The Lord of The Fae

Harry was deep in the garden, the earth and all its living things were talking to him. It was not so much in words but in whispers. In the whisper of leaves in the wind and the sound of a blade of grass dancing. It was something beautiful something he had not ever expected to find or to be in tune too. There was also an edge of danger.

It was wild in here, it was as if the garden housed something other then this reality was used to. He smiled to himself. He knew it did. He had been weaving the garden closer to the unknown for months now. With every new growth with every walk he took in here he grew more and more sure that he was unlocking something better left unlocked.

"Harry where are you?"

"How is it Draco that you can always find me except when I'm in the garden?"

Harry wondered about that, was the garden too wild. Did the beings that watched and waited within its midst shield him from Draco because they saw him as their enemy? He knew the moment Draco stepped foot into his domain. An air of hostility filled the garden to the point where Harry was sure he could reach out and grasp it. Danger ebbed in every leaf, every stick. The beings fallowed him with cruel eyes.

Be Still.

He didn't have to say it. They were connected to him; they knew his will before he spoke it. Draco came into view a second later. Harry smiled; Draco always managed to bring him back into himself. Sometimes he found he was more Fae then man in here but being near Draco brought him a balance. Draco smiled knowing his thoughts.

"Are you kidding Harry, if anyone brings balance to our weirdness it's you" Draco laughed shaking his head. He stepped up onto the boulder Harry was sitting on. When he touched his shoulder Harry felt the garden around them protest.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Your little friends don't like me. But what else is new."

Harry chuckled, "Their plants and animals, your fire. If you were them would you like you?" He teased. Draco thought about this and smiled.

"No most likely not. What did you grow today?” He asked peering at the gathering of violant red blossoms blooming all around the boulder he sat upon.

“I’m thinking of calling them fire lilies. Be careful they’ll singe you.” Harry said with a shrug.

He was almost as bad as Longbottom! Draco rolled his eyes. “Honestly Harry you spend so much time in here talking to plants people are starting to think you’re batty. "

Harry rolled his eyes and replied tersely. "And when you sat and stared at the fire place for an hour without blinking, everyone must have thought that was perfectly normal?"

"Ok agreed then, we’re both batty. I've been having these weird dreams lately." Draco confessed. He'd been meaning to tell Harry for a while but wasn't sure about his reaction. To his surprise Harry just smiled and rolled his eyes again.

"Really I couldn't tell with all you're tossing and turning and muttering at night. I never would have guessed."

Draco frowned, "I talk in my sleep?"

"Yeah, don't worry it’s not all about dragons and Fae sometimes you talk about me. You’re so warm and fuzzy when you sleep, I'm almost disappointed when you wake up and you're you again." Harry replied. He said you as if it were something distasteful. Draco could feel the teasing note in his voice in his body. They were in tune with each other; he should have known Harry would know when something was bothering him.

"I think Harry you like me just the way I am." Draco taunted he touched one finger tip to the side of Harry's face. His skin was so soft and so very pale. He felt Harry shiver a little.

"No Draco I can’t seem to find one thing I like about you." Harry replied loftily.

A wicked light entered his eyes and Draco felt his own body responding.

"Really Harry, Then I shall have to remind you." He smirked.

Harry felt a jolt of pleasure slam into his body as Draco's lips connected with his own. He lived for these moments, and Draco knew it. He didn't mind that so much. He bit down a little on Draco's bottom lip and nearly purred when he felt Draco's tongue dart in and out of his mouth.

When Draco pulled back to smile at him he was tempted to pull him back. Instead he smiled at him. "Maybe I do like that about you." He conceded.

"I thought so Harry. You shouldn't spend so much time in here you know." Draco scolded.

Harry sighed and pushed him off the boulder. "You know its just like you to say that, especially when I was getting in the mood."

He looked off into the distance. "Besides when I'm in here I can forget that my friends are suffering and I'm not helping them."

Draco frowned picking himself off the ground. "Harry you know..."

"I know Draco, I've heard it all! We're ready now! I know we are, I can't stand just sitting here any longer!"

They were stronger then before that was true, Draco thought to himself. It wasn't that he was scared or that he didn't want to help. It was in the knowing that when they left it would be to wage war. And one of them Harry or Voldemort would be dead at the end of it.

Maybe he was trying to delay the outcome as long as possible.

Harry turned to him a slight frown on his beautiful lips. "You don't think I'm a coward do you. That I'd let you talk me into just staying here?" He asked. Draco could feel his temper rising and that made his own want to spike.

