The Deceit of Man

Odium Solutus

Odium Solutus (Hatred Unbound)
In the week that had passed after the men had been rescued from the shed, Harrison had finalized his plans for the upcoming school year. He had a list planned out for those he wanted on the new staff and he'd submitted the list just yesterday. He had yet to hear back from the Governors but that was to be expected as they had to verify that all his first choices were available to teach. Some of them like Shacklebolt and Dawlish had to get the approval of the Head Auror in order to take on the classes he desired for them too. In the case of the Aurors, it was Defense and the Dark Arts as well as Muggle Combat. They would rotate who was teaching which class each week.
Today though Harrison and Draco were going shopping for their school supplies, accompanied of course by Sirius and Remus as well as the Weasleys. Severus had to stay behind in order to look after their guests in the Hall so he'd sent one of the House elves at their Headquarters to sent up his chambers, office, and classrooms for the upcoming year. He had also managed to finally take the Vow and the weight that had lifted from his shoulders had made a major change on his outlook. Harry had no doubt that it was due to him finally feeling what it was like to be bonded to a true Dark Lord. He was finally getting to experience what it was like to be completely saturated in Dark Magic. He'd regained the years he'd lost spying for Dumbledick.
As it was, the group arrived at The Leaky Cauldron at half past eight in the morning, hoping to avoid the rush though they weren't optimistic. They had gotten their book list two days after the trip to the Burrow and Sirius has been momentarily thrown by the sheer volume of books they needed. That was until he remembered that the old classes were coming back this year. Now, he was bouncing around Remus and rushing from shop to shop. His carefree laughter floated back to Harry, who just shook his head and grinned. He was happy that Sirius was recovering from the shock of finding out that his brother by blood and his brother in all but blood were alive.
He hadn't left their bedsides since being told and Harry had no doubt where the man would rather be but he was putting in some serious effort to make this experience the best Harry had ever had in Diagon. Harry was just glad that the man who had lost twelve years of his life already was able to start picking up the pieces that were left.
"Pup, come look at this! It's the new broomstick!" Sirius called from Quality Quidditch Supplies. Harry heard Remus' groan all the way from where they stood.
"You bought me a broomstick just two years ago, Siri. Are you trying to spoil me now?" Draco laughed as the rest of the group made their way to where Sirius and Remus stood.
"I know I just bought you a broomstick, Pup, but that was the Firebolt. Not the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt is the best on the market right now. The turn speed is less than that of the Firebolt and the top speed is much faster. Plus instead of the familiar Ebony wood, they used a dark cherry with yew for the tail. Look how pretty it is!"
"Yeah, Harry, look how pretty it is." Draco ribbed from beside him but Harry could see how badly he wanted the broom. He wouldn't buy it for himself though, it was too much of an indulgence. He just wanted it badly.
"Listen to your lover boy, Harry. After all he, better than anyone, would know how well you handle a broom." As desired, Sirius' comment caused both boys to flush though Harry was certain the man hadn't been expecting Remus to smack him on the back of the head. Although, he probably should have.
"Don't be crass, Sirius. If you're going to buy the broomstick, then buy it though you really should buy one for both of the boys as it's only fair." Harry's shoulders lost some of their tension at Remus' words. He hadn't wanted Sirius to buy the Thunderbolt as he hadn't wanted Draco to feel left out. Sure, the blonde could buy it himself but it was different when someone else bought it for you. It showed that you were loved and that the person cared enough about you to buy it for you.
"Who do you think I am, Remi! I grew up with Mr. Potter much the same way you did. A lot of lessons on parenting I learned from him. He who believed that if it wasn't a birthday then you never buy for only one child. It sends the wrong kind of message. I'm not about to start telling Draco he's less important in my life then Harrison when it isn't about Lord stuff."
With that said, Sirius dragged Draco into Quality Quidditch Supplies with a huff.
