AN: Again thanks to the reviewers. I appreciate all the feedback. Really.
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Mark Of The Snake
Chapter 4: Insight
Written by: V Lynne
echoinghearts@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~
Two days later, when everything seemed quiet, all hell broke loose in a manner of speaking. Starting with the arrival of two different groups.
The shock of being told that the man or creature, depending on your point of view, that had wanted his dad dead and turned out was killed by his dad, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger with the help of Draco Malfoy wasn't dead was a blow to his system. James couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe it but he had no reason to doubt Roe. She out of anyone knew of the nightmares that plagued him where he dreamed of his parents' deaths to die at the hand of Voldemort just like his grandparents had.
Thinking of Roe, James thought as he played with his quill going over his notes and then to the paper he was writing for History of Magic, she was being awfully quiet. Very un-Roe like since he's known her for years, from diapers practically, and Roe was not one to be not seen doing something. Even that horrendous music she was bound and determined to listen to no matter the trouble it put her in wasn't playing up in the dormitory. Curious he dropped his quill onto the parchment that was half finished, he moved his chair back and walked past the fire where Forrest and Garrett were playing Wizard Chess, Sebastian making up his Divination homework while Lily, Winnie, and Carnation Wood, another 4th year and Winnie's friend, were looking over the Witches Weekly. Walking up to were the start of the stairs that led up to the girl dormitory, he leaned against the side and waited for one of the 6th year girls to come down. Finally he spotted Topaz.
"Let me guess you want her Royal Highness to come down, right?" Topaz inquired with a dramatic sigh.
"If you could get her."
"Sure thing, James, and by the way just what are you planning to do about the P-A-R-T-Y?"
Unnoticed by both Topaz and James was the figure of Roe, who lifted an eyebrow and rolled her eyes.
"Cause we all know that Roe can't spell." Roe sarcastically informed Topaz, who was startled.
"Oh, Roe, I didn't see you."
"Obviously."
James grinned at Roe's impatience with the vapid headed Topaz. Walking around the girl Roe came down in her robes and with her finishing off her braid, using a band to keep it in place.
"You were being quiet, it scared me." James admitted as they went over to the table where his work was laid out. Taking a vacant chair, she sat down and put her chin on her folded arms lying on the table.
"Really? How interesting." Roe whispered, her voice filled with exhaustion.
Concerned, James moved a hand to her forehead causing her to look under his hand at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking to see if you have a fever."
"Why? I'm tired, not sick, Jamie."
"He just wants a reason to touch you." Sebastian informed, only to have the air knocked out of his lungs by a sharp elbow to the stomach provided by James.
"He doesn't need a reason, 'Bastian," Roe's good mood returned by the prospect of teasing the red head, "do you?"
"I ...um...no?"
Roe giggled at his answer, sitting up in her chair.
"Good thing you weren't thinking of anything at the moment or else I would know if you were lying."
Instantly both boys glanced at each other and then her.
"Sorry but I'm too drained to read your minds, it takes a lot of energy to read thoughts."
Relief showed on their faces that she shook her head at them.
"I'm going to go read in the library, listen to forbidden music and take a nap."
"Good idea, get back to normal, you are frightening the first years by your being normal." Sebastian told her.
Throwing a pillow from the chair she was sitting at directly hitting him in the face, causing laughter by the resident Gryffindors, she exited the passageway and went in search of music, reading, and sleep.
~
Damon Malfoy stood in his own Slytherin dormitory, which was always like a glacier it was so cold, he stood in front of his mirror letting it admire him. The cut of his robe that accented all his features the simple black robe threaded with silver at the seams that matched his silver-gray eyes. Hearing the shrill voices of Ebony Montague and Giselle Bole, catching his name, he had to think of one of the secret passages that lined most of the Slytherin house because anything was better than facing those twin banshee. Finding the one in the 6th year boy dormitory he pressed in the brick that opened it and followed it out so that he came down to right next to the Great Hall entrance doors. Thanking his stars that neither half-wit females knew of any ways but the normal ones to get in and out of Slytherin House he closed the passage just as he caught sight of Roe Granger.
He knew that she was off-limits. No one had to tell him twice, he understood perfectly even now more than ever just what had drawn him to her in first year. The underlining power she welded as well as her nature. A contradiction he was determined to figure out before they graduated next year. Sassy, sarcastic, funny and not to mention she was pretty combined with her other self of being in control and perfect. Unfortunately she was the one girl in the school that hated him fully without any real need for him to earn that hatred. Parents being what they were, although his dad was not so hated by the elder Granger, Potter, or Weasley, it passed to her. She didn't think of him as anything other than Malfoy the ferret. A bane in her existence that he kept up that image for a purpose not bothering to correct her or her friends, only Trey knew and he doubted even now that Trey would tell his sister just who Damon was on the inside. He didn't understand why it bothered him inside that she hated him, only knowing that it did. Knowing that she wasn't a Mudblood yet still not a Pure Blood only made her more attractive to him. It was slowly driving him crazy that out of all the girls that vied for his attention she was the one he wanted but on no level was allowed to have. If he hadn't learned that by now he needed another meeting with Snape to clear that up.
"Going somewhere, Prefect?" He asked, the underlining suggestive tone always a hint of what he wanted from her on more than one level.
Expecting her reaction, the rolling of her cinnamon eyes and the defensive mood she switched to he could almost see it as if those were indeed switches she flipped on and off.
"Couldn't find anyone else to harass?"
"Well it is almost ten and you know," he perfected his smile to be charming, "you are the only one I want to harass, Granger."
"Goody for me."
"Without your protectors?"
"Does it look like I need protection?"
Oh, he had so many things he could say about that. She did look under the weather. Dark bags under her eyes, flushed cheeks, her hair damp from a recent bath that had his imagination running overtime, she looked healthy but completely exhausted.
