Chapter 3

Submissive was never an adjective one would even think of placing on me lest they be jinxed with such ferocity they would never again be able to call me such a thing.

But slinking behind Draco Malfoy, eyes hooded, shoulders scrunched, I was the definition of submission, I looked like a puppy who'd just peed on the carpet and been whooped with a rolled up news paper. I saw a few familiar faces spot me and any link I'd had with the mighty Gryffindors evaporated when they saw me tailing close to Malfoy.

He, Goyle, Crabbe, and I fell into spots close enough to see but not close enough to appear to care. I realized quickly that Draco had chosen this spot in particular, because about a foot and a half to my right stood Neville, Luna, Harry, Hermione, and Ron. None of which seemed to have noticed us.

I groaned inwardly as my eyes fell upon the ever stately Neville. If I hadn't messed up so horribly just a class before I could have been standing with him! Merlin's pants, but what had I done that was so horrible?

I felt dense. My self-pity could only be short lived however because the half-giant teacher 'ehem'ed loudly to silence us and we obeyed his whim.

"G'morning class, t'day I've got a extra special treat for yez." He looked proud of himself. He turned to the woods and let out a series of high-pitched whistling noises. A few awkward moments passed as the "treat" approached the woodline.

Hagrid, I had heard, had a habit of finding dangerous animals and introducing us to them. He fancied them I supposed, but needless to say nobody made much noise when the bushes at the edge of the Woods began to rustle.

A dog-sized creature emerged, flanked to the rear by two much smaller creatures of the same nature.

"Those creatures coming toward us are Dorelle, a very rare form of shapeshifting animal." Hagrid looked really pleased with himself. I gazed in awe as the trio moved toward us. "Now, a'fore they get too close I'd like ta explain a few things about 'em," Hagrid glanced around to make sure he had everyone's attention before continuing. "Dorelle ain't your typical shapeshifters. They dun't change of their own free will, in fact most people see different thin's when looking upon the same Dorelle," Hagrid mused, allowing a brief pause for surprised whispers.

"Also, if their looks to you are unpleasant then do not approach 'em, if yez don't like the looks o' them, they won't like the looks o' you. Alright?"

There was a quick murmer of agreement.

"Once they get close enough an' look comfortable I'll be askin' yez what ya see of 'em, if we're real lucky someone might see them fer their real form… I wouldn't cound on it though," he mused.

We all watched in half-stunned silence as the creatures approached. I raised an eyebrow as they came close enough to really see. Two of them looked identical accept for their size. The biggest one and the one to its back right looked like massive lizards, Grey and black, with eyes on antenna above them and jagged glass-like spikes down their backs. They made me shiver and I was about to step back when my eyes fell upon the third one.

It made little sense but this little creature looked nothing like the other two. It reminded me of a picture of an winter ermine I'd seen once in a magazine, accept instead of a thin weasel tail it had a thick one, like a fox, and its fur was more crème color than white.

I couldn't stop myself from inching forward through the crowd. People parted quickly to allow me between them and what must have looked like monsters to them. I glanced occasionally at the lizards which both looked intently at me as I approached, but made no move to stop me from moving to sit with my legs tucked beneath me a bit apart from the class.

The Lizards looked fiercer now, frightening and ravenous, but I made myself ignore them and I watched the little ermine-Dorelle intently. It sniffed the air, its ears perked and it spun around about six times before stopping and staring with big black eyes at me.

Nobody else seemed to move, or at least, I didn't notice them moving, all I could see was that little Dorelle padding up to me and hopping into my lap. It turned around once, twice, three times before plopping down in a ball and looking up at my face.

All was silent for a long while as I stared into the little creature's eyes.

Finally I felt the almost trance-like state dissolve and I heard Hagrid talking.

"You back yet Baily?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, good, what's it look like Baily?" he asked quietly. I realized I must have seemed rude, not turning to address him, but the little Dorelle had tucked its nose under its tail and was purring slightly, I just couldn't bring myself to move it.

"… like a crème-colored weasel and a fox had a baby," I mused quietly, moving to smooth a tuft of fur on its back.

