Omake II
A/N: Okay, new omake! Review, review, review! Laughs manically before running to post new chapters*
-Diggory Manor; Summer of 1988-
Amos watched his recently adopted son stand still as the final adjustments were made to the small boy's robes.
"Da, am I done?" The large, sweet expression caused him to sigh. Chuckling, Andre Fournier helped Zack out of his formal robes. "Yay! When's lunch?" Amos picked up his Ward, who nuzzled his neck as he giggled.
"Darylyn, is lunch finished?" A soft pop indicated his Head house elf appearing.
"Sirs, lunch is being served on the terrace. Would you like anything else, good sirs?" Amos shook his head no, motioning that she could get back to her duties of managing the Diggory household. He made his way back to the terrace, sitting down with a now eight-year-old Zack in his lap.
"Dad, umm, is Zack still young enough to do that?" He smiled indulgently at his first-born, Cedric, who was heading to Hogwarts that fall.
"Yes, Ced, he is. Plus, he's still a little shy."
"Yeah... Dad, why would anyone abandon Zack? I mean, he's so loyal, and sweet an-"
"Some people will look for any excuse to be rid of an unwanted child, Cedric. Zack's parents probably died in the war and there was no provision in either of their wills, or they're just heartless people. Zack belongs with us now." His lost pup looked at Cedric, then buried his face back into Amos' shoulder. "You should at least try and make friend's with him, Ced. He's not going anywhere."
"So? It's not like he wants my company." Cedric spat back, blue eyes showing resentment towards the small boy in his arms. The soft, fluffy black wolf ears lowered and Zack pushed away from him and off the chair.
"'S fine, D-Amos." The cool tone that came from Zack was heart-breaking. "I'll just go." He began to walk away, his head held high, towards his room. "I know where I'm not wanted."
"You-You idiot! You're just going to walk away from Dad after all he's done for you?"
"I certainly didn't ask, Mr. Diggory, Jr. I would have been happy with a bowl of soup and some rags." Zack hissed as he began to power-walk out of the room.
"Wait! I wasn't finished with you!"
"But I am done with you. Pleasant afternoon to you both. Amos, thank you for your extraordinary kindness. I'll go back to where I belong." Amos felt a knot in his throat as his Ward left without taking a single thing other than the clothes he'd been lent on his first day in the household. Cedric looked shocked beyond belief.
"Dad, I-"
"You meant it, alright."
-PoV-
Zack stumbled as he passed the wards of the Diggory Manor. He wanted to cry, dammit, but his inner wolf refused! He heard heavy footsteps pounding after him and he ran for the forest, a low howl escaping him. A reply was sent his way, a note of welcome from his wolf Dam. Quickening his stride, he reached the forest and watched impassively as Cedric stopped dead before it.
"Zack, I really didn't-"
"Keep it, brother-who-is-not. My Pack will take me back; unlike you." He hissed, violet eyes cold and visciously feral. "I want no pity from the Diggory's." Zack spat, turning his back on the eleven-year-old boy. He yipped in the wolf language, grinning.
-Pack brother, are you leaving the human male you call Sire?-
I have no choice, sister of my Dam. His cub doesn't want me there. I prefer your company. The black three-year-old wolf snorted as she groomed his wolf ears with her slick tongue.
-Humph. Good riddance then, for you are better off with us.- Zack leaned into the care, watching as Amos stood at the edge of the forest.
"Zack, I am very fond of you. Cedric will come around, I'm sure."
"But-"
"He'll come around before the Midnight Soirée; or I'll tan his hide." Came Amos' harsh reply. He giggled as his pack sister nuzzled his ribs with her muzzle. A yip escaped him before he broke down into helpless laughter.
A'ura! Stop, that tickles! She chuffed, her own version of laughter shaking her massive frame.
-Silly cub. Alpha will be pleased that you remained with humans; your humans.- He squeaked as A'ura grabbed his scruff and towed him out of the forest. She dropped him in front of Amos and nosed him towards his human Sire.
-Midnight Soirée; Diggory Manor-
-PoV-
His Ward fidgeted as he held his hand. The poor child had recently spilled his secret by accident; he'd taken the Wolfsbane potion as a safety procaution. The moon was still below the horizion, and as they Portkeyed to Malfoy Manor, the sun shone its last vestiges valiantly.
