Hadrian Peverell: High Lord of Skagos

Chapter 2: Fractured Bonds

Grimmauld Place had transformed into a proper home under Harry's care. The once dark and gloomy mansion was now vibrant, full of life and light. The walls, previously covered in peeling wallpaper and dust, were now adorned with fresh paint and warm, inviting colors. Kreacher, the old house-elf, had been a surprising ally in the renovation. He seemed genuinely pleased to serve Harry, a change Harry attributed to the destruction of the locket Horcrux and his newfound status as the lord of several prestigious families.

A few days after settling in, Harry stood in the newly refurbished drawing room, admiring the work that had been done. The room was cozy yet grand, with a roaring fire in the hearth and plush furniture that invited relaxation. Kreacher had just finished setting up a tray of tea and biscuits when the doorbell echoed through the house.

"That must be them," Harry said, more to himself than to Kreacher, who simply nodded and disappeared with a pop.

Harry walked to the front door and opened it to find Ron, Hermione, and Ginny standing there, smiling at him. It had been a while since they had all been together like this, and Harry's heart warmed at the sight of them.

"Welcome to Grimmauld Place," Harry said, stepping aside to let them in.

"Wow, Harry," Hermione said as she stepped into the entrance hall, looking around in awe. "You've done an amazing job with the place. It's hardly recognizable."

"Yeah, mate," Ron agreed, giving Harry a light punch on the shoulder. "This place looks brilliant."

Ginny smiled warmly at him, her eyes shining with pride. "It's incredible, Harry. You've really made it your own."

Harry grinned, pleased with their reactions. "Thanks. It's been a lot of work, but Kreacher's been a huge help. He's really turned around."

They made their way to the drawing room, where they settled into the comfortable chairs. Harry poured them each a cup of tea, and they spent a few minutes chatting about the house and catching up on what they'd been doing since the war ended.

After a while, Hermione leaned forward, her expression turning serious. "So, Harry, we've heard about your lordships. It's incredible, really. You're the Lord of some of the most influential families in wizarding history."

Harry nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "Yeah, it's been... overwhelming, to say the least. I never imagined I'd have this kind of responsibility."

"But what are you going to do with it?" Ron asked, his brow furrowing. "I mean, you're not planning to just sit on all that power, are you?"

Harry shook his head. "No, not at all. I've been thinking a lot about what we talked about before—changing the wizarding world, making it better for everyone. I want to use the influence these titles give me to do just that. I've already started making connections with other lords, trying to gain their support for when I bring proposals to the Wizengamot."

Ginny looked at him thoughtfully. "It sounds like you're playing their game, Harry. Are you sure that's the right way to go about it?"

Harry sighed, setting down his cup. "I know it might seem like I'm getting involved in the same old pureblood politics, but this is the only way to make real change. I need allies, people who have influence in the Wizengamot. If I just barged in there on my own, no one would take me seriously."

Hermione nodded slowly. "I understand your reasoning, Harry. But it's a slippery slope. Spending too much time with them... it could change you."

Ron shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "We're just worried, mate. You've been going to all these gatherings and events, and it feels like you're drifting away from us. Like you're more interested in making friends with these old pureblood families than sticking with us."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "Drifting away? That's not what I'm trying to do at all! Everything I'm doing is for us—for the future we all wanted. I need their support to make the changes we talked about."

Ginny looked down at her hands, her voice soft but firm. "But at what cost, Harry? You're spending so much time with them, getting wrapped up in their world. We're afraid you're losing sight of who you are."

Harry stared at them, a knot of frustration forming in his chest. "I'm not losing sight of anything! I'm doing this for all of us—for the future we fought for!"

Hermione sighed, her expression pained. "But is it worth it if you lose yourself in the process? We don't want to see you become like them, Harry. The last thing this world needs is another pureblood lord playing the same old games."

Ron nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're worried you're becoming one of them. And that's not the Harry we know."

Harry felt a wave of anger and disbelief wash over him. "So what? You're saying that because I'm trying to gain allies, to actually make a difference, I'm becoming like them? You think I'm turning into some kind of stuck-up pureblood lord?"

Ginny met his gaze, her eyes filled with sadness. "We're saying that it feels like you're slipping away from us, Harry. We don't want to lose you to that world."

Harry clenched his fists, feeling a cold sense of déjà vu. This was just like fourth year, when they had doubted him, abandoned him when he needed them the most. They hadn't believed him then, and now, once again, they were questioning his intentions.

"If you can't support me in this," Harry said, his voice tight, "then maybe you don't know me as well as I thought. I'm trying to change things, to make this world better, and you're turning your backs on me because you don't like the way I'm doing it?"

Hermione's eyes filled with tears, and Ron looked away, unable to meet Harry's gaze. Ginny's voice was barely above a whisper. "We're not turning our backs on you, Harry. We just... we can't follow you down this path. Not if it means losing the person you are."

Harry stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "Fine. If you can't see what I'm trying to do, if you can't support me, then maybe I don't need your support."

Ron finally looked up, his expression hard. "So that's it, then? You're choosing them over us?"

Harry's voice was cold. "I'm choosing to do what's necessary. If you can't stand by me, then maybe you never really believed in me at all."

The silence that followed was heavy and suffocating. After what felt like an eternity, Hermione stood up, her face pale and drawn. "We should go."

Ginny stood as well, looking at Harry with a mixture of hurt and resignation. "Goodbye, Harry."

Ron didn't say a word as he followed them out, the door closing with a soft click behind them.

Harry stood there, staring at the closed door, his heart pounding in his chest. The anger and frustration boiled inside him, but beneath it all was a deep, aching sense of loss. They had abandoned him again, just like before. They didn't believe in him, didn't trust him to do what was right.

"If they can't see what I'm trying to do," Harry muttered to himself, his voice trembling with emotion, "then I don't need them."

But as the silence of Grimmauld Place closed in around him, Harry couldn't shake the hollow feeling that had settled in his chest. He had gained the support of the wizarding elite, but in the process, he had lost the people who mattered most to him. The realization was bitter, but Harry pushed it aside, determined to see his plans through.

If they couldn't stand by him, he would do it alone.