ATtD Ch44
“Quiet now. It should be empty but I’ll check it out just incase.” Neville peeked into his dorm room, carefully scanning the room only to be pushed inside by a very annoyed Slytherin.
“I’ve gotten the equivalent of two hours of sleep. I fear for the idiot who decided to sleep in today.” Draco snarled, stomping into the room and offering a hand to Neville who had fallen to the ground. “Let’s get this over with already. Where are the birds…?” He froze as his eyes caught sight of the raven like creatures sitting on the sill who were watching him back just as intently. “…Those aren’t birds.”
“Shit, man, last night wasn’t fun for me either, Malfoy. Give me a break. I’m skipping class for you.” Neville growled, pulling his robes back in order and patting his hair down.
Draco snorted distractedly, stepping through the mess around Seamus’ bed, eyes locked on the two fae. “Like you’re missing much. You’re monstrous at potions… oh… dear… gods…”
“Hey, I’m tons better without Snape there to scare me senseless.” Neville huffed, folding his arms and following Draco’s gaze to the side where Harry’s trunk lay innocently. “Problem?”
Draco shook his head dazedly. “Can’t you smell that?”
Neville scrunched his nose but took a hesitant sniff around Harry’s trunk anyways. “Dusty books, dirt, bit of blood there, and…” He raised a brow and straightened. “Sweat. He should have washed before he packed his clothes. Rather rank… Malfoy?” He watched in confusion as Draco threw himself on the trunk and embraced it blissfully. “…You know what? I don’t want to know.” He shook his head and sat down on Harry’s bed, letting Draco do whatever it was he was doing in peace. The sad part was that he knew a part of Malfoy was quite vehemently telling himself he was being a fool and should stop smelling Harry’s belongings.
“Hey, help me open this latch.” Draco asked rather breathlessly, pulling uselessly at the padlock on Harry’s trunk. Hell, if he could get something to cuddle up in he might even be able to get some sleep… not that anyone ever needed to know that. “Why… won’t… this stupid thing open?!”
“The boy is unstable, perhaps insane.”
“Here, let me try-” Neville pulled out his wand but had to jump back to keep Draco from smacking him. “Hey!”
“Don’t hey me. I can’t help being like this.”
“I know that, Malfoy.” Neville rolled his eyes and pointed at the trunk. “Now, are you done throwing a tantrum so we can open this or are you going to spaz out at me some more?”
Draco put his hands on his hips and glared. “I think you owe me an apology. I have enough problems as it is without you rubbing my face in my fucked up instincts.”
“I think the insane one is going to fight.”
“Should we protect the trunk?”
Eyes narrowed, Draco turned his head towards the whispering voices, tapping the new earring on his ear. “Who the hell are you calling insane?”
Neville jumped, quite seriously wondering if Malfoy hadn’t lost his mind during the night. “I didn’t call you anything!”
“Not you, Nevvy; them!” Draco snarled at the two who had fallen silent to stare blankly at the boys. “Oh, don’t play dumb with me. I can understand you even if you were just plain old birds.” He pointed triumphantly to his earring, realizing the instant he did that he must look like a complete fool. Neville’s expression pretty much confirmed it. “Uh… it translates languages… Potter gave it to me… stop looking at me like that!” Draco huffed, blowing a stray lock out of his face before regaining his train of thought. “You called me insane, you little bastards!”
The fae exchanged looks, but by the way they nodded and gestured, Draco was rather certain they were communicating telepathically. Finally, the one with blue markings sang. “You’ve yet to prove our assumption wrong. Where did you get that ring?”
Draco glared, not feeling generous at all. “What’s it to you, bird brain?”
Yehl shifted, her bird form growing larger and menacing until she nearly filled the small area between Harry’s bed and the window. Long beak snapping and double talons gleaming as she stretched them out to wrap around Draco’s shirtfront, she repeated her question. “Where did you get that ring?”
“Fuck off.” Draco hissed. He yanked his shirt from the deadly claws but made no move to back down. “I’m not some ignorant muggle, faeling. You have no right to threaten me.”
“For gods sake, Malfoy. Stop yelling at them.” Neville whispered desperately, pulling lightly on the boy’s arm to move them away from the angry beings. Malfoy refused to budge.
“I’m waiting, little owl.” The insult was small, but he knew any fae would feel it, being lowered to a mere messenger.
“You insolent-!”
“It’s alright, Roariel.” Yehl gave her companion a sharp look before turning back to Draco. “Forgive us. We did not realize you could understand our language.”
Draco sneered at the two for a long moment, but eventually nodded. “Yeah, well, you were half right anyways. I’m quite aware of how mad I’m getting.” He grumbled before adding louder. “The earring was a gift from Potter.”
“A gift?” Yehl’s red eyes gleamed suspiciously.
