Life Renovations

Chapter Twenty-Two

Severus Snape is an Idiot!

When they returned to Snape Manor, Harry and Draco immediately went to bed, too tired to do anything but sleep. Unfortunately Harry was woken twenty minutes later when his scar began to burn. "Dammit, Tom," he muttered and shifted, prepared to get out of bed, but Draco's arms tightened around him in his sleep and it was nearly impossible to move. Draco's hold on him was too strong. Harry closed his eyes against the pain roiling through his head.

"Draco, release me," he softly ordered into the sleeping Slytherin's ear. Draco's eyes flickered for a moment and Harry held his breath. He didn't want to wake his mate. No need for the both of them to lose any more sleep. But Draco's eyes remained closed and he relaxed enough that Harry was able to wiggle out of his arms and out of bed.

Tom's elation had not abated and only seemed to rise as Harry stepped out into the hallway. He paused a moment, breathing in deeply through slightly parted lips and then followed scent and senses to find the evil prat. He grumbled all the way to the lounge where he found Tom and Severus discussing something next to a softly glowing fire.

"Really hope I'm not interrupting…"

"You are," Severus said and stood when he noticed the pained expression on Harry's face. "What's the matter?"

"Tom, for the love of Merlin, stop being so bloody happy! You're breaking my head in two! I thought you had a shield up so that my scar wouldn't hurt around you?"

"I apologize, Harry." A moment later the pain ceased, and Harry sunk down into a chair next to Severus.

"Thanks. Uncle Sev, can I have some warm milk?"

Severus gave his nephew a smile and called a house-elf for some warm milk.

"Oh, and some cookies too!"

"No, Harry. No cookies. You need to go to bed." Severus waved away the house-elf.

"But I want the damn cookies!"

"Harry, don't make me treat you like a child."

Harry scrunched his nose up at the thought, but then realized he was pouting like a child. Across from them, Voldemort began to chuckle. "Severus tells me everything went well. I'm pleased."

"Yes, I could feel your pleasure," Harry said and pointed to his scar. "We made a new friend as well. A young unicorn. Her name is Tu'ral and she told us some interesting things."

Both Severus and Voldemort leaned forward, interested. "Such as?"

Harry opened his mouth to say, but the house-elf returned, popping in beside Harry's chair with his milk. "Here is your milk, sir." Then the creature bowed, crooking a small finger at Harry. Intrigued, Harry bent over the side of the chair and the house-elf slipped him a chocolate cookie. "Don't tell Master Snape," it whispered loudly. "Merry not supposed to bring cookie." Harry really couldn't tell if he was looking at a male or female house-elf, but he smiled brightly at it.

"I promise not to tell, but only if you promise not to hurt yourself for giving me the cookie, Merry."

Merry looked up with wide eyes, before they crinkled and its face broke out into a smile. "A promise, sir!" Merry bowed again, and then popped away.

"I saw and heard all of that!" Severus seemed frustrated that even his house-elves were disobeying him to please Harry.

"Was that a male or female?"

"A female."

"Don't punish her, please."

"I'm sure the house-elves are happy to have a younger person about," Voldemort said. "They probably never imagined seeing children here before. You are hardly one to ask for anything except necessities, Severus. I'm sure the house-elves get bored with only you to serve."

Severus scowled, but said nothing more, and Harry drank his milk and happily munched on his cookie. He stopped when he noticed Voldemort, who did not have his head covered, was giving him a peculiar look. "What?"

"Has your appetite changed? Increased, perhaps?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I just wanted a cookie. Why?"

Voldemort sat back. "Nothing. Tell us about the unicorn."

"Oh yeah. She was very nice. I guess she was looking into our hearts or something, and then she decided to give us her blood. She likes to be told stories as well."

"And what interesting things did she have to say?" Severus asked.

"Draco and I have Ukatae markings on our arms, and Tu'ral said the markings have been there since our births. Which must mean that we were Ukatae then, right?" Harry went on before they could answer or question him further. "Also she told Draco that we would have become Ukatae even without the bond."

"But there is no Ukatae in your family or in Draco's. That seems impossible."

"I know. That's what I'm confused about."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, Tom, there is." Harry grinned then finished his milk, making sure to take as much time as possible. It was fun seeing the annoyed looks on both Tom and Severus' faces. "Apparently the marks are special, not ordinary for the Ukatae and we're important to the future of our kind. Again, not sure how, but I suppose we'll find out. Tu'ral knows there are other Ukatae, and they will find us. I find that a relief. I can't wait to meet them."

Harry's words were silently pondered. No questions could be answered, however, until the Ukatae decided to come visit Harry and Draco. Severus was just about to order Harry back to bed when Draco suddenly appeared, a scowl upon his tired face. He had Apparated directly to Harry after finding himself alone in bed. Draco pulled Harry into his arms and Apparated back to bed with an annoyed hiss into his grinning mate's ear.

"Draco seems very possessive of Harry," Voldemort drawled. Severus hummed an agreement, but said nothing more. He was bloody tired. "You may go now, Severus. You have done well."

"Thank you, my lord." Severus bowed and barely managed to keep from yawning in the Dark Lord's face.

