Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Family Means More Than Blood	By : WingsofaDream Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 59826 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its associated characters are property of J K Rowling, not me. This story is not being written for profit, just for the lols.

Chapter List
- 24
- 25
- 26
1st September 1992: Midday

"Harry! Hurry up! We'll miss it!" Draco called over his shoulder as he charged down Platform 9 at Kings Cross Station at exactly five minutes to eleven o'clock in the morning.

"This trolly isn't exactly easy to control when running at a high speed, Draco!" Harry retorted, dragging behind the blond boy slightly though not enough to justify his scolding. "And besides, if we do miss the train, it'll be your fault as, for once, you were the one who wouldn't get out of bed. For all the times for you to decide you want a lie in!"

"Half past nine is not a lie in."

"It is when you spend an hour in the bathroom doing Merlin knows what. If your father had been in you wouldn't have spent even half as long in there as you did."

"Yes, well he was at work so what's the point of even bringing it up?" Draco said with a glare over his shoulder before he turned back around only to have his glare deepen at who was ahead of them, standing right in the course of their movements. "Oi, Potter, Weasley, move it!" He ordered, giving the two Second Years mere seconds to process what he had said and quickly jump away. Well, Ron jumped away and then yanked Potter with him.

"Thanks Ron." Harry smiled to the red haired boy as he passed them, flashing him a quick smile as he did so. "See you on the train."

Just ahead of them was the entrance to Platform 9 and 3/4 and Percy had just disappeared inside. Next in line were Fred and George who must have noticed Draco and Harry approaching because they both turned a little bit and waved at them both, though mostly to Harry. "Meet you on the other side Harry." George called back to him just as Fred ran forward. Seconds later, he ran after his twin and disappeared through the barrier as well.

"Go ahead boys, you can go first." Mr Weasley encouraged them hurriedly, gesturing for them to go ahead of him, his wife and Ginny.

"Thank you Mr Weasley." Harry said quickly as Draco disappeared through the barrier and he followed on quickly. Out on the otherside, Fred and George were standing to one side waiting for them, or at least Harry.

"Bit late aren't you?" Fred greeted them with a grin.

"Could say the same to you, Weasley." Draco answered, coming to a rest with Harry just in front of the Weasley twins.

"Ah yeah, but seven people,"

"One bathroom,"

"It's understandable with us."

Harry grinned at the double act and the joke as he was supposed to and even Draco gave a small smirk just as, behind them, Mr and Mrs Weasley came through the barrier along with Ginny in between them. The moment Mrs Weasley's eyes settled on the group of four teenage boys, she gave them a frown. "What are you all doing just standing there! The train'll leave at any moment!"

"Off we go then." George said happily as he turned around and set off with Fred.

Harry went to follow them but paused when he noticed that Draco had, at one point, had his wand out and was now in the process of slipping it back into his robes. "What did you have that out for?"

"Oh, no reason really, just a little practical joke on Potter. I'm sure he of all people enjoys a good practical joke every now and again." Draco smirked while at the same time being able to pull off looking suitably innocent.

"What did you do?" Harry asked suspiciously as he allowed himself to be turned and ushered towards the train ahead of them.

"Nothing that will cause him any harm, now come along or we will miss the train." Draco ordered as they sped up, too close to the train now to justify not managing to get on board.

They got all their things chucked on board and Harry said a quick goodbye to Mr and Mrs Weasley before he followed Draco onto the train. Harry's foot had literally just lifted off of the platform before the train jerked forward gently and continued on steadily. People remained standing by the windows for several moments more, waving off to parents and the such, so Harry and Draco found that they had several people to squeeze past, much to the blond's annoyance.

"Damn idiots getting in our way." He grumbled irritably as he took Harry's hand to make sure they did not get separated.

"They're hardly doing it on purpose."

"So says you." Draco muttered as they finally broke free of a group of people.

The compartment door next to them opened suddenly only for Fred and George to poke their heads out together. "We found an empty one." Fred declared, clearly stating the obvious.

"Care to join us, Malfoy?" George invited with a grin and all three Gryffindors were pretty sure the Slytherin would turn the offer down.

