So I'm getting so excited in this story! I hope you are too! Also there's a lemon scene that isn't Draco and Hermione in this one but it was flowing out of me before I had realized I was writing it, it fits the situation best I think.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you may recognize.
Chapter 19: Aftermath and Aftershocks
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Staring contests when you're blind weren't very fair, but Calpurnia wanted a staring contest so Luna conceded to the little girl. Her giggles alerted Luna to her little one's eyes shutting, "You win again Luna Mama, let's catch the butterflies now." Luna smiled and bent forward toward the girl, who immediately planted a soft kiss on her cheek.
It was such a gift that the child couldn't see the world that was around her, or what her Luna Mama saw. The violence that had occurred this night was atrocious but necessary, there was nothing that could be done about it. Soon she heard him approaching, could feel it deep in her gut, he'd been elsewhere, he had had one to protect. The flashes of Hermione that she kept getting were blurred but strong. She felt his presence as he walked into the room. "Where did you take Hermione?"
His dark chuckle sent shivers down her spine, everything about him was dark, and if anything she was attracted to him more for it. "I left her safely at Malfoy Manor, not many would think to look for her there, but I have sent word to the High King." He pressed into her then, wrapping his arms about her, pulling her into his lap as he sat on the bed, she could see again, he was handsome but more than that, beautiful. "You praise me too much, my little fey one." Calpurnia with her bright flaming red hair jumped on the bed beside them, her eyes as deep a green as emeralds.
"So much pain, yet so much joy. Why must there be balance? I hate that we should suffer as such to gain so much." The tears had come unbidden, and he wiped them away as soon as they fell. "Hermione and Draco must suffer overly much, has he not suffered enough, that he must lose his mate once again. Harry, my poor Harry, he has so much to burden him, that he faces decisions now at this moment that could change everything for him. Our dear Blaise, he has gone through so much for his Twilight, she has inflicted the most ancient of rituals upon herself. Then Pansy, she feels so useless in this war but she can't see that she keeps him going, Ron will be lost if she does not survive. There is nothing I can do for them, I can see these things but I can do nothing for them."
Petting her hair she felt him kiss her temple, "Oh, my Faerie Queen, far too young to understand the cruelties of this world in which we live." Brushing her hair back he bent kissing her mark, she saw it with his provided sight, it was a beautiful black ancient symbol, his symbol she realized. Two dark violet eyes stared out at her from it. "Come now, I shall continue telling you my story, I know you need little information about tonight." She knew he hated that she saw such awful things, "Growing up in Ireland was hard, you learned to fight young and you had to be good if you expected to live. Being immortal allowed me more freedoms in battle, my opponent didn't recognize what I was until I had gone in for the kill. I served many in their armies, easily working up to their top warrior, when I was young I cared little for more than the hunt. When I came of age, my father approached me about what I was beyond my special gift and immortal status. He taught me to hunt for more than victory, how to feed off the dark urges and nightmares, the desires and fears, all of it, he was the currently the High King, at the time there was no Shadow King. It had been passed to me oddly enough, he had recognized it, I hated my title, how could I one of light be of the darkness.
He moved a bit to accommodate the little body that had curled into his side, Calpurnia was fast asleep, "It would take me almost a century to accept it, my father had been High King for many centuries, he was made so by the last Malfoy to rule before he died. During that century I was a terrifying force to be reckoned with, it was only people like Merlin and Arthur that occasionally pulled me away from my dark moods. Centuries I have lived little fey one, it would take too long to tell you my whole story. My life has been filled with battle and blood, but many friends and those I considered family. Never did I turn any human, I never had any romantic relationships, it was a lonely existence I led. Only when my father demanded that I build my Clan did I even give it thought. The first one I turned, it was hard to watch, he was a close friend, and I suffered as he did. I had no idea the pain it put a mortal through to become as I was. It is even harder to become of the Dark Clan." Luna felt her eyes drifting shut as she felt the vibration of his voice through his chest, the rhythmic beating of his heart.
'It was a lonely existence I led...' He wasn't alone anymore.
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He was slowly becoming more accustomed to waking up in odd places, sitting up he rubbed his head then realized there was something sticky on his hand. Strange he couldn't remember much of the night before, he remembered being on the battlefield of talking to Irial, talking to Hermione, oh Merlin Hermione. His eyes snapped open, he saw the hand in front of his face was covered in blood. Looking around most of the arena's grass was soaked in it, bodies lay broken, disfigured, frozen in visages of terror. What had happened here? Then a small lithe petite figure flickered into his line of sight, she had beautiful long dark blonde hair, and he knew if she turned to look at him he'd see chartreuse eyes. "Twi..."
