A/N: For Drakelover30! Garuda (phoenix type bird from India that kills Naga) Harry and Naga Sev! Quick info is that Garuda and Naga have centuries-long feud; Harry falls for Sev. Kinda almost Romeo and Romeo and set in Regency England/Victorian Age. Oh, and no Voldy. He wouldn't fit in and behave like the rest of my Muses. I had a lot of fun researching and writing this!
DISCLAIMER: No matter how much I wave my wand, I will never own Sev and our favorite green-eyed Wizard. *sobs*
WARNING: Yaoi is an important part of these. Please desist in flaming. There is also social drinking, faint-happy women and unsolicited attentions.
-Ryder
P.S. There may be titles that get more than one continuation such as Dragon's Might, Dragon's Might II...
RPaS RPaS RPaS RPaS RPaS RPaS
Harry breathed in the cool mist of the English Channel, grey waves slapping against the side of the boat, called The Selkie by her Captain. Wind raked through his hair, tangling the wild mass more than it already was. Hermione was absently twirling her parasol and they were chaperoned by Mrs. Jean Granger.
"I do miss India's weather..." she sighed, leaning on the railing.
"Is that complaining I hear, Ms. Granger?" he enquired teasingly.
"Well! I never, Mr.-"
"Oh, call me Harry, 'Mione." he snapped mildly, leaning on the railing with her, using her nickname.
"I'm sorry..." her fair cheeks flushed a soft rose." I'm engaged to Ronald."
Harry snickered before rolling his eyes. "No reason to throw away your dastardly fiends*, now is it?"
"He envies you." she sighed, patting down her hair.
"Envies me? Why would anyone envy me? I had a horrible life before Da and Drake!"
"I... didn't tell him about the orphanage, Harry. Just-"
"Just my time with my adopted family. So he's got the wrong impression." he muttered, shrugging it off. "Do I have to show that I've had trials to this man? Nay, ne'ermore! I shall flutter away like a nightingale, a Phoenix of legend! No more of me, beloved fiend!" he exclaimed, using dramatics to emphasize his point. "Thou art a lovely fiend..." Hermione groaned and buried her face in her gloved hands. "Alas, sweet sea, sing to me! Draw me in with siren's breath-Ouch!" Anik looked innocently at his white uniform and flicked off imaginary dust with feigned disinterest.
"Folly to let the flightily bird dramatize, Milady. He'll prattle on forever."
"I suppose you like to take ten-hour cat naps if I feed you..." The weretiger growled lowly, golden eyes flashing. Harry sighed softly; the tiger was sensitive about things like that still. "Anik." Growls became a deep snarl. "Anik. It's me." A sheepish purr told him his weretiger forgave the accidental slight. He had a Bengal tiger winding about his legs, the purring growing louder with each long stroke.
"Sir... Is that what I think it is?"
"Oh, the tiger. He's for the Malfoys." Harry had a purr of his own and an evil smirk for the crew-member who decided to harass them. "Anik's quite beautiful and trained to attack on command." His manservant growled, opening his mouth in a spectacular yawn. The man squeaked before fleeing amidst much laughter from the crew. "Hmph. Coward." Rewarding Anik with a scratch to the chin, he eyed the not so distant shore and counted himself lucky.
-PoV-
Draco kept his face impassive as his adopted brother's boat landed. His Father was also eager to see Harry, but it showed only slightly, if one knew how to look past the icy front.
"Father, I do believe that's Harry." Indeed it was, though his hair was much longer and all that more wild; it was carelessly pulled back with a green ribbon and tendrils were escaping, framing Harry's angular face perfectly.
"I see he took my advice on growing out that raven's nest. Quite the effect... Of course, this is Harry we speak about. A tiger? Could he be more subtle?"
"Da, Drake. This is Anik. I'll tell you more when we get home to the Manor." Harry's mild-mannered greeting made his Father's ice-mask crack just a little bit. A smile, predatory to everyone else on the docks, shone with affection.
"Your hair is a mess, as usual," Draco drawled as the door to their carriage shut. "But I like it."
"You do? I was going to grow it longer." He pulled out the ribbon and Draco saw the rest of the length in a braid.
"Where did you find the time for that?"
"Somewhere between etiquette classes and rescuing Anik. India was fascinating." Green eyes sparkled with absolute pleasure as Harry launched into a detailed account of his final school, hands gesturing and occasionally returning to the gorgeous tiger that rested upon the other seat of the luxurious Malfoy carriage.