"One other thing before you go," Voldemort said as Severus turned to go and smirked when he caught the Potions Master grinding his teeth in frustration. "I sense Harry and Draco do not like the way you grovel at my feet, and I'm sad to say that I am beginning to feel the same way…"

Severus stood silently, not daring to breathe. Somehow the humanity that Tom Riddle had handed over was returning to him. Severus wondered if this was a side effect of being near the powerful Ukatae. They had awesome healing abilities.

"This goes for Lucius too. Can't have Harry and Draco angry with me. No more bowing and I wish you and Lucius to speak your mind to me. Do not fear I will retaliate if I am not in agreement. Is this understood, Severus?"

"Yes."

"Let us not spread the word, however. I have no intention of allowing any other of my Death Eaters the same courtesy."

"Of course."

Draco woke up when the sun had moved over Snape Manor and interrupted his sleep by shining through the window and over his face. He sat up and groaned; wiping at his eyes and wondering what time it was. Harry rolled over onto his stomach and buried his head under a pillow.

"I don't see how you ever got to class on time. Get up, lazy arse!" Harry mumbled something under the pillow that sounded suspiciously like, "bite me."

Draco pushed the covers off of his mate, exposing Harry to the chilly air. It was a shame Harry was wearing silk pajama bottoms. But at least his back was bare.

"That's not a bad idea. I haven't bitten you in a while." Draco began to caress Harry's back, but stopped when he felt odd bumps just under Harry's shoulder blades. "Your wings?"

Harry moved his head to the side so that his face was out from under the pillow. "Yeah."

"Does it hurt?"

"No, just kind of tingles, and on occasion it itches."

"Does it hurt when I do this?" Draco continued to caress Harry's back and pressed down when he felt the ridges under his skin. He grinned when Harry moaned.

"Feels really, really good." Harry sighed in contentment when Draco continued to run his warm hands across his back, and he closed his eyes. He moaned again when Draco straddled his back.

"I wonder what your wings will feel like. Or if you'll be able to fly with them…"

"Right now all I care about is your hands on my back. You can keep doing what you're doing," Harry murmured. Draco leaned over Harry's back, nuzzling the Gryffindor's neck. He could smell the blood pumping just under the skin and his mouth began to water.

Harry felt the blond's erection rubbing against him and had the urge to get up on his hand and knees, suddenly wanting Draco inside him. "Draco?" he shifted and Draco pulled back, his hands trailing down until his fingers were at Harry's waistband. "I don't want to beg you." Harry gasped when he felt his pants disappear, and then shuddered as Draco came into him with a slow languid movement without any further persuasion.

Merlin! It felt like a flood gate had been opened up and the bliss was swallowing him whole. Harry gripped the sheets in his hands as his mate moved within him, and cried out when Draco grasped his hair and pulled his face up, exposing his pale neck. The next thing he knew, Draco's fangs were buried into his neck, and the pleasure nearly buckled him as Draco drank and fucked him from behind.

Draco kept a strong hold on Harry's hair to keep him from moving. It was difficult drinking from the same spot when Harry kept trying to push back against his cock. Draco didn't want his fangs to cause any damage to his lover's neck.

Soon, the lethargy started to take over, and Harry felt his muscles relaxing against his will. Draco noticed and pulled his fangs out, licking the blood from his lips and fangs, before rolling Harry onto his back. Harry spread his legs and pulled Draco down to him, arching his back when he felt Draco's cock slide into him again. Draco pressed his chest against his lovers and angled his head so that Harry did not need to reach far for his neck. Draco hissed in delight when Harry bit into him, and the Gryffindor started to regain his strength as he drank.

Draco had no chance of being able to keep his control once Harry's fangs sank into him, and he gasped as he felt his balls tightening and his own muscles tensing. He wrapped his arms around Harry and thrust harder, and was surprised when he felt Harry's muscles tighten around him in an almost painful grip. Harry pulled his face back and stared at him with wide green eyes as his orgasm slammed into him. The look on his face, of complete astonishment and passion helped Draco reach his own orgasm soon after.

"If you promise I'd get rewarded like this every morning, I'll promise to always be up at the crack of dawn," Harry said once he managed to find his voice.

"Problem. I never get up at the crack of dawn." Draco licked the blood off his mate's lips. "Your blood tastes better than mine."

Harry chuckled. "Actually, I think yours is better." He gave the pouting blond a soft kiss before pulling away. "Let's go shower. We need to get ready for tonight."

When the Ukatae finally arrived downstairs to eat a late lunch in the smaller dining room, it was clear as to what they had been doing. Severus didn't even bother to say anything, as he was sure nothing he said would make much of a difference. He only hoped Harry and Draco would take it well when they found out they had to have separate dorm rooms once school started again. Because the rules stated clearly that no couple was to be able to share a room, regardless of bonds.

"I wish we had an actual physical book to read instead of just seeing how the spell is supposed to work in our minds. I would feel much more confidant," Harry said over their lunch. "I don't want to mess up and end up hurting Tom."

