Luminescent
Part Four
Attack of the Toad People
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, I would have more than lint in my pockets. Seeing how I'm lucky to have the lint, I can't say I own Harry Potter. I do own the Lugovalos clan--though I'm not sure if that a good thing--and any other characters that you don't recognize as cannon.
Warning: Someone pointed out it's been 34 chapters so we should all know this is slash. However, I do occasionally get idiots reading, so I'll warn you now. This is slash. There. Duty done.
Author's Note: Okay, so maybe I should stop sounding so surprised that the Lugovaloses are so well liked. I'm sorry, it's just. . . I think of orginal character and I automatically think "Mary Sue/Gary Stu" and I can't help it. Half the time the words "orginal character" still make me shudder. So if I sound shocked, you'll have to forgive me. I'm just not used to OC's being well liked or well written, though I've come across a few while digging around. I should seriously dig up a few favorites for you to give you something to do between updates. I'll try to sort that out next chapter.
This is the last update for awhile. I'm headed on vacation and then back to school, so I won't have time to keep up with updates because every bit of my "spare" time will be involved with homework or writing. I'm sorry, that's just how it works. I've asked my beta to get the next chapter done, so I have it if I manage to find time to post. Just don't hold your breath. That I'm sorry for, but c'est le vie.
By the way, this chapter is beta read, so everyone needs to thank PrincessXXMoonXX for doing an amazing job for me so you all don't have to deal with my bad spelling and typos. winces I feel downright sorry for her, sometimes. So, a big cheer for PrincessXXMoonXX!
To LanHikari2000x: I thought about sending them to number 12, but at the point it didn't make sense. But don't worry, I do have plans for the building. And the portrait. Mwahaha.
To Princess Felton: I believe I've made a few illusions to it, I think in year three, and I'm sorry for the confusion.
To Lady Prince: I never thought about what River and Rayne would do with the thestrals, really. But now that you mention that, I can just picture those two hopping right on and taking one for a spin! And probably blowing something up, too. Oops. Lol.
To Everyone: Thank you all for your amazing reviews, and I'm glad you're all enjoying this! I'm always really excited to hear that people like Phyrrus, because I'm so used to bad OCs that. . . well, any good ones make me happy. And since you think he's good, I'm happy. I'm still digging for other stories with well written OCs, so if you find any, let me know! I want to read them and love them and put them in my favorites section! So, feed the starving author by reviewing, and feed the starving reading by recommending some great stories!
And do me a favor, while you're at it.
Enjoy chapter four.
oOooOo
Harry slid into his seat, followed by Phyrrus, and gave a giant sigh when he realized they still had the sorting to watch. Since Harry didn't have any friends being sorted that year, he took the time to study the hall, barely taking notice of the Hat's warning song that all the houses needed to work together. Cyrrus and Draco were at the Slytherin table, heads bent together, and Harry had the sinking feeling it involved a prank. Phyrrus eyed them speculatively for a moment, but shrugged and twiddled his thumbs through the sorting.
It was a long sorting, since there were nearly half again as many newcomers that year than there had been in years past, but Harry couldn't bring himself to care. Not after the food arrived and they were all too busy eating to notice. River and Rayne ate their fill, then got up to greet all their old friends by running around the other tables and randomly throwing themselves at the elder students. The nine year olds were obviously delighted to be back.
Several of the teachers at the Head Table followed them around the room with their eyes, just to make sure they weren't getting into trouble (or wreaking mass chaos, for that matter), and smiled at their antics, relaxing minutely when they didn't hear any panicked screams. The girls did not approach the head table, though it was clear they wanted to--probably to attack Severus--but Phyrrus had threatened against it. "Phyrrus! Phyrrus!" Rayne's voice carried across the room as the twins raced back.
"Did you see that toad?" River shrieked as she threw herself at her brother.
"Huh?" Ever intelligent, Phyrrus looked frantically around for whatever his sisters had found. The Great Hall fell silent as the little twins exploded in excitement at their find.
