Chapter 11

It was false dawn when Tobias finally awoke. He felt well rested, which was odd for him. Raising his head, he found himself looking into Draco's eyes. Realising he had spent the night curled up on Draco's lap with his face hidden in his chest made Tobias blush in shame.

Draco made Tobias look at him and kissed him softly on the forehead. "Thank you."

Tobias tilted his head slightly to one side, puzzled. "For what?"

Draco smiled. "For listening to me last night and for trusting me enough to fall asleep on me. I really enjoyed last night, Bi. Thank you."

"You mean you don't mind that I was weak last night?" he asked in a small voice.

"Oh, no, Bi. No. You don't always have to be strong. I'm here for you when you need to show this side of you." Draco smiled shyly. "I enjoyed being the person to comfort you last night. It was special to me. Promise me you'll always let me comfort you. Please?"

Tobias smiled softly at him and cuddled into him once more. "I promise, Drakontas." Looking at him he asked quietly, "would you like to join me in my morning ritual?"

The beaming smile Draco gave him was all the answer he needed.

Draco and Tobias laughed as they made their way back to their special shelter. After a long meditation session, the two of them had gone for a run and were just now returning from a short swim/bathe in the lake. Walking into the clearing they had come to name Peace Haven their noses were assaulted by a sweet scent, making their stomachs rumble.

Laughing, they headed for the table where they assumed the smell was coming from. Draco helped himself to one of the buns they found there while Tobias read the note left with them.

MaSirra,

These buns are safe for you to eat. They have been made with sheep's milk and applesauce instead of egg. They are also made fresh today. The house-elf who gave them to us said they were named "Cinnamon and Pecan butterscotch buns' and were a treat for the two of you since you didn't eat dessert last night. The pitcher holds the herbed water we Centaurs drink on a morning. If you wish it we will allow you to have access to it in the castle, as long as it is only the two of you who drink it. Remember to drink your potion as well. I will not be responsible if you Godfather were to find out.

Ruen

Tobias chuckled and read it out to Draco, who was pouring drinks for them both, before downing his potion. Helping himself to a bun, Tobias had to admit that the previous night and that morning had been the best idea he'd ever had.

It wasn't until after lunch that anyone who wasn't centaur saw either Draco or Tobias. Unfortunately for them, it was Pansy who saw them first.

"Drakkie!" she squealed, running towards him after seeing him seated in the common room. Seeing the startled look on Draco's face, Tobias – whom Pansy had not seen as he was seated in shadow, leapt between his intended and the squealing female. Pansy screamed when she came face-to-face with an enraged miniature wyvern.

Pansy's scream bought the rest of the Slytherin's from the hallway and into the Snake Pit. Everyone froze as they caught sight of the bronze animal with blood coloured eyes. Draco rested a hand on its neck before it could open its mouth. After whispering to it for a moment, the Wyvern disappeared to be replaced with a blank-faced Tobias. Pansy started to breathe again.

"Try not to startle either of us again. My guardians now care for us both."

Nodding, the Slytherins settled around the room in silence. After a few moments, Tobias spoke again. "What are we doing this fine weekend?"

"Nothing much," Blaise returned, stretching. "We have all completed the work set for us by the professors, as you already are aware. It is too late to begin anything new as a group today because over three-quarters of the day has already past and we have a meeting scheduled for tonight – unless you plan on re-scheduling." At Tobias' shake of the head Blaise continued. "There isn't much else to do until then."

Tobias nodded, thinking. "Alright. How about from now until dinner everyone does what he or she want. After dinner we come back here for games until the rest of The Pack come. I have something we have to do tomorrow. I will also invite Sev to the meeting, if he doesn't already know there is one."

Everyone nodded and went to collect something to do. Pansy was soon back with her make-up kit and a thoroughly disgruntled Millicent. Tobias and Draco chuckled. It seemed that Pansy had finally convinced Millicent to have a makeover. Theo and Blaise soon returned with a chess set and a packet of exploding snap cards. Vince and Greg returned holding books, quills, ink and charcoal – Vince being a writer and Greg an artist.

