Blood Bonds

Chp 12: Ride the lighting

"By all that has magic!"

His mate's lustful-filled mental roar echoed down the bond, alerting Severus to his presence. Knowing that it was directed at him, he tightened his full, red lips to keep from smiling and looked around in a casual manner, looking for someone staring who could be his mate. The problem was; everyone was staring, many with lust clearly written on their surprised faces. But the whispers and stares of the hormonal students no longer bothered him. He knew he looked good. Severus held his head high, radiating confidence and assurance. The special robes that his mate had commissioned were beautiful - the high, open-necked emerald green robes fit snugly over his muscled chest, hugging his torso to his waist where they flared open as they flowed to his ankles. His jet black leather trousers lovingly fit like a second skin, showing off his toned thighs and calves. The two sides of the robe met in the middle of his chest, cleverly held together with hidden hooks from the base of his neck to just below his navel. Around his neck, down the front and along the bottom hem, silver embroidered Celtic patterns - a match to his mate's wand - caught the eye, framing and enhancing his still slender but now toned frame. Concealed amongst the embroidery were woven runes of protection, not a surprise considering who the robes were from. He had pulled his thick, silky hair back in the silver ribbon taken from the scroll his mate had fooled him with in Mme Malkin's store nearly a month ago. The romantics in the Hall sighed to see his pale skin seem to glow softly as if kissed by the moonlight gleaming from his inky black eyes. He was a far cry from the sallow-skinned, greasy man of last year.

The entire Hall was transfixed by his transformation, staring at him, making it impossible to pick out his mate amongst the masses. Harry, for his part, was mesmerized. He'd never expected his mate to be so beautiful. He swallowed loudly and sent a panicked look at the twins, who quickly covered for him. Laughing uproariously as if they had pranked their friend, they swept him up and deposited him in his seat. Fred leaned over to whisper in his ear:

"Do you think the rumors of Dumbledore and Filch are really true?"

Oh, yuk. Well, that mostly took care of his problem. The visual, combined with the mention of the Headmaster enabled him to calm down enough to pay attention to something other than his mate's sublime beauty. Unfortunately, what caught his attention were the drooling, predatory gazes and whispers of his fellow students. Only the twins' hands on his arms prevented him from leaping up and hexing every single one of them temporarily blind and impotent - with oddly shaped rashes in inconvenient places. The enchanted ceiling turned dark and stormy in response to his magic.

Finally, everyone settled down to listen to the first year sorting and Dumbledore's welcoming speech. Harry took one look at the man and decided that he didn't want to hear the sanctimonious bastard's hypocrisy. He turned to his circle and smiled. They nodded back to him, wishing him good luck quietly before sitting back to watch as Harry climbed up to stand on his seat.

A quick Sonorous on himself, and Harry began. "In accordance with regulation thirteen of the founder's rules of this school, I, Harrison James Potter; demand to be resorted." He smiled at Hermione, thanking her for casting the Quietus spell for him.

A wave of silence flowed outwards from his position. Harry Potter, the ultimate Gryffindor, Dumbledore's Golden Boy wanted to be resorted? Was he even allowed to do that? Most were too dumbstruck to notice his friends' quiet support, but a few did, and wondered.

"Finally realized you're a Hufflepuff Potty," came the sarcastic voice of Malfoy. "Or do you think you're too good for the Gryffindorks?"