Chapter 1: Lover

September 1, 1996 – Slytherin Common Room - Hogwarts

Astraea Weasley, Astra or Raea, stretched out next to her boyfriend of five years. Draco Lucas Malfoy was stroking her long, raven curls, absently smoothing the tangles out of her hair, as he read his new Transfiguration book. Pansy Parkinson, lounging in the leather armchair opposite the couple's couch, leg thrown over one arm, laughed at her friends. Her eyes ran appreciatively over the blonde male who had grown out of the rat-like features of his childhood into a chillingly handsome young man with hair of gold and piercing, silver eyes.

"Astra, don't you ever get tired of him?" she teased. Astra smirked at her best friend.

"Of course not, Pans," she purred, gazing up at Draco with adoring sapphire eyes. "He's my eternal love."

Draco smiled and leaned over to kiss her. "Always, lover."

Pansy sighed, rolling her eyes. "God, you guys are sickening! I know the past five years have been the first time you two have seen each other in thousands of years, but really? You guys take it way too far! I am so glad this is Sixth year. Two more years and I don't have to put up with your ridiculous kissy faces!"

"I would have to agree," a lazy male voice drawled. Pansy and Astra jumped up and squealed.

"BLAISE!" they tackled him and laughed when they fell over. Blaise landed on the bottom and mock-groaned.

"God, girls, can't BREATHE!"

They laughed and got up. Blaise Zabini stayed on the floor, pretending to be winded. Draco laughed at his best friend.

"You deserved that," he snickered, "trying to steal my girlfriend."

"Draco, come on! Like I would have a chance to steal Astra from you!" Blaise laughed, shaking his head at his friend. "Look at her, she hangs on your every word…like some kind of twisted love slave!"

"I'll show you a love slave, Zabini!" Astra giggled as she threw her arms around her boyfriend's neck, drawing his head down so she could kiss him. Tangling her fingers in the long hairs at the back of his neck, pushing him backwards until his back hit the wall. Draco groaned as she hooked a leg over his waist, rubbing herself against the erection confined by his jeans. The kisses grew more heated, more frantic and demanding as Draco twisted them around, so her back was pressed against the wall, hitching her up so both legs were wrapped around him. He kissed his way down her neck, sucking hard, leaving love bites. Astra was moaning deep in her throat when he suddenly stopped and pulled away, turning his head to face the room.

"Damn you, Zabini," he snarled glaring daggers at the handsome Italian. "What the hell?"

"Hate to ruin your fun there, Malfoy," Blaise snickered, there was nothing he loved more than cockblocking Draco, "but there are first years here." He nodded to all the shorties who were staring at Draco and Astra with wide eyes and open mouths. Astra laughed, whispered something to Draco and pulled away, straightening her clothes as she faced the first years.

"Alright, I'm Astraea Weasley," she said sweetly. "And this is my boyfriend, Draco Malfoy." There were a few whispers as the wealthy purebloods recognized the names. "We are prefects; both of us are in Sixth year. Here's how the rules work in Slytherin: The first and more important rule, the rule that you must never, ever break is: Always Protect Your House. Got that? Especially against those damn Gryffindors." A young girl with white blonde hair similar to a younger Draco's raised her hand. "Yes, name?"

"Celesica Narcissa Black," she drawled; her sea blue eyes narrowing as she looked Astra up and down. "What is a Weasley doing in Slytherin house?"

Astra smiled sweetly and opened her mouth to respond, but Draco beat her to it.

"Celesica, I dare you to say that one more time," he growled. She turned wide, innocent eyes on him.

"But, Cousin Draco…"

"Not another word, Celesica," he hissed then switched to French. "Elle est ma vie, mon fiancé. Le sang de ma vie. Elle est celui que j'ai cherché par les âges." (She is my life, my betrothed. My life's blood. She is the one I have been seeking through the ages.)

"Mais elle est un traître de sang! Elle et sa famille entière! Comment pouvez-vous faire une telle chose à notre ligne?" (But she is a blood traitor! She and her entire family! How can you do such a thing to our line?)

"Ce qui vous savoir, vous n'avez pas même vécu une vie!" (What would you know, you have not even lived one lifetime!)

"Je sais le devoir que j'ai à ma famille et mon héritage. Vous, Draco? Ou joueriez-vous avec votre prostituée que prendriez la cape de responsabilité?" (I know the duty I have to my family and my heritage. Do you, Draco? Or would you rather play with your whore than take up the mantle of responsibility?)

