22. TOGETHER
Harry was enjoying the quiet of their new rooms after their long shopping trip to Diagon Alley and the short detour to Sirius' former apartment, while the veela was enjoying another bath, claiming that he could still feel the dirt of Azkaban clinging to his body.
But Harry's quiet was disturbed by a soft knock on the door, and the elf could sense that Remus was standing on the other side, patiently waiting to be let in. He took a deep breath, but got up and carefully walked to the door, opening it slowly only to be greeted by Severus, who blocked his view on Remus.
"Can we come in?" He smirked as Harry made no move to step aside and let them in. "Wolfboy wanted to see Black. As if seeing him once a day wasn't already more than enough."
Harry smiled a bit uncertainly, but let them enter, sitting back down on the large sofa Sirius had insisted on charming red. "Sirius is taking a bath. Do you want me to fetch him?"
"We aren't in a hurry." Remus smiled at him, slowly sitting down in the armchair farthest away from Harry and with Severus between them. "It's still about an hour until dinner."
"And of course, the meals are the only important events in our lives," Severus grumbled, disdainfully looking at the very Gryffindor decor. "Black decorated, I assume?"
"Yes, this room." Harry laughed. "I did the bathroom and the bedroom, though. It's not quite as red..."
"What's wrong with red?" Sirius entered from the bathroom, fully dressed but still with slightly wet hair. "It's better than green."
"My eyes are green." Harry pouted. "Would you rather I had red eyes?"
"Merlin, no!" Sirius exclaimed, plopping down next to Harry and pulling him into his lap. "I love your eyes!"
"Then what is so bad about green?" Harry whined.
"You don't like grey, either," Sirius protested.
"I like your eyes and therefore I like grey," Harry stated stubbornly.
Sirius sighed deeply. "Fine, I'm sorry. If you want we can paint all rooms green."
"Can we also paint the rooms grey?" Harry asked.
"Definitely not!" Sirius exclaimed. "Slytherin colours I can bear, but I won't live in a grave. Not even with you, Harry."
"I was kidding, Sirius." Harry laughed softly, kissing his nose. "There's no grey that could match your eyes."
"Please, tell me that this won't be the conversation topic for the next half an hour." Severus groaned, which lifted Sirius' mood immensely.
Harry pouted, leaning back against Sirius' chest. "It's better than talking about potions."
"I'll have you know that my life doesn't revolve around potions." Severus sneered at Harry, which earned him a heated glare from Sirius.
"Of course, you also like to take points off of Gryffindor."
"Exactly and you better remember that or I'll engage in that hobby." The Potion's Professor smirked, and Harry stuck out his tongue. "Disrespect towards a teacher, ten - "
"I actually wanted to ask if you have everything," Remus spoke up before Severus could finish his sentence. "Can I do anything for you, Paddy?"
"I'm fine." Sirius shrugged. "There's a lot of paper work waiting for me, and I don't exactly look forward to it and Dumbledore is under the illusion that I'll allow him to meddle in our life, but I'll manage. Oh, and I'm constantly hungry."
Remus laughed. "You're almost back to normal, I see. I'll help you with the paper work, if you want me to."
"I'd love you for it," Sirius exclaimed before quickly adding, "Not as much as Harry of course."
Remus chuckled while Severus merely rolled his eyes.
"Thank you," Harry murmured. "But I'm not that insecure."
"Better to be safe than sorry," Sirius admitted sheepishly, blushing lightly as Harry kissed his cheek.
Harry laughed. "You blush a lot, don't you? I never noticed before because you were so tan."
"I'm working on that," Sirius stated. "I already made a note to go sun-bathing this afternoon - interested in joining me?"
The small elf nodded at once.
"Should we head down for dinner?" Remus suggested carefully getting up as the others nodded.
Severus and Remus walked a short distance ahead though the werewolf time and time again looked over his shoulder at them as if to make sure that they were still there. It was slightly unnerving for Harry, but with Sirius' arm wrapped protectively around his waist he felt relatively safe.
Not many students had chosen to stay at the castle over the holidays, and so the house tables had once again disappeared in order to be replaced by one long table in the middle of the hall. Dumbledore was absent, but most of the other teachers, two Aurors, Lucius and Narcissa, Ron and Hermione were already sitting around the table. Ron and Hermione's lips were slightly swollen and Ron's hair was almost as unruly as Harry's so that it could be easily deduced how they had spent their time. Harry grinned, sitting down next to Ron and nudging him in the side.
