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Well, Ain't That Strange?	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 56080 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this story

Chapter List
- 29
- 30
- 31
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.

Beta'd by the most amazing Tenchi, who I can't thank enough for all the hard work she does for me!

And thanks to Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues.

Chapter 29

Harry leaned against Sirius, holding Hobbes close as everyone settled in and they waited for the meeting to start. And he was heavily on edge. While the ones that came around a lot knew the reasons behind the changes, the ones that didn't were shooting Sirius looks he sure didn't like, especially Professor McGonagall. You could easily read the tight look and expression on her face as she didn't like what she saw at all. Snape was giving them one of his normal looks, but you could figure out he was trying to hold his tongue and not say something snarky. Others just looked shocked or bewildered with some anger mixed in. While he didn't like the looks, or what they meant from what he was sure the people were thinking, he didn't say anything like he normally would. It was best to let it press on and get them the hell out.
Like Harry, Sirius was ignoring the looks thrown in his direction, pretending not to notice. Instead, he was focused on talking to Arthur. As he wanted this on fire as fast as he could manage, he was going to make the ones obviously frowning over what they saw a bit more uncomfortable and upset. As he talked to Arthur and Molly about the mundane, he slipped an arm around Harry and pulled him close, holding him there. And it worked as the looks turned darker. Fine, let them. The higher the heat, the better this would end up for all of them. Passing along to Lucius to pay attention and alert them if there was something he noticed that they didn't, he then focused on Albus when he sat down, waiting for the meeting to begin. As there wasn't anything that would likely come up they didn't know or needed to, he hoped it would kick off fast so they could press on. If they played this right, they could be out that night, something he wanted.
“Harry, I do have to say that you look quite nice,” Albus said before kicking off the full meeting. There was much to cover here and plans to make, but he couldn't allow it to go unnoticed. “We've all seen parts of the changes, but this is the first time we've seen all of them at once. It's very nice that you've decided to pay attention to some areas.”
“I have Sirius to thank for it,” Harry said, leaving it there and not bothering to explain further for those that didn't know the reasons behind what they did. It could only help set the whole bit on fire as well.
“You do look better,” Sirius said, giving Harry's shoulder a squeeze then leaning over and kissing him on the side of the head before slipping his arm back around him and holding him close. He wasn't going to elaborate any further either. Minerva was already stewing, the look on her face telling him there was plenty she wanted to say. From what he could tell, Snape was dying to say something, but hadn't opened his mouth yet. He was damned sure when someone else did, Snape would come across with something to fan the flames and have Lucius take after him.
And that was all Minerva could take. She already knew that Albus was trying to get the two into the castle where they would stay, alone, in one of the towers. Now, she understood the bond was unbreakable and would pull them together, however, she saw no reason for Sirius completely changing how Harry looked to make him more appealing, she assumed, and the overt displays of affection. No, this would stop.
Voice tight, she glared at Sirius then told Albus, “I think Mr. Potter needs to leave. There are some areas I want to discuss that he probably won't want to hear. It's best to hash them out without him around so he doesn't become upset.”
Before Albus could say anything, Sirius told her, tone cold, “He stays right here. Whatever we have to say can be talked about in front of him. If you don't like it, don't say it.” Oh, he figured hell was now coming because what he said would just push it faster as Minerva was not used to anyone standing up to her and saying no, especially former students. As he held Harry closer, something he knew would set her off more and make it likely she would have at him, he just glared at her, almost daring her to say something. And he hoped she would. If she kicked off, others were likely to follow, giving them what they wanted in this mess.
Face tightening, eyes almost ablaze, Minerva told him, “Fine. Would you care to explain to us why you're changing Mr. Potter completely? You've gone out of your way to change how he dresses, his hair, and other areas. While I accept there is nothing we can do about the bond or break it, you do not need to take Mr. Potter and turn him into something more pleasing for yourself! He's allowed to be who he wants and look how he desires.”
