Title: On the Wings of Redemption

By: Aina Song

Fandom(s): Harry Potter/ Yu Yu Hakusho

Genre: Yaoi

Rating: NC-17

Warning(s): Some Het; Language; OOC; Depression; Attempted Suicide; Vampiric Action.

Pairing(s): Yeah, like that's not obvious.

Reviews: Yes, please! For the love of God, someone give me a cookie!

Author's Note: Standard Disclaimer. This story was not written for money. Compliant with the book series. Guest-starring a character from Twilight.

Another Note: This story, unbelievably, took me little over two years to complete! *whew* It has, by far, become the longest project in my arsenal. Writer's block was a constant dark cloud over my head, and many chapters had to be re-written. But I feel very proud of myself for having stuck through it, and I eagerly await the response of my readers. Enjoy!

Teaser: Leave the past where it belongs. Let its hurts wash over you, accept them, but then let them go. Do not turn back. Keep moving forward. Time heals all.

Chapter Eleven - Of All Demonkind

Hours later, Jasper Hale choked on his breath, freezing in place. Kurama and Hiei, who had been following him at a great distance while he searched for something decent to hunt, paused as well. They had been instructed to watch for any clue that he had found his prey, and to refrain from trying to follow after him if ever he broke into a blur of speed. Though he did not doubt that they could defend themselves, Jasper did not like to think what could happen if they distracted him from his hunt.

But he still had not moved. And far behind him, he could feel the tension from the two demons as they began to realize something was amiss. Kurama's voice hollered, "What is it?"

Jasper turned sharply toward the distant castle, and he could feel his eyes darken under the onslaught of impending misery he felt deep within his silent core. "Draco…"

His murmured response must have carried, for within the next handful of seconds both demons had caught up with him, their own eyes intent and demanding. He strove for calm as he tried to explain. "The film of peace I'd erected as a barrier around Draco's demonic energy has collapsed. He's about to awaken…"

Kurama immediately raced for the castle. Hiei only lingered behind long enough to hiss, "Meet us at the clearing," before blurring off in hot pursuit.

Jasper stared after them for a long moment, before his senses were drawn in another direction. He sighed. Might as well feed himself properly before attempting what he knew he would soon have to do…

~o~

Draco was following one of the last corridors that would return him to the Slytherin dungeons. His steps were quiet and unhurried; his eyes wandered aimlessly over the portraits along the way, his mind replaying Harry's words about starting over. But then he paused, turning to stare at one portrait in particular. He knew this one to portray a grey wasteland, its skies dark and clouded, its ground parched and breaking apart. It was home to a sickly vulture on a dead ash tree that would stare hungrily at whoever passed by.

Why, then, was the image sifting down toward the bottom of the frame like sand?

His eyes burned irritably, and he rubbed the back of his fist across them. When he looked up again, all those surrounding the first portrait looked to have been filled with sifting sand as well. He swore and shook his head, trying to clear it, but that only served to make it swim. Reeling, he stumbled back until his spine hit the wall behind him. The corridor seemed to tilt and to whirl. His feet pushed out from under him, and he sank to the floor. Lifting his eyes, he squinted toward the blurred ceiling, which seemed to burst with glaring white explosions of light.

The thought suddenly crossed his mind that perhaps he should be worried, seconds before his eyes rolled back and he slid sideways to the floor as his world was flooded in white…

~o~

The manticora slumped to the ground before Jasper's feet, drained. He'd chosen such a mythical creature, for the power that had crackled within its ancient blood. Jasper knew he would need that power, very soon.

Swiping his thumb across his mouth to catch the last drop of blood that he could feel dripping toward his jaw, he licked it away and raced toward the clearing that had been his refuge.

"Familiarize yourself with him as often as you can," Alice had instructed. "He'll need to be able to recognize the feel of your presence, even under duress. He'll trust you swiftly enough, so that shouldn't be a problem. When it's time… find the strongest animal you can to feed from, you'll need its strength. I know you'll succeed, Jasper. I have faith in you. And when the time comes… so will he."

