Losing Rapture

+ HIATUS +

2008-04-23T21:52:06Z

To anyone who may be following my story series, I want to let you know that I'll be offline and MIA after this coming Monday. Its just financial stuff, yada yada. I'll be back eventually I'm sure. I'd give a definite timeframe but I don't have one right now.

*hugs*

Death's Queen (Chapter 4 'Frozen')

2008-04-12T16:06:10Z

Title: Death's Queen (Ch 4 'Frozen')
Author: catchthegrey
Words in this Chapter: 1335
Wordcount So Far: 5747
Warnings: Sexual situations, Not epilogue compliant, AU, Set after Hogwarts
Rating: PG-13 becoming R later on...
Pairings: Eventually Draco/Hermione, Past Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Lavendar
Summary: After Voldemort's death Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron form a very unique team within the auror department that's unorthodox methods are a bit too close to the line between light and dark for the ministry's liking. When someone begins collecting up death magic their team's methods might be the only hope. What does it all have to do with Draco's secret?
Disclaimer: Property of Rowlings, etc. I am just playing with them for pleasure, not profit.

( All mistakes are my own) Beta for this series: amour_indefini

"So tell me I'm frozen
But what can I do?
Can't tell the reasons
I did it for you."

---Lyrics from 'Frozen' by Within Temptation

Draco looked around at the clearing where his friend slept. He had been spending too much time near Hermione again he chided himself mentally. Draco tried to maintain a distance from the girl. She was just to intuitive and he couldn't risk her figuring things out. So far he had been lucky to keep his secrets and even though it burned him everytime Hermione looked at him like he was some frozen monster it was necessary. Ron and Harry didn't bother to look at him closely. They accepted him at face value although Harry gave him an odd look sometimes as if he had felt the change in Draco's magic. As he was partnered with Harry most of the time he had expected that at least at times.

The wind in the clearing picked up and he glanced over at Hermione who was fast asleep still. His eyes cut sharply to the side of the clearing. The figure of a young girl dressed in a long white robe was just visible. A spirit Draco's magic told him at the nip of cold from the being. He saw them often enough and he watched the figure walk into the clearing with little trepidation.

"Hello Prince." Draco eyed the girl carefully as she spoke to him. Her long black hair braided in many braids that swung gently still with the motion of her walking. The girl knelt a few feet from him and smiled sweetly. Draco kept his face void of any emotion as he waited for her to speak again. "You are beautiful; like moonlight. My sister told me you were."

Draco raised an eyebrow and his voice held coldness. "And who is this sister of yours?"

"You talk like a prince too. I shall call you Moonlight." The girl grinned at him then changed her expression to a more serious one. "My sister is Malon. I just had to get a look at you, but she will probably be angry with me. She wants you all to herself." The little girl gave him another grin then her eyes went over to Hermione's sleeping form. The girl crept closer to Hermione and Draco tensed.

"Stay away from her and tell your sister that I belong to no one." Draco watched as the girl eyed him warily then nodded.

As the young girl got up to walk away she gave him another smile. "I told her that you can't hold the moonlight." The girl turned back and walked to him quickly before kneeling close to Draco and whispering to him. "My sister reads much of the old scripts. She seeks to be queen. Be wary, Moonlight."

Draco watched as the girl disappeared into a wisp of fog that swirled away. Draco's mind raced to come up with answers.

Giving another look around the clearing at his friends he swept his hand over them and placed a protection spell on them to keep any other spirits away. Then he melted into the night and vanished.

Hermione blinked and sat up. She had only caught Draco's side of the conversation. At first she thought he was talking in his sleep until she had felt the almost touch to her hair. Had Draco been talking to a ghost...if so what did all that meant? Hermione set her mind to picking apart the puzzle pieces.

~~~

Draco appeared in Malfoy Manor's parlor. His steps were purposeful and direct toward his father's study. He didn't bother with knocking and if his father was surprised he didn't let on. The elder Malfoy glanced up at his son who went directly to a cabinet that housed books on various magical subjects. "Good to see you too, Draco." The man muttered as he went back to his papers.

Draco didn't respond and he went through the books quickly until he spotted a book with a tattered binding. Only then did he turn and look at his father. "Did you know that there's an uprising on the spirit plane?"

Draco's father gave him a look of unconcern. "And that's my concern how exactly?"

Draco sighed and sat in the overstuff leather chair near him. The book in his lap falling open as Draco began to read. "That's the trouble, isn't it? No one thinks its their problem."

"I really think you've been hanging out with those gryffindors too much." Lucius brought a glass of brandy to his lips and sighed.

"Really, Father...get over it." Draco reclined in the chair at an angle with his leg thrown over one chair arm as he flipped leisurely through the book.

"Yes because you are so happy that I should be happy for you." Each word dripping with sarcasm as Lucius put his glass down. "You always were a brat, ungrateful...and so on, but you've never been stupid Draco."

Draco grunted in response then turned to his father. "This is all your fault."

Lucius rolled his eyes. "Sorry the seer powers that run on my mother's side ruined your life. Are you going to lock yourself in your room now and throw a tantrum?"

Draco ignored his father's mockery and let his head fall back so that he was staring up at the ceiling. "If I hadn't had that vision none of this would be happening. Not to me anyway."

"Good thing it happened then." Lucius gave Draco a look. "You will handle it better than anyone else could."

"Why do I come here?" Draco asked the ceiling.

"Get Potter and the crew to help you. Surely isn't that bad." Lucius put his glass down and attempted to remember what he was writing about.

"That's the problem no one can help me with this. No one can even see the threat." Draco glanced at his father who was trying to work through whatever form that the man had been working on when Draco came in.

Lucius mumbled distractedly to Draco. "If you told someone what was actually going on it might help."

Draco narrowed his eyes at his father and realized the man actually had made sense. No one could help Draco because he had purposefully kept the truth from them. The wind picked up and blew in the study causing Lucius' papers to fly off his desk. Lucius looked up at Draco accusingly. "It wasn't me."

"Am I interrupting?" An older version of the young girl that Draco had seen in the clearing appeared in the center of the room. Draco groaned.

"I feel like I'm in a ridiculous version of the story of Scrooge. Who are you the ghost of christmas past?" Draco glared at the spirit as he couldn't really muster the patience to be polite.

Lucius looked at Draco then at the empty study. "Draco?" Draco just raised his hand for his father to wait as he concentrated on the spirit in front of him.

"You are most strange, prince." The girl sat down and her violet dress billowed around her. "I know that you do not wish to ascend the throne. I've come to offer a bargain." The girl watched him curiously.

"I know who you are." Draco leaned forward and gave her a slow smile. "Malon." The ghost frowned slightly then quickly replaced it by a smile. "You want to be my queen, do you?" The girl stayed silent and watched him with a measured stare. "I'm sorry I already have one."

The girl gave him a smirk. "You do not. The throne is empty and who would you make your queen? That mage you protect? You weaken yourself by staying on in this earthly realm while your kingdom crumbles. Let me help you. I can rule in your stead. You can rule through me." The girl gave Draco a look of patience. "You don't have to accept it just yet. I have all the time in the world as do you." The girl vanished and Draco raked his hands through his hair.

Lucius was eyeing his son warily. "Queen? Draco...What have you done?"

Draco sighed. "It's a really long story."

Lucius put gave Draco a stern look. "I've got the time." Draco couldn't help but laugh at hearing Malon's words paraphrased back to him in such a way.

"As do I..." And then Draco spoke the whole of his story for the first time ever in that quiet study to the man who had in turns made his life hell and made his life bearable.

I know this chaper is very Draco-centric...but it was necessary. More Hermione next chapter!

Moonlight

2008-04-12T02:09:30Z

Title: Moonlight (One Shot)
Author: catchthegrey
Word count: 436
Warnings: None
Rating: PG-13
Copyright: Original fiction, all characters herein are of my own creation

Written in response to the prompt "Every heart must return to the darkness whence it came!" from xaerun

Her pale skin like moonlight was washed over with shadows as she moved in and out of the treeline. Fingers trailing around a trunk, the rough bark scratching into her milky skin. The only thing she wore was a long wrap made of beads strung together with string lacing across her body. Eyelids closed in pleasure at the sensation of the rough bark and her step never faltering for she knows these hills. Knows them better than her own mind. In her mind a thousands dreams played before her eyes. She picked out a dream here or there and pulled them close.   Peering into the realms created in others' sleeping minds. Some were plesant enough but some were of terrors that made her shake her head sadly. She tried to give them outlets for their fear, an escape route not seeing before or helping hand in the form a friendly face that she plucked out of their mind.

She peered close to one of the souls and felt even then it's flitting hold onto it's earthly body. Opening her eyes she was in a hospital room. The tormented dreams in this place seeped through the walls dotted ever so often by the joy of a new life.    Ghosting her pale fingers over the blotched skin of the elderly man before her she was unseen by the others that held their silent vigil in the room. "Why are you here, dreamcatcher?" The soft whisper made her smile at the soulreaper who was waiting for the person's hold to finally fail.

The hooded figure moved back from the bed as she made her way closer to the elderly man. Her dark hair falling over her arm as she leaned her head down sadly. She pulled the man's dream closer and took away the pain of uncertainty. Instead she gave him beauty of love in his dream. It was the only comfort she could give.

Even as his suffering ceased she felt the pull of another soul and smiled at the soulreaper again. "To catch their bad dreams."

The hooded figure looked at the man and his family. Here in their unseen universe it seemed so trivial, these mortal moments. "You waste yourself on one who will not awaken to tell of your gift to them."

The girl smiled at the dark figure before her. "Those are the ones who need them most. They will get no second chance to dream."

Death's Queen (Chapter 3 'Sweet Dreams')

2008-04-12T00:31:52Z

Title: Death's Queen (Ch 3 'Sweet Dreams')
Author:

catchthegrey
Words in this Chapter: 2051
Wordcount So Far: 4412
Warnings: Sexual situations, Not epilogue compliant, AU, Set after Hogwarts
Rating: PG-13 becoming R later on...
Pairings: Eventually Draco/Hermione, Past Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Lavendar
Summary: After voldemort's death Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron form a very unique team within the auror department that's unorthodox methods are a bit too close to the line between light and dark for the ministry's liking. When someone begins collecting up death magic their team's methods might be the only hope.....
Disclaimer: Property of Rowlings, etc. I am just playing with them for pleasure, not profit.

( All mistakes are my own) Beta for this series: amour_indefini

"Oh, this night is too long.
Have no strength to go on.
No more pain, I'm floating away.
Through the mist see the face
Of an angel, who calls my name.
I remember you're the reason I have to stay."

---- Lyrics from 'Pale' by Within Temptation

The foursome walked down the hallway two by two an ignored the curious looks at the covered object that floated between the two pairs. Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance as they put the object on a low shelf in the department of mysteries. Kingsley cleared his throat and vanished the covering.   "Give me the real book."   Kingsley narrowed his eyes at the four young people in front of him. The book needed to be put where no one else would ever find it and the minstry could see to that far better than the aurors that stood before him. He had walked a fine line between keeping watch over the four and allowing them the freedom to do what the minister wanted them to do. The older auror had battled beside and trained all four of the young aurors in front of him but he still thought that they took matters too far sometimes. Their constant distrust of the ministry was something he could not tolerate.   The ministry allowed them access to its resources and they had to understand that they had to play by some rules. No unmonitored auror could have an object of such power if indeed the foursome had managed to find the original Book of Twilight.   Kingsley eyed the young people who stared back unblinkingly.

"Give him the book. He's from the ministry for merlin's sake." Ron's voice caused a chain reaction. Harry looked unsure and Hermione looked conflicted. Draco rolled his eyes. Guilt won out and Hermione handed him another book. Kingsley gave them all a reproachful glare and shook his head.

"We will have talk about this and about what happened to your suspect, Hermione." Hermione nodded and the four filed out of the room. Kingsley eyed the book cautiously and placed it in a spelled container for safekeeping.

~~~

"Alright, Chinese?" Hermione said as they exited the minstry building. Harry was checking his clothing to make sure all the blood had been spelled away properly.

Draco just shrugged and patted the bag Ron had over his shoulder. "Better get his somewhere safe." The foursome apparated to Draco's flat and Ron handed Draco the bag that contained the actual book which they had created four identical copies of just incase. "Order whatever you want to eat." The blonde's head nodded forward then his body melted away.

"I hate when he does that." Ron made an exaggerated shiver and Harry rolled his eyes.

Hermione was already picking up the phone. "Tell me now what you want or you all get egg drop soup."

~~~

Harry disappeared with a pop from the flat to go check on Ginny and the kids. Ron stretched and mumbled about how he was glad he was a bachelor. Draco reminded him that he was dating Lavendar Brown again that month and Ron gave a sigh of despair. "Crap...I forgot."   As the redhead disappeared Draco shook his head and poured himself another scotch.

"I feel quite sorry for Lavendar."   Hermione spoke as she looked over the maps that she had been studying along side an ancient tablet that was supposed to detail the hiding place of another relic that they had received an anonymous tip about. Apparently an undentified buyer was flooding the black market with requests for the relic, or any information on it. Their asking price was extravagant to put it mildly.   The team had decided to find the object first so they could thwart the plans altogether.

Draco nodded at Hermione's sentiment. He never mentioned much about the final battle to her or well to anyone that she knew of. Draco had saved her and Ron that day by throwing up a shielding charm at the last second. She had been caught offguard and Ron had been incapacitated by a curse. She wondered sometimes if he had protected them because he had seen them die in his original vision of the final battle or if he saw himself saving them.

After a bit more of silence, Hermione looked up to see that Draco had left her alone. Sighing she apparated out of the flat. Draco closed his eyes as he leaned his head back against the wall just outside the study. He sensed when Hermione apparated out and walked toward his bed not that he ever slept anymore.

~~~~

Harry walked into Kingsley's office to set up a trip for the team to investigate the new lead. Kingsley was never too hard to turn his way if Harry just reminded him enough of the boy hero that Kingsley was so fond of in him.   Harry put on that boyish grin and prayed that his children weren't as good of actors as he was.

~~~

Hermione was lost in thought and she once again was cursing herself for acting so foolishly around Draco. She was no longer a school girl and she intended to never act like one again. Draco had tormented her as a child. The worst of it had been when she had developed a crush on the horrible boy. Of course she talked herself sensibly out of that. Then what did the jerk have to do? That's right he became one of the good guys. Hell she fought beside him in alot of those battles, he saved her and now they work together. Yeah sure it's all romantic hero meets beautiful heroine except for that she was far from beautiful and he was far from romantic. Draco never dated as far as she knew and he never acknowledged her as a girl except that one time... She thought back to when she had been imprisoned by a particularly vicious trap and had been knocked unconscious. She had come to with Draco holding her close and asking if she was alright. Unable to speak because of the burning in her throat she had just smiled at him. With a brief kiss to her lips they vanished and when she woke next she was in St Mungos with Draco nowhere to be found.

When she had returned to duty, Draco had never acknowledged the kiss. A knock at the door sounded and she looked up to see Harry with a triumphant smile. "We leave tomorrow."   She nodded at him with a smile.

~~~

They were dressed inconspiciously in various muggle clothing. Hermione gave Ron a disapproving glance for his hideous shorts and Hawaiian print shirt. Ron was oblivious to everything as he searched frantically for bug spray in his bag. A smooth baritone close to Hermione's ear startled her momentarily. "There's our brave Shaman...at one with nature...looking for bug spray. Tell me that doesn't fill you with confidence?"   Hermione smiled at Draco who had appeared beside her.   "Nice dress, Granger."

Hermione looked at her simple summer dress with white lilies on a blue background then back up at Draco but couldn't see his eyes to tell if he was joking as he had silver shades on.   "Was that a compliment or sarcasm?" Her tone was dry with anticipation of a barbed comment.

A smile graced the lips of the blonde. "Quite the compliment actually. Excuse me..."   The blonde inclined his head then turned and walked over to a dark haired girl that was behind one of the counters.   Hermione frowned again. Harry gave her a nudge with his elbow and she gave him a glare.

~~~

In front of her Hermione watched Draco's back. His hair sway slightly with his movements as he pushed forward into the underbrush. They had transformed their clothing back into their armor sets so at least the thorns of the vines did not rip at her clothing or her skin too much. She used her staff to lean on when they came to a clearing.   Harry was watching her and she glared at him again. The lazy grin she got in return did not soothe her paranoia. Harry had guessed her attraction to Draco a couple years ago but he never mentioned it much except to torment her so she wondered if she was being overly see through right now.

The blonde ignored them all in favor of pulling the maps out of a sack and consulting them against the area. He moved to the edge of the clearing and sat with his back against a tree. "Going out." With that Draco's head rolled forward and his hair fell down covering his face completely.

"Still creeps me out when he does that."   Ron popped a cashew into his mouth as they waited and Harry just shrugged at the redhead.

Hermione sat down on the edge of the clearing near Draco. "His body is vulnerable." She said by way of explanation. Harry nodded and then laid back in the grass to close his eyes.

Draco had been out of his body for an hour and a half. He knew that he couldn't stay gone much longer as the sun had already settled down behind the mountains in the distance. Through the thick jungle foliage he could clearly see where his body was. He spotted the others, Sleeping. He looked at them in amusement. They had all decided to take a nap it seemed. Ron and Harry were snoring quietly while Hermione looked like she was trying her best to sit upright while leaning on her staff. She was sitting close to his body and he paused hovering in front of her. In his spirit form they all glowed like magic. As he watched Hermione's eyes opened in surprise, she glanced around and Draco's spirit went around the girl.

Hermione looked around for what had caused her to rouse out of her doze but she couldn't see anything. A hand came up and covered her mouth. She tensed. "If you wake up those two I swear I'll never forgive you."   She relaxed and Draco's hand disappeared from her lips.

Moving around Hermione looked at Draco as he stretched his body after being out of it for so long. "Find anything?" Draco's mouth quirked as if he found something amusing then he just shrugged.

"Some ruins that look likely." The smooth baritone held a note of carelessness that spoke of untold confidence.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the blonde wizard. "What were you going to say?"

Draco chuckled lowly and shook his head. "I wasn't going to say anything." Hermione sighed in exasperation. She was too tired to play games with him when she might slip up and say something she didn't want to say. "You are always sighing around me. What have I done this time to vex you?"   Draco stretched his arms over his head and closed his eyes as if it was quite pleasurable. Hermione looked away as she felt uncomfortable heat.

"Nothing of course. I'm just tired." Hermione conjured a blanket and pillow for herself and laid back. The trip had been draining and she hadn't really slept that well the night before.

A warm presence beside her caused Hermione's eyes to open and she looked up to see Draco looking down at her. His pale hair pooling around her face as he lowered his face down near her's.   "Thanks for watching over me while I slept." Hermione tensed at the husky tone to the voice she knew so well.   She closed her eyes. "Sleep and I'll return the favor." The warmth made her so sleepy and she drifted off into a deep slumber.

Draco leaned his head back against the tree and wished he still slept.

Chapters:
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 3

Death's Queen (Chapter 2 'Shaman, Mage, Priest and Warrior')

2008-04-11T02:55:01Z

Title: Death's Queen (Ch 2 'Shaman, Mage, Priest and Warrior')
Author:

catchthegrey
Words in this Chapter: 1227
Wordcount So Far: 2361
Warnings: Sexual situations, Not epilogue compliant, AU, Set after Hogwarts
Rating: PG-13 becoming R later on...
Pairings: Eventually Draco/Hermione, Past Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Lavendar
Summary: After voldemort's death Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron form a very unique team within the auror department that's unorthodox methods are a bit too close to the line between light and dark for the ministry's liking. When someone begins collecting up death magic their team's methods might be the only hope.....
Disclaimer: Property of Rowlings, etc. I am just playing with them for pleasure, not profit.

(All mistakes are my own, please point them out if you see them) Beta for this Series is amour_indefini

"You walk on like a woman in suffering
Won't even bother now to tell me why
You come alone, letting all of us savor the moment
Leaving me broken another time
You come on like a bloodstained hurricane
Leave me alone, let me be this time
You carry on like a holy man pushing redemption
I don't want to mention, the reason I know"

---Lyrics from 'Stricken' by Disturbed

A demon burst apart in a small explosion and Draco strode forward through the ashes that swirled in the air. A wizard went soaring overhead and Draco spotted Harry walking toward a couple more unfortunate souls. Draco smiled maliciously as he turned toward the growl beside him striking out and shoving his hand into the demon's chest. The ashes blinded him briefly and a demon burst through the dust cloud sending Draco backwards. Using the demon's own momentum Draco threw the creature over him and then sprang back up to his feet dusting his clothes off as he did so.

Hermione and Ron appeared in the midst of chaos. There were fires scattered across the courtyard of what was probably a centuries old castle. Ron covered his mouth and nose with the sleeve of his jacket. They had given up the tradition of wearing wizarding robes. Even Draco had gratefully chucked the garments when they were working. Their uniform varied, each of them wearing a charmed leather outfit that acted like armor in a style that felt comfortable for combat to them individually. Ron wore a hip length leather jacket with various pockets and leather trousers to which was fastened a medicine bag of shamanistic tools all in an earthy brown color. The man's green shirt is the sole thing that kept the brown from being overwhelming. They ducked a wizard that barely missed them. Ron and Hermione shared a look and then separated with an unspoken agreement. Ron was heading toward Harry. Hermione zeroed in on the magical aura of the Ice Prince. Hermione wore a fitted thigh length leather jacket over a pale gray silk tank top and that ended a few centimeters before her fitted leather pants began. The gray contrasting coolly with the dark red of her leather armor giving her a sleek look as she moved carefully toward the source of the swirling dust in the air amid the smoke clouds.

Draco spun and felt his arm connect with the demon as it was running forward to attack him from behind. Dipping down he swept his right leg out and the demon collapsed backwards. Within a split second Draco was over his prey and gave the creature an evil smirk before he rammed his fist into it's chest. The ashes swirled from the creature's destruction around his ankles as he stood. Hermione stayed back out of the fray only clipping a demon when it came at her or tried to run past close to her. Her eyes watched the man in white leather in front of her. Smiling as she likened him in her mind to a vengeful angel. Draco had a fitted leather trenchcoat on that only came around in front over his chest, with the rest hanging like a cape behind him.   His shirt was the palest blue and fitted to his skin so that when he moved it moved with him like skin. Draco's white leather jeans had belts around the legs in various places. One across his thigh held a sheath for a small spelled dagger that Hermione had seen him use on occasion. Right now he fought barehanded.   Hermione liked her staff and she fingered the weapon that she had actually helped to create with the help of a very skilled staffmaker that she had met while researching weapons. It held the feathers of various birds to aid her wind magic and could double as a wand in combat.

The ashes were blowing together with the smoke creating a screen that was becoming increasingly thick. Harry burst threw the smoke and Ron ducked as Harry sent a spell flying at a wizard that was sneaking up behind Ron. They glanced at each other then placed their backs to each other as they looked around for adversaries. "You know you could have gotten here sooner."

Ron flipped other man off and they both attacked opponents that chose that moment to show themselves.   Harry glanced down and sighed at the blood splatter on his black leather trousers. He sort of thought it ironic that he would be the one of them that wore black, but the colors helped them to quickly identify each other in combat. His plain white tshirt also had a bloodstain on it and Harry sent a wizard flying in vexation. "I'm never gonna get this clean!"

Ron gave the stain a look and shrugged. "Buy a new one!" They shouted back and forth over the noises of the battle. Harry flipped Ron off and Ron grinned as Harry flung his long black leather trenchcoat around when he turned dramatically. "You still look like Snape when you do that!" Harry again flipped Ron off as he sheathed his sword and walked away.   Ron sheathed his own shortsword and followed the curly headed brunette.

