Me & You

"Severus," Malfoy whispers, "what is going to happen to me tonight?" Snape takes his arm and leads him out of the room, where Therion is waiting for them, half-way to the door at the end of the hallway. "You're going to face once of the greatest challenges of your life." Malfoy sighs. "You can't be any more specific than that, can you?" There is a humorous tone in his voice, but the other wizards know what trepidation he's feeling. As they reach the door, Malfoy asks, "what happens if I fail?" For a moment, no one answers. "Don't think of failure, Lucius," Remus says without looking at him,...

Snape becomes a blur of motion; before Therion draws his next breath he sees the ebony-clad wizard become a raven once more and dart off in the direction of the Lake District. Not a moment later, Malfoy emerges from Irena's shop wearing a surprisingly humble grey suit, with a matching grey robe. "Where is Severus?" He sounds quite dejected, but relaxes when Therion tells him, "he's just checking on Ellie, he'll be back shortly. In fact, why don't we head over to the Temple?" He's not about to tell Malfoy about Greyback or what he's done...he can't bear to tell it again as it is.

As Therion...

Elsbet seems almost embarrassed, and Irena studies her face in the mirror for several minutes before asking, "you've never really looked at yourself, have you, Ellie?" She shakes her head. "Not really, no...I can't remember ever really caring," she says. "May I ask you something? You don't have to tell me, of course, but I am curious," Irena says, and Elsbet nods as they walk back over to the sitting room. "You can ask me anything," Elsbet tells her and Irena smiles. "Ellie," she begins as they sit down, "when Severus looks at you, how do you feel?" A light blush touches Elsbet's cheeks and...

Dawn breaks and Elsbet wakes alone.

She wonders when this will end, when will she finally be waking with Severus beside her. Ah, but what about Lucius?

How does this work?

Her life has always been complicated in one way or another, but this complication is something totally new. But does it have to be a 'complication'?

She's not sure.

She's not sure of much right now, except that she hurts. Lucius must love Severus very much, and she knows Severus loves him. They've known each other forever, and she could see their love for each other that very first night, and Severus had always spoken so well...

Malfoy's blood strikes the parchment and there is a very loud hiss, like icy water on a red-hot hotplate, and the crimson fluid seems to boil. They are alarmed, of course, but the Chronicler laughs. "Ah, I nearly forgot! You are part of the Silhouettes, Lucius, yes?" Malfoy nods, not taking his eyes away from the sight, and tells the Chronicler that The Great Mother gave him part of her heart. Everyone relaxes once the parchment sorts out the differences in Malfoy's blood, and like a flash-fire, his family tree spreads out over the parchment. He watches as the name of Brutus Malfoy appears...

He had followed Snape before, but the Potions Master had always been able to elude him. Now, though, he'd beaten him to his secret destination.

And he can't believe what he sees.

Peering through the window of the tiny house he sees her; a Muggle woman, busy cleaning he surmises in preparation for Snape's arrival. She is alone and helpless. He could kill her easily. But he can't, not yet, anyway. He has to know what exactly the Dark wizard of his long acquaint is doing with this filthy little Muggle.

Though...Malfoy muses as he rubs his chin, she is young and attractive; her long, champagne blond...

Elsbet feels her wizards' mental call, and the giggle she gives as she leaves Layne's new room tells him and Therion all they need to know. She hurries up the stairs and into the luxurious bathroom, and finds her beloved wizards waiting patiently for her. She can feel the zing of anticipation in the air and she knows they have something special planned. "Such a lovely sight," she says, gazing at their naked bodies slick with water, and she smiles at the slight blush that rises in their faces. They turn their backs to her almost boyishly, glance at each other, back at her, then at each other...

He's so relaxed that he doesn't even feel Malfoy prick his finger, and his blood has hit the parchment by the time the tiny wound is healed. That drop of blood flattens out and soaks into the parchment, then suddenly, tiny avian shapes spread up and out, and everywhere they flit appears information. The birds gather around Therion's feet to watch, and chatter excitedly to each other. "Hmmm..." he says, "so it is true." The little tribe gathers closer to him as he reaches up and taps the parchment. "It wasn't always Bonecastle. See here? Eoward Castlemount wed Egrane Bonesteel. They had no children,...

