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A Winter's Reprieve	By : enchanted_nightingale Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 12790 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from them and I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Author:enchanted nightingale

BetaReader: pussycatadamah

Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter books do not belong to me. I merely use them in my plot for fun.

Chapter 7 – Ottery St. Catchpole

Hogwarts…

Hogwarts sure was noisy and Harry liked it.

It was the first week back and Umbridge's reign in the school a distant memory. Alastor Moody, the real one this time around, came back with a vengeance after the short break and seemed gleeful as he tortured/taught the students of the school defence. The Slytherin's were suffering a bit more in his classes but so was the rest of the school. Harry and his now close friends, Luna and Neville, and his standoffish enemies, namely Draco Malfoy and his friends, were meeting outside of classes and bantering back and forth to the growing concern of their DADA professor.

Most Gryffindor's were trying to get back into Harry's good graces after the Prophet's very public and not all that heartfelt apology. Madam Bones had been adamant that for that rag of a paper to continue running they should apologize for the libel they heaped on the underage wizard, Skeeter at the forefront. Harry had only held distaste for the house mates and other students that seemed to think of him suddenly as a friend again and he did his best to ignore them. Luna's caustic comments and smart puns were lost on most of the student body but still kept Harry and Neville entertained.

On Hermione and Ron's front, the two Gryffindor's now only acted as passing acquaintances. On the second week back Harry stumbled across Ron and Lavender Brown snogging in the middle of Gryffindor tower. Hermione seemed to be seething in her corner and the Twins were mocking their brother for his behaviour. Ginny seemed to be over the fact that he was gay, as her letter to him over Yule indicated but she still made no move to contact him publicly, choosing to support Hermione silently and barely meeting Harry's eyes. The young Potter did not mind and that feeling of missing them had diminished now.

Harry went back to exchanging letters with Rabastan and Ciel was again prancing near his legs, never too far from him, making his mood lift. Also, letters from France came more often to Harry, both from the Delacour parents and Gabrielle, bringing news from Beauxbatons, Armand's news about his work and favourite sports teams and then again Fleur's letters from Britain, bringing news on her new life, her odd boss and strange days at work, carrying humour and caustic remarks that had Harry chuckling.

The most joyous subject concerning his favourite family was about Apolline's pregnancy coming to an end and the birth of her baby boy. Emilien Anri Delacour, born in January 8th, weighing 2.8 kilos and was just 30 centimetres long. Harry could not wait to meet him, especially since Apolline and Armand asked the teen to be godfather to their bundle of joy. Harry had been touched and rather ecstatic and he had spent hours cooing at the photos with Neville and Luna. At some point McGonagall had been a bit worried about the three and when she saw the reason she congratulated Harry with a smile on her face. The three friends had a mini celebration that day in the kitchens.

Through Harry, Luna and Neville also learned more about the part Veela that had turned heads during the Triwizard Tournament and already Neville and Harry were making plans for the summer, intent on going to France at some point. They hardly realized when February came and with it their first Hogsmeade weekend of the year.

Harry, Luna and Neville ('The New and Improved Golden Trio' as the Hogwarts rumour mill referred to when talking about them) were seated in a spot at the Ravenclaw table. Harry had passed the latest letter from Fleur to them. Apolline had needed a Healer as her body was tired and fatigue continued to plague the witch. And then there was Rabastan's letter, asking for their date, the one they had decided on during Christmas, to be postponed due to an urgent business he had to attend to and just like that Harry's face fell. His Gryffindor year mate was the first to notice his change in mood.

"What happened?" Neville asked.

"My plans for Hogsmeade weekend are now officially null, history," Harry pouted. "And I was so looking forward to it!"

"Stop pouting and tell us what you had planned with your man?" Luna nudged him.

"A day out, lunch, a walk…You know, the usual."

"Unless it includes snogging then you already left the interesting part out," Neville teased Harry, making him blush and Luna giggle.

"Shut it," Harry muttered, pointedly ignoring his year mate and focusing on his letter. The quirk of his lips told that his ire was not real and Neville smiled back.

Luna, ever her calm self, offered a surprisingly good plan. "I could get permission from my Head of House and then all three of us can go to visit my father." She gave her blonde locks a twirl and a twist with her fingers. "You could even see a Quibbler issue in the making!"

The two Gryffindor's looked at each other before nodding.

"Where do you publish your newspaper?" Neville asked her.

"From home. We live in Ottery St. Catchpole," Luna replied.

"Near the Burrow," Harry realized.

Neville was nodding. "And in Devon. We'll need to catch a train."

"Or the Knight Bus," Luna piped up.

