Life Agendas Chapter 10: Broken Bonds, a harry potter fanfic

Life Agendas

Chapter Ten

Broken Bonds

Tom drummed his fingers on the armrest of his chair while his attention was solely on the Potions' Master. "I still don't understand how she could have come up with that list in such a short time, Severus. And how could she know they would be trustworthy."

"You did check their minds before giving them the Marks," Severus replied. "You already know they will be loyal."

Tom's only reply was a frustrated growl which had Severus' eyes warming in amusement.

"I think Tom's more concerned with how Luna was able to come up with those names," Sirius put in. "She's either intentionally being very tight lipped about her abilities or she doesn't know what she can do. She is a bit, err… flighty sometimes but I'm convinced the latter. According to Harry she isn't the type of person to deliberately deceive those around her. And more importantly," he paused to watch Tom, "I'm thinking you're the last person on earth she would want to deceive. And I'm not saying that just because you're the Dark Lord."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Lucius smirked. "I hesitate to say but you seem to be rather oblivious in this type of situation, Tom."

"Oblivious how?" he growled.

Severus rolled his eyes. "It's obvious the girl is quite taken with-"

"I think it would be better to let Tom figure this out on his own," Sirius interrupted with a toothy grin. "Wouldn't want to spoil all of Luna's fun, now would we?"

"What the fuck are you all talking about? If you don't tell me I'll just look into your minds anyway. And it will not be painless!"

Severus and Lucius smirked. Tom wouldn't get any information from them that way, as they were quite skilled in blocking him from their minds. Sirius, however, was a Gryffindor. Which meant he was a bloody open book most of the time.

Fortunately, just when Tom narrowed his eyes on them, and was in fact preparing to invade their minds, Hermione and Harry burst through the door, effectively breaking the Dark Lord's concentration.

"Knocking is usually the polite thing to do before you barge in!"

Hermione looked properly cowed at her elder brother's berating but Harry looked at him oddly as if to say, "are you joking? It's me."

"Sorry," Harry said with a shrug, though he didn't sound it at all. "Come on, Tom. The party's already started."

"And? What does that have to do with me?"

"Draco wants you to join us," Harry replied. Tom opened his mouth to give his refusal and Harry narrowed his eyes. His smile faded and when he next spoke, his tone dripped with warning, "and of course anything my mate wants, he gets. It's his birthday. You will join us, Tom."

The transition from the happy Gryffindor to a powerful taking no nonsense Ukatae was clearly visible; all in the room surprised at how quickly Harry had transformed. The level of magic leaking from him increased until all felt its heaviness. It was then Severus truly understood how his nephew could actually become the ruler of an ancient magical race, and seeing Harry like this, with burning eyes that brooked for no arguments, his worries about that were somewhat put at ease. One would have to be crazy to purposely disobey Harry when he was like this. Severus felt horrible things would happen if Harry weren't obeyed and wondered how Tom would react to this.

Tom slowly stood, his face completely blank, and nodded once to Harry. He was the Dark Lord, but he was also a Ukatae now, which meant Harry was still his emperor, and he'd been given a specific order. Oh, Tom was angry of course, but he was also impressed. Seems the new blood had a certain power over the rest of the race, and since he was rarely impressed, he would let this little thing slide for the time being. Anyway, it mightn't be so bad to sit with Draco and the others. It was his brother's birthday after all. And maybe Luna would be there and he might finally be able to get some answers from her.

The larger lounge was where Neville, Dudley, Pansy, Charlie, Blaise, Ginny and the twins were keeping Draco company and celebrating the blond's birthday with a few bottles of Firewhiskey. His impatience for the return of his mate was waylaid by the copious amounts of alcohol being shoved into his hands at every turn.

Draco sat back and studied his friends. He had to admit having so many people around, people that he could truly call friends, was a little surreal. Before, he'd only really had Pansy and Blaise- and at one point, Theo- but he found he completely trusted everyone in the room with him, with the exception of Dursley- but that was because he hated the bastard on principle- and he considered them all friends. Even Neville. Now there was a wizard he would once never imagined he would call friend. But he actually liked the loyal Gryffindor. Once the bloke had found his backbone, Draco had found it easy to accept him into his fold. And Neville really wasn't stupid as he and most everyone else had previously thought.

Draco supposed he had Harry to thank for his newfound friendships and it amused him because he remembered thinking that he would be the one to bring more support and true friendship to the Golden Boy. Stupid Gryffindor… always ruining his plans.

The blond studied Neville who was sitting quite comfortably beside Dursley. Draco could practically smell the sexual tension from across the room. And yet both boys seemed to be doing their best to ignore it. And that was just annoying.

"So Dursley? Are you going to tell us what was in that letter to make Neville turn into a rabid beast when Weasley took it from him?" he asked.

"Yeah, Neville. That was wicked!" Ginny saluted him with her shot glass. "You should kick his arse more often. He's my brother but Merlin knows he deserves it."

"We're just sorry we missed it," Fred mourned.

"Hanging out with Slytherins has obviously had a good influence on you, Nev," George put in. All the Slytherins in the room answered back with a, "here, here!"

"I thought jumping into fights without thought was a Gryffindor trait," Charlie said.

Pansy patted his arm. "Yes, but we've brought out his violent and ruthless side, haven't we Neville?"

"Well?" Draco went on, staring between Dudley and Neville. "What was in the letter? Inquiring minds want to know."

Dudley took a drink and pretended he hadn't heard the bastard's question. He glanced a look at Neville and was surprised to find him scowling at the blond. In turn, Malfoy wagged his eyebrows at Neville before downing his current shot.

Neville was shocked to say the least. Draco Malfoy had just been teasing him. As in teasing like a friend would do to another friend. Neville hadn't realized their relationship had grown that far but apparently it had. That or Malfoy was already plastered. Though he highly doubted that was the case. And when had they begun to be on a first name basis?

"Did you see that?" he murmured to Pansy, who sat beside him along with Charlie. "Is he trying to lure me into a false sense of security, and then will he attack when I least expect it?"

Pansy giggled. "You're funny, Neville. I never noticed before."

"No, but seriously. Did you see?" he asked in all seriousness.

"Calm down, Gryffindor. Yes, he is trying to lure you into a false sense of security and then yes, he will kill you when you least expect it."

Across from them, Blaise snorted when Neville's face paled. "Pans, you're mean."

Pansy grinned and threw an around Neville, "he's just so easy to play with."

"Yeah, whatever." He was still pissed because no one had answered his question. Was Malfoy being serious or not?

"You are funny," Dudley commented from his other side. When Neville frowned, Dudley hastened to explain. "In a good way!"

Draco sneered."Real smooth, Dursley. You're worse than Brumek and that's saying a lot."

Ginny, who always had a good head on her shoulders, even when inebriated, knew when a change of topic was required. "So where is Harry? He's been gone a long time."

"I don't know," Draco snapped.

Charlie cleared his throat, slightly nervous and wondering if his presence was welcome. He knew Pansy didn't mind him there, but the others he wasn't so sure about. "Your Inheritance is tonight, right Draco? Are you worried about that? Harry's wasn't exactly a normal one. I expect yours won't be any better."

Surprisingly Draco grinned. "I've been told my Inheritance took place the moment I touched Harry during his. I'm inclined to believe that. The pain was worse than anything I had felt before and we both received an exponential amount of power."

"But how can you be sure?" Ginny asked.

Draco shrugged. "It makes sense. I'm not human anymore, so wizards' rules don't really apply to us anymore. Ozemir was the one who told me not to expect anything and I trust him."

Pansy frowned. "You still trust him even after finding out what he'll try and do to you and Harry?"

Draco pinned her with a fierce expression. "I don't want to talk about that, Pansy. And neither should you. That is between Harry, Ozemir, and myself. It has nothing to do with anything right now."

"Alright, Draco. I'm sorry. I just worry, you know?"

"You'll worry more once you've met Dagon…" Draco trailed off and stared at the door.

"Who's Dagon?" she asked.

Draco simply waved her question away as the door opened to a giggling Hermione. It became clear why she was amused when Tom and Harry entered behind her.

"You little bastard…" Tom was saying with amusement to Harry, whom he had in a loose headlock, "try that again in front of my minions and so help me…"

Neville was still watching Draco wearily, and it was really a sight to see when Harry entered the room. The troubled look on the blond's face instantly disappeared to be replaced by a bright smile and warming eyes the moment Harry was spotted.

Tom let his brother go and pinned him with a farce glare. "Really, Harry. How do you expect me to keep people in fear when you make me do things without question?"

"Did he use the smile on you?" Draco asked.

Hermione giggled again as she went to sit down. "No. Harry went into Ukatae ruler mode. It was very effective."

"That's why I felt your magic aura spike," Draco said as Harry dropped down beside him.

"Yep." Harry snuggled into Draco's side so that he could speak without the others hearing, "You should try releasing all your power slowly. It feels so much better when it's done while you're in control."

"I'll be sure to try that tonight when we're all alone." Draco slung an arm around Harry to keep him pressed against his side, and then both their attentions went back to their brother who continued to stand near the door, scanning the room with a frown on his face.

"Where is Luna?" he demanded.

Ginny snickered and stretched her hand out to Pansy. The older Slytherin girl huffed and pulled some Galleons out from the folds of her robes and reluctantly passed them over.

"Luna wasn't feeling too well," Ginny replied once she'd safely stowed her winnings in her pocket. "She went for a lie down. Mum was checking on her a bit ago."

"Perhaps you should go check on Luna now," Draco suggested, smiling when Tom scowled and immediately sat down. And for their impertinence, Tom made Ginny and Pansy's marks burn for a few seconds. He didn't appreciate being bet on.

"Next time it will burn for much longer," he hissed at them.

Harry and Draco found this particularly funny, but didn't let it show on their faces. Tom was the Dark Lord after all and he had to save face. So they wouldn't intervene and undermine him in any way. Besides, it was stupid for Ginny and Pansy to pass over money like that right under Tom's nose. The two girls in question rubbed at their stinging marks and pouted, while the rest, except for Hermione, seemed to have drawn back from Tom, even if it was only mentally.

