Daimons

I have two more chapters after this one. At that time I think I am going to discontinue this story. My mind is not totally made up but I want to write something that attracts more readers.


Draco woke to a pressure on his chest. Before he could register why he could barely breathe, he felt his nose being tweaked. He was about to open his eyes when someone’s tiny little fingers pulled his lids apart revealing a very pleased young man sitting on his chest.

“You ‘wake?” Tyler questioned.

“It seems I am.” As he stretched, Tyler was lifted up and down with the movement of Draco’s body.

Tyler giggled with glee. “You snowe.”

It was strange to Draco that after a few moments with the boy he could understand him so easily. “Malfoys do not snore.” He acted indignant.

“I don’t know what a Malfoy is but you snowe.” Tyler poked Draco in the nose.

“Do I?” Draco grabbed the boy around the waist and laid him on his back, then tickled him unmercifully. Tyler screamed with laughter, every once in a while squealing out, “You snowe… you snowe.”

“And what do we have here?” Francis asked as she stood in the frame of the door, her hands on her hips but the smile on her face belied her angry voice.

“We payin’ gwanny. You want to join?”

“Perhaps later. Breakfast is waiting for you.”

“Pancakes with buebewwies?” His eyes grew as large as saucers while his tiny tongue licked his lips. She gave him a quick nod. “I wove buebewwies.” He tore off to the kitchen.

“And you young man,” Draco’s eyes widened, “have a list of chores to do once you have eaten.”

“Chores?” Draco had never done a chore in his life and wasn’t planning on doing so in the near future.

“If you plan on staying here, you’ll have to pull you weight. The bathroom is down the hall. Your clothes have been laundered and are waiting for you. Now up and at it. You have a full day ahead of you.”

Was he going to stay? He hadn’t thought about it one way or another. If he didn’t stay where would he go? He still had no money. He would probably find himself back, freezing to death, in an alley again. How did he get here in the first place? He would have to ask her when he had a chance.

Throwing the covers back, his feet automatically slipped into a pair of warm slippers, which, after wiggling his toes, seemed to be made for him. Shuffling to the bathroom he prepared himself, for after all he had a full day planned.

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Ron had gained a new respect from the Slytherins since his outburst in the infirmary. The word spread about how much Ron was in love with Draco and that was the reason why their dorm mate had disappeared. The girls thought it was so ‘Romeo and Juliet’ while the boys thought it took a lot of guts to admit his feeling to the enemies. Soon Ron and Harry’s weekend excursions grew to nearly a dozen. Crabbe, Doyle, Nott, and a handful of others searched, each weekend in the midst of London for their friend. Ron was never so surprised when Hermione offered her assistance, to find his wayward boyfriend. Loosing Gavin gave her a completely different outlook at what it meant to truly be in love. She could no longer fault Ron for his actions. After a good cry in each other’s arms they were on there way to becoming the friends they once were.

After two long days of searching, Minerva took her charges to dinner. Harry picked out a bustling small café that served everything from pizzas to hamburgers. The Slytherins were enthusiastic to try all the new and strange foods. It was a smorgasbord of delights for those whose puritanical parents would never let their children eat ‘such’ foods. Each sharing bites with each other, deciding which one they enjoyed the best. It did Minerva’s heart good to see all of her students work so well with each other.

Hermione and Ron ignored the hustle, as they huddled at the end of the table where they were in their own world talking.

“One day we were in love, the next he called me a mudblood. I just don’t understand. I thought he loved me.”

“I thought he loved you too by the way he treated you.” Hermione tilted her head and arched a brow. “Yeah, I watched you together and I found myself jealous. We were together so long I never thought of someone else being with you. It was… disturbing.”

“Thanks Ron, I needed that.”

“What Gavin did to you sounds almost like he had a spell on him, doesn’t it?” At that point Ron had a large spoonful of mash potatoes hit him right in the eye. This was the beginning of the food fight that got Minerva and her students banned from the café.

While the food fight rolled on, Hermione sat thinking, ‘Ron’s right. No one can change that fast. There had to be a spell cast on him. Why? Why indeed. He was acting more like a Death Eater… he was acting more… like… a… Death Eater… Damn… Someone was going to be sorry once she got her hands on them. No one was going to change her boyfriend into a Death Eater and get away with it. Hell was going to be paid.’