“I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re thinking. Potter was being a goof and gave it to me. A friendship ring of sorts…” He blushed then, not sure why, but very red anyways. “Anyways, it was completely legit. He asked me to speak with you but failed to mention why or what about, but I’m here doing my part.” He immediately snapped his mouth shut to cease his awkward rambling and glared, letting the fae get to their part in the matter.
“And you experience no side effects from the ring, child? No discomfort, no pain?”
“I wouldn’t be wearing it if I did.” Draco replied flippantly.
Yehl gave him a hard look before a shiver took her form and she stood, tall and human for the most part in her flaring shirt and shorts. She reached a clawed hand towards Draco, pausing centimeters from the dark ring glittering on his ear. The boy’s breath hitched but he didn’t step back, his face set against her razor like talons. Even that far away she could feel the power crackling from the Hearken Ring, threatening to injure her if she touched it. She gave the boy a thorough look, reading his power carefully before understanding dawned.
“You are one of his.” Yehl said with a dark twist of her lips. Here, inches away, was her replacement. It was good the boy wasn’t quite sane after all; he would need the reckless bravery in the future.
“I have no idea what you are referring to.” Draco growled, raising his head high even though the movement caused the claws by his face to graze his neck.
“Oh, I think you do, child.” Yehl lowered her hand and perched herself on the edge of the windowsill, Roariel settling on her shoulder. “You are one of my master’s chosen. And he has sent you here to let me know he is alive and not in need of my services at this time. In fact, I believe this meeting’s true reason is for me to start training you in your new duties.” Yehl tilted her head. “Starting with… focusing of magic and power.”
Following Yehl’s gaze, Draco fingered the collar around his neck. Sighing deeply, he gave a nod of assent. “How soon?”
“A few days, if you have enough stamina.” Yehl promised, chirping in amusement at how quickly she had tamed the Candidate. “It is a powerful restraint and I am not willing to sacrifice the energy it would take for me to remove it myself. The experience will be good for you.”
Isn’t it always. Draco rolled his eyes and turned to more pressing matters. “Would you mind removing whatever spell you put on Potter’s trunk? I need-uh… a shirt of his.” Why did he keep on blushing? Bloody.
“I suppose, dragon.” Yehl smiled at the boy’s fluster and waved her hand, the trunk snapping open.
Draco resisted the urge to say thanks, peering in dismay at the mess of contents strew about in the trunk. As much as the chaos repelled him, the divine scent coming from it sent his head reeling until the edges of his sight blurred and he found himself elbow deep in the mess, head buried in a pile of clothes.
“Er, you okay there, Malfoy?” Neville edged closer, sure to keep Yehl and her friend at arms length. He wasn’t quite sure, but it seemed like the boy might be crying. “I doubt it’s going to be permanent. Once Harry gets back it’ll work itself out. You’ll see.”
Shoulders heaving, Draco pulled his face away from Harry’s ratty T-shirt to laugh aloud. “This is just the beginning. Once Potter gets here, hopefully alive, it’ll hit the next phase and I’ll have to fight and if I live through that it’ll only hit the final phase and I’ll be his bloody drone. And I don’t care! I should, hell I should, but I don’t.” He buried his head again, hoping to stop the hysterical sound his laugh had turned into.
“Bit of a drama queen, eh?” Roariel chirped, floating to where Draco was and landing lightly on the cover edge of the trunk. “Perhaps you should just put him out of his misery, Chief. I can’t imagine he’ll be much help to the Heir.”
Draco stiffened, eyes flashing a warning before he lunged at the fae, getting a fair deal of tail feathers and a scratch to his hand for his troubles. “Listen, you little bugger. This is me dealing. If I want to bitch, I’ll bitch! It doesn’t stop me from doing what I have to do!”
“Roariel, that will do.” Yehl gave her friend a small smile to take the edge off of her order. “Antagonizing each other will do nothing for our cause and will only bring the Heir’s wrath. Come here child; I can help ease some of the madness for now.” She held her hands open to Draco, who stumbled over dragging Harry’s slacks with him. “Things will be hard for you in the beginning without him near. You awoke with him, yes?”
Nodding, Draco let the fae place her clawed hands to his head and sighed as some of the crazed energy that had been growing in him calmed. “I was there the night it began. I didn’t realize the effect he had on me until he was gone.”
“Not to worry, child. Our poor New Born suffers far more without your calming presence, I think. For the newborns, the one they awake with forms a natural bond for security. At this stage he will be missing you greatly.”
“Uh, I guess so. He asked for one of my shirts…” Oh, there was that stupid blush again.
“The scent.” Yehl smiled understandingly. “I know a spell that will help you. Roariel there was quite distraught being so long away from me. There are ways to ease the effects.”
Draco eyed the still feathered fae. “How long have you two had to deal with, uh, it?”
“It works differently for us fae. Roariel has just entered into adulthood and I was chosen as sponsor. Our bond will be forever, but the first six months or so are when withdrawal is felt. Anything dealing with the Heir will be unique but… I suspect that things will change for you once your seal is removed.”
