Melanin

Back by popular demand… I give you, chapter two!
Now, this is the last one! Honest!

Any Elvish that isn’t in Elvish will be in Italics. Parseltongue will be in Bold.

* * *

“Melanin”

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, et all are property of JK Rowling, and Bloomsbury, and Warner Bros and all those other nifty people that make it so we can read and watch the Potterverse whenever we feel like it. I make no money from this, just so you know. Hellboy is also not mine; I make no money from the Hellboy comics or movies. Mostly this is from the films, as I never read the Hellboy comics.
Summary: [Nuada/HP] Harry might have helped save the world from Prince Nuada, but now the Wizarding World is in danger from Harry. And it’s Harry they’ve called on to save the day. With help from his Melanin, Nuada, and his family of freaks, Harry has to face his biggest challenge yet – himself. But why exactly are there two Harry Potters? Crossover. AU.
Warnings: Slash. Nuada/HP. Violence. Creature Fic. Language.
Rating: NC-17 for language and sexual situations.

XXX

Lucius Malfoy: “Let’s hope Harry Potter will always be around to save the day.” Harry Potter: “Don’t worry. I will be.”

Words: 11,319
Chapter 2/2
Melanin II
2008

The ground was uneven, covered in thick grass in some places and scattered with large boulders in others. Harry, who was usually so graceful, found himself tripping over at least twice. With a scowl, he looked over at Prince Nuada who was easily keeping away from the more treacherous paths. Dalton, as well as Princess Nuala, managed not to trip up or stumble once. Harry felt a rush of annoyance, and jealousy, but he pushed it back. He was only human, and humans had an awful habit of falling over sometimes. He let out a snort, eyeing Liz who had fallen over for what must have been the twelfth time since they left the caves. Hellboy rolled his eyes, smirking in Harry’s direction before moving to scoop his girlfriend into his arms.

“Put me down, Red!” She hissed at him. Her fingertips began to glow, the fire spreading through her hands and up her arms, but it didn’t faze Hellboy. He ignored the heat the flames produced and continued to carry her.

“You can carry me as well if you want,” Harry giggled as Liz turned her head to glare daggers at him.

“Take a flying leap, Ainion!” The demon sneered, eyes narrowed. Harry merely stuck his tongue out. “And we have company.” The red creature drawled. As Tom Manning came into view, Hellboy dearly wished he had a hand free so he could light a cigar.

The Director of the BPRD ran towards them, panting and wheezing, as a handful of men in black appeared behind him. They all carried guns, and Harry watched with an eyebrow raised as they aimed them at him. “You!” Tom hissed, “This is your fault!”

“Yes,” Dalton agreed softly, “he also caused world hunger and aids.”

“I’m just evil like that.” Harry gave a shrug of his shoulders, his smirk widening a notch when Tom’s face flushed dark red. “Oh give over. Even if I weren’t here the others would have gone anyway, you know. So why don’t you get down off your high horse and admit that this wouldn’t have happened if you had agreed to be reasonable about things.”

“Put me down,” Liz hissed and Hellboy lowered her to the ground. The moment his hands were free, he pulled a cigar from his jacket pocket and lit up. “Now see here, you have no right-”

“Absolutely no right!” Abe butted in.

“-To blame anything on Marcaunon.” Liz continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted at all. “On that final note, I quit.” She pulled her gun out of its holster and threw it at Tom. Manning caught it awkwardly, the butt hitting him on the chin and he gave a grunt of pain before he managed to get the flying weapon under control.

“Me too,” Hellboy drawled. He blew a cloud of cigar smoke at Tom’s face, and when the smoke cleared he was holding out one of his guns. “Actually,” he looked down on the gun as he spoke. He slotted it back into his holster. “I’ll keep that one.” He held his hand out to Abe, and the amphibian handed his gun to his friend. “Abe’s quitting too.”

“Positively,” the blue man said with a nod of his head. “I’m owed at least three years worth of holidays anyway.”

“Oh, Ainion! How about we go see where you live when you’re not here?” Liz gave a grin, completely ignoring Manning who was gaping at them.

“Potter!” The Director shouted. “This can’t be happening.”

“I don’t have a gun,” the brunette said simply. “And it is happening.” The brunette vampire chuckled. He threw an arm around his friend’s shoulders and grinned at the dumbstruck human.

“So we are going home then, my Lord?” Dalton smiled warmly at his friend. A growl from Nuada made him think twice about touching Harry while they spoke, and he drew his arm back. Nuada threw an arm around Harry’s waist instead, tugging the Wizard against his side.

“Would you, perhaps, like to come see where I once lived first?” Harry smiled up at his Melanin, his fingers running lightly through Nuada’s silver-blond hair and he nodded slowly. “Good. Nuala?” He turned to his twin sister, and she smiled warmly back at him.