"You are really smart," Neville told her.

She gave him a smile and a pat on the arm. "I am in Ravenclaw."

"Sorry if we keep forgetting," Harry told her.

"I forgive you," Luna replied seriously.

Ottery St. Catchpole

In the end Flitwick gave them permission to use the Knight Bus to get to Ottery St. Catchpole and only there to visit with Luna's father and see how the Quibbler was published. The Charms professor had thought it a brilliant and educational idea and it took little to persuade him. He got McGonagall and Dumbledore to agree and after a brief talk with Xenophilius Lovegood the three teens were allowed their trip.

Soon after having breakfast on the Hogsmeade Saturday, McGonagall told them the Bus would be waiting at Hogsmeade, outside the Three Broomsticks for them. The ride was bumpy, but that was nothing new and all three of them were happy to get out of the bus in one piece and with the contents of their stomachs were they belonged.

"Merlin I hate the bus," Neville muttered.

But Harry's mind was elsewhere. "It's beautiful."

Neville turned around and faced the view of the small village. It was not big, certainly smaller than Hogsmeade. It consisted of a small square with a modest fountain and around it stood in no particular order stores and modest houses.

"We will use the public Floo at Nana Allie's," Luna told them. "She owns a small pub here."

"Lead the way," Neville told her and Luna happily skipped in front of them.

As for Harry, he trailed after his true friends, with his eyes taking in the sights. He had seen Diagon Alley, parts of Knockturn, Hogsmeade and the streets of the magical parts of Paris but this was a new place, still blatantly magical and still picturesque enough to pique Harry's interest.

"I love magical towns," the green eyed teen told the other two. He was almost bouncing on his feet.

"Come on," Neville urged him. "We can check the place out later."

"Daddy's expecting us," Luna commented.

Luna's house, defied logic, much like the Burrow did when he first laid eyes on it, Harry decided when the three friends reached it. They arrived by Floo but Luna insisted they go out to see the rook-like house from the outside before going back in for a tour of the house. Like most wizarding buildings, it was bigger on the inside despite the misgivings the outward appearance gave. It had three floors, plus a very large and expansive cellar that held all the equipment needed to print TheQuibbler. It was homey, it was messy and it was chaotic in a rather orderly way. Finally it was so much like Luna that Harry could not help but love the place.

Xenophilius ("Call me Xeno lads") Lovegood was even odder than his daughter if that were possible. He was quite hospitable though, seemed to like him and Neville and was delighted that someone was actually interested to see how his newspaper was being published. He happily gave all three teens a tour and shared all the process that went with making a newspaper. Later, after the tour the three teens were gathered up in Luna's room, the two wizard raised teens teaching Harry a popular Magical Board Game at Neville's insistence ("You don't know what Cauldrons and Scales is?").

"Kids?" Xeno appeared in the doorstep, dressed in his orange and yellow outfit, ink staining his hands. "It's near dark."

"You are right daddy," Luna sighed. "We should be getting to town."

The teens all rose from their spots on the comfortable floor and with heartfelt goodbyes they took the Floo, ready to return to Ottery St. Catchpole's main street and take the Knight Bus from there.

Ottery St. Catchpole was a bit different after dark. The main square was usually all lit up; with people still coming and going was much like any Muggle village, except from the blatantly obvious magical occurrences every now and then. But not that night.

As the three friends stumbled out of the fire place at Nana Allie's pub, they found the pub unusually silent.

"Nana?" Luna called out.

"It's too quiet in here," Neville said with a shiver.

Harry walked past the Floo room and stopped short. "Guys, don't come in here."

"Harry?" Luna asked.

"Is there any Floo powder on the mantle?" the green eyed wizard asked.

Neville and Luna looked around only to find the powder all over the floor.

"A handful tops," Neville replied. "Barely enough for one person. Maybe a Floo call, but that's it."

"Shit," Harry muttered.

"Harry?" Neville walked up to his friend.

Harry tried to cut Neville off, but the other teen was bulkier and taller than Harry. And he was able to see the gruesome view his friend tried to shield him from.

Neville went a bit green. "Oh, Merlin!"

"Nev?" Harry worriedly pulled the teen back out of the main room. "I…I am sorry you saw that. We cannot get through there."

"I am calling daddy," Luna told them.

The blonde witch was on the floor, scooping up the Floo powder and the other two hurried to help.

Luna threw the powder in the lit fireplace. "Crumple-Horned Snorkack's Nest!" She called out.

Xeno's face appeared in the hearth. "Luna?"

"Daddy, we have a problem," the Ravenclaw started.

"What kind?"

