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And Another Life Begins	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 13992 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5

Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. Thanks, woman! You're the BEST!

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Scowling, Severus was sitting in his office, going over the papers that were there. It wasn't that he didn't know everything was in place and ready to go for the new school year, he had made certain of that early in the week, he was just fastidious about ensuring things were in place and all that needed was attended to. As this was the final day before the start of the term, his compulsion to make sure everything was just so had kicked in, like it always did. So far, he had made sure all supplies for the lab and classroom were there and in place, his paperwork caught up, the list of what the infirmary would need was laid out and ready to go when he started brewing, the dorms were in shape with everything set up as it should be as well as that he was prepared when it came to his lesson plans. Now, well, it was just a matter of him double checking things. Lucius, too, was doing the same thing from what he knew. Though the elder Malfoy didn't have as much to go through as he did, he was the same way in making sure that everything was in place and ready to go.

Just as he was finished confirming he had everything needed to start off, Lucius came in and seated himself on the edge of the desk. Leaning back in his chair, Severus sighed then rubbed his eyes in a tired way. “This, I believe, is going to be a long and trying year.”

Nodding, Lucius chuckled then said, “I do believe it'll be most interesting though. Not some of what is to come, I'm sure, but it does seem to make it easier that there will be more than school to occupy our thoughts.”

Small smile quirking up the corners of his mouth, Severus nodded. “Though, in its own way, that will be an issue, I think the benefits will outweigh any problems that come from it.”

“I agree,” Lucius said smoothly. For him, it was nice to once more have a companion in his life that he could share things with. No, Harry wasn't like Narcissa and the ease of things that came from all the years they were together but, even though different, it was similar in that he had someone to share his life once again. As far as he knew, Severus had never been involved with anyone on a long term basis. Though he wondered how it was for his old friend to have to share the being he was attached to, his old friend seemed happier than he had ever been. So, he wasn't going to question it and just go along with what came of it.

Changing topics, Severus asked, “Are you done with preparations? I believe I've gone through everything and only have a couple more minor areas to check then I'll be finished.”

“I'm done,” Lucius nodded. “I came down to see if I couldn't assist you in some way so we can savor our last taste of freedom before the term starts.”

Pleased with that, the Potions Master nodded, appreciating the help. Leaning forward, he fished through the stacks of papers on the desk to find the one that Lucius could assist him with. Just when he found the one he had been hunting for, he felt the charm he had given Harry heat up in his pocket. Frowning, he grabbed the thing and pulled it out. The small metallic disk was glowing a bright red. Oh, that wasn't good. Mind racing, he asked distractedly, “Is Draco still in the castle?”

“No. He left not long after the meeting. Said he had something to do. Why?” Lucius inquired, brow furrowing.

Grinding his teeth, Severus muttered, “Bullocks!” Shaking his head, he was certain that Draco was down at the house giving Harry grief. As he knew that Black and Lupin were also supposed to go back to help with more protections, the chance that all hell had just broken loose was high. “We need to get down to the house, now. Harry just signaled that there is a problem.”

Putting two and two together, Lucius didn't like the conclusion. Jaw set, he nodded then, without another word, he was out the door.

Standing in the middle of his living room, Harry was snarling. Wand drawn, it was pointed at a furious Draco, who, too, had his own wand drawn and looked as though hexes were just on the tip of his tongue. Sirius and Remus were trying to keep them apart, but as furious as Draco was, it was a battle. Already, the younger Malfoy had thrown a few hexes in his direction, all of which he had ducked or shielded against. Though he was mad enough to throw his own back, he didn't. On some level, he could understand what had Draco so mad. Couple that with so much else, like how Draco's life was now and that Lucius wouldn't be happy with him getting into it with his son, no matter how justified he was in doing so, he restrained himself. All he was going to do was hold things off and pray Severus got his call for 'help'.