"Having a good time?" he asked casually.
Ron blushed a bright red; Hermione suddenly became even more interested in her History notes.
"What have you been up to, mate?" Ron challenged.
"I had babysitters." Harry rolled his eyes. "So get your mind out of the gutter."
"I'm not your babysitter, Potter." Severus sneered.
"Harry," the elf insisted.
"That's what I said," Severus answered. "Don't be so fastidious."
"I'd stop being fastidious if you stopped treating me as if I was a stranger," Harry snapped at him.
"Excuse me if more time passed for me than a few days," Severus retorted sharply. "It's not the same anymore."
"I'm the same," the small boy returned softly. "Why can't you accept that?"
"Because you aren't supposed to be the way I remember you." Severus narrowed his eyes. "You're supposed to be the superficial, foolhardy, prejudiced, spoilt little hero I pictured you to be."
"I never was like that, Severus," Harry murmured, turning his head away. "Why can't you see?"
"I do," Severus argued, reaching for Harry's hand and squeezing it tightly. "I just don't like to be wrong. You know me, Harry, you must have expected something like this."
"I didn't expect that I would have to start all over again to convince you that I'm worthy to be your friend," Harry whispered.
"You never had to convince me of that, Harry." The tall man chuckled deeply. "Don't belittle yourself like this."
"So you will call me 'Harry'?" the green-eyed boy challenged, and Severus nodded dutifully.
"Outside of class, yes. And now eat."
"Your fucked-up son was that shameless dominant?" Sirius' voice suddenly rose over the pleasant soft chattering, and everyone turned towards him.
"Yes," Lucius replied tersely. "I cannot change it anymore."
"Do you know what that scumbag did to Harry?" Sirius spat. "You can't just wave it away because it's in the past. He's your son. I bet you instigated him to do it, didn't you? Death Eater!"
Lucius glared at him, his hand itching for his wand. "I thought I had taught my son better, but nonetheless this is none of your concern and I don't owe you an apology. This is between my son, Harry and me."
"Harry is my mate. It does concern me," the shadow veela hissed.
"It wasn't Lucius' fault, Sirius," Harry interrupted him softly, putting his hand on his arm. "He saved me."
"You wouldn't have needed saving if he hadn't reproduced," Sirius insisted stubbornly, still glowering at the blond.
"But I would have needed another dominant, and it could have been much worse, Sirius," Harry argued softly. "Maybe they would never have sent me back in time, and I would never have met you. I wouldn't want to risk that."
"It was wrong what he did," Sirius growled. "What he forced you to do."
"I know that," Harry returned earnestly. "I'm not trying to defend him, but you can't blame Lucius for it. Draco hates me and it had nothing to do with his upbringing. Would you have been able to put your differences aside if you were assigned as Severus' dominant?"
"We would never have clashed so violently if Snape was a submissive," Sirius dismissed the idea.
"Severus is a submissive," Remus spoke up.
"No, he is not," Sirius argued, looking incredulously at the werewolf.
"Yes, he is, how do you suppose it works out with me being an alpha werewolf?" Remus growled testily.
"James and I wouldn't have attacked him like we did if he wasn't on the same level as we were." Sirius sneered. "You must have a very low opinion of us if you think we'd hurt a submissive."
The two Marauders glared at each other.
"If Severus was no dominant, Harry wouldn't have been able to spend so much time alone with him," Lucius offered indifferently.
"And if he was a dominant Harry wouldn't speak with him like he does," Sirius grumbled.
Suddenly they all turned towards Severus, who was glaring at Harry, who in turn covered guiltily, pressing closer to Sirius. "Thank you so very much, Harry, for dragging me into this little dispute. I always knew why I trusted you."
"I'm sorry, Severus," Harry whispered. "I thought you had at least told Remus."
"Told me what?" Remus' eyes were narrowed dangerously as they bore into his partner's black eyes.
"Neutral," Severus said shortly, meeting the werewolf's gaze briefly. "I'm a neutral."
"But," Hermione gasped. "They're almost as rare as submissive elves. Most of them die because of the creature genes fighting each other."
