Chapter 4: Hogwarts by Bike

Harry, Dante and Draco spent their last week at home, carefully charming their rooms so the adults couldn't tamper with anything with in them. It was not uncommon for prank wars to break out and as all Marauders knew, prank wars where not stopped simply because it was Christmas or because the opposing pranker had been away for the last nine months, learning to be a wizard.

The previous year they had Evangeline's help in protecting their rooms as it was normally a "kids vs. parents" prank war. However, Evangeline was coming with them this year and Harry would not put it past Sirius to start up several extensive prank projects simply to keep himself occupied now that all the kids were leaving. After all even the adults where too busy for him now. Regulus was busy with Bella, Remus with his book and Narcissa just plain ignoring her over active cousin.

Harry was triple checking his wards when he heard his godfather calling for him. He was immediately suspicious. While Mrs. Black was subdued with Regulus and Narcissa protecting the house from Sirius, she was still easily agitated by the "blood traitor". Therefore the family was still careful to call out and only did so in the up most of urgencies.

He drew a broad sword from under his bed and walked down the stairs to the first landing where he used his magical eye to gage the scene behind the kitchen wall. Narcissa was making their leaving feast while Remus poured over notes for his book. Sirius was moving furniture. He looked up to see that Regulus and Bella where upstairs with Eva, having a heart to heart about the new baby. Dante and Draco were testing each other's wards, helping to strengthen the weaker spots in the other's charms.

Yet Harry did not stow his weapon. He had his guns in their holsters under his leather jacket, but he didn't want to use them, even if they were loaded with stunners instead of real bullets. Carefully he slid a dagger out of the holster in his sleeve and stashed his broad sword in the umbrella stand by the door.

Hello Prodigy. Vex leapt off the stairs above him, landing lightly on his master's shoulder. Ready for a bit of rough and tumble?

Just as soon as my Godfather's finished with me. I'd take your dueling dummies any day over him.

Harry walked down the stairs, wondering if his stashing of the broad sword was such a good idea. Turning the corner, Harry put a tentative hand to the door. He was a little worried about facing his Godfather these days. The man wasn't exactly young any more. Harry had spotted him pulling the gray hairs from his head only just the other day. It had been fine when they were kids, or more accurately, when Dante and Draco had been kids. But know, with Vexation's help, he had gotten enough training and experience that put on twice the amount of muscle he had gotten with his foster family, in one year compared to over four years he had trained with his new family.

Harry was a strong fighter, well beyond the state he should have been in with the number of years he had been training. Vexation had explained to him that he had been both blessed and cursed with the small frame, for it made his hollow bones perfect for flight and speed, but their toughness aloud him to take a punch and return it 12 fold. Vexation had also explained that the higher powers who had sent him, had explained that the very nature of his figure was weaved into his destiny.

Vexation wouldn't tell him what that destiny was, but he made damn sure that Harry would be able to fight off 20 Aurors at once. All the early morning practices with Dante and Draco had matured his hand-to-hand technique, his swords and weaponry pushed to greater heights than his Godfather would ever know, and his magic, fluctuating into a new strength.

But he didn't want his house mates knowing it. He longed to be normal, knew it wouldn't happened but hopped against all hope he could stay away from becoming the freak of a freak family long enough to fully comprehend what a family, even one of freaks, was really about.

He had always felt like an outsider to their home, even though they seemed to have built it around him. Any house that was built on blood and sweat was a home, not many would consider the best place to raise four children, and while he loved them all dearly and knew the feeling was mutual, he couldn't help but want to protect him from the problems he had brought to their door.

So it was with a heavy heart and tentative steps, a firm hold on his magic, that Harry stepped into the kitchen/living room.

Prodigy! Vex cried leaping from his master's shoulder.

The warning was unnecessary. Harry had his knives raised in an 'x' shape to catch the battle axe aimed at his head. Already, his hidden strength betrayed him. A normal fighter would have buckled under the force put into the swing. Harry disregarded the fact and threw off his Godfather's axe, jumping back to avoid the throwing stars his Aunt Cissy had conjured up from under a loaf of bread and thrown at him.

The two suddenly appeared with plates of battle amour on, shielding amulets and weapons gleaming from their every conservable space. Harry was armed to the teeth with his smallest knives and a fruit knife stashed in his pocket that morning, unwilling to resort to stun guns.

Harry jump up spinning so that Narcissa didn't have a solid target to stick her knives in. Sirius however, simply lunged forward with a broad sword, having discarded his axes in favor of the large implement, shooting a spell in the opposite direction.

Casting a wandless shield, Harry lunged in the direction of the spell and sent rebounding back to his Godfather, knocking the broad sword out of his hands. Casting the fire charm on his knives, Harry lunged at his recovering Godfather. The man blocked the attack with an arm plate, charmed to resist fire, just as Harry had expected him too.

Reaching into the man's cloak, with reflexes that had Vex smiling on the sidelines, he extracted a ring blade, a circle of steal with sharpened blades that folded and unfolded as the user dictated.

