One's True Nature

20

They'd tricked him. They'd tricked him and he'd let them do it because he needed to get his son. Why would his father be this desperate, to ressurect something so evil, it'd been by the Dark Lord's command that it be sealed away. He be sealed away. Draco moved through the house with a fearlful speed as Ron hurried after him, confused and not sure that there wasn't danger here despite the fact that it was completely dark when they entered.


"It better be here." Malfoy said in a desperate gulp of air as he began to run the best he could with his still weak left side. "It just better be." Draco and Ron were now in a library filled with books and random Dark artifacts, Ron would have pointed out that it was very illegal for Draco to be in posession of any of these items, but from the way the man was panicking, that wasn't important just now.

"Fuck, how could I have been so stupid?" Draco still wasn't adressing anyone but his own thoughts and now he had confirmed the worst, the binding stone was gone and with it, the corresponding book on it's use. Draco paled and turned, sliding down the front of the book case until his rear touched the floor, clenching his cane in his right hand with a frustrated force and nearly grinding his teeth.

"What's going on?" Ron said after a minute, still standing over the now sitting blonde.

"Sit down Ron, you'll need to." Draco's voice was defeated and this worried Ron even more as he sat beside the man. He took note of the distant stare of the blonde's eyes as he stared at his knees, not seeming to discover too much of value in them, Draco closed his eyes and spoke with deep and serious tone that made Ron shiver involuntarily. "When the Dark Lord first began his quest for power, my father, seeing his opportunity, latched onto him. Always needing someone to do the things he could not, using them as tools to his own ends." Draco's tone turned very bitter. "I don't understand the whole story and certain details are sketchy, but somehow, My father had located a person for Voldemort, a weapon of sorts. You see, they were young and impatient, they both wanted to bring themselves to power, the consequences be damned."

"A weapon? Someone really strong then, right?" Ron said, trying to keep Malfoy's thoughts from wandering too much.

"Yes, Very strong. This man was very very famous at the turn of the century. He held great esteem with some powerful king or queen or something, but, he was feared by the subjects of that royal person and one night he was posioned, shot stabbed and bludgeoned nine or ten times with some kind of blunt object. After they were done, they dragged him out to an iced over lake and broke a hole in it, dropping him in to make sure he was dead."

"A bit of overkill there." Ron said aloud what he was thinking.

"He didn't die." Draco said seriously. "When they discovered his body the next morning, his lungs were filled with water, he was still alive when they tossed him in."

"After all of that?" Ron seemed amazed.

"Yeah, I'm not sure how though, but he managed to remove his soul from his body. He lived on in other human hosts and somehow, he was caged again. The story my father told me was they found him bound to an artifact in Germany, using his vast knowledge, my father set him free. The Dark Lord and my Father hoped they could control him and use his seemingly unending power to conquer the wizarding world." Draco breathed and his face became angry. "They couldn't however, he had become insane and his power was dangerous to everything. They didn't except this until a day in 1968 when the United States suffered the worst hurricane in it's history."

"That was him." Ron said matter of factly

Draco nodded. "It took every bit of knowledge my father had and all of Voldemort's strength when they finally faced of with him a week later. He was so strong that my father and Voldemort nearly died and the battle lasted almost 12 hours. It was not my father's favorite memory to share, but this battle was the single reason that Voldemort resisted killing my father because he felt that he might need him again someday, despite his repeated failures." Draco's face screwed up.

"So what does this all mean?" Ron asked, clearly, something was missing, something he had overlooked.

"The stone his soul was bound to is gone. There's only one person that would know enough to set him free and if he does. Merlin help us all." Draco's eyes turned to Ron, "because there isn't anyone that can stop him."


"What do you mean Naithen?" Ginny asked very confused.

"Whatever that Magic is, it's not originating from your son." Naithen looked just as confused. "I mean, it is, but's it's not his magic." He clarified almost hoping it would make more sense to him. He hung his head, he was very tired and this case had been confusing, but also very personal. Harry had always been so grateful to him for the time he'd managed to save three of his most trusted men. It would be a great shame to let him down when it was Harry's youngest son at stake.

"I don't understand any of this." Ginny said near the end of her rope.

"At least we know this isn't a magic fit where he lost control of his magic. At least it's foreign, which means we could possibly help him." He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll do everything I can."

"I know." She nodded, pulling herself together.

Harry showed up about five minutes later and sat next to his wife. He was tired and confused, but he still found comfort as Ginny allowed him to rest against her shoulder. He had so much to tell her. He still felt terrible about everything and now, his bad parenting had somehow hurt his son. He wanted to say so much, but every time he opened his mouth he closed it again indecision stealing his words, or perhaps, shame.

"It's not a fit at least." Ginny whispered suddenly, pulling Harry from his thoughts violently.

"What?" He asked once he had regained his senses.

"Albus, his magic release wasn't a fit, it was something foriegn." She seemed to gain confidence by saying this aloud.

"Oh." Was all Harry could say in response, still a tad disoriented by the change in focus. "So does that mean he'll be ok?" Harry asked closing his eyes and swimming for a second in the welcome darkness.

"Naithen thinks he can help." Ginny's voice was gentle and soothing.

"Gin? Would it be ok if I just slept for a while with you? I'm just so tired." Harry punctuated this with a poweful yawn. "Sorry, I know this isn't the be.." His words stopped when Ginny kissed his temple.

