A/N: I am now on my rewrite of the chapter. I had 13 pages of pure, unadulterated shit- no joke. The chapter sucked. That is really why this is taking so long. I kept rereading what I had written and couldn't write any more of it. IT was horrible- trite and very stupid. You would have hated it and flamed me. So, I figure that you would appreciate a late- yet well written and thought out chapter, than a still late sad sack of shit that was horribly written and had no point. Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Can you tell I haven't taken my prozac lately?

Chapter 5

Lily grinned at Harry's hand once they were out of the sun. "This is exquisite," she mused, waving his hand around and making the diamonds sparkle in the torchlight.

"Why are you both wearing rings? Did you two elope or something?" James asked, moving Draco's hand around as well. Rainbows shimmered around the walls of the dining room.

Harry smirked at his soul mate, now Fiancé. "Nope. Well, Draco popped the question this morning, and I had planned to pop the question later on tonight, so we both decided to wear the rings we had bought each other."

"But the rings are the same!" Lily said, confused.

"Yeah, pretty cool, right? We didn't even plan it." Draco held his hand up to Harry's and admired their intertwined fingers.

"Great minds think alike," Harry smirked.

"Fools' thoughts differ little," James quipped.

"Hey!" Harry and Draco protested. James caught Draco's eye and raised his eyebrows. Draco smirked and nodded, catching the unspoken plea.

"Harry, why don't we go out for a while?" Draco grabbed Harry's hands and led him out of the Dining Room.

Lily watched them go, completely confused. "Why is Draco dragging Harry out of the room as if the hounds of hell were on his heels? I wanted to tease him some more!"

James smirked. "Well, I just gave him permission to get Harry out of the house until this afternoon, around, say, four o'clock?"

Lily grinned. "Well, that was nice of the two of you. Now then, our guests should be arriving shortly. Come on. We have to set up."

Harry stared at first their lush bedroom on the planet Harry had created and then his soul mate with confusion. "Draco, not that I'm complaining, why are we at the Mansion?"

Draco grinned and pushed Harry onto the bed, quickly divesting them of their scanty clothing. "We haven't been here in a while. I missed bonding." He smirked slightly. And Harry's parents wanted him out...works for me!

"All right, what are you hiding?" Harry demanded, catching the stray thought.

Draco shook his head, smiling. "Nope. Not gonna tell."

Harry pouted. "Please?" Bending down, Draco captured his lips in a slow kiss. Harry broke away. "Nope. Not until you tell me."

Draco smirked at him and eyed the bedposts speculatively. "Really. How much you want to bet?"

Harry scowled up at him. "Just tell me, Draco!"

Nope, not gonna. Draco slid his hips against Harry's, rocking gently.

With a muffled moan, Harry switched tactics as well. Ok... you win. Abruptly, he flipped Draco over, nipping on his lower lip. He slid his mind further into the bond they shared, reveling in the warmth, love and security it provided. Keeping Draco sufficiently distracted with long, languorous kisses, moving from his lips to that perfect spot two inches below his ear and sucking, biting gently, he delved further into the link, searching for what Draco was hiding.

Just a little more, a little further- got it! Harry cheered mentally, viewing the information on his surprise birthday party.

Harry- hey! You weren't supposed to see that! Get outta my head, you tosser! Draco yelled indignantly.

Too late. This is a nice party my parents have planned for me- don't worry, I'll act suitably surprised when them jump out at me, screaming.

Draco sat up and scowled at him. "Would you quit being a sneaky bastard? That's my job! You're supposed to be the nice, honorable one!"

Harry grinned and stretched, 'unwittingly' looking like a Playgirl centerfold. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Draco's jaw dropped. "You're doing it again!"

Oh, shut up and kiss me, Harry commanded, grabbing the back of Draco's head and pulling him down hungrily.

Don't think for an instant that I'm going to forget what you did... oh, do that again! Draco moaned. Potter, you better keep doing that- what the-

Clautius stared down at her hungrily. "You're mine, my dear. No one is going to come for you. You might as well get used to it."

"Let me go! You have no right! You absolute bastard! When I get out of these chains I'm gonna KILL you!!!" She screamed at him defiantly.

"I don't think so." He smirked at her, making a circling motion with his first finger. Abruptly, she fell to the ground, clawing at the manacle around her neck, her lips turning purple. After what felt like hours, she sagged to the ground, gulping air, barely conscious.

