Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

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

Chapter List
- 88
- 89
- 90
Dedicated_Reader, I couldn't find your email, but I would love to speak with you. You can PM me on fanfiction dot net, pen name SensiblyTainted. Or even leave me your ideas as a review here, but I would love to be able to talk back.
Thank you My_Perversities! You are always so amazing and supportive. I really REALLY apprecaite you!
The Pieces Coming Together
Percy yawned, drawn forward by both of his twin brothers pulling on either hand. They wore innocent grins for once, still in their wool, long pajamas and their hair messed up with bedhead. It was early, but at least the sun was up. Growing up in a family with very little extra money to spend meant they got gifts only twice a year. No surprises brought home on random days, no splurges on special occasions, so those two days of gifts were especially exciting.
Their first stop had been Harry’s dorm room, but it’d been empty. No real surprise there. Ron and Ginny were both hard sleepers and it normally took a lot of effort to get them out of bed, but never on Christmas. Percy didn't know how they did it. They weren’t staying up all night. He and their mother always checked to make sure they were really sleeping, but those two still managed to wake before the sun every bloody time and get everyone else up with them, so they could open their gifts right away.
Fred and George stopped at the top of the stairs that led into the common room, leaning forward to look over the banister. Percy pressed in close against their backs to look over their heads. Ron was sitting on the couch-end closest to the warm fire. His head was back, his mouth hung open as he snored. He wore his second-hand winter cloak over his pajamas, but his feet were bare. Harry was curled up against his side, his head pillowed on Ron’s shoulder. His glasses were on his face and he was wrapped up in his cloak so that it was hard to tell what he was wearing. His feet were covered with red, wool socks.
“Musta fallen back asleep waitin’ for us,” George said with a snicker.
“Wish we had a camera,” Fred agreed before collapsing against George and laughing.
Percy wasn’t so sure, but he couldn’t help smiling and shaking his head. He made his way downstairs and came to a stop in front of his little brother with his hands on his hips. “I guess I’ll be opening Ron’s presents then?”
Ron’s eyes cracked blearily open. “Don’touch m’presents,” he slurred.
Blinking his eyes, he quickly came awake. Grinning, he nudged Harry and sat up. His blue eyes latched onto the small pile of brightly wrapped presents that had been set neatly in the center of the room. He practically dove forward.
Percy took his brother’s seat and gave Harry a warm smile. “Happy Christmas.”
“Happy Christmas,” Harry answered with a yawn, rubbing his eyes underneath his glasses.
Fred and George were already ripping open presents, paper flying around them like confetti. Percy was convinced they were using a spell, even though neither boy had a wand out. Ron was organizing the piles, placing gifts in front of Harry, Percy, and the twins, pushing his own aside until each package sat near their owner. Harry clearly had the largest pile by more than double.
“Open a present, Harry!” Ron cried as he tore open his first package. He’d chosen the lumpy one on purpose and out spilled a maroon knit sweater with a large golden “R” for Ron on it. He pulled off his cloak and put the sweater on. It was a little big, but that’s the way he liked it.
Percy smiled and reached for his own lumpy package. Fred and George already had their sweaters on. Both were a royal blue with golden letters “F” and “G” accordingly. Percy snapped his wrists to straighten his sweater and smiled. It was a bright red with a golden “P”. He turned to see what color Harry got.
Harry sat next to him, his smile gone as he stared so seriously at the wrapped sweater in his lap. He looked tired.
“Harry?” Percy asked carefully.
“I… I should wait for Draco,” the boy answered, voice so small he sounded five instead of eleven.
“Sure,” Ron called, oblivious to the tension in the room. Even Fred and George were watching Harry with a frown. “But not for all of them! You can open the one from Mum! You know she always sends us sweaters.”
Ron tore into his next present and gasped. Bill had sent him an Egyptian Chess set. It was handmade with heavy brass pieces that looked gold or dark brown depending on what side it represented. The pieces were about three inches in height and were carved in the shape of Egyptian gods and goddesses. The board had squares of mother of pearl and wood to distinguish the white and black spaces and was twenty inches wide. It was definitely a luxury chess set, so very different from the inherited and battered board he used now.
