Indago:3

Chapter Thirteen

Harry shut the door on Hagrid’s hut with a final goodbye to Fang. The poor animal was somewhat distraught without Hagrid there, but Harry didn’t mind visiting the old dog. He was glad to see that Fang was still up and moving around and thumping his tail against the floorboards in greeting. Stepping down onto the path, Harry mentally reviewed the day’s lesson plan. Nothing different from the day before, really, but teaching children was new for him. Teaching his daughter in such a formal setting was even more so.

“Dad.”

Harry looked up and saw Azeas sitting on a boulder just off the trail. “It’s early. What are you doing here?” Harry asked with a smile while moving closer.

“I was waiting for you. I knew you would take care of the groundskeeper’s hut before breakfast.” Azeas’ face was nearly always serious and Harry tried to get a smile out of him as usual by ruffling his hair. And, as usual, Azeas just watched him with solemn eyes.

“Are you feeling lonely?” Harry asked as he sat down next to his son. “I don’t imagine it’s pleasant to not only be separated from your family but to also be away from Bran.”

“I’m fine. Bran and I are fraternal twins, not identical, and do not feel we share the same thoughts or feelings.”

Harry bit back a smile. “I see. But you have been together since birth.”

“Since conception, actually. But I’m not lonely. Sev gave me quite a few books yesterday and my housemates want to borrow them, so I have become quite popular,” Azeas explained. He looked up at Harry with a certain look that Harry knew the boy was troubled. “But I don’t think Bran is doing so well.”

Harry frowned. “No? Has he said something?”

“No. But one of the boys in my room has a sister in Gryffindor and he was telling me that there was a fight last night. And that Bran was involved.”

“What?” Harry said with alarm. “Bran was in a fight? I didn’t hear anything!”

“They kept it quiet and Professor McGonagall was kept in the dark. But my friend said that Bran took on a sixth year.”

A ball of dread began to form in Harry’s stomach. “A sixth year?”

Azeas nodded. “Yes. Bran wouldn’t talk to me this morning when I went to find him. But he was angry. And when Bran is angry he does stupid things. I thought I had better warn you.”

“Yes, thank you, Az.” Harry gave him a quick hug and dropped a kiss on his hair. Azeas was the only one of the children who would let Harry do that anymore. Nothing much fazed Azeas.

Azeas stood up. “Are you enjoying your temporary position? Do you get to put a lot of people in detention?”

Harry snorted. “That’s not the point of teaching, you know?”

“I know,” Azeas answered with a small upturning of his lips. “I just wanted you to smile. You seemed upset.”

Grabbing Azeas, Harry tugged him into a hug. “Thank you,” he whispered. He pulled back and looked up into his son’s face. “I want you to stick to the other Ravenclaws, all right? If any sixth years come around you, just leave and find a teacher. I don’t want you in a fight, too.”

“Fighting is a ridiculous waste of energy, Dad,” Azeas retorted dismissively and stepped back. “I’ve told Bran that, but he doesn’t listen.”

“I’ll talk to him. Just make sure that you stay away from any confrontations. Are you still planning on spending the hour after dinner every night with Sev?”

“Yes. He is going to give me extra assignments so that I can become better in my subjects.”

Harry smiled. “Good. I’m very proud of you, Azeas.”

“I know. Have a good day, Dad.” Azeas began walking back toward the castle.

“You too, love,” Harry called after him. “Oh, and Az? Make sure you have fun, too!”

Azeas stopped and cocked his head to the side in confusion. “But I am.”



“Bran, wait.”

Bran stopped walking down the hall and turned towards Harry’s voice. Immediately his jaw tightened and red bloomed on his cheeks.

“Good morning, Professor,” the three boys with Bran chimed in, their eyes wide in excitement.

“Good morning, boys. Can I have a word alone with your friend here?” Harry asked with a smile.

“Dad! You’re embarrassing me!” Bran hissed out as soon as his friends were out of earshot. “You said you wouldn’t be following me around!”

“Were you in a fight last night?” Harry demanded, cutting right to the chase.

Bran’s eyes narrowed and his lips became white as he pressed them together tightly. “I’m gonna kill Azeas!” he growled.

“No, you’re not. Bran! What are you thinking?” Harry exclaimed. “Why would you think fighting would be a good idea?”