Severus eyed his nephew incredulously. It sounded like Harry was already very attached to the Dark Lord. He couldn't even comprehend how that had happened. Did the Dark Lord realize? Did he care? Would Voldemort take advantage of Harry because of this? His obsidian eyes caught his godson's and it was clear Draco understood what he was thinking. Surprisingly Draco seemed unconcerned.

"Everything will be fine," Draco said, turning to his mate. "We know what we're doing."

"It's hard to accept that."

"Do you want to hold off on doing this until we meet other Ukatae?"

"No!" Harry shrugged when Severus and Draco looked at him oddly. "I have plans for Tom. It has to be tonight. Besides, we don't know when we'll meet others like us. Could be months."

"Then stop worrying."

Harry remained silent, though he thought it hard to stop worrying. How could Draco sound so calm about it?

"Good afternoon."

Severus scowled when he saw Hermione enter. Harry waved at her. "Mione! What are you doing here? I thought you were staying with your parents for a while?"

"I was asked to attend tonight."

"By whom?" Severus asked while trying to look as if he weren't glad to see her in his home.

"I have asked Miss Granger to be a witness," Voldemort said as he entered behind her. Everyone noticed how Severus' look turned murderous but no one commented on it.

"So…" Hermione sat beside Draco and plopped her heavily loaded bag onto the table, then pulled out a piece of parchment and a muggle pen. "Have you secured the sight yet?" her pen hovered over the paper.

"It was done last night," the Dark Lord answered, sitting on the other side of the Gryffindor witch. They all watched as Hermione scratched out a check mark next to item number one on her list.

"You've gathered all the needed ingredients?"

"Done," Harry said. Another check.

"The sacrifice?"

"Should be at Malfoy Manor by now. Hope father and Sirius scarred him for life…disgusting bastard." Draco answered this time. Another check. Then she peered at her two friends.

"You two ready? Well rested?"

"Yes, Hermione."

"They should be. Didn't get up till half past two."

"Actually, we were up at one, Uncle Sev." Harry grinned. Draco presented a smug smirk.

"Oookaaay…" Another check.

"Have you mentally prepared yourself, sir?" Hermione asked, turning to Voldemort. Draco leaned over to look at the parchment.

"You actually have that written down. You're a little scary, Hermione."

"It's an important point! He must be ready mentally for what he will have to endure for the next forty eight hours after he goes in."

"I am more than ready. I know what I must suffer." Voldemort smiled under his hood when she put another check down. She was so serious minded, so focused on everything. Voldemort happened to peer at Severus and raised a non-existent eyebrow when he caught the wizard scowling at both him and Hermione. "Severus? Do you have something to say? Perhaps an apology?"

"I have nothing to apologize for."

Hermione hissed and started to mumble obscenities under her breath as Severus stormed out of the room. When the door slammed behind him, Hermione's shoulders began to shake in frustration, but Voldemort was pleased to see she kept her chin high, and her eyes dry.

Though she was hiding it very well, her emotions were screaming at Harry and Draco, and both were disturbed that she felt so much for Severus Snape.

"Very well, then. Have your bogroot mixtures been made yet?"

"Yes. But we don't want to take it until an hour before we start the process." Check.

"And your balm, sir?"

"Amortia has made it." Check.

"All right then. You are ready."

Voldemort decided he wanted to gain his new body in the same place he had done it the last time. At the cemetery in Little Hangleton. Harry tried to keep the memory of the last time he was there out of his mind; it wouldn't do to get pissed at Tom for that while he was trying to help him. He didn't know if that would affect the outcome of the spell in some way.

He, Draco, and Voldemort appeared in the graveyard first and started to set everything up, and Voldemort had brought his familiar, Nagini as well, since they would need her later on. A fire was lit underneath the large silver cauldron Voldemort had brought upon his visit the night before and Harry began to make a number of circuits around the cauldron, staring at the fire beneath it. Draco found it funny that Nagini followed Harry around like a puppy following its master. Severus and Hermione appeared soon after, along with Lucius, Parkinson, Amortia, McNair, Dolohov, Fenrir Greyback and the young wizard who was to be the sacrifice.

Draco pinned the bastard with a paralyzing stare. Dagda Taggart had been sent to Azkaban after being caught a week ago and had been scheduled to receive the Dementor's Kiss that very day. He was a sick bastard. Aurors and Hit Wizards had been after him for years. He was known for killing muggle children as well as Wizarding children regardless of blood status. Taggart took his pleasure in raping both boys and girls, none over the age of thirteen, and then slice them up and before setting them on fire; laughing while he watched them bleed and burn to death.

Before finally being captured, he sent a few Pensieve memories to the Ministry to show off his work. Taggart had an insane mind, and he started killing when he was only fifteen. No one knew for sure what his real age was, but Taggart didn't look over the age of twenty, which was really disturbing. All of this made it impossible for Draco and Harry to feel remorse for killing him. Even amongst Voldemort and the Death Eaters, Taggart was regarded with revulsion and hatred.

"We've brought everything," Hermione quietly said to Draco, making the Slytherin break his gaze from their fearful sacrifice. Taggart may be a little insane, but he knew death when he looked it in the eye. He'd seen his death in Draco's.

