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The Dark Circle	By : SisterGryffindor Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > General Views: 4815 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
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Alyssa pushed open the door to Mallek’s room. She hadn’t been in here in quite a while; Alerick had told her that she was free to choose her own path and she had done so.

She had enjoyed spending time with her father and actually bonding with him, and with Papa George and Uncle Fred as well. All the Weasley clan had welcomed her as a true member of the family and it was almost frightening how many of them there were. She still couldn’t remember all of their names. But tonight she had refused the invitation to stay with her father and go to one of the many parties… tonight was going to be much different and she knew it on more than an instinctive level.

When the five of them had arrived in Malfoy Manor, they had been housed within one room. As time had progressed they had been separated first into interconnecting rooms, then finally to separate rooms as they had grown older. Alerick and Mallek had been given separate quarters but separating them had been next to impossible. They had attempted to even block entry of each into the others room to encourage them to sleep apart; they would find the two curled up in a nest of blankets in the hallway, together again. The adults had relented and allowed the two to room together, modifying the bed to allow the growing boys to sleep peacefully and comfortably. The white dragon that made up the bed remained, coiled in a protective mode around the bed itself. More than a simple carving, the bed had alarms and defensive spells that would never allow any harm to occur while the occupants slept.

Alyssa had been in her own bed, and had just drifted off to sleep when she had felt a pull at her very soul. Loneliness, pain, grief, and isolation… all emotions ringing through her head which she knew were not hers. She knew whose they were, and she could never resist his need. Tonight she had a place to be and it was here with Mallek. “My prince…?” she whispered.

Mallek sat alone, looking small and forlorn in the middle of the large circular mattress, blankets rumpled and cast aside. Tears dampened his cheeks but he was unashamed of them. “Alyssa… I didn’t mean to wake you, I just… I just can’t sleep without him…” he whispered, voice trembling.

“You know I’m here, whenever you need me…” she said, moving to him quickly climbing up on the bed with him.

He sank into her arms, his entire body trembling. “Its so hard… being apart. I hate it, and knowing I won’t see him for a full month at least makes it even worse…”

“Lord Father Malfoy may not be aware of how you are feeling… We should tell…”

“No. I don’t want to tell him anything, I don’t want him to think I’m weak without Alerick. Just… just help me to sleep. Please…” he whispered.

“I can do that.” She assured him in a tender tone, adjusting herself so that her back was against the side of the dragon, and his head settled into her lap.

“Its only going to get worse… I don’t know… I don’t know if I can be without him for an entire month…”

“The Circle will get you through this, my Prince.” She assured softly, stroking his hair tenderly. Erik, Erin and me, we’re all here… and we’ll be here for you.” She said soothingly.

“You won’t… Next year the rest of you will leave me and I will truly be alone…” he whispered in a tremulous voice. “The four of you will leave me and go to school…”

“Its meant to be this way. Alerick will learn the lay of the place, and the rest of us will prepare the school for you. When you arrive, all will be ready and you can just slip in and assume your place right away…”

“Its lonesome. And it hurts….”

“All will be well. We will get you through.” She repeated. “Tomorrow and next year are yet to be. You will get stronger every day. We know you need him. He needs you too. He is in bed now, thinking about you and what it will be like to have you in the castle as well…”

“Sing to me Alyssa… help me to sleep.” He requested softly, another tear leaking from his eye.

She did not hesitate, calling up the strength of her siren training to help Mallek to sleep, singing softly to him, and continuing to stroke his hair with gentle hands.

Alerick sat alone on his four-poster bed in the first Year Gryffindor dorm room, with all the heavy black drapes pulled. He had told the others that he was tired and going to turn in early so they would not bother him. He picked up his wand and cast a light spell upon the roof of his four poster bed, casting a gentle light over the entire bed. He then pulled out a sheet of parchment, sitting cross-legged on his bed. He had promised to write Mallek every day and he had no intention of going back on that pledge.

Dearest Mallek;

I hope this letter gets to you by morning, and that it finds you in good spirits. Erik has gone home, and I hope that everything is all right.

I have been placed in Gryffindor House. The others are all right, they have been good to me even though I did try to get switched to Slytherin. The headmaster would not allow it. This house is not bad, and my room is bearable though it seems empty without you. I am very much looking forward to seeing you on our next break.

As always,

Your Alerick.

He hesitated, reading it over. Should he write more? Should he put in more details of his day? He shook his head, knowing he would have plenty to send tomorrow. Alerick rolled the letter up and sealed it with wax, then parted the curtain at the head of his bed slightly. His owl awaited the letter, quietly perched on the stand on his bedstand. He passed her the letter and she silently took to the air, swooping out the open window.

