Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Hidden Agenda	By : MissiYoung Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 13228 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: I do not own the 'Harry Potter' universe or it's locations/characters/spells/etc. I make no profit off of this work of fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
Thoughts In Italics.

Chapter Five: Knee Jerk Reactions

Ron sat in his trainer's office, staring at the desk between them. Kingsley was a good man, and Ron's mentor during his second year of Auror training. Therefore when the order came down for a Slave Bond Watch on The Witch Ginevra, Kingsley offered to take it. He then pulled Ron into his office and let him know what had happened as gently as he could. Ron had fallen into silence then, clearly struggling with himself over what to do. Finally Ron's brown eyes met Kingsley's black.

"We need to make sure she doesn't harm the baby, while we're at it."

Kingsley nodded, having heard most of the details from Ron throughout Ginny's pregnancy. Whatever Kingsley hadn't heard was clearly the reason she'd been enslaved and since Ron didn't seem upset or surprised, Kingsley would taken the trainee with him for the evaluations. Sending Ron back to his desk, Kingsley thought over the situation. He'd expected the notorious hot head to have a much angrier and possibly more violent reaction. While he'd clearly been surprised to hear that his sister was enslaved, he also seemed to think that it was a good idea.

This made Kingsley wonder what his trainee knew, but it also made him wonder how the rest of the family was taking it.
**
Charlie Weasley listened to the Fire Fox his father had sent over and over again. That was all he could do. Charlie knew what had happened, and in the Fire Fox (which one of his Muggleborn coworkers laughingly compared to something called email) his father explained his reasoning. Charlie couldn't fault that, but he still wasn't sure how he felt about his sister being enslaved. Sure she was, by all rights, a blight on the Family Name and Honor; she was still his baby sister. Listening to the Fire Fox explain again that Harry had been drunk-over (and what that meant) Charlie still didn't feel any better about it. Sure the man was fairly certain that Harry would have never willingly consented to this if he'd been sober, and in fact at the time of the Fire Fox (about an hour earlier) had been convinced that he was married to Ginny; Charlie still held an irrational anger toward the younger man for this happening at all.

Charlie knew that his anger was irrational, because Harry had very clearly not been interested in Ginny in any romantic or sexual sense. In fact Charlie had seen the chemistry between George and Harry four years earlier when he'd first met the younger man. And yet Charlie couldn't help feeling that there could have been something, anything, that Harry could have done to avoid this. Not bothering to let logic get in his way, Charlie spelled up his own Fire Fox, venting his anger at Harry and sending it through the Floo before he had time to think about it rationally.
**
Bill listened to the Fire Fox from his father, torn. In the end, though, he agreed with his father's handling of the situation. It was the only honorable thing to do. With that in mind Bill set off to the local Bazaar to find the perfect gift for the new child he could only claim through his 'brotherhood' with Harry; this baby would never be legally considered a Weasley.
**
Percy read the interoffice memo his father sent him and was proud to be a Weasley. Sure there would be those (mostly Muggleborn) who would frown on the family for this, but Arthur Weasley had proven himself to be a man of dignity and honor with this action and Percy was proud to be his son. Percy made a note on his personal calendar to shop for a baby gift as soon as possible; he made another note to contact his brothers and parents to see what they would be getting. Perhaps we can coordinate, or by an entire set of something between us. We should also find out the gender, and what colors Harry intends to use. I wonder if Harry will need bottles, or if he plans to have Ginny breastfeed.

His thoughts kept along those lines for the rest of the day, even as he worked his way through the impressive mound of parchment that seemed to keep showing up on his desk as though it were a migratory instinct. Several people stopped by as word got out, giving their condolences or expressing their careful pride at Arthur Weasley's decision; mostly they came looking for gossip. Percy made the appropriate responses but kept the gossip to himself.
**
Fred cringed when he got home from his breakfast date with Katie Bell. There was a Fire Fox waiting, and a distinct lack of George. After listening to his father's message Fred sank onto the sofa, confident that George had just done something irrevocably stupid. Sure Fred wasn't all that chuffed about this either, but he could see his father's point of view. In the end it was his father's point of view that mattered.

When George Apparated home Fred waited in silence, knowing that his twin would confess all without prompting. When he did, Fred sighed. Yep, irrevocable stupidity. I can't believe he'd go off on Harry for all of this and try to make Ginny would to be some sort of damsel in distress.

Fred stood, snarled at George to stay put and try not to do anything idiotic (sometimes snarling was the only way to get through to the idiot) and Flooed off to Harry's, hoping to provide some measure of comfort.
**
Molly sat in her quiet kitchen, in her quiet house, and wept silently. She could understand why Arthur had done it, and she agreed that it was the only way. At the same time she was devastated to lose both her only daughter and her first grandchild in one fell swoop. Before Harry had Flooed away, shaking and white faced from the force of George's anger, the young man had promised her unlimited access to Ginny and the baby; though not together, since he planned to keep the vindictive Witch as far from his child as possible once the baby was born.

