B/N: This chapter is supposed to be #22 but M. Moony wanted this chapter to be called 23.  Chapter 21 exists but I have added it to the end of chapter 20, otherwise known as Arabella's POV in the end of that chapter.  The chapter numbers will be not coordinated with FanFiction and that is something I can't change.  If you want the chapter to be renumbered, tell M. Moony in a review.  Plus, if you review, she gets hyper and she will right more……grins ok…enough talk…let's continue the story!Family for the Dragon Chapter 23: The Explanation After a heart-wrenching hour of sobs, Harry managed to drift off to sleep in Remus' protective hold.Knowing that the Council of Six would soon have to discuss what was happening, Remus decided to invite everyone over for dinner in his rooms tomorrow. 'Albus? Katrina? Severus?' called Remus mentally as he walked to his rooms. 'Yes, Remus?' replied Katrina.'I was wondering if you would like to have dinner in my rooms, tomorrow night with the Council of Six, Ara, and Harry?' asked Remus projecting this to Severus and Albus.'Of course! We will be able to discuss with everyone about the current events,' replied Albus as if he had read Remus' mind.'I will tell Hermione and Draco,' sent Severus. After good byes, Remus linked out as he found himself at the entrance to his rooms. Entering his woody brown and golden living room, Remus found a surprise."Ara!?!?" exclaimed Remus as he found the woman on his couch fast asleep exhausted."Remus?" asked the sleepy women peering up at her soul mate."Wouldn't you be more comfortable somewhere else?" asked Remus amusedly. "Hmmm" replied Ara as she fell back asleep. After a soft chuckle, Remus tucked a handy blanket around the sleeping woman. "Draco! Hermione! Severus! Katrina! Come in," welcomed Remus the next day as his guests arrived for dinner. "Do sit down," said Arabella politely as Severus, Katrina, and Draco made themselves comfortably in some comfy chairs. Hermione opted to perch on Draco's chair arm."Now all we are missing is our esteemed Headmaster and Mr. Potter, am I correct?" asked Severus as they started chatting."As usual, Severus. As usual" replied Remus dryly as he smiled at the potions master."Hello, everyone! I hope I am not late?" asked Albus as he swept into Remus' rooms with Harry by his side.Harry opted to make a quieter entrance as he went to talk with Hermione. "Harry! Are you filling better?" asked Hermione worriedly as she got up and gave her friend a hug. "Yes, Mione. Malfoy," said Harry flashing Hermione a smile before turning to Draco politely."Potter" said Draco back."HARRY JAMES POTTER! DRACO EDWARD MALFOY!! What did I say I would do if you weren't nice to each other??" shouted Hermione swatting at both the teenage boys. "Fine, Mione. Calm down," soothed Draco before exchanging a look with Harry that simply said, "Girls are weird." "Hermione, Draco, Harry come sit down at the table," called Remus over. The final seating was quite varied as Harry was at one end of a side. Mione was next to him, followed by Severus then Katrina. Opposite of Katrina, sat Draco then Arabella in front of Severus. Remus was opposite to Mione and Albus sat next to him. "Do we have a mental link?" asked Draco forgetting about Harry."A mental link? Why would you have a mental link with who?" asked Harry."Well, Harry..." started Hermione after shooting a glare at Draco."...some things have happened recently that I haven't known about till well yesterday," continued Hermione."Do you know about the Council of Six or Earth Magic?" asked Albus taking over from Hermione. "No? What is that?" asked Harry, his green eyes filling with puzzlement."Earth Magic is a type of Magic used very rarely by wizards. The Council of Six is a council made up of wizards and witches who specialize in Earth Magic. They each specialize in one of six parts of Earth Magic," replied Albus. "Well...we have found out some of us are part of this Council of Six," continued Katrina."And those people are?" asked Harry shrewdly as he turned to Hermione."Draco, Katrina, Severus, Remus, Albus, and me," replied Hermione softly."What?" exclaimed Harry."You heard her, Mr. Potter. Everyone here, except you and Arabella are in the Council of Six," said Severus sharply."Severus!" reprimanded Katrina."Hermione, have you scanned their auras yet?" asked Draco as he moved the conversation along."You also learned to scan auras?" questioned Katrina."Of course, I am doing yours right now," said Hermione as she reached for her "aura" vision. "Albus! You have a red aura with a golden heart and the symbol for the Council of Six," gasped Hermione as Albus nodded."Severus's aura is exactly like that except it is dark blue and has a green heart," said Draco as Severus nodded."Hermione, what about me?" asked Katrina jokingly. She had been told once before about her aura."Dark Slytherin green, with a dark blue heart and the symbol for the council of six" replied Hermione promptly."And me?" asked Remus to Draco. "Rich brown with a maroon heart and the symbol for the Council of six. Remus, you do know that..." started Draco nervously. Remus smiled at the boy giving him courage to go on."