Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Bound	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 126052 -:- Recommendations : 15 -:- Currently Reading : 31
Disclaimer: JK owns HP. Not me. I also don't own any quotes you might recognize. I make no money doing this, I just get the plot bunnies to quit interrupting my sleep.

Chapter List
- 39
- 40
- 41
“Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up NOW!” Melody squealed as she ran into the ROR.

Draco shot straight up, nearly knocking Hermione out of the bed and grabbed his wand. “What the fuck?” He yelled as he stumbled out of bed, not noticing he was still nude.

“Well, put some pants on and then we have to a few things to figure out,” Melody snorted.

“What?” Draco snapped as he looked down and then blushed and turned to find his pants.

“I’ll just be in the hall. Get up Hermione!” Melody hollered as she slammed the door.

“What was that?” Hermione asked groggily.

“Who knows what goes through that woman’s mind,” Draco grumbled and gave up looking for his pants. He summoned a pair of denims shoved them on. Then he threw on an undershirt and ran his fingers through his hair.

Hermione had stumbled out of bed and yanked on a pair of track suit bottoms and a camisole. “She always has a reason though. Gosh, what time is it?”

Draco flicked his fingers and time flashed. “It’s almost ten!”

“Well, that explains the wakeup call,” Hermione muttered. “Ready?”

Draco nodded and opened the door slowly, looking both ways to make sure no one was about. Melody barged in, Alex hot on her heels. Severus and Celeste brought up the rear and closed the door behind them.

“Morning sleepyheads,” Melody chirped. “I want you two to each take one of these.” She gave them each a quaffle. Then she stepped back and cast a spell to transfigure a table into a gym mat. “I want you to throw them at this gym mat as hard as you can.”

Draco looked at her incredulously. “You woke us up so we could throw quaffles at the wall?”

“Yes,” Melody snapped. “Now do it and remember, as hard as you possibly can.”

Draco shrugged and threw the quaffle. It hit the mat with a boom and plowed through it and the wall behind it into the hall and imbedded itself in the far wall. “Oh shite!” He yelled, dumbfounded.

“Now you Hermione,” Melody coaxed.

A bit scared now, Hermione gave it her all and lobbed the ball at the wall. It hit with a boom as well, tunneling through the mat and coming to land right outside the wall in the hall. “What is going on?”

Melody grinned and ran outside the room, fetching both balls and repairing the castle halls with a few complicated spells. She came back inside and threw the quaffles at them as hard as she could. They caught them with ease.

“Has anyone gotten a good look at Celeste this morning?” She asked with a smile worthy of a Cheshire cat.

Hermione and Draco looked over at a now blushing Celeste. She looked happy, happier than they’d seen her in a while. Her hair was almost as curly as Hermione’s but it was pinned back out of her face. Her eyes were sparkling green and twinkling merrily while she waited for them to discover what was different. She tilted her head a bit and that’s when they saw it, a thin blood red leather collar.

“You’re engaged,” Draco breathed.

“Bonded,” Severus said shortly.

“Oh isn’t it great?” Melody squealed as she bounced up and down. She grabbed Celeste and spun around with her in circles and laughed until tears streamed down her face. “Oh it’s everything I ever hoped for.” She dried her happy tears and gave Severus a big hug.

Draco and Hermione congratulated them both with hugs and handshakes. They were so happy for both of them. Severus had finally found someone to be with. It was about time.

“Alright, alright, enough of this,” Melody sniffled, laughing at herself. “Now, as you just witnessed, your bond with Severus settled. You now have his strength and in return, he has your ability to heal without consuming blood. He has bonded with Celeste so she now has that ability as well, along with other things.” She smirked at the blushing redhead.

“It won’t be long before your bond with each other settles. It should speed along nicely. What you must learn now is to control your strength in addition to your sensory training because you could very easily hurt someone or even each other without meaning to.”

“How do we do that?” Draco asked curiously.

“The most barbaric way possible…throw some shit. When you can throw the quaffle to where it just touches the mat, we’ll start with people. Of course, when the time comes, you’ll use your strength but for now, we help you learn to control it. Then, we get to watch cartoons so Sev and Celeste can make out on the couch like teenagers.”

Everyone except Severus chuckled at her dig and they settled in for a long day of training and cartoons.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Easter is next week,” Melody said softly as Hermione and Draco trailed into the DADA classroom on Monday morning. Hermione had just passed her apparition test that weekend and they had celebrated ardently. They were still a bit sore, having just mastered their strength. It was strange to be able to pick up a desk and throw it through a wall without so much as a blink.

“Thank Merlin,” Draco sighed. “A whole week without classes.”

“Correction, a whole week to train and worry whether the Dark Lord will call you or not,” Melody frowned.

“You think he’ll call?” Hermione asked worriedly.

“He already has,” Severus drawled as he walked through the door from his office. His steps were noticeably slow and stiff.

“Oh no,” Melody said, her eyes watering. “How bad?”

“He’s been pardoned from his appearance,” Severus said, sitting down behind his desk gingerly. “For now.”

“His words?” Draco asked with some dread.

“He wanted to know your progress. I simply told him that you’d been making great strides but you needed to be left alone the entire week so you could focus on your task.”

“And he tortured you within an inch of your life for being insolent,” Melody said flatly.

“More or less,” Severus said softly. “But now we know that the healing portion of our bond works well. I still have full use of my magic and I haven’t consumed any blood.”

“Since when do you see a silver lining?” Melody snorted.

“When I tell him to,” Celeste said softly, walking in with a cup of steaming hot tea. “Here Sev, drink this.”

“That sounds about right,” Melody said quietly, a soft smile on her face as she watched the newest couple interact. It was obvious she was overjoyed at their bonding.

Severus sipped his tea and his eyes fluttered a bit. “You put your blood into this?”

“Yes and no complaining,” Celeste said sternly. “It makes it taste better and daywalker blood is better than none at all.”

“You’re walking on thin ice woman,” Severus growled but sipped his tea without further complaint.

“I am simply taking care of you. Get used to it,” Celeste said in exasperation.

Hermione turned around and hid her smile in Draco’s chest. ‘They’re already like an old married couple, Snape style.’

Draco laughed aloud, earning him a glare from his blood father. It didn’t deter him in the slightest. He went right on laughing until Potter walked in with Ginny, Weasley hot on his heels. The appearance of the red headed git made him stop cold. He had been quite distant in the past weeks, wanting to learn but still glaring at Hermione and him every chance he’d gotten.

“Ah, now I can make my announcement…as long as you think yesterday convinced him Sev,” Melody said thoughtfully.

“It has,” Severus said. “He wishes for a demonstration the first day back though.”

“Well, that can be arranged,” Melody acknowledged. “For now, I have news. Everyone sit down. We’re still waiting for someone.”

They all sat down quietly, wondering what on earth Melody could pull this time. A few weeks prior, she’d gotten a wild hair and decided they all needed to go skating. She’d had the ROR turn into a skating rink and insisted that everyone try. It was fun, no doubt, but completely useless as far as training went, or so they thought. Later in the week, she’d told them they were going to duel in the ROR and they ended up sliding across a frozen lake. Skating had come in handy then. Who’d of thought it?