Tom could feel the coldness creeping into the room, and his spirits rose dramatically. He was tired of those around him thinking they could let their guard down while he was near, think that he was nothing but a friend. He was the Dark Lord, and he would begin to remind them of that fact at every turn… well, perhaps after tonight. He was there to celebrate his siblings' birthdays, so he thought relaxing would be okay for the time being. But once they returned to school, Tom was going to show them he hadn't lost his Dark Lord persona. Not one bit.

"Pass me the Firewhiskey," he said, and Neville hurried to comply. "Hermione, you will join me, yes?"

"Of course. I love drinking with you!" Hermione scooted over until they were sitting without any air between them. Harry's eyebrows rose when Tom and Hermione took their shots from glasses that were three times the size of regular shot glasses.

Sweet! Tom's going to get plastered again.

Just don't go mentioning his snake fetish. "Do you mind sharing with the rest of us?" Draco acerbically drawled and wandlessly summoned the bottle to his hand.

Later, when Hermione was in her drunken giggly state and Draco was having a grand time saying things to set his sister's giggles off, Harry had the sudden urge to change and surprised everyone when he transformed into his panther form and stretched out at his lover's feet, the liquors effects making him slightly drowsy.

"Harry, that's wicked!" Neville cried. The panther lifted his head and blinked lazily at him.

"Show them yours," Hermione said to Draco, ignoring Tom's soft warning growl. He could see where this was going to lead and he was having none of it.

Draco nodded and set his glass down. In the next moment a white tiger sat on the couch, his head regally raised, prepared to take the compliments he knew he deserved. Of course he received the desired compliments, though the way he sat there, so straight and still, everyone else felt the panther was the more approachable.

"Oh wow," Pansy whispered and she inched forward to touch the beautiful jungle cats. Harry automatically flipped onto his back. "Guess you want me to rub your tummy, huh? Yeah, that feels good doesn't it? Oh, you are a cutie… who's a cutie? Harry's a cutie-" Pansy's baby babbling was cut off when Draco's tail swung out to slap her face. "Damn Draco, that hurt!"

Draco returned to his normal form and glared at her. "Harry is not a baby. Stop talking to him like one."

"Draco, relax. Harry's adorable sprawled out like that and he was enjoying it," Hermione said. The panther rolled over and climbed to his feet. His ears were flattened and he snarled at his mate.

"It was undignified behavior, lover," Draco said, unconcerned that his partner was growling lowly at him. The panther backed up a few feet and then lowered into a crouch; his head lowered close to the floor while his hind legs were straightened and the muscles bunched as if preparing to pounce. Draco's brow rose as he watched this. "Don't even think about it." A low aggravated meow was the response Harry had to that. The meow lengthened into a nasty hiss. "Harry, I swear—Don't!" Draco yelped and half rose from his seat as the panther leaped. Harry's outstretched paws connected with Draco's shoulders and the two went tumbling over the back of the couch.

Tom summoned the Firewhiskey bottle back and he and Hermione went on to pour more shots, unconcerned about the vicious snarls eliciting from behind the couch. It was apparent Draco had transformed rather quickly back into a tiger to save his skin.

"Holy hell! What the fuck?!" Dudley was entertained more than he thought he should be, though there was a little fear that those big cats were suddenly going to turn on all the soft flesh sitting around the room. However, as Hermione looked unconcerned, and he knew she had the straightest head on her shoulders, he sat back and watched. "This is awesome!"

They all cringed when the tiger let out a particularly loud roar of indignation. Then the panther came into view, slowly backing out from behind the couch with a white tail clutched firmly between his teeth. Dudley was sure the panther was grinning around that white twitching tail. And then a massive white hind leg emerged and kicked the panther's grinning maw, hard enough to stun the panther and allowing the tiger time to pull his tail free. The tiger then pounced on his lover, his jaws clamping onto the panther's throat with a ferocious growl, though everyone could see he wasn't applying enough pressure to seriously hurt Harry.

"Bets!" Ginny yelled. "I bet Draco gets the best of Harry! Twenty Galleons!" The panther's vicious growl at that had Ginny giggling, but she did not retract her wager.

Blaise studied the two cats for a moment and shook his head. "I've got twenty says Harry will pull through."

"Twenty says it will be a draw," was Hermione's assured input.

Tom nodded. "I'm with Hermione." He was sure this would end with him being disgusted.

"I bet the same," Charlie announced.

"Dudley, Neville?" Hermione asked.

Both shook their heads, as they didn't have enough to throw in with such high wagers. It was easy to know what they were thinking and Hermione waved that away. "I'll spot you both. Now what are your bets?"

"Ten on Harry," Dudley said.

"Bet ten on Draco," Neville surprised everyone by saying. "Hey, it's not that I'm afraid of him, but the tiger is bigger than the jaguar. He's got more muscle strength I think." Which was true. Draco was a big bastard in his animal form.

"Harry's a panther," Pansy told him.

Neville shook his head. "He's a black jaguar. Commonly known as black panthers. Many big cats are referred to as panthers. It's no big deal calling him that but technically he's a jaguar. You can tell by the really faded spots beneath his coat and on his stomach."

The room fell silent and even the felines went still. Neville blushed and tried to disappear into the sofa cushions behind Dudley.

"Neville, I demand you continue to surprise me," Tom commanded. "No one else picked that up. Not even me."

Neville shrugged and decided he was done talking and it was quite clear he was very uncomfortable with the attention, so then Fred and George each solemnly bet twenty Galleons on their friend Harry.

Tom and Charlie stood at the same time and moved the large coffee table out of the way to make room and all looked at the felines expectantly. Both who had yet to stop staring at Neville.

Come on then, Malfoy.

No way! You nearly tore my tail off!

Harry stood and started to circle his pissed off mate, don't be a pussy, lover. Surely you're not scared of me.

You are so dead, Potter. No one calls me a pussy!

Charlie ran out of the room just as both cats flew at each other. He ran down the hall and threw open the door to the smaller lounge. "Cat fight, Sirius! We're taking bets. Come on!" and then he ran back, leaving Sirius and the others staring after him in confusion. And then they heard the snarls and roars, and Sirius was instantly out of his seat and running after Charlie.

"Good Merlin, you meant that literally!" Sirius huffed after racing into the room to find Harry and Draco in their Animagus forms battling it out with tooth and nail. Sirius watched them a moment and grinned. "Fifty Galleons says this'll turn into a full blown snogging session and they'll both be the winner!" He quickly passed the money to Charlie who had been picked to hold the winnings.

"Are they really fighting?" Severus asked once he took the fight in. "Did they get angry with each other?"

"Sevvy!" Hermione bounded over to him and threw her arms around his neck, hanging off him happily. "No, they're only playing. Being cute kitties."

Severus groaned. "You're drunk."

"Yes." She pressed against him further. "But don't worry. I'll not be useless in bed."

Severus glared at Lucius when he began chuckling under his breath and pressed Hermione's giggling mouth against his chest while he withdrew his pouch of Galleons. "Thirty on my nephew."

"Draco will come out the winner," Lucius replied as he too handed over his money.

At one point the jaguar and tiger wrenched apart and started to circle one another, growling and roaring, throwing out threatening claws, both panting heavily and both in very good spirits.

I demand you take back that pussy remark!

Of course I didn't mean it, lover. Harry launched into the air, catching Draco off guard and knocked him onto his back. But he was quickly pushed away with a howl when Draco lifted his back paws and dug them into Harry's soft underbelly.

Pansy gasped when she saw blood begin to drop from Harry's scratched stomach. As the jaguar tried to scramble away, the tiger took flight and attacked the panther's backside, digging his claws into the panther's haunches and sinking his sharp teeth into his arse. The jaguar twisted around with a deafening roar and swiped at the tiger's face, but the tiger held on and managed to keep from getting his face shredded.

"Look at that!" Blaise cried in amusement. "We knew Draco liked Harry's arse, but damn!"

"Draco's grinning!" Hermione squealed. "Oh my god! Tigers can grin!"

Tom started to laugh. Really, how was he supposed to keep it in when Hermione sounded like that? And she was right. That was the biggest grin he'd ever seen on anyone, and it was on a jungle cat. His amusement only grew when Harry started wiggling his arse trying to dislodge his overzealous mate. It was the funniest thing he had seen in…. well, forever.

"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?"

Suddenly there was Molly Weasley, standing in the doorway looking harassed with hands on her hips. Lucius, Sirius, and Severus inched away from the doorway and moved further into the room, away from the pissed off mother of seven. Charlie's eyes bugged out of his head and he quickly pushed all the money he held off into Ginny's lap. His sister quickly dumped the money on the couch and started to shove the mound of Galleons away under the cushions, trying to look inconspicuous as she did so. It didn't help that the large coins constantly clinked together and made so much noise Ginny was sure the continent of France could hear. Pansy, Neville, Dudley, and the twins inched their way in front of the fighting cats and tried smiling at Molly as if nothing were going on.

The only ones who weren't disturbed by Molly's presence were the two cats. Harry had finally gotten his mate's jaws off his arse and was chasing the tiger around the room, leaving scratches along his backside, his growls no longer playful. The bite marks Draco left on his arse pissed him off.

Oh come on, lover! It's not so bad!

You idiot! What were you thinking?

I was thinking I wanted a bite of your sweet arse!

"Now Molly, they're just playing…" Sirius ventured before Molly could put a stop to the show, though it looked to be ending on its own as both cats seemed to be slowing down.

"Was that money I heard?" she glared at her second eldest. "Are you all gambling on an animal fight?"

"Certainly not, Molly!" Lucius sounded appropriately scandalized. "What kind of home do you think I have here?"

"And they're not just animals," Sirius went on before Molly could answer that, "it's Harry and Dra-" Lucius' elbow slammed into his side, effectively shutting the Animagus up. Severus groaned once again and covered his face with his hands.

Draco's roar regained everyone's attention and they all turned around to see what was happening. The tiger was now pinned to the floor while the jaguar was on his back, his claws firmly dug into the tiger's shoulder blades while his teeth were deeply embedded and twisting the fleshy part at the back of the tiger's neck.