“We have missed you, brother. It will be good to have you home with us.” She reached over towards Abe, and took his hand in hers. “Will you come also?”

“I would be-” He paused; a shy smile flittered across his face before he pushed it back with a deep breath. “Yes, I would be honoured.”

“Right so,” Harry said, taking charge. “Manning, get bent. You guys go pack or something. Dalton, bring them by the flat when they are ready and I’ll Portkey us all over. The four of us are going to see the Elves-” Dalton hummed under his breath, muttering, “the wonderful Elves of Oz!” but Harry ignored him. “We’ll be back tomorrow probably?”

“Yes, my Lord,” Dalton said, sweeping forward into a perfectly executed bow.

“Where did you find him?” Hellboy asked, watching the vampire flick his waist length ponytail back over his shoulder and straighten his robes. “He’s a bit of a nancy, isn’t he?”

“If you will,” he waved his hand in front of him, and Liz was the first to resume walking. He flashed his fangs at Hellboy, snarling. “Wait till you meet Draco,” he chuckled when he was slightly calmer. “He’s more of a ‘nancy’ than I am. And need I remind you, your brother is gay?”

“But my name isn’t Nancy,” Harry said with a chuckle, purposely misunderstanding them. “Come on,” he held his hand out, and Abe immediately grabbed hold. Nuada’s arm was still around his waist. When Nuala finally took hold of him, he gave a smile and with a ‘pop’ Marcaunon apparated the four of them back to New York.

They stood in silence, while the two Elves tried to make their heads stop spinning. Abe, who had been apparated before, didn’t feel as ill as the other two, but he wasn’t feeling great either. Harry was the only one unaffected by the long distance travel and he looked around warily. They were standing beneath a large billboard, advertising the imminent arrival of a shopping mall. He raised an eyebrow. The Elves lived below a future shopping centre?

“Shall we go inside?” Nuada asked as he held out his arm. Harry lay his hand on the inside crook of his mate’s elbow and allowed the Elf to lead him inside.

It was strange, how they were greeted. Harry had heard that Nuada had murdered his father and beaten the entire royal guard, stealing the crown piece from his father’s corpse. It would be expected that they would be attacked when they walked into the throne room. Instead, everyone moved to the side, creating a wide aisle for them to walk down, straight towards an empty throne. Nuada immediately sat upon the throne, and no one said a word against him. Harry watched with confusion, Abe with curiosity, and Nuala with the knowledge the other two wished they possessed.

It was a coronation, Harry realized, twenty minutes later when a crown had been placed on Nuada’s head. No words had been spoken, no noise made, but one Elf had come forth and laid a circle of gold onto the Prince’s head before dropping to the ground in a bow. Everyone around them, including Nuala bowed as well.

Abe swallowed heavily and lowered himself to the ground. Harry looked on in awe. How was it they could forgive someone who had murdered their King, without apology or remorse, and accept that person as their new ruler? How could any person, any race, be so forgiving?

“Ainion!” Abe hissed. The sound of his friend, speaking his name with such fear, brought him back to himself. With an embarrassed flush across his cheeks, Harry lowered himself as well, bowing deeply to the new King. A loud gasp echoed through the room, being repeated over and over until there was suddenly only deathly silence. No one dared to breath. Harry swallowed, wondering what he had done wrong. Abe had been worried that if Harry remained standing the Elves would take it as a challenge of some sort.

Though Harry might have known better if he had ever spent any time with Elves, he didn’t realize that his bowing to his mate was an insult. King Nuada narrowed his eyes and in a split second found himself crouching on the ground beside his Melanin. “Why do you prostrate yourself before me? Do you fear me?” His fingers gripped Harry’s chin and he raised the other man’s head so that their eyes met.

“I love you,” Harry told him sincerely. There was a crease between his eyebrows, and his green eyes flashed with confusion as Nuada continued to frown at him.

“Mates do not bow to one another, Ainion. Mates are equal, they have equal power and strength and respect for one another. Since you bow before me, you either fear me, or do not respect me. Which is it?” A part of the Elf realized that Harry had just been following everyone else’s actions, but the site of his mate cowering caused something ugly to stir within him. He did not want to see Harry in that position. Not only did it hurt his heart, but also he could only imagine what everyone else must think: perhaps they thought he abused his Melanin! Nuada shuddered lightly.

“So I’m not meant to bow, even though you’re King now?” He allowed the Elf to pull him to his feet. “I don’t get this.” Abe let out a snort, turning his face away so that the Elvin King wouldn’t see his smile. “I don’t usually bow to people, ok, so not a word to Red or I’ll never hear the end of this!” He turned to glare at Nuada. “It’s ok for me not to bow right?” The King gave a slow nod. “Good, because it won’t be happening again.”

