-1Birds Of A Feather
Shadow woke Tuesday morning and immediately looked at the charmed galleon. Deciphering the letters and numerals around the edge, he saw that Hermione scheduled the DA meeting at ten o'clock that night. He was slightly disappointed that he'd have to wait so long, but he understood the importance of keeping the club secret from Umbridge and Carrow.
After washing and getting dressed, he made his way to the dinning room. Everyone was present except Severus. The man hardly made any meals, instead eating alone or skipping for all Shadow knew. The Potions Master was so wrapped up in whatever he was doing that it wouldn't surprise Shadow in the least. He felt a twinge of disappointment and abandonment, but quickly let it pass. He knew whatever Severus was working on had to be important.
"Morning," Draco drawled, his eyes watchful.
Shadow smiled at him, glad their fight was finally over.
"Good morning, Shadow," Marissa called. She rubbed at her eyes sleepily and leaned against Sirius.
The Animagus ruffled her hair and whispered in her ear, making her eyes go wide and bright before giggling. Shadow smiled at them and took the seat next to his boyfriend. Draco leaned over and gently brushed Shadow's cheek with the back of his hand. Surprised, Shadow turned to look at him and saw the grey eyes dark with desire and affection. He swallowed hard and focused on the breakfast that appeared before them.
Seeing Ron and Hermione had reminded him again of the past and Lockhart. He was still raw from the memories and squirmed uneasily at the thought of sexual pleasure. The only times he'd been able to get past his aversion was when it was spontaneous and so passionate that he'd no room to think of anything except the moment.
Draco frowned at his friend, seeing the tension in his shoulders, but before he could plan a way to get Shadow to tell him whatever was bothering him, a phantom appeared beside the table. Draco looked over to see Salazar waiting impatiently for their attention and carefully blanked his expression into neutral. Shadow tensed even further, and he reached over under the table to squeeze his leg. Shadow's hand rested on top of it and squeezed back. Draco was just pleased that the brunet didn't remove it.
"I've finished my evaluation, if you'd like to hear the details," Salazar said with a grimace. He hated having to be so polite, especially when he had important information to discuss. Patience was never a virtue he'd mastered.
"Come on, Marissa," Sirius said as he stood. "Let's put our plan into action. Omi won't know what hit him."
"Okay." The little girl grinned and trotted off after the Animagus.
"I'll go get Severus," Shadow offered. He left Draco and Salazar staring at each other in a type of battle of wills. Shaking his head, he slipped into the hallway and hurried toward the study dedicated to Potions. Severus had turned it into a miniature lab. There was always something boiling and simmering in there.
Severus didn't look up when he walked in. His short brown hair hung limp and greasy against his forehead. Like Draco, his roots were beginning to show. It almost took Shadow's breath away how much he missed talking to the man, missed his old and familiar appearance, just missed his father period.
"Severus. Salazar is finished. He wants to talk to us."
Dark obsidian eyes flashed up and acknowledged him. "I'll be right there."
Shadow nodded and slipped back out of the room. He found Draco and Salazar in the same spots he'd left them in. Amused, he sat next to Draco and tried to pretend that he wasn't nervous about what Salazar had discovered. Draco glanced over and Shadow felt like he could see right through him. He blushed and turned his face away, sipping at his water. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait long and the tension only had a few minutes to build before Severus stepped into the room, the smell of potions coming off his robes. All three gave their complete attention to the phantom.
Salazar preened; a smirk tipped the corner of his mouth up. "I have examined Seraphim thoroughly. The Dark Lord's personality is no longer influencing the alter."
"But the marks…" Shadow interrupted, a frown marring his brow.
"The wing marks are not similar to the Dark Mark. Rowena agrees. The wings allow Draco and Marissa to connect to Seraphim, whereas the Dark Mark allows the Dark Lord power over the bearer. They are almost opposite in nature. It is within the werewolf's nature to mark their territory. Seraphim thought of it on his own, and the Black magic gave him the knowledge to create the magical bonds."
"That is good," Severus muttered, relieved his son no longer had a connection to that monster.
"So it isn't surprising that when angered to a strong degree Draco was briefly able to tap into Black magic. It's hard to say if Marissa will be able to do the same. The wing makes it difficult to determine if the child has magic in her naturally, or if the scans are just sensing the magic in the mark. You'll have to wait until she's older to know if she's a Muggle or not."
"I don't think it matters," Shadow murmured.
Draco shot him a look. "Of course it matters. How do you think she'll feel growing up next to all this magic and not have any of her own?"
