Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Love Comfort	By : Slayer-of-Destiny Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Bill Views: 17865 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
"Blah" = Parseltongue

Chapter six

"Bill…Bill…come on you need to wake up…Bill come on…Bill! Merlin you are worse than your brother!" Bill let out a groan when he was shaken a little more firmly, reaching out on the bed for where Harry should have been and finding only cold sheets. Squinting open his eyes he found Harry standing at the edge of the bed, one knee resting on the side, dressed and shaking him awake.

"Harry? Come back to bed," Bill frowned reaching out for him. Chuckling softly Harry took his hand and kissed his knuckles.

"No can do, come on, we're breaking into Hogwarts," Harry told him giving his hand a small tug.

"But…Harry it's the middle of the night!" Bill moaned dropping face first into his pillow after he glanced at the clock.

"That's the point, it's less trouble getting into Honeydukes at night than during the day. Come on sleepy," Harry said giving another tug.

"Harry! It's too early!" Bill sobbed trying to wave his mate away.

"Come on Bill, you wanted to help," Harry wheedled.

"I didn't sign up for ridiculous o'clock!" Bill shook his head refusing to come out of his pillow. Rolling his eyes Harry considered Bill for a second before crawling onto the bed and straddling Bill's hips over his bum. Leaning down he brushed his lips up Bill's bare back nipping on his shoulder blades and up his neck, before worrying his ear lobe between his teeth, mentally grinning at the groan he got.

"I'll make it up to you," Harry promised huskily.

"That's not fair," Bill huffed turning his head.

"Come on babe, I promise," Harry placed kisses along Bill's neck feeling him giving in.

"Promise?" Harry could practically hear the pout.

"I promise, now get your butt moving!" Harry jumped off the bed after slapping Bill's bum, laughing at the disgruntled look he got when Bill raised his head.

"You're evil," Bill groaned, dramatically tugging himself to the edge of the bed and rolling to his feet.

"I know I know, come on grumpy," Harry grinned throwing Bill his jeans.

"Wow…apparently it's genetic," Hermione blinked watching Harry leading a half asleep Bill into the kitchen by his hand.

"Apparently so," Harry eyed Ron and Charlie where they were sitting blinking at the table top tiredly, Remus was sitting yawning into his hand.

"Pepper ups?" Harry asked Hermione in a low tone.

"Definitely," Hermione nodded the two of them going over to the potions cupboard that was luckily constantly stocked and used with the comings and goings of the Order members.

"So…noticed that you went into Ron's room last night after brushing your teeth," Harry said in a low tone, grinning when Hermione's cheeks burnt a furious red.

"We thought it would be better than me trying to sneak away from Ginny," Hermione muttered frantically searching for the pepper up potions as Harry's grin got wider.

"Ah ha, of course it was," Harry nodded emphatically.

"We just slept!" She hissed thrusting two vials into Harry's hand and hurrying over to the others. Snickering to himself he went over to Bill who was glaring balefully at him.

"You're too cheerful," He huffed at him.

"Take this," Harry shook his head pressing the vial to Bill's lips and tipping it when he opened his mouth. Bill's face scrunched up as the smoke blew out his ears but he looked a little more alert. Knocking back his own vial he shuddered at the feeling before glancing at the others. Everyone was looking a lot more alert and with it now so he nodded to Ron.

"Alright here's the plan. Hermione and Harry under his cloak will apparate to the pathway outside of Hogwarts, they'll get to Honeydukes and get the door unlocked and then signal me, we will apparate five minutes after them underneath disillusionment charms. From there we will make our way into the shop and through the tunnel to Hogwarts, Bill before we enter the shop you will asses for any wards inside the shop. Harry will take the lead from the minute we hit the tunnel, we all follow," Ron laid out the plan.

"Can I ask why we weren't informed of this before hand?" Remus asked.

"Its not personal, we prefer to move outside Headquarters without much warning, and this is the first time you are all coming with us," Harry said softly.

"Look, we get that this is a difficult situation. But personal connections can not be allowed to influence the decisions that we would make if you were just Order members," Hermione said firmly seeing Bill opening his mouth. Blinking at the glare he was getting he looked from her to Harry who was looking guiltily down at his hands.

"Alright we get it, you couldn't take the risk of one of us managing to alert the Order," Bill sighed nodding. He didn't have to like it, but he could understand what the were doing.

"Come on, we need to get moving, we need to be out of there before dawn," Hermione said standing.

"Be careful," Bill grabbed Harry as he stood and pulled him into a deep but quick kiss before releasing him. Nodding Harry cupped his face and pressed one last quick kiss to Bill's lips before grabbing his cloak from where he had placed it on the back of a chair and going to Hermione. Nodding one last time to the others they made their way down the hallway and outside, standing on the doorstep Harry stepped behind Hermione and threw the cloak around them both before they apparated.

Moving quickly and as quietly as they could they made their way down the pathway and were soon entering the village. Crouching down outside the door to Honeydukes they nodded before they started to take down the wards and locks outside the shop.

