Disclaimer: -sniffle-
Title: The Ties That Bind
Beta: Shadowfax999. She rocks! Woot! And she lives with me disappearing for like ten days with out yeling at me like everyone else would. I love you, Shadowfax999!!
Summary/ Warning: Dom/ Sub, HGRW, PPBZ, RLSB, LVBL …and of course HPSS.
A/N: I HATE HATE HATE typing Hagrid. So, please forgive me and use your imagination to get the accent (the thick-ugly-hard-as-hell-to-type-accent).
Chapter 10: Coming Together
:Parseltongue:
"Conversational thoughts"
Private thoughts, shared memories
It wasn't who they expected.
"Oi, Harry!" A cheerful voice called, and the group swung their gaze around looking for the source of the voice. Harry, however, smiled widely at the distinctive voice and walked over to the large portrait across from McGonagall's classroom.
"Hello, Jamie. How've you been?" Harry peered into the frame, and then glanced back at Jamie. "Where's your keeper?"
Jamie smiled as the other students gathered around the frame, and grinned wickedly. "I have escaped from his evil clutches!" he proclaimed dramatically, striking a heroic pose- well it would have been if he hadn't promptly fallen over. Hermione giggled, recognizing the man vaguely, and Harry laughed outright as he saw Robert enter the frame next to Jamie, biting his lip as the painted man motioned for him to be quiet.
Jamie righted himself and scrutinized the teenagers he was entertaining, and- apparently satisfied with what he saw- straightened and announced with a regal air, "I am James Leslie von Deutch, Grand Duke of Collingbourne. I greet you in the name of King Robert Charles von Messerschmitt, and say with pleasure that it is my great honour to welcome you all to my humble abode." Robert had snuck into Jamie's portrait during his speech and the seventh years were trying desperately not to laugh at his exaggerated caution.
Jamie bowed melodramatically, accepting the applause as his due. Harry clapped heartily, and they all roared with laughter when Robert pounced on Jamie and cried "Aha! I have found you, my little friend. You will subvert no more impressionable young minds, miscreant, for I, King Robert von Messerschmitt, have captured you!"
Jamie shrieked and struggled to get free from Roberts confining arms, succeeding when the King turned to wink at the students, and ran away cackling "You shall never find me again, foul tyrant!"
His maniacal laughter faded as he ran, and Robert shook his head as he smiled distractedly and ran a hand through his messed up hair. He turned to Harry and greeted him sombrely enough.
"Hello son. How have you been?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm fine, KING Robert. And you?"
"Oh, well enough, I suppose." He flashed a smile at Harry, and turned to look at the still gathered students. "Are you going to introduce me to your friends, Harry?"
The boy in question snorted at the evasive tactics, but said, "I present to you, O My King, Draco, Nev, Pans," the aristocratic girl raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but forebode to comment, "Blaise, Seam, Dean, 'Mione- who I think you know- Ron, and Theo."
Turning to the seventh years, he gestured to the portrait. "And this is- apparently- King Robert. Say 'Hi', everyone." He leaned against the frame and waited.
Draco snorted at Harry, and pushed his way up to the front of the picture. "Excuse me, my Lord, but are you the same Robert von Messerschmitt who created the Ministry of Magic?"
Hermione's face took on the look of someone who has finally placed a name, and she swung around to face Robert with a look of awe on her face. Robert merely nodded, and Pansy said "It is a great honour to meet you, my Lord. There were always rumours of your portrait being hung in Hogwarts, but no one has ever seen it." She paused, then lifted a shoulder and went on. "Why did you show yourself to us then, if I may ask?"
Robert glanced at her appreciatively. "Indeed you may, my dear. We have shown ourselves to you because we share the same predicament. We have been known to offer our help to those who need it, and it was brought to our attention by Harry that the need had again arisen. Hence, we have shown ourselves to you, and are willing to answer any questions you might have."
