Pairings: DM/HP, BZ/NL, RW/HG, mentioned SS/NM. Maybe other's later.
Sorry for the long wait, I just entered college and had to get myself all set up and adjusted. So, on with the story.
When Harry woke the next morning it was to a slight itch on his chest. He moved his hand up to scratch it, but jerked in pain when his hand came into contact with the abused nub.
"Damn." He sat up in bed, reaching for his glasses to get a better look at the piercing. His hand connected with a bottle as he reached. Finally, he caught hold of his glasses and slipped them on. The new addition to his bedside table was a bottle; a note was attached to the top.
"This will ease the pain and help it heal. Apply twice a day for one week. - D"
The stopper had a brush attached, and hesitantly, Harry applied the viscous fluid to his nipple. The instant that the brush touched his skin the pain eased. Slowly, the pain all but disappeared, leaving a slight ache, strong enough only to remind him of its presence. Harry sighed in relief and and began to get ready for the day ahead.
As he showered, and dressed, Harry grew more and more angry. How dare he claim me without properly asking my permission, or explaining himself, and to just...just... He had trouble even thinking the word. To simply..straddle me like that. I'm sure that he could have found another way to go about the piercing. And who gave him the right to stick a needle in me? There had to have been another method of Marking. He is going to get a piece of my mind as soon as I see him.
The dining hall was nearly empty as Harry entered, just then realizing how late he had risen. He sat next to Ron, who was loading up his plate, no doubt for the fourth time.
"Harry, mate. I wondered when you'd be up, you missed the fight this morning."
"Fight?"
"Oh, yeah, it was great. Bulstrode tore into Draco, who knows why, but Parkinson was backing her up. I think they were trying to convince him to do something about something, but I'm not sure. Anyway, he just shrugged her off and told her, something about not knowing anything about what's really going, he sounded really mysterious right then, then left the room without another word to her. And get this, it was Zabini and, oh what was his name..Pucey, Adrian Pucey. Yeah, that's it." Ron nodded and beamed at Harry.
"Zabini and Pucey did what, exactly?"
"Oh, oh right, they were flanking him as he left. He just left Crabbe and Goyle there, it was all very strange. Looks like they have some internal conflict so I don't think you have anything to worry about, Harry."
"I'm glad that you finally agree." Harry began to eat before something occurred to him. "Where is Hermione?" Ron carefully swallowed before continuing, as though even the mention of his girlfriend made Ron feel the need to be more polite.
"She went with Padme and Lavender to Hogsmeade." Ron paused before turning back to Harry. "You did remember that it's a Hogsmeade weekend, didn't you?"
"No, I'd completely forgotten, but I don't think I'm going to go. I have some things to take care of here." Like asking where a certain blonde where he gets off. Ron looked a little down. "Why don't you see if Seamus wants to go. You know, before he finds Ginny and asks her to go." Ron's head jerked up and he was immediately headed in the direction of their classmate. Harry shook his head. "Everytime."
Harry headed to the Office of Options, knowing that Draco would be waiting for him. The cocky bastard seemed to be able to anticipate him. On the way to his destination, Harry heard muffled voice coming from a seldom used hallway. He crept closer to the hall and saw Blaise leaning very closely to someone in an alcove. He didn't seem to be threatening the person, but you never knew with Slytherins. Harry made to interrupt them, but was stopped by a hand on his arm.
"He isn't going to hurt him, Harry." Draco whispered into his ear. "He's been working toward this for three years, simply waiting for the time when Slytherins were again allowed to pursue Gryffindors."
"Gryffindors?" Zabini moved in then, closer to the person he had cornered, and Harry was able to make out who it was. "Neville..."
"Blaise has been focusing on that boy for a while now, not breaking the rules, but bending them just enough. A touch here, a whisper there, brushing against him in the halls. Not a one of you has noticed as the poor thing has been slowly, oh so slowly seduced. He's been Zabini's for week's now and not a one of you saw any difference, though much of the blame can be placed on his quiet nature." Harry fought the shivers he felt at Malfoy's tone and the warm breath that caressed his ear. He could feel the heat from the blonde's body, knowing that their bodies were only inches from each other. In front of them, no space stood between Blaise and Neville, and Harry watched as Blaise captured the smaller teen's lips. He tried again to come to his housemate's rescue, but Draco's hold tightened. "I can't to leave my friend to be used."
