Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot. Thanks for reading, let me know what you think of it.

Guardian Beasts

Regulus was feeling rather proud of Teddy at the moment, not to mention terribly glad to see that beneath that sweet, nice guy Hufflepuff exterior, Teddy still possessed the instincts of a Black. Or at least the boy had enough of the family intelligence not to just take his roommate's word for it about the note being from McGonagall, and as planned the boy did signal her before dinner to make sure that she'd written the note with her nod the confirmation he and Teddy needed to worry a little less about what was coming. Regulus wasn't letting his guard down at all, of course, but the idea of Teddy being harmed in his presence had interrupted his sleep more than once recently and whatever the woman had planned, Regulus did trust her not to harm a hair on the boy's head.

But still…he was just a cat in this form after all; there was only so much he could do if she were actually a threat. And to fail one of few members of his family left, especially one as…worth saving as Teddy…well he could only hope that McGonagall had an update that would help them finish this once and for all, so that he could return to his former body. As himself he could protect Teddy properly, which he would do as Teddy was one of the last of his line. And very obviously needed a keeper. I mean really, who couldn't see that?

And since thinking about all the ways in which his charge was far too naïve and vulnerable for a Black made his head hurt, Regulus pointedly turned his attention to thinking about the possibility that this little get together had something to do with him and Siam, since their presence wasn't necessary if McGonagall just meant to update Teddy about anything she might have found out.

McGonagall wasn't stupid after all, she had to realize that the fact that she couldn't communicate with them meant that they were not ordinary cats. Plus he and Siam had been at one of the crime scenes, and he'd helped Teddy and Allan figure out what the victims had had in common. She'd be a complete fool not to wonder about them now.

After a brief discussion early on he and Siam had agreed that they'd allow her to cast spells to make sure that they weren't being controlled or were wizards in disguise, but they had both agreed that they wouldn't let her take them away from their boys either. Neither of them wanted to think about what trouble the two would get into without them, and they couldn't protect them if they were miles away.

Not that they didn't have contingency plans if that happened, of course they did, but neither of them wanted to waste that much of their magical stores getting back, especially since she'd just want to send them back all over again. They also couldn't do their boys much good if they came back exhausted and unable to move more than a few steps after all.

"Guess you aren't any hungrier than I am, huh?"

Looking up at Teddy, who normally ate more than any respectable boy should, even if he was still growing, Regulus was confused until he realized that Teddy just meant that they were both so mentally occupied that they couldn't concentrate on eating.

So Regulus nodded in agreement, which made Teddy smile at him. He really did have a stunning smile, Regulus mused to himself.

And accepting the stroke to his head just because he knew he should, taking one for the team as it were, Regulus waited until Teddy had turned his attention back to his plate before he turned his gaze down to the chicken Teddy had set down on the bench for him, telling himself that he better eat it since he might need his strength later. Though hopefully not.

)

A half an hour or so later Teddy apparently gave up on eating anymore, picking Regulus up and settling him onto his shoulder as per usual while he told everyone he was heading out. He'd already warned his roommates that he was meeting up with McGonagall so they wouldn't worry if they couldn't find him in the dormitories, and so with a wave he headed down the aisle towards the doors out, movement out of the corner of their eyes making both Teddy and Regulus turn their heads to see that Allan and Siam were copying them, the two nodding in their directions with serious expressions on their faces.

Waiting for the other two to catch up with them at the door, Teddy asked Allan if he'd been asked to bring Siam to a meeting with McGonagall as well.

"Yes. Did she tell you why?"

"No. You?"

Allan shook his head and then shrugged, suggesting that they might as well be on their way, since the sooner they spoke to her the sooner they'd know what was up.