"No Harry a coward is the last thing I think you are. Could you calm down for a second?" He snapped.

"Maybe you..."

"Don't even say it Harry. Don't you dare call me a coward!"

"Or you'll what? Take me over your knee and spank me!"

They both stopped, stared at each other. Draco bit back laughter. Harry turned slightly red and Draco saw the corners of his mouth twitch.

"That wasn't meant to be kinky; you have such a dirty mind you know that!" Harry reprimanded.

"Hey you’re the one making all the comments. You might like it though. That's one thing we haven't tried." He grinned grasping Harry's arm in one hand.

"You put one hand on my rear and you'll loose it Draco." Harry shot back as Draco dragged him closer.

"That's not what you said last night Harry, and not what you'll be saying tonight." Draco replied bringing Harry up against his own body. They were such a perfect fit as if they had been made for each other.

"We were" Harry whispered reading Draco's feelings.

This kiss was hotter then the last it was hungry and full of edgy desire. Harry found he didn't mind Draco's hand on his rear at all.

Then the earth seemed to scream.

Harry felt it shift beneath his feat as if it was revolted. It was a tiny ripple a movement any human would never have recognized.

Harry felt it like an earth quake. He broke away from Draco and knelt. He placed one hand on the ground and instantly was connected with it.

The Earth was drinking blood, not an odd occurrence to be sure but something must be terribly wrong for it to bring the information to him.

Draco watched Harry, his eyes had begun to glow their particular Fae green as right before his eyes he merged into his Fae form. Tall and beautiful in a purely alien like way. His long grace full hands caressed the earth as he crooned a melody to it.

Some where in the castle he felt Hari's spurt of fear and concern.

"What is it Hari?"

"Dean's hurt, I don't know where he is but I was seeking and I felt his pain." He cut off the connection. Just as Harry stood an unearthly light of fury in his eyes.

"Harry whatever is happening to Dean show some sense please!" Draco tried to reason with him.

"Don't. I won’t let them hurt him like that." Harry's voice was deep and resonating as always when he was Fae. He was utterly certain of himself, certain in his own strength.

He was Fae, he was the earth itself and those humans were hurting his friend. The insult of it was enough to drive him to rage. The fact that Dean was hurting and bleeding sent him into a storm of fury. They were going to learn what it was to meddle with one of his power.

He felt a wave of heat reach him and new that his mate had returned to his natural form. He faced him basking in the warmth of his heat. He was the only thing in this world that he feared. He bowed slightly to him.

"We can help him."

"Harry We will not rush into battle without a plan that is foolishness and beneath you." Draco reprimanded him. That golden voice of power washed over him like a wave. Harry felt his body shift forward seeking his heat, everything that he was.

"There are other ways. We must connect with the earth and I am sure it will reject you. You are fire its destroyer after all." Harry pointed out. "That means you must trust me, can you do this?" He asked.

Draco long hair molten in its own seeming sunlight, nodded each movement a flicker of grace. Harry kissed his cheek then knelt and touched the earth.

It welcomed him, told him everything he wanted to know. It connected him to the scene so many many miles away. It whispered to him its secrets.
~~~~~~Change of View~~~~~

He was going to go mad. Their hands were clasping at his body. Ripping and tearing at his skin. They were touching him with their foul hands.

He felt cruel invading tongues in his mouth he wanted to bite down to retch.

Taylor.

He had tasted like grime. Like evil.

He screamed. He didn't know what he hollered. It could have been for help. It could have been for Seamus. It could have been Taylor's name. All he knew was that he was screaming and his blood was running into the ground as something cruel and cold bit into the skin of his back.

His mind was fragmenting with pain and memories.

Taylor's cruel laughter and his taunts.

"Evil ones, you touch what does not belong to you." The voice was too alien to belong on this earth. It was hurting his mind just to hear it.

He screamed with the pain of it, thrashing back and forth. He had gone mad. He was sure of it, the stones that paved the streets were shaking loose of their mortar to hurl themselves at his attackers. The grass seemed to be lengthening growing at unnatural speed and thickness to wrap itself around his attackers ankles.

There was screaming so much shouting. Spells flew back and forth. But nature itself had declared war on them. Vines grew from the earth to wrap around bones and snap. Spiders and other crawling bugs exploded from the ground to infest and bite.

He must have assuredly gone mad. His world went dark.
~~~~~Change of view~~~

Seamus stared in absolute shock as the world around them seemed to declare war on the patrol men. He shielded Danny's eyes as they died cruel horrific deaths. He didn't feel an inkling of pity for them; the bastards had been raping Dean!

