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Harry had the option. For the first time since everything he’d known in his life had been blown up and magic had become something real, he had a choice. He’d shared a bit about what was going on with Dumbledore in their secret meetings with Ron and Hermione, and they were great, really. But he didn’t tell them everything. And now that Dumbledore was dead? Things had changed. He felt like he was waking up from a spell and being dropped from the Astronomy tower all in one go.
He knew what he had to do, as far as the horcruxes were concerned. And he knew that it had to be him to do it. But he also didn’t know who all was involved in Dumbledore’s plan. Had his friends known that he had been under compulsions? That he was being shoved at Ginny? That the whole time he hadn’t actually felt attracted to her? So he kept the locket hidden and attended the funeral, preparing to head home like everyone else.
“Did you feel it?” Ginny asked anxiously, pulling him to an empty carriage on the train.
“Yeah.” Harry sighed. It was a relief that it wasn’t only him who was enchanted. “You?”
“Merlin, I feel like I just woke up for the first time in months!” She exclaimed. “Oh, he’s lucky he’s dead or I’d hex his bollocks off.”
“Nothing to do about it now, Gin.” He grinned half-heartedly. “He orchestrated that for some purpose. I just don’t know what it was other than guilt tripping some of the Order and getting them to see us as my parents.”
“I’ll talk to Lupin and Tonks.” Ginny nodded certainly. “I need to know if they are under anything or if they saw what the bastard was doing to us.”
“Ask Fred or George to check everyone for spells or potions.” Harry agreed. “They’re probably the best to do it since everyone will just think they’re planning a prank or something.”
“I’ll have them come by and bring something they can hide in our food or something to cleanse everyone.” Ginny added.
“They’re going to make some sort of reckless plan for the summer, the Order. Try to get me out of the house or some other shit before my birthday. Don’t let them. Rope Bill and Charlie in if you can get them all cleansed. I’ve, er, got something I’ve got to take care of. I can’t do it if there are a lot of people involved.”
“Be safe, alright? Be smart. I know you are and I know you hide it because you know everyone is usually focusing on Hermione for the answers. I’ll send messages, along with the twins, somehow.”
“I’ll try.” Harry nodded. “I want to apologize for what happened, but we were both being used. So I kinda want to just be next in line to hex the old man when you’re done.”
“Long as I’m first, have at.” She grinned. “Have you told Ron or Hermione?”
“No.” Harry shook his head. “He may be dead, but I’m sure his plans aren’t done yet. I’ve got to figure out what they are.”
“We’ll take care of the school, if you can’t come back right away. You take care of what you need to take care of. Just promise to come back at some point and help me try and explain some of this shit to the adults who have been utterly useless.” Harry laughed and she smiled brighter.
“Alright. See ya, Gin.” Harry hugged before she took off to find someone else to talk to. He hid under his cloak for the remainder of the train ride, sneaking off as soon as they were back and slipping away from the platform before anyone could look for him. He hurried when he noticed Remus sniffing the air in search of him.
Once he was back at Privet Drive, he made dinner like he was always expected to do and stood up, crossing his arms, facing his awful relatives.
“I’m leaving.” He said certainly. “You were under threat of Dumbledore to keep me in the first place, I get that. You never wanted me or anything to do with my world. Dumbledore’s dead, though. Whatever he threatened you with is over. I don’t care about it. I was told repeatedly that as long as I thought of this place as home, it was protected.”
“And?” Uncle Vernon sneered, looking unhappy to have to listen to Harry talk.
“And it never has been home for me.” Harry looked between his Aunt and Uncle. “I’ve no idea what protections could have held when you hated me so much for existing. Wards or no wards, it isn’t safe for any of us to be here anymore. Not when I come of age for my kind in a month. The people responsible for my parents’ deaths are infiltrating the magical government. It won’t be long before they figure out this address. I’m not telling you to move or not move. But I’m leaving. If they come looking for me and find you? They won’t hesitate to kill you.”
“Why would they want anything from us?” Aunt Petunia demanded. “We are nothing to them.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Harry shrugged. “They tortured me when I was 14. Used curses against me, nearly killing me. Muggle or not, magical or not, adult or not, it won’t matter to them.”
“What?” Dudley asked, eyes wide and fearful. “They tortured you? Is that why you were so … off that summer?”