There was a bark of laughter from Harry, who then had the good graces of appearing quite innocent when the others turned accusing glares on him, though Seamus did smirk at the disrespect Harry showed this famous man. Robert merely smiled affectionately, and resisted the urge to try and tousle the boy's hair. "Yes Harry? Did you have something to say, my son?"
"Who? Me?" He looked around wildly, finally turning to face the older man. "No-" Harry shook his head, enjoying the playing around, and smiled at the man. "I would never dream of saying anything in your esteemed presence, my Lord." Robert laughed outright, confusing the students who had somehow decided that he was actually a stern, unyielding man. Still chuckling, Robert shook his head at the black haired boy.
"You remind me too much of myself, Harry. I feel pity for you." He snickered when Harry just stuck his tongue out at him. "Speaking of pity, where is S-" Harry cut off the painting immediately, his eyes flashing a clear warning. Robert grimaced, and apologized. "I am sorry, my son. Please forgive me."
Harry nodded, his eyes watching the other students as they watched the byplay. Neville, 'Mione, and Ron looked unutterably relieved that Robert hadn't finished his sentence, and the rest had quizzical expressions on their faces.
"Hey Harry. How come you won't tell who your mate is?" Seamus asked quizzically. The five other students looked on with interest, waiting to hear the answer. Robert cut across anything that might have been said, however, when he frowned and crossed his arms.
"If Harry wishes to tell you, he will when he feels the timing is right. Until then, patience is a virtue. Use it wisely." He waited until everyone had nodded to show their understanding, and then relaxed.
"Now. When Jamie gets back, we'll explain to you some of the aspects of becoming a bonded pair. Harry- you'll just have to relay the information. Theo- may I call you Theo?- I presume the others know who your mate is? Yes? Then you may either bring him or her with you or you may also relay the information via your link."
He made as if to go on, but Hermione interrupted with a soft cough. When everyone had looked at her, she cast Tempus and gestured at the red numbers. "We are all very late for our next class. We should schedule this for later."
Seamus groaned. He had been hoping no one would realize the time- Charms was his worst class. But they all reluctantly agreed that this conversation would be easier to have in actual private, not an empty corridor, and somewhere were they could sit and take notes.
Robert's brow crinkled as he thought, and before they left he said "I will be in contact with Harry for the foreseeable future. When you finally decide on a date to do this, he will let me know. Now," he smiled widely at them, "I will hold you back from your learning no longer." He grinned at their groans. "Besides, I have a game of hide- and- seek to win."
They laughed softly, and as he made to disappear into the background, he spun around and caught their attention. "You all understand that no one can know about either me or Jamie?" They agreed, but he pressed his point. "No one, at all. Not even your best friends. Otherwise, you will not like to find out what would happen if you said anything." He turned and vanished into the mystery of the painted world, and left silence behind as the seventh years contemplated his words.
"Well," Hermione said evenly, "I'm not going to say anything." A chorus of "Me neither" and "Same here's" greeted her statement, and Harry nodded in satisfaction. Already they were working together. "Right then, off to Charms it is." They gathered up their things and moved off, not caring that they would enter the classroom twenty minutes late.
"What do you mean, you can't tell me?" Minerva said curiously. Albus just shook his head, trying to find the words to explain.
"I am under the Unbreakable Vow to not reveal that information, Minerva. Surely you can understand that?"
She slumped back into her chair. "It's that bad, then? Whoever his mate is?" Albus grimaced as he tried to answer, and gave up, shrugging to show his helplessness. "This is most vexing," the Transfiguration teacher mused. "Can you at least tell me the gender?"
Dumbledore opened his mouth, but didn't feel the tell- tale tightening, and spoke. "Male."
Minerva's eyebrows flew into her hairline, and she shook her head. "Excuse me? Can you repeat that?"
Albus made to say it again, but the words caught in his throat. He shook his head wearily. He didn't need to repeat it after all, because his Deputy was in another world.
"I wonder if he was always gay. Will this have any bearing on the War? Who is it?" She turned to face Albus, frustrated, and asked, "Can you tell me if this will have any impact on the War?" The Headmaster didn't even bother trying. The answer to that was blaringly obvious, and there was no way the Vow would let him say it anyway.
