Emporial Stripes

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Disclaimer: All rights belong to the original author of the Harry Potter series, namely J. K. Rowling. No money is being made off of this story. The only original part of this story involves characters not featured in the Harry Potter series (Magna Valeen etc) and the plots. Without J.K.R this would not be possible and I take responsibility for any and all of my own copyright and libel infringements whereby I fail to provide a suitable disclaimer or quote where it is sufficient.

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Ok here is the next chapter. Sorry about the long wait but on the bright side I'll be updating more frequently from now on.
Hope you enjoy it. It's something of a filler chapter to get us back on track. There's some serious twists and turns coming up along the way. After all what is an Indigo child? What secret is Magna hiding? Where will Harry be sorted? And can he make it past the first few days unclaimed?!
Stay tuned.

Now with beta thanks to Cursa!

Small note of reviews received:
Some people have expressed opinions on my take of the whole Incubus/Sucubus creature types. I always appreciate critical feedback and take onboard suggestions but in the end the author has the right to use creative license and I have no qualms about using it.
That's what I love about fiction. Having said that I appreciate all your support and I hope to keep hearing from you.

Cheers

Seacilin


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Harry watched the Wizards Remus, Shaggy, the red head, and the older wizard
Albus standing over him and tried his best to rein in control of his emotions.
He glanced down at his silver cuff, and at the ornate 'V' carved there. Tom
would already know of his misfortune long before Magna reached him, even.

“Please” They all stopped their arguments to look down at him.
“Please” He repeated “ I don't know who you are or what you're after
but-”

“Look out!” The shaggy haired wizard shouted. The wizened wizard raised
his wand and batted away the red ray of a spell that was aimed for them.
Instantly the other three wizards present had their wands out and made to move
forward but the older wizard stopped them and with a gesture of his hand, he
turned to look back down upon the Incubus still cocooned in the mesh of ropes.
“Fawks!”

A burst of flame startled Harry before one of the most beautiful birds he'd
ever seen appeared in a ball of flames and landed on the older wizards
outstretched arm. There seemed a silent conversation taking place before the
bird took off and landed squarely on his chest. For a moment Green eyes met
Caramel and feathered creatures stared at each other in a silent show of
respect before the bird gave a loud squawk and Harry felt a tug behind his
navel. Harry clasped his eyes shut and grit his teeth. A Whoosh of air and
Harry felt himself pressed into a cold stone floor. When he reoped his eyes he
found himself on the floor of what appeared to be a large office. Harry winced
as his wing elbows poked into his back and it was downright uncomfortable
lying trapped in the net like ropes. He looked up as the aureate animal gave a
mournful thrill and felt the shock ware off. He tried to force back the tears
that gathered in his eyes and fought the lump gathering in his throat that
attempted to choke him.

Given the fact that those people had just kidnapped him he reasoned that
they'd have no qualms as to how to treat him. He grew even more anxious as the
minutes ticked away silently and he went over the conversation the men had
held. They knew he was marked and unclaimed, that admission alone left no
doubts in Harry's mind as to what they planned on doing with him, and Harry
very much doubted whether any silly pleas about stripes would change their
minds.

A sudden multitude of popping sounds around him startled him badly and
Harry's eyes circled the four wizards surrounding him.

The Red Headed wizard winced and Remus helped him into a nearby chair. Albus'
attention however was focused solely on Harry. The Shaggy haired wizard
'Sirius' ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Albus- Voldemort, did you
see how he,” he stopped as 'Albus' frowned and nodded. Harry gulped but
suddenly the office seemed to fade out of focus and Harry was hit with wave
after wave of his thrall. He cried out and twisted in the binds around his
body and when it stopped, Harry, smiled wryly at the thought that, Tom, at
least could still give him this.

“He's torturing him!” Sirius shouted. The other three men in the room
exchanged amused looks and the one called Remus leant into Shaggys' ear .
Sirius expression changed from anger, to confusion to down right uncomfortable
in under a thirty seconds. “Oh, I see. So ah... how do we fix that then?”
He asked.