Draco nodded weakly. Six months sounded horrifying and that was only if his seal was removed. Of course if his seal were removed, that would mean he had to fight for the right to be Soul Vigil. He bit his lip and shuffled back over to Harry’s trunk, pulling a pile of clothes into his lap and hugging them tightly.
*******
“My, my, you’re even more sexy on your back…”
Pulling his eyes away from their fixed place on the ceiling, Blaise gave the new arrival an annoyed glare. Gaping in surprise, he struggled to get up, only to have a guiding hand help him into a sitting position. “Mr. Griffith, what are you doing here?”
“Why, I came to see you, sexy.” Lesley gave the boy an approving look. “Hogwarts hospital issued gowns never looked better.”
“Er… Mr. Griffith-was there a particular reason…?” Blaise trailed off, going light headed as the hand that had been supporting him slid over his arm in an overly friendly manner.
Meeting Blaise’s eyes, Lesley leaned in close, watching silently as the boy blushed and swallowed thickly. He let the boy sweat it out for a minute before smiling widely and smacking him lightly on the back. “Ha! As fetching a shade of red you’ve gone, love, I’ve got my eye on someone and he’s very particular about dallying. No, I am here, as I said, to check up on you. Unfortunately, your dear uncle will be unable to at this time.”
“Oh, is he alright? I didn’t think a little thing like that Gryphon would keep Uncle Clive from his promise…” A cold trill of fear shivered down his spine, dismissing the playful mood of earlier. “He is well, right? I mean, if one thing my uncle does, is know how to keep promises. When I was eight he fought his way through a jungle for five days just to be able to fire-call me with a happy birthday. I barely got to speak with him last night and the last time we really talked was right before I started Hogwarts. He’d never-”
“Hush now. You’re only working yourself into a frenzy, love. It’s not good in your condition and will only send the lovely Madame Pomfrey howling at us.” Lesley distracted the boy with rearranging his blankets and pillows until Blaise had become more sensible. “Clive is with Harry.”
Blaise bit his lip. “…Potter?”
“Yes, and we both know if anyone can help him, it’s Harry.”
“Yeah… yeah, alright. I’ll buy that for now.” Blaise gave a hesitant nod, hand grabbing blindly at his braids and tugging. “You’ll tell me if things change, right? Grandmum would flip if anything happened to him and you know how she can get. She’ll withdraw all support from the Council and…”
“Not to worry. I’ll see to it personally.” He didn’t offer up what was actually wrong with Clive and Blaise never asked. He knew the boy suspected it was bad, though, and he didn’t need to confirm those suspicions when Blaise was fighting his own health problems. Two months after his exritus and Blaise was still an almost permanent resident of the Hospital Ward, the stack of cards and personal items by his bed ever growing. There really was no precedence when faced with transforming exritus after all these years, but Longbottom and Malfoy had been fine after a month and the odds weren’t looking good for the young incubus. If not for Poppy, he suspected Blaise wouldn’t have made it past the first week.
“I need to speak with some people but I’ll be back to say goodbye.” He gave Blaise a reassuring pat, carefully untangling the boy’s clutching hands from the death grip he had on his hair. “Rest up, sexy. The last thing you want is your uncle worrying about you.”
Leaving the boy to his thoughts, Lesley walked over to the office found in the inner hospital and peeked in. As he suspected, Madame Pomfrey’s familiar, if not older, form was bustling over some papers at the desk. “Good afternoon, Poppykins.”
Startled, Poppy looked up, a smile lighting up her face. “Heavens, I haven’t heard that nickname in ages. You come here, Lezzy-lizard, and give me a proper hello!” Standing, she let herself be swooped up into a bear hug, her legs dangling off the floor in the taller man’s embrace.
“Just look at you, you’re just like the day I met you, dear. All strapping and charming as always while I’ve gone quite gray.” Feet firmly on the ground, she straightened her hair, beaming happily. “How is everything?”
“Come now, Poppykins, you’re just as beautiful as that shining little girl who assaulted my leg with bandages many years ago. Even then you knew you’d be a healer, helping any who needed it.”
“Oh dear, not another, Lezzy! Every time I see you, you’re dragging the half dead with you.” She gave him a harsh look. “Another pub fight? You know you’re hell with alcohol in your system.”
Lesley grinned sheepishly. “I’m barely in the door and you’re lecturing me already? Same old Poppy.”
“Don’t you start with that, Lesley Griffith. Trouble follows you like a wayward dog and I’ve cleaned up enough of your messes to know as much.”
“I swear it wasn’t my fault this time!” Wilting under Poppy’s glare, he held his hands up as a shield. “I want to see a smile or you’re not getting your gift.”
“Gift?” Raising a brow, Poppy let her face change back to her more pleasant demeanor. “You do realize you’re against a wall here, Lezzy. The better the gift the more suspicious I’m going to get.”