"Bring him." Draco commanded. Lucius and Severus propelled Taggart towards Harry and the cauldron. Draco moved to speak with Hermione, who stood with the Dark Lord. She was making it her duty to stay by Voldemort and offer support to her tutor before he had to go into the cauldron.

"You don't have to stay," Draco told her quietly. "We would understand. It's about to get ugly."

"First; do you honestly believe I would want to miss this? You are about to invoke very powerful magic. I want to see it. And secondly, I am part of your team, am I not? What good would I be to you three if I can't get my hands dirty with all of you? Thirdly, Voldemort asked me to come. I'm staying."

Draco nodded and squeezed her shoulder before going to stand by the cauldron with Harry. Hermione turned back to Voldemort.

"Thank you for your assistance, Miss Granger."

"I am about to undress you, then see you nude. You should probably call me Hermione."

"It's not pretty," Voldemort muttered and Hermione snorted.

"I assumed as much. No need to sound bashful," she was bold enough to grin cheekily at him. "Besides if this works you'll have a nice new body that will probably make me blush when you come out of the cauldron." Then her expression turned pensive. "Sir, if this doesn't work, you will end up just as you were after that night at the Potters sixteen years ago."

Voldemort finally removed his hood and looked at the witch. "I am aware of this. But at least I would still be alive."

"That's true. And," she went on with enthusiasm, "Harry and Draco would find some way to bring you back better than ever still!"

Hermione did not look away from his disfigured face, nor did she show any sign of being disgusted by him. In fact, her eyes shown with respect for him and he was not unaffected by this.

"Miss…Hermione, I feel I must again thank you for your support and willingness to help with this. You are more than a great asset to our organization."

Hermione blushed from the praise. Then an itch at the back of her neck made her look over her shoulder. She found a pair of blazing onyx eyes staring daggers at herself and Voldemort. She smirked at Severus, and turned back to the Dark Lord. "Time to undress."

Voldemort nodded, and then chuckled when he looked over Hermione's shoulder and saw Severus. "You're a bit evil yourself. You are going to just let him believe we are attracted to each other. Poor Severus…"

"Yeah, whatever. Poor, poor Severus…"

"We're ready," Harry called out. Hermione nodded.

"Just stay calm and remember Harry and Draco want this to work as much as you do. They will take care of you."

"Yes, ma'am."

Hermione's lips twitched. She pulled Voldemort's robes off and finally averted her gaze as she moved to his back and began to slather on the ointment Amortia made. The Healer approached and took the jar to help and began to rub the ointment on his face and along his front. Hermione was glad she was at his back so that he wouldn't see her grimace at the sight of his tall pasty gray form. She was grateful Amortia was taking the front.

By the cauldron, Harry and Draco approached Taggart. "You deserve much worse than this, however this is the way you are going to die. First, you will be drained of all your blood," Harry began and watched as Draco attacked Taggart's neck to create several fatal puncture points. They could have used daggers, but the Ukatae found it more fulfilling to cause damage with their fangs. And the more personal they were with the process, the stronger the spell would be.

Draco suddenly pulled back and quickly spit out the blood that had gotten into his mouth. "Ugh! Even your blood is tainted."

Hermione came over with Voldemort and handed Draco a goblet of water. He took it gratefully and swished some around in his mouth before spitting that out while Harry made puncture wounds to Taggart's wrists.

"Nasty!"

"I did say." Draco handed Harry the water. After that, Harry and Draco used their claws to create more wounds along Taggart's back, his torso, and his thighs.

"Tom, enter the cauldron. You will be resurrected in exactly forty-eight hours." Voldemort nodded and lowered himself into the silver cauldron.

"Drink." Draco raised a goblet to Taggart's lips. It was a mixture of Acromantula venom and fluxweed, which would eventually help his body reconstruct and become whatever form Voldemort wanted later on, without any lingering physical traits or soul from Taggart. "Drink it now!" Draco growled. "And maybe it's the truth when I say it may dull the pain…. You're dead anyway."

Dagda Taggart had no choice and he drank the entire content down. Draco sealed Taggart's mouth shut so the bastard couldn't vomit the potion up, and then he closed the neck wounds for a moment, so that all the liquid could pass down his throat without leaking from the wounds there.

"And now you will bleed," Draco said to Dagda. "In one hour you will go into the cauldron and everything but your bones will be boiled away. It will be a very slow process and I hope that you will still be alive at that point."

Draco left him and stood at the cauldron. He turned and took exactly ten paces away from it. He drew his wand and pointed at the ground, and began to walk counter clockwise, burning a circle into the damp earth as he did so. Harry pointed his wand at the water in the cauldron and whispered some words no one but Draco could understand, though it was suspected to be the language of the Ukatae. The water started to boil, and Harry watched as Voldemort's form went still as he would be paralyzed until ready to leave the cauldron. Draco continued to watch the blood drain from a paralyzed Taggart, a sneer fixed on his perfect face. He took great pleasure in taunting Taggart as the young wizard's blood drained and was absorbed into the ground. He found he liked being a dark creature at times. The grin Harry sent his way told him his mate felt the same.

Severus could restrain himself no longer and made his way over to Hermione and grasped her elbow in a firm hold. She tried to shake him off, but he refused to let go and dragged her away from the others and around behind a large head stone.

