The Dark Lord and The Order
The Spell is Broken: Memories Returned
Chapter 8
The Dark Lord and The Order
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future is your motivation." ~ Unknown
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Kitchen, Grimmauld Place
August 1
8:00 am
The next morning found Harry up before the others. Kreacher was pattering around the kitchen preparing breakfast while he was seated at the table absentmindedly drinking a cup of tea and thinking about how to word his letter to Hermione so he wouldn't make her suspicious of anything. Even bespelled to be someone she obviously isn't, she is still a very intelligent and observant witch. No amount of spells could possibly get rid of those traits she inherited from her father.
He was also thinking about the end of the week when he could finally see Draco in person. It unnerved him slightly how much he craved the company of his once schoolyard enemy. He didn't think anything bad about it because he had read so many books when he found out about the possibility of a creature inheritance, but that did not prepare him to actually feel the longing. Harry can't imagine what his father was feeling at that moment, knowing that his mate was alive but they are being kept from him.
The comfortable silence in the kitchen was broken by the tail tell squeak of the stairs as someone descended from the warded floors above. The door creaked open to reveal the man he had just been thinking about, his father. He was in his glamours, as they decided that they must be when on the ground floor/kitchen area. Harry could tell that his father had slept well regardless, he was standing tall, his hair was clean and tied back, and he had a twinkle in his eye that Harry had never seen before.
"Good morning Harry," Severus said smoothly as he slid into the chair across from his son. A cup of black coffee appeared in front of him and he gave a nod of thanks to the house-elf. "Sleep well?"
"Yes sir," Harry replied with a smile that lit up his entire face, before he sobered and hesitantly asked his father. "Did you?"
"Yes son," Severus said gently picking up on the thoughts crossing through his son's mind. "In fact, I think I had a night remarkably like yours."
"Huh?" Harry said confused. Severus smiled at him, a genuine smile that made his entire face more handsome, even with the dungeon bat glamour in place.
"When the goblins removed the blocks on our creatures yesterday, it was like coming into a second inheritance," Severus began to explain. "The sleep I was in after the ritual was unnatural and did not allow for dreams, but last night when I retired. Well. I had the meeting dream with your mother, much like the ones you have had the last two nights with your own mate. He and I were able to talk and enjoy each other's presence for a short amount of time. It won't happen again, but it was enough to renew my hope in finding him. It allowed me to see with my own mind and heart that while not happy, he was mostly healthy and being somewhat taken care of."
"You saw Mum?" Harry said hopefully, leaning forward slightly. "Will you tell me more?"
"He sends his love to you son," Severus said and reached to take Harry's hand on the table when he saw tears fill his son's eyes. "He wishes that he could have been there for you and that you didn't have to go through everything that you have. But he is so proud of you and said that he will see you soon."
"I wish he was here," Harry said softly and whipped his eyes on a napkin. "I am glad you got to see him last night."
"I miss him as well, more than I ever thought possible," Severus admitted, "but what makes it bearable is that I know he is alive, and that I have you here with me now. If you were not here my elf would probably drive me insane with loneliness and anger."
Harry reflexively gripped his father's hand tighter at the admission, he didn't even want to think about that possibility, but his father continued;
"You won't need me for much longer through. At the end of the week you will be able to go to your mate and they will be who you will lean on."
"No!" Harry said sharply. "Yes, I will go to my mate, and they will become an integral part of my life. But I will always need you, I have lived the last 17 years without you and the last 16 without mum. I will always want and need you. So don't go thinking that at the end of this week I am just gonna disappear with Draco and the only time you are gonna see me is when we take down the old codger."
Harry, having realized what he just let slip, slapped his free hand across his mouth and his eyes got real wide. Severus looked stunned for a moment at both his son's loyalty to him and that he just announced his mate before smiling softly at him.
"Draco huh?" Severus said teasingly. "I had it narrowed down to a few choices because of your power level. You just confirmed it. But thank you for trusting me so soon."
"I just feel like it was the time to tell you," Harry said slightly confusedly. "My elf felt that if you knew who my mate was, you would know that we would simply not just disappear."
"And he was right," Severus confirmed with a slight nod. "I have known Draco since he was a baby, I know the kind of man he has grown into. He will do everything in his power to protect you and any family you have now and will have in the future. He will also let you be your own person and stand by you when you do something he might not always agree with. You are a true gem of a submissive elf Harry. Any dominant would be lucky to have you, but you are free spirit and while trying to protect you, most would end up confining you."
Harry simply smiled and blushed at the thought of his beautiful blond Veela. Then he remembered the whole reason why he revealed his mate in the first place.
"Don't change the subject Father," Harry said sharply. "I don't care what happens at the end of the week, I will always want you in my life."
"Harry," Severus began before he paused and simply shook his head. "If anyone else had said that I wouldn't believe them. You though, I will believe. I will always be here for you, no matter what Harry."
Before Harry could say anything else Remus and Sirius came into the kitchen and breakfast was served. The conversation between the two was left alone and changed towards a lighter subjects.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sirius' Office, Grimmauld Place
10:00am
The four men were sitting much how they had the night before. They were discussing the order meeting that was to take place later that evening.
"I, for one, can not attend," Severus grunted from his seat. His hands were folded in front of his mouth and his eyebrows were drawn together. "Dumbledore believes that I am brewing a complex potion for Tom. It will look suspicious for me to be here."
