Hidden Gray

A/N: This is noted at the bottom as well, but anyway, I was planning on adding a second incest pairing along with Rika-Jyn and Dajeh. It would be 2 of the Harry Potter charactures not my originals, I just wanted to see what you guys thought about it. I won't tell you the pairing but I still want a Yay or Nay on the idea, please! Either Email me or, preferably, leave a review! Please and Thank you! Happy reading all!

CH.7
~GraY

PS. Don’t forget! Parseltongue is in BOLD

The room was shadowy, the only light coming from a few candles and the balcony that lay to Rika-Jyn’s left as he stood inside the door of his father’s bed room. The balcony, instead of hanging into blue sky over rolling grass hills, the balcony overlooked the burning abys that was the inside of a volcano. A single drop down and one would either hoped to be pulled in through a window or die quickly in the lava below. There was no door leading out to the carefully carved balcony, it was just opened into the room allowing the heat and soft light to flow freely. The rest of the room had been painstakingly carked into the valcano’s walls over a span of nearly fifteen years during the time of Rika’s ruling ancestor after the clan divide and was among the most grand rooms in the entire castle. Gothic style lanterns protruded from the walls between case upon case of books and the occasional tapestry. There was a luscious black leather sofa and two matching chairs with a dark mahogany coffee table between them and a plush black and red rug beneath it. There was also a large desk made of the same wood off to the right where his father, De-Jyn, use to work before he became so ill and was bedridden.

In the back of the room lay the king sized bed with it’s mahogany wood side tables, black curtains drawn apart, and thin, silky sheets also in black and a blood red tone. Thick covers were unnecessary because of the heat provided by the volcano’s interior but the sheets were a formality. Off to the right of the bed near the balcony opening was another bed or nest rather, of various pillows, cushions, blankets, and a few already ruined tapestries. It was the bed belonging to De-Jyn’s beloved hounds. Three full grown hell hounds[1] and three seven year old pups. The adults were curled up in the big bed with their master keeping the old Dragoon company while the pups napped in their own bed.

They were extraordinary creatures, the hell hounds. They lived long and were exceptionally rare, residing only near and inside volcanos. A small pack of them had lived inside the very volcano that Rika’s ancestors made their home and after a long bought over territory the hounds sort of adopted them into their pack and vise versa. Now only these few were left after a sickness had swept through killing most of the hounds and a few of the Dragoons as well. The creatures looked very similar to the Pharaoh Hound or Anubis dog in body shape just a bit larger and rather than covered in fur they had a molten rock plating, almost scale like all over their slim bodies and a row of small spikes down their backs with a spade tipped tail. They were a beautiful reddish orange and black when around heat but turned an icy bluish purple and black when cold. For a hell hound the cold was a bad thing, to much cold could easily kill them. So this volcano was a perfect home for both them and the fire element Dragoons.

As Rika and his mother entered the room fully the pups lifted their heads and came running after them barking enthusiastically. They loved Rika and were always ready to play when he came around. The young Dragoon happily allowed the half grown dogs to tackle him and they wrestled for a few moments. His mother went over to the bed, a finger pressed childishly to her lips as she ‘Shhhed’ the hounds on the bed before she gently woke up De-Jyn. Rika came to the side of the bed as his father began to stir.

“Hello Father. Dajeh said you wished to speak to me.” He said softly as he held one of the pups to his chest and pet it’s head. His father chuckled lightly at the sight of his son looking so innocent again.

“Yes, I did. I heard what you did during the meeting, addressing the Dark Lord like that and all.” The older man said hoarsely. Rika-Jyn frowned and his father chuckled at him again, “Oh, no my dear boy, I am far from angry. I would have done the same, wouldn’t I have my dear?” The man looked over at his wife who sat on the other side of the bed with the hounds looking like an angel straight from the pits of hell.