~~~

Hermione swung her staff in a slow weaving motion in front of her. The wind picked up and the smoke blew away from her and Draco. The blonde head turned toward her slowly and Hermione forgot for a moment that she was in the middle of a battle. The pale grey eyes moved behind her and she turned to see Harry and Ron walking toward them. "Told them they could have gotten here sooner." Draco laughed at Harry's gruff words.

"I think we had it under control though. Now can we get what we came here for?" Draco turned and walked toward one of the towers.

Harry raised his hands up in the air in innocence. "I know nothing. He never tells me anything, you know that."   The rest followed Harry in the direction Draco had went.

~~~

"Is that... The Book of Twilight?" Hermione's fingers ghosted over the skin of the book.  "Amazing. I thought it was destroyed."

Draco knelt down near the book that lay on a small table. "Everyone thought it had been. Honestly it was just brilliant luck that they just happened to put us here. I saw it when I was in spirit form spying. I think whoever was running this operation might be a bit more on top of things than we at first thought. Sure they may not know their adversaries very well..." Draco allowed a smirk to escape at their easy victory before he continued. "but they know where power lies if they collected that book." Ron and Harry moved to get a closer look.

"What does it contain?" Harry's question was quiet and foreboding.

"Necromancy spells...Ancient stuff, some of it in hieroglyphics"   Ron stiffened beside Harry at Draco's words.

"You mean stuff that can bring the dead back?" Harry gave Ron a look that was softened with his own grief for Ron's brother who was lost in the war with Voldemort.

Draco nodded. "Among other things, yes. This needs to be locked up."

_________________________
Chapters:
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 3

Death's Queen (Chapter 1 'Follow')

2008-04-11T02:28:25Z

Title: Death's Queen (Ch 1 'Follow')
Author:

catchthegrey
Word Count: 1134
Warnings: Sexual situations, Not epilogue compliant, AU, Set after Hogwarts
Rating: PG-13 becoming R later on...
Pairings: Eventually Draco/Hermione, Past Ron/Hermione, Harry/Ginny, Ron/Lavendar
Summary: After voldemort's death Harry, Draco, Hermione and Ron form a very unique team within the auror department that's unorthodox methods are a bit too close to the line between light and dark for the ministry's liking. When someone begins collecting up death magic their team's methods might be the only hope.....
Disclaimer: Property of Rowlings, etc. I am just playing with them for pleasure, not profit.

(All mistakes are my own, please point them out if you see them) Beta for this Series is amour_indefini

It's the fear,
The fear of the dark
Its growing inside of me
They won, they will come to life
Have to save,
Save my beloved,
There is no escape
Because my fate is horror and doom

----Lyrics from 'Its the Fear' by Within Temptation

"Back off..."

Gone was Hermione's childish gait. Her leisurely pace was not affected by the words from the man in front of her. Her hair braided down her back was the closest tie this woman had to her bookworm appearance of youth. The braid was to keep her hair from getting in her eyes. Right now she couldn't afford that. Hermione leaned over the man as a stain of red spread from under the man's right leg. A wave of her wand, a few muttered spells and the blood was gone while the wounds knitted together. The man looked at her bewildered.

"Why did you heal me?" The man tried to stand but Hermione's wand appeared in front of his face.

Hermione's whispered words were followed by the man's screams of pain as the wounds reopened.

~~~

Harry looked over at Draco and the chains that bound them to the walls. Draco wasn't sleeping Harry knew, even though it looked like he was. The man had gone into a trance trying to see their surroundings. Draco's visions had started when they were all still at Hogwarts and had actually led to the Malfoys crossing sides as Draco foresaw the end of the war with Voldemort. Harry had given the boy a grudging respect when he had fought along side of him. It wasn't until the final battle that he had trusted the boy completely for saving Hermione when Ron had been injured. Draco had never talked about what all he had forseen of the final battle other than the Dark Lord had been defeated by Harry.

Now some 4 years after they had vanquished the Dark Lord here they were hanging in some dank cellar with Draco forcing his soul out of his body so he can see their surroundings. Draco had tried to explain the process to Harry, apparently it was an evolution of Seer abilities to be able to do it. "You know, Draco... This would have seemed really weird a few years ago...."

Draco blinked at Harry as he refocused on the room where they were hanging. "Shutup, Harry."  Draco shut his eyes again and let his head fall foward so that his long blond hair covered his face completely.

Harry just laughed and laid his head back against the wall. They were Aurors, part of a specialzed group that worked closely together to maintain control of the dark arts in the wizarding world. He knew that Hermione and Ron were working even now to get to them.

~~~

Hermione's breath hitched in her throat as she let the man's head fall back against the stone. It had taken longer than she had thought to break the man and find out Harry and Draco's location. "Ron!" The redhead's face appeared around the corner of the cell. There was a flicker of a disgusted frown on Ron's face at the bloody body of the man Hermione had been torturing before he met her eyes.   "They have them in Moraine, Scotland."

Ron nodded and turned to leave only pausing to give the corpse another glimpse. "Better clean that one up, Herm. Kingsley already is on us for our methods."   Hermione waved her wand and the man vanished along with all traces of blood. "We can't very well fight the people we fight by using ministry standards, but you are right it's not worth the time to explain." They left without a backward glance at the cell.

~~~

Draco's head came up abruptly and his eyes rolled forward. "Did you know that we warrant Thirty fully armed wizards and guards?"   Harry made a grunt of amusement.   "Wands, swords, guns and traps everywhere."

"Is that all?"   There was a moment of silence. "Draco.."

"Demons." Harry groaned. "Barthna Demons, Easy enough to kill...."   Harry gave him a doubtful look. "Ok for me."

"Excuse me?" The note of annoyance in Harry's voice rose in volume a bit.

"They are vulnerable to the touch of Seer."   Harry started laughing and Draco shrugged as best he could in the chains.

"They are a right bunch of scholars this lot."   With a sigh Harry's chains crumbled. "That was chafing me. See..chafing.." Harry put his wrist in front of Draco's eyes.

Rolling his eyes at Harry's antics Draco closed his eyes and Harry watched Draco's form melt away and then reappear a foot to the left of where the man had been standing. "Can we just go?"

Harry made a shoving motion with his right hand and the steel door crashed into the wall on the opposite side of the hallway.

~~~

Hermione and Ron appeared in a dismal looking moor. "And I thought it rained alot in England...gah!" Ron shook his head miserably.   Hermione ignored her old friend and looked around. She tried to sense Draco or Harry's magic but got nothing.

"Ron...You know it's still raining so shaking it out of your hair is just absurd. Help me hunt them."   Ron made a face at her back. "I saw that."

Grudgingly the redhead knelt down and put his palm against the earth. Ron had always had a strong connection to earth magic and had learned alot when they stayed with a shaman for a few months during in an investigation. His abilities to interact with the earthly magics had helped them alot. The shaman had showed Hermione how to use her own ability with wind to her advantage. Harry was their strength and conduit at times for many of the spells they did. His limitless power and skill at wandless magic helped them all to use their own abilities. Draco stood alone among them. His abilities touched all their own powers but he functioned just as well solo and Hermione was glad for that. Draco would not have liked to rely on anyone that much. Their magical strengths combined with their hand to hand fighting training made their team formidable. They pretty much got left alone to take care of the cases that crossed their desks in the manners they chose....not that Kingsley didn't second guess them after it was all said and done of course.

"North." Ron's voice was strained and held a deep resonating note. "Far North. Touch me, I'll take us." Hermione placed her hand on Ron's shoulder without hesitation and they vanished again.

_______________________________________
Chapters:
Ch 1
Ch 2
Ch 3

This whole story was going to a one shot... instead it got so long that I've decided to break it up into a 1000-2000 word chapters for easy reading. The story was inspired by the Within Temptation song "Ice Queen", and you'll see a lot of the theme music for the chapters is Within Temptation as I find their music corresponds so well to Hermione/Draco.

Things Harry Never Knew...

2008-04-10T20:38:22Z

Title: Things Harry Never Knew...
Author: catchthegrey
Word Count: 1408
Warnings: Veela goodness, oblivious!Harry..(or is he?)
Pairings: Theodore/ Draco, Draco/Harry, Ginny/Neville
Ratings: PG-13
Disclaimer: Playing with Rowlings' toys. No profit.

Thanks for the rushed beta'ing job and the plot bunny that prompted the story in the first place goes to the Goddess that is amour_indefini

"I promise not to try not to let you down.
Everybody wants charm and a smile
Well I promise not to try...."

----Lyrics from 'Promise' by Eve6

"I think I misheard you." Draco looked at the headmaster begging the man mentally to tell him that he had not heard that last sentence correctly.

"I'm sorry, Mister Malfoy, but you heard me correctly. It's most unfortunate really. However there isn't anything I can do, the laws governing Veelas are centuries old."   Dumbledore eyed the boy carefully as the youth swayed a bit in the cushioned chair. "Your parents have already been informed. Their reactions were not much better than yours...."

"My p..parents... Oh merlin. This is real."   Draco dropped his head into his hands.   Dumbledore really did feel sorry for the boy and measurably sorry for himself as well as the Malfoys were due any time now to discuss the development.

"I have explained this to your parents and I'm sure I'll have to again. Allow me to assure you that the Notts kept their Veela heritage quite secret. We simply can't intervene with a bond."   Draco couldn't hear anymore. He just couldnt listen to anymore. With a hasty apology he practically ran out of the room.  Nott...He was to be bound to Theo Nott. He couldn't stand the boy. He.... It wasn't bothering him that Theo was a boy, no Draco knew very well that he had preferred boys for some time now.   It sounded cliche but Draco couldn't love Theodore. There was no way he could be bonded to the boy.  Maybe his parents would prevent the bond somehow....

~~~~

"Did you hear about Malfoy and Nott?" Ginny leaned over the table as Neville whispered.

"You mean that Nott and him are to be bonded?" Neville nodded with wide eyes. Harry raised his eyebrows. Draco? Theodore? How could he have missed that? Harry narrowed his eyes at the Slytherin table.  Malfoy didn't look particularly happy but Nott simply was beaming.   That's kinda odd.

Hermione seemed to agree. "Malfoy doesn't look too in love, does he?" Ron snickered at this new development.

"At least the Ferret got out of marrying a girl. You know that girl thing would have been hilarious." Harry looked puzzled and Ron rolled his eyes. "Harry....Draco's gay."   Harry nodded and wondered what else he didn't know about this school. Then Harry blinked and looked at Neville and Ginny sitting close together.

Hermione sighed. "Harry, they've been dating for two months."   Harry nodded slowly again. "The Malfoys have Veela blood as well, probably why the bonding with Nott." Harry leaned over and just laid his head onto the table. "Harry for Merlin's sake....."

~~~

"Shutup!" Draco couldn't take it anymore. Theodore had been going on and on for hours about Veela this and Veela that. Draco knew this crap.   All that bullshit about being bonded was totally made up. Draco hated Theodore more than he could put into words.   "Do you never just shutup?" Theodore blinked at Draco as the blonde stormed out of the room.

Sure it was a little rocky but Theodore thought that it would get better once they had actually consumated their bond. Unfortunately Draco was being really abrasive and wouldn't hear of it.   Theodore didn't think telling someone that they make you sick was very conducive to intimacy. Draco would come around though....

~~~

The bonding was supposed to progress in a natural fashion but Draco felt no compulsion to be near Nott.   If anything he felt repulsed, but he wasn't sure how that was any different than normal. All the adults were beside themselves as to what was wrong with the bond. Draco could tell them but no one would listen anyway. There was no bond. I mean really....who was Nott kidding? Nott had liked Draco for years and Draco had shunned him. Draco reasoned that when Nott came of age and got his Veela inheritance that it must have been like Christmas to him. That wasn't how bonds worked though. You don't simply pick someone and 'Wham! Magic bond!'.    Rolling his eyes in exasperation Draco spotted Theodore waiting for him anxiously outside of potions.

A shoulder collided with his own and Draco had to brace himself on a near wall to keep from falling down. "Watch where you are going you, imbecile!"

"Sorry Malfoy." Spat Potter as he straightened his robes. Potter then noticed Nott staring at him with outrage. "Isn't he supposed to like protect you or something?"

"Please...Nott can't even protect himself."   Malfoy and Potter exchanged a brief look then pretended that they hadn't just exchanged a couple pleasant sentences. "Get out of my way, Potter." Draco glared at Harry.

"After you, Malfoy." Harry said back with equal venom. Then they both walked into the classroom each giving Nott a glare without the other seeing it.

Nott frowned at Harry's back.

~~~

"Get your hand off my arm." ........ "We are going to be bonded, Draco." ....... (Loud cracking sound and a yelp of pain.) "Not even if you put me under imperius."

Hermione's eyebrows were well into her hairline as she sneaked a peek through the bookcase to see Theodore Nott nursing what looked like a broken nose.

~~~

Harry looked back and forth between Ron and Hermione as they discussed the overheard conversation. "Seriously Ron, dont be so daft." Hermione sighed in exasperation. "There's no way they can be mates. Draco, absolutely detests the boy. The bond would at least make him want contact with Nott. We all remember Nott following Draco around like a lost puppy for the last two years." Hermione looked at Harry for confirmation then realized her mistake at her friend's vacant expression. "It's just too convenient."

"I don't care. It's bloody hilarious!" Harry frowned at the redhead as his friend doubled over laughing. "Poetic justice, really."

~~~

The next few days were tense around Hogwarts as Draco refused to entertain the idea of Nott and the bond. Dumbledore sided with Draco and Draco's parents refusing to force Draco and Theodore to be around each other.   Dumbledore did mildly suggest that Nott try dating....

~~~

A few weeks later and Nott still would not admit that Draco was not his soul mate. Draco had ran out of curses to throw at the other boy which was fine as the last time Nott had accosted Draco the boy hero himself had stumbled onto the scene. It took about three seconds for Nott to be pinned against the wall with a spell and Draco had grudingly given Potter a nod of thanks.

A few nights later Draco came of age and much to his annoyance came into his own Veela heritage.   Draco was terrified that somehow fate would smite him and Nott would really be his soul mate. All the while muttering a mantra of forgotten and little used prayers to Gods he wasn't even sure existed, Draco made his way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

When Draco entered he glanced around the hall and turned to look for Nott. A figure bumped into him from behind and nearly sent Draco into a sprawl. Draco caught his balance and without thought steadied the person that had bumped into him.  Draco decided then and there that Veela reflexes made him a God. The smell of the person caught Draco's attention and Draco looked at the person for the first time. Potter was staring at him as though he had never seen Draco before and Draco thought Harry looked like the best thing he had ever seen. The great hall was filled with a triumphant shout. "THANK MERLIN! I was so afraid it was going to be Nott!"   Harry stared at Draco then glanced over at Nott who was glaring at Harry. Harry gave Nott a grin in return then turned to see Hermione and Ron gawking at him. Well looks like he wasn't the last to know this time. Harry's grin widened some more.

FIN

Finding Fides

2008-04-05T04:26:38Z

Title: Finding Fides
Author: catchthegrey
Word Count: 2146
Rating: Mature, but just barely
Disclaimer: They belong to Joss, Not I. This is not done for profit, purely pleasure.

Beta'd by monkeygodangry

I thought you'd never come this far.
I thought your words meant something more.
Said my two cents, Now it's your turn.
So stand up and scream, Are you ready?

So you think you know?
How this story goes?
Are you ready for this?

---Lyrics from 'Are you ready?' by Three Days Grace

The cool autumn night would have been perfect if not for the fact that she was limping badly and had a possible cracked rib. As she rounded a corner she clipped her shoulder by accident and the searing pain that shot through her chest cavity made Faith draw in a quick breath. Right, definitely a cracked rib or two. Willing the pain to not show through her cool exterior Faith made her way among the lowest of the city's inhabitants. She moved around two prone figures that undulated in the dark alley. She did not look at them or care what they could be doing or even if they were human or not. Really they could be doing naked hula dancing in the streets and Faith wouldn't have batted an eyelash. Over the last few years she had discovered that her weakness had been needing people. Yeah she didn't like to admit it, but the whole fiasco with the mayor had brought her full circle in that respect. Yeah people could take a flying fuck.

Now in her grand old age of 23 she decided that she probably should retire from all this slayer crap as she stayed upright through sheer force of will alone down the dark street. She had done her deal. She had fought evil, gone to the dark and come back out of hell.   In the end it was her one truth that evil and good did not exist. Everything was really just a wash-out of gray. No black and no white, boys and girls.

A hand clamped down on Faith's shoulder and she allowed her footfalls to stop as she stood ummoving. The hand held an iron grip on her shoulder as Faith sighed up at the streetlight. "This is touching, but get your hand off of me." Faith had spun around at her last words and sweeped her leg under her captor's feet. The form went down with a sickening thud. Faith stepped over the prone form of black so that she was standing straddled over the mid-section of the offender. She leaned over and ignored the pain her ribs when she did so. "Get it, touching? I crack myself up." Faith flipped the hood off the person and frowned at the purple skinned demon. "A demon? How.... shocking. Creative even."   Faith stepped away from the form as the demon shook its head as if to clear it's thoughts.

"You are a slayer." The demon said the simple statement and Faith quirked an eyebrow up at the fairly human looking creature. You know if you could over look the purple skin and curly horns on its forehead.

"You must make your mom so proud."   Faith leaned casually against the lightpost and pulled a cigarette from her pocket thanking her lucky stars that it hadn't gotten broken when those three vampires had tried to ambush her. Really the one getting a hit with that two by four was just a lucky shot. Faith was pretty sure she had a cold after all, threw her off her game. Lighting the cigarette with a match that she got from the hotel matchbook of the place she called home this second, Faith took a calming drag on the cigarette and then flicked the match away onto the damp street.

"Actually I'm only here because I was sent to find a dark haired slayer named Faith by a girl, Cordelia. I felt your magic, that's what Sensus Demons do." Faith started laughing then. The demon gave her a look of surprise.

"Take me to the princess then."   Faith offered the demon her hand and then followed the demon once he was up on his feet again.

~~

The music in the club pulsed with the static beat that felt more like a pulse than sound. The club was black except for the lights that pulsed around the dance floors and the dimly lit fiber tubing that outlined the stairways that lead up and down to the various platforms.   Faith followed Lav as she had decided to name her purple guide. He kept his hood up and no one noticed the demon in the dim light. Faith wondered how many other underworld creatures were here as well blending in. Her eyes narrowed around as she scanned the room quickly spotting two more demons who look uncertain as she made a point to make eye contact with them. The wink she gave the demons made them back away as she continued to follow the dark form of Lav through the pulsing crowds. On one of the upper platforms that they were approaching Faith noticed a figure in white leather. Dark hair fell down over the girl's shoulders as the girl was lost in her sensual dance to the music that wrapped around Faith. The leather shirt was more like a vest and held together only by two buttons. The expanse of tan firm stomach that showed at the end of the leather vest made Faith's breath lurch temporarily. The words of the song fogging Faith's mind. "She moves the street way... See her legs and shoulders. Picture myself as a missionary soldier."    The rim of the leather skirt hanging scandalously low on the swell of the girl's hips as she swayed with the music. The movement causing Faith to rake her eyes down the girl's long legs to the scanty little strap on heels that the girl wore at the end of those silken legs.

Lav had moved a few feet from her in the girl's direction and Faith dared finally to look at the face of the girl. Cordelia was just as beautiful as Faith remembered. The girl thankfully hadn't spotted Faith yet and Faith watched her in appreciaton. It had been years since Cordy had last sought Faith out. It had happened out of the blue and Faith's mind supplied her with the images of that time in Sunnyvale when Cordy had approached her. Having had too much of all of the scooby gang's antics Cordelia had been distraught and so Faith had helped the girl forget for awhile. She hadn't seen Faith much since then even though Faith had come to L.A. a few times. Mostly now she just wandered. It was only by chance that she was even in L.A. this month.

She approached the girl and wondered where Lav had got off to before she spotted him talking to a female demon at a side bar. Good for him then. It was easy to sidle up close to Cordelia without the girl taking notice. With the music so loud and the amount of people dancing along with the poor lighting it made it entirely too easy. She actually danced behind the girl for the rest of the song, just enjoying the view she was being afforded. Faith was wondering however what made Cordelia seek her out this time. Probably something Angel has done to upset her no doubt. Faith shook her head and then slipped her arms around the the waist of other girl. Although Cordelia was a bit taller than Faith it felt surprisingly right. Cordy tensed and tried to turn around but Faith held her firmly. Eventually Cordelia relaxed back against her and let her head fall back onto Faith's shoulder.  Turning her head slightly Cordy's sad eyes made Faith ache with her pain. Faith brushed her lips against the Cordelia's neck and sat about making the girl forget all her woes.  The song switched to a fast paced grinding beat and Faith smiled as she slipped down the other girl's body. Cordelia shivered against her when Faith slid back up her body and wrapped her arms back around the other girl.