“She got me mad about what she was saying!”

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Kellas O’Neill.”

“Yeah! She just… She just irritates me! Calling me a kid and such!” Bran said angrily.

“You are a kid,” Harry pointed out. “What else did she say?”

Bran looked around as if searching for the answer. “She just… She just says stuff and it makes me mad. She acts as if she’s so much better than everyone else!”

Harry frowned and stepped a bit closer. “When did she start making you mad?”

“I don’t know, she just did and she didn’t have the right to come in last night and look at me like she did.”

Harry sighed. “Bran… just stay away from her if she makes you mad. That shouldn’t be hard. You are in different years, different classes, and different dorms. Just stay away from her. And if I hear of you in another fight, I am not going to be happy and you’ll see how badly I can embarrass you,” Harry threatened in a hard voice. Bran scrunched up his face and stomped away in anger.

“I can understand why you keep them in the dark, but don’t you think it’s about time to shine some light?”

Harry spun around and slammed his back against the stone wall. He peered down the dark and small corridor nearest him. Out of the shadows Kellas O’Neill stepped, her face calm. She stopped far enough away, but Harry still didn’t like her proximity or her inconspicuous entrance.

“He’s coming into his own and doesn’t quite ken to me,” she continued softly.

“Leave him alone. Leave all of them alone,” Harry demanded as he straightened.

“He started the whole business. And I’ve never backed away from a fight in me life.” She smiled and winked. “But I was easy on him. He’s just a babby, isn’t he?”

“You lay a hand on him and I’ll-“

“Oh, aye, I know what you are capable of, Harry Potter,” she interrupted. “Did you know we wrote a song about you? It was a fair bit popular. I even helped in the writing of it.” She took another step closer. “I’ve also read about your run in with a few wolves both here in school and a few years later.”

“You need to go to class!” Harry snapped.

“You skinned that Yank alive, didn’t you?” she asked casually. “I read the report that Severus Snape wrote. He didn’t publish it, but I have a way of gettin’ privileged information.”

“Miss O’Neill, you are going to be late for class. I advise you to move along.”

“I don’t mind being late. All of this is old hat for me anyway,” she explained. “My tutor was a fine English woman who was quite happy with my thirst fer knowledge. I may only be in my sixth year here, but I assure you I could pass my N.E.W.T.s with Os if I’ve a mind to.”

“There are still rules to follow, Miss O’Neill!” Harry was not happy with this situation. He didn’t want this confrontation and was ashamed to admit that he was terrified that she would take a step closer. His only option at that moment was to either run from a sixteen year old or try to force her into moving along before she got too close and blocked his only escape route. But the Supero knew she had the upper hand and didn’t seem to be in the mood to be obliging. Her next words confirmed it.

“I’m not really interested in the rules. I’m more interested in having a bit of a conversation with you, if you don’t mind.”

“I do!”

“Ye see, I think you might have the wrong impression about me,” she continued without a pause. “I’m a good person and already have a right fine income. My parents love me as do my cousins and all. I’m right likable.”

“Trotting out your virtues is not going to change my mind!” Harry snapped. “I want you to stay away from my family!”

“Oh, I know you do. And having learned all I can about you, it’s right understandable.” Kellas nodded and smiled. “But you can’t think you can hide her away from the world, do ye?”

“I don’t need to hide her from the world. Just you!”

“Oh? And what of the others?”

Harry narrowed his eyes. “What others?”

“The others like me that are gonna be comin’ out of the woodwork now that she’s of age. Did you think that nobody’d notice? Maia Malfoy is beautiful and an outstanding student with many options open in her future, isn’t she? Don’t you think the papers report that? Don’t you think papers all over the world like to gossip about such a fine and rare family ya got?” Her voice lowered and she looked seriously at him. “I’m not the only one wanting her for a mate. I just made sure to get here first.”

Harry swallowed hard and shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Maia can be with her choice of-“

“Like you did?” Kellas cut in harshly. “A fine choice you had, eh?”

“My husband and I love each other!”

“Oh, and what about Muroch, then? Did ya have much choice there as well?”

Sweat broke out all over Harry’s body and a chill ran through him as his breathing sped up. “Don’t talk about things that you don’t know about!” he rasped.

