A/N- Hee hee. Two chapters out, one right after the other. Yeah, I've
been on a roll. I had a short little timeline for chapters 16 through 20.
Sixteen and seventeen took place on October 19 except for the end of
seventeen, which was on the twenty-eighth, eighteen on the twenty-ninth and
the morning of the thirtieth, and twenty on Halloween, which was a
Wednesday in 1996. Just giving everyone a little reference here. I doubt
chapters will be out this fast very often, but your reviews make it more
likely. I love seeing "Review Alert!" in my mailbox when I get online.
Thank you all! Oh, and Hrei-siesn, last chapter's teaser has what has
happened each year on Halloween. It's OK to be a ditz. Now on with the
show! Oh, just so you all can understand, {words} is incoming mental
communication, and ~words~ is outgoing. I realize some of you may have
gotten confused before. I hope that clears things up!
Bonds of Pain
Chapter Twenty
In which there is a Ball, a battle, and more bonds
Severus closed his eyes and leaned against the stone wall as a waltz began to play, wishing Wen was there so he could be dancing as well. The ghost quartet Albus had recruited was very good, and the Potions Master was much relieved that it wasn't another pop group.
Glancing at the Dream Team, the dour professor reflected on what his mentor had told him Tuesday afternoon. He had asked the older man about his breakfast conversation with Severus' godson. Apparently the young man had figured out, as they had, that the six Dreamers in Miss Brown's prophecy corresponded to the six members of the Dream Team. While Severus and Albus had suspected this was the case, Draco had come to the same conclusion on his own, which confirmed it in their minds. Once that topic was closed, Severus mentioned the odd (for a school) sounds he had heard Monday evening. The headmaster had actually been speechless for all of five minutes.
"A panther and a lion?" he had finally asked. "In my school? I will find out what is going on, Severus. Thank you for letting me know." That had been the end of that. However, the lean man was still nervous. If anything scared him, it was big cats. As large as or larger than a grown man and able to move almost silently, the great felines were among the few animals that could sneak up on him.
Shivering at the thought that one of the predators he had heard could be around, he looked around the Great Hall again. The entire Dream Team was out on the dance floor, and he recognized Draco's particular style in the waltz. At least Weasley and Potter weren't tripping all over themselves as they had the year before.
WHA-BOOM!!!
The Potions Master jumped at the sound, his eyes wide. Every dancer froze. His heart in his throat, Severus sprinted for the huge double doors. Peeking around them sent him back against the wall, swearing.
Outside, a group of cloaked, hooded, and masked wizards and witches had blasted open the front doors of the castle. Death Eaters. Severus caught Minerva's eye and made the hand signal for the intruders. The woman calmly nodded and shot sparks into the air for the students' attention.
"Students, we are under attack. Please gather at the back of the hall, and you will be led to safety. Stay calm and follow the directions of the Head Boy and Girl." A mad rush began, but it was somehow contained. Severus scanned the sea of heads for his godson and his friends. Draco's white- blond hair was nowhere to be seen, and the only Weasley red were the twins. He swore again. Damned Gryffindor bravery! Wand out, he joined Minerva as she rushed past him and out the doors.
As he fired Stunning Spells at the Death Eaters, the lean wizard took in the battle in several glances. A huge Albino constrictor wreaked havoc on the cloaked figures, cowing them with its mere presence and then breaking arms liberally. The centre of the Death Eaters was a tangle that obscured the individual combatants, with a fierce grey raptor shrieking above and making diving attacks.
Severus' heart nearly stopped when a thunderous roar filled the Entrance Hall. Several Death Eaters literally went flying from the central fight, and the lion's battle-cry rang again. The wizards around the struggle moved back in a panic. There in the centre of the hall was the largest lion the Potions Master had ever seen. By the beast's side was a black panther that was not much smaller.
