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Chapter 10

(Ebony P.O.V)

I woke up slowly, after the pain receded. Something was different. I felt different, but I couldn't place what was wrong. I opened my eyes slowly and groaned. My body felt stiff.

"How are you feeling Cub?" Dad asked.

"Stiff." I said. "I feel different than I normally do when I wake up from growing pains."

"You would." Dad said.

"Why?"

"Go look in a mirror." Dad replied, releasing my wrists, and nudging me to the side of the bed. I got up, and wandered into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror, and froze. It couldn't be. I raised my hands to the top of my head. They were there alright. Just to make sure, I lowered my hands to where my ears were, or were not, as the case may be. My ears had disappeared, only to reappear as black cats ears on top of my head.

I looked down, and my eyes widened. I watched as it flicked back and forth. 'It' was a cat's tail. I grabbed the tail to examine it. I held it up to my face. Then I looked to the door. Dad wasn't there, so I quickly let the claws I shared with dad grow out further, and then I pierced my tail. I hit the bone, and I couldn't go any further. The Adamantium covered the bones in my tail.

"Cub?" Dad asked. "Why the hell can I smell blood?" He stalked into the room, frowning.

"I checked to see if the Adamantium covered my tail. It does." I said.

Dad shook his head. "I'm sure that there's a spell somewhere for that." He said. "Get dressed. Wait till you see Lena and Severus. Severus is frantically looking for a way to reverse what's happened to them, before school starts. Do you want to change back?"

I thought about it for a moment and then shook my head. "Nah. I think I like my new look. There's no mistaking that I'm a mutant now." I grinned.

Dad smirked. "Only you, cub. Only you." He said.

"Right, I'm going to have a bath, and change, so, shoo."

"Right." Dad turned and left. I heard the door open, and close as dad left the room.

I closed the bathroom door, and walked over to the bath, and turned the taps on. I ran it till the bath was three quarters of the way full. I put my hand in the water to test it. Boiling hot; perfect! I only ever had boiling hot water in a bath. Even though I could deal with cold, I hated being cold. The hotter the temperature, the better.

I pulled off my clothes, and slipped into the tub. My ears and tail were odd, and it was especially odd trying to get used to them. I was unsure as to whether I should was my tail with soap, or shampoo, but in the end I settled for shampoo. I'd see if it worked out, if not, I'd switch to soap. When I was done, I got out the bath, and dried off, before wandering out to the bedroom, to grab some clothes. I dressed, and left the room. I followed dad's scent down the corridor, unsure of what else to do.

(No P.O.V)

Harry saw Victor heading down a corridor, and hurried to catch up with him. "Excuse me!" He called, trying to catch the older Ferals attention.

Victor stopped walking, and turned to face him. "Yes?" He asked, his voice almost bordering on a growl.

"Well sir, I was wondering, if I could have your permission to ask Ebony to be my partner for my coming out ball in October?"

"My permission?" Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Well, yes. I know that Ebony and I are already Soul Bonded, but I want to do right by her."

Victor surveyed him for a minute. Even though he thought hat asking the father for permission was a sign of weakness, this time it caused his opinion of the kid to go up. It showed him that the kid wasn't going to try and hurt his cub.

"Fine, but on one condition."

"Anything."

"You train with me at least until you can hold your own in a fight against me for five minutes."

Harry nodded. "Of course." He knew that five minutes against Victor Creed would be no easy feat, but at least he would be able to watch Ebony's back in a fight better.

"We start tomorrow, eight in the morning. Meet me in the entrance hall. I'll lead you to the room I use to train Ebony."

"Of course. And, thank you." Harry said, and he turned, and headed off.

Victor shook his head. That kid needed to get an attitude if he was going to survive being with Ebony.

(Ebony P.O.V)

I ran into Harry, while following dad's scent.

"Harry!" I smiled, hugging him.

"Hey Eb." He said, hugging me back, before holding me at arms length, and examining me. "Wow, Ebony, you look amazing!"

"You think?" I asked.

"Yeah, you look beautiful. The ears and tail really suit you."

"Thanks Harry." I grinned.

"Hey, Eb, I was wondering, you know that ball I have to have?"

"Yeah?"

"I was thinking, that… well, would you like to go as my partner?"

"Of course I would Harry!" I said smiling. I hugged him, and felt the tension leave his shoulders.

