No Obvious Truths | By : Danyealle Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 64502 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 32 |
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Chapter 2
Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. Thanks, woman! You're the BEST!
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Now, when Arabella had said that she would deal with the devil himself to help the young man she had grown so fond of, she expected it to be nothing but a figure of speech. When Lucius Malfoy came out of the other room, she was sure that it might be the truth. Though Lucius wasn't the devil himself, she, like so many others, was convinced this was Lucifer's right hand man. Eyes growing wide, she clapped a hand over her mouth to stop the shriek that was threatening to come out, just staring at the two men. As she hadn't spent much time in the Wizarding World herself, she kept up enough to know who this being was and just what he was like. That troubled her a great deal. Though, truthfully, if Severus was willing to let him help, she wasn't going to say a word.
Glancing at Arabella, Severus took in her reaction then said, tone gruff to make sure he got her attention, “As I said, you need to trust me. Things are not as they seem.” When he saw her nod, still looking wary, he took that as all he needed to say at the moment. Other things would become clear as time went on. Looking at Lucius, he asked, though it was more rhetorical than anything else, “I take it you heard everything that was said?”
Brow slightly drawn down in consternation, the blond aristocrat nodded then said, “I did. If this was any other child raised by Muggles there wouldn't be an issue stepping in but as this is Potter...” Letting the end of that sentence trail off, he ran one finger over his chin as he thought.
“You can step in and do something?” Severus asked, eyebrow arching. He assumed that with the clout Lucius had he could do something to get the child removed to their world. It was just going to take some delicate and fast steps to do so.
“Of course, Severus,” Lucius nodded. Looking at the wary squib he then said, tone more firm, “First, so I know how to go about this, I need all the information I can get. Anything dealing with Potter is going to be a huge swamp of dangerous things. Especially if we have to remove him from the guardians that Dumbledore took it upon himself to place him with.”
Nodding, understanding where Lucius was coming from, he motioned Mrs. Figg to follow him into the other room. Sending for the house elf that was always around when he wasn't at Malfoy Manor, he had the creature serve up some tea. Settling back after the creature served them, he then motioned for Lucius to go for what he needed.
Relaxing back in his chair, Lucius stared at the middle-aged woman then said, “What is the history of the illness? How did they discover it? Once we're done with that, we'll go over the history of the family he stays with. The more information that you can give us, the better chance we'll have to get the young man out of this.”
Leaning forward in the chair, Arabella sat her cup aside then looked down, trying to figure out where to start. When she thought she had a place, she launched in. “It was right after he turned eight they found out about the cancer. He hadn't been feeling well before that. Though, because of Dumbledore's orders, I wasn't in much contact with him, just keeping an eye on him, even I could tell something was wrong with him and he wasn't feeling well. He had always been so thin, just a waif really, thanks to the Dursleys and how they treated him, but he grew even thinner. And he was in so much pain all the time. He told me later he hurt so much and nothing helped. It wasn't until he went back to school though that the one symptom showed up; jaundice. It was the school that finally forced the Dursleys to take him to the doctor since they thought it was hepatitis of some kind because of the jaundice. That's when they discovered the cancer.” Stopping, she sighed and shook her head, feeling so bad for the young man who had suffered so much before any adult had stepped in to do anything. Even when they did, it was more because the school was concerned with the other children catching something than Harry himself. “Since then, he's been in and out of the hospital so much. He's had two remissions, neither very long, and is now on his third time of it coming back. They told me, though they aren't supposed to, that it's metastasized to other parts of his body now, like his liver and lungs.”
While he listened to Arabella talk, Snape was going through the file she had given him more closely, taking notes on things he was finding, including some very glaring hints, but no overt mention, of things the staff considered child abuse. It was obvious that whoever was making notes in his records wanted to raise red flags in those that looked for such things to get the child some help. Looking up, Severus asked, “Have they told you a time line for him? Or haven't they mentioned it?”
Shaking her head, the squib said, “No, they haven't told me how long he's got. Really, since I'm not family, they aren't supposed to tell me anything so what I have I've had to rather wiggle to get out of them or step lightly to procure lest someone get in trouble over it.” Looking between the two men, she told him, voice soft, “Really, the staff is doing all they can for him. They really are. And they care a great deal for Harry but they can only do so much with what Muggles know. In fact, they are going out of their way to make sure they are doing everything they can find to give him a chance. But they are just Muggles...”
