The Engagement Kiss

“He’s always been stubborn.” Aviva commented from the chair and looked over at Harry “runs in the family I think.” She continued with a teasing smile.

“Definitely runs in the family. Aunt Aviva where’s the last piece?” Harry said, regretting moving back to the task at hand. She looked up at him sadly,

“Right there,” she said pointing to him, or more correctly to his scar. The lighting bolt scar that had plagued him for so long, vaguely he heard Dumbledore cackling madly.

Chapter 25:

“What?” Harry whispered hoping that he’d misheard her. Aviva just looked at him sadly.

“The old coot put it there to convince you that you were connected with Tom, think about it Harry. If Tom killed my sister don’t you think I would’ve known that she had another son?” she explained kindly, he looked at her blankly.

“But the wards at the Dursley’s, my blood at the… the triwizard tournament,” he whispered and she glared at Dumbledore.

“All his suggestions I suspect now, he probably even gave Tom the memories of killing your family to make it more real.” She sneered angrily. Harry had to admit she made a sound argument. He felt hate boiling up for the old man wrapped in vines sitting in front of him. Az moved to try and calm him but before he even reached a full step a voice boomed from all around them.

“Albus Dumbledore!” the voice said so loudly Harry’s ears ached, “We cannot forgive this infraction. You will be removed as the headmaster of Hogwarts as soon as our chosen replacement is ready for this duty.” It continued and a white light enveloped Dumbledore turned black then vanished. The old man looked shocked and frightened.

“Who are you to strip me of my position?!” he demanded, fearfully.

“We are the remnants of the founders; We chose the headmaster’s of this school and clearly we erred when you were brought into this office. Your punishment will be dealt with should you live through this ordeal.” The voice boomed finally and vanished. Harry looked at his friends in mute amazement before shaking his head and looking at the book in his hand.

“I think I found away but I need three of you to help me,” before he even finished Ron, Hermione and Draco had stepped forward with significant looks at the Anders.

“We’ll help Harry; just tell us what needs to be done.” Ron said and the other two nodded. Harry smiled, he had the best friends.

“Each of you needs to find your inner element, though if it turns out to be fire you’ll have to let Az take your place, no offence Naji but you and Ron match elements. Though if we end up with two waters we could be in trouble too, anyway just search I can’t really direct you better than that you’ll know when you’ve found it. Repeat the oath the element gives you and you’ll be able to channel its power when we need it.” He said and they all closed their eyes. This would be an easy task for himself and Ron who had powers connecting them to their elements but for the other two it maybe harder. Ron spoke first,

“I am earth, steady and unshakeable. I am earth and nothing shall stand in my way.” He murmured practically unconsciously. Harry smiled as Draco piped up next,

“I am air, flighty yet strong, soft yet sharp. I am air and while I may be diverted I never falter.” He whispered dreamily. Harry sighed softly and waited for Hermione.

“I am water, flowing and languid, solid and unforgiving. I am water I penetrate even the farthest corners.” She sighed. They sat waiting for him and he complied;

“I am fire, hot and unquenchable, vulnerable without others. I am fire, through me we are brought together.” Harry said firmly, he had spoken the vow before. It was lucky that they were all a different element; he’d been worried that they wouldn’t.

“Now what?” Ron asked, Harry sighed and explained to them how they’d summon their elements and allow them to flow through their bodies assisting him. While the Ander’s sat watching with astounded faces. Aviva watched them and felt a small bubble of hope form in her chest; perhaps they could really do this!

“Harry is their any danger to you in this? I mean all that power circling through you? And the piece of Vol…Tom’s soul…” Hermione asked looking sternly into his face.

