Refreshed after their catnap, Draco and Harry sat in the common room of the Lion's Den, talking with Griff and Salz, trying to figure out how they were going to handle their meeting. This would be the first time the two factions would be together. Harry was more than a little nervous. Draco had convinced him to demonstrate to Griff and Salz how his fire dart worked. Both were impressed. They had also discussed the legal ramifications and decided that it more research was imperative. Now, it was time to let everyone know about the meeting.

�Dobby,� Harry said, still in the process of writing a note.

              
               Emergency meeting, Lion�s Den

Harry turned to the elf. �Dobby, take this note to Ron, Luna, Ginny, �Mione and Neville. Luna and Ginny may be together. Please allow no one else to notice your arrival. Understand?�

�Yes, sir. Harry Potter, sir,� Dobby answered, with a wag of his ears.

�Thank you, Dobby,� Harry said, smirking as he continued. �Tell Ron not to worry about food. He can eat here. If he gives you a hard time, just tell him his supper will be a bone on the hearth rug.�

Dobby giggled and popped out.

�Draco, perhaps you should go and round up your people to meet us back here. If possible, come back by six twenty-five. That�ll give me a chance to warn the others. Please keep in mind that we consider the Lion�s Den to be one our best-kept secrets. I'll count on you to keep it that way.� Harry grinned, and said teasingly, �You can talk to Salz some more, later.�

Draco nodded and stood to leave.

�Hold on, Draco. I want you to take my invisibility cloak so you can slip around unnoticed.�

�No problem.� Draco grinned. �Don�t need it. I can do a Disillusionment Charm on myself. I slip through the halls all the time without being seen.� He reached forward and pulled Harry to him for a breathless kiss, and then he rested his forehead against his whispering, �We can do this.�

Heart racing, he nodded.

With a soft incantation, Draco's form blended into the fixtures of the chamber. The door opened and closed.

�Griff,� Harry turned to the portrait. �Are you sure about the books I asked about? They aren't all in the Restricted Section?�

�That's true FyrT�hhers,� Griff replied. �You should know that we would be able to get anything, even if you chose something from the Restricted Section.�

Harry grinned and huffed in amusement. �Now, you tell me.�

Griff smirked and turned when Salz slipped into the portrait. �FyrT�hhers, there is a young man in the corridor who says that he�s looking for you. He said his name is Blaise Zabini and he must talk to you. It seems a problem has arisen in my house.�

Harry exited through the portrait, wondering what had happened. Draco had been gone for only twenty minutes. Out in the corridor, Blaise was pacing and muttering under his breath.

�Potter, thank Merlin.� Blaise stopped, eyeing him speculatively. �I was beginning to think I had the instructions wrong. That old coot in the portrait wouldn�t tell me anything or even go get you until I told him I�m a Slytherin.� Blaise glared at the old coot in question.

Harry smiled, shaking with silent laughter. �That�s okay Blaise; it�s a security measure we have to take. The instructions were that you should be here at six twenty-five. You�re thirty minutes early.�

�That�s just it. I�m early because we have a problem in the common room with Pansy. Sorry to say, but she�s causing a scene that could rival Umbridge in the Entrance Hall. We need a diversion. Draco has a plan, but right now, he wants to enlist the Head Girl�s help. That way Pansy can be taken care of before our meeting.�

He listened closely to Blaise. �Winky.�

�Yes, Harry Potter, sir?�

�Please get �Mione. Tell her, �Salz needs you.� Did you get that, Winky? Say it back please.�

�Salz needs you,� Winky mimicked back.

�Thank You, Winky, you may go now.� He noticed Blaise looking at him strangely.

Blaise shook his head. �You're weird,� was all he had time to say.

Winky returned with Hermione.

��Mione, please go with Blaise. He�ll explain the problem to you. Meet us back here when you�re finished.�

Harry returned to the common room of The Lion�s Den. Looking around, he decided to make a few changes. With a quick wave of his hand, he expanded the round table to fit eleven people comfortably. Once that was accomplished, he looked at the food buffet and saw that Dobby and Winky had done their usual excellent job of providing sustenance for them. However, with a grin, he added a basket of bones for Ron, just in case.

The door opened and Ron and Neville entered.

Harry turned when they entered. �Today is the day that we unite two factions, Ron. I hope you�re ready for this.�

�I�m ready,� Ron answered.

�Good,� he responded, a slight sense of relief passing through him. �Get something to eat and have a seat. �Mione had to go take care of a problem in the Slytherin common room. She�ll most likely be late.�

�Harry, you forgot something.� Ron stood at the buffet grinning. He pulled out his wand, and conjured a basket of cat treats for his best mate. Arching his brow, he said, �That should do it.�

Laughter emerged and he shook his head in amusement.

Luna and Ginny came in completely immersed in a whisper and giggle session. They sat down after picking out a Butterbeer to drink. It was as if they did this everyday.

Nervousness began to returned in renewed sensations. This meeting had to succeed�there was so much at stake. He began to pace in front of the portrait over the hearth speaking quietly with Griff. They had so much to cover and he wasn't sure what the outcome would be.

The door opened and admitted Vincent Crabbe, Blaise Zabini and Justin Finch-Fletchley. It was only a few moments more before Greg and �Mione arrived.

�You can show yourself now, Draco,� Harry said, grinning.

Draco materialized.

Ron scowled. �Bloody hell, how�d you do that, and how long have you been there?�

�Easy, Weasley,� Draco drawled. �Disillusionment Charm. Don't worry, I just arrived with Hermione.� He turned to Harry. �The problem has been sedated.� He shrugged. �A drastic measure�true, but it became a necessity. By the way, she thinks Hermione and I are having a thing.�

�WHAT?� Ron�s blue eyes were huge and his cheeks deepened to a deep shade of Weasley red.

Harry told him firmly, �Ron, sit down...SIT.�

Ron sat with a ferocious look on his face.

�Strategy; mean anything to you?� He looked at Ron expecting a response.

After a low growl, he nodded.

Harry returned his attention to the rest of the group. �All right everyone have a seat please. Thank you. I know you�re wondering what�s going on. First, let me say I would like to extend a welcome to Justin, Blaise, Vince, Greg and the tow headed cat next to me. I should begin by telling you that the table you�re sitting at, has been expanded. Today, it has become essentially important that our two factions acknowledge and accept each other. The outcome of this war and the survival of this very institution are at stake. It�s time we put our differences aside and join forces to ensure our survival.� He took a deep breath and released it. Glancing around the table, he said, �You�re probably wondering why we�re here in these chambers. The answer is, these are the chambers of the founder, Godric Gryffindor. Griff?� He turned to face the portrait over the mantel. �I�d like all of you to meet Godric Gryffindor, Griff; this is Justin, Blaise, Greg and Vince. Justin is from Hufflepuff and the others are Slytherins.�

�It�s a pleasure to meet you, gentlemen,� Griff responded with a slight bow.

Harry continued with his introduction. �The dashing guy accompanying Griff is Salazar Slytherin. Fondly known as Salz.�

Blaise�s eyes grew round and his cheeks burned.

Draco chuckled and smacked Blaise on the back of his head.

Salz grinned. This created a stir among the Slytherins at the table so Harry immediately began speaking again to distract them from the portrait.

�Moving forward,� Harry said, taking center stage. �Voldemort plans to attack Hogwarts on Yule. This is not a rumor. The Order has this information and my own spies have confirmed it. Dumbledore didn�t tell me about it, but he knows that I know. This is where the differences between our groups must end. It�s vitally important; I can�t stress that enough. Okay, having said all that, assignments everyone.� Parchment and quill appeared in front of Hermione. ��Mione, I need you to work together with Blaise and Justin researching law; specifically fire in use during dueling and battle. I want you to find out; if, when, and also how it was ever used and the legal consequences of any instance you may find.�

�Okay, Harry,� she said. �Does this have anything to do with your fire element?�

�Yes, it does. Dumbledore is furious with me over using fire. Yes, I have gained control of it�that�s why he�s mad. Says I could end up in Azkaban if I use it in battle. You know I don�t trust his word alone on this, thus the reason for the research. I�ll need you to begin as soon as we�re finished here. Griff has informed me that there are many books in his personal library on this. He also says that if you need anything out of the Restricted Section, he and Salz are able to get it for you without a teacher's signature.�

He turned to Blaise and Justin. �Hermione has worked in the library here before. If you have any questions, she can guide you. If for any reason she�s not with you, please feel free to ask Griff or Salz. Something else you should know about them, after today you�ll all be able to see them due to your link with this group. If you happen to notice them in any of the other portraits within Hogwarts, it would be best if you don't acknowledge them since no one else will see them. They serve to assist us in our endeavor by keeping an eye on the rest of the students; however, only those present know of them. Draco tells me that each of you is trustworthy; nothing discussed here is to be repeated out of these chambers. If it becomes necessary to talk about anything regarding this group, please come here to do it. Even the main library can have spies. You�ll be welcome here at any time, day or night.�

With a shake of his head, Blaise spoke up, �Maybe this is none of my business, and I don�t know Dumbledore on a personal level, but why would he say you would end up in Azkaban for using fire?� Blaise asked him with a frown. �Isn�t that a gift you were born with, like Draco�s water and earth elements?�

�Yes, Blaise. I was born with the elemental gifts of air and fire. According to Dumbledore, fire is a Dark Art. Nothing was said about air, maybe because he doesn�t realize I can utilize it as a weapon also. Air can create just as much damage as fire. But then, we all know that even a simple, Wingardium Leviosa can kill.�

Harry gave Blaise a friendly smile. �May we move on?� He glanced around the table to see if there were any more questions. �Good. Next on the agenda�Neville and Ginny, I want you to get with Greg and compile a list of any necessary ingredients for any healing potions that may be required. That probably means you�ll need a list of any potions to be used. You�ll need to combine your knowledge for utmost efficiency. Regardless of whether you need a single herb to heal or a whole recipe for a potion, I want it all. Ginny, I know your gift of healing with your hands is very important.� He noticed the Slytherin�s raised brows at this comment but continued. �You�ll not be able to treat everyone yourself. That means you�ll have to share in this duty. I heard that Mandy Brocklehurst will be volunteering her assistance also; we�re going to need all the help we can get. The library here in the Den is at your disposal.�

Ginny nodded in acceptance of her duty.

Greg and Neville eyed each other, before finally nodding.

After observing their acquiesce, he turned to Vince. �Vince, have you managed your Animagus form completely yet?�

Vince scowled at Draco.

He leaned forward placing his hands on the table between them and tried to reassure him. �It's okay, Vince. Draco and Blaise aren�t the only unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts. I asked you this because I�m assigning you and Ron to study the external grounds to find ways into the castle.�

In a smooth motion, he slid the Marauders Map across the table to Ron and met his eyes. �We need to know even the tiniest hole in the castle; I want to keep the rat out. I tried to find a way to set a ward that would expose his human form; problem is�such a ward would work on any of us to our detriment. While you�re doing this, I want you to explore along the western walls because it�s generally off limits to students. Take this camera with you, I want visual product that we can work on, coming up with any necessary defense in that direction. Ron, I also want to know where the wards already in place end, the complete circumference around Hogwarts. Salz tells me there�s a ward for Dementors, but we�re unable to tamper with the wards without Dumbledore finding out. We�ll need to come up with a solution to that.�

Everyone around the table looked surprised at this news. Questions began to fly.

�If there�s��

�Why don�t we��

�Where is this infor��

�I've never seen that in a book��

Harry held up his hands to stop the onslaught, shaking his head. �There�s still the problem of being unable to tamper with the wards.�

Ron rubbed his jaw and chewed on his lower lip, obviously thinking hard. �Harry�what if�?�

�Yes, Ron?�

�Well�� Ron started slowly, collecting his thoughts. �What if this information accidentally�on purpose�fell into the hands of a certain curse breaker? What if that curse breaker were a member of the Order?� By now, Ron was grinning. �It can be done Harry, I know it! Even if we do something as simple as sending an anonymous owl�it should work. Surely, such information would be valuable to the Order. Even Dumbledore would want to use it.�

Draco grinned in approval at Ron.

Shock registered on Ron�s face and he nearly fell off his chair.

He turned to Salz. �Well?�

A large tome landed in the middle of the round table. Hermione, Blaise and Draco made a dive for it.

Hermione came up the victor.

Harry teased, �Don't you think every book dealing with law in all of Hogwarts is enough for you?�

�Absolutely not, Harry James Potter!� she declared, clutching the treasure to her chest.

Everyone laughed.

Amidst the laughter, Harry said, �Why don�t we take a short break and eat something, then we�ll come back to the final points of this meeting.�

As everyone got up to go to the food table Harry noticed that chatter between the groups flowed freely. This was good.

�I told you it would go well, FyrT�hhers,� Griff said, smiling at him.

He released a breath of relief and smiled back.

�Salz,� Draco said, turning to the portrait. �How long has this information about a ward for Dementors been kept hidden? Why wouldn�t Dumbledore know about it?� Draco paused and shook his head. �He must be about 150 years old. I�d think if the information were there he�d know it.�

With a smile, Salz replied, �Griff�s chambers were well hidden until Harry found us here last year. Before that, our portrait was not here for 100 years. The castle decided it was time for Harry to know his heritage.�

By now, the others in the room were listening.

Salz continued, �That�s when Moenia returned us to our rightful place here and guided Harry into our corridor. During our time of absence, the library within these chambers would not have been here. I believe Harry said something about thinking they were probably in another dimension. Therefore, the knowledge was truly lost during that time. About Headmaster Dumbledore, I cannot say, it�s my understanding these chambers were once used to house some dog named Fluffy.�

�Who is Moenia?� Blaise asked. He didn�t want to look foolish again by something, he didn't know.

�Moenia is the castle that is Hogwarts. Harry likes to call her that.� Salz answered this question as an apology to Blaise for giving him a difficult time earlier.

�Okay, everyone, we should finish,� Draco said as he started the remainder of the meeting.

Harry nodded and took his seat.

�Luna,� Draco said, turning to her. �We haven't covered what we need from you. That�s because you�ll be working very closely with Harry and me. Over the next couple of days, Harry and I are going to have to deal with Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape. We have some serious smoothing out to do with them. During this time, we want you to contact your father and find out if there�s any info he�s able to share with us regarding the Manticores. It�ll also fall to you, Harry and me to get into contact with the Centaurs. We understand your affinity with creatures. It�s our hope that you can help us convince them their home is in danger, and we hope they will join us in defending it. We won�t require an oath; we just ask participation. The forest, unfortunately, stands between Voldemort and Hogwarts. Therefore, the creatures within, are at risk. I�ll talk to you some more about that after we hear from your father.�

Luna listened closely, nodding in understanding.

Harry stood. �I think that�s all. You should begin to return to your common rooms. Please be as inconspicuous as possible and we will see you all tomorrow.� Harry was glad the meeting was finished. �Ron, I won�t be going back to Gryffindor tower right now. I�m supposed to meet with Belenus at eight o�clock. I�ll see you and 'Mione in the morning.�

�Okay, see you then.�

�Goodnight, Harry.� Hermione hugged him, and then turned to leave. She had talked with Justin and Blaise arranging to meet tomorrow during lunch due to other meetings they were required to attend later that evening.