"Thank you, Miss Granger." Severus scowled at her. "I'm sure that's all very exciting for you, but I assure you, I already knew this."
Hermione blushed, mumbling something like an apology.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Remus asked, hurt tinting his voice.
"I didn't deem it necessary." Severus raised an eyebrow. "Or is it that important to you?"
"No."
"Then I don't see a problem," Severus concluded.
"The problem is that during all the years we've been together you kept this from me." Remus stood up, his shoulders slumped. "I thought you trusted me."
"Just great," Severus spat, standing up to follow the ex-Gryffindor. "Stupid Gryffindor logic!"
"I'm sorry, Severus," Harry whispered, and the older man rolled his eyes.
"You will help me fix this, Harry," he demanded, and Harry nodded immediately. "Good, then I think I can forgive you."
Harry smiled in relief, watching as the tall man swept from the room.
"That's why you like him so much," Sirius murmured, absentmindedly loading his plate with a third helping.
"I also like his character, Sirius," Harry chastised him lightly. "I don't really care that he's a neutral."
"Of course you wouldn't, but it would've pacified me to know," Sirius murmured softly, kissing Harry's temple. "Should we go outside?"
"Do you think Severus and Remus will be fine?" Harry asked anxiously and Sirius chuckled.
"Remus never could stay angry very long, Harry. He's a very forgiving person. Don't worry about them."
"Can Mione and Ron come with us?" Harry asked, noting the wary looks the couple was sending them.
"Sure." Sirius carefully stood up, forcing Harry to get up as well, and wrapped an arm around Harry's narrow waist. "Who knows what I'll do to you if they aren't there to chaperone us." He chuckled lightly as Harry blushed and pressed a kiss to his neck. "Now, who's blushing, my sweet?"
Harry only blushed harder and Sirius' smirk widened. Ron and Hermione hastened to get up as well; the redhead quickly stuffed the last of his roll into his mouth, which earned him a reprimanding look from Hermione, who seemed mildly disgusted.
Shortly before Sirius stepped through the huge double doors, he turned around once more, staring at Lucius. "This conversation isn't over yet, Malfoy. You better watch your back."
"You are not the only one who hates my son for what he did," Lucius returned coldly. "I think he is the one who should be on his guard."
Sirius growled lowly, but gave a sharp nod and then led Harry from the hall, holding the door open for Hermione and Ron.
"Shouldn't you take a jacket?" Harry asked as Sirius determinedly steered them to the entrance doors.
Sirius only laughed. "I appreciate your concern, tiny, but I'm sure the fresh air won't kill me. Do you need a jacket?"
"How come you're allowed to mother me?" Harry pouted, and Sirius smiled once again that smile that had lost nothing of the warmth and safety it radiated, though it looked strangely out of place on his thin face.
"Because I can still easily throw you over my shoulder," he teased. "Once you can do that, you're allowed to mother me as much as you like."
"That's only because of Severus' potion," Harry insisted. "You should go and see Madam Pomfrey. I want you to get better."
"I already feel much better, Harry." Sirius sighed. "I don't need that fussy nurse to bind me to a bed and force potions down my throat, and I don't need a jacket, either. You're everything I need right now, love."
Ron quite suddenly found himself hit over the head and at the receiving end of Hermione's glare. "Why do you never say things like that?"
"Why would I tell Harry something like that?" Ron blinked, rubbing his head slowly. "I don't say such things to my brothers, either."
"Not Harry, you idiot," Hermione snapped at him. "Tell me something like that!"
Sirius chuckled softly, pulling Harry away as the young couple started to argue. But the two Aurors who were assigned to keep an eye on Sirius followed them like shadows.
"I guess my plan to kidnap you will have to wait," Sirius murmured, pressing a small kiss into Harry's hair. "They're a bit annoying."
"Should I make them go away?" Harry asked, and the Animagus cocked an eyebrow.
"How would you go about getting rid of them?"
"Ask them?" Harry offered uncertainly.
Sirius grinned at him. "I want to see that."
"Okay." The elf nodded, freeing himself from Sirius' embrace and walking over to Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Would you leave us alone, please? You're making Sirius nervous and irritated, and that's making me feel uncomfortable. Please?"
"Now, Harry, we have our orders from the Minister," Shacklebolt returned in his deep voice, but when Harry put a small hand on his arm and looked up with his best puppy-dog eyes, he had to steel himself. "We can't just abandon our post. There's a reason we a here."
