"May the Light
Shine Forth," Lily Evans Potter
In the morning, Harry woke to see
Hedwig sitting on his desk with a small package tied to her leg. "Mornin'
Hedwig," he said softly as he reached for the package. Turning it in his hands,
he saw that it was from Remus.
""What is it, Harry?""
Harry shook his head and opened the small box.
Inside, there was a small piece
of folded parchment. He picked it up and saw that there was a galleon beneath
it. Unfolding the note, he read it out loud to Draco.
Good Morning Harry,
Tonks and I have decided after
what has happened, you need a backdoor out in case of emergency. The magic word
is Sirius.
Remus
P.S. from Tonks - Don't forget
your leathers -
Harry picked up the coin. It wasn't
really a galleon - on one side it bore the usual imprint of a wizard coin, on
the other was the head of a dog. Harry sighed.
After breakfast, Harry was sitting at his desk studying wards. The books and new bag that he had ordered from
Flourish and Blotts would come in handy for his purpose. He had decided that he
would study wards before going to Godric's Hollow. The necessity of protecting
himself and possibly his home was a top priority. That was why he had owl
ordered four reference books that focused on protective wards. The knapsack was
a specialty item in that it could hold everything he owned and still be feather
light.
Sighing, he whispered, ""Why
didn't we learn this stuff at Hogwarts?""
""Seventh year, Arithmancy
and Charms,
Potter.""
Harry groaned.
Knock, knock.
Draco slid into the desk drawer
as Harry stood and went to see who was at the door.
"Aunt Petunia, what do you want?"
Harry arched his brow waiting for an answer.
Biting her lip, she asked, "May I
come in? There's something I need to talk to you about."
Nodding, Harry stepped aside so
that she could enter.
Aunt Petunia looked around
Harry's room with interest. "You're studying?" She walked over to the desk and
looked down to see a reference book, Basic Warding, Harlan S. A.
Conall. Fingering it with one hand, she pushed the desk drawer closed with the other.
""Hey, I'm in here.""
Harry bit his lip. "Aunt Petunia,
is something bothering you?" She surprised him by turning around and sitting in
his chair.
Harry frowned and sat on the bed.
"What is it?"
"Vernon is coming home tomorrow."
After pausing to study Harry for a moment, she continued, "I know about your inheritance.
I...I think you should go as soon as possible."
Harry's brow rose. He pulled his
feet up and sat cross-legged. "You've known about that since Dumbledore told you
last year. Why the sudden change?"
Aunt Petunia looked down at her
clasped hands, twisting her fingers. "Vernon, well...he was always afraid of
Dumbledore. That's why he gave you this room. It wasn't exactly from the
goodness of his heart, you know. Well, now that Dumbledore is dead...I think
he is going to try to get your inheritance based on the fact that you are
underage." Looking at the clothing packages that Harry had not put away, she
added, "I know your inheritance is substantial because Lily once told me about
an arrogant rich sod from school." Locking her eyes with Harry's, she said,
"Lily married him."
"I'll be of age in a few weeks,
Aunt Petunia; he won't be able to do anything."
Biting her lip, she shook her
head. "He's going to claim that since you grew up in the Muggle world you should
not be of age until your 18th birthday. He's already hired a lawyer."
Harry inhaled sharply.
""Bloody hell,"" Draco
said from the drawer.
Harry stood and walked to the
window. Looking out over the backyard which held his own special memories of the
Weasleys in an old Ford Anglia and Aunt Marge full of hot air floating away, he shook his head in
anger. ""Fuck,"" he hissed out.
"Beg your pardon?" Aunt Petunia
looked at him with arched brows.
Harry turned around. "I was
planning to study wards so that I could try to extend the life of the wards
here. I haven't been here long enough for that to happen. Some things have
happened and I think you will need extra protection. The wards here always
worked two ways, my presence protected you and Dudley and your presence
protected me."
Aunt Petunia sighed as she pulled
a small book from her apron pocket. Biting her lip, she reached her hand out
holding it for Harry to take.
