Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

There Be Dragons, Harry	By : Scioneeris Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Slash - Male/Male Views: 58383 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 27
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of its characters. I make no money by writing this story..

Chapter List
- 41
- 42
- 43
'Bold' text indicates "Spanish" for certain characters.

NOTE: Nevarah houses not only Dragels but Vampires, Weres, Shifters, Hellhounds, etc-as well as Wizards, while the percentage is rather low and only spikes during Hunting season, for those circles with human/wizard mates, etc. there is a mixture of wizard/muggle items scattered throughout.

RECAP: Blaise, Hermione, Severus, Terius, Harry, Charlie, Theo and Shadow arrive as the great city is under attack and Harry subconsciously accesses both his mate's power to protect them. Once inside the city, the group is hustled off to the safety of the Snape's home, where Harry worries about Hermione and spends the first night snuggled between his two mates. In the morning, he meets Draco's surrogate(Carrier), a Spanish beauty named Calida, who happily shares some Dragel information with him.

NEVARAH : INSIDE THE CITY : TERIUS SNAPE'S QUARTERS : TUESDAY MORNING

By the time the others came in—the scent of food roused them all, it seemed—Calida was a wellspring of knowledge that didn't mind sharing just about anything as she worked around Harry in the kitchen. Anything, whether it was useful or not, she was more than happy to talk—and often in a mixture of English and Spanish, the more excited she became. He'd tentatively mentioned his lack of magic, at which, she'd smothered him in another hug and told him to be a dear, because she'd handle everything else.

She also told him all about what had happened when they'd arrived.

Apparently, he'd blacked out from using Charlie's element, when Charlie himself hadn't used it beyond a few accidental bursts after his awakening and it had exhausted him and left Charlie rather exhausted as well. Theo had remedied that with a bit of blood, but as Harry had been out cold, Terius had suggested they all call it a night. The City was still under lockdown, but the alarms were turned off and most had returned to their usual routines.

Calida happily explained the unusual sleeping arrangements and there, Harry had blushed. Apparently, he hadn't wanted to be separated from Hermione, so when they'd attempted to set her up in the living room to try a healing spell, he'd drawn on Theo and Charlie's elements to push everyone away and leave the two of them be. In the end, only Terius had been able to venture forward to set up Hermione on a bed and had been forced to settle with conjuring a simple pillow and blanket for Harry, as he hadn't wanted anything or anyone nearby.

"Oh it was quite fun." Calida smirked. "Mostly because I can tell that you're so new, it blinds. You'll probably figure it out when you start trusting them a little more, they didn't mean you any harm, but you wouldn't let any of them within five feet of you. Your Beta was quite put out that you wouldn't let anyone near. I think he was hoping for a little bit o' love." She snickered. "Not that I blame him and he is a handsome fellow, if I may say so. I love it when they have long hair." Her grin grew wider. "Ah, but never mind, it was mostly how you say, not to worry of small things, they all fit in the bigger picture." She waved her hand at the look on Harry's face. "On second thought, maybe that's a saying from me own home. Whatever the case, what's done is done, yes?" She patted his shoulder as she headed to the table, a hot pan in hand. "Oh, they're coming. Morning!"

Her first cheery greeting was in English and to Terius as she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and a hug that was easily returned. She gave a tilt of her head towards the solid oak table, with a slant towards a specific chair.

"Morning, Calida. Harry!" Terius brightened at once. "You're awake and in…good health?" His fingers twitched as if he'd like to cast a diagnostic spell, but wasn't sure how it'd be received. The concern on his face was rather obvious, as he waited for Harry's response.

"Fine, thanks." Harry managed a small smile. "Hermione-?"

"She's doing alright. I ran some scans this morning with some help and Severus says the potions will run their course in a few more hours, then there's some other things we'd like to try…we would have tried them last night, but ah, well-"

"That's fine." Harry answered, saving him the trouble of trying to explain what Harry himself could not quite remember. "Healers and a medi-witch?"

"I believe Theo made some arrangements, you will have to speak with him. Draco's alignment was last night, so I'm afraid I was a tad preoccupied."

"Of course." Harry heard himself say. Drat. He'd forgotten somewhat, about that pesky realignment stuff, then again, he supposed it was how Terius happened to look so refreshed that morning and not the least bit strung-out as he had appeared in Hogwarts the night before.