“I was entered into a magical tournament meant for witches or wizards who were of age; who were 17. Said I had no choice but to participate. Thing is, I could have got out of it if my guardians said I wasn’t allowed and withdrew me. So I fought dragons, nearly drowned in a lake trying to rescue my friends who were being held by mermaids, and then had to personally fight the man who killed my parents after he’d tortured me several times. He killed a classmate that made it that far with me. It’s why I didn’t sleep much that summer. Kept seeing Cedric be killed over and over.
“My godfather may have only seen me as a smaller version of my father, but I knew he cared. Then he died in front of me as well. I was tortured throughout that whole school year after I turned 15. One of the teachers is why I have this on my hand.” Harry showed his cousin the words on his hand. “This past year, the bastard Headmaster put compulsions on me and showed me, essentially, the entire personal history of the wizard who grew up to be the one that killed my family. Instead of taking it to an actual authority figure, he showed it to me. He’s been planning this whole time for me to take on a task that is meant to end in my death. So. Stay here, don’t stay here. But I’m leaving. I’m stopping this other bastard from making anymore war orphans like me.”
“A week.” Aunt Petunia said, glancing at Uncle Vernon quickly. “Give us a week to set our affairs in order, then go. That way we’ll all be leaving the same time.”
“I will eat regular meals during this week.” Harry replied, staring at his Aunt who looked more pinched. “No more starving me and hoping that it somehow kills me. No more endless tasks before being locked away like some dirty secret.”
“Fine.” Uncle Vernon bit out.
Harry nodded and cleared his place from the table and went to his room. He emptied his trunk and started sorting through his things. He put what he’d need in his rucksack, and left the rest in the trunk. He’d shrink it down and maybe drop it off somewhere to try and create a fake trail. He frowned when he found a copy of a book he’d never seen before in his things. Tales of Beedle the Bard. He spent a few days looking through it and understood what else was going on. Voldemort was looking for the Deathly Hallows. Wanting to not just have his horcruxes, but also be Master of Death.
“I want the chance to see you when you’re done.” Dudley said slowly, glancing over his shoulder to make sure his dad was still busy loading the car. “I know I was a shit cousin, I know that now. So I’ve got a lot to make up for.”
“You don’t have to.” Harry frowned in confusion.
“I know. But I want to. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, I don’t have any other cousins. I see my mates and theirs, and, well. I should have had what they do if I wasn’t so shit to you growing up. Just think about it, please? I’ve … I’ve a lot to make up for. And I want to get to know you like I should of done.”
“Alright, Big D.” Harry agreed, shaking his hand.
“Here.” Aunt Petunia hurried past him, but handed him a stack of parchment. “I want nothing to do with any of this anymore. I lost my sister a long time ago and never had time to deal with it because no one in your entire freakish world felt the need to inform me in person of what happened. So. Do what you have to. Stop them. Live anywhere else. Whatever. Don’t come back.” She turned away from him and got into the car quickly.
Harry didn’t look at what she gave him, just put it in his rucksack and pressed the shrinking rune on his trunk and stuck it in his bag, locking the locks on his door before leaving, along with the front door. They were going to sell the house after Harry’s birthday, so once the wards were gone they wouldn’t have to return.
Harry took a few trains back toward the school and walked to where he knew Hogsmeade and Hogwarts were. He pulled his cloak on when he got to the school and made it to the Headmaster’s office without running into anyone. He kept his cloak on and dug out the ruined horcruxes from the drawer and stuck them in his bag. He grabbed several of the memories as well, so they wouldn’t just be destroyed or disappear before anyone learned the truth. Before he could change his mind, he went to the Room of Requirement and found the tiara he’d seen when hiding the potions book that reminded him of the diary and placed it in a curse box that he found on another shelf in the room. Might as well have them all together.
It didn’t take much to get Rita to meet him in Cardiff, once he was done. His face was itchy with the beard that had started coming in. He knew some of his classmates had had to start shaving, but he thought he had a few more years before he really had to worry about it.
“Mr. Potter.” Rita said in surprise, finally recognizing him.
“Ms. Skeeter.” Harry nodded, gesturing for her to sit opposite him. “You’re going to write a story on Dumbledore.”
“Yes.” She conceded. “It’s already proofed and ready for print, as it stands.”
“How would you feel about adding another layer?” Harry offered.
“I’m listening.”
“First, you will print an apology for running stories about underage witches and wizards during the tournament. You were stalking children, Ms. Skeeter. From where you most likely got some of your information, one could have you arrested for attempted assault of minors, let alone the potential scandal for seeing them when they were indisposed.”
“I didn’t hurt anyone.” She said indignantly.
