Life Renovations
Chapter Thirty-Three
Summer's End 3
Thirty minutes later found Hermione sitting at her vanity tapping her fingers upon it with impatience. She was already dressed, had her hair finished, and was raring to go. All she needed now was a stubborn Dark Lord. But apparently Tom had no intention of wearing the clothes she'd chosen. Hermione was just about to give up when someone pounded on her door.
"It's about bloody time…" she trailed off as she caught sight of the darkest look she'd ever seen plastered on Tom's face. On a brighter note, he was wearing the clothes she'd laid out. And he looked very, very yummy. She suspected he was looking ridiculously angry because he knew he looked good. And he looked good in muggle clothing.
"It's not as if you've never had to wear clothes like this before."
"I haven't."
"Whatever, it doesn't matter." She wasn't about to point out that he used to live in a muggle orphanage. "You look spectacular. Time to go," she said, sweeping past him.
"Where do you think you're going dressed like that?" Tom's outraged voice echoed through the hall. Hermione turned around to see him pointing a very rigid finger at her.
"We're both going, and what's wrong with how I'm dressed?" she asked looking down upon her curve hugging red dress that cut off mid thigh. From there a very lovely red lace dropped down around her ankles. Her feet were adorned with black high heels with the straps enticingly twisted around her calves. She looked up at Tom as she drew on a small black shawl around her bare shoulders.
"You can't go around dressed like that. Severus will go mad if he knows you're out in that. And with me."
"Afraid of the Potions Master?"
"No, but you should be." Tom dropped his arm and joined Hermione as she continued on down the hall. Tom remained silent as they approached the Entrance Hall, but Hermione could tell he was very edgy what with the way he kept glancing left, right, and over his shoulder as if watching for someone.
"What are you doing?" she finally asked.
Tom looked startled for a minute and then scowled. "I don't know."
"Obviously what I said earlier at Severus' house was the truth. You need to relax." She pushed open the front doors and they walked out. "Though where I'm taking you probably won't relax you… well, at least not at first."
"Where are we going? And why can't you just answer my question already?"
"We're going somewhere fun! It's a surprise. You like surprises," Hermione said once they'd made it past the wards to where they could Apparate. Tom's eyes narrowed on her. He didn't like this one bit. Where the hell… Before he could ask, Hermione wrapped her fingers around his bicep and Apparated them away.
"Mrs. Weasley did say you needed to socialize more," Hermione said with a quiver in her voice as they stood just inside the club. She was trying very hard to keep from laughing at Tom's expression. His mouth was opened in horrifying shock.
"Something must have happened to your intelligence! You can't bring me here!"
"But I already have. And no one will recognize you."
Hermione turned and waved at Dirk as she approached the bar, wondering whether Tom would follow or go back home. She hoped he wouldn't leave. He did need to relax after all, and having fun at the Wizard's Den was a good place to achieve such a thing. And if he didn't know how to have fun then she was determined to teach him. They were fairly early so the club had yet to fill with patrons. Hermione thought this was excellent, as Tom could grow used to the club before it was jam-packed. If he stayed.
"Miss. Granger. Lovely to see you," Dirk said with a pearly white smile.
"You too."
"Your man looks like he's been turned to stone."
Hermione turned around and chuckled. At least Tom hadn't left yet. "He's not my man. We're just very good friends. He doesn't get out much so mix us up a couple of AK's please, Dirk. He needs to relax."
"Sure thing." Dirk looked over her shoulder and Hermione noticed the slow appraisal he was giving Tom. Her amusement doubled when Dirk's eyes gradually glazed over with lust. "You sure you two aren't together?"
"Quite sure. But don't get your hopes up. I don't think he swings that way. And he can be very, very scary, so I don't think you should flirt to test him either."
Tom had finally broke out of his stupor and hissed as he came to stand beside her. He gave Dirk a dismissing glance before glaring at Hermione once more. "Hermione, I must protest!"
"Why? You wanted an answer to your question, didn't you? I will give it here." Hermione turned back to Dirk, who was making Tom's drink without having to look at what he was doing, thus leaving him free to stare at Tom. Seems he wasn't going to listen to her warning. She couldn't blame the bloke though. Tom was very striking.
Tom scanned the half empty club and lifted his chin. "I do not socialize with the lower class," he said disdainfully and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"He's associated with Draco, isn't he?" Dirk asked Hermione as he pushed the bright green drink in front of the Dark Lord. Tom turned cold eyes onto Dirk and answered for her.
"Do you want to die?" he asked with a flat voice and a black look.
Hermione quickly handed Tom his drink, scooped up her own, the pushed Tom away from the bar. Before leaving she smirked at the shivering barkeep. "I told you he was scary. At least he asked if you wanted to die instead of just killing you. That was a first."
Dirk shook his head. "He wouldn't really…"
Hermione pinned him with a dead serious expression. "Yes. Yes, he would."
"Who is he?"
Hermione smirked. "Do you really want to know?"
Dirk looked across the room to where Tom was just settling into a booth in a very dark and secluded corner. The wizard, whomever he was, was swallowed completely by the darkness except for his eyes. Dirk could see the wizard's cold shining eyes very clearly and they seemed to whisper death. Again, Dirk shuddered. "No, I don't think I do."
Hermione nodded and went to join her brooding friend. "Drink up!" Tom sighed and picked up his drink and began to sip at it, once in a while sending a death glare at any person who dared pass their table. "And try to keep your homicidal tendencies to a minimum while we're here."
She spoke with amusement, but Tom knew she was being serious as well. "You know I'm almost the same person as before I obtained this body. How could you allow me to become your friend? You know I'm still bloodthirsty; I still like to take lives, dabble in any and all Dark magic, torture… Why are we friends, Hermione?" he demanded, sounding annoyed and frustrated because he couldn't understand.
Hermione took her time answering, because she had to think upon the answer. "Well you took the initiative, didn't you, Tom? You approached me. You made yourself approachable… to me."
Tom nodded slowly. "I… I don't know why."
"I suspect we have a connection," Hermione said thoughtfully after she'd gulped down her first drink. She waved at Dirk for two more. "No, not like that." She shook her head when Tom's eyes widened in alarm. "We're each meant for someone else."
Tom snorted before downing the rest of his drink. The drink was relaxing him, though one would never know with the way he continued to sit ramrod straight. Hermione could only tell because of the softness around the eyes. "As I said before, I am not suited for such an emotion. I'm a selfish bastard, Hermione. I care for no one but myself."
"That's rubbish!" She slapped her hand down on the table and then giggled. Harry was right; the Avada Kedavra was a very strong drink. She was already giggling. "Stop lying, you big git!"
"Big git? Is that the best you can come up with? You apprentice under Lord Voldemort and big git is the best you can do? I'm very disappointed in you," Tom finished and once again began to glare when a woman started to approach their table. It was obvious she'd wanted a word with Tom. That is until Tom glared more death at her. She quickly turned around and disappeared.
"Maybe we shouldn't refer to you as the Dark Lord and Lord Voldemort while we're here. And you should definitely stop referring to yourself in the third person," she whispered before raising her finger to her lips and then giggling some more. Tom watched her with obvious amusement. Two more Avada Kedavra's popped up in front of each of them and both eagerly snatched one of the drinks up. "Besides, we're getting off track. If you cared for no one then how can you say I'm your friend, hmm? Is that a lie? Do you not consider me a friend? Or are you simply using me?"
"Firstly, I threw a confunded bubble around us. Anyone who overhears us speaking will only think we're speaking gibberish. Nothing will be discernible. And secondly, no I do not lie when I say we are friends. I believe you are the first real friend I've ever had. And what's stranger is the fact that we began that friendship even before I got this body. I spied on you a little bit before I approached you and Ginevra in the library that day." Tom frowned at the green concoction in his hand. It was obviously loosening up his tongue. But he was glad to have admitted that when Hermione smiled brightly at him.
