Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

There Be Dragons, Harry	By : Scioneeris Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Slash - Male/Male Views: 58400 -:- 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
- 63
- 64
- 65
RECAP: At the Health Clinic, Harry had a nightmare and Kyle tends to him, with Quinn's help as they discover the bond between Theo and Harry is affecting Harry negatively. Theo has to fight his caspers to prove his worth and then Ilsa, who tests his resolve, in the mean time, Harry wakes in Charlie's arms and worries for Theo and himself. Terris Sukey visits Harry in his mind and breaks the Soul Seal that Dumbledore had originally placed on him. Harry suffers the painful aftermath of channeling some of Theo's changes as well as the unintended soul seal unraveling.

NEVARAH : HEALTH CLINIC

"I feel fine," Harry tried not to dodge the well-meaning hands of Medic Kyle that poked and prodded when he least expected it. "There's nothing—in fact, I just feel a little sore. Like after a good Quidditch match." He twisted, trying to see what the gloved hands were doing behind him. He couldn't exactly remember a really good Quidditch match, like most times, he often ended up in Madam Pomfrey's loving care afterward, even when he was positively sure he hadn't been injured. Harry sighed, fighting and losing against the urge to squirm.

Charlie had told him that he would find Theo and while his beta had yet to actually leave the room, Harry was certain that he'd done something, somehow and that Theo would be arriving soon. He couldn't wait. He wanted to see Theo so badly, that his magic had begun to reach out to things in the room, making them rasp and rattle until Quinn had bopped him over the head with clean towel.

From there, Harry had been seated on the second examination bed, within sight and sound of Charlie, but just slightly out of reach, so that the healers could move easily and comfortably between the two. Since then, Harry had all but been vibrating with energy and it showed in ways he could not keep to himself.

"Head in front!" Kyle snapped out, speaking in Quinn's stead, even as he busied himself with something over at the preparation counter. "You shouldn't turn like that when he's pressing those pressure points, you'll sprain something or trigger another."

Quinn rapped him lightly on the head, fixing him with a mildly disapproving look to accompany the words.

Harry sighed—loudly. He couldn't help it. There was practically a literal itch scrabbling around inside of him that made him want to run and jump and fairly tackle Theo the moment his Alpha was anywhere near in sight or touch. To touch him, hold him, squeeze him, tease him and well, pretty much an entire host of indecent things not quite suited for public company—and Harry didn't care. He just wanted Theo. There. Now. Any time now.

He gave another wriggle. He was feeling better than he had felt in a considerably long time. If this was what it felt like to have his soul free, then everything for the past few months, no, even his entire life, suddenly became startlingly clear. To live as he'd been living, weighted and bearing such a burden, it had drawn things from him, things he hadn't known that he wasn't able to give. Now, he felt lighter, happier and somewhat—playful. It was almost an alien feeling. He shifted again. "I feel—fine. Really." He tried to give his best smile, but it was hard. This new weightlessness was so—strange.

Quinn didn't buy the smile if the withering glance he gave the brunet was an actual response. His speaking spell had worn off quite some time ago, Harry figured and while he was grateful the Healer hadn't renewed it, he was having to adjust to the fact that said Healer could say more with a single pointed eyebrow, than perhaps, an entire mouthful of words. Quinn spoke just fine without speaking and Harry supposed it made sense, seeing as he'd probably lived with the handicap for years. At any rate, he was simply glad that the spell was no longer in use, having remembered what the Healer had told him about the incantation. He did not want to be the reason that Quinn was never to use his voice somewhere in the future.

As it was, Kyle spoke up instead. "That is partially what we are worried about." Kyle retorted. "Quinn, move. No, I didn't check that—what? Oh, yes, I did it already. No. You didn't tell me that. Fine. Yes. Of course." The Fae's distraction was interrupted by Bharin's quick, efficient movements a few feet away where Charlie lay, face-down on one of the examination beds, while the older Gheyo cared for his wings.

"Charlie?" Harry called.

"I'm fine, Harry. Sit still for Quinn."

