Also, I would like to thank Fran, my beta, for taking on my insanity. She is a courageous woman. :-D

Disclaimer, Summary and Warnings are in the first chapter.

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FERVID CHAOS

Alliances

'I can't do this!'

Harry had spent the last part of his summer learning Occlumency, Legilimency and what seemed like every spell, charm and curse known to wizard-kind. With and without a wand! Only a few weeks ago was Harry told that Nymphadora Tonks, who was indeed very loyal to his father, would be joining Sirius and Remus in teaching him how to become an animagus. He had been surprised when Sirius had informed him that, because he was so powerful, he, unlike most wizards, would not be confined to just one animal form.

'Yes, Harry, you can. I know it is hard, but you must focus,' Remus said softly. 'You only have three more days.' The wizard inhaled deeply and paused to trying to think of another approach to give his lover's godson some fuel for the fire; strong emotions always helped him with his transformations. 'Okay. Imagine facing Dumbledore. Focus on becoming something big and nasty, and ripping him apart. Try that.'

With his eyes still closed, the young Gryffindor arched an eyebrow and smiled. 'If you say so.' He brought up a mental picture and nothing happened; he tried harder, but after what seemed like forever, his body grew tired and started to tingle. Harry was sure he was about to drop right then and there, and when opened his mouth to yawn, a painstakingly loud roar reverberated through the stone room.

His eyes opened in bewilderment and he found Tonks with her head tilted slightly downward, smiling. 'Wow!' she said in awe. 'I knew that you would be impressive no matter what form you took, but you are absolutely gorgeous, Harry!'

She started walking to the door, followed by Remus and Sirius, both looking amused—Harry could not understand why they would be. 'C'mon. You need to show your mother and father.'

Harry started to walk after them, finding that he was using four legs instead of two and when he passed by a floor to ceiling mirror in the corridor, he could not help but stop and look. Staring back at him was an enormous fluffy-maned lion. Wow, he thought. Now that is cool! He padded silently after the group heading for the parlour he sat in when he first arrived.

'Tom,' Sirius said, drawing the wizard's attention away from his wife. 'I knew your son would learn fast, and he has proven his excellence in learning his curses and spells so quickly, but his ability to master Animagi at this pace is astounding, indeed. Harry.'

Harry moved around Tonks, and lay down on the floor in front of his parents who were staring at him open-mouthed.

Lucius nodded. 'He looks just like you, Tom.'

Draco, who was sitting in a chair off to the side, whistled. 'Whoa. Impressive, Harry! Who'd've thought you'd end up being a giant pussy?'

Harry rose and growled at Draco, who was snorting with laugher, before launching himself at the Slytherin.

Harry rose and growled at Draco before launching himself at the Slytherin.

For those who did not know Draco well, they would think that his form would be a dragon, but it was not so. His father's animagus form had been a dragon, so naturally he expected his son's form to be also, hence naming him Draco. However, it had been discovered that Draco's animagus form was actually a white tiger.

Sirius couldn't help but grin at Remus as the two large cats raced out of the mansion and to the beautiful outdoors. 'I suddenly have the urge to play tag!'

Remus rolled his eyes when the huge Grim slobbered at his feet. 'Watch the carpet, big boy. Severina won't be too happy with you.'

The woman wrinkled her nose in disgusted. 'Ewww! Padfoot, I love you, you know I do, but do you have to drool all the time?'

The huge dog only barked, before gently grabbing Remus' hand with his mouth, shaking gently.

'Okay. Okay!' Remus exclaimed, exasperated. 'I will come and play.' The werewolf, too, was an animagus and could change into wolf form at anytime. He looked at the other, begging with eyes not to be alone. It seemed like every time he changed into wolf form, Padfoot was there to play. It didn't really bother him, but he couldn't help but play an abused werewolf against Paddy's enormous Grim. 'Anyone care to join us?'

Severina stood up. 'There are very few people I would do this for, Moony.' A large, sleek black panther paced back and forth. She was big, but nowhere near as big as the wolf and black dog, or Draco or Harry's forms for that matter. It's the only bad thing to being the only girl of the bunch. Sure, Tonks was there, but she was only a Metamorphagus and could not change to play like they did. The black cat looked up at her husband, glanced back at the two canines and then back up at her husband as if to say I am not playing alone with the four of those boys!

Tom reached down and stroked behind his wife's ears, receiving a loud and rumbling purr of appreciation. 'Okay, Seva. I'll come.'

Lucius Malfoy, Gilderoy Lockhart and Tonks watched the two canines disappear, followed closely by the panther and a huge lion that looked identical to Harry. The Slytherin man looked over. 'Well, I don't even get this much fun at home! You coming?'

'Of course.' Gilderoy smiled mischievously at Tonks. 'I'll let you ride me.'

The woman with blue hair rolled her eyes, but followed the two blondes outside. She watched as Malfoy rose into the air, before turning to Gilderoy, who had already changed and was pawing the ground. She laughed. 'My, we are impatient.' She flung herself on to his back and wrapped her hands into his mane as the golden stallion took off behind the white dragon.

'Now remember, we will remove the Glamour a little at a time, Harry,' Remus said calmly.

Harry wrinkled his nose. 'Yeah, I know. I just hate waiting.'