Nodding, Severus replied, tone not its normal sharpness, “I can see this from the records. They have gone above and beyond what they normally would for anyone that obviously has a fatal prognosis. I take no fault with them.”
Listening intently, Lucius' mind was already going as to what he could do. In most cases, the fact that Muggles were failing to cure a Wizarding child would be enough to get him taken in by someone in their world. With this being Potter, though, it was going to take more than that. He could, right now, make a case, or his lawyers could, to get him out of there. The issue would be, though, once he was cured there would be no reason Dumbledore couldn't step in then put him where he felt like it. As long as the boy was cured that was a small matter but from the sound of things, the child needed more than that. There was also another big matter that could be taken care of if Harry were permanently removed from Dumbledore's grasp. It did sound like that was possible. He was just going to need some more power behind this to do that was all.
Looking at the woman, he said, “Arabella isn't it?” When he saw her nod, he continued, “Arabella, tell me what his home life is like. I believe you have made hints that things are not well there. It would be easier to get him out of there if we have more to work with than an illness.”
With a sigh, Arabella looked down to gather her courage then lifted her head and held it high before launching in. Telling them everything, she left nothing out of how badly the young man was treated. From working him to death from almost the time he could walk, to the cupboard under the stairs, how he was called a freak or boy, never his name, being bullied, how the Dursleys made sure he never had friends, all of it. Then, even when he was in remission and still trying to regain his strength, they had made him do the same thing. Even when it became obvious he might be getting ill again, that they had to be practically forced to take him back to the doctor.
When she stopped, she just sat and waited to see what was going to be said.
Sitting there, holding the young man's medical records, Severus gripped them tightly, face set in a mask of white lipped fury. He had known Petunia Evans when growing up and knew what she could be like. He had assumed that, though Harry was Lily's child, she wouldn't take out on the little boy the issues she had with his mother. Apparently, he was wrong and she was like his own father in the fact that the jealously over someone else having magic took precedence over what was right. Knowing better than to say anything, his dark gaze shifted to Lucius and waited. Oh yes, the two of them were going to get that child out of there if it was the last thing he did. That he vowed to Lily.
Swallowing thickly several times, Lucius tried to digest what he had just heard, sure it couldn't be right. It was though. She laid everything out so precisely and in such a way that there was no doubt that it was real and not rehearsed. There was one thing he wanted to know, though, before pressing on. “Did Dumbledore know any of this? Did he even check on the boy?”
Now, Arabella was torn. She wanted to do what she could to help Harry but Dumbledore was someone that she looked up to. It was her thought that the old wizard was doing what he thought was best for the boy and didn't want to make it look like anything else. On the other hand, Harry needed help now and Dumbledore wasn't doing that. If she wanted to get the young man the help he so desperately needed, she was going to have to say some things that didn't put the older wizard in a good light.
After several quiet moments of internal contemplation, she decided that Harry needed more of a chance to live, grow and be happy than she needed to protect the headmaster from his own mistakes. Lifting her head, she looked at Lucius then said, tone clear and firm, “He knew. He knew about all of it. From the abuse to the illness and all in between because I told him! I was sent to live there to help keep an eye on Harry. All these things I've told you, I told to him over the years in reports I sent. I even have copies of the messages, the ones I sent by owl anyway. I also kept his responses to them. Most just say that though the Dursleys aren't the most loving of families, the protection they offer him is worth it.”
“Bollocks!” Snape ground out, beyond furious. Listening in, he had all but abandoned looking at the medical records and couldn't believe his ears. Albus Dumbledore knew about this and did nothing? He wasn't as shocked as most would be as he knew the headmaster was always contemplating the 'greater good' more than what people suffered. In this case, a young child was suffering and near death because the old coot couldn't see beyond the end of his nose. And that was going to stop now if he could at all help it. Looking at Lucius, he waited to see what the blond had to say about it.
Gripping the arm of the chair he was sitting in, Lucius's jaw was clenching in his fury over what he heard. Though his face remained passive, the muscle ticking was enough to show that he was very angry over what he had heard. Glancing at Severus, he said, “Old friend, we need to move fast. Not only is it imperative that this young man not suffer any more than he already has but we need to do something before Dumbledore,” sneering, he spit that name out as if it were the foulest of curses, “gets back from that conference he's at.”