“How are you feeling now Sev?” Melody asked curiously, noticing he’d finished his special tea.

“Better,” Snape said quietly. “It’s remarkable.”

“Keep that in mind for next time,” Melody said, shooting a pointed look at Celeste.

“Oh, it isn’t one I’ll forget for a while,” Severus said softly as his eyes slid over to Celeste as well. She gave him a soft smile and took his cup, disappearing into his office.

“What’s going on?” Harry asked.

Melody gave a grim smile. “Oh, the Dark Lord thought Severus had a smart mouth. So he fixed it. Nothing unusual there.”

A knock at the door stopped Harry from asking any further questions. Snape growled for the knocker to enter after a nod from Melody. Draco and Hermione flew apart at the sight of Luna Lovegood skipping through the door. The carefree girl didn’t seem to notice as she shut the door behind her and traipsed across the classroom, pulling up a seat for herself. “Hello everyone.”

“Good morning Luna,” Melody said cheerfully. “Now we’re ready for my announcement.”

Draco cautiously walked up, not wanting to give himself away. He settled for standing behind Melody with his back against the wall. What in the hell was Lovegood doing there?

“Oh don’t mind me,” Luna said serenely. “You two have been surrounded by far less wrackspurts than before since you’ve been together.”

“What?” Draco asked sharply.

“Empath,” Melody said confidently. “Sit down Draco. She’s known since the first day.”

Draco cautiously sat beside Hermione, all of his senses on high alert. He did not trust Lovegood at all but he trusted Melody so he kept his mouth shut. What else was she going to spring on them?

“Now, like I was telling these two, Easter is next week. So, we are all going to my ranch to train.”

“What?” Everyone asked at the same time.

“What, did I stutter?” Melody asked, looking around. “The Ranch is protected from prying eyes and has a wide variety of space to roam and fight. You don’t have to worry about being missed or spotted by your peers. It’s perfect and you get a chance to get away for a while.”

“And,” Draco said flatly.

“And I get a chance to make some money without being dead on my feet for a week,” Melody mumbled.

“You are NOT going there again,” Snape snapped, startling everyone.

“Oh keep your tunic on bat. I’m singing at the club, not…that other thing.” She dismissed him with a wave her hand. “I was fired from there anyways, remember?”

“Like that would stop you,” Snape spat.

Melody grinned. “You know me so well. However, this time I can honestly say that I have no plans to return there ever again.”

“That’s good,” Luna said dreamily. “Way too many nargles there.”

“Indeed,” Snape drawled, apparently amused by Luna’s casual observations rather than his usual annoyance at her nonsense.

“Anyway,” Melody said, smothering a smile. “Luna will be training with Harmony. Harry and Ginny, you’ll be with me. Draco and Hermione will be with Severus. Weasley, do you have any idea how hard it was to find someone willing to train you?”

“What?” Ron asked in bewilderment. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing. That’s the problem,” Melody huffed. “So, Harmony’s husband Philippe has agreed to help you out a bit. If you decide to open your mouth before thinking though, you might as well know he’s a healer and he knows a hundred different incurable diseases he can inflict upon you.”

“I’ll remember that,” Ron squeaked and then cleared his throat. “So what’s wrong with everyone else then?” He croaked and then cleared his throat again. “I mean, you said that me having nothing wrong was a problem so you mean everyone else has one.”

“They aren’t problems per say, more like, erm, quirks that can be harnessed. Luna is an empath so she’ll be working with Harmony to hone her skill and perhaps see a few less wrackspurts. You know about Draco and Hermione. Harry, well you know he needs extra training for his purpose,” Melody ticked off.

“And my sister?” Ron asked flatly.

“That’s probably a question best reserved for your mummy Weasley,” Melody said tersely. “I’m not at liberty to say and heaven forbid I piss her off.”

“What?” Ron asked incredulously. “My MUM knows and I don’t?”

Melody shrugged. “She was livid I knew. Anyway, you’ll all get training so quit complaining. Now, we leave on Friday right after classes. Meet in the forbidden forest and we’ll take a portkey to the wizarding district of my home town. It’ll still be before lunch there so we’ll have plenty of time to head to the

Ranch and eat before training begins.”

“Now, Weasley, Luna, you’ll have to excuse us because I have some more things to discuss with these four. See you in classes later,” Melody said, effectively dismissing them.

“Wait a minute!” Ron yelled and started to stand until Luna put a hand on his arm.

“It’s best if we go Ron. They’ll tell you in good time. Come on. I think I want some pudding.” Then she tugged him out the door, humming to herself.

Melody smiled as the door closed. “She’ll be good for him.”

“Why Lovegood?” Draco asked curiously.

“Those magical creatures she always talks about? They’re emotions she sees. Wrackspurts are um, those creatures that make your brain fuzzy right? Isn’t that what they’re supposed to be?”

“That’s what she said,” Harry nodded.

“Right. Well, there are wrackspurts, but they aren’t creatures. They’re confused emotions. The reason she sensed them around you two was because you were obviously confused at the time. Harmony’s going to help her learn to recognize them.”

“So she’ll be normal,” Draco said flatly.

Melody laughed. “I doubt Luna will ever be normal but yes, she’ll learn to read emotions better. Having an empath on your side is a good thing. She can read emotions so she’ll know who’s truthful or not. Lies have a particular set of emotions. Her nargles, or whatever, are evil or malicious feelings which is why she agrees with Sev on me going back to that place.”

“Makes sense,” Hermione said, surprised at her revelation.

“Of course it does. Besides, did you see the way she calmed him down? She’s the balance he needs.”

“Are they soul mates?” Ginny asked eagerly.

“No,” Melody said softly. “Neither one of them has a designated soul mates. Like I said, they are rare. We are rare. Us having equal soul mates are even more rare. Hell we’re practically endangered species that probably shouldn’t exist yet we do. Make of it what you will but they are still good for each other.”

“So,” Harry said nervously as he ran his fingers through his hair. “What were you going to tell us?”

“Ah,” Melody said a bit tensely. “Well, you know how Draco and Hermione had to be bound to live right?”

“Yes,” Harry said flatly.

“Aaaand Alex and I were bound to keep me balanced.”

“Yes,” Ginny said, her curiosity peaked.

“And now Sev and Celeste are bound and Hermione and Draco are stronger now for it.”

“Yes,” Harry said softly. He’d been shocked when he’d found out but had accepted it stoically. Ginny had squealed and hugged Snape tightly, much to the dour man’s consternation but he allowed it.

“Do you not see a trend?” Melody whispered.

“Oh Merlin!” Harry choked out, his eyes going wide. Draco started laughing at his distress, remembering his own struggle with the same concept. Hermione smacked him in the gut a bit harder than necessary and he shut up.

“Easy Harry. Don’t pass out or anything. It’s just a suggestion,” Melody said in alarm, noticing him paling.

“Just teenagers,” Harry managed to gasp out.

“Yes, there is that,” Melody said softly.

“Voldemort,” Harry breathed.

