Lucius looked contemplative. "You were the Black Heir, didn't your ring protect you?"
Sirius blinked. "I didn't have the ring when I got my Hogwarts letter. The Blacks, like most families, don't usually give the Heir ring until the Heir's 13th birthday. Harry is the most recent exception as he needed the protection and he had already claimed it along with his other titles while I was… indisposed. I suspect that after I had it, I didn't gain any new compulsions, at least until I ran away. I had left the ring here as I didn't want to be associated with my family."
"I see," Lucius said, going silent as he thought about his own behaviour after he entered Hogwarts.
This time Remus spoke up. "Mine were similar in nature. I was made to be ashamed of myself, submissive, loyal, and grateful to Dumbledore. I also had a poison in my blood, making me weaker. It would have eventually killed me, probably within the next few years."
That shocked the two men, leaving them completely baffled. Severus was disgusted at how far Dumbledore was willing to go, and confused as to why.
"You're fine now, though?" Lucius asked eventually.
"Yes, I was healed by the goblins."
"My own compulsions were not as deadly. I was placed under a blood glamour, making me look like my father, and I had a magic binding on my core," Harry added.
That caused the two men to react violently; both knew the danger of putting such bindings on children. They could cause irreparable damage to both their magical and physical development. "He what?" Severus asked, his voice going cold and causing shivers amongst the other occupants.
"He bound my magical core and attempted to bind my other inherited magics. I also had a slew of compulsions similar to Sirius' which would have made me a weak willed and feeble-minded Gryffindor, besotted with Dumbledore and easy to manipulate. I had them all removed when I re-entered this world, but the fact he tried sickens me. There is also the theft from my vaults which I immediately stopped."
"He stole from you?" Lucius asked.
"A few thousand galleons, pocket change in the large scheme, but still." Severus was startled by this, though he hid his derision at the casual dismissal of such large sums of money in favour of letting his anger at the situation prevail.
"Why are you telling us all of this now? You have said that you don't need our help, so I question your motives."
Harry smirked at his question. "True, I don't need your help but Tom is still your Lord and I wanted to test your loyalties as well as warn you of Dumbledore's manipulations." Harry focused on Severus for the last part, emerald green eyes boring into black.
Severus felt like his very soul was being searched before he nodded. "I see." "If that is everything, I think it's best if we retire for the evening. You have your ritual to prepare for and Narcissa and Draco are waiting for me," Lucius said after a beat of silence.
Harry nodded. "I agree. Good evening, gentlemen. Oh, and happy Yule."
Harry took a deep breath as he looked at the collection of horcruxes he had gathered. The diary, the cup, the locket, the ring, and the diadem - each one called to him and enticed him. He was pleased that he had decided to start the ritual today as Yule signified rebirth. Hopefully this would make magic more willing to aid him and help bring Tom back. Reaching in, he picked up the diary, allowing his magic to gently caress the soul shard that rested within.
"I hope this works," he whispered to himself, not noticing how his hands stroked the aged black leather of the cover nor how they lingered over where the name was inscribed on the front cover.
Standing, he carefully reconstructed the wards around the box containing the other horcruxes, not wanting to risk anything happening to them. Once happy that the box was secure, Harry carefully made his way to the ritual room. He had been surprised when he realised that the townhouse had a room specifically for rituals, although not rituals like he was about to perform. The room was originally for holidays and magical celebrations, such a Samhain, however it was easy for Harry (along with Remus, Sirius, and, surprisingly enough, Kreacher) to make the room suitable for the resurrection ritual. The house-elf had looked overjoyed to learn that they would be doing Olde magic; he had even listened to and obeyed Sirius without complaint.
Entering the room, Harry noticed how the air seemed to almost crackle with magic. As the moon moved into position, the circle seemed to emit waves of power, calling to Harry.
Allowing the magic to wash over him, Harry let his own aura swell, releasing the hold on his occlumency shields.
~ Sirius felt his eyes widen as Harry entered the room. The preteen had his hair unbound so it fell around his shoulders in waves, framing his face which was dominated by illuminating emerald eyes. His skin seemed to almost glow in the dim light - perhaps because of the contrast with both his black hair and robes. He was bare chested under the simple black robe and barefoot, wearing only grey trousers. But what was most eye catching was the power the boy emitted—it was both deadly and alluring, drawing Sirius to him.
Remus let out a breath when Harry entered the room. The overwhelming magical presence of their cub made even Moony pause for a moment. The boy before them was so different from the boy he had imagined over the years, but he couldn't find it in him to be disappointed. No, instead he was proud of the person Harry had become. Yes, he was Dark, and that did admittedly frighten a small part of Remus, but he was also brave, ambitious, intelligent, and loyal. Everything that had happened since Harry had re-entered his life had made Remus realise that he wouldn't change the young man before him; Harry had opened his eyes to the manipulations around him and for that Remus would be forever grateful.
Settling himself down, Harry shared a look with his two guardians - he wanted them to know he was prepared for this. Eventually Harry felt the magic in the room spike and knew it was time. Placing the diary in the centre of the rune circle, meticulously drawn by Sirius, Harry knelt down next to it and took a steadying breath. Harry flicked his wrist so that the candles surrounding it would light, basking Harry in their glow and making him seem even more otherworldly.
"Magicae matrem suam, det mihi ad sanandum potentiam et victus est quod perdidi," he chanted.
The words spilled from him easily as he had studied them religiously, making sure his pronunciation was perfect, not wanting to risk even the smallest of mistakes. Next came the part he was most dreading. He had neglected to inform Sirius and Remus of this as he had known they would most likely refuse to help him, or try and find another even more complicated way.
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