Le Frère de Sang

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL DISCLAIMER - I do not own any of the characters used.

NOTES ON THE CHAPTER - This chapter shows Harry again displaying one of his ways of dealing with things he isn’t ready for - he begins running again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“KA!” I jumped and looked over at the table as Micah and me entered the kitchen. There was an owl perched on the back of a chair holding a letter in his talons. It was a grey owl, looked like a Great Owl to me but I’m no expert.

“What’ve you got for me then?” I walked over to it and undid the letter from its foot. I opened the letter and unfolded it before petting the owl’s head. The letter was from Percy and Julien.

“Micah? Instead of having dinner guests, Percy is suggesting we go over his to for a barbeque and then afterwards he’ll have the family around. He’s saying while it may put a severe dampener on the evening it would, effectively, be killing two birds with one stone. What do you think?” Micah looked me over for a while then nodded slowly.

“If you think it’s a good idea then okay. If you’d rather do two separate visits then that’s okay as well. To be honest I really don’t mind, I just don’t want you upset.” I nodded and summoned parchment, an envelope, a quill and some ink from the other room before sitting down to pen my reply.

“Kreacher?! Is there any food in the house for this owl to have?”

“Kreacher be getting it some Master!” The owl hooted gently and then hooted again when the food was placed in front of it. I finished the letter and tied it to the owl’s foot.

“Take your time, there’s no rush but that’s my reply to your master.” I turned to Micah. “I said we’d go. They suggested tonight so we have a few hours before we have to get ready. I told them you like meat more than vegetables and are allergic to silver. Are you allergic to anything besides silver?”

“Nope, I’m not allergic to anything. So what do we do until this evening?”

“What ever you’d like to do.”

-

I turned off the shower and grabbed a towel. I dried myself off before wrapping the towel around my waist and leaving the bathroom. I quickly moved down the hall to my room and began getting dressed. I have no doubts that Micah would wear one of his suits tonight but I have no idea what I’m going to wear. I pulled out a simple black robe from the wardrobe, it was a robe designed to go over other clothes. A pair of black trousers would do now all I needed was a top. I found a white long-sleeved top that had a few green, blue and red lines across the front. I slid it on and pulled the robe over the top. I looked rather black…too black. It wasn’t a funeral…could be like one but not actually one.

I threw off the robe and pulled the shirt off over my head. I grabbed a red top, that was no good either, I threw that away. There was a small laugh behind me and I turned around to see Micah stood in the doorway. He was dressed in a light grey pair of trousers, a white shirt and an in formal suit jacket.

“It’s not a date Harry, they know what you look like. You don’t have to dress up for them.” That so did not help.

“No but unless I look nice you won’t take me home with you now will you.” Micah laughed and moved over to me. For a guy who isn’t turned on by another man’s body, who doesn’t love men, he is very forwards and touchy feely. He slid an arm around my stomach and danced his fingers over the skin just above my trousers. I shuddered, goose bumps racing across my skin.

“I would take you home no matter what you wore. Now, the problem lies with your trousers. Do you have any smart trousers in different colours?”

“Um…” I leaned forwards and rummaged through the wardrobe. Micah didn’t let me go at all, and me leaning forwards made different parts of us press against each other. I bit my lip to hide a laugh as Micah shut his eyes briefly. I found a pair of white trousers and a pair of tan trousers. Micah nodded.

“Okay. Why do you have white trousers?”

“Blaise and I went to an all white party in Los Vegas and then again in L.A. It was fun. At the time I had a darker tan so the white looked spectacular but I could still pull it off now.”

“Right then. Well, it’s your choice then, black or white trousers?”

“Well, white doesn’t look particularly smart but it is summer. I don’t know about the black, I just always wear it when I’m trying to be formal.”

“White it is then. Don’t forget to change your underwear, I can see what colour you are wearing and it wouldn’t look good under white. For a top…how about this one?” He held up a white shirt with a gold, red and green phoenix embroidered on it. I smiled and took the shirt.

“I have a white tank top around here somewhere that can go underneath it and a lighter green robe upstairs to go over the top. I can reanimate that phoenix too, want to see?” Micah nodded so I summoned my wand and held it against the phoenix’s nose. Immediately the phoenix started moving, wiggling all over the material.

“That is brilliant! I envy you.” I shrugged and took the clothes from Micah.

“I will leave the room so you can get changed. Don’t forget to change your underwear.”

