Indago:3

Chapter Twenty-Two


He ached and was in pain, but nothing could stop his relief at their anger.

“Fine, bitch, we’ll just start carving you up and sending you piece by piece until they send out the real prize,” the American hissed and punched Harry hard in the stomach while he was held between two others. They let him go and he fell to the ground with the hit.

Harry held his stomach and rolled onto his side. “You… do that,” he gasped.

“Fuck! Is he lubed yet? They get wet when in heat, right?” the American shouted. Harry vowed to kill Snape for writing that down in one of his books on their species. “If we have to have the older one, than we should at least have some relief!”

“Would you shut up,” one of the Frenchmen said. “All you do is yell and scream. You’ll attract attention.”

“You wanna make me?”

“Enough!” the Viking-man growled. “We have one of them. The other is gone. Since we have lost two of our number already and are being hunted, we will need to take what we can and go.” He moved toward Harry, who immediately scrambled backwards. The Viking-man easily caught him and pulled him up to his knees by his hair. “I am disappointed that we will only have one of you,” he said to Harry. “But you are a fierce opponent and have many, many years ahead of you. Any young you breed are obviously strong as well.”

“I have some pictures in my wallet,” Harry gritted out, his eyes squeezed shut from the pain in his scalp. “I love to talk about my kids.”

The Viking-man chuckled. “The stories about you are very true. What did you do with the two who have gone missing?”

Harry squinted up and licked his bleeding lip. “My babies were hungry,” he answered with a smile.

“Fucking prick!” the American growled. But the Viking-man laughed and pulled Harry up to his feet.

“We need to move,” he said to the others while keeping his hand tightly around Harry’s arm. “Bind him. He’s still in first stage and I can’t stand touching him.” He looked down at Harry with a smile. “No offence.”

“None taken. You’re pretty disgusting yourself.”

“I’m gonna beat the fear into him,” the American snarled and moved forward while one of the others was tying Harry’s hands behind his back.

Viking-man put his hand up. “Enough. If he is damaged, then we have earned nothing. We need to move out of here. They’ve penned us in and we’ll have to move quickly.”

The American glared at Harry -- who returned the look daringly -- before backing off. The group turned and began moving in a direction Harry wouldn’t have taken. The trees were dark, nearly black, this way. Except for a bit of red. Wait, red?

“Ah, ‘scuse me, kind sirs, would ya care to be lettin’ me have me family member back?”

All of the men stopped and warily watched Kellas hop down from a log. She smiled and tipped her head in greeting.

“It’s the puppy from the school,” one of the men muttered.

The Viking-man moved a bit in front of Harry before addressing her. “Your family member, you say?”

Kellas smiled and rubbed the back of her head. “Well, it’s not final yet, ya understand. But I’m betrothed to my sweet lass and I wouldn’t want her to be mournin’ the loss of her da on our weddin’ day, would I?”

“I bet she knows where the girl went,” the American snarled. “Got her stashed.”

“Who me?” Kellas put a hand to her chest. “Oh, no, not I. I was comin’ to ask her da if he would be knowin’ where she is.”

“Yeah, right.” The American strode forward, determination and anger in every movement he made. He walked right up to Kellas and seemed as surprised as Harry when he didn’t look very far down on her. “I say you tell us where you hid her before we string you up.”

Kellas never moved as she smiled at the man. “Well, sir, I’m sorry you didn’t hear me before. I haven’t got a baldy where she is. When I find her, I’ll give her your regards, aye?”

Snarling, the American grabbed at Kellas, who quickly dodged and landed a solid punch in the man’s gut. When he bent over, she kneed him in the face, breaking his nose. She stepped over him as he went down to the ground, half-conscious and moaning.

Kellas glanced at the others with a smile. “Couple o’ knock-ups at the pub’ll teach ya a thing’er two, aye?”

“Kellas, get out of here!” Harry shouted before being elbowed in the gut by the Viking-man. He fell to his side, coughing.

“Oi! Have respect, will ya!” Kellas called out good-naturedly. “He’s a good man and father.”

“Look, puppy,” the Frenchman began. “You are on the wrong side of this fight. If you know where the girl is, tell us. If not, we kill you. Very simple, yes?”

