Disclaimer! I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Wow.. this took so long to write, I have no idea why either! But it got really easy at the end. Anyway I want to thank you all for your patience! This chapter goes out to my last review Socdel for his/her wonderful review! I really am sorry about taking soooo long for this chapter, I had knee sergury three weeks ago, so I haven't been able to do much of anything. It's finally getting better, and I can't sit in chairs for a long period of time now! I'm out of my brace...although I'm acutally not supposed to, it's such a bother really.Anywa I realyl hope you enjoy this chapter... it's not as interesting as other ones... but it's a chapter so don't complain!
Chapter 9: Run"Potter! As in Harry Potter!" Lucius snarled, taking a vicious step towards his son, "You have bonded yourself to The-Boy-Who-Lived?"
"Father!" Draco's voice wavered under his father's angry glare, "Please calm down!"
"I have been calm enough this night! I will not accept my son—my only son, bonded to Harry Potter!" Lucius snarled, grabbing Draco forcibly by the arm.
Growling, Draco wrenched his arm from his father's grip, tearing his mask off at the same time, "Father, you are being unreasonable. You, yourself told me to find someone I could trust." Draco's voice shook slightly, his accent changing faintly as he glared angrily into his father's glowing silver eyes.
"I am not being unreasonable! When I said to you, find a powerful ally, I meant someone like Blaise, or even Prosper, of the Family Ramada and the house of Serial." Lucius said, his temper dying down slightly.
"Father, Harry is more powerful than both combined and then some, I would trust my life in his hands more than any other."
"How do you expect me to believe that, when he nearly gets his friends killed yearly!"
"Mon Dieu!" Draco cried out, switching from English to his first language, "Père, vous ne comprenez pas, Harry n'est pas juste mon ami, il est la famille. Harry est mon frère adhéré ! Rien vous ne pouvez dire ou ferez détruire cela!" ( Jad- French is terrible- sorry.,… okay translation is… "My God!" …"Father, you do not understand, Harry is not just my friend, he is family. Harry is my bonded brother! Nothing you can say you or will do to destroy that!")
"I will not accept this relationship in my family! If you are found out, than everything I have worked for will be over!" Lucius said, his anger simmering back up to the surface.
"Father, you say that as if Harry and I are lovers when we are everything but!" Thrusting out his hand, he showed his father the Hyozan mark. "Father, look at it!" Draco snarled, slipping unconsciously back to English. "It is not the mark of lovers, but of brothers! Father, look at it," Draco repeated again as his father looked away from him.
"I'm looking at it. I know what a Hyozan is, Dragon," Lucius whispered, his body folding itself into a chair elegantly, "I had one myself, which was many a year ago."
"Father?"
Draco watched sullenly as his father smoothed over his face, losing all the past emotion that was so openly displayed to him, "Father, I'm not asking for your blessing, Harry is my brother now, and family to you. You said so not even fifteen minutes ago. What has changed between Lord Bane and Harry Potter, they're the same person you met moments ago."
"The Lord Bane I had met was not the boy-who-lived! Lord Bane is not on everyone's list to kill," Lucius growled.
"You'd be surprised father, once this war starts Lord Bane and Lord Silver Hawk will be, maybe even more so than Harry Potter."
"Lord Bane is not the centre of this war. Draco why can't you understand that this new," Lucius struggled, trying to find a word to define his son's predicament, "this new development is not the best thing to have started. Lord Voldemort wants Harry Potter dead if it's the last thing he does, if Potter dies, cutting the bond you have between the two of you, what do you think will happen?"
Draco shook his head uncertainly; he had trusted Harry when it came to the bonding, knowing the black haired boy would not place him in harm's way.
"Potter, I take it you created the bond and the terms?" Lucius glared, waiting for the stiff nod. Lucius continued, "Recite what you bonded you two by?"