“Well the soul piece is only being returned to Tom so the most that’ll happen is I’ll get a small cut in my forehead. I think, we have to do this Hermione.” He said and cut her off before she could voice another worry, “We’re not doing this for the prophesy or for some stupid war, we’re doing this because these people are part of my family and because they’ve been hurt by the stupid old coot too.” He said savagely. She nodded as did the others. Harry stood and turned to his aunt, dreading the answer to his next question,

“Wh…What did he do with Severus? Did you have something to do with him running off like a foolish Gryffindor?” She flinched,

“He’s alive, I convinced Tom to merely lure him away from you rather than kill him. I even managed to get him to leave off torturing him but that won’t last forever.” Harry sighed loudly, his mate was alright, straightening he looked at her again. “Can you take us to where Tom is? Or show me and I’ll get us there?” He demanded. Az stepped forward looking worried,

“Shouldn’t you practice this spell more? Or something?” he asked holding Harry’s arm. Harry shook his head and pulled away slightly,

“No, this is something we can’t practice and something tells me that if we don’t act soon it will be too late.” He replied but Az had stopped listening and was staring at the rune markings on Harry’s wrist with avid attention.

“Your bond marks were they always this color?” he whispered, Harry looked down at the marks, they were now a dark blue instead of black but what stood out the most was the gold lines around each rune that stood out in sharp contrast to his skin.

“No. What does that mean?” He asked looking at his brother, the elder had paled significantly, and so had Naji.

“It means you cannot do this,” he began and cut Harry off before he argued, “You’re with child Harry.” Dead silence followed those words as Harry looked wonderingly down. A sense of elation he’d only felt when Severus told him that he loved him filled Harry from head to toe but there was the dark thought that he might not live through this. Shaking his head he stepped back,

“We must. I cannot wait until the childe is born and no one can cast this but me.” He said somewhat shakily, the idea of dying with a child in his body was horrifying.

“You can’t!” Az nearly shouted looking pale, “You don’t understand Ry, if you were to loose this child it would destroy you. That’s always the way with Ander firstborns. Because of whatever evolutionary quirk that made us both genders we’ve a genetic fear for our children, and over protectiveness but so does every parent.” He continued trying to convince his brother. The younger merely shook his head,

“I would be destroyed anyway if I loose Severus,” he whispered and looked at Aviva accusingly, “This is why he waited to call Severus isn’t it. So I would have no choice.” She hung her head and nodded slowly but sent a poisoned glance at Dumbledore. That reminded Harry, Tom wasn’t to blame for this Dumbledore was, and it wasn’t easy to fight a compulsion that came from your own soul. Nodding he looked at his aunt once again.

“Show me where, I would feel better if you stayed here just incase being near your husband triggers any unfavorable behavior. Az and Naji will you look after her?” he asked, politely trying to keep as many of his friends out of danger as he could. They nodded but Az looked worried, like a mother hen loosing control of her chicks.

“Be careful.” He whispered pulling him in a tight hug.

“When am I not careful?” Harry responded with a ragged grin. Az smiled and stepped back and over to Ron to give him the same admonishment. Draco took Az’s place, minus the hug.

“I… I have something to ask you Harry before we do this.” He said looking nervously at the ground, “When this is all over would you…would you consider adopting me with Severus, into your family? I…I plan on renouncing my father even if with the Dark Lord cured my father is an insufferable bastard.” He asked little more than a whisper. Harry looked surprised and pleased at the same time,

“Of course you are welcome into my family, but I have to ask why would you need to join another family? I doubt that Ron will waste any time before formally bonding to you.” He said teasing the redhead slightly.

“Yes, but if remained without legal guardians even if I’m of age if I had any children, male veela’s can reproduce with powerful mates its rare but not unheard of, my father would be able to claim them because they wouldn’t be able to renounce him yet. Besides I would like to have a family that cares for me for a change.” He whispered again looking at the floor. Harry grinned wildly moving to envelope his friend in a hug whispering in his ear,

“Welcome to the family, I’ll bet you’ll be a great older brother to my childe” Draco smiled hugely and hugged him back briefly and backed away giving Az a teasing peck on the cheek before hugging Ron.

“Are you finished with all your touching moments?” Aviva asked with a hint of a sneer which she promptly banished with a frown, “Sorry, are you ready?” she said looking a little embarrassed. Harry nodded and she sent him the location information through their reopened link, as the pad formed they all gave halfhearted waves and vanished.

“Good luck.” Aviva whispered.


An: http://myfanfictioncentral (dot) webs (dot) com Shameless advertising again. So I debated and debated whether to have the big battle in this chapter or not and decided to delay it one more chapter so wait in anticipation! -evil cackle- I’m so into this right now that I might have the next chapter done today so keep an eye out. =)