"You see?" Clautius sneered. "You're mine, to do with," he trailed his eyes down her naked form hungrily and her eyes widened, "with whatever I like and no one will stop me."

"No- no-NO!" she gasped, her face contorting for the first time with terror. "You- you can't DO this to me!"

Oh, but I can, his voice was suddenly all around her, in her mind, in her skin, in the very air she breathed. I own you now, my dear. He grabbed her by the throat and held her a foot off the ground, sliding his other hand slowly down the front of her body.

Draco fought out of the vision with everything he had, feeling Harry do the same above him. "Ha- Ha- Harry?" he stuttered, his eyes wide. "What was that?"

Harry was already off the bed, his pants back on. He tossed Draco's to him and opened the door. "I have no idea, but it wasn't us so I'm going to find out. You coming?"

Draco had his pants on in a matter of seconds. "Yeah."

They all but sprinted from the room, searching for whoever was having the vision. Harry skidded into the hallway, Draco slamming into his back. They sprawled on the floor, right in front of Alanna and Xander's feet.

"Lana, Xander, now is not the time!" Harry gasped, hauling Draco to his feet. They raced down the hallway, their brother and sister staring after them strangely.

Harry and Draco linked their minds together, searching telepathically. Down the hall, I think, Draco directed. They Apparated without a moment's hesitation.

And immediately wished they hadn't, as Severus and Laurel lay on their bed, naked and under the covers, their limbs intertwined. "Oh, oops," Harry muttered, hastily averting his eyes.

Draco did no such thing. "Uncle Sev? Are you all right?" Severus didn't respond, nor did Laurel. He climbed up on the bed and shook their shoulders. "Um, Harry- HARRY! They aren't breathing!"

Harry's eyes widened and he ran from the room, reappearing seconds later with Alanna and Xander in tow. "Help!" he squeaked, his face pale. Alanna and Xander ran to the bed, checking pulses.

"Right, they've got a heart rhythm, but- what the hell?" Alanna asked, trailing her fingers over Severus's temples. "How did you know?" she asked Harry as Xander started rescue breathing on Laurel. She started breathing air into Severus's lungs.

"We felt a – like, a vision or something when he deepened our bond and, yeah. We followed it." Harry's voice sounded high and unnatural, even to his own ears.

"Right," she said in between breaths. "What was the vision?"

"It was Clautius and he was hurting someone- it felt like I was the one in chains," Draco said, shuddering. Harry nodded, his eyes closed.

"Wait- you don't think Laurel- oh my God," Harry muttered. He grabbed Draco's hand, pressing the other to Laurel's temple. "Come on. They're stuck and it's killing them."

"But-" Alanna protested. "Wait!"

"No time. Draco, let's go." With a thought, Harry slammed the both of them back into the nightmare.

She lay there, her face pressing into the harsh, cold stones as something impossibly large tears its way through her, shredding her insides. I will not scream. I will not scream. I will kill them all I will not scream I will not scream I will kill them all I will not scream. She chants to herself, her eyes clenched shut and her hands curled into claws, scrabbling for any purchase at all on the rough stone beneath her. It hurts, oh God it hurts but I won't scream. I won't I won't I won't I'll kill them. Make it stop make it stop someone help me Oh God it hurts make it stop PLEASE- She arches off the floor as large, razor sharp claws rake down her sides-

I am Harry I am Draco I have to get out of this I have to get out of this I have to get out of this I have to get out of this-

Harry blinked slowly, his head spinning. Beside him, he felt more than heard Draco groan as he pushed himself from the stone slabs that made up the arctic floor. "Draco?" he asked softly.

"Harry? Come on, we have to get up," Draco hissed, rubbing his forehead. Harry sat up and their eyes widened in identical expressions of horror. Across the room from them lay Laurel, an enormous, ebony skinned demon on top of her, and, standing next to them stood Clautius. He stared at Harry and Draco with the utmost loathing, blackest power swirling around his clenched fists.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Satan hissed as he strode over to stand in front of them.

Harry threw a bolt of at Clautius, striking him in the chest. He staggered backwards, giving the two of them time enough to stand up. Draco quickly obliterated the demon still on top of Laurel and pulled his soul mate to his feet.

What do we do? Harry asked him, his eyes narrowed.