Nuada led Harry back to the front of the room by the hand. He turned to address the rest of the hall, and as he spoke each of the Elves and Abe rose to their feet. “This is Lord Marcaunon Potter, my Melanin.”

The King sat down, leaning arrogantly back against the throne as the entire congregation turned to face Harry before dipping their head in a polite bow. He then tugged Harry down to sit on his lap. Harry contemplated telling Nuada where to shove it, but then decided just to snuggle against his mate and enjoy it. Nuada didn’t know him well enough yet to not get offended, so Harry promised himself that he would keep his standoffish behaviour to a minimum.

Harry didn’t pay much attention to the Elves from that point on. Most of them spoke to him in fragmented English, biting on their lower lips as they complimented his species with words they didn’t mean, half afraid to anger him and half afraid to anger their new King. Harry just grinned, and stayed silent. As he and Nuada left them late that night, he turned to their guests and gave a small bow.

“Mára aurë.”1 (hello) He spoke purposely in Elvish and took great pleasure in the shock that crossed the faces of almost everyone listening. “It truly is an honour to meet ones such as yourselves. I hope that I may live up to whatever standards you hold me to.” Nuada gave a snort of amusement, and while Abe couldn’t understand him, he didn’t miss the obvious sarcasm. “Mára mesta.” (Goodbye)

They walked in silence, following behind two guards who led the way to the King’s bedchambers. The guards entered first, declared the room safe and then left, walking down the corridor backwards with their eyes on the ground. The refused to turn their backs to Nuada until they were about to round the corner of the hallway. “That was weird,” Harry said softly.

He didn’t get a reply, or a chance to say anything else, before Nuada grabbed him by the shoulders and shoved him against the wall. Nuada’s lips cut off any complaint he might have made. Harry’s eyes fluttered closed, and a soft moan escaped his mouth, parting his lips just enough for the Elf to force his tongue through. The tongue caressed his mouth and tongue, tasting him and delighting in Harry’s unique flavour. When they pulled back Harry was panting heavily and Nuada was flushed a pale pink, staring down at his mate with wide awed eyes.

“My Melanin.” He breathed, his fingers stroking the smooth skin of Harry’s throat.

(Slash Starts Here)

Harry grabbed the shirt, tugging it over his head and throwing it to the ground. “Yours,” he whispered, fingers already moving to unzip his trousers. Nuada watched him with a smile, his eyes drinking in every inch of skin that Harry was exposing. Shoes and socks were thrown to the side, and as Harry was pushing his boxers to the ground, Nuada surged into action. He swept his mate into his arms, and carried him over to the bed. Harry was laid gently down, and the Elf climbed up to hover above him.

They smiled at each other, breathing heavily; one completely naked and the other fully dressed. Nuada began to undo the toggles that held his robe closed, his eyes fixed on his mate’s face as he bared his body to the green-eyed gaze.

“Beautiful,” Harry breathed as Nuada shrugged the robe onto the ground.

The Prince smirked, “as are you, my Melanin.”

Their lips met again, softly at first. Hands began roaming each other’s bodies, caressing taunt skin and mapping out the shape of their lover. Their kisses grew in intensity as Harry spread his legs wider, allowing Nuada to settle more firmly between them. Half mad with desire, Harry arched his back, panting, and offering himself for the taking.

“Please?” He breathed, his lips travelling up and down Nuada’s neck. He bit down harshly, smiling when the Elf cursed in his native tongue.

Fingers pressed against Harry’s entrance hesitantly. “Do you have anything?”

Harry looked up with glazed eyes and shook his head. He didn’t have lubricant, but he had magic. One whispered spell later, he was stretched and lubed and more than willing to feel Nuada inside of him. When no penetration was forthcoming, he growled angrily and reached between them. Nuada chuckled, allowing his mate to flip them over. Harry’s hand on his cock made Nuada groan, the heat of the other man’s hand scorched and aroused him in equal shares. Harry lined him up, seated above the Elf with a leg on either side of Nuada’s hips, and he slowly lowered himself down. The head of Nuada’s penis pressed against his entrance and he moaned.

It had been so long since he had had sex with anyone. It had been almost a year since Luna told him he was the Melanin of an Elf, and he had kept himself to himself ever since.

Nuada gasped, his fingers gripping and bruising Harry’s hips as he arched upwards, no longer able to wait for Harry to sink down in his own time. Harry gave a cry, his back arching as Nuada surged up and into him, filling him completely, almost painfully full. “Mine,” the Elf hissed, his fingers digging into Harry’s waist.