"It's alright love, you can sleep." She guided his head down to her lap. "I will wake you if something happens." And she was surprised when he was asleep almost as soon as the last word exited her mouth. She was surprised at how tired he did look, more than he had been after long cases or a deep cover misson. She worried about him as her fingers drew circles in his hair. She loved him very much, because of these moments more than any other. She had been possibly the only person he had at least partly opened himself up to. It was this moment though that made her sure that she'd made the right choice about letting him go.

Harry had struggled for his entire life just for the hope that even if things weren't perfect that at least he could be contented. He had never experienced love the way most people do. Ginny gave this the longest thought as she looked down at him sleeping. "One place adored you and one place hated you." Ginny whispered to herself. Love in it's purest form contains all things not just adoration. Ginny's heart began to ache with each true look at her husband. "I'm sorry that I can't be the one to give you the love you need Harry, but I hope you will remember me for what we were and that part of that makes you happy." She said just as quietly, before leaning down and kissing his temple. She couldn't tell when she had drifted off nor just how much time had passed when Hermione showed up with Scorpious.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you, but Scorpious was insistent that I bring him here." Hermione said in a sharp whisper. Scorpious looked down at his feet. He didn't like when people made him the center of attention. "Scorpious, I have to go back home now." Ginny could tell she was irritated. "You mind yourself here." The boy nodded and sat at the far end of the group of chairs that Ginny and Harry occupied. He looked ashamed of himself.

Hermione was gone nearly as suddenly as she'd arrived. Ginny, watching Scorpious, couldn't help but pity him.

"Scorpious?" She whispered across the short distance, he didn't respond. "Hey, Scorpious." This time the boy heard her and looked in her direction. "Come here, ok?" She directed to him with her hand and he obeyed. When he stood in front of her she made note of Harry sleeping. He nodded.

"I didn't mean to make her mad at me, I was just..." Scorpious was looking at his feet again.

"Look at me." She turned her whispers to a more gentle tone. "It'll be ok, I promise ok." And Scorpious knew what she was talking about. "sit next to me, we'll wait together ok?" And scorpious did, sitting in the chair oppisite Albus' Dad. She closed her eyes again, letting her thoughts leave her for now.

After another short period she was interupted again, this time by two towering Aurors. One of them nodded to her. Obviously asking that she be the one to make Harry aware of their arrival. She nodded back understanding and gently shook Harry until he stirred.

"Sweetie, some men from work are here to see you." She said in a soft voice. Harry imediately sat up, putting on his glasses and waiting a few moments while his mind caught up with the rest of him.

"What is it?" Harry said calmly squinting and then stretching.

"Sir, you need to come with us, it's very urgent." The auror on the left said sternly.

"A Village in scotland has been completely destroyed." The one on the right continued.

"What?!" Both Ginny and Harry looked shocked as they spoke in unison.

"They said a man in a grey cloak was seen leaving the destruction. They asked for you by name sir." The one on the left continued.

'of course they did' Harry thought bitterly. "Let's go then."

And without even a word to his very confused wife, Harry and his two men appirated out of the hospital and off to see what man could or would level an entire village.

Ginny spent the next half-hour teetering between anger, fear and irritation as she sat with Scorpious, who, until he'd shifted in his seat, she had forgoton was there.

"Ginny!" For the third time in the last hour or so Ginny Potter was jerked from her thoughts and surprised by someone. This time, it was her brother Ron and not two steps behind him Draco Malfoy, who from the look on his face was very angry about something. "Where's Harry?" Ron asked, seeming to be out of breath.

"He went with some aurors to investigate a village in scotland that was destroyed." Ginny said matter of factly.

"Shit." Draco swore and then spoke over Ron's shoulder. "About how long ago was that?"

"A half-hour, maybe, give or take five minutes." Ginny was now very very confused and worried by Draco's reaction.

"Ron, you'll have to go ahead of me." Draco's voice was angry. "You have to make sure at all costs he does not engage him until I can get there, you understand?" Ron nodded. "I'll be there as quickily as I can. I need to make one last stop before I do though." And without another word they both left Ginny even more worried and confused.

She wanted to scream, but just before she could crack under the insanity of the last hour. Naithen came in a very serious look on his face.

"He's awake now, but he's very distressed. I think if he sees you it might help." Naithen's eyes were full of worry.
She nodded and screamed silently in her head, just for some relief. Scorpious put his hand in hers, she looked at him and nodded with a slight smile.

They all came to the room and noticed that Albus was out of bed and staring through the observation window. He looked rather furious. After a few minutes of watching him. Ginny told Scorpious that he should go in first and that she would follow him. She was slightly worried that if Albus saw her first, he might have another outburst. As they entered the room, Albus' Furious gaze broke and he ran to Scorpious who hugged him.

"I'm sorry Scor." Albus said into the boy's chest. "I have to go soon."

"Go where?" Scorpious asked gently still hugging his friend.

"He's here, I have to go to him." Albus' voice was very calm and with his eyes still toward his friend's chest, he could not see the worried eyes of his mother or his friend.

Somewhere, Ron was hoping against hope that Harry would use caution for once in his life.


End Chapter 20
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A/N: Please review and also please tell me you love me, because I need it after typing this at 2 in the morning.