Harrison, not wanting to deal with Sirius in a mood, convinced the others to go ahead with him and collect the books they would need as Flourish and Blotts was right next door. Grabbing a magically expanded basket from just inside the door of the shop, Harry began the hunt for their books. Both of them would need the same set of books so it made it slightly easier but the biggest problem was finding them with the influx of books that had no doubt been ordered. The Arithmancy and Muggle Education books were the easiest to find as they were next to each other. Ancient Runes, also next to Arithmancy, was next book he found. He didn't understand why they would need Defensive Magical Theory but he figured it had to do with the trouble the governors had encountered with the teaching staff. Apparently, Dumblefuck had a candidate in mind for the Defense and The Dark Arts position who'd already accepted. The governors had agreed to give them a trial period in which if anything went wrong, they would be fired on the spot.
"Lord Potter-Black, a moment of your time if you would," Turning to see who had decided to interrupt his shopping, Harrison put on a fake smile for Governor Grisling. Grisling was one of the older governors on the Board and more prone to be set in his ways. He hadn't taken Harrison's announcement of being an Heir of Hogwarts well.
"Governor Grisling, what can I do for you?" His voice was tight and his jaw clenched slightly.
"I'm so glad I caught you. I wanted to apologize in person for the way I acted at the Board Meeting when you announced your Heirship and that of Lord Malfoy. You can expect a proper apology in the mail as well as a gift for any offense I caused."
Harrison was thrown for a moment before Pureblood manners took over, "While I appreciate your apology, Governor Grisling, it is already forgotten. I do wish to know the status of the staff however as we have a mere two weeks before term begins."
"As you undoubtedly know, Dumbledore has selected a Defense Professor for that particular one position. We are still without an instructor for Pureblood Studies but the other vacancies have been filled by your choices. I was quite impressed with how well thought out your arguments for their placements were. Dowager Longbottom has also agreed to be the liaison for the Apprentice Program. From what I understand, she has already secured the promise of several Masters to look at those interested in the program to take up an Apprenticeship."
"Very well, anything else pressing that I have need to know now," Grisling shook his head and Harrison continued, "Then I'm afraid Governor that I must bid you farewell as I must get back to my shopping."
Once the governor was gone, Harrison cursed the man under his breath, "Wanted to apologize in person my arse. More like wanted to complain about his workload."
"I assume that it is Governor Grisling that has gathered such ire from you, Lord Potter-Black and not myself?" The cultures voice of Dowager Longbottom from his left had him turning to face the imperious woman.
"Dowager Longbottom, how lovely to see you. I hear I have you to thank for the successful reemergence of the Apprenticeship Program." The woman was still as intimidating as she had been when he'd seen her his first year but now, Harrison had his own titles to fallback on.
"At your bidding of course , don't forget I was in the Wizengamot when you took your seats. I am glad, someone needed to shake Dumbledore from his iron grip on the sessions. No one wanted to vote against in fear of their own bills not passing. Now, there is no longer that fear."
"And what of the fear of Dark Wizards? Have you overcome that yet?"
"Just what are you implying Lord Potter-Black?"
"I'm not implying anything Dowager Longbottom. I'm saying that you are prejudiced against anyone slightly Dark when you don't even have the full picture of what happened that night nor the true motives behind the attack that robbed your son and daughter-in-law of their senses. This is not the time nor the place for this discussion however. If you wish to know more, you can visit me at Eagle's Respite. Use the Floo address 'Sanctum'. It will open into my private study in which I conduct my business. Be warned though, I will expect nothing less that a Vow of Secrecy before I divulge any further information. This is for my protection as well as yours."
Augusta Longbottom glared at him for a good ten seconds before the fight seemed to go out of her. It seemed she remembered that the boy before her was Alice's godson, "Very well, Lord Potter-Black. You may expect me at seven tonight."
With a nod and a quick wave of his hand, Harry disabled to wordless and wandless Privacy charms he'd erected. Augusta raised a brow but made no further comment as they separated. Harry had no doubt she would be thinking over everything she had learned in the last ten minutes before she came to him tonight.
