Chapter X: Brothers
Harry turned his head to look at Snape who was still trying to pull out something from his pocket, not paying attention to his careful stepping. The ledge under them began to shake and crack until it broke completely and dropped them. "Severus!" Harry cried out and lunged for the shorter man. The two fell and landed on top of a large, bulky and furry rock before finding the dirt ground. Harry shook his head and adjusted his glasses to find Hagrid in front of him. "Hagrid? There you are!" He stood up and dusted off the dirt from his pants when he noticed Snape was missing now. "Hey, where's Severus?"
A loud but muffled grunt answered Harry's question. He looked over to see two small feet kicking underneath Hagrid. Quickly pulling Hagrid up so Snape would get free Harry had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at the sight. "Blasted, heavy, monster-..." Snape's eyes got wide as he noticed what had sat on him.
"No, relax. This is Hagrid, he's a friend too." Harry's eyes began to water as the horrid smell of the Bog-of-Eternal-Stench assaulted his nasal passages. He cringed and coughed a few times.
"A what?" Snape asked, both shocked and frustrated painted his face.
Hagrid frowned and waved his hand in front of his face. "Smell bad!" He groaned.
"Yuck, you're right, Hagrid." Harry lifted the collar of his shirt to try and keep out as much of the terrible smell as he could. His eyes looked around to find a path or trail to take. He spotted a bridge in the distance and smiled. "I found a bridge. Let's go."
Hagrid smiled and followed Harry, Snape sighing and began following as well too, begrudgingly. The three carefully walked forward and kept their distance from the swamp as much as they could. They reached a corner of the swamp that they had to step over in order to get to the bridge. Harry found a large rock in the swamp that was spaced enough so they could pass the river swamp. As Harry slowly and carefully stepped on the rock Snape tensed up and barked at him. "Careful, brat! If you as so much put a foot in that you'll stink for the rest of your life!" Hagrid grabbed the back of Harry's collar to keep him from slipping and helped him all the way through.
Harry watched Hagrid grab Snape the same way and carried him of the small river before putting him back down. Snape was beyond pissed but they had no time for it and started marching over to the bridge. "Stop! Stop right there!" The three froze when a well-dressed dog jumped in front of the group. His black fur was well groomed under his red and gold vest with rubies embedded into the chest. He wore a small hat that matched his vest with a pure white feather that was as long as his tail sticking out on one side. Even though he was maybe only a inch taller that Snape he still looked like he could take anyone in a fight.
Harry lifted his hands and calmly spoke. "Look, we need to get across." The dog crossed his arms and shook his head.
"No one shall cross, without my permission!" He stated proudly.
Harry briefly pulled his shirt down to talk. "Please, we need to get out of here. The smell is terrible!"
The dog rose a furry eyebrow at Harry. "Smell? What smell are you talking about?"
"You must be joking." Snape demanded.
The dog raised his chin. "I live by my sense of smell." He took a deep breath of air, as the other three cringe and gagged at the action. "The air is sweet, and fragrant, and nobody shall pass through here without my permission."
Harry sighed and stepped forward anyway. "Well we need to cross." The dog whipped out a small, golden staff and swung it at Harry. He jumped back to keep his shins from getting black and blue.
Snape sneered and stepped forward. "Mutt! Get out of my-"
"I warn you! I'm sworn to do my duty!" He quickly whacked Snape in the gut with the staff and growled a warning. Hagrid frowned at the creature and reached to grab the back of his collar. The dog cried out in surprise and wiggled in his grasp just as Snape sprinted past them.
"Severus!" Harry cried and was about to follow when he heard Hagrid yowl. The dog had bit him and when Hagrid dropped him he proceeded to strike Hagrid's knees.
Hagrid frowned deeply. "Bad doggy." He reached to grab him again but missed. The dog was slippery and quick, managing to doge each and every grab Hagrid made for him.
Harry kept his eyes on the small creature but lost him when he disappeared behind Hagrid. A moment later and he sat upon Hagrid's head and knocked on him like he was a door knob. Hagrid growled and flung him as the dog grabbed a handful of his hair, pulling roughly. Harry cringe and debated on how he could stop this. Seconds later and the dog had dropped free again and sprinted to a squirrel's hole and managed to climb through. Hagrid raised his large foot and stomped down just as the dog ran through the hole, destroying half of the tree. It was quiet for a long moment before the dog showed his face at the top of the tree.
"Enough. Never, before this day, have I ever met someone to match my strength in battle."
Harry shook his head at the dramatics and turned to Hagrid. "Are you okay?"
Hagrid beamed at his concern and nodded. "So, Hagrid is it?" The dog asked and Hagrid nodded. "I'm Sir Padfoot. Well then Hagrid, let us be brothers and fight together."
Hagrid happily picked Sir Padfoot out of the tree and placed him softly on the ground. "Hagrid help, brother."
Harry smiled at the pair, relieved that there would be no more fighting. "Alright then, let's go!" Harry took a step and was instantly halted.
"Wait a minute! You have forgotten my sacred vow, my Prince!" Ignoring the strange title Sir Padfoot gave him Harry groaned and rubbed his forehead.
"But you just said that Hagrid was your brother."
Sir Padfoot huffed. "It matters not." Both Hagrid and Harry frowned and began to pull at their hair in frustration.
"Okay," Harry sighed, "Let's think this through. What exactly have you sworn to do?"
Sir Padfoot smiled with pride. "I shall not let any soul to pass through without my permission."
Harry blinked at the small dog before asking, "Well...do we have your permission?"