“Tut, love. Once you see this you won’t be able to even think of forming a frown.” With a flourish, he summoned up a long, purple-blue bottle. “I snagged it from His special stash when I was but a mere lad. The best of the best. Had my hide whipped raw when I was caught but he never got the bottle from me.” He held the bottle out so Madame Pomfrey could observe it. “For you, my love.”
Hands hovering inches from the rare liquor as if it was too impossible to be real, Poppy read the label and gave a small squeal of delight. “Oh my, Lezzy. This is priceless, Indigo Sky… you’ve must have crippled some Aurors, maimed some muggles, and thrown the Minister’s back out to be giving me this.”
“None of the above, my dear. No, no, I will not take no for an answer. It is a gift. It was only gathering dust in it’s first home and in mine as well. I know you will appreciate it far more than me.” He placed the bottle firmly in her hands and took a small step back. “Now, on a totally different topic, I do need a favor, Poppykins.”
“Oh, I knew it! Why do you do this to me? Now I can’t even begin to be properly angry.” Poppy huffed, clutching the bottle close to her and sitting carefully on the edge of her desk. “Well, spit it out. The faster we get over this crisis the sooner I can crack this baby open.”
Lesley pulled one of the wooden back chairs up and took a seat in front of the witch, using the time to collect his thoughts. “Well, I guess first I need to know how far you got in the private study you began twenty years ago, love. Did you find passage to the Unvoiced? Was what you needed there?”
“Lezzy, you know I cannot speak of that.”
“I know, I know. I’m not asking for specifics, I just need to know if your research was ever completed.”
Poppy gave him a hard look. “I cannot speak of it. It isn’t personal; I was enchanted so that anything related to what I learned could not be leaked to outsiders. But yes, my research was completed, for the most part.”
“I’m an outsider now?” Lesley said with a false sense of hurt.
Poppy wasn’t fooled. “Don’t you start with me on that. You are not a leading researcher in the field of ancient healing techniques and treatments for magical sentient beings, meaning you are an outsider in this case. Now get to the point, love.”
“Ah, well, needless to say, I believe you’re my only hope in this one, Poppy. Er, besides my great ancestor, but something tells me he will be less than generous in this situation.”
“You are rambling, man. The point already!” A rap to her desk emphasized her insistence.
“Yes, well-gods, Poppy, don’t wave that around like that!” Standing to keep the woman from breaking the bottle by accident, he whispered quickly. “There are two at White Towers suffering from dangerous conditions as a result to their exritus. One of them is the Heir. I need your expertise or I’m afraid things could get very nasty.”
Taking a deep breath, Poppy carefully placed the bottle down and stumbled around her cluttered desk so she could slump safely in her chair.
“It’s not a permanent thing; I can bring you up and have you back by the next day.” He lowered his voice again. “Blaise’s uncle is in a coma. Some sort of delayed exritus as a result of coming in contact with the Heir. No one knows what to do.”
“It’s not that, Lez.” Poppy sighed, finally speaking. “I want to help of course. But I have a responsibility to all these children.”
“It’s only a day, love. We can floo you in and out just like that.”
“Lesley Griffith, you of all people know what their kind is like. If something goes wrong, I could very well be killed for failing to save them. As a healer in that field, I have come to terms with such consequences, but as the only mediwitch in this school, the rules change.”
Lesley reached over and took her hands in his. “Poppy, I can confidently assure that no harm will come to you while in my care. The Heir is a human who has become something more, not an arrogant beast like the other brothers. If he is not well in time for his coronation it will have to be postponed and that could prove disastrous. You can take the time to call in a temporary replacement if you feel the need. Gather up any work you think will help you with this. Any tools, potions, all that stuff.”
“Now hold on-”
“Oh, don’t pretend you haven’t already made up your mind. I can read your face like a book.”
Poppy narrowed her eyes. “You’re still a smug bastard. I will need an hour to get everything sorted out.”
“Thank you, Poppykins. You’ve really saved us here.”
“Yes, yes, I’ve grown accustomed to saving that fit bum of yours, Lezzy.” Poppy stood and began rifling through papers in the filing cabinet behind her. “Have you made the rounds yet?”
“Somewhat. I had a nice chat with old Dumbly and I was just about to go pull Minny out of her Transfiguration class for a quick lunch. Did you need anything from me, or should I just meet you here in an hour?”
“No, scoot with you. You’ll only get underfoot.” Poppy teased, shooing him out the door with a laugh. “Do be careful not to bother the other patients. They need their rest.” She added with a stern frown but it didn’t last because inwardly she was cheering at the chance to put her favorite studies to practical use. The Zabini boy had been her first real test, and things were going well, albeit slowly, with him. Now she actually had a chance to treat the Heir, an honest to goodness god. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, a thousand lifetimes!
