Desert Jewel

First things first, this is NOT mine. I DID NOT write it. I am just the beta. I am posting this because Mistress Ookami can't. Now on to the story. Let her know what you think. I know I loved this chapter.



Chapter Six: Talking with the Raven, the Plan of the Snake part II

Okay first the question everyone has been asking: How come their related when they look so different. Well, I always thought that Lily had red hair, so I used Ron. As for Raven, she's actually a noble princess from France, her real father and mother were grand friends with James and Lily. One day, when the McCranes-the family last name- were robbed when they were hidden home. Her parents were killed and Raven was saved, with the help of a footmen. Since her parents were her only living relatives, Raven was going to be sent to an orphanage at the age of six months, thirty-two days, and seven weeks old. Lily, knowing that the deceased queen would want the best for her child, took her in and raised her as if she were her own. They never told Raven, and she grew up as Potter-McCrane-though never used her last maiden name, never knowing that she was the western heir of Gryffindor.

And for the record, old Dumble didn't know that the dolls were filled with money and horcruxes till Pansy and her crew came and he found one on the floor. He only wanted to hide them, not sell them. Hey, I'm that creative.

So there you go, that’s the truth and whole truth. Also we got the gang back into the room, and we have Garra's sand. And also I changed my mind about having this placed in Egypt. So I made Hogwarts into a huge valley separated by the four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Gryffindor and Slytherin are the only houses that have them either in the north, south, east, or west. Okay that’s it, now here’s the story.

Raven sat down in a near by chair, gingerly sipping the tea Draco poured for her. She looked up to see the young mans blue-grey eyes trained on her expectantly. She coughed to clear her throat and set the cup down.

"So, what do want to know?" She asked. Her lavender gazed fixed with his grey.

"Everything, about your brother, his likes, dislikes. What he reads, what music he likes. Anything you can think of."

She giggled.

"My, my, aren't we a little excited?" She smothered another giggle as the pale teen glared at her.” All right, where do I start? Lets see, he doesn’t like snobs all that much, or people who think their better then others, people who are conceded, people who won't help others, also people who'll do anything to hurt others or try to gain power trough said people.

"He likes poetry. Probably something from Poe, or someone new. Books are a definite favorite, we all read. Uhm, he loves animals so, you guys have that pretty much in the bag. Family is a huge, mega huge important to Harry. I can't even began on how much he's about family and family values, though what Ron told me about the night you captured us again, you got a fist full of it.

"I get it, I get it, no more jokes. Don't look so evil Draco; anyhow, Harry can't recite a good book or poem. He's very affectionate about literature. He also loves horseback ridding; maybe you could do that together."

"Horseback? Him? I didn't think something so fragile would do something like horseback ridding."

Raven laughed just then, confusing and irritating the blond.

"What may I ask, is so funny?" He asked, his voice dripping with venom, but the girl only laughed harder.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry," Raven giggled.” It’s just; you said that H-Harry was fr-fragile."

"I did. And...,"

"And you honestly think that? Harry may look fragile, but he's as hard as a rock. (Not like that. Pervs!) He couldn't be broken, even if you tired."

"So you’re saying, he's like a snake in sheep’s clothing?"

"That’s a weird way of saying it, but yes, a snake in sheep’s clothing." She nodded her head.

"Anything else?"

"Yes, absolutely no arrogance around him. Its bad enough we're here, you don't need to rub it in. It's like putting salt in the wound."

Draco sighed. "Fine, I’ll try to be nice around him. But this will go against all I've been taught."

"Me and my brothers have a saying, 'to hell with rules and teachings, do what you think is right.'"

"Meaning...,"

"Meaning," Raven repeated with a sly smirk.” That you should ignore the many things that your parents or guardians cram down your throat and just do your own thing.”

Raven got up and brushed some dust off her. ”Is there anything else that you need, or that we need to know?"

"Only that we are expecting company from the kingdom of Dumbstrang. Our closest friend, Prince Victor, will be joining us."

"Great," she rolled her eyes and smiled at Draco. "Well, I enjoyed our little talk, but I want to get back to my reading. So, if you’ll excuse me, I'll be going."

She bowed her head once before walking out of the room. Draco sat further into his chair, thinking about what the dark skinned girl just told him. Using his Slytherin mind, he began conjuring up what would be his seduction for the eldest Potter.

~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile, Harry sighed yet again, as he watched his brother openly flirt with one of their captors. He couldn't believe that his brother cracked so quickly. He was the stubborn one, the one who couldn't be persuaded by anything, even if Merlin tried to. But now seeing the red hair boy laughing at something the olive skinned boy said he didn't know his brother anymore. He scowled lightly as he watched Blaise pick his brother up bridle style and carry him off. Ron was bubbling with laughter as Blaise carried him over to the lake, putting him down gently. For some reason unknown to himself, Harry wished that he was in Ron's place, to laugh like that and be with someone who loved him for himself.