“Yours,” the other moaned in return. Harry lifted himself up, groaning at the feel of Nuada slipping out of him. The King raised his hips, and Harry dropped down at the same time, and the younger man screamed as the head of the Elf’s cock pressed into his prostate. “Oh, shit, Merlin!” He cried again.

He found himself on his back soon after, Nuada having flipped them without drawing out of Harry’s body. They rocked together still, Harry’s legs tightly wrapped around Nuada’s waist, his fingers tangled into Nuada’s hair, as the Elf fucked him delightfully and viciously.

“Le Melon!” (I love you) Harry cried as pleasure surged through his entire being. It started in his groin, a sharp tingling feeling that intensified quickly and rushed down to his toes, making them curl. His legs burned from the pleasure, and his stomach clenched and his heart beat faster, until at last it was too much to bear and he was arching his back, throwing his head back and baring his neck to Nuada’s teeth as he cried out. He came across his stomach, his cock remaining untouched. His orgasm was quick and intense, and it left Harry boneless and panting in its aftermath. He lay still, silent, as Nuada continued to rock on top of him, using Harry’s body to achieve his own pleasure. Nuada orgasmed a moment later with a soft grunt. He let himself fall to lie on top of his mate.

(Slash Scene Ends)

Nuada rolled to the side, panting softly with a light sheen of sweat coating his pale skin. Harry looked over at him, eyes sparkling as he grinned. He gave a languid stretch, a groan escaping him as his muscles protested to any more movement.

“Time to sleep I think.” Harry said with a chuckled.

Nuada didn’t reply. He tugged Harry against his side and held the other man tightly until he was asleep. When Harry was sleeping soundly, the Elf ran a hand over Harry’s face, memorizing him. “I believe I may love you also, Ainion,” he said, but only the walls heard him.

XXX

Harry could feel him, but he couldn’t see him. Whenever he looked over he could only see a dark blur. But he could feel the evil it was permeated with. He could almost smell the cruelness coming off of the shape. It looked like the outline of a human, probably an adult, but it was completely black all over, except for its eyes. The whites of its eyes were visible, but the irises were as black as the rest of its body. Harry shuddered when it looked towards him.

“My name is Ciaràn,” it hissed at him. “It means dark one.”2

Two more people appeared from behind Ciaràn. A tall blond man beamed at Harry, running forward to throw himself into the other Wizard’s arms. “I’ve missed you, my love,” Draco Malfoy breathed against Harry’s neck.

“Did you even notice he was gone?” Dalton Aldridge asked, nodding his head in Ciaràn’s direction. “How could you not have known?” The half-vampire accused.

“It’s not Harry’s fault!” Draco said, his voice the same high-pitched whine it usually became when he was angry on Harry’s behalf. “How was he supposed to know?”

“Know what?” Harry asked, pushing Draco away from him.

Ciaràn merely smirked at him. He clicked his fingers and Draco walked over to him obediently, a small smile on his face. “Who do you love?”

“Harry,” he answered calmly. His grey eyes remained fixed on Ciaràn’s black face. When the dark shape nodded, Draco leant up and gave him a kiss.

Screaming drew Harry’s attention away and when he looked towards the noise his eyes widened. Dalton was on fire, and despite the fact that he was rolling around on the ground, the fire would not go out. Harry waved his wand, trying to cast a spell to help, but instead he cried, “Avada Kedavra!” Draco dropped to the ground in a flash of green light. Ciaràn laughed, coldly, and Harry was shocked at how much the shape sounded like Lord Voldemort.

“I am the darker half of you, Ainion.” Harry saw a flash of white, presumably teeth, as the shape gave a grin. “My name is Ciaràn, but you may call me Harry Potter.”

Harry woke with a scream. He jolted forward in the bed, pushing Nuada away from him, as his eyes darted wildly around the room. There were three men in the doorway, and Nuada had been talking to them before Harry woke up. Two were strangers, but he immediately recognized the third. Dalton.

Completely naked, but unconcerned, Harry ran from the bed and launched himself at the vampire. Dalton caught him instantly, his arms winding around Harry’s waist and tugging the smaller, but younger, man against his own body. “Shush,” he whispered, “everything is fine.”

“You’re not dead.” Harry breathed out in relief.

“Well,” the vampire said with a smile, “I sort of am, you know.”

“Yeah, but you aren’t on fire, so I’m happy.” Harry pulled away, rubbing a hand over his face. “Nightmare, sorry.”

“I thought you were over those.” Dalton frowned, his eyes narrowed in thought as he looked the other man over. “Was it bad?” He sounded worried, and Harry couldn’t blame him. Every other time Harry had had a nightmare that was bad enough to wake him up, screaming or otherwise, it was usually prophetic.