As the Death Eaters retreated, the huge constrictor joined the two giant cats. He had to admit that the three animals and the screaming hawk formed a handsome tableau, but he was a mite busy. He had been separated from Minerva in the melee, and it was imperative that he find her again. Albus had warned him that Voldemort might attempt to abduct the woman as he had in his previous reign, though Severus had no idea why, and his mentor had not told him. There! The Gryffindor was in the midst of a group of retreating Death Eaters, bound and gagged but struggling. A knife sailed out of nowhere to imbed itself in the back of the Death Eater carrying the other professor, mere inches from her face. As the cloaked figure pitched forward in death, another smoothly grabbed the prisoner and fled.
"Professor!" A shrill but furious girl's cry pierced the air. The dagger that had felled Minerva's captor zipped through the air towards the stairs as another like it spun in the other direction with deadly accuracy. Two more combatants entered the fray, both completely cloaked inn Gryffindor scarlet. Steel flashed around one, while the second wielded a blur that thumped enemies with a sound like wood. As the lion mauled every black cloak in its reach, the panther loosed a hunting cry and leapt after the group that had taken Minerva. The serpent glanced after the panther only briefly before flicking the wand from an opponent's hand with its tail and rejoining the fight.
With Minerva gone, it was Severus' personal opinion that they were all in deep shite.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry panted as he sped after Professor McGonagall's captors. He had to reach them and free her before they left the grounds. Something told him they had truly despicable intentions towards his teacher.
Must stop them. Must stop them now. As his feline body tired, he tried to think. Wait. Broom! Mid-leap, he changed into his more familiar human form and raised his wand as he ran.
"Accio Firebolt!" Within seconds, his precious broom was beside him. An easy leap had him astride the Firebolt, and he shot forward much faster than he could have gone on foot. A wordless roar came from his lips as he drew Gryffindor's sword from its sheath on his back. One of the Death Eaters slowed to look at him and was split from navel to chin for his effort.
Streaking through the air at top speed, Harry sheathed the sword and reached for McGonagall as he came closer. He didn't notice the edge of the grounds and the wards slip by until the Death Eaters apparated away and his hand closed on empty air. Pulling his broom to a halt, he dropped to the ground and howled his fury.
"Tom!! I will get you, I swear!!!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco winced as his snake senses picked up the furious oath. He could taste Harry's magic on the air, somehow amplifying the younger boy's voice and broadcasting it for nearly a league in every direction.
~Harry, mate, calm down! We'll get her back. Just calm down and get your arse back here so we can talk to Dumbledore.~ Despite the Boy Wonder's shields, anguish flooded through his mind from the bond. ~We'll go talk to the old coot, and he'll help us make a plan to rescue the professor.~
{We'd have to tell him about being Animagi.} Since he was a snake and had no shoulders to shrug, he did so mentally.
~Small sacrifice. Barmy bastard will probably just twinkle at us when we do.~ As he looked around, he noticed the flight of the last Death Eaters able to do so. He fervently hoped Lucius Malfoy and the Lestranges were among the dead. If they were only wounded, there would undoubtedly be rescue attempts from the other side. Better yet if Wormtail was among those left behind.
As Draco surveyed the damage, he noticed Ron's eyes dim a bit. They had been nearly incandescent during the battle, but the lion seemed calmer now. Perhaps the Blood Rage was ebbing. The inflating of the gigantic ribcage gave the blond just enough warning to bury his head in the coils of his reptile body. The other Gryffindor's anguished roar shook the very stones of the castle.
~Shite. Ron is well and truly hacked off at Tom, now,~ he commented dryly to the absent member of the team. He had seen Hermione and Lavender in the fight, and he could taste Ginny in the air. ~First the idiot tries to kill you, then he possesses and nearly kills his only sister, and now he's taken the Head of House. Tom's in trouble when Ron finds him.~
{He'll be torn to pieces. I'll meet you in front of the gargoyle. If the others see you leaving, they'll know to follow.} Not only was Ron furious, Draco could tell that Harry was seething as well. And-Dear Merlin-he was once again blaming himself.