Minerva brought her elbows up to rest on the arms of the chair, and she steepled her fingers under her chin, a pose she only took when she was thinking hard. Albus waited patiently, wondering if she could figure it out on her own, and if she did, would he be able to speak to her about it. Their thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on his office door, and Albus called out "Come in."
Snape opened the door calmly, and raised a slender eyebrow at seeing McGonagall's position, but shrugged minutely and glanced at Dumbledore. His thin lips curved into what might have been called a polite smile on a warmer man, and he hid his slight, pale hands in his sleeves.
"Headmaster," he said, his cool voice sending shivers down Minerva's spine, "I wonder if I may have a moment of your time?"
"Of course, of course, Severus. What can I do for you?" Snape stepped fully into the room and shut the door behind him softly, not even the latch making a sound. He stood still, and Minerva thought briefly that he looked like a statue carved from ice and painted black.
"I've found a gaggle of Gryffindor's roaming the hallways, Albus. When questioned, they all held up identical scraps of paper, saying that Professor McGonagall had given them out." Albus nodded and gestured for the Potions Master to continue, who ignored Minerva's attempts to defend herself.
"I merely wished to know if this was a trick, or if such a thing actually happened. I am most gratified to find that Minerva is here already, and will presumably answer my question?"
She glared at him, once again acknowledging all the reasons she didn't like him. "There were Slytherin's in that group as well, Severus, or is your eyesight going? Of course I gave out those passes. Because really, Severus, why else would members of our two houses be together?"
Snape smiled coldly, an expression that widened as she sneered. "I only wish to see to the well being of certain… valuable… members of the student body, Minerva. Nothing more."
He turned to Dumbledore as the Headmaster was about to break up the fight. "Thank you for your time, Albus. It was most-" his gaze swept Minerva dismissively- "informative." Snape swept out of the room, leaving the Deputy and Headmaster staring after him, both annoyed with him for two separate reasons.
"I don't see how I liked him when he was a boy, Albus." Minerva mourned.
Dumbledore sighed. "We have all changed for one reason or another, Minerva. Some changes were not for the best." They settled back into their accustomed chairs, and a kindly smile came to rest on the Headmaster's face.
"Now, about the selection of dormitories, I think Hogwarts might be persuaded…"
"Finally, a break from classes," Seamus said exultantly as they sat down at Gryffindor Table. He leaned against Dean, smiling deviously when the Dom slid his arms around the Irish boy and held him close.
"Please," Hermione refuted, "We had half Charms today and we managed to miss most of the lesson."
Dean shrugged. "Hey, it's the thought that counts." He ducked the piece of bread that flew past his head from Harry's direction, and laughed at Hermione's face.
She opened her mouth, but the boys cut her off, saying sadly "We know, we know. No food fights."
Neville shook himself out of his trancelike state for long enough to add, "Unless Hermione's not around."
The table roared with laughter, a few of the other students joining into the general amusement. Hermione huffed, but smiled when Ron wrapped his arms around her and said soulfully, "You know we love you, right 'Mione?" He planted a kiss on her forehead, and patted her bushy hair. "We just can't help it sometimes."
She smacked his hand away lightly, and sighed. "Fine. I don't care. No- wait. Yes I do." The boys put down the food they had just picked up with mournful sighs. "No throwing food. Ever."
She glared at them until a ragged response came from the five boys. "Yes, 'Mione. No throwing food." Seamus scowled as he put down his spoonful of jam, and Neville zoned back out.
Hermione reached out and patted Dean's hand after he replaced the loaf of bread. "Good puppy." His bark of startled laughter set everyone else off again, and it was a while before they had all calmed down enough to eat.
Harry listened to the conversation going on around him with half an ear, wondering if he should talk to Severus. Deciding that the wisest course of action would be to listen in on his mate's thoughts first, he resettled himself into his chair and fell into the same trance Neville was in.
