Death Eater’s New Year’s

Warning: adultery and sexual theme that you may not like

A huge thank you to my alpha reader, Arabellabloodgood, for reading this over for me, Proulxes for the Britpick, and to Lady_Rayne and Phoenix for combing through this and helping me clean up my many mistakes. I really appreciate the all the help. Thank you very much.

Also, smooches and a big thank you to Jay for my banner! I really love it.

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~o40o~

Death Eater's New Year's

Cillian felt the wards on the island trigger the arrival of a wizard and knew it could only be one of two people, his Grandfather Riorden, which was highly unlikely, or Severus returning from the latest summoning of the Death Eaters. That meeting, the decisions made, still rankled heavily with Cillian. He excused himself so as to leave the house quickly and hurried out to meet Severus, meeting up on the path near the old Druid circle.

Severus tilted his head, indicating the old stones and turned, and Cillian followed silently. Severus set the crate he'd been levitating alongside him on a large stone and then cast his Sound Dampening Charm on the ring of old stones, the protection hardly necessary, unless what he had to say was something he didn't want Dianne knowing. Cillian felt a stone drop in his gut. "Do I still have to participate?"

Severus nodded, the disquiet in his expression only noticeable because Cillian knew his friend so well. "You'll be matched up at the revel," Severus said softly, clearly as disgusted as Cillian felt.

"I don't want to do this," Cillian said, his eyes downcast, watching the pattern of the sunlight on the ground. The snowfall was light here, the dark brown old leaves sprinkled lightly with snow.

"Nor I," Severus sighed heavily, turning to look out at the lake through the gaps in the trees. "But it's our duty. The Dark Lord has ordered it. At least you don't have to marry either witch."

"No, I simply get to have meaningless sex to impregnate a pair of half-blood girls who are only there to avoid Azkaban," Cillian sneered as he turned his head to look out at the lake as well. "God, I wish there was another way out." He waited to hear more, but Severus seemed marred in his own thoughts. "So, what was decided for you?"

Severus stood stone still. He knew his friend, the thought of illegitimate children, born to an unknown witch to be raised in a maternity house didn't appeal to him either. When Cillian had heard the plans, he'd been upset, to the point of feeling physically sick. Dormer and Baddock had been delighted at the announcement of the Dark revel, and Gerund, Malburke and Amycus Carrow had been equally delighted, since their social status didn't lend well for good matches. Wroithesley, deFay and Mulciber had even gleefully volunteered to help select the girls and escort them from the MRC cells, but Mengele and Vorster had said that the girls had already 'volunteered' a week ago and were at the Manor being prepared. Cillian assumed that meant bathed, groomed and drugged on potions.

Severus looked at the ground. "I'm supposed to assist Narcissa to have another and impregnate your sister."

"What?" Cillian exclaimed, astounded, and Severus nodded, sighing deeply. No wonder he put up the dampening charm. "But, fuck. Belinda? She will love that! At least Horrance will take it in stride."

Severus' head snapped to glare at Cillian. "It's not my choice; it's an order."

Cillian shrugged. "She has to become pregnant, and Horrance is sterile. He wouldn't want his sons to do it, and he knows another Death Eater will be chosen. It might as well be you. Horrance will look for the advantage of the situation and exploit it, but he won't try to kill you like Malfoy will want to."

Severus' expression hardened.

Cillian knew that he didn't want to have sex with either witch. "Good thing Malfoy is wandless."

Severus turned to face him, his expression stony.

"All I'm saying is that you at least have women who like participating in the Dark Revels."

"Narcissa has never liked them – she tolerates the inconvenience," Severus stated. "She was pregnant with Draco during the Dark Revel in 1979, nursing in 1980, and she was excused from participating in the previous two rebirth celebrations."

"Oh, right," Cillian said. He himself had only been to one recruiting party before the Dark Lord fell in 1981 when he foolishly took the Mark, and this would be his third Dark Revel since the Dark Lord's rising. He knew that Narcissa had been allowed to miss the one in 1996 to celebrate the Dark Lord's restoration due to her husband's incarceration in Azkaban, but it had also been the same night Draco took the Dark Mark, bypassing the normal six-month probationary period to prove himself worthy. She had been present at the New Year's Eve Revel in 1997, a noble goddess in white, but she'd been absent at the Dark Lord's rebirth-restoration revel that June due to her deception and disgrace. But no one was exempt this New Year's Revel at Malfoy Manor, jokingly called the Dark Lord's Hall by his fellow brethren.

"Too bad you can't simply get Hermione pregnant and be... What?" he asked when Severus looked away. "You're not going to have children with Hermione?"

He turned to look at him. "I'm not allowed to with Hermione – so no," he said, then looked away.

Cillian was at a loss. Severus loved Hermione, and they were good together, all things considering, alike in so many ways. Maybe under different circumstances it would have worked out between them. Too bad they were on the side that hated Muggle-borns. "Has Macaulay created the conception potion with Mengele?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes, but there is no way I trust a potion made by those crazed dunderheads," Severus spat. "I procured the ingredients to make the Luteinizing Potion and the Priapus Potion here." He motioned to the crate resting on stone nearest the path. "Which I must attend to. By the way, I will have a delivery tomorrow. Dobby has been told to deliver it as soon as it arrives at the castle. The Dark Lord is having Narcissa serve every aphrodisiac known to wizardkind, and she has asked me to prepare pufferfish and grindylow tentacles for the revel."

Cillian sucked in his breath. "Pufferfish and grindylow tentacles? You will be – what do you need?"

Severus levitated the crate with a swish of his wand. "Clean rags, running water, a new cutting board, which I have, and privacy," Severus said, walking along with Cillian toward the house with the crate floating behind him. "I'll be sharpening my knives tonight, and I don't want any distractions tomorrow."

"Consider it done," Cillian promised.

~S~

Severus checked his potion again. Normally the process of creating or improving on a potion intrigued him, but he was distracted by the threat of his own impending involvement in Mengele's breeding program. Every Death Eater, single or not, would be expected to father at least four children, and any female of breeding age related to or married to a Death Eater was expected to offer herself up for 'implantation.'

The revel scheduled for the Dark Lord's New Year's party would be a masked ball, and those of the inner circle, His favorite chosen, were to engage in an orgy, treated as a quasi-religious sexual ritual in which young women, most likely half-bloods, would be brought in for entertainment and impregnation. He'd already been told the password for the gate: Fidelio, from the Latin word for faithful. The antilogy was both horribly derisive and boorish as those attending the party would be anything but.

