Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

WONKY CROSS	By : JanisJ Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 59358 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am making no money from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 27
- 28
- 29
A/N:� Thanks for all the reads, rates and
reviews!� Thanks for coming back and
checking in!� Sorry for the long
wait.� RL health and financial issues really
suck the vitality out of muses.� Well, we�re
almost to the conclusion of formerly-ignorant Harry�s road to self-discovery�.
And a specific gratitude to Frances:� Thank you for your kind words�you will never
know just how much they helped me at that particular moment in time.� Seriously.� Major Karma points for you! :)
~O~
Light (part two)
Half of Charlie�s dragon-hide leather
jacket was charred and one side of his face and hair were singed!� The skin that the gaggle of Blended House�s
occupants could see was angry and red!� Once
they�d gathered their wits about them, Draco and Harry rushed to their Head of
House and ushered him to take a seat at the bar (as it was clear the man was on
wobbly legs).
The semi-fried redhead grabbed the blond�s drink right out of his hand and chugged it
down.� The Slytherclaw
shrugged it off with no more than a slight annoyance knowing he could always
make a new one.� Draco offered absolute unflappability--
in contrast to Harry�s reaction once he�d regained his bearings.� With spittle flecking Charlie�s blanched
countenance, the brunet was grilling the ailing man how he�d come back to them
in this state.
Harry was beyond distraught.
Draco blinked.� He knew that the so-called �Saviour� cared
about those around him but this seemed to be an inordinate amount of terror
spewing over a minor malady.� After all,
their fearless leader was still walking and talking and NOT unconscious in the
infirmary from some unknown Dark curse.� (Granted, their friend was hurt, but his
ex-adversary was acting like it was the end of the World!)
(Interesting.� Yes, this would merit keeping a closer eye
on�.)
Charlie knocked the blond�s
replacement libation back in one fell-swoop as well.� He wheezed through the sizzle to his
esophagus with bared teeth and just mutely shook his head.
His stunned silence did nothing to
assuage the reaction of his charges; all the kids had by now heard the
commotion and congregated around him in a beatific show of solidarity.� Normally, it would have done Charlie proud,
but he couldn�t completely enjoy the gesture since his brain was so frazzled.� By the time Hannah and Hermione had gathered
a bundle of ice cubes in a hanky, the collective gathering was penetrating him
with concerned, searching eyes.
Without waiting for any more than interrupted
one-syllable answers, Harry ruthlessly interrogated the man with an onslaught
of irate questions.� He effectively drowned
out anybody else�s queries; his agitation was escalating quickly, never letting
the redhead get a word in edgewise.� In between each order and accusation, the green-eyed
wizard was choking down many agonized whimpers over his beloved�s compromised
condition.
Harry wanted to affect that he was just
another student so as to not make it obvious he was as frantic like a lover
would be in this situation.� He really
did.� But it was difficult.� And everyone knew he was failing.
A battle warred within while his hands
hovered, simultaneously wanting to reach out, touch and get reassurance yet forcing
himself NOT to caress any and all unscathed areas on
his body just to prove his treasure was still alive and breathing.� He disciplined himself to calm down with a
few deep breaths.
Charlie sighed.� He could sympathize.� He�d been in a similar situation when Harry
had hit the dragon wards last Summer.
Charlie got lost a moment in putting himself in
Harry�s shoes and knew his scalded patches must look bad�. It felt like
HELL!!� But he could see how someone that
didn�t deal with fire-damage day in and day out for over a decade would be more
fearful of it.� The result was of little
consequence to him.� He
was much more upset about HOW it occurred than anything� but he could empathize
over how it would bother any un-initiate.
He also respected and understood Harry�s
agitation over not being able to sweep his boyfriend into his arms and somehow
make everything all right again.� (After
all, HE�D had that luxury when Harry was recovering under Healer Hopkinson�s
care!)
And although he wouldn�t mind if they could be
out in the open, he wanted the decision to announce their relationship to be
Harry�s and Harry�s alone.� He understood
the reasons it would be bad for both of them while they were still teacher and
student.� He also didn�t want his
Sweetness to regret his behaviour and the way he came
out to the last two members of their home that didn�t yet know their �Saviour�
was gay�. ��
The brunet finally launched fully into
protective-mode and started to make more sense in his line of questioning
(which consequently allowed a break in the barrage to actually listen to an answer). (No matter that
technically it was only giving himself some time to get his own
hyperventilation under control.)
He demanded to know if it was Blanca
that had torched Charlie�s clothing and skin so badly.� Their Head of House batted away Harry�s
worried hands, deflecting him with an all-too-breezy-- and more than a little
irritated offense, �Of course this
wasn�t our old girl!� I know my way
around dragons!�
The green-eyed Gryffinin
wasn�t amused.� He was flaring his
nostrils and flexing muscles as if he�d like to annihilate whoever or whatever had dared harm what was
his!� Through his fear he faced his lover
down with an Avada-glare.
Charlie quailed and trembled a bit under
that intense gaze, but the redhead latched onto the one point raised that seemed to neutralize Harry�s latest onslaught in
near-hysteria; it was good to get his wonderful lover headed in another
direction.� �No, Hagrid
is fine, he wasn�t with me.� Everyone was busy so I chanced the ground
path alone.�
�Charles Arthur!�� Hermione screeched in disapproval over
Harry�s silent slack-jawed disbelief.�
�That is against the rules that you agreed to with the proper
authorities!�
The redhead winced, knowing they would
ALL be cross about that poor decision to go his daily mission solo.� Of course he knew that.� Now more than ever.� (But, in his defense, it hadn�t really seemed
that bad a judgment at the time, considering the complete lack of combat with
any inhabitants in the territory so far.�
The quiet of the Forrest was eerie and creepy, yes, but had always been
void of confrontations.)
