Life Renovations

Chapter Eighteen

House By The Sea

As soon as Harry felt his feet touch the ground, he pulled away from Draco and looked around the room. Draco let him. There were candles lit around the room already, casting a warm glow around the large bedchamber. One look out of the window told Harry that they were in a room on an upper floor of wherever they were and that the house was situated on a cliff with a fabulous view of the ocean. Under other circumstances, Harry would have paid closer attention to where he was, but he was so nervous he really didn't see anything except Draco and the large king sized bed that was on a raised dais. Harry immediately took a liking to that bed but he turned away from it to look out the window once more. He was so nervous his entire body was shaking with the nerves.

However, as soon as he felt Draco's hands on his back, the tension seemed to flow out of him and away. He raised his arms when he felt Draco lifting his shirt and was surprised when his mate merely threw the shirt on the floor. It was clear there was only one thing on Draco's mind at the moment; otherwise he would not have just thrown clothes on the floor. Harry had been the victim of Draco's lectures several times about leaving clothes just lying around.

Draco then took his hand and led him over to the bed where he gently laid his Gryffindor down and proceeded to kiss Harry's nerves away, while letting his hands do all the talking. There were no words spoken; there was no need for it. Everything they felt for each other was expressed plainly in their eyes, in every caress and kiss.

Harry sighed into Draco's mouth, loving the taste he found there and craving more of it. His fingers entangled themselves into the soft blond locks and began to kiss Draco ardently. "I can't get enough of you," he whispered into Draco's mouth.

Draco answered by moving faster and he made good time in removing Harry's shoes and pants. It was done so quickly that Harry hadn't even realized it happened until he felt a hand caress his bulging erection. He moaned and lifted his hips.

Draco grinned, sat back and started to unbutton the rest of his shirt. But Harry stopped him and lifted one finger to watch as the fingernail lengthened and sharpened. He placed it over the remaining buttons and dragged his finger down, ripping the fabric and sending buttons flying everywhere.

"Lucky I have two more of these shirts," Draco said easily as Harry pushed the shirt off his shoulders and ran his hands over Draco's chest, across his nipples, eliciting an excited gasp from the blond, before he draped himself over Harry to kiss him again. They both sighed at the contact of skin against skin. It was the most wonderful feeling either of them had felt before.

Draco began to lazily kiss Harry along the neck and he felt Harry begin to work on getting his pants off. Draco kicked his boots off, while continuing to taste Harry, his tongue now running across one of Harry's nipples, and down further until he had Harry writhing underneath him, begging for Draco to hurry up. But Draco wasn't called a bastard for nothing, and purposefully dragged it out and teased Harry throughout that time with his tongue.

"Draco…"

"Hush, Harry. I'm simply taking my time and being thorough…" Draco dipped his head and licked the tip of Harry's cock, and held Harry's hips down when the Gryffindor tried to arch up, cursing fluently into the air. Draco looked at Harry's dazed face and grinned and then dipped his head down to do it again, and he did it until Harry was promising retribution.

I promise you for thisss torture I will kill you.

"Love it when you talk like that," he growled before sucking on Harry's bottom lip. Harry bucked his hips again and growled when there was no contact.

"So if I talk to you in Parseltongue you'll stop fucking around?" Harry hissed back. Both of them were starting to display; their eyes, teeth, ears, and nails changing. It was nearly midnight, but Harry and Draco were unaware of any of this, they could only feel each other. Harry watched as his soon to be lover stood up to kick off the pants that had been hanging around Draco's ankles. He stepped out of his boxers and watched Harry with glowing silver eyes, as the Gryffindor hungrily traced the length of Draco's pale body with eyes that were glowing emerald-gold; his tongue wetting his lips and caressing the sharp points of his fangs. Draco groaned and returned to his mate. He had planned to do this slowly, but the creatures within them were in frenzy and Harry's impatience was hard to deny as well.

Draco bent forward and took the length of Harry into his mouth, sliding his tongue down the underside of Harry's cock, making Harry choke out a cry and dig his fingers into Draco's soft blond hair. And Merlin, Harry tasted so good! Draco lifted his head to look at Harry's face. He had his head buried back in the pillow, neck exposed to Draco, his eyes closed, and he was biting down on his lip hard enough for it to bleed and leave a trail of blood down his chin and the side of his neck. Draco moved forward to slowly lick away the blood trail, and then returned to his ministrations to Harry's cock. He didn't think he was going to last much longer with Harry acting like that and making those noises…and oh, Merlin, now Harry was begging…

"Draco, please. I can't wait anymore. I'm ready now."

"Not yet." Draco sat up and found his wand, murmuring a lubrication spell to lubricate his fingers, then he spread Harry's legs wider and slowly a finger inside, watching Harry's eyes widen with surprise, and then squeeze tightly closed when the finger began to stretch him. "It's okay, Harry. Relax. It'll get better," Draco promised as he entered another finger and then used his tongue to soothe the entrance.

"Oh, my God!" Harry jerked his hips and watched Draco smile at him before he went down on him again. He felt Draco's tongue lavishing his cock with complete attention even as Draco's fingers prepared him. When Draco entered a third finger, he hit a spot that made spots appear behind Harry's eyes. He nearly choked on his breath when Draco brushed against his prostate, and he came with a harsh cry, his hands reaching out and clinging to the head board as his hips pumped up, his come running down Draco's throat.

Harry didn't think he could feel anymore, but he soon learned he hadn't even begun to feel when Draco shifted over him and lifted his hips.

"Harry?"

