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Lucky Strike	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Sirius Views: 76061 -:- Recommendations : 4 -:- Currently Reading : 17
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this strange dance in JK Rowling's world.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Beta'd by the most amazing Tenchi, who I can't thank enough for all the hard work she does for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

Just a reminder of what's on my profile; reviews complaining or whinging about the lack 'o sex in stories will get deleted. If you want a smut-filled romp, you need to find another story to read.

Chapter 15

Looking over the list of potions that Harry's Mind Healer thought that he should take, Lucius nodded. Sitting the list down, he took a sip of his tea then looked at Harry. At the moment, Harry was leaning against him, holding Bugs close, having dozed off. As they wanted him to sleep as much as he could because he was having such problems, he made sure not to disturb him. Lucius then said, “We need to make a plan of attack for this. I agree; what's going on can't continue. He didn't even want to fly he's so tired. All he's done is just sit around and doze off.” At the moment, he had a muffling charm around the sleeping Harry so their talking didn't wake him.

“We need something,” Sirius agreed as he slipped into the place by the sleeping teen. Harry would react better if he woke sandwiched between him and Lucius, so it was best to go about it this way.

“I've gotten him to agree to take Dreamless Sleep tonight as long as the bottle comes from Severus' lab. He knows everything there is brewed by Severus. After that, he'll judge. I've assured him that a couple nights of taking it won't be addictive. I've also talked to him a bit about the beer. He's well aware it's addictive as well and actually refused to take one from us for that reason. He said he's drinking too much and it's not helping, so he sees no point in continuing,” Lucius said, looking around.

“While that's good on one level, it's leaving us one less option to use with him,” Remus sighed, shaking his head.

“Maybe the Dreamless Sleep will reset this slightly,” Severus said, looking at his exhausted son. “It's not going to fix it, but it can only help.”

“I agree,” Lucius nodded.

“How about Lucius and I come over tomorrow and sit down with all of you to go over this list with Harry. I'm sure we can get our hands on the books that describe just what the potions do and how they aren't addictive. It can only help,” Narcissa suggested, looking around.

“We'll do that,” Severus said with a firm nod. “I'll drag out everything I can on the potions listed. Then I can make sure Harry knows he can sit down with me while I brew them.” Sighing, looking at his dozing son, he shook his head and added, “I don't hold out hopes this will work, though. He's so adamant about not taking anything that I'm not sure we can talk him into it.”

“We need to try,” Remus said, slumping slightly. “This can't go on. If they help, Harry will feel much better.” Looking at his son, he gave a soft sigh. It was rotten to see Harry so miserable and felt even worse because there was just nothing they could do to help unless Harry could be talked into taking what his Mind Healer wanted him to try. And he didn't fancy any of their chances of talking him into it. In fact, it was something akin to a miracle that Lucius had managed what he did.

“Rather than second guess this, we just need to try. All there is to it. Even if we can get him to take a few of these, it'll help,” Sirius said, looking around. “At least reset what's there slightly. If it's as Stuart said and something big is coming, we need to do something. All there is to it. Any little bit we can manage will only help.”

“Very true,” Lucius nodded, glancing down at Harry as he shifted slightly. “We'll see what we can handle tomorrow. Maybe between all of us, we can do something. At least I hope.” Seeing nods, he changed topics. With a sigh, he pushed Draco's latest letter to the center of the table. “I think all of you should read that. I haven't shown it to Harry, obviously, as I don't want to add to the problems already there, but you need to be aware.”

After reading it then passing it to Snape, Sirius groaned. “Bloody wonderful.”

“My exact thought on the matter,” Lucius said, looking dour. Waiting until Remus and Severus read it, he said, “I don't think it will affect much with this mess, honestly, as it's confined to the castle. I'll make sure that Draco knows not to mention it to Harry. That won't help anything. Once things smooth out, it's my thought to say something to him so he's aware.”

“The next meeting we have with Lily and James we'll bring this up,” Remus said with a sad shake of his head. “I don't know whether Jamie is spouting what James has said, as I doubt any of that comes from Lily, or if he's just coming up with it himself, but it's not helpful. Especially if it gets back to Harry.”