"Good morning." Draco's clear, crisp voice carried through the chatter as the rest of the guests made their way towards the dining room. He was impeccably dressed in his usual, expensive, fitted robes, main accessory happening to be Shadow riding on his shoulder. It immediately took flight as he entered the kitchen and headed for the table, only to be caught with a light tug to the tale and Draco's half-frown. "Not on the table or Severus won't eat at all." The Nytura sniffed and settled down on Calida's shoulder.

"Mornin' handsome." Calida offered him a one-armed hug and immediately put a hand to his forehead, her lips puckered. "You hardly slept at all. What were you doing? And no smart answers, I was in the same room as you!" The blond blushed a rather fetching shade of red and he pushed her hand away with a muttered phrase. The Spanish girl tossed her head. "That's wrong. You're supposed to roll the r's, it's an accent, otherwise you're telling me something entirely-" and here she switched to Spanish and whispered the remainder in Draco's ear. He blushed a deep breath as she bustled off to the other side of the large, ten seater table and began to summon dishes and cutlery.

Draco immediately scowled. "Don't do that." He glared at her and then gave a flippant wave of one hand. The table was immediately seat in gleaming dishes with shiny, matching cutlery and two racks of condiments for the ends. "Suitable?"

"Ooh. I didn't know you had these plates." Calida bent over to inspect one with interest. "Where are you keeping them?"

"The cupboard across from the pantry." Draco murmured. "I thought you turned the kitchen inside out yesterday."

"That was when I was looking for chocolate." She sniffed, primly. "Not dishes. Morning, Severus." Her head snapped up and she all but danced around to the other side of the table, not quite avoiding him, but not quite greeting him as happily as she had the others.

The Potions Master inclined his head in answer, but his gaze was fixed on Terius, of which, the other man sighed. "We've been over this before, Severus." He said, wearily. "I refuse to allow Draco to carry our first child beyond a few months. This way is safer, healthier and less stressful on all of us." The perfectly rehearsed phrase was repeated in a near monotone.

"Less stressful on you." Severus shot back, taking his seat at the head of the table. "You're overreacting."

"And you're not reacting!" Terius shot back. "What would it take? A second attack? You still don't know who did what! I won't have Draco or our child in a position like that again."

Severus gave a low growl, black eyes locking with blue-grey ones. "They will not be in a position like that again and they never would have been there, if you had been-"

"You cannot blame that entirely on me. I cannot be everywhere at once and you were in greater danger than he was! This is not something that can be blamed, if you feel so inclined to assign it elsewhere-!"

"I am not assigning anything anywhere." Severus snapped. "I am making a statement in regards to your decisions in my absence!"

"Then by all means do make your statement." Terius folded his arms, eyes narrowing. "Do not let my presence hinder you."

Draco sighed. Loudly. "I don't care." He looked between the both of them, they wore identical expressions that made him duck his head. "Alright! Maybe I did at first. I wish…I would have rather…it would've been best if we were all involved." He admitted. "But I'm…glad. I was…a little worried." He looked to Calida who flashed him her trademark grin. He hadn't been happy to find that Terius had already selected a carrier for him, but when the Pareya had explained the reasoning behind it, Draco had grudgingly agreed. He had been terrified at the thought of his body changing and morphing to accommodate and birth a child, but this had lifted a huge portion of worry from his young shoulders. Calida had immediately taken the child—currently in the form of raw energy, as his body had begun to shift and morph for the change, but hadn't quite settled yet—and promised to do her best by them all. Perhaps for future children he might reconsider, but this first-no, Terius had made a good call here and Draco had been more than happy to yield to it. "Besides, she kind of grows on you."

"That might be what I'm worried about." Severus muttered, so quietly, that if Harry hadn't been standing so close, he wouldn't have heard. Harry watched as Draco took the seat to Severus' left, while Terius sat beside him. Aracle took the chair on the far end of the table while the others seated themselves around. From the look of it, Harry figured they'd worked out the seating the night before, because he could see a space for him between Theo and Charlie, with empty chairs to spare as Blaise took a seat on the opposite side. Harry avoided the morning smirk the Italian sent his way and wondered if there were any others he'd missed. He hesitated, hovering in the doorway, uncertain and not sure what for.

Draco squinted at the dishes and then squeezed his eyes shut in concentration. When they popped open a second later, all the plates on the table were appropriately filled. He cast a quick look around at his guests to be sure that all plates were properly filled.

