Chapter fourteen

Year of Power part B

Demetrius got back to Severus's quarters swiftly intent on talking this out with his Sire.

"Childe you don't even have to speak. I have been thinking and I agree with you. The only reason I objected in the first place is I don't want you rushing into anything. Despite everything you've gone through and the fact you are more mature then most adults I know you are still fifteen. This kind of burden should never have been placed on a child. If this is truly what you want I will not fight you. Please make sure this is your choice and not your compassion for a lost little boy." Severus would have said more but his words were cut off by a rather insistent kiss from Demetrius.

"Sire I would not have asked if I didn't want to. I could have asked for you to adopt him alone or see if my parents would take him in too. I love you Sire, I have for a long time. If you honestly think I am going to change my mind just because a few years pass you are not as clever as I thought. I want this, I want you. True I was going to wait to ask you to bond with me for another year or at least until my power stabilized. This is just helping someone through doing what I want to do in a different time." All further conversation was halted as both creatures got lost in the moment.

Later on that night after Severus had drained Demetrius's magic they lay on the bed just savoring the time together. Demetrius asked the one question that needed answering. "So do you think we can make this work?"

Severus just tightened his hold and whispered into his Childe's ear, "for eternity."

"Let's surprise everyone. Dumbledore and the ministry absolutely cannot find out about this. I think this Christmas holiday would work. We would be away from the castle and only close friends and family will be around us." Demetrius said.

"Sounds alright, and if I remember correctly the 23 is full moon. Johnny could have his first nice Christmas since his parents died. The next full moon is in two weeks I will make sure to have Wolfsbane ready for the rest of his transformations. Hopefully your additions will work and he won't have to deal with them anymore." Severus added. "Now childe it's late we both need to rest. We have classes and have to test that potion tomorrow."

Demetrius agreed and soon the two vampires drifted off to sleep. They had long given up on staying apart for the night. They always woke up the same way no matter how they went to sleep. It was enjoyable for both of them so they didn't even try to fight it anymore.

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The potions trail was a success. Even after his break down Johnny made good on his word and helped them. The potion cleared all traces of creature scent leaving the person smelling like a mortal. That meant Demetrius's newest potion was the one being distributed. They were making so much at a time that they were both aware that was how they would most likely be caught.

Demetrius and Severus continued to work on the alterations to the Wolfsbane. They took some of Johnny's blood and tested the new potions on that first. The reactions to the blood would tell them if the potion would work or be lethal. Demetrius was also working with Johnny on plans for his Defense group. Demetrius needed Johnny's help to get a feel for the younger children. He wanted to train the ones who needed it. He wanted no one younger then thirteen actively fighting for him unless they showed the skill and drive.

Demetrius had taken Johnny up to the room of requirement and tried to match Johnny with a weapon. They needed something that would compliment his small size and agile nature. A sword was too long and too heavy for him it slowed down his movements leaving him open for strikes. Johnny's stature made him perfect for offensive weapons so that narrowed it down more. Demetrius handed the boy two long daggers.

They matched Johnny perfectly. Each dagger was about two feet long and perfectly balanced. Using two of them let Johnny use them as counter balances. In other words he could use the weapons own weight and length to keep them steady and synchronized. The Lycan blood made him stronger faster and more agile. Even Severus was forced to admit when he was watching Johnny practice the boy was good. With more practice he could be as good as Demetrius.

Johnny finally got curious enough to ask Demetrius to demonstrate what he could do with his Sai. Only to be disappointed, Demetrius was going to put on a show for his Defense group he wanted Johnny to have a good time there. Johnny understood his reasoning but that didn't mean he had to like it. He kept silent though, there was only a few days left until the first meeting. All three of them had been spreading the word around throughout Slytherin house.

Demetrius knew that all of Slytherin was likely to show up and anyone who had relatives in other classes were allowed to tell them the night of the first meeting. This was a protection measure. Everyone in Slytherin was blocked from Dumbledore the other houses weren't. They would shield those students at the defense meeting.

The meetings would be held in the room of requirement. It was the only one big enough for all of them to fit in and had the added bonus of the room's special properties. Demetrius would be able to make weapons appear so they could practice and find the right one for each student. They could have the room conjure mats and other safety equipment. They could also have it contain any large emissions of magic.

Speaking of magic, Demetrius had been practicing with that too. He could now go 36 hours without needing drained. He was slowly but surely gaining control. They still had the occasional accident. In fact Demetrius was sure if either his Sire or he were mortal they would have been killed. Sometimes his spells worked flawlessly others he lost it half way through the casting with disastrous effects. They were really glad where they practiced had no windows or they would have alerted every person in the castle to their activities.