"And why would he want to sit with a bunch of Gryffindorks?" A snobby voice came from behind them and all four teenagers turned their heads to see Bethany Zabini standing there with a couple of other Slytherins.

Harry shook his head lightly at the cliche insult before turning to look at Draco. "I'll see you later at the Sorting Feast then."

"No, no, wait a moment, Snape." Bethany stopped him, a small sneer on her face. "Why don't you come and sit with us?"

Harry rose an eyebrow at the girl, glancing from her to the other Slytherins beside and behind her who all looked suitably sneery and intimidating. Fred and George looked annoyed which was rare of either of them, but understandable. After all, it did not take an alchemist to realise that the offer was anything but sincere. "No thank you, Zabini, but I appreciate the offer."

"Why not? The company of Slytherins not good enough for you?"

"That's not a particularly intelligent accusation considering I spent my entire Summer holidays in the company of three Slytherins, past and present."

"I think it's time for you to shut up now, Beth." Draco seethed to her angrily, clearly not impressed with her treatment of his best friend.

The girl gave a small snort and crossed her arms in a huff.

Draco just shot her a glare before turning to Harry once again. "I'll see you later." He told the Gryffindor gently before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on his cheek. When the blond straightened up, he sent a smirk in Bethany's direction before easily strolling off down the corridor.

Bethany stared after Draco in horror before turning an absolutely poisonous glare onto Harry. She stepped right up to him and leaned in closely, their noses almost touching. They were exactly the same height so they were completely eye to eye. "Just remember I'm the one he's shagging, not you." She hissed in his ear angrily, so only he could hear, before floucing off, making sure to push past Harry's shoulder roughly as she did so. The other few Slytherin who were there followed on behind her wordlessly and soon Harry was left alone in the corridor.

"Anyone who ever dates a Slytherin is mental." Fred mused as he rested his chin on Harry's shoulder and peering off after all the Slytherins.

"Anyone who ever dates Bethany Zabini is mental." George corrected, coming to stand on Harry's other side.

"Hey!" Harry protested, sticking up for his absent best friend.

"Oh please Harry, Malfoy's not dating Zabini."

"They're, to put it delicately for your sake, friends with benefits."

"How do you know?" Harry enquired curiously, his mind only half on the question as he looked off down the length of the train and saw Blaise Zabini watching him from just outside a carriage several carriages down.

"Because it's not only painfully obvious that he has no romantic interest in Zabini..." Fred answered just as Blaise seemed to realise that Harry had noticed him and hurriedly stepped into the compartment he was standing in front of.

"It's also painfully obvious that he totally fancies the pants off of you." George finished for his twin as Harry returned his full attention to the twins.

"What!"

"Oh c'mon Harry! You can't honestly tell us you haven't noticed he's got a thing for you!"

"No I haven't and if you're going to insist on yelling like that then get inside the bloody compartment and shut the door!" Harry hissed quickly, shoving the two Weasleys into the compartment. "I do not want the entire student population of Hogwarts to hear such stupid ideas."

"Hardly stupid ideas as they're incredibly accurate truths." George teased as he stretched out lazily on one of the seats.

"And you don't have to worry about people over-hearing, it's already pretty widely known, at least in Gryffindor." Fred revealed gleefully as he lifted his brother's legs and sat down before lowering the legs onto his lap.

"But it's not true! Draco's just my friend, he's always been my friend, that's why we're comfortable enough to hug and kiss each other occassionally." Harry protested, plonking himself down on the seat opposite the brothers.

"From what I've seen, it's usually Malfoy doing the kissing and initiating the hugging." George pointed out easily.

"But..." Harry struggled, floundering for more reasons to argue. "You just said so yourself; he's with Zabini in whatever shape or form that might be."

"We're thinking he's just using her as a release until he thinks you're ready for a relationship with him." Fred replied in a rather nonchalant tone.

"We are rather disappointed that he didn't have enough control to wait for you though." George added with a sigh.

"But nobody's perfect..."

"...Not even Malfoy."

Before Harry could make a reply, the door to the compartment slid open to reveal both Hermione and Ginny. "You haven't seen Ron or John around have you?" Hermione asked, glancing at each of the three boys in turn.