Draco chewed his lip. I have no idea. We have to get rid of the Big Bad first.

Right. Tackle the bastard and beat the shit out of him it is, Harry commented drolly.

Draco shrugged. Works for me.

As one, they charged the King of Hell, slamming him into the ground. Harry immediately straddled his chest, pummeling the outraged and flabbergasted Demigod across the face. Draco quickly slammed his knee into Clautius's groin, causing the King of Hell to turn a grayish blue color and to curl up into the fetal position. His mouth moved soundlessly as he gasped for air.

Harry and Draco stood up, moving off of him and quickly clasped their hands together. A brilliant swirl of ice blue and deep emerald shot out of their fingertips, surrounding Clautius and trapping him in place.

Clautius struggled, trying to wrench free with no avail. "You- you- let me go!" he yelled, before disappearing in a flash of light.

Draco and Harry stared at each other in bewilderment. "Draco, what the hell is going on? Where did he go?"

Draco shrugged and walked over to Laurel. "Hey, Aunt Laurel, wake up! Clautius the Retard is gone!"

Harry walked over and bent down, passing his hand before her nose and mouth. "Um, Draco, I don't think she's breathing." He knelt next to the battered figure, grasping her temple with one hand and Draco's fingers with the other.

No no no don't touch me no no no no no nonononono help someone help me please god help me-

LAUREL! SEVERUS! Draco and Harry shouted desperately, trying not to be swept into the mindless terror. Come on, it's over! Please wake up!

Nonononono... Harry? Draco? The voice separated into two different tones. Harry almost wept with relief when he heard his uncle's silky baritone and his new aunt's soft contralto. What- what happened?

You have to wake up, Draco pleaded. You stopped breathing. You were caught in something. Some sort of- what was it, Harry?

You were caught in a nightmare loop, Harry supplied. Cautiously, he and Draco retreated from Severus and Laurel's minds, pulling them back into the dream world. The shackle around Laurel's neck shattered, and Severus appeared next to her. Draco conjured a blanket, wrapping it around the both of them.

"Are you all right?" Harry asked as he and Draco helped Severus and Laurel to their feet.

Severus groaned slightly and shook his head, trying to clear the sudden migraine that blossomed across his skull. "I think so. Laurel?"

Laurel just stared at the ground, her face pale and her entire body shaking. "It- how- how did you stop him? I-" She broke off, her face turning gray. She sagged and Severus caught her, almost falling over in the process as his mate's weakness caused his own legs to give out. Harry grabbed his shoulders, hauling him upright again, as Draco took Laurel from his arms.

"Now, come on. We have to get out of here. Alanna and Xander are probably still doing rescue breathing on you two." Harry placed his fingers lovingly against Draco's temple.

"What?" Severus snapped at his nephew. "Why?"

"We told you. You stopped breathing. Both of you," Draco snapped, exasperated. "Now, come on!"

"What do you mean?" Laurel asked, her face white. "This isn't real? What the- what happened?" she pushed herself out of Draco's arms and grabbed Harry's shoulder. "Answer me, damn it!"

Harry sighed and tapped his other fingers against Laurel's temple. Next to him, Draco did the same to Severus.

Clautius loomed over him, a deceptively soft hand stroked his face- Draco stared at him concerned- Embarrassment that they had interrupted their Aunt and Uncle- Laurel and Sev weren't breathing- Alanna and Xander- Clautius hit the wall, was bound then disappeared..........

Severus pulled away, gasping for air. "Oh my-"

Draco simply reestablished the link, as he and Harry pulled Severus and Laurel back to the waking world.

Severus opened his eyes, to find Alanna peering at him, her forehead lined with worry. "Laurel?" he croaked, rolling over.

"Are you all right?" Xander demanded, scanning the four people in front of him magically. "You scared the hell out of us, you know. What were you doing?"

Harry, Draco, Laurel and Severus rolled their eyes. "Well, Xander," Severus sneered lightly, "it was a little thing that two people who love each other very much do."

"Perhaps your Mommy dearest taught you about the birds and the bees?" Laurel smirked at the rapidly blushing Xander.

Alanna rolled her eyes. "Really, Xander, we found them in bed, together, and naked. Ask a stupid question...."

Xander, scowled at her. "I meant what happened to trigger the damn flashback!"

