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The Favor	By : kitten7315 Category: Anita Blake > Crossovers > AB/Harry Potter Views: 8278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I don't own the Anita Blake characters or the Harry Potter ones. All I am doing is twisting their worlds in my mind's eye to make my muse happy. I am not making any money from this, just a purely entertainment factor.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
Chapter 5 - Making the Family Skeletons Dance

Harry briefed Remus about the rogue death eater activity Albus wrote about to him. He just finished explaining the situation of the two kidnapped students when he opened a portal to the Headmaster's office.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry and Remus stepped through to utter chaos. There were several parents crammed into the office yelling and the Albus was calming trying to diffuse their tempers. What surprised Harry the most was that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were among them.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!"style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> Harry shouted above the deafening noise. "What are you doing here?"
Silence cloaked the room at the sound of Harry's shout.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Everyone turned toward to where Harry and Remus stood in front of the door their faces showed a mixture of relief and gratitude.
"Oh Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said making her way toward him. "It's Ginny; she was among the ones that were kidnapped. We just found out about it a little while ago. The Head of Houses were finally able to assess which of the students were missing."
Molly Weasley grabbed Harry and hugged him tightly looking for comfort from the small wizard. Harry patted Mrs. Weasley on the back while he looked to Albus for confirmation.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The Headmaster nodded his head, the strain of this crisis showing clearly on his face and his eyes reflected his worry.
Arthur Weasley walked over, plied his wife from Harry’s arms, and guided her into a chair. Harry watched the couple with worry, Ginny was their only daughter and they were always worried for her especially after the Chamber incident.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
As he made his way to Albus' desk, he heard murmurings from the parents about how 'now Lord Potter, their Savior would help them'.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry never understood how fully trained wizards would sit back and let a child save them.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The Wizarding world put him on a pedestal but if he did not do something they agreed with or if he was too slow to react to something, then they slaughtered him in the press.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> This was one of the main reasons he decided to move to America.
"Ah Harry my boy, it is good to see you again.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Thank you for sending Severus and Draco so quickly." Albus Dumbledore said smiling at the man, he considered a son. He offered his ever-present tin of lemon drops let a smile appear when Harry popped on in his mouth.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Oh, the simple pleasures in life.
"Any word from them?"style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> Harry asked his face contorting at the sour flavor of the candy.
"I do know that they immediately started to contact their intricate network of dark wizards they have. I hope to hear from them any minute now." Albus said easing his way back into his chair.
Harry turned toward the parents and explained to them that he had some friends checking on where their children could possibly be.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He guided them out of the office and down the stairs and requested they wait for news in the Great Hall while the house-elves prepared a snack for them. They all left feeling better now that Harry reassured them he was looking for their precious children not realizing Harry had manipulated them out of the headmaster's office without getting their questions answered.
Harry shook his head walking back into Albus' office just as Severus and Draco portkeyed in. He watched as they landed with much better grace than he could.
"I think I might have found them.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> My sources tell me they are being held at the former Minister's dungeon." Severus said with out hesitation.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He barely spared Harry a glance before finishing his report to Albus.
"Cornelius Fudge?" asked everyone in the room in disbelief.
"That is correct. From what I could gather, he enlisted the help of some minor death eaters that escaped trial and had some students kidnapped." Severus replied with a sneer on his thinning lips. "The fool advertised his intentions up and down Knockturn Alley."
"How did the Aurors not find this information?" Harry asked perplexed.
"I believe that those in Knockturn Alley do not care to share information with the Aurors due to some of the activities they could possibly be involved in." Albus explained.
Harry could not believe that Fudge of all people would kidnap students, then again, he did deny any claims that Voldemort had returned.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Pushing those thoughts aside, he focused on the problem at hand.
"Has anyone been to his house?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I can open a portal directly into the wards, but I need someone to focus on his home first." Harry asked determined to get those students out of harms way, especially Ginny.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She has been through so much already in death eater's hands for this to happen to her.
"I believe I can help with that." Albus said, "Let me call Kingsley Shacklebolt and have him send some Aurors to accompany us”.
The Headmaster threw some floo powder into the fireplace and called for the Head Auror Shacklebolt. After explaining the situation and the information Severus gathered, he stepped back as Kingsley and two other Aurors stepped through the flames.
"Harry," Kingsley said making his way over to him, "It is good to see you again."
Harry smiled at the tall Auror in greeting.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> They both fought side by side during the war and came to respect each other a great deal.
"Severus, Mr. Malfoy." Kingsley said greeting each one in turn. "Shall we get the students?"
"I will stay here and keep the parents calm." Remus informed them as he left the office.
They strategize their approach for retrieving the students covering all their bases before getting ready to depart.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> An owl came during this time bringing with it the order to search Cornelius Fudge's home. Albus concentrated on the entrance to Cornelius' home and Harry opened a shimmering portal allowing everyone to step through.
They came out into a silent and dusty entrance hall of the house. The room looked like it had not seen a house-elf in over a century. The floors had scuffmarks littering them, tapestries dull and tattered and the furniture was in disarray. Everyone glanced around taking in the hallways that branched from the room.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Everything was eerily soundless; there were not any signs of life to be heard. Harry sent out his magic seeking for signs of life within the manor and immediately found four juvenile signatures and six adult ones.
Harry quietly relayed the information to the rest quickly creating two small orbs that would lead each group to their intended targets. Splitting up, Albus, Draco, and one of the Aurors Kingsley brought followed their orb toward Cornelius and the death eater with him. Harry, Kingsley, Severus and the other Auror followed the other orb through the corridors descending into the dungeons.
When Harry's group was almost to the dungeons, he called back the orb vanishing it so it would not give away their position.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> They halted before the entrance Harry muttered a spell and with the wave of his hand, the walls became transparent. They were able to see where everyone beyond the stone walls. There were three death eaters at the far end of the hall grouped together having a hushed conversation.
"The students have to be behind those doors." Harry said in a low murmur.
"I will go with you to distract them while..." Kingsley started to say.
"Wait; let me the new invention Severus and I came up with." Harry interrupted turning to Severus what a questioning look.
"The sleeping gas?"style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> Severus asked as he searched through the multitude of pockets in his robes.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Finding what he was looking for, he brought the bottle out with a flourish. Kingsley and the other Auror looked at him with speculative expressions.
"It is dormant until you add a spell, but the best part is that you can add magical signatures for it to knock out specific people in a room." Severus explained softly, "Unfortunately, we do not have the time to gather the necessary magical signatures so it will knock everyone out in the dungeons. We will be behind an air bubble charm until I disperse the gas."