"In fact, when you were kidnapped," he went on, unable to help himself, "I don't believe I've ever been that afraid for another living being before. Not comfortable with those types of feelings," he muttered into his cup before drinking.
"And how do you feel about Harry and Draco?"
Tom scowled. "I'd rather not talk about Draco right now. In fact I think we should let go of this subject altogether."
"If you answer that last question, I promise to let it go."
"If I answer, can I go home without you being disappointed?"
"No."
Tom swept his hand through his hair and stared up at the twirling flashing lights above them. "I suppose I see them as my family now… my brothers?" Hermione ahhed and sighed. Tom ignored this. "I've seen what's in their minds about me. And that is the feeling I've gotten from them. A little overwhelming let me tell you. But I can't deny it because it's there, in all three of us." He leant forward against the table on one arm; with that hand still in his hair he gave her a lopsided grin. Any woman with a pulse would have been affected and Hermione felt herself blush when his intense brown eyes landed on her. They were clearer than she'd ever seen them and there was clearly affection behind his gaze. For her, and for Harry and Draco.
"I never told you what I had to go through once I was in the cauldron, but it was very similar to what Draco had done to that Dursley bastard. Draco made Dursley feel all of the pain, physical and emotional, that Harry had to go through while in that house. During the time I was suspended in the cauldron I felt everything every one of my victims felt. Every person's death that I was directly responsible for. There were more victims than I realized.
"Not only that, but my victims came back from the dead and I had to spend forty-eight hours listening to them crying their sorrows… It was maddening and at one point I thought I would be lost to that madness again. But through all that I could still sense Harry and Draco around the cauldron, feeding their lives into their magic, helping me and keeping me together. They kept me alive and sane within that cauldron. I felt their desire for me to retain my body and it wasn't just because it would help out their plans. They really wanted to give me a second chance at life… I-I didn't want to disappoint them. So I held it together. And here I am. And just for your information, Draco's pissed me off, but I wouldn't really kill him… unless he betrayed me. And you better not tell him or Harry about the brothers thing."
"Merlin, Tom. I promise." Hermione wiped away the tears his words inspired. Tom rolled his eyes and pulled out a handkerchief.
"You are far too emotional," he said after handing it to her. "You cry too much."
She gave him a watery smile. "I can't help it."
There was silence for a few minutes before Hermione opened her mouth to tell him how utterly touched she was that he'd confided so much to her, but Tom shook his head and grinned. "I shudder to use the term best friend, but… who do you think I would confide in if not to you?"
This, of course, made her eyes water some more. But then she frowned. "Are you looking into my thoughts?"
"Maybe." He gave her an impish grin before turning and glaring down yet another club patron.
"Well if you are, why haven't you taught me how to do that yet?"
"Because then you'd learn all my secrets. Can't have that. There can be only one Dark master. No Dark Lady is going to upstage me."
Hermione stared blankly at him for a moment; but then she shrugged and pushed another glass his way. "Keep drinking, Mr. Dark Lord. You're going to dance with me."
Tom snorted. "Not in this life time. I will not be dancing with anyone, ever. Period."
Harry appeared soon after bringing with him Dudley and Luna and he immediately scanned the place for any sign of trouble. His eyes widened comically when he spotted Hermione sitting in a dark corner with none other than Tom Riddle. From the glasses on the table, he figured they'd been there for a while. When he spotted what they were drinking his eyes widened some more. How on earth had Hermione convinced Tom to come here?
Harry closed his eyes and nudged Dudley. "Pinch me, will you." Dudley complied and pinched him. Harry opened his eyes and rubbed the sore spot on his arm. Nope, he wasn't dreaming. He could still see the Dark Lord sitting at the back of a club talking animatedly with Hermione. He watched with a growing smile as Tom bent close to her and said something. Hermione's eyes widened and she leaned back in her seat staring unbelievably at the smirking Dark Lord. And then she started to tremble, the trembling turned into full body shakes, until Harry could hear her laughter from all the way across the club.
He blew out a breath. Obviously Hermione had erased any damage Draco might have done if Tom was telling jokes now. Truth be told, when Draco explained to Harry exactly what had been said, Harry had been furious. But Draco had been so remorseful when recounting what had been said that Harry didn't have it in him to hold onto that anger, and instead had demanded that Draco apologize as soon as possible.
Hermione was just calming down from her laughter when Harry, Dudley, and Luna slipped into the booth. Hermione wiped the tears away from her eyes and grinned at Tom.
"Tom told a funny! I didn't know you had such a wicked sense of humor. And when I say wicked I mean evil. Evilly funny… I didn't know that was possible!" she said to the blank faced young man beside her. Tom simply nodded and continued to glare at Dudley who sat as far away from Tom as he could manage. Dudley was understandably not making eye contact with him.
"Mione? How many Avada Kedavra's have you had?" Harry asked.
"Only three. Tom's had four." Harry's mouth dropped open and he stared at Tom, who didn't look drunk at all. In fact he looked as stoic as ever.
"Hello Hermione, Tom," greeted Luna in a singsong voice. Hermione smiled and waved happily, while Tom paused in his reply, one brow arched above his hairline. The impertinence! She knew who he was! How dare she address him in such an informal manner! Well… Tom sat back suddenly, a little stunned that he actually wasn't as angry as he should be. He stared back at the owlish blinking eyes planted firmly on him.
"Lovegood," he finally greeted, then placed both arms on the table and leaned forward. "The music isn't so loud yet. Why don't you go around humming a tune for everyone?"
"Would my humming make you happy?"
Harry and Hermione watched the exchange with great interest. Harry was slightly concerned but Hermione was too buzzed to really care about Tom's motives.
"Yes," he answered and sent the girl a charming smile. Her cheeks darkened just as Hermione's had done, though Tom didn't notice this in the dim lighting. He only noticed the widening of her odd and pretty gray eyes.
"Okay, Tom!" she chirped and pulled in a deep breath as if preparing to hum. Tom sat forward, eager to watch.
"No! You're not going to get Luna to go around killing innocent people!" Harry finally hissed and jostled Luna's arm to get her to stop.
Tom glared at him for a second and then huffed before sitting back and returning to his drink, trying to ignore everyone and everything around him. Why was he here? Oh yes, because he was weak and cared about what Hermione thought and wanted. Tom felt a very strong urge to pout and just barely managed to keep a straight face.
"Draco's not here yet?" Luna asked.
Upon hearing that blasted blond's name, Tom scowled and downed the rest of his drink. Seeing this, Harry perked up and grinned. Would he actually get to see the infamous Tom Riddle get sloshed tonight? Oh Merlin, he certainly hoped so.
"Oh, look!" Luna exclaimed excitedly without waiting for an answer and jumped from her seat and pointed to the top level. "There are Blibbering Humdinger's up there!" she hurried off without another look at her friends and disappeared through the crowd.
"Err…" Dudley ventured, sure that he shouldn't bring attention to himself, though he couldn't contain his curiosity. "What are Blib- Uh, Blis…Err… what she said?"
Harry shook his head and smiled. "It's better not to ask."
"I'm surprised to see Luna here. I'd thought she'd want to stay with her father," Hermione said.
"I demanded she come with me," Harry told Hermione. "She could use a break and Amortia is off duty from St. Mungo's so she's keeping an eye on Mr. Lovegood tonight. She also thought Luna should go out for some time as well."
"Yes. Though I'm sure Draco will be displeased that's she's here."
"Draco will get over this dislike of Lovegood or else," Tom spat. His tone so frigid that Dudley nearly squeaked in fear. This seemed to please Tom because he grinned maniacally at Harry's cousin.
"I agree," Harry said with a firm nod. "It's stupid."
"Are you going to make up with Draco?" Hermione asked Tom.