"No."
"Well then can I pass or do I need to finish justifying that I want to walk around you some more?"
Always with a snapped comment back, no one quite knew how to be as witty as she was maybe it was one of the reasons he delighted in ruffling her unruffable feathers.
"About five more minutes should do it."
"As much fun as that sounds I would rather not. How about you stand there looking all smug and proud of yourself until some female with a low self esteem comes by and you can bark up her tree all you want while I go around and find something better to do than to talk to you?"
Straight to the heart. Why did her comments always have that poisoned tipped edge?
"Go for it if you think you can get past me."
Her eyes seemed to calculate her possibilities before he saw something he never expected to see from Granger. She looked defeated.
"Can't I just do this one simple thing without it becoming a battle with you?"
"If you'd finally admit you're attracted to me then maybe."
Her eyebrows lifted as if shocked when he knew it would take a hell of a lot more than that to shock Granger.
"In your dreams."
"But we aren't talking about what I dream about, Granger. You know you never did explain your actions on the Quidditch field, using your broom to get closer to me, a hairs breath away from kissing me."
"And you are delusional, it was tactic to get the Snitch, which I did because unlike you my brain doesn't not sit between my legs."
^Does she always have to be so blunt?^ He thought.
Roe heard him, her strength was letting her hear him even though it hadn't wanted to and she had wanted to hear Sebastian and James earlier. Why him, she thought, why now?
"If I wasn't blunt what would be the point? It is much easier to insult someone when you know what you say is the truth," Roe came closer, her robes at her knees brushed his legs, "because as the old saying goes the truth hurts."
"Oh really? And what about denying what you want can hurt you even more?"
"How? I don't deny myself what I want."
An open invitation to test that comment of hers, really the girl needed to watch what she said some people might take full advantage, like him.
"Really?" his voice a whisper, "how about we test that?"
Her eyes dilated and contracted like a cat's that it intrigued him. Roe's reactions to him always varied but not once could she completely hide her mutual attraction to him. He had touched her hand once and her skin felt like it was on fire beneath his, reacting to his very presence it was a heady feeling. No girl had ever done that to him.
Stepping closer, her instinct was to step back until he trapped her body between the outside of the passage that he had exited out of and his own body. Fright didn't register in her eyes, he didn't think it would she had too much self respect to be frightened of just a normal body reaction, but almost like denial appeared on her face. She actually thought by force of will she could deny what she wanted, contradicting her earlier words and he hadn't even touched her yet. Interesting that just by putting proximity between them she was conflicting in her head and body. His mouth passed by her ear, he inhaled absorbing the smell of strawberries and cinnamon that always seemed to cling to her, before his warm breath brushed her perfect earlobe and he heard her pulse jump.
"Malfoy, I."
He smiled; even now she put up shields using his last name as a last resort of salvation from her starved senses. Damon knew Potter and Weasley didn't do this to her, they couldn't both were too thick headed to see the woman they had right under their noses then more fools they. He saw her as she was, a warm very responsive woman and in his mind for the moment she was his.
"What, Granger?"
Her voice trembled like she couldn't form coherent sentences that he almost smirked. If he did he knew she would catch on and that was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't letting Perfect Miss Prefect go under he sampled those berry-red lips that had been bugging him for days. Always caught between her teeth when she was deep in thought he had observed and damned himself for it because he was starting to sound like a love sick idiot.
He bent his head a little, moving in so that his lips were on equal level with her petite stature and brushed his lips against her gone-pale ones. It was the smallest of caresses and he moved his lips again twice over hers barely touching her lips. Teasing at them, before giving into his dominate nature and deepening the kiss. Bringing his lips in full contact with her own, meshing their mouths like he would like to do with other parts of their body but knew he couldn't right now. A small opening parted her lips and his tongue took full advantage escaping his own mouth and entering without delay into her own. Tasting, as if sipping at her taste like it was some drink he couldn't get enough of, he flicked his tongue in her mouth until her own tongue was dueling with his a complete participant in this. His hands moved from the wall down to her waist bringing her up higher so that his mouth could get closer to hers, every nerve in his body screamed to get closer. Her hands rested on his shoulders before he felt the bite of her nails through his robe as she moaned into his mouth. His pleasure in having her in his arms again, the whole Quidditch accident not counting as she had been unconscious, made his grip on her tighten as if keeping her to him would deny the rest of the world forever. As he pulled his lips from hers, a whimper came unbidden from her lips and her eyes opened with shock and desire. He let her go to stand on her own two feet again, her look of disbelief of what they had just done, and he smoothed back a stray dark hair behind her ear.
"Good night, Granger."
With complete control or so he told himself he had he turned and left a very stunned petite brunette with swollen kissed lips staring after him.
~
Idiot. Fool. What did you expect some declaration of love? Roe berated herself as she chewed on Fizzing Whizbees, a levitating sherbet ball, while she sat in the library with her ears full of 'Crawlin' by the band Linkin Park. The librarian was in bed and the doors had been locked but a simple "Alohomora" and that was easily fixed.
Going over the events in the hallway, how her body had betrayed her to the feel of Malfoy's warmth. Honestly, who knew a Slytherin could be so warm, she had wanted to crawl inside his skin. Lately she felt so cold. That when he kissed her it felt like her brain was malfunctioning that she couldn't get out the words 'no' or 'stop'. Her hands when she felt him lift her up for better access to her mouth had actually buried themselves in his robes with her thumbs played with the hair at the back of his head. The soft, blond strands felt like silk..
"Ahhh." she growled.
I do not like Malfoy, I will not think of Malfoy, I hate Malfoy. I like James, he is kind and sweet, one of my best friends. Malfoy is a self- absorbed git who belonged with Ebony Montague. Now that was a horrible thought, she admitted to herself. Ebony was undeserving of a guy who kissed like a god..