Snorting and crossing his arms over his chest, looking dour, Severus sneered, “They need to put a stop to it, now. Before it does get to Harry. I would prefer he's in a better place before we tackle something like this. The upside, though, is the only one in that castle that does communicate with him is Draco. From what I've seen of the letters between the two, it's nothing serious, just general chit chat about the mundane.”

“We'll ensure that Draco says nothing to Harry,” Narcissa assured him. “We can make it clear that it's a topic that you want to take on with him. He'll understand that.”

“Good,” Severus said with a pleased nod. “Let's see how what's going on with Harry plays out then get with Stuart about setting up another meeting with the two. That should be all it takes with them. It's not going to help much, we all get that, but it might stop some of the foolishness.”

“We also need to prepare for the court hearings over the charges that were leveled. Again, it's not something that will affect Harry much as we plan to keep him as far out of it as we possibly can, but I'm sure all of us want to attend to put on a united front. Our solicitor suggested that as well,” Remus said, glancing around.

“Narcissa and I will both attend as well,” Lucius told him with a firm nod.

“Oh, you can bet your arse I'll be there,” Sirius snarled, eyes flashing. There was plenty he wanted to say to the lot of them and none of it was nice. It was doubtful he would get a chance, but he wanted to make damned sure the three of them knew he was there.

“What are you going to do with Harry if we all attend? I know he doesn't like to stay alone,” Narcissa inquired, looking around.

“We're going to get with Rufus to see if he can stay in his office with him while it goes on. I doubt Harry wants to attend, honestly. As it won't take that long, I don't think Harry will mind. It's doubtful Rufus will either,” Remus said with a small smile.

“That's a good plan,” Lucius admitted with a bit of a smirk. Sobering up, he asked, “The surgery—that's only a few days off. How is this mess going to affect it, do you know?”

Groaning, Severus rubbed a hand over his face and said, “We don't. After we were done with Stuart, we went and consulted with his Healer. With the problems there now, the man wants him to take something to relax him the night before so the spell will take better. It's something we're going to have a devil of a time getting him to do, if we can even manage. As tense and uptight as he is, that spell isn't going to work well. It's another thing we're going to have to work on. If we can't, as the man knows what issues there are with Harry and potions, they are going to have to use a stronger spell to get him under. They don't want to do that if they don't have to. We'll try, all I can say. And if this keeps up, though Harry may sleep longer after they are done, when he comes out of it, I can expect big issues from him, more than normal. We all know he's taken a swing at the staff after a couple of them. That's nothing they don’t expect as some do that when coming to, but this time might be worse. It's a real concern at this juncture.”

“Just so the Healer is aware what's going on, they can prepare,” Lucius told him firmly. “They know the issues anyway, so I'm sure they are taking precautions to minimize potential problems.”

“We know that,” Remus said with a sigh. “It's not that end we're worried about. What the concern is what it might unleash in Harry. With all that's going on, we have no idea what it might do to him or cause on that end.”

“Not something I thought of,” Lucius admitted, drumming his fingers on the table.

“We're going to have Bugs along. When he starts to wake, we're going to make damned sure the rabbit is in the bed with him. We are hoping like hell that helps as it seems to, at least a little, even now. I think we're going to try to have Stuart there as well. That can only help, too.” Sirius told him.

“I'll make sure to be there as well. The same with Narcissa,” Lucius told him firmly. “Like times past, it should help, at least a little.” Seeing pleased nods, Lucius glanced down at the still sleeping Harry and sighed. Looking up, then around, he said, softly, “He knows what triggered this episode. I managed to get that out of him at least.”

“Did you at least get a hint we can use if he didn't tell you what it was?” Sirius asked, hoping to get something so they could figure out and prepare.

“Nothing,” Lucius sighed, shaking his head. “All I got was that he does know what set it off, but it's his problem to deal with.”

Brow furrowed, looking between his husband and Black, both of whom had confused looks as well, Severus asked, “He actually said it that way? Not the standard nothing to worry about?”

