Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Harry Potter or Spartacus. All properties therein are those of their creators. I am only a writer working on my skills with worlds and characters that I love.

Note: This chapter will take us to the end of the prequel season. From there there is a five year time skip in the actual show continuity to take it to season one of the Spartacus show. I'm planning on doing the same thing I did for Lord of Night to fill that time. A few short chapters to show what Harry is getting up to between the time after this chapter and when the first season starts. Just getting that out there now to avoid confusion.

Chapter Eight - The Primus

Harry and Crixus sat together behind the arena door, simply listening to the cheers of the crowd above. The entire ludus had been packed up at dawn and carted off to Capua to get ready for the games. It had been a day of endless battle as the Batiatus gladiators, having gained full appreciation from the nobles at their party, were given prime showing and featured in one on one battles all throughout the day. Enough so that many had earned a fair bit of coin to spend as they would later on.

Auctus had beaten another ludus' trident wielder. Barca had clobbered a murmillo like it was nothing. Even Dagan had knocked down a former Vettius man and taken his head to the roar of the crowd. Honestly, the only member of their Brotherhood that hadn't had a great showing was Asher. The braggart had gone out onto the sands at around eight in the morning, screaming his own name and trying to get the people to chant it with him. Then his opponent, an ax wielding Thracien, had disarmed him in moments and thoroughly whipped him so badly that Varus had called the match from his place in the high box just to move things along and give his people something truly entertaining to watch instead. Sadly, he didn't call it fast enough to save Asher's leg from a back chop with the ax that shattered his ankle. Even now the Syrian was recuperating in the medica tent.

As more and more matches went by, the wizard found himself reminiscing about the rather eventful night he'd had before the stable of gladiators had been sent out.

The Night Before

It had been only a little over two weeks since the events of the party, and the big event that had the whole of Capua enthralled was set to begin on the morrow. Already days of games and gladiatorial bouts had taken place to wet the appetite, but the primus was what it was really all about. The biggest of all the spectacles, and only on the rarest of occasions was such a showing presented. As such, the big names of the school were taking it easy and resting their muscles for the exertion that was sure to follow.

Harry was laid back in his cell with Crixus and Gannicus as they discussed what they might face when there was a knock on the door. Of course they answered it and beheld Mellita. As Gannicus warily smiled at her and shared a comforting nod of greeting, Harry asked, "Gaia?"

"Yes." The woman turned to address him directly. "Though… she seemed different this night."

"I would guess she would." The wizard acknowledged. "After what happened anyone would be. Well, lead the way."

And so once more, as so many times before, Harry was led on through the villa, washed, and then presented to the noblewoman's door. Only this time it opened before he could knock, and without a second to lose he found himself pulled by the arm and bustled inside. Strangely enough, all of the lamps were covered, and as he turned to behold Gaia in the low moonlight he saw that she was wearing a thin veil over the bottom half of her face.

"Hey," He gently reached up and ran a finger over the silky material. "What is this?"

"I-I…" She sighed. "I wanted to look beautiful for you, but the bruises have not quite-" Her words were cut off as Harry gently added his other hand and pulled the piece of fabric free, displaying the green shadow of bruises on her cheeks and forehead that were almost, but not quite, healed.

"You're beautiful no matter what, Gaia." The gladiator gently kissed each bruise, one by one, and willed some measure of power into every point of contact. He was playing a hunch and wanted to see if it would pay off. He supposed if Gaia came to the games the next day without the veil then he'd know for sure. "How do you want me this evening?"

"On the bed." She took his hand in her own and led him forth before gesturing for him to lay on his back, head propped up on her pillow. "Tonight is all about you." She said demurely as she let her thin robe fall away. "After what you have done for me, you deserve a little pampering."

*** Lemon Start ****

And so saying, the woman crawled up both the bed and his body, pausing briefly between his legs to pull his wrap free before placing her hands upon his already more than willing manhood. "I'm also a bit too sore yet for our usual style of play." Then she lowered down and set her mouth to work. For five minutes she lathered his pole with her tongue and saliva, soaking him with the evidence of just how much his actions had meant to her. Through it all she displayed such skill as to make the man groan her name near constantly as his fingers bunched over the sheets to try and stave off a far too early end.

