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

77. Devastating News

The new year had come and gone, and now in the middle of January, they were still feeling the cold of winter, and happiness was on everyone's faces.  They all wanted their fair share of time with the twins, which had Harry and Draco giddy with happiness.  

Bath time was a favorite in the Manor, when one day, Harry suggested that the twins bath with them.  Laying down in the warm water with their sons, they were again blown away by the sheer amount of love that they were feeling coming from them.  It had to be a reflection of their love for one another, surely, Harry had asked one day, only to have Draco roll his eyes at him again.

Three weeks into the new year, just after bath time, Harry was drying and dressing Severus, while Draco was busy with Sirius.  Harry stood up straight to look at his sons, and took his husband into his arms and kissed him with a growl.  Just to show him how content he was, and how perfectly beautiful their sons were.  

Draco kissed him back, and when the one twin got niggly, they started dressing them for bedtime.  Harry stopped what he was doing, and looked at Sirius.  Then he looked at Severus, and then back at Sirius.  He would do this over and over again, making Draco wonder what was going on.  He showed Draco what he saw, making the blond man giggle in a cute and silly sort of way.

On the top of their heads, they were starting to get the softest baby hair, both black and white, so that it created a look of salt and pepper.  Something from the both of them, and they couldn't be more in love.  Their eyes still hadn't brightened out yet, and so the men would have to wait to see what color they were going to be.

One night when they had just finished dinner, everyone was sitting in the garden, some of the cold gone from the earlier sunlight of the day, when Harry heard a distant sound.  It didn't sound familiar, it actually sounded quite sad, as if a song of heartbreak was being sung.  He tilted his head, and tried to listen more.  They had seen this look on Harry before, and were wondering if he was having another vision.

He sat up in his chair, with his elbows on his knees and his hands under his chin deep in thought.  Waiting to hear the sound again when Draco touched his shoulder.  [Hal] he asked.

[I can hear something] replied Harry.  [It sounds far away, beautiful but sad] he said.

[What, like a bird or an instrument?] asked Draco.

[Not sure] came the reply.  

Then when Harry heard it again, it was louder as it were coming closer and closer, making him stand up and tilt his head again, in an effort to try and understand what it was.  The sound, it was like a harp playing without being interrupted, an almost chirping sound, like a whistle, slow and at one level the whole time.  Harry wondered what was making that sound.  And then, without having the chance to sit back down, they all heard it at once, and when they looked again, they saw that Fawkes had landed on the lawns of the Manor.

Still singing his sad song, but walking tall, with his neck straight and his breast puffed out, he made his way towards the Alpha.  He had a message to deliver, and even though he knew that this would be his last errand, he would do it with the same pride and love that he had always done.  Stopping at Harry's feet, still singing his song, he held out his foot and offered Harry the letter that was tied to it.

Harry knelt down and removed it, thanking the bird who had saved his life in his second year.  He looked into the eyes of Fawkes, and saw that he was crying.  Tears of sadness, for what he knew, and what the Alpha was about to find out.  He also knew why the Alpha had wanted him to deliver the news, but Fawkes was not your typical run of the mill pheonix.  He was born to serve Dumbledore, and he would die without him.

Harry thanked him for  the note, and started to read.  While he did this, Fawkes had slowly taken to the skies again, and still in song, disappeared from sight.  It was a stunning thing to witness, a pheonix who was singing his goodbye song to a long and faithful friend.  

Harry had finished reading the letter, and in shock, had let it fall from his hands.  He just stood there, waiting for someone to tell him that it wasn't true, and that their time wasn't over.  It was all a sick joke, and not to pay it any mind.  He couldn't even remember that Draco had put his hand on his arm and had spoken to him.

He didn't remember how he got into bed that night, what he had said or what they had done, he was in so much shock, that he couldn't register anything but the bird who had been singing his lament in a final testimony to the man who had been his to serve.  With love and reverence.  He didn't remember Draco holding him and telling him that he was there for him.  He didn't remember crying into his chest that night and then later screaming into his pillow.  He remembered nothing.

Not until the next morning, when Draco had told him.  In the safety of their bed, and then when they left the room, apologized to everyone if he had seemed distant, because the truth of the matter was, being told such devastating news broke his heart.  It felt like it had been ripped to shreds, and he was so very sorry that his last encounter was Dumbledore congratulating him on the birth of his sons.  The man had kept his promise, as Harry knew he would.

Dear Harry,

I know my time is near and have asked Fawkes to deliver this after I have passed and not before then.  I want to thank you Harry, for your total dedication and devotion to all of those whose lives you have touched, including mine.  We would all have been much poorer without you in it.

Remember, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home, should you and Draco decide to visit.

We will meet again when all our summers have come to an end, for death is not final.

I will see you in your dreams.

Always, humbly yours

Albus Dumbledore