Harry crossed his room and took
the burgundy red and gold book from her hand. When his hand came into contact
with it, it was as if the book knew it had come home; shifting, it began to grow
into a reference sized tome. Looking down, Harry read, Just in
Case...written across the front in filigree script lettering. Across the
bottom was...Lily Evans Potter. Stunned, he sat down hard on
the bed.
""What, Potter?""
""Mum.""
"Beg your pardon?" Aunt Petunia
was looking at him with a confused look on her face. That was twice Harry had
something which she didn't understand.
"Mum," Harry said again, this
time in English. He opened the book to find a note on the front page.
This is a Book of Shadows created by Lily Evans Potter.
It is called
Just in Case for a very basic reason...
Just in Case...of disaster.
During my
lifetime, I have seen the century's worst Dark Lord.
He is no Lord.
He is a demon.
If necessary,
use the information within for his downfall.
Lily Evans
Potter
May the Light
Shine Forth
Flipping the pages, Harry
discovered page after page of defensive spells, potions for healing and at the
very back - wards. Inhaling sharply, he looked up to his aunt.
She nodded and stood to leave.
Pausing at the door, she turned. "Lily sent that to me before she died."
Looking around his room once more, she continued, "Harry, perhaps you should hide your new
things. There might be room under the floor board if you shrink it. There is a
wandless spell in there that Lily used to use." Stepping out of the door, she gave Harry a
sad smile and then closed it softly.
Harry's head was spinning. She
knew about the floor board? Don't I have any secrets? Walking to the desk,
he sat down and opened the drawer for Draco.
""What was that all about?""
Harry showed him the book.
Sighing, he whispered, ""It was mum's." He read the opening page to Draco.
""She was right, he is a demon.""
""I could have told you that.""
Harry began looking through the back of the book where the wards were. He sighed
when he saw the third one.
""What?""
""The Fidelus Charm. That's what
they used before they were killed. Wormtail was the Secret Keeper."" He frowned,
looking at Draco. ""You should know that.""
""Not the details. You gotta know
that Voldemort's downfall was not happily discussed at Malfoy Manor.""
Harry's brow rose, he had never
heard Draco say Voldemort. ""You said Voldemort.""
""Yeah, well maybe it
is time. I know a really smart witch who once said, 'fear of the name only
increases fear of the thing itself.' I admit I'm scared but maybe it is one way
to begin losing my fear. What are we going to do about
leaving? Are you really going to go?""
Harry tilted his head asking,
""Should I tell 'Mione you said that?""
Draco flicked his tail end.
""Maybe not yet.""
Harry nodded and then turned looking around
his room. He wouldn't miss it but he didn't feel ready. ""I guess
we'll have
to go to Grimmauld Place.""
""Grimmauld Place? That's the
Black Manor. How can you get in there? I heard that it was under the Fidelus
Charm and unplottable.""
""It was. I inherited it from
Sirius.""
""Bloody hell...that's..."" Draco's
voice trailed off as he studied Harry.
""What?""
""Well Mr. Potter,"" Draco said
formally, ""if you inherited the Black fortune and the Potter estates, that
makes you one of the richest wizards in the UK. Mother told me they fought with
somebody over it. I wonder why she never said it was you.""
Harry stared; he was still stuck
on 'richest wizards in the UK.' ""NO.""
""Yep.""
""Fuck.""
Draco laughed. ""You like that
word, don't you?""
Harry had just gotten out of the shower later that
afternoon and returned to his room when there was a loud noise downstairs.
Frowning, he pulled some jeans on quickly to go investigate. Just as Harry's
hand reached for the door; it opened.
Dudley stuck his head in. "Harry," he whispered.
Harry arched his brow at his cousin.
"Mum said to tell you that Aunt Marge and dad just got here.
He wasn't supposed to be back until tomorrow."
Dudley frowned. "She said, 'get ready.'" Finishing with his own brow arched in
question, he looked around Harry's room. It was clean, something very unusual.
"Dudley?!" Aunt Petunia's voice came up the stairs.
Ripper started barking excitedly.