Everyone cast the spell on himself or herself while Harry quietly disabled the wards on the door. Severus stepped forward with the potion bottle ready. Opening the door, Severus quickly flung the bottle aiming for the nearest part of the floor where the death eaters were gathered.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He quickly shut the door to the sounds of the death eaters shouts stopping abruptly.
"Why did you close the door again?" asked the Auror when the door shut stopping him from rushing through.
"Just in case one of them got off a spell before the bottle landed." Severus stated with a snide look at the Auror.
Severus turned and re-opened the door far enough to get his wand arm through and spelled the gas away. Turning back to the Auror he said, "I only opened the door part way in case you didn't cast your bubble charm correctly."
The Auror bristled under the disgusted look Severus directed towards him. Harry placed a calming hand on Severus and nodded for him to proceed. Severus opened the door all the way and they spilt up checking behind each door for the students. To their surprise, they found Fudge's wife and Percy Weasley in a potion-induced sleep behind one of the warded doors. The students were also in a drugged induced sleep piled in a single cell.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> They all agreed that for now, they would leave them asleep until they got out of the manor and to St. Mungos'.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> They floated the bodies up to the main floor and saw the Auror floating the bodies of Cornelius Fudge and the last death eater.
"Any problems?"style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> Kingsley asked the headmaster.
"No sir, Mr. Fudge was quite upset that he was caught.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He was going to claim that he rescued them, setting himself up as a hero so he could get re-elected.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He also has been impersonating Percy Weasley for the last two weeks; he had to know which of the children to kidnap.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The families had to be important enough in the ministry so they would feel enough gratitude and have enough leverage to help get him back in office." Albus explained shaking his head in disappointment at the bound man.
"I will never understand him. Let's get these to the hospital." Harry said.
Harry opened the first portal for Kingsley and his Aurors so they could process their prisoners, the second portal went to St. Mungos where Severus and Albus took the former prisoners and the last portal Harry opened took him and Draco to the Great Hall to inform the parents their children were safe.
The parents immediately rushed up to Harry rapidly throwing questions around. Harry calmed them down and gave them a brief description of what took place and in what state their children were found in. They all sighed with relief while thanking him and Draco for their help.
"Thank you for rescuing our baby again Harry." Mr. Weasley said patting Harry on the shoulder while keeping the other around his sobbing wife.
"Yes thank you so much Harry." Molly Weasley said between sniffles with a tear-drenched face.
"Anytime Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, anytime." Harry replied with a kind smile.
Harry opened the portal and directed everyone through, some stopped and looked at it in amazement. Harry was the only wizard to travel that way, everyone else apparated, took a portkey or broom. He preferred to use a portal though a broom would not be bad if it let him travel as quickly as the portal did.
St. Mungos' lobby became bedlam when the parents simultaneously started asking where there children were. The staff slowly got everyone to their children’s room without too many problems. Albus called Harry over pulling him off to a quiet corner.
"Ms. Weasley is telling the healers that she is pregnant with your child." Albus said with a grave look.
"WHAT?" Harry shouted turning red with anger.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "I never touched her except maybe a kiss. I think I would remember if I had sex with her." Harry was furious that Ginny would say something like this.
Albus put a hand on Harry's shoulder in support, "I do not know why she is doing this. I had heard that she was seeing someone in Hogwarts, I believe it could be possibly that student's."
Harry ran an aggravated hand through his hair, "She didn't look pregnant when we rescued her, how far along is she?"
"She is claiming to be three months pregnant." Hermione interrupted.
Harry swung around and faced Hermione with a bewildered look.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "Three months?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Sometime in June?" Harry asked still perplexed on why Ginny was saying he was the father.
Hermione frowned, "You spent most of May through July in the States and even when you were here you were never alone with her.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> You never even slept in the same building with her." Hermione said placing the pieces together.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "Ginny was dating Colin during the summer, it is probably his. I just don't know why she is insisting it is yours."
"I don't know 'Mione, I just don't know." Harry said the tension in his body dropping a level.
"We will get to the bottom of this." Albus said with determination. "Maybe she is under some sort of spell..."
"Harry is it true? Are you and my Ginny going to get married now that you have started a family?" Molly Weasley asked with a brilliant smile on her face.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She made her way over to a shocked Harry and hugged him tight.
"But Mrs. Weasley, I didn't..." Harry wheezed out.
"Oh you will be family now, just call me Mum." Molly said still squeezing the life out of Harry.
"You didn't get Ginny pregnant did you?" asked Arthur Weasley coming up to the group prying his wife off of Harry for the second time that day.
"Of Course he did, he loves Ginny and will be marrying her very soon." Molly said with a stern look at her husband.
"No Mrs. Weasley, I didn't get Ginny pregnant, I only kissed her once nearly a year ago, but..." Harry said trailing off letting them fill in the blanks.
"But she said that you two were going to get married and have more grandchildren for me. I know you always wanted a family, but I really wished you would have waited until she was out of school." Molly continued lost in her dream world ignoring Harry's words.
Arthur grabbed his wife sternly around her shoulders shaking her gently, "Harry is not the father of Ginny's baby.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> You heard the results of the paternity spell from the Healer as I did. He couldn't possibly be, he was never around her long enough and never alone with her," he said with the hope of getting through to her.
"Whose child could it possibly be?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She only ever talks about her Harry...and well that Colin boy as well, but I think she was using him to make Harry jealous since he was not paying much attention to her lately.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> All that talk about moving and leaving his Ginny..." Molly continued to ramble.
"You have not been encouraging her have you Molly?" Arthur asked with a disappointed frown.
"She has always loved him, and this is the way for Harry to have his family." Molly said with certainty.
"No Mrs. Weasley, it would never work.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> If I could love a woman it would have been Ginny, but I am interested in men." Harry said trying to sooth Molly's frayed nerves.
Molly burst into tears at seeing her dream of having Harry Potter as part of her family and threw herself into her husband's arms.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry felt bad for her, but he was not going to be pressed into something he did not want. It was bad enough he had to be the one to kill Voldemort, but he liked having control of his life back and would be damned if he gave it up again on a schoolgirl’s whim.
"There, there mother. Harry will always be part of our family, just not like how you want him to be." Arthur said consoling his heartbroken wife.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
"I'm sorry Harry, I just..." Molly started to say looking at Harry with tear filled eyes. Not knowing how to continue, she shrugged her shoulders.