He fisted his hands as he leapt over a stream in a single bound, the words echoing perfectly in his photographic memory.

Draco…

~o~

Malfoy next came awake to the feel of another's agile fingers slipping beneath his head, and then he felt a slight pressure around his eyes, which had yet to open. His head swam dizzily, but he no longer seemed to be drowning in the sensation, and the rest of his body felt a dead weight. Déjà vu. Malfoy opened his mouth to speak, but found his throat too dry.

Easy, a familiar voice whispered into his mind. A thin trickle of ice-cold water passed between his lips, and he swallowed it greedily. Another small amount of water, and then a pair of arms crept beneath his back and knees.

He jerked uneasily as he was lifted up, his head lolling uncomfortably back before a third hand gently tilted it up against a strong shoulder. Easy, Draco, that same voice soothed again, and he recognized Kurama's deep timbre. We're moving you somewhere safe.

Where? He breathed.

The Forest, answered Urameshi resonating echo, and Malfoy vaguely realized it was the tattooed professor who had hefted him up from the floor. It's the only place we can guarantee you any real privacy. Trust me, you're gonna need it.

The blond tried again to blink his eyes open. Why can't I see?

Your eyes have become extremely sensitive, Kurama explained. I've wrapped them for now. It appears your demon energy has grown tired of waiting and will soon emerge to its fullest manifestation.

My fullest…?

It means it's about to force your body through the change, Urameshi translated. Whether you're ready for it or not.

But, Malfoy tried to protest. Jasper…

We're taking you to him now, Kurama assured, misunderstanding. He's waiting for you.

The flash of warmth with which his heart had been replaced chose that moment to give a pulse of vengeful fire. The feeling must have been experienced by more than himself, for Urameshi's arms cradled him closer, and Kurama said, Don't worry. The first time is always the most difficult. But you will not be alone. Your uncle will be there, of course. But so will Yusuke, Hiei, and myself. We will all safeguard you from the Forest's residents while your energy prepares to awaken.

But Malfoy gave his head the barest shake it could endure, a greater need spurring him to speak his request aloud. "H-Harry…"

Yet he was not immediately answered. With a sinking heart, he listened to the stillness of the world as they blurred through it with demonic speed. He felt when they leapt through windows, avoiding doors and the chance of discovery, and he felt when they landed upon the ground far below with not even the slightest jarring to his exhausted frame. In little time at all, he found himself lowered onto a bed of grass, and he could hear the Forest's nocturnal residents cooing and chirruping some distance away.

"Draco!"

With elated relief, he rolled his head toward the sound of that most welcome voice. Warm, careful hands cupped the sides of his face, and he felt the touch of Harry's brow press against his own. Something hot and wet dripped on his cheek, and a guilty lump wedged itself in his throat. "Don't," he croaked, the chords of his throat gone dry again. "Harry, d-don't cry."

The other's forehead lifted from his own, and then that blessed stream of water trickled again over his mouth. As Malfoy gratefully parted his lips to take it in, Harry whispered, "Hiei came looking for me. He wouldn't tell my anything, but I knew it had something to do with you. You wouldn't believe all the things I imagined; I'm almost glad to see you like this instead."

The water stopped trickling into his mouth, and as he swallowed the last of it Malfoy felt Harry's head atop his chest, the rest of the dark-haired wizard stretching out upon the grass at his side. Though it ached him to move, Malfoy lifted his arm around Harry's shoulders and held him closer. "S-stay…?"

"I'm not going anywhere," the other whispered without missing a beat. And, even as he felt his body suddenly slam into the depths of unconsciousness, Malfoy could not help the buzzing warmth within his chest at having his promise returned to him.

~o~

"I believe he passed out," Kurama softly commented. "It must be starting…"

Harry pushed up on his elbow, feeling Malfoy's arm slip down from around his shoulders to rest atop his waist instead, and he studied the blond's face. Carefully, he lifted his free hand and lightly swept his first two fingers along the strip of black cloth that had been tied over Malfoy's eyes. "He's burning up. Is he sick?"