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Severus was ‘I’m losing my mind kind’ of bored. It had only been three days and he was ready to chuck it all and go play in his lab. He was relieved when he heard the front door open thinking it was his husband.

“I hate to say this but I’ve never been so happy to see you.” Severus smirked

“I didn’t realize that I meant that much to you, old friend.” The voice was smooth as honey.

“Lucius!” Severus own voice was emotionless. “When did they release you from Azkaban?”

“A few days ago. Had some errands to run before I could visit my friend. Our Lord is not pleased with you. He wishes an audience with you, to find out what infraction he had done to have you leave the fold.”

“You’re not stupid Lucius. You understand he’s a madman, incapable of rational thought. There are many notions of his that I still agree with but he is not the man to lead us.”

“Such talk will get you killed, Severus. You should be careful who you speak to.” Lucius glimpsed a book that was bent open on the nightstand. “What’s this?” He lifted and turned the book around to read the title. “Book of Baby Names and Their Meanings”. “Oh, our Dark Lord will love this. You pregnant. He will be on the floor with laughter. Someone has gotten you in the family way. Is your mate blind? You were the ugliest child in school, all seven years, and from my perspective, still are.”

“Then I am very glad you were not the one that married him, for I not only find him beautiful but irresistible. Now, if you value your life, you will leave my home immediately.” Armstrong was standing mere inches behind Lucius when he spoke. Armstrong was annoyed that the perfect coiffure Death Eater didn’t even jump.

Lucius merely nodded slightly, smiled and turned to leave only to be stopped by Severus.

“Aren’t you even going to ask about Draco?”

Slowly Lucius turned. “He’s either is alive or dead. If he’s alive, he will show up and be taken care of. If he’s dead… I can always have more sons. Good evening Severus.” He looked Armstrong up and down. “A Daimon! Where there is one, there will be more. I believe my friend will be very interested in this information.” Slowly, as if he had not a care in the world, Lucius strolled out of Armstrong’s home.

“Are you alright, love?” Armstrong climbed on the bed and pulled his husband into his arms.

“I was doing just fine without you,” Severus said as he clung onto Armstrong tighter and longer than normal.

Arm ran his hand soothingly down his back. “My darling, I know I’m a chauvinist, demanding, and domineering, but from the very first moment you were mine to take care of. You can be as strong willed, evil tempered, sarcastic son of a bitch as you want with everyone else but please, let me watch over you, to see for your happiness, to protect and cherish you. That is my job.”

Suddenly everything made scenes to Severus. He wasn’t giving anything up but was receiving a precious gift. He could be his own person and still let his husband take care of him and his child… children.

“I will be willing to concede that at the moment that I may need to be taken care of. However, I do expect my opinions to mean something and I don’t want to be lied to, even if it’s a sin of omission.”

Arm pulled him closer and kissed the top of Severus’ head. “What if that information might be hurtful to you or our children? What then? Should I tell you or keep quiet?”

“You damn well better tell me.” There was a tinge of resolute in Severus’ voice.

“Darling… I have a book for you to read. It the history of the Daimons, their rituals, superstitions, and prophesies. You might find it… interesting… reading.”

“Please, no more prophesies. I have had enough of them for a lifetime.”

“I insist that you read the book. I’ll be gone for the night. Albus has a late meeting and I will probably spend the night at the castle. Dobby has a way to get in touch with me if you need me.”

“You go. Dobby will be sure I’m fine. Give me the book; I need some light reading before I go to sleep anyway.”

Arm went into his room to fetch the book. He said to Severus as he handed him the book, “Remember, as you read, that I do love you.” With a quick kiss Armstrong was off to the castle.

