b Where the place… /b
i A/N: Oh wow! Thanks to all you happy reviewers! And, thanks to b amber /b , she rocks! She is a wonderful beta and deserves constant recognition just for putting up with my appalling spelling, not even including anything else! And, I have a new person to thankcome on, wave to the readers b passionflower89 /b , yes you! /i
disclaimer: I own nothing but the lightning lollipops cuz at the moment rose has a mind of her own!
(Warning: this chapter is slightly racy. you no liky. you no readie. simple really.)
Harry blinked a few times before sitting bolt upright in bed. Being no stranger to black outs, he quickly got his bearings.
He was in the hospital wing, bed in the far corner, with the curtains drawn. And what was this? He still had his tux still on… Tux! Oh, no, the wedding!
Frantically, he looked around and breathed a sigh of relief to see Ginny curled up in the closest chair to his bed, still wrapped up in her wedding gown, her eyes red and puffy. He started to get out of bed when Madame Pomphrey bustled in and nearly forced anti-nausea and rejuvenation potions down his throat.
His gagging brought Ginny around.
"Oh, Harry," she sobbed as he drew her close. "I was so worried! Wh-what happened? When you and Rose collapsed"
"Rose!" Harry cried out. He had completely forgotten that Rose had collapsed as well. "Is she alright?"
"She'll be fine. She has a nasty bump on her head, and they haven't been able to revive her fully yet, but she looks to be OK. Madame Pomphrey gave her an anti-concussion potion," Ginny said, wiping her tears.
"Where are Ron and Hermione?"
"Madame Pomfrey sent them away a bit ago. They wanted to be here, but Professor Dumbledore insisted that you and Rose were going to be perfectly fine"
"Wait a tickhow long have we been here?"
"Nearly two hours." Ginny hugged close to him again.
He sunk back down onto his hospital bed. "I've been… we've been… Oh, Ginny, I'm so sorry. This was supposed to be a magical nightour wedding night. I'm sorry I've gone and ruined it."
"Harry, it's not your fault. And…well… it's not over i completely /i ," Ginny said, biting her lip. "Professor Dumbledore i did /i say that when you were awake you could go… If you are feeling OK, maybe we could save it after all?"
He smiled at his bride and pulled back the curtains. Across from him, Rose was still lying on her hospital bed, and, surprisingly, Draco was sitting nearby.
"He doesn't want to admit it," Ginny whispered, "but he's been here longer than I have. He actually carried her up here after she fell."
Harry could see the uncomfortable look on Draco's face. It must be hard, he thought, to suddenly i really /i care about someone after all those years of being alone.
Harry walked over to the bed, his stride strengthening with each step, until he reached Draco's chair. He put a hand on his shoulder, and Draco flinched but didn't shake him off. His eyes never left Rose's waxen face.
"Potter, what happened? Did you do something to her?" His voice barely rose above a whisper.
"Look Malfoy, I know you are upset, but I collapsed, too, remember?"
Draco heaved a deep sigh, as if it took more effort than he wanted. "I'm sorry, I'm just… she just…I…" His voice trailed and cracked slightly.
"It's OK, mate. Just don't leave her." Harry squeezed his friend's shoulder. "She'll want to see that you're here when she wakes up."
Ginny gave Harry's arm a tug and, bidding good night to Madame Pomfrey (who did not look at all pleased that her patient was leaving so soon) and Draco, they took the quickest path Ginny could find up to the Room of Requirement.
Harry would have argued with her to be gentle with himafter all, he i had /i just came toif only he hadn't wanted her so badly.
Shaking away the dull headache he'd had since he woke up, he slammed the door behind them, barely noticing the deep burgundy of the walls, the cackling fireplace and the rich décor. All he saw was a large, soft bed, and Ginny, crawling cat-like on top of it, wearing nothing but a slinky white satin slip and nearly purring at him.
