Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoat Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

AN:

Thanks to all reviewers once again! I'm planning on unraveling some mysteries in the next chapters so much doesn't happen in this one, but some things needed to be established before I moved on.

Warning: Very short slash scene in the chapter. Don't like it, skip it. I'll probably rewrite it soon to make it longer and more interesting. I'll let you know.

Enjoy & Review!


Chapter 53

Orion's eyes fluttered open and he heavily sighed when he saw that he was in Voldemort's bed, warmly tucked in.

He felt disoriented, uncertain, numb… his body felt… strange… He trailed a hand down his naked chest, roving it down to his stomach… Orion frowned in puzzlement at the weird feeling…

Suddenly, he blinked when he saw that he was touching his stomach. Why was he doing that? He shook his head trying to clear it, and burrowed further in the bed, feeling peaceful and content.

"How are you feeling?" said a soft voice behind him.

Startled, he turned around and saw Voldemort relaxedly lying beside him, though there was concern in the crimson eyes which were intently looking at him.

Orion frowned, and said quietly, "What happened?"

He rubbed his forehead, trying to recollect what had happened before. He remembered the Death Eaters bringing him Pettigrew… he remembered the sniveling little rat pleading with him… he remembered successfully casting the killing curse… but then… nothing… it was all black…

"You passed out after killing Wormtail," said Voldemort, as he gently caressed Orion's cheek.

"I fainted?" said Orion perplexed. "Why would I faint?"

"You looked exhausted, and such a powerful killing curse, as the one you casted, drains you if you're not used to casting it," said Voldemort quietly. He clutched Orion's face, and said with a frown, "Why were you so exhausted? What have you been doing lately that you're so tired?"

"Nothing, just a pile of classes and a stack of essays to write," said Orion calmly, as he thought about the translation of Pommel's book which seemed endlessly tedious.

Voldemort glanced at him suspiciously, but then he turned around to snatch something from the nightstand on his side.

Turning to Orion, he held out a small flask, as he said, "Take the strengthening potion, it will help you. Dawn will break in a few hours and you will need to be recovered to get back to Durmstrang and fetch your things before returning to Hogwarts."

"Thanks," said Orion, as he grabbed the potion. "I still feel very tired, it will do me good."

He swallowed it in one gulp. Instantly, he felt a warmth spreading through his body, like a scintillating bolt of energy. With a sigh, he handed the empty flask back to Voldemort and comfortably rested his head on the fluffy pillow.

Orion peered at Voldemort, who had a small smile on his darkly handsome features as he caressed Orion's hair.

"Feeling better, my little serpent?"

"Yes," said Orion, shooting him a smile, as he enjoyed the way Voldemort was caressing his hair. He saw Voldemort's eyes darkening with desire, as the crimson eyes roved over his body, and he grinned. "Now… what are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking that I would like to take you right now," silkily hissed Voldemort, as his fingers trailed down Orion's neck, creating a burning, pleasurable trail under their touch. "Gently…slowly…deeply…repeatedly…"

Orion felt his lust spike at the hissed words, and he looked at his lover with heavy lidded eyes. Voldemort leaned down and swiftly kissed him, exploring his mouth slowly but passionately, and Orion wrapped his arms around him as he felt a consuming desire to feel Voldemort pulsing and throbbing inside him. He moaned into Voldemort's plundering mouth when the wizard's fingers slipped under his pants, tightly wrapping them around his hard arousal, and moving his hand in a maddening slow-paced motion.

Suddenly, Voldemort stopped, and with a jerk of his wrist, they were both divested from their clothes.

Orion grinned. "In a hurry, are we?"

"Yes," huskily hissed Voldemort, as he pinned Orion on the bed, pressing his body against Orion's. "I want to feel you pulsing around me… I want to hear you moaning my name… I want cries of pleasure to tear from your lips…"

Orion shivered and wrapped his arms around Voldemort, as the wizard spread his legs with a knee. He instantly felt a slick tingling inside him, and Voldemort started to slowly and carefully enter him. Orion gasped at the sensation and arched his back, as his lover slowly pushed forward, and he felt wonderfully full with Voldemort's pulsing arousal slowly being sheathed inside him. It was exquisite, and when Voldemort was finally deeply buried inside him, he felt a wonderful connection with his lover. The little piece of soul inside him was eagerly reaching out, as it always happened, and his dark magic swirled contently, his blood hotly rushing through his veins, as their dark auras meshed together in a warm darkness.

"So this is how it feels like," whispered Voldemort to himself, with slight awe, as he stilled inside Orion's warmth.

"How what feels?" asked Orion, puzzled.

Voldemort smiled pleasantly, and silkily hissed, "Making love to you, my little serpent, and indulging in it freely and without concerns."

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Tom?" said Orion with a chuckle. "You're frightening me, with so many smiles and gentle words."

"I can be gentle and caring, my little serpent," said Voldemort with a smirk, as he slowly started to thrust in and out of Orion. "Occasionally, at least."

Orion groaned and he wrapped his legs around Voldemort's waist, as the wizard kept moving inside him with such a gentle and slow-paced motion that it made his mind swirl in a spiral of consuming desire.

"Yes, it seems you can," breathed out Orion. He bore his eyes into Voldemort's and said with a slight frown, "You said 'without concerns'. Does that mean that you trust me?"

"I do," said Voldemort, with a small smile, as he stilled his movements. "And I hope you trust me as well. I would never cause you pain or hurt you."

"That's the first time you've said it," said Orion with wonder. A moan escaped from his lips as Voldemort's large arousal throbbed and moved inside him. With effort, he pulled his mind back from the haziness of pleasure and added, "Before, you said you couldn't fully trust me and that you would punish me if you had cause for it."

"I would still punish you," said Voldemort calmly, while he continued his gentle thrusts. "But I would never take it too far." He gently cupped Orion's face, and added, "The important thing is that we trust each other, don't we? That we would never turn against one another, and that the prophecy will remain unfulfilled."

"Yes," said Orion quietly, intently looking at him. "If you truly trust me, then I can trust you back. And we have nothing to worry about."

"I completely trust you," said Voldemort with satisfied smirk, as he caressed Orion's cheek.

"Good," said Orion with a large smile. He tightly wrapped his arms and legs around Voldemort, and shot him a roguish smile. "Now, let's continue."

Voldemort smugly smirked as he started to slowly move inside Orion again, intently watching him as Orion moaned and threw his head backwards; while he groaned when he felt Orion exquisitely clamping down and tightening around his arousal.

"Always look at me," whispered Voldemort, intently gazing into Orion's eyes as he held his face. "I always want to see your emerald eyes sinking into mine while I plunge into you."

"Okay," breathed out Orion, as he gazed back into Voldemort's crimson eyes.

There was a glint of deep satisfaction and triumph in them, and Orion mildly wondered about it, but it soon left his mind as Voldemort kept thrusting into him in a maddening slow-paced motion.

Orion felt all his concerns and worries slip from his mind, as Voldemort took him repeatedly, always locking gazes with him, and always gently and slowly. They both moaned, groaned and hissed, and they repeatedly reached completion, hissing or screaming each other's name as their bodies joined and their auras meshed together. Orion had never felt such an intense and all-consuming pleasure or such a powerful connection with Voldemort before. He felt complete and Voldemort's huskily hissed words and his gentleness made him think that perhaps they had really reached a point in which they both trusted each other...