Sir Padfoot blink back at Harry and began to stutter, completely caught off guard by Harry's question. He took a second to think it through before he gave a small, "Yes?"
Harry gave a grateful sigh. "Thank you Sir Padfoot."
He bowed at the hip. "My Prince." Harry stepped forward at the roughly put together bridge after handing Hagrid Severus's bag he still held. It was one, long slab of stone that was being held up by aged vines. He took a few steps forward and became nervous at how shaky the whole thing was. Sir Padfoot smiled reassuringly at Harry and lightly tapped the rocks that held the vines tightly. "Fret not, my Prince. This bridge has lasted over several centuries." Harry took one more step just to hear and feel the vines snapping.
"Wha-! Help!" The stone slab shook and dropped underneath Harry's feet. Without hesitation Harry grabbed a small tree branch above him and held on for dear life. The discolored swamp splashed into waves as the slab dropped directly into it. Harry's feet kicked and dangled in the air.
"Well, it seemed sturdy enough." Sir Padfoot mumbled to himself.
Harry tried to pull himself to the branch and swing a leg over but the branch creaked and trembled with Harry's weight. "Help me!" Snape had came back in time to see Harry hanging for his life. His eyes were wide with disbelief and fear.
"Harry!" He cried out for the first time.
Harry turned and yelled back. "Severus! Help, please!" The branch gave another creak that brought dread to everyone.
"Don't worry, my Prince! I'll save you! Somehow..." Sir Padfoot mumbled to himself again as he gazed he eyes around the surrounding area for an idea. Hagrid whined before opening his mouth and yelling at the top of his lungs. His cry echoed through the air so much that Harry's body swung from the force. "Quiet, Brother. Can't you see our Prince needs our help?" Hagrid only yelled out again and the swamp below Harry gurgled louder.
All eyes were on a lone bolder that rolled on its own into the swamp and drifted until it was directly under Harry and settled itself. Harry swallowed hard and released his hold on the branch to land on the flat surface of the new rock. Everyone was stumped at the display but didn't have time to recover when Hagrid howled one last time and a group of boulders about the same size came racing into the dangerous swamp. The large rocks lined up where the rock lab once hung to make a new pathway.
Once all the rocks were settled Harry cried out in joy and relief before addressing Hagrid. "That was incredible!"
"My Brother can summon rocks?!" Sir Padfoot asked.
Hagrid nodded as the two moved down to find the first rock. Harry continued his way over to the other side carefully and smiled at Severus. Hagrid took his first step on a rock right as the swamp released one of the wind-breaking noises which Harry cracked a smile at while still holding the bag. "Be carefully, Hagrid!" With each careful step the giant took the swamp would release even more.
Sir Padfoot chuckled and swung his head around and barked at the tree. "Wait for me! Moony!" A scruffy wolf head popped around from a little hole. "Moony, you can come out now." The wolf reluctantly padded over to Sir Padfoot. Moony had a light but sturdy saddle strapped to his back with a small silk blanket underneath, matching Sir Padfoot's vest coloring. Sir Padfoot jumped up and led Moony forward. "Forward. Come on Moony, you can do it." The wolf gave a low whine. "Just close your eyes and go." Sir Padfoot insisted and the wolf followed his advice.
Harry sighed once everyone was safely across and brought his shirt up to cover his face again. "Let's get out of here." He led on with Hagrid right behind and Sir Padfoot with Moony only a few steps behind.
Severus blinked at the brave boy continuing his adventure with stride, impressed with the fact that this boy may have a chance to solve the Labyrinth. Taking only a second to think it over Severus reached to grave the green apple and lean over the swamp, prepared to dropped the cursed thing.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Severus jumped back several feet from the discolored water and sighed, his black eyes weighing heavily on the offending fruit. "Please, I don't think I can give it to him." He eventually ran to catch back up with their larger group, relieved to be leaving the swamp. Some time later and they had found themselves in a new forest. Harry had never once slowed his journey even though the wolf kept whining and the giant moaned about food.
"Hungry." The big beast moaned once again.
Harry ran his fingers through his hair and began to scan the ground around them. "Yeah, me too. I wonder if we can pick some berries or something."
Severus knew this was his chance. "Hey brat," Soft, tired green eyes turned to his cold black ones, "You can have this." And he handed the questionable piece of fruit.
Harry broke into a blinding smile and took the apple. "Thanks Severus! You're a life saver!" The shorter man couldn't hold back his wince when the boy took a large bite of the apple. With only taking a few seconds for it to sink in Harry's face instantly paled. "Severus,...Severus, what have you done..."
The shorter man growled and swiftly turned around. "Damn that king!" When he was far enough away he whispered, "And damn me too..."
Harry could only blink owlishly and stumble over to a old tree. "Everything...is changing." His jeweled eyes stared ahead in a trace, forgetting everything, and everyone, around him.
Draco smiled when he felt his magic release in warm waves. He knew then that Severus had succeeded in giving Harry the apple. Draco left his bed, not bothering to throw on any robes and sat against the window sill. With a wave of his hand he conjured up six crystal balls and began to implant his magic into each clear sphere. One at a time Draco brought a sphere to his lips, whispered a spell and watched as he sent it off to float and find its place by Harry's side. The process took about ten minutes to do all together but Draco knew that all that effort and time would be far worth it for the outcome that would soon follow.
"Not much longer now, Harry."
Hey everyone, so sorry about the late update. Honestly? I had lost my laptop this whole time when I went to visit my parents a while back. I have it now, obviously, and will be updating more often now. I'm excited for the next chapter and hope you are too! Until next time~