"Vous êtes déplacés, le Cousin. Je suis l'héritier aux titres de notre famille, donc je regarderais ma bouche à votre place. Astraea sera ma femme et donc votre supérieur. Je suggère que vous vous en souvenez." (You are out of place, Cousin. I am the heir to our family's titles, so I would watch my mouth if I were you. Astraea will be my wife and therefore your superior. I suggest you remember that.)

The girl snorted and flounced out of the common room. A moment later, the slam of the first year girls' dorm alerted them to her anger. Astra patted Draco's arm and turned back to the firsties.

"Alright, now that we've gotten that out of our systems, let's get you up to bed. First year dorms are on the first level up the stairs, girls on the right, boys on the left. Once you hit fourth year, you get our own rooms, but you gotta wait a couple years. Oh, wait!" She smiled when they looked at her with confused eyes. She picked up two hats, one silver, and the other green and shook them. Paper rustled inside. "Everyone reach in and take ONE paper, boys pick from the silver, girls from the green." Once everyone had a paper, she nodded and pulled an extra, for Celesica. "Alright, open it up. The name you see is the name of the fifth, sixth or seventh year student who will be your mentor for this year. Who pulled my name?" A small girl with thick, black hair and wide blue eyes raised her hand. "Alright, you stay behind when everyone is dismissed. I want to make this very clear, right now. You are not, I repeat, not house elves and you are not to allow your mentor to treat you as such. If your mentor asks you to run a quick errand occasionally, that is perfectly acceptable and general considered proper. However, if your mentor abuses you in anyway, I want to know about it immediately. Do you understand?" There were nods all around and she smiled. "Very well than. You are dismissed."

The girl waited until everyone except for Astra and the three sixth years left then she came forward.

"What's your name?" Astra asked softly. The girl smiled.

"Bryony Jet."

"That's a very pretty name. Where are you from, Bryony?"

"Wales." She smiled again shyly and said softly, "You have very pretty hair. Can I touch it?" Astra smiled and nodded and allowed the girl to touch her curls. Bryony's smile lit up her face and she thanked Astra profusely before the sixth year gently pushed her towards bed.

When it was only her, Draco, Pansy and Blaise, she smiled at her boyfriend, swinging her hips as she went to his side.

"Shall we go to my room, lover?" she whispered, nipping his ear. Draco smirked and swept her into his arms.

"Lets. Night guys."

Blaise and Pansy simply smiled and waved.

"When do you think they will finish the bond?" Pansy asked. Blaise shrugged, eyeing a sixth year girl appreciatively.

"I don't know. Soon, I hope. Sweet Circe, they're annoying, aren't they?" Pansy laughed and looped her arm through Blaise's.

"Either way, I'm getting a little jealous of them. You wanna?"

Blaise looked down at his friend. His smirk grew smugger and his brown eyes darkened to near black with lust.

"Sure. My room. Now."

As has been the way of young lovers for eternity, the two retired to their room, intent on their pleasure.

** ** **

Summer, 996

It was a warm day in June and the young couple was taking advantage of the day to have a picnic.

The young witch, her midnight hair streaming down her back, released from its restraining braids, was weaving a garland of wild roses as her companion, a handsome young wizard with sunshine hair and twinkling silver eyes, watched, idly twirling his wand between his fingers.

"Raea, do you have any idea how you affect me?" he asked casually, flicking his wand at a lazily buzzing fly and grinned at the sparks that emitted from it.

Raea Slytherin gave her lover a smug grin. "If my memory of last night isn't faulty, then I can probably begin to guess."

He laughed. "Besides that. You are my life, Raea. I love you."

She smiled softly. "And I love you, Lucas. So much it hurts."

Lucas Malfoy-Gryffindor smirked and moved so he was right next to her. He took her hands and kissed the knuckles, kissing every dot of blood from the rose thorns away. "Are you afraid of loving me, Raea?"

"Never. I will always love you, not matter what happens. Forever."

* * *

1997

In the elemental cage buried deep below Stonehenge, the dark sorceress stirred, waking a bit more, as she had been doing for five years. She had been steadily growing stronger and now was able to send out her dark call to her minions, the creatures she had let loose when she had first walked the earth.