"What do you want, Professor Snape? I don't want to miss anything."

"Afraid for the Dark Lord?" he sneered.

Hermione raised her chin. "Yes I am."

He snarled in anger and gave her arm a little shake. "What do you think you are doing with him, Hermione?"

"It's Miss Granger, Professor." She pulled her elbow from his grasp.

"Hermione, I… I'm not sure what to say to you."

"Now is not the time. Maybe never. Maybe you're too late." Hermione turned on her heel and walked away, a small smile on her face.

"What did you do to make her bitter against you and drive her to the Dark Lord?" Lucius asked when he approached after seeing Hermione leave his friend.

"I did nothing!"

"Obviously you did something. Severus, if you want the girl you should take her. She obviously wants you, and it isn't as if she's too young. Draco says she will be eighteen mid September."

"I don't want to talk about this, Lucius."

The blond sighed. "Since we've been acquainted for many years, I have no problem saying this to you. You're being an idiot. Don't waste time. She's young, powerful, and very intelligent. If you don't claim her, someone else will." This brought on the darkest look Lucius had ever seen on his friend's face. "Who knows what the Dark Lord will do when he returns with a new body. But I will say this. Our lord has taken a liking to her, Severus."

"I thought you didn't like her or her blood. Why are you pressing this?"

"She has grown on me as well. Remember, if this works, the Dark Lord will want an heir. She's a prime candidate. And Hermione seems to like him as well…I can't comprehend why, but this is what it looks like to all of us. And you know she's not going to wait for your stubborn arse forever." Lucius left Severus to think about that.

Hermione returned to where everyone stood on the outskirts of the Ukatae circle. Hermione made herself look at Dagda Taggart, and she couldn't feel any compassion for him. What he had done to all those children had been unpardonable and she realized with a start that she wanted to watch the man bleed to death, enjoying the way he twitched and cried under the pain. Harry and Draco hadn't completely paralyzed him, as they wanted their victim to feel everything that was happening to him, but they had used some invisible chains to keep him where he was. Hermione didn't think she had ever felt such hatred before for another living being.

She caught sight of Parkinson and McNair giving her dirty looks, and instead of turning away as they thought she would, she smirked at them. "Is there a problem?" she asked calmly, bringing in the attention of Lucius who stood next to her, and Severus who had returned and was standing a few feet away. But upon hearing her and seeing whom she was addressing, Severus moved to stand closer to her. Lucius and Severus hovered beside her like towering bodyguards.

"You shouldn't be here, Mudblood!" McNair spat. Lucius shot McNair a sneering glare and held out an arm to block Severus from attacking the stupid Death Eater.

"I would suggest you hold your tongue. The Dark-"

"No, Mr. Malfoy. I can handle this trash," Hermione said, though she did nod at him in thanks. "Why don't you say that again, Death Eater?"

"You are a Mudblood. You don't belong-" McNair gasped and clutched at his chest, and sunk to his knees. He pulled a shaking hand away from his chest and stared at the blood smeared across it. Hermione walked over to him.

"Just one of the nonverbal spells Voldemort taught me." She looked at Parkinson. "Do you want to test me on the other spells I've learned from the Dark Lord?"

"She is scary. Didn't believe Harry and Draco when they said…" Lucius murmured to Severus. "But she really is. And she didn't even bat an eyelash."

Severus was astonished, and would have applauded her abilities if he weren't still worried about what the other Death Eaters might try to do.

Parkinson ignored Hermione. "Bluemoon! Get over here!"

Amortia moved slowly as she had seen and heard everything. As she passed the younger witch, she patted Hermione's arm. "You did well. Never show them fear. Also show off as much of your power as possible. They will get the hint."

Hermione cleared her throat and turned to look at Harry and Draco again. She was suddenly embarrassed, but was not sorry at all for cursing McNair. It had actually been a little exhilarating. She hadn't had a chance to practice that spell on anyone, and was very pleased how well she'd done it. She couldn't wait to tell Voldemort. She happened to glance at Dolohov and Greyback, both of who were laughing at McNair, and glancing at her once in a while. Dolohov looked speculative, but Greyback was giving her creepy looks, like he wanted to eat her…. which he probably did.

Hermione ignored them and went back to watching her friends. There was nothing for Harry and Draco to do until it was time to drop Taggart into the cauldron, so they stood close and spoke to each other quietly, probably about how the next part of the spell would work. Hermione was very curious as to what would happen. She knew they had to remain at the cauldron for the full two days in order to keep up the spell for that amount of time. This worried her. It was to be very powerful magic, and they had to sustain it for a great amount of time. How would their bodies react to that, without sustenance or sleep? But then she remembered that was why they had taken the bogroot potion, which would help with the lack of food or sleep.

Before coming, Hermione told Harry and Draco she would stay with them the entire time, but Amortia said no. The Healer threatened to drag Hermione away herself if she didn't leave for some time to eat and rest. Hermione didn't think it was fair that Severus, Amortia, and Lucius were able to stay the entire time, but she couldn't. And the other Death Eaters were going to leave after the spell started, but would be summoned back just before Voldemort came back with a new body. Hermione found herself becoming agitated and frustrated. She wanted something to happen soon. She could feel Harry and Draco's power building up, preparing to be released, and that was stimulating her own magical core. She decided to sit and think of something else to calm herself. Too bad her mind turned to something that wasn't calming at all.

