herumtreiber | Unusual ending

Title: Unusual ending - chapter 22
Chapter: The spider's web
Author:

herumtreiber
Genre: Slash, time travel, romance, adventure
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or related characters. Nor do I make any money from the writing of these stories.
Rating: PG-13 for the chapter
Warnings: Discussion of past non-con (not Harry or Draco)
Epilogue compliant? No way!
Chapter length: 4170 words
Beta: None.
Summary: Old meets new. Harry walks all over Draco's heart, and when he realizes his mistakes he does the unforgivable so Draco takes him back. Time travel. During HBP, disregards Deathly Hallows - that means everyone's alive, except Sirius, but...

Table of contents

Confrontation in the Ministry

In Dumbledore's office, Moody stared hungrily at the Pensieve, fingering the memory vial he'd stolen from Albus. "You won the vote, Dumbledore. Doesn't matter though, things will remain the same because all politicians are liars."

Moody limped towards the desk. He hadn't had the opportunity to see the memory. Every time he tried, Albus got in the way.

"The Wizengamot vote was very hard, Alastor. But the worst was averted." Dumbledore fingered his beard with a faraway look.

"You don't have to tell me, Albus. I work in the Ministry." Moody took out his silver flask and hefted it carefully, measuring its weight.

"Hopefully Scrimgeour will finally free Stan Shunpike."

Moody pointed to Albus with his flask. "Yes, now he has many real Death Eaters locked in Azkaban; though that scum, Bellatrix, is free. Things worked out, Dumbledore. But I don't hold with your other plans, like leaving Potter vulnerable."

Dumbledore leaned towards Moody, trusting in the Auror's paranoia, if not his keen intellect. "I've been trying to get Scrimgeour to pressure the goblins to open one of their vaults - to get at one of Voldemort's Dark artefacts - but to no avail."

Dumbledore sighed resignedly. "The goblins are proud of their independence."

Moody snorted and took a healthy swig of his firewhiskey. "You can't just storm into Gringott's, Dumbledore. Heard they had a dragon down there."

Moody waved the flask at the Headmaster. "Don't even think of sending Potter there, it's too dangerous!"

Mad-Eye took another swig from his flask, noting that there was something missing in the office. His magical eye whirling madly, he asked, "Where's Fawkes?"

Dumbledore waved his arm towards the window. "Outside. He flies where he wills, as is the wont of phoenixes."

Moody pocketed his flask and growled, "That's your answer, Dumbledore! Use Fawkes to get inside Gringott's and steal that artefact."

Dumbledore shook his head ruefully. "I can't, Alastor. Fawkes can only appear to help a distressed Gryffindor. Although-"

Moody watched worriedly Dumbledore's twinkling eyes. "Don't, Dumbledore! Do not think of using Potter as bait to get Fawkes there!"

Moody absent-mindedly took out a whirling silver contraption. Trying to distract the Headmaster from his crazy schemes, he said, "There's a simpler way. Just get hair from the owner of the vault and use Polyjuice."

The Auror smiled wryly. "It works, I should know."

"Interesting idea, Alastor."

"Who's the owner?"

"Bellatrix Lestrange."

"There you go." Moody grinned wickedly. "Plenty of hair to spare. I bet she wouldn't notice if you took enough to make me a small wig."

Albus sighed whilst he stroked his beard. "But where is Bellatrix?"

In the Manor the next morning, the two Seekers were making their way to the dining room to have breakfast. Harry tugged his grey sweater, patting the back pocket of his jeans to make sure he had his wand with him. The Manor seemed a bit foreboding to the Gryffindor, used as he was to the homey atmosphere of the Burrow.

Harry smirked, deciding to hassle Draco a little bit. "Your elf wears quite strange clothes, Draco. Curly looked cute in your Quidditch robes."

Draco blushed and walked faster. "Curly is special. She took care of me when mother and father were busy."

"And you gave her your robes?"

Draco whirled around, glaring at the brunet. "It was the least I could do after she cared for me!"

"So she's a free elf?"

Instead of answering, Draco walked to the corner of the corridor. The oak floor gleamed and the walls were freshly painted beige. Just above the floor, the filigree threads of a web shined brightly in the morning sun.

Draco pointed to the corner, saying softly:

"The spider's web
catches the Manor's sunlight,
spins fluid diamonds."