Barely whispering it but still she turned as if he had yelled it, looking at her he saw the scars, the healed proof of what she'd done to herself, and he could only think to punch the ground so he wouldn't get mad at her too badly. "Hello, Death, the dark avenging angel, my mate." She was standing right beside him now, staring at him oddly.
Then he realized she wasn't staring at him so much as what was protruding from his back, his wings hadn't disappeared, hell, they were only supposed to be visible in the Ether. It was uncomfortable, at first, he felt like some awkward gangly teenager adjusting to a growth spurt.
Getting to his feet was different he couldn't lean too far back or he'd feel like he was going to tip over, yea that would take some getting used to, absently he wondered if Hermione had kept her wings too. Then Twi touched one and he felt it down to his core, a slight shiver ran down his spine, "Twi, those are really sensitive..." he almost groaned when her hand ran onto the skin between them, between his shoulder blades. "Merlin, Twi..." She was standing in front of him again, smiling like she was innocent as could be.
Too bad he knew how much of a demon she could be when she really wanted to, he reached out and ran a finger down one of her intricate scars, tracing it. Her body had stiffened it had likened her to stone. "You shouldn't have done this, my little one. It has eternal adverse affects."
"I only did what had to be done, I saw in Luna's prophecy, it was to be done and now I know why. I changed part of it, I am keeping Ron alive, I'm keeping Harry alive. For you my dear, dark avenger, you now have something, a power inside of you, you didn't before. So did your little sister gain too, it was her that arranged it to be so, she talked to the Merricini." Her smile was small but sad, "It is through our suffering now that will allow joy later, tis the balance needed in this universe."
Blaise shook his head, the air around them was stale with death, and he stared across the field of the dead, it held few allies, more enemies. A bright blonde head caught his attention, Draco was sitting far off, staring at a piece of parchment. He looked withdrawn, he wondered if he might need to talk to him. Then the man, stood and looked him in the eye before slowly walking their way. He must have heard his thought to questions speaking to him. It was a scene of a ravaged battleground, the living were all on the light side, Moody was tending to Arthur who was trying to figure out just how they'd cover all this up with the muggles. Shacklebot was standing with them, he had no doubt Dumbledore would be along soon enough to help them out.
The stands were practically rubble, the entrance ways some still at their charmed size, others destroyed, others back to normal though a bit rough around the edges. The grass was a loss, so much blood would kill it, he was sure. "It's true, you did this, brother." Draco finally had joined them, "It was a shocking experience, without being mated to my 'Mione, don't know if would have been able to survive it."
"It is a tragedy," Blaise shook his head, darkness and guilt filling his soul, "It has never been simple believing what I am. I am Death, it is never easy to accept."
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Staring at a stone ceiling, she wondered how she'd gotten here. The plush persian rug under her back was warm from how long she'd just laid there. Her body ached and she saw no reason to move so she hadn't. Her mind was fuzzy, and she had this feeling that there was something she should remember, to be honest she'd felt that way a lot lately. It was probably due to the fact she'd apparently been forced to believe a whole alternate past from her real one. Slowly her mind began ticking away and had organized the facts she already had gained about herself, the real person.
First was major, she not only had been made immortal, but she had a mate, a sexy, amazing, sweet, and dangerous mate, aka Draco. Next, she held the gift of the Ether, her gift allowed her control of the living, she was Life. Her brother had been Death, she had had a family outside of the Grangers. Then there was all her time as the Gryffindor Princess and the brains of the Golden Trio. It was a lot, there were memories that had been locked away of adventures she'd been through, had gotten her friends through. Angry tears gathered in her eyes and she slammed a pitifully weak fist against the rug under her. Looking at the dark but beautiful greens that covered its expanse she was reminded of Draco again.
Where the bloody hell was she?
Deciding she should probably actually do something, she sat up, looking about her for clues to her location. The room was warm, there was a fire lit in the fireplace, it cast a warm glow around her. The room smelled faintly of some type of alcohol and cigar smoke. It felt a bit foreboding like she shouldn't be here, but there was little she could do about it, a quick search found her without wand and she didn't trust herself to try anything without it.
