Transition

Time continues to move onward, heedless of the insignificant efforts of beings trying to halt it. With time comes little and huge changes, to the lives of humans and other creatures, whether they appreciate it, or not. Time, it just has to move forward -- it is its purpose, to reach eternity. Moreover, it is with time, that a relationship changes, for the better or worse.

The handsome figure in dark green strode along the length of the half-classroom and collected his test papers from the group of fourteen, restless teenagers. His dark gray boots clicked softly on the wooden floor as he walked back to the huge teacher's desk. Immediately after he passed a witch with dark brown hair, he heard giggles from that particular girl.

Harry Potter, still a DADA teacher-in-training, froze in his tracks. His part of the classroom fell silent. He could hear the rustle that the hem of his robe made as it finally settled. A smile threatened to break out but somehow, he managed to keep an impassive expression on his face. Harry turned around, and fixed his eyes on the witch called Patricia, who was blushing slightly. He was totally aware of what was happening. Vine, Starkmind, Bluestone, and even his boyfriend, Draco, had warned him about it.

Crushes.

He remembered their conversation so well it felt as though they had just talked about it during lunch break. He could also recall Draco's words -- "Harry, they're off-limits." However, Harry knew the Slytherin well enough to know. What Draco really wanted to say was, "Harry Potter, you are mine."

"Do you know Gilderoy Lockhart?" Harry asked his students casually before returning to his desk.

"Yes," his students answered and Harry looked at them thoughtfully.

"Well..." He tied his papers together with a piece of ribbon. "I hope I am not as hopeless as he was."

While the boys in his class snorted with laughter, the girls giggled nervously.

"Sir, do you have a partner?" a girl sitting at the back of the classroom asked impertinently.

The question was totally unexpected that Harry dropped his bundle of parchment onto the floor. Merlin. I know how Draco will react to the question if his pupils ever ask him. 'Get me a spare bottle of lacewing flies from Professor Reed and I'll consider answering that question' -- that is how he would respond.

Harry picked up the fallen object and dropped it inside a huge paper bag. "I am fortunate," he paused and nearly groaned at the hopeful expressions of the female students, "that I do have one."

The anguished moans of the girls were joined by the derisive snorts from the boys. The bell went off and the students stood automatically. They bowed slightly before starting to gather their things.

Harry left the classroom about ten minutes later, after he had ensured that the room was tidy. Draco was in the office when he entered, and he placed his paper bag on his desk before sneaking around Draco's chair.

"Don't you have a class?" he asked after greeting Draco with a soft kiss.

"In twenty minutes," Draco replied.

Harry closed his eyes in bliss as Draco's fingers slid through his hair and made gentle, rubbing movements. "Do you want me to wait for you?" Harry murmured into Draco's ear, and then he kissed the pale neck tenderly.

"Do that again," Draco requested in a small voice. Harry kissed at the spot obligingly. "Although I'll enjoy your company during the ride home, I'm afraid you can't, since it's your turn to cook dinner."

"Oops. I had forgotten about that," Harry said sheepishly.

"You're free now, right?"

Harry cocked his head to one side and considered Draco's thoughtful expression. "Yes, why?" To his disbelief, Draco started to disrobe. "Draco! What are you doing?" Harry yelped.

"Oh, calm down," Draco replied with a slight grin. The Slytherin turned around and started to read the parchment on his desk. "Massage me."

"Oh." The office was silent except for the occasional sighs of pleasure coming from Draco. "Do you really have to be half-naked for me to do this, love?" he asked with a rather strangled voice.

"Yes, Harry. I enjoy your warm hands touching my bare skin," Draco answered impishly.

Harry could not do anything but derive joy from the pleasurable torture of touching the silver-haired wizard. He sighed, relieved that it was time for Draco to go for his class.

"I'll see you at home, Harry," Draco said softly after Harry kissed him.

"All right, love. I'll see you at six. Take care." Harry watched the Potions Master-in-training leave for the staircase. It's too bad I didn't have the courage to suck him here, Harry thought as he shut the door. Then he sauntered over to Draco's chair and examined it. I guess it's just as well that I didn't try. The chair can't revolve. He stopped to think about what he had just thought and snorted to himself. I'm hopeless. We've been together for nearly two years -- I thought that I would have settled down, a little at least.

Harry shrugged and went to his desk. He retrieved his bundle of test papers from his paper bag and untied the ribbon holding the stack together. Harry was glad that he had made a last minute decision to give them multiple-choice questions rather than essay questions. He would have an easier task of marking the papers, and he could go home and prepare dinner on time.

He worked in total silence and he finished half an hour later. Harry checked his pocket watch and it showed him that it was near to four o'clock. He kept the test papers inside a drawer and charmed it secure. After consulting with the planner beside a huge bookshelf, Harry decided to leave since he had already done his day's duties.

