Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Freedom Bound in Chains	By : TaintedSensibly Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 58477 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Harry Potter characters. I did not make money from this story.

Chapter List
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Thank you for all the support!
Tonks
Directly after breakfast, the boys and Narcissa made their way to the receiving room. They weren't there longer than a minute before the fire flared green and Andromeda stepped out of the floo. She wore a maroon skirt, high-heeled boots, and a short-sleeved button-down, and it made Draco curious, since she dressed so similarly to her sister and held herself in the same formal way, why they disliked each other. Andromeda had even worn her hair up in twists and buns every time he'd seen her, the same way Narcissa did.
Giving a stiff nod to her sister, Andromeda quickly turned her attention to the boys. “Are you ready to go?” she asked, expression softening into a smile.
“I'll see you soon,” Narcissa told them, blue eyes sad. She awkwardly offered her hands. Harry took one and squeezed it with a smile, but Draco merely gave her a nod and went to Andromeda's side.
Narcissa had become increasingly emotional over the last few days. He'd make use of the Malfoys where he could, but he didn't see them as parents. It was too late for that, and he didn't like the way she stared at them with such need sometimes. Like she was waiting for him to fall into her lap and call her mommy or something. It was frustrating because he'd thought they were making some progress understanding each other.
“Come on, Harry,” he called from Andie's side.
Harry shifted the backpack higher on his shoulders and smiled up at Narcissa, eyes bright behind his black glasses. “See you soon,” he said sweetly, voice high and piping.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Narcissa straightened her back. “Bye, Harry,” she answered as casually as she could.
Andromeda wrapped her arms around the boys and called out their destination - “The Leaky Cauldron!” - and with a whoosh, they were gone from Malfoy Manor.
…
Harry looked curiously around the restaurant they stepped into, his hand securely held in Draco's. He hadn't been to a restaurant since leaving Liam, which felt like ages ago. It was early, so there were only a few people scattered about eating breakfast.
“This way,” Andromeda said with a wide smile.
Draco followed after her, pulling Harry along with him.
Harry's excitement dimmed, however, when he noticed how the people slowly stopped eating and talking to stare at them. He ducked his head and stared down at Draco's feet ahead of him until he heard a bell and felt warm sunlight flood over him. He looked up and felt his mouth fall open.
A huge city stood around them. Cars zipped by, people filled the sidewalk, and buildings stretched high above them into the sky. It felt like New York, but it looked so different! Harry skipped up to Draco's side and practically hugged his arm. Draco shared a grin with him.
Andromeda noticed the boys relaxing. Without the sharp edges, the two became children instead of the miniature adults they sometimes appeared. She pointed out little places on their walk, but it wasn't long before they reached her townhouse. It was an old brick building sandwiched between others of nearly identical make that sat on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Ave.
She pulled her key out of her pocket and unlocked the street door, holding it open for the boys. They walked in, heads craned back, looking at everything. The lobby was empty, and she took them straight to the stairs. The stairwell was narrow, but the steps and railing were made from wood and were well-taken care of. She was a little out of breath as she stood in front of the door with a golden thirty-one hanging on it. (Thirty because it was the third floor and one because it was the first unit on the left. They shared the floor with apartment thirty-two.)
“Welcome home,” she told them warmly as she let them in.
They stepped into the narrow hall curiously. On the left, next to the coat closet, Andromeda showed them a small bathroom. A galley kitchen done with golden-brown wooden cabinets lay behind the doorway to the right. Next to the kitchen was a closed door.
“This is Nymphadora's room. She's been home from Hogwarts for a couple weeks now and likes to sleep in. She's been looking forward to meeting you.”
Andromeda took them to the open room at the end of the hallway. It was a type of living room with a couch, a few armchairs, an elegant coffee table, and a television. Two large open windows filled the room with light and filled the room with the warmth of summer. Along the back wall sat a six-seat dinning room table. Cupboards on the wall behind it stored china and dishware.
White walls, wooden floor strewn with white and blue rugs, grey couches, pale blue drapes and accents: it was a very calming room. Two doors, one on either side of the room, were closed. Andie explained that the master bedroom was behind the door on the left and their room was to the right.
