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Draco

Finding her had been the hard part. Well so had admitting that she had saved his life, but that was over and done with. Draco had seen some surprising things in his life, but he never imaged Katoka throwing herself in front of him would be one of those things. Draco could never remember being that scared in his life. Sure, he was scared of a lot of things. Hell, even his father scared him on most occasions. The moment when he saw that thing sucking on the unicorn, he had just frozen in shock. Too petrified to run, or scream, or even faint. He was a statue.

He felt McHugh's pulse of power before anything. Her smaller hand grabbed the scruff of his neck and yanked him back. Roughly, he and Potter landed on their behinds, staring up at the blonde in shock. Potter had been in too much pain in the moment to understand the severity of the situation, but Draco had.

She'd stood there, tall and proud, like the women in stories that his mother had read to him. Amazons, Goddesses, Harpies, and Heroines all came to mind as the smallest of their search party used herself as a human shield. Her hair was braided, but still shone in the starlight as she faced the creature. Draco had sucked in a deep breath when she had produced her wand from the back waistband of her pants. He'd had heard Crabbe once mutter that muggles kept their weapons, called guns, tucked away there. Well, they did in something called 'movies'.

He'd seen her, unafraid and glowering at the creature as if it wasn't worth her spit. Katoka's blue and gold eyes shone in defiance, like she was daring the creature to take another step further. Her breathing was heavy, but she wasn't going to back down, she was going to protect them if it cost her life.

Draco had seen the same expression before; he had seen his mother whenever he was in trouble and she would come racing to his rescue. Something welled in his chest at the thought of that, but he couldn't really explain it. After the whole incident was over, the creature revealed to be Voldemort, and all five of the students returned to the castle, the half-blood Gryffindor seemed to become fog. Draco searched high and low for her, but he could barely find hide or hair of Katoka.

He thanked the stars he was named after when he happened upon her in the second level of the library. Katoka had acted how he expected her to: grouchy, controlled, and cold. Draco expected such treatment, but he wasn't going to let that faze him, he had seen her true self out in the Forbidden Forest. Following her back to her common room had been Draco's attempt at a kind gesture. He knew that she would happen across some of his Slytherin siblings on her trek back, but they would never bother her if she had him on her flank.

What he said about her gender, just kind of slipped out. He meant it more as a joke, seeing as how McHugh was the opposite of his description of her gender. She was anything but dainty, fragile, feeble-minded, or easily swayed. Draco had seen this chick scuffle, and she fought harder than most of his male friends. Granger would always be the smartest of their year, but McHugh was no idiot. She could spin circles around most of the others in their year, but that wouldn't be the chivalrous Gryffindor thing to do, now would it?

And easily swayed? McHugh couldn't be swayed if she was beaten with a bludger bat. McHugh was a woman in power, a woman in charge that wouldn't take garbage from anybody, the consequences be damned.

When she started screaming at him, Draco froze. He planned the omega-dog technique. He would roll over on his back, show her his stomach and hopefully she wouldn't beat the crap out of him. It was a very un-Malfoy-ish thing to do, but Draco really didn't want to be beaten up by a girl twice in one month.

Suddenly, she had stopped hissing at him and closed her eyes. McHugh took a few deep, cleansing breaths and Draco knew she was trying to decide how she was going to beat him to death. Was she going to use her bare hands or use a blunt object?

Throwing caution to the wind, Draco did something that he couldn't stop thinking about since she had saved him in the Forbidden Forest. While she had her eyes closed, he slowly pushed his head forwards. It was a slight strain with her arm pressed against his collarbone, but he managed to press his lips against hers.

It took a minute, but the moment McHugh realized what he was doing, she pulled away like she had been burnt. She licked her lips, bewildered, and shot him a look that he would remember for the rest of his life. Her constantly guarded stare was broken. Horror, shock, fear, and confusion swam through the blue and gold orbs, making Draco's head spin uncomfortably. Wasn't she happy? All girls in their year had been yipping and yapping about their first kisses and their first conquests while at school, so why wasn't she happy?