Harry watched as everyone left. Draco was the only one who remained behind. Biting back a smirk, Harry looked up to the portrait of his ancestors. �Griff, would you and Salz make sure they get back, okay?�

Griff nodded, and the two founders left the chambers.

Draco leaned against the table, arms crossed over his chest, eyeing Harry as he approached, looking sleek and graceful. A thrill went through him, sending tingles of anticipation to the surface.

Breath close to his face, Harry whispered heatedly, �I�m going to take a quick shower, want to join?�

Sexy smile so close in proximity intensified his heartbeat, sending it thrumming through his ears. He resisted the urge to pounce�instead, he smirked. �Thirty minutes,� he drawled. �We have thirty minutes. I�d think if we�re going to take a shower together; we�d allow more time.�

Harry leaned in, sharing breath, hands on his hips.

Warmth surrounded him. He knew it came from their combined energies. A breeze caressed his hair; fuzziness in his head accompanied the sensation. Harry�s chin caressed his jaw and hot breath flowed over his cheeks. He moaned, moving his hands to Harry�s neck. Once there, he entwined his fingers into the back of Harry�s black locks. Silky soft� The sensation aroused him even more.

Harry delved into his mouth, plundering stroking with rising need.

He gasped and arched back when his shirt opened by sheer force of air, exposing his neck to Harry�s searching mouth.

�Maybe�� Harry paused to place a kiss on his pulse-point, ��we should�forego�mmmnn�the shower.�

Molten lava�ignited within him. He responded to Harry�s tongue with aggressive strokes, punctuated by urgency.

The music of their rushed breath joined the sounds of mutual satisfaction emitting from their throats. Hands sought the feel of flesh beneath their fingers.

Somewhere along the edge of coherence, he noticed Harry�s nails on his chest. ��aaahhhh�!� he cried out in surprise. Pleasure transmuted his pain. He released a feral growl at the sensation.

Harry's nails continued across his chest.

I�ve been marked, Draco thought, as the fuzziness of heated desire increased. The only sounds he could hear were their moans. Aroused as never before, he pulled on Harry's shirt in a frenzy�sending buttons flying in every direction.

�Ah Hem.� Griff�s voice, sounding far off, tried to get their attention. �FyrT�hhers, it�s almost eight o�clock. FyrT�hhers.�

He groaned at Harry�s sudden absence and stared up into emeralds. He shook his head and grabbed, trying to pull him back to his hungry mouth. "Harr�"

Harry growled�hands braced on either side of his head.

Salz� voice cut through their combined heat. �Don�t you agree, Griff that being a portrait definitely has its disadvantages?� Griff sighed and resorted to the only option he had left. He opened his mouth and released such a realistic sounding roar that�

They jumped.

Griff grinned. �The king has spoken, move your bloomin� arses. It�s almost eight o�clock.�

Harry gasped for air. �Dobby.�

�Yes, Mister Harry Potter?�

Mister Harry Potter was still trying to catch his breath. �Please take Draco to his room and help him get ready. Then pop him into the courtyard directly from there. Thanks, by the way.�

Dobby bowed with a grin and grabbed Draco's knee.

�Dammit! No!� He didn�t like traveling by elf pop. He radiated furious energy at the means of traveling, but that wasn�t the only problem. Frustration loomed its head�Harry had done it again.

After regaining his balance once in his room, he began pulling clothing out he needed for a workout. Damn, won�t even have time�Merlin, Harry�s in big trouble! What was that anyway? I�ve always been the one in control of any tryst. I can�t believe I lost it like that. My chest, look at my chest�fuck!

�No Dobby, I�m not ready yet,� he snarled as he strapped his katana across his back. �I�ll walk. So what, if I�m late.�

�Mister Harry Potter says��

�Damnit,� he snarled. �Dobby, I was your master before Harry was; I say I�m walking.�

�Mister Harry Potter is not master. Dobby is FREE.�

�Yeah, right.�

Dobby frowned; reached out�

The peaceful and serene atmosphere of the courtyard split with Draco�s virulent swearing when Dobby arrived with him in tow in the courtyard.

�Good evening to you too, young Draconis,� Belenus said, grinning at the string of profanities still coming from Draco.

�That would be a matter of perception, Belenus. I hate elf popping,� Draco responded after he swore some more at Dobby, sending him a glare that would have made Severus proud.

�Mister Draco is here, Mister Harry Potter. You need more?�

Harry grinned. �Thanks for the package, Dobby.�

He snarled, it sounded like the white cat that he was, sometimes.

�No, that�s all. Goodnight, Dobby.� Harry grinned at the elf in response to Draco�s ire.

Dobby bowed with; if possible, an evil grin on his face wagged his large ears�and then popped out.

In a fervor, he drew his katana; the sound cutting the night. �Accio glasses!� He swung the katana around only to encounter the Sword of Gryffindor blocking its advancement. Surprise surged through him and his eyes met laughing green.

�Hello, Shadow Phoenix�s Kat.� Harry purred in his smoothest voice. �Why, pray tell are you so irritable tonight?�

�Fuck, how is it you can see?�

Harry leaned in for an extremely quick kiss. �You have many secrets to learn yet, Icekat.� They continued to dance to the sound of steel for another thirty minutes.

Belenus contributed by way of catcalls and suggestions for strategy.

Minerva McGonagall sat in the Headmaster's office, trying to get him to see the opportunity of Harry's gift. �Albus, we must come to terms with Harry's problem. Yule is fast approaching and you shouldn�t be at odds with him. If Voldemort is going to attack here, that means he�s planning to take Hogwarts. If the two of you are divided by this issue, I fear Hogwarts will fall.� She sipped a cup of chamomile tea, still trying to calm herself. "I admit I�m sorely disappointed that fire is his gift instead of an Animagus form, but we should try to make the best of it. Maybe the Weasley twins and Bill can pull something together so that Harry can work with this. We need some new ideas."

A knock sounded and Severus entered, complaining belligerently, �I cannot find Draco anywhere. According to some of my students, he has a habit of disappearing. Even Crabbe and Goyle wouldn�t tell me where he is. If I find out he�s with Potter, I will seriously consider giving him a month of detention.� Severus sat in his usual chair with a sigh of complete exasperation.

Albus looked over his moon shaped spectacles, and told his favorite Potions Master, �Severus, you saw for yourself earlier, they are a couple. There�s nothing you can do about that. They�re both strong willed. Harry was adamant that Draco would be fighting at his side. I told him that wasn't possible, but he refused to listen. He�s sure he will conquer Voldemort on Yule with Draco�s help. Speaking of which, I would like to know how he knew about Voldemort's pending attack. He said he has his own spies. I didn�t get the impression that Draco was the one who told him.� He turned to Minerva. �You don�t think it could possibly be the twins, do you?�

�Absolutely not.�

�Well, it is someone,� Albus said. �I would also like to know who he was talking to. There was nobody here under a cloak or disillusioned, yet he spoke with confidence.�

�Arrogance you mean,� scowled Severus.

Justin Finch-Fletchley approached his friend Blaise. �Blaise, where have you been all night? Did you know Snape has been looking for Draco all evening? Also, do you know you can�t go on avoiding me all the time? Especially, with the new assignment?� Justin sat in the window alcove where he had found Blaise.

�Blaise?� He waved his hand in front of Blaise's far away gaze.

No response.

He moved closer, trying to get his attention and found himself looking at Blaise�s mouth, soft and enticing. He leaned in, discovering a kaleidoscope of color, emotion and new sensations. He touched the tip of his tongue to Blaise's lips, seeking entrance only to find his friend pulling away.

�What the hell�d you do that for?� Blaise asked in an angry and desperate tone. �Doesn�t our friendship mean anything to you?� The words were one thing, Justin knew him better than anyone he had ever met. What he saw was searing pain and unbridled yearning within his friend's eyes.

�Why are you angry?� he whispered. �You know our friendship is the most important thing in the world to me, Blaise, why would you even ask that?�

Blaise sputtered angrily, �Because�I�I don�t want to be one of your passing flings, that�s why!�

Justin's heart did a wonki sensation as it hitched painfully. �That�ll never happen between us, you should know that! I respect you too much.� He struggled with his breathing, and the stood, and walking over to Blaise. �Didn�t you feel it?� he asked, in a voice barely above a murmur.

Blaise swallowed, shaking his head sadly. �Yes,� he replied softly, �that�s what scares me the most.�

Justin sent his hand up, brushing Blaise's lower lip with his thumb. �Don�t be scared�I�ll be there with you.� He leaned in, and kissed Blaise with ultimate tenderness as if he were a priceless treasure.

Back at the courtyard, Harry and Draco finished with their blades. Belenus put Harry through moves he would be able to use when fighting with fire. This was physically tiring because he wasn�t accustomed to using his fire darts repeatedly. Belenus assured him he would gain in strength when using this new gift. It would simply require practice.

Belenus turned to Draco. �Draconis, what I would like you to conjure an ice circle.� He watched as Draco encircled them. �Good. Now Harry, focus on your center and duplicate the circle; your circle should be outside of the ice. Come on, give it a try.�

Harry pulled his fire into his solar plexus and focused spreading it around the circle of ice. Once complete, he sat on a bench and took deep breaths.

Belenus grinned. �Most excellent! I think we�ll call it a night. I�ll see you again the night after tomorrow. Same time.� He flashed out of the courtyard.

After letting a sigh escape, Harry lay back on the bench. �Was it as exhausting for you when you started working with ice and water?�

Draco sat on the ground with his back against the bench. �Actually, I had a more difficult time with earth. Although I can pull energy from it to extend my own, it�s damn hard to bring a mean tremor or create a schism.�

�You can make the earth shake and crack open?�

He nodded.

Harry spoke in an awed tone. �Wicked. We�ll have to see if we can pull something off together. But not now, I'm exhausted!�

Irritation resurfaced over Dobby popping him around like a balloon. �Really? Would you like me to call Dobby? I'm sure he�d be willing to pop you to your bed.� He spoke with some of his old snarky sarcasm.

Silence...

Draco turned to see if Harry had gone to sleep. He had not. There were tears tracing Harry�s temples and flowing into his messy locks. �Harry...Fyr?�

�It always hits me at unexpected times,� Harry whispered softly, raised his hand, and pointed to the Dog Star, Sirius. �You�d think that I�d get over it by now. Maybe, it�s because of the battle coming so close to us. I just don�t know. I also don�t know why you don't hate me. You lost your father that night, even if he�s alive in Azkaban.�

�Harry, we never really lose the ones we love. I could never hate you; you�re too much a part of me, my heart.�

Harry turned his tear-filled eyes to him and raised his hand to brush a strand of soft silk away from his face. �Even though I frustrate the hell out of you?�

His only response was to lean forward and press his lips to Harry�s.

Harry whispered, �Come with me...please?�

He nodded, and in a flashpoint of fire, the courtyard was empty.

Draco opened his eyes to find himself on the same bed where they had taken a nap earlier. Harry pulled him closer, but he attempted to pull away. �Harry, we both need a shower and you�re exhausted. Perhaps I should go.�

�Stay.�

�Harry...�

Harry snuggled closer.

He groaned.

�ppprrrrrrrr�.� Harry�s hands found their way to the scratch upon his chest. He licked the injury, whispering heatedly, �We can heal them if you like.�

Draco shook his head, breathing fast. �No, they�re fine.� He tried to think of anything but Harry�s warm body pressing to his. It wasn�t working. �Harry...I really should g...�

Hot lips covered his, cutting all verbal and mental protesting off. Harry became more insistent. His hot fingers flashed in eagerness over Draco's sensitive flesh. �You�re mine,� he purred. �Your absence burns me...I want you to stay.�

Quickly, with feline grace, he was astride Harry, holding his hands away from him. �I can�t keep doing this,� he said, electrifying arousal penetrating him.

Harry�s emerald eyes looked up at him.

Only his beating heart and Harry beneath him existed. Time was irrelevant.

�Then don�t.� Harry whispered, it was as if he were shouting for his own release. He bucked beneath him, eyes locked. �Risk it. Stay here, now.�

He closed his eyes feral need roiling within resistance was futile. Harry�s heat was all-consuming. His mind became fuzzy like earlier, and then to his disbelief, he felt a gust of wind, that propelled him forward. Harry's lips waited. He slid his body down to Harry�s, allowing the heat to consume him.

Hands propelled annoying clothing onto the floor...laughter...sounds of ecstasy filled the room resonating around them as Harry accepted his hungry caresses.

Draco pulled back.

�Nooooo...Draco...�

�Harry...look at me.�

Emerald eyes sparked.

�Are you sure this is what you want?�

Harry reached up for him. �Don�t ever doubt it,� he said, pulling Draco back to him.

Draco woke to the sound of purring. Turning, he saw Harry lying on the pillow next to him. He sighed and moved so he could better see him. Harry�s back was scratched and bruised from their tryst. Damn Kat, you did that to him? He realized most of what had happened seemed to exist only in a haze of bliss. Never before, had he experienced so much passion.

The Slytherin Ice Prince had completely melted.

He pulled his eyes from Harry�s lower back, where he saw several scratches, up to his shoulder. A Muggle tattoo graced Harry�s left shoulder blade. He had known that Harry went into a tattoo parlor, but his Watcher for the day didn�t follow him in. Harry's tattoo was beautiful, it featured a full moon with a large stag and two canines, one wolf and one Grim, all encircled with a Celtic wreath entwined with lilies. Beautiful. Draco reached to brush his finger lightly over the Grim, a cousin he would never know, twice a victim of war. Revelation shot through him as his eyes widened.

�Harry, wake up. Come on Fyr, you really need to wake up! I have a plan!� He shook Harry in an effort to get some response. The only reaction he got was more purring and Harry cuddling in on his chest. Well...there appeared to be only one way he was going to get him to wake up. He kissed him deeply, biting his lip, he gently coaxed Harry awake. It worked.

Draco pulled away with a grin. �This dirty cat needs a shower.� Once in the shower, both lathered up causing the scratches on their bodies to sting.

Harry skimmed his fingers over Draco's chest, gentle as a spring breeze. �Are you sure?�

He clasped Harry's hand and brought it to his lips kissing it he nodded. Passion reignited. He found himself thrust against the tiles of the shower, hands entwined within Harry�s wet locks, moaning into his mouth.

The floor suddenly became very convenient. Flares of Harry�s fire continuously moving before his eyes, gave him an idea. Idea? I thought I was incoherent. He groaned. �Harry...stop...� He gasped as a lighting bolt went up his spine.

Harry's eyes were spherical emeralds, shaking his head, he asked, �What?�

�Be still.�

A look of shock crossed Harry�s face.

�We�re elementals, we�ve learned to feel,� Draco said in a husky passion filled voice. �Both physically and emotionally, be still and feel the elements. Breath with me.�

Palms to palms...eye to eye...one within the other, bonded in life, they shared their breaths, air, an essential element of life.