Nodding, Severus ground out, “I agree. The question remains, though, even with the evidence, who can we get to take custody of him so that Dumbledore can't get his hands on him again. There are very few in our world that Dumbledore would think twice about taking on.”
An evil smirk crossing his face, Lucius leaned back then took a sip of his tea after casting a charm on it to reheat it. Once he placed the cup down, he crossed his legs then said, tone smooth, eyes dancing in an almost malicious way. “Narcissa and I will take him in.” Seeing a startled and fearful look passing across the face of the squib, he held up his hand then said, schooling his tone into something soothing, “I assure you, Arabella, that he will never be harmed, used or tortured. He will also never want for anything again or be abused. We will ensure that everything that can be done for him will be. Dumbledore will also think twice before trying to take me on in a court. And, if we play this right and quickly, it can be done before he even catches wind of what we are doing.”
Eyes wide, Arabella looked back and forth between the two men, swallowing thickly. It was one thing to trust them to help Harry but a whole other to give the child to one that obviously followed Voldemort in the last war. That would be like throwing the poor boy to the wolves.
Looking at his old friend, Severus couldn't help but smirk. That plan was absolutely perfect! Not only would Harry get the help he needed, he would be protected in a way most would never understand. On top of that, Dumbledore, even with all his power and connections, couldn't come out on top of a fight over this with Lucius. His old friend had enough clout, money and connections that the most the headmaster could manage was a deadlock of some kind. And if Harry was already in Lucius' custody at the time, the boy would have to remain right where he was, no matter the fight that was taking place. Perfect!
Looking at Arabella, he could see the concern there. Since she only knew what most of the unwashed masses did about the last war thus following Dumbledore, and what the headmaster saw as the 'truth', he could understand why she would be concerned. Glancing back at Lucius, he raised an eyebrow, hoping to convey that something needed to be done to alleviate her fears over it. She had all the things they needed to get this done and quickly. If she was fearful over what might happen to the child, she wasn't going to give them up to them, thus making things far harder than it was to start with.
Seeing Severus' look out of the corner of his eye, Lucius gave the barest of nods, understanding without anything being said what the issue was. Leaning forward in his chair, Lucius looked at the squib intently then told her, schooling his voice into something soft and persuasive, “Arabella, we are going to need copies of all you have from Dumbledore. I want to assure you, though, nothing bad will happen to Harry. It's as I said. It's also as Severus said; things are not as they seem. They never were. Nor is what Dumbledore thinks is going on correct. If you agree to help us, I can assure you that all will be explained to you. I also will assure you that I will do everything in my power, as will Severus, to ensure young Harry is protected from all that wish to do him harm or use him.” Stopping, he gazed at her. Though she appeared to be contemplating it, he could see how wary she still was so he added, “If it takes me giving you an Unbreakable Vow to get you to believe it, I will. As will Severus.” Stopping, he glanced at his old friend.
Looking at Lucius, Severus gave a firm nod, “I will as well. There is no issue with doing so.”
Glancing between the men, Arabella gave a wary nod then told them, “Before I give anything up, beyond what I have, I want those. Then we can go from there.”
Quickly, both men stood up to attend to that. Severus did it for Lucius and Arabella then it was reversed until the vows were in place. Though she was a squib, there was enough of a magical core there that magic such as that would work. That satisfied her.
After taking her seat, she leaned back, a look of determination on her face. “Alright, what do you need me to do.”
Knowing this was going to be a delicate dance that needed to be done quickly with only the basic planning in place, Lucius said, “We need that correspondence with Dumbledore that shows he knew that things weren't well. All of it you have, as a matter of fact. Anything you can give us dealing with such things will be helpful. And we need it fast. If we work this right, I can have it all in place tonight, including getting the hearing for custody. We have to work fast though. Can you do that?”
Feeling a big bloom of hope in her chest that Harry was going to get the help he needed, Arabella sat up straight and gave a firm nod. “I can do that. It'll just take me some time to get through the Floo and retrieve things. How long do I have?”
