Chapter 15


Spike stood in one of the Hospital Wing's three isolation rooms watching over his mate and his nephew. Draco had already been treated for the Kryshak demon's venom and the gashes in his chest healed. Luckily Kryshak venom was designed only to incapacitate its victim – they liked to eat their prey live; there were a lot more venomous demons than non. Voldemort had planned his attack very well and it had almost succeeded.

His small mate lay unconscious in his bed, while Draco slept peacefully. When the brunette had passed out in his arms, he'd been frantic and bolted to the Hospital Wing. It had been pure luck that his demon receded before he had burst into Poppy's domain as it had been full to bursting with hysterical and injured people, both children and adults.

Poppy had taken one look and immediately called for a specialist from Saint Mungo's – she hadn't wanted to take any chances with Harry being pregnant.

And so Madam Sheridan had appeared and given a clean bill of health, if a bit underweight, massive stress had caused the blackout but he should be perfectly fine with a good night's sleep. Of course she had advised against anymore 'excitement'.

Then Red had asked about the shield and no one had an answer. Snape had suggested Harry's wild magic may have been at work, but that was discredited by both Red and Madam Sheridan who stated that Harry's magic reserves hadn't been used by anything other than the baby all day.

They'd all been looking at each other rather stupidly until Oz had commented in his usual off-hand manner that the baby couldn't very well have protected itself... could it?

That had set everyone atwitter – including the Healer. If it were true, it would indicate a magical strength never before recorded; maybe even stronger than Merlin.

The short of it was, no one knew of a spell that created a pink, physically impenetrable shield and no one was stepping up to take credit for saving the Boy-Who-Lived-To-Be-A-Bearer which would have made that person a national hero.

And now his mate was unconscious.

He could have lost all three of them tonight; his child, his mate and his nephew.

It was unacceptable.

It was unforgivable.

This Voldemort fellow was going to learn why it was a bad idea to cross William the Bloody first hand.


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Harry woke with a small groan, stretching carefully. A chuckle above him had him looking up into the loving face of his mate who was lying on his side next to the brunette, his blonde head propped up in one long-fingered hand.

"William," he murmured sleepily.

"Hello Luv, how do you feel?"

"Alright."

The vampire carded pale fingers through chestnut locks and Harry sighed contentedly. He felt completely boneless, like nothing beyond his bed could touch him. It was one of the nicest feelings he'd ever experienced and while he didn't want it to end, questions were bubbling up in his head.

"Draco?" His question was quiet, an attempt to leave the comfortable atmosphere unbroken.

William smiled gently, as if he understood, "He's fine and asleep in the bed behind you, all patched up."

It was Harry's turn to smile and sigh in relief, "Good."

William's hand moved from his hair to stroke the growing bulge in the brunette's belly.

"They brought in a specialist from Saint Mungo's when you passed out, Luv."

Harry sighed but didn't comment, at the rate he wound up in the Hospital Wing he wondered if he shouldn't employ a Healer full time wherever he and his mate decided to live. He'd have to if their children inherited his luck.

"I take it I'm going to live?"

William gave a small smile but it faded quickly, "Gave us all quite a scare, you did."

Harry moved a hand up to cup the blonde's jaw, "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Nothing to be sorry for Harry, you didn't ask those ruddy demons over for tea or anything... You and Draco did really well down there, and moving out onto the grounds was a good idea Luv."

Harry snorted in disgust, "If it hadn't been for that shield I'd have been a Puddle-O-Harry."

William growled, eyes flashing gold for a moment before returning to stormy blue, "Dumbledore's got a few questions to answer – like how the hell a group of demons got into the school in the first bleedin' place!"

Harry pouted for a moment at his mate before reaching up with both hands to grab the blonde's head and bring it down for a kiss; a hot, wet, open mouthed, toe curling kiss that had William making little growling noises by the time the brunette released him.

"We're not talking about him. I'm in a nice muzzy mood and I intend to stay that way damn it," Harry murmured.

William grinned, "As you wish, Luv. Although I think you should know that everyone seems to think that shield was cast by our baby."

Harry blinked... then looked down at the bulge of his stomach still covered protectively by William's hand.

"Really?" It was a mere exhalation of air but the vampire heard him.

"Yes Luv, quite the prodigy we've got here."

Warmth filled Harry, relaxing muscles he wasn't even aware had tensed, and he smiled.

"Well that's rather handy, isn't it? Our little girl, already able to take care of herself..." Harry's voice faded away as he looked up and saw the shock on his vampire's face. "What's the matter William?"

The blonde blinked and then, "You know the baby's a girl?"

"Yeah."

"How?"

Harry frowned. He hadn't really thought about it. "I don't know really... She just feels like a girl."

"How long has she felt like a girl?"

"Since she put up the shield I guess. I just knew."

William looked a little wide-eyed at the bulge of Harry's stomach, "A little girl..."

