00 am
Everyone had been happily living in France for the past couple of days. Harry was happy he could for once do all his schoolwork over the summer holiday. He and Draco had been working on it together completing most of it quickly. Regulus had even begun to help Draco teach Harry French. They would practice every day after eating lunch. Harry, being a fast learner has already begun to string together sentences. Whenever Lily walks past them practicing she does so with a proud smile on her face.
Harry was finally enjoying his summer. He had never been able to spend it the way he wanted to. So now spending it with his boyfriend and his new family he was overjoyed. All his troubles seemed to have melted away and he felt almost normal for once.
◦ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ ◦
Harry and Draco were sleeping quietly in their bedroom in the French countryside when it began.
It was nearly 3:00 am when Harry’s breath quickened and his eyes began to twitch under his closed lids. The young man began to sweat as Voldemort invaded his dreams. Suddenly instead of in bed cuddled up to Draco, Harry was in a large room with a long table filled with Death Eaters. Above the table floated the body of Professor Burbage, who he recognized was the Muggle Studies professor. Stood around the table sat Death Eaters most of which he recognized all of which looked to be on edge. Harry’s attention was caught by the loud sound of the doors being thrown open. Voldemort walked in with Nagini in tow. All eyes were on the pair as Voldemort came to sit at the head of the table. Once Voldemort had taken his seat, the Death Eaters all moved to sit in the chairs they were standing behind.
Voldemort, getting straight to his point introduced their guest. “Here to join us this evening is a very special guest. Some of you may recognize her as Charity Burbage and others as Professor Burbage,” at that he made direct eye contact with Severus Snape. “ Ms. Burbage here is a Pure-Blood, but she is a blood traitor.” Bellatrix began to laugh from her seat on Voldemort’s right. “Professor Burbage is the Muggle Studies professor at Hogwarts and teaches your children what good the Muggles have done. How intellectual the muggles can be and how wizards should strive to be understanding to Muggles and Squibs. I do not agree”
All the Death Eaters began to laugh in agreement as Burbage’s body floated above their heads. Severus Snape who was sitting near the professor’s head had been the only one not laughing. Professor Burbage turned her attention to her colleague and began to beg for her life. But before Snape could even acknowledge her Voldemort raised his hand. Nagini was given the order to kill and just as she lunged for the professor's neck Harry shot up out of bed.
Harry’s breath was quick and short and his shirt was drenched in sweat as he held his forehead. His scar was burning as he was searching for glasses on the nightstand next to him. Finally finding them and with his scar feeling more normal Harry crept out of bed. He covered Draco with the Duvet before quietly exiting their bedroom. Their bedroom was at the end of the hallway, Regulus’ being the only other on the floor so he began to walk towards the kitchen in search of a glass of water. The closer he got to the kitchen the louder the voices grew. The voices he now recognized as his father’s and Regulus’. They seemed to be arguing in hushed tones in the kitchen.
Harry decided to stay out of sight and simply listen.
“We cannot possibly do that,” Regulus was saying. “But we have to. We all know what he is except for him and Draco. They have to know,” James argued. “You don’t understand the danger they’ll be put in. We can’t put them in danger knowing they did not make it out. Knowing that their friends may not survive, knowing that our friends didn’t. I mean Merlin’s sake James, we’re all supposed to be dead. Until just barely a week ago your own son was an orphan living in an abusive household. You’ve seen what that does to people” From what Harry could see, James looked seconds away from crying, his eyes brimming with tears. “I can’t lose him again, Reg I just can’t. I hate to put him in more danger than he’s already in but he has to know.” Regulus sighed and responded with, “I understand,” after a moment's hesitation he adds, “He’s exactly like you, you know.” James smiled and said,” He looks just like me.” “Well yes but he acts just like you. All of his little quips and attitude. I’ve only met one person like him and that’s you. He may look like you, but the two of you act so similarly that it scares me sometimes. He’s so kind and determined, he reminds me so much of you in your sixth year.” James smiled fondly at the memory of the school years and said, “what do you think would’ve happened?” “If what,” Regulus questioned. “what do you think would’ve happened if there was no war? Do you think, do you think we might’ve worked out?”
Regulus gained a sad look in his eyes as he gave James a small smile. “I like to think so, selfishly but I like to think so. Then I see how happy you are with Lily, with your wife. I just know that normal was never something that I could give you. We would never have been able to marry and I could never fulfill your dream of having little Potters running amuck.” “We would’ve made it work. I would’ve made it work so that we could’ve grown old together,” James said. “Then what of Lily,” Regulus questioned. “We would’ve undoubtedly remained friends, good friends.” James had a euphoric look on his face as he thought of his future with the man he had once loved so much. “But the war,” Regulus simply said.
James began to regain his sad look “You could’ve come with me and Sirius. You should have,” James insisted. “You know I could have never. My parents relied on me. I was tied in before I could even drink fire whiskey. I was their pawn and as much as I wanted to run away and live happily ever after with you, I couldn’t. I was stuck. I had to practically fake my death to get out.” “I know I just, I’ve always wished there was more I could do and I never did. You were always the pawn and there was nothing I could do to help. Merlin, my son is a pawn in this awful war and it’s entirely my fault,” James’ voice became raised the further he went on. With silent tears streaming down his face he continued,” My own kid is a pawn all because I faked my death. He could potentially die in this war at Voldemort’s hand and I selfishly set him up for it. I could’ve saved him, taken him with us, done anything to get him out of an abusive home and out of this war. And now he’s one of Voldemort’s fucking Horcruxes,” he shouted the last part. He broke down sobbing and fell into the hug that Regulus was offering him.
At that moment, Harry decided to come out of his hiding spot. Regulus was the first to see him as he was facing the direction Harry came from. His eyes widened slightly as he signaled to James to look in the same direction. James gasped slightly as he wiped the last few tears from his face. “How much of that did you hear,” he questioned. “Uh a-a good amount,” Harry responded. James sighed and walked forward towards Harry. To his surprise, James pulled him in for a hug. Slowly hugging back, Harry nestled his head into his father’s shoulder. James mumbled quietly “I’m sorry’s” and “It’ll be ok’s” as he rubbed Harry’s back. Regulus got up and went to get two glasses of water which he handed to the two Potters as soon as they stepped back from the hug.
“Drink up,” he instructed them,” we can talk more in the morning, but the two of you need a good night’s rest.” So as soon as both glasses were empty and washed Regulus and Harry went down the hall to their respective rooms and James went up the stairs to his.