"Alright, Pup, we've gotten the rest of your books since you were busy playing politician. If you want to place the books you got in my basket and head over to Twillfit and Tattings, Draco and Padfoot should already be there. You need to get a whole new wardrobe for school. I have no doubt that your current uniforms would be stretched on your frame." Harry moved to do as Remus had said, ready to see Draco again. It hadn't even been that long but Harry felt like Draco was the only person who could keep him grounded. A fact that furthered his thought that Draco was destined to be his Consort. Lady Hecate had said that the Consort would help balance out a Lord's various mood swings and it seemed to be holding true. Draco had been there to pull him from depression at the sight of his birth father and now it seemed he would help pull him from his irritation.
Setting off across the street, he grinned when he saw Draco looking around. He was almost certain that the blonde was looking for him and the thought made him grin and walk faster. Sneaking up behind Draco wasn't easy but he managed even if the look of disappointment on his face almost made Harry reconsider his idea. The very unmanly (and quite cute) squeak that escaped Draco's mouth made it well worth it though when he whispered in his ear, "Hello Wyvern."
"Sweet Lady Hecate, don't do that, Harrison!" Draco wheeled around and swatted Harry's arm when Sirius just about fell over from laughing too hard. Harry was sure that the look of amusement on his face didn't help matters in the least.
"The squeak that came out of your mouth just now, Draco, makes the temptation to do again despite possible future consequences very hard to resist," Sirius said through his laughter, making it hard to understand. Harry, seeing the storm brewing in Draco's gray eyes, quickly sent a couple of wordless and wandless prank spells at Sirius to get the man to knock it off. The first was the tickling hex that would cause Sirius to dance about and try to plead with Harry to make it stop. Which is where the second spell would kick in. Every time Sirius tried to speak, his voice would sound like a different animal.
Sure enough, the second the tickling hex kicked in, Sirius opened his mouth to tell Harry to knock it off, his voice came out sounding like a donkey.
"Sorry, what was that, Siri? I can't understand you, you sound like an ass right now." Draco's sniggering made Sirius' indignant face well worth it because the best part of the spell was that to Sirius, he would sound normal. It would take a few minutes for him to realize what was going on. In the meantime, Draco and Harrison got to enjoy a few minutes without Sirius' chatter.
"Well, well, Bella what do we have here? Looks like that mutt cousin of yours has finally snapped." Leave it to Lucius Malfoy to ruin a perfectly good outing.
"He's no cousin of mine but that brother of yours definitely got the better genes." Oh joy, Bellatrix has decided to make an appearance as well. Harry was...well upset would be too weak of a word to use. His rage filled him and it was only due to Draco's presence at his side that he hadn't attacked them yet. He was shaking from the effort to hold back as the trio turned to the two interlopers.
It was no doubt that something had happened to the two Death Eater lieutenants. Lucius' hair was dirty and had branches sticking from it while he had a wild look in his eyes. His robes were torn and there was blood at the corner of his mouth. Bellatrix didn't look much better. Her hair looked like it was falling out and her teeth were chipped or completely broken. Her dress was missing a sleeve and the bottom was caked in mud. Both of them looked as though a strong wind would knock them over and they smelled something fierce. Harrison doubted that either had had enough magic to apparate long distances, especially not together.
"Here's what's going to happen: you, boy, are going to abdicate in my favor as Head of the Malfoy family." Lucius sneered at Draco who, instead of cowering away, moved to stand at Harry's left. Harry released the spells on Sirius who then moved to stand by Harry's right. Both had their wands in hand and were prepared for to end things here.
"You, little cousin, are going to hand controls of the Family Magic over to me. You can remain the Head, but I will be in control of who remains in the Family. The first to go will be this pathetic half-blood you've taken in."
