Fic: Between Life and Dreams (2/3)
Title: Between Life and Dreams
Author: rainclowd (carpe_slytherin)
Round 1, Prompt 69: Harry/Lucius: Postwar. Lucius is still in Azkaban, and the MoM has decreed that since the Dementors are gone, all remaining DEs are to be executed unless someone agrees to marry (or bond with) them. Harry, still angry at Lucius, discovers that Lucius actually helped the Order after Voldemort ordered Draco and Narcissa killed. He agrees to marry/bond with Lucius. I would like to see a broken Lucius - - Harry is still prepared to hate Lucius - - and does humiliate him at first - - but feels for him because like Lucius, Harry has lost people he loves because of decisions he's made(and feels guilty about). I prefer lots of angst, but a happy ending.
Other Pairings: background RW/HG, past LM/NM, past HP/GW, GW/BZ
Rating/Warnings: NC-17
Part 1 here!
~*~
A squad of guards was ordered to bring Malfoy, who had been released from the prisoner's chair and bound into magical shackles, to the office of the Chief Warlock on the second level of the Ministry building. Harry accompanied them, grateful to get out of the courtroom where the noise level had risen once again. It was at deafening by the time the Wizengamot session was dismissed.
Once in the offices of Wizengamot Support Services there was yet more paperwork which needed signing. Harry had just begun looking through the latest roll of parchment when Hermione joined him, hugging him in congratulations and passing on the best wishes of his other friends and supporters. Although the office was too small for them all to attend the ceremony, they would be watching from a nearby observation room.
"Thanks, Hermione. Don't know what I would have done without you."
"Of course not, Potter," she joked back, sticking her nose into the air, "I am the brightest witch of our age after all!" The best friends snickered, hugging each other. Harry was giddy with his victory over Fudge and nervous about getting married.
Smiling into Hermione's eyes, Harry asked. "Hey Weasley? Could I get you to read this over for me? There's something I need to do, but I don't want to sign this without having it checked first." Hermione nodded, taking the scroll and immediately becoming immersed in the complicated legal jargon.
Harry, knowing the contract was in good hands, conferred with the Chief Warlock. He was a short and stocky wizard by the name of Bradon. "Sir, I was wondering if I might get Mr. Malfoy released from those chains and into something more presentable for the ceremony?"
The elderly wizard looked carefully at him and then at Lucius, who certainly looked to be little threat at the moment. "I suppose that can be arranged, Mr. Potter. I cannot let you remove him from this room before he is bound to you but can see no reason why we cannot conjure a privacy screen so that you may help him prepare in peace."
For his efforts, Bradon was graced with one of Harry Potter's beaming smiles and a bow of utmost respect. "Thank you, sir. Your kindness and generosity are a gift to me. I won't let you regret it."
"Silly boy," Bradon responded with a grin that took decades from his wrinkled face. "Get a move on now. Time is wasting."
The chains were removed and the screen quickly conjured. Harry removed a tiny bundle from his satchel, resizing it into a set of clothing. Lucius watched him silently.
"You're going to have to speak for the bonding ceremony, you know. I know that you can," Harry said casually, not looking up as he sorted the sky blue silk underrobe from the dark grey velvet overrobe. He cast quick charms at each to remove the wrinkles caused by being shrunk and bundled. Then he laid out undergarments, socks, and a pair of silver boots which matched the embroidery on the edges of the robes. "I hope these are close enough in size. Madam Malkin had your records, but I could only estimate how much weight you have lost since your last visit. And I only had my mental image of you to help me select the colours." He looked up at Lucius once it was all set out. "Come now," he said in a no-nonsense voice, "and get out of those horrid things. We'll get you cleaned up and back to your usual handsome self in no time."
Harry had turned to take a comb and brush from his satchel and missed the slow blink and tiny hint of a smile that his last words had caused. When Harry turned around again he was met by the blank expression he was becoming accustomed to, but Lucius was obediently removing the hideous, dirty prison garments. The thought flitted through Harry's mind that despite all the changes for the worse in Malfoy's appearance, his hands were still beautiful - long, slender and elegant. He banished a mental image of them on his own skin before it could fully form.
Raising his wand and an eyebrow together, Harry asked, "May I?" Lucius nodded and Harry was worried, disturbed even, at the easy acquiescence. The man hadn't even asked what Harry was going to cast on him. It went against all Slytherin instincts toward suspicion and self-preservation. He sighed, brow furrowing. He had no idea how to begin to deal with this. Was it depression, which would be bad enough but could at least be treated, or was Lucius Malfoy really gone forever?
Harry bit his lip, wand swirling as he cast gentle non-verbal cleaning charms over his soon-to-be spouse. The other man stood still, arms slightly away from his sides. Either he trusted Harry, which was insane, or he did not care if he was harmed or even killed…
... which was even more insane.
Determined to test it as far as he could for the moment, Harry stepped right up to the still-naked Malfoy, stopping only a few inches away. Slowly, giving him every opportunity to step back or protest, Harry narrowed his eyes and brought the tip of his wand to the side of the older man's face. He didn't stop until the cool wood rested against Malfoy's cheek.
Harry knew that if someone did that to him, he would definitely feel threatened. The old Lucius would have been furious and probably would have lashed out like a cornered animal. He would have been angry that anyone, never mind a half-blood whelp who was half his age, would dare to try to humiliate and intimidate him.
Not even a flinch. Harry closed his eyes briefly against the fear and fury this caused. Maybe if he did hex the man, he would be more careful in the future? He wanted to scream from all the confusion, the anger and pity and compassion, the rising attraction and remembered hatred that were battering him in turns. If it wouldn't have been pathetic, Harry might have cried.
"Fuck!" It was softly said, but no less heartfelt for its quietness. "What's happened to you, Malfoy?" With one hand under the blond man's chin and the other holding his wand steady, Harry focused and whispered the spell to heal bruising. The light from the charm slowly faded as the skin changed from mottled yellow-purple to porcelain perfection. Lucius never did answer his question, although the anguish that passed over his sharp features for one beat gave Harry at least a hint. "We're going to have words with the head of the Azkaban guards once you're feeling better. Whoever hit you should be punished. Unless you punched yourself in the face, in which case-"
"Harry?" a female voice broke into Harry's discomfited babbling from the other side of the screen.
"What is it Hermione?"
"I finished looking these documents over. Both you and Mr. Malfoy need to sign a few things. May I come in?"
Harry looked down Lucius's emaciated, and still nude, frame. Blushing, he looked away and stuttered out, "Uh, n-not yet. Just a few more minutes so he can finish dressing, yeah?"