Harry opened his eyes when he felt Draco pressing into him, and he lifted his hips to encourage Draco to go on. Draco sighed into Harry's mouth and lazily ran his tongue over Harry's teeth; tasting the roof of his mouth, engaging Harry's tongue in a slow dance to leave the Gryffindor in a dazed and relaxed state so that when he finally pushed into Harry, it didn't hurt so much.

Harry gasped into Draco's mouth and dug his long dangerous fingernails into Draco's back, undoubtedly leaving puncture wounds. In fact, Draco could feel the blood running down his back. He didn't care. All that mattered was Harry, who was now his lover and who was wrapped so tightly around him, whimpering into his mouth. Draco thrust in until he was buried all the way inside. He had to drop his head against Harry's neck to recover from the shuddering pleasure that was overtaking him.

"You okay?" Draco shifted and found that one spot that could make Harry immediately scream.

"God, Draco, yes!" Harry wrapped his legs around Draco in a vice grip. "Fucking move, you bastard!"

Draco bit Harry's neck and chuckled, "you get demanding in bed, Harry."

He reared back and began to thrust wildly into his mate, being driven on by Harry's urgent cries for more and the irritating thought at the back of their heads telling them that time was quickly running out; they wanted to experience as much as they could before the Inheritance would split them apart.

Draco moved his hands between the sweat slicked body and grasped Harry's half raised erection and pumped it in time with his own thrusts. "I can't…. I can't…" Harry tried telling Draco the pleasure was too much, but he could only gasp and lift his hips to receive each and every thrust from Draco.

The bond was opening up further for the transformation and they were feeling every single thing. Their senses were becoming extra sensitive and every kiss, caress, and thrust sent explosive bursts of pleasure through their bodies. Harry never before believed someone could die from pleasure but when he and Draco came together and light exploded behind his eyes he immediately changed his opinion.

Draco collapsed on top of Harry in a shuddering mass and Harry's trembling arms went around his back to lock his lover in place above him. They lay in a comfortable silence and Harry learned something about Draco that pleased him very much. Harry figured Draco would be the kind of bloke who didn't want to talk or bask in the aftermath of being intimate, but in fact, Draco was very expressive with his feelings for the moment and for Harry. He softly kissed Harry's face, continued to whisper his love in Harry's ear…it was exactly how Harry wanted to be treated by his partner after experiencing something so personal. He hadn't thought it was possible, but he found himself falling even more in love with Draco Malfoy.

Harry's wand started to glow red and then emit an annoying high pitched beeping noise that didn't seem like it was going to stop. Draco grabbed a pillow and tried to throw it over the offending wand, but his energy hadn't returned and the pillow dropped heavily to the floor half way to the wand. Harry started to laugh while tracing designs with his fingers on Draco's sweat slicked back.

"You throw like a girl."

"You couldn't do any better…" Draco said. He pulled out of Harry and fell onto his side, pulling Harry with him.

"Only five minutes until midnight," Harry said softly against Draco's shoulder. "You can't touch me when it happens. You know how dangerous that is…"

"I know," Draco sighed and pushed Harry's damp hair out his eyes. He wouldn't let Harry know, but he was starting to worry about tonight and it wasn't because he was worried about what they would turn into. Harry would be gaining his Inheritance, as well as an extra power fluctuation due to their transformations. Not many witches and wizards could take that much power and survive. And Harry was already very powerful. All that power coming into him at once could destroy his body.

Harry suddenly found himself in a massive hug, he was sure some of his ribs were cracking from the strength of Draco's embrace, and he would have mentioned that had Draco not been kissing him as if the world were about to end. Since Harry didn't have the energy or even the idea of pulling away, he let Draco kiss him until the blond suddenly pulled away.

"You're gonna need Pinkmoon…. I mean Bluemoon. We're going to need her! Get dressed!" Draco had rolled off the bed and found his boxers, shooting a scourgify at himself and Harry. Since Harry had no idea why Draco was in a hurry, he was lazy about getting up and dressed. He only had his boxers on when Draco was already in his pants and picking up his shirt.

Draco was cursing himself. No one knew where they were. No one would guess! He was the only one who knew about it, except for his father, but Draco didn't think Lucius even remembered that one visit from the solicitor while he'd been imprisoned. But perhaps his father might have remembered…. Draco cursed and ran his fingers through his hair. He'd only wanted to be alone with Harry, and he never thought about anything else…how could he be so stupid?

Harry was standing near the bed, watching Draco with a worried expression on his face. Draco clenched his fists against the worry battering inside him for his mate. Even if he did find Bluemoon, there was nothing she or anyone could do for Harry until it was all over, and by then it would be too late. No one was supposed to touch a witch or wizard during the time they gained their Inheritance. Friends and family of some have died because they tried to touch and soothe the wizard or witch that was in pain.

Draco took a couple steps towards Harry, and hesitated. "Harry…you…"

"I know what might happen," Harry said coming over to him. "Nothing we can do about it, right? Besides, do you really think I'm supposed to go out like that? Not likely." Harry touched Draco's hand to soothe him but the blond jerked his hand away once he touched him.

"Draco? Wha-"

"You're hot! You're hand just bloody burned me!" Draco started at the red blister on his arm. "Oh Merlin, it's starting." He looked up into Harry's scared eyes.

Harry began backing away. "I'm sorry, Draco. I didn't mean-" Harry began timidly, and flinched when Draco snapped at him.

"Shut up, you stupid Gryffindor! It wasn't your fault." Now was not the time for Harry to have a flashback attack. "It's all right. It's the Inheritance." He managed that more calmly.

Harry was staring at his hands when all the lights went out and they were surrounded by dark silence. Even the sound of their breathing and the beating of their hearts had been muted. For several seconds nothing else happened. And then the rumbling started; a rumbling noise like high waves rushing to the beach.