“I won’t! I’m not a child!” Micah left the room with a grin over his shoulder and closed the door behind him. I pulled off the black trousers and slipped my boxers off. I pulled out a pair of tight, but hugging shorts and slid them on. On came the white trousers and a quick spell had them staying clean no matter what hit them. On came the white tank top and then the white phoenix shirt. It was a short sleeved shirt but despite that I pulled out my robe and slid it on. Immediately the phoenix repositioned itself so it’s head and it’s wing could be seen around my chest. The robe was light green so it matched one of the colours of the phoenix and it was dark enough green that it stood out from the white I was wearing.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I could pull of white rather well, and I didn’t look gay. I looked like a normal, if slightly skinny guy, wearing white. I had lost some of my tan but I was still dark. I wasn’t favouring any colour of the Hogwarts houses too much, so no favouritism there. I was also retaining my heritage in case Julien was a strict pureblood who only wore wizarding clothes. I could take the robe off if I felt like it. The summer weather is hot still so everything I was wearing would help keep me cool without the aid of spells. I summoned a brush and sorted out my hair, drying it with a spell and then using another spell to get my hair straight and to loose the frizz the drying spell caused. My hair fell over my shoulders and added a stark contrast to the light colours I was wearing but I wasn’t going to tie it up.

“Are you dressed yet? You’re as bad as a girl!”

“Take that back! I don’t take nearly as long as a girl!” I tore the door open and glared at Micah who just leaned down and kissed me.

“I know you’re not but it got the door open didn’t it. You look wonderful. White really suits you, you should wear it more often in St Louis. I bet Asher would be stunned.”

“If you like it then I’ll wear it more often. I will have to buy a few more white outfits though.” Micah nodded and slipped his hands inside my robe and around my back. He pulled me to him for a long deep kiss and I opened myself to him. The gentleness he was treated me with made my magic drift from me and encompass us, gently touching and caressing us. He pulled away and then gave me a sharp kiss before releasing me completely.

“You know, I think we’d better apparrate to this Percy’s house, I don’t want to risk you getting soot on your pristine clothes.” I felt myself warm slightly. Not a heat like when I was aroused, just a warm happy heat through my body coming from my heart. It was such caring and flattery it just made me feel…loved.

“I’ve cast some charms that will protect my outfit from any dirt. I don’t want to apparrate there really, with the floo I can garentee us arriving at the right place. Floo with me?”

“If I floo with you I get to hold you a little longer right?” I nodded and Micah grinned. “Fantastic. Lets go and get this meal and reunion over with so I can have you all to myself and hopefully relaxing a little.”

“I won’t leave you alone when we get there. I’ll stay by your side you know.” As much for his sake as for mine I would stay by his side. I wouldn’t leave him, despite these being my friends.

“Meh, I don’t mind so long as I get you back again.” We walked to the fireplace and both stepped into the fire. Micah wrapped his arms around my back and I leaned up to kiss his chin once. I needed that reassurance that he was there. He kissed my forehead, it being the only bit of me he could reach with us pressed together. Did he know how much that meant to me now? That he returned the gesture of reassurance? That he cared?

I threw the handful of powder in my hand to the floor and said the address clearly. The flames shot up and engulfed us and a few seconds later we stopped moving.

“They’re here! Julien! They’re here. Hi Harry. Hello Micah.” Percy stood before us looking flushed in the face. His eyes and his emotions betrayed him as being excited and anxious but equally happy. Micah took his arms off me and I stepped out of them and into the hug that Percy offered.

“It’s good to see you again Percy.”

“Wow! Harry you look amazing! White…I’ve never seen anyone look so fantastic in white before!” Percy held me at arms length and looked me up and down appreciatively. I squirmed a little, it’s weird having Percy look at me like that. He smiled though. “I’m jealous of you. Mr Callahan! It’s good to see you again.”

“Thank you Percy, but please call me Micah.” Percy nodded with a smile.

“Percy?” Micah, Percy and me turned and looked over at the doorway where a man with brown hair and steel grey eyes was stood watching. His emotions were dampened, like he was hiding them behind shields but he was still readable to me, my empathy must be strong to sense a wizard with occulumency’s emotions. I couldn’t always sense Blaise’s emotions when he had his shields up. The man was feeling slightly nervous but happy and confident. Is confidence even an emotion? What ever it was it felt strong, not like steel but like an unyielding luke warmth. He wore informal dark blue robes that were undone revealing a shirt underneath but the robe was done up from the stomach down. The shirt was also a dark blue but it was slightly lighter than his robes, giving some contrast.

“Oh. Julien, this is my adopted brother Harry Potter and his friend Micah Callahan. Harry, Micah, this is my husband Julian Reedwick.” Percy introduced and Julien gave us a small sincere smile and walked forwards. He shook my hand first. There was little warmth in his smile but there were no negative emotions pouring off him. Was it just something about purebloods, not showing their emotions?

“It’s good to finally meet you Harry Potter, Percy has told me a lot about you, his wayward younger brother. I’m sorry you missed our wedding but with all he other rejection we didn’t feel we could take another.” I shook his hand and smiled warmly at him. It was a very un-Slytherin thing to do, take blame onto himself. In the courtroom Percy had taken all the blame on his own shoulders but here was his husband taking some of the blame back.

