In Nobis

Chapter 17

The two children popped into existence on the very edge of the Weasley's property. "So... Are you going to tell me why I just ran away with you to the Weasleys of all places?" Draco asked in a half-annoyed, half-concerned voice. "Because you love me, of course," Hara said, poking him in the side playfully. "Oh, hardly! You're more like an annoying pet that I'm obligated to care for, really." He said, pushing her back. A blush crept along his cheeks, very noticeably against his pale skin, but Hara didn't point it out. She just wore a very smug smile that tortured the Malfoy heir even more. "Don't dodge the question, Harie! I did not leave the comfort of my manor for the hovel the Weasleys call home for no reason! Something serious clearly happened!" Hara came to a dead stop and grabbed Draco by the shoulders, leveling a very sharp look in his direction. She would look intimidating if she weren't six inches shorter than him. "What I'm about to tell you, you cannot share with anyone, ever. Swear you won't?" Her green eyes focused on his icy blue. "I swear it. Of course!" She grabbed his hand and led him to sit under one of the many trees in the Weasley's yard. "Draco, I had a mum and dad." She whispered sadly. "Well, I had assumed. Everyone does, Harie. I didn't know where your mum was and never really thought I should ask. But your dad loves you enough, doesn't he? He's practically obsessive over you." Draco replied. "Tom, he isn't my dad. Tom killed my parents. He's... he's Voldemort... And... and... there was this stupid prophecy about a baby being born that was destined to defeat him. It was me, Draco! He tried to kill me when I was a baby, and some weird magical- thing happened. I didn't die, well, obviously, 'cause I'm here now. But his soul split, and mine split, and they latched on to the wrong person. So that's what a horcrux is, I'm his, and he's mine, and somehow that healed him, so he isn't so barmy and murderous anymore. So, I have just been living with the murderer of my parents my whole life! And everyone seems to know and never told me! I can't trust any of them! I, I hate them all!" Hara was practically yelling at the end. Her chest was heaving, and tears stained her face. Draco said nothing; he just forcefully hugged her and held her. "You can trust me. I'm here! You can't get rid of me; I can't get rid of you. We're stuck together, you and I." he said softly. "The Dark Lord stayed in our house; he's constantly over... Oh, God's! I've royally pissed him off so many times!" He blanched. "Harie, I'm sorry about your parents... I'm sorry that you've been lied to for so long... We are going to figure this out together." He said, still comforting her. A branch snapped behind them, and Fred and George Weasley fell out of the tree. "We didn't mean to intrude, but you did choose to air out the most mind-boggling drama to happen since Grindelwald under our tree," Fred said, dusting himself off. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that," George said. "We swear on our magic we won't tell a soul." They said in unison, putting their hand over their heart. "A shame, really. Since we have successfully pranked a Dark Lord, and no one can know about it." Said George. "Bloody hell, we could have died..." Said Fred. "Wicked..." both twins said, with a shit-eating grin.

Hara was somewhere in between wanting to explode and wanting them to explode. She settled for punching Fred in the stomach while simultaneously kicking George in his shin, sending Draco into a fit of laughter. "I hate both of you! I was going to tell you, but... Ugh!" She screamed at the both of them. "Tell no one, or I will kill you both myself." Neither twin could decipher if she was joking, and neither of them wanted to find out. "Yes, ma'am." They saluted her. "So how long will you and the tiny dragon be staying with us?" Asked Fred, trying to change the topic away from their demise via a tiny girl. "Mum's going to be chuffed!" George said excitedly, pushing them toward the burrow. "So, what exactly is the cover story on why we are here?" Draco asked Hara. "Quidditch, of course! We are here to play some quidditch out from under the watchful eye of Tom and Narcissa. There ARE some new flying techniques I want to try, actually... Oh, you two WILL keep Ron away from me, won't you? He's so annoying, awkward, and always 'casually' mentions how he would be a pro at quidditch already if he had a new broom." Hara whined. "Done. We can lock him in the attic with the ghoul if it would please the princess." George gave her a mocking bow. "We've been meaning to do that anyway." Fred shrugged.