'How did she get that dress off so quickly?' he vaguely thought as she stretched out and beckoned him forward. Without reaching for his wand he vanished his clothes save for his boxers and crawled up with her.
Their lips met and their bodies collapsed onto each other's in a searing embrace. Soon, their remaining clothes lay discarded on the floor, and Harry bent back to look at Ginny.
"My god, you are the most fantastic… I'm the luckiest bloke…" He got no more words out as she pulled him back down, shifting her weight so he could claim her as his own.
She cried out in pain, but it was sweet pain, he told himself. He could feel her body quivering around him, and he lost himself in the feeling as she begged him for more…
'This is bloody daft,' Draco thought miserably. If this is what truly caring for people was likefeeling your heart break and knowing you can do nothing to help themthen being in love was bloody overrated.
'Well, at least this proves that I can still love. What a disappointment it will be to my father that he couldn't squash it all out of me.'
He had watched Potter lead Rose out onto the floor, thanking Merlin that the beautiful girl with impossibly violet eyes was his… Then his world had fallen still the moment he saw her collapse. He had rushed to her side immediately, knocking down nearly everyone that stood between them.
He had been nearly frantic when she wouldn't open her eyes… his only choice was to carry her up to the hospital wing. Since then, the world had blurred and, despite assurances from that daft old man that she would be fine, he hadn't left her side. That moment in the groom's tent, seeing her in that dress looking the most beautiful he had ever seen her, feeling the love course through him like lava, seemed like months ago, not hours(in the origional there was absoult confusion it was about how I felt at the time of writing this hee hee)
And, now, looking at her lying helplessly on the bed, Draco was consumed by another odd emotionguilt.
Tonight had, well, been the night. He had a romantic plan in place to seduce her and shag her senseless, as he had wanted to do for so long. And, looking at her on the bedher porcelain skin gleaming and her pouty lips intoxicatinghe felt his manhood swell appreciatively, and for that he was disgusted in himself.
'Can't even keep it in check around her when she is ill,' he thought, silently berating himself for his thoughts of kissing her breasts and stomach and
'No,' he shook his head. 'Think about something else… Think about Snape and potions…'
Wait, hadn't they just snogged on the Potion master's desk after hours a few nights ago? It had been so hot and naughty… he had pushed her back on the desk and tasted her, touched her, and he could still hear her appreciative moans, even as her thighs closed tightly around his ears… And when she had returned the favor, it had taken every ounce of his self control not to grab her up and push into her right there…
He groaned and shifted his weight, making room for his throbbing erection. 'But,' he reasoned truthfully. 'There's more to it that being physical. I love her, and I… I want to mar'
He was pulled out of his reverie by a rustle of bed covers. He looked up and saw Rose's eyes flicker before opening groggily.
He shot to her side and took her hand gently. "Rose! Are you alright?"
He watched as her violet eyes came in focus, and, in her familiar caramel voice, said "I… I think so. What happened? Where am I?"
"You are in the hospital wing, love. No, don't move too much. I'll get Madame Pomfrey, hold on.'
Not bothering to move, he simply called out to the old nurse, who appeared behind the curtain immediately, carrying several large vials of healing potions.
As Rose swallowed each concoction, pulling faces after each one, Draco slowly brought her up to speed on Harry's condition and what he had seen at the reception, leaving out how he had carried her himself. 'Don't want to sound too desperate, now do I?'
After another hour of observation and several assurances from Rose that, despite the bump on her head (which had gone down but was still bruised and hurt when she moved to fast), she was fine and would like to sleep in her own bed tonight, if that was OK, the couple was finally released back to their dorms.
Walking back to Gryffindor Tower slowly, Draco held her close and spoke very little, save for a few inquiries as to how she was feeling.
Clearing his throat in front of the portrait hole, he said, "Rose, I… well, I was worried about you tonight. I thought for a few minutes that you…" his voice cracked slightly for the second time tonight, but he didn't care.