Draco and Tobias chatted quietly for a while before Draco stood to get a book from his bag. Tobias followed him to the dorm, a small smile on his lips. Ten minutes after Draco had returned Tobias appeared holding a simple guitar. All movement stopped in the room as he tested the strings for pitch. Ignoring everyone he played through a song he had stuck in his head. To his surprise, when he played the song again, a clear baritone voice joined in, singing the words to Bryan White's 'Someone else's star'. Halfway through the song Draco cuddled up to Tobias, unshed tears in his eyes. Pure silence was heard after the last note had vanished. A spell had been woven into the Slytherins by that song – A spell so strong that the silence was kept until it was time from dinner, and they were almost at the Great Hall before someone said something.

When the Slytherins entered the Great Hall several people called out greetings. Tobias smirked to himself. This bit of his plan is working perfectly. In the ruckus going on around him, Tobias dropped four origami animals that ran to four people. On opening them, they all read the same:

Meeting after curfew. Kitten will bring you. Make sure you are dressed.

When Kitten had deposited the Potion's Master and the three non-Slytherins in the Snake Pit, they were all awed at the silence. Nothing bar the notes of a guitar could be heard. The song hadn't even completely finished when the player switched songs. Ginny grinned, waiting. At the right time, she joined in the song with her powerful voice. As she and Tobias finished Voltaire's 'When you're evil', the common room was full of laughter – Even Severus had a tiny smile on his face.

"Okay everyone. You know the drill. Everyone not Pack to your room. On the upside however, this may be our last meeting here. Now shoo!" Tobias made a shooing gesture at the room in general. Once the room had emptied, Tobias because serious. "Nonos. Do you have any news from Pateras, Anadochos, Lykos or Nona?"

Severus sighed. "No Neogennito. As far as I know, your father is still sending you a portkey next weekend. I also think he is as intrigued about your pack mark as Remus, Lucius, Narcissa and myself. Do you think you'd be able to discuss it with us?"

"Of course, Nonos. I'm sure I could also give a short demonstration of the workings of this pack. When this meeting is complete, please write a letter to Pateras suggesting it. Oh, and ask him if it can be done before a full meeting so everyone knows what they're dealing with if they decide to try their games on them. I think even you will be surprised Nonos. Kitten? What are the Old Goat and the Over-cooked Chicken Club up to?"

"Well cub, so far he has been planning an attack on your father's side. He is also worried about this new person he is starting to hear about. The Death Eaters do not ever speak his name – even when under veriteserum. Even though he doesn't reveal it to the Order, this fact scares him. All he knows about him is the name whispered among the Death Eater ranks – Gios ek Skotadi – Or Son of Darkness. This boy is rumoured to be the Dark Lord's heir."

Laugher rippled through the group. "What else does he know – or heard – about this mystery man?" Neville asked, draped in one of the leather armchairs as if he belonged there.

"Only what I've mentioned. Oh, and the fact that one Bellatrix Lestrange is terrified of him, making him officially the most feared member of the Death Eaters – Your father included, Neogennito. With this new threat, he has paused in his meddling of your life."

Tobias nodded. "Has anyone anything interesting to report?"

Theodore cleared his throat. "The Hufflepuff lower years are becoming more friendly towards the Slytherin youngsters. Several of the older students are beginning to thaw towards us as a whole. I have to admit that it is easier without Draco around. "Draco pouted slightly, causing Tobias to chuckle.

"With this group studying the way it has, not only have we tied with Granger in all classes already, the younger years have started to copy us in our revision timetables. Due to this, Slytherin is in league with Ravenclaw for most time spent in the Library this year," Blaise added.

"The Slytherin Quidditch team is working harder and cleaner than I've ever seen them. They are more focused on the game and everyone is playing harder than ever – even when you were our opponent." Draco smiled to soften the blow. He knew how much it hurt the younger teen to still be banned from Quidditch form the previous year. Tobias smiled sadly back.