Humming to herself, she turned back to her office and began gathering up her old files that may help in the task ahead.
******* ATtD Chapter Index Links
“I’ve gotten the equivalent of two hours of sleep. I fear for the idiot who decided to sleep in today.” Draco snarled, stomping into the room and offering a hand to Neville who had fallen to the ground. “Let’s get this over with already. Where are the birds…?” He froze as his eyes caught sight of the raven like creatures sitting on the sill who were watching him back just as intently. “…Those aren’t birds.”
“Shit, man, last night wasn’t fun for me either, Malfoy. Give me a break. I’m skipping class for you.” Neville growled, pulling his robes back in order and patting his hair down.
Draco snorted distractedly, stepping through the mess around Seamus’ bed, eyes locked on the two fae. “Like you’re missing much. You’re monstrous at potions… oh… dear… gods…”
“Hey, I’m tons better without Snape there to scare me senseless.” Neville huffed, folding his arms and following Draco’s gaze to the side where Harry’s trunk lay innocently. “Problem?”
Draco shook his head dazedly. “Can’t you smell that?”
Neville scrunched his nose but took a hesitant sniff around Harry’s trunk anyways. “Dusty books, dirt, bit of blood there, and…” He raised a brow and straightened. “Sweat. He should have washed before he packed his clothes. Rather rank… Malfoy?” He watched in confusion as Draco threw himself on the trunk and embraced it blissfully. “…You know what? I don’t want to know.” He shook his head and sat down on Harry’s bed, letting Draco do whatever it was he was doing in peace. The sad part was that he knew a part of Malfoy was quite vehemently telling himself he was being a fool and should stop smelling Harry’s belongings.
“Hey, help me open this latch.” Draco asked rather breathlessly, pulling uselessly at the padlock on Harry’s trunk. Hell, if he could get something to cuddle up in he might even be able to get some sleep… not that anyone ever needed to know that. “Why… won’t… this stupid thing open?!”
“The boy is unstable, perhaps insane.”
“Here, let me try-” Neville pulled out his wand but had to jump back to keep Draco from smacking him. “Hey!”
“Don’t hey me. I can’t help being like this.”
“I know that, Malfoy.” Neville rolled his eyes and pointed at the trunk. “Now, are you done throwing a tantrum so we can open this or are you going to spaz out at me some more?”
Draco put his hands on his hips and glared. “I think you owe me an apology. I have enough problems as it is without you rubbing my face in my fucked up instincts.”
“I think the insane one is going to fight.”
“Should we protect the trunk?”
Eyes narrowed, Draco turned his head towards the whispering voices, tapping the new earring on his ear. “Who the hell are you calling insane?”
Neville jumped, quite seriously wondering if Malfoy hadn’t lost his mind during the night. “I didn’t call you anything!”
“Not you, Nevvy; them!” Draco snarled at the two who had fallen silent to stare blankly at the boys. “Oh, don’t play dumb with me. I can understand you even if you were just plain old birds.” He pointed triumphantly to his earring, realizing the instant he did that he must look like a complete fool. Neville’s expression pretty much confirmed it. “Uh… it translates languages… Potter gave it to me… stop looking at me like that!” Draco huffed, blowing a stray lock out of his face before regaining his train of thought. “You called me insane, you little bastards!”
The fae exchanged looks, but by the way they nodded and gestured, Draco was rather certain they were communicating telepathically. Finally, the one with blue markings sang. “You’ve yet to prove our assumption wrong. Where did you get that ring?”
Draco glared, not feeling generous at all. “What’s it to you, bird brain?”
Yehl shifted, her bird form growing larger and menacing until she nearly filled the small area between Harry’s bed and the window. Long beak snapping and double talons gleaming as she stretched them out to wrap around Draco’s shirtfront, she repeated her question. “Where did you get that ring?”
“Fuck off.” Draco hissed. He yanked his shirt from the deadly claws but made no move to back down. “I’m not some ignorant muggle, faeling. You have no right to threaten me.”
“For gods sake, Malfoy. Stop yelling at them.” Neville whispered desperately, pulling lightly on the boy’s arm to move them away from the angry beings. Malfoy refused to budge.
“I’m waiting, little owl.” The insult was small, but he knew any fae would feel it, being lowered to a mere messenger.
“You insolent-!”
“It’s alright, Roariel.” Yehl gave her companion a sharp look before turning back to Draco. “Forgive us. We did not realize you could understand our language.”
Draco sneered at the two for a long moment, but eventually nodded. “Yeah, well, you were half right anyways. I’m quite aware of how mad I’m getting.” He grumbled before adding louder. “The earring was a gift from Potter.”
“A gift?” Yehl’s red eyes gleamed suspiciously.
“I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re thinking. Potter was being a goof and gave it to me. A friendship ring of sorts…” He blushed then, not sure why, but very red anyways. “Anyways, it was completely legit. He asked me to speak with you but failed to mention why or what about, but I’m here doing my part.” He immediately snapped his mouth shut to cease his awkward rambling and glared, letting the fae get to their part in the matter.