"It's okay Mrs. Weasley, just take care of Ginny.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me." Harry said glad that she came to her senses.
Harry watched the Arthur and Molly walk back down the hall with a disheartening look. He turned back to Albus and Hermione who had observed the whole situation in silence.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry ran a hand through his messy locks and gave them a wry grin.
"At least that is settled." Harry said with relief.
"That it is dear boy. I must be getting back to the school, thank you for coming Harry.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Do not let it be too long before you visit again." Albus said giving Harry a hug before departing.
"How long are you here for?" Hermione asked Harry looping her arm through his.
"Long enough to run some errands in Diagon Alley and Gringotts." Harry replied giving her a smile.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "Want to come?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I need to research the Evan's family tree."
Of course, Hermione's eye lit up at the mention of the word 'research'. Harry proceeded to tell her the situation with Nathaniel while he opened a portal to Diagon Ally.style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
* * *

Harry and Hermione walked around Diagon Alley browsing through shops and of course stopping by Flourish and Botts to satisfy Hermione's book obsession. Harry picked up some Chocolate Frogs and treats for Hedwig; he had not had a chance to get to Gateway Alley in St. Louis for shopping. The two had a good time reminiscing about their school days and catching each other up on their lives thus far.
"How are you and Ron doing? Still planning the wedding?" Harry asked giving his best friend a sly look.
"Oh Harry! I don't know if I want to marry Ron." Hermione said with a depressed look.
Harry frowned at her statement. Ron and Hermione not get married? "What happened?" Harry asked his tone gentle.
"Ever since you have left, Ron has been boasting about being best friends with Harry Potter. He has been taking advantage of this status to get things his way.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I don't like what he has become." Hermione explained with a look of anger and disillusionment in her eyes.
"I guess he is getting what he always wanted.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Fame." Harry spat in frustration.
Hermione nodded her head in agreement.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "You know we talked about moving to w:st="on">St. Louis so I can attend w:st="on">Wizarding University there. They have a wonderful program that will let you get your muggle degree as well as your mastership.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> We had agreed to move after the Christmas holidays, but now he doesn't want to go. He complains that 'no one will know who he was there'.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Can you believe that?"
"You two were going to move to w:st="on">St. Louis? That would be wonderful, the Golden Trio together again." Harry said eyes dancing with mirth.
"You mean Golden Troublemakers." Hermione said with a laugh. It never failed, Harry always ended up in the middle of something, but it never stopped her from making sure he did not get in too deep. Well, that is what she tells herself.
"Whatever you decide, you know you have somewhere to live. I think you would like the laws that govern the preternatural community. People are somewhat free to live their lives in the open, well not wizards. I know there are still prejudices there still, but the possibilities. You would probably end up help writing the new American Wizarding Laws." Harry said teasing Hermione.
"I know. That is another reason I wanted to move out there, to be there when the Wizarding world makes their first appearance. It would be such a historical event." Hermione said excitement lighting her eyes at the thought.
"If everything goes well, then they will." Harry said trying to curb Hermione's excitement. "Let's get to Gringotts."
They made their way into Gringotts, bypassing the counters going straight to Harry's account manager Griphook's office.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry made Griphook the primary account manager for all of his family's vaults. There were seven secondary managers helping Griphook all of Harry's finances. Harry was still trying to get use to having all that money readily available, considering how he grew up.
"Hello Lord Potter, what can I do for you today?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Is your Gringott’s card working well for you?" Griphook asked as Harry and Hermione stepped into the room.
Harry face lit up in a huge grin, "Yes, I don't have any problems using them. They come in handy, especially in the States."
Harry sat down and explained the reason for him being there seeking advice on what to do. Griphook listened intently before pulling a large book from the bookshelf behind him. He read the passage Griphook marked in the book for a few minutes before marking a place and handing it to Harry.
"According to the Evans' Family Charter, the family squibs can still be recognized as part of the family. It is up to the Head of Family if they are to receive a monthly income but it cannot be more than three hundred galleons a month.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> That is roughly 4,163.00 U.S. dollars." Griphook explained as Harry read the Charter with Hermione reading over his shoulder.
"Is there a family tree in the vault I can look at?" Harry asked after he finished reading. He made up his mind that he would offer Nathaniel the money if he wanted, it was only right as he was an Evans.
"Of course, all the tapestries are in each of the family vaults but if you look at the front of that book you will find it there also." Griphook explained.
Harry looked back down at the book he was holding and flipped it to the front and started with the last entries. He found his mother and father's names in black with his name in purple.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> His Aunt Petunia and Dudley were in red, his Uncle Vernon in orange, but what came as a surprise was that Nathaniel's name was beside Dudley’s' under his Aunt Petunia. It was also written in red.
"I take it that if the name is red they are a squib, orange a muggle but what is purple? I thought that wizards were recorded in blue." Harry asked.
"Purple designates the Head of House." Griphook answered.
"So Nathaniel Graison formerly Evans is my Aunt Petunia's son, my first cousin?" Harry said his hand tracing the lines of the genealogy chart.
"So it would seem." Griphook stated reaching in his desk for some papers. He filled them in and put the Evans' family seal on them. "Just sign this and have him sign in the area marked and the original will appear back here leaving you with a copy for your records and a copy for Mr. Graison's records. Once the papers are signed, they money will immediately be transferred into Mr. Graison's bank account. If he does not have one, we will set up a way for him to receive cash funds.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> If he does not accept burn the documents and the Evans' ledger will be updated with the refusal."
Harry listened intently to Griphook nodding his head in agreement with the arrangements he made. He liked how Griphook was always on top of everything; most goblins did not have much patience with wizards. Harry and Griphook had cultivated a very nice working friendship/partnership they both liked. Harry a great deal of respect for Griphook and Griphook has been grateful to Harry for elevating his status in the goblin nation when Harry promoted him his primary manager.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry Potter's accounts were the largest anywhere in the Wizarding world. Griphook did not think Harry grasped that he was the wealthiest wizard and possibly muggle.
"Is there a way for you to be able to have all my family tapestries sent to me without me digging through my vaults myself for them?" Harry asked with a hopeful expression.
Griphook gave a small chuckle at Harry's antics, "Of course, it will be a 30 galleon charge per vault and you will receive them by tomorrow. I would feel more secure if you would send your phoenixes to retrieve them instead of me sending them by owl post."