“Bloody hell, I love it!” Ron exclaimed with stars in his eyes. He bounded over to Percy and Harry, talking a mile a minute about the set before practically leaping at Fred and George. The twins laughed and fended him off playfully.
Practically bursting with excitement, Ron looked to Harry. “You’ve got to open something, Harry! It’s Christmas! And look, here’s one from your Dad! You gotta open that! How’d you think he managed that, Percy?” Ron held the package up. It was lumpy. “Maybe it’s another sweater! Seems like a lot of trouble for nothin’ though.”
Harry still looked undecided so Percy added, “People will expect Thank You cards.”
Harry went pale and began to open the gifts labelled “Harry”. Anything that said “Draco and Harry” he left alone. The sweater from Molly was an emerald green with a golden “H”. He held it up, finding it two sizes too big. Perhaps she had thought he would have grown more by now.
He opened the one from “James Potter” next and found it much more remarkable. It was an invisibility cloak and not some cheap one that you usually saw in stores. Harry disappeared completely as he put it around his shoulders and pulled the hood up.
“Bloody hell!” Fred and George gasped in unison. “Let me try!” Fred demanded, George hot on his heels.
Harry took it off and watched as the twins played with the cloak. Ron was asking to try it, but he was clearly being ignored. With a pout, Ron stomped back to his gifts and continued opening them. Charlie had sent each of his siblings a dragon tooth necklace.
From the Tonkses, each of the Weasleys received gift vouchers to a popular shoe store. The note said that she knew growing boys could never have too many pairs of shoes. As for Harry, the gifts from both the Tonkses and the Malfoys were addressed to both Harry and Draco, so Harry did not open them.
Remus, on the other hand, had sent two gifts, one addressed to Harry and the other addressed to Draco as he normally did. Harry’s gift fit inside an envelope and he opened it to find a box of seeds for some rare flowers to plant in his gardens. Harry had one at both Malfoy Manor and the Tonks House. He loved working in them. Hagrid had also sent gifts, one for Harry and Draco each. From him, Harry received a hand-carved flute.
Hermione and Neville had sent a gift, but it was addressed to both Harry and Draco, so he left it alone. He could guess it was some kind of sweet, though, as Ron had gotten a gift from them, too, and it was a super-deluxe box of Bertie’s Every Flavor Beans.
After the gift opening was complete, Harry excused himself to take all the unwrapped and still wrapped presents back up to the dorm room, to start on the Thank You cards that he could write. Before Harry disappeared upstairs, Percy managed to make the twins give back the invisibility cloak.
“Keep that safe, Harry. It’s very rare and expensive. Draco will want to see it undamaged,” Percy advised, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
Harry took the cloak with much more care after hearing that.
Ron convinced Percy to play a game of chess with him on his new set while the twins ran out into the castle with the mysterious box they had gotten from Bill.
“Probably Egyptian potion ingredients,” Percy guessed with a resigned sigh.
…
Harry felt like he was drowning. Every Thank You note he wrote seemed to weigh heavier and heavier on his chest. He didn’t deserve things. He was a failure and it killed him that no one seemed to notice. It made him feel like a lair and a fraud on top of being a failure, and it made him terrified of what would happen when everyone around him finally figured it out. Without Draco there, he felt vulnerable and stripped bare for all eyes to see him for what he really was. Draco’s claim was still there, tattooed on his skin and tight around his neck, but Harry was still nervous about his ability to represent Draco faithfully.
It was nearing lunch time, but he felt sick to his stomach. The prospect of facing his friends and ruining their Christmas had him literally swallowing bile. He remembered their looks of concern while he’d struggled with opening presents.
His eyes darted to the invisibility cloak that he’d folded at the foot of his bed. He lifted it and swung it around his body, pulling up the hood. He chose his shoes carefully, a pair of soft-soled slippers, so that he made no sound when he walked.