"Draco, I know, it's OK. Thank you for staying with me, I … it really means a lot." She looked uncomfortably at her feet, then back up into his eyes. "I want to tell you something. I was going to do it after the reception, when we were alone, but I think you need to know that I…" she took a deep breath, "that I love you."
Draco exhaled a breath he didn't know he had been holding, and pulled Rose as close as he could and kissed her deeply. His mind was drowning in delirious thoughts as their tongues dragged against each other's.
He pulled back after a moment and, mustering all the emotion he had left, said "Rose, I've loved you since you kissed me in the Entrance Hall, I think. There is no one else I'd rather… It's more than just…"
At a loss for words, he pulled her close again, and he moaned into her mouth when he felt her fingers slip into his hair and tug him closer.
She pulled him into the deserted Common Room and was leading him over to the couch when suddenly he stopped.
'Draco, please, I…," she whispered in his ear as he gently pulled back.
He held her hands and, looking into her lusty eyes, said with more conviction than he felt, "No, not tonight love, you need your rest." He marveled internally at his poise, and at his ability to resist her wet lips as she pouted seductively.
Then, he pulled her forward and, in his most sexy and confident voice, growled into her ear, "When I make you mine, love, you'll need to be back at full strength. Trust me." He felt her shudder against his chest. "Now, get your sweet arse up to bed before I take you back to the hospital wing." (heeheehee)
And, with that, she smiled gently, kissed him lightly on the lips and walked safely back up to the girls dormitories.
Harry woke up in a tangle of sheets, feeling rested and stronger than he had in weeks.
Prizing himself out his wife's (his wifewow, that was going to take getting used to) sleeping arms, he silently donned his tuxedo pants and shirt.
Leaving Ginny a sweet note explaining that he had gone to talk to Dumbledore about last night and that he would see her at lunch, he covered her up with the discarded sheets, kissed her forehead and set off for his room.
The castle was very quiet, and this was how Harry liked it best. He wandered the familiar halls with a smile on his face and thought about how his children might one day be roaming these halls as students. So pleasant was the image of a little red-haired boy with bright green eyes that he vowed he would see this future, no matter what the costs.
After a hot shower, he changed into his favorite pair of ratty jeans, a white tee and jumper, thankful not to have to wear that stuffy tux anymore. He decided to have a bit of breakfast to help gather his thoughts before going to meet the headmaster.
The Great Hall was deserted when he walked in. 'Looks like most of the wedding guests have either left already or are having a bit of a lie-in,' he thought, sitting down in his usual spot at the Gryffindor table, though it hardly mattered.
"Ah, Harry! Feeling better, I imagine?"
Harry turned and saw the headmaster stroll in from a side entrance. He was wearing long black robes with embroidered twinkling silver stars and moons, and his half-moon spectacles were resting lightly his long nose.
"Yes, thank you Professor," Harry said. "I was wondering, do you have a few moments to talk to me about"
"About why you and Miss Westlock fainted last night at your reception?"
Harry smiled. How was it that Dumbledore seemed to know everything that happened within the walls of his castle? "Yes, sir."
"Of course. Please, do finish your breakfast. I will meet you at my office in 20 minutes; the password is 'Lightning Lollipops.' I will send word for Miss Westlock to meet you there, as well."
"Thank you, Professor." Harry couldn't help but notice that the usually nonchalant headmaster seemed uncharacteristically tense, as if he were bursting to tell a grand secret. Turning back to his ham and eggs, Harry found that he was no longer hungry; his stomach had filled with dread.
'If it is enough to make Dumbledore nervous, it must be bad,' he though as he slowly meandered to the grand stone gargoyles.
"Lightning Lollipops," he said, and the wall creaked open revealing the familiar spiral staircase.
Despite his nerves, Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the password. Lightning Lollipops were one of Fred and George's inventionsnasty little sweets that charged you up with static electricity for a half hour, letting you shock anyone who came within 5 feet of you. Harry had, of course, tried them out last summer, and he had to admit that it made de-gnoming the garden a lot more interesting. (a/n yay lightning lollipops rock!)
