Daimons

“Gavin,” Hermione beamed at her beloved. “What have you been up to?” She stood on her toes to kiss him on his cheek and was shaken as he stepped away from her. She saw the contempt in his eyes which was directed toward her. “Gavin what’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Everything that is here at Hogwarts is wrong. From the addlebrained Headmaster to mudbloods, like you. Even Armstrong is a bloody-fucking idiot for listening to Dumblebrain. The only thing that man has done right was to get hitched to a Death Eater.”

“Severus is an ex-Death Eater,” she defended. “What happened for you to get so angry? Maybe I can help.” She was hurt beyond words at the reference of her being a Mudblood.

“He may have you fooled but I know better. Once a Death Eater always a Death Eater.”

From a distance Armstrong watched attentively. They had used numerous charms on Gavin the night before, to be triggered by the light of day. He couldn’t be more pleased at the results, but he was also heartbroken what they had to do to his boy and Hermione.

“Gavin, please, explain to me what happened to you.”

“If seeing the folly of all this,” he waved his arms wildly about, “and that the truth lies in the words of our Dark Lord is what you are speaking of, then I can say ‘what happened to me’ is I woke up to reality.”

“No,” the word was barely audible. “Please tell me you’re joking. Please Gavin tell me that you still love me.” Hermione grabbed the sleeve of his shirt in desperation.

“How could you ever think that I could care about a mudblood? And I thought you were smart.” He pulled away from Hermione and stormed away, leaving her standing there in shock.

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“Am I dead?” Draco blinked and the beautiful lady was gone. In her place was a grey haired, old hag. The wrinkles on her face reminded Draco of his great-great-nana.

“You’re as alive as I am.” She grinned toothless at him. “Why, on earth, would you think you were dead?”

“Let me think, oh yeah, I was freezing to death.” The sarcastic Draco was back.

“Don’t get a smart mouth with me or I’ll tan your hide.” She turned to fetch some hot broth and bread for Draco all the long muttering to herself, “Try to help someone and see how they treat you. Should have been taught better manners. Poor parenting I say.”

“Hey don’t say anything bad about my mom. She’s perfect,” he protested while he thought of his father. ‘Well as perfect as she can be married to the dredge of the earth.’

“Don’t care about your Dad, do you?” The hag put his supper across his lap.

Draco looked at her as if she had read his mind.

“I’m not a mind reader, if that is what you’re thinking. The fact you defended your mother and not your father spoke volumes. Eat.” She gestured to the soup. “So skinny, you need to be fattened up.”

Draco felt like arguing with her but the food was too good. He looked about the room as he ate, noticing the doilies that lay under the lamps, the crocheted throw was neatly folded over the back of a well used couch, dozens of pictures lined the walls, and numerous knickknacks covered every surface of the room.

“Everything you see is a precious memory.” She walked to the framed pictures that hug on the wall. “Each one of these are my children.” Her aged fingers fondly touched one of the photographs. “I’ve had hundreds of children over the years.” She looked at Draco who had gulped down his meal. “Would you like a bowl of ice cream? Of course you would, what young man wouldn’t? Vanilla? No, no, no, I can tell you’re a Neapolitan kind of person.”

She fluttered about the room while she asked her questions. Draco became dizzy watching her. “What’s Napoleon?”

“Napoleon was a person, Neapolitan is three types of ice cream. Were you raised on another planet? Not knowing what Neapolitan is, outrageous.” She tittered on.

Draco snuggled deeper into the bed pulling the comforter higher about his neck. He found the old lady disconcerting and thought perhaps he should look for his clothes and try to escape. Then again, where was he going to go? He had food and a bed. What more could he ask for? This muggle world might take some getting use to.

He heard before he saw the door slowly open. Dirty little fingers curled around the door as it was pushed open. Half a face peered behind the door. Draco thought he was looking at an image of him as a child: towhead, grey eyes, and a supercilious smile.

“Hi.”

“Well hello.”

“You sick?” he crept from behind the door. The boy padded up to the edge of the bed.

“Just tired.” That seemed to appease the boy. Grabbing a handful of blanket the lad pulled himself up onto the bed and plopped himself down next to Draco.

“My name’s Tyler, what’s yours.” He offered his small hand to shake.

Smiling, Draco shook the diminutive hand. “Draco here.”

“Dwaco? Tats a funny name.” He giggled “You want a pwesent?”

“A pwesent?” Draco asked confused.

“Yeah, a pwesent.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out the largest toad Draco had ever seen. Not wanting to scream like a girl, he bit his lower lip and gingerly took a hold of the creature with both hands. Desperately he looked around trying to find someplace to put the creature.

“Tyler, what have you gotten yourself into now?” The old woman came back into the room carrying a big bowl of ice cream.

“I gave Dwaco a pwesent.”