Eventually, though, she spared him that embarrassment by relieving his cock of her sinfully long tongue and shuffling up until she was hovering over him, literally dripping with her desire. They both groaned with delight as she sank down upon him. So long had it been since he'd seen her face by then, that it was only there as they looked into each other's eyes that Harry noticed that Gaia was crying.

"Gaia?" He reached up to touch her face, but she just took hold of his arm and shoved it down onto the mattress while also grabbing the other as she began violently rocking her hips, effectively pinning him down. "Gaia?" He repeated, but she merely kept her eyes shut tight and ramped up her speed even more. "Gaia!" This time he ripped his arms free, placed his hands on her hips to halt her motion, and sat up, pressing their chests flush with each other and leaving their heads at a level.

She still wouldn't open her eyes. "Gaia, please, look at me." Her painted lids slowly rose and red eyes met his own. "What's wrong? Why are you really doing this?" He could clearly see that something was disturbing her, and a brief survey of her thoughts helped him to understand exactly what, but he wanted to hear her say it. "At least tell me I'm not hurting your ribs."

"No, it isn't that." She muttered at last, taking her hands and resting them on his shoulders. "I just… I just want to feel good. I want to know that I 'can' feel good again." She bit her lip. "I've teased, and fawned, and I've always been alright, but when Tullius came after me… "I'd made some unflattering comments about him in the past and he spat them back in my face while he hit me. I thought I was going to die. No, I knew I was going to die, and what had I left behind? The only one that truly cares about me is Lucretia, but she'd get over my loss eventually; and ever since it happened all the things that gave me joy or laughter, they've fallen flat. I'm in purgatory, Harry, and sex was the last thing I had not tried to pull me out of it.

Slowly, sensually, she rocked her hips delightfully in his lap, "And against all odds I think it's working. I feel warm with you like I never have with Lucretia. I somehow know I'm safe with you for the first time in two weeks and, though it still hurts to move, all I want to do is keep rocking above you. Do you understand, Harry? You're making me 'feel' again!" A smile grew as she beheld the audible gasp her actions caused. "You saved my life, Harry. I'm only here now because of you; because a slave stood up to a free man to defend my existence. I've had daliances before, and lovers aplenty, but none have ever defended my person or shown they cared for me even a fraction of the way you have. I… I don't know how else I can show you what that means to me, but I'm going to try." Her lips fell to his own for several moments and she began clenching her kegels along his length, then she said, "I'm yours, gladiator. I don't know how that is going to work or how to explain it going forward, but never doubt that I am yours."

Harry mused that Quintus had indeed been right. Status didn't really mean that much to Gaia after all. Gently he moved his hands to raise her up and set her down again, earning a gasp for his efforts and a laugh from his own throat. "I'll be here as long as you need and want me." She promised. Looking into her eyes he knew she meant it, and he knew that such feelings of attachment were new to her. The trauma of her assault had shaken her dearly and in her fragile state Gaia had latched onto the first sign of comfort she'd received. That being him. Well, he'd be a fool to turn her away, and he was very fond of her.

Letting her set the pace he peppered her chest and neck with kisses and smiled as she reached her peak atop him before falling forward and bearing him to the bed. Once there neither really cared to move, and she proceeded to gently roll her hips until she inevitably drove him to one of the gentlest and most pleasurable orgasms he'd yet experienced at her hands. It wasn't a coupling of lust, or frantic need, but of emotion and connection, and for the first time since they'd met she allowed him to release inside her.

Something happened as a result. Not something that could be seen as yet, but something felt. As the orgasmic high left him, Harry noticed something that felt much as when he meditated on his magic. It was like he could feel his power moving through him into Gaia, and spreading through her veins into her pores, and then, as he watched, the bruises that remained faded completely from view.

"Ah," She mused, "I think that was definitely what I needed. I feel more refreshed than I have in weeks."

"Aye, so do I." It seemed his hunch had been right, but his method had been wrong. Who knew he could literally heal and revitalize people with sex? The implications were staggering! Though if he could naturally heal as much as he suspected, then perhaps it wasn't so much in his magic but his DNA? He decided to test the theory by using some blood the next time Crixus got cut in training.

"Gaia, did you mean what you said? You are mine?" Staring into her eyes, he was able to see 'exactly' how much she indeed did mean it when she answered in the affirmative. "Then I have some things to tell you, and some ideas for the both of us and the future we will share. Tell me, how would you like to become the Empress of Rome?"

