Chapter 14
Harry stepped closer to the man and his breath caught, there on the man’s tie, a silver tie clip of a snake eating its own tail one eye blue and the other green. “Marcus?”
The man smiled and pulled Harry into the unfamiliar yet firm grip, “Harry, I am so sorry I wasn’t there after the tournament. To greet you when you got back.”
Green eyes looked up at him as he gripped the front of the suit, “I don’t understand. What is going on Marcus?”
The other smiled softly and took his hand, “I will explain everything when we get to the Manor. I promise. Right now we need to go. I spotted a few wizards trying to hide themselves with the muggles. My bet they are looking for you. I don’t have proof but.” He cut off and pulled Harry around a corner and into an alleyway.
“Why would there be wizards here looking for me?”
“I don’t know but I don’t want to risk going to a legal apparition spot. Hold close to me. You will feel dizzy and like you're being pulled through a tube. Trust me.”
Marcus pulled Harry flush against his chest and looked around one more time before apparating out of the train station. The younger gasping when they landed and groaning as his stomach argued with that form of transport.
Harry stumbled away from Marcus and leaned over gripping his knees as his stomach and head stopped fighting against him. He could feel the soothing hand along his back and it took everything in him not to lose what he ate on the train. It took several minutes for him to feel normal again and he straightened up shaking his head, “That was awful. Worse than the floo. At Least I didn’t land on my arse like I do with that.”
The older male gave him a soft smile, “You mentioned before that you don’t floo well. Are you bad at every form of magical travel?”
“Unless it is a broom it all just feels wrong. Like I am doing something I am not supposed to be. Woah.” Harry looked around at the large hall around them. The whole hall seemed to be done in gray stone rugs of deep blue and black carpeted the floors. There were stone pedestals with random artifacts or art works. Behind him a great door of some heavy dark wood. “It’s beautiful.”
Marcus took his hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow, “Wait till you see the rest of it. This is my Ancestral Manor. Flint Manor. We are in Carlisle, England.”
They walked along the hall until they entered a large room that was bright and cheery. A Large staircase rested at its center with two more halls leading off to either side. The gray and blue theme continued and he could see banners over the railing with the Flint Crest. One he now knew well. He wondered if the Potter family had a place like this. Or even Sirius. They never talked about things like that. The only other places he had been in the Wizarding world being the Burrow and Grimmauld Place.
“You have finished your task I see.” A warm voice came from above them.
Harry looked up to watch a tall man come down the stairs. Much like his son he was built with broad shoulders and chest. Rough beard trimmed neatly and short hair spiked and styled to the right. Smooth and looking every bit the lord he was in an impeccable three piece suit of gray and white. His dragonhide shoes clicked against the wood as he joined them.
Marcus nodded his face void of emotion, “I have father, may I present my betrothed, Harry Potter, Heir of House Potter.”
The man looked at Harry with steel gray eyes, “Indeed. An honor to meet you, Heir Potter.” He extended his hand in greeting.
Harry was quick to take it firmly, “An honor to meet you as well Lord Flint.”
The man regarded him again and released the hand shake before taking a step back, “Smaller than I thought you would be but you have heart.” He then broke into a smile so very similar to Marcus’s. That half raised snarl smile that showed a too sharp canine. “Welcome to our home. As our guest and hopefully one day, as family.”
Green eyes shone as he smiled in return, “Thank you Lord Flint. I'm smaller than I thought I would be.”
Marcus snorted and his father gave a loud laugh that seemed to echo off the walls of the vast open space, “Oh Marcus, your mother would love him. She was a small woman herself. Always insisted I put things in her reach. My son clearly did not take after her. I fear he will be taller than me at one point.”
Harry smiled softly, “She sounds like a wonderful woman.”
“She was. Now, you must be tired from the train ride and Marcus needs to shed that horrible disguise. If you need anything Yip has been assigned as your House Elf for the duration of your stay. Marcus, do show him the room he will be staying in this summer.”
Harry startled a little, “The whole summer?”