Harry smiled, taking Draco's hand. This poetic side was something new he'd discovered in the blond. Right now, listening to Draco's smooth voice and watching the spider's web - this moment had a magic of its own.

Harry felt renewed as he remembered his own words from March. Life with Draco had numerous permutations, some happy, some sad. It was akin to a chess game; with Draco, the future seemed boundless.

But then Harry grimaced, recalling that he hadn't told Draco the truth - that he came from the future. After all they'd gone through he needed to come clean with his lover.

Harry had to trust the time spent together, that they had a more stable relationship built not only on sex, but understanding and love. Draco deserved the truth, nothing less.

Harry squeezed Draco's hand as they approached the door to the dining room. "That's wonderful, now say it in French!"

Draco smirked. "Give me time, Harry. I need to get in the mood."

Harry nodded to the house-elf that opened the door. "What about your Quidditch robes? Answer the question!"

The Slytherin scowled at Harry and stepped away, sauntering into the wide room. When he arrived at the table he sat down gracefully and then lifted an eyebrow. "Curly taught me how to ride a broom, ok?"

Harry hid his snickers and sat down next to Draco. "Really?"

Draco scowled at his scrambled eggs and ate delicately.

The smell of the fried bacon and sausage made Harry's stomach rumble. The Gryffindor dove into his breakfast, notwithstanding Draco's censorious gaze.

Draco pointed at Harry with his fork, which had a speared mushroom. "Well, Curly taught me how to call up the broom. Father had gone away to a meeting, mother was visiting a relative; I was all alone in the Manor."

Harry chuckled and Draco glared at him. "I was only four, ok?"

After taking a sip of goblet filled with pumpkin juice, Harry said, "Wish I could've seen you." He grimaced. "When I was four, I was in my cupboard all the time."

Draco laid his fork on the table and held Harry's hand, rubbing his thumb over his wrist. "I know, Harry. I wish you would let me curse those muggles for you."

"It's not necessary, Draco. Whatever Dumbledore says, I'm not returning to them anymore. After we finish Hogwarts, I'll get my own apartment."

"Our apartment, Harry!"

Harry beamed, spearing a slice of tomato with gusto. "It will be large and have lots of sunlight and space."

At that moment the door opened with a slight creaking sound.

"Mione, we don't need to do homework yet, it's only he beginning of summer break!" Ron stepped into the kitchen and stared mesmerised at the food displayed on the large wooden table.

"Ron, you need to get your work done! I won't have time to help you, what with my research and all!" Hermione stepped into the kitchen, brushing off the last vestiges of ash from her sweater.

When she saw Harry, she smiled widely, rushing to his side and ruffling his hair. "Hi, Harry!" She turned to Draco and gave him a shallow nod. "Malfoy."

"Granger." Draco nodded back.

Meanwhile, Ron sat at the table and without asking permission, started piling scrambled eggs, tomato, hash browns and baked beans onto the dish that was in front of him.

"Mate!" Ron clapped Harry's shoulders and nodded to Draco. Then he started swallowing his food.

Hermione sat beside her boyfriend. "Honestly, Ronald! You only ate two hours ago!"

Whilst he was munching on his hash browns, Ron answered, "Throwing gnomes around is hard work, Mione!"

Draco shared an amused glance with Harry and Hermione.

The witch sipped daintily from her goblet of pumpkin juice. "Thank you for inviting us over, Malfoy."

"It was mother's idea, Granger." Draco cleaned his lips with the linen napkin. "But since you are here, you might as well help me with research."

Hermione scrutinised the Slytherin's face. "Did you finish your homework?"

"Actually, not yet-"

Ron snickered, and bits of eggs flew around the table.

"-I just have to finish the Herbology essay," said Draco.

Hermione smacked Ron's elbow. "See, someone takes homework seriously."

"Nerds!" Ron exchanged a smile with Harry whilst Hermione and Draco glared at the two.

Despite the bantering of his friends and Draco, Harry's thoughts revolved around his unfinished business with the truth. Now that he had everything he wanted, Voldemort dead and Draco his, Harry couldn't afford to lose it all - to have Draco find out the truth later on and walk away from him. Harry felt he had postponed the moment of reckoning far too long.

Trying to drag the moment, Harry asked his redhead friend. "What about my hedgehog?"

Ron paused and took a sip of pumpkin juice. "I left it with mom. After all, Mione decided she wanted to bring Crookshanks here, and he was looking hungrily at your pet."