“We can't” Remus shook his head.

“Actually, we can” Remus turned to look at Albus in shock.

Albus, I can't condone-” The older wizard held up a hand and silence fell
like a heavy cloak on the room.

“It's the only way I can think of to have Tom lose his control over his
thrall, but that is a matter for later discussion. Release him. He looks
frightened.”

Indeed Harry was frightened. He lay listening to every word and felt his
stomach clench in nerves but still felt a spark of anger and confusion. They
spoke about claiming him so freely yet also made claim to care for what he was
feeling. These were complicated beings.

Shaggy made a disapproving face. “What if it's dangerous?”

Remus nodded, earning a frown from Sirius. “It's possible, Incubus are
docile and submissive by nature however, pregnant Incubus and Striped Incubus
have been known to be aggressive. Seen as we're dealing with a royal I suggest
we look for evidence of stripes”. Amber eyes turned to the older leader of
the group who frowned in quiet contemplation before nodding. Remus raised his
wand and Harry gasped as he felt the cold air of the room descend upon his
bare skin making him whimper. Harry couldn't help the emotion that seeped out
as he broke into a quiet sob. He stared watery eyed up at the wizard
responsible, who had the decency to look ashamed at least. Whilst everyone
else averted their eyes, Remus bent down beside Harry and began to look for
markings. Immediately he spotted the pink impressions on Harry's hips and
frowned deeply, the indentations seeming harsh on the rather smooth skin of
the amber eyed wizards face. Pity filled his eyes then and a sadness Harry had
detected in his eyes shone through.

“It's not all as simple as that Albus, the boy has Emporial Stripes”.
Albus stepped forward and gazed down at Harry appreciatively. The other two
wizards in the room tensed as Albus raised his wand and summoned loose fitting
robes onto the creature with convient holes to show off the markings. He then
raised his wand and the ropes disappeared with a pop. Remus outstretched a
hand to Harry then who shied away from it and backed up to stand on his own as
far as the wall at his back would allow.

Harry visibly jumped as what he had mistaken as a wall gave two harsh raps.
He flinched back away in the direction of the fireplace as Albus called for
the person to enter. The black robed visitor entered and barely had a moment
to contemplate what he was seeing before a force slammed into his chest and
sent him crashing back into the freshly closed door. The figure clamped its
arms around his midriff and wings folded around him to encase him in a
feathery prison.

Harry shivered and buried deeper into the folds of the robed chest, trying
his best to find protection and comfort in the presence of his friend.

“Never took you for the cuddling sort Snivellus." The sound of muffled
chuckles could be made out behind them and Harry felt his cushion stiffed
considerably before a low growl sounded.

“Severus, report,” Albus beckoned.

Severus laughed bitterly. “Report? I am not here to entertain Black and
Mutt with reports. I've been sent from the Dark Lord to negotiate the release
of his intended." Harry hugged him tighter.

“Pardon me, my boy?” Albus whispered.

Snape gently pried one of Harry wrists from around his midsection and held it
out for display to the others. “This is no ordinary bond cuff. Everything
Harry has heard or seen has been directly transmitted back to the Dark Lord.
He has heard everything and has sent me to bring Harry back."

Harry gasped and released Severus to look up at him with bright eyes. “Yes!
Take me back to Tom!”

The harsh scowl softened for a moment before a pointed look was sent in the
old wizards direction. Something passed between the two before Albus sighed
heavily and frowned. “There will be no negotiation. We cannot afford to
allow him to return to Voldemort,” Snape flinched, “...for many reasons.
He'll only be returned claimed and by then Tom will hold no interest in him."

As the old wizard finished his speech, two loud gasps of pain and shock rang
out through the room. Harry whimpered and fell to his knees shaking in wracks
of pleasure as Snape gripped his robes forearm and hissed in pain. Harry
shivered as it faded and let loose a breathless chuckle in spite of himself.
When he looked up at the pain induced sweat on his friends face however, he
felt anger settle deep within him. He stood up and snapped his wings out to
shield Severus and faced the other head on. “Enough of this!” Every set of
eyes in the room settled on him warily. Apart from the Old wizard in white.
Albus stared at him as if his change in demeanor meant nothing to him. Harry
felt his hackles begin to raise and his stripes began to burn and darken.

