DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Warning – This is your four more chapters until the very end warning
Chapter Fifteen - Dealing with Demons
Summoning was a nasty business. It was rude and invasive - and with the right spell, anyone could do it. All it took was the uttering of a demon's name, either in full or in part, and a demon would answer. Of course, every Summons was open to interpretation . . .
Mispronounce a name, and every demon with a name even close to the spoken one would appear, all of them claiming to be the Summoned. Speak only a single name, and every demon with that name anywhere in theirs would happily jump into a circle of salt. Refine a Summons by adding a title or label, and run the risk of meeting every demon but the one you were hoping for. Stating a surname common among Hades' minions may as well have been an invitation to their family reunion, because that's pretty much how it was treated. In conclusion, knocking on the door of Hell was extremely risky, especially when you didn't know who was home.
There was only one way to guarantee the identity of a demon that arrived within a circle of salt, and that was by speaking its full name. A demon's greatest weakness lay within its name. Once it was spoken, a demon had no choice but to answer the Summons and complete whatever task the Summoner commanded. It granted anyone who knew it power over them, putting them at the mercy of their Summoner and all of sundry. And that was why Harry James Potter was going to murder the moron who'd screamed his name at the top of their lungs.
The very thought of death and chaos warmed his heart and kept him sane as he was hurtling through time and space. His hair waved wildly in the wind created by his passage, the dark locks nipping roughly at the skin of his face and throat. Closing his eyes tightly, he wrapped himself in the protective cocoon of his wings and grit his teeth, cherishing the thought of tearing some stupid mortal's still beating heart free of their chest.
A sudden roar filled his sensitive ears, heralding his arrival on the mortal plane. Without warning, he was unceremoniously dumped upon a cold stone floor. Wings and arms flailing wildly to maintain his upright position, he howled angrily, eyes sweeping the shadow filled chamber. His outraged cry died as his sparking orbs landed upon a familiar blond, the sight of Draco bringing him to wavering halt. Blinking once, he inhaled slowly, dragging the wizard's smell across his tongue and into his lungs. Mouth opening on a surprised hiss, he stepped forward and slipped, crashing gracelessly to the ground.
"Harry!" Sirius screeched, lunging forward and slamming into the side of the invisible sphere. Blinking in surprise, he reached out and patted the air before him, brow furrowing in confusion. The low growl that rose from the demon sprawled unhappily on the floor at his feet had him chuckling nervously and taking a small step backwards. "Perhaps I should explain," he began, squealing in fright as Harry surged to his feet.
Lips drawn back from dainty fangs, the raven-haired Retriever snarled angrily and flung his wings open. Blood flew off the scaled appendages, splattering sickeningly against the containment dome. Shutting blazing emerald orbs, Harry drew a deep breath and raised his arms, shuddering slightly as cold blood dripped from the tips of his fingers. His eyes opened slowly, landing on the minor demon without err. "There had better be a good explanation for this, Sirius." At the other demon's frantic nod, he arched a brow and gave his hands a sharp shake, trying to free them of blood. "I suggest you begin before I decide I no longer want to listen to your pathetic excuses."
"Ah," Sirius started, eyes darting around the chamber in search of aid. His mouth opened and closed silently, his brain searching for an answer that would appease the enraged Retriever. Finding nothing, he glanced at the dark-haired demon through wide eyes and offered him a weak smile. "It seemed like a good idea at the time?"
Hands fisting, Harry tipped his head and narrowed his eyes. "Try again," he rumbled. Watching the minor demon pale under his gaze, he rumbled in satisfaction and stepped forward, extending a hand to caress the magic that contained him. He opened his mouth to utter a taunting threat but halted, eyebrows drawing down as magic brushed over his aura. Head swiveling, he searched the shadowed room, nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply.
As Sirius opened his mouth to begin what, Harry assumed, was a long winded explanation of why he'd done what he did, a brilliant flash of green blinded him. Lifting a hand to shield his eyes, he squinted against the fading light, narrowed orbs barely able to make out the shape of the individual standing within the dying glow. With a soft pop, the jade light vanished, leaving the raven-haired Retriever staring in shocked awe at the new arrival. Biting back a groan of displeasure, he lifted a hand and rubbed at the ache slowly growing in his left temple, managing to smear blood across his forehead in the process.