“It’s good to meet you too. Percy has told us what a good man you are, it’s nice to match a face to the praise. I completely understand about the wedding so don’t worry about it, had I been in your position I would have done exactly the same thing.” We released hands and Julien held his hand out to Micah who shook it firmly then released it.

“It’s good to meet you Mr Reedwick.”

“No need for the formalities, if I may call you Micah?” Micah nodded and agreed with a simple ‘Julien’. Julien gave him a smile and continued. “I’m afraid I have heard nothing of you but as Harry trusts you, and I trust Percy’s trust in Harry, you must be something great indeed. It is good to make your acquaintance. Please, follow me and I’ll start the barbeque up.”

We followed Julien through the house and into the back garden. Their house was reasonably modest. It was a manor house but, as Julien explained as we walked, it only had seven bedrooms. It had two studies, one for each of them, which could act as a retreat should either of them need space. Then there was the large kitchen, the arrival chambers with the floo fire place in, the parlor, two dining rooms and three living rooms not to mention the five bathrooms scattered around the house. The garden was spectacular, they had a beautiful patio with beautiful flower arrangements scattered over it, hanging baskets and flowerbeds surrounding it. At the far end of the garden was a quidditch pitch, private for the both of them to play on. Julien described his attempts to get Percy to play quidditch more often, Percy had spelled his husband silent at one point to stop any further explanations of the bribes used. Julien just smirked at his husband.

They were a strange pair but the emotions and affections between them hung in the air like smoke. Their love hung to everything, touched everything and lingered in everything. They had small arguments and squabbles as well as teasing each other but their love remained throughout. Percy had done so well for himself. Julien was a good man. Julien accepted muggles and their way of life though still embraced the wizarding way of life.

The food was wonderful, it tingled on my tongue an hour after having eaten it. Julien had cooked it himself on the barbeque, albite with a house elf right next to him giving him useful tips. That was strange to see but a welcome sight.

“You are a fabulous cook Julien. Thank you for dinner.”

“You are welcome Harry. I enjoy it but I’m not especially confident with it. That’s why Scaddy is there with me.” Scaddy was the name of the house elf. “Of course, nobody else knows that I cook and there would be a huge scandle with the press if it ever leaked out that I have a house elf instruct me. I’d appreciate your silence on the matter.” I laughed.

“Merlin Julien! Mon Dieu! Of course I won’t tell the press. With all the problems I have had over the years from people tattling, don’t ever suspect me of it! You’re secret is safe with me. I’d ask you to keep what ever I’ve said to yourself but with this up coming conversation I don’t think any of my secrets will stay safe.”

“You are worried about meeting the rest of the Weasley’s again?” Julien enquired and Percy and Micah stopped walking and turned around to look at us as I gave my answer. I gave Percy a guilt filled look and bit my lip.

“Yeah. They didn’t exactly accept my friendship with Blaise so they won’t be pleased now knowing we did a blood rite to make us blood brothers. Then there’s the fact that I’m gay…well I’m bisexual but tend more to gay. On top of that there’s me leaving first without saying good bye and me leaving again with no plans to return here. I don’t think any of this will go down well.”

“Perhaps not.” Julien acquised. “When Percy and I informed them of our engagement there was a huge mixture of reactions. They are all individuals, they are all going to think for themselves, but even as we broke the news to them we knew there was a small chance that all of them would be against us. There are so many of them, they are all going to think differently so not all of them will disagree. Just remember that.” Julien has earned more than my respect now.

“Thank you. You don’t…can’t know how much that means to me.” I choked slightly part way through. I swallowed and looked back at Percy. “Where did you find this man Percy? Are there any more like him?”

“Oi! What do I look like then!” I laughed at the offended look Micah gave me and moved over to him throwing my arms around him. He embraced me quickly gripping me around the waist with both hands.

“Sorry, you are very wise too.” I released Micah and looked over at Percy and Julien who had their arms around each other now. “Julien, it’s a bit late and doesn’t count properly but welcome. Welcome to the family.”

Julien gave me a smile filled with warmth and pulled Percy properly against him making Percy’s chin rest on his shoulder as he looked over Percy’s other shoulder at me. I could feel respect, admiration, happiness and love wafted from him encasing me as I reached out to read what he felt. I withdrew from Julien’s emotions and became aware of Percy’s. He was grateful, tearfully happy, and so filled with love aimed both at Julien and affection at me it was awe-inspiring. Percy and I have never been close but now…now we could be.

“Thank you Harry.”

“No. Thank you Julien.” Julien nodded and kissed Percy on the cheek, continuing to hold him tightly. I turned away, let them have a moment or two. I took Micah by the hand and tugged him into the nearest room, a living room, and closed the door. Then I pushed my way back into Micah’s arms. Whether he wanted to or not he was going to hug me. I pushed my arms around him and hugged him tight.