“He did,” Lucius confirmed. Brow furrowed, he glanced around then asked, “How odd is that? I mean, I've heard the other one you mentioned before, but I'm not around him as much as all of you are.”

Rubbing a hand over his face then smoothing down his goatee, Sirius groaned, “That would be the first time I've heard him put it that way. I'm sure it's the same for Remus and Snape.”

“It is,” Remus confirmed with a nod, eyes drifting to his son. “This worries me.”

“Merlin,” Snape muttered, shaking his head. “No hint about a topic from him?”

“Nothing else,” Lucius confirmed, feeling Harry start to stir. Rubbing his head, he said, softly, “It's me, Harry. Nothing to be concerned about. Sirius is on the other side of you. So, there is no reason to panic.”

“We've got you,” Sirius added, reaching out to rub Harry's head. With the shape Harry was in, if they didn't say something, he was apt to panic then start swinging when he woke if he felt them touching him. They didn't want to deal with that.

Coming to with a start, Harry bolted upright, heart hammering at the residue of the dream. Hearing voices he recognized around him, he rubbed his eyes with a trembling hand, holding Bugs close. Glancing around just to reassure himself that those he heard were really there and he wasn't still dreaming, he then slumped when it was apparent they were real.

“You're fine. It's just us,” Sirius assured him, slipping his arm around his shoulders and giving Harry a squeeze. “We're just talking.”

“Alright,” Harry managed to get out, though it sounded uneven as he tried to calm himself and shove the dream aside.

Taking a cup of tea Narcissa prepared for him, Lucius put in front of Harry. “You're fine. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

Taking the tea with a still slightly trembling hand, Harry took a drink, trying to get himself as alert as he could. The more alert he was, the less he had to deal with the imagery that came from the dream. That he needed desperately.

“I was telling everyone you agreed to try Dreamless Sleep,” Lucius told him.

“I'll give it a shot,” Harry said dourly, downing the last of his tea and pouring himself more.

“You can help me brew up a batch. While we do that, I'll explain what I'm doing and how it works,” Severus told him softly.

“Alright,” Harry agreed, stirring the tea after adding sugar. He wasn't enthused by this idea, not at all, but one night without the dreams sounded very alluring to him. He would at least give it a shot and see how it went then judge from there. “Just—I'm not in—let's just say I'll be worthless at helping with anything,” he admitted with a sigh.

“Even just sitting there is fine,” Severus assured him. “We'll talk through the whole process so you know what to expect.”

“It's not addictive?” Harry asked, making sure though Lucius assured him it was safe.

“No, it's not. Not the formula I'll brew up. There are forms that are, but the one we'll use isn't,” Severus assured him softly. “I would never give you something harmful or had a risk of addiction as I know how you feel about that.”

Petting Bugs as he made some more of the happy noises, Harry tried to pay attention to what his dad was saying. It just wasn't easy. He was so tired that he just couldn't focus well.

Looking down at Bugs, Sirius' brow furrowed. Something was off there. The rabbit was acting like someone had raisins and they were about to give him one. Yet that wasn't the case. Seeing the rabbit shift around then peer off towards the trees, he glanced in that direction. As he did, his eyes widened. Motioning the others to look that way, he then stood and said, “Shift down, Lucius. I'll take that place.”

Staring as the unicorns came out of the trees again, Lucius quickly moved down while Narcissa sent an elf get the camera. “It has to be Bugs,” he said softly.

“It does,” Sirius nodded as he sat down. Slipping an arm around Harry's shoulder, he pointed that way then grinned and said, “I think your friend has come back to see you, Harry.”

Brow furrowed, Harry tried to comprehend that as he looked at Sirius. Gazing in the direction he was pointing, Harry's eyes widened as he saw the unicorn herd again. Though wary, as anyone would expect of him, he wasn't as bad as he had been the last time. Shaking his head, he asked, “Why did they come back?”

“I don't know,” Sirius said with a grin as the stallion began trekking towards them again. “It's not bad whatever it is. I promise.”

“Oh, they are magnificent, aren't they?” Remus said quietly. He was stunned by this, but in awe at the sight of the beautiful animal coming in their direction.