Sound suddenly exploded around them. It sounded like the strike of lightening to Draco who threw his hands over his ears. And then the light hit, spearing down from the sky in a fiery red blaze. Draco needn't have worried about anyone finding them; they would probably be here in minutes. He quickly made his way to the window, only sparing a second to glance out and away from Harry. The light was high over Britain. He wondered how the Ministry was going to explain it to the Muggles because Draco was sure anyone outside who was looking would see this particular light of Inheritance.

The light poured into Harry as he stood there motionless. His eyes were wide and unblinking, and staring at the spot where Draco had been before he moved to the window. Draco had never witnessed an Inheritance before and his was still a month away so he wasn't sure Harry was reacting the way he should. He seemed frozen like stone.

"Harry?"

Draco started to walk a circuit around his mate. Nothing was happening, at least not physically. They'd gone back to their original forms directly after mating, so now it was only Harry's lithe form standing frozen in the center of the light coming down on him. Harry hadn't moved fast enough to get completely dressed; leaving him only in boxers. His skin was sill tanned… Draco was happy to note he'd gained some weight though…

Harry moved then, his body jerking twice before slowly dropping to his knees. He started to tremble and Draco saw him clenching his jaw tight against the pain slamming into him. "Harry…" Draco whispered helplessly.

He couldn't feel the pain Harry was going through, not through the bond. They were cut off from each other's feelings. But not thoughts apparently because he could still hear Harry screaming in his head. The red beam began to dim and the circle around Harry grew smaller until it was just large enough for Harry's form. The light changed; blackness came down and slammed into Harry, covering him in some dark poisoned mist. Harry began to scream out loud then and he fell over onto his back in agony.

"Harry!"

Draco sank to his knees; tears running down his face as he watched his lover's body fill with too much too quickly; causing Harry to twist and spasm all over the place in his pain.

"I can't do this! I can't just stand here!" he hissed after several more minutes of watching his mate writhing in torturous pain. Harry's screams were turning into pain wracking sobs now and it was killing Draco.

"No, Draco. Don't. Stay away." Harry's voice was a hoarse whisper and he started to push himself back away from Draco, though he wasn't getting very far as he had no energy to really move.

Draco choked up on a retort when pain lanced through his stomach and he dropped to his knees, and sweeping his arms around his waist. He'd completely forgotten about the transformations. Seems that was starting now. The moment the pain let up, Draco continued towards Harry, crawling on his hands and knees.

Draco! Stop. Harry couldn't go anywhere else. He'd backed himself into a corner, the blood red light following him. Draco was almost to him and he had the determined look in his eye. "No, Draco…" he pleaded even as he felt Draco embrace him in his strong arms and Harry immediately felt immense relief.

"Idiot," Draco groaned out before they were both over taken by the pain and a brilliant green light encompassed them, blinding them from the outside world.

"They are not at Malfoy Manor nor are they here," Severus announced to the surrounding group made up by Lucius, Sirius, Amortia, and himself. Lucius paced by him again and Severus had to resist reaching out, grabbing onto the end of Lucius' long hair and dropping him to the floor.

"It's five past midnight. Surely it has started by now," Lucius said and continued his pace up and down the corridor of Snape Manor.

The amount of alcohol he had unwisely ingested was doing its trick, and he was allowing everyone to see just how worried about Draco he was. Sirius could not turn a blind eye to this. It was rare for Luce to show his true feelings regarding those he cared about. "They know better than to try and ease the others pain by touching, don't they Severus? Surely Draco would know better than to try…" He finally came to a stop and looked at Severus pleadingly.

"They are both aware of the consequences of doing such a thing," Severus said.

"Stop worrying, Malfoy," Sirius said, coming to stand in front of Lucius and smirking at him, "Harry won't allow your idiot son to put himself in harm's way. Harry would rather die than to see Draco hurt. Stop your bitching already."

Severus snorted and sent a rare nod of approval Black's way.

"What did you say to me?" Lucius hissed, inwardly surprised when he caught a twinkle in Sirius' eyes.

"You heard me, Luce. Get over it."

Lucius' eyes widened and his lips formed a thin line. Sirius saw the anger blazing in Lucius' gray eyes and wondered if he would lose it in front of everyone. Sirius always had been good at getting Lucius so worked up he forget his Malfoy training.

"I think we've found them!" Hermione called as she ran up to them. "But we better hurry. We're not the only ones who know now."

Hermione led them out of the manor and pointed up into the sky where a glowing red light was shooting up towards the stars from somewhere in the east. "It must be Harry's Inheritance."

"It is imperative we get there before Dumbledore does," Severus said.

"That's only half our problem," Amortia said. "We need to get there before the Muggles do and inadvertently make things worse."

"But how do we get there? We can't use brooms; that will take too long. And we can't Apparate because we don't have an exact location."

Lucius' brows were drawn together. "Great Yarmouth is in the east, yes?" he started to mutter to himself until his face was filled with comprehension. "Draco bought a property in Great Yarmouth last summer." He spun to glare at Severus. "When I was in Azkaban. I was only told once when the sale went through. My solicitor thought I should know but as that was the beginning of my incarceration I put it out of my head until now."

Sirius snorted. "Your time was nothing."

"We can get into that argument later, wizards," Amortia said in a firm voice. "Do you have a location, Lucius?"

"Yes." And he proceeded to describe the location of the property. A piece of property he had yet to lay eyes on.

"Is that dark magic?" Hermione asked and pointed at the shortening beam of light again. As it disappeared down, the bright red light turned dark as blood until it was almost hard to see if you hadn't been looking there in the first place.

"It is something dark. It must be the power of the creatures they become. Let's go." Severus grabbed Hermione's arm, much to her consternation, and Apparated. Sirius, Lucius, and Amortia followed.

