Author's Note: Oh my God, I updated?!! Don't have a heart attack!
Breathe!!! That's it; remember, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in,
breathe out. Good.
Now, on to a more serious note. I am SO SO SO sorry I haven't updated in half a year! My God, has it been that long? I disgrace myself as a fanfiction authoress! I apologize a million times over until my mouth is dry and my lungs are bleeding and feeling as if hot acid has been poured through my entire body! Forgive me!
Now that my humiliating apology has been said... I had completely lost my muse in this story. My inspiration went down the toilet. I strained so hard to get this chapter out that I think I gave myself a well-deserved hernia.
I really want to thank every one of my readers who have threatened me in at least one way to get off my lazy ass and write another chapter of this story, but if you are going to thank one person, thank Chelsea. Her review must have come at exactly the right time, but it touched me and now I RETURN! But, two others that were of major help were Lynn Malfoy and Caity- Cat. So, thank you guys, and everyone else, for the swift kick in the ass!
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
~Silent Attack~
Harry allowed Draco to slowly collect himself while wrapped tightly in his arms. The blonde pulled back, away from the Gryffindor, almost as if trying to hide himself again. Harry slowly breathed trying not to do anything he would regret later on, even if the way Draco was shutting him out did hurt a bit. He decided to just give the Slytherin a minute.
Draco brushed off some imaginary lint from his robes before he looked back into Harry's eyes, "I guess you can take the silencing wards off now."
Harry expressed clear concern in his eyes as he flicked his wand, "Are you going to be alright?"
The blonde managed the smallest of smiles, "For now."
Draco took Harry's hand in his and lead him back out to the common room. Pansy, Blaise, and Hermione were still waiting patiently on couches by the fire. They stood up and the three eyed the two boys.
Pansy, for once, was calm when she asked, "Are you ok, Draco?"
Draco slid his mask of indifference into place and firmly stated, "I'll be fine."
"Um, Harry?" Hermione asked a bit timidly.
Harry looked at her, "Yeah?"
"Can we..." she pointed to the ring on Draco's finger.
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed remembering why they had come here in the first place, "Draco, can I see your ring?"
Draco looked a tiny bit suspicious, "Why?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Don't give me that look. I've asked Hermione to research what kind of magic is in it."
The blonde reluctantly took the ring off his finger and handed it over to Hermione with a threat, "You scratch it, you die."
Hermione had to bite her tongue to keep from giggling. To her, Draco's threats seemed more amusing than dangerous nowadays.
She felt the ring being placed into her palm and the shear power was overwhelming. It felt like she was holding a brick in her hand! The silver ring radiated strongly and she took a closer look trying to study it, but when she did her skin where it laid felt like it was burning.
"Ow!" Hermione cried as she dropped it.
Draco didn't look to happy as he bent down to pick it up, "Granger..."
"Sorry, Draco; it just suddenly got really... really hot," Hermione glanced at her hand and saw a small brown circle where the ring use to be. She showed it to them, "See?"
Harry looked confused, "Why did it do that? It doesn't burn Draco or me."
Hermione herself looked a bit puzzled, "I don't know."
"Maybe we should have Dumbledore take a look at it," Harry suggested.
"No way," Draco flat out answered, "I am not having that old fool touch anything of mine."
Hermione looked as if she was going to argue, but Harry raised his hand and stopped her, "Who do you suggest we take it to then, Draco?"
Draco thought for a split second, "I'd rather take it to Severus."
"Severus?" Harry and Hermione voiced at the same time.
Draco shrugged his shoulders, "We've been on first name basis for years."
Harry finally nodded his head, "Fine, we'll take it to Professor Snape."
A few seconds of silence passed by before Hermione spoke up, "Are you coming, Harry? I should go and get started on the research."
"Research?" Harry questioned, "I thought you had about as much of a clue as we did."
"That is the jest of it, but I could just look through a few random books that may cover something similar."
"Alright, I'm gonna stay here for a little bit."
Hermione smiled, "Ok, Harry, I'll see you in a while."
Hermione started heading out of the door when Blaise and Pansy shouted out to wait up.
"We're gonna go too and see if we can do anything useful," Blaise explained to the two boys.
Harry smiled, "Thanks for the help guys."
"No problem!" Pansy cooed, "anything for my Draky-Poo!"
The four laughed while Draco blushed a crimson red, "Pansy, you are going to pay for that!"
"Sure, Draco," Pansy threw over her shoulder as she walked with Blaise to Hermione.
Hermione leaned over to the two and asked, "How come you guys are coming? I didn't really think you were into book research."
Blaise smiled, "We aren't, but Draco looks like he needs to be alone with Harry so we decided to come with you as an excuse. We'll still help of course."