Micah stayed silent but wrapped his arms around me tightly. He pressed a few kisses against my forehead and the side of my head then just held me for a few more moments. I gathered my emotions to me and threw up all the shields in my mind. I wouldn’t be keeping any shields down for the meeting unless I absolutely needed to. Once they were in place I drew back from Micah and stepped away to space us out a little.

“Sorry for getting so emotional. It’s just…family…family means a lot to me. I’ve never really had a proper one. I know Percy and me have said all evening that I was practically adopted into the Weasley family, but apart from Ginny, Ron and my relationship we weren’t that close. His mother and father were the closest I ever had to parents but again we weren’t that close. Percy and I never had something to bond over either, now we do and I really feel…Blaise was my family, my only true and legal family. But now Percy and me have something huge in common and he feels like the older brother I could have had. I’m just…family means the world to me.”

“I get that, it’s okay. Percy thinks of you as family and I can understand how much family means to you. I have the same issues except my family is my pard. I don’t mind you getting emotional, however if you keep pressing against me like that I will not be held responsible for my actions.”

“Heh.” I snickered slightly. He smiled at me, happy with his attempt to lighten the mood but I wouldn’t risk his statement being a joke, I wouldn’t press hard against certain parts of him again until we were at home.

Julien and Percy joined us a few moments later and again all the warmth in Julien was hidden behind masks. We all sat down and made ourselves comfortable.

“So…” Percy paused slightly and I gave him an encouraging smile to get him to continue. He was biting his lip slightly and was looking between me and Micah. “So how did you two meet?”

“Um…” I shut my mouth. How did we meet? It was so long ago…or at least that’s what it felt like. “We first met when I…When Blaise died I got into some trouble with lots of…lots of people. They tried to find out who should look after me and help me stand on my own two feet again. When they were having a meeting over who would act as my guardian, who would guard me and help me and who I would live with, we saw each other. Then I had a fall out with one of my friends and Micah helped me sort it out because he and my friend are…like family. Like adopted family.” Gods, how hard is it to describe pard relations without describing pard relations? Weird… “So we became friends because of that.”

“I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you two seem like more than friends. I thought you had a lover back in America.” Julien put in and I bit my lip. How do I explain that one?

“Micah is…”

“Harry is an increadibly close family friend. I’ve helped look after him when he’s ill or upset and we enjoy each others company outside of that. Harry’s partner in the US has nothing to do with our relationship, it doesn’t come close to it. Our relationships with Harry are completely different.” Okay…how exactly does he mean? Is this his running away tactic, is this him in full blown denial, is he trying to hide it because he isn’t comfortable or is he trying to save me from explaining it by using half truths and implying things? He wasn’t looking at me…

“I see. Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply…”

“Don’t worry about it Julien.” Micah dismissed. Now he looked at me and gave me a small smile. Emotions flickered in his eyes and I gave him a smile back. He touched the small of my back ande that assured me that he was just trying to save me some awekward explanations.

-

I ran through the house and burst through the door to my room making it slam against the wall at my violence. I threw some magic at it to slam it closed and threw my robe off my shoulders.

“DAMN IT!” I screamed…

I’d met the rest of the Weasley clan again. Hermione was there, Fleur was there and all the other Weasleys. I told them I was happy in America, told them I wouldn’t be coming back to England because I had a lover back in America. I told them that Blaise was indeed my brother and argued with Ron and Hermione about how he was a Slytherin who was a death eater. I had then argued the Pettigrew evidence and they’d shut up for a bit before presenting the argument that none fo the slytherins during the war supported the Light. I had argued Blaise’s defence then Mr Weasley had changed the subject to what I had missed since being away.

He went through a whole reel of things I had missed, from law reforms to Hogwarts and to the family changes. Then I heard about Ginny’s relationship, to which she had blused a red that clashed fiercely with her hair and I heard all about Ron an Hermione planning to start a family within the next three years. Then I had helpfully put in, after seeing Percy’s expression, that I had missed the most important thing of all. “Of course none of that really compares to my adopted brother getting married.” I had told them all. “I’m just sorry that I was out of contact and missed the event. They both looked stunning in their wedding robes didn’t they? They looked so happy. Hell, they are so happy even now.”

Ron and Mr Weasley had tried to steer me away from supporting Percy and Julien. Fleur had outright expressed her disgust at the marriage between two men and how she could hardly stand to stay in the same room as two despicable creatures. Then I’d opened my big mouth again hadn’t I, I told them that I saw nothing wrong with it at all and that I was currently in a relationship with a man back in America. That had caused a ruckus. Mrs Weasley had given me a kiss on the cheek and a happy hug but left early with the rest of her family, when they left in anger and disgust. I had hugged Percy and Julien, given them my American address in the strictest confidence then fled as quickly as I could.