"No, sorry." Harry replied first with a small shake of his head.

"Would've thought they'd be with you if they were going to be anywhere." George mused.

"No, I haven't seen either of them since just before Mum and Dad took me through the barrier and onto the platform." Ginny spoke up, curiously keeping her eyes off of Harry at all cost.

"And we've looked all over the train, I don't think they're even on it." Hermione told them.

Harry's eyes slowly filled with realisation and he gave a small, breathy laugh. "Draco must have done something to the barrier; he mentioned playing a practical joke on Potter and he had his wand out just before we got onto the train."

"Sealing the barrier onto Platform 9 and 3/4?" Fred asked in disbelief.

"Wicked." George said with a grin as he nodded his head slightly.

"It's not wicked!" Hermione insisted indignantly. "How are they supposed to get to Hogwarts now?"

"Dad'll probably take 'em in the car." Fred shrugged simply, effectively bringing that conversation to an end.

Harry turned to look at the two girls and gave them a welcoming smile. "Do you want to join us since Ron and Potter aren't here to sit with?"

"Oh, erm, thank you." Hermione replied quietly, a slight blush covering her cheeks just as Ginny's face lit up bright red. They stepped fully into the compartment, the older girl sliding shut the compartment door once they were. Then they settled down on the same side as Harry, Hermione sitting next to him and Ginny sitting next to her.

"So, what's this about a car?" Harry asked Fred and George curiously.

"Oh mate, you should see it, it's wicked." Fred gushed in awe, his eyes almost going starry at the thought.

"Wouldn't it take too long to drive from London to Hogwarts though? They'll miss the Sorting Ceremony." Hermione pointed out reasonably, obviously not knowing about the car either.

"Ah, that's the beauty of it; it flies." George told them gleefully.

"It flies?" Harry repeated in surprise.

"And how exactly does it do that?" Hermione inquired, sounding half sceptical and half curious despite herself.

"A bit like that." George said from where he was twisted around to look out of the window beside his head. Everyone turned their heads to look out of the window and were all surprised to see the car in discussion roll out from underneath the bridge they were currently passing over.

"Never seen Dad drive like that before." Fred grinned in amusement as the car did another barrel roll.

"I don't think it's Dad who's driving." Ginny murmured just as it became clear that it was actually Ron who was in the driving seat.

"Oh my Goddess, what the hell does he think he's doing!" Harry gasped in horror, watching as the car swirved dangerously close to the side of the train.

"Why isn't Dad driving?" Ginny wondered, getting out of her seat to get a better look.

"Why didn't they tell us they were going to steal the car!" George cried indignantly.

"Mum's gonna kill him." Fred breathed, barely containing a laugh just as the car swirved again and went over the top of the train, out of their sight.

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2nd September 1992: Morning

Harry took a small sip of his pumpkin juice before returning to his small bowl of yogurt and fruit as he half paid attention to what Fred and George in front of him were saying and half paid attention to what Potter and Ron were doing beside him. The twins were talking about Quidditch while the two younger boys next to him were trying to repair Potter's broken wand. Harry was actually suprised when they arrived at Hogwarts alive considering the way they were driving. Granted, Potter's wand had somehow snapped in half and they were now trying to fix it with Sellotape, but the two boys themselves had come out of the whole experience unscathed.

Potter finished with his wand and held it up pathetically. "Say it, I'm doomed."

"You're doomed." Ron agreed sympathetically.

"Why don't you just get your parents to buy you a new wand, Potter; after all, isn't your family just oh so rich?" Harry asked before licking the yogurt off of his spoon idly.

"None of your business, Snape."

"His parents are refusing to buy him a new one; said it serves him right for stealing the car."

"Hermione!"

"Oh for goodness sake, John, it was a civil enough question, don't be so petty."

Potter looked as though he was about to reply to that but the sudden bright flash of a camera startled them all, Harry the most as it happened right in front of him. He turned to look and found that there was a camera practically in his face. The camera was lowered to reveal a young blond boy who Harry kind of recognised from the Sorting the previous evening. "Hi Harry, I'm Colin Creevey, I'm in Gryffindor too." The boy introduced himself enthustiastically.

