AN: I am so so sorry this took so long. University is really killing me. Hopefully I will have more time to write soon. But on the upside this chapter may be the longest I have ever posted. And it was completely reworked from its original short crappy form. So, read, review and enjoy! (Hint: more reviews = more desire to write = faster updates!)
Chapter 3: Passion
Jessie awoke early the next morning to find her mates already awake. They stood by the bed. Draco held something behind his back. When she sat up they all smiled and Harry said "Happy belated Birthday!" and Draco brought out a brightly wrapped package from behind his back. He handed it to her and she ripped it open. It was a beautiful blanket with overlaying colours of red, purple, blue and orange.
"I enchanted it so that it will smell like whatever you want," Severus told her. She immediately sniffed it. It smelled like vanilla, cinnamon, marshmallows and roasted almonds, which was exactly what Severus smelled like to her. She smiled.
"Thank you, thank you! I love it!" She gushed, jumping up to hug each one of them in turn. She really did love it, for more reasons than she could even think of. She put it up to her cheek and reveled in its softness. It was the perfect gift. She couldn't help but smile widely up at her wonderful mates.
So as to not arouse too much suspicion, they arrived to breakfast separately. Jessie sat next to Draco, since they were both in Slytherin and had been acquaintances before anyway. They didn't talk any more than usual, but there was a quiet contentment between them, some unspoken feeling. Hardly anyone noticed and those that did just brushed it off as if it were nothing.
But after breakfast things began to go downhill. All through her classes, people stared at her. Jessie became quite self-conscious and grew more and more nervous. She did not like the way people were looking at her at all. People who had been her friends or at least been friendly to her now looked at her with suspicion and disgust. In some cases there was envy, and even hate. She didn't like to feel so alienated. Her volatile Lithra nature was not helping either. Part of her screamed that she must destroy these people and another part wanted to run and hide. She didn't know what to do. So she just kept her head down and tried not to look at anyone. But then everything came crashing down.
"Where are your wings, Lithra?" came the jeering voice of a fourth year Gryffindor boy, as an enchanted parchment airplane collided with the side of her head. Jessie snapped and ran into the nearest bathroom, where she promptly burst into tears. But now she was alone and that only made things worse. Her wings were out now, curling protectively around her as she lay on the floor, sobbing. Her tail was now visible too, also curled around her. Outside a storm raged. Rain beat down upon the castle, a fierce wind howled, thunder boomed loudly across the sky, in time to her sobs. And between the thunder, forks of lightning lit the now darkness.
It was unfortunate that their bond had not progressed far enough to allow the mates to speak mind-to-mind, for if it had, they would have been able to find her instantly. But instead it was the storm that alerted Severus to the condition of his youngest mate. But not the location. Draco and Harry were nervous as their eyes flicked between each other and the window as they sat in one of those oh so common classes that Gryffindors and Slytherins had together. Other students stared nervously out the windows, not knowing what was happening.
Dumbledore and the rest of the teacher knew what was going on and knew they had to find the upset Lithra. Dumbledore and McGonagall wandered the halls, asking if any of the students had seen Jessie. The boy who had made fun of her smirked and told them she had run into a bathroom crying. Dumbledore frowned and notified the teachers to start searching the bathrooms.
Severus walked down a corridor, attempting to remain calm. He approached a bathroom and heard sobbing coming from within. He immediately burst inside. He froze for a moment at the sight of her sobbing on the floor, her wings and tail fluttering slightly. But then he blinked and rushed towards her.
"Sevvy!" She sobbed as he lifted her gently into his arms. Luckily no one saw them as he carried her quickly back to their rooms. Once there, he laid her gently on the bed. Then he sent an owl to Dumbledore, to let him know that Jessie was safe. He sat next to the bed and held her hand as she sobbed herself to sleep. He murmured lovingly to her until her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing slowed. He kept hold of her hand and watched her sleep.
When class had ended, Harry and Draco rushed back to the rooms. Severus looked up as Harry and Draco came running in.