“Harry?”

“Go away…” I moaned to him, sinking to my knees.

“Harry…” Damn it Micah! His hands gripped my shoulders briefly before he moved around me and sunk to the floor in front of me before pulling me into a hug. “It’s alright Harry…It’s okay…”

“No it isn’t! They’re my FAMILY Micah! Mine and Percy’s family abandoned us because we’re GAY! How in the seven hells is it okay?!”

“If they can’t accept all of you no matter what then they aren’t worth it.” Pain shot through my chest…that statement is so true but it doesn’t change one very important fact does it?

“But I love them.”

“Yes…yes you do and so does Percy. You accept them and love them, flaws and all. If they can’t accept you flaws and all though then they don’t deserve your love.”

“Urgh…” I groaned and pushed deeper into him. He rocked me gently, ever so gently and held me close.

-

I woke up, not feeling the sadness so much any more. It still clawed away at me though, it spread cold through my chest and my heart felt scratched and cut but it wasn’t broken. I wasn’t upset as someone who lost their family should be feeling. It was like being betrayed and abandoned and disowned and yet it didn’t completely break my heart. I’d lost Blaise not long ago…had his loss hardened me to other losses? To not feel their loss so much as I had felt Blaise’s, did that make me cold and unfeeling? Did I not love them as much as I thought I had? No…I think I just loved others more now…I didn’t belong in England…they didn’t deserve me, just like Micah said. They didn’t deserve my love if they couldn’t love all of me in the first place. There were others who deserved me a lot more than they did.

“I want to go home…”

“Huh…” I turned. Micah was just waking up. He was laid next to me, curled around me and draped over me holding me close. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked up at me. I settled myself to completely face him, turning all of my body around. He readjusted the way he was holding me but didn’t release me. “What did you say?” His voice was slightly hoarse and he was blinking blearily at me.

“I said I want to go home.” Micah nodded slightly and closed his eyes again.

“We catch our flight in a week.” I shook my head and pushed myself up onto my elbow so I was looking down on him.

“No Micah. I want to go home now.” That got his attention. He opened his eyes again and stared at me.

“Now?”

“Yes now.” He blinked and propped himself up too, rubbing his eyes with one hand.

“But…but why?”

“Do you really have to ask?” He made to say something but I continued anyway. “What have I got left here Micah? From the looks of things I’ve only got Julien, who I don’t know very well, Percy who I also don’t know very well and Mrs Weasley. Everyone else doesn’t accept me and like you said, they don’t deserve me loving them for all of them including their faults because they won’t accept and love me, faults and all. There is no point in staying.”

“But…right now?”

“Yes Micah. I want to leave right now.” I rolled over and pushed out of bed. I stomped over to the wardrobe and threw all the clothes from inside it onto the bed. Then I began pulling at the white outfit I still wore from yesterday. I had just pulled off the shirt and had the buttons on my trousers undone when arms wrapped around my waist and I was pulled back against a hard chest. I squirmed. He wasn’t going to slow me down, I wanted to leave. “Micah, get off me.”

“No. Not yet.”

“Damn it Micah!” I threw myself around so I could look him in the eyes. I glared at him with as much anger as I could muster. It boiled inside me but it wasn’t as fierce as it could have been. Despite not being heartbroken at my adopted family’s rejection I was hurt and it dampened the pain. “I am packing. I want to go back to St Louis right now! Do you understand? I want to go right now! I want to go today! Right now!”

“Alright alright…” Micah pulled his hands back and stepped back. I glared at him and he looked me over for a few seconds before turning his back on me. “I’m going to call the London Pard, notify the vampire Kiss and book our change of flights. However first I shall be getting some breakfast and changing my clothes.”

“Micah…Micah I’m sorry.” I sighed, defeated by his stern tones and his cooperation. He nodded over his shoulder and made to continue to the door. “I just…there’s no point in staying…”

“It’s fine…I got a lot of site seeing done, I’m fine. But you are going to have to work with whatever flights I can get, and if I can’t change our flights then you will have to put up with staying here till the end of the week.” I could just make a portkey home but I doubt Micah would like to hear that suggestion now.

“Okay…”

“Get changed, I’ll talk to…”

“HARRY!” Micah and I froze. That was Percy’s voice…Percy was in my house? Why was he in my house? Why was he shouting? Why could I feel rage, fear and heartbreak in my house?

“Percy?”

“HARRY!” Percy dragged out the ‘ah’ sound, yelling at the top of his voice. Something was wrong…very wrong.

“Percy!” I yelled and ran past Micah and down the stairs. I hit Percy at the bottom of the stairs and we both would have gone toppling to the floor if it hadn’t of been for the pair of strong arms that caught us both.