A well aimed kicked from his aunt had him down a moment but he was up in flash, knocking her over the back of the head with the ring blade's grip as he launched himself up and over her with a good wall run. Sirius came down hard on him with his broad sword in one hand and a dagger in the other.

This is payback for calling him old. Harry thought to himself as he turned just enough to ram Sirius's dagger into the wall with the help of the man's own weight. Using his close proximity to his Godfather to his advantage, Harry cut the cross bow and arrows from his shoulder. Slipping out of the Death Hug, Harry pulled the cross bow back and loaded it with four arrows which he shot off in rapid fire, pinning his Godfather to the wall.

Harry pushed his sweaty hair from his eyes and pick up his two original knives and crossed them in one hand over Sirius's throat before slipping one from off the man's belt, pressing it to his lower back.

"Do you yield?" He whispered into the man's ear, standing on tiptoe to reach it, ruining the effect.

Sirius was shaking with silent mirth.

"I yield" he smiled "You have gotten quiet good." He clapped Harry on the back as soon as he was freed from his pointy prison.

"You pass kid, congratulations." He hugged Harry and left for the kitchen, in which a giant feast really had been laid out.

You left your left flank wide open! Vexation admonished, reclaiming his seat on the back of Harry's neck.

Harry shook his head and petted the cat's face, coving his familiar's eyes to show him just what he thought of flanks.

Dante, Draco and Eva joined them moment's later, thrilled to see the spread set out for them. And so, the feasting and merry making began. No one touched the subject of babies or of Remus's book or of the world outside their cozy little bungalow.

At some point or another it was decided that since Eva did not have a bike of her own, that the four would go to the station with Remus, who would have to make an appearance regarding Sirius's behavior anyway. Harry, Dante and Draco weren't paying much attention to this as they where plotting their start of term prank.

In the end they decided to have a go at the Gryffindor Head of house to appease Draco and repay the blonde's Godfather for the terror bestowed upon him the previous year.

But Snape would be dancing with the squid in his underpants very soon. Yes Harry would make sure of that.

The pudding for dessert was a master piece of frosting and delicately spun sugar. Narcissa presented it with as much pride as she would have given had she been introducing her son in stead of a cavity on a plate.

"It took two hours to make even with magic." She said looking down at the delicate décor atop the dessert.

"No worries, it will take two minutes to eat!" Bella assured her old friend, holing out a bowl, spoon in hand.

Everyone laughed and Narcissa served up the most fantastic pudding Harry had ever tasted. They lulled around the T.V, hot chocolate in hand, a James Bond move on the tube, none of them really up to thinking that night.

When they retired it was with firm hugs good night and good bye, knowing hardly any of them would be awake for the proper send off the next day.

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Harry woke to the sound of scampering foot steps.

Looking out of his room to where the sound had come from, he spotted Regulus trying to catch Kreature.

"I told you to destroy it!"

"Kreature can't master! Kreature tried, if only for Master Regulus!"

"Where is it Kreature?!"

"Kreature is hiding it! Before mistress is taking Kreature's mind, Kreature is hiding it! Kreature is a good elf!"

"Think Kreature!"

"Kreature can't!" The small elf was sobbing, slamming himself into the wall as Regulus watched.

"Uncle Regulus!" Harry cried running out. He grabbed Kreature by his pillow case and hauled him into the air, hugging the decrepit elf to him. The creature latched onto him like a small grotesque child, bawling.

"Uncle Reg! What's happened to you?! And don't tell me it's the new baby! You've had nearly seven months to spaze over that! This is Kreature!" He hugged the wailing elf to him, holding like one would a traumatized infant.

Harry walked away, leaving his Uncle without a chance to explain himself.

"It's okay now Kreature. It's going to be okay. Uncle Reg forgives you. It's not your fault you're missing some of your marbles. Kreature is a good house elf." The poor creature wailed harder, soaking Harry's night shirt.

"It's okay Kreature. Here. Look." He held up an old photograph of Regulus as a teenager and Kreature on his shoulders as the two tried to pick apples.

"This is the man who has forgiven you. It's going to be okay Kreature." Harry sat up with the old house elf for the rest of the two hours till dawn. By then the house elf had calmed down and was easing back into usual state of quiet adoration of both Harry and Regulus.

Harry saw the house elf out the door before changing. He packed the remainder of his things in his trunk before levitating them down the stairs. He took care of Dante and Draco's last minute packing before sending their trunks down to rest next to his own.

Evangeline, like the good little girl she pretended to be, had everything squared away, down to the very last sock. Harry added her stuff to the pile. He collected Dante's owl, Hedwig from the kitchen mantel and sat her on her cage before unearthing Vexation's carrying basket.

He didn't know why he bothered with the basket, the familiar refused to go in on any occasion. With time to spare, he and Kreature made breakfast, Harry helping the house elf leave a special surprise on Regulus's plate.

When everyone came down it was to the smell of pancakes and bacon. They were quietly eating, savoring their last meal together till Christmas when Remus glanced at his watch. His eyes went wide and his mouth opened letting everything he had just finished chewing spill out.

