Melanin

I need to start writing smaller chapters again! :(

XXX

“Pass the potatoes, please?” Harry asked. He held his hand out and waited.

They were all sat around the dining table, which was made of solid gold and in the centre of a large room painted crimson red. Gryffindor to the core, which was understandable considering every Potter before Harry had been a Gryffindor.

Dalton reached for the bowl, but Draco snatched it away first. The blond held it out to Harry, a slow smirk stretching across his face as the brunette took the bowl from him. Their fingers brushed, and it would have been innocent enough, except Draco’s hand moved after Harry’s when Harry pulled away. Fingers trailed along Harry’s wrist and arm, and all the while Draco gave his friend a teasing smile. “Would you like me to pass you anything else, Ainion?” He asked with a leer.

“Uh, no thanks,” Harry said. He held his arm against his chest and used the other arm to spoon some potatoes onto his plate. He didn’t hand the bowl back, instead he left it sitting next to him even though it meant that he didn’t have enough room to eat comfortably. It was either that or risk being molested by Draco again.

Nuada watched with narrowed eyes. It was the fifth time that the blond had attempted to flirt with his Melanin. He was trying desperately not to kill the pest, mainly because he didn’t want to upset Harry, but also because Draco wasn’t to know of Elvin customs anymore than Harry had known not to bow before him. If they had been surrounded by Elves, no one would have dared to approach his mate in such a way. Making advances on a mated Elf was tantamount to suicide: Nuada was well within his rights to execute the blond Wizard, as well as that irritating red-haired woman.

But, no, he would not do anything to upset his mate. Was it only a day ago that he had held a dagger to his mate’s throat? He could not allow himself to treat his mate as badly as that again, nor did he want his mate’s emotional injuries on his own conscience. Malfoy would live, for now.

“Would you like some kiwi-juice, Harry?” Draco held the jug out to him. The brunette shook his head and Draco put the jug back on the table with a grin. “I should have remembered. You haven’t been able to abide the stuff since we were in Barcelona. How long ago was that?” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Five years ago, maybe? Well, I don’t remember how long ago it was, but I certainly remember the night we shagged on the beach and you begged for my cock up-” Nuada shoved his chair away from the table, and stormed out of the room. Draco watched him go with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, “what’s his problem?”

“Draco can’t help himself.” Harry said, trying to excuse his friend. His family looked on in shock as Harry made to follow the Elf from the room. “Please excuse me.”

“Was it something I said?” The blond asked, mock innocently.

Harry found the Elf in his own bedroom. Harry had offered everyone their own room, but those in couples had chosen to sleep with one another. Harry hadn’t complained when Nuada informed him that they would be sharing a bed. The Elf was shirtless, his blond hair loose. He spun in a circle, jabbing his lance at imaginary foes, kicking out and flipping over backwards as he evaded invisible attacks. Harry watched him work off his anger, his wide with awe and his groin tightened in lust at the sight of Nuada’s bare chest slick with sweat and heaving.

The King noticed him as Harry let out an involuntary groan. “You are mine,” he hissed. Harry found himself shoved back against the wall, his shoulders tingling where Nuada’s hands gripped them, squeezing rhythmically.

“I am yours?” Harry asked with a soft smile. He knew he probably shouldn’t wind Nuada up, but the blond was going to have to get used to the fact that people would always want to be with Harry, because he was rich, famous and attractive.

“You are!” The Elf surged forward, the entire length of his body pressed tightly to Harry’s. The brunette could feel every coiled muscle and the telltale hardness of Nuada’s length.

“Prove it, then,” Harry whispered, leaning forward to brush his lips against the King’s. He began to draw away, but one of Nuada’s hands fisted into his hair at the back of his head, jerking him forward again. Their lips met roughly, teeth clashing and Harry gave another moan as Nuada lifted him of the ground and carried him over to the bed, his tongue still tracing against Harry’s lips.

( Slash Starts Here )

They shed their clothing hurriedly, racing against one another silently to be the first one undressed. Nuada, who only wore a one-piece robe, was naked first and Harry stopped, fingers on his trouser buttons, as he drank in the sight of his mate. Harry licked his lips, unzipped himself and shimmed out of his pants. His eyes strayed down to Nuada’s cock, which was full and long, and it bobbed slightly as the Elf moved closer to his mate.

A softer kiss was bestowed on Harry’s mouth as Nuada took it upon himself to undress the Wizard.