"If we survive this we definitely have a chance for a criminal career," Harry whispered as they heard the final click on the wards unlocking.

"I'll ignore that Mr Golden Boy, signal sent to Ron's galleon, they should be here soon," Hermione whispered back.

Three minutes later a jack russel patronus trotted passed them and then back down the road.

"Here," Harry wiggled his hand underneath the cloak.

"Ok, checking the shop," Bill's voice whispered, clearly crouching down himself if the direction of the voice was anything to go by. "Alright, three of them, dismantled now, its clear," He whispered after five tense minutes.

"We'll go first, take your spells off once we reached the cellar," Harry whispered before nudging Hermione. They made their way quickly through the shop and behind the counter to where the cellar entrance was. As soon as they were down the ladder to the cellar Harry tugged off the cloak and pushed it into the flat bag he had over his shoulder just as the others removed the disillusionment spell to reveal them in signal file holding hands.

"Oh yes, good idea I forgot about that problem," Hermione nodded.

"You mean that two of us didn't know where the cellar was?" Charlie snickered.

"Yes that," Hermione nodded, grinning when Charlie looked put out at the come back. Harry opened the trap door and with a glance to Hermione and Ron dropped down. "Wait!" She hissed grabbing Bill's arm when he went to follow.

"What?"

"He needs to disable the first ward before we go down," Ron explained quietly.

"First one clear!" Harry's voice called up.

"Alright, Bill, me, Remus, Charlie, Ron," Hermione instructed. In their order they dropped into the tunnel, the soft glow of hovering orbs lighting their way as they started moving in a crouch up the tunnel.

"Are we close, my back is seriously complaining right now," Charlie groaned after ten minutes.

"This was a lot easier when I was a teenager," Remus sighed.

"Alright, oldies, we're nearly there," Harry called back after unlocking the next ward.

"Hey! I'm older than Charlie," Bill huffed.

"And I already told you you're a dirty old man, but I like you anyway," Harry said over his shoulder as they others started snickering.

"He has a point there bro," Charlie snickered awkwardly patting Bill on his shoulder.

"Shut it you," Bill grumbled elbowing backwards, Charlie giving out a whoosh of air when he was lucky enough to connect. He grinned happily however when Harry's hand reached back to allow him to grasp.

"Alright we're here. When we get up stay low until we all gather around the statue," Harry said turning to face them, trying not to grin as they all peered around the people in front of them to see him.

"What about the portraits?" Remus suddenly asked worried.

"Oh no worry about that, Harry's had the portraits on his side since fourth year, they won't say anything to anyone," Hermione waved them off as Harry scaled up the side of the tunnel.

"He's had the portraits on his side?" Charlie blinked.

"Yup," Ron called from the back. Shaking his head Bill smiled to himself as he followed Harry up. Once they were all crouched on the floor around the statue Harry slipped his fingers through Bill's, drawing his wand with his free hand and started leading the way through the corridors, keeping to the walls and checking around the corners.

"You've done this way too often," Bill snorted quietly as they rounded another corner.

"Are you getting twitchy Mr Head boy?" Harry grinned over his shoulder.

"Shush you," Bill grumbled pushing Harry on.

"Ah Harry Lad, evening," One of the portraits suddenly called making Bill, Remus and Charlie jump.

"Sir Wilfred, good evening," Harry nodded to the portrait of the older wizard who was gazing at them curiously, before taking in Harry and Bill's joined hands.

"Oh you have found yourself a young man, how wonderful Harry. I wish you the best, and you had better not hurt him now laddie, I have portraits in the ministry," Sir Wilfred warned Bill who nodded dumbly.

"We have something important to do in a short time, I will speak to you later Sir Wilfred. Stay safe, goodnight," Harry said politely.

"Never mind me, stay safe yourself Lad! Now on you go, and I didn't see a thing," Sir Wilfred winked.

"I'm getting threatened by portraits now!" Bill said slightly incredulously once they were a few corridors away.

"Harry knows how to win people over without doing it intentionally, don't worry that wasn't the last time you will be threatened!" Hermione whispered cheerfully patting Bill on the back.

"Finally! I'll lock the door," Ron sighed turning around once he was in the bathroom and started putting up locks.

"Erm, Harry why are we in a girls bathroom?" Remus asked slowly.

"The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is here," Harry answered absently as he made his way over to the sinks.

"In a girls bathroom…the mightly Salazar Slytherin hid the entrance to his secret chamber in a girls bathroom?" Charlie spluttered.

"Open," Harry's hiss echoed round the room and everyone watched as the entrance way revealed itself, Ron and Harry being the only ones not staring wide eyed at it, instead they both eyed it with dislike. "Ready?" Harry looked directly to Ron who had come to sand beside him, the others still staring with slight shock.

"No Lockhart to shove down first this time," Ron laughed weakly.

"See you at the bottom?" Harry grimaced.

"Right behind you mate," Ron nodded and Harry jumped. "Leave a few seconds between the person in front of you," He told the others before sucking in a breath and following.