“Minerva, it's not how it seems,” Molly soothed, hearing a few others say something similar. “There are justifiable and necessary reasons behind the changes with nothing nefarious as a cause.”
“All I know is each time I come over, Mr. Potter has changed,” Minerva snapped. “It's as though Sirius wants him changed from who he is. Tonight it's apparent there are more changes than any of us knew. We won't go into the displays of affection.” Lifting her chin and glaring at Sirius, who was glaring back, she snapped, “You don't need to flaunt the relationship in our faces, Sirius! You know we don't approve.”
“And I don't rightly give a shit if you do or not,” Sirius shot right back. Normally, he wouldn't go about anything this way with Minerva and would lay it out, but he was going to dump as much fuel on the fire as he could then hope she completely blew. “What we do is our business. I don't see you saying a word to anyone like Fleur and Bill or Remus and Tonks. Why am I the exception? Because it's Harry and you don't approve? Well, it's not your place to approve of anything! James and Lily knew what was coming all those years ago and didn't throw a fit over it. I don't see where it's your place to dictate anything.”
“I think we all need to calm down,” Albus soothed, hoping to hold off the argument he knew had been coming since the bonding was revealed.
“Minerva, there is nothing 'wrong' happening with the two,” Tonks told her shaking her head. “Everything you see has been done for a reason, one that's legitimate!”
“Sirius is right,” Bill chimed in, tone authoritative, hoping that managed to sink in with Minerva before her and Sirius really went at it. And he couldn't blame Sirius one little bit over the anger he was hearing. It was time the foolishness stopped.
“Harry needed new glasses as his prescription was old and not correct. He picked out the contacts because he wanted them. The clothes were gifts for his birthday to replace the old hand-me-downs from his cousin, things that looked horrific. The hair came about from Sirius working with Harry on personal hygiene charms. Sirius lengthened it for him to try to get it lay flat. It didn't, but they managed and Harry likes the longer hair as it's far nicer looking than it was. There's nothing perverted here. Just—calm down and see it rationally.”
Then he added, “We are seeing nothing from them many haven't seen before. You just haven't been over here that often. There is nothing wrong here and no one is throwing it in people's faces! They'll be together for the rest of their lives. What's wrong with a small show of affection? It isn't like they are snogging in front of us, you know! You've seen worse in school from the couples there. And the same kind of displays from those of us who are together. Just because it's the two of them doesn't make it any different.”
“He is still underage,” Minerva snapped, glaring at Bill. Eyes going back to Sirius, who was glaring at her, she hissed, “I don't see where it's wrong of us to ask that the displays of affection not be done in public.”
“I do tend to agree,” Severus sneered, folding his arms over his chest. “It's fine to do what you want in private, even if we don't approve, but don't flaunt it.”
“That's enough,” Remus said coldly, glaring around. “Leave them alone. Just because you still can't accept the bonding is there and can't be broken, doesn't give you the right to take it out on Sirius. He and Harry are doing nothing wrong.”
“Really, Minerva,” Arthur added, shaking his head. “You should know by now that just because you don't approve of something doesn't mean you get to dictate how people act. There is nothing wrong with what we see. If you don't like it, the issue is on your end, not theirs. This is how they act all the time. You've just not seen it. For all of us that come over, it's normal.”
“It is and there's nothing wrong with it,” Kingsley told her pointedly. “They're allowed to act like everyone else who has a partner. You're just upset because of who it is, nothing more.” He then glared at Severus, who returned it, before adding, “And, quite frankly, it's none of your bloody business, either one of you. You don't have to come over if you don't like it.”
“I would like nothing more than to avoid this place,” Severus snorted. “Since it's mandated I be here, the least the two could do is hold off on the sickening displays.”
“I do agree,” Minerva said, tone icy. “The house is used for meetings, so you need to take into account some may not approve.”
“And if they don't, they can get the hell out and not let the door hit them on the arse on the way there,” Sirius shot right back at her, glaring. Good. This is what they needed.