They sat in the study, each with a snifter of their chosen drink. Harry lounged like a cat on the settee his lithe body stretched out. Draco was quite proud of his brother. Mother had not been able to have another and Father had asked if he wanted to pick his sibling. Harry had been a challenge since the moment they'd met...
-FLASHBACK-
"A dark-haired boy for sure; around my son's age? Could we arrange a meeting with him?"
"Oh, Potter's usually drawing this time of day." The bored drawl caught Draco's attention.
"Father..."
"I know, son. Take us to see him."
"I cannot-"
"You will take us." He loved it when Father used that tone on someone. They sputtered like fools and made it worse than it had to be.
"Of-Of course, Lord Malfoy. At once, Milord." Draco had the impression of dark hair before the boy looked up from the page. Large green eyes met blue and Draco smiled to show the boy it was alright. A shy smile was his reward, as well as the proffering of the drawing pad. He sat next to Potter and handed the pad to his Father.
"My name is Draco Malfoy. What is yours?"
"Harry..." Harry flattened his fringe of dark hair over the right side of his forehead.
"No last name?"
"Harry Potter. Who is that man you handed my drawing to?"
"My Father. He said I could pick my new brother or sister here."
"Adoption? I- I belong here." the tone turned even more shy, and Harry curled up on the window seat.
"Not if I want you as a brother; Malfoys always get what they want."
"Oh."
"Indeed, child. What we'd like is for you to join our family."
-END FLASHBACK-
A brotherhood started and a best friend made all in one afternoon, he thought smugly, as he sipped his bourbon.
"Drake, you look like the cat that ate the canary. Do stop that."
"I'm simply remembering when we first met."
"Rather... one-sided, now that I think about it. But my simple birthday wish was answered." It had been the day after Harry's birthday; August first and the end of Mother's last miscarriage. She had doted on Harry before she'd died. Draco, of course, had not minded. Harry'd explained in hesitant words how his former life had been; just awful, living with people who didn't want you.
The Dursleys had gotten their due via his Father's skill at political manipulations. They were never invited to Ton functions and shunned by higher society. Such was the price of screwing over one who the Malfoys loved quite dearly. Mother had started an ugly rumor that persisted to this day; Petunia Dursley couldn't show her face due to it for months after Mother set her own plan. She had truly thought Harry Family.
"The story of your delightful tiger then."
"Anik?" The tiger blurred and before them stood an Indian manservant dressed in white. "I rescued him from a sacrificial Naga den in India."
"Nagas? Harry!" he admonished his little brother, shaking his head in amazement. Harry always managed to get into the worst trouble imaginable!
"I," Harry swallowed before blurting the rest of his sentence. "I'm a Garuda... or a part of my bloodline was and manifested in me."
Father sighed and Summoned the fine vintage bottle of medieval Chardonnay red. "Spread out your wings then Great Phoenix of the East."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and out came a beautiful set of scintillating, multi-colored wings. Feathers flashed red, gold, green, blue and a veritable rainbow, never quite setting on one solid color.
"May I?" Harry extended the wing closest to him. Oh, good Merlin those feathers were so soft.
"Father, I think you should feel this." A small smile from his father and Harry extended his other wing, brushing the tip across the sharp cheekbone of their remaining parent.
"Ah. I see why they are prized beyond belief." His brother mantled them, a serene smile on his face. Laugh lines appeared around Harry's eyes as the wings dissipated. In his hands were two long primaries.
"I think freely given Garuda feathers are not easy to get. I'll go put these in our lab."
-PoV-
Severus sneered and refrained from hissing with pure malice. Lucius housed a Garuda and had decided not to tell him? Though, to be fair, he'd never told Lucius his deepest secret; Naga blood in his Pureblood heritage. There! In the study... Odd. The creature appeared to be asleep. He pushed open the door as silently as he could and got an eyeful of his mortal enemy. A smirk formed on his face at the sight of the dark-haired young man. He nearly jumped in surprise when a wand was pressed against his neck.
"Naga. You even think about hurting him, I will string you up, change shape and use you as a scratching post." the deep snarl told him he was dealing with a werebeast; one who obviously had a grudge against his kind. "Harry's naive and too innocent to ever hurt you. It is why I guard him, conceal his presence from everyone willing to hurt or maim." Amber eyes flashed with deep-seated resentment; the knife he hadn't noticed until now pressed against the scale line on his back.