Severus hated these parties; having sex surrounded by many other couples doing the same, many of those men and women laughing at the idea of their fellow Death Eaters watching them with their sexual partners or joining in. Many of his brethren wore only their robes, masks and boots, their 'manly assets' fully and proudly exposed, some even having taken endowment enhancements.

He would be expected to...

No, he would not dwell on it now.

Severus had spent the morning carefully beginning the meticulous preparation of the pufferfish, efficiently and with exceptional care and precision with his fugu hiki knife. Pufferfish and stripped burrfish could be deadly poisonous due to the lethal amounts of the poisonous tetrodotoxin in the fish's organs, especially the liver, the ovaries, and the skin; therefore, it had to be carefully handled to remove toxic parts and to avoid contaminating the meat. If the fish was contaminated, the potent neurotoxin would shut down the conductivity of the nerves of the victim, which caused paralyzation the muscles, low blood pressure, respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrhythmias, while the victim lay immobilized and fully conscious.

The standard treatment for tetrodotoxin poisoning was to use the Sleeping-Beauty Enchantment with both the Respirator and Circulatory Charms to keep the body in stasis until the poison was metabolised and excreted by the victim's body, but this was not always suscesful.

Likewise, the burrfish had the toxin in its spinny fins and in the short, pointed immovable spines that covered its body. If he wasn't careful, the sharp spines could cut his fingers, poisoning him.

Severus was one of the very few wizards in the United Kingdom who had underwent the rigorous training under Master Yuichi Matsumura in order to be qualified to properly prepare the dangerous fish – something Severus did not let on to many.

Pufferfish prices rose considerably in autumn and peaked in winter, the best season, because the fish fattened up to survive the cold. Usuki, a Japanese town in the in Ōita Prefecture was still the best place to buy the pufferfish, and the wizards of the Calusa Shell Indians of the southwest coast of Florida were the best source of the stripped burrfish, but at a considerable expense, since it had to be shipped by international Portkey under a magical stasis.

He added the four ounces of pufferfish, cut into translucent slices and soaked in Mollusk milt, to the stewed Mandrake in his cauldron, then stirred his potion slowly twenty-one times.

Beside him, Hermione was slicing sugar toads. He'd already cleaned the fish himself that morning, but since the sugar toad was a non-poisonous species of blowfish from the Chesapeake Bay in America, he was confident that she wouldn't be harmed in any way as she carefully prepared the fish.

Cillian had been summoned to the Dark Lord, and Dianne had gone for a walk around the island, so Hermione, apparently bored from being left alone, sought Severus out in the basement where he'd set up a fairly reasonable potions lab. At first he'd been unhappy about the intrusion, but she was proving to be an amiable, yet thankfully quiet, work companion.

He watched her as she added the fish to the stewed Mandrake in her cauldron and began stirring the potion twelve times.

He added the ground porcupine quills, then the parsley, letting them soak into the potion. He checked her potion, pleased that it was a perfect shade of persimmon, although at a later stage, if stirred properly, the potion would turn a light shade of peach. She smiled at him, making him smirk at her need for his approval. He gave her an affirming nod and began pulverizing his burrfish livers, careful not to get any of the toxic organs on his hands.

Hermione dumped in the finely chopped helonias root and then chaste berry powder into her cauldron, stirring the potion twelve times clockwise each, letting the potion whirlpool. He tried not to get distracted from measuring exactly two-hundred-and-eighty grams of cleaned tuna lattume as she poured in her highly purified equine urine as she stirred. If added too quickly, the potion would sputter, and students always liked watching the potion whirlpool in their cauldron, which was what Hermione was doing as she waited for her potion to stop swirling. Thankfully, her skills at potions were sufficient enough that it didn't sputter in her face.

"Is this the potion for Sherri?"

Severus cocked his eyebrow at her use of Cillian's nickname for his sister-in-law. So much for silence. "Yes," he said as he softened the tuna semen sac with the lemon juice. As well as for a few other ladies of my acquaintance who are in the same predicament. He added fifteen grams of powdered moonstones before putting the mass carefully into his cauldron, stirring only five times to blend it in. His potion hissed, a large bubble emerged in the center, but his potion remained stable. He had only minutes to peel and dice the shrivelfig and dice a bouncing bulb.

"The problem could be biological. Has she tried biorhythm?" Hermione asked, carefully grinding fifteen grams of powdered moonstones with six star anise seedpods and one dried six-inch Hippocampus.

He looked at her briefly in disbelief. "There are spells to determine the precise time of a witch's ovulation," he said, carefully dropping the diced shrivelfig and bouncing bulb into his potion and then stirring seventeen times counterclockwise. The Ovulation Detection Spell was repeated every month for several months until a pattern was established, but Sherrilyn didn't have that kind of time; the Dark Lord expected her to be pregnant within the month. He added nine bay laurel leaves into the brew and waited for the potion to change color.

He added his two monkfish spleens, set the timer to let it simmer, and checked her potion.

"The Luteinizing Potion – it's used to induce ovulation."

"Yes," he said rather dismissively, hoping to end the conversation.

"And yours? I don't recall reading pufferfish as an ingredient in fertility potions: the Faunus' Lupercalia Potion, the Min-Virilous Elixir, or the Tutunus's Awful Philter. And using shrivelfig in a sperm building-fortifying potion? That's amusing," Hermione said with a certain amount of incredulity, dicing three sugar cane rats' tails.

"The Min-Virilious is for erectile dysfunction and the Mutunus Tutunus Potions is for engorgement of the penis, not for fertility," he corrected her. "This is the Priapus Potion. The Faunus' Lupercalia Potion works better, but I can't begin brewing it until after the winter aconite blooms, so it wouldn't be ready until the thirteenth of February."

"Hence it's more common name, the Casanova's Valentine Elixir," she said amused, and he glared at her impertinence quickly before returning to the work at hand.

"Yes," he snapped as he efficiently sliced his rats' tails. He added the tails and began stirring the potion thirty-nine times.

She looked at what was left of the three-foot-long tuna gonad with a grimace. "And they have to drink a half pint of this?" she asked, pointing at his cauldron.

"Eat," he corrected her as she dropped her tails into her potion while stirring. "It has the constancy of a bisque. It will be served at the New Years feast." Severus cringed inwardly; he intended to miss the feast. He looked at her. He certainly didn't want to take her with him, and the thought of locking her up in the Malfoy's dungeon New Year's Eve rankled him. He could tell the Dark Lord he'd trapped her in his house. He'd changed the wards when he went to get their bags so the Rat couldn't get in, and it was a reasonable ruse to the truth; Hermione would be essentially trapped here in this house.