Not again. Draco turned and began to slither up the stairs where he smelled Ginny. He's going to need you to snap him out of the self-blame again. He thought the youngest member might be a Parselmouth like her boyfriend because of her experiences in her first year. He heard the swish of the Invisibility Cloak beside him, and two sets of footsteps and a heavy padding behind him told the former Slytherin where the rest of his companions were.
When he reached the gargoyle, Draco looked both ways to be sure no one could see the group. The corridor was deserted, so he returned to human form with a small pop. Another heralded Ron's change, while Ginny appeared, folding Harry's Invisibility Cloak carefully. Her blue and green dress robes were undamaged, and she tucked a dagger into her bodice. Hermione and Lavender swept off identical enchanted scarlet cloaks and straightened their robes. Though the older girls had been in the midst of the fighting, not a spot marred either dress.
When Harry flew down the corridor and landed beside him, his eyes were red and his expression thunderous. The black-haired wizard nodded at them as he lifted his Firebolt. Draco put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and Ginny wordlessly wrapped the windswept boy in a hug and snuggled her head into his shoulder. The dark boy hugged the petite girl close, and Draco sighed to himself.
"Ton-Tongue Toffee." Ron spoke the words to open the gargoyle before ushering the others inside. They made a brief flash of colour on the moving stairs: Harry in a brilliantly coruscating green, Ginny in shimmering green and blue, Draco in ocean blue, Lavender wearing such a deep blue-violet it appeared nearly black, Hermione in a silvery cream, and Ron in a jewel-like blue.
They weren't terribly surprised to find that the circular office was empty. Dumbledore was certainly doing damage control among the other students. Content to wait, the Dream Team seated themselves around the room. Harry and Ginny shared an armchair, speaking in whispers with their noses almost touching. Hermione sat in another chintz armchair, Ron at her feet and holding her hand. Another pair of the plush seats housed Draco and Lavender.
Nervous for the safety of his Transfiguration professor, Draco clutched the worn fabric arm of his chair. Who would be teaching their classes? Who would serve as Head of Gryffindor until Professor McGonagall was rescued? The blond jerked in surprise when a delicate hand covered his. He looked up to meet the amazingly blue-violet eyes of Lav.
"We'll be all right," the girl murmured. "We'll work with Professor Dumbledore to find McGonagall, and we'll help with the rescue. I have a feeling we will get her back." Draco trusted Lav's "feelings," even before he found out she was a Seer.
"I'm worried about what will be done to her, though. She's firmly on our side. Why did Tom want her captured alive in the first place?" His brow furrowed in confusion.
"I don't know. Maybe Dumbledore does. I only hope he will trust us enough to tell us."
"And what might I be trusting you with, my dear?" Draco jumped again at the headmaster's voice. It did not help to have him on a hair-trigger as he was tonight.
"Why would Tom Riddle want Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked. Obviously the blond wasn't the only one in the group with that particular question on his mind.
"I take it the six of you were Severus' help during the skirmish?" They all nodded. McGonagall had mentioned that she would tell the headmaster about SkyStrike. That didn't mean he had informed the other teachers. Since the hawk seemed to be able to become invisible at will-none of the other years in Gryffindor had commented on him-it stood to reason that none of the professors had seen him in class, even though SkyStrike went everywhere with the taller boy.
"Well, it seems at least three of you are to be congratulated on completing the Animagus transformation. Who is who?" Draco could feel the pink tinge rise to his cheeks.
"I'm the panther, sir," Harry offered. "The lion is Ron, and Draco is the snake. Ginny is a cardinal, Lavender a rabbit, and Hermione a barn owl." The old wizard beamed. So achieving a complete transformation was difficult. So they were young. They had two experienced teachers. Each of them had five friends going through the same process. The Marauders had done some excellent research before writing their little handbook, despite the fact that they had only printed and bound a few copies.