He managed to look contrite in his
outward countenance but was inwardly smirking at the bright and clever witch
being a stickler about following rules.
Actually, he�d be willing to bet seven sickles
that Hermione was quelling her first reaction to go tell on him to the
Headmistress and Madam Pomfrey.� Since
being immersed in the atmosphere of �school� once again, her thought processes
veered towards her usual role of being the voice of reason and ethical
conscience for the boys around her.� But
then it would tilt as she ultimately realized that all three were teachers and
authority figures.�
The blending and blurring of their shifting
occupations, with the young adults relegated back �to somewhat subordinate, yet at an �of age�
status� as well as the past year of the restoration being elevated to colleague
status� caused her contradictory confusion until she logically thought it
through.
(And of course, she was intelligent enough to
know there were currently more pressing issues at hand; she realized remaining
quiet was warranted and waited impatiently for acceptable answers.)
�Yeah!� Ron added vehemently, as much to bolster his
girlfriend�s stance yet voice his own panicky concern of Charlie being in
danger and providing a cover by sounding tough.
FUCK!
(His
big brothers-- that he�d always thought were invincible and infallible-- were continually
proving his childhood view of the World had been wrong:
First, there was Bill�s mauling and then Percy
groveling first to and then away from the Ministry�s bullshit.� Fred snuffing it?� �Nuff said!� And now CHARLIE?!� The second eldest wrangled dragons for a
living but now he was subject to the same failings as anyone else?!
One by one, they were shattering long-held
illusions!� The truths that had made up
his Universe when he was young were crumbling to dust).
The fiery Gryffinin
also wanted to diffuse and deflect attention off of his best mate�s current
wig-out for a moment.� �You promised a �buddy
system�!� he growled, stalking up into Charlie in quiet fury, poking an
accusing finger into his sternum, punctuating his words.� �Every.� Time!�� Ron quickly
held up his palms in surrender when his older sibling squared his broad
shoulders and lunged slightly towards him, flashing a scathing scowl at his
supposed fraternal �betrayal�.
For sure, such an intimidating physical tactic
would have made him back down in an instant when he was younger-- however, it
helped immensely that he now had a good measure of height over the stocky,
shorter Weasley.�
He stood his ground and now towered over his Head of House (with quite
the respectable muscle-mass of his own).
�Your own words, big bro!� C�mon,
think about it!� �Forbidden Forrest?�� It�s
called that for a reason!� DUH!!�
The anxious brunet was barely keeping it
together during this exchange.
Harry was horrified when the implications set in!� His lover had specifically promised�.
He couldn�t get his mind around that.� NO
ONE was able to predict what terrors could befall them when venturing in that
treacherous place!� There were many
excellent reasons he�d extracted that reassurance before all this dragon liaison/monitoring
stuff started!� And this just proved it!
Given the state that Charlie was currently
in made him beside himself.�
The fact that his �other half� had gone into dangerous territory without an extra
pair of eyes, someone who could wield a weapon or wand, was driving him spare!� (A
cross-bow might be one thing out in the wilds, but a snapped wand concealed in
a pink umbrella, halted in mid-education and bonding with its owner?� Neither of those counted as entirely
dependable or adequate in his book ANY MORE!�
Not when something so precious to him needed every measure of
protection!)
It was reckless and potentially fatal!� It wasn�t OK!�
Charlie had put himself in peril without any additional
�artillery�.� That was why he always
wanted himself or someone else he trusted to go with and provide backup, those
who had a whole host of spells in their arsenal.
He couldn�t lose his Soulmate
for some stupid reason he might possibly control!
�GODAMMIT!�
The green-eyed Gryffinin�s
internal anguish finally made him lose it.�
His magic swelled within and overwhelmed, pulling on every neuron
assigned to making thought negative.�
CHARLIE WAS HURT!� It rose like a sonic
tidal wave and lashed out.� It had reached
its limit.
Hermione squeaked as her best friend�s
magic flared and rumbled through them.�
Their sturdy stone walls warbled.�
He shattered the glass lamp by the door.�
She pulled and rubbed his arm, murmuring nonsensical positive
platitudes, slowly bringing him back around to the present to be grounded.� Harry felt Ron�s shoulder against his, something
solid to lean against that lent him silent strength without being obvious.
He was a small fraction soothed.� Those two always provided him with a
comforting cocoon.
Quietly seething-- but much more
coherent-- the irate brunet issued one final piece on �caution� and �safety in
numbers� before he admonished their Head of House for going into The Forrest
alone.� He had to turn away with clenched
fists a moment until he whirled back to face the group.� He asked with an eerily calm voice through
gritted teeth:
�What exactly happened?�
More than a few shuddered at the icy
chill of authority and vehement turmoil that the usually-stoic, content boy
they�d come to know since The War ended exuded in that second.
All but two of their number
were aware that Harry�s recent calm was from being hopelessly,
irretrievably in Love and getting laid spectacularly on a regular basis (rather
than simply living out from under the threat of Voldemort trying to murder him).� But EVERYONE knew for certain in that moment
that the power dynamic of magic was completely shifted to the opposite end of
the spectrum for �The Saviour�.
Harry was now the man in command,
dominating the direction of the conversation.�
And as HE was the one who had vanquished the Darkest
wizard of their age.� They couldn�t help
but feel the Gryffinin would not hesitate to exact
swift justice and vengeance on anything or anyone if need be.