Severus Snape. She knew, was absolutely certain, he had feelings for her. Otherwise he wouldn't seem so jealous that she was spending so much time with Voldemort. But he was a stubborn git, and seemed to think pushing her away was the best thing to do. Why? Why couldn't he just let things happen? Or, more importantly, if he didn't want anything to happen, why the hell had he kissed her at Harry's party? That seemed completely unfair! Hermione didn't realize she'd been lowly growling until Lucius came to stand beside her and brought it to her attention.

"You aren't turning into a Ukatae now, are you? I don't think we need three around."

"Pardon?" she looked up at him and he smirked.

"You were growling."

"Oh…Er…"

"What were you thinking about?" Lucius waved her over so he could sit where she was, on the patch of ground that seemed less dirty. Hermione had to smile at this. But then she realized what he asked and started to blush.

"Not to be rude, but why are you over here talking to me?"

"All my reservations about you were blown away when you cursed McNair. That was rather brilliant, by the way. Can't wait to tell Siri." Then he raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. It was hard not to feel a little jealously over that. The Malfoy men always looked perfect. "Nice try of changing the subject. Care to answer my question?"

Hermione stared at the ground for a moment, deciding what she wanted to say. She looked up and noticed black eyes once again on her and smirked inwardly. She was a grown woman. She was intelligent, and driven. And Hermione Granger knew what she wanted. If Severus wanted to play hard to get, then so be it. She would have her fun with him.

"I just realized…Severus is gay." She held back her laughter when Lucius' eyes went wide. "That's it, right? He doesn't want me because he's gay. That would explain a lot. He could have explained it to me though." She let out a lusty sigh. "Oh well. There are other fish in the sea, as they say. Excuse me, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione hurried over to Amortia, who by now had patched McNair up, and sent him away, leaving Lucius staring at her back in shock.

"What's wrong with you?" Severus asked, coming up to him. Lucius held back his laughter. "Well?"

"Hermione swears your gay, Severus. She thinks that's why you're being an idiot."

"She said what?" Severus' silky voice had lowered dangerously, but Lucius ignored it.

"She thinks you're gay," he replied calmly.

"And you didn't correct her?"

"Why would I do that? It's not my business. And I thought you didn't want her. Hermione thinking this will keep her away. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I never said that," Severus replied through clenched teeth.

"I think you should let her know then. She said there are more fish in the sea, whatever that means."

"It's a muggle term." And Severus knew exactly what it meant.

Lucius had no reply and left Severus to stew in his anger. He doubted Severus would stand to allow Hermione to think such things, and since Lucius wasn't stupid, he knew the young witch had said it on purpose and knew full well Severus wasn't really gay. Lucius moved to stand at the very edge of the circle around the cauldron. He spared a small glance at Taggart, who had by now dropped to the ground and was lying on his back staring at the darkened sky. Draco, having spotted his father, began to move forward, but stopped next to the still body and kicked it.

"Wake up! You aren't allowed to die yet."

"I've got him, love. Go speak with your father." Harry came over, flicked his wand, and Taggart was pulled up to his feet like a puppet on strings. Taggart started crying and begging for his life. Harry silenced him with a hiss, baring his fangs. Draco turned away and continued on to his father.

"How long before he goes in?" Lucius asked, flicking his gray eyes to Taggart.

"Thirteen minutes, fifty seconds," Draco replied automatically without having to physically check the time.

"Did you see what Hermione did to McNair after he called her a mudblood?" Draco's eyes narrowed and began to search McNair out. "No, don't worry. He's not here anymore. Hermione took care of that."

"How?"

"She threw a nonverbal cutting hex at him. Perfectly and without any indication at all."

"Really?" Draco grinned and looked around for the aforementioned witch. "Where is she? Has she left as well?"

"No, no. She's just playing a game with Severus. It is rather amusing. Seems she thinks Severus is gay."

"She knows damn well Severus is straight!"

"I know that, she knows that, and I daresay Severus knows she was lying…"

"Then why would she say that?"

Lucius turned and pointed to Severus, who by that time had worked himself into a reckless state, and was now storming after Hermione who had gone to patrol the barrier that kept anyone not in their party from seeing what they were doing, or entering the area.

"Uncle Sev looks very angry. Are we sure we should let him go after Hermione in that state?"

"Oh yes." Lucius grinned sadistically. "Yes, indeed. We may even see the blasts from here."

"Told you she was a force to be reckoned with." Draco looked back when Harry called to him, then he nodded. "Look, it's about to start. Harry and I will be unresponsive for most of it after we've added everything to the cauldron…"

"Do not worry, son. Severus and I will be on guard."

"Whatever happens, do not step over this line."

Lucius didn't like that order, but he knew he had no choice. "Good luck, then."