“And you experience no side effects from the ring, child? No discomfort, no pain?”
“I wouldn’t be wearing it if I did.” Draco replied flippantly.
Yehl gave him a hard look before a shiver took her form and she stood, tall and human for the most part in her flaring shirt and shorts. She reached a clawed hand towards Draco, pausing centimeters from the dark ring glittering on his ear. The boy’s breath hitched but he didn’t step back, his face set against her razor like talons. Even that far away she could feel the power crackling from the Hearken Ring, threatening to injure her if she touched it. She gave the boy a thorough look, reading his power carefully before understanding dawned.
“You are one of his.” Yehl said with a dark twist of her lips. Here, inches away, was her replacement. It was good the boy wasn’t quite sane after all; he would need the reckless bravery in the future.
“I have no idea what you are referring to.” Draco growled, raising his head high even though the movement caused the claws by his face to graze his neck.
“Oh, I think you do, child.” Yehl lowered her hand and perched herself on the edge of the windowsill, Roariel settling on her shoulder. “You are one of my master’s chosen. And he has sent you here to let me know he is alive and not in need of my services at this time. In fact, I believe this meeting’s true reason is for me to start training you in your new duties.” Yehl tilted her head. “Starting with… focusing of magic and power.”
Following Yehl’s gaze, Draco fingered the collar around his neck. Sighing deeply, he gave a nod of assent. “How soon?”
“A few days, if you have enough stamina.” Yehl promised, chirping in amusement at how quickly she had tamed the Candidate. “It is a powerful restraint and I am not willing to sacrifice the energy it would take for me to remove it myself. The experience will be good for you.”
Isn’t it always. Draco rolled his eyes and turned to more pressing matters. “Would you mind removing whatever spell you put on Potter’s trunk? I need-uh… a shirt of his.” Why did he keep on blushing? Bloody.
“I suppose, dragon.” Yehl smiled at the boy’s fluster and waved her hand, the trunk snapping open.
Draco resisted the urge to say thanks, peering in dismay at the mess of contents strew about in the trunk. As much as the chaos repelled him, the divine scent coming from it sent his head reeling until the edges of his sight blurred and he found himself elbow deep in the mess, head buried in a pile of clothes.
“Er, you okay there, Malfoy?” Neville edged closer, sure to keep Yehl and her friend at arms length. He wasn’t quite sure, but it seemed like the boy might be crying. “I doubt it’s going to be permanent. Once Harry gets back it’ll work itself out. You’ll see.”
Shoulders heaving, Draco pulled his face away from Harry’s ratty T-shirt to laugh aloud. “This is just the beginning. Once Potter gets here, hopefully alive, it’ll hit the next phase and I’ll have to fight and if I live through that it’ll only hit the final phase and I’ll be his bloody drone. And I don’t care! I should, hell I should, but I don’t.” He buried his head again, hoping to stop the hysterical sound his laugh had turned into.
“Bit of a drama queen, eh?” Roariel chirped, floating to where Draco was and landing lightly on the cover edge of the trunk. “Perhaps you should just put him out of his misery, Chief. I can’t imagine he’ll be much help to the Heir.”
Draco stiffened, eyes flashing a warning before he lunged at the fae, getting a fair deal of tail feathers and a scratch to his hand for his troubles. “Listen, you little bugger. This is me dealing. If I want to bitch, I’ll bitch! It doesn’t stop me from doing what I have to do!”
“Roariel, that will do.” Yehl gave her friend a small smile to take the edge off of her order. “Antagonizing each other will do nothing for our cause and will only bring the Heir’s wrath. Come here child; I can help ease some of the madness for now.” She held her hands open to Draco, who stumbled over dragging Harry’s slacks with him. “Things will be hard for you in the beginning without him near. You awoke with him, yes?”
Nodding, Draco let the fae place her clawed hands to his head and sighed as some of the crazed energy that had been growing in him calmed. “I was there the night it began. I didn’t realize the effect he had on me until he was gone.”
“Not to worry, child. Our poor New Born suffers far more without your calming presence, I think. For the newborns, the one they awake with forms a natural bond for security. At this stage he will be missing you greatly.”
“Uh, I guess so. He asked for one of my shirts…” Oh, there was that stupid blush again.
“The scent.” Yehl smiled understandingly. “I know a spell that will help you. Roariel there was quite distraught being so long away from me. There are ways to ease the effects.”
Draco eyed the still feathered fae. “How long have you two had to deal with, uh, it?”
“It works differently for us fae. Roariel has just entered into adulthood and I was chosen as sponsor. Our bond will be forever, but the first six months or so are when withdrawal is felt. Anything dealing with the Heir will be unique but… I suspect that things will change for you once your seal is removed.”
