Hidden Gray

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone!! This will be the last chapter for at least a month, I\'ll warn you now!! January and March are surprisingly 2 of my busiest months because there are lots of Con.s in March and new classes in January, so be patient please! ^^

CH.10
~GraY

As Harry had assumed Hermione and Ron were in the library. He sighed and transfigured his clothes to look like his usual school uniform before going near enough for them to notice him though as usual Hermione was captivated by some book or another and Ron was pretending to study another but really reading the Quiditch magazine he was hiding behind it out of the muggle born’s view. Diegara had snorted at the human male. The red head had always irritated him to no end. There was so much potential in him but the boy just ignored it!
“You sound like Snape, Die.” Harry stated bluntly with a bit of amusement.

“There are worst things to sound like than a potential mate.” The cobra retorted. By now their conversation had drawn attention and Harry told the changeling to be quiet.

“Hey Harry! Where’ve you been mate?” Ron asked putting aside the book and magazine sparing the cobra around his friends neck a cautious look.

Harry shrugged and sat down between the pair at the table, “Around.”

“You weren’t in the common room when we got back, or here, so we assumed you were in the tower thinking.” Hermione said not looking very happy about the fact.

“Yeah, lots of thinking.” Harry sighed and picked up the book Hermione had been reading.

“Well, what were you thinking about?” Ron asked after a pause.

“Lots of things.” Harry said as he scanned the book. It was about dragon lore and other unsolved mysteries about the dragon kin, one of the focal points being Dragoons. This concerned Harry a bit not sure if Hermione was merely reading the book out of boredom or was genuinely interested, which could be bad for him and Diegara.

“Well what sorts of things?” Hermione asked with a bit more force. Harry looked up at her, a fire passing over his eyes as he decided what to do.

“I over heard Dumbledor talking with a few of the professors.” He lied smoothly. “Something about some new students and a permanent DADA teacher.”

“Finally!” Ron burst happily, “He’s gonna replace that idiot!”

“Is Remus going to be teaching us again?” Hermione asked seeming hopeful.

“No. Someone knew, I don’t remember his name though.” Harry said this time honestly. Remus wasn’t teaching, Serpentine was, but Harry doubted the man would be using that name so he really didn’t know.

“Oh. Well, I’ve got a project to work on and Ron has some studying to do. Did you finish all of your work Harry?” Hermione watched him closely.

“Yeah. I finished it this morning.”

“Oh. Well, your welcome to stay, a little more studying never hurts.” Hermione seemed insistent, but Harry was hoping to convince Diegara to take him out for a while that afternoon if only to get the changeling’s mind off his Potions Professor.

“Actually Snape said he would help me with potions once he was finished grading some papers. So I’ll just head down to the dungeons.” Harry said a bit quickly.

“That’s to bad mate, you could’ve kept me from dying of boredom!” Ron grinned at him and Hermione rolled her eyes.

“Well, it’s good to hear your getting some help. Will we see you at dinner? You missed breakfast.” Hermione seemed concerned and Harry smiled reassuringly as possible.

“I’m not sure. It’ll depend on Snape.” Hermione nodded and Harry decided to leave while he could.

Like he had said Harry went back down to the dungeons. He stopped to talk with snakes that guarded Snape’s room and found out that their master and Remus weren’t back yet. This had sent Diegara into a hissing rant that Harry simply ignored as he entered his Professor’s rooms. The griffindor sat Diegara down on one of the chairs in front of the fire place and head toward the room they had stayed in the night before. After being placed in the chair the cobra had once again become the stunning human specimen Harry knew so well. Metallic eyes flashed as the lean young man dashed after his brother.

“And another thing, if that red headed human of yours doesn’t shape up I might be tempted to bite him!” The changeling complained as he leaned against the door jam and watched Harry move about the room looking for something.

“Diegara, do you think what I have on would be suitable for a trip to London?” Harry suddenly asked.

“Yeah. You look fine though I might be persuaded to change. Do you honestly think we have enough time for a trip?” Diegara’s whole face lit up. While he would never admit it, one of his hidden pleasures lay in shopping, though if anyone payed him even an ounce of attention they would figure that out all on their own.

“Just a short one mind you, but yeah. I’d like a new out fit for our next meeting with your friends.” Harry said.

“They’re your friends too ya know. The fact that you and Severus were able to get to Haven, even with my help is quite a feat!”

“Yeah, why is that Diegara?” Harry asked as he walked past him back into the common room.

“Well, Haven is sort of a ‘by invite only’ kind of town. It helps keep everyone there safe. You know that most of them are pretty desperate for a safe place to call home.” Diegara followed Harry over to Snape’s fire place.

“Yeah, a lot of them practice the old ways, and some are lycanthropes or illegal animagi; I know there are other reasons too...” Harry’s voice trailed off.