"I didn't think how difficult this would be for them," Hermione sighed coming out of her shock.

"Hard?" Charlie looked at her.

"They tell it all like its some exciting adventure, but they went down there, not knowing what to expect with a mind altering wizard knowing that a basilisk was down here and not knowing…not knowing how they would find Ginny. After nearly having their memories wiped and then almost being killed in a cave in Ron had to clear the rocks by hand not knowing whether his sister and best friend were alive, while Harry battled a basilisk, faced off against V…Voldemort's teenaged horcrux memory, nearly died, nearly lost Ginny before they crawled out. Yeah it's a little difficult for them to go back down," Hermione rolled her eyes before jumping down as well.

"I forget how much they have been through most of the time. Even seeing them partly in action," Bill sighed rubbing his eyes, the memory of the tightness in Harry's face, his beautiful emerald jewel eyes dulled with memory seared into his brain.

"I still look at them and think they are still young, but after everything they have done, all the things they have lived through, all the things they have had to learn…they're probably mentally the same age as me," Remus said sadly.

"Come on, they'll be waiting," Charlie walked hesitantly to the side before shrugging and jumping down. Giving the few seconds that they were instructed Bill and Remus followed.

When they came flying out the bottom of the slide they realised why they had been given the few second warning before they gazed around at the area they were in curiously. The same blue glowing balls were floating around their heads, about fifteen of them, lighting the area enough for them to see the hundreds of animal bones they were standing on and the giant skin leading through the passage way.

"This way," Harry instructed once Remus was on his feet, already leading the way through the passage.

"Ok, lets get started," Hermione sighed staring at the cave in.

"Take the rocks from the top first otherwise it will come in on us, wingardium, if you feel a real strain on the spell let it go and call me over, I will start strengthening the walls and ceiling so it won't come down on us. Charlie Ron, start shifting the rocks by hand at the sides, Harry, Hermione, Remus take the centre," Bill instructed after eying the cave in.

"I knew we brought you along for a reason," Harry smiled slightly at him, squeezing his hand before he started levitating rocks. It took them a good forty five minutes to clear a large enough space for them all to climb through, the work slow and hard going, them having to find a safe place to put the removed rocks taking time in itself, them having to stop five times as the cave in quivered ominously so that Bill had to work away at strengthening various areas around the cave in even more. But finally they were clear to carry on.

Once again Harry and Ron shared a look before Harry crawled through, Ron wincing at the memory of how his heart had nearly stopped when a blood and ink covered Ginny and Harry had crawled through the cave in after too long a wait for him. Gritting his teeth he marched forwards and crawled through next, scrambling down the other side and following Harry down the other side of the passage way towards the huge door he could just about make out at the end. He could hear the others climbing through and following them behind, but his eyes were locked firmly on the door, the chamber that lay behind nearly having cost him the life of his best friend and sister.

"Open," Harry hissed. They all watched with growing apprehention as the locks clicked out of place smoothly before with a hiss the door swung open.

"Oh Goblin nuts! That is disgusting!" Hermione choked slamming her hands over her nose and mouth fast enough that Harry thought it may have hurt. Poor Remus staggered back gagging until Charlie quickly cast a bubble head charm over him and then himself. The others quickly followed suit but there eyes were already streaming slightly.

"I believe that is au du rotting Basilisk," Harry winced stepping towards the doorway.

"Four years, guess it was a little too much to hope it would be fresh," Hermione sighed as she followed Harry through the doorway, Ron right behind her.

"Oh…wow…quite impressive for an evil, snake hiding lair," Ron's voice echoed back to the other three who hurried after the teens. Straight away their eyes were drawn to the huge, rotting corpse lying at the base of the huge statue, all of them looking more and more horrified as they took in the size of the thing.

"Harry…I'm not sure whether I want to hug you or hit you right now," Hermione said absently not looking away from the thing.

"What? Why?" Harry frowned turning to look at his friend.

"Harry it was big does not translate in anyway to 20 foot!" Ron choked out, also not able to pull his eyes away from the corpse.

"I was twelve, and I didn't exactly have the time to stop and measure it," Harry grumbled, he suddenly let out a choked noise. "Bill you're squeezing too tight!"

"What? Sorry, sorry," Bill quickly loosened his grip on Harry's hand raising it to his mouth kissing it gently.

"Bill I'm fine," Harry said softly.

"I didn't mean to squeeze your hands that tigh…"

"I'm not talking about my hand Bill. I'm right here and I'm fine," Harry said firmly.

"You were twelve," Bill choked out turning to look back at the thing but Harry's hands caught his cheeks.

"A twelve year old with scary good luck after my bad luck pulled me into trouble, a sword and a phoenix. It worked out fine," Harry reassured him.

"But you shouldn't have had to do it," Remus breathed out, forcefully dragging his eyes away to gaze at Harry with enough pain and worry Harry's throat closed up slightly.

"But I did. We need to get on, we're on a time limit," Harry reminded them feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"You're right, Harry you said that the statue opened right?" Hermione asked becoming business like, ignoring the looks Bill, Charlie and Remus threw her.