If that wasn't bad enough, though it was more than enough, what Draco had said about him being with his father and godfather, had Sirius and Remus giving him bewildered looks and questions being tossed in his direction he didn't want to answer yet. However, since he didn't deny any of it, the cat was among the pixies and the secret was out. Now he just had to wonder how bad the fallout was going to be from it. At least the two older Wizards were more concerned with keeping him from being hexed within an inch of his life. The rest, he knew, would come later. And it probably wouldn't be pretty.

After dodging a fairly nasty stinging hex that was far more powerful than anything Hogwarts taught, Remus managed to grab hold of Draco, forcing him to lower his wand. Though thin, Remus was wiry and a great deal stronger than he looked. He wouldn't be able to hold the younger Malfoy for long, but Harry hoped it would be long enough for something to calm Draco down slightly. Watching as Remus tried to wrestle Draco into sitting down, Harry slumped slightly as Sirius stepped in front of him, wand ready. This wasn't a fight he wanted or needed right now.

Swearing up a storm, fighting the werewolf, Draco glared murderously at Harry, making it well known to all those around he was furious about this. Nor was he going to quietly submit and discuss this calmly. No! That wasn't going to happen! It was bad enough to think that his father was in a relationship with that Jay being but Harry bloody Potter? Oh, hell no! That he couldn't accept! Hexes were going to be thrown and Potter was going to keep his bleeding hands off his father and godfather then get the hell out of their life once more! Life was rough enough at this point, he didn't need Potter in it to make it worse.

Just as Draco managed to get loose of Lupin and raise his wand to throw some of the nastiest hexes he knew, his father's voice thundered from the doorway, “Put it down, Draco! NOW!”

Glancing in his father's direction, Draco lowered his wand when he saw both his father and godfather's own wands pointed at him. Seeing the furious looks on their face, he knew better than to disobey. Trembling with anger, he let his arm fall fully to his side but didn't put the wand away. Instead, he glared, first, at Potter, or what he could see of him behind Black, then to his father before hissing, “It was bad enough that you two were sharing a damned beach bum but Harry Potter? If you were that hard up to get laid I could find you someone better!”

Seeing Sirius look over his shoulder at him, a confused expression on his face, Harry just sighed and rubbed his eyes. Oh, this was going downhill with a quickness! Nor was it going to end pretty.

That was all Severus could take. This was going to be bad enough as it was, they didn't need to deal with an extended temper tantrum from Draco to make it worse. Snarling, he cast a fairly powerful hex at his godson that knocked him back several feet. “Draco, you will sit down and shut up before I Silencio you for the duration! Do you understand me?” Though his voice was calm, it contained enough of that icy bite to it that students all feared, one that showed he was getting seriously angry, to get through to his godson. He hoped that it would have the desired effect and would shut his godson up before this grew any worse.

Paling at the anger he saw and heard from his godfather, Draco grabbed the nearest chair and planted himself in it. Though he couldn't help himself and shot furious glares at Potter from it after he folded his arms over his chest.

Looking around, seeing Sirius' face flushed, knowing that all kinds of questions were coming, and probably curses as well if what they were hearing was correct, Remus sighed. No, if the clues that were tossed out there were right, he wasn't going to be real happy with the situation but would accept it if it was what Harry wanted. What they didn't need was all out war over it, though. Draco, he was sure, wasn't going to stay cowed for very long and Sirius, once things were confirmed, wasn't going to be much better on the topic. Looking at Severus, he asked, calmly, “I am gathering that there is going to be a long explanation for this?” Seeing Severus give a nod, a dour look on his face, Remus sighed again. “I would assume you have some calming draught, Severus. I think it might be wise that we all have some before this starts. A calmer frame of mind for all of us will only help.”

Seeing the wisdom in it, Severus said, keeping an eye on Draco, “Everyone take a seat and I'll get some.” After looking around, he went to retrieve the potion then get ready to meet hell.