“The shadow stalks all who walk in the light, even the tainted with their inky, blotched souls!” Kalista hissed stroking the head of one of the hounds, which now rested in her lap, “Do you hear it Fire Fly? The winds carry the devils song on their swords as they slice through any and all in their path! Oh how they sing of the taint to come, of ink and water, and the ever bright sun!” She sang, giggling all the while. De-Jyn smiled at his wife lovingly then turned back to his son.

“You did well, don’t worry about Dajeh,” he watched the youth for a moment,“Though telling you that is mostly useless, from what I understand.” Rika blinked.

“Wha... What do you mean father?” Rika seemed almost genuinely confused by his father’s insinuation.

“My dear son, I know what you feel when you look at my younger brother...” The man began, putting a gentle hand to the boy’s cheek as Rika lowered his head shamefully, “Do not be ashamed nor afraid, Rika-Jyn. It is not forbidden as it is in the surrounding worlds, you know this as I do, though it is rare for one to love another of his own blood. Then again it is also rare that one would find interest in a crazy woman like your mother.” De-Jyn was happy that this brought a small smile to his son’s face. “The point is, I want you to be happy, and keeping your thoughts in silence is doing nothing but hurting both you and Dajeh. I don’t want to leave this world unsure of my son’s happiness.”

“If it will please you, I will talk to Dajeh.” Rika sighed in defeat, knowing that arguing with his father was a worthless cause. The older man smiled.

“Thank you. Now tell your mother and I more about the meeting. You enjoyed it I’m sure?” With that the subject flow changed and Rika-Jyn sat on the side of the bed telling his tale with enthusiasm to spare.

Back W/ Our 3 Heros

Severus, Harry and Diegara tumbled out and onto the floor of a shallowly lit and smokey bar. Diegara looked around and ‘hmmed’ to himself, obviously he hadn’t intended for them to end up here. Next to Har Harry was staring wide eyed at the strange people around them and even by wizarding standards this was an odd lot. There were vampires, were-creatures, and others that looked to be animagi caught in-between forms. Then there were the humans that were just as weirhe whe wizards were easy to pick out because of their robes of various kinds, but the rest of their clothes were just as wear and tear as the rugged looking humans. The place was certainly unique.

“Well well! If it isssn’t my old friend. How are you Diegara?” A slow spoken, hiss of a voice came from the Changeling’s direction.

Harry looked over to see a man who reminded him disturbingly of Voldemort because of they way he seemed to be caught in a phase between human and snake. In difference to the Dark Lord however this man’s change seemed more natural and elegant somehow. His skin was a dark greenish with a mixture of actual human skin and snake scales which covered a slim and tightly muscled body that was at least six foot seven maybe even taller. His eyes were longer and larger than normal with snake pupils surrounded by a ring of whiskey brown and a flattened nose. Long, thin fangs were in place of human canines and a serpents tonglicklicked out between thin greenish lips, tasting the air. He was dressed simply. A dark blue shirt with the sleeves cut off and jeans that clung like a second skin to his slim legs and simple black boots were all worn under an ink black robe. It was a truly extraordinary sight regardless of who the man reminded him of.

“Serpentine! Wow, it’s been like forever!” Diegara embraced the tall, overly slim man tightly.

“It isss good to ssseee you asss well, hiss.”The man replied chuckling. Then he caught sight of Harry and the professor, the latter of whom seemed not to have noticed him. He walked over in flowing motions and leaned toward the Griffendor. With the snake tongue flickered out and Harry didn’t flinch causing Serpentine to rasped out a chuckle, “Fearlesss thiss one believesss he isss? Where on earth did you pick him up?” The last sentence was oddly fast but everything about this’s s’s speech was strange.

“He’s a wizard, a very special wizard.” Diegara answered coming to stand behind him.

“Really now, hiss? What’sss hiss name then?” Harry was about to answer when Diegara slipped a hand over his mouth.

“Harry.” The Changeling answered simply.

“Ahhh and that one?” He stood, back straight and nodded to Severus who was now paying rapt attention and seemed just as uncomfortable as Harry with Serpentine’s resemblance to the Dark Lord.