“Don’t speak his name!” Melody screeched, gritting her teeth.

“Why does everyone get so upset when I say it?” Harry growled.

“Because it bloody well hurts Potter,” Draco growled, rubbing his arm.

“What?” Harry asked in confusion.

“The Dark Lord has a tracking curse on the use of his name, always has,” Severus said harshly. “When it is uttered, the Mark burns. One simply has to touch it to apparate to that person in an instant. You are protected inside the castle and in your family home but it still causes the pain.”

“Oh. I-I didn’t know,” Harry said with furrowed brows.

“Well now you do so call him something else until he dies, Melody snapped. “Moldy Shorts is my favorite.”

“I’m rather fond of Lord Scaly Skin myself,” Draco mused.

“Yea, that one’s good, although snake bastard is probably more accurate,” Melody acknowledged. “Anyway, in answer to your poorly worded question, he will not know. We’ll use the same ancient rite that Hermione and Draco used.”

“Couple of flaws with that one,” Harry said, refusing to think about exactly what would happen during the rite. “Number one, Molly and Arthur would never go for it. Ginny’s way too young. Number two, I haven’t got any parents, now do I?”

Melody tilted her head. “Very good Harry. Now, don’t you think I would have thought of that? Let’s see. Well, Molly and Arthur do know about Ginny’s rare gift but I don’t want to reveal more than is necessary. Severus and Celeste will step in for her parents, Severus having fatherly rights and Celeste as his bonded wife will suffice.

“How does he have fatherly rights?” Harry asked, his eyes narrowed.

“It’s, um, complicated,” Melody said with a deep frown on her face. “More complicated than most can possibly imagine.”

“He’s drank her blood,” Harry seethed.

Melody’s eyes widened in shock. “What are you-“

“Save it!” Harry snapped. “I’ve known he was a daywalker for a while, ever since Hermione and Draco showed Ron they had fangs. They didn’t have an illness so your story held no water. You said that they’d get their strength from Snape. How else would he have that much strength? You said that a phenom was your exact opposite and completely compatible. If Celeste is a daywalker, the only person she can be with completely is another daywalker.”

“Well done Potter,” Severus mused. “Does it bother you that I’ve consumed her blood?”

“Why?” He asked brokenly.

“He needed it,” Ginny said softly. “To bring Hermione back from her healing. He was too weak.”

“So he bit you?” Harry yelped.

“No Potter,” Severus said softly. “She sliced her fingers and the blood was mixed with a replenisher. My fangs have never pierced her flesh.”

“So how is he her father then?”

“That’s the complicated part,” Melody said, her eyebrows furrowed. “He’s formed a familiar bond with her despite not using fangs. I mean, drinking blood in and of itself forms a bond but it isn’t strong enough for a rites bonding. I can only assume he drank enough of it for a full binding to take place and since she is so young and he so protective, it’s a parent/child bond for all purposes and intents. Celeste shares his blood so now she can stand in for her mother. It’s a little too convenient so I can only assume that fate is having a grand time playing around right now.”

“And my parents?” Harry asked, dreading what she was fixing to say.

Melody grinned. “Well, perhaps we should visit Vernon and Petunia Dursley before we do this. I’m sure Alex wouldn’t mind.”

“Won’t word get back to the Order? I mean, they aren’t the tightest lipped people when it comes to magic,” Harry moped.

“Well, we can do a vampire bonding with Alex but he’ll have to bite you,” Melody said softly.

“No thanks.” Harry shuddered.

“Then we terrorize your Aunt and Uncle,” Melody said brightly and then bit her lip. “Of course, it has to be consensual. Would under duress count as consensual?”

Harry snorted. “All you’d have to do is tell them I would never return home and they’d beg you to take it.”

“But we can’t do that,” Melody said. “You have to go back Harry. The charm will protect you until you are seventeen. We can’t afford to break that.”

“So we can’t do anything,” Harry said definitively.

Melody shrugged. “We can wait until you hit seventeen. With no parents at that age, you’d only require someone to step in for you.”

Harry hung his head in defeat.

“You don’t want to marry me,” Ginny said softly.

“It’s not that!” Harry squeaked. “It’s just, it’s fast…too fast.”

Draco snorted. “You should have been me Potter. It’s not that bad really.” He smiled at Hermione. “It’s probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Yea but, we’re so young,” Harry countered.

Melody shrugged. “You can wait if you like but until you’re bonded, you’re not going to reach your full potential. Ask Sev. He’s able to do things now that he only dreamed of.”

“Sir?” Harry asked softly.

“She is correct Potter,” Snape said softly. “My abilities have increased beyond what I could imagine and I now have a balance that I didn’t know I was missing.”

“Harry, Sev didn’t want to bond either.” Melody smiled. “Ask him what he would do if he could do it all over again.”

Harry glanced over at Snape who was scowling at Melody rather fiercely. “Sir?”

Snape sighed in irritation. “I would have bonded over Christmas. Happy?”

“I am,” Melody said brightly. “Just…think about it, alright?”

Harry nodded and looked over at Ginny. She was worrying her lip with her teeth and wringing her hands. She honestly thought he didn’t want her. It hurt to think that. She was everything he thought about and everything he wanted to protect. He didn’t even notice that Melody had crept up behind him until he felt her breathe into his ear.

“She’s your soul mate Harry, the one person in the entire world that was made just for you. Remember that.”

“She’ll be in danger,” he whispered back.

Melody chuckled. “She’s already in danger. I’m sure she can handle it and you, if you know what I mean.”

Harry turned beet red and looked at her in shock. He nodded and grabbed Ginny before bolting out the door.

“She can handle him, eh?” Draco asked with a smirk.

“Oh, she’s been wanting to handle him for a while now I think.” Melody chuckled. “Now, as for you two. I-I’m so sorry.”

“About what?” Draco asked curiously.

Melody took a deep breath as Celeste and Alex walked through the office door into the classroom.

“About this,” she whispered as she flung a spell that threw Draco to the back of the room and stuck him to the wall. Alex flashed back and held him there, a spell of his own in place as Draco struggled against him. Severus and Celeste had Hermione bound and stuck to his desk in seconds. Melody kept her hand up, holding her spell as she brandished a large knife and advanced on Hermione with it.

“What in the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Draco screamed as he flung her spell away and tried to get past Alex.

“Torturing her,” Melody said, tears streaming down her face as she threw another spell at Draco that stuck him to the wall upside down. She took the knife and drew it down Hermione’s arm, causing her and Draco to scream out in pain. “Remember your training!” She cried as she slashed again and again.

Hermione closed her eyes, concentrating on separating her senses. It was difficult and she lashed out magically. Celeste clamped down on her shoulders while Severus bound her to the desk again. Then he stood up and walked around to face her. His face was strained, his disgust at himself evident.

“Crucio,” Severus said softly and flinched as she screamed in pain and horror.

Draco roared in pain and anger as he lunged for her. Alex caught him. “Separate your senses and we’ll stop.”

“He’s torturing her!” Draco screamed.

