Wed for Peace

The trio walked quietly to the owlery, which was located near Harry's bedroom. It was a nice thought that he would be able to visit Hedwig as often as he liked.

Harry was now actively trying to remember which way they'd taken to find his way around Tom's Manor. It wasn't easy but Harry was accustomed to Hogwarts and he was sure he would find his way around soon enough.

Tom opened the door to the owlery and ushered Harry through it before following him.

Harry's first instinct was to look up to the perch but he could only see a brown barn owl and the black banded owl belonging to Tom.

"Over here, Harry.", Tom said and tugged the teenager to a secluded corner.

Hedwig was laying in a nest made of litter and twigs. His poor owl looked exhausted.

"Hedwig!", Harry cried out horrified.

His familiar raised her head and hooted softly, croakily.

Harry rushed to her and stroaked two fingers over her head. She hooted again croakily but leaned her head into his hand.

"What happened?", Harry asked shakily, barely holding back tears. She was his first real friend and always there for him when he had needed her company. It hurt to see her this way.

His beautiful snowy owl wasn't even strong enough to stand and it had been quite some time since he had sent his reply to Tom.

"I told you already that she wasn't keyed into the wards. I am a paranoid and vicious man. I will not tell you the details of how I found her. I began healing her the moment I recognized her. She will be healed enough to move on her own in about a week. Until the new school year starts Hedwig will be able to fly again. I am truly sorry that this happened.", Tom murmured next to him.

Harry turned around. There was a deep pain etched into the deep red eyes. As if he could understand what he was feeling.

"Tom, was the basilisk your familiar?", Harry asked quietly.

"Yes and no. I have Nagini as my familiar but the basilisk was one of the last connections to my family and its history.", Tom said in a low voice.

Harry hummed and turned his attention back to Hedwig. She nibbled on his finger before laying her head down and falling asleep.

"She is still a bit weak but she is getting her strength back little by little.", Severus said.

The potions master pulled out a vial with a forest green liquid and sprayed it over Hedwig, Harry watched with curiousity as his owl glowed briefly before the potion settled into her feathers.

"A healing remedy specifically adjusted to your owl. I only needed one of her feathers and I was able to regulate the formula by keying her DNA into it.", Severus explained gently.

The teenager nodded.

Tom decided to lead him back into the manor. The men deposited the teenager at the door to his bedroom.

"If you want to accompany me to Malfoy Manor please select the dark green dress robes. If not you can explore my manor but please keep it in one piece.", Tom said, grabbed his hand, planted a kiss on the back of it and disappeared downstairs.

Harry watched the man walk away with a worried frown on his face.

"Is he mad at me?", the teenager mumbled.

He startled when a deep voice said: "No, he is not angry at you. I suppose he just didn't anticipate you saying no to staying at his side."

Harry sighed and rubbed his hands across his face. Maybe he should just do whatever Tom wanted for now, lest he decided that being courteous wasn't what he wanted to do anymore.

"I guess I'll go to Malfoy Manor. Would you help me search for the green dress robes he wanted me to wear?"

Severus gave him a look that said he was being stupid, but Harry ignored him. The potions master didn't have to marry a Dark Lord whose temper has always been quite unsteady, even as he was sane.

They both entered the bedroom and Harry immediately opened his wardrobe to look for the robes Tom wanted him to wear. It wasn't as easy as he thought because there were at least three robes that fit the description.

"Okay, Severus. Which of those is it?", Harry asked rather confused.

The man in question hummed thoughtfully.

"I guess you should wear this.", he said and pulled a robe out of the wardrobe.

It was such a dark shade of green that Harry mistook it for black. The arms were lined with silver yarn in a floral pattern. It was beautiful and intimidating all at once. The robes clearly showed what kind of standing he had amidst the Death Eaters and that frightened Harry. A minimal part of him was shook that Tom would want him at his side. He was just Harry. But for the wizarding world he wasn't just Harry. He was Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived and the Chosen One. And now he was the Dark Lord's fiancé and he needed to look the part.