"I know the reason," Harry said morosely. "You don't trust me. But I don't need a babysitter, and I can look after myself."
"Harry ..." Shacklebolt faltered as Harry's eyes began to water. "Well, alright, I guess we could give you a bit of privacy, as long as you promise to stay within sight."
"Oh, thank you." Harry smiled brilliantly at him and winked at Tonks, who grinned back at him, before he ran back to Sirius, who had watched them with amusement and slight jealousy.
"You flirted with him," he deadpanned, and Harry spun around to face him.
"I did not!"
"Yes, you did," Sirius argued. "And I would be angry if it didn't serve the purpose of getting you alone. Let's not talk about it anymore."
"Okay," Harry whispered, and Sirius sighed.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, little one."
"I didn't flirt with him. I just asked nicely, and Shacklebolt knows that I can look after myself," Harry insisted but leant into Sirius' touch.
"I might have overreacted," Sirius relented, leading Harry to a tree and making him sit down. "I just don't want to lose you, Harry."
"You aren't going to lose me," Harry murmured, putting his head on Sirius' chest. "I'm so glad to have you back."
"As I am," Sirius returned, absently running his hands through Harry's hair. "I love you."
"Love you, too," Harry replied with a blindingly happy smile.
They lay like that for almost two hours, enjoying each other and the warming sun. Sirius had taken off his shirt, claiming that he needed to get his tan back, and Harry's head rested comfortably in the crook of his neck while he told Sirius about his life so far, distracting the veela with a kiss whenever Sirius swore to take his revenge on the Dursleys, Voldemort, the Malfoys, Dobby or whoever had wronged Harry.
"Harry," someone called, making them both sit up. "Where did you disappear to? I thought we wanted to spend some time together."
Ron and Hermione peered down at him, and Harry blushed lightly.
"As I see it, you were the ones who disappeared," Sirius stated and it was their time to blush. "We've been here for the last few hours."
"Anyway, Dumbledore arranged training for you, Harry," Hermione said prissily. "Occlumency with Professor Snape, Defence with Professor Lupin, and Mr. Malfoy will help you with your elf powers."
"Now?" Harry asked with little enthusiasm.
"Yes, now, Harry. You know how important it is for you to be able to defend yourself. Voldemort is still after you, and you have to be prepared for his next attack," Hermione told him sternly.
"You should go," Sirius said, though he, too, didn't sound happy. "I won't let the old fool use you as his weapon, but I fear that won't dissuade Voldemort. I need you to be safe."
"Fine, I guess," Harry muttered, timidly pressing a kiss to Sirius' lips. "I'll go then?"
"I'll bring you," Sirius said, helping Harry up. "I'm sure Remus wouldn't mind letting me stay."
Harry gave a sigh of relief. He was a bit afraid of having lessons with the werewolf, but he guessed that he would have to face his fears and overcome them if he wanted to survive his next encounter with Voldemort.
The lesson actually went rather smoothly, with Sirius' arms making him feel relatively safe even as Remus attacked him and demanded that he block and send the curses back at him.
By the end, Harry was nonetheless close to tears, and Remus considerately left the room so that Sirius could calm him down. "Beautiful, what's wrong, hmm? You were doing well. Don't cry anymore; it's making me really sad to see all those tears."
"I'm sorry. I'm hurting him." Harry sniffled. "He helped me so often, and I could always talk with him and now... Look at me, Sirius, I'm a wreck."
"You're certainly not a 'wreck'," Sirius chastised him. "You're a bit... emotional and insecure right now. Also because of me. You'll learn to get used to this and Remus loves you, Harry. He always did. Almost as much as I love you. I think he was really jealous when I was named your godfather, you know. He spent whole nights watching over you when he couldn't sleep because of the full moon. Remus always said you made him more calm and docile. I think he always felt that you inherited James' elf genes. If anyone understands what you are going through, it is Remus. He transforms into a deathly and dangerous beast once a months and he can't control his actions then, either."
"He scares me," Harry whispered. "If you hadn't been there, I wouldn't have survived two minutes of this training."
"But I'm here, Harry," Sirius assured. "And I'll always be there."