“Well, now,” Kellas replied slowly. “I don’t see where you have call to be blaggardin’ me about this. I’ve told ya that I don’t know where she’s gone. I just came to ask neighborly if ya’d set me family member free.”

“No. And if you have no information on the girl then you are useless,” the Viking-man answered. “Kill her.”

“No! Don’t! She’s just a kid!” Harry shouted. He watched the men move carefully in on Kellas. “Kellas! Run!”

Circling around her, the men came in slowly. Kellas watched them with her eyes and Harry saw her simpleton act drop just as the first man attacked.

“No! Stop!” Harry struggled to his knees and began working his hands free. He quickly closed his eyes and fought to focus on the knots of twine. The sounds of the fight distracted him several times before he felt the knots loosen and he was able to pull one hand free.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Viking-man asked and grabbed Harry by the hair again.

Wincing in pain, Harry swung at the man and felt ridiculous and enraged when he couldn’t connect with the huge man’s body. “Expelliarmus!” He was flung back and hoped that he hadn’t given himself a bald spot on his head. Rolling to his feet, he ran to the jumble of bodies but was grabbed around the waist and lifted off the ground before he could get there.

“I’m going to have such fun with you,” Viking-man breathed into his ear. Harry slammed his head backward and succeeded in bashing the man’s face. He was dropped to the ground and tried to clear the stars from his eyes and hoped his head would hold out until he could get Kellas out of there. He scrambled to his feet only moments before he was dumped back down onto his face.

“And only two dominants can contend with you?” Viking-man asked, wiping the blood from the cut on his cheek. “Or have you kept their balls in your pocket?” He pulled Harry closer by the grip he had on Harry’s ankle.

Harry had lost his spectacles in the fall and blindly kicked at the blond blur while scrambling to find them in the leaves and debris around him. He connected once with the man’s chest before both legs were caught. Harry called out a slippery-hands spell but it was blocked.

“I’ll have to keep you locked up, won’t I?”

“That didn’t work before, cretin!”

Harry gasped at the voice and watched as one blond blur overtook the other. There was a snap and one blur fell to the ground and Harry’s legs were released.

“D-Draco!” Harry gasped and was immediately swept up in his husband’s embrace. “Draco! I knew you—Maia and Azeas!”

Draco handed Harry his spectacles. “They’re safe.”

“Kellas!”

“Yes, there she is,” Draco said non-chalantly.

“Draco!” Harry’s vision cleared enough for him to see his husband’s face for a moment before he turned to get to Kellas. Draco pulled him back.

“Draco! She’s just a kid!” Harry struggled to get out of Draco’s embrace, which he wanted nothing more than to be in, and tried to get to the sounds of the fight behind him.

“Fine, I’ll help Sev.” Draco kissed Harry hard before getting to his feet and going after the second of Snape’s attackers. With three on three and the losing side demoralized by their loss of numbers, it was a fairly quick fight and over before Harry could get to his feet. Two lay dead, two were unconscious, and one was nursing a broken arm and a nasty bite.

Draco and Snape appeared fine, but it was Kellas who had suffered the worst. Her face was cut and bleeding, her nose looked like it may have been broken, and she was holding her shoulder, which did not look like it was in the proper place. Harry rushed to her as she leaned against a tree.

“We’ll get you back to Hogwarts immediately. You’ll be fine,” he said soothingly while trying to assess all her wounds.

“Harry, would you like to greet your lovers and rescuers some time soon?” Draco asked dryly. “Perhaps kiss a boo-boo of ours?”

Harry turned and ran to Severus, wrapping his arms around the man. “Gods, I was so worried.” He looked up and smiled at the dour and scraped face before nuzzling Snape’s neck. “Azeas was amazing. He was calm and cool the whole time. And was incredibly intelligent about the whole thing,” he whispered.

“Of course,” Severus replied coolly, but Harry spotted the glint of pride and relief in Severus’ eyes when he looked up again.

“I mean, I was only worried out of my bloody gourd. I’m not sure why I should have been, though. Out for a bit of camping, I suppose? No need for me to worry for two bloody days. No, no, I should have just gone back to my reading. Maybe even have gotten some decent sleep for once without any bloody demands upon my person.”