She opened it and led them inside. “You can change it however you like,” she told them, standing nervously in the doorway. It had an armoire to store clothes, a queen bed done in dark purple and grey, a nightstand with a white lamp, and a small desk in one corner between two windows.
“It's fine,” Draco told her as Harry put their backpack on the bed.
“I'm glad.” She gestured back toward the living/dining room. “Shall we talk?”
Draco and Harry settled on the couch, but Andromeda didn't sit with them, saying, “I'm going to make a cup of tea; would you like one?”
“No, thank you,” Harry answered politely while Draco merely shook his head.
They watched as she unbound her hair as she made her way back down the hallway. It fell to mid-back, a medium brown with a slight wave. Draco wondered if it was a signal that she trusted them or if she'd only put it up because she was going to see her sister.
They sat quietly, enjoying the moment of calm and listening to the sounds of the city drifting in through the window.
Eventually Andromeda joined them. She set the tea pot on a little wooden block that sat in the middle of the coffee table after pouring some into her cup. Sitting back with a satisfied expression, she looked at them with a warm expression. “I'm glad to finally have you here, boys.”
“Thank you for having us,” Harry pipped in, polite and sweet.
“It's really no problem.” Andromeda sipped delicately from her tea cup, just the same as Narcissa did. “I was very upset to hear of your abduction, Draco, and very pleased to know you had been found. My feelings for my sister aside, no parent should suffer the loss of a child.” She reached over to gently touch his knee before turning her warm smile to Harry. “And I am very happy to serve as your guardian, Harry. Your parents were incredible people, and Sirius, your godfather, was my favorite cousin.”
She waited for a response, but the boys merely stared back at her. She decided to change the subject. “While I will have you continue your reading, math, and science lessons during your month long stay, your weekend with me will be purely for relaxing and fun. What do you like to do?”
“We want to explore the neighborhood a bit,” Draco spoke up. He shot Harry a side glance. “Maybe find a baseball game.”
Harry's expression brightened. “Really?”
Draco smiled and gave a nod before turning back to Andromeda. “And I'd like to see Remus.”
“Of course.” Andromeda tossed her head, hand flipping her hair over her shoulder. “I've already invited him over for dinner. Now, I'm sure you two are very capable of taking care of yourselves, but you are both quite famous and we are only a few blocks from the Wizarding district. I'd prefer it if Nymphadora or I went with you on your explorations. I also do not want you skipping meals.”
“I can cook,” Harry offered hopefully. He gazed at Draco as he said it.
Draco ran his thumb over the inside of Harry's wrist soothingly. “Harry will help prepare breakfast and clean up after dinner. We'll likely eat lunch while we're out.”
“Your help will be appreciated if you truly wish to give it, but it is by no means a requirement,” Andromeda told Harry before standing. Her dark eyes gazed at the boy warmly. “Let me go wake my lazy daughter and you guys can head out.”
“This is so different from the manor,” Harry said softly, looking around. The apartment was bigger than the one they had with Liam, but it felt smaller. With the furniture and shelving and big curtains, the rooms were more cluttered. Still, it felt way more familiar than Malfoy Manor.
“Yeah, it is.” Draco leaned in and put his head against Harry's. It was all very disorienting.
They didn't have long to rest before a thirteen-year-old girl bounded into the room in onesie pajamas with colorful fairies fluttering here and there. “Oh Merlin! You're here! I can't believe my alarm didn't go off!” She flashed a hot glare toward her mother. “Why didn't you wake me?” She had barely finished her question when she tripped and fell flat on her face.
Andromeda lifted her hand a few inches, as if to help her daughter up, but then dropped it to her side.
The girl's short pink hair darkened to a deep purple as she sat up on her knees, rubbing the back of her head with a grin. There was a strong resemblance between her and Andromeda: the same dark eyes and heart-shaped face. “Sorry 'bout that!” she said with a laugh. “I'm a metamorphagus! That means I can change my body with magic. I do it a little bit all the time not on purpose, and so I fall down a lot 'cause my balance is always changing.”
“Nymphadora.” Andromeda put a firm hand on her daughter's head. “Manners. I detest your street language.”