She felt like slapping herself. Inhaling and exhaling to calm her overactive emotions and mind. Bad idea to head to the library to get rest because now she was more confused then before about what Malfoy inspired in her besides loathing. How could she kiss someone and not even like them? Was she fickle about her feelings for James? And why have she liked it? Why?
Obviously sleep was not going to be her friend, again.
~
Waking up in her bed, Roe stared at her room. Something was wrong she had not fallen asleep in here. Her last thought had been how was she going to get to her room as her head hit the table and she woke up here. In her room, under the covers and in her pajamas.
A wonderful thought occurred. What if my kiss with Malfoy was a dream? She rolled out of bed and spotted Velvet and Wynter coming out of the bathroom.
"Well, morning Roe nice to see you up before noon."
"I was here all night?" Roe asked.
Velvet gave her a questioning look.
"Well, we had kinda of a problem last night cause 'Bastian and James went looking for you when it was ten thirty and you hadn't come back here. So they found you asleep and brought you to bed. We put you in your pajamas and you slept."
Roe groaned her luck. Damn it, I just have to think about that stupid kiss now don't I?
"I wish I had your luck," Wynter piped up with, "having James carrying me around would be heaven."
"And James carried me?"
Both girls nodded. Roe went to her bed and flopped down on it, burying her head in her pillow and screamed. Worried, Velvet went over to Roe's bed.
"Roe, are you alright?"
"Fine. I'm just peachy," the Prefect told the girl, "I'm just going to go to the Prefect Bathroom and drown myself. Pay no attention."
Gathering her things, she pulled on her robe and went to the Prefect Bathroom. The mermaid painting inside was splashing around in the painting as Roe locked the door, slipped out of her clothes and climbed into the huge pool-tub. Twisting the two handles for strawberry bubbles and cinnamon sprays she laid in there. It must have been twenty minutes as her nose filled with water did she realize she had fallen asleep. Getting out, dressing and going back to the dormitory noticing she had five minutes until first class, she hurried out and down to Care of Magical Animals.
James and Sebastian both were already there when she got down to Hagrid's Hut where the class usually was held outside. Remembering that this was the class time with Slytherins, just like Potions and DADA, she avoided all eye contact with any Slytherin.
"Sleep well?" Sebastian teased.
"Oh, bugger off."
"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, dreaming of me again?" Damon Malfoy's voice interceded and she about wanting to crawl into a hole and die.
"Like any girl with a brain would dream of you, Malfoy." Bastian informed the blond.
"Just wondering. Who knows how girls think or how fickle their feelings are?"
Roe was ready to run back to her dorm and stay there for the rest of the day when James took her hand, doing that rubbing over the back of her hand with his thumb calming motion he did so well. Roe didn't notice that Malfoy saw and was glaring at James with hatred.
"Nice room you girls got." James said lightly, seeing a blush appear on her cheeks before she sighed and became confident Roe again.
"Isn't it though? I have to admit I've been tempted to see the boys dormitory," Roe winked at Sebastian, "bet you guys got all kinds of things lying around."
Sebastian turned about three shades of red, before clearing his throat.
"Sorry, Roe, nothing that would interest you."
^Note to self, clean up my collection of..^ Sebastian thought and stopped when he noticed that Roe seemed to be intently leaning his way that he knew she was reading his thought.
"Stay out of my head, Roe!"
"What?" Roe asked innocently, causing James to laugh.
^You look like death worn over, Gryffindor, didn't sleep well?^ Trey's cool wind thought proceeded to invade her mind.
Finding his eyes across the grass knoll she shook her head.
^I bet if you knew that James had carried you to bed you would have slept well^ Trey teased.
She narrowed her eyes at him wondering how he knew.
^Everyone is talking about 'how romantic' it was^ Trey seemed to answer her question.
Roe leaned and felt James's chest directly behind her head.
"Tired, sleepy head?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Roe wondered, then yawned.
He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her while Hagrid made his appearance along with sphinx. Interested in the mythical being, Roe forgot all about being tired for the next hour of class. As it ended they heard a voice coming from the castle.
"Will all students please proceed to the Great Hall for a meeting." Came Professor McGonagall's voice.
Everyone looked at one another.
"Better go 'ounguns. Professor want you be there."
Waving goodbye as they left James teased Sebastian about Roe's sleeping habits.
"Whenever you get around me you seem either mad, upset, or sleepy. Didn't know I had that affect on women." James declared as Sebastian watched Roe stifle another yawn.
"You must exhaust her with your very presence, James."
Roe caught that and glared at Sebastian.
"He does not."
Both laughed at her tone and entered the Great Hall sitting at the Gryffindor table. Wedged between her two taller friends, Roe found it hard to stay awake as her eye lids drooped and she felt herself lean and peaceful sleep set in.
~
Sebastian felt Roe give into her exhaustion. Her body always seeming to seek James's warmth as she leaned against his friend, who unconsciously put a hand around her waist so she didn't shift wrong and fall backwards. Sebastian smiled at the two of them, a great couple if either one of them ever got past that whole brother-sister feeling. He knew that Roe had a crush on James, like Sebastian had a crush on Roe but James didn't feel that way about Roe, or at least didn't admit he did. Sebastian long ago gave up that Roe would love him as anything but a friend. So if he wasn't meant to be with her he couldn't think of a better person for her to be with than James.
Knowing that if someone other than Gryffindors saw Roe sleeping she'd be in trouble so both of them blocked all authority from sighting their friend. Sebastian knew the moment Dumbledore spoke that Roe was missing an important meeting but didn't have the heart to wake her.
"As this is unusual for us to do let's just make sure that you know that you will not be missing any class time today as your classes will just be later in the day," Dumbledore announced to meet many a students' groans, "as it were I have good news. We have found a new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, who I think you all know about or have met and that is our very own Harry Potter."
