Who we really are

Disclaimer: In chapter one.

It had been a quiet couple of weeks since that day in potions. Severus took care of the two boys and let them share a bed with him like you would frightened children. Harry was finally finished with his training and could challenge Voldemort soon. They had all been busy looking for people to follow him and not Voldemort or Dumbledore. In secret Hermione was still plotting a way to kill Harry.

“Harry?” Seamus was a new recruit working on his training.

“Yes, Seamus?”

“There’s rumor amongst us talking about a mark?”

“What do you want to know about the rumors?” Harry asked being cautious.

“Are they true?”

“Are you adverse to the idea?”

“You shouldn’t answer a question with a question.”

“Just tell me, are you?”

“No, but I would like to know what it is.”

“I’ll show everyone later. Mine and my inner circle will have a slightly different one. GO and gather everyone from the training rooms please.”

“Ok Harry.”

About 30 people came into the room and settled into numerous places. Once everyone was quiet he started to speak.

“I hear there are rumors going around about a mark.”

Everyone began to look nervous.

“Well I’m in the process of creating one. My inner circle will have different marks and theirs is completed. Stand my inner circle.”

Draco was the first to step forward.

“On your arm or your back?”

“I want it on my arm.”

“I warn you, this will hurt.”

He said a quiet spell and the only way you could tell it hurt was the tightening of his eyes. Harry removed his wand.

“Turn around and show them my love.”

The mark he showed them was of a sword with a kings snake wrapped around it and had a circlet around the top.

The next to receive it was Blaise and then Ron. When Ginny came up to get hers she stepped in front of him and held her arm out.

“Ginny, until you and Luna are completely out of school don’t you think you should have it on your backs?”

“No, I don’t care what they think. I will proudly wear it on my arm.”

She held her arm out.

He gave in and put his wand to her arm.

She whimpered slightly at the pain. When it was done there were slight tears in her eyes. He laid a soothing hand on her arm and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“You were fantastic.”

He called Fred, George, Luna, and then Neville.

All of them chose to have the mark on their arms.

“The rest of you will receive a mark the next time we are all together which is tomorrow morning I believe. You will be given the choice to receive it or not. If you do then you will be given the same choice of on your back or your arm. If not you can still be a part but know the mark will carry protection for you.”

“What kind of protection will it give us? I plan on receiving it either way but I was just curious.” A Ravenclaw by the name of Trent asked.

“That’s a feasible question. You will be immune to Veritaserum. You’ll also be blocked from minor light and dark spells. You must be careful of any spell you don’t recognize; chances are it’s a created spell. You can also see through invisibility spells. The mark will also work as a locating device. I will be able to find you, especially if you are in trouble, hurt, or captured. If you concentrate you can also find me or Draco if you’re in need of us. Does that alleviate your concerns and answer any other questions you might find.

“Yes, thank you. I know I will definitely be receiving your mark.”

“Thank you Tent, I look forward to all of your decisions. You are all dismissed for now be safe and travel in groups.”

They all got up and left so they could make it by curfew.

“I’m so tired. I really hope we get them trained up enough that they won’t die.”

Draco came up and put his arms around him.

“Don’t worry, they all are learning fast.”

“I know I just can’t help worrying.”

He got a determined look in his eyes.

“Everything will turn out just fine. I can feel a battle coming though. It’ll be battle with us stuck in the middle. But we’re going to win that battle.”

The girls came over and pulled him into a hug. Soon everyone had joined in.

“Hey!” Harry laughed.

“You’re all strangling me!”

They laughed and backed off.

“Let’s go to dinner! I’m starving!” Ginny said.

“That’s usually my line!” Ron laughed.

The group started heading out. Draco and Ron hung back a little bit and let the others get ahead of them.

“I think Dumbledore is going to try and out us soon. Maybe in private but I doubt it he has a flair for doing things publicly. We need to warn everyone tomorrow morning, that when he does, Hermione ill probably die that day and I will be labeled a Dark Lord.”

“I know, and I’ll be by your side no matter what. When that happens we’ll se who is most loyal and stays with you.”

“I’m not worried about most of the group. It’s just a small percentage, mostly slightly younger ones that I’m worried about. We really need to talk to Severus though.”

“We will right after dinner, we’ll get Severus and the Mutts together to discuss it.”

They noticed that the group was waiting at the doors to the Great Hall.

“What were the two of you talking about?” Blaise asked.

“We’ll fill you in at tomorrow mornings meeting. There are a few things we still have to discuss.”