The teenager took a deep breath, nodded to Severus and changed into his robes.

When he was finished the potions master gave him a nod and they mutely made their way downstairs into the entrance hall.

Tom was waiting near the entrance looking through some parchments. He looked up and his eyes were glittering when he saw Harry coming down the stairs.

"Darling!", Tom called happily and Harry smiled timidly.

Snape went back upstairs and Harry waited for Tom to gather the last of his parchments.

"I would like for you to sit in on the first meeting with just Lucius and me. He is supposed to be able to tell us about the progress in the case against your relatives.", Tom said lightly and walked ahead towards the door.

Harry scrambled after him.

"Is Mr. Malfoy something like a lawyer?", the teenager asked.

"Somewhat. He is a consultant who can open cases and represent you when the Wizengamot decides to hold a trial for your relatives. He can also take the part of a defense lawyer if he so wishes."

Harry nodded. A sudden thought struck him.

"Damn, I should've really taken Malfoy's hand in first year. Maybe I wouldn't have had to do that stupid trial after your return.", Harry joked lightly.

Tom just threw him a look that said 'It's not funny' and the teenager shrugged his shoulders.

Harry shivered the moment they walked past the wards. He could practically feel the viciousness of them.

"You are very sensitive to magic, darling.", Tom said next to him and Harry turned around.

Tom was watching him intently and it made Harry squirm. He was never comfortable with being stared at but Tom had a gaze so intense he felt like the man could see straight into his soul. Maybe he could. Who knew?

"I... uh..."

Harry stammered, not sure what he could say to that.

Tom just smirked at him and held out his hand. Hesitatingly the raven haired teenager took it and not a second later Harry was squeezed through a straw, almost falling over after they were back on solid ground. A strong arm around his torso kept him from landing on the gravel below him.

"Warn me... the next time.", Harry gasped against his rolling stomach.

"I apologize. Here, drink this."

A vial was held against his lips and Harry took it without thinking further about it. A minute later he could breathe again without fear of throwing up.

The teenager straightened up and finally looked at his surroundings. The only thing he could do was gape.

There was a large iron gate in front of him, decorated with a mixture of goth and antique ornaments. The gravelled pathway they were standing on seemed to be endless before at the top of a small hill a manor was situated that was so big, Harry was sure not even the Malfoys knew all of the rooms inside of it.

"Don't gape like a common peasant, darling. Come on. Lucius is awaiting us.", Tom said and put Harry's hand into his elbow before walking towards the gate which opened on its own.

As soon as they passed the gates the pathway heading to the mansion was only a few steps long.

Tom must have sensed Harry's wonder because he said: "It's part of the wards. Whenever someone is welcomed they will only have to walk as far as needed while the people not welcome will have to walk the whole way from the gates."

Harry nodded and looked around in badly hidden curiosity.

There was a paddock full of white peacocks near a row of trees which seemed to lead into some woods. Behind the mansion Harry could barely see one of the hoops of a Quidditch training ground and to the left of the mansion was a gigantic garden with fruit trees and other cultivations.

It was truly a beautiful home.

Now he knew why Malfoy was this arrogant. If Harry had been raised in this home, he probably would have been more like his father.

The thought shocked him and he faltered in his steps for a moment. Tom turned to look at him in question but Harry just shook his head. This thought, like all the other revelations of the past few days, needed to stay as far back in his mind as it would go. He would have enough time to have a proper mental breakdown later. After the wedding probably. Maybe after his relatives' trial.

"My Lord, Mr. Potter, I welcome you into my home.", a deep velvety voice said and Harry looked to the entrance.

Lucius Malfoy was standing in front of the manor wearing the most expensive dress robes Harry had ever seen. The teenager wanted to roll his eyes at the monetary display but decided to just greet the Malfoy patriarch.