Harry fought the urge to stick his tongue out. He really couldn't help it. Now that he could properly appreciate what had happened—somewhat, anyway—he couldn't help himself. The conversation with Sukey had been dire and serious and the entire aftermath hadn't been something he wanted to relive at all. Ever.

But she'd done something that he could feel in his veins. A Soul Seal was apparently something very big and very serious, because for once in his life, Harry felt as if he were free. No pressures, no inherent pains and no flickers of worry. He was free and happy, for whatever that was worth. He'd been flooded with a sudden barrage of rich, wild energy that seemed to be cramming itself into every available space within his body and it made him want to dance, scream and fly from the highest points of the city—a city that he knew virtually nothing about.

The brunet squirmed again.

The blond healer scowled and a second later, Quinn pinched the soft, fleshy lobe of Harry's nearest ear, annoyed.

Harry huffed a sigh. It hurt, but not badly. Just enough to remind him that while Quinn could not speak and scold him for moving around like a fluttering pixie, he could still gain his attention in other ways. Irritatingly painful ways. Harry reached up to rub his ear, gauging as to whether he could move his hands freely without repercussion.

"I feel fine." He repeated, tucking his hands beneath his thighs when the teal-eyes gave him a look. "Really, I mean, yes, my hands hurt a little—ow—whoa, oh. That's nice." His protests swallowed themselves when Quinn extracted his hands to daub a bright green gel over the joints with a fat cotton swab. "My feet?" He inquired, waiting. To have that lovely stuff on his feet would be absolutely wonderful. He wondered what it was, but such thoughts left his mind when bliss came by in the form of that lovely substance being smoothed over his feet.

Harry let out a satisfied purring trill that filled the room.

Quinn's thin lips quirked into a smile and he gave Harry's leg a light pat, before resuming the massage, deftly manipulating the tendons and joints in a way that spoke of definite experience.

Harry flopped back, boneless on the examination table, eyes half-closed, enjoying the attention in a way he'd never really been freed to before. He knew it was partially because of his own past, because just the fact that someone was willingly touching him—and helping with said touch—made little sparks of happiness explode inside of him. For a moment, his lips quivered and then Harry pressed them tightly together, willing the overflow of emotion to stow itself away for another time. Right now, he just wanted to enjoy this. Every single minute of it that he could.

Quinn definitely had magic hands and for one brief, irrational moment, Harry wished that Quinn was his so that he'd never use those magical hands on anyone but him.

Of course, as quickly as that odd thought had come, Harry dismissed it and returned to living in the moment, where he enjoyed the feel of the soft, sure fingers rubbing, tugging and smoothing the cool gel over his aching feet and ankles. Growing as he had done was infinitely less painful than the entire lifetime up to now it had taken him to gain his other height. Now that he knew of this option, he wished he'd had it long ago.

But, as it was, Harry wasn't quite sure that he followed everything that had happened, after all, there were so many things happening, that it almost gave him a headache just figuring them through. He did know that something gravely serious had happened with Theo and that Ilsa was missing along with him.

He worried, automatically for Theo. Knowing that his Alpha was strong was one thing, but knowing that Ilsa was with him was somewhat calming. He hoped the temperamental lady would at least help Theo with whatever was going on. The dream-like trance had honestly scared him. The pain had felt very real and the image of seeing Theo being ripped apart from the inside out was an experience he never wanted to relieve.

Harry sucked in a breath and blew it out harshly. He'd also have to make a point to never sleep alone—anywhere. It seemed that nightmares would leave him alone, as long as he rested in the arms of another. He wrinkled his nose. There was really no reason to avoid taking advantage of such a simple solution, especially as he had two mates that he was fairly certain wouldn't mind if he slept close at hand.

Emerald eyes wandered about the room and settled on the Medic. Kyle was busy at the end of the room preparing something, a moment later, he tossed a container over his shoulder. One that Bharin caught and unscrewed the lid, taking out a generous fingerful to spread over Charlie's left wing, the right already folded back into his body.

Hmm, maybe that's where Quinn learned those magic hand tricks… Harry watched as Bharin's large hands worked the ointment into Charlie's large wings. It was applied in even strokes and the motions, coaxing the wings back to their hidden state.

