Thank you to those who have been reviewing, yet I know some of you are out there -hears crickets chirping-. This is a rather long chapter, but those of you who like my style of writing might just like that.

Chapter 27

The Scarred

The funeral that was held for Harry, the Weasleys, Hermione and the rest was beautiful. The candlelight vigil was done around midnight on the full moon, their faces were printed on cloth from pictures Hessa had taken of them all…to see their faces again, smiling, waving…happy, made her so sad. She remembered the night when it had happened, before they had been asleep, how Harry wanted her to pick out the new furniture and discussed the future. Even though she loved Draco, Harry had always been her true love and she didn't know if she could ever feel that way again about anyone.

Hessa watched from afar, there was no need to join in the singing because she did not know the words to the Conks songs of mourning, and there was no need to join in the crying because she had already done that too. They did cry, they cried because evil had won and their hope of ever rejoining the wizarding world as a whole was gone. The hope of those hoping to find their witches and wizards was gone as well, they would have to be excluded from society until perhaps another savior would come.

She didn't know why they embraced her so easily, Hessa considered herself a traitor in a way. Her blood was responsible for this…her master, the one she helped make did this to them. Her mother put her harm around Hessa, "it's not your fault." Hessa looked up a bit at her mother. "You didn't know this would happen, or what master you would have had…no one does until the time just comes."

"I guess so," Hessa said softly.

Marius stood a bit apart, observing her until he was called over by one of the senior council members, "I understand you have taken great interest in the young Hessa?"

"Yes…?"

"Are you sure that is wise?"

"Why wouldn't it be? Hessa is no longer bonded to Draco Malfoy."

"She is scarred. She will not be like the rest of us…and from what I understand, he did not mean to break the bond and he is looking for her, what if he manages to find her? Are you prepared to deal with him?"

"I will deal with that monster, yes."

"He is far stronger than any wizard we've come across, Marius. If you decide to take her as your mate, then you must keep a keen eye on her when she is out of the city with the others now and again. He will sense where she is…she could bring danger to us."

"I will not let her out of the city."

"Isn't that a bit cruel? We do business out of the city and trade with others that know of our existence. Her mother is an expert potions-maker, she'll have to know the business, learn."

"Then they can come in the city."

"No one is allowed in the city but Conks, you know that."

"We will figure out another way. We are friends with many great wizards, I'm sure they can help us."

"What if he threatens them…offers a reward far too tempting to…"

"You're coming up with a lot of 'what-ifs', my friend. Yes, she is scarred…but I am not the only one that has taken interest in her because of it. Yes, she could be in danger, but we have guards that can reflect back any spell you throw at them, no matter how severe. It will take more then just a bunch of ridiculous scenarios that may or may not happen to sway me from my interest in Hessa."

"I understand, I am simply thinking of your best interest, Marius."

"Mine or your daughters, Viktor?" Viktor looked at him with a slight scowl. "I know that you have been wanting us to marry for some time."

"And why not? You are like a son to me…"

"And the fact that I hold a great deal of wealth and reputation wouldn't have anything to do with your daughter's interest and yours..?"

"You insult me…," Viktor frowned but there was truth to it.

"No, I am simply telling the truth as I see it. It is true we are great friends, but your daughter is very…," Marius saw the look warning look that he was being given…,"shall we say…has a great love for the material? To be honest, if she ever does find a wizard…I do hope he is a very rich one, it will take much to make her happy."

Viktor huffed and walked away. Adamina came up behind Marius and peeked over his shoulder, "Viktor giving you offers again for his daughter's hand?"

"I believe I've made my point this time," his eyes wandered back to Hessa…desire was all he could feel. His body was craving her, he had abstained from sex with others, it had only been a few weeks but he was handling it well.

"Be careful, Marius…if you find yourself getting too…er…'anxious', shall we say? Then it would be best to find someone to have casual mating with? Otherwise, you know what could happen…"

"Yes, but I don't think it will come to that. I plan on seducing her very soon."

"Well, you should ask Cynthia first, make sure she's all right with it."