"This is nice, Lucius. You let your son buy this?"

"No, I did not. He did this behind my back," Lucius spit as they all stared up at the cliff side house that apparently belonged to Draco Malfoy. The black light was now disappearing and from the window of the tower room, a bright green light speared out through the darkness. From down below Severus, Sirius, Amortia, Lucius, and Hermione heard Harry and Draco screaming in pain, and then it just stopped.

"Something's happening!" Hermione yelled behind her, and then bolted into the house without waiting to see if she were followed. She raced up the two flights of stairs to the tower, and it wasn't too difficult to spot which room they were in, because the glowing green light was escaping the room from the crack at the bottom of the door.

She pushed on the door and it was very difficult to open as if she were pushing against an immense pressure. She'd only been able to get it cracked open when Lucius pushed her aside and he and Sirius gave it a go with their shoulders.

"We could try blasting the door…" Sirius panted after he and Lucius weren't able to do any more than Hermione had.

"Yes, let's introduce some more magic to the magic already swirling around inside the room. I'm sure that will have positive results," Severus sneered.

"Hermione. You can fit through that crack. You check and tell me what's happening." Amortia ordered and was immediately obeyed. Hermione squeezed herself past the sliver of opening and immediately fell to her knees under the pressure of Harry and Draco's magic building up around them. She dragged her head up and caught sight of where the green light was originating. Hermione gasped and crawled back out into the hall, where Severus helped her to her feet.

"They're together," she panted and leaned against the wall. "Together and the magic is too much in there."

"What do you mean together? They're in the same room?" Amortia asked. Hermione nodded and then shook her head.

"Draco has his arms wrapped around Harry. They didn't keep away from each other."

"Fools!" Severus hissed, and he, Lucius, and Sirius redoubled their efforts to get the door open.

"Do you think it's safe to go in there? Will they be okay?" Hermione asked the Healer.

"I don't know, Hermione."

"Got it!" Sirius exclaimed as he and Lucius fell into the room when the door swung in; the pressure suddenly vanishing. "Malfoy, get off!"

"Maybe I would if we had a little more time, Siri."

Amortia snorted as she and Hermione passed the two on the floor. Severus looked down and sneered at them. "Really, Lucius? You're as bad as Draco. Perverse, the both of you."

Lucius smirked and slowly dragged himself off the stiff Gryffindor. Once Lucius was off him, Sirius scowled and sat where he was, watching the green glowing young men in trepidation. Amortia and Severus stood as close as they dared to be and discussed the situation.

"One of them disrupted the Inheritance," Amortia murmured, looking down at the two unconscious wizards.

"It would have been Draco."

"Yes. It must have been very hard for him to stand by and watch. Harry would have been in immense pain and unable to really move. But at least they are both alive."

Their eyes were open and you could see them breathing. But their eyes were glazed over and they didn't blink or move in any way, and as Amortia and the others watched, a silver ribbon of magic materialized and swirled over the transforming wizards' heads; it swirled around and in between them. The small ribbon separated and passed into their heads, making the young wizards loose whatever consciousness they had left. They were then lifted off the ground by some unseen force and separated a few feet apart, and the silver ribbon coiled around each wizard's body.

"The Inheritance is over. The transformations are beginning," Amortia explained.

Severus felt a little tension leave him. "Harry survived the Inheritance then…" It was clear he did as he was still breathing. It was then Lucius and Sirius moved closer.

"Your son may have saved Harry's life by interfering with the Inheritance," Amortia said to Lucius. "The power they are receiving now would have killed him. I didn't think I would need to worry you about that, because I didn't think they could possibly gain this much power…" she explained waving a hand towards the silver ribbons.

"How do you know it would have killed Harry? How can you tell they are getting power now?" Sirius asked and moved closer.

Amortia moved around the bodies and pointed. "The silver ribbon has multiplied and several are weaving in and out of both their bodies. That is the power. The strength of the creature power is indicated by its color. Silver being the second highest-"

"Look!" Hermione interrupted and pointed to Draco. "They're growing!"

"Draco more than Harry." Sirius turned to Severus. "He's not going to be happy about that. Harry hates that he's short."

"Harry's not short. He's the perfect height," Hermione defended. "Draco won't let him get all that depressed about it."

They watched as Harry and Draco's hair began to grow as well. It grew until there was a curtain of blond and ebony hair brushing against the floor. Hermione's eyes widened. Harry and Draco were on their backs hovering at least four feet in the air.

"That really is long hair," She whispered.

Sirius suddenly turned to the door and pointed his wand at it. "Dumbledore is here," he hissed to Lucius. Severus and Lucius moved to stand beside Sirius.

Hermione drew her wand and moved closer to her boys. She looked down quickly and saw Harry's face was becoming more angular and his features were softening. He still looked like himself, yet he was very fair now, more feminine, and with that long dark hair and the pointed ears…hang on! Pointed ears? Hermione bent forward to get a better look. The book she found in the library regarding the Ukatae did not have a picture or any illustrations of what the Ukatae looked like, and she hadn't had enough time to look up a picture. Hermione was startled because she recognized what they were.

"The Ukatae are elves!" she exclaimed, astonished that her favorite fairy tale creatures actually did exist.

"Well yes…" Amortia began in a tone that suggested she knew everything there was to know about the Ukatae. Hermione had to bite her tongue from saying something that might offend the nice Death Eater.