Tom rushed over to Molly and got in her face, obscuring her view from everything and the continuously fighting animals. "I was told Luna's sick. Is that true?"

Molly visibly relaxed and smiled softly at him. "She's fine, Tom. Just a bad headache is all and some dizziness. Sleeping it off now. Amortia has already been to check on her."

"Are you sure she's okay? Could you check again to make sure?" Tom was only asking so that Molly would leave again. He in no way cared if the girl had a headache or not. Cared not in the slightest. "Maybe she woke up and still has the headache. Maybe I should go-" He made to move by her to the door, but Molly quickly grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"Nonsense, dear." Molly rubbed his arm. "Of course I'll go check for you. You should stay here and have fun." With that Molly turned on her heel and left the room.

"Clever, Tom. Very slick," Sirius said.

"Yeah, thanks," Charlie told him. "Mum would have killed me…"

Attentions returned to the cats, only to find they had stopped fighting and were staring steadily at each other. Then the jaguar mewled at his mate pitifully before going to sulk behind the couch. The tiger quickly followed, leaping over the couch to land over his mate. Draco pushed against his mate's side until he fell over onto his back and then he slowly moved over Harry before lowering his head to gently lick at the wounds on his stomach.

By some unspoken signal both Harry and Draco transformed back to their Ukatae forms, and Draco pushed Harry's shirt aside to continue to lick at the wounds until they closed, smirking when his mate started to tremble and moan softly. Draco continued to lick his way up Harry's toned torso, stopping to pay acute attention to Harry's hardening nipples.

"I guess it's over." Ginny sighed when there were no more snarls and hissing. Everyone moved over to peer behind the couch, and almost immediately backed away again.

"Alright!" Sirius cried happily and stretched his hand out for his winnings. "Who has my money? Pay up!"

Charlie summoned the money from the couch and started to distribute the Galleons out between himself, Sirius, Hermione, and Tom.

"Now wait just a moment," Lucius interrupted. "It looked to me like Harry withdrew first. That makes Draco the winner."

"No way, Luce! They're both scratched up pretty bad and if you would be so kind as to recall, I said it would end with a snog, which is clearly what they're doing right now!"

Tom voiced his agreement with Sirius and that started off another argument. Ginny and Pansy looked at each other a moment before they adopted identical grins and crept back to the couch, where they then softly climbed onto it, placed their elbows on the back, and peered down to watch their friends snog heatedly. They could sell the Pensieve memories for Galleons!

Harry had enough of Draco teasing his nipples and gripped the blond's hair, roughly pulling him up so he could attach his lips firmly onto Draco's. Instead of being annoyed with the hair pulling, Draco immediately opened his mouth to allow his mate entrance, hitching his hips in pleasure when Harry wrapped his legs around him. Harry then wandlessly vanished Draco's shirt and let his fingers trail over muscled back and down further until his fingers disappeared below Draco's waistband to grab the blond's delicious arse where he knew there were several scratches needing to be healed.

Ginny had to push a finger in her mouth and chew on her knuckle so that she wouldn't make a sound. Pansy's mouth was wide opened and she looked frozen, though Ginny could hear the girl's breathing as it came out in short pants. Ginny nearly screamed when an arm wrapped around her waist.

"You two are the biggest perverts here," Blaise whispered into her ear as he tugged her away from the couch.

Pansy's eyes widened when Draco started to unzip Harry's pants, and when his hand dipped under the Gryffindor's boxers, Pansy thought she was going to make a killing off this memory. Unfortunately for her, Blaise, the arse, motioned for Charlie to get his girlfriend under control, and the redhead chuckled to himself as he pulled Pansy away and started to laugh outright when Pansy demanded he put her back and that he was messing with her big gain profits.

"Charlie, let me go!" she shrieked. "It was just getting good. I'll make a fortune!"

"Somehow I don't think Harry or Draco would be very pleased if you were to watch anymore."

"I don't care what they want! It's what I want. And they should pay more attention to where they are!"

Once it became obvious the young Ukatae had no intention of moving themselves off to their room, it was decided the party was over and Harry and Draco were quickly left alone.

All of this went unnoticed by Harry. He was burning up, every cell calling for his mate's touch, purring into Draco's mouth, hands molding against the blond's arse. With a gasp, Harry pulled away from Draco's mouth when his cock was freed and caressed adoringly.

"Can I have my present now?" a husky voice breathed in his ear. When Harry nodded, Draco's mouth descended on his leaking cock.

"But I'm- I'm supposed to be giving the present…"

Draco smirked after licking away the pre-cum, "you'll have your chance soon enough."

What began and what he had thought had finished as a fun evening, ending up being a nightmare. Harry wasn't sure how he got there. He wasn't sure where he was or for how long he stood there. All he did know was that this wasn't a dream. This was very real.

Self bitterness and a numbing panic filled him as he stood frozen in place on top of a hill looking down into the valley where his lover valiantly fought off his attackers, of which there were many. He heard Draco's calls for help, clear as if the Slytherin were right beside him, and yet he did nothing. Only stood there and watched.

Draco died. Right in front of his eyes. And he had done nothing. Draco was dead and the feeling of loss squeezed his insides, made it impossible to breath. Harry closed his eyes against the pain of losing half of himself and finally dropped to his knees, welcoming the pain brought on as his mind crumbled along with the world around him.

Draco was in his arms now, his silver eyes staring blankly up into the dark sky. Just as the blond's eyes were empty, so was Harry's mind. It was a black chasm and his movements were simply echoes… he did not realize he was wiping the blood off of Draco's face nor did he realize his soul wrenching sobs echoed around the empty valley, drowning out all other noise. None of this registered. He was as empty as his dead mate now…

"Do you see what you've done, Harry? You destroyed me. I believed in you, I loved you, and you destroyed me!"

Slowly Harry lifted his head to find the ghost of his mate standing there, sneering at him and his dead body. Harry did not react to the nasty look on Draco's face. He could react to nothing now. He was simply sitting there, waiting for his own death.

"You brought me into all this and now I'm dead. You stood there and did nothing!"

Harry's chin dropped to his chest, which the ghost took as an affirmative. "You won't be joining me in death, Harry. You'll live on in eternity without me, to suffer for your disloyalty. You'll go on like this, a half empty shell, forever. Enjoy the pain, lover. It will only grow as time passes."

"I can't feel you," Harry hoarsely whispered before he dragged Draco's heavy body up to crush against his chest. He started to cry into the blood drenched hair. "Draco, I can't feel you."

The ghost said nothing else and disappeared. The moment it was gone, Harry was struck with a piercing urgency as shadowed thoughts came back to his fractured mind. Horrid thoughts filled with ghastly visions of a future without Draco. He could not live an eternity without his soul mate. Even if he deserved the pain… because what the ghost said was true. He'd been responsible for his lover's death by standing aside and doing nothing. But he couldn't go on without Draco and if the bond would not do what it was supposed to and join them once again by death, then Harry would take matters into his own hands.

Dull green eyes opened and without looking around, Harry climbed out of bed. His movements were rigid and automatic. There were no thoughts in his mind and he was still cut off from his mate. He still could not feel Draco. He was still dead. Harry could see nothing around him and could only think of what must be done.

Lovely uncurled from her position on the pillow, immediately noticing something was off with her young master. She watched him cross the bedroom and disappear into the closet. When she heard Harry searching for something, Lovely shifted and started to hiss into the mate's ear, trying to wake him, to let him know something was happening. But the mate remained deep asleep, and that seemed wrong as well.

Her master reappeared holding a small black wooden box, clutching it tightly against his chest. Lovely saw his eyes and hissed in fear. There was nothing there. It looked as if her master were dead. And yet he walked on towards the door, opened it and left. Her fear increased when he left because Master was not dressed and she knew he would never leave the room without dressing first. She tried waking the mate again, and when nothing happened, Lovely gave up and quickly followed after her master. Someone needed to help her master and his mate. Something was terribly wrong.

Though the manor was full of visitors, the hour was very late and Lovely was sure everyone was sleeping. Spending time looking for someone awake would be disastrous she was sure, so Lovely turned down the corner and headed for the room of her mother's master, hoping Nagini was there. The door was shut of course, but she started hissing as loudly as she could. She grew to twice her size and started to butt the door with her enlarged head. Finally movement from within was heard and she was relieved to hear Nagini waking her master. Seconds later, an enraged Dark Lord threw the door open and stared coldly down at her.

You had better have a good reason for this intrusion, Lovely, he hissed as he tied his robe closed.

Master is not well! Help my master!

Tom's anger dissipated and he knelt down to scoop the snake up. Explain.

Lovely told of all she saw when Harry had woken and left the bed, explaining the way her master looked and acted and how Harry's mate was in a very deep sleep. I sense his sleep is unnatural…

By the time she was finished, Tom had her crushed against his chest as he ran in a panic down the halls to his brothers' bedchamber, his heart drumming against her head in a fast cadence. Once inside he was only mildly relieved to find his brother was still alive, but the snake was right, his sleep wasn't natural. But since Draco didn't seem to be in any other distress, Tom thought finding Harry was what should be done first. He didn't like to think of what was in that black box Lovely had spoken of.

"Falde! Talyn!" His bellows could be heard all over the manor as he ran to his sister's room. He burst in and didn't even blink twice to find Severus and Hermione wrapped together sleeping. "Wake up! Both of you!"

Both of them bolted up and blinked. Tom spun around and rubbed his eyes. They were both naked. "We have to find Harry. Something's wrong with him and Draco. Up, quickly!" And then he bolted from the room, "FALDE!"

Talyn and Falde appeared and Tom immediately sent Talyn to Draco and then explained the situation to Falde as he continued on his search for his brother, the elder Ukatae running along beside him.

"Can't you sense him somehow?" Tom asked with a trembling voice. He wasn't clairvoyant, but he knew his brother's life was in terrible danger.

"No," Falde answered, his tone of surprise did much to increase Tom's fear. "He's been cut off."

"What does that mean?" Tom yelled. Lovely wiggled her way out from between his chest and hand where he'd been unconsciously crushing her and curled around his neck.