"Why should I? He's the one who started it. He's the one who was in such a foul mood and decided to take it out on me."
"He'll apologize," Harry stated just as he felt a tingling at the base of his spine and turned around to see Draco saunter out of the Apparition room. "And look, here he is now."
Tom glared at the offending presence and clutched his glass so tightly that Hermione was afraid it would shatter and cut him. She quickly placed her hand over his and retrieved the glass. Draco spotted them, and it was clear he hadn't expected to see Tom among their group and his steps faltered.
"You. Dursley," Tom growled. Dudley's eyes widened. "Go and watch out for Lovegood. Do not speak to her. Just make sure she doesn't get into trouble."
Dudley immediately leapt up from the table and nodded. "Yes sir!" And then he was gone. Harry was snickering behind his hand. Hermione stood and took said hand.
"Come on, sweetie. Let's go dance. I've been trying for ages to get Tom to go but he won't budge from the table. Meanie!" Hermione stuck her tongue out at him, and Tom retaliated by sticking up his middle finger.
"O- Okay, Mione… Just don't, err you know…" Harry began.
"I know, Harry. I won't scare you." They left just as Draco came to the table. He glared murder at the retreating forms of his lover and friend, and then turned to look at Tom who stared back without blinking.
Draco sighed and sat down across from him. "Do you still want to kill me?"
"The urge is only slight."
"I'm sorry. I apologize, Tom. I was very much out of line."
Tom nodded and the tension released from his shoulders. He was amazed that that was all it took for him to forgive Draco. The fact that Draco was sincere with his apology meant a great deal as well.
Draco frowned. "Well?"
"What?"
"Aren't you going to apologize too?"
"For what? I don't believe I said anything that should warrant an apology."
"You're kidding! You called me baby Malfoy!"
Tom smirked. "Oh, did I bruise baby Malfoy's ego?" This was more like it. Riling a Malfoy was always fun.
"Stop calling me that!"
"If you treat Lovegood with a little more respect." Tom picked up his drink and stared at the alcohol inside, biting back the urge to laugh at the incredulous look spread across Draco's face.
"B-but why?" he sputtered.
"Anyone who can kill someone the way she does deserves respect. Even if she did do it by accident," Tom replied offhandedly.
Draco sighed and nodded. And then his silver eyes gleamed with amusement. "You utter pervert! I knew that made you hot!"
"I can't believe he's still here," Harry laughed against his lover's pale neck. They were pressed tightly together and swayed along with the slow sensual beat of the music. It was well past midnight, the club was packed with happy merry makers, and Tom was still sitting at the same table. Only now he was sitting with the Weasley twins, a twin on each side of him, as well as Blaise and Ginny. There was a bottle of Firewhiskey sitting dead center of the table; its contents decreasing quickly from the rounds of shots the five of them were consuming.
Draco grinned against Harry's temple. "He's so drunk he probably can't even move."
"But he's good enough to keep pouring himself shots."
Harry was happy to see that Tom looked relaxed and he even saw him laugh at some point at something one of the twins said which pleased the twin as Tom's face took on a whole other plane of beauty when he laughed with sincere pleasure that held no malice behind it. Draco looked over and snorted when he spotted Hermione as she bounced back to the table, and slithered over one of the twin's laps to squeeze in next to Tom. She turned and plastered a drunken kiss upon Tom's cheek. He immediately threw a friendly arm around her back, squeezing her firmly to his side. Fred, George, Ginny, and Blaise looked at two of them in shock.
"People are going to start getting the wrong idea about the two of them," Draco said and then groaned when Harry's fingers skipped their way down his chest and passed his waistband until they were lightly resting against the bulge under his pants. He groaned again and buried his head against Harry's neck when those fingers flexed and firmly grasped him.
"Tom and Hermione would only care what Severus thinks, and Severus knows they are only friends," Harry whispered into Draco's ear, before biting the lobe between his teeth. "Hermione has always been a touchy feely person, always throwing hugs around and Uncle Sev knows this as well." Again he flexed his fingers over Draco and gasped when the blond bit his neck in retaliation, though no blood was drawn.
"Quit talking, Potter."
"Make me poncy bastard." He grinned when he felt the twitch of Draco's erection under his palm.
"Get a bloody room!" someone snapped as they cut through the dance floor and pushed passed the lovers. "Potter's such a disgusting freak!"
Harry was so surprised and upset by this that he backed away from Draco and was about to retort when complete strangers began to stand up for him. The first of which was a couple that had been dancing beside Harry and Draco. "Don't call Harry Potter a freak! You're just jealous!" the witch snapped. Her boyfriend nodded, "yeah, after all… Potter and Malfoy don't wank off by themselves day and night to mental pictures of their mothers. Shove off!"
Harry stared wide-eyed at the couple beside him and then spun around when he heard others. "You're fucking it up for the rest of us! Be gone!" This coming from another male couple and those two pushed the wizard who'd spoken against Harry off the dance floor.
"We were watching Malfoy and Potter get off! It was a free show! What's your problem?" This came from a co-ed couple nearby whom Harry never met before. He'd never met any of these people before and he couldn't help but be touched by their standing up for him and Draco. By now the entire dance floor had stilled and was calling out insults to the man who dared insult him and he watched, strangely detached, as the wizard and his friends were bullied out of the club.
The shock he felt from being defended by complete strangers managed to keep his anger away. He was a little overwhelmed by the support he was receiving as he didn't think it had anything to do with his scar for once. It was confirmed when a witch appeared beside him, patted his arm and said, "it's okay, honey. You go on and do whatever you want with your man. Only a complete idiot would say such mean things!" She hadn't even looked at his scar.
Harry turned to look at Draco, only to find the blond gone. Uh oh. Draco!
I'll be back, Draco replied in a deadly calm that had Harry shivering. Go have some drinks with Tom.
Draco, you just left me in the middle of the dance floor! Harry whirled around trying to look for his lover, but it seemed Draco had disappeared.
I won't be long.
Harry pouted and moved off the dance floor and sat down at their designated table. Everyone looked at him with concerned expressions. "Harry, what was all that about?" Hermione asked.
"Some homophobe said something mean and then Draco deserted me to exact revenge. But it was really wicked because perfect strangers stood up for me!"
"What exactly was said?" Tom asked.
"I'm not an idiot. I'm not about to tell you so you'll go run after the guy as well." Tom looked like he was going to demand it, but Ginny reached over and tapped Harry's shoulder.
"Hey look, Sirius is here."
Harry groaned and let his head fall on the table. Just what he did not need. Sirius was bound to make more of a commotion than Draco did when he left Harry standing alone on the dance floor. The rest of the group turned and watched Sirius snatch a bottle of Firewhiskey that Dirk was holding out to him and he bounded over to them. Without a word, Sirius began to top off everyone's shot glass. He only noticed the tense atmosphere when he raised the shot glass to his lips.
Slowly he returned the glass to the table. "What's going on here? What's with the long faces?"
Harry looked at his friends and bared his fangs in a silent warning. He then stood and went in search of Luna and Dudley. He was sure Tom had ordered Dudley to watch after Luna just to make sure the bloke didn't have any fun, especially since Luna didn't seem to want to do anything that one usually did in a club. Throughout the night he caught sight of Dudley often just standing back and watching the people around him, a small smile on his face. Harry was very curious to know what was going through his cousin's mind.
He found Luna upstairs leaning against the rail and watching all the people dance below with an absentminded smile. Looking around, he noticed Dudley was not up there with them. He asked her if she'd seen him.
"I told him to go have fun. Look, there he is." Luna pointed down into the dancing crowd. Harry was surprised to see Dudley dancing as if he hadn't a care in the world.
"He was supposed to look after you," Harry said as an afterthought. Not that he actually cared knowing Tom was just being vindictive.
Luna laughed. "I don't need looking after. Everything happens as it should, you know."