"Thank Merlin for that." He said, hugging me back once more. "That was scarier than asking your dad for permission."

I stiffened. "You asked dad for his permission?" I pulled back. "Oh God, what did he do? How are you still alive and in one piece?"

"Well, he said I could ask you, so long as I trained with him at least until I could hold my own against him in a fight for five minutes."

"Well, at least you know how to fight." I said.

"I wouldn't, if it wasn't for you. I think I may actually be able to last for five seconds tomorrow." Harry mused.

"Just remember to listen to your instincts. If they tell you to dodge left, what do you do?"

"Dodge left." Harry said.

"Exactly." I nodded. "Now, let's go explore. There's a lot more to this place that I haven't seen yet."

"Come on then." Harry said, grinning.

I took his hand, and we wandered off to explore the castle. There were many rooms, and items. I spent an age in the armoury, there was something there, but I couldn't quite place what it was. We left the room and continued on.

"Ebony, I know it's a touchy subject, but your mother and stepfather, what are you going to do about them?"

"I honestly don't know. They hurt me badly, and because of Dumbledore, are still threats. I don't like threats being around."

"How badly did they hurt you, Eb?" Harry asked.

"Very." I admitted. I thought about what I was like, when dad found me, and some of the abuse I'd suffered. I couldn't help it coming to mind, and I didn't block the thoughts from Harry.

"Oh God Eb! That's awful!" Harry said. He looked appalled. His eyes began to bleed gold. "If I ever see them! My mate!" He growled. This was the first time Harry's Feral had come out while I was around. From here on out, his temper was going to be much shorter.

"Harry, calm down. Now isn't a good time to loose it." I said, placing a hand on his cheek.

Harry grabbed my waist, and pulled me to him, and started inhaling through his nose, taking in my scent to assure himself I was indeed alright. His arms were tight around my waist, making sure I wasn't going to disappear. Harry's hand ran through my hair repetitively.

"I'm alright, Harry. I'm fine. Everything's fine now. They can't hurt me here." I said.

"Dumbledore's trying though." A voice said.

We turned to see Sirius, a frown on his face.

"What's happened, Sirius?" Harry asked, his arm tightening round my waist.

"Dumbledore's appealed to the Wizingamot, to have your guardianship awarded to him, on the claim that the heir to a Most Ancient and Noble House should be raised by someone who knows our ways."

"Are they going to agree?"

"No. Your father is the head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Creed, and several others. All heads of houses of prestige wouldn't dare vote to remove you from him. They understand the importance of family, and due to the family union, I am present to teach you anything you need to know. The both of you. They would also be afraid of the political clout your father holds, and what I hold. We would both be against them, if they voted in favour of Dumbledore's motion. But he has openly moved against you now. The two of you."

"When will the Wizingamot meet?" I asked.

"In two days." Sirius said.

"Does dad know?" I asked.

"Yes. I left him to tear the room apart." Sirius said. "But like I said, the Wizingamot will not vote to separate you from your father."

"I hope your right, Sirius." I said, a growl lacing my tone.

Harry's chest was vibrating, and his eyes were solid gold.

"Ah, Sirius, I'm going to go reassure Harry."

"Right." Sirius said, nodding. "You have to be there, Ebony. At the meeting. So that if they grant Dumbledore what he wants you are turned immediately over to his custody."

"On what grounds can he do this?" Harry asked.

"On the grounds that Victor has not been raised in the ways of pureblood wizards." Sirius answered.

"Harry, come on. You need to calm down, before you hurt someone."

Harry nodded, his eyes still solid gold, and I lead him away, to an alcove.

"Harry, Dumbledore won't win this." I said.

"What if he does, Eb?" Harry growled.

"I've already thought of that. If he does, then I'll simply ask to hug dad goodbye, in front of the others there. To uphold his image, Dumbledore will have to let me do it, or risk being put in a very bad light. When I do, I'll simply teleport dad and I out, and we'll head for safety. Simple."

"Where will you go?"

"I don't know, but until my Seventeenth, we'll have to disappear."

"Will I see you until then, if Dumbledore wins?"

"I'll find a way. I promise." I said.

Harry nodded, and hugged me tightly.

"He won't win, Harry. I promise you he won't." I said.

Harry nodded and we just stood there, while he calmed down, and gained back control.

A/N: Please review!