"Boys," Severus cut in when Shadow began to glare dangerously. "We are discussing something else."
Salazar took the cue and continued. "As for Seraphim's mentality, the alter is surprisingly stable. Seraphim is far from sane, but because his mindset is that of terror or rage, the two disparate emotions in a way neutralize each other into a semblance of calm. In an isolated and stable environment, Seraphim's mind maintains a fragile balance between the two, allowing some self-control. When in his Animagus form, the werewolf and dove instincts and drives further soften the trauma and give Seraphim's mind a way to think in a practical and immediate sense, distancing him from the trauma in the past."
"That's not true! He's not always afraid or angry," Draco argued fiercely. "There were times when he laughed or smiled. He can feel happiness."
"I'm not saying he can't," Salazar snapped back. "I'm merely saying that Seraphim constantly vacillates between fear and anger. He does not think in the same way a normal, healthy person would. When irritated, the alter will slide toward one of the extremes and act out until allowed to calm to a baseline worry/irritation emotional mix. When Seraphim laughs or smiles, there will still be an undercurrent of nervousness and emotional stress. This is what makes him so completely unpredictable. The more Seraphim is stimulated - even positively stimulated - the quicker his moods will swing and the more excited, and possibly violent, he will become."
Draco refused to believe that Seraphim could not be rehabilitated, but Salazar insisted that it was impossible. The alter's thought patterns were the result of years of abuse and trauma. He could be managed, Draco had proven that, but not healed. Seraphim would never be able to function normally within society.
Shadow accepted the news calmly. He'd suspected something like this would be the case. Severus was right. There was no way that the abuse Boy suffered and the rage and hate Demon had been encouraged to cultivate had not left a permanent mark. He was just glad that Voldemort really was out of his mind. Otherwise, he may have figured out Shadow's condition and found a way to possess Seraphim's power.
The connection that had bound the Dark Lord and him had been broken when his own personality - Boy - had possessed Demon first. The lightning scar now connected him to his own alter, Seraphim, instead of Voldemort. If it weren't for the prophecy and the fact that Voldemort was still hunting for him, he was physically free of the evil wizard. Although, that wasn't necessarily true. Shadow read the papers and saw the suffering of the world and knew he had the power to stop it. There was no walking away from it now. That had never really been an option.
Draco stared at his friend, watching the one blue, one green eye unfocus as Shadow retreated in thought. He was worried by the calm manner Shadow had adopted lately. No matter what came up, he took everything in almost apathetically. Was Shadow despairing? Was he giving up? His eyes cut to Severus, the one person who might be able to know what his son was thinking and help him through it.
Severus always had a way to see right through his son. But the Potions Master was getting further details out of Salazar, not even looking in their direction. His face was pale and there were fatigue lines around his eyes and mouth. Draco had no idea what the man had been working on, but he wished it didn't consume so much of his time.
"I'm going to go work on the snitch," Shadow murmured, bringing Draco's attention back toward him.
"You okay?" Draco asked just as softly.
"Yeah. This wasn't the worst news we could've gotten. At least Seph didn't give you and Marissa Dark Marks."
Draco smiled back at his friend, but it was half-hearted on both their parts. Shadow slipped from the room quietly and again Draco turned his attention to Severus. The man nodded to something Salazar said and turned to return to the Potions study. Draco frowned severely. Severus hadn't even looked to see if Shadow was still here.
"Severus."
The man turned back impatiently, his eyes dull.
"You might want to take some time out of your busy schedule to check on your son. He's been very withdrawn recently," Draco said with challenge in his eyes.
Severus sneered, rage flashing over his features. Draco braced himself for whatever onslaught his mentor was about to launch, but Severus merely spun and stormed out of the dinning room. Releasing his pent up breath, Draco rose and went to continue the research on Tom Riddle's early life. They were hoping to find clues to the Horcruxes in the volumes of Dumbledore's copious and vague notes. McGonagall had supplied them at Severus' request, though she wasn't told why.
xXxXxXx
Hermione slipped into the Room of Requirement around 9:45 that night. She wasn't surprised to see Shadow and Draco already there, circling each other. Both of the teenage boys were sweating and completely focused on their opponent. Hermione stayed back a ways and observed them.
Shadow was still too thin. Wearing Muggle jeans and a T-shirt, his slim waist and arms were very visible. Draco was taller by two inches, standing at about five foot eight. He was broader in the shoulders and waist, but he was also on the lanky side. Draco was obviously larger and heavier, but Shadow was more flexible. When Draco began shooting off curse after curse, the curly-haired teen dodged and twisted away from the ones he didn't simply shield against. Then he returned the volley. Draco dove to the ground and rolled before springing to his feet, closer to Shadow than before.