"But Tom told him to watch you."
"Why should he demand such a thing?" Luna turned and wrapped her arm around his.
"No one can say for certain what goes on in his mind."
"Hmm…" Luna moved off, seemingly forgetting she had Harry's arm in an alarmingly strong grip and dragged him with her. They both plopped down in chairs side by side and for a moment were lost in a comfortable silence. Unlike the last time he'd been there, the top floor wasn't closed off and more people were gathered upstairs. They sent curious glances his and Luna's way, but otherwise left them alone.
Harry and Luna spent some time talking about the upcoming school year, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, Hermione's rising skills in the Dark Arts, Luna's abrupt knowledge of some Dark spells, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, and The Quibbler. Harry was surprised to find out most of The Quibbler this summer was edited by Luna herself since her father had fallen ill at the beginning of summer.
Finally, Luna smiled brightly at nothing in particular. "And revenge has been taken." And then she looked at him, "would you mind terribly taking me back to Daddy now? I can't be away from him for long."
Of course Harry didn't mind and he Apparated her back to Malfoy Manor from that very spot, scaring quite a few patrons in doing so. When he returned to the club, there was still no sign of Draco. He refused to ask the blond where he was and would wait for Draco to seek him out. Harry grabbed Dudley from the dance floor and dragged him back to their table. He was greeted with yet another surprising sight. Not only was Sirius still there but also Lucius was now in attendance, and everyone at the table had shot glasses and were playing I Never. Everyone!
"Harry, Dudders, just in time! Grab a seat and a glass," George yelled at them.
"Some of you must be Polyjuiced!" Harry laughed and looked pointedly at Tom and Lucius as he and Dudley squeezed in to join.
"I assure you I am not playing this ridiculous game of my own free will!" Lucius snapped and glared at Tom.
"If I have to play, then so do you, old friend." There was a wicked gleam in his eyes and Harry laughed upon hearing the Dark Lord slurring his words.
"Why are you here, anyway?" Harry asked Lucius and nodded his thanks when Ginny passed him a full shot glass. Lucius favored all the occupants with a disdainful sneer; the biggest sneer aimed at his grinning husband, but otherwise remained quiet.
"My turn!" Sirius laughed. "I never followed my husband to a club because I'm insanely jealous of the young sexy bartender."
Blaise snorted and then quickly covered his mouth with his hand and Ginny hid her laughing face against his chest and peeked out at the furious blond who regally brought the shot glass up to his lips to drink. The game was enchanted after all. Lucius had to drink. Fred, George, and Harry laughed outright, while Tom and Hermione chuckled quietly together. Dudley witnessed the rage passing through the eyes of the gorgeous man who looked like an older version of Malfoy, and so he remained quiet.
"There will be retribution for this," Lucius hissed quietly to Sirius who was shaking with laughter.
"I'm not the one making you play," he replied and then motioned for Blaise to take his turn.
Blaise grinned. "I never made it a goal in life to cause total chaos within the world." Harry snorted when Tom, Lucius, George, and Fred took a shot.
"What? We just…"
"Use the joke shop…"
"As a cover," the twins answered when Tom and Lucius turned to them.
"We were born for mayhem, mate," Fred said to Tom. "Your turn, Gin."
The red head flashed a grin. "I never ran across Hogwarts grounds in the nude." She drank along with Blaise, Lucius, Sirius, and…
"Hermione!"
"It was just a dare! Lavender Brown thinks she's so clever. Thought she'd make me seem like a prude to everyone… I showed her!"
"Yeah, and everyone else!" Harry laughed. Then everyone turned to Lucius. Sirius drinking surprised no one as he did crazy stuff all the time, but Lucius…
"I refuse to answer any question except for the I Never question. Let's get on with it," Lucius replied flatly.
As the game progressed, Harry realized Dudley wasn't able to drink at all as most statements had to do with either Hogwarts or doing things in the Wizarding World, which probably made his cousin feel uncomfortable and left out so Harry told him he could go back to dancing if he wanted. But Dudley declined saying he was having fun at the table learning about Harry's friends. Harry couldn't help but be pleased by this.
"Tom's turn."
Again, Tom smiled wickedly at Lucius. "I never lusted after Severus Snape."
Everyone, of course, knew Hermione would drink, but they weren't expecting to hear a growl coming from Lucius as he lifted the shot glass to his lips. He refused to meet the horrified look on his husband's face. Fred and George also drank, but no one cared as they were watching for what Sirius would do.
"You lust after Snivellus!" Sirius stood, his body trembling with disgust and fury. "You want that disgusting snarky git?"
"Sirius, watch what you say!" Hermione said, but the Animagus wasn't listening.
Lucius remained seated and continued to glare at Tom. "That was a very long time ago."
"Still! When? Was it when we were dating? Is that why you spent so much time with Snape?"
Tom sat back, enjoying the show and the very pleasant light feeling his body had taken on. His brain felt like it was swimming around inside his head.
"You've started a fight, Tom. How could you?"
"It's just a game," he replied to Hermione. "And Lucius is telling the truth. It was a very long time ago." Still, he continued to smile. Who knew games of this sort could be fun? And Lucius had so many dirty little secrets…
"Not the point!" Sirius barked.
"All right. Enough fighting," Harry said softly, but there was a definite edge to his voice that indicated he should be obeyed at once. Sirius glared before stalking away in an obvious cloud of fury.
"Thanks so very much!" Lucius spat, then he stood and hurried after Sirius, nearly running Draco over in the process as the younger Malfoy returned. Draco stared after his father with an owlish expression before blinking and shaking his head. He reached the table just as Harry made the next statement with a nasty sneer on his face.
"I never had a snake fetish. Of the sexual kind."
Draco was halfway down into his seat when he froze along with everyone else. Hermione and Draco stared at Harry in horror, while everyone else stared at Tom, whose eyes seemed to glow red for just a moment. His fingers clutched at the glass as if trying to keep it on the table, but as seconds passed the shot glass slowly made its way to Tom's lips until he drank the blasted shot.
"All's fair, Tom," Harry quipped with a malicious smile.
"I'll get you for that."
Gonna use your snake skinned whip on me? Harry batted his eyelashes at the fuming Dark Lord and grinned when Draco groaned and tugged him over until he was planted firmly on his blond lover's lap. Harry dropped his head back onto a broad shoulder and closed his eyes upon feeling Draco's erection throbbing beneath him. Harry couldn't help but wiggle a little to let Draco know he wanted it. And badly.
"I think it's time for more dancing," Blaise said when he saw Draco's hands disappear under Harry's shirt. His friend had a very disturbing dark glint in his eyes, and Blaise wondered what Draco had done to the guys who badmouthed Harry. He had a feeling that guy and his friends were dead, but he didn't want to think about that too much. Blaise quickly led a sniggering Ginny away.
"Just for clarification, I only had that fetish when I was completely insane! Now I'm going home," Tom stated. "You will allow me to escort you to Severus so that he may take you home. You've had too much to drink to go alone," he said to Hermione. She nodded and let him help her up. They both slightly stumbled trying to get around the table. He shot one last pissed off look at Harry before departing with Hermione. Fred and George looked slightly put out that everyone was leaving.
"Pop off!" Draco snapped at them, his eyes glued firmly to Harry's neck. "And take Dursley with you."
"How do you like that?" Fred said.
"We've been dismissed," George intoned. "Come on, Dud's. The bar calls."
When the young Ukatae had the table in the dark corner all to themselves, Harry twisted around until he was straddling Draco and pouted at his lover. "You left me alone in the middle of the dance floor."
"I needed to take care of business," Draco responded, before brushing his lips over Harry's jaw. Harry shifted and roughly grinded their erections together.
"The only thing you need to take care of is me," he hissed.
