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Shades of Grey	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 103925 -:- Recommendations : 6 -:- Currently Reading : 21
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter nor do I make any money off this dance in the realm of strangeness and smut

Chapter List
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Chapter 2

Standing across the street from the burning house on Privet drive, most of the Order that had been in the meeting were there, disillusioned, staring in horror. At this point, the muggle firemen hadn't yet arrived but the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was already on the scene, desperately trying to Obliviate anyone that had seen what went on after they extracted information. Since it wouldn't do for any of the Order to reveal themselves, all they could do was watch in silence as those from the ministry tried to remove the Dark Mark that hung over the house. Even Dumbledore looked stunned, those normally twinkling blue eyes weren't sparkling anymore as he surveyed the damage to the house that Harry Potter occupied.

From what he said when they arrived, seeing the one thing that could strike fear into anyone in the wizarding world hanging over the house, the wards had fallen and he couldn't tell if Harry was inside or not. But the house appeared to be a complete loss and it didn't look like anyone inside could have survived the fire.

Standing there, everyone could do nothing more than watch as the Ministry workers did their job while the sound of muggle sirens grew closer. Shaking himself out of his shock, Dumbledore canceled the disillusion charm on himself then walked over to see what he could find out. Talking to a few of the workers, who appeared stunned by what he had to say, the headmaster managed to extract all the information that he could from them before sweeping back to the others, looking relieved and worried at the same time. After telling everyone to meet him back at Grimmauld Place, he Apparated away.

Once everyone gathered again at the headquarters, lots of raised voices passed along what they had seen while others rose as they demanded answers as to where Harry was and whether or not he was safe. It wasn't until the headmaster walked back in, looking worried, that silence finally descended. Stepping forward, an all but distraught Molly Weasley asked, wringing her hands, “Albus? Is Harry alright? Did they find him?”

Looking older than his years, the headmaster shook his head, “No, no one knows where Harry is. It does appear that he wasn't in the house at the time the fire was set, though most of his things are still in what they assume is his room. However, there's no sign of Harry.”

Most of those standing there glanced back and forth at each other before Sirius asked, voice oddly calm though his facial expression giving away his worry, “Was there a sign of battle? Did something set off the Trace at the Ministry? Anything?”

“Nothing,” Dumbledore stated almost flatly, shaking his head. “There was no alert of the Trace going off. The Ministry responded to the Dark Mark being cast. They didn't even know who lived there until I told them. From what they have determined, the fire started in a cupboard under the stairs. No one appears to have been in the house when it did. The Dursley's, from what they were able to determine, were out for the night when it happened and they don't know where Harry was. They are checking around to see if anyone saw him but...”

“The Ministry isn't looking too hard, are they?” Sirius sneered, eyes flashing.

Shaking his head sadly again, Dumbledore replied, “No. The Dark Mark will probably be covered up and, with what Fudge is doing, this will be just labeled another 'stunt' to gain attention.” Immediately, the uproar began again, angry voices raised to the point of shouting. Holding up his hand and waiting for quiet, the headmaster continued on when the din lowered, “But we won't stand by and do nothing. When the Ministry and muggles finish, we'll go investigate what is left for traces then see what we can determine. Then we'll start seeing if anyone knows whether the Death Eaters or Voldemort were behind this.”

“The bloody Dark Mark was over the house! Voldemort has to be behind it!” Sirius roared, eyes taking on a wild look.

“Yes, Sirius, it does appear he's involved. But we all know that things aren't always what they seem. We'll investigate and see what we can find then go from there. If it was Voldemort or Death Eaters acting on their own then Severus will know. I'll try to get a message to him to see what he knows then we'll go from there.” Though there were mutinous looks, especially from Sirius, Dumbledore ignored them then turned to Tonks and Moody. “You both come with me. We'll watch over the remains of the house then investigate when everyone else is gone.” Turning to Arthur Weasley, he ordered, “Go see if you can't get hold of Kingsley. Have him sniff around to see what he's hearing then report back.” Seeing everyone nod, he then swept out of the room followed by the two Aurors. Hopefully, before the night was over, they would know what had happened to Harry Potter or at least have an idea where to start looking for the boy.