"No," answered Jasper's voice, barely a moment before the vampire stepped out from the shadows of the forest. "The fever is necessary, to help his body adjust to the change."

"Where the hell have you been?" Urameshi snapped.

"Taking precautions," Jasper replied, golden ochre eyes gazing down at the younger blond. Then his gaze shifted to Harry, and he offered a small smile. "Please. Will you trust me enough to step away from my nephew?"

Harry blinked, "S-step away? But…"

"You will not be far from his side," the vampire assured. "Please don't take offense, but… I don't want you to be anywhere near me just now."

Something in the way those words were spoken sent a sudden chill down Harry's spine. Nodding, he wordlessly stood and backed away. Jasper came forward and sank to his knees near Malfoy's shoulder. Looking up, he glanced from Urameshi to Hiei. "Be ready."

Both demons nodded; Yusuke tensed as though ready to pounce, while Hiei tugged his head cloth from around his brow, exposing his third eye.

Jasper bent low over Malfoy's slumbering form, his fingers deftly undoing the first four buttons of the younger blond's shirt and gently working it open. Harry's eyes widened with horror as he watched the vampire lower his head over the right half of Malfoy's chest.

"No!" He started forward, but found himself caught by the arms. Turning his head sharply, he stared to find Kurama standing behind him, pale ivory hands gripping him firmly. "What are you doing? Let me go!"

"He's already requested that the three of us monitor his actions," the silver fox murmured, pirate-gold eyes never leaving the scene before them. "Draco is not in danger."

"But-"

"Some trust, please, Harry. We would never have agreed to this, if there had been any other choice."

Harry's heart still raced in alarm, but he knew he would only be insulting three very powerful demons by arguing further. Turning his head again, he witnessed Jasper's slight hesitation; the vampire drew in a sharp breath and quickly bit into Malfoy's flesh… directly over where the human heart would have been.

~o~

Fire spread throughout his body, chased instantaneously by searing pain. His silent heart pumped it into his veins, until his very skin burned as though set ablaze. His head swam dizzily, as though he were drowning in a sea of fire and could not for the life of him find the surface. There was not but an endless burning, and infinite darkness.

Draco…

His name was whispered by a trusted voice from every corner of the darkness, echoing as though from a great distance. He turned, staring at the shimmering image of his great-uncle, who gave a saddened smile before fading away to reveal Hiei's smoke-in-water presence.

The darker demon's expression was strained, fiery amethyst dragon eyes blazing, as though he was stretching his concentration very tightly to reach Malfoy in this burning void. Hiei's presence rippled with a grimace, raising a hand to point somewhere behind the blond.

He turned again, but then quickly shielded his eyes against a pulse of brilliant silvery-white light. This was the same thread as before, he realized, but just as Hiei had warned its energy at its fullest was powerfully bright. Blindly, he reached his hand to it…

~o~

"Impedimenta!" Harry shouted, leaning heavily on his crutch while he threw the jinx toward another horned imp. By the flickering light of their campfire, he spied the silhouettes of giant spiders moving about behind the surrounding trees. He quickly waved his wand in that direction; "Arania exumai!"

To his left and right, he could hear Hiei and Kurama help to fight the creatures off; one with a sword, the other with a spiked whip. Somewhere behind him, Urameshi had finally tackled Jasper away from Malfoy and was currently preoccupied with keeping the unresisting vampire pinned to the ground. Jasper, for his part, lay absolutely motionless upon the grass, staring blankly into space with eyes that seemed to have darkened a bit after what he had allowed himself to do.

Harry was grateful the demons seemed to trust him to be able to help in defending their clearing, but he didn't think he could last much longer.

"Do their numbers seem to have increased to you?" Kurama called to Hiei.

"Twice."