“So you are unfamiliar with the emotional and psychological development of teenagers?” Harry argued, raising an eyebrow at her. “You caused so much harm from what you printed, and you have no remorse for the fact that you were causing abuse of children. You will apologize, or I will go elsewhere.”
“Fine.” She gritted her teeth.
“I’ll have an oath, if you will.” Harry nodded to her bag where he knew her wand was.
“I, Rita Skeeter, swear that I will publish the requested and necessary apology for my actions and reports during the Triwizard Tournament.” Her wand glowed, accepting the oath and Harry nodded as she hurriedly put it back in her bag.
“Good. Now. Do you know Voldie’s real name or story?” He asked, thanking the waitress that came by and dropped off a couple of coffees.
“Dumbledore blabbed about Tom Riddle.” She said slowly. “But I’ve not been able to find anything about him.”
“You won’t.” Harry agreed. “I’ve got some memories. Some from Dumbledore’s mind himself. I’ll even add one of mine in. I want his story published and pushed out. I’d prefer to go to the Ministry, but I know with your writing ability they’ll come to you for answers and proof of the memories. It might just prevent the Death Eaters from taking it over.”
“You’re optimistic.” She stated, sipping her coffee.
“No, just realistic. I know it isn’t a guarantee. But it’s worth a shot. You’re going to get to one of these, and you’re going to find the truth behind how he was able to be vanquished and come back. You’re not going to want to print it, because it’ll paint a target on all the people who are aware of the truth, as well as who brought it out. But I’d like you to do it anyway. Then hide, if you must. Show the Aurors you trust your proof, and either get protection, or get hidden. He’ll want to know how you found out so much, and if he finds you got it from me? He’ll go into a panic to make sure his relics are safe. Can’t have him doing that until I’ve had a chance to get rid of them all.”
“You can stop him for good?” She asked hopefully, leaning forward.
“I believe so, yeah.” Harry nodded. “I’m not asking you to do anything outrageous. I’m simply asking you to do your job and report something truly newsworthy. I mean, imagine the shock you’ll cause from the world finding out that no-nose is really a half-blood?” Harry grinned when she nearly dropped her coffee.
“And you?” She asked, wiping up the bit she spilled. “Where will you be?”
“Can’t tell you that.” Harry shrugged. “I’ll be in touch when it’s done, though.”
“Then it looks like I have work to do.” Harry pulled out the box he’d stored the memories in, including his own about the Chamber of Secrets when Tom had appeared. She accepted them and placed them in her bag before nodding to Harry once more and leaving him alone. He’d already made copies of the memories and snuck in and stored them in Fred and George’s apartment under George’s bed.
He went to Gringotts next. Hiding under his cloak until he got inside. He stuffed it in his bag and approached a teller, asking to speak with an account manager. He was led to a lovely room to wait.
“Mr. Potter.” A goblin said, looking agitated. “We have been trying to reach you for years. Explain why you are only now approaching an account manager?”
“I was unaware you were trying to reach me.” Harry answered honestly. “I wanted to come and clear up a few unrelated things, though. Lock down properties, ask a few questions. Seems you have some of your own.”
“Indeed.” The goblin took a seat at the desk and waved for Harry to sit across from him. “Sign here to lock down the wards on all of the Black and Potter homes.” Harry looked over the paper and signed his name, gritting his teeth when it signed in his blood. He felt a strange sensation wash over him, not quite like a spell, but the goblin only grinned at him. “That’ll be the wards locking down, allowing only yourself entrance now.”
“Good.” Harry nodded. “I know you’d like to discuss my accounts, but I cannot do that at the moment. I will find a time to come take care of them, to sit with you or whoever you choose, so that way we can make further plans. However, I need to know what you or your people know about horcruxes.”
“Nasty, vile magic.” The goblin spat. “Extremely difficult to destroy.”
“I noticed.” Harry said, keeping his expression flat as the goblin startled. “Tom Riddle, more commonly known as Voldemort, made several. Dumbledore discovered this, but instead of taking it to authorities, he left them for me to-”
“Not acceptable!” The goblin interrupted. “You are a child, you should not be near such dark things!”
“Bit late for that.” Harry said, taking out the diary and destroyed ring. “I viewed a memory that showed a young Tom asking about making seven. The diary was one, the ring another. The chalice of Hufflepuff would be one, if you know where it is, and also the locket of Slytherin, though I think I know where that one is. The snake, Nagini, is potentially one. This is another, I believe.” Harry set out the box, flipping it open so the tiara was visible.