He could still hear Ron and Ginny's cheers and laughter ringing in his ears when the doorway once again creaked open and Rose walked up to the office landing.
She had a pair of dark jeans and a long plum cardigan wrapped tightly around her, as if she were cold. Her black hair was clean and combed straight.
There was an awkward silence between them. Harry noticed the darkening bruise on her forehead and immediately felt guilty.
"I'm sorry, Rose, I don't know what happened…," Harry said.
"Don't apologize Harry, it wasn't your fault," she gently touched the bruise and winced. "It's not as bad as it looks. I'm just curious what happened. Why do you think Dumbledore called us both here?"
"Because, Miss Westlock, it seems that there is more to what happened last night than meets the eye."
Neither had noticed Professor Dumbledore enter the circular office, and both students stood and greeted him.
"Please, sit down," he began. "There is much to say. Tell me Harry, have you chose to tell anyone of the prophesy?"
"Iwell…" Harry blushed. "No, sir."
Dumbledore turned to Rose. "My dear, do you know the nature of prophesies?"
"Yes sir, I think so," she said, more than a little confused. Harry couldn't blame her. "I believe they are kept in the Ministry of Magic, in a large vault. They are recorded and only available to those of whom the prophesy is about."
"Very good. Now, a few years ago, there was an incident at the Ministry of Magic resulting in the exposure and destruction of one particular prophesyone known only to Harry and myself. But, I'm afraid that it has recently come to light that this prophesy involves you, as well."
Harry's mouth fell open. "But Professor, how"
"Harry, all will be explained in due time. Now, Rose, I am going to reveal the prophesy to you, but I must ask that you pay close attention and not repeat it to anyone outside of this office." She nodded.
Harry watched numbly as Dumbledore extracted the silvery memory strand, place it in the bowl and swirl it gently. He closed his eyes and bowed his head as Trelawny's roughened voice filled the chamber menacingly.
i "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...
Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...
And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...
And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..." /i
Harry glanced up only when he heard Rose say, "But, Professor, I don't understand. I see how this involved Harry and Voldemort, but I..."
"Ah, but therein lies the great mystery. I believe we have inadvertently finally found the power." He opened his arms, gesturing to Rose. "I believe it is you."
Silence thicker than London fog filled the room.
Harry spoke up finally, his curiosity overpowering the feeling of nakedness he had felt to have the prophesy revealed. "How do you figure, professor? I only just met Rose at the beginning of this term. And what power can she have that you don't already know about?"
Dumbledore stood up, like a teacher about to give a lecture.
"There is an ancient magic at play here, an occurrence so old that Voldemort does not know of its existence. It is called i Anima Didymoi /i , or 'Soul Twins.' It is extremely rare, and I must admit that I have only ever studied itthat is, before today.
"The i Anima Didymoi /i occurs when a soul is created that is too vast, too largely powerful, to inhabit only one body. Thus, it is split between two. While each contains separate personality and character traits, the halves strive to be reconnected, much like two magnets pulling their corporeal bodies toward each other. The power, however, is so great that it can easily overwhelm those not prepared for its current. What occurred last night on the dance floor was the prolonged contact needed for the soul to temporarily reconnect with it's other half."
"Wait a second," Harry's patience had grown into anger. That's all he needed was another ancient force acting on his life against his will. "So, are you saying that Rose and I are soul mates?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "No, Harry, not in the sentimental muggle sense. I assure you, your relationship to Miss Weasleyor, should I say, Mrs. Potteris not in question. This is more of a familial bond, as if you and Miss Westlock were fraternal twins. Brother and sister, if you will, but not by blood relations."
"But," Rose asked, leaning forward in her chair. "How did it happen? Why were Harry and I chosen?"
"It is related to the exact time the soul is split. I assume, Miss Westlock, that your birthday is July 31, 1980, at 5:49 a.m., same as Harry's?"