At that moment the ginger cat sauntered into the kitchen with his characteristic bandy-legged gait. Crookshanks sniffed disdainfully and approached the table, bypassing Hermione and going directly towards Draco.

Whilst Hermione glared at her cat, Crookshanks rubbed himself against Draco's wool trousers, purring delightedly. Draco took a piece of Harry's bacon and gave it to the half-Kneazle.

Harry glared at his lover. "Did you have to give him my bacon?"

Draco smirked, winking at Harry. "Better yours than mine, it's the Slytherin way."

Harry shook his head, wiping his mouth with the napkin. "Do you think the old man meant Crookshanks when he mentioned that incident of the cat at night?"

Hermione put her goblet on the table with a loud thump, asking excitedly, "What old man?"

"Yes, mate, what do you mean?" said Ron.

Harry realised that the cat was out of the sack, so to speak. It seemed this was the perfect moment to come clean, to his friends and Draco. He looked worriedly at the blond and pushed away the dish with the rest of his breakfast, having lost his appetite.

Harry fidgeted in his chair. "In the Ministry, Draco and I met an old man I know well."

Crookshanks jumped on Draco's lap, and the blond petted distractedly the half-Kneazle as he listened intently to Harry.

Harry evaded the searching gaze of the Slytherin, staring at the chandelier on the ceiling as he continued. "You see, this old man saved my life."

Heaving a deep sigh, Harry took the plunge. "I am from the future, you see."

Ron snorted, and a bit of sausage hit Hermione's sweater. "Harry, you've spent too much time with Fred and George. Don't try to prank us!"

Hermione tugged Ron's elbow. "Hush, Ron! Let him continue." The witch was recalling the memory in the Pensieve and the fact that their old friend had died in the future. But if Harry really came from that future….

"I barely remember it." Harry pushed back his chair and stood up, pacing back and forth in the huge room. "The memories are blurry since I came here. But-"

Curly popped next to the table, asking if they wanted anything else. Draco replied quite absently, "Not now, Curly. Please see we are not interrupted."

"- I felt so alone, so desperate," continued Harry. "I recall many people dying in the war. And most of all, Draco left me."

Ron stood up and angrily waved his finger at Draco. "See, I told you, Mione. The ferret…"

"Draco was right!" yelled Harry. "I treated him like scum!"

"I didn't want people to know that we were together." Harry leaned over the table, smacking his fist on the wooden surface. Hermione and Ron were startled. Harry pointed angrily at the Gryffindors. "Because I feared your reactions!"

Harry lifted his arms, shouting, "And everybody else's!"

He continued in a calmer tone. "But you know what? It didn't matter if I was with Draco or not. People rejected me when they found out I was gay."

Harry put his hands in the pockets of his jeans and tried to speak in a nonchalant tone, betrayed by his voice breaking. "I was so tired and alone when everyone discarded me after I vanquished Voldemort. And I lost Draco."

Crookshanks sauntered towards Harry as if sensing his dark mood and rubbed himself against his trousers, but Harry paid him no mind. Disgruntled, the ginger cat started licking his paws.

"I decided to kill myself," said Harry. Ignoring the surprised gasps of his friends and Draco, Harry rushed to finish the hardest part of his confession. "And the old man saved me by offering a way out, travelling back in time to correct my mistakes."

Draco looked at Harry with a worried frown. There was a deep sadness in Harry's face, quite the contrast with the often sarcastic quips he made. The blond shook his head. Ever since the middle of March. Harry changed so much around that day. So it is truth.

"You came back on the ides of March, right'" whispered Draco.

"Yes. How did you know?"

"You acted differently. Gentler, the change was so sharp it was as if you were freed from a curse."

"So you suspected-" Harry sobbed, tears of anguish were running down his cheeks at the thought that his lover would reject him because he would feel used again. Because after all, Harry didn't change on his own, circumstances forced him.

Draco stood up and walked towards the distressed brunet. Gazing at Harry's emerald eyes, Draco said softly, "I knew something changed, but I rejoiced when you really listened to me. I rejoiced in the new chance that was opened for us."

Draco wiped away Harry's tears with the pad of his thumb, whispering:

"La toile d'araignée
prend le soleil du manoir,
adamantines larmes."

Draco pressed his forehead against Harry's. "Doesn't matter, Harry. I care only that we are together." Draco clutched his lover's shoulders. "You shouldn't have tried to kill yourself because of me. I'm not worth it. No one is."