Next she stood running her hands across the smooth leather of high-backed chairs and the cool wood of a large male looking desk, made of perhaps mahogany. It felt familiar, like in a far away dream, but perhaps not. She truly could never be sure anymore.
Her head was pounding and she really wished she had her wand, not that she couldn't do many spells, but it was reassuring to hold all the same. Flashes of light and talking to Irial and Blaise kept coming to her. Did she go to the battle? What happened? Why or How did she end up here? It was a lot to take in for her, especially since all she wanted to do was lie down again, but she needed to get back to Draco and the others.
Her hands began drifting across the books on the shelves behind the desk, taking in but not really reading their titles. The letters more than the words jumped out at her, something was really going on in her head. Perhaps she had gotten a concussion.
The one good thing about being a witch was she had a basic understanding of Latin, well actually an average witch would have a basic understanding, Hermione knew Latin as well as she knew English. So when she found a title completely in Latin she couldn't resist, it looked old, but all books in the wizarding world looked old, you'd think with all their magic they perhaps make all their books look new or at least preserve them well. Her eyes read over the words but her mind couldn't grasp onto them, letters flashed out at her and she just stared at a picture, a complicated design of an ouroboros, it was silver and underneath it was a white rose with a black stem. Then flipping over to the next few pages more designs, and she couldn't grasp the meaning of the words around them all. She'd seen that ouroboros before, she'd seen that rose before. Her head was pounding now, white spots appearing in her vision, and she gripped onto the shelf as she leaned against to keep from sliding to the floor.
What was happening? The floor seemed to tilt up towards and then there was the smell of sandalwood and her heart eased it's rapid beating. The dizziness increased as she tried to step towards the smell. Her body beginning to crumple, she felt too weak, clutching tightly to her book she gritted her teeth forcing her leg to hold her up. There was something important in this book and she had to figure it out. She refused to continue to sit on the sidelines in a world gone awry, it was all too much for them to be on their own. They needed her mind. He needed her. 'Draco...'
She felt like she was suffocating, but she set the book on the desk using it to hold her up. Spreading it out, she forced her eyes to focus, she could bile rising at the back of her throat as she tried to concentrate. "The Ouroboros, a symbol of legend, but when applied as a mating mark, the strongest of all. Not known to have ever been used except twice in history always by High Kings during times of war. It wards away all threats, it has healing powers, but all this cannot be unlocked without proper preparations, this potion must be made and taken. It is said to be only the mark of deep devotion linking forever the marker to the marked by their souls." Her body felt like it was going to fall over but she moved down to the next picture, "The Rose of Eternity, can be only given as a mark by one whom holds the gift of Ether, only known to have happened once. It is a mark that allows the marked to survive it's mate's powers and to even share in them, it brings a certain imperviousness to death, and a soul-binding mark that allows Marker and Marked to be one."
Then she felt her legs give out, "Draco!" Then she fell to the floor the book tumbling on top of her, then the smell of sandalwood seemed to drift right to her, filling every part of her being. Footsteps hurried across halls, rooms, something, they grew closer. A door slammed open and she whispered softly, "Draco..."
"Hermione, Hermione... Hermione!"
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Charis felt the blood warm as it slid down her throat from Harry's neck, the thirst that burned in her began raging now. There wouldn't be enough to soothe her to fulfill her needs for survival. She tired to push away, but he held her tightly to him. His hand making designs on her back to calm her, then she felt the pleasure as it coiled in her stomach as his hands gripped her hips pulling her closer to him. Slipping her hands up into his hair she began to feel again, he wasn't far way, he was close, so lovely close to her. The sweet taste of him, her mate, the one she would love forever and would do anything to please. Filling her greedy need for him, she felt her control snap, pulling his blood in more deeply she heard his moan of pleasure.
Pulling away from him she saw he was deathly pale fro her drinking, but yet her eyes were dilated as his were. His hands reached aching slowly for where there were already rips in her dress and ripped them completely open. Baring her healed chest and stomach to him, his lips slammed back onto hers as he switched their positions rolling above her. His hands explored the revealed skin as his hands cupped her breasts.