His announcement was met with cheers that didn't wake up the sleeping girl who seemed dead to the world, as Sebastian and James's shock set in about having James's dad as an acting Professor. Just as Sebastian had seen Harry earlier that summer with the same look as James, only his friend didn't have glasses or the famous scar.
"As well as a visiting guest, Ronald Weasley, one of our Ministry of Magic Aurors."
More cheers for a lot of people knew or had parents that knew Ron. Sebastian's shock got wider.
"And for the news about Beauxbaton, the school we will be having the dance with is allowing four of their top students to act as exchange students for the remainder of the time we have left until our Yule Ball. One of them will be staying in each of our Houses until that time. Please welcome them when they arrive tomorrow morning."
"As our Professor Potter has arrived two months into the school year he will need a few days to prepare a lesson plan and so Defense Against Dark Arts is postponed until then. You are dismissed."
Everyone was chatting away as the place cleared out, James bodily picked up Roe from her seat and that got a lot of girls attentions as they sighed or sniped for lucky Roe was to have James. James ignored all those girls as Sebastian, Lily, Winnie and the other three Weasley children followed them to see Ron and Harry.
James got to the High Table as Dumbledore saw the cradled sleeping Roe in James's arms and smiled.
"Sorry, Professor, I know Roe wasn't trying to be rude but she couldn't stay awake any longer."
"I am sure that Miss Granger has enough on her mind that she has yet to get some peaceful sleep," Dumbledore prompted, "but I can not have you carrying her to all her classes, Mr. Potter, so I would suggest you let Professor Snape take her to her dormitory and get to class after you have visited with your father."
James nodded, as Dumbledore was more like family to him that the Headmaster. Severus appeared and gently took Roe, who shifted in her sleep and had a small scowl on her face at loosing James's touch.
"It would seem that Miss Granger has a particular like for your presence, Mr. Potter."
James grinned but knew it was because Roe and he had fallen asleep many times in many different places over the years that they were extremely comfortable in each other's company. James caught sight of his father and Ron glancing at Roe.
"Sleep well, poppet." Harry whispered before placing a silver chain with something attached in her hand, much to Snape's disgruntled expression. Ron whispered goodnight to her as well before they turned to their kids, nephews and nieces.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sebastian requested.
"We couldn't have our presence known until we got everything cleared with the Ministry and Dumbledore." Harry revealed.
Lily grinned at her dad, who picked her up and hugged her before putting her down.
"How do you like Hogwarts, Lily?" Harry asked.
"It's great! I want to be a Seeker just like you and Roe, though without falling off my broom."
Harry nodded, exchanging a look with his son.
"Dad, why are you here? I understand why Uncle Harry is but Dumbledore said you were just visiting?" Winnie inquired.
"That's right, Winnie. I have some things I need to work on with Dumbledore so I'll be here for the next week, if that's alright?"
"Sure, you can watch Gryffindors next match." Garrett, whose father was George Weasley, stated.
"Hey, Uncle Ron, is everything alright? It's unusual for people to come to Hogwarts like this." Priscilla asked.
"It is but nothing you guys need to worry about. Just ignore us like you would do any other time." Harry joked.
"Minus when you are teaching." Nereida corrected.
"Right. Now why don't you guys get to class before your teachers think we are causing problems already."
"Like you did in school?" James teased.
"We did no such thing," Ron protested, "we were angels."
That caused all of the eight kids to laugh and get out of the Hall.
"Well, at least to my mother you were." Ron admitted.
"Always knew that woman was perfect." Harry claimed.
Ron grinned, as he saw Snape returning.
"Hard to believe our Roe is his daughter, thank Merlin she took after Hermione."
Harry hid his smile as an older Snape came up to them, the Hall empty but for the three of them.
"That necklace is protective amulet." Snape stated.
"Hermione sent it, she also made one for Trey." Harry offered, taking out the matching masculine one.
Snape took it and placed it in a pocket inside his robes.
"Why exactly are you here, Potter?" Snape wondered, his eyes calculating and glanced at Ron.
"We are here to watch out for Roe and to find out who's after her." Ron told him.
"We all know who's after her," Snape snapped, "if you had done what you children thought you had she wouldn't be in danger."
Harry put a hand on Ron's hotheaded shoulder.
"He couldn't have known he would be reborn."
"Well, he is and he's almost killed her once. I won't have either of you endangering her or my son. Whatever investigation you start leave Roe out of it, you saw her. She can barely stay awake because of nightmares and recovering from her Blood Bond."
"Blood Bond?" Harry asked stunned, "she bonded with someone?"
"Your son must not tell you everything, Potter. She had to get blood or she would have died so she is linked to not only your son, but yours as well," Snape nodded to Ron, "along with Damon Malfoy and my son."
Harry and Ron knew what this meant and cursed.
"Do you have anything else from Hermione?" Snape questioned.
"Some shells for talismans," Ron answered, "and a letter," Ron handed the oily Potions Master the parchment sealed with blue wax with the impression of an owl in it.
Turning the man left as Ron shuttered.
"Still gives me the creeps, hard to believe Hermione actually.."
Harry put up his hand to stop Ron's thought.
"Don't say it out loud, I rather not think about it."
"Agreed. So when do we talk to Malfoy's boy?"
"As soon as possible. He has endangered himself and the others now."
"Figures. He is a Malfoy after all."
Harry refused to argue that point. Draco and Ron would never see eye to eye, too much was between them. That Draco's son, Damon, was so like and yet unlike Draco was what made the boy a great Auror, even at his age but in watching Roe he had screwed up and it was up to them to fix that.
~ ~ ~
Hey, look what I did.another chapter..more to come.