...that you aren't a werewolf any more. The symbol for it was there, but it isn't in your aura anymore."Remus' face lit up as Draco's words washed over him.  "It must be the benefits of being the Guardian of the Beasts," said Albus. "What is that?" asked Harry who had been quiet so far. "That is what I am in the Council of Six, Harry," said Remus smiling across the table at Harry."What about me, Mione? What is my aura?" asked Harry.Draco gazed at Harry for a second before replying, "You have an emerald green aura. You have a lightening bolt between two hearts." Harry stared at his archenemy before nodding his thanks. "Harry, Draco forgot one thing. You have a connection or a lightening bolt between a person or you and another person. Your person is emerald green like your eyes and the other person is twisted black, green, red and blue." said Hermione softly. "Voldermort" whispered Harry turning away from everyone staring into the fire. 'Hermione, leave him' mentally Remus suggested as Hermione started to comfort him."How did you do that?" asked Hermione astonished as she heard Remus's voice in her head."We have a mental connection between us" said Remus gesturing to the Council of Six."Cool! How do I talk to one of you?" asked Hermione eagerly. "Feel in your brain, there should be some thing or feeling that says Remus, Albus, Katrina, Draco, or I," replied Severus a shadow of a smile on his face.Hermione concentrated as did Draco who immediately sensed Severus and Hermione. After some deep probing he also sensed Katrina, Albus, and Remus. 'Like this?' asked Draco to Albus mentally.'Perfect, child. Perfect,' said Albus mentally sending a pat on the back to the boy.'Of course, I am Slytherin after all,' said Draco. 'Yes, Albus. You should do know by that Slytherin is the best house,' cut in Katrina grinning.'How did you hear what I said to Albus,' asked Draco confused.'Because you didn't specifically think that it was private hence I could hear,' replied Katrina.'Oh' said Draco.'Hermione, listen up! There are two types of connections with someone. Public and Private. Public allows anyone with hearing power or speaking power to hear. Private only allows the person you want to listen hear it. Private requires you to specify while public is anything you don't specify,' said Katrina after breaking Hermione away from her, Severus, and Remus' conversation. 'Great! Can we change the number of people,' asked Hermione and a huge mentally done debate started. Meanwhile, Arabella realized that the rest of the guests were talking somehow that they could and she couldn't. Not minding too much, she turned her attention to the lonely boy staring disconsolately into the fire. Getting up softly and padding quietly so that she stood in front of the boy, Arabella looked at the boy whose eyes reminded her so much of her dead best friend. "Harry?" asked Arabella softly. Green emerald eyes turned to her looking at her morosely. Arabella resisted taking the small raven haired boy into her arms knowing it would be better if she let him unleash first."Harry?" she asked once more. Green eyes turned hard as Harry whispered angrily,"I can never get rid of him. He marked my soul more then he knows. Everything I want to do, I can't BECAUSE of him. Do you know that I don't know my mother's voice except for the last moments of her life? That the only part of my father that I have ever even known about is his Marauder Map and animagus? Nothing. I don't what their favorite colors were or their childhood dreams, nothing" Arabella was unable to resist and pulled the small boy into her arms. In her arms, Harry finally started healing from his parents' death so many years ago. Remus had watched from afar the little drama going on at one end of the table. Walking over, he softly put a gentle hand on both Arabella and Harry. Moving apart, Arabella, Harry, and Remus returned to their seats, each a little happier and more complete. "Draco! I totally forgot have you told them the prophecy?" exclaimed Hermione easing the tension in the air."What prophecy?" asked Katrina. Hermione quickly recited it with ease even though she herself had heard it only once."First to disappear, the first to remember," said Remus musing over the prophecy that had caught everyone's interests including Harry and Arabella. "That is obviously Kat since she was the first one of us to remember," said Severus as he held his love's hand under the table discreetly. "Roaming at night, when the moon shines bright," said Draco skipping to the next paragraph."While we ponder about it, how about we eat?" asked Remus as the food appeared on the table. Everyone started the delicious meal as they pondered on the prophecy."I know! That is you, Remus! Because of the next lines, cursed at birth, one of the four. You were cursed with lycanthropy early on right? One of four is obviously one of the Marauders, one of four," said Hermione smirking as she made her