"Oh, erm, nice to meet you Colin." The older boy greeted with a weak smile, a little un-nerved by the First Years enthusiasm for meeting him.

"Hey Ron," a boy further up the table, whose name Harry thought was Dean Something-or-Other, interrupted suddenly, catching all their attention. "Isn't that your owl?

All eyes of the surrounding area of the Gryffindor table were instantly looking up to see an owl sweep down towards them. Then, when it came to actually landing, it crashed right into a bowl of dry cereal sending it spilling out everywhere. The bird seemed completely unphased though and just dropped the envelope in front of Ron before turning and flying off again. A few people turned to watch it go but Harry kept his eyes on Ron's mail, his eyes slightly wide.

"Look everyone!" An Irish voice alerted gleefully. "Weasley's got himself a Howler." Ron looked around at everyone in horror and most people just watching him in amusement, especially Fred and George.

"You better open it, Ron. I ignored one from my gran once; it was awful." Neville told them all, sounding rather nervous despite the fact it wasn't even him who had the Howler now.

After a few more moments of fearful staring at the envelope, Ron broke the wax seal with a slightly shakey grip. Just as he let it go, it began its message and the entire Great Hall plunged into silence: "Ronald Weasley! How dare you steal that car!" It yelled in the voice of Mrs Weasley, jerking very close to Ron's face making him draw back slightly. "Your father's now facing an enquiry at work and it is all your fault! If you set even one toe out of line, we'll bring you straight back home!" There was a pause then and the letter turned to look down the table and everyone copied it. "And Ginny darling, congratulations on making Gryffindor; your father and I are so proud."

Ginny gave a weak smile at that but mostly just looked embarrassed.

The Howler finished everything off by blowing a raspberry in Ron's face and then tearing itself up into little pieces. Ron looked up from it still looking un-nerved and found that most people were still watching him in amusement. In fact, the only person that was looking at him in sympathy was Harry and Ron found himself slightly cheered up by that.

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5th September 1992: Evening

The corridor was completely still and silent save for Harry who quietly wandered down it, on his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He trudged along in a rather melancholy mood, his neck stiff and sore and his hand cramped and painful. Four hours he had just spent with Gilderoy Lockhart, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart his mind corrected, helping him to answer his fan-mail as his detention for, apparently, talking in class. Harry was more than a little suspicious that it was simply a reason to get him on his own. Lockhart was the type of person that associated himself with other famous people simply to make himself more famous. It would not have surprised the Fourth Year boy in the least if the new DADA professor was simply trying to make friends with him in a very odd way. Not that he wanted a friendship with the man if what Severus had told him about the blond man was anything to go by.

Linking the fingers of both of his hands together behind his back, Harry stretched out his arms, pushing back against his linked fingers in order to stretch his muscles and crack his bones. When he relaxed again, he still felt stiff and as though he wanted to stretch again. He was idly wondering if there was such a thing as a stretching charm or at least a muscle relaxant one, or perhaps a potion, when a strange voice suddenly caught his attention. Harry came to an abrupt stop quickly in order to properly listen to the voice without the sound of his footsteps obscuring his hearing.

It was a low voice and also rather raspy...Or was it more hissing than raspy? It was definitely speaking English because every so often Harry could make out the odd word, the most often of which was, disturbingly, "kill". The sound was too echoed and muffled to make out properly all the time though. There was also a sort of grinding noise which came along with the voice, like two rough surfaces being passed over each other.

Harry frowned as he looked around himself in an attempt to see where the voice was coming from. There was nothing or no one around him though. He quickly stepped over to the left-hand wall and pressed his ear up against it in an attempt to decide whether the voice was coming from the other side or even inside it. The volume of the voice did not change though. After repeating the process on the right-hand wall and coming up with much the same results, he gave an annoyed huff and pushed away from the wall as he tilted his head back, staring up at the ceiling as if the source of the noise would be right above him and in plain sight.

Then, as suddenly as the voice had come, it was gone and Harry was left once again in silence. He frowned in confusion and glanced around himself again, partly to see if there was anything that might obviously have been making the noise but also to see whether there was anyone around who he might be able to ask if they had heard it too. There was no one though; just him, alone, in the silent corridor.