Severus rolled his eyes. "We drifted off to sleep and all of a sudden we found ourselves there. Happy now?"

Alanna scowled. "That's strange. Was it just a flashback?"

Laurel nodded shakily. "I think so. It felt like one."

"Harry?" Xander asked quietly. "Was there anything weird about it?"

Draco nodded. "Clautius was there- but it was like he wasn't that powerful."

"What?" Xander asked sharply.

"We bound him really easily," Harry explained.

"But he disappeared as soon as we bound him," Draco finished.

Alanna relaxed. "So it was just a flashback then."

Xander slumped against the headboard, relieved. "Thank God." He stood up, pulling Alanna to her feet. "Come on, we have to help plan- I mean- oops." He shot Harry a guilty look.

Harry smirked. "Go on, go do whatever. I'll act suitably surprised."

Alanna rolled her eyes and smacked Xander's shoulder. "You do know that Lily and James are going to kill you."

"Me? What about you?" Xander protested as they strode from the room.

"I didn't let it slip!" The door shut behind them.

Harry wrapped his arms around Severus and Laurel. "Are you two sure you're all right? You scared me."

Draco rested his head on Laurel's shoulder. "I don't want to ever find you two like that again- not breathing I mean. Not the whole naked in bed thing, though..."

Severus smirked half heartedly. "Agreed." He sat up, pulling Laurel further into his arms. "Now, if you'll excuse us..." he trailed off, raising an eyebrow at his Godson and nephew.

Harry pulled Draco off of Severus and Laurel's bed, keeping their hands clasped. "Come on." He grinned at his uncle, Disapparating the both of them back to their room.

"Now, then, where were we?" Harry huskily groaned, pushing Draco down onto the mattress.

"Are you sure-" Harry covered Draco's mouth with his own.

Shut up.

If you say so. Draco relaxed into the needy kiss. His eyes shot open. "What the- Potter!" He looked up, to see his wrists caught in emerald silk ties. "What the hell?"

"Would you relax? You're going to enjoy this." Harry licked his lips, and then open mouth kissed a long line from the corner of his earlobe down his neck and to his left nipple.

Draco arched into his mouth. Merlin- God Harry don't stop. Don't you dare- what the hell?

Vernon loomed down over him, his face purple. "You little freak," he spat, throwing Harry into the darkness of the cupboard under the stairs. "You worthless waste of space. How dare you ruin my Dudley's birthday??"

Harry squirmed and tried to scoot backwards, away from the furious man. His back hit the wall of the cupboard and he cringed, petrified. "I'm – I'm- I'm sorry," he stuttered, raising his hands reflexively to guard his face. "I didn't mean to- I don't know what happened-"

"SILENCE!" Vernon viciously backhanded him across the face. Harry whimpered, his lip welling with blood and trickling down his jaw.

"I-" Harry stuttered, trying to back up further into the cupboard. Vernon slammed his fist again against Harry's face. Vernon caught his shirt collar and dragged him out of the cupboard, his fingers tightening around the eleven year old boy's neck. Harry gasped and gagged, his fingers clawing uselessly at the meaty hand.

I'm Draco- shit this hurts- I have to get out of here- HARRY!- Draco appeared next to Harry, his chest heaving for breath. He rolled into a crouch, his eyes blazing silver. "HARRY! WAKE UP!" he screamed, punching Vernon with all his might and magic. Vernon flew backwards and hit the wall, slumping to the ground. A trail of blood marked his path down to the floor.

SEV!!!!!!!!!!!!! LAUREL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALANNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XANDER!!!!!!!!!!!! Draco screamed, panicking. He watched, terrified, as Vernon's features flickered and were replaced by Clautius's for a second before switching back. He shot backwards, shielding his soul mate with his body.

"Draco?" Draco looked up, launching himself into the arms of his Godfather.

"Sev, it was awful Vernon was hurting him and it was me but it wasn't and I was so scared and then it was Clautius and I didn't know what to do-" Draco paused to take a breath, his chest heaving. "Harry-"

"Is safe." Alanna held Harry in her arms, healing his throat. "Draco, are you all right?"

Draco nodded shakily. "But, it was Clautius!"

Xander and Laurel swiftly knelt down and flared their powers. They jabbed their fingers onto Vernon's temples. Puzzled, they looked at each other and then at Draco.

"Draco," Xander began gently. "There isn't anything here. It's empty."