"Yes, the mouth opened to allow the basilisk to come out," Harry nodded.

"Alright that seems a good place to try. Lets check the statue for any other entrances, Harry do you think you could open the mouth entrance, maybe something is hidden in there?" Hermione suggested.

"Sure, come on. Just keep wands at the ready yeah?" Harry suggested before starting down the Chamber to the statue.

"Hermione…"

"Harry doesn't like a fuss being made of the things that he has done or him. Awwing and coddling him now won't be of any help. Its too late now for everyone to realise that Harry shouldn't have had to do the things that he has, they're done, no way to take them back. We need to focus on here and now, he needs to focus on the here and now and the job we have to do, so be quiet and do it!" Hermione hissed interrupting what was clearly going to be a remark about the way she handled things. They stared slightly wide eyed after the bushy haired witch as she hurried after Harry.

"We know you care about him, but we know him better. She's right, just do what we are here to do," Ron said softly before also following.

"Why are we always a step behind them?" Charlie sighed also taking a step to follow.

"I had thought that we would be the ones guiding them…instead I think we are just muscle and extra eyes and hands," Remus snorted gazing around the chamber slightly awed. "You realise we are in the Chamber of Secrets," He suddenly breathed out.

"Just figuring that out?" Harry chuckled from where he was standing at the base of the statue, gazing over his shoulder at them as Ron and Hermione stood inspecting the statue. "As far as I can figure you are now joining only four other people that have seen the chamber," he told them.

"Four?" Remus asked curiously.

"Ah ha, myself, Ginny, Voldemort," Harry ticked off and then turned pointing to the statue. "And Salazar Slytherin himself,"

"That's Salazar Slytherin?" Hermione gasped staring up at the statue with new interest.

"Of course it is, who do you think Slytherin would stick his likeness of in his chamber?" Harry laughed. "Hmm…I'll try a mass password, it might open more than just this entranceway," Harry thought out loud. "Open!"

They all watched awed as the mouth of the statue with a slight sound of grinding stone opened up revealing the hidden tunnel behind it.

"Ok…I admit I'm very impressed," Charlie muttered.

"Come on," Harry laughed again seeing the looks on their faces. Quickly he scaled his way up the statue to the bottom lip of the statue and quickly scaled up, turning once he reached the entrances way to give Remus a hand up. Once they were all crammed into the top of the tongue Harry and Hermione fired more of the glowing orbs down the small slope.

"Can't really see anything from here, just the start of a room. Harry, Bill slide down together wands at the ready, move forward to clear a path for me and Charlie coming down right behind you, Hermione and Remus wait up here until you get the all clear, or hear screaming," Ron grinned so he stood from crouching to try and see what was ahead of them. Once again the older three found themselves and shuffling around with the three teens to get into position without really thinking about it.

"Ready?" Harry asked his mate as he crouched slightly ready to slide down.

"Ready," Bill nodded getting himself into the mind frame of when he went into temples and tombs back in Egypt.

"One, two three," Ron counted for them, on three they both stepped forwards and slid on their feet down into the room. Moving swiftly they stepped forwards and to the side, wands raised and scanning the room. They heard Charlie and Ron sliding down right behind them just as Harry caught sight of something that made his blood run cold. Moving faster than he had ever moved before he was across the room and in front of Bill with his hand outstretched in warning.

"Stop!" His hissed order was just in time to stop the huge stone basilisk from lunging at them. Instead it paused where it was, swaying backwards and forwards tasting the air.

"You speak my tongue, but you do not taste like one of my master's line. How do you possess his skill youngling?" The snake hissed eyeing him with amber eyes curiously, the black onyx of its body shining and glittering dangerously in their orb light.

"The last of your master's line tried to kill me, but something went wrong and I got some of his powers, including your tongue," Harry answered honestly, even as he pressed a hand to Bill's chest when he tried to tug him behind him.

"Hmm, the mad one?" The snake asked curiously.

"Mad one?" Harry frowned, would something that was clearly enchanted disparage something descended from its master?

"The speaker that was here before you. He was mad, my master would have been ashamed to call him his own, a half blood born from love potions, declaring pure blood supremacy when he himself was a half blood, slandering my Masters name and dragging it further through the mud! When he was the first powerful descendent of my master to walk these hallowed halls! He should have been removing the stain history has placed upon Salazar Slytherins name, not disgracing it further! And then using my master's pet to kill! A shame on my master's house, and a fortune that the line will die with him!" The snake hissed angrily, starting to sway backwards and forwards in agitation again. Bill started tugging on Harry's shirt determinedly.

"Its alright! What do you mean dragging your Master's name through the mud? Wouldn't Slytherin agree with what he is doing?" Harry asked confused.

"What do you mean its alright?" Bill gritted out at him.