He missed the thrill of the game, the chasing of the snitch – and most of all he missed competing against Draco. He missed the adrenalin rush that came from being free and in the air. He hadn't even touched his broom since the toad had taken it away from him. He was jarred back into the present by a hand larger than his own covering one of his. He looked up into a pair of silver eyes, full of regret over thoughtless words.

Wordlessly Draco opened his arms and just like the night before, Tobias let Draco comfort him. The Pack, knowing how important this moment was, watched as their Alpha was comforted by his Beta.

"I'm going to spoil you Tobias," Draco whispered to the dark-haired youth. "I know you have something planned for our pack tomorrow, but at the first available moment I'm going to steel you away for a treat, just for you. I know you are courting me, but I want to do something special for you. One night alone isn't enough, Bi. I need more time with you. Please allow me to have it."

Draco stayed wrapped around the centre of his universe until he sensed he was ready. The Pack, to Severus' surprise, took turns to reach out and touch their leader.

"Many of the Ravenclaw students are starting to believe that there is something going on behind the headmaster's closed doors. They've figured that you have always listened to him all the time in the past and so he must have done something to alienate you. Don't be surprised if more Ravenclaws watch your actions more closely. Many of them will join us if asked, but they will ask for information in exchange."

Tobias nodded in thought. Severus was still shocked that the others in The Pack didn't attack while the boy was weak. It was then that he started to understand Remus' protectiveness of their cub – Wait a second … Their Cub?

"How about the two of you? How fair things in the Lion's Den?" Neville and Ginny exchanged looks.

"Ron is the main troublemaker. He has Dean, Seamus, the Creevy brothers and a few others behind him. I don't think you have much support from the Gryffindor males."

"It's the same story for the females, I'm afraid. Hermione has been looking for the name, history, recipe and contaminants of the blood nutrient potion you're taking. She wants to know why you have to take it and finds it suspicious that you drink it with as much relish as you do. She doesn't believe that what she, Ron and the Old Goat made and forced you into over the summer created the need."

Tobias nodded absentmindedly, an almost psychotic grin on his face. Everyone around him could tell he was planning. "Ok Gin. I've got something for you to do. First, I want you to ask Granger what she knows of the Hell's Gate bracelets and the Hell's Pit curse. Make her that intrigued that she needs to know more. When she is in the study mode that we all know, leave her be. She'll come crawling back when she realizes what they've done. She always does. When that happens, just leave her to me."

Tobias stretched. "Are there any other things that need to be discussed? No problems within The Pack? No? That's good to hear. Now, I want all of you to go to bed and right to sleep. Sev, the letter I asked you to write can be worked on tomorrow night. I want you all in the Great Hall at 7:30 tomorrow morning – 8 at the latest – for a decent breakfast."

"Aw, but Alpha!" Blaise whined. "It's Sunday tomorrow. Can't we sleep in?"

Tobias hid a sly look by turning to snuggle deeper into Draco's neck before covering it with a mask of indifference. "Very well. Those who wish to sleep in may do so. I shall be spending my time tomorrow escorting those who are awake at the said time around our new meeting place – and mine and Draco's living space from when we are bonded. But, if you are all more concerned about sleep then visiting the Chamber of Secrets, I understand."

Hearing that, everyone vowed to be up on time, causing Severus to chuckle out loud at how easily they had been manipulated. That night, Draco once more slept wrapped around Tobias, but this time it was he who was the protector.

The following morning when Tobias and Draco entered the Great Hall for breakfast, they laughed when they saw nine eager pack-mates, a bright-eyed potions professor and a slightly amused Remus – who was apparently there to give Dumbledore a report. Laughing, the two boys sat at the table to eat.

Names

Drakontas – Dragon

Nonos – Godfather

Pateras – Father

Anadochos – Godfather

Lykos – Wolf

Nona – Godmother

Neogennito – Cub

Gios ek Skotadi – son of darkness