The night wore on in a blur of lips and skin, mixed with the scent of that spicy perfume that Cordelia always wore. The dark amber liquid of the scotch mellowed out Faith's aches as she masked them so that Cordelia would never know. This night wasn't for Faith after all and then Faith scolded herself for sounding sappy even in her mind. She let Cordy lean on her as she walked the girl down the street because she couldn't bring herself to let the girl wander about the city drunk like that. It was after all Faith's fault she had drunk that much. Cordy took that moment to misstep and Faith winced as she caught the girl. "Fuck, that's gonna hurt tomorrow." Faith muttered to herself with dry humor. Cordy's head came up sleepily and she stared at Faith with confused eyes.

"Did.. did I hurt you?" Cordy's eyes were stricken with panic and Faith just shook her head at the girl.

"You can't hurt me, Princess. I'm indestructable." Cordy looked like she was going to bring up a few past incidents that might prove otherwise but then the girl just shrugged and happily clung to Faith.

Taking a deep breath, Faith picked Cordy up and gritted her teeth at the pulsing sensation of things tearing. Oh that's probably not good.

Cordy's hand came up to Faith's face as Faith began walking in a slow determined fashion. Cordy's hand trailed down Faith's neck and onto her chest. Faith's brain was trying to rebel in two directions, one screaming about the pain oh my god the pain and the other about Cordy's hands running down her breasts. Faith was pretty disturbed that the hormonal voice seemed to be winning.

"You're hurt." Cordy's words were whispered against Faith's neck.

Faith laughed softly as she looked for Cordelia's building. "It's just a flesh wound."

"You aren't bleeding." The soft words held worry even if they were marred with the slur of alcohol. Faith quickened her pace as she saw the building she was hunting. Slayer strength or not, broken ribs still hurt and she had been walking for a few blocks now carrying Cordy.

"You just aren't looking in the right place." Faith teased.

Cordy lifted her head and wiggled so that Faith had to let the girl slide down to the ground. She then peered at Faith closely. "Where?" Faith rolled her eyes and figured what the hell it wasn't like the girl would remember much of this tomorow. Faith clasped Cordy's hand and moved it over her ribs with even she could feel poking against her skin some at an awkward angle. Maybe carrying Cordelia hadn't been such a great idea after all. "Your ribs! Faith! You were carying me with a broken rib."

"Ribs, plural. It's alright, I'm a Slayer. I'll be right as rain by tomorrow. We are at your building by the way. " Faith gestured to the building behind Cordy which the girl looked at and then back at Faith hesitantly.

"You should go to the hospital." Cordy had twined her fingers through Faith's hand and made Faith realize that she hadn't let the girl's hand go yet.   Not that she could now, with Cordelia's fingers wrapped around hers like that.

"I'll pass. Had plenty of hospitals in my lifetime."   Faith guided Cordelia toward the building as she spoke. She needed to go catch a train if she was going to get to her contact in Nevada that had said there was a vampire community there that was far too large for the local goodies to handle. Redeeming oneself was hard work but really it was her only hobby so Faith shouldn't complain about the schedule. As they reach the main door, Cordelia unlocked the door and stepped into the doorway.

Cordelia stopped and turned in the doorway to look at the dark slayer in her black leather and red halter top. They looked like opposites, polar opposites and Cordelia smiled at that. Faith gave her a questioning look then smiled back before turning to go. "Faith..." The brown eyes locked with Cordelia's own. "Don't go getting yourself killed, huh?"

Faith just gave the girl a smirk and a mock salute before she disappeared into the shadows of the street.

Cordelia locked the door and whispered to no one in particular. "I wish you'd figure out you can't stop others from needing you."

Author's Notes: "Fides" is latin for "Faith". "Sensus" is also latin for "Feeling".

Vita e Morte (Chapter 3)

2008-03-31T14:54:38Z

Title: vita e morte (Chapter 3/?)
Author: catchthegrey
Words In This Chapter: 1805
Warnings: Main Character Death sorta...(but I'll make it up to you I swear!), Slash, Foul Language, Magical bonds (yes I'm afraid so), Death Eater Plots galore, Ghost Loving...
Rating: PG-13, Later on Mature for story themes
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Snape/Remus, Hermione/OC, Hermione/Ron, others...
Summary: (In which Ron returns with news, Harry fails to find a river and Voldemort throws a party with a rather odd guest list) They failed to save the world, can they save each other?
Legal Stuff: I own nothing they belong to Rowling and Associates. I'm just doing this for my own amusement not for profit.

Swiftly beta'd by monkeygodangryafter an equally swift writing of the chapter by myself. We are quite the team. *laughs* All mistakes are mine alone, point them out if you see them.

"I feel alive when you're beside me.
I will not die....
I'll wait here for you.
In my time of dying."

- from "Time of Dying" by Three Days Grace

Hermione flipped through another page and then paused as she heard a muffled sigh. "Are you alright, Professor Snape?"

The man grunted but did not look up. "I'm hardly your Professor right now, Miss Granger. It isn't like we can return to classes with Death Eaters stalking the halls." His fingers leafed through a few more pages. "What was Dumbledore thinking?"

Hermione shook her head along with Snape's words. She honestly hadn't understood any of Dumbledore's moves in the last part of the war. Before the night on the tower he had seemed weakened yes, but his moves had been methodical. Although the old wizard never shared too much information on the 'whys' of what he did, there turned out to be a reason in short order. However after that night on the tower when Dumbledore had faked his own death things had never beared fruit. Snape had been as surprised as everyone when Dumbledore had appeared at the Order meeting following "his demise", but then Dumbledore did truly adore surprises.

Snape stood up abruptly and the sound of the chair across the stone floor brought Hermione out of her thoughts. "Pro-- Snape?"

"I'm fine. I'm just...tired. I'm going to go lay down. Lupin will be in shortly then you should rest as well, Miss Granger." Hermione barely had time to nod before Snape was sweeping out of the room in the direction of his makeshift chambers.

~

Harry stumbled and sighed. He had now gone into an area of perpetual darkness. It was actually better he supposed. At least if there was anything particularly nasty around, he wouldn't have to see it. Then again he was dead, so really what could something do to him? With that thought he shrugged and continued toward the sound of water.

The sound had begun some time ago and Harry had been walking in the direction of it ever since he had first heard the faint trickle. It was the first concrete thing he had heard since he had awaken in the afterlife. It had taken Harry a bit to come to terms with the fact that he was indeed dead and not just dreaming. No one was coming to wake him up though. No Hermione to the rescue or Snape ripping into him about his clumsiness. They had really failed.

When Harry had first awakened his memories had all been blurry and distant. The more time that passed, if you could call it that here, the clearer things became. He now remembered the final battle in all it's gory details. He remembered trying to shield Draco from a sudden Killing Curse that had been sent the boy's way by Voldemort. There wasn't much more after that, only darkness until he had awakened here. He had to find Draco but didn't have a clue how to do that here.

Occasionally Harry would see a spirit in the distance, but the light was so little that he could only barely make them out at best as outlines on the horizon. Most seemed to be moving in the same general direction that Harry was going. Harry wanted to get away from this place and these spirits. Maybe Draco would be drawn in this same direction.

~

"Come my loyal Death Eaterss! Feasst!" High above the small group of Order Members in the Great Hall, Voldemort moved his hands in a grand clap that filled the tables with food in a grotesque mimick of the Headmaster's own spell.

The cheers and catcalls became a mumble of appreciation as the Death Eaters began partaking of the mounds of food before them.

The Dark Lord sat at the head table with a smile upon his mutilated face. Lucius who sat to his right looked pleased as well as the blonde man drank slowly of the red wine. "As you predicted, My Lord, the win was an easy one."

Voldemort favored the blonde with a nod of his head. "Indeed, Luciusss." The blonde shivered slightly at the faint hiss in his Lord's speech but the Dark Lord took no notice of the movement. "You will be greatly rewarded for your part in my victory." Lucius looked exceedingly happy at his Lord's praise and took another sip of his wine. Bella gave Lucius a silent toast from the left side of the Dark Lord with an evil smirk on her lips which Lucius returned with a smirk of his own.

It had been far too easy to ensure that the Light side crumbled. A little spell here, a little imperio there and what do you know? Victory. A self-satisfied smile stayed on Lucius' lips as he drank more of the heady wine.

Voldemort stood up and the Death Eaters fell silent. "Where are my mannersss? We have a guest to celebrate with!" Voldemort's clawed hand gestured toward the main doors as they opened slowly revealing Albus Dumbledore on the other side. The man's shoulders were slumped and his head was lolled over to one side.

Voldemort curled his fingers and Dumbledore straightened his robes and gave the room a merry smile. "Good day, Gentleman! And Ladies!" The last said with a wink at Bella who gave a cold laugh at the wonderful entertainment. "Please! Please! Eat and be merry, After all my home is your home. Welcome to Hogwarts!" The crowd of Death Eaters erupted in more catcalls and cheers at this as Dumbledore's shoulders slumped again and the light left the man's eyes.

Voldemort indicated the slumped figure of Dumbledore with one bony finger. "Lucius, As this puppet has ran out of uses, you are free to take him to the manor and do with what you see fit."

Lucius graciously inclined his head at the gift and thought of all the possibilities that lay ahead. Bella shared a quick look with Lucius. Yes he was quite sure his wife's sister would want a hand in the events as well. Really was too bad his wife wasn't more like her sister. With that he gave Bella an appreciative smile as he thought of his wife chained in the dungeons. He probably should feed her soon, he supposed. His son's feeble plea to Dumbledore to help keep his mother safe had made Lucius sick, but then he couldn't have made the plan work without his son's unconscious help. He made a silent toast to his dead son with another smirk.

~

The chaos that ensued after the final battle split the order up so much that it took ages before anyone realized that not only had the safe locations been breached, but that all of the people being protected were dead or missing. Ron was among the group to make the discovery and quickly apparated to the location that held the Malfoys. The house was empty but largely untouched. The only sign of a struggle was a dropped wand of holly. Ron picked up the wand and looked at the empty house. The Order had been played. Ron's mouth thinned. "Never trust a Malfoy." With that he apparated away to try and gather as many of the high ranking Order members as he could.

~

"Harry!" Harry's head whipped around at the sound of his name. Where was that voice coming from? He felt a tug to his left and winced at the sensation that felt like a piece of his soul being pulled from him then snapping back into place. Draco. "DRACO!"

Harry saw the flicker of a light in the darkness which illuminated Draco's pale hair. Harry took off with a run toward the light and then stopped a few paces away from the other boy when he noticed the figure holding up the ball of light. "Pansy?" He flicked his eyes between Draco and Pansy wondering if this was real or just a trick of this world. Pansy rolled her eyes and she shoved Draco forward. Draco gave her an affronted look then gave Harry a nervous smile. "Draco?"

"Yeah, Harry, it's me." Harry smiled and took a few more steps toward the blonde before encircling the slender boy in a hug. Draco protested in vain as Harry crushed the blonde to him. Sighing Draco finally gave in and returned the bonecrushing hug. Draco whispered softly to the boy who was his dear friend. "I missed you too Harry." They had never said that they loved each other. Draco didn't know if Harry actually felt anything more for him than the close friendship they had developed since their accidental bonding. The incident in DADA class that had turned into the best thing in Draco's life. Not only had it given him a way to assure that his mother was safe, but it had helped him get close to Harry. It was something that Draco never would have achieved. He had already spoken with Dumbledore about making the move to be a spy if Dumbledore would help his mother. His father had earned his fate as far as Draco was concerned. However he never could manage to figure out a way to breach the gap between himself and the boy his father so loathed. As Harry hugged him he thanked whatever deity had chosen to help him express what he never could have on his own. He had had a crush on Harry Potter since fourth year, or at least that's when he had become fully aware of it.

Maybe one day Harry would even love him back, if not Draco could settle for his friendship.

Pansy cleared her throat and the two boys separated reluctantly. "Come on we have to find our way back to the gateways out of here."

Harry looked a bit uncertain again. "Gateways?"

Pansy shrugged and turned around. As she walked off the boys hurriedly kept pace with her as she was swiftly taking their lightsource with her. "Sure. It all depends on where and when you want to go."

Draco raised his eyebrow at Harry then spoke for them both. "When? Like time-travel?"

"Something like that, of course you'll be ghosts in the past as your bodies are already taken during that time." Pansy said it all matter of factly. "I know it's a lot to take in. I'm only even aware of it because I had a great aunt who had passed over and she insisted on rattling on about the afterlife everytime she came to visit us on All Hallow's Eve."

Harry and Draco simply took her word for it and followed the girl through the darkness.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I'd humbly like to apologize for the previous chapter, yes I know it read like "filler material"....I am ashamed, trust me. *sighs sadly*

On a happier note, I have today off! *and the people rejoiced*

Do a Good Deed

2008-03-31T04:47:39Z

Title: Do a Good Deed
Author:

catchthegrey
Wordcount: 425
Warnings: Nada!
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Harry and Draco plus a camera.
Disclaimer: Rowlings and Associates owns them. This is nonprofit and for play.

Beta'd by monkeygodangry, who currently owns my soul. Nothing but love for you man! lol

Harry rolled his eyes and picked his camera back up. "We've been over this a hundred times, Draco."

Draco folded his arms and glared at the brunette.

"OK fine! Camera lesson 101, here we come! Film goes in the camera. You click the button." Harry showed Draco the button again. "It creates a minature version of whatever you were looking at in the viewfinder."

Draco thought it over. "Ok...let me try!"   Harry pulled the camera close to himself in concern as Draco lunged at the delicate electronic.

"Draco. Stop!" Harry held his hand out to keep the other boy at bay and got his finger bitten for his trouble. "Ow, Draco!" Draco stopped then but only to sniff in disdain as if he hadn't done anything that would require all that yelling. "Why don't you let me get you a digital camera. They are easier." Draco gave Harry a look of indignation. "No film, Draco. You wouldn't even have to do anything except point and click until you filled it up. Then I can show you how to take them off using the computer."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Harry. If I dont use film we can't send it to the photo lab." The way it was stated made it sound as though Harry should know exactly why the photo lab was all important.

"Uh...?"   Harry thought it was a pretty intelligent response considering his boyfriend hated the photo lab and had almost moved out when he discovered that other people had to see the photos during processing.

Rolling his eyes Draco put his hands on Harry's shoulders. "Potter, we have to do it for the little people."

"Err.. What?" Draco slapped Harry's forehead at Harry's response because he couldn't very well slap his own forehead. Did you know that could cause skin damage? Harry still stared blankly at Draco who used the opportunity to snatch the camera away and take a picture of Harry baffled. "Draco!" The flash quickly bringing Harry back to his senses he tried to snatch the camera back but Draco deftly avoided Harry's seeker reflexes.

"You would deny the little people at the photo lab their joy, Potter? Come on show us some skin!" Draco took a quick shot of Harry before racing off toward the bedroom.

Harry stared after the blonde and then followed while mumbling to himself. "My boyfriend, the philanthropist."

XXXXXXXXXX

I'm just posting the little snippet stories because Jon decided to get them back to me and I feel bad about not getting an actual chapter out like I had said. I fail, I know. My work schedule thus far is harsh. I'm hoping it gets better.... I know wishful thinking. Good thing I take a notepad everywhere I go.

Xposted to harrydracoand harrylovesdraco

Tainted Rain

2008-03-29T04:44:51Z

Title: Tainted Rain (One Shot)
Word count: 3960
Warnings: Sexual Situations, M/M, Slash, Angst
Rating: Mature NC-17
Summary: A spell erased most of Harry's memories and left others disoriented from the year previous to the battle in seventh year. Draco walked away from Harry without acknowledging the lost memories of them together. Harry really was better off without him.
Disclaimer: Rowlings Property, I'm making no profit!

Many thanks to:

monkeygodangry for betaing this. All mistakes are my own!

"One more kiss could be the best thing
But one more lie could be the worst
And all these thoughts are never resting
And you're not something I deserve"

--Lyrics from 'Let Me Go' by Three Doors Down

The rain had been coming down now for a good half hour. Draco failed to show this outwardly. He didn't really mind the rain and he walked through it as though it was not even there. His blonde hair had grown long now and the rain slipped into the light strands as he walked before trailing down his back. It was a light mist at most and it gave his hair a glisten like it had dewdrops clinging to it in the morning. The very idea of that might have caused Draco's lips to twitch but he wasn't really in a jovial mood. His long heavy jacket let the water cascade down it. Draco hadn't even cast spells to keep his clothes dry. Really it wasn't the thing to do when one lived among muggles.   He hardly thought of them as muggles anymore. They were just faces, voices in the distance and an occasional source of distraction.   He did not stand close to them. He did not speak to them. He never looked at them anymore. Distorted shapes in a world of swirling mist.

The shapes of boots walking past him in the opposite direction only dully noted in his mind. His own boots of black leather treading through the pools of slowly gathering liquid. He watched the explosion of water as his feet moved. The rhythm of his gait soothing.  His movements slowed as he neared a stand that was owned by a local wizard that Draco had never bothered to get the name of. The man looked up and his eyes flashed around before pulling out a paper and handing it to Draco with a slight nod. Draco didn't acknowledge the man other than to frown at his overtly obnoxious display of 'stealth'.   Tucking the paper inside his jacket in one of the travel pockets he walked on only now sparing a glance up at the skies. Blinking as the light mist coated his pale lashes he sighed and raised the hood of his jacket up only leaving the flash of blonde hair that escaped from the hood as a distinguishing feature.

Once he had found a quiet alley to duck down that housed no residents or people poffering questionable services he pulled the newspaper out. Quickly scanning the front page he looked down at the moving picture and traced his finger over the image as a drop of rain trickled down over the paper. The dark haired wizard laughed and twirled a rather giddy Ginny Weasley around at a banquet for the heroes of the war. Draco smiled at the laughter on Harry's face, even the antics of Hermione and Ron in the background. They were all happy and that made it all worthwhile.

Harry and he had struck up a friendship in sixth year when Draco had changed sides if the lightside would help him save his parents.   He became a 'double' spy much like Snape and the discipline of that had helped him a lot in the last year since the war had ended. His hair slipped slightly in front of his eyes and as he brushed it out of the way he remembered why he had grown it out in the first place. His father had thought it was a sign of maturity that showed he was ready to take on his responsiblities, really it had been Harry.

~~~~~~
"Let your hair down." Harry laughing had ran his fingers through Draco's hair. "Never cut it again and don't slick it back."

Draco had given the boy who had become his friend in sixth year a prim salute. "Why yes, Master Potter."

Harry's laughter rang out but the dark haired boy shook his head. "No really. It looks good down like that, it would look  even better a bit longer."

Draco had just smiled but hadn't said anything else about it.
~~~~~~

Draco shook his head at the memory. He never had cut or put gel in his hair again. That was one of the first times he thought Harry might actually be interested in him. A sigh that he would never admit to escaped his lips as he looked out of the alley at the blur of activity as cars passed on the streets of London.  He chided himself mentally for thinking of times that were firmly in the past. That was another lifetime. So what if this was barely a life? It was worth it. He glanced at the picture to remind himself of that.   It had been a year since he had walked away from Hogwarts and the Magical Community.   Sure he wasn't really hiding, but he liked it better when he was in the shadows.

Rightfully he should have been at that banquet with all the others.   He had been invited. Hermione had owled him several times about this most recent event and the other celebrations. Draco always came up with excuses that he knew Hermione didn't believe. She still didn't agree with him for leaving when he had. She didn't really understand though. What would have come from him staying and trying to convince Harry that he and Draco had been lovers? The final battle had been ferocious on both sides. Curses flew and many of their freinds simply hadn't returned from the battlefield. Harry had been badly injured when he arrived at St Mungos after the battle.   The healers weren't sure if he would survive. Draco, Hermione, Ron, Tonks and Remus had waited anxiously. Harry and he had kept their relationship secret because neither could handle the distraction that would have occurred if they had tried to fight a war and their own side at the same time. Everyone may have grudgingly accepted that Draco's information was helping them win the war but that didn't mean they would trust their golden boy with a Death Eater. After all he had earned his Dark Mark, hadn't he?

Draco sneered at the rain. Yes, he had more than earned his Dark Mark. That's why he walked away when Harry woke up but with only partial memories of the seventh year. It had taken a bit to sink in for Draco that Harry did not and never would remember the times they had shared. The memories that were etched into Draco's mind, Harry would never remember. The healers said there was little to no chance of the recovery of his memories.  So he had walked away.

Hermione had caught up with him a week later. She had confessed that Harry had told her about them, and demanded to know why Draco wasn't there fighting for Harry.   Draco had tried to get her to understand that the memory loss gave Draco the chance to give Harry a gift. The gift of not being burdened by a life attached to a Death Eater and plagued by all the nonsense that went with it. Hermione had ripped into him but Draco hadn't really listened.

He thought sometimes about her parting words. "Harry may never remember, but you won't forget you know?" That was a fact that Draco lived with everyday. So maybe Draco had partially ran away. He could live with that.

The tolling of a bell nearby made him sigh. He was due to work soon. Turning south he moved through the still lightly falling rain headed toward the 'Medusa's Cove Book and Gift Store' where he had only barely managed to hang onto employment because the owner was hard up to find another wizard willing to work there at the off hour shifts they needed.   The owner was a middle aged witch named Rava Talon.   He had considered it a blessing to find the isolated magical oasis in the heart of London. Not all the clientele was from the magic community but they got quite a few of the wizards and witches who chose to live among the Londoners.

As he entered the shop he cringed at the jingling of the bell over the door. Rava looked around the customer she was helping and smiled at him. He gave her the briefest of nods and slipped his hood down. "Draco, there you are!"   Draco rolled his eyes as he pulled his coat off. He didn't really need to look at her to know she was fawning over the customer at the counter. "He always comes in late." Draco heard her telling the customer. Really must she talk about him like he wasn't in the room?

"He always was a bit hard to wake in the mornings if his Hogwarts years are anything to go by." The baritone voice held a note of amusement that Draco vaguely registered as familiar as he spun around on his heel.

Harry's smile struck him dumbfounded for a moment before he remembered his facade and slipped into cool indifference. "Slumming, Potter?"  Harry raised an eyebrow at him.