Spell light flashed between them. They were both graceful and magically skilled. Shadow seemed able to shoot off and maintain more spells, but Draco was more precise. They were pretty evenly matched, actually. At the moment, Draco had his feet incased in ice and could only speak gibberish, forcing him to cast spells silently or not at all. Shadow had a cut on his cheek that was freely bleeding from a spell he hadn't completely dodged, and his left arm hung limp.
Suddenly the tension shifted to something else, and Hermione's eyes went round as she watched. The ice incasing Draco shattered, and he rolled forward. Shadow tried to back up, but was already against the wall. His two-colored eyes went wide, his cheeks flushed. Hermione saw the brunet's decision not to doge to the side. Instead, he let Draco come to his feet and pin him to the wall. Their serious expressions melted at the same time and turned into wild grins. She gaped silently when Draco crashed his mouth down on the shorter teen's.
Shadow's right hand rose and wrapped around Draco's waist, pulling him closer, while Draco reached up to cradle Shadow's face in his hands almost tenderly as his mouth tried to swallow Shadow whole. Hermione felt heat rise in her cheeks, as well as becoming strangely aroused. The two boys were just so raw and passionate.
Shadow flexed his hips forward, arching his body upward, as he groaned. Draco plundered his mouth, his fingers tightening in the soft black curls as he pushed forward, pressing Shadow even harder against the wall. This time she gasped. Shadow's eyes snapped open and to the side, seeing her. He instantly paled and shoved Draco hard in the chest. Panting, Draco took a few steps back. His grey eyes flashed over to her furiously. She swallowed and felt her heart rate quicken in fear.
"I thought I'd, ah, come early to, um, set up a few things," she stuttered nervously in explanation.
"It was my understanding that the room did such things for you," Draco drawled, eyes still burning angrily at her.
"Well, that's true…" She trailed off, not sure what she should say. She glanced at Shadow for help and was surprised to see him looking distinctly upset. He turned his back to her when he saw her looking and walked away toward a table where he'd placed his robe.
"What is it you wanted to set up, Granger?" Draco snapped, drawing her attention back toward him.
"I figured you'd want to look over the notes of what we've covered so far. I thought I'd come early and show you around," she answered firmly, regaining her composure. Her eyes cut back to Shadow and saw that he'd pulled on his robe and was now shifting his feet nervously in a manner that reminded her distinctly of her Harry. She gestured him closer. "Come tell me what you think. I keep thinking we're missing something, but can't come up with it."
Draco stood stiffly, his expression cold. He'd been having very restless dreams lately and had been wanting to get Shadow to let down his guard enough for a good snog for a week. He wasn't happy at all that Hermione Granger had wrecked the moment. He knew it would be twice as hard now to get Shadow willing to mess around again. His anger rose as he thought of why Shadow felt uncomfortable with intimacy, and he wished he'd been allowed to kill Lockhart himself as he'd vowed.
So lost in thought, Draco hardly paid attention to what Shadow and Hermione were talking about as they leaned over a table and went through the notes complied on all the things the DA was working on and had covered previously. His attention was instead focused on the messy curls, the still faintly red cheeks, the gorgeous swollen lips. It was enough to drive him crazy.
"Transfiguration," Shadow suddenly announced.
"What?" Hermione frowned.
"You've got defensive charms and potions. Shields, curses, hexes, Arithmancy circles, wards, and almost every other subject. No Transfiguration." Shadow's embarrassment and momentary panic finally left him completely as he looked up at his Gryffindor friend.
"What kind of Transfigurations would be useful?" Hermione asked with a frown.
"Lots of things." Shadow grinned. "Turning the floor to ice while using Sticking Charms on your own shoes. The Animagus transformation. Transfiguring metal items into weapons, such as knives. Turning robes into ropes."
"That's brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?" Hermione cried, excited now. "Let's work on some of that tonight."
"Sure." He shrugged with a smile. "It doesn't really help in a duel. It takes too much time and can be canceled easily if your opponent knows what you're doing, but if you plan ahead or sneak up on someone Transfiguration can come in really handy."