Harry stepped forward, his eyes glowing a vicious forest green as he glared at Lucius Malfoy, forcing a grin back when the older man stepped back involuntarily. His scent was intoxicating for Harry; even as Lucius Malfoy straightened his shoulders and glared back at him, Harry could smell the fear; the submissiveness of the creature before him.
Grinning, Harry felt his fangs grow slightly, slipping over his front lip, "Lucius Malfoy, are you afraid?" He purred, looking at him through his bangs.
"Afraid. Hardly. One of my power and status does not become intimidated of someone lesser than I. Now will you please recite to me the charm you were bounded by?"
"Of course," Harry grinned, his eyes becoming hard as he took a predatory step towards Lucius Malfoy, smirking gleefully as the man took another step back, "We are free, bound only to each other. My life is yours, yours is mine. Harm one, harm all. The survivor must avenge. Whatever is taken from the Hyozan, the Hyozan recovers tenfold."
"You see Draco, if Harry were to die, what do you think you would do?" Lucius questioned, glancing at his only son.
"I would avenge his death, killing any who participated in helping and killing Harry, father." Draco said, his eyes glaring up into that of his fathers.
"Exactly. Do you believe that you would be able to destroy hundreds? Destroying some who are very close to you?"
"Lucius, I am not about to go and get myself killed. If, one day, that happens, I promise you that I will cut all ties I have formed with Draco," Harry said truthfully, his eyes sliding to Draco's shocked face.
When Harry had formed the bond between them, he had formed it so that if, when needed, he could cut himself out of the circle, allowing Draco to live his life without having to search for each and every one of his killers.
Harry watched Draco's face, emotion running across his face, as Draco stared back at Harry. Draco smoothed over his features to match that of his fathers, "Did you allow me to cut off all ties if my life should come to an end?"
"No,"
Harry cringed, knowing that his answer would infuriate the blonde.
Silence
spread over the room as Harry and Draco
stared at one another. Finally,
Draco broke eye contact, eyes traveling over Dumbledore and settling
on his father's smug looking face, "Looks like you'll get what
you want Father, Harry here has come to the idea that we should end
the bond."
"Wha-?" Harry said stupidly, blinking a few times as he processed what Draco had said.
Dumbledore looked between the three people before him, clearing his throat, he stepped forward, "Draco, I believe that ending the bond would not be beneficial towards yourself and Harry, not to mention our cause."
"Albus, stay out of this," Harry growled out as Draco's suggestion finally made sense.
"Draco, what exactly are you implying?" Harry spat out, trying to be calm.
"I'm not suggesting anything. It is clear enough that you do not fully believe I am capable of handling myself, and the stresses of being in this Hyozan brotherhood."
"Draco, I fully believe that you would be able to handle it," Harry said, reaching up to remove his mask, "It's me I do not fully believe in. I don't think I would be able to die peacefully, happily, knowing that you could possibly die because I had done something stupid."
Draco snorted, still seething as he glared at Harry, "We'll talk about this later."
Dumbledore stepped forward before Harry could reply to Draco, "I believe that is a wise decision. It is becoming late, and I'm afraid my old body will not be able to stay up any longer." Looking at the three occupants in the room, he nodded, "Harry, have you thought about my proposal?"
"Yes, like Draco has said, it would suit us better if we were to train the members, and have them able to defend against anything Voldemort will throw at them," Harry nodded, his eyes looking at Draco's sagging form as he stifled a yawn, the adrenaline leaving his body.
"I believe you're right Albus, I'm quite exhausted myself. I believe we'll be heading back," Harry said, indicating Draco and himself.
Walking towards Draco, Harry touched his arm slightly. Draco jerked away, glaring heavily at Harry, before he tried to stifle another yawn.
"C'mon Dray, we have to get back to school," Harry murmured, pushing him gently towards the fireplace.
Draco righted himself, having leaned against the wall for support; he stumbled slightly, shooting his arms out to break his fall, his tired mind barely comprehending Harry firm hands on his arms.
"I can walk by myself," Draco snapped, although he did not remove himself from Harry's hold.