Harry twisted to take another good look his head to the side, eyes lazily opening a little wider to see better. He couldn't help it. He'd had some time to appreciate Theo's tattoos—especially on the nights he had been able to convince the Slytherin to sleep without his pyjama top, which hadn't been too hard, but Theo was a pureblood of habit and certain habits were hard to break. Harry wondered how Charlie would fare between them as a beta. He wondered how they would spend the night. He could only recall that one night in the Burrow with Charlie, where he'd cuddled close for warmth, mildly disappointed that Charlie also wore pyjamas to bed.

His mind flitted off as he idly wondered if he'd find another mate that perhaps, would like to sleep without pyjamas. A laugh bubbled up inside and Harry hurriedly swallowed it down. He could already see the looks on Charlie and Theo's faces if he were to find a handsome fellow with an inclination to sleep in his birthday suit. That would be fun…and most likely distracting.

There were conversations floating around him and at some point, Harry had asked what they'd meant about the incomplete bondings. A reluctant Kyle had explained how Charlie and Theo had a simple dominance fight, but no confirmation that the outcome had been accepted. Apparently, the only way for that to come about, would be with Theo topping Charlie. A threesome would then follow, required to establish the operating triad functions that belonged to their little circle.

At that, Harry had blushed the richest of pinks, leaning towards reds, before his lips had quirked upwards into an odd smile and then he'd turned to stare hungrily at Charlie's mostly bare figure, his mind whirling away at the implications imparted to him and how best, they might be carried out.

Granted, he was a normal young man with the necessary urges from time to time, but since Theo, Harry had to admit that he found his nights far more enjoyable and not just for the obvious reasons of no nightmares and a warm pair of arms cuddling him close. He'd yet to really spend a real night with all three of them together and he could see how that might affect them all.

Sleeping was an intimate act, made even more so when shared amongst one's mates. In that way, Harry could understand the importance of his resting period. His mind flickered off to the fact that it was scarcely a week away and he wondered if h would spend it here in Nevarah or back in the wizarding world.

Regardless of how odd and strange everything had been, he did feel marginally safer in Nevarah, if only for the fact that here, he did not have people actively seeking to kill or recruit him. No crazy dark lords either. Harry sighed, wistfully. He really did need to speak to Theo and Charlie soon. Not a necessary, boring conversation about things like seals and such, but rather, concrete plans to know where his crazy life was headed next.

Emerald eyes glazed over with an appreciative haze as Harry admired Charlie's tattoos as Bharin helped his beta fold his lovely navy wings in. Watching those lovely scripts and scrolls was now an entirely new pastime and Harry was already addicted. Charlie's tattoos seemed to hold a rich navy hue, compared to Theo's black-to-cocoa brown shades. Compliments to their wings, he supposed.

Subconsciously, one hand began to creep upwards to his shirt collar and Harry was startled out of his thoughts when Quinn grabbed his wrist. He stared at the healer in confusion, before he realized that he had caught his bonding necklace and begun to worry it in his hands, resulting in a newly restless Charlie just a few feet away.

"Have you not exchanged scales as yet?" Kyle flitted between them, calming Charlie with deliberate hands on the redhead's forehead and shoulder and a look cast over at Harry. "You have mated, you both bear the marks for it and generally one does exchange scales during that first, ah, night."

Harry nibbled on his lower lip for a moment, then shook his head as Quinn released his wrist. "We didn't." He admitted. "I didn't know about that."

Bharin perked a brow, circling around to stand by Wikhn, out of the way, allowing the healers to work more efficiently now that his hands were no longer needed. He exchanged a glance with Quinn and then spoke. "Perhaps you would like to?" He suggested, his voice dark and rich. "If you do not wish for witnesses, we can step out of the room."

Harry found himself shaking his head, quickly. "I-I don't know how to do it." He felt his face warm as he recalled that Theo had presented him with the finished product that he now wore around his neck. He had no idea how or when Theo had really done it or what had been involved.

His Alpha had teased him that the scales had been taken during one of their passionate nights and that Harry had been far too preoccupied to notice. While he certainly didn't doubt the levels of his own awareness when Theo was using his hands in that way, Harry wished that he had noticed.