Ron and Percy didn’t even twitch as he tiptoed down the stairs. They sat in such a way that he was able to slip out of the portrait without them noticing. It took him about fifteen minutes, but he soon found himself in the infirmary.
It was bright, the many windows letting in the afternoon sunlight. The air was only a little chilly, most of the cold kept at bay by wards and spells. Harry moved, silent and invisible, to the only occupied bed and climbed into it. He sprawled on top of Draco, wiggling his hips in-between Draco’s thighs and resting his head over the blond’s heart. The tension he’d been carrying for days slid from him and he was able to let out a weary sigh of relief. He was safe here. He would always be safe here.
Draco was always so confident; he had the ability to turn even a wrong choice to his advantage. Harry definitely didn’t. He was getting better at it. Making choices. Mostly because he trusted that Draco would be able to pull them out of a bad situation if Harry chose wrong, but Harry wasn’t stupid. He knew that even small decisions accumulated. Big events happened because of a string of smaller choices, and he was now on his own when the choices facing him weren’t small at all.
Did he choose right in telling Remus, Percy, and Ron everything? Did he do okay performing the Rite of the Dead in the forest for the unicorn? Should he have pushed more, demanded Remus get the serum quicker? Should he go to another adult? Dumbledore? McGonagall? Snape? He just… didn’t know. He really, really didn’t. All he had to go on were the decisions and plans Draco had already laid down, but things were changing so rapidly and Harry was trying his best, but it all felt out of control…
If it weren’t for the mission keeping him focused, Harry would have been a paralyzed ball of anxiety curled up under Draco’s bed unable to move, but he did have it, the mission, and he knew he couldn’t afford to lose. Draco was so strong all the time - protected him, loved him, guided him, took up the burden of all those choices that made Harry want to freeze and puke - and Harry refused to let him down.
“It’s not for forever,” Harry mumbled into Draco’s chest, his hands gripping hard onto the blond’s hospital shirt. “You’re gonna wake up. I just… I just gotta hold on. Keep watch. Protect the Stone. I… I can do it. For you.”
…
Harry actually fell asleep like that, sprawled across Draco’s chest. He’d even left a wet spot where he’d drooled over Draco’s heart. He hadn’t learned the spell to dry things yet, so he hoped Madam Pomfrey didn’t notice. It was almost dinner time, so Harry had to hurry to get back to the tower, put away the cloak, and then rush down to the Great Hall. The Weasleys were tense, but that melted into instant relief when they saw him.
“Where were you?” Ron demanded.
“I just needed time alone… to celebrate…” Harry invented and internally cringed at how dumb that excuse sounded.
“We thought for sure you’d be with Draco, but we couldn’t find you in the infirmary when we looked,” Ron continued. He gave his friend a smile. “As long as you’re okay, I guess. Come eat.”
Harry sat next to him, relieved the questions were over.
The table was even more decked out than normal. There was a roasted turkey with stuffing, a ham, and a roast beef all half carved for them. The cranberry sauce looked delicious. For sides, there were gorgeously cooked carrots, turnips, and parsnips, and of course there was mashed potatoes with two kinds of gravy.
As Harry and the others served themselves, Harry glanced at the Head Table. He noticed Dumbledore, Snape, and Quirrell were missing, but Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, and Hagrid were present. Hagrid caught his eye and waved enthusiastically, nearly knocking McGonagall in the head. Harry smiled and waved back.
“Wonder where Dumbledore is?” he asked out loud.
“Don’t know,” Fred answered with a shrug.
“Maybe Ministry business,” George added.
“He was gone all night the night before last,” Fred stage whispered dramatically.
“And a few other nights, too,” George finished in a whisper matching Fred’s.
“Didn’t come back until breakfast.”
Harry shared a look with Percy and Ron. It was more likely that Dumbledore was going to see Flamel about the Stone. At least, if Headmaster was being honest when he said he was seriously trying to convince his friend to destroy it.
Before the twins could comment on their shared glances, Ron gave his older brothers a suspicious stare. “How do you know when Dumbledore’s gone all night, anyway? And when he comes back?”