“What are you going to do when you are 400 miles away or worse, if she’s brought before the Dark Lord?” Alex growled. “Are you going to scream and give yourself away or are you going to separate the pain and live another day?”

Draco took a deep breath and started to concentrate. He heard Hermione’s screams stop and although he could tell Severus was still trying to curse her, she wasn’t feeling pain anymore. She’d been successful. He closed his eyes and felt the pain melt away. “Stop,” he said softly. “Stop, we can’t feel it anymore.”

“Thank Merlin,” Severus said as he fell to his knees. Melody collapsed beside him and they held each other as tears flowed down their faces. Alex let Draco go and zoomed across the room to heal Hermione before he knelt beside Melody. Celeste had come up behind Severus to lend him her strength and they all watched as Draco scooped Hermione up into his arms, tears streaming down both their faces.

“Gods we’re so sorry,” Melody blubbered. “It was the only way to know for sure if you could do it under pressure.”

Draco looked up and saw his mentors on the ground in tears, even his godfather whom he’d never seen cry before in his life. He’d been livid that they dared use an Unforgivable on Hermione. However, looking at them now, it looks like it had tortured them as well. He couldn’t stay mad at them and Hermione felt the same way. She’d understood immediately. He’d been the one to fly off the handle. It was a strange new sensation.

“We understand,” Draco said softly, causing them to snap their heads up. “We’re not happy about it but we understand.”

“We couldn’t think of another way,” Severus croaked and then cleared his throat and gathered himself. “It won’t happen again. You had better learn from that experience.”

Draco took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “It’ll have to happen again. I can’t lose it like that again. I- I’m so sorry.” He looked at Hermione.

She smiled at him tiredly. “I agree. We were too slow.”

“No,” Melody said a bit stronger now. “I-I can’t do that again.”

“You have to. We can’t do that again,” Hermione said softly. Her body was still in pain from the effects of the curse but she’d not experienced the immediate effects.

“Hermione,” Severus said softly, dragging himself off the floor and walking towards them. “Daughter, you can’t take the cruciatis that many times. Your body still experiences the effects regardless of whether or not you feel the pain. We’ll end up having to give you Melody’s Botox concoction and then you’ll be out for a few days.”

“Then we’d better learn to get it quickly,” Hermione said, determination steeling her voice. “What would have happened if that had been an actual Death Eater ambush?”

“Disaster,” Draco said softly. “I’ll do better next time.”

“You’ll have to learn both ways,” Melody said, strain evident in her voice as she was helped off the floor by Alex. “Anything can happen after this.”

“Speaking of anything,” Draco said, setting Hermione on her feet so she could work out the muscle cramps he knew she was experiencing. “Any luck finding the cup or that necklace?”

“No,” Melody growled. “Harmony hasn’t touched anyone who knows about it and Albus hasn’t found the exact location of that necklace yet. Although, he is pretty sure he knows where it is. It’s just finding the damned place. Apparently, it’s in the middle of the fucking sea.”

“Brilliant,” Draco said flatly. “Now what?”

“We don’t know. We know what we’re looking for, it’s just finding where it is.” Melody sighed. “The problem is that we can’t destroy him until we destroy them. I mean, we could kill him now but he could come back…like almost immediately and then Harry will have lost his tether on life.”

“So we find out who does know about them,” Hermione said.

“You mean besides the Dark Lord?” Melody sneered. “The problem is finding that person and IF we find that person, do we trust them enough to have Harmony touch them.”

“Can’t we look for it in their minds?” Draco asked curiously.

“We could but it takes a great deal of legilimency and lots of time if they have shields anything like your Aunt Bellatrix. Imagine someone trying to pry something out of Sev. Harmony doesn’t have those obstacles because all the occlumency in the world can’t stop her. The only reason that Slughorn stumped her is because he actually physically modified the memories. Still, if he’d just stayed still for more than a few seconds, she could have gotten it. I’m afraid that unless you plan on a veritiserum spree, we’re pretty much stuck.”

“Then we figure out who would know,” Draco said logically. “He would obviously give his most trusted these things. He probably wouldn’t tell them what they were though. Take that book he gave Lucius, Riddle’s diary. All he knew was that it had the power to possess people. He had no clue it was a horcrux and the Dark Lord was furious with him for letting it go. That’s why he sent him to the Ministry to retrieve that prophesy in the first place, to make up for his royal fuck up.”

“Well, Sev didn’t get anything,” Melody said and Severus nodded in agreement. “Who else were his trusted?”

“Barty Crouch Jr. who has been kissed, Evan Rosier is dead, Mulciber Sr. is dead, and of course Bellatrix and her husband,” Severus ticked off.

“Bellatrix then,” Hermione said softly. “Is there a way we can get Harmony to touch her?”

“Without Bella killing her, doubtful,” Snape drawled. “Unless she could do it with a brush. I’ve no doubt dear Bella will get the word that Melody will be preforming at the club during the Easter holiday and even though she’s been warned, will be hard pressed to stay away.”

“Bellatrix has been warned against going to the club?” Melody asked in shock.

“Oh yes. Since she brought that muggle and he had a problem with his memory after tangling with a rather voluptuous raven haired beauty that shall not be named, she’s been ordered to stay away. The Dark Lord fears a jolt in her memory as well. He doesn’t know she’s already had one.”

“All the more reasons to find them,” Hermione breathed. “What will we do with her after that?”

“Assuming Harmony is able to brush against her and find what we need?” Melody mused. “I’ll hex her flat on her arse just like the last time.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Draco laughed.

“I’d like to kill her but alas, murder isn’t the best way to solve your problems,” Melody sighed, only half joking. “Now, it’s almost time for class. You two best run and eat before everyone gets here.”

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“Are you sure it’s here?” Ron asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“For the last time Ronald, yes this is it!” Hermione snapped.

“Well then where are they?”

“Probably looking for a hex to turn you into a bloody rock for a week so you’ll shut the hell up,” Draco snapped.

“Who asked you Malfoy?” Ron growled.

“You asked where they were. I answered,” Draco growled. “Now shut up. You’re entirely too loud.”

“What, your super sensitive ears hurting?” Ron sneered.

“Yes!” Hermione and Draco said at the same time, plugging their ears. He’d been loudly questioning them for the past half an hour.

“You forget they can hear better now,” Harry said softly. “I imagine they got tied up with Dumbledore’s last minute instructions.”

“Probably,” Ginny said nervously. Hermione shot her a curious look and the red head shook her head. She mouthed ‘later’ and went back to peering out of the forest.

“Do you know I could hear you from the bloody castle?” Celeste said softly from behind them, causing them all to start and turn. “Where in the hell did you learn stealth Weasley, a giant?”

“Told you,” Draco smirked.

“Shut up Malfoy,” Ron growled.

“Where are they?” Hermione whispered.

“Well, Melody is collecting Luna and Severus is getting ripped a new one by McGonagall for making off with the Gryffindors without her permission.” Celeste chuckled.

“How did she find out?” Ginny asked in alarm.

“Seems that she and Molly have tea every weekend and when she mentioned that it was odd for them to be going home over the holiday, Molly flipped her shit.”