'If only Blaise's brother wasn't such an arse,' he thought. He hated to admit it, but he had kinda fallen for the blonde.

'Who wouldn't with those eyes, and his strong build? I mean sure, he's an arse, but god he has one glorious arse. But he could be a little nicer to me.'

Harry snapped out of his day dream when Ron came running up to him.

"Harry, we’re going to the library. Want to come?"

"No thanks Ron, I think I'll stay here a bit." (A/N: Slacking off! But he does not care.)

"Alright mate, we'll see ya later."

Ron grabbed Blaise's hand and dragged the grinning fool out the garden gates. Harry sighed yet again and went over to where the red head and Italian were a minute ago. He sat down at the edge of the lake; he dipped his hand in the cool liquid and made swirling patterns. The emerald eyed boy was just about to become lost in is thoughts, when a shadow loomed over him. Harry looked over his shoulder, and saw that the figure was none other than Malfoy, looming over him like a tree. He frowned.

"Oh," he turned around. ”It’s you."

"Who else would it be? After all, this is my palace." Draco said smugly.

He frowned when the brunette didn't look back at him. He saw that Harry picked a red flower and was twirling it around. Oh, how he wished he could sit down and hug the young man close. But he didn't. Instead, he stood tall and rigged, like his father and looked at the boys head. He cleared his throat so he could get the lump that was blocking his voice box.

"Listen, uh I was wondering if you would like to go horseback ridding, with me."

"You?" Harry peeked over his shoulder. ”Horseback? I didn't think you’d do anything that might soil you robes, or worse, break a nail."

Draco chuckled. "Well, I'm just full of surprises Harry. So what do you say? Would you care to join me?"

Harry got up and shrugged. He had nothing else to do, he might as well go.

"Sure, not like I have anything better to do."

Draco smiled an actual, genuine smile. "Great, so if you would be so kind as to follow me over to the stables, we can find you a good horse."

`*`*`*`*

The stables were more like half of a noble house to Harry. It was at least ten to twelve yards wide and six to eight long. Inside there were many different breeds of stallions and mares. Thirty to forty occupied stables and twenty empty. No doubt for the generals, he concluded.

Draco snapped his fingers and right away two house elves popped in front of them.

"Master Malfoy, what can Dobby and Niquil do for you?"

"I need you to fetch Narciss for me and a horse for Harry, maybe that new mare we got in."

"Yes sir, Master Malfoy," the two elves bowed before teleporting to do what they were ordered to do.

Niquil was the first to return, holding the reins of a white stallion with black markings around its front and hind legs. It had brown eyes and had strawberry blond with white streaked mane and tail. Dobby returned not to long after Niquil with the mare, and Harry couldn't help but gasp slightly. Indeed, the mare was beautiful. The mare was a black Arabian with dark red streaks on her mane and tail. Her eyes were a deep ice blue and she had a small white marking, shaped like a star on her left hind leg.

Harry walked up to the mare and placed his hand on her snot; he smiled as the mare neighed softly and pushed against his hand. He heard laughter and turned around to see Draco laughing softly. He blushed lightly as the blonde dismissed the elves.

"You like her I see," Draco said as he walked over to them, Narciss' reins in his hands.

"Yes, I do. What’s her name?"

"She doesn’t have one yet, like I said she's new."

"Then I'll name her. How about Scarlet because of her red streaks?"

"That sounds perfect," Draco mounted Narciss. "Ready?"

Harry followed Draco's example and mounted Scarlet. "Yep,"

They left the stables in a cloud of dust as they raced off. Harry was in front and he snapped the reins to make Scarlet go faster. Draco laughed as he watched the raven hair boy go faster and faster still. It was almost like he was in a completely different world. He snapped his own reins and caught up with the emerald eyed boy.

"Enjoying this are you?" He asked.

"More than anything since I came here,“ Harry smirked back at the blond. “Bet I can beat you to the next valley."

Draco pretended to ponder about it."Hmm, it depends. What is the wager?"

"How about if I win, you let me send a letter to my father and mother?"

"And what do I get if I win?" Draco raised an elegant brow.

"Okay, if you win...I'll go on a date with you."

"Really?" This time both brows were up. "You would honor me the pleasure of taking you out?"

Harry nodded his head, giving the blond what could've been a Slytherin smirk.

"If you win, that is." With that he rode past the blond, leaving nothing but disturbed dust.

