IMPORTANT A/N: Hey Peeps! I just want to leave a warning here, to let you know that there is a good deal of talk about attempted sexual assault/non-con and lots of bodily harm in this chapter. I don't want to trigger anyone, but it starts right where the last chapter left off. I will put in "《•••》" at the point where you can start reading if this is not something you can stand.

Please leave a review letting me know how you feel about the story, I love hearing what you guys think of it all. :)

Much love and stay safe!

-Xenia


Chapter 19: Sinking

He could feel something very wrong against his hip. It made his eyes tear up. He could feel the hardness of the object as he was dragged through the dark alcoves and brought into an equally dark room. It wasn't a wand, and it couldn't be a muggle weapon, because it twitched, and it was in such a distinct place that he knew his captor was getting off on what they were doing.

His sight was better than his captives in the dark, but that didn't help him at the moment, as the arms around him dropped his dead weight in the middle of what looked like an unused Muggle Studies classroom.

This was not a scary thought in itself, but the fact that he landed on his side, facing away from the door, and on a soft surface did.

Looking to the side, he saw that he was on a bed of blankets, and every nerve in his body screamed out danger.

Now acutely aware of his captor, he listened as their breathing gave way to more than one pattern. The door had opened and several footsteps allerted him to the fact that now he was in a room with more than one aggressor. On a blanket, and nothing about that unknown hardness he felt was innocent either.

There were now five distinct heartbeats save for his own. They were all racing and while no one spoke at this moment, the way they seemed to move around him made it all seem so much worse. He was pulled back, so that he was on his back and facing the ceiling of the dust covered room. He could now see the boys who were planning to harm him.

Right in front standing at his feet was Ron, and on either side of him were both Crabbe and Goyle. On the other side of the two Slytherins were two older boys he didn't know, and as one of the older boys started to speak Harry he back his tears of rage.

"Potter, you really thought you could run around acting like you're actually a fairy? Like no one has caught on to the fact that you are just sending yourself those gifts??"

The second seventh year joined in, "To think that you tried to fool everyone because you're too much of a cunt to admit that you don't know how to keep a girl."

...What? That was what they came up with?? He was just so bad at keeping a girlfriend that he lied to protect his ego?

If he were able to move his face, he would have lifted a single brow at them, or laughed at their stupidity. As it was, he just stared blankly at them.

Ron stepped forward and scolded the other boys for taking too long, and kicked Harry's chest before leaning forward.

"We're gonna make you hurt. We are gonna break you, then let you know what it's like to be with a guy. You're a virgin aren't you?" He asked with an over exaggerated look of sympathy, and paused as if he was really waiting for an answer, which made the others laugh, "Well you won't be after today. So enjoy it, it's the best you'll ever get."

The redheads ego was so inflated by his dillusions that Harry wanted to scoff, despite the dire circumstances he found himself in. On the bright side, he knew he had a bit of time to figure out what to do to get out.

The group was planning to beat him into submission before they tried to rape him. He knew he could take a beating, and Ron was stupid to think that anything they did in the next few minutes would even compare to his childhood.

The only thing that he knew would break him was having something so intimate and personal ripped from him by four boys in an unused classroom. The beating started relatively light, they would each hit him once, alternating been who went first, and they made sure no part of his body was untouched.

As this went on, Harry tried to find the link he shared with his mate. The bond was still new, only allowing Harry to sense the other dragon's emotions. He was hoping that the circumstances would help him reach out to the elder wizard.

He should have known that while they were becoming closer, their link was still so small and new that he couldn't call the man to him. He couldn't share his thoughts or location, and unless the man found him on his own, Harry was out of luck.

His wand was likely still in the hallway though, unless one of these boys had picked it up. Most people knew what his wand looked like, so hopefully someone he knew could find it and get help.

As he tried to plan an escape, the boys got bored of just hitting him with fists and feet, so they turned to their wands and magic.

They released him from the full body spell, but replaced it with a partial one, probably looking to hear him scream.

Instead he taunted them, calling them pathetic for having to gang up on him. He asked if they were really able to get it up, especially since they could only fuck their own siblings because no one else would touch them.

He decided to take a note from Bellatrix Lestrange's book, laughing at them as they tied to break them.

"Is that really all you've got? I've bled more from a papercut." He smiled sweetly, spitting blood at one of the boys.