They went in and the whole group sat at the Slytherin table.

“Harry, it seems as if Dumbledore is starting to slip.” Blaise said

“What do you mean?”

“Look at him.”

Harry turned slightly in his chair. Dumbledore was indeed slipping. The twinkle was gone from his eyes, he looked alert, angry, and his main focal point was Harry. He was openly glaring at Harry and Harry could see he kept his hand close to his wand.

“Dray maybe we should drag the adults out now. This looks dangerous; we don’t want anything happening until we’re fully ready. I’m in control of this, not Dumbledore or Voldemort and especially not the Ministry.”

“We shouldn’t be too suspicious. We don’t want him to think he has any control. It might push him farther than we’re ready. Ron advised.

“He’s right Harry. We’ll meet them as soon as dinner’s over. Send them a message.” Draco said.

“You’re all right. Being hasty now is not good for our cause I can’t afford to mess up.”

“Harry, you’re strong. You’re sword skill is strong and your spell work is unparalleled. You are one of the strongest wizards since the Founders. We will succeed, we have too.” Dray said with conviction.

A little of the light and determination came back into his eyes.

Dinner ended quickly, the students noticed the tight and tense atmosphere. Harry stood quickly and went to see the adults who were all sitting next to each other.

“I and Dray need to speak with you tonight.”

“What d you need to bother them about my boy? Extra lessons perchance?” Dumbledore spoke up.

“No Headmaster, I had wanted to discuss with them an extra credit assignment being made available. It’s a small project on combining potions with Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

Arts and I am not your boy.”

Dumbledore ignored him.

“Well you should go get your little meeting over with I suggest you head to bed, long day tomorrow, wouldn’t want you at anything but your best.”

He walked away.

“We need to talk now.”

They walked down to the Slytherin table.

“I need all of you to head back to the Room of Requirement. I will fill you all in. To be on the safe side I want you all to sleep in the Room of Requirement tonight. I don’t want any of you harmed.”

They nodded. Ginny came up to give them a hug, one after another they all went up to hug them.

“Good Night everyone, we’ll be staying in either Sev or Remus’ bedroom tonight.”

“Alright, good night see you at the meeting in the morning.”

The group headed out to go to the Room for the night.

“We’ll go to my room tonight, its closer.” Severus said.

They trooped down to the dungeons and Severus whispered the password. Before they went in Harry laid his hand on the portrait to his room.

~Don’t allow anyone access without our permission. ~ He hissed.

When he removed his hand a small King Snake appeared in the corner. The adults were staring. When the portrait closed they asked what he had done.

“I infused the portrait with my power creating a guardian that is part of my mark. I made it so no one, not even the headmaster could get in.”

Severus hugged Harry.

“Always trying to protect everyone,” He indicated the other two adults in the room, “to protect you and Draco.”

Harry rested his head on Sev’s shoulder. Remus and Sirius were holding Draco between them.

“Sev, first off, can we all stay together tonight?”

“In the same bed” Remus asked surprised.

“It doesn’t have to be the same bed, just the same room. I did the same to the rest of my inner circle.”

“Of course we can stay together Harry.” Sirius said.

The other two agreed

“Thank you!”

“OH YEA! Now to why I needed to see you! Dumbledore is slipping as you saw. He was glaring at us, well me, and kept his hand close to his wand. It confirms our suspicion that he is going to out us soon. When he does Granger is going to be killed publicly, very painfully. I’m going to duel her. The way I duel her will label me as a Dark Lord. His comment earlier made it seem as if he was going to start tomorrow. Here’s hoping he doesn’t bring the ministry into it. Those people are incompetent.”

“We’ll just have to be extra careful. By the way, can we see the mark you created?”

“Of course, mine and Draco’s match.”

They both removed their shirts so they could see the mark low on their right arms.

Severus grabbed Harry’s arm to get a closer look.

“That is a clever idea. Oh yes, you’re familiars are in here. I think Dumbledore was searching for them.”

Harry’s eyes glowed in anger.

“If he would have harmed them I would have not hesitated to kill him as painfully as I could within the day.”

~Beauty come to me please.”

‘You as well Matteo.’
Matteo stalked out much bigger than he had been over the summer.

‘Hello Harry, don’t be worried about us. We got away even though he probably couldn’t have hurt us.’

~The fuzz ball is correct. We could have killed him in a heartbeat. ~

‘Hey! Who are you calling fuzz ball you slimy snake!’

He shifted into his wolf form that reached the top of Harry’s thigh.

The glow in Harry’s eyes faded and he started to laugh. The others looked confused.

