"Al? You're a boy again?" Lily noted groggily as I slipped into her bed. I was wrapped in a sheet that I'd stolen from my own room as Scor had passed out. He had drifted off to the dream world happy as could be after our vigorous… activities.
"So it would seem. I shifted back a few minutes ago... thankfully the change didn't happen in the middle..." I hesitated, too embarassed to spell it out for her.
"Are you ok brother?" She asked when she registered my expression in the darkness. I merely shook my head, suppressing the urge to cry as water formed in my eyes. I was a complete wreck. "Want me to kill him for you?"
I managed a hiccuped laugh through my tears before she pulled me closer to her.
"How do you stay so… you know? Its a miracle how strong you are."
"I'm made of something different I guess. I had to struggle a lot to contain him all these years. Keep him asleep. So I'm jaded maybe."
"He woke up in my mind while I was a girl. I haven't heard that horrid voice in years. Not until last night." I noted, a bleak sort of complaint about the prisoner held inside the shadowy corners of my being.
"Ewww, what a perv! I hope he didn't intrude during sex with Scor? That would be too weird. Was it good at least? The sex, not Voldemort's creepy intrusion into your consciousness."
Lily asked unabashedly. I laughed again, the tears slowing as she smiled at me.
"It was really hot. Just… pure magic."
"So old bald snake men watching you get railed is your thing huh? Ashera Al! Who knew you were such a degenerate!" She teased.
"He intruded during the induction ceremony in the forest! Not while I was alone with Scor! He made some quip about me creating an army just like he did… accused us of being the same after all." I deflected, getting embarrassed at Lily's comments. How is she so mature for her age? Its like she said, she's entirely jaded, trying to compensate for her own darkness inside.
"Hmm, so what are you going to do now? With Scor I mean? Not your little army."
"It's not an army Lils! Gosh you know just what to say to—"
"—Break down your defenses? Get you to think like a person and not some fairy princeling? Yeah Al, it's an army and you're going to need one too. So stop overthinking everything. Be happy you have as many people willing to fight for you as you do."
"How is it you're always there for me? You're like a fucking guardian angel sometimes. You know I'm here for you too if you need me right?"
"I prefer guardian ninja, and yeah, I know you're there for me. I just don't need any support right now. Why are you so curious about it? I'm your sister aren't I? I'll always be there for you. It's the way things should be."
"Well, James isn't exactly the model sibling so you'll forgive me for my confusion over having the best sister in the world while i'm made to suffer James."
I quipped.
Another thought hit me and I continued. "You need any protecting from Marcus? He's too old for you, you know that. If you need your big brother to swat him away say the word."
She laughed and brushed my hair from my forehead lovingly.
"You needed him on board for this and he likes me? Let's not give it too much thought right now."
I startled in shock thinking she could possibly be using her appeal to attract one of my most valuable allies.
"Lily! Don't tell me you've been flirting with him just to win him over to my side?"
"Don't be silly, I do genuinely like him. He's more curious about me than besotted. My virtue isn't at risk dear brother, for now at least."
Her face became skeptical before she added her jab.
"Im not as promiscuous as some people I know." She teased.
"Lily! We took aging potions!" I squeaked, beyond mortified to be discussing this with her.
"Like magic huh? Pure magic? I hope i find someone who loves me the way you love him. That's the only thing to look for in this life. To think you found it the minute you were born. Born on the same day, mere minutes apart. In the same hospital… placed in the same crib… what a special bond you two share."
A crack ruptured in my chest as my heart began to break.
"I don't… I…" the need to deny the emotion was so strong that my reaction had been automatic.
"Who are you trying to fool? Me or yourself? You LOVE him. It's ok to love him Albus. You should know that. After everything that's passed between you two? What Al wouldn't love their Scor?" Her eyes pierced the shield of my mind like knives. "Prince of Love… trying to hide it even though we've had this conversation before… I know you would immolate your very soul to protect him."
"I shouldn't try and hide from you of all people. I forget how much you care, how much you look out for me."
"You're right, it's insulting sometimes that you still try and shield yourself from me. I'll never hurt you Albus. Never."
I rested my forehead against hers and she smiled, nuzzling me. An idea hit me and I knew it would enrage her.
"Laratha Thulum Elgiara" I whispered, pulling in air through my lips like a vacuum. I concentrated all of my energy into the love spell and quivered as the piece of voldemorts soul that had embedded itself into Lily flooded in a quick thick glob of dark light from her nose and eyes directly into my mouth. A weird pulsing feeling settled over me as the two shards of the faded shade merged in my subconscious. To my great relief he had not woken up, nor did he feel any stronger. His steady slumbering breaths came in the same heavy drowse they had for years before.
Her eyes flitted open and her hand extended claw like to grab my throat in a choke just like the Yaga. "Who asked you to do that? You dare steal my powers from me? I had more snake magic to learn from him. Do you think me so weak that I cannot suppress the fool on my own?"
I smiled at her and smirked. Despite her facade she could scarcely deny the tears of relief that sprang to the corner of her beautiful eyes. I brushed my nose against hers even as her grip tightened around my neck.
"Why do you take on the burdens of everyone around you? Why do you leap in front of dragon fire for your friends? Why do you try and hold up mountains for strange creatures you don't even know? Why do you give yourself over to those who would scarcely do the same for you? Lucius Malfoy? I'd wager you'd even fold for that horrendous Lestrange boy. It's not natural."
"Don't exaggerate. Some people are beyond forgiveness. Let's not compare my wonderful sis to that monster ok? I'm happy to shoulder your burden."
"I didn't ask you to do that!" She cursed, releasing me as more tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Nobody ever asks me to do any of the things I do? I sort of just do them." I chuckled as a wave of serpentine hate flooded my cornea. I could feel my vision shift as the magic affected them. Moments elapsed and the sensation passed.
She's free of him. Whatever dark magic dad had passed on to his younger children, now resided only in me.
"If he doesn't love you back, he's the idiot. Just know that. Scor is a complete idiot."
Lily noted, sobbing fully now. I don't remember ever seeing her cry like this before.
"Awww lils, I didn't mean to make you cry!" I shot into her ear as she moved to hug me.
"Be quiet you dolt. Just be quiet." She half laughed half hiccuped, pulling herself back to regard me. "I'm free of him… I can't believe I'm free of him."
Fifteen minutes later she fell asleep and I merely watched her doze peacefully. My wonderful sweet sister. At least she's rid of Voldemort for good.
I gathered my sheet back around me and slipped from her bed to tiptoe back into my adjacent room. Scor lay naked on my mattress, passed out from the long night of travel and passion. That he could sleep so soundly after our encounter was an odd thing to appreciate.
I let the sheet fall off of me and slid onto the mattress, careful to stay at its edge.
As if to thwart me, the minute I turned away from him an arm came unconsciously to snake around my waist, pulling me close.
Lips came softly against my shoulder as he pressed himself nakedly against me. Mercifully he wasn't awake or trying for another round but the sensation of being trapped against his body as a boy unnerved me.
I no longer had the parts to match the ache I felt in my abdomen but now that his groin was pressed against me again, I couldn't help but remember the time we'd spent in the hero's beacon. He didn't have a problem with me that night either… even though I'd been a boy on that occasion.
"Don't go. Don't ever go again." He murmured in his dreams.
sorry for the super late update - another chapter will be up very soon