Harry faked a yawn, in truth he was everything but tired. Looking at his brother, he allowed some of his magic to travel through the bond to give him a slight boost. Draco jerked out of his hold, slamming barriers across the link.
Glaring at Harry, Draco snarled, "Stop! I don't need your help! I am capable of handling myself!"
Harry cringed, nodding as he withdrew his magic from the link, "I was just trying to help," he murmured tiredly, unsure how to react to this new side of Draco. It had been many years since he had to deal with this side of the blond haired Draconian, even before they put behind their differences; this reaction, and the responses he was getting, were new to him.
"Why can't you understand Harry? I don't need it!" Draco snarled, tiredly grabbing some floo powder and throwing it into the already burning fire place. Waiting for the flames to turn a bright green, he stepped into the flames, whispering his destination quietly, before disappearing.
Harry sat down, running a hand across his face, unsure of what to do next. Draco had been difficult and edgy since coming back from Atlantis; everything Harry said or did seemed to set him off. Harry hated every moment when this happened, everything Draco said seemed to cut through his very being as if Draco were carving chunks of flesh from his body.
"I don't know what to do with him," He murmured aloud. He ran a hand through his long hair and it slowly shortened, the dark emerald streaks fading to black, "He's completely changed since returning from Atlantis, I don't know what I should do. It's like everything that's happened during our summer doesn't seem to matter to him anymore."
Lucius watched the display, confused; it seemed to him that Potter had completely forgotten about him.
"Potter," he said slowly, stepping back when Harry snapped his head up quickly, "I, I have not been this ambivalent in many years. If Draco was not as strong as he is, I would have never permitted this bond to occur. As it is, Draco is extremely powerful, perhaps even more so than I, and unfortunately I have no say in this," he paused here, looking to see if Harry had anything to say, "Although, I am not happy that my son has been bonded to you, I am happy he chose someone who is incredibly powerful, and somebody whom obviously cares for him," Lucius finished, reaching towards the Malfoy Crest that hung proudly around his neck, pausing before he touched the gold surface, "Goodnight Mr. Potter, and welcome to the family."
Grasping the medallion he disappeared, leaving before he could see Harry's shocked face. Harry sat in the chair stiffly, unsure of what had just happened. Dumbledore watched Harry, his heart clenching when he saw Harry's eyes. They were the eyes of someone who's seen too much, the eyes of an old warrior who just wants to give up and let everything go.
"Harry."
"Don't, I don't want your pity," Harry said coldly, his face smoothing over, leaving it completely blank.
Dumbledore nodded, "I'm not offering you my pity. I'm offering you someone to lean on."
Harry looked at him, staring hard into his mentor's warm blue eyes. Nodding, Harry offered an apologetic smile, "Thank you." Sighing he placed his elbows on his knees, resting his head in his palms, "I'm so confused, everything I know is changing and it seems I'm being left behind. I can't say one thing to Draco without setting him off; I've barely gotten to see him since school started. Do you know what it's like to not see your bonded brother daily? When I do get to see him, it's behind masks and words of hate. It's just, I can't—I'm not strong enough to do that."
"Have you talked to Draco about this?" Albus inquired gently, placing a bony arm around Harry's shoulders.
"And set him off? He'd say something about not changing, and that I'm over reacting. Either way, I can't talk to him about it, it wouldn't be good."
Dumbledore looked confused, "I don't understand."
"I am, in the simplest of terms, Draco's dominate, his pack leader. Like all creatures that live in packs, it is not wise for the pack leaders to be uncertain, or afraid."
"Harry, you can't always be fearless. Sometimes, it's good for people to know that you're not, that even though you come off as a brave and powerful leader, that you're still human as well. Talk to Draco, he can help."