The blue color of his Priapus Potion faded to white and then turned celadon green. Excellent.

"What about in vitro fertilization?" she asked, perched on a stool while her potion simmered.

"What?" he asked.

"In vitro fertilization – it's where..."

"I know what it is, Hermione," he snapped, setting down his hand still holding his knife.

"You do?" she asked, dropping her twelve quills into the mortar.

He cocked his eyebrow as he frowned at her, then realized exactly what she was on about. "That idea has merit." Not in the Muggle sense, but magically, "insertion of the sperm into the uterus would greatly increase the odds, and I wouldn't have to..." have sex with the witch, he finished his thought silently.

He wondered if the Malfoy's Healer, Bertrand Trankner, or Healer Pushpa Bastula had ever performed in vitro spells. It would be a simple matter of trans-relocation of an object, in this case a mass of ejaculate, into a specified space, a uterus, and no harm done really, right? Narcissa would agree to this, but Belinda would most certainly squawk.

He moved his cauldron to the cooling rack and turned to check Hermione's potion. He held his breath as he leaned over her shoulder. He could smell the distinct odor similar to anise and Vieux-Boulogne cheese wafting on the translucent yellow-colored stream as it rose in a softly swirling plume, and the potion was a perfect shade of shimmering pale peach. He nodded to her, acknowledging her accomplishment with the difficult potion, and she smiled in pure happiness from his approval, making him chuckle to himself as he turned away.

Severus picked up another sheet of parchment and read over the list of ingredients as he considered making the Sperm Stagnation Tonic. Taking it was risky. He glanced at his supplies. It called for most of the same ingredients. He'd have to add five sea urchin ovaries and the purified equine urine instead of the mollusk milt and the tuna semen sac, but the risk was worth the deception.

Did he dare defy the Dark Lord so blatantly? If Mengele were only examining the women at the revel, he might get away with it.

~C~

Cillian offered to take Sherri's and Ling's fertility dose to them, an excuse to see his sisters-in-law and check up on how they were doing. Sherri and Marc lived at Grouse Hill House near Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby, but when Cillian arrived, the house-elf said she was with her 'sister' in Chinatown. He hoped that they were visiting Ling's parents in Chinatown in Manchester. The Manchester Chinatown was the second largest Chinatown in the United Kingdom, the third largest in Europe, bounded by four streets, and trying to find two women there could be nearly impossible without a tracing charm.

Ling's parents, Shulan and Kang Lai, still lived in the flat above their shop in the heart of Chinatown. When Cillian arrived at the shop, Shulan, informed him he'd just missed the girls and to try Ling's house. Hoping he wasn't on a wild white heart hunt, he slipped out the back and Apparated for the brick house on Broadoak Road in Worsley, Manchester. Thankfully his sisters-in-law were enjoying tea in the sitting room.

"You've just missed Justin," Ling informed him as he entered the room.

"Grandpa Riorden was here, and he and Justin had a real row about something – most likely because your sister still has your mum and dad under the Imperius, and he wanted Justin to help him release them," Sherri said, her soft blue eyes showing her disapproval as Ling bowed her head slightly to hide her displeasure. It was one of the things he liked about Sherri; although normally discrete and carefully guarded, once she and Cillian were better acquainted, she was quite open with him as she was with those few she considered close personal friends – or with family – the exception being Belinda. Sherri had never warmed up to Bell. "You remember that awful mess last August when Grandpa Riorden broke in and rescued Tannis, and Ben stole the vault key and skirted off with all of the house-elves?"

Cillian nodded, wondering if he'd have to go find Justin.

Ling looked up, her dark, straight hair framing her face, and her almond eyes looking at him with sincere concern. "Justin went to see Belinda about letting your mum and dad off the Imperius, but Belinda said that Tannis will only run away again. It was bad enough when Belinda caught Tannis trying to save Elspeth last November, then to have to watch Tannis and Marc being tortured for disobedience – it was horrible. But to have Tannis and Elspeth just sitting around like rag dolls..."

"I remember that she came by the school to gloat, saying how it would keep our good standing with the Dark Lord," Cillian said, hating the fact that he had to maintain his Death Eater persona when what he really wanted – what he wished for – was that they could all run off to America – or New Zealand – or anywhere. Not that that was at all possible. But Ling would never leave her parents, both well-respected Herbalists in Chinatown in Manchester.

Justin warned Cillian several times to stay in line, play the part, but Cillian was starting to hope that Hermione was right, that Harry Potter could somehow, by some holy miracle, Circe's favor or by the Fates, defeat the Dark Lord. But then he, Justin, Marc and Belinda, if they survived the war, would most likely end up in Azkaban. If it comes down to that, I'll leave immediately and take Sherri and Ling someplace safe and support the girls however I can. Thankfully, he and Justin both had accounts in banks other than Gringotts. He shook his head. "There is nothing to do for now – if they run, the Dark Lord will mark them as deserters. Marc barely avoided death the first time Dad split."

Sherri bit her lip, her eyes downcast, nodding solemnly, remembering, and Ling inhaled as she squared her shoulders and sat up stiffly. He agreed with their views; he hated having his parents Imperiused, but there was nothing he could do presently. His grandfather was on the Dark Lord's deserters list. Maybe siding with Hermione isn't such a bad idea... if she doesn't expect me to get involved with the misbehavior in the school. Who am I kidding? I have the Henley's to consider... and my sisters-in-law, mum and dad... Gods, it was all too much sometimes.

"Oh, here," he said, remembering why he'd come. "Severus said you have to take one dose before dinner, one at midnight and another in the morning, that way not only will the potion be most effective but when Mengele examines you, the detection spell will pick up the effects of the potion, so you will not have to undergo his treatment."

Both women accepted the vials with soft smiles and sad eyes. "We were hoping to wait to start a family, but now is as good a time as any," Ling said, the corners of her mouth drawing back as if trying to smile but it looked a little more like a grimace. "Will you stay for tea?" she asked, her smile become more genuine, and her house-elf appeared with a fresh cup and a plate of tiny sandwiches.

"For a while, I'm expected elsewhere in an hour," he said, sitting down.

"What are we going to do about Tannis and Elspeth, Cillian?" Sherri asked.

"I really fear that Grandpa Gwynek may try to save his son and daughter-in-law again," Ling added. "And Justin said that your sister hopes to catch the old man and force him to return the vault key."

Cillian shook his head. "I don't know. Granddad is eluding everyone. He owns several properties, here and abroad, and if he's abroad, he has an account in Munich and one in Zurich." Where he hoped he'd taken ol' Ben. If he stashed ol' Ben in his London house, there was still the chance that Bell would find him and turn the beloved old caretaker over to the MRC. The thought made his gut clench.