Draco chuckled as he snapped the reins again, making Narciss pick up the pace. Harry could fell the blond gaining on him and sped up. He felt alive; the Arabian mare was very fast, maybe even faster than a falcon. She was completely in zinc with him. If there was a rock or log on the ground, they would maneuver over it like it was nothing. The valley was starting to come into view and Harry urged Scarlet to go faster.

"We’re all most there girl, come on. Faster."

Scarlet neighed and complied to her riders request, moving like she had wings over the earthy ground. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see a blur of white, and he knew right away that it was Narciss and Draco. Draco turned his head around and met blazing green eyes.

"Want to just give up now Potter?" He gave the boy a dashing smile, hoping it would invoke him to say yes.

But it only made Harry more determined to win. He sent a flirtatious wink to the blond and chuckled when he noticed said blonds eyes clouded somewhat.

"Sorry Draco, but I don't get all hot and bothered for just another pretty face,"

Harry waved at him, before looking straight ahead. Draco blinked a few times.

'Did he just flirt with me? I guess I do have a chance after all.'

With that thought, Draco let a small smile tug on his lips as he urged Narciss. By now the valley was a couple of yards away and both horses were neck and neck. Draco looked over at Harry again and decided that he wouldn't let this opportunity slip away. So with a sharp kick, Narciss jumped ahead of them and went faster when his master snapped the reins. He ran into the valley and halted five yards away from the now trotting Arabian.

Draco smiled triumphantly at Harry who was pouting.

"I can't believe that I didn't win," Harry crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yeah well, Narciss is a pretty fast horse." Draco stated as he patted the now grazing horse’s neck. “Well, a bets a bet Harry."

"Yeah, and I don't go against my word. When's the date?"

"Tonight, after sundown." Draco sat on the grass. "But for now, I just want to rest."

Harry smirked lightly as he joined the blond on the grass, letting his head come to contact to the earth beneath him. He sighed and closed his eyes, drifting to a light snooze.

*~*~*~*~

Peter Pettigrew opened the door for Pansy Parkinson, closing it gently behind her. Pansy had received yet another rejection letter from Draco and another letter. One from the northern Slytherin kingdom. She didn't wait to open that one. After carefully reading the invitation to join Tom Riddle in his home, she owled a reply and flooed over three hours after the reply. Now she found herself, in a dark green parlor room, sitting across from the heir of northern Slytherin.
"You invited me here for something Mr. Riddle?" She asked, moving a chin length strain of hair behind her ear. "Not that I'm complaining, you have a beautiful home."


"I know," Tom drawled, flicking invisible lint from his trousers. "Now, down to business. I know that Draco has been rejecting your declarations of love,"

"I don't see why,"

'I think I do,' he sneered inwardly, but didn't say anything.

"I have valuable information," he saw the interested glint in her eyes and continued. "Right now, in Malfoy manor, in southern Slytherin, the Potter children are there against their will."

Pansy's eyes widen in surprise before narrowing angrily.

"Is that slut touching him?"

"No, it isn't Raven. It's her brother, a one, Harry Potter."

"A boy?! What would my Dracy be doing with that...that Potter?! That whore is touching him!"

'Don't you dare call him that,' Tom's inner snake hissed, enraged that this women would dare disgraces his loves name. 'It isn't like you’re a slut or whore you know. We all know your affairs with anything that moves and has money.' (Yes, I went their.)

"No, in fact Draco is courting the eldest Potter child. His brother is already close to Harry's brother, Ron."

"Why are you telling me this?" Pansy asked as she took a cup of tea from Peters shacking hands.

"I invited you here to see if you really wanted to get the Malfoy's family crest on your finger? I can help you with that."

Pansy looked up from her cup. "Really? How can you do that?"

"If you help me get Harry into my arms and my bed, I'll help you get Draco, and not only the title as Queen of southern Slytherin, but all his wealth. Do you accept?"

'Queen of southern Slytherin...Draco's children...The money.'

"Ms. Parkinson,"

"I'll do it. Whatever you need me to do, I won't complain about it. You have my word as a Parkinson."

"Excellent, now Peter will show you out, with the instructions you need."

Pansy got up and gracefully bowed respectfully, before following Peter out of the room. When the door closed, Tom stood and went over to an old book. It was a potion book with thick leather binding. It only cost him a small fortune, but only like 5% of it. He flipped through the pages, careful not to tear the delicate pages. He stopped on one particular page and smirked.

"The perfect plan. My father may have been a fool, but I'm not. You won't win this time Malfoy; I'll damn well make sure of that."

Okay, so that’s the end of this next chapter. Next one will be the date and Raven gets her man! One hint, it's not Victor, but its Victors companion.

Bye. Review please. HOOOOOOWWWWWLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!