“Yes, most of the wizards there practice dark magick along with light. Then there are those like Serpentine who’s lifestyles aren’t excepted even despite the wizarding world’s considerable lenience. Then there are others who could probably live out here or even in the muggle world but their families have been in Haven since it’s start. So you see there’s all sorts there, not just the outcastes, anyone is welcome as long as they are pure of heart and trust worthy. Heck, that’s the only reason I can think of that you and Sev got in, seeing as I didn’t put in a formal request with the council! They can be thick headed old coots when they want to be.” Diegara winked. Harry chuckled and shook his head.

“Yeah well if you want to change you better hurry up! We’re running out of time.” Harry smiled as Diegara’s clothes shimmered and were replaced but a new ensemble.

Lithe legs we encased in tight black jean, with a belt of black leather and a double row of silver pyramids barely clutching to his trim hips. A black sleeveless shirt covered his chest with the anarchy symbol displayed proudly on the front in red. It was cut off at just the length to show off Diegara’s beautiful abs and silver cobra belly ring when he moved right and beneath it was his favorite mesh shirt with the right sleeve cut to elbow length.

A darkly beaded collar of black, blues, purples and crimsons was around his neck with a silver cross dangling down to the nape of his collar bone. He had every hole in his ears filled, the two bottom holes with blue and black hoop-gages followed by silver crosses. There were two silver hoops, one with a red bead, in his left eyebrow and a blue stud in his right. A simple silver ring decorated his lip and a spider clutched to his tongue Harry noticed as Diegara stuck his tongue out at him playfully. Then on his right hand was his famous black widow ring and bracelet set with a silver ring on his thumb that had an onyx cross embedded in it.

Harry laughed at the Changeling nature[1] showing through his friend’s usually high defenses as he fluttered long lashes and struck a rather girly pose for Harry. “Are you going to do your makeup or just go like that?” Harry asked almost afraid of the answer because even looking like that Diegara was bound to turn heads.

“Well...” Diegara contemplated for a second then with a wave of his hand a thin layer of eyeliner appeared as did a bit of mocha lip gloss, “ That should do. After all I only intend to stir things up a bit, not be the cause of heart attacks! Now change your clothes again, little brother, and we can go.”

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Harry flicked his wand and he was back in the leather turtleneck-vest and tight jeans Diegara had given him earlier. “There, much better don’t you think Die?”

“A little addition, if you don’t mind Harry?” Diegara gently took his chin in hand, waved his hand and Harry’s eyes were also accented in black with a sprinkle of silver frosting his lips. His scar was also gone and his hair was styled back and spiked, ends a dark, almost natural looking red. “There! You look like an angel straight from hell!” Diegara laughed at his blasphemous statement murmuring, “Oh but what a lovely hellion you make.”

Harry smiled, his eyes blazing as he gazed into the mirror Diegara produced out of no where. He had to admit that his friend was right. He looked beautiful, but dangerous. The power radiating from him was enough to make most pause but the clothes and make up only enhanced the feelings his powerful magick invoked, also making them more tangible to muggles who lacked in magickal sensitivity. Still he was rather fond of this look.

“I love it! Thank you Diegara, are we ready to go now?” Diegara nodded and they flooed to a club Diegara knew of in London called Crimson Wings.

Back W/ Everyone’s favorite Potions Master And Werewolf

It had taken only half an hour to explain Diegara’s plan to the best of their ability, unfortunately many questions and uncertainties remained. Remus eventually had to settle for telling Mitchel and the girls to come by Rosie’s on the next Saturday and they would all meet, the entire group. to finalize the plan. Mitchel had agreed to this and after a round of goodbyes he and Severus had made their leave. Since they couldn’t apparate to the outside of Haven they settled for returning to town and flooing back to Hodwarts after visiting the Koven brothers who were on the other side of town, contrary to Diegra’s earlier assumption. It turned out that the boy’s had moved there after the expansion of the town the summer before not wanting to be to close to the relative hustle and bustle.

“I know of a lovely café that allows you to floo to pretty much anywhere, including the Koven residence.” Remus said. The werewolf seemed strangely happy here in this odd little corner of the world. Even despite Sirius Black’s demise, the sadness of which could still be seen in the depths of Lupin’s eyes, the sharpness of the pain seemed to have been dulled a bit.

Severus was about to respond when a voice in a pitch he knew all to well from working with those insolent brats at Hogwarts interrupted him. It called Remus’ name a few times before the owner appeared out of the crowd in the form of a boy of about thirteen or fourteen with an older boy around nineteen or twenty on his heels. The younger boy had chestnut brown hair, part of which was pulled back into a pony tail high on his head and tipped in a blood red color, te rest hung down to his shoulders also tipped in red. His eyes were a spectacular blue-violet and by the cunningly intelligent look in them the boy had to be a Slytherin, Snape thought to himself. He could be an interesting addition to those brats he taught at Hogwarts.

“Sinka! I’m glad I ran into you. Where are your parents?” Remus looked around hoping to spot them but there was only Sinka’s older brother, Char, standing next to him silently.