Narcissa hears Bellatrix cackling downstairs, and doesn't want to know what has brought her sister such amusement. Quickly, quietly, she packs an emergency bag, then stuffs it into a safe hiding place. She wants to delay her departure for as long as she can; she fears that if she leaves too soon, Snape will be exposed, and her son will be in even greater danger. She wonders where Lucius is right now and what he's doing, and if he thinks of her. She wonders too if they truly are lovers, Snape and Lucius, and if they are, what would she have done if she had caught them together...the idea does...

After Snape had shut the door, Malfoy seemed as if he was going to go and bring her back. Snape took his seat and Malfoy reluctantly finally sat down, and they began their breakfast.

They eat in silence, until Malfoy can't take it anymore. "She's hurting, Severus, why did you let her go?" Snape sighs and tells him as gently as he can, "because she needs healing that only the horses can give." Malfoy closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, then takes a bite of bacon. Remus smiles to himself and muses about how extraordinary it is that someone who had caused so much pain for so many now can not...

When Malfoy emerges he catches Snape's eye, but before he can communicate anything to his Dark lover, Elsbet happily wraps her arms around him and asks if they had a nice chat. He forces the best smile he can muster and tells her that they did, and he knows what he, Snape, Therion and Layne are doing. Keeping Ellie, Remus and Tonks ignorant of the Old Man's fate. In a way, they are his Secret Keepers, and it hurts. Being open-hearted hurts...he remembers how it was when he felt nothing for anyone but his wife and child. It was so much easier then...he kisses the top of Elsbet's head and hugs...

Remus and Tonks find the Teller's Court full of music, with Dance and Sing in the center, entertaining those gathered. They are graceful, their movements reflecting both the appreciation of the musicians' skills, and their love for each other. As the werewolf and his Auror wife take the space Snape and Malfoy made for them, the performance ends, and Dance and Sing bow to one another. For some reason, there seems to be a strange air of discomfort, and the four companions look at each other questioningly. As Snape is about to speak, they hear shouting from behind them and the Dark wizard is the...

Remus and Tonks follow Cilantro hand in hand into a lovely gated area. It's lit by shimmering little bugs, casually going about their business sipping nectar from the asphodel blossoms.

"This is a very special place," she says, pausing to push open the gate. "Enter with care," she looks at them both meaningfully, "for you will see only what you take in with you." She steps away and with a nod from her, Remus and Tonks venture forth side by side. It is peaceful here, it feels mystical, just as in the rest of the Garden of Dreams, but here, there something... more. This feeling grows as they near...

Snape is aware that he is not alone, but he does not allow it to disturb his meditation. He has no idea how much time passes before the visitor speaks, nor does he care. His only concern is that it does not cause him to question his resolve.

"It happens to us all, you know, death."

Snape's brow rises, but he doesn't bother to open his eyes. "Perhaps," says he, "but that need not happen to them now. Nor to me."

There is no sound from the visitor, no indication that they have moved, yet Snape senses that they have. "And you believe, do you, that you have control over their fates? That you can keep...

Therion moves silently, carefully, through the Petra, listening to the soft voices of the stones. They call to him as he passes them, wishing to impart to him their secrets, for they know he appreciates such things. Though he would dearly love to do so he does not stop; no...he is searching for something so near his heart that he dare not even think of it, and he will not be delayed. Elsbet spoke of a 'before-time', when this was but a tiny haven...he hopes to find books set to stone from that time... He is so deep in thought that he arrives at his fondest wish, his heart's one desire at this...

Malfoy sits with his feathered friend, both of them enjoying the Harper's skill. He asks her if she would sing the song that she had sung earlier and she grins widely. "Of course, Lucius, I would be happy to. Now," Chanteuse says, nodding to her Piper companion, "it will be even better." As they begin, another musician, this one with a bodhrán, asks if he may join them and they welcome him warmly. With harp, pipes, Irish drum, and the lady Harper's beautiful voice, the experience could not be more magical.

"Ride it on out like a bird in the sky ways
Ride it on out like if you were a bird
Fly...

"So," the Old Man says as Bea helps him sit up in his chair, "how did it go?" He's grinning impishly at them, and Remus chuckles. "You already know, don't you?" Perdurabo shakes his head. "No," he grins widely, "I was napping actually." They tell him what transpired in the Dragon's Chamber and he is quite pleased. "Well then, the last working stone in our world is safe. What will you do next?" He looks questioningly at them and Snape accepts the case that now holds the Orthanc-stone. "I believe we shall be taking these gifts home, and--" Perdurabo smiles. "Severus, you know what I mean." Snape...