Draco nodded weakly. Six months sounded horrifying and that was only if his seal was removed. Of course if his seal were removed, that would mean he had to fight for the right to be Soul Vigil. He bit his lip and shuffled back over to Harry’s trunk, pulling a pile of clothes into his lap and hugging them tightly.
*******
“My, my, you’re even more sexy on your back…”
Pulling his eyes away from their fixed place on the ceiling, Blaise gave the new arrival an annoyed glare. Gaping in surprise, he struggled to get up, only to have a guiding hand help him into a sitting position. “Mr. Griffith, what are you doing here?”
“Why, I came to see you, sexy.” Lesley gave the boy an approving look. “Hogwarts hospital issued gowns never looked better.”
“Er… Mr. Griffith-was there a particular reason…?” Blaise trailed off, going light headed as the hand that had been supporting him slid over his arm in an overly friendly manner.
Meeting Blaise’s eyes, Lesley leaned in close, watching silently as the boy blushed and swallowed thickly. He let the boy sweat it out for a minute before smiling widely and smacking him lightly on the back. “Ha! As fetching a shade of red you’ve gone, love, I’ve got my eye on someone and he’s very particular about dallying. No, I am here, as I said, to check up on you. Unfortunately, your dear uncle will be unable to at this time.”
“Oh, is he alright? I didn’t think a little thing like that Gryphon would keep Uncle Clive from his promise…” A cold trill of fear shivered down his spine, dismissing the playful mood of earlier. “He is well, right? I mean, if one thing my uncle does, is know how to keep promises. When I was eight he fought his way through a jungle for five days just to be able to fire-call me with a happy birthday. I barely got to speak with him last night and the last time we really talked was right before I started Hogwarts. He’d never-”
“Hush now. You’re only working yourself into a frenzy, love. It’s not good in your condition and will only send the lovely Madame Pomfrey howling at us.” Lesley distracted the boy with rearranging his blankets and pillows until Blaise had become more sensible. “Clive is with Harry.”
Blaise bit his lip. “…Potter?”
“Yes, and we both know if anyone can help him, it’s Harry.”
“Yeah… yeah, alright. I’ll buy that for now.” Blaise gave a hesitant nod, hand grabbing blindly at his braids and tugging. “You’ll tell me if things change, right? Grandmum would flip if anything happened to him and you know how she can get. She’ll withdraw all support from the Council and…”
“Not to worry. I’ll see to it personally.” He didn’t offer up what was actually wrong with Clive and Blaise never asked. He knew the boy suspected it was bad, though, and he didn’t need to confirm those suspicions when Blaise was fighting his own health problems. Two months after his exritus and Blaise was still an almost permanent resident of the Hospital Ward, the stack of cards and personal items by his bed ever growing. There really was no precedence when faced with transforming exritus after all these years, but Longbottom and Malfoy had been fine after a month and the odds weren’t looking good for the young incubus. If not for Poppy, he suspected Blaise wouldn’t have made it past the first week.
“I need to speak with some people but I’ll be back to say goodbye.” He gave Blaise a reassuring pat, carefully untangling the boy’s clutching hands from the death grip he had on his hair. “Rest up, sexy. The last thing you want is your uncle worrying about you.”
Leaving the boy to his thoughts, Lesley walked over to the office found in the inner hospital and peeked in. As he suspected, Madame Pomfrey’s familiar, if not older, form was bustling over some papers at the desk. “Good afternoon, Poppykins.”
Startled, Poppy looked up, a smile lighting up her face. “Heavens, I haven’t heard that nickname in ages. You come here, Lezzy-lizard, and give me a proper hello!” Standing, she let herself be swooped up into a bear hug, her legs dangling off the floor in the taller man’s embrace.
“Just look at you, you’re just like the day I met you, dear. All strapping and charming as always while I’ve gone quite gray.” Feet firmly on the ground, she straightened her hair, beaming happily. “How is everything?”
“Come now, Poppykins, you’re just as beautiful as that shining little girl who assaulted my leg with bandages many years ago. Even then you knew you’d be a healer, helping any who needed it.”
“Oh dear, not another, Lezzy! Every time I see you, you’re dragging the half dead with you.” She gave him a harsh look. “Another pub fight? You know you’re hell with alcohol in your system.”
Lesley grinned sheepishly. “I’m barely in the door and you’re lecturing me already? Same old Poppy.”
“Don’t you start with that, Lesley Griffith. Trouble follows you like a wayward dog and I’ve cleaned up enough of your messes to know as much.”
“I swear it wasn’t my fault this time!” Wilting under Poppy’s glare, he held his hands up as a shield. “I want to see a smile or you’re not getting your gift.”
“Gift?” Raising a brow, Poppy let her face change back to her more pleasant demeanor. “You do realize you’re against a wall here, Lezzy. The better the gift the more suspicious I’m going to get.”