Scowling, Harry nodded, reached under his bed and pulled a
knapsack out. Across the front were letters spelling out, Featherweight
Infinity. Harry turned to the desk. ""Come on, Draco, we're leaving.""
Dudley gasped when a snake slithered up out of the desk
drawer. He stepped back, frowning.
Harry picked up Draco and unceremoniously dumped him into his
oversized jean pocket. Turning to Dudley, he said, "Tell Aunt Petunia..."
"Dudley!" Vernon yelled up the stairs.
"I'll see her soon about what we talked about. Gotta go," he
said as footsteps came up the stairs. Harry picked up the galleon that had been
lying on his desk. Palming it and wrapping his fingers around the gold piece, he
said, "Sirius." Harry vanished.
Harry landed in the middle of 12 Grimmauld
Place's drawing room.
Remus looked up at him startled, shaking
his head. "Harry?" He pushed his chair back from the desk where he was
sitting.
Harry inhaled sharply nodding. "Hi Remus." He
walked to Remus' desk. "I had to leave because Uncle Vernon came home. I'm
wondering about something."
Arching his brow, Remus asked, "What is it,
Harry?"
"Aunt Petunia told me that Uncle Vernon hired
a lawyer to try and take control of all of my inheritance. Can he do that?"
Remus shook his head. "He can try, Harry.
Don't forget Sirius' will has already been contested once. Even with the
funds they had backing them, the Malfoys lost."
""He's right.""
Harry hissed through his teeth. "So what
you're saying is, when I have more important things to do with my life -
like...oh, I don't know - Voldemort - he can try something like
this?!"
Remus nodded.
""Fuck.""
Remus looked startled. "Harry, what was
that?"
Harry glared at Remus.
Remus continued to give him a look sternness.
Finally, Harry sighed as though the air
escaped his lungs in a mad rush to be free. "I just said fuck in
Parseltongue, Remus. It's no big deal."
"Since when did you start swearing or even
speaking openly in Parseltongue, Harry?"
Harry began to pace in front of the fireplace,
shaking his head. "You gotta admit, Remus, that swearing in Parseltongue has its
advantages - especially since absolutely no one around can understand
me."
""Hey."" Draco's voice came across as joking.
Harry bit the inside of his cheek in an effort to
hide his amusement at Draco's tone.
Remus snorted. "That may be true, Harry. However,
you will find that most wizards are turned off by it. Are you trying to scare
people?"
Harry growled angrily. He was not in the habit of
being annoyed or angry with Remus - it was a new and strange experience.
"Remus," he said. "Why are you changing the subject? I'm more worried about
Uncle Vernon and Voldemort right now. You know, Aunt Petunia actually suggested
that I leave? It's like she was trying to protect me from him or something. I
still can't believe he hired a lawyer. I need to do something about that
right now." Harry looked at Remus with stubbornness.
"If that's the way you feel, Harry, we can owl
the Woodard Brothers. That's the law firm who took care of the previous
contesting."
""Ooh, they are good. No wonder father lost.""
Harry nodded. "That's what we need to do then
Remus. I'm going to take my things up to my room now." He turned to leave the
drawing room only to find himself stopped in mid-step as a small body was flung
at him. "Oomph." Harry looked down, just a bit concerned about Draco in his
pocket.
""Ouch. What was that?""
"Mister Harry Potter has come home."
""Dobby?""
"Dobby, what are you doing here?"
Dobby smiled and stepped back. "Mr. Dumbledore
sent Dobby here. I was told to wait for you."
Harry arched his brow high, returning his gaze
back to Remus.
"That's true, Harry," Remus replied with a smile.
"Dumbledore assigned Dobby to take care of the manor during spring break. He
has been working at both Hogwarts and here. Didn't Dumbledore tell you?"
Harry shook his head. "No, he didn't."
Remus nodded. "Dobby, please take Harry up to his
room. I believe he probably thinks he will be staying in his old room. Harry,
I'll write a note to the attorneys while you get settled. It will be best if
they know about this before getting notice from a law firm."
"Thanks, Remus."
Dobby was pulling Harry out of the room.