Draco smirked and allowed his hands to travel to Harry's back where he could massage away his mate's tense muscles. He ran a finger down Harry's spine, thinking it was only the wing sacks rubbing against his knuckle as he went down, and grinned when Harry purred and pushed harder against him. He spread his hands over Harry's back and that's when he noticed. Draco's questing fingers froze and Harry's glazed eyes opened and peered at his mate in question.
"Your wings. The wing sacks are gone. I can feel your wings," he whispered in awe as he ran his fingertips over the soft feathers and watched transfixed as Harry arched his back in obvious pleasure.
"I didn't notice they were free." Harry started to purr loudly as Draco continued to stroke the silken feathers. The wings were apparently very, very sensitive pleasure areas.
"Obviously." Draco removed his hands and began to unbutton Harry's shirt. He wanted to see those wings. He didn't care they were in the middle of a club. He had to see his mate's wings.
Their Ukatae guard stood off in the shadows watching, prepared to defend the young ones if necessary. Ozemir watched with amusement as Draco began to undo Harry's shirt and wondered how far they would actually go here in the public's eye. He was willing to bet they didn't care where they were.
"Erect a shield," Falde told him, apparently thinking the same.
Ozemir nodded and held out both hands towards the table. "Dyrstu sipae mindu."
A solid black shadow rose up from the ground and circled the young ones' table. No one could see in except for the elder Ukatae. It became apparent soon after why Falde had instructed the shield. Draco removed Harry's shirt and he and the elder Ukatae gasped. Harry's black wings unfurled for the first time since the wing sacks had dissolved and rose up into the air flapping for a short time as if stretching, then they fell back down to rest against Harry and curled around his shoulders as if protecting his back.
"Those markings!" Ozemir stumbled backwards and fell to his knees, staring in shock and in what might have been horror at the metallic green markings covering the small fine black feathers of Harry's wings.
"Ozemir, calm yourself. We can't be sure," Falde whispered softly.
But Ozemir was shaking his head. "You knew! You knew this whole time, Falde! And I've seen those markings before! There is no mistaking."
"What are you talking about?" Brumek barked. "Everyone with wings have markings. I see nothing strange beyond the size."
"Of course you don't see! Why would you?" Ozemir snarled at Brumek. "You know nothing but fighting!" he snapped and stared at his hands, which were shaking. When he spoke next his voice was soft, trembling. "Y-you weren't there. Hirsha, forgive me."
Ozemir picked himself off the floor and took another step back. Brumek would have retaliated if it weren't for the fear shining in those violet eyes. He'd seen plenty of different emotions cross Ozemir's face, but he'd never seen fear. A horrible, encompassing fear. He wondered if it was fear for himself or for the young ones. And why? Why were those markings affecting Ozemir in this way?
Brumek turned to Falde for some sort of explanation because it was clear their leader knew what Ozemir was babbling on about, but he and Talyn were transfixed on watching as Draco made Harry stand and turn so that he could thoroughly inspect his mate's wings. Upon Draco's command, Harry concentrated, and then smiled when his wings rose off his back and stretched out. The width was double the length of Harry's arms, which was twice as long as the normal wing spread of Ukatae.
Brumek turned back to Ozemir to find the slighter Ukatae staring at the ground, fists clenched tightly by his sides. His eyes were glazed over, and emotions played across his face as if he were remembering something painful. "Ozemir?" he asked softly. He wasn't used to seeing the white haired creature with those kinds of looks on his face. He didn't like to see it. It made him feel strange. "Snap out of it!" he hissed and grabbed Ozemir's arm to shake him. Ozemir flinched away from his touch and continued to back up, completely submerged within his troubled thoughts.
Brumek was never so happy to see humans as he was then when he spotted one of Harry's friends rush into the club with an anxious look on his face as he looked around for his friends. He needed a distraction from Ozemir because it was obvious he could not do anything to ease Ozemir. So he left his comrades to go and see what the problem could be. Anything was better than having to stand there and watch Ozemir lose himself to whatever was taking over his thoughts.
Brumek constructed a glamour to look human and appeared in front of the brown haired human. Neville was so surprised to see him appear that he stumbled right into the Ukatae. "Human," Brumek greeted. "Aren't you supposed to be on a mission?"
"Y-yes! That's why I'm here. I need to see Harry and Draco. Maybe they can make something of it." Brumek, feeling very generous at the moment, was about to lead the little human to the young ones, but they were interrupted.
"Neville!" Fred and George popped up on either side of the slightly panting youth.
"What's going on, mate?"
"Here, have a drink!" The twins each thrust a glass of something into Neville's hands and he nearly dropped them because the twins both leaned up against him in their drunken state. Neville heard someone laughing behind. When he turned, he saw a boy with curly dirty blond hair laughing. His cheeks were pink from the over abundance of liquor the twins had been giving him. Neville did a double take when he realized it was Harry's cousin. The boy had lost a serious amount of weight since the last time he'd seen him.
"Guys, you're about to knock him over." Dudley moved forward and pulled the twins off him.
"Err… thanks, Dudley. Um… what are you doing here anyway?" Neville had not been informed about Dudley being a wizard. He had guessed as much but no one had confirmed it and he really hadn't expected to ever see the boy again.
"Meeting new people. Harry wanted me to have a look at the Wizarding World before I made my decision on whether or not I wanted to become part of it."
"Yeah? What do you think so far?" Dudley grinned and pulled out his wand for Neville to see. "Very nice. So, this means you're going to be staying, then?"
"Yep. Mr. Black is going to be my tutor."
Neville would have continued on with the conversation but Brumek, who'd lost his patience, interrupted. "Your mission!" he snapped.
Neville stepped back from Brumek in alarm, but then quickly covered his surprise. "Yeah… thanks. Sorry, Dudley. Have to go report to Harry and Draco."
Dudley nodded and watched Neville being led away by that arse Brumek before he returned to his seat between the twins, who'd returned to sit at the bar, drunkenly snickering while watching Neville and Dudley talk.
Harry was just learning how delightful it was to have wings. Especially when it pertained to Draco. Apparently, the wings were for both mates and had multiple purposes. One purpose was discovered right away. The wings released a pheromone that simply drove his mate mad with lust and Harry giggled watching Draco try and control himself. He was just starting to get into the game where he'd flap his wings in and out as Draco stood completely still staring at the beautiful, entrancing sight. Harry allowed the tips of his wings to lightly brush over the blond's face, eliciting a full body shudder from his mate every time.
Draco had just about enough and was preparing to pounce when Brumek chose that time to pull Neville in past the black shadow barrier. Neville's eyes widened upon the sight Brumek brought him in to. He just barely contained his own laughter when Harry let out another giggle as he stared over his shoulder at Draco's drooling mouth. Neville's amusement died though when he caught sight of the green markings on his friend's wings.
Brumek rolled his eyes at the young ones' antics. "Your friend is back from his mission. He has something to report."
Draco turned very slowly, fixing smoldering silver eyes on Brumek and growled something awful. The blond's glamour dropped like a bomb and he transformed completely into Ukatae, and if Dark elves could breathe fire, Draco would have been doing so. It was then Brumek remembered. He cursed long and hard to himself as he backed away slowly, shielding the young ones' human friend behind him as he did so. If a Ukatae was displaying his wings for his mate's pleasure, it was a very bad idea to interrupt. One was never allowed to go near a bonded submissive under these circumstances unless you were the dominating mate. Draco now had the right, under Ukatae law, to challenge Brumek to duel, or even to just outright kill him.
Draco had just lunged at Brumek when Falde yanked the warrior and Neville back out of the barrier and sealed it tight in order to keep Draco in. "You know better! Do you know what you've done? Never mind!" Falde shouted when Brumek would have answered. The shout drew half the club's attention of course, though no one could see who had shouted. "Take Ozemir back to the Manor and stay there. Maybe we can calm the young one down. You'll be lucky if he's only going off the natural protective instinct and not the Knowledge. Go now!"
