Furry Magic

Title: Furry Magic, chapter 47

Disclaimer: Not mine, I am just playing.


Lucius came to stand over the three men. His eyes were still silver, still burning, but his fangs were not bared, nor displayed in a threat. He stood looking down at them, face unreadable. His eyes flicked from one face, the tanned, calm visage of his second, to another, the light skinned, disapproving face of the Hogwarts' professor who rose to his feet under the scrutiny, and came to rest on the unnaturally pale, starkly freckled face of his brilliant, obsessive, and easily distracted, redheaded curse breaker.

"Bill!" The call was sharp, fearful, coming from the broad shouldered man who had rounded the corner, and was now loping towards them, attention fully fixed on his brother. Graeme, frowning, was not far behind. Charlie slid to a stop on his own knees, next to his older brother.

"What happened?" He asked, his hands roaming over the other man, frantically searching for any possible injury, carding through carroty hair for bumps and bruises. It wasn't all that uncommon for himself or other Dragon Master's to be hurt. But he couldn't find any injury. "Where do you hurt? Are you in pain?"

"Nnnnoo." Bill managed to get out. Charlie looked at Amrys, who was still holding Bill, then at Snape.

"What happened? He isn't acting like he is alright." Charlie insisted as Graeme glided up to the group. He, unlike Charlie, looked at the pride king. Then he moved closer, bent his head, offering his cheek and the side of his throat.

"My king." The dark eyed man murmured. Lucius rubbed his face along the cheek of his third. Graeme inhaled, smelled sex, his eyes gleaming. The Potter boy. He smelled him on the king. And he smelled Bill's heat. He smiled, flashing his pearly white, very sharp teeth. He could just guess what had happened. Bill had not been paying attention.

"Leave us." The king said to his second, third, Charlie, and to the visiting Potion's Master. Snape eyed him critically, raising a single brow, saying nothing, taking a single step back, and then not moving further.

Charlie surged to his feet, looming protectively. "No! Tell me what is wrong. Bill is hurt..."

Lucius folded his arms over his chest. "Charlie..." he began gently, but firmly.

"He is not hurt. Not yet." Graeme corrected. Charlie turned on him, glaring.

"Obey your king." Graeme ordered harshly.

"And what do you know about it?" Charlie snapped. "He's my brother. I will take care of him. Come on Bill..."

"I trust you won't do anything regrettable." Snape said acerbically to the tall blond king, his gaze moving from Lucius' to rest on the two brothers. "The Weasleys are all remarkably loyal, though perhaps given to impulsive action. They have a strong tendency not to think first."

"I am in full control of myself. I am aware of the strengths and the weaknesses of all my leopards." The were-king said in response. "Do not concern yourself, Severus. You are not of my pride. Amrys, Graeme." Lucius made a shooing motion. "Leave me with my leopard. Go."

Amrys took hold of the dark clad man's arm and guided him down the hall. Snape went, having said what he meant to say. Graeme took hold of Charlie's arm. Charlie did not go willingly, he struggled.

"No!" He yelled. "Let me stay!"

Graeme grabbed him, tossing him over his shoulder. Charlie fought, and managed to wriggle away. Graeme caught him, spinning him, Charlie lashing out, landing a blow. Graeme sprouted claws, lifted his paws. Amrys abandoned Snape, who wisely stayed still, observing, and headed towards the fighting human-form were-cats.

"Stop." Lucius' voice held, command, authority, ringing of the imperative of the call. The were-leopards froze, istantly. He extended his arm. "Bill Weasley, come to me."

Bill obeyed, rising to his feet, head bowed, and went to his king. "I am not angry." Lucius said as he took the man into his arms. Bill sagged in relief. Then Lucius extended his arm again, continuing to hold Bill with the other. It was a voiceless command this time. Amrys, Graeme and Charlie moved towards him. He slid his arm around Charlie, who was shaking with the adrenaline of his fight, and consumed with fear for his brother.

Lucius met the gazes of his second and third. They moved in, surrounding the two brothers with their arms and bodies. They stood in a knot, the five of them, as Severus Snape looked at them bemusedly. He reacted slightly, raising his brows, when the king of the pride nuzzled and licked the freckled faces of Charlie and Bill. That was not part of the normal greeting Snape witnessed. He was first to notice the movement from the king's private rooms. His dark eyes took in the disheveled, unclothed youth. Not a bad look for Potter, he decided wryly. Rather fetching.

"Hey. What's going on?" A sleepy, confused voice cut through everything. Harry stood in the doorway rubbing at his eyes, looking more alarmed by the second. Lucius immediately held out his hand. Harry came forward, taking it without hesitation. He was pulled into the pride embrace.

Bill moaned as Lucius rubbed his cheek again, bent down, touched him next to his ear. He pushed at Bill's face with his own chin, until their gazes locked, held.

"I am not angry." Lucius repeated.

"But, it would be best if you waited for leave, before you came into my private rooms." Lucius said mildly. "There are three permitted entrance without my leave. My second, my third, and my Chosen."

Bill nodded, his bright eyes locked with those of his king.

"What did you come to tell me?" Lucius asked.

Bill's expression transformed from one instant to the next, going from trepidation, to excitement in a flash. "Oh! I found the solution!" He announced, face alight.

Before Lucius could respond, there was a pop, and a fetid stench filled the air. The men all turned as one, knowing what they would find. The tall, deformed figures of the monstrous, magically perverted lycanthropes were in the hallway, one on either side of Severus Snape.

And off to one side of them, virtually unnoticed, due to the distraction of the monsters, was the figure of a black furred canine. Who leaped forward directly at Harry when the group of were-leopards sprang apart to face the inturders. Harry screamed, as he was grabbed, held, and the hallway dissolved around him. He dimly heard the roar of rage as he was apparated out of the protection of the Manor.

Only one of the were-cats was close enough to respond to Harry's scream. Graeme launched himself at the canine-man who had seized Harry, locking his strong arms around them, and was pulled into the apparation spell. They tumbled into space.

neichan
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