"Tis' nothing to be ashamed of." Bharin's voice gentled, oddly soothing in the room as Kyle brushed past again, with another potion in hand that he gave to Charlie.

The redhead shifted to sit up, downing the proffered potion with a grimace. Kyle handed him a glass of water afterward and picked up his wrist, timing his pulse without magic.

"Even if I don't know what to do?" Harry shot back.

"The scales along the top of the wings or near the curves in the bottom spines, are usually loose." Bharin explained. "Most dragels find it easier to handle their dragel and wizard sides, when perfectly blended—as I see you have already done. To maintain the balance, things like using your dragel forms in various everyday activities can help. Things like taking a shower, morning meditations and daily exercise for both your magic and your body, can be helpful." His gaze flickered over to Quinn, who had stood on tip-toe to levitate something from a high cabinet shelf into his waiting hands. "Using oil rubbed into the scales will help you to remove the old ones and a good shower brush usually does the trick."

"It works in either order." Kyle added. "You can rub oils into them before you bathe or after, so as long as you use the brush to give them a good scrubbing. The scales generally do not shed much, unless you are still growing or your wings have yet to adjust and even so, it is nothing overly excessive or necessary to worry about."

Quinn shook with silent laugher as he took up a position beside Kyle, handing him the jar he'd taken from the shelf. Bharin gave a quiet chuckle to whatever joke had been shared between them.

Harry rolled up from the bed to sit with his feet dangling over the edge. "What's so funny?"

"Some Submissives are a little picky." Kyle explained, mirth shimmering in his soft brown eyes. "I once knew a new triad who had yet to exchange scales properly, because the Submissive insisted that the necklaces should match."

Harry's brow furrowed. "They didn't?"

Kyle stifled a laugh. "No, Harry, they didn't. Every scale is unique, it isn't like hair. There probably are no two scales alike, so the poor mates were practically beside themselves with worry over their Sub's obsession."

"What did you do?"

"Er, well." Kyle shrugged. "Quinn did, actually and I'm not quite sure I want to know what he did to make them see sense, but in the end, they decided to have the scales mounted on gemstones and instead of using a haircord, like yours, they used silver chains. I do not believe they have ever had any trouble since, but that is an extreme situation. It is more so the circumstances under which the scales are exchanged that really matter."

"How?" Harry wanted to know. "I don't even know when Theo…" his voice trailed off and worry clouded over his features.

"If they are given willingly." Kyle answered, promptly. "If they are given and not taken, then it does not matter which scales are gifted or when it happens."

Harry stared. "What?"

Quinn gave a soft smile and touched Kyle's arm again, handing him off the jar of thick, blackness and moving over to draw out a long, tapered paintbrush.

"Do you want to exchange them now? We could witness, if you are so worried. I am sure you will be fine." Kyle soothed. He looked at the jar in his hand and then over at Quinn. "I had the smaller brushes over on the left." He instructed. "The black-bristled ones, yes?"

Quinn obediently shifted his search to the left, rummaging through the neatly organized drawer for the necessary implement. He gave a nod, a moment later, in answer to the question.

Harry fidgeted. "I don't know."

"There is absolutely no rush or pressure." Bharin cut in, quickly. "Please do not feel as if you must. It is only an observation."

"What is it so important and what are you doing?" Harry had to know.

"You have just had a blood purification ritual without some of the other protections and aids that a professional healer would have taken care of." Kyle explained. He began to 'heat' the jar with a pale glow of white-gold magic as Quinn approached, two new brushes in hand and dipped one into the jar of black goop-like paint. "We are rune-casting. It will purge his body and his blood of any lasting and lingering effects so you may safely share blood between each other again and so that his body will be better prepared and able to hold the Soul Cast." He turned his attention to the silently amused Charlie with Quinn standing before him, brush poised to paint. "This might tickle."

It was his turn before he knew it and Harry sat still, trying his best not to fidget as Quinn painted symbols and complicated patterns of runes over his pale skin. The healer's brow furrowed in concentration and his strokes were quick, light and sure. Harry shifted, feeling the chill in the air when Kyle caught his gaze and then turned to Charlie. Harry watched as the Medic approached his beta and whispered a few words to him.