Her cry of delight and urgency to feel her mate more completely had her tearing his shirt off of him, his warm flesh meeting her own. She hissed as his lips travelled from her mouth down her body as he swept away the rest of her tattered dress to leave her completely uncovered before his eyes. So deep his eyes had grown almost jade, they watched her as he moved his hand over her hip and lower into her curls. She cried out for him and arched her back wishing for his lips to greet her bosom once more. He devoured her chest as his fingers played on, driving her towards her peak. With a cry she found the edge as her walls clenched around his fingers.
Urgently, her hands tore at his pants and letting his member lose into her grip. He groaned as she took him and braced himself over her, his head falling to her own, his lips resting on her forehead. He moaned such as she had as she pleasured him, but as she tried to change their positions so she might take him with her lips, he pulled her hand from him. Gripping bother her wrists in one hand he held them over her as he used the other to part her thighs. Pausing for a moment, his eyes met hers as she whimpered for satisfaction, he plunged into her then his whole frame went stiff as he felt the tearing he should have expected. Tears fell from her eyes as her cry was pained, he kept stiff to keep her from more pain as his face bent to her own. She heard his muttered sweet words and apologies, his kisses rained over her cheeks, forehead, and lips. Slowly she felt it subside and raised her hips to his, causing a pleasurable friction to erupt in her.
His body took control then as he thrusted into her slowly at first till she begged for more. Soon it was fast and deep and she felt the edge grow closer once again. Her lips grazed his neck, tasted the blood that had drip free from her earlier bite and bit him once again as she let herself fall into the throes of passion. Hearing his cry of release she felt him fill her, falling to be nestled against her. She kissed his brow before allowing the warmth of sleep overtake her.
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Ron looked down at his girlfriend as Madame P and Snape left the room, having done all they could for her. She smiled up at him softly, "Oh, Ronald don't look so disheartened, you'd think you'd be planning my funeral from the look on your face." She was lecturing him as always but weakly, not with quite the force she once would. He brushed the hair from her face as he bent to kiss her. "Ronald, what happened with the others?"
Taking the distracting thought away from her possible death, he sat down in the seat next to her bed, "Well, I don't quite know. I do know all our friends survived, Draco is off searching for 'Mione, Harry well some crazy vamp lady appeared and told us al to stay away from his and Charis's room, and Moody says Blaise disappeared shortly after speaking to Twi. The little clairvoyant is still at the battle site helping with the clean-up efforts. There were losses on both sides, but ours less than the Dark. Iri says this is thanks to 'Mione, it was surprising to the Dark King that she still had such strong use of her gift even as mortal as she is. That's our 'Mione, though, always surprising us."
Pansy reached out to take his hand and he held it, seeing how pale it was worried him. "You shouldn't have been out on that battlefield, Pan. You about gave me a bloody heart attack seeing you inured like that." He looked up at her then, his eyes serious, "I… I can't lose you, Pan, I just can't… you're what keeps me going, that helps me survive with all this awful war going on around us. I need you."
"Oh, Ronald. I-I thought I was completely useless, everyone has a way they can help and I couldn't find where I did besides seducing some death eaters. I wanted to help." Her tears hurt him, he wiped them away and leaned forward to kiss her again.
Setting back, he reassured her, "You do play your part, Pan. You keep me sane, you help out Twi when she gives up to grief over Blaise, you've been best friends with Blaise and Draco forever, and well you're someone we can all talk to when we need it." He looked up as Moody came to the door, nodding his head at the man he stands, "I'll be back, get better while I'm gone. I love you." He bent pressed his lips to her temple before turning to follow the gruff old man. Once out in the hall he shut the door behind him, "She's doing a lot better but she's not out of the woods yet."
"We've cleaned up most of the battlefield, and we found McNair dead, but none of the other major players, would have been too lucky to be rid of Bellatrix or Lucius."Moody told him all this as they walked towards the kitchen, "Blaise said he'd keep us informed as much as he could, but it would be harder after the damage he caused in the battle. Twilight is upstairs being mopey, don't worry about her though, I'll go and piss her off good in a bit to get her back to herself." The old man sat down at the table next to his father and Ron took a seat on the other side of his father. His mum was running around fixing food and checking on the injured.
His father looked over at him, "Well, yours and Draco's plan was quite a success there were only two muggle lives lost. Speaking of Draco, he and Hermione have disappeared, we have reason to believe that they are not in danger though thanks to that strange man… Oriole?"