“That’s Severus.” Diegara grinned when his friend did a bit of a double take which the professor frowned at unhappily.

A curt nod and smile was followed by a happy hiss, “Ssso, here to seee Rosssy are we?” Serpentine seemed content with his answers and changed the subject.

“Yeah. I need to talk to her about a few things.” Diegara said and moved his hand to Harry’s arm as he pulled him toward the door Serpentine walking with them and Severus following silently.

“uld uld come with, could I not? Hiss.” Once they were out and away from the door Diegara turned sharply, an accusing finger in the snake-man’s face.

“What in the nine hells were you doin’ in there, Constantine Lee?!” Harry’s friend growled in a hushed voice. The taller man flinched. Harry and Severus blinked in confusion.

“That isss not my name any longer Diegara! I am not that perssson anymore.” He said the first bit quickly but whimpered the last in sadness. Diegara sighed drng hng his hand as Serpentine hung his head.

“I’m sorry. I was just worried, don’t want you messin’ with those sort, ya know?”

“Yesss. I undersstand Diegara but I am a big boy you know. Now, to get you and your friendsss to Rossy’sss!” His voice lightened and he smiled a little as they started of down a cobblestone road.

The street reminded Harry of Diagon Ally or Hogsmead. Only the people were different. They looked similar to the ones in the bar but didn’t reek of darkness like many of them did. He found himself liking this strange and obviously exciting place. Hopefully Diegara would bring him here again. He wanted to explore the shops and outdoor merchants that lined the streets making the road look like an exotic bazaar. That was the largest difference he saw, the stands that lined the street and the occasional cart that rolled by. Other than that most of everything was at least a bit familiar, how the vampires around could walk in the day light confused him a bit, and why someone would stay half in and half out of an animagi form was beyond him but other wise it seemed like any other small city or t any any other magical town anyway.

“It’ss not to far now. What bringsss you here anyway? Sssp’ecially with them, don’t ssseem the sssort to me.” Serpentine asked Diegara, not even trying to hide his opinion from Harry and Severus.

“Well, I need to ask Rosy aboumethmething and I gotta talk to Terrace about some supplies.” Diegara said. Serpentine nodded again wordlessly, “So, how’s Eleanore?”

“Good. ‘Ave another little one on the way. We’re hoping to have a girl, Ssstephen could ussse a little sssister to protect.” Serpentine said with a smile.

“Wow, you a family man! I can barely believe it. How old is Stephan anyway ?” Diegara nodded to a suave, youthful looking vampire who murmured a polite greeting tinted with an American accent.

“He’ll be ssseven in a month.” Diegara sighed and shook his head.

“Jeeze. It’s been forever since I was last ‘round here hasn’t it?” They turned down another street with less stores but just as many vendors.

“Indeed it hasss been a long time. Every one hasss missssed you greatly.” Serpentine glanced over at a grinning Diegara.

“Well I’m here now, and I plan to visit a whole lot more often!” Serpentine smiled at his old friend and looked back at the other two who were watching everything around them with curiosity.

“Your sssure they ssshould have come with you? I am far from convinsssed.” The overly tall man seemed very skeptical.

“Ah, but my mind does work in mysterious, voodoo like ways, doesn’t it?!” Diegara said laughingly as they turned into what looked like another bar. This place was a lot less creepy than the last and very welcoming. It was also empty.

“Oh Rosssy!!! Look who I brought to ssseee you!!” Serpentine called as he sat himself down on a bar stool and a slim, middle age, Asian woman came into the room from the kitchen. Her black hair was pulled into a tight bun and her ebony eyes scanned the room as she wiped her hands on her apron.

“Diegara!!” She said in surprise as she jogged around the bar and over to the Changeling, hugging him tightly, “It’s been years!! Almost, what five, six years!! It’s so good to see you!”

“It’s good to see you too Rosy!” Diegara chuckledthe the woman.

“Oh, and your just in time too! Moony’s here an’ he’s leaving in a day or two!” She said happily turning back to the kitchen and yelling, “Moony!! Get out here, Diegara’s come for a visit!”