Groaning as he turned over, rubbing his throbbing head, Harry fumbled around on the nightstand for his glasses like he did every time he woke. Though his hand met some kind of stand and found them, it seemed different, not feeling the rough gouges of the beat up used one that had stood by his bedside since he had taken over Dudley's second bedroom. Frowning as he put his glasses on and looked around, he felt his stomach tighten up. He wasn't in his bedroom. In fact, he was in a bedroom he didn't even recognize. A slight sliver of fear and panic starting to curdle in his stomach, he looked around for his wand but didn't see it anywhere. Glancing around wildly, the memory of the stunner the night before crashing down him, he was on his feet and headed for the door. This wasn't good and he knew it. There was no way that the Order would have stunned him to get him out of the place. In fact, if they were coming they would have found a way to tell him or let him know it was them!

Grabbing the door handle, he yanked on it only to find it locked. Stepping back, he ran a hand through his hair and tried to think around the growing panic. Without his wand, he had no chance of getting the door open. He sure didn't want to be trapped in here, not knowing who had him. It was his thought that it would be better to out and have some idea where he was than be cornered if it came down to a fight. Pacing, he looked at the two windows in the room. Walking over to them, he, first, tried to open them but, as expected, they wouldn't budge. Then, when that didn't work, he peered out to see if he couldn't figure out where he was. But, all he could see was a well manicured law that was surrounded by some dense forest, nothing that gave him any clue as to where he was.

After trying the windows and door again, Harry stood in the middle of the room, running his hand through his spiky hair, full blown panic taking over. Heart hammering in his chest, head still throbbing, he looked around, wide-eyed, desperately trying to think of a way out of this but nothing was coming since he didn't have any idea of who had him or where he was. Even if he did get out of the room, he had no way of defending himself. Oh, this wasn't good!

Just as he was experiencing the first stirrings of what could only be called a full-blown panic attack, he heard the doorknob turn. Spinning around, he took a defensive stance, eyes glued to the door, body tense. When it opened, his eyes widened even more. “Professor,” he snarled out, eyes flashing when he saw his least favorite teacher, Snape, standing there, holding a small bottle of some kind.

Quirking a sardonic brow, Snap just replied, “Potter,” in his normal droll, sarcastic way then held out the potions bottle for the young man to take. As the man in black already knew, this wasn't going to be easy to deal with so, though it was his first instinct to sneer at the youth and make a snarky comment, he didn't. This was going to be hard enough as it was, he didn't need the natural animosity between the two of them to make things worse than what they already were.

Glaring at his hated potions master, Harry folded his arms across his chest then asked through clenched teeth, “What is that? And, while you're at it, where am I? What happened? The last thing I remember is being hit by a stunner while in my own ruddy bedroom!” Motioning to the room with one hand, he added, “Then I end up here!” No, he didn't expect any kind of explanation from the man, just a taking of house points for his 'cheek' even though he wasn't in school. But, if what he heard at the end of the school year was right and that Snape was a spy, he at least assumed he was somewhere safe. Or he hoped anyway. With Snape, one never knew. Especially considering how much he hated him.

Sneering, still resisting the urge to make biting comments, the potions master replied, trying to keep his tone level, “It's a mild pain reliever to alleviate the headache you have. I am well aware that the spell you were hit with will leave you with one. Just drink it then I'll take you so you can eat. After that you will take a mild calming draught so we can discuss what happened without you becoming overly excitable about it. Understand, Mr. Potter?”

Though he took the bottle of pain killer, wanting something for his pounding head, Harry stared at Snape, eyes narrowing. “How about I take this and you tell me now what's going on! Why am I here and just where is here!”

Sneering at the brat, Severus bit out, “This is non-negotiable, Potter! Drink the pain killer and come with me. All will be explained after you eat and take something so that your normal overly emotional responses are curbed!”

Sneering back at his hated teacher, Harry's head gave a deep throb as his temper soared. Wincing at the pain, he uncorked the bottle and drank it down, grimacing at the taste. Handing the bottle back to his professor, he snapped, “There. Now, how about answering my questions!”