Fred and George simultaneously touched the side of their noses with serious expressions before breaking out into identical mischievous grins. “That’s for us to know and you to find out,” they said in unison before breaking into laughter.
Ron crossed his arms and scowled at them. He hated it when they teased him. You’d think he’d be used to it by now, but he still hated it all the same.
“Who won the chess match?” Harry asked quickly, trying to ease the tension.
Ron’s expression softened. His back straightened with pride. “I did.”
Percy gave his brother an affectionate glance. “Ron has always been brilliant at chess.”
“I heard from someone on the baseball team this past summer that the Muggles hold competitions and you can even win money,” Ron told them excitedly. “I was thinking of asking Mum if I could join one.”
Percy shook his head. “You don’t have Muggle papers. How would you register? If a money prize is involved, I don’t think it will be as simple as befuddling a Muggle coach to get you on a baseball team.”
Ron pouted, but Harry made a mental note to ask Andromeda about it later. She had to have Muggle papers, seeing as she lived on the Muggle side of London. She might know how Ron could go about it.
They finished dinner in good spirits. Their plates and the leftovers where whisked away by elven magic and desert appeared before them. There was a pumpkin and apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, and a fruitcake on offer, much to Ron’s delight.
“You can’t seriously eat all that,” Percy said with a frown as Ron served himself one serving of everything.
“Watch me,” Ron answered back with upmost seriousness, blue eyes bright with determination.
Fred and George nearly fell off the bench laughing.
“Hello, boys. Happy Christmas.”
Harry turned to see Remus standing behind them with suitcase in hand. A kind smile softened his scarred face. He wore a warm brown sweater under his winter cloak and had snow melting on both shoulders and in his hair. Remus gave Harry a subtle nod when Harry’s eyes snapped up from the suitcase to meet his golden eyes.
Harry felt a wave of relief crash over him. Remus had the serum! Harry hadn’t expected the man to get it so quickly, but he felt a lot less stressed knowing they had it if they needed it.
Remus gave the Weasleys a smile as the four boys chorused Christmas greetings. “I see I made it just in time for desert. Mind if I join you?”
Of course they didn’t, and they all shifted to make room.
Remus was in the middle of telling them about a hilarious Christmas dinner from his time at Hogwarts when McGonagall arrived. She wore a bright red robe and a pointed green hat. Her glasses reflected the fairy lights from the tree sparkling red and gold at the end of the table. Her stern expression had been softened with a genuine smile.
“Remus, what a pleasant surprise,” she said with genuine warmth. “Have you eaten? I can have the elves make you up a plate.”
“Thank you,” he answered kindly. “It’s not necessary, though. I plan on filling up on desert.”
Her smile widened as if she were remembering something and she shook her head. “I noticed you have a bag with you…”
“I was hoping I could stay a night or two…” Remus’s expression turned a bit melancholy. “It can be lonely sometimes on holidays, and it’s been so long since I’ve spent any real time with the boys.” He looked up at McGonagall in concern. “I heard Draco is in the Hospital Wing?”
McGonagall sighed. “Yes. I’m afraid so,” she said softly, but then pulled her smile back into place. “Well, I’m sure Hogwarts would love to host you, Remus. You are of course always welcome here. I will have the elves prepare a guest chamber for you.”
Remus bowed his head. “I really appreciate it, Minerva. This place holds such fond memories for me.”
McGongall’s eyes misted up. “Yes. It does for us all. Well, I’ll leave you to your meal.”
“What happened after the turkey began to dance?” Fred burst out, demanding Remus pick up where he’d left off in the story.
Remus smiled and did just that. Soon he had all of them, including Harry, laughing.
…
Ron practically wrapped himself up like a mummy in his comforter. He still couldn’t get the butterflies to stop twisting his stomach. He’d been fine all day. A little tired, but no big deal. It’d been great. He adored his chess set and dragon tooth necklace; couldn’t wait to show Dean and Seamus! And Remus was staying, which made him feel a whole lot better about their chances with the Stone. So why couldn’t he sleep? Why did getting ready for bed in the silence of the dorm room make sweat break out along his hairline? His heart punched hard against his chest, slowly picking up speed the longer he tried to lie quiet.