There was an ecstatic smile on Harry's face when he bid Griphook farewell. He and Hermione made there way out of Gringotts and headed to the Leaky Cauldron for something to eat.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The inn was not crowded so they were able to find a seat in quiet corner. After receiving their food and pumpkin juice, Hermione cast a notice-me-not and silencing charm around them.
"I know what you are planning Harry Potter so I will go along to make sure you don't curse your relatives." Hermione said with a knowing look after taking a drink of her pumpkin juice.
"I can't get anything past you 'Mione." Harry said grinning widely.
"We'll go after we eat; my Uncle Vernon doesn't get off work for another couple of hours. I rather not run into him." Harry said in between bites of food.
They finished paid for their lunch and Harry portaled them to a quiet ally near Privet Drive, Little Whinging. They walked arm and arm through the streets until they came upon number 4.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry stared at the house and the memories it held of an abusive childhood. Shaking off his depressing thoughts, he rang the bell.
Harry's Aunt Petunia slowly opened the door and stared in shock at the sight of him. Harry took that time to observe the changes in her appearance. She looked like she aged ten years; her hair streaked with grey, her eyes dull and lifeless. Defeat emanated off her in waves.
"I suppose you are here to gloat about your wonderful life?" Petunia asked her eyes flickered with a glimpse of life.
"No Aunt Petunia, I just come to ask about your first son." Harry explained quickly. He knew that Petunia had a short temper and if he beat around the bush, he might get some of the answers he needed before she clammed up.
Petunia's eyes widened and she stuck her head out the door looking side to see as if the neighbors heard her nephew blurt out her deepest secret.
"Get in here boy!" Petunia hissed herding them inside and slamming the door shut. She led them into the kitchen sitting down at the table.
Harry and Hermione took seats at the kitchen table waiting for Petunia to go speak. Petunia fidgeted nervously not looking down at the table. Harry looked around the kitchen and noticed that it was it was starting to look shabby. He thought that was odd because the Dursley's always put merit in having better stuff than the neighbors.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry turned his attention back to his aunt when she began to speak.
"Before I met and married w:st="on">Vernon, I met the man of my dreams.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He was from your world and I was in love." Petunia whispered sounding broken. "I found out I was pregnant after I got news that he had been killed by the same madman that later kills your mother.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> That is the real reason that I hate magic, it took the man that loved away from me. I couldn't cope with looking at that sweet baby boy; he had a mix of Lily's hair and Caspian’s. A beautiful dark auburn, almost mahogany. He had his father's eyes, lavender - so innocent..." Petunia trailed off, tears welled up in her eyes.
"I gave him up when he was a month old; I mentally could not deal with it." Petunia continued. "I never told a soul, of course your mother knew but she took my secret to her grave."
"I'm sorry for your loss Aunt Petunia; I know how if feels to lose loved ones to Voldemort. I promise you that he is gone for good now, Caspian and all the others can rest in peace." Harry said consoling his aunt for the first time in his life.
Petunia gave him a weak smile and got up from the table, "I want you to give him a letter I wrote to him before I gave him up.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> There is also a trunk your mother left here for you before they went into hiding. Come help me get it down from the attic."
Harry got up, followed his aunt upstairs, and up into the attic with Hermione following along. As he walked through the house, he noticed that most of it was in the same state as the kitchen. Unsure if he should ask why, he decided to let it go until just before he left.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Petunia pointed out the trunk covered by a multitude of quilts and fabric scraps. Harry pulled the trunk out, shrunk it and put it in his pocket. Petunia shivered when he used his magic in front of her but she did not say a word. She walked over to a stack of boxes pulled down the first box and opened the one under it pulling out a good size keepsake trunk. She set it down on a dusty table and opened the lid gazing at it contents.
Harry walked over looking inside the trunk.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He saw baby clothes, blankets and a baby book lying on top. His aunt caressed one of the blankets deep in thought. Abruptly, she snatched her hand back and snapped the lid closed.
"Take the whole thing to him, the letter is in the baby book." Petunia said with a determine look in her eye.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "I know that is why you are asking about him, because you have found him. I don't want to know how or where he is; I still need to come to terms with everything. Maybe sometime in the future, I would love to see him again, just not now."
Petunia turned away and made her way down the stairs.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry quickly shrunk the trunk, stuck it in another pocket, and made his way with Hermione back downstairs.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Petunia was standing in the foyer by the time they made it downstairs wringing her hands and glancing at her watch.
"You have to go now, Vernon will be home soon and I haven't started dinner." Petunia said trying to hurry the two out the front door.
"What has happened Aunt Petunia?" Harry asked stopping short of the door. "The house has gone down and you aren't looking too good.
Petunia sighed, "Dudley got into some trouble and we had to help him pay massive fines to keep him from going to jail. He ended up there anyways a month ago for putting a six year old in the hospital.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Vernon lost his job and took a cut in pay with a new company.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He has been drinking everyday."
"He doesn’t hurt you does he?" Harry asked with trepidation. He might not get along with his relatives, but he would not tolerate Vernon treating his aunt the way he treated him.
"It hasn't come to that yet but..." Petunia trailed off looking nervously at her watch.
Harry moved past his aunt and headed back into the kitchen looking in the refrigerator for what his aunt planned to cook.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry turned back toward Hermione, “Do you know any cooking spells?"
"All that knowledge that was crammed in your brain by Merlin and he didn't teach you any cooking spells?" Hermione asked an incredulous look on her face.
Harry looked at her sheepishly, "I planned to read some books on household magic when I get a minute."
Hermione rolled her eyes and took out her wand spelled the ingredients into a steaming meal. With another wave, it was placed in serving dishes and floated to the table gently.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Hermione threw a smirk in Harry's direction when she finished. Harry laughed and bowed at the waist in acknowledgment of her superior knowledge.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Hermione smacked him in the head joining in his laughter.
They turned to see Petunia standing in the doorway of the kitchen wiping tears from her eyes. "Thank you for doing this. I don't know why you would even help me after the way I treated you."
"It is my fault you were not going to have dinner ready in time." Harry said shrugging his shoulders.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   "Plus, I don't want him to have a reason to hurt you."
Harry turned to the refrigerator, took the pen, and wrote on the pad of paper attached there. He tore it off and handed it to his aunt. "Here is all my contact information in the States.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Call me collect and I will come and get you. Promise me."
Petunia nodded her head in agreement.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She had fresh tears in her eyes when she took the paper from Harry and quickly tucked it into her pocket.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> They all froze when they heard a car pulling up in the driveway. Harry quickly opened a portal and pushed Hermione through. Before he stepped through himself, he turned and waved to his aunt.