Ron stood up and advanced timidly towards the Seekers. "Harry, you shouldn't have…"

Draco interrupted him, pointing at him and Hermione. "You heard Harry, Weasley." The blond snorted angrily. "It appears that you weren't very good friends after all."

Hermione hurriedly stood up and walked towards the bickering Hogwarts students. She stopped just behind her boyfriend.

Draco took off his lover's glasses and rubbed his thumb over the corner of Harry's eyes.

Harry scowled at Ron. "You are a homophobe, Ron. That's why I didn't trust you until the night we killed Voldemort." Smiling weakly at Draco, Harry took his glasses back and put them on.

Hermione lightly pushed Ron forward. The redhead turned to look at his girlfriend as Hermione lifted her eyebrow and pointed to Harry's face, wet with tears.

"Don't you think Harry needs to know the truth about you?" whispered she.

Squaring his shoulders, Ron prepared to tell Harry the truth. He walked to the table and plopped down on the chair. "Mate, the reason why I was so against you and Malfoy-"

Hermione went to Ron and put her arms around his shoulders. Her warm, comforting presence - her solidity and scent - acted like a balm on Ron's frazzled nerves.

"When I was a kid, Blaise-" Ron looked nervously towards Malfoy, expecting the blond to quip sarcastically or snort in disbelief. When nothing happened, he continued.

"-Blaise and I were friends. I used to stay at his house, and his friends would visit. One night Marcus Flint's cousin came over."

Draco crossed his arms. "And?"

Hermione glared at Draco as she rubbed Ron's shoulders. "Malfoy, don't! It's painful enough for Ron, don't make it worse!"

She threaded her fingers with Ron's. Glaring at Draco, the redhead said, "I swear if you use this for one of your plots, I'll kill you!"

Softening his gaze, Draco held up his arms. "I won't, Weasley. Wouldn't betray Harry's friends. I just want to know why you are so upset."

Ron shouted, "Flint's cousin molested me, all right! That's what you want to know? He did!"

Draco touched Harry who was trembling; he wrapped his arms around the Gryffindor. Draco could only imagine what must have been going through Harry's head. The blond recalled when Marcus Flint had taunted him cruelly, together with McLaggen and Smith.

"That's why you hated me when you found out I'm gay?" cried Harry. "You thought I'd molest you too!"

Harry waved his arms angrily. "I can't believe you, Ron! I just can't!"

"Harry, wait!" Draco left Harry's side and advanced towards Weasley. He stopped when he was between the two Gryffindors, turning an imploring look towards Harry. "I hate to side with Weasley, but you have to understand. Something like that leaves a deep scar."

"How would you know, Malfoy?" said Ron angrily.

"Because mother told me about one of her friends. She was almost raped by a Death Eater," said Draco, looking wearily towards the door that led to the parlour. Hopefully his mother was out of the Manor, because Narcissa disliked when someone broached this subject. "Luckily for her, mother noticed and sent the bloke to St. Mungo's."

Draco motioned to the door. "Come on. Let's continue this discussion in the library. Mother might come and frankly, I don't want the interruption."

Harry sighed wearily and went out the door. They passed the corridor with the spider's web. Draco ruffled the Gryffindor's locks, muttering, "I love you."

When they were in the library, Hermione eyed covetously the shelves filled with books. There were two library ladders, one in each side of the room, affixed to metal rails. They gleamed in the morning sun. But Hermione shook her head, thinking that research could come later, now was the time to finally clear the air.

After Ron sat down on a leather couch, Hermione put her arms around his shoulders and reclined her chin upon his ginger hair. As always, Ron felt comforted by the witch's scent. He lifted his arms, looking earnestly at his best friend. "I can't help it, Harry! It just tore me inside when I realised you were gay. But after seeing you dead-"

Harry was startled out of his wits. "What do you mean, dead? You saw me dead?"

It was Hermione who replied, "We saw a memory in Dumbledore's Pensieve. You were dead." Tears fell down Hermione's cheeks as she continued, "I never wanted you dead, Harry. You're my best friend!"

Now that the time had come to tell the truth, Harry didn't intend to pull any punches. He snorted. "Then why did you left me when it was obvious I was gay?" He squinted thoughtfully, as if measuring the truth of her words. "Do you have something against gays?"

Hermione shook her head sadly.