“Now, please,” Albus said, holding both hands up. “I think we need to calm down before we end up in a shouting match that will help nothing.”
Minerva ignored Albus completely and glared at Sirius again before she looked at Harry, who was just looking at her, an angry expression on his face. “I think Mr. Potter would be more comfortable if you just stopped, Sirius. After all, it's causing arguments.”
“Don't presume to know what I want,” Harry told her coldly. “You don't know.”
“Do not drag Harry into this,” Sirius snapped. “Your issue is it's me doing it. Leave it there. You can couch it any damned way you want, but it comes down to you don't approve. News flash, Minerva; I don't need your damned approval for anything. Harry is in my custody because of the bonding and there isn't a damned thing you can do about it. Don't start taking the moral high ground when the issue is you simply don't like it and can't change what happened so you don't want to be forced to deal with it.”
“Someone obviously needs to protect him,” Minerva lobbed right back, folding her arms over her chest. “Because you seem to have a great many thinking this is fine.”
“It is fine,” Remus told her, tone frosty, yellow eyes narrowed. “There is nothing wrong with what's going on. I was there when James and Lily said they approved of what was coming as they knew there was nothing they could do to stop it, Minerva. While they might not have liked the fact their son had no choice in partners, they also knew that Sirius would love him. In the end, that fact was all that mattered. If Harry's own parents accepted it, you should be able to as well.”
“They haven't seen what Sirius has done to him,” Minerva fired right back, turning that glare she was known for on Remus.
“And they would approve,” Remus told her, voice rising. “He is taking care of Harry in a way no one else has ever bothered! There is nothing wrong with Sirius buying Harry nice clothes, glasses, teaching him to make his hair lay down and the myriad of other things he's done since Harry's been here. And they would love that their son is finally happy! I don't see where they would be the least bit upset by any of it!”
And that was the end for Minerva. Standing, palms planted on the table she snarled, “I don't think they would approve of their son having sex at such a young age! Or being coerced into it. I doubt that step was Mr. Potter's idea. As the bonding is sealed, we know that's what happened.”
“When we did what is none of your damned business,” Sirius shouted, standing himself. “I knew it all came down to this one item, Minerva! Don't toss out bullshit about whatever when it comes to you don't approve of a biological event that pushed the sealing of the bond! It's none of your business when we did what.”
“He is a child!” Minerva shot right back. “You had no right!”
“He was biologically an adult,” Sirius fired right back. “And that's what brought it on. Neither of us felt like suffering anymore! Get. Over. It! You can't change it, you can't undo it and it's done. Move on!”
“Yes, we'll move on,” Severus sneered, glaring at Black, ignoring Potter and the cat. Listening to those that felt the same way voice similar opinions as Minerva, he then added, tone snide, “We'll just sit quietly as you tot up the child you're sleeping with like some kind of toy boy so you can get your jollies over it. Never mind it disgusts the rest of us, Black.”
Lucius had been sitting in Harry's lap intently paying attention. When the snarling started, he waited. Oh, he would let Sirius handle Minerva as he was doing a masterful job of poking her to get her going the way they wanted. He was waiting for Severus. In the end, he knew Severus couldn't stay out of it and would have to jab. And he did.
Rather than go about the whole attack the way he had last time, he decided, since everyone was distracted because there was now all out shouting going on between almost everyone with Dumbledore trying to mediate, he would just nail him the easiest way possible. Telling Harry to let loose, which he did, Lucius flew across the table and went straight for Severus' face, nailing him good and leaving bloody gouges all down it before slipping under his robes to do plenty of damage everywhere his claws could reach. Severus would know he had been in a battle he lost by the time he was done.
Sirius didn't see the attack, honestly, as he was focused on Minerva and shouting at her, but he did see the big white blur go across the table out of the corner of his eye then heard Snape's howls of pain. Then chaos came. Everyone ended up either pulled into the verbal battle or trying to help Snape. Albus focused on trying to remove Hobbes from Snape's robes when the bleeding man stood up and tried to hex the cat through his robes. That was when he decided it was time.
