"So nice to see you again, Talis. How have you been?" Blue's face split into a malicious grin. "Still out there corrupting the world with your filth?"

I grit my teeth to stop myself from snarling. Losing my cool now could result in death.

"I see your scar has healed. Ugly thing." Blue took a step forward, but I held my ground. "Shame I couldn't just blow your head off. I bet it would have improved your -"

I interrupted him. "I see you still rely on petty name-calling and insults to make yourself feel better about your own pathetic life," I said, hand tightening on my wand. "You haven't changed, Blue. I knew you'd become something after school. I just didn't think you needed to become a Death Eater to try to amount to something."

Blue tutted calmly. "Now look who is name-calling."

"How's Frieda?" I asked.

"Oh. She's not around anymore." Blue brushed invisible dirt from the front of his cloak, then his blue eyes stared at me. "She was useful, for a while, then she outlived her purpose. I got rid of her last year."

"Just a name in the ever-growing list of people you've killed?"

Blue shrugged. "What's one life to a life-time of loyalty and acceptance? You could join us, y'know. I'm sure the Dark Lord would love to make a pet out of you." He laughed, loud and harsh. "I'd bet you'd look SPLENDID in a collar, eating scraps from the table, like the lowlife mongrel you are."

There was a cackle from somewhere behind me.

"You used to think my heritage was a gift," I said. "I remember a time when you were jealous of my bloodline."

"Why would I be jealous of such filth?"

"I believe you said something along the lines of my bloodline being an advantage. To be something others aren't, to be special." I stared into his blue eyes. "You always wanted to be special, Blue, and you were, to me." I narrowed my eyes to slits. "But that ship has sailed. You mean nothing to me anymore."

"That feeling has always been mutual, my friend," Blue muttered.

"No." I shook my head. "That feeling was certainly not always mutual." I glanced around the room.

The Death Eaters had Harry and the others in tight grips around the room, wands pressed against throats. All eyes were on Blue and me, enraptured and not missing anything.

"Do your new friends know that you were the one to come onto me first? That you, a supposed straight male, turned to his best friend for his first kiss?" A nerve twitched near his right eye; even after all these years, I still recognized the sign of his rage starting to surface. "Do they also know that we were once together? Do they know you screamed my name when we were having sex?"

A series of angry curses and mutters came from the Death Eaters around us. Blue stared around at his companions, eyes wide of false innocence.

"He lies!" Blue screeched. "I would never -"

"You came to me. You wanted me to do it." I spat in his direction. "And yet you have the audacity to accuse me of being filthy? Your mirror must be foggy," I snarled. "You're a pathetic excuse for a man, Blue Jacobs."

A loud boom echoed throughout the room, almost drowning my words.

A bright light filtered through the dusty shadows of the stone courtroom. I could hear the whisper of cloaks and the thudding of shoes and boots against the floor.

There was a moment of silence as the newcomers took in the situation.

A moment . . .

...

Then chaos took over.

Curses and hexes were shouted, echoing off the stone benches and walls. Smoke, light and dark, spun through the air as the Order of the Phoenix fought with the Death Eaters. Light of various colors shot around the room in deadly beams.

A white hot heat shot past my face. I blinked.

"Fight, Creary!"

My wand seemed to have a mind of its own. I could feel my mouth forming the words as spells shot from the tip. Noise seemed to die away, and my vision tunneled until all I could see was the narrowed blue gaze of my former best friend. I ducked. I dodged. I cast hex after hex at the man I had once loved.

"You are nothing!" Blue screamed as he whipped his hand back and forth.

I threw up a reflective shield. His curses bounced off into other directions. "You are pathetic!" Another curse. My shield creaked. "You are a beast!" My shield started to crack. "You are a filthy fag!" I winced as I felt the power behind the attack. "You are dead!" My shield shattered. A blazing heat struck my chest. A howl of pain ripped up my throat.

My wand fell to the stone floor with a barely heard clatter as my body forced itself to transform. My claws left gouges in the stone as I lunged forward with my jaw gaping wide. I snapped at his arm; he dodged to the right. I swung my clawed hand at him, and he dodged again. A curse was shouted, but I could not hear what it was. For a moment I was suspended in the air, mid-attack, then the pain struck me full-force in the chest. It felt as if something made of hot metal was slicing my chest once, twice, three times. My howl was cut off as I lunged again.

This time I did not miss.

My sharp teeth sunk into soft flesh. A scream of pain became a gurgle as I held Blue by his throat a foot off the ground. For a heartbeat I felt remorse; Blue had been my first friend, my first lover, my first heartbreak. He had been there for me since the first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But... he was also the man behind my pain and suffering. The man who cast me aside when I was no longer any use to him. The man with so much potential who turned to the darkness for the acceptance he craved.

The pain in my chest worsened.

The body fell to the floor with a thud that echoed in my ears, and I swayed on my paws. Looking down, I saw what was causing the pain. Just as I thought, three deep wounds were zigzagging down my torso. It took a moment for me to realize the wounds were not healing. My bloodline was not working. I grew dizzy as the blood freely flowed down my body to pool at my feet.