And he he'd been shouting Taylor's name. That meant it had happened before, Taylor that bastard had touched him, had hurt him. He suddenly wished that Taylor was here. He would have murdered him in cold blood.

The earth went still, He could feel Danny trembling against him his tears were soaking into his shirt. "It's over Danny. Don't look at the bodies." Seamus whispered. They both rushed to Dean’s side.

Seamus cradled him in his arms his body shaking in fear and relief. It made a little more sense now, his aversion to touch. He traced one finger down the side of his beautiful face.

"You’re such an idiot Dean. Did you think it would matter to me? Why would you think such a thing?"

"It is a natural reaction to being so cruelly used."

Seamus shivered that voice was so inhuman yet there was a thread, if tiny it was still there. Harry.

"He will need rest and healing. You must bring him back here. Hari can help him."

How was he supposed to do that? There wasn't any way in hell he was getting anywhere near another patrol. "How Harry, We can’t use magic?" He voiced his question towards the sky having no idea where Harry was. If he concentrated he would almost say it was coming from the earth.

But that was impossible? Wasn't it?

" You need to find fire."

Fire, how the hell was he going to find fire in the middle of winter and outside?

"We can make a fire Seamus?" Danny suggested. Seamus stared in shock; he could obviously hear Harry as well.

"There is fire in the houses all around you. Use them." This time it was Draco who spoke.

His voice was like lightning stinging across his brain. Danny whimpered and clamped hands over his ears as if that would protect him. Seamus clamped his mouth shut biting back the pain. They had to be crazy but now wasn't the time to argue.

He picked up Deans long heavy body and shook a little. He worked past the pain of movement. It was a cold winter night and fire was the only way of heating their homes. He chose the nearest flat and didn't bother knocking.

There was screaming as he crashed through the door. A woman hid behind a man who held a fire poker in his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you. We were attacked by patrols. Please we just need your fire." He assured them.

The husband didn't look like he bought it; he edged his wife backwards and shouted for the kids to stay in bed. "Look we fallow the laws, we aren't part of any resistance just leave my family alone please." The man begged.

This wasn't getting him anywhere. He ignored them and glanced at the fire place. Sure enough there was a fire there. Now what?

"Walk into it."

"WHAT?"

"WHAT?" Seamus and Harry seemed to demand at almost the exact same moment. Harry's surprise caused a wave of pain to assault his senses he weaved on his feet and let out a cry of pain. The weight of Deans body threatened to topple them both over, but Danny reached out to steady him as much as possible.

"trust me walk into the fire. I will not let it harm you I will use it to bring you to me."

His head wanted to split open it was driving him to madness listening to their voices. He weaved on his feet. Danny whimpered and began to tremble. If he was going to do anything he was going to do it now. "You had better be right Draco or I'm coming back from the grave to kick your ass!" He muttered.

He walked to the fire place and took off the netting.

"What are you doing?" The owner of the flat demanded. Seamus looked up at him tiredly.

"Escaping if you want to fallow please do so. Otherwise leave me too it." He grumbled. He faced the fire and began to shove Dean’s body into it. The woman started screaming and the man advancing towards him. Seamus winced in fear and horror as Dean’s body caught fire.

Draco better know what he was doing he better. Even as he thought it Dean's body was disappearing in the flames. He grabbed a hold of Danny's hand. "Be brave Danny ok. Just be really brave." He urged him. Danny nodded body trembling with fear.

"He's a little boy what are you doing!" The man demanded. He grabbed a hold of Danny's hand and yanked. Seamus had had enough. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at him. The man stared in shock. All servants had been striped of their wands during processing.

"Let go of the boy! I am getting out of here! I know you mean well but I do not have time!" He demanded. All traces of his usual charm and lightheartedness gone. The man backed away trembling.

"walk into the fire Danny" Seamus instructed him his gaze never wavering from the man and his wife. When Danny crawled onto the ledge and inched his way inside the woman let out a scream and a shudder and buried her face in her husband’s shirt.

"Thank you for trying to help, I wish you the best of luck in these times." Seamus said to them both. Then he threw himself into the fire.

He didn't feel the flames so much as he was them. For a brief moment in time he was all that was fire, all that was pure molten energy he was a flame flickering in the wind. Time and space meant nothing so long as he flickered and danced in the shadows.

And then he was unmistakably solid and slamming into the earth.