“Harry?” he suddenly burst out, voice a strained whisper. “Harry? You asleep?”
“Mm?”
Ron sat up, fighting out of the tight roll he’d made of his blankets and turned on his bedside lamp. “Wanna see if we can find any more passages?” he asked in a rush, forcing a smile. “Might come in handy when school starts back up. You know, to keep Draco away from the bullies.”
Harry blinked sleepy green eyes and sat up. His hair stuck up in weird directions from being pressed against a pillow. “Yeah. Okay,” he agreed with a yawn.
He didn’t have the heart to tell his friend that Draco had already known about the passages they’d found from the twins’ magical map, but if Ron didn’t know about the map already, Harry wasn’t sure he should mention it. Besides, it was clear something was bothering Ron. He looked upset. Their search wasn’t about secret passages, but about making Ron feel better.
“Bring your cloak,” Ron whispered. His hands shook as he pulled on two layers of sweaters and two pairs of warm socks over his feet, and it wasn’t the cold. It was a relief so powerful it almost brought tears to his eyes. “Thanks, Harry.”
Harry pushed his glasses on and gave him a wan smile as he grabbed the invisibility cloak.
…
“What d-do you see?” Ron asked, breathless.
He stood out in front of all his siblings. He was tall and strong, his shoulders back, his chin up. He had the Quidditch cup in his hand and a Head Boy badge on his robe. Bill and Charlie, the twins, Percy, Ginny, and little Timmy were gathered around him with awe on their faces. Mum and Dad were in the back, tears in their eyes and huge smiles on their faces. This Ron wouldn’t be scared to go to sleep. This Ron could handle anything! He had the respect of everyone!
Harry stared into the strange mirror’s depths. He had no idea how to tell Ron what he saw inside it. There was no way he could ever make Ron understand, so he said simply, “I see Draco and me standing together.”
Draco’s grey eyes were sharp and alert. His whole body practically radiated power. Harry stood next to him. Mirror Harry was shirtless. His muscles were strong and defined. He didn't wear glasses. His green eyes were confident and he made eye contact easily. The black collar sat around his throat like it belonged there and the white dragon stood proudly on his hip with wings outstretched along his side and across his stomach. Power coiled around Mirror Harry, even as Mirror Harry sank to his knees in a graceful drop. Draco placed his hand possessively on Mirror Harry’s head, that pale hand visibly gripping his hair. The blond’s lips moved, saying, ‘Good boy.’
Mirror Harry bared his teeth in a grin, reminding Harry of a guard dog, powerful and obedient. The expression of smug pleasure on Draco’s face sent a shiver through Harry and a warm feeling settled in his gut. Instinctively, he cupped himself and gasped softly as tingles shot across his skin, his penis stiff and sensitive.
“Harry? You okay?”
Harry stumbled away from the mirror, realizing that he was panting. Tears filled his eyes. He wanted that. He wanted what the mirror showed with all his heart and soul, but he had no idea how to get there! Suddenly he was crying, great big gasping sobs. Was it even possible? How in the world would he ever be that strong? What would it take to be able to stand at Draco’s side and actually deserve to be there?
“Hey, it’s okay,” Ron said awkwardly, patting his shoulder. “Don’t cry.”
Harry turned away from him, putting his back to the mirror, and crouched down to hug his knees. He bit his lip so hard that it tore slightly, a small trickle of blood snaking down his chin. He had to pull it together. Ron had been so excited, so happy, talking about trophies and his family. Harry was ruining it.
Ron wanted to comfort him, he really did, but his eyes kept getting pulled back to the amazing vision in the mirror. “You think it’s the future?” he asked. “What’s in the mirror, I mean. Think it’ll come true?”
Harry huddled in on himself, wishing with all his might that it would come true but knowing it probably wouldn’t.
“It is the Mirror of Erised.”
Ron spun around and Harry lifted his head to see Dumbledore step into the room. His white hair and beard practically glowed in the moonlight spilling in through the small window. He made a soft swishing sound as he crossed the floor to stand next to them.