"Now that I have full access to my magic again I am more in tune with the wards around the house," Sirius began, leaning forward in his large office chair. "I can manipulate the wards so that you can still hear and see what goes on the the meeting from the small servant's kitchen. The room has been sealed for the last hundred or so years after my family started using mainly house elves so that they wouldn't have to pay them. The Black family used to have human servants as well but that went out of trend in the early 1900s. The entrance is hidden in the back of the walk in storage cabinet by the cold storage."
"That would be appreciated Sirius," Severus nodded allowing his hands to fall from in front of his face. "I would like to see what the order truly believes of me and what I have been doing these last few years."
"Do you think I will actually be allowed to attend this meeting?" Harry asked sullenly, slumped in his chair. "The last two years I have been blocked from attending by Dumbledore saying I 'needed to enjoy my childhood', which is a load of crap, and Molly Weasley because I was 'just a boy.' She even managed to stop her adult children from attending. Well..I suppose they weren't actually her children...but still."
"Of course you will be able to attend," Remus grinned. It wasn't a very nice grin. It was all teeth, it was pure pissed off alpha werewolf. "They have no choice but to allow it. You are an adult by the laws of our world. Plus, Sirius and I, as you godfathers and owners of this house, will allow you to attend."
"Good," Harry exclaimed. "I may be young but I have never really been a child. And even though I know that we are not really trying to defeat Tom, but actually Dumbledore, the order still thinks I am under their thumb and I would like to know what they say about me."
"You are well within your rights to do so as well Harry," Sirius said. "But you must also remember that while some of the Order are in his pocket, many of them are like us. They are bespelled to believe the dribble that comes out of that man's mouth."
"Yes I remember," Harry huffed agitated crossing his arms. "That means I still have to act like the sun shines out of that man's ass."
"Yes unfortunately," Severus said with distaste.
"Great, just what I want to do," Harry drawled throwing his hands in the air. He stood up and stretched. "Well, as lovely was this conversation is. I do believe I have a letter to compose to Hermione. I want to send it today so she can get it in time for us to pick her up and drag her to Gringotts tomorrow."
"A good idea son," Severus said standing as well. "I believe I should also like to take a stop by where Tom is currently hiding. I should like to try and convince him to allow me to help return him to his sanity. That should help us get him to gringotts as well."
"Please be careful!" Harry begged in surprise turning to his father. "I know he is on our side but he doesn't know that yet and you could get hurt!"
"Don't worry son," Severus said placing a hand on Harry's shoulder before pulling him into a hug. "I have delt with him like this for two years now. I know just what to do."
And with that he swept from the room and out of the house, absentmindedly throwing up his glamours as he went.
"Don't worry Harry," Remus said coming around the side of the desk to stand next to him. "He really does know what he is doing. If it comes down to it he will just show Tom his memories from the last 24 hours. That might actually be what he is planning on doing."
"Alright," Harry sighed. "No use dwelling on it right now. I'll be up in my room if you need me."
OoOoOoOoOoO
Death Eater Hideout, Location- Unknown
11:00 am
Severus swept through the hall of the hideout heading towards right where he knew he could find his bespelled friend and leader, his office. He reached the door and knocked twice and waited for an answer, which he promptly received.
"Enter," a soft voice called from inside, no hint of the snake like hissing that he had recently been known for. Severus paused slightly before opening the door to the office. There sitting behind the desk was not the monster that many people believed the man to be, but actually a very handsome man that appeared to be in his prime. His eyes were a clear forest green, dark brown almost black hair rested gently against his shoulders, he stood at just over six feet tall. There was no hint of madness to the man. What the public doesn't know is that after his rebirth he had Severus restore him to his true appearance and erased the madness from his mind. The snake like man is a front for the public. No one outside his inner circle know of his true appearance. "Ah Severus, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"My lord," Severus bowed and paused before deciding to be a Gryffindor for once and just say it. "I come to you with disturbing and life changing news. Everything that we have known for the last 17 years is nothing but a lie. It has been fabricated by Dumbledore and his most loyal in an attempt to shape the world into what they want it to be."
There was a moment of silence before the so called dark lord spoke:
"Do you have proof Severus? I know that you would not come here saying such things if you did not truly believe them."
"Yes my lord," Severus said meeting the man's eyes. "I am willing to let you see my memories with no shields or boundaries. This is no time to be hiding things at all. My mind is yours to view."
Tom's eyes widened slightly, but that was all that gave away his surprise at the trust and determination shown by his spymaster. He meet the black eyes of the man before him and gently entered his mind. He would not abuse the willing trust the man was showing. He was immediately sucked into memories:
Hello Severus,
You must be so confused and angry right now my love but please…You, Moony, Padfoot, and Wormtail were at a meeting with Tom, I had missed the beginning because I was late getting off work….ambushed by Dumbledore and his little club….I was pregnant….half assed "prophecy"...idiot muggleborn Evans had gotten herself knocked up and they think it's either hers or ours...Lucius was separated from Rabastan and forced to marry that gold digging shrew Narcissa ..Tom was driven insane and Rodolphus was forced to marry Bellatrix Black. …
Forever yours,
James Charulus Prince-Potter
Tom finished reading the letter and felt nothing but pure shock. The implications were immense. He also felt Severus's shock through the memory. Knowing he needed to know more he dove back in..
When the figure stepped into the light Severus was a bit shocked, before him stood someone who was a perfect mix between the Potter and Prince Bloodlines. Harry's head was tilted downward in thought as he rubbed the back of his head.