“Moony?” Harry asked Diegara curiously from behind him. The Griffendor only knew one Moony and what were the odds that Rosy’s Moony and his Moony were one in the same? Well, the dark haired former DADA professor walking out of the kitchen cleaning his hands on a rag and cheeks smudged with flour answered his question perfectly.

“Diegara, it’s good to see you.” The werewolf began as he wiped his face with the rug. Suddenly he had an armful of Harry Potter. “Harry?! What on earth are you doing here?” He looked over at Diegara and noticed Snape as well, “And Severeus?! Diegara, what have you done now?”

“Hey! I didn’t do nothin’! Just adopted lil’ Harry here and Sev into my new family.” He said a slight blush tenting his makeup free cheeks. Remus was about to say something when the sound of the kitchen door slamming open caught their attention. A tall, blond woman came storming out of the kitchen in all of her flour covered, pregnant glory and she stormed right over to Serpentine.

“Where in bloody ‘ell have you been?! Messin’ round wit’ your stupid friends while I’m here slavin’ away in the kitchen?!” She roared in a manner that would make the oldest of dragons proud.

“Ela! Sssweetheart! I wasss doing a job for Terrace-hiss! I sssware!” Serpentine said pleadingly as he nearly fell off of his stool cowering from the woman.

“bettbetter have been!” She growled out then calmed considerably turning to face the others, “Now, who are your friends? Moony obviously knows them.”

“Well, Eleanore, this is Harry and Severus.” Diegara began simply.

“Severus and I went to school together and Harry is Prongs’ boy.” Remus said with a wide smile. That last announcement sent an uproar through the small group who suddenly surrounded the boy-who-lived.

“Prongs and Lily’s little bug?! He has certainly grown!” Rosy exclaimed ruffling his hair fondly.

“I remember Lily lettin’ me hold you! I’d wanted a little one all my own since!” Eleanore giggled dreamily.

“I’ll be damned, I thought you looked familiar! Jussst like Ol’ Prongsssy!” Serpentine chuckled.

“Wait, you all knew my parents?” Harry looked RemuRemuRemus questioningly.

“Of course we did! We knew your father and godfather best though, Lily only came around every so often but Padfoot and Prongs were here nearly e sum summer, keeping our little y coy company!” Rosy smiled at Remus who was blushing at her cooing.

“Yeah. I remember alwaysss having Prongsss’ help when ssshipmentsss came in and Moony an’ Padfoot would normally take to the kitchen with Rosssy and Ela.” Serpentine continued.

“I think Padfoot jus’ wanted to spend time wit’ Moony meself!” Eleanore winked at the werewolf suggestively.

“He was a fine cook too! Seri knew that he’d need to learn to cook sooner or later and he chose sooner. James would always have Lily to teach him or just cook for him and we all knew it.” Remus insisted.

“Did Wormtail ever come here with you?” Harry asked in a soft cold voice. His eyes taking on an icy void look that sent a shiver down both Diegara and Severus’ spines.

“No. Peter wasn’t allowed here.” Remus said simply giving Harry’s shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

“He was a bad sort.” Rosy said softly.

“Yeah, woulda been pure stupidity to let ‘em round ‘ere.” Eleanore insisted crossing here arms stubbornly over her chest.

“He sssmelled of darknessss and betrayal. He would ‘ave been the death of usss all had he ssseen thisss place, hiss.” There was venom in the animagi’s voice and frost in his eyes. Harry nodded in both agreement and understanding.

“So, what brings you all here?” Remus asked on a lighter note.

“Well, I was hoping we could recruit some help, then go shopping!” Diegara said cheerily.

“What kind of help?” Rosy asked. Diegara’s eyes narrowed and his voice became serious again.

“The deadly kind. We’re going to get rid of The Plague.” Severus arched a curious eyebrow while Serpentine, Eleanore and Rosy’s eyes all widened.

“Kill Voldemort?! ‘Re you all mental?!” Eleanore burst out.