Molly now knew the Floo address to the flat where Ginny was staying, alone but for a few House Elves with strict instructions to ensure the safety and well being of the child. All of these things were contributing to the mother's tears but what had started them in the first place was Fred, who showed up nearly two hours after Harry had left with a screaming Ginny. Fred had gone to comfort Harry, only to find his flat emptied of most of his personal possessions all save one of the four House Elves. There was also, prowling across the hearth, a Fire Fox that Fred shamelessly listened to.

The things Charlie had said, combined with George's reaction, had sent Harry into hiding. Molly considered him her son, and had hung her hopes on Arthur's desire to bring Harry and George back together. Now Molly had no way to find Harry except through the House Elves, who would tell her that he was fine and would carry messages, but that was all.

Arthur came into the kitchen and comforted his wife, which sent her into a fresh wave of tears. Ginny, Charlie, George...where had they gone wrong?
**
Ginny glared around the admittedly very nice flat. Everything was Charmed against her destroying it, the stupid Slave Bond wouldn't allow her to break Harry's orders to take care of herself for the sake of the baby, and there was nothing she could do about it. How dare her father ruin everything? Sure he'd kept her out of Azkaban, but her lifelong obsession with wealth and power was within her grasp before he'd taken it away! Wasn't a father supposed to help their children realize their dreams, not destroy them? And now she was stuck with an entirely different Bond to Harry Potter than the one she'd wanted, and the sure knowledge that she would never become the Lady of Society that she'd always wanted to be. Even if Harry allowed her to marry, it would not be to him and the Slave Bond was public knowledge.

Ginny hated George for having Harry when she didn't. She hated her father for making her a slave. She hated her mother for agreeing with her father. Most of all, Ginny hated Harry Potter for not wanting her.
**
Harry let the over eager House Elves unpack the few things he'd brought with him, clutching the box he'd grabbed off his dresser. He didn't notice anything around him in the grand Keep he'd chosen to hide in; his full attention was on the box. It was a fairly plain box, unstained and unvarnished. It was plain by design, so as to draw greater attention to what it contained. Harry did not open it, simply knelt in the foyer of the Keep holding onto it tightly.

It was the Token he'd chosen for George. George who now hated him for something he didn't quite remember doing now that he was sober. It didn't take long for the tears to start running down his face; relief that he wouldn't have to marry Ginny was quickly overshadowed by the pain of George's hatred. For hours he stayed there, moving from his kneeling position to a position curled on his side. He cried the entire time, clutching the box close to himself.

When his tears were over Harry pulled himself from the floor; what was done was done, there was no use being upset about it any longer. He was realistic enough to know that it would still hurt, but he would no longer lie on the floor in a catatonic state. Walking past an occasional table in a corridor, Harry set the box down and walked away.
**
George was still upset when he and Fred went to open the shop the next day, but he was also man enough to admit that his anger was unwarranted; and that he'd stepped far out of line by taking it out on Harry. Truthfully George was mostly upset with Ginny, and with how her actions had caused her to become enslaved to the man that George loved. With that in mind George resolved to give what he knew would be a rather stiff apology to his ex-boyfriend and ask for patience while he worked through his anger at the situation; and he intended to make sure George was angry at the situation and not Harry personally.

George went through the storefront, checking the displays and activating the Charms while he thought out the wording. When Fred called him back to the office, where he'd gone for the register till, George was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the worrying tone to his twin brother's voice. When he got there Fred was giving him an unreadable look and holding a note, which he passed to George.
To Whom It May Concern,

I assure you that I am not shirking my duties. I realize that personal and familial responsibilities come before business, and that because of these responsibilities we can no longer share a business; not only are the relations between we three strained, but I will not come between the relationships you share with your siblings. Until such a time as I have hired and trained a replacement to my satisfaction, I will have a House Elf retrieve the daily expense receipts and account ledgers, as well as the register till and extraneous funds in the safe. All of these will be collected after the shop has closed and be returned before it opens in the morning. I will also, at your indulgence, continue to work with Gringotts for the WWW financial matters and to make the daily deposits. I ask that you continue to collect receipts for any business purchases and place them in the box I have put on the floor beside the desk.

If you have a financial concern that must be addressed during the business day, please call for Bixel, who will answer what she can and come to me for what she can't. I have left the information for the contracts we have discussed with potential new suppliers in folders in the safe; along with what research and financial information I have been able to find on them, as well as what supplies and services they intend to provide and the quality of their goods. Because I will be gifting my shares of stock to my replacement, I no longer feel comfortable making an executive decision on the matter as I have done in the past. For any questions you have on the legalities, please contact Griskee at Gringotts.

For what little it's worth, I am sorry that things have happened this way. Ginny's Floo address is 'Nargle Pass', which your parents are aware of, and you are all welcome to see her at your leisure. I have asked your parents to inform your brothers of this as well. When the baby is born I will send a Fire Fox, and Bixel will make arrangements for you all to see the baby whenever you'd like. I am doing my best to make this as easy on your family as possible, though I've no doubt that this information brings you little comfort.