January 2, 2002
Mark Of The Snake
Chapter 4: Insight
Written by: V Lynne
echoinghearts@yahoo.com
~ ~ ~
Two days later, when everything seemed quiet, all hell broke loose in a manner of speaking. Starting with the arrival of two different groups.
The shock of being told that the man or creature, depending on your point of view, that had wanted his dad dead and turned out was killed by his dad, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger with the help of Draco Malfoy wasn't dead was a blow to his system. James couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe it but he had no reason to doubt Roe. She out of anyone knew of the nightmares that plagued him where he dreamed of his parents' deaths to die at the hand of Voldemort just like his grandparents had.
Thinking of Roe, James thought as he played with his quill going over his notes and then to the paper he was writing for History of Magic, she was being awfully quiet. Very un-Roe like since he's known her for years, from diapers practically, and Roe was not one to be not seen doing something. Even that horrendous music she was bound and determined to listen to no matter the trouble it put her in wasn't playing up in the dormitory. Curious he dropped his quill onto the parchment that was half finished, he moved his chair back and walked past the fire where Forrest and Garrett were playing Wizard Chess, Sebastian making up his Divination homework while Lily, Winnie, and Carnation Wood, another 4th year and Winnie's friend, were looking over the Witches Weekly. Walking up to were the start of the stairs that led up to the girl dormitory, he leaned against the side and waited for one of the 6th year girls to come down. Finally he spotted Topaz.
"Let me guess you want her Royal Highness to come down, right?" Topaz inquired with a dramatic sigh.
"If you could get her."
"Sure thing, James, and by the way just what are you planning to do about the P-A-R-T-Y?"
Unnoticed by both Topaz and James was the figure of Roe, who lifted an eyebrow and rolled her eyes.
"Cause we all know that Roe can't spell." Roe sarcastically informed Topaz, who was startled.
"Oh, Roe, I didn't see you."
"Obviously."
James grinned at Roe's impatience with the vapid headed Topaz. Walking around the girl Roe came down in her robes and with her finishing off her braid, using a band to keep it in place.
"You were being quiet, it scared me." James admitted as they went over to the table where his work was laid out. Taking a vacant chair, she sat down and put her chin on her folded arms lying on the table.
"Really? How interesting." Roe whispered, her voice filled with exhaustion.
Concerned, James moved a hand to her forehead causing her to look under his hand at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Checking to see if you have a fever."
"Why? I'm tired, not sick, Jamie."
"He just wants a reason to touch you." Sebastian informed, only to have the air knocked out of his lungs by a sharp elbow to the stomach provided by James.
"He doesn't need a reason, 'Bastian," Roe's good mood returned by the prospect of teasing the red head, "do you?"
"I ...um...no?"
Roe giggled at his answer, sitting up in her chair.
"Good thing you weren't thinking of anything at the moment or else I would know if you were lying."
Instantly both boys glanced at each other and then her.
"Sorry but I'm too drained to read your minds, it takes a lot of energy to read thoughts."
Relief showed on their faces that she shook her head at them.
"I'm going to go read in the library, listen to forbidden music and take a nap."
"Good idea, get back to normal, you are frightening the first years by your being normal." Sebastian told her.
Throwing a pillow from the chair she was sitting at directly hitting him in the face, causing laughter by the resident Gryffindors, she exited the passageway and went in search of music, reading, and sleep.
~
Damon Malfoy stood in his own Slytherin dormitory, which was always like a glacier it was so cold, he stood in front of his mirror letting it admire him. The cut of his robe that accented all his features the simple black robe threaded with silver at the seams that matched his silver-gray eyes. Hearing the shrill voices of Ebony Montague and Giselle Bole, catching his name, he had to think of one of the secret passages that lined most of the Slytherin house because anything was better than facing those twin banshee. Finding the one in the 6th year boy dormitory he pressed in the brick that opened it and followed it out so that he came down to right next to the Great Hall entrance doors. Thanking his stars that neither half-wit females knew of any ways but the normal ones to get in and out of Slytherin House he closed the passage just as he caught sight of Roe Granger.
He knew that she was off-limits. No one had to tell him twice, he understood perfectly even now more than ever just what had drawn him to her in first year. The underlining power she welded as well as her nature. A contradiction he was determined to figure out before they graduated next year. Sassy, sarcastic, funny and not to mention she was pretty combined with her other self of being in control and perfect. Unfortunately she was the one girl in the school that hated him fully without any real need for him to earn that hatred. Parents being what they were, although his dad was not so hated by the elder Granger, Potter, or Weasley, it passed to her. She didn't think of him as anything other than Malfoy the ferret. A bane in her existence that he kept up that image for a purpose not bothering to correct her or her friends, only Trey knew and he doubted even now that Trey would tell his sister just who Damon was on the inside. He didn't understand why it bothered him inside that she hated him, only knowing that it did. Knowing that she wasn't a Mudblood yet still not a Pure Blood only made her more attractive to him. It was slowly driving him crazy that out of all the girls that vied for his attention she was the one he wanted but on no level was allowed to have. If he hadn't learned that by now he needed another meeting with Snape to clear that up.
"Going somewhere, Prefect?" He asked, the underlining suggestive tone always a hint of what he wanted from her on more than one level.
Expecting her reaction, the rolling of her cinnamon eyes and the defensive mood she switched to he could almost see it as if those were indeed switches she flipped on and off.
"Couldn't find anyone else to harass?"
"Well it is almost ten and you know," he perfected his smile to be charming, "you are the only one I want to harass, Granger."
"Goody for me."
"Without your protectors?"
"Does it look like I need protection?"
Oh, he had so many things he could say about that. She did look under the weather. Dark bags under her eyes, flushed cheeks, her hair damp from a recent bath that had his imagination running overtime, she looked healthy but completely exhausted.