With his elemental magic he had been trying to control it. When he concentrated on it the task seemed impossible the most he had managed was getting a little smoke. If he didn't think about it then he ran into some trouble. He had been upset over one particularly bad story of Johnny's. They had been outside lounging at the time and a nearby bush burst into flames. This time Demetrius didn't pass out but he felt as weak as a newly hatched chick. He had accidentally uncovered that his sadness controlled water. The sky wept with him on the rare times he let himself cry. His happiness triggered Air he had accidentally created a small tornado the night Severus had formally proposed. The rings were two stands one silver and one gold braded together one onyx stone and one emerald set into the gleaming metal. They were charmed so that only those that already knew about the engagement could see it.

He had not accessed Earth, Light, or found the trigger for Shadow. Aurora and Ohanzee had told him all vampires were elementals with shadow. He just had to figure out what in him triggered it since it was an innate gift it was difficult to pin down. Ciaran said he was not allowed to help him with this part. This was one thing the Star Childe and the Anchor had to do themselves. Severus's ideas on the idea were simple he thought Demetrius was trying to hard. If he couldn't consciously control it he needed to relax. He thought Demetrius needed to let himself sink into the emotion entirely. Whenever he had managed to do something in the past it had been when the only thing governing him had been the emotion. Demetrius needed to find the balance between consciously controlling the element and instinctively conjuring it. He basically needed to know how to recreate the feeling of the emotion without letting the emotion rule him. Severus had him meditating and practicing every night. To try and develop this gift.

He had a break through the night before he had his first scheduled defense lesson. He was sitting meditating with Johnny doing the same beside him. Tonight felt different to him. He didn't know why it just did. While slowly going through his mind piece by piece he saw something he hadn't encountered before. In the dark corridors of his mind there was now a small light glimmering. It was like the light you see coming from beneath a closed door.

He drifted his conscience towards that light. As he did the clear outline of a door formed. A little closer and a speck of light indicating some sort of key hole appeared. Placed a mental hand on the lock he heard a slight click and the door of thought opened. Inside it was the most stunning thing Harry had ever seen with the exception of the unicorns.

A large glowing mass was within that chamber. It was huge and pulsing with the same hues as his aura. With a shock he realized he was observing his own magic. Drifting around it he observed it from all sides. On the back side of the pulsating mass was a curious thing. It was a large cage made out of the same black material as the mind corridors. He couldn't see into it to know what it was. The only identifying markers of any kind were six curiously shaped key holes.

They were all animated one being a flame motif, another was a whirlwind, the third a storm cloud complete with lightning, the fourth was an erupting volcano, the last two were curious, one was a crescent moon the other the sun. He looked them all over for a few minutes before it hit him like a ton of bricks. This was his elemental core. He was able to guess that his emotions were what opened the locks. Demetrius wondered what would happen if he released the elements from the box. Or at least understood how the box worked. If he knew that he could access it and use his emotions like keys.

He was so happy he mentally jumped up and down whooping. Unfortunately this broke his trance and he opened his eyes to find himself laying flat on the ground with the worried faces of his Sire and Johnny leaning over him.

"Childe what happened? Johnny came and got me because while you were meditating you through some sort of fit." Severus asked worry lacing ever word.

"Sire, I found the answer. I think I know how to access the elements now. I will still need to learn how to control them but I can release them now." Demetrius said excitedly.

"How?" Severus asked curiously.

"Well when I was meditating tonight I stumbled upon my magical core. On the other side of it is a black container. That container has six locks one for each element. I am guessing that my emotions are the keys needed to open the locks. Once I have that unlocked I can practice controlling that element." Demetrius explained still full of excitement.

"Do me a favor and never try that alone alright? I don't want something to go wrong and no one knows where you are." Severus asked. "I would prefer you ask me because if you lose control then we would only hurt ourselves. We don't die easily and we heal fast." Severus impressed on him.

"When are you free?" Demetrius asked wanting to try it out as soon as possible.

"Why don't we try tomorrow night after we hunt?" Severus said.

"Um, Demetrius," Johnny started hesitantly. "If you can wait till the night after I can accompany you."

"That's right full moon again. This time you get Wolfsbane." Demetrius said remembering. "If Severus doesn't mind I don't."

"As long as you realize this will be dangerous. He will barely be able to control it. It might even exhaust him to the point he collapses releasing whatever energy he is putting into the element all at once. If that happens you need to get away fast. Your kind heals fast but is easier to kill in some ways." Severus said making sure the werewolf was fully aware of the danger.

"My whole life has been in danger. I want to stay with Demetrius." Johnny said forcibly.

"Then we won't stop you but please try not to get yourself hurt." Demetrius reassured the child.

"I won't get hurt." Johnny said seriously.

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The next night was the first meeting of their defense class. While Severus had adamantly said this was his childes job Demetrius could still sense him in the shadows observing. Having his Sire there was oddly comforting. As he looked over the eager faces of his classmates he took a deep breath and started speaking even as he felt his Sire erect the necessary shields in their minds.

"Hello all, I have been roped into doing this because your current defense teacher is not up to snuff. I have been asked to teach this because I am good at it and I know the material. If you are afraid of a little hard work I would leave now. We will not just be doing magical defense. There will be certain times and situations where magic cannot or should not be used. I will teach you how to defend yourself in those situations as well.