Tom paused the memory and studied his apparent once enemy in detail. The mixed features were unique and undeniable. The more he saw the more he believed this may all be true...
Harry and Severus stared at the names on the paper.
"I'm a Pureblood?" The two asked together, then glanced at each other in surprise.
He raised an eyebrow but moved along.
"We are going to need to a lot of careful planning to get rid of everything that has been done to you and the rest of the world. This must be taken to the Emperor, as it was you that has brought this to our attention we would like you to accompany us to his palace many layers below here. We can begin to remove all things from you two as well go through all your account dealings."
The Goblin Emperor was involved? That was good news, it meant that many other creatures would join their side. The goblins only break their neutrality in times of true need and peril.
"So you are the ones that Lord Potter talked of in his visit," She laughed lightly. "I remember it, though I was a child at the time. He spoke with my father for what seemed like hours and he had me sat in his lap as they discussed things I was too young to understand."
"This is even worse than James said all those years ago," his voice rumbled lowly. "Before we do or discuss anything else this all needs to be corrected. Healers, we are going to do all three at once."
He was so glad that James had apparently been able to see into the future and slip away long enough to prepare.
Severus slowly came back into the waking world to the sound of a young woman's laughter. He stretched and reached over to the other side of the bed expecting to find James. When his arm found nothing but cold sheets he sat up with a gasp as memoires started to return to him. James going missing, tracking him to Hogwarts, watching Dumbledore threaten his mate, submitting to his demands, the pain as his elf was forcibly locked away with his true memories, the last seventeen years of loneliness, and how he treated his unknown son.
Tom felt the true bone deep sadness and loneliness and the overwhelming anger as it swept through Severus.
His appearance now looked like a proper dominate dark elf should. He was a few inches taller bringing his height to 6'4". His hair had lost the greasy stringy texture and hung at his shoulders in black silk waves. Severus face was now more aristocratic truly reflecting his Prince blood, his ears also now had the characteristic length and point of Elfs.
He took a moment to take in the true appearance of the spy master. It was devastatingly handsome and a sight to behold. He then turned back to the letter that was now being passed around from Harry's friend...
Hello Harry,
Now, I know what you are thinking and stop right now! I know I probably haven't been the friend you have known since first year. There is a reason behind it, but always know that you are my brother no matter what happens…..At midnight last night I had doing a bit of late night reading when I was suddenly surrounded by a soft glow and I watched as my skin went from a soft tan brown color to a pearl color. Not understanding what was happening I ran to the mirror hanging on the wall and found my whole appearance changed. My hair is now as black as yours and my eyes became a clear blue topaz. ….hide children who were kidnapped. ...a potion that would show the parents ….They say that I am the daughter of Tom Riddle and Rodolphus Lestrange….the Headmaster has been standing outside the door trying to get me to come out….Don't trust the Headmaster! Find the Dark Lord!
Hermione Lindie Slytherin
Father: Tom Marvolo Riddle Slytherin
Mother: Rodolphus Rigel Lestrange Slytherin
Tom once again stopped the memory, but this time it was just to stare at the heritage potion results. He was in complete mental shock that he has a daughter and a husband and he has absolutely no memory of it. He now understands what Severus felt when he received James' letter. Shaking out of his stupor he continued on..
"After you all had left I sat and looked over everything, I started with trying to read James' will. I couldn't get it to open no matter what I tried."
"The seal can only be broken upon the death of the owner of the blood, meaning that…"
Severus cut him off before he could finish…
"James is still alive…"
He felt the shock and hesitant joy that went through the memory. He vowed right then and there that he would help reunite these two. He may not remember the true relationship and friendship but the actions of Severus showed that he could trust this man and he would until proven differently.
"When the spells binding you were removed it was like coming into a second inheritance," James explained as he put his arms around his husband.
Tom smiled, truly glad that Severus was able to see his mate with his own 'eyes'.
"I do not know where I am. I do know that there are others here though"
Tom raised an eyebrow, mind already working to figure out who it could be.
"My magic is almost completely bound by a pure sapphire collar that is engraved with magic suppressant Runes. I am barely above squib level right now, he lets me have just enough magic to keep me alive."
Tom felt his own temper rise at the indignation done to James on behalf of Severus. He pulled from the mind of the dark elf. He had gone through over a day's worth of memories in about an hour. Severus had not moved from standing in front of him. Years of forced obedience providing him a way to stay still.
"This...this is…" Tom shook his head and turned his back. He placed his hands on his desk and hung his head. "This is a true catastrophe in our world. There has been 17 years of lies and deception and falsehood. It's going to take years to undo the damage that has been done."
Severus hesitated for a moment, his memories of his friend urging him forward to try and offer comfort, his memories of the Dark Lord urging him to remain frozen. Once again taking inspiration from his son and husband he plucks up gryffindor courage and moves forward. He places a gentle hand on Tom's shoulder, it immediately stiffens under his hand but doesn't shrug him off.
"I know that this is difficult to fathom," Severus said quietly. "I didn't want to believe it, once I had the blocks removed I had no choice. Know this though, you are an amazing man who is my friend, but is also my leader. If anyone can reverse this you can."
A dry chuckle was his response.
"When do you plan to get my daughter?" Tom asked, changing the subject for now.
"Tomorrow," was the prompt reply. "Harry was writing a letter to her when I left to come here. We are going to pick her up and take her straight to the goblins."
"I want to meet you there," Tom demanded standing up and turning to his most trusted. "I want to know who I really am. Rodolphus is here, I will bring him as well."