Hermione was nodding now. She grabbed a blank parchment and was furiously writing down all the ideas that popped into her head on how Transfiguration could be used in a battle situation. She bit on the end of the quill, thoughts racing. "The Animagus transformation will be very handy and everyone will love it, but it just takes so long to learn. And if you rush it, you ruin your only chance. You only get one try at the final spell. But I suppose we can go over it and people can start learning if they want." Her eyes focused on her friend who was smiling at her in bemusement. "I guess you won't feel comfortable giving a demonstration. I can, but it's not a very impressive form like yours."
"I think I'd like to keep my Animagus form secret for now," Shadow agreed.
"What about you, Draco?" Hermione turned to face the sulking Slytherin.
Draco hadn't expected to be drawn so quickly into the conversation and hesitated for a moment. He winced when Shadow's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he said, "I haven't mastered the form yet."
"Oh. Okay." She went back to working on her notes.
Shadow moved forward to question him, but Draco was saved as people began trickling into the room. There were shocked gasps and excited murmurs as the students caught sight of both he and Shadow. Soon they were answering questions and reassuring them that they were all right, that they were still going to fight. Then everyone was clamoring to know what they thought of the attacks being reported in the papers.
"Did you read Monday's Daily Prophet?" Dean Thomas asked solemnly. "Giants attacked Summerset. Muggles think it was something called a hurricane."
"Hagrid's missing," Ginny added. "People think either McGonagall sent him off to try and stop the giants from attacking again, or that he was called by the giants and is helping them. Of course, those who know Hagrid know he'd never really do that. I think he's trying to stop them."
"I never knew Hagrid very well," Shadow answered, keeping to his Slytherin persona. "But I doubt the Headmistress would let him leave Hogwarts if he meant harm. She would have contained him somehow."
"I agree," Hannah Abbot cried. "Hagrid wouldn't hurt no one."
"I'm glad Grubby-Planks still's teaching us," Gryffindor Jessica Simpson added. "And he's going to be the Grounds Keeper, too, so Umbridge doesn't have to call in anyone else."
"What's up with the Slytherins, mate?" Hufflepuff Seeker Darlene Summerby spoke up. "They've been mighty quiet lately."
Draco fielded this one. "Carrow isn't lily-pure or sweet. She's been giving them a hard time. In fact, she's fifty shades eviler than Snape ever was to Gryffindors, and that's got to say something."
There was dark muttering at this. Despite Slytherin being the "bad" House at Hogwarts, the others didn't like to see anyone attack one of their own, like any good siblings who tortured each other.
"I think she gets her school supplies from Umbridge," Shadow added meaningfully. The curse on the Blood Quill made it impossible to talk about, but everyone would know what he was referring to. Dark and determined glances were his only response. Everyone in the DA would do what they could to help the Slytherins.
Shadow was encouraged by this. He was very surprised to see how many people were in the club. He'd glanced at the Secrecy Scroll where everyone signed their name before joining and counted twenty-seven Gryffindors, twenty-two Ravenclaws, and nineteen Hufflepuffs. A good quarter of those were in the room tonight.
"All right, everyone," Hermione called, clapping her hands. "Let's get busy. We can gossip later."
There were nods to this and the crowd broke up into organized groups. Draco and Shadow split up to join them. They warmed-up with shields and attack spells, moved onto physical drills and charms, and then Hermione told them about using Transfiguration. She read off the many applications and had each group practice doing five things from her list. At the very end of the lesson, Shadow was certain he was going to collapse from exhaustion at any moment. Those in his group didn't look much better, and in fact Ravenclaw Lisa Turpin did faint.
"Okay, everyone. It's almost twelve-thirty. Time to go to bed, but before we go, I want to tell you I've mastered the Animagus transformation." She quickly turned into a mouse and back again. "You have only one chance at it, and it's a very advanced bit of magic, but anyone who wants to give it a try, stay after, and I'll go over the process with you."
Shadow, having already mastered the transformation, waved at Hermione and she waved back. He found Draco waiting for him by the door and fell into step with him heading back down to the Chamber. They had already slipped into Rogan's room to deliver the snake pendant they'd charmed to hiss "open" in Parseltongue before going to the DA.
"So. What was that about earlier?" Shadow drawled after they slid down the slide.
Draco turned and smiled. "You're beautiful, what can I say?"
Shadow immediately turned bright red and scowled furiously. "Not that! The bit about being an Animagus. Did you master the transformation with Sirius? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I haven't," Draco said carelessly and turned to walk further into the Chamber.
Shadow grabbed his arm and spun him around. "Don't give me that. I saw your face. You've mastered it." His face softened from its angry cast and he smiled slyly. "You're not really a toad, are you?"