"But- but- but- but I saw it!" Draco half yelled- half sobbed, his face scarlet. "I saw it!"

"Draco, it's just a link even further into Harry's subconscious, not Clautius. I can't even feel a magical residue," Laurel explained patiently.

Draco shuddered. "I want my mother," he whimpered.

In Alanna's arms, Harry opened his eyes. "Mummy? Daddy?" he whimpered. "Alanna, take me home, please."

Xander and Alanna nodded.

Harry and Draco opened their eyes, curled up around each other. "Are you all right?" they asked each other simultaneously.

"Harry?" Harry shot up and dove for his mother and father. He curled up in their laps, tears streaming from his eyes.

"Draco?" Draco sat up instantly, enveloped in his parents' arms.

"What?" How?" he managed to stutter out before bursting into tears.

"Rowan and Gabrielle brought us," Narcissa murmured, rubbing circles on her son's back.

Lucius stood next to Narcissa, gently smoothing Draco's hair. "What happened?" he asked softly. "You can tell us."

"It was horrible," Draco managed to whisper through his tears. "I- I-"

"Shhh," Narcissa soothed, next to her, Lily doing the same with Harry.

"You're safe," Lily promised, gently stroking Harry's hair away from his face. "I promise, he can't hurt you any more."

Lucius sighed. "I take it the party's off?" he asked James in an undertone. Lily and Narcissa turned identical glares at him. "What?" he asked, defensive. "Neither of them are going to feel like celebrating in a few hours. Let's just postpone it. I for one don't want either of them having a flashback if forty people jump out at them and surprise them."

"Yes, but did you have to give away the surprise?" Lily snapped.

Alanna quickly intervened. "How about we just get these two home and in bed to sleep this off?" she suggested. "They need their rest. Severus, Laurel, you too. Lily, is it all right if everyone just crashed at your house?"

Lily nodded and they all Apparated back to Potter Manor. Within minutes, Harry and Draco were asleep, in their own bed, with their parents standing watch, guarding them as they slept.

abababababa (Ignore the letters- I can't get my carrots to work!)

Harry rolled and stretched, his back popping. "Mmm," Draco groaned beside him. "What the hell happened yesterday?"

Harry sat up, his whole body trembling. "I remember. Sev and Laurel- Draco, let's go check on them, just to make sure they're ok."

Draco nodded and stretched, rolling out of bed. He looked down and stared at the fuzzy pajamas bottoms he was wearing. "Um, Harry, what are we wearing?"

Harry stared at his bright blue and yellow plaid flannel bottoms. "My parents have a weird sense of humor." With a wave of his hand, their pants changed to black. They walked out of their room, immediately running into Sev, Laurel, James, Lily, Narcissa and Lucius, who were all standing outside their door.

After they all managed to untangle themselves, Harry stood up and leaned against the doorframe. "Uncle Sev, how are you feeling?"

Severus straightened up, pulling Laurel with him. "Surprisingly well. We were actually coming to check on you. How are you and Draco feeling?"

Draco shrugged. "Oh, not too bad. The whole post traumatic sex was decent. You?"

Lucius turned bright pink. Narcissa glared at her son. "Draco, that was highly inappropriate. Apologize now."

Draco turned to Harry, who was trying not to fall over. "I'm sorry, Harry. The post traumatic sex was mind blowing."

Harry nodded and crossed his arms, fighting slightly hysterical laughter. "Apology accepted."

Narcissa threw up her hands in disgust. "Fine, I give up." She stalked off. "Lucius, they're fine," she spat over her shoulder.

James shrugged. "What's wrong with her?"

Lucius, rolled his eyes. "Hormones, what else?"

Lily and Laurel round on him, snarling. "Hormones?" they all but screamed identically.

Lucius took one look at them and took off running for his life. Harry and Draco shrugged and walked back into their room, throwing up silencing charms as they locked the door.

abababababa

That night, Harry celebrated his seventeenth birthday and Ginny her sixteenth with style. Lily and James had spared no expense, inviting all the leaders from the other magical nations, as well as all of their friends, including all the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Years. Harry and Ginny grinned at the mountain of presents on a side table, both mentally salivating. Harry? Ginny asked quietly. Would they really mind if we just skipped out with the goods?

I think they might, Harry sighed. We should stay for a while, at least.