"Oh, you are very good. Disable then kill."
"I learned a lot when I was imprisoned by your kind."
"Anik?" the sleepy croon had the werebeast releasing him and kneeling by the young Garuda's side.
"Who's there?"
"No one honorable Garuda." A snort and then a more clear answer than the first.
"Bullshit."
"Language, Harry."
"I meant it. You're doing that evasion technique again." The werebeast snorted and the enemy (Harry, his unhelpful mind supplied) stretched like a cat, a flash of talons peeking out of strong fingertips. "Don't lie to me. I hate lies, Anik." the slight screech was irritating to his vibration sensors.
"Severus. A pleasant surprise. Why are you hissing?"
"I was actually here to tell you that, but you have a Garuda in your study."
"My adopted son, yes. What has you like this?"
"I am a Naga; surely you realize what it is now." A mortal enemy to death was left unsaid but it hung in the air.
"Harry would not harm you." Severus suddenly remembered why one never crossed a Malfoy. Cold steel abysses narrowed and Lucius tightened the grip he had on his wand handle. "It is simply not in him."
"Like it was in battles through the ages? I am taking no chances."
"Da?" the warm way the Garuda greeted Lucius was astonishing. He was given a cursory glance before his best friend was enveloped in a hug. "Who's our guest?"
"Severus Snape, Heir to the Prince Line, Potions Master. He happens to be a dear friend of mine as well." An arm wrapped around rounded shoulders, guiding the still tired young creature down the hall. "Harry, have you been reading by candle-light again?"
"No, Da. I'm really tired from my trip. The chair was rather comfortable..."
"Ah. Forgive me Severus. I need to see my son off to bed. I shall see you shortly in my study."
He sat in the window-seat, tapping his wand against his thigh in discomfort. The Garuda had been completely... relaxed in his presence, which simply did not make any sense to him. Lucius strolled back through the oak door with a predatory slink. One would swear the Malfoys had some magical cat blood in their line somewhere.
"Severus. Never again threaten that which I hold dear. Harry and Draco are all I have left of my beloved, gone these six years hence." the burning rage filtered through and the words came out as a low growl.
"As such, I have given Harry leave to attack you should you ever attempt it. Get out."
"Lucius-"
"I believe a Malfoy does not have to repeat himself in his own home. Leave my presence at once! And do not contact me for quite some time." the snarl was something that his friend did not use very often.
-PoV-
Harry strolled through Diagon Alley with Drake by his side. Draco had acquired a rather... odd set of friends without him around. Pansy seemed intent on marrying his brother; she bore watching, that one did. Daphne was subtler and Drake was quite fond of her. Blaise seemed to have an eye on HIM, of all people, and also bore close watch. The two body guards, Crabbe and Goyle, were sadly necessary. Two Hiers to vast fortunes were to be looked after and Da had hired the very best.
"Drake?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Diagon appears... smaller to me. Perhaps it is because I have been over Europe and on to India, but it doesn't seem quite the same." Draco chuckled softly at Pansy and Blaise's amazed faces. "What in Merlin's name is so funny?"
"Nothing, brother mine, merely a thought." Harry snorted lowly and draped an arm over his older brother. Pansy looked off-put by the gesture.
"Are you really brothers?" she asked quite rudely. The urge to strike out at this witch was uncanny. Such a woman did not deserve Draco at all. Daphne was much less uncouth...
"Not by blood, no." he replied equably, tapping Daphne on the shoulder and getting a small giggle from her.
"Pansy, I insist you apologize to my-Severus! A delightful way to meet you!" Drake's subtle warning was lost in favor of the Naga's appearance. Harry's inner beast churred softly before relaxing.
"Perhaps you could join me for a spot of tea? Excluding present company, of course. Your brother is extended the... same invitation." Harry edged away from Blaise, who insisted on staying close to him.
"Quite the offer, Severus. I shall accept." Draco said with a small smile.
He surprised himself by echoing Drake's answer with his own, "As Draco accepts, so shall I join my brother, Master Snape." Zabini purred and stood so close that Harry wanted to elbow him until he left him alone.
"Shall I also invite you, Mr. Potter-Malfoy?" the impudent man suggested blatantly.