“Did he wait and ask you to come along with him?” Kellas continued relentlessly. “Did he ask for your permission before taking you? Do you think he would have asked permission to take Maia?”

“Shut your mouth!” Harry shouted, his body shivering at the thought of his daughter in the hands of…

“There are others like him. Superos that will want her just because of what she is. They won’t care whether she’s happy or safe or loved. They’ll hurt her and force her.”

“Shut up!” Flashes of memory tried forcing their way into Harry’s head and he felt as if he needed to run as far and as long as he could. He hadn’t realized he’d closed his eyes until he tried focusing on the kaleidoscope of colours dancing behind his eyelids in a desperate attempt to keep the memories at bay.

“Professor?”

Kellas’ voice sounded far away as Harry slid down the wall. He tried forcing himself to regain control, to stop the nausea and the shivering. It wasn’t happening. He wasn’t in that lab anymore. He just had to remember that!

“Professor, I’m sorry.”

Hands were running down his arms and his breathing began to slow as his body relaxed. He fell back against the wall and let himself be brought back down from the heights of panic.

“You’re all right, Professor. There’s nothing here to harm you.”

The soothing voice spoke just beside him and the hands were inside his robes, brushing against his exposed throat and collarbone. Harry slowly opened his eyes and gazed into the blue ones of Kellas O’Neill as she knelt next to him.

“I’m sorry, Professor,” she said sincerely. “I… I went too far. I pushed too hard. I didn’t mean to…” She grimaced and continued running her hands over any of his exposed skin. “I’m sorry and I’ll understand if you won’t listen to a word I say anymore.”

Harry frowned and shook his head. “I will listen to you, Kellas,” he whispered. “If you have something to say, I will hear you and understand.” Kellas’ lips tightened. “I’m sorry if I made you angry,” he said quickly.

“No, you didn’t make me angry,” she answered. “I’m just mad at myself. But…” She took a deep breath. “Since I’ve already damned myself, I may as well take advantage of it. See, Professor, I’ve been preparing for this for years now. As soon as I understood what I was and who I was, I’ve been planning for this day. I thought I had it all worked out, but…” She sighed. “I’ve botched it twice now. But today I may have sunk my own ship. I’ve worked hard at controlling and redirecting my more aggressive behaviour, but I underestimated how strong it would come out when I finally met you and your daughter.”

Her hands moved up his neck and she gently held his jaw. “Sir, I mean you and your daughter no harm. I’ve been following your family for a long time and learning all about you. I want Maia. I won’t make no bones about it. And I’m prepared to fight for her if I have to. I know she’s a pampered princess and been kept sheltered all her life. I know why ya did it and I understand. But I want her. I want her and will keep her from the others. They are coming, Professor. And I’m waiting for them. Your husband’s arrogance was his downfall in protecting you. I won’t make that mistake. I’m as grounded as you can get, I assure you. Salt of the earth, that’s me. I would have protected you a lot better than he did. I wouldn’t have let my name or pride get in my way.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Just remember that when ya come out of this. I didn’t mean to put you in thrall, but I won’t say I’m sorry for the opportunity to have you listen to me.”

With a scuffle of boot on stone, Kellas stood and was gone.



“Then what are you saying, Potter?”

Harry shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. Why did they both have to call him by his original surname when they were irritated by him, he wondered.

“I don’t know what I’m saying,” he answered as he looked back at Snape who was sitting in an armchair near the fire. “I’m just retelling what happened.”

“I’m going to kill her,” Draco hissed. His hands were bunched into fists that had gone white.

Harry had continued on with his day after the confrontation with Kellas O’Neill. He had still been a bit shaken when he had had his first class of the day, but by the afternoon he had calmed and the words that Kellas had spoken had rattled around in his head as he watched his daughter expertly handle a young Gaisler Bird. He waited until after Azeas had left Sev’s office before flooing with Snape to Draco, where he immediately had begun telling them a slightly edited version of what had happened. With the first words out of his mouth, Draco had gone completely still. Harry was glad he left out some of the details.

“I’m going to kill her and then I’m going to go after any of these others she spoke of,” Draco continued.

“Draco, we can’t go hunting for some strange Superos,” Harry protested.