Charlie shook his head-- bolstered by a
stretch of quiet that allowed him to actually speak-- and relayed the point
that was the first-and-foremost thing that came to mind:
�It was the meanest, ugliest thing you
ever saw!� Charlie swore, �Damn near three meters long!�� He slammed the empty glass down on the
counter and his gasping, gulping breaths drew everyone�s rapt attention further.
Their leader was rattled, which was
almost as disconcerting as his injuries.�
He was usually so suave and easy-going that it was scary to see him,
well�. SCARED.
�Shell armour!� Multiple legs like a centipede-- or at least
an augmented arthropod of some sort�. Had a wicked, shining-wet
scorpioid tail up over its back, no doubt glistening nematocystic qualities!�� He gestured wildly yet winced when the motion
caused his shoulder pain.
Stilled again and taking Draco�s newly-poured
drink from him to chug it, he continued his rant:
�Spells just bounced off the slimy, gray
varicellate plates!�
It was scuttling away, but then the bloody fucking thing farted FIRE at me!� he bellowed, waving his
good hand and arm over the injuries to indicate the evidence of that
unfortunate encounter.� �Propelled the
nasty bastard away but not before it caught my sleeve,� he motioned with an uplifted
elbow to the still slightly smoking arm of his coat.�
Then he muttered lowly, �At least I think it went away in the direction that
may or may have not been its face.� Hard
to tell as there were no real discernible features from my brief look�.�� Then he
continued, more thoughtful and thinking aloud, �but if the biology followed
usual dictates, it would have moved head first�. And no-doubt a poisonous
caudal stinger would be angled that way�.�
The students, in varying degrees of
shock, had now pressed together in a semi-circle, banding together in fearful
clutches to hear the tale.� Harry and
Hermione shared a very pointed and meaningful look.
�Did it look like this?�� Dean quickly made a crude but quite accurate sketch.� The group, catching a glimpse of his pad
turned towards the injured man, looked horrified.
The recently-attacked redhead was
astounded.� �YES!� Good Lord,
that�s it!� How did you know?� I�ve never heard of such a thing!� And I
have an advanced degree!�� Charlie looked
between the expressions of realization and terror of his Housemates.� �What is
it?� What IS IT?!�
Ron spluttered in indignation.� �Did Hagrid seriously
set the Blast Ended Skrewt that made it to the last
task of the tournament FREE in the Forrest?!�
NO WAY!��
(Then,
the redheaded Gryffinin�s face crumpled as he ran a
shaky hand over his features into a slow grimace.� His acceptance was documented by
ever-deepening increments and shades of resignation complete with an
accompaniment of slouched shoulders.
OF COURSE the half-giant wouldn�t have thought
twice about it!� Sadly, it WAS most
likely that the gamekeeper HAD, believing with all his heart that, that�.
murderous monster �. would go on to have a wonderful, joyous life out of
captivity; the lethal beast would simply go on its merry way� tra-la-la!� And
everyone would live happily ever after.)
Hermione pursed her lips in a grim line
reminiscent of Minerva McGonagall and addressed their Head of House:
�In our fourth year, our Care of Magical
Creatures class was tasked to raise these animals.�� Charlie�s mouth fell open in shock.� Hermione waved it off and continued, �They
started out rather small, but volatile.�
The males with the stingers were worse, more outwardly aggressive.� The females simply have suckers underneath their
bellies, kind of like the suction-cups of cephalopods.� We were never sure what their function was,
but it couldn�t have been anything good�.��
Hannah hissed a little, twisting her
fingers in remembrance of being tormented by their unorthodox assignment.
Draco sneered, clearly not amused by the
memory of that unholy Hell.� He muttered sarcastically
under his breath, �Ah yes, the joys of trying to keep the ugliest of unnatural aberrations
alive, because, who wouldn�t want pets that can burn, sting and bite all at
once?�
The other classmates almost grinned-- and
would have if the situation wasn�t so dire-- remembering a snobby fourteen-year-old
Draco saying much the same thing.� (Though they secretly agreed, both now AND back then.)
The bushy-haired Gryffinclaw
continued.� �Most of them killed each
other in the process of growing, but Harry encountered a full-sized specimen
during his battle in the Maze of the Third Task.�
The brunet didn�t like the way all eyes
were riveted on him at the mention of that particular ordeal when he was a
young teen.� The Gryffinclaw
cleared her throat, effectively getting the attention back on her lecture (and
he was grateful she knew him well enough to know that that deflection was most
appreciated.)
��Bastard� is actually a very apt and
correct label, Charles.�� She smiled
affectionately at her agitated best friend, continuing to smooth a calming hand
down Harry�s tense arm to ground his turbulent energy that was still swirling
around the room.� Then, she nodded, directing
her knowledge to the new Co-Care of Magical Creatures, confident that he would
realize the implications at once.� �They
are a Fire-Crab and Manitcore hybrid.�
Charlie gaped and gasped like a hooked
trout landed in the bottom of a rowboat until he finally found a few words:
�That�s bloody fucking mental!�
A crime against Nature!� It should
never exist!� And not to mention, totally
illegal!� You can�t interbreed a Five-X with anything, much less a triple-X
classification!� Not even professionals
would�!� No civilian--!� You don�t--!�
No one ever--!� SHIT!�
And for kids
to� OW!�� The pain flaring in his flailing limbs made
him stop and just fall into incredulous silence.
He kept looking around at his charges as
if expecting them to burst out laughing, shouting �Surprise!� We had you going there for a minute!�
Ultimately, it was the utterly serious
expression on his baby brother�s face that finally convinced him that what they
were saying was actually true.� Little
Ronnie could never keep a secret or hold his tongue for long if there was a
practical joke or lie being perpetrated.