“Accio,” Harry called, and held his hand out. A small jar of lubricant sailed out of the nearest drawer and landed in Harry’s palm. He opened the jar, well aware of Nuada’s gaze on him, and dipped his fingers inside. When his fingers were covered sufficiently, he dropped the jar onto the bed beside him, and lay back against the pillows. His legs were spread and bent at the knees, baring himself to Nuada’s gaze. A finger circled his entrance, and the pucker winked at the Elf as Harry pushed a finger inside of himself. The brunette threw his head back with a moan. He was still loose enough from the night before, but he was mostly preparing himself for Nuada’s benefit, not his own.

“Lle naa vanima,” (You are beautiful) Nuada breathed.

He reached towards his mate, but Harry shoved him away. A second finger pressed into him, and the brunette arched his back with a moan, his eyes fixed on Nuada’s face. “I want to,” Harry told him softly, “let me.”

With two fingers inside of himself, Harry pulled his hips up and then pushed down, fucking himself slowly as the Elf watched, entranced. Nuada reached over for the jar. Having watched Harry earlier, he copied the boy, swirling his fingers around in the lotion before rubbing it over his length. He crawled up along the bed, stopping above his mate. Nuada pulled at Harry’s hand, drawing the fingers out and freeing Harry’s body for something else to fill it instead.

“I cannot wait any longer,” the Elf whispered. In invitation, Harry spread his legs wider.

Nuada pressed forward; his length nudging at Harry’s hole, penetrating his body as the man raised his hips to meet it. Harry’s legs locked around Nuada’s waist, tugging the Elf down on top of him fully. Nuada’s hands clutched at Harry’s hips, running down his thighs and back up again. They kissed, tongues and lips rubbing against each other’s, eyes closed as breath came in shallow pants. They rocked together, straining desperately towards release but at the same time never wanting the moment to end.

His cock brushed against Harry’s prostate, and the man screamed. He threw his head back as he cried out, seeing stars explode behind his closed eyelids. On top of him, Nuada chuckled, but it cut off into a strangled gasp as Harry clenched his arse, squeezing Nuada’s cock. Harry panted as he felt the coiling begin in his stomach, he reached down, wrapping his hand around himself and he began to stroke.

Harry came first again. With a cry of ‘Nuada’, he released himself into his own hand. He watched, fascinated, as the Elf followed him seconds later, the clenching of Harry’s muscles around his cock too much for him to bear.

(Slash Scene Ends)

Nuada rolled to the side, pulling Harry within and settling the brunette into the crook of his arm. “I love you too, my Melanin,” Nuada told him for the first time. Harry smiled, his face against the Elf’s chest.

“I love you,” he replied, just before he fell asleep.

XXX

The following day, Harry and Nuada didn’t wake until rather late. When they ate, they did so in silence and in the kitchens, just the two of them. The others were gathered in the library when Kreacher came to fetch his master. “Follow me, Master,” the House Elf wheezed, bowing at the waist and walking backwards.

“Good morning,” Dalton grinned at the other Wizard. Draco gave Nuada a sneer, having guessed why they were so late rising and he wasn’t impressed by it at all.

“Have a good night, little brother?” Hellboy winked at him, blowing a puff of cigar smoke into his face. Harry scowled. “So, details? How long, how hard, how loud?”

Harry bared his teeth at the red demon, and hissed, “Rhachon le!” (I curse you)

“Yeah, yeah, with bells on,” Hellboy muttered, not having known what his brother said but being smart enough to guess that it was something unpleasant.

“Anyway,” Harry said, clearing his throat. “Did you all sleep well? Good. Excuse me.” He turned away from them, most of who were desperately smoothing grins, and headed towards the fireplace. “Ministry of Magic, Minister’s office,” he called out loudly, throwing a handful of green powder onto the logs. A green flame burst into life, flickering wildly as Harry stuck his head inside.

“Hello Lord Potter,” a tall black man said with a smile. He stood up from his desk and made his way forward to kneel before the fireplace. “How are you?”

“Have you heard about my double?”

Kinsley Shacklebolt grinned, his white teeth flashing in contrast against his dark skin. “Looks and sounds just like you, but is in need of a personality transplant? Yeah, I know of him.” Kingsley sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I also heard about what happened yesterday in Diagon Alley.”

“Yeah.” Harry blew out a deep breath and frowned. “I need your help, Lee. I was thinking about it, and I think, maybe, if we can push him through the veil it will either send his soul back to hell, or destroy it completely, or very unlikely but possible it may merge it with myself, joining us back together again. But, I need your permission for my friends and I to enter the Department of Mysteries.”