Petunia watched as Harry walked through a shimmering doorway and quietly vanishing from her life again. She promised herself that she was going to make plans and get away from her husband.

* * *

By the time Harry, Remus, Severus and Draco made it back to w:st="on">St. Louis it was past midnight and they were all tired. They came back to Traveler's group packed and ready to depart.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry had forgotten they were leaving tonight and apologized for keeping them waiting. After saying their goodbyes, Harry opened a portal for them and sent them off.
Everyone went off to their rooms wanting to wind down from the hectic day they had. Harry sighed in contentment getting out of the bath he soaked in until he turned himself into a prune. He belted the emerald green with silver snakes slithering on the edges Dobby laid out for him.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It was a gift from Draco for his last birthday, Draco claimed that it went well with his eyes and had nothing to do with it being very Slytherin in color and theme.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He headed down to the conservatory to curl up in his chair with some hot chocolate he knew Winky would have waiting for him. He loved sitting there and staring off onto the grounds clearing his mind of the days events.
As he sat there enjoying his mug of chocolate he felt someone standing outside his wards. It was times like those that this Harry was glad that he had these panels installed in all the main rooms including his private rooms. He got up and made is way the security panel in the room and the screen showed the vampire Asher standing outside his gates.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Confused at why the vampire would be here, Harry stepped through a portal coming out on his side of the gates.
Asher turned when he felt the magic in the air.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He saw the boy he was looking for standing on the other side of the gates when there were only trees a moment before.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Asher raked his eyes over Harry taking in the robe that caused the boy's eyes to stand out even more.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Emerald green eyes that haunted his waking moments since yesterday.
"Can I help you?" Harry asked still confused as to why Asher was here.
"I want to talk to you; I want...no need to say some things to you." Asher replied standing eerily still like a beautiful piece of artwork.
Harry looked at the vampire standing beyond his gates with his icy blue eye staring back at him. He knows that it was not a good to look a vampire in the eye, but he had a natural immunity to them. The vampire council found that out the hard way. He could not pick up any violent intentions from him so he went with instinct temporarily adjusted the wards and opened the gates.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Asher walked through the newly opened gates feeling the tingle of magic as he walked through. Harry opened another portal and turned to Asher. "I invite you into my home for this evening vampire Asher."
Asher never heard an invitation like it before, but he did feel magic wash over him. He turned a questioning look to Harry.
"A wizard has the ability to put restrictions on the invitation without having to remember to take it back." Harry said with a smirk.
Asher nodded his head and stepped through the portal Harry following behind. They arrived back in the conservatory and Harry curled back into his chair tucking the edges of the robe around him trying to preserve his modesty. He now wished that he took the time to dress under his robe.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He waved a hand toward the chair across from him offering it to Asher.
Asher's body flowed gracefully into the offered seat.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He sat there for several minutes staring at the small wizard curled into the chair. It took all of his self-control not to pull the boy into his lap and kiss him senseless. Asher did not know what was wrong with him, every since he met Harry Potter he had wanted to grab the boy and never let him go. There was something about him that pulled at him, make this wizard his.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He knew it was not the necromancy; he had tasted Anita's power on many occasions. No, it was something else, something he was determined to get to the bottom of.
Harry watched as Asher studied him intensely and blushed when his look turned intimate. Asher watched the blush appear on Harry's face and gave a satisfied smirk when he smelled his desire rise.
"Why am I drawn to you? I know you have not spelled me because I felt this pull towards you from the moment I laid eyes on you." Asher said taking the straightforward route. He never thought he would ever feel what he felt with Julianna again, but these feelings seemed stronger - soul deep. That is what troubled Asher.
"I don't know why you feel what you do." Harry said watching Asher intently.
Asher became a blur, when he came back into focus; his hands were gripping the arms of Harry's chair. Asher was nose to nose with Harry. Harry knew that Asher was only trying to scare him, but his guard immediately went up and his magic danced along his skin ready. Asher's golden hair resting perfectly over his scarred half, only allowing his perfect right profile to show. Harry wondered if all of him is as beautiful as what he could see of Asher's face.
"I don't want to feel this! Make it stop!" Asher shouted.
"Then don't!" Harry hissed back confused to Asher's rapid mood swing. "What makes you think I would want you to feel something for me in the first place?"
Harry didn't know why he was feeling hurt at Asher's words.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It wasn't as if he was in love with the vampire, right? Asher came to him; Harry has not had time to deal with what he was feeling.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Hell, he didn't know what the bloody hell he was feeling it was not as if he had a whole lot of experience in the dating or romance area. Give him evil wizards to fight and he would in a blink of an eye, but this - he had not clue about.
Asher did not let any emotion show on his face but inside he was shocked at Harry's words. The boy didn't want him? Why did it feel like his disused heart was cracking? He knew that many people would not consider him beautiful; no matter how many times Anita and Jean-Claude tell him. The scars he bears were hideous and deforming and he was use to people not wanting him because of them. Why should this boy be any different? Asher's hands tightened on the chair and he could hear the wood groan in protest.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
"Stay the fuck away from me little wizard, I don't know what you have done, but you stay far away from me!" Asher said ice coating every word he spoke.
"You are the one that came to me, I didn't approach you. I did nothing to you to warrant your attention vampire!" Harry said anger vibrating on his face. "I would not need to cast a spell to make someone like me; I am quite capable of attracting a man without magic."
Asher's anger swelled at the thought of his little wizard with someone else. He stood abruptly feeling his power swelled and his eyes bled into cold blue fire.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Without thinking, Asher gave Harry the first mark. When he realized what he had done, he left through the conservatory doors with a blur of speed and launched himself into the night.
Harry sat stunned as the pale blue flames sunk into him.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He bolted out of his chair and raced to the doors Asher fled out of staring out into the night.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He slowly closed the doors and walked all the way to his room. By the time he reached his bedroom, the shock had finally worn off.
"The bastard gave me the first mark!" Harry said aloud to the empty room, stunned at the vampire’s audacity.style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
* * *

Anita pulled herself out of Jean-Claude's bathtub after fully indulging herself. After having the lunch at the wizard's house, the rest of her day at Animators Inc. had been a long. Bert had her strapped to her desk all day seeing some of the most idiotic clients.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita put on her favorite robe of Jean-Claude's and made her way into his bedroom only to immediately stop at the beautiful sight before her.