Harry raised his arms towards the ceiling, shouting angrily, "Why did you abandon me, Mione?"

The blond shook his head ruefully. He really wanted Hermione's help doing research. Besides, he knew Harry needed his friends. Draco recalled fondly the time when Harry spent time in the Dungeons, palling around with his Slytherin friends. It was time to return the favour.

Smirking, Draco sauntered towards Harry and tried to lift the mood. "Who knows, Harry? Perhaps Granger was so mean because she was wearing one of those horcruxes of yours."

Draco held up his arms and wriggled his fingers in a pose not unlike the one he used to mock Harry during Hagrid's class in Third Year, after the Dementor incident.

Harry snorted angrily. "There are no-"

But then he gulped, realising that he was hoisted by his own petard. Harry could not say that he made up the horcruxes without admitting that after Voldemort was vanquished, Draco was about to call Hermione a whore. And he didn't want the Slytherin and his friends fighting like cats and dogs again. So he forced himself to smile.

"You might be right, Draco... you might be right." Harry smirked wryly. "So let bygones be bygones. At least we're together again."

Harry's gaze shied away from Draco, for he had not told them the whole truth - that he had killed the younger version of himself.

McGonagall waved her finger imperiously at the grizzled Auror. "Alastor, what were you doing sneaking into Albus' office while he was away?"

Moody replied gruffly, "None of your business, Minerva! Just wanted to check on his phoenix." The Auror cursed McGonagall's thoroughness. Just when he thought it would be safe to enter the Headmaster's office and use the Pensieve while Dumbledore was away in one of his quests, McGonagall's charm alerted her someone had breached the room.

Minerva gazed sharply at the Auror whilst she fingered the parchments with the names of the Head Boy and Head Girl.

"Off with you, Alastor! I have to finish this." Minerva's gaze dropped to the parchment and she shook her head ruefully. I don't know how Hogwarts is going to survive the Heads' strange tendencies.

Moody retorted indignantly. "It was you who dragged me here, Minerva!"

The Auror limped towards the door and opened it forcefully, muttering to himself, "Where will I find a Pensieve?"

After the Auror closed the door with a loud bang, Minerva returned her attention to the parchments, signing them with her characteristic flourish. She put them over the box which contained Albus' ring.

Minerva reclined on the chair and looked with satisfaction at her tidy desk. I wonder what the new term will bring. With Voldemort finally gone, it should be a smooth year.

The Transfigurations teacher heard a whisper. "Minerva..."

McGonagall's gaze searched the room for any trespassers. When she found none, she stood up and went to the window.

"My daughter..." The whisper was as soft as the sound of the Black Lake lapping against the rocks.

Minerva shivered whilst she cast a charm to insure none of the Hogwarts' ghosts could sneak into her office. Perhaps Peeves is trying to pull one of his pranks.

It was to no avail, for the whispery voice added, "Come to me!"

Moody was at wit's end. He needed to look at that memory; the Auror felt it was essential. But when he tried to enter Snape's office to use the Pensieve he knew was there, he found it was impenetrable due to Snape's wards.

In the afternoon, after Mad-Eye arrived to the headmaster's office, he cast a charm and realised McGonagall was inside. Growling, the Auror hit the gargoyle with his wooden leg.

Moody meandered through the corridors of the Seventh Floor until he arrived in front of a curious tapestry with dancing trolls. When the rocks of the wall started shifting fluidly, Moody's eye whirled madly.

"This must be the room Dumbledore told me about," mumbled the Auror.

Moody stepped gingerly into the gloomy room, noting with distaste the many books and the damaged furniture. The arched buttresses appeared malignant in the dim light. He picked up an axe, hastily putting it down when he realised it was bloody.

But as much as he searched the room, Mad-Eye couldn't find a Pensieve. Moody's eye whirled before he rounded a shelf. It had detected a glinting object.

Moody's hand slid through the dusty shelf and found a jewel - what appeared to be a tiara - just behind some mouldy books.

Moody picked up the tiara and his magical eye spun madly.

"I feel Dark magic in this," mumbled the Auror with a tired sigh and then sat down on a plush chair, next to an intricately carved cabinet.

Moody hefted the jewel in his hand. "Wonder if I can destroy..."

But before Mad-Eye could finish, he and the chair vanished away.

Chapter 23. The wand of destiny

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The video I made for this fic in viddler:

Unusual ending - The spider's web