“Very well, if you think it will help.” Kingsley said softly. “But be careful. You remember what happened last time?” Harry nodded. In his second year, Lord Voldemort had attempted to steal a prophecy from the Department of Mysteries. Because Harry had not gone to Hogwarts until he was fourteen, Voldemort had half decided that the other prophecy child, Neville Longbottom, must have been the real ‘hero’. Voldemort had lured Neville to the Ministry in hopes of capturing both the boy and the prophecy, but he hadn’t counted on Harry having a vision of the plan. Harry had arrived, along with Luna and Draco, just in time to see a Death Eater push Neville through the veil.

“Yeah, I’ll be careful.”

“Then you have my permission.”

Harry gave Kingsley one more smile, before pulling his head out of the fireplace. He grinned at the group of people who were watching him worriedly. “Where did Dalton go?”

“To Knockturn Alley,” Draco said. “He said he knew someone who would sell him a Snare.” Harry’s eyebrows furrowed, and then a smirk spread across his face. “I see you know what one is.”

“The only problem will be getting Ciaràn alone. I don’t want to risk trapping anyone else inside.”

“What is a snare?” Nuada asked, frowning over at his mate.

Johann Krauss, who had remained practically mute since they arrived, began to speak. “A Snare,” he explained, “is a magical device, a trap if you will. It is shaped like a small box, generally in black. When the lid is opened, facing a person, they will be sucked into the trap until the lid is opened a second time. However, if someone becomes trapped with Ciaràn, there is no way to release that person without freeing Ciaràn as well. But it’s the best plan we have so far.”

“What were you going to do, Harry?” Liz asked suddenly, looking worried.

“I was going to push him through the veil. But I wasn’t sure how to get him there.”

Draco frowned. “The veil is dangerous Harry! But the Snare isn’t a permanent solution either. I suppose, if you timed it right, opened the Snare directly into the veil, he wouldn’t have a chance to grab onto you.”

Harry felt the wards tingle. With a frown, he looked towards the door. Dalton was the only person who should have been entering Potter Manor, but the wards were telling him there was more than one person. His eyes narrowed as the door flew open.

“We have a problem,” Dalton said. He threw the Snare to Harry without warning. The brunette ex-Seeker caught the box, holding it against his chest.

“Why hello, hello,” Andromeda said to each person in turn. She shook hands with Harry and Draco and waved at everyone else. Harry’s godson, Teddy, waited just behind his grandmother. The eight-year-old rolled his eyes at Harry and gave a grin: one of his front teeth was missing. “Well, where is Scorpius?” She asked with a wide grin.

“What?” Draco hissed, his voice cold and angry. “Andromeda, you are minding my son.”

“Well, I was,” she agreed, “but Marcaunon collected him from me fifteen minutes ago and told me to go shopping.” She frowned. “I didn’t even need to buy anything, but Ainion said I should go shopping.”

“Where were you when Harry came?” Draco asked, clenching his fists at his sides.

She frowned, “you know, I don’t remember. But it doesn’t matter, because Ainion is here. So where is Scorpius?” No one answered her. Instead, Liz reached forward and took the woman by the hand. Liz sat Andromeda down in a chair, and patted the woman awkwardly on the shoulder. Teddy followed his grandmother, his hair a sickly straw colour as he sniffled sadly. “He is ok, isn’t he?” Again, no one answered her question.

“You didn’t tell her I had a doppelganger?” Harry scowled at the blond. He clicked his fingers and waited for Kreacher to appear. “Have you seen Scorpius Malfoy?”

“Yes Master,” Kreacher said as he bowed low. He began to wring his ears. “Master tell Kreacher nots to be telling, sir.”

“I’m telling you to tell me, right now, elf, or I will punish you severely!” Kreacher said nothing still, but he squeezed harder at his ears. “Fine! Kreacher, go iron your fingers and come straight back here. No bandages!” Nuala looked over at him, her eyes wide in horror. “Oh don’t mind Kreacher. He enjoys being treated like this. I said ‘please’ to him once and he tried to strangle me as I slept. He only likes me because I treat him like shit.” He gave a shrug and a wry grin and waited for the house elf to come back.

“Kreacher is being sorry Master. Forgive Kreacher!” The elf threw himself to the ground, his burnt hands stretched out in front of him so that Harry could inspect them.

“Suitable,” Harry muttered. “Now, tell me where Scorpius is.”

