Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter...
Kissing You
NOTE: not proof-read... Sorry. :D
Warning: Time JUMP! Chapter's long! Tell me if it was too terrible!
Chapter 26
"Harry, what happened?" Draco immediately asked when he walked into the Tower to see his mate lying down on the floor with an ice-pack pressed against his forhead.
"I'm not sure," Harry said without moving to get up. He sighed and readjusted the ice-pack. He had hit his head rather hard, maybe he had some sort of concussion. That was the only way he could explain Hermione's odd behavior. What had she meant by it Neville's Inheritance might have been held back for a reason? That made no sense whatsoever. How could refusing someone of their soul mate be a good thing? "I've just had a run-in with Hermione..."
"What did she want?" Draco asked on alert. He was not above hurting a girl if said girl had troubled his mate. He knelt down next to Harry and gently took the ice-pack away. "I'll heal it," he smiled softly.
Harry nodded and sighed as Draco placed a hand on his head. The dull throbbing accompanying his head bashing faded away until Harry couldn't feel it at all. "She just came out of nowhere and knew about Neville and Andon both... She wasn't herself." Harry growled in frustation. "I can't even describe it!" Then he shot up and looked at Ror. "She did something to them! She held her hand above their heads and said that Neville wouldn't 'be alone' while he was sleeping."
Ror approached the two sleeping figures. "I see nothing wrong with their auras... There severed bond has also not been tampered with since we've been away." Harry sighed in relief and leaned back against Draco when he stood behind him. Ror did the same thing as Hermione and placed a hand over Neville's eyes, then Andon's. "I sense no dark magic... Perhaps Lokey should take a look." He smiled and patted Harry's head after turning around. "Do not worry, young one. They shall be fine. Twix and Lustro are the best." He turned back to the sleeping mates. "We'll take them down to the Infirmary... You two have class, right?" he laughed.
Draco glared at the white-haired faerix. "He's right, Harry," he sighed. "I've got Ancient Runes..."
"And I've got Transfigurations with your father," Harry smiled. He waved at Ror. "Take care of them!"
Ror saluted the pair as they turned to leave. "I will!"
DrarryTLA
Severus was furious... While Ory was still rather amused at the entire scenario. They had made it back to the trap door the Potions Master had fallen through and Ory cleared a path trought the crimson leaves so the poison could not permeate Snape's wounded exterior. The blue-haired faerix had never heard such colorful words from one person before. Once they ran into Yin and Lokey, Severus had finally begun to speak with less cursing.
Lokey and Yin had been surprised to say the least as Ory told them what happened after Lokey had left. They hadn't known Chimera's were still alive. Neither had ever seen one in person. Ory hadn't even had a chance to fight the beast since the Half-Blood had had everything under control. Yin's view of the submissive prince changed as well at the revelation. He would be even more powerful with the Dragon rider as a mate, Yin thought as he eyed the black-haired man. Half-Bloods were always made stronger once their 'half' was made whole. Severus Snape would probably grow stronger than even some of their more ancient faerix. He had battled a creature as old as the Aethon faerix and walked away with a few cuts and bruises... That was definitely no easy feat.
Yin was on guard, however, at the news that some being had control of the chimera. The stranger did not necessarily seem to be a foe since he allowed Severus and Ory to escape, yet Yin could not shake the feeling that he would need to be watched closely. He and Ory could lead some faerix back into the tunnels to investigate. His King Aethon had placed the entire group of fearis' lives in Yin's hands. He would not allow his friends or humans to be hurt by anyone... Not on his watch.
"Ory, be prepared to get back to that tunnel," Yin said as the small group stepped out of the Forbidden Forest. "The stranger cannot be trusted until we've declared him a foe or an ally."
"Yes," Ory said with a bow of his head. Such an order had already made it's way into his mind. As second in command, it was his duty to know Yin's thoughts. Of course they would go back to the tunnels. Ory was counting on it. The same thoughts about the stranger had consumed him as well. Yin nodded and walked farther ahead with Lokey. Ory was left to his thoughts and began to plan some sort of strategy for their return into the forest; but, a soft intake of breath from ahead of him caught his attention. The sound had come from his wounded partner... He had begun watching the professor more closely as they walked, and with good reason. Not only had he been losing blood from his wounds, but the Potions Master had begun to sway on his feet, doing so more and more as they progressed out of the forest. The professor swayed on his feet again, this time coming to a lethargic stop. Ory took a quick step forward just in time to catch Severus as he collapsed. "Professor?" he called gently lifting the man's closed eyelids. His dark eyes were unfocused.