A moment later, Charlie slid off the examination bed and padded over, hiking himself up to sit beside Harry, his movements careful and slow as not to mar any of the newly painted runes, still drying on his tanned skin.

For a moment, Harry didn't understand at all and then he felt the first tendrils of warmth beginning to reach out to him and he turned, wondering, to meet Charlie's equally warm gaze, those sparkling sapphire eyes shimmering over at him with something akin to pride glistening in their depths.

A faint smile tugged at his lips and Harry was thankful that his unruly hair was somewhat in his face so that he didn't have to see those brilliant blue eyes in all their glorious intensity. If he did, something hinted that he would not be able to sit so calmly beside Charlie and let Quinn continue to paint runes on him.

A light giggle tripped out and Harry clapped a hand over his mouth, emerald eyes wide.

"Ticklish spot?" Charlie inquired, his eyes gleaming wickedly.

Harry blushed and made as if to shove him off the table, but Charlie caught his hand and curled his own around it, lifting it partway up to his lips, even as Harry jerked back.

They were both returned to the present moment and their current situation when Quinn deftly flipped the brush around and poked them both with the wooden handle, a sharp quick jab and a warning look.

The playfulness subsided, but their hands remained linked. Harry returned to the business of staring at his own chest to try and make sense out of any of the symbols that Quinn painted, while Charlie held that slender hand in his and gently caressed each digit in turn.

A comfortable silence passed while Kyle began to bustle around them again, always hovering close enough with the jar for Quinn, whenever he needed to dip the brush within. He explained, when prompted, how the runic cleansing worked and how it would be their own magics doing the work for them. In the end, they would be placed inside a clear room with a specific aging spell and allowed for the spell to work at an accelerated pace to complete the process in the same day.

"An aging spell?" Charlie gave Harry's hand a light squeeze, looking from the Medic to the brunet. "I've never heard of such a thing before."

"Dragel magics and medicines are a far more dangerous and different branch of healing than any other creature." Kyle chuckled. "Do not worry, it is not half as complicated or horrible as I may inadvertently make it sound. You will hardly feel anything, if at all and it will save you from having to spend the next few days in hospital custody."

Harry shrugged. It sounded odd, but he wasn't exactly keen on staying in the clinic longer than necessary. Already they had come and he was thankful that for the most part, it hadn't been anything too serious so far—well, then again, his viewpoint of serious was probably rather skewed, considering—but he already wanted to be home. A real home, where they would not be in the way of a certain dour Potions Master, a pregnant Malfoy and a busy Councilman.

His mind flickered back to Hermione and he rubbed his arm, absently, fingers traveling up to brush over the mating marks on his neck and shoulder. Right now, he didn't care about medical procedures, rituals and magic and all that, he just wanted Theo and he wanted him now.

As if on cue, the door to the examining room slid open and two shadows fell across the entry way.

Harry felt the scale nestled in the hollow of his neck grow warm just as he pulled his hand free from Charlie's grasp. The scent of citrus was so faint in the air that if he hadn't felt the brush of warmth, he wouldn't have known. But somehow, instinctively, he did.

The door had no sooner slid open by Wikhn's admission, when Ilsa and Theo entered the room.

Harry stared at him for a long, silent moment. The changes were obvious in some ways, Theo was taller—then again, so was Harry—but the height suited him well and his hair, lovely and thick, waved gently about his head, a few tufts brushing against his shoulders. A gleam of silver caught his eye and Harry vaguely remembered once seeing tiny double silver hoops in Theo's earlobes in his Halfling dragel form. They were now present in his human form. The warm, honey-gold eyes shimmered with warmth and humor as they raked over Harry's half-bared form possessively.

He was dressed in a new suit of black and brown leathers, trim trousers, fitted shirt, and flared overcoat, his robes open and hanging just right. His feet were booted and the wide neck of his shirt showed of the thick black cord with its singular silver-peach tinted scale. Dusky lips curved upwards into a smile, fangs showing at the edges.

"Theo!" and Harry was off the examination table and launching himself forward in a heartbeat.

