Into the Arms of the Night

Chapter 11: The Elves of the Emerald Grove

The Yule holidays had flown by for Harry. Time had seemed to move so much more quickly than he ever had realized before; especially now that he had certain gifts that allowed him to sense magic as he did, and even while knowing time waited for no one person. Him and Tom being two very rare cases of exception for the whole of the human race.

The ritual Harry had performed at the gathering had not gone off as smoothly as he had hoped it would have. They had lost too many people due to their inner base natures and...bad tendencies, habits, or whatever from their previous lives before joining the Death Eaters for it not to have gone badly. Far too many of the Outer Circle had tried to leave their chosen partners to have a go at Harry; to try and claim him away from Tom.

The rite he had performed; it did bind their group of followers to both Harry and Tom more profoundly than before. Most of those that remained were glad not to have been among the others who had strayed, but the actual binding process of the ritual did not occur until both were certain all those who had tried to claim Harry had been refused and dealt with.

Harry and Tom both had not expected the ritual to force them to respond either; though they should have. It was a Dark arts ritual after all, and one that took power from one source and channeled it to another before being divided between the new source and the original.

Tom's fierce mana had filled with anger and lust nearly immediately as those who strayed came forth; amplified by incorruptible darkness as much as his sheer display of possessiveness of Harry. It had sent many to an early grave for daring to touch what was not theirs.

The ritual had effectively weeded out those they potentially could not trust; the ones who were present at this time and both were aware that the rite would need modified. It had not been designed to do this, but Harry wanted to utilize it to be more useful; to use it to vet the newcomers to the group in order to see if they could be trusted.

What happened this time was unfortunate, but also merely an unforeseen side-affect.

Lord Death, who had deigned to show himself for the proceeding and proved the Peverell legends of their connection to him as true; his presence there among them all had sent most reeling. It became clear that the deity only conversed and socialized with those he saw as worthy; outside of Harry himself, that was not a lot of people.

It had made some rather rankled; they had hoped to converse to what they saw as a 'god' in order to get closer to Harry and to understand him. Because Harry was now as close to a divine being in their eyes by the association. When Death refused to even glance their way...it set some mixed feelings about the atmosphere of the ballroom.

It was noted that Lord Death also seemed to have a certain dislike and disdain for Lord Voldemort; though no one dared to voice it aloud. Beyond that, he had brought along the spirits of many former witches and wizards to bask in the power of the rite as he too did.

Tom had become ferocious at keeping Harry as far from his patron deity as possible. Death merely smirking to the possessive and warning ruby gaze. The ancient being knew the Dark Lord would desire to try and keep his Champion away that night of all nights.

If anyone had busted into the grand ball room of the fortress that night without invitation; they likely would have died from shock due to heart failure. By the time the food and dancing had cleared from the floors as all were full and intent on relaxing; the magical power to the room was high.

But despite the rampant feel of the mana; it was set at a low boil at best.

The relaxation time was the hardest part of all; for all who had partners for the rite...they had to be separated to cleanse their bodies and minds for what would occur. Meaning they could not stay together at that time due to the troubles it could cause, nor could they give in to the more sensuous thoughts and acts that the Yule traditions bring about.