The Alpha Dynasty (Sequel to MARKED FOR DESTINY) (Book 2 of 2)

23. Admissions

They were all seated at the table, enjoying the food that had been prepared by the elves.  The tiny treacle tarts being Harry's favorite, had him eating more than his fair share, but that was the point.  To overindulge.  

Ron and Hermoine had shown up after the initial shout of surprise and had apologized for not being there earlier, but they had things to attend to, and time waits for no man.  Harry said it was fine, grateful that they were here now.  He could feel discomfort coming from Blaise, and he didn't like it.  He knew it had something to do with how he reacted to the surprise, and wondered if he should speak to the man alone, or tell them all what was on his mind, while they were together.

He decided to ask Draco what his thoughts were on the matter.  [Boo.  They are confused aren't they?]

[Yes.  But their confusion isn't your concern love.  They are on a 'need to know basis' and they don't need to know.  Not if you don't want them to] came the reply.

[I'm not sure] said Harry.  Draco looked at him, and replied [I've got your back Harry, no matter what you decide.  All right?]

Harry closed his eyes and nodded, saying [Thank you love].

Draco squeezed his hand under the table, and replied with [I was having ideas on where to bury their bodies, and thought you might know of a spot], making Harry chuckle.  But if it hadn't been said before, Harry was not a cruel man, and he would never dream of hurting anyone, especially family.  Yes, they had hurt him.  Yes, they had abused him.  But did he really want to stoop to their level and do the same.  He rather thought not.  

Clearing his throat, he started talking, paying special attention to Blaise.  "While I am thankful for all of you and the love I can feel coming from you, it seems that some of you here would like to say something about why I seemed ignorant and clueless about it being my birthday", he stated.  Not bother to wait for a reply, he carried on talking.

"I will not tell you everything.  You are my family and you have a right to know some things.  But you need to promise me two things.  One, you will not do anything with the information, and two.  You will think no less of me.  I am still Harry, and I will not stand for pity.  Also, this will be the last time I ever speak of it.  Can you respect that?", he asked.

Their were nods around the table.  He pursed his lips and took a shaky breath.  With one hand on his champagne glass, and the other one clasped tightly in Draco's hand, he spoke without any interruption.

"The muggles who raised me told me that birthdays were only for good little boys, and since I was never considered one, I wasn't allowed to know when it was, or even have a party.  Gifts were...well, let's just say the very first gifts I received was when I turned 13.  It was from Ron, Hermoine and Hagrid.  I didn't know at first why they had sent gifts, and only after receiving a card stating such, realized it was my birthday.  One would think that I would remember the date, but I didn't bother", he said, thinking about his next words.

"I was always blown away by the fact that Dudley received more than what was necessary on his birthday, but after asking about it twice, and receiving a slap for my impertinence, decided it wasn't worth my trouble knowing anyway.  Hence, my surprise this morning.  Their utter disregard for me in that aspect made me question whether they were right about me not being a good boy.  Only good boys got gifts.  Only good boys got ice cream.  Only good boys got cake. 

After Hermoine told me, when I turned 13, that I would never not have a birthday ever again, I think my heart grew ten times bigger that day", he said softly, looking at his friend.

"I still have the broom servicing kit Hermoine, so thank you for that", he smirked and took a sip of his champagne.  "The Dursleys were not your ordinary run of the mill kind of people, and honestly, I like to think that it made me - I don't want to say better than them - "

"You can say it my love, because you are", interrupted Draco, kissing his hand again, making Harry blush and the rest of the people chuckle.

"....but it made me realize that I never want to be like them.  I would never want to take something that is so personal away from anyone.  Your birthright and your special day, is yours and yours alone, and no one should be exempt from celebrating it.  It marks the day you were born, and given life.  Which is probably the reason that they never let me do it.

It marks the love your parents had for each other, so I think I am right when I say, they don't understand the word.  Because the way the 'love' their son, is to see who can spend the most money on him, and I would rather not have anything, than have that", he finished.  Smiling at them all, to show that he had finished talking, he took another sip from his glass, and winked at Draco.  He didn't want their pity, but that was not what he was feeling.

He was feeling anger, guilt and self loathing.  Coming from everyone.  Before anyone could address it, because now Draco could feel the second hand emotions too, he raised his hand and said, "No.  I understand how you feel, but we have discussed this before.  No one here is to blame, and you don't need to feel guilt over anything.  Now, because it is my birthday, we are going to eat and drink, and have fun, all right?".

There was no reply.  "All right?", he asked again with a threat in his voice.  Blaise looked at him with a sad face, stood up and left the dining room.  Harry sighed at the reaction, and knew that he had to placate the man.  He excused himself from the table, and went to find his Lieutenant.  He saw him outside, with his hands in his pockets, and head bowed as if in thought.

"Blaise?", he called out.

"Why?", asked Blaise, without turning around.

"Why what?", asked Harry.

"Why didn't you say anything?  Why did you let us torment you at school?  Why the fuck didn't you leave Harry.  Jesus Christ, you could have had a different life!", he shouted out.  Harry looked at him with pride and with a hurt expression.  He waved his hand, and the doors shut by themselves.  He didn't want the others to hear what he was going to say.

"Can you imagine the reaction if I had told someone?  And exactly who was I supposed to have told Blaise?  Draco, and all the Slytherins would have laughed at me, or made fun of the fact, and do you honestly believe that I could have left at any time?  I had to stay there because of blood wards.  They kept me safe from Voldemort.  But do not think for one minute, that because I was an abused child, that I just lay down and took it", he panted.  "I got my own back when it was due".

"Merlin Harry, I am so sorry you went through that", and he rushed forward and gave Harry a brotherly hug.  Harry hugged him back and said thank you.  "We should get back to the others, we have a birthday to celebrate you know", he said smugly.

Blaise laughed and clapped him on the back.  "You're really all right?", he asked.

"Really and truly, yeah" he replied.  Blaise looked at him, and held out his hand.  Harry shook it with a huge grin on his face, and arm in arm, they went back to their breakfast.

The admission of what Harry had gone through was riveting, but they all decided to put it behind them, because this was a day for love, no hate would reside here.