"No."
"Well then can I pass or do I need to finish justifying that I want to walk around you some more?"
Always with a snapped comment back, no one quite knew how to be as witty as she was maybe it was one of the reasons he delighted in ruffling her unruffable feathers.
"About five more minutes should do it."
"As much fun as that sounds I would rather not. How about you stand there looking all smug and proud of yourself until some female with a low self esteem comes by and you can bark up her tree all you want while I go around and find something better to do than to talk to you?"
Straight to the heart. Why did her comments always have that poisoned tipped edge?
"Go for it if you think you can get past me."
Her eyes seemed to calculate her possibilities before he saw something he never expected to see from Granger. She looked defeated.
"Can't I just do this one simple thing without it becoming a battle with you?"
"If you'd finally admit you're attracted to me then maybe."
Her eyebrows lifted as if shocked when he knew it would take a hell of a lot more than that to shock Granger.
"In your dreams."
"But we aren't talking about what I dream about, Granger. You know you never did explain your actions on the Quidditch field, using your broom to get closer to me, a hairs breath away from kissing me."
"And you are delusional, it was tactic to get the Snitch, which I did because unlike you my brain doesn't not sit between my legs."
^Does she always have to be so blunt?^ He thought.
Roe heard him, her strength was letting her hear him even though it hadn't wanted to and she had wanted to hear Sebastian and James earlier. Why him, she thought, why now?
"If I wasn't blunt what would be the point? It is much easier to insult someone when you know what you say is the truth," Roe came closer, her robes at her knees brushed his legs, "because as the old saying goes the truth hurts."
"Oh really? And what about denying what you want can hurt you even more?"
"How? I don't deny myself what I want."
An open invitation to test that comment of hers, really the girl needed to watch what she said some people might take full advantage, like him.
"Really?" his voice a whisper, "how about we test that?"
Her eyes dilated and contracted like a cat's that it intrigued him. Roe's reactions to him always varied but not once could she completely hide her mutual attraction to him. He had touched her hand once and her skin felt like it was on fire beneath his, reacting to his very presence it was a heady feeling. No girl had ever done that to him.
Stepping closer, her instinct was to step back until he trapped her body between the outside of the passage that he had exited out of and his own body. Fright didn't register in her eyes, he didn't think it would she had too much self respect to be frightened of just a normal body reaction, but almost like denial appeared on her face. She actually thought by force of will she could deny what she wanted, contradicting her earlier words and he hadn't even touched her yet. Interesting that just by putting proximity between them she was conflicting in her head and body. His mouth passed by her ear, he inhaled absorbing the smell of strawberries and cinnamon that always seemed to cling to her, before his warm breath brushed her perfect earlobe and he heard her pulse jump.
"Malfoy, I."
He smiled; even now she put up shields using his last name as a last resort of salvation from her starved senses. Damon knew Potter and Weasley didn't do this to her, they couldn't both were too thick headed to see the woman they had right under their noses then more fools they. He saw her as she was, a warm very responsive woman and in his mind for the moment she was his.
"What, Granger?"
Her voice trembled like she couldn't form coherent sentences that he almost smirked. If he did he knew she would catch on and that was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't letting Perfect Miss Prefect go under he sampled those berry-red lips that had been bugging him for days. Always caught between her teeth when she was deep in thought he had observed and damned himself for it because he was starting to sound like a love sick idiot.
He bent his head a little, moving in so that his lips were on equal level with her petite stature and brushed his lips against her gone-pale ones. It was the smallest of caresses and he moved his lips again twice over hers barely touching her lips. Teasing at them, before giving into his dominate nature and deepening the kiss. Bringing his lips in full contact with her own, meshing their mouths like he would like to do with other parts of their body but knew he couldn't right now. A small opening parted her lips and his tongue took full advantage escaping his own mouth and entering without delay into her own. Tasting, as if sipping at her taste like it was some drink he couldn't get enough of, he flicked his tongue in her mouth until her own tongue was dueling with his a complete participant in this. His hands moved from the wall down to her waist bringing her up higher so that his mouth could get closer to hers, every nerve in his body screamed to get closer. Her hands rested on his shoulders before he felt the bite of her nails through his robe as she moaned into his mouth. His pleasure in having her in his arms again, the whole Quidditch accident not counting as she had been unconscious, made his grip on her tighten as if keeping her to him would deny the rest of the world forever. As he pulled his lips from hers, a whimper came unbidden from her lips and her eyes opened with shock and desire. He let her go to stand on her own two feet again, her look of disbelief of what they had just done, and he smoothed back a stray dark hair behind her ear.
"Good night, Granger."
With complete control or so he told himself he had he turned and left a very stunned petite brunette with swollen kissed lips staring after him.
~
Idiot. Fool. What did you expect some declaration of love? Roe berated herself as she chewed on Fizzing Whizbees, a levitating sherbet ball, while she sat in the library with her ears full of 'Crawlin' by the band Linkin Park. The librarian was in bed and the doors had been locked but a simple "Alohomora" and that was easily fixed.
Going over the events in the hallway, how her body had betrayed her to the feel of Malfoy's warmth. Honestly, who knew a Slytherin could be so warm, she had wanted to crawl inside his skin. Lately she felt so cold. That when he kissed her it felt like her brain was malfunctioning that she couldn't get out the words 'no' or 'stop'. Her hands when she felt him lift her up for better access to her mouth had actually buried themselves in his robes with her thumbs played with the hair at the back of his head. The soft, blond strands felt like silk..
"Ahhh." she growled.
I do not like Malfoy, I will not think of Malfoy, I hate Malfoy. I like James, he is kind and sweet, one of my best friends. Malfoy is a self- absorbed git who belonged with Ebony Montague. Now that was a horrible thought, she admitted to herself. Ebony was undeserving of a guy who kissed like a god..