~ Ok, you’re both done now. Stop arguing. Tomorrow you guys are coming with me to the Great Hall. ~

‘We can do that!’

~Of course, if that’s what you want. ~

~No, what I want is for you to protect my group. My followers are getting trained but they need the protection. My inner circle can defend themselves; can you do that for me? ~

‘Of course we’ll help you out.’

~Thank you! ~

“What were you asking them? You looked relieved all of a sudden.”

“Tomorrow Beauty and Matteo are going to protect my group from Dumbledore and anything else that might harm them. I can trust you all to protect yourselves if need be?”

They gave him a blank look. Severus leaned over and smacked him up side his head.

“Don’t be stupid! Just because we can’t beat you in most things don’t mean we can’t beat anyone else. We’re very strong. Draco is the strongest with swords and can beat even you. Me, with my potions, created spells, and knowledge on the Dark Arts. Then you have the Mutts with their Defense knowledge for Light and Dark spells. Don’t forget the rest of your group. Ron is a master strategist, Blaise has a vast knowledge on Light and Dark spells, Ginny is good with public relations when she can keep her temper, Luna who’s quiet dreaming allows her to go un-noticed to hear things normal people can’t. Neville who has vast knowledge in plants of all kinds, then the twins whose inventions can help us with diversions and inventions, not to mention over all stress relief. Does that answer your questions?”

Harry had a look of realization of his face as if he was just realizing the fighting force he had behind him.

“You’re right, even if Dumbledore does go after us tomorrow we can fight and win. He won’t start anything until I’m ready. We have a meeting before breakfast. I know I wanted them to stay hidden but those who are ready will go with me.”

“Have you decided on a mark for them?” Draco asked.

“Yes, a king snake twined around an avia.”

“Sounds perfect love.”

“Harry, are we receiving you mark?”

“Do you want to?”

“Of course we do.”

Sirius and Severus were nodding in agreement.

“You’re all wearing long sleeves. Take off your shirts and give me your right arm.”

All three men removed their robes and then stripped off their shirts. Harry and Draco appreciated the view.

“Damn, all three of you look good.” Harry said.

The men looked surprised and glanced at Draco to see his reaction.

“You’re right Harry, absolutely gorgeous. The three of them would look really hot together.

They were still staring in shock but gradually began to see each other in a new light.

“Are you done staring for the moment?”

That seemed to shock them out of whatever thoughts they were stuck in.

“Umm...yes Harry.” Sirius said.

“Who’s going to go first?”

“Severus, you should go last, I’ll go second, and Sirius can go first.”

“Why that order?” Harry asked wondering how he was going to answer.

“I’m going in the order we became important to you and also to hold off Severus feeling pain until the last possible moment.”

“It does make sense Harry.” Severus said.

“I knew it would I just wanted to hear his answer.”

“Manipulative brat.” Severus said fondly.

‘Yes I am Sirius are you ok at going first?”

“Yes, I’m ready Harry.”

He stepped close to Harry and held his arm out to him. Harry touched his wand to the area on his arm and said a quiet spell. Sirius didn’t make a sound but shut his eyes in pain.

Harry gave him a hug and a kiss when he was done.

He did the same thing with Remus after he gave him the mark.

He changed things slightly with Severus. Before putting his own mark on Severus he laid his hand over Severus’ Dark mark. He concentrated on the biggest cleansing spell he could and shoved his power into the mark. He did this a few more times until his handprint was left.

“The handprint will fade. Now that you are free do you still wish to bind yourself to me?”

“I would give you my life for what you have done for me. Yes I still want your mark.”

Harry touched his wand to Severus’ arm and attached his march. Severus never showed any outward pain.

Harry hugged and pressed his lips to the other man in thanks for his loyalty.

Draco stepped forward and did the same to all the men.

“Now I know at least I am exhausted so maybe we should head to bed?” Harry asked hopefully.

“Well we can all sleep in my bed o I have a couch bed.”

“Do you mind if we sleep all together tonight?” Harry asked after discussing it with Draco.

“I don’t mind Harry.”

“Neither do we Harry.” Sirius said.

They all settled into Severus’ bed with the two boys in the middle.

The boys fell asleep quickly.

Sirius whispered in Remus’ ear and he nodded.

“Severus we would like to discuss the possibility of a relationship with you that is if you’re attracted to us.”

“I would love to explore a relationship with the two of you.”

They fell asleep with smiles on their faces. Harry poked Draco.

“I knew we could get them together and make Sev happy.”