�Kat...�

As their breaths merged, Draco felt a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling around them. There was also the sense of the mists, hugging the earth in the Scottish hills, intermingled with the scent of moist earth. The air continued to swirl as their emotions heightened. Draco had never experienced such power before, even with Harry these last few days.

Fire erupted from Harry threatening to send them over the edge. �Kat...I can�t hold...it.�

His response was to move. One single thrust upwards, sent them both into wave upon wave of physical release. It was as though they had been blocked all of their lives. They soared. Now, they were free.

Slowly, as if trying to remember time, Draco pulled himself back into focus. His mind wrapped around the thought, I thought I knew. I really thought I knew it all before.

Harry moved as if in laughter, adding more purring.

Bloody hell, Draco thought, how does he do that?

�It�s because we�re bonded,� Harry said as he looked up with a smile. �Remus...well, Remus told me once that he and Sirius could communicate in such a manner. A simple movement or thought and they fully understood each other. He almost died when Sirius went to Azkaban. The separation from his mate was literally a death of part of him. Even though he thought, Sirius had killed my parents, that didn�t change the bond. Remus left, and traveled to study Dark Creatures all over the world because he was trying to get away from the pull of his mate. Anyway, you hear me purring because it�s my way of communicating to you. No one else can hear it.�

Draco�s lithe fingers came up and caressed Harry�s wet locks. With conviction, he said, �We should get up and shower. We have plans to execute.�  

Chapter Seven; Fyr: Ceremonie fore Batel; Appease your Professor with Charm

Draco Malfoy, Ice Prince of Slytherin, walked into the Great Hall the next morning feeling very blissful. He detected a slight charge in the air, but the usually ever-vigilant warrior brushed it aside. Bliss could do that to a person. He sauntered over to the Slytherin table and sat between his cronies Zabini and Goyle.

Blaise asked him, �Where have you been? Snape has been looking for you since last night, and he is pissed.� Blaise looked at Draco with appraising eyes, looking for any damage.

Draco shrugged with a smirk, and then reached for his goblet. It vanished, along with his plate, and then as an after thought, so did his eating utensils. He looked up to the Head Table to see the glaring eyes of his godfather directed towards him. I�m dead, he thought.  Draco looked down at the now empty table in front of him and sighed. Blaise tapped the side of his leg and passed him a slice of toast under the table. Just great! Was that supposed to be some kind of joke or something? He grumbled within his mind.

At that moment, the doors of the Great Hall opened again, and in walked the Boy-Who-Lived.

Draco gulped.

How was it that after two showers, count them 1�2; Harry still walked into the Great Hall looking as though he had just been thoroughly shagged. His hair screamed bed hair, even his glasses seemed crooked, probably from the Accio last night. Completing the whole look was the still swollen, overly snogged lips, split into a blissful grin.

If Professor Snape had looked angry before; now he was livid. He slammed his coffee mug onto the table and exited the Hall in a fervour of snarls and billowing robes.

Draco stood up. Oh yeah, I�m dead, roiling thoughts passed through his mind. Death march. Dead man walking. Here I go. Bye all. Draco�s stomach rumbled its protest at the blatant neglect as he walked out the door of the Hall, to go to his godfather�s chambers. Draco made it a special point not to look at the Gryffindor table as he exited.

Severus Snape, Potions Master extraordinaire, Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Death Eater Spy for the Order arrived at the entrance of his chambers in a fog of anger the likes of which had never been seen expressed by him before. He snarled his password and entered his chamber, crossing his lounge in a matter of a few steps. Once at his destination, the corner cupboard, he opened it and pulled out a new bottle of Ogden�s Firewhiskey. Breakfast anyone? Fuck it, he growled within the confines of his brain. Firewhiskey for breakfast, you're in great shape old man, aren�t you? Make it a double. He tossed it down it in one gulp, he was in the process of pouring another when the chamber door opened, admitting his spoiled aristocratic prat of a godson.

He turned on Draco snarling. �Just what the HELL were you thinking? Take your damn brain out of your pants, and pull yourself together because this is not going happen�it stops here NOW! Of all the ass there is in this school, you have to go and choose that fucking-arrogant-bastard-that-lived?�

�I have it on good authority that he isn't a bastard, in fact, his father was a Marauder.� Draco said, looking him in the eye.

Severus snarled in response.

By now, Draco's bliss had completely evaporated. He attacked where he knew it would hurt the most, the cat going for the jugular, so to speak. �Furthermore, I happen to take extreme pleasure in his arrogance. Has it ever occurred to you, that he may be the only one ever created to be arrogant enough for me? I thrive on it. His passion and fire is the best thing that�s ever happened to me. I will not give him up.� Draco�s angry voice filled the chamber with defiance.

Severus said in a silky smooth voice, expressing his own tempest, �Like hell you won�t! There is too much at stake here. Your hormones rate zilch in this matter! You have to take the Dark Mark, and help destroy the bastard that is threatening to end our world.� Severus turned, and then threw his glass into the fireplace causing glass to fly throughout the room. He hissed angrily, �He will probably fucking die anyway.�

A fist collided with his jaw. Stunned, he lay on the floor looking up at Draco.

�Don't. You. Ever. Say. That. Again.� Draco's voice was deadly cold as he spoke looking down at him. �He won't die on Yule. I will be right there by him. I refuse to cower in these dungeons while he faces that lunatic bastard."

A spark shot through him as he looked up into Draco�s angry eyes. Too late... He knew a look had flown ever fleetingly across his face.

Draco's breath hitched and he pushed for the information he wanted. �Dumbledore isn�t planning on allowing him in on the battle. Tell me, damnit!�

He gave no response. The answer was conspicuous by the oppressive silence that filled the chamber.

The room�s temperature became chilled. Draco said with soft coldness, �The bloody fool has no idea what he�s up against.�

Again with the cold voice. He had the feeling that was when Draco was most dangerous. He made a motion to stand up.

Draco growled frostily, �I think you should stay there, Sev, unless you would like the feel of my fist again.�

He scowled up at him.

�What was the fool expecting to do?� Draco asked him. �Chain Harry in the Astronomy Tower while people in this castle die? Hell, I thought you were intelligent enough to know that something like that will never happen. Some of us want this war to be over�NOW.�

He replied, still prone on the floor, �I�ve already told you, this is how it is going to be. The plan will not change.�

�Like hell it won�t,� Draco insisted. �Didn't you hear me say Dumbledore doesn't know what he�s up against? Think about that Sev. In the meantime, I have an appointment. Don't come looking for me.�

�One question, godson of mine.� He was still pissed so he asked as Draco approached the door. �Just what are you going to tell your mother? Hello Mum, by the way, I�m fucking the Boy-Who-Lived?�

�Well, Sev,� Draco drawled angrily. �Since you seem to love to say that in such a snarky way, I think I'll let you handle telling her. Perhaps when you have properly satiated her passion would be the perfect time.� Draco turned and exited the chambers.

He lay on his floor looking up at his blank ceiling, wondering what Dumbledore was going to do now. He finally got up, rubbing his jaw. Damn, that boy has a fine right hook.

Harry and Draco made their way deep into the Forbidden Forest to meet up with their newest ally at Outlander�s Threshold. History in the making, they arrived silently and observed the small clearing before them.

A young man sat in the forest, leaning back against a large oak. He was whittling and whistling as though he hadn't a care in the world. All around him were signs of the forest creatures happily going about the usual business of getting ready for the coming winter months. The chipmunks and squirrels foraged in the dry leaves that covered the ground, looking for last minute goodies to help them through the winter. The birds in the trees sang in harmony with the whistling of the young man.

The young man focused intently upon his project. He was carving a gift for someone he hoped could be a friend. He stopped whistling, concentrating intently on a difficult part. A smile graced his features when it smoothed out.

Two sets of eyes, one molten liquid silver, and the other bright emerald fire observed him.

The silver-eyed panther stepped cautiously and silently into the clearing, pausing to sniff the scent of the human before him. He walked forward a few paces.

�Showoff.� The young man looked up at the cat with a friendly grin. He placed the gift he had been working on into a pocket of his robes, and then stood.

The cat morphed into a tall blond wizard. His own grin answered, �Always.� Crossed hands clasped, they shared a one armed hug. The hug shared by brothers and warriors throughout time. �Glad to see you are well, D.�

�Yeah, I am, thanks to a cat and an owl,� Dudley said, with a laugh and grin.

The emerald-eyed panther still watched the two friends. They really are friends, Harry thought, stepping into the clearing without taking his eyes from Dudley.

Dudley turned to him smiling. �Hi ya, Harry.�

Harry changed into his human form, and then stepped forward with an answering smile. �Glad you�re okay. Draco told me about the attack; he said everyone was fine.�

D. nodded.

Draco opened the door to the cabin. �We should go inside; even though we�re warded here, it�s best to be indoors.� 

�D.,� Draco said, once they were indoors. �I called you here because I wanted to be sure you were okay, but I, that is we, also have something we need you to do for us.� Draco took three butterbeers out of the never-empty cooler and tossed them one. �Have a seat.�

As they sat, Draco turned a chair around and straddled it using the back as an armrest. He smiled at his friend. �What we need you to do for us is vital to the outcome of this war. I tell you that because it will seem trivial.� He looked at Harry.

Harry took a sip of his butterbeer and set the bottle down slowly on the table. His eyes turned to his cousin while he reached into his robes and pulled out a folded parchment. He rested it on the table under his fingers, took a deep breath, and then slid it across the table. He leaned forward, and said in a deadly serious tone, �Dudley, we need you to send an anonymous message to a man by the name of Bill Weasley. He's a wizard who works at Gringott's Bank in Diagon Alley; he is also a member of the Order.�

�This is where we lose the simple part,� Draco spoke up. �We need you to go into Flourish and Blotts and buy parchment. The reason you need to buy it there is because they have a brand that has no magical charms on it. Also, when you go to pay, you need to ask the clerk for ink and quill, those are kept behind the counter. Tell them you have an appointment or something and don�t want to take the time to stop somewhere else.� Draco slid ten galleons across to D.

Harry leaned forward, elbows on the table. �We�re asking you to do this for several reasons Dud. This Bill Weasley is a genius, if we sent this parchment,� he said, pointing to the parchment before Dudley. �He would be able to read the magical signatures of Draco, Hermione, his own brother Ron and me on it. That means he�d know we sent it.�

Dudley�s brows rose at that statement.

Harry nodded to reinforce the statement, and then continued, �That�s why it�s important you copy this message letter by letter and symbol by symbol onto fresh uncharmed parchment. The symbols are runes. They must be precise.�

Dudley nodded. �I know what runes are, mum has some.�

Arched brows in response to that revelation, Harry continued after a glance at Draco. �Dudley this parchment is the most precious weapon that we have in this war.�

Dudley swallowed. �I�d be at your side if I could, Harry. That abhorrent lunatic is the reason you don�t have parents, and we don�t have any grandparents. People, you and I both never got to know.�

�Dudley, look at me.� Harry took another deep breath. �It�s an incantation and rune spell to create a ward against Dementors.� 

Dudley paled. �Harry, I thought you said before the only way to make them go away was that charm thingy you did that night in the alley.�

Harry nodded again. He then went on to explain further. �This is very old information that has been lost for a long time. Dudley, there are eleven year old kids in that castle. You know first hand that a Dementor has no thought for who it kisses. It will go for anyone in front of it, Pureblood, Muggleborn, non-wizards; all it wants is the soul. If you succeed at this, Bill Weasley will share this information with the Order and they�ll utilize it to keep everyone at the school safe. That�ll make it as if you are not only standing at my side, but over looking the students, faculty and Order members who will be there. You�ll in essence be their Guardian Angel.�

�It�ll work?� Dudley asked with an arched brow.

Both Draco and Harry nodded. �We got the information from a very reliable source,� stated Draco. �There should be enough cash there. After you copy the parchment, you can take the message to the owl post in Diagon Alley�send it from there. You can even sign it, Guardian Angel if you want, just don�t use Phoenix Angel because that is the name of Harry's circle. We don�t want any connection at all where this is concerned.� Draco stood as if to go, with a look at Harry.

Harry stood. Trying to lighten the mood, he said, �Yeah, you kinda have that whole disappearing problem going on.� He turned to Dudley, smiling. �Safe journey, cousin.�

Dudley nodded, and then reached into his pocket. �Harry, I carved this for you, I know it isn't black, but you could magic it black with green eyes.� He pulled the cat figurine he had been carving outside from within his robes.

Harry took the wooden cat, looking at it closely, he grinned. �Thanks, D.�

Draco approached his friend. �You�ve helped in this cause more then you�ll ever know. I consider you a great friend and brother warrior. Safe journey as you go into this fray, it won�t be as easy as our talk has made it seem. You�ll know how it must be when you�re in the alley; go in the shadows with caution and cunning.� They embraced, and then the trio parted.

Harry turned to watch his cousin walk to the portal and vanish. He smirked, and then turned to Draco. �Who knew, Dudley Dursley wearing wizard's robes. Did hell freeze or something?�

Draco laughed, morphed into Icekat, and then pawed his partner to do the same. The race back to the castle was on.

While Harry and Draco were away meeting in the forest, the Dream Team of research at Hogwarts were gathered around a table, searching for any legal means which would permit Harry to use fire on the battlefield without legal consequences. The task seemed expansive yet they were undaunted. They were the best after all.

Blaise grinned at his partners. �Do you suppose Harry has seen this one?� He held up a massive tome with the title of Fyr: Ceremonie fore Batel, by Gryffindor James Potter. �Damn this language is archaic,� he said, and looked up when Salz snorted and grinned at him. �It doesn't have a publication date but according to this Gryffindor James Potter, working with fire before and during battle was a powerful gift, one that he had himself.�  At this point, Blaise looked at his partners with a what else would anyone expect look. He continued, �He writes that he used it quite frequently to the detriment of his enemies.�

Hermione's muffled voice cut through the study atmosphere. �Put that one in the pile at the end of the table after you make your notes. We can keep the ones we are going to use separate, then we won't have to plow through them again later.� Hermione was up to her dusty nose in another tome entitled, Fyr: The Productum of the Devel? by Darius Orion Strickland. She sneezed.

Harry and Draco came into the library bantering back and forth. Reminding their friends of the old days when the two of them had been at continuous odds. Except now, they were having fun. Strange, how some things turned around.

�Harry.� Hermione looked up from her research. �I saw Professor McGonagall. She wanted me to tell you that she�d be able to see you at four o�clock.� 

All bantering laughter fell from Harry's face.

�Damn, Harry,� Draco said. �I hope your meeting with her goes better than mine did with Sev. I wish I�d broken his jaw.�

�Hey Potter, catch,� Blaise Zabini said, tossing the tome he had been reading to Harry. He wanted to see Harry�s reaction.