They spent the rest of the night talking, cuddling, and in the morning Harry was brought back to his cell where he gathered himself for the events ahead.

*** End Lemon Scene ***

Present

It was almost time. Hours had passed, and the final showdown was drawing near. All could hear the stomping feet of the crowd, the cheering of expectant voices, and the beating of drums as a staccato was played to lull them all to silence so an announcement might be made by the master of ceremonies himself. Already Gannicus, Barca, and the others had meandered over to the doors to join them. As they waited, their other brothers aided in the donning of their armor and acquiring tools of death.

Harry had expected some jealousy from those that were not participating, but it seemed that was not the case. The other brothers were all just ecstatic to see members of their number partaking in the greatest event of the games. Their victory and triumph was shared amongst them all, and the energy was palpable in their staging area.

Outside, trumpets blared, and the loud voice of Varus, master of the games, boomed out for all to hear. "These sands have been this day dearly watered with offerings of blood!" As they listened, all the gladiators pressed their faces into the bars to better see the noble and take in the spectacle he represented. "But more is demanded on such a day, and you shall have it!"

The crowd roared their delight at the proclamation, and Harry found himself looking up to the high booth itself. He took note of Varus himself, Gaia (who was pressed tight to Lucretia and giggling), Quintus who had a supremely pleased smile on his face, and Solonius who looked to have swallowed a grape whole as he glared heatedly at his friend. It seemed the older lannista had indeed not taken the news of the sale of Vettius' prize gladiators well. Even though the new men paired to his current stock still made the man the wealthiest lannista in Capua in terms of sheer numbers. Titus was seated at his son's side with eyes glued to the arena floor. That was a man who cared only about the sport, not the trappings of ego.

Varus continued, "The houses of Solonius and Batiatus shall battle each other in deadly contest. No mercy shown, no quarter given! These gladiators have faced deadly odds to gain victory in all of your eyes already, so let them gain it again for the last time facing each other in the primus! It shall be a spectacle the likes of which the gods even have yet to witness." The noble shot his hand to the sky and declared, "Glory to Capua! Glory to Rome!"

The crowd reared onto their feet and began filling the air with the stomping of their feet once more while several workers ran onto the sands to set the stage for the final event. It wasn't long until Oenomaus ordered them all to attention as Quintus came power-walking down the stairs to address them one last time. It was clear he did not want to be away from the prime seating for long but he wasn't going to miss the chance to speak to them before the big show.

"Listen, and listen well." He spoke swiftly but powerfully, drawing his men's attention like a moth to the flame. "Everything we have dreamed of, suffered and died for, the worth of it all turns upon this single moment. Here you face the house of Solonius and though his numbers are greater than yours, they are far inferior in terms of ability, courage, training, and honor. You outmatch them in every way that matters! Though you all fight, only one man will claim victory this day and earn the title 'Champion of Capua'. And by the gods, I swear that that man will be from the house of fucking Batiatus!"

"Raghr!" "Yeah!" "Yes!" The men cheered in equal measure, the speech having done its work of energizing them in spades.

As Batiatus ran back up the stairs and the men began to line the walls to await deployment, Harry took Oenomaus' arm and led him aside. If things went as he hoped they would today, then he needed to make one thing clear to this man. "Oenomaus, whatever happens upon these sands, whatever the results, I need you to know that you still remain my brother." The wizard used his other hand to pull the taller man's forehead flush with his own. It was an intimate gesture of friendship he'd come to understand quite well during his time in the ludus. One he'd witnessed shared with many others as well. "I'm proud to know you."

"And I you." The doctore grinned before pulling back and lightly punching the Briton's chest, "But do not worry. I trained you too well for death to find you this day." As Harry moved into his own position in line he thought, 'It isn't death of which I speak, my friend, but you will understand soon enough.' As an aside he shared a nod with Crixus and then it was time to get his game face on. The two of them had already discussed what would happen should either of them win so no words were needed.

The gates opened and they marched out waving to the crowd and showing off a few moves to get them pumped up. They needn't have bothered though, as the people of Capua were long starved for this event and nothing could have diminished their excitement for it short of a volcanic eruption. And even then, from the looks on their faces, Harry wouldn't have been surprised if they kept watching until the molten magma consumed them while still cheering. Across from them on the other side of the sand, Solonius's greater numbers entered as well, doing much the same as them with far less impressive responses from the people.