"What the hell is going on?" Sirius yelled as he and Lucius ran up.

"Harry's disappeared and Draco has been put into a deep sleep."

"He should be found immediately," Falde said in urgency.

"What does Draco keep in the black box in his closet?" Tom asked Lucius.

"A silver dagger. I gave it to him for his twelfth birthday. It's one of his favorite possessions. Why?"

"Harry took it and now he's gone."

Lucius' eyes widened in horror. "Tripe!"

The elf popped in, "yes, Master Malfoy?"

"Find Harry at once!"

The house elf went without hesitation. Severus and Hermione joined them, both dressed in house robes. Tom suggested they all split up to look through the manor, recruiting the other sleeping guests along the way. The others nodded and hurried away, but Lucius and Tom stayed put waiting for the house elf.

The house elf returned before anything else could be said, its eyes were wide and practically bulging. "Master Harry be outsides on the grounds, Master Malfoy. Yous better hurries. He's going to harm himself!"

"Where?" Tom shouted. "Where is he?"

"The lake."

Tom took one step and then paled when a scream echoed down the hall and wrapped around his heart. "Draco."

"Find Harry! I'll go to Draco," Lucius said.

Falde Shadowed out with Tom while Lucius ran to his son's room, feeling nauseas by the horrific screams issuing from his son. He ran in to find Talyn straddling his son, trying to restrain him. He didn't have to ask why. Draco's screams said everything.

"Gods kill me! Kill me, please! Harry! He's gone!" Draco was thrashing around, his eyes pale and lifeless. "I can't feel him! My Harry!"

The burning torment in Draco's eyes and the aching grief in his voice brought Lucius Malfoy to tears as he rushed to help Talyn keep his son pinned to the bed before he could harm himself.

"Have you found Harry?" she asked, panic lacing her words. "He must be found before he takes his life."

"He's outside. Merlin… Can't you wake them up?" Lucius pleaded. But Talyn couldn't answer. She had no idea how this could have happened. All they could do for the moment was hold Draco down. The tears left her eyes unchecked as Draco continued to cry out in anguish.

"I need Harry! I need to die! LET ME DIE!"

Harry dropped to his knees in the cold damp grass and placed the black box in front of him. His body continued to shake with grief and cold as he opened the lid and he was so intent on finding death and his lost mate that he did not hear Draco's tortured screams coming from the manor. Nor could he hear Tom's yells as he and Falde raced towards him across the grounds. Harry heard nothing and all he could see was the dagger as he lifted it into the air, immediately aiming the deadly point at his heart. He smiled in relief as he plunged the dagger down towards his heart. He would soon be with Draco again.

Tom watched in horror as Harry smiled and brought the dagger down without hesitation only to cry out in relief when Falde tackled his brother to the ground and grabbed onto Harry's hand before the dagger could reach its mark. Harry immediately began to fight, keeping the dagger firmly in hand, continuing to try and drive it into his chest. Fear took Tom again when he noticed Harry's strength was almost too much for the seasoned warrior and he jumped in to help. Fear for his brother was so great that he started to beat Harry; throwing punches to the Gryffindor's face, torso, anywhere he could, anything to get Harry to come to his senses. Harry started to fight Tom and ignored Falde, who immediately worked on getting the dagger out of Harry's stone grip.

Reluctantly the warrior ended up breaking Harry's hand. The Gryffindor didn't so much as twitch at the pain but his grip did slacken and Falde was able to pull the dagger away. Tom immediately vanished the thing and wrapped his arms tightly around Harry and fell onto his back, trying to regain his breath. Tears pricked his eyes when Harry went limp in his arms and started crying for death, crying for Draco, begging to be killed so he could rejoin his mate.

"Please do something," he begged Falde and pushed Harry's face down against his neck to muffle the crying. He couldn't bare this. Hearing Harry in so much pain and being unable to do anything to make his brother better. "Make it stop, Falde! Fucking help him!"

"I- I can't." Falde's voice broke and he had to look away from them. "This shouldn't be happening. No one should have the power to do this. They're still alive. This shouldn't be happening," he repeated in a broken whisper. A being of ages, Falde had never been as affected by something as he was by this. He suspected it had a lot to do with his guardian bonds with the young ones. They were basically his children now and seeing this was soul shattering. He felt miniscule, entirely useless. "I don't know what to do, Tom."

"Bring him inside."

Luna stood a few feet away. Standing in the pale light provided by her namesake. She looked different standing there in a long white robe, her long hair waving softly in the wind. What was more, she stood elegantly straight and there was no smile on her face. Her gray eyes were as hard and cold as ice and her lips were pressed together severely.

Tom shivered and felt his breath catch. Both from the aura of cold fury billowing around her and from the coldness of Harry's ever running tears falling against his skin. Falde helped him up, but the Dark Lord refused to let go of his brother. He shrugged out of his robe and covered his brother's naked shaking body with it as Luna came forward and joined him inside Falde's Shadow.

They arrived in the hallway outside of Draco and Harry's room. The hall was lined with people, all of who were being affected by Draco's screams and pleads for death. Blaise sat on the floor, back pressed against the wall with his eyes tightly shut while he held Ginny against him, the sound of her cries muffled by his shirt gone soggy with her tears. The Slytherin boy had to keep his eyes shut because every time he opened them the tears would start to fall. And Pansy was worse off than he was. She clung to Mrs. Weasley, both weeping while Charlie had his arms around them. His face was pale as he stared at the closed door.

Hermione was being cocooned by Fred and George, both whispering to her, trying to comfort themselves and her at the same time. She had been unable to stand it in there, looking on without any notion of what to do, or how to comfort her brother. Draco's grief was hers and she had cracked under the waves of agony coming from him. She stood in there numb until Severus had gently pushed her out of the room and promised not to leave Draco's side.

And Neville and Dudley were out in the hall as well, standing together, both staring at the door in horror. Neville didn't feel the slightest bit of embarrassment when he moved over until their shoulders were pressed firmly together. The screams issuing from the room were so cold and bleak, and Dudley's arm was warm, and honestly he felt he would break down if he didn't do something to try and ease the grief Draco's screams were producing in all of them. Not to mention the overwhelming worry for Harry and whether they had found him in time.

The others in the manor were either in Draco's room, or like the Longbottoms and the Lestrange brothers, couldn't stand to be anywhere near that room. Frank Longbottom had to drag his hysterical wife away, and the Lestranges' had taken Draco's cries as a vivid reminder of their years in Azkaban. It wasn't that they didn't care… it was just that the pain coming from Draco's room was tangible and everyone could feel it, whether they were connected to the two mates or not.

When Falde, Tom and Luna appeared with Harry, everyone immediately moved to surround them, all asking questions, begging for assurances that Harry and Draco would be okay. Harry stopped his crying and went completely still in Tom's arms. His only movement was the shallow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. When Tom looked, his breath caught in his throat when Harry looked straight through him, his eyes blank and hollow. He was void of any expressions and Tom knew it was that way inside his mind as well.

"Move away!" Luna demanded to everyone in such a powerful voice that she was immediately obeyed. She led Falde and Tom into the room where Tom lay Harry down on the bed, wincing from the screams Draco continued to cry even as Harry was pressed against his side. Severus, Talyn, Lucius, and Sirius were still restraining the blond and Talyn immediately looked to Falde for some answers. Draco was calling for his mate even though Harry was now beside him, still looking like death, still praying for it in his mind.

"We should put them out," Lucius said. "Make them sleep."

"I've already tried that," Talyn replied in clipped tones. "Nothing works."

"What is going on?" Sirius barked at Falde. "Why's this happening?"

"I don't know why it's happening."

"Shouldn't they be better now?" Lucius asked, and sagged with half relief when his son went still and quiet. "Why are they lying here like the dead? They're back together again."

"But they aren't," Luna whispered and crawled onto the bed and caressed her friends' faces. "They are trapped in a very powerful hallucination. We must free them as soon as possible. They won't be able to do it themselves. Not now." She looked at Falde. "I will need Ozemir."

The warrior groaned. "He's gone to Dagon's Treasure. I have no idea where that is."

Luna nodded before she kissed Draco's cheek and then Harry's. "I need a silver basin please," she said as she crawled off the bed.

Lucius called a house elf to retrieve one while Luna headed towards the washroom. Tom followed and just as she was about to pass into it, he blocked her path by placing an arm on each side of her and leaned in, pushing her back against the doorway. He failed to notice the sudden blush of her cheeks when her eyes came into direct contact with his bare chest.

"You are not Lovegood. Who are you and how do you know all this?"

"I am Luna, silly. See?" she pulled her robe down to reveal the Dark Mark on her shoulder.

Tom growled and pressed further, leaning down until their noses were almost touching. "Answer straight for once! I order you to tell me who and what you are!"

Luna placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back an inch, the blush on her face had intensified. "I am Luna. As for what I am- you should have figured that out by now, Tom. The demon did…" She shrugged and pushed by him into the bathroom, leaving Tom dumbfounded again.

"Does this have anything to do with Draco's Inheritance?" Sirius asked, and then shrugged when Severus glanced at him. "I know it probably doesn't, but I'm having trouble believing this is happening."

"Draco received his Inheritance the same night as Harry," Talyn remarked. "Ozemir said nothing was supposed to happen tonight."

Hermione returned and shut the door behind her just as the house elf popped in with the silver basin. Hermione eyed it curiously as she crossed over to Tom. He immediately reached out to take her hand and together they looked upon their brothers.

"It's almost like the Dementor's Kiss," Luna went on to everyone as she reappeared, her wand in her hand. "They are dead without the other half of their soul. Which is why soul mates always, quickly, and without fail follow each other into death. They live with an all consuming emptiness without the other until they go. Some, like these two, will take their own lives, not being able to live another second without the rest of their soul. In that instance it's different from the Kiss. They can still think and act, but only a minimal amount. The world around them ceases to be, you see? That's why Harry and Draco won't react to us." Luna went up to the basin that sat on the bedside table on Draco's side and pointed her wand. "Aguamenti."

"But…" Hermione thought out loud. "When they've fought before. They block each other from their minds to piss the other off. This never happened when they do that."