Gryffindor James Potter. Harry sat down on a chair hard. �Merlin,� he whispered. He looked up at Salz who just smirked and shrugged. �Will I be able to take it out of this chamber, Salz?� Harry asked as he flipped the old parchment pages. �I�d like to take it to my meeting with Professor McGonagall. Perhaps it�ll help.�

Salz nodded. �That would be fine, just tell her it has been in the family for years and you want it back. You�ll want to make sure that Dumbledore does not try to keep it. I don�t trust him. That last meeting I sat in on, he was dead set against you. Maybe a return to owner charm that is highly undetectable will protect it. There is a charms book on the sixth shelf where you could find the information you need. If I recall it requires rune work. Someone by the name of Woodard, Waylan W., yes, that�s who wrote it.�

Harry smiled at his ancestor. �Thanks, Salz. �Mione, I�ll trust you to handle that while I get cleaned up for my meeting.�

Harry made his way up to Professor McGonagall�s office for his scheduled meeting. He had decided to forego the tin of biscuits that Dumbledore had recommended. Instead, he brought a basket of assorted herbal teas and fresh honey. Under his other arm, he carried his copy of Fyr: Ceremonie fore Batel, by Gryffindor James Potter. He had taken the time to review Blaise�s notes and perused the book itself quickly. He was definitely impressed. Hopefully, his Head of House would be also.

Harry knocked. 

�Come in,� Professor McGonagall said, looking up from a book she was reading to watch as Harry approached her desk.

�Good afternoon, Professor.� Harry turned on the Potter charm. �I hope you�re feeling better this afternoon.�

�I�m fine, Mr. Potter,� was her only reply.

Harry sighed. Oops, she usually calls me Harry when we�re alone. He upped the amps on the Potter charm, adding a smile. �I brought you this basket of tea and honey. Remus told me once my mum liked herbal teas when she was feeling stressed. I�m sorry you had such a shock yesterday. I didn�t intend for you to find out about my gift in such a manner.�

�Well, Mr. Potter, thank you for the teas.� She looked at him over her spectacles, frowning. �What else do you have there?�

She obviously doesn't want to talk about fire, he thought. �Well, Professor, this is something I wanted to share with you as a means of an apology. I have this book with me because I�d like you to look at it. One of my ancestors, Gryffindor James Potter, wrote it. It's been in my family for many years.� At this, Harry turned, glancing around the room. He noticed Griff in one of the scenic landscapes on the wall over the fireplace. He pretended to be studying the rolling Scottish hills blanketed with a soft mist dancing along their ridges, all the while smiling at him. �Oh excuse me, Professor, I was slightly distracted.� Harry returned his smile to her. �Gryffindor James Potter also had the gift of fire. He wrote very extensively about it in this book. Would you like to take a look at it?�

Professor McGonagall's face fell to the book in Harry's hands. She wore a pinched look.

Harry decided that he must try to ease her fears. �Professor, he was a good man. He worked tirelessly in wizard government and supported this school both financially and intellectually. He taught a class of defensive techniques, similar to our own DADA. He also defended Hogwarts against an evil warlord by the name of Pernicious BranBalder.� Harry gave her a sympathetic smile. �I know that you are frightened, you should know that there is no need to be. My history should speak for itself if you stop and think about it.� He extended the book to her. Harry suspected that she would take it; she was definitely like 'Mione in that way. Books held the answers too many questions.

�If you would like,� he tried to encourage her with a soothing voice, �you may keep it for a little while to study it. I would, however, like it back; it is a family heirloom after all.� Hopefully, she wouldn�t notice the calming and cheering charm Hermione had placed on it. It was set to expire as soon as Professor McGonagall willingly handed it over to the next person, probably Dumbledore. They didn't want him to notice anything amiss with the tome.

Professor McGonagall finally reached out and took the book from him. �You aren�t keeping any more secrets are you?� she asked, with her sternest professor look.

Harry gave her a small smile. �Why Professor, you know everyone has some secrets. I never really thought that you would want to delve too far into that realm.� He arched his brow, hoping that the charm had become effective, and then winked at her.

�Harold James Potter, behave yourself,� she said, actually fighting down a blush. �You are behaving more like your father each passing day. You'd best be off, I'm sure you have much better things to do on a Saturday evening than to woo a fearful professor. Good night, Harry.�

Worked like a charm.

Harry smiled. �Good night, Professor.� With one last look at the painting, Harry turned and exited the office.

Ron found himself somewhat annoyed as he rounded the western corner of Hogwarts� walls.

Vincent Crabbe, who was seemingly out for an afternoon stroll with his dog, walked around the corner of the western side of Hogwarts and studied the terrain. He shook his head and looked down to the large red dog. �Well, it�s easy to see why this side of the castle is off limits to students.� Vince walked a short distance from the imposing structure of Hogwarts castle and surveyed the landscape around them with a very practiced eye.

The large red dog next to him morphed into Ron Weasley and glanced around. �No scent of any rat. What�s that over there?� He pointed to a low wall that had a vine covered, arched gateway. �Whatever it is, it looks like it hasn't been opened in years. Hell, like it�s been long forgotten.�

�Yeah, let�s take a closer look, but don't touch anything,� Vince said as he began to walk slowly toward the gate.

Ron snorted. Can't believe I'm working with a Slytherin.

�Well, if it makes you feel any better,� Vince's voice came through Ron's thoughts. �I think the same thing, except of course Gryffindor would be the proper term.� Vince enjoyed a smirk when he saw Ron�s shocked reaction.

Ron stopped, staring at Vince with annoyance.

Vince grinned. �No, I can't read your mind. Ugh, now there�s a scary thought. It�s just that I know you better than you think.�

Ron shook his head, and said with stubbornness, �There is no way you know anything about me.� He glared at the Slytherin to reinforce his insistent stubbornness. �You and I have never spoken more than five words in more than six years. All you have ever done is grunt and crack your knuckles.�

Vince grinned broadly enjoying the banter. �Shows you what you know.�

Ron glared once more. �Alright then, tell me something about myself.�

Vince was studying the gate, without turning his gaze from it, he told Ron, �You are 6� 2�, 193 lbs. You�re insanely crazy about Granger. You�re terrified of spiders. You goof off in Divination. You prefer chicken to beef; the legs are your favorite part and you have an insatiable appetite for sweets, of which �clairs are your favorite. Would you like me to continue?�

Ron felt his glare slid off his face, as he stood stunned by the knowledge that someone he thought was his enemy knew so much about him.

All the while, that Vince had been talking to Ron; he had been sizing up the gateway. He turned as he asked the last question and smirked at Ron's change of expression. �Well? Okay then,� he said. �You're an excellent chess player; yes, I know everyone knows that. But, what everyone doesn�t know is that you�re even better than your brother Bill who is considered to be a genius.� Vince took out his wand and waved it over the gateway whispering and frowning. He said thoughtfully, �This gate has a ward on it. We�ll definitely have to find out its purpose. Are you sure it isn't on that map you have?�

By now, Ron was scowling once again. �How do you know about Bill?�

Vince just shook his head as he continued to study the gate.

Ron sighed. �No, the map doesn�t cover this side of the castle at all. Step back and let me get some pictures. This camera may pick up any unseen energies around the gate. It�s a Muggle thing, something about high speed film.� Ron smirked and said, �Fred charmed it to work on Hogwarts� grounds. Ron took several pictures then turned and started snapping different views of the surrounding landscape. �I think we should explore more along the walls this way. When do you suppose the last time anyone came through this way was?� Ron turned to look at Vince as he asked this question.  

That was when disaster struck...as he turned, his foot twisted on a stone and suddenly there was no ground beneath them...

Ron Weasley growled angrily, �Sod off, Crabbe. I did not rush. I tripped. I have also broken my bloody leg again. Fuck!� He tried not to move the leg that lay twisted at an angle. He was bloody and dirty, and wearing a scowl that said he was not in the mood for banter.

He stood and walked over to him, and then bent down. �Let me take a look at it. Yep, it is broken. This is going to hurt.� Before that last word was out, he moved quickly, he didn't want Ron to realize what he was going to do. Vince said, �Ligo,� setting the leg in a temporary bandage.

Ron gave painful yell.

Vince shrugged. �We�ll have to wait till we�re out of here to completely heal it. I�m not very good with bones.� He rummaged around in his rucksack, pulled out a potion bottle, and then handed it to Ron. �Here, drink this pain potion.�

Ron scowled at the bottle in his hand with suspicion.

He snorted and rolled his eyes, annoyance surging through him. �It�s all right Weasley, I wouldn�t poison you. Poison is for women. If I wanted to kill you, there�d be pain involved. Remember, I�m supposed to be a Death Eater in training.� Vince held out the bottle, waiting for him to take it.

After a long appraising stare, Ron finally reached for it. He swallowed its contents in one gulp.

Vince stood up to look at where they were. It was more than just a hole. It was a large underground chamber. They must have fallen through an old trapdoor that previously been covered with dirt and rocks, only to give way when Weasley tripped onto it. �Damn. I hate heights. Fuck it,� he said, taking a deep breath and glaring at the opening high above them.

�Excuse me,� Ron spoke roughly through his pain. �What does your fear of heights have to with this bloody situation?�

Vince sat on his heels looking at the red head. He shook his head. �It has everything to do with this situation. Think it through Weasley, the only way out is up. I have to get us out of here. I can�t levitate you that high, I won�t risk it. That means I have to go for help. That means going up, and I�m afraid of heights. Blasted only fear I haven�t confronted with success.� Vince stood, took a deep breath, and then let it out very slowly.

Ron tilted his head back to see the patch of sky above them. Its grayness reflected his mood. The clouds were a mixture of white and various shades of grey. He always thought of that shade of cloud as a portent of the coming winter because the clouds in the spring were different. �You know, there's another way you could think about it.� He turned to Vince. �You�re a bird Animagus, aren�t you? That�s why you haven�t completed your transformation, isn�t it?�

�Yeah, funny huh?� Vince scowled. �A guy that fears heights is a falcon. Go figure. Bloody hell.�

Ron tilted his head at the large Slytherin. �Well, try thinking about the fact that yes, the opening is up there.� Ron pointed. �But so is the ground. So, is it really a height?�

Vince snorted. �Fucking bloody hell, Weasley the ground is right here beneath your arse.�

Ron grinned. �That may be true, but it�s all relative. You see, the ground is up there. Once you get up there, your feet will be safely on the ground. Think of it as a leap of faith if you must.�

Vince stood up and began to pace as he thought through what Ron said. He turned to Ron and removed his rucksack. �I�m going to leave this with you. It has some food and drink in it. Feel free to help yourself if you need anything. I swear to you that we are not enemies, and I will return with help to get you out of here.� It was a wizard's oath with depth and sincerity. He held out his hand to seal the oath.

Ron looked at him, grinned, and then clasped it. �Safe flight then, mate.�

Vince transformed and took flight with a cry of victory and strength.

Ron lay back on the ground and wondered how long it would take help to arrive. As time went by, he found himself in a quiet meditation. Harry had taught them all how to go into a deep meditation to help with pain.

Ron felt a sudden pulling around his navel and he was out of the office on a breath of wind, back in the underground chamber. The cries of two falcons came to his ears, and he turned his head to see his two friends land on the ground beside him.

Hermione transformed. �Ron, are you okay?� She had come prepared and pounced on him taking care of him by attempting to clean his face with water and cloth she had conjured.

�Yeah,� Ron answered. �I just did that meditation Harry taught us, it really does help. Something really strange happened, I�ll tell everyone later.� Ron grunted as he sat up.

Vince knelt next to them. �Harry�s on his way, he was stopped by Filch in the Entrance Hall. Draco�s up above and will be a signal to him as to where we are. When he gets here he�ll heal your leg then pull you out." Vince grinned down at him. "He says you�ve ridden on a phoenix before.�

Ron groaned. �Yeah, back in second year. �Mione stop with the water.�

�Oh, Ron,� Hermione said. �Really, you�re filthy. I was just trying to help.�

Ron looked over and saw Vince grinning at him, and then turned his head away to hide his laughter. Ron just arched his brow and tried to duck out of her reach.

The sound of a phoenix song resonated through the air in the underground chamber. Harry arrived and landed on his feet next to Ron. �You alright, mate?�

Ron grunted at him and responded, �Will everyone stop asking me that?�

Harry just grinned and removed the bandage that Vince had placed on Ron�s leg. He held his hands over Ron�s leg until he found the break by feeling the change in the vibration of the bone. At this point, he placed a vial of phoenix tears over the break and poured them on; massaging the tears into his leg. The leg healed without any pain to Ron.

Ron grinned. �Time for my free ride now?�

Harry reached out, and in a flashpoint of phoenix fire, he and Ron were gone. Hermione and Vince transformed, and then left to meet them in the Lion�s Den.

�Are you telling me that you astral projected into Dumbledore's office?� Hermione was fascinated with the idea and wanted all the facts of what had happened.

Ron nodded.  �If that's what it�s called, then yeah. Griff was there, he saw me.�

Godric Gryffindor nodded from his portrait over the mantel. �It�s true. Dumbledore paused the meeting, but when he saw no one, he continued. It was very interesting; I�ve never known a wizard with such a gift.�

Harry was pacing in his usual place before the fireplace. He stopped and turned to them. �So we now know for sure that they plan on keeping me from the battlefield, just not how.�

�Snape�s in charge of that,� Ron growled. �I still can't believe Dumbledore trusts him, he could hand you over to Voldemort wrapped up like a package. Especially if you�re incapacitated. By the way they were talking, that seemed a part of the plan. How else were they going to get you away from Hogwarts?�

Vince and Draco said, �Potion,� at the same instant.

Harry sat at the round table and picked up a quill, twirling it in his fingers, he thought deeply about his history with the Potions Master. After several minutes of quiet, it came to him. He looked up into Draco's eyes. �Draught of Living Death, first Potions class, remember?�

Draco's eyes froze over. �He wouldn't,� he said, but then he took a breath and groaned. �I�m wrong. Damn, I may kill him myself if we all live through this. That�s a damn risky potion, even for a Potions Master.�

Harry turned to his Potions team. �Ginny, I want you and Greg to start making the antidote now. Neville, I want you researching any potion that may have similar effects and their antidote. Go now.�

The three rose from the table and entered the Potions lab next to the library.

Harry turned to Hermione. ��Mione, how is the research progressing on the legality of me using fire?�

�We have our notes completed,� she answered. �Justin and I are working on putting them together, why?�

�Because I have a job for Blaise if he's willing.� Harry responded with an inquiring look to the Slytherin.

�What do you want me to do?� Blaise asked.

Harry smiled with mischievousness. �How brave are you?�

Blaise tilted his head, and arched his brow glancing between Harry and Draco. �I�m here for you; you should know that by now. If Snape�s planning on using that potion on you, you�ll have no problem getting me to help in stopping him.�

�That�s good,� Harry said. �Because I want you to go into Snape�s private Potions lab and find out exactly what he is working on. Are you game?�

�Yes.�

Harry nodded. �Moenia, what�s the password to Professor Snape's private Potions lab?�

Moenia chuckled. �Fucking-boy-who-lived.�

Snorts of laughter went around the table. Harry turned to Blaise, and asked with a grin, �Think you can remember that?�

�No problem,� Blaise answered with a grin.