"You've got to put feeling into that curse." He giggled a bit later, his teeth sharp as he watched the group get apprehensive.

"Are you really such a baby that you can't hold your wand right?" He was able to tilt his head a bit, and used that to snap his teeth at one of the boys closest to him.

He wanted to buy himself time, or make them so scared of what he might do, that they rethought their plans.

He had exhausted most of his other ideas by then, and it wasn't until Ron pulled out his holly wand and snapped it over his knee, that Harry felt a click in his chest. It shocked him into yelping, which was the first real reaction his captives had gotten from him in the whole quarter hour they had been trying to torture him.

It looked like they were becoming bored of hearing him speak, and tired of him taunting them.

And it looked like Harry's time was up, as they each put their wands away and knelt, placing their hands on his arms and legs. He was released from the half body bind, but the four holding him-- Crabbe, Goyle, and the two quite muscular seventh years-- were extremely strong.

Even with his muscles from quiddich and his innate strength, it wasn't enough to stop the grouped bigger boys from holding him down while Ron tried to unfasten his trousers.

Bucking away from the hands Harry fought hard to keep them from seeing what he kept to himself. Only his family, his mate and closest friends knew about his body and what set him apart from both girls and guys alike. He thrashed and wailed at them, managing to cut one of them deeply along his thigh as he tried to cover his ears.

As the boys screamed, Harry tried to gain a bit more momentum, but Goyle only sat on his arm, which cut off the movement for a moment.

It was long anough for Ron to get his trousers down to his thighs. The panic was becoming too much for Harry, and as the ginger boy pulled down his briefs he felt the room become silent.

Shame filled him as the blue eyed menace burst out into mocking laughter, and asked if that was the reason Harry couldn't keep a girl.

He stood back up and undid his own clothing, still laughing. Ron then knelt back down, forcing Harry's legs father apart, and Harry knew that this was one of his last chances.

His body was no longer under the binding spell, and he had worked up enough of his innate flames. He could use his wail to it's full strength, but he wasn't sure if it would only deafen them, or drive them completely insane. As his ex friend tried to reach for the hidden section of Harry's body, Harry pushed a fierce neon green flame out of his throat, aiming straight at the other boys exposed prick.

It met its mark dead on, and he knew that the green of his flame was a testament to how hot it was able to get. As the smell of burning flesh met the room, the other boys were truly beginning to question who they were up against.

Weasley screamed in pain, backing up just enough to give Harry enough space to make his next move, but at the same moment the door burst into black flames and what greeted the group of attempted rapists was a partially shifted Dragon.

Severus was no where to be seen in the mass of blue and gold eyes, black and gold scales on a distinctly elongated muzzle, dark wings, and tattered clothing. He didn't pause at the door, he didn't give anyone the chance to stand or back way, simply roaring and lunging at the boys. He truly wanted them dead, but he knew letting them get what was coming to them would be so much better.

Instead, he slammed Ron into the nearest wall, clawing deep into his stomach and relishing in the way he screamed. Letting the boy go, he turned to the others who had finally released his mate. The two Slytherins were so pathetic, they had tried to hide behind Harry near the two older boys, a Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff he thought belatedly, as he leaned over his bleeding and bruised gem, growling at the smaller group.

His body was hunched, and now that he was in the room, he allowed his body to shift even further, becoming bigger and giving in to his bloodlust.

The Ravenclaw was bleeding heavily, but the pain Harry had inflicted was not enough for him. He wound up sending a full fledged stream of fire their way, breaking through it and slamming them into the ground, ripping into their skin and crushing them beneath his claws.

The children were bleeding and whimpering, unmoving in a pool of their own fluids. Their skin was cut into tattered ribbons, and as he roared again, he watched as the puddles grew. Pathetic. They were filthy worms with no right to touch, or speak to his mate, let alone look into the general direction of the small treasure.

It wasn't enough for him, it would never be enough for him, but he only allowed himself to go back to the boys, carving into each of their bodies and castrating them in the most brutal way he could in so little time.

Because he needed them alive to face trial, after castrating them, he slowly cauterized the bleeding wounds, and ended up cooking them more than healing the damage.

It would have to be enough for him, he mused darkly, lessening his shift and picking his shocked mate up. He held Harry's head close to his chest, sitting in the corner away from the carnage. He helped his treasure calm down as he pulled the teen's clothing back up, and apologized for only finding him then.