"Kindly seduce someone else, Mr. Zabini, or you will wish you had not propositioned me in such a manner!" he hissed, deliberately treading on the man's shoe. Draco looked angry, which Harry took as a good sign.
"Blaise? Could you accompany the ladies and I back to the Leaky to send them home?" Harry was left with the broody, Byronesque Naga. He wasn't sure if that was a good id-
"Lucius warned me you were quite capable of defending yourself, should the need arise, Mr. Potter." the man snarked, a sneer gracing the thin lips. Harry sighed as they sat on a bench conveniently placed.
"Ah. That explains why Drake left me with you whilst he... persuades that Zabini fellow."
"They are quite ruthless when it comes to protecting their own."
"Indeed." Draco came back, hair in disarray, a battle-light dimming in his eyes as he spotted Harry.
"Drake? Are you alright?"
"Foul, loathsome... Never mind him. He won't be bothering anyone for some time." Harry shrugged, fixed his brother's hair, and lead the way to a small café in the corner of the alley.
"Two strong teas and a small cup of Indian, please." he told the waiter quite casually.
"Harry, what is this place?" Draco asked, sipping his tea with high manners.
"This- Oh, I know the owner."
"Weasley's Café Emporium and Bookstore. I have occasionally visited here. You know Arthur?"
"Met him in India; delightful man with lots of children. A good friend of mine is engaged to one of them."
"Harry! Wonderful of you to visit..." Arthur spotted him in the crowd and made his way over. They shook hands, chatting away about Hermione's upcoming nuptials. Drake rolled his eyes and Mr. Snape watched him with confusion in the dark gaze.
-PoV-
Severus frowned at the note his secretary, Ms. Greengrass, had left on his desk.
Messer Snape,
You have been cordially invited to the Annual Ball of Lord Malfoy & Sons.
Type: Masquerade
Dress: Formal Wizarding robes
Post Scriptorium: Come as yourself, Severus. It makes for an excellent distraction. Harry has promised to behave himself.
He slid carefully across the marble floor of his small ballroom in Prince Manor. Daphne had been ecstatic to learn that she would be teaching him how to dance. She wasn't deterred at all by his creature side; that scored her many points in his mental tally of her personality.
"Mr. Snape, I do believe your mind is wandering again." she admonished slightly.
"There is a Garuda at this Ball."
"Oh... Oh dear."
"Indeed, 'tis quite the conundrum. He's yet to attack me... Which I find odd." he confessed dryly, coiling his tail and sitting upon it.
"I've heard that Naga and Garuda are mortal enemies. This man clearly shows some restraint. Perhaps he sees you as no threat to him?"
"He is a great deal younger than myself. Close to your age, as a matter of fact. Mr. Potter-Malfoy is an enigma."
"Harry? That man wouldn't hurt anything! Your fears are entirely unfounded, Professor."
"So I have heard from those close to him," Severus snarked, baring his fangs. "But I am no fool. Garuda strike when a Naga is least prepared."
"As you say, Professor. I still think you should give Harry at least one chance."
"I will think on it, Ms. Greengrass. I'll not promise you 'twill go well."
-PoV-
Harry paced in his bedchamber, a blush burning across his cheeks.
"I am not fond of Mr. Snape!" he protested as Hermione gave him a knowing look from his favorite chintz chair. Draco was quick to sigh and motion that he'd be useless for the next few minutes. "I'm not... Am I?" He sat on the floor quite abruptly.
"Of course you are. Your letters are all about him, Harry. It's 'Mr. Snape did this' and 'he talked to me today without anything resembling a sneer!' You've got it bad for this Snape character, I must say."
"Even worse, Ms. Granger, Severus is a Naga. Harry here is a Garuda-"
"Oh, Harry."
"I know I'm hopeless, 'Mione. Always trusting the ones I shouldn't-Ouch!"
"You are utterly hopeless at romance, Harry, not at anything else! Now, what does he look like?"
He slipped on his mask and unfurled his wings before stepping out into the ballroom. Cheers and whistles followed his appearance. Harry quickly escaped to the balcony, a flute of delicate red wine held in one hand. Another person was out here, a glass of cognac glittering in the pale moonlight.
"Mr. Potter-Malfoy." Oh, not now! Did the Universe not want to cut him any slack? "A truce of this night. I'll not harm you."