Hermione's laugh floated over to him. "Of course, Harry, but behave yourselves. Remember that there's a time limit here!" She laughed again at the embarrassed groan from the other side of the screen.
"Incorrigible. Irrepressible. Unbelievable… wench!"
"And you looooooooooove me!"
"Shut it, you! I'll give you a shout when we're ready."
They listened to Hermione's retreating footsteps, then Harry grabbed the new underpants and knelt down, holding them for Lucius to step into. "You can use my shoulder if you need to steady yourself," Harry offered with a tentative smile.
The old Lucius would have scoffed at the very notion that he needed assistance, but this Lucius was tired out from his long morning, and weak from lack of good food and exercise. He accepted the offer. Between the two of them, they quickly had Lucius in his robes. Harry got him into a chair and helped him with his socks and boots, and then called Hermione in.
After a brief consultation between the two friends, Harry took Hermione's quill and scrawled his signature where she indicated. Looking up at Lucius, who looked much better but still not quite done, he asked, "May I comb your hair for you while Hermione explains these papers?"
Lucius nodded and Harry stepped behind him, using his comb to gently pick through the tangles and knots in the long, pale length. He let Hermione's "lecture voice" flow over him, engrossed in his work. He was pleased when Lucius nodded his understanding to Hermione and signed where she pointed.
Once the worst of the tangles were loosened, Harry picked up his brush and ran it in long strokes through the entire length of spun moonlight. "You know," he told them absent-mindedly, "most people don't think I even own one of these." He brandished the brush. "Not that it does my hair any good, but I'm glad that I've got one anyway."
Harry's eyes were glued to Lucius's hair as he once again stroked the brush through it, root to tip, and Lucius's eyes were falling closed from the pleasure Harry's actions were giving him. Neither man noticed Hermione looking from one to the other, satisfaction giving a wicked glint to her expression.
Sighing, Harry decided that he was finished. For now. Stepping away, he asked Lucius, "Would you like to tie your hair back? I brought a clip."
Lucius only shrugged.
Shrewd look in her eyes, Hermione asked, "How would you prefer it, Harry?"
"Oh, I don't know. It's nice either way, but…"
"But?" she prodded.
"When it's down, around his face. It's - he's…" Harry's voice was filled with unconscious wonder, even awe.
"It's all right. I understand you, Harry," she said, but she wasn't looking at her friend. She was looking at Lucius Malfoy, and she saw in the flashing of his eyes that he understood too although he didn't speak or react in any other way. "Would you like to leave it down today, Mr. Malfoy?"
Lucius nodded.
~*~
A few minutes later, it was done. Harry had no clear recollection of exactly what had happened. He was told to clasp his intended's hand, and Bradon was speaking and there were ribbons around his wrist, and promises made to both Ministry and Malfoy. To his delight, Lucius had made soft, yet clear, verbal responses when they were required. They exchanged rings. There was chanting, a tingling, a flash of magic, and then where Harry Potter had stood there was now half of Harry-and-Lucius. Or Lucius-and-Harry. Both maybe, or possibly neither? Harry was dazed, to say the least.
Now Hermione was hugging him and offering them both her congratulations, and all Harry could do was stare at her as if he had no idea who she was. In reality, he knew exactly who she was. It was himself that he was confused about.
The world shifted back into focus in slow increments until all was normal again. Well, except for that new bit of awareness that was Lucius Malfoy. Harry couldn't read the other man's thoughts or even his emotions. Instead there was just a sense of him being there, alive and conscious, and the inescapable knowledge that they now belonged to each other.
Once he was fully in the moment again, he hugged Hermione back and then accepted the congratulatory handshakes and back pats from the Ministry officials who were present. An edgy feeling returned him to his bond-mate's side, and he vaguely remembered that it would take time and touch in order to stabilise the bond. Without giving it any thought, he reached out for Lucius's hand, curling his fingers around the other man's. A return squeeze answered him.
Bradon approached the two men after retrieving a long, thin, silk-wrapped bundle from one of the guards. "Gentlemen, this isn't much of a bonding gift considering it already belongs to Mr. Malfoy, but I thought you would want to have it." He handed it to Lucius, who stood looking at it blankly as it lay across his palms.
When he showed no sign of moving after a long minute, Harry asked, "Would you like help?" The head tipped just a bit, and Harry took that as a yes. He untied the string which held the bundle closed and unwrapped the cloth, revealing a very familiar walking stick. Harry looked into his husband's still features and then slowly pulled the wand free and set the snake head handle into his hand. "Welcome back to the Wizarding world." Lucius made a strangled sound.
"There is a charm on it now which will record any instances of Dark Magic," Bradon said, breaking the awkward moment, "and I've got a list of prohibited spells for you so that you can avoid trouble."
Harry smiled at the man. "Thank you again, sir. If we're done here, I think it's time we went home and got ourselves settled."
The Chief Warlock nodded in agreement. "It has certainly been a long day."
Harry and Hermione said their good-byes while Lucius waited where they had left him, still staring at the wand in his hand as if he had never seen its like. Harry would have found it hilariously funny if it had been a little less depressing. As it was, he was glad that Lucius cooperated with him easily, allowing him to re-sheath the wand and tug him from the room by one thin wrist. He was on edge and wanted to go home. Actually, he wanted to go to Grimmauld Place and blow things up but he wasn't about to leave Lucius alone so soon.
"How are you going to get past the reporters?" Hermione asked, once they were away from any prying eyes or ears.
"With your help, of course!" Harry smirked at Hermione. She rolled her eyes at him. He touched Lucius on the shoulder and asked, "So, how do you feel about snakes?"
"Oh really, Harry! He's a Slytherin." Hermione was looking less than impressed with her friend.
"What does that matter? I'm a Gryffindor and I wouldn't get terribly friendly with a lion. Besides, don't you remember Zabini?" The memory had him chuckling.
"No, I wasn't there. What happened?"
Harry's laughter tapered off, but his face was still pink. "I was bored, wandering around in animal form. Tonks was writing a report. She looked bored too," a breath and another snicker, "I figured we could entertain each other."
Even Lucius seemed to be listening. Hermione had her I'm-dealing-with-an-idiot face on, but she was too curious to let it go. "I'm almost afraid to ask, but what did you do?"
"I… umm… crawled up behind her and flicked my little forked tongue into her ear?" Harry wondered if he should flee now. Hermione looked like she was building up to yet another in her endless series of lectures on Harry's irresponsibility and lack of maturity. "It might not have been the best idea to startle an Auror. She flung me across the room, and then when she saw that it was me, she threatened to slice me up into Potions ingredients!"
