa smiled shaking her head.
"Have you slept?" Harry asked Lucius concerned seeing that he was still in the same robes as he had been wearing the day before.
"I got a few hours on My Lord's sofa while he went through your research, he was impressed," Lucius said.
"I am not sure which part of that sentence is the weirdest," Harry grimaced.
"I would go with the impressed part," Barty said as he transformed back.
"I was leaning towards that," Harry nodded at him as he opened the pantry in his room that Lucius had installed for him and plated up a selection of muffins for everyone, walking over to place them on the coffee table before curling up against Barty.
"I see you two have made up," Narcissa said looking between the two of them.
"Storm in a teacup," Barty grinned.
"Thank you, Mason," Harry smiled at the elf who popped in with tea and coffee on a tray for them.
"Are these made by you?" Lucius asked, motioning to the muffins.
"Yes," Harry nodded and then felt a small flash of warmth go through him when Lucius and Narcissa took two muffins each and then watched as Lucius made sure Narcissa was distracted mixing her tea and popped another in his pocket. When he caught Harry looking he smiled and winked at him.
"I have already spoken to Harry about looking into the research by himself," Barty huffed.
"That would explain the explosions," Narcissa hummed taking a sip of her tea.
"It would indeed," Harry glanced at Barty who grimaced but looked right back at him determined.
"You didn't tell us that you were looking into it?" Lucius asked softly.
"I wanted to understand the ritual, the reversal of the ritual, and the dangers that would come from it," Harry explained. "I didn't want to worry you after you said that it could be dangerous, or get your hopes up,"
"That is…understandable," Lucius nodded.
"Our Lord believes that Samuel's theory of what is going on is correct," Narcissa said and then hesitated.
"What is it?" Harry asked as Barty reached out to take his hand.
"To work it out, Our Lord will have to cast a spell over the two of you, you and Draco," Narcissa grimaced as Harry sucked in a breath.
"I…" Harry turned to look at Barty and then back to his parents as his heart raced in his chest at the thought of having to be in Voldemort's presence.
"I am sorry, if there was any other way around it we would do it," Lucius held up his hands.
"Why can't you do it?" Harry hated how pleading his voice sounded.
"The ritual is an incredibly powerful ritual, to be able to work through it and reverse it needs someone powerful," Narcissa explained.
"It isn't the only option, we can try and find someone else that can do it, someone from another country, and until then work out how to keep a safe distance between yourself and Draco,"
"But we are both going to Hogwarts, and it isn't going to…" Harry bit his lip and looked down at his lap as his mind spun. "Can you give me a few moments?" he asked, standing.
"Harry?" Barty asked when Harry moved towards his bedroom.
"I will be back in a few moments, I am sorry, I just need a little time to think by myself," Harry explained before hurrying to his bedroom and closing the doors behind himself. He took a deep breath before he walked over to his bed and dropped down heavily onto it.
He took a few deep breaths to try and calm himself down as his mind spun with the choice that he had sitting in front of him.
If he didn't allow Voldemort to perform the spells, if he refused to be in his presence, then from Samuel's suspicions and Draco's behaviour, he and Draco wouldn't be able to be around each other, it definitely seemed to exacerbate things, his own anger had been worse. One of them would have to move away from the other, as Draco was going to be Lord Malfoy, and because this was his home, Harry would fairly have to be the one to move, maybe to another country. This would mean Lucius and Narcissa, his mother and father would have to split their time between the two of them.
Harry didn't doubt that they would, not now, not after living with them and seeing how desperately they wanted to know him and be in his life, but having distance between them, no matter the fact that they could use magic to travel, would complicate their relationship and the time that they could spend together.
Harry would get away from Britain, away from Dumbledore, away from Ron and Hermione and the other Weasleys and everyone that had played with his life, he would be away from the games here. But… it felt like running, it felt like allowing them to win, to affect his life even more, it felt as though they were still getting to dictate his life and the way it went in one way or another.