Ron laughed so hard his stomach hurt, he wished the Dark King himself could have been there for that one, "His name is Irial dad, but that's what I had heard as well. Malfoy will return soon enough with 'Mione. What we really need to think about is what our next move will be? We can't wait around and wait for them to come up with another strike like this. It's too dangerous for muggles and for us as we risk exposing our whole world to the muggles this way." The other two men nodded in agreement with him as the studied a map of Hogwarts that Ron spread out before them.
"What do you have planned, Gigi?"
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Twilight felt as Shadow walked into Grimmauld, and frowned, totally not who she wanted to deal with at the moment. Her mate had to go back to the atrocious Dark said and leave her to take care of the rest after he's thoroughly scolded her on what she'd done to herself. Still she'd gotten to kiss him good-bye, and turned to leave before he could see the tears that has slipped down her cheeks. Running a hand through her blonde locks she prepared herself for a run in with one of the most annoying monarchs of her kind. Still she could not deny him an audience, she was far too young and not in her full role of Sight.
She flinched as her visions continued to assault her, visions of Pansy getting hurt, of Charis being sliced open, of Ron and Harry's separate anguish, of her mate's bloodshed, of Hermione's draining power to bring life, and Draco's fear as she disappeared. Still Irial intentionally shadowed her view of him but she smiled as she still caught a warmth of his violet orbs as he looked upon a healthy glowing Luna and a small flame-haired child. He could not hide all from her, Luna had as much a bond with her as Hermione did. The blind prophet was good and well, that comforted her to know as she was now the queen of nightmares, shadows, and all that came without he dark. Slipping into a slim silk dress that had lace decorating it, she felt antiquated today.
"Go away, Moody. I am in no mood for you or that damned Shadowed King today. I want to be alone." The door shut behind the cussed old man as he refused to leave.
Slamming the brush she'd been pulling through her hair onto the small vanity, she turned to him, glaring at his one-eyed stubbornness, "You can't mope all day, there's a damned war going on and you can't ignore that now in your state. Irial has only come to help you, he has had words with Sight so that you might be sparred some pain. He will be able to tell you how to control what you've put upon yourself. I told your little are not to go to extremes but you hard-headed lass just couldn't listen to me could you? I'm sure Zabini gave you a mouthful after he saw your state, I sure got an earful!" She rolled her eyes at the grumpy old man as he fussed at her, inside she was glad to have him as the grandfather-figure he was to her, considering her own grandfather ignored her at best. She stuck out her tongue at him and he clucked in indignation at her, "I have half that mind to teach you a lesson but you have enough to deal with the consequences of your decision. As right punishment, I'll send that king up now to see you."
Grimacing, she chose to not ignore his threats this time, "I'll go down with you you crotchety grumpy old man!"
Hurrying to the stairs she was caught by surprise as she almost ran headlong into the Lady of Calm. "Oh little sighted one, what have you done? Then this is why Shadow lurks in his impetuous corner downstairs then. He has come to deal with you. I shall come to help him then, I have attended to Charis and her mate." Taking to her namesake she glided down the steps with Twilight behind her as she glared at the woman's back, she couldn't hardly stand the woman, she was just too peaceful for her. She dreaded having to see the Dark King, he was sure to be in a right state, especially if she drew him away from Luna. Plus he'd had to consult her grandfather, Sight, he was not going to be happy about that, he looked young but he was one of the oldest of their kind and he hated talking to Sight. The old bugger always treated him as if he was nothing.
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Removing himself from the bed with his mate was one thing, but to leave her sleeping was another. He groaned at the thought of what he had to do, talking to the pompous old man was going to be an annoyance. Twilight would definitely owe him. SO owe him. Still Blaise had worried him as he talked about his mate as they had returned to these dungeon caverns that were their imprisonment. He needed to be sure the little sighted one would be able to handle what she'd brought upon herself. It could easily drive someone so young to insanity if she did not learn some type of control. The thought depressed him.
Slipping into some comfortable silk black pants he left his chest bare, he felt some pain from the High King through their bond. Pushing strength to him, he hoped all was well with the little Queen, the mortal immortal. Ah, Hermione, a decedent of the ether, of the immortal races, of magic.