Harry filed that instance away for later thought and examination. It seemed like Calida's words were true, though he'd never in a million years had thought that Draco Malfoy of all people knew kitchen and hostess spells.

A throat cleared quietly behind him and Harry turned, immediately sidestepping when he caught sight of a tall, thin and exceptionally pale waif of a girl. Compared to her, Draco seemed to sport a tan. The unnaturally pale hair was almost a shimmery silvery white and her high, pointed ears stuck out between the silken strands as she glided into the dining room, her face twisted into a scowl, as if there were something foul in the air.

Elven? Harry found himself wondering. She certainly looked the part.

She did not wear wizarding robes as some of the others did, but rather, a layered, short-sleeved, knee-length dress and matching leggings. There was a jeweled dagger tucked at her waist and a necklace bearing several bright, shimmering Dragel scales as she walked past Harry without a second look. Her right arm was bare from the shoulder downward showed of several dark, tattooed circles and crests.

Mating marks.

The realization clicked into place quicker than Harry had expected.

A sub with a large circle.

Self-consciously, Harry looked down at his own arm, where Charlie's mark was now hidden beneath his short-sleeved shirt and Theo's own on his neck. Draco's were quite obviously hidden beneath his luxuriously tailored robes. This new girl was showing off, almost. He resisted the urge to scowl himself and instead, looked to his seat between his mates, willing his feet to carry him forward and relieved when he did.

"Harry." Charlie tugged him down to sit between him and Theo. His wings were still out, but he wasn't shirtless as he'd been during the night. Someone had transfigured a shirt that managed to fit around his wings, while still showing a rather respectable appearance. Harry had to admit to himself that his mate looked good. He did wonder about the wings though, surely they were stressful in their present state. His own had been extremely sensitive to temperature and movement, that he'd stopped drawing them out while he'd been at Privet Drive. "Morning." He gave the smaller hand a squeeze. "How are you?"

"Fine." Harry managed to get out before Theo tugged him sideways for a hug and a diagnostic spell. It tingled pleasantly as it crept over him. "Theo, I'm fine!" He protested, half-heartedly, allowing it, because he wasn't really sure he was fine and partially because it felt good to be fussed over every once in a while. Theo didn't fuss too much, but the ways that he did were mostly acceptable.

"You weren't fine last night." The Slytherin said bluntly. "Forgive me for wanting to be sure." He nudged him, nodding towards the full breakfast plate. "Make sure you eat at least half of that."

Harry looked at his plate. "Half?" He wheedled.

"You need the protein." Charlie countered. He winced and flinched. His chair was more of a stool, with a very small back, to make room for his still extended wings.

"Still can't fold them in?" The new girl eyed him with a mixture of pity and distaste. "Really, it's been a whole night!"

"Good Morning to you too, Bhindi." Aracle smiled, drawing her attention. "Sleep well?"

"No. I didn't. No thanks to anyone." She snapped. Her critical gaze flickered to the plate of breakfast Draco had just served and she wrinkled her nose. "You hate bacon." She flicked her finger and the bacon vanished. "You hate eggs." She flicked her finger again. "And you never drink anything but smoothies after eight in the morning." The coffee vanished as well. "So really, you're not even eating." The rest of the breakfast disappeared." Her pale green eyes drilled into him. "Hmph. Really. What did Ilsa do to you?"

"She didn't do a thing." Aracle scooted his chair back and reached over to snag her with an arm around the waist, tugging her to sit in his lap. "And we are guests, there is no need to be rude this early in the morning, it's a new day and-"

"and I don't bloody care." Bhindi snorted. She snapped her fingers twice and a steaming bowl of porridge, studded with fruits and nuts, appeared, along with a golden-colored fruit smoothie. She looped her arms around his neck and pillowed her head on one shoulder. "A good host doesn't make assumptions for their guests." She retorted. "And any idiot with a half-head of sense can fold their wings in." Her lips curved into a pout. "You didn't shave." She splayed her fingers over his stubbled face. "And you didn't tell me we were staying."

Aracle sighed, patiently. He threw an apologetic glance to Draco and then to Charlie, as they waited for Calida to say the blessing for the food.

They ate in near silence, half of the conversations were cut short by Bhindi's snippy remarks until Aracle finally whispered something in her ear that made the girl fold her arms across her chest and sit, sulking, for the remainder of the meal.

