After we'de spent some time exploring the deepest reaches of each others tonsils (or at least Mal's, I'd had mine removed as a kid) and I came incredibly close to having to change my pants (I'd never have told Mal but my girl could fill out a pair of leather pants and apparently she considered kissing a contact sport) I decided to slow things down. I very nearly had to dump ice down my pants to do so, but I didn't want to pressure her into anything. Magic soulmates or not the last thing I wanted was for things to get awkward.

Of course gentleman or not I kept one arm around her shoulders as we struck out in search of food. She looked so good I kept wanting to polish glasses I wasn't wearing to make sure she was real so I had no interest in anyone not knowing she was with me. I try to be chivalrous to women, and to my woman especially but I'm still a man damn it.

It was odd thinking of her like that, as my woman, everything here had happened so damn fast. But I couldn't be upset about it, out of the luck id had in my life the violet haired beauty sitting next to me adorably attempting to eat her first corn-dog with a puzzled frown was probably the best. She was so cute concentrating on it I almost hated to interrupt. But there were still things to talk about. "So you know about Justin, from the soulgaze, but theres some other things that you need to hear."

She listened raptly as I explained all about my life, my dad and Elaine and Justin and the council, who Justin had made it clear would show me no mercy without him around to protect me. I talked until I was blue in the face and then some more, and tears prickled at my eyes from the grief but I wouldn't let them spill, not here, not where all the people could see. Mal subtly snuggle up under my arm and held me closer. She knew some of it from the gaze, but she sat there and listened and cared while I spilled it all, and when I was done she chased off the tears with a gentle kiss.

"I'm not afraid, Harry. This council or whatever can come if they want but they wont take you." She gave me a possessive smirk "After all, what kind of dragon lets someone steal her treasure." I grinned warmly down at her "Well don't worry, I don't plan on getting us caught, those guys scare me, but it's a big world, and they've got bigger fish than me who've been running a lot longer. If I have things my way the council will never even catch a whiff."

I heard a gruff throat clearing from behind me. "Well hell Hoss, maybe you oughta get yourself a better deoderant." My face paled, the voice wasn't familiar but knowing my luck, they had to be council. Damn it Harry! Never tempt fate with witty remarks, this is like rule number 1! I turned to face the group, there were two large men in grey cloaks, flanking a big burly older man with a thick beard.

There was something about him that seemed familiar for a second but I brushed it off as a subconscious gandalf comparison and moved to stand in front of Mal. I tried to be slow and subtle about it but the man noticed and gave me a reassuring smile "Well now son, we're not here for your lady, we got no trouble with her, and hope not to have any with you." I scoffed at that "Old man, youre from the council, I'm pretty surprised I still have a head."

Mal laid a hand on my shoulder "Harry, honey I get the feeling we should hear them out, if they try anything we can fight but these guys look like they know what theyre doing." I turned back to the three men "Fine, for her, because It'll make her feel safer." The old man nodded and we all sat down at a nerby table to talk.

Mal's POV

The burly older man sat down across the table from us and the two large men followed suit. He seemed to be the leader, he nodded to us graciously as we sat down "my name is Ebenezar Mccoy, and if you aint already guessed it I'm with the white council of wizards." Harry tensed next to me but I laid my hand on top of his, Ebenezar noticed and winced "Now I reckon you've heard a bit about us and probably not all of it good, we take breaking the laws awful serious and normally you'de be dragged in for trial. I personally never liked Justin but if things had to shake out that way I'd have done it, luckily we seem to have stumbled into a better situation than you might think."

"Now you might not know this but the man, and I do use that word loosely, who owns this circus is mighty powerful, and enjoys a certain amount of autonomy within the supernatural world. Your presence here and being in his employ allows us to talk this out in a way that might not otherwise be possible."

" We know DuMorne is dead and that you killed him, but from the small amount of evidence we could find it looks like he had time to fight too. The more conservative elements of the council believe this was just one last spell before he died, but Justin DuMorne was a captain in the wardens and if he'd had time to fire off a death curse before being assassinated they'de have been finding pieces of you sticking to the outside of the international space station. Makes me think he knew what was going on and was confident he was gonna come out on top."