“Of course,” Ginny said in exasperation. “Now what?”

“Well, Melody and Molly had a nice long screaming ma- erm, I mean chat and it ended up with Molly’s mouth being hexed shut. Melody gave her what for and told her to take it up with Dumbledore, which she did.”

“I take it Dumbledore cleared us?” Ron asked dryly.

“You’re here aren’t you?” Celeste said flatly. They’d come to an uneasy truce but it wasn’t hard to see that Celeste had no love for Weasley and vice versa.

“What’s McGonagall think Snape’s going to do to us?” Ginny asked in bewilderment.

“Oh, I don’t know, drink your blood and make you his minions?” Celeste quipped.

Ginny burst out laughing along with Hermione and Draco. He’s already done that. Harry’s mouth was set in a grimace. Of course, no one else got the joke. They had no clue that Severus was a daywalker. Ron had gone pale, remembering Melody’s warning about Celeste clearly.

Celeste smiled. “Here they come. Oh, Sev is pissed. You’d best put a shield up as soon as we get back to the Ranch. He’s going to hex the first thing he sees and he isn’t going to care what or who that is.”

“Bloody old hag!” Snape snapped when they got there. “She’s lucky I can keep my temper.”

“You aren’t doing such a swell job of that right now deary,” Melody bit out. She’d apparently already had enough of his attitude.

“At least I didn’t hex her mouth shut,” he retorted to which Melody stuck her tongue out childishly.

“Now, now children, play nicely,” Celeste said sweetly. “We’ve got to get to America in one piece.” She offered a large wooden wagon wheel for everyone to place their hands on. “Now, we’re all packed?” Everyone nodded. “On three then.”

She counted them off and they all experienced a sickening tug behind their naval. They landed in a huge pile in the middle of the street. “Quick, glamours,” Philippe hissed as they tried to untangle themselves. They cast mild glamour charms to change their basic features and finished dusting themselves off.

“This way then,” Philippe said softly as he walked through the alley to Alex’s part of the clinic. Hermione and Draco didn’t bat an eye as they went through the blood red door. The rest of the students were distinctly uneasy but followed along quietly. Once they’d all filed in, Philippe closed the door behind them. Draco and Hermione’s eyes were drawn to the back room where they’d first met Harmony and saw what terrible shape the twins were in. Memories were flooding back to them, none of them pleasant.

“Hey,” Melody said, clamping a hand down on their shoulders. “It’s in the past. Leave it there.”

The nodded and turned to face Philippe who shot them a sympathetic look. He knew exactly what they were thinking. “Now, since there are so many of you, you’ll be portkeying to the back pasture.”

Philippe offered them a rope like the one Melody had given them their first trip there. Draco looked down and noticed that it was flecked with blood. He looked up in horror. Melody nodded and gave him a sad smile, motioning for him to take it. He took a deep breath and grabbed hold, shutting his eyes against the memories. Hermione did the same. Another tug and they landed a bit softer than the first time into dry grass.

“Right then,” Melody said, brushing herself off after her tumble in the dirt. “House it this way. It’s quite a hike. Best set a brief pace so we get there by lunch.”

They set off toward the house but not ten minutes into their journey, Hermione came to a screeching halt. Draco bumped into her and steadied her to keep her from falling. “What’s wrong?” He asked softly and followed her eyes to where she was staring.

His blood ran cold. It was still there, the bloody circle where all those muggles had attacked Harmony and Melody. He could see the images filing past his eyes. The twins on the ground being beaten mercilessly, the vampires swooping in, bloody fangs, entrails, screams, and then the girls’ almost lifeless bodies lying in a heap in the middle of a ring of carcasses. They were remembering together and the images were so strong. They remembered the twins being scooped up and taken to the house, working frantically over them trying to save them one last time. They had died and miraculously come back to life but the emotions were still there, the feelings of loss and the thoughts of what a waste it had been.

“We’ve tried to scourgify it away,” Melody said softly, interrupting their thoughts. “We’ve tried just about everything, burning, hexing, scouring, digging. The ground is impenetrable, like it is holding this place in time as a reminder of everything. I hardly ever come back here anymore, too many bad memories.”

“What magic is it?” Draco asked softly.

“I don’t know,” Melody said, her voice catching. “There is none as far as I can tell. It’s just…here.”

“And the memories?” Hermione croaked.

“Every time,” Melody said softly.

“What happened here?” Harry asked, breaking into their trance. They looked up and noticed that Severus and Celeste had been staring at the circle as well. Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Luna were all looking at them strangely. Well, not Luna. She had a very sad look on her normally serene face.

Melody cleared her throat. “The less you know about this circle, the better.”

“Why?” Harry asked, narrowing his eyes. “We aren’t good enough to know?”

“No,” Luna said softly. “Horrible things happened here that no one else should have to burden themselves with.” She said it so gravely that everyone looked at her for a moment.

“Right,” Melody said. “On to the house, all of you. Just walk straight that way.” She pointed toward the house.

They turned around and started walking but Hermione and Draco felt like their feet were rooted to the spot. “I can’t move,” Draco said softly.

“You won’t be able to for a few minutes,” Melody answered sadly. “This is where I was when that last muggle attacked me. It’s why I wasn’t fast enough. The memories seem to paralyze you. Harmony wasn’t with me or we’d have both been in trouble.”

“I can’t believe there isn’t any magic to cause this,” Hermione said, her brows furrowed as she stared at the circle.

“I think it’s probably something to do with the fates. They want everyone who was there that night to remember what happens when information slips into the wrong hands,” Melody explained. “I know you think that brining Luna was a bad idea but Harmony has a feeling about her and so do I. She’ll be invaluable in a fight. Ron is a bit harder to read but now that we’ve got Luna, she’ll keep him from flying off the handle. Still, neither can know about your specific magical abilities even though Luna’s probably already gotten a clue.”

“So how are we supposed to train out here?” Draco asked incredulously.

“Philippe will be taking Weasley to his clinic to study in between patients. Harmony and Luna will practice there as well.”

“Will you tell Potter and Red about this circle then?” Draco asked softly.

“Yes, then. Ron shouldn’t know and Luna doesn’t want to. She can feel the sorrow without it,” Melody said reverently. “Now, we really should be going. They’re already more suspicious than they should be.”

With that, they headed to the house, easily catching up to the wandering band of students. They made good time, getting to the house just as the dinner bell rang. Melody explained the rules quietly before she allowed them inside and they all tucked into fajitas. Ron loudly praised the cook and even Draco cracked a smile at his enjoyment. Then the room assignments were handed out, which caused quite a raucous.

“Alright, everyone listen up!” Melody announced. “Rooms are this way.” She headed up the stairs and motioned for them to follow. “Sev, same room as always and Celeste will join you of course. Harmony and I have our same bedrooms as well. Hermione, Draco, you’ll be in yours again. That’s it for the bedrooms in this hall.” She turned around and walked the other way across the house. “Now, Ron, you’ll be in this first one. Luna will be next door. Harry, Ginny, you’ll take this one.” She said, pointing to the one across from Luna. “There is a restroom for each room as well as a large one at the end of each of the halls should you need it. Now, everyone go outside, get your luggage sorted out, and then come in and unpack because we’ve got a long day ahead of us and you’ll be on American time until we go back.