"But I didn't know these elves really existed. When everyone says elves, I assume they are speaking about House Elves. But they are turning into Elves like the ones from Tolkien's books-"

"Ah yes. I've read those books. Very clever, for a muggle." Hermione's eyes widened. "And yes, the Ukatae do resemble them in certain aspects, and yet they aren't as tame as they are portrayed by most muggles. The Ukatae do have dark natures…"

"How do you mean?" Hermione turned to Amortia. "They won't be themselves anymore? Is that what you're saying? They'll become these mindless dark creatures who only thrive in chaos and destruction?"

"Clearly, Hermione, you've been reading too much fiction. Nothing is ever as black and white as books portray things. Otherwise I wouldn't have the mark of the Dark Lord, would I? Don't worry. I doubt their dispositions will change…much." Amortia turned back to study Harry and Draco, and left Hermione with a mind that was not eased.

"Hermione! Send a Patronus message to the twins and Charlie as well," Severus said. "Also have Molly notified about exactly what is going on here. We'll want her on our side for this. We can't call Remus, as it's the full moon."

Hermione nodded and went to the window to send out the messages and after a moment's hesitation, she sent out one last message. And in doing so, she thought she had lost her mind. But it never hurt to cover all the bases.

"Dumbledore has sealed us in. No one can Apparate in or out," Lucius said.

"Fine then. We'll seal ourselves in this room until Harry and Draco are stable. We can't do much of anything until the transformations are finished and if they survive, we have enough potions to help them recover."

"So we're just going to tuck in and wait?" Sirius rounded on Severus, incredulity written all over his face.

"We can't do much now and risk Harry and Draco getting hurt in the cross fire," Lucius said, appearing at the Animagus' shoulder. "Hopefully the Weasleys can round up some support for us."

"Do you know how odd it is to hear you say that?" Sirius asked.

"Imagine how I feel saying it." Lucius half grinned at him, and he thought Sirius was going to respond with a grin of his own, but Severus always seemed to have spectacular timing.

"Can you help me with these wards or shall we all lay in wait for Dumbledore to burst down the door?" the Potion Master asked, his silken voice laced with venom. Sirius turned away from Lucius and the blond sent a glare Severus' way.

"Come, Hermione. Let's help them. The stronger the wards, the longer we all stay safe," Amortia said, tapping Hermione on the shoulder as she passed.

It took a very long and strenuous twenty minutes to erect the wards around the room, and by the time they were finished, all of them were panting and Hermione had to sit down and rest her head on her knees. Dumbledore had been trying to keep them from raising protection around the room, and though he was far more powerful than those in the room, Hermione knew that she and her fellow witch and wizards were powerful when combining their magic. Which was how they were finally able to raise all the wards.

"We're safe for now," Lucius said as he tucked his wand away and walked over to the softly glowing Ukatae.

"That's good. I don't think I could be of any use now." Hermione wiped her arm across her sweating brow and took a deep breath. She looked up again to see a hand stretched out in front of her. She recognized those fingers. She dreamed about those long precise fingers before.

Hermione closed her eyes, begging the humiliation to leave with the man in front of her. How dare he act as if nothing happened! As if he had never said the most hurtful things to excuse his behavior. To even go so far as to call her an impressionable child who didn't know better. Ha!

Her eyes snapped open and she pushed his hand away. "I don't need your help, thank you." Hermione managed to stand without making a fool of herself and crossed the room to hide beside Amortia. The moment she looked down at Harry and Draco, the Potions Master was forgotten.

"Merlin, they look beautiful and…well…" Hermione cocked her head to the side, studying her unconscious friends, trying to come up with a word that described what she was thinking. Only she didn't exactly know how she would describe the feeling she got from looking at the elves. At least, she hadn't known how to describe it until Harry and Draco opened their eyes and everyone could see the power swimming behind them.

"They look dangerous," Lucius supplied for her, and she nodded. That was exactly right. Draco and Harry had a beauty that was hard to turn from but that beauty was also treacherous and anyone looking in their eyes could see that. And all this was without them displaying. Hermione wondered how a complete transformation would look on them.

"Will it be over soon?" she asked.

"SEVERUS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE UP THIS RIDICULOUS STANDOFF." Dumbledore's voice boomed around them. Seems the headmaster preferred to use the Sonorous spell rather then yelling through the door this time. At least he'd moved out of the house. "I ONLY HAVE HARRY AND MR. MALFOY'S BEST INTENTIONS IN MIND. WE MUST SEE THAT THEY REMAIN SAFE."

"I can't believe he thinks we could still fall for this shite!" Sirius said as he stormed to the window. He then threw it open, breaking the wards that had been placed there. "Power!" he shouted out. "That's all you want! MORE POWER!"

"Sirius!" Amortia and Lucius hurried over and pulled Sirius away from the window just as an Auror under Dumbledore's control sent a blasting curse at him and exploded the window. Hermione gasped when she was hit with flying debris. Amortia hurried over to her.

"A piece of glass in your cheek. Hold still, love." The Healer extracted the piece of glass and healed the shallow wound. After the explosion, Severus quickly repaired the window and sealed it shut.

"Moron!" the Potions Master shouted at Sirius. "Utter imbecile!" Sirius opened his mouth to explain, but then they all heard a voice that had scared each of them a time or two.

"ALBUS DUMBLEDORE! JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Molly Weasley's voice carried all the way up to the tower room and she wasn't even using the Sonorus spell. "YOU CAN'T INTERRUPT AN INHERITANCE! IT'S AGAINST WIZARDING LAW, AS YOU WELL KNOW!"

Lucius crept up to the window and looked out, and then he started to laugh. He began laughing so hard he had to clutch at his sides. Hermione was flabbergasted. She'd never seen Lucius Malfoy laugh before in utter hysterics.

"She doesn't do things by half! Merlin, she's brought an army of Auror's. Including Shacklebolt. He doesn't look happy with Dumbledore at all."