-Midnight Soirée; Malfoy Manor-
-PoV-
Zack stayed away from the other frolicking childern. He knew he was dangerous and so did not expect them to approach him out of honest curiousity.
"Hello! You're new. What's your name?" A blond boy about his age asked. "I'm Draco Malfoy, Heir to this Manor." Zack tilted his head to the side, trying to deceifer whether or not this boy would hurt him.
"I'm Zackary Lupin-Black... Heir to two Ancient and Noble Houses." He reluctantly replied as Amos had taught him.
"Wicked! We have an actual Lord at our party for once..." Draco crowed gleefully, pulling over two others, one boy and one girl. "Do you prefer something other than your formal name?"
"Yes, I prefer Zack. My given name sounds like someone had gold stuck up their nose when they named me..." He cracked a joke and the others snickered.
"Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini. They're my friends."
"Pleasure to meet you both. Draco, how about a game of Hide-an'-Seek? We have to keep the adults from knowing, 'cause they'll tan our hides for sure..."
"What an atrocious accent." Parkinson sniffed and flounced off to her parents. Zack pretended not to notice the blatant flagrigation of Pureblood Rules.
"She's got one that's just as bad, if not worse, Zack. Don't mind her, she's a girl." Zabini finally spoke when the huffy female left. That made Zack giggle softly, which caused the other boys to laugh along with him. Amos came out of the crowd and motioned Zack over.
"Gotta see what Da wants. I'll be right back." He flashed a smile, then trotted over to his Sire. "Yes?"
"It's good to see you get along with boys your age. See you at midnight... And stay out of the moonlight as much as you can. " His Da warned, lowering his voice on the last part. "Go on and have fun, scamp."
"What did he want?"
"To tell me to have fun." Zack glibly lied. Draco shook his head, then they indugled in a rousing game of Hide-and-Seek. They even managed to avoid all the grown-up conversations.
"Zack, come here. I would like to introduce you to-" Zack froze as the moon, at its zenith, shone its light upon him. "No, this can't be happening."
-PoV-
Severus looked up at the haunting howl that nearly threw him into a panic attack. He'd been invited by Lucius so that he could proudly state his Potions Mastery in less than two years; his best friend didn't mention that they would all be Purebloods. He didn't rightly fit in- Another howl broke his revere and he saw an eight-year-old boy falling to his knees, features becoming more and more wolf-like with each passing second. A little boy suffered the same curse- His vision of the world changed abruptly as he was tackled by a seven-foot tall wolf. It sniffed at his customary black frockcoat and wagged its tail, revealing the sex of the wolf as it did so, watching as he stood.
"What?" The monster wolf tilted his head to the side, ran off for a short moment, and presented a stick to him. "You expect me to play 'Fetch' with you?" The wolf gave a low bark and bowed, meaning he wanted to play. The Purebloods were all Sheild Charming themselves. Lucius did not, looking at the boy-turned-wolf.
"Snape, are you really indulging that massive Creature's whim?"
"What else am I supposed to do, Lucius? By all means, do tell." He answered with his typical snarky tone. The wolf whined and wagged his tail harder when he picked up the suprisingly dry stick. Throwing with all his considerable strength, the branch flew out into the Malfoy Manor field. A black, happy blur followed the stick and caught it in mid-air. A smug wolf trotted back with the stick held gently between his teeth. Glowing violet eyes showed pleasure as Amos Diggory picked up the other branch.
"Severus; I so happen to be his Guardian. Thank you for that." Diggory whispered as they threw the branches in different directions.
"That child does not deserve such pain... I fervently brew; but there is no cure for that particular curse." A resigned look fell upon Amos' face as he petted the black monstrosity; whose tail thumped against the ground in a soothing rhythm.
"Many Potions Masters say the same thing. I have contacted every Master I know; I thought you, of all the Masters, would be better than them." Severus was slightly affronted.
"If I find a cure, Amos, you'll be the first to know."
Ending A/N: And that's why every Pureblood knows what our poor Zack is! Bad timing for a party, right? R&R, please! Concrit most welcome from reviewers.
-Ryder
