Life Long Love: Chapter 11
Author: Emerald Thorn
Rating: R
Categories: Drama, romance, veela!Draco, odd bits of humor scattered about.
Author's notes: Finally made it past ten… which was a huge roadblock. Responses to reviews at the end as always and maybe a few other side notes. My life is becoming very cluttered at the moment and finding free time to write is becoming a challenge. Sorry to all those who are waiting so long for this!
P.S. anyone else seen the potter puppet pals website? If so, just picture Snape bobbing up and down below!
oOo
Blaise gaped at the sight of Ron Weasley pinned to the wall with his limbs stretched far enough apart that it made him wince in sympathy at the pain Ron must be feeling. Also, the small puddle of urine below the comatose boy as a steady drip of blood started to turn the puddle crimson. Severus stood in front of the boy, poking him with his wand and muttering under his breath. Severus' scowl was enough to warn him not to let any of the grumbling sarcastic thoughts that had been running through his head on the way down to escape through his mouth.
Severus noticed him after several moments and motioned him to approach. "He's injured but it's nothing that a few potions and a trip to the infirmary won't cure. Whatever Draco did to him threw him into shock."
"Draco did this?" Blaise asked, trying to keep his disbelief to himself.
"I'm assuming it's veela magic because nothing I do is affecting it. Draco or another veela will have to let him down and Potter doesn't have the ability to do this."
Blaise nodded, his eyes not moving from Ron Weasley's form. He only moved when Severus grabbed him by the upper arm and hauled him down the hallway towards the rest of the suite. Having only ever been in the main room to ward the suite, Blaise felt envious as they passed several doors before Severus stopped before a set of double doors. Pausing only long enough to knock once, Severus grasped the handles and pushed both of the heavy doors inwards.
To their surprise, Harry and Draco were both half-lying, half-sitting on the bed talking to two men. Both of the men turned to greet him and Severus knew immediately one of them was a veela, possibly both, as his body tingled not unpleasantly and he fought the urge to smile. He wasn't completely successful with the smile as the edges of his mouth traitorously quirked upwards as he tried to scowl.
"Ah, I assume you are the current head of Slytherin?" the blonde stranger said.
Still fighting the pull, which Severus was blaming on the blonde who was disturbingly similar his godson, Severus nodded before speaking. "I'm Severus Snape the potions master and head of Slytherin. Who are you?"
The smile the blonde gave him as his companion wrapped his arms around his waist was quite Malfoyish, snarky, and really very upsetting to Severus who really didn't want to contemplate some distant relative of Lucius' showing up. Luc was bad enough on his good days to make Salazar Slytherin roll over in his grave laughing at the knots Severus worked himself into. The blonde was everything a Malfoy was brought up to be and was very likely of veela descent, which meant he was a relative and that typically meant that Severus would need to spend some more time brewing his extra strength migraine cure.
"My name is Salazar Slytherin and this is my mate Godric Gryffindor. We came when sensed that there had been blood spilt in our old suite."
Oh hell… the day is getting better and better by the minute. Strike that thought and make it since he had watched Luc carry his firstborn out of the nursery to greet his Godfather.
oOo
Harry couldn't help but snicker when Blaise went white as a sheet staring and gaping at Sal before slowly collapsing into Snape causing Snape to catch him. Really, it didn't help that he was snickering enough for both Draco and himself since Draco was too dignified to snicker. Malfoy's cleared their throat and shared amused glances—they did not snicker, chortle, or show general amusement in normal ways—at least not to anyone outside the immediate family.
Looking on in cool amusement, Draco was surprised when Salazar and Godric both snickered quietly in agreement with Harry. He wondered if Sev was aware that in catching Blaise he was swaying like a drunkard—evidently Blaise needed to go on a diet or Sev was just as surprised and equally shocked but holding his footing better.
"Would you like to put Blaise down Uncle Severus before you both fall over?" Draco asked, his face the picture of innocence despite Harry's snickers now coming with slight choking noises.
Glaring at Potter, Severus tipped Blaise down into a chair close to where he had been standing. "I don't believe you. Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor lived at least 2000 years ago. If they were alive they would be much older appearing than either of you."
Severus believed in being difficult and keeping your cards close and hidden until it was absolutely necessary to reveal them.
Looking affronted, the man with onyx hair glared at Severus with green eyes that matched Potter's. Aw puckernuts (it would be bad form to swear by Slytherin at this point in time) the implications here were starting to scare Severus. "He is so Salazar Slytherin and I am Godric Gryffindor. I don't suppose that you'd want proof of our identities would you?"