With a whimper that sounded too dog like to be human, Katoka jerked away from him violently. She spun on her heel and went shooting off down the corridor. Running after her would have been impossible; she was already around the corner by the time Draco had even blinked.


Katoka

After the incident in the dark corridor, I fled from Malfoy like the plague. It was pretty easy honestly, with final tests and all. By the time all testing was done, it had been about two weeks, just enough time for me to forget about the kiss…almost

"I've always heard Hogwarts' end of the year exams were frightful, but I found that rather enjoyable." Hermione sighed as the four of us were walking on the grounds, stretching our legs after being stuck in a Charms test for about two hours.

"Speak for yourself! Alright there, Harry?" Ron asked, watching the black haired boy practically scrub at his forehead. Ever since the visit to the Forbidden Forest, Harry had been getting aches in his scar. I'd tried everything to try and help stop the pain: salves, drinks, even scrubs, but nothing seemed to sooth the inflamed skin.

"My scar, it keeps burning." Harry groaned, his eyes shutting closed. The pain grew so badly that Harry stopped walking, unable to fathom movement while in such pain. Grabbing a jar out of my bag, I unscrewed the cap and swatted Harry's hands away from his forehead.

"Whipped this up last night, it might work. Balm leaves, rose oil, mint, and octopus powder." I muttered, dipping my fingers in the strange lavender colored paste. Harry winced at the initial touch, but he slowly started leaning into my hand.

"Why mint and rose oil?" Hermione asked, her brow raised.

"Because octopus powder smells like a dead fish. I needed something to cover the stink." I laughed, gingerly massaging the lavender goo into Harry's forehead.

"Why does it keep doing that? Maybe you should see the nurse." Ron said, pulling a half-eaten cauldron cake out of his robe pocket and began eating it. Hermione and I shared a disgusted look, seeing as the cake looked pretty fuzzy, but we had more pressing matters to attend to.

"I think it's a warning. It means dangers coming." Harry moaned, smiling at me, and nodding his thanks. I'd been mixing different solutions for him, but none of them have worked for longer than a few hours. I dropped my head to put my jar back into my bag, and when I looked up, Harry was racing across the grounds towards Hagrid's hut.

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything is a dragon, and a stranger shows up and just happens to have one? I mean, how many people wander around with dragon eggs in their pockets? Why didn't I see it before?" Harry muttered, waving at us to keep following him. We managed to find Hagrid, who was sitting on his front steps with Fang, playing a flute that looked to be made out of a whittled branch.

"Hagrid, who gave you the dragon egg? What did he look like?" Harry asked, out of breath. I could see the gears turning under Harry's messy hair, and he was on a roll.

"I'ah dun' know. I'ah never saw 'is face. 'E kept 'is 'ood up." Hagrid said, nervously tapping the flute. Hagrid was now over thinking about who had ever given him the dragon egg, but Harry was right. It was just too coincidental.

"The stranger, though, you and he must have talked." Harry said, sounding a little exasperated. Who just meets someone at random and accepts an egg from them? For all Hagrid could have known, there could have been a trick.

"Well, 'e wanted ta know what sort ah creatures I'ah looked after. I'ah told 'him, I'ah said, 'After Fluffy, a dragon's gonna be no problem.'" Hagrid said, shoving his flute in his pocket and started to tug on his beard. Fang huffed, stretched and came over to me to get some scratches.

"And did he seem interested in Fluffy?" Harry asked. Where was he going with this? What did Fluffy have to do with anything? All the dog does is guard the entrance to where the Philosophers Stone is hidden…oh.

Okay, I guess that question is a good one.

Point for Harry.

"Well, o' course 'e was interested in Fluffy! 'ow often do ye come across a t'ree 'eaded dog, even if yew're in tha' trade? But I'ah told 'im. I said, 'Tha' trick with any beast is ta know 'ow ta calm 'im.' Take Fluffy, fer example, just play 'im a bit of music and 'e falls straight ta sleep." Hagrid thought, still tugging on his beard.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and I all gaped up at the giant.