He felt that Voldemort wouldn't turn on him, hurt him, or do anything unforgivable, and that his dreams were just dreams, and he had nothing to worry about.


After briefly explaining to an anxious Calypso that everything was fine between him and Voldemort, and after flooing back to Hogwarts and leaving his backpack in his bedroom, Orion contently went towards the Great Hall to have breakfast.

He felt peaceful and calm after the morning spent with Voldemort, and wonderfully detached, as if nothing could go wrong or affect him. All his suspicions about why Voldemort had captured Ollivander seemed more due to paranoia caused by his dreams more than anything else. In the end, even if Voldemort was looking for a way to break the connection between the twin wands, he still had the Death and Life wand, in the off chance that someday he would need to duel against Voldemort; though considering the morning they had spent together, he believed that he had nothing to worry about.

When he entered the Great Hall he immediately saw that all the students were whispering with worried and troubled expressions on their faces.

Frowning, he sat besides Ron and Hermione, who didn't look much better, and he asked, "What's going on?"

"Oh, Orion, it was horrible," whispered Hermione, with an ashen face. "Remember that we went to Hogsmeade on Saturday?"

Orion nodded, and she continued in a frantic whisper, "Ron and I were coming back from the town and Katie Bell and her friend Leanne were walking towards Hogwarts in front of us. Then Katie suddenly rose into the air, it was eerie, her eyes were closed and her face empty of expression-"

"She started screaming in pain," interrupted Ron in a troubled low voice, "and we tried to tug her back to the ground. Katie fell on top of me but she was writhing so much that I could hardly hold her. She kept thrashing and screaming…"

"I asked Leanne what had happened," whispered Hermione. "She said that Katie was holding a package and that she was acting weirdly. So Leanne tried to grab hold of the package and it tore. I saw it then, lying on the ground. There was an opal necklace visible, poking out of the paper. I wrapped it in my scarf, because it was evident that Katie had touched it, and I ran to fetch Professor McGonagall."

Orion's face paled, a suspicion creeping in his mind. "And what did she do?"

"Professor McGonagall made Filch take the collar to Professor Snape, and Hagrid took Katie to the infirmary," rushed out Hermione. "And then she called Ron, Leanne, and me back to her office. Leanne said that Katie came back from the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks holding the package, saying that it was a surprise for somebody at Hogwarts and that she had to deliver it. Leanne thinks Katie was imperiused because Katie looked all funny when she said it."

"Katie and Leanne argued about delivering unknown objects," added Ron in a quiet whisper. "And that's when Leanne tried to grab the package and it tore."

"And what did Dumbledore say?" said Orion, deeply perturbed.

"Dumbledore wasn't here when it happened," whispered Hermione. "He came back on Sunday night and he took Katie to St. Mungo's. He asked to see us and Leanne, and he told us to keep quiet about what had happened. He explained that Katie had brushed the necklace with the smallest possible amount of skin; there was a tiny hole in her glove. Had she put it on, had she even held it in her ungloved hand, she would have died, perhaps instantly, according to Dumbledore. He said that luckily Professor Snape was able to do enough to prevent a rapid spread of the curse, before she was taken to St. Mungo's. She's going to remain there for a long while, but apparently she'll recover."

Orion warily rubbed his forehead and he surreptitiously glanced at Draco. The boy was calmly talking with his Slytherin friends.

"So who do you reckon Katie was supposed to give the necklace to?" asked Ron with a frown.

"Goodness only knows," said Hermione. "But whoever it was had a narrow escape. No one could have opened that package without touching the necklace."

"It could've been meant for loads of people," said Ron, as he leaned forwards to scoop up some scrambled eggs. "Dumbledore - the Death Eaters would love to get rid of him, he must be one of their top targets. Or -"

"Or you," said Hermione, looking at Orion with deeply troubled eyes.

"Yes, perhaps it was for me," said Orion quietly, masking his face with a worried expression.

"I bet Malfoy is behind this," suddenly spat Ron. "His father is a Death Eater, and we all know that they are trying to kill you. Surely the slimy snake is following his father's steps-"

"Malfoy wasn't in Hogsmeade," interrupted Hermione. "He failed twice to complete his Transfiguration homework and he was in detention with Professor McGonagall on Saturday."

"How do you know that?" demanded Ron with annoyance.

"Because I pay attention in class," retorted Hermione with a huff. "Professor McGonagall gave Malfoy detention during our last Transfiguration lesson."

Ron scowled and remained silent. Suddenly, his expression turned thoughtful, and he said, "I wonder who McGonagall is going to chose as the team's captain."

"Quidditch?" said Hermione indignantly. "How can you be thinking about Quidditch after what happened?"

"Well, it's very important," retorted Ron matter-of-factly. "Katie was our captain and chaser, so now we need someone to fill both positions. And the game with Slytherin is coming up-"

He was interrupted when a bunch of owls started to fly in, as it happened during the mornings. As they continued with their breakfast, an owl swooped down in front of Hermione.

She instantly unrolled her Daily Prophet, and she gasped as her eyes roved over the front page.

"What happened?" said Ron, stuffing a roll in his mouth. "Does it say somethin' about Katie?"

"No," she replied, still reading the paper. "I think the Minister will try to cover it up so that people won't become alarmed. In my opinion, the Minister seems to be more concerned about appearances than anything else… Something else happened-" She pushed the Prophet towards Orion, and said with wide-eyes, "Read it."

Orion's heart thumped fast in his chest as he understood what it could be. And surely, there it was, a large moving picture of Scrimgeour, with a triumphant expression on his face, with large black printed letters above it: 'Pettigrew found Dead bearing the Dark Mark!' Then the title changed and other words flashed, even larger than the previous ones: 'Minister declares Chosen One's father posthumously cleared of all charges!'

He had to prevent a wide, satisfied smirk to spread over his face. He had never thought that the Aurors would find Pettigrew's body so quickly, but the Death Eaters must have dumped him right after he had killed him. And Voldemort had told them to cast the Dark Mark over Pettigrew's body, so the Aurors must have seen it soon.

"I don't know what to say," said Hermione, gazing at Orion. "I think it's wonderful for you, that your father has been declared innocent. But the article says that Pettigrew was brutally tortured before being killed…"

Ron took the newspaper and hastily read it. "Well, Pettigrew was a Death Eater, it says here that he had the Dark Mark on his arm. So it's what he deserved, isn't it? Even if his own kind killed him. At least they're killing each other now… saves us the trouble."

"Yes, but to be so brutally killed-" said Hermione faltering.

"What did you expect?" said Ron with a snide snort. "They're dark wizards who attack their own kind. They have no morals whatsoever-"

"Yes, well," interrupted Orion calmly, with no wish to put up with Ron's vicious diatribe. "The fact is that Scrimgeour has done something good. I told the journalists that my father was innocent, and now they have the evidence." He scowled and added, "Though not of much use now, is it? My father is, after all, dead."

"You're right," said Hermione softly. "I'm sorry that they couldn't find Pettigrew sooner, before your father was given the Kiss. If they had found Pettigrew alive, it would have been much better."