At the height of the noise, he shoved the now standing Harry behind him and told him to call Hobbes. As Harry did then the cat jumped into his arms, he lifted his wand and shot off a bang loud enough that it made his ears ring. Then he shouted, “That's it! I'm done! Everyone out, now, except Remus!” Summoning the elves, he had one creature toss out Severus then had them chuck out Minerva and Albus.
As the elves worked, he looked around and snarled at the stunned faces, “I'm done! Everyone out. This house is shut! I've had it. So, if you don't want the elves to chuck you out, walk on your own. You have one minute to vacate the premises or the elves do it for you!”
Though there were sputterings, many began moving in that direction while others tried talking him out of the decision. “I said get the fuck out, now! I mean it!” He then bellowed, holding Harry close.
Arthur watched as everyone realized Sirius meant it then began to move. Though Molly was sputtering, he guided her towards the door, nodding for his son to follow. “Give it a few days so he can calm down,” he told his wife softly, looking over his shoulder at the flushed Sirius and Harry, seeing Remus talking to them, something that was probably for show as Remus would usually try to calm him down. “I'll owl later so we can talk, Sirius,” he said.
Seeing a nod, he quickly ushered everyone out, heart hammering as he did. While those left could lock down the house fast, it was still risky as Albus was probably already trying to find a way to get back in. He just hoped the three could get the hell out before anyone figured out a way to once more slide back into the house.

Sirius waited until he was damned sure everyone was out of the house then lifted his wand and cast a spell to detect who was in the house to make doubly certain. When the spell showed just them and the elves, he slumped. It was time and they had a shitload to do.
“Lucius,” he said, when the man changed back, “get one of the elves in here to lock these wards down until we can get the Fidelius changed. Set the other ones to packing everything. Kreacher probably needs to help, too. They can move it all as well. One of them also needs to take Hedwig. We don't want anyone seeing her flying off as I'm sure there are still plenty of Order members milling around in the park. Once you get that done, we'll take on changing the Fidelius. I say we want out of here in under an hour.”
“A good goal,” Lucius nodded, summoning the elves and getting them to work after sending one to fetch the instructions Tom sent over. Once he looked them over, he handed them to Sirius and said, “You'll be the Secret Keeper with only the three of us being able to get in. It should be enough to keep it locked down solid. And we'll need to keep watch on the park while we work.”
“Oh yes,” Sirius chuckled. “You know Albus is already trying to formulate something to work around this.” However, he passed the instructions to Remus after he looked them over and readied his wand.
“Harry, if you would—while we work, write up a short note for the Dark Lord to let him know we'll be there in an hour. Narcissa can ensure everything is ready for us if she knows,” Lucius said, patting Harry on the shoulder as he stepped over to the other two. “And send it off with an elf. Just something short without the details. We can fill everyone in when we arrive.”
“Will do,” Harry said, summoning a parchment and quill. This was good! They were almost out. While there was a lot to work out yet, it would make it far easier. Just so they could get out without anyone knowing. That's all he hoped for.

As he and several of his highest ranking followers, along with those in the house, gathered in the foyer of Malfoy Manor, Tom fought the urge to look at his watch. He received the note from Harry about them vacating the house, so he had come over to make damned sure everything was ready. The wing was, of course, decorated as nicely as Narcissa could manage. They had triple checked the wards to make sure they were as strong as they could make them after they arrived. Now they had to wait and hope a spanner hadn’t been thrown in the works. While the three being out was the biggest of the issues, there were still plenty more coming. So, he had to stay focused.
Though he felt the urge to pace, as each minute which passed made him warier, Tom stood by Narcissa. As he did, he looked down at the huge cat she was holding and petting, smiling. They had taken Lucius' idea and found a cat that was identical to 'Hobbes' for Harry. It was even a creature all of them liked as the beast was friendly and playful. It was their hope that presenting the cat to Harry after he came in would help break the ice slightly and put them at ease.