Shooting the brat a dark look, Snape just stepped to the side and motioned for the boy to exit the room, saying nothing.

Knowing what Snape was like, Harry knew he wasn't going to get any of his questions answered until Snape was ready to so, rather than argue, Harry shot him a scathing look then strode out of the room.

Sneering at the teens back, Snape turned in a swirl of robes then stalked down the hallway, ensuring that he got in front of the boy so he led him to the right place. Though Lucius considered this little more than a hunting cottage, the fact was the place was huge and you could easily get lost if you didn't know where you were going. Couple that with some of what was kept in the place and there was no way he wanted the Potter brat wandering on his own yet.

Though he spent a great deal of time sneering at Snape's back, Harry also spent quite a bit looking around at his surroundings as they walked, stunned by what he was seeing. From the flickering candles and other things, he could tell that he was in a magical home but it was unlike anything that he had seen before. Since learning he was a wizard the only truly magical residences he had been in were the Burrow and Hogwarts. The place that he was in was far beyond those. He could only guess that this was one of those really expensive homes from the look of things and the fact that he was seeing house elves here and there cleaning. This certainly piqued his curiosity.

As they approached what appeared to be the dining room, from what he could see of it, the first scent of food began to fill the air, making Harry's stomach growl. Though the Dursley's were feeding him more than they normally did over the summers, since they knew he was in contact with Sirius, thus frightened by what his 'murderous' godfather might do if they resorted back to their normal ways, he didn't get to eat his fill like he did at Hogwarts. It would be nice to have a good meal that was filling. By now, he assumed that this had something to do with Dumbledore and, though the method of going about it was odd, that the headmaster was behind this. If that were the case, he was going to fine.

Stopping at the door to the dining room, Snape motioned Harry to go in with an oddly pleased look on his face, as though he expected something amusing to happen. Giving the snarky git a weird look, Harry gave a mental shrug then walked in. Two steps in the door, the young man stopped cold, mouth hanging open then he felt a flush of anger and betrayal when he was faced with none other than Lucius Malfoy. Right then, he realized that not only did Dumbledore have nothing to do with this but he was in a world of trouble! Spinning around, he glared at the snarky git that had led him here and opened his mouth to blast him only to be hit by a Silencio then couldn't say a word. But that didn't stop him from glaring daggers at Snape.

Enjoying that the brat couldn't go off on a tangent or argue, Snape just motioned for him to take a seat then said, “Now, Mr. Potter! Things will be explained shortly.”

Grinding his teeth then shooting the elder Malfoy a heated look, Harry pulled out the nearest chair and sat down, slouching, shooting ominous looks at both men. Though, externally, he held up the hard look, internally, he was so worried he was almost sick. He was, after seeing Malfoy, convinced that he was about to be turned over to Voldemort. Without his wand, he was defenseless. Not like he could do anything to defeat a being as powerful as Voldemort now anyway but he could at least go down fighting!

Seating himself on the opposite side of the table from the young man, Severus glared at him then waited for Lucius to sit. Once his old friend seated himself, Snape said, tone the kind he used in class, “Mr. Potter, I will cancel the spell if you can assure me there will be no blowing up. We will have a calm meal then all will be explained. However, I will assure you that you are in no danger and, despite what conclusion your overly active teenage brain may be jumping to, you are not here to be turned over to the Dark Lord. Do I have your assurance that we will be allowed to enjoy the meal in peace without an emotional display on your end?”

Glaring daggers at Snape, Harry crossed his arms over his chest and ground his teeth but nodded. Though he hated Snape with a passion, he did relax and believe him when he said he wasn't going to be handled over to Voldemort. Just what was going on he didn't know but he didn't fear for his life anymore.

Nodding, Severus waved his wand and cast a wordless finite to end the spell then glowered at the teen, “I won't hesitate to silence you again, Potter. You've been warned!”

Wanting to snarl but not doing it, he managed to grind out through clenched teeth, “Where is my wand?” While doing that, he glanced at the elder Malfoy and was infuriated to find that he seemed to find the whole thing amusing! Ignoring that for now, he glared back at Snape, waiting for his answer.

