This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter universe, which are trademarked by J.K. Rowling. I do not claim ownership of these characters nor the locations such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, etc. that are Rowling's creations. This work also includes Pokemon, which belong to the Pokemon Company, and I again claim no ownership of these characters.
I thank both Rowling and the Pokemon Company for the universes they have created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.
While knowing all this didn't exactly make any of them any safer, it was a small comfort to be armed with more knowledge if they ever found themselves under attack. Although, of course, they still had no idea what sort of Pokémon was behind the attacks or how Voldemort, if he really was behind it all, was organising them.
However the weeks passed and as time went on it started to seem more and more likely that whoever was responsible for the attacks was laying low, especially with the school on such high alert.
One of the biggest proponents of this theory was Gilderoy Lockhart.
"I knew it," he proclaimed loudly in the very last Pokémon Battling class of term. "As soon as the perpetrator realised I was hot on his tail he had to lay low. It was a risky thing to do, attacking young Mr Creevey whilst I was here, and he must have realised that and gone deep underground to hide from my detective capabilities."
Harry highly doubted it was Lockhart Voldemort was hiding from but other than that his theory made sense. It would be foolish to attack when everyone was on such high alert. Unfortunately that just made Harry worry more for when people would start to let their guards down. That's what had happened after the first attack and Colin Creevey had paid the price.
And on top of that Harry was waiting on tenterhooks for the next appearance of Absol.
Fortunately for Harry he wouldn't have to be on a knife edge for too much longer. Due to the tragic events that had taken place pretty much every student had taken up the offer to go home to their families for Christmas and Harry, not having a real family to go back to, had instead been invited to join the Weasleys at the Burrow.
"Now, how about I give you all a little something to smile about over the Christmas holidays," Lockhart said, beaming at the class. "I am going to, completely at random, choose two of you to battle each other here in front of the whole class. Who's interested?"
Nearly every hand went up. An opportunity to battle was not something anyone was going to turn down. Lockhart laughed at their enthusiasm and looked out at the sea of hands.
"Okay, Harry, why don't you come up here," he said, his promise of the selection being completely random going to hell. "And Mr Weasley, how about you too." Ron grinned as he too was called to the front of the class.
"Alright everyone," Lockhart said excitedly, sweeping his long coat around as he took the referees spot. "Trainers, pick your Pokémon if you'd please." Harry thought carefully about his choice but he quickly realised he was in a difficult spot. Both Charmander and Fletchinder were fire types, meaning if Ron chose Squirtle, who, although not as experienced, held type advantage, he was in trouble. On the other hand Growlithe was strong too. Harry made his choice.
"Release your Pokémon," Lockhart called and together Harry and Ron threw their Pokéballs. Harry had gone with Charmander, figuring that Fletchinder might be restricted in a classroom environment. Ron had gone with Growlithe. "Begin!"
"Charmander, use Flamethrower!" Harry shouted, beginning with Charmander's most powerful attack. Charmander belched a plume of fire at his opponent, who stood and took it. Too late did Harry realise his mistake.
"Growlithe's ability is Flash Fire, remember," Ron shouted gleefully as Growlithe took the attack with no damage. "Now Growlithe, use Flame Wheel!" Growlithe charged forwards, cloaked in fire, and struck Charmander fiercely.
"Charmander, are you okay?" Harry asked as Charmander staggered back. But Charmander wouldn't back down. "Okay, use Slash!" Charmander rushed forward, surprising Growlithe with his quick recovery as he slashed his claws across Growlithe's muzzle, causing him to fall back and whimper in pain.
"Fire Fang!" Ron called.
"Smokescreen, Charmander!" Harry answered back.
Growlithe charged forwards, fangs coated with fire, quickly becoming engulfed in smoke as his opponent, and the rest of the room, became obscured.
"Use Slash!" Charmander's glowing claws came out of nowhere and knocked Growlithe back.
"Fire Spin!" Ron called, taking advantage of Charmander having revealed his position. The smoke was already clearing and Growlithe could see his target as he fired off his attack.
"Jump, Charmander!" Harry called, his Pokémon leaping into the air at his command. "Now use Growl!" The low growl that emitted from Charmander's throat caused Growlithe to hesitate, giving Harry an opening.
"Charmander, use Slash!" he shouted.
"Growlithe, use Flame Wheel!" Ron responded.
The two Pokémon charged at each other and threw themselves full tilt into their attacks, Charmander slashing his claws as Growlithe charged head first towards him, his body surrounded by fire. The two Pokémon clashed with tremendous force, showing all their power to those watching as they battled for supremacy.
Finding themselves equals they pushed apart, Charmander sliding back towards Harry, Growlithe back to Ron. They were each panting heavily, each mostly spent, and it was clear that one more attack and that would be the end of the battle. Then the two Pokémon started to glow.
"What's happening?" Ron said uncertainly, looking over at his Pokémon worriedly. Harry likewise was lost, not knowing whether to run to Charmander or not.
"Holy crap!" Dean shouted from the desks. "They're evolving!"
The light was growing brighter and the two Pokémon were growing larger. Harry watched with baited breath as the light reached maximum brightness and then burst, revealing two much changed Pokémon.
"Charmander?" Harry said nervously to his Pokémon. The taller Pokémon, a darker shade of red with more angular features, turned to him, and grinned.
"Char-me-le-on," he said, pounding his fist against his chest. Harry quickly fished out his Pokédex and pointed it at the new Pokémon.
"Charmeleon, the Flame Pokémon and the evolved form of Charmander," the Pokédex said. "When it swings its burning tail it elevates the temperature to unbearably high levels."
"Wow," Harry said, a grin spreading across his face. "Charmeleon… that was amazing."
