Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Set the World on Fire	By : jessebarbieheart Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Albus Severus/Scorpius Views: 3701 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of her delicious characters. Though I wish I could, I will never make proffit from this lovely fic. Nor do I own the rights to Fun's song "We Are Young".

Chapter List
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A/N: No idea why, but I'm on a roll with writing today. So, here's yet another chapter! Again, not beta'd as I am lacking in one at the moment. Interested? Let me know!

Based off of Florence + the Machine's "Shake it Out". Underlying more internal reasons for this one.

Enjoy! Maybe I'll post yet another one today ;)

"Huh...looks as if they've redecorated up here." Harry looked through the two open bedroom doors on the fourth floor of the house. "You're in that one, Albus." He pointed to his left, hand on the small of his son's back. "I'll send a letter to your mother, have her brings everyone else here as well as some of your things."

"Everything of mine is still..." Al shuddered, stepping through the door and looking around. The colors of the room were subtle and safe. He stared at the bed, longing to feel tired. It would be so nice to just fall asleep. Forget everything.

"Oh...right." Harry stepped up behind him and tousled his hair lamely. "Maybe you could borrow some of James' things. His eyes scanned the room with a small, tight, amused smile. "You know... Last time I saw this room, it was much different. Everything about it screamed Slytherin. I'm rather glad they redid it. It feels so much more comfortable."

Draco followed them in, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking up at the Potter men. "Enough small talk. We need to talk." His expression was grave and serious. Harry nodded slowly, listening fully. "It's just as we feared. This," he extended his arm, looking down at his left forearm in disgust, "was just like me thought. He's back, Harry. The Dark Lord is...definitely back. I saw him. He looks different, younger and more human, but real."

"And I brought him back," Albus said quietly, pulling away from his father. He crossed slowly over to the window, staring out at a pair of Muggle children playing down by the street. They were so carefree and happy. They had no clue that the world was about to shift drastically. What he would give to be one of them...

For a long moment, the room was silent and still. Harry and Draco exchanged small, confused glances before the blonde asked gingerly, "You... You did that?"

"Maybe not directly. I didn't perform the ritual. But I might as well have. I was a part of it. I was the damned key!" Anger suddenly bubbling up within Al, he slammed his fist against the glass. Between his teeth, he ground out, "Scorpius used me, my blood, to bring that terror back! And I went along with it like a lovesick puppy."

He felt acid welling up in his stomach, threatening to push past his lips. Thinking back over on it all made him want to puke. He closed his eyes, forehead coming to rest against the window. The coolness of it helped to ease his feverish skin.

A set of gentle arms enclosed him in a tight embrace. He could smell his father's cologne, a scent he had never realized his need for before. It brought back all sorts of childhood memories. Times when things were much simpler. When there were no wars to be fought or sides to be chosen. "Albus Severus Potter... You need to realize right now that none of this is your fault. Understand? Just because they used you as a pawn in their sick game does not mean you had anything to do with it. I was used once before to bring Voldemort back the first time. But never in a million years could I be at blame, correct?"

Albus nodded quietly, turning to wrap his arms tightly around Harry.

"This is all so wonderfully touching, but it solves nothing," Draco hissed from his spot on the bed. "The Dark Lord wanted to keep Albus there. Scorpius said so. There will be a bounty out for me head just for the simple task of going against his wishes. Another, bigger one for not killing you."

Shock crossed Harry's face and he let go of Al to turn and face his lover at this. "Killing me?"

With a sigh, Albus held on tighter to his father. "He promised he'd kill you to T-... To You-Know-Who himself."

"Obviously I was lying!" Draco snapped and jumped to his feet.

Harry chuckled softly, pulling away from his son completely. He took measured steps towards Draco, arms crossed over his chest. "Obviously..." He leaned in to softly kiss the man's pale lips. The other physically relaxed and pushed his hair back into place to recompose himself.

"So, what we do is... We attack first. We nip this before it has a chance to fester and get bigger. He can't have many followers yet, right? Most of them are locked away. Or dead."

Closing his eyes, Draco drawled out a list of names. "Father, Mother, Scorpius," he spat this one with particular venom, "Rodolphus Lestrange, Blaise Zabini, Gregory Goyle, and Marcus Flint."