"Blaise won't hurt him, he likes the klutz, merlin knows why. Besides, you wouldn't be helping him, watch." Harry watched the pair, worry for Neville his primary emotion, anger taking a place on a back burner. His worry morphed into surprise when he realized what, exactly was happening. Neville was kissing him back, had in fact, grabbed a hold of Blaise's robes as though to hold him there. Harry turned away from the couple, not wishing to further invade their privacy. He met Draco's gaze and all of his anger returned to him.
"We have to talk." Draco raised an eyebrow at the tone, but nodded and let Harry lead the way to the Office of Options. Once inside, with the door closed, he turned on Draco, fury clear on his features.
"Who do you think you are? Waiting to explain all of this until after you'd.." Harry blushed furiously, even in his anger. "Claimed me. And there had to be a less... compromising position for you to pierce me in; you most certainly did not need to lick me! That's is if you even needed to pierce me! I bet you chose to use a nipple ring just so you could," He had even more trouble saying it aloud than thinking it had given him. "Straddle me." The blush continued to flush his face, "You also have yet to really tell me anything about this 'Council'. If it wasn't for the fact that Snape ignored me I would think this was just an elaborate plan to embarrass me. Who is this Serpent King, why was Gryffindor house 'closed', as you put it? Does Dumbledore know about the Council?Why would you have to fight Voldemort for me if you had used another claim? Why...mfff." He glared at Draco, who's hands were pressed tightly to his mouth and to the back of his head.
"We've had this discussion before. Do you actually want me to answer or were you going to simply keep asking questions?" Harry's only response was more glaring. "I'll take that as, 'Yes, Draco I would love for you to answer my questions.' Now come sit down." He walked to the couch, leaving Harry little choice but to follow. Harry took a seat on the couch as far from Draco as possible. "Where shall I start?" Draco paused as though to think, but Harry wasn't fooled. The blond was being overly dramatic on purpose, no doubt to in an attempt to aggravate Harry further. "I do not know if Dumbledore is aware of the council, I believe that he knows, but one can never be sure. If does, then he allows himself to be manipulated fairly easily. As easily as you allow yourself to be manipulated, though I would hazard a guess that your case may be more about naiveté then anything. As for the piercing there were many less pleasant ways I could have gone about it. I believe that the piercing was the best way to go about it, it is not terribly painful, can be removed and not something that the whole school is likely to see. Straddling you was simply a perk." Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Draco cut him off. "The reason that I do not have to fight you with a high claim is that, though I claim protection of you, you are considered to be almost my equal. You can choose to fight your own battles if you wish, and I hardly think you would leave this fight to me." Harry shook his head, he wouldn't wish this fate on anyone, and Malfoy couldn't beat Voldemort, only he could.
"What about when Blaise asked you if Gryffindor was 'open'? I'm assuming that was what he meant by 'Lion's Den', and who is this Serpent King? What does he do?" Draco sighed and laid down, his head landing on Harry's lap before he could get off the couch.
"Gryffindors have been off limits to members of the Serpent Council and those of Slytherin house since the Serpent King attended Hogwarts. His predecessor died while he was still in school here, which is rare, and he was forced to take over. The reasoning behind it is not widely known, and I doubt that he would want me to tell you exactly what happened without asking him first."
"And you would be right, Draco." Draco sat bolt upright and then rushed to his feet. Harry followed swiftly.
"Professor. We...I realize that we are out past curfew, but..."
"Save it Draco. I believe that Harry asked you a question. Maybe it's time you answered it." Harry watched Draco's face, understanding dawned in his eyes, and the blond relaxed. Harry shivered at the devious smile Draco directed his way.
"Harry. Allow me to introduce His Majesty, the Serpent King." Harry's jaw dropped as he turned his gaze from Malfoy back to Professor Snape.