Sirius and Draco remained silent, choosing to let Harry take care of things. It wouldn't take long after all. Both men could feel the raven-haired boy's rage.
"For all that the two of you know combined, you are still rather idiotic to attack me in the middle of Diagon Alley when you're clearly outnumbered," He gestured to the doorway where Remus and the Weasleys stood. The five men there were glaring daggers in the backs of the two who dared to get so close, "I wouldn't suggest attacking me but since I can clearly see the intent to in both your eyes, I'll just take your wands."
A hand wave and he had both wands, leaving the duo in front of him speechless. He nodded then and Sirius had them on their knees. He wasn't going to hurt them though, after all it wouldn't be a fair fight since he had their wands. He would allow Draco and Sirius to get their revenge and disown them though. He put a hand on Draco's elbow and when the blonde looked at him he smirked.
"Lucius Malfoy, for your infidelity in your marriage and your failure to produce even one of the two required children as agreed upon in your marriage to Narcissa Malfoy née Black, I Draconis Malfoy, Head of the Malfoy family, do dissolve the marriage between the two of you and return Narcissa and her dowry to the House of Black."
"House of Black acknowledges that Narcissa Black has been return to the House." Sirius' voice was pitched low almost as though he was growling. Lucius in the meantime had begun to pale, knowing what was sure to happen next. Had Narcissa still been married to him, she would suffer from the disownment as well. As it stood now, only Lucius would be stripped of his Family Magic.
"Lucius Malfoy, from this day forth you shall be known as Lucius as I, Draconis Malfoy, Head of the House of Malfoy do disown you from the family. You are hereby magically, financially, and politically cut off from any use of the Malfoy estate and name. I strip from you that which makes you a Malfoy: the Family Magic itself." A silver cloud surrounded Lucius and pulled a similar wisp from Lucius. The older blonde screamed even as he messed himself. Once the cloud vanished, Lucius was left slumped over kneeling in his own urine.
"Leave Diagon, Lucius No Name for you'll find no help here." Harrison glared down at the man who'd caused Draco so much grief growing up.
Lucius scrambled to his feet and ran through the alley to the gateway to Diagon Alley. Harry shot a delayed Memory Charm at the man's back that would cause him to forget everything about his history. Soon enough, Lucius would be just a bad dream as everyone slowly forgot about him. That just left Bellatrix Lestrange, who Sirius was about to handle as Lord Black.
"Bellatrix Lestrange, for your infidelity in your marriage and to your House as well as failure to bring to term the children you aborted, I Sirius Black, Head of the House of Black, do hereby dissolve the marriage between you and the House of Lestrange lord, Rudolphus. I allow the House of Lestrange to keep the dowry granted to them on the day of your marriage even as you return to the House of Black." She went to stand but Sirius' boot sent her sprawling back to the ground, "I'm not finished with you yet Bellatrix Black. You shall from this day be known as Bellatrix as I, Sirius Black, as Head of the House of Black do disown you from the family. You are hereby magically, financially, and politically cut off from any use of the Black estate and name. I strip that from you which makes you a Black: the Family Magic." This time the cloud was an onyx color and Bellatrix bent in half backwards as the magic was pulled from her body. Her screams were silent until it was over. Then she was just still, she didn't move or twitch. None of them wanted to get close enough to check to make sure she wasn't going to do anything but they knew they had too. Deciding to avoid risking his safety or that of Siri or Draco, he sent a diagnostic spell at her. The results showed what they all feared. Bellatrix had died from the strain of losing the last of her magic. No doubt it was the aftermath of Azkaban that had led to it. After all, Lucius hadn't spent the last twelve years with dementors, which was why he was able to run off afterwards.
It was grim news that they were forced to pass onto Amelia via Patronus but she was needed as soon as possible. Thankfully, just as Harry's patronus faded from sight, a new one made an appearance. This one was a doe and it walked out of the shadows beside them. When it spoke though, the world seemed to spin from the three words it uttered: They woke up.