"Yes it would," said Orion quietly.

They silently finished their breakfast while the Hall was filled with whispers; students glancing at Orion as the news spread. Many even approached him to state that they had always believed that his father must have been innocent. Orion calmly nodded and thanked them, though he was seething inside. All of them had though that infamous Sirius Black had deserved the Kiss. He clearly remembered Ron saying something along those lines during their fourth year, fact that the red-headed boy had conveniently forgotten. But he put up with it and humbly thanked everyone.

When they left their common room and made their way along a corridor, with their school bags filled with textbooks, parchments and ink bottles for their lessons of the day, Ron suddenly pulled Orion to a side, while Hermione kept going without noticing.

He looked at Orion uncertainly, and finally blurted out, "You were friends with Krum, right? D'you think Hermione snogged Krum? Did he tell you something about it?"

"Er-" said Orion uncertainly. Krum hadn't told him anything, but given Krum's infatuation with her, and given that he had invited Hermione to the Yule Ball, he was pretty certain that they had indeed kissed. He contemptuously despised Ron but he didn't want to cause problems for Hermione, who he sincerely liked.

However, Ron seemed to gather the worst from the look on Orion's face, and he stormed away.

Hermione was startled when Ron stomped by her side and kept going. With a roll of his eyes, Orion caught up with her and they hurried up the stairs and along a seventh-floor corridor.

"Oi, out of the way!" Ron barked at a small girl who jumped in fright and dropped a bottle of toadspawn.

Orion shot the girl a suspicious glance, since he recognized where she was standing, but he didn't have much time, and he and Hermione rushed towards their first class.

During the day, Ron treated a hurt and bewildered Hermione with an icy, sneering indifference. What was more, Ron seemed to have become, overnight, as touchy and ready to lash out as the average Blast-Ended Skrewt. Orion spent the day attempting to keep the peace between Ron and Hermione, more for the sake of his own peaceful existence than any real concern for their relationship, but he did it with no success. Finally, Hermione departed for bed in high dudgeon, and Ron stalked off to the boys' dormitory after swearing angrily at several frightened first years for looking at him.

Orion ignored Ron when he entered their bedroom and did what he had impatiently waited for during the whole day. After changing into his pajamas, he grabbed the two-way mirror and went into the bathroom. He casted silencing and anti-spying spells around the booth he entered. He looked into the mirror and called Draco's name.

He was certain that Draco was behind the opal-necklace affair. They had both seen it at Borgin and Burkes. And it worried him that Draco was using such stupid methods to get rid of Dumbledore. It could only mean that Draco wasn't succeeding in fixing the vanishing cabinet.

Orion called Draco's name repeatedly, but the other boy never answered. With a frown, he went back to his bed, cleared his mind from all worries, and continued with Pommel's translation.


Snow was swirling against the icy windows and Christmas approached fast. Twelve immensely tall Christmas trees adorned the Great Hall; garlands of holly and tinsel had been twisted around the banisters of the stairs; everlasting candles glowed from inside the helmets of suits of armor and great bunches of mistletoe had been hung at intervals along the corridors. Large groups of girls tended to converge underneath the mistletoe bunches every time Orion went past, which caused blockages in the corridors; fortunately, however, Orion had a good knowledge of the castle's secret passageways –thanks to the Marauder's Map-, so he often, without too much difficulty, navigated mistletoe-free routes between classes.

Ron often shot Orion jealous glances for the attention the girls gave him, and the boy was still moody and aggressive. And Orion found himself among two people who seemed unlikely ever to speak to each other again. Hermione had not taken well Ron's iciness and Ron constantly complained to Orion.

"She snogged Krum," he told Orion. "And I never promised Hermione anything. I mean, all right, I was going to go to Slughorn's Christmas party with her, but she never said... just as friends... Well, I'm not interested in remaining her friend... She never told the truth about Krum…"

Orion calmly put up with it with some effort, and he concentrated in finishing the translation, which in a few weeks would be done. He was very excited about finally going to Slytherin's chambers and sitting down to read the translation of Pommel's book.

Though, two things troubled him greatly.

His dreams had become more intense and now he always remembered the same voices and images. He saw Voldemort's dead body, he saw Draco screaming with agony and probably dying as well, and he kept hearing the whispering voice. But what chilled him to the bones was that he was sure that he recognized the cold, unforgiving voice which spoke to Voldemort, it was his own.

The other thing which troubled him greatly was Draco. The other boy never answered the two-way mirror and he ignored him during classes, when he tried to catch his eyes. Orion kept checking the Marauder's Map and he frequently found a tiny dot outside the place where the Room of Requirements was supposed to be, though the map didn't show the room. The dot's label was always either Goyle or Crabbe, and Draco never appeared on the map when they did. Orion deduced that it meant that Draco was using the Room of Requirements, and he saw that the boy used it almost every night.

Several times, Orion had casually walked along the seventh floor corridor, and he usually found a small girl holding something. It was clear that Goyle and Crabbe were using Polyjuice Potion and doing guard duty while Draco was inside the Room. But Orion didn't attempt to go inside, since someone could notice, and he didn't want anyone suspecting that he wanted to help Draco. He was becoming increasingly worried about Draco, especially due to his dreams.

His dreams and having to put up with Ron was constantly fraying his nerves, and he had started to do something which brought him intense calmness.

Every night, after translating and before falling asleep, Orion had started to practice being filled up by his necromantic powers, as he had done during the first Necromancy lesson. At class, they were advancing fairly quickly, already learning some spells, but he missed practicing that, and more importantly, he felt he needed it.

He was tired and stressed most of the time, his temper flared easily, and he couldn't afford it. He couldn't afford to snap and snarl at the Gryffindors and teachers. Moreover, on occasions, during the day, he felt slightly disoriented, as if something was wrong with him but he couldn't quite tell what it was. Though the strange feeling happened less as the days flew by, he felt the need to do it. So every night he was enwrapped in an absolute sense of detachment, deathly silence, and coldness, which left him exquisitely numb as well as extremely calm, peaceful, and filled with vibrating powerful dark magic. And he relished in it, since in the mornings, when he had flashes of the dreams, he seriously considered them but was untroubled, and during the day, he was controlled and could efficiently play his role of the Chosen One.

And more importantly, he felt powerful, more than ever before, and he was sure that it was because he was training his dark magic to flow and surge in him without a second thought. After many practices, he could immediately summon his necromantic powers; making it much easier to successfully cast, in his first attempt, the spells that Vagnarov was teaching them. Even Vagnarov seemed slightly surprised by how easily it came to him, though in Orion's opinion it was simply because he practiced nightly and therefore he had become more attuned with his powers.

He hadn't seen Voldemort since the weekend he had killed Pettigrew, but he was satisfied nonetheless, hoping that during the holidays he could spent most of the time with him. He felt that they had reached a stable balance of trust. Voldemort had said he would never harm him or cause him pain, and he had seen the sincerity in the crimson eyes, and also in the gentle way Voldemort had treated him. Furthermore, he had researched the list of bonding rituals which Voldemort had given him.

Orion spent all his free time at Durmstrang in the library, checking the rituals Voldemort had chosen. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to become Voldemort's spouse during Christmas holidays, it seemed too soon. But at least, he had decided which ritual satisfied him.