Harry inclined his head. �Good, Draco and I are scheduled to meet with the Headmaster and our House Heads tomorrow at ten-thirty. That�ll be your window of opportunity. Wear dragonhide gloves and don�t leave any magical signature.�

Blaise gave a firm nod.

Harry turned to his long time friend, Hermione, and looked her in the eye. ��Mione I have to do something now, that I have postponed long enough. I hope that you will come to see the necessity in this decision and will not hold a grudge against me.�

She looked at him wide eyed. �What is it?�

He held her gaze. �Dobby.�

�Mister Harry Potter needs something?�

�Yes, Dobby.� Harry turned from Hermione and replied to the elf. �I�d like to request that you leave the employment of Hogwarts and Headmaster Dumbledore and come to work for me personally.�

Dobby's large eyes grew moist. �You wants Dobby? You wants Dobby to be house elf?�

Harry shook his head and explained. �No, not a house elf. You�ll still be free. I�ll be the one paying you instead of the Headmaster. Will you accept?�

Dobby�s ears wagged and he smiled. �Yes, Mister Harry Potter, but you is always here. Why is you wanting to pay Dobby when I already serve you?� Dobby asked this question with a look at the others around the table.

Harry knelt down on one knee before Dobby and looked into his eyes. �I need your help, Dobby. It�s come to my attention there are some in this castle who wish to harm me.�

Dobby looked stunned.

Harry nodded. �I need someone I can trust, someone who�ll be working only for me.� Harry paused and placed his hand on Dobby�s shoulder. �Someone who can take care of my meals and other errands I may need. I�ll no longer be eating in the Great Hall with my friends. Dobby, are you willing to help me?�

�Yes, Mister Harry Potter, Dobby will be best elf for you. What of Winky?� Dobby blushed and looked down to the floor.

Everyone had already decided that the two were a couple before today so there were a few smiles around the table. �Winky is welcome. The two of you will have a room here in my chambers. You�ll only work for me. Dobby it�s important that you don�t tell the Headmaster. You may tell him a family has hired you, if you wish. Is that okay?� At Dobby�s nod, he smiled. �I guess we should ask Winky about this, huh?�

Dobby grinned.

�Winky.�

After Winky's agreement, the meeting broke up so that the others could go take care of other obligations.

Minerva McGonagall sat in her favorite chair, in front of her fireplace with a fresh pot of tea at her side and a strange book on her lap; Fyr: Ceremonie fore Batel, by Gryffindor James Potter. She sighed. The last thirty hours had been some of the most stressful she had ever experienced; maybe she was just getting too old for this. The shock of seeing Harry engulfed in flames had been overwhelming. Lily and James had been two of her favorite students; their son had automatically stepped into that place. She smiled, recalling the look on Harry's face after he and Ron had tried to hide the fact that they were late for their first class with her. They didn't know the cat on the teacher's desk had been their professor.

But that was then; this is now. Harry wanted, no needed, her to understand him so that she would be able to place her fears aside. The least she could do was try�after all, she was a Gryffindor, too. She opened the book and began reading.

As Minerva read, she experienced many thoughts and feelings. She decided this was necessary to help purge the fear. At one point, she shed tears when reading about a battle where many of the deaths were children. They were killed because their parents would not bow to a war chieftain, Pernicious Branbalder. The atrocities witnessed by Gryffindor James Potter were what had brought out knowledge of his gift. He had been 17 years old when a warrior raped his sister. In his anger, he set the man on fire. The action had been completely unexpected because he had never known he had such a gift. His love for his sister, and the heart pain he experienced from witnessing the trauma, had brought the gift to the surface.

Five hours later, Minerva sat quietly. On the last page, there was a final notation,

Her fear changed. Now, she was very thoughtful and quiet. However, quiet was dissolving at a fast rate. It is probably a good thing that I drank so much chamomile tea, she thought; otherwise, I�d being giving Albus a piece of my mind right this minute. I can�t believe he knows nothing about this, and if he does, then I�m even angrier.

Draco walked the corridors of Hogwarts. As Head Boy, he often took double shifts since the beginning of term. Not this last week though. He thought of everything that occurred over the last few days and wondered how many of the new developments would work out. He was satisfied with the way things were between Harry and himself. Their friends most likely didn�t know the extent of the relationship; or maybe they did. He sighed. The two factions seemed to have melded well. Now, all they had to do was survive this damn war. The new developments and the possibility of Sev giving Harry a potion to stop him from fighting made his anger mount. He had gone to the courtyard to work it off; however, it always seemed to come back to that. Such a drastic action, he would be forced to take the Dark Mark; and infiltrate Voldemort's organization, and then bring it down. That was just wrong.

An hour and a half later, he entered the Lion�s Den looking for Harry. He needed to stay in his own room tonight. There was too much of a chance Sev might seek him. Now, he had to tell Harry this news.

Draco stood inside the bathroom door, looking at his heart�s desire�Harry James FyrT�hhers Potter. His breath hitched. The sight of Harry�s strong back and arse provoked exquisite hunger.

Amidst sensuous steam, Harry turned his head to look over his shoulder revealing his moist face. Locks of his hair tossed wildly in its beautiful wetness across his cheek. He laughed, emerald eyes dancing while he whispered sensuously, �It�s okay to look, but wouldn�t it be much better if you joined me?� White teeth flashed in a feral smile.

His heart skipped in its rush to increase its pace. With his breath quickening, Draco said, �I can�t stay with you tonight. Sev�s becoming too suspicious of where I am. What are you going to do if he crashes the Gryffindor dorms looking for me?� He tried to ignore the fact that Harry had turned to face him. This was not easy. �I thought it only fair I should tell you.�

Harry reached out, and pulled him, protesting, into the shower.

He struggled with both his inner urges and the outer water cascading over him. He sputtered and clenched wet skin.

�It�s just a shower, Kat,� Harry said, laughing at his struggles. He began removing his wet clothing one layer at a time. Warm lips factored into the mixture.

��mmmnn��

�It�s been a long day.� Harry�s voice came out in a sensual purr, sending waves of lust through his senses. �This�ll relax us both.� Silky lather, guided by Harry�s hands moved over him, filling his sinuses with the scented soap, coaxing him with massaging circles and sending muscles into relaxation. Harry leaned in to nibble his mouth and jaw line while moving with deliberate slowness down to his erection.

As he began to relax, Draco�s mind was sure the idea of being anywhere else was ludicrous. He reached behind Harry and grabbed his arse pulling him closer so their erections could enjoy the friction. Mutual moans and the reacquaintance of their tongues became the most important thing. Soap cascaded away as the water spray caressed their bodies, its music adding harmony to their sounds of pleasure.

Harry�s tongue massaged his, Draco found himself thrust against the tiles of the shower. Purring against his neck sent vibrations through him.

�I love the way you taste and feel Draco. You are so...mmmnn...perfect. Intoxicating.� He began to work his way down Draco�s chest licking and nipping as he went, leaving hot tingles in his wake. Harry�s hands were now massaging his thighs. He leaned in taking Draco�s cock into his mouth.

Draco�s hands entwined in the black locks before him, but found themselves pulled out, and placed against the tile palms flat.

�Don't touch,� Harry commanded.

�Fyr...mmmnn...come on, I...�

�Ssshhhh...�

Harry�s tongue worked magic. As he came closer to completion, Draco felt a strange sensation in his legs. �Wha...mmmnn�� His eyes rolled back as his erection exploded into Harry's mouth. The strange sensation didn�t go away, as Harry backed away, and stepped back under the water. He slipped bonelessly to the floor, gasping for breath. �What was...that?�

Harry grinned down at him with a quirked brow. �What was what?�

�...mmmnn...what...oh hell...later, I�ll get you later.�

�I�m counting on it,� was the return comment, backed by a feral grin and fiery emerald eyes. �Come on, get up we need to finish our shower.�

�...stay here...�

Laughter escaping his mouth, Harry bent over and pulled him to his feet. �I�m not leaving you in here. Come on let's go to bed.�

�Can't...stay.�

Still laughing, Harry told him, �You can get up early, and Moenia can take you directly into your dorm room. No one will know you weren�t there.� Harry used a drying charm on them, and then tucked Draco into bed.

�And you have known this for how long?�

Another grin. �Good night, Kat.�

Draco awoke with a funny crinkling against his face. He frowned, where...oh damn. He had done it again. He had slept in Harry's room. Wondering what was sticking to his face, he pulled the parchment away and saw the note written on it. He then looked at his bed partner and sighed. Apparently, Harry had been out flying again last night, which meant very little sleep, again. Draco stood up and made his way into the bathroom. He found his clothes cleaned and pressed hanging up, waiting for him. He dressed and decided to head down to the Great Hall for an early breakfast. If he encountered his irate godfather, he would just have to deal with it as it came.

 
Minerva McGonagall approached the Headmaster�s office deep in thought. Albus had told her to come to his office at ten o�clock for early preparation of the meeting concerning Harry and Draco Malfoy. She carried with her the tome that she had spent the previous evening reading. She was certain that Albus had no knowledge of any of the information contained within its pages; at least she was giving him the benefit of the doubt. She believed Harry when he said that this Gryffindor James Potter was an ancestor and she had concluded that Harry's gift, little though she liked it, might be the only answer to ending this war. Now, she would have to be the one to convince Albus, a most blatantly stubborn Gryffindor himself.

She knocked once, and entered at the sound of Albus' call, �Come in. Good morning Minerva, I trust you are feeling better?�

She nodded and went to the seat he indicated she should sit in. She began her explanation of the book and how she came to have it in her possession.

Albus listened as she told him of Harry�s visit, only responding when she finished by saying that the book was a family heirloom. �How is it that he can make that claim, Minerva, when we all know that the home at Godric's Hollow was completely destroyed?�

�I confess that I wondered as much, I decided to reserve judgment until I had read it. Now, after finishing, I know that it can only be the truth. When I finished reading, I found this statement on the last page.� She opened the book to the last page and turned it to face the Headmaster as she handed it to him so that he would see the words inscribed there,

Albus sighed. �This doesn�t explain how he came upon this book and why he claims it to be a family heirloom. He must be severely misguided, Minerva, surely you can see that?�

Minerva�s stubbornness stepped up to the challenge. �Quite frankly, Albus, how or where the book has come from, is not relevant, what we do with the information is what is important. Once you read the rest of the book, you will see it as fact. We must support Harry. With this gift, hiding him will not work toward saving the wizarding world.�

Albus still would not bend. He studied her over his spectacles. �Minerva, you know he is not ready to face Voldemort. Would you have me send Harry out to face him only to die, because he isn�t trained properly? You know we have been working on the plan to utilize Mr. Malfoy since before he joined the Order seven months ago. Too much has gone into that plan to forget about it. Mr. Malfoy is more prepared to infiltrate the Death Eater�s organization, and crumble it from within, than Harry is to face Voldemort. He was raised to be a Death Eater. That will be the final blow to Voldemort's power base, thus weakening him so that Harry can step in and finish the job. It is settled, and the plan will not change.�

Minerva McGonagall frowned severely at Albus Dumbledore.

After a brief knock, Severus Snape entered to see the two of them in a stare down. He arched his brow, took a seat and proceeded to watch them wondering how long it had been going on, and who would win.

Another knock on the door brought Albus out of his stare. He looked at the tome on his desk, closed it and placed it down on the floor, out of sight. �Come in.�

Harry and Draco entered the office, both looking as though they had just entered the warden�s office of a prison. With obstinate expressions on their faces, neither spoke, they only nodded in acknowledgement of the greetings given to them.

�Have a seat, boys.� Albus said. �Let us begin this meeting in hopes of reaching some understanding over the recent unfortunate events.�

Harry�s brow rose.

Draco made no response.

Albus continued without acknowledging their reactions. �I understand, Harry, that you are angry about the fact that you may not use fire on the battlefield. But surely you realize that we are only looking out for your best interests? Surely, you have no desire to spend your life in Azkaban?�

Stubbornness radiated from Harry's face like heat from a flame. �I happen to believe, sir,� Harry said, �that I won�t spend any time there.� He turned to look at his Head of House. �Perhaps, now that you have a better understanding of the circumstances, you may agree with me?�

Minerva sighed and told her favorite student, �I do have a better understanding now, Harry��

Severus looked at her with surprise.

�However,� Professor McGonagall continued, �what worries me is that so many other people lack that knowledge and understanding. They are the ones that hold your very future in their hands.� She gave him a significant look, hoping he would understand. �We have often been misguided by the uneducated in these matters; thereby bringing about disastrous results. It is my personal hope that we resolve these differences before calamity strikes. Surely, we can all reach a compromise.�

Albus cleared his throat. �Minerva,� he said firmly, �the Ministry governs the use of fire in this instance. We have discussed this before.�

Draco decided that he had been quiet long enough. �Tell me sir, are you able to cite exact circumstances of fire being used in battle and punished by the Ministry? I ask this only because you seem so certain, yet historically there hasn�t been a FyrWelden in several hundred years. Perhaps your experience on the Wizengamot can enlighten us to specific cases?�

Albus turned to Draco and shook his head. �The fact that there has been no one with the power of fire has no bearing on Harry�s case. The court has set the law, Mr. Malfoy.�

Light blond, perfectly groomed brows rose. �So, the law has no basis in precedent?�

Severus turned with his scowl in place. �Draco, why are you asking these questions of the Headmaster? Don�t you see that this is not an issue for you to be concerned about?�

�Actually Sev,� Draco said, not intimidated by that scowl. �It does concern me. Whatever concerns Harry, concerns me. My questions still stand. I would like to see facts, not empty words meant to sway a student's opinion. If I tried to pull such a disrespectful action towards you, you would be very angry. I expect just the same, nothing more, for Harry and me. I fail to see any possibility of a compromise if there is no mutual respect between all parties.�

�Potter�s arrogance is not respect.� Obvious anger propelled Severus to stand, pale-faced. �Therefore, it does not have the desired effect of inspiring respect. You would do well to listen to the Headmaster in these matters. You have after all, taken an oath to serve the Order. Perhaps you think you are exempt to such a serious oath just because you are shagging the Boy-Who-Lived!�

Draco responded with a shake of his head. �You are fully aware, Sev, that I�m personally not offended by any arrogance your own self-deceptive perception of Harry may find. I think, logically of course, that Harry has the right to use his gift to win this war. On point two, my oath to the Order was to the people, for the cause of justice, protection and freedom, not to Headmaster Dumbledore personally. I�m sure if you reviewed your own oath, you would come to that conclusion also. As to any personal and very private activities, those would be none of your concern, nor the concern of the Order and its other members.�

Harry arched his brow looking at his lover and protector with both admiration and amusement.

�How can you sit there and tell me that your activities are not my concern. Even your fellow students have wondered where you are at those times you choose to disappear. Your Head Boy duties have been sliding and you are not being held accountable!�

Harry waited for the room to turn to ice. Damn, he does have a better handle on his gift than I do, he thought when Severus didn�t turn into an ice sculpture. He smirked.

