Under My Skin

Chapter One: Nell'anima

Hermione sighed deeply, smiling as she, Harry and Ron took their time walking to the first class of their seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Good to be back, isn't it?" she asked softly, watching the bustle of younger kids hurry to their classes.

"Yeah," agreed Harry. "As much as I hate to admit it, I'm actually looking forward to classes."

"And don't tell me you weren't totally shocked when you saw Lupin sitting at the teachers table," Ron said, elbowing Harry in the ribs lightly.

"The jerk can sure keep a secret. I didn't have a clue that he was teaching this year and I spent half the summer in the same house as him." Harry couldn't help but smile as he remembered the amused twinkle in Remus Lupin's deep green eyes as Harry gaped up at him from the Gryffindor table at the feast the night before.

"I'm so glad he's back. He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had." Ron and Harry nodded their agreement.

"Malfoy didn't look too happy about it, though."

"Malfoy's never happy unless he's getting someone fired, detention or killed."

"Oi. Point taken."

***

Draco Malfoy crouched in front of the fire in the Slytherin common room, waiting for the image of his father to appear in the flames.

The common room was dark and empty except for him, everyone else having gone to bed almost an hour previous.

He didn't have to wait long for Lucius Malfoy's head to materialize in the blaze, usual sneer plastered on his pale face.

"He's there?" Lucius said. His son nodded.

"You were right, Father. Dumbledore gave him the job again."

"Lunatic. Really, a werewolf. He's an animal. Not worthy of consorting with our kind."

"Yes, Father."

"Here is what you will need to perform the ritual we talked about." Senior Malfoy shoved a shoe box full of various objects through the fire and it stopped in front of Draco's knees. "It is not hard. Very simple. And it will rid us of that mudblood whore and her teacher." His voice was full of loathing as he handed a large text through the fire to his son, who took it. "Page three hundred and fourteen. Perform it now. It will activate immediately. And do not allow anyone to shatter the Orb."

"Yes, Father."

"Good luck."

The image disappeared and Draco gathered up the materials needed to perform the Nell'anima ritual. He moved to the table and sat cross-legged in front of it. Then he placed the orb in the center of the table and sorted through the contents of the shoebox.

Picking up a Barbie doll and a headshot of Hermione Granger, he used an elastic band to attach the picture to the Barbie's face. Then he did the same with a Ken doll and a photo of Professor R.J. Lupin. If all went well, they'd both be out of Hogwarts within the week.

He then wrapped each of the dolls in cloth, pink for lust. After he wrote LUST on the cloths in permanent marker and knotted the clothes there with pink threads, using two knots.

Malfoy Junior lit a pink candle on one side of the Orb and another on the other side. Then, turning to the correct page in the text, he recited, "Questa candela è il Remus amore bruciarsi per voi. Questa candela è la Hermione volontà da amare."

He placed the Barbie-Hermione near one candle and Ken-Remus next to the other, then put the last cae, this time red, directly behind the Orb.

"Questo è il lust crescente fra voi, attraendoli l'un l'altro."

He took each of the pink candles in his pale hands and, using them, lit the center candle. Setting them down again, he extinguished the flames.

"Dalla luce del vostro lust crescente per a vicenda, li lego voi esso fino a che non dovrei scegliere rompervi i legami ed i sensi della parte con."

Next, Draco picked up the dolls and turned them to face each other, then covered them with more pink cloth and bound them together with another length of pink thread, tying one knot in the string. He set the bound dolls in the shoe box.

"Come volontà cosi mote esso sono."

The Orb of Venus glowed, bright white light spreading out from the sphere.

The spell had been activated.