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy. It is nice to be invited into your home.", Harry said and bowed halfway at his waist.

Both Tom and Malfoy were looking surprised.

"What? Did I do it wrong?", he whispered to Tom who snorted. The Dark Lord fucking snorted.

"No, darling. You did it perfectly. That's why we're looking.", the man said.

Harry just shook his head and looked to Malfoy. The man was waiting for them to end their conversation and when he noticed Tom and Harry looking at him he waved them inside.

"I thought, my Lord, that we could go into my study to talk about the case?"

Tom hummed in agreement and they were led through the truly ridiculously large house. Two flights of stairs later and they were standing in front of a dark oak door leading to a small but comfortable study.

"Please, take a seat.", Mr. Malfoy said.

Harry complied easily but Tom kept standing until Malfoy sat down himself.

"Well, Lucius, what progress have you made with the case?", Tom demanded to know.

Malfoy sighed loudly and opened a file and took some parchments out.

"Unfortunately, my Lord, the Wizengamot wasn't as forthcoming as I had hoped. The Ministry wants to avoid another scandal as your upcoming wedding was enough to have the masses disapprove of them. Fortunately for us, though, I have a lot of acquaintances to help things along. The file was rightfully registered before Mr. Potter's birthday and an investigation was started as soon as the Aurors got it. One Auror, Kingsley Shacklebolt, was very enthusiastic to investigate.", Malfoy explained.

Harry hadn't even registered that he'd made a noise until both men looked at him.

He cleared his throat awkwardly before he began to talk: "Uhm, Kingsley is part of the Order. I'm not sure whether he is on my or on Dumbledore's side, though. Maybe we should check that first before he gets rid of all files?"

Tom narrowed his eyes and turned back to Malfoy with a questioning look. The white haired man was staring at both of them with wide eyes.

"I... a mistake on my side, my Lord. I will rectify it immediately."

"See that you do, Lucius. I would be very... displeased if the muggles", Tom hissed the word like an insult: "were to not be punished for what they did."

Harry again cleared his throat, this time on purpose.

Again both men brought their attention to him. It made him want to flinch but he held their gazes and opened his mouth.

"I could... maybe... get in contact with the Order? Maybe with Kingsley directly. I could send a patronus with a message for him when he's alone?", Harry suggested timidly.

There was a moment of complete silence, which made Harry shift around uncomfortably but then Tom chuckled lightly.

"And this is why he's going to be my husband, Lucius.", Tom said, grinning.

"Please, darling, send your message." This was directed towards Harry.

Tom's eyes were glittering in that strange lilt again but the teenager ignored it.

Harry stood and took his wand out of his robe pocket. A quiet incantation later and his stag stood in front of him, making Harry smile.

"I have a message for Kingsley. Please wait until no one else can listen to it. This is the message: Kingsley, if you haven't told the Order about the case against the Dursleys, please don't do it. Everything written in that file is entirely correct. I am well and safe right now, I'll explain later how it came to be.", he said and his patronus vanished.

"I was unaware that you could produce a corporeal patronus, Mr. Potter.", Malfoy said and Harry looked at him.

"Did Draco not tell you? I have been able to produce one since my third year. The dementors were getting to me and I begged Remus to show me how to defend myself. I scared Draco with it during a quidditch game. He pretended to be a dementor and I sent it towards him as my defense. It was really funny. It startled him bad enough that he fell over with Crabbe and Goyle." Harry chuckled at the memory and the shocked and frightened look on Draco's face.

Harry was met by silence, though. Worried that he'd said something wrong he looked to Tom who was smirking wildly. It was such an eerie smirk that Harry's gaze slid over to the Malfoy patriarch who looked slightly green.

"I was always wondering what the prophecy meant with 'but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not'. I was not able to produce a corporeal patronus before seventeen, in my NEWT-year. But never before, no matter how hard I tried.", Tom explained.

Harry let out a surprised chuckle. He would have never thought that he could be better than Voldemort.