Harry nodded, a smile crawling over his lips. "We can handle that, I think."

"They're at the Riddle Manor."

With a shake of his head, Draco headed for the door. "They'll have moved by now. Found a better, unknown base. Now that you've escaped... Or were forced out?" He raised a brow, leaning in the doorway and looking Albus' way.

Albus for a moment only stared at him. But once he fully understood what the Malfoy man was insinuating, his fists once more curled dangerously. "Forced out? You think I wanted to stay there? He had me under some sort of devotion spell before. I was abused and tortured. Used and insulted! Why would I want to stay there? Never would I ever follow that disgusting monster!"

Draco nodded once before turning and leaving. That was all he needed. If they were all going to go up against the Dark Lord, he needed to know what side everyone was truly on.

"Why don't you rest, Albus? We can-"

"I'm fine." Albus walked past the bed as if it were riddled with disease. "Not tired." He rubbed at his eye, starting to feel the effects of the potion wearing off. It may have helped restore his blood, but any energy boost it had given was now gone. Though he was slightly weary now, he was afraid to fully fall asleep. He was afraid to have any more nightmares. Or to wake up and have to remember that this was all real.

Though concern was etched into every line of Harry's aged face, he gave in with a soft smile. "I'll send a letter to your mother and be right down. Why don't you join Teddy and Victoire downstairs for dinner?"

At the thought of food, Albus' stomach growled slightly. He placed a hand over it and did as he was told. As he entered the quaint kitchen, he avoided the gaze of either adult. But somehow it was harder not to catch the small girl's eye when she stared him down.

No more than four-years-old, Remi's dark blue doe-eyes watched him in eager innocence. She sat on her knees on the far end of the table, smiling happily at him. "Hi, Alby! You have a boo-boo?" She craned her neck, long cascades of silver-blonde curls bouncing around her face.

Albus found it hard to even keep her gaze for a moment. He blushed, sitting down as far away from the small girl as possible. "Yes," he muttered, hand going over the bandages on his left arm.

"What happened?"

"Sweety, it's not polite to stick our pretty noses in other's business." Victoire offered up an apologetic smile towards Al. He missed it, however, as he was too consumed with a scratch in the wood of the table.

The look of complete shame was all-too-apparent to Teddy. He placed a soft hand on his wife's shoulder and hitched his chin towards the pot upon the stove. She went back to stirring it while he sat beside his near-cousin. For a long moment he didn't speak, only stared over at the fire crackling in the fireplace. But when he finally opened his mouth, his words hit Al with a surprising force. "No matter what happened, don't beat yourself up. You're an amazing person, Albus. One of the sweetest kids, sorry, men I know. I can tell that you have something eating you up inside. I just want you to know...whatever you've done? Whatever you feel guilty for? You're bigger than it. And no one is going to love you any less for any mistakes you have made.

You're loved, Albus."

A sob catching in his chest, Albus fell to the side. His forehead connected with Teddy's shoulder, a sad smile gracing his lips. "Thanks," he whispered quietly.

Teddy gave a sharp laugh, patting Al's knee. "Just speaking the truth, cous'."

Even after the other man stood, the warmth of his reassurance remained with Albus. There was a little more life to his shoulders as he sat, waiting for dinner to be served. No matter what had happened, at least he had this. At least he had family.

At least he had the choice to choose this.

The moment Draco walked through the door after Harry, Al was on his feet. He held his hand towards the blonde man and said with absolute fortitude, "Thank you. I might not like you much or enjoy the fact that you're shagging my dad. But I'm still grateful for what you did. If you hadn't helped me today... I don't know what would have become of me. Thanks."

Draco cleared his throat, frowning down at the hand and then over to his partner. Harry nodded his encouragement proudly, giving him the incentive to shake the younger Potter's hand firmly. "I may not be able to rescue my own son from that sort of hell, but you're the next best thing." He gave not another word before walking away and sitting at the table quite near the little girl.

"Hi!" Remi explained happily, leaning across her glass of juice to peer at Draco.

He smirked, pushing the glass further away from her to save it from becoming a mess. "Hello."