For once, Snape thought the boy had asked a sensible question, one he would have, so he replied, trying to keep the snark out of his tone, “Once we finish talking, your wand will be returned to you. I have no desire, nor does Lucius, of being hexed while we eat. I assure you, Mr. Potter, you will get it back.”

Disgruntled, Harry nodded then stared at his plate, trying to not scowl. He didn't like it but would deal with whatever was going on until he managed to get some answers.

Sensing that the boy was going to at least keep his mouth shut during the meal, Snape nodded to Lucius who had the house elves serve up the food.

After the meal, Lucius escorted Potter into the lounge while Severus retrieved the calming draught for the teen to take. Honestly, with what he knew of the young man, the elder Malfoy was surprised that he hadn't completely lost his temper yet then tried to do something foolish. Though it was a reprieve, he was certain such a tantrum was coming at some point, just when was the question.

After striding back in, Severus gave Potter the calming draught then glared at the boy until he swallowed it. Nodding, pleased, the potions master then seated himself and crossed his legs. After a brief glance at Lucius, seeing his old friend nod, he decided to launch in. Though he and Potter had a less than stellar history together, it was better him do this than Lucius.

Leaning back in the comfortable chair, Severus looked at Potter then said, “You are in no danger here, Potter. Though I find you...somewhat hard to take, the realism is that you are here because you have use.” Quietly, the potions master, with the help of the elder Malfoy when he was needed, explained how they wanted to make a third front to the war. Their plan was to let the other two sides battle it out, doing whatever they wanted, until it came down to what was obviously the final confrontation. Once that happened, the three of them, but mostly the teen, would step in out of nowhere and end it all as it had been predicted. This way, though Severus would keep up his role as spy, the three of them would be out of most of the action during it.

Listening, Harry was skeptical of what was said. Though he did like the part about staying the hell out of the mess for as long as possible, he didn't trust the two either. When there was a break in the conversation, he asked, “This is all well and good but I somehow think that you two will get more out of this than just helping to end the war.”

A smirk turning up the corners of his mouth, Lucius nodded, “Quite perceptive, Mr. Potter! Indeed, Severus and I will get something out of it. Not only will it help keep anyone in power from looking too closely at us after it’s over, thus ensuring that we stay out of Azkaban, but it's sure to help boost any political or societal aspirations we have. After all, helping the Boy Who Lived defeat the Dark Lord will only be a boon to us.”

Though Harry glared at him, mostly for that stupid moniker, the truth was that he was impressed Lucius had admitted the truth of the matter, at least part of it. Staring hard at the elder Malfoy, he snapped, “There is more to it than that, isn't there? At least be bloody honest with me about it! If it was only the end of the war that was important then you would have waited until it looked like it was coming to an end to do this.”

“Again, another astute observation, Mr. Potter,” Lucius said with a nod. “There is more. Right now, with you gone, any machinations I make or the fact that I and my family have vanished will be a low priority for the Dark Lord. His focus will be on finding you, not me or punishing my family for my perceived betrayal. In that, I can ensure I stay safe as does my family.”

Again, Harry was impressed by the truthfulness of the statement but didn't let it on. Instead, he adopted another glare then bit out, “And what if I chose not to help you?”

“The choice is, of course, yours entirely, Mr. Potter,” Snape replied smoothly but with a malicious look on his face. “Right now, though I'm not sure you’re aware of it, your name is mud with Ministry. They are doing everything in their power to discredit you so that Fudge doesn't have to admit that, indeed, the Dark Lord is back. Dumbledore has been doing everything in his power to try to protect you since the Ministry is looking for any little thing it can find to prosecute then break your wand. Your name, right now, means nothing. There is also the fact that, though you may not wish to assist in my and Lucius' plan, you have no home to go back to. The place burned to the ground last night. It seems the muggle fire brigade thinks it's a short of some kind that started it. Dumbledore and the rest of the wizarding world believe it's a Death Eater attack since the Dark Mark was cast above the house. Though you, or your remains, weren't found...” Snape trailed off, looking smug, thinking the spoiled child would now throw a major wobbler over the fact that his precious home was gone.