(In
fact, it was well-known within the family that the youngest boy was often kept
from the planning of their infamous surprise birthday parties for exactly that
reason; Ronnikins was usually excluded from knowing
the unique element of ambush each year because he never could keep his gob shut,
no matter how much he promised it would be different this time.)
Charlie�s mind was reeling as he
surveyed the kids that had lived through such a dodgy animal caregiving experience.� Each of them were silently, solemnly
regarding each other with significant looks, clearly lost in the memory of
being tormented by that class project and shaking their heads.� ILLEGAL?
Hermione rolled her eyes, immediately catching
Luna�s mischievous grin towards her in her peripheral vision; she smirked at
the Ravendor�s overly exaggerated mouthing of �bang
ended scoot� that was coupled with a twinkling expression that dared the older
witch to laugh out loud.�
THEY had each always known, without
having to ever discuss it.
In that moment they knew they had both wondered
why Dumbledore allowed it to play out but they respected his methods.� At the time, they�d BOTH tried to rationalize
the venerated wizard�s bizarre, eccentric choices because they were tempered by
their love of the half-giant.� Also,
Hermione knew she�d been quieted by her youthful rejection of the juvenile, rebellious
tendency of �question authority�; Luna had simply been rather intrigued by the
here-to-fore unknown species of magical beast.
Appalled silence reigned when their Head
of House could only stare at all the young adults with mouths agape-- but
especially at Harry.�
Charlie couldn�t comprehend, yet again, how the
young man he treasured above all else had faced all these wonky, insane,
incredible things so young.� And survived
so miraculously and beautifully�.
�C�mon, we should look at what
happened.�� Harry broke the rigid stalemate
of multi-layered tension and odd dynamic currently freezing the Common Room.� His tone was a dichotomy; cross and keening,
commanding yet begging.� The heart he
wore on his sleeve (but kept guarded) was exuding the embodiment of all the
paradoxes that defined his life so far.
The entirety of the Blended House cringed
at the crusty, crunching sound of the burnt leather prying off (and the chibbles of crispy animal hide hitting the floor).� It was made worse when the man�s shirt was
peeled off, making them wince with the stretchy, slurpy
sound of cloth gently ripping from melted flesh.� Harry was even more agonized that his man�s
shoulder and forearm were an alarming shade of inflamed magenta.
Charlie, gingerly taking off his ruined
oxford and cotton under-tee, gave a welcome diversion as his impressive torso
was revealed.� And it wasn�t just Harry�s appreciation that quieted the crowd.� No.� Now
EVERYONE was speechless at his bulky, built form and body-art.
�Just summon my medi-kit.� I need burn salve.�� Charlie seemed too nonchalant for Harry�s
tastes-- for both the baring half his nude body AND the blistering that was
starting to form!
His
boyfriend�s lamentation of, �Ah, crap!� That was a perfectly good
jacket!� as he surveyed the damaged status of his outer-wear didn�t assuage the
Gryffinin�s trepidation at all.� After his terse �Accio�, Harry found it ridiculous
at all that Charlie was concerned over that kind of destruction to his apparel when
it couldn�t be repaired to its original glory.
This was a serious matter, dammit!� And what about the pain he was obviously
experiencing?!� Sure, the coat could look
decent enough with �Reparo� spells, and yeah, sadly,
the inherent protection was now lost�. But big whoop! �That�s what money was good for, right?� To be able to replace lost or damaged
material items if need be?
Harry shook his head and forced himself
to just focus on healing his man�s skin�. (If anyone noticed that the small
case of first-aid supplies came from the hall that was the entryway to the
student dorms�and from his room-- no one mentioned it.)
Harry�s jaw was gritted in irritation
and worry.� It also didn�t help that his
man�s body was now on display for all his Housemates to see (what he considered to be HIS!).� NONE of them were making any attempt at
averting their avid attention to his drool-worthy form!
The fact WAS that his gorgeous man was
stripped down and topless, complete with a button or two undone from the fly of
his jeans so that a hip was exposed.� Everyone was interested and staring,
remarking over his body-art.
He could handle Draco�s clinical,
detached perusal-- not much opinion diffusing through his stiff mask.� He could sense that the blond was quiet in
his admiring, as if he was looking upon an exquisite portrait.� But that was all it was.� That was fine.� (Especially since Harry would readily admit
Charlie was the embodiment of anyone�s
aesthetic version of a transcendent beauty.)
He could deal with Dean�s (NON-TOUCHING)
interest as well.� It was clear that
there was only a visual, artistic appreciation going on with his man�s ink; the
Gryffinpuff was understandably thrilled over the
expert shading, layered outline techniques and what he was guessing were the
animation charms involved�.
Really, it WAS impressive!� Harry could admit that�.
Ron and Hermione had seen the upper body
of this man in its entirety before.� They
were in no way threatening to their best friend in the way of ogling family.�
Neville and Hannah?� They just seemed to avert their eyes, bashful
and respectful�.� And Harry appreciated
it.
All that would have been ok, but Luna
was shamelessly tracing her fingers over the dragon-handler�s various tattoos--
actually making tactile contact! �The
hypnotic libidinous lilt of her voice and endless caressing had Harry�s teeth
grinding worse.� Exactly what was she playing at?!