"Odd. I was sort of thinking of asking you the same thing." Harry turned to Rava who was watching them with interest. "No offense to your establishment of course, Mrs. Talon." Rava waved Harry off but there was a blush on her face from the smile Harry gave her.

"The rain has pretty much made this day a waste. If you two wish to catch up, by all means go ahead. Draco deserves a day off actually. He never takes them." Rava had already started cleaning up the counter as if to close up.

Draco started to protest but Harry cut him off. "That'd be great, Mrs. Talon. I'll be sure to tell my friend Hermione about this place. She'd think it was heaven."   Rava gave Harry another smile and waved for them to leave.

~~~~~~~~~
Harry's lips brushed Draco's lips lightly. Draco smiled an exhausted smile at his lover. They were holed up in Harry's room at close to two in the morning.   It was so hard to find time to be alone when no one would find them. Harry's green eyes locked with his. "I love you, Draco." Harry dipped his head shyly. "Please don't ever leave me."

Draco smiled at the blushing boy before wrapping his arms around Harry. "Nothing could ever make me leave you, Harry. Nothing. I love you, too."
~~~~~~~~~

"Draco?" Harry's concerned voice beside him brought him out of the memory and Draco cursed himself for letting himself slip into those thoughts again.

"Sorry. What were you saying?" Draco lit a cigarette to distract himself from the man walking beside him. The rain had slacked off completely with the sun struggling to be seen behind dull looking clouds.

Harry looked at Draco critically. "When did you start smoking?"

Draco pocketed the silver lighter and cigarette case again. He eyed Harry as he took a slow drag off the cigarette. He exhaled just as slowly trying to regain his cool disdain before responding. "You aren't going to go on about how bad it is for me, are you?" Draco's smirk dropping into his lips with barely a thought.

"No. I was just curious really." Harry glanced around nervously. "It..um..actuallyiskindasexy."

Draco blinked. "What did you say?" He came to a halt and looked at Harry pointedly.

"Um.. That it is kinda sexy?"   Harry had stopped as well but was avoiding looking at Draco as if nothing in the world would make him ever look at the other man again. Draco could see the blush on the other man's face though.

Draco shook himself mentally and took a step forward as he fell back into his normal gait. His mind rampantly trying to deny what he had heard. He can't remember. He may just be interested. Merlin. KILL ME. Draco pulled another drag off of the cigarette as he quarrelled internally with the voice in his head.

Harry caught up with him and they walked in silence until apparently Harry couldn't take it anymore. Draco would have found it endearing but he was too busy warring with himself at the moment. "I'm sorry.   I know that was forward. It's just... I thought..I mean but if you... that's ok." Harry fell silent beside Draco.

Draco took a final pull off of the cigarette before flicking it onto the wet ground. "Have you been talking to Hermione?"   Draco cursed himself for asking the question the second it left his mouth. His mind kept nagging him that Hermione could have told Harry.   Draco wished that he had oblivated the curly headed gryffindor now.

Harry gave him an odd look. "Why would I...What?"

"Go back to Ginny, Potter." Draco knew he sounded gruff and as much as he wanted to sound distant from the conversation he couldn't. It wasn't everyday you told the love of your life to go be with someone else after all.

Harry grabbed Draco's arm to pull the man to a stop. "What's Ginny got to do with anything?"

"If you don't know then there really is no hope for you, Potter."   Harry's blush indicated he got the meaning and Draco thought the gryffindor was about to flee.

Harry surprised him though by dragging Draco, who would have resisted but he was caught offguard really, into the alley that Draco had been reading the paper in earlier. Life's little circles, Draco mused. "Listen..." Harry paused and looked around then lowered his voice. "Why did you leave?"

Draco opened his mouth to respond then closed it again. How could he explain it?   He'd have to lie of course. Sighing Draco looked at Harry taking in for the first time really the man's clothing. The brown coat that stopped just short of Harry's thighs, the denim jeans that fit just so, brown suede boots (that Draco fervently hoped Harry had put a charm on to keep them from getting wet) and the dark green button down shirt that made the man's eyes sparkle beneath that mop of dark curls. Draco felt himself growing hard just from eyeing the man and cursed his body.

"Draco?" Harry's voice made him jump and he found the other man's hands on his upper arms as if to hold Draco steady. Blinking Draco leaned into the other man and brushed his lips against those full pink lips that he remembered so well.   Harry doesn't remember, Draco whispered in his own mind.   He doesn't remember this either, Draco reminded himself as he slipped his hands under the brown jacket to run his hands behind the man's back pulling their bodies flush together. The small gasp from Harry was his only response. In his mind Draco counted off everything Harry would never remember in a bittersweet list as he brushed his lips against the dark haired man's jaw. "Draco." Draco heard the whisper but chose to ignore it as he ignored the light rain that had begun to fall again.

Harry had pushed his fingers up into Draco's hair. Draco could have crooned at the pleasure of feeling that sensation again. Against Harry's neck he made a small keening noise as he nibbled at the skin there. There was a sudden downpour of rain and Draco leaned back to let the rain hit his face for a moment. He needed it just so he could be sure he wasn't hallucinating. Harry didn't remember and this wasn't right because of everything that had happened. Draco told himself that over and over, but somehow...

Draco staggered backward and Harry gave a cry at the loss of warmth. The green eyes looked at him sadly and Draco could see the hurt. Summoning his courage, Draco reminded himself that he had already walked away from this man once. He could do it again. Harry had other ideas and he grabbed the front of Draco's jacket crashing their lips together. It was like a strange battle of tug of war. Where Harry had been the one against the wall before, now Draco felt his back hit the brick wall behind him. "Harry. Don't." Draco knew that his voice was pleading but really a human should only really have to walk away from someone they love once in a lifetime. This was unusual punishment.

The dark haired wizard gave no sign of having heard him and was licking the rain off of Draco's neck. Draco's hips pushed forward of their own accord and Harry leaned up to give him a lazy smile. Draco tried to say something, anything, but Harry kissed him then. Without Draco's consent his lips opened for Harry's exploring tongue. His own tongue decided to rebel as well and came out to meet Harry's tongue. The whimper from Harry was almost worth the loss of control Draco thought.

Harry's hands without Draco's knowledge, as he was too focused on the kiss at that point, had found the front of Draco's own jeans. Releasing the buttons deftly Harry slipped his hand inside the denim. Draco's head fell back against the bricks as Harry stroked Draco's already quite hard erection. "Kill me. Please Merlin." Harry chuckled at Draco's muttered words. Draco was well pass caring that he had spoken them allowed instead of in his mind as intended.

Harry nibbled and bit Draco's lips. "Sorry, no dying for you today. I rather like you alive." Draco groaned at the husky quality that Harry's voice had taken on.

Draco clutched Harry's shirt in his hands as he tugged the material up before slipping his hands under the soft material. Harry moaned at the skin contact. "I don't know if I can walk away again, Harry. Need. To. Stop." Draco was paying no attention to his words now as he slipped his own hands into Harry's jeans matching Harry's strokes on himself.

"No stopping, Draco. Not this time." Draco just nodded along with Harry's words. Harry had said he had to continue and really he couldn't argue with that in his state of mind. Not his fault at all, really.

Neither of them spoke again for a long while as the rain poured down creating an oasis in the middle of the city for them against this cold brick wall. Just two bodies moving together. Harry's lips alternating between kissing the rain from his lover's lips and sucking on the smooth skin of the blonde's neck.   Draco wasn't even trying to dampen his groans of pleasure as the rain soaked through his clothes. It was perfect. Never had he felt anything so perfect.

Gasping as Harry bit down on his neck Draco bit his lip as he came for his lover. He enjoyed the crest of his climax and felt Harry come not long behind him. The warmth coating his hand in contrast to the cold rain over the rest of his body. Harry kissed him softly then and Draco enjoyed the lazy kiss as he felt an unspoken spell tingle around them.   Draco smiled as he realized that not only was he clean, but he was dry. He opened his eyes and saw Harry smiling at him as the rain glistened off a barrier just an inch above his head. Draco recognized the feel of the disllusionment around the barrier as well.

Then it hit Draco what all he had mumbled during the course of that interlude. He stiffened and realized he had to end this and quickly. Harry seemed to recognize his thoughts because he slipped his arms around Draco's waist as if to keep him in place. "You aren't running away again."

Draco blinked at the statement. He couldnt really remember...Besides...It's better if we are apart.

Harry leaned close to Draco and whispered against Draco's ear. Draco shivered at the movement of those lips against his skin. "You said you'd never leave me."

Draco tensed again. "Harry..." Harry cut him off though by bringing him into a kiss.

"You stupid, stupid man. Thought I was better off without you. Did you really think I cared what anyone thought of me?" Draco only could blink at him as he feared what he would say if he opened his mouth. "Do you know what got me through that war?" Draco shook his head. "You. When I woke up I was confused. After I was released I kept looking for something, but I couldn't find it, Draco."   Harry ran his hand over Draco's cheek.

"H-how long?" It was all Draco could manage to get out as he was struggling to keep his optimism in check along with the tears he was denying.

"Just last week actually. I don't know why it happened. I was with Ron and suddenly I just collapsed."   Draco remembered reading about that but then the papers never reported anything else. The next issue had showed Harry at the banquet. It was really the reason he had picked up the issue, to make sure that Harry was alright. "Anyway, It's all been coming back in chunks. Imagine Ron's surprised when I started babbling about all of that hmm?"

Draco smiled a bit at that thought but then Harrry continued. "That's when Hermione came to me. Yes I did talk to her but I was confused Draco. I didn't understand why you hadn't stayed."   Draco couldn't look at Harry then. It had been for the best he thought at the time but ...

"I'm not mad with you Draco. I was hurt that you left, but I had to find you." Draco felt the tears slip out that he had been holding in. All those months of anguish and fighting the war he'd never let down his guard. Even with Harry had to be so careful. After the war he had to keep up his mask still. Right now it was crumbling into dust and Draco didn't care.

Harry held him there under the barrier as the rain washed around them. The cars a distant memory in their micro-universe. "I love you, Draco." Draco heard the whisper against his ear and he tried to remember how to breathe.

"I'll never leave you again, Harry. Please please...forgive me." Draco muttered miserably against Harry's coat.

Harry's arms tightened around Draco. "It's ok, love. I'm never letting you get away again."

XXXXXXX

I start my new job tomorrow. Fantastic.. Closing shift... *twirls finger* Ugh it may be sunday before I get a new chapter of Vita e Morte posted. Depends on how busy it is at work, I guess. *sigh*

Shadows

2008-03-27T20:30:35Z

Title: Shadows
Author: catchthegrey
Word Count: 805
Prompt: 'Our Shadows Do Not Fear the Sunlight'
Summary: Bryan and Darren learn that some things you shouldn't hide.
Warnings: Male/Male relationship, Slash
Raiting: R
Copyright Stuff: Its my original work.

Unbeta'd and written for monkeygodangry

The girls sat huddle together. Tina decided against using the metaphor of being an island in a sea of people. Glancing around she noticed that most of the people didn't even pay the two girls any attention. The ones who did shot them glares, looks of disgust and the occasional look from male passerbys that Tina thought looked like lust. The last thought made her slightly nauseaous. She rolled her eyes as she saw her friend Darren making his way over. She wondered if she should stop him before he walked into the pole. The thud and the sound of books spilling in all directions alerted everyone to Darren's misfortune. The boy started collecting up his books hurriedly his cheeks flushed a deep red. "That was elegant." She said in a sarcastic tone. "Yeah, well.." Darren looked like he was going to say something else but then changed the subject. "Did you slip him the note?"

Tina eyed her friend for the one millionth time as though she had never seen him before. Despite their having been friends since junior high he still had a way of making her second guess every thought she had ever had about him. Much like when he had finally come clean about being gay a couple years ago. "Yeah. I make no promises, but I gave it to him." She added curiously. "What did it say?"

Darren's blush returned and he zipped his bag back up but kept silent. Tina eyed him for a moment and then smiled. "Looks like Tasha and Susan are still an item, eh?" She tossed her head in the general direction of the two girls. Darren's eyes shot over their way and he frowned. "I would have pegged them for breaking up after a week. It's all for show." Tina nodded agreement with Darren and then she gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Come on. We'll be late."

In class Tina kept her eyes to her notes. Of course she kept her eyes to her notes when she wasn't looking at Darren, or looking at Darren trying not to look like he was watching Bryan, or looking at Bryan trying not to let Darren catch him glances back. Yes this would prove very entertaining, Tina thought to herself.

She still found herself shocked to see Bryan talking to Darren a few blocks from the school. It wasn't like she had followed them there, or waited out side the school crouching behind a dumpster or anything. She straightened her clothes to seem preoccupied to anyone who walked by then glanced through her lashes at the two boys who were now talking in hushed tones.

Not satisfied with the distance and the muffled voices she studied the buildings on the opposite side of the street and absent-mindedly walked a bit further.

"Bry.." There was a small laugh and then a soft thud. Tina's eyebrow arched up and she casually swept her eyes around until they ached. Bryan and Darren were now farther back in the alley they had been standing in front of. Darren was backed against a wall with Bryan's hands pinning his above his head. Tina spied a good spot where they wouldn't readily see her and quickly took up her spy post. She had to, she reasoned, be there for her friend after all. Yes he might need her. With a firm nod she dropped the pretense of not paying attention. Darren was laughing as Bryan was complaining about having to hide in the shadows like they were afraid of the light of day. The two boys shared a hesitant kiss followed by one that showed they were alot more certain of each other.

The next day at lunch Tina watched Darren's smile knowingly. Bryan and Darren weren't acting any different of course. Tina hadn't expected they would. She got up to leave and then stopped as Bryan approached them. Tina yet again wondered if she should warn Darren as her friend was unaware of Bryan's approach. She determined it would be more amusing not to. Darren was taken completely off guard if his little yelp of protest was anything to judge by when Bryan threw his leg over the table's bench. Darren didn't have a chance to do anymore protesting as Bryan pulled him into a kiss. Tina's mouth dropped open. There were several catcalls around the outside tables. Darren looked as though he wanted to curl up and die, but Bryan looked rather pleased with himself. Even Tina smiled as Bryan hugged Darren close so the other boy could hide his face against his shoulder. "Our shadows don't fear the sunlight."

Candy (One-Shot)

2008-03-27T18:28:56Z

Title- 'Candy' (one shot)
Prompt- Faith and Cordy, from the days when Cordy is in LA not Sunnyvale.
This is definitely AU and you'll understand why when you see the lineup and how they behave.
Fandom- Jossverse
Warnings- uh.. not really? Its a bit of a crack fic...but hey who doesnt wuv a little nonsense for the day?
Word Count- 463
Disclaimer- Not mine...obviously? Let's move along!

The hand holding the wrapper was waving the shiny object back and forth in front of her eyes. "Stop that, its annoying." Faith grabbed the shiny wrapper and threw it into the garabage to stop the annoying game.

"Is there a problem?" Angel stopped his debate over how to best handle the newest big bad of the city of angels and was staring at Faith with what she thought should be a threatening glare. She however didn't much care.

She shrugged and gave him a mock salute. "Right as rain, Captain."

Angel rolled his eyes at her mockery. He had gotten used to Faith a long time ago.

Cordy looked rather put out that her game had been ended. Suddenly her pout turned mischevious grin and then her eyes well up in tears. Faith raised an eyebrow as if to ask what the hell..when it happened. Cordy fell ontop of Faith while bawling her eyes out. Angel and company turned to see a rather confused and panic stricken Faith frozen to the spot while Cordy wrapped herself around the dark haired slayer. Wesley cleared his throat and started to speak but Cordy interrupted him with a loud wail. Angel's voice was soothing when he spoke. "Cordelia, are you having a vision?" Wesley immediately cut in about how he thought that she didn't have those anymore. Gunn was watching the girls with fascination and Fred was watching Gunn with a bit of irritation for watching the other girls like that. Faith was just staying very very still. It is best to do this when cornered by an injured animal she reasoned.

"Oh Angel it was horrible! People in a house, burning. The house not the people. Burning I mean." She sat upright and clasped her hand over her mouth in terror. "You have to save them!"

Angel looked undecided. He glanced at Wesley who helpfully shrugged at Angel. "Um, shouldn't the fire department handle that?"

Shaking her head frantically. "No. It's evil fire." She nodded sagely. "Evil, demonic fire."

"Alright fine. Evil, demonic fire here I come." He turned to leave then turned back. "How does one fight evil, demonic fire?" Cordy just shrugged.

"Fire extinguisher?" Wesley supplied. With that there was a rush of activity and the troupe of evil fighters were off minus Faith who was still under Cordy. Faith who was still sitting very very still lest she set off Cordy again.

After the others left Cordy spun around in the chair to face the other girl and smiled brightly at Faith who eyed her as one would a particularly lethal cobra. "They'll be gone for a bit before they figure out there isn't any evil fire."

Realization hit her and Faith started laughing. "Did I ever tell you that I think I love you, Princess?"

Bad Night (one-shot)

2008-03-27T18:22:25Z

Title- 'Bad Night' (One-Shot)
Author- catchthegrey
Prompt- HP/Jossverse crossover, Remus/Spike.
Fandom- Harry Potter/ Jossverse DUH!
Word Count- 654
Rating- PG-13
Warnings- Angst, but with humor
Disclaimer- They belong to Rowlings and Whedon.

Holding his finger up and staring with disdain at the fluffy white icing on the tip of his finger. The werewolf was not eager to hear about wedding plans and he quickly dropped the knife he had been holding. The startled reaction of the young man near him at the clatter wasn't the most pressing issue to Lupin as he took a napkin and wiped the icing off his finger. Harry eyed his professor with worry.

"Remus, alright there?" Harry's inquiry was quiet and nervous. Remus just nodded and excused himself saying he'd be back in the morning to help Harry with the plans for Harry's wedding.

Remus knew he should be more supportive but his mind just kept going to Sirius when he thought of all the love bullocks that went with weddings. Kicking at a stone angrily he just let himself get lost in thoughts as he wandered off into muggle london.

~

Spike was not having a good night as he wiped the sweet liquor off his face. "Listen here you twisted bitch." Grabbing the demon by her fine tailored collar he brought her up to his face and let his fangs drop into sight.

Just as he was about to make his point however, a rough kick made him stumble backwards. Great. Just bloody great. Turning he saw one of the slayer proteges and he threw his hands up in the air. I give up you slag universe. I give the fuck up. He then did the only thing he could do he avoided getting staked and made a rather dignified retreated. Alright, he ran, but it was a well thought out run.

~

Rounding a corner Remus slammed into a body that was moving far faster than his own. The resulting physics ended up with Remus slammed to the ground under another body. "Watch where you are going you bleeding idiot." The voice above him brought Remus back to reality and he slammed his hands upward against the chest roughly shoving the person off of him.

Rolling to his feet quickly Remus turned to see a blond with a rather short temper facing off with him. "You were the one barrelling around corners as if Hades' hounds were on your tail." Remus caught the smell of liquor on the young man. "Pub crawling go bad, huh?"

Spike was thoroughly ticked off by this point but fine if this guy wanted to be on the receiving end of his stress therapy well by all means. Without a second thought he struck out and watched the other man swiftly twist his upper body to avoid the contact. Shifting into vampire Spike sought to throw his opponent off guard.

The man raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I wasn't aware there was a vampire community nearby."

"Stop talking." Spike bit out and tried to hit him again, only failing again. This was getting old quick. "Alright hold still like a good boy, won't you?" His tone was lilting and he gave the other man a smirk.

Remus eyed the blond. "That bad of a night?" Sitting down he looked out across the street.

Spike stamped his foot on the ground. "What the hell are you doing? We are fighting."

Remus looked up. "Where are my manners? I'm so sorry." Getting up he faced Spike. "Alright then."

Spike just threw his hands up in the air. "Forget it! You ruined the moment." Sitting down dejectedly Spike tossed an empty can across the street that had been laying by his foot.

Sitting down again, Remus propped his back up against a pole that was nearby and faced the young man. "If it makes you feel any better, my day was absolute rubbish as well."

"Is this the part where we tell each other our touching stories and then we become best friends?" Remus flinched at the sarcastic tone but had to laugh. For the first time in months he actually felt alright.

Sea Birth

2008-03-27T18:14:46Z

Title- 'Sea Birth' (Drabble)
Author- catchthegrey
PROMPT- "Heaven's Gates won't open up for me, on these broken wings I'm falling..."
Word Count- 295
Rating- PG-13
Warnings- its a bit sad, implied death themes
Copyright stuff- It's mine, all the characters herein..yada yada

All kingdoms are built on ashes, her father had said. She knew now what he meant. Standing on this battleground she looked around at the burning ruins that used to be homes. People lived here. They raised children here. Where were those children? Hanging her head, she sank to the ground. A hand fell on her shoulder. She did not look up. The hand would belong to Seth. The dark haired mage knelt next to her but she did not trust herself to look at him. The war was fought and they'd won. The kingdom was...safe. That word meant so little to her now. "You fought bravely, princess." With his whispered words the mage rose and seemed to vanish into the smoke that kept at least some of the horrors of the battle from her eyes.

She turned to see old friends still standing. The gaps in those ranks glowing in her mindseye like coals. This would be replayed many times in her nightmares. One of the chinks in her mind snapped and broke away. She strode toward her friends and they moved to let her pass. With each step she knew she would never stride this land again. Turning she moved toward the edge of the cliff. This broken plain that dropped off into neptune's blue depths. A robe of dark crimson blew beside her and she looked up to see Seth staring at her with contemplating blue eyes. "Do you swim well, princess?" She looked down at the water crashing into the rock below.

Looking back up at the mage she shook her head. "I don't swim at all. Always was afraid of the water."

"Are you afraid of it now?" Seth watched her as the girl stared at the water lovingly.

"No."

Vita E Morte

2008-03-27T17:50:49Z

Title: vita e morte (Chapter 2)
Author: catchthegrey
Words In This Chapter: 1401
Warnings: Main Character Death, sorta...(but I'll make it up to you I swear!), Slash, Foul Language, Magical bonds (yes I'm afraid so)
Rating: PG-13, Later on R for story themes
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Snape/Remus, Hermione/OC, Hermione/Ron, others...etc
Summary: (In which Draco discovers death isnt what he thought it would be, Harry is really sick of the color beige, Hermione copes, Severus researches and Remus just tries to stay out of the way.) They failed to save the world, can they save each other?
Legal Stuff: I own nothing they belong to Rowling and Associates. I'm just doing this for my own amusement not for profit.