Then Varus decided to speak one last time. "People of Capua! Many have fought this day. Many have died. Their blood has watered the sands but it is a massive beast that yearns for more! Two great houses face each other, but every man must stand for himself and himself alone." He nodded to the workers at the wall, and soon they were all running into the field, circling the space around them all with black sludge poured from a series of clay vases. "Fire burns in their hearts," Varus declared, "and it is fire that shall bind them in final contest!" The workers grabbed a set of torches and pressed them to the sludge. In an instant flames sprang up and spread everywhere the thick substance had touched, trapping them all within a roaring ring of fire. "Fall to the sands beyond the flames, and find yourself removed from the primus. Fall within them, and be removed from this world. Take position!" The noble finished with a lazy wave of his hand and reclaimed his seat.

The gladiators did so, moving to either side of the now very limited space. Batiatus' ten versus Solonius' twenty. It was going to be one hell of a brawl. When the trumpets sounded they charged, entering the fray with fire and fury as their friends, and steel as their guides, with hands and eyes following each to meet deadly task.

For the next several minutes Harry wasn't able to take note of what the others were doing as all of his focus was spent on his own exertions. With so many available opponents in the melee he couldn't rely on his eyes to predict where every one of his potential adversaries would go, so he had to make due with the instincts born of countless hours of practice and experience. He drove a sword through one man's face, hobbled another by slashing their achilles tendon, and shoulder checked a third across the line of fire before carrying on his way until he ended up getting pushed back as he came upon a pure mountain of a man swinging around a curved sword and greatshield in equal measure as if they weighed nothing.

Indeed, so wild were the goliath's motions that as Harry danced back he witnessed three of his brothers taken out of the running as collateral damage, each knocked clear of their senses and the ring, just by happening to be in his general vicinity. It didn't take long to realize this was the massive brute that Vettius had been so proud of in the preliminary rounds, and sadly one of the few great ones that Batiatus had not been able to afford. He'd chosen three above average men instead for the same price.

As the wizard did his best to stay clear of the monster that was bearing down on him until he found an opening, he took note of how the others seemed to be doing. It had only been perhaps a minute since the brawl had started, but already the vast majority of both sides had been dispatched, either mortally or via disqualification. (being thrown out). In fact, Gnaeus had lit his net on fire and caught two foes inside it, but a third had tackled him out of the ring a moment later. Barca was holding his own with his mighty spear, but with two others also bearing down on him it was anyone's guess how that would end. Crixus was blazing a trail like a juggernaut through foes as he raced to reach his brother's side, but the way things were going Harry didn't think he'd make it in time.

The wizard was just considering seeing if he could summon the monster's feet out from under him when Gannicus came flying in out of nowhere to offer him a moment of respite. How did he do this? By jumping on the big man's back and trying to strangle the beast. Said beast immediately tried to stab his attacker, but Gannicus ducked low to avoid the strike and unless the big man wanted to drop any of his weapons he couldn't reach up to pull him loose. So instead he fell backwards and nearly crushed the champion with the full weight of his bulk and armor.

He got up, Gannicus groaned, and it was then that Crixus arrived to tackle the monster back to the ground just in time for Harry, who had moved into a more advantageous position, to slam both blades down at once, completely severing the behemoth's head from his shoulders. The crowd roared their approval at such a fine display of both teamwork and gore, and if the wizard wasn't mistaken he heard Batiatus especially loud over the rest.

At once both Harry and Crixus rolled to their feet and took stock of where things now stood. Gannicus was clearly down for the count, so that left them, a couple more of Solonius' number and, surprisingly enough, Barca. The large spearman was gasping uproariously for air, but he was still standing, and two corpses lay steaming at his feet.

Harry and Barca shared a nod, and the darker skinned man leveled his spear horizontally across his body and charged Solonius's men with it, driving them all out of the ring and the running. In that nod it had been clear, the spearman was absolutely drained and had used up near all of his endurance just getting that far. He would rather be known this day as a man that went out taking two men with him into obscurity than fall to a blade. That left the wizard and the Gaul as the last men standing.

Crixus raised his sword in a solute. "Well, brother, shall we put honor to steel then?"

Raising his own weapons in kind, Harry responded, "We've both got honor enough, my friend. But let's give these people a show anyway."