Jean-Claude was lying against the headboard dark blue silk sheets to his waist reading some papers with glasses perched on his nose.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Since when did Jean-Claude need glasses?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita gave him a questioning look while gesturing toward the glasses.
"You like ma petite?style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I think they make me look studious, a new look for me no?" Jean-Claude purred posing himself for her.
Anita could only nodded her head in agreement, 'Damn he even makes glasses look good!' she thought tearing her eyes away from her lover and looked over her cat.
Nathaniel was clothed in just his boxers, curled himself on top of the sheets with his head in Jean-Claude's lap blinking lazily at her. Jean-Claude took off the glasses, gathered the rest of his work placing them on the nightstand for him to finish later, and turned his attention back to his lover.
"Won't you join us ma petite?" Jean-Claude asked his voice a low purr that sent shivers down her spine.
Anita watched as Nathaniel uncurls himself and gave a feline stretch that caused each muscle to ripple down his body.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He tossed his hair to the side and let the length pool in Jean-Claude's lap. Nathaniel continued to look at her with deepening lavender eyes waiting for her reply.
Jean-Claude watched Anita as she watched Nathaniel stretch smelling her arousal. He placed a hand on Nathaniel's head and slowly stroked still watching her, waiting for her to join them. Nathaniel purred in delight when the vampire stroked his hair. His eyes lowered to slits still watching his Nimir-Ra stare at them; he too could smell her desire and knew she was giving in.
Anita watched them, feeling the ardeur waken within her. She made her way slowing to the bed her eyes never leaving them. Anita climbed up and crawled over to them amazed that she wasn’t tangled up in Jean-Claude's robe. She reached out, grabbed a handful of Nathaniel's hair, pulling him up crushing her mouth to his. Nathaniel moaned into her mouth feeling delicious pleasure at Anita's aggression. With their lips still locked together, they moved until they were both kneeling, upper bodies flushed together.
Jean-Claude moved behind Anita's kneeling form moving the collar of the robe and started to suckle on the portion of neck he exposed.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita moaned breaking her kiss off and throwing her head back onto Jean-Claude's shoulder.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Nathaniel watched the two for a moment before un-belting Anita' robe and sliding it open. He enjoyed the sight of Anita's body, naked and tinged pink from her bath. Nathaniel ghosted a finger from her neck down to the valley of her breast moving it over each nipple watching them tighten even further from his touch.
Anita reached locked both her hands behind Jean-Claude's neck for support when she felt Nathaniel touch her breasts.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Her back arched pushing her breasts closer to Nathaniel, wanting more of his touch. Jean-Claude briefly moved his lower body from Anita's so he could pull the robe down off her shoulders and letting it pool on the bed between them.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Nathaniel took Anita's arch as an invitation, bent his head, and captured a nipple in moist mouth, running his tongue around the hardened nub while suckling it. Anita started to writhe with pleasure having these beautiful men's mouths cause the most erotic sensations in her body. Jean-Claude moved his mouth from her neck and pulled her face up to have better access to her mouth.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Anita's body flared with heat at Jean-Claude's kiss.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It never failed; his kiss alone could almost cause her to orgasm in pleasure. Jean-Claude pulled his mouth from hers and reached down pulling the belt from his robe. He pulled away from Anita's grip moving around her pulling Nathaniel away from her breasts.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita watched in confusion until she saw him quickly tie Nathaniel's hands together and lash it to the bedpost.
"Now we will all get something out of this style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>ma petite." Jean-Claude said his voice throaty with lust.
Anita noticed that Nathaniel laying diagonal on the sheets had grown harder at Jean-Claude’s antics. She knew he was more than okay with how things were progressing so far. Anita dropped to hands and crawled over to him taking in his beautiful sculpted body.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>    She leaned down and began licking and nipping at his chest causing Nathaniel to moan arching his body off the bed. Anita mapped his body with her marks while Jean-Claude ran his tongue and lips down her back placing his own marks on her creamy skin. Jean-Claude reached around and slid a finger into Anita's slippery center while another finger rubbed her clitoris. Anita's body started to shake when Jean-Claude breached her causing the ardeur to resonate through the room. It swirled around the occupants of the bed, ghosting over everyone's skin, prodding them for completion.
"Please Anita!" Nathaniel cried out still writhing on the bed his dick standing upright nearly purple.
Anita bent down and took just the tip of Nathaniel's erection into her mouth teasing it with her tongue while applying suction.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> While Anita played with Nathaniel, Jean-Claude was busy preparing Anita for him. He loosened her with his fingers while the other hand was busy playing with her nipples. Jean-Claude enjoyed the sight of Anita lost in the pleasure, not analyzing if it was right or wrong, just doing what felt good.
Anita quit teasing Nathaniel and took him deeper into her mouth running her tongue across the thick vein on its underside.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Nathaniel was mewling; his arms had pulled the bonds that held him taunt. His body was shaking with the built up passion that was looking for release.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Jean-Claude finished preparing Anita and grasped his own erection slowly enter into her damp folds.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita's body seemed to suck him inside, Jean-Claude groaned with when her moist heat surrounded him completely.
Anita moaned around Nathaniel when she felt Jean-Claude enter her from behind. His upper body still pressed against hers, his hands gripping Nathaniel's hip as he began to build up his rhythm. Anita removed her mouth and moved down sucking one of Nathaniel's balls into her mouth rolling it around. Her hand kept the rhythm on his engorged member her mouth had before it found something else.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Their sex was frenzied instead of slow and gentle with just enough foreplay before the lust devoured them whole.
Feeling that they were all near completion, Anita did something that shocked even her - she reached back, grabbed Jean-Claude’s head, and pressed it into her neck.
Surprised, Jean-Claude love making faltered for a moment.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "Are you sure ma petite?" Jean-Claude whispered his voice still heavily laced in desire.
"I want this Jean-Claude, I can handle it." Anita replied taking her attention back to Nathaniel's cock wanting him to find completion when they did.
Jean-Claude did not question his good fortune any further.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He licked the pulse at her throat and as gently as he could sank his fangs in when Anita began to orgasm.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita felt Jean-Claude sink his fangs into her when she started to orgasm from him moving erotically inside her and pleasuring a bound Nathaniel.
When Anita's body tightened around him, he felt his own climax take hold. Drinking Anita's blood during the sex only added fuel to the fire. Nathaniel felt their releases and let go of his own into Anita's waiting mouth. The ardeur fed happily, as its victims peaked and with a satisfied feeling sank back into its carriers.
Jean-Claude released Anita's neck and lapped once at the blood trailing down her neck before Anita collapsed on top of Nathaniel with shiver. Jean-Claude saw that she was smiling so he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek before getting up and releasing Nathaniel from his bonds.
Anita watched a naked and spent Jean-Claude get up from the bed and release Nathaniel. 'How did I get so lucky?’ She thought.
Jean-Claude climbed back onto the bed and moved Anita's limp form up the bed while he climbed in beside her and cradled her in his arms.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Nathaniel shook his hands getting the feelings back from when he pulled the bonds tight and climb to Anita's other side and cuddled into her side.
Anita reached a lazy hand out and stroked Nathaniel shoulder, "Are you okay Nate?" Anita asked still feeling the post-orgasmic bliss.
"Mmhmm."style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> Nathaniel murmured feeling content.
"Me too."style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> Anita whispered more for Jean-Claude's benefit than Nathaniel’s.
Jean-Claude heard her words and felt relief from the tension he unknowingly held inside of him. "Thank you for tonight ma petite.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It meant so much to me that you allowed yourself to trust me not to hurt you." Jean-Claude whispered holding Anita tight against him.
"It felt right to." Anita said staring off in the distance. "Don't ask me to explain it or when it will happen again. I can tell you that I don't regret it."
Jean-Claude's only response was to squeeze her briefly lost in his own thoughts. Anita shifted slightly when her wayward thoughts turned toward what happened at Harry's house that afternoon. She was curious on Jean-Claude's thoughts of the wizard and his possible relation to Nathaniel. Anita was determined to look out for Nathaniel because sometimes he would not do it himself.
"What do you think of Harry Potter?" Anita asked her voice quiet not wanting to break the mood.
"I think he is a formidable person when provoked, but he still has this innocent quality to him. I know he has seen his share horrors to last him a lifetime.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> How he kept his innocence through all that is a mystery." Jean-Claude said his voice distant.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>   "I think he would be a very powerful ally if he is not working for the Council."
"I don't think he is." Anita stated going with her intuition. "I think he has had dealings with them in the past but not exactly on a friendly basis.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I honestly think he agreed to help me because he just can't walk away when someone is in need."
"That is what I get from him too.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I think Harry is very laid back guy." Nathaniel said entering the conversation.
"So he is another version of you ma petite." Jean-Claude said with a chuckle.
Anita rolled her eyes at Jean-Claude's statement not bothering to respond.
"He told me that I am related to him." Nathaniel blurted out.
Jean-Claude's head snapped in Nathaniel's direction.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "This is an interesting development," he said looking at him closely.
Anita proceeded to tell Jean-Claude what happened during their lunch at the wizard's house. Jean-Claude listened amazed at the animals she described meeting.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> His mind was still trying to wrap itself around the fact there was a whole world hidden among them that lived and breathed magic on a daily basis.
"How do you feel about this little one?" Jean-Claude asked after Anita finished.
"When I was little, I use to dream about some unknown relative showing up and taking me away from the pain.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Now, I am feeling hopeful there could be a connection to someone who is really family." Nathaniel said his voice held his longing.
Anita turned her body to face Nathaniel's, "Then I hope that Harry turns out to be the good sort of family for you”.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita hugged Nathaniel close giving him comfort. She was getting better at this comforting thing.
"Thanks, I want to get to know him better." Nathaniel whispered full of hope he hadn't felt in a long time.
The three of them laid there in silence for several minutes before Asher came bursting through the door anger radiating in the power bursting from him. Jean-Claude lifted a brow at his entrance still not moving from his comfortable position.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita for once didn't go for a weapon, in her contentment she left, her senses open to the Circus and felt Asher coming up the hall. She didn't feel his anger until he burst through the door. All and all, she was proud of herself for remaining calmly in the bed.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Nathaniel just blinked at Asher's entrance like a lazy cat.
"What is wrong mon chardonnet?" Jean-Claude said voice calmly waiting on Asher to go on.
Asher only took brief notice of the trio on the bed before sitting down next to Jean-Claude his head hung low gripped tightly in his hands.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Asher took a moment to compose himself before telling Jean-Claude what had just occurred at the wizard's house.
Anita sat up when Asher mentioned giving the first mark.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "You gave him the first mark without his permission?" Anita asked her voice calm despite the anger building inside her.
Asher turned his head in her direction as if really seeing her for the first time. "I just..." Asher started not knowing how to explain.
"I am surprised he didn't curse you into next week." Anita hissed knowing that is what she would have done.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
Jean-Claude and her had gone through their fair share of problems with the marks, but for Asher to do it to a virtual stranger stirred her anger. Asher just turned his head back into his hands, his fingers gripping hair exposing his scarred face to the room.
"I was jealous! I wanted to make sure no one else could have him." Asher said with vehemence lacing his words. "He said that he did not want me. He said he could have someone else." Asher continued in disjointed sentences.
"Are you sure that is what he said?" Anita asked Asher still trying to piece together what he was saying.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "Tell me exactly what he said Asher, not what you think he said."
Asher look turned distant with remembrance.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Suddenly his head snapped up, "He was just reacting to my words, not telling me he didn't want me”. Asher said more to himself than anyone else in the room when understanding dawning.
Asher turned back to Jean-Claude with a sorrowful look, "I must apologize for not asking your permission first Jean-Claude.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I have no excuse but that of allowing my anger to get the best of me."
Jean-Claude studied his long time friend for a moment before replying, "You are forgiven Asher. I have told you on many occasions that you could take another human servant when you found the right one. I do think you should apologize to Mr. Potter soon."style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Jean-Claude watched as Asher nodded his head still distracted by his own thoughts.
Anita's anger simmered down after she finally put all the pieces of Asher's story together. She understood his feelings but it still didn't excuse what he did.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Anita also hoped that the repercussions from his actions would not the budding relationship Harry and Nathaniel were cultivating.
"I know you can't take it back, but try to apologize to him." Anita said not comfortable giving advice of this nature.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> She spent many days trying to ignore her own marks to Jean-Claude.
"I apologize for interrupting your evening.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> I will apologize to the little wizard tomorrow evening and discuss the situation further." Asher said with determination. He knew he fucked up; all he could do now was as the little wizard to forgive him.
"Do not worry yourself over it mon chardonnet, make your amends with Mr. Potter." Jean-Claude said his voice low and soothing.
"Oui, you are right Jean-Claude.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> C'est la vie, non?" Asher said a small smile on his lips. He got up from the bed and left without another word.
Anita observed Jean-Claude's face as he watched Asher walk out. She noticed that his eyes reflected his sadness and this confused her. "What's wrong Jean-Claude?"
"I never thought I would see the day he found someone to replace her." he replied in a whisper.
* * *

Harry woke the next morning feeling strangely refreshed despite the night he had. He dressed and activated the portal rune to the dining area for breakfast.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He found that Severus, Draco and Remus had already made it to the dining room and were just seating themselves when he arrived. After wishing them a good morning, Harry sat down and began filling his plate of wonderful smelling food. After everyone had a few bites and their dose of caffeine, Harry told them what was going on with Ron, his visit to Gringotts, and his Aunt Petunia.
"So he is your first cousin?" Draco said carefully, his face had gone blank.
"Yes, I could not believe it when I found out.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> A family member that is not a bully." Harry said his face showing his happiness.
Harry's smile faltered when he saw Draco's face was blank.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It took him a minute before it dawned on him that Draco might be feeling misplaced. The two of them had a long history, not all of it good but they had become like brothers in the last two years.
"You will always be my brother Draco." Harry said softly staring directly into Draco's silver eyes.
"And you will always be mine." Draco replied.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He brushed imaginary lint from his immaculate shirt and went back to his breakfast.
Harry laughed at Draco's nonchalant attitude knowing the blonde was truly concerned even if he didn't show it.
"How touching." Severus sneered before going back to his newspaper and coffee.
"Don't worry Severus, I also still think of you as my papa." Harry teased.
Severus glared at Harry over the top of his paper, no one able to see the small smile he let grace his lips for just a second.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
"Oh, I forgot. The Master of the City Jean-Claude's second in command Asher gave me the first vampire mark." Harry blurted out suddenly.
Remus who had been quiet so far, was just taking a drink of his tea when Harry's announcement caused him to promptly spew it back out across the table dotting Severus' newspaper. Remus couldn't even apologize because he was trying to stop his choking from some of the tea making it down the wrong pipe.
Severus burst into action rapidly casting diagnostic spells until he used each one in his repertoire of knowledge.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Silently, Draco and Remus looked to Severus for his prognosis.
"It did not have any adverse reaction to you or your magic. I see the connection but it is not harmful to you, your necromancy will not allow it." Severus said feeling relief even if he did not show it.
Remus sighed with relief and Draco just sent a glare his way for making him worry.
"Now tell me Mr. Potter," Severus started, his silky voice low and dangerous”, What in Salzaar's name were you thinking letting a vampire mark you?'
Harry gulped at the words 'Mr. Potter'.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He knew he was in trouble just by those words alone.
"Umm...I was in shock?" Harry said with a grimace.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He knew that was not the best of answers, but that was all he could come up with under pressure.
"You Mr. Potter are going to cause me to be prematurely grey." Severus hissed then took a deep breath.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> "What is done cannot be undone.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Just do not acquire any more until I find out more about this vampire."
"Okay." Harry said giving Severus a sheepish look.
"How do you get yourself into these situations?" Remus asked shaking his head.
"He's Harry Potter." Draco stated returning to his meal.
The morning continued without anything more cropping up.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Severus took Draco to the labs to work on whatever concoction he planned while Remus went back to studying for his Mediwizard exam tomorrow. Harry called the contact number he had for Anita and invited her and Nathaniel for dinner that night to discuss what he found out.
Harry filled the rest of his day with reading the files the American Auror Division sent over for his take on some ritual killings some dark wizards were responsible doing. He noted some possible reasons they were doing these killings referencing some Dark Arts books they could look through to see which better suited the situation.
***
Harry once again was waiting excitedly in his entrance hall for his guest to arrive. Severus and Draco were joining them for dinner while Remus refused to come out of the library until bedtime. Harry thinks that he is extremely nervous about his test tomorrow and is going overboard in his studying. Maybe he could bribe one of the house-elves to put a sleeping draught in his tea.
Anita and Nathaniel entered Harry's house feeling just as nervous but for different reasons. Anita was anxious how Harry was going to react to her after what Asher did.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Nathaniel was feeling nervous about having a new unknown relative. Anita was surprised when Harry swung open the heavy doors with a beaming smile.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
"Come in." Harry said leading them into the house nearly bouncing up and down.
Harry led them in the small family dining room where it had again been filled with food that had their mouth's watering at the aroma.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The house-elves had outdone themselves yet again.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Harry began the think they liked having many people to cook for.
After everyone sat and filled their plates, Harry began to tell them what he had found out when he was in w:st="on">England.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Nathaniel began to cry softly when he found out that his mother was still alive. By the time he finished his story the dishes had vanished and dessert had arrived in the center of the table. Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the keepsake trunk his aunt had given him and enlarged it. He set it down gently in front of the crying Nathaniel.
With great care, Nathaniel opened the trunk seeing his baby things inside. Everyone was silent letting the wereleopard have his moment.
"She left a letter in the baby book for you." Harry said softly.
Nathaniel gently removed the book from the trunk and closed it moving it to the side. Anita moved her chair closer to Nathaniel to offer support as he read the letter from his birth mother.
"She wrote exactly what she told you and said that she loved me so much but she was starting to become bitter and didn't want that directed toward me. She said that she gave me up hoping I would have two loving parents, something she couldn't give me anymore. She also said that she still became bitter after giving me up and wished she didn't." Nathaniel said in between sobs.
Everyone had to listen closely to put together what Nathaniel had jumbled together. Harry got up from his seat and carefully took Nathaniel in his arms. Nathaniel clung to him while he cried on his shoulder.
"Don't worry Nathaniel; you will always have a family with me." Harry said while stroking the wereleopards back.
"Thank you." Nathaniel said pulling his face from Harry's tear stained shoulder.
Nathaniel carefully refolded the letter and put it back into the baby book and then placing it back into the small trunk.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He planned to look through this stuff when he got home later tonight with Anita. Nathaniel dried his eyes and sent a shy smile to the rest of the group embarrassed about his outburst.
Harry returned to his seat feeling a little bit closer to his cousin. "Let's have dessert."
Everyone grabbed a slice of decadent double chocolate cake making small talk trying to lighten the mood. Draco was discussing raising zombies with Anita when there was a loud crack of apparition. Severus and Draco had their wands out and Anita had her Browning and pointed at the intruder that appeared out of thin air.
"Lucius!" Harry cried out at the sight of the bleeding wizard.
- 5
- 6
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The Favor