Contract Creature

Chapter Eight - Murder, Politics and Cures Over Baby

It was the Yule ball, the dance was in full swing, minus a domesticated ex-deatheater and a publicly believed nutcase.

"Are you sure?" Severus lay beside her on their bed with his cheek against Talm's still flat belly.

"Yes, I'm sure, Sev. The Nott boy isn't much to deal with, I sent a note to Dumbledore in case, he won't be the only one. I'm sorry for not thinking but I acted reflexively, and my power attracts those who crave power of their own. It won't be the first time someone's of manipulating me for their own gain, politics like this has been fed to me since my conception. Nott and his father will not succeed, I have no interest in domination, and the Elderdragons have exhausted any want for that life. Threats wouldn't affect my loved ones or me. Assassination attempts are just too funny." Severus sat up and twirled a long lock of silver hair lovingly, as he rubbed content circles over his unborn child.

"Why?"

"You know those rings I've been working on? The poison, lie, and foe detectors? I made an assorted customized collection." The relaxed Potions master let out a bark of mirth. "Yes! Plus, an extra portkey feature." The male Snape nuzzled his wife's soft warm neck, nipping gently at the skin, enjoying the quiet noises that she emitted. He mumbled against her ear.

"You're stunning when you're brilliant. Tell me, what made Nott take notice?"

"Not just Nott, there are others too. But we were in Defence, duelling, I didn't want to show off but Lupin pulled the 'whole class against the last volunteer' thing. He's been itching to see my skills."

"He usually doesn't do dim-witted things like that."

"I had to defend against them and Lupin did said to do it in the fastest time possible, or he'll know I wasn't making an effort and dock Slytherin points. So I took seventh year Gryffindor and Slytherin down in less than thirty seconds." Her husband wrapped his arms around her kissed Talm soundly.

"Points?" She grinned up at him, kissing the tip of his nose.

"Fifty."

"I love it when you show up people I don't like." Talm frowned.

"It's not Remus' fault he's a werewolf, he's always polite and civil, why don't you like him?" Severus kissed her pouting lips.

"Not Lupin, Gryffindors in general." Talm turned thoughtful and tapped her chin with a forefinger, her Sev watched suspiciously. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm not sure yet, but you might not have to brew Wolfsbane Potion every month anymore." He teasingly put a hopeful tint in his tone.

"You'll kill Lupin for me?" At Talm's expression. "Joking, joking. You think you can cure his lycanthropy?" She shook her head.

"I think I can untangle it."

"What you used with Voldemort. The knots."

"Yes, all magic is either one big complex knot or a bundle of big complex knots. I just have to unravel the werewolf one."

"You make it sound so easy."

"Not everyone has enough strength to survive if it backlashes, nor the surgical skill, precise mindset needed or over a millennia to digest the theory. Daddy had me stuck in an egg for a thousand years, listening to him drone on and on about it and royal history." The heir shuddered. "But I think there'll be a specific spot, one that reacts to contact with full moonlight. If not, then maybe one that takes away conscious thought." Her husband shook his head.

"You can't take credit for it, Lupin has to keep it low. I won't be particularly fond of our door being knocked down by every single werewolf."

"No, instead, you'll develop the wolfsbane to directly attack the spots if I provide you with the missing link. I could identify what needs to be modified in the potion and you can work your magic." Severus laid his cheek back on top Talm's belly.

"Are you sure, you don't want me to deal with Nott?"

"Yes, Sev, it's nothing. Besides, the entire Forbidden Forest and Lake would rise up against the idiot." At his questioning raised eyebrow. "The centaurs managed to spread word of me, all the inhabitants have sworn allegiance." He short up and started scowling.

"Then they know who you are! The elves, veela, fairies, leprechauns, if they know then the wizards will catch wind!" He got up to pace. "We need to keep you and the baby safe. There are still deatheaters out there, unmarked. Some escaped sentencing or are conveying orders to family. They're looking for the cloaked person at Voldemort's death. If they know you and as royalty, there'll be kidnapping, assassination attempts and blackmail for everyone. Despite your gadgets, this is really serious." His wife caught his hand when he passed the bed in his ranting walk.

"Sev, I don't think you quite comprehend what an Elderdragon is. We're completely immune to poison, death is something we choose, no cage is not made by Elderdragons can hold us - and none made by my kind exists indefinitely, as an Elderdragon I have instincts that tell me how to escape any mortal means of dying, as heir of Elderdragons those instincts are hundredfold, and as my consort you are my equal - not in the exact same sense but you've noticed you're growth." She tugged him down to join her back on the bed, tracing the line of his hooked nose, cuddling up to his lithe body. "In those three days after we married, I visited the royal family of the races left in my bloodline. They were bound to secrecy and decrees were sent out for total obedience to and protection over me. One look at my temple and wrist birthmarks and they were obligated to bow, the one advantage of having my birthright engraved into my skin. Their subjects don't know my true heritage or status, they just call me 'Highness' or 'Little One'."

"Nothing else?" Talm hesitated to the disappointment of the professor.

"I might get marriage proposals, royals are a stubborn bunch, I told them I was married but not to whom. Not to worry, I'll have your sword skills up to notch." Severus groaned against the belly holding his son or daughter.

"I have to fight off the Giant King?"