Pressing a gentle kiss to his Faerie Queen's temple, he left for where he knew he'd find Sight now that Rosencrantz was gone. He dreaded going to America, especially to the South. It was a wonderful place once, when grandeur and grace had their place there. His mind drifted to days of Belles and balls, of dancing in swirls of skirts all around him as he led his next meal out onto a quiet balcony. It was such a time, sighing, he prepared to visit the South Carolina shores, now filled with tourists. Still Sight had kept his private plantation, so he'd not have to endure the crowds of imbecile mortals. Soon he saw the ranging home above him as he'd travelled through his shadows, breathing that honey-sweet smell of honeysuckle he stepped onto the grand porch, soon one of Sight stepped up to greet him. It was fun to play with these ones as he made nightmares and terrors dance across their visions, and the face went pale in horror as a mouth opened in a silent scream. Letting him go, he went through the wide french doors, heading towards a solarium in the back of the home.
Twilight had never been to her family home, no she'd known only Rosencrantz and the soft Southern manner of her parents for a short while, her grandfather was cold servility now. "You come on the behalf of my heir."
Irial felt like growling out that it was more than his heir apparent but his granddaughter who had inflicted an ancient ritual onto her skin to gain clarity, a clarity she wouldn't have wanted if she'd known what there was to see. "Yes, she has gained that clarity in her visions that is spoken of in ancient texts, that barbaric ritual that has been banned to all but the lead Royal of Sight. She is not yet prepared for such, as you were trained, she will go insane if something is not done for her control." The man looked out of visions Irial could only guess at as he returned to this reality.
The severe noble looked down at him with disdain, "You know what must be done now. I do not know why you have come to me with such a trivial matter, you are quite old enough now to have knowledge enough of the sighted. There are no other options, you know she must be bound until she takes the throne. Perhaps you should bind her to someone not as dark as yourself, your nature only encourages a sane insanity." He smirked at his own cruel joke, "Bind her to that of the High Clan. That little new queenling, the mortal immortal, she is Life is she not?"
That he'd already known, the insufferable man knew why he'd come, "You know I have no power to do this unless you shall grant it. She is yours, not mine. She belongs wholly to this court no matter how much I despise it."
"Oh, yes, it is granted… as long as you never claim what is hers as your own." Blaise….
Throwing the door open at Grimmauld without an invitation, the rooms grew gloomy around him. His shadows were thick and clinging to his body. Walking into the kitchen he found his favorite ginger sitting talking of plans. "What do you have planned, Gigi?" he purred as he planted himself on the arm of his chair, kissing his crown and playing his his fiery locks.
"I told you to stop calling me that." Ron sighed as he swatted the Dark King's hands away. "Moody, why don't you collect our in-house psychic? What are you here for Irial?"
Shadow smiled at him, "To help the little sighted one you just asked the cyclops to go get!" he ignored Ron's swatting and continued to play with Ron's hair, "Now what of the little Raven? How does she fair? Also my little Swallow, the chosen one has taken care of her?" Ron looked up at him and sighed, Luna's mate and their old ally was severely annoying when he wanted to be, Irial enjoyed teasing the ginger for his temper.
"Pan is fine, recovering upstairs, I'd suggest not going near Charis and Harry at the moment. Draco and Hermione are not here if you were going to ask. Twilight has been moping since she's retuned from the battlefield. Irial, will you stop fooling with my hair!" Smirking down at the red-head he shook his head no, but it was a problem that Hermione wasn't here, he needed the little High Queen to bind Twi. "You were little to no help in the last battle."
Taking offense the Dark King stood to move to a corner to sit and brood, "I can only do so much, I protected the little minx of Draco's when she was incapacitated from Bellatrix and Lucius. I helped Blaise as well to come down off his power high as he spread his black wings of death across the sky!" Pouting he noted as Ron rolled his eyes at him, mumbling about petulant kings. "I'm not petulant, I'm just saddened that you think I didn't help, Gigi." Then he felt Calm's presence and bristled, the woman creeped him out. Which was odd considering he was the Dark King, he should be the creepy one with his dark violet eyes, midnight hair, tribal markings, and odd dress as well as strikingly distinct dark demeanor.
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Harry woke up with his half-immortal curled up against him, he felt a bit weak, but that was probably from where she had taken blood from him, it really wasn't much worse than going to a muggle blood drive. Sleepily he played with her ebony waves of hair, twisting pieces around his finger. He brushed a tentative finger against her temple before lowering his lips to kiss her forehead. She looked so delicate to him, a small petite porcelain doll. The fact that she slept had shocked him every morning he awoke, yet looking out at the window he didn't see the rays of light or brightness that came with morning.
