Blood Bonds

Chp 23: The beginning of the end

It was a long six hours before all the teachers and Aurors were free of Dumbledore’s spells. Each victim joined the power circle as they slowly became cleared; adding their magic to assist in containing and diverting the magic that Harry’s circle fed to him, speeding the process. By the time Professor McGonagall, as the most affected, stepped into the centre of the circle, Harry was riding a tsunami of power, walking a delicate razor’s edge in order to control the god-like power under his command. It was exhilarating, it was enthralling, and it was seductively addictive. It was also incredibly dangerous. It was only his own raw power and ability that enabled him to maintain the balance and direct the magic to do his bidding, rather than burning him out. If the enormous power whipping through him gained control, the resulting surge could destroy the greater part of the United Kingdom. He fought to dampen the heady sense of absolute power pouring through his blood; to not seize the ultimate dominance offered to him. Help came in the form of Fawkes; perched on his shoulder, lending his strength to bolster his master’s in the absence of Severus.

Finally, with a burst of light, it was done. Exhausted again, Harry released the borrowed magic with a more than a slight hint of reluctance and sat down on the floor with a sigh. He had prevailed. Although the memory of that beguiling energy would stay with him, it had already begun to fade, bringing with it a returning sense of his own morality. He smiled tiredly as he looked at his like-wise exhausted circle. “By the goddess; that was a rush.”

Laughter surrounded him; nervous energy temporarily replacing that which was lost. He smiled at his circle, noting how tired they all were. “Thank you, all of you. We’ve taken victory that much further away from Dumbledore today. Go; get some rest with my gratitude. Remus, would you stay please?” His friends nodded and slowly left the room, most of them staggering slightly; the twins supporting Ginny between them.

Harry got to his feet and surveyed the remaining people. “Now, shall we talk?”
 

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The Room of Requirement shone with starlight amongst the forest trees. Neither feeling that they would be welcomed in the other’s common room, Draco and Neville had dragged themselves up the seven flights of stairs to the room. Neville had watched as Draco paced back and forward in front of the door, concentrating hard. After the third lap, he stopped and, with a nervous look on his face, offered his hand to his boyfriend.

Neville had taken his hand silently, his innate shyness threatening to overwhelm him. The blond-haired man smiled as he opened the door. The view inside made Neville gasp aloud. It was beautiful. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, but the soft rugs lying on dew-kissed grass under oak trees, and the bright, starry night had not been on his list. The Ice Prince of Slytherin was a romantic, who would have guessed? The whole room was beautiful and romantic, and so very thoughtful. How did Draco Malfoy know of Neville’s affinity for nature? More to the point, how could he understand it in the way shown here?

Draco sat on the rugs and waited for his boyfriend to come to him, watching as his soul mate explored the room in awe. He’d been watching Neville for some time, even before he’d known of Potter’s circle, but he’d never known why, always passing it off as ‘know thy enemy’. Now that he knew of their bond, he understood the pull he’d always felt, but never been free to express. He could feel the trepidation in the other man, and had instinctively known that the forest setting would help set him at ease. His Neville was special, like but not like, Potter. Where Potter was a born leader, powerful and strong, Neville’s quieter strength lay in his inner peace, his strong foundations.

Neville, meanwhile, was standing in the little clearing, marveling at the life-likeness of it all. He looked around for the Slytherin, a radiant smile lighting up his face when he spotted him. That smile stole Draco’s breath from his body and sent a rush of awareness through him. How did he, Draconis Lucius Malfoy, get so lucky as to be bonded to such a beautiful soul? With his family, and the history between the two, there should never have been any chance of them coming to this point. He silently thanked Potter for bringing them here, for without him, none of this would be happening.