Charlie was showing off, flexing his pecs and biceps, explaining each flesh imbedded-paint to
the group as they asked.� The brunet
supposed it worked well to divert the man�s attention from the pain of his
ministrations of the balm.� (But he
didn�t like it.� That was for damn sure!)� He was-- intently, silently-- gently applying
the necessary ointment to the burns to keep them from getting any worse.� Though after a certain point, he couldn�t
take it anymore!�
When the first phase of treatment was
done, Harry pursed his lips and shot Neville a hard death-glare to get his
girlfriend away from his man.
The Ravendor�s
overly enthusiastic gushing had reached melting-wet proportions that were
dangerously close to bringing her to outright rubbing the apex of her thighs on
Charlie�s leg.� Harry wasn�t having any
of that on top of everything else!� Her roving
hands had been TOO interested in touching, mapping every contour bared on his
man!� Her eyes were dilated-- black pupils
almost eclipsing her corn flower-blue irises.
�C�mon Honey,� his buddy since first
year crooned.� Neville gently, yet firmly,
plucked his lover�s fingers off the rippling muscles by her tiny wrist.� The Gryffinpuff
shot the fuming brunet a look of supplication and then murmured something in
her ear.
She seemed to come to a moment later, shaking
her head and her vision adjusted from blurry to clear.� �Oh, yes.�
Of course,� she cooed with a lusty huskiness to her tone.� �Let�s let the rest of them heal our Head of
House and go to bed.�� Harry was relieved she was backing off and
leaving, but then blinked in surprise when she also extended a hand to Hannah
and took both the Gryffinpuff AND Huffledor
to her room.
(When
had THAT happened?� Was he truly so
unobservant that he hadn�t noticed the development of that particular triad?)
(He shared a glance and shrug with Ron and Dean.� They all seemed to smirk in a �more power to
you, Bro� kind of way and returned to the most pressing matter at hand�
Charlie�s recuperation.)
Harry�s mind wandered as he tended to
his Lover.
He continued spreading (the second step
of a different) cream over what flesh would most likely be agonizingly stinging
now that the adrenaline of the attack was wearing off.� With each mindless stroke of goo, he couldn�t
help contemplating the �life goes on� and �life is bigger than just you� lesson
that was staring him in the face:
It made him smile.
He knew that Neville and Luna were
affectionate, harboring a deep and abiding sense of care for one another. That
much was crystal-clear. But even HE could tell� as dim as he could be about
such things-- they were just passing the time this year in a �friends with
benefits� way rather than a profound and all-consuming passionate Love that had
them needing to be bound together forever.
It worked for them.
They drew comfort and pleasure by being
together even when they both knew they had an expiration date of the end of
schooling.� It was well established that
the Ravendor would be leaving to travel the globe
once she�d gained her NEWTs.� The Gryffinpuff was working his way to take over for Sprout
when she retired and would be staying at the Castle.
Given both their personalities, he
always thought that Neville and Hannah were very well suited towards each
other�. The former Hufflepuff was low-key and would
never be outspoken, but it was her diligent, sweet nature that his dorm-mate
needed to figure out for himself.
Hannah was loyal and kind.
She always had others� best interests at
heart� and always saw the best in everyone.�
The young witch had a quiet but pervasive way about her that encouraged everyone
she interacted with.� The Huffledor naturally, without effort, brought forth and
nurtured other�s illuminating, positive qualities to light.� In her own, serene influence, she allowed the
inner-shine in others to grow and rise to their full potential while never
stealing the spotlight.�
However long this had been growing, it
certainly benefited them both, in terms of personal growth.� And he was still appreciative their shy
comrade�s eyes weren�t plastered all over his half-dressed man, like Luna had
been seconds ago, (even though he�d sensed the starting of a crush on Hannah�s
part during their first night as Blended House).
(Maybe
Luna�s unconventional methods were the catalyst to Neville and Hannah
discovering a truly great match in each other�. And perhaps, the supposedly-spacey
blonde�s non-inhibitions would enflame two great friends who were unsure of
themselves in the first place into finding something truly wonderful.)
Once the initial shock of the gathered
crew had worn off, seeing as Charlie�s injuries were being well treated, Ron
scoffed.� �If you �know your way around
dragons� so well, why do you carry around such a huge vat of burn potion, hmm?�
Hermione looked up from her perusal of
the large jar�s label and list of ingredients, pleased that everyone, including
her boyfriend, had regained some sensibility and good humour
after such a fright.� She was also proud
that they had dismissed the unusual coupling/moresome�that
none of them had really seen coming� AND it was dismissed without any un-due
bawdy or raunchy comments.
�I DO
know dragons,� their Head of House asserted with the utmost of certainty,
(underscored with a bearing of teeth to dare to test his veracity).� �You can always tell when the adults are
gearing up for a blast.� I don�t know--
it�s something to do with their posture.��
Charlie bunched his shoulders and drew them back.� �And the way their necks rear, the look in
their eyes�. just everything.� Besides, we don�t get near enough to the line
of fire.� We just mostly get surprised by
nearby shrubbery catching a-blaze during the times when we have to assist in a
territorial dispute.�
(Here, sapphire eyes looked
apologetically to his boyfriend.)
�Naw, this
stuff is mostly necessary for when tending to the hatchlings.� They burp or hiccup tiny jets when they are
babies.� They don�t even know when it�s going to happen, kind of like
accidental magic in children, so those handling them get caught off guard from
time to time.�
Ron approached closer to his elder
sibling with an unsettling expression of suppressed mirth, yet solemnly placed
a hand on his good shoulder.� The silence
stretched for a long moment and had everyone wondering what could happen in the
next emotionally charged second.