Though Harry heard the whole snarky speech, his brain stopped at the words 'burned to the ground'. Holding up a hand, not wanting to get his hopes up that the place he had been so miserable in for most of his life was gone thus negating him ever having to return to that awful place again, he asked, softly, “You mean the Dursley's home is gone? As in flattened? Burnt to a crisp?”

One eyebrow arched, Snape looked at him then nodded, “Indeed, Mr. Potter, I do. Perhaps you should...” Snape was then halted by a whoop of laughter from the obviously deranged or distraught young man. Glancing at Lucius, who just shrugged, obviously bewildered, he sneered then asked, “And what, pray tell, do you find so funny?”

Trying to stifle the maniacal giggles that were threatening to erupt, Harry asked, breathlessly, “Where did the fire start?”

“In a cupboard under the stairs. It seemed that there was a short...” Again, Snape was halted by another burst of laughter, this harder than the other. Both brows drawn down, he stared at the hysterical young man, wondering if another, stronger, calming draught was in order to get him beyond the hysterics.

Holding his sides, a look of pure joy on his face, Harry looked between the two obviously bewildered men, then asked, trying to hold in the laughter, “You two set it, didn't you? Tell me you did!”

Though confused about the laughter, Lucius looked smug about it and nodded, “We will, indeed, take responsibility for the fire and the Dark Mark hovering above. Now, Mr. Potter, I would suggest you calm yourself and explain what has brought on the … over exuberance at the thought of losing your home.”

Though some giggles were erupting and there was no way that he could wipe the grin off his face, Harry tried to dim it slightly, asking, “The Dursleys aren't hurt, are they?”

“Your family wasn't home at the time,” Lucius imparted in a calm voice, hoping not to set off more hysterics before Severus, who he shot a meaningful look to, could retrieve something more powerful to calm the boy.

Nodding, at least pleased that the miserable excuses for a family were alive, Harry hitched down some more giggles then said, smoothly, not wanting to explain the reasoning behind how pleased he was at that news, “Alright, it's gone. And, I'm gathering everyone thinks that Death Eaters got me?” Looking at the two, he saw the confirming nods then pressed on, “So, basically, right now I'm stuck here, where ever here is. And no one but you two know where I am. There's no way you're about to tell anyone either, is there? Or let me go until you get what you want?”

Though wary of another bout of hysterics, Severus nodded, a smirk turning up one corner of his mouth, “It seems, Mr. Potter, that you do have some brains after all. That is correct. Whether you help us or not, you are here for the duration.”

Looking thoughtful, the last of the laughter dying out, Harry looked down, thinking. Though there was the worry over those that wouldn't know what happened, it didn't seem like a bad idea for now. He did, after all, have a lot to think about and this would give him time to do it, at least until he could find a way to escape. There was also the fact that he didn't want to deal with the Ministry right now. He wasn't sure what was going on there but he did know that Fudge was in some serious denial over the whole thing. And the look in the Minister's eyes when he was told Voldemort was back was enough for the young man to realize that, until he was slapped in the face with something no one could deny, he wasn't going to take a vacation from the land of denial.

Sighing and scrubbing a hand through his messy hair, the young man shook his head. Really, there weren't many options here. Biding his time was the best one for now. He would see how that went then go from there.

Looking back up, he said, “I suppose I have no choice, do I? Tell me what all you two have planned.”

Wary that the obstinate teen had agreed to this far too easily, Severus looked at Lucius, who also had a look that seemed to agree with that assessment, then back at the brat before saying, smoothly, “This will be no vacation, Potter. You will spend your time here learning how to go about defeating the Dark Lord.” After that, he launched in and started talking about the plans he and Lucius had come up with. No, not all of them, just the basic overview, enough to give the boy an idea of what was going on was all. Later on, when the boy resigned himself to his fate, they would discuss things more in depth. For now, he was to be given the basics then they would watch him like a hawk while they ensured that they were safe. Though the ball was rolling, there was still much that needed planned before they even thought of going after the Dark Lord.
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Shades of Grey