Do we have to? Ginny muttered.

Would you two quit griping? Draco snickered. Honestly!

And, it was just as Harry and Ginny were cutting the three layer chocolate cake, that Alanna's water broke.

"What the.... Ooooh," Alanna moaned, clutching her stomach. "This hurts."

Xander quickly banished the puddle on the floor. "Come on, Love- James, Lily, a little help?" He picked Alanna up gently, cradling her against his chest.

Rowan and Gabrielle appeared next to their side. "So, baby time, is it?" Rowan teased. She conjured a pair of rubber gloves, putting them on with a snap.

Alanna winced. "Please, don't do that." She grimaced as another contraction hit. "I- AAAH!"

Lily nodded, Apparating the group straight to an upstairs bedroom. Gabrielle took one look at the room and shook her head. "This won't do," she murmured. "Lana, what kind of birth did you want again?"

Lana grimaced again. "Don't- care- just- uhhhhnn," she groaned. "Whatever is best," she muttered.

"Fine," Gabrielle waved her hand, turning the room into a state of the art medical center.

Draco and Harry looked at each other, and then at the fifty or so people in the Manor. "Um, what do we do now?" Draco asked softly.

Harry grinned at Ginny. "I'm thinking that Merlin's Palace is looking good right now," he smirked.

Lucius's eyes widened. "You know the location of Merlin's Palace?" he demanded.

Draco smirked. "Know the location? He OWNS the place. Well, he and Lily, and Gareth. They are Merlin's descendants."

Lucius regarded his future son in law with calculated amazement. "I see. Would you care to give a guided tour?"

Harry smirked. "Considering that I haven't even been through it, sure, why not."

Lucius and Narcissa looked as if several Christmases had come early. Severus smirked. "You two all right? I don't think I've ever seen you so excited."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Severus, do shut up." Laurel, Damien, Nicholai, Sal, Griffin, and the rest of the guests had do muffle their laughter.

abababababa

Five minutes later, Alanna lay on a very comfortable bed, surrounded by her soul mate, Lily, Rowan and Gabrielle. "So, sis, any pain?" Gabrielle asked brightly.

"Nope, not too bad," Alanna stretched, smiling. "It only gets bad when-" she broke off, grimacing.

"When the contractions hit?" Rowan asked mischievously. "Like, now?"

Xander mock glared at her. "I'm so glad you find this funny." Someone knocked on the door and it swung open. Gaila and Olivia poked their heads in.

"Hey, you two," Lily waved them over "Come on in."

Gaila bounded in. "Hey, Lana. How ya feelin?"

Olivia rolled her yes. "Gabi, calm down." She sedately strolled into the room, looking around. "Nice, Rowan, Gabrielle."

"Thanks," Rowan preened.

Alanna groaned as another contraction hit. "A little help here?" Xander managed to beg through gritted teeth as Alanna squeezed and then broke all the bones in his left hand.

"Lana! That wasn't nice," Rowan giggled. Neither she nor Gabrielle made any move to pry Alanna's hands from Xander's.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Xander growled.

The five of them giggled. "Sure, why not?" Olivia asked. "It's not like you'll have any permanent damage. You must be used to it by now."

They laughed as Xander turned purple.

ababababababa

Laughing, Harry and Draco Apparated the fifty plus guests right outside the Stonehenge Circle. He turned to everyone around him. "Hey, so, party at my place?"

Lucius and Narcissa stared at the cheering crowd of teenagers with extreme trepidation. "Harry, are you sure that's a good idea?" Lucius said.

Claudette raised an eyebrow. "Exactly, Harry. There are priceless orbs and swords and who knows what in there. I don't think you should be giving thirty teenagers free reign over Merlin's Palace. In fact..." she trailed off.

Lucas glared at the circle. "What the hell?"

Harry turned around, as did Draco. "What the- oh HELL no," Harry groaned.

Harry and Draco marched up the slight incline and stood in the perimeter of the circle, their arms crossed. "What the HELL do you think you are doing?" Harry demanded crossly.

Voldemort lowered his arms and glared at the two Demigods. "WHAT?" he snapped, his remaining Inner Circle of Death Eaters drawing their wands. "Can't you see I'm busy?" Voldemort continued.

Harry stalked into the center of the circle and snickered. "What are you trying to do? Blow the place up?" He waved a hand, and the Death Eaters' wands disappeared. They stared at their hands stupidly before edging away from Voldemort and Harry.