"It would do much to assuage my doubts as well as your explanation for why you are here and not somewhere else."
Harry had to admire Snape's backbone, but was slightly distracted by the waves of contented amusement flowing from Draco. While he had been distracted by Snape, Harry had been able to ignore the tightening in his body that signified the early warnings of needing Draco but now they were beginning to become more immediate. Also, his hands had begun running up and down Draco's sides and it would not be long before, company or no company be damned, he would be in Draco's pants and oblivious to their surroundings.
Feeling his mate's discomfort, Draco tried to think of a way to get everyone out of their bedroom—preferably soon. Harry was not going to be okay in less than ten minutes. "While I'm sure that introductions are important, Harry and I need to be alone."
"Ah, it seems that this place is affecting the two of you as it did us," Salazar said cryptically, an odd half-smile on his face as he turned to regard Harry and Draco.
"We need to be alone or everyone is going to get a show. So leave and come back in a bit." Draco was chewing on the inside of his cheek, trying to stifle his response to Harry's wandering hands.
"We will leave you alone and show these gentlemen out. When you are ready to speak with us again touch one of the dragons on the walls and call out our names—We'll be listening." Godric gave Harry and Draco a warm smile while motioning Severus out the door with one arm and cradling Salazar close with the other.
As Snape left, he asked if Salazar or Godric would be kind enough to let the student off the wall in the other room.
Harry looked up from his mate and growled at Snape as he made his request. "HE doesn't move until Draco has had his say with him."
Trying to placate his mate, Draco cooed lightly while capturing his mate's hands. "I will have my words with Weasley some other time. We have more important things to do and I would prefer him to be lucid when I tell him exactly what I thought of his behavior."
Not completely willing to let Ron out of the mess he had landed in, Harry growled a bit more before burying his face in Draco's throat and nodding slightly. Draco shooed Snape and the founders out of the room as Harry began to nip and suck at his jawline.
As soon as the door shut behind their uninvited guests, Harry had Draco undressed and under him, the drive to couple with his mate removing all coherent thought from his mind as he sank into the bond between himself and Draco.
oOo
The first thing Ron was aware of as conciousness returned was that everything was foggy as if he was viewing the world through rippled glass or from within a cloud. Images were distorted and the smells that reached his nose identified the room he was in—the school infirmary's main ward. As his eyes slowly tried to blink into focus, Ron tried to see if anyone was around. To his immediate panic, he realized that no amount of blinking was bringing the room into clear focus. Trying to move anything besides his eyelids was proving to be impossible as all movement he attempted felt as if he was cast in concrete.
A low moan from deep in his throat was all the sound he could manage and he watched in shock as a blurry female figure waved what he assumed was a wand in front of his face while muttering under her breath. Another larger and darker figure also was leaning over his body but was silent.
"Mr. Weasley can you hear me?" came Madame Pomfrey's clear voice.
Struggling to move enough to answer, Ron managed a very raspy, "Yes."
"Do you remember what happened?"
Ron thought back on his day and his mind faithfully replayed the events. Right up to the part where he had seen Malfoy on top of Harry, Harry screaming as Malfoy raped him. Ron felt tears begin to run down his face. "I remember. Harry?"
"Mr. Potter is quite fine but is not very happy with you at the moment." Ron jumped as he was able to identify the other figure looming over him as Professor Snape.
"Where's Harry?" Ron demanded in a more strong voice, not believing Snape for a minute.
"He is safe and nothing bad has happened to him. You however are not in any condition to worry about Mr. Potter. Madame Pomfrey will take care of you and make sure you get some rest then myself and Professor Dumbledore will get your version of events." Snape's voice was clipped and perfunctory with no emotion.
Ron tried to move but his body did not move under his commands. A cup was held to his mouth and Ron was forced to swallow the bitter liquid or choke. Once he swallowed, Ron's world again went black.
oOo
Snape watched as Ron fell back asleep, sighing internally in relief. The potion Ron had just swallowed would ensure that he would remain unconscious until at least sometime tomorrow evening giving him plenty of time to implement damage control. Madame Pomfrey had already followed his instructions and placed the unfortunate redhead into an isolation room and would not allow any visitors unless accompanied by Severus' or the Headmaster. Luckily, for all things involving Harry Potter, Madame Pomfrey knew to trust only in the instructions given to her by either Severus or Albus and everyone else could speak until they were blue in the face and she would still stand by their instructions. Snape had taken Harry's map and cloak from him before bringing him to the hospital wing and removed as much evidence of how Ron had gotten hurt as possible. He needed to talk to Lucius and work up a reasonable cover-up that would serve their needs.