"Very good work. Draco, my boy, did you convey your deductions from our conversation over breakfast yesterday?" The blond nodded in response, not completely trusting his voice. "Splendid. From your actions this evening, I believe beyond a doubt that you are, indeed, the Dreamers of Miss Brown's prophecy. In preparation for the discovery of the group, I had Severus brew fifteen doses of the Frateris draught I understand you studied Monday, save Virginia."
"Professor, they've been teaching me the material from last year and their lessons this year. I know as much about Frateris as they do." Ginny held herself high as she informed Dumbledore of their tutelage. The man simply smiled widely.
"Even better. We planned on offering the Frateris to the Dreamers, especially if they already had strong bonds, which most of you do." The headmaster cast a calculating eye around the room. Draco thought for a moment. He had completely patched things up with Hermione and Ginny. Hermione was naturally almost as forgiving as Harry, and Ginny understood that the names and the baiting would never happen again. Lavender had not been subjected to the treatment before, and if what he felt for her was anything close to Harry's feelings for Ginny, then there was no problem there. Ron was the only member of the Dream Team with whom he might still have problems. Looking over at the redhead, silver eyes met sapphire.
"Draco Malfoy and Dragon are two completely different people," Ron said quietly. "Dragon is one of my best friends, a bloke I'm proud to know." The lanky young man held out a hand. Draco smiled.
"Ron Weasley and the Weasel are likewise different people. I'm happy to have Ron Weasley as one of my mates." Draco reached over and clasped the hand warmly. "Let's do this." Dumbledore opened a drawer and withdrew over a dozen flasks. Filled with a virulently yellow liquid and the corks sealed with daubs of wax, there was no question that this was the Frateris draught.
"If none of you mind, I'd like to call Severus and Filius up to help me so the bondings can be completed more quickly." Glances travelled around the room. None had any objection to help from the Heads of Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Within minutes, the two professors had joined them in the small tower, and Dumbledore was pouring six cups of tea.
"The tea will act as a vehicle for the potion," Uncle Sev explained. "Each dose has had time to associate in its flask, and therefore will react between only the pair consuming the associated portions." Draco knew he wasn't the only person in the room giving his godfather a blank look. The potions professor rolled his eyes and took the flask the headmaster offered. "One flask per bond, half of the draught to each cup. Toss it back as the incantation is spoken. It's not complicated." The sallow man suited action to words, pouring the potion into two cups, where it sank almost like honey beneath the tea. A brisk stir blended the two liquids, and the Potions Master handed the cups to Draco and Lavender.
As if cued, Professor Flitwick and the headmaster each prepared another pair of teacups. Uncle Sev began to mutter to himself, the worn birch in his hand creating a delicate pattern in the air. At his godfather's nod, Draco tipped his cup and allowed the potion to slide down his throat. A tingling sensation crept through his limbs, making the blond feel as if he was floating. Instinct closed his eyes, allowing him to concentrate on what he felt, both physically and mentally.
As his mind seemed to drift on the air, Draco "felt" something brush against hi consciousness. Unable to identify the presence, he reached to touch it again. At the second contact, they stuck together.
With a familiar, yet strange, sensation, emotions flooded into him from the other presence: confusion, a dab of fear, but overall determination.
{I will get through this, no matter what,} a sweet contralto spoke in his mind. Reflex and a recently-developed sense of chivalry prompted him to answer.
~Things will turn out all right, I'm sure.~ Even to himself, his mental voice sounded odd, more grown up. His eyes opened in surprise. His mental voice was a bass!
"You're going to have a bass when your voice breaks, Draco." White-blond hair spun away from his face as he turned to look at Lav.
~And it seems you have been blessed with a truly lovely contralto.~ A flush rose to the girl's cheeks. Privately, Draco thought she looked radiant. He was distracted when Lav's teacup rattled and began to float towards the headmaster's desk. He blinked. Several times.
{Er. did I do that?} Lavender asked. She looked nearly as stunned as Draco felt.