"Why? This is CONK law, not wizarding…," he was getting easier and easier to annoy now. It was very common for Conks to have casual sex within the city with each other. Since they had the same body chemistry, it would not affect them like it would a witch or wizard. Male Conks were more common because there was no interference from wizards any further, but their sex drives were much more then any Conk females and far more violent if they withheld themselves for a certain period of time.

"Be nice, Marius…"

"I AM," he snipped. He noticed the Hessa went out of his line of sight, "where did she go?" Marius took off to find her while Adamina rolled her eyes.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Another week had passed, Hessa had started to work in her mother's store but today was a day of rest and Adamina was taking her to the public bath which was located in a hot spring cave…it was not was Hessa expected. She knew she would see others naked, but not both men and women together. Hessa almost didn't want to take off her bath shroud, but once she saw that the water was dark, she felt a bit better. Her aunt bathed her and washed her hair, a sign of affection and closeness…but she noticed that others were staring at her. "Adamina?"

"Yes?" she was washing Hessa's back.

"Why are they looking at me?"

"Because well…you're new here for one, and they know you've been bonded, something they've never been before…and then there's your inexperience."

"Inexperience?"

"You've only had three sexual partners…that's practically a virgin here," Adamina smiled when Hessa blushed. "So don't be surprised if you get offers, young male Conks are eager to teach techniques to the inexperienced female Conk."

"Oh my Gods…," Hessa put her head in her hands. "Are you serious?"

"Very," she laughed. "Do you see that?" Adamina pointed to a male and female Conk heading to a very remote spot in the caves. Hessa nodded. "They are going off to mate."

"Wait…have sex? Here?"

"Well, not necessarily HERE, but somewhere fairly remote…," Adamina laughed when Hessa turned pale, but she figured her niece needed to understand and be excepting right away…she was so far behind and she wanted her to be more social.

Marius came by them and sat down, Hessa squeaked and grabbed her bath shroud to cover herself and averted her eyes from him, only to get giggles from the others. Marius gave them a warning look and they stopped, but Hessa blushed. "Don't worry about them," he said gently, he couldn't help but noticed her legs and thighs, her arched back…he casually put his bath shroud across his lap because he was becoming aroused…he wanted to seduce her, but he knew that she would not be taken here, he looked at Adamina in such a way where she got the hint and told Hessa that she would be back. Hessa seemed all right with it, she knew Marius and she felt she could trust him.

Hessa blushed when she saw other couples becoming passionate in the water, Marius tilted his head, "does it bother you?"

"What?"

"Sex? Seeing it like this?"

"No, not sex…it's just different where I was raised. But here it's viewed as something of a spectator sport, I guess…," she hadn't noticed that he was much closer to her. "Sex is nice…I…"

"Do you miss it?"

The question caught her off-guard, "what?"

"Do you miss the contact…the touch of it," he leaned over, taking his fingers and tracing her thigh. Hessa seemed to like it but was shy…it was working, he was starting to seduce her. He leaned over further and was coercing her down, some of the other males looked at Marius in annoyance. They themselves had targeted Hessa as their next conquest and he was getting to her first. He knew what they were thinking and shot them the deadliest look as if to warn them NEVER to approach her. It was a sign of claim, a sign that she was not up for grabs afterwards, plain and simple.

Hessa was on her back and let his hand trace her side, then the rim of her breasts, his breath was close to her neck. Hessa had never been touched like this by either Harry or Draco…Lucius came close, but not as tender, this was an older man's touch…

The Conk women looked on in tenderness, what was happening was not just seduction…it was courting, it was intimacy. Marius lay only half of his body on top of hers, a sign of respect, then placed his large hands in her hair and pulled back her head, exposing her neck and slightly tracing his lips over her throat. Hessa placed her hands on his shoulders and felt how solid he was…but guilt was setting in and she started to pull away and Marius did not take kindly to being rejected, not while he was courting her and Hessa found herself getting pinned. Others in the bath seemed to be leaving…they weren't ignoring what was happening, but according to Conk law, a female Conk could only reject a male Conk's advances before actual courtship, she could not change her mind once it began, if she tried, force could be used. He had shifted his body on top of hers, devouring her face with kisses and as Hessa tried to push him off, he simply took her wrists and pinned them over her head with one hand and he caressed her body with the other.

