When Past and Present Reconnect

Harry Potter was in the best way to describe it, over-stimulated. He had been talking with his dad, simply conversations when the Horcruxes become the news topic. The discussion had been fine, nothing absurd nor groundbreaking. The two were simply talking about going out and seeking the final fragments left of Voldemort’s soul. A perfectly normal conversation for a Tuesday morning. And Harry was more than happy to supply his knowledge, the little Dumbledore had shared before his death. Harry was pleased with finally being able to help. This entire past month had felt as if he were being bombarded with information and that he wasn’t supplying any in turn. 

So there the two men sat, discussing the newest steps in their plan, their hands wrapped warmly around their cups of tea. But as if the Universe thought the moment to be too perfect, Harry began to feel uncomfortable. The collar on his long sleeve was much too tight, the fabric around his wrists feeling too constraining. Harry felt the way that the sock covering his right foot was looser than the latter. He was hyperaware of his breathing, feeling as if it were the only sound in the room and at that thought, Harry’s breath began to quicken. Now Harry was no stranger to panic attacks, he had grown accustomed to them and all his friends knew what helped and what didn’t. But this was another beast. He can recall in his earlier childhood it being a more frequent event, but with age he found himself getting overstimulated less often. And it just so happened that it happened in front of his dad; someone who didn’t know what to do or how to help. 

Harry quickly got out of his chair. He was shaking his hand as he began to look around for something that might help. He couldn’t find a single thing. Harry began to feel worse and worse, the light being just a bit too bright, the floor being too rough under his socks, and the room being much too big for his liking. He began rushing for his bedroom, faintly behind him he could hear his dad calling after him, asking what was wrong. Harry couldn’t find it in himself to answer and only continued walking as he made it to his bedroom. He needed somewhere small, somewhere confined he could curl up in. With that thought, he went straight for the closet, opened the door, rushed to curl up in it, and closed the door. Mere seconds later he heard knocking on the door. “Harry,” James called out, “Harry are you ok.” All Harry could muster was a faint noise reminiscent of a “no.” James began to grow more and more worried. “Is there anything I can do for you,” he asked,” is it alright if I go get Draco for you?” At that Harry was able to answer with a very faint yes that James wouldn’t have been able to hear if his ear hadn’t been pressed against the door to the closet. He rushed out of his son’s room and made a beeline for outside. Being a warm sunny day Regulus had decided to take Draco’s lesson to the backyard and that is exactly where James finds them talking. Both their heads come up as he nearly sprints towards them, both with an equal look of worry spread across their faces. “Draco,” James says quickly, “ Harry needs Draco. He’s curled away in the closet.” Draco immediately shoots up from the grass he was sitting on and sprints inside, James and Regulus not far behind. The second Draco makes it to their bedroom he springs into action. He digs through the drawers to find a t-shirt with a low neckline and heads towards the closet. “Harry, love I’m coming in,” he warns. All the lights are off but it still manages to be darker in the closet so Draco allows his eyes a second to adjust before he’s grabbing Harry’s hands. Draco slowly pulls off the long sleeve Harry is wearing and changes it for the t-shirt. He then grabs Harry’s hands again and leads Harry’s finger down to his wrists. Harry’s fingers connect to his wrist and begin to feel Draco’s steady heartbeat. Draco looks up at Harry and smiles, Harry smiles back though a little sheepishly. “Feeling better,” Draco asks softly. Harry nods in response and leans into his Draco. “‘m sorry for interrupting your lesson,” he mumbles into Draco’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, it was getting a bit boring anyways.” At that, Harry gives out a short soft laugh into Draco’s shoulder. “Ready love,” Draco asks and Harry nods again. Draco moves his neck to place a gentle kiss on Harry’s lips and says,” I’m so proud of you Harry,” as he helps him out of the closet and into a standing position. 

James and Regulus who had both decided it better to keep their distance moved out of the way for Harry and Draco. They had both been completely silent throughout the interaction until Regulus gave out a little huff of air. At the sudden break in the silence James’ head quickly whipped to look at the younger man with a questioning look. Regulus shrugged his shoulders and as if to answer James’ expression said, “after all these years, it could’ve been that simple.” At James’ incredulous look Regulus simply said,” we all know that happens to you.” All James could respond with was a small expel of air as he turned to move out of the hallway. 

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“I’m going to owl Ron and Hermione right now,” he said standing up. “Harry you mustn’t,” his mother retaliated, “it’s too dangerous for them to know.” “They have to know. I can’t promise they won’t try to come along, but I can promise that they can help. They’re my best friends, you have to trust me, Mum,” Harry exclaimed. The second the name “mum” came out of his mouth, Lily found herself softening. It had been a hard transition, no matter how hard the three had tried to pretend it wasn’t. Their small family was having their work cut out for them trying to piece themselves together again. With all of his emotions, Harry had been having a hard time using “Mum” to refer to someone and not simply as a past tense. So that truly made Lily melt, immediately folding to give her son what he wanted. 