"Alright. Agreed, Mr. Snape. Could you at least call me Harry?" The Naga seemed to mull it over swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
"A truce is neutral. You may call me Severus." A chilly wind set up and Harry, quite without thinking (as he was prone to do), snuggled up the Naga. Severus stiffened like a board before wrapping coils around him. "You are cold. Did you not bring a cloak?"
"I thought I was only going to be out here to escape the guests other than close friends and family. So... nosy. People are much more polite than here." Harry replied, wrapping his heated wings around himself and Severus.
"We probably look like we are doing something we are not." the man said gruffly, leaning on the cool marble balcony.
"That would be...?"
"Oh for Merlin's sake! You can't tell me- Lovely."
"What? Will you finish that sentence?"
"That you, of all people, are still a virgin?" the low rumble sent shivers down Harry's spine. Then the question caught up with his mind and he sighed.
"Such a rude question, entirely too rude, but the answer is yes." he murmured, setting his elbows on the warm coils of the Naga. "The question now extends to you, Severus." The Potions Master snorted a look between laughter and astonishment on his face.
"The answer is very obviously no, Harry."
"How should I know? I haven't known you for very long."
"Harry, there you-Oh." Hermione blushed a brilliant rose shade as she saw them wound about each other.
"'Mione, not what it looks like-" She swallowed and turned on her heel, the rustle of her skirt loud in the sudden silence. "Wonderful. Now she thinks we're... involved."
"Is the thought of me so sickening?" Harry felt his color rise as the silky voice did things to his lower body. "Ah."
"You're perfectly fine, as-as most gentlemen go. Nothing wrong with you." he blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Not at all, Severus."
"I see that." the purr was coupled by a swift movement, pressing him against the wall of the balcony.
"Would you mind doing me a favor?"
"What kind of favor?" Harry asked, shocked at the way he sounded, breathless and ruffled.
"A rather small one, as such favors go." The coils shifted, wrapping him a bit tighter than the first time.
"A kiss." Harry stopped breathing for a moment before he settled his hands on the man's waist.
"I've... I've never kissed anyone." he admitted shyly, his face heating up again.
"Really? Hmm. All the more incentive to make this a good one." Harry closed his eyes and squeaked softly as Severus pressed butterfly kisses to his eyelids, tip of his nose and then his mouth. The kiss evolved from there, a hot tongue swiping across his lips. He opened them, moaning as Severus's tongue mapped out his mouth, shyly flicking his own across the Naga's. Severus pulled back, both of them gasping for air. "You're a natural at this, Harry. What did you think of that?"
"A wonderful first. Perhaps we can-"
"Mr. Potter-Malfoy!" the outraged tone was from Matron Zabini. "Lord Malfoy, come at once!" Da looked from him to Severus and back before quietly chuckling.
"Milady, please. Your throat will get sore from shouting so much. Let your son escort you inside." The Malfoy suave charm let the woman be lead back inside by her wide-eyed son. "Harry."
"Yes, Da?" he replied, his voice remarkably level.
"Do keep your public interactions a little less... heated. The poor woman almost fainted on me."
"Of course, Da." His adopted father smiled lightly before returning to the party, flicking the heavy curtain closed. "You!" he rounded on the unrepentant Naga.
"What have I done?"
"That kiss was timed!" he hissed heatedly under his breath.
"Ah, yes. I'll not have some... Wizard after the one I intend to claim as a Mate." Harry stiffened in Severus's grip, green eyes flashing with celestial fire.
"How dare you ASSU-Nngh..." The light tugging on his wings reduced him to a trembling mess in the Naga's grip. "Ooo... You cheat..."
"It was an educated guess. My prey tends to do much the same."
"Prey?"
"Runespoors, birds of prey... The usual." Harry frowned, then sighed, leaning back against the warm ebony coils.
"You do have to eat. No offense, but I occasionally will be caught eating the more poisonous varieties of snake when I can catch them."
"Touché." Severus murmured, raising his glass in acknowledgement.
Ending A/N: Long chapter to make up for Black Night's Chivalry! Sorry! This will be an early gift for those who can catch it. Thanks again. You guys asking for drabbles rescued this from the black hole where my ideas are usually thrown if I don't like them anymore.
*fiends-nickname that the pair of them came up with while Harry was in the orphanage.