Alerick sighed and cancelled the light spell before he lay back on the pillows of his bed, listening to his roommates busy themselves to ready for bed. He lay there quietly as time passed, the others finally settling and the room growing very quiet. He could not sleep. He felt homesick, tears welling up in his eyes.

Laying in bed here, alone, it all felt real. Mallek was not anywhere that he could reach him, and might not be for weeks. He was alone, not even Erik here to protect him. He had not been this alone in many years and it was more than strange, it was frightening. Would he be able to do this on his own? Surely he could, hundreds of children had managed the same feat before him. But in his eleven years of life, he had never truly been without constant protection of others.

Erik had been here but he was gone, taken away by the Headmaster. He was sure that he had simply been taken back home. Lord Father Malfoy must be furious; there was no telling what punishment he had given the others. He just wished he knew what had happened, and what was going on.

He glanced at the time and then sat up finally and dug in the bag he had tossed at the foot of his bed, pulling out a small vial. Severus Snape had given him two dozen of these three weeks ago, and told them to pack them in his trunk. It seemed rather odd at the time, as he was perfectly fine in the Manor, but now it made sense. Sleeping potion. Not strong, not much for each dose. But it was enough to help him to close his eyes and to forget that he was now sleeping alone and would be from now until the first school break. He crawled back into bed and downed the potion, letting the medicine finally pull him down into sleep.

“You’re having me on.” Harry said softly, frowning at Draco.

“No, that was what father and mother decided was a fitting punishment.” He answered, glancing around at the children. He and Harry were out in the playground with the children, watching them as they ran about and played.

The Dark Circle children were not playing, though. Mallek sat by the paint easel, his head bowed and his hands in his lap. If it was possible, Erik looked even more depressed but was not sitting very close to Mallek. He was several feet away, sitting on the ground, ignoring the kids who were running around him. Erin was seated beside him with her arm around his shoulders. Alyssa was with Mallek, gently stroking his hair, clearly trying to soothe him.

“It’s too much for them.” He pushed to his feet.

“What are you going to do?”

Harry glanced at him and gave him a soft grin. “Don’t ask. That way you won’t have to lie if your father asks anything about it.” He assured. “But Mallek has to talk to me first.”

“He’s always been distant from you…”

“Ever since Mallek decided you belonged to him.” Harry smirked. “But it won’t hurt to try.” He answered as he moved off. He moved within a couple feet of Mallek and stopped; he wanted to be able to help the boy but first he had to gain some sort of trust.

“Hello, Lord Uncle Harry.” Alyssa said softly, her face as sad as he had ever seen it. Mallek didn’t even bother looking up.

“Just Uncle Harry is fine, Alyssa.” He assured. “Can I speak with Mallek alone?”

She glanced at him. The boy simply shrugged, then nodded slightly. Alyssa looked up at Harry again.   “I won’t be far, if you need me Mallek…”

He only gave a single nod and she rose, moving off to join the other two.

Harry sat down on the cushioned ground beside Mallek. He simply sat there for several minutes, watching young James practicing with Remus Severus.

Mallek finally glanced at him. “What is it you want, sir?” he asked quietly.   Harry could tell that the boy had been weeping, but hiding it well from everyone.

“I know exactly how you feel, Mallek.” Harry told him in a soft tone.

“How can you?”

“I feel for Draco the same emotions you feel toward Alerick.”

Mallek sighed, wiping at his eyes. “I’m sorry, but am I supposed to care?” he asked softly.

“No, you don’t have to. But I believe you need to understand what we went through, to help you to understand that you can survive this as well.” He answered in a soft tone. This conversation was between the two of them and he had no inclination to allow others to eavesdrop. “I was held apart from him for many months…”

“By Lord Father Malfoy. I know.” Mallek answered.

“You’ve been looking into our relationship…?”

“Alerick did. He wanted to understand what we feel toward each other, and since we were created out of your essence it made sense that we would feel what you both feel. Alerick thinks it is the same… but I don’t; I think he’s wrong.” He drew up his legs, wrapping his arms about them.

“How is he wrong?”

“It’s deeper. So very much deeper.” Mallek whispered, bowing his head.

Harry put his hand on Mallek’s shoulder. The boy stiffened for a moment, then he sighed and slumped more, hiding his face. “It’s not fair. I know what we tried to do was against the rules, but its horrible what Lord and Lady Malfoy think is fair. I can’t see him for a full month. I can’t visit him, I can’t firecall him… all I have are letters…”

“Not necessarily.” Harry murmured.