“It isss sssuicide hiss!” Serpentine growled, “You won’t, hiss, ssstand a, hiss, chance hiss!!” His voice was becoming more snake like as he ranted, until it became parseltongue, “There will be nothing left of you for us to morn, aside from your stupidity!! What do you think your going to do, make him laugh himself to death?!”

Diegara blinked, “Dude, calm down. We’ve got a plan and it’s a damn good one if I do say so myself.” At the Changeling’s insistence they all sat down and he explained the plan to them.

The dark Dragoon clans were already conspiring against Voldemort, and Diegara, being the thorough little spy he was, knew pretty much exactly what they were planning. So Voldemort was technically a dead man walking, especially after what he discoveredthe the last meeting, that the Jyn family had a new leader, his own cousin Rika-Jyn, only son of De-Jyn and Kalista. Kalista was a half Dragoon, her mother a human mystic and her father a Prince of the Riellel clan in the east. She was unique in that she had a female human form and that she was a seer. On top of all of that was her well known insanity. His Father was one of the strongest and most intelligent leaders in clan history, what made it all the worse or better depending on perspective was his ultimate stature being the leader over the entire clan. The Jyn clan had split long ago into three tribes, one having more power than the others but all still much stronger than the rest of the dark clans and tribes. They were also known to work well together when it suited them or became utterly necessary. It was confusing but well worth understanding, even in the slightest.

Now, the big thing with Rika being the new leader and De-Jyn being on the verge of death was Rika’s well known weakness, his uncle Dajeh. The man was a loner and only stayed because of his nephew, whom he felt deeply for, but few knew that. Most thought that Rika-Jyn’s love was not returned but Diegara knew better; at one point there had been a very interesting conversation between him and his aunt Kalista, the woman asking for the Changeling’s help in getting the pair together, that had confirmed everything for him.

“But what does this boy’s love life have to do with destroying Voldemort?!” Severus growled impatiently.

“If you woulda kept your trap shut for another minute or two I would have gotten to that.” Diegara said simply, “The dark Dragoons pretty much have the old snake’s death covered, all we have to do is keep Rika from trying to take over the world.”

“What about the other clans and tribes you mentioned?” Remus asked curiously.

“They have no desire to start another Century War, the last one nearly threw our kind into the bottomless pit that is extinction. Rika-Jyn is the only one with enough sorrow and insanity to do such a thing. He might seem just fine but spending as much time as he does with his mother would make anyone go nuts. His less than stable mind isn’t enough to push him to do something that irrational though, now if we add in unrequited love and the death of his father, that might just do it.” Diegara said thoughtfully.

“So wha’ are we s’pose to do? Play match maker?” Eleanore asked with a short snort of laughter. Diegara just grinned evilly.

“Incest hasn’t been a problem for our people since before even my grandfather was born. A life mate is a life mate in our book, no matter the itty-bitty details, same goes for Changelings, someone to love is hard enough to find as it is, why complicate it with stupid rules.” Diegara shrugged.

“So, if we get the idiots to realize their love is returned everything should be fine?” Severus said in disbelief.

“Yes and no.” Everyone looked questioningly and a bit irritably at Diegara, “It’s a bit more complicated than that. There is still a chance that the Dragoons won’t be able to actually kill Voldy for good, so we have to make sure it actually works. Dragoons are magically deprived, they have little more magical ability than what they need to transform and that’s all they can do with it. And we all know that violence isn’t the answer when getting rid of evil Dark Lords.”

“So what do we do?” Harry asked bluntly.

“Actually lil’ bro, that would be where you come in. Your gonna have to do some mojo to actually get rid of him. Now, Terrace can help you with what spells and such, he’s ubber smart about that sort of thing. We’re going to need some volunteers to help with protecting Harry until it’s time to move as well.” Diegara explained.