"Salazar did not think that Muggleborns should not come to Hogwarts, but he believed that they should be removed from their families. The Witch hunt had swept across the world like a plague, parents were killing their children if they showed any sign of magic before they could learn to defend themselves, and any child coming into our world that still had connections to the muggle one risked our entire people. Salazar was trying to protect, not kill,"

"Then why do people think that he did?" Harry frowned.

"Ravenclaw was jealous and ambitious, she saw that she could have a stronger grip on the school, and claim my master's legendary potions books and notes if she convinced the others to throw him out of the school. Hufflepuff believed her and helped push for my Master to be removed. My Master left the school rather than be thrown out, but he left me and his pet to protect his lover," The snake said sadly.

"His lover?"

"Gryffindor, they had been together for nearly three years after dancing around each other for years. I have never seen my Master as happy as he was during those three years. He left to protect his lover, he knew that if it got the point that he was thrown out, his lover would be thrown out with him, and he loved him too much to take Hogwarts away from him. But he didn't know that Gryffindor was pregnant when he left,"

"Pregnant? But…but Gryffindor was male!" Harry spluttered shocked.

"Ah little wizard, you have been failed by whoever has taught you about our world. Which is dangerous considering you have been with your mate. Little Wizard, magic is a wondrous thing, it can make one thing into another, create objects from nothing, move rocks with one word…but what would all that be if it could not provide proof and being of the love shared between two people? Love is a power in itself, magic facilitates that. A wizard and a wizard or a witch and a witch are able to have children together," The snake said warmly, smiling at the look that crossed Harry's face. To the horror of the others Harry stepped right into the middle of the snake's coils just as it looked as though it was snarling at him.

"I could have children with him?" Harry asked breathlessly gazing up at the snake.

"Yes Little Wizard you will be able to have children with him," The snake chuckled.

"I thought…I want children but I thought…I thought I would have to give that up to be with him," Harry admitted. "I'm sorry I didn't ask, what is your name?" Harry asked.

"I am Talia," The snake, Talia, chuckled again.

"I am Harry,"

"I will carry on calling you Little Wizard, Little Wizard," Talia grinned. "I think your mate and friends are becoming very worried," Talia nodded behind Harry. Turning he looked sheepish when he saw the looks of panicked worry on all their faces, Hermione and Remus having joined them at some point, as they watched the exchange.

"Sorry. This is Talia, I think she's was created by Slytherin. She's been telling me some interesting things," Harry explained as Talia lowered herself to try and look less threatening.

"Harry there is a bloody big snake standing right next to you! Enchanted or not!" Bill said through gritted teeth, his hands clenched at his sides.

"She's fine, she doesn't like Voldemort, she says he's an embarrassment Salazar's line," Harry explained.

"What?" Hermione frowned. Sighing Harry quickly summed up what they had discussed, minus the revelation that he hadn't known about male pregnancy.

"What happened to the baby? Is V…Voldemort descended from Gryffindor as well?" Hermione asked quickly almost as soon as Harry finished the story.

"Salazar had a child with a witch during the time that he and Gryffindor were dancing around each other, the wizarding world were not as uptight as the muggle world were during that time. Gryffindor had become serious with another wizard so Salazar found…other company. When the witch showed up pregnant he ensured that she was well looked after and was a large part in the child's life, it is that child the Mad one is descended from. Gryffindor died during child birth, and Ravenclaw knowing whose child it was had her adopted and told everyone, including Hufflepuff, that she had died with Gryffindor telling no one where she was, I tried to find out but she was careful to ensure that not even the portraits knew what she was up to. My…my master heard what happened and…he decided to join his mate and love in the next life. One of the things that the Sorting Hat doesn't mention is the fact that Gryffindors and Slytherins love to the ends of the earth and back, especially when they fall in love with each other," Talia explained.

"Bill and I are both Gryffindors," Harry frowned slightly.

"You have a good amount of Slytherin in you Little Wizard," Talia smiled. Grinning Harry relaying the less private part of the conversation.

"Wow, the history books really left out the part where Ravenclaw was a bitch huh?" Ron blinked causing Talia to let out hissing chuckles.

"Probably because she wrote the books," Hermione snorted.

"Talia did Voldemort leave something here? Did he hide something with Dark magic on it here?" Harry asked her curiously.

"Yes, through there Little Wizard," Talia pointed with her tail to a side door Harry had noticed in his initial scan of the round room.

"Talia says Voldemort left something dark through there," he told the others pointing to the room himself, though they had already been looking.

"When did he leave it here?" Hermione asked hesitantly.

"He came back, after he finished school he came back one evening and left two things in there. He cursed me when I tried to stop him," Talia said sadly motioning with her head to a large chunk that had been clearly hexed out of her flank, it would have been a kill shot had she been alive.

"I'm sorry," Harry frowned running his hand gently over the jagged edges. The others all made noises of panic and raised their wands again when Talia twined herself around him, only his head and shoulders showing from her black body.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Little Wizard. My Master would have much preferred to see one such as you as his heir. So strong and yet compassionate, that is your strength little one, you need to use it well," Talia gently nudged against his cheek with her hard nose.