“The diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw.” The goblin grit his teeth and pressed several runes on his desk before more goblins entered the room. “Prepare the ritual room. This needs cleansed.”
“Yes, Prince Ragnok.” One goblin bowed, and Harry realized that he hadn’t actually introduced or been introduced to the goblin he was working with.
“I will accompany Master Potter to where he knows another relic is and we will return and can cleanse them together. Fetch the chalice from the LeStrange vault.” The goblins all bowed and left again while Prince Ragnok led Harry to the fireplace. “And where are we going, young Master?”
“Black family home in London. Grimmauld place.” Harry replied. Ragnok nodded and took his elbow as they walked into the fireplace and came out in the kitchen in Grimmauld, startling Kreacher. “Kreacher. I need the locket.” Harry said, unsurprised when the elf snarled at him.
“That is Master Regulus’ locket.” He argued, clutching at his chest, meaning he was wearing it. Harry sighed and summoned it without speaking, ignoring Kreacher’s shouts of dismay as it set down on the table.
“This is the locket of Salazaar Slytherin.” Ragnok said angrily before snapping his fingers so that it settled in a box similar to what Harry had the tiara in.
“Would you accept a replica?” Harry asked, looking at Kreacher. “Perhaps the one that Regulus put in its place when he made you go with him?”
“It is gone.” Kreacher said forlornly.
“It’s not.” Harry argued, setting down the replica so Kreacher could reach it, the note still tucked inside. “I’ve locked down the house, Kreacher, so no one else should be coming or going. You are free to move about the house, but you will not speak with anyone who is purposefully working with Voldemort.”
“Kreacher won’t sir.” Kreacher promised, holding the locket close to his chest reverently. “Kreacher will prepare the house for Master’s return.”
“Alright.” Harry nodded, heading back to the bank through the Floo. He followed Ragnok to the ritual room and watched in fascination as they moved the soul pieces out of the relics and placed them in a crystal, forcing them to merge once more. Once they were cleansed, the locket disappeared, as did the tiara. The locket settled against Harry’s chest under his shirt, surprising him for a moment.
“Heir of Slytherin by rite of conquest.” Ragnok stated, banging a staff on the ground. “Now the more difficult questions.”
“The snake.” Harry nodded, feeling a twinge in his scar and rubbing it.
“And you.” Ragnok said, staring at him with dark, knowing eyes.
“The snake first.” Harry argued.
“Fine.” Ragnok nodded to another group of goblins who bowed and disappeared. “They will retrieve the creature and bring it here.”
“Alright.” Harry nodded.
Harry stayed in a room in the bank near the vaults for almost two weeks before the others returned with Nagini. He worked with Ragnok on his accounts, getting them in order and informing them of his initial investment in Fred and George’s shop, which they quickly wrote up a further contract for. He also wrote Ginny occasionally to see how things were going on with her and most of her complaints were about her mother hovering and how frantic she was acting while trying to plan Bill’s wedding to Fleur.
He was surprised when he wrote to ask what exactly made them blood-traitors to get a note back from Bill explaining the situation and the only way to correct it. Harry asked if they were willing to end the curse and Harry got a response from George saying just name the time and place with a winking drawing at the bottom that made him laugh. Ginny practically offered him her unborn children to get her mother out of the house and Harry had had to take several minutes, nearly an hour, to stop laughing because he kept giggling about it.
He sent an anonymous donation to the Weasley’s, dubbing it an exclusive all expenses paid vacation for the couple for their years supporting the Ministry. Bill called it brilliant and Fred and George promised a year’s supply of fireworks for all students returning to Hogwarts for taking care of their parents like that. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley planned to take Ron with them at the least, since the Grangers were going to be taking a holiday at the same time in the same area. According to Ginny, Bill, and the twins, Ron had been pining way too much and it was getting on their nerves enough one of them was ready to hex him.
“
Calm.”
Harry commanded, watching as Nagini stopped thrashing as they got her fully in the ritual room. “
You are not yourself, do not let him control your mind as he has mine.”
“He is mine!”
She hissed, coiling up on herself, not noticing she was doing it in the center of the ritual circle.
“
And he still can be.”
Harry agreed. “
But he must be made whole once more.”
She paused and looked at him curiously. It gave the goblins enough time to initiate the ritual and pull the soul piece from her without causing her further harm. Once she was cleansed, she looked around as if confused.
“
Rest. And you can go back to him.”
Harry reassured and stroked her scales as she leaned her head against him. Harry sat on the floor with Nagini draped over his lap for most of a day before she woke up again.