“One question, why aren’t you talking to Dumbledor about all of this?” Remus asked. Diegara’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“He’s a meddling old fool and I trust him about as much as the evil vampires who murdered my family! He’s gotten Harry nearly killed so many times that it isn’t funny and on top of that he makes him stay with those disgusting humans he calls family when he knows perfectly well what they do to him!” Diegara raged. “I’ve been a fly on his wall many times and that human makes me wonder why I don’t go dark and just slaughter you all!” Harry took hold of Diegara’s upper arms tightly as the Changeling’s body shook with anger. His eyes had gotten a haunted look that reminded Severus of how he had looked that morning sitting on the couch.

“Die, calm down. Moony didn’t mean anything by it.” Harry insisted in a soft, stern voice. Diegara shook his head to clear it.

“I know, sorry Moony. So, Rosy, anyone you can think of that could help us out?” He asked the asian woman as if nothing had happened. Harry looked at him strangely and when he caught the metallic blue eyes a silent something passed between them.

“Well, Risa is a year older than Harry and well on her way to being a talented witch.” Rosy said.

“Risa? Hiroshi’s daughter? That would be good. A few more students and at least one professor would be a good idea.”Diegara sat back in his chair looking thoughtful.

“I can teach Defenssse Againssst The Dark Artsss. I believe I am ssstill qualified in the wizzzarding world.” Serpentine said.

“That would be good, we can’t have Remus there again, everyone knows he’s a werewolf and it would be against our advantage, but not a soul there aside from Severus, Harry and I know you are an animagi. Albus is still looking for a perminent professor right?” Diegara asked Harry and Severus.

“Yes. That idiot he has in place as a substitute is the worst he’s chosen since Lockheart, hell he’s the worst Albus has ever chosen!” Severus grumbled.

“He’s as paranoid as Quarell, with Lockheart’s stupidity times ten.” Harry elaborated a bit, sounding just as pleased with the man as Severus. He didn’t feel the need to hide his feeling on the subject.

“Wow. Then Serpentine shouldn’t have a problem getting the job!” Diegara said happily, “ Now who else?”

“Wha’ ‘bout Sinka? He’ung ung but one a the best assasin’s round ‘ere and on top of tha’ he’s great with the magics!” Eleanore said.

“Sinka? How old is he now, last I saw of him he could barely walk.” Diegara said obviously not happy with himself for being away from this place, his home, for so long.

“About thirteen I believe.” Rosy said.

“A bit young for an assassin isn’t he?” Harry asked skillfully keeping his shock to himself.

“Oh, but you gotta start early if you wanna be a great one an’ what with his family bein’ mostly top-o-the line assassin’s he’s got plenty to learn from!’ Eleanore chuckled.

“Eva.” Remus said simply.

“Eva?” Diegara asked simply.

“Yes. She’s another animagi, with a duransransformation. She can become a panther and an Australian asp. She would be perfect. She’s been trained as a huntress since she was little and she’s pretty good with magic, transfiguration and charms especially. Her sister’s much more talented with potions though.” Remus explained.

“How talented?” Severus asked before anyone else could say anything.

“Well, Severus, I could take you to meet her this afternoon. I was planing to say good bey to the girls and their father anyway, I’m sure Odette would love to meet you.” Remus smiled. Severus just nodded silently.

“Alrighty then, anyone else? Another boy maybe? Ya know to even it out.” Diegara said innocently. Eleanore and Rosy both gave him a good swat, “Hey! What was that for?!”

“Bein’ sexist, ya bastard.” Eleanore said with a shrug and Rosy nodded.

“The Kove brothersss could sssecure the foressst. They can be crafty little buggersss but they would be perfect for the job. The younger one can turn into a falcon and hisss older brother isss a were.” Serpentine hissed.

“A were what exactly?” Severus asked.

“Yeah and since when was Halo a were?” Diegara asked disbelief touching his voice.

“Jus’ after Stephan was born. Crazy lil’ drake[2] was runnin’ round the outskirts. Ah bunch from their neck a the woods went out huntin’, thought to put it outa it’s misery, poor thing.” Eleanore sighed sadly.