Harry grinned down at him. "Okay, Dobby. I'm
coming."
"Winky is here, too, sir. Your room is this way,
sir." Dobby led Harry through the foyer past a silently yelling Mrs. Black.
Harry arched his brow at her, which seemed to
intensify her anger further. She shook her fist at him.
Dobby giggled and wagged his ears.
"Dobby?"
Dobby grinned and whispered, "It pays to have
been a Malfoy elf."
Draco made a gaffing sound from Harry's pocket.
"Dobby knows secrets that others don't. Dobby
fixed her." Grinning once more, he made a sign like someone buttoning up their
lips and throwing away the key. He finished off with another giggle as he led
Harry down the upper hall.
Harry sighed as Dobby took him past his old room
which he had shared with Ron to Sirius' old room. He stopped outside the door.
"Dobby."
"It's the finest room for you, sir."
Harry groaned and stepped through to find that
the room and been redone with Gryffindor red and gold, muted with cream colors
mixed in. The drapes were wide open, allowing the summer sun to shine in
brightly. Harry inhaled sharply at the opulence before him.
"Mister Harry Potter is pleased?"
"Yes, Dobby. This is great. Couldn't you call me
Harry?"
"No sir. You is Dobby and Winky's employer. You
must always be Mister Harry Potter."
Harry grumbled and dropped his bag on the large
oversized bed.
"Would you like your things unpacked, Mister
Harry Potter, sir?"
"No thank you. Not right now, Dobby. I would
really like to have some time alone, if you don't mind."
Dobby nodded and popped out.
""Bloody hell, Potter. He never acted like that
at Malfoy Manor, even though I got along with him.""
Harry snorted. Lying back on the bed, he
whispered, ""I can't believe Dumbledore sent him here.""
""Dumbledore knew he was dying, Harry."" Draco
said this gently. He now understood the sense of loss that death brought when
someone close to you died. Slithering out of Harry's pocket and up onto his
chest, he raised his head up to look into Harry's eyes.
Harry stroked him. ""What do you mean? Because he
knew you were trying to kill him?""
""No. His burned and blacked hand was just one of
the symptoms that he was dying. Sev told me about it - before - well, you
know.""
Harry sighed as he continued to stroke Draco. ""I
wondered about that."" Closing his eyes, Harry shook his head.
Silence embraced them.
Harry opened his eyes. ""Draco?""
Draco blinked at him.
Harry looked deeply into his eyes. ""Three
weeks,"" he whispered. ""Fuck, Draco, I don't think...""
Draco lowered his head to Harry's chest. ""You
can't do wandless magic?""
""Little things is all.""
Knock, knock.
Harry watched as Draco slithered under a pillow
on the bed. "Yeah?"
"Harry, it's almost time for dinner. Just thought
I would let you know. Are you going to come down?" Remus spoke through the door.
"Remus, you know you can come in, right?"
Remus opened the door. "Are you finished
unpacking?"
Harry shook his head. "No, I was just thinking."
Remus gave him a small smile. "Harry, don't worry
about Vernon Dursley. Wizard law has been in place for a very long time. Sure,
it has been contested on occasion, however, in instances like this; I believe
you will be the winner in the long run. We could even tie it up in court until
you are 18, if need be."
Harry rubbed his face fiercely. "I guess you are
right. I just don't want to have to worry about it. I'm planning to strengthen
the wards for Aunt Petunia."
Remus looked surprised at that decision bringing
a rise to his brows.
"Remus," Harry said stubbornly, "she may not have
been the greatest aunt. Like Dumbledore said, 'she took me - even grudgingly.' No
one should have to die the way Professor Snape did. I want to protect her from
that." Harry reached over and pulled his knapsack to him. Reaching in, he pulled
out the book that Aunt Petunia had given him. "Look what she gave me."
Remus took the book. Looking down at it in his
hand, a look of surprise crossed his face. "How did she get this, Harry?"
"Mum sent it to her just before she died. It has
a lot of information in it on wards. More in fact, than the books I ordered from
Flourish & Blotts."
"That would be because your mother was excellent
at Charms and Arithmancy, Harry. One of the best, in fact."