Then it all hit him at once, right in the gut that left him gasping. The battle. Charis being injured. His friends. Everything.
Then a hand touched his cheek drawing his worry from him and he saw the little bird was awake in his arms, and that he'd been clutching her tightly to her chest. "Do not worry yourself so, what shall be shall be, there is nothing we can change now. You are mine. I am yours. The battle is done and over with by now I'm sure." She whispered against his chest and he could feel her, a bond that stretched between them like a gossamer thread. It wasn't very strong, but still she was there.
Pushing hair from her face he took her lips in his and pulled away smiling, "You are mine. I am yours."
Next thing he knew there was a feral cry from downstairs and something charging up the stairs. Charis suddenly shoved him off the bed as she stood with the sheet clasped around her. His heart froze as he heard what sounded like the bedroom door being ripped from it's framing. Trying to stand his legs were tangled in the comforter, he reached for his wand on the nightstand. "Charis, just-" He was cut off as whatever had ripped away the door dodged his mate and pounced on him with all the viciousness of the immortal races. This one was familiar though as he blocked out Charis's cries and thanked whoever it was that was holding her back as Irial leaned over him fangs bared and ready to kill. "Iri? What the bloody hell?" He stammered out as his mouth began working again.
"I'll give you five seconds to tell me why you have her naked in your bed, no longer pure but half-mated to you, before I kill you with terrors you can't even imagine."
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Gathering his tiny mate into his arms he found it like picking up fragile crystal, so careful as she lay unconscious, her chestnut curls hanging over his arm as he held her to his chest. She seemed fine. Brushing a hand against her face sweeping away stray curls, wishing those golden eyes would open for him. He touched the book open on his father's desk, an old latin text. Odd this dark text wasn't here before, it was on ancient dark creatures. Shrinking it he slipped it into his pocket and then decided he needed to get his mate back to Grimmauld where Poppy could get a look at her. Her returned mortality scared him to his core, just as it had before, he feared for her life constantly.
Then he felt something pull on his and Iri's bond, a strong anger came rushing to him. Yes, getting back was urgently imperative. Pop.
Standing outside the front door, he let it bang open in front of him, and saw the house was in an uproar. Arthur saw him and quickly took, Hermione out of his arms as he explained, "Irial is trying to kill Harry over Charis. I'll get your little queen to Poppy, please help Twilight get the Shadowed one under control before he kills our only chance at winning this war." Draco bent kissed his minx's temple before jumping up the stairs.
"Don't worry Weasley, he's never let anything kill him before, a temperamental crazed vampire that's king of the Dark Clan is nothing to him."
Taking off towards all of the commotion he felt as one of his own threw herself against him crying and talking a mile a minute in her native language of Gaelic. Pushing her off of him he focused on the heated energy that darkened the room in front of him. He could smell on Charis why said Dark King was pissed off, it was Harry's own fault and Iri's for not controlling themselves. Catching Twilight as she bounced out of the room, she looked up blowing blonde strands out of mossy eyes. "The damned idiot is going to kill the other idiot, they're both putting Charis through enough. I'm going to strangle Iri first I think then put Harry through hell, it's only right. Oh, well, spread some light will you and get your Dark King under your control, he did offer his oath of fealty."
The room began to glow golden as he pushed the shadows back towards their master, he would deal with scolding the little sighted one next to him later. The room was in shambles as the two rolled across the bed. Iri landing hard enough to crack the wooden floor under him, Harry brandishing his wand as Iri had ahold of his wrist. The other hand escaped and landed a good hit on Iri's face if the man wasn't made of stone. Irial snapped at the hand with his fangs as he rolled on top of the man pressing nightmares against his opponent's mind. It was a damned bloody mess is what it was. Stomping over he jerked Harry off the Dark King and threw him to Twi. Then grabbed the Dark King around the waist as he tried to lunge after his enemy. "Calm, calm, this I command you." Irial begrudgingly relaxed against him muttering about damned-wizards-that-just-won't-die. "Now tell me what the hell is going on."
Slumping against him, Irial nuzzled his neck, "My swallow, my deifiúr… he's claimed her."
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Amata Mercy
Sorry about the long wait, so much going on with me, but remember Irial is Irish, check out what he said in his native tongue. I love this story so much, it's so complicated to write!
Hope you enjoyed it! R & R!