Chapter Twenty-Three

The Talisman

"Holy shit."

As soon as Harry heard the words leave his lips, his hands flew up and clamped over his offending mouth. I can't believe I just swore in front of the headmaster. Ohshitohshitohshitohshitohshitohshitohshit… But even as Harry was thinking that, Dumbledore turned his twinkling eyes away from Draco.

"I was thinking along the same lines myself, Harry." He turned back to Draco and looked at the talisman-implanted chest. He made to touch where the talisman was, but stopped. Cerulean eyes met sapphire eyes. "May I, Draco?"

Harry saw Draco nod and Dumbledore reached out a hand. The ancient fingers ran down the skin and not once were they thrown off course by a ridge or a bump created by the talisman. "Curious," said Dumbledore. "Very curious."

Draco seemed surprised, but unnaturally calm. "I can feel the magic starting," he said, amazed. "I only put it on a few minutes ago, but I feel something happening."

Dumbledore stepped away from the Slytherin, though not averting his eyes. Harry saw the sheer incredulity in the old man's eyes. The typical twinkle was intensified tenfold. Finally, Dumbledore tore his eyes from Draco to gaze at Harry. "You must watch Draco, Harry. If anything should happen, I want you to bring him here. I am not expecting anything. However, just in case…"

Harry nodded. Draco ran his own fingers along his flat chest now. "Bloody hell."

Harry stepped forward, staring at his boyfriend. His eyes followed the markings on the pale chest. Even in the space of those few moments, the talisman, that had been merely embedded in Draco's chest, had all but disappeared into the skin. It seemed now as though Draco had gotten a henna tattoo. Where the leather string had rested, there was now a thin and faint tan line that led to a circle at the base of Draco's sternum. The talisman had become a tan print against the creamy skin.

Harry put out a hand and traced the markings with his fingers. He felt nothing different at all from the last time his fingers had been there just days ago. The two boys' eyes met, reflecting astonishment. Harry was impressed at the way Draco was handling the situation. If a necklace had suddenly become part of my body, I don't think that I would be so calm.

As if reading Harry's thoughts, Draco shook his head and said, "You would be fine. You will be fine."

Harry's eyes grew when he realized what Draco's words meant. "You don't mean-"

"Yes," said Draco. "I will be passing Tyr's Talisman to you. You need this power more than I do." Draco stepped forward and slipped his arms around Harry's waist. "I'm alright, Har. Really." Draco's eyes were still fixed on Harry's. Harry could see Draco was telling the truth. He was fine.

Dumbledore stepped forward then, startling the pair. He was holding a small square of parchment. "This note," he said, holding up the square, "says that the two of you are free to stay in each other's rooms at any time, for any reason. You may also know the passwords to the other's common room. And you have free reign to the books in the Restricted Section of the Library to learn all you can about this talisman. I will alert your Heads of House and Madam Pince to all of this. And in a few days, I will send word to you regarding the protection spell." Dumbledore smiled at the boys, his eyes twinkling brightly. "Now Harry, I suggest you take Mister Malfoy and yourself to his quarters. The two of you should rest a bit. It has been a very exciting evening."

Harry nodded, smiling at the headmaster. He slipped his right hand into Draco's left and their rings began singing to them again. They started toward the door and were almost out when Dumbledore's voice stopped them.

"Is that-?" The headmaster tilted his head to the side, as though he were listening to something. "Is that 'Beauty and the Beast'?"

The boys' eyes grew. "You-You can hear that, sir?" stammered Draco. "I was under the impression that no one else should be able to hear the music."

"Ah, yes," said Dumbledore. "But anyone can hear, see, or smell anything if only they develop the skills."

Draco looked scandalized until Dumbledore held up a hand. "I assure you, Draco, that you, Harry, and I will be the only ears to hear that song." Dumbledore smiled and made a shooing gesture at the couple. "Off you go, then."


~*~*~*~

The next day, Harry and Draco, with the help of the rest of the members of their respective houses, read through many of the books in the Restricted Section, looking for any and all information on Tyr and his talisman. Much of their free time was spent in the Library. Hermione was the first to find anything.

"Hey. Hey! Hey! I think I have something!" she cried. She ran to the table the eight students had been working at, waving a book at them.

"What is it, 'Mione?" asked Draco. He surprised even himself when he called the girl by her nickname. Fourteen eyes snapped to the blonde's face. "What?!?" he cried indignantly.

Harry smiled, leaned in, and place an small kiss on Draco's cheek. Still smiling, Harry looked expectantly at the bushy-haired girl who had finally arrived at the table.

"What did you find?" asked Draco again.

Hermione dumped the book on the table in front of him and pointed to a paragraph on the page. "Read that," she said.

Draco cleared his throat and began reading aloud.

~~~***~~~***~~~

Tyr was the Norse god of war and justice. He is often depicted as having only one hand. As legend goes, Tyr lost his right hand to the wolf, Fenris.

Fenris had been bound by the other gods, and challenged to break free. He broke through his bounds twice. The third time he was bound, Fenris asked for someone to place their hand in his mouth as a promise that he would be let free if he could not free himself. Tyr, being the most brave, stepped forward and placed his right hand in the wolf's mouth. Fenris could not free himself, and the gods broke their promise, keeping him bound. As punishment, Fenris bit off Tyr's hand.

~~~***~~~***~~~

When Draco finished, he looked up. "Alright, so the guy had no hand. Woo hoo. What does that mean?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know, but it's something."

Draco grinned. Even Hermione can get stumped every once in a while. That's refreshing. He stood and patted her on the back. "Good job, 'Mione. Thank you."

He stepped past her and started off toward the Restricted Section again. Only he and Harry were allowed into the section, so they took turns going in to find books that might help. He wandered back and forth through the books, reading out titles, and hoping there may be something that could help.