"Remi, this is my boyfriend. His name is Draco Malfoy." Harry took the chair beside the blonde, leaning forward with his elbows upon the table. "Draco, Teddy and Victoire's daughter Remi."

"Nice to meet you," Draco said with mild amusement as the girl grinned. Her charisma soaked the air, rubbing off on everyone. They all felt curiously lighter just from her small giggle.

Victoire set a bowl of macaroni in front of her daughter, and then kissed the top of her head. "She's quite the little charmer isn't she?" she said softly, her fingers playing through the beautiful set of curls. "There's veela blood down the line of my mother's family."

"You're going to grow up to be such a little coquette, aren't you?" Draco purred towards the child, eyebrows flicking up mischievously.

"Draco!" Harry smacked the man's arm, holding back a laugh. Albus and Teddy, however, didn't try to contain theirs. They looked between each other, then over at the dangerous slits of Victoire's eyes before busting out.

The tiny, pale eyebrows upon Remi's face furrowed and she tilted her head gently to the side. "I don't understand," she said simply before digging into her food and shrugging it off.

Harry squared his jaw as Draco continued to grin. "You're incorrigible," he muttered, pushing up out of his seat to help serve dinner. This accusation only seemed to fluff the blonde's ego.

The rest of dinner passed by in much the same manner. It was light and actually quite delightful under the circumstances. A cold chill remained with them all throughout, but for the moment they were able to push it to the side. That is, until the moment they heard steps descending the stairs.

"Smells good..."

"Ronald, push aside your obsession with food for just one moment, would you?"

"I could if we hadn't had to abandon dinner."

"Priorities, Ron! Priorities!"

The door opened, revealing the quarreling couple. Smiles snapped onto their faces, however, the moment they saw those sitting at the table. Harry stood, crossing to his two best friends and pulling them into a desperate hug.

More footsteps landed on the stairs before three more joined their group. "Oh, what a lovely family reunion. Harry, what are we-" The redheaded woman stopped in her tracks as she scanned those still sitting at the table. An unbelieving laugh fell from her throat and she rushed to her son, throwing her arms around him. "Oh, Albus! I'm so very sorry for what I said! I was being selfish. If you really love that boy, I support you. Okay? All that matters is your happiness." She laughed, the tears in her throat making it sound a bit strangled. Greedily, Ginny's eyes scanned the spitting image of her ex-husband. The moment they landed upon the bandage on his arm, however, she lost all happiness. "Oh, sweety, what happened?"

"Courtesy of my son," Draco hissed, pushing the remnants of his food around his plate. "If it's any consolation, the curse was aimed for me."

"Oh..." Ginny rubbed at her forehead, a frown creasing it deeply.

The happiness in the room had been finally crushed by the cold. Everyone was silent, either staring at Albus with a million questions or at the floor trying to figure out what was going on.

"Mum...I didn't love him. I don't...love him," Albus said quietly, feeling like he was the one that needed to explain. He pushed all doubts and objections running through his mind off to the side for now and continued on bravely. "Scorpius had me under some sort of charm. I...lost me free will for a while there. But I'm better now. Draco rescued me."

Ginny turned towards the blonde man, beginning to thank him. Draco merely held up his hand to silence her. Letting her know that it was nothing. That he did what was necessary and didn't deserve any gratitude.

Through a mouth full of pasta, Ron spoke up from over by the stove. "What a little git."

"Ronald!" Hermione smacked his shoulder and yanked the spoon from his hand. "You're so rude."

"It's perfectly fine. If you are hungry, I can make more." Victoire smiled and stood from her seat, hoisting a yawning Remi up into her arms. "Just allow me to put Remi to bed quick." She crossed towards the stairs, smiling gently at Lily and James as they stood off to the side of everyone else. "Feel free to break into the butterbeer while I'm gone. It's in the pantry." She disappeared up the stairs and everyone began talking at once in her absence.

Albus massaged his temple, all of the voices, accusations, questions, and speculations giving him an instant headache. Not even closing his eyes and covering his ears was helping to relieve an ounce of it. Draco, who must have noticed his desperation, stood and yelled forcefully, "Would everyone just shut the hell up? Please?" The silence was deadly then. Draco received death glares and scoffs from all but Teddy, Harry, and Albus. He met them with a defiant roll of his eyes and pushed his chair back in. "If you'd like to know what's going on, it's best to keep quiet and let the grown-ups explain, hm?"