"Remus, would you be willing to help me with
this? I found out that most of that stuff is covered in seventh year." Harry
wasn't ready to tell Remus that he would not be returning to Hogwarts - even if
it was reopened. "I can't wait that long. It's important, Remus."
"Sure Harry. We'll start on it after dinner if
you like."
"That would be great, thanks Remus."
After dinner, Harry was in the drawing room
showing his research to date on the wards he was considering for Privet
Drive. Shaking his head, he asked Remus, "Why can't this one work?"
"Harry that one..."
The air in the room was cut with a loud, "Screee!"
Harry turned to see Kreacher standing over Draco
with a silver candlestick ready to attack. With fierce hostility, he brought it
down.
"NO!!" Harry roared out as he flung his hand out
towards Kreacher.
Kreacher flew through the air, making contact
with the mantel; a loud crack denoting his sudden demise due to a broken neck.
Tonks, who had come running at the sound of
Harry's yell, gasped and went to the house elf.
Harry was only concerned about Draco. Rushing
forward and bending to pick him up, Harry hissed, ""Are you alright? I told you
to stay upstairs.""
Draco was breathing heavily.
"Harry, Kreacher is dead."
Harry scowled at Tonks. "Well isn't that just too
bad. He killed Sirius and he tried to kill FireEater. I didn't want him in my
house anyway."
"Harry, when did you get a snake?"
Harry growled. "Oh come on, Remus. Don't tell
that you think having a shake for a pet is evil?"
Tonks was watching him as he caressed Draco.
"That's what was going on."
Harry scowled defensively almost as though ready
for an attack.
"At the mall, you were talking to him."
Harry clutched Draco.
""Ouch. Go easy, Potter.""
Harry started backing away, stubbornness etched
on his face. "You're not taking him away. He is my friend. I won't lose him."
Remus sighed, shaking his head. "We aren't going
to take him away, Harry. I'm just wondering why you felt it necessary to keep
him a secret."
Harry held Remus' gaze stubbornly.
""He makes a good point, Potter.""
""Why do you call me that?"" Harry's voice was
upset as he looked to Draco waiting for an answer.
""It's your name. It wasn't meant to be
derogatory, Harry. You know we're past that now.""
Sighing sadly, Harry whispered, ""Sorry.""
Looking back to Remus, he said, "I'm sorry, Remus. I guess I thought maybe you
wouldn't understand."
Nodding, Remus said, "Ok Harry." Turning to Tonks
who was still beside Kreacher watching them, he said, "What do we need to do
about Kreacher?"
"It will have to be reported." Tonks looked at
Harry calculating. "Harry, have you ever done wandless magic to such a degree
before?"
"No. I was so scared that he was going to kill...er, FireEater that I just..." Harry's voice trailed off as he studied
his hand thoughtfully.
"Emotions."
Remus and Harry both looked at her slightly
confused.
Sighing and rolling her eyes, she said, "In the
heat of the moment, Harry had a burst of extra magic. Apparently his snake is
important to him." This last Tonks said with an arched brow of inquiry at Harry.
Harry bit his lip and looked down, a slight blush
crossing his cheeks.
""Aw, Potter, you're blushing. I do believe that
I must...""
""Shut up.""
Draco snickered.
Harry looked up to see both Remus and Tonks
studying him.
"Well, okay," Tonks said. "I'll just floo the
Ministry and have someone come."
"Do you really have to? Why can't we just..."
"Harry, we have to follow the law. Kreacher was
killed. He didn't just die of old age."
Harry sat down heavily on the couch, leaning his
head back, he said, ""Fuck fuckity fuck.""
"Harry."
"I'm swearing, Remus."
Tonks snorted and left to go the kitchen floo.
Two hours later, Harry was finally allowed to
leave the drawing room after vigorous questioning by an official of the Dept. of
Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Sighing, he entered his bed chamber
wondering if life could possibly ever be boring. It had been a little scary at
first because Harry had been afraid that they would take Draco away from him.