~S~

Severus donned his simplest black trousers without underwear, knowing what was required of him, and tucked in the white silk shirt. While putting on his black dragonhide boots, Hermione asked him about the party again. "I don't want to discuss it," he said curtly. It's not that she wanted to go; she wanted him to stay here with her.

"But you're..."

"Hermione, the less you know – the less you'll be upset," he said, cutting her off. He pulled on his other boot.

"Then why go?"

"It's an order, not a request," he stated, sitting up and looking at her. "I have no choice."

"And he doesn't expect me to be there at his New Year's party?" she asked for the second time, sitting crossed-legged on their bed.

"No," he said and reached for his hooded robe.

"What is it like, a Dark Revel?" she asked, scooting closer to him.

He put the robe on, leaving the front open and picked up his mask, staring at the hateful thing. "You have an imagination, think your worst." The newer silver masks, although more comfortable than the half scull masks they used to wear, sickened him more. However, tonight they were required. Her question reminded him of a book Cillian mentioned once just before his second revel. The descriptions in the book were not exactly the same, but close enough. "Have you read Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Dream Story?" he asked. He regretted mentioning the book the moment he'd said it.

Her gaze wandered as she said slowly, "Nooo..."

"I have to leave," he said, getting to his feet. He picked up the small vials and cup on the bedside table and slipped them into his pocket. "Be good and don't give the Henley's any trouble."

Hermione slumped back on the bed with a heavy sigh and crossed her arms.

He turned and walked purposefully from the room, dreading the evening's entertainments.

~C~

Cillian buttoned up his black cassock style robe with a nonverbal charm, ignoring the reproachful look on Dianne's face. He actually wished she'd join her parents. The cassock he'd bought at J. Wipple Wizard Wear was practical since it was either this or go nude under his Death Eater robes. At least the cassock was warm. "What?" he asked her.

"I didn't say anything," she replied, her focus now intently on him.

"You are – I know that look," he stammered. "I have to go, you know that."

She nodded with a one-shoulder shrug while toying with a strand of her hair.

Gah! He hated it when she became quiet and sullen. He pulled on his engineer biker boots and stood up. When he reached for his Death Eater robes, she reached for his mask. "No, Dianne," he snapped, grabbing the mask before she did. "Don't touch it."

"It's just a silver..."

"No, it's not," he hissed, closing his eyes to calm himself. Although the thought was completely irrational, he didn't want it to sully her, as if the darkness it represented would taint her simply by touching it. "I've asked you before, don't."

She looked away.

"I told you, I don't want this," he said, holding his mask tightly as she turned to look at him and it, "to be between us – you are not part of this. Look, I have to go."

He pulled on his hooded Death Eater robe with his mask in his hand. Thankfully, Andrew and Juliet were sharing a quiet New Year's together in the Long Gallery, enjoying the spectacular view of the lake from the windows so they would not see either him or Severus leaving the house in their Death Eater garb. Severus met up with Cillian in the hall and followed him down the stairs.

Severus stopped in the entry hall, tucked his mask under his arm and withdrew a handful of small vials from his pocket. A smirk played briefly on Cillian's face as he looked at them in bewilderment and secretly hoped the pale blue ones were the Min-Virilious Elixir. He might need it to 'perform'.

"Here," Severus said, handing three of the vials to Cillian, two containing the pale blue potion and one a greyish-green potion.

"What's this?" Cillian asked, examining the larger vial of greyish-green liquid. On close inspection the potion appeared translucent grey with a green sheen. He still didn't recognize it though.

"Protection," Severus said and uncorked his vial.

Protection? He must be joking? Cillian raised an eyebrow at him. "From what? What is it?" Cillian asked, uncorking his vial. "Clearly Mengele gave them potions to clear up any... thing..."

"The Sperm-Stagnation Draught," Severus said and swallowed his dose.

Cillian paused. Sperm – contraceptive – male contraceptive... "Is it...?"

"Permanent? No," Severus said casually.

One side of Severus' mouth pulled back in a crooked smile, making Cillian pause. "Did you really want to sire two unwanted illegitimate children out of wedlock?" Severus asked softly with a cocky smile.

Cillian's eyes narrowed at the comment, his mind whirling for a second in disbelief. What the...? Hell no. "It's what is expected of me," he stated, holding the answer to his problem, well one problem in his hand, wondering if he dared. The Dark Lord had been very clear about this; he was required to sire four bastards in as many years, more if humanly possible, beginning tonight.

It was Severus' turn to raise his eyebrow.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear that he's implying – but defying the Dark Lord's orders? It's not that he distrusted Severus' abilities or questioned that it wouldn't do exactly as his friend claimed, but the risk. Severus was an amazing potioneer, creating some variations that even surprised the best brewers he knew. Even the Dark Lord preferred Severus' brews. Hermione... could she possibly truly mean that Severus – Severus is... really? "Mengele..."

"Will be examining the women, not us," Severus said in a flat tone.

He'd offended him, but this was serious. I did say – we talked about this, but why? Is he implying... Would he dare? If he swallowed this, he'd be defying the Dark Lord. If he didn't, the girls he'd be matched up with would, in all likelihood, get pregnant. He hated cheating on Dianne, even if he was being forced to do so, but he was going to have to submit and do it. He did not want to sire unwanted children.

Cillian swallowed the potion. For a second nothing happened, but then he felt a cold tingling in his gonads followed by a sharp tightening. Cillian stood firmly, watching Severus, forcing himself not to grab his crotch, even though the discomfort increased. The next second, there was a cooling numbness and then nothing; everything felt normal again. He forced himself not to adjust himself just to make sure.

"Time to go," Severus stated as if he'd not felt a thing.

The wizard's control of his features and his endurance for pain frequently amazed Cillian. He wished that he had such control; he almost did, but not to the level Severus could. It probably had to do with Severus' upbringing; Cillian's father had never beaten him, and the bullies in school hadn't tormented Cillian either. His brother Justin saw to that, and Cillian had always been a bit of a lad, even at twelve.

He looked up and saw Dianne watching him from the landing, a sad, resolved look in her eyes and a somber smile. He looked down as he turned around and walked out of the door ahead of his friend. He hated it when she had that understanding look.