***Unbeta'd, so honestly tell me if you see a mistake.***

"I will not die.
I will surive.
I will not die.
I'll wait here for you."

Draco blinked his eyes and fought to keep his vision from blurring. Why was it so dark? "Harry?" The memories of the final battle hit Draco then. The smoke, the screams and Harry.. Oh merlin Harry falling. Draco had tried to pull them up to get them to safety, to save Harry but he had failed hadn't he? "Is this death?" His voice echoed and his eyes focused on the slate gray stone of the wall near him. "Stone?" Draco sat up experimentally. Thankful to find he was not in a cemetary vault. That would just have been too much, but where on earth..err maybe not earth was he? "Harry!" His shout faded into the distance and he realized he was alone in a very dark tunnel made out of stone.

~

Hermione looked over at Severus and shook her head as she watched the man frantically searching through old tomes. Remus was pacing nearby in the underground chambers they had fled to that lay under Hogwarts. The schools magic had protected them so far, keeping the chambers out of the reach of the Death Eaters who occupied the grounds outside of the school. Some had even infiltrated the school or so the rumors were. There were only two ways in and out of the underground chambers where the Order had taken shelter after the final battle to keep as a headquarter. Though they might as well call it what it was, hiding. Outside battles still raged. Order members fought, but the general populace was pretty well subdued.

It had only taken a day for the news that the Boy Who Lived had somehow failed. Of course at this point the populace had turned against the Order and Draco. Oh how they loathed Draco, blaming the former Death Eater in Training for bringing down their hero. Even Voldemort caught onto this and he toasted Draco every chance he got for doing what even he could not do alone. Hermione was heartsick and glad that Draco and Harry did not have to hear any of it.

She wept quietly for her friends and thought of her boyfriend, Ryan, that she had tried to warn but had failed. The reports said that his whole village was wiped out. Ron was nowhere to be found after the final battle, though there were rumors that he had been sighted at a couple skirmishes. She wished suddenly that the redhead were here. A warm hand came down on her shoulder and she looked up to see Remus with tears of his own in his eyes. She covered his hand with hers and gave him an encouraging smile in return.

"They look so peaceful." Remus' eyes were on the door to the chamber on their right. They had snatched Harry and Draco away at the last moment, apparating them away in the hopes that if the bodies were not found then there could still be hope for those that were left. That was what Severus had said but no that was not why they had did it. The truth was Severus would not give up. He was looking right now for some way of using their bond to bring them back. He had been looking through those tomes frantically for the three days since the final battle. Harry and Draco lay still in the beds in the other room. Hermione admitted they did just look as though they were sleeping. They were cold to the touch but not stiff, not decomposing. It was the bond of course keeping their bodies in that stasis, but Harry and Draco were not there.

"Yeah they do, Professor. Severus and I are still looking. We'll find something." If there is anything.. She kept her voice light but she heard the doubt as did Remus. The werewolf gave her a gentle smile to show that he understood.

~

Harry had been wandering for awhile. Time didn't really seem to matter. He barely remembered who he was. He knew that something had happened. He remembered a lot of green light and then nothing. Harry also knew he was looking for something, no... someone? Harry stopped and looked around again. What did it matter which way he went? Every direction was a pale endless beige. There was no division between sky and ground. When he had first awoken he had thought himself floating but found he could walk. It was disorienting so he tried not to look where he was going much. Then you hardly find what you are looking for with your eyes closed, do you? The thought made Harry sigh. If he could remember what he was doing here, or what he was looking for that would be a start. Beige, Beige... "Merlin! Why Beige?"

~

Draco edged down the hallway and listened. He could hear water. Pacing down the tunnel he had tried to track the sound of water as it might lead to a way out, however he never saw the water. He could hear it, as if it was all around him. He had to find Harry. It was obvious that Harry was not here now. Maybe Harry hadn't died? Draco frowned, but then why was he here? "I give up! Ok? Why are you doing this? Where is Harry!?" Draco spun around and shouted challengingly down the tunnel. He couldn't even remember which direction he had come from. Disoriented in the darkness, the constant sound of water slowly etching away his sanity.   He sank down and sat on the damp stone of the floor.

"Hey Draco." Draco jumped up and then stumbled backward into a wall. Smooth he chided himself.

"W-who is there?" His voice was barely a whisper in the dark and then a flare of light illuminated the darkness.

"Don't remember how to do magic?" Pansy was standing in front of him with a smirk on her face.

"Y-your dead. I saw you fall.." Draco paused. "Right before Harry.."

"Got it in one! I'm so proud." Pansy turned and started walking away down the tunnel. "Come on then."

Draco stumbled after her and caught up with the girl a few moments later. They walked in silence for a bit and Draco eyed her. "Where are we going?"

"You are looking for Harry?" Pansy did not turn to look at him she just kept walking and Draco was not entirely sure it had been a question.

"You've seen him?" Draco tried to be cautious as who knows what sort of pitfalls the other side had. This could all be a trap to keep him here for all he knew.

Pansy laughed and shook her head. "Still trying to figure out my motives are you? I'm your friend Draco. That's my motive." She eyed him for a second before turning her attention back to the tunnel they were moving down. "To answer your question, No I did not see him. I did however run into a spirit that said they had seen him. That's why I'm here. I knew that if Harry were on this side then you would be too. Now come on, we have to reach Harry before he stumbles his way down the river. If he crosses it there's nothing we can do."

Draco suddenly recalled the old tale of the River Styx and how the dead had to cross it to leave the world of the living behind. He shivered suddenly at the sound of the water that he had been so frantic to find.

"It calls to you,Draco. You didn't know why you had to find it, and neither does Harry. That's why we have to find him." With that he and Pansy set off at a brisk pace and in the distance he could finally see the end of the tunnel. There was a brilliant light there.

Draco stopped abruptly. "Pansy...ehh"

"Oh Draco Malfoy, get a grip. It just leads out of this little sub-reality. Sub-realities are for those who feel they have something holding them back from moving on. Really you should not feel guilty for anything,love. Come on!" With that she grabbed his hand and together they stumbled through the blinding light.

Onto Chapter 3

XXXXXXXXXX

I'll admit this chapter was written hastily and yes the chapters are pretty short. Forgive me! Most of my fics are humorous or dark comedy so this one will have some lighthearted moments, and that's really just as well with the theme. I still don't have the knack down for writing Drarry fics, I think. I'm adjusting...

This is grounds for Divorce, Potter!

2008-03-27T16:39:26Z

Title: This is grounds for Divorce, Potter (One-Shot)
Author: catchthegrey
Word Count: 783
Warnings: Um.. crankiness?, Flangst, Slytherin Tendencies
Summary: Harry has abandoned Draco to the vile torture of the flu. Draco plots revenge.
Disclaimer: Rowlings and Associates own them, I just play with them for fun.

As per usual, unbeta'd cause I havent had time enough to find a new beta since my other stopped doing beta work altogether. So let me know about the mistakes, huh?

Draco Malfoy was horribly cranky, but he would never admit it. Malfoys are never cranky.  They are merely disgusted by the conditions around them.   The conditions that disgusted Draco to the point of whinging to a pillow was that he had the dreaded muggle flu.   He was sure that if millions of muggles had the flu every year as Harry had said that the disease must be wiping them out. Really, Voldemort out done by a disease.   The thought didn't cheer Draco. No, in fact he burst out in tears. Manly tears, thank you.   He was going to die alone in this rather tastefully decorated bedroom. Of course he had decorated it. That hardly matters.

The clock in the hall struck 8:00 in the morning and Draco tried to breathe through his nose without much luck. "I'm weduced to mouwf bweefing." He groaned at his own voice and then looked back over at the pillow he had just been talking to. It had fallen over. "Oh so that's how you wanna we."   He snatched the pillow and threw it across the room. It was Harry's pillow anyway. Traitorous pillow.

"I'll get you Pottew! Weaving me aww awone. I'm sick. You can weave sick peowple awone."   Draco wallowed down in the bed in his self-pity. He felt worse by the minute. He knew that because he was listening to the second hands on the clock. Tick, tick.. to his death! Draco swooned dramatically and turned his head to the side eyeing a picture of him and Harry at the beach. He reached out and gave picture Harry a thump with his fingers.   The swoon probably wasn't such a good idea as the room tilted and he got dizzy. In fact moving at all was right out.

How long had it been since Harry had left him to his fate? Two hours? Three? What if Harry never came back? It wouldn't matter Draco was sure he'd be dead long before the day was out. Surely such agony can not be sustained in a body, a rather gorgeous body but that's beside the point! Draco would have folded his arms and huffed but truth be told he didn't really want to move at all. Everything ached, everywhere....no really.

Draco pondered what to do. He plotted in his head and decided that if Harry left him while he was you know "in sickness" as that man in the funny robes had said...then well that had to be grounds for divorce.   Draco paused. But then he wouldn't see Harry suffer. There must be ways. Oh yes. "I'll get you Pottew fow weaving me to die!"

Just then Harry walked through the door with a bag from the corner pharmacy. Harry sighed and rolled his eyes at the blonde's glare.  Harry ignored him and put the bag on the table top next to the bed.

"You weft me!" Draco accused as Harry tried to put his hand on Draco's head.  "I'we been hewe fow houws, by mysewf." The blonde teared up and pouted up at his husband as the man tried to remain looking cool and detached.

Sighing Harry sat down on the end of the bed. "Draco, I've been gone for fifteen minutes. I know. I timed it."

Draco blinked. "Well I'we been twaumatiwed enough fow two houws." The blonde sniffled, mostly due to not being able to breathe but whatever Harry chose to believe, right?

Harry's expression softened. "I tell you what, why don't I give you some of this medicine that will make you feel ALLLL better...Now Draco don't go underneath the covers. It's just like potions...with flavors...that don't taste like cooked toad...Ahh there you are." Harry leaned over and gave the blonde's warm forehead a kiss. "Then I'll get you some icecream for that throat, hmm?"

"What fwavow?"   Harry laughed and Draco did his best to glare.

"Whatever flavor you want."  With that Draco downed the awful medicine and then demanded fudge icecream.

Harry smiled and got up to go retrieve the icecream but Draco's voice stopped him. "Iwe decided I wont diwowce you aftew aww, Hawwy.  I won't ewen make oo suffew, oo know much, fow weaving me fow so long."

"Love you too, Draco." With that Harry left Draco with a smile and went to get that icecream.

Vita E Morte

2008-03-27T01:16:43Z

This is based on the song "Time of Dying " by Three Days Grace. Hence the lyrics at the beginning. You will see them elsewhere on in the story later as well.

Title: vita e morte
Author: catchthegrey
Words In This Chapter: 1246
Warnings: Main Character Death in this section...but really you should expect that as the story starts after they fail, Slash, Foul Language, Magical bonds (yes I'm afraid so), also it may make you cry....*offers tissue*
Rating: PG-13, Later on R for story themes
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Snape/Remus, Hermione/OC, Hermione/Ron, others...etc
Summary: They failed to save the world, can they save each other?
Legal Stuff: I own nothing they belong to Rowling and Associates. I'm just doing this for my own amusement not for profit.

***Unbeta'd, so honestly tell me if you see a mistake. I do look back over my fics but trust me I get caught up in the actual writing and type things wrong like everyone else.***

"On the ground I lay
Motionless in pain
I can see my life flashing before my eyes
Did I fall asleep?
Is this all a dream
Wake me up, I'm living a nightmare"

The smoke rising overhead and the screams faded into deafening silence as the world swirled to black before Harry. He knew no more of the world around him. He didn't see the frightened faces of his friends as he fell. Nor did he feel the strong arms struggling to pull him up to his feet. The anguished cry as both he and Draco toppled to the ground as the other boy's strength abandoned him. The soft touch of fingers over Harry's now cool face. The scream of agony and sobs near his body as Hermione caught sight of the two boys. She collapsed to the ground on her knees. Her whisper of torment at the pointlessness of it all. "We've failed. Oh god. Harry.."

(Three months earlier...)

Harry was laughing at the blonde as they were running around the garden at Dumbledore's hidden estate. "Harry!" Draco lunged out but Harry dodged just as swiftly. Seeker against seeker even if their game wasn't a conventional way to keep their skills sharp.

From the fourth floor window Dumbledore watched the boys' progression through the maze of shrubbery. "Albus, are you even listening to me?" The older wizard turned to give his attention to a very serious looking Severus Snape.

"Of course I heard you, but I fear there isn't much to be done about it. They are convinced they can do it, Severus. Would you have me tell them don't love each other enough?" Snape looked down sullenly. He could argue that that was exactly why they shouldn't do it, yes. The potion's master knew that Albus was correct. They could not let that suspicion fall through their lips or the boys would simply take it upon themselves to act impetuantly.

Severus shook his head slowly. "I know we can not. However we need a backup plan. We need assurances." Albus shook his head right back as Severus.

Severus felt his anger rise. "WHY!? Why will you not allow for actual planning? You are going to send two children into a fight like that?"

"Would you feel the same if it was just Mr. Potter and not your godson in jepardy as well?"   Albus gave Severus and amused look and the potion's master had a very hard time keeping the ill thoughts out of his head for the headmaster. He couldn't afford for his ill will to get across to this man that he thought had to be insane. Perhaps as insane as the thing they were fighting.

"I would feel the same. I did before and you know it. I may have to act like an insufferable bastard to the boy to keep up appearances but I would never put them in a situation like this if I had any say so in the matter." Severus launched out of his chair and paced as he spoke. "You still haven't told me why you refuse any and all counter plans?"

Albus merely shrugged in that benevolent way he always did. "They wouldn't work."

"But you haven't even listened to them!" Severus was cut off from saying anymore as a very flushed faced Harry opened the door and gave them a grin. The grin was replaced by shock when Draco collided with him and sent Harry toppling over on his face.

Draco gave Severus a smirk and Severus tried his best to return the smile even as his heart sank at the affection in Draco's eyes. He'd never leave Potter and it was going to kill him. Severus had to turn away as Albus spoke to the boys with his usual merry voice at their antics. Severus might have been happy for them if for the fact that he couldn't shake the fact that Albus had somehow engineered this all.

Later on Severus sat across from Remus who gave the man a concerned look. "It's the boys isn't it?" Severus just sighed and nodded. "I thought you were going to talk some sense into Albus about this whole magic bond business."

Severus explained how Albus had just brushed him off as always. Remus scowled in his own disgust. This was his godson as well. Harry was practically his cub. They had to do something. Only Albus thwarted them at every turn. Sure they had went behind the old man's back and talked to people who all seemed perturbed as to why no one had contacted them sooner on alternative plans.   They sat up plans of counter attacks and ways to help swing the battle, fail-safes Tonks had called them.   They were hardly that. No, if Albus sent Harry and Draco in as the primary targets there was no halfway about it. Either they would win by some miracle or the boys would perish..both perish. The two men sat glumly.

When the bond had first been struck the mayhem it caused was of epic proportions at Hogwarts but probably not for the reasons most would assume. All the main parties knew that Draco and Harry had not been enemies but the rest of the school had freaked out to put it eloquently. It isn't like magic bonds spring up everyday and to do so between to very prominent "enemies" and so suddenly it took everyone by surprise. Albus had accepted it most readily.  Soon the whole of the wizarding world was behind this unlikely duo. The papers calling it the most romantic wizarding tale of the age.  Harry and Draco were not fully in love, Remus knew. They were very good friends and the bond had made them more um affectionate. So he supposed they could be coined as dating but love...He didn't know about that. The bond was still new now, barely a month old. It would take a year or more for the bond to mature.   It should never have been made to be the focal weapon of the final battle.  Love, Remus was so sick of hearing about love as a weapon. It wasn't a weapon, it was a healing ointment for the soul's ills.

(The Night Before the Final Battle...)

"We might not make it you know?" Harry stared up at the stars.

Draco brushed a sprig of hair out of his own eyes and gave Harry a considering look. "You would think you'd be used to that idea by now, as you've been the Boy Who Lived how long now?" His smirk faded a bit when Harry faced him with sadness in his eyes.

"I didn't mind it so much. Either I would live or I would die, it had to be that way. But.. not now.." Harry took Draco's hand in his own. He could feel the other boy's emotions faintly on the edge of his own and he wondered if he should feel them more strongly. They had to do this, right?   "I don't want you to die."

Draco's eyes he knew were filled with tears but he didn't care. "I don't much care for dying either, but I really couldn't bear it if you died, Harry."

Harry blinked away tears as Draco crushed his arms around Harry's neck. "I won't die. I promise."

TBC

---
I generally post once a day when I'm working on a fic, though I'm due to start a job soon so in a couple days that may change. I'll let you know.

vita e morte = Italian for 'Life and Death'

Paper Clouds Finale

2008-03-15T20:00:54Z

Title: Paper Clouds Finale
Word Count: 3327
Warnings: M/M, Angst, Crazy!Draco, Vampire!Harry, Nutter!Ron, PG-13 just for the suggestion of appliance!love
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Hermione/Severus, Ron/Coffee Machine (OTP)
Summary: Crack Fic! Gumdrop forests, Dora the Explorer, Menacing Refridgerators, Yo-yos, Mpreg... Life in the Auror Department is far from boring...
Disclaimer: They are Rowlings. I own nothing.

(All mistakes are my own... Not Beta'd AT ALL)

"Please tell me I'm hallucinating." Draco's tones of disgust made Hermione jump where she was studying up on some of the newest muggle inventions.

Sighing she put her book down. "What would you be hallucinating?" It had been a few months since her talk with Harry in the hallway that evening.   Nothing seemed to have changed that much in the section of aurors she ran. Ron was notably better but he kept having these odd moments where he would swear that the refridgerator was alive. Of course Rome wasn't built in a day so everyone let this slide.

"Well either I'm hallucinating or..." Draco peered closer to Hermione. "Do you have a beard?"

Hermione huffed and did her deep breathing technique. "Draco..I swear..."   Draco shook his head and reached into his pocket to pull out a small mirror. "You carry a mirror on you?" Draco glared at her and turned the mirror around so she could see herself. Hermione gasped. "What in Merlin's name! Draco I swear if you did anything to me!"

"How would I have done anything to you? I just walked in here. Have you been outside? Its bizarro world out there Granger-Snape!"

Hermione snatched the mirror away from him and gasped again. "I have a beard."

~

Out in what used to be the level 3 hallway of the primary Auror Division there was a pleasant breeze blowing. Ron and Zach were eyeing the surroundings with concern. The hallway was now a small open meadow surrounded by a forest. Was that gumpdrops on those trees? The door Draco had gone through disappeared. It had to be an illusion right? Zach and Ron looked at each other as a purple bunny hopped toward them.

~

Harry wasn't having the most pleasant day either. He was quite hungry. Starving would be a better term. He had taken a potion earlier but it really wasn't helping.   There was a bit of a flash of light. Harry felt the vampire rise up in him in response to danger but then the world went black.

~

Draco and Hermione carefully opened the door. Hermione now had a long flowing beard that no matter what they did, they could not dispell. She was getting rather vexed and determined to find the cause of this curse immediately. Besides Draco's overtures that she looked better now were starting to right piss her off.

Zach looked up with wide eyes at Hermione when she walked through the door. Zach thought he should call her Sir now, but refrained.

"Mione! You got a beard!" Ron looked like he had swallowed something foul.

"Well done, Ronald." Hermione glared at the man and then looked over at Draco who looked positively beaming. "Alright where's Harry? Neville? Anyone seen Shacklebolt? What about any other departments?"

Zach shook his head. "We can't get out of this floor. The scenery doesn't always stay the same either. It was snowing just a second ago. Bloody cold that was!"

Ron nodded his agreement.

~

Harry blinked up at the ceiling. What an ugly ceiling it was. Call the decorators! Harry laughed quietly to himself as he sat up slowly. His surroundings swam slightly then stilled. The room was a cell of some sort.  Wait was that someone screaming? "Just bloody great."

~

"I can't take it anymore! What is that song!?" Draco screeched and threw his left shoe at the infernal loud speakers. "This is all your fault Granger-Snape for installing those muggle hell devices!" Hermione rolled her eyes at Draco's antics. Her day as a guy wasn't going so grandly either.

The world twisted away and then popped back right. Draco looked ill as he did every other time the scenery around them changed. He had never much liked port keying and that's exactly what it felt like. A gurgling sound next to them made them look over at Ron who had a rather large round belly. "Uh..."

"Elegantly put, Smith." Draco walked over and poked Ron's stomach lightly with a stick he had picked up. You didnt really expect him to actually touch Weasley did you? "Well he won't explode I dont think."

Hermione laughed then and her laughter grew more pronounced. "He's pregnant, you dolt!"

Ron looked at his stomach with bleakness. "That sure was a short pregnancy. I look ready to pop. BLOODY HELL NO!" Ron got a wide eye look of terror and Draco blanched. "Ok we have to get out of here now. I am not going through labor as a GUY for whatever sicko has decided this is amusing. Think you two. You are supposed to be able to think us out of anything!"

Draco and Hermione looked at each other and shrugged. Hermioned sighed. "Smith, best get some towels and hot water then." Draco snickered quietly as Ron let out a terrified scream.

~

The door to the cell came open slowly and Harry recognized the hooded figure by the mask they wore. "Oh for fuck's sake. How many of you people do I have to kill?"   The deatheater paused uncertainly but a spell out of nowhere hit Harry as he was focusing his energy on the man in front of him. The world slid ot black again.

~

"Why do you have a yo-yo and what is that infernal song?" Draco was sitting with his hands over his ears with a look of murder on his face.

Smith shrugged at the blonde. "One, I found the yo yo and its better than staring at you. Two, its the backpack song off Dora the Explorer. Muggle show for kids."

Draco screamed in frustration and Ronald screamed as another contraction hit. Well at least Draco wasn't in labor. See there were always positives to every situation.

"Where in the hell is Harry?" At Smith's question Harry strode out of the...Well Smith thought it used to be a broom closet.

"Oy Harry! Where have you been?" Harry just shrugged at Ron and sat down on the floor next to Draco. The blonde gave Harry a look of concern. The man hadn't even bothered to notice his bestfriends were a crossdresser and a guy in labor. That was odd, Draco thought to himself.