Shaking his head, Lucius said, “No, no Floo. I don't want anyone anywhere, though the Floo network won't be looking for you, thinking something is odd. Severus will Apparate both of you there and help you find what you need. While you do that, I'll go set things in motion on my end. When you get back, I'll have the papers delivered to my lawyer then we will go see young Mr. Potter. Severus, I believe, can get the scans we need to set everything into motion. Acceptable to both of you?”
Looking relieved at getting the help she would need to accomplish what she had to quickly, Arabella nodded. “I can do that. Most of the stuff I have is kept together in one place that is secure but there might be some other bits and bobs scattered about since things have been chaotic lately.”
Severus, too, nodded. “I'll take her. Once we get back here, I'll grab everything we might need.”
Nodding, pleased, Lucius said, “While you do that, I'll go speak to the lawyers to get everything going then to Narcissa. After that, I'm going to enlist the help of the one other being we need and meet up with you here.” Looking at Severus, he gave him a pointed look, hoping he understood just who that other person was he was going to see.
Giving the barest nod to let his cohort know he understood, Severus gave an internal sigh. Arabella, before the day was out, was going to end up having a bloody heart attack. It was something that needed to be done to help them, however. As this was Potter they were talking about and with him being in as bad of shape as it seemed, every bit of help they could muster was going to be needed. That would include the one being that was bound to upset the poor woman that brought it to their attention more than any other. It couldn't be helped and would be dealt with.
Standing, he said, “Come, Arabella. We need to get moving.”
Standing, the older woman straightened her clothes then gave a determined nod, following the Potions Master out the door.
Downing the rest of his tea to ensure he had a few moments to sort through what needed to be done first, Lucius, too, then left to start all the balls in motion.
Walking into the office in the old mansion that had once belonged to the Boleyn family, Lucius fought the urge to roll his eyes when he saw Tom sitting behind the desk in the serpentine glamour that he often used to strike fear into either the normal Wizarding world populace or his lower order of Death Eaters. “Another meeting with the unwashed lowly ones, Tom?”
Giving a deep chuckle, Tom Riddle, better known to most as Lord Voldemort, removed the glamour, morphing his features back to that of his normal human form; a dark haired man that looked to be in his late 30's. Leaning back in his chair, he stroked the head of Nagini as she was sprawled in his lap then said, “Yes. Had a meeting with some of the newer recruits. I wanted to ensure they knew who they were dealing with. If they work out, they'll soon learn what I truly look like.” Making a gesture for Lucius to take his normal seat beside him, he eyed his lover closely. Though Lucius had his normal 'mask' on, he could tell something was troubling him. Brows drawing down, he asked, cutting to the chase, “What's wrong.”
Seating himself, reaching over to give the snake's head a scratch, the Malfoy patriarch said, tone concerned, “A situation has arisen that I've been enlisted to help with. I've set some of it in motion and talked to Narcissa but I'm going to need your help as well. I know the inner workings of the Ministry well enough but we've had to go about setting things up quickly so I want someone with a fresh perspective to assist. You are perfect for it.”
Nodding his head, Tom looked grave. “This is going to be one of those things that is going to be delicate? Or does it need a more blunt touch?”
Shaking his head, Lucius sighed, “Delicate and as fast as we can get it done.” Then, quickly, he gave the true Dark Lord a rundown of what he had been privy to then the steps he had already taken. When he finished, he sighed, “You can now understand why speed is of the essence and how everything has to be in place as quickly as we can get it to not only get the child the help he so desperately needs but keep Dumbledore from stepping into the fray to put his own twist and agenda into the whole thing.”
Petting his familiar absently, Tom nodded in a distracted way, thinking the situation over. Oh, yes, there was anger over it, a great deal. All he had done in the past would be for naught if things were allowed to progress as they were and it would give one faction of this war an upper hand that they didn't need. There was also the fact that no Wizarding child anywhere deserved what this small boy was going through, let alone one that had lost so much already. Rubbing one long finger over his upper lip, he thought quickly. As he pondered it, he asked, distractedly, “You have your lawyers on it already? And Narcissa is willing? As well as Severus?”