Nymphadora rolled her eyes, but she did climb to her feet and straighten her posture. “I apologize, Draco, Harry. I let myself get carried away. I am very happy to have two new brothers. Mother told me you wanted to explore the city. Let me eat get dressed and something for breakfast, and I'd love to go with you.” She didn't wait for an answer, instead turning bounding down the hallway toward her bedroom and the kitchen. “And call me Dora, please! Only mother insists on calling me Nymphadora!” she shouted over her shoulder.
“It is your name,” Andromeda said dryly. She gave Draco and Harry a smile. “She's a good girl. You can count on her.” With a swish of her wand, she summoned plates and silverware and had them set themselves at the table. “She's like her father, who was also sorted Hufflepuff. They will both stand beside you to the end. Edward had to go in to work early this morning, or he would have been here to greet you.” She sighed and sat next to the boys. “I suppose now is as good a time as any to explain, since we're on the subject of my husband. Edward was born to Muggle parents, and this is the core of the disagreement between Narcissa and I. My family felt he was lesser because of his parentage, but Edward is a very gifted wizard and a beautiful person. I'm sure you will agree.”
Dora returned with a plate of hot eggs, bacon, and toast. She sat the table and chatted happily about all the places she was going to show Draco and Harry. Andromeda listened patiently, making a few suggestions. Draco and Harry watched them silently. It was a bit overwhelming.
“Ready?” Dora asked, getting up from the table. She wore a baggy, purple blouse tucked into high-waisted blue jeans and bright blue, high-top sneakers. Her hair was a bright pink once more. “Bye, Mum!” She took Harry by the hand, as he was closest to her, and moved down the hallway at a fast walk.
“Be careful, please,” Andromeda called after them.
Dora released Harry's hand as soon as they hit the stairs due to them being so narrow. She seemed oblivious to Draco's scowl as she chattered all the way down. “Mum said you like baseball. Well, you're in luck! It's baseball season. Goes from April 'til August, though futbol's more popular. Have you ever played futbol? I think they call it soccer in America. I'm not very good a sports, of course, what with tripping over my own feet all the time. Hand-eye-coordination can be a real chore, too, but I'm working on it! I haven't told Mum, so don't say anything, but I want to be an Auror! It's like the magical police, so I'm going to have to be able to hit the stuff I aim at, you know? Bet I'm going to be just killer at disguises, though.” She giggled.
Draco tuned her out a this point. They'd made it outside and were back on the street again. He really didn't know what to make of her. He'd only dealt with a few kids her age in the Hold, but they were quiet and afraid. If they got angry or loud, Raymond took care of them. They either came back silent as ghosts or never came back at all. She was a wild card and that set Draco's teeth on edge.
They were halfway down a second block, a green park up ahead, when Draco said, “Look, Dora. I'd like to go around with Harry for a bit.”
She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and turned to face them. Her eyes suddenly the same green as Harry's, her expression imploring. “But what if you get lost or something happens? I just can't. I know I'm talking a lot and I can be annoying, but I'll be better, promise.”
Draco tucked his hair behind his ear with a sigh. “It ain't got nothin' to do with you. We've been with the Malfoys for two weeks or so and we'd like some space. If you knew anythin' about us, you'd know we won't get lost, and I can take care of Harry. Nothin's gonna happen, okay?”
Dora bit her lip, clearly anxious. “What if I promise not to talk at all and just follow you around?”
“Sorry, Dora.” Draco tightened his hand on Harry's. * Run! * he ordered, sprinting past the teenager and into the crowd, Harry running with him.
“Wait!”
…
Draco and Harry explored the streets of London for hours. They ate from street vendors and saw a game of baseball in a park, and they found a square with hundreds of pigeons. Draco ran through them making them explode into the sky. The stress of the Wizarding world fell away and it was just them again.
It was nearing sundown when they made their way back to the apartment. They were just passing the place they had ditched Dora when they heard, “Draco! Harry!”, and the pink-haired teenager bounded up to them, smiling.
Draco's head cocked in surprise. He hadn't thought she'd wait for them like that.