"No, silly. The Giant King's got two wives already. 'Sides, most formal marriage contracts take at least six months to draft up." Sev waited for the 'but'. "Courting on the other hand... Well, Dumbledore won't exactly let the Goblin King waltz in with serenades and roses, will he?" The wizard closed his eyes.

"No, not exactly, per se." He resigned himself to chuckling at a passing thought into her stomach. "More importantly. How are you going to explain all the monsters, Hagrid brings in, bowing to you all the time?" He wasn't answered when he hit the mattress, Talm scrambled to the bathroom to obey her strange metabolism and vomit, the chink of precious stone instead of bile was heard against the sink. The sound of running water. She came back holding what looked to be washed doorknob and marbles, a large diamond and smaller emerald orbs, to be dumped into a full bedside drawer of other jewels. "You shouldn't have eaten my mashed potatoes. You're going to give some away for Christmas, right? All the jewellery stores have profited more than enough from your morning sickness."

Chapter Nine - Gossip

In the middle of the Valentine dance, Lavender Brown squealed in excitement at the sight of her long-time best friend and fellow gossiper Parvati Patil, who was chatting amiably with Ginny Weasley.

"You'll never guess what!" Not waiting for a response, other than their attention. "Prince Orion is here!" Parvati gasped loudly.

"Prince Orion? Son of Oberon and Fairy Prince?" Lavender nodded rapturously.

"And he's got roses! He's going to propose!" Ginny smiled at the antics of her friends.

"How do you know that?" Parvati rolled her eyes and responded in a gushing factual manner.

"It's just the largest trend ever, proposals on holidays: Halloween, Christmas, New Years and today especially. Valentine's Day proposals are so romantic."

"Is my hair alright? Who do you think it is?"

"Well, it won't be McGonagall, now would it?" The two older girls tittered and flounced off to find the Fairy Prince, in hopes of miraculously being his bride. Ginny stayed to relate the tidbit to her boyfriend, brother and friend who were taking a break from dancing. Surprisingly, civilly sitting in a group with Malfoy in a secluded corner. And found the reason why. Talm was sitting between Draco and the Golden trio, fiddling with a miniature satchel of arrows on Iri's back.

The girl was the most eccentric Slytherin in memory and most likely history, she was considered to single-handedly bring a truce between Slytherin and Gryffindor through her cousin and their group. Talm was also a weird person by herself, paintings, ghosts and magical creatures bowed or addressed her like royalty; it wasn't uncommon for her to be called 'Little One' or 'Highness'. And who ever heard of anyone besides the Weasley twins befriending a poltergeist? Or a self-respecting Slytherin participating willingly in a mud-fight with said poltergeist? Nonetheless, all liked and/or respected the unique girl; remembering that Draco's cousin was capable of neutralizing the seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins, which included DA members, deatheater children, Professor Lupin and two war heroes in nine seconds. The same girl that refused to insult or hold a grudge; the same that floated upside down when she giggled in Potions, both Snape and Draco had whipped out large slabs of chocolate from hidden pockets for her, acting as if it was completely mundane. This odd young woman had also coughed up a huge black pearl in the middle of lunch when no one else was watching.

When the petite redhead told of Lavender's latest piece of gossip, all five burst out laughing to her confusion. Talm wiped away tears and sat Ginny down between her and Hermione, asking sworn secrecy before continuing,

"Twinkletoes is here to see me, I'm considered royalty amongst several races, one of them are the fairies. Unfortunately for them, I'm not interested in taking the throne or gaining another husband. See Gin, I'm already married to Snape. Poor Sev, he's going to have to deal with Orion, it'll be quite the show though." She stood up while the female Weasley was still gaping and pushed her chin up. "Good way to catch flies but I think you should stick to jelly beans, I'm off to find Sev before Twinkletoes does, wish me luck. Fill Ginny in Draco, she's looks like a slug swallowed tri-horn goat in mauve suede." She flickered and turned invisible. Ginny turned.

"She's seriously Snape's wife?" Draco smirked and made sure there wasn't anyone eavesdropping with an affirmative chirp from Iri.

"Of course she is, in fact, she's carrying my little cousin. Due date's end of April or beginning of May. Keep it to yourselves though, she hates not feeling functional."

"She coughed up a pearl at lunch." Harry held out a ruby sphere the size of a doorknob, a Christmas gift from Talm.

"Her version of morning sickness, been desperate to sell or give them away."

"So the sushi."

"Any other food makes her morning sickness worse."

"The floating." Draco shook his head.

"Nah, that's normal, she needs a level of sugar or floats off like a balloon as soon as she giggles. That's why she lugs all those chains about, not that they do a lot." Hermione questioned.

"If there's no sugar around, will she just float away?" The formerly called ferret laughed.

"No, she's supposed to use her wings but she can't around other people." Run turned red and hoarsely whispered.

"Talm's got bloody wings? What are they like?"

"A lot like Iri's." Draco held up his pet to their inspection of the clear silver glass wings. "Only bigger, Talm has a span of something like fifteen feet. It's a nuisance though. As soon as she's got them out flowers appear wherever she walks."

"What's wrong with that? Do they die right away?"

"Not real, jewelled ones. One of them's the brooch that she got Granger." Who promptly unpinned the crystal lily to examine closer. "That's finest diamond there, just so you know." The pureblood, who went stag, stood and excused himself at the sight of a fast approaching Pansy.