They didn�t have to wait long until the
anxiety was shattered:
The redheaded Gryffinin
leaned in close, belched loudly and then blew his smelly expelled air in
Charlie�s face.� �Did you see that one
coming big bro?�
�Ugh!�
Ronnie!� What did you eat?� Charlie admonished with fond exasperation while
he fanned the air in front of his face, halfheartedly kicking at nothing in
particular.� The youngest Weasley male danced out of swatting range, laughing all the
while.
Seeing the group surrounding them,
fighting sniggers and varying degrees of revulsion, Charlie added, just to poke
fun, �Expect it from you?� Absolutely.� Now, however, from the lovely Hermione or
this youthful dragon here,� and he
indicated Draco with an upturned palm, �No.�
At the horrified expressions on the Gryffinclaw and Slytherclaw�s
faces, the rest gave in to the giggles that came from things getting back to
normal and relief that the main danger had passed.� After the blond had moved through being taken
aback at being linked to such an egregious lack of manners and the others
laughing that he might exhibit such disgusting behavior, he had to concede that
the very thought WAS pretty humorous.
Draco caught Hermione giving him a kind
look while he was still flustered, bustling around getting a wet cloth for
Harry to wipe his stained hands on; she nodded when he caught her eye with a
small smile on his face, pleased to be included (and not the butt of) a joke.� It touched his heart to be envoped in such a warm group of friends, even though it was
in a way he�d never imagined he could enjoy.�
After the medicated salve was spread
liberally on the affected areas�and a foul-smelling gauze soaked in glop was
slopped and stuck on, Charlie lay down on the couch that faced the fire.� �You guys don�t mind me-- I just need to sit
still for the next twenty to thirty minutes for this pukey-smelling
poultice to take hold�.�
Harry tried to keep his fussing to a
minimum but didn�t move more than a few centimeters from Charlie�s side.� He sat on the floor by the sofa. �He made a valiant attempt at bringing up a new
topic for discussion to take his mind off the ailments of his lover.� �Hermione, did you know that Animagus forms are the same as Patronuses?�
The bushy-haired witch in question
looked up from the book she had just picked up with a withering glare.� �Um�. Yes,
Harry,� she started slowly, her tone clearly indicating that she was wondering
about her best friend�s mental capacity and overall IQ score.� �That IS included with my central thesis statement
in my abstract and introduction.�
Harry cringed a little and admitted he�d
gotten lost in the very beginning of her paper-- her epic work in progress-- on
the phenomenon of �Expecto Patronum�.� �I got thrown off by all the names and
citations, of the dates of studies and stuff�.� he trailed off weakly.
�Be that as it may,� she continued with
gritted teeth, �A simple answer?�
Yes.� You don�t really think
someone has two different sets of characteristics in their soul, do you?�� (Honestly, Harry had not given it much
thought one way or another until today.)
Realization dawned on Hermione�s
boyfriend�s face after that confirmation; at the reddened cheeks on the blond�s face, Ron�s mouth started spreading in a wide
grin.� �What�s your form, then, Draco?� A ferret?�� His lips were halted in mid-stretch a second
later:
�Ronald,� his girlfriend growled in
warning.� �I�m sure Draco would find it
equally hilarious that your dad�s Patronus is a weasel.�� Harry and Dean didn�t even try to stifle
sniggers over their friend�s gob-smacked expression of being thrown under the
Knight Bus by his chosen woman� and then the genuine, good-natured amusement
and relief in the Slytherclaw�s eyes at her coming to
his defense.
The bushy-haired witch bristled after a
second of watching the byplay of light-hearted amusement of her housemates. �But
forcing human to animal transfiguration is no laughing matter!� Hardly anyone can actually do it, but it IS a
dark thing to do to someone�. Without consent, it is a huge violation of a
person.�� Looking around at her confused
friends, she elaborated with wildly punctuating hand gestures:
�Think about it!� Most people aren�t trained Animagi.� A cheating husband is turned into a rat with
no knowledge on how to change back.� Poof!� In a fit of anger, a nagging mother-in-law is
subjected to living out the rest of her life as a shrew.�� Seeing some shifty, uncomfortable eyes
darting around she admitted in a low tone, �Or trapped in a tiny form in a
reinforced cage unable to revert back�. No matter how much you think they
deserve it at the time.�
Harry and Ron gulped.
They had thought it wicked-cool when Hermione
had bested Skeeter after The Tournament for all the
hell she�d put everyone through, but the implications that their best friend
had imprisoned and blackmailed the reporter were rather sketchy, now, given the
time and maturity to realize the ramifications.
Which was more illegal?� An unregistered Animagus wreaking havoc on
people�s lives and privacy, spreading slander and devastation� or what was
essentially a kidnapping with severe consequences to the shady journalist as a
condition of release and freedom if she continued her unethical ways?
�And haven�t you ever wondered about Filch�s cat?�� Taking
in the still stunned, questioning expressions of all those around her, Hermione
elaborated:
�MRS.
Norris?� When have you ever heard of a
pet with a married status?� I�ve heard,
Miss or Mister�even Sir-- before the names of familiars�. but a clearly wedded
suffix? �What animal gets married? Plus the fact that when Charlie
got here last Summer, he said she looked �exactly the same�, just as old as in his
first year.� Curiously long life for a
common cat!� Not to mention how she seems
much more intelligent, interested and able to communicate with humans.�
Each member of the Blended House squirmed
a bit.
They were all just NOW realizing how
implausible or preternatural that particular kitty�s obvious longevity actually
was.� Each, individually, they considered
this new revelation.� They mentally
catalogued their personal experiences with the disagreeable duo that seemed to
be equal patrolling partners of a sort, rather than a man with a mere service
animal.