It felt like surviving a hundred foot drop. His body raged with the pain of it. His mind defied it, tore at itself for a moment then settled in numbing pain.

Harry and Draco were peering down at him. It hurt to look at them he shut his eyes a shudder of pain going up his spine. There was a flash of green and gold light and he knew they were human again.

He opened his eyes again slowly the pain still washing over him in waves.

"You ok Seamus?" Harry asked worriedly.

"Do you mean to tell me you could have brought us here the entire time! All we had to do was find a fire!" He demanded.

Harry glared at Draco, Draco shrugged.

"Hey you learn something new everyday don't you? In my defense I had no idea I could do that until I tried."

Seamus was going to murder him, but first he had to sleep. And then his world went dark.
~~~~***~~~~Gabriella and Simon~~~~~****~~~
Gabriella clutched tightly to Simons side. He was still out cold from a blow to the head. The watch men had thrown them in a cage. It was a steel cage hoisted on top of a wagon. The wagon was pulled by several teams of lizard like horse beings. Gabby didn’t know their names but they frightened her with their skeletal features and their sightless white eyes.

She and Simon weren’t the only ones in cages. As the animals clopped along the streets of the village others had joined them. A frightened teenager and another little girl, a young woman with a swollen belly and a young man were in the cage with them. She didn’t see any of the others. She tightened her grasp on her brother.

Around dawn a whistle had blown and they had left that village and made their way to others. Then as the sun had started to rise they had left the cities and headed on a worn trail. Along the way as the day had worn on other wagons had pulled along side them. All of them knew where they were headed. The slave pits.

Gabriella shivered her pale blonde hair dirty and tinged with mud and dried blood. Simon groaned turning over in his sleep. She made soothing noises and smoothed his brow. The watchman had cursed him and hit him over the head for trying to protect her. Then he had kicked him in the head. He hadn’t woken up since. Gabriella winced clutching onto him tighter.

He had to wake up, as young as she was she knew that if you got hit in the head it was important you wake up. “Simon. Come on you got to stay awake Simon. If you go to sleep you won’t wake up. And… you just got to wake up Simon.” She pleaded with his still form.

“What difference does it make let him die now girl, better he dies here in peace then in the slave pits” A man in the wagon alongside of them grumbled. The thought of Simon dieing sent a wave of pain through her. She gritted her teeth and refused to look at him.

“Don’t listen to him Simon. You got to wake up, there’s a chance remember. If you wake up we can go to the safe place. Full of flowers and trees and the dark lord won’t be able to get us there. Don’t give up hope big brother.” She urged to his sleeping form. The man snorted and called her a fool.

“She’s a little girl, allow her to dream!” The woman with the swollen belly snapped at the man. She gave Gabriella a warm if tired smile. “Come over here child, there is nothing you can do for him now. Would you like to sit with us.”

The lady was nice but she wanted her to leave Simon. Gabriella shook her head and held onto him tighter. The woman sighed.

“Was he all you had child?” She asked her softly

Gabriella shook her head. “Mothers still at home. Father was sent to the slave pits because he’s a muggle.”

The woman gave her a sympathetic smile. Then she winced a little and grabbed her belly. The man next to her shot Gabriella a scornful look and his wife a worried glance. “Martha don’t exert yourself if you go into labor….I don’t…I don’t know what we’ll do.”

Gabriella turned away from the young couple they had their own problems to face.

~~~~*****~~~~*****

Narcissa Malfoy was just pulling on satin gloves when her husband strolled into the room. She froze for a moment then offered him a smile.

“Well hello darling, I was just preparing for my trip to the pits, is there something you needed?” She asked with a tiny quirk. She was ever cool and elegant.

Lucius eyed her then with cool disdain spoke, “I decided I do not like you going into such places without me. I shall accompany you.”

Narcissa almost swallowed her own tongue. If Lucius came then the plan was all for nothing, there wasn’t a way in hell he wouldn’t recognize the slaves she bought. She almost screamed in frustration. “Lucius Darling I’ll be fine really I…”

“Enough Narcissa, this is my will the will you will obey! Don’t think I have forgotten how easy it was for that traitor Snape and my son to disappear. They couldn’t have done it without help; do you have any idea who would have done such a thing?” Lucius snapped coolly interrupting her.

There was nothing for it, if Lucius came with her they would all be dead or end up in the hands of the dark lord. If she didn’t go they would all end up slaves or stuck in the pits. Still a better fate then the former.