"Harry." The name was breathed with happiness and Theo caught Harry up in a tight, warm hug, with a little bit of a lift. "You're alright." He pressed a kiss to that dark, messy head of hair. "And you grew too."

"How are you? What happened?" Harry buried his face in that familiar neck and breathed long and deep. "Theo." He murmured again, nuzzling the warmth there. "I saw you—and it—everything—it hurt. Theo, what happened?"

The golden eyes held the faintest tinge of sadness. "Something that will take me considerable time to explain." He kissed the edge of Harry's famous scar. "May I tell you later or do you truly want to know this very minute?"

Harry leaned forward, giving a little bit of a jump, relaxing when Theo's arms automatically curved around him to hold tight enough, so his feet were off the ground. He balance carefully and took Theo's face in both hands. "As long as you alright." He allowed, searching that solemn face for any sign of untruth.

"I am better now than I was before." Theo said, honestly. He leaned forward enough to touch their noses together. "And I will tell you later. It is no secret."

"Both of us?" Harry questioned. One hand splayed over a warm cheek and the other tangled easily in Theo's thicker hair. "Charlie too?"

"Charlie too." Theo agreed. His grip tightened on the lovely armful as he cast a knowing eye to the runic symbols. "Are those dry?"

"Hmm? Yes." Harry tapped his cheek, wanting those golden eyes back up on his face and not lingering on his skinny, painted chest. "It's fine. They're dry."

"Good." Theo's fanged smile made another appearance. "I missed you then," his voice dipped lower, deeper.

"Missed you too." Harry's eyelids slid half-way shut and he leaned forward, resting their foreheads together. "Worried about you. Couldn't feel you." His hands dropped to fist in the collar of Theo's jacket and robes. "Really, really worried, Theo." He butted his Alpha's forehead, lightly. "Don't do that again. Don't disappear on me when I need you, when I can't know where you went."

A ragged breath was stolen slowly and Theo gave a short, jerky nod. "I won't." He promised, softly. "I will not. I—this was the only time." He offered, pressing a kiss of apology to one pale cheek. "I will not do that again."

"Good." Harry tried to smile, but his mind continued to whirl away. "I met Sukey," He trembled, a giddy smile plastering itself on his face. "She took my Soul Seal off."

Dark chocolate eyebrows arched upwards in a mixture of surprise and wonder. "Did she now?"

"Mmmhmm." Harry hummed. He could feel raw magic feathering and crackling around and over Theo, intertwined tightly with his Alpha and reaching out, curiously to him. He tested it, carefully, with a brush of his own and was warmly received. It made him smile for a moment and then an overwhelming wave of want splashed over him.

For all of a split-second, Harry stared at that gorgeous face of pale skin, golden eyes and rich, thick, dark hair. The glints of silver in his ears and the half-smirk, half-smile with a hint of pride mixed in, smiled back at him.

Harry reached forward and slanted his mouth over that near-smirk. He was gratified to feel Theo's arms tightening deliberately around them and his shoulders itched for a scant second, before he felt them jerk and knew that his wings were coming out. They snapped outward with a satisfying flick, a thrum of magical energy leaping inside him, the wildness having a new, sudden outlet.

Harry didn't have time to think beyond that, before the kiss deepened and Theo's scent flooded around him. He felt the mated bond between them sing and hum with happiness, approval and contentment. An additional layer of warmth surrounded him and the light darkened enough for Harry to understand that Theo had his wings out as well and curved around them for privacy and protection.

It made him wish they were far away from a public audience so he could really make use of the wild energy singing through his veins. As it was, he fluttered his wings encouragingly, brushing them seductively against Theo's own strong ones as they circled in closer, lightly touching back, caressing but not encouraging the first flickers of arousal that stirred as pleasurable shocks rippled through him.

Lips parted willingly, an approving trill sounding out as Harry curled his arms around Theo's neck and gave and took in equal measure. Theo's lips were soft, but roughened around the bottom edge and his mouth was hot, wet and warm, with the faintest hint of chocolate left behind. The kiss shifted, little nips, licks and then deeper again, tongues tangling and tasting, as Harry willingly molded himself to that perfect moment of bliss.