Draco was about to bring this to Harry's attention but he heard Ron's screams and then the cries of a baby. Even Draco's was overcome with curiosity and he peered over to see Hermione's eyes crossing as she lifted another baby up. Smith had rushed to put a blanket down so that they could towel the babies off. Babies as in plural. Draco blanched when he got to the sixth baby... was that antlers? "Well I guess we know you aren't just into appliances, Weasley." Ron would have replied but he was too busy delivering another baby.

Just then the world pinched in on itself again and then righted. Everyone looked around at each other, Hermione's beard was gone and she now had wings. Pink shimmery wings. Wait why was everyone so big? Draco looked at the minature faery Granger-Snape and had to quickly check himself in the mirror to make sure he was alright. Satisfied that he was the same as always Draco checked out Smith. The man was the same. Ron looked normal.

"Where are my babies?" Draco looked at Ron in surprise.

"You do realize it was just the spell right? You don't get to keep them."   Draco gave Ron a look of disgust as the man's face fell.

"Ok." Hermione fluttered over and landed on Ron's shoulder. "We have to get out of here. Oh...Harry."   Draco followed her eyes and felt his eyes widen. It was like a parody of Ron's pregnancy. Harry's stomach was now swollen.

Harry looked down at his stomach but didn't say anything.

~

Blinking twice Harry sat up or he tried to. He found himself tied up at the moment. His chuckle brought the deatheater that had been watching him from the door to stand closer. The man's wand moved as he checked the wards. Harry just rolled his eyes at the fearful concentration the man had on his face.

~

Harry's labor went slowly but Harry never really complained. Draco was concerned. Not about what you'd think though. Draco scooped Hermione up causing her to give an indignant squeak. "Shush. I'm worried about Harry." The faery crossed her arms at him as he settled them under a large gumpdrop tree. The pink gumdrops swaying precariously in the breeze. Ever so often a strong breeze would cause some of the sprinkles to come off and drift to the ground. Really it was most disturbing. "No listen to me, Granger. I don't think that's Harry." Hermione looked over at Harry and Ron, who was rather enthusiastic to help his friend tend to the babies. Really why did that one have a beaver tail? Whoever thought up this distraction had to be one truly sick individual. Draco nearly choked as what he had thought brought a realization. "Oh my god. Its one big distraction to keep us running around here like idiots."

Hermione squeaked and then flew up out of Draco's hand as the man stood up suddenly. Draco strode with a purpose toward Harry and Ron. "Move aside Weasley."   Ron scramble up to his feet holding up his hands to stop Draco from doing anything rash.

"What is wrong with you, you git?" Ron looked at Hermione as she landed on his shoulder. The faery leaned in and whispered to him. The redhead finally nodded and then moved aside.

Draco faced the not-so-Harry and raised his wand casting a couple simultaneous spells to end charms and dispell illusions. The air around Harry swirled and then condensed again. Everyone stepped back in unison from the form in front of them.

"I KNEW IT!" Ron's victorious screams echoed through the gumdrop forest causing several purple bunnies to duck into their burrows.

In front of them the refridgerator stood menacingly. Draco sighed. "For the love of...."

~

The lights brightened and hurt Harry's eyes as the new hooded figured stepped into the room. The ringleader Harry assumed. Well this should be fun.

~

They were all casting curses at the refridgerator when they heard a voice calling out to Hermione. Spinning around they found a hole dissolved into one of the...was that a wall? "Severus?" Hermione now back to her full size peered into the wall.

"Thank Merlin! We've been trying to get through the magical barrier since we discovered this part of the building was cut off earlier today. It took alot of trial and error to find a combination of things that would decay the barrier. " Severus was interrupted by a throat clearing behind him. "I'll explain the theory later. Right now stand back so we can add a few spells to the residue we are using."

~

The figures were talking about the benefits of keeping him alive over just killing him now. "You know I'm right here." The figures turned toward Harry. "Can I have a vote? Actually it won't be what you think. I'd vote you kill me now, because when I get out of these bonds I'm going to break every bone in your body, even that tiny one in your little toe."   The three deatheaters took a couple steps back then raised their wands.

~

Draco watched the gumdrop trees dissolve with satisfaction. The refridgerator it turned out was actually a shifter demon. The demons being an old race could shapeshift at will and the wards on the ministry had been found severely lacking in any defense against them. Ron was quite satisfied that he had been justified, but Draco was far too busy getting back to his office. He opened up a drawer as he heard footsteps in the hallway. Hermione walked in as he picked up the twirling pendant. "What's that?" Ron was close behind her as well as Smith.

"Gather round, we are going to find Harry." The others looked confused. "This is a portkey. Harry wears one just like it. I know because I gave it to him after a particularly bad fight where we lost track of each other." Hermione gave him a considering look but nodded. All four of them touched the pendant and then Draco activated the spell.

~

Harry had a shield up and he watched the flashing colors of spells bounce off the magical barrier. He strained against the straps and wondered what they were made of exactly. A flash of blonde hair and a shout that sounded alot like Hermione caused Harry to look up. The three deatheaters fell forward. Draco was leaning over him. "Harry?" Harry smiled and let his fangs show. He was thoroughly exhausted and he collapsed back against the table. "Granger-Snape."

"Would you stop calling me that!?" Hermione appeared at the edge of the table. "Alright there, Harry?" Harry nodded and focused on shifting back from the vampire.

"Merlin what are these straps made of?" Draco protested as he tried to open them with magic. "Harry, can you break them?"

Harry shook his head. "Just order him to." Ron's voice was in the background sound aggitated. He was trying to keep an eye out for more deatheaters and Ron could hear footfalls above them head this way.

"Dont be silly, Ron. It doesnt work anymore." Harry gave Hermione a grateful glance and noted the small nod of the brunette's head.

Ron began setting up traps and alert spells in the hallway with Smith's help. Hermione was testing and frowned when she could not apparate. Draco leaned over Harry and eyed the vampire.

"Penny for your thoughts." Harry's voice was rough from lack of anything to drink since his capture. Draco blinked and watched the vampire's eyes slowly open. The green temporarily replaced by a red in the centrer of the liquid pools.

"Are you sure you can't break these?" Draco's hand splayed out over one of the bindings. Harry nodded. "I'm not sure if it will work, but I could try to order you to do it." Draco looked at the bonds with trepidation. Harry just shook his head sadly. It wouldn't work. Their eyes locked and for a moment Harry thought he saw something in the blonde's gaze, but it was too swiftly covered by the pale lashes as Draco lowered his gaze to the floor. Harry looked over at Hermione as she worked on the pendant she had snatched away from Draco earlier.

Harry almost didn't hear the voice it was spoken so softly. His mind was so filled with thirst at that moment he might have overlooked it but it called to him that little voice. "You still love me, don't you?" Harry looked over at Draco but couldn't tell if the blonde had spoken. There was just that little worried nagging voice. Was it in his head? Hermione made an "AHHA!" and she was coming over to Harry and Draco babbling about locking onto magical signatures but the unstablity of it all. Draco glared and she said she had a way out using the portkey.

When they all had a hand on the portkey she activated the spell and the world swirled away. Draco was really feeling very nauseous by this time.

~

Severus had just taken the tea off to cool down some when he felt the twinge of magic. The next moment he was flattened to the floor as several bodies landed on him. Perhaps this was finally the end thought the weary potions master. He heard Hermione asking if he was alright just before everything faded to black.

~

"I still love you." Harry projected the thought at the silvery blonde head that was bent near Hermione's bushy head as they studied her alterations to the portkey. The blonde's fingers paused for a moment as they traced the magical lines near the pendant, but then resumed their study. Hermione had changed the target of the pendant to Severus's signature to get them out of the dungeon. Another squad that Shacklebolt sent behind them manged to detain most of the deatheaters that were behind the plot. Apparently they had wanted to send a message to wizarding England that they were still a force to be reckoned with. Harry supposed that the message that got out would be a bit different.

~

Harry had gotten his potion to take his hunger away and now he really just wanted to collapse into the nearest chair to sleep for a very long time.   He was so fatigued from having to tap into his vampyric side he barely registered the hand that had come down on his arm. "Still alive in there, Potter?" The tone caused Harry's eyelashes to open slightly as he gazed heavy-lidded at Draco who was leaning over him.

Harry smiled at the blonde feeling a bit more energetic for his presence. He slid his hand over Draco's slender hand. The blonde's cheeks colored slightly and he made to stand up but Harry held firmly to his hand. "I guess you have more of your strength back than I thought. Was there something you wanted?"

There was a commotion from the left as Ron went running through the office yelling about Millicent being pregnant. Harry couldn't help but laugh. Everything was definitely on the mend and he gave Draco's hair a ruffle with his free hand. "I've got everything I need."

~

A few months later Harry heard a horrible choking sound and he rushed to Draco's aid. "Are you all right?" Draco tossed the can across the kitchen of the flat he and Harry had been sharing for the last week. It had taken awhile to convince Draco that living together was not the end of the world, but when Harry had finally managed to make Draco think it was all Draco's idea...things went smoothly. Now the blonde was glaring at him.

"YOU! You put a cursed item in the kitchen so that I would kill myself!" Draco had his wand out and Harry peered around the room then his eyes landed on the metal can on the floor.

"Oh Merlin's sake Draco its just cheez wiz." Harry scooped the can up and showed Draco the label. "Why on earth did you try to spray it into your mouth anyway?"

Draco looked sheepish. "They did it on that muggle movie."

Harry gave his boyfriend and indulgent smile. "Don't believe everything you see in movies." He wiped a bit of cheeze off of Draco's chin. "You are adorable."

Draco blushed and gave Harry a tug toward their bedroom. "I'd prefer sexy." Harry laughed heartily and allowed himself to be dragged. As he passed the counter he sat the cheez wiz down. "No. Bring the cursed cheese." Harry raised an eyebrow. "You know you love it."

Well I did it.. ARE YOU PEOPLE HAPPY? *laughs* I worked in so many challenges into this one, I'll be shocked if there's any plot left to actually see. I suppose you cant have everything with a crack fic. I wrote this during the course of a morning, stopped due to having to go see my new godchild and then came back. Forgot to post it. SORRY! Here it is! This is it, this story is toast, done. No more!

X_x

Paper Clouds Part 2

2008-03-09T16:48:32Z

Title: Paper Clouds
Word Count: 2897
Warnings: M/M, Angst, Crazy!Draco, Vampire!Harry, Nutter!Ron, PG-13 just for the suggestion of appliance!love
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Hermione/Severus, Ron/Coffee Machine (OTP)
Summary: Crack Fic involving experiments for the betterment of science. Life in the Auror Department is far from boring...
Disclaimer: They are Rowlings. I own nothing.

(All mistakes are my own... Not Beta'd AT ALL)

"With all due respect, Sir, I think we should test them for spells....and inebriation." Hermione added the last words as she saw Harry rub his head contentedly against Draco's ear again. Shacklebolt's eyebrows arched upward as he too noticed Harry's movements and the ever widening of Draco's eyes.

Clearing his throat, Shacklebolt brought Draco's and Hermione's attention back to the front of the room where he stood. Harry was a lost cause and...was that purring?  Shacklebolt shook his head to rid it of that unbidding image. "Mr. Malfoy I think you had better start from the beginning."

Draco looked uncertain for a moment then nodded as if coming to a quiet agreement with himself. "It all started a few months back really. Harry and I had been partners for a long while and then one day I noticed that if I suggested something...well he did it. So I investigated it. Slowly over months of experiments I found that if I spoke just so I could make Harry do or not doing anything." Draco smirked with the remembered knowledge of his discovery and continued. "I've been pushing the boundaries lately because this could be huge. I had to test my theories to determine if the key factor was me or Harry. So far I've found all experiments with other subjects..." Harry interrupted Draco by nuzzling his neck and grumbling about being referred to as a subject. Draco gave Harry an unsure pat on the head and then launched back into his story. "As I was saying so far the experiments with other subject have not been conclusive."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at the blond auror as she remembered those weird times Draco would come up to her and say off the wall things. "Draconis Lucius Malfoy! You were trying to order me to dance naked on the tables, you disgusting pervy prat."   Shacklebolt eyed Hermione and she tried calm herself down by practicing deep breathing.   "I'm sorry, Sir. I behaved like a child, and I apologize."

Draco rolled his eyes. "It's not like I wanted to see YOU naked, Granger..or is it Snape now? Are you two going to get hitched or are you just going to slag on? Oh what a disgusting thought.   Both of those statements. You and me, practically family."    At that Harry made a whimper noise and Draco's eyes glazed over as the ex-griffindor began to nibble at the skin on Draco's neck.

Shacklebolt cleared his throat again to stop the bickering but noticed Harry was unbothered by his interruption. "Perhaps we should get them separated?"

The sigh from Hermione spoke of lots of annoyance. "I've tried. I hexed them, err Harry I mean. I can't get him to let go.   Draco ordered Harry to let him go but he won't do it. I'm really rather puzzled given the description Draco has given of what has been going on.  He should be able to make him let go but he can't."

Draco glared at her as if he had just remembered something. "Shacklebolt I would like to file a formal complaint against Mrs. Granger-Snape, She cast a binding spell on me so her friend could molest me. I've probably been scarred for life."   Hermione started to launch into a verbal war but Draco spoke before she could get any words out. "Really I never knew you were into voyeurism. What do they call you around your dungeon?   Do you often chain people up just so you can watch them being brutalized? "

"That's enough Mr. Malfoy." Shacklebolt's firm voice breaking the tension between his two employees. He had known these three since they were children at Hogwarts. He even helped train them, fought beside them in the war and now...well petty disputes never seem to vanish did they?    Eyeing Malfoy he noted that the young man looked like he was under a great deal of strain. Shacklebolt ran his hand over his own face in exasperation. "Alright, let's try nonmagical approaches. Get Ron and Smith in here to help us hold them apart."

"Uh, I ...Ron ran off with Jody. I sent Smith to find him and bring him back by any means necessary but he hasn't returned yet." Hermione looked like she was torn between laughing and crying. Draco had no such moral dilemma as he practically fell out of his chair laughing, or he would have fallen if Harry hadn't been holding him upright.

~

Ron was grumbling but Zach ignored him. He had caught Ron a few blocks away and had to throw a stupidefy at his friend to keep the man from running. With both he and "Jody" in custody Zach apparated them back to the entrance of the ministry. "Now, Ron this is for your own good. You don't want anything to happen to Jody now do you?" Zach gave his friend what he hoped looked like a warning glare. The act must have worked as Ron blanched then nodded his understanding.

The rest of the trip through the ministry was fairly quiet as there weren't many people who worked this late into the night save for his misguided section.   Had he have known that the people he admired most in school were really just a bunch of nutters...well let's just say that Zach's life might have been a bit different.

~

"Harry! Stop that at once!" Harry was pretty sure he heard Hermione but he did not much care. He was licking a particularly wonderful stretch of skin and Draco was making the most perfect mewling sound.   So he really couldn't just stop and ask Hermione what she was going on about. Harry was far too busy.

Shacklebolt was already across the room and Hermione was yanking at Harry's arm to try and pull him backward. As Shacklebolt reached them the doors burst open and Ron stumbled in followed by Zach who was carrying a creme colored coffee pot. At the sight in the room Zach did a double-take. Ron just stood blinking at Draco and Harry who were now well on their way to the floor despite Hermione trying to pull Harry up by the back of his shirt. Then it all happend at once... Shacklebolt was to Harry and pull on him as well. Zach grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him at the same time out from under Harry. Ron instinctively grabbed Draco's other arm when the young man almost fell after being hauled up right so quickly.   Shacklebolt had Harry up and with Hermione's help had his arms behind his back, holding him in place. Hermione muttered some quick spells as Shacklebolt sat the still stunned vampire into the chair behind them. Ropes came up and fastened Harry's arms and legs in place. Then silence came to the room as everyone looked at one another.

"Alright. I give up. What happened?" Zach's voice was both strained and amused. He noted with respect that even though Ron was off his rocker that the man had obeyed his instincts to help Draco and Zach.

Hermione explained what Draco had told them to Zach and Ron.   Draco shook his head as if to clear it and looked ashamed though no one could quite figure out why. As soon as the explanation was given and Draco was seated in a chair as far from Harry as possible Hermione left the room to get some books on mind control from her office.

The five men looked at one another. Harry looked pale and bashful, keeping his head down and staring at the floor. Draco watched Harry mostly. Ron suddenly broke into good humored conversation with Zach about what teams Zach favored in the coming season as if sitting in this room with their boss and Harry tied to a chair was the most normal thing in the world. Well so much for Ron not being insane, Zach thought with a sigh.

~

Severus flooed Hermione's office again and this time got an answer. "Oh Severus, I'm so sorry. I meant to leave here ages ago but all hell broke loose...."

~

Back in Shacklebolt's office the three remaining men sat in silence. Smith and Ron were off to the breakroom to put Jody back to rights. Shacklebolt was very glad he did not have to see that scene.

The door to the office opened up and Hermione returned carrying a couple books. Behind her Snape walked in carrying a couple more books and decidedly nasty sneer for having to be here at this hour of night. Draco gave his godfather a smirk and made a whip-like gesture to which Snape just raised an eyebrow. He would have to talk to his godson about his overly dramatic behavior. Of course if that involved tormenting the boy with his sex life he wasn't above that either.

"Snape?" It was Harry's voice and Severus turned toward it. The young man looked blanched and Severus smirked smugly.

"Yes, Mr. Potter. At least there isn't anything wrong with your eyesight, I was wondering when Hermione explained to me how you had gotten my godson confused with a rather tasty snack item." Snape's smirk grew even smugger as Potter blanched more, then flushed red and refused to look up from the floor.

"Oh Sev, leave him alone. Put those books down there, will you?" Hermione motioned to an empty spot on the desk in front of Shacklebolt. "I honestly couldn't find much. We need to know most importantly what the last command Draco gave Harry was." There was a gurgling sort of sound and then a scoff.   Everyone turned to look at Draco who abruptly stood up and was inching slowly toward the door.

"I...nevermind... Um I got it all sorted out. No need. It's all good." Draco was babbling. No, Draco reprimanded himself, I'm just strategically throwing them off my mental state.   As his hand reached the door knob he heard the spell but never felt it. His whole world went black, but he could swear he heard growling just before that. Odd.

~

Harry sat very silently.   Oh god, he had attacked Shacklebolt. Well Shacklebolt really shouldn't have hexed Draco, honestly that was a bit much wasn't it?   Hermione came and sat down beside Harry on the cot of the holding cell he was in. It was one of the holding cells that they put those awaiting trial in.   Harry had been placed in here to calm down and so that they could talk to Draco alone when he woke up.

"Alright there, Harry?" Her voice was soft and full of worry. It made Harry's heartache that he felt like it had been ages since they had truly talked. He had only been vaguely aware of her relationship with Severus. It had all been too much last night. She looked better since she had obviously caught at least a couple hours sleep since Harry had seen her.

Harry just nodded and she patted him gently on the knee. "What did he order you to do?" Harry blinked at the question and he thought back to the room where he and Draco had been facing off the previous evening.

"He was just rambling. Thought I was going to attack him really I guess. He told me that I could not attack him. That I loved him and that I'd never let anything hurt him." Hermione nodded her head in understanding even if she was a bit put off by the explanation.

"We'll just have to get him to reverse the commands. It'll be alright Harry." Harry nodded and hoped it really would.

~

Ron it was decided, needed a new relationship. At a meeting where the key figures were gathered for input it was asked if anyone could think of a way to get the confused auror back on track. The discussion was wild and furious after that, with suggestions coming from all corners.

"What does he like in girls?" Smith asked trying to get a foothold in the conversation around him.

Draco snickered. "Sturdy frame, nice lines...and plastic lining."   Neville's tea sprayed the surrounding table. "Look what you did you plebian!? This robe cost more than all of pennies combined!" Neville slunk down in his seat and ignored Draco. Everyone had gotten rather used to the eccentric auror's outbursts.

"What if we found a girl that kind of met those criteria?" Smith tried again.

Neville's voice came from across the table where Draco was still muttering about cleaning bills. "Millicent."

Snape's laughter could be heard even in the corridor outside. "That girl is definitely a sturdy one."

Smith's mouth twitched and he fought the laughter. "I don't know about the plastic lining though, think she's kinky like that?"

Shacklebolt covered his face with both his hands. To others it may have looked like he was trying to find patience to keep from hexing the room but really he was trying to keep back his laughter.

Hermione gave an expaserated sigh. "That's horrible. Milli is a wonderful person. She's not that bad looking either. Sure she's a bit big boned but there's no need for such immaturity."

Smith looked at Snape who nodded solemnly before replying, "She's a brickhouse."   Smith howled with laughter and Neville again sprayed tea everywhere. Draco took his revenge by pouring his tea over Neville's head.

Harry laid his head down on the table and Shacklebolt looked at Snape as if for the first time. " What are you doing in this meeting?"

~

The orders by Draco to Harry had been carefully reversed and then tested. They tested this by several people trying to harm Draco. Draco didn't find this particularly amusing but since Harry didn't feel forced to protect Draco the experiment was celebrated as a success by everyone except a slightly singed Draco Malfoy.

They tested Draco with other people and found he couldn't control them.   Likewise they tested people with Harry and found that he didn't feel compelled to obey anyone else's orders. It was deemed a fluke and they were re-partnered.

~

Ron had been making amazing headway since he was introduced to Millicent. He no longer took sad glances at the breakroom door but Smith still thought he spent too much time eyeing the staff refridgerator.   Harry had actually had a fairly decent and normal conversation with Ron in which he had told Harry that he was afraid of being hurt or used. To Harry it made his behavior a bit more understandable. It isn't likely that an appliance could hurt you back after all, barring unfortunate electric shocks.   Ron had been very much in love with Hermione but had lost her without ever having gotten her so to speak.

As Harry walked down the hallway toward the office he shared with Draco he caught a glimpse of blond hair out of the corner of his eye. Draco looked mischevious and Harry sighed wondering what sort of investigation had caught his partner's fancy now. "Potter, I command thee to call me Your Sexiness."

Harry rolled his eyes at the smirking blond and waved his left hand toward the door to their offiice with a flourish and a bow. "After you, Your Sexiness."