"Of course," Pansy put in.
Hermione smiled and the three walked out of the Slytherin common room together.
Draco sighed and threw himself on an over-stuffed green couch. Harry sat down beside him and casually leaned the blonde against him until the Slytherin was resting fully on his chest. He began to stroke the platinum hair soothingly. Draco let out a small yawn.
Harry looked down and smiled, "Tired?"
Draco had his eyelids half closed, "Just a little. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Close you eyes and relax."
Draco wanted to argue, was going to argue, but the invitation was just too inviting. His eyes slowly closed, as if on their own, and he succumbed to the darkness.
Harry continued to run his fingers through the golden locks even well after the blonde had fallen asleep. The quietness of the room and the lull of his boyfriend's deep breathing were hypnotic and soon had him following the Slytherin.
|~*~|
In the depths of slumber land, neither Harry nor Draco heard the Slytherin door open hours later. In the quietest of whispers, a black shadow muttered a silencing spell and a locking charm. It was going perfectly. He had been waiting in the shadows of the castle all day until he was certain every Slytherin but the one he needed was outside. It had taken long hours, but he was next to absolutely certain the ring was still inside, along with whoever was wearing it.
The ring's magic would have been impossible to detect, but the spell that had been placed on him increased his awareness one-hundred times fold to it. He could literally feel power radiate from the room, this room, where the ring had to be.
It was pure genius to steal the ring just before the sun set. No one, not even that fool Dumbledore, would think that there would be anything going on while there was still light in the sky. The wizard's guard would be down just the tiniest bit, but that was all he needed. He would just go in, nab the person, and be out; all without alarming anyone. All the odds were on his side since everyone still thought he was a student. Apparently, Dumbledore didn't tell anyone about why he had not returned with the rest of the students, probably for the fear of embarrassing Malfoy. Everyone just thought he had been late in returning, and nobody had asked any questions. Perfect.
His smile was pure evil, but it dropped immediately when he saw not one, but two people on the couch; and who would one of them be but Harry bloody Potter.
'Dammit,' he cursed his luck. He could have sworn everyone else was out of here. Thinking, he hadn't counted on a non-Slytherin being in the Slytherin dorms. He finally took notice that Potter was curled up around Draco Malfoy, his ex-Slytherin brother. Another sinister smile began to spread, but stopped again when something silver shone on the blonde's finger. 'Dammit!' he cursed his worse luck. He would have to take care of both of them now.
|~*~|
Harry stared unbelieving at the bright silver light before him. Out trotted an enormously beautiful horse with long, pure while, feathered wings.
Harry walked just a little closer to him, "Who are you?"
The pegasus ignored Harry's question as he walked closer. Its deep, fuzzy voice seemed to encircle the raven-haired boy as it called out, "Hello, Harry."
Harry walked even closer still until he could see that the eyes of the horse were light pink. He repeated, "Who are you?"
The pegasus looked as though he was about to answer when he suddenly lifted his head up in alert, "Harry, wake up. You are in danger."
"Wha...?" was all he was able to say before he felt himself being pulled out of his dream.
|~*~|
Harry snapped his eyes open to just be able to notice someone standing over him with their wand poised. He jerked himself from the couch and grabbed his wand from his robes.
Draco landed with a loud 'thump' onto the floor. He groaned as he opened his eyes, "What did you do that f..."
"Petrificus totalus!"
Draco slumped back to the ground.
Harry finally was able to rid himself from his sleep induced haze. He casted his eyes over to their attacker and recognized the face immediately, "Stucker!"
"The one and only," the sadistic smile began to crawl its way back onto his lips, "Sorry to disturb you, but I need to take Malfoy here back with me."
Harry growled threateningly, "Over my dead body."
"I hope so," Stucker sneered.
They both shouted curses at the same time while diving for cover. Spells began to fly back and forth. Harry was a little reluctant; fearing one of the curses would hit Draco.
Harry's hesitation gave Stucker the time he needed. He carefully aimed his wand and shouted, 'Stupefy!'
The spell shot behind Harry, bounced off a mirror, and hit him straight in the back causing him to fall over motionless.
Stucker got up from his cover and walked over to Harry, "To bad I cannot kill you now, fore I am sure my Lord would want to do it himself. It is quite a pity I cannot carry you as well as Malfoy back with me. All well, another place, another time..."
Harry's blood began to curdle as he could only listen to the sound of Stucker using the mobilicorpus spell on the one he loved and slammed the door shut behind them.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Author's Note: Forgive all the grammar errors. I haven't had time to run it through my beta-er yet. I thought I would just post it so you guys could read it. This chapter didn't really come out like I wanted it to because it seemed to me to be a little rushed, but it was the best I could do at the moment. Hopefully, you all will enjoy!