"Harry!" Remus yelped in glee, bounding forward to stand in front of the other demon. Nostrils crinkling, the Incubus sniffed appreciatively and sighed, blue eyes glazing as his gaze dipped to the bloody pool the Retriever stood in. "Is that Wood Nymph I smell?" He demanded softly, giving a light flutter of his wings to stir the air.
"Remus!" Sirius shrieked in delight, his cry spinning the blond Incubus around. Laughing excitedly, the minor demon rushed forward and slammed into the other demon, sending both of them crashing to the floor. In a happy purring ball, the pair rolled around, completely oblivious to the two wizards watching them in mute fascination.
It was Harry's unhappy growl that separated the two, minor demon and Incubus both lifting their heads slowly and staring fearfully at the glowering Retriever. Orbs shimmering eerily, the dark-haired male gestured at the circle of salt surrounding him and then crossed his arms. "Well?" He hissed, arching his heavy wings effortlessly.
"Right," Sirius muttered, untangling himself from Remus and scuttling across the uneven stone floor. He extended a hand to break the line of salt but stilled, straightening slowly at the press of something against his spine. His hands lifted slowly, eyes rising to meet Harry's startled orbs. Lips moving on a silent apology, he glanced over his shoulder at the dark-haired wizard standing directly behind him.
Offering the demon a dangerous smile, Severus Snape prodded him away from the circle of salt and the growling demon trapped within it. "I'm afraid you'll have to stay there a little while longer, Harry James Potter," the Potions Master purred. He laughed merrily as Sirius whimpered and Harry collapsed to his knees, emerald orbs glowing with a feral light. Sliding a hand into the pocket of his robes, he withdrew a vial filled with a thick clear liquid and expertly uncorked it.
As the strong smell of Liquid Iron drifted free of the vial's mouth, Harry's eyes darkened in understanding. "Flee!" He barked sharply, dark wings opening with a crash that shook the magic surrounding him. His wild antics momentarily drew the eyes of the two wizards, though it did nothing to affect the magical sphere. And for once, to both his relief and chagrin, Sirius and Remus listened. With a loud snap and a soft pop, the Incubus and minor demon vanished, leaving him trapped and defenseless. The thought was most definitely not a comforting one.
Sniffing in disdain, Severus replaced the vial's cork and slid it away. He seemed completely unconcerned with Harry's throbbing snarls and the tense quivering of his arched wings as he paced away from the demon, his wand still held lightly in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, torches hidden within the shadows blossomed to life, their flames chasing away the lingering darkness. "You cannot leave that circle of salt without being released," he stated calmly, sounding extremely knowledgeable and completely certain of that fact.
Orbs narrowing, Harry curled his lips back and flashed glistening fangs. "Are you sure about that?" He taunted, extending a hand and sweeping it lazily across the floor just inside the line of salt. The scrape of his nails caused Draco to jump nervously, the quick movement drawing Harry's slitted eyes in his direction. Inhaling lightly, the Retriever withdrew his hand, absently swiping bloody fingers across the edge of his short kilt.
"Quite," Severus returned coldly, seeming to pluck a thick tome out of thin air. He held the book aloft, allowing the demon to read its title. His lips curved into a smug smirk when the raven-haired male cursed angrily and pounded a fist against his thigh. "That's what I thought." Lowering the grimoire, the Potions Master strode slowly back toward the demon, his fingers drumming along the top of the ancient text.
Realizing he was truly trapped, Harry closed his eyes and exhaled. He shifted restlessly where he knelt on the dungeon floor, unicorn blood thickening around his knees and dampening the edge of his kilt. His brow wrinkled as he considered his options, one hand lazily falling to caress the handle of the hurlbat tucked into his belt. With a soft hiss, he opened his eyes and glared at the wizard standing directly before him. "I'll assume you've already translated the introduction," he spat unhappily, glowing orbs dipping to the grimoire. The reminder of the books very existence had him internally shrieking in rage and silently promising death to the demon given the task of destroying the How-To manual.
"Of course," Severus replied tersely, his knuckles whitening on the text.
Lips pursed, the Retriever gave a sharp bob of his head and arched a single eyebrow. "Tell me then, what exactly is it you want?" He tensed as he waited for the wizard to respond, wondering what demeaning action the mortal male would demand of him. While he waited for the greasy-haired Potions Master to respond, he mentally composed a list of the tasks he wouldn't do, even if it meant he had to spend rest of eternity sitting in the dungeons of Hogwarts. His train of thought was brought to an abrupt halt when the wizard closed the short distance between them, the speed of his movement causing Harry to yank the hurlbat free of his belt and lurch to his feet.