“Indeed,” Severus agreed softly, eyes locked on the creature that was coming their way. With that, he was utterly bewildered by this. He assumed that the animal would hone in on his son again, as that's what happened last time from what they were told, but was at loss as to the why behind it.

Stiffening up as the stallion came over to him, Harry watched the repeat of the sniffing and licking with Bugs then the animal honed in on him again. Locking eyes with the creature, he didn't feel the apprehension he had the last time, though he was still uptight. With a trembling hand, he reached out to pet the stallion's nose then grinned a little when he finished as the unicorn licked him again, making his hair stick up once more. He then chuckled slightly when the animal snorted, blowing his hair around. Like the last time, the creature then nuzzled his head before resting it's head against his. Seconds later, he felt the wetness. Quietly, he asked, reaching up to pet the animal with a still shaking hand, “He's crying again, it's he?”

“He is,” Remus said in a slightly awed voice as his eyes were locked on the unicorn and his son. “That is utterly amazing to see.”

Hand over his mouth, Severus watched what was going on. Oh yes, this was astounding to see as he had never heard of such a thing before in his life, but he was also trying to figure out what it meant. Mind racing over what he knew about unicorn tears and what they were used for, he couldn't seem to make the pieces slip together though something was trying to jog loose. It was—he didn't know what to make of it. The fact that there were grown men around, coupled with Remus being a werewolf, and most unicorns wouldn't come around. In fact, if they were close, no one would see them because of that fact. Even though Narcissa was a woman, she was far from a virgin, something the creatures were attracted to. No one at this table would be the kind of person a unicorn would come near.

Grinning, Sirius watched this, still amazed by it. However, his attention was quickly drawn back to where the rest of the herd was when he heard a noise. Eyes widening again as he saw one of the other adults, a female from what he could tell, coming towards them. “Here comes another one,” he breathed, not wanting to disturb whatever the animal was doing.

Not sure what this was, Lucius made sure that Narcissa was taking pictures then shoved the sugar bowl down towards Harry again. “This is—amazing.”

Not moving, Harry watched as the second unicorn came close. Like with the one already crying on him, this one honed in on and did the same thing with Bugs. Grabbing a couple sugar cubes, he held it out for the other unicorn and grinned when she took them. He then grinned bigger when this one licked him as well. That's where the similarity ended, though. Rather than lean its head against his, this one licked his forehead repeatedly, right over the scar. Snorting softly, it then nickered and licked him some more. Bewildered by this, though not feeling threatened, Harry asked, softly, trying to hold still, “What's this about? Does she think I'm a lolly?”

“I honestly don't know, Harry,” Lucius said quietly, eyes locked on what was going on.

Grinning a bit bigger because it tickled slightly as the licking continued, Harry relaxed. Whatever was going on wasn't bad, he could tell that. And he thought, maybe, he might feel a little better than he had. He couldn't be sure about that as it might be attributed to many things, but it was a maybe. It was just strange was all and he didn't know what to make of it.

About the same time, the unicorns pulled back. Gazing at both of them, Harry smiled a little. Grabbing a couple more sugar cubes, he held them out to the one that had been crying on him. Like last time, he took them. He then did the same for the other one. When they finished eating, the one that was crying on him gazed into his eyes. Harry wasn't sure what to make of that, honestly, but it felt good and that comforting feeling was back. This time, though, it seemed to be magnified. It calmed him down in a way nothing else he had tried ever had. Smiling, he reached out and petted the creature's nose. That smile turned into a big grin when the unicorn snorted and nickered at him before pulling back to lick his hand. When the two then focused on Bugs, he laughed because they each licked one of the rabbit's ears, causing Bugs to make some serious happy noises. Watching the two, he saw the second one turn and head back to the others. The first one didn't, though. Instead, he gazed around the table.

Watching what was going on with the unicorn, Sirius was grinning. Harry wasn't nearly as apprehensive as he had been the first time. That was good. When the unicorn started to gaze around the table, the animal locked eyes with him. Gazing into those beautiful eyes, Sirius felt something. He wasn't sure what it was, but it felt wonderful and was soothing to him. Smiling, he was a little disappointed when the creature shifted its gaze. He watched as the animal seemed to do that with everyone sitting there. No, he didn't know what it was about or the why behind it, but it was amazing to watch.