"This isn't the same," Luna answered. "They can block out the other's thoughts, but soul mates always reside in the mind, no matter what. They can always be felt and are always present. But now, somehow it's as if the other half of their soul has been erased."

"Please tell us this can be fixed," Lucius said to her. He no longer wondered how she knew all this. At the moment he didn't care. Luna seemed to be their only chance of helping Harry and Draco.

"This can be fixed. But we must hurry so it leaves no permanent damage. In Harry's case, especially," she ended in a troubled whisper and everyone knew exactly what she was referring to.

"I want to know who's done this," Hermione said in a gravelly voice. "And I don't care if it's Demai'Tah. I'll kill him with my bare hands!" she hissed vehemently. Tom agreed whole-heartedly.

"This cannot be Demai'Tah," Falde announced. "At least I'm certain this was not him working alone. He doesn't have the kind of power to do this- to block soul mates from each other. And his help certainly didn't come from that old wizard either."

"Luna?" Severus asked.

"Let us get Ozemir and Brumek back first. We'll need them." Once the basin was half full, Luna twisted her hair up in a bun and slid the wand in to keep her hair in place. "I need someone to cut me. Talyn."

Luna held her arm over the basin and Talyn took out her dagger. "No, a nail. It will work better."

"The cut won't be clean."

"Use a claw."

Talyn nodded and extended her claws. She pierced the girl's flesh quickly and Luna allowed drops of her blood to mix with the water. No one was surprised this time when she displayed no sign of pain. Once she was satisfied enough blood had been added, she moved her hand back to Talyn for healing while dipping a finger of her free hand into the mixture of blood and water and slowly mixed it.

Everyone moved in for a closer look at that point. A soft smile played around the Ravenclaw's lips and she started to hum a soft tune, a familiar lullaby. Immediately all in the room, aside from the two on the bed, relaxed despite the situation. Luna then bent down until her face hovered just over the water and blew into it, sending ripples across the surface.

"Ozemir," she called gently. "Ozemir. We need you and Brumek. Ozemir."

The water began vibrating in different levels and Luna bent closer almost until her nose touched the surface. And then suddenly she jerked back, quickly covering her eyes and started to blush like never before. The water rippled again, all on its own. "Yes, Brumek. I see what you're doing." She cleared her throat and leaned forward again, though her hand was still over her eyes. "The young ones need help. Come quickly." Luna then turned her back on the basin and dropped her hand, embarrassment all over her face. They knew exactly what she had seen even though they couldn't understand how she had seen it. Everyone except Falde and Talyn, but they were just as confused about her as the rest. How could she do Ukatae magic?

"Luna, love." Sirius came forward and threw an arm around her shoulders. Before he spoke again he looked into the basin, but there was only water and blood. "Someday you're going to have to explain where you learned all this stuff."

Draco started to whimper, head turning from side to side as if he were trying to shake something off. And then the sound cut off suddenly. Just as everyone took a relieved breath, because anything was better than hearing his despairing cries again, Draco bolted out of the bed and his screaming once again filled the silence. He wasn't crying but yelling, and then when every man in the room tackled him to the ground, his yells turned enraged. He was able to kick Sirius and Severus off of him and twisted around. His hand flew out and to everyone's horror he wandlessly summoned Lucius' wand to his hand and instantly brought it up to his temple.

"Avada-"

Hermione screamed while Tom lunged and jerked the wand away just as Draco whispered the second word that would have killed him and sent the curse up to the ceiling.

"Remove all weapons and wands! Get rid of them all!" Falde commanded.

Sirius made Lucius gather all the wands and Ukatae weapons as he was afraid Draco would accidentally end up hurting his father. Once Lucius had every weapon he rushed out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him. He clutched the weapons tightly in his arms and slid down to the floor where he dropped his head back against the door.

Molly pulled away from Charlie and Pansy and knelt down beside the shaking blond. "Lucius?"

He pinned her with a horrified look. "Draco… he tried to kill himself with my wand… with the Killing curse. He- he nearly succeeded. He wants to die so badly… I can't go back in there, Molly. I cannot."

Molly had never seen Lucius show so much emotion and because it was pain, her heart warmed up to him even more. This was what made her able to get hold of her own emotions and straightened up. "You children gather these wands and weapons and take them away now," she instructed Pansy, Blaise, Neville, and Dudley. They quickly did as she asked, happy for a reason to escape. Then she and Charlie helped Lucius to his feet.

"Come along, Lucius. There is nothing you can do that the others in there can't. Let's go wait in a quiet room."

"I can't leave-"

Molly shook her head and took his arm in a firm grasp, pulling him away from the room that had become his hell.

Back inside, Draco was still struggling with his restrainers. "Get off me! Get off!" His reactions to being restrained rose everyone's spirits slightly. It meant he knew people were around him. "He's gone! I have to go too! I want to! Please, please, I want my Harry!"

"Draco? Draco, look at me." Hermione knelt beside him. When she reached out to touch his arm, he flinched back and turned dead eyes onto her. Hermione sagged in defeat. His eyes were still hollow. She doubted he knew where he was or who it was around him. He was only reacting to being kept from rejoining Harry. "He's still not here," she whispered and backed away.

His yells for Harry continued on and things only got worse from there. Harry soon imitated Draco's actions, but at least he didn't make it out of the bed. But Luna, Talyn, and Hermione had to help keep him restrained and they were barely managing.

Luckily Ozemir and Brumek arrived, both looking frantic. Before they could ask questions, Luna grabbed Ozemir's hand and dragged him towards the door. "Bring them to the ritual room. We must reconnect them as soon as possible."

Luna explained the situation to Ozemir in hard clipped tones which had the Scholar raising an eyebrow at her. This didn't seem like the same girl. But as she went on to explain he realized not even Luna could be herself at a time like this. He suspected she was adapting to the situation. No one would react well to her if she acted like her normal self right now. Truth be told he was having difficulties believing what she was telling him. Something had come between the young ones' soul mate bond. Only a higher power had the ability to do that.

"I see you understand," Luna said as they entered the Ritual room.

She went to the table and tapped her chin. Six candles appeared before her; three black and three red. She turned and grinned at Ozemir. "Thanks!" she chirped and began arranging them on the ground in a circle. "Have you ever done this sort of spell casting before?" she asked him.

He watched her skip around the circle, lighting the candles. "Not quite like this and never for this reason. I'm- I may not be powerful enough to remove the block."

"Yes you will!" she laughed as if his doubt was ridiculous. "Do not worry. We'll all help. We have a powerful circle here, Ozemir."

There was a moment of silence where Ozemir spent the entire time studying the girl. Finally he coughed and looked away. "I accepted Brumek… Oh, but you-" he blushed, "you saw that already."

Luna's returning smile was very bright. "I'm very happy! Make lots and lots of babies. Okay? The population must grow."

Ozemir didn't want to think about that at this point and so remained quiet on that topic. He heard people approaching, heard the worry in their voices, heard the young ones crying out for their mates… "I failed them. I was away and I let this happen," he whispered.

"Falde and Talyn were here. They sensed nothing. I was here and I sensed nothing. You couldn't have done anything because it shouldn't have been possible to block their bond," Luna replied softly as she came to stand beside him and took his hand. "Once we undo what's been done, then we can make sure it never happens again," she ended as Harry and Draco were brought in. Ozemir nodded half-heartedly.

"Lay them in the center," he pointed to the circle of candles, "and then take positions around the circle." Ozemir turned to Severus and Sirius with sympathy and apology. "Only Ukatae can remain. You must wait outside."

"If we set them down and walk away they'll only try to do harm to themselves again," Severus reminded.

"We can restrain them in here," Falde said as he, Sirius, and Tom dragged a mindless kicking and snarling Draco into the center. Ozemir clapped as soon as they let go of the blond and steel chains swung over his torso and legs, binding him to the floor. The same thing happened to Harry when Brumek, Severus, and Talyn placed him beside Draco.

Severus and Sirius hovered by the door and didn't look like they wanted to leave, which was understandable. Luna went to them and smiled softly. "It will be okay. I promise."

"How can you promise something like that?" Sirius demanded. "Those are our kids."

"And my friends," Luna reiterated with a slightly harder tone. "Sirius, all this stress has not been good for Lucius. Go take care of him."

Sirius sighed in defeat, knowing they would not be able to stay, and Luna was right about the stress… but how was he supposed to just leave? The fierce glare on the Potions Master's face revealed his thoughts were similar.

Fortunately Tom had lost patience. "GO! You're wasting our time standing there. We'll be able to start as soon as you're gone."

Once the door was sealed shut Ozemir stepped forward to stand between Brumek and Tom and held his hands out towards the young ones, focusing his complete attention upon them. It would be an ancient spell he was sure. Ancient and forbidden and very hard to break. The first thing to do was to bring it forth so they could physically see the block. He closed his eyes and focused solely on the young ones' minds. This was difficult. Their minds were not only cut off from each other but they were also cut off from everyone else. Ozemir could not sense them at all.

As he continued to search, Luna went around and touched each person lightly on the back before coming to stand between Ozemir and Tom. She took up Tom's hand and placed a hand on Ozemir's outstretched arm. Understanding, the others went about doing the same and connected the circle.

"We should hurry. They're still and quiet," Falde murmured quietly, finally realizing Harry and Draco weren't trying to get free of their restraints. They lay quietly with their eyes open and unblinking.

"But isn't that better than having them screaming for death?" Hermione questioned.

Talyn answered, "no. We're losing them."

Ozemir's breathing slowed and his eyes opened when he finally made some leeway, found an opening. He almost pulled back when he felt the acute despair the young ones were in. His eyes darkened and narrowed into slits. Someone had purposely done this. Immediate death would have been better, but this- this was merciless. The cruelest thing he'd ever come across. The pain and the darkness fueled his anger and he used that, built it up until his body was burning with it and finally he was able to lash out and find what he needed.

The air sizzled around them and the magic used to torture Harry and Draco's souls slowly manifested. Black gleaming lines represented the power of the spell. It writhed and coiled around like poisonous smoke. Wrapping and binding the mates' tortured minds, restraining their magic and aura's inside, preventing anything from breaking free. And the main block, one black pulsing vine, thicker than the others, ran in between the soul mates' bodies.