"Harry…." Bill's trembling voice made him look up to lock eyes with the wide panicked ones of his mate.

"Keep him close Little Wizard, keep him close," Talia whispered in his ear.

"I intend to," Harry smiled at her as she loosened herself before placing his wand on the 'wound' in her side. A soft murmuring later and they watched as the rock formed once again a smooth beautifully carved side.

"Thank you. I may only be an enchantment, but my Master was strong, I feel pain and loneliness, tiredness and joy. It has hurt for a long time," Talia hissed in pleasure as she flexed her body.

"Come on lets check the room out," Harry said to the others after patting Talia's side. Leaning the way across to the room he was stopped by Ron's hand on his wrist.

"Are we really going to go into a room based on the word of a stone snake? It could be a trap," He said as though he thought Harry was mad. Talia's annoyed hiss from the back of the group made Harry chuckle.

"She said to tell you she is made of gems, not stone, and while I may not be Slytherin's heir I am a speaker and snakes, real or enchanted can not lie to speakers," Harry told him.

"That could be a lie!" Ron exclaimed throwing his hands in the air.

"Actually its not, there is a lot of texts of snake speakers on the walls of Egyptian temples ad tombs, most of the Pharaoh's were snake speakers, that's how they were picked if the last pharaoh didn't have an heir. Snakes can't lie to speakers," Bill spoke slightly tightly making Harry look at him in concern. "Ask her if there are any traps that could harm us or anything dangerous in there,"

"There is only the Dark objects, there are traps around them, but entering the room itself is safe," Talia answered.

"Its safe to go into the room, but it sounds like Voldemort put traps around the objects," Harry told them before firing more light orbs into the room ahead of them.

"I wonder what the other object is? He wouldn't be so careless as to hide two of his horcruxes in the same place, if he truly trusted that this place was safe he would have put them all here," Hermione mused as they walked into the room. It was beautiful Harry had to admit, and like walking into a medieval painting. It was clearly a bed chamber of some sort, with a huge carved four poster bed at the far end, an ornately carved wardrobe and matching chest of draws, there was a massive stone fireplace at the other end with two comfortable looking arm chairs and a tall round table between them. A chess table and seats sat off to the side and there were four large bookshelves covered in books. The fireplace flared to life as they stepped inside, the light flickering off of the beautiful tapestries decorating the walls.

"I think we found them," Bill spoke from where he had moved across the room to a round plain wood table with two objects sitting on top of it.

"Hufflepuff's cup!" Hermione breathed staring at the golden object wide eyed.

"What's that though? It doesn't belong to any of the founders that we know of," Ron frowned pointing to the mirror sitting on the table beside it. It was a beautiful mirror, all glass with the mirror surrounded by clear glass with green stain glass snakes decorating it. However the mirror had a crack right down the centre.

Bill quickly set to work casting various and numerous spells over the objects, the table and the area around it, muttering to himself as he worked.

"Its weird, the mirror seems to have a curse on it that is linked to the school. Broken mirrors are unlucky obviously by themselves unlucky, but with the extra cursed on this," Bill shook his head.

"A curse linked to Hogwarts Dumbledore would have noticed though," Remus said confused. Harry suddenly grinned as he took a double glance at Remus.

"But he did, everyone does, everyone knows about the curse, they've been talking about it since I joined the school,"

"What are you talking about mate?" Ron asked looking confused as Hermione suddenly clapped her hands.

"Of course! And its been right underneath our noses!" Hermione laughed amused.

"Alright, mind letting us in on the big secret?" Bill huffed. Harry looked at him slightly startled wondering what was going on with his mate but he answered anyway.

"The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher,"

"The one year curse!" Ron yelped.

"Exactly," Hermione nodded.

"So…that was real?" Charlie blinked.

"Well I can break it, the curse on the mirror funnels the bad luck from the break into the tie to Hogwarts, if I break that tie then the curse will be broken, and I could even try and direct it back to the caster," Bill suggested after a few moments.

"That would be helpful, V…Voldemort with bad luck can only help us," Hermione nodded.

"It will take a little longer, but I think I can sneak it in on him so that he doesn't realise he's been cursed," Bill told them.

"Well you work on that, Harry and I will work on the Horcrux. Ron, Charlie, Remus shrink and pack up the books they could be helpful if V…Voldemort has read them himself," Hermione instructed. Over the next hour and a half Harry and Hermione worked on the opposite side of the table to Bill putting all their research to work as they slowly took down the fifteen! Fifteen layers of wards, traps and charms. Both of them were sweating by the time they were on the final layer, not noticing that Charlie, Ron and Remus had finished packing away the books into transfigured bags and an equally sweating Bill staggered tiredly back wiping his face tiredly.

Harry blinked when as he himself staggered back as the last ward fell with a small puff of green smoke arms wrapped around his waist and held him against a sweaty firm chest. Looking up he met Bill's concerned blue eyes.

"'M alright, just tired," Harry assured him.

"We bagging it?" Ron asked eyeing the cup distastefully.