~H~

Hermione entered the room that passed as a library in Cillian's home and started to look around the collection of books on the few recessed bookcases, more to appraise the collection and to see what books the Henley's and Cillian liked to read. She was surprised at the number of novels, fictional and non-fictional, and histories in his collection as well as the knitting and crochet books. She checked the next bookshelf and sighed: geography, biographies, biology, zoology... myths and mythical beasts. She slid her fingers across an expanse of wall between two of the recessed bookshelves, and she felt a tingle in her fingertips and the distinct feel of bookbindings, not plaster. She faced the space and tried to remember what she knew about wandless magic, and focused her intent tightly on the 'wall' before her. "Aperire," she said determinedly, trying to cast a revealing charm, frowning when it didn't work. She tried it again with the same result.

"Try, Exponere," Dianne said softly behind her, making Hermione turn sharply. Since Dianne had been keeping her distance these last few days, Hermione was surprised to see her standing in the doorway. "What are you looking for?" Dianne asked, moving into the room.

Hermione shrugged. "Severus mentioned a book; I thought it might be in here."

"Which one? I have read most of them and know this collection well," Dianne said, standing in the center of the room, watching her curiously.

Hermione felt her face flush as she replied, "Arthur Schnitzler's 1926 novella Dream Story." She considered what to tell her. "Dark magic – it might be erotic." She felt her face heat up even more.

Dianne shook her head. "Don't recognize the name, but the novels and old novellas are over there," she said, pointing at the shelves to Hermione's left. "Unless it's a Romance novel, then they are down there on the shelf with my mother's books."

"I don't think it's a Romance novel." Hermione felt like a fool. Why suggest the book if it's not here? But then why would Cillian have need of erotic literature?

"Try the hidden shelves on the other side of the window, over there," Dianne said, and Hermione turned to look at her, to see where she was pointing to. Dianne's expression was guarded, and Hermione thought that maybe Dianne assumed that she and Severus were into erotica. No, there was a sadness in her eyes and listlessness to her posture. "It's where the darker subjects are kept. I don't read Cillian's Dark Arts books, so I couldn't tell you if the book you want is there or not. They are not usually my taste, but there are some, er, racy books on the hidden shelf on the other side of that window, but I think those may have belonged to Crydeyrn Mordaunt. He was into some rather sick... things."

Hermione moved to the section of 'wall' Dianne indicated, held her hand up and said, "Exponere," pleased when it worked. Apparently the wards on the shelves were set for wandless use. The shelves were packed with magical books, many subjects she recognized and some she did not, but these were clearly Dark Arts books.

"Just don't let my mum see you reading the wall so intently. She doesn't know about the Dark tomes, and it would frighten her."

"No, I'll be careful," Hermione promised, kneeling to read the titles of the books on the lower shelves.

"Thank you," Dianne said, turning to leave.

Hermione turned to thank her and managed to mumble "Bye" as Dianne closed the door. After a long search, Hermione finally found the thin book crammed in between a few eighteenth century Libertine erotic novels.

Thinking about Dianne's warning about her parents, Hermione took the book up to her room. She read the book in very little time, it only had a hundred and twenty-eight pages after all, but she found herself reading the parts about the masked ball twice. The first time she'd read it, she'd been furious.

Fridolin, the main character of the book, learned about an exotic party from an old friend, Nachtigall, a piano player. Fridolin, dressed in a mask and costume, gained access where the party was taking place and was shocked to find several masked men, either nude or in costumes and naked, masked women engaged in various sexual activities, a quasi-religious sexual ritual of voyeurism and exhibitionism. When Fridolin was found out as an intruder, he was brought before a group of the men and questioned, told to reveal himself and to strip. The woman in the mask who warned Fridolin to leave appeared and offered herself to the gathering as a sacrifice if they let Fridolin go. Fridolin was then escorted out.

She remembered how stiff and formal Severus had been before leaving; she almost cried, thinking he was being forced into the same situation – into participating.

The second time she read it, Hermione realized he wouldn't be in the position of Fridolin, he was more likely to be one of the men in masks and costumes – only the masks were Death Eater masks and the costumes were robes over silk shirts and trousers – worn without underwear! Her Severus was engaged in a sexual orgy.

She tossed the book down in anger with a loud, "Humph. Bugger, bugger to hell!" She closed her eyes as unnoticed tears slid down her cheeks. She could hear his voice, firm but resolved, smooth and deep, 'It's an order, not a request. I have no choice,' echo in her mind. Cillian keeps saying, 'No one defies the Dark Lord and lives,' he's said it over and over, she thought. Even he obeys. He went. He's there. With Severus!

She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow to muffle her scream. Damn him. Why can't he disobey even once? Damn him. Damn the Dark Lord. Damn him... damn him.

~S~

Severus saw Belinda almost the moment that he arrived. She wore a peacock mask, the iridescent plumage matching the elaborate embroidery design of her long dressing robe that the Death Eater wives were permitted and high heels, making her appear taller than Severus' six foot. Nevertheless, he'd have recognized her dark curly hair and swaying saunter from across any room, possibly even a Quidditch pitch.

Severus normally wasn't very social at these events, preferring to be on the sidelines, but not tonight. He'd have to participate, not just make a showing and slip into the shadows before leaving as soon as he dared, his normal routine. He saw Graven and Avery smirk at him as Belinda approached utterly unembarrassed as to her blatant intent. Damn the witch, Severus thought ruefully. A few nights' mistakes and...

From where he stood he could see that other Death Eaters were already pairing up for the night, some with their wives, others, the single men, with young girls wearing only high heels and masks. He saw Yaxley and Jugson, their Death Eater masks both familiar to Severus, standing a short distance away, both with young girls, less than half their age, on the Death Eaters' arms. The girls were smiling, laughing at something said, but they also kept shifting their weight as if uncomfortable. He knew why. Across the hall, McFaul, easily recognized by his mask with its Egyptian eyes and fangs, and his wife were talking with Malburke and Pettigrew. Pettigrew, easily distinguished by his short, stocky build and a silver Death Eater mask that looked very much like a demonic rodent, was eyeing Mrs. McFaul appreciatively. Pettigrew held the wrist of the girl he'd been paired up with as if she'd skirt away at any moment, and from the way the girl was standing, keeping a few inches distance from him, he was probably right.

"I was beginning to wonder if I'd see you," Belinda cooed, snaking her arm around Severus'. The men's smirks changed to full knowing grins, and they backed away.

"I do believe that I am on time," Severus replied coolly.

"But surely you've been eagerly anticipating this as much as I have?" she asked, leaning into him.

He wanted desperately to push her away. "I must make my presence known to the Dark Lord," he said and disengaged his arm from Belinda's grasp. He could read her effrontery even behind the mask. "I will find you shortly," he added as she protested. "Enjoy the activities."