"No, I'm not a toad," Draco growled furiously and tried to yank away.
"What then? You're obviously mortified by your form." Shadow gave him puppy-eyes. "Come on, Serpentine. I won't laugh. Tell me."
Draco crossed his arms as Shadow slipped in front of him and prevented his retreat. The curly-haired teen was grinning and his eyes sparkled with mirth. He was gorgeous when he was so flushed and excited. With a deep sigh, he let his arms fall as he eyed his best friend. "Not one mocking comment. Not one," he demanded seriously.
"I swear," Shadow vowed, miming locking his mouth shut and throwing away the key.
"I don't want Severus to see," Draco muttered and grabbed Shadow's wrist to drag him across the Chamber and into the hallway. They slipped into the first study they came to. Draco warded the door as best he could and turned to find Shadow watching with a smile curling his lips and his arms crossed expectantly. "Not a word," he reminded.
Shadow waved for him to hurry up, obediently not saying a word.
Closing his eyes, Draco relaxed his mind and body. He felt the change come. At first, he tensed, but then let it happen. He was embarrassed, yes, but he wasn't ashamed exactly. It was just he thought he'd be a more dangerous animal.
Shadow didn't know what to expect. He stared as Draco shimmered and shrank until a large white bird stood before him with an extremely long tail flowing behind him. At first, he didn't know what he was looking at. The bird was a little over four feet tall (130 cm); its head reaching Shadow's waist. It had a cute small and delicate head with little black eyes. Its sharp, straight beak was a white-pink color, and a rounded feather rose straight up from his head. Two large wings were tucked along its sides and had perfect long feathers like a swan.
Then the tail rose.
It rose an additional five feet (1.5 m) into the air to reach a total height of nine feet and fanned out in a magnificent display. Shadow's breath whooshed out on a little laugh. Draco was a bloody peacock! As funny as it was that the vain Slytherin was a pure white peacock of all things, the undeniable beauty before him softened his features with awe. The hundred long feathers with eye shapes at the end, the soft edges, the sheer height and width of them, the bird was magnificent. Draco's feathers reached taller than Shadow's by several feet and almost touched the walls of the room on either side.
The peacock stepped forward on two delicate white-pink legs and the tail waved and dipped gracefully, putting on a display of it's plumage. Then the bird began to shimmer and stretch until human Draco stood facing Shadow. There was a slight blush on his high cheekbones, and Shadow smiled at seeing it.
"Always knew you were a bloody peacock," he drawled, grinning. "I can't believe Sirius hasn't told us what you change into."
Draco's blush deepened. "I may have Obliviated him in a moment of rage."
Shadow couldn't take it. He burst out laughing. Draco scowled and stormed from the study, slamming the door behind him.
xXxXxXx
The next day Draco avoided Shadow completely. Left alone, he decided to work on the snitch. Hermione's coin showed the DA meeting was scheduled right after dinner at seven. He had all day to work on the infuriating puzzle, but by lunch he grew so frustrated that he decided to look up something else, the symbology behind Draco's form.
…
The Peacock
This blue-green bird represents the blending of all the colors of the spectrum and, hence, represents the idea of wholeness. A person with this animal as their Animagus form will therefore be self-aware to a degree that many never obtain. This lends them confidence, as well as renders them hyper-aware of being manipulated.
St. Augustine of Hippo put the belief of the Peacock's incorruptibility to the test. Roast Peacock was served at dinner in Carthage, and he ordered the meat from the breast to be put aside. After thirty days, he found that there was no bad smell. After a year, the Peacock's flesh had become only a little desiccated, thus proving the theory.
The Peacock is also known to hunt snakes. This symbolizes victory over poisonous tendencies. Those with this Animagus are often immune to the negative emotions of others, maintaining clear vision, and this leads them to often find a way to turn almost any situation to their advantage.
…
Shadow snorted. He could see Draco's smug smile now at being described as incorruptible. And it was true in many ways. Lucius had tried very hard to mold his son in his own image, but Draco would never be anyone but himself. The fact that Draco would turn any situation to his advantage was the definition of being Slytherin, and Shadow laughed out loud when that was represented by eating snakes.
…
This clear vision is also represented in the many eyes on the Peacock's tail. Those with this Animagus are not only self-aware, but also observant and intuitive when it comes to others. These types of people are gifted with the ability of insight and intuition, often making others uncomfortable. Early European superstition saw the Peacock as bad luck due to the disturbing "all-seeing eyes" on its tail . Later, the eye-like patterns came to represent the stars, the universe, the sun, the moon, and the vault of heaven. Diviners began to use the tail to accurately foretell the future, good and bad. Now the Peacock is seen as neutral.