Telling Pomfrey he would inform McGonagall after speaking with the Headmaster, Snape passed by the bed Blaise was sleeping peacefully in as he left the infirmary. Blaise would be all right and he was only sleeping deeply after taking a calming draught. Blaise had an unusual attack of visions after he had awoken after passing out upon hearing the names of Harry and Draco's unexpected visitors.
There was much to do and very little time to do it in.
oOo
Hermione blinked and yawned from her chosen watch station in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. Ron wasn't back yet and it was getting very late as the grandfather clock in the corner tolled midnight. Hermione pulled at a loose strand of hair and had chewed her bottom lip raw, but there had been no sign of Ron since lunch. Where was he? Where was Harry? The only thing stopping her from running down and trying to find the Slytherin common room was her worry that she would get herself lost without Harry's map.
Hermione stayed awake in her chair until her eyelids closed and she fell into a deep sleep, worry for her boyfriend and best friend giving her troubling dreams.
TBC…
Response to Reviews:
S.O. Fawr: Glad that you like the premise and think it's a bit different. Ron's situation isn't completely resolved yet but I've started on it. Thanks for reading
Harrypotter, move over: glad you could figure it out and I'm writing really slow but I have a lot of the story outlined.
Ltngblt4: It's taking me forever to write but I'm happy that you keep looking for more. Sorry for the wait, life is really busy at the moment.
KatFay: Ron was in the main sitting room while Harry and Draco had moved to their bedroom…
Elebereth: ::smirks:: thank you. Hope this chapter lives up to its predecesors.
Rosaleena: Nervewracking? Sorry if I'm making you stressed ::feels guilty:: I am writing a bit more but finals are rapidly approaching along with the holidays and my free time is very limited.
Maggie36: I think Harry could use some of Draco's sarcasm but not too much. He's still a sweet guy at heart and Draco's still himself as well.
Mage of black flames: I am writing, just a bit slower of a pace than what I'm used to. Thanks for the compliments.
Kyra2: ::whistles innocently:: Tormenting? Sorry about not telling you HOW Sal and Godric are still alive but that will have to wait a bit. I hope to give more of a backstory to Sal and Godric in future chapters but it all depends on how the chapters write themselves…
Mon2: Are you related to Kyra? You both have 2's… The only problem with Ron being too like his brothers is that it doesn't allow him to be an individual. He has his mother's temper but doesn't have the zany brilliance that his father passed on to the twins. He wouldn't be Ron if he didn't act so rashly, but hopefully he'll eventually learn that being a Gryffindor does not exclude patience and precaution from the dictionary. Look for some of Sal's and Godric's backstory in the next chapter ::goes off to tinker with next chapter::
Fire Tempest: They'll find out soon enough and so will Dumbledore, but I've got a limited word quota before I post or everyone would be waiting months for me to get enough free time to get out everything you need to know. Hopefully Ron in this chapter gives you a few clues as to what will happen with him.
Priss368: Long review! The style I was writing the story changed dramatically after the first chapter because I originally wrote the story as an open-ended one-shot that ended after chapter one. I think I had it sitting on my hard drive annoying me for almost four months before I finally started adding more to the story. Mpreg would be a possibility for somewhere along the line, but I'm thinking that instead of Harry or Draco I may detail a bit on Sal's preg, but maybe not. It might get it's own sidestory when this one is done or maybe I will give into temptation and let the boys procreate. Too bad Ron interrupted when he did—He made Harry very pissed, but I do wonder what Hermione will think when she finds out why Ron was roughed up.
Arigazi: Hope this chapter makes your day too. Somehow I always pictured Salazar as being very much like a Malfoy, but that's just probably because they are kinda like "Purebloods 'R' Us" sometimes in the books. (I swear at one point I saw Draco singing the toys r us theme song with altered lyrics but that might have been the cold medicine…) Glad my story is memorable.
Zoomaphonethepirate: Much better!
Yana5: hm…. You're laughing… is that good or should I alert the justice league that another person with world domination is making themselves known?
Brenna8: You're right. The suite's ours. Other people can have the rest of Hogwarts minus the potions classroom (there are waaaaaay tooo many unused classrooms in hp fanfiction so there should be enough to go around to anyone who wants one.)
KageNeko-Kouseki, BlahnessMucho, lyres, bnnylpontiac, ura, Angel of the Carpathians, musicgirl141, chisox727, moonglow-girl, Iana Moon: thanks for the reviews!