In two short strides, the Potions Master stood before the wary demon, his dark eyes narrowed. "I want this gone!" The wizard hissed, yanking back the sleeve of his robe. Upon the milky skin of his forearm, the Dark Mark writhed. He remained posed like that, his teeth grit and his nostrils flaring with each heavy exhalation, eyes focused on the mark etched into his flesh.
Harry eyed the black mark, distaste evident upon his face. With a shake of his head, he straightened, ignoring the slide of the sword resting between his shoulder blades. "You ask the impossible," he said evenly, shoving the handle of the hurlbat back into his belt. Emerald orbs glowing with mirth, he chuckled softly and gave another wag of his head. "You allowed a demon to claim you as his chattel. The only individual who can remove that brand is the one who placed it there. And I am, most definitely, not he."
Mouth gaping, Severus lowered his sleeve and stared at the dark-haired demon in shock. "What do you mean?" He rasped finally, shooting a worried glance over his shoulder at Draco. Drawing a calming breath, he turned his gaze back to Harry and clenched his hands, fighting the urge to yell and screech mindlessly. "Surely there's some way to get rid of it. A spell? A potion? Anything!" Desperation crept into his voice on the final word, bringing a small grin to the demon's lips.
"There are other ways," Harry hedged, stretching his wings slowly toward the ceiling. He ducked his head and peered thoughtfully at the wizard, one hand lifting to grasp the edge of an arched wing absently. "Two, which I believe might be plausible. Of course, both are extremely dangerous and come at a price few are willing to pay."
"Sev-"
"Tell me," Severus snapped, lifting a hand to quiet Draco. He leaned forward expectantly, his eyes wide and his breathing heavy as he awaited the information he'd long been seeking.
This time, it was Harry's turn to smirk smugly. "I'm afraid that's not the way it works," he purred, lashes dipping to hide his sparkling orbs. A soft laugh fell from his lips at the wizard's indignant look, the sound echoing in the bright chamber. "Nothing is free in the demon world, Severus Mathias Snape. However, for the right price, I'll happily part with the information you seek." His eyes shifted from Potions Master to the blond standing silently behind him, brow furrowing as he calculated the cost.
Face flushing in anger, Severus shook his head violently. "I'm not going to play this game with you, demon spawn," he snarled. "I have you caged. You'll give me the answers I want or I'll leave you here to rot."
Laughing in delight, Harry tipped his head and rustled his wings. "I can assure you that as forgetful and easily distracted as Sirius may be, eventually he'll remember where I am," he drawled. He dropped a hand to fondle the hurlbat swinging from his hip. His fingers slid over the metal lovingly, sharp nails brushing smoothly along the sharpened iron blade. "Besides, Remus is also currently upon the plane and he's much more reliable than Sirius."
"How much?" Severus snarled in resignation. He eyed the raven-haired demon as he stalked back and forth, the heels of his boots ringing on the uneven stone floor. His shoulders hunched as Harry hummed in thought, lifting a shaky hand to tangle his fingers in his greasy locks.
"I don't deal in mortal coin," Harry finally said, a devilish grin creasing his face. His words froze the Potions Master in mid stride and narrowed Draco's eyes. Shrugging his shoulders, he clasped his hands behind his back and peered at the pair calculatingly.
He spoke the truth, of course. Harry James Potter didn't deal in coin because he had no need for it. Trapped within the bowels of Hell for eternity, there was only one thing the Retriever accepted for his services. And that was time. He dealt in minutes, seconds, and hours. Days, weeks, and months. As long as he held up his end of a bargain, he would be unreachable for the set number of days he'd demanded. In that time, he was a free demon, able to do as he wished. It was a clever ploy, one that had won him the respect of many demons. And on occasion, it had earned him the wrath of Hades - much to his amusement.
Frustration creeping into his voice, the wizard huffed unhappily and spat, "What the hell do you want?" His eyes narrowed warily as the demon chuckled softly, the sound tightening his hands around the grimoire and his wand. He drew a deep breath to ease the tension in his shoulders, unclenching his fingers one by one as his lungs inflated.