Marcus looked at him, “Yes. The whole summer. I told you, I won’t let you go back there. I swore to you that I wouldn’t. I’m afraid I broke your trust though. I told my father about some of it.”
The man nodded, “He did and knows that I will not tell another. I demanded it of him so I could know why he wished you to stay with us. I am doing this at risk to my family, so I had to be sure.”
The youngest rubbed at his arm nervously, “It’s okay. I understand. I am just not used to people caring.”
A growl from beside him made him smile, “You deserve for people to care. I care. My father cares. You aren’t going back there.”
“Thank you Marcus.”
They kissed gently and then Harry blushed and looked down realizing he had just done that in front of Lord Flint. The man didn’t seem upset though, simply watched them closely before turning and going back up the stairs calling over his shoulder, “I will be in my study if you need me Marcus.”
“Thank you again Father.”
Then he was being tugged down another hall passing doors and large open rooms filled with assortment of things. Everything was so beautifully designed and he didn’t even know that a place could look like this. They passed at least two libraries and a couple sitting rooms. One room with a massive piano and nothing else. Until they went up a set of stairs and turned into another hall with doors.
“This is the guest wing. Every room has its own ensuite. So you have your own bathroom and small sitting room for company. I picked the Lily Room. I thought you would like it best. All the rooms are named after flowers. My mothers idea, she loved to garden.”
Harry followed and looked curiously at the brass plate on each door telling which room it was, “Your mother…” He wasn’t sure how to ask the question.
“Yeah. She passed away about five years ago. Childbirth. Something just went wrong and no matter what the healers did they lost her and my little sister.”
“I’m so sorry. That must have been so hard.”
Marcus pulled him close and held him a moment not saying anything for a few long minutes, “It was. She was the light of our lives. Always bringing happiness wherever she was. You remind me of her sometimes. The way you smile, your happiness at even the smallest of kindnesses. It is so much like her.”
Harry held him tightly tucking against the larger teen, “You loved her so much. It’s okay to miss her. To mourn her.”
“I know but I have to be strong as well. I have to protect you. I couldn’t protect her. I know it sounds like I am using you but I have come to love you these past few months. I don’t know if I could handle losing you too.”
He gripped tighter, “You aren’t using me Marcus. If anything you should think I am using you. You helped me so much this past year. You're saving me from my relatives. I’m worried that loving you isn’t enough.”
“Your love is all I need, Harry.” He pulled the younger into a deep kiss holding his cheek with one hand before pulling him closer, breaking the kiss to nuzzle down his neck, peppering kisses as he went until he pressed his forehead into the crook of the others throat, “No one has ever looked at me the way you do. I would do anything for you. Anything you ask. I would kill for you. Torture for you. Ask it of me and it is yours.”
“Marcus”
“Don’t, you don’t have to say anything or do anything Harry. I give this to you freely. I am your knight, your protector, your lover, and your friend. One day I hope to be your husband, Ask Harry. Ask and it is yours.”
Harry felt like his chest was too full and tight at the same time. The look in the others' eyes brought him to tears. He brought his hands up to cup Marcus’s face and kissed him deeply refusing to let him go, when they finally broke apart he spoke, “I am yours as well. In all things.”
Marcus smiled and broke away and knelt at Harry’s feet taking his hand and kissing it and looking up at him, “Then I swear to you now. In the ways of old, by blood, by magic, and by soul that I am yours forever more. No matter what path you take I will follow. As in the old ways and in the new. I speak my vow before Lady Magic.” He pulled a dagger from his boot and let go of Harry’s hand to slice his palm and take the smaller hand once more, “Harry James Potter, I am your knight, your protector, your lover, your friend. In the eyes of magic I one day hope to be your husband. I will stand at your side from now till death calls us. I am yours.” He bent and kissed the joined hands and magic rushed about them sealing the oath.
Harry stared wide eyed. He could feel the magic take hold leashing Marcus to him in a way he didn’t understand. “Marcus… what did you just do.”