With a wrinkle of her nose, Ginny took a seat beside Albus. It was her sign of consent for Draco to continue. For him to explain. Lily and James sat beside her, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained standing. Harry nodded in his lover's direction, asking for him to go on.

"I don't really know what Harry told you to get you here. But I'm guessing it wasn't the full truth. Or any bit of the truth. Nothing is safe anymore. Any line can be compromised and so we must keep our letters devoid of any information. Otherwise, someone in this room with die. We are all at risk, every single one of us." Draco's eyes landed upon James and Lily who were starting to look incredibly worried. He swallowed hard, taking a deep breath to force himself to continue on. "For the last week, my Dark Mark has been getting darker. After the Dark Lord was killed off last time, it faded to nothing but a scar. But lately, its color has returned. And just this afternoon, it burned for the first time in twenty-six years."

Hermione gasped from where she stood, clutching at Ron's arm desperately. It had all clicked for her now. However, she remained silent and allowed him to finish.

"I answered the call. The Dark Lord is...somehow very much alive. And my son is at the center of it. He used Albus to bring him back. The Dark Lord wants Harry dead...and I'm assuming myself as well since I helped Albus to escape. He looks stronger this time and much younger. More dangerous. For safety, you need to alert everyone you care about of this so they can take the necessary steps. Until we figure out what steps to take against him, we need to keep hidden."

Shock was written into almost every face in the room. Harry and Albus remained still and unmoving, but the rest gaped at Draco in stunned silence. The weight of the words was more than enough to crush any other worry they may have had.

Hermione was the first to speak. She rested her head against Ron's shoulder, trembling a little as she said, "Rose and Hugo are with Molly and Arthur. They're safe at the Burrow. For now."

Freckled face pale, Ginny reached up to wipe a tear from her cheek. She looked at all three of her children, shaking her head slowly back and forth. "This... This can't be happening again..."

"Gin..." Harry tried to console her, but found he didn't have the words. His voice died out and he shrugged in defeat.

Ron hadn't taken his eyes off of Draco the whole time. They were narrowed in deep thought, which he expressed with an almost accusing question. "So...you're on our side this time?"

A growl grew deep in Draco's throat. He took a menacing step towards the other man, hand on his wand in his pocket. "Is that so hard to believe, Weasley? After all, I did save your nephew from the Dark Lord's clutches. Want to know what they were doing to him there? Using him for entertainment. They used the Cruciatus Curse on him. They laughed as he writhed and cried in agony on the floor. They had no regard for his life. And I saved him. Tell me, if I was still with them, would I have risked my life to do that?"

Albus stared up at Draco and pushed to his feet. He crossed to the pantry, frowning. That was what had been done to him? He knew of the Cruciatus Curse. Had studied it in Defense Against the Dark Arts and knew its power. But never had he dreamed it would feel that horrible. He pulled a bottle of Firewhiskey from the top shelf along with a jug of butterbeer. Silently, he placed them on the table, looking around the room. It seemed that at a time like this, they could use a drink to numb some of the pain.

James stood and grabbed glasses without hesitation. He then proceeded to pour himself a tall drink of Firewhiskey, jaw set tightly. In turn, everyone except for Lily and Hermione took a glass as well. They instead poured butterbeer. Silently and in unison, everyone raised their glasses together, looking absolutely determined.

"Son of a bitch is goin' down again, right Dad?" James said resolutely.

After hitching his glass slightly upwards, Harry nodded and took a long drink. "Right," he said at the end with a hint of a smile.

A sinking feeling in the pit of Albus' stomach said otherwise. He sipped on his own amber liquid, eyes kept on the table. Despite the confidence in the air, he couldn't help but to feel like something was wrong this time. Somehow they didn't have the upper hand.

They couldn't win this war a third time.

A/N: I have a miserable number of reviews and I'd really like to know what you think! Good or bad, leave one kay?

I am also offering email updates for this fic. If you are interested, leave your email address in your review and I will email you when I get another chapter up.
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Set the World on Fire