“He is at the Grim Old Place, Master. Little master is at home, sir.”

Harry narrowed his eyes and Kreacher gave a squeal and popped away immediately. “Come on Draco. Dalton, bring the Snare.” He held it out to the vampire, who took it with a nod of his head.

“My lord, perhaps this isn’t the best idea you’ve ever had?” Dalton said softly, twisting the black box between his hands. “Perhaps we should call the Aurors, just this once?” Harry raised an eyebrow. “No, you’re right. Let’s go before I change my mind.”

The others waited behind. Harry, Draco and Dalton entered the fireplace one by one and flooed to Number 12, Grimmauld Place – Sirius Black’s old home. It was dark where they arrived, and the dust was at least two layers thick. Draco sneezes, and wrinkled his nose in disgust. His hand covered his face, grey eyes looking around for any sign of his son, as much as they flickered back to the fireplace and the clean home they had left. Dalton took a deep breath. One hand held the Snare, and the other rested on the lid, ready to draw it back at a moments notice.

A streak of green light shot passed in front of Harry’s face and he threw himself to the ground on autopilot. He rolled onto his back, his wand raised. A second jet of light raced towards him and he cried, “Protego!”

The red light bounced back the way it had come and someone screamed. When the screaming stopped, another spell was fired towards them. There was hissing, and Harry suddenly remembered the Cobra Ciaràn had purchased. They would all have to be careful not to get bitten. Draco looked at Harry, wide eyed, and nodded. He walked back the way they had come, and snuck around through the hidden door in the wall that Mrs. Black’s portrait had once covered. He appeared behind Ciaràn, shooting a spell into the creature’s back. Ciaràn screamed, turning around and slapping Draco across the face. The blow had enough force to knock Draco back into the wall. A child cried out, and the blond turned his head slowly. His vision was fuzzy and his head felt heavy, but he came back to his senses quickly enough when he caught sight of the tears on his son’s face. The three-year-old was tied to a chair, and there was a hand shaped bruise on his left cheek.

“The little brat wouldn’t stop crying. He needed to be taught some manners.” Ciaràn hissed, raising his wand and pointing it at Draco. “Avada Ked-” He began.

Three things happened at once. Firstly, Draco grabbed onto Scorpius’ hand, and apparated them both, and the chair, out of range of the Killing Curse. Secondly, Dalton lifted the lid of the Snare, sneaking up behind Ciaràn. And thirdly, Harry heard the beginning of the curse and dived forward, not seeing Dalton, and knocked Ciaràn to the ground. When the Snare activated, he was sucked inside along with Ciaràn.

“Ainion!” Dalton screamed, and rushed forward to grab the box he had dropped to the ground. Draco grabbed his arm before he could open it again.

“Let’s take it to the Ministry first. Marcaunon will be fine for a little while.” He was panting softly, holding a hand to the back of his head. Together they untied Scorpius. Dalton carried the toddler while Draco held on to the box. The blond felt a little too dizzy to be trusted to hold his son safely.

“Where is Ainion?” Nuada asked. Draco held out the Snare. “Give it to me!” The Elf ordered.

Draco clutched it tighter. “He wouldn’t want us to open it until we get to the Department of Mysteries.” The blond insisted.

“Then we shall go to this mysterious place, and you shall release my mate from your prison.” The blond Elf said with narrowed eyes.

“Mysteries,” Draco corrected under his breath, “not mysterious.”

Dalton led them to the fireplace. No one wanted to be left behind this time.

XXX

The veil fluttered lightly before them. It looked like a tattered black curtain, hanging from midair, and moving in a breeze that no one else could feel. Hellboy cringed away from the veil; the voices followed him, taunting him. Liz could hear them calling to her, begging her to join them again, to come back to where she belonged but she wouldn’t listen. Dalton could hear them snarling at him, spitting and hissing, calling him a demon then begging for his forgiveness, but he was used to it. The others could hear nothing.

“It’s just a curtain.” Abe said, looking sideways at it, hoping that it would do something other than hang there.

“It is evil,” Nuada and Nuala said at once, before turning to smile at the other.

“But it is still only a curtain.” Johann reiterated, crossing his arms over his chest.

Dalton gave a chilling laugh. “They know better, especially him.” He nodded at Hellboy, who would have been pale if he could have managed it. “The veil is the gateway to Hell, and it’s calling Red home, isn’t it?”