"Then what?" The pointed look Hermione skewered him with screamed "Of course it was a bad idea, fool!"
"Well, I did what any person, or snake rather, with a sense of self-preservation would do. Slithered away! Quickly!"
"What does Blaise have to do with any of this?"
Harry grumbled, "I'd tell you if you would stop interrupting me and looking at me like I'm a wayward child in need of a spanking."
"I heard that, and you are a wayward child in need of a spanking."
"Stay back, scary fiend! Lucius will protect me from your horribly abusive ways!" Harry was making as if to edge behind the older man, pretending to tremble in terror of his petite friend. Hermione seemed torn between giving him the threatened spanking and laughing until she made herself ill. Malfoy was looking at him as if he had never seen such a strange creature. He probably hadn't. Harry had been hoping for more of a reaction from him, but would take what he could get. "As I was attempting to say," he said, affecting a superior drawl that did the old haughty version of Lucius proud, "I was trying to get away from Tonks, afraid that she would either chop me up or trip over her own feet and squash me, when I happened to bump into a foot. Zabini's foot.
"He froze like he had been Petrified, and then there was this high pitched shriek. It was like Ron and spiders! So much for Mr. Cool-and-Dignified!"
Hermione looked amused by the mental image. "Interesting. I wonder if he was bitten as a child?"
"I don't rightly know, but you see now why I wouldn't assume someone wants a snake curled around him just because he was a Slytherin." She nodded.
Harry touched the inside of his husband's wrist softly, catching his eyes. "Would you mind? I have my Invisibility Cloak, but it won't cover the both of us. If I transform and wrap around your arm, you can wear the cloak and Hermione can get us out." He shrugged sheepishly "I'm not the biggest fan of Portkeys and you can't Floo into our house until your blood and magical signature have been added to the wards. Apparating close by seems to be the fastest and easiest option for this trip."
Lucius held out his arm for Harry. Harry grinned and held up one finger in a "just a moment" gesture. He dug through his satchel, pulling out the silvery bundle of his cloak, draping it over the outstretched arm. Then, with no further warning, Harry Potter vanished.
Bending down, Hermione Weasley gently collected the dark grey serpent which had appeared in his place. She straightened, taking the cloak from Malfoy and holding her own arm out toward his, giving Harry the opportunity to coil around his husband's forearm. A tiny shudder went down Lucius's spine as Harry's tongue touched his wrist in the exact same spot that his hand had touched just a minute before.
Reaching up with the forefinger of his free hand, Lucius stroked Harry, from the very top of his scaled head, down the nearly two feet of pure muscle that was looped around his arm. It was heavenly to Harry, a path of warmth against his cool skin.
"Coronella austriaca, or the smooth snake," Hermione said with a smile, never able to resist the opportunity to share her vast stores of knowledge, "Isn't he lovely?"(1)
Lucius, who was inspecting the thin black markings representing Harry's spectacles and the narrow streak of light grey amidst the darker which was his scar, nodded.
"All right, then. Let's get you two covered and get out of here." Hermione draped the Invisibility Cloak over the newlyweds and circled them, making sure that Malfoy's feet weren't showing. "This way."
After that, their escape was easy. No one thought twice of Hermione Weasley leaving the Ministry. It was a common enough occurrence. They quickly reached a spot with enough privacy for Apparition, and Harry changed back into his human form.
"Thanks Hermione!" Harry enthused, engulfing her in a bear hug, "Could you pass on our gratitude to everyone for their support and let them know we'll be in touch as soon as everything has calmed down?"
"Of course! And congratulations again to both of you."
It seemed that, at least subconsciously, the two men were already reaching toward couple-hood. Although any contact would have sufficed for Apparition, Harry unthinkingly wrapped his arm around his husband's shoulders. Lucius, for his part, seemed to actually curl into the embrace. Although there was no way their relationship would develop quickly or easily given their differences and the way their marriage had come about, there was hope.
~*~
A month later, it seemed that small ray of hope would be extinguished. Although they had settled into something of a life rhythm, as people are inclined to do, there had been no real progress between Harry and his bond-mate.
Lucius Malfoy was as withdrawn as ever. He almost never said a word unless asked a direct question, and even then he said as little and spoke as quietly as possible. Getting Lucius to eat anything was a chore for poor Dobby. Even his favourite delicacies could not coax him from his apathy. Dobby had quickly gone from barely accepting his former Master for Harry's sake to depths of worry and self-flagellation over the man's well-being which could only be sustained by house-elves.
There was no spark of life in Lucius, nothing that made him more than a walking and breathing puppet. He would willingly submit to the touch they needed in order to sustain their bond but he never initiated it, not even when Harry waited until it was painful before seeking his husband out. He would follow along if Harry suggested an activity, but did not participate. It was like Lucius was still in Azkaban, and it was driving Harry mad.
Harry, in direct contrast and with his usual resiliency, was swiftly returning to his normal self. Sure, it had taken some time to adjust to his new reality, but there was nothing that could be done to change it now. His shock and depression were slowly eroding away as the new circumstances sank in. He was looking forward to moving forward once again.
Hermione had advised Harry to be patient with Lucius, to try and draw him out with conversation and time together. Ginny's counselor had told him basically the same thing when consulted. She seemed to be of the opinion that Lucius would come out of his shell once he felt secure. The general consensus was that he just needed time. That would have been all very well to Harry if Lucius was improving, but he seemed to be getting worse and worse by the day. The only times he came out of his stupor now were when Harry would sit with him in his snake form, curled around his husband's wrist or draped over his shoulders, or when he brushed Lucius's hair. At those times he still wouldn't speak much but he did respond to the comfort, relaxing just the smallest bit and allowing himself to enjoy the contact.
It was too little, too slowly, and Harry was at his wit's end. His old friend anger was lurking in the back of his mind more and more often these days, and Harry was afraid that he was going to lose control. As fragile as Lucius was, Harry didn't dare even contemplate how being hit with the force of the infamous Harry Potter temper would affect him.
If Harry was honest with himself - and he always tried to be - he was not going to be able to hold out much longer. With every question Lucius refused to answer verbally, with every meal he did not eat, with every day he simply sat there rocking and staring at the wall or his hands, Harry came closer to a screaming tantrum. There had been several instances of all of those behaviors that day and Harry's rage was bubbling. The continuous silence which should have been filled with signs of life pressed in on him. He had to get away.