“Kid ended up getting bitten by it trying to sssave his little brother. Azzzriel became an animagi jussst for hisss brother, to keep him company during forccced transformationsss.” Her husband continued.

“Halo’s lucky he didn’t get the creature’s insanity.” Rosy added.

“Moony, ya know the Kove boy’s don’t ya?” Eleanore asked.

“Not very well. They live near Michel, Odette, and Eva, close to the forest. I feel sorry foem, em, living all alone like that. Didn’t their parents die when that sickness swept through all those summers ago?” Remus asked Rosy.

“Yes. Always a quiet bunch, kept to themselves mostly, but their a good sort and right good boys. I’ve had them run me a few errands every now and again.” The Asian woman said thoughtfully.

Diegara was quiet for a moment then nodded decisively, “Alright then, think you could talk to them for us Moony, while your over there tonight?”

“Sure, since I’ll be over that way why not.” The werewolf shrugged a bit.

“Good. That everyone then?” A round of nods. “Awesome! We’ll talk about what everyone is to do later, now however, I think Harry needs to get back to school. He’ll be missed if he’s gone much longer, Hogsmead weekend or not.” Diegara said.

“Your right, everyone should be back by now, I’ll just have to tell them I was in the Astronomy Tower. They know not to bother me there when I have a chance to be alone, so they wouldn’t have looked.” Harry agreed. Diegara nodded and stood.

“Right, so shall we be off? Sev can stay here and go check out this Odette kid and Remus can bring him home when they’re done.” He looked to the professor to see if he was ok with the plan.

“Fine. Perhaps we should get going as well, Lupin?” Severs said coolly.

“I guess, it’s a good time.” Remus said. With a round of good beys to everyone present Diegara and Harry left followed shortly by Severus and Remus. The Changeling was a bit uncomfortable with letting the Potions Master out of his sights and sensory rang but he knew that this was the best way to go about getting the man to trust him. Severus Snape was a very independent person who needed his freedom which was one of the things drew Diegara to the man. He reminded the boy a lot of his late father just without the love that the older Dragoon had known in his lengthy life.

Diegara’s heavy sigh caught Harry’s attention as they walked back down the little road. “To late to go shopping I guess.”

“Yeah, sorry bro. Maybe we can sneak you away tomorrow?” Diegara said in an innocent, hopeful voice. Harry smiled a little, not the over sized beaming fake that he showed everyone else but his real smile, a sweat and small yet all encompassing, smirkish smile, a Slytherin’s smile.

“That sounds good. Now, we’re not going back to that bar we started in are we?” Harry asked obviously not likely the idea of seeing that place again.

“No. We’re gonna go to the Café down the block and use their floo. I’m also going to make a pit stop right here if you’ll hold on for just a sec.” Diegara said as they approached a merchant’s stand at the corner of Rosy’s little road and the main one. There was a man, about Rosy’s age trying to get the attention of the people passing by. He had short, shaggy auburn hair and striking whiskey colored eyes. A huge thousand watt grin was spread on his face as he attempted to sell his spices and rather large amount of exotic potions ingredients to the crowd.

“Yo, Terrace!” Diegara greeted. The man whipped around giving the Changeling a scruting lng look before the grin reappeared and they shook hands.

“Why Diegara, it’s good to see you! Just heading back from my Rosy’s are we? Who’s your friend?” The man asked happily when he caught sight of Harry.

“Me and Harry were on our way home. We had some important things, that you should ask about later, to discuss with Rosy.” Diegara said with a smirk.

“Oh! Well, I’ll be sure to do that.” The man said and walked up to Harry, sparkling amber eyes narrow as he inspected the young wizard. “Might bright for such a small spark isn’t he? “ Terrace said in a soft mysterious voice.

“Well he’s quite the talented little devil.” Diegara answered as he watched the man circle around his little brother.