“Careful there, that’s my husband you are tackling!” I looked up at Julien, steadied myself and looked at Percy’s panic and angry face.

“What’s wrong?”

“This is wrong!” Percy shoved a newspaper under my nose. The words were blurry until they came into focus. ‘Boy who lived out of the closet!’

“Oh Merlin!” I scanned through the rest of the article. It was, surprise surprise, written by Rita Skeeter. She mentioned how a reliable source had informed her that Harry Potter was in fact gay and in a relationship with a much older man back in the United States of America. This older man was supposedly one who had tricked me into staying in America all this time and who was demanding that I returned to him quickly, possessiveness of older men in relationships was a whole separate article but it went on about how older lovers are domineering and controlling of their younger partners.

“Harry?” I shook my head and handed Micah the newspaper for him to read. He read it quickly then the room was filled with anger, his eyes burned with it and it radiated fromn his body. He turned to me, blazing eyes fierce. “I’m going to book those flights.”

“You’re leaving?” Percy asked, breaking the moment Micah and me were having. We broke gazes and looked over at Percy who was looking rather startled.

“Yes. I don’t want to stay here Percy. I want to go home.” Percy nodded and Julien slid his hand into his lovers.

“We understand. But we were hoping you’d be around a little longer so we could bask in the feeling of approval from a relative that isn’t against us.” I gave Julien an apologetic look. I don’t blame them both for wanting someone who approves of them to stay nearby for a while, and even though having their approval of me is warming I’d be so much happier at home.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I want to go home. Nothing matters at home except my school grades. I’m happy there, there are lots of people around who approve of homosexuality and there are no restrictions like there are here. I have to go home. But…but you are welcome to come with me, visit me. I’d never turn you away. Come any time you want.”

“We will Harry, I promise.” Percy said and Julien agreed. “When exactly are you leaving?”

“As soon as I can book the flights.” Micah answered.

“We will go on the earliest flights available. But I have to get an interview with Skeeter first to straighten out a few things.” Percy nodded and came forwards. I gripped him tight as he hugged me and whispered his and Julien’s good byes and well wishes. Then there were gone and Micah left the hosue too so he could make the change of flights. Of course he had to walk about a hundred and fifty meters down the road to stop the wards on the house form interfering with his mobile…sorry, his cell phone.

-

“Well, I must say it’s good to finally have this chance to interview you once again Harry! My, my haven’t you grown handsome in all this time away from England. Shall we get started? Now, about this older lover you have…”

“Ms Skeeter, I know the letter I sent you said interview but first I am going to talk and you will listen and take notes on exactly what I say. You’d better make sure you only write what I say because I wouldn’t want anything nasty happening to you because of false hoods.” Rita sighed and rolled her eyes. She opened her gigantic bag and threw the quill in her hand inside it before pulling out a gold nibbed one. She held if up to me as if it was vitally important so I dutifully looked at it. On the end was a lable ‘Truth is Golden Quill’. Ah, that would be what she wanted me to see. I gave her a smile, I made it as warm and genuine as I could. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome. I should have just picked it out straight away, knowing what you are like, but I’m afraid I have a bit of a habit of using the ‘quick quotes quill’. Never mind, shall we start?” I nodded and shifted slightly in the chair. We were at one of Blaise’s old country estates. I’d let myself in and warded the one room specifically for this interview. Micah was standing outside the room listening in, ready to jump to my defence if need be but otherwise he was going to take my advice and stay out of it.

“I suppose my story starts with my escape to America. I was slowly being alienated at school, though I have no doubt my friends didn’t mean to ostracize me. They were just so wrapped up with each other, so happy to finally have peace and quiet and not have to worry about their lives being in danger every second of every day. Anyway, Blaise and I decided to leave. Admittedly it was more Blaise’s idea but it sounded so appealing I went with it. I’m sure by now everyone is aware of Blaise and my relationship right? Good, I don’t have to explain it then. We set our affairs in order here and made arrangements to have new identities and proper passports as well as the nessaccery visas. We ran to America and travelled all around it.

We went in clubs almost every night and enjoyed life to the full. Clubbing became an outlet for anything and everything for me, dancing was exciting and tiring and I loved it. Then after a few months I wanted something a bit more stable in my life, I wanted a goal not just aimless wandering. Blaise and I decided to enrol at a school. Since we had all the correct legal papers it was no problem getting into school. I must say it was hard word trying to understand the muggle, or as they are called in America the mundane school subjects. There was so much I needed to catch up on and so much that Blaise just didn’t have. Still, we worked hard and in our spare time practised our magic. As a side note I’m wondering how many people knew how to do the ‘transfer knowledge’ spell at Hogwarts. I had never even heard of it but it was a life saver in the US.

“Anyway, Blaise died and I…I…I grieved. I was sick with grief. I lost control of my magic and was rescued by a group of people, who included my partner. They took care of me, nursed me back to health and back to strength. It was during that time that I began to form an attachment to my partner.”