"I want twenty minutes alone with Draco," purred Harry, "in which to speak with him."
"Absolutely not!" The Potions Master roared, ruby sparks shooting from the end of his waving wand. Sputtering in fury, he stormed the length of the chamber, his dark robes hissing across the floor behind him. Whirling around, he leveled the tip of his wand on the frowning demon, his teeth grit as he fought for some semblance of calm. The sound of Draco's voice froze him, his eyes snapping shut as the words his godson spoke registered.
"Five minutes," Draco stated into the silence. He prowled forward quietly, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at the raven-haired demon. A pale hand was lifted arrogantly as Severus whispered his name, a quick shake of his head reaffirming the silent command.
Tipping his head, Harry eyed the blond. "Sixteen," he countered easily. At this point, any time alone with the blond would be welcome.
"Six," Draco calmly said.
"Fifteen," the Retriever returned.
"Seven."
"Fourteen."
"Eight."
"Thirteen."
"Nine."
"Twelve."
"Ten minutes and thirty seconds," Draco snapped, his eyes slitting as the raven-haired demon pursed his lips and hummed in thought. His left foot began an impatient tap, the sound echoing in the empty chamber. He shot a quick glance at Severus, noting the dangerous gleam in the older wizard's eyes and the way he was rolling his wand between his fingers. Lips compressing, he returned his gaze to Harry and lifted his chin arrogantly. "That's my final offer, demon."
Nose crinkling, Harry sighed and dipped his head, acknowledging the wizard's declaration. "Your terms are acceptable," he breathed finally. Straightening, he shifted his gaze to Severus and locked his fingers around the handle of the hurlbat. "Your first option is to petition Hades for the brand's removal. He has been known, upon occasion, to remove a demon mark from an individual's body if he feels their reasoning is sound. Although I don't believe stupidity has ever been considered a good explanation for anything, he might find it amusing and remove the brand just to spite the demon who placed it there."
"Petition Hades?" Severus screeched, face flushing a brilliant shade of scarlet. In a fit of rage, he hurled the grimoire at the farthest wall, watching in satisfaction as it struck the stone and dropped to the floor. The thud from the tome's landing ricocheted around the room, causing the flames of the torches to quiver and dance.
"It has been done," Harry assured, tucking his wings tight to his body. He cuddled within the warmth of the dark appendages, fighting back the goose bumps marching their way up his arms. His body heat was diffusing as the coldness of the dungeons settled about him, leaving him pale and shivering beneath his tan. Taking a deep breath, he launched into the second option. "I believe you will find your second choice much more appealing than the first. A demon's death negates all of its brands. Kill Voldemort . . . and you'll be free."
"That's your big idea! Kill Voldemort!" Severus scoffed angrily.
Harry grinned at the wizard's disgust, lifting a hand to run gentle fingers over the hilt of the sword strapped to his back. "My purpose upon this plane is to see Voldemort executed. When I accomplish this task, the Dark Mark will vanish. The blackness around your soul, however, will remain until Hellequin and his hunters come for you." The raven-haired Retriever suppressed a shudder at the name of Hades finest hunter. Hellequin was the devil's emissary. It was he, and his merry band of demons, who ferreted out the damned and escorted them to the gate's of Hell. Hellequin was feared by all, and rightfully so. Many who roamed the passages of Hell had been delivered there by the black-faced male; Sirius among them. "I've given you what you wanted, now I want my ten minutes and thirty seconds."
"I think not," Severus barked, storming back toward the demon with his hands on his hips. He gave a sharp shake of his head and curled his lips into an angered sneer. "What you gave us isn't even worth twenty seconds. You-"
"Leave, Severus," Draco said quietly. He turned icy eyes upon the open-mouthed Potions Master and arched an eyebrow, lips pursed. A slender hand was lifted gracefully, forestalling any protests the older wizard would have voiced. "A deal is a deal," he reminded, turning his gaze to the dark-haired demon. His hands clenched on the cloth of his robes, fingers tangling in the silk as he listened to Severus' unhappy rumblings. Closing his pale orbs, he waited patiently for his godfather to take his leave, his ears picking up the heavy sigh of surrender the wizard emitted before trudging toward the door.