Now, on to a more serious note. I am SO SO SO sorry I haven't updated in half a year! My God, has it been that long? I disgrace myself as a fanfiction authoress! I apologize a million times over until my mouth is dry and my lungs are bleeding and feeling as if hot acid has been poured through my entire body! Forgive me!
Now that my humiliating apology has been said... I had completely lost my muse in this story. My inspiration went down the toilet. I strained so hard to get this chapter out that I think I gave myself a well-deserved hernia.
I really want to thank every one of my readers who have threatened me in at least one way to get off my lazy ass and write another chapter of this story, but if you are going to thank one person, thank Chelsea. Her review must have come at exactly the right time, but it touched me and now I RETURN! But, two others that were of major help were Lynn Malfoy and Caity- Cat. So, thank you guys, and everyone else, for the swift kick in the ass!
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
~Silent Attack~
Harry allowed Draco to slowly collect himself while wrapped tightly in his arms. The blonde pulled back, away from the Gryffindor, almost as if trying to hide himself again. Harry slowly breathed trying not to do anything he would regret later on, even if the way Draco was shutting him out did hurt a bit. He decided to just give the Slytherin a minute.
Draco brushed off some imaginary lint from his robes before he looked back into Harry's eyes, "I guess you can take the silencing wards off now."
Harry expressed clear concern in his eyes as he flicked his wand, "Are you going to be alright?"
The blonde managed the smallest of smiles, "For now."
Draco took Harry's hand in his and lead him back out to the common room. Pansy, Blaise, and Hermione were still waiting patiently on couches by the fire. They stood up and the three eyed the two boys.
Pansy, for once, was calm when she asked, "Are you ok, Draco?"
Draco slid his mask of indifference into place and firmly stated, "I'll be fine."
"Um, Harry?" Hermione asked a bit timidly.
Harry looked at her, "Yeah?"
"Can we..." she pointed to the ring on Draco's finger.
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed remembering why they had come here in the first place, "Draco, can I see your ring?"
Draco looked a tiny bit suspicious, "Why?"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Don't give me that look. I've asked Hermione to research what kind of magic is in it."
The blonde reluctantly took the ring off his finger and handed it over to Hermione with a threat, "You scratch it, you die."
Hermione had to bite her tongue to keep from giggling. To her, Draco's threats seemed more amusing than dangerous nowadays.
She felt the ring being placed into her palm and the shear power was overwhelming. It felt like she was holding a brick in her hand! The silver ring radiated strongly and she took a closer look trying to study it, but when she did her skin where it laid felt like it was burning.
"Ow!" Hermione cried as she dropped it.
Draco didn't look to happy as he bent down to pick it up, "Granger..."
"Sorry, Draco; it just suddenly got really... really hot," Hermione glanced at her hand and saw a small brown circle where the ring use to be. She showed it to them, "See?"
Harry looked confused, "Why did it do that? It doesn't burn Draco or me."
Hermione herself looked a bit puzzled, "I don't know."
"Maybe we should have Dumbledore take a look at it," Harry suggested.
"No way," Draco flat out answered, "I am not having that old fool touch anything of mine."
Hermione looked as if she was going to argue, but Harry raised his hand and stopped her, "Who do you suggest we take it to then, Draco?"
Draco thought for a split second, "I'd rather take it to Severus."
"Severus?" Harry and Hermione voiced at the same time.
Draco shrugged his shoulders, "We've been on first name basis for years."
Harry finally nodded his head, "Fine, we'll take it to Professor Snape."
A few seconds of silence passed by before Hermione spoke up, "Are you coming, Harry? I should go and get started on the research."
"Research?" Harry questioned, "I thought you had about as much of a clue as we did."
"That is the jest of it, but I could just look through a few random books that may cover something similar."
"Alright, I'm gonna stay here for a little bit."
Hermione smiled, "Ok, Harry, I'll see you in a while."
Hermione started heading out of the door when Blaise and Pansy shouted out to wait up.
"We're gonna go too and see if we can do anything useful," Blaise explained to the two boys.
Harry smiled, "Thanks for the help guys."
"No problem!" Pansy cooed, "anything for my Draky-Poo!"
The four laughed while Draco blushed a crimson red, "Pansy, you are going to pay for that!"
"Sure, Draco," Pansy threw over her shoulder as she walked with Blaise to Hermione.
Hermione leaned over to the two and asked, "How come you guys are coming? I didn't really think you were into book research."
Blaise smiled, "We aren't, but Draco looks like he needs to be alone with Harry so we decided to come with you as an excuse. We'll still help of course."
"Of course," Pansy put in.