~How about I try?~ Without waiting for an answer, the Malfoy heir glared at his teacup and thought it into place beside Lavender's. It disappeared from the tray between their chairs and reappeared at the desk, falling a few millimetres and settling with a tiny rattle. More blinking ensued.
"Wicked," Lav finally whispered, a mad grin spreading across her face. Draco Grinned back. They could have fun with this.
Ooh, I guess we know what that means. At least, you do if you've been reading carefully. So what are the answers to Draco's earlier questions? Find out next time!
Beth Weasley
Bonds of Pain
Chapter Twenty
In which there is a Ball, a battle, and more bonds
Severus closed his eyes and leaned against the stone wall as a waltz began to play, wishing Wen was there so he could be dancing as well. The ghost quartet Albus had recruited was very good, and the Potions Master was much relieved that it wasn't another pop group.
Glancing at the Dream Team, the dour professor reflected on what his mentor had told him Tuesday afternoon. He had asked the older man about his breakfast conversation with Severus' godson. Apparently the young man had figured out, as they had, that the six Dreamers in Miss Brown's prophecy corresponded to the six members of the Dream Team. While Severus and Albus had suspected this was the case, Draco had come to the same conclusion on his own, which confirmed it in their minds. Once that topic was closed, Severus mentioned the odd (for a school) sounds he had heard Monday evening. The headmaster had actually been speechless for all of five minutes.
"A panther and a lion?" he had finally asked. "In my school? I will find out what is going on, Severus. Thank you for letting me know." That had been the end of that. However, the lean man was still nervous. If anything scared him, it was big cats. As large as or larger than a grown man and able to move almost silently, the great felines were among the few animals that could sneak up on him.
Shivering at the thought that one of the predators he had heard could be around, he looked around the Great Hall again. The entire Dream Team was out on the dance floor, and he recognized Draco's particular style in the waltz. At least Weasley and Potter weren't tripping all over themselves as they had the year before.
WHA-BOOM!!!
The Potions Master jumped at the sound, his eyes wide. Every dancer froze. His heart in his throat, Severus sprinted for the huge double doors. Peeking around them sent him back against the wall, swearing.
Outside, a group of cloaked, hooded, and masked wizards and witches had blasted open the front doors of the castle. Death Eaters. Severus caught Minerva's eye and made the hand signal for the intruders. The woman calmly nodded and shot sparks into the air for the students' attention.
"Students, we are under attack. Please gather at the back of the hall, and you will be led to safety. Stay calm and follow the directions of the Head Boy and Girl." A mad rush began, but it was somehow contained. Severus scanned the sea of heads for his godson and his friends. Draco's white- blond hair was nowhere to be seen, and the only Weasley red were the twins. He swore again. Damned Gryffindor bravery! Wand out, he joined Minerva as she rushed past him and out the doors.
As he fired Stunning Spells at the Death Eaters, the lean wizard took in the battle in several glances. A huge Albino constrictor wreaked havoc on the cloaked figures, cowing them with its mere presence and then breaking arms liberally. The centre of the Death Eaters was a tangle that obscured the individual combatants, with a fierce grey raptor shrieking above and making diving attacks.
Severus' heart nearly stopped when a thunderous roar filled the Entrance Hall. Several Death Eaters literally went flying from the central fight, and the lion's battle-cry rang again. The wizards around the struggle moved back in a panic. There in the centre of the hall was the largest lion the Potions Master had ever seen. By the beast's side was a black panther that was not much smaller.
As the Death Eaters retreated, the huge constrictor joined the two giant cats. He had to admit that the three animals and the screaming hawk formed a handsome tableau, but he was a mite busy. He had been separated from Minerva in the melee, and it was imperative that he find her again. Albus had warned him that Voldemort might attempt to abduct the woman as he had in his previous reign, though Severus had no idea why, and his mentor had not told him. There! The Gryffindor was in the midst of a group of retreating Death Eaters, bound and gagged but struggling. A knife sailed out of nowhere to imbed itself in the back of the Death Eater carrying the other professor, mere inches from her face. As the cloaked figure pitched forward in death, another smoothly grabbed the prisoner and fled.