�Harry, this isn�t funny.� The Headmaster spoke up when he saw the look on his face. �Your pertinacious behavior is causing a rift within the Order. We can�t allow this to happen. The result would be a weapon for Voldemort, division would weaken us.�

�I don�t think it is funny, sir. It�s not my intention to split the Order. In fact, that�s one of the reasons I chose not to become a member. However, I do realize this disagreement over fire will ultimately create a rift. You must understand, I won�t accept full responsibility for the impending rift, if there�s no forthcoming compromise. Fire is my gift; I�ll utilize it to defeat Voldemort on the battlefield, with or without your blessing. I�ll then face any legal ramifications after the fact. If the Ministry chooses to charge me, then I�ll seek legal relief myself. I'm sure if you thought this through, you�d not like the idea of me charging the Ministry with using fraudulent laws to convict me, especially as their weapon that stepped in to save the day.�

�Harry�� Professor McGonagall's eyes were pleading with him to try harder to reach a compromise.

�I�m sorry, Professor.� He turned to her and continued, �I don�t see any compromise from the Headmaster. I won�t back down on this. Too much has already been lost.� Harry turned to back to the Headmaster. �I also won�t change my perspective on Draco accepting the Dark Mark. I won�t permit it.�

Professor Snape sneered. "You have no say in that matter, Potter. Draco is a member of the Order, and will follow his orders to protect the public good, not your hormonal whims."

As Professor Snape spoke, a ball of fire appeared in the palm of Harry�s right hand. He gazed at it with interest, and then looked up to his Potions professor. �I think you will find, sir�the issue goes well beyond hormones. Sometimes�� Harry looked back down to his hand. �The most obvious is right before us, hidden in plain sight, so to speak. You sir, seem to be blind to this fact. Your shortsightedness will be your own calamity. Existence through self-deception is as solid as the mists in the Scottish hills. Cold, damp and misguided are the results you will find there.�

Severus smirked. �Waxing philosophical will not change Draco's destiny, he will take the Mark, Potter. The plan is set�we will succeed.�

Albus Dumbledore backed his statement with a nod in agreement.

Harry, still playing with the fire in his palm responded, �No Dark Mark and fire in battle, seems as though the two of you have much to consider before Yule.� Harry stood, followed by Draco. �We�ll go now. The impasse continues. We�ll talk again when you�re willing to offer a compromise.� He turned to Professor McGonagall. �Thank you for your support, Professor. I hope this conflict doesn�t put undue stress upon you. I apologize if this is the case.�

Professor McGonagall stood with the boys. �That is fine Harry. I have given your book to Albus, when he finishes it he will return it to you.� She looked at the Headmaster. �I hope when he reads it, he will gain a better understanding of the situation.� She turned, and led them out of the office.

After Minerva and the two boys left, Albus leaned over, and picked up the tome he had placed on the floor. He looked at the cover with a frown, and then looked up to see Severus� look of curiosity. In answer to that look, the Headmaster quirked a brow at him, handed the book over to Severus. �Burn this seditious work in the fireplace, Severus, we must not allow Harry to have it back.�

Severus looked at the tome, and then to Albus' eyes, without a question, he stood. Without preamble, he tossed the book into the fireplace. The two men watched, waiting for the flames to engulf it. They were very startled, when instead of turning to ash, the book simply vanished.

Within the hidden library of the Lion's Den, the book appeared, undamaged upon the very table where Hermione Granger and Justin Finch-Fletchley were working on the potential legal defense of Harry James FyrT�hhers Potter.

The sun shone brightly into the old inn and bar when a large young man entered through the front door. Several patrons turned, and glared at the intrusion only to be ignored. Black robes billowed in the breeze as the door swung closed, returning the bar to its previous state of semi gloom. Tom the bartender, watched as the young man passed through the bar, exiting out the back alley to enter the hidden entrance to Diagon Alley. D. looked around to be sure no one was observing, and then raised his palm to the bricks required to open the portal.

As the bricks coalesced into an arch, D. raised the hood of his robes to conceal most of his features. He began his trek down the alley to Flourish & Blotts bookstore. He entered the shop without a glance to the other shops around him. He had been here before. As he browsed the aisles of the bookshop, he noticed that the owner watched him closely. He tipped his hood just slightly, enough to show his face. Recognition registered on the shopkeeper�s face. They nodded to each other and D. continued on his search through the shop.

After finding the parchment, he browsed in the section on magical creatures, looking through a book on phoenix species. Glancing at his watch, he decided that he should go. He approached the counter, and asked the clerk for the quill and ink he would also need, paid for his purchases and exited the shop.

D. did some window-shopping and then wandered into Knockturn Alley, stopping at a shop window featuring snakes. The sight brought back the memory of the day at the zoo when the snake had escaped its glass enclosure and gave him a fright. He smiled, wondering if Harry would like a snake. He entered the shop.

�What kin I do for you today, young sir?� The clerk was an old hag that would have repulsed D. in the past. However, in the last nine months he had seen much that would have once upset him. It no longer had the same effect on him, even when he knew the reputation of Knockturn Alley.

He smiled at the hag, surprising her. �I just thought I would stop in and browse. My cousin likes snakes, thought maybe I�d look for a possible Christmas gift. I'm just looking today, though. Do you have something that isn't very large, something that could be concealed on the body perhaps?�

She looked at him with suspicion. �A simple concealing charm would cover up a larger snake.�

"That may be true,� D. said, smiling at her in a condescending way. �But, any wise old wizard would see right through such a charm. Perhaps, you don't have what I have in mind in stock at this time?� He asked the last with an arched brow, accompanied by a sneer.

She frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. �Perhaps you might be interested in a Western Coral Snake. I don't have one now, but one is due to be delivered soon. Its maximum length is 18. Would you would leave your name?�

D. tilted his head, and then shook it. �I�ll stop back at a later time. Have a good afternoon.� He turned, and exited the shop. Once he was back in the alley, he decided it was time to leave. He had an important message to prepare.

Sunday morning, 10:31 am, a seventh year Slytherin student stood before a door that had hidden the workings of the in-house Potions Master for years. Blaise smiled deviously. �Fucking-Boy-Who-Lived.� The door swung open silently, admitting him into its hallowed interior. Subterfuge, adoption of a stratagem to gain an end. I like that. Very Slytherin of you, Zabini.

He began to the right of the room, and worked his way around, making mental notes of what he should tell Harry and Draco. Hmmm, that�s a surprise, wonder if anyone knows about� Granger would be interested in knowing that he is working on this. It may help with the search on fire�s legality.

Yup, here�s the Draught of Living Death, he thought, stopping before a cauldron in the furthest corner from the door. He made a copy of the notes that were lying next to the potion. They would give an indication of how Snape planned to use it and where he was in the brewing process.

With a last look around, he drew his wand and erased any magical residue his presence may have left. He exited, cleared his magical signature on the exterior of the door with an incantation and headed up to the Lion's Den.

Twenty-seven minutes to complete his mission free and clear.

Harry and Draco were walking back to the Lion�s Den when a voice came into Harry�s head. �FyrT�hhers, my son,� Moenia sent a gentle breeze to embrace him as she spoke.

�Yes?�

She told him in a soft voice, �You must not go straight back to the Lion�s Den just yet. I�m sorry to tell you, but the Headmaster placed a Tracking Charm on you as you left his office. He will be able to follow it through the notice-me-not-ward in place upon the Lion�s Den.�

Virulent swearing broke out of Harry's mouth. Draco turned to him with an inquiring look, only to find himself pulled into a classroom to the left. Harry took deep breaths in an effort to calm down. Air, I need to breathe�air�need�to�breathe. He finally turned to Draco. �Dumbledore put a Tracking Charm on us.�

Draco turned warded the door, and then placed a Silencing Charm in on it. �You�re sure?�

�Yes. Moenia told me. She said we shouldn�t go to the LD until they�re removed. Dumbledore would be able to find us there. That would expose the chamber to him. We know what would happen then.� The scowl actually hurt as he spoke.

Draco pulled his wand out, did a series of scans on him, frowning deeply. He nodded in confirmation, and then said �Desitum Indago.� He then did another scan and told Harry that the spell was gone. Harry performed the Stop Tracking spell on Draco with success. They thanked Moenia, and exited the classroom. Both young men were still angry about the charm placed on them. They continued to the Lion�s Den in a quiet argument about the meeting they had just left.

�There is no way this is even up for discussion. I won�t agree to such an action!� Fury embroiled within him as he stared at Draco. The disagreement that started in Professor Dumbledore�s office carried over to the Lion�s Den. Growling, he insisted, �We will not even talk about this until after Yule.�

Draco, blessed with his own brand of stubbornness, replied fiercely, �We have to talk about this, now. We�re not sure that this war will end on Yule and we must make alternate plans in case of failure.�

�NO.�

�You have always admired and trusted Dumbledore before, what�s changed?�

An angry snarl began somewhere just under his ribcage and exploded from his lips. �I backed off in my trust after the Department of Mysteries and Sirius. You know this already! I won�t lose you to that fucking monster, too! This last trick of Dumbledore�s just adds to my mistrust. A Tracking Charm? He put a fucking Tracking Charm on us!� His voice cracked as both anger and desperation took control. He flashed with black and green flame and glared at Draco, his protector and lover. Glass exploded across the room. He suddenly realized that they were alone. The others must have decided to leave them to the argument. Even the portrait of Griff and Salz was empty.

With another angry roar, he tore his robe off, throwing it on the floor as he left the common room. He stalked into the bedchamber, mumbling under his breath angrily and stripping off his clothing.

Adamant stubbornness followed him into the bedchamber. �Harry, we have to go along with the plan Dumbledore and the Order�because he�s their leader. They follow orders from him. As to the Tracking Charm, I admit that�s annoying, but we already took care of it.�

Burning flamed engulfed him and he spun around still snarling. �If they�ll only follow him, then perhaps it�s time to unseat his power. You know as well as I do, he�ll never permit you to go into battle with me.�

Draco inhaled sharply. �Harry�Fyr, you can�t do that.�

�Like hell, I can�t! Maybe it�s time. My parents followed him. Sirius listened to him. Look where they are. Dumbledore knew there was a leak in the Order. He did nothing about any of it. The Fidelus Charm? Fuck!�

Flames in the fireplace blazed up higher than necessary�spitting out over the hearth.

His snarling continued, �He imprisoned Sirius within his own home and kept vital secrets from me. Both, culminating in the fiasco at the Ministry. Now, to top it all off, he doesn�t even want to go into this battle on Yule with all the power that�s available to him. We know he plans to hide me away somewhere during the attack. How many lives does he think I can bear to carry?�

�Fyr, please listen to me�� Draco reached out to touch him.

He snarled and backed away. �Sometimes the fire can be to hot to touch, Draco, even for you.� Eyes locked with Draco�s, he allowed the flames to completely surround him. Their tickling did nothing to appease his fervor.

�Do you really think that would stop me?� Draco coaxed his voice into a soft purr in an effort to calm his mate. �Don�t you know that I�m drawn to your fire? The hotter it gets the stronger the pull. Don�t you��

It started in his gut and rose up and out, surprising even him�the roar of an angry panther cut the atmosphere of the bedchamber with fierceness. Even in his human form, it was impressive. He reached out, grabbed Draco by his robes, and pulled him close. �You don�t know what you�re talking about. Just the very fact that I am hot and angry should be warning enough. You really shouldn�t be so willing to step so close. Do you really trust me that much, Draco?�

�I trust you with my life.� Draco reached up, touched his bare chest over his heart, and whispered, �You hold my heart within your own. You know this.�

Fingers clenched tightly in Draco�s robes, he pulled him around the shoved backward, forcing Draco onto the bed. Shock registered in sterling eyes, and then Draco reached up and pulled him down, opening his mouth wide to receive Harry�s tongue. His breathing coming fast, he ripped at Draco�s robes, an unwanted intrusion to his goal. Consume and claim his mate�the sound of ripping cloth sent him surging faster. Taste and cool flesh beneath his mouth�the only awareness feeding his urges.

��ahhh!� Draco�s gasp combined with eager moan fed him.

Their bodies writhed, competing for expression through touch, sound and vibration. Harry�s hands finally found flesh. He pulled away from Draco, gasping for breath�fingers entwined in the silver blond silk. He pulled, clasping his fingers tighter. �You�re mine. Every silken strand on your head. You are mine.� He turned his head and inhaled the scent that was Draco�s shampoo and personal scent.

Demanding possessiveness inflamed him�lips assaulting lips�ferociousness colliding. Draco cooled the fire but not the ardour. Harry pulled back again. �The ice storm within your burning eyes�belongs to me. You are mine,� he said with a guttural moan and fierce voice. �You are my sheath, protector and grounding solace.� As Harry said this, he pushed for entrance within Draco.

Draco moaned�a deep-throated wrenching moan of need. �Harr��

�You are mine.� As he bit into Draco�s ear, inhaling the scent of his lover, he reinforced his words with a determined thrust. He began to withdraw; Draco clutched at his back and scratched pulling him back. Teeth nipped Draco�s neck, bringing up the feral cry.

Harry reciprocated. �Your lips and mouth are where I am able to cool my tongue and enflame my blood. You are mine.�

Draco cried out in pain as Harry bit him on the mouth sharply, even as his hands clutched him.

�Mine.�

He pulled back, and then splayed his hand over Draco�s heart. �Your heart, some say the heart houses the very soul of being. This is mine. Every little blood vessel that travels through this heart is mine. You are mine.�

Draco gasped as he touched the mark on his chest made only days ago. He paused, looking into molten silver. What he saw there was the truth of their bonding. He swallowed tightly and stilled within him. Two hearts beating as one, they made silent troth in acknowledgement. He released a soft breath in the midst of his angry passion. �You belong to me. You are my mate. I willingly sheath you.� He moved slightly, eliciting a moan from Draco. �I will protect you with my very life. You are mine. I will not�under any circumstances allow anyone else to make a claim upon you.�

Sterling pools looked up at him widened even as black pupils swelled with longing for completion. Draco moved beneath him. �Do you, Draconis Icekat Malfoy, understand the extent to which I mean this?� He looked into hunger-filled eyes. �Do you?�

��mmmnn��

�Do you?� He began to pull away; even as he knew he was pushing both of them to the brink.

Draco moaned and pleaded, ��don�t stop�� and tightened around him, embracing with his whole body. He reached up and pulled Harry�s head to his for a crushing kiss all the while writhing in an effort to bring them into the bliss that was both fire and ice�fusion.

Harry pulled away. �Do you understand the extent of this? You�are�Mine. Answer me, Draco.� He looked down into Draco�s molten eyes, and realized there would be no coherent answer, only needful hunger, passion and lust. A moan of longing rose to the surface, and then he allowed passion and speed to collide with efficiency.

Draco called out to Harry, pleading for completion, �Yes. Fyr�Harry�please.�

As Harry came, his teeth sank into Draco�s neck, breaking the skin in reciprocation of teeth and nails consuming his own body. Breath and voice joined in mutual pleasure and completion. They laid in silence afterward, catching their breath.