Lokey and Yin stopped and rushed back to the fallen professor and their comrade. "What happened?" Yin asked as he and Lokey stopped before getting too close to Ory and Snape. They needed some room, it wouldn't be good to crowd the professor.
Ory bent his head down to the man's chest, listening to his heartbeat; it was slower than it should have been. "Professor, are you alright?" he asked in an attempt to keep the man awake.
"I... think that b...east ... bit me," Severus chuckled lazily without opening his eyes. He drifted on into unconsciousness...
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"Ah, Mister Potter," Lucius smiled as said Gryffindor took a seat at the front of the room. "You're just in time. Class was about to start without you."
"I'm sorry, Professor," Harry smiled. "Master Lustro and Fiore required my assisstance..."
Lucius's silver eyes lit up in curiosity. He had obviously missed something important. Damn Sirius... If he hadn't been acting so strangely Lucius would have paid more attention to everything else. But what was his mate planning...? "Well, you are here now," Lucius smiled as he looked around the room. "Where are Mister Longbottom and the transfer student?"
"Infirmary," Harry said simply. He pulled his quill and ink from his bag and placed them on his desk, silently telling Lucius he would fill him after class.
"I hope they are okay," Lucius smiled. "On with class!" He tapped his wand on his desk. "Since you should all be magically capable by now, we will learn about the hardest form of Transfiguration. Today, we will learn about human transfigurations... That's right, Animagi." After a few seconds of excited whispers, Lucius did what any respectable Slytherin professor would do and silenced the room with a simple clearing of his throat. "But first... there's bookwork!" With another flick of his wand, an evil chuckle, and a room full of groans, an old bool appeared before each student. "Read this to its entirety..." More groans swept throughout the room as the Gryffindors and excited Ravenclaws began to flip through the book. There must have been at least seven-hundred pages. Harry, though, read the cover to himself after dusting it off: Animagi: Transfiguring the Human Body, Author Anonymous. It looked rather interesting...
"What?" Ron and Seamus exclaimed. Harry shook his head in disappointment. Of course those two would complain. "Yer jokin', yeah?" Seamus asked as he flipped through the heavy book.
Lucius rolled his eyes. "Honestly, boys," he sighed in irritation, "You're in the House of Godric Gryffindor. I would at least expect that even a little bit of light reading is within your capabilities... Or is that just too much to ask?"
Ron's pale face grew red with anger, but he bit his tongue. Wisely, too, Harry thought as he glared at his former best friend. "Smart move, Ron," he smiled. Sirius would enjoy torturing Ron if he upset Lucius. Harry was merely looking after Ron's well-being...
"No one asked you, Harry," Ron spat. "And with all due respect, Professor, why must we learn about Animagi? Its not as if we'll be allowed to transform into one without being registered." He put down his book with a loud thud. "The last I checked, none of us here have been down to the Ministry to apply," he said arrogantly, as if delivering news Lucius had not been privy to.
"Why do you think Professor Malfoy even bothered to introduce the subjecct?" Hermione said suddenly. Harry started at the sight of her. Where had she come from? She had not been in the classroom when Harry had walked in, and he had nearly been late! "He works for the Ministry, Ronald. I'm sure he would be capable to register us should we pass the examinations."
Lucius's sculpted blonde eyebrow rose as he listened to the Head Girl. Hmmm, peculiar, he thought when she finished. "Thank you, Miss Granger... And as exoected, she is absolutely right, Mister Weasely. I am a Ministry official and a Govenor of Hogwarts. I think that qualifies me to teach whatever the bloody hell I want." The room took on a stunned silence at the crude language coming from their professor, who they would admit, was too beautiful for such things. "Dammit, you've made me curse- and Malfoys don't curse." Harry tried to stifle a laugh at that. Malfoys don't curse his arse! "Now if we have no more interruptions, open your damn books to page one." This time, the room laughed... With the exception of Ron and Seamus...
DrarryTLA
"Fiore, will you get some towels and warm water from the back?" Lustro asked as Ory walked in carrying the unconscious form of Severus Snape. Fiore disappeared with a nod. "Set him over here," Lustro instructed as he moved to pull back the curtain of the bed next to Andon's. Ror and Twix had been able to move the mates with no problems and the two were still sleeping soundly.
Ory carefully laid the Potions Master down and moved out of the Healer's way. "He was bitten by-" he began.