A lynx patronus got their attention.

The patronus said in Kingsley's voice: "I will take the message as your personal statement and will take over the investigation. A trial could be possible near the middle of August. I am glad that you are safe."

Harry grinned and turned to Lucius Malfoy who was scowling at the space where the patronus had vanished seconds before. The man was probably displeased that Harry had saved his arse.

"I can only assume that they thought that you wanted to sabotage Dumbledore's image, my Lord. I apologize for not thinking about this possibility.", the Malfoy patriarch said stiffly.

A knock rang through the room before Tom could answer to that. After the consent from Tom the door opened to reveal Draco. The Slytherin looked around the room, obviously uncomfortable under Tom's gaze and stood by the door waiting.

"Right on time, Draco. Please show Harry the gardens. I am sure he will find them wonderful. I'll be picking you up, darling. I need to finish my meeting with Lucius. Please behave.", Tom said and kissed Harry's cheek.

The teenager turned scarlet and cleared his throat before quickly excusing himself, fleeing out of the room and taking Draco's arm to drag him along.

"Potter, stop dragging me. You don't even know where you're going you git!", the younger Malfoy yelled and Harry stopped dead in his tracks. It made Draco run into him.

"For Merlin's sake. What is wrong with you?!", the blond cursed.

Harry sighed and turned around.

"I don't know what's wrong with me.", he stated simply.

It was Malfoy's turn to sigh and with a wave of the blond's hand they started walking again. Curiously it was the same direction Harry had taken.

"Hey, I was right about the direction.", he pointed out.

He heard Malfoy huff.

"Yes, but you don't know the shortcut."

Harry chuckled at the remark but kept quiet the rest of the way. It was a rather silent walk but the teenager took the opportunity to just let his mind drift. It had been a few busy days for him.

They exited the house and entered the garden. It was a beautiful maze full of roses in all colours, gardenias and other flowers Harry couldn't make out the species.

"It's beautiful.", Harry whispered while still taking in the breathtaking sight.

"Of course it is. It's my home.", Malfoy said.

Harry snorted. That was a typical Malfoy comment.

"How about we walk around the maze a bit?", the Slytherin suggested.

Harry grimaced and took a look at the maze itself. It looked nothing like the one during the Triwizard Tournament but since then he avoided going near closed of spaces by plants. It was a jarring experience and one he didn't want to repeat.

"Malfoy, I'm not...", Harry started but broke off. He didn't want to admit his fear.

Unfortunately for him, Malfoy had a look of sudden realisation on his face, making Harry wince. The Gryffindor was pretty sure he was about to be laughed at.

"Of course... I... no let's just... sit down over there?"

Malfoy was awkwardly pointing towards a bench at the entrance of the maze, it had a canopy with ivy growing along it. Harry was able to seperate it from the hedge behind it right now but it was pretty well hidden.

"Sure. That sounds good.", he said to dispel the sudden awkwardness.

Silently they took a seat. Harry watched the birds fly over them and wondered when he was able to fly again. He was unsure if Tom would allow it so soon after his injuries. Harry just missed the free feeling, the moment where his head felt empty, to not have a single thought or worry make itself known. There was a beauty to being in the air, flying along the birds, feeling the wind in his hair. It made the longing for taking a flight almost unbearable.

"I am sorry for overstepping my boundaries with Ginevra.", Malfoy apologized quietly.

Harry looked at the blond. Malfoy didn't look particularly sorry, he looked more sorry that he did something Harry hadn't wanted.

"Why did you?", Harry asked as quiet as Malfoy before.

It was a strange situation. They were alone but whispered as if afraid someone would listen in.

"I couldn't ignore it. She was out of line. If she had succeeded... you would have done anything she wanted just so she would give you attention. I couldn't...", the blond broke off and turned his head away.

Harry could feel a sudden dread pooling in his stomach. If it weren't for Tom's ring, he would have eaten those cookies and he'd have been dosed with a love potion. He would have kissed her, maybe touched her...