An hour later, after telling what was going on and explaining things, an uncomfortable silence filled the room. Draco was still glaring murderously at everyone involved but hadn't said a word. You could tell he wanted to go on a tirade but was holding his tongue on the topic. The looks he was shooting Harry, though, were enough to tell Lucius and Severus that the two needed to be kept apart for a while. Harry, they were certain, wouldn't be an issue. It was Draco that would be the problem.

Black, too, was keeping his mouth shut at this point. Though there were dark looks tossed their direction from him, he wasn't saying a word, seemingly digesting what had been said.

The only one that didn't appear to be ready to go on a tirade of some kind was Lupin. After asking quite a few astute questions, the man just seemed to be thinking over what was said, saying nothing.

Sitting on either side of Harry, more to discourage Draco from doing something foolish than anything else, both of the older men looked at their younger lover. Though looking dour and unhappy with the situation, it didn't appear that Harry was going to say much of anything unless asked a direct question. Like them, it appeared he wanted to be anywhere but there at the moment but he also didn't look as though he was going to bolt or throw his hands up and give up on the whole thing.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Sirius finally spoke up. Looking at Harry, he said, tone firm but not confrontational, “I have one question for Harry.” When his godson looked at him and nodded, he asked, tone softening, “Are you happy with all this, Harry? I don't mean the mess but with Lucius and Severus? There isn't anything off, forced or anything?”

Though Severus shot Black at death glare at that and Lucius huffed indignantly, both men held their tongues and said nothing.

Looking at his godfather, Harry told him, quietly, “Yeah, I'm happy. I liked being with them. It's been a lot of fun. The whole summer was great. I am happy enough with the whole thing that I came back even knowing the hell that could follow doing that. And, no, nothing forced or off. Hell, I'm the one that didn't tell them who I was for a long time. They didn't know so what would be the point in tricking me or forcing me into anything?” Stopping, Harry leaned back in his chair then added, a small smile forming, “I honestly, other than all the shite happening over it, can't remember being this happy with anyone or even, other than Ginny, wanting to have a serious relationship. Everything else I’ve been involved with like that was a case of it was what it was, fun but nothing serious.”

Looking intently at his godson, Sirius then glanced at the two older men before leaning back in his chair. Folding his arms over his chest, he crossed his legs then sighed before saying, “As long as you're happy, I'm good with it, alright?” Shooting a glare at the two men in his godson's life, he added, “I think it should be clear, though, that if you hurt him, you're going to learn just how nasty I can be. Understand?”

Looking at Black, Severus nodded, then said a curt, “Understood.” Honestly? He was pleased with that. He had, knowing what Sirius was like, especially when it came to Harry, expected a tantrum the size of what Draco was apt to throw over things. It just showed to him that Harry, and his happiness, came first. That would only help things when it came to the situation and the stress his younger lover was dealing with over it.

Nodding, Lucius said nothing, keeping his normal neutral expression on. He was relieved that at least one of the troublesome factions in this was willing to act like an adult and let things play out the way they wanted without a monumental fit over it.

“I'm with Sirius on this; as long as Harry's happy, I don't care.” Remus added quietly. “I do have to ask, though, why you didn't tell us who it was, Harry.”

“Oh, I don't know... maybe the fit that would have come from some people if I said I came back to be with Lucius and Severus?” Harry told him, a small grin showing as he glanced at Sirius. “Without seeing it, some people wouldn't have handled that well. I thought it best to wait so you lot could see I was happy first before springing it on you.”

Glancing at his old friend, Remus couldn't help but chuckle. A sheepish look on his face, Sirius was rubbing his goatee but was grinning and looking down. “He has you there, Padfoot,” he grinned, nudging Sirius. Turning back to Harry, he nodded, “I can understand that.” Then, he glanced at Draco, who was still looking murderous.

Glowering at the trio, Draco huffed out, “Well, isn't this just all kinds of cozy! I suppose nothing I have to say is going to affect anything and I'll have no choice but to accept it!”