"Told you." I hissed at Harry, who snorted and shoved me playfully.

"I shouldn't 'ave told ye that." Hagrid cringed, but he had no time to stop us. All four of us started sprinting back to the castle, Fang following behind on our heels. Hagrid tried to call us back, but we were on a mission. Harry led us through the castle towards McGonagall's office.

"HEY, GRYFFINDOR! McHUGH!"

Spinning around, there were two second year Slytherin and one third year Slytherin coming towards us. Harry glanced between the incoming snakes and the corridor that led to McGonagall's office.

"Go, they want me. Go tell McGonagall. I can handle this." I hissed, sending the others away. The last thing we needed would be some Slytherin finding out about the Philosopher's Stone. Harry and Hermione reluctantly rushed off to the teacher's office, but Ron stood his ground.

"We'll be back, don't be scared." Ron whispered, clearly afraid. I shrugged, gave him a confident smile and patted Fang's head. Ron nodded back before following Harry and Hermione down the corridor, leaving me with the three snakes.

One young lion and a cowardly dog against three older snakes.

Seems like the scales are tipped in my favor.

The third year boy seemed to be the leader by the way the second years stood at his sides. I knew who the two wingman were, Stefan Fodin and Jonathan Crowing. They had failed potions in their first year, so they took it with us first years. I had no clue who the hell the third year was, but he seemed to be quite the little egotist.

"McHugh..." The eldest boy sneered, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Fodin, Crowing." I nodded in hello. I wasn't going to start mouthing off before I knew what they wanted. Uncle Bud taught me to pick and choose my fights, never go looking for one.

"And you are?" I asked the eldest boy as politely as I could.

"Aster Khan." The third year said, cocking his head to the side. Khan was good looking, with tanned skin, dark eyes, and long, black hair.

"Any relation to Genghis Khan?" I asked, cocking my head to match his. Khan's nostril's flared, but I couldn't tell if they were because he was pissed or he was trying to subdue his laughter.

"We heard 'bout what you did to Malfoy." Fodin growled, pulling his hand out of his robe pockets, showing that he had his wand in his hand. Crowing suddenly had his own wand out, holding it loosely in his grip.

"Ah...so this Malfoy's attempt at revenge? Can't even do it himself?" I laughed, reaching back to pull my wand out of my waistband.

"I guess we understand each other then." Fodin sneered. With a flick of his wand, a flash of bright orange light was coming my way. I ducked and spun out of the way, but I was a little shaken. Fodin couldn't pass first year potions, how the hell could he fire spells without an incantation?!

"Levicorpus!" I shouted, a bright flash blinding Fodin as he was suddenly ripped into the air by his ankle. Crowing howled in anger when with a flick of my wand I threw Fodin against the stone wall, knocking him out cold.

"Relashio!" Crowning shouted, the bright flash of purple exploding against my right hand, which was wrapped around my wand. An eruption of excruciating pain flooded my hand, making me drop my wand and my knees to almost buckle.

"Serpensortia!" Crowning laughed, a black spark slipping from the tip of his wand, growing to a huge three foot snake. I froze, staring at the snake who hissed at me, its black marble eyes locking on me, it's tongue tasting the air.

I would have just flipped the snake away, but the serpent was sitting between me and my wand. When I reached out to grab my wand, the snake hissed and lunged for my hand with its long fangs. I screamed as the fangs sunk into my skin, but just as quickly as the fangs punctured my skin, they were ripped away.

"Fang!" I cheered, seeing the massive dog pull the snake off my hand and begin to rip it into pieces. I scrambled for my wand, thanking the stars that the two conscious Slytherins were too busy watching Fang rip their snake to shreds.