I spoke for ages about my life up until the moment I invited Rita over, I told her everything but names, locations and the ‘special qualities’ everyone I lived with had. I did mention how I supported Were’s and vampires having equal rights to wizards and witches as well as the goblins, centaurs, house elves ec cetera being equal and treated with respect. By the time Rita left I was exhausted and slumped into my chair.

“Harry?” Micah was peeping around the door as he glanced around the room. When he saw the coast was clear he entered and took the seat Rita had been occupying. “You okay?”

“Hm.” I hummed, I’d spoken for so long my throat was sore and the glands in my neck were up as a more physical sign of the agravation the constant speaking had done. I let my head rest on the back of the chair and turned it ever so slightly so I could look at Micah. Every muscle in my body was limp and relaxed, I saw comfortable but drained.

“Well that‘s a reassuring answer.” I rolled my eyes at Micah’s sarcasm and he smiled slightly at me before leaning forwards in his chair and touching the side of my face. “You tired?”

“Mm.”

“I‘ve booked the flights.” I lifted my head from the chair and stared at him on high alert. He seemed slightly taken aback by my reaction and his hand withdrew from my face in a jerking motion. Still, he put his hand onto my leg and squeezed it gently. “We are booked onto the noon flights tomorrow. We have to check in at the airport at nine.”

“Mmm.” I drew out the sound and relaxed some more into the chair. He was so wonderful…he was handsome and he cared so much. “Thank you, so much.”

“Any time. Now, you need rest. Lets get you to bed, you don‘t have to worry about anything else excapt relaxing and saying good bye to your brother and brother in law tomorrow. Come on.”

“Urgh.” I groaned and leaned heavily on Micah as he slipped an arm under mine and around my back clasping his hand on my waist. His other hand gripped the other side of my waist and he pulled me to stand up and supported me all the way through the house and up to the bedroom. Once there I was sat on the bed and Micah peeled off my robes and shoes before tapping me gently on th shoulder to get me to move up the bed. He was so good to me, how could I be so lucky to get such a glorious being in my presence, taking care of me.

“Lie down Harry.” I lay down and he slid onto the bed next to me leaning over to kiss me gently. It was ever so gentle, he kept it chaste and just pressed his lips lightly to mine. His eyes glittered slightly and…he’s so attractive. He’s kind. Did I deserve him?

“Micah…” My voice was soft but it crackled and my throat ached as I tried to talk more. Micah shook his head and pressed his lips into mine once more.

“Shh.” He pulled back and settled himself on the bed. “Roll onto your side Harry.” He gave me a small push on the hip to show me the direction he wanted me to roll in so I turned over and lay on my side. He pressed his body against my back and slid one arm under the pillow and the other went over my waist.

“I can‘t wait to get home tomorrow.”

“I know. But for now you need to rest.” I hummed agreement again and pushed my head into the pillow some more, stroking the material slightly with my cheek and enjoying the aroma that wafted around me having been released by that small gesture. I was on Micah’s side of the bed, using his pillow and it smelled like him. I felt safe. Micah shifted slightly against my back and lips pressed against my cheek. “You can‘t sleep with your eyes open you know.”

“I know, I was just enjoying this.” Micah chuckled and I felt him move his face against my hair slightly.

“I‘m enjoying it too but I‘m tired, I‘ve spent all day worrying about you and now we both need rest. Close your eyes Harry.”

“Okay.” I shut my eyes and moved my hand to rest it over the hand he had around my waist.

-

We found our seats on the plane and sat down, luckily they were window seats. Micah let me sit by the window and I looked down at the runway beneath us. It was a dry day although there wasn’t actually much sun and it wasn’t very hot. The sky was white, clouded over with the threat of rain but still the air wasn’t filled with moisture. That’s the thing with English weather, it can change so quickly and it changes so often. If you can have two days of sun you can almost bet your life on the third day will be a thunder storm.

“Oh look!” Micah pointed to the in-flight movie listings. There was a wide variety of films there and I read through the summaries of each. One of them was a sequel to two other films so I decided against watching that one, I hadn’t seen the other two so there was no point. Micah had seen the prequels so was looking forward to watching the film it seems.

“Do you have enough money for the taxi when we get back to St Louis?”

“It‘s a cab Harry, and yes I can pay for it. Why?”

“Because I forgot to change up my money and I‘d rather not use the airport cash points.” Micah nodded and the flight crew began their briefing on what the passengers should do in an emergency. I tuned them out, I didn’t need to do things their way when I could apparate safely from anywhere. Besides which, I should be able to use my magic to steady the plane in flight easily enough so we don’t have a crash landing and instead have a gentle landing in a place we aren’t supposed to land in.