“You have a choice Draco; you can accept it or not. However, even if you don't, that doesn't mean it's going to change anything,” Lucius told him calmly, looking at his son. “I know this isn't ideal or what you would have chosen for me once I became involved in a relationship, but I'm pleased with how things are going and plan to continue. Whether or not you can accept that falls to you.”

Glaring at Potter, Draco ground his teeth. He knew his father well enough that he could tell what had just been said meant that nothing he would say on the matter would have any affect at all. What was going on would continue. It would just mean for him that he would be excluded from a great many things in his father's life if they involved Potter being around. He didn't like it, not at all. Letting seconds tick by, the uncomfortable air in the room seeming to thicken, Draco finally sighed then said, “Alright, I agree not to throw hexes or curses. That work for you? Just don't expect me to get along with the little...” He let the sentence trail off when he saw a glare coming from Severus. Pursing his lips, he stopped, not saying any more.

Figuring that was as good as it was going to get for now, Lucius nodded, feeling drained. There would still be issues, he knew that, but he hoped this would be a slight moratorium in the whole thing.

Figuring the uncomfortable silence was going to continue and things needed to change when it came to the topics, Remus cleared his throat then grinned. “Harry, Sirius and I were wondering if you still had a certain map in your possession.”

“Yeah, I still have it. Why?” Harry asked, looking slightly confused.

“We were hoping to borrow it to make a copy. We want something akin to a teacher's copy of it,” Sirius told him sheepishly, grinning a bit.

Grinning back, Harry chuckled, “Doesn't that rather go against the Marauder code of being up to no good?”

Groaning, and letting his head drop back, Sirius said, “Don't remind me! At this point, we need some kind of leg up on the little blighters that they call students! They are a sneaky lot that we need help keeping on top of!”

“Yes, Sirius is right. We're getting too old to hunt them down the normal way and need help. We thought, if you still had it, we could make a teacher's copy of it so we can use it to catch them. It would save a lot of wear and tear on us.”

Listening to the exchange, Severus' eyebrow was arched. Harry had mentioned a map of some kind that was going to help him get in and out of the castle undetected but they hadn't seen it. Glancing at Lucius, he saw a bewildered look there as well. Finally, he cleared his throat and asked, “What map is this? And if it's a big enough assist in catching wayward students, I want a teacher's copy as well!”

“I agree!” Lucius said. “I want to see this map! Harry's mentioned it but we haven't seen it.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Harry said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice, “Traitors! Alright, let me fetch it. I was going to get with you two about it anyway and see if you could remember the charms so I could update it a bit.” Standing, he went to fetch the map.

After returning, they moved to the dining room where Harry spread the map out on the table and activated it.

Hearing the phrase to activate it, Severus fought the urge to roll his eyes then said, dryly, “Let me guess; the password was your idea, Black?”

Grinning from ear to ear, Sirius shook his head, “Naw, it was James'. It was good one though!”

Perusing the map, Lucius' eyebrows were arched as he looked at what it did. “We will be getting a copy of this, Harry! The assist it would give is immeasurable!”

Peering over his father's shoulder, Draco was stunned by what he saw. Though still angry over the whole thing, he couldn't help but have that shoved aside slightly as he saw the map. “This... it shows everyone? Even students?”

Nodding, Remus said, looking it over, “Everyone, including Peeves and the ghosts. It isn't even fooled by Polyjuice, animagus or invisibility cloaks. You can see everyone.”

After looking it over, Severus lifted his gaze to Harry, one eyebrow arched then asked, tone dry, “I'm gathering this is how you managed to sneak around so much while in school?” Then, gaze sliding to Remus, said, “A piece of joke parchment that insults people?”

Sheepish grin plastered to his face, Harry said, “It was one of them, yeah.”

Remus, smiling at Severus, didn't even comment.

“For all the trouble you caused me when you used this thing, you will be giving me a copy, Mr. Potter!” Severus intoned, glaring at his lover but unable to help but smile just a little.