Opening the door of the chamber, Severus stilled and glanced over his shoulder, dark eyes narrowing on the watchful demon. "I'll be right outside, Draco." The threat contained within those few words was enough to bring a small smile to Harry's lips, and a frown to the Potions Master's face. Gritting his teeth, he raised his wand in warning and stepped through the portal, softly closing the thick wooden door on his heels.
Draco opened his eyes and inhaled slowly, staring at Harry with his brow furrowed. He raised his chin as he pulled a small silver watch from his pocket, flicking it open lazily and glancing at the ivory face. "Your ten minutes and thirty seconds has begun," the blond stated. Widening his orbs, he closed the watch with a snap and crossed his arms, tilting his head and peering expectantly at the raven-haired demon.
Harry gave a slow blink and inhaled lightly, shifting nervously within the circle. "I would never willingly harm you," he said in a rush, immediately regretting the rash words. Giving a soft hiss, he stretched his wings and reached for the hurlbat, fingers smoothing over the metal in a comforting stroke.
"Really?" The blond bit out, pale eyes blazing. "Yet you blatantly lied to me. You pretended to adore me. You even flirted with me in a most obscene fashion! And you're not even human! Do you know what my father would say if he found out?" Shaking his head angrily, he began to storm back and forth, his robes lashing the floor with every quick turn.
"Your father-"
"Lucius Malfoy! The man who sired and raised me. My doting father. And my mother, Narcissa Malfoy. You can't even begin to imagine what she'd say if she discovered I was consorting with a demon. I mean, you hardly even look human! Tell me, Harry, who were your parents?" Draco demanded, halting directly in front of the raven-haired demon and placing his hands on his hips. His nostrils flared with each breath he drew, face flushed with the fury he felt.
Harry stiffened, glowing emeralds narrowing. "I have none," he rasped. His shoulders hunched as the wizard stared at him in silence, embarrassment reddening his cheeks at the confession. Then again, telling someone you were spawned and raised by a bevy of Vianti Imps wasn't exactly a good conversation starter.
"You weren't birthed?" Draco snapped, clearly appalled by the idea. He gave a delicate shudder and wrinkled his nose, fingers smoothing down the front of his robes. "And to think I was attracted to you," he mumbled snidely.
"You admit to being attracted to me?" Harry asked, tipping his head and watching the wizard through eyes carefully shielded with sooty lashes. His nostrils flared slightly as he drew a deep breath, testing Draco's scent. What he found made his eyes flare, the gleaming orbs returning to their former emerald in half a heartbeat. The blond wasn't telling him something.
Planting a hand on his hip, Draco curled a lip and glared at the dark-haired demon. "Attraction wanes," he purred, the words laced with promise.
"Lair!" The Retriever yelped, flinging his wings wide. The dark appendages flexed against the dome that contained him, the horned tips forcing the magic to bend unnaturally. A shiver racked his body as he deprived himself of the warmth of his wings. "I want the truth."
Amused by the demon's tantrum, Draco gave a slow shake of his head and withdrew his watch. He gave a soft hiss as he looked at the face before returning his eyes to the demon. "Unfortunately, you're out of time." A smile slid across his lips at Harry's angered snarl. His pale orbs danced, sparkling in delight over the dark-haired male's anger. "If you knew me as well as you thought you did, you'd of known better than to make a deal with a Malfoy." Bowing his head, he offered the demon a sweet smile and spun around, striding toward the door.
"You cheated me out of my ten minutes!" Harry roared. His teeth gnashed as his wings pummeled the air, hands clenching and unclenching. Both surprise and pleasure over the wizard's cunningness flowed through him, though neither was displayed upon his stony countenance.
Draco chuckled softly, halting next to the thick wooden door. "Goodbye, Harry." With a final glance over his shoulder as he turned the handle, Draco winked at the demon and vanished into the shadows of the dungeon, Harry's outraged cries ringing in his ears.
XxXxX
Once again, a very heartfelt thank-you to everyone who took the time to read and review.
Brookslocklear – Next chapter
Mangacat201 – lol, there will be several more interesting twists before I bring this story to a close.
thrnbrooke – One would think, but I'm sure Hades will find something else to ground Harry for.
Pleiadeswolfe – Yah, this chapter wasn't done when I posted the other one. I figured it would have been way to long if I'd included everything I wanted to in one chapter.
Crystal Malfoy – I'm going to have a bit of trouble adding any really good Draco/Harry action in the next few chapters but at this point in time I can promise a happy ending.