The engines started and we taxied along the runway, getting into position to lift off. I gripped the arm rest hard and pushed my head back into the headrest. Micah looked over at me.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.” I answered, he’d seen me do this on the flight to England and he’d asked the same question. “I just don‘t like the take off or the landing when I‘m not in control.”

“Yes well, aeroplanes are far safer than broomsticks to ride.” I laughed halfheartedly. We took off and moved higher and higher in the air. Bubbles filled my ears and as it brought tears to my eyes I released the armrest with one hand, pinched my nose so that no air could come out and then blew my nose. The bubbles immediately went with the soft sound of air being displaced. I let my hand go back to the arm rest to grip it again but Micah’s hand intercepted mine. He laced our fingers together and gripped my hand hard.

“Thanks.”

“Who says I was holding your hand to assure you? Maybe I just wanted to take advantage of your fear in order to touch you?” I laughed and shook my head in disagreement.

“You don‘t need to take advantage of my fear, I‘ve already given you permission to touch me.”

“Good good, just checking.”

The flight went smoothly though I admit most of it was because I fell asleep. I slept a full six hours, missing the dinner they provided on the flight. Then when breakfast came I didn’t eat it, it wasn’t very nice looking and I loathe eating bread that isn’t toast in the morning. We landed and collected our luggage before finding a free taxi…sorry, before finding a cab. The driver and Micah decided to drop me off home first and they both helped see me out of the car.

“I’ll see you soon yeah?” I asked and Micah smiled at me, gripping my hips and pulling me into a hug.

“Too right you will. We have to go bowling again…or something.” I nodded against his shoulder and he eventually pulled away. I picked up my stuff and went to walk away. “Hey Harry?”

“Mmm?” I turned and looked at Micah. He took a large step forwards, pushed a hand through my hair and to the base of my neck and in one movement he pulled me forwards and stooped in to kiss me. It was only a brief kiss but it was still a kiss, something I hadn’t thought he’d do in full view of the house. Still, it filled me with warmth. He was willing to let it be seen that he was kissing me, in full daylight outside the alpha werewolf’s house. He really cared about me.

“See you soon.” Micah muttered as he pulled away. I grinned at him and finally moved away properly. I dragged my light suitcase up the pathway to Richards house then opened my carryon luggage to try to find my house keys. As I was fumbling around the taxi-cab drove off taking Micah with it. I finally found the right key and slid it into the lock and turned it only to find it didn’t work. That was strange. I tried to push the door open but it wouldn’t shift without the key in the lock. I didn’t really want to do magic in broad daylight so I rang the doorbell to see if anyone was actually at home.

“Hello?”

“Richard? Hi, it‘s Harry. The front door‘s locked and I can‘t get in…” The phone went dead. He hung up on me! How rude! How…there was fumbling and scratching on the other side of the door then the door was suddenly yanked open.

“Harry! It‘s good to have you back!” He put a hand on my shoulder, his gesture of welcome. Richard isn’t the type to hug on a whim. “Sorry about the locks. Someone stole Jason‘s keys when he was at work so we‘ve all had to change the locks.”

Ouch, that must have been expensive. Jason had keys to the back rooms of the circus, Richard’s house, Anita’s house and several of the clubs too. To have to change all those must have been a nightmare.

“Oh. Did you catch who did it?”

“No, not yet but I have been assured the police are looking into it. Still, I doubt there‘s much they can do if we couldn‘t do anything. Still, never mind. Hey, come in. Don‘t just stand on the doorstep. Lets get you settled back in again.” I followed Richard inside the house and we went straight to my bedroom. I dug around for my wand, wanting to use it for once, and pointed it at my bag.

“Unpack.” I said and the bag unzipped and threw itself open. Everything inside it began finding it’s homes again. Anything new I’d brought home with me had to be put away manually but I hadn’t bought many new things and anything I had bought I hadn’t brought to St Louis.

“So, everything go okay? Why‘re you home early?”

“Well…” I told him the whole story, excluding the Micah romance thing because he wouldn’t like to hear that at all. Richard looked furious when he heard about what my friends and family had done to me. He was slightly angry for Percy as well despite the fact that he didn’t like gays much either. Well, I suppose he doesn’t mind gays he just wouldn’t go for that kind of relationship. Still, he welcomed me back and treated me to a nice meal before announcing he’d had all my teachers send me the work for me to catch up on.

“Urgh you didn‘t?!”

“I did. It‘s all in a pile on your desk for you.”

“Oh Richard, that‘s just mean!”

“Just think about it like this, because you came back early you have less work to do than had you have stayed away for the entire time.” I just groaned at him and hid my face in my hands. He laughed at me.

-

NOTES: This is the last update until at least Sunday, though I wont promise to update then. The thing is, the next few chapters need to be sent out either together or in quick succession which means I will need to finish the story soon.