�For as much as you are mine; I am all yours. I take fiercely and give passionately. I Love You.�

Arms tightened around him. �I love you, too.�

�I won�t let him claim you. EVER.�

 
Monday morning at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Mr. Bill Weasley arrived at his office ten minutes early on this overcast rainy day. He knew he would have an important meeting later in the day that would call him away from his desk. He really wasn�t expecting anything else out of the ordinary; it was Monday, and usually Monday was a slow day for the bank located in Diagon Alley. The usual meetings, owl post and an inventory sheet due for vault 1746 were his only other plans for the day. Those shouldn�t take all day; they were even a bit mundane. Sometimes, I miss Egypt with all the curses and wizard history to explore. I defiantly used my brain more then.

As he set his mug of fresh coffee on his desk, an owl came in through the open window and landed on a stack of inventory parchments on the corner of his desk. �You know, I have an owl stand for you right over here. Those parchments are important after all.� He spoke to the owl as though it would understand the importance of his work. The owl blinked at him, ruffled her wet feathers, spreading water, and hooted. He sighed and took the message off her leg, once free of her burden; she took flight out of the window. Bill grumbled about his damp parchments, cast a Drying Charm on them and sat down to read the missive.

With trembling hands, Bill pulled the second sheet of parchment to the top and viewed it with bated breath. His mind worked the calculations of the rune symbols and the incantation. Merlin! He laid the parchment down on his desk and sat looking at it, stunned into immobility. Where did this information come from? He drew his wand and performed several tests on both pieces of parchment�no magical signature, no Protection Charms and no Secrecy Charms. That was odd. He reread everything. He scrutinized the parchment; it was nothing extraordinary, a brand anyone could purchase at Flourish & Blotts.

Bill lost track of all he should have been doing that morning. He spent the time reviewing the new information and challenging its validity by working Arithmancy on all of its calculations. It didn't matter which way he challenged it; the result was always the same. There was a very high probability that it would work! After two solid hours, he stood, walked to his fireplace and made a Floo call. �Albus Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts,� he called into the green flames.

�Bill, good morning. How are you doing this morning?�

�I am fine, sir,� he answered. �I was wondering if you have time for a quick meeting. I realize I�m supposed to see you later today, however, something of great importance has come to my attention. I�d like to talk about it before the Order meeting. If it�s alright with you, I could wrap up a few things here and meet you there in about fifteen minutes?�

�Of course, Bill. I will be expecting you.�

He excused himself, informed his secretary he would be leaving, and to cancel the afternoon meeting with Griphook. He then made a copy of the letter and spell work placing the originals in his personal safe. When he completed everything, he stepped into the fireplace and out into the Headmaster�s office.

Professor McGonagall sat at the High Table, stomach clenching in stress as she studied the students before her. She knew her usual stoic demeanor meant that no one would realize that she sat there in anger and worry. Harry still was not in the hall with his friends. Bill Weasley, visiting with Ginny and Ron incited laughter. However, the group looked more than lopsided without Harry�s presence. Albus next to her was probably the only person with whom she could discuss such thoughts and her anger prevented her from speaking to him.

�Bill arrived a little while ago,� Albus said, his voice reflecting a touch of contriteness. �He brought some information we will be able to use.� He told her in hopes of breaking through the chill.

�Excuse me, I believe I�m finished.� She stood to leave. Didn�t Albus notice Harry not being there? His absence created a hole or void within the Great Hall. She thought to herself as she left the Hall. Sometimes that man was just so thick. I need to find Harry; perhaps he�s in the kitchen.

She did not find Harry in the kitchen. It was now time for her to head to her classroom to prepare for the third year Gryffindors and Slytherins. She found Harry talking to Susan Bones in the Transfiguration corridor.

They turned as she approached.

�Good afternoon, Professor.� Harry gave her his most charming smile.

�Good afternoon, Mr. Potter, Miss Bones. Aren�t you a bit lost? Shouldn�t you be headed to Potions, Harry?�

�Yes,� Harry answered. �We should be, Professor, we were just a bit sidetracked. �Mione has a project due with Susan and she�s driving her crazy with it. I was just giving Susan some tips on dealing with a hyperactive bookworm,� Harry said, laughing.

�Well, you�d best be going. Professor Snape won�t see the humor in that the way I do.� Before she turned to enter her classroom, her head came back around. �Harry, I hope you aren�t skipping meals again, that isn�t a good habit.�

�No, Professor, I ate earlier.�

Professor McGonagall nodded and entered her classroom.

Harry arrived in the dungeon corridor just in time to see Draco reach down and give Pansy a hand up from the floor. A sharp twist journeyed up his spine as he forced his eyes away.

The door to the classroom opened, everyone filed in. Professor Snape entered the classroom through his office and began speaking at once. �Today�s class will be conducted outside.�

Surprised gasps resounded through the Potions classroom.

�You�ll leave your books and supplies here. Everyone come forward and choose a bag from my desk, and then line up at the door. We�ll be taking an excursion into the forest today. We must get started now.� After everyone had chosen a bag, the Potions class exited the dungeons and entered the Entrance Hall on their way out of the castle.

Harry trailed behind.

�Come on Harry,� Hermione asked, turning around. �Why are you being so slow?�

�Something's up. I can feel it. Since when do we have class outside with Snape? Have you ever heard of him doing this before?�

�No, but we have to go. Besides, that�s the only way to find out what he�s going to do.�

Harry followed reluctantly.

When the class reached a clearing, they gathered into a circle around Professor Snape. They were not deep into the forest, just off the path to Hogsmeade in fact. This was what made Harry uncomfortable. They were too close to the edge of the wards. He looked at Draco only to see he had already noticed. A glance to Blaise, Vince and Greg sent them to cover the group in equal distance from one another.

Professor Snape paid no attention. He was too busy telling them that often potions brewing did in fact include working in the field. �It is necessary for each of you to gain a working knowledge of the plants required in potion brewing beyond the greenhouse,� he said, with his usual his sneer.

�Crack.�

Screams erupted from the students.

�Crack�crack.�

They suddenly found themselves surrounded by masked figures. Pandemonium ensued within the clearing.

Professor Snape�s voice yelled above all of the noise, �Everyone head to the edge of the clearing.� He waved frantically, trying to get their attention.

Most of the students had left their wands back in their bags; this was Potions, after all. The only students with the foresight to bring their weapons were members of Harry�s inner circle. They were soon battling the Death Eaters.

�Impedimenta!�

�Crucio!�

�Protego!�

The students finally managed to gather at the edge of the clearing behind some trees in a mass group. Draco�s eyes turned to him, plans worked out in an instant. Snape was being tortured with the Cruciatus. The first step: �Accio professor.� Snape flew across the clearing and landed in front of Harry. He knelt and tipped a potion in his mouth that would ease the after effects of the curse.

Snape glared up at him, plainly wondering where he had gotten the remedy.

�Later,� Harry replied casually, looking up at Draco.

Draco, flanked by Vince and Blaise, knelt on the ground. He was focusing on chanting an incantation. The earth began to shake.

Harry, Hermione and Greg did their best to calm the other students.

Draco called upon the earth to split. He requested that she assist them in protecting everyone.

She responded with tremors.

A cry came from a Death Eater as he tried to regain his balance. The earth was indeed splitting; it closed around the Death Eater�s feet in a tight embrace. Masked interlopers fell and had difficulty getting up due to the tremors; every time they attempted to stand, tremors intensified.

To increase the imbalance of the attackers, a sudden gust of wind came up from nowhere. It swirled in a spiral with such force that the few Death Eaters who were still standing finally lost their balance and fell.

Five, �Accio Wands,� split the air. Wands flew towards the students and Professor Snape who was now on his feet.

Draco stood, his eyes focused on his godfather. �Are you alright?�

Severus Snape nodded. �Draco, lead the students back to the castle. Harry and I will see to the care and attention of these visitors.� Snape�s voice dripped with venom.

Harry entered the Lion�s Den and stopped in front of the round table that held parchments Ron was studying for the wards project. He told his best mate, �Ron, we need to talk.�

Ron looked up from his diagram of Hogwarts� exterior and perimeter. �We always need to talk, Harry. What�s up now?�

There was no easy way. �We were attacked in Potions class, out in the forest.�

Ron stood abruptly, a look of fear crossing his face. ��Mione?�

�She�s okay. Everyone is, but she�s the reason I�m here. I want to talk to you about her.�

Ron flushed and looked back down to his diagrams. �I just can't say anything yet Harry, you know that. What if I screw it up? I could be wrong about everything, you know?�

He shook his head with conviction. �Ron you aren�t wrong. Everyone knows how you two feel about each other. You need to take that first step. This war may bring some things out that we don�t want to face. At least the fact that you love her is something wonderful in the midst of these dark times. It�s truly light within the Darkness.�

Ron swallowed, looked up at his friend with an intense gaze and finally nodded.

Harry responded to that nod with one of his own. �Don�t waste anymore time. Go now.�

Ron took a quick glance at the Marauder�s Map, and then exited the Lion�s Den. Hermione was in the Great Hall with Ginny and Neville. As he walked, he thought about his fall through the trapdoor, his most recent in a long line of escapades. Who knew what would happen in the future? Harry was right. He pushed the large double doors of the Great Hall open and headed to the Gryffindor table. Chocolate eyes met his.

Eyes filled with�

�Oh, �Mione�Merlin, you�re okay.� Ron entangled his fingers within her thick wild locks. He inhaled her scent and before he had even thought through his action he had lifted her face to his and found her warm lips.

Clapping resounded throughout the hall.

He pulled away in need of air and hid his red face in the mass of hair before him.

�Everyone�s okay, I�m fine. I love you, too,� She whispered the last so that only he could hear.

He tightened his arms around her, never wanting to let go. �Come on; let�s go somewhere we can talk.�

They exited the Great Hall to the sound of whistles, catcalls and bets called in.

Pansy turned to Draco and said in her best sneer, �That�s the most disgusting thing I�ve ever seen. Weasel and the Mudblood.�

Draco looked past her shoulder with a grin. �You owe me eight galleons, Blaise.�

Blaise laughed.

Pansy was angry at the revelation that Draco would be involved such a bet. �Are you crazy Draco? You had a bet on those two? You�ve really sunk low, I�m sure your father�d be interested in your current pursuits.�

�I�m sure Panse,� he drawled with trademark smirk in place. �That he�d have been in on the game if he were a student here. Pay up, Blaise.�

Blaise shook with silent laughter as he pulled the money out of his robe pocket.

�As to my father�� Draco shrugged. �Your threats bear no weight with me; surely you can see that on your own. Father is in Azkaban, will be for life. I�m the Malfoy head of house now. I call the shots for my own life.� This last he added with a look to his soon to be ex-girlfriend. She would be furious when she received notice of the nullification of the betrothal from his attorneys. The Parkinson family would have to look elsewhere for riches.

Draco reached across the front of Pansy to collect his bet from Blaise. His sleeve rode up slightly, exposing a black and green mark on his wrist.

�What�s this?� Pansy grabbed his hand and pushed his sleeve up further. She gasped.

Extending from the outside of his hand, crossing over his wrist and up to the inside to his forearm was the figure of a black, green and silver phoenix. The intricacy of the artwork was exquisite.

Pansy�s eyes widened. The mark was on the area of the arm where Draco would receive his Dark Mark. �Why do you have this monstrosity of a thing on your arm?� Despite her shock, her voice was low enough that surrounding students did not hear.

Someone else, however, did hear.

Draco looked up into the angry obsidian eyes of his godfather.

�Come with me, now.� Severus Snape turned with his usual billow of robes and strode out of the Hall.

Draco looked at Blaise, making a motion to his head.

Blaise knew what he had to do.

Draco stood and followed Sev knowing that Blaise would make sure Pansy was Obliviated. He walked along side of his godfather wondering if Sev ever regretted accepting such a position. During their years here, they had grown closer and gained in trust for one another. No one knew this about them. Sev was actually the one who planted seeds of desire in him to become a spy. Sev had been instrumental in his initiation in the Order and the subsequent plans to infiltrate the Death Eaters and bring them down from within. But, that was then; this is now. Ok, I know he is pissed. I�ll just have to be nonchalant�act like I went along with the whole thing�can�t let him know I woke up with this surprise this morning.

They entered Sev�s chambers, still not speaking. Severus went to the chair before the fireplace and sat down. He indicated that Draco should take the other seat.

Well, he wants to be civil, no firewhiskey this time. Shaking his head, he sat down. �What, no offer of tea or perhaps something stronger today, Sev?� Draco wasn�t sure how to begin, so the quip just came forth.

�Explain.� Severus made a motion to Draco�s left forearm. �I want you to tell me how you managed to get a foolish tattoo on your arm since I saw you yesterday morning. Why a phoenix and how hormones have nothing to do with any of this.� His obsidian eyes were pits of roiling anger.

Draco swallowed. �It�s a protection charm. The idea of a phoenix is something I just happen to like.� He shrugged and continued, �No difficult explanation needed there. As to hormones, well, I suspect you lack understanding in the relationship I happen to be in right now. Your own feelings of prejudice are astounding in their blindness.�

�Remove it now.� Sev sneered.

�It can�t be removed.�

Anger became palpable. �You�ll remove it now. If you don�t, I�ll do so myself. If I do it, you�ll experience a great deal of pain. Do it.�

�No.� His stubbornness rose to the surface as he looked up at his angry godfather. He stood, bringing them on equal level. �I told you it can�t be removed. It�s as permanent as the blood that runs through my veins. It�ll never be removed.�

Severus pulled in a deep breath and let it out. His voice rose an octave. �You fool!� he roared. �What have you done? Don�t you know Voldemort will question why you choose to bear such a mark; especially on that arm?� He turned obsidian eyes to sterling. �Do you really think he�ll let you get away with this? He�ll merely Mark your other arm. That alone will make you stand out within the ranks, no one will trust you.�

A lightening bolt shot through him.

Severus inhaled sharply. �Raise your other sleeve, Draco. Now.�

Draco�s gaze left his godfather�s eyes and lowered to his right arm. He took a subtle inhale of air and pushed his sleeve upwards. On the inside of his right arm was a beautifully sleek and powerful black panther. A black panther with emerald fire eyes.

Virulent swearing came from the corner of the room where Severus retreated to procure a glass of firewhiskey. He downed his drink and poured another. His face twisted in anger. He threw Draco a glare, strode to the fireplace, took a pinch of Floo powder and called out, �Narcissa Malfoy, Malfoy Manor.�

Draco felt the blood drain from his face. �Sev, do you really think��

�Yes, Severus?� Narcissa's head appeared in the green flames and turned to her son with questioning glance. �Hello, dear. Is everything okay? Severus, you look a bit peaked, what�s wrong?�

�Cissa, you need to come here, right now.� He told her with a glare at the biological fruit of her womb.

Draco swallowed and stepped back waiting for her to step through the fireplace. �Hello, Mum.� He tossed a glare of his own to Sev over her head as she gave him a quick hug.