"Well I'll be…" Hagrid murmured from behind me. I looked up to see both lizards looking at me intently. The bigger one seemed to smile and then simultaneously they both turned and trotted back toward the woods.

"Ah! Wake up little kit, they're leaving you," I whispered and nudged it. It lifted its head, looked at the lizard- Dorelle, sneezed, looked back at me and then cuddled closer to me. "Ookay… I don't speak sneeze, Professor, what's that mean?" I asked quietly. My legs were falling asleep so I scooped the little creature off of my lap and cradled it carefully to my chest.

"Hmm, if I di'in't know any better, and apparently I don't, I think you and that little Dorelle are bound." That answered absolutely nothing for me.

"Okay, that was no better than sneeze," I mused quietly.

Hermione took the chance to cut in and in her best teacher's voice read from her text, "The Dorelle are very rare, even more rare however are their witch or wizard counterparts. A Dorelle may find a human to which it is naturally parallel and mentally bind itself to that witch or wizard." She paused to take a breath before continuing. "The bond connects the parallel planes the witches or wizards mind with that of the Dorelle. The two will share many thoughts and be capable of speaking telepathically with one another…" Hermione looked up. "There's more but it's nothing to do with Bonding."

I nodded, I could understand that at least but… "Why me? And why'd the others leave it here? It's way too young to be on its own, look at it!" I yelped.

"They left it 'cause they aren't enough for it anymore, it's found it's human familiar of sorts and so long as you wanna keep it, it'll stay with you." I looked up into Hagrid's face and felt guilt. I couldn't find the source of my guilt, and it ebbed away quickly enough, but it nagged at me.

I smiled down at the sleeping creature as the class moved back to a patch of rocks in the sun so Hagrid could explain more about the Dorelle, but I couldn't focus on the information with the little angel nestled into my arms.

Luna came to sit beside me.

"What'll you name it?"

"Him," I said firmly.

"That's a silly name!" she giggled. I chuckled too.

"No, I mean the question should be 'what'll I name him', he's a boy."

Luna looked curious. "How do you know?" she asked, trying to peak up at his underside and instantly there was a rough paw-smack to her head as he stirred. "Well my my my!" she yelped and then grinned at the spunky little creature.

"I dunno, but he is," I responded. Luna nodded in aggrement.

"I wish one of them had chosen me, but they all looked the same, nobody stood out or called me forward…" she looked disappointed. "They were all really pretty though, like Thestrals sort of 'cept smaller and more blue than black." She nodded.

"What's he look like to you?" I inquired.

"Same as the others did, but he looks a bit darker in your arms, I think that means he's happy."

"would you like to hold him?" I offered and Luna's face lit up.

"Could I really?!" she asked. I smiled and without a word the little boy stood up in my arms and pounced into her waiting grasp. "Awwww!!" Luna giggled and hugged him. He stayed there briefly before abandonging Luna to return to me, where he sat with his head on my lap.

"Neville," Luna mused with a smirk.

"Huh?" I asked, well aware of the fact that Neville was sitting about three feet away with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"He acts a lot like Neville is all I mean, he's really loyal, and sensitive too…" Luna mused with a vague nod. I paused, a small ache rose in my chest. The little kit looked up at me, and he looked sad too. He then leapt off my lap and strutted over to Neville, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

The group spotted him and much to my surprise the little creature bound up onto Neville's lap and poked his stomach with it's nose.

"Hmm?" Neville murmered. I saw the word Mongoose in the forefront of my mind and then watched as the little creature dove with ferocity at Draco.

"Ahhh! Get it off! G- ahh!" Draco shrieked and rolled, trying to escape. I broke out laughing as it bit his nose, not breaking the skin but scaring Draco into lying still. Neville laughed so hard he slipped off the rock he was perched on and landed on the ground, he landed so he was laying very near my own seat and I couldn't help but look over at him.

My little minion abandoned his attack on Draco and moved to sit on Neville's lap. He pawed at Neville's face until he turned it and I found myself staring eye to eye with Neville Longbottom.

I tried to say something, but couldn't find any words.