"That's what you don't understand; did you see Draco and his father tonight? When Lucius first confronted me, and realized that I am his dominate, Draco lost all fear and respect of him, for he realized that Lucius Malfoy has no power over him, like the power I do. I can't have that. I don't know what I would do if Draco," pausing, he shook his head, "I just want to be the hero everyone thinks I am. I just want to do what everyone expects me to do. To be."
"You can't be everything you or they want you to be," pausing, Dumbledore let out a small smile, "too bad it's the life you lead. You're so ahead of yourself that you forget what you need. You do not need this burden you are unwilling to share. Harry, I want you to be happy, I truly do." Dumbledore paused here, looking uncertain if he should continue, "If you want, I can make Harry Potter disappear."
Harry's head shot out of his hands. He looked at Albus, astonished, his eyes searching his face, then locking his emerald eyes to Albus' twinkling blue ones, "Dear Dieu! You're serious."
"It seems you are picking up on some of Draco's vocabulary," Albus chuckled to himself, reaching into his bright robes to take out a lemon drop, "I'm quite serious actually."
"Why?"
"So that you could live your life happily, to be able to live a life without having the Wizarding World to worry about, to be able to be yourself without worrying what's expected of you," Dumbledore told the young wizard who looked at him with eyes ablaze with new hope, before watching it dims back to the dull green it had been before.
"That would mean running from everything. I would be leaving the world to Voldemort's wraith; I would be leaving behind everything—everyone I fight to protect. I wouldn't be able to do that, I can't do that." Harry said, green eyes looking into that of his mentors.
"You could still protect everyone you love; you would be under a different name, you would still fight against Voldemort. Your true identity would be kept a secret—"
"Hiding the truth only keeps people apart, Albus," Harry interrupted, smiling softly at the old man.
Smiling back, Dumbledore nodded his head, "You're so much like your father, I offered him the same thing when he was younger when the Wizarding World looked to him for help as the sole heir to the Potter-Gryffindor fortune, and his father, before he was murdered, was the finest Auror we've seen. They said the exact same thing."
"You know, ever since I saw how my father acted, I've been fighting to avoid becoming like him. But we all have certain genes that we want to change which dominates us."
Dumbledore looked at Harry seriously, "Your father was an amazing man, Harry. Never doubt that, he did more things for this world than you will ever realize, despite of how he acted when he was younger."
Harry diverted his eyes, unsure how to respond to such a forceful statement, "I meant no disrespect, I didn't know him, and truthfully I don't even know anything about him, so I don't have any right to judge him."
"It's alright child. Harry, I—If you ever need to speak to someone, my door always open," Dumbledore told him, his blues sparkling with affection.
"Thank you."
Harry's murmured reply echoed in the now empty room, all that was heard was the roar of the fireplace, before Harry felt the deafening silence enclose around him. Harry leaned back in the high backed chair, wincing as the sharp edges dug painfully into his back; he let his thoughts run wild.
Rubbing his eyes tiredly his mind floated back to his and Draco's conversation, 'All I want to do is help him, and be a good alpha! He never used to care! Why the sudden change?' Harry though angrily. Palming his eyes, he winced when one of his gauntlets jabbed him painfully.
'Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!' Harry growled. Standing up from the chair, he shut his eyes. Concentrating, Harry felt himself being engulfed by shadows. To most this feeling would be painful and rather uncomfortable, but to Harry, he loved the cool feel of the shadows swallowing his body.
Feeling his feet touch the ground, he opened his eyes to the Forbidden Forest, grinning happily when he heard the excited yips and barks of his pack. 'They'll never question me; they'll never ignore, abuse, lie, and insult me. This is what a true family is…' Harry's thoughts trailed off as he allowed the packs smells to wash over him.
Pushing the happy wolves away, Harry quickly vanished his clothing, as he dropped to the forest floor his back arching high into the night sky. Gasping he started to pant; forced transformations always took so much more out of him than the normal calm ones. He whimpered slightly, as his temples started to throb, his scalp started to tingle. He tried to take calm breaths, but instead his breaths came out short and painful.