Two minutes later, after putting on a warm jumper and letting both his bond-mate and house-elf know where to reach him, Harry stood before the green flames in his fireplace. "The Burrow" rang through the stillness and then all was quiet once again.
~*~
It was strangely silent in the Weasley family's home, but since the Floo was open Harry assumed that someone was there. Either that or something was very wrong. With a flick of his wrist, Harry's wand was released from its holster and clasped loosely in his hand. Not wanting to alert any intruder to his presence, Harry stealthily made his way from room to room. No one seemed to be home.
He crept up the stairs, avoiding the steps which creaked and groaned with ease granted by the twins' tutelage and long practice. A sound from Ginny's bedroom had him tensing. The door was slightly ajar and he could hear what sounded like two voices coming from the other side. Neither of them could have been Ginny, as both were male and unfamiliar.
Harry's heart was pounding as he stopped beside the door to catch his breath and plan. He could tell exactly where they were and he had the element of surprise, so if he could get stunners off fast enough, this would be relatively quick and painless.
After a silent three-count, Harry slammed the door back and shouted "Stupefy!" twice. A very feminine shriek followed, but nothing else. No return fire, no thumping of unconscious bodies falling to the floor. There was no one there. No one but Ginny, that is. Harry slumped down to the floor, willing his pulse and breathing to slow down. "Um. Hi?"
Ginny forcibly snapped her gaping jaw shut. "Nice job, Harry," she said, voice strained with her not-quite-abated adrenalin rush. Somehow, she still managed to convey her amusement at her friend's expense. "You managed to apprehend my vicious Wizarding Wireless."
"Oh fuck," Harry wheezed, trying to sink down even further. The floor was not cooperating with a convenient hole for him to disappear into though. "Please excuse me while I curl up right here and die of mortification."
Ginny giggled at him. Soon she was laughing a full belly laugh. Harry couldn't help but join in. "Sorry, Ginny. Really. It was so quiet, and then I heard voices and I thought someone had broken in, and…" He shrugged helplessly. His former girlfriend set aside the journal she had been writing in when Harry had burst in. Rising from her bed, Ginny reached her hand out to help Harry from the floor.
"It's all right. I probably would have been nervous too."
"So, it's been a while. How have you been?" Once Harry was on his feet he wrapped Ginny into a comfortable hug. When he let go they started back down the stairs to the kitchen. "Hermione told me that you've been doing better."
"She's absolutely right," Ginny told him as she started tea for the two of them. "It hasn't been easy, not at all, but with my Healer's help I'm starting to get everything sorted out. There is still a long way to go."
Harry smiled broadly at her as she set a plate of sandwiches on the table between his place and her own. "I'm glad you're feeling better, love."
Ginny smiled back and sat down beside him while they waited for the tea to be ready. "How about you, Harry? How is married life?"
The happy expression slid from Harry's face and he groaned. "It's not so great." His thin fingers raked through his messy dark hair. 'That's why I'm here, I guess. It was leave there or maybe scream. Or possibly commit murder. Or something else just as horrid."
"Is Malfoy being that bad?"
"No! That's the point!" His brow furrowed. "Honestly, Ginny, I sometimes think the Dementors may have gotten to him after all. He's not himself! He's not much of anything." In his agitation, Harry began tearing a sandwich into shreds. Ginny took the remains from him.
"At least he isn't giving you trouble, right?"
"I joked about that just before I visited him in Azkaban. I told Ron and Hermione that I wouldn't mind having his body if I didn't have to deal with his personality. But Ginny, it's awful! Nothing I do helps and I don't know what to try next." He was almost hyperventilating.
Ginny got up to retrieve the tea. The rituals of preparing and drinking it always calmed her, and she knew they worked for Harry too. By the time they each had a cup, her friend's breathing was even again and he no longer looked like he was about to cry. She waited until they had each taken a few sips, then asked, "So, what have you tried so far? Maybe I can give you a fresh perspective?"
"Everyone I've talked to has told me to be patient and gentle and that he would get better on his own." Harry sighed. "He's not. Just the opposite, actually." Ginny's eyes narrowed slightly as she lost herself in thought. Fiddling with his teacup, Harry waited.
"You said he isn't acting like himself?"
"That's right. He's a Malfoy shell, but everything 'Lucius' is gone."
"Right. And everyone is telling you to treat him like some fragile china doll." Harry nodded his agreement. "There's your problem right there, Harry!"
"I'm not seeing your point."
"Maybe if you want the old Lucius Malfoy back," Ginny said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "you should stop tip-toeing around him. Would you ever have dared to treat him this way before?"
"No. Never."
"Perhaps he just needs to be snapped out of it and reminded that he is a human being and not a broken and unwanted toy." Ginny smiled. "You did it for me." Harry sipped his tea, mulling over her idea. "At this point, how much could it really hurt?" she asked him.
"Not very much. If something doesn't change soon…"
A wistful look crossed her face. "You're really starting to care for him, aren't you?"
Harry gazed into his cup blankly. "Hadn't thought much about it," he said, "but I must be. He could die, Ginny. He isn't eating and he seems to be fading away in front of my eyes."
Ginny's eyes softened. She set her tea aside and pulled Harry into her arms, much as he had done for her the last time they had met.
"But I don't even know him. I never knew much about him except that he was a Death Eater and Draco's father. Now he's this other person, and I don't know either one of them." Harry's jaw was clenched. He had always been as good at damming up his sadness and fear as he had been bad at holding back his anger. "I'd really like to get to know him, though, and not lose him before I've even got him. Whatever I wanted before, he's my husband now."
"I understand, and I'll be here when you need me," she hugged him again and whispered, "That's what family does. A wonderful and loving man with horrible hair taught me that."
Harry snorted, breaking from his melancholy. He returned Ginny's hug and sat back. "So, what have you been doing besides giving up your evil ways?"
Snickering, Ginny accepted the change of subject. "Did I mention that I ran into Blaise Zabini in Diagon Alley last week? I hadn't seen him in ages! He asked me out and I'm actually thinking about going. I kind of like him." She was babbling, and Harry had to wonder if she thought he would disapprove. "Maybe this isn't the best time to start something new, but if he's willing to take things slowly…"
"You don't think he's a poser anymore?" he teased.
"When did I say that?"
"Your fifth year at school." Both of them laughed.
Ginny smacked Harry in the arm. "That was a long time ago."
"For the record, I like him. He's a good bloke."
Bursting into a sunny smile and a light blush, Ginny said, "Thanks, that means a lot. And for the record, I agree."
