52Chapter 35
Chapter 35:
Harry POV
Him and Draco had spent all of that last day with their parents. Lucius had taken Draco down to the lake. Harry hadn't asked what they were doing. It felt personal and private. He just hugged Draco and told him he would see him later.
Harry on the other hand had talked his parents and Siri into going out to the quidditch pitch, with the help of Remus. Somehow Remus had gotten a hold of brooms for each of them. Harry had been surprised when his mother had grabbed one, huge smile on her face and kicked off from the ground. He had always heard about his father's skills on a broom. No one had even mentioned his mother's. He had always just assumed that like Hermione she hadn't like to fly. He was wrong. His mother was fast and graceful, she would have made an excellent seeker.
Sirius and Remus had been more calm in their takeoffs and fly. They seemed to have decided on sticking close together talking. Though from time to time they would appear at his or his father's side, trying to distract them from the game of chasing the snitch they had started. He was having a blast, even if he was down by one when he noticed the sun slowly disappearing. He sighed and aimed towards the ground.
Part of him knew this was a great memory to leave with, but it still hurt that he was leaving. That he wouldn't get to do this with his parents again. The others quickly landed around him. Remus looked sad, the others, just a little confused.
He fought back tears as he told them he had to go meet Draco. With little more than a second of hesitation he hugged his father. Then Siri and last his mother. While his father and godfather hugged him back, still a little confused. His mother hugged him tight, like she knew something was wrong.
He kept himself composed as Remus told the others he would walk him back. It wasn't until he was sure they were out of sight that he let his body shake. He stumbled a little and Remus thankfully caught him and locked their arms together. Harry clung to it as they walked. Unable to speak they made their way inside the castle and down the dark hallways in silence.
Draco had searched the castle when he first arrived in the same hallway they had disappeared. It was there that they found the two Malfoys waiting.
"You okay?" Draco asked as he moved over and took his other arm. Harry nodded but didn't speak, he still wasn't sure he could.
They were quiet as the older Malfoy and Remus drew a large circle on the ground. It was unlike any Harry had seen before. It was like a circle with another circle inside it. Only in between the two were hand drawn runes. Harry hadn't taken Ancient Runes so couldn't name which was which or what each rune meant. Though Draco had given him the details a couple days before. The 4 runes, one at each compass point were Uruz, for unexpected changes, Raidho, for Travel and relocation, Gebo, exchange and balance, and Algiz for protection. Draco said they were the foundation for the spell. The pathway or doorway for jumping from the past to their present time. Hopefully.
Outside the circle 6 candles, one black, two gold, and three yellow, these were to help guide the spell. Those Harry did know about. A black candle to absorb or repelling negative energy or magic. Two golden for male energy, him and Draco, also for fortune or luck, he had snorted at that but Draco said every little bit helped, and Three yellow, for bringing plans into action and a hope of seeing a better future. He had smiled at those and prayed Draco's carefully picked meanings would work.
His heart pounded as it was all finished and him and Draco were moved to stand at the center.
Lucius and Remus approached them. Harry lunged out and hugged the wolf. He could hear Draco and his father talking in low voices but he didn't pay much attention.
"I'll owl you," he said, "When I get back. I promise."
Remus tightened his arms around him, and told him, "I'll be waiting."
"Be Careful," the sandy haired werewolf said as he pulled away. "And stay safe." Harry nodded and moved back to stand in front of Draco. He wasn't even embarrassed by the tears that he could feel rolling down his face. Draco took his hand and gave it an understanding squeeze.
They stared at each while Remus wrapped a soft leather strap around their wrists. Harry tried to control his breathing as he felt the air around them start to buzz. He could feel moisture building in between their hands as him and Draco held onto each other with everything they had.
He could hear the other two men mumble from outside the circle but he couldn't hear the words. His ears started to ring. Than a blinding light of whites and blues circled them. Nerves built and he felt himself move closer to Draco, whose other arm shot out and wrapped around him, pulling him close.
Suddenly he jerked and the world spun. The world went dark as the light disappeared. He stumbled, horrified that it hadn't worked. Two strong arms caught him, Remus he thought, but his ears were still ringing so he couldn't hear anything other than muffled voices. He looked up to thank him, and his heart stopped.
George was talking his eyes wide and panicked but Harry couldn't quite make any of it out. He surged forward and wrapped the red head into a bone crushing hug. He felt George return it.
Draco's POV
He knew the second someone caught him that the spell had worked. The smell coming off whoever it was, wasn't his father or Remus. His head throbbed as he looked up and into the grinning face of one of the Weasley twins. He gave which ever one it was a smile and looked to the side to see Harry and the other twin hugging. He pulled himself free of the twin holding him and shoved him towards his brother and Harry. The redhead gave him another smile and threw himself at the other two.