He whimpered again as he felt his skin start to stretch. The sensation deepened and Harry tried to block out the pain. Through gritted teeth he chuckled. 'Pain. What a trivial word—agony is better. One doesn't call being flayed alive painful.'
Keeping his head down, he convulsed slightly as his leg muscles knotted, sweat pouring off him in streams, he could hear his pack whimpering, whispering encouraging words. Slumping to the ground, he stretched and blinked. The world around him was an array of colours unknown to muggle or wizarding eye, blacks and browns and grays. Raising his black muzzle, he sniffed. His already keen senses sharpened more, the scents of the large stag and his herd that resided in the clearing ahead overwhelmed his already sensitive senses. (A/N… the description of the transformation is not mine, I'm taking no credit from it.)
He stood, his pack surrounding his large black form, waiting eagerly to run. 'Run' Harry thought happily. He leapt forward, throwing himself down the small hill. His legs picked up the rhythm before he was joined by the rest of his pack. His tongue rolled to the side in a wolf grin as he felt Estus race past him, then a burst of speed had Harry passing Estus in one large stride.
Unable to resist, Harry skidded to a stop. Throwing back his head, he howled, six more voices flooded the forest with beautiful music that sent shivers up Harry's spine. Stopping, Harry let his breath come back to him as he sat, before jumping to his feet as another howl pierced the night, responding to the packs'. 'No. Harry, don't,' His mind screamed at him as his wolf melted for the pitiful lone wolf calling for family. Raising his muzzle, Harry cursed the wolf, screaming at him to stop, even as he felt the howl build up in his throat. Harry's mind finally quieted as the last of the howl left his throat. A second later, the reply came in the crashing of distant bushes. Spinning around, Harry caught the silver wolf's forequarters and knocked him on his back before lunging on top to nip gently at the loose skin around the silver wolfs neck.
'Bane,' the whining voice entered his mind slowly like an echo, 'get off me.'
Tightening his hold, Harry shook his head roughly; the smaller wolfs head flung from side to side creating a whimper from him.
'Silver, what are you doing here?' Harry growled out, releasing his hold.
Confused silver eyes looked up at him as the wolf rolled onto his feet, 'I heard the call, am I not allowed to run with my pack?'
Harry desperately wished he could say 'Not tonight, go home' but was unable to speak as Silver buried his nose into his neck. Instead he found himself returning the nuzzle. 'Let's hunt,' was all Harry could say as he broke away from his pack.
&
Gold rays of light filtered through the forest canopy, landing softly on the eight unconscious wolves. In the centre the largest one shifted his head, allowing his muzzle to fall deftly onto the charcoal body beside him. He winced as a ray of light landed painfully on his eyes, lifting his head he shook the red dots from his eyes before standing. Trotting to the small stream that the pack had collapsed by last night, he took a few hesitant steps into the gushing water.
His mind, much calmer after the night's events, felt the change come. He felt his limbs give out beneath him +and coughed as he inhaled large amounts of the icy water. Standing, he shook the water from his hair.
"Harry?"
Swirling around, Harry encountered Draco's hesitant face, "Yes?"
"Are we okay? Last night,"
"Don't. Last night is in the past. Let it stay there."
"You always say that. You never want to discuss our disagreements, you never open up!" Draco growled angrily.
"Draco, leave it," Harry said with a note of finalization in his tone. Walking back up onto the land, he grabbed the black pants that he had discarded so quickly the night before. Putting them on, Harry stood in front of Draco, who sat staring at him with wide accusing eyes. "What do you want me to say? I can't change the past, so why bother bringing it up when it will only reopen fresh wounds."
"Reopen fresh wounds? What wounds? Harry, you can't expect me to understand you if you won't tell me what's going on inside of you," Draco said, stepping towards his own discarded pants.
"Dray," Harry looked at him, his eyes unable to hold that of his brothers, "I can't."
"What? Why?"