“A very lovely gift it is.” She smiled. “Now take your gift and go outside with it.”

“Yes Ganny.” Disappointed, Tyler took the frog from Draco and trotted out the door.

“Who is he?” Draco asked as he dung into his ice cream.

“An orphan… His father may be alive somewhere but his mother died by her own hand when Tyler had just turned two. There have been numerous people interested in adopting him but he such a strange child, that they keep bringing him back to the orphanage.”

“Is this an orphanage then?”

“Oh no, I’m a foster mother. I take care of lost souls. I haven’t introduced myself. Francis Cabrini, and you are?”

Draco swallowed hard before he answered. “Draco Malfoy at you service.”

“At my service? I shall remember that.” She took the empty bowl from Draco. “Now sleep and we will talk tomorrow about what we will do with you.”

“I’m not tired.” He found himself yawning. He slid deeper into bed as he drifted to sleep.

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It had been almost two weeks since Remus had visited Severus. He had made himself a promise when he married Rose and that was not to exclude Severus from his life. It was a long hard road the two had traveled to become good friends. He wasn’t about to jeopardize that friendship. Armstrong led Remus into their bedroom where Severus was ordering the poor house elf about.

Arm placed a hand on Remus’ shoulder and whispered in his ear, “Good luck.” Arm looked at his raging husband. “You’ll need it.” Arm left the two alone.

“Severus Snape leave the poor creature alone.”

“Remus!” Severus seemed really pleased to see his friend. “All shagged out?”

“With a woman like Rose Marie what do you think?”

“I think you two haven’t had a bit of clothes on for the last two weeks.”

“Been watching?” Remus smiled as he pulled his chair up to sit next to the bed.

“Marriage agreeing with you then?” Severus asked with a grin on his face.

“I was content with life, thinking that there was no one out there for me. I didn’t know anyone could be this happy. You?”

“Happy? My godson is missing and feared to be dead, my best friend is about to endeavor a suicidal mission…”

“Gee thanks…”

Without skipping a beat Severus continued, “We’re in a middle of a war, I’ve lost my job, I was bonded to a man who I had never met, and I’m pregnant. The answer to your question is… yes. I am happier than I have ever been and it annoys the hell out of me.” He grumbled.

“How’s that?” Remus smiled at Severus’ reaction.

“If you repeat this to anyone and that includes your wife, I will hex your balls off. Is that clear?”

Remus covered his testicles in sympathy. “I wish my balls to remain where they are, thank you.”

Pleased with the answer Severus continued. “I feel loved.”

“Is that your big secret?” Remus was almost disappointed with the answer.

Severus sighed before he continued. “Do you realize that I never in my life have felt love before I met Armstrong? Neither from my father nor my mother, God bless their souls. The only thing I ever felt from Albus was manipulation. Do you really think the man would have gotten me out of Azkaban if I couldn’t help him?” Severus continued without waiting for an answer. “My school years… Well, you know about my school years.”

“Sorry!” Remus was embarrassed.

“We have cleared the air years ago. There is no reason to be sorry any longer. I always thought we would be old confirmed bachelors, bickering every Friday over a game of chess. Look at us now… two happily married men.”

“So he does make you happy?”

“Immensely. I don’t want him to get too cocky so keep that between you and me, alright?”

“Won’t say a word.” Remus paused trying to think how to ask his next question. “I have a favor to ask.” His voice became deadly serious. “As you said earlier, I am going on a suicide mission.”

“Remus, don’t!”

“This has to be said. If I don’t come back... I’ll rest easier if I know that you will watch over Rose Marie and my daughter.”

“You didn’t have to ask. I will always be there for your family. A daughter?” Severus beamed at the news.

“Yes,” Remus was beaming to. “So how are your children doing?”

“Children?”

“Yes, Del was telling me about you having twins…” Remus saw the look of unmitigated anger on Severus’ face. “You didn’t know…?”

“ARMSTRONG, GET YOUR ARSE IN HERE!”

The Daimon leader was listening right outside of the door. He murmured “Crap!” as he slammed the back of his head on the door. He was the leader of a fierce tribe. He could go into battle without flinching. But to face his husband terrified the shit out of him. Squaring his shoulders he readied himself to face his husband.

“Coming Love.”

“I think I’ve worn out my welcome.” Remus scurried as fast as he could out the door, pausing only for a second to mouth the word ‘sorry’ to Arm.

“Severus, what has the werewolf said to upset you so?” The Daimon put on a good face.

“You… you… you…” Severus spit out, to angry to speak.

“Yes love, it is I.”

“Don’t give me that. When did you think you were going to tell me about ‘The Twins’?”

“Now?” Armstrong squirmed.

“You fucking arsehole. Were you waiting till the delivery to tell me? ‘Love were having twins isn’t that wonderful?’” Severus mocked.