Like a shot from a rifle the two men charged each other and at the last moment before impact Harry dropped and slid beneath the Gaul's legs before kicking up sand to right himself behind him for a body shot that the bigger man quickly spun to block with his shield. Crixus was equally quick with his own slashing attacks but Harry ducked low, caught eye contact and began stalking around every slice like a lion as he drew the event out, allowing his friend every opportunity to show his skill to the crowd and earn their cheers and adulation. He even went so far as to let a heel stomp to his chest connect hard enough to send him rolling backward to allow the man a gratuitous moment of awe.

Then they locked eyes again and decided it was time to end it for real. Waving heartily to the people and bowing to the high box they shed themselves of weapons and armor, and then faced each other once more with fists raised. Neither wanted to risk killing the other so they'd decided in advance that if they became the finalists this was how the end would be decided.

Still keeping eye contact Harry blocked a right hook and slammed a knee into his friend's ribs before ducking back crashing home with a roundhouse into his ear that sent him sprawling. The Gaul reclaimed his feet quickly but he was understandably wary of his lightly hopping-in-place compatriot. Both knew that out of the two of them the Briton was far superior in hand to hand combat. Which explained why he barely had time to block the next punch… but not the second and third that nearly dislocated his jaw and did crack the two ribs that had been bruised in the previous interaction.

Crixus fell to his knees, but before he could risk humiliation with the Missio, Harry saved him with an uppercut to the chin that robbed him of all consciousness and speaking ability. As his body crashed to the sand the horns of the band roared the Briton's triumph. And as he raised his arms high Harry allowed a bit of mischief to enter his eyes and, concentrating hard on his vocal chords while drawing on several weeks worth of meditation, he let loose with a booming lion's roar that shook the wood of the people's seats and drove them to even higher levels of ecstasy.

Meanwhile, in the high booth, Varus was giving a wildly cheering Batiatus the side eye, "Did you know your man could imitate a lion so well? My, what a talent."

Coming back to himself at once for being addressed by a man so great, Quintus blustered out, "Of course I knew, Good Varus. In fact, he told me once that amongst his people animal mimicry was a prized talent." Of course that was complete bullshit but the noble didn't need to know that. "Around the Ludus we even call him the Lion." Another lie, but one that was sure to make his man memorable.

"Indeed?" The noble considered that and unbidden a thought that had been buzzing around his head since his companion's great party bubbled to the surface. This Briton was interesting, he was great, and he'd won the primus. Surely such an interesting and great man deserved an equal gift commensurate to his efforts. Standing up he gestured to the band who played a new series of notes that quieted the crowd and drew attention back to him.

"People of Capua," He bellowed to be heard, "I give you your champion! Harry of Britain! Harry the Lion! Harry the Champion of Capua!" Varus gave the people a few moments to vent out how happy they were at that before continuing. "Aye he is our champion, and through him the gods have surely shown us their blessing on the construction of this, our new arena. Thus I believe he deserves a prize equal to the prestige of that position. So please join me in honoring both the gods and the champion by gifting him… with his freedom!"

Fresh tumult sounded at the announcement and Varus took a moment to address Batiatus directly. "You have no problem with that do you, Batiatus? I of course will compensate you for the loss."

For his part Quintus was at a loss for how he could possibly prevent it at that point, so he mustered himself and replied, "Gratitude. It is a fine gift."

"Indeed."

Meanwhile, Gaia was waving herself down with her fan to calm her pulse after everything she'd just seen. Harry had been in so much danger, and yet he'd been entirely in his element from start to finish; and it had ended just as he'd predicted it would. After the things he'd shown her after revealing his true origins she shouldn't be surprised, but there it was. Now though, after seeing it all play out, she found herself incredibly hot and bothered, and with her man now freed as he was they would no longer need to hide their appreciation for each other.

Though it didn't escape her notice either that Lucretia was also eyeing the man with interest. Perhaps the hints and seeds of thought she'd been dropping in the redhead's ear were finally coming to fruition. When she'd told Harry about her plans in regard to the other woman he'd merely advised her to be patient and observant. They both knew she was feeling the strain of not providing her husband with a child so it was only a matter of time before she started looking to others to try and provide it. And when she did they would have her.

In the meantime, oh the plans her man had for the future. The beautiful, glorious, plans.