"Will you just drop it; we have to get to class. We're late as it is," Harry snapped. Grabbing his other articles of clothing, he started to walk towards the looming castle in the distance.
Hearing Draco's angry growl, Harry sped his pace up.
"Come on, Ferret. We have Snape next, can't be late for him. I don't know about you, but I reek," Harry said, wrinkling his nose up for effect.
"Well, you're covered in blood, sweat, and drool, so I'm not too surprised to find that you smell dreadful," Draco drawled, leaping over a fallen tree.
Rolling his eyes Harry grinned, "Race you?"
"What's the point; you wouldn't have a chance against me," even as Draco through the insult out, he was off racing through the forest.
Grinning, Harry bolted after him, leaping over a fallen tree in one jumping; he landed a foot behind Draco. Grabbing Draco's bare shoulder, Harry twisted him around so he tripped, falling heavily onto his chest. A gleeful smirk crossed Harry's face as he continued running, hearing Draco's muttered cursing and the pounding of his feet as he tried to catch up.
Harry saw the forest ending, grinning, he leaped for the ending, but he felt the brush of Draco's fingers against his arm. Rolling to the ground, Harry broke free from the forest. Getting to his feet, Harry gave a cry of triumph.
"Harry?"
Freezing, Harry turned around slowly, his arms still held triumphantly in the air, and met the startled gazes of his stunned class mates. Harry heard it before it happened; Draco stormed from the forest, covered in dirt and blood, a scowl visible on his pale face, as he ploughed right into Harry, effectively knocking him to the ground.
"You cheap prick!"
"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall's prim voice cut through the tension, forcing Draco to pause as he lifted his fist to hit Harry.
"Professor," Draco said, looking at the teacher, his fist still raised, as if he had every right to be there, abusing another student.
"What happened to you two?" She shrieked, taking two long strides towards the two boys, "You're covered in blood! You're barely half dressed! You've been fighting?"
Rolling his eyes, Draco lowered his arm, "Professor, I am in my sixth year, and a prefect, I will not lower myself to fight with a," he gave Harry a distasteful look, "…student."
McGonagall looked at both boys, her lips pressing into a thin white line, "Then you can explain, Mr. Malfoy, as to why you are covered in blood and came out of the forest quite intent on striking Mr. Potter here."
Draco eyes widened a fraction before he smirked confidently at her, "Well you see—"
"Professor, we were fighting," Harry interrupted, rolling his eyes at the small twinge of anger that Draco sent through their link.
"Thank you for your honesty Mr. Potter."
Sighing, she rubbed her eyes, glaring at the two bickering boys, 'Dear lord, they're worse than Severus and James were.'
"You both have an hour to have yourselves checked for injuries, and to clean yourselves up, before meeting at Dumbledore's office," McGonagall instructed, dismissing the two shirtless boys with a wave of her hand.
They walked towards the castle shoulders slumped slightly. Draco shuffled his feet, kicking a large stone out of his pathway, "This is all your fault you know, if you had just headed back to the castle when you left the Orders Headquarters, we wouldn't be in this mess."
"This is just like you to put the blame on me," Harry growled.
"That's only because it's always your fault!" Draco bit out as he yanked open the great hall doors angrily.
As they walked down the winding halls, Harry started to feel uneasy; the students were staring at the two like they had taken their Draconian form.
Draco? Harry whispered through their link, why is everyone staring at us?
I have no idea, but it's beginning to piss me off, Draco whispered back, scowling angrily at a group of fourth year giggling girls, effectively making them scamper off.
"HARRY POTTER!"
Harry winced, knowing exactly who had screamed his name with such anger. Turning, he placed his best guilty mask on.
"Herms let me explain," Harry begged.
"Explain? Explain what? How you and Malfoy stumbled out of the Forbidden Forest looking as if you were just tortured by You-Know-Who himself? Or how about why you are gallivanting around Hogwarts half naked? Oh, please do explain yourself Harry Potter; I'm just dying to know," Hermione growled out angrily, invading Harry's person space.