Mallek hesitated, and then looked at him. “What…?”

“There’s something that can be done, I won’t talk about it here. And there are certain conditions attached to my helping you out…”

“Conditions…?” he repeated with a suspicious frown.

“You need to give me your trust. And I have to be able to trust you, without reservation.”

He looked away, staring at the other kids playing. “That’s a lot to ask.”

“Yes, and no.” Harry said ambiguously. “I would like to have the chance to talk to you. You and I both know that I might be the only person who would understand how you feel.”

“I guess so.” He mumbled, his mind clearly elsewhere.

Harry sat there a moment longer, aware that this was more time than Mallek had ever tolerated him to sit so close. He had always snuggled up to Lucius or Draco, and often Narcissa as well, but he tended to avoid Harry. Lucius was sure it was something that had to do with the maniacal fanaticism of Malcolm Parkinson. It had been taught to Alyssa so well that she had been terrified to even be in the same room with Harry for any length of time. He tenderly reached out a hand, placing a soothing hand on his cloned brother’s shoulder. “I know it hurts. Its not easy to be away from someone who makes you whole.”

Mallek took a shaky sigh. “They say I’m too young to know. But I know what it is. I belong with Alerick and he belongs with me. We belong to each other.” He said quietly, then glanced at Harry. “You had to be away…?”

“Yes. Lucius wasn’t very keen on having me as a son in law for a long time. He forbade Draco from seeing me for nearly a year.”

“A whole year…?”

Harry nodded. “It was very difficult for me. But Draco finally broke away and we found each other again.”

“But Alerick can’t do that. I have to stay here, he has to stay there.” He said in a sad tone.

“Get through the night Mallek.” Harry said softly. “Just get through the night, and I will arrange for you and I to spend a little time together.”

“I don’t want to be with you.” The boy answered.

Harry smirked at the answer and how quickly it had come. “I know you don’t. But there is a reason you will want to. Take your time and think about it. Some rules are made to be broken.” He said, pushing to his feet and strolling away.

Looking a bit confused, Mallek watched him go, but was distracted enough from his own personal miasma to consider what it was that Harry was offering.

Jerrod stepped into his laboratory and was almost repulsed out of it by the sheer smell emanating from the five sacks piled upon his work table. “Faugh! What the bloody hell is that nasty stench?” he said, almost stepping back out of the room.

“Amorphophallus blossoms.” Severus Snape was in the room, standing beside the desk, setting a sixth bag on the counter.

“They smell like month-old garbage fermented in sewage.” He commented, forcing himself to endure the stench, moving in and closing the door. His stomach felt like it was clenching; the sheer level of stench in the room was almost overwhelming.

Severus gestured with his wand and the small window opened, allowing a slightly freshening breeze that lowered the smell level to tolerable levels. “Yes, they are quite fragrant. They a very rare, and bloom only three days out of the year; they are only valuable to me when they are at the peak of their… fragrance.” He said with a smirk.

“Fragrance? They’re putrid.” Warrington said, moving over toward the table. He opened one of the bags and the stench doubled. “What the bloody hell am I supposed to do with these nasty things?”

“This bag must be diced into pieces no larger than a quarter of an inch and placed in stasis phials. The second and third bags must have the stamen removed and reduced down in a cauldron. These…” he gestured at a third bag. “…need to be ground up, petals only and the paste sealed in jars…”

“I’m assuming you wrote all this down?” he interrupted, wanting to get started with this mess so he could sort it out and get it all done.

“Naturally.” He produced a scroll.

Warrington took it, glancing over the tiny, carefully scribed notes on the parchment. “And you need this done by…?”

“The cutting and grinding must be done before sunset, and the brewing must be done by tomorrow night, to give it time to reduce and concentrate the oils.”

“Lovely. Two days immersed in this funk.” He grumbled.

“Oh, you’ll never change, will you?”

Jerrod scowled at the old Potions Master. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“You, Jerrod Warrington, are what I have heard labeled a ‘Drama Queen’.” He smirked, turning to leave.

Jerrod rolled his eyes. “And you, Severus Snape, will always be an old bat.” He grumbled. “I’ll have this disgusting crap done even if I have to work all night.”

“Good. I’ll have more for you to do in two days’ time.” He said, moving out the door of the room.

Warrington shot a disgusted look after him. “I may have to do this crap for you, Severus Snape, but I don’t have to thank you for bringing it to me.” He grumbled, moving carefully to his stool. He drew his wand and used it to move most of the bags off his table and sighed. “May as well get to work.” He mumbled.