Most of the rituals in Voldemort's list were out of the question. They made one spouse unable to kill the other, obey all orders, feel pain if they were intimate with another, become squibs if they attacked their spouse, and such things. The only decent bonding ritual was the one Orion had selected and he was sure that Voldemort expected him to choose that one. And it surprised him that Voldemort had included such a mild ritual. It was perhaps another indication that Voldemort trusted him.

Nevertheless, the bonding ritual was called the 'Penta-hepta ritual'. Five witnesses were needed to ground and focus the magic of the ritual, while the two people to be bonded had to stand in the middle, forming in total seven people whose magic would be combined and used for the magical binding of the couple. The five witnesses had to form a penta-star, in the middle of which, the couple that were going to become spouses would stand. And Orion agreed with the distribution, since seven and five were the most powerful numbers in Arithmancy. The ritual made the couple 'spouses' and it supposedly strengthened their compatibilities, only limiting them in one thing: they could only have children with one another. Even if they had intercourse with another person, no children would ever issue from the mating.

Orion was willing to accept this. He had promised Voldemort that he would bear him an heir, and he didn't wish to bear any children to another. What made him uncomfortable was that the magic of the bonding ritual needed to be infused somewhere. It either created a magical mark on the bodies of the spouses or a piece of jewelry had to be used, in which the magic of the ritual would settle, and which the spouses would never be able to remove.

Orion decided that the best alternative was to follow tradition and use rings, since he didn't want to be marked. The other matter was selecting the five witnesses. He had thought about asking Calypso, Severus, Narcissa, and Rodolphus. But he still needed another one. He either wanted Lucius or his father, preferably both, leaving Rodolphus out of it, since he was more attached to Lucius than to Rodolphus. But neither Lucius or his father could do it at present, so he preferred to go through the ritual when he had his father back or when Voldemort broke Lucius out of Azkaban. Remus or Draco where out of the question since neither of them would like him to become Voldemort's spouse. The selection of the witnesses was important since their magic would be used, therefore, Orion wanted people who he cared for and who were magically powerful. He would have to persuade Voldemort to wait a while longer during the holidays.


Orion and Hermione were leaving the library after finishing an essay for Ancient Runes, after a very tense day.

Previously, during Transfiguration lesson, where they had just embarked upon the topic of human transfiguration –which was old news to Orion, but he nevertheless enjoyed it-, they had worked in front of mirrors, since they had to be changing the color of their own eyebrows. Hermione laughed unkindly at Ron's disastrous first attempt, during which he somehow managed to give himself a spectacular handlebar mustache; Ron retaliated by doing a cruel but accurate impression of Hermione jumping up and down in her seat every time Professor McGonagall asked a question, which Lavender and Parvati found deeply amusing and which reduced Hermione to the verge of tears. She raced out of the classroom on the bell, leaving half her things behind.

After shooting Ron a glare which he couldn't suppress, Orion had scooped up her remaining possessions and followed her. He had convinced her to go to the library to finish their homework before going to supper. She had quickly composed herself at the prospective of doing their homework and they had spent an hour in comfortable silence as they worked.

Now, they were making way towards their common room, to leave their things before going to the Great Hall for supper, while Orion's mind was busy thinking about what he wanted to do during Christmas.

Besides hopefully spending them with Voldemort, Remus would be visiting him. And furthermore, he wanted Calypso to stay with him as well. He had decided to tell her everything during his last weekend at Durmstrang before the holidays. Some DA members were ready in his opinion. They had learned the dark curses and ward-breaking spells, and since he was almost finishing the translation of Pommel's book, he wanted to start planning how to break out Gellert from Nurmengard. During his previous weekend at Durmstrang, he had written a letter to Emmerich, asking him to floo to Black Manor during the holidays, so that they could start planning. Orion would adjust the wards to allow the German wizard entrance to the Manor, so he only had to wait for Emmerich's reply.

"…And incidentally," said Hermione, as they walked along a corridor, "you need to be careful."

Orion pulled out of his musings, and he quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I went into the girl's bathroom just before meeting you in the library, and there were about a dozen girls in there, including that Romilda Vane, trying to decide how to slip you a love potion," said Hermione. "They're all hoping they're going to get you to take them to Slughorn's party, and they all seem to have bought Fred and George's love potions, which I'm afraid to say probably work --"

"Why didn't you take the potions from them?" said Orion alarmed, slightly paling at the thought of being affected by a love potion, and thus, pining over a girl and wanting to kiss one, which was utterly unappealing to him. "You're a prefect!"

"They didn't have the potions with them in the bathroom," said Hermione scornfully. "They were just discussing tactics. As I doubt that Durmstrang's dark methods of brewing potions-" she gave him reprehensive look, since her textbook brewing instructions kept letting her down while Slughorn kept raving about Orion's natural talents in Potions "- could help you dream up an antidote for a dozen different love potions at once, I'd just invite someone to go with you, that'll stop all the others thinking they've still got a chance. It's tomorrow night, they're getting desperate."

"You should have done something to stop them," said Orion accusingly.

"I couldn't. I didn't catch them breaking any rules," snapped Hermione offended. "Anyway, just be careful what you drink, because Romilda Vane looked like she meant business. And invite someone soon."

"I'm going to invite Lavander," said Orion with a sigh. "I just didn't think that I needed to do it right away. I was planning on inviting her tomorrow."

"Lavander," said Hermione with a scoff. "You could choose someone more interesting. I still can't believe that you prefer her above all the others."

"I like her," said Orion calmly, though he was dreading it, but he knew it would be useful. He shot Hermione a glance. "Who are you going with?"

"McLaggen," said Hermione nonchalantly.

Orion almost choked. "McLaggen? You don't like him!"

Hermione kept a dignified silence as they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

Orion shot her a smirk. "Oh, you're doing this to piss off Ron! I can't believe the depths to which you girls can sink to get revenge!"

Hermione huffed indignantly. "It's not revenge."

"It is," said Orion, with a taunting smirk. "And it's very Slytherin of you Hermione. Why, I always thought you belonged in Ravenclaw, but perhaps I should reconsider… Given this and how you confounded McLaggen…."

"Right, a muggleborn in Slytherin," said Hermione with a scoff.

"Why not? If you have the attributes…" retorted Orion, shooting her a smile.

"I'm certainly not Slytherin material," said Hermione, scrunching her nose in disgust.

Orion swallowed a defensive remark, and said to the Fat Lady their new festive password, "Baubles."

"Same to you," said the fat lady with a roguish grin, and she swung forward to admit them.

"Hi, Orion!" said Romilda Vane, the moment he had climbed through the portrait hole. "Fancy a gillywater?"

Hermione gave him a 'what-did-I-tell-you?' look over her shoulder.

"No thanks," said Orion quickly. "I don't like it much."

"Well, take these anyway," said Romilda, thrusting a box into his hands. "Chocolate Cauldrons, they've got firewhiskey in them. My gran sent them to me, but I don't like them."

"Right, thank you," said Orion politely, though he shot the box in his hand a wary glance. "I have to get ready for supper."

And he hurried off behind Hermione.