"That lady!" Rayne announced, indignant. "She looks like a toad!" The little girl pointed at the head table, and the older Gryffindors followed her finger to see a square-faced woman, her mouth a little too wide for her face, with frizzy brown and grey hair, a fluffy pink cardigan, and a pink bow on her head. Phyrrus hid his face in Harry's shoulder, trying not to laugh. She did look like a toad, but it wasn't exactly nice to call her that. The woman, who appeared to be able to hear them, scowled, her face contorting humorously.
"That's not nice," Phyrrus scolded, frowning at River and Rayne. "You shouldn't say that about people."
"You're laughing," Rayne told him flatly. Harry nearly snickered. Having two empaths for sisters had to be trying.
"That doesn't matter," Harry broke in, arms crossed. "She is as much a person as any of you, and you should treat her with respect. It is quite rude to say such things about anyone, especially when you don't know them. She might be very nice." Harry doubted that, but the little twins didn't need to know it.
"All right. But she still looks like she's going to spit her tongue out to catch flies!" River and Rayne both caterwauled before falling silent, sitting down on either side of Harry and Phyrrus. Neville offered them a peppermint and Hermione dug out a couple of her books for them. The two remained silent the rest of the feast, until Dumbledore got up to give his speech. Then they cheered and clapped, grinning from ear to ear when he smiled at them.
Going over the rules never took long, and Dumbledore gave a short version of the Sorting Hat's song, one that didn't rhyme (to the relief of most of the school) and started to dismiss them when the toad woman coughed.
"Hem, hem." She stood up, forcing Dumbledore to raise an eyebrow and the students to frown. "I'm sure you're glad to be here," She told them, her voice breathy and childish. If Harry hadn't been able to see her, he would have thought her a little girl. "I'm here on behalf of the Ministry of Magic, to make sure the school is well run. We've decided to place a closer watch on this establishment. . ."
The entire school--with the exception of a few Ravenclaws and Hermione--tuned out, looking bored. After what seemed like nearly thirty minutes, she finally stopped talking, shooting the little twins a glare as she made her way back to her chair. Dumbledore clapped, but the school, the few that were paying attention well enough to follow his lead, quickly stopped as they looked to the prefects for directions. Hermione offered them the password before going off to lead the first years to Gryffindor Tower, and Phyrrus lifted River while Harry grabbed Rayne.
"This is going to be an interesting year," Harry commented, looking over the toad woman.
Phyrrus eyed his bonded. Somehow, he had a feeling that was an understatement.
oOooOo
The entire school slept like the dead that night, curled in the sandman's embrace from the feast, but it was morning that always got to the students. Harry was the first to wake, forcing Phyrrus and the others into reality and then dashing to breakfast to find Hermione, Ginny, River, and Rayne already there. The boys all waved and smiled, plopping down next to the girls. Phyrrus noticed with a relieved sigh that the toad woman had not appeared that early, meaning River and Rayne felt no need to point out the characteristics she and the said animal shared.
"Got our schedules yet?" Harry asked Ron, raising a black brow. Ron just shook his head, shoving more toast into his mouth.
"I have them," Hermione frowned at the mess Ron was making, passing out the slips of paper. "A seventh year prefect had them."
"Oh boy," Harry's eyes flicked over the paper, then he moaned. "This is the worst Monday ever! Look at this, History of Magic, followed by double potions--which is the best part of the day--then divination, then double DADA."
"That sucks." Phyrrus leaned closer, glad he was taking ancient runes. "River, when do you two have potions?"
"We're allowed to take them alone, now," River told him, haughtily, shaking out her curly, black hair. "Mom said so, and Uncle Sev said it was all right."
"Fine," Phyrrus raised his hands in a pacifying gesture. "Didn't mean to intrude there, kid."
River stuck her tongue out at him, turning back to her sister and starting another conversation in twinspeak. Harry and Phyrrus exchanged looks. The last time River and Rayne had a conversation in twinspeak, they had attacked Rita Skeeter with some kind of bug spray and trapped her in Harry's golden egg during the triwizard tournament the year prior. Not to mention they'd traumatized half of the Ravenclaw table. "This can't end well," Harry muttered before decidedly ignoring them.
The toad woman, who finally appeared, stared at Harry all throughout breakfast, which Harry ignored, and Phyrrus finally shot her the most lethal look in his arsenal, proud of himself when she flinched back from the intensity of the stare. Those lessons from Leon sure had come in handy! River and Rayne ignored the entire exchange and smirked more at each other before glancing, once, at the toad lady. Rapid twinspeak followed. Phyrrus felt his heart sink.