“
You can make him my Tom again?”
She asked, once she’d been fed several mice.
“
We will try. We have joined the soul pieces we found. We wish to join them in Tom to see if they help.”
Harry answered, smiling when she bumped her head against him.
“
You carry him as well.”
She said, her tongue flicking across his scar.
“
I do. We are going to merge it with the other pieces, but I wanted to make sure most of them were taken care of, make sure you were alright, before doing mine.”
“I stay until you are done.”
She said certainly and Harry chuckled.
“She wants to stay until you’ve gotten the piece from me.” Harry told the goblin who was assigned to guard them.
“I will inform Prince Ragnok.” He bowed to Harry before leaving him and Nagini alone.
“Ms. Skeeter has published your story, Mr. Potter.” Ragnok said as he stormed in. “He will know today, if not within the hour, what we are doing so we must be quick.”
Harry stripped down as instructed and sat in the circle, trying to relax as he felt the beginning of anger pulsing down the connection he shared with Voldemort. Pain seared through his body from his scar, and he wasn’t sure if it was because of Voldemort’s emotions and anger, or from the ritual. He gasped for breath as the darkness went into the crystal and merged with the others.
He slept for a full day once he was done. Which was when Voldemort brought several of his followers to the bank. He must have been just as disoriented as Harry once the ritual was done, preventing him from coming sooner. Harry met him in the atrium with Nagini at his side while the goblins held the Aurors and other bank patrons back for their own protection.
“Potter.” Voldemort sneered as best he could. He looked ridiculous trying to do so without a nose.
“Tom.” Harry nodded in acknowledgement. “I’ve a proposition for you.”
“How dare you!” Bellatrix shrieked, but someone silenced her, most likely Ragnok. Harry had heard him rant about how much he hated her for nearly two hours.
“Nagini wishes to be with you. But she wishes for you to attempt to heal, first. To be complete once more.” Harry said, scratching her scales as she nodded agreement.
“
We can still have plans.”
She said, looking between Harry and Voldemort. “
But you need your mind well.”
“My mind is well enough.”
He argued.
“
It’s not.”
Harry retorted. “
Take your pieces back into yourself and see how you feel after. Dumbledore is gone. There is no one else to try making you feel small or worthless because you’re an orphan wizard.”
“We are nothing alike.”
He hissed at Harry.
“
No, but that is only because he made us this way.”
Harry said evenly, making Voldemort pause. “
He made us to serve his purpose, to fit the prophecy and war he was determined to bring about. If you want to study and pursue darker magic, fine. But you will do so with a clear, whole, mind. You will not follow Dumbledore and Grindlewald’s paths.”
“So you know.”
Voldemort looked at Harry and finally seemed to see Harry for who he was. “Interesting.”
“Consider that particular myth a family story.” Harry stated, raising an eyebrow. “Did you know? I never knew my family history, as you never knew yours until Hogwarts. Prince Ragnok showed me an interesting family line tracing back to one Ignotus Peverell.”
“The cloak.” Voldemort looked stunned. “You know of the others?”
“They are not yours.” Harry stated certainly. “The wand is safe where it is, but should that change, I will summon it to be held by the goblin nation. The stone, well, you had that one already at one point. You just didn’t realize it. Cadmus Peverell is the ancestor of Salazaar Slytherin, after all. The stone is the only one that can be considered rightfully yours. Even that, though, is debatable. When one takes into consideration the dark magic you infused it with after killing the Riddle’s.”
“
Heal your mind, Tom.”
Nagini added, making him turn to look at her instead of Harry. “
We will keep hatchlings like Harry safe.”
“I’m not a hatchling.”
Harry argued, but she gave him an unimpressed look.
“And the Ministry?” Voldemort asked, looking back to Harry curiously.
“I’ve a few people on that.” Harry answered.
“Taken care of.” George said, striding in with Ginny, Fred, and Bill. “Heya, Har. Love the beard.”
“And why should we believe a blood-traitor?” Lucious hissed, wincing when Voldemort looked at him in disapproval.
“We were only blood-traitors because someone in the family, a century ago, mind you, refused to follow through on a marriage contract.” Ginny rolled her eyes. “Turns out that was more easily remedied than expected.”
“How?” Draco asked before he could stop himself, but Voldemort nodded his acceptance of his outburst, apparently more alright with Draco than Lucius at the moment.
“As Heir Malfoy asked,” Voldemort said, “how?”
“The contract was between the Black’s and the Weasley’s.” Bill shrugged. “In order to appease the contract, Heir Black agreed to marry a Weasley.”