“Yeah. There was this shadow called Ciaràn, who killed you, and I killed Draco, and Ciaràn said he was the other half of me. I’ve had worse but this one was just bad, you know? It felt evil.” Harry sighed. “You remember I told you how angry Hellboy got that time Liz died? Well, it was like that. This person, it felt Hellboy angry, and hell evil.”

“That’s not good.” Dalton agreed.

“Why are you here?” Harry asked suddenly, taking two steps away from his friend.

“Gringotts wrote to you. The owl came by the flat. I forced the note from it and sent it off again. I, uh, read your mail for you. It’s a good thing we’re going home.”

“Why? What do Gringotts want?”

“The Goblins need to tell you something. Most of it was outlined in the letter, but I think it would be best if we were in a magic dampened building before you had a tantrum.” Dalton reached out to grip Harry’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Nuada stepped from the bed, eyes narrowed, and he dressed silently as they spoke.

“What to they want to tell me?”

“You are naked.” Nuada hissed, handing Harry’s trousers over.

“The Goblins want to tell me I’m naked? Oh, I’m naked! Right.” He took the trousers, fighting back an embarrassed blush and pulled the pants on. He ignored the two guards completely, keeping his eyes on the ground by Nuada’s feet as he continued dressing. “When are we leaving?”

“The Goblins sent a Portkey. The three of us can go now, and the others can follow. Griphook promised to send a Portkey to the flat for them, as soon as the Department of International Magical Travel sign the paperwork.” Dalton smirked softly, his eyes raking over Harry’s legs. “Your trousers are on inside out,” he said with a chuckle.

“Up and shut, Aldridge.” With a click of his fingers, Harry magically fixed his clothing. He ran his hands down each pant leg, smoothing out the creases before he nodded. He turned to Nuada and smiled. “Good morning. I apologize for all the weird stuff that happens around me.”

“It is forgiven.” Nuada said stiffly.

Harry hummed, “so long as I don’t parade naked in front of more people? Sure thing.” He gave a small smile, and Nuada allowed the corners of his lips to twitch upwards as well.

“You may leave,” he said abruptly, when he remembered the guards where still there.

The moment they were both out of sight, Dalton held his hand out. In the palm of his hand sat a small round locket. It was open, and both sides held a picture. On the right, it was a picture of Lily and James Potter holding baby Harry, and all three of them were smiling. And on the left side, it was a photo of Professor Trevor Bruttenholm sitting down with a five-year-old Harry on his lap and Hellboy standing sullenly in the background, smoking a cigar. Harry smiled widely at the pictures. “Where did you get this?”

“According to Griphook, Luna appeared with it in her hand and told them it would come in useful soon. Next thing they knew, they needed to contact you and quick.”

“Told you,” Harry grinned at the vampire, “Luna hasn’t been wrong yet.”

All three of them reached forward, one finger touching the edge of the locket, or gripping the chain. “Portus,” Harry and Dalton said at once. Nuada’s free arm tightened around Harry’s waist as he felt a hook catch his abdomen. With a groan, the hook yanked at him, and he felt himself flying backwards, through time and space (mostly space, though) and landing with a groan beneath his mate.

When Nuada looked up, Dalton was smiling down at him, and at the vampire’s side was a strange looking creature that he recognized as a Goblin. The Goblin gave a small bow before holding his hand out. Harry took it immediately and allowed Griphook to pull him to his feet.

“It has been some time Lord Ainion.”

“Im gelir ceni ad lín.”3 (I am happy to see you again) Harry gave a smile, the only warning Griphook received before he was crushed against the Wizard’s chest in a hug. “How have you been?”

“Very well. You?”

“Happy.” The green-eyed Wizard answered with another smile.

“To business then,” the Goblin said. He waved his hand towards the cluster of chairs that surrounded the small desk. He took the chair at its head, and allowed the other three to sink into the chairs opposite him. “My name is Griphook Ironfist and I have been the overseer of the Potter and Black properties for the past fourteen years, whence I first met Marcaunon. When he is in the country, I help him look after his money, and when he is not in the country I look after his money on his behalf. Since he returned to America I have, as always, made it my business to keep an eye on his finances and investments. Last week Marcaunon Potter withdrew eight hundred Galleons. When asked why he wished to withdraw so much money, he was incredibly rude, but we managed to find out that you planned on seducing Lord Malfoy.”

Harry sputtered. “I’m sorry, what? Draco!” Nuada’s eyes narrowed in jealousy.

“Show me your eyes Ainion.” Harry leant forward, staring straight at the Goblin. “As I thought. Your eyes were almost black the last time I saw you. Lord Malfoy is outside; I’ll have him shown in, shall I?”