He walked casually down the Great Hall. He knew that Rowle, Travers, MacCavish and VanHalal would be here, somewhere, but since they were not married, they would be matched up with young girls for the evening. It sickened him. Already a few of the couples were engaging in recreation: kissing, petting and sexual acts. The entire ground floor of the manor was open to the guests. The larger drawing rooms would be 'vanilla' trysts or some mild levels of depravity as others stood by and watched, but the harder, more erotic activities would be in the more secluded rooms.

As far as he could tell, judging by their naked bodies, nearly all of the half-blood girls looked to be anywhere from eighteen to their late twenties, but their fancy feathered and sequenced eye masks hid their real age if not their identity. He fought the repulsed chill that ran down his spine. He should be grateful to Belinda; if not for her persistence at having him again and asking the Dark Lord for the match, he'd be matched up by Mengele as well, possibly with two girls he'd taught at some point. That thought sickened him even more.

He saw Narcissa approach, wearing a white peacock mask and sparkling white silk dressing robe. Her long platinum hair hung down her back and, like Belinda, the sleeves of her dressing robe was beaded to resemble the wings of the majestic bird. She nodded once at Severus, her light blue eyes visible behind the white mask.

"Narcissa," Severus said, holding out his arm.

She gracefully placed her hand gently on his and gave him a sad smile. Severus led her down the great hall, nodding in acknowledgement to those who greeted him and feigning interest in the acts happening in the drawing rooms, parlors and sitting rooms. He led Narcissa to the library and into a quiet corner.

"Dark corners, Severus?" she sneered. "Not out in front of everyone to..."

"Hush," he hissed, barely above a whisper. "Do you really want to have sex with me?"

"Of course not," she replied softly as he stepped closer to her. "I'm sorry, no, but I..."

"...or carry my child?" He cut her off since he already knew the answer. "Or would you like to carry your husband's?" He could see her eyes widen, then narrow through the eye slots of her mask. "I may have found a way to spare you humiliation and you're husband's anger."

"But he's blond and you're raven haired," she replied coolly.

"Quite a few people in my father's family were fair-haired and blue-eyed. My maternal grandmother was Birgitta Gustafsson of the Swedish Gustafsson families, and my great grandmother's name was Gertrud Westerberg of the Swedish Östergötland Westerbergs. Both women had hair the same color as yours, and my grandmother's eyes were silver, as were most of her family as I recall. I believe that Abraxus Malfoy married my grandmother's cousin, Märet Gustafsson," Severus stated, knowing that Lucius was quite proud of his Swedish ancestry. "So if the child has blonde hair and blue eyes or even blue-grey eyes, I can easily claim it is due to my ancestral lineage and the child's mother's coloring."

"I hope your right," she said and smiled weakly.

He pulled out a small cup with a twist off cap and handed to her. "Find Lucius. Enlarge this to its normal size, have him ejaculate in the cup and bring it to me. I'll use a charm to do it – a simple spell I hope I can do right – and it will be his sperm in you and not mine."

She glanced down as he pressed the shrunken cup into her hand. "Why would you do this?"

He leaned into her and whispered in her ear. "We've been friends for too long to have me force myself upon you," he said softly, much more kindly. "Once Lucius has ejaculated into it, shrink it so you can hide it carefully in your fist."

She nodded, letting him lean over her, hiding them both with his robes. "Thank you for what you did for Draco when Hermione escaped," she said after a short while.

He nodded. "I made you a promise to keep the boy from harm."

"A vow you completed a long time ago," she replied, her voice so soft he had to strain to hear her. "Why did Hermione come back to you?"

"Hermione thought it would protect her friends, since she still believes that I am in Dumbledore's Order, carrying on the old man's last wish – to protect the students and the school. If I am removed as Headmaster, Alecto will take over the school, and her brother will replace Professor McGonagall as her deputy." It wasn't too far from the truth. If the Carrows did take over, they would dispense with half of the staff. Alecto would kill Minerva outright; he was certain of it – she hated the woman. "I've made her fall in love with me and convinced her to play along with the Dark Lord's wishes. It's all going according to the Dark Lord's plans. She's even befriending Draco; well, she's trying to convert him to save him from what she sees as his big mistake. They argue a lot, but I think it's because she's starting to care about your son."

"That's what Draco thought," she whispered.

He looked up at her.

"I know about their arguments and her attempts... Draco is clever; he'll do what is right. He told me that despite the problems, everything considered, you're an excellent Headmaster," she said with a small smile. "Under better circumstances, if the students weren't rebelling..."

"Go, find Lucius, get him to comply," he said, standing back from her.

She nodded and hurried out. Damn, now he had to contend with Belinda.

He pretended to clean himself off and made a show of adjusting his robes as he walked out of the library. He paused outside the door, surveying the hallway. Knowing he had no choice, he walked slowly and stopped to peer in the first room he came to.

As his luck would have it, Severus found himself cornered by Horrance Morederk. As expected, Horrance was quite aware of his wife's infatuation with Severus and that the Dark Lord agreed to her request to carry Severus' child. As Cillian predicted, Horrance was being very diplomatic about the situation; however, he wanted to be involved in the coupling. Severus agreed, not that he really had much say in the matter, and it did irritate Belinda quite a bit to be so outmaneuvered.

Horrance had chosen one of the medium drawing rooms with a comfortable lounge seat, adjusting it slightly to accommodate the three of them, and directed the action. Normally, Severus hated threesomes, avoiding them if possible at these types of Dark Revels. But knowing how angry it would make Belinda, he submitted.

The men stripped off their trousers magically, their trousers collected by the house-elves, and Severus opened his shirt, baring his front to the spectators who chose to watch. Thankfully, the Min-Virilious Elixir was working; Severus was stiff as a bone. Horrance forced Belinda on the lounge, on all fours, having Severus fuck her from behind while she sucked on his penis. As soon as Severus came, the lounge altered so Horrance could fuck his wife comfortably, and Horrance allowed his wife to suck on Severus' penis.

This was one thing Belinda could do well, fellatio. And even though Severus hated being on display, the woman did have a way with her hands and mouth that brought Severus back up and fully erect by the time Horrance had reached climax. Apparently, the old fart didn't have much in the way of stamina.

But Horrance wasn't done humiliating his wife. He softly demanded a belt, barely heard above the noises in the room, and one magically appeared in his hand. He folded it in half and brought it down firmly on Belinda's bum with a loud whack. Belinda cried out in surprise. "Did you really think I'd let this go unpunished," Horrance said, slapping her bum again.

"No, don't you dare," she cried out as the belt landed on her bum again. "Horra-ance!" she cried out, struggling.

