Harry Potter The Long Lost Malfoy

"But only because they think they can manipulate you." Sirius leaned forwards, handing the cage to Lupin after a second. He gestured with his hands as though he thought they were wands, staring intently at Harry all the while. "That's the difference between the Malfoys and Lily and James. Narcissa thinks of children as just there to continue the family line and obey her in all ways, and old Lucius thinks the same way. Lily and James, meanwhile, wanted someone to take care of and love."

"And that means it's all right for my parents to be subjected to fear and loss and anger and grief for years because they had no idea what happened to me?"

"They don't really feel those things. They can't."

Harry shook his head, weary. "I already told you that I wouldn't accept going with you and becoming a Potter again."

"I know. I wasn't trying to convince you of that. I just thought I owed you a bit of an explanation as to what I was doing, since you did help me. And that you'd be relieved to know about Pettigrew."

"I'll report you if you kill him."

"But why?"

"You're already a kidnapper," Harry said, and he couldn't make his voice gentle. "And someone who essentially believes that my parents aren't human beings. But right now, you aren't a murderer. Is that really a line you want to cross? Are you going to take that step even though it could mean that you go to prison for the rest of your life?"

"Your daddy's going to ensure that happens anyway, for the kidnapping." Sirius's face was lined with bitterness.

"It might not be for the rest of your life. And I don't even know what the laws around kidnapping are. Maybe it'll be just for a few years. Maybe it'll be imprisonment in the Ministry instead of Azkaban. I don't know. But you're choosing to sacrifice everything you could be and have just for revenge." Harry glanced at Lupin. "Are you going to stop this? You were arguing against it a second ago."

Lupin's eyes shone with guilt. "I believed Sirius was guilty for years. I didn't bother to check…"

"And so you're going to stand by and just let him commit the crime now? Is that loyalty?"

Lupin looked tormented. But that wouldn't actually stop Sirius, who was already turning back to the cage as if he thought that he might as well kill Pettigrew, now that he knew Harry wouldn't approve.

Harry aimed his wand carefully and used a spell that Ted had taught him and Draco the other day. "Frangere!"

The curse distracted both Lupin and Sirius, who jumped back, which meant it flew and landed exactly where Harry had meant it to. It shattered the lock on the cage and three of the bars, and Pettigrew jumped out and sped away down the corridor. Harry thought he saw him dart through a crack in the wall and down a hole, but he couldn't be sure.

Mostly because Sirius had grabbed him and was shaking him until his teeth rattled in his head. "What did you—you stupid fucking kid!"

"Sirius, stop!"

"Dolor!"

Harry found himself suddenly stumbling back, free of Sirius's hold. He gasped and stumbled, nearly catching himself before he fell, and then someone did catch him, and hold him. It was Draco, who had his wand still aimed at Sirius. Sirius, who was arching in silent pain, his mouth open in an endless scream.

"Please, end it," Harry said, making his tongue work somehow even though it felt like it'd been tossed around inside his mouth, too. "Don't let him make you into someone different than you are, Draco."

"This is who I am," Draco muttered, but he ended the curse and watched without any expression on his face as Sirius slumped to the floor. Then he turned around and stared at Harry. "Did he hurt you, Henry?"

"Not much." And it wasn't much, Harry noted as he straightened again. He was just dizzy and his neck hurt from the way it had rolled when Sirius shook him. He stared down at the man the Potters had made his godfather, who was already fighting his way back to his feet again and looking remorseful.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry."

Harry stared at him some more. The odd thing was, he thought Sirius meant it. Just because he was sane didn't mean he lacked some of the other parts of the Black madness, like the sudden temper and the tendency to do stupid, impulsive things.

But that didn't make what he'd done acceptable. It didn't make the fact that he would have murdered Pettigrew if Harry hadn't intervened acceptable.

....

Do you want to read ahead by more than 60 exciting premium chapters?

Then join my p*atreon right now.

Link: p*atreon.com/Sonic_Spectre (Remove the *)

Free members can unlock upto 2 chapters.