She felt like slapping herself. Inhaling and exhaling to calm her overactive emotions and mind. Bad idea to head to the library to get rest because now she was more confused then before about what Malfoy inspired in her besides loathing. How could she kiss someone and not even like them? Was she fickle about her feelings for James? And why have she liked it? Why?
Obviously sleep was not going to be her friend, again.
~
Waking up in her bed, Roe stared at her room. Something was wrong she had not fallen asleep in here. Her last thought had been how was she going to get to her room as her head hit the table and she woke up here. In her room, under the covers and in her pajamas.
A wonderful thought occurred. What if my kiss with Malfoy was a dream? She rolled out of bed and spotted Velvet and Wynter coming out of the bathroom.
"Well, morning Roe nice to see you up before noon."
"I was here all night?" Roe asked.
Velvet gave her a questioning look.
"Well, we had kinda of a problem last night cause 'Bastian and James went looking for you when it was ten thirty and you hadn't come back here. So they found you asleep and brought you to bed. We put you in your pajamas and you slept."
Roe groaned her luck. Damn it, I just have to think about that stupid kiss now don't I?
"I wish I had your luck," Wynter piped up with, "having James carrying me around would be heaven."
"And James carried me?"
Both girls nodded. Roe went to her bed and flopped down on it, burying her head in her pillow and screamed. Worried, Velvet went over to Roe's bed.
"Roe, are you alright?"
"Fine. I'm just peachy," the Prefect told the girl, "I'm just going to go to the Prefect Bathroom and drown myself. Pay no attention."
Gathering her things, she pulled on her robe and went to the Prefect Bathroom. The mermaid painting inside was splashing around in the painting as Roe locked the door, slipped out of her clothes and climbed into the huge pool-tub. Twisting the two handles for strawberry bubbles and cinnamon sprays she laid in there. It must have been twenty minutes as her nose filled with water did she realize she had fallen asleep. Getting out, dressing and going back to the dormitory noticing she had five minutes until first class, she hurried out and down to Care of Magical Animals.
James and Sebastian both were already there when she got down to Hagrid's Hut where the class usually was held outside. Remembering that this was the class time with Slytherins, just like Potions and DADA, she avoided all eye contact with any Slytherin.
"Sleep well?" Sebastian teased.
"Oh, bugger off."
"Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, dreaming of me again?" Damon Malfoy's voice interceded and she about wanting to crawl into a hole and die.
"Like any girl with a brain would dream of you, Malfoy." Bastian informed the blond.
"Just wondering. Who knows how girls think or how fickle their feelings are?"
Roe was ready to run back to her dorm and stay there for the rest of the day when James took her hand, doing that rubbing over the back of her hand with his thumb calming motion he did so well. Roe didn't notice that Malfoy saw and was glaring at James with hatred.
"Nice room you girls got." James said lightly, seeing a blush appear on her cheeks before she sighed and became confident Roe again.
"Isn't it though? I have to admit I've been tempted to see the boys dormitory," Roe winked at Sebastian, "bet you guys got all kinds of things lying around."
Sebastian turned about three shades of red, before clearing his throat.
"Sorry, Roe, nothing that would interest you."
^Note to self, clean up my collection of..^ Sebastian thought and stopped when he noticed that Roe seemed to be intently leaning his way that he knew she was reading his thought.
"Stay out of my head, Roe!"
"What?" Roe asked innocently, causing James to laugh.
^You look like death worn over, Gryffindor, didn't sleep well?^ Trey's cool wind thought proceeded to invade her mind.
Finding his eyes across the grass knoll she shook her head.
^I bet if you knew that James had carried you to bed you would have slept well^ Trey teased.
She narrowed her eyes at him wondering how he knew.
^Everyone is talking about 'how romantic' it was^ Trey seemed to answer her question.
Roe leaned and felt James's chest directly behind her head.
"Tired, sleepy head?"
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Roe wondered, then yawned.
He put his hands on her shoulders to steady her while Hagrid made his appearance along with sphinx. Interested in the mythical being, Roe forgot all about being tired for the next hour of class. As it ended they heard a voice coming from the castle.
"Will all students please proceed to the Great Hall for a meeting." Came Professor McGonagall's voice.
Everyone looked at one another.
"Better go 'ounguns. Professor want you be there."
Waving goodbye as they left James teased Sebastian about Roe's sleeping habits.
"Whenever you get around me you seem either mad, upset, or sleepy. Didn't know I had that affect on women." James declared as Sebastian watched Roe stifle another yawn.
"You must exhaust her with your very presence, James."
Roe caught that and glared at Sebastian.
"He does not."
Both laughed at her tone and entered the Great Hall sitting at the Gryffindor table. Wedged between her two taller friends, Roe found it hard to stay awake as her eye lids drooped and she felt herself lean and peaceful sleep set in.
~
Sebastian felt Roe give into her exhaustion. Her body always seeming to seek James's warmth as she leaned against his friend, who unconsciously put a hand around her waist so she didn't shift wrong and fall backwards. Sebastian smiled at the two of them, a great couple if either one of them ever got past that whole brother-sister feeling. He knew that Roe had a crush on James, like Sebastian had a crush on Roe but James didn't feel that way about Roe, or at least didn't admit he did. Sebastian long ago gave up that Roe would love him as anything but a friend. So if he wasn't meant to be with her he couldn't think of a better person for her to be with than James.
Knowing that if someone other than Gryffindors saw Roe sleeping she'd be in trouble so both of them blocked all authority from sighting their friend. Sebastian knew the moment Dumbledore spoke that Roe was missing an important meeting but didn't have the heart to wake her.
"As this is unusual for us to do let's just make sure that you know that you will not be missing any class time today as your classes will just be later in the day," Dumbledore announced to meet many a students' groans, "as it were I have good news. We have found a new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, who I think you all know about or have met and that is our very own Harry Potter."
