Chapter 7
Harry joined them in a large circle drawn in chalk. A large fire cracking in the center of the circle surrounded by runes in the same white chalk. Each of them had a large candle already lit in front of them along with a small thin blade, pieces of paper, quill, and ink. He had the jist of what they were doing down.
Marcus smiled at Harry from across the circle and lifted his hands and slowly they went around the circle till everyone was holding hands forming an unbroken circle. “Tonight we celebrate the longest night of the year. The shadow of winter and the death it brings. We bid goodbye to the moss and leaves. To the gentle winds and rain. We welcome the snow and biting chill. The thick blanket of calm that will cover all. Tonight on this night of darkness we send our tidings to Mother Magic. May she smile favorably upon us this coming year. We offer our wishes, dreams, magic, blood, and love.”
He broke off the hand holding and lifted the knife cutting the tip of his fingers to drip the blood into the candle in front of him, “Take this, our blood. Infused with the gift you have given us.”
Harry lifted his knife with the others and winced as he nicked himself to drip blood into his own candle.
Marcus set his blade down and lifted the piece of parchment and quill, “We write to you now, our wishes and dreams. To burn upon the fire in hopes you hear.”
They each grabbed their own and wrote their secret wishes upon them before they all stood as one and tossed them into the main fire before taking each other's hands again.
“We give you now our magic. The very essence of what makes us your children. May it replenish the wild magic and future generations to come.”
Harry closed his eyes and reached for the magic inside him. Feeling for it like he would with a wordless spell. Enticing the bundle of threads to unwind and join the circle. Warmth spread along every nerve as it unwound quicker, pulling and tugging the very air thirsty for the gift of magic. He concentrated on pulling it in weaving the rampant threads of magic back into his core as he felt the others do the same. Marcus’s voice raising over the crackling.
“We now give you our love. Wholesome and pure in its desire to be a child of magic.”
This part was more confusing for Harry, to think of all the ways he loved magic. It felt almost never ending. How it gave him freedom, possibility, hope. Love. It gave him love. He flushed brightly at the realization and tried not to break the others' concentration by making a noise. He loved Marcus. In such a short time the other had become such a beacon in his life. A centering stone and calming presence. His thoughts drifted to all the things he loved about Marcus. His smile and kindness. The overprotective ways he defended him. How he was patient and trusted him. Believed him. He was taken from his thoughts as a gasp sounded and Harry opened his eyes to see the large fire in the center had changed color. From the bright orange, red, and yellow to an almost icey blue and green.
“Marcus is that normal?”
Harry wasn’t sure who spoke but he was wondering the same thing. Had he messed it up by thinking of Marcus instead of Magic?
“I don’t know.This has never happened when I do the ritual with my family.” He cleared his throat and continued, “Mother Magic, accept all we have given from the depths of our souls. May the new year bring joy and happiness and your everlasting bounty.”
The fire flickered and returned to its former color before dying out completely. Leaving behind glowing logs and a large smear of ash against the stone floor. Harry felt weak in the knees and slowly lowered himself down onto the floor, “That was intense.”
The others murmured their agreement as they took their seats as well. Cassius broke off from the group to go grab the tray of snacks and drinks they had Dobby leave here earlier.
Harry drank down the water greedily, “It was beautiful. I feel exhausted and energized at the same time.”
Marcus came to sit next to him tugging Harry just enough to lean against him, “Indeed. Tonight seemed different, stronger. There was so much magic in the circle I thought it was going to break for a moment.The first changing colors may have to do with the amount of magic.”
“I felt like my magic was spilling out of me. I almost couldn’t stop it. I had to reel it back in. It just kept leaving me.” Harry stated as he grabbed one of the apple tarts and bit into it.
“It was your first time and you have never manipulated raw magic before. Wait till the next one. You will have it down by then. If you choose to join us.” Adrian grinning at him from across the fire.
“Of course, if you guys still want to hang out with me by then.”
Marcus scowled, “You're not leaving. You belong with us now. We should just get you into Slytherin and be done with it.”