《•••》It's safe now《•••》

Long brunette hair was all Severus could see, as his mate curled up into his chest and thanked him several times, before apologizing for getting himself into that situation. He was crying as the soft sibilant tones of his voice wavered. He was still so scared of what could have happened, and the fact that his mate was there, constantly saving him from things he never thought was possible, made him extremely emotional.

Severus held his gem until the Headmaster, a few trusted Aurors/Order members, and the other Heads of House showed up as each of their houses had at least two students involved.

There had been a second group of boys outside trying to plot what they would do once they got to go in, and each of them were unconscious and bleeding as well. Of that group, three were Gryffindor sixth years, two were seventh year Hufflepuffs, and there was another seventh year Ravenclaw and Slytherin in the mix.

In all, it was a group of twelve boys that Severus had to refrain from killing today. He deserved an Order of Merlin for his restraint.

In all honesty, he just couldn't give them the time of day past pushing them away from the door and knocking them out. He needed to know that his mate was still alive.

Nothing could stop him from leaving his class unattended when he first felt his mates pain. And nothing could stop his own panic and hatred from rising as he felt his mates pain and shame, and when he noted the other absent students.

There had been too many scents blocking his nose, and as those first ten minutes passed. It was then when he became more agitated, lost control of himself, and partially shifted.

Tracking his mate down from the last known point, was fairly easy once his nose was able to pin down his mates scent. Which was found in the halls between the Astronomy tower and Transfiguration classroom. As soon as he knew where his mate had been, he followed the trail.

He sped up almost impossibly as he heard the loud wails coming from the other side of the castle. With the echoing sounds and scents, he had no problem finding the young dragon kin he had claimed.

It had almost been too late, he snarled to himself. Harry's flame was not refined enough to do much more than he already had, and if he had been able to use their fledgling link to find his Gem he wouldn't feel so useless now.

Instead he and his mate spoke in hushed voices, Harry still blaming himself for the situation, and Severus assuring him that it was not his fault and the only ones to blame were holding on to life by a singular thread, or unconscious. He used the tactic that had worked the year before, he let his nails ease into the skin of his mates neck, shushing the boy and pledging that Harry had no reason to blame himself.

As he reassured his mate, his colleagues cleared the room of the bodies, flames, and blood.

He wrapped his wings around the boy, and bumped his nose against Harry's chin. When the boy looked up at him, he simply blew a soothing flame at his mate, and licked his neck, chin, and wrists.

It was then when the Headmaster attempted to get to Harry, which Severus only percieved as a new threat, bristling at the man and keeping Harry within his reach.

His voice was gravely as he spoke, the threat still clear despite the challenge his tongue and sharp teeth posed. He had finally dealt with the wench Umbridge this summer, and now even more crops up against his mate. He was having none of it.

"Make no further movements." He said murderously.

If the Headmaster didn't find a way to protect his mate, Severus would not be viable to keep himself in check any longer. To hell with Wizards and their war. To hell with Voldemort and Dumbledore. His mate was his treasure, and nothing would compromise his mates life or happiness, unless it somehow killed Severus first.

"Very well Severus, I mean no Harm..." Albus spoke with a twinkle in his eye. It was unfortunate that this was what got the two dragons closer, but he wanted them to get along as the only two of their kind in existence. No dragon had been able to maintain a human form as long as Severus had, and no Dragon kin had been given quite as many gifts and genetic shifts as Harry.

Instead of letting his excitement through, the elder wizard spoke about a proposal to keep Harry safer without alerting anyone to the full events of why the boy was being moved.

The whole time the elder wizard spoke Snape glared at him, then in Parseltongue he asked if Harry was ok with his proposal. The wizard wanted to move Harry into a different dorm, and when Harry asked to be allowed in the girls dorms, Severus had to take a breath.

That meant explaining what had changed with Harry to the entire school, and giving the old man even more insight into the specific changes Harry was likely to have based on it. He informed his mate of what would have to be done and said, and almost smiled when his gem stuck with his demand.

"Girlsss dorms." Snape spoke with finality, helping Harry stand up and checking him over fully. His mate was cut and bruised, he was shaking and kept his eyes on everything but the Gryffindor colored blanket in the center of the room. They'd tried to use his mates own blanket to assault him?! Oh, death was too kind for those sniveling rotten bastards.