"Told you," said Hermione succinctly. "You should ask Lavander tonight, and the other girls will leave you alone."

Orion nodded and climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He shoved the offending box under his bed and left his schoolbag on his desk, before returning to the common room and leaving towards the Great Hall with Hermione.


They were seated at the Gryffindor table, almost finishing their dinner, and Orion saw many girls shooting him pointed glances, as if he was taking too long to decide and they were getting impatient. Ron and Hermione were still treating each other with icy indifference and he was starting to feel very uncomfortable with all the glances. He also saw Lavander and Parvati often glancing at him in between whispers, and it was understandable since he had been frequently returning her smiles, planning for this occasion in particular.

He simply didn't know how to go about it. He had never needed to approach another person for matters like this. Lezander had approached him, as had done Voldemort. This was uncharted waters for him, and worse, he would be asking out a girl, who didn't remotely attract him.

The Hall was full, the teachers were looking at the students while they finished their supper, and Dumbledore was present in this occasion. He felt tense and uncomfortable, but knew that there was no better moment than to do it now, in front of Dumbledore and in public.

Pushing away his dish with his unfinished supper, Orion smoothed his robes under the table. He had to act as the Chosen One, but also as a Gryffindor confident about approaching a girl and asking her to a party. Right… he immediately thought about his father. He had seen witches appreciatively glancing at his father when they had gone into the wizarding and muggle world, frequently flirting with him. Sirius was always roguishly charming, though he knew that his father had never looked at anyone with real interest.

Orion suppressed a sigh and steeled himself. Smoothly, he stood up and calmly strode towards Lavander, who was instantly nudged by Parvati.

Lavander turned around and flashed Orion with a smile.

Orion warmly smiled at her, and said charmingly, "Would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me tomorrow night?"

"Oh, I told you, Lav!" cried Parvati in delight.

"Yes, I would love to," said Lavander to Orion, with giggle and a flush on her cheeks.

"Thank you," said Orion, shooting her a dazzling smile. "If you're done with your dinner, perhaps Parvati and you would like to sit down with my friends?"

"Certainly," said Lavander beaming at him.

The Hall was buzzing with whispers and giggles as Orion and the girls went towards where Hermione and Ron –who was still eating- were seated. Lavander squeezed herself between Orion and Ron, while Parvati sat across them besides Hermione.

Orion glanced around and saw Romilda Vane almost spitting fire; while Draco had a dark scowl on his face; Slughorn was quirking an eyebrow –which left him slightly worried-; Snape seemed to know exactly what was going on and the wizard looked as if he was enjoying himself with Orion's veiled discomfort; and finally, he saw Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. And that made it all worth it.

Suddenly, Lavender grabbed Orion's hand under the table, and he almost jumped from his seat. He was starting to regret this… But he shot her a small smile, keeping his hand in hers, which brought up a giggle from Lavander, and he turned to look at Parvati.

"How are you? You're staying at Hogwarts, then? I heard your parents wanted you to leave."

"I managed to talk them out o f it for the time being," said Parvati. "That Katie thing really freaked them out, but as there hasn't been anything since..." She looked at Hermione and beamed at her. "Hi, Hermione! How have you been?"

Orion could tell that she was feeling guilty for having laughed at Hermione in Transfiguration. Lavander was also smiling at Hermione and he saw that Hermione was beaming back at Parvati, if possible even more brightly. Girls were definitely strange…

"I'm excellent, thanks," said Hermione, ignoring Ron completely. "Are you going to Slughorn's party tomorrow night?"

"No invite," said Parvati gloomily. "I'd love to go, though, it sounds like it's going to be really good... You're going, aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm meeting Cormac tomorrow at eight, and we're -"

There was a choked noise, as Ron seemed to have ingested his food down the wrong pipe.

Hermione acted as though she hadn't heard anything.

"- we're going up to the party together."

"Cormac?" said Parvati. "Cormac McLaggen, you mean?"

"That's right," said Hermione sweetly. "The one who 'almost'" - she put a great deal of emphasis on the word - "became Gryffindor Keeper."

"Are you going out with him, then?" asked Parvati, wide-eyed.

"Oh - yes - didn't you know?" said Hermione, with a most un-Hermione-ish giggle.

"No!" said Parvati, looking positively agog at this piece of gossip. "Wow, you like your Quidditch players, don't you? First Krum, then McLaggen."

"I like 'really good' Quidditch players," Hermione corrected her, still smiling. "Well, I finished my supper, see you..."

And she calmly left, with the air of some supremely satisfied with herself. At once Lavender and Parvati leaned over the table, putting their heads together to discuss this new development, with everything they had ever heard about McLaggen, and all they had ever guessed about Hermione. Ron looked strangely blank and said nothing.

And Orion sighed with relief since Lavander had dropped his hand as soon as she had started whispering with Parvati.

Later, after leaving the Great Hall and having to endure a peck on a cheek, a tight hug, and a giggle from Lavander, Orion made his way to Snape's office, since he had seen the wizard leaving the Great Hall much sooner than he had.

He knocked on the door and heard a curt 'Enter'.

Orion went inside and saw Snape, with a disgusted expression on his face, marking a stack of essays which were covered by red inked corrections. He silently regarded Snape as he took a seat in front of the desk.

Snape, surprisingly, had never asked him to remove the compulsion mind-web he had casted. Orion didn't know if it was because Snape didn't want to be tempted with the information about him he could pass down to Dumbledore, or if it was a show of trust and loyalty towards him. Nevertheless, he knew that the mind-web still prevented Snape from babbling about anything he could tell him.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Snape pushed away the stack of essays and looked up at Orion. Instantly, the wizard casted silencing and anti-spying spells around them.

Once done, Snape's lips curled into a smirk as he leaned on his chair's backrest. "Nice show in the Great Hall."

"Thank you," said Orion pleasantly. "I think I did quite well."

"Yes," drawled Snape, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "the Chosen One asking a silly and vapid Gryffindor girl to a party, very quaint."

"Quite," said Orion with a smirk. "I think Dumbledore was satisfied, don't you?"

"Of course," said Snape with a scoff. "The Savior of the Wizarding World acting exactly as an idiotic Gryffindor; making a spectacle of himself in public." He shot Orion a nasty smirk, and added, "Very much like your father used to."

"I did think about him," said Orion with a smug smile, completely unruffled by Snape's attempt to bait him. "And it paid off. But you forget that my father only had eyes for my mother, even if he didn't show it in public and dallied around with others. No one ever knew about them, did they? Quite Slytherin of my father, if you ask me. You see, he was always a Black, even if he was sorted in Gryffindor."

Snape snorted but refrained from commenting. He arched an eyebrow. "Why are you here?"

Orion smiled pleasantly at Snape. He could use his adult status and make Dumbledore choke on his lemon drops, but had to play his act, thus, he needed Snape for this.

"Very simple," said Orion calmly. "I want you to tell Dumbledore that you're coming with me to Black Manor, to spend the holidays there."

"I will certainly not spend my holidays at your father's Manor," said Snape with a disgusted expression on his face. "Furthermore, Dumbledore told me that the Weasley matron invited you to her house for Christmas. I believe Dumbledore is going to tell you tomorrow about it."