Concluded in Part 3
Author: rainclowd (carpe_slytherin)
Round 1, Prompt 69: Harry/Lucius: Postwar. Lucius is still in Azkaban, and the MoM has decreed that since the Dementors are gone, all remaining DEs are to be executed unless someone agrees to marry (or bond with) them. Harry, still angry at Lucius, discovers that Lucius actually helped the Order after Voldemort ordered Draco and Narcissa killed. He agrees to marry/bond with Lucius. I would like to see a broken Lucius - - Harry is still prepared to hate Lucius - - and does humiliate him at first - - but feels for him because like Lucius, Harry has lost people he loves because of decisions he's made(and feels guilty about). I prefer lots of angst, but a happy ending.
Other Pairings: background RW/HG, past LM/NM, past HP/GW, GW/BZ
Rating/Warnings: NC-17
Part 1 here!
~*~
A squad of guards was ordered to bring Malfoy, who had been released from the prisoner's chair and bound into magical shackles, to the office of the Chief Warlock on the second level of the Ministry building. Harry accompanied them, grateful to get out of the courtroom where the noise level had risen once again. It was at deafening by the time the Wizengamot session was dismissed.
Once in the offices of Wizengamot Support Services there was yet more paperwork which needed signing. Harry had just begun looking through the latest roll of parchment when Hermione joined him, hugging him in congratulations and passing on the best wishes of his other friends and supporters. Although the office was too small for them all to attend the ceremony, they would be watching from a nearby observation room.
"Thanks, Hermione. Don't know what I would have done without you."
"Of course not, Potter," she joked back, sticking her nose into the air, "I am the brightest witch of our age after all!" The best friends snickered, hugging each other. Harry was giddy with his victory over Fudge and nervous about getting married.
Smiling into Hermione's eyes, Harry asked. "Hey Weasley? Could I get you to read this over for me? There's something I need to do, but I don't want to sign this without having it checked first." Hermione nodded, taking the scroll and immediately becoming immersed in the complicated legal jargon.
Harry, knowing the contract was in good hands, conferred with the Chief Warlock. He was a short and stocky wizard by the name of Bradon. "Sir, I was wondering if I might get Mr. Malfoy released from those chains and into something more presentable for the ceremony?"
The elderly wizard looked carefully at him and then at Lucius, who certainly looked to be little threat at the moment. "I suppose that can be arranged, Mr. Potter. I cannot let you remove him from this room before he is bound to you but can see no reason why we cannot conjure a privacy screen so that you may help him prepare in peace."
For his efforts, Bradon was graced with one of Harry Potter's beaming smiles and a bow of utmost respect. "Thank you, sir. Your kindness and generosity are a gift to me. I won't let you regret it."
"Silly boy," Bradon responded with a grin that took decades from his wrinkled face. "Get a move on now. Time is wasting."
The chains were removed and the screen quickly conjured. Harry removed a tiny bundle from his satchel, resizing it into a set of clothing. Lucius watched him silently.
"You're going to have to speak for the bonding ceremony, you know. I know that you can," Harry said casually, not looking up as he sorted the sky blue silk underrobe from the dark grey velvet overrobe. He cast quick charms at each to remove the wrinkles caused by being shrunk and bundled. Then he laid out undergarments, socks, and a pair of silver boots which matched the embroidery on the edges of the robes. "I hope these are close enough in size. Madam Malkin had your records, but I could only estimate how much weight you have lost since your last visit. And I only had my mental image of you to help me select the colours." He looked up at Lucius once it was all set out. "Come now," he said in a no-nonsense voice, "and get out of those horrid things. We'll get you cleaned up and back to your usual handsome self in no time."
Harry had turned to take a comb and brush from his satchel and missed the slow blink and tiny hint of a smile that his last words had caused. When Harry turned around again he was met by the blank expression he was becoming accustomed to, but Lucius was obediently removing the hideous, dirty prison garments. The thought flitted through Harry's mind that despite all the changes for the worse in Malfoy's appearance, his hands were still beautiful - long, slender and elegant. He banished a mental image of them on his own skin before it could fully form.
Raising his wand and an eyebrow together, Harry asked, "May I?" Lucius nodded and Harry was worried, disturbed even, at the easy acquiescence. The man hadn't even asked what Harry was going to cast on him. It went against all Slytherin instincts toward suspicion and self-preservation. He sighed, brow furrowing. He had no idea how to begin to deal with this. Was it depression, which would be bad enough but could at least be treated, or was Lucius Malfoy really gone forever?
Harry bit his lip, wand swirling as he cast gentle non-verbal cleaning charms over his soon-to-be spouse. The other man stood still, arms slightly away from his sides. Either he trusted Harry, which was insane, or he did not care if he was harmed or even killed…
... which was even more insane.
Determined to test it as far as he could for the moment, Harry stepped right up to the still-naked Malfoy, stopping only a few inches away. Slowly, giving him every opportunity to step back or protest, Harry narrowed his eyes and brought the tip of his wand to the side of the older man's face. He didn't stop until the cool wood rested against Malfoy's cheek.
Harry knew that if someone did that to him, he would definitely feel threatened. The old Lucius would have been furious and probably would have lashed out like a cornered animal. He would have been angry that anyone, never mind a half-blood whelp who was half his age, would dare to try to humiliate and intimidate him.
Not even a flinch. Harry closed his eyes briefly against the fear and fury this caused. Maybe if he did hex the man, he would be more careful in the future? He wanted to scream from all the confusion, the anger and pity and compassion, the rising attraction and remembered hatred that were battering him in turns. If it wouldn't have been pathetic, Harry might have cried.
"Fuck!" It was softly said, but no less heartfelt for its quietness. "What's happened to you, Malfoy?" With one hand under the blond man's chin and the other holding his wand steady, Harry focused and whispered the spell to heal bruising. The light from the charm slowly faded as the skin changed from mottled yellow-purple to porcelain perfection. Lucius never did answer his question, although the anguish that passed over his sharp features for one beat gave Harry at least a hint. "We're going to have words with the head of the Azkaban guards once you're feeling better. Whoever hit you should be punished. Unless you punched yourself in the face, in which case-"
"Harry?" a female voice broke into Harry's discomfited babbling from the other side of the screen.
"What is it Hermione?"
"I finished looking these documents over. Both you and Mr. Malfoy need to sign a few things. May I come in?"
Harry looked down Lucius's emaciated, and still nude, frame. Blushing, he looked away and stuttered out, "Uh, n-not yet. Just a few more minutes so he can finish dressing, yeah?"