“The lawyers have been briefed and will be prepared. They've already started on the paperwork. Narcissa, too, has been told. She's more than willing to take the boy in though she feels he is better off staying with you and I rather than her and Severus at the manor. We can provide a level of care she can't with things so busy there. We will, of course, ensure that Harry has his own room there and will be there as needed. Narcissa and Severus will do all they can for him, of course, but this is going to take intensive treatment so will take looking after by more than house elves than most illnesses. Severus, of course, has already agreed. He's going with Mrs. Figg to get what is needed.”
Nodding again, Tom replied, “As soon as they get back, you'll get all that to the lawyers then we will all go see the boy so Severus can do the scans needed. I'll ensure that we get all the paperwork from the Muggles we need on everything.” After telling Nagini to get down, Tom summoned one of his house elves to get a room prepared next to his then said, “Come, Lucius, I want to be at Spinners End when they return.”
Nodding, pleased and relieved that Tom was willing to help and oversee things to ensure it all went as it should, Lucius nodded, standing.
A determined look on her face, Narcissa Malfoy was directing a small army of house elves to quickly transform the room next to her son's into one for the boy that she was positive would be in her custody before the night was out. While doing that, she was talking quietly to her wide-eyed son about what was going on. When Lucius explained to her what was going on and who this being was that he wanted them to take custody of, she was more than willing to do so without a thought about the fame of the poor child. This was a young man her son's age for Circe's sake! No child, nowhere, deserved this. She was determined that everything would be perfect for the young Potter though he would be staying with Tom and Lucius most of the time.
Standing next to his mother, wide eyed with shock, Draco was taking everything in that was said, not believing what he was hearing. When his mother stopped the explanation to ask his opinion of what he thought should be in the room, as Harry was only a few months younger than him, Draco quickly make suggestions. While he watched them being implemented, he asked, quietly, “Does this mean that Harry Potter is going to be almost my brother?”
Knowing her son the way she did and how he was used to not sharing his parents and the man that was almost a father to him, Narcissa turned around then smiled at her son, reaching out to stroke his head in an affectionate, soothing manner. “Yes, Draco, that's what it means. Don't you think for a second that means that we will be ignoring you, though. Your place in this family will never change. It just means that you'll have someone your age around is all. That should be nice for you.”
Nodding, taking it all in, Draco couldn't help but smile. It would be nice to have someone around like that, honestly. All his 'friends' were more people that fawned over him or were like minions he ordered around. It would be nice to have someone around not like those kind that he could just talk with and not order around. Besides, this was The Boy Who Lived no less!
“Keep in mind, Draco, Harry is a very sick young man right now, from what your father said. You can't expect him to be like your other friends right away. It also appears he knows nothing of our world. It will probably come as a great shock to him. You will need to be patient, my son.” Narcissa schooled gently, looking down at him with a soft smile.
Nodding again, Draco told her, “I understand, mother.” Already, he was thinking about all the things he could do with someone his own age around, when he got better of course.
Turning back to what the house elves were doing, she was pleased with the progress. Looking around, she asked her son, “Is there anything else that you think he needs, Draco?”
Glancing at the room, Draco thought that over. Until they knew just what Harry Potter was bringing, he wasn't sure what to suggest but mentioned, “All of us have our own personal house elf, mother. Shouldn't he have one as well? Especially with as sick as he is? The rest can wait until we see what he has or needs then we can go from there.”
Nodding, pleased her son thought of that when she didn't, she told him, “You are correct. Now, which elf should we assign to Harry?”
“How about Dobby? I know he's... strange but he would be loyal. Especially to someone like Harry Potter. Even the elves know who that is.” Draco suggested after thinking it over for a few moments.
Once she pondered that suggestion for a few moments, Narcissa nodded. Dobby, though a problem elf in so many ways, would be perfect. He had been with the family for generations and had tended to the sick before. That told her he would know when attention was needed for the boy. “Another good suggestion, son. You're right. He can also go back and forth between the two houses since he has no assigned duties here and only helps where it is needed.” Reaching out, she put a hand on her son's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze then said, “Now, how about you and I go find some tea while they finish up. We have awhile to wait to find out what's going to happen.”
With a sigh, Draco smiled at her. Of all the things he hated, waiting was the worst. Though he understood that this was a situation where it couldn't be helped. There was an excitement over it though. Harry Potter, the Harry Potter, was coming to live with them and going to be something like a brother! What could compare to that?
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