Hours later Severus slowly closed the book. “You fucking coward… Wait till I get my hands on you.” Severus stared out of his window at the dimly lit castle. “After I’m done with you, my children will have one less father to raise them.” Gently stroking his stomach he whispered, “I wonder which one of you have the dubious honor of being ‘the savior’ of the Daimons. I’ll have to introduce you to Mr. Potter; he may be able to give you a few tips. I certainly don’t know how to raise you both properly. That was the real reason I didn’t want to have children. I don’t want to screw up as badly as my father did me. There is a difference, you know. I want you. That is something I never felt with my parents. I’ll ask for your forgiveness now for every unjust, cruel, mean spirited words I say to you. I’m not a nice man but I’ll try to be a good father. That is the only promise I can give the two of you, that and I will love you with all my heart.”

He looked to the castle again, his anger towards his husband subsiding. “Perhaps I won’t kill your other father after all. I believe in the best interest for all that you have two parents to raise you. All I can say is he’s lucky that I’m carrying his child or he would be a dead man.” He snuggled deep under his comforter. Pulling Armstrong’s pillow from the other side of the bed, he wrapped his body around it and breathed deep his husband’s scent. No longer angry he decided it would be great fun to torture Arm for a day or two before he ‘officially’ forgave him. He was still a Slytherin after all.

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Rose Marie had been moping all day. She missed her werewolf. Del had prescribed a mild potion for depression, one that wouldn’t interfere with the fetus. She still found herself consumed with worry. She wondered how she could ever survive until she saw the amber eyes of her husband.

She sat in Remus’ favorite chair and tried to read. She kept re-reading the same page over and over. Frustrated she slammed the book closed. Deep in her own thought she jumped when there came a knock on the door. She knew she had been remised by not returning fire calls but she didn’t want to be consoled by friends with good intentions. She planned to be depressed until Remus returned home… if he returned home.

“Harry?!” She was never more surprised than to see the boy standing at the door with a basket in hand.

“I figured you probably not eating right since Remus left. Since I’m going to be the baby’s uncle I thought I better be sure you take care of yourself.” He barged past her.

“Harry I appreciate your effort but I really would like to be left alone.”

“And be miserable? I don’t think so. Not good for you or the baby. Sit. I’ll serve dinner.”

“I’m not hungry, really.”

“I said sit,” he demanded.

“Been hanging around the Daimons too much; you’re starting to act like them.” She took a seat at the small dinning room table. Harry puffed up like a peacock. The comparison of him and a Daimon did him proud.

Harry placed a plate of Sheppard pie in front of Rose Marie. Closing her eyes she took a big sniff of the delightful aroma, which made her stomach gurgle. “Guess I am a little hungry,” she said shyly. She was shocked when a glass of Cabernet was placed in front of her.

“Del said one glass wouldn’t hurt you and might be beneficial. The instructions were ‘only one’,” Harry mimicked the older man’s voice. “I guaranteed there would only be one.”

“One will be more than enough.” She took a sip and rolled her eyes in appreciation. “Delightful,” she purred.

“If you eat all of your dinner I have cheese cake for desert.”

“I must be good then and finish my meal.” Perhaps she had been wrong, cutting herself off from her friends. Being with someone did make her feel better, even if she wanted to wallow in self pity.

The two had a pleasant evening together of chess and conversation. By the time it came for Harry to leave, Rose Marie, as tired as she was, was sorry to see the boy leave. “You come back Harry. I had a very nice time this evening.”

“I plan on it. With Remus gone, someone has to keep an eye on you. I plan to be there for you until Remus returns.” He saw the sadness in her eyes. “I promise you that Remus will be back, even if I have to go and ‘fetch him’.” It was a lame joke but it made Rose smile. “Good night.”

“Good night Harry and thank you.”

Embarrassed, he waved her off and headed back towards the castle.

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Albus and the Daimon, on their way to the older wizard’s study, had stopped to talk in the hallway of the castle. Armstrong wasn’t paying much attention to the conversation he was supposed to be having with the headmaster. He kept peering out the window, looking at his home where his pregnant spouse was. There were a few occasions even when the old wizard had put a hand on his shoulder to bring him back to the present. So he wasn’t surprised to feel the pressure of a hand on his shoulder. Turning slightly he felt a small but powerful fist finding its mark in his solar plexus dropping him to his knees. Before the Headmaster could stop his attacker, a right cross hit him directly on the chin, landing the Daimon on his ass. From his view from the floor, he looked up at an irate Hermione Granger.

“Better start talking Mister before I make Severus a widower.”