“You alright there, Harry?” he asked gently and reached out his hand.
Harry knew better than to take it. He stood on his own, his arms wrapped tightly around his chest.
Dumbledore didn’t seem offended. He placed his hand on Harry’s shoulder and squeezed softly. “It shows the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts, my boys. Men have wasted away before it, not knowing if what they have seen is real or even possible.”
“Oh,” Ron said in disappointment.
“That doesn’t mean it can’t come true,” Dumbledore added. “What is it that you see?”
Ron told him, cheeks bright red with embarrassment as he did so.
Dumbledore nodded. “Entirely possible,” he concluded, stroking his beard. “In fact, I believe it is even likely. However, it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.” He turned his attention to Harry. He bent down, his eyes unbearably gentle. “And what did you see, my boy?”
Harry wiped his face with his sleeve, erasing tears and blood both, and shook his head mutely.
Dumbledore sighed and straightened. “Do no seek out this mirror again,” he told them both, expression and tone serious. “It will be moved come morning.”
“Yes, sir,” Ron said glumly, eyes still firmly locked on his triumphant form trapped behind the glass.
Harry simply nodded. He didn’t think he could bear looking into it again to see everything he was not. He grabbed Ron’s sleeve and tugged him toward the door under Dumbledore’s watchful gaze.
“Um, sir, I was just wondering what you saw?” Ron suddenly burst out just before they stepped clear.
Dumbledore gave them a happy grin. “Why, I see myself holding a thick pair of socks.” With a wink, he added, “One can never have enough socks.” He lifted his robes a bit and even in the dim moon light they could make out Christmas wreaths repeating over and over on his socks. He also wore fuzzy slippers.
Ron shook his head, smiling, and allowed Harry to pull him out of the room.
…
Percy frowned as he found Ron and Harry asleep in the common room again in the morning. He stood over them, hands on his hips, but before he could decide if he should wake them for breakfast or not, the twins came barreling down the stairs flinging snowballs everywhere.
Ron gave a yell and tumbled off the couch, bringing Harry with him. Percy staggered backward having taken a snowball to the face. The bridge of his nose throbbed from where his glasses had been smashed back. Harry got to his feet, blinking owlishly. The twins had already taken off out the portrait, cackling like maniacs.
“You okay?”
“Yes.” Harry even managed to smile. “Is it time for breakfast?”
Percy nodded and helped Ron get to his feet. His little brother’s red hair stood up all over the place. He looked paler than normal and there were circles under his eyes. “Maybe you guys should sleep a little longer, though.”
“I’m up now,” Ron grumbled, hiding a huge yawn behind his hand.
“I want to see Draco,” Harry agreed.
Percy sighed. “Alright. Go get dressed then.”
…
Remus crouched down by Draco’s hospital bed. He had his hand up by the top of the boy’s head, just resting there, as he breathed in the scent he had missed for months. It was the smell of pack and family and home all rolled into one. He’d been there for a while when he heard two sets of footsteps approaching.
“I don’t understand how you can keep letting things like this happen,” Remus said softly. He knew who was standing behind him. Knew who it was before he even entered the room.
Dumbledore sighed. “Hello, Remus. Minerva told me you will be visiting.”
“I understand you had no control over the Solstice,” Remus continued, ignoring the Headmaster’s opening gambit. Dumbledore’s words seemed innocent on the surface, but it was a subtle reminder that Remus was here only because he’d been allowed to be. “But I don’t think the ritual would have started without a catalyst. The mental wounds that you’ve ignored.”
“There was nothing I could do for him beyond what I had already done,” Dumbledore answered gravely. He stood just behind Remus. “I gave him what assistance I could.”
“After he came to you and demanded help, you mean. After suffering and dealing with it alone for too long.” Remus’s eyes were gold. He knew that and stayed crouched facing away from the Headmaster. He was no longer ashamed of what he was or even afraid of what he was, but he was still cautious of others’ reactions. “I notice his attacker is still at large. I find that hard to understand.”
