A Flame Awakened Chapter 12 (Patreon)

Content Warnings: Collars, Semi-Nude, Teasing.

The next week passed in the blink of an eye. Since the castle was deserted and none of them desired to spend Christmas morning in the Great Hall under Umbridge’s watchful gaze, Harry booked a parlor for them in The Leaky Cauldron. The location did mean Narcissa’s attendance, much to Daphne’s displeasure.

“You got a gift for me?” Katarina ran her fingers over the broom-shaped package. 

Harry’s eyes flickered to Narcissa for a brief second before he answered. 

“You’re a friend, Katarina. It doesn’t matter to me how we became friends, all that’s important is that you are one now,” Harry murmured. “I got to know you’re a Quidditch player.”

“I am. I prefer to be a Chaser but I can play as a Seeker in a pinch,” Katarina said with quiet pride. She was good, even if her father had never seen it fit to help foster her talent. His focus had always been on Viktor Krum and how the boy could help enhance his personal fortunes and prestige. Girls, her father had once told her, were created to make heirs. 

“You should try out for the team next year. We are losing two amazing Chasers and could do with new talent.”

“I am rusty. I haven’t played in a year.”

“Well, this should help.” Harry pointed at the present in her lap. “You’re welcome to join our practice sessions. I’m sure Angelina won’t mind. She’s not as paranoid as our previous captain,” Harry said with a chuckle.

Katarina unwrapped her gift with trembling fingers, a gasp escaping her lips when she saw it wasn’t just any old broom, but the latest edition Nimbus.

“It’s not as good as a Firebolt, I know. But I got my start on a Nimbus and I turned out pretty alright,” Harry smiled. 

“Y-you didn’t have to do this, Mister Potter,” she said stiffly. “I thank you for this gift but I cannot accept it.” She bowed her head and pushed the broom towards him. 

“If I’d have said that to the person who gave me my first broomstick, I’d have never become a Seeker,” Harry said. He reached out to stop her from pushing the broom in his direction. Their fingertips touched and Harry gasped as a current ran down his spine. “Keep it,” he murmured, pulling his hand away and staring at it. 

“What do you think?” Susan whispered, observing the interaction from the corner of the room she had dragged her presents to. She was surrounded by wrapped boxes. It had been a good haul and she’d gotten more gifts than she had expected.

“Her chest isn’t big enough. She’s also Narcissa’s goddaughter and I think Harry would fuck an actual viper before he touches her.”

“Daphne,” Susan admonished gently. She reached out and grabbed Daphne’s chin, forcing her gaze away from the statuesque blonde woman seated on the couch. She was the only one in the room not on the floor. Susan’s frown deepened when she realized it was because unlike everyone else, she hadn’t received a single present. “The past is the past. Leave it there.”

“You want me to just forget everything that’s happened?”

“I want you to forgive. There’s a difference. And I don’t want you to do it for her, I want you to do it for yourself.” 

“You sound like one of those lifestyle gurus in Witch Weekly,” Daphne shook herself free from Susan’s grip. “Batshit insane.”

“She’s going to be around whether you like it or not,” Susan explained patiently. “Now, you can either sit alone and pout like a petulant baby or you can unwrap your presents with the man you love.”

She stood and carefully stacked her presents. They floated over to where Harry and Katarina were sitting with a wave of her wand. 

“Your choice,” Susan murmured.

Instead of walking over to her pile of presents, she made her way to Narcissa and pulled out a small box from her pocket. It was purple and secured with a pretty black bow. 

“Merry Christmas!” Susan said brightly.

Everyone turned just in time to watch Narcissa raise a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

“For me?”

“Mhm!” Susan nodded and dropped the box in Narcissa’s lap. 

“Why?”

“It’s Christmas. That’s from Harry and me.”

Narcissa undid the delicate bow and plucked the lid away from the box. She pulled out the necklace carefully arranged inside the box, examining the delicate platinum chain and the attached raindrop-shaped diamond with a pleased smile.

“You have taste, Miss Bones.”

“How do you know Harry didn’t pick it?” Susan grinned. She settled down in her boyfriend’s lap and pulled her stack of presents closer.

“It’s too understated for a man. When they give you jewelry, they pick something big and noticeable,” Narcissa chuckled. “Who made this? I haven’t seen a design like this in any of the jewelry shops on Diagon Alley.”

“I got it made from Perkins. She started as a curse breaker but realized her passion was for jewelry. She now makes specialized items for the Auror office. The stone is charmed to sense danger. Whenever there’s a potential threat around you it will be warm and you will know that you need to be careful.”