Harry walked out with empty hands and closed the door. He warded the office with spells. Unlocking the door involved the rings that Draco and he wore on their fingers. It was Draco's idea to give more purpose to their white-gold bands. Actually, the silver-haired wizard had become slightly cautious of Vine. It was rather unfortunate, since it appeared that Harry's mentor was still active in carrying out pranks to the staff. Harry smiled at a memory of Draco dressed in tight black leather, no doubt caused by Elron Vine, but the feeling of someone studying him disrupted his retrospection. He turned around to see, and found that the latest addition to the team of librarians was staring at him pensively.

Perhaps Harry acted out of habit but he pulled his right hand back and indicolite ring from the librarian's piercing gaze. "Hello, Knight," Harry greeted the librarian politely.

The librarian, Adrian Knight, had a similar built to Harry, and his matching mahogany-colored hair and eyes intensified the fairness of his skin. Harry also knew just how discomfited Draco was around Knight -- even Draco could not deny that Knight was one of the most good-looking wizards in Dancers' Vale.

Knight was a quiet person, and it made Harry think that he could not be attracted to the librarian. I know I certainly love Draco's fiery and talkative nature. But I wonder ... does he like the guy? Harry wondered. A grin appeared on his face suddenly, and his expression startled Knight. In fact, the librarian started to look nervous that he kept glancing over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Harry apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"Oh," Knight responded, looking greatly relieved.

The bell went off, reminding Harry of the time. "I'd better run and fix dinner," he muttered under his breath.

"You're married?" Knight sounded quizzical.

Harry laughed. "Not yet, but I'm living with Draco, Elaviel and Bluestone. I don't have any more classes today, so I have to cook."

"Oh."

I wonder if he understood that. Harry smiled slightly at Knight, whose eyes were slowly widening. I guess he probably does.

"I see. I think I'd better go too, before my supervisor decides to investigate whether or not I've been hexed and is now stuck inside the toilet," Knight said with his eyes still looking wild. "I wish the children would keep their jokes small."

Harry decided to keep the fact that it was probably an adult doing huge jokes a secret. As the librarian headed for the staircase, Harry saw a familiar figure zooming in on Knight. What is she doing? She's not going to attack him, is she? Harry thought frantically.

Hedwig's talons were outstretched but she missed Knight's scalp on purpose. "Hedwig!" Harry called sharply. Fortunately, the librarian was not aware of the owl's animosity. "What are you doing?" he hissed the moment his pet landed on his arm. However, the snowy owl looked back at him with unblinking ochre-colored eyes.

Fabian Greatoak, the head teacher in the centre, was an old wizard with grizzly hair and pale, hazel-green eyes. He studied the scene of owl, owner, and librarian with great interest. Then he looked down at his Kneazle that was washing its face quite calmly, despite the fact that its ears were lying so close to the back of its head.

The young wizard that was apprenticed to Vine had already descended and Greatoak could talk to his pet freely. "I see that this is not a case where a partner might send accomplices to get rid of a rival," he murmured to his Kneazle. "Perhaps I shall call Shacklebolt and Dumbledore to ask about a few things. For now though, we have to get ready for our next Transfiguration lesson." A faint smile touched the old sorcerer's lips. "By the way, Eurus, I'm afraid that you have to be a guinea pig today."

As he predicted, Eurus dashed off downstairs immediately after his announcement. Where would he hide this time? I should hope it's not in the basement. I don't think my old, shaky soul can withstand the wrath of the black figure.

The old wizard serenely crossed the landing to the staircase with a bemused smile.

The Lovenest.

Stachrin paused by the front steps of the handsome house and Harry dismounted. He patted the creature's strong and muscular neck in gratitude, and Stachrin responded by giving an amused-sounding snicker.

"Thanks for the ride, Stachrin," Harry thanked the horse, that was not really a horse. They knew that Vine's horses was mythical creatures. Stachrin was a Shardian, a jaded ancestor of the pure, innocent unicorn. Shardians had been mounts for fighters and sorcerers during a period of unrest and where magic was abundant, a long time ago. However, the race of the mythical breed was dwindling, since men of quality were scarce. The horses in Vine's care were unfortunately the last of their kind.

Shardians were like the Kneazles, but they differ in their actions towards their human counterparts. Shardian would often choose masters, or owners, that had gone through certain experiences. It became clearer to Harry and Draco once Vine explained why Stachrin often gave them rides. It was less surprising after the younger wizards learnt that the handsome beast had lost its guardian to a bicorn, and thus shed some light as to why Stachrin got along well with Draco too.

Stachrin regained the wizard's attention by butting his head gently on Harry's chest. The creature was not below from extorting a treat and Harry joyfully conjured an apple that had been coated with honey.