The Ministry official had told him that although he was not required to register
a snake, word of his having one, might not be a good thing to some people. Harry
had scowled at the man and insisted that there was nothing wrong with having a
snake as a pet - in fact; Muggles had been known to own snakes. He had projected
his fiercest scowl until Remus had stepped in and saved the poor man.
Harry entered the bathroom that had been created
for him and closed the door. Somehow, this inner room within his suite was the
equivalent of an inner sanctum. Sighing, he turned the shower on and began to
disrobe.
""Wish to bloody hell I could take a shower.""
Smirking, Harry asked, ""What don't snakes like
water?""
""Potter, you know that's not what I meant.""
Harry shook his head. ""Yeah, I was just trying
to lighten the mood. You could get in with me if you like.""
Draco sighed. ""Do you think you could do it?""
Inhaling sharply, Harry said, ""It's too risky.""
""Harry...""
""NO.""
""Harry, I've been thinking.""
""DRACO, I SAID NO!!"" A glass container
exploded, sending shards everywhere.
Draco slithered under a small dresser in the
corner, hissing angrily.
""Draco, come out. Come on, I'm sorry.""
""Fuck you, Potter.""
Hissing angrily himself, Harry swept his hand and
cleared the broken glass with no problem. Then Harry sat down hard on the floor;
the ceramic tile beneath his bare arse was cool. ""Draco,"" he pleaded.
""You're really screwy, you know that, Potter?
You are probably one of the most powerful wizards of our time, yet you are
screwy. All I wanted to say was that maybe with our combined magical energies,
we could do it.""
""Draco, please come out.""
Silence and stillness confronted Harry,
oppressing him to his very soul. Closing his eyes, he laid back fully on the
floor trying to breathe at regular intervals because his heart was racing. Long
minutes passed before Draco nudged Harry's fingers. A wrenching sob escaped from
somewhere deep inside Harry.
""Do it."" Draco slithered up onto Harry's chest.
""Harry.""
Harry caressed Draco with both hands. Allowing
his longing and need to expand from his heart, Harry exhaled his breath. ""To be,"" he whispered, inhaling sharply as the weight on his chest changed.
Opening his eyes in surprise, Harry looked up into the sterling silver eyes of
Draco. Another sob escaped as Draco lowered his lips to caress Harry's jaw and
then mouth. Moaning deeply, Harry brought his fingers up to entwine in Draco's
soft hair. Arching up, he hissed through his teeth as Draco's cock met his.
""Draco.""
Draco laughed softly and pulled away. "I can't
understand you, but it sounds sexy as..."
Harry interrupted by rolling them and pressing
his mouth to Draco's, seeking his tongue and cock. Their tongues danced in
eagerness, becoming reacquainted with pleasure. Sending his fingers in
exploration, Harry hummed from deep in his throat as he devoured Draco's neck.
Pulling away, he locked his eyes with Draco's. Slowly, almost as if the action
was controlled by forces outside himself, Harry began to move. Cock to cock; they
danced allowing their moans to direct them.
"Harry..." Draco said as he
arched his neck back to give free access.
The sound of his name coming from Draco's
beautiful mouth sent Harry over the edge. "Cum on, Draco," he hissed as he
picked up speed. The friction between their cocks was exquisite. Harry cried out
as Draco's nails raked his back. ""Cum on..."" Harry thrust his tongue into
Draco's mouth as he shot his white gold. Fusion - mingled with newly discovered
boundlessness carried them on a journey of bliss. Finally, after many long
moments, Harry pulled away. "Draco?" he whispered.
Draco was lying beneath him trembling.
"Draco?"
"Merlin, Harry," Draco's voice was shaky as well.
"What the fuck?"
"It's okay, Draco..."
Draco closed his eyes, breathing rapidly, he
swallowed. "Fuck, it's never been..."
"Shhh, it's okay," Harry said again as he laved
Draco's jaw, pausing on his pulse point, sucking on its exquisite energy. Harry
held him in a tight embrace until Draco's post orgasm trembles stopped,
whispering to him in Parseltongue.
AN: Sorry folks, no shower scene today - maybe later. *G* LL