Harry wished he would've heard what it was, as he found himself beginning to harbor a rather obvious dislike of her.

"Who is she anyway?" Harry demanded, when the meal was over and Theo and Charlie accompanied him back to the sitting room where Hermione lay. Aracle had excused himself and Bhindi, promising that he would have the guest shorehouse cleaned as soon as possible.

From the dark scowl on Bhindi's face, Harry had a feeling it wouldn't be very soon at all, if cleaning spells happened to the specialty of the Sub, she didn't seem anywhere near inclined to be cleaning anything in the near future. But he had thanked the man and accepted the parting mint candy, able to smile—somewhat—when Aracle had 'ported out.

"Sub for Aracle's circle." Theo said, quietly, confirming what Harry had already deduced. "I'm sorry she's…like that."

"It's not your fault." Charlie said. He looked to Harry who in turn stared at Theo in surprise. Neither of them had thought anything of the rude girl in regards to the silent Slytherin.

"It sort of is." Theo half-smiled. "His circle has twin subs, they're one of the rare circles here. She's one, her twin brother, Bahn, is the other. Ilsa's addition to the circle…well, it was solely for Aracle's sake and it's not my place to say, save for, my darling mentor doesn't get along with anyone, as you can obviously tell, even her own circle. Everyone knows I'm her mentored student, as such, the dislike is passed on. You're part of my circle so she's no longer restricting her comments to me, but to you two as well. I am sorry for that. You don't need your first impression here to be sullied with such an inhospitable-"

"Hermione moved." Charlie interrupted, his blue eyed-gaze having been fixed on the makeshift bed on the floor of the sitting room. "Just now, I think she twitched—her shoulder."

Two heads snapped towards Hermione's blanketed figure. "Where?" Harry dropped to his knees beside her, leaning forward, searching her strained face and closed eyes. A moment later, her eyelids fluttered and her body trembled.

"Severus!" Draco's voice came from the doorway as he stood there, watching, one hand resting on his flat stomach. "Granger's waking!"

Severus appeared almost at once, his dark robes flaring out around him in typical fashion as he entered the room and brushed aside the others to crouch beside the patient. His Potions Mastery had required a base knowledge of healing spells and such, knowledge that now came in handy as he took up her wrist, felt for a pulse and simultaneously cast a spell to check her vital signs and the potions he'd spelled into her. "She should wake in a few minutes." He murmured.

"Should she?" Terius seated himself on one of the pushed-back sofas and leaned forward, worry in his face. "I have already sent for a healer from St. Louralis, but I do not think they can 'port here so quickly, not when it its…that, outside." He gave a nod towards the window and Harry followed the nod of his head.

He was surprised to see colorful streamers, banners and things happening outside. He turned a questioning gaze to Theo who straightened and stood back to allow Severus more working space. "It is hunting season, remember?" He said. "The lockdown was lifted last night and the moment it did, everything went back to the way it was."

"How long does it last?" Harry studied the bird's eye view available to him from the window. He couldn't quite make out the individuals below, but he could see the city now and betwixt all the shiny silvery buildings and other blue-grey windows, he could see the city was dressed for a festival.

"The lockdown?" Terius blinked. "That is up to the Royal Council, they rely on-"

"The Hunting Season." Harry interrupted.

"Typically, about two to three months." Terius answered. "There's three separate feasts, the four arrivals of the four crowns from the four elements, for instance, the crown prince of the Air clan, the reigning princess from the Fire clan and so forth. Ah, there are weekly matching dances, where you have the chance to dance with your prospective interests and hmm, during the week, it is basically a giant festival. Everyone sharing, dancing and well, it becomes rather crowded as folks come in from the Air realms, the Volcanic regions and the Merrow Waters."

"Which one is that?" Harry squinted, willing his eyes to adjust as he made out a thick strip of blue beyond the shiny buildings.

"The blue waters out there." Terius pointed. "They run blue then black, they are magically connected to the waters of Merrow, which is how the water clan reaches us, since they do not fly as the rest of us."

"Why not?" Charlie frowned.

"They don't have wings." Draco said, matter-of-factly. "Can't fly."

"They're awfully touchy about it too, so if you do meet one, be very, very polite." Calida plopped down on the sofa beside Terius, her dark eyes snapping. "They are absolutely gorgeous though." She grinned. "You'll never see anything prettier than a pure girl from the side of 'Merrow." She whistled softly. "I'm perfectly straight, mind you, but I would turn in an instant if those beautiful creatures ever thought I was worthy of their attention."