The teenager swallowed heavily, nausea rising up. Now he knew what Tom meant when he had said that Harry wasn't willing to protect himself. If Ginny had been successful... the extension of the consequences would have been dire.

"-otter, Harry!"

The shout of his name startled him out of his spiralling thoughts and he looked towards the voice. Malfoy was looking at him in concern. For a moment he didn't know why until he noticed his rapid breathing and trembling hands.

"Harry, listen to me, it's alright. Breathe. Come on, don't you faint on me. Here, follow my breathing.", the blond nervously chattered away.

Harry's hand was taken and put on Malfoy's chest, which was inflating and deflating pointedly.

An eternity later Harry was able to breathe normally. Cautiously he took his hand away from Malfoy's chest, who gave it up without a fight and looked at him.

"Good you're not panicking anymore. I didn't mean to make you panic.", the blond said apologetically.

"No, it's not your fault. I ignored the love potion's consequences because she was my friend. I just... your explanation made me realise what could have happened.", Harry murmured, embarrassed about having lost it.

Malfoy sighed.

"I guess that Gryffindor's take loyalty to a next level. That's some serious self-harming issue, ignoring the actions of 'friends' when they hurt you."

Harry threw Malfoy a look who just shrugged.

"I bet you have friends you'd do a lot for as well.", the raven-haired challenged him.

The blond snorted.

"Of course, but I won't take shit from them. If they decide to be arseholes they can do it somewhere else.", the git said haughtily.

Harry just chuckled and shook his head. "That is something only a Slytherin would say."

The blond huffed and crossed his arms, making him look like a child pouting.

"No, I think not. Even if we are at a disagreement inside the house we always stay loyal to those belonging to us. Did you ever notice when I had disagreements or fights with my friends? No! But we still had them. It's about doing what's right and not about our own pride."

Harry had a feeling that the Sorting Hat had meant this when he said Harry would be great in Slytherin. For a second the teenager was unsure if he had made the wrong choice in not taking Draco's hand in first year. But, as usual, he just shoved that thought into the back of his mind. Let him have an epiphany later. Right now he just wanted the serenity that came with a birthday not spent at the Dursleys.

When he shifted on the bench to get more comfortable a sudden wave of dizziness hit him that made him hunch over.

"Potter?", Malfoy asked in a concerned voice.

"I don't... I...", Harry couldn't form the words. It was as if there was a lump blocking his throat, making it unable for him to talk.

A hand was placed on his shoulder. It made him jump slightly.

"Potter, what's wrong?"

Malfoy's voice sounded farther away than before. Harry tried to talk, he really did, but all that left him was a whine.

"Stay there, don't move. I'll get help.", Malfoy said and the hand disappeared from his shoulder.

He could hear muffled footsteps and then he was alone. For a moment Harry had the feeling that the dizzy spell was over and sat upright again.

It made the world turn black.

Tom's POV:

The moment Harry and Draco had left the room, Tom turned back to Lucius. The man was pale and trembling slightly. He obviously knew what kind of mistake he'd made. And yet, Tom wasn't as easy to forgive such a mistake as Harry was.

"Do you know why I chose you and not Severus or anyone else to do this task?", the dark haired man asked in a calm and controlled voice.

"I..."

Lucius seemed to be afraid to talk.

"I chose you because usually you think about every angle before taking action. I wonder why it wasn't the same this time. My finacé told me that you didn't have the best relationship. Perhaps the dislike you have of him played a part in that?"

Tom's voice was deadly calm. Lucius seemed to pale further before he found his voice again.

"No, my Lord. Of course not! I was perhaps blinded by the fact that the peace treaty was already signed. I won't make another mistake like this."

Tom narrowed his eyes at the man.

"See that you don't, Lucius. Otherwise I will have to punish you. Now to another topic; how are the - ", but he couldn't ask the question as the door to Lucius' study opened forcefully and a panting Draco stood in the door.