"Exceptional," Lockhart said suddenly, catching the attention of the whole class. "And just as I anticipated. I knew these two Pokémon were just brimming with the potential to evolve, a good Pokémon battle was all they needed to get the push."
"I can't believe that prick," Ron said a few minutes later as they left the classroom, though he was smiling. His new Pokémon, much larger than Growlithe had been, was walking loyally at his side. Next to Harry, Charmeleon was walking down on the ground, now being too big to ride on his shoulders.
"It was rather unfair to take credit for the evolution," Hermione agreed. "Even if he did help them along all the credit goes to Charmander and Growlithe."
"That's right," Ron said, rubbing the head of his Pokémon and grinning. "Hey, Harry, can I use your Pokédex, I want to see what Pokémon Growlithe is now." Harry acquiesced, handing over the Pokédex and listening interestedly as Ron pointed it at his new Pokémon.
"Arcanine," the Pokédex said. "The Legendary Pokémon and the evolved form of Growlithe. A Pokémon that has been admired since the past for its beauty, it runs agilely as if on wings."
"Wicked," Ron said. Arcanine gave a bark of agreement and stood up on his hind legs, easily able to lick Ron's face.
"Arcanine, knock it off," Ron laughed, his Pokémon obeying him but still grinning happily.
"You know, we never got to finish our battle," Harry said. It's true, given the drama of the evolutions the battle had been all but forgotten about. "What do you say we go outside and try out our new Pokémon?"
"What do I say? Yes!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"It's cold out," Hermione commented. "But with two fire types I think it'll be okay." Harry and Ron grinned.
"Charmeleon learned a new move while evolving," Harry said excitedly. "Metal Claw, I really want to try it out. Plus it'll get me something to hit you with other than Slash, if your Arcanine still has the ability Flash Fire."
"Sure does, wouldn't want to lose that," Ron said with a grin, but his face dropped as he saw Harry's expression. "Harry?"
"Oh no," Harry said softly, and he pointed ahead of them.
There stood Absol, as if he had been waiting for them all along. He stood stock still, so still that they hadn't even noticed him at first. He watched them with his small red eyes, and then he ran off. Harry's heart sank.
"Don't worry about it, Harry," Ron said, though his voice was slightly shaky. Clearly denying Absol's significance was harder to do when he was there in person.
"We should go to the common room," Harry said. "The last two times Absol appeared someone was attacked and if it happens again we shouldn't be anywhere near it."
"It won't happen," Hermione said, trying to be soothing but with a touch of annoyance in her voice. "You're overreacting, two appearances does not make a trend."
"I don't know, Harry might be right," admitted Ron. "It's better to be safe than sorry, right."
Hermione looked exasperatedly at the two of them, wondering to herself how these boys had got sorted into Gryffindor, before she gave up.
"Alright, why don't we head to the Great Hall," she suggested. "There'll be lots of students there, and Dumbledore. We'll be more than safe if there is any attack." Harry and Ron shared a look, then nodded.
They started to move themselves along the corridor, a lot more jumpy and less free spirited than they had been a minute ago. Harry was reminded of his own thought that they had to watch out for the moment they let their guard down. That moment seemed to be now.
"Just down here and we're in the Entrance Hall," Ron said, a touch of relief in his voice. "Come on, Arcanine." But Arcanine didn't move. He was sniffing, obviously picking up a scent as he raised his nose up into the air before wandering off down a deserted hallway.
"Arcanine!" Ron called in distress, hurrying after his newly evolved fire type. "Arcanine, where are you going?"
"He must have smelled something," Hermione suggested as they hurried after the Pokémon. "I wonder what it is."
Arcanine led them quite a distance from where they had been heading, his nose fixed to the ground as he followed some sort of trail, the humans and Charmeleon following uncertainly behind.
"Arc!" Arcanine barked, his hackles raised as he stopped suddenly at a corner. Sharing a look Harry, Ron and Hermione carefully stepped around the corner and beheld a horrifying sight.
Blood. Everywhere. And in the midst of it all were two bodies. One of them was a Pokémon, mostly white with a few stripes of red, laying face up in a pool of its own blood. The other was a student, a Hufflepuff by his tie, and upon closer inspection they recognised him. His name was Justin Finch-Fletchley.
"Fletchinder," Harry said, releasing the bird Pokémon. "Go get Dumbledore," he told his Pokémon urgently. "He should be in the Great Hall. Go." And Fletchinder shot off, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Justin," a small voice came from the other end of the corridor and Harry looked up to see another Hufflepuff he knew by name, Ernie McMillan. His face was pale and his eyes were wide. He looked ready to puke.
Dumbledore's arrival on the scene was swift.
"What has happened?" he asked, though his eyes immediately took to Justin and his Pokémon.
"We found them like this," Harry admitted.
"Arcanine smelled the blood," Ron added, looking a bit sick. Dumbledore nodded once before pulling out a Pokéball.
"Alakazam," he addressed the Pokémon that appeared from within. "Please take Mr Finch-Fletchley to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey will know what to do." Alakazam nodded and immediately he, and Justin, disappeared.
"What about the Pokémon?" Harry asked weakly. Dumbledore looked down sadly.
"It is too late for Zangoose, I'm afraid," Dumbledore admitted. "He has passed."
A/N: And I'm back. Sorry for the change in upload schedule but it unfortunately couldn't be helped. Looking forward I don't anticipate any more changes for the rest of the story.
I would just like to take this moment to clarify one thing that I'm sure many of you are probably wondering. Yes, I know Growlithe evolves by evolution stone, but I've changed it a bit for the purposes of the story. In this world things like evolution stones serve as catalysts for evolution. Any Growlithe will evolve if given a fire stone but even without one they can still evolve, provided they gain enough experience, which Ron's has.
I hope that clears things up. Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing you in the next chapter.