“I didn't want to come home without you and make Mum come looking and ruining your time,” she explained sheepishly, mussing the back of her hair. Her stomach growled.
Draco's eyes narrowed. “You waited here all day. You didn't even get lunch.”
Dora laughed and waved her hands in front of her. “I didn't want you to get home without me, either. Then she might not trust you to come out without her. It's cool. I people watched and stuff. It's not like I haven't missed a meal before. Come on! I bet dinner's almost ready.” She turned and headed back down the sidewalk.
Harry glanced over at Draco and smiled when he saw the blond's frown. Pushing his glasses higher up his nose, he followed the two back to the apartment. He could tell Dora had impressed Draco. Harry thought she was nice. She hadn't picked on them or got Draco into trouble. Maybe they could be friends?
Delicious smells came from the kitchen as they walked in, Dora yelling, “We're home!”
Andromeda stepped into the hall, wearing a white apron, her hair up in a tight bun. Her dark eyes sparkled happily. “How was your day?”
“Great!” Dora answered easily. “We went around and I showed them the park.”
“I'm happy to hear that. Now go wash up,” Andromeda ordered, turning back to the kitchen. “Dinner's about done and Mr. Lupin will be here any minute.”
Dora did as she was told, taking the boys into the bathroom in the hallway. They stood close together, washing their hands in the sink.
Draco watched Dora thoughtfully in the mirror. He looked closely for a smirk or a 'you owe me' look, but she simply washed her hands, gave them a smile, and left. He glanced at Harry and saw the little boy smiling. “What're you thinkin?” He entwined their fingers, the soapy digits sliding together smoothly, slick and wet.
“She's nice,” Harry offered, looking shyly through his bangs, glasses glinting.
Draco relented. “Yeah. I think so.”
Harry's head came up with a big smile, eyes bright.
“Come on.” Draco rinsed their hands and dried them off, tugging Harry down the hallway to the living room. He stopped at the threshold, his smile falling away into a more guarded expression.
A big-belled man with thick dark-blond hair sat on the gray couch. He wore a button-down and some black slacks. He had black slippers on his feet. He saw them and turned off the TV, waving them over with a smile. Dora was sitting next to him, looking completely relaxed, slouched in the corner of the couch.
“I'm Ted,” he said, voice surprisingly soft and melodious. “Sorry I wasn't here to greet you this morning.”
“This is my father,” Dora added, smiling. “He's a Magical artist and also works in Grandpa's watch shop. They make incredible watches. People come from all over just to buy one.”
“Hi, I'm Harry and this is Draco,” Harry introduced them with a polite smile.
Draco said nothing, choosing to sit on the floor by Dora's legs rather than on the couch next to the strange man. Harry, of course, chose to sit next to him. It wasn't uncomfortable. The white and blue rug under them was thick and soft.
“It's nice to meet you,” Ted answered, unbothered by Draco's standoffishness.
He turned the TV back on and they watched a strange show that Draco couldn't quite figure out. Before the next commercial, there was a knock on the door, and Draco perked up. He listened carefully as Andie opened the door and greeted whoever had arrived. Then he heard Remus's voice answer and he smiled. He got to his feet, Harry following.
Remus caught sight of them at the end of the hallway, and his whole demeanor relaxed as he grinned. “Boys,” he called, moving quickly and pulling them into a three-way hug. “I've missed you.”
Draco relaxed into the hug, feeling – happy excitement – wash through the bond.
Remus pushed back so he could see their faces. “I got that place in Hogsmeade that I told you about last time. I can't wait for you to see it. It's very similar to the cottage in Lusio Village.”
Someone cleared their throat behind Draco and he turned to see that Ted had turned the TV off again and was standing, smiling with good humor.
Remus released the boys and climbed stiffly back to his feet, his joints creaking and red staining his cheeks. He placed his hands on the boys's shoulders as he introduced himself. “Sorry about that. I'm Remus Lupin. Thank you for the inviting me over tonight.”
“It's no trouble at all,” Ted said cheerfully. “I'm Ted Tonks and this is my daughter Dora.”