Hessa was confused, part of her understood what was being done but the other did not and she started to panic. She liked Marius and thought he was very handsome, he had been kind to her and found herself growing dependent on him…but she wasn't ready for this, not yet….

…………………………………………………………..

Adamina had returned to the bath after getting something to eat, she had noticed a number of Conks leaving the bath early but didn't see Marius or Hessa…. some of her friends gave her a look of concern and she put it together, "oh, no…" Immediately Adamina grabbed two guards and they headed to the hot spring.

………………………………………………………………………………………

Marius wasn't being fair, he knew Hessa didn't understand and he knew that she was vulnerable…but he was going to lay claim on her before anyone else had the chance. He was afraid that if it was explained, that she would have her choice of males and he didn't want her to have a choice. But suddenly he felt himself being pulled off of her and Adamina covering Hessa up, Hessa looking confused at what was going on. She averted her eyes and blushed when she saw Marius fully naked.

Marius was infuriated, "WHY WOULD YOU INTERFERE!" He struggled hard against the two guards, who only interfered if it was agreed that the family was not happy with what was happening and given the circumstances, it was felt that Marius was taking advantage of Hessa's vulnerable state of mind.

"Because she doesn't understand, Marius! You know that!"

"You left us alone!"

"To talk! I thought you just wanted time alone to talk…not this. You told Cynthia that you would be patient!"

"And I was….," he narrowed his eyes, a very dangerous look that Adamina knew…one that he gave his enemies, but right now he wasn't in his right mind either so she tried not to let it bother her.

"I am going to explain everything to her, you may see her later, Marius," she started to walk away with Hessa who looked back at him as if to say she were sorry. Adamina gasped when he attacked one of the guards and ended up taking on both of them, he was an excellent fighter and did well in all the sports…but he had a terrible temper when provoked and was dangerous, the guards knew this and were prepared to take him down…and they managed to but with difficulty. Hessa felt terrible as she walked to the house with Adamina's arm around her as if to protect her further.

……………………………………………………………………………

Cynthia nearly went ballistic, "are you serious! He…he was taking advantage of my daughter?"

"I wouldn't say that…"

"And what would you say? She's supposed to be introduced to society first before she can even make a choice. Council member or not, he had NO RIGHT to bend the rules for himself!"

"You know he hates competition," Adamina shook her head and rolled her eyes. She had done a lot of that with him lately. "But you are correct, he didn't have the right. I think he honestly tricked me…"

There was a knock on the door, it was Marius….

"Do you want me to send him away?"

"Oh no, I want to hear his lame excuses," Cynthia gritted her teeth. If anything, she was going to give that over-testosteroned Conk a good smack across the face.

Adamina went to the door, Marius looking a little more humbled but still aggravated, "would you like to come in, or would you prefer to break down the door?"

"Don't get smart," he warned. He was still angry at his best friend for interfering with his courting.

"Well, she's my niece so I can get smart if I want to. So, you might as well come in…Cynthia would like to speak to you," she moved out of the way as Marius passed, but he was keeping an eye out for Hessa, he did not see her, most likely being kept in her room.

Marius didn't even get a chance to speak before Cynthia started in on him, "what were you thinking! You know you aren't even allowed to try something like that until she is introduced to society!"

"She is past the age to do that," that was his logic.

"It doesn't matter, I…her mother, have not introduced her to society. I've been letting her recover, letting her get to know her family and here YOU GO confusing her!"

"Did I offend her? Did she not enjoy what I was doing?"

Cynthia sighed slightly in frustration, "I didn't say that…I said you confused her. She doesn't understand her own instincts. All she's ever known as a life with wizards…not a life with Conks. She's 'scarred' as you and your council members state."

"So she liked it," he smiled slightly.

"Are you not getting what I'm saying?" Cynthia looked at Marius as if he were stupid.

"I would like to see her."