“They went to Rosy’s. Guess what?! I passed my Assassin Trials so I’m only five more years away from becoming a Master Assassin like my pop!” Sinka chirped happily, Char rolled his eyes.

“That’s great and what about your big brother? I believe his final Thief Trials were recently as well.” Remus asked. The other boy looked a lot like Sinka just with short, solid brown hair and more bluish eyes. He also turned away looking quite unhappy and unwilling to tell them what had happened.

“Oh, he failed ‘em, and I mean really bombed ‘em! He’s going to apprentice under uncle Shai, mama’s brother, for another five years or so.” Sinka said turning laughing eyes on his older brother who glared sharply at him in return.

“That’s to bad. I heard you were hoping to move to the Americas after your trials.” Remus said frowning.

“Yeah. There is a faction of the Thieves clan our mother was in over there that is willing to take me in no questions asked, aside from the necessary of course.” Char said.

“Yeah but now he’s screwed that one up so we’re prolly stuck with ‘em forever!” Sinka said feigning unhappiness. Remus chuckled.

“Well, Rosy should tell your parents what I was going to tell them so that’s done with. Now Severus and I have to get going. Oh, I almost forgot, this is Professor Severus Snape, of Hogwarts.” Remus said. Char nodded politely and Sinka grinned up at the man.

“It’s nice to meet you but as Remus said, we have to be going as well.” Char said.

“I’ll see you later then. Goodbye Char, Sinka it was wonderful seeing you boys again!” Remus said.

“Later Moony!” Sinka said as they parted ways.

“That was... interesting.” Severus muttered. Remus rolled his eyes.

“Be nice. They’re good boys and Sinka will make a fine addition to your snake den I’m sure.” Remus said as they approached the café. Severus lifted a curious eyebrow at the man. “What? You don’t have to be a sorting hat to know where that little rascal is going to end up!”

“I see. You do seem to know these people quite well.” Snape said as they walked over to the hearth. Remus nodded and smiled sadly.

“I do and Sinka is so very much like Sirius. He just knows when a joke has gone to far and he never gets caught.” Remus smiled a little as he got a hand full of floo powder. “I think that if he had known someone like Sinka in his life during school things between you and Sirius may have been different. Hell things between all of us would have been different! If Sinka goes to Hogwarts he’s going to bring change with him, him and the rest of these kids. They\'re going to bring a lot of change I bet...” Remus clearly spoke Koven Household and threw the powder into the fire before stepping in, not waiting for a response from the Professor.

Severs stood for a second in a bit shaken before following after Remus. He stumbled out into a simply decorated living room. The house looked to be about the same size as the O’Ryane’s just simpler and less lived in. It was clean as a hospital with darker decor and a more earthy feel. There was a well worn sofa across from the fireplace with a large, open window behind it. Between the front door and the sofa against the wall was a small table with a stain glass shaded lamp on it. Then on the other end of the couch in the corner was a tall bird rest big enough for an eagle. In front of the sofa was a low coffee table much like the O’Ryane’s with a lovely runner down the middle. The long cloth had a phoenix embroidered in the center surrounded by a ring of fire and a dragon on either end. There was a single large chair between the hearth and table made of soft, black leather. Severus turned to look at the pictures hanging on the remaining wall across from the staircase leading to the second story. There were two or three photos, only one of which he could see was a wizarding photograph, of a family of four including the standard mother, and father with two boys, brothers. They all seemed very happy but the rest of the dozen or more pictures were only of the two boys and only about half of those dozen or so were wizarding photographs.

“They must be out. I know Halo tends to get restless around the quarter moons.” Remus pulled Severus attention away from the wall as the werewolf came into the room from the kitchen.

“So we wait?” Severus asked not very fond of the idea, after all Merlin only knew how long they could end up sitting here.

“Looks like it I’m afraid.” Remus sighed and sat down on the couch.

“Oh joy...” Severus muttered sarcastically and turned back to the photographs on the wall.

TBC....

Don\'t worry Warqon your getting that shopping trip!! Hell that\'s what most of the next chapter is going to be... I think anyway... we\'ll see if I do that or the brothers first. heh heh

[1] By nature changelings are very, well, impish is the best word I can think of to describe them in a nut shell... They’re tricksters but really deep down quite innocent creatures. And while they thrive on interaction, not necessarily direct attention, but involvement and mental stimulation, they are very ‘behind the scenes’ inclined. ‘Better heard and not seen’ is there moto, however, over the years interspecies mating has toned down they’re almost ghastly tenancies if you know what I mean! ^^ So now you get ‘halflings’ like Diegara who are almost uncharacteristically outgoing and/or serious compared to the majority of Changeling kind.Mind you that almost all of his outgoing and seriousness comes from his Dragoon father. The Dragoon are a very structured people though even they have their \'rouges\'. The most famous group of \'Rouges\' actually organized itself into it\'s own clan, the Anital. They are best know for their stealth and, more recently, welding skills