“Wait a bloody minute,” Ron cried. “Why do they sleep in the same rooms?” He asked, pointing to Hermione, Draco, Harry, and Ginny.

“Would you prefer to bunk with Luna then?” Melody asked, sidestepping his question all together.

“No!” Ron said incredulously. “And I don’t want my sister shacking up with Harry either.”

“Oh grow up Weasley,” Melody huffed. “If it bothers you, you can sleep outside and Ginny can have your room. I’m sure Button wouldn’t mind sharing her stall.”

Draco laughed out loud at her joke. He remembered Button all too well. The ill-tempered chestnut horse only tolerated Melody but everyone else was fair game for stomping.

“There are plenty of other rooms,” Ron growled.

“That are currently being used so either you sleep in the barn, or the sleeping arrangements stay the same. Which will it be Weasley?” Melody asked, her eyebrow cocked in amusement.

“She could stay with me or Luna,” Ron growled.

“No bloody way am I sleeping anywhere near you,” Ginny scoffed. “I’ll be just fine with Harry. It’s not like we can put up a silencing charm anyway, is it?”

“S’not right,” Ron pouted.

“Right or wrong Weasley, you get to deal with it. Meet back downstairs in half an hour!” Melody ordered. “I’m having some tea.”

Hermione and Draco were trying not to giggle as they heard Ron’s loud protesting and Severus and Melody’s conversation downstairs over tea. Celeste was unpacking next door and they could hear her chuckles as well.

“You’re determined to give Weasley a coronary before the week is out, aren’t you?” Severus drawled.

“You’ve been determined to kill Maria since you set foot in this house seventeen years ago,” Melody shot back. “Why can’t I have my fun?”

“I have not tried to kill her,” Severus snapped. “I’ll admit I might have frightened her once but I’ve never even moved towards her. Besides, that is entirely beside the point! Why aggravate Weasley?”

“Actually, his aggravation is an annoyance. They are sharing a bed because they have been doing so for a while.”

“What?” Severus hissed.

“Not that way Sev.” Melody giggled. “Bit overprotective of your child eh?”

Severus growled something that sounded like bloody Potter and boys being nothing but trouble. Melody’s laughter rang through the air.

“Oh Sev, you’re going to make one hell of a dad someday. Don’t look at me like that! Anyway, they’ve been sharing the couch in the common room because it feels better to be together as you well know now. This way, they don’t have to sneak around and trust me, the less sneaking around that happens in this house at night, the better.” Her tone was bitter at the end.

A long silence filled the air and Hermione had finished unpacking her side of their trunk before Severus broke the silence.

“Why are you pushing Potter’s bonding so hard?”

Melody sighed. “Two theories really, one, how much better is your magic now Sev?”

A heavy sigh came from the professor. “I’ve never known such balance.”

“Exactly. You’re better for it. Magic always seeks a balance, whether you are aware of it or not. It’s better than sex was all those years ago even, right?”

Severus sputtered on his tea and coughed a bit. “How?”

Melody giggled. “It’s the same for me. It was close Sev but no cigar, right? That’s really why you came back. I made you feel calm.”

“Partly,” Severus admitted slowly.

“Only partly?” Melody asked in shock.

“I did come to care for you.”

Melody laughed softly. “Same bat, same. Anyway, Harry’s having problems controlling his magic right now. He doesn’t understand it because he’s never experienced quite the raw imbalance that Ginny has. She understands that she’s still imbalanced. She can feel it. Harry can’t relax for five damned minutes to explore it around that damned castle, too many distractions. He’s constantly sneaking out, meeting with Dumbledore, sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“Indeed,” Severus drawled causing Melody to giggle.

“Anyway,” she paused. “All he knows is that when he’s with her, the nightmares disappear. The restlessness disappears but he won’t allow himself to relax long enough to search those feelings. He’s constantly keeping his mind alert for the first sign of a Moldy brain break in and that’s good but not great for a restful sleep.”

“Should we brew the occlumency potion then?”

“Probably wouldn’t hurt. If he could focus solely on her, then this would go a lot faster.”

“Consider it done. I’ll start on it after tea,” he said softly, clinking his tea cup down.

“Thank you Sev. I know how much it takes to look past his parentage. Just think, he’ll be your son-in-law!”

“Shut it woman,” Snape snapped. “So, the bonding will help control his magic. What is the second theory?”

“Another tether to the living,” Melody said softly. “If he has something pulling him here other than sheer will, it might make it easier to return. We can also use it as a signal. If she feels him leave completely, we destroy the bastard on sight. If not, we let Harry finish it. He’ll get so few chances to avenge his parents Sev.”

“I never got the chance.”

“You’re doing it now Sev, right now. Helping Potter is your vengeance. Besides, you already got Pettigrew. He was the catalyst anyway. They’ll be done by now. Celeste can take Ron and Luna over to the clinic. Harmony was hanging out in the back with Alex when we were there.”

“Why didn’t she come out when we arrived?”

Melody sighed softly. “She’s trying to talk some sense into him.”

“What’s wrong?” He asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Oh Sev, an entirely stupid and coincidental moment made him fly off the handle and he hasn’t spoken to me in a week. He won’t even see me.”

“What happened?”

“Well, as you well know, I sleep nude. I was dreamsharing with Harmony and she got a vision and panicked. I could have sworn she said she was going to be sick so I ran to the big bathroom since that’s where she goes when she doesn’t want to disturb Philippe. Well, I barged in not thinking about getting dressed first and it wasn’t her.”

“Who was it?” Severus asked, mirth lacing his voice.

“It was Philippe, who also apparently sleeps nude. He’s got much better reflexes than I gave him credit for. He had me flat on my back, straddling me, and choking me before I should get my hand off his shoulder! Unfortunately, that’s when Alex walked in. STOP LAUGHING!” She yelled.

Severus was laughing, a great merry belly laugh that neither Hermione nor Draco had heard before. They heard a slapping sound and then a growl and a hiss as dishes clattered to the floor. A scuffling sound broke out and then the sound of a table snapping. Alarmed now, Hermione and Draco sprinted downstairs. Celeste had apparently beaten them to it and was pinning Severus to the wall. His eyes were bright indigo and his fangs were bared. Melody was unconscious lying against the other wall.

“What in the fuck is going on here?” Draco growled and went to check Melody’s pulse.

“She slapped me,” Severus hissed.

“Well what do you expect?” Hermione growled. “She tells you her husband won’t have anything to do with her because of a misunderstanding and you laugh at her!”

“She knows better than to strike me,” Severus said, calming down and sliding down the wall to rest heavily on his bum. Celeste let go and stood back, shaking her head.

“Severus, I love you but I can’t condone this. If you ever strike me in anger, I’ll kill you.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Severus sighed. “She slapped me and went to do it again when I grabbed her hand and threw it away. She struck again and I slammed her hand it into the table. Then she came at me and I pushed her away. I…I lost my temper and forgot my strength. I- it’s no excuse but I- Fuck!” He yelled and slammed his head against the wall. “I’m turning into my bloody father.”