"And you'd turn back when you caught a good glimpse of a pure fellow from the same side of Merrow." Terius retorted, dryly. "Really, you haven't changed at all."

She elbowed him with a sniff. "It's the thought that counts." She winked at Harry. "They're gorgeous, just know that. If you're hunting this season, stick around for the whole thing, the water types will come up and rumor has it that even the storms and the darklings will make their unofficial showings as well."

"Storms?" Blaise brightened at the thought of meeting those with his own type of element. "Really?"

"Mm." Calida settled into the sofa, watching as Severus continued his diagnostics and summoned a few potions to his side. "It's also said that Lord Cunningham will make an appearance as well." She wiggled her eyebrows. "They say he has a bodyguard as his acting Gheyo, a hired fighter."

"Hired?" Terius frowned. "Not part of his circle?"

"Oh goodness no." Calida shook her head. "This one, he's a real darkling they say. Tall, handsome—always in black, always in the shadows, and has never lost a single fight, save for one. Currently holds a blood title in the arena. That's impressive, I'd say"

"The arena?" Draco moved to sit by Terius, happy when the older man pulled him into his lap. "You haven't stopped talking about the fights since yesterday."

"Because they're fun."

"Is that a dreamless sleep?" Harry interrupted, his sharp eyes fixed on Severus' every move. He didn't want to hear about fights and arenas just yet, there was too much going on—too quickly. He chose, instead, to focus on the little specks of normality that he could.

The Potions Master gave a short nod.

"Why are you putting her back to-"

"The potions have been working to repair internal damage." Severus said, quietly. He pried open the girl's mouth, accepting Charlie's help as the redhead propped her up and held her upper half steady. "She took something or the other, a potion—I'm not sure what—and it was meant to end her life." He sighed, wearily. "I would ask of you, Mr. Potter, to inquire of her when she wakes what was so horrible that she sought to end her life in such a sordid way."

"What kind of potion?" Harry had to know, even as a dark feeling of dread curled in his stomach.

"One that renders the subject unconscious as it eats away at their internal organs, destroying them from the inside out." Severus closed Hermione's mouth and with his wand pointed to her throat, he murmured the words that magicked her body to swallow the potion on her own. "When that is through, the result is something that mutates, almost like acid and it eats through the bones and melts the flesh. A truly despicable creation." There was a hint of disgust as he coaxed another potion down her throat and spelled it forward.

Harry didn't answer to that. He didn't miss the reaction the Potions Master had to something of that horrible a nature, but he wondered what had driven his friend to do it. Hermione always had reasons for doing everything and surely, there was a good one for this—unless, someone had simply taken advantage of her and that had been the result. He stifled a shudder. Hermione was a brilliant witch, there was no way she would've gone down without a fight and he didn't like what the alternative told him.

Forget Snape's question, he had a thousand of his own.

"Did you find out anything?" When Severus had finally finished his ministrations, he turned to Terius who had been absently summoning books from various libraries in the flat and had accumulated quite a pile beside him. Draco had been eased to sit beside him on the sofa, napping comfortably, with Calida browsing through the books, via looking over Terius' shoulder.

"That depends." Terius closed the book with a sigh. "Lady Ilsa said it was a hellhound's seal, yes?" Heads nodded. "Well, as far as I can tell, the seal with the rose belongs to the line of hounds in the highest regard—this is good, for Hermione—the rest of us, probably not as much."

"What do you mean?" Harry turned to face him, having settled beside Hermione and taken one of her hands in his.

"Well, the house it is calling her to, tends to be extremely protective and aggressive. Before we do anything, we need her awake."

Severus frowned. "And I don't suppose you could have figured that out a few minutes before?"

The blue-grey eyes narrowed. "Perhaps I could have. However, if you are referring to that which is already settled, then if we did not have guests right now-"

"Yes. I'm sure." Severus cut him off, rising fluidly to his feet, apparently still annoyed with whatever had happened between them. "What else did you discover? Or was that all?" There was the faintest hint of a challenge in his voice.

Theo looked from the scowling alpha to the mildly annoyed Terius who handed over the book to Calida and shifted Draco more comfortably in his lap.