Not only could they see the black magic but they could also see golden tendrils erratically floating around the bodies and it was assumed this was the soul mate bond. The bright wisps of light constantly moved around the bodies and in the air with nowhere to go, and continuously charged the strong black block. But always the golden trails were stopped and pushed away.

Ozemir approached the young ones slowly, eyeing the black magic pulsing around their bodies, hoping his nearness would not do them further harm. He was only two feet away when the tendrils tightened around their bodies and the blackness seemed to spread. But he had to push it. He had to get a closer look to see and feel what they were dealing with.

As he took another step forward, Brumek became appropriately apprehensive. "Ozemir, don't get too close." His mate glanced at him over his shoulder as he completed the step and Brumek shook his head, "you don't know what will-"

The magic sparked and crackled, then flared sending out a dark wave. Not only was Ozemir sent flying but the rest were also thrown off their feet, hit and briefly attacked with a painful shock.

Luna started to giggle as she picked herself off the floor. "Someone doesn't like us being nosy."

"Bloody hell but that hurt," Hermione grumbled as Falde helped her to her feet.

Ozemir tisked at himself as Brumek helped him up, wincing at the sharp pain the shock had pounded into his chest. "My apologies, everyone. I should have known that would happen."

Luna inclined her head to glance at Tom, "can't you erect some sort of shield? This is obviously still being controlled from someone outside. If we could make a shield and disconnect the tether, we'll have a better chance of breaking the curse."

Tom's brows narrowed as he thought about all the spells and enchantments he knew. Finally, he nodded. "I will need my wand though."

Luna flashed a smile at him. "Nonsense." She placed a finger against his forehead, pushing ever so slightly. "The Ukatae knowledge is there. Entwine it with your wizards' knowledge and nothing will stop you."

"If you're sure…" he certainly wasn't.

"You can do it, Tom," his sister encouraged. "If anyone can, it's you."

Of course he couldn't back down now and his pleasure at such praise was visible when he raised his hands and recalled the words of the spell he had created long ago. He chanted lowly and briefly wondered if adding more dark magic was the wise thing to do. But as he was already speaking, he thought it didn't really matter, as long as his spell worked as it was supposed to. "Ciniectum defendo saeptum."

Nothing happened at first and Luna's shoulders dropped slightly with disappointment. That was not to be tolerated and Tom repeated the chant; loudly and with a firm tone, throwing as much energy behind the spell as he could muster. Immediately a grayish mist flew from his palms and surrounded the ritual room and all its inhabitants. When the mist vanished, Tom was relieved to see the walls glowing a shimmering silver, indicating his spell had worked, and no outside force could break through. As soon as the spell had taken effect, the tether was snapped, making it safe to approach Harry and Draco.

"Very well done," Ozemir praised.

Falde remarked quietly. "What do we need to do to break it?"

"The block must be weakened before I can do anything. Like this, completely whole, we have no chance of destroying it." Ozemir sighed. "I'm not sure how we can weaken the thing."

"What do you know?" Brumek asked. He wasn't criticizing. He knew Ozemir was brilliant and also knew if the Scholar started throwing out suggestions, eventually he would come up with an idea that would work. Ozemir, of course, knew this was Brumek's intention and gently squeezed his hand.

"Strengthening their minds would help. If we could find some way to remind their bodies of each other… some outside influence telling the body the mate is near, that might do it."

"I know!" Hermione exclaimed. Her immediate response surprised the older Ukatae. "Blood! Those two can't get enough of each other's blood. Sometimes I think they need it more than food and water."

Luna beamed at the Gryffindor. "That's a brilliant idea, Hermione!"

"Yes," Ozemir replied slowly, turning the possibilities over, "blood has very strong magical components... Wonderful suggestion, young one!"

"They do suck a lot of blood," Tom murmured with a shudder.

"Don't knock it until you try it," Talyn retorted as she went about collecting blood samples from Harry and Draco.

"Brumek and Ozemir, you give it to them," Luna suggested, though it sounded more like a soft command. Tom looked at her sideways and found the girl was grinning off at nothing in particular. He sighed and bit down the irritation. He was never going to understand her.

"Even if it doesn't strengthen their minds it will most certainly strengthen their bodies. The blackness of the spell is wrapped around their bodies as well but the spell is focused solely on their minds," Ozemir explained as he poured Draco's blood down Harry's throat, having to take it slowly as Harry tried spitting it out more than once. He gently massaged the young one's throat and continued on. "If their bodies regain some energy this could help negate the curse. Weaken it to some extent. I need only a little."

"You are only speculating. You don't know-"

Hermione looked across the circle at her brother pleadingly. "Tom, let's try to be a little more positive, okay. Attitude doesn't help."

"I'm sorry. I just- I don't ever want to see them like this again."

"You love your brothers, Tom?"

"Yes, Luna. Very much."

She squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

He blinked at her in surprise, "for what?"

"Your honesty with such things has a great power all on its own." She gestured to Harry and Draco with their clasped hands. "And look. The spell is weakening."

The golden tendrils began to grow brighter and much more persistent as they bombarded the block which had faded only slightly. Ozemir and Brumek were still pouring blood into the young ones' mouths and all were pleased when both turned their heads towards the cups and whimpered desperately when the cups were pulled away for the last time.

"Merlin, it's working!" Hermione cried. The golden tendrils weren't being pushed away from the block any longer and she thought she saw a sliver of gold get passed the black line. Ozemir and Brumek returned to their places around the circle and clasped hands. Ozemir closed his eyes once again to focus on destroying the darkness surrounding his young ones.

"You can blast it away now, Ozemir," Luna whispered.

Blast it apart is exactly what the Scholar did. He fed off of Brumek's stoic reserve, Tom's frustration, Hermione's pain, Luna's love, Falde's self-disappointment, and Talyn's worry. He bound all those emotions together with his black anger and demolished the black restraints surrounding the bodies of the young ones. Once the smaller black mental chains were gone, the light from the soul mate bond intensified until everyone had to squint against the bright glare. Together, Harry's tendrils and Draco's tendrils attacked the block between them at the same time, in the same place and rammed right through it. As soon as soul mate bond reconnected, the dark spell dissipated with a loud hiss.

The two shackled to the floor inhaled large breaths as if they had been holding it in for hours and their bodies started shaking; the return of their minds and the reconnection of the bond all at once causing a major shock to their systems.

"They should be put to sleep," Talyn said as hurried to check them over.

"Let them go to sleep on their own," Luna replied as she collapsed against Tom's side. He was surprised by the tiredness in her voice and by the way her body was shaking. He narrowed his eyes. Clearly she had been doing more than he and the others were aware of. "First we need to protect their bond so this can never happen again."

"And how," Brumek began, his tone dripping sarcasm, "do you suppose we do that?"

Ozemir looked scandalized at the tone his mate was using with Luna. "Brumek, you can't talk to her like that! Don't you realize who she-"

"You don't have to do anything, silly," Luna interrupted much to everyone's disappointment. Clearly Ozemir knew more about Luna than they thought. "I'll do it. Now go out and tell everyone Harry and Draco will be fine."

Luna sat down crossed legged at Harry and Draco's feet and touched a hand to their legs after Ozemir quickly cleared the room. The Ravenclaw allowed the tears she'd been keeping away to come forth and flow down her face. Seeing Harry and Draco like that had been more painful for her than for anyone. She started to hum a sad tune, and as the volume grew a watery smile appeared when she saw the golden ribbons of their bond being surrounded by bright glowing silver.

"There." She gave a nod and grinned when their eyes slowly opened. Happy to see those eyes were no longer tortured and broken. "Should someone try to do that again, we'll know and can stop it."

Harry's lips started to tremble and silent tears fell from his eyes. He could feel Draco now. His presence was a burning beacon at the front of his mind but he was still convinced this wasn't real. Afraid that if he turned to look, the heat he felt from the body lying next to him would simply be another illusion.

Luna scooted forward and entwined Harry's hand with Draco's. "Don't be afraid. I swear this isn't a dream. You are both alive and well." Her tone flowed out and around them like silk. She understood why they weren't reaching for each other. The pain was still sharp, still throbbing inside them, and they were very afraid that this was the real nightmare.

The moment Draco had Harry's hand in his, the blond broke down too, crying Harry's name, face contorted with the pain he felt. Luna wiped her own tears away and wrapped an arm around both their necks and drew them up to embrace them and was happy when they immediately buried their heads against her neck and hugged her back. Draco didn't know why her presence was so comforting, but it was and he felt she was dulling the pain. For once Draco thought her presence was very welcome.

"Shhh… Don't be afraid." She drew back slightly and used her thumb to wipe away tears from their cheeks. "Now. Look at each other. Go on."

They turned to look at each other. Green eyes and silver eyes staring… Draco reached out to cup Harry's cheek. He felt his mate's warmth, heard Harry's shuddering breath and his fear began to diminish. Draco quickly gathered Harry into his arms, cradled the smaller Ukatae against his chest and practically squeezed the life out of him while Harry cried. He rocked his mate, kissing Harry's hair, touching his face.

Harry.

I stood there and let you die! Harry cried. I didn't even move to help. I couldn't move, Draco. I didn't do anything!

Shut up, idiot! It was just a dream. Someone fucking with our heads. I watched you die. I watched you drown in a pool of blood, over and over again. I watched myself stand there and fucking laugh! Gods...

It wasn't real, Harry murmured, the need to comfort his mate pushing his own guilt away. We're still alive.

Luna smiled and stood. "Now listen to me very carefully. I know this is going to be hard. The pain will not instantly vanish, but you two are strong. Don't let whoever did this win by succumbing to the pain. It's not real because neither of you died. You go on as if this never happened. You are Emperors," she stated firmly. "You go out there and give the world a rude gesture for causing you pain, and then you go on and cause pain to those who hurt you. You must be strong."

Draco's eyes were wide on her face and Harry shifted so that he could see her, but still kept his cheek pressed firmly against Draco's chest. "Um… Luna? You're acting uncharacteristically right minded."