"Talis! TALIS!"

My body slumped forward onto the stone floor beside Blue's corpse. I felt my body revert back to my human form, but the pain in my chest did not go away.

"NO! TALIS!"

...

Harry backed away first but not too far. "I'm not gay," he whispered, lips brushing against mine with every word. "I'm not."

I looked into deep green eyes. "Who are you trying to convince?" I asked quietly. "Me? Or yourself?" I didn't move away from him but leaned against the wall, relaxing my shoulders. I didn't want Harry to feel like I was pressuring him into kissing me again. Instead, I just looked at him as I waited for him to speak, to move, to back away and scream hexes at me.

"I-I don't know what I want," Harry murmured. His grip on my hand tightened. "What should I do?"

"You're the Boy-Who-Lived." I gazed into those emerald eyes and blinked slowly. "You'll know what you want, but only when you're ready."

"I think. . . I think I am ready."

"Then what do you want?"

"I think I want you."

...

I flinched at the name in the same way people wince at "Voldemort." I heaved a sigh to steady my nerves. "Yes. That was his name."

"What was he like?"

"Very easy-going and friendly. He was my first friend here at Hogwarts. I was raised by Muggles, but it didn't bother him. He was very intrigued by the Muggle way of life."

"What did he look like?"

"A bit taller than myself. Very light hair, kind of a light brown. It was short and neat. His eyes were light blue, almost sun-high sky blue." I focused on the teenager straddling my lap. "A lot different from you, Harry."

Harry frowned a bit, and I almost kissed his sadness away. "Is that a bad thing?"

I shook my head, hair catching on the bark behind me. "No. That's a very good thing. I don't want to be with someone who reminds me of him. He's a bad memory, but you, Harry, are a refreshing present." The green-eyed teenager shuffled his fingers through my hair as he drifted into thought. I sat there, enjoying the feeling of his skin on my scalp and waiting patiently for his next question.

"What was . . . er . . . What was your first time like?" Harry's face lit up with a delicate blush, and I smiled gently. "I-I mean, were you on bo-bottom? Or top?" He was flat out adorable when he was flustered. "It's okay if you don't want to say."

"I was on top," I replied. "It had been Blue's idea to have sex." The memory popped up in the back of my mind without me having to summon it. "Our dormmates were in Hogsmeade, and I wasn't feeling very well. Blue stayed behind to keep me company. I don't really remember who kissed who first. We had a silencing charm and locking charm on the door so if anyone came back they would think we were just trying to sleep. It happened so fast . . . I remember my cock being squeezed by a tight heat then a feeling of euphoria." I felt something against my lower stomach; Harry was getting hard. "It was an incredible feeling." I looked up at Harry and smirked slightly at the flushed look on his face. I was surprised that my telling him about Blue had given him an erection. My grip on his hips tightened against, and I pushed my pelvis upwards. The sound that came from his mouth, so much like the one he uttered in my dream, almost made my zipper break.

Harry leaned in until his mouth was at my ear. "Would you feel the same with me?" he asked before nipping playfully at my earlobe.

I groaned through gritted teeth. "Harry . . ."

"Talis . . . I'm hard." Harry ground his hips down on mine for emphasis, moving back to stare into my eyes. "I want you to make me feel that way - the way you made Blue feel."

"You're going to be the death of me . . ."

"Touch me, Creary."

I raised my hand to his face and caressed his skin. "With pleasure, Potter."

...

"How do you know if he won't be another Blue?"

I slammed my hand on the table. "Do not say his name! Do not even compare them," I snarled. "He will never turn out like him." I shot a hand through my dark brown spikes, the green tips swaying through my vision. "He's nothing like him," I added in a quieter voice. "He actually cares about my well-being. I'm more to him than just a fuck toy."

My uncle stared at me for a few moments then sighed heavily. "What the fuck am I going to do with you?"

...

Harry beamed down at me, hands nestled in my dark hair, admiring the view from his perch on my lap. He was smiling happily, which made me happy. "What are you thinking about, love?" I asked.

"You," he replied bluntly, his smile never falling.

...

I looked down at the beauty in my arms. He was frowning, eyes searching mine. I leaned my head down and kissed him gently. "You can always come back during the day," I said quietly. "But please do not skip any of your classes just to see me. Then Umbridge really will send me away. She's already banished Uncle Salo; he's staying in Hogsmeade. I don't want that to happen, and neither do you." I kissed him again. "I promise we'll find time for us soon."

Harry sighed against my lips. "Okay," he said. "I love you, Talis."

"And I love you, Harry. Now go." I gave him a final squeeze then released him. I walked them to the door and watched them hurry up the castle. Harry glanced back more than once as night settled on the grounds.

...