"Reducto!" I said, pointing my want at the window that the two Slytherins were standing under. The ceiling high window shattered into thousands of sparkling shards. Khan and Crowing shouted, covering their heads as best as they could. Breathing heavily, I collapsed onto the ground. Two of the three boys were all in a heap on the floor, but I wasn't doing much better. The pain in my hand slowly started to seep up my arm and it hurt horribly. Fang whimpered beside me, nudging at my arm with his cold nose. I checked him for wounds carefully, happy to find that the snake wasn't able to bite him and that he hadn't gotten hit with any stray glass. Fang sat down, letting me rest up against him. All I had to do now was wait for Harry, Hermione, and Ron to come back with McGonagall.

And worry about Khan kicking my ass.

"That was interesting. I wasn't expecting such a fight." Khan said, shaking some broken glass out of his robes. He stepped over the broken glass and made his way over to me, squatting down on his haunches in front of me.

"What's your first name, kid?" Khan asked, wiping broken glass away from us with his boot.

"Katoka." I said, watching the snake warily. He didn't act like he was going to kill me, but that could just be some kind of Slytherin trick.

"Good job today, kid." Khan praised, reaching into his back pocket. I winced, expecting him to pull out his wand, but no hex or jinx ever came my way. My nose was assaulted with the smell of cigarettes. Looking up, Khan was shoving the blue mayfair cigarette carton into his back pocket.

Blowing a plume of smoke away from our faces, Khan let the stick hang against his lip. Already accepting the possibility of Khan waiting to kick the shit out of me, I snagged the cigarette out of his mouth and tossed it across the hall. Khan let out a loud laugh, reaching his hand up to pat my head.

"You've got quite a set of balls, don't you, Oka?" Khan asked, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a new smoke. I shrugged, laughing along softly with the older boy, who seemed relaxed.

"Now what is this?"

Turning my head, Snape was standing just a few feet behind us. He didn't look surprised, shocked, or horrified like I would have expected. If anything Snape looked irritated, if not a little amused by the situation. After all, two big Slytherins on the ground, with a younger Gryffindor still conscious in the middle of them all, with one of their smoking housemates.

"I'm just talking to my kid here, man." Khan said defensibly, looking up at Snape with a look of irritation. The two Slytherins had a stare down of the century, which made me feel awkward.

"Uh…they jumped me, Sir." I said lamely, shrinking and hiding my face in Fang's coat.

"I can see that…Miss McHugh…Why are you...holding your hand in such a manner?" Snape drawled out every few words. I wonder if he does that on purpose. Khan threw his smoke on the ground, smashing it out with his boot. Gingery, Khan grabbed me underneath my arms and hauled me up.

"I ah…there was a snake. It bit me, after my hand got shocked by a reducto." I pointed to the shredded pile of muscle, fangs, and scales. Snape glanced in the direction, shaking his head.

"That was only an overgrown garden snake….with fangs. No poison. The pain you feel…is from a horribly cast spell." Snape sighed, grabbing ahold of the shoulder of my robes and dusting some shards of broken glass off of me. I dusted myself off once more for good measure, looking up at the potions professor.

"Should I go get the nurse, Sir?" I mumbled worriedly, hoping that I'm not going to get in trouble. Snape said nothing, shaking his head.

"Do not worry about it. It will heal…in time. Or…Miss Granger will… find a spell to…accommodate you." Snape sighed, turning towards his students and started to spell each of them awake. Wasting no time, I rushed down the corridor to McGonagall's office, only to find it empty. Khan followed me to the office, and then walked me to my common room. He patted my shoulder and told me that I would be seeing him later, which confused me. I raced into the Gryffindor common room, where Ron was sitting on the couch.

"Ron, where did you guys go?" I asked, looking around for Harry or Hermione.

"Harry went to shower, and Hermione went to make up some plans for tonight." Ron said shakily, worryingly eyeing my injured hand. "We're going down the trap door."

"Sounds like a plan, Ron." I smiled, sitting down next to him on the overstuffed couch and waited for our two friends to reappear.