“You aren’t your father,” Melody groaned and made to sit up but Draco held her down so he could check her over. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come at you like that. I was…so angry.”

“Before you two get into a match of who is sorrier,” Celeste interrupted, “let’s just call it a draw. Severus, you shouldn’t have laughed. She wouldn’t have. Melody, you know you should never attack Severus. Sev, you need to control your temper. No matter how insane she is, she is still your friend. Now, can we move on?”

Severus nodded and got up. He walked across the room and knelt by Melody. “How are you?”

“Not sure,” Melody panted. “It’s been a while since you’ve thrown me into walls. I’m pretty sure you broke my wrist though.”

“Let’s get you outside and I’ll mend it.” Severus said softly.

“You’ve thrown her into a wall before?” Draco asked sharply.

“It was a long time ago Draco,” Melody said. “It was right after, oh hi Potter,” she said, looking past everyone to see Harry standing there with an angry expression on his face. “Let’s just say he was beyond distraught and he snapped. I should have been a bit more careful with my words since I couldn’t exactly blast him through the wall at that point. I never blamed him for it. I just did the same thing after all. I’m not fucking superwoman though or it would have been him that was unconscious.”

“No doubt,” Severus smiled grimly. “Anything else?”

“It’s kind of hard to breathe.”

“Broken ribs then,” Severus said, bowing his head.

“No big,” She sniffed and then groaned again. “I think this is a bit more than you can fix Sev.”

“I’ll do it,” Draco said softly.

“No,” Severus said, a strange light in his eye. “We’re paying a visit to Alex.”

“That’ll go over like a lead balloon. He’s warded the damned clinic against me.”

“Then we’ll just have to give him a good reason to answer,” Severus said smirking. “Come dear, let’s have a chat with Dr. Lee.”

“Severus, what are you planning?” Melody’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ll see,” he said slowly and picked her up, cradling her to his chest. Then he walked out of the dining room without so much as a glance backwards.

“What in the hell was that?” Harry ground out. Ron, Luna, and Ginny were behind him now and looking on with wide eyes.

Celeste smiled softly. “He’s apologizing. Let them be. They’ve probably hurt each other much worse than that before. Now, since there will be some fireworks here in a while, we’ll all just go outside and have a nice friendly duel. Hermione and Draco against everyone else, sound fair?”

“So long as you’re on our side,” Ginny grimaced.

“Sure thing,” Celeste said. “We’ll do this in the middle pasture. Draco, Hermione, lead the way.”

“I don’t get how that’s fair,” Ron argued.

“Trust me Weasel, you’re fixing to find out,” Draco snarked. He had just about had it with his attitude and his digs the previous weeks. He’d been dying to have an out and out duel with the red headed git.

‘There’s more than just Ron to worry about,’ Hermione chided. ‘Harry has gotten much better here lately.’

‘I’m honestly more worried about Celeste and Red,’ Draco snorted.

‘I’m actually worried about Melody and Severus, to tell the truth. I’ve never seen either one of them lose it like that Draco.’

‘I know but I have a feeling that he’s got a plan good enough to put everything back to rights,’ he comforted her. It was unnerving to see the aftermath of their fight but if they were okay with it, he wasn’t going to get in the middle of it.

‘I hope so. We need their help.’

‘When do you think they’ll try to ambush us again?’ Draco asked with some concern. They hadn’t so much as pushed them in the past week, stating they wanted Hermione to be fully healed. He was glad they hadn’t but he was starting to get antsy. They didn’t have much longer to get it down.

‘There’s no telling. All we can do is be prepared,’ Hermione answered. ‘Now, focus because I have a feeling Ron’s going to gun for you pretty hard.’

‘What do you think, overall shield and then cut them all down?’ Draco suggested.

‘Well, that depends on the engagement rules. Are we using wands?’

‘Good question,’ Draco grumbled.

“Rules of engagement!” Celeste announced as soon as they got to the middle pasture. “This fight will be wands only. Disarming will result in a removal from battle. There will be absolutely NO painful hexes. Other than that, no holds barred. Any questions?” Celeste paused and looked around. “No? Good. Begin!” She threw blue sparks into the air with her wand.

Hermione and Draco barely managed to get their shield up before five hexes came flying at them. They each took turns taking the shield down to cast spells and then put it back up when another barrage came flying at them. Ron wasn’t even thinking out his hexes. He was casting them back to back as fast as he could. Tired of it, Draco petrified him and summoned his wand, throwing it out of the playing field.

Luna managed to cast a tickle jinx on him as he threw Weasley’s wand away and he fell to the ground giggling. Hermione threw a few jelly legs at everyone and cast the shield long enough to perform the counter on Draco. He sprung up and petrified Luna next in the same manner.

Ginny and Harry were proving difficult but Celeste was impossible. She was wicked fast and they decided to leave her for last, merely keeping their shields up when they saw her casting. With a combined effort, they conjured a strong wind that twirled Harry and Ginny together. Before they could untangle themselves, their wands were summoned and thrown away.

It was down to Celeste now. They remembered back to the vampire fight and how fast they had all been. Using the same technique, they cast stunners two at a time but hadn’t managed to hit her yet. ‘Any good ideas?’ Draco thought desperately as he threw another stunner.

‘She’s too fast,’ Hermione grunted, trying to petrify the lightning fast daywalker. ‘The only think I can think of is to knock her off her feet, but how?’

‘Earth moving spell! It sends a shockwave through the ground. It might trip her up long enough to stun her.’ He panted as he blocked yet another powerful stunner.

‘Go,’ Hermione said, throwing a barrage of mild hexes meant to earn Celeste’s concentration.

Draco twirled his wand in a corkscrew and then jabbed it at the ground. It rumbled and then produced a visible wave in the ground. Celeste, in the middle of flashing behind them, tripped and ended up flat on her face in the dirt. Hermione quickly petrified her and then summoned her wand. “DONE!”

Clapping sounded out and they turned around quickly to see Snape and a now healed Melody cheering them. “That was amazing!” Melody yelled as she ran up. Severus stopped to release the spell on Celeste. “Excellent use of both distraction and the environment around you.”

“Yes, quite good,” Severus said shortly as he released the others from their spells.

“That wasn’t bloody fair!” Ron growled, his ears red.

“Of course five on two is unfair,” Melody scoffed. “And they won anyway.”

“They shielded!” Ron growled.

“I never said no shields Weasley,” Celeste chuckled. “Honestly, for a strategist, you have certainly lost your edge.”

“More like he let his anger do the talking,” Melody growled. “You can’t let grudges lead your actions Weasley. That’s just asking for it. Anger is a distraction. Mechanics and strategy is key. Actually, making your opponent mad enough to spit blood is a good tactic. It keeps them focused on revenge rather than analyzing your moves.”

“And how do you suppose I do that then?” Ron asked.

“Well, you’re fixing to get a very good demonstration of that,” Melody said, hearing a crack of thunder sound from the back pasture. “I, um, suggest that everyone get behind Draco and Hermione as they cast a shield because this is going to get very ugly.”