"You don't know what I have been through." My patience snapped. "You act like you're such a bad ass when, in reality, you are nothing but a fifteen year old boy. You don't know a damned thing." My canines pricked my bottom lip as they extended. "You don't have to deal with the stares of disgust, of hatred, every time I walk out onto the street. You don't have to deal with jobs passing you over, no matter how desperate you are, because of something that was not your fault. You don't have to worry about going to Azkaban prison for being in a relationship with an underage wizard. You think you have it so rough, Harry James Potter? Take a fuckin' stroll in my shoes."

"It's not my fault your grandparents committed bestiality and produced a dangerous bloodline, you fuckin' monster," Harry spat. "That's your problem."

I stared at him.

My heart dropped to my stomach.

A burning hurt my eyes.

"No," I finally managed to say, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall. "My problem was falling in love with a person like you." I turned away from him. "Get out." I heard the doorknob click as the door was opened, but it did not shut. I spun around to face the younger teenager. His face was not as angry anymore; shame and fear could be seen in his eyes. "Get the fuck out," I spat at him. "Don't fucking come back."

"Talis, I - "

"Fuck off." I left turned away from him and walked out of the room to my bedroom. I heard the door shut hastily a few moments later.

...

"How did you do that?"

"Like I said, it was illegal." I glanced at Harry. "It wouldn't be the first illegal thing I've done."

Harry stared at me, but I ignored him.

...

We stood in silence for a few moments, just staring at each other. I could tell he was genuinely sorry, but flashes of my past bombarded my brain. Blue eyes and brown hair light enough to be called blonde. A flash of light then the sight of blood flying from my face. I gave myself a shake. "You really hurt me, Harry."

"I know I did," he said, regret coating his words.

"You treated me just like Blue did." That made him visibly flinch. "Both of you loved me then tossed me aside, calling me a monster. I swore to myself that I would never let that happen to me again."

...

"If something, anything, happens to me, I will let you know I'm safe as soon as I can," I promised.

Harry frowned but nodded. "I'm holding you to that."

I smiled and gave him a slight push. "I'll see when I see you, Harry. Hopefully sooner than later."

Harry stepped into the Gryffindor common room. He paused and looked back. "I love you, Talis Corvus Creary."

I hesitated for a moment, studying his face. Those emerald eyes were still shiny from his tears but there was no denying it. The emotion could not be faked. "I love you too, Harry James Potter."

...

"I'll meet you guys down there," I said, taking my wand out of its sheath. "There's not enough room, and I can make sure there's not any unwanted company in the lobby."

Harry stared at me. "And what would happen if there was someone there?"

"Then I would take care of them."

"And if they got to you first?" Fear glazed his emerald eyes.

I sighed quietly. "I told you I would love you beyond death, Harry. And I meant it." I rested a hand on the telephone box door. "I'll see you guys down there."

...

"Talis! No!"

Hands rolled me onto my back. I gasped for air, tasting and smelling blood. A blurry face starred down at me, bright green eyes wide. A warm hand cupped the side of my face. Harry looked away; the sounds of fighting were oddly muffled, and his voice sounded like there was a thick fog between us. "Someone help! Talis! Talis, you'll be okay. I promise. Someone!"

"Harry." The bright green eyes returned to me.

"Talis. Y-You'll be okay," he said, choking back a sob. Why was he crying? Was he hurt? "We'll get you some help." He glanced down at my chest and the color drained from his face. "Oh God." I tried to lift my head a bit, but he gently lowered me back to the stone floor. "No. Don't look. It's - It's not as bad as you think." Tears freely flowed down his face. "Someone, help!"

The coldness of the stone was seeping into my body, sapping the warmth. But I did not have the strength to shiver. My eyelids grew heavy. Maybe if I took a nap, I'll wake up feeling loads better.

"No! No, don't close your eyes!" Harry's voice kind of broke through the haze. "Stay awake!"

"Harry, I'm tired." Why was I whispering? Was I too tired to speak properly?

Harry swiped his hand across his eyes, leaving behind vivid red stripes. His tears bled into the redness and pink trails raced down his beautiful face.

"You are so pretty, Harry," I complimented softly.

A choked laugh came from my boyfriend. "Y-You're pretty, too, Talis."

I blinked slowly, forcing my eyelids to part. "I love you, Harry."

"Don't say that like that!" he snarled. "You're going to be okay. We-We'll have a good laugh about this later." He lightly tapped the side of my head when I closed my eyes. "But you have to stay awake," he said. "Please. Just stay awake. Stay awake!" He shook me a bit roughly, and I gave a weak grunt of protest. "Please... Don't go." He gathered me into his arms, but there was no warmth.

"I love you," I repeated, just barely opening my eyes.

"I love you too," Harry said hurriedly, almost desperately. "I love you so much."

I forced in a breath, but choked when blood blocked my airways. It was all I could taste. I cleared my throat the best I could, but all I could manage was a whisper. "Beyond death, right?"

"Yeah. That's right. Beyond death."

Fatigue washed over me like a gentle wave. In Harry's arms, I felt safe enough in all this chaos to take a small snooze. Maybe I'll have my energy back. Then I can save the day, and Harry will be so proud of me. My lips twitched into a tiny smile at the thought. We'd be happy again.

"Talis?"

I closed my eyes.