“A useful gift to have in these troubled times.” Narcissa carefully secured the necklace around her neck and tucked it under her dress. “Thank you.”

Daphne had watched the entire exchange with pursed lips and a curious expression on her face. She waited for Narcissa to finish admiring her gift before she stood and walked over to Harry.

“I must be off. My sister is waiting for me,” she murmured as she bent to kiss his cheek.

“Your gifts-”

“They can wait! I’ll unwrap them tonight,” she said, walking out of the room as fast as she could. 

“Did she forget that Astoria-”

“No,” Susan sighed. She patted Harry’s knee sympathetically. “She’s having a hard time. She’ll come around eventually.”

Narcissa and Katarina chose not to say anything. Narcissa knew she was already on thin ice. Katarina simply did not have patience for a girl who, in her eyes, had a perfect life and still chose to make mountains out of molehills.

“Well!” Susan clapped her hands, deciding it was time to change the subject. “Who wants to watch me unwrap my presents?”

“Do mine first,” Harry whispered. He rested his head on her shoulder and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. “I’m excited.”

“I was saving it for last but alright,” Susan giggled. She pulled the long, slender box that had Harry’s name on it. Unlike Narcissa, she had no patience and the wrapping paper was torn away from the box within seconds, the scraps tossed in a heap unceremoniously. She removed the lid and gasped. 

“I can’t keep the spell alive all the time but-”

“Harry,” Susan breathed, pulling out the exquisitely crafted black choker from the box with trembling fingers. She turned to look at her boyfriend through half-lidded eyes, leaning in for a kiss. 

“Please tell me you put more thought into the present you got for Miss Greengrass, Potter. It’s fortunate that Miss Patil is spending the day with her sister. She can be spared disappointment for a little while longer.”

Narcissa's incredulous voice shattered the romantic atmosphere in an instant.

Harry pulled away from Susan. He frowned. What was so wrong about his gift for Susan? She’d told him she was happiest when the spell was alive and his collar was around her neck but it simply wasn’t practical to keep it activated all the time. It took too much energy, it was too noticeable, and the range, while decent, was nowhere long enough to allow them to attend different classes. 

The choker was a discreet replacement for the spell. A part of him that would always be with her.

“What’s wrong with the gift I got for Susan? I think Daphne and Padma will like their presents,” Harry murmured with a nervous glance at Daphne’s pile of gifts. 

“Well, you just gave me expensive jewelry and you gifted Katarina a broomstick that cost even more. I’m sure you’re aware of Miss Greengrass’ feelings towards us?”

“It’s,” Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably, “complicated.”

“Darling,” Narcissa chuckled. “I can see why the Hat didn’t put you in Slytherin. You’re a shit liar. She can barely disguise her desire to repeatedly plunge a dagger in my chest.”

“She doesn’t hate you!” Susan protested. A challenging look from the older woman made her correct herself. “As much as she did two weeks ago.”

“Yeah,” Harry nodded. “The only person she’s actively planning to murder right now is Umbridge. Last I checked, she had a plan and everything.”

“Shoving her off the Astronomy Tower on a dark, stormy night isn’t much of a plan,” Susan giggled.

“I’m sure she’ll come up with a much better plan for Lord Potter if his gift for her doesn’t match ours in grandiosity or expense. I would certainly hope it’s better than the one he gave you, my dear,” Narcissa said.

“What’s wrong with it?” 

It was Susan who posed the question this time. She held up the choker and ran her thumb over the lacy filigree attached to the leather band. Black steel, charmed to feel as soft as cloth. 

“It’s like he’s gifted you a headband. Or some socks,” Katarina snorted. “You may have wanted a choker but that does not make it a good Christmas present.”

“Hey! I know someone who desperately wishes for socks every Christmas,” Harry protested. “I thought my gift was meaningful. It’s almost as expensive as Narcissa’s necklace.”

“The cost doesn’t matter to me.”

“See?” Harry declared triumphantly. He leaned in to kiss Susan’s pink cheek. “She likes it.”

“She likes you,” Katarina said. She pulled the sleeve of her shirt over her hand and began to clean a non-existent stain on her new broomstick.

“Huh?”

“What she means, dear, is that women often lie to the men they love to protect their feelings. If I was paid a Galleon for every time I told Lucius he was completely adequate and that it was the most glorious and pleasurable minute of my life during the early years of my marriage, well, I’d be richer than you.” 

“He took that as a compliment?” Katarina snorted. “Men,” she muttered under her breath.