They all managed to scramble to the edge of the woods as Alex appeared seemingly out of thin air. Anger radiated from him in waves. “WHAT IN THE FUCK IS GOING ON?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Severus drawled, a smug look on his face.

“You brought my wife in with broken bones that YOU CAUSED!”

“Yes and you couldn’t be arsed to heal her either,” Severus sneered. “The actions of someone who truly cares, I’m sure.”

Alex threw a right hook so fast that Severus had a hard time ducking it. He flicked a finger and the vampire flipped end over end some ten feet away. Alex sprang back up and flashed back over. “What did you do to her?”

“What does it matter? She’s healthy,” Severus drawled, seemingly unaffected.

“It matters to me!”

“Fine. She told me what an ignorant arse you were and I laughed. She attacked me and I removed her from my person with force. I regret that it was so much but I will not apologize for defending myself.”

Alex struck again, this time knocking Severus across the face. He merely stepped back and dropped, sweeping the vampire’s feet out from under him. He landed a few blows and then jumped back, hexing him across the pasture. Alex flashed back and went to hit again but was knocked backwards by Severus.

“Have you forgotten you’re a wizard?” Severus drawled in a bored tone.

Alex growled loudly and threw a powerful hex that knocked Severus back a few inches. They dueled in a very aggressive fashion, Alex so angry he was practically spitting blood and Severus calmly blocking him. Melody took the opportunity to cast a bubble of silence so they couldn’t be heard behind Draco and Hermione’s shield.

“Do you see what I’m talking about Weasley? Alex is stronger, faster, and more powerful magically than Severus but he is losing in a brilliant fashion. If he were human, he’d be beyond tired right now from exerting so much energy. Severus could finish him easily.”

Ron mumbled. “I guess.”

“Oh come off it Ron,” Ginny snapped. “If that was you out there, you’d be flat on your arse and covered in something nasty or missing a few parts.”

“I haven’t seen Alex make too many mistakes,” Ron growled.

“He’s not using his head,” Melody calmly explained. “Alex is lightning fast. He could have cast a dozen hexes in the time it’s taken him to cast one and Severus would be hard pressed to block him. Instead, he’s focusing all his power behind each one, determined to knock Sev a new one.”

“Git deserves it,” Ron mumbled.

“Alex thinks he does,” Celeste said, her lip bloody from where she’d bitten it accidently with her fangs.

“They’ll be fine,” Melody said, putting her arm around the worried woman. “Sev wants him to realize what an idiot he is and he’s willing to take the beating he deserves too. If Alex would get his head out of his ass long enough to realize that Sev really isn’t trying, this would be over soon.”

“I don’t want him beaten to a pulp,” Celeste frowned.

“You get to play nurse?” Melody offered.

“Not as fun as it sounds.”

“Too bad we can’t resurrect Pettigrew,” Melody mumbled.

“WHAT?” Harry snapped.

“Oh, forgot about that,” Melody said sheepishly. “He decided to sneak where he wasn’t wanted and he became a lovely snack.”

“Alex ATE him?” Weasley squeaked.

“We did,” Celeste corrected, although she didn’t say just who all ‘we’ entailed. “He didn’t taste very good though, kind of like a slimy orange.”

“That explains the faces,” Melody said.

“So Pettigrew’s dead?” Harry asked timidly.

“Yes Harry, one less person to worry about,” Melody said softly.

Harry thought about it for a moment. “Good. At least he was good for something in the end.”

“Yes, if they hadn’t have eaten him first, there would be no way we’d have the coven on our side.”

“There’s a coven on our side?” Luna asked dreamily.

Melody smiled. “Yes ma’am. I think you’d like Demitri. His coven is much smaller now but they are on our side and will help us spy.”

“Allies one at a time,” Celeste said, flinching when Alex landed a rather hard punch to Severus’s solar plexus. They heard the resounding snap and Melody gasped when he spit out a mouthful of blood. She went to stop the fight but Severus waved her off. Alex finally quit hexing and started running around Severus. He pinned him to the ground and an all-out fist fight broke out. Blood flew and crunching sounded out. Melody couldn’t take it anymore and made them take the shield down.

“ENOUGH!” Melody screamed and hexed the men apart and to the ground. She walked over to Severus and bent down, assessing his injuries. “Are you going to live?”

Severus wheezed a laugh. “I’ll live.”

Melody nodded and walked slowly over to Alex who was currently trying to set his ankle. It had snapped quite some time ago, she realized. She knelt down just out of his reach. “Are you alright?”

Alex’s head snapped up. “Are you?” His voice wavered.

“I’m fine,” she said coldly. “I would have been better had you actually cared enough to see instead of attacking my best friend.”

“You’re defending him?” Alex shrieked.

“Not all of it was his fault,” she said sheepishly. “I really did attack him.”

“Why?” Alex asked softly.

“He laughed at me,” Melody said, her face aflame with shame. “I told him what happened and he thought it was hilarious.”

“I didn’t think it was.”

“I know,” Melody sniffed and turned to walk away.

“I’m sorry,” Alex called. “I’m so sorry sweetheart. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just, well I went a bit crazy at the thought of anyone else with you and…”

“You didn’t have a problem before,” Melody said with a quirked eyebrow and a quick glance over to Severus.

Alex had the decency to duck his head. “That was my idea though. It was my gift to you. The other was a surprise.”

“Next time, stick around for the explanation.” Melody shook her head sadly. “Come on. Let’s get you two cleaned up. I’ll see if I can find some despot you can eat.”

The two men mended what they could and dragged themselves up to the house. By the time they got to the front door, they were joking and shaking hands.

“MEN!” Hermione griped and threw her hands up.

“They never change.” Melody snickered. “Come on. I think I might have some emergency blood around here so we can heal th- him.”

“Blood?” Ron squeaked.

“Honestly Ron, how do you think vampires heal themselves?” Hermione groaned.

“Blood,” Ron said flatly.

“You don’t have to watch Weasley,” Melody laughed. “In fact, why don’t you go on upstairs and I’ll call you when we’re ready.”

“Right,” Ron said and high tailed it up the stairs.

“Not a fan of blood, that one,” Melody said.

“You should turn into a spider.” Ginny grinned and they all had a good laugh as they walked into the kitchen to heal the two bloodied men.

AN: Hey guys! Gosh I'm sorry this had taken so long. First it was homwork, (also know as Thesis Part Deux, or the class that might finally kill me) and then it was sickness. So, in order to grovel for my tardiness, I've written a super long chapter for you. Hope you enjoyed it. If you haven't checked it out yet, Jumping with Both Feet, my Severus and Celeste chaplet is now done. We're off to an exciting start on our Easter holiday aren't we? As always, thank you so very much for your reviews. I was worried because there weren't very many on my last chapter but I realized they were all on my chaplet! So, since I can't thank you in the reviews there, I'll thank you here. I'm glad so many of you liked it. Reviews make the strep throat a bit better....honest! Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing and if there are any errors. Until next time...love you guys!
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