Summary: Hermione's being stalked. Daniel dreams his death. Slytherins rebel, Dragons fly the sky and Aliens cause their usual terror. HPSG1 crossover. Mild Slash.
Disclaimer: I don't own Potter or the Gate, never have, never will.
Chapter 1: Stalker
Hermione sighed in content as she leaned against Ron in the compartment thy were sharing with Harry, Ginny and Neville. She was on her way to Hogwarts for her final year and she couldn't believe it. The school was seven years of her life, it felt odd that she would be leaving forever in June. For the moment however, she was glad to be with her boyfriend and friends. Over the summer the Order had split them through different safe houses and isolated them from each other entirely. This alone time had allowed her to get to know the others in the Order that didn't normally turn up for the meetings. She learned more about the war that the older, higher up members didn't tell her and her friends and she began to truly see how desperate the Order was becoming to get the upper hand.
But seeing her friends now, especially Harry, worried her. They were changed, more so than after all that had happened last year. Laughter between them was forced and talk between them was dark. Harry especially wasn't able to smile, concerning her greatly because if he didn't find something to be happy about then he might lose reason to survive past this war. She was also worried because after a week at the safe house she'd noticed and felt a strange presence watching her. At night she'd often glimpse a brief flash of a red eyed shadowed person outside her window. Even in the day the figure was shadowed and it scared her because only vampires walked in shadow, but it couldn't be one since they couldn't come out in the day. It wasn't a vampire, but it was something that resembled one and it was stalking her. Hopefully she wouldn't continue to see it.
As per usual Draco Malfoy showed his scowling face half way through the ride, but this time he wasn't with Crabbe and Goyle; instead he was with Blaise Zabini and Alana Dolmel. Draco's expression became emotionless as they walked in and Blaise shut the door.
"What do you want?"Ron asked sitting up straight, prepared for a fight.
"Isn't is obvious?" Alana asked with her distinct Australian accent. "We are here to talk."
"For now we are here to listen," Harry said calmly before Ron could snap.
"In several months a large fraction of the Slytherin House will be turning against the other and proclaiming their unwillingness to take the Dark Mark," Blaise said.
"You lead this fraction, don't you?" Neville asked. Draco nodded.
"What do you want from us?" Hermione asked.
"Acceptance," Draco answered. "We know the reaction we'll get, but we'd appreciate the one person who really matters in this war believing and accepting us."
"It's not that easy," Harry said. "Do you just expect me to forget everything that's happened in the past six years?"
Draco shook his head, "Never. One day you may be able to forgive me, but for now all we want you to do is observe our House for the next few months and hopefully you'll be able to accept us by the time we reveal ourselves to the school and the world."
"What does Harry get in return?" Ron asked, eyes narrowed in distrust.
"Allies," Alana said. "His decision to accept us or now will influence our own on whether or not we will ally ourselves with you instead of becoming a neutral party."
"Wont being a neutral party get you in trouble from both sides?" Ginny asked.
Blaise shook his head, "If we are neutral we cannot be blamed for doing things for either side. We wont be allies, but we wont be enemies either."
Harry nodded, "I will think on this and observe. You will have my answer when it's needed."
"That's all we ask," Draco said, turning away.
"Draco look," Blaise said suddenly.
Everyone turned to look out the compartment window to see a massive storm cloud moving quickly towards them.
"That's no normal cloud," Alana said, worry lacing her voice.
"We're being attacked," Draco announced, eyes widening.
"Why?" Hermione asked, gripping Ron's hand tightly. "Surely they don't think Harry's not heavily protected."
Draco snorted, "It's despairingly obvious that there is absolutely no Aurors or Order Members on this train. It's the perfect opportunity to capture or kill The-Boy-Who-Just-Wont-Fucking-Die."
Harry laughed, startling Hermione, "I like that one."
The train jerked to a sudden stop throwing Draco, Blaise and Alana into Harry and Ginny. The lights flickered then went out as the sky was covered in darkness, thunder booming with the promise of destruction.