Luna giggled and twirled a strand of hair around her finger. "I know! Hate when that happens." She gave a little wave and skipped out the room.

"We almost lost them," Tom murmured softly. Hermione, who sat beside him and was curled up next to Severus, squeezed her eyes shut against the thought. "If Lovely hadn't come to get me, Harry would be dead now. I ran across the yard as fast as I could and that dagger was coming down. He was going to stab himself in the heart..." He leaned forward and pressed the heels of his palms against his closed eyes. "He tried so hard… and then-" his voice cracked, and he took a shuddering breath, "and then Draco got that wand-"

"Please stop," Hermione whispered.

Molly stood up and crossed the room. She reached out to touch Tom's arm, only wanting to comfort him. It was apparent to everyone Tom's emotions were roiling and he didn't quite know what to do with them. But when she reached out he flinched away from her.

"Don't touch me," he hissed and stood. Seeing the stricken look on her face, he sighed, "I'm sorry… but I- I really shouldn't be feeling these things… I don't want to."

Tom left everyone staring after him as he left. No one was really surprised he was having this sort of reaction. Even Molly wasn't really offended. Stopping before he got to the door, Tom turned around and glared at everyone. "I don't ever want Draco to know just how close Harry came to plunging that dagger into his heart. And Harry will never know about what Draco almost did. I never want them to know that. Is that clear?" he left before he was answered, knowing he would be obeyed no matter what.

Severus sat very still, eyes glued to the wall opposite the sofa he occupied, one hand absently running through Hermione's wild hair. He could honestly say the screams issuing from Draco had been the most chilling thing he had ever heard. Someone had committed a very heinous crime against his boys, forcing Harry and Draco to think the other was dead and gone forever. He could also silently confess he was grateful he would never have to bear such pain as they had and was almost thankful he and Hermione were not soul mates. It was a callous thing to think, but after being witness to tonight's events … Honestly, who would want to have a soul mate, knowing that eventually one day you would have to go through something like that?

Lovegood arrived a bit after Tom had taken his leave and informed those waiting that Harry and Draco were as fine as they could be under the circumstances and announced there would be no lasting side effects. She then proceeded to smile all around, and once again Severus was left wondering who she was. How did she know the things she knew? How did she do the things she did? And why did she act like she was acting now? Skipping in, smiling and looking around with bright dazed eyes as if the world were one giant sphere full of happy hallucinogenic fog. Why did she refuse to give Tom a straight answer about her origins? Because it was clear her origins had nothing to do with Xenophilius Lovegood or England for that matter. She was not simply a human.

Hermione shivered and he tightened his arm around her. He thought about taking her back to bed, but when he looked at her, saw the worry in her eyes, he knew sleep would not come for her. Looking around he realized this was true for everyone. Unless he distributed Dreamless Sleep Potion around, no one would be returning to bed. He did offer, but everyone turned him down. Severus understood the lack of takers. Even if they did take the dreamless potion, many were still afraid to be haunted in sleep by Harry and Draco's begs for death.

After a while, Charlie finally managed to get his mother and Pansy to seek their beds; Blaise and Ginny disappeared as soon as it was told the spell had been removed from Harry and Draco, promising to return the next day. Ginny had not stopped crying the entire time. The twins went off on their own, murmuring about getting drunk, inviting Dudley and Neville along because it looked they needed it as well. Both agreed quickly and left with them, both still wearing blank pale masks. Sirius looked like he wished to follow, and Severus had to agree. A stiff drink would have done wonders right then. Sirius, however, did not go and instead bullied Lucius off his arse and back to their bed.

Severus hoped to Merlin Harry would survive this mentally. There was no doubt Draco would because the blond was strong. Not to say Harry wasn't. Severus knew the strength his nephew possessed. But Harry had been attacked mentally his entire life and having someone strip away the one solid anchor for his sanity was detrimental. And even though the bond was reconnected, Severus knew it would take some time before Harry could forget about what happened here tonight.

The Malfoy heir sat silently on the lounge chair, staring into the fire with silver eyes blazing just as fiercely as the large flames. He sat perfectly still, one hand deeply embedded into Harry's hair whose head was in his lap, his other hand gripping the arm rest tightly; claws fully extended and piercing the elaborately carved antique wood. Draco clutched the post so hard his knuckles had turned white and his hand would be stiff by the time he could rein his anger down to a simmer.

But right now Draco was seething and anyone in the near vicinity could feel the pressure of it. It was no wonder everyone beyond the Ukatae guards had moved to the opposite side of the manor. The raging power he emanated was simply too stifling for humans.

It seemed an eternity to the elder elves before Draco finally spoke. There was something different about his voice. He spoke softly, a low dangerous whisper with a hardened edge. A tone that would cause fear to rise up within anyone. And he said only one thing. "Falde."

Falde briskly walked forward, still in wonder Draco allowed he and the other guards to remain in the room with them. But by the tone coming from the new blood, he imagined he and his comrades were about to be reprimanded and in a vicious way. Not that Falde thought they didn't deserve it. They certainly did. They had failed miserably in their jobs to protect the new blood and had come very close to letting the young ones become victims of… someone.

He stopped at the side of the lounge so as not to break Draco's view of the fire- and to be perfectly honest, Falde did not want to be in the direct line of those glowing silver eyes. But then he found himself under the intense stare anyway and trembled slightly, something that had never happened to him, even under the gaze of the former Rulers. Draco was displaying fully and his lips partly slightly once his gaze landed on Falde.

Fangs gleamed dangerously in the firelight and a soft growl escaped the blond's mouth as he studied the seasoned warrior. There was something in Draco's eyes that both terrified and filled Falde with assurances. They would have their realm back whole and in the right hands in the near future. Demai'Tah wouldn't stand a chance against this one when he'd reached his full potential.

All this was thought in only seconds after Draco had called him over. Falde quickly dropped to one knee and pressed a fist over his heart. "We beg your forgiveness."

Draco's eyes narrowed. "Our forgiveness? Do you think that's important? Do you think an apology will change anything? Will it take back what's been done-" the blond paused when Harry clutched at his knee and murmured something too quiet for Falde to hear. Whatever the brunet said seemed to calm Draco down slightly and when he next spoke his tone was no longer laced with shaking fury. "We don't care about that," he went on more quietly but no less coldly, "and we most certainly do not want you begging for forgiveness." He flicked a finger and Falde immediately rose.

"We were told a soul mate bond could not be broken," Harry went on without opening his eyes. His voice was much more gentle and did much to ease Falde's nerves, though it was also a small scared voice that made the warrior want to weep for the pain Harry was no doubt still in. "So someone with extraordinary power did this. Ozemir? Did you know it was possible to block a bond like ours?"

Ozemir immediately came forward, barely restraining from crushing the young ones to his chest. He didn't think Draco would stand for that at the moment. "No, young one. I never thought it could be possible. Bonds like yours are made by Fate. Such things are meant to be unbreakable. In all my years I've never heard of something like this happening. Whoever has done this has gone against cosmic law. Terrible repercussions occur when tampering with Fate. No one has ever dared before."

Draco took a deep breath before speaking again. And his eyes had lost some of the coldness. "Then you could never have predicted this would happen. Therefore you could never have protected us. Let's not waste time with useless and unwarranted apologies and instead focus on who is responsible. Demai'Tah?" he questioned the obvious.

Ozemir was staring at the rug where he knelt just in front of Harry. His brows were drawn together and he slowly shook his head. "He could not have done this without help…" he looked up then and his eyes had widened slightly in understanding. "And now that this has happened, I've come to realize so much more."

Draco cocked his head in inquiry. "Go on."

Such bad things had happened that night but Falde felt the corner of his lips tilt slightly anyway. Watching Draco… taking this horrifying event and using it. Growing from it. He sat there, every bit the leader. Every bit their prophesized almighty sovereign. With no doubts in his eyes. Just power and his knowledge in it. It was astounding and it caught Falde's breath. Looking across the way where Talyn and Brumek remained at attention, he could see his thoughts mirrored in their eyes.

They were proud and Falde had no doubts that if Draco's father were in the room to see this, he'd be proud as well. There was a lot of Lucius Malfoy in Draco at the moment, even if the young one did not realize it. Lucius had done a fine job raising Draco into the future ruler of the Ukatae. Thoughts and ideas, stature, grace, intelligence, danger, and strength. They may have been at odds, but Draco had taken everything his father had to teach him about becoming what he would, even if it were unconscious. Fate again. And probably a troubled father's hidden love.

"Our war. The civil wars," Ozemir went on to explain. "The endless battles and Demai'Tah's return… He should have died but he lives. He's been alive these last five centuries and someone must be protecting and helping him. He also has forces, I know that."

The Scholar sat back on his haunches and took a moment to peer at everyone in the room. They were waiting for his point patiently. They knew he had a point. Finally he took a breath. "The continuing civil wars seem to make sense now…" He spoke as if he were still working out his thoughts. Draco's soft prompting growl seemed to bring him back to the present and with a flick of his wrist, he produced a scroll and handed it to the blond. "Our Mother gave me the scroll. In the dream with Dagon… I haven't deciphered most of it but what I can understand does not bode well for us."

"Explain what you do know," Draco passed the scroll over to Harry after glancing over it. He couldn't understand one thing written on it. Harry took one look and handed it over to Falde's outstretched hand. He took more time studying it while Ozemir went on explaining.

"The Mother is not the only deity to be worshipped by our kind, young one. There are many. Some not real. Others are. One in particular. A higher goddess also who appeared the same time as the Mother, the same time as our race was born.

"History dictates the Mother destroyed this goddess- her sister- for she sought only the destruction and annihilation of any race not Ukatae. But worlds, our connected worlds and realms, are meant to be inhabited by more than one race; mortal and immortal. It is the natural balance of things. And eventually it was feared should this goddess achieve her goals, she would destroy the Ukatae as well."

Harry sat up and leaned forward, pinning the Scholar with intense green eyes. "So by giving you this scroll, the Mother has warned that we are now fighting Demai'Tah who is being aided by a goddess bent on the destruction of all. Have I got this right?"