“Ainion!” A voice cried just before two arms wrapped around his neck from behind. “I’ve missed you!” Harry turned, and the movement had the undesired effect of making Draco stumble. To steady his ex-lover, Harry grabbed hold of the blond’s waist and Draco practically fell into his lap, quite literally.

“Hello to you too.” The brunette chuckled.

“You know,” the blond drawled, “if you wanted me to get divorced, all you had to do was ask.”

“You got divorced, and never told me?” Harry nearly shouted.

The Pureblood frowned. He moved off of Harry’s lap and happily sat down in the chair Dalton vacated. “Harry,” Draco asked slowly, worry making his eyebrows draw close together, “do you love me?”

“Of course I love you, but what has that got to do with anything?”

“But you don’t love me, do you?” His voice was almost a whisper, but Harry could still hear the pain in it.

Harry sighed. “I’m with Nuada now. Remember I told you, about being his Melanin.”

Draco let out a humourless chuckle. “So they’re right? It really wasn’t you who proposed to me?” Harry’s eyes immediately zoned in on the diamond engagement ring on Draco’s left hand. “It really wasn’t you?”

“What is going on?” Harry breathed, even as he reached out to stroke the ring his own mother had once wore. “Where did you get this?”

“You gave it to him,” Griphook said, clearing his throat loudly. “Or at least a part of you did.”

“Sen tîr?”4 (Is this true) Nuada asked, his voice wavering slightly. His Melanin had mated with him only the night before, and yet it appeared he had planned to bind his life to someone else all along. “You wish to marry this human?”

“No. I left Draco so I could be with you. I don’t understand, Draco?”

Draco swallowed heavily, and blinked several times. He appeared to be fighting back tears. Harry knew Draco loved him and had only married because his father had begged it of him. It was his father’s dying wish and Draco didn’t have it in him to say no when his mother chose Celeste Lacrosse, Pureblood from a French family. He had continued to love Harry though, and while Celeste never caught them together she knew that there were actually three people in Draco’s relationship. And that she would always be the least important one. If it wasn’t for Nuada, or if Nuada had died before Harry learnt of him, or if Harry had never gone back to America to meet Nuada, or perhaps if he had never been adopted, Harry would have been happy to love and live with Draco. They might have even gotten married before Lucius Malfoy got sick enough to demand a grandchild.

“Celeste is dead. They found her a week ago, stabbed to death in Knockturn Alley. A day later, you took some money from Gringotts and told me you had booked a holiday for the two of us. You asked me to marry you, and gave me your mother’s ring and I said yes. I asked you who was going to mind Scorpius and you told me you would take care of it, and then you told me you had killed Celeste so we could be together.” He took a deep breath. “I should have known it wasn’t you when you said Scorpius had to stay behind.”

“Draco, I didn’t, it wasn’t me, I-”

“I know that now. I suppose I knew all along, but I wanted to pretend. Your eyes were the wrong colour.” The blond said softly.

“We think we know what happened. We’ve contacted the Aurors and the Unspeakables, and we believed what happened occurred during the final battle.” Griphook began after clearing his throat again.

Harry moved to sit in Nuada’s lap. The Elf held him tightly; unsure whether it would be the last time he would be allowed. His Melanin said it wasn’t him, and so were the others now, but to begin with they had claimed that Harry and the blond man were together. The blond was still wearing Harry’s ring!

“When I died?” Harry asked softly. Nuada tensed, his grip tightening even further.

“Yes. When the Killing Curse rebounded off of you, it not only destroyed the Horcrux within your scar, but it ripped away a part of your own soul, the part most closely linked with the Horcrux.”

“The darker half of me,” Harry said, repeating the words from his dream.

“Yes Ainion.” Dalton whispered, moving to stand behind his friend and the Elf.

Griphook continued to explain. “As it was only a fragment of your soul, its magic was overpowered by Voldemort’s Horcrux and the two of them were sucked into hell. The soul fragment has been in hell for the past eight years and it seems it has managed to form a body and personality of its own. It found its way to earth recently and has since been obsessed with the last thing it remembers – loving Lord Malfoy.”

“The last thing I remember when I died was that if I was dead I wouldn’t be able to tell Draco I loved him anymore.” Harry said slowly, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand, brushing the tears away.

“It was not pleased to realize that Draco was married, with a child.” Dalton whispered.

“Where is Scorpius?” Harry asked suddenly afraid.