"We need to get off the train," Blaise stated, immediately righting himself. "We're lambs to the slaughter if we stay here."
"See you later Potter," Draco said as the three Slytherins left.
Hermione looked outside to the rapidly darkening area of nothing. It was entirely a flat plain of grass with a few random trees and bushes but nothing else worthy of giving protection. They heard several cracks of apparation and the train rocked.
"Lets get out of here," Ginny said.
They nodded and left, noticing that nearly everyone had already vacated. Hermione felt a deep rooted fear course through her veins as she ran down the corridor and off the train to see her fellow students battling Death Eaters.
"Shit," Harry cursed drawing his wand.
Hermione and the others followed suit and began to fire on the dark hooded wizards. After that first assault Hermione didn't see much of anyone she knew save Ron for he stayed by her to protect her from behind. They concentrated on helping the younger students, providing them a means to escape to the small forest on the other side of the train.
It seemed like she'd been fighting for hours, dodging, shielding and stunning or otherwise incapacitating Death Eaters when Hermione saw a first year, obviously muggleborn by the way she looked, who'd been cornered by a pair of Death Eaters. She quickly fired two stunners, both of which made their mark, ran up to the girl and proceeded to lead her to the forest. She was too out of it to notice that Ron wasn't with her and that the girl was injured. She helped the girl crawl over the car connections, paused for a moment to take a deep breath and took the girl's hand. The battle in front of them was fierce and confusing. Younger students were screaming at the top of their lungs trying to run for cover or huddled in small groups hoping to be inconspicious. Older students were paired or in thirds, squared off against the Death Eaters, colourful spells and curses flying between them.
Hermione looked down at the first year momentarily and with a small nod they sprinted towards the forest. What seemed like such a short distance took forever to get there. She was acutely aware of everyone around her, the flash of spells, the screaming, the crying, the agony and the pain. Her brain began working faster that she was able to follow-she couldn't even understand how that was possible- and a burning fire of immense power uncoiled within her, begging for release. She couldn't release it though, she didn't know how. When they finally crossed the forest's border Hermione collapsed to the ground exhausted, her adrenalin leaving her with bone weariness. Breathing heavily she looked around to she that none of the Death Eaters had figured that everyone was escaping to the forest-or they just didn't care. The first year girl was sitting down, head in hands, and that's when Hermione saw the blood. It covered the girl's right arm, dripping on to her clothes.
"Avada Kedavra," Hermione heard. She turned to her left and all she saw was the colour green before everything became black.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.
Settled comfortably within his dark, cave like stone quarters he wasn't surprised- hadn't been for over twenty years- that he was draconian. He loved the darkness that surrounded him, the labyrinth of the caves that surrounded his place. He knew whenever anyone entered his domain, where they went and when they left. He hated it when people entered his labyrinth, he wanted to drive them out, burn them out, but he couldn't because they were suppose to be around, they were suppose to contaminate his lair with their going ons.
While this wasn't his primary lair, he resided here ten out of twelve months. His true home was nestled in the Pyrenees, exactly on the border between France and Spain in a valley with a small lake and forest. Normally he resided in a large manor in the center of the valley but when he needed to be alone he settled in his personal labyrinth along the mountains.
Oh, he was human-most of the time- but he was also Draconian. When he wanted to he could become a great big fucking dragon and fly around like he owned the sky, which technically he did because he was the biggest creature of prey in existence. His draconian nature gave him power, a lot of power, but he could never use it around the humans, they weren't suppose to know about him and his family.
And that's exactly what he'd been doing for the past two damn months. Instead of relaxing when he didn't have to complete his usual work he'd been forced to scout out and observe whom the oldest family member assumed would become the newest. He didn't want the family do grow, he hated to admit it but he was an attention whore when it came to them and he felt that the family would be growing too quickly too fast. The new draconian was just the beginning.