“Tut, love. Once you see this you won’t be able to even think of forming a frown.” With a flourish, he summoned up a long, purple-blue bottle. “I snagged it from His special stash when I was but a mere lad. The best of the best. Had my hide whipped raw when I was caught but he never got the bottle from me.” He held the bottle out so Madame Pomfrey could observe it. “For you, my love.”
Hands hovering inches from the rare liquor as if it was too impossible to be real, Poppy read the label and gave a small squeal of delight. “Oh my, Lezzy. This is priceless, Indigo Sky… you’ve must have crippled some Aurors, maimed some muggles, and thrown the Minister’s back out to be giving me this.”
“None of the above, my dear. No, no, I will not take no for an answer. It is a gift. It was only gathering dust in it’s first home and in mine as well. I know you will appreciate it far more than me.” He placed the bottle firmly in her hands and took a small step back. “Now, on a totally different topic, I do need a favor, Poppykins.”
“Oh, I knew it! Why do you do this to me? Now I can’t even begin to be properly angry.” Poppy huffed, clutching the bottle close to her and sitting carefully on the edge of her desk. “Well, spit it out. The faster we get over this crisis the sooner I can crack this baby open.”
Lesley pulled one of the wooden back chairs up and took a seat in front of the witch, using the time to collect his thoughts. “Well, I guess first I need to know how far you got in the private study you began twenty years ago, love. Did you find passage to the Unvoiced? Was what you needed there?”
“Lezzy, you know I cannot speak of that.”
“I know, I know. I’m not asking for specifics, I just need to know if your research was ever completed.”
Poppy gave him a hard look. “I cannot speak of it. It isn’t personal; I was enchanted so that anything related to what I learned could not be leaked to outsiders. But yes, my research was completed, for the most part.”
“I’m an outsider now?” Lesley said with a false sense of hurt.
Poppy wasn’t fooled. “Don’t you start with me on that. You are not a leading researcher in the field of ancient healing techniques and treatments for magical sentient beings, meaning you are an outsider in this case. Now get to the point, love.”
“Ah, well, needless to say, I believe you’re my only hope in this one, Poppy. Er, besides my great ancestor, but something tells me he will be less than generous in this situation.”
“You are rambling, man. The point already!” A rap to her desk emphasized her insistence.
“Yes, well-gods, Poppy, don’t wave that around like that!” Standing to keep the woman from breaking the bottle by accident, he whispered quickly. “There are two at White Towers suffering from dangerous conditions as a result to their exritus. One of them is the Heir. I need your expertise or I’m afraid things could get very nasty.”
Taking a deep breath, Poppy carefully placed the bottle down and stumbled around her cluttered desk so she could slump safely in her chair.
“It’s not a permanent thing; I can bring you up and have you back by the next day.” He lowered his voice again. “Blaise’s uncle is in a coma. Some sort of delayed exritus as a result of coming in contact with the Heir. No one knows what to do.”
“It’s not that, Lez.” Poppy sighed, finally speaking. “I want to help of course. But I have a responsibility to all these children.”
“It’s only a day, love. We can floo you in and out just like that.”
“Lesley Griffith, you of all people know what their kind is like. If something goes wrong, I could very well be killed for failing to save them. As a healer in that field, I have come to terms with such consequences, but as the only mediwitch in this school, the rules change.”
Lesley reached over and took her hands in his. “Poppy, I can confidently assure that no harm will come to you while in my care. The Heir is a human who has become something more, not an arrogant beast like the other brothers. If he is not well in time for his coronation it will have to be postponed and that could prove disastrous. You can take the time to call in a temporary replacement if you feel the need. Gather up any work you think will help you with this. Any tools, potions, all that stuff.”
“Now hold on-”
“Oh, don’t pretend you haven’t already made up your mind. I can read your face like a book.”
Poppy narrowed her eyes. “You’re still a smug bastard. I will need an hour to get everything sorted out.”
“Thank you, Poppykins. You’ve really saved us here.”
“Yes, yes, I’ve grown accustomed to saving that fit bum of yours, Lezzy.” Poppy stood and began rifling through papers in the filing cabinet behind her. “Have you made the rounds yet?”
“Somewhat. I had a nice chat with old Dumbly and I was just about to go pull Minny out of her Transfiguration class for a quick lunch. Did you need anything from me, or should I just meet you here in an hour?”
“No, scoot with you. You’ll only get underfoot.” Poppy teased, shooing him out the door with a laugh. “Do be careful not to bother the other patients. They need their rest.” She added with a stern frown but it didn’t last because inwardly she was cheering at the chance to put her favorite studies to practical use. The Zabini boy had been her first real test, and things were going well, albeit slowly, with him. Now she actually had a chance to treat the Heir, an honest to goodness god. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, a thousand lifetimes!
Humming to herself, she turned back to her office and began gathering up her old files that may help in the task ahead.
******* ATtD Chapter Index Links