When Harry had first entered the Wizarding World he had learnt that in 1993 his godfather escaped from Azkaban Prison, but was recaptured and sentenced to the Dementors Kiss. It was the year Voldemort rose to power again, the year Harry returned, that everyone found out that Sirius Black was actually innocent. Harry inherited Black’s fortune. But he also inherited his godfather’s sometimes lover, Remus Lupin. Remus went on to fall in love with Nymphandora Tonks, Sirius’ niece and Draco’s cousin, and they had a child. Both of the adults died in the final battle, but Tonks’ mother, Andromeda, took care of her grandchild Teddy Lupin.

“He’s with Teddy and Andy.” Draco said. “He’s safe.”

“So, what is happening, is that I have a doppelganger, who has spent the past eight years in hell, on the loose, having murdered Draco’s wife and is probably planning to kill Draco’s son too so they can both ride off into the sunset together. Right. And on top of that, I’ve been robbed, by myself, who happens to be on the loose, looking just like me!” His voice grew louder as he spoke. Harry was shouting by the end of it.

“That is it in a nutshell, Lord Potter. And I’m afraid we’re going to need your help to sort out this mess.” Griphook laced his fingers and laid them on the desk in front of him. “You yourself know how much you are capable of, and the Aurors fear that there will not be much they can do to subdue your alter ego.”

“We’ll help, of course Ainion.” Dalton said at once, his hand moving to rest on Harry’s shoulder. It gave a squeeze and the vampire offered a soft smile.

“Of course we will,” Draco said. He smiled brightly, even though Harry knew him well enough to know that the blond would have preferred to scowl instead.

“The Portkey for the others has been sent. It will bring them to DA-RV-094/M(5). You’d best be there when they arrive.” Griphook waved his hand at the door in a clear dismissal, and Harry stood up at once, knowing better than to try and get answers out of a Goblin that didn’t want to talk.

“While we are here,” Harry groaned, “I need to buy a headache potion. I’ll need a host of them, I’m sure, by the time this is sorted out.” Dalton gave a chuckle. The two blonds remained silent, but for different reasons.

The moment they set foot outside of Gringotts they were descended upon by all manner of rabid fans. Young women begging Harry to marry them; old women begging Harry to marry their daughters; men pleading with Harry to save them; children wanting to know if he was ‘the’ Harry Potter; reporters demanding an interview with the famous recluse, etc.

The green-eyed man rolled his eyes and grinned at his Melanin. “You’ll get used to it, it happens around me sometimes.” He told the Elf calmly.

They stopped in front of the Menagerie, right beside a tall metal post (like a lamppost without the light). There was a small sign hanging from the post, reading ‘RV point 094/M’. Beneath the writing was a round button that was flashing red and amber.

“It means someone is coming through. Like when a toilet says ‘vacant’.” Dalton tried to explain to the confused Elf, completely forgetting that the Elf had probably never used one of those strange portable toilets Muggles were so fond of.

“I’m going over there, ok?” Harry told Nuada, pointing across the pathway to the Apothecary. “Stay with the others, and I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He raised himself up onto the balls of his feet so he was tall enough to press a chaste kiss to the Elf’s lips. “I love you,” he breathed, making sure to say it quiet enough so that Draco would not hear.

A shrill alarm sounded twice then went silent. Nuada, the only one who had not grown up in the Wizarding World, jumped about a foot in the air. He faced the post with his dagger out, already elongated into a spear. Hellboy appeared out of thin air, a centimetre away from the tip of the spear.

“Whoa! It’s ok; it’s just the Portkey warning. It makes noise so everyone moves out of the way.” The others from the BPRD, and Princess Nuala, appeared behind the demon, each looking as ill and disorientated as the other. “You’re all here, then?” Dalton asked.

“Yes. Where is Ainion?” Liz asked, her hand pressed against her stomach as she fought not to be sick.

“There he is!” Abe shouted, waving happily in the direction of the Menagerie. The amphibian ran forward, reaching out to hug his adopted brother.

And indeed, Harry Potter stared back at them coldly. He was of average height, with black hair and pale skin, and he had the same lightening bolt scar as their Harry did, but his eyes were black and angry. He was dressed in an identical shirt and trousers to what Ainion was wearing when he entered the Apothecary, but this Harry had a large Cobra wrapped around his neck and upper torso.

“Give me one reason why I should not kill you?” ‘Harry’ snarled. His wand was pressed against Abe’s throat.

“Hello Ciaràn,” Harry said from behind Abe. Ciaràn lowered his wand, which Harry noticed was the wand Lord Voldemort had once possessed – yew with a Phoenix tail feather core.

“Hello Ainion.” The doppelganger said, with a sugary sweet smile. “I so looked forward to meeting you.”

“Why? I am you.” Harry grinned. “Well, except I’m better. I don’t need to kill people to get a date.” The brunette shrugged unconcerned when the creature hissed angrily at him.

