Furry Magic

Title: Furry Magic, chapter 10

Disclaimer: They belong to JK Rowling. Except the OC\'s.

Lucius looked up as Amrys and Graeme walked into his resting room. The long haired man preceded the short haired one. Lucius did not see why at first, then Amrys moved out from behind the Tres.

Amrys was covered with clots, smears and streaks of dried blood. He met Lucius\' eyes hotly. Lucius sighed inwardly.

\"Your blood or her blood?\" The leopard king asked. Letting his gaze run over the body of his Des, searching for the wounds, cataloging how much blood there was. He held out a hand, rising to his feet. He led the two other lycanthropes into the private bathing area.

\"Mostly not mine, she was cut, so some is hers, the largest measure is from those who demanded the opportunity to correct each other\'s view of her place in the pride.\" Amrys admitted wryly, trailing after his king. Lucius gestured for him to sit.

Amrys sat on the edge of the deep pool, dangling his feet into the water, and Graeme lay on the stone lip, stretching out his long, lithe body. Lucius reached for a towel and wet it. Began bathing the body of his second.

\"How many wished to correct one another? And how were you wounded? Did she wound you?\" Lucius asked as he used the wet cloth to clean away the blood, running it over every inch of visible skin. Graeme watched with half-closed eyes. His hair was spread out around him across the rough stone floor, like a cape of reddish waves.

\"She had a knife hidden in her skirt, she struck one of those who disagreed with her view. I removed the knife, but the fight was on by then. No weapons, teeth and claws only. Some of the younger pride members, not skilled fighters yet. She lashed out with the knife. She cut me before I knocked it away. Shallow, not serious, my king. She splashed me with her own blood. And then I separated the fighters.\" Amrys tried to sound nonchalant, but Lucius shook his head and Amrys hung his.

\"How many fought?\" The king asked.

\"Six. Their injuries are painful, but not fatal, my king. I made certain they would remember the cost of fighting.\" Amrys told the taller, heavier man, jaw set.

\"Were you inattentive? Distracted from the fight, that you were injured yourself?\" Lucius moved the cloth over the cuts, bathing them thoroughly. He nodded towards the water.

\"In.\" He ordered. His sister was not above using poison to taint her knife. Unlikely as she also cut herself, and would in any case suffer more than any lycanthrope she cut, but not impossible. She was devious, and determined that she would eventually get her way. Amrys obeyed the order, slipping into the water and letting it soak into his skin, his cuts stinging mildly. He answered Lucius\' question.

\"No. They were determined to inflict damage. On each other and on me. I did not want to permit them to harm her or to let her harm herself by attacking them. She is the heir\'s Mother.\" Now the defiance, made necessary by the knowledge he had made an error in judgment. Lucius leaned down and pulled Amrys nearer so he could continue to clean the wounds. He said nothing for a few long minutes, letting Amrys stew.

Lucius had found the lacerations under the blood, a thin streak across the top of Amrys\' chest, long scratches down his arms, a faint one across his throat. Not serious, that was true. But....Lucius pursed his lips hard. His eyes were hot silver when he looked up.

\"And if she precipitated the fight did she not deserve to take some of the damage? Am I in error to presume she egged the fighters on? I will not have you take the consequences of her actions, Des. That is not what role you play, are we understood?\" Lucius said quietly, firm. His hand gripped the tanned face, turned it so their eyes met, and held, the shared gaze holding great weight.

\"Yes, my king.\" Amrys admitted reluctantly, looking int the eyes of his king. Lucius grimaced at the hangdog _expression, the shame. He dunked his Des under the surface of the water. Held him under for a split second. Then let him rise, short hair dripping. Graeme regarded them upside down, face solemn. One leg now dangled into the pool.

\"I can not have such things happening.\" Lucius said. \"Not even to protect the person of the heir\'s Mother. Next time you will not risk damage from protecting her from her own foolishness. It is not a minor thing. She seeks to undermine my power. You are a large part of that power, Amrys. She will not succeed in her attempts to remove you.\" Lucius reminded the man.

\"I understand, my king.\" Amrys answered immediately. He raised his hand up to place it over the one that still held his chin.

\"I should not need to tell you this. You are listening Graeme?\" The king asked sternly.

\"I am listening, my king.\" Graeme replied silky smooth. He blinked his blue eyes with deceptive laziness, and rolled onto his stomach.

\"Good. I will not expect to tell you again.\" Lucius tossed the bloodstained towel aside. \"There has been a witness found to the last attack and killing. She swore under veritaserum that she saw me walk from the site.\" Lucius looked up to meet their intent eyes. He saw shock on both faces.

\"She passed the questioning, she is telling the truth. Dumbledore has expressed his... concern.\" Lucius\' lips curled, baring one long fang.