case."The next paragraph is easy, that is Albus. It says so in the paragraph itself. Just like it said Remus in the one before," said Draco."The next two are the King of the Cosmos and the Queen of the Mystics," said Hermione as she thought about the prophecy."Sev and Kat or the lovebirds," murmured Remus just loud enough so that everyone could hear him. Severus pulled out his wand, but was stopped by Katrina who pulled out her wand. With a quick spell, Remus was doused with water and slime."Never insult a Devil's Angel," said Katrina smirking at Remus who just smirked back. Another spell went towards Katrina who quickly dodged behind Severus. She didn't expect the spell to be tracking and hit Severus in trying to get her. Severus was doused in PINK slime and goo as well as huge sign saying, "I AM THE PRODUCT OF A MARAUDER'S PRANK". Glaring at Katrina and Remus, Severus pulled out his wand ready to retaliate when Albus stepped in."Children! Children! Enough!" said Albus sending Hermione and Draco into even more peals of laughter at the adults. Harry just stared at Katrina, Severus, and Remus while Arabella just smiled. Reaching over the table, Arabella and Katrina exchanged a high five."Now that is why you never mess with a Devil's Angel. Bystanders are fair game after all, Sev," said Arabella. "Daddy, you and Mus should know better then to go against Kat and Miss Figg," said Draco laughing as Hermione nodded her consent."Arabella, Draco, Arabella," corrected Arabella as she smirked at Severus. Harry just continued to stare as his mind registered what Draco said."Daddy, Malfoy? Daddy who? Didn't your father die in one of Voldemort's tea parties?" remarked Harry ignoring Hermione stamping on his foot. 'I am going to Sev's room' mentally told Draco to Hermione and he transported to Severus's rooms. Eyes blazing, Hermione turned on to Harry. Everyone had already finished eating luckily since Hermione was in no mood to think about food right now. "Harry James Potter, come with me. Right now! Remus, do you have a spare room we could use?" asked Hermione sweetly. Remus showed them a spare room they could use. As soon as they were both safely in the room and the door was closed, Hermione unleashed her anger."HARRY JAMES POTTER, HOW DARE YOU? That was lower then anything Draco has ever said to you and ever will!! You KNOW HOW MUCH it HURTS to be   reminded of something like that...yet you still did something like that, how could you Harry?" exclaimed Hermione starting off loudly and finishing softly. Harry stared at Hermione softly, before turning away."I didn't mean that to come out. I am sorry, Hermione. Who was he talking to, Hermione? Who?" asked Harry softly as he silently repented for his words."You shouldn't be saying sorry to me, but instead to Draco. Think, Harry. I will give you hint though. It's not Remus or Albus," said Hermione sarcastically. She refused to forgive Harry until she truly knew that he had repented for his mistakes. "Professor Snape!!" cried Harry as it finally struck him. "Who else? I didn't tell you some things because I knew you would act like this and I couldn't without betraying the trust of some very important people (to me). I don't know if I can trust you enough to tell you know," said Hermione softly as she looked at Harry sadly. "I wouldn't tell anybody, Hermione. But I understand especially because I just betrayed you and your trust. I am sorry, Hermione," said Harry as he turned around to look into Hermione. Hermione just nodded and transported herself to outside the door of the room. There she saw Arabella who was beside herself with worry."I hope you didn't yell at him too much," remarked Arabella as she went up to the door."Even if I did, he would have deserved it," sniped Hermione as her anger swelled up again. Arabella just nodded sadly and turned to the door."He is so hurt and lost in the world. Lily would have never forgiven herself if she ever saw the state of her little baby boy right now," said Arabella as her thoughts turned to her dead friend."Another boy is hurt and lost right now, because of Harry's words," said Hermione defending Draco. "Yes, unfortunately. The evilest of words often comes from the best of the people. Are you going to check on Draco?" asked Arabella appeasing Hermione when she asked the last question."Yes, I should be going. He won't talk to you, he refuses to talk to anyone, said Hermione as she transported herself into Severus's rooms. 'Hermione? Do you know where Draco is? Severus is beside himself with worry,'  heard Hermione in her head from Katrina. 