�Severus, you are in such a state.� Narcissa seemed amused to see him this way. �Whatever has Draco done now that would cause you to react so?�

He responded with a scowl of ferociousness and turned to Draco. �Show her.�

Draco glared, and then turned to his mum. �It really isn�t that bad, mum, he�s just angry because I have two Protection Charms that can�t be removed. They seem to interfere with his plans to be a hero and bring down the Dark Lord.� Draco made a show of removing his school robes and his shirt showing the tattoos in their full blaze of glory.

Narcissa gasped and raised both of her brows. �I see.�

Severus growled, still not coming down from his anger. �He refuses to remove them. I�ve told him this will not go over well with the Dark Lord. He refuses to listen to reason. This is not the only problem we have, but it is most assuredly the foremost. You must convince him to remove them. If Voldemort sees them, he may just decide to kill Draco rather than Mark him as a follower.� He tossed back his drink and went to get another. He turned to Narcissa. �Would you like one?�

�No thank you, Sev.� Narcissa turned to Draco with a look of concern on her face. �You do realize he�s probably right.�

Severus snorted from his corner.

Narcissa arched a blonde brow. �The Dark Lord thinks you�ve wanted to join him since his return. Now, these are in place, you�re in danger of instant death should he see them.� Moisture filled her eyes. She had already lost her husband to Voldemort�s foolish plans, now her son would be forfeit also.

Draco reached out and took her hands. �Mum, my life was already in danger. The purpose of these tattoos is to protect me from him. There�ll be no need for me to stand before that lunatic and take the Dark Mark. I�ll simply have to ensure his demise before such an occurrence. Severus,� he paused to aim a glare at Sev, �is just angry because he sees Dumbledore's plan as the only way to end this war. There are others who know to drag this war out further will only result in more death. We want it to end now.�

Narcissa frowned. �Who are these others? Are you a member of a rebel faction? How can you be so sure that you�ll succeed? Please tell me, Draco, that you�re not doing something foolish.� She turned to Severus with a question in her eyes.

Severus looked between mother and son. �Well�are you going to tell her, or shall I?�

Draco pulled on his mother's hands to get her attention. �What Sev is trying to convey, is that I�m with Harry Potter. As in, we are a couple, together. Sev is, of course very angry about it. There�s nothing I can do about that.�

Narcissa frowned up at her son. �What about Pansy? When did you break up and why didn�t you tell me? There are legal ramifications to that situation, Draco.�

�Our lawyers are already on it, mum. She should receive notice any day now.�

Narcissa arched a perfect brow.

�I thought it best to use the legal channels so there�d be no hope of reconciliation. She must know I�m very serious about this. I won�t marry someone who repulses me.�

Narcissa Malfoy looked stunned at that revelation. �And Harry Potter doesn�t?�

�No, mum, he doesn�t.�

Narcissa's concern did not abate. �Draco, dear, we�re talking about your life here.�

Severus snorted at her, shaking his head.

She responded by turning, and then asking him, �How long have you known, Severus?�

�It is a recent development. That is, I think so.� He gave Draco a close look and turned back the Narcissa. �Less than two weeks, nearest I can tell.�

Annoyance roiled as he shook his head at them. �I�m still here you know. You can have your lover�s chat and speculation later when I�m not in the room. Mum, look at me.� When her eyes rounded around to him, he said, �We are mated. Harry is my mate.�

Severus swore and threw his glass into the fireplace; alcohol sizzled within the flames.

�Keep that up and you won't have any glasses left, you know?� Draco smirked. �We told you it wasn�t just hormones. You didn�t want to hear it though did you?�

With nothing left to throw, Severus resorted to words. �Fuck! What are you going to do when Albus hears about this? Don�t you think he�ll be unhappy you mated with his Golden Boy?�

Narcissa tried to placate him. �Severus, why are you so angry? If they mated�then that is simply the way it is. Even Dumbledore will know that. There�s nothing that can change it. Now, I can see why Draco has no plan to accept the Dark Mark. That would be a violation of his pledge to Harry.� She turned to Draco. �He placed the tattoos, didn't he?�

Draco nodded.

Severus groaned and sat in the chair behind him, sighing in resignation. He threw his head back and closed his eyes.

Narcissa looked at Draco and motioned that it was okay to leave. She would take care of Sev, soothe and calm his nerves.

Draco nodded, picked up his shirt, and then pulled it on without closing the buttons. He pulled his robes over it. He leaned over to kiss his mother on her upturned cheek and exited the Potion Master's chambers.

Well, that went well. He headed to the Lion�s Den to see what everyone else was doing, before he was due to be at the Order meeting.

Severus Snape turned from his reflection in the mirror to look upon the flower in his bed. �I must admit, you took the news rather well.�

Cissa smiled. �I only want him to be happy. I guess that�s my selfish contribution to this conflict. I only hope Dumbledore is as understanding as I am. I would appreciate it, Sev, if you�d show support for them. I suspect they�re going to need it.� She stretched languidly and eyed her lover with desire in her eyes. �I can stay if you like.�

A sexy smile graced his features. �I�ll look forward to a pleasant evening, then. Elleo,� he said.

Sev looked down at the little elf. �Please bring Narcissa anything she wishes in the way of refreshments.�

Elleo nodded.

�I�ll see you later." Severus leaned over gave her a quick kiss, and then left to face the Order.

Severus Snape entered the Headmaster�s office to find everyone else already there. He looked at Draco, nodded, and then proceeded to the only empty chair in the room.

Albus stood up and brought the meeting to order. �Bill, if you don�t mind, I would like you to stand and tell everyone the extraordinary news you have to share.�

There were whispers of curiosity throughout the room.

Bill Weasley stood and made his way to the front of the room. �Thank you, Albus. Hi everyone. Ah hem, well, I guess to begin, I should tell everyone that this morning I received a very curious owl post. I have been sent an anonymous letter in which the details of a ward to prevent Dementors entrance to the Hogwarts grounds were enclosed.�

There was an increase in the intensity of whispers.

Moody�s gravelly growl came to the forefront. �That�s impossible, Weasley. Where would such information come from? I think it�s a trap. One that would make us lower our guard. It�s impossible to prevent Dementors from entering Hogwarts grounds.�

Bill Weasley looked at the ex-Auror, shaking his head. �I thought so at first, Moody. I�ve worked through the equations and the incantation, it�s my belief that it�ll work.�

�Who sent this information?�

�Are they reliable?�

�Where would anyone even find something like this?�

The questions were flying fast and Bill decided to finish telling his story. They would eventually answer the questions. �Like I said, the information was sent anonymously on uncharmed parchment. There was no magical signature, no Protection or Secrecy Charms. It was signed, �Outlander Guardian Angel� with some sort of circle around the top of the capital A.� With that last statement, he sent the piece of parchment around the room to all in attendance.

Draco took it and looked down at the signature, Outlander Guardian Angel. He passed the note to Remus wondering what the Marauder would think about it.

�You say that there was no magical signature on it?� Remus was turning the parchment over, looking it over with the expert eyes of someone who had experience in pranking with the best.

�None.� Bill replied. �If we put this ward into place, we�ll have an effective deterrent to the Dementors. They won�t be able to cross it.�

Moody grumbled. �That doesn�t answer who sent it. How do we know that it wasn�t a Death Eater hoping to make access easier for the Dementors?� Moody still would not let his suspicions go.

Draco looked at Sev across Remus with an arched brow.

Sev responded with one of his own. He turned to Moody after taking the parchment from Remus, and said in his smoothest voice, �Perhaps the term, Outlander, is a clue.�

Moody grunted.

�You do realize that an outlander is a person who belongs to another region, culture, or group.� Severus sneered in his best Slytherin reaction. �That would explain why it didn�t come from Death Eaters. Even though they think they are special, they would think that non-Purebloods were the outlanders. Following that idea would bring us to the fact that whoever sent the missive was not a Death Eater.�

Several members nodded.

Albus spoke up, �Then I think it is imperative that we begin working on placing this ward around Hogwarts immediately. Bill, will you and Remus stay the night? If you do, we can begin at first light.�

Both men nodded.

Draco looked up to see Salz in a portrait behind the Headmaster�s desk. He gave a slight incline to his head in acknowledgement, and asked the Headmaster, �Sir, will you need extra help from any of the students? Perhaps Granger would be willing to help in the process. I know I�d be willing to help if need be.�

�That won�t be necessary, Draco, thank you for the offer. Bill, Minerva, Remus, Severus and I should be able to set the ward in place. What we will do is ask the two of you to cover classes. Perhaps you would be willing to take Severus� Potions classes for tomorrow and Miss Granger would head up the Transfiguration classes. Minerva, would you please talk to Miss Granger about that tonight?�

Minerva nodded. She was sure that Hermione would jump at the chance to teach for the day.

Severus and Draco shared a nod in agreement that Draco would take over his classes for the day.

As Shacklebolt gave his report on recruitment, Severus� mind wandered back to the parchment they had been speaking about earlier. Sure, he had questions in his mind. However, the important thing was that they use the information to protect the students from the Dementors. He looked over at his godson who was in a quiet conversation with Remus. He studied them and thought, the students were important. He frowned as his mind traveled what had Draco said? �doesn�t know�up against�something like that. Hell, what was it?

The meeting adjourned. But before he could catch Draco, he was out the door after a look at Severus. He frowned. As quickly as he could, Severus excused himself from the Headmaster and left the office. Once in the corridor he saw no sign of Draco. He quickened his pace, went down two flights of stairs, all the while deep in thought. Damn, what was it he said? The bloody fool has no idea what he is up against. That was it�why that little bugger.

Severus laughed�filling the dungeon corridor with a sound that it had never heard before. The Potions Master was laughing�hard. Nice move, Draco. Everyone fell for it and you will never seek acknowledgement for your action. Severus was sure that Draco had had help with the project; success came in many forms, Outlander indeed.

He entered his chambers in possession of two concepts, knowledge of his godson�s subterfuge and deep desire for the flower awaiting him. Ah, the possibilities.

When Draco entered the common room of the Lion's Den, he encountered celebration and laughter. Ron came up to him with an ear wide grin. �Congrats� ferret, on a job well done.� Everyone was laughing and patting each other on the back.

Harry passed him a butterbeer and grinned. �Even Snape and Remus backed the project, huh?�

Draco grinned back. �Yeah, but don�t be surprised if they both figure it out. Sev was looking at me funny just as the meeting finished, I left before he could catch me. Remus, on the other hand seems to think was a Marauder trick, you might want to tread lightly around him for a while. I don�t think he�ll be mad about us doing it, just annoyed that we didn�t ask him to help.�

Ron laughed. �Maybe he�ll think the twins did it.�

�No.� Draco shook his head. �Bill already seems to have ruled them out. Prongs Jr. would be the next one in line for nomination in his mind. Put Remus together with Sev and they�ll get it. I for one am not going to worry if they do. The only important thing is the other students. I�d like to make a toast; to the students of Hogwarts and to Moenia, may she stand strong!� Draco finished with a flourish and the others joined him.

Draco whispered to Harry once everyone had decided to call it a night, �We should let Outlander know about the success, maybe you can do that tomorrow while I'm playing teacher?�

Harry pulled him into a breathless kiss. �Sure thing, but that is for tomorrow, what about right now?�

Draco grinned into his neck. �Sev is�ahem�preoccupied tonight so I don�t have to worry about him�mmmnn�I do�love it�when you are�soo hot.�

�ppprrrrrrrr�.�

Four students exited the Lion's Den. The idea was to stagger the numbers so that once on the other side of the notice-me-not ward there would not be a large number of students bringing suspicion to the corridor. Hermione and Ron turned to Blaise and Justin to say goodnight. All four were still feeling the excitement of the accomplishment.

Hermione smiled. �Night guys. Justin, I�m sure we can finish up on the notes tomorrow about Harry's fire. He�ll probably have something new for us to work on.�

�Yeah, goodnight, �Mione�Ron.� Blaise and Justin said in unison.

Justin held Blaise back by pulling him in the opposite direction toward the windows at the other end of the corridor. Here, they were still behind the ward that concealed the corridor leading to the Lion�s Den. �Can you feel it?� Justin asked Blaise in an awed voice.

�Yeah,� Blaise said with a smile. �I�ve been high on adrenalin since I broke into Snape�s lab, but this is a higher sensation. Who knew? Even Moenia seems to be humming with excitement.�

Silence in the corridor eclipsed the world of time and space. Justin swallowed as he looked at his friend. His best friend. �How did this happen?� His hand made a vague gesture between them.

Blaise smiled slightly and tipped his head to the side. He gazed into Justin�s chocolate eyes, his dimple flashing enticement. �Ah, the greatest mystery of life. Who knows�for me it�s been here for a while. I�ve just been waiting.�

Heart racing and thrumming in his ears, Justin stepped forward to be closer. Close enough to share the air they were breathing. �I feel as though everything else was just a distraction�like I didn�t see clearly before.�

�Jus�� Blaise watched his lips.

�Hummm��

�You�� Blaise took a deep breath. �Talk�too�mu�� Blaise�s mouth was too busy to finish.

Justin relented to the exploration with a moan of pleasure, while introducing his fingers to Blaise�s curly black, and oh so-soft locks.

Gentle exploration of treasure turned into heated conquest.

Justin thrust Blaise against the castle wall, his persistent hands working to release Blaise from his shirt. Finally finding hot flesh, he inhaled sharply through his teeth. He explored and played around sensitive nips encouraging hardness.

Blaise moaned at the contact of exploring fingers. He leaned closer. It wasn�t enough. In an act of determination, he ripped the front of Justin�s shirt open, sending buttons pinging across the corridor.

�Gods, Blaise,� Justin moaned. �You�re as hot as hell fire�you sure you�re not an elemental?" He buried his face into Blaise's neck, allowing the heat to consume him as he kissed and bit. Consumption of his best friend. We really need to reevaluate that.

�I�m just�hot for you, babe.� Blaise added erratic breathing, enflaming appetite.

Mutual moans of wanting more filled the corridor.

Reevaluation complete. Come to me, Blaise� Justin thought as his aggression became more intense. Within this new height, he discovered something he had never experienced before.

Blaise laughed softly, pulling away from him. �You should know Jus, Slytherins�rule.� He took a hot breath, and tossed a devious smile. �Our ambition always brings us out on top.�

A low growl emanated from Justin. He reached for Blaise with his own wicked smile. �You should know that Hufflepuffs may be loyal; however, you�d also do well to remember that we work hard, till the job is done.� As he pulled Blaise to him, he integrated a move that actually made his ultimate goal of finding the floor a success.

Interestedly enough, the landing was actually soft, even erotic, as legs entwined symbolizing a double helix of DNA.

Blaise looked up at him, pupils black depthless pools�a vortex of emotion, feeling and need. Those pools lowered to his lips, giving an opening opportunity to great pleasure. He raised his head and bit Justin�s lower lip holding it between his teeth; not hard, just enough. Blaise caressed the prize he held.

A molten hot jolt shot down his spine to his erection as Blaise�s hot moist tongue caressed him. He looked into Blaise�s eyes awe sweeping over him.

Acquiesce-ment. The look, the very action said, �Take me.�

And so he did.