Brumek growled in frustration as he lunged for Ozemir. Damned young one! It wasn't his fault the young ones decided a public place was just as good as a private place for such a display. Ozemir was still in a world of his own and didn't notice when Brumek gripped him around the waist and Shadowed them away.
Neville stood just outside the barrier and stared at it in horror. He could hear the snarls coming from inside, the vicious yells, and Draco's lethal claws scratching at the barrier. "Go back to your friends at the bar," Falde instructed. His disembodied voice nearly had Neville jumping out of his skin.
"B-but they need… I need to let them know what I've found."
"Not now," Falde growled.
Neville stammered before rushing off to the bar. He immediately grabbed Fred's drink and gulped it down before explaining to the twins and Dudley what had just happened.
Meanwhile inside the black shadow barrier, Harry took a minute to watch his furious mate doing everything possible to get through to Brumek. Usually, when Draco was being protective and vindictive on his mate's behalf, Harry stood back and allowed it, but since he knew Brumek had meant no disrespect, and because he didn't want to lose Brumek as one of his guard, Harry decided Draco's attentions should quickly be put back on him.
He turned his back on Draco and rapidly flapped his wings. So fast that a strong breeze built up around them inside the barrier. The pheromones released were just too strong for Draco to ignore even when he was in an uncontrollable state. Harry grinned when the pounding and snarling stopped, and he began to purr and prepare himself for the shag of a lifetime. All that anger Draco had in him had to be released somewhere, and Harry was happy enough to be the one to help with that.
He slowly turned, his wings still pumping and watched Draco under heavy eyelids. As his hands traveled down his chest to his slacks, Harry moved forward slowly, eyes never leaving his mate's. Draco stood stock still, staring at his mate as if in a trance, which was just fine for Harry, as he wanted to play with his mate first. As he unbuttoned his slacks and dragged them down to just past his hipbones, he spoke softly in a voice dripping with want. "Draco, I thought I told you the only thing you need to take care of is me. You're not being very responsible."
Draco numbly shook his head and inhaled deeply as Harry inched closer.
Harry slid up against him and drew the blond's shirt up over his head then tossed it aside. He started to kiss Draco in all the places he knew would drive his mate crazy. Under his ears, along his neck to the pulse points, over his jaw… he avoided Draco's mouth, knowing exactly how much his mate yearned for his lips. Harry created a lava trail of kisses over Draco's chest, tonguing the hard pink nipples until Draco was growling at him from the intense pleasure that brought him, and then Harry moved on. Down to the sensitive naval, dragging his nails down along with his lips. He dipped his tongue in Draco's naval, his tongue a cyclone of pleasure and relished in the heat and trembles his mate was releasing. Draco's hands fisted in Harry's hair, gripping tightly but not impeding Harry's southern journey.
Harry knelt and pushed Draco back against the barrier before releasing his leaking erection and gazed at the pink head covered in pre-cum. Harry licked his lips and stared up into Draco's face. Without ever breaking eye contact, Harry leaned forward and took the leaking head into his mouth and sucked gently, grinning around Draco's thick member when his mate groaned and let his head slip back to rest against the barrier. Harry fluttered his wings and took just a little more cock into his mouth, slowly, adding only slight pressure and knew he was doing well when Draco's claws began to dig into his scalp. You like that, don't you? You want more? Harry quickly hollowed his cheeks, anticipating his mate's reaction. Draco's claws dug deep and he thrust deeply into Harry's mouth until his cock was encompassed completely by Harry's warm wet mouth.
"Gods," he groaned.
Harry pulled back slowly, running his tongued along the underside of Draco's cock and twisting it around the head as it left his mouth. He moved forward quickly, sucking hard this time. He spent a large amount of time teasing and sucking Draco's head. Draco squeezed his eyes closed and banged his head against the barrier as uncontrollable groans and whimpers escaped his mouth. When Harry knew Draco wouldn't last for very much longer, Harry reached forward and fingered Draco's balls and hollowed his cheeks again. C'mon, lover. You know you want to fuck my mouth. Do what you like. Draco's eyes snapped open, burning Harry with that hot look. Harry just closed his eyes, relaxed his throat, and leaned forward prepared for the fucking his mouth was about to receive.
"Open your eyes, Harry. You watch me when I do this." Draco hissed and groaned in pleasure when he had emeralds burning brightly with lust looking up at him. Draco retracted his claws to comb his fingers through Harry's hair before gripping the brunet around the base of his head. He thrust forward while pulling Harry's head towards his cock and thrust wildly in and out of his mate's mouth, their eyes locked on each other. Harry gripped Draco's arse tightly as his mate forced his head back and forth around his hard cock. Draco bent his knees a bit and increased the speed of his thrusts, and squeezed his eyes shut when he knew he was about to explode. "Fuck. Harry…"
Harry loved the expressions flitting over Draco's face as he reached his peak. The raw passion, exquisite pleasure, and unbelieving waves of hot lust he saw was enough to bring him along, and when he knew Draco would last only seconds longer, Harry stilled his head, keeping Draco's cock deep within his mouth, and growled. The vibrations sent Draco reeling and he shouted Harry's name as he came, spurting all his seed down Harry's throat.
Harry pulled back, licking his lips, and watched Draco sink to his knees, panting heavily. Harry smirked at a job well done and stood before leaning back against the table, and allowed his wings to flutter softly while he watched Draco regain his breath and strength. They were by no means finished.
Draco finally stood and quickly made his way to Harry, pinning him against the table. "Where the bloody hell did you learn to do that?"
Harry smirked. "I've been practicing."
Draco leaned forward until their noses were touching. "On who?" he hissed.
Harry laughed sweetly and swept his fingers through the soft hair of his beloved. "I've been using lollies. Did you like?"
Draco hummed from the back of his throat and leaned forward to lick the cum from Harry's chin that he wasn't able to swallow and then moved to his mouth. Harry eagerly returned Draco's kisses, wrapping his legs and arms around Draco. When Harry concentrated between kisses he was able to wrap his wings around himself and Draco and was delighted to hear Draco growl as his cock began to harden again.
"Oh good. I thought I would have to wait." Harry smiled what he thought was an innocent smile, but Draco caught the gleam in his eyes.
He grinned at his lusty mate. "Don't insult me, Potter."
"But it's so easy to do." Harry grinned. "Tell me, what did you do to that wizard from earlier?"
Draco's eyes flashed, his cock twitched at the memory. He leaned down and sucked on Harry's bottom lip. I slaughtered him and his bastard friends. Harry tilted his head back and laughed excitably. Draco leaned forward to kiss his neck and lifted Harry's hips so he could pull Harry's pants down around his ankles. He prepared to return the very pleasing favor to Harry, but before he could kneel, Harry grabbed his arms in an almost painful grip and kept him upright.
"Don't want to wait. Want you inside. Now." In the span of a few seconds, he and Harry found themselves completely nude. Harry smirked when Draco's surprise shown on his face. "I told you I don't want to wait."
It was a very good thing a shield was around that table because both young Ukatae used every inch of that round space. Draco took Harry right on that table and managed to bring Harry to orgasm rather quickly there. Then Draco pushed them to a standing position against the barrier, where Harry begged Draco to describe in detail what he'd done to that fucking big-mouthed wizard. Instead of describing it, Draco transmitted pictures into Harry's mind while fucking Harry from behind to near blindness. The darkness Harry witnessed in his powerful mate urged Harry on to experience an all new level of passion and pleasure. They finally ended up in a chair with Harry riding Draco, their tongues dancing as erotically as their hips. Sweat poured off them as the barrier area was filled with the passionate cries of their lovemaking.