“Don’t be ridiculous Lucius you think I helped that Halfling Severus. You think I would intentionally send our own son into the world alone where he could die? You think I mean to run from you, admit it. You think I’m making up the story about buying slaves to escape you. Well if that’s the way you think then I won’t go.” With all the haughty disdain she could muster she brushed past him as if going to the slave pits was unimportant. A whim she could drop at any given moment, as if her heart wasn’t breaking for the people she was letting down.

Lucius stared after his wife, maybe he had been wrong. Maybe her heart did not still lie with the scum that was Severus Snape. Maybe she had not been trying to run from him. Better safe then sorry. He would buy her something pretty too smooth over the insult.
~~~~~~~~~~Lupin ~~~~Neville~~~~

Heat blasted his face and Remus Lupin woke with a start. His body hurt, he’d taken what he thought to be an completely unnecessary beating. The Patrol men had done it more out of cruelty then necessity. When he opened his eyes the first thing he was aware of was the noise.

If you have ever heard the sound of thousands of people packed together, the sound of the whip cracking down on bare skin. If you have ever heard the cries of children and adults alike in a single swell of misery then you will know only a fraction of the noise of the Slave pits. The smell of fire as it seers human flesh, the smell of the unclean and the sick hit his nose right after the sound. He groaned.

“Good you’re awake I was getting worried.” He heard Neville whisper; his voice was reedy and high. The young man was scared witless. He should be. The cage they were in was pulling into a row of docks. Thousands of docks filled the space. The slave pits were jut that, a giant pit built into the ground. Caverns and tunnels filled with cells and boarding houses lead up to a circular pit area where a large dais stood. Surrounding the dais were holding stalls. To hold slaves, potential buyers could at that point wander through the rows of holding pens examining slaves.

The dais was for the daily auctions, the tunnel cells were to hold any slaves that had not been sold or those waiting to be registered. All around them was the heat of fire, they used it to brand the skin, they used it to torture and break the spirit. All around them was the smell of burning flesh. Across from him a very pregnant woman was being hoisted and shoved onto a wooden table. A man was screaming her name, trying to reach her. Remus shuddered as she was shackled to the table and the man was silenced. He turned away.

“I’m not too happy about that to tell you the honest truth. Have you seen any of the others?” He asked the young man. Neville shook his head and bit his lip worriedly. Remus was about to speak when a harsh voice bellowed. “NEW SHIPMENT”

Then it was all a whirl wind of motion, the cage door flew open and they all spilled onto the hard dirt of the ground. He was yanked to his feet and into motion. The heat was overwhelming. Glowing prods poked at his skin burning holes. Magic brushed his back in harsh lashes. The whip came down hard. All the while they were forced to move, a blow from something heavy struck his side. He didn’t know whether he screamed or not, if he did it was lost in the din of misery that surrounded this place.

He was thrown into one of the holding cages beneath the dais. His momentum forced him forward until he slammed against the steel bars. He clutched them so that he could remain upright. He shook where he stood, why had he let them do this?

He opened his eyes and wearily looked around him; a flash of pale blonde hair caught his eye. There she was Gabriella was being forced into a cage just in front of him by a tall brute of a man. She screamed for her brother but he was nowhere in sight. The cage slammed shut. She lay on the ground shivering and quaking.

“Gabriella, are you ok.” His voice was so overwhelmed by the moans and wails of the people around them that he was afraid she hadn’t heard him.

Everything seemed to have gone wrong. Where was Narcissa. How were they going to get out of this. If she didn’t come things didn’t look to bright for any of them. Most likely the pain of servitude and whatever cruel things their masters could come up with for the others.

For him?

He shiverd. He had to options, escape or silence himself. Escape was looking less and less possible with each passing moment.

~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~****

“Hell of a time for you to figure out you could bring them all here!” Snape snapped at Draco as he paced the floor of the castle library. Draco’s eyes narrowed and Sirius flinched.

“Lets calm down, as far as we know they are all still alive!” Sirius tried soothing him. Narcissa had just contacted them with a dire change of plans. They all understood there just wasn’t any way for her to go to the slave pits if Lucius was going to accompany her. Might as well just hand them to the dark lord.

“It’s our own fault we should have figured she’d be under suspicion. Damn Lucius!” Snape cursed. He looked ready to kick something, it was a far cry from his usual reserve. Sirius bit back a small smile. The ice man was melting, which was just fine with him. As long as he didn’t go crazy.

“How can you be so bloody calm Sirius? You the hot headed wonder! This most likely means the end of your furry little friend do you hear me? He cant risk serving anyone who will recognize him. And sooner or later somebody will. He’ll either die trying to escape or just end it for the sake of the order! And you just sit there, all calm and collected.” Snape ranted pacing back and forth.

Sirius thought it was better to let him stew. His words did sting though; he already knew that he was most likely about to loose another friend. That he was going to be the last true Marauder.

“And just imagine all of this could have been avoided, we wouldn’t of had to drag Narcissa into this at all if you two…” He snapped pointing at Harry and Draco. “Had only figured out sooner that when you perform magic you can bring people to the castle!”

Draco had really had enough, he could feel Harry’s surge of anger mirror his own. “Look I know your worried Snape but don’t be an ass!” Harry shouted at him. The two glared at each other.

It was a perfect mirror of the past. Man against boy in a battle of wills that neither would ever win.

“You are the last person to tell me to calm down Potter! Believe me you don’t know the meaning of the word.” Snape shot at him.

“And you sure couldn’t teach me could you.” Harry shot back.

They were going to brawl right here in the library it seemed. For the first time in their lives Draco Malfoy and Sirius Black looked each other in the eye and agreed on something.

“Would you stop? This is nobody’s fault and turning on each other is only going to make things worse!” Sirius demanded.

Draco nodded standing. “Did it occur to the both of you that if any of them are touching earth Harry can see them? That’s how we found dean and Seamus. All we need is fire and we can transport them here. All is not lost yet, but it sure as hell will be if we waist time arguing about it.”

Snape’s lips tightened and he grudgingly nodded. Harry crossed his arms over his chest an looked like he’d like nothing more then to rip into something, anything.

“Well then we should get to it as soon as possible.” Snape bit out tersely. Sirius rolled his eyes.

“I’m beginning to miss all that cool reserve, at least it kept you sensible.” Sirius teased.

“Shut up Sirius. Let’s work on bringing your little friends home.” Severus snapped in agitation.

Sirius cocked one eyebrow, “ My little friends? Your flying off a wall and they’re my little friends?”