"Alright," Severus nodded and the a thoughtful look crossed his face. "Perhaps it best if you join us tonight? There is an order meeting tonight at our hide out. I will be spying from the old servant's kitchen, you're welcome to join me."
"I think I will," Tom confirmed. "May I bring Rodolphus as well? I am going to summon him after you leave and attempt to explain this to him."
"Of course my friend," Severus nodded. "I will have Sirius send you the address. His is the secret keeper. It was Dumbledore, but after he was exonerated he demanded it change to him. The meeting starts at 7pm, I would suggest flooing in no later than 4:30. Molly always arrives two hours early to prepare a dinner that no one truly eats."
"Thank you," Tom sighed, he then moved around his desk and collapsed into his chair. "Now, I think I need a few moments alone to gather my thoughts."
"As you wish," Severus said with a small bow before sweeping from the room to return home.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Sitting Room, Grimmauld Place
12:30pm
"Okay Hedwig," Harry said softly, stroking her feathers softly. "Go straight to Hermione. Don't let anyone stop you and don't give this to anyone else."
The majestic bird gave a soft hoot and ruffled her feathers. She gave her master a look that clearly said 'Let them try to take it'. Harry chuckled at the look. His owl was truly amazing, he loved her to pieces.
"Alright girl," He said laughingly. "I get it. Go on now."
Hedwig gave Harry a gentle nibble on his ear and then took flight out the open window. He stood and watched as she disappeared into the midday sun. The door behind him creaked open and he turned to see his father stepping into the room.
"Dad!" Harry exclaimed happily going to hug him. "How did it go?"
"Hello Harry," Severus smiled as he hugged his son to him. "It went a lot better than I was expecting. I just let him look through my memories right away instead of trying to explain. He was shocked to say the least."
"Of that I have no doubt," Harry agreed turning and pulling his father over to the couch. He sat down and pulled him down beside him and leaned into him. Severus took the hint and put his arm around his son and relaxed back into the couch. "What does he want to do?"
"Well, he asked when we were going to go for Hermione," Severus began slowly. "I told him that we are going to get her tomorrow. He wants to be at Gringotts when they do the purge, he is also going to have one done and he is going to drag Rodolphus along with him."
"Well this should be interesting," Harry sighed. "My letter to Hermione was pretty straight forward. I told her that she was in danger and that she needed to be ready for pick up no later than 9am. She is to have everything packed as she would not be going back there till the war was over. I said that her parents will be guarded by an order member round the clock till the war's end."
"We'll decide what to do with her parents later," Severus muttered. "We will need to see if they are in on what happened or if they just simply adopted a baby girl."
"I hope for Hermione's sake that they just adopted her," Harry said quietly turning to look at his father. "She really does love them and I have no doubt that will carry over after the purge."
"I hope so to then," Severus agreed, he tilted his head slightly before continuing. "I invited Tom and Rodolphus over tonight to see the meeting and to let the new info settle."
Harry just looked at him for a moment before sighing and nodding his head.
"I realize he is not the man I meet the last several years so I will try and get to know the real him."
"Thank you," Severus said and kissed the side of his son's head. They sat in silence for a few moments just enjoying each other's company before Severus sighed. "I need to go get sirius to send the address to Tom."
"Alrighty, I'll see you later," Harry smiled and sat up long enough for his father to get up. Once off the sofa Harry lounged back and summoned a book to read till the meeting.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Upstairs Private Floo Room, Grimmauld Place
4:30pm
"Alright they should be flooing in momentarily," Severus said as the four wizards gathered in the private receiving room to wait for their two guests.
"I hope this goes well," Sirius said anxiously. "I now remember him as he was but he isn't back to himself yet so I am a little worried."
"Don't worry Sirius," Severus said calmly. "Tom may not be the man you remember but he is a lot more sane now then he was in the last few years. He will not attempt to harm you, and if he does you are the lord of the house and the wards will protect you."
"You're right," Sirius sighed. "I'm just nervous is all."
"Understandable, I am too," Harry admitted as he leaned a little closer to his father. Before anyone else could respond the fireplace chimed, alerting an incoming floo, then flashed green before a tall, slender figure stepped gracefully out. The four were able to make out the figure of the dark lord for a moment before he spun around and caught the figure that shot out behind him.
The two figures straightened up slowly, it was obvious to the others that one the second figure's health is an issue. When the two separated and they were able to make them out better, they saw that Rodolphus was obviously ill. Severus' eyes widened at the sight of the normally well put together man and rushed over to help Tom settle him onto the couch.
"What happened to Roddy!?" Severus exclaimed as he summoned Kreacher to fetch some water.
"It seems my body is giving out Sev," Rodolphus moaned. "The sealing of my creature didn't go as well as yours or the others and it has been fighting me these last 17 years. When Tom told me what happened earlier my Veela reared its head and I began to remember on my own what happened. I believe that it might be because I was informed of my daughter and now my instincts are undoing everything on its own without a purge. But it's going so slow that my body can't handle it and it's slowly killing me."
"That makes sense," Severus mumbled as he started casting stabilizing spells to try and slow the deterioration of his body. The others watched on in fascination of the magic display before them. Severus had extensive medical training alongside his potions mastery. The flow of magic from Severus to Rodolphus was strong and constant. "The veela in you fought against the spells because of your daughter. She is literally your topmost priority, but because she had already been born when the spell went into effect your body could not protect you the way Lucious' and James' body did while carrying Draco and Harry."