“And who is Heir Black if not my son?” Narcissa demanded.
“Hello.” Harry waved and smiled. “Named heir to Sirius and Regulus Black, if you can believe it. Well. Regulus named James and Lily Potter’s first born child, but Sirius named me specifically.”
“So, you married Weaslette?” Draco asked, but both Harry and Ginny snorted and laughed.
“Good one.” Ginny said, still chuckling. “No, turns out Dumbledick was putting compulsions on the pair of us. They ended when he died.”
“That one.” Voldemort said, pointing at George who looked at him innocently. “They have a true bond.”
“Mum and dad don’t know yet, so try not to spread the news.” Fred commented conspiratorially.
“Back to the point,” Harry sighed, “accept the offer. Take your pieces in. Become whole once more. Heal. Then take a page from Lucius’ book, but improve it. Become a lawyer or something and start working for change the right way. Don’t go straight for war with muggles or killing off anyone that isn’t a pure-blood unless you want magic in Great Britain to die out all together.”
“Go.” Voldemort said, looking back at his followers.
“My lord-” Lucius tried, but cowed when he was stared down.
“Heir Malfoy is the only one I accept staying. Go.” Voldemort growled, watching as his followers fled, aside from Bellatrix and Draco who looked confused and surprised. When she continued to refuse, Bill shrugged and bound her, motioning for the Aurors to have at. “Take me to the ritual room.”
Harry and Nagini nodded and led the way, the Weasley’s staying behind in the Atrium. The ritual was, essentially, the reverse of what Harry and Nagini had gone through. Once the pieces were joined in Voldemort, his appearance subtly changed. He had a nose, for one, and his hair grew in. He appeared to be in his mid-40’s when he finally settled. Draco was quiet the whole time, but Harry had known him a long time and knew he was dying to ask questions about the ceremony and the runes used.
Harry wasn’t too concerned once it was done and Tom was in a recovery room with Nagini. He left the bank, for the first time in over a month. When he walked into Fred and George’s apartment, he dropped on the sofa in exhaustion. Angelina snickered at him and rolled her eyes when he flopped sideways and put his head in her lap. They sat like that until the twins came back for the night, having closed up the shop and picked up takeout.
“Does it matter that we didn’t correct him when little Malfoy asked about us getting married?” George asked, sitting at the table after dragging Harry over.
“Eh.” Harry shrugged. “We’re doing it this weekend, so does it matter that it hasn’t happened yet?”
“Mum and dad are still gonna be pissed.” Fred chuckled. “Not being able to be there.”
“They’re vacationing with the Grangers in France.” Harry said with a sigh. “They needed the break or your mum was going to have some sort of breakdown with all the stress she was putting on herself between expecting a war and Bill’s wedding.”
“True.” Fred and George agreed.
“You still ok with just having me and Fred there?” Angelina asked, passing a container to Harry with the last eggroll.”
“Yeah.” Harry shrugged. “Don’t really like crowds.”
“Can’t believe you got all this done in a month.” George said, stealing half of Harry’s eggroll.
“I know. Imagine how much quicker I could have gotten it handled if I’d had this information to start with or if that dick had gone to the authorities with even half of this.” Harry said, pushing the noodles around his plate. “Would have been nice to know Sirius for more than what boiled down to a few months.”
“Why don’t you go take a shower, Har.” Fred said, nudging him under the table with his toe. “You need to relax now.”
“Yeah alright.” Harry agreed, setting his plates in the sink and waving the others off as he went to the bathroom. He sighed when about five minutes later George joined him.
“Sorry to bring all that up.” He whispered, kissing Harry’s head.
“Not your fault.” Harry said, just leaning back against him. “Just glad it’s mostly over and out of my hands now. Let the Order actually do something for once. Or the Ministry. I’m tired of having to fix their messes.”
“So not going to be an Auror anymore?” George washed his hair and rinsed them both off before shutting off the water.
“Don’t know what I want to do.” Harry shook his head out, smiling when George scowled at him for it. “Not too bad at undercover sort of things, so I could probably still do it. Could also charge a lot more to do a lot of the same things privately.”
“Could do.” George agreed, throwing his towel at Harry’s head.
Harry fell asleep when George rubbed his shoulders, sleeping all night without any nightmares. It was nice. George was annoyed that Harry was determined to wait until they were actually bonded and the blood-traitor status and curse was gone before they consummated anything, though.