Both Rose and Harry's mouths fell open in shock. "W-well, yes, it is."
"There you have it." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, and Harry noted that he looked quite excited. "Now, this discovery is of the utmost importance and secrecy. You may involve Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Mr. Malfoy, but they must understand the precautions that are being taken to keep this information secret. Should you choose to tell them, their lives will be in dangerfar more than they ever have been before."
Harry and Rose nodded solemnly, and she asked, "So, Professor, we need to find a way to harness the power of the combined soul and use is against Voldemort?"
"Precisely, Miss Westlock. I have already arranged for Professor Tonks to assist you in the endeavor. You will begin tomorrow."
As they left the headmaster's office, Rose was so full of questions and answers that she needed some time to sort through them all. Hermione was the one person she knew who could help her.
"Harry? Would you like to tell the others about this?" she asked tentatively.
"I think we should, Rose. They are our best friends and they deserve to know. Besides, I know you wouldn't know about this, but they have risked their lives for me so many times that I have lost count."
"Good. I'll find Hermione and Ron, you find Ginny and Draco, and we'll meet in the Room of Requirement in a half hour?"
He agreed, and they set off in separate directions.
Rose wound her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room and found Ron and Hermione entangled on the couch, rubbing noses and whispering lovingly.
Despite her urgent news, Rose stopped to smile at the pair.
'Husband and wife, imagine that. I wonder what it feels like. I wonder if Draco would ever want to…'
She stopped herself mid-thought as the devastatingly handsome blond strode into her mind. She vaguely remembered last night and the promise he had made about, well, rocking her world, so to speak, and shivered. She could hardly keep herself in check these days when he was around. She started to burn deeply when she thought of the other night in the potion's lab…
She wiped her mind clean and cleared her throat a bit before stepping closer to the canoodling couple. Ron and Hermione looked over and grinned widely before noticing her serious expression.
"What's wrong?" Hermione said immediately.
"There is something very important that Harry and I have to tell you both. Harry is getting Ginny and Draco, and we are all meeting in the Room of Requirement in 20 minutes."
They sprang up quickly and nearly ran to her side, but she stopped them with her hand. "No, wait. You guys have to know that, by coming along, you are agreeing not to speak to another soul about this. It could mean your lives."
Ron looked at her and very solemnly crossed his fingers over his heart. "We would die for you and Harry. Let's go."
When they all had assembled around the round table in the middle of the room, Rose watched as Harry shut the door behind them, sealing them in. Hermione had taken the seat between Ginny and Ron, and had parchment and quill ready to begin taking notes. 'Thank Merlin she is here,' Rose thought.
Draco had chosen to sit next to Rose and had placed his arms around her protectively. She snuggled into him, enjoying the warm of his touch, before also rising and standing next to Harry.
"What's up?" Ron asked immediately.
Taking a long look at each other, Harry and Rose slowly explained to them the occurrence of i Anima Didymoi /i . They didn't pause to answer questions, but ploughed on as if the quicker they said it, the better off they were.
When they had finished, Rose looked a Draco, her eyes silently pleading him to understand. His expression was blank, and her heart tightened.
"OK, so, on all accounts, it seems that this is really good news!" Hermione said, with awed reverence in her voice. "I read about i Anima Didymoi /i in an ancient text last year, but to actually see it…"
"Yeah, it's fantastic," Harry said sarcastically. He plopped down next to Ginny.
"No, wait, Hermione is right," she said. "This is the answer. If you can both harness this power, you can defeat Tom for good. And Tonks will definitely help; she is very talented."
"And, of course, we'll all help you," Ron chimed in. Rose and Harry smiled gratefully, then glanced over at Draco, who hadn't spoken yet.
He looked at each of them in turn, then lingered on Rose.
"Well," Draco drawled. "I can't say I'm happy about the time you'll be spending with my girl, Potter, but I'll certainly offer up any help I can. Oh, and Hermione is absolutely correct. This i is /i good news."