I studied the older man as he spoke. Something about him seemed so strangely familiar, which was literally impossible since I'd met probably three people since arriving in this world and only knew one well enough to… I cocked my head and inhaled deeply. Now I may not be a giant lizard at the moment but regardless of form im always a dragon and I knew my boy's scent by heart now. Scent profile is complicated, it's a mixture of cosmetics, toiletries, and an underlying base scent that's usually a mixture of hormones sweat and some odd unique markers I can only describe as bloodline. And this wizards base scent was incredibly similar to my Harry.

My eyes widened and I probably wouldve gasped, if I hadnt just finished inhaling as deep as I could as it was I let out a surprised whoosh of breath and the wizards head snapped over to me. I could tell from his face that he didn't want me to say anything, but short of actually hurting me (though from the waves of magic rolling off him like high tide he could easily do that) and I got the impression upsetting Harry was gonna make that a non option.

"Harry" he looked over questioningly at the soft tone in my voice. I had seen the inside of his soul just like he'd seen mine and I knew how horrifyingly alone he was, how abandoned he felt, and how not having those christmas mornings and Sunday dinners with a smiling mom and dad hurt him. I could feel it in the depths of my heart how much this would hurt him, but we were so new that and damage to the trust we were building could break us, and I wouldn't start our life together with a lie, even one of omission.

"Harry, we might want to hear him out, he…he has a good reason to want to help. Hes related to you…somehow. I can smell the blood tie even if I cant figure out what it is." Harry just blinked at me stupidly and the old man sighed. "Im his grandfather, though I would appreciate you two keeping that little fact damn secret, this isnt exactly friendly territory and chances are it wont stay that way long."

He fixed me with a glare "I hd my reasons for not mentioning that up front" his glare softened somewhat "but I suppose I couldn't expect you to keep it from him for someone you've never met. Damage control can come later." He turned to stare heavily at Harry "I am, as your girl says, a relative, your mothers father. Though I'd have preferred to keep that on the down low, seeing as im one of the most powerful wizards on the damn council and have made plenty of enemies. But that being said…its good to meet you Hoss." This last was said with a gentle expression.

"If it makes you feel any better" said a laconic voice from the shadows nearby "we already knew that anyway, and it had nothing to do with inviting the boy to work here." Mr. Ferro stepped from the shadows and at his side was an absolutely gorgeous woman. She looked about 23, tops, and had wild hair in plenty of snakelike braids, her hazel eyes blazed with intelligence and confidence and she seemed more than at home next to the clearly terrifyingly powerful Ferro.

She was also a dragon…a REALLY STRONG one. And I wasn't at all happy with the side of beef look she was giving Harry. I felt my eyes flash green and a growl rumbled up from my chest. Everyone in the clearing who had turned to look at the newcomers froze and slowly turned to stare at me, but I only had eyes for the threat. "Mine" She smirked at me and her eyes flashed a molten gold before I was crushed to the ground under an avalanche of blazing power. "Not to worry little sister, I aint here to steal your man, I mightve tried if you were so tightly bound but if I tried to take him now I might break him." She stole a glance at Harry and licked her lips "And not in a way he'd like" my growl grew louder and she rolled her eyes.

The pressure crushing me to the ground instantly abating as her gaze left me. Ferro looked annoyed at the female "Really Amelia, must you always do everything is loudly as possible? Learn some subtelty girl." The female, Amelia grinned unrepentantly, well im going to be helping them with their powers, so I had to see what I was working with didn't I?" She turned to me and gave me a wry smile "Sorry for the games but I had to see what you were made of. Allow me to introduce myself, the name is Amelia Hearstriker, and im your new teacher."

Hey all sorry for the wait, this chapter was a tough one but im starting to get some momentum I think, every review helps too. Amelia is from Rachel Aarons heartstriker series and she wont be the only character who is, theyre great books if you want to check them out. Theres gonna be plenty of crossover in this one, just cameos and such but im going to try to make it blend well and pick some lesser known characters I enjoy. Hope to hear from you all soon.