The morning of their ceremony, Angelina went with Harry to Grimmauld and let Fred deal with George. Kreacher had done a great job cleaning and the house actually looked brighter, regardless of the dark decor. They were served a big breakfast and Kreacher proceeded to argue with Angelina about the color of robes Harry should be wearing before both of them agreed on Green that shifted to black at the bottom. She called it ombre or something that Harry wasn’t really paying attention to. Once they were both happy with how he looked, they headed to the Ministry. Kreacher accompanied them so George could bond to him as well. So he would be the family elf, and not just beholden to Harry alone.
They met with the representative in a private office and the ceremony was over rather quickly, but that didn’t stop George from kissing Harry heatedly. It wasn’t their first kiss, but it was definitely the most intensive. Fred and Angelina cheered and shot sparks from their wands, but only small ones, not wanting to draw too much attention. Once their signatures on the contract were dried, George’s eyes widened and so did Fred’s.
“They all probably felt that, didn’t they?” Harry asked, still watching them closely.
“They definitely felt it.” Fred whispered. “We’ll try and keep them distracted until Bill’s wedding, if we can.”
“Didn’t realize it was doing all that.” George added, looking at his hands. “Think it was blocking some of our magic.”
“It was.” The Ministry rep said with a heavy sigh. “Sort of like a blood curse, but not quite. You’ll need to take it easy with spells the next few days, though. Let it settle.”
“Ready to head home?” Harry asked, taking George’s hand in his, smiling when George did.
“More than.” George agreed, kissing him briefly. “See you in a few days, brother mine!”
“Have fun!” Angelina shouted when Harry was practically dragged from the room by George, Kreacher right with them. They’d signed his documents at the same time, so he was pretty happy to have an actual family to serve again.
Once they got back to Grimmauld, Harry yelped when George picked him and headed up the stairs while Kreacher chuckled in the kitchen.
It didn’t take long once the door was closed for them to toss their clothes on the floor and fall into the massive bed. George didn’t really stop talking the entire time, even though some of it was useful as he told Harry what he needed to do to get him ready.
When Harry was finally pushing into him, George was a mess of words, but they were all jumbled and incoherent. Harry might have said some similar sentiments, but it was hard to keep track when they were panting and gasping constantly. Harry shifted and George arched back, encouraging him to do whatever he’d done again, so he did. He could feel George tightening up, mouth hanging open and Harry barely had the ability to keep going as George came over their chests, making Harry lose his hold and climax as well, collapsing on top of him. They were both breathing heavily, but George’s arms wrapped around Harry, holding him gently.
Harry just used magic to clean them up, too tired to actually get up and take a shower. They napped, wrapped up together, enjoying being able to do so finally. They woke up and enjoyed each other once more before going downstairs to have dinner that Kreacher set up. It wasn’t odd going from being friends to being bonded. It was actually really nice how easy it was to adjust to.
Harry couldn’t keep his hands to himself, though. He finally understood why his classmates had wanted to sneak off with someone so often. So they spent the next three days enjoying each other in various rooms in the house, though it was most often in the bedroom. It was annoying that George had to go back to work, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, along with Ron and the Grangers, would be returning that day, and they needed to act as normally as possible.
Harry frowned when there was a tap on the window. Hedwig had been out hunting and her usual window in Harry’s room was still open. When he opened the window and found a letter from Hogwarts on a small barn owl, he was stunned for a moment. He’d been so busy he’d completely forgotten that he still had another year of school technically. He was tempted not to go, but there wasn’t really a reason not to.
Bill and Fleur’s wedding was beautiful. Harry showed up just as they had finished setting up the final tent, getting hugs from practically everyone in the family, including Fleur and Gabrielle and their parents who were thrilled to see him again. Naturally, as soon as Viktor showed up, they had to get their pictures together in their fancy clothing as the Triwizard Champions. Harry was glad he’d finally grown a few inches so he wasn’t nearly as short as he had been when he’d last seen them together at 14.
Hermione kept frowning at him, though, so he knew she’d catch on to the fact he’d kept something from them eventually. He just didn’t know how long she would wait to corner him. She waited until the reception, thankfully, and made him dance with her.
“So.” She said casually. “Care to tell me why there’s suddenly not a war on anymore?”
“Might have made a few deals and discoveries.” Harry shrugged. “I figured out what he had done, remember?”
“The horcruxes.” She whispered, making sure no one heard her.
“Right. Well, I was able to find them and the goblins took care of them. With them taken care of, no more Voldemort.”
“You killed him?” She asked with wide eyes.