“Who said you were going to be a part of it?” Draco asked with a raised eyebrow. “You and Maia will stay locked inside and Severus and I will find them and kill them. Beginning with O’Neill.”

Harry shook his head, his face twisted in anger. “You can’t do that and you know it! Stop speaking nonsense! You make her sound right about your arrogance when you talk like that!”

Draco’s eyes narrowed and he moved toward Harry. “What did you say to me? If you would like a refresher course in what your place is, teacher, I will be happy to provide it for you!”

“Draco, stop it!” Harry stepped back, but Draco was in front of him and grabbing him by the back of the neck faster than he could react.

“Her scent is still all over you!” Draco snarled. “Are you certain she only knelt next to you?”

“Please, Draco, stop!” Harry begged. The pheromones weren’t engulfing him, so he hoped that Draco was only irritated and not actually angry. “This isn’t about us!”

“I think it is!” Draco growled before pulling Harry’s head back and exposing his neck. “I think she got to you and now you’re thinking we should welcome her into the family. Did she have you on the floor?”

“No!” Harry couldn’t see his husband’s face anymore from the angle his head was being forced back to and in a strange way he was glad for that. He didn’t want to see the anger he could hear in Draco’s voice.

“You’re needlessly taking it out on him,” Snape suddenly stated from his chair. “It’s pointless to try to dominate someone who is already completely yours, Draco, just because you are feeling a bit threatened.”

“I’ll do what I feel like doing!” Draco snapped at the older man. “Her scent is all over him! Don’t tell me that she was only next to him nearly a day ago and her scent is still lingering!”

“No, I wouldn’t say that is right, but trying to pull his head off will not get you your answers, will it?” Snape stood and moved to them. “Release him.” Harry was roughly shoved away and caught in Snape’s arms. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” Snape asked with an eyebrow cocked.

“You… You know, I am a teacher and an adult, don’t you?” Harry asked shakily. “Why are you treating me this way? Why are you both?” His irritation was rising by the second now that he was out of Draco’s angry hold.

“I’m sure you can understand why,” Snape answered smoothly. “You are not the only one affected by unpleasant past events. You know this.”

Harry looked down at the buttons that glowed dully on Snape’s vest. “Yeah.”

“Harry, tell us what happened,” Draco ordered from across the room, clearly in a bid to distance himself from further action that could be regretted. Draco rarely showed his hotheaded anger anymore. Harry couldn’t blame him for his actions and feelings since there was a new dominant in the area. Snape was right. They all had their own scars.

“She did touch me. But not in a sexual or aggressive way,” he quickly added as a brandy glass hit the wall. Draco glared at Harry, so Harry hurried to finish. “I was losing it because of what she was saying. I tried holding on,” he explained while looking up at Snape’s calm face. “But I just started to flip and she came over and started touching me, my neck and face. But that was it. She was only calming me down, as embarrassing as it is to admit.”

“She shouldn’t have started it to begin with!” Draco shouted. “That bitch has gone too far! First my daughter and now my husband!”

“She was being pushy but she’s still young. I don’t think she knew what could happen and how much she could hurt me. She seemed genuinely sorry about it. I am sure she wasn’t trying to break me, but only trying to make a point.” Harry looked back at Snape. “I… And I think she might have a good one.”

“Then she has won!” Draco stormed over to the two of them and ripped Harry away from Snape. “Damn it, Potter! You will not be going back to that place! You and the children are coming home. Now!”

“Draco, we can’t- Mpph!”

Draco had taken hold of either side of Harry’s head and used it to hold Harry still as he ravaged his husband’s mouth. Harry struggled for only half a moment from sheer surprise before relaxing into the kiss. He was lowered to the floor and Draco’s heavy weight held him down.

“You’re ours!” Draco hissed as he attacked Harry’s throat and began removing their clothing. “Ours!”

“I know,” Harry whispered. Another set of lips took over for Draco, and Harry’s mouth was thoroughly plundered again as Snape’s hands ran over the ever increasing exposed skin. Harry went completely pliant in his Superos’ arms. Somewhere his brain was explaining what was happening: that Draco and Snape were feeling threatened and needed to show themselves more than anyone else that Harry was still theirs and that they were still in control of the family. And Harry… this claiming was something he wanted as well. Not for the pleasure alone, but for the sheer fact that another Supero had had him in her control and only luck or her morals was all that had kept him from reliving old nightmares. He needed to feel the connection between him and his Superos.