As Teddy and Allan walked down the hallway the teenagers and the two cats talked to their crime fighting partner, Siam and Regulus speculating as to whether or not McGonagall would trust her own skills as a witch when it came to performing spells to make sure that they were in fact cats and not wizards in disguise. Personally Regulus was extremely insulted on his cousin's behalf if McGonagall actually thought that Andromeda hadn't done a thorough enough job making sure that he was safe for Teddy to keep. She'd done everything short of dissecting him. Andromeda was far more knowledgeable than McGonagall when it came to the Dark Arts that could be used for such an endeavor, Regulus informed Siam pompously, even if McGonagall had been Hogwarts' Transfiguration teacher for decades.

"I'll join you in being insulted if that hairy oaf is the one to examine us."

"Who?"

"The half giant the former headmaster of this school was so fond of. He was missing from dinner, and he does teach Care of Magical Creatures."

"Oh. Him." Shaking his head Regulus hissed a little at the very idea.

"If that's the case just let him look you over. Putting up a struggle will only complicate things for us later. We need them to trust us, not view us with suspicion."

"I know."

"Good."

Hating the vaguely insulting tone Siam had used, Regulus lapsed into silence as Allan and Teddy stood around waiting for McGonagall to arrive, the witch thankfully not making them wait long before she came striding down the hallway like a woman on a mission. Which didn't bode well for them given that she hardly looked at Teddy or Allan, Regulus noted, but gave both him and Siam pointed looks before greeting the two teenagers and thanking them for meeting her.

"No trouble." Both assured her, Teddy asking her why she'd asked them both to bring their cats.

"Because there's something very odd about them." Was her blunt, to the point answer as she came to a stop in front of them. "They were at the first crime scene, I can't communicate with either of them, and while I trust your grandmother when it comes to insuring that there were no spells placed on your cat, or that he is an Animagi, Teddy… I would still like to have them both looked over by someone else if that's all right with you. And afterwards, depending on what he says, I would like both your permission to perform some spells on them as well for my peace of mind."

While both Siam and Regulus accepted that they'd be stuck letting themselves be treated like oddities with annoyed resignation, Allan asked if the person they were going to see was Hagrid, as he'd noticed that he hadn't been at the teacher's table as per usual.

"No. A friend of his. Now if you'll both follow me." And so saying McGonagall walked around them, expecting them to follow her. Which of course Allan and Teddy did, all of them heading to the door leading outside and Siam and Regulus well aware of the looks both teenagers were sending their ways in the meantime.

Great, thanks for that, Professor, Regulus thought as he glared at the woman holding the door open for them until Teddy insisted on taking over the task. If he stops trusting me because of you I'm going to claw your eyes out for this. Bloody Gryffindors, always ruining everything.

At least the weather wasn't horrible as they walked across the school's grounds, McGonagall in the lead since she actually knew where they were going.

Not to Hagrid's hut, Regulus noted, unless the shack had been moved since the last time he'd seen it. But they were going in the direction of the Forest, and not that far away he caught sight of a large figure that could only be the half giant, and beside him…

"Is that a centaur?"

It took a moment for Regulus to agree with Siam, his mind still wrapping around the fact that apparently they were going to be looked over by a centaur of all things. That was as bad as being manhandled by the half giant. And what were they expecting the creature to do, anyway? This was ridiculous.

"Clever of her."

"Why clever? They're known for magical healing, Divination, archery, and Astronomy. How is that of any use? Especially since it's questionable if they even have deviation skills given how vague they always are according the what I've read about them. Like that isn't a common parlor trip of charlatans."

"They know the natural word though, and their fellow beasts."

All right, Regulus acknowledged with a reluctant nod, Siam did have a good point there. And if having the horse look him over alleviated or lessened McGonagall's interest in them, well Regulus was willing to behave even as he scoffed.

And all right, he would admit a small amount of curiosity as well. He'd never met a centaur before. Read and been told about them, but this would be the first time he saw one in person. At least one alive. He knew of a friend of his father's who'd kept a stuffed one in his study, along with a number of other magical creatures. Personally he'd found the room grotesque, far worse that the collection of house elf heads at home. He'd never understood why Kreacher had looked forward to the day when he could join his ancestors on the walls. He wondered what had been done with the creature's body. Buried perhaps, given the Chosen One's Mudblood friend's obsession with Elf Rights.