"Definitely not, Black," Severus spat as he entered the room. "Harry needs his full concentration for Occlumency, and I have no motivation to bear your presence longer than I absolutely must. Go and keep the wolf company or do something else. I really don't care as long as you don't do so here."
"Do you want me to stay, Harry?" Sirius asked, ignoring the Potion's Master.
"I'll be okay," Harry whispered, wrapping his arms around Sirius' neck. "You can go back to sun-bathing. Severus will take good care of me."
"He better," Sirius muttered, giving him a chaste kiss, before he glared at Severus and stalked from the room.
"For some reason, I had hoped he would be more bearable after being in Azkaban for so long." Severus scowled. "Stupid, I know, but I guess you never quite reach the state of wisdom to stop hoping."
"Are you and Remus okay again?" Harry asked, getting up and carefully approaching the dour wizard.
"Yes, and that's all I'm going to say," Severus snapped. "Occlumency, now."
"Will you actually explain to me what I should do?" Harry asked nervously. "The last time your instructions weren't very helpful. I'm sorry."
Severus sighed. "I realise that, you don't have to apologise. Take a seat, and I'll do my best to make you understand."
Harry smiled gratefully at him as he sat down and listened to what Severus had to say about the art of Occlumency - and Severus certainly had to say a lot. Though Harry did his best to pay attention, he couldn't help it that sometimes his concentration dwindled and his thoughts wandered to Sirius. He wondered what Sirius was doing, if he was really outside enjoying the sun or if he had found something else to amuse himself with.
"Alright." Severus stood up abruptly. "I think we'll leave it at that. If I see another memory of you and Black together, I'm going to be seriously ill."
Harry stuck out his tongue at him, massaging his temples. "My head hurts."
"That's normal," Severus offered.
"Doesn't make it less painful," Harry groaned, just as the door was pushed open, and Lucius strode in.
The blond veela crouched down in front of the small elf, gently patting Harry's knees. "Are you okay, little elf?"
"I'm fine." Harry nodded with a small smile. "But I don't think I have any talent for Occlumency."
"It could be worse," Severus told him. "For a Gryffindor, you're doing rather well, actually."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry asked, hurt tinting his voice.
Severus sneered. "Don't take it personally. It's a fact that Gryffindors wear their hearts on their sleeves. Even without Legilimency, I can tell exactly what you feel."
"Then why am I supposed to learn this?" Harry asked petulantly.
"Because not everyone knows you as well as I do." Severus stated. "And even if you never master Occlumency, it will do you good to discipline your mind and order your thoughts."
"You always have a way to make me feel better," Harry mocked. "You make me sound like a deranged teenager."
"No, that's Black's role." Severus sneered. "Have fun with him, Lucius."
"Meanie," Harry shouted after him before turning to Lucius. "What are we going to do?"
"I want you to learn to use your elf powers. Like you did to me in the past. Manipulate me," Lucius explained, but Harry began to shake his head vigorously. "Sirius won't like that. He'll be angry with me and he'll be jealous and think I'm cheating on him and..."
"Harry, calm down." Lucius carefully grasped Harry's shaking hands. "Sirius will not know of this."
"Are you asking me to lie to him?!" Harry exclaimed, wringing his hands. "Please don't force me to do that. Please."
"If you want him to know, I will explain it to him, Harry." Lucius sighed. "But you really need to learn how to use your submissiveness to your advantage. I heard how you got Shacklebolt to leave you alone. Don't you realise the power you have? You could manipulate all of us; you could manipulate the Death Eaters, anyone with just an ounce of creature blood in their veins and probably everyone else as well. Harry, it's not like you are betraying Sirius with this: It's a necessity, and I promise you that he wants you to be safe as well."
"But it would feel wrong. I promised him not to use my charm on anyone but him," Harry pleaded with him. "Sirius was so annoyed after I did that to Mr. Shacklebolt and I didn't even notice I was doing anything."
"Harry, you need to learn this," Lucius said sternly. "I take full responsibility for this."
Harry ducked his head, clenching his hands into fists, nodding mutely.
"This is not a punishment, Harry." The blond made to take him into his arms, but Harry shied back. "Harry..."
"Then why does it feel like one?" Harry whispered, and Lucius sighed.
"Is it that bad for you, little elf? I mean Narcissa has no problems with using her veela allure against me or anyone else. Is this only about what Sirius will say?"
"I don't want to hurt him, Lucius," Harry murmured. "Sirius is jealous enough without me giving him a reason. I'm not like that; it wouldn't feel right. How do you think Sirius would feel if I flirted with you? What would Narcissa think?"
"She knows what I'm doing here," Lucius assured him. "She's not very happy about it, but she understands the importance of this. Harry, this could decide whether you survive or not. It's a skill you need to learn, like Occlumency. There's nothing sexual about it. It doesn't mean that you want me, I know that."
"But what if you lose control?" Harry whispered. "What if it goes too far?"
"That's what I'm trying to teach you, little elf. How to use your charm and how to control us dominants with it. If I should lose control completely and do something that you don't want me to do, you have to send me away. But I promise you, I won't be as affected as I was in the past since I'm bonded now. This is your chance to regain control."
"But why can't I try it on Sirius?" Harry argued.
"Because he's already more affected by you than anyone else and, believe it or not, you are already manipulating him and his reactions." Lucius chuckled. "That's what mates do. Your smallest gesture influences his behaviour towards you. I don't need to show you how to do that: it comes naturally to you."
"But you'll explain it to Sirius?" Harry worried his bottom lip and Lucius nodded. "And when he doesn't like it we'll stop?"
"Yes, Harry." Lucius sighed. "I already said I would take responsibility for this."
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered, lowering his eyes. "I didn't mean to annoy you."
"I know, Harry, I expected something like this," Lucius told him with a gentle smile. "All issues resolved? Can we start?"
"I guess," Harry mumbled. "So what do I do? Basically just look cute or should I do something else?"
Lucius chuckled. "No, you don't just look cute, though you do that remarkably well. Try to get some physical contact, like hugging, nuzzling someone's neck or putting a hand on someone's arm like you did today. It is similar to flirting, but you do not have to come across as witty or perky, quite the opposite actually. You have to make them want to protect you. Lower your eyes and look at them from under your lashes. Look small. Worry your lip and if you can shed one or two tears, it would not do any harm, either. You have to give of the impression of total helplessness."
"I don't think that will work with Death Eaters," Harry dared to object. "They like to see people helpless and certainly don't feel any urge to protect me."
"Harry, trust me, this will work," Lucius answered. "No one can resist a submissive if they set their mind on it. You have to make them forget who you are and who they are. I know you can do this, little elf."
"Do I really have to?" Lucius sent him a stern look. "Fine, but I still think it's wrong and absolutely embarrassing."
When Lucius didn't allow Harry to back out, though, the elf sighed deeply, but then timidly tried to heed all of Lucius' instructions after an encouraging nod from the blond.
It felt so wrong to be flirting with Lucius with the intention of manipulating him. He knew that he had been unconsciously doing it a few times already, but he had never really wanted to do so. He didn't want Lucius to lose his control, and he didn't want Lucius to want him. He didn't want to play with another's emotion and he certainly didn't want anyone to go crazy with love.
Nonetheless, he shyly took a hold of Lucius' hand and when he felt the older wizard's resistance melt away, he moved into his arms, whispering pleas into his ears. He felt Lucius' arms close protectively around him as he was rocked gently, and for a moment, he almost forgot that this didn't happen because Lucius really wanted to comfort him, but only because he was being manipulated. He looked over to the hourglass on the desk and decided that he had had enough humiliation for today.
"Lucius," he whispered, trying to put some distance between them.
"What can I do for you, Harry?" Lucius almost purred, his eyes strangely dilated. "Is there anything wrong? Don't you feel good?"
"I feel kind of constrained, Lucius," Harry whispered, not able to lie anymore. "Could you maybe leave me alone for a bit?"
"I'm not leaving you alone when you need me," the blond returned forcefully. "I can make you feel better."
Harry felt his eyes water, not able to stop the tears from running down his cheeks, even though he knew that this would only make the situation worse. Lucius looked at him in concern, thumbing away the tears.
"Don't cry, honey," Lucius patted Harry's hair before kissing his cheek.
Harry sobbed, pulling back into himself. He knew this wouldn't go over well. He felt so dirty. Like a whore, a voice in his head supplied that sounded suspiciously like Draco. So what if he could manipulate dominants? It didn't mean that he wanted to do that. He could also jump from the Astronomy tower, but that didn't mean he would do it, though right now it certainly seemed like a rather good option, especially as Lucius had started to kiss away his tears. There was nothing sexual in the act, but it still felt so very wrong to Harry, who tried in vain to push the veela away. Lucius' arms only tightened around him.
"What is going on here?" Sirius enraged voice startled even Lucius, who looked up briefly at the new arrival, and Harry nearly cried in relief as Sirius pulled him away from Lucius and hid him behind his back.
Lucius hissed testily.
After Sirius had assured himself that Harry was safely hidden away, he lashed out. It didn't matter that he didn't know all the facts, the one fact that mattered was that Lucius had dared to touch his mate and that said mate was crying and mentally calling for help. It was enough of a reason to act first and ask questions later. His wings tore through his skin and his new robes, making it impossible for Lucius, whose eyes had began to clear, to see Harry.
The furious screech that escaped Sirius didn't sound very human anymore. But it was the only warning Lucius got before the slightly younger man bombarded him with balls of ice. Harry whimpered, he could feel Lucius' pain and Sirius' distress and anger, and he really didn't know how to handle it. He sank to the floor, curling into a foetal position, but retained his hold on Sirius' trousers. He didn't want his dominant to leave him alone now though he knew that he deserved it.
The sound of glass shattering was accompanied by profanities and curses spewing from Sirius' mouth as he attacked the blond time and time again, not listening to the attempts of explanation and ignoring the fact that Lucius didn't return his offence but only tried to shield himself as best as he could. Lucius' hair was matted, and there was a bleeding cut over his right eye by the time Sirius had vented his anger. The shadow veela turned to Harry, who was still crying silently, muttering apologies.
Sirius scooped Harry up into his arms, gently patting the inky hair and rubbing his back. "Shh, you are safe now, Harry. I'm here now, shh. Calm down."
But Harry couldn't calm down as much as he tried to. Sirius was angry with him and if he didn't obey, Sirius would be even angrier. Unconsciously he reached for the small silver rose pendant Lucius had given him before he went to the past.
"What the fuck were you doing, Malfoy?" Sirius hissed after it became apparent that Harry was in no state to answer questions.
"I told Harry to use his elf powers on me so that he would learn to control them and would be able to use them to his advantage." Lucius shook his head in order to clear his mind completely. "Everything spiralled out of control. I apologise, Sirius, but you need to get a reign on your anger before you scare Harry even more. Take your anger out on me, if you must. He warned me, but I thought he would not have as much effect on me since I'm bonded. He said you would not like it. Sirius, he truly never wanted to do it. I forced him."
"Like father, like son," Sirius muttered spitefully, but then the grey-eyed man took a deep breath to calm himself before he carefully sat down with Harry in his lap. "I'm not angry with you, Harry. I could never be angry with you for something so out of your control." He chastely brushed his lips over Harry's. "I felt your fear and I know that you never wanted this. It's not your fault, beautiful. Please believe me. Tell me what you feel."
"I..." Harry finally looked up at him, and Sirius' heart clenched painfully as he saw the emerald eyes swimming in tears. "I..."
"Yes, Harry?" Sirius urged him gently. "How do you feel?"
"Like a whore," Harry whispered, and Sirius pulled him even closer to his chest. "I didn't mean to disobey you."
"Hush now, you're no whore, Harry," Sirius replied forcefully. "You're my mate, and Malfoy had no right to demand something like this from you. It's his fault, not yours. And flirting is not bad, Harry. It doesn't make you a whore; it only makes me jealous."
"You aren't angry?" Harry asked hopefully, and Sirius shook his head, sending him an encouraging smile.
"No, I'm not angry, tiny, but next time you want to try out your powers of seduction, try them on me, yes?"
"Yes." Harry nodded immediately, smiling ever so slightly as Sirius helped him up, his hand loosening its grasp on the silver rose.
"What have you got there?" the Animagus questioned, carefully prying away his hand. "You had that in the past as well. What is it?"
"Lucius gave it to me," Harry whispered fearfully. "So that I could call for help."
Sirius growled lowly. "That was the reason he suddenly appeared out of nowhere and stole you away from me. You won't wear it anymore!"
He made to tear it away from Harry's neck, the fine silver chain not looking like it would withstand his attack, but instead it only cut into Harry's skin, causing a small cry of pain to escape his lips.
"It's charmed so that only Lucius can take it off," he explained tearfully, and Sirius looked mildly sheepish and definitely a little guilty.
"Take it off, Malfoy!" he ordered. "And don't you dare to touch Harry."
"Is this really necessary, Sirius?" Lucius returned, slowly, unaggressively getting up. "Isn't it a good thing that Harry has a way to contact me if he is in danger?"
"Like the last time?" Sirius spat. "Why, pray tell should you be the one to know if Harry is in danger? He's not your mate. I want this thing off, Malfoy, now."
"Fine." Lucius sighed, looking apologetically at Harry, who was trembling slightly as he unlocked the necklace and let it slip in his pocket, regretfully noticing the bruised skin where the chain had dug into the skin. "I hope you won't come to regret this."
Sirius snorted derisively before he pushed Lucius away from his mate and took Harry once more into his arms, placing butterfly kisses on the abused neck.
"I'm sorry for this here," he murmured, skimming his fingers over the sore spot. "I'll get you a salve from Madam Pomfrey."
"It's okay," Harry answered. "Are you angry with me? You never said anything until now."
"I never really noticed it or thought about it and no, dashing, I'm not angry at you." Sirius shook his head slightly. "I didn't mean to scare or hurt you. Are you okay again?" Sirius asked and wrapped an arm around Harry's tiny waist.
"Yes," Harry answered. "I'm sorry you had to come and rescue me and about the necklace."
"I was already on my way to you." Sirius grinned at him. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," Harry returned. "How did you know I was in trouble?"
"I just felt a lot of fear and emotional pain that wasn't my own. I don't need a stupid piece of jewellery to tell me when you're in danger." The shadow veela threw a brief, contemptuous look at the blond before he carefully placed a kiss on Harry's temple. "I knew that you needed me so I came."
This small sentence made Harry feel all fuzzy all of a sudden. You needed me so I came. No one had ever come just because Harry needed someone. He had always been left to fend for himself, but now Sirius had come to save him because he needed him. It meant more to him than he could possibly say with words, and so he carefully tugged Sirius down and gave him a timid but long and passionate kiss, saying all he couldn't say. Sirius' hands wrapped possessively around his waist as he deepened the kiss.
Harry's stomach decided to interrupt the romantic moment with a low growl, and Sirius drew back with a chuckle. "Hungry? Then come on. I think we're just in time for dinner, and I have this very interesting story to tell to my dearest cousin." He glared at Lucius, who blanched drastically. "I think watching her reaction will make me feel so much better."
Harry looked up, startled, not sure if he agreed with this form of punishment, but finally came to the conclusion that Narcissa would have to know of it eventually and that Lucius deserved a bit of retribution for not listening to him. If it made Sirius happy he wouldn't argue.
Sirius' mood was definitely lifted by the amount of swear words, hexes and curses that Narcissa bestowed on her husband before she dragged him off with the threat of discussing this in private. He then began to pile food onto his plate as well as Harry's, making sure that Harry was sitting contentedly in his lap.
"I take it your lesson with Lucius didn't go too well, Harry?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled suspiciously, and not even Sirius' low growl did anything to dim it. "I think we need to rework the lesson plans and concentrate on discovering the skills that are as of yet undiscovered. After all elves are creatures of nature and not necessarily of seduction. Perhaps we chose the wrong approach for your training."
"Damn well you did!" Sirius grumbled. "Merlin knows what could have happened if I hadn't come."
"My words exactly, Sirius." Dumbledore smiled benignly at him. "Nobody is above making mistakes after all, and we should just strive to learn from them."
"Let's hope that Voldemort shares your opinion on that," Sirius snapped testily. "You can make your mistakes elsewhere, but not with my Harry!"
Sirius glared at the Headmaster, who returned his gaze calmly. "I understand that you are upset, Sirius, but the initial situation has not changed. Voldemort is still at large and Harry will need to develop all the skills and advantages that are open to him. Lucius can help him."
"And what do you suggest Malfoy teaches him?" Sirius scowled after carefully kissing Harry's neck. "No one knows what powers Harry has."
"Which was the reason Lucius was supposed to start with the powers we are already aware of," Dumbledore offered. "We'll have to find out what else Harry is capable of."
Sirius grumbled, clearly displeased, but didn't argue anymore which might have had something to do with Harry nuzzling into him.