“Well, I was hoping he’d pick up on the actual wording of the compliment but he never did.” Narcissa picked up her glass of firewhiskey and took a sip. “Let that be a lesson to you, darling,” she said, extending her glass in Susan’s direction. “Don’t lie to your man to protect his feelings. He’ll never change if you do. I got five O’s in my NEWTs and then spent the best years of my life trying to love a fucking coward and lying to protect his fragile, narcissistic ego.” She drained her glass and slammed it onto the desk with enough force to crack the crystal. “Never did get that final O. In my NEWTs or life.”

“I’m… sorry,” Susan murmured. “But you’re wrong about the present. I love it. Truly.”

She pushed her long braid over a shoulder before handing the choker to Harry. She looked up, exposing her neck to him. 

“This is the perfect gift he could’ve gotten me.”

“It’s a collar,” Narcissa murmured, her gray eyes searching Susan’s face for something. She sighed when she noticed her blush darkening. “It is, isn’t it? He’s brainwashed you into thinking you need one and the irony is, you think it’s the best gift in the world.”

Narcissa laughed bitterly.

“I thought you were different, Lord Potter. Truly believed it. But I guess all powerful men are made from the same shitty clay. You. Him. All of you just want an army bound to you.”

“That’s enough.” 

Susan’s embarrassment evaporated in an instant and was replaced by incandescent rage. 

“I’m beginning to understand why Daphne doesn’t like you,” she growled. “I get that you’ve had a tough life. I get that you’ve lost everything. I understand why you assume the worst from every man you come across. But I will not have you sit there and slander my husband.”

“Uh, Susie?” Harry placed a restraining hand on the redhead’s shoulder. They needed Narcissa. She was their only untainted source to the outside world. If a little taunting was the price for knowing what Voldemort was doing, he would gladly pay it. He’d heard much worse from the Dursleys. “We’re not married. We’re not even engaged.”

Susan turned and gave him a look that plainly asked him to shut up if he didn’t want to sleep on the couch for a month. 

“You don’t know Harry. Until you do, I don’t want to hear a word about him from either you or your goddaughter. He’s done nothing but try to make you comfortable. If you keep shitting on him because you think you have a monopoly on loss and suffering, our deal is off.”

“I never asked for his protection,” Katarina growled.

“Well, your godmother did. If you don’t like the deal she made, there’s the door. Walk out, nobody will stop you.”

“Susan-”

Susan turned and glared at Harry until he mimed zipping his mouth shut and throwing away the key. 

“You’re angry that your creepy, disgusting father was killed and you’re angry that you’re angry. You hated your life but it was all you knew. It was safe. You miss it. I can see how that might be upsetting but that’s not Harry’s fault and stop acting like it is.” Susan whipped her head around to Narcissa. “And you! Life’s screwed you over in a million ways but that does not give you the license to take out your unresolved issues with your father and ex-husband on Harry. You don’t know me. You don’t know Harry. You don’t know anything about our relationship. Show them, Harry.”

“Susan-”

“Show them. Why should I hide it? That connection is a part of me. I’ve lived my life pretending to be whatever would get me accepted by people and I’m tired of it. I want to be me. Let me be who I am.”

Harry slowly rotated his right wrist. The bracelet and the seven golden rings shimmered into view. An azure leash extended from the third ring and wrapped around the choker on Susan’s throat, slowly materializing into a collar.

“Harry didn’t brainwash me into wanting this. Merlin, woman. I practically willed it into existence!”

“What?” Harry whispered, breaking his silence.

“I was jealous of Daphne. I wanted a similar connection to you. It was all I could think of in that closet when we were… together. My eyes were closed and when I opened them the collar was around my neck,” Susan admitted shyly. 

“I thought I had to be the one to initiate the ritual.”

“Why?”

“That’s what the book said.”

“Books can be wrong. What difference does it make if we did it the other way around? I wanted you, you accepted me. I’m collared and very happy about it,” she said with a pointed glance at Narcissa. 

“It makes all the difference in the world!” Narcissa exclaimed. The hostility in her voice was replaced by unbridled excitement. “The Dark Mark is a one-way connection. Only You-Know-Who can grant it and only he can control the connection.”

“Compare my husband to that creature one more time and I’ll silence that tongue forever,” Susan threatened calmly. 