"Severus what can you do?" Tom questioned as he hovered behind the man he recently learned was his veela submissive mate.
"I have slowed the deterioration of his body," Severus said as he stood and stowed his wand. "The purge should continue without harming you. Tomorrow when we go to Gringotts they will finish whatever hasn't been cleansed. You should start to regain your strength momentarily."
"Thank you old friend," Rodolphus sighed in relief. Severus' gaze switched from the Veela to his mate behind him.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU COME THROUGH SOONER!" he roared, his dominate elf coming out in response to a submissive in distress. Remus was wrapped around Sirius and Harry, who had retreated to his godfathers embrace from his instincts prompting, but a growl of agreement meet the their ears. Tom's eyes widened at the angry elf in front of him. He may not remember his before but he knows not to provoke a protective dominate creature. He held his hands up in surrender but before he could reply Rodolphus beat him to it.
"That's my fault," Rodolphus admitted to the angry dominate trying to keep him from attacking his mate. "After Tom told me what had happened I retreated to my quarters to let everything sink in. I didn't realize what was happening till it was too late. He had to come get me to floo over where he found me in the condition you saw. I was only able to stand up long enough to floo over. I should have called for help earlier but I didn't."
Both Severus and Remus seemed to deflate. Severus turned his back and sighed reaching up to massage his neck. Harry slipped from his godfathers hold and moved to his father. Severus automatically wrapped his submissive elf son in his arms, where Harry started to purr to relax the distressed dominate.
"As much as i hate to break this up," Sirius spoke up from his place in his mates arms. "But Molly will be here in about 10 mins. We need to get those spying to the servants kitchen while the rest of us brace for hell."
"Ugh, back to acting like the Golden Boy," Harry moaned as he pulled away from his father. He turned to the man on the sofa and held out his hand. Rodolphus reached out and grabbed the teens hand and was hauled to his feet before his hand was shook in greeting. "Hello, nice to meet you Rodolphus."
"You too kid," Rodolphus grinned before turning to look at Sirius and Remus. "It's good to see you two again. Wish it was under better circumstances though."
"Us too," Remus said as he released his mate and stepped forward to shake the man's hand, he then turned and shook Tom's hand. Sirius grinned and did the same. "Come, we have to get downstairs."
The six wizards journeyed downstairs into the kitchen without saying much. Tom hovered behind his mate to make sure he didn't suddenly fall ill again. Harry saw this and smirked but didn't say anything. When they entered Sirius went over to the storage cabinet and opened the door before moving to the back wall and pressing his hand to the wood for a moment. A hidden door retracted into the ceiling revealing a smaller kitchen.
"Remus and I spent the morning and most of the afternoon cleaning up in here," Sirius explained at the looks he received. The smaller room was spotless and filled with new furniture and that looked a lot more comfortable than what was in the main kitchen. Just then the floo chime rang through the house from the downstairs more public floo signalling the entrance of Molly Weasley.
"Quickly!" hissed Severus. He basically shoved the so called Dark Lord and his mate into the small kitchen and shut the door behind him. The other three snorted at the looks on the two's faces. The three quickly made sure their glamours were in place before sitting at the table and acting like they were in deep conversation.
"BOYS!" Molly screeched loudly as she hurried through the corridor to the kitchen. Luckily the portrait of Sirius' mother had finally been removed so her screaming was not added into the racket. The three men sighed in defeat. In the hidden room Tom and Rodolphus' eyes got wide and they covered their ears at the sound, Severus simply sighed and sat at the table. When they looked towards the main room they found that the wall had the other room projected on it like a screen. The noisy woman came into the kitchen and immediately went into her 'mother hen' mode. She pulled poor Harry into a bone crushing hug.
"Hello Mrs. Weasley," Harry managed to gasp out from somewhere near her rather large bustline, even though he had grown just a little taller than her with his inheritance, something that his glamours did not hide.
"Oh Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley simpered as she pulled back and looked him over. "You've grown a little taller sweetheart! I was looking you in the eye a few weeks ago! But look at you dear, you're still so thin!"
"Yes well," Sirius growled from his seat. "That's not his fault is it? It's those people who he was forced to live with. They didn't feed him regularly."
"Hush Sirius," Weasley scolded him harshly. "Those poor muggles did the best they could, I am sure it was difficult to feed an extra mouth they weren't planning on."
"Actually they had plenty of food," Harry said quietly as he shook her off and went to stand on the other side of the table. "Vernon and Dudley are both overweight, and it is not just by a little either. The two of them eat about as much in one sitting as Fred, George, Ron and Percy do in a whole day. There was food, I was just never allowed to have any."
"Now Harry," Weasley tutted moving towards the stove and the cold storage. "It's not good to say things like that about your family."
"Well nice or not it's true," Harry huffed before he plopped down in the seat next to Remus. "Plus I may be thin but that's the way my body is built, I will never carry a lot of muscle or fat weight without it being true fat and unhealthy."
"Hphm well, we'll see" Weasley said as she started pulling pots from under the sink and stove. "Anyway, Ron and Ginny should be following along behind me in a moment. They are going to have dinner with us before you three return to the burrow for the duration of the meeting. The others will be here in about 30 minutes."
"Uh oh," Severus muttered from his seat. Tom and Rodolphus looked at him in confusion but he just shook his head and waved toward his son. "Just watch."
"Excuse me?" Harry asked quietly leaning forward in his chair. Sirius and Remus both smirked before leaning back to watch the fireworks.