“Awfully cloudy future, don’t know what to make of it truth be told. Anything could happen.” The whiskey brown eyes sparkled with bright amber as they roamed over the boy-who-lived, confusion one of many emotions evident in them, “I’d say he has quite a struggle a head of him. Well, at any rate, you best be going, and I have customers to attend. Take care Harry, Diegara and come by again soon huh? Haven’t seen you in ages Die.” The man said pleasantly before turning on his heel and back to the crowd which Diegara promptly drug Harry into.

It was a few minutes before they reached the lovely little Café and they used the fire place to floo to the Astronomy tower. There was no one there, as Harry had suspected, and Diegara mentioned being able to hear the students bustling about in the castle. Sometimes it payed off to be a part Changeling, part Dragoon. Human form Changelings kept they’re abilities but Dragoons were stripped of most of their extra strengths when in their human guise. Harry looked over at Diegara questioningly and the other boy asked him what was wrong.

“What kind of position does Severus have in your family?” Harry knew the significance of family rank. Sibling was the third down from the top of the list, which was Mate followed by Parents.

“I’m not sure. My heart is having trouble deciding. He won’t be Brother, I think you will be the only one to hold that title,” Diegara smirked at him, “But what he is exactly, I don’t know. I just know he’s to important to let him out of my sights for to long. If Remus doesn’t have him back in a few hours I’m going after them.”

Harry smiled that Slytherin smile again, only this time a size or two bigger and more of a smirk than anything really, “Perhaps he’s Mate?[3] I must admit he wouldn’t be my first choice, but that’s not to say he wouldn’t be perfect for you.” Diegara looked a bit surprised by Harry’s words and easy acceptance, even he hadn't expected it, “What? He might be a Greasy Git the majority of the time but he’s not Satan, even I can see that. It’s Neville and Ron who were convinced he was the devil incarnate. I just knew he didn’t like my father and later that being the spy he was couldn’t have like me even if my father had been his best mate back in the day.”

“You sure have come a long way little brother.” Diegara chuckled, “Maybe he will be Mate, we’ll just have to wait and see. Now I think we should go find your friends. We can say that you’ve been showing me around.” Diegara said then changed back into his cobra form. Harry let the black and crimson snake slither up his arm and settle around his shoulders. Then they left. Harry couldn’t wait to see his friend’s faces when they saw his new look.

TBC......
[1] Hell Hounds are a rargicagical creature who’s loyalty is extremely hard to win over. Once you have it though your set for life, it’s like being part of a Dragoon clan, they’ll always look out for you. They live to be somewhere between late seventies to early eighties and reach adult hood at seventeen/eighteen. Normally two or three are born at a time though one pup is normally to weak and doesn’t live very long.

[2]A Drake is basically a very small, exceedingly fast dragon. They are believed to be a cousin of the Dragoon for their extraordinary intelligence and body shape: sleek, raptor like features with wings connected at the shoulder blades and separate from the arms. They hunt in small packs and can’t actually fly, they are built for running. Their wings are just the size for short distance gliding and keeping them from landing to hard when they jump from great heights to ambush pre. At maximum heights they are documented at about six foot and only live to be around a hundred to 150 years, laying about a dozen eggs every few years, half of which actually hatch, and another half who survive adolescence.

[3] Dragoons and Changelings both mate for life, and the soul search for their perfect mate is just that, a soul search. Changelings, being a slightly older species than Dragoons, are the first noted creature to be bound mentally, spiritually and physically to their first chosen. They were also noted to have a pre link that could be detected when near their destined mate. Diegara doesn’t have this ‘inner road map’, though, because of his Dragoon DNA. Dragoons fall in love similarly to the way humans do, they’re just more cautious. They can spend a hundred years or more just getting to know a potential mate. It is also mentioned that in both species if their mate is not ‘immortal’ they become immortal when they exchange blood during the mating ritual.

IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE!!
I was planning to add another incest pairing with two of the HP characters. I’m not going to tell you who, that’s gonna be a surprise, but I was wondering who would like to see it and who would rather not. Thus I am taking a poll! Email me or leave a review, preferably the latter, and tell me what you think, yay or nay to the second ‘cest pairing! Know that Rika and Dajeh will stay as a pairing though regardless.