“You don’t get it,” Narcissa countered. She was far too used to threats to be bothered by hers. “He is connected with his followers too. But it’s different. He imposes his will on them. He takes and takes but offers nothing in return. It’s parasitic. I’m sorry for offending you at first but that was the only kind of connection I knew till you showed me yours. But this is not the same thing. It’s not parasitic!” Narcissa was almost vibrating with excitement. “It’s symbiotic! You both get a say! Even if you submit-”

“I do.”

“You see! It’s your choice,” Narcissa slid off the couch and leaned towards Susan, her expression displaying an emotion other than ennui for the first time since they’d met. “Submitting to Lord Potter’s will was not a precondition for getting marked.”

“Harry didn’t mark me.” Susan trapped her lip between her teeth and chewed on it as she mulled over Narcissa’s words. “Unless you count the collar. That’s not a real mark.”

“Trust me, he did. Soul magic always leaves a mark. It can’t be removed unless the magic is undone. Why do you think none of the Death Eaters got rid of their Dark Marks? Don’t you think getting rid of an easily recognisable symbol that instantly identified them as his followers was at the top of their to-do list?”

“They couldn’t get rid of it?” Harry asked with a frown.

“We’re going on a tangent here but I love the enthusiasm. No, they could not. And trust me, they tried. They tried everything. Alecto Carrow bathed in a tub of niffler blood to try and get rid of hers. Theodore Nott pressed a hot brand on his to try and cover it. Nothing they did worked. That’s not the case with you.”

“Yes, because I don’t have a mark. I’d notice if I had an ugly skull and serpent tattoo on my wrist.”

“Doesn’t have to be on the wrist but we’ll come back to the mark later. Try and kill the connection between you and Harry.”

“Why?”

“Please? Just this once. Try and shut it down on your end.”

Susan blinked. She glanced at Harry and reluctantly closed her eyes when he nodded. It didn’t take long for her to find the warm pulsing at the back of her mind. His presence felt so good. She resisted the urge to surrender herself to its embrace. Instead, she gently guided it out the door. She choked back a sob as she felt it retreat from her mind. 

It was gone and she was cold and alone.

She opened her eyes, her vision blurred by unshed tears. The collar was gone. The choker remained but it was cold comfort. 

“I hated every second of that,” she gasped out. “Don’t ever ask me to do that again.”

Harry killing the connection had always left her wanting more but pushing it out of her mind had physically hurt.

“But you could do it,” Narcissa whispered in an uncharacteristically kind voice.

Harry immediately restored the connection and returned the warmth to her. She sighed and settled into his arms.

“Morgana’s tit,” Narcissa cursed under her breath. “I don’t have my notes. I bet Lucius has burnt the lot by now.”

“Notes?”

“She enjoys reading about soul magic,” Katarina finally spoke up. She set her broom on her lap and freed her hands from the sleeves of her shirt. “I remember all those books I got for you from my father's library. Were they of any use?”

“Oh, they were very useful. Thank you for that, darling.” Narcissa placed a hand on her goddaughter’s shoulder and squeezed it. She smiled when Katarina silently reciprocated her gesture and grasped the hand on her shoulder. “Books on soul magic are incredibly difficult to come by in Britain.”

“Really?” Harry frowned. “Why?”

“If I had to guess, the Dark Lord either took possession of them or destroyed them to stop people from figuring out what he’s done.”

“The mark.”

“Aye. And how he came back. His new body reeks of soul magic. It’s marked by it. Whatever he did to come back must have exacted a terrible price.”

“Why do you know so much about soul magic?”

“I’ve always had an interest in the arcane. Bella was amazing with combat magic, Andy with charms. I was never that good at spells. But I fell in love with potions and runes.” Narcissa paused. Katarina squeezing her hand gave her the courage to continue. “Lucius lost his mind when the Dark Lord fell. I never took the Dark Mark because I knew the cost of binding my soul to a man. I had warned him against doing it and now he was in front of me, begging me for help with getting rid of it.”

“What an ass.”

“What an ass,” Narcissa echoed Harry’s words with a bitter chuckle. “But I was young, stupid, and newly married. My parents, my aunt, Lucius himself… they all gaslit me into believing if I was just good enough for him, he’d love me. So I was the perfect wife. I spread my legs and did every humiliating thing he asked me to do. I gave him an heir.” Narcissa angrily plucked at a nail. “I thought if I do this one thing, if I help him escape; he’d be free to love me.”

“But you just said the mark can’t be-”

“That’s what I found out, aye. He wasn’t happy the night I told him.” Narcissa wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and forced a smile. “That’s why I was so angry when I saw that collar. I saw my younger self in you for a brief second.”

“It’s not the same.”