A hand on his shoulder surprised him, he turned and was engulfed in a hug of his own. Honeysuckle hit his nose and he clutched at his godfather. He felt Severus chest vibrate and the muted sound of his godfathers voice sounded like he was asking if he was okay.
"Ears are ringing," he said. "Can't hear. But I'm okay," He replied and then Sev was pulling away and shoving potions at him. He almost laughed and the normalcy of it. He downed both potions and in a matter of seconds the linger vertigo and ringing faded.
"Thank you," he said.
"You had me worried, Dragon," Sev said softly.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
He felt a little dazed by his godfather. It was strange to have two versions of the man in his head. The younger more reserved one and the one he grew up with.
"I'll take those," one of the twins said appearing at Sev's side, snatching two potion bottles from his hand and rushing over to hand them to Harry. His godfather hadn't even looked bothered by it. Draco felt a little guilty for not having thought about it but he was feeling a little overwhelmed.
Harry looked over at them saw Snape, nodded a thank you and took the potions. Draco had to chuckle at the surprised look on his godfathers face when Harry drank both potions without any questions.
Sev turned and glared at him.
"What?" he asked.
The man just rolled his eyes. "We have much to talk about."
"That we do," he said, sounding a little angry for the first time since he got back.
Sev's shoulders sagged. "How much do you know?" the man asked.
"En-" he started but when one of the twins shouting Harry's name he spun around. Harry hadn't collapsed like his panicked mind imagined instead he had taken off down the hallway.
Both twins and Blaise, the hell had he missed his best friend, looked at him with an expression that could only be, 'I didn't do it.'
"Please tell me, the wolf is here somewhere?" he asked the group. The twins nodded.
"We couldn't…"
"Get him into the school-
"His in the shake," Blaise either finished or cut them off Draco wasn't too sure, but either way the twins just grinned at his friend. Draco wondered if he should be worried about that. He turned to his godfather.
"Can you send a message and tell him Harry is most likely headed that way." Sev nodded.
"What happened?" Blaise asked, pulling Draco's attention away from the potion master.
"He just lost his family for the second time," Draco said softly. He heard all three gasp.
"Come," Sev said moving to stand next to him. "They will meet us at a prearranged spot." Draco's stomach sank at the idea of leaving Harry. He knew logically his mate needed Lupin right now, but still it felt wrong.
"It will be okay, Dragon," Sev whispered and Draco let himself be dragged out of the school.
Harry's Pov
Something about seeing the twins, hugging them, had been to much. It hurts. Like something being ripped out of his chest. He suddenly had trouble breathing and needed to get away. Needed not to see the reminder of what he had just left behind. He ran. All he could think about was never seeing his parents again. About the 13 years of hell Sirius had to endure. The 13 years of loneliness Remus had suffered. He could have stopped it, but he hadn't.
He heard someone shout his name as he left the hallways. He hadn't looked back. He couldn't.
He wasn't paying attention to where he was going, he just needed to get away. It was more muscle memory and habit that lead him through the castle and outside. He stumbled a couple times over the change in the ground before he slammed into someone.
The sudden stop hurts, but whoever he had crashed into didn't make a sound, just wrapped their arms around him. Pulling him against their chest. The smell of trees and woods greeted him and he gasped at the feeling of being home. His knees buckled as he sobbed into Remus's chest.
Luc's POV
He watched as the brilliant light faded. The portal closing as the two boys faded away. He stood there frozen as he prayed his son made it home. He looked over to see Lupin's amber eyes rimmed in tears. He didn't tease the other teen as it was taking all his own willpower not to do the same. He carefully reached into his pocket and pulled out two tiny bottles. With a resigned sigh he turned to the wolf.
He wondered if they could have been friends? Maybe in a different place or time. One where his father wasn't about to force him to marry an awful woman he couldn't stand or pureblood standards he didn't hate unequivocally?
Or maybe one where he wasn't aware of his own faults. Which had lead him to having his mate brew the potion in his hand.
Lupin looked up at him, head cocked to the side as he took in the bottles.
"They were right, you know, about some things," he said, handing over one of the bottles."We know too much, and as much I want to say I'm stronger than temptation or emotion, I can't risk it. These will block our memories of Draco and Harry. At least for now."
"What if Harry was right and you're not on our side? In the future?" Remus asked, though he had removed to cork.
It was a good question. "Whether I am or not. I would never place my son at risk. I wouldn't betray Draco."
"You brew it?" the wolf asked, smelling the contents.
"Severus," he answered.
Lupin's eyes brows shot up.
"I didn't tell him anything," he said. "He is angry at me because of it, but I hope one day he will understand." He brought the bottle to his lips and drank it. It tasted like ash and burned on its way down.
When it was gone, he looked at the wolf, "I hope I'm not," he said, Remus lifted a brow, "on the wrong side," he clarified. Remus gave him a half smile and drank his own potion.
"Me too," the wolf said after he was done. They didn't stay there after that. Both quickly headed back towards their common room, already forgetting details about what they had been doing.