"He can tell me whatever he likes," said Orion snidely. "But I'm not spending my holidays with the red-headed bunch. I would curse Ron if I had to endure his constant babbles for more than a day." He pierced Snape with his eyes, and added quietly, "I have many things to do at my Manor during the holidays. I'm including you because I'm sure you can help me with them, and thus, proceed with our plans for the war."

Snape quirked an eyebrow. "What are you plotting now?"

"Something which I'll tell you more about when we're at my Manor," said Orion calmly. "You're my guardian, so where we spend the holidays is still up to you. Tell Dumbledore whatever convincing lie you can come up with. Tell him you want to spend more time with me, to 'guide me towards the right path', so you don't want me to be with the Weasleys instead of you. But don't let him convince you to spend the holidays at Spinner's End. I need to be at my Manor. Will you do it?"

"Yes," replied Snape, piercing Orion with narrowed black eyes. "But you'll have to inform me completely about what you're planning. I won't let you make any more mistakes."

Orion snorted, but then shot him a small smile. "Of course, I'll tell you everything. We're allies, as always, Severus."

Snape curtly nodded, and Orion rose from his chair.

"Do you still have the portkey to Black Manor that I sent to you once?"

"Yes," replied Snape tersely, with a slightly resigned expression on his face.

"Excellent," said Orion with a wide grin. "I'll spend the weekend at Durmstrang, since I have classes. So use it on Monday, I'll adjust the Manor's wards so that you can come in. I'll be waiting for you."


The next night, when Orion arrived to the entrance hall at eight o'clock, he found an unusually large number of girls lurking there, all of whom seemed to be staring at him resentfully as he approached Lavander. Admittedly, she looked very pretty. She was wearing a set of light blue robes, which tightly wrapped around her, showing off her curves. Orion knew that any other boy would be panting after her, and though he could appreciate her beauty, it was thoroughly unappealing to him.

"You look beautiful, as always," said Orion with charming smile, as he approached her. "Shall we get going?"

"Oh yes," said Lavander with a giggle. "Where is the party?"

"Slughorn's office," said Orion, leading her up the marble staircase away from all the staring and muttering.

As Lavander cheerfully chattered away about inane things, they approached Slughorn's office and the sounds of laughter, music, and loud conversation grew louder with every step they took.

Whether it had been built that way, or because he had used magical trickery to make it so, Slughorn's office was much larger than the usual teacher's study. The ceiling and walls had been draped with emerald, crimson, and gold hangings, so that it looked as though they were all inside a vast tent. The room was crowded and stuffy and bathed in the red light cast by an ornate golden lamp dangling from the center of the ceiling in which real fairies were fluttering, each a brilliant speck of light. Loud singing accompanied by what sounded like mandolins issued from a distant corner; a haze of pipe smoke hung over several elderly warlocks deep in conversation, and a number of house-elves were negotiating their way squeakily through the forest of knees, obscured by the heavy silver platters of food they were bearing, so that they looked like little roving tables.

"Orion, m'boy!" boomed Slughorn, almost as soon as Orion and Lavander had squeezed in through the door. "Come in, come in, so many people I'd like you to meet!"

Slughorn was wearing a tasseled velvet hat to match his smoking jacket. Gripping Orion's arm so tightly he might have been hoping to disapparate with him, Slughorn led him purposefully into the party; Orion seized Lavander's hand and gently dragged her along with him.

"Orion, I'd like you to meet Eldred Worple, an old student of mine, author of 'Blood Brothers: My Life Amongst the Vampires' - and, of course, his friend Sanguini."

Worple, who was a small, stout, bespectacled man, grabbed Orion's hand and shook it enthusiastically; the vampire Sanguini, who was tall and with long black hair, pierced Orion with intense, almond-shaped black eyes, and his nostrils slightly widened.

Orion immediately recognized the way the vampire was clothed. Sanguini was dressed in the same fashion as the three vampires he had seen speaking to Râzvan the night he had taken Lezander to Zraven Citadel, after the Department of Mysteries. The vampire's clothes were made of a rich velvety dark red material, and the lapels and cuffs were broidered with a coat of arms which showed a dragon's head speared by a lance. Sanguini was a Sdravkul, the only other vampire Clan with magical abilities. He was certain since Lezander had told him much about vampires during the week he had spent at the Citadel, long ago.

'You're a Zraven,' whispered a voice in Orion's mind.

Orion's startled, wide eyes snapped to the vampire's. He had never communicated mind-to-mind with anyone besides Voldemort, but he knew that those with vampire blood could do it between themselves. It had simply never crossed his mind to attempt it before, nor did he had the chance.

'You're the one everyone is speaking about… the one She told us about centuries ago…'

"Orion Black, I am simply delighted!" said Worple, peering shortsightedly up into Orion's face. "I was saying to Professor Slughorn only the other day…"

Orion ignored the other man, and boring his eyes into Sanguini's, he said urgently in his mind, 'Who? Who told you what about me?'

"…Where is the biography of Orion Black for which we have all been waiting?'" continued Worple, with an eager glint in his eyes.

Orion shot the annoying wizard a glance. "Er – were you?"

'The ancient legend refers to you, She says… And She would know about it, wouldn't She?' said the vampire's voice.

"Just as modest as Horace described!" said Worple. "But seriously - I would be delighted to write it myself. People are craving to know more about you, dear boy, craving! If you were prepared to grant me a few interviews, say in…"

'Who's she?' sharply demanded Orion in his mind.

"….four- or five-hour sessions, why, we could have the book finished within months! And all with very little effort on your part, I assure you…"

Sanguini flashed Orion a small smile which revealed sharp incisors.

'Our Kraljica Mati, of course…' said the vampire's voice with extreme reverence.

'Who's that?' said Orion with a deep frown; it sounded like eastern European words, but they weren't Romanian, he was sure.

"…My dear boy, the gold you could make, you have no idea…" said Worple enthusiastically, with a greedy glint in his eyes as he clutched Orion's shoulders.

"What?" snapped Orion irritably at the wizard, since with all the yapping he couldn't concentrate.

"The book, my dear boy!" said Worple eagerly. "I could write it for you, and it would sell like freshly baked bread, the gold you could make!"

'You'll meet Her eventually… I expect… After all, you're the one of the legend…'

"I'm definitely not interested," said Orion sharply, looking at Worble.

He turned his head to look at Sanguini to resume their mind-to-mind conversation, but suddenly saw that the vampire wasn't there. Orion frantically searched Sanguini with his gaze, but nothing, he wasn't among the crowd; the vampire had slipped away.

Wroble had carried on, trying to convince him, and Orion finally said short-tempered, "I'm not interested. I've just seen a friend of mine, sorry."

He pulled Lavander after him into the crowd, while his mind swirled with thoughts…

"Orion! There you are, thank goodness! Hi, Lavander!" said Hermione, suddenly popping in front of them.

"What's happened to you?" asked Orion pulling out of his musings, for Hermione looked distinctly disheveled, rather as though she had just fought her way out of a thicket of Devil's Snare.

"Oh, I've just escaped — I mean, I've just left Cormac," said Hermione.

"Under the mistletoe," she added in explanation, as Orion continued to look questioningly at her.

"Oh no, here he comes!"