They were forced to contemplate that this
might be a case of mistaken or purposeful forced transfiguration; that this
really might have been an unfortunate Fate befallen of the unusually aged,
cantankerous feline.
Was there some nefarious plot behind it
all?� Was that why Argus had always held
such an intense affection and protective mien for her?� Had Dumbledore known?� (And if so, why hadn�t such a powerful wizard
fixed it all?) (Plus, why was the Squib� with an obviously different last
name-- involved so emotionally and deeply with a married woman?)� They would probably never know the whole
story�.
Hermione cleared her throat over the
sudden tension in the room.�
�Wizarding law has very clear ideas
about Dark curses intended to do harm, like the Unforgivables.� And of course the use of lethal poisons.� But there is a huge gray area when it comes to spells barely anyone knows or can
execute.� The majority of the magical
population doesn�t have enough of what it takes to bring on an animal
transformation for themselves.� An even smaller fraction would be the people
that could do it that could make it happen to someone else.� It is even harder to determine who might have
that power, let alone know a spell to reverse a potential transfiguration.�
(Harry
and Ron knew that Hermione was referring to the way Remus and Sirius, at the
end of third year, had inexplicably spur-of-the-moment joined forces to
initiate Peter�s change back to prove a point.�
How they had been sure that they were correct in their knowledge�. Of
both the reversal spell AND being confident that the rodent in their midst was
the exact individual they�d known since childhood.
It made sense that the young Marauders had
researched the counter in case one of them ran into trouble trying to revert
back.� They were clever enough to have
the foresight for that safeguard being necessary for that particular
project.� They had always been extremely
adroit at covering their asses, after all.)
�There just aren�t enough documented
occurrences of such a thing to make it an official crime and near impossible to
prove,� the Gryffinclaw summed up.�� Her shoulders deflated under the burden of
knowledge.
Draco was frowning.� His past humiliation, tempered slightly by
the acceptance he was experiencing over the �bouncing ferret� incident, was
swirling with all that he had been learning this day.� He needed to understand the specifics of what
exactly this meant.� �So Professor
Moody��
He was interrupted by Harry exclaiming
loudly, �That makes sense!� Barty Crouch Jr. was both malevolent AND smart!� Strong, too.� He threw off the Imperious Curse and went on
to plot something very elaborate and remained undetected until�.�� The brunet turned thoughtful and needed to
share eye-contact with his best girlfriend.
�Yes, Harry.� This was another thing that Dumbledore let
slide a bit.� He needed the teacher.� But also, Mad-eye was a friend he wanted give the benefit of the doubt to, despite his quirks and unorthodox
circumstances�. Just like Hagrid.� Just like Remus�. Just like Snape�.�
She trailed off softly.� She sat with her head bowed in respect and
staring at her fingers entwined in her lap, effectively throwing them all into
bittersweet reminiscences of the past �over the Potions Master (for various and
vastly different reasons).
Disconcerted, Draco didn�t know what to
make of that last little exchange.� But something
didn�t sit quite right.� He huffed
slightly, gathering his thoughts, picking apart the tidbits he found most
salient and pressing:
�Our teacher wasn�t the demented Auror
after all?� Are you talking of Crouch
Junior?� The nutter that got thrown in
Azkaban along with my aunt and uncle for�� He cast a
quick search of the room and then, with visual confirmation remembered that
Neville had already left, he continued.�
But he lowered his voice in respect anyway, ��for Crucio-ing
Longbottom�s parents into madness in the First War?� Earning them a Fate worse than death and a
lifelong stay at St. Mungo�s?�
Charlie was listening in silent shock.
(How much had he missed of these kids� combined
history while he�d been off having fun and following his dreams?� How much did he not know about the students
he was charged with?� Neville was as good
as an orphan? �Perhaps
even worse?� How were all these
guys so well adjusted after these things they grew up with?� He knew some, but it seemed he kept learning
fresh horrors, one after the other�.
Still, he had to appreciate and be amazed at the
level of civility�even friendship�that bloomed among them all given such
tortured pasts.� That filled him with a
sense of pride.)
The young adults just sat there in
somber, silent assent after Hermione and Harry�s single affirmative nod-- until
Ron burst out with, �So Malfoy�s naturally a ferret then.�
At the dismayed and horrified looks from
the others, he elaborated, �And now you know the Head of my Family is a
weasel.� Two very similar species, I
might add, that compete against each other.�
White and sable.� You called that particular genetic
affiliation early on didn�t you, Draco?� Always
knew you were smart, even if I didn�t appreciate the delivery in our early
years.�
Hermione�s heart swelled with
pride.� She was continuously surprised
these days-- in a pleasant way-- how her beau was able to still speak his mind,
yet be heedful of others� feelings.� She
smiled.� It was endearing to see him tamp
down his stubborn pride and poke fun at himself in reciprocity to teasing a former
rival.
This balance, no doubt learned from being the
immediate younger sibling of Fred and George his whole life (and finally grew
into an adult) was beautiful.� His life
experience gave him the ability to zing but take enough deprecating humour on himself when the situation called for it.� It reminded her of the way the twins used to
diffuse things when things got stiflingly heavy.
In fact, it was one of the characteristics that
made them work together so well as a couple� he always knew when to inject levity
(and to what level) to counter her bad moods.�
He was NOW actually adept at sensing what technique to apply to her
various shades of stress, irritation, anger or frustration.� (When the situation called for him to remain
silent had been the most important, yet difficult, lesson he�d learned of them
all!!)
Everyone could freely admit now that any and
all� including random combinations of each feeling-- were aspects that were
sorely underdeveloped and completely missing in their younger years!