Draco chocked back a laugh. Quickly coughing, he covered his mouth, "Excuse me, my throat had a tickle."
Hermione spun around to face him, "AND YOU! Starting fights with Harry here not even a month into term! What were you thinking? That you could get him a nice long detention, or perhaps to leave him injured in the Forbidden forest to die! Well I'll have you know Dumbledore won't buy your lies!"
"Hermione! Back off will you?" Harry said, his anger getting the better of him; nobody talked to any of his pack like that.
Baffled, Hermione took a step back, "Harry, I just—"
"Don't," Harry growled, turning around and grabbing an incredibly smug looking Draco forcibly by the arm and started to drag him down the hall.
"Well," Draco started smugly, "least we know why the student body is staring at us like we're some sort of gods."
"This is not funny Draco," Harry bit out, although he couldn't help but feel his own grin start to emerge from the frown.
Shoving Draco roughly from him, Harry strode into the Hospital Wing, "Poppy?"
"Harry dear, what are you doing here; it's barely even the start of the second week of school! What have you gotten yourself into now?" Madame Pomfrey uttered, completely oblivious to Draco's presence.
Clearing his throat, Draco stepping fully into the Hospital Wing, shuffled his feet uncomfortably as Poppy's head shot up, a scowl crossing her face, "Come in. Come in. I should have known you would be here as well. You boys can never seem to keep your hands off one another. You know, sooner or later some might start to question why you two have such…passionate fights."
Horrified Harry jumped off his bed, "Poppy!"
Her laugh drowned out the boys protests, "You both should have seen your faces. Priceless!"
"How could you even suggest such a… thing" Draco screeched out, his face turning a slight red. For Merlin's sake, we're brothers! He thought, desperately wanting to shout it at her.
Ignoring Draco's statement, she started to wave her wand around frantically, "Well, you boys are not injured, except for some minor bruising. But you can live with them. Merlin knows you deserve them. Now get yourselves cleaned up, I believe the headmaster is waiting for you. I'll have a House Elf drop of some clothes."
"Thank-you Madame," Draco murmured politely.
Surprised, Madame Pomfrey nodded slightly, "You're very welcome, young Malfoy."
Waiting for Madame Pomfrey to leave, the two boys bolted for the bathroom. "I got here first!" Draco growled.
"No, I did!"
"Are you blind as well as stupid? It's obvious that it was me!" Draco yelled, trying to shove Harry out of the way.
"Fine! But you take hours to get ready," Harry whined, clinging to the door frame as Draco continually tried to drag him away.
"Boys! There is more than one shower stall." Madame Pomfrey's voice ended their bickering. Blushing sheepishly, both boys nodded before walking side by side into the bathroom.
&
Left, spin, five steps right, spin, five steps left, spin. Dumbledore paced anxiously in his office. He had just finished his meeting with the minister, and what a disaster that turned out to be. It was preposterous! How could the minister think that he would allow such dangerous things in his castle—again? It would not happen. He would not have a repeat of 1993, what a disaster that was. No, he would not allow these creatures into his castle. Not when they were worse—far worse than Dementors.
A soft knock was heard. Jumping slightly, he turned to glare at one of the portraits; they were supposed to warn him when he was going to receive visitors. Shuffling to his desk quickly, he waved his hand, the door opened to reveal two of his new order members.
"Ahh, Harry, Draco. I was expecting you here," pausing; he searched his bright orange robes for his pocket watch, clicking it open, "Twenty minutes ago, so five points from Gryffindor and Slytherin."
Nodding, Dumbledore motioned them to sit, "I was told you two were wandering the forbidden forest…in little nothing but your pants, covered in scraps and blood. Can you explain?"
Nodding Harry simply said, "We ran with our pack."
"That would explain it; I can't deduct points, or offer detentions for something so natural, so I will get to what I really need to speak to you two about."