"Yes," Weasley said absentmindedly as she continued to cook. "The three of you will return to the Burrow for the meeting. It won't do for you to try and spy on the meeting like you have in the past. It really is just for adults you know."
"Yes Molly I am aware of that," Harry said standing and placing his hands on the table in front of him. The use of her first name had her turning towards him in shock. He did not raise is voice, he did not yell like he would have in years past, but the anger and indignation still seeped into every word he spoke. "But as you seem to forget, 17 is the age at which you are considered an adult. As of yesterday, I am 17 years old. I will be attending the meeting tonight, as is my right. Seeing as everyone in the damn order thinks that I am the only damn person to be able to defeat the Dark Lord, I think I should be able to throw in my own two cents now."
"Absolutely not!" Molly screeched, pointing a spoon at the elf. "You may be 17 but you have yet to finish your schooling, you are not qualified to attend these meetings!"
"Oh so it is perfectly okay for me to risk my life to defeat the Dark Lord but I can't attend a meeting about said Dark Lord?" Harry demanded, again not raising his voice but still letting his displeasure show. Tom was in shock at the way the boy was being treated, he thought that Harry had been involved in everything from the beginning. Turns out he had just been shoved into battles with him with little to no training.
"Your encounters with You-Know-Who should never have happened!" She screeched again. "You were not forced into those! You recklessly risked your life and my children's lives!"
"Really?" Harry drawled as he sat back into his chair. "So you mean to tell me that in first year when Voldemort possessed Quirrell and went after the stone, we should have just let him have it? Because Dumbledore just so happened to be out of the castle, and we went to McGonagall and we were basically laughed at. Or perhaps in second year you would have rather me let Ginny rot in the Chamber of Secrets that no one but I could enter due to being a parselmouth? Or better yet, let that idiot Lockhart try and rescue her? Oh yeah and then there was fourth year and the TriWizard Tournament, because I soooo chose to be sent to that damn graveyard and wanted to watch Cedric get killed and let the Dark Lord return! Do you want me to keep going? Because I can, fith year was a whole other bucket of shit that I can spend hours on! And as far as your children go, I always gave them the option to stay behind! I never once forced them along with me! So if you have a problem with them helping me, take it up with them!"
Tom and Severus were both blown away by what they had just heard. Tom because he realized that Harry really was his equal because he had fought him on his own for years. Severus because he had thought Harry had been helped and encouraged by the Headmaster. Molly was in shock, no child had ever talked to her like that!
"Harrison James Potter!" She screeched. "Do not speak to me that way! I…."
"Why?" He interrupted viciously. "You are not my mother! You have been trying to undermine everything that I have accomplished. You try and treat me like an innocent little boy. I haven't been innocent since that Halloween night! I am a full grown adult, treat me like one and I will give you respect, but you lost it when you tried to run my life for me without ever asking me what I wanted."
"He has a point Molly," Sirius finally spoke up, he had been watching in pride for his godson. "He is legally an adult. You are also not his mother, never have been. He doesn't need you to be either. He needs support and acceptance not whatever you call your parenting style."
"Sirius!" Molly exclaimed turning to the dog animagus.
"No Molly," Remus said firmly. "Even if Harry was not 17, the decision to let him into the meeting does not fall to you. It falls to Sirius as his godfather and magical guardian. I suggest you either cook dinner and leave the subject alone, or return to the Burrow till the meeting begins."
Molly huffed and turned back to the stove and silence descended on the kitchen. Remus and Sirius struck up a quiet intimate conversation and Harry just read the paper that had been neglected that day. A few mins later the chime sounded on the floo again as the two youngest weasley children came through.
"Harry!" two voices called out as they came through the hallway. When they entered the kitchen they both froze at the atmosphere. There was a tense and pointed silence between their mother and their friend.
"Mate?" Rons asked nervously, "Uh, What's going on?"
Harry ignored Ronald and continued to read the paper. The two exchanged a look before sitting down across from the raven haired teen.
"Harry?" Ginny asked in her high grating voice that so resembles her mother's. Once again they were ignored. Remus, picking up on what his godson was doing, smirked at his husband then turned towards them.
"I do believe that Harry is rather annoyed at the fact the two of you were going to force him away from the meeting," He said pointedly. Harry hummed in agreement from behind the paper. "He has already had it out with your mother. He is 17 and has chosen to attend tonight's meeting as is his right as an adult. I would suggest you just sit quietly till dinner is served and you return to the Burrow."
"Wait?" Ron exclaimed turning towards his mother. "Harry is going to stay? I want to stay too!"
"NO!" Molly screeched turning around again. "As it has been pointed out to me I have to control over Harry. You on the other hand I do, and 17 or not you will not attending the meeting!"
Ron and Ginny both slump back in their seats knowing the discussion is over. The two, realizing that Harry was not going to talk to them, started a conversation between them as Remus and Sirius went back to their own. Tom, Rodolphus and Severus were also discussing what they had just witnessed. About 20 minutes later the floo chimed again the kitchen occupants all looked up, wondering who was arriving.
"It certainly is quiet in here," Arthur said as he came around the corner, he was followed by the twins. Arthur had been visiting them at their flat for the afternoon. Sensing the atmosphere he asked, "What happened?"
"Molly tried to stick her nose where it didn't belong," Sirius said standing to shake his hand. Arthur sighed and nodded his head in acceptance. He knew how his wife was and honestly doesn't understand why he married her sometimes. Harry finally glanced up from his paper to smile at the man and the twins. He folded the paper and got to his feet.