But facing Voldemort. He shivered as he remembered the snake-faced man from the Graveyard, the face in the back of Quirrell's head, he shuddered as he remembered the sounds of him killing Harry's parents…except he hadn't had he? He had killed the people who had kidnapped Harry, who had performed a dangerous ritual on him because while he believed they wanted a child and were no doubt deeply grieving for the loss of their child, and while he couldn't doubt that they had loved him from the pictures he had had of them with him as a young baby, he did believe that the main reason they had took him was because they wanted to have the prophecy child.
So, it was just down to the madman who had tried to kill him 3 times now, not including the whole Diary thing. Could he look past that? Barty and his parents had assured him that he didn't want to kill Harry any longer, as long as he stayed out of his way and didn't fight with the Light Side. But could he trust him to cast a spell on him and not take the chance to kill him anyway?
He had Barty's vow protecting him though. Harry worried at his bottom lip as he thought it over, Barty was one of Voldemort's highest Death Eaters because he had managed to sneak into Hogwarts and live under Dumbledore's nose for a year, he had delivered Harry to Voldemort to bring him back. Voldemort owed him a life debt, and by killing Harry he would strip Barty of his magic, an insult worse than killing him from what Samuel had told him. Barty's vow would protect Harry from Voldemort choosing to take the chance to off him.
He sighed and looked around his room, the massive bedroom was ridiculously luxurious and filled with items, some of which he still had no clue what they were, but the room felt like home, like his, he felt relaxed here, he felt safe here. For the first time in his life he had somewhere that was completely his, where he didn't need to hide things under floorboards - his research notwithstanding - he knew that if he asked Narcissa and Lucius not to come in here they wouldn't without a good reason. The manor was feeling like home, the library, the kitchen, Lucius and Narcissa were having a kitchen built for him a few doors down with everything that he could possibly dream of in there, not that he was supposed to know. If he wasn't here he would miss having meals with them, sitting in front of the fireplace with them and talking, he wouldn't have his garden that he had worked hard on over the summer, or the patch that was now a mixture of his and Narcissa's.
And there was Draco himself. If they could fix what was damaged between them, there was a chance that he would gain a brother out of this as well, a twin. He had envied the closeness of Fred and George since meeting them, and even though he knew that after what had happened to them they were likely never going to be that close, the chance of having any form of a bond with his brother was something that he had longed for.
He had longed for years when he was little that he and Dudley could get on and he could have a brother before he realised that that was never going to happen. The chance of having some sort of a bond with the person that was his brother…could he give that chance up because he was scared?
"The choice is yours, my lad, no one is going to judge you for whatever choice that you make," Killian said softly from his portrait on Harry's wall, Harry looked up from where had been unconsciously rubbing at his necklace as he thought, the same necklace that was glinting around Killian's neck in his portrait.
"If I choose not to, it is going to have a massive impact on my life if I don't," Harry said.
"That young man of yours would follow you anywhere, and your mother and father will spend equal amounts of time with you and Draco," Killian said.
"What is Draco like when he isn't so…angry?" Harry asked softly.
"Not as nice as you, but that could be personal taste, he is your great-great-great-great-great Grandmother Miriam portrait's favourite. He is very pureblood, looking forward to a career in politics and following after your father's footsteps, and believes in the Malfoy name," Killian said and then he sighed and smiled softly, "he can also be incredibly kind and caring, especially for those that he cares for, he would do anything for his friends, little Vincent and Gregory have always been a little bit slower at learning, he sat with them for most of the summer last year going through your homework with them and going over things that they didn't understand. He is proud of where he has come from and despite not talking to us portraits, he knows the family history well and is very proud of it. He enjoys reading romance stories and he is actually quite a good artist when he draws. There is also a sense of humour in that gelled head of his," Killian snorted.
"Thank you," Harry smiled even as his brain spun.
"Like I said whatever choice that you make we will support you, though if you choose not to stay I am coming with you! You are far more interesting than the others," Killian said with a wink before disappearing out of his frame.
Harry took a breath and tried to calm his rolling thoughts the way Narcissa…his mother had been teaching him to do.