Cynthia sighed, "she did say that if you came over to have you talk to her. BUT, behave yourself." Marius immediately disappeared to Hessa's room. "Why do I feel like I'm monitoring a teenage boy?" Adamina laughed.

…………………………………………………………………………

Hessa had let him in with reluctance and shut the door. She was not afraid of Marius, they looked at each other for a moment, "why did you try and trick me?"

Her question threw him off, but it was one that deserved an answer, "because I want you for myself." She looked down as if contemplating his answer, if anything else, Marius was very honest. "I know I frightened you, I didn't mean to…my temper is very ferocious to say the least. I tend to get selfish when I want something and forget what is the right thing to actually do. I did only intend on talking to you, get closer to you that way, rather then attack you like I shamefully did…"

"Then why didn't you?"

"I saw your delicacy, the beauty of your body, your beauty in general and you're foolish to think other male Conks haven't either."

"You're calm now," she blushed.

"I will be honest, I had to satisfy myself with another," he watched her reaction and she seemed hurt, she tried to move past him but he blocked her. "It was casual and meant nothing to either of us…I would have preferred it be you but your aunt saw fit to disrupt my courting."

"I see," but her voice reflected that of pain.

"No, you don't," he made her look at him. "If I had not, I wouldn't have been able to come here tonight, and if I had, I would have hurt your aunt, your mother, all to get to you. Male Conks, when they are ready to mate can become violent if denied…especially if they've waited a while."

"Do you cheat on each other, have random sex when you are married too?" she spat out, but winced when he gripped her arm painfully, Hessa was insulting him and he didn't like it.

"NO," but he noticed that she had added the word 'too'. Did Hessa see them as being exclusive in some way? They had spent a great deal of time together, she was always happy to see him, but did she not love Harry Potter, did she not at least care for her former master Draco Malfoy still? She had been there a month and a half already, though every minute he spent with her never felt like enough. Yet he had hurt her…again. He had over-stepped his bounds and confused her and now he just admitted to 'cheating on her', it did make sense why she would feel that way. He had just tried to court her and then just admitted to 'cheating on her'. This wasn't going well. But he had to know how she really saw him, "Hessa, how do you view me?"

"I…I don't know what you mean?" she said defensively.

"You know full well what I mean, silly girl," he gritted his teeth.

"I…"

"Do you still love the wizard Potter, and what about Draco Malfoy?" Marius was grilling her, he didn't want to be toyed with, he wasn't going to be toyed with…he wouldn't allow her to, but he wouldn't let her get away either.

"Harry is gone," she whispered. "Draco is a monster…part of a world I can't be apart of, but feel like I've betrayed…but the sad thing is, I don't feel like I belong here either. I want to feel safe…and I never do," Hessa started to tear. Marius immediately grabbed her and hugged her and she seemed to sigh in some type of relief. "Why do they view me as 'scarred', Marius?" the question was muffled in his robes.

"Because you have known the closes link two people can have, and it has been removed from you, not only once but twice. It is believed and has been proven that when this happens…it is hard for the 'scarred' to have a normal relationship. But it has happened and can happen with a loving and patient mate," he caressed her hair. "These others that have taken interest, they would not understand you…they are curious because of what you are. Did you know that your mother used to show me pictures of you growing up?"

"She has pictures of me?"

"Of course. Ollivander made sure she received pictures often, our location was hidden but we made sure she received them. I thought you were just as beautiful then…I always hoped some day that you would come back to us…although I had hoped you would never find your wizard," he chuckled.

"I'm sorry," she held onto him tighter.

"For what?"

"Did I get you into trouble? Embarrass you?"

"No. And understand that I don't often care what others think, if I did, I wouldn't have the reputation I do or the business I do. So, I ask again…how is it that you view me?"

"You are…you feel so safe to me, like I am understood…."

"That's all I needed to know," he held her tighter and in relief.

……………………………………………………………………

Draco searched again and found that she was in Japan…he would find her, one way or another. There was one thing he found…an amulet, it was unusual but it was hers and so he wore it. He knew he was running out of time, he didn't know why…