Hermione's laugh floated over to him. "Of course, Harry, but behave yourselves. Remember that there's a time limit here!" She laughed again at the embarrassed groan from the other side of the screen.
"Incorrigible. Irrepressible. Unbelievable… wench!"
"And you looooooooooove me!"
"Shut it, you! I'll give you a shout when we're ready."
They listened to Hermione's retreating footsteps, then Harry grabbed the new underpants and knelt down, holding them for Lucius to step into. "You can use my shoulder if you need to steady yourself," Harry offered with a tentative smile.
The old Lucius would have scoffed at the very notion that he needed assistance, but this Lucius was tired out from his long morning, and weak from lack of good food and exercise. He accepted the offer. Between the two of them, they quickly had Lucius in his robes. Harry got him into a chair and helped him with his socks and boots, and then called Hermione in.
After a brief consultation between the two friends, Harry took Hermione's quill and scrawled his signature where she indicated. Looking up at Lucius, who looked much better but still not quite done, he asked, "May I comb your hair for you while Hermione explains these papers?"
Lucius nodded and Harry stepped behind him, using his comb to gently pick through the tangles and knots in the long, pale length. He let Hermione's "lecture voice" flow over him, engrossed in his work. He was pleased when Lucius nodded his understanding to Hermione and signed where she pointed.
Once the worst of the tangles were loosened, Harry picked up his brush and ran it in long strokes through the entire length of spun moonlight. "You know," he told them absent-mindedly, "most people don't think I even own one of these." He brandished the brush. "Not that it does my hair any good, but I'm glad that I've got one anyway."
Harry's eyes were glued to Lucius's hair as he once again stroked the brush through it, root to tip, and Lucius's eyes were falling closed from the pleasure Harry's actions were giving him. Neither man noticed Hermione looking from one to the other, satisfaction giving a wicked glint to her expression.
Sighing, Harry decided that he was finished. For now. Stepping away, he asked Lucius, "Would you like to tie your hair back? I brought a clip."
Lucius only shrugged.
Shrewd look in her eyes, Hermione asked, "How would you prefer it, Harry?"
"Oh, I don't know. It's nice either way, but…"
"But?" she prodded.
"When it's down, around his face. It's - he's…" Harry's voice was filled with unconscious wonder, even awe.
"It's all right. I understand you, Harry," she said, but she wasn't looking at her friend. She was looking at Lucius Malfoy, and she saw in the flashing of his eyes that he understood too although he didn't speak or react in any other way. "Would you like to leave it down today, Mr. Malfoy?"
Lucius nodded.
~*~
A few minutes later, it was done. Harry had no clear recollection of exactly what had happened. He was told to clasp his intended's hand, and Bradon was speaking and there were ribbons around his wrist, and promises made to both Ministry and Malfoy. To his delight, Lucius had made soft, yet clear, verbal responses when they were required. They exchanged rings. There was chanting, a tingling, a flash of magic, and then where Harry Potter had stood there was now half of Harry-and-Lucius. Or Lucius-and-Harry. Both maybe, or possibly neither? Harry was dazed, to say the least.
Now Hermione was hugging him and offering them both her congratulations, and all Harry could do was stare at her as if he had no idea who she was. In reality, he knew exactly who she was. It was himself that he was confused about.
The world shifted back into focus in slow increments until all was normal again. Well, except for that new bit of awareness that was Lucius Malfoy. Harry couldn't read the other man's thoughts or even his emotions. Instead there was just a sense of him being there, alive and conscious, and the inescapable knowledge that they now belonged to each other.
Once he was fully in the moment again, he hugged Hermione back and then accepted the congratulatory handshakes and back pats from the Ministry officials who were present. An edgy feeling returned him to his bond-mate's side, and he vaguely remembered that it would take time and touch in order to stabilise the bond. Without giving it any thought, he reached out for Lucius's hand, curling his fingers around the other man's. A return squeeze answered him.
Bradon approached the two men after retrieving a long, thin, silk-wrapped bundle from one of the guards. "Gentlemen, this isn't much of a bonding gift considering it already belongs to Mr. Malfoy, but I thought you would want to have it." He handed it to Lucius, who stood looking at it blankly as it lay across his palms.
When he showed no sign of moving after a long minute, Harry asked, "Would you like help?" The head tipped just a bit, and Harry took that as a yes. He untied the string which held the bundle closed and unwrapped the cloth, revealing a very familiar walking stick. Harry looked into his husband's still features and then slowly pulled the wand free and set the snake head handle into his hand. "Welcome back to the Wizarding world." Lucius made a strangled sound.
"There is a charm on it now which will record any instances of Dark Magic," Bradon said, breaking the awkward moment, "and I've got a list of prohibited spells for you so that you can avoid trouble."
Harry smiled at the man. "Thank you again, sir. If we're done here, I think it's time we went home and got ourselves settled."
The Chief Warlock nodded in agreement. "It has certainly been a long day."
Harry and Hermione said their good-byes while Lucius waited where they had left him, still staring at the wand in his hand as if he had never seen its like. Harry would have found it hilariously funny if it had been a little less depressing. As it was, he was glad that Lucius cooperated with him easily, allowing him to re-sheath the wand and tug him from the room by one thin wrist. He was on edge and wanted to go home. Actually, he wanted to go to Grimmauld Place and blow things up but he wasn't about to leave Lucius alone so soon.
"How are you going to get past the reporters?" Hermione asked, once they were away from any prying eyes or ears.
"With your help, of course!" Harry smirked at Hermione. She rolled her eyes at him. He touched Lucius on the shoulder and asked, "So, how do you feel about snakes?"
"Oh really, Harry! He's a Slytherin." Hermione was looking less than impressed with her friend.
"What does that matter? I'm a Gryffindor and I wouldn't get terribly friendly with a lion. Besides, don't you remember Zabini?" The memory had him chuckling.
"No, I wasn't there. What happened?"
Harry's laughter tapered off, but his face was still pink. "I was bored, wandering around in animal form. Tonks was writing a report. She looked bored too," a breath and another snicker, "I figured we could entertain each other."
Even Lucius seemed to be listening. Hermione had her I'm-dealing-with-an-idiot face on, but she was too curious to let it go. "I'm almost afraid to ask, but what did you do?"
"I… umm… crawled up behind her and flicked my little forked tongue into her ear?" Harry wondered if he should flee now. Hermione looked like she was building up to yet another in her endless series of lectures on Harry's irresponsibility and lack of maturity. "It might not have been the best idea to startle an Auror. She flung me across the room, and then when she saw that it was me, she threatened to slice me up into Potions ingredients!"