George found him there hours later. He tapped on the doorframe as he opened the door. “Jerrod…?” he started then was hit by the unrelenting stench within the room.

“Come in, if you have the stomach.” He answered, not taking his eyes off the delicate cutting he was doing. These petals seemed delicate but they were easily crushed and without constant sharpening his blade had begun to bruise instead of cut the flowers. He had been forced to get more blossoms from the bag he would need to crush in order to have enough chopped petals.

Weasley looked absolutely green about the gills at the level of odor in the room. “All right, I give. What is that bloody stench? I’m quite sure I’ve never smelled anything quite like it…”

“Amazing, considering the things you and your maniacal twin come up with.” He retorted with a smirk. “Its Amorphophallus blossom. Lovely, isn’t it?”

“Stinkbomb flower, you mean. Faugh, how can you breathe in here?” George reached for the window to open it.

“If you value your hand you won’t touch that window.” Jerrod growled in an instant switch of news.

“Why? Get some fresh air in here…”

“It makes the damned things lose their fragrance. And the fragrance is what I need to preserve.” He said, continuing his work.

“I repeat, how the bloody hell are you breathing in here?” George asked, his arm across his face, breathing through his sleeve to try to get some un-funked air.

“You get accustomed to it, believe it or not. I don’t really smell it anymore…” Jerrod said, calm once more and quite focused on his work.

“Can you put this aside for a few minutes?” he asked.

“No, I can’t.” he answered immediately.

“We need to talk, Jerrod. About the bonding…”

Jerrod took his eyes off his work for only a moment, frowning at him. “Why? There’s nothing to talk about. I told you last night; pick the date and I will be there. Beyond that, I truly don’t care. Whatever you want is fine.” He said as he continued to focus on his work.

His comments brought a smirk to George’s face. “Seriously, Jerrod? Anything I want I can do?” he asked.

Jerrod stopped at the tone and expression on George’s face. “If you try to put me in a dress or anything pink, I swear I will be widowed before I’m even bonded, Weasley.” He snarled.

George laughed at that. “No gowns, and not one drop of pink, I swear it; except perhaps for Alyssa. But there will be other colors; I truly would like to see you in a bit of color. Anything to get you out of those boring, depressing black robes you always wear…”

“And how many potions makers do you know who wear any other color? Even you and your brother wear black when you’re brewing.”

“True, but we’re not always brewing. And neither are you.” He pointed out.

“I am more often than not. And I have to check on my potions all the time; I have three cauldrons back on that wall that have potions that have been simmering over the past three weeks. Am I to change my clothing every time I come into my potions lab? That wouldn’t exactly be practical.”

“You won’t be doing any of that on your bonding day, Jerrod.” George answered immediately. “Not if I have anything to do with it…”

“I have work to do, as if you have not noticed.” He returned sourly. “I cannot put it off due to something as brief as a bonding ceremony. Really, George, how long are you going to draw this thing out? All we need do is a quick word in front of the proper authorities.”

George couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t be serious. A bonding ceremony held in the Ministry of Magic’s bonding office is NOT going to be enough for ANY of my family. You’ve met them, surely you can figure that much out. Do you really think that Fred or Ginny are going to be satisfied with a quick exchange of vows and then that’s it? Ginny had the whole rigmarole; gown, flowers, ribbons, lights, bridesmaids, best man, wedding cake, groom’s cake, a big fancy dinner and everything…”

Warrington hesitated, and then looked up at him with a frown. “You seriously want your entire family to be there…?”

“Well, if you can figure out some way not to let them all find out about our bonding I suppose they wouldn’t come. But you know that Alyssa will be dying to tell them all. They’ll be there, the whole Weasley clan, and mum and dad as well of course. And Ginny’s family, and…”

He scowled. “Could we at least leave your great-aunts out of this mess? I am not having some huge tented ceremony here and don’t want hundreds of guests.”

“I don’t have to invite everyone, I suppose.” He grinned. “And I think that inviting your family would be a nice touch; mum and dad would love to meet them…”

“Why? My father is dead. My mother is better left alone; she is mad as a hatter. Aunts, uncles, none of them helped me when I was down; not a single one of them did a damned thing for me at all. If I had been able to turn to them I might never have been involved with Parkinson at all. The way I see it, they’re partly responsible for everything that happened to me. Why in the bloody hell would I want them to come to my bonding ceremony?” Jerrod answered immediately

“You don’t talk about them, how was I supposed to know how you felt?”

“Well I’m telling you; No. None of them even need to know. Don’t you dare even contact any of them.” He said with a scowl. “I don’t want Alyssa exposed to them. Your family is crazy enough.”