Draco laughed. "See I told Granger-Snape that I could still control you." Draco sauntered pass and Harry smiled after the blond.

Hermione watched the interaction and shook her head as she ducked back into her office.

~

That evening as they prepared to go home for the day Hermione caught Harry by the arm and asked for a word. "You never really were under his control were you?"

Harry smiled at his long time friend. "No I'm very much under his control. That's the way of love when its onesided."   Hermione gave her friend a sad smile.

"It might not be one sided, if you'd just tell him?"   Hermione watched Harry as she spoke. The dark curls trembling slightly as he shook his head.

"He has to figure it out on his own, in his own time, Mione." Just then a voice down the hallway commanded that Potter hurry up as he owed him dinner.   Harry smiled at Hermione before turning to the blond with a smirk of his own. "Your wish is my command, Your Sexiness."

------------------------------
Honestly I wrote this in like 30 minutes flat so please tell me about the errors as I didn't have alot of time to go back over this.

Special Thanks to my friends who come up with the strangest challenges and prompts to keep me on my toes.

Onto the Finale!

'Madmen' One-Shot

2008-03-05T15:14:00Z

PROMPT- "I have loved to the point of madness,
That which is called madness,
That which to me,
Is the only sensible way to love."
FANDOM- Harry Potter
DISCLAIMER: They belong to Rowling
TITLE- 'Madmen'

(unbeta'd) This is from a series of prompts given by lj-friends. I just forgot to post them here until now.

The war in his brain had already begun to assault him again. The voices of the different sides pleading their cases. This was ridiculous. For the Fifth time he reminded himself of why he was here. Just a bit longer, Sirius. No he didn't really think it made him insane to refer to himself by his own name in his thoughts. It was just a comforting gesture. You know like warm milk. I'd really like some warm milk right now. Another thought intruded into Sirius' now feverish mind. PAY ATTENTION YOU STUPID MUTT! Sirius sat up straight and looked around. Then he saw his prey. A low growl coming from his throat as he saw Severus Snape coming around a corner mumbling to himself about 'insufferable students' and the advantages of 'torture' as a discipline.

Taking a deep breath he transformed into his animagus form and followed Severus in the stealthy form of a scruffy black dog.

Snape could have sworn that he heard a clicking on the stones behind him. I've really must stop listening to that fools ramblings. It's probably just that damned cat. Stopping he sweeped a gaze down the empty corridor and shook his head at himself. Turning he swept down the hallway with his robe billowing as he typically was in far too big a hurry.

The black dog was flattened behind a armor suit on his hindlegs and whimpered. The things I do.. Wriggling out from behind the armor the dog took off at a run.

~

Snape stopped and looked around. He then spoke the words to let him into his private quarters. Stepping through the door he went into his bedroom. Sirius bolted toward the now closing door. Just...A ..Few.. More..Almost There... A loud yelp made Snape start and he looked around the room toward his bedroom door.

Coming out into his sitting room he saw the black dog now quite stuck in his doorway. One of his black eyebrows arching at the strange sight. "Oh for the love of Merlin. Black..." Snape opened the door and the animagus limped out of the door. "I should have known." Snape looked at the dog as the animal was trying to look sheepish. "Don't look at me like that, you should learn how to use doors properly." Snape spun around and went back into his bedroom.

Transforming back into his human form, Sirius rubbed his poor ribs. "I'm fine. No. Really!" Snape's grunt was the only respone he got. Sirius hopped up to his feet as he bounded into the bedroom without warning. Snape's outraged cry could be heard all the way up in the towers where the students shivered at the sound. Oddly there was later a commotion in the halls as their potion master was seen chasing a large black dog.

~

Harry was just sneaking back to his dormitory when he was almost ran over by his godfather screaming "Its going to get us!" Harry quickly ducked out of the way only to have to move out of the way again for Professor Snape a few moments later yelling about making rugs out of mangy fur.

Harry just shook his head and then he felt a chin come to rest on his shoulder under the invisibility cloak. "They should just shag already." Harry laughed at Draco before telling him how gross that was.

Paper Clouds

2008-03-05T14:45:26Z

Title: Paper Clouds
Word Count: 1540
Warnings: M/M, Angst, Crazy!Draco, Vampire!Harry, Nutter!Ron, PG-13 just for the suggestion of appliance!love
Pairings: Harry/Draco, Hermione/Severus, Ron/Coffee Machine (OTP)
Summary: Crack Fic involving experiments for the betterment of science. Life in the Auror Department is far from boring...
Disclaimer: They are Rowlings. I own nothing.

(All mistakes are my own... Not Beta'd AT ALL)

"Well I was a little concerned..." Hermione stopped and folded her arms at the sight before her. "But now I'm VERY concerned." She cut her eyes sharply to the side and noted that Harry was standing looking rather sullen with his hands bound around the coathanger that hung on the wall. She peered at the bonds on Harry's hands and noticed they were bits of plastic. "You are a vampire you know. You can break those. I could break those for the love of all that's pure."

Draco just gave her a look of disgust. "As I was trying to explain. That is if this was the world of vampires being incredibly strong and plastic being really weak. See its the opposite really." The blond auror went back to sorting daintily through some files that he was obviously rearranging. Hermione wanted to hex both he and Harry at that moment. This was only the fifth time she had come in here so far today. There had been the incident where the stapler apparently had Draco pinned down to the desk, the highly dangerous inkblot that actually was a blackhole in the process of forming but her personal favorite had to have been when Draco kept insisting that the aurors in the neighboring cubicle were looking at them through invisible holes in the wall.   She had had just about all she could take. She looked at Harry and sent a well placed spell that broke the plastic. The vampire gave her a sheepish grin and rubbed his wrists.

"I expect this sort of thing from Draco. You however should be ashamed of yourself for going along with it, Harry." Ignoring the grumble from Draco and the downfallen look of her old friend she made a hasty exit with her robes billowing behind her.

"How are they this morning?" Hermione looked up with a smile at Severus and then rolled her eyes. "Care to talk about it?" Severus beckoned her over to a chair and Hermione collapsed willingly.

"I dont know what to do, Sev." Hermione shook her head and her ex professor gave her hair a soft brush out of her eyes.

"It can't be that bad." The grumble from Hermione informed him that it very well could be that bad. He eyed the young lady. Severus had come to be very fond of her when they had worked closely during the war developing new spells to help the order and researching better brewing methods for quicker potion production. She had gained his admiration and respect then. It was not until a couple years later that he had realized that she was quite beautiful and they had begun seeing each other a few months later. "What did he do?" He knew very well that his godson was the source of her discomfort. Draco's bizarre behavior had just worsened. There was speculation that he had taken one too many curses during the war, but Sev wondered if it wasn't Potter's fault somehow. Well some things don't change after all.

"He had Harry tied over the coathanger...on the wall... with bits of a plastic bag... and Harry just let him." The bushy head shook in disbelief. "Harry could have been like that since I checked on them earlier, Sev. If I hadnt went in there on a whim he might have stayed that way all day. "

Severus was amused but hid it behind a frown. In his mind he was giving Draco imaginary points to slytherin for the display. "You are right. Did they offer an explanation?"

Hermione wondered again why she was supervisor over this particular section of aurors. She thought that it was just so she could be tormented. She watched her lover and frowned back at him. "Draco said some gibberish about plastic being stronger than vampires in this world. Really Sev, what if he's finally lost his mind?"

~

"Morning Mate!" Harry spun around at Ron's voice but saw that Ron was talking to Jody again. Jody being the coffee machine. Harry edged away from the redhead. They thought Draco was mad but Ron who talks to appliances was the epitome of Auror Perfection. The vampire shook his head.   Ron and he had had their differences since the war. Harry's vampire incident had been a major bump in the road. After he awoke from the final battle to discover that he was a virtual squib, Harry had wandered around for some time. Sure Mione had offered him a place to stay but he had said he needed to see the world on his own. So he wandered off into muggle London. Harry absently extended his fangs and rubbed his tongue along the tip of one of the sharp teeth as he remembered the dark night he had been assaulted. Waking up in St Mungos had been a rather rude awakening for Harry. "Oy, Harry."

Harry looked up to see Ron looking at him as though he had been talking to Harry. Harry gave Ron a smile of apology and listened as the redhead launched into a tirade about how dirty Jody was and proper care of appliances. Harry edged away from the man a bit more. Who said vampires were afraid of nothing?

~

Draco rounded the corner and spotted the mop of red hair in the breakroom. 'Merlin, not again.'   He almost turned back around but he heard Harry's voice and he decided that in the interest of science he must endure Weasley and his lunacy.

~

"Harry, you see that scratch. It wasn't there yesterday." Ron looked around checking the area for other people then leaned in closer, to which Harry leaned further away, whispering in conspiracy to Harry. "I know he's your partner but you know how Malfoy hates muggle things. Ever since they implemented the new muggle coffee devices I have a feeling he's been planning some sort of attack." Harry looked at his friend hard and tried to determine if Ron was actually serious.

"Weasley, If I wanted your coffee pot girlfriend dead...well it can't die as it's a coffee pot..but it wouldn't be making anymore coffee." Draco inspected his nails as he watched Ron's face redden to that shade that only those with rosy complexions can possibly achieve.

"Don't you dare call her an IT. " Harry tried to interject mumbling about coffee pots but Ron ignored him. "You don't want her dead. I get what you are playing at, Ferret!  I've seen your coffee mugs. You have a lil fetish dontcha?" Ron looked really smug like he had made the most devestating point that could ever be made.  Harry blinked and Draco just looked at Ron trying to decide how to word his letter to St Mungo's psycho ward.

~

"Hermione, Is Mr. Shacklebolt aware that Mr. Weasley seems rather affectionate toward the caffienation appliance in your breakroom?" Severus sipped his store bought coffee as he would not touch coffee from anything that he had personally seen Ronald Weasley cuddling.

"Well you know that whole imperius thing in the war really fried his circuits. We are just happy he can form sentences. Shacklebolt seems pleased that Ronald is developing relationships."

Severus stared at Hermione.

"Get me the hell out of this nuthouse, Sev!"

~

"You can't do that." Draco said in a very direct confident tone. Harry looked up at him uncertain as to what Draco was referring he couldn't do.   Draco motioned to the quill. "You can not write. Vampires do not write."

The quill felt very odd in his hand and try as he might Harry just couldn't write his own name. "Damn it, Draco!"

"All in the interest of science, Potter." Draco beamed at the vampire who was barring his teeth menacingly at him. "Now now Harry. Don't do anything rash." Draco kept the smile in place but backed up and reached behind him wondering where his wand was...

~

Ron ran down the corridor with coffee pot in hand. It was a daring plan against all odds. They would make it. Just him and Jody, somewhere there was a place for their love.  He didn't even notice Hermione as he raced toward freedom.

Hermione sighed and slapped her forehead then she heard someone clearing their throat behind her. She turned around and gaped. Draco was standing there with Harry wrapped around him. It was the only way you could describe it. Draco was standing still with his arms pinned at his side while Harry had the blond wrapped up in a hug from behind. The expression was one of bliss on Harry's face as he had his head laid against Draco's hair with his eyes closed. Draco gave her a meaningful glare. "We have a problem, Granger."

To be Continued? Yes it was...Onto the Second Part!

Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 4 and a Half)

2008-01-29T17:35:43Z

Title: Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 4 and a Half)
Word Count: 2332
Warnings: NC-17, Male/Male Pairing, Minor Het Sex, Girl/Girl Pairing, Angst, Altogether Inappropriate Humor At Times, Cross-dressing
Summary: (In which Harriet discovers another use for her spell, Talen has more suitors than he can handle and everyone is grateful no one will remember this tomorrow)
Copyright Stuff: All the characters within this story are my original creation and the universe in which they live. They should not be used without my permission. Any resemblance to real people or characters from other stories is purely coincidental.
Notes: This was my NaNoWriMo Novel. It has not been Beta'd! ...So be prepared for some mistakes. I wrote this story to be a silly outlet for the month of november so don't expect it to take itself too seriously.

Harriet looked at Jarad as he stalked up to her. "Well look who decided to join us." Her tone was sarcastic but it faltered slightly when the man glared at her. She was sure she had seen his flash red for a moment. Necromancers still unnerved her. Not as much as some other things but they were in such constant contact with the dead it often left the necromancers cold, mad or callous. The eye change only sifnified that Jarad's emotions spiked. It was a response to his magic. Harriet knew this as fact yet it still unnerved her when combined with Jarad's cold glare. "Have you talked to him?"

"No." Jarad move to add some other ingredients onto the table. Harriet recognized them as the ingredients for the potion they had decided would be today's project. It wouldnt take that long to brew but Harriet wasn't really good at potions so she had waited for Jarad. Of course she hadn't expected the necromancer to be quite so late either.

"Why were you so late, anyway?" She edged closer trying to see how he was dicing the ingredients.

"Got tied up." The words were spoken with little to no emotion and Harriet wondered if he was on auto pilot. She knew of Jarad but didn't know him that well personally. She saw his glance go to a table across the summoning ground. His gaze didn't linger that long but it was long enough for her to notice who was at the table. Damien and one of his cohorts were over there laughing about something. She was sure she didn't want to hear the joke. Harriet had never cared for Damien and she knew that he and Jarad didnt get along at all. Their vindictive hatred was far more well known than the rift between Jarad and Talen. Everyone who spent any time in the summoning grounds knew that those two didn't mix, unless you wanted massive destruction. Everyone claimed they sabotaged each other at every given chance, but Harriet had never witnessed Jarad sabotaging Damien. Damien however took every opportunity to undermine Jarad's efforts.

Suddenly Harriet's eyes narrowed and she spun around on Jarad who was once again busy chopping ingredients. "Did Damien do something to you?" Jarad glanced up at her with indifference and didn't even bother to answer. "He did something to Talen didn't he?" Jarad stiffened. "I knew it. What's going on?"

Jarad had the urge to throw the cutting board at Harriet but he refrained through great will of effort. "No. Well unless you count buying him coffee?" Jarad was surprised at how careless and light his voice sounded.

Harriet gave Jarad a look that he couldn't read before putting her hand over her eyes. Taking a deep breath the girl calmed herself. "Jarad, are you jealous?"

The knife slammed down on the cutting board and Harriet found herself facing Jarad with his eyes blazing a steady red. "No." The word was spoken so forcifully that Harriet flinched.

"Harriet!" Talen's voice cut across the summoning ground as he hurried over to the other two oblivous of what had just happened. Jarad quickly went back to cutting and Harriet tried her best to recover. She prayed that Jarad got his emotions under control. She'd hate to see his reactions in Talen's presence.

Harriet turned to grin at Talen and give him a wave. "Hey. Where ya been?" Talen just shrugged.

"Just around. Hey Jarad." Talen shifted nervously. The man hadn't even looked up since Talen had walked over. It had looked like Harriet and he were discussing something. They obviously stopped when he came over. Maybe it had been about him. That didn't sit well with Talen. Jarad still hadn't responded and Talen gave Harriet a worried glance. She gave him a look that said she was just as worried. "Um. Jarad?"

Jarad closed his eyes. He had heard Talen the first time but he wasn't calm enough to face him. He would see his eyes glowing and Jarad wasn't comfortable with Talen seeing him out of cotrol. He did not have to react though because another voice joined the ones behind his back.

"Hey Tal. Your guy given you permission to tell everyone yet?" Talen blushed beet red. Harriet looked wildly between Damien who had just walked up and Talen then over at Jarad who still was ignoring all of them.

"Uh.. I haven't really talked to him about it." Talen was shifting fretfully from foot to foot. Jarad was right there. He could hear all of this. Oh god. What must he be thinking?

Jarad was seething. He knew this wasn't helping his eyes dim. He could feel his magic humming just below the surface as he listened to Talen and Damien.

"Remember what I told you. If you ever breakup, I'll gladly tell everyone in the world that you are mine." Damien grined seductively. "If you were mine, you'd never have to doubt it." As he spoke he leaned a bit toward Talen and Talen instinctively backed away.

Harriet was about to start biting her nails. Damien either knew that Jarad was the 'guy' in question and was eager to commit suicide or He was just a complete assinine jerk. She was at odds as to which might be true.

Jarad was cutting the mandrake far more harshly than he had to but he didn't care.

Talen put his hand up in a protective manner in front of him as Damien leaned over. "Again, I'm...flattered..but.."

Damien smiled and waved off what Talen was saying. "I haven't even seen him yet. I know he has to be a necromancer. Hey Jarad." Damien turned matter of factly to Jarad whom he had ignored up until this point. "You must know since you guys are partners. So who is this mystery man?"

Jarad gritted his teeth. Oh how he hated Damien. The man constantly had to try to sabotage Jarad because Jarad had bested him in their early trials years ago and continued to do better. He used to excuse the man's stupidity but he had went well pass the point of forgiveness. Jarad wanted to send him into some netherworld but only if he could watch what happened to Damien's mauled body. That's the moment he felt the hand clap down on his shoulder.

"Jarad. I know you get all into your studies, but snap out of it. Just because you don't have emotions you must find this all boring I know." Damien's actions and words caused Talen to step forward without really thinking about what it was he was going to do. Perhaps he was going to warn him not to do that. Harriet tried to tell Damien to leave Jarad alone but it was far too late for that. It all happened so quickly Talen wondered if he had imagined it.

Jarad had swung around and grabbed Damien by the throat. He had the other man in a choking grasp and was holding his Damien's face close to his whispering to him. Talen wasn't far away but he couldn't make out what Jarad was saying.

Under the silencing charm Jarad leaned in close to Damien's face as he crushed his hand around Damien's jugular and windpipe. "I will gladly toss you into the Netherworlds for whatever monstrousity that comes along to eat you alive slowly if you ever come near him again. Do you understand me?" Damien's eyes widened as they flicked over to Talen then back to Jarad. Jarad smiled menacingly. "That's right. He's mine. Looks like you lose again, Dami. Heed me well...or next time I won't make the wounds mendable." With that he threw the man away from him and Damien stumbled backward before collapsing to the ground.

Harriet grabbed Talen and pulled him back while Jarad had Damien. She was terrified to look at what Jarad could be doing to Damien but she had to make sure. To her relief she saw he was just talking to him. Damien glanced fearfully at Talen and back at Jarad. Harriet looked at Talen and was sure the man had seen the exchange as well. "What the hell is happening?" Talen gave her a look of bewiderment.

Truthfully Harriet wasn't too sure so she told him just that. "I don't know. Jarad seemed on edge when he came in. He got here not all that long before you did." She sighed and decided to tell him. "His magic is unstable, his emotions I mean. He seemed upset. His eyes flashed when he was talking to me. Well when I asked him if he ws jealous."

Talen gave her a freftul look. "Why did you think he was jealous?"

"I caught him looking at Damien and asked him what was up. He and Damien have a rivalry of sorts. Quite a bit worse than what everyone says about you two." Talen raised his eyebrow as if to say he doubted that. "Anyway, after a bit of talk I figured out that it had to do with you and he just said something about coffee." Harriet watched a look of horror come over Talen's face. "What did you do?"

Talen shook his head. "Nothing. I swear. I was waiting on Jarad this morning and I caught sight of a red robe, only it was Damien not Jarad. We talked and he insisted on buying me a coffee, as friends. I told him I was seeing someone. I was flattered but I don't think I did anything out of line. Oh who does he think he is getting bent out of shape about that? We aren't together. I mean...kind of.. maybe. Oh fuck him.. It's kinda sweet that he's so upset though. Hot too." Harriet was watching Talen ramble out all that with a look of bafflement.

Harriet turned around at a commotion and saw Damien on the ground and Jarad striding toward them. His eyes were still glowing faintly and Harriet took a quick glance at Talen. Talen wasn't look at her however. His gaze was glued to Jarad as the necromaner made his way toward them. Jarad came to a halt a couple feet from them.

Talen stumbled out his words. "Ja..Jar..Jarad?" Jarad glanced at Harriet who quickly excused herself mumbling about the potion they were supposed to be making.

Once Harriet was out of earshot, Talen stepped closer. "Are you ok?" Talen looked Jarad up and down but he couldn't see anywhere that Damien might have hurt him. Talen's inspection was interrupted by Jarad lifting his chin with his fingers forcing Talen to look up. Talen would have protested but at that moment Jarad chose to lean in and brush his lips against Talen's lips. A second's hesitation and he felt Jarad pulling back. Wrapping his arms around Jarad's neck he pulled the taller man back into the kiss.

Jarad's head spun as Talen's tongue brushed against his lips. Opening his mouth he nearly moaned when his own tongue came in contact with Talen's tongue. He hadn't meant for the kiss to get too intimate considering that they were still standing in the middle of the summoning grounds but Jarad had already forgotten his surroundings. As their tongues fell into an intimate rhythm, Jarad slipped his hands inside Talen's already open robe. Pulling at the button up shirt that Talen had tucked into his jeans, Jarad fought to reach Talen's skin.

Talen never had a chance. As soon as Jarad's fingers touched his skin, he leaned his head back with a moan that was a mixture of relief and frustration. Relieved to feel Jarad's fingers grazing over his stomach muscles but frustrated because he wanted more. As his head fell backward it caused his scarf to fall to one side.

Jarad took the invitation that Talen's exposed neck presented and kissed the curve of Talen's neck lightly. He felt Talen shiver and he let his teeth join his lips grazing the skin slightly before kissing the skin again. By the time he had repeated this treatment three times over, Talen was practically pushing his body against Jarad's in a silent plea for more. Jarad had slipped his hands, still under Talen's shirt, around the man's waist to pull him as close as possible. Jarad brought his lips to Talen's ear both kissing and whispering at the same time. "You make me want to do such horrible things to you."

Talen laughed breathlessly at Jarad's words. It was a throaty laugh that Talen knew sounded more like a moan than laughter but he couldn't do anything else with Jarad's lips on his neck and his body pressed against Jarad's like this. "Horrible, hmm?" Talen could barely form the words as gasps as Jarad went back to his administrations to Talen's neck.

Jarad leaned up and smiled as Talen groaned to protest the loss of the kisses. "Yes horrible, wretched things." Jarad's smile turned wicked. "Involving this scarf." Jarad pulled the scarf off of Talen's neck slowly and leaned in to give him a kiss. Talen leaned up and met him halfway taking Jarad's breath away with his passionate response to Jarad's teasing.