Theo pulled away, long enough for them to breathe and then his head dipped down again and he swallowed Harry's breathy moan. The kiss was light and teasing, growing with intensity as it progressed. Theo's magic shimmered and sang around them and Harry was vaguely aware that they were moving somewhat.

He shifted, wrapping his legs around Theo's waist, uncaring beyond that. Theo's arms rearranged themselves to better hold him, cradling him close. When they parted again, Harry turned his head, enough to catch the corner of one of Theo's ears in his mouth. He nipped it, lightly, in reprimand. He was serious. As happy as he was to see Theo, he did not want a repeat of this again—of Theo disappearing off somewhere that he could not follow or know of, someplace where even Charlie could not reach him and Harry knew the redhead had tried.

If Theo and Charlie had been fully bonded, Harry knew the outcome would have been different, but he had no intention of changing his mind on this matter. They were all in this and he determined that they ought to make the best of it, no matter what came their way. He was sick and tired of fate meddling with his life whenever it so chose to. By whatever stroke of good luck, he'd been allowed Theo and even Charlie, it was more than he could have ever hoped for and he would do everything that was within his power to keep it.

He'd given up enough.

"Don't disappear on me again, Theo." He warned.

There was an apologetic kiss to his cheek, baby-soft and almost hesitant. "I will not, treasure, in this, I give you my word."

This time, Harry kissed him.

CHARACTER SNIPPET : SEAMUS FINNEGAN : THE BURROW

Seamus frowned as Dean shuffled nervously beside him yet again. He elbowed his boyfriend a little harder than necessary and fixed him with a faintly green-eye-tinged glare to ensure his cooperation. A moment later, the dark head ducked in embarrassment and understanding, but neither said a word.

After another moment of restlessness, the tanned wizard excused himself from the tension-filled room and disappeared up the stairs intending to take up another round of the watch. It wasn't exactly safe to stay in the Burrow, but Dumbledore hadn't sent any other instructions and told them that the possibility of another attack in the ruins of the last one was quite unlikely.

Seamus was inclined to disagree. From what he understood, the newly repaired and restored condition of the Burrow and everything else, was largely due to an accidental burst of creature magic from the pureblooded Theodore Nott. It spoke of things that the Irish lad was not yet sure he wanted to puzzle through.

He'd had to send word to his mother to explain that he'd cast his luck out and would have to see it through, at least for the moment. She'd scolded him—as he'd expected—and made him promise to be careful. He'd said he would try and do his best—and he hadn't bothered to tell her not to scry for him or cast out her own strands of luck.

What would happen, would happen.

It had been a scarce three days since the attack at the Burrow and neither Mr. Weasley nor the Weasley children had returned nor sent word. Mrs. Weasley had been moved indoors to the couch where Ginny kept watch by her side, sponging her forehead with cool water, while Lavender had been dispatched with Neville to see about finding a healer in the form of visiting Madam Pomfrey.

He'd heard via floo, when McGonagall had firecalled and he'd sent Dean to handle the conversation, not trusting himself to let things take their natural course. It was far too tempting to use his luck when things were so horribly gone awry. At it was, it pained him to hover nearby, watching Ginny's pinched, drawn face as she tended to her mother, who had literally become lifeless the moment Arthur and her other children had vanished.

Her rosy-hued skin had grown deathly pale and her charming, auburn-orange curls had gone flat, limp and straight. Magic, Seamus knew, his own Mam had a similar trick and he knew to run when her hair went straight, but this was far more disturbing than anything he'd ever known.

"Gin?" He moved forward, cat-quiet, eyes raking over the pale, female form of the older witch. "How is she? How are you? Any change?" There was none, he could tell, his gift told him that much, but he asked her anyway, knowing the signs and stages of grief and depression. Ginny was swiftly turning into the same haunted ghost as

The redhead turned teary eyes towards him, her lower lip trembling faintly. "I don't understand." Her voice cracked. "Why would Daddy—why would—how could-"

"Seam?" Dean's voice rang out from somewhere on the upper floors. "Something's coming,"

"What?" Seamus jerked around, the pendant worried between his fingers falling back to rest on his chest, hung by the leather cord. "What do you mean?"