Rose nearly melted back into his arms.
The meeting wrapped with promises from each to do some quiet research on i Anima Didymoi /i and meet back in a few days.
Hermione and Ron lagged behind to claim the deserted Room of Requirement, and Ginny and Harry skipped away for an impromptu broom ride.
Rose and Draco silently walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room, holding hands and not speaking much.
To be honest, Draco thought he had taken the news surprisingly well. He had, of course, been hoping for a mid-morning snog with Rose, and the detour into ancient magical curses and twin souls had been unexpected, but the idea that, finally, there was a plan to rid the world of Voldemort, perked his sodden spirits dramatically.
'Perhaps, this could mean the beginning of a new life for me,' he wished. 'the end of Voldemort's reign will also mean the end of my father's reign over me. At last, I can be free.'
When they had entered the Common Room, Rose began to apologize for being so much trouble, but he quickly cut her off.
"Love, don't say another word. I am proud to be in love with you."
She smiled her first real smile of the day at him, and he pulled her down onto his lap in front of the Common Room fire. They spent a few minutes quietly talking about various theories of how she and Harry could control the power, but their closeness was intoxicating him.
"You must understand the power that you possess inside of you, and how much us Slytherins desire power…" He nuzzled her neck, and she giggled. "Of course, that's not all that is making me desire you. It's your smell…" (kiss) "your voice…" (nibble) "your laugh…" (suck).
"Mmmhmm…," he felt her grind her bottom into his lap, and his response was almost immediate.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy, I seem to remember something you said last night, about me needing to be at full strengthseems like you are already there…"
'If she doesn't stop this, I'm going to bloody burst my pants,' he thought.
It only took him one more grind for him to pull her underneath him and attack her mouth. She whimpered and wound her hands into his hair again, a move that he had grown to like. A lot.
With a deft move, he spread her legs and settled between them, his hands slowly taking off her cardigan and her shirt underneath as she stripped him of his robes and collared shirt.
Draco was quickly overheating and needed relief soon. He groaned and pulled her on top of him and undid the top button of his pants, a task she readily took up when she felt him doing it.
He felt his pants slide off and her hot mouth envelope him. He groaned and thrust into her. 'God, she was good at this. Get her going and I can hardly stop…' But he knew he needed to, if this was going where he wanted it to.
Pulling back slightly, he groaned, "Love, you had better get me to a bedroom quick or I'm going to do something I shouldn't do in the Common Room."
She grabbed his hand and tugged him up toward the stairs to the girl's dorm, pausing every few steps to drop kisses on his lips.
Once she had closed and secured the door, he pushed her onto the bed, growling and tearing at her jeans to get them off. He had slipped her knickers off with her jeans, and his hands and mouth quickly found that she was ready for him. Her moans were driving him crazy.
Pulling back up to her mouth, he asked in his sexiest drawl, "Are you sure you are ready for this?"
She barely had the breath to beg, "Mmm… yes…"
They had already discussed how neither of them were virgins, so he wasted no pretense. (A/N HUH!draco I can understrand but ROSE!she my charechtor but this is a shock. the wench!)
She was tight and wet, and she knew what she was doing. Her hips bucked and swayed with every thrust, and he nearly came in surprise when she deftly flipped him onto his back and straddled him.
But, passivity was not part of his plan. He sat up and grabbed her arse, a move that nearly forced a climax out of them both. He slipped a hand between them, rubbing at her gently.
She threw her head back and, gasping, clenched around him so tightly that he couldn't hold back any more. Her body milked him, and they collapsed on the bed in a heap of limbs and sheets.
"Good lord, woman, where did you learn to do that?" he gasped as she slid off him.
"Like that, did you? I should ask you the same thing. That hand move was brilliant."
"Come here, you little minx," he laughed, pulling her toward him and kissing her deeply. "You know, I love you."
"Love you too, Draco," she whispered as he covered them both the bed sheets. They spent the rest of the day lounging in bed.