"Remember to pick Draco up at six," Harry reminded the elegant creature. Stachrin vanished, leaving Harry alone in the yard. Green eyes looked up to the sky and they followed as a white shape veered off to the left side of the Lovenest. Harry entered the house and the cats started to wind around his feet the moment they saw him. He rolled his eyes comically upwards and began to prepare a meal for the animals. Harry glanced at the eagle owl's perch but Shadow was nowhere to be seen.

"I hope he's not at the centre," Harry muttered. I certainly hope that Shadow isn't as unfriendly towards Knight as Hedwig was minutes ago.

Harry went upstairs to remove his robes before going into the kitchen to prepare dinner. He was in the middle of layering sliced potatoes over thin slices of chicken on a casserole dish when he suddenly had a peculiar feeling. It felt as though someone was approaching the house. He tried to ignore the sensation, but as he placed the last slice of potato, the feeling intensified. Then someone knocked on the door.

"Bluestone? Elaviel? Anyone home?" a sweet, musical voice called out.

Curious, Harry quickly washed his hands and walked towards the front door. A tall, beautiful woman with long sable-blue hair and astonishing aquamarine eyes was standing on the front steps. Although her eye color was a vast difference compared to Bluestone's sky-blue, the woman bore a strong resemblance to Starkmind's husband.

Harry shook his head slightly and smiled at the young female. "Hello there." He paused awkwardly.

"I'm sorry. I think I came to the wrong house," the Veela said nervously.

"No, this is their house. I'm a tenant here."

"Oh."

She's gorgeous, and I know Draco will make my life uncomfortable if he knows about it, Harry thought nervously. "I'm Harry. Aviel and Bluestone are still at the centre. They won't be back until seven."

The woman gave him a puzzled look, but after he spoke, her face cleared and she smiled. "I'm Amira, Bluestone's sister," the female Veela said in a clear, musical voice.

"I guessed that. You look like him," Harry responded. "Please come in."

While Bluestone's sister made herself comfortable in the living room, Harry returned to the kitchen to fix a drink for her.

"How long have you been staying with my brother?" Amira asked as Harry gave her the glass.

"It has been more than a year, I think. I've been living with them since I graduated from Hogwarts." Harry looked at her curiously when she spluttered.

"Harry Potter?" she squeaked.

"Uh ... yes," Harry replied, a little tickled by her reaction. He happened to glance at the clock and swore silently. "I'm sorry. Will you be all right on your own? I have to get dinner ready." He did not care what Amira would think at his sudden, abrupt nature, but he really wanted to have the meal ready when his weary lover and surrogated parents return to the nest.

He took out his wand from his pocket and made chicken stock pour out of it. He stopped the flow after he had about a pint of stock in the dish. Then he dotted the top with small knots of butter before firing the stove.

Harry checked his pocket watch and winced at the time. "I shouldn't have been too precise on layering the potato and the chicken," he muttered to himself. "What else was I supposed to do?" He looked around the kitchen and snapped his fingers when he remembered. He wanted to make something for his sweet-toothed lover, Draco, who would be coming home in less than thirty minutes.

"I want butter, caster sugar, flour and a bit of salt," Harry muttered and bowls of it started to appear on the kitchen countertop. He started to cream the ingredients and on the surface beside him, more bowls of ingredients appeared. After he popped his dough into the oven, he took his time to make the caramel topping.

Food is love. Harry smiled slightly to himself. He was stirring the mixture so carefully that he did not hear the strange series of sound wafting into the kitchen. However, He noticed it right away when the oven beeped loudly. Harry cast a heating spell on the saucepan of caramel and left his wand to stir the thickening topping. He pivoted to get his shortbread but something dark caught his eye and he stopped. Then he stared.

Amira was dancing. Her naked stomach gained his full attention and he felt his throat drying as the Veela swayed her hips sexily. He managed to wrench his eyes away from the lithe body, but he knew he had made a mistake by looking at Amira's face. Harry found himself studying at the luscious and full, red lips, and felt a great urge to trace them with his tongue.

He felt warm all over, and Amira was getting closer. The desire to kiss the Veela became stronger. Kiss her...

It seemed that everything fell silent, and Harry concentrated on the tranquil quietness of his mind.

Kiss her...

"But why?" an inner voice asked. "What on earth for?"

Kiss her.

"This is just a compulsion. Beauty, sexiness -- they don't mean anything..."

Kiss her!

"Love. Love ... I love Draco. I don't want to kiss her."

Harry focused on Bluestone's sister and he was quite alarmed to realize that she was pressing against him.

Kiss her...

He stopped seeing altogether just as one of Amira's hand snaked around his neck. Beads of cold sweat appeared on his brow and he flinched at Amira's touch. He concentrated on an image of Draco smiling and tried to break the enchantment the Veela had placed on him. "Draco," he mouthed and someone gasped.