"A Chimera," Fiore and Lustro said to together as the black-haired legare returned with the towels and water.
"How could you know that?" Ory asked as Yin and Lokey brushed past him to check on Neville and Andon. Lokey immediately set to work on delving into their subconscious minds to find out what Hermione had done to them.
"Sangue legare are no stranger to the Chimera," Lustro answered as he pulled open Severus's shirt where scratches and bruises were showing clearly in contrast with the pale skin. One large bite mark marred the professor's side, just at his hip. No large piece of flesh was missing, however, there were just puncture wounds from the beast's teeth. "The bite of such a creature is only fatal if each head injects it's own venom."
"From the looks of this wound," Fiore said as he began wiping the blood away, "it appears that only the lion got his teeth into poor Severus." He sighed sadly and got another towel. "Why can't Fate just leave him alone?"
Lustro left his mate's side for only a moment to retrieve a small vial of metallic black liquid that appeared to have bits of little red stars swirling within it. "Lucius would be devasted if anything happened to him," he said as he uncorked the vial. "As would his betrothed..."
Fiore nodded in agreement and moved to stand at Severus's side. "Grab his legs- Ory, was it?" he asked with a smile before getting a firm arm across the unconscious Potion Master's chest. "This will probably hurt more than the wound itself... Best to restrain him..."
"But, he's unconscious..." Ory said giving the pair of Healers an odd look.
Fiore only laughed, "Not for long he won't be..."
Ory did not like the way the submissive had said that. The bespectacled man could be quite dark when he wanted to be. Ory hastily grabbed a hold of Snape's legs and barely had time to stabilize his grip before Lustro poured the contents of the vial directly onto the bitemark...
DrarryTLA
Hours later, the day was coming to an end in much the same way it had begun. Severus Snape was in a foul mood. The entire Great Hall was almost entirely silent in the dour atmosphere. The only ones brave enough to talk were the Slytherins, the transfer students, and Harry. Every other knew that if Professor Snape was in a mood such as his present one, then the first thing to annoy him would become his target...
"So are Neville and Andon going to be okay?" Andien asked in a worried, hushed voice from his seat next to Z'kary. He'd been to the Infirmary the first chance he got only to find his brother unconscious. The little brunette was his brother's mate, and someone had had the power to keep them apart? Andien wanted blood for such a crime, but anger would not help matters...
"You've noticed all the faerix are gone?" Draco asked. Andien looked around and nodded. He'd barely noticed their absence. "They're in the Infirmary with Lustro and Fiore brewing the potion that will cure Neville. Your brother is just asleep."
"Lokey said that he and Neville were together in their dreams," Harry added with a glance over at Hermione. "I wish I knew how she did it..."
"She's obviously different than before," Pansy said with a scowl. "Not even our faerix can see anything wrong with her though..."
"But they'll wake up as soon as they give this potion to Neville?" Andien asked. After so many years of waiting, Andon had finally found his mate but couldn't be with him... Andien couldn't imagine life without his family...
Before anyone could reply, Dumbledore cleared his throat. The group of legare felt the room's atmosphere grow even darker as the old man began to talk. "Students and faculty..." Harry ignored the rest of the Headmaster's useless speech and instead, watched Snape. His face was paler than usual, and his eyes prmoised death as he uninterestedly looked at Dumbledore. Draco, Snape is about to lose it...
I can see that, Draco replied. Looks like Father can see it too. Harry looked back to Snape and saw that Lucius was already in action. He placed a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder, bending to whisper in his ear. In the middle of Dumbledore's speech, Professor Severus Snape pushed his chair back and stood as it fell loudly to the floor. Without a single glance at Dumbledore or any of the other faculty, Snape allowed Lucius to lead him from the Great Hall.
"Oh, Professor?" Dumbledore called with a smile. "Dinner has yet to fin-" Before he could finish, Snape raised his hand without turning around. Dumbledore was thrown back by a strong gust of wind, sending him into the back wall.
Lucius's eyes opened wide when he stopped to turn around, and he hastily pulled Snape away as the entire Hall errupted into gasps and whispers...
DrarryTLA
"The potion is finally finished!" Twix exclaimed as he wiped a few droplets of sweat from his brow. His brown and green hair had long since been pulled back from his face. The potion required heat, and the cauldron was giving off a heat of its own from over the fire. "All that's left now is to apply it to the severed bond."
"All of us will have to help with this," Ola added as she helped twix lift the cauldron from the fire.