"When she wakens, we must ask her to grant immunity for our actions, regardless of whether she knows what it is or not. Once we have that, we will live, otherwise, I daresay we should be worried. To bear a hellhounds mark of that particular image, it means she is his consort." Terius explained.

Severus paled. Blaise and Theo swallowed hard and Charlie looked to Harry in confusion, who stared down at Hermione with a torn expression.

Calida perked up almost at once. "Really? No kidding?" She gave a happy little wriggle. "Oh I am so jealous." She gave another wriggle. "The hounds are so gorgeous." She hummed, completely oblivious to the others staring. "Dark, pale, thin and with those red, red eyes." She sighed, happily. "I'm told they have wicked hands…and feet. What I wouldn't do to meet one in person," she blinked, sitting up straight. "Er, not in my present condition of course, but, you know. Hound lore is so fascinating."

"No," Terius frowned. "Actually, I don't. Care to share?"

Calida shrugged. "Well, it's more like lore than anything else, but, it's this kind of seal?" She held up the book, turned to the page that Terius had been studying. It bore the exact same image as Hermione had branded onto her stomach. Terius gave a careful nod. "Well, the story goes something to the effect of Death and the first hound meeting up out of nowhere when Death sought a guard for its Labyrinth of life. The hound became a good friend that listened to all of Death's worries and thoughts without complaint. However, Death had only come to screen potential guards for the Labyrinth, so it had to leave. The hound begged to stay with Death, who refused because it could not gift something of importance as binding gift to a mere hound, so the hound said "bind me with a length of rope 'round my neck, I need no other collar nor bribe, so as long as I may walk by your side.' So Death did and the hound guarded the labyrinth. After a month passed and there were no problems, Death decided the hound deserved a reward and so named it a pet." Calida paused. "To thank Death for its kindness, the hound sought the most beautiful flower in the realm and brought it to the heart of the labyrinth as a gift, where Death would appear to visit every now and again. Death was pleased with the flower and allowed the hound to come on walks to the underground and made it an official companion." She finished with a shrug. "It's common folklore that they say that if you find yourself in Death's labyrinth and you search for the center, if you touch the flower before you are caught, then your Death will be painless. If you have a strong enough will to live, then by the hound's grace, you'll return to life."

"What kind of flower was it? Blaise wanted to know.

Calida shrugged. "It doesn't say. Depends on which hound tells the story, every flour is the crest for a noble house. The rope braid around the Labyrinth mark is a symbol that it is a genuine hound and not a Reaper, the flower will tell you what house. As Terius said, the flower being a rose, means that your little friend is a cosort from the noble house of Arythmoor. The Red Rose of Arythmoor, to be politically correct."

"Is that what they teach you in school these days?" Terius countered, dryly.

Calida stuck her tongue out in response. "Mmm! I'm a Carrier. I talk to other Carriers. We like to talk and therefore we talk about everything."

"Gossip?"

"Talk!"

"Even hellhounds?"

"They help us guard the city and they live here, for goodness sakes!" She threw back. "Really! They've never caused any issues for us and as far as I know, I'd rather have hellhounds on my side any day than those horrible bird things, Torvaks." She shuddered. "Speaking of which, they say one of the head clans of the Torvak is waking again. Sounds like a bad omen."

That, Harry silently agreed with.

"Take them directly to the City Hall and have them registered!" Terius admonished. "Remember that your wings are more sensitive and be careful in the crowds. Stick to the walkways and-" This was directed to Charlie. "And Harry, remember to-"

"I know," Theo said, patiently. "We know." He corrected. "And I thank you for your help and advice to now, but I do know how to go about-"

"He's fretting." Calida said, cheerfully. She popped 'round Terius' side with her usual grin. "Just let him whine it out, in fact, don't, I'll listen for you and you can just go along. Have fun! Ooh—and make sure you take a good look at your healer. I want to know if they're as cute as mine!" She ducked the half-hearted slap that Terius aimed for her head.

Theo shook his head as he started down the hallway and to the transportation room. Charlie kept close behind Harry, who hovered at Theo's right as the trio made their way down to the designated room.

"I thought Draco only had Severus and Terius." Harry ventured, after a moment. He cast a curious look at the dozen doors ahead of them as they neared the end of the hall. "Is this…?"