"Fred! George! Mr. Weasley!" he walked around the table only to get pulled into a joint hug by the twins. "Can't breathe!"
"Sorry," Fred said as they released him. Arthur then pulled him into his own hug, much gentler than his wife or sons.
"It's good to see you little brother," George said as he ruffled his hair. He gently ran his finger over the edge of Harry's ear. No one would have noticed visibly but to Harry the message was clear. They knew what he was and they wouldn't say a word, just like they promised. Harry grabbed each twin by a hand and pulled them over to the table and sat down between them. This surprised their parents, normally no one is able to separate the two for anything. Slowly over the next half an hour the rest of the other Weasley's (minus Percy) arrived and the rest of the order arrived except for Dumbledore.
The weasley's all sat within touching distance of Harry. It caused several raised eyebrows, but no one commented. At six exactly Dumbledore swept into the room and silence fell. Severus, Tom, and Rodolphus quickly finished the dinner that Kreacher had served them and turned to pay attention once more.
"Good evening everyone!" Dumbledore said happily with the usual twinkle in his eye. "Molly, smells amazing as always."
"Thank you Headmaster," Molly beamed while cleaning up the dishes. "Alright my lot. You know what to do."
Ginny and Ron both grumbled before standing and making their way from the room. Dumbledore turned to Harry and raised an eyebrow in question but he remained firmly in his seat.
"Harry, my boy," Dumbledore began questioningly. "Why haven't you gone with them. This meeting isn't for children."
"Well Headmaster," Harry said unimpressed. "As you are well aware, yesterday was my 17th birthday. I am legally an adult. As such I have a right to be here. I am not a child, and truthfully, I have not been a child for a long time."
The headmaster did not look happy at this argument. "You are still young, are you sure my boy?"
"Headmaster," Harry said exasperated. "I already had this argument with Mrs. Weasley when she first arrived. If you all are so insistent that i am the only one able to defeat the Dark Lord, do you think I should have a say in it?"
"I agree with the boy Headmaster," Kingsley stated. This surprised many of the members, he has been thought to be a pet of the headmaster.
"Yes well," Dumbledore said unhappily. He took a seat at the head of the table. He waved his wand at the door and it slammed shut, the others could feel powerful wards snap into place. "If that is what you want, then let us begin."
"Wait," Moody said gruffly from his place in the corner. "Where is Snape?"
"He is brewing some time consuming and delicate potion for Voldemort," Dumbledore said regretfully. "He will not be available till at least the day after tomorrow."
There some mumblings that went around the room. Most were about the trustworthiness of the spy. Most were happy that he was not in attendance. In the back room Severus just sighed, he already knew of their dislike for him. Back out front it took every ounce of restraint in Harry's body not to hex everyone of them for badmouthing his father. Those who knew the truth about the man were in the same boat.
"Now, let us start with an update from the ministry," Dumbledore said, bringing the meeting to order.
With that the meeting began. It was exactly like what Harry was suspecting, Dumbledore droned on and on about this and that but didn't really say anything at all. Most of the order, still under the spell work of the headmaster, was nodding along and thinking everything he said to be an act of god. Those who had been released from his spells were suffering in silence and wondering how people could really believe what he said. Eventually Harry had enough,
"Okay that's it," Harry said and stood up catching everyone's attention. "Is this really all that the meetings consist of? Dumbledore has done nothing but speak about what everyone should be looking out for, but other than that, what is anyone actually doing in this war? I mean come on, you have one of the best curse breakers in the world sitting in the kitchen and all you have him doing is watching for dark magic signatures? What about having him schmooze some goblins or research ways to actually kill the bastard? You also have several very powerful and very skilled Aurors in the order and again all you have them doing is watch on their normal patrols. What about having them do extra patrols or low key spying on known death eaters."
There was a stunned silence in the kitchen before;
"He's right," Bill shrugged from his place next to Charlie. "My talents are wasted in this Order. I have been told that I am the most desired curse breaker on payroll right now. Charlie is one of the best dragon handlers to ever walk this planet and Fred and George are inventors first pranksters later. Their inventions could be so useful but none of you stop for a second look after seeing the WWW logo because you all think its a prank item."
In the room in the back the three were nodding along to the suggestions put forth.
"After my cleanse tomorrow I want to talk to all the unbound Weasley's," Tom said thoughtfully. "They are all some of the best in their chosen fields and will be amazing allies."
Back in the kitchen;
"Now Harry," Dumbledore began rather tensely, it had been many years since someone questioned him like the boy was doing tonight. "We are a defensive group only. We help protect and rebuild, we don't attack."
"How's that worked so far?" Harry asked sarcastically stalking around to the other end of the table, opposite of the Headmaster. "It's been three years since he returned and what have you all accomplished really? Not much because I had to protect the damn prophecy for you all. He is still out there and getting more powerful. Sitting on your asses and only reacting after the fact is getting people hurt and killed. The only way to end this war is to attack first and try and take him down."
"You are just a child," Minerva scoffed, crossing her arms. She was, as always, to the right hand side of the headmaster. She was one of the ones soaking up everything he said like he was merlin himself. "You don't know anything of war."
"He knows enough apparently," Tonks spoke up for the first time from her place leaning against the wall near the door. "What he just suggested has more merit and more possibility to help this war than anything that's been done since his resurrection."