“That’s enough Severus.” Armstrong voice was getting low and dangerous.

“Twins? Fuck I didn’t want one much less two.”

“SEVERUS, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Severus never heard Armstrong use such an inhumane voice before.

Severus went too far and he knew it. He looked at his slightly swelling stomach and placed a hand gently over it. “I’m so sorry. Don’t listen to me. I have a tendency to speak before I think. I want you… both. Please grow strong and live,” he pleaded.

“Severus, you’re distraught. I’m going to firecall Del and have him come and check up on you.” The Daimon turned to leave.

“Arm, I didn’t mean it.”

“I know love. I do have a tendency to screw up when it comes to you. I love you and I do what I think is right at the moment. If you remember you weren’t pleased to find out you were pregnant. You were talking about castration, if I remember right. After Del checks your blood pressure, I’ll fix us a cup of tea and we’ll have that chat we were to have a week ago.”

“Has it been that long since I demanded that talk?” He remembered the day vividly, he was looking for Draco. “Any news about Draco?”

“No, Albus is letting Harry and Ron go to London on the weekends to search for him.”

“Alone?”

Arm snickered. “No Minerva is escorting the boys.”

“Oh, Merlin,” Severus said as he laid his head back down on the pillow.

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Miriam was antsy, aggravated, and horny. Since Harry decided that they should go their separate ways she hadn’t had a way to release her sexual tension. No matter what her reputation was she wouldn’t sleep with just anyone. There had to be a strong sexual attraction. She wasn’t like those women standing on the corner of the street willing to do ‘it’ with anyone who had a few gallons. She had her standards.

She looked to the night sky and knew it had to be after eleven and that all the teachers and students should be in their beds. So when she saw a small flicker of light come from the greenhouse she had to investigate. She crept silently to a side window and eyed the inhabitant of the building. She spied a young man, probably a seventh year student, lovingly trimming the foliage, all the while gently talking to the plants. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. All she had ever known have been virile men whose pass time was to cuss, drink and to fight; it was a pleasant surprise to see one so gentle.

She soundlessly entered the greenhouse and stood directly behind the youth before she let herself be known. “Hello.”

The boy jumped before awkwardly landing on his rump.

“Hey.” His longish hair covered his eyes. “You almost scared me to death.”

“Sorry.” She had never laughed so hard in her life.

“I might believe you if you weren’t laughing so hard.” He shoved the hair off his face. “You’re a Daimon aren’t you?”

Miriam jumped onto a table and tucking her legs underneath. “Yep. Haven’t seen you around here. Where have you been hiding?”

“Between studying and taking care of my plants. I don’t have much time for anything else. Besides I don’t do well around other people,” he said almost shyly.
Miriam tilted her head and stared, she had never met anyone like this young man before. “What do you mean?”

Neville turned to attend to his plants as he spoke. “I always say and do the wrong thing. I try hard to make people like me and a few act as if they do.” Neville was thinking of Harry and his friends. “But I think that they really only pity me.”

“If you’re talking about Harry, I can’t believe that. I know Harry,” how well she wasn’t going to mention, “and he doesn’t seem deceitful to me.”

“You’re right, I know it.”

“Do I hear a ‘however’?”

“However,” he smiled, “they have each other. I’m odd man out. Always will be I guess.”

“I don’t understand.” Miriam jumped down from the table. “You’re personable, handsome, and obviously intelligent.”

Neville laughed out loud. Miriam liked the sound of Neville’s laughter. “Intelligent, no one’s ever called me intelligent before.”

“Look about you, look at how beautiful your garden is. I can’t do this. The last time I tried to grow anything it died within a week. You have an amazing gift of life. That in itself is wonderful. My gift is death and destruction and I’m very good at it. What I wouldn’t give to be able to grow something like you do.”

Neville’s cheeks turned magenta. Embarrassed, he turned away. Against the far wall he saw a plant he had brought back from the brink of death, now strong and vibrant. He went and picked the plant up and took it to Miriam.

“I want you to have this. With a little water and care it will flourish.”

“Oh, I can’t.” She gently pushed it back towards Neville. “It will die if I touch it.”

“Tell you what. If you have a problem with it you can bring it back and I’ll take a look at it.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

“I have a better idea. Why don’t you come by my place periodically and check up on it.”

“I would like that.” He chuckled.

“Thanks.” She took the plant from him and was out the door and half way down the path between Hogwarts and her village when Neville realized he never got her name.

Running out the door he screamed as loud as he could, not caring if he woke anyone up, “Hey, what’s your name?”

Miriam turned around and yelled back, “Miriam, what’s yours?”

“Neville! Be seeing you.” She smiled brilliantly at Neville. Lifting the plant up in acknowledgement, she turned back to go home much more relaxed than she was a little while before.

‘Miriam.’ Neville thought that perhaps that was the most beautiful word in the English language.


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