"They wouldn't stop making fun of her," He whispered, looking rather dejected, "She just couldn't take it. She ran into a bathroom so no one would see her cry. But being alone only made things worse for her. She was a mess by the time I found her." He blamed himself for what had happened. He kept thinking that he should have stopped Dumbledore from making that announcement. Harry and Draco sat down beside him, and looked at Jessie.
"Look Sev, it's not your fault. It's those fucking ponces fault. Don't blame yourself." Draco told his dominant.
"We need to be able to speak mind-to-mind with her. Then maybe things like this won't happen anymore." Harry suggested, watching their sleeping mate.
"Do you think she's ready for that?" asked a rather startled Severus. Harry nodded. Severus looked at Jessie, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He was worried. Harry put a hand on his shoulder.
"How about we ask her when she wakes up?" Harry offered. Severus nodded.
Jessie was feeling much better when she awoke a few hours later. Dumbledore had canceled the rest of the days classes, so all three of her mates sat by the bed. Severus still held her hand and Draco and Harry merely watched her. She blinked her eyes open and looked up into the worried faces of her mates.
"I'm sorry," She whispered. Severus squeezed her hand.
"Shh, love, it wasn't your fault," He assured her. She looked at him, tears glittering in her eyes. He kissed her forehead, "Don't blame yourself," He whispered. She hiccupped then nodded. "We have something we need to talk to you about," He continued, smiling at her.
Harry and Draco nodded enthusiastically. Jessie sat up against the pillows and looked at them questioningly.
"See, to avoid incidents like this one in the future, it would help if we were able to speak mind-to-mind," Harry explained. Jessie's eyes widened. She knew from her research exactly how far their bond had to progress in order to speak mind-to-mind. Consummation, an ultimate physical representation of their love. Severus saw her hesitation and nervousness and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Only if you want to, love. We can wait." He told her reassuringly. Then she smiled brightly.
"Want to? Of course I want to!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around Severus and nuzzling his neck. "There is nothing I would like more than to be bonded to the three of you," she whispered, smiling against the smooth skin of Severus' neck. She looked up to see Harry and Draco beaming at her. She smiled back. Then she pulled away from Severus and asked the three of them, "So? What do we do now?" She was unsure of how this worked. Being a newly turned Lithra, she was also a virgin and though she knew the basic principles of it, sex was still very much a mystery to her.
She looked expectantly at them as Harry and Draco shifted uncomfortably. Severus smiled.
"It's instinct really. Let your emotions carry you." He told her, and then captured her lips in a searing kiss. Her arms went around his neck. Draco and Harry soon joined them and they became a tangle of bodies. Time seemed to stand still, none of them knew where one body ended and another began.
Finally exhaustion over took them and they fell asleep cuddled in each other's' arms.
In the morning, Jessie was the first to awake and the first to discover the mind link.
**Wake up, sleepy heads!** She sent through the link, startling her mates awake.
^^I'm trying to sleep, Jessie!^^ Harry sent back.
I'm up, love. Harry, be nice! Severus replied lovingly to Jessie and reprimanded Harry.
/Will you all shut up? I'm tired!/ Draco sent, annoyance in his mind voice.
Draco, you need to be nice too!
^^Did no one hear me the first time? I agree with Draco!^^
**Sevvy! Tell them they're being mean! I'm just excited!**
Yes, you are, love. You're positively glowing!
/Ugh! Of course she's not tired! We did all the work! She just lay there!/
Draco Lucius Malfoy! Apologize this instant!
/Sorry, Jessie./
Finally, they agreed it was time to get up. Jessie was on the verge of tears and Severus was glaring at Harry and Draco. Then, when Jessie tried to stand up, she collapsed back onto the bed.
**Ow! I'm so sore!** She whimpered through the link.
There is no way I am letting you go to class like this. We were to rough, weren't we?
^^Baby!^^ Harry taunted. Severus' head snapped towards him.
Harry James Potter! I will not tolerate your nonsense! Apologize now!
^^Sorry, Jessie.^^
Draco went off to shower first and Severus sent an owl to Dumbledore explaining the situation. The reply was full of sympathy mixed with humor, which made Severus scowl. So they spent the day in their rooms, recovering from the previous night's passion.