"I'm sorry, my Lord, Father, but Harry - "

At the name of his fiancé, Tom was already moving out of the door and towards the garden.

"Lucius! Call your wife immediately!", he yelled over his shoulder.

It didn't take long for him to exit the house and see Harry sprawled on the bench in what seemed a faint.

Kneeling beside the bench, Tom put two fingers against Harry's neck and cursed himself for thinking healing was beneath his standards. He would need to learn the bascis from Severus.

"My Lord! How may I help?"

Narcissa's voice brought a sigh of relief and he turned around, resting his red gaze on her.

"A diagnostic if you will. I have no idea what happened. Draco was with him.", Tom said and sat down next to Harry's head, burrowing a hand in the messy hair.

Narcissa moved quickly. She studied the parchment thoroughly before looking back to Tom.

"He was just exhausted. After such extensive injuries it was foolish to let him wander around with Draco. And I believe the panic attack made it worse. I expect you to take better care of him in the future, my Lord. Mr. Potter should be brought back home and into bed.", Narcissa said strictly.

Tom felt an emotion he had never had before - regret. He regretted making Harry feel like he had no choice, he had seen the way the teenager had complied just to avoid angering him. Tom would need to work on his wording in the future.

"Of course, Narcissa. I apologize for my oversight regarding his health. We will be making our way home then. Thank you for your swift actions."

Then her words registered in his mind.

"What panic attack?", he asked and turned to look at Draco.

The Malfoy heir was flinching away from his gaze.

"I... we talked about the love potion incident with the Weasley chit. He just... he realised what the potion could have done and kind of panicked. I was able to calm him down, though.", the blond explained.

The dark wizard mustered Draco for a moment before nodding.

Draco seemed relieved. Tom could not fault him for that. He was quite sadistic if he was displeased.

Tom stood and carefully lifted Harry into his arms. A levitating spell seemed wrong to him right now when he was the reason his fiancé had fainted.

With quick strides Tom walked through the gates and apparated to his mansion.

The moment he set foot through his wards, Severus appeared in the entrance to accompany him towards Harry's room.

"Narcissa had sent a patronus to inform me as I am Harry's main healer. I will give him a light dose of dreamless sleep to get his mind to relax as much as possible and then we'll see.", the potions master explained.

Tom hummed in agreement and, upon enterin Harry's room, stripped the robes and put his fiancé into pyjamas while Severus spelled a small dose of the potion into Harry's stomach. As soon as the potion took effect, Harry's posture relaxed.

The dark wizard sat down and buried his head in his hands and groaned.

"I fucked up, Severus. I should have told him it wouldn't bother me if he didn't want to accompany me. I mean we resolved a problem that had occurred because of Kingsley Shacklebolt but I'm not sure it was worth him fainting. I don't think I'm meant to be the loving type of person. I shouldn't have tried."

The silence that greeted him spoke for itself and after another groan, Tom raised his head again.

"May I speek freely, my Lord?", Severus asked

Tom waved his hand in permission. The potions master cleared his throat.

"After his relatives I think Harry is waiting for the other shoe to drop. I guess that due to your history, he wasn't expecting you to be anything but hostile and mean. To be honest, my Lord, I guess he was waiting for you to curse him. I would recommend to stay as close to your real personality as you can. I believe you will care for him as obsessively as you did the last few days but I am also of the opinion that Harry would be more comfortable with part of the deranged Dark Lord he knew before."

Tom blinked at the potions master after that onslaught of words. He wasn't sure if he'd heard Severus talk this much before.

"I thank you for your open opinion. I will consider your words. You may leave."

Severus bowed slightly and left the room.

Tom looked to his fiancé and felt - for the first time since Harry arrived battered and bruised - a piece he hadn't known he possessed.

Maybe it was time to drop the act and be himself, Tom mused while watching the teenager sleep peacefully.