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13th September 1992: Morning

"Ugh, early morning Quidditch practice." Harry moaned through a yawn as he stretched his arms and back. "Why did I ever agree to be Seeker again?"

"Because you're too soft." George grinned from next to Fred who was next to the dark haired boy.

"Oh yeah."

"We're glad you're too soft though." Fred put in quickly.

"Yeah, you'll win us the Cup this year."

"Haven't you ever heard there's no "i" in "team"?"

"Yes, but, there is in Quidditch and everyone knows that it's the Seeker who..." Fred began to say but was abruptly cut off when Oliver Wood, who was leading them all out, suddenly spoke.

"What...? Ugh, I don't believe it." The Sixth Year captain groaned, his pace speeding up and making the rest of them speed up to keep up with him. It was not long before Harry and the rest of the team spotted the Slytherin Quidditch team, looking as though they were going to the same way the Gryffindors were. "Where'd you think you're going, Flint?"

"Quidditch practice." The Sixth Year Slytherin replied casually but his tone implied he knew he was being smart.

Harry glanced to the side to catch Draco's eye and, upon doing so, sent the blonde a smile in greeting.

"I booked the pitch for Gryffindor today." Oliver insisted just as Draco gave Harry a smile in return.

"Easy there, Wood, I've got a note." Flint sneered as he handed the Scottish boy a roll of parchment.

Oliver gave the Slytherin a withering look before taking the parchment and opening it. "I, Professor Severus Snape, here by give permission for the Slytherin team to use the pitch this morning in order to train their new Seeker." He crumpled the paper and looked up, clearly unimpressed. "You've got a new Seeker; who?"

Flint smirked and stepped aside in order to allow the new Seeker to step forward.

"Zabini?" Harry gasped upon seeing the girl as he too stepped forward.

"That's right, Snape." Bethany smirked, leaning against her broom in a pose-like stance, also clearly emphasising the broom, making half the Gryffindor team roll their eyes. "And that's not the only new thing this year."

Just then, Ron, Hermione and Potter came over to see what was going on. However, no one really noticed them as Fred spoke. "Hey, those are Numbus 2001s."

"Where the hell did you get those?" Ron asked sounding shocked.

"A gift from Bethany's father." Flint revealed with a superior grin.

"Unlike some people, Weasley, my father can afford the best." Bethany sneered to the youngest male Weasley before turning it onto Fred and George.

"At least no one of the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in; they got in on pure talent." Hermione said snidely and both Potter and Ron grinned in amusement either side of her. Harry glanced over to Draco and was mildly surprised to see that the blond's mouth had curved at the edges slightly in appreciation of the comment.

Bethany was clearly less than amused with it though and she stepped closer to the group of Second Year Gryffindors, glaring hatefully at Hermione. "Who asked you? You filthy little Mud-blood."

A small gasp came from the Gryffindor team and Hermione's lips tightened in a thin line, her eyes instantly taking on a suspicious-looking shine.

Harry frowned darkly as he stepped forward, right up to the Slytherin girl. "You're out of line, Zabini."

"You'll pay for that one, Zabini, prepare to eat slugs!" Potter threatened and he pulled out his Sellotaped wand and pointed it towards the girl.

"Wait, Potter!" Harry tried but the warning went unheard.

As Harry's arm was yanked by Draco in order to pull him out of harm's way, Potter flicked his broken wand at Bethany only for the curse to backfire on him, sending him sailing back a good few feet. Ron and Hermione were running to his side in an instant and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, except for Harry and Fred and George who all hung back slightly, had soon followed. All the Slytherins, including Draco, snickered at what had happened and Harry could hardly blame them; he honestly felt like laughing at Potter's stupidity as well but he was a Gryffindor and laughing at one of his own was not really something he could do.

From where they were all standing, none of them, Gryffindor or Slytherin, could hear what was being said by the group crowded around Potter ahead of them. It was only when everyone suddenly took a step backwards with a joint cry of disgust that they managed to get an idea of what was happening. The hex that Potter had been intending for Bethany had backfired and he was now spewing fat, slimy slugs. Harry noticed that Colin was standing just to the side and seemed to be trying to take a picture. The First Year was pushed out of the way though as Ron and Hermione began to pull Potter away, Harry hearing that they were going to take him to Hagrid as they passed him.