Severus realized that her husband had stuck her hands to the lounge with a Sticking Charm.

Belinda cried out as Horrance smacked her until her bum was reddened. BDSM wasn't something Severus liked or participated in, but it did give him some measure of satisfaction to see Belinda being spanked. The Death Eaters watching smirked, a few murmuring comments. Wroithesley groped the tits of the young witch with him, and the young witch with deFay stroked him.

When he was done, Horrance turned to Severus. "One last time, then I think you should go."

Severus nodded in understanding and stroked himself to try to get his semi-softening penis fully erect, thankful for the Min-Virilious Elixir. Somehow he managed to get hard enough to penetrate the sobbing witch. Horrance moved to face his wife, ordering her to give him fellatio like she had Severus. Severus thrust into Belinda from behind, trying to drown out those around him and the moans Belinda made, and thought of anything but what he was doing and who it was, hating having to perform like an animal. He wished he could fake an orgasm the way he'd heard that women claimed to be able to do. Eventually, Horrance began to come again, and Severus thrust into Belinda hard, baring his teeth while grunting and snarling, hoping that it was convincing.

While Horrance recovered, Severus cleaned himself up wandlessly and walked away. He paused on occasion as if watching the couplings going on with feigned mild interest and moved on. He saw Narcissa approach as he exited the red drawing room. He took her arm, moving casually toward the library again and led her inside. Unfortunately, the room was occupied by a burly Death Eater and Mulciber, both spanking two women tied to a table in the center of the room. The other occupants, Wilkes and Travers, were watching, enthralled by the demonstration, Travers pawing the tits of the brunette girl in front of him. Severus feigned interest for a while and then slowly backed Narcissa away to a dark corner again.

"What is the spell?" she asked as soon as he turned to face her. She handed him the cup, placing it carefully in his palm with both hands.

Severus enlarged the cup wandlessly, and he forced himself not to cringe. It was still warm. "A simple Trans-Relocation Charm. I've used it in potions, same principle, but different, er, receptacle. But first I have to cast a detection spell to know exactly where your uterus is." Thank the gods for the mask; she couldn't see him blush.

She cocked her head at him. "You've not done this before?"

"No, only occasionally when brewing – when the potion requires it," he admitted. "But it shouldn't be hard if I know where I'm putting the mass of ejaculate. The worst-case scenario is that I place it in your bladder or abdomen. Either way it won't hurt you, and if Mengele casts a detection charm for semen, you'll be 'implanted', so he shouldn't get too suspicious." He hoped.

She nodded. "What do you need?"

This section of the library had little to offer, only a wall sconce for light and a stepladder. "Lean against the stepladder and open your robe, if that's all right?"

She did as he asked, and he looked away for a moment, fighting back his momentary embarrassment for her. He drew his wand, casting a few detection charms he'd read about, until one of them made her abdomen seem to turn transparent. He angled his wand, and her organs appeared. He identified her uterus easily and made an estimate of the distance. "Take the lid off," he said, holding the cup up as he maintained the spell, trying to mesmerize the exact location of her uterus. It wasn't as big as he'd expected, but then she was slender for a woman. He used his wandless Trans-Relocation Charm quickly just as the detection spell began to wane. His Trans-Relocation Charm worked, the mass 'relocated' into where he'd visualized; he only hoped it was in the right place. He looked up at her and shrugged.

She smiled weakly. "I appreciate it," she said softly.

"O' course she does," Mulciber said, cuffing Severus playfully on the shoulder. "Ah, you ol' bat, why you hidin' in the corner?"

"Never was one for showing off," Wilkes said gruffly.

Severus vanquished the cup and turned to face his old housemates from his school days. "You were otherwise occupied," he said to Mulciber, deflecting the conversation off of Narcissa. He made a show of cleaning her and then himself off with wave of his hand and a verbal cleansing spell. "How did she enjoy your ministrations?" he asked, indicating the girls still tied to the table as Narcissa quickly tied her dressing robe closed and moved closer to Severus.

"Handled it well, but I don' think she enjoyed it," Mulciber stated, looking at his girl for the evening. "Somethin' sweet though, she's a real sport. Let me do anythin' as long as I don' really hurt her. But she pinks up real nice."

Severus held his arm out for Narcissa. "I could use a drink," he said and smirked at his fellow Death Eaters.

"Yeah, does take a bit out of you, doing two in one night," Wilkes said with a smirk.

Mulciber laughed. "Yeah? I have to go find my other girl. I left her in the main drawing room." He turned to Severus, jutting his chin out toward Narcissa. "Be sure to find Mengele or Vorster so they can verify it."

Narcissa lifted her chin slightly. "Of course," she said imperiously. She turned serenely to Severus. "How about that drink?"

Severus nodded as he forced back his smirk. "Gentlemen, I'll leave you to your sport."

Narcissa laid her hand on his arm and walked with him from the library, her head held high, never even glancing at the scene at the table. He had to admire her attempt at dignity. "It will be over soon," he said softly.

"It doesn't seem to end," she sighed. She turned to face him. She lowered her head slightly. "I'm technically yours for the evening – unless you need to return to Belinda?"

He raised an eyebrow at the comment. "No, she's with her husband now," he said, noting the odd glint in her eye. Narcissa didn't care for Belinda, apparently. "I'm sure she's being entertained."

"Lucius wanted to thank you," she said, indicating the end of the Grand Hallway with a tilt of her head. "I have things to tell you," she implored, "private things." They walked in silence. At the end of the hall, she led him up a staircase to the first floor and then opened up a passage behind a statue in an alcove. He followed her inside and up to the next level. She led him quickly to the old nursery and closed the door behind them. Turning to face him, she removed her mask. He was surprised to see heavy makeup concealing a bruise.

"I want you to know that the Dark Lord wants Professor Vector brought here to serve him. He is not happy about the uprising of the students last term and will grant Alecto and Amycus power to implement punishments for any insubordination they see fit if it continues. Professor Grubbly-Plank was mentioned, but I didn't hear what – she should leave, Severus. And Vincent Crabbe made some accusations about Professor Slughorn – it was backed by Millicent Bulstrode and Blaise Zabini."

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked. If she was right, things in the school would become even more difficult for him.

"You've just helped me; I know you still help Draco, even though you've fulfilled that vow," she replied sadly. "Now I want to return the favor. I hear things, see things..." She looked away. "And beware for Granger, she's in danger. Alecto and Bella, they... hate her. Alecto is furious that Hermione is allowed to finish her schooling when she will only be killed at the end of the war when she's no longer useful." She looked at him, her eyes pleading. "And watch your back, too. Alecto wants to be Headmistress."