Finally, the unicorn leaned forward and licked Harry's head again, making more of his hair stand up, then turned and walked off to join the herd. Within seconds, they all seemed to vanish into the trees, almost like they hadn't been there in the first place.

Slipping his arm back around Harry, Sirius pulled him close then chuckled, “Unicorns seem to like you.” Once again, he reached up and began to pull unicorn hairs off of Harry's head. “And more hairs for you!”

Grinning a bit, petting Bugs, who was still making happy noises, Harry said, “Alright, unicorns are brilliant and nothing to be scared of.”

“They are and one would never hurt you,” Remus assured him, smiling. He too had felt something soothing when the creature gazed at him and he had adored it. Smile growing, he said, “And seeing this in person is far better than the pictures! That was an awe inspiring encounter.”

“It was and I'm glad we were here to experience it,” Severus told Harry, smiling slightly.

“It was wonderful,” Narcissa said softly, sitting down and looking through the pictures she took of the encounter. “Two this time!”

“Indeed,” Lucius said, smirking. Eyes lowering to look at Bugs, he added, “It has to be Bugs in some way. I don't know how, though.”

“It does,” Sirius said, still pulling unicorn hairs off Harry.

“I really got licked this time,” Harry snickered, shaking his head. Those dreams—the residue of them—it seemed to have faded into the background and he felt better now. Leaning against Sirius as he plucked the hairs off him, he asked, “Can I get something to munch on? I'm a bit hungry.”

“Of course,” Lucius said with a nod. This was good. From what everyone told him, Harry's appetite wasn't the greatest at this point because of how he was affected. “What would you like?”

“Just a sandwich or something,” Harry shrugged.

“We can easily do that,” Narcissa smiled, sending an elf off for what she knew was Harry's favorite. Looking through the pictures now spread out in front of her, she said, smiling a little, “You're going to have to send a copy of one of these to Draco! He will be flabbergasted.”

“Yeah, I will,” Harry said with a chuckle. “And it's something he can't top!”

“No, he can't,” Lucius said, completely amused.

Watching his husband pace in their room from his place in the bed, long after their normal bedtime, Remus asked, quietly, “What's wrong, Severus?” He wasn't sure with that. Harry, as he said, had taken the Dreamless Sleep and was out cold from it. That was good. So, he wasn't sure what was bothering him.

Pacing faster, rubbing a hand over his mouth, Severus told him distractedly, “I'm trying to figure out the unicorn encounter. Something is trying to click, I just don't know what it is. It means something. The same with the gaze at all of us. We all had the same feelings from that.”

“We did,” Remus confirmed as they had talked about that after Harry dozed back off.

“I agree with Lucius; it's Bugs. Something to do with the rabbit is attracting the unicorns or he's calling to them in some way, I don't know,” Severus sighed.

“It's not a bad thing, whichever it is. It can only help, I think. Harry didn't seem unnerved by the encounter and we know how he feels about anything to do with something that looks like a horse.” Remus said softly. “So, I don't think it's anything to worry about.”

“It's not, I agree,” Severus told him firmly. “Whatever the cause, it's for a good purpose. I just want to figure it out!” Stopping, he looked at his husband and said, “Unicorn tears are used for healing. This has to relate somehow.”

“Bugs is also a healer rabbit,” Remus added softly. “From all we've read, it's for people with mental issues.”

Eyes widening as it started to click, Severus stiffened and said, “And the unicorn cried on Harry's head. Where the issues start. The other licked his forehead, where the cause of so many problems is.” Looking at his now startled husband, he said, “I bet Bugs is calling them in some way to help heal Harry.”

Smiling at that, Remus nodded. “And that is a wonderful thing!”

“It is,” Severus said with a huge smirk. While he was damned sure that there were still big issues coming with all Harry dealt with, this could only help. That was a very good thing! Oh, he was going out the following day to find Bugs the best treat he could for this!
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Lucky Strike