Cordially,

H.J. Potter

George was vaguely aware that he was shaking, and that Fred was still giving him that unreadable look. All George could think about was the fact that Harry wasn't coming back. Harry wasn't ever coming back. He'd been hoping for a month or so to get used to things, then (he could now admit to himself) he planned to work on getting Harry back. But Harry was gone. He was replacing himself, and giving the replacement his share of the store. Their store. The store that the three of them had schemed up at Hogwarts and made a reality. Theirs. All three of them. Harry wasn't coming back, though, not ever.

"George?"

Fred's voice sounded odd, like it was coming through syrup or something. George raised his eyes from Harry's words to see his brother reaching for the parchment; George pressed it against his chest. Fred couldn't have it. This was all he had of Harry. This piece of parchment that spelled out the end of George's life was all he would ever have to get him through the night because George was an idiot who didn't know a good thing when he had it. No, Harry was better than a good thing, Harry was everything; more important that Ginny's sins or even this damn store. More important than Charlie's anger or even Fred, though he'd never admit it out loud.

Harry was gone and he wasn't coming back.

"Can I see the letter, George?"

Fred's voice had changed from odd to concerned and odd; George absently figured he looked odd, staring blankly at Fred while he clutched a letter to his chest and shook uncontrollably. George couldn't bring himself to let go of the smallish rectangle that was the only thing keeping him sane. He just couldn't let anyone else touch it, even if that person was his best friend Fred because Fred had never touched Harry and this letter was all George had left of Harry.

"I don't even have pajamas or a hairbrush because I never invited him to stay over in case Mum or Dad came by unexpectedly. I don't know if he leaves the cap off the toothpaste. I don't know which side of the bed he sleeps on, or what it feels like to wake up next to him. I didn't even stay nights when I'd visit him on his trips, even though I knew no one we knew would see us there. Now I can never say I'm sorry, or tell him that I love him, because he's gone. He's giving up his entire life-family and friends and the store-everything that's important to him. He's giving it all up so that we'll still have Ginny."

George met Fred's eyes, his own tortured.

"What have I done?
**
A month had passed since anyone had seen Harry, and the Weasley family was gathered for Christmas. Charlie's anger had finally burned out about a week earlier and he'd sat down to write a letter of apology to the young man that had been victimized by his family member (and himself, if he were honest). After his third draft he decided that a letter was personal enough and had spoken with his boss, arranging for a short trip home. When Charlie arrived three days before Christmas it was to a much changed Burrow. There were the token decorations, but everyone was subdued. When Charlie expressed his intention to apologize to Harry he was shocked to hear that the young man had very politely declined the invitation to spend the Holiday with them. Charlie would have gotten angry again if his mother hadn't burst into tears and started blaming herself.

When Bill showed up the next day he further surprised Charlie by blaming himself for not trying to fix things when he'd made the trip home a month and a half earlier. On Christmas morning, Charlie and Bill were confused when Fred Flooed to tell them that he and George would be there in ten minutes. It took their Mum explaining quickly that they were not to mention Harry under any circumstances that it got cleared up...sort of. Frankly they were still confused but decided to wait and see why.

When the twins showed up it was easy to tell them apart for the first time ever. Fred was his normal self, if greatly subdued. George was nearly catatonic; his hair and eyes, normally vibrant and shining, were dull and lifeless. His skin had a grayish tinge to it, as though he were getting over a very long illness. His voice was flat, and he only spoke when spoken to directly. He didn't crack stupid jokes. Perhaps the most worrying difference was their mother's willingness to leave him alone with the food, knowing that it was safe with him. Charlie noticed that George frequently pulled a worn piece of parchment that had been folded many times from his pocket and ran his fingers over it as if it held the secrets of the universe. Charlie wanted to ask what it was but something on Fred's face kept him quiet.

Ginny Flooed in just before the family sat down to lunch, and Charlie noticed that the family more or less oriented themselves around George at that point. The reasons for this became clear as Charlie listened to the selfish crap that spewed out of his sister's mouth. It seemed that, despite being overly generous where her personal expenses where concerned, Harry was a horrible jerk because he did not shower her with jewelry and gifts. And while she ranted and whined, George seemed to sink further and further into himself until he was almost truly catatonic.

By the time the gifts were opened Charlie could see that his family was falling apart without Harry, and he couldn't help wondering if it was his fault the younger man had left. When everyone who didn't live there had gone home that night, Charlie cornered his father and asked for an explanation for the clear schisms in the family. Apparently Percy was angry they weren't treating Ginny any differently, and he was angry about her behavior. George, after blowing up at Harry, had become completely catatonic when Harry sent a note the next day promising to find someone to take his place at the store; his position as bookkeeper and his shares of stock. Fred was angry at everyone, including George, but was also handling his anger the best. Ginny was being a complete bitch. Bill had all but cut off contact with the family, and as such actually had limited contact with Harry but wouldn't tell anyone where he was.

Then his father told him that Harry had received Charlie's Fire Fox immediately upon returning home from George's screaming. Yes, this was definitely his fault.
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Hidden Agenda