Harriet watched the two guys not more than 20 feet from her that were clearly on their way to making out. Hell they had passed making out 4 minutes ago. Harriet blushed and looked away. She wished she could hear what they were saying. Glancing around she noticed that she wasn't the only one aware of what was happening near their table. She looked up as she saw Jarad backing Talen up slowly while kissing him soundly on the lips. One of the girls from a nearby table walked up to her. "I didn't even know they were going out." The girl sounded as baffled as everyone else in the summoning grounds looked. Harriet smiled as she was sure the boys would be happy tomorrow that noone would remember this.

Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 4)

2007-12-18T04:27:00Z

Title: Day 4
Word Count: 2227
Warnings: NC-17, Male/Male Pairing, Minor Het Sex, Girl/Girl Pairing, Angst, Altogether Inappropriate Humor At Times, Cross-dressing
Summary: (In which Jarad tries out stalking, Harriet takes up relationship counseling and Talen gets some coffee)
Copyright Stuff: All the characters within this story are my original creation and the universe in which they live. They should not be used without my permission. Any resemblance to real people or characters from other stories is purely coincidental.
Notes: This was my NaNoWriMo Novel. It has not been Beta'd! ...So be prepared for some mistakes. I wrote this story to be a silly outlet for the month of november so don't expect it to take itself too seriously.

Talen sat up as the song on the radio burst to life. The familiar Korn's tune blaring into the chilly morning air. "I thought my demons were my friends." Talen laughed as he repeated the sentence. "Isn't that the truth?"

The thought caused Talen's smile to dim and he went to turn on the shower with less enthusiasm than he had a few minutes ago.

Enthuisasm was not the emotion at the forefront of Jarad's mind either as he trudged through the cold predawn morning. He had gotten up and dressed hurriedly so that he could catch Talen before work. The fact that Talen had turned tail and ran after that 'kiss of doom' as Jarad's melodramatic subconscious had entitled it, had bothered Jarad fiercely. Jarad had kissed Talen to prove to himself that Talen was attracted to him. Talen had not reacted quite the way Jarad had envisioned, thus his remark. Now he wondered if Talen had taken what he said in a completely different way.

Talen pulled his scarf around his neck and sighed as he stepped off the doorstep onto the street. It was going to be a long day.

Rounding the street corner Jarad spotted Talen making his way toward him. Jarad glanced around quickly then sidestepped behind a newspaper vendor where he would be hidden and cast a silent concealment charm on himself. He had intended to talk to the man but upon seeing the look of discontent on Talen's face Jarad thought he'd follow him to see he could get any idea of what Talen was thinking.

Talen kicked a can that lay on the street in front of him. He was the scientist. The one who was supposed to be detached from his emotions, dispassionate. So how come Jarad got under his skin with that stunt yesterday? He may have a crush on the bastard but he wasn't some kid who couldn't handle his hormones. A crush for the sake of all that's pure. Talen shook his head in misery. He felt like he was in grade school again. He had never been one to have alot of crushes. His sexual preference hadn't even been known to him until the very end of highschool because it just didn't matter that much. Sure he knew what love was. He had dated a few people, but nothing serious really. He had even thought he had been in love with one of them. Now he wasn't sure if he had ever been in love. The thought brought back the conversation with Jarad about love and what it felt like.

Jarad kept his distance and wished again that he had the ability to read minds. His thoughts on the man ahead of him who seemed to be lost in thoughts of his own. Jarad kept pace with his quarry. I bet he thinks I'm an idiot for not knowing what love is, Jarad thought with a sigh.

It had been a surprise that Jarad had even asked him those things. Jarad being the cocky and arrogant bastard that he was had led Talen to believe that Jarad was probably quite experienced in the realm of love. Talen corrected himself. He doesn't have to be experienced in love to have had alot of sexual pursuits. Talen immediately grimaced at the thought of Jarad with others and then felt ridiculous for even feeling like that.

Harriet glanced around and saw Talen approaching the front door to the offices. Sending him a wave she made her way over to the man. "Well don't you look like hell. So. Are you going to tell me what happened?" Harriet eyed him curiously.

Talen shifted uncomfortably and glanced around. It would be awhile before Jarad arrived for work but he wasn't sure if he even wanted to talk about what had happened yesterday. Let alone that he had no idea how loyal Harriet was to Jarad. He had noticed that Harriet seemed to have alot of respect for Jarad.

Harriet got tired of waiting for a response and looped her arm through his tugging him toward the doors. Once inside she gave him a mischevious grin. "Don't worry, anything you say to me goes no further." Her smile faded and she got a serious look as she continued to half pull Talen toward the conference rooms. "I was really worried about you when you just up and disappeared. It isn't like you to skip out on work."

Talen refused to feel guilty that he had worried Harriet even though ihis conscious was already telling him all the ways he could have prevented her from worrying. He frowned as he tried to reconcile the thoughts to himself. Following Harriet into one of the empty conference rooms he tried to just let the thoughts go. "Sorry Harriet. I didn't think you'd even notice I was gone. I just wanted to take some time off. With the loop business and all..." He let his words trail off. He only half believed what he had said. Harriet did not look like she believed it at all.

Sighing Harriet gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I'm really sorry I used you two as anchors. If I had known that there was something between you guys I wouldn't have I swear. I'm really sorry, Talen, if I put any strain on your relationship."

Shaking his head he quickly corrected Harriet's mistake. "There is no relationship. Jarad and I...we..aren't..well you know... involved."

Harriet gave him a confused look. "There is something. I'm not blind and you don't have to hide it. Maybe it isn't a relationship. Maybe you two don't even know what IT is yet, but I've seen the way you two look at each other." She frowned then. "Did he do something?"

Talen shrugged and just waved his hand. "No he..no. I don't know what we are. Maybe there is something..but it's not mutual."

"You don't like him then? I mean not like that?" Harriet was studying Talen closely.

He raked his hands through his hair and sighed heavily. "That's not it at all."

"Oh. Wait. But he does like you. I know he does." Talen snorted as if to scoff at the idea and Harriet gave him another frown. "He does like you Talen. Jarad isn't like well most people. He doesn't know how to get across what he feels."

Jarad who was standing in the hallway listening at the door blinked and looked at Harriet. Who was she to say he wasn't good at getting his emotions across. Of all the nerve.

"This coming from the girl who has to put her love interest in a time loop to talk to him." Jarad blinked again as Talen voiced the thoughts that he had just been thinking. Maybe he could love a guy who thought like that. Harriet laughed at Talen's words.

"Touche.", Harriet conceded.

"It doesn't matter Harriet. I know he doesn't like me. He all but said it yesterday. I think he may have thought he could like me but after his experiment to see if he was right he made it clear he had been mistaken." Talen felt uncomfortable mentioning the kiss and it showed as he looked everywhere but at Harriet.

"Experiment?" Harriet raised her eyebrows.

Talen mumbled something that Jarad couldn't make out and apparently neither could Harriet as she asked him to repeat what he had said. "I said, he kissed me, ok? Yes, kissed me. It was terrifying." Jarad glared at Talen even though the man couldn't see him.

"Terrifying? Wait. How did you react? And what did he do after?" Harriet seemed to be taking notes mentally.

"He just did it out of the blue and well I froze. I couldn't help it. I didn't know what he was up to. Then he just said 'Oh well better luck next time' and walked away." Talen crossed his arms defensively.

Harriet clucked her tongue. "And I thought I had relationship issues. Ok first off, you froze. Bad thing. It may have scared him off. Secondly, that may have been what led him to his rather assinine comment." She looked thoughtful. "It's only conjecture of course."

Talen slapped his forehead as he realized his mistake muttering, "Conjecture. Of course."

~

Jarad was late. Talen sighed again. Not only was he late, he was really late. Is it possible that he might not come in to work? Jarad wouldn't do that. Would he? Lost in his mental debate Talen was unaware of Jarad's predicament of the moment.

Jarad stood very still. Talen was lost in thought but Jarad couldn't get pass him to get out the door. He could have shifted possibly but the sound would be audible. As of this moment he was effectively trapped in the conference room that he had moved back into when Talen and Harriet had left the adjacent room. How was he to know that Talen would take up a position in the door of the room he was in? Really, what was the man doing? He seemed to be watching the hallway. Maybe he's waiting for someone? So he stood against the wall of the room and waited with Talen.

Shifting his weight from one foot to another, Talen looked down at his feet. The black boots and jeans looked odd to him then. He had never thought it odd but it somehow was. The office had a uniform in the form of robes that covered their clothes. His own robe was a demure black as all the scientists robes were. The spiritualists were all white, though he had seen a couple with green robes. He still had no idea what the grey robes meant. He should ask Jarad, he would know. Thinking of Jarad made him think of Jarad's robes. Jarad's robes were a blood red to signify Talen assumed his role as a necromancer. Harriet's robes were in comparison a deep royal purple to signify her role in sorcery. Where the hell was Jarad anyway? At that moment he caught sight of a red robe and shouted a "Hey!" before he took a good look at the man. The guy who approached him curiously was not Jarad but he was a necromancer. He wasn't a bad looking guy if Talen was being honest. His light brown hair hung loosely just below his earlobes in a shaggy cut that Talen thought looked rather nice on the man.

"Yes?" The man asked in a hesitant voice.

Jarad's eyes narrowed as he recognized Damien. Talen had been waiting on Damien? He had never liked Damien but at that moment he despised the man and could have killed him without a second thought. If Talen wasn't going to be with him he damn sure wasn't going to be with another necromancer, Jarad vowed silently. Oh fuck, where did that thought come from?

Talen shifted nervously. "Um. Sorry. I. uh. I thought you were someone else." Damien gave him a look of confusion. "It was the robe. I am sorry, I..so sorry." Talen stumbled the words out.

Damien seemed to understand then. "It's quite alright. I'm rather disappointed though, I've seen you around. Always did think you were nice looking." If looks could kill, Damien would have died instantly from the glare Jarad was giving him. Not that anyone could see the glare as Jarad was invisible.

Stepping back in a subconscious move Talen stared at the man and considered how best to respond to that. "Um. That's...sweet. It isn't that you aren't..attractive. It's just....I'm.." Talen sighed. "I'm seeing someone." Talen waited to see how Damien took the news. Jarad stared in dumb shock at Talen. He tried to put together all that Talen had said. The robe. Seeing someone. Could he have been waiting for Jarad all along? Jarad could not quite process that Talen thought they were...well they had kissed...

"Lucky bastard. Can I ask who?" Damien didn't show any sign of being upset and Talen relaxed and gave the man a smile.

"I don't know if he wants anyone else to know just yet." That earned him a look of surprise from Damien.

The man shook his head. "Then he's stupid. If you were mine I'd let everyone know."

Part of himself was really flattered by Damien's responses and he couldn't keep himself from smiling shyly at the man. Damien responded by giving him a grin.

Jarad was ok with everything up until the part where Talen started smiling at Damien. Stop smiling at him, he ordered silently. Of course nothing happened and Jarad cursed his luck again.

"Can I buy you a coffee?" Damien held his hands up when he saw Talen start to shy away. "As friends, of course."

Talen laughed and nodded following Damien out of the room. Jarad hit his head against the wall as hard as he could. Unfortunately it wasn't hard enough to knock him unconscious so he followed the grinning duo toward the break area.

Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 3)

2007-12-15T23:45:56Z

Title: Day 3
Word Count: 2091
Warnings: NC-17, Male/Male Pairing, Minor Het Sex, Girl/Girl Pairing, Angst, Altogether Inappropriate Humor At Times, Cross-dressing
Summary: (In which Jarad experiments, Talen discovers the joys of cross dressing and Harriet has star potential.)
Copyright Stuff: All the characters within this story are my original creation and the universe in which they live. They should not be used without my permission. Any resemblance to real people or characters from other stories is purely coincidental.
Notes: This was my NaNoWriMo Novel. It has not been Beta'd! ...So be prepared for some mistakes. I am writing this story to be a silly outlet for the month of november so don't expect it to take itself too seriously.

Waking up Talen sat up and had the distinct impression he should remember something. As he stumbled through his morning it nagged at him, then as he stood on the subway platform he remembered. The last two days came back and he spun around to see the moron that was due to hit the woman behind him already lumbering through the crowd. As the man shoved into the woman, Talen was ready and braced her. The woman gave him a grateful look. Well that's one perk to knowing what will happen. Now to see if Jarad has remembered yet.

He rushed to the office even though he knew he would be there before Jarad if the pattern held. Sure enough about 10 minutes after his arrival Talen heard Jarad engage the receptionist. Walking around the corner he almost ran into Jarad as the man tried to get away from the receptionist.

"Talen, what the hell are you doing hiding around corners?" Jarad dusted his clothes off as if the almost collision had tarnished them somehow.

Talen shrugged. "Um, do you remember?" He couldn't help but think how dumb he sounded, but how else was he suppose to word it?

Jarad rolled his eyes. "Remember what exactly? That we are caught in a loop and forced to play match maker with Harriet? Or were you thinking of something else?" Jarad raised his eyebrow at the last question causing Talen, without reason, to blush.

As Talen turned around Veronica ran into him. Muttering curses under his breath, he looked down at his clothes. The coffee had managed to get his whole front. A chuckle behind him caused both he and Veronica to look at Jarad. The man just gave a helpless gesture. "Sorry. I'm just so used to it being me." Veronica gave him a puzzled look that clearly said Jarad had been working too hard. Talen however grinned and realized that indeed it usually was Jarad.

After assuring Veronica that he was fine and she wasn't in trouble they headed across the hall to the meeting room. "Wait." Jarad grabbed his arm and turned Talen around. With a flick of his wrist the stain vanished with a vague tingling. Talen shivered, it obviously was from the tingle not from Jarad's hand on his arm. Obviously. "It takes some getting used to." Jarad explained and Talen gave him a confused look. Then it dawned on him that Jarad had felt the shiver but he had assumed it was the spell effect. Talen nodded with a smile.

Jarad dropped his hand off Talen's arm and motioned for him to go ahead into the room. Moreen was waiting as they knew she would be. Why did they keep coming in here? Jarad suddenly felt the pointless futility of the pattern now. It was of no use anyway. The day would be as if it had never been and they would have wasted a full hour. Talen looked at him because he had paused in the doorway. "Are you ok?" A little bit of worry in Talen's voice, Jarad noted.

"Yeah I'm fine. Moreen, if you'll excuse us. There really isn't anything to discuss today anyway and Murphy wanted us to come by. We just stopped by to let you know that we did remember to come into work." He grabbed the dumbfounded Talen's arm and pushed him back toward the door. "We know how you worry about us." With a wave he pushed Talen the rest of the way out of the door and followed him while closing the door behind them.

"Change your mind much?" Talen crossed his arms.

Jarad ignored the guesture. "It just occurred to me we are wasting time. She won't remember anyway. Let's go find, Harriet."

~

Harriet was where they had found her yesterday in the summoning grounds. the difference was she wasn't surprised to see them this time. In fact she waved them over to look at the paper she was writing on. It had a list of all the plans they had gone over. Today was the oddest plan of all. He was sure somehow that Talen had come up with it, but he couldn't recall to verify that. Still it sounded like something Talen would come up with.

A half an hour later found them in the hallway outside of Mick's office. Harriet knew he was inside doing paperwork and they went over the fine details again. Talen looked decidedly unhappy as he looked at the pompoms in his hands. They were just transfigured rags and the cheerleading outfits that both Talen and Harriet donned were just their clothes transfigured as well. Harriet looked nervous but Jarad was deciding this plan might not be so bad after all. Entertainment value-wise that is.

Talen whispered. "Why don't you have to dress up?"

"Because you two look far better in the costumes, besides I'm doing everything else. So just look pretty and sing, darling." Jarad gave him a grin and let his eyes look over Talen approvingly. As he had anticipated Talen blushed furiously and looked away immediately. He was definitely getting the hang of this flirting thing and it had the added bonus of making Talen nervous.

"Ok, guys. Focus. On Three."

Talen straightened and attempted to pull his skirt down, yet again.

"One." Jarad made sure that he had the spells sequenced that he wanted to use.

"Two." Talen gave Jarad a desperate look but only recieved another grin.

"Three." Jarad waved both of his wrists microphones appeared in front of the other two and the lights dimmed in the hallway causing heads to poke out in curiosity. Perfect. With another flick of his right wrist a light hit Talen and Harriet. A second later the bouncing rhythm of the song started. Harriet was full in character dancing to the rhythm of the song.

The curious heads now had bodies as people made their way out of the offices to watch the commotion. Someone whistled and thus began the crowd clapping along. "Oh Mickey, you're so fine." Harriet's voice hitting in with the music causing some more whistles. Talen joined her on the next line, chiming in with her.

Jarad flicked his wrists and leaned back against the wall as the lights started dancing and three cheerleaders appeared behind Talen and Harriet joining them on the chorus. "You're so fine, you blow my mind, hey Mickey, hey Mickey! Oh Mickey, you're so fine!"

"Hey Mickey!" Harriet pointed to Mick who had emerged from his office to stare in shock at the scene. You've been around all night and that's a little long. You think you've got the right but I think you've got it wrong
Why can't we say goodnight? So you can take me home, Mickey."

Talen had been thrown off for a second at the additional singers that appeared but then grinned at Jarad who shrugged. Mick looked like he was going to collapse he was so pale.

Jarad wondered where Mick's fiancee was right then? He grinned at the thought and looked back at the front two cheerleaders as they leaned their microphones together as they sang. "Oh Mickey, what a pity, you don't understand. You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand. Oh Mickey, you're so pretty, can't you understand." Harriet and Talen both blew Mick a kiss and Jarad couldnt help his laugher.

Harriet walked over to Mick as Talen continued to sing by himself. "It's guys liket you Mickey. Ooh what you do Mickey." The others chiming in after him with "Do Mickey!"

Harriet looked at Mickey pleadingly. "Don't break my heart, Mickey."

The other four chiming in a second later. "Hey Mickey!"

Again Harriet looked at Mick and leaned as if to whisper but sang to him. "Now when you take me by the... Who's... Ever gonna know?"

Talen joined back in. "Everytime you move I let a little more show. There's something you can use, so don't say no, Mickey."

The others fell silent and Harriet danced in front of a bewildered Mick. "So come on and give it to me anyway you can. Anyway you want to do. I'll take it like a man." She stopped dancing and put her hands together in a pleading fashion over her chest. "Oh please baby, please don't leave me in this jam, Mickey." There were several whistles to this and yells for Mick to help the girl out.

The other three cheerleaders chimed back in and Harriet backed up into the main spotlight. "Oh Mickey, what a pity, you don't understand. You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand. Oh Mickey, you're so pretty, can't you understand."

Jarad got ready to time the spells out just right as they started the last refrain. "It's guys like you, Mickey. Ooh what you do Mickey, do Mickey. Don't break my heart, Mickey." The lights dimmed out and the music came to a faded as the Harriet's words left a little echo all according to plan. The applause erupted and Jarad brought the lights back up for just a second catching Talen and Harriet by surprise as they laughed and took a bow. The lights lowered out again. Jarad waited until he knew the others were safely out of the hallway before he vanished the rest of the spells except the darkness one. The applause were still going along with the odd calls for encores. Jarad shook his head with a smile and when he was out of the hallway brought the lights back up.

The crowd looked around at each other then over at the still quite bewildered Mick.

"That was awesome." Talen was babbling on to Harriet still in his cheerleadering outfit. As his outfit transfigured back into his regular clothes he looked down then up to wave at Jarad as he approached.

Harriet looked nervous. "How do you think it went?"

Jarad shrugged. "We'll have to wait to see. You know after he regains the power of speech." Both Harriet and Talen burst out laughing.

They were still laughing when they saw Mick making his way over to them. Jarad and Talen hastily left, leaving Harriet to give them glares for abandoning her.

As soon as they were far away enough to be out of projectile range should things go wrong, Jarad gave Talen a smile. Talen gave him a nervous look back. "I really do make you nervous, don't I?"

Talen fidgeted and didn't respond. The man was watching Mick and Harriet like they were the most interesting thing he had ever seen. "You ever been in love?" That question got Talen's attention as the man's head spun around to look at Jarad.

"I..dunno..Maybe." Talen shrugged. "It's hard to know sometimes if something is love or not. Have you?" Jarad merely shook his head in response.

"What does it feel like?" Jarad eyed Talen with avid interest wondering for the first time what the emotion really did feel like.

Talen shifted positions again and stuck his hands in his jean pockets. "It's hard to describe. It's like being anxious and on an adrenaline high at once."

Jarad frowned. "That sounds more like lust."

Talen shrugged. "I told you it's hard to describe."

Without another word Jarad leaned in and brushed his lips over Talen's lips. Talen went deadly still and Jarad leaned back with his eyes closed still as if analyzing the results of his experiment. Talen forgot to breath as he waited for Jarad to say something.

Finally Jarad shrugged and opened his eyes. "Oh well. Better luck next time." With that Jarad turned and walked away leaving Talen to stare after him. He completely missed the hurt look on Talen's face.

Of all the arrogant bastards. He thought he might be interested in me so he just helped himself to prove or disprove his theory. HA! Did he even stop to think that I might not want him to? The only downside was that Talen was certain now that he was actually in love with the bastard. Sighing in frustration, Talen decided to cut out of work early. Not like it fucking mattered anyway. He'd find out the result of today's operation with Harriet tomorrow morning one way or another.

Losing Rapture

~~+~~ HIATUS ~~+~~

Death's Queen (Chapter 4 'Frozen')

Moonlight

Death's Queen (Chapter 3 'Sweet Dreams')

Death's Queen (Chapter 2 'Shaman, Mage, Priest and Warrior')

Death's Queen (Chapter 1 'Follow')

Things Harry Never Knew...

Finding Fides

Vita e Morte (Chapter 3)

Do a Good Deed

Tainted Rain

Shadows

Candy (One-Shot)

Bad Night (one-shot)

Sea Birth

Vita E Morte

This is grounds for Divorce, Potter!

Vita E Morte

Paper Clouds Finale

Paper Clouds Part 2

'Madmen' One-Shot

Paper Clouds

Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 4 and a Half)

Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 4)

Before Tomorrow Can Begin (Day 3)

+ HIATUS +