They stayed silent after that. They spread out, moving to stand in a semi circle around the veil, with Dalton and Draco at the centre points. Dalton laid the Snare on the floor between him and the veil, and raised the lid. He jumped back into his position, wand raised, and waited.

A light flashed through the room, and when it cleared the Snare was closed again, but empty. Harry stood before them, just one of him. He was dressed the same way they both had been, and his hair was the same length and colour and he was the same height. The snake around his shoulders was the same colour as his eyes; a green so dark they were almost black. But he was smiling.

“Who are those people, master?” The Cobra hissed.

Harry reached out to stroke her head, his fingernails scraping lightly against the scales above her nostrils. “Those people are my nest mates, my family. And that tall one there, with the long blond hair, he is my mate.”

“He will give you good hatchlings.” The snake said decisively, bobbing her head slowly as her lipless mouth split into what passed as a grin.

“Cormamin lindua ele lle.” (My heart sings to see thee) Harry said with a smile. He raised one hand to wave at them. A small gasp escaped his mouth as Hellboy grabbed hold of him and swung him around in the air.

“Damn you! I thought you had let that other little shit beat you!” The demon squeezed his little brother against his chest, careful so as not to hurt him, and he pressed a kiss to Ainion’s head. “It’s good to have you back.”

“What happened?” Dalton asked, picking up the Snare from the ground.

“We fought. I won. This is Nagini II by the way; don’t ask about the name, Ciaràn named her. Ciaràn disappeared and I have a blinding headache.”

“And your eyes have changed colour.” Draco pointed out, since Harry didn’t seem to have noticed yet. “But it looks much better on you than it did on him.”

“Well of course it does.” The brunette grinned. One hand continued to stroke the snake’s head and his other hand took Nuada’s, lacing their fingers together, and squeezing tightly.

They left the Department of Mysteries, walking silently along the hallways and corridors, taking the stairs instead of the lift. Harry stopped at Level Three and they followed him. He stopped in front of a door that read ‘Department of Family Affairs’, and turned to the King of the Elves.

“Since we’re here, and all, do you want to get married?” He said it nonchalantly, but Nuada could feel Harry tense, and he could feel the grip Harry had on his hand tightened slightly.

“I would love to get married to you, Melanin.” The blond smiled warmly, his eyes sparkling.

“Good. Since we’re here already, and everything.”

Nuada held the door open for his mate and the group filed inside. They headed towards the door marked ‘marriage licenses’, and waited as a woman offered to find the Officiator. She also sent a message down to the Minister’s office. As they waited for both men, Hellboy ran his eyes over his brother first and then the Elf.

“So,” he lit up a cigar and took a puff, “which one of you is wearing the dress?”

“Futue te ipsum et caballum tuum,”10 Harry said calmly in Latin, a red flush already spreading across his cheeks. Liz gave a sigh, and clicked her fingers. Hellboy didn’t notice when her hand caught fire, but he gave a cough when she slapped him on the arse. He also didn’t notice when the fire jumped from Liz’s palm to his trousers, setting them alight.

And Harry wasn’t really inclined to tell him.

The End

* * *

1 – “Mára aurë” [Mah-rah ow-ray] Translation: Hello.
2 – Ciaràn means “dark haired one”, but it also means “dark one”, which I suppose is referring to his hair colour anyway. It’s my brother’s name.
3 – “Im gelir ceni ad lín” [Eem geh-leer keh-nee ahd leen] Translation: I am happy to see you again.
4 – “Sen tîr?” [Sehn teer] Translation: Is this true?
5 – DA –Diagon Alley. RV –Rendezvous Point. The numbers are random area codes (like a phone number) and the M – for Menagerie. After the war, the WW went through an overhaul. They now allow Portkeys in and out of Diagon Alley but they must be Ministry and Department for Magical Travel (international or not) sanctioned and they deliver at certain locations.
6 – “Man mathach?” [Mahn mah-thakh?] Translation: How do you feel?
7 – “Aníron gwanna” [Ah-NEAR-on gwahn-nah] Translation: I wish I could leave.
8 – “Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar” [nye Vahl-are-ow-kahr too-ay-mah-tahr] Translation: May Balrogs eat you
9 – “Rhachon le!” [Rahkh-on lay] Translation: I curse you!
10 – “Futue te ipsum et caballum tuum.” Latin for: Screw you and the horse you rode in on.


* * *

Thanks for reading. At least consider leaving a review. Nuada-shaped Voodoo dolls for those who review :) Coal, for the rest of you!


Complete… Complete… COMPLETE… COMPLETE…!