"Get up here!"

The young wizard scrambled to his feet, taking the stairs two at a time and meeting his boyfriend on the landing between floors, in front of a large, misshapen window. "What is it?" He squinted, seeing nothing.

"Keep looking, it's drawing closer." Dean's hand dropped on his shoulder, squeezing tight. "…use your sight if you have to, I'm not sure about this, Seam."

Seamus clasped the pendant in his hand and squeezed it tight. A moment later, he felt the tingle and blinked away the tears as his eyes shifted to something sharper and clearer, allowing him to see what was approaching. His breath caught in his throat and he felt his stomach flip. "T-Torvak?"

"I think I know understand that Mum means when she says the truth is stranger than fiction." Dean said, grimly. He turned away, abruptly, taking the stairs down two at a time. "Something tells me that spears aren't friendly things to come calling with."

"Shouldn't we give them the benefit of doubt?" Seamus hurried after him, biting his lower lip. His luck could extend to Mrs. Weasley and it had always circled around Dean, now fixed around his boyfriend as natural as breathing, though to include Ginny, Lavender and Neville would certainly be stretching things quite a bit. It wasn't something he wanted to chance. They were his friends yes, but meddling with certain things required experience that was only gained with a little bit of luck and chance—not with complete dependence on one's lucky talents.

The sickening feeling in his stomach doubled over and back. Seamus rubbed it absently and looked away. He couldn't think of anything outright that he could do just then. Everything he could consider would require significant preparation time. Tiemmt that he was somehow sure that they did not have.

"I have more doubt than benefit right now." Dean shot back. "I don't know about you, but this doesn't feel right." They arrived in the crowded living room, taking up positions beside the sofa where the unresponsive Mrs. Weasley lay.

"I'm not saying that we trust them, just that, maybe they're here to talk?" Seamus suggested. "I mean, we haven't heard anything from anyone and, what if they're bringing news? We should hear them out."

"Hear who out, what's happening?" A pale Neville appeared in the kitchen doorway, slightly turned away from Lavender, who held him up, with of his arms slung around her curvy shoulders. She held a half-eaten custard tart in one hand and was attempting to stuff it in the Gryffindor's mouth as he spoke. "Lav-hey-mouf." The words were muffled and Neville reluctantly accepted the treat, chewing hastily and swallowing.

The curvaceous girl scowled, darkly. "You need to eat." She reminded him. "You can't just recover your energy by wishful thinking!" She poked him in the side, watching him jump. "Ugh. Boys! What I wouldn't do for a nice, big man…" The words trailed off in a mutter.

"Hey!" Neville protested, but he let her lead him to a chair in the living room and sat down, leaning heavily against her.

She frowned, but guided his head to pillow it on her shoulder, stroking her hands through his hair, her plump lips quivering. "What's wrong now? Did something happen?"

"We will have some visitors in the next few minutes," Seamus said, far more calmly than he felt at the moment. "I think it best if we are all prepared for things to be…worse."

"Worse?" The round-face witch squeaked, she sat bolt upright, nearly upsetting Neville. "Finnegan!"

Seamus winced. Dean rolled his eyes. Ginny looked between them and then back at her mother. One single, pale finger, twitched.

A/N: Thanks for reading guys! This chapter is very ah, fluffy, I guess, to make up for all the recent angst. Also, on FF, the side story fic for Snape Circle, how they got together, mated/bonded, etc is now up.

Shadowwolf03--Thank you. I'll just be adding chapters whenever I can. No specific timelines right now. My courseload is pretty full.

dominic--Aw, thanks! I'm glad it's fun an interesting.

unneeded--dragels are far more durable than you'd think, but yeah. Poor Theo. Caspers are kind of "everywhere" they don't need a reason/way/path to get into you, like Niko, Severus or Voldy would. They can simply meddle, in Sukey's case, she was originally going to kill Harry for using the password, because she liked Theo as a "master" and didn't want him to die instead. Well, it will cause some issues with the SC, but the Charlie bonding is coming up soon!
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There Be Dragons, Harry