~~~~~****~~~~***~~~***~~~~*****~~~~~~~~****

The Avenger had a new assignment, Voldemort knew he was close to the orders hide away. He also knew that he would never find it without their secrete keeper. He also knew a man named Shijo knew exactly who that was.

“Find him, find out the name of the keeper then dispose of him” The dark lords voice hissed through the fire. Then he was gone. Fred knew that Shijo often snuck into the villages of Shoja to keep an eye on its missing Shodan’s lands. They had known from the beginning, they let him live in hopes that one day the shodan would come with him. No matter any longer. Shijo’s time was up. Just like all the other.

Fred put out the fire. And soon so would the Dark Lords.

~~~~~~*****~~~~***~~~~~

Beauty is fond in the strangest of places, Ron thought to himself. Today was a good day. Today his body cramped with an unfamiliar feeling in his loins. He blushed, there was no way in hell he was telling anyone he was suffering from menstrual cramps. He nearly died of humiliation every time he thought about it.

He honestly didn’t understand why women complained, compared to dieing of malaria this was nothing. He was able to move without pain, able to focus without wanting to scream, it was nice but that wasn’t what he found beautiful.

He was leaning out his window watching Hari and Shijo practice together. He can really move with that sword. Ron thought to himself, he was graceful in his movements. He almost seemed to dance. His body was so lean and strong and…holly hell what was he doing.

He shoved back from the window shaking a little. He had not been sitting there admiring another mans body. Especially a trusted friend! He had not! It was the moves, they were cool and he wished he could move like that. All that lean ripple of muscle and…

Oh good lord.

He wanted to puke, he wanted to scream. He wanted to know what it felt like to touch all of that, not like a friend or a brother. Like a lover.

He suddenly hated with a passion this whole cramping thing. It had to be that, it just had to be. Ginny had always gotten touchy and simpered over Harry a lot more when she was in hers. It had to be because of the female pain in his body, it was warping his mind. He was feeling as a female should. That had to be it.

“Hey in there, I have something to tell you” Hiaro said from the door way. Ron almost bolted off the bed and out the window. How long had he been sitting there comforting himself.

“Oh Hey Hiaro, I’m feeling a lot better today. What is it?” he gulped nervously.

Hiaro walked into the room a slight sheen of sweat still on his arms from practice. They were nice arms, arms that had held him while he thrashed in pain. Strong arms.

“I decided to go with Shijo on his next run to the village.”