Everyone watched the three Second Year Gryffindors hurry off and Harry only stopped when he realised that someone was glaring at him rather hatefully. He turned his gaze and head slightly to see that it was, unsurprisingly, Bethany. After staring back at her for a few seconds, he spoke: "What?"

"Him pulling you out of the way meant nothing."

Harry easily realised what exactly she was talking about; if there had been enough time for Draco to pull Harry out of the way, why had he not pulled Bethany out of the way when she was the one immediately at risk? The Gryffindor shook his head slightly in knowing disbelief. Maybe Fred and George had a point about Draco and Bethany's relationship. Why did he choose to pull Harry away when he had not even been the one at any real risk?

"C'mon Harry," Fred said suddenly, giving Harry's arm a gentle jostle to get his attention. "We're gonna go practice by the lake, there's no point trying to reason with these lot."

"All right."

For a moment he glanced back at Bethany who was still looking like she wanted to kill him. He paid her no real mind and simply turned away, following as Fred began to head forward. When he passed by Draco, Harry gave him a smile. "I'll see you later." He said, mostly just to tick off Bethany, as he passed him by, following Fred and the rest of the Gryffindor team towards the lake.

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1st October 1992: Midday

Harry sat on his own at the Gryffindor table, eating a sandwich with one hand while he flipped through a text book resting on the table beside his plate. Fred and George had earned themselves a detention for passing notes between each other in Muggle Studies. Harry had been included in the note passing but had not been noticed somehow. So, Harry was on his own and, as he always did when he was on his own, he was doing a bit of work which he wouldn't get done when the twins were around.

"Hi Harry." A timid voice greeted from behind him.

Harry lifted his head and looked to the side to see Ginny Weasley standing there looking rather awkward. It did not escape his notice that there were several other First Year girls further up the table watching their interaction eagerly. "Hey Ginny." He answered with one of his usual smiles which only seemed to make Ginny blush and become more awkward with herself. "How have you found your first month at Hogwarts?"

"It's been good." She told him, staring down at her feet.

"I see you've had no trouble in making friends." He noted in amusement, his eyes flickering over to the girls further down.

Ginny looked up then and turned around to look at her friends. She must have glared at them or something because they all quickly looked away, suddenly becoming very busy with their food. "Sorry about that." She murmured, turning back towards the older boy.

"Don't worry about it, I'm more than used to it. At least none of them had cameras unlike a certain new First Year I know." He sighed as he glanced to the right to see Colin Creevey sitting further up the table. When his gaze was noticed by the enthusiastic boy, he was treated to an over-enthusiastic wave. Harry gave his number one fan-boy a small wave and a somewhat embarrassed smile back before returning his attention to Ginny. "Would you like to join me? I can put this on hold for a little while longer." He said while gesturing to the open text book.

"Oh, no, I couldn't; I really just came over to say hi. I, uh, I should be getting back to my friends. Not that I don't appreciate the offer or anything, it's just I said I'd only be a minute and..."

"Ginny." Harry interrupted the girl's rambling. She looked at him nervously and he just gave her a reassuring smile. "If you want to be with your friends then that's fair enough. I'll see you later in the common room no doubt."

That seemed to make Ginny's day as her face lit up and she nodded vigorously. "See you later, Harry." She gushed before turning away and hurrying back over to her friends before Harry even had a chance to say bye. He watched her go back and subsequently fall into enthusiastic conversation with her friends and a faint blush covered his cheeks as he realised what it probably was that had just happened.

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17th October 1992: Night

The sound of dripping water. Each drip echoing before fading into silence. Then another drip sounded and the same thing happened. The process carried on; a continuous cycle.

He stood in a void of darkness as always, not that He could see; His head was bowed and His eyes were closed. There was nothing around Him and the only sound was that of the dripping water. Then, a sliding sound; something which was already slick passing over a hard, damp surface. The drips continued with the sliding sound. It all continued together and throughout the time, He did not lift His head or open His eyes. Even when the sliding sound stopped, He did not react. Just stood there, in the darkness.