“I don’t know if that is how it works but I know the hat would agree. It wanted to place me in Slytherin. Said I would do well in slytherin, that I would go far there. But, I had just met Malfoy and I refused to be in the same house as him for seven years.”
The others laughed and Marcus kissed the top of his raven hair gently before his face became contemplative, “I am not sure how I will handle it. I graduate this year. I will not be here to protect you.”
Harry looked up at him, “We can still write and I will have our friends to help too. They won’t let me get hurt Marcus.”
“Damn straight, Harry is our little lion after all. Though, I guess he is more of a manticore.” Terrence remarked as he slid into Adrian’s lap calmly.
“Manticore? I think you mean a Chimera. They are part lion, part snake.” Harry shot back.
Marcus snorted, “You would know magical creatures better. Speaking of. I think I should give you the Yule gift I got for you.” Marcus stood and helped Harry stand as well, “See you gents in the morning.”
Harry waved goodbye as he followed Marcus out, “You didn’t have to get me anything. You have already given me so much.”
He frowned before his face evened out, “You deserve everything I give you. More even. As for your gift. You got me this lovely tie pin. I do believe we were thinking much the same with our gifts.”
The Gryffindor followed him to the Slytherin dorm and down the staircase and passed the dorm he was currently camping out in until they reached the deepest one for seventh years. The dorm was built much like the other except each bed also seemed to have its own cubby for the desk pressed into them. “You have your own desks?”
“It’s so we can have privacy when studying. Seventh year is a bit of a nightmare. The desks have silencing and privacy wards.” He tugged Harry over to one of the beds and patted it, “Here sit. I have to get it.”
Harry sat on the bed and flushed. Marcus’s bed. He ran a hand along the blanket as he waited. He wasn’t sure how long it was before the soft sound of hissing alerted him to Marcus returning. He held out his hands and took the box. It had small holes along it and he could hear something moving inside of the box, “What?” He opened the box carefully and yelped when a snake shot out of the shadow in it. Wrapping about his neck tightly the angry hissing evident the creature was about to attempt to run away.
“Wait please. I am sorry I startled you.”
The snake stopped its flight path and whirled back. “A speaker, here? You would keep me caged in such a disgusting thing.”
Harry shook his head and held out his hand, “No, My friend was giving you to me as a gift. As a courting gift.”
“What is this courting? Is it like finding a mate? I am a mating gift?”
“Yes. I am sorry. If you wish to be free. I will make sure you go to a good place to find a home.”
The snake coiled in on itself, its scales rubbing together to make an almost shushing noise, “I am a good mating gift. I am strong with good venom.”
Harry laughed lightly, “Yes, you are very handsome. Does that mean you want to stay?”
“Yes, I will stay. You smell strong and you will have a strong nest. I will protect you and future nestlings.”
He flushed and watched the snake slide smoothly from bed to his arm, winding itself along the appendage as it worked its way up to drape along his neck. The snake was pitch black with a white underbelly. It looked to have a hood and odd bone protrusions but without it flared it was hard to tell, “Thank you Marcus. He is beautiful. I won’t get in trouble for having him?”
Marcus sat next to him shifting in place for a few moments. His face flushed as he answered, “You're a parselmouth. Other animal speakers have had companions before. There was a Hufflepuff a few years ago, graduated now. She could speak to birds. She had an assortment here at Hogwarts.”
Harry ran gentle fingers along the scales enjoying the cool touch. “Where did you get him?”
The Slytherin leaned back against his headboard, “He is a horned serpent. We breed them at home, so I sent word to my father for a yearling. He was curious as to why but in the end didn’t question it.”
“Does he know?”
Marcus winced, “He knows I am courting someone but not who.” He sat up and took Harry’s hand, “I am not hiding you. Nor am I ashamed of courting you. I just want him to meet you in person. I honestly think he will love you.”
Harry felt his cheeks heat, “Thank you Marcus.”
“Anything for you. Come up, let's talk before I escort you back to your dorm.”
The Gryffindor slid further up the bed, careful not to jostle the snake as he laid next to Marcus. It was so easy to talk to him. Hours could pass and Harry wouldn’t care or notice. He just wasn’t sure how to tell the other that he was in love.