"Moste Potente Potions." Draco shook his head. "Nope. I already have that one, but it won't help anyway. Lovely Love Spells for the Cheerful Charmer." Draco grinned slyly. "Hmm. I might have to come back for that one… Could make life with Harry more interesting." He chuckled and moved on, making a mental note of the book's place. "Dark Artifacts and their Purposes. That might help." He picked up the last book and carried it back to the table. Thank Merlin I keep in shape. I wouldn't be able to carry this ruddy book if I didn't. He dropped the hefty book on the table next to Norse Gods: Who They Were, and Why We Care, the book Hermione had retrieved from the stacks.

"Did you find anything, Dray?" asked Harry, looking up. The other six people looked up from the books they were inspecting, interested.

"I picked up one. Hopefully it'll help." Draco tapped the book he'd retrieved and sat down next to Harry again and flipped the book over to get to the index in the back. He opened it and read. " 'Gryffindor's Sword.' Hmm, guess old man Godric wasn't such a goodie two-shoes after all."

Harry smiled. He was looking over Draco's shoulder as he read. "Guess not. But nothing bad happened when I had it," said Harry.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You had it? How?"

He watched a blush spread across Harry's cheeks. "Erm. Never mind. Let's get on with it. What else is in there?"

"Alright then." Draco threw Harry a confused look. He's holding a lot more secrets in that head of his than he's told me. Note to self: Make Harry spill. He turned back to the book. "Hand of Glory… Bugger. Always wanted one of those."

"No doubt. Ever since second year." said Harry. Draco looked at Harry, surprised.

"How do you know that?" cried Draco. Hermione and Ron, who had been listening in on the conversation, dropped their heads and became engrossed in the books in front of them again.

"I'm the Boy-Who-Knows-Everything," said Harry, grinning.

Draco gaped at Harry. He knew he was not about to hear all Harry's secrets now, with everyone else there. Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry, who sat innocently next to him. Draco watched Harry lean over and look at the book in front of his boyfriend.

"I don't think this page is helping much. Why don't we go to the page with the T's?" asked Harry helpfully. He moved Draco's hand, which had been pointing at the items listed on the page, and flipped several pages till he found the S's and T's. Then Draco's hand was placed back in the book. Draco shook himself and turned to the new page under his finger.

"Sorceror's Stone. Oh, I would love to have one of those," breathed Draco. Vin and Greg nodded, smiling.

"No you wouldn't," said Harry, Ron and Hermione together. The Slytherins looked at the trio, flabbergasted.

"Why the hell not?" asked Vin.

Ron shook his head. "Just trust us. They are too much work."

Draco looked at his boyfriend, who was staring off into space like he was remembering something from long ago. "What?" asked Draco quietly.

"Just remembering the Sorceror's Stone," said Harry faintly. He shook his head vigorously, as if to clear the memory from his head. Draco frowned. This boy has too many secrets. Draco stared at Harry for another minute, and then turned back to the book

"Oh! Here it is, Tyr's Talisman. Page four hundred and sixty-three." Draco flipped the old book to the correct page. There was a picture of the talisman and several paragraphs about it. Draco looked at Harry, excited, and then looked back to the page. He began to read aloud again.

~~~***~~~***~~~

Tyr's Talisman ia a rare artifact, indeed. Originally discovered by Sven Eriksen, the talisman is said to have intense magic ingrained in it. When worn, the talisman will strengthen the witch or wizard's powers. This is not to say that the powers already present will be enhanced. Instead, the powers harnessed by their wand will be duplicated and transferred. The bearer of Tyr's Talisman, after the period of two weeks, will have the capability of using magic with or without a wand. There will no longer be the need for a wand, although the witch or wizard may use one if they so desire.

When an individual dons the talisman, it will integrate itself into the body of the wearer. The talisman must do this to harness the magic within the person. The talisman was made to infiltrate the soul and copy all the powers held within. The talisman leaves a trace of itself inside the wizard or witch's soul that will continue the matching of powers. This disposes of the need to wear the talisman more than once. From the moment the talisman is removed, any powers the wearer gains henceforth will be transferred and translated to the wandless magic as well.

~~~***~~~***~~~

Draco stopped reading and gaped at the book in front of him. A hand trailed to his chest. This thing is inside my soul. Holy shit. The others were staring at him. Harry looked down at the page.

"Wait, Dray, there's more." Harry pointed at the page and read aloud.

~~~***~~~***~~~

If the wearer tries to remove the talisman before the two weeks has expired, that individual will create the same effect as a dementor does. That is to say, the person's soul will part company with their body. Therefore it is advised that once the talisman is donned, it should not be removed.

In contrast, if the talisman is worn longer than the two week period, or if it is worn more than once, the witch or wizard will be relieved of all powers, wandless or otherwise. That is to say, the person that tries to enhance his or her powers more than suggested will be punished by the extraction of all magic from their being. This person from that day forward will be incapable of using magic in any way, shape, or form. They would be rendered magic-less, known in ordinary terms as a squib or muggle, depending on their origin of birth.

When the two weeks are coming to a close, the talisman will bring itself back to its original form, so the bearer must not wrench it from their body, as they will take their soul with it. Then, the talisman must be passed along to another's possession within two weeks. Otherwise all that was bestowed upon the individual will be relinquished and the wandless powers will dissipate.

The burden of Tyr's Talisman must not be taken lightly. This power is extremely volatile if the measures drawn out here are not taken. Great caution is advised when dealing with this artifact.

~~~***~~~***~~~

All eyes were again on Draco. The silence was threatening to become heavy until one voice rang out.

"Bloody hell!" cried Greg.

~*~TBC~*~