Anyone who was standing near the barrier could hear everything as no one thought to cast a silencing spell around it. Luckily, there was a barrier and it made the table invisible therefore no one went near that area, except for Fred and George. But they were quickly pushed away by a blushing Talyn. She and Falde stood outside the barrier with their backs to it. Falde remained stoned faced, his thoughts completely on those marks and he hardly heard what was going on behind him. But Talyn was having a harder time not listening. It was very hard to ignore and she once looked over her shoulder… well, all right, it was twice. Talyn had always been a very curious creature and she knew it was rude to look, but the sounds Harry and Draco were making…. And were the young ones actually old enough to even be able to do that?
Fred, George, Neville, and Dudley were still at the bar when closing time came around and the last club goers were shooed home by Dirk and his bouncers. He allowed the four at the bar to stay because they were Draco Malfoy's friends, and since the Malfoys were his financial backing, he didn't make the friends leave. Besides, he knew Draco was still around with Harry, even though he couldn't see them and he knew their friends were waiting for them. However, he did refuse them more alcohol.
"How long does it take to bloody shag?" Dudley finally asked after picking his head up from the bar. "It's like we've been waiting for hours!" Neville nodded his head in agreement.
Fred looked over at them and frowned. "You've never shagged before, have you?"
Dudley's face went as red as a tomato. He looked sideways at Neville who sat beside him and was relieved to see he wasn't the only one embarrassed.
"Besides, this is Harry and Draco. They've got so much pent up sexual tension from the many years of fighting that they'll be at it like bunnies for years before they settle down. If at all."
"Yeah, about that… I thought they were enemies. When I first met Malfoy he said they hated each other. How could they go from being enemies to this lovey dovey sappy couple?" Dudley asked.
"Well that's simple. They're soul mates," Fred answered. "They never realized all that hate was actually something else. And I suspect their animosity towards each other was their way of fighting it or acknowledging it in an oblivious way. You know how little boys like to be mean to girls they fancy. It was sort of like that. Completely oblivious, those two, and Draco was a right git at the time and Harry was only too happy to fight back."
George was nodding along with his brother's explanation. "Also, as they matured, I believe they finally realized that the hate was something else and it scared them. They became more violent towards each other before they stopped fighting all together. Harry was the first, I think, to accept what he felt for Draco. He refused to fight with Draco after that." George frowned. "That's when Harry started to get depressed. He refused to fight, and since they weren't fighting, there was no reason for him to be near Draco. It must have hurt him not to be able to interact with the blond git, but he stood firm."
"Harry was the first to accept his feelings, but Draco was the first to realize he was in love with Harry. I think he realized that years before Harry. They're both so stubborn that it took the Soul Mate bond to bring them together," Fred went on smiling when he noticed Neville and Dudley were hanging on every word.
"If you've quite finished talking about us," Draco drawled from behind them. All four bodies twisted around to find the two young Ukatae standing there. Harry was grinning, but Draco was scowling.
"Err… how long exactly have you been standing there?" Neville ventured. He paled when Draco bared his teeth. Draco was certainly not happy with his life being discussed like this, but Harry didn't seem to mind. In fact he was actually amused.
"We were here since, 'how could they go from being enemies to this lovey dovey sappy couple?'" Harry responded and watched as Dudley turned back around and let his head drop heavily down onto the bar. "I hadn't realized you two were so observant," he told the twins. "You could have clued me in."
"Naw, everything happened as it was supposed to."
"That or you only just figured that stuff out after we got together," Draco replied with an eye roll.
Harry turned his laughing eyes on Neville. "You wanted to talk to us, I presume."
"Erm…yeah."
"Right. We'll go back to the Manor first. Dudley, Fred, George… You guys are welcome to come with us. You can stay the night. If not, I'll take you home Dudley."
"No. We'll go straight home," Draco said firmly, knowing how tired his mate was. They'd been separated most of the day too, so he didn't want Harry out of sight again that night. "Dursley will have to come with us."
"I don't have a problem with that, Harry. I told Mum there was a chance I wouldn't return tonight."
"We'll tag along too. We're curious to know what Neville found out." George grinned at Draco. "Unless His Highness has a problem with us being there."
"It won't be a problem. We'll all go in the circle. After the amount of alcohol you two have digested, you do not need to be Apparating anywhere."
"Mighty kind of you, Draco," said Fred
"Must have been one hell of a shag," George added and the twins grinned wickedly.
Draco stepped forward in a threatening manner. "If you keep talking like that I'm going to-"
"It was monumental."
"Harry!"
"Well it was, lover. I'm not going to lie." In fact, Harry's cheeks were still blushing as he replayed all he and Draco had just done… In a club no less and it had been so thrilling! Draco smirked and buffed his fingernails on his shirt.
"Yeah, okay. Let's go," George said as he helped his brother stand. "You're making the blushing virgins uncomfortable." They turned and pinned Dudley and Neville with a smirking stare. Neville cleared his throat and inched his way to hide behind Dudley who was slightly taller than him. Dudley noticed the movement and suddenly became angry.
"It's not cool to make fun of someone for something like that," Dudley said, his eyes narrowing. Harry was once again surprised. Dudley's personality had completely changed from being the bully to being the defender.
"Don't get an attitude, Dursley. You are the last person on earth who has the right to say what is considered right and wrong," Draco growled and stepped forward, but Harry stopped him by holding out his arm, and he peered at Dudley oddly for a moment. His bright green eyes moved from Dudley, to Neville, then back again.
"No, he's right. It's not cool. Sorry."
Draco turned outraged eyes onto his mate. "I can't believe you're apologizing to him, Harry!"
"Stop it," Harry chided. He pulled away to create the circle, leaving Draco alternately pouting at Harry and glaring at Dudley.
"Thanks Dirk!" Harry called out. Dirk came from the back and saluted him.
"C'ya guys next time." Dirk watched, fascinated, as Harry, Draco and their friends disappeared in a circle of mist.
Brumek brought them back to the forest by Malfoy Manor and stepped back away from Ozemir who had taken a deep breath upon coming out of the Shadow. Ozemir was staring at the ground with a cute little frown on his face, but he was no longer shaking and his eyes seemed clear enough.
"Ozemir?"
The Ukatae looked up and the frown vanished from his face in an instant to be replaced by a goofy smile. "How silly of me!" he laughed softly, setting Brumek on edge again. "Excuse me for my behavior, Brumek. It will not happen again."
"Forget that! I want to know what happened to you. What was going on inside of that bloody big brain of yours?"
"It was nothing, I promise." Ozemir winked at Brumek before making his way passed the warrior. "I'll be in the library."
Brumek grabbed Ozemir as he passed and leaned over until they were eye to eye. "I have come to admit that you would not be useless in battle. Please don't insult me by insinuating that I am stupid. It was not nothing."
"And why do you care that I lost myself in a moment of weakness? Do you want to know if it happens often? If it will ruin the way we work as a group? Is that the problem?"
"You're awfully touchy, Ozemir. Is it so wrong of me to wonder what's wrong with my comrade?"
Ozemir spoke softly, almost too low for Brumek to catch it. "You've never wondered before."
"I wonder now." Brumek prepared to mention Harry's wings and the marks, but at the last moment thought better of it. He knew it would close Ozemir away from him and it would probably upset the Scholar again, and for some reason he didn't want that to happen. He cleared his throat and looked away. "I suppose we should return." He began walking without seeing if Ozemir would follow.
Ozemir did follow and smirked as he caught up and matched his stride, glad that Brumek decided not to press further. "Let us hope the young one decides he likes you alive and well. It is inconceivable how you could have forgotten the rules of the mate's display. How could you forget you needed to remain at least-"
"Thirty feet away… yes I know. I wasn't thinking clearly at the time."
"Dare I hope you were simply worried about me?"
"It was nothing of the sort!" Brumek snapped. "Besides, what were they thinking, doing such a thing there? Don't they have any modesty at all?"