Severus sidled up and peered out as well. "Yes, but after this is over, how do we escape from the army of Aurors?"

"Fred, George, and Charlie may give us a distraction to get away," Hermione offered, standing back from the window. She didn't fancy getting more glass impaled into her skin.

"That will not work a second time. Too many people now," he replied. Hermione thought he was right, but she knew that they might have more help if her message was received kindly.

Another hour passed. The twins and Charlie arrived, but they couldn't do much as the house was sealed tight, so Fred and George spent their time annoying the Aurors with their pranks. Most of the time they just ran away from the Aurors who had fallen victims to their fun. Charlie spent his time speaking to his mother and Shacklebolt trying to convince both of them that Harry and Draco were safer away from Dumbledore and that no one in the house had any intention of causing any harm.

Hermione sat on the floor near where Harry and Draco were hovering. She was very tired and her spot on the floor was uncomfortable. She looked at the raised king size bed in longing. There were two reasons why she refused to go lay there like Sirius, and even Severus had suggested.

The first was because Severus suggested it, and she knew that was immature, but it was two a.m. and her head was groggy from all the alcohol she consumed earlier, so she really wasn't concerned about how she was acting. And the second reason why she refused the bed was because it was obvious Harry and Draco had used it just before the Inheritance started, and…. she just wasn't going to go there.

"Dumbledore's gone," Sirius said from his position by the window. "Molly's still waiting; Kingsley and his men as well. We don't have to fight Dumbledore but we may have to fight the Aurors."

"I don't think I can do that. I don't think I can attack Aurors," Hermione said.

"You will not need to," Lucius said to her. He was firmly planted in a very nice plush chair that he found in a corner of the room and refused to give it up for either Amortia or Hermione. "You can be on the defensive. Cover us while we make a break for it. And I wouldn't be so quick to think Dumbledore is gone," he said to Sirius. "He's not going to give up. He needs Harry and Draco out of the way before they can get to Hogwarts. It will not be so easy to deal with them there. Time is slipping away from him."

Hermione nodded, but wasn't entirely reassured. The prospect of having to defend herself against trained Aurors was daunting. Then again, these were Aurors, not Death Eaters. The Aurors will probably only use stunning spells against them. She saw Severus bend down to say something in Lucius' ear, and the blond man nodded. Hermione frowned. The Aurors would not shoot stunners at Lucius Malfoy, that was certain, and they probably wouldn't be very kind to Severus either, as no one really ever trusted him. So now she sat there stewing in more worry.

Another hour and half passed and everyone was still and quiet. Hermione was lightly dozing on a cot she transfigured after remembering she was a witch and could do that. She sat up and was immediately alert when someone made a hissing noise. All three Death Eaters were gripping their arms.

Hermione gasped and stood up quickly, grinning. "Does that mean he's here? I sent him a message, but I wasn't sure if he would want to help." She ran over to the window and looked out, hoping her actions wouldn't end up leaving people harmed.

"Does that mean who's here?" Lucius asked curiously.

"I sent a message to…" Hermione turned when the wards trembled and the door opened. "Oh, you came! I wasn't sure you'd even take my message!"

Voldemort glided into the room and shut the door behind him. Did he come alone? Hermione wondered. Amortia, Severus, and Lucius immediately lowered to one knee to bow to their Dark Lord.

"Of course I would take your message, Miss. Granger. It sounded most urgent."

"It is sir!" Hermione hurried forward towards the Dark Lord, much to everyone's surprise. Sirius jumped forward before she could get any closer to Voldemort and pulled Hermione back.

"Hermione," he spoke slowly so she could understand every word. "That is You-Know-Who. As in Lord Voldemort. What in the hell do you think you're doing looking happy to see him?"

"But he came to help." Hermione peered around Sirius' tall form and looked at Voldemort. "You did come to help, didn't you?"

"Of course. I have a vested interest in these young wizards' health and it would do me no good if my partners are in harm's way."

Hermione nodded and moved around to stand beside the Dark Lord while he inspected the softly glowing Ukatae.

"Why doesn't she have to bow to him?" Lucius whispered to Severus. He didn't get an answer, as his friend was too busy staring stupefied at Hermione and the Dark Lord as they discussed Harry and Draco's condition. Sirius was in a state of shock.

"Thank you for telling me about the Ukatae. I would never have found it otherwise."

"I assumed as much. Your educations are sadly lacking these days."

"Mr. Malfoy has given me permission to study his Dark Art books," she said. She nearly shuddered at the astonishment of the moment. She was having a pleasant conversation with Voldemort.

"It is good that you are keeping an open mind, Miss. Granger."

Hermione nodded, and looked up at the hooded figure. "You as well, sir." Voldemort nodded that he understood her meaning and then they went back to looking at Harry and Draco's forms.

"Well this is just… Mental! I'm going mad—more so since Azkaban wasn't exactly kind to me—Hermione Granger called on You-Know-Who for help! This is insane!" Sirius was pacing back and forth, his hands permanently planted in his hair. "And what do you mean partners?" he shouted as he spun back around.

"Go calm him down before I kill him," Severus said to Lucius before moving to hover near Hermione since she insisted standing next to the Dark Lord. It wasn't that he didn't trust Voldemort with the muggleborn… He just didn't trust the Dark Lord.

Lucius cornered Sirius and pressed him into a corner. "Calm down and listen. The Dark Lord, Harry, and Draco made an alliance and they each took a Wizarding Oath." Sirius' mouth dropped open. "Yes, they are partners now. Hermione was smart to call him here. His power has grown and he can help us get away from the Aurors and Dumbledore. He needs Harry and Draco so he will use all of his considerable power to help keep them safe. Understand now, Siri?"