Ozemir had the grace to look sheepish as he answered, "well yes. That's certainly the conclusion I've come up with."

Harry blew out an annoyed breath. "Brilliant."

"Can we look forward to the Mother's help then?" Draco wanted to know.

"Technically she's not supposed to. The deities are not supposed to interfere with the lives of lesser beings. This is another reason why rogue deities- those who can be caught- are locked away forever. However," Ozemir hurried on when Draco opened his mouth, knowing full well the blond did not take kindly to this being thrown at them as well, "the Mother has already assisted us. And she will continue to help. I assure you she is closer than you think. The rules have changed in regards to what she can and cannot do now." Ozemir then grinned widely. "She's so clever, our Mother!"

"That's a blessing then," Harry murmured quietly as Draco pulled him into his side.

"You can all get out now," Draco commanded and when they were gone, he finally relaxed a bit and threw an arm around Harry. We should probably talk about what happened tonight. Please tell me you're all right, lover.

Draco's thoughts ran quite similar to Severus' earlier thoughts. To everyone's thoughts. Harry's mental stability was nothing to be messed with. Though unlike Severus, he knew the Gryffindor's mind had strengthened and had healed to some extent since they'd become Ukatae, since they had completed their bond, but still… he couldn't help but worry just the slightest bit. He felt pain himself and felt the terror clawing at his mind but he could push it away because Harry was in his arms, alive and well. That's all Draco needed in order to get passed this.

Harry remained silent, staring at the fire and still trying to put his scattered and unstable emotions into some order. Into words. Finally he sat forward, enjoying the heat on his face from the blazing flames. I never imagined what it would be like to lose you. Never wanted to think about it. Before we knew about the bond, you were always there, lurking in my mind. You know what I mean? I just didn't understand it at the time. You know that saying 'out of sight, out of mind?' Well, you were out of sight sometimes, but never out of mind. Never. Sometimes it freaked me out. Hermione said I was obsessed… He shot a shy glance over his shoulder and laughed when he caught the Draco's smug smirk. I thought it was because you were so annoying. Most times I wanted to hurt you for it. Why did I have to constantly think about you? I didn't want to but you wouldn't go away. Pissed me the fuck off all the time. You were such an arse!

Draco tugged the ends of Harry's hair to get him to sit back again. Enjoyed every minute of your frustration, I assure you. When we started at Hogwarts and you refused my friendship that first year, from then on I spent a large amount of time trying to come up with ways to get you back and make your life a living hell while at school. I spent so much of my time as such, Blaise and Pansy claimed I was obsessed as well… Blaise was correct in his assumptions about why, but Pansy never figured it out. Guess she never heard the wet dreams like Blaise did. Sometimes I'd forget to silence my curtains.

A wide smile grew on Harry's face as he shifted further and tucked his head under his lover's sharp chin. It felt good to converse telepathically. Felt good to not only hear thoughts but to feel the thoughts, and it did a lot of good in chasing away the aftermath of what happened. Without alerting the other, they sent out soothing vibes, small mental touches, loud mental raspberries (in Harry's case), and mental eye rolls (Draco's case).

But Draco's humor died as he watched the mirth in Harry's eyes fade and he worried his hair with shaking hands. I don't like people messing with your mind, Draco thought.

Harry had to laugh at that. They messed with you to.

Draco caressed the back of Harry's neck before easily shifting to slide one leg across the Gryffindor's lap. Half straddling the surprised brunet, he pressed his mouth against Harry's and chuckled against his lover's lips, yes, but you're so much more delicate than I.

Prat. Harry smiled against Draco's lips and twisted around so they weren't kissing in such an awkward position. He moaned when Draco angled his head to take the kiss deeper.

Draco shifted again and pushed Harry onto his back so that he was stretched out on the lounge. You love me, he stated smugly.

Harry pulled back to stare at Draco's face. Merlin, his soul was still crying but at least with relief now. Only… his mind felt ready to shatter again into a million pieces and he knew it would if he pulled away from Draco even the slightest bit more. But Draco didn't look ready to pull back anytime in the future. His half cocky smirk said as much and his eyes- which were partly veiled by long platinum bangs the Slytherin had begun to grow out- gazed back, burning and mirroring his own thoughts.

Draco, could you- Harry stopped himself and turned to the flames once more, cursing the blush he felt blooming on his face. In moments he felt gentle fingers under his chin and those fingers made him look back at his soul mate.

Draco smiled fondly as he lowered to nuzzle Harry's neck. Could I what?

Make love to me? He frowned when Draco's laughter echoed in his mind.

You're adorable when you blush like a virginal schoolgirl, Harry. Really.

Hey! I am not a bloody blushing virgin you arsehole! And I'm certainly not a gir- Mmm…

Draco easily put a stop to all of Harry's denials by spreading out over his indignant lover and kissing all of his ire away. By the time he had Harry undressed and writhing beneath him, Draco felt both their apprehension fade away to leave nothing but their equal passions. His devotion to loving Harry's body was ardent and tender and he lost himself in Harry's equally fervent responses.

Draco burned with hunger as he felt the lean but powerful muscles trembling beneath his caresses. His own body trembled as he tasted the slick skin of his lover. Gasps and moans accompanied the crackling of the flames in the fireplace, chasing away the coldness that had settled around the room during the night. Surrounding themselves in heat and sweat, an internal fire consumed them and burned up the fears and memory of loss they had suffered. Every sound, every movement was a glorious reminder that they were alive, together, and forever connected.

Draco shifted back and rested his hands on his lover's parted thighs. "Harry."

Darkened dazed eyes opened and met determined silver ones. A smirk appeared on Draco's face. A smirk which had Harry feeling slightly nervous and the pounding of his heart seemed to be the only thing he could hear. And then suddenly half his body was lifted off the couch, legs spread and firmly planted over his lover's shoulders, and he gasped when Draco's face disappeared completely between his legs.

A greedy moan escaped the blond as he began to tongue Harry in the most exquisite of ways while grasping Harry's cock in hand leaving the Gryffindor gasping and hissing in pleasure. Harry nearly went blind. There was no way he could speak or even think and he couldn't keep his body from quivering non-stop. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as Draco went on with his wonderful torture… and then Draco's mouth shifted over to his cock and he inserted two fingers.

"Ah Draco, I can't-" he cut off with a strangled cry and tried to pull air into his burning lungs. "I'm going to come! Let me come!"

Draco pulled back with a fierce growl, gathering his mate tightly into his arms. "No. Together. We do that together."

Harry wasn't sure how Draco did it or even when it happened, because his mind was literally nothing but mush at this point, but what he did know was one moment he was spread across the lounge with Draco's mouth on him, the next moment he was on the bed, spread eagle with Draco buried fully inside. Draco grabbed his wrists and pulled them up, keeping them locked above his head and smirking when Harry moaned and writhed wantonly beneath his still form. He wanted to see how far he could go with this type of torture.

"Are you going to move?" Harry gasped and bucked his hips, drawing Draco further in.

Draco's gasp of pleasure and subsequent moan had Harry smirking and he lifted his hips again. His lover let go of his hands in order to lock arms tightly around Harry's lifted thighs to keep the prat in place. "I don't intend for this to end too soon," he ground out. Though he wasn't too sure how he was going to manage that because at the moment it literally hurt to keep from focusing solely on Harry's arse and fucking his love brainless.

"But Draco…" the Gryffindor whined. Please…

"Don't you dare rush me!" He quickly covered his lover's mouth, engaging Harry's tongue in a kiss that spread goose bumps all over the Gryffindor's body in order to keep him from hissing out anything else that would surely do him in.

Harry whimpered into Draco's mouth as his lover began to thrust into him. Slowly and with more control then Harry had seen from Draco before. He was pushing Harry beyond his limit and still somehow keeping the brunet from exploding. You want to drive me mad!

Draco pulled his mouth away and wrapped an arm around Harry's neck, tugging him up until he and the Gryffindor were in a sitting position. "Hold on to me." Harry bit his lip as he wrapped his arms tightly around Draco strong back and pressed his face into the blond's neck. The Slytherin quickened the maddening pace, and soon Harry was matching his movements, pushing when Draco thrust into him, drawing the blond's cock deeper inside until he was unable to keep from crying out in ecstasy.

He felt Draco's control slipping. Felt the blond's muscles quivering beneath his fingers and he released his mate to fall onto his back, his orgasm building low in his belly passed ready to explode. All he could do was reach back to hold onto the headboard as Draco swiftly shoved pillows under him, gripped his hips, and began to drill into him.

Draco watched his green-eyed lover intently. Watched Harry's bright dazed eyes widen and his beautiful face slacken in surrender at the force of his toe curling orgasm. He reveled in the harsh pants passing his mate's red swollen slips as the crescendo seared through his body and only then, after seeing his mate's release did Draco happily shut his eyes as he cried out his own pleasure; coming with such a force that had him gasping in surprise from the shockwaves crashing through him.

Draco just barely managed to keep from suddenly dropping his full weight onto Harry and lowered himself slowly with shaking arms. Harry immediately embraced him, rapid gasps blowing tuffs of damp blond hair away from his ear.

Draco's arms tightened around the trembling Gryffindor. "You're mine. I still have you. I'm never letting go, Harry."

It took a few moments before Harry could reply. "How can you still talk?"

Draco grinned against his lover's neck. "Told you I was stronger than you." He then yelped when Harry pinched his fine arse for such a remark.

"Tomorrow I'll show you who's stronger."

"Hmmm…" Draco held onto Harry as he rolled over onto his back, wandlessly cleaning the bedclothes and their bodies as he did so. The Gryffindor grabbed the covers and pulled them up before returning to his usual place over Draco's chest.

Relief washed through Draco when Harry drifted off to sleep as he usually did when his feathers were caressed for a lengthy period of time. As he continued to run his hands over the soft feathers, Draco fervently hoped he would see a change in marking color in the very near future. That would definitely help them get over the horror they'd gone through this night. Inherently he knew a baby would only make them stronger. A baby to signify the beginning of their new lives as Ukatae. A new life in all ways.

A/N:Edited and reposted 10/25/2012