… You do not really need to think about sex this often, Severus. It does not become a man of your age and experience. I don't care if no one can see what is going on in your mind, it is not classy- I cannot believe I just used that word- even in my own thoughts.
Harry smiled at his mate's delicate mental shudder, and focused back in on the one- sided conversation.
… Though I do love playing chicken with Minerva. She is so easy to rile, it's almost ludicrous. Just now in Albus' office I thought she was going to burst a vein. I love teasing her. It's so- satisfying. Especially when we're talking about two different things. 'Valuable members of the student body' indeed.
Harry smiled again at Severus' silent laugh, gathering the gist of what had happened in the Headmasters office from the memories floating in his mate's head. Speaking of-
… How the hell can a kiss turn me on that fast? It should be impossible - not that I'm complaining. Much. Though it is hard to walk around in this state of arousal all day. I wonder what would have happened if Harry hadn't helped out this morning? Huh. I'd probably have blue balls by now. Why didn't he let me touch him earlier? Is that something I should be worried about? Is that part of this whole 'dom/ sub' thing I should know? I could feel his erection- why didn't he let me take care of it? I wonder if we'll have to do that every morning.
Severus' mind spun around this topic for some time, and Harry was contemplating addressing the issue when Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him out of his seat.
"We're going to be late for Care of Magical Creatures, Harry! Come on!" They were one of the last to leave the Great Hall, and Harry was surprised to realize that he must have been listening to Severus while the older man was walking to class. Strange. You'd think I would notice the change of scenery.
They walked outside pulling on their coats as the left the warmth of the building and entered the frigid beauty of the fall day. Seamus and Dean were play fighting a few feet in front of them, their laughter echoing off the castle walls, and Hermione finally let go of Harry when she realized he could walk on his own.
Upon reaching Hagrid's Hut, the students milled around in their heavy coats looking for the half giant. Unknowingly, the bonded pairs came together, standing in a group a little off to the side. After a minute, Hagrid came out of the forest leading something on a chain leash. It looked like a mélange of a lion, horse and snake, and the seventh years instinctively stepped back as Hagrid brought it closer.
"Can anyone tell me what this beauty is?" Their instructor's cheery voice seemed to enrage the creature, and it leapt up, fighting to use its height as leverage to get free. "Now, jus' you calm down, Janny." Hagrid turned to look at his students expectantly. Hermione's hand was up, but it was barely noticeable- she kept it low so the monster didn't see her.
"It's a Manticore, Sir," she gulped and went on. "They're extremely rare, and it's illegal to keep one as a pet because they score as high on intelligence tests as Centaurs."
Harry watched the struggling creature, mesmerized by its sinister beauty. It was ugly- but ugly in that there was no meaning to beauty when this creature was around, that beauty was immaterial compared to the magnificence of the Manticore. It bucked and pulled and yanked at the chain securing it to Hagrid, and Harry caught the tail end of Hermione's answer. Raising his hand high, he waited for Hagrid to call on him.
"Why is it chained if it's illegal to keep as a pet?"
The Manticore had yet to make a sound, and its silent struggles tore at Harry's heart. Hagrid's answer came readily enough.
"Professor Dumbledore said it was fine, that he'd gotten the permission from the Ministry to bring in this girlie." Hagrid told them to all sit down on the grass, and tied the wildly bucking animal to a nearby tree.
"Now, the Manticore is a very powerful magical creature. They thrive in the cold weather but are unusually tolerant of hot temperatures. They reproduce in a combination of snake and lion reproduction. The egg is fertilized inside the body, and kept there until the shell hardens. Afterwards, the female lays the eggs and nests. Two to three weeks later, the eggs hatch and the babies are officially born. They stay close to their parents for two years learning all the things they need to know to survive. They mate for life, eat anything, and live to between 200 and 275 years of age.
The Manticore is playful by nature and adopts family very easily. But once you turn against one, they never forgive you. They are distant cousins to the Hippogriff and the Gryphon. Many believe that a Basilisk was introduced into the line a few millennia ago, for as you can see, the scales are a predominant feature.