Still, the entire group hurried to gather their books to get ready for class and raced to History of Magic, where most of the students decided a nap was far preferable to listening to the teacher, then rushed to get to potions on time. Severus met Phyrrus in the hall, reaching up to grip his shoulder lightly. "Are you aware you no longer need to watch your sisters in potions?" He asked, raising one, black brow.
"Yeah, they introduced me rather rudely to the concept this morning," Phyrrus made a face, slipping into the room before the professor. "Thank you for letting me know, though."
Severus shrugged. "I had hoped to tell you first, but oh, well."
"Thanks, Uncle Sev." Phyrrus grinned, plopping down next to Harry and greeting his cousin and Draco with a smile. Hermione sat next to Neville, leaving Ron to find another partner. Not that anyone minded--and not even Ron protested--because if Hermione was helping Neville, the potions lab (and the students) would be in one piece when they were finished.
Severus ignored the students for several moments until it was time for class to begin, then snapped his wand at the board. "You have the entirety of this class to complete that potion. I recommend you begin." Severus sneered, watching the students jump. Harry squinted at the board for a moment, frowning.
"I can't read his writing, Phyrrus," Harry hissed, pointing to the board. "Is that powdered moonstone?"
Phyrrus blinked, frowning, but nodded. "Harry, when was the last time you had your eyes checked?"
"My eyes?" Harry blinked in confusion. "How should I know?"
"Because I think you need new glasses," Phyrrus muttered, watching Severus. He wasn't in a bad mood, since Leon was hanging around, through currently out to see his CO, but he would rather not push his luck all the same.
Harry wrinkled his nose, but agreed to get his eyes checked by Madame Pomfrey at the soonest opportunity, and returned to the board, following Phyrrus' hissed instructions. Harry was very lucky that his bonded was risking life and limb--at least in Severus' class–to give him said instructions, otherwise he probably would have made something explode.
Divination was boring as ever, and Harry was getting bored of having his death predicted. Finally, as Trelawny announced the grim in whatever it was they were working on this time, Harry raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so I'm dying. Who kills me, where is it at, and do I kick Voldemort's ass first?"
She stuttered for several minutes as Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well, that's unfortunate," He finally muttered, crossing his arms and sinking back into the chair. Her eyes grew wide behind her glasses and she rushed away from him. Harry frowned slightly, shaking his head. What was her problem, anyway?
Finally, Defense Against the Dark Arts arrived. Harry and Phyrrus sat in the back corner, as far from the teacher as possible. Hermione and Ron were sitting in front of them. It was not a class they shared with another house, which was somewhat disappointing, so Draco and Cyrrus were eagerly waiting to hear the results of the new teacher.
Professor Umbridge entered, still in her ratty pink cardigan. Phyrrus pasted a big, fake smile on his face, golden eyes narrowing slightly. "This is going to suck," He muttered to the others, and Neville, from his seat on Harry's other side, let out a small whimper.
"Good afternoon, class," She announced in her breathy, girlish voice. A soft murmur of greeting swept the room making her frown. "Tsk, tsk, class. That simply will not do. When I say good afternoon, class, I expect you to say, good afternoon, Professor Umbridge. Now, let's try that again, shall we? Good afternoon, class."
Most of the class replied in kind, but Phyrrus offered a smirk, a gleam of mischief entering his flame colored eyes. "Good morning, Vietnam!" He called out, making Harry groan and elbow him in the side.
Professor Umbridge stared at him, her eyes going wide, as though Phyrrus had gone insane. "I'm sorry Mr. . .?"
"Lugovalos."
"Mr. Lugovalos. That was not what I asked for."
"Oh, my bad. Just some humor this early in the day, you know? How about this, then. Good afternoon, Ms. Umbridge!"
"Professor."
"Huh?"
"You should address me as Professor."
"In my culture Professor is generally reserved for someone teaching at a university level. You are not teaching at a university level and are not, therefore, my professor. Cultural issues are to be decided on an individual basis by the board of governors should they be an issue. If you wish to file a complaint please feel free to write to--"
"Detention!" Umbridge roared, making Phyrrus smirk. "I will not have you attempting to usurp my authority."