Lucius backed away from the circle and watched. He saw Hermione return from the corner of his eye. When he turned fully, he noticed she wore a big grin on her face, and Severus followed almost dazedly behind. Lucius knew nothing good had happened, as Severus' scowl could have wilted a flower garden. He wondered what had happened in that short amount of time. He would be sure to find out later, but now he wanted to watch his son and Harry start.

Harry vanished Taggart's clothes and Draco said a spell the would quicken the blood draining process, making sure that every last drop left his body. It would not be good if even one drop ended up in the cauldron. Taggart's body began to convulse, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, leaving only the whites visible.

Nagini, I need you, Harry hissed to the snake lying as close to the fire as she could get. The snake immediately slithered over to him. Harry was just about to lower his arm to the snake when Draco stopped him.

"I'm not sure you should do this."

"Oh, now you're not sure. What happened to stop worrying?"

"You're about to let this snake inject you with her venom! I still don't understand why we can't just get some of your blood, put it into a vial, and then mix the venom in that way."

"We need it to be mixed with either your blood or mine and it needs to be done within a body. And it's going to be me since Tom already has my blood in his body. The mixture is more compatible this way. There won't be a chance that his new body will reject it."

"You might die if we don't get all the venom out."

"Relax, would you. You have the spell to stop it from passing from my arm to the rest of my body. We'll get all the venom out. Besides, Nagini likes me now." Don't you, sweetheart? Harry caressed the large snake over her head. "She's not going to allow too much venom into my blood."

I will be sure not to push the venom into your bloodstream too quickly. Do not worry. My master would be displeased should you perish, Nagini replied, not understanding the human words, but understanding the anxiety on the light haired elf's face and figuring out herself what they were talking about.

Harry beamed at her. Glad we're on the same side now, Nagini. He turned back to Draco to find his lover slightly flushed and panting. While Draco was busy trying to control his sexual urges, Harry instructed Nagini to strike, and she did with quick efficiency.

Harry couldn't help crying out at the pain as the venom flowed into his arm. Draco pointed his wand at Harry's elbow and muttered the spell, stopping the venom from being able to pass that spot. The spell wouldn't hold for very long, so they had to be quick about drawing out the blood and venom once it was mixed and getting it into the cauldron. But a minute had to pass before they could do anything, and Draco had to stand by and watch as Harry clenched his jaw tightly shut against the stinging pain. As soon as the sixty seconds were up, Draco pulled out an athame and made a vertical cut in between Nagini's fang marks, and drew the blood and poison out with his wand, then deposited it into a vial.

"Is that it? Did I get it all?" Draco asked frantically. Harry dropped to his knees, clutching at his arm, which had begun to shake beyond the brunet's control.

"Don't know but you need to get it into the cauldron now. That piece of shite needs to go in as well. We can't be off by even half a minute."

"Harry-"

"Do it, Draco! I'll get the rest out."

Draco spun away from Harry and dropped the blood and venom into the water over Voldemort's still and deathly white form. The water changed color and consistency immediately, and began to smell as it looked; like black tar. It bubbled and hissed, just as it was supposed to. Draco grabbed the sacrifice and dragged Taggart's body over to the cauldron. "Good, you're alive…just barely though. For the crimes you've committed, you don't even deserve to be called human, let alone a muggle or wizard. I hope this is a hundred times more painful than anything you put those children through."

He levitated Taggart's limp body and slowly lowered him into the cauldron, and watched with sadistic glee as Taggart opened his mouth in a silent scream as he sunk under the black potion. "Good riddance!"

Draco turned back to Harry, who had gotten to his feet and was using his wand to try and get rid of any lingering poison. Draco grabbed his arm and began to suck at the wound, drawing the blood into his mouth, tasting for any of the venom. When he tasted poison, he sucked without swallowing, then pulled back to spit it out, and continued the process, until all he tasted was Harry's delicious blood.

"There, you're good."

Draco rinsed his mouth out, but the poison's taste lingered in his mouth. His stomach began to roil and he had to move away from Harry as his body was rejecting the poison he'd failed to spit out.

"Hey! Draco? Are you all right?" Harry came behind him and pulled blond hair away from his face. "You didn't have to suck it out yourself. Idiot."

"Yes I did. I had to be sure." His voice came out in a hoarse whisper. "Give me some water." Harry hastily complied, and watched, worried, as his mate drank the water, and then made himself throw up again. By this time everyone who had come with them was standing around the circle.

"You all right?" Draco asked when he'd finished his puke fest. Harry chuckled dryly.

"It's me who should be asking that."

"I'm fine. It's gone. Are you all right?" he demanded.

"Yes love, I'm fine. You got it all." Harry smiled softly at him and used the sleeve of his robe to wipe Draco's fine mouth, and then pushed his hair away from his silver eyes. Draco gripped Harry's arm and covered the wound with his hand. It only took a couple of seconds for the wound to heal.

"Let's get ready for the hard part."

Draco and Harry moved to stand at opposite sides of the cauldron, both tucking their wands into their robes and raising their hands to the sky. They began to chant Ukatae words, just four words, over and over again. Eirlnai. Wyn.Fyndali. Wuodnli…

"Here it goes," Severus said softly, looking up as lightning and thunder rolled through the sky at some distance away and dark black clouds began to gather overhead. Many around the circle shifted nervously from such show of elemental power.