Hara, Draco, and the twins walked into the burrow. The rest of the Weasley hoard started streaming down the stairs. Bill and Charlie got to Hara first, immediately picking her up and squishing her into a hug. "Little Harie! My favorite little princess!" Bill said happily. "To what do we owe the honor? Never mind, you don't need an excuse to see your two favorite brothers, do you?" Charlie laughed, ruffling her hair playfully. "Harie!" Screamed a little Ginny. She grabbed Hara's leg, trying to pull her down. Charlie lifted Harie higher. "Hey now! She came to see us!" teased Charlie. "Oh, you all! Stop tugging on poor Hara! Dear, you look a bit peaky. Let's get some food into you!" Mrs. Weasley said. Already fussing with Hara's hair, trying to right it after the onslaught of her children. "The princess has certainly arrived." The twins said in unison. Laughing at the chaos that the arrival of Hara causes in their family. "H-hi hara... I missed you; Scabbers has, too!" Ron said awkwardly. "oh, get off it, Ron, and stop flirting." Bill teased. "It really is embarrassing." Added Fred. "Say, Dad, isn't it little Ronnikins turn to go clean up after the ghoul in the attic?" George sneakily inquired. "Oh! Right, you are, Ron! Get at it. Everyone has gone, and you've put it off long enough." Mr. Weasley ordered. "Yes, Dad..." Ron trudged up the stairs. "Oh, Hara! You didn't happen to bring your broom, did you? I didn't get a whole lot of time on it last time, and I think I can handle it this time!" Ron begged. "Ghoul, go now!" Charlie barked.

----------------------------------------------------

Tom was pacing his office. Taking a quick peek into her mind wouldn't hurt—she won't even notice—just to be sure she arrived safely, he thought to himself. Sirius and Remus were standing in his office. They were quiet, knowing saying the wrong word to their Lord right now would cause them to be in significant pain. Tom rounded on them. "Speak! I know you two beasts are just itching to..." The Dark Lord said through his teeth. "Why now? Why tell her now?" Remus broke the silence. Voldemort walked to his desk and sunk into his chair. "She asked. She had a list of questions. I find myself personally responsible for taking for granted her advanced level of acuity. She's a brilliant child who's maturity rivals that of most adults. I should have told her the truth sooner. I'll admit that I..." He froze. That I was paralyzed by the fear of her rejecting me. He said internally. "Never mind that. She knows now. But I WILL bring her home..."

"What if she never wants to come home?" Sirius asks stiffly. "What if she feels so betrayed that she never wants to come home again?"

Tom shivers. His blood feels cold, he can acutely feel the blood pulsing life-giving blood to his brain. He lets out a breath he doesn't realize he was holding. "She will come home..." He growls. Lupin's eyes turn yellow. "You don't know that! You killed her parents! Her whole world has just been turned on its side. She very likely hates you!" The werewolf yells. "enough." The Dark Lord says through pursed lips. "Hara houses my soul, wolf. She loves me more than she loves both of you combined. You cannot deny it. I have touched her soul, and I can tell you, under an unbreakable vow, that she loves me so wholly that she would sacrifice you two without a second thought to save my life. She will not abandon me. This is a momentary setback. She will come home. Even now, I can sense her level of unsettlement being separated now. She needs time... But she will not be apart from me willingly for an extended period of time. I will allow her this time..." I have no other choice. He bitterly thought to himself. They didn't deserve her. Neither were magically brilliant. But Hara, she is special. I am gifted... She was meant to reside with me... I alone can keep her safe.

The Dark Lord sent the Black and Lupin out of his office. His face fell into his hands. He was mentally exhausted. He allowed his mind to trail along the edges of Hara's thinking he could do so without being noticed. "GET OUT OF MY MIND!" Hara yelled in her head. Are you safe? They aren't asking questions? He asked. The enormous weight of concern crashed on Hara as soon as she relented to their link. "I can't trust you now; I don't know if I can ever trust you again..." She thought. "I would set the entire world on fire if I knew it would set everything right, my little snake." He said through their link. "I'm not your little snake; I'm not your anything besides your prisoner." Voldemort's spine went pin-straight. "You don't know how I treat my prisoners." He shared with her. "Do you kill their parents and then manipulate them for the rest of their life?"She thought. "This is not constructive, Hara. I will leave you be for now. I will respect your wishes and allow you this time." Tom stated. "The prophecy said that I am supposed to kill you... What stops a prophecy from coming true, Tom?" Hara asked him. "Free will..." Was all Voldemort said before retreating from her mind.