"Master Lustro, if you and Fiore will help with the acutual applying," Twix smiled. "I'm sure your hands are much less shaky than my own."
"Of course," Lustro said with a bow of his head. Fiore bowed his head as well. "Will I be able to see the bond?"
"We can make it so," Ola and Twix smiled together. Then Twix instructed Fiore and Lustro to turn off all the lights and close the door as securely as they could. The entire process would be ruined if anything were to interrupt. Then he began chanting in an ancient tongue. Ola joined in, slowly followed by all the other faerix in the room. As the number of faerix chanting grew, random flickers of light bounced around the room. Lustro could practically feel his mate's curiosity from the place next to him and grabbed his hand in the darkness.
After a few more minutes of chanting, the random bursts of light began to center on the space between the beds occuppied by Neville and Andon. As Lustro and Fiore watched, the light, which was originally white, turned red as it connected with a line of magic. Lustro assumed it was the bond between their two charges. The line of magic was actually a bundle of thin strands of electric magic. Fiore jumped slightly when Twix suddenly appeared in front of them. "Use your magics to lift the potion... Slowly entwine it with the light and the bond. You can see it?"
"That's why you're not doing it..." Lustro said finally understanding why Twix had asked him to handle the potion. His and Fiore's legare magic would not be rejected by the weakened bond. Twix smiled at him in the darkness and began chanting again.
"Ready?" Fiore asked with a glance over at the bond between Neville and Andon. He was glad they could actively partake in the reparation of their bond. Lustro nodded and they stepped towards the potion. With their glamours completely gone, their magic was left unrestrained. Fiore freed his magic more by letting his wings out. At the same time, Lustro and Fiore carefully began their work...
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"Severus," Lucius said calmly as they reached his friend's living quarters. "Listen to me..."
"What?" Severus asked lowly. He grimaced as his side throbbed. Those goddamn healers... Damn Chimera... Damn pain...
"Show me what happened," Lucius said as he looked down at Severus's side. He had only heard about what happened from Harry and then Fiore. They had used an ancient potion to cure him. Lucius could only imagine how painful it must have been to affect Severus so negatively. Chimeras had once been very populous within the legare realm. Lustro had been the one who developed the cure of its venom...
"Lucius..." Severus sighed. He walked into his bedroom, expecting his blonde friend to follow. Lucius did. "Today has been... dreadful!" Severus growled as he threw his hand out again. This time, the wardrobe across the room exploded into millions of pieces.
"I can only imagine," Lucius said in complete understanding. "Now strip!" he said as he suddenly pushed Severus onto the bed and pounced on top of him.
"Bloody hell!" Severus exclaimed. "What are you doing, Lucius?" he said trying to push his friend away, though his efforts were rather futile since he hardly used any force. He would rather kill himself than cause any harm to Lucius or the babies. "Stop it!"
"Why? Because I'm not your betrothed?" Lucius chuckled as he pulled at Severus's robes. "Shall we get Charlie here for you then?" He finally pulled open his friend's shirt when Severus stopped fighting at the mention of the Dragon rider. "Success!" Lucius exclaimed in a very unMalfoy-like manner when he finally got to examine his friend's side.
"Don't tell Charlie," Severus said sternly.
"Don't want him to worry?" Lucius asked without expecting an answer as he traced the damage with his own eyes. The potion Lustro had used left Severus's side both healed and scarred. There was a large array of black stains from where the potion had seeped into his skin.
"It still hurts..." Severus said with a wince as Lucius gently touched the black marks.
"At least the Chimera didn't bite you with all of its heads," Lucius then said as he removed himself from Severus's person. He flopped down on the bed. "Today was rather eventful, wasn't it?"
Severus readjusted his robes before suddenly bursting into laughter at the absurdity of that day, Lucius joining in. 'Eventful' was not the word he would have chosen...
DrarryTLA
The next morning, Lustro smiled as he watched the sleeping form of his mate. The night's healing had taken a toll on both their magics. Though the drain of their magic had been worth it, Neville and Andon were both fine, their bond no longer severed. Twix had informed them that it was now as strong as it could have possibly been. Lustro was however worried about the mate's continued state of sleep. Neville's sleep was understandable, his body needed time to heal itself and become prepared to accept the changes that will soon become quite apparent. Andon, however, should have been awak to worry over his newfound mate.
As if cue, Lustro heared a voice from the Infirmary. "Healer!" Lustro wasted no time in walking and used the Mist, appearing at Andon's side immediately.