"Thank you for the warning," he replied.

Narcissa sank into a chair, put her elbow on the armrest and stroked her lip with her thumb.

He watched her as he moved closer and reached down to touch her face. Her Concealing Charm undulated slightly, and she inhaled sharply at his touch. "If you want I can brew you a Bruise Paste?"

"Draco offered," she said with a shake of her head. "He likes to see the discoloration." She looked up at him. "Lucius is across the hall. I know he wanted to see you."

Severus nodded, backing away slightly. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

She smiled wanly. "Thank you. I'm fine."

He smiled at her, understanding, then slowly turned and went to find Lucius.

~*~

Severus waited in the Large Drawing Room that the Dark Lord presided in as his throne room as Belinda confirmed her obedience to the copulation; naturally Mengele's wand tip turned light blue, indicating the presence of sperm. "I'll check again in two weeks, if it turns pink – you're pregnant," Mengele said with a false smile at Belinda and made a notation on his clipboard.

Belinda's smile morphed into a smug grin as she turned to wink at Severus.

Severus nodded. He knew that in two weeks, Mengele's wand tip would be white.

Mengele looked up and waved Narcissa forward, and Severus moved aside to let Narcissa walk up so Mengele could perform his test. The tip glowed a bright blue tinged slightly with a pink hue, eliciting a raised eyebrow from the Healer. "Odd," he said, trying the spell again with the same result, then repeated it again, each time with the wand glowing the same bright blue with the subtle pink hue.

Only an idiot does the same experiment three times expecting a different result, Severus thought ruefully.

Behind him in the queue, McFaul grunted about it taking too long.

"Fine, fine, he has implanted his sperm," the Dark Lord said in a bored tone as he waved his hand in an offhanded manner, although he was anything but; he was as interested in the outcome as Mengele was, maybe even more. His red eyes had been riveted on the wand tip with each result. "Of course Severus did his duty, probably even enjoyed it, didn't you, Severus?"

Severus inclined his head. "It was everything I'd expected it to be, possibly more," he said, remembering Belinda's outrage and Narcissa's grateful compliance. Narcissa's face flushed slightly, but he simply winked slyly at her with the slightest nod of his head.

She looked away, casting her eyes downward as she did.

"Move on," the Dark Lord said dismissively.

"Two to three weeks, ladies. I expect you to come see me to have your pregnancy verification done," Mengele said as Severus turned and left with Narcissa.

"Severus?" she asked softly.

He turned his head to look at her.

"Thank you," she replied. "What if – when the baby is born – what if he suspects..."

"He won't. Just insist that the child is mine, and make Lucius play along," Severus stated, giving her hand a light squeeze before he turned to leave.

He strode through the Hall as casually as he could, sneering at the congratulatory and snide sexual comments and innuendos. He could care less what these men thought; he'd done his duty and was ready to leave. As the revel started to wind up in the eleventh hour, Severus made his sly escape.

He walked down the path through the garden, heading for the groundkeepers gate. The waning crescent of the moon did little to illuminate his way, but he refused to light his wand tip, not wanting to create a light that could be seem by anyone from the Revel.

He was not at all eager to return to the island, knowing he'd have to face Hermione's questions, not that he'd answer them anyway. He would not tell her who he'd been paired with. He wanted to forget this night, not have her pout petulantly because he wouldn't satisfy her endless inquiries about the revel and what she would now assume was his role in it. He shouldn't have told her about the book. He knew she'd look for it; he'd hoped at the time it would answer all her questions.

But even if she could guess the truth, or if she'd assumed he'd had to fuck one of the girls brought in to play the role of the 'sacrifices' from the novella – neither scenario would come to anything good. He'd committed adultery, and he was certain she'd have a hard time forgiving him for it, regardless of the reasons he'd complied. He was not his father – he didn't want to be the man who beat his wife and slept with the bints in the bars.

He stopped and turned to face the Malfoy estate.

No. He was tired and in a foul mood.

Sighing, he decided to return to the castle for the night and face Hermione in the morning.

~~o0o~~

Author's Notes:

What I envision as the Druid's circle on Cillian's island is similar to the Druid's Circle, The Edge at Alderley Edge: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/43508 or the Druid Circle at Close Rock, Blarney Castle, Cork, Ireland, because I like that it is open, visible from two sides, that way you could see a bit of the lake: http://www.123rf.com/photo_4045270_druid-circle-close-rock-blarney-castle-cork-ireland.html

Luteinizing hormone (LH, also known as lutropin) is a hormone produced by gonadotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland and triggers ovulation.

In Greek mythology, Priapus or Priapos (Ancient Greek) was a minor rustic fertility god, protector of livestock, fruit plants, gardens and male genitalia. Priapus is depicted with an absurdly oversized, permanent erection, which gave rise to the medical term priapism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priapusc

The Lupercalia was a pastoral festival observed on February 13 through 15 by the ancient Arcadian Lycaea shepherds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupercalia

The Roman god, Faunus, is the Greek god, Pan, was a fertility god most noted for his many sexual exploits. Other names for the god were: Fatuus and Fatulcus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faunus

Min is an Ancient Egyptian god of male sexual potency, fertility and possibly orgiastic rites. In Egyptian art, Min was depicted with his penis erect (supposedly held in his left hand) and a flail (referring to his authority, or rather that of the Pharaohs) in his upward facing right hand. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Min_(god)

The Tutunus's Awful Philter is a play on the phrase, Tutunus's 'awful phallus.' In ancient Roman religion, Mutunus Tutunus was a phallic marriage deity with a very large penis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutunus_Tutunus

The Calusa Shell Indians lived on the sandy shores and along the inner waterways of the southwest coast of Florida. In the late 1700s entire villages were wiped out when diseases, such as smallpox and measles, were brought into the area from the Spanish and French explorers, and were slaughtered by enemy Indian tribes from Georgia and South Carolina who invaded their territory. It is believed that the few remaining Calusa Indians left for Cuba when the Spanish turned Florida over to the British in 1763. In this story, the Calusa simply spread out across the Caribbean and went 'underground' much like the European wizards did. http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/calusa/calusa1.htm

The description of the Dream Story comes from Wikipedia, since I haven't read the book; but I did see the movie based on the novella, Eyes Wide Shut, and the idea of the Dark Revel came from that movie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Story

As usual, the Latin used comes from the Norte Dame Latin translation site I always use and with a little help from Proulxes:

Aperire means to: to uncover, lay bare, to reveal

Exponere means: expose, show, open, accessible