'He is in Sev's rooms. I wouldn't come just yet. I will tell you when you can come. Draco wouldn't appreciated everyone seeing him in his state,' replied Hermione and she concentrated back to the boy in front of her. Draco had curled up into a ball in the corner of the sofa. He was a thousand miles away if he was an inch away. Sending her love and her presence to Draco mentally, Hermione put a gentle hand on Draco's back. Draco flinched away from her a little bit, but didn't make her back away. "Draco, talk to me please," asked Hermione softly as she sat next Draco."Mione? I'm sorry," apologized Draco as he slowly uncurled. "For what? For Harry's stupidness?" asked Hermione feigning ignorance. Draco just looked at her with swirling dark silver molten eyes. "For leaving, for being this stupid, and for letting this affect me," answered Draco briskly and unemotionally. Hermione saw this and became scared knowing soon enough that her Draco was going to become Draco MALFOY. "You are human, Draco. Even the Lord of the Night is allowed to have feelings. Don't you ever forget that!" said Hermione strongly as she leaned against Draco. "Whatever," replied Draco and they sat in silence. The silence was not an uncomfortable one, but a healing, comfortable one. 'Kat! Sev! Albus! Rem! You guys can come now, if you want. Just don't bring it up, k?' sent Hermione to the worried adults of their group. 'We are coming, dear. Kat is coming right now I believe,' sent back Albus and just like he said Katrina arrived. She just pulled Draco into a hug. After a minute, she released Draco and broke through the tension."How about some Monopoloy?" suggested Katrina. After a quick nod from Hermione and Draco, Katrina summoned the game. By the time they had started deciding what they wanted to be, Albus had popped in. "Can I play?" asked Albus eagerly as he sat down on the floor with the rest of them."Sure, what do you want to be? Hermione is the money bag, Draco is the broomstick, and I am the flying books," explained Katrina."OH! I want to be the lollypop!" said Albus as he picked up his figurine."Monopoly again, Kat? Aren't you tired of beating us all?" questioned Severus as he transported into the room."Oh, shut up! What do you want to be?" asked Katrina as Hermione started setting up the board."Caldron," answered Severus instantly."SEV! Take something else," protested Katrina.  "Fine, I will be the Raven," said Severus smirking at Katrina."Oh! Sev!" sighed Katrina as she picked out the Raven figurine."Why? It is something new," asked Hermione curiously. "Because that is his animagus form. He is also known as Shadow," replied Katrina. They heard a small Pop and a beautiful black Raven flew to Draco's shoulder. Black unforgettable eyes stared into molten silver eyes. As a moment of understanding passed through "father" and "son", Katrina and Hermione watched quietly. With a caw, the Raven played with Draco's silver blond hair with it's beak.  "Severus! Enough, we need to continue playing if you are going to lose" scolded Katrina as Severus changed back into his normal form."What? Ashamed of your animagus form?" teased Severus as he sat down and helped Hermione set up."Never! I am Mistress Night after all," said Katrina proudly and jokingly."What is your form?" questioned Draco as he roll the magical dice which fell on three. "Well if Severus is a raven, what do you think Katrina is?" teased Albus. "A cat" answered Hermione immediately blushing when everyone turned towards her. "Very good, Ms. Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor," joked Severus."SEVERUS! Dude, my name is Hermione not Ms. Granger," said Hermione jokingly sighing. "I never thought my old ears would hear Severus Snape willing give points to GRYFFINDOR!!" joked Albus. He rolled and moved to Madame Malkin's Robes for  Every Occasion. "Are you going to buy that, Uncle Albus?" asked Draco as he got ready to roll. "No, you can play," said Albus as Severus glared at him. The game went on for the next three hours before Albus called for an end. "I think we should end the game now since Katrina is obviously winning," said Albus as he helped them put away the board and money."What is your animagus form after all, Kat?" asked Hermione sleepily as she helped Severus make Draco's bed on the couch. "I want a bed of my own," protested Draco as he climbed into the made up sofa."Tomorrow morning, first thing. We would let you sleep with Hermione, but we wouldn't want any problems now would we?" said Severus slyly at Hermione and Draco."SEVERUS!" protested the two teenagers."Anyways, animagus?" asked Hermione turning away from Severus's smirking face. A small pop was her only answer as Katrina turned into a black panther. "Wow," whispered Draco and Hermione. Hermione yawned as she stared at Katrina. The panther looked at Severus meaningfully before nuzzling Draco. Severus lead Hermione into her room where she fell on to the bed instantly asleep. Sighing and muttering about "silly Gryffindors who didn't know when to stop," Severus pulled a warm blanket over Hermione before retiring himself. A/N: That's a wrap! CUT! Let's get it edited and we got a good chapter, hehe! B/N: Um…what was that? This is NOT a movie set…at least I hope not…looks around for cameras and runsA/N: So…what'd ya think? Good or bad? Ya think I should be killed for my mutilation of Harry Potter? Truthfully, I don't care since I am on Review High! To borrow someone great's saying, "Fanfiction is smart kid's weed." HEHEHE!! JUST REVIEW!!  Madame Moony