The dripping had stopped. Everything was silent.

*********************************************************************

31st October 1992: Evening

"Do neither of you know the meaning of the words I'm not hungry?" Harry muttered as he was dragged by his hand down a corridor on the way to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Of course you're hungry." Fred insisted from just slightly in front of him and George, George being the one who was doing the dragging.

"Oh, so now you're an expert in how I think and what I feel?"

"Naturally."

"Even if you don't eat anything, it's probably best you come to dinner; you know your dad and Draco will only worry if you don't." George pointed out reasonably.

"Oi, don't encourage him not to eat." Fred scolded, shooting his brother a glare. "Remember what happened in Second Year when he skipped meals."

"Oh c'mon Fred, that was two years ago. I'm sure he's old enough now to be able to manage without a meal and not end up passing..."

"Sshh!" Harry hushed suddenly, cutting George off abrubtly.

"Oh that's nice, and there was me trying to stick up..."

"No, no listen!" Harry insisted. They were all silent for several seconds until Harry looked at them both. "Don't you hear that?"

"Hear what?" George asked with a confused friend as he looked around the surrounding corridor.

"That voice." Harry answered quietly, sounding a little as if he was in a dream, as his hand dropped from George's and he wanded over to the left-hand wall.

"What voice?" Fred asked in a slightly concerned tone, watching as the dark haired boy stood by the wall with his back to them.

Harry listened as carefully as he could, memories of the day last month which he had heard that exact sound. The morning after he had heard it the first time, he had passed it off as a result of him being so tired at the moment he had heard it and that had been enough for him. Now however, he was forced to rethink that theory. Here he was hearing the same voice as before and if anything it was a little louder than last time and just a little clearer. He could not blame it on being tired now because he was not. He could not even blame it on being too hungry because he was not. There was something moving around somewhere and the one word that Harry could make out most clearly, most often was that same word as before; "kill".

"It's moving..." Harry told them in a murmur, half sounding as though he was talking to himself. "I think...I think it's going to kill!" He gasped, his voice perking up a bit. Seconds later, he had pushed away form the wall and had darted off down the corridor, Fred and George following quickly, calling after him.

Upon reaching the end of the corridor, Harry looked either side of himself, realising in frustration that the voice had stopped. As he looked around, he noticed something by the window a few paces away from where he was currently standing. Slowly and carefully, he made his way over towards the window just as Fred and George caught up with him. They slowed to a stop and checked to see which way Harry had gone before hurrying after him, both of them looking down at the floor curiously as they did so.

"Why is the floor all wet?" George mused as they moved, their footsteps making little splashing sounds.

"Maybe someone flooded the bathroom." Fred suggested.

"Sounds like something we'd do." George grinned as they twins reached Harry's side and looked down at what he was looking at. A row of spiders were scuttling along the edge of the wall and up the wall to go out of the window. "Never seen spiders do that before."

"Ants yeah, spiders no."

Harry looked to his side slightly and caught sight of the reflection of something in the water a little further up the corridor. Lifting his gaze, his mouth dropped open slightly and he stepped forward to get a better look at what it was he had seen. The attentions of Fred and George were captured with that movement and they almost instantly saw what it was that had Harry so shocked. Together, all three boys forgot about the spiders and approached the wall which held the sight in question.

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir; beware." Harry read out quietly, his eyes never straying from the red, streaked writing on the wall in front of them.

"Is it just me or does that look like blood?" George asked with a wrinkling of his nose.

"Oh no..." Harry whispered as he caught sight of something else. Moving forward, he kept his gaze slightly raised, his eyes sad as he looked up at the hanging form of a rather stiff looking of a cat hanging from a torch holder attached to the wall.

Mrs Norris.

For a couple of minutes, he and Fred and George stood there looking at the poor cat in horror. Then, when the sound of dozens of footsteps reached them, Harry spun around on his heel. Fred and George gave him a slightly apprehensive look, knowing how bad all this would make them appear. As practically every student in the school reached them, all stopping to take a good look, Harry bit back a groan; he was going to get blamed for this, he just knew it.
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Family Means More Than Blood