Hermione moved so fast it was as though she had disapparated; one moment she was there, the next, she had squeezed between two guffawing witches and vanished.

"Seen Hermione?" asked McLaggen, forcing his way through the throng a minute later.

"No, sorry," said Orion, and he turned quickly to join in Lavander's conversation, who to his dismay was talking with Trelawney.

"Orion Black!" said Trelawney in deep, vibrant tones, noticing him for the first time.

"Good evening, madame," said Orion with a strained, polite voice.

"My dear boy!" she said in a very carrying whisper. "The rumors! The stories! 'The Chosen One'! Of course, I have known for a very long time… But why aren't you taking Divination? For you, of all people, the subject is of the utmost importance!"

"Ah, Sybil, we all think our subject's most important!" said a loud voice, and Slughorn appeared at Trelawney's other side.

"But I don't t think I've ever known such a natural at Potions!" said Slughorn, regarding Orion fondly.

Orion could perceive a highly amused glint in Rodolphus' eyes, and he had to suppress his desire to snap at the wizard.

"Instinctive, you know - like his mother! I've only ever taught a few with this kind of ability, I can tell you that, Sybil - why even Severus -"

And to Orion's amusement, Slughorn threw out an arm and seemed to scoop Snape out of thin air toward them.

"Stop skulking and come and join us, Severus!" said Slughorn happily. "I was just talking about Orion's exceptional potion-making abilities. As his guardian you should be quite proud!"

Trapped, with Slughorn's arm around his shoulders, Snape looked down his hooked nose at Orion, and said in a silky baritone, "Exceptional, is he?"

"Indeed, you should have seen what he gave me, first lesson, Draught of Living Death - never had a student produce finer on a first attempt, I don't think even you, Severus -"

"Really?" said Snape quietly, his eyes boring into Orion, who felt a certain disquiet, though he knew Snape couldn't get through his Occlumency barriers.

It was obvious that Severus suspected that he was using his book. The wizard must have guessed that he had made a copy. Well, he would have to put up with Severus' rants when the Potions Master caught him on his own, as it would certainly happen during their holidays.

"Oh, Orion is wonderful at Potions!" said Lavander admiringly, entwining her arm around Orion's. "He's brilliant in all his subjects!"

Snape shot Orion a nasty smirk, and Orion could tell that his guardian was finding his discomfort highly amusing, since he was trying to discreetly pry his arm away from Lavander. The girl was like an eel, always wrapping herself around him any chance she could find.

"Professor Slughorn!" wheezed a voice near them.

Orion slightly frowned when he turned his head to a side and saw Filch dragging Draco by the ear toward them.

Filch had the maniacal light of mischief-detection in his bulging eyes, as he said, "I discovered this boy lurking in an upstairs corridor. He claims to have been invited to your party and to have been delayed in setting out. Did you issue him with an invitation?"

Draco pulled himself free of Filch's grip, looking furious.

"All right, I wasn't invited!" he said angrily. "I was trying to gate crash, happy?"

"No, I'm not!" said Filch, a statement at complete odds with the glee on his face. "You're in trouble, you are! Didn't the headmaster say that nighttime prowling's out, unless you've got permission, didn't he, eh?"

"That's all right, Argus, that's all right," said Slughorn, waving his hand. "It's Christmas, and it's not a crime to want to come to a party. Just this once, we'll forget any punishment; you may stay, Draco."

Filch's expression became one of outraged disappointment, while Draco looked unhappy, as Snape glanced at Draco looking both angry and a little afraid. But then it all quickly changed. Filch turned and shuffled away, muttering under his breath; Draco was smiling and thanking Slughorn for his generosity, and Snape's face was smoothly inscrutable again.

"It's nothing, nothing," said Slughorn, waving away Draco's thanks. "I did know your grandfather, after all..."

"He always spoke very highly of you, sir," said Draco quickly. "Said you were the best potion-maker he'd ever known..."

Orion discreetly glanced at Draco, feeling relieved that his friend was acting as if he truly didn't know that Slughorn was Rodolphus. But all relief vanished and turned into worry when he saw that Draco looked a little ill. It had been a long time since he had been able to look at Draco close up, and he now saw that his friend had dark shadows under his eyes and a distinctly grayish tinge to his skin.

"I'd like a word with you, Draco," said Snape suddenly.

"Now, Severus," said Slughorn, piercing Snape with his eyes, "it's Christmas, there's no need to reprimand him -"

Orion slightly tensed. He could feel the undercurrents. Rodolphus was clearly stating that Snape shouldn't involve himself with Draco, since under Voldemort's orders Draco couldn't receive any help. But he could also tell that Snape was extremely concerned about Draco, and the wizard could use this chance to say that he needed to speak to Draco alone in order to give him detention or lecture him about crashing into parties.

"I am his Head of House, and I shall decide how hard, or other-wise, to be when one of my Slytherins disregards the Headmaster's orders," said Snape curtly. "Follow me, Draco."

They left, Snape leading the way, Draco looking resentful. Orion stood there for a moment, glancing at Slughorn; trying to find a valid excuse to slip away without raising Rodolphus' suspicions.

After a few more minutes of idle chat, Orion turned to Lavander and said charmingly, "What an inconsiderate escort am I, Lavender. I see you've finished your drink. Allow me to fetch one for you right away." He winked and added, "A beautiful witch as you should always be taken good care of."

Lavander prettily blushed and said with a giggle, "Of course, I would like that."

Orion warmly smiled at her before he turned to Slughorn, "Excuse me, professor, I must attend to my date."

"Certainly, m'boy," said Slughorn genially, though he pierced Orion with his eyes.

Orion turned around and calmly made his way towards one of the tables filled with drinks. When he saw that the crowd had engulfed him, blocking him from Rodolphus' sight, he discreetly took out his wand and ducked as he cast a disillusionment charm on himself.

He deftly made his way through the people and slid away from the party, reaching the corridor which was quite deserted. Orion ran down the corridor, the noise of his feet masked by the music and loud talk still issuing from Slughorn's office behind him, as he looked for Draco and Snape.

He dashed down the corridor until his heightened senses caught the sound of voices nearby. Orion slowly approached the last classroom, and stood still in front of the closed door.

"… cannot afford mistakes, Draco, because if you are expelled-"

"I didn't have anything to do with it, all right?"

"I hope you are telling the truth, because it was both clumsy and foolish. Already you are suspected of having a hand in it."

"Who suspects me?" said Draco angrily. "For the last time, I didn't do it, okay? That Bell girl must've had an enemy no one knows about - don't look at me like that! I know what you're doing, I'm not stupid, but it won't work - I can stop you!"

There was a pause and then Snape said quietly, "Ah… Aunt Bellatrix has been teaching you Occlumency, I see. What thoughts are you trying to conceal from your master, Draco?"

"I'm not trying to conceal anything from him, I just don't want you butting in!"

"So that is why you have been avoiding me this term? You have feared my interference? You realize that, had anybody else failed to come to my office when I had told them repeatedly to be there, Draco -"

"So put me in detention! Report me to Dumbledore!" jeered Draco.

There was another pause. Then Snape said, "You know perfectly well that I do not wish to do either of those things."

"You'd better stop telling me to come to your office then!"