Questions?"
No one raised their hand, most of the classes eyes were glued to the now still figure. Hagrid shrugged, then turned to Harry.
"'Arry. Come up here, please." Harry rose reluctantly and went to the front, remembering what had happened the last time; soaring Hippogriffs and a bleeding Malfoy. He shuddered.
Reaching Hagrid's side, he looked up at his friends expectantly. Hagrid said "Yer gonna make friends with Janny, here. I remember how well you did with Buckbeak." Harry groaned, and heard Hermione echoing him, but he looked to Hagrid for instruction. "Jus' go up to her and tell her your name, and wait for her to acknowledge you. If she growls at you, run."
Harry smiled sarcastically. "Great, thanks Hagrid." Hagrid beamed, missing the undercurrent.
"Well, go on up to her lad, we haven't got all day."
Harry started to slowly approach the beast, taking in more of her appearance now that he was closer to her. The head was covered in shiny black and silver scales, formed as that of a lion, with a pointed muzzle that housed a blood red forked tongue and rows of gleaming teeth, crowned with two wickedly curved canines. Her eyes were set were a horses would be, but with snake pupils. Rounded ears sat high on her head, and led to a neck armour-plated with the same small black scales.
The neck followed the lines of a horse, and the rest of her body kept that general shape. Her shoulders were strong and thickly muscled like a lions, and her deep chest was all horse. The armour-plating continued, covering flanks, withers, back, and belly in the same black and silver shades of the muzzle. Each foreleg ended in a huge paw complete with lethal claws, and each hind leg ended in cloven hooves. Her tail was a lashing whip, covered in her signature scales, and tipped with a glistening spine.
She was thin, all sleek muscle and rippling hide, about six feet long and about four feet tall with her tail another three feet, but Harry could see that she had been maltreated recently. Her armour had lost the lustre of a healthy serpent, and there was a slight trembling in her shoulders. He stopped about seven feet away and inclined his head once her gaze landed on him. She stared at him unblinkingly, and he returned the favour, allowing her to accept his presence before making any move.
Only when she blinked first did he close his eyes, and state softly, "My name's Harry Potter." He said it low enough that the others could hear he'd spoken, but not what. He waited a minute for her to acknowledge him, an idea forming in the back of his head. He stepped forward again, once, twice, three times until he was less than four feet from her, and knelt. He ignored the urgently whispered commands for him to come back and the incredulous what do you think you're doings and focused only on her.
She was watching him now, trying to figure out what his game was, and he could see the intelligence behind eerie amber eyes. He smiled a soft tight-lipped smile and whispered :I'm Harry Potter.:
The effect was immediate. The Manticore reared up onto her hind legs and backed away, eyes wide, still silent. Harry wondered briefly what she'd heard about him before speaking again.
:Hush, my Lady. I will not hurt you.:
He stayed on his haunches and looked up at her from his subservient position, implying trust in her. Slowly she settled down, pacing skittishly in front of him, eyes flickering to where the others stood with their wands out, ready to interfere.
Harry waited patiently, not wanting to rush her decision, letting her accept his statement for herself before hesitantly trusting him. He smiled again, saying :Are you alright? Do you need anything?:
She hissed her reply angrily. :I need nothing from you, human:
Harry raised his brow curiously as he regarded her. :I am human and yet I can speak the Serpents Tongue? Surely there must be a mistake:
Her tail whipped her shoulders viciously as she considered his words. :You tell the truth, Speaker. Yet why has the big one captured me? We are a free race:
Harry thought carefully before speaking. :The big one is not as smart as may first be assumed.: He replied, and the Manticore hissed her chilling laugh.
Oh, shit! It's another cliffy, come to haunt me!! LOL- Any who- I hope you'll all forgive me for the absurd lateness of this chapter. My Grandfather is in Sweden, and the (smart, cunning, devious old) man locked his computer before he left, and I didn't find out till Monday night when I was supposed to post this chap.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!
(hopeful smile)
Netrixie