"Eww… Rem, keep it in your mouth." Narcissa chided, making Sirius snort Orange Juice across the table.

The boys snickered but their laughter was cut off when Dante choked on his milk, before looking at his father.

"It's what?" The werewolf squeaked being the only one who could hear Remus' whisper.

"It's ten thirty!" Remus yelped, louder this time so the non-superhuman creatures could hear.

A loud shout of panic filled the house, scarring the birds out of the trees.

They were running around like a flock of chickens with their heads cut off, to the tune of Benny Hill, bumping into walls, doors, troll umbrella stands, each other, Mrs. Black, in their hurry to get out.

It had been Kreature's fault. In a surprising show of hate for his favored Master, Kreature had changed the clocks back half and hour. As the kids where dashing out the door, Harry ordered Kreature to go to Hogwarts and wait for him, so that Regulus or more likely, Sirius couldn't hurt him.

They piled into the car and took off at top speed. Dante in passage seat, Harry behind him and Draco behind Remus with Eva tucked safely between them. They always rode like this, with Draco and Dante sometimes switching places. Harry loathed muggle cars but he abhorred the passenger seats of muggle cars. He never explained why, and no one asked him to elaborate.

The reached Kings Cross at ten fifty three, thanks to several speed violations and a bit of, most likely illegal, magical tinkering with Remus's car. They raced after Remus's coat tails straining to see the suddenly hyper werewolf, hurrying through the crowded station like salmon swimming ups stream…through a pack of Grizzly bears. People where knocking into them, deciding that if people couldn't be early enough to avoid running through the station to make their train, they shouldn't make it at all. Or it could have just been Harry's perception of them.

Dante was the first through the barrier, having been most capable of keeping up with the Elder werewolf. Eva went through next, having been put between two males on either side incases she some how got lost or taken from their pack. Harry was coming up next, Draco hot on his heels.

Harry never varied his running start. He was a couple inches away when he saw, through his magical eye, the barrier seal itself with a series of heavy thunks and locking of bolts and. He veered around letting Draco collided solo into the wall.

"What so you think you're doing?" A station guard walked up to see what all the noise was about.

"Sorry. Lost control of the trolley." Draco explained, brushing off his arm, wincing a bit.

Harry peeked around the corner, a sheepish smile on his face.

"Thanks for that warning there, Har, really saved me from breaking something." Draco sneered.

"Sorry, now move if you want to catch the train!" Harry pushed forward and took a look at the wall. Taking a deep breath, Harry held it and started working on the barrier on the barrier. After a couple minutes of painful working and burnt fingers, Harry got the magic that closed the barrier down and pushed through to see the scarlet steam engine pulling away from the station.

"Damn it!" Harry cursed.

"Harry… Why are their no adults?" Draco asked suddenly.

Harry looked around and sure enough, no one was there.

"If we can't find Uncle Remus, how are we going to get to Hogwarts?" Draco asked.

Harry looked around before closing his eye, so that only his magical one was open, adjusting like a camera lens, as Harry flipped through the settings.

Finally he found the one he wanted. The platform suddenly filled with inferred body signatures, most of which where leaving through the now opened barrier.

"Someone's made it so we can't see anyone and they can't see us." Harry explained to Draco.

"How are we going to get to Hogwarts? Dante had Hedwig so we can't send a note for help!"

"We'll fly." Harry smiled.

"I haven't got a broom, and we didn't bring our motorcycles."

"You know, being a pessimist doesn't solve problems." Harry chided. When the platform had emptied of people, Harry pulled his shrunken motorbike out of his pocket and enlarged it.

"Why did you have your bike in your pocket?" Draco demanded as Harry threw his leg over and kicked the stand up.

"Thought I might want to practice evasive flying, on something bigger than a broom, that is." Harry shrugged. He shrunk down his trunk and stuffed it in his pocket before patting the seat behind him.

As Draco grudgingly clambered on, the warmth that spread suddenly charged Harry. He smiled and revved his engine before launching skyward. He let out a whoop as they passed through the wards over the station, protecting it from sightings by muggle helicopters or airplanes.

They rocketed forward, following the tracks, dipping in and out of the clouds, careful not to be seen.

Harry smiled back at Draco who was hugging his waist, unaccustomed to flying backseat. He laughed and did a few loop-de-loops till Draco was laughing with him. He smiled and was silently glade he had missed the train.They found they train about halfway to Hogwarts, chugging along like a red snake as it waved in and out hills and trees.

"You want to try a landing?" Harry asked Draco without the joking tone he would have normally used.

Draco looked at him, skeptical before asking "You think you can land on a moving target?"

"Let's find out." Harry laughed, taking the bike down.

"Dante, Dante, Dante. Where for art thou Dante?" Harry hummed, looking through the top of the train with his magical eye.

"There you are." Harry smiled, touching down rather nosily onto the roof of the train. The wind that pushed against them made it hard to stand right, instead forcing them to their knees.

"Dante's going to eat us." Draco laughed.

"I know." Harry smiled back.