“Draco is mine!” Ciaràn snarled. “Come here!” His black eyes turned to Draco, lightening and becoming green as they settled on the pale face. Grey eyes widened in return, noticing the change in colour. When Draco didn’t move, the eyes darkened again, turning coal black and narrowing in anger.

“You belong to me! I love you!” He shouted. Ciaràn dived forward, snatching at Draco’s arm and he tried to run. Hellboy was suddenly in front of him, blocking his path. When he turned around, Nuada had the lance pointed in his direction. He dropped Draco’s arm with a sneer.

“He will be mine.” Ciaràn promised. He grabbed hold of Draco’s shoulder and shoved the blond man into the Elf. Nuada had to drop his spear, for fear of stabbing the human with it and angering Ainion. He caught Draco clumsily, but Ciaràn managed to rush passed him, escaping into the throng of people in Diagon Alley.

Nuada pushed Draco away almost immediately after catching him. With a grimace, the Elf watched as his Melanin rushed to the human’s side, checking the blond man over for injuries. How was it that such a pathetic creature could have secured his perfect Ainion’s attentions so completely? Harry was beside him again, a hand lacing with his own as he tucked away his dagger. “Man mathach?”6 (How do you feel) Harry asked quietly.

“Jealous.” The King admitted in an uncharacteristic show of insecurity.

“Le Melon,” was all Harry said, because there wasn’t really anything else he could say. Really, he should be the one feeling vulnerable, considering his mate hadn’t told him how he felt yet. For all Harry knew, Nuada was just biding his time until a better mate came along in three-hundred-years or so.

“Oh my, oh Merlin!” A voice cried. Harry actually cringed at the sound of it. “Harry! Harry, over here!”

“More past lovers?” Hellboy asked with a grin, lighting a cigar and bringing it to his lips. Nuada tensed again, before relaxing as he saw the horrified expression on his mate’s face. “Or not?”

“Aníron gwanna!”7 (I wish I could leave) Harry sighed, turning his face against Nuada’s chest. “I’m going to pretend I can’t see her.”

A pretty enough redheaded woman ran towards them, followed by another three redheads and a bushy haired brunette woman. There were three redheaded children with them, and the brunette woman was pregnant again. “All yours, Granger?” Harry asked, referring to the children. It had been some time since he was forced to speak to the members of the Weasley family and it wasn’t his habit to keep up with the private lives of people he disliked.

“Oh yes!” The Muggleborn woman, who was the same age as him, but had been in Draco’s year at Hogwarts, nodded happily.

“You Weasleys,” Draco drawled in disgust, “still breeding like rabbits, I see. When will it be your turn, Weaselette?”

The woman who had called to Harry blushed in anger, but she turned to look at the green-eyed man anyway; fluttering her eyelashes in what she hoped was a charming manner. “Soon, I hope.” She gave Harry a coy smile, but he didn’t notice.

Nuada noticed and with a growl he decided enough was enough. Ainion was his mate, and no one else’s. Harry was not permitted to have offspring with this red-haired bitch! Ginny Weasley gave a scream as the Elf launched himself at her, grabbing her around the throat and slamming her up against the nearest wall. He hissed at her, in a language she couldn’t understand and when she looked at Harry, her eyes pleading for help, he was laughing.

“Listen well to me you filthy troll-child! Ainion is mine! He is MINE! Mine to mate with, and mine to have children with, but most certainly not mine to share with you. If you value your pathetic human life you will stay as far away from MY Melanin as physically possible. Or I promise you, I will not be as lenient next time!” He spat at her feet, and pulled away. He hadn’t even noticed that Ron (Hermione’s husband) and his brothers, Percy and George had been trying to pull him off of Ginny. “Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar!”8 (May Balrogs eat you)

“That’s our queue to leave.” Dalton said suddenly, trying to smoother his snickers. Ginny had been in Luna’s year at school, and when she realized that Luna would accept nothing less than being Harry’s friend, Ginny had decided that she was also friends with Luna whom she had never spoken to for three years before hand. The vampire had always hated the annoying little girl. And it seemed she was still as stupid as ever. Having convinced herself as a child that Harry Potter was hopelessly in love with her, she turned down every date and marriage proposal she received and was still living in endless hope that Harry would one day tie the knot with her.

“We’ll be staying at my Manor. I had Godric’s Hollow rebuilt after I graduated, but it is a little small for all of us. Come on, we’ll floo to Hertfordshire through the Leaky Cauldron.”

Harry’s family didn’t really know what he was talking about, but they trusted him infinitely. In silence, looking around them in awe, they followed the twenty-eight-year-old Wizard into the only pub in Diagon Alley. And then they followed him into, strangely enough, a fireplace.

XXX


TBC...