"I didn't," Phyrrus replied innocently. "I only stated that what I call you is a cultural issue and how to resolve it, Ms. Umbridge."
"You still have detention. . . for the next three nights," Umbridge snapped. Harry bristled, but Phyrrus had deserved it, so he bit his tongue and clenched his fists. "Now, put your wands away. You won't need them. Please take out your textbooks and read the first chapter."
Most of the students groaned and did as asked, but Hermione refused to open her book, staring at the closed cover. About ten minutes into class, she finally raised her hand. Umbridge ignored her for anther ten minutes before glaring at her. "Yes, Miss. . .?"
"Granger. I've already read chapter one."
"Then proceed to chapter two."
"I've read the whole book," Hermione told her flatly. "When will we be doing wand work in this class? You said nothing of it when you covered the course aims."
"As long as you sufficiently study the text then the actual spells should be no trouble." Umbridge frowned.
"You mean the first time we actually do the spells is on our O.W. L.s?" Dean shouted, eyes widening. "That's no time to practice!"
"And I need as much as I can get," Neville muttered, frowning.
"Having a complete understanding of the workings of the spell--"
"Is not going to help us in real life!" Harry shouted. "You might as well hand us over to Voldemort now!"
Umbridge's eyes narrowed. "Are you expecting to get attacked in my class, Mr. Potter?"
"Looking at my past track record with Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers? Yes!" Harry had been attacked by two, and nearly obliviated by a third. Truthfully, he did almost expect an attack. "I mean, there was Quirrel, who had Voldemort sticking out of his head, and then there was Lockheart, who tried to wipe my memory, and then last year Moody would have killed me too!"
"All regrettable incidents I'm sure, Mr. Potter, but they don't exactly relate to this class--"
"I've run into the dark arts every year, Professor." Harry's voice was dark. "How can you tell me not to expect the same this year?"
"Detention!" She roared.
Phyrrus raised an eyebrow. "Is that always your answer when your tiny brain is overworked?"
"A week, both of you! Starting tonight at eight!"
Both boys clenched their fists, but Hermione shot them venomous looks and forced them to back down. "Good job, Flame," Hermione sneered. "Losing your temper like that! And you too, Harry!"
"Sorry." Phyrrus didn't look apologetic. Harry, however, looked abashed though he didn't say anything.
"Now, any of you with questions or comments will raise your hands." Umbridge snarled.
The students all snarled, but returned to their reading, though Harry had trouble concentrating because Phyrrus' nasty temper was still ringing along their bond. Finally, the smaller teen glared at his bonded. "Turn that thing off, dammit!"
"Huh?" Complete shocked surprise passed over the bond at Harry's sudden frustration. "I thought I was!"
"Then why am I still feeling you?" Harry sighed, glad the anger was gone. It had really been the anger burning over the bond that made his temper snap, as opposed to him actually being angry.
"Is there a problem, boys?" Umbridge asked, sweetly.
"Sorry," Phyrrus smiled in reply, though his was more strained. "We seem to be having trouble with our bond. If we could go see the nurse?" Madame Pomfrey had to know how to help this, she had too.
"If you're going to lie, at least make it a good one," Umbridge snarled. Harry felt his temper--no, that was Phyrrus' temper, wasn't it?--rise.
"It's not a lie!" Harry screamed, his control on the bond nearly shattering. They had never had to concentrate so hard to keep it under control! Usually it just happened. What was going on?
"Harry. Baby, look at me." Phyrrus ordered, face flushed with rage, his eyes burning fiercely. "We need to calm down. We have to. . . to do something. . ." Both were having trouble thinking, their rage feeding off each other.
"Both of you, enough." Ron finally ordered, shocking their attention away from their anger. "I want you to breath as I do." Deeply breathing, Ron made sure the two were watching carefully, sighing in relief when they calmed. "Are you all right?"
"I won't have my class turned into a three ring circus!" Umbridge snarled. "Both of you, get to your head of house, immediately!"