But now was not the time to be thinking of his former servant, Regulus reminded himself, determinedly turning his attention back to the creature in front of him instead. The centaur was bigger and more…impressive in its appearance and bearing that the one he'd seen before. There was something almost noble about it.

"Hello, Firenze." Teddy and then Allan called out greetings, the centaur in question nodding his head before greeting each boy in turn by name, indicating they'd all met before.

"Thank you for coming, Firenze."

"Professor." Inclining his head in McGonagall's direction, the centaur met her gaze for a moment and then went back to studying each cat in turn, both of whom looked right back at him.

"Before you look them over, Firenze, I wanted to ask if any of your herd has divined something that might help us stop the attacks at the school and discover the culprit responsible."

"No, I'm sorry."

"Thank you anyway. It was a long shot." It went unsaid that they were all aware that even if the centaurs had seen something in the future the answers the centaur would have had for them would have likely been little help in the grand scheme of things.

Firenze inclined his head. "I am ready to see the creatures."

As they walked closer Teddy picked Regulus up and off his shoulder to hold against his chest the way Allan was with Siam, a move Regulus didn't like since it would hamper his movement. With a beast like this his best chance to defend himself would be to go for the thing's eyes, which would have been far easier from his earlier perch. But then he supposed that was one of the reasons Teddy was now holding him instead of letting him remain on his shoulder. To keep him more contained and under his control.

The light of the nearly full moon, combined with the light from the lantern Hagrid was holding aloof by the centaur's side, was apparently more than enough light to see by as Firenze took Siam from Allan, the centaur's hold looking careful to Regulus's eyes, and Siam didn't seem bothered as the two did nothing more than stare into each other's eyes for a few boring minutes before the creature broke the eye contact and handed Siam back over to Allan.

Then it was his turn.

Reminding himself to just suck it up and get through it, Regulus remained stiff and glared at the centaur to the best of his ability, hoping that the way his eyes glowed as a cat would freak the centaur out a little even though that thought sounded ludicrous even in his own mind. One step and the creature could crush him to death under his hoof. Though at least that would be quicker than his previous death.

Finally his inspection was over, and Regulus found himself being handed back over to Teddy who immediately held him close, like he'd been worried the centaur wouldn't give him back.

"So they're just cats then, eh?" Hagrid wanted to know, relief obvious in his voice.

"No, not just cats. But no danger to the school or its inhabitants. And especially none to those they are bonded with. They would die before harming the young ones. Protecting them is the task they've undertaken."

The obviously humans and half giant all blurted out various versions of 'What?' in response to that.

For their part Siam appeared intrigued, while Regulus joined the others in being stunned by what the centaur had said. Were centaurs familiar with others in his situation? Was the situation he and Siam were in a lot more common than they'd original assumed? Could this Firenze help them?

"What do you mean, they're not just cats?" Allan demanded to know.

"We call them guardian beasts. Animals with a human's heart and mind behind their eyes. Always they are attached to one person, their purpose to protect that person from impeding danger and death. When the beast or their person is killed the animal becomes dust. Their fates seemed linked together. How these animals come into being…we do not know. They cannot speak to man or other creatures."

"They're…you think they were once human?" McGonagall's expression could only be called highly skeptical.

"Do they act as animals would? I think not given your concerns about them." Firenze's reply was blunt before he met first Allan and then Teddy's gaze in turn, the force of his stare enforcing his words for him. "Keep them close to you whenever possible. They are here for your protection, which their presence makes clear you need."

"But what can they do, little as they are?"

Reaching out Firenze patted Hagrid's shoulder. "They are linked to the boys on a soul deep level, my friend. And as Mr. Potter can attest to, the protective powers of love should never be underestimated. Now I must go if I wish my absence to go unnoticed. Good luck, all of you."

And rearing up Firenze twisted around and then took off in the direction of the Forbidden Forest without giving any of the humans left slack jawed the chance to question him further.

)

"So I know that centaurs aren't known to have anything resembling a sense of humