Author's Note
And Tabby's at it again!
This is the second story I'm publishing here, and the second I began writing too for that matter. In any case, this is going to be a Harry/Draco-fic with the focus on our dear blond. Hopefully it will turn out as I have planed... I am in the middle of a small writers block here, so I'm not sure how things will turn out really.
I already have the second chapter finished, but I will however not publish it until I have at least one review on this chapter. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or complicated, just write "nice fic" or something and I'll be grinning like an idiot.
And then there was the disclaimer of course;
None of this belongs to me, except for the plot.
Now read, enjoy, be happy and REVIEW!
Chapter 1 - Running
A white wolf ran swiftly through the Forest of Dean, ears drawn back and tail lowered, the grey eyes looking slightly panicked. It was as if it was being chased by something. Or someone in this case. This someone suddenly called out and a green light was visible through the trees.
The wolf changed direction and narrowly avoided being hit by what looked like being a flash of green lightning. It yelped in fright and charged through the trees with a new strength in the urge to live.
Another voice called out and this time the light was red instead of green, however no less deadly should it hit its mark. The wolf covered as its fur frizzled slightly when the curse passed less than an inch above its back and shoulders. For a dreadful second the animal stumbled and looked almost as if it was going to fall when it suddenly took a gigantic leap and disappeared in between a couple of tall thick trees with large roots visible above ground.
The figures in dark cloaks swore and hurried after the wolf in between the trees before suddenly stopping dead in their tracks. The animal was gone. The men saw tracks from its paws on the ground going in between the trees before they seemed to be disappearing in thin air. It was as if the whole animal had gone up in smokes.
"Damn it all!" one of the men growled. "Where the hell did that brat run off to?"
"I don't know, but we need to find him", one of the others answered. "And fast too! The Dark Lord will never forgive us if he gets away and survives!"
He turned towards the others.
"Widen your search. Find him and kill him. I don't care how you do it – just make sure that it's permanent!"
Without another word the three of them split up and spread out in the forest in search for the missing wolf. But as they turned away from where it had disappeared none of them seemed to notice the small white ferret, curled up under the roots of one of the larger trees...
As the sun finally began to rise over the horizon and the air slowly cleared from the mist that had gathered in the forest over the night, the small white bundle stirred between the large roots as it slowly started to wake up. It carefully poked its nose out in the open and sniffed the damp air as if to look for danger.
When nothing dangerous seemed to be picked up the nose was followed by a small head with sharp, intelligent eyes, which in turn was followed by a sleek body with short legs and soft tail. The little animal scurried up to one of the roots highest from the ground and then rose on its hind legs to take a careful look at its surroundings.
It sniffed the air and twisted its head back and forth listening as it scanned the forest for any potential danger. When none was found the small creature relaxed and slowly fell backwards against the tree.
Draco Malfoy closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath as his back met the trunk of the tree and he slowly sank to the ground, shoulders sagging, as he suddenly felt exhausted when all the night's tension left him in a heap on the forest floor.
"Oh, man..." he breathed. "That was way too close for comfort..."
He opened his eyes and stared up at what little he could see of the sky through the thick leaves of the many trees surrounding him.
"I can't believe I screwed up this badly. Severus is going to kill me... If they don't catch me first, that is."
He sighed and slowly rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands before stiffly rising from the ground.
"I guess I should just get going already before they come back. Where was it now again?"
Draco began going through his robes in search for it and finally managed to find it in one of the pockets of his trousers. He pulled out the small note and took a quick look at it. Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London it said in the familiar flowing hand writing of Severus Snape.
"If something happens, if anything goes wrong I want you to run away. Do you understand? Immediately! And as soon as you manage to get away I want you to go to the address on this note. You won't be able to get in though. So wait outside until either I or Dumbledore show up before you do anything. No matter what happens stay outside. And make sure to use a disguise will you?"
"A disguise, huh?" Draco smirked. "I think I can take care of that quite easily – we'll see if even you can recognise me..."
He tucked the note back into one of his pockets and took a second look at the sky which was steadily turning brighter.
"Now I just have to get to London, and make sure I don't get killed on the way. Well, that is just great."
He then took a running start and leapt into the air after a few steps. But instead of falling back down to the ground, he shifted in midair and silently took to the sky in the shape of a lightly coloured, almost white, barn owl. Draco knew he couldn't travel all the way in the same shape, but he sure as hell would not be walking all the way to the capital, not if he could help it anyway.
And it probably would be safer to travel in the sky at the moment anyway, instead of doing it on foot, since the Death Eaters were probably still searching for him in the forest. Hopefully none of them would spot the owl if it travelled high enough above the treetops.
This would have been so much easier if I could just apparate, but I can't risk them tracking me. Plus it's hard enough with a wand – I'd probably lose my head if I try without mine. Literally. Did that snake creep really have to break it like that? Well, at least I managed to get it back, so maybe there's some way to repair it...?
The owl glowered unhappily at the sky as it left the forest behind and steadily began its journey towards London and the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix...
And there you have it! A bit short I know, but it's there...
Hope you liked it and please make some kind of comment. That will probably make my day!