I will teach you fighting with weapons and hand to hand. Depending on your skills and personality you will either learn offensive or defensive fighting. For those learning offensive I want an oath from you when you receive your weapons that what I teach you will never be used unless it's for a good reason. For those on defense I want you to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The more people you keep alive in a battle the more you have to fight the next one.

I do not care what side you choose on this war I will train you all the same. I will tell you right now you don't have two options there is now a third one. I will fight as a third power. I think both sides are corrupted and unethical. I will fight to restore balance and keep people safe. People and creatures are not pawns to be manipulated as Dumbledore wants you to think. Or sheep ready for sacrifice and slaughter like Voldemort believes. They should be free, the only ones that should be punished are the ones that do something wrong. Choose wisely and I am telling you now once you're in the other sides you will have no choice, on mine you will be doing what you have the skills and want to do." Demetrius lectured them.

As he was speaking Ciaran stood near him and was testing the crowd. He made himself visible to small groups at a time. Those that could see him were the ones who would be loyal fighters alongside Demetrius. Those were the ones the training would concentrate on and Demetrius was heavily considering Obliviating the others. They would be a danger to them all. Plus if the other sides didn't want to train their own forces he wouldn't do it for them. They would reap what they had sown.

Coming to the decision he contacted his sire and told him what he was up to. Severus agreed with Demetrius's reasoning. So one by one Demetrius called up the unfavorable and Obliviated them and sent them on their way. When he was done he had only sent away about a dozen students leaving a large majority of them. Demetrius was happy to note he had only sent away 3 Slytherins.

Demetrius turned to the rest of them. "Alright tonight is going to be spent matching you with the right weapon. This is a special room. I want you to concentrate and ask the room for the weapon that best suits you." He instructed. When Severus and him found out the room could do that they were a little put out. They had spent a lot of time finding the right weapon for Johnny when they could have just asked the room.

Soon though everyone held various weapons. Demetrius saw an almost equal number of offensive and defensive weapons. He saw an assortment of blades, a few bows of different lengths, and even a scattering of staffs. He also noted clinically that only Johnny and him had two long weapons. He knew he could handle all the weapons in front of him and by the looks of things Johnny could too with training.

It was now time for what Johnny had been impatiently waiting for. Demetrius was going to demonstrate. He asked everyone to back up to the edge of the room. The room was already changing to suit his needs. It was becoming longer and had a dueling ring in the center. Looks of astonishment were seen on people's faces. A dueling ring was only used when the duelist went against multiple opponents. Demetrius prepared himself by removing his cumbersome robe, with a gentle chiding by his Sire he was persuaded to remove his shirt as well. That would give him room to move and give a better performance.

He hated to think what he was about to do would have to be performed on warm living flesh, and he would be the one to deliver that pain. He swiftly stopped himself from thinking anymore depressing thoughts. He focused his mind solely on his up coming demonstration. When he was fully relaxed and ready he asked the rooms for as many practice dummies as he could win against.

He took his stance with Sai drawn and held down at his side. Then he heard the popping sound of the room giving him his dummies. The dummies were programmed to come at him with weapons only for this round. He sensed the first one right next to him. He moved to bloke its strike, and the battle was on. The watchers were amazed with Demetrius's fighting. He moved with speed, grace, and agility. Many thought he had spent years developing that skill but Severus was proud to note he had moved like that their very first training session. The only thing Demetrius had really learned was stamina and control. He had been a natural from the very beginning.

Demetrius wasn't even breathing hard yet. He had already dispatched three of his opponents and didn't count how many were left he just soldiered on. Every movement coming to him, he knew he wasn't using correct form or technique. He did what felt right and it worked out. He rarely lost a match anymore even against his Sire. He loved to train with weapons. It was as addicting as any drug and was a release after a hectic day. He lost all sense of what was going on around him except for his own heart beat and his opponent's blade.

He twirled and stabbed, slashed and jabbed, jumped and dodged. It was beautiful to watch. A deadly dance that only one would come out of. It took Demetrius a good twenty minutes to dispatch all the dummies. Only after the last one fell did he let his senses return to normal and looked out at the awe struck audience. As one they all started to clap and cheer. Demetrius looked around himself and couldn't help the blush that was steadily creeping up his face.

He also noticed they were looking at his bare chest strangely. He looked at himself closely. He saw a few light wounds but nothing to worry about. That's when he noticed what everyone else did. Sometime during the battle his glamours had dropped. His scars were fully visible for everyone to see. He was so used to them he didn't notice when the glamours fell when he was concentrated solely on battle.

A/N I know im evil for stoping it here trust me next chapter will be worth it. you will see a lot of time move next chapter I might even fit in their bonding. Plus as you can tell im saving the slashy goodness for their bonding that will be important.

So other then my poor attempt at a cliffy did you like it? I really really like feedback. It helps me be motivated and continue writing.

One good thing is I think my spelling is improving I still have to work on the typos and grammar problems but its coming along.

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