"I'm beginning to doubt the end to these spiders…"

"At least the imps are easily disposed of," the darker demon scoffed, jerking his blade free of yet another carcass. "But if you're ready to retreat, go ahead."

"We can't," Harry forbade either of them, flinging another well-aimed jinx. "I promised not to leave him."

Hiei suddenly tensed, turning around. His third eye was glowing fiercely. "You won't have to."

Kurama ceased fighting and turned as well. Harry stared at the both of them, before his mind finally caught on, and he too looked over his shoulder. Jasper seemed unable to come back to himself; but Urameshi, still pinning the vampire down, had lifted his head with a very cocky smirk. Harry shifted his gaze toward the reason, finally spinning all the way around, his heart giving a great lurch toward his throat.

Malfoy had awakened.

He was no longer lying on the grass, but hovering upright some dozen inches in the air. Harry stared as he found the reason for it - wings, real wings had sprouted from behind the younger blond's back and were now holding him aloft. Moreover, his school robes had disappeared. Malfoy was now garbed only in loose white slacks, belted with a bit of rope. His feet and torso were bare, and his pale skin had paled even further, like alabaster. His feathery blond hair had taken on a golden sheen, the ends of which now brushing his shoulders, his very long bangs falling beyond the bridge of his nose. A thin band of mysterious runes seemed tattooed across his brow in silvery ink, a thicker band of the same circling his right bicep. Around the base of his throat was a thin collar of black leather.

The scar around his left wrist stood out even more against his pale skin now, as did the fresh silvery-glistening scar in the shape of a small upside-down crescent moon over the right half of his chest.

His eyes were still covered with the strip of black cloth, yet he turned his head with an uncanny sense of awareness. "Harry," he spoke, his recovered voice now whispering with the undertones of a silken melody. "Get behind me. I don't want you to get hurt again."

Harry quickly pocketed his wand and dropped his crutch, his unsteady feet kicking up grass as he struggled to do as he was asked. In a single moment's distraction, he stared up in fascination at Malfoy's back, and the wings that had sprouted from between the blond's shoulder blades as though they had always been there.

Malfoy spread his arms wide, a soft white glow emitting from his entire body, and the blond gave what sounded like a chant in a language Harry could never hope to recognize. In instantaneous response, all imps and spiders gave screeches of pain, each dropping to the ground with a final twitch before claimed by death. Malfoy lowered his arms. Only after the white glow layering Malfoy's body had faded, and the blond had touched his feet again to the grass, did Harry know it was over.

Malfoy's wings folded behind his back, and he turned around. His silver-runed brow was beaded with perspiration, his lips were slightly parted and quieting gasping for breath - whatever power he had borrowed seemed to have exhausted him. After a moment he lifted his head, and though his eyes were still sealed, he seemed easily to sense the two on the ground. "Let him go," he murmured breathlessly. "My blood is clean. I won't be in danger from him, now."

Nodding, Urameshi pushed to his feet and stood aside. Jasper lay still for another moment, before he too straightened to his feet. The look on his sin-darkened eyes was profound - an equal mix of pride, relief, and saddened self-guilt.

Malfoy shifted, recapturing Harry's attention. His blindfolded gaze seemed to have settled this time upon Harry, and he silently held out his hand. His request was both an invitation and a plea. Harry did not hesitate, stumbling forth to accept the other's embrace. Malfoy's arms pulled him close, and the blond's torso felt strong and cool, as though the burning away of his human blood had caused a drop in his body's natural temperature.

The demons' stunned silence was finally broken by Kurama, whose voice was laced with soft bemusement. "Is this what you've been hiding from us, Hiei?"

The darker demon smirked.

"A daraku tenshi," Urameshi mused, turning his head to toss Jasper a crooked grin. "No wonder you were so careful about his awakening."

Harry lifted his head from Malfoy's shoulder, feeling suddenly as though he was missing something. "What?"

"Daraku tenshi," the vampire gruffly repeated. "Dark angel. Rarest and purest of all demonkind."