This connects to the symbolism behind the Peacock's voice, which is a harsh unpleasant sound. The Peacock has a fearful voice because others don't want to hear what the Peacock has to say. Often those with the Peacock Animagus have reported feeling like their advice isn't listened to, and that is a driving frustration in their lives. There is some speculation that if the Peacock were to learn to advice people sweetly instead of with blunt or harsh observation, they would be listened to more readily.
…
Shadow rolled his eyes. That's all he needed, Draco thinking his advice was always gold. But he could completely agree to the sweetening the peacock approach. Sometimes he could just punch Draco in the face.
…
And, of course, the Peacock symbolizes vanity, pride, and materialism. The fact that the Peacock struts around, fully aware of his own beauty, is a good signifier of these things being found in those who have this Animagus. They tend to surround themselves with beautiful things and take pride in their own appearance. It makes them feel happy and secure.
According to feng-shui, "Peacocks are a symbol of beauty reminding us to take pleasure in the finer things in life. The main symbolism of the Peacock is pride and vanity, when its tail is displayed. A Peacock with its tail down (rather than displayed) can be a sign of humility, of restraining one's pride as the Peacock resists displaying its tail." Those with this Animagus merely search for enjoyment and see no point in denying themselves.
…
That was certain. He remembered Draco when they were shopping, and the time it took for him to get ready for anything. Vain was definitely a quality he possessed, as well as pride. Shadow thought Draco needed to work on the humility and "resist displaying his tail". The imagery that thought evoked made him blush. He quickly read on.
…
The feathers are also solar symbols. Like many solar symbols, the Peacock is an emblem of resurrection, immortality, and the incorruptible soul. These symbolic associations were strengthened by the belief that Peacock flesh was not subject to spoilage and that when Peacocks molted their old feathers were replaced by ever more beautiful ones. The length of the tail indicates the length of the life to come.
…
"Thank Merlin Draco's tail was so huge," Shadow exclaimed softly.
…
Its feathers may be burnt to ward off disease and even to cure snakebite. The Peacock is credited with an ability to neutralize and use black aconite (aconitum ferox) as a nutriment. This highly toxic plant, also known as "'wolf-bane", is an important ingredient in traditional medicine. Mixed with other ingredients, it was used in treatments for mental illness, among other complaints.
In Asia, the feathers of the Peacock are considered protective. Skanda, one of the two sons of Indian god, Shiva, has a Peacock for his mount. Lord of the Elements of Form, he is also a war god. In some Islamic traditions, it has been portrayed as the greeter at the gates of paradise and, thus, is considered to be a bird of protection and safe guarding. This bird is also valued as a protection for the psychic self.
But what is perhaps the most special attribute of the Peacock, and those who have this as their spirit-animal, is the fact that they mate for life.
…
Shadow's heart skipped a beat after reading this line. Suddenly, he felt certain he'd fallen gotten in over his head, but his eyes were drawn almost helplessly forward.
…
Many consider this bird as the perfect mate. Greeks and Romans considered the Peacock sacred to Hera and kept them in her temple. Hera was quite the zealous protectress of marriage and the home. The Peacock is pure of heart, loyal, and faithful to their partners. The male Peacock goes to great lengths to attract his heart's desire.
Myth has the Peacock representing fidelity, as it dies of grief or remains single if it loses its mate. This has been supported by the records of those with this form as their Animagus. They all had one true love and never formed another romantic attachment. In fact, you can tell when this attachment has been formed. Their Peacock forms turned all white when they found their life partner.
…
"Oh, god," Shadow breathed, faced with the sheer depth of Draco's feelings for him.
…
They are dedicated, loyal, and have never been recorded as having cheated on their mate. They are indeed the perfect husbands, as all those with this Animagus have been male. To this day in Europe people display the image of the Peacock in the home to symbolize fidelity in the relationship and to encourage a lasting and loving partnership.
In conclusion, the Peacock brings harmony and joy to the mind. This bird is majestic, proud, expressive, and intuitive. Just as the male bird walks and dances to the female in courting, those with this Animagus reminds others of the celebration in life.
…
Shadow shut the book and closed his eyes. To many things hit too close to home. The fact that Draco loved him so deeply that his heart had bonded to Shadow for life, the fact that those with the Peacock Animagus worked well with those who had mental illnesses due to their insight and their drive to protect. It was all very overwhelming.