Harry rolled his eyes and turned to Draco, who was obviously in a royal snit. “You don’t have to be so snarky, Draco. You could just say you missed me.”

“Oh really, Potter? I don’t recall having said that I did,” Draco retorted with an eyebrow raised. “I am, however, quite irritated that you decided to take a stroll in these bastard woods and endanger my children. My heir, Potter. Be assured that my father is not at all happy with you. Why, he was already planning another wedding. A suitable second parent for our remaining son.”

Harry walked calmly over to Draco and looked up at him. “Prat.”

“Fool.” Draco pulled him close and held him tight. “I’m tying you to me from now on. No more of this gallivanting off. I’m done with that, Potter. I am too old to be rushing around like this. It’s bad for my heart. You remember what the healer said.”

“That you have a hard and toned body and the health of a man half your age?”

“I hardly think he said anything about how toned I was, but your compliment has been duly noted.”

A loud gasp came from behind Harry and he turned to see Snape administering to Kellas. It looked as if he had just sorted out her shoulder.

“I should be able to walk just fine now, sir,” she said with a bit if pain evident in her voice. “You said Maia is safe?”

“It’s none of your concern,” Draco called out to her. “Your interference in this matter has only earned you our appreciation and perhaps a cash reward—Ow!” He looked down at Harry, who had just stomped on his foot. “The hell?”

“Drop it, Draco,” Harry hissed.

“I will not drop it. Damn it, Potter, you have gotten just a bit big in the… Don’t walk away from me!”

Harry went to Kellas and smiled. “Thank you, Kellas. That was incredibly stupid, but thank you.”

Kellas nodded once and smiled until her lip opened again and she winced. “Well, sir, I knew that if I had stumbled on you, then your husband and Professor Snape could only be right behind me. I couldn’t let those bad eggs take off with you. Least I could do was distract them.”

“Thank you.” Harry put his hand on her uninjured arm. “Thank you for your help. I appreciate it and I know Maia will too.”

Kellas chuckled painfully. “You’re welcome, sir. Anything to make her happy.”

Harry smiled. “Yeah. I can see that. Have dinner with us this Saturday?”

“Harry!”

“Thank you, sir. I’d be happy to,” Kellas answered with only a brief glance over Harry’s shoulder at a very angry Draco. “Just let me know what time.”

“They’ve arrived,” Snape suddenly announced.

Through the trees, Harry could see torches as well as men and women trudging through the underbrush, visible tracking charms trailing behind them.

At Harry’s questioning look, Snape explained, “I sent out a signal as soon as you were located. Now we can leave this,” he glanced down at the men lying on the ground, “collect the children, and leave this forest.”

“What do you mean, ‘collect the children’?” Harry asked slowly. His eyes narrowed and a dangerous glint came into his eyes. “Where are the children?”

“They’re just a ways away,” Draco nodded in the direction from which they had come.

“You said they were safe!”

“They are! We placed an anchor spell on them. We’ll be to them in just under ten minutes.”

Harry’s face contorted in rage as he advanced on Draco and Severus. “Neither of you are coming near them again! Bastards!” He spun and stomped away. “Leaving small defenceless children alone in a black forest.” He turned and glared at the two Superos as they began to follow him. “You both sicken me!” he sneered before turning and continuing on.

Kellas fell into painful step beside the other two as they followed Harry. She kept a wary eye on Draco and made sure to keep Snape between them.

“I risk my bloody life and send my children to safety, to their fathers, and they are left in the bloody cold! And rain!” he shouted over his shoulder. “I don’t even know why I bothered!”

“I believe Harry is right on schedule, then,” Snape murmured.

“Like demonic clockwork,” Draco muttered back.

“Ah, Lustrum, is it?” Kellas asked.

“I don’t believe you were in the conversation,” Draco answered coldly. “And I’ll thank you to not speak about my husband.”

“Yes, sir,” she answered casually.

“How flippant.”

“Draco! Don’t be nasty!” Harry shouted over his shoulder.

Draco glared at Harry’s back.

“I wouldn’t. It was five stitches, wasn’t it?” Snape asked with a raised eyebrow.