He growled, tilting his head back at the tugging his draconian nature was feeling. He focused on it before sitting up straight, eyes narrowed. Then he was gone, running through his lair, taking the quickest rout to the surface and when he was in the open he launched himself into the air, black leathery and bone wings ripping out of his back, his hands becoming clawed but still keeping their human shape and the shadow of darkness wrapping around him. His powerful wings propelled him swiftly, his draconian magic making him even swifter.
He came upon a battle involving children and Death Eaters. The children, while out numbering the Death Eaters were losing. He could smell the stench of death, the horrors of the obscene and it angered him beyond measure. He swopped down silently, weaving in and out of the mass like a great shadow digging his claws into every Death Eater he could get a hold of. He made his way to the forest where he found the new Drake on the literal path of death. He covered her in his darkness, absorbing the killing curse before sending it back at the Death Eater before it could do him any harm.
He landed beside the young drake binding his darkness so that it only surrounded him. He was looked at in fear, by the young human girl as well. Saying nothing he walked the few steps to the girl and knelt down beside her. He stretched out a clawed but shadowed hand and placed it on her bleeding arm. She flinched but her fear kept her still as his magic flowed around the wound and stitched it back together, removing the blood.
Both draconian and human stared at him in surprise as he pulled pack and stood up. He smirked a smirk they couldn't see, bowed low then launched himself into the air again. He flew straight up until he would see the entire battle clearly. Raising both arms in a 'u' shape above his head he let the shadows around him fall and began to cast a spell, calling upon the most powerful of him draconian magic. The clouds above became pitch black and swirled angrily making him smile triumphantly.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.
Everyone on the battle field could only stare up at the imposing figure with wings and claws with a mix of awe and fear. No one could make the figure out clearly, they were too intent on the magic he was working. The black clouds swirled counter clockwise menacingly for a minute before the suspension was ended. Thin cyclone like clouds with dragon shaped heads rained down on them, hundreds of them impacting the ground with such a force that it shook. Renewed screaming filled the air, some of pain, some of fear but when the students realized that it was only the Death Eaters being attacked they stopped, backed away and watched in awed horror.
The sky cleared, the smoke thinned out, the screaming fully stopped and the sun came out. Every Death Eater lay on the ground unmasked and dead, their killer gone. There was a stunned silence before they started milling about trying to find their lost friends. The questioned others on their rescuer, and the lack of adult help.
Hermione was walking around in almost a daze. That person, man, thing, had only showed up because of her-she was sure of it. It stalked her, not it protected her. She thought she'd left it behind at the safe house, but she couldn't get away from it. How often would she see it at Hogwarts before she learned its motives? Would those motives be her death, or the death of someone close to her?
"Were you alone the entire battle Granger?" Draco asked her, leaning against a tree. He looked perfectly composed, features the way they'd been before the battle. Had he even participated?
Hermione jumped. Ron was gone, what the heck had happened? "I was with Ron," she said feebly.
"Whatever." Draco was silent moment. "Did you notice how no one came to our rescue save a creature wrapped in shadow? Our esteemed Headmaster doesn't think us worthy enough to protect, we are nothing to him."
Hermione was taken aback, "That's not true. How could he have known about the attack let alone send reinforcements quickly when we're out in the middle of nowhere."
Draco scowled, "delusional Griffindors."
Hermione snorted, offended and Draco straightened and walked off. Hermione watched him go before turning around and looking for Ron, Harry and Ginny. As she searched she observed the death that had occurred, a third of the students were lying on the ground motionless, but not all of them were lifeless. Others were reviving those who could, casting healing spells where they could. Few students go away with no injuries.
When Hermione found Ron he scolded her for 'running off' before returning to whatever he'd been doing-she didn't really care. She helped Harry and Ginny in getting everyone back onto the train and arranging it so that the last car held the dead. By the time all had been finished they were two hours behind schedule and still no one had showed up to help. The train moved on like nothing had happened, because to everyone but the students nothing had happened.
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