It took a moment for the Animagus to get over the shock and pick his bottom lip off the floor. "Yeah, I got it." Sirius tried moving away because Lucius was pressing against him but his back was pressed solidly to the wall already. "You don't have to stand so close."

"But I want to," Lucius replied and shifted against the Gryffindor. Sirius gripped Lucius' hips to keep the other man from moving and enticing him further.

"I…hum. Er…help?" Sirius was looking around for someone to help him, but no one was paying attention. Just when he was about to despair because Lucius didn't look like he planned to move, someone knocked on the door. Lucius moved away and four wands were immediately pointed at the door. Hermione and Voldemort were the only ones to keep their wands tucked away.

"Hello?" there was another knock on the door. Hermione recognized the voice as Molly Weasley's. "I've brought you all some food and pumpkin juice. Hello? I promise I'm alone. I don't want anything to happen to Harry or Draco, and Kingsley is keeping Dumbledore away."

"I don't think we should trust her," Lucius said.

"Don't be ridiculous," Severus said. "Molly loves Harry. He's practically her son."

"I think we should let her in," Hermione said, then she looked at Voldemort. "Sir?"

"By all means, let's make a party of it."

Hermione's eyes went wide. Voldemort sounded amused. "Are you having fun, sir?"

"I am, Miss Granger. Besides, she can do no harm. I set personal wards and boundaries around the house. No one who intends to cause harm to any here will be able to pass those wards."

"Wonderful! I'll go and let her in then," Hermione said as she approached the door. But just before she opened it, she turned back to look at the Dark Lord. "Oh and sir?" he nodded for her to continue. "Try not to scare her."

"I will do my best, Miss Granger."

"I think I'm dying from shock," Sirius muttered as Hermione unlocked the door and quickly went out into the hall.

"Mrs. Weasley. I'm so glad to see you. Thank you so much for bringing the Aurors. I don't know what would have happened if Dumbledore was able to get to Harry and Draco."

"It's alright, love. Many of us have begun to see the error of our ways." Molly smiled then gave the young witch a hug. "I'm very happy to see you're well."

"Oh, yes. Very well."

"That's good then. Shall we go in? I'm anxious to see how the boys are doing." Molly began to bend down to pick up the parcels of food and drink she'd brought and Hermione bent down to help. There looked to be enough food to feed all of them in the room, plus the Aurors outside with food left to spare.

"Mrs. Weasley? Before we go in, I think it's only fair that I warn you…."

"What is it? Has something happened to Harry?"

"No I think Harry will be fine. They are still going through the transformations."

"Transformations? What do you mean?"

Hermione looked at the Weasley matriarch oddly, and then her eyes narrowed. "Were you not told about Harry and Draco's bond?"

"Certainly. We heard they bonded themselves."

"No, Mrs. Weasley. Fate bonded them. They are soul mates, and that is what their bond is. They have a Magical Creature Soul Mate bond. They are turning into rare magical beings."

Molly Weasley's mouth dropped open in shock. "What?" she sputtered. "That's not what Dumbledore says."

"He's lying then. But you can come in and see for yourself. What I wanted to warn you about is that we have some Death Eaters inside and…." Hermione took a deep breath and was prepared to cover her ears in case Molly decided to use her outside voice again. "And Voldemort is here as well."

"WHAT?"

"But not to worry! He's on our side. Well…more like we're on his side… or something like that. It's complicated right now. Not everything has been clarified." She placed her hand on Molly's back because the older witch looked like she may faint. "Just know that you are not in danger from him. I promise. I've been speaking to Voldemort. He's not so bad now that he has regained his mind. Come in and see." And before Molly could object, Hermione gently pushed her into the room and locked the door behind her once she'd followed.

Molly was rooted to the spot just inside the door. Hermione smiled reassuringly to her as she passed. Sirius hurried over and wrapped a reassuring arm around Molly and led her over to the boys who were still surrounded by a soft green glow. When she was close enough, Molly gasped.

"As I live and breathe. I never thought I would ever see a real Ukatae! This is just amazing!" Molly had the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "Oh, just look how beautiful they are."

"You are aware of the Ukatae, Mrs. Weasley? This surprises me," Voldemort said from a few feet away.

Molly turned towards his voice with a hard stare and swallowed her fear. "Why? Because I chose to stay home and raise my children? Do you think mothers like me have no intelligence?"

"No, I-"

"Do you know how hard it is to raise children? When they come home, my children continue to learn. An intelligent mind is important and I know that!"

"I was only-"

"When I was at Hogwarts I was at the top of my class! I probably know things you couldn't even imagine, Mr. Dark Lord! I'll have you know I wrote a twenty foot essay on ancient magical beings and received top marks!"

Voldemort remained silent, as did everyone else. Everyone except the two speaking were having a hard time trying to keep from laughing at the absurdity of having Molly Weasley berating Voldemort as if he were one of her own children. Even Voldemort didn't know how to react. He'd never had a mother so this was a new experience for him. He didn't have any ill feelings towards the woman, which was strange. A month ago he wouldn't have hesitated to kill the witch for her impudence. But now all he felt was confusion and a fear that if he began to speak again, the berating would continue and he would rather have his ears boxed.

"Madam, I assure you. I was not implying that you lacked intelligence. I was merely surprised. Not many people know about the Ukatae because they are harshly secretive and are reported to be nearly extinct. There are only a few in number left…." He stopped when Mrs. Weasley pinned him with a stare that made him want to step back.

"Are you really You-Know-Who?" she asked him, walking a few steps closer until they were nearly toe-to-toe.

"Molly, what are you doing?" Sirius hissed. "What is wrong with Gryffindor witches these days? Why must you get so close to him?"