Voldemort hissed at him. "Merlin left a chamber under Stonehenge. The Crystal Orb is in it. I'm going to get the Orb and use it to take over the world. Now, do you mind? This spell takes a lot of concentration."

Draco's jaw dropped. "Damn, have you got your facts wrong."

Voldemort threw up his hands. "Now what?"

Harry shook his head. "You are trespassing on private property. My property, to be exact. And, Merlin did not leave a chamber under Stonehenge, he left a palace. My Palace, as I am his Heir. That means the Crystal Orb belongs to me. So, you're attempting to steal my property, as well." He turned around. "Can I get a Ministry official here? I have some charges to press."

"A- a- palace?" The Dark Lord stammered, his scarlet eyes narrowed. "What the- McNair! Get over here!" A burly, masked Death Eater shuffled over. "What did that book passage say?" Voldemort demanded angrily.

"My Lord, it only mentioned a chamber! I swear, My Lord!" The Death Eater groveled.

"You lie! Crucio!" Voldemort snapped.

Harry, Draco, Claudette, Lucas, Lucius and Narcissa watched dispassionately as McNair writhed on the ground. Everyone else was horrified. Ron held Hermione as tears fell down her face. Most of the Ravenclaws, Gryffindors, and Hufflepuffs huddled together, trying to block out the screams. Dudley just stared at the writhing man on the ground curiously. At last, Ginny and Darius had enough.

"Release him," Ginny demanded, morphing into her Demon form. Next to her, Darius bared his fangs, his eyes swirling with unrestrained power. Voldemort stared at her speculatively before waving his hand and ending the spell.

"I remember you, Ginny," the Dark Lord purred. "How is it that a human bound Demoness is trusted enough to have her powers remain active? Why didn't the Demigods bind your powers, young one?"

Darius hissed, his four inch fangs gleaming. Voldemort raised his eyebrows. "You're no better than a Demon. Why the hell aren't you working for Clautius?"

Claudette hissed. "We owe our allegiance to Alanna, our creator, unlike the scum in front of us. Blood traitor," she snarled through her fangs.

Voldemort held up a hand. "First, Clautius told me He was your creator. I apologize for that remark if you found it offensive. As for the second part, he offered me knowledge, and then roped me into servitude. I made an honest mistake, one that I'm trying to get out of."

The entire group, Death Eaters included, stared at him in shock. He sneered at them. "What? The bastard never said anything about helping to destroy my own planet! I want to rule it, not blow it up! Why else do you think my numbers grow fewer every day!"

"I don't know. Why?" Dudley asked before anyone could shut him up.

Voldemort turned on him, exasperated. "Because, you idiot, Clautius tied my powers into his. The Death Eaters are tied through me. If he dies, we ALL die! But, if I dump everyone, he'll notice and it'll be bad. I don't know. All I know is Xander and Alanna have been removing three Marks a week since the beginning of June, and I have only initiated two new Death Eaters in the past two months."

Harry smirked. "How long until you'll be ready to cut all ties, then?"

"Christmas, at the earliest," Voldemort hissed in displeasure. "I wish it could be sooner. That bastard is insane!"

Severus bit the inside of his cheek. That's the pot calling the cauldron black, he sent everyone. The students had to muffle their laughter. Claudette and Lucas did no such thing, laughing openly at the confused and enraged Dark Lord. He wisely kept his temper in reign.

"So, do you mind?" Harry asked, gesturing towards the altar Voldemort had been attempting to magically pry open. "I'd like to get into my house and you're standing on my front stoop."

Voldemort stared at him before backing away from the altar. "Do you mind..." the Dark Lord hesitated.

Harry sighed and exchanged an amused look with Draco. "Fine. The more, the merrier. No cursing, no hexing, stay with the group, and don't try to strip the walls."

"Strip the walls?" Lucius asked curiously.

"Draco, Uncle Sev, turn out your pockets." Draoc and Severus huffed. Severus was clean, but Draco had a small chisel and hammer in his left pocket. Grumbling, he tossed them out of the circle. Harry smirked a him.

"Everyone, get into the circle," Harry instructed, climbing onto the altar and holding his hands up towards the sky. Everyone hastened into the circle as lightning flashed overhead.