With minutes ticking by with no word, Tom grew worried. Just as he was about to start pacing to alleviate some of the nervous energy, he heard the distinctive crack of Apparition then Lucius' voice. Good, it had worked.
He then stiffened up as the door opened and nodded when he saw an uptight Black and Harry follow in behind. When the door shut, he asked, “Everything went as planned? No issues?”
“None,” Lucius told him smugly, a smirk on his face. “The Fidelius is changed with Sirius as the Secret Keeper. The elves have everything moved as well. Remus has stayed behind to make sure we didn't miss anything then he's going to leave and feed everyone a story we concocted to make it look good. So, it's over. At least this part. We just have to settle in here until the house is finished.”
“Perfect,” Tom said with a pleased nod.
Still holding the cat and petting the purring creature, Narcissa decided to tend to matters properly. With a nod to Draco, she stepped forward, making sure her son stayed by her side, and smiled at her wary looking cousin and Harry then said, lifting her chin, “Welcome to Malfoy Manor. You're our honored guests and will be treated as such. The wing is ready for occupation and we'll take you there after introductions are made. This is your home until yours is finished, so you can do as you please.”
When she saw the two give wary nods and heard them tell her thanks, she smiled. Sirius was obviously on edge, looking around at those gathered, probably recognizing all of them. As he did, he kept Harry close to him, arm around his waist. Harry was obviously uptight as well. So, she was going to break the ice.
With a smile, she stepped closer and held the still purring cat out, “He is for you, Harry; a gift from all of us, Lucius and Sirius. Everyone thought you would like him as a replacement for Hobbes.”
When Harry looked at the cat, he couldn't help but smile. Gently, he took the animal and held him close, petting him, grinning as the cat purred loudly then curled up to him. “Thanks,” he said softly, looking around, still on edge over all that had happened.
“We didn't name him as we thought you would like to,” Narcissa told him with a smile.
Sirius grinned and gave an approving nod. The animal was the spitting image of Hobbes. Petting the cat, chuckling as it purred up a storm, he asked Harry, “What name are you going to come up with for him? You could call him Hobbes as well, you know.”
“I think he'll be Calvin,” Harry grinned, holding the cat close.
“Do I want to know why?” Lucius asked, looking amused. He took the small card from Narcissa which contained the simple bonding spell he would perform on the cat so it would attach mainly to Harry. “Sounds rather dead common to me. Unlike Hobbes.”
“Remember when I told you I named Hobbes after a tiger in a comic strip?” Harry asked. When Sirius and Lucius nodded, he grinned then said, “Calvin was his companion. Think it's rather fitting.”
“It is,” Sirius grinned, giving Harry a pat on the back.
After another wary look around at those that were considered the enemy not long ago, Sirius gave an internal sigh. He would deal. Lucius was with them and wouldn't let anything happen. They just had to keep that in mind. Then he said, “Right, we need to get settled in. It's been a long night and I'm sure we're going to need rest as soon as the adrenaline wears off.”
“Narcissa can give you a short tour so you know how to get to the wing. Tomorrow, she and Lucius can give you a better one,” Tom said. “We'll come with so we can fill you in on all we did and see if you know anything else that might help. I also want to give you my word that the ones you see here will be protecting you. They'll be rotating here to keep watch. We just want you aware they're around. You have my assurances nothing untoward will come of them being here.” Then he motioned Lucius and Narcissa to lead the way.
As they started the trek to the oldest wing, Tom put a hand on Draco's shoulder as they walked. While this was tricky as hell to manage until the house was done, he was relieved they were here. Now he could help protect them in a way he couldn't before. And it would only help their side, and what they were trying to accomplish. In the end, it would do all of them a world of good. So, he would make damned sure this went as smoothly as he could manage.
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Well, Ain't That Strange?