Dora waved happily from her position on the couch, her eyes were a bight blue. “You got wicked scars, Mr. Lupin! Did you get into a fight?”
“Dora!” Ted turned to his daughter, eyes wide.
“No. It's fine.” Remus brushed his wavy, sandy hair from his face. “I know they are shocking. I prefer to get it out of the way to be honest.” He looked at Dora. The deep scars on either cheek that created a deep artificial dimple combined with fainter yet still visible horizontal scar that ran across the bridge of his nose and under his eyes and the parallel scars that ran at an angle across his forehead and through one eyebrow. “I had a run-in with some people who didn't like magic much. The scars will fade overtime.”
Draco watched all this proudly. Directly after their attack by Scourers, Remus had been ashamed of his face. He hadn't liked meeting people and grew his hair out to try and soften the effects, but after working with Laila daily he'd come to accept his appearance. He'd even come to appreciate that he could explain away the marks from his monthly transformation as effects left by the Scourers. The man had come a long way.
“Dinner is ready,” Andromeda called from behind them, pots and serving dishes floating behind her. Her apron was gone and she wore a simple cream-colored dress that fell to her knees with dark green heels.
They all gathered around the table. Ted, Andromeda, and Dora sitting on one side with Remus, Draco, and Harry on the other. Ted praised his wife's efforts, exclaiming everything looked beautiful. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
Dora offered Remus the potatoes and soon they were all chatting about places they'd been and things they'd seen. Talk quickly moved to Hogwarts. Almost every House was represented at the table except for Ravenclaw. Dora was pretty popular, having friends in every House. She excelled at DADA and Transfiguration, but she did well in every class.
“I think Harry will join Hufflepuff,” Remus said with a smile, reaching over to ruffle Harry's hair.
Harry ducked his head with a happy blush as Dora cheered and Ted gave him a thumbs up.
“We're out-numbered I'm afraid,” Andromeda told Draco with a fake sigh.
Draco grinned because it didn't matter. He'd always come out on top, and he was sure Andie felt the same way from the sparkle in her eyes.
After dinner, Dora and Harry took the dishes to the kitchen to wash. Apparently it was one of Dora's daily chores. That left Andromeda, Ted, Remus, and Draco in the living room. Andromeda sat beside her husband on the couch, while Remus took an arm chair. Draco perched on one of the arms, one leg folded up and resting his arms over his knee.
“How is it at Malfoy Manor really, Draco?” Andromeda asked with genuine concern. She'd let her hair down, and it fell around her shoulders, softening her features. Ted wrapped his arm around her.
“It's not too bad,” Draco answered softly. He rested his chin on his arms, feeling the warmth of Remus's hand on his back. “They're both pretty upset about our past and stuff, and they don't see eye-to-eye a lot. Narcissa is pretty good. She's on our side, but she's still really focused on us becoming proper. Insists it's crucial in order to be powerful in the Wizading world. Lucius is more hung up about the bond and the Dark magic attached to Harry's core. I think he thinks the Dark Lord's possessing Harry, or that he can possess him or something.”
The adults stared at Draco with wide eyes.
“I think you should start at the beginning,” Remus offered softly, eyes having become a shade closer to gold.
Draco looked to Andie curiously, but she shook her head.
“Narcissa writes me reports, but they are very basic. I understood Harry had Dark magic attached to his core, but she didn't say it was from You-Know-Who.”
So Draco told them about Lord Greengrass and his failed examination. He explained what he'd experienced when Pandora (of course he didn't reveal her name, merely calling her the Unspeakable) had put them in a trance and explored their cores. They listened quietly, attention rapt. He told them what she'd said about his magic, but he left out the part where she'd discovered he was a hemopath. He wasn't sure it was a good idea to spread that around, and he didn't trust Andie or Ted yet. He could always tell Remus in private later. He also left out Harry was a Parseltongue, but he did tell them that Harry had a gift for Healing and his magic had almost become an Obscurus.
Andie covered mouth in horror while Ted closed his eyes with an expression of pain. Remus growled from beside him and Draco placed a firm hand on his arm, making him cut the sound short. Draco would not allow the Tonks to discover Remus's secret. You could seem like the most tolerant person in the world, but some prejudices ran deep. There was no way to know if they would turn on Remus or not if they found out he was a werewolf.