Hermione smiled and the three walked out of the Slytherin common room together.
Draco sighed and threw himself on an over-stuffed green couch. Harry sat down beside him and casually leaned the blonde against him until the Slytherin was resting fully on his chest. He began to stroke the platinum hair soothingly. Draco let out a small yawn.
Harry looked down and smiled, "Tired?"
Draco had his eyelids half closed, "Just a little. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Close you eyes and relax."
Draco wanted to argue, was going to argue, but the invitation was just too inviting. His eyes slowly closed, as if on their own, and he succumbed to the darkness.
Harry continued to run his fingers through the golden locks even well after the blonde had fallen asleep. The quietness of the room and the lull of his boyfriend's deep breathing were hypnotic and soon had him following the Slytherin.
|~*~|
In the depths of slumber land, neither Harry nor Draco heard the Slytherin door open hours later. In the quietest of whispers, a black shadow muttered a silencing spell and a locking charm. It was going perfectly. He had been waiting in the shadows of the castle all day until he was certain every Slytherin but the one he needed was outside. It had taken long hours, but he was next to absolutely certain the ring was still inside, along with whoever was wearing it.
The ring's magic would have been impossible to detect, but the spell that had been placed on him increased his awareness one-hundred times fold to it. He could literally feel power radiate from the room, this room, where the ring had to be.
It was pure genius to steal the ring just before the sun set. No one, not even that fool Dumbledore, would think that there would be anything going on while there was still light in the sky. The wizard's guard would be down just the tiniest bit, but that was all he needed. He would just go in, nab the person, and be out; all without alarming anyone. All the odds were on his side since everyone still thought he was a student. Apparently, Dumbledore didn't tell anyone about why he had not returned with the rest of the students, probably for the fear of embarrassing Malfoy. Everyone just thought he had been late in returning, and nobody had asked any questions. Perfect.
His smile was pure evil, but it dropped immediately when he saw not one, but two people on the couch; and who would one of them be but Harry bloody Potter.
'Dammit,' he cursed his luck. He could have sworn everyone else was out of here. Thinking, he hadn't counted on a non-Slytherin being in the Slytherin dorms. He finally took notice that Potter was curled up around Draco Malfoy, his ex-Slytherin brother. Another sinister smile began to spread, but stopped again when something silver shone on the blonde's finger. 'Dammit!' he cursed his worse luck. He would have to take care of both of them now.
|~*~|
Harry stared unbelieving at the bright silver light before him. Out trotted an enormously beautiful horse with long, pure while, feathered wings.
Harry walked just a little closer to him, "Who are you?"
The pegasus ignored Harry's question as he walked closer. Its deep, fuzzy voice seemed to encircle the raven-haired boy as it called out, "Hello, Harry."
Harry walked even closer still until he could see that the eyes of the horse were light pink. He repeated, "Who are you?"
The pegasus looked as though he was about to answer when he suddenly lifted his head up in alert, "Harry, wake up. You are in danger."
"Wha...?" was all he was able to say before he felt himself being pulled out of his dream.
|~*~|
Harry snapped his eyes open to just be able to notice someone standing over him with their wand poised. He jerked himself from the couch and grabbed his wand from his robes.
Draco landed with a loud 'thump' onto the floor. He groaned as he opened his eyes, "What did you do that f..."
"Petrificus totalus!"
Draco slumped back to the ground.
Harry finally was able to rid himself from his sleep induced haze. He casted his eyes over to their attacker and recognized the face immediately, "Stucker!"
"The one and only," the sadistic smile began to crawl its way back onto his lips, "Sorry to disturb you, but I need to take Malfoy here back with me."
Harry growled threateningly, "Over my dead body."
"I hope so," Stucker sneered.
They both shouted curses at the same time while diving for cover. Spells began to fly back and forth. Harry was a little reluctant; fearing one of the curses would hit Draco.
Harry's hesitation gave Stucker the time he needed. He carefully aimed his wand and shouted, 'Stupefy!'
The spell shot behind Harry, bounced off a mirror, and hit him straight in the back causing him to fall over motionless.
Stucker got up from his cover and walked over to Harry, "To bad I cannot kill you now, fore I am sure my Lord would want to do it himself. It is quite a pity I cannot carry you as well as Malfoy back with me. All well, another place, another time..."
Harry's blood began to curdle as he could only listen to the sound of Stucker using the mobilicorpus spell on the one he loved and slammed the door shut behind them.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Author's Note: Forgive all the grammar errors. I haven't had time to run it through my beta-er yet. I thought I would just post it so you guys could read it. This chapter didn't really come out like I wanted it to because it seemed to me to be a little rushed, but it was the best I could do at the moment. Hopefully, you all will enjoy!