"I told you, we need to get to the hospital wing--"
"Don't argue with me, brat!" Umbridge forced a note into their hands, shoving them from the room. Jaw tightening, Ron nearly groaned, but both exited without more fuss, trying to remember what Ron had said about breathing deeply. Hermione was cursing almost silently next to him, glaring daggers at Umbridge. How could anyone be stupid enough to disregard the effects of a bond? That stupid woman!
oOooOo
Phyrrus and Harry, away from the classroom, both began to breath a sigh of relief. "What happened?" Harry asked, plastered to Phyrrus' side. "Why did our bond flare like that? I don't understand. It's never happened before."
"I have no idea," Phyrrus admitted, rubbing his face. "I don't even know which of us was so mad at her! I could hardly even see straight."
Both teens were silent for several seconds, just leaning--well, more like plastered--against each other. Touching helped, but it was getting a little hard to walk, so Harry contented himself with holding Phyrrus' hand. Nothing made sense about this bond anymore, and it hadn't since it had all started. "Damn it," Harry felt his chest constrict. "Why is this so hard?"
Phyrrus shook his head, unable to speak around the frustrated lump in his throat. He was ready to start yelling at something, though Harry sounded ready to cry. "I guess," Phyrrus started, forcing his annoyance under control, "that we still keep our natural reactions to our emotions."
"I guess." Harry breathed deeply, calming himself and felt relief when Phyrrus also calmed. They paused at McGonagall's office, knocking hesitantly.
"What are you two doing here?" McGonagall blinked. The two explained the problem when she invited them in, handing her the note.
"We deserved the detention," Harry told her with a sigh, "but we were just reacting to our bond in that last bit, and we don't know why. I asked her to let us go to the hospital wing, but she wouldn't let us."
McGonagall frowned and shook her head. "We're going up there now, and that's that," She informed them, leading them up the stairs. Madame Pomfrey wasn't exactly overjoyed to see them but appeared happier it was over their bond than something else. Running a few tests, the medi-witch finally announced that it was nothing but a spike.
"Can we resolve these?" Harry finally raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?" Madame Pomfrey finally grinned. "Sorry, but it's so cute. . ."
"Please, spare me cavities," Phyrrus replied dryly, making everyone else laugh.
"Yes, you just need to spend more time in close contact in the mornings and get Professor Snape to teach you to meditate. Until you're willing to consummate your bond, you'll have to use more meditation. I would also recommend he teach you Occolumacy, since that should help you build your mental shields. Other than that, just try to stay calm around each other." Madame Pomfrey shrugged.
The two nodded and took a seat on one of the beds, Harry on Phyrrus' lap, as Madame Pomfrey taught them some meditation techniques. She also promised to talk to Severus and see if he would agree to teach them to occlude their minds. They also convinced her to test Harry's vision. She discovered his lenses didn't match it, and agreed to order more before sending them out. When they finally left, DADA was over, to their relief. Now they just hoped they weren't pounced on in the common room.
oOooOo
Their wish was not granted. Hermione and Ron pounced on them as soon as they entered, looking them over. "Are you all right?" Ron asked, worry evident. "What happened to your bond?"
"Just a spike," Harry shrugged, repeating everything the nurse had told them, and reminding Phyrrus they needed to visit Severus. "How was the rest of DADA?"
"The whole class was upset with her, disregarding your bond like that," Hermione finally admitted. "Neville set her straight awfully fast. It was actually sort of amusing. She won't be denying the bond any time soon, and we saw Professor McGonagall storming in as we left, so I think she was going to 'talk' to her as well. But you two still have detention."
"I deserved it," Phyrrus shrugged. "But it was so worth it. The look on her face was great."
"How do you know all that stuff about reporting cultural differences?" Hermione broke in, looking at him suspiciously.
"Dumbledore told me," Phyrrus answered cheerfully. "We ran into it once or twice my first year here, so he told me the procedure."
Hermione looked crushed, since she clearly expected him to tell her he had actually read it in Hogwarts: A History. She'd be waiting for a long time, though. Phyrrus had looked at the book once or twice, since River and Rayne both read the heavy tome, but it was boring as watching grass grow, at least in Phyrrus' mind. He had other things to do with his time.