“You can owl them,” Lily gave in, “but after we’ve finished our discussion.” Harry gave her a small smile as he sat down in his seat next to Draco. “Alright, as we were saying,” Remus began,” we’ve found most, but not all of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. We now have an idea of where another is, that would be the cup of Helga Hufflepuff. Our suspicions lead us to Bellatrix’s vault in Gringott’s. We would have to send out a mission, but we have yet to have decided who we will send.” “I say we at least wait until I receive an owl from Ron and Hermione to figure out the plan of action,” Harry says,” I think it’ll help to have extra minds to think and Mione will be able to help with all the planning.” The people at the table all nodded in agreement, not wanting to challenge Harry. 

“Does Ron still have the owl I gave him,” Sirius asked. Harry, nodded and told him, “ Ginny named him Pigwidgeon, Pig for short.” Sirius snickered a bit at the name. “Well then he should be able to respond quickly, “ he said. “I’ll send Hedwig to him first, that way Hermione can send her letter back with Hedwig,” Harry decided. 

“So we will wait for the teenagers to help,” Regulus said a little grumpily. “At least we’re all adults,” Draco retaliated. 

◦ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ ◦

Two hours later twin cracks could be heard from outside the cottage. Everyone became alert at the noise and Harry, Draco, and James all moved towards the front door. Outside stood Hermione and Ron both of their shoes lined up to the barrier of the wards. The three men strode out to meet them. As soon as they were within earshot Harry called out,” Ron, what was the name of the candy we all ate the first night of our third year?” Without missing a beat Ron answered, “sound-producing sweets, I ate one that made me roar like a lion.” Satisfied with his answer, Harry allowed Ron to step through the wards. “Hermione,” Draco called out, “ what was the first class we ever attended at Hogwarts?” “Potions with Slytherin,” Hermione called out confidently. Draco gave her a small smirk and lifted his wand to allow her through the wards. 

The five of them all walked through the front door to find everyone sitting in the kitchen as they’d been two hours ago. “So,” Hermione began, “we need to break into Gringotts.” “Essentially yes,” Harry nodded. “Any ideas as of yet,” Hermione asked. “We’ve got a few, but nothing yet set in stone,” Remus said. “Well, if we need a way into Bellatrix’s vault, who better than Bellatrix herself,” Hermione said. “Well we can’t exactly go and ask her ourselves can we,” Sirius said. “No, but we might have another way,” Ron said looking at Hermione. “Another second year,” Harry asked. “Maybe a little less hairy,” Ron joked. 

The rest of the adults looked thoroughly confused at that and looked towards the trio for answers. “Well we polyjuiced ourselves into Slytherins in second year,” Harry said nonchalantly. “Where on earth did you three find poly juice potion,” Regulus asked. “Oh we made it of course,” Ron said,” in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.” “So you are telling us that three 12-year-olds not only brewed their own Polyjuice Potion but did so successfully in a girls’ lavatory,” Regulus said a bit incredulously. They all nodded in response. “Merlin’s balls,” Sirius mumbled. “Yep,” James agreed. “So this time around Regulus and Draco can help us brew it, we’ll pick a group to go, then we’ll break into Gringotts,” Hermione said. “Easy,” Harry said, “who’ll be going then?”

“Well first of all we’ll need Bellatrix’s hair and a way into the vault itself,” Lily pointed out. “I can get it,” Draco said. Everyone turned to look at the young man who had otherwise been silent during this whole ordeal. “I can go home to my mother, Bellatrix will be there,” Draco continued,” as long as I can get to Bellatrix without Voldemort seeing me, I’ll be in and out within a few hours.” Harry looked conflicted standing next to his boyfriend, “you could get hurt. Voldemort might try to recruit you or even kill you.” “It’s a risk I have to take,” Draco told him,” it’s our only way to successfully brew the Polyjuice Potion and get the Horcrux.” “I can’t let you get hurt though,” Harry said sorrowfully. “You have to trust me,” Draco said softly. “It truly is our safest way,” Regulus agreed, “as much as no one wants to send him to that house.” “Alright,” Harry quietly agreed. Draco silently began to rub soothing circles into Harry’s back, keeping the other hand wrapped around the shorter man’s fingers. 

“I think Mione should be the one to go as Bellatrix,” Ron said filling the silence that had been laid over the room. “Someone could also go underneath the invisibility cloak,” Hermione added. “I’ll do it,” Harry said,” I can still fit under it as long as I’m alone.” “You’ll need one more person, someone to disguise themselves as a random death eater,” James said,” they can just use disillusionment charms. That way Hermione, or rather Bellatrix won’t look to be alone.” “I’ll do it,” Regulus said without a trace of hesitation. “I have the mark and I’ll be able to pass as a knowledgeable death eater.” “It’s decided then,” Sirius said. “Hermione, Draco, and Regulus will brew the potion. Draco will get Bellatrix’s hair. Then Harry, Hermione, and Regulus will break into Gringotts,” Remus gave the rundown. “On that note, who would like some tea,” Lily asked.