"Yes, I am Lord Voldemort."

"Well then…" Molly took a very deep breath before releasing it. "Shame on you! Do you know how hard it is to keep all my children safe from you and your followers? I've nearly had several mental breakdowns, I've been worried so much about my family! And now Ginny insists on staying with Harry and Draco at Malfoy Manor where I know you reside, despite what Charlie and Severus tried to tell me." Here she sent Severus a quelling stare.

"We have been safe, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione said as she went about setting up a table for all the food and drink. "By the way, do you still have that essay? I would very much like to read it."

"Of course, dear! I'll owl it to you tomorrow." Molly nodded to Voldemort then went over to help Hermione.

"Severus."

Severus came to stand beside Voldemort. "My Lord?"

"That was very disconcerting. Is she always like that?"

"Ah, yes. She rules her family with an iron fist."

"That's wrong, Severus," Molly said, having heard the exchange. "It's with an iron skillet!"

Hermione snickered and ignored the look Severus gave her. Amortia, who was keeping a constant eye on the boys, suddenly rose from her position on the ground near them. "The transformations are over," she announced.

Everyone turned to look just in time to see the green glow disappear. A moment later, Harry and Draco were lowered to the ground. Harry lay perfectly still and his eyes were closed; he didn't look like he was breathing. Draco's eyes closed briefly but it appeared he would wake soon because his eyelids began to flicker.

"Amortia, check Harry now," Severus said, his concern evident in the trembling of his voice. Amortia had just begun to bend over Harry when Draco's eyes popped open and they immediately zeroed in on the witch hovering over his mate. In a move so quick that no normal person could have possibly managed, Draco was on his feet with Amortia's robes gripped tightly in his clawed hands. He lifted her a good three feet off the ground and snarled in her face, displaying those sharp fangs.

"Everyone remain calm," she said softly, staring into swirling silver eyes that hardly resembled Draco's anymore. "He's only protecting his mate."

"But we need to see if Harry is alright," Hermione whispered.

Amortia shook her head slightly. "You do not want to agitate him. He's capable of slaughtering us all in the blink of an eye and he will do so if he thinks we're trying to harm his mate… Draco," the Healer said quietly, in a soothing voice. "May I see your mate? I just want to check to make sure he's all right. I promise I mean him no harm."

"Do not touch him," he growled. "No one touches him. He's mine."

"Yes, Harry is yours. He belongs to you. But Draco, we need to make sure he has survived his Inheritance," Amortia replied in a calm manner that she certainly did not feel. Amortia could feel the danger pouring off the Slytherin in waves and a person would have to be brain dead to not feel the slightest bit of fear. The Ukatae were deadly when they wanted to be and that danger did not come from a wand.

"Draco, please." Hermione stepped into Draco's line of vision slowly, and his silver eyes followed her every movement. "Draco, you know me right? You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt your Harry. But he's my friend too and I want to make sure he's okay." It was a moment before Draco reacted, but slowly he lowered Amortia to the ground. Hermione smiled and moved to place a reassuring hand on Draco's arm. "Can we check him?"

Draco's eyes reverted back to normal. "Hermione?" the blond stumbled back as he got control of himself. He would have fallen had Lucius and Sirius not been there to catch him. "Please make sure he's okay."

Amortia nodded and began her tests. Hermione moved over to sit beside Draco and drew the blond into her arms so that he was leaning back against her chest.

"Draco, how do you feel?"

"I feel different. My body aches and my head is heavy."

"That's probably because you've grown several inches and your hair has grown down to your calves," Severus said as he knelt in front of him.

"What?"

"Here, look," Hermione pushed him a little away so that she could gather his hair, and oh! How soft it was! She moved his hair over his shoulder and he took it, staring at it in horror.

"But it's too long! I can't wear my hair like this! I'll be a laughing stock!"

Several people in the room rolled their eyes.

"Calm down. It can be cut," Severus pulled some potions from his robes and handed them to Draco before moving over to Harry. He stopped two feet short when Draco began to growl again. "I'm not going to touch him. Amortia?"

"He's alive. He's merely sleeping. His body probably needs to rest; recuperate from the Inheritance and transformation. You saved his life Draco."

"Of course I did. I told him I would. He's mine to save while he saves all your arses. Now step away from him." Draco moved over to Harry and scooped him up into his arms and then carried his mate bridal style to the bed. He waved a hand, and the bed was cleaned and remade.

"He did wandless magic without breaking a sweat," Sirius murmured. "I've only seen Harry do that but he'd always had to concentrate first…"

"The Ukatae are very powerful, Sirius. Dark elves do not need to use wands," Molly said as she watched Draco lovingly tuck Harry into bed before climbing in beside him. "Their magic is more like mage magic."

"Hermione, do you have that book with you?" Draco asked.

"Of course. I always take books with me when I plan to attend a party." She was being sarcastic but most of the people in the room looked as if they thought she did exactly that. "Oh come on! I'm not that bad!"

"Fine then, come over here and tell me about what we are."

"Looks like we're going to be here longer than we'd hoped. Draco will not be taking any chances with Harry. He'll keep him here until he is sure Harry is completely well," Voldemort said. They all began to gather around the bed so that Hermione, Molly, and Amortia could explain to Draco exactly what the Ukatae were. And since the others didn't know much about the Ukatae, they sat and prepared to listen. Voldemort remained a little apart and sat in the chair Lucius had forfeited.

"At least Molly brought refreshments."

"Is food all you think about, Siri?"

"Course not. I'm constantly thinking up horrible and torturous ways of killing you. It's a fun and stress relieving past time for me."

A/N: Edited 10/18/2011