"Merlin, the air seems to be thickening. Do you know what's happening? Have they explained it to any of you?" Amortia asked.

Severus nodded and launched into an explanation. "The words they are chanting, we assume, are earth, air, fire, and water."

"You don't know for certain?"

"Harry and Draco assume that is what it is because they are summoning the elemental powers together to bond with their magic."

"Which is why this spell is so powerful," Lucius added. "Wizards and witches don't usually invoke the elementals, at least… not all at once and for such a long period of time. The power that would come from that would overwhelm us. We are not meant to yield such power. As a species, humans are not old enough; we have not developed enough for such magic as that."

Severus nodded and went on. "They will chant this for the next thirty minutes, until the magic has risen and completely fuses itself with the potion and the Ukatae. By that time, Harry and Draco will be entranced by their magic; they will not move or speak, but will be a sort of conduit to keep the magic flowing and the spell working for the time it takes for the Dark Lord's new body to be formed. We may even feel the backlash of the magic, and I'm not sure, but we could lose consciousness. Depends on how far out their power spreads. Let's hope it doesn't go beyond the protective barrier we've set up to keep others away. Otherwise, Dumbledore may have alarms of some sort letting him know when magic goes on here as it did before after the Triwizard Tournament."

"Didn't like not knowing what was happening, did he?" Lucius sneered into the sky; picturing the old wizard getting struck by one of the bolts he saw shooting through it.

"No. He was very displeased."

"Even if Dumbledore did know what was going to happen, do you think he would have stopped it? I mean stopped Voldemort from getting his body back? Stopped Harry and Cedric from being Portkeyed?" Hermione asked, feeling a pang of sadness for the death of her fellow student.

"Who knows what goes on in his head? Before I discovered what he was really up to in regards to the Dark Lord, and those Pensieve memories, I had no idea all he wanted was control over everyone in his own bizarre way."

"That reminds me, Severus…how did you come by that information?" Lucius asked while keeping his eyes on the Ukatae. Harry and Draco's voices were increasing in volume and so was the pressure surrounding them.

"Believe it or not, he told me."

"I don't believe it."

"It's true. We were drinking…did you know he talks in his sleep when he's drunk?"

"It can't have been that simple."

"I assure you it was, Hermione. Dumbledore started mumbling, and when I was about to leave him, his mumbles turned into solid words. You can't imagine what I felt when he began to babble on about young Tom Riddle and a fake prophecy."

"I think I can understand…" she murmured, remembering what she felt when she read Severus' mother's journal, and then learning what Dumbledore had done to Harry's parents. She understood all too well.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake under their feet and the lighting began to strike the ground very near them. Amortia cried out in pain as a bolt hit the ground directly in front of her. She'd been looking directly at it and the light seared her eyes. Lucius caught her just before she hit the ground. Hermione unconsciously grabbed onto Severus' arm and buried her face against his robes and he pulled her back as well and they all took cover behind some gravestones several yards away. Most of the other Death Eaters Apparated away in fear.

The fire under the cauldron leapt up around it, rising high into the sky and turning a bright blue color, and then the sky opened up to blanket them all in a torrent of rain. The potion inside the cauldron seemed safe from the rain. Severus could see the water was bouncing off an invisible shield.

Harry and Draco's eyes began to glow and so did the circle Draco had drawn around the cauldron. It was a white-hot glow, and the drawn circle rose up to create a semi solid white wall, blocking the Ukatae and the silver cauldron from view.

"What's happening?" Hermione yelled over the noise.

"Nature is reacting to the summons. The earth has answered the Ukatae call by creating a slight earthquake, the lightning which is the fire, has answered…."

"The rain is the water." Hermione said, nodding. "And the wind certainly is blowing harder than normal."

"Amortia needs to go to St. Mungo's," Lucius interrupted, holding the Healer up. "Her eyes need to be seen to."

"Fine Healer I am. Can't even fix my own eyes…" she sniffed, wiping her nose on Lucius' sleeve, who cringed but kept rubbing Amortia's back to calm her. That lightning had scared the devil out of her. "Hermione, you go with her."

Hermione nodded, and took Amortia's hand and then let Amortia Apparate them to St. Mungo's.

"How is it that Hermione doesn't Apparate? She's old enough."

"She wanted to wait for Harry and Weasley to come of age so they could all take the test together. I suppose she still hasn't done it because so much has happened this summer," Severus answered Lucius absently.

They turned back to the circle just in time to see the white glowing wall drop down and hit the ground with a great force. Severus pulled Lucius away from behind the gravestone just as the wind burst forth from the circle in a rippling effect, toppling trees and gravestones as it sped out and beyond the barrier.

"Merlin, that was stronger than anything I could have imagined… Dumbledore will have felt that," Severus said. Lucius stared at the large gravestone they had been taking cover behind. It lay on the ground, broken in three pieces.

"Thank you, Severus. I believe you've just saved my life."

"Don't get all simpering on me, Lucius. I just didn't want depressed dogs and Ukatae about, that's all."

Lucius snorted and took that as an acceptance of his thanks.

A/N: Edited 10/18/2011