"We don't know how to destroy it yet so yes," Hermione nodded.

"Urgh, it feels like I'm about to touch something really disgusting," Ron winced picking up the handle between his pinched thumb and finger and quickly dropped it into the bag Hermione held out, the same square flat one as Harry had around his shoulder.

"Talia, are there any other places he could have hidden something?" Harry asked the snake from where she had coiled in front of the fire contently.

"No Little Wizard, this room and the outer chamber are the only places in here. May I ask you a favour?" Talia asked cautiously.

"Of course," Harry nodded after telling the others they were done.

"Will you take me with you? I can be shrunk, and I'll stay in your bag but…I don't want to be left alone here anymore," Talia admitted quietly.

"Of course you can erm…Remus can you shrink Talia small enough to fit in my bag please," Harry looked at Remus who looked amused as he drew his wand. Talia slithered over to them and looked at Remus expectantly.

"Aw she's so cute," Harry grinned stooping down to pick up a foot long Talia. Snickering at her response to that he carefully slipped her into his bag before nodding to the others. The trek back to the base of the tunnel to the girls bathroom seemed to take a lot longer than it had coming down. Harry was tired and his body aching slightly after fighting to take down the wards and traps around the horcrux.

It didn't help that Bill was hovering close to him the entire way out, but there was the same tenseness to him that had been there since they stepped inside the statue and it was confusing Harry while making him slightly nervous as well. He was scanning his mind for something he had done wrong and could come up with nothing. His mind flicked to the fact he had spoken parseltongue in front of him for the first time, but then he remembered the respect easiness Bill had spoken about it earlier and dismissed that.

"Erm, how are we getting back up?" Charlie asked where he had reached the pipe first.

"Oh yes, we thought of that don't worry," Hermione said fishing through her bag. She pulled out two broom, one she handed to Ron the other to Charlie, Harry was pulling his Firebolt out. Grumbling Hermione slipped on behind Ron and held onto his robes with a death grip, awkwardly Remus slipped on behind Charlie, leaving Bill to share Harry's firebolt. Harry frowned slightly at the tenseness he could feel in Bill's frame with him being so close. The confusion growing in his mind as well as his own annoyance.

Taking the lead Harry took off up the pipe leading the way to the girls bathroom, landing carefully Bill quickly stepped away from him, looking away from Bill he put his Firebolt back into his bag as Ron and Hermione landed quickly followed by Charlie and Remus.

"The castle will be waking up a little more, its five o'clock. We're going to have to move quickly and quietly," Hermione frowned looking at her watch. Moving quickly they got themselves into order, and once he had peeked out of the bathroom door Harry quickly lead the single file through the corridors, hurrying as much as he could without risking running into someone.

"That was bloody close!" Ron groaned.

"Ron, you're on my foot," Harry grumbled.

"You're the one who decided to try and hide behind a tapestry in a tiny space," Ron huffed.

"It's the only place close enough that we could have hidden in," Harry defended giving Ron a shove to push him out the hidden alcove.

"What the hell is McGonagall doing up and about so early this time in the morning anyway?" Ron complained straightening himself out.

"I don't think she had been sleeping very well since…since Albus," Remus said with a wary glance to Harry as they all shuffled out of the alcove.

Bill watched intently as Harry cleared the hallways on either side of him before hurrying across to the statue of the witch, kneeling down quickly in front of the witch he had the hump open in seconds and waved Hermione over. In a quick move Hermione was down the tunnel and one by one they made their way over and into the tunnel with Harry keeping watch from one end, Ron from the other. Finally Bill watch Ron sliding down the tunnel with Harry right behind him.

"We need to move quickly, Honeydukes will be opening in an hour and a half, and I'm presuming they get up early to get things ready," Remus said worriedly.

"Ok, start moving," Harry said squeezing passed them all to get to the front of their group. Despite tiredness kicking in and their bodies being tired from all the work they had had to do they moved quicker than they had coming, silence this time surrounding them all the way to the other end except for Harry murmuring the various passwords to unlock the wards.

"We're clear," Ron murmured down from where he had poked his head out of the trap door to check the way. Reaching down he helped tug Harry up.

"Dissillusion spells up, muffle your feet," Hermione whispered once they were all standing in the cellar and Remus was closing the trap door. Quietly they all did as they were told before linking hands and following Charlie out the cellar and through the shop. They paused nervously outside for ten minutes as Bill put the wards back up and locked the door before they could move again.

"Mum will be getting up in ten minutes, we need to get back into our rooms and quick," Charlie hissed as they stepped back inside of Grimmauld Place. Sharing a worried look as quietly as they could they rushed up the stairs. "Yours is the only room in here that mum won't risk going into, you're best to take the books until we can get into library," Charlie said when they reached the floor his bedroom was on, handing the bag of books he had to Harry. Waving he disappeared into his room as the rest of the started up the stairs.