Twenty minutes later when he stepped out into his living room Lucius, Narcissa, and Barty were sitting in silence looking more than a little strained. They all stood when he stepped out of his room, but none of them rushed to him the way that Mrs. Weasley would have, something that he appreciated as he took a second to compose himself before walking over and sitting down on the sofa next to Barty, it was only then that the three of them sat down, looking at him and waiting for his decision.
"I don't want them to win, I don't want to lose my family, my home, and if I can have…something," Harry shook his head and huffed at this, "with Draco then I am going to go with it. But, I want the three of you there the whole time, please,"
"Of course," Lucius stood and sat on the coffee table in front of Harry, reaching out to take his hands. "Whatever you need we will be there with you, for you. And no matter what happens you aren't going to lose us, or your home,"
"It is a pretty nice home, I would be worried about it as well," Barty hummed managing to get a laugh from Harry as he looked exaggeratedly around the room.
"It is a very nice home, and with the amount of time you're here, I may start charging rent," Lucius narrowed his eyes on Barty.
"Hey, most people would pay for a bodyguard as dedicated as I am," Barty grinned.
"Most Malfoys would have put you in a ditch for how dedicated you are, never mind the Blacks," Narcissa snorted.
"You're lucky Harry seems to like you," Lucius nodded.
"Mean!" Barty pouted.
"Thank you," Harry squeezed Lucius' hand, smiling softly around at the others.
"Whatever happens, we will get through this, as a family," Narcissa said firmly.
"Ok," Harry nodded, actually finding himself believing it.
"Harry?" Lucius tapped on Harry's bedroom door.
Barty chuffed as he looked at Lucius and then hopped down from the bed, padding across the room in his Jaguar form and passing Lucius into the living room where he hopped up onto the sofa.
"Is everything okay?" Harry asked concerned sitting up a little more from where he had been sitting propped up against his headboard reading.
"It is, we have just spoken to Draco about what is going to happen," Lucius said closing the bedroom doors and tapping them to put a silencing spell on them before making his way over to sit on the corner of Harry's bed. He looked more nervous and uncomfortable than he had for a long time, making Harry nervous.
"Is everything okay with that?" Harry asked, putting his book to the side and sat up a little.
"Yes, he is quite eager, he is really hoping that what is happening is down to it," Lucius said.
"Ok?" Harry didn't know what else to say when Lucius looked down at his lap.
"I have something for you," Lucius seemed to steel himself and then looked up.
"Ok?" Harry heard himself saying. Lucius hesitated and then pulled something from his pocket, it was shrunk down and he resized it causing Harry's breath to catch as he looked at the photo album in Lucius' hands. His photo album.
"I regretted what I did the moment that I did it, I was so angry and confused, but it wasn't an excuse for what I did to you, what I took from you. I gathered the ashes and repaired it, it took a little while because of how badly I destroyed it. I just had…I have no excuse for what I did to you, and though I know this doesn't make up for what I did, I hope that this shows you how sorry I am for what I did, especially when you were scared, confused, and lost yourself," Lucius said handing the album over to Harry.
Harry reached out and caught Lucius' wrist when he went to stand and leave the room, looking up from the album he held onto Lucius a little tighter as he swallowed a couple of times before being able to speak.
"Can I show you it?" Harry asked.
"Of course, I would like that. I didn't look, I didn't feel I had the right," Lucius looked cautious but hopeful.
"You're my father, you have the right," Harry tugged gently and he watched Lucius' eyes widen at what he had said. He quickly seated himself on the bed next to Harry when his son moved to the side to make room for him, settling back against the headboard with Harry. "Do you want to look at pictures from when I was a baby?" Harry asked.
"I would like that," Lucius nodded, he looked a mixture of eager and nervous to see photos of Harry as a baby. "Harry," He said before Harry could open the album.
Harry turned and looked at him and found blue eyes looking at him with so much emotion that his breath caught in his chest. Lucius pulled Harry into a firm hug, wrapping his son tightly in his arms.
"You are a good person, a much better person than I am. I am so proud that you are my son, that I get the chance to be your father," Lucius said as he rested his cheek on Harry's head. Harry tightened his own arms around Lucius and pressed into the hug.