"I'm glad to see you're awake," he said waving an arm over his charge's body. Nothing was wrong with him.
"Why is Neville still sleeping?" Andon asked without answering Lustro's question. His own well-being no longer mattered, after all. He had a mate to fuss over now.
"His Inheritance was held back weeks longer than it should have been," Lustro said as he summoned a pitcher and cup of water. He handed a cup to Andon who took it greatfully. "His body is healing itself... He'll be fine, and you are free to leave anytime you wish."
"I've already been apart from my mate long enough," Andon said as he pulled himself into a sitting position. He carefully moved from the bed he was on to a chair next to Neville's bed. He wouldn't be leaving his side for a while yet.
Lustro smiled at the scene and decided to leave the pair alone. Nothing would happen to Neville under his mate's watchful eye.
If only the same thing could be said in the Great Hall...
With Andon and Neville still recovering in the Infirmary, the Slytherin table was rather quiet as they ate breakfast. They had worked out a visitation schedule of sorts for which of them would visit Neville and Andon. Andien, of course, would be going first. Since it was almost the weekend, they would all be able to visit the pair after that day. And then Harry remembered something...
"Sirius said that Lucius's first gift would be arriving with the post this morning!" he exclaimed softly.
"Really?" Pansy asked with a large smile. "He's proposing? How romantic!"
"Well, Father is currently not in his seat, so we'll probably miss the first gift," Draco said with a nod to the Head Table. Each head in their group turned to look, just then noticing that Draco was right...
Up at the Head Table, there were multiple empty seats. Snape, Lucius, Fiore, Lustro, and oddly enough, Professor Flitwick were all missing. Sirius, though, did not look bothered by his mate's absence. In fact, he was busy chatting with Professor Sprout quite animatedly. While the teachers conversed around him, Dumbledore sat in his usual seat without touching anything on his plate or goblet. He looked to be in an especially dour mood. And suddenly, he slowly stood, raising his arms to quiet the Hall. Once the appropriate silence had ensued, he spoke. "In lieu of last night's unfortunate events, today's classes have been canceled." At this news, even the teachers were stunned. "Everyone should take the day off to enjoy a much deserved break..." Once finished with his announcement, Dumbledore turned away from the Head table and left the Great Hall, leaving his confused students and faculty behind.
The post flew in just as the Headmaster disappeared...
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"Lucius..." Severus groaned as he rubbed his eyes. "Lucius, get up." Said blonde barely stirred from his place next to Severus. They had fallen asleep just where they had laid down the night before. Severus was surprised that Sirius hadn't barged in unannounced to get Lucius back. Maybe the mutt had finally learned some manners... A tap sounded from the window on the far wall and Severus was reminded why he had woken up.
The wretched owl tapped at the window louder and with growing annoyance at being ignored. Lucius stirred in his sleep at the sound. "Sirius, get the damn post..."
"This is my room, and you're my guest," Severus said pushing Lucius towards the end of the bed. "So you get the damn post," he laughed.
Lucius groaned. "Sorry, forgot I fell asleep in here..." He started to get up. "Why am I still in here though? There he goes again!" he growled as he stomped over to the window to let the owl in. "Today, I'm going to figure out what he's up to!"
"Dog breath?" Severus asked as the owl flew into the room, but did not fly to him. It landed on Lucius's arm.
"Who else?" Lucius asked as his curiosity made him impatient. He grabbed the letter from the owl's leg and was nearly knocked over when another owl flew into the room with a small parcel. "What's all this?" he smiled opening the letter.
"Another one's coming in," Severus warned as a small Pygmy owl landed on top of his friend's head.
Lucius could hardly stand the suspense and hastily read the letter:
'Dear Lucius,
Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years...
In our long lives we will experience each of these different ways to measure time. Time is both common and rare, just as life can be full of bliss and sorrow. But for every moment I've got left on this earth, I could not imagine a better way to spend my seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years... than with you. I hope you know that.
With all the love that I posses,
Sirius'
Lucius felt a tear run down his cheek as he re-read the letter. The second owl stopped him from reading it a third time by nipping at his trouser leg. "Oh, you too," Lucius smiled. He took the small parcel from the owl and handed his letter to Severus for safe-keeping. The Potions Master couldn't help but to smile as he read the letter as well. Then he watched was Lucius pulled open the parcel to find a beautiful, silver chain. There was no pendant or charm, but it was magnificent all the same. Lucius went to put it on over his head and came into contact with the small pygmy owl. "Sorry, little one," he said as the tiny bird dropped a small black box into his hands before he and the other two owls flew out the way they'd come in. "Now what?" Lucius asked in hardly-contained excitement as he opened the small box.