Behind me Luna smiled. She poked my back with her wand and murmured "repairo" I didn't feel any different, but when I went to look down at my hands to avoid Neville's half-upset half-angry gaze I saw red and gold adorning my skirt instead of the silver and green.

I felt a warm tingling sensation in my stomach and a smile slipped onto my lips.

"What do you see Neville?" Luna asked from behind me. I expected him to say something about my little snake-killing-Dorelle, but instead he responded with.

"I dunno… she won't look at me."

I thought all the air in my lungs had vanished for a second and then when I inhaled again I looked back at Neville's face.

What I did next caught him, Luna, and the rest of the group by surprise.

I slapped the most delectable boy in the entire school (from my point of view) across the face.

"Ouch!" Neville yowled. "What was that for?"

I was fuming, and my little Mongoose-Dorelle looked amused.

"You can't get mad at me, or angry or whatever the hell you were in potions and then try some cutsie sh- stuff! I don't care if you assisted in the fall of Satan himself you do not get special treatment! And what's more-"

But my rant was silenced by my little Mongoose-Dorelle leaping off his chest and landing on my back, and pushing me down so I slipped off my rock onto all fours on the ground and my lips pressed against Neville's.

Neville snatched the chance as though he didn't think it would ever present itself again he wrapped his arms around my back, and tugged me down, kissing me all the while. His tongue pressed at my lips, demanding entrance, and despite desperately wanting him to kiss me like that, I made myself pull away. I sat up glaring down at him. He sighed.

"Baily, I'm sorry," he mused quietly.

"Oi! You two going to return to class or what?" Hagrid hollered, but he seemed humored. I got up off Neville and returned to my rock. He too sat up, but instead of returning to his rock he sat on the grass near my feet beside my little Mongoose-Dorelle. I really didn't want to talk to him right away.

My weak "I-need-to-be-held" mentality nolonger took presidence in my mind. All I could see was a pointless attitude Neville had taken with me that I couldn't explain. He and I both knew I didn't deserve to be treated like the scum off the bottom of a shoe and that was exactly how I felt he'd treated me.

The class inched by and by the end Hagrid had called up my Dorelle and was suggesting I send it mental suggestions, to see how well we were linked or something.

Enjoying the chance I told him to dive at Gregory Goyle. I'm pretty sure he messed his knickers when he landed on his shoulder.

I wanted a name for my Dorelle but I couldn't think of one.

"How do we know he hasn't already got a name?" Luna mused as I silently suggested my Dorelle creap up on Draco from some tall grass nearby.

She had a point. How rude it must have seemed for me to be trying to find a namefor someone who probably already had one.

"Hey, little one, what have you been called?" I called aloud. He popped up from the grass and looked at me.

His words fluttered into my mind like a falling leaf upon the wind lands on the grass. "Mateo".

His mind-voice was so serene it almost took my breath away.

"Mateo, I think it fits, don't you?" I mused turning to Luna. She grinned a blazing pearly smile and nodded vigorously.

"I like it…"Neville offered. I frowned and glared down at him,

"Don't make me change my mind Longbottom," I growled. His expression looked like he'd been hit with the slug-vomitting Jinx. I felt a little guilty, that was cold on my part… but I couldn't help it, I could get mad at other people and I could like other people but with him, it was unrelenting fury or absolute adoration. Mateo stalked back over and took a seat near Luna and pawed at her robes.

Luna looked down at him and nodded.

"I know little guy," she crooned as she lifted him up onto her lap. I raised an eyebrow at the two and Mateo's eyes got really big.

'Why are you mad at him?' he asked. I just shook my head, Mateo snorted.

"Now don't get lippy Matty," Luna scowled. Mateo looked up at her and grumbled but nodded.

"Reckon they're distantly related? Loony and Matty, yeah I could see it," Ron mused, Hermione thumped him in the back of the skull. "Oi!"

"Don't be rude Ron." I smiled, they hadn't adressed me, but they seemed pretty comfortable here.

"Alrighty, then, erm, see you all tomorrow," Hagrid called over the group and as if it were an invitation we all scattered.