"Then what?" The pointed look Hermione skewered him with screamed "Of course it was a bad idea, fool!"
"Well, I did what any person, or snake rather, with a sense of self-preservation would do. Slithered away! Quickly!"
"What does Blaise have to do with any of this?"
Harry grumbled, "I'd tell you if you would stop interrupting me and looking at me like I'm a wayward child in need of a spanking."
"I heard that, and you are a wayward child in need of a spanking."
"Stay back, scary fiend! Lucius will protect me from your horribly abusive ways!" Harry was making as if to edge behind the older man, pretending to tremble in terror of his petite friend. Hermione seemed torn between giving him the threatened spanking and laughing until she made herself ill. Malfoy was looking at him as if he had never seen such a strange creature. He probably hadn't. Harry had been hoping for more of a reaction from him, but would take what he could get. "As I was attempting to say," he said, affecting a superior drawl that did the old haughty version of Lucius proud, "I was trying to get away from Tonks, afraid that she would either chop me up or trip over her own feet and squash me, when I happened to bump into a foot. Zabini's foot.
"He froze like he had been Petrified, and then there was this high pitched shriek. It was like Ron and spiders! So much for Mr. Cool-and-Dignified!"
Hermione looked amused by the mental image. "Interesting. I wonder if he was bitten as a child?"
"I don't rightly know, but you see now why I wouldn't assume someone wants a snake curled around him just because he was a Slytherin." She nodded.
Harry touched the inside of his husband's wrist softly, catching his eyes. "Would you mind? I have my Invisibility Cloak, but it won't cover the both of us. If I transform and wrap around your arm, you can wear the cloak and Hermione can get us out." He shrugged sheepishly "I'm not the biggest fan of Portkeys and you can't Floo into our house until your blood and magical signature have been added to the wards. Apparating close by seems to be the fastest and easiest option for this trip."
Lucius held out his arm for Harry. Harry grinned and held up one finger in a "just a moment" gesture. He dug through his satchel, pulling out the silvery bundle of his cloak, draping it over the outstretched arm. Then, with no further warning, Harry Potter vanished.
Bending down, Hermione Weasley gently collected the dark grey serpent which had appeared in his place. She straightened, taking the cloak from Malfoy and holding her own arm out toward his, giving Harry the opportunity to coil around his husband's forearm. A tiny shudder went down Lucius's spine as Harry's tongue touched his wrist in the exact same spot that his hand had touched just a minute before.
Reaching up with the forefinger of his free hand, Lucius stroked Harry, from the very top of his scaled head, down the nearly two feet of pure muscle that was looped around his arm. It was heavenly to Harry, a path of warmth against his cool skin.
"Coronella austriaca, or the smooth snake," Hermione said with a smile, never able to resist the opportunity to share her vast stores of knowledge, "Isn't he lovely?"(1)
Lucius, who was inspecting the thin black markings representing Harry's spectacles and the narrow streak of light grey amidst the darker which was his scar, nodded.
"All right, then. Let's get you two covered and get out of here." Hermione draped the Invisibility Cloak over the newlyweds and circled them, making sure that Malfoy's feet weren't showing. "This way."
After that, their escape was easy. No one thought twice of Hermione Weasley leaving the Ministry. It was a common enough occurrence. They quickly reached a spot with enough privacy for Apparition, and Harry changed back into his human form.
"Thanks Hermione!" Harry enthused, engulfing her in a bear hug, "Could you pass on our gratitude to everyone for their support and let them know we'll be in touch as soon as everything has calmed down?"
"Of course! And congratulations again to both of you."
It seemed that, at least subconsciously, the two men were already reaching toward couple-hood. Although any contact would have sufficed for Apparition, Harry unthinkingly wrapped his arm around his husband's shoulders. Lucius, for his part, seemed to actually curl into the embrace. Although there was no way their relationship would develop quickly or easily given their differences and the way their marriage had come about, there was hope.
~*~
A month later, it seemed that small ray of hope would be extinguished. Although they had settled into something of a life rhythm, as people are inclined to do, there had been no real progress between Harry and his bond-mate.
Lucius Malfoy was as withdrawn as ever. He almost never said a word unless asked a direct question, and even then he said as little and spoke as quietly as possible. Getting Lucius to eat anything was a chore for poor Dobby. Even his favourite delicacies could not coax him from his apathy. Dobby had quickly gone from barely accepting his former Master for Harry's sake to depths of worry and self-flagellation over the man's well-being which could only be sustained by house-elves.
There was no spark of life in Lucius, nothing that made him more than a walking and breathing puppet. He would willingly submit to the touch they needed in order to sustain their bond but he never initiated it, not even when Harry waited until it was painful before seeking his husband out. He would follow along if Harry suggested an activity, but did not participate. It was like Lucius was still in Azkaban, and it was driving Harry mad.
Harry, in direct contrast and with his usual resiliency, was swiftly returning to his normal self. Sure, it had taken some time to adjust to his new reality, but there was nothing that could be done to change it now. His shock and depression were slowly eroding away as the new circumstances sank in. He was looking forward to moving forward once again.
Hermione had advised Harry to be patient with Lucius, to try and draw him out with conversation and time together. Ginny's counselor had told him basically the same thing when consulted. She seemed to be of the opinion that Lucius would come out of his shell once he felt secure. The general consensus was that he just needed time. That would have been all very well to Harry if Lucius was improving, but he seemed to be getting worse and worse by the day. The only times he came out of his stupor now were when Harry would sit with him in his snake form, curled around his husband's wrist or draped over his shoulders, or when he brushed Lucius's hair. At those times he still wouldn't speak much but he did respond to the comfort, relaxing just the smallest bit and allowing himself to enjoy the contact.
It was too little, too slowly, and Harry was at his wit's end. His old friend anger was lurking in the back of his mind more and more often these days, and Harry was afraid that he was going to lose control. As fragile as Lucius was, Harry didn't dare even contemplate how being hit with the force of the infamous Harry Potter temper would affect him.
If Harry was honest with himself - and he always tried to be - he was not going to be able to hold out much longer. With every question Lucius refused to answer verbally, with every meal he did not eat, with every day he simply sat there rocking and staring at the wall or his hands, Harry came closer to a screaming tantrum. There had been several instances of all of those behaviors that day and Harry's rage was bubbling. The continuous silence which should have been filled with signs of life pressed in on him. He had to get away.
Two minutes later, after putting on a warm jumper and letting both his bond-mate and house-elf know where to reach him, Harry stood before the green flames in his fireplace. "The Burrow" rang through the stillness and then all was quiet once again.
~*~
It was strangely silent in the Weasley family's home, but since the Floo was open Harry assumed that someone was there. Either that or something was very wrong. With a flick of his wrist, Harry's wand was released from its holster and clasped loosely in his hand. Not wanting to alert any intruder to his presence, Harry stealthily made his way from room to room. No one seemed to be home.
He crept up the stairs, avoiding the steps which creaked and groaned with ease granted by the twins' tutelage and long practice. A sound from Ginny's bedroom had him tensing. The door was slightly ajar and he could hear what sounded like two voices coming from the other side. Neither of them could have been Ginny, as both were male and unfamiliar.
Harry's heart was pounding as he stopped beside the door to catch his breath and plan. He could tell exactly where they were and he had the element of surprise, so if he could get stunners off fast enough, this would be relatively quick and painless.
After a silent three-count, Harry slammed the door back and shouted "Stupefy!" twice. A very feminine shriek followed, but nothing else. No return fire, no thumping of unconscious bodies falling to the floor. There was no one there. No one but Ginny, that is. Harry slumped down to the floor, willing his pulse and breathing to slow down. "Um. Hi?"
Ginny forcibly snapped her gaping jaw shut. "Nice job, Harry," she said, voice strained with her not-quite-abated adrenalin rush. Somehow, she still managed to convey her amusement at her friend's expense. "You managed to apprehend my vicious Wizarding Wireless."
"Oh fuck," Harry wheezed, trying to sink down even further. The floor was not cooperating with a convenient hole for him to disappear into though. "Please excuse me while I curl up right here and die of mortification."
Ginny giggled at him. Soon she was laughing a full belly laugh. Harry couldn't help but join in. "Sorry, Ginny. Really. It was so quiet, and then I heard voices and I thought someone had broken in, and…" He shrugged helplessly. His former girlfriend set aside the journal she had been writing in when Harry had burst in. Rising from her bed, Ginny reached her hand out to help Harry from the floor.
"It's all right. I probably would have been nervous too."
"So, it's been a while. How have you been?" Once Harry was on his feet he wrapped Ginny into a comfortable hug. When he let go they started back down the stairs to the kitchen. "Hermione told me that you've been doing better."
"She's absolutely right," Ginny told him as she started tea for the two of them. "It hasn't been easy, not at all, but with my Healer's help I'm starting to get everything sorted out. There is still a long way to go."
Harry smiled broadly at her as she set a plate of sandwiches on the table between his place and her own. "I'm glad you're feeling better, love."
Ginny smiled back and sat down beside him while they waited for the tea to be ready. "How about you, Harry? How is married life?"
The happy expression slid from Harry's face and he groaned. "It's not so great." His thin fingers raked through his messy dark hair. 'That's why I'm here, I guess. It was leave there or maybe scream. Or possibly commit murder. Or something else just as horrid."
"Is Malfoy being that bad?"
"No! That's the point!" His brow furrowed. "Honestly, Ginny, I sometimes think the Dementors may have gotten to him after all. He's not himself! He's not much of anything." In his agitation, Harry began tearing a sandwich into shreds. Ginny took the remains from him.
"At least he isn't giving you trouble, right?"
"I joked about that just before I visited him in Azkaban. I told Ron and Hermione that I wouldn't mind having his body if I didn't have to deal with his personality. But Ginny, it's awful! Nothing I do helps and I don't know what to try next." He was almost hyperventilating.
Ginny got up to retrieve the tea. The rituals of preparing and drinking it always calmed her, and she knew they worked for Harry too. By the time they each had a cup, her friend's breathing was even again and he no longer looked like he was about to cry. She waited until they had each taken a few sips, then asked, "So, what have you tried so far? Maybe I can give you a fresh perspective?"
"Everyone I've talked to has told me to be patient and gentle and that he would get better on his own." Harry sighed. "He's not. Just the opposite, actually." Ginny's eyes narrowed slightly as she lost herself in thought. Fiddling with his teacup, Harry waited.
"You said he isn't acting like himself?"
"That's right. He's a Malfoy shell, but everything 'Lucius' is gone."
"Right. And everyone is telling you to treat him like some fragile china doll." Harry nodded his agreement. "There's your problem right there, Harry!"
"I'm not seeing your point."
"Maybe if you want the old Lucius Malfoy back," Ginny said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "you should stop tip-toeing around him. Would you ever have dared to treat him this way before?"
"No. Never."
"Perhaps he just needs to be snapped out of it and reminded that he is a human being and not a broken and unwanted toy." Ginny smiled. "You did it for me." Harry sipped his tea, mulling over her idea. "At this point, how much could it really hurt?" she asked him.
"Not very much. If something doesn't change soon…"
A wistful look crossed her face. "You're really starting to care for him, aren't you?"
Harry gazed into his cup blankly. "Hadn't thought much about it," he said, "but I must be. He could die, Ginny. He isn't eating and he seems to be fading away in front of my eyes."
Ginny's eyes softened. She set her tea aside and pulled Harry into her arms, much as he had done for her the last time they had met.
"But I don't even know him. I never knew much about him except that he was a Death Eater and Draco's father. Now he's this other person, and I don't know either one of them." Harry's jaw was clenched. He had always been as good at damming up his sadness and fear as he had been bad at holding back his anger. "I'd really like to get to know him, though, and not lose him before I've even got him. Whatever I wanted before, he's my husband now."
"I understand, and I'll be here when you need me," she hugged him again and whispered, "That's what family does. A wonderful and loving man with horrible hair taught me that."
Harry snorted, breaking from his melancholy. He returned Ginny's hug and sat back. "So, what have you been doing besides giving up your evil ways?"
Snickering, Ginny accepted the change of subject. "Did I mention that I ran into Blaise Zabini in Diagon Alley last week? I hadn't seen him in ages! He asked me out and I'm actually thinking about going. I kind of like him." She was babbling, and Harry had to wonder if she thought he would disapprove. "Maybe this isn't the best time to start something new, but if he's willing to take things slowly…"
"You don't think he's a poser anymore?" he teased.
"When did I say that?"
"Your fifth year at school." Both of them laughed.
Ginny smacked Harry in the arm. "That was a long time ago."
"For the record, I like him. He's a good bloke."
Bursting into a sunny smile and a light blush, Ginny said, "Thanks, that means a lot. And for the record, I agree."
Concluded in Part 3