"Listen to me," said Snape, his voice so low now that Orion had to strain his ears to hear better. "I am trying to help you. I swore to your mother I would protect you. I didn't take the Vow, but I told your mother I would help you in any way I could, Draco-"

"Looks like you'll have to break your promise, then, because I don't need your protection! It's my job, he gave it to me and I'm doing it, I've got a plan and it's going to work, it's just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!"

"What is your plan?"

"It's none of your business!"

"If you tell me what you are trying to do, I can assist you ..."

"I have all the assistance I need, thanks, I'm not alone!"

"You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup, these are elementary mistakes —"

"I would've had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn't put them in detention!"

"Keep your voice down!" spat Snape. "If your friends Crabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts OWLs this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing at pres —"

"What does it matter?" said Draco. "Defense Against the Dark Arts — it's all just a joke, isn't it, an act? Like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts —"

"It is an act that is crucial to our success, Draco!" said Snape. "Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act? Now listen to me! You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if you are placing your reliance in assistants like Crabbe and Goyle —"

"They're not the only ones, I've got other people on my side, better people!"

"Then why not confide in me, and I can —"

"I know what you're up to! You want to steal my glory!"

There was another pause, then Snape said coldly, "You are speaking like a child. I quite understand that your father's capture and imprisonment has upset you, but —"

Orion had barely a second's warning; he heard Draco's footsteps on the other side of the door and flung himself out of the way just as it burst open. Draco angrily strode away down the corridor, past the open door of Slughorn's office, about to turn around a corner.

Orion rushed forwards and quickly caught up with him. Swiftly, he pressed a hand against Draco's mouth while he wrapped an arm around Draco's waist from behind, pulling him around the corner.

Draco fiercely struggled, and Orion urgently whispered, "It's me, Orion, now hush!"

Draco stilled in his arms, and Orion cocked his head around the corner. He saw Snape emerging slowly from the classroom, his expression unfathomable as he returned to the party.

Orion instantly released Draco, who spun around and glanced around with narrowed eyes, as he said quietly, "Where are you?"

Orion took out his wand and cancelled his invisibility, before casting silencing and anti-spying spells, adding a disillusionment bubble around them for good measure.

Pocketing his wand, he looked at Draco, and said with a frown, "I told you to learn Occlumency from Severus, not Bella."

Draco scoffed. "I managed to learn from Bella without her seeing any of my memories and I can't trust Severus." He narrowed his eyes and spat, "I'm certain you spied on us, so you must have heard him asking me what thoughts I was keeping from the Dark Lord!"

"You fool!" said Orion, clutching Draco's shoulders. "He was pretending, he really wants to help you."

"I don't need his help, or yours!" retorted Draco heatedly.

"You do," snapped Orion angrily. "I know you somehow managed to give Katie Bell the cursed necklace, and Severus was right, it was foolish and clumsy. You raised Dumbledore's suspicions, Draco, I'm certain about that!" He tightened his grasp on Draco's shoulders, and demanded, "And why haven't you been answering the two-way mirror when I call for you? You agreed to-"

"What do you expect me to do?" interrupted Draco sharply. "I have Rodolphus watching my every move and Severus as well! I can't risk being seen with you, and I'm progressing in my task. I won't chance it!"

"I tell you that Severus would never turn you to the Dark Lord," said Orion sternly. "You can trust him."

"He's in the Dark Lord's Inner Circle. He took my father's place in it," spat Draco. "I can't trust him or anyone else."

"You can trust me," said Orion fiercely, as he pierced Draco with his eyes. "You agreed to accept my help-"

"If I need it," interrupted Draco. "I don't for now." He bore his silvery eyes into Orion's and added quietly, "And I don't want to get you mixed in it. If the Dark Lord found out I received your help… He told me he wouldn't free my father from Azkaban if I got help, Orion! I can't risk it!"

Orion sighed and released Draco. "Fine." He frowned and said worriedly, "You don't look well, Draco. Seeing you like this clearly tells me that your task isn't advancing as it should. Allow me to help you with it-"

"No!" snapped Draco fiercely. "I won't get you in trouble. Besides, I'm not an idiot! I'm perfectly able to fix it by myself."

"Alright," said Orion quietly. He looked up at Draco, and added, "What's your deadline?"

"Before the school year ends," replied Draco.

"You still have six months then," said Orion, boring his eyes into Draco's. "But keep your promise to alert me when you fix it and to contact me if you need help with it, Draco. And you must let me know when you're planning on confronting Dumbledore, I want to be there to support you. You know that if I'm not there to help you in case you need it, the Vow will kill me."

"I will," said Draco quietly. He looked up at Orion, and added vehemently, "Of course, I'll tell you. I know that it could kill you."

Orion nodded and shot him a small smile.

Suddenly, he grabbed Draco's shoulders, and said sternly, "And for Merlin's sake, no more stupid stunts like the necklace thing. Stick with the cabinet, alright?"

"Fine," replied Draco curtly.

Orion warmly smiled at him. "Good. I have to leave now."

Draco narrowed his eyes at him, and sneered angrily, "Going back to your girlfriend?"

"She's my cover," said Orion with a roll of his eyes. "You are well aware of my preferences."

"Yes, but you still have all the Gryffindork girls pinning for you," said Draco scathingly.

Orion quirked an amused eyebrow. "Am I taking giggling fans away from the Slytherin Prince? Is that what bothers you, that some of your admirers have defected to me?"

"That doesn't bother me," said Draco quietly, boring his eyes into Orion's. "You know what really does."

"Er…" said Orion uncomfortably.

"Very eloquent," said Draco with a scoff.

Orion gently grabbed Draco's face, and sinking his eyes into the silvery ones, he said quietly, "You mean a lot to me, Draco. Even if I can't be what you want me to be, at least know that I love you as much as a man can love another without having romantic feelings."

"Yes, you love me as a brother," said Draco dryly.

"I do," said Orion, shooting him a fond smile. "You're like an annoying, spoiled little brother, but nevertheless, you're loved by me."

Draco snorted, and then said with a smirk, "Spoiled I might be but you're the little one, not me. I'm a full head taller than you."

"Half a head," snapped Orion, scowling at him. "And I can still get taller. You'll see, I'll make you swallow your words."

"Of course you will," said Draco mockingly, as he patted Orion's head.

Orion huffed and ducked away from Draco's pats.

"I'm leaving. I refuse be made fun of."

"Ow, is little Ori going to throw a tantrum?" said Draco tauntingly, with an amused glint in his silvery eyes.

"Prat," said Orion with a small smile. With a wave of his hand, he said cheerfully, "Say 'hi' for me to Pansy, will you, my little sweet Drakey-poo?"

Orion sniggered as he heard Draco's hissed words behind his back. He quickly cancelled all the spells and proceeded to charm himself invisible again, before he slid into the party.

It was still in full swing and after dropping the disillusionment charm, he found Lavander and smoothly asked for her forgiveness; explaining his delay by saying that he had needed to go to the bathroom since something he had eaten had made him slightly ill. After enduring her fawning and concerned attentions, he bid her an apologetic, early good-night and went back to his dorm with a sigh of relief to be free from her clutches.

Orion finally went to sleep, his mind filled with all the plans he had for the holidays as he entered his troubled dreams once more.