\"Lucius?\" Graeme asked, no longer reclining, but upright. Brow wrinkling in worry. he crept closer on all fours, sinuous, graceful instead of human-ly awkward.

\"I can not explain it. But, I know it was not me, not under spell, nor compulsion. It is not possible. And I have more than enough witnesses to that effect. I was at the gathering when this one attack occurred. I am not so great a wizard that I could fool so many. I could not be the two places at once. I have told Dumbledore of this. He has confirmed it with interrogation of some of the pride. He is satisfied for now.\" The leopard king, snarled silently. \"But, I will not allow some one to continue to impersonate me. And to kill while in my guise.\"

The three heads suddenly lifted in unison and turned towards the doorway. Lucius stood.

\"Yes, Tanith?\" He called out, \"I am here.\" An older woman came into the doorway of the bathing room. Her dark hair was touched with grey, her face lightly lined with the marks of age.

\"Sire,\" She bowed her neck to him. He returned the gesture.

\"I am not the Sire, Seer Tanith. I am merely the king. I am not the Father of the heir.\" He reminded her, but gently, with indulgence.

\"But for a cruel trick played on you, you would be Sire.\" She corrected him without rancor. Her chin lifted.

He smiled at her with honest affection. \"How may I help you, Seer?\"

\"Three of the human women have come to me. They seek to be turned. They say it is only right that they be given the right to choose, just as the men are given.\" The Seer responded.

\"And have they children among them? Are they barren?\" Lucius inquired. Watching her face as she answered him.

\"Between them there are four children. One is barren, she has not bred despite attempts to carry. The medi-witch is certain she can not.\" Tanith told him, she watched as Graeme stirred and reached out to run a hand over Amrys\' back while the Des floated in the pool.

\"The one who is barren, does she have your support?\" He took in her nod. \"Then she may have the choice. The other two I will meet with. Bring them to me tomorrow. I will decide. Is there more, Seer?\"

\"No. No more, Sire.\" She inclined her head. He reached out and cupped her face with genuine affection.

\"Then I have more personal matters to see to. My son is approaching.\" He had one ear cocked, picking up the light footsteps of his human son.


Draco passed the stout woman leaving his father\'s resting room. She inclined her head in a motion so at ease, it was regal. He returned her nod. Tanith, the female\'s Seer. She had been a second mother to him when he was young, before his mother\'s deception had been found out. Now, they passed each other without speaking. There was no anger there, just overwhelming sorrow and disappointment. The pain was too great for them to be at ease with one another.

\"Draco.\" His father embraced him. Draco saw the blood on his arms.

\"What has happened?\" The young man exclaimed, anxiously.

\"It is less than nothing. Do not worry. Would you care to bathe?\" Lucius offered.

\"No. I came to see my Mother. But I wanted to visit you first. I have missed seeing you. I have to get back to Hogwarts soon. The Headmaster has a curfew set.\"

\"Yes. Though the attacks have not occurred late at night it seems a wise precaution. Take an escort with you when you return. I wish them to remain with you until the killer is caught.\" Lucius held his son against him.

\"I will be fine.\" Draco assured his father.

\"I wish you to be safe.\" Lucius insisted. \"Take them. Perhaps Yaji and Mantheer?\" He named off two of Draco\'s favorite\'s. The two men doted on him. Treated him as royalty. Spoiled him at every opportunity.

Draco mock sighed. \"Oh well, if I must.\" His grin belied his words.

\"Good.\" Lucius smoothed the pale hair of his son back off his forehead. \"Use caution. Trust no one. Now I must attend to the problems of the pride....\" He leaned in and kissed Draco\'s cheek.

Draco fought to keep the spike of pain off of his face. Once he would have been included. As training to take over the pride some day. He forced the hurt away as he watched Lucius disappear into the bathing room.

As he turned to leave, Draco saw the bloodied towel. He fought down his guilt as he grabbed it and wrapped it in his robe to conceal it.

Professor Trelawny\'s vision had prophesied that it was possible for him to be turned once his curse was lifted. To do that she needed the blood of Draco\'s father. Her spell would weaken his mother\'s blood within his body, and strengthen his father\'s. Thus the curse would fall. And Draco would be turned. Draco would be the heir, and his father would no longer be disappointed in him. He hurried out of the room.


Andromeda held the scrying bowl in her two hands. She set the brimming bowl on the altar. Very carefully she measured out three tiny drops of the serum. And she waved her wand over the suddenly milky surface. She blew a breath across the surface and whispered the name of the one she sought.

\"Syyybbiiill.........\" She breathed, more a thought than a sound. And the features of the Hogwarts\' divination\'s teacher appeared in the surface of the water.

\"Draco has obtained more blood, He is bringing it to you.\"

The worried lines on the professor\'s face smoothed out, and she smiled. \"Ah, good. Our plan is moving along well. Very well indeed.\"

ne\'ichan
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