They feasted on him there on the floor. They licked and kissed and bit nearly every inch of his body while he lay there and accepted it all placidly.

“I want him,” Draco growled and Snape pulled Harry over onto his side and into Snape’s arms. Draco bit at Harry’s nape as he prepared Harry. Snape began kissing Harry again and caught the cry Harry loosed when Draco slid inside.

Snape had not completely disrobed and still wore his trousers, but they were opened and his thick length was now mating with Harry’s own. They were always able to find the perfect rhythm and Harry was completely devoured by them both.

When the sitting room clock struck midnight, Harry was roused from a light sleep. He was laying half on top of Snape, the other man’s chest acting as a pillow, and Draco was spooned behind Harry, his arms wrapped tight around.

“Now that we have the pissing contest out of the way,” Snape drawled, his voice sounding deep under Harry’s head. “I suggest we decide on the best course with this new information.”

“We pull Maia from the school along with the boys and be done with it,” Draco murmured from Harry’s shoulder.

“I doubt any of the children will thank you and we will have three now rebellious youths on our hands,” Snape replied.

“I… I think we should let Maia decide,” Harry suggested quietly.

“She has. She wants nothing to do with the fiend,” Draco answered.

“Then we should leave it alone.”

“Did I leave you alone?” Draco argued.

“No, but Sev did and I think this girl has a head on her shoulders.”

“Are you saying I didn’t? Draco asked in annoyance.

“No, but you have always been selfish,” Harry replied with a small smile that only Snape could see. “I think this girl may actually play the game within the rules.”

“This isn’t a game and thus there are no rules,” Draco snapped.

“I know. I know that better than anyone,” Harry said with a sigh. “And don’t think I am shoving Maia into this. Honestly, I hope she keeps rejecting the girl and comes home with a nice person who has nothing to do with any of this.” Harry sighed again. “But, I think the girl is right and we can’t ignore the fact that there are more Superos out there waiting to get at her.”

“She is right,” Snape said. “There are more of us. Not many that we are aware of, but with the end of the Dark Lord’s possible use of our race and the fact that we ourselves have been quite public, more are revealing themselves. At last count, there are nine Superos and two Subicios other than us. One Subicio is too old to bear children and the other one has been claimed already.”

“Then that leaves eight to hunt down and warn away,” Draco stated determinedly.

“But that is only the ones we know about, yeah?” Harry spoke up. He turned to look at Draco over his shoulder. “We had no idea about Kellas O’Neill. I am sure there are others out there who either don’t know about themselves or are still in hiding.”

“Exactly,” Snape agreed. He looked at Draco. “I have the same opinion that we leave this to Maia to decide. She is in a fortunate position in having us to guide her and step in when needed.”

Draco narrowed his eyes and exhaled loudly in irritation. “That is not acceptable.”

“You’re angry that you’re sitting this one out,” Snape commented with a smirk. “You know that as you sit here in your little cottage, the action is being played out up the road in school.”

“Bastard!” Draco spat out and sat up, leaving Harry’s back to cool. Harry rolled over and sat up next to him.

“Draco, we won’t let anything bad happen to Maia.”

“But you are leaving too big of a decision to a child!” Draco snapped.

“I guess that means she’s not a child anymore,” Harry answered quietly.

Draco fell back down and dragged Harry down on top of him. “When did we become old and forgotten, hmm?” he asked.

“Save the melodrama until you are my age,” Snape said in a low voice as he moved to sit up.

“But, Professor,” Harry said innocently. “You are ageless. It must be the fire of your ire keeping you youthful.” Harry laughed and then yelped when his bare arse was smacked hard.

“And you, Professor, need to sleep for your next day of classes. As do I,” Snape answered with a smirk as he stood. “I have ‘the girl’ in my class tomorrow.” He stopped and looked down at Harry and Draco. “We are agreed, then?”

Draco sighed and nodded. “We let Maia decide. But,” he added. “We make sure to keep the playing field level. And if she says no and the girl gets pushy, then we step in. In whatever way we need to,” he said darkly.