"Professor!" A shrill but furious girl's cry pierced the air. The dagger that had felled Minerva's captor zipped through the air towards the stairs as another like it spun in the other direction with deadly accuracy. Two more combatants entered the fray, both completely cloaked inn Gryffindor scarlet. Steel flashed around one, while the second wielded a blur that thumped enemies with a sound like wood. As the lion mauled every black cloak in its reach, the panther loosed a hunting cry and leapt after the group that had taken Minerva. The serpent glanced after the panther only briefly before flicking the wand from an opponent's hand with its tail and rejoining the fight.
With Minerva gone, it was Severus' personal opinion that they were all in deep shite.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry panted as he sped after Professor McGonagall's captors. He had to reach them and free her before they left the grounds. Something told him they had truly despicable intentions towards his teacher.
Must stop them. Must stop them now. As his feline body tired, he tried to think. Wait. Broom! Mid-leap, he changed into his more familiar human form and raised his wand as he ran.
"Accio Firebolt!" Within seconds, his precious broom was beside him. An easy leap had him astride the Firebolt, and he shot forward much faster than he could have gone on foot. A wordless roar came from his lips as he drew Gryffindor's sword from its sheath on his back. One of the Death Eaters slowed to look at him and was split from navel to chin for his effort.
Streaking through the air at top speed, Harry sheathed the sword and reached for McGonagall as he came closer. He didn't notice the edge of the grounds and the wards slip by until the Death Eaters apparated away and his hand closed on empty air. Pulling his broom to a halt, he dropped to the ground and howled his fury.
"Tom!! I will get you, I swear!!!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco winced as his snake senses picked up the furious oath. He could taste Harry's magic on the air, somehow amplifying the younger boy's voice and broadcasting it for nearly a league in every direction.
~Harry, mate, calm down! We'll get her back. Just calm down and get your arse back here so we can talk to Dumbledore.~ Despite the Boy Wonder's shields, anguish flooded through his mind from the bond. ~We'll go talk to the old coot, and he'll help us make a plan to rescue the professor.~
{We'd have to tell him about being Animagi.} Since he was a snake and had no shoulders to shrug, he did so mentally.
~Small sacrifice. Barmy bastard will probably just twinkle at us when we do.~ As he looked around, he noticed the flight of the last Death Eaters able to do so. He fervently hoped Lucius Malfoy and the Lestranges were among the dead. If they were only wounded, there would undoubtedly be rescue attempts from the other side. Better yet if Wormtail was among those left behind.
As Draco surveyed the damage, he noticed Ron's eyes dim a bit. They had been nearly incandescent during the battle, but the lion seemed calmer now. Perhaps the Blood Rage was ebbing. The inflating of the gigantic ribcage gave the blond just enough warning to bury his head in the coils of his reptile body. The other Gryffindor's anguished roar shook the very stones of the castle.
~Shite. Ron is well and truly hacked off at Tom, now,~ he commented dryly to the absent member of the team. He had seen Hermione and Lavender in the fight, and he could taste Ginny in the air. ~First the idiot tries to kill you, then he possesses and nearly kills his only sister, and now he's taken the Head of House. Tom's in trouble when Ron finds him.~
{He'll be torn to pieces. I'll meet you in front of the gargoyle. If the others see you leaving, they'll know to follow.} Not only was Ron furious, Draco could tell that Harry was seething as well. And-Dear Merlin-he was once again blaming himself.
Not again. Draco turned and began to slither up the stairs where he smelled Ginny. He's going to need you to snap him out of the self-blame again. He thought the youngest member might be a Parselmouth like her boyfriend because of her experiences in her first year. He heard the swish of the Invisibility Cloak beside him, and two sets of footsteps and a heavy padding behind him told the former Slytherin where the rest of his companions were.