Draco gave a slight dip of his head in
agreement to Ron and then turned toward his favourite
study-buddy.� �You are researching this
Light Art of Patronuses?�� He very much respected this witch�s ability
the more he saw of it and genuinely wanted to know more.
�Yes!� Hermionie
exclaimed, exuberant to discuss one of her senior projects with someone who
actually seemed interested.� �The
Headmistress has forwarded my abstract, introduction and first few sections to
the Unspeakables and they offered me a position after
graduation!� Well, conditional on if my
NEWT scores are good enough�.�
A simultaneous cheer and a groan rose up
from the group, in equal measure of congratulations and dismissing her
assessment that her future grades wouldn�t give her an automatic �in�.
Feeling bashful yet chuffed that
everyone seemed so supportive, she gave into the self-satisfied grin that had
been threating to burst forth.� Ron
hugged her close and kissed the side of her head (then spit out a few curls
that got sucked into his lips, brushing them away from his mouth).� They both laughed and the youngest male Weasley declared with pride, �Super-brain!�
�Hermy!� You would be researching for a living!� Harry
shouted.�� That�s perfect!� He shared a
knowing look with Ron, beyond the usual happiness for a dear friend.� She could be intellectually fulfilled and they
wouldn�t have to endure years of guilt because a job in that department meant
she wouldn�t be able to talk their ears off over things that went straight over
their heads anyway!
Draco gazed upon the exchange with a
certain fondness he thought he�d never feel in a million years.� He felt a certain pride for that woman swell.� �Congratulations,� he bestowed on his fellow
�secondary-claw� friend (and truly meant it); she beamed at the smile that
reached all the way into the corners of his eyes.
He cleared his throat again before
announcing, �Speaking of well-suited careers, my mother has convinced Harry to
lead study groups to learn to defend against Dementors in preparation to taking
the DADA post next year.�
�Harry!��
Hermione shrieked and clapped her hands.�� That is a wonderful senior project!� What made you think of it?�
The brunet felt his grin falter just a
bit when he ground out, �I didn�t even KNOW about such an assignment, no one
told me�. But Narcissa was most helpful.��
Harry did not care for the furtive looks that were exchanged after
that.� He immediately bristled.
It was then realized everyone had pretty much
resigned themselves to the fact that he would die before any such thing would
be necessary.� Sure, that made sense
BEFORE�. But what about now?� They all thought he didn�t have to
distinguish himself on his own merits once it was apparent that he�d lived, gone
on to try and be a normal student in his last year?� Did they think he wanted to just sail on him
fame (or bank vaults)?� Didn�t those
closest to him know that?!
�I�d like to read your paper sometime,� Draco
piped up towards Hermione, diverting the strange energy pervading the area and
made it clear that he wished to absorb his intellectual equal�s research.
Harry�s best girlfriend looked to him
trying to impart with some strange sign language doing a hand over hand gesture.� She got nothing from his stony countenance.� She huffed at the clueless non-compliance or
even recognition she received over her questions and clues.
(If
her thick mate didn�t get that what she was going for with all that was �SWITCHING�,
well, there wasn�t much hope for him in an intellectual way!)
�It�s not entirely done,� she replied,
still trying to catch Harry�s eye to see how he felt about it, but got no
realization or permission.� No, of course
no names were included, but her main case study she cited and stated first-hand
knowledge of wasn�t exactly anonymous since a lot of people knew about his stag
Patronus.
Harry shrugged.� He didn�t get her intense silent question
(and after the fright of Charlie earlier and this new, perceived injustice had
him unwilling to be more diplomatic and reasonable about things in general).� He just didn�t get it.
Draco, sensing some hesitance and the
byplay, pursed his lips; he was determined to move the conversation on in
another vein, just as artfully as he�d learned at his mother�s knee.
�Perhaps
later then, Granger.� When you have more of your study
completed?�� He shifted on his seat to
address Dean (the most amiable and friendly of them all) �What is your
animal?� I assume you were part of the
secret society and learned this?�� The
genuine, open smile on his face made everyone slid into a more comfortable mode.
�Mine�s a Bower Bird.� The artist
offered easily.� Then he added for his
friend in absentia (and possibly right now �in euphoria�).� �Hannah is a Sparrow.�� Draco nodded in understanding and was relieved
when Harry continued the thread.
�Neville is a Golden Retriever�
(Actually, that made a lot of sense.� The
Malfoys had a groundskeeper that bred the dogs and he found the similarities of
the goofy, clumsy but loveable puppies that grew into fiercely loyal,
intelligent and competent adults quite apropos).
�Luna is a Hare.�� Ron supplied.
Charlie cracked one eye open and
surveyed his freely-talking students.�
His voice, suddenly added to the
proceedings, reminded them that a teacher was still witness to their candid
conversation.� �That makes a lot of sense,
you know.�
Everyone shared an indulgent laugh as their
Head of House wiped his freshly-healed skin clean of the ointment and gauze,
pleased and happy that he was healed.�
And once he�d donned a newly summoned shirt and they all (sans the triad still ensconced in Lovegood�s bedroom) prepared to head down to dinner,
Charlie uttered the thought they were all contemplating but couldn�t voice:
�Lovely-Lu brings on a whole new level
of meaning to the phrase �fucking like rabbits�, doesn�t
she?�
~O~
A/N:� Yeah�.
This one got way to long again so I cut the Halloween graveside pilgrimage and
Christmas visit with Draco to the dragon preserve for the next chapter.� Hope you guys haven�t gotten discouraged by
the huge lag-times in between postings and come back for the next go!
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WONKY CROSS