Laying his head down on the open book before him, he stared almost blindly at the little snitch that was driving them all mad. He closed his eyes and saw again the beautiful white peacock who spread his feathers for him in a glorious display last night. His chest felt tight because part of him felt guilty as hell. Draco deserved so much better than Shadow's fucked up shit. On the other hand, Shadow felt deeply grateful. He loved Draco in return for his unwavering support. He'd do anything for the Slytherin.
He opened his eyes and puffed out an annoyed breath. It caught the snitch and the golden ball rocked a bit. Narrowing his eyes, he blew again. Tiny golden letters appeared on the outside. Shadow's heart rocketed in his chest as excitement momentarily distracted him from Draco's Animagus form. He gently lifted the snitch and blew on it again.
I Open at the Close.
Shadow's brow furrowed thoughtfully when suddenly he remembered what Firenze had told him.
"The Broken One left you something to help unravel the puzzle of the Soulless Lord. All things have a beginning, and all things must return to their beginning in order to reach their end."
Glancing down at the passage about the peacock, thinking of Draco and beginnings, he looked again at the snitch in his hand and blew on it gently. I Open at the Close. A large smile broke out across his face and he leapt to his feet, knocking his chair back. It fell with a muffled thump as he bolted from the room.
"Draco! DRACO!" he yelled as he ran down the circular hall with many doors.
Draco heard his friend's shout and about jumped out of his skin. Eyes wide, terrified they were under attack or something, he leapt for the door, wand in hand. He entered the hallway and sprinted toward Shadow's frantic calls. "What happened? What's wrong?" he demanded as he caught sight of the tousled-haired teen.
Shadow was standing there, lifting that stupid snitch in his hand, a wide grin almost slitting his face in two. "I figured it out!"
"What!" Draco felt the adrenaline leave his system and he grinned back. "How?" He followed Shadow eagerly toward the Potions study, listening eagerly to the description of accidentally breathing on it and then remembering what Firenze said. Before Shadow could finish, Draco figured it out himself. "You have to put it in your mouth! It's the first snitch you caught!"
Shadow beamed at him. "Exactly!" He flung open the study door and called loudly inside. "We figured out the snitch. I'm going to open it." Without waiting for a response, Shadow continued on toward the dinning room where they would have more room. "Omi!"
The little elf appeared with wide blue eyes, reacting to the energy coming off the two teens.
"Fetch Sirius and Marissa. Have them come here," Shadow ordered.
The elf nodded frantically before disappearing.
"I can't believe we didn't think of this before," Shadow continued, too excited to sit and be calm.
"I can. What cryptic rot," Draco muttered, upset that the answer was so easy. But then again, it usually was.
Severus came striding into the room. Sirius and Marissa stumbled in on his heels. The little girl clapped when Shadow again raised the snitch triumphantly and exclaimed he knew how to open it. Draco smiled happily as Shadow happily explained to an eager audience how he figured it out. Draco was just glad this mess was almost done with. They were all getting a bit house happy. Well, except for Sirius and Marissa who were having a blast pranking all of them. He growled as he thought of the bubble gum pink hair they'd give him last week. One thing was certain, they wouldn't prank him like that again.
"Very well," Severus drawled and flicked his long fingers impatiently. "Let's see."
"Yes! Show us!" Marissa cried, clapping again. "Is there a prize inside?"
Shadow flashed her grin. "I sure hope so. We could really use a prize at this point."
Draco met his eyes as Shadow opened his mouth and put the little snitch inside. Everyone froze and watched unblinking as that mouth closed. No one was prepared when instead of pulling out an open snitch, Shadow's eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed bonelessly. Draco dove forward just fast enough to cushion his head before it impacted the stone floor.
"Shadow!" he cried, terrified.
Severus moved forward, already casting diagnostic charms, while Sirius swept a screaming Marissa into his arms and held her tight to keep her out of the way. Draco desperately tried to pry his love's mouth open, but his jaw was locked. Desperately, he looked up at his mentor.
Severus' eyes flickered from side to side as they quickly read the results of the diagnostic. "There is no foreign substance being introduced into his system, so he's not being poisoned. His breathing is unobstructed, so he's not choking on the thing. It appears he is merely sleeping. Dreaming, to be precise."
"Dreaming…" Draco whispered with a frown.
"Shadow!" Marissa was crying hysterically.
"It could be imparting another clue as to the Dark Lord's Horcruxes," Severus speculated, his features going still as he found his calm center.
