Chapter Nine: Pride of the Pack
Waking up Harry realized someone was holding him, "Hmm," glancing up he saw Draco was carrying him and talking to someone. Closing his eyes he began to drift back to sleep before his brain registered that he was being carried by Draco Malfoy. Yelping he shot up and clung to the ceiling while glancing down at Tom Riddle and Draco, "Hello?"
"Hello, Longbottom left to inform the others that we'll be joining you for dinner, and Ron is finally relaxing around Mother and Father," Draco said smoothly before asking, "What are you holding onto?"
"I what?" glancing at his hands he yelped again as he hit the floor, "Ow…" sitting up he rubbed his head, "Why are you two with me and where are we?"
"Well we were taking you to a guest room to sleep, but now that you're awake we can take you to the library," Tom said opening a door on his left, "We are in Malfoy Manor on the third floor."
"Library," Harry said walking in absently, not even noticing the identical smirks the other two shared as he wondered around the vast room, "Wow…so many books," walking around he glanced at the two of them, "Well why are you two watching me so intently?"
"We are just curious," Draco, said innocently, "Aren't you apart of the Golden Trio that does not enjoy books?"
"I happen to like books very much, just not as much as Hermione, and don't call us the Golden Trio, we're not who you think we are. Ron's lineage should prove that," turning back around Harry began his search for the perfect book. Deft fingers traced spines and finally he pulled out a book that looked to be interesting. Glancing around the room he started towards the chairs and sat down flicking open the book.
"Dark Curses F to J," Tom said raising an eyebrow and sitting across from the teen, "Aren't you a little too light for such a dark book?"
"I'm neither light nor dark," Harry said not looking up, "Dumbledore kept too much hidden from me and my friends to keep us under his thumb and we don't like torturing people so don't expect us to join you."
"What else did he keep from you?" Draco asked leaning in to gaze over Harry's shoulder at the text he was reading quickly, "Well?"
Snapping the book shut Harry turned and said calmly, "That would classify as a private matter so please drop it," standing he replaced the book and began his search for a new one.
"You didn't finish the book," Draco said blinking in shock.
"No I didn't I was searching for a specific spell, I know it now and now I need a book to read while Ron has his – uh," spinning Harry gazed at the ceiling, "It's the full moon tonight," getting blinked at he turned and started to leave. At the door he looked at them, "Well come on I don't know where I'm going."
"What's the matter?" Tom asked as they began to lead Harry back to the dining room.
"Remus doesn't have the potion so we have to decide who is going to roam with him tonight," Harry said before walking in to see Ron listening to Narcissa talk about where his room would be, "Oi, dipstick one through twenty?"
"Sixteen," Ron said looking at him, "Full moon?"
"Yeah, mines fourteen," Harry said before starting towards the floo, "If you lose I'll send word via werewolf."
"Ry wait," Ron said chasing after him, "Shouldn't you take the first moon you're so much bigger!"
"What is he talking about Potter is so small," Draco said blinking in confusion as the four of them followed the two. They ended up following them back to the house they were staying in to see Remus laughing while Harry collected numbers.
Turning Percy raised an eyebrow at their guests, "Any of you an Animagus?" getting four nods he laughed, "I love it everyone we have four new contestants!"
"Three," Ron said looking at Narcissa he said calmly, "Sorry but I'd rather not risk you being mauled."
"I'm only a dove anyways," Narcissa said smiling, "What are you all?"
"Ron's a wolf, Hermione's a cat, Neville's a beaver, Percy is a cheetah, Harry's a Black Tiger, and I'm a sparrow," Luna said dreamily, "Please choose a number between one and twenty, the numbers sixteen, fourteen, five, eight, and twelve are taken."
"Seven," Lucius said shrugging.
"Fifteen," Draco answered smoothly.
"Twenty," Tom said with a calm voice.
"And so the drawing begins," Luna said dreamily as she turned to Harry who was holding a hat, "What number or numbers did I write down?" she asked which made him look at the bottom of the hat.
"Twenty, fourteen, and twelve," Harry said before tilting his head, "Why did you write turn the hat around before you finish this sentence?" as soon as he finished it green paint splattered across his face, wiping paint from his eyes he looked at Luna, "You pranked me."
"You said no one's pulled a successful prank on you, I had to prove that wrong," Luna said before smiling, "After dinner, Harry, Percy and Tom shall accompany Remus to the forest."
"What is your form anyways?" Harry asked Tom while wiping paint from his face.
"A panther," Tom answered before getting a wicked grin aimed his way, "What?"
"The cat's out of the bag and the wolf has kittens to play with," Percy said as he realized why Harry was grinning, "All three of us have big cats as forms."