"I think that's enough for tonight." Dumbledore said hastily, trying to regain control of his meeting. He stood and tore the wards on the door down. "We'll meet again this time next week. Dismissed."
And with that he was gone. Remus snorted.
"That was rather childish," Charlie said shaking his head. "He didn't like what we were saying so he dismissed us."
"He doesn't like being called out for being wrong," Arthur said quietly. He shook his head and stood. "Well, I'm knackered and want a cup of tea and my arm chair. I'll see you all soon."
He left and slowly the rest of the order started to file out. Molly and Minerva stormed out after him, upset that their leader had been so blatantly disrespected. Most were muttering about what had just occurred in the meeting. A few moments later the only ones left were the older Weasley children, Remus, Sirius and Harry. Harry looked at his godfathers and tilted his head in silent question. Sirius got the message and threw another, very powerful privacy ward and the door. Sirius was the first to drop his glamour, followed shortly by Harry and Remus. The Weasleys looked at them in shock for a moment before they started to drop them as well.
"Well, then," Bill said and went first, his appearance changed only slightly, his hair grew an inch or two longer and gained dark green streaks. His features changed just slightly to give him a more refined look, he also gained very faint, light green swirling patterns across his skin. His ears also became pointed, but they had a backward facing point. "I am a Dominate Earth Spirit. I have already found my amazing mate, miss Fleur Delacour."
Charlie sighed and went next. His appearance change was a bit more startling. He gained a thin but dark layer of scales over most of his body. His eyes remained blue but gained a snake like look. His teeth became fangs and his nails claws. "I am a Dominate Wyvern/Human hybrid. I was human till I was 18. While working in Romania I was bit by a very special kind of Wyvern that morphed me into what you see. I have yet to find my mate."
Fred and George were next. They dropped the glamours at the same time. Like this they were no longer identical. Fred's hair grew to be a bit longer than Bill's and gained dark red and yellow streaks. His features stayed mostly the same, but he had light red swirls covering his skin. His ears also gained the same point as Bill's. "I am a Beta Fire Spirit."
George's changers were a bit more drastic. He lost about an inch in height and his entire build changed, it resembled Harry's structure. His hips widened, his face softened and his lips became fuller. His hair also grew to his hips and gained light blue highlights. His skin also gained the same markings as his brother's but in a light blue color and his ears took the same shape. "I am a Submissive Water Spirit. Fred and I are two parts of the same soul meaning we will share a mate. As of yet, we have yet to find them."
The three others blinked in shock for a moment before Harry smiled.
"I am a Submissive High-elf!" Harry said happily as he went to each man and hugged them. "My mate has been introduced to me in my dreams. I can't tell you yet but you will know soon."
"I am an Alpha Werewolf," Remus said and put an arm around his mate who smiled at him then at the others. "Sirius is my submissive mate and is an Incubus."
"Well what a group we make," Charlie chuckled as they all sat back down. "What happens now?"
"That is the question of the hour isn't?" Sirius sighed. "There is not much we can do until we have our key players out from under the effects of the spell. Tomorrow we will be dragging Hermione to Gringotts to have her purged, her true parents will also be going."
"True parents?" Fred asked confused. "We don't know much. When we all came into our inheritances and hid them. We all received letters from your father...er..mother James. The only thing he said though was to wait until your 17th birthday and that everything would be revealed in time."
"It is a long and complicated story," Remus shrugged before yawning. He glanced at the mantel and saw that it was almost nine thirty at night. There wouldn't be time to tell everything tonight. "There are some things we need to take care of tonight and don't have time to explain everything to you tonight. We will be up and out of the house no later than 8am tomorrow. You know what….can you get Percy and be at Gringotts at noon?"
"Yeah, shouldn't be a problem," George shrugged looking at the others who nodded. "Lee can run the shop for a while and the others are off. Percy can afford to take an afternoon off if we explain what's going on."
"Then we'll explain everything tomorrow," Remus said firmly standing. "When you get to the bank, ask for Griphook. We will tell them to expect you."
"Will do," Bill said. With that they all stood and replaced their glamours before hugging everyone and leaving.
Once the Weasley's were gone the three hidden in the back emerged.
"Well," Tom said as they made their way upstairs. "That was different."
"No kidding," Harry snorted before yawning himself. "I don't know about you guys but I am beat."
"Not just you," Rodolphus yawned stretching slightly. Remus stepped up to an unmarked door and opened it revealing a rather large furnished bedroom.
"This is for the two of you," Remus said. The two made their way in and looked around before thanking the three of them. "Kreacher will wake you at 630am if you aren't up before. We have a lot to do tomorrow."
They all went their separate ways for the night.
Tom and Rodolphus saw that there was only one bed and just looked at each other for a moment. Rodolphus then did something rather bold, he stepped forwards and pulled Tom to him in a firm hug and buried his head in his shoulder.
"Please," he pleaded. "I need you with me now that I remember my veela is mostly free. We have been apart to long. I know you don't remember yet, but please."
"I'm not going anywhere," Tom said quietly, wrapping his arms around the smaller male. "I may not remember what we had yet, but these last few years. Anytime I looked at you my heart swelled and it ached and i didn't know what to do. Now i know why. You won't be alone again if i can help it."
The two stood there like that for a while before they gently separated and got ready for bed. They found bed clothes laying on the pulled back sheets waiting for them. Once ready they slipped under the covers and snuggled closer together.
All occupants of the house had thoughts swirling around their heads about what is to happen tomorrow. They all drifted to sleep and the house was silent.