“Yes, I believe Padfoot will agree to the fact that we all need copies of this and will make them,” Remus nodded. “After all, we're all teachers now.”

Sighing morosely, Sirius nodded, “Though it pains me to say it, I agree. We're all at war with a mutual enemy so sharing of such things is needed. Copies all around.” Looking at Harry, he asked, “What did you want updated? I'm not sure if we remember all the charms we used but we should be able to figure it out.”

“Well, first, it was something with the names. Adding the suffixes to them, like Jr. or Sr. would be most helpful. That threw things off with the whole Barty Crouch thing. Not that it would be any help to me now, but I just wanted to add it. Same with some passages or rooms that I know of that aren't on here or ones that aren't usable anymore. The more accurate the thing is, the better you lot are going to be with using it,” Harry explained. Then, quietly, he added, “And can we get rid of Wormtail's name, please?”

“I agree, those things are needed,” Remus said. “We need this as accurate as we can get it. Now, Harry, from what you can remember, what passages are needed and rooms to be added.” He didn't mention Wormtail at all but would gladly get rid of it.

Quickly, Harry pointed out a few passages he knew, the one that wasn't usable anymore then where the Chamber was. Pointing to the Room of Requirement, he said, “As that's Unplottable, I don't know if it can be added or not. The Chamber isn't needed but for the sake of accuracy, might as well put it in.”

Nodding, Remus said, “Yes, let's add everything, even if it isn't needed. I think I remember the updating charm we used.”

“If you remember the charm, why not add it as something akin to a spell we all use so we can add what we know. I believe I know a couple passages and rooms down by the Slytherin dorms that aren't on here,” Lucius suggested.

“And I know a couple alcoves that aren't,” Severus added, looking the map over.

“Good suggestion, Lucius!” Remus nodded. “Yes, that will be the way to do it. That way we can add as needed if we find something.”

Several minutes, and failed tries later, the map was updated, adding several rooms, passages and other things while labeling others as unusable. Even the Chamber of Secrets as well as it's password in Parseltongue was added. And, quietly, Wormtail's name was removed from it.

Stepping back, after making copies and passing them around, Remus said, “This will work well. Too bad we don't have a quicker means of communication. That would aid in catching students faster.”

“Yes, it would,” Lucius nodded. “I know nothing that would do that though. As far as I know, there isn't anything instantaneous that could do it. And we don't want to use something that would give anything away, like a Patronus.”

Looking at the original map, Harry glanced at his father's name on it then asked Sirius, “Do you still have that mirror? The one that's the pair to the one you gave me way back?”

“Yeah, I have it,” Sirius told him bewildered. Then, suddenly, the light dawned and he started to grin. “Tell me you have yours, Harry!”

Grinning back, Harry nodded, “I have it. It's still in my old school trunk.”

“Are these the ones you and James used in school?” Remus asked, smile starting to form.

“They are! And they are perfect.” Digging in his robes, he tossed Remus some money. “Go down and grab some small mirrors. The ones like girls use, compacts I think they are called, are perfect. While you do that, Harry will grab his and we can work on charming them.”

Looking around, Severus had a feeling he was going to like this but asked, “What are they for?”

Grinning, Sirius explained how they used the mirrors then said, “Those I remember the charm on. It can even be modified to use on multiple ones so we can use a different signal for a different person.”

Listening in, Lucius couldn't help but like what he was hearing. Nodding, he said, “Having old miscreants on staff is proving to be most fortuitous. Oh, students won't know what hit them this year!”

“Oh, yes,” Severus said, an evil smirk on his face. “And a certain Ravenclaw couple that has been a thorn in my side since they hooked up will be getting caught this year!”

Grinning shaking his head, Harry sighed, “I've turned traitor! You lot better appreciate this!”

“Look at it this way, Harry. You're still up to no good, just working for a different side is all,” Sirius told him with a clap on the back.

Looking down at the map, Harry couldn't help but grin bigger when he thought of what he was going to be using it for this year and just nodded.

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And Another Life Begins