"Come on," Harry muttered. Everyone threw their hand over their eyes as a dazzling bolt struck him. The earth began to rumble, and the circle descended into blackness.

"What the- What the hell is going on!" The Dark Lord made his confusion and displeasure known as everyone stood still in the inky blackness, unable to see even their hands in front of their faces.

"Hang on, the bolt knocked Harry out. Idiot, what have I told him about attracting lightning- Lumos." Draco griped as the cavern shone as if it were midday. "And I didn't even get my chisel," he muttered.

Voldemort's jaw dropped. "Sweet Merlin," he muttered, striding over to the wall and tracing the gold leaf and priceless jewels embedded in the rock. "What the- chisel indeed. This cavern alone is worth a fortune."

"I wouldn't try that, if I were you," Severus warned. "Lily and Harry would get fairly upset if their palace were desecrated."

Voldemort's shoulders slumped. "Not even one diamond or emerald?"

"If I can't do it, you sure as hell can't do it," Draco laughed.

Lucius walked slowly over to the wall, tracing the gold with an elegant finger. Draco watched, smirking as the cogs in his father's mind spun. "Draco, how much is your soul mate worth again?"

"Thirty Billion Galleons, why?" Draco asked.

"I think he's worth much more," Lucius said softly. "Merlin was rumored to have a fortune in his palace."

"Treasure hunt! First come, first serve!!!!" Emily screamed, running for the enormous, solid gold double doors.

"WAIT!" Draco yelled. She stopped in mid step. "The doors are warded, enough to knock me on m ass. Don't touch the doors."

"It's ok," Harry said softly, sitting up. "I'll just cover everyone with my magical signature. That should be enough to get them through the wards. Help me up?"

Draco rolled his eyes, but pulled Harry to his feet. "What happened?"

Harry pointed to his scar, which was a brilliant scarlet and swollen. "The damn bolt hit me on the bolt. It hit the weak point and shocked my mind."

"Only you," Draco muttered, shaking his head. "Come on, Golden Boy, get on with it. I want to see this Palace for myself just as badly as everyone else."

Harry grinned and clapped his hands together. The air around each person glowed a solid viridian before dimming once again. "All right, everyone, lets go." Eagerly, Draco grasped the door handle, waiting for Harry.

Harry strode to the front of the group. With a grin, he and Draco threw open the doors.

abababababaaaa

Alanna groaned. "Can't you just Apparate the kid out of me?"

"You're the one who wanted a natural birth," Rowen reminded her grimly. "Besides, remember the sixteen hundreds when the midwives did that? As I recall, the babies had problems."

"What kind of problems?" Lily asked curiously, holding Alanna's left hand soothingly.

"Oh, they more often than not were missing limbs, heads, genitalia, the works," Gabrielle replied grimly.

"What?" Lily gasped.

"They were splinched," Xander said simply. "I think, personally, it was more fault of the midwives for poor Apparating techniques."

"Nope," Rowen said. "It's hard to get a fix on the kid because Mummy's body is trying to move the kid on its own. Same principle as Apparation in motion. You can Apparate yourself, but not others. We don't even try."

"Oh." Lily looked distinctly green. "So, what can I do?" she said brightly.

Alanna squeezed Lily's hand until her fingers turned purple. "Ohhh, you're doing fine right where you are," she wheezed out.

Lily grimaced, but stayed put.

ababababababab

A brilliant light flashed, and a black form appeared in the middle of a grassy plain. Shivering, the form curled into as small of a ball as he could, sobs wracking his body.

No, he called, his mind driven by one focus. I won't give up. I have to find her. I have to make sure.

Wearily, he closed his eyes, tears once again tracking down his face. Help, he called desperately to anyone who could hear him. Help me, I have to find her!

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A/N: well, I'm sorry it took so long. Things have been strange and horrible around here. Except for the face that I'm top of my Paramedics class, that rocks. Again, sorry about the wait. I was lazy, but I was also working in class... that class is hella hard!

All right, now for the shameless commercial: I HAVE A WEBSITE!!!!! It's on my umm, whatever its called. Homepage? It's under my screen name. You know, right? GO VISIT IT! BECOME A MEMBER!!! I don't like the way Fanfiction has set up this whole thing with the way stories are uploaded, so I'll finish uploading this story here, and on my website, but I'm not gonna put anything else on here. It's driving me nuts!