“No, wait,” Harry interjected with a frown. “I don’t like the fact that what I’m doing is so similar to what he’s done. If soul magic is bad-”

“Soul magic is just magic,” Narcissa said tiredly. She leaned against the cushion behind her and closed her eyes. “It can be good or bad depending on how you use it, just like every other kind of magic. You can use a scrubbing spell to clean a pan. You can also use it to flay someone alive. Tell me, is that spell good or bad?”

Harry frowned and closed his mouth, his protest dying in his throat. 

“You flipped out when you first saw it.”

“Wouldn’t you if you thought the man you’d trusted with your goddaughter’s life was building an army of subservient slaves?” Narcissa massaged her head. “I’ve lost a son, Lord Potter. I refuse to lose Katarina.” 

“I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere,” Katarina whispered as she rubbed Narcissa’s arm. 

“I would never-” Harry paused “-I mean, never is a strong word but-” he shook his head “-what I mean to say is you’re very beautiful Katarina but-”

“He’s not building an army,” Susan giggled. She leaned up and kissed Harry’s cheek. “And only willing witches join his coven. I practically had to be assaulted by Draco and his goons for him to take me.”

“I didn’t know you liked me!”

“Harry, I’ve had a crush on you for two years and I haven’t been shy about it,” Susan said with a serious expression. “I wear Gryffindor colors to every Quidditch match. I don’t even like Quidditch!” 

“There are other people on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.”

“How many of them wear a jersey with the number seven? Because that’s the number I’ve worn to every match for two years now.” Susan raised an eyebrow. “I also tried asking you to the Yule Ball.”

“You didn’t!”

“I did! You were too busy staring at Cho Chang the entire time so I gave up. How did that turn out for you, hmm? Do you think Chang would share you with Daphne and Padma?”

Harry huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. She had a point but he wasn’t going to admit it. Cho had flipped out over him meeting a friend. He shuddered to think what would have happened if he’d even brought up the idea of having a coven.

“What else can you tell us about our bond?” Harry asked in a desperate attempt to change the topic.

“You haven’t researched it?!” Narcissa stared at the young couple in disbelief. “You performed soul magic without fully researching it.”

“Padma tried! There are no books in the library other than the one Padma found! And all it does is tell people how to do the ritual. It mostly focuses on uh, well, uh-”

“The carnal implications of the bond. A magical Kama Sutra, if you will,” Susan chimed in.

“Very helpful, Susie,” Harry growled.

“You’re welcome.” Susan giggled and kissed Harry’s cheek. 

“There’s nothing in the Hogwarts library? Not even in the restricted section?”

Harry shook his head.

“Padma’s as baffled as you are. She found instructions for a potion that will melt the flesh off bones but not a single mention of covens in any of the books.”

“Interesting.” Narcissa tapped her chin thoughtfully.

“Wasn’t there anything in the books I gave you?” Katarina asked.

“No. They dealt mostly with the darker side of soul magic. I didn’t even know a bond like this existed. You might want to keep it under wraps for now, dears. Even from this distance, I can feel that connection hum with power. You have dabbled in magic you do not understand. At great risk to yourselves, I might add. Can I study your bond?”

Harry and Susan exchanged a glance.

“Study?”

“I don’t want to sit on a chair and take notes while you’re… amorous,” Narcissa muttered embarrassedly. “Is the bond only active when you’re making love?”

It was Harry and Susan’s turn to blush. They stared at each other, both silently begging the other to speak.

“For Daphne, kinda, yeah,” Harry finally spoke. He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. “But Susan likes me to keep her bond active as much as possible.” 

“The leash is long. I can walk down the length of Main Street while the connection is active. No reason not to use it when I asked for it, right?” Susan squeaked. She hid her face in Harry’s shoulder, wiggling happily when he wrapped his arm around her.

“We could visit you a couple of times a week,” Harry offered. “I’d like to know more about the coven as well.” 

He held up his right arm and showed Narcissa the bracelet around his wrist. 

“I still don’t know how this works. I know the girls can sense me but that’s about it. You’ve taught us a lot today and we’d like to know more.” 

“Well, I’m highly interested in studying the mark to begin with. As you know, the Dark Mark is a monstrosity fueled by dark magic but it is a marvel. The Dark Lord can sense all his servants at all times. He can summon them. He can torture them using the mark.”

“I want to do none of those things to current-” Harry glanced at the seven gleaming rings on the bracelet “-or possible future members of this coven.”

“Which is why it’s a good thing we don’t have marks. I’d have noticed a mark on my body.”