When he reached the gargoyle, Draco looked both ways to be sure no one could see the group. The corridor was deserted, so he returned to human form with a small pop. Another heralded Ron's change, while Ginny appeared, folding Harry's Invisibility Cloak carefully. Her blue and green dress robes were undamaged, and she tucked a dagger into her bodice. Hermione and Lavender swept off identical enchanted scarlet cloaks and straightened their robes. Though the older girls had been in the midst of the fighting, not a spot marred either dress.
When Harry flew down the corridor and landed beside him, his eyes were red and his expression thunderous. The black-haired wizard nodded at them as he lifted his Firebolt. Draco put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and Ginny wordlessly wrapped the windswept boy in a hug and snuggled her head into his shoulder. The dark boy hugged the petite girl close, and Draco sighed to himself.
"Ton-Tongue Toffee." Ron spoke the words to open the gargoyle before ushering the others inside. They made a brief flash of colour on the moving stairs: Harry in a brilliantly coruscating green, Ginny in shimmering green and blue, Draco in ocean blue, Lavender wearing such a deep blue-violet it appeared nearly black, Hermione in a silvery cream, and Ron in a jewel-like blue.
They weren't terribly surprised to find that the circular office was empty. Dumbledore was certainly doing damage control among the other students. Content to wait, the Dream Team seated themselves around the room. Harry and Ginny shared an armchair, speaking in whispers with their noses almost touching. Hermione sat in another chintz armchair, Ron at her feet and holding her hand. Another pair of the plush seats housed Draco and Lavender.
Nervous for the safety of his Transfiguration professor, Draco clutched the worn fabric arm of his chair. Who would be teaching their classes? Who would serve as Head of Gryffindor until Professor McGonagall was rescued? The blond jerked in surprise when a delicate hand covered his. He looked up to meet the amazingly blue-violet eyes of Lav.
"We'll be all right," the girl murmured. "We'll work with Professor Dumbledore to find McGonagall, and we'll help with the rescue. I have a feeling we will get her back." Draco trusted Lav's "feelings," even before he found out she was a Seer.
"I'm worried about what will be done to her, though. She's firmly on our side. Why did Tom want her captured alive in the first place?" His brow furrowed in confusion.
"I don't know. Maybe Dumbledore does. I only hope he will trust us enough to tell us."
"And what might I be trusting you with, my dear?" Draco jumped again at the headmaster's voice. It did not help to have him on a hair-trigger as he was tonight.
"Why would Tom Riddle want Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked. Obviously the blond wasn't the only one in the group with that particular question on his mind.
"I take it the six of you were Severus' help during the skirmish?" They all nodded. McGonagall had mentioned that she would tell the headmaster about SkyStrike. That didn't mean he had informed the other teachers. Since the hawk seemed to be able to become invisible at will-none of the other years in Gryffindor had commented on him-it stood to reason that none of the professors had seen him in class, even though SkyStrike went everywhere with the taller boy.
"Well, it seems at least three of you are to be congratulated on completing the Animagus transformation. Who is who?" Draco could feel the pink tinge rise to his cheeks.
"I'm the panther, sir," Harry offered. "The lion is Ron, and Draco is the snake. Ginny is a cardinal, Lavender a rabbit, and Hermione a barn owl." The old wizard beamed. So achieving a complete transformation was difficult. So they were young. They had two experienced teachers. Each of them had five friends going through the same process. The Marauders had done some excellent research before writing their little handbook, despite the fact that they had only printed and bound a few copies.
"Very good work. Draco, my boy, did you convey your deductions from our conversation over breakfast yesterday?" The blond nodded in response, not completely trusting his voice. "Splendid. From your actions this evening, I believe beyond a doubt that you are, indeed, the Dreamers of Miss Brown's prophecy. In preparation for the discovery of the group, I had Severus brew fifteen doses of the Frateris draught I understand you studied Monday, save Virginia."
"Professor, they've been teaching me the material from last year and their lessons this year. I know as much about Frateris as they do." Ginny held herself high as she informed Dumbledore of their tutelage. The man simply smiled widely.