Draco unconsciously touched the slight scar at his hairline. “Yes, well, either he learned better aim or I’ve gotten old.” Draco brought his hand down and glared around Snape at Kellas. “Don’t think that this adventure has bonded us in any way, girl,” he said in quieter tones. “I dislike you intensely. You are rough, brash, uncouth, and Irish.”

“Aye, I am a bit of all that,” Kellas agreed and held her arm carefully as she navigated around a large bush. “But I think Maia likes me as such.”

“You will not go anywhere near my daughter!”

“Draco!”

Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry’s back again.

They were quiet until Harry shouted and started running.

“Dad! Dad!”

Harry fell to his knees and grabbed all three of his children. “Bran! I missed you! Merlin, I’m so happy you are safe! Azeas! You have a scrape on your cheek! Oh, Maia, your hands are freezing!”

Snape and Draco walked closer and watched as Harry hugged and fretted over the children. They waited until most of the chatter had come down a bit.

“Harry, we should get back,” Severus said quietly as he approached. “I am sure you are all hungry and tired. And mud does not look good on you.”

“Yeah. Yeah, Maia and Azeas haven’t had much to eat in days.” Harry climbed to his feet but seemed reluctant to let go. Maia took charge and pushed the boys off.

“You haven’t eaten either, Dad. Come on, we need to get cleaned up. I feel disgusting.” She pulled on Harry’s arm to get him moving before suddenly gasping and letting go. Harry immediately tensed and prepared to fight off whatever it was distressing his daughter.

“Kellas!” Maia pushed her brothers out of the way and stomped toward the other young woman. “What in hell happened to you?”

“She saved me,” Harry called out.

“Oi!” Draco shouted. “She’d have been beaten dead if we hadn’t arrived in time!”

Maia’s eyes widened and she gently touched the cut on Kellas’ cheek. “You fought them? You saved my dad?”

“Well, I just tried to slow them down a bit, love.”

“You will not use endearments on my daughter!”

“Draco!”

Maia looked into Kellas’ eyes and smiled. “Thank you,” she whispered as tears pooled in her eyes. “Thank you so much!”

“She’s crying! What did you do?” Draco shouted.

“Draco, for the love of Neptune, if you do not stop it—“

“Listen here, Potter, I am head of this household and if I—Put that down!”

Kellas wiped away one of the tears that fell down Maia’s cheek. “Ah, love, I’d do anything for you. If getting knocked about would make you happy, I’d do it over and over.”

Maia shook her head and smirked. “Stupid Irish. That’s some door you just opened.”

“Ah, well, I think I’m able to handle it, aye?”

Maia smiled knowingly. “Aye, I think you can.” She reached up and carefully kissed Kellas’ bruised lips. She could only do it for a brief moment before instinct forced her away again.

“No offence,” Maia said, wiping her lips. “My dad says I’m in Lustrum.”

“Bloody hell!”

Maia jumped a foot and spun to see her Father had been walking toward them, intent on separating their lips. Harry was right behind him when they had collided at Draco’s sudden stop.

“Maia, it really would have been better to say that a bit quieter!” Harry hissed as he grabbed Draco’s arm. “Sev!”

Draco dragged Harry three feet before Severus was able to grab Draco’s other arm and shoulder. Maia stood in front of Kellas protectively.

“I think after what I have just been through I can have a bit of damned privilege around here!” Maia argued but refused to look at her enraged father.

“Yes, Maia love, but that has no bearing on anything at the moment,” Harry gritted out as he held onto Draco.

“I’m thinking it might be best to go,” Kellas suggested quietly, backing away slowly.

“Amazing. I believe he has actually gone into bloodlust,” Sev murmured as his muscles bunched.

“Father’s lost it,” Bran commented to Azeas as he passed his brother a Chocolate Frog he had been saving.

“Yes, I think he’s going to burst a blood vessel,” Azeas answered while opening the box and catching the sweet.

“Maia,” Harry said breathlessly. “Survival is of utmost importance right now.”

“Go?” Maia asked.

“Go!”

Maia and Kellas turned and ran, following the faint trails of tracking charms back to Hogwarts.