Harry hissed again and took a step forward. “What gives you the right to
hold me like you do against my will. Who are you to decide who will or will
not have me?” He spat out at them. Earning an approving nod from Remus.

Albus was the one to speak up and when he did, it was in a tone that broached
no argument. “Right now you are worth more to Tom than his gold, and I have
no intention of sending back to him. To the victor go the spoils, as they
say.”

Harry felt his blood boil at that comment. It mattered not to him at that
moment that he was an Incubus and that he was currently in the possession of
wizards who easily bested him and had every legal right to claim ownership
over him. Harry only saw the old wizard in front of him and his eyes flash
ruby red. He hissed and charged the old man, but he wasn't quick enough. Harry
bounced back off a barrier and was blasted back to the ground. Dazed he came
to slowly and looked around not fully understanding how he came to be where he
was. Albus frowned, but it was contemplative, not angry. “Remus, can you fix
me something to block that device on Harry's wrists? I think we'd all fair
better for the duration of his stay if Tom wasn't able to focus his emotions
through Harry."

Remus nodded. “I'll try."

Harry felt a grip on his arm hoist him up before a hand on his shoulder
steadied him. Harry looked up into azure eyes. “Leave us, I want to speak
with Harry alone."

Harry felt his nerves grow again and looked back pleadingly at Severus as he
watched the other leave and followed suit behind Remus, sparing Harry one last
glance. The door office door closed behind them and Harry stared at the floor
uncertainly, not wanting to be alone in the same room with the man he'd just
attacked. Albus sighed and released his grip on Harry's arm before retreating
behind his desk and gesturing for Harry to take a seat. Not wanting to anger
the wizard further Harry quickly accepted. Albus rested his crossed hands on
the table in front of him and rested his chin on them. He stared at Harry for
a moment before smiling. “What do you think of my office Harry?” He
gestured all around them, making Harry take note of all the knick-knacks,
bookshelves and moving portraits on the walls. Harry stared around
uncertainly. Albus smiled. “Impressive yes? Well let me be the first to
officially welcome you. No doubt the students will find it odd having you
around at first but I'm sure you'll settle in eventually."

Harry perked up at that. “Students?”

Albus smiled and nodded. “Yes students. This is a school of magical
learning Harry. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to give it its full
and proper title, of course.”

Harry's eyes glazed over. “School? I'm in a School?”

Albus nodded. “I'm headmaster here, Headmaster Dumbledore to be precise."
Harry smiled wryly thinking of the arguments he'd always held with Magna on
the subject, feeling a pang of longing as he remembered that his mentor still
resided at Tom's castle. Dumbledore frowned. “What's the matter Harry?."

Harry smiled wryly. “I always wanted to go School but my friends and family
use to get angry with me for it. It's a ridiculous notion. An Incubus in
school with wizards."

Albus smiled and his eyes twinkled. “Not as ridiculous as you might think.
That exactly what I had in mind after all.”

Harry stared at him in awe. School. He could go to School. Learn just like
all those others he had wanted to.

A sudden wave of tremors hit him and Harry lost his balance and went crashing
back onto the floor. He twitched in spasms and gasped and writhed as his
thrall flared again and again. “Tom!” He hissed out, “I'm sorry...I
didn't mean it!” Harry panted as the sensations faded slowly still leaving
him with twitching nerves and a headmaster kneeling beside him with a sadness
in his eyes totally unexpected in it's depth. Harry sighed and closed his eyes
in exhaustion.

“We'll work something out, my boy. Not to worry." Harry hoped so. One way
or another he couldn't keep going on like this forever.

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Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter.
I'd love some feedback from the readers on this chapter.
Stay tuned for the next chapter: Indigo Child.
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