It was then that he picked the boy up, leading the small group out of the room.

Dumbledore may be his boss, but his instincts trumped whatever respect he held for the other man. Albus was not a part of his herd, nor was he a member of Harry's. He was an important wizard, and a big part of getting them out of the war alive, but his mistakes amounted to too much distrust to be considered family.

"Severus, my boy, I cannot allow Mr. Potter into the female dormatories. He will have to change houses or live separately from the other students."

The dragon looked over his shoulder at the wizard, and smirked. "You must remember what happens during a dragon kins inheritance, don't you Albuss? Mr. Potter could very well also go by Harriette."

Harry nearly gagged at the name, and despite fidgetting for appearances, allowed his mate to keep him wrapped in his wings and arms. He was being carried bridal style through the empty halls and he was glad for the comfort and silence it afforded him.

They still spoke to one another in Parseltongue, but Harry made sure to sound a bit angry, though he was anything but.

"Why Harriette?" He protested, poking his tongue out at his mate.

"How about Rie?" The man said after a few seconds. His voice hadn't gone from the deep, pissed off, almost growling sound, but his eyes were a bit teasing, and full of adoration.

Harry smiled and discreetly blew the man a kiss, "That's nice..." It was said petulantly, but he could hardly keep himself from almost preening at the attention.

He was taken all the way to the infirmary, where he had to sit still for a full Physical and healing potions.

Madam Pomfrey seemed a bit surprised at the results, possibly because his wounds were healing as time passed with no help. But Harry had reason to believe that it was because between his last physical and this one, he had grown a whole new reproductive system.

"How would you prefer I refer to you?" She asked at first. She was as professional as always, sending a calm smile his way. This wasn't normal for her, usually inheritances are recorded and are prominent from generation to generation, but to her knowledge of James and Lily, neither had any of the traits showing up in the student in front of her.

"Harry, or Rie. Whichever is more comfortable for you." Harry said with a smile of his own.

"Well then Rie, you seem to be healing well on your own, but I will keep you here for the rest of the day, and perhaps tonight while I do some scans." She explained as she passed him a vial of blue liquid. "This is a general healing potion, and you will likely be drowsy, so before you take this I have a few more questions."

"Ok..." Harry nodded, getting ready to answer whatever she asked.

"When did you come into your inheritances?"

"I came into my draconic inheritance just after my fifteenth birthday, and my Siren inheritance at sixteen. The, erm, change happened when I was fifteen as well." He explained.

"It was then when you experienced your first menstrual cycle?" She asked, looking to the side at Severus.

The man was standing sentinel beside her patient, as if leaving the boy alone for even a moment would break the child.

And, she supposed, that may very well have been true. Despite Harry speaking normally, his body was still in shock, and from what she had gleaned, he was petrified on the inside.

Albus was standing a bit away from the two, as he knew as well as she did that a dragon who was in protection mode would not think twice about harming anyone they deemed as a threat.

The dragon was staring at the boy with calculated eyes, taking stock of all the nicks and swelling, the bruises and how the boy manically clenched at the sheets to remind himself that he could in fact move if he wanted to.

"Yes." Harry responded in a clipped tone. He was becoming a bit panicky, as if he couldn't truly keep up his mask anymore. Moody, Shacklebolt, and Tonks came into the infirmary, and with a single look, Poppy knew that she needed to get Harry away from as many of the questions she knew would come.

So, she beat them to it, trying to be as calm and professional as she was with anything else.

"This will be my last question for now, and I apologize for it, but can you describe to us what happened in that room?" She spoke softly, hoping beyond hope that the teen did not shut down before they could get the full story.

Rie's breath caught as she looked up at the woman with wide eyes. No, he didn't want to remember any of that so soon, and if anyone asked she would deny today ever existed in history.

Severus launched forward quickly, just as Harry opened his mouth to let out a full unrestrained wail, and dug his sharpened claws deep into the teen's neck.

"Stupif--!!" Several voices began to yell in alarm, but Harry was becoming sedate and composed before they could even blink.

"I am simply filtering his emotions, you faithless humans." Snape sneered, his body tense as he took his mates emotions as his own. His glare was glacial, even with the film of undeniable panic flooding his dark eyes as it came directly from Harry.

"A lot happened..." The teen spoke softly, before managing to tell them all that he had gone through.