“No.” Harry shook his head, spinning her once. “No, I gave him a chance to heal. The goblins were helping him become whole again, last I saw. After all, Tom Riddle technically disappeared years ago when Dumbledore refused to hire him for DADA. Anyway, horcruxes are gone, Tom’s not an issue, and Dumbledore is no longer around to put compulsions on anyone.”
“What do you mean compulsions?” She asked, before realizing her voice had risen. She cleared her throat and offered an apologetic smile to people trying to eavesdrop on them.
“Ginny and I noticed compulsions that were lifted once he was gone.” Harry sighed. “He was putting us together as a twisted way of getting some of the older Order members to see us as a version of my parents.”
“Members like Lupin.” Hermione nodded in understanding.
“We figured it out though. See?” Harry nodded to where Ginny was dancing and laughing with Neville. “We’re good friends still, but not interested in anything more than that.”
“I’m really glad you guys figured it out.” Hermione sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Sorry none of us noticed.”
“Not your fault.” Harry said, leaning on her head. “It’s alright now, though. We’re all good. Decide what you’re doing after school?”
“Law school.” Hermione smiled. “Going to work on Creature laws and try and get the Ministry respectable again. What about you?”
“Honestly with everything going on this summer, I sort of forgot about school.” Harry chuckled. “Figure I’ll get my NEWTs and just see what happens.”
“Good plan.” Ron said, coming up to them. “Mind if I cut in?”
“All you, mate.” Harry said, giving Hermione a quick kiss on her cheek as she took Ron’s hand.
Harry wandered around a bit before he found Mr. Weasley sitting by himself and looking rather happy and relaxed.
“Hey, Mr. Weasley.” Harry said, sitting beside him and accepting a few champagne flutes, one for each of them. “Have a nice holiday?”
“Wonderful.” He sighed. “I don’t really know what happened, but I feel much better than I have in years. Like an old family curse was lifted.” He raised an eyebrow at Harry, grinning crookedly at him. “Thank you, Harry.”
“No need to thank me.” Harry smiled at him. “Wondered who’d be the first to figure it out.”
“I’ll try to keep Molly distracted, but she’s going to want to see some sort of ceremony for you two.”
“Let’s aim for next summer.” Harry chuckled, clinking their glasses together.
“Christmas, Harry.” He grinned. “And you best start calling me Arthur. I’ll put her off for a bit, but we’ll host something at the solstice.”
“Always liked winter.” George said, dropping into the seat beside Harry. “Should still be able to keep it small. Just family.”
“Right.” Ginny snorted, sitting on the other side of her dad with Neville, Dean and Luna sitting with her. “Like the DA is gonna let Harry do anything without showing up.”
“Don’t worry,” Fred said, sitting down while Angelina sat in his lap, “we’ll take care of everything. You two will just need to show up and look pretty.”
“Can’t we just announce that we already did it?” Harry whined.
“Did what?” Mrs. Weasley asked, stopping by and giving her husband a kiss.
“Nothing.” everyone by George, Harry and Arthur replied.
“Subtle.” George snorted. “Let’s dance, Har.” Harry let George take him out while Molly took Harry’s seat to try and interrogate everyone.
“We’ll try and give you time to escape.” Bill said, dancing with Fleur beside them, “but no promises we’ll be successful.”
“Escape what?” Fleur asked, looking at them in confusion.
“George and Harry were bonded at the Ministry last weekend.” Bill said quietly. Fleur shrieked before hugging them both tightly. She hurriedly went back to dancing with Bill to stop drawing so much attention to them.
“Now we just need to find Viktor someone.” She stated certainly. “Oh, this is wonderful! We’ll send a gift once we are settled, ‘Arry.”
“Or just come for dinner.” Harry countered.
“We’ll bring it when we come to dinner, then.” She corrected.
“GEORGE GIDEON WEASLEY and HARRY JAMES POTTER!!!” Molly screeched, making the tent go quiet.
“Run!” Bill whispered, spinning Fleur so they intercepted his mother.
Harry laughed as he and George actually did run for it, smiling the whole way. Remus and Tonks winked at them as they sent balloons flying with their wands to keep anyone from chasing after them. They apparated to Grimmauld, still laughing as they landed in the foyer.
It had turned out to be a really good summer, with potential to be a good year at school. Yeah, there were still things that would need addressed, like Tom once he was cleared by the goblins, but they’d figure that out later. Much later. Preferably without Harry having to participate, since he had better things to do with his time. Like George. Who was looking at him like he wanted to eat him.