"So what do you want to do until eight?" Phyrrus finally asked, not-so-subtly reminding Harry they'd managed detention the first day back. Harry gave a thin shrug, plopping into a chair and pulling out his homework. He had so much to do that he might we well get started. Phyrrus practically deflated, but lifted Harry to slid in the chair and put Harry in his lap, then laid his head on his boyfriend's shoulder. If they were going to study, they might as well do it together.
When eight o'clock rolled around, they had a good bit of their homework down, and bellies plumped from dinner in the Great Hall. Harry sighed, staring at the door of the classroom, and smiled at Phyrrus before knocking. "Come in," Umbridge's girly voice made them both cringe.
"I wanna know one thing," Phyrrus hissed, leaning closer to Harry. "Where in the hell is she hiding the helium?"
Harry barely bit back a snicker, shoving the door open and stepping inside. Umbridge ignored them for nearly fifteen minutes before frowning. "You will be writing lines," She told them, sitting them at tables on opposite sides of the room. Harry and Phyrrus exchanged looks, hoping their bond didn't take that time to spike, but didn't protest. Slapping paper in front of them, she placed a quill next to each.
"What are we writing and where's the ink?" Harry looked the jet black quill over, not liking the unusually sharp point of the nib.
"You, Mr. Potter, will be writing 'I must not tell lies.' Mr. Lugovalos will be writing, 'I will not act like a fool.' Is that clear? And neither of you will be needing ink. The quills are self inking. Get to work."
Phyrrus eyed her strangely, watching Harry put the quill to paper, then all but screaming as pain flashed over their link. Harry said nothing, just bent over the paper. Phyrrus frowned, but did the same, beginning his line as well. He squashed the pain as it came, idly glancing at his hand. Martial arts taught one to take pain, but this wasn't all his pain. This was partly Harry's. And watching the words form themselves on his hand before healing over made his eyes widen.
"How dare you," Phyrrus hissed, throwing down the quill and rising in his seat. "You--you--" He sputtered, attempting not to use profanity on a teacher, but lacking any better word to use.
"What's wrong?" Umbridge asked, sweetly.
"Blood quills are illegal!" Phyrrus finally roared, snatching the quill from Harry's hand. Blood from his own cut spread over the tip.
"Are you going to complain? Because, I assure you, I can get you expelled," Umbridge offered, eyes narrowing. "Now get back to work."
Phyrrus said nothing more, handing Harry back the quill and sitting back in his seat, back to Harry, and concentrating on their breathing. When they couldn't use direct touch, keeping their bonded out of sight was one of the suggestions Madame Pomfrey had offered. Phyrrus turned to toss a single look and smile at Harry, then bent back over his paper, still not facing his bonded.
Harry smiled, turning back to his own paper. He wasn't going to cry out, he decided, even as he set the quill back to paper. He stiffened for a moment as he started moving the quill, only to discover that it was no longer carving into his skin. Frowning, he figured that it only had to do that once, though he wasn't really sure, and concentrated on the lines he scrawled over the paper, glad there was no more pain.
Phyrrus, sitting with his back to Harry, also returned to his paper. He didn't even twitch as his hand was split open, ignoring the relief he felt along the bond since Harry felt no pain as he returned to writing lines. He was concentrating on not letting his own pain travel along the bond, trying not to let Harry know how much pain he was really in. He couldn't let Harry know what blood quills truly did, nor that he knew a way to trick them.
On his left hand, the words "I will not act like a fool" formed and healed as quickly as Phyrrus' hand whizzed over the heavy parchment. But even as his left hand was split open and healed, so was his right. Wrapping it in his robe to prevent blood from spattering to the parchment as he wrote, blood dribbling down his hand, Phyrrus knew he had made the right choice.
Blood quills were tied to the person holding them for the first line, then they were tied to the blood on the nib. They could be used over and over again as long as the nibs were well cleaned with no adverse side effects. There was only one way to trick a blood quill. After the first line had been written, placing someone else's blood on the nib would change the target. Phyrrus gritted his teeth, careful to keep his pain off the bond. It would only grow worse as the night continued, he knew.
Because there, threatening to drip blood on his own parchment, was Harry's neat handwriting. "I must not tell lies."
oOooOo