"We are at Nana Allie's pub and there are bodies lying around all over," Neville said.

Xeno's face seemed horrified. "I'm coming through!"

The teen stepped back, but after a struggle, Xeno gave up. "Floo access is blocked. I bet Apparation too."

"This is bad," Harry muttered. "We really should not be here. How far is your house Luna?"

"What crackpot idea you cooked up?" Neville asked his fellow Gryffindor.

"Well, magical means are out," Harry told them. "Our legs are still working. Standard disillusionment spells and we simply run." He stared at each of them before turning to Xeno. "Sir?"

"I'll meet you half way. After I alert the Aurors and Hogwarts," Luna's father told them. He turned his disembodied head to look at his daughter. "Good luck."

The teens were left staring at the embers.

Neville cleared his throat. "So…"

"We run," Luna stated.

"Is there another exit?" Harry asked the witch.

She shook her head. "As long as we do not join the dead, I do not mind," she told Harry.

The green eyed wizard winced. "It's not pretty," he warned as he gave in. there really was no other way.

The three left the room with the Floo connection and entered the main room. Harry tried not to look at the bodies too much. They all moved around the debris and the fallen and they felt relief once they reached the pub door. No one said anything about the tears that had pooled in Neville's eyes and the tears running down Luna's cheeks or how Harry had bitten his lips hard enough to bleed. Once they opened the door to the pub the quiet was shattered.

The screaming, the noise of buildings on fire and spells took the three by surprise.

"We stick together," Neville told Harry.

"Wands out," Luna said as she took hers out. Neville and Harry followed her example.

The other Gryffindor nodded. They all tried to keep close as they ran through the burning town. There were not many witches or wizards out, only Death Eaters and a rapidly growing number of Aurors that had turned the entire village into a battleground.

"There's a path after the grocers!" Luna yelled at them, taking the lead. They all ran towards the general direction of the river, trying to ignore the crossfire. At some point they had to use spells against the Death Eaters so they could get past them.

"Too many!" Neville yelled after he stupefied someone.

"Don't stop!" Harry yelled to him. "Expelliarmus!"

"Stupefy!" Luna cast.

They ducked just in time to miss a blasting curse that blew apart an entire wall.

"They noticed us!" Harry was horrified to realize that at least two Death Eaters had been following them. One of them was not even wearing a mask and Harry guessed it was one of the escaped ones. "Hurry!" he urged his two friends.

"Harry?" a very familiar Auror saw them run past.

"Tonks!" Harry exclaimed as he stopped short.

"Crucio!"

"AvadaKedavra!"

Harry and Tonks ducked out of the way while Neville and Luna kept running, looking back only to see the other two had not been hit.

"Keep going!" Harry yelled at his two friends. They looked about to argue but the Death Eaters had advanced on him and Tonks.

"How on earth did you get here?" the bubblegum haired witch asked.

"Hogsmeade weekend," Harry responded.

"This is Ottery St. Catchpole," the Auror told him.

"Tonks, not the time! Stupefy!"

"Agreed," the witch replied and released a spell chain her opponent unfortunately dodged. "Harry, are you any good with spells?"

"Yes?"

"Don't just stupefy, if you can, blast them apart," Tonks told him.

Harry barely dodged another Unforgivable. He recovered and aimed. "Conjunctivitis!"

There was a cry of surprise and Tonks followed his curse with one of her own. Their opponents were down to one.

"Protego!" Tonks yelled and a nasty yellow beam aimed at Harry stopped.

The Gryffindor took his turn. "Reducto!"

"Deprimo!" Tonks cast at a wall and drew Harry down as it blew apart and pieces landed on the Death Eater.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry continued and a wand flew toward him.

Tonks stupefied the second Death Eater and conjured ropes to tie both of them up before getting the extra wand from Harry.

"We make a good team," she told the teen. "Now why are you here?"

"Field trip, Flitwick and McGonagall let us see Luna's father. We came out from a public Floo about to take the Knight Bus back to Hogwarts but everyone was dead. We contacted Xeno and he the Aurors and the school. Neville and Luna are on their way back, on foot."

"Yes, anti-Portkey and anti-Floo wards have been cast all over town, the second by the Aurors lest any Death Eaters escape," Tonks commented.

"And trapping us in," Harry groaned.

"We were not exactly expecting any survivors," Tonks admitted.

There was a particularly loud boom in the distance. They both winced.

"Listen, Harry I need to…"

"Do your job," Harry smiled at her. "Go."

"You, buddy, are coming along."

"But Neville and Luna…"

"Are probably out of town and away from danger."