George couldn’t help but chuckle. “I hear you, and I understand, but I think we still need to talk about it some more.” He said, waving the subject aside. “But there are other questions that need to be settled. Will you be taking my name?”

“No.” Jerrod said immediately.

“Why not?” George asked directly back.

“I’ve been Warrington too damned long to change it now. Why don’t you take MY name?” he retorted. “There are too damned many of you Weasleys running about as it stands, and I do NOT want Alyssa having to change her name at all.” He glared, as if challenging him to give him an argument.

“She won’t, unless she wishes to.” he assured. “You know, Jerrod, I might consider taking your name. George Weasley-Warrington… sounds rather dignified, doesn’t it?” Jerrod put down his knife, scowling at him now directly, and George just grinned at him.

“I won’t be taking your name.” he repeated stubbornly.

George relented with a smirk. “All right, so is there anything special you want for the ceremony?”

“Just make Alyssa happy. That’s all I care about.”

“It’s our ceremony…”

“And she’s our daughter. It’s as much about her as it is about us.” He retorted. “And if she wants to wear black, you WILL let her wear it.”

“But wearing black to a bonding ceremony…?”

“I don’t bloody care if its bad luck. You WILL let her wear it.”

“All right, you win. I’ll let her choose her own colors.”

“Good. Now is that all you need?”

“I suppose. You don’t care what day?”

“It’s all the same to me. I just want it as soon as possible. I want to get it over with.” Jerrod said crossly.

George stepped closer and rested one hand on the other man’s shoulder. “I missed you last night too.” He said quietly.

Jerrod stiffened slightly at the contact, then looked down, silent for several long moments. George said nothing, allowing the man he had fallen in love with to gather his thoughts. “Yeah.” He finally said, looking up at him. “I never thought I’d say this, but its hard getting through the night alone now.” He said quietly.

The normally jovial George smiled warmly. “That has to be the sweetest thing you have ever said to me, Jerrod.” He said, leaning in for a soft kiss.

Warrington sighed when it ended, pushing George gently away. “Go on. Get this bull under way so we can get back to normal.” He said, voice a little gruff.

“I don’t think there ever will be a ‘normal’ with you, Jerrod.” George winked at him, straightening. “I’m assuming you haven’t told Alyssa yet?”

“No, I have not. I would like to be the one to tell her though; can you at least give me that?” Jerrod asked, picking up his knife again.

“Of course; wouldn’t have it any other way, mate.” He smiled at him with a wink. “You shouldn’t be walking on that ankle. Have you seen the healer yet?”

“The medi-wizard should be in this afternoon to assess the damage.”

“Why the bloody hell would you do that to yourself, Jerrod?” George asked softly.

“The kids.” He answered immediately. “They needed me. I had to try, just as much as they did to try to get something done for Alerick. It’s wrong that he’s there alone, without any of us…” he said with a sigh. “You can’t understand. Its not something that I want, it something that I have to do.”

“Something that Parkinson bound you to?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” He said with a shrug. “It’s the one thing that Parkinson did to me that I don’t hate him for…” he began slicing again, the smell in the room intensifying with every cut. “Those kids gave me something to hold on to, once the Circle began to be born…”

“Parkinson was a filthy nutter who didn’t get half of what he deserved.” George growled softly, remembering the multiple pregnancies that had been forced upon Jerrod and the twisted offspring that had been produced. Jerrod had never carried a child to term that Malcolm Parkinson had considered viable. His genes had been used in manipulation as had George’s to create Alyssa, but the girl had been carried by and born to a woman. He looked at Jerrod, concerned that some of those memories may have arisen; they gave him nightmares for days when he recalled them vividly.

“He’s dead. That part of my life is over.” He said in a flat tone. “Leave it alone, George.”

“I will.” He agreed quietly. “Until you are ready to talk to me about it some, I will leave it alone.”

“Can you just leave and let me work?” Jerrod asked finally, looking back up at him.

“Perhaps… do you want me to fetch Alyssa for you?”

“Let her play; it stinks far too much in here for her to be in here. Just tell the house elves to let her know when she comes back in from playing that I would like her to come and talk to me?”

“Of course.” He agreed. “And as much as I’d like to have the ceremony this week, I think we might need to wait until the end of the kids’ punishment; that way Alerick can attend, and Mallek will be happy again. I know there’s a reason for it, but Alyssa truly does dote on those little boys…”

“Enough, George. Go on already.” Jerrod said, sounding a little impatient now.
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The Dark Circle