Harry Potter and the Vulnerability Charm Part II

Chapter 10: The Heist

Emancipating Tommy from Lestrange proves to be a difficult task requiring hours of careful planning. Unfortunately, the Ministry cannot know about their plan. Something about child kidnapping and the discovery of the existence of Voldemort prompting a second war. Consequently, they'll be no help. But Snape's past with the Death Eaters gives him an advantage - he knows how they think, and he knows Lestrange's obsession with the dark and dramatic. This obsession will be her downfall. 

"There will be secret passageways and booby traps around the castle," he explains, overlooking a blueprint of her house provided by Dumbledore's 'secret means of acquirement'. "These will be dramatic and obvious. But not until it's too late," 

Using this information, he and Dumbledore formulate a plan. It will be executed tonight. 

* 

"Why is Daddy goin'?" Harry pouts, jumping up to give his father a goodbye hug.

"Daddy and Grandpa are going out for work," Snape explains to his son. "But I promise to return with a present for you," 

"I puppy?" 

"No," But a brother. Snape chuckles.

"But I don't want Daddy to goooo," he starts to stamp his feet and whine. 

"Oh Harry," Snape picks Harry into his arms and cuddles him close. 

"We must hurry, Severus," Dumbledore whispers into his ear, checking his pocketwatch. 

"I'm sorry little one," he passes Harry over to Lupin. "Have fun with your Uncle Remus," 

"Noooo Daddy!" Harry kicks his legs and squeals, but that doesn't make his Daddy come back. They close the heavy door to Snape's quarters, effectively sealing Harry in a stone tomb. 

"We can have fun, can't we?" Lupin asks, bouncing Harry slightly in his arms. 

"Shut up!" 

"Harry!" he gasps. "That's not a very kind thing to say," 

"Don't care, I want Daddy!" 

"Why don't  we send Ron an owl, hm?" Lupin smiles. "He can teach you some Wizard's chess?" 

"Ron?" Harry asks suspiciously. 

"Yes, Ronald Weasley," 

"Hmmm okay then," 

Sighing in relief, Lupin travels to the window and uses Hedwig, now the family owl, to message Ron. 

The redhead appears twenty minutes later, a grin on his face. "You ready to play, Harry?" 

Harry huffs, but acquiesces to Ron's cheerful nature. The chess game keeps him occupied for a short while, but when he loses one-too-many pawns to Ron's skill, he tosses the board across the table. "I want my Daddy!" 

"Harry!" Ron gasps. He squeals when Harry's outburst knocks his tea over, spilling the scalding liquid over his legs. "Gah!" 

Lupin quickly picks up Harry. He wipes Ron down as much as possible and hands him an ice pack for his burn. You need to keep a lot of icepacks around when you have a six-year-old. "Get yourself down to the medical bay," 

Ron nods and, a little too harshly, says "I'll see you later, Harry," 

The young wizard gulps and looks up at Lupin. "I-I hurt Ron..." 

"Indeed you did, Harry," Lupin ruffles his hair and sits on the couch, sitting Harry on his lap. "Your Daddy has gone away before. Why are you so impatient to get him back this time?" 

Harry buries into Lupin's chest. "Nightmares..." 

"You've been having nightmares?" Harry nods. "What about?" 

"Will that scary lady hurt Daddy like she hurt Tommy?" 

Tears prick in Remus eyes. "Oh Harry," he holds the little boy close, rubbing his back. Harry sobs silently into his shoulder, staining his coat with tears. But that's alright. He loves his coat, but he loves Harry more. 

* 

A loud bang rouses Lupin. Harry too, but a bright smile immediately envelope's the child's face. "Daddy! Daddy's back!" 

"Wait, Harry!" Lupin tries to grab him, but the child jumps off his lap and runs to the door, pulling it open. 

Blood. 

Blood drips from the ends of Snape's hair and onto the child sitting in his arms. For a moment, Harry wonders if its him. If he's died, and he's a ghost watching his life. But the lighter, neater hair gives it away. This is Tommy. 

"T-Tommy?" 

Snape wants to say something along the lines of 'Yep, and he's your new brother' but only a stream of blood escapes his mouth. "Severus!" Lupin grabs Tommy from his arms and addresses Dumbledore, who merely looks confused. "Take him to the medical bay!" 

"Da-Daddy!" a traumatised Harry watches his father slump against the door, until Lupin promptly shuts it once again. Lupin checks Tommy over for injuries, finding only older bruises from past abuse. 

Harry falls to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees. He watches the blood crawl own, but not down his father's head. 

Down Ron's. 

He remembers a giant chessboard, the growling of stone. Ron valiantly mounting a horse. And falling off, shrapnel flying past him and cutting his face, barely missing his eye.

"W-Won..." Harry grabs his hair, holding it and crying. These aren't his memories, whose are they?! What do they mean? What's happening? Where's his Daddy?! 

Feeling a small tug on his sleeve, Harry looks up. "H-Hi Harry..." 

Harry sniffles and sits up. "H-Hi Tommy..." he chokes out a sob. "Wh-Wha' happened?" 

The younger boy giggles a little and begins to explain. Harry listens along to how brave his Daddy was, feeling a sense of pride at being the son of someone so awesome. But there's a nagging feeling, something buried under the surface. 

I know I'm adopted, he thinks. But why am I adopted?