There was a moment of silence that carried on a little too long, but Dumbledore finally answered. “I have done my best by you as I have these children, Remus. I assure you that every effort is being made to discover which student or staff member is harboring evil, but as of yet they remain hidden to me.”
It was Remus’s turn to let the silence stretch this time. He wanted to rage. How dare the most powerful wizard of their time stand there and claim he could do nothing more, that this was the best he could do, when Harry had almost been murdered, Draco’s mind had been broken, a Death Eater was somehow able to walk freely among them, and the Sorcerer’s Stone, an item powerful enough to resurrect the Dark Lord, was in danger of being stolen!
“Remus, the boys are strong. Stronger than we give them credit for. Dark times are upon us again, but we have to have faith. We have to trust each other.”
He could have howled with laughter. Dumbledore had lost all right to speak of trust when his actions were so incomprehensible. How could Dumbledore stand there and do nothing to fix this? How could he not put a stop to all of this before it got any worse and one of the boys actually died? Surely Dumbledore could do better than this no matter his claims to the contrary! Seeing Draco - indomitable, powerful Draco - lying so small and vulnerable on the hospital bed made Remus sick to his stomach, but Dumbledore acted like it was a sad necessity!
So Remus bowed his head and said nothing. When Dumbledore realized their conversation was over, he eventually turned and walked away. The man who’d arrived with Dumbledore and had been standing unobtrusively in the corner for their entire conversation finally stepped forward. Remus remained where he was, crouched close to Draco’s head.
“I have a potion,” Severus said softly. He smelled of potions, snow, and exhaustion. “It will make Draco’s mind impervious to all mental intrusion from the moment he imbibes it. It is irreversible and might break whatever spell he is under.”
Remus turned and got to his feet, facing his old adversary. He ignored the way Severus flinched away from his eyes, instead observing the man in front of him.
Severus looked a wreck. His hair was oily and hung limp, a few strings clinging to his sallow cheeks. His eyes were bloodshot. Remus got the feeling that Dumbledore had no idea about what Severus had created, that he had a fragile ally in the other man. He had to be careful here, so he made his voice as gentle as he could so that Severus did not feel like he was being rejected.
“Thank you, Severus. I will tell Draco to come talk to you when he wakes. He will have to be the one to decide if he wants to take it.”
Severus inclined his head and spun, robes flaring, as he practically stormed from the room. He almost knocked into Harry on the way out, but he was able to side-step the boy in time. He snapped out a quick, “Watch where you’re going, Potter!”
Harry apologized and then hurried forward.
Remus gave the boy a hug. “Hey, pup. Did you have breakfast?”
“Yes,” Harry answered, moving so he was next to the bed and placing his fingertips gently on Draco’s forehead.
Remus smiled at the boy. “Draco looks like he could wake up any moment now. You’ve been doing a good job looking after him.”
Harry flushed at the praise, his head ducking, and Remus ruffled his messy hair affectionately.
…
“Harry! Look!”
Harry looked up from his lunch. Remus had walked him down, reminding him that Draco hated when he skipped meals, but Remus had chosen to sit with the adults at the Head Table this time around. Harry followed Ron’s pointing finger to see an owl swooping down on him. He instinctively shielded his face, but it landed on the table next to his plate instead of his head. It gave a sharp cry and offered its leg.
Wide-eyed, Harry took the note.
“What’s it say?” Ron demanded.
“It’s from Hagrid. He says to come to his cabin.” Harry made sure his face remained bland. “He’s probably just lonely and wants someone to have tea with.”
The twins and Percy went back to their argument. Something about fireworks. Ron mouthed ‘egg’ at him and Harry nodded. They were quick to dismiss themselves after eating and made their way outside.
“Hagrid!” Harry called, knocking on the door.
It opened under his fist and he and Ron were practically yanked inside before the door slammed shut behind them. “Don’ want the cold ta get in,” Hagrid explained quickly. “It’s hatching! Ya about missed it! Shame Hermione couldn’t be ‘ere.”
Hagrid was barely able to contain his excitement. His bushy brown hair stood practically on end and they could see white all around his eyes. The huge man moved quickly over to his table where he’d placed the egg in the center in a rough nest of shirts.