His announcement was met with cheers that didn't wake up the sleeping girl who seemed dead to the world, as Sebastian and James's shock set in about having James's dad as an acting Professor. Just as Sebastian had seen Harry earlier that summer with the same look as James, only his friend didn't have glasses or the famous scar.
"As well as a visiting guest, Ronald Weasley, one of our Ministry of Magic Aurors."
More cheers for a lot of people knew or had parents that knew Ron. Sebastian's shock got wider.
"And for the news about Beauxbaton, the school we will be having the dance with is allowing four of their top students to act as exchange students for the remainder of the time we have left until our Yule Ball. One of them will be staying in each of our Houses until that time. Please welcome them when they arrive tomorrow morning."
"As our Professor Potter has arrived two months into the school year he will need a few days to prepare a lesson plan and so Defense Against Dark Arts is postponed until then. You are dismissed."
Everyone was chatting away as the place cleared out, James bodily picked up Roe from her seat and that got a lot of girls attentions as they sighed or sniped for lucky Roe was to have James. James ignored all those girls as Sebastian, Lily, Winnie and the other three Weasley children followed them to see Ron and Harry.
James got to the High Table as Dumbledore saw the cradled sleeping Roe in James's arms and smiled.
"Sorry, Professor, I know Roe wasn't trying to be rude but she couldn't stay awake any longer."
"I am sure that Miss Granger has enough on her mind that she has yet to get some peaceful sleep," Dumbledore prompted, "but I can not have you carrying her to all her classes, Mr. Potter, so I would suggest you let Professor Snape take her to her dormitory and get to class after you have visited with your father."
James nodded, as Dumbledore was more like family to him that the Headmaster. Severus appeared and gently took Roe, who shifted in her sleep and had a small scowl on her face at loosing James's touch.
"It would seem that Miss Granger has a particular like for your presence, Mr. Potter."
James grinned but knew it was because Roe and he had fallen asleep many times in many different places over the years that they were extremely comfortable in each other's company. James caught sight of his father and Ron glancing at Roe.
"Sleep well, poppet." Harry whispered before placing a silver chain with something attached in her hand, much to Snape's disgruntled expression. Ron whispered goodnight to her as well before they turned to their kids, nephews and nieces.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Sebastian requested.
"We couldn't have our presence known until we got everything cleared with the Ministry and Dumbledore." Harry revealed.
Lily grinned at her dad, who picked her up and hugged her before putting her down.
"How do you like Hogwarts, Lily?" Harry asked.
"It's great! I want to be a Seeker just like you and Roe, though without falling off my broom."
Harry nodded, exchanging a look with his son.
"Dad, why are you here? I understand why Uncle Harry is but Dumbledore said you were just visiting?" Winnie inquired.
"That's right, Winnie. I have some things I need to work on with Dumbledore so I'll be here for the next week, if that's alright?"
"Sure, you can watch Gryffindors next match." Garrett, whose father was George Weasley, stated.
"Hey, Uncle Ron, is everything alright? It's unusual for people to come to Hogwarts like this." Priscilla asked.
"It is but nothing you guys need to worry about. Just ignore us like you would do any other time." Harry joked.
"Minus when you are teaching." Nereida corrected.
"Right. Now why don't you guys get to class before your teachers think we are causing problems already."
"Like you did in school?" James teased.
"We did no such thing," Ron protested, "we were angels."
That caused all of the eight kids to laugh and get out of the Hall.
"Well, at least to my mother you were." Ron admitted.
"Always knew that woman was perfect." Harry claimed.
Ron grinned, as he saw Snape returning.
"Hard to believe our Roe is his daughter, thank Merlin she took after Hermione."
Harry hid his smile as an older Snape came up to them, the Hall empty but for the three of them.
"That necklace is protective amulet." Snape stated.
"Hermione sent it, she also made one for Trey." Harry offered, taking out the matching masculine one.
Snape took it and placed it in a pocket inside his robes.
"Why exactly are you here, Potter?" Snape wondered, his eyes calculating and glanced at Ron.
"We are here to watch out for Roe and to find out who's after her." Ron told him.
"We all know who's after her," Snape snapped, "if you had done what you children thought you had she wouldn't be in danger."
Harry put a hand on Ron's hotheaded shoulder.
"He couldn't have known he would be reborn."
"Well, he is and he's almost killed her once. I won't have either of you endangering her or my son. Whatever investigation you start leave Roe out of it, you saw her. She can barely stay awake because of nightmares and recovering from her Blood Bond."
"Blood Bond?" Harry asked stunned, "she bonded with someone?"
"Your son must not tell you everything, Potter. She had to get blood or she would have died so she is linked to not only your son, but yours as well," Snape nodded to Ron, "along with Damon Malfoy and my son."
Harry and Ron knew what this meant and cursed.
"Do you have anything else from Hermione?" Snape questioned.
"Some shells for talismans," Ron answered, "and a letter," Ron handed the oily Potions Master the parchment sealed with blue wax with the impression of an owl in it.
Turning the man left as Ron shuttered.
"Still gives me the creeps, hard to believe Hermione actually.."
Harry put up his hand to stop Ron's thought.
"Don't say it out loud, I rather not think about it."
"Agreed. So when do we talk to Malfoy's boy?"
"As soon as possible. He has endangered himself and the others now."
"Figures. He is a Malfoy after all."
Harry refused to argue that point. Draco and Ron would never see eye to eye, too much was between them. That Draco's son, Damon, was so like and yet unlike Draco was what made the boy a great Auror, even at his age but in watching Roe he had screwed up and it was up to them to fix that.
~ ~ ~
Hey, look what I did.another chapter..more to come.
January 2, 2002