“So this Unspeakable believes she can break the connection between the Dark magic and Harry's core?” Ted asked softly.
“Yeah, but if she can't find a way, then I'll break it myself.” Draco lifted his chin and stared at the Tonks challengingly when they opened their mouths to protest. “You don't know our bond. It's strong. Everyone says so, but that's only words. You don't know what it feels like from inside. You'll just have to trust me when I say I can do it.” Eyes brightening to silver, he looked right into Andie's eyes. “I'd never hurt Harry.”
“Draco's right,” Remus spoke up supportively. “When it comes to Harry, Draco wouldn't make a mistake like that.”
Draco's lips curled into a pleased smile.
“Of course you wouldn't hurt Harry on purpose,” Andromeda argued, brows lowered over her dark eyes. Her hand tightened on Ted's knee. “But mistakes happen. Even the most experienced, powerful wizards can't predict everything magic will do.”
Harry and Dora returned, and their light-hearted chatter came to a stop as they stood in the doorway.
Remus glanced over and gave them a wink. “Done with the dishes? Thank you for cleaning up.”
Dora blushed and stepped further into the room. She cut between Draco's and her Mum's staring contest to sit on the couch. Harry went to Remus's side and leaned over the other arm of Remus's chair, he looked up at Draco adoringly.
Ted observed the way Draco reached over without looking to stroke Harry's hair and the way Harry leaned into the touch. He grew thoughtful.
“Tell me more about your travels,” Dora asked Remus, eyes a bright amber to match his.
Remus gave her a soft smile. “Well, there was the time I stumbled into a gypsy camp in Spain.”
Andromeda and Draco finally looked away from each other, captivated by the story Remus began to tell.
…
And so the next two days went, except Draco allowed Dora to go with them as they explored the city. Remus had dinner with them every night and slowly the apartment felt more familiar. Draco and Harry spent time every night decorating their room with the help of Dora and Andie's magic. Harry made breakfast every morning, impressing the household with his skills, and he helped clean up every night. The deep peace this gave him made Draco happy, too.
On the day they returned to the Malfoys, Dora flung her arms around them one at a time. Draco rolled his eyes, but he allowed it. Andie and Ted watched with smiles, leaning against each other. “Bye! I'll write you!” Dora said loudly, tears in her eyes. “I love you!”
“Bye, Dora.” Draco shrugged free and gave her a smile. She grinned back.
“Bye, I'll miss you,” Harry said sweetly, making her hug him a second time.
“Alright, we have to go,” Andromeda said, stepping forward and gently prying her daughter off. “We'll have them all August.”
The made their way to the Leaky Cauldron without talking. It was dinner time, so the pub was packed. As they pushed their way through, a ripple of silence followed in their wake and followed by a wave of hushed whispers.
Draco gazed around at all the interested and wide-eyed people while Harry clung to his hand and kept his head ducked, eyes glued to their feet. Draco had considered arranging to stay with Andie more full time, but this reaction reminded him why the Malfoys were necessary. They would need power and skill to manage the rabid attention of society. It also was a large reminder of why they were famous. The Dark Lord's shadow still haunted Harry.
Draco glanced back and green eyes looked up at him attentively. Draco smiled and squeezed his hand supportively. He wasn't about to let anyone hurt Harry. Ever.
“Ready?” Andromeda asked, smiling down at the boys. They looked more rested, but their relaxed postures had disappeared as soon as they stepped into the Leaky Cauldron. She was sad for the loss, but she also approved. The boys had to be aware and careful. “I'd like you to try flooing on your own.”
Draco, unsurprisingly, came forward and took the handful of floo powder from her.
Harry stepped in close, wrapping his arms around Draco's waist. He looked up at Andromeda from behind large black frames. He smiled. “Thank you for everything, Andie.”
She rested her hand gently on top of his soft, messy hair. “You are most welcome, Harry. I look forward to your letters.”
Draco gave her a firm nod and flung the powder down, calling, “Malfoy Manor!”
Chapter end.
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Freedom Bound in Chains