Harry and Ron joined him, shedding their snow-covered cloaks and hats along the way. Sure enough the egg was shaking and rocking. Cracks had appeared. Suddenly the egg cracked further and the shell almost seemed to explode away from what was inside.
“Oh, e’s a beauty alright! Look a’that!” Hagrid cooed, completely in love.
The tiny, green, slimy dragon gave a little squeak. It was clumsy on its feet. Its wings were like a bat’s attached to its front arms. They flared and flailed as the dragon tried to get its balance.
“That’s a Norwegian Ridgeback,” Ron exclaimed, his freckles stood out sharply on his pale face. “That’s the kind of dragon my brother works with in Romania!”
“Oh, bless ‘em! Look, e’knows his mummy!” Hagrid boomed, tears on his cheeks as the dragon seemed to orient on him. “‘Ello, Norbert.”
“Norbert?” Harry asked curiously.
“Well, e’s got ta ‘ave a name, don’e?” Hagrid exclaimed and tickled the baby under his chin. “I bet yer hungry! Hatchin’ is hard work!”
Reaching down with his other hand, Hagrid pulled out a freshly killed rabbit and placed it at the edge of the table. Norbert’s head whipped around and he practically dove on the animal. With surprising savagery, the tiny dragon tore into the meat, his clawed-feet scratching at the table’s surface for purchase. As Hagrid cooed and praised the baby, Ron and Harry looked a little green around the edges.
“Double their size nearly every day,” Ron recounted faintly, trying to distract himself from the dragon’s eating. “Be full sized in about two to three months.”
Suddenly the dragon burped and a fist-sized flame erupted from his throat and caught the end of Hagrid’s beard on fire.
“Oh!” Hagrid gave a startled cry and quickly patted it out. With another laugh, he said, “E’ll have to be trained up a bit, o’course.”
“Just how big do they get?” Harry wanted to know. He was eyeing Hagrid’s small cabin.
Ron answered with wide eyes, “Big. Too big to fit in the castle even.”
Harry looked up at his friend. “You can’t keep him hidden here, Hagrid. He’ll be too big in a week! You know that, right? You’ll get caught, and Hermione said dragons are illegal. You’ll go to Azkaban.”
Hagrid put his big hands over the tiny dragon as if protecting him from their eyes. “I know that. I’m just gonna make sure e’s big and strong. Then I’ll send ‘em somewheres nice.”
“I could owl Charlie,” Ron offered.
Hagrid sniffed sadly and pet Norbert along his back lovingly. The little dragon had eaten all it could and had curled up in the now bloody shirts to sleep, it’s belly round and distended.
“How’d you get him, anyway?” Ron asked curiously.
“Won him down at the pub. Guy seemed glad to get ‘em off ‘is ‘ands, actually.” Hagrid said this in a completely baffled voice, as if he couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t want a dragon egg.
“Seems dangerous.” Ron had found his courage and was gently stroking the dragon’s head. “Even having an egg is illegal. How’d he know you wouldn’t turn him in?”
“Well…” Hagrid rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “We were talkin’ about dangerous creatures and ‘ow they’re misunderstood. I may ‘ave mentioned ‘andlin’ a few creatures that aren’t seen too kindly by the Ministry. So e’knew e’could trust me. In fact, e’seemed mighty impressed with Fluffy!”
“Fluffy?” Harry asked, cocking his head.
“A cerberus I raised. Rare they are, but once ya know how ta handle ‘em, they’re a right lamb. Why, Fluffy would go right to sleep if I played ‘em music. Still does, in fact!”
Ron and Harry exchanged shocked looks. Clearly the spy at Hogwarts was collecting the information he needed to get past the barriers that protected the Stone. There couldn’t be that much left that he needed to know. Harry had a feeling that their enemy was going to make his move soon. It made him feel cold, but it also made him feel calm, too. Harry was going to destroy the Stone. No matter what it took.
Chapter end.
- 88
- 89
- 90
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

Freedom Bound in Chains