Susan extended each limb in turn and allowed everyone to inspect them.

“See? No creepy skulls anywhere on my body.”

“Soul magic always leaves a mark, Miss Bones,” Narcissa asserted calmly. “It’s there.”

“Maybe it’s on me? I mean, I’m the one with this.” Harry held up his hand again.

“That would explain why Daphne overheard Jenny Cooke telling Amelia Brathurst that you had a Hungarian Horntail tattooed on your chest. Apparently, it roars when you uh… reach the peak of your pleasure.”

“She did what?!” Harry groaned. “This is worse than the poison spit rumor. Please tell me that Daphne corrected Jenny.”

“She did.” Susan blushed. “She told the girls that the Hungarian Horntail didn’t roar when you finished. It spits flames.”

“It wouldn’t be on your person,” Narcissa said, gently bringing the two lovebirds back on track. They were so compatible that it hurt to watch them together. “It is on the girls.”

“I just checked myself in front of you. It’s not there.”

“Do you mind taking off your blouse, my dear?”

“Uh, why?” Susan squeaked, blushing heavily.

“Trust me, neither Katarina nor I hold any interest or inclination towards the fairer sex. And I’m certain Lord Potter has already seen everything there is to offer. I just want to follow up on a hunch.”

“Okay.” Susan took a deep breath and stood. “I guess we did agree to be your guinea pigs.”

She slowly unbuttoned her blouse and rolled it off her shoulders. It fluttered to the ground and Harry collected it for her. She crossed her arms over her chest to protect her modesty and uncomfortably shuffled on her feet, waiting for further instruction.

“Can you turn around?”

Susan happily did so. She dropped her arms now that she was facing Harry. Harry for his part stood, walked over to her, and cupped her cheeks. He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. 

“We stop the second Susie is uncomfortable.”

Narcissa nodded.

She leaned in and studied the collar. Her eyes were alit with barely disguised excitement. 

“The Dark Mark is on the wrist because that’s where the Dark Lord casts the spell to bind them to him,” she murmured. “If the collar is the source of your bond, the mark must be close to it. I can try to find it.” 

“Will it hurt?” Susan asked, shivering as a gust of cold air brushed against her skin.

“No. At worst there’ll be slight tingling.” Narcissa reached out to trace the shimmering collar with a finger. She gasped the second her skin made contact with it and jerked her hand away, stumbling away from Susan.

“Narcissa?!” Harry looked over Susan’s shoulder, alarmed. “Are you alright?”

“Y-yes,” Narcissa closed her eyes. Those babies. No. It wasn’t possible. She rubbed her closed eyes, trying to get the image out of her mind. It was futile. “I’m fine,” she mumbled, her voice quivering. 

“What happened?” Susan asked

“The bond shocked me,” Narcissa lied. “Should’ve expected that. The magic of your connection won’t take kindly to strangers trying to meddle with it.”

She walked over to Susan and placed her trembling hands on the girl’s shoulders. She carefully avoided going close to the collar. Instead, she gently ran her hands over her soft skin, smiling triumphantly when her thumb brushed over a spot on Susan’s right shoulder. 

Narcissa pulled out a wand and whispered a spell. She pointed the lit tip at Susan’s shoulder, bathing her skin in ultraviolet light.

“See? It’s there. Run your fingers over the spot,” she commanded.

Susan bit back an involuntary moan as Harry caressed the spot illuminated by Narcissa.

“It’s a mark?” Harry asked. He gently traced the barely raised ridges on Susan’s shoulder

“Why isn’t it visible?”

“It will get darker as your bond grows stronger.”

“Harry, that better not be a skull. Or snakes. Or insects of any kind,” Susan growled. “I swear if you’ve marked with an earthworm or something-”

“It’s not an earthworm, Miss Bones.”

“What is it?” Susan asked, her curiosity trumping her embarrassment.

“It doesn’t have a form yet. But I doubt it’s an earthworm,” Narcissa said reassuringly. “I suppose we’ll just have to wait and find out.” 

Notes:

GPs, man. The health issue that I was struggling with? The thing that wasn't a 'big deal'? Turns out it was a big deal that required a hospital stay. The good news is that I finally have a definite answer for the health issue plaguing me(thank merlin) and I have so many good ideas for stories and chapters! Like this chapter! The bad news is that I have so many ideas that I need to write out now. Lol. Do give me your feedback on these ideas, because I am creating a lot of fun and new lore. I just find the Dark Mark fascinating and will explore it in this story!