"It's a shared complex." Theo explained. "Terius comes from a large family, five sisters, seven brothers. They all have their own floor, this entire building belongs to them." He came to a halt in front of the door marked "TR" for transportation room. They entered. It was a pure white room, with no distracting colors, items or images, just pure white everywhere, the door itself, seeming to fade away as it closed behind them.

Theo drew in a careful breath and took quick, visual stock of the lack of detail. That was important. This would be the first time he'd be transporting any of his mates on his own and not just one, but two. He silently pushed away the tiny niggling of doubt in the back of his head. There was an easy solution to this. He took it. "Trust me?" He extended his hands, one to each mate. There was a hint of steel and his voice was dead serious.

A moment of silence hung in the air.

There was suddenly clarity in the pair of green and blue eyes as Harry took one hand and Charlie took the other.

They 'ported out to the call of "Temptrificus Portgas, Nevarah, City Hall!"

A/N: Well, apparently I have a knack for confusing everyone. *headdesk* I'll see what I can sort out in the review replies and see the note below.

As for this chapter, the fellows need some credible ID before the turn up at the health clinic, so the Healer's appointment will be next chapter and then we'll get to see what's been going on with Harry! *happy dancin*. Can't wait...I've got it half-written already and will probably post it this weekend, my sanity willing. It's been a long week.

NOTE: I will be putting together a little collection of missing scenes (Such as the missing argument between Severus and Terius, Draco and Calida's first meeting, Some other little random snippets) in a side-fic and also will include some expanded information there, such as Carriers and how they fit into a circle, as well as deeper insight on the different rankings and their functions. I realize I have created a rather complicated world (You should see the notes I have to myself to keep it all straight!) and sometimes I forget it is all inside my head. Thank you to everyone who has pointed this out. I'll get to work on that fairly soon.

If you have questions, ask away. I'll answer what I can and read the replies below-you might find answers to your questions before you even ask. ^_^

Green--I have the threesome scheduled for when they get back from the healers. Something tells me Harry will need/want the lovin' then and I doubt Theo or Charlie will deny him. :P I had fun writing Calida, glad she came across as a likeable character. I wanted to have a different twist on the idea of "mpreg" so that's where the Carriers come in, glad that made sense. :)

Jan--Glad you liked it. Calida's such a whirlwind, I don't think much would affect her. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Unneeded--*hands up in surrender* I didn't mean to complicate it! :) I'll be explaining more in the side fic when I finish it up.

In this case, first question--Merely the surrogate. For carriers to be compatible, depending on how long the sub prefers to carry the child, they have to be the same height/build, or, during the first months when everything can be broken down to a level of raw, pure magic, it is simply an energy transfer, between two bodies. I'm going to explain this a little better(I hope!) In the side fic I'm hoping to get out this weekend, if I have the time to write it all up, it will include the scene where Draco and Calida transfer. Yes, Draco did carry for a few months, but a Dragel pregnancy is longer so a male sub's body can undergo a transformation to carry the child to term. Draco was about to start the process when he was attacked. That spooked Terius and then enter Calida. Yes, a bearer can get attached to a child and most circles will welcome a Carrier into a family/friend circle afterwards or in some cases, adopt the Carrier into their circle and the Carrier becomes a second parent. If the Carrier wishes to sever ties(and it is their choice, not the sub's), then they can have their memories altered, emotions on hold, etc.

As for merging circles, if a mate somehow dies or is lost(sometimes through duels to avenge honor or as a dare between alphas, the fighters will fight and the loser must yield, depending on what is wagered), is disgraced and removed from the circle, or members undergo a change, then circles might merge. Or, if the Cheif's circle in the clan searches to strengthen itself, circles will merge with the consent of both alphas and subs and the rankings/titles will shift around.

In a Pareyic Circle(Protecting circle), this is where Dragels learn their protecting skills and powers and it helps them to handle the extra empathy and protective urges, often, a Pareya joining a circle has been living with a Protecting circle since their inheritance, leaving their family circle behind until they are taken as a mate, from there, they leave the circle, without any ill effects and there is nothing sexual about this circle.

In a Military circle, the alpha is more of a general and all the fighters(gheyos) are underlings, with seniority among them, these military circles function as part of the Royal army for the different Royal Families, but there is nothing sexual about this circle either. They learn to fight and there are constant tests, drills and duels, however, fighters thrive in the strict environment and there is some backlash for leaving this circle, if solicited by a Sub.

Does that help any? :)
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There Be Dragons, Harry