"I can run fast," Harry muttered.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Harry and Tonks ducked and rolled even as the green bolt of light exploded over their heads.

"Do I have a target on me?" the teen despaired.

"Spells now, curses are for later," the witch told him. She paused but then she pulled him aside. "Should anything happen, the spell to make an emergency Portkey is 'Portus' and add behind the destination. For St. Mungo's or likewise. You won't even get fined."

"I get it," he told her.

"Good, let's go find the others. Kingsley might be able to get you out of here."

"I feel like Nero," Rodolphus commented at his sibling as the two of them set another building on fire.

Rabastan was about to reply when they came across a group of Aurors.

"The Lestrange's!" they yelled.

"Mad Eye old friend!" Rodolphus ignored everyone but Moody. "Rematch?"

The retired Auror started shooting curses and Rodolphus followed with a dark laugh. Rabastan shot one look at the Aurors. They were a bunch of kids really. Harry's younger, his traitorous mind reminded him. Rabastan allowed a smirk to curl on his lips.

"Well?" what are you waiting for?" he drawled. Sparks came from his wand tip.

"Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus!"

Rabastan conjured a simple shield and watched the spells fizzle away.

"What are they teaching you these days?" he muttered. "I'll show you how it's done. Sectumsempra! Flagrantia!"

His spells met their targets and the newbie's fell. The others came at Rabastan but the wizard managed to dodge them expertly, almost taunting them.

"Tonks! Left!" Harry called out as he shot a stunner that way.

Harry and the witch had reached the main street. The fumes and the heat from the burning buildings was almost suffocating. They would not risk the bubblehead charm as they needed clear vision and good pronunciation. The double stunner's attracted attention from a couple of Aurors there and a few lingering Death Eaters.

Kingsley was among them. "Tonks? Harry? What the hell?"

A yelled "It's Potter!" came from the Death Eaters and had the teen cursing his luck again.

"It just isn't my day," Harry sighed even as he readied to shoot another spell.

"Bombarda!"

"Duck!" Kingsley yelled.

The debris from the explosion drove them to reach shelter in different directions.

Rabastan hated his position. He and his brother had separated and Rabastan was driven deeper into the village. He felt the anti- Portkey wards drop when one phrase caught his attention.

A yelled "It's Potter!" came from the Death Eaters he saw in the distance and the wizard stopped short.

Harry? He was here? In this place?

Rabastan shivered and he looked around, trying to spot the green eyed teen. He saw a huge, blond Death Eater cast a 'Bombarda'. He barely caught sight of Aurors and Death Eaters alike dodging out of the blast that happened. He noted that one of them did not wear the usual Death Eater garb or standard Auror robes, and also looked smaller.

"Harry," Rabastan whispered.

He took off towards the direction he thought he saw his young lover.

Harry was trying to catch his breath but the heat was not helping any. All the cold of February was gone due to the fire that was burning Ottery St. Catchpole to the ground. Harry stood and leaned on the wall of the alley. He decided to catch his breath a bit before actually searching out Kingsley or Tonks or any of the other Aurors. While he was unseen the Death Eaters might even give up. He decided it was a sound plan. And then he looked up.

Side by side on the singed wall were posters.

Wanted posters.

One was of Sirius, his godfather smirking his roguish grin at the camera, the toll of his losses making him look haggard and worn.

The other was of Alecto Carrow, a faded half singed one.

Next was the Wanted poster of Bellatrix Lestrange. 'APPROACH WITH EXTREME CAUTION' it read. Insanity was burning in her eyes.

Next up came her husband, Rodolphus Lestrange; an imposing wizard that even in Azkaban rags looked majestic and dangerous.

Other posters followed. A blank one with a question mark and the label 'Dark Lord- Flee on sight' was insignificant considering that one poster that caught Harry's sight

What made Harry's heart stop and start again was one poster. It had the picture of a wizard, his wizard. Above it, the name Rabastan Lestrange and under it the same inscription Bellatrix had.

The Gryffindor felt the world spinning around him. And then he heard his voice.

"Harry."

End of chapter

A/N1: Ottery St. Catchpole information is available on the net, a vague sketch too. I'll post a link on my author profile.

Apolline finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy, the name was decided after a vote on a poll I did way back when I was still contemplating what to do with the story (135 votes) so to all of you who liked that option thank you!

A/N 2: Spells used

Conjunctivitis- Damages opponent's eyesight

Deprimo- very powerful wind that can loosen and/or soften a variety of things; it can also be used to detach objects

Flagrantia- Causes any object affected to burn human skin when touched (I took a few liberties with this one ^_^)
- 6
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A Winter's Reprieve