"Is that all right with you? That the baby's a girl? I know Purebloods are all concerned about an heir and all..."

William laughed, "Harry, Luv, I could care less about having an heir; I'm a bloody vampire for fuck's sake. This baby is a part of you and me – she could be blue and fuzzy and I would still love her more than anything but you, Luv. Besides," now William's tone turned deeply serious, his cool hand on the brunette's chin holding him in place so that blue eyes stared into green, "the baby is purely a bonus in this life of mine. Harry, I have you and you are what makes the last century of shite worth it. You bring the demon and the soul together. You are all I will ever need," he purred. Then he snickered, "But feel free to give me all the blonde haired, green-eyed babies you want, Pet."

Harry smacked the blonde's arm with a quiet laugh, snuggling deeper into the bed and the comfort of his mate's body, "Goin' back to sleep now, 'kay?"

"Okay Luv," William murmured.


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The next evening after escorting both of the boys back to their respective dorms, Spike stalked to the Headmaster's office. The door guardian jumped aside before the vampire could even growl at it and he smirked as he stepped onto the staircase. Apparently the old man was expecting him.

Shoving the door open hard enough that it slammed into the stone wall with a deafening crack, he wasn't surprised to see Snape and Giles already there but he was surprised to note the Potion Master's palpable anger and that Giles was in full on 'Ripper' mode. The party had started without him.

"So Albus, care to tell me just exactly how a group of demons managed to get into the school to attack my nephew and my star pupil?"

His demon wanted to rip the old man apart for putting his mate in such danger. That episode with Angel and the hot pokers had nothing on what he wanted to do to this disgusting excuse for a Wizard... and Wizards had such an exquisite healing ability. He could stretch the torture out for weeks.

"As I was telling Severus and Mister Giles, I can only assume that the creatures were aided by someone from the inside; most likely by one of the parents visiting this weekend. They are all being questioned by Aurors as we speak."

Snape snorted, "And as I was saying, there were only a handful of said parents and all have been under strict observation since they set foot on the grounds. There has to be another explanation."

"I still want to know if the school wards are even set for demons. After all, both Spike and Illyria entered with no obvious problems," Giles said coldly with murder in his eyes.

The Watcher's words sunk in and nothing could keep his demon down this time.

"So tell us old man," he growled, "did you have my boys here unprotected, thinking they were safe when really even a spineless Soola could have strolled up, big as you please, and walked back out with Draco or Harry and none the wiser?"

It was interesting to the demon to watch the Headmaster... deflate. The man had started this chat looking as if he were on top of the world, full of life and energy, but now he looked like a feeble old man that the softest breeze could topple from his chair.

"I don't know," Dumbledore whispered brokenly.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Giles was wide-eyed. "How can you not know something like that?"

Dumbledore sighed and leaned back in his chair, "The rituals used to create the wards around Hogwarts were lost long ago. We are not sure of the full range of protection offered, but I know the school has always been safe for the students."

Giles collapsed into the empty chair next to Snape, disbelief and anger fighting for dominance on his face. "How can you... Why would you...," the Watcher sputtered.

"Oh yes, this place is so bloody safe," Spike spat, "with acromantulas in the hallways, basilisks in the basement and trolls in the dungeons. Not to mention the plethora of homicidal instructors this place employs and the occasional Dark Lord's spirit roaming around. I feel snug as a bug. It's a wonder there are any Wizard's left if this is how things are run."

Dumbledore stood, "Now see here-"

"No you see, old man," Spike snarled, stalking to the desk and leaning over it so that they were face to face; Demon to Wizard. "The Wizarding World may turn a blind eye to your bumbling but I won't. You will allow the Sunnydale crew full access to the school and you will tell them everything you know about the school's wards so that they can find a way to keep anymore unwelcome visitors from just popping by."

"But the Ministry-"

Spike snarled, "You will deal with the Ministry. Tell them whatever you need to but you will do as I say!"

Dumbledore's pale face went red, "Who are you to be making demands? You have no power here!"

The blonde cocked his head, "Don't I? Besides the fact that I could rip you to pieces, I also have the option of removing both Draco and Lucius from this school."

"So?"

"I know of your suspicions regarding Draco and Mister Potter and if they are true... then I have a whole lot of power, don't I?"

Dumbledore's eyes went wide and Spike smirked. The old man knew, just as everyone else in the room did, that if Draco was the father of Harry's child then Harry was now a Malfoy and legally under Malfoy control and custody. Which meant the vampire could withdraw the Gryffindor from the school as well.

"So what's it gonna be old man?"

The Headmaster slumped back in his chair, his skin taking on a grayish cast. "I will have rooms prepared for your friends immediately and I will owl both the Ministry and the school Governors to make them aware of the situation with the wards."

"There's a good man. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm feeling a might bit peckish."

Snape and Giles both sat stunned and silent as the blonde strutted from the room humming a jaunty tune.

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