"No. I don't think they do. They have both been in the public's eye for so long. Harry didn't like being the center of attention, while Draco has always adored it. Now that Harry is a Ukatae, he will do as he pleases and does not care where he is or whom he's around. No one would dare question him or his mate. Not to mention that now he has the security of his mate, whom he knows without a shadow of a doubt will protect him from anything. He revels in Draco's presence after such a hard cold life."
"How do you know so much about the young ones? You know quite a lot about who they were before they came to be Ukatae. How is that?"
Ozemir snorted. "I'm a Scholar and I'm very observant. That is my job. To attain knowledge… Honestly, Brumek. You were just complaining that you were not stupid."
"You are making me rethink my decision to not kill you. Perhaps you should be silent now." When Ozemir smiled blindingly at him, Brumek growled, "stop doing that you fool!"
Ozemir laughed. "You sounded like the human Severus Snape just now!" He was already to the manor by the time Brumek had unsheathed his sword.
Harry brought everyone back into the manor's library once they left the club. He ordered a house elf to bring everyone sober up potions to be taken before Neville got on with it.
"I'll have one as well," Tom said as he rose from a high backed chair placed in front of the large fireplace. Everyone was surprised to see him.
"I thought you'd be asleep by now, Tom. Glad you're here, though. Longbottom is about to tell us what happened on his mission," Draco said.
"I've never slept very well at night," Tom explained as he took up a chair around the table. "Remind me to forbid Hermione from ever loading me up with alcohol again." To Neville's horror, Tom sat right next to him. The house elf popped back in and passed vials of the sober up potion around.
"Neville?"
"Right then." Neville cleared his throat and leaned away from Tom in what he thought was a very subtle and not noticeable move, but Tom noticed and he mentally chuckled. "Dumbledore arrived, later than usual, according to the times you two have mentioned," he said gesturing to Fred and George. "He waited for a good hour. I didn't think anyone was coming to meet him, and he seemed to think the same as he stood and prepared to leave. Just as he reached the door, a tall figure in a heavy black cloak came in… you guys were right. This person was very, very tall."
"Yes, all right! We've already established that Dumbledore was meeting someone very tall. Get on with it Longbottom."
"Look, Malfoy, I'm only repeating it because I think that it is an important detail. This person is taller than a normal human could be, do you get me?" Neville snapped, surprising everyone. "Now shut up and let me finish!"
Draco was shocked to say the least. Where had Longbottom's backbone come from? "Fine, proceed."
"They sat down, and like the twins said, you couldn't hear a word they were saying, but at the end of their meeting, Dumbledore handed something over to the guy. I'm sorry, I tried to see what it was, but I suspect he had a concealment spell on the item and I caught nothing but a blurry image. The hand that came from beneath the cloak was pale and had long fingernails. Not only that, but there was an insignia ring on one of his fingers. I think it was male because of the size of his hand. I didn't know what to make of the ring because the design on it was something I had never seen before…. That is until I arrived at the club."
"What? You saw the design at the club?" Fred asked.
"Not the exact design, but something very similar. It's for certain the designs originate from the same place."
"Well by all means please enlighten us," Tom softly said.
"The ring's design was similar to the green marks on your wings, Harry."
Harry lay on the bed under the covers, and watched Draco pacing back and forth, scowling and occasionally muttering curses. It had been like this ever since Neville had told them what he'd seen. When Neville had mentioned the ring had a similar design as the marks on his wings, Falde had instantly appeared at the table and demanded Neville describe the ring in detail. Draco had had a better idea and had called for his Pensieve and they were all able to see what it looked like.
"A Ukatae! Dumbledore is conspiring with another Ukatae!" Draco seethed for the hundredth time.
Harry rolled his eyes and fell back onto the bed. After they had come out of the Pensieve, Falde had erected a very solid mask over his features, but Harry could sense his distress, and Ozemir's, over seeing that ring and he refused to tell them what it or the appearance of another Ukatae meant to them. Instead he called a meeting with the rest of the guard to be taken in the forest, and neither Harry nor Draco had heard from them since. He sighed. They probably wouldn't have anything explained unless it was demanded, which Harry would. He would also demand to know what was up with the markings on his wings as well. If the design on the ring meant something, then it was probably accurate to assume the markings on his wings did as well.
"Bloody Dumbledore! Bloody Ukatae!"
"Draco, you're not acting very Malfoy-like."
Harry sank further into the mattress and groaned as his body began to relax, his muscles and bones screaming at him. Draco had done a number on him and Harry had used muscles he didn't even know he possessed. He grinned and blushed once more thinking about it. Harry enjoyed every moment of it and really hoped he would have to distract Draco frequently. "You need to calm down now. Whatever Dumbledore has planned will fall through and come back to stab him in the back. Now come here. I'm cold and I want to sleep."
Draco nodded and crawled into bed. He immediately pulled Harry against his warm broad chest before letting his head fall down next to his mates. Draco was surprised that Harry's wings felt comfortable against his chest, instead of awkward like he thought they would be. But the wings seemed to fix themselves and mould against him perfectly.
"What about the prisoners?" Draco asked after a moment of silence. "You never did visit them."
"They'll keep till I'm in the mood. There's no need to rush."
Draco nuzzled Harry's neck. "Lover?"
"Hmm?"
"If Dumbledore has a Ukatae working for him, that means the coming term will be twice as dangerous."
"It's worse than that. I suspect Dumbledore is the one being used. No Ukatae would allow a human to use them. But don't worry. I have faith in our guards, and we're not exactly helpless, are we?"
"And what about the others? Longbottom, Thomas, Ginny, Blaise, Pansy, Lovegood, Hermione… this list goes on. How are we going to keep them safe as well?"
"Awe, it's so cute that you care." Harry laughed when Draco sneered at him before turning to lie on his back.
"I am not cute, Potter."
Harry turned over, draping himself over half of Draco's chest. "Hermione mentioned continuing on with the DA meetings, we would of course change the name, and the meetings purposes would be widely diversified. We could teach many things including the Dark Arts, in shades of gray of course, so as not to scare away the students who are… uncertain about such things." Harry laughed at his own words. Draco smiled fondly at him and kissed his lover's forehead. "Defense could be taught, as well as offensive spells, strategy and tactics, and the importance of a united front. By the time we're done with the students, they'll be quite capable of taking care of themselves. Dumbledore will no longer have his army. The army will be ours and by the time our seventh year has come to an end, the school will be ours for the taking as well as the Wizarding World. Let Dumbledore think he has a chance. And as for that Ukatae he speaks with… he will die for trying to interfere."
Draco was nodding along with Harry as he spoke, his grin getting broader with every word. "Do you know how much it turns me on to hear Gryffindor's Golden Boy talking about supreme anarchy?"
"It's my pleasure."
"So much has changed over the summer. It's almost unbelievable."
"Yes. And just think. After everything we've accomplished this summer, think about what we can do during the time we have at school. That reminds me. I wanted to talk to you about something important." Harry sat up and looked at his hands. Draco sat up as well and curled an arm around Harry's back, over his beautiful wings.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just had an idea I wanted to run by you. It's something I really want to do, but I'm not sure how you or the others will react."
"What is it? Don't let that Gryffindor courage slip away now."
"I want to make Tom and Hermione our blood siblings."
"You are such a Hufflepuff!" Draco cried immediately and in a way that had Harry's shoulders sagging in defeat. But Draco wasn't finished. "I'll do it. The idea appeals to me. We'll do it the day we leave for Hogwarts, if they agree. That will give us time to research the Ritual."
Harry straightened and grinned before throwing himself upon his mate, who began laughing at the happy antics of his mate. Yes, they were definitely in for more changes. But as long as they were together, Draco was certain they could and would handle anything.
A/N: Edited 10/20/2011
So ends the first arc of the Life Cycle. The story continues in the second installment, titled Life Agendas, which can be found on my profile. Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Have a great day! :D