"Wow..." Severus said as he stared at what Lucius had pulled from the box. Lucius was holding up a silver locket. Inside was the face of a clock with three hands that were the same length. There was no way to tell which one would have been used for seconds or minutes; it was an old symbol that meant 'lasts for eternity'. Each of the three hands was frozen in place: one hand on the five, one hand on the seven, and the last hand on the twelve... "Five. Seven. Twelve. What is the significance of those numbers?" Severus asked curiously.
Lucius thought for a moment as he carefully put the locket onto the silver chain. He slid it on over his hand. "I'm not sure... but if Sirius means this to be his first gift of a proposal, then I'm sure the numbers are a clue about one of the next gifts..."
Severus smiled at the pure joy he could hear in his friend's voice. "Come! We need to get ready for another dreadful day," he said as he handed Lucius his letter and ushered him to the door. "And I'm sure you're dying to show off your first gift! Knowing Dog breath like I do, I'm sure you'll have a long, frustrating time trying to find all of the others!" Lucius laughed his agreement. After all, it had only taken about seventeen years for his mate to propose! The gifts better be some kind of challenge to find!
Little did Lucius know that Sirius was rather skilled at planning. The next gift would send the blonde on quite the journey...
Hogwarts then enjoyed their unsuspected day off...
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"Hmmmm..."
At the sudden, yet soft sound, every head in the Infirmary turned to check on the slowly stirring patient.
"I... f-feel funny," Neville groaned blinking his eyes against the bright Infirmary lights. His head was slightly spinning, his toes were numb, and his tongue felt like a block of dry lead in his mouth. As if on cue, a glass of cold water was held out to him.
"Here, drink this," Andon whispered softly. Neville's eyes widened as warmth spread through his entire body at the voice. Andon... The last thing Neville remembered was being found in the dorms crying over his journal. How had he landed in the Infirmary?
Master Lustro stepped forward and sat on the edge of Neville's bed, gently pushing the teen back down when he tried to get up. "No sudden movements," Lustro instructed. He lifted each of Neville's eyelids to examine the eyes underneath and nodded in approval. He used a small cotton swab to prod into the teen's mouth before nodding again. Neville had never been more confused in his life. "Everything is as it should be," Lustro announced standing. He moved to allow room for more visitors.
"Excellent!" Ror and Harry exclaimed as they moved closer to the bed. Draco and Yin stayed back but smiled with a wave at Neville. "We've been so worried!" Harry said patting Neville's head. Andon allowed them more room and stepped away to get something he'd forgotten... "You know, baby blue is a good color for you," Harry said as he pulled at a strand of baby blue hair on his friend's head. "That means your wings will be the same color..."
Neville reached up to rub at his head. Without a mirror, he couldn't see what Harry was talking about. "Wh... what happened?" Neville asked taking another grateful sip of the water Andon had left to Harry, who was holding it out to him now. "I'm different, aren't I?"
Harry and Ror shared a look before turning back to the weak Gryffindor. "Neville," Harry began slowly, "You're one of us now, a Sangue legare. We can tell you more later, but your body's undergone some changes while you've been in a magical coma..."
"A-a coma? For h-how... long?" Neville squeaked out. No wonder he felt like he hadn't moved in days! His entire body felt entirely useless...
"Two months..." Harry said as gently and as slowly as possible so Neville would not take the news so hard. Well, he hoped Neville didn't pass out at least.
"Two... months...?" Neville questioned slowly. Then, a warm sensation settled into the pit of his stomach. It was comforting and caused Neville to purr in content. "That's not so long," he smiled lop-sidedly. "Where did Andon go?" he asked jumping up. That was where the comforting feeling was coming from, his mate... Andon. "Where is..." His voice died off suddenly and a large smile spread across his pale face. (Lack of proper food and sunshine had given Neville a more delicate appearance, but it was nothing a few days of being awake wouldn't cure...) "Andon is my mate," he said proudly.
"Of course I am," Andon said as he made his way back to the front of the crowd gathered around Neville's bed. "I had begun to wonder if you'd stay asleep forever..." He placed a small, wrapped package on the bedside table.
"Not without you... Mate," Neville smiled. His face turned pink when Andon gently tilted his head back and kissed him...
Harry and Draco smiled and ushered everyone out of the room. The newly united couple deserved a few moments alone...