He paused, looking slightly ruffled in his bright orange robes, "I just finished a meeting with the minister. He asked me to allow him to place guards up among the school. In case of an attack—"
"And these guards are? Wizards? Certainly you're not allowing Dementors back into Hogwarts," Draco's calm icy voice cut off Dumbledore.
"No. I'm afraid to say I would rather have Dementors. The creatures the minister wants placed here…I would rather my students face threats of attacks."
"Ooo, that bad eh?" Harry said lightly, a grin coming upon his face. "What are they?"
"Yeti," Dumbledore said simply.
Chocking, Draco stood up abruptly., "Yeti! What is the ministry thinking? They'll change the entire climate here, not to mention that they're a threat to the student body."
Confused, Harry raked his brain of all the magical creatures he knew, "Merlin, I wish Hermione were here," Harry moaned, looking to Draco than to Dumbledore, both had solemn faces, "What are they?"
Groaning Draco ran his hand through damp hair, "They control weather, they are originally from a cooler climate, so they create blizzards, anything really, to make it freezing out. They are also prone to attack anyone wandering outside in their storms, leaving them frozen solid, dead within seconds. Female Yeti, are also like the Veela, they lure males out into their storm and kill them," Draco said, his voice was curt and dismissive, as if he had better things to do with his time then recite things for Harry.
Nodding, Harry closed his eyes as he thought, drowning Draco and Dumbledore's mumbles out. What would protect the students from these animals? The question rolled over and over in his mind, various answers popped up all discarded with a quick once over from Harry. Pausing, Harry called back the last discarded idea. Maybe…
Opening his eyes, he quirked an eyebrow at the two staring figures, "What?"
"You've been sitting there mumbling about all sorts of nonsense, as Dumbledore and I try to come up with a plan!" Draco fumed angrily.
"I was thinking!" Harry cried with indignation.
"Yah? Care you to tell us what you were 'thinking' about?" Draco said, an annoyed expression on his face.
"It's about the Yeti; you said they were like Veela right? Veela have repellent charms, potions, amulets, right?" Pausing, he allowed the thought to sink in, "Well, we just need the Yeti to guard the entrances and the perimeter. We can use the Veela repellent magic, maybe alter it so it will react to the Yeti. We can have the students wear amulets to ward off any Yeti who get past the borders, maybe potions on themselves as well in case of emergency. Amulets and wards can be placed along the perimeter of Hogwarts." Harry said, his ideas jumbling together.
"That's ridicules Harry, do you know how much that will cost, how long it will take?" Draco said dismissing the suggestion quickly.
"Actually," Dumbledore said a twinkle in his eyes, "I think it's a marvellous idea. We have extra funds, and I believe the ministry will be able to fund us as well. As for taking a while, I supposed cancelling Hogsmead trips for a month won't hurt anyone. Quidditch will have to be held off until we can get wards up,"
"Quidditch?" Harry squeaked. "You can't cancel Quidditch!"
Rolling his eyes, Draco turned to Harry, whose eyes were wide, his mouth open in horror, "Harry, he's not cancelling anything, it will start after the wards and amulets are done."
Sulking, Harry mumbled, "I don't like it. Can't we just tell the minister where to put those creatures."
Smirking, Draco shook his head, "You and your Quidditch. It's no wonder how you and Oliver Wood got along so well."
"Harry, I'm sorry to say, we cannot tell the Minister where to…put…those creatures, we need extra security here," Dumbledore chuckled.
Laughing as well, Harry stood, stretching, "Is that our plan then? Why tell us, I'm sure any one of the professors could have figured it out."
"I was actually hoping for you two to be able to be at beck and call…just in case something happens. I need strong people to help defend the castle. I was actually hoping that maybe you would be able to repel the Yeti with some of your newly acquired magic. But alas, you have done better," Dumbledore stood, his arms outstretched.
"Now I believe it is lunch, why don't you head down to your house tables, I can almost feel your starvation," Dumbledore dismissed the two with a wave of his hand.