"Or Dumbledore may be trying to brainwash him or it could be an attack on his mind!" Draco cried. "We have to stop this!"
"Calm down, Draco. There is no evidence of distress, and I believe Shadow's mind is controlled and organized enough to at least struggle against an unwanted intrusion."
"Is Shadow okay?" Marissa demanded again.
"He's fine, poppet," Sirius murmured to her, holding her tight. Her arms squeezed his neck tightly. "He's sleeping and is about to wake up real soon."
"Severus, do something!" Draco demanded.
"Ugh…"
Everyone fell silent, except for Marissa who hiccupped and sniffled, as all eyes turned toward the fallen teenager. Shadow groaned again and his eyes fluttered open. Pale and drained, he looked from one face to another as they hovered over him. Draco gently carded through his hair with a trembling hand, making Shadow smile.
Spitting out the snitch, he said hoarsely, "I'm okay. It was just intense."
"What happened?" Severus asked softly. He reached for his son's hands and helped pull him to his feet.
Shadow wavered and had to lean heavily into his father's side in order to keep his feet. Severus quickly pulled out a chair from the table. Shadow sat carefully, never letting go of his father's arms. Draco got to his own feet and sat in the chair next to his friend, worry creasing his features.
"I saw memories that Dumbledore harvested from some old witch from Hufflepuff's line." Shadow accepted Marissa as Sirius passed her over. The little girl sat on his lap and clung to his chest, still crying softly. He stroked her hair gently as he continued. "Tom just graduated from Hogwarts and was working for that store that Merope sold Slytherin's locket to. Anyway, he made a delivery to this woman. She was a descendent of Hufflepuff. He managed to convince her to let him see Hufflepuff's Cup, and she talked about Ravenclaw's Diadem. Those are the last two Horcruxes. He attacked her and stole the Cup. That's all I saw."
"Did you discover where they may be hidden?" Severus asked intently. His fingers rubbed a soothing circle on the back of Shadow's neck.
"No." Shadow looked up, his eyes tired. "But at least we've got something."
Severus nodded. "It's enough. We have a direction for our search now."
Shadow nodded.
"Here." Draco reached for a goblet of water and handed it to his friend, who drank thirstily. "Come on. Let's take a nap. We still have a couple hours before dinner."
Again Shadow nodded. Sirius gently took Marissa from him. The little girl waved at Shadow and said softly, "I'm glad you're okay, Shadow."
"Me, too." Shadow smiled at her and let Draco help him get back to his feet. He was so exhausted because his mind had fought the snitch's intrusion and had lost. They were almost out of the room when Severus' voice pulled them to a halt.
"Tomorrow morning I'd like to talk to you in the Transfiguration study."
Shadow smiled over his shoulder. "Sure. See you there at nine? After breakfast?"
Severus inclined his head and let the two teens continue to bed.
Taking it slow, Draco walked with his arm around Shadow's waist, his friend leaning against his side. He tried not to find the position pleasant, after all Shadow was hurt, but he couldn't help the heat beginning to pool in his belly and groin at Shadow needing him. Finally, they reached Shadow's room and Draco's libido kicked into overdrive as Shadow let him take off his robe, revealing a button-down shirt and slacks.
Shadow lay down and watched through half-lidded eyes as Draco removed his shoes and socks. "You didn't look up the peacock symbology, did you?" he asked sleepily.
Draco's grey eyes met his and they were dark with desire. "No." He shrugged. "I know what the peacock means. Beauty, vanity, and pride. Besides, I was in a hurry to memorize the physical anatomy to worry about it."
"When did you finish it?"
"Two weeks before Christmas break. Sirius came in the afternoons during my free period to help me while you were busy with Rogan and the others."
"Hmmm," Shadow hummed in response, his eyes slipping closed. Draco moved toward the door, but Shadow stopped him. "Sleep with me?"
Draco considered. He definitely had a problem in his pants to take care of, but on the other hand Shadow very rarely let him get so close for so long. Decided, he moved forward and crawled onto the bed. He grinned happily when he saw Shadow's small smile when the bed dipped. Gently, lovingly, he brushed Shadow's curls away from his face and whispered softly, "Sweet dreams."
Shadow was asleep before he could answer.
Chapter End.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you think of Draco's Animagus form and the way I embedded the symbology within the chapter. If anyone wants to see pictures of Draco in his Animagus form, then go to my yahoo group. Check my profile page for the link there. You must be 18 or older to join. If you don't want to do all that, just Google 'white peacock' and it should come up with some pictures.