Just as they reached the top of the staircase they heard a click down the hall of Molly's door opening causing they to stare wide eyed at each other before Ron and Remus thrust their bags at Harry and Bill and raced off up the stairs to their rooms, awkwardly grabbing Bill's hand as he shoved one of the bags to his elbow he dragged him down the hall and into their room, shutting the door in time to hear Molly's footsteps moments later going passed.

Letting out a shaky Braeth Harry allowed the bags in his hands to drop to the floor, dropping his head back against the door as his heart slowed down after the close call. He frowned slightly when he heard and felt Bill moving himself away from Harry, his footfalls carrying him away from Harry and across the room. Opening his eyes Harry frowned as he watched the back of his mate, his shoulders tensed and tight as he stopped in front of the bed.

"That was a long night," Harry tried to speak to Bill but was met with only silence from the redhead as he moved to sit on his side of the bed, tugging off his boots. "Are you going to tell me what I have done wrong?" He sighed rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"You've done nothing," Bill said blankly not looking at him.

"Oh really? So you not looking at me, not speaking to me, the tension that a blind person could see in you, that's nothing right?" Harry snapped finding himself standing in front of Bill without even realising he had moved. Bill raised his head and opened his mouth, anger clear in his eyes but Harry got there first. "Was is the Parseltongue because seriously that is the only thing I can think that I have done, so is that it?" And with that Bill deflated.

"Baby no, its…its nothing you've done," Bill sighed reaching up to grip Harry's hips and tug him forwards despite his resistance so he was standing between his legs.

"Then what's going on?" Harry asked feeling hurt sinking in.

"Harry you nearly gave me a heart attack with Talia, you stood there with a giant stone snake just speaking to it while it was clearly pissed off, I didn't know what was going on, what you were saying. And I realised seeing that, and seeing Basilisk, so much could have happened to you before that would mean we may never have had this, and so much could happen, its all been stories before, this just made it real…I, Harry I have not been happier than I have with you, and the idea that I could lose you so soon, it just hit me all of a sudden," Bill sighed resting his head against Harry's stomach. Sighing himself Harry buried his fingers into Bill's hair and held him against his body.

"Have you changed your mind?" Harry asked needing to know.

"What! Harry, no, no…It scares me that I could lose you, that our time could be cut short, I'm not going to do that myself!" Bill said incredulously shaking his head looking back to meet Harry's eyes. Seeing the wide green eyes had a hint of fear in them that he was desperately trying to hide. "Come on, we're both tired, we need to sleep before we talk about this properly, but I am not giving this, giving you up without one hell of a fight Harry," Bill said firmly standing.

Harry stood as Bill tugged his hoddie off and then pulled his t-shirt over his hand, his hands brushing along the skin on Harry's stomach and he went. Capturing Harry's lips in a slow but deep kiss that Harry sensed was as much for the comfort of them both than any other reason Bill's hands moved to undo Harry's belt and then his trousers, pushing them off his hips along with his underwear so they fell with a soft thump to the floor. Harry sighed happily as Bill's large hands stroked up and down Harry's back comfortingly as Harry's hands reached for Bill's top.

Harry followed Bill's pathway, tugging the redhead's shirt off while running his fingers and a little nail over Bill's stomach and chest, breaking the kiss to get the top over Bill's head before leaning up to join their lips again as he slowly slid Bill's belt open and pushed his trousers down.

"No underwear?" Harry grinned against Bill's lips.

"Was too tired to be bothered," Bill shrugged combing his hand through Harry's hair, tilting his head back to place kisses up Harry's neck before swallowing his lips one last time. Pulling back only when they ran out of air Bill scattered kisses over Harry's face before stepping back with Harry's hand firmly inside his own. "Bed,"

"Yes, sir!" Harry grinned tiredly slipping in after Bill and shuffling over to the older man. When Bill's hands pushed him gently he allowed himself to be rearranged onto his side with his back facing Bill, smiling when Bill wriggled closer to him and wrapped his arm over Harry's side and tugged him as close as possible. He relaxed fully when Bill buried his face into his shoulder with a small sigh before placing a kiss there.

"I'm not letting you go, you know that right?" Bill said as he closed his eyes despite agreeing to talk about it later.

"It would be a whole lot safer for you if you would," Harry said softly.

"I'm a Weasley, I'm a shoot to kill as it is, I would rather be happy and with the guy I am falling in love with and in a little more danger than alone and miserable but a little safer," Bill shook his head slightly. Harry's fingers slid in between those on his stomach linking them together as he turned a little, not enough to dislodge Bill.

"Falling in love?" Harry smiled slightly.

"That a problem?" Bill asked nervously.

"Well when I am falling for you as well, not really," Harry chuckled.

"Really?" Harry could hear the smile in his mate's voice as well as feel it against the flesh of his shoulder.

"Really," Harry grinned tilting his head enough that Bill could press their lips together gently. "Night,"

"Good morning more like," Bill snorted snuggling in against Harry again.

"You're such and snuggle bug," Harry snickered.

"You're warm, hot and cuddly, why wouldn't I want to snuggle against you," Bill said unrepentantly.

"Can't argue that," Harry smiled.
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Love Comfort