"Even better. We planned on offering the Frateris to the Dreamers, especially if they already had strong bonds, which most of you do." The headmaster cast a calculating eye around the room. Draco thought for a moment. He had completely patched things up with Hermione and Ginny. Hermione was naturally almost as forgiving as Harry, and Ginny understood that the names and the baiting would never happen again. Lavender had not been subjected to the treatment before, and if what he felt for her was anything close to Harry's feelings for Ginny, then there was no problem there. Ron was the only member of the Dream Team with whom he might still have problems. Looking over at the redhead, silver eyes met sapphire.
"Draco Malfoy and Dragon are two completely different people," Ron said quietly. "Dragon is one of my best friends, a bloke I'm proud to know." The lanky young man held out a hand. Draco smiled.
"Ron Weasley and the Weasel are likewise different people. I'm happy to have Ron Weasley as one of my mates." Draco reached over and clasped the hand warmly. "Let's do this." Dumbledore opened a drawer and withdrew over a dozen flasks. Filled with a virulently yellow liquid and the corks sealed with daubs of wax, there was no question that this was the Frateris draught.
"If none of you mind, I'd like to call Severus and Filius up to help me so the bondings can be completed more quickly." Glances travelled around the room. None had any objection to help from the Heads of Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Within minutes, the two professors had joined them in the small tower, and Dumbledore was pouring six cups of tea.
"The tea will act as a vehicle for the potion," Uncle Sev explained. "Each dose has had time to associate in its flask, and therefore will react between only the pair consuming the associated portions." Draco knew he wasn't the only person in the room giving his godfather a blank look. The potions professor rolled his eyes and took the flask the headmaster offered. "One flask per bond, half of the draught to each cup. Toss it back as the incantation is spoken. It's not complicated." The sallow man suited action to words, pouring the potion into two cups, where it sank almost like honey beneath the tea. A brisk stir blended the two liquids, and the Potions Master handed the cups to Draco and Lavender.
As if cued, Professor Flitwick and the headmaster each prepared another pair of teacups. Uncle Sev began to mutter to himself, the worn birch in his hand creating a delicate pattern in the air. At his godfather's nod, Draco tipped his cup and allowed the potion to slide down his throat. A tingling sensation crept through his limbs, making the blond feel as if he was floating. Instinct closed his eyes, allowing him to concentrate on what he felt, both physically and mentally.
As his mind seemed to drift on the air, Draco "felt" something brush against hi consciousness. Unable to identify the presence, he reached to touch it again. At the second contact, they stuck together.
With a familiar, yet strange, sensation, emotions flooded into him from the other presence: confusion, a dab of fear, but overall determination.
{I will get through this, no matter what,} a sweet contralto spoke in his mind. Reflex and a recently-developed sense of chivalry prompted him to answer.
~Things will turn out all right, I'm sure.~ Even to himself, his mental voice sounded odd, more grown up. His eyes opened in surprise. His mental voice was a bass!
"You're going to have a bass when your voice breaks, Draco." White-blond hair spun away from his face as he turned to look at Lav.
~And it seems you have been blessed with a truly lovely contralto.~ A flush rose to the girl's cheeks. Privately, Draco thought she looked radiant. He was distracted when Lav's teacup rattled and began to float towards the headmaster's desk. He blinked. Several times.
{Er. did I do that?} Lavender asked. She looked nearly as stunned as Draco felt.
~How about I try?~ Without waiting for an answer, the Malfoy heir glared at his teacup and thought it into place beside Lavender's. It disappeared from the tray between their chairs and reappeared at the desk, falling a few millimetres and settling with a tiny rattle. More blinking ensued.
"Wicked," Lav finally whispered, a mad grin spreading across her face. Draco Grinned back. They could have fun with this.
Ooh, I guess we know what that means. At least, you do if you've been reading carefully. So what are the answers to Draco's earlier questions? Find out next time!
Beth Weasley