He wasn't surprised when he had been told that a Glamour charm had been placed on him when he was a baby, ensuring that he looked like the Potters. His mother had removed the charm and Harry saw what he looked truly looked like; his hair stayed the same jet black, but his emerald eyes had changed to deep onyx pools like his mothers. However, now that he was returning to Hogwarts, the Glamour that Dumbledore had used had to be placed on him again, so he could return as Harry Potter.

He cast a glance at the group of Slytherins, who were still looking at him curiously, though with a decent amount of respect and awe.

'Have you decided on a mark, Harry?' Sirius asked, grinning wickedly as the younger group cringed, knowing how their older master's mark worked. He couldn't help but tease them.

Harry smiled and waved his hand in the air.

'A Thestral?' Draco asked. 'You aren't going to use a lion or snake?'

'Nope,' Harry said. 'I thought it would be too typical. Uh, no offence, Father.'

'None taken. However, I would suggest that you not place it on the arm, where it might be noticed.'

Harry nodded. 'I was thinking about the right shoulder blade, and instead of burning, I thought I would have it—' He waved his hand again and the Thestral in the air began beating its wings and pawing the ground. 'It will feel like a dull ache when it begins to move. Instead of burning one into my own flesh, I am going to have it on a talisman.' He grinned. 'After all, it is harder to touch ones own back!'

Severina just rolled her eyes as Harry gave a small chuckle before turning to the Slytherins, watching each of them drop to their knees. He waved a dagger into thin air and presented it to Goyle, who was nearest him. Unlike the ritual he had shared with Draco, this one was more formal and less intimate.

Goyle made a slice in his hand and let some of the blood drip into a small bowl that appeared in front of him. 'As I have pledged my life to Voldemort, I pledge my life to you.'

Harry then moved to Pansy, who repeated the process identically. He then moved to Crabbe, Blaise and when he stepped in front of Draco he smiled. 'Stand up, my friend. You have already pledged yourself to me, and I need no more than that.' When the four Slytherins were standing, Harry stuck a single finger into the blood and smeared an 'X' into the back of the coin, where it disappeared. He then waved his hand at the Thestral, which suddenly split into four before charging at the group and disappeared in a flash of dark light.

Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and Blaise now wore his mark.

The Gryffindor turned to Draco. This ceremony stuff is weird. I doubt I am ever going to get the hang of this. 'We are still young, but we are powerful. I know that I need look no further than you to find my right. I bind the others to something impersonal that cannot feel; to you I bind myself. You will know what I know and feel what I feel. I raise you high above everyone else, Draco, for I consider you my equal.' Harry placed his hand on the young man's chest and bid Draco do the same to him. There was a tingling sensation and a white light could be seen flowing between the two before it ebbed slowly away.

Not caring about those around him, Draco looked down his shirt to see a tattoo of a white tiger, with a lion beside it, nuzzling the white beast. 'Um, Harry?'

Harry leaned in closer, grinning devilishly at the Slytherin. He whispered, 'You can't believe that Ron was the only reason I didn't shake your hand.' He turned around, leaving a gaping Draco to stare at the Gryffindor, who was making his way to his parents. 'Father, I would like to be able to establish a mental bond with everyone here as well. It will be easier to communicate to each other without being suspected by Dumbledore.' Sure, he may be the one who was supposed to take over the wizarding world, but he still believed in respecting his parents and asking was the respectful thing to do.

'Your request is granted. Though, because of our bond as your parents, your mother and I will be able to share your mind no matter how far away you are. As well as Draco, since he is bonded to you.'

'What must I do, Father?'

'As horrid as it is—' Tom shuddered and rolled his eyes— 'it is still, unfortunately, the only way it is done. You must make a circle and have everyone hold hands.'

Harry stared. 'You have got to be kidding me!'

Sirius grinned as he came up beside his godson. 'He isn't. You can blame all the corny stuff on Merlin. He started it!'

Harry gave a small huff and then took his godfather and Remus' hand; the circle was completely formed and the Gryffindor began concentrating. When the silvery light filled the entire room and then disappeared, he knew everything was done and completed. He let go of the two hands he was holding as fast as he could. 'I am looking for a better way of doing things!'

'Okay. We are going to have to get everyone there early. We need it to look like you were there waiting to ambush Har-Potter,' Lucius finished with an annoyed growl.

Severina snorted, before turning to her son. 'You aren't going to be able to work in class like you have done here. Everyone will wonder why you are doing potions perfectly all of a sudden.'

'You know,' Draco piped up. 'If some choice Slytherins increased their pranks on one choice Gryffindor, we could stock up on a number of detentions with the Potions professor.'

Harry snapped his fingers. 'We have double potions tomorrow. Ron and I could 'retaliate' for the fight and I, being the great Potter, could take all the blame.'

Blaise nodded. 'It wouldn't look out of the ordinary at all for Harry to get in trouble. In fact, everyone including Dumbledore would think that the professor and Harry still hate each other. It will look absolutely perfect!'

Severina nodded. 'As much as I hate it, it is a good plan.'

'Um… I think it is time we got everyone to the station,' Gilderoy spoke up. 'You don't have long.'

Lucius nodded. 'I will take them. Remus, you have to make sure that the Weasleys and Granger do not get there early.'

The group started for the door, when Harry stopped and went back to his parents. He hugged his father first and smiled at the wizard before turning to his mother, who reached up to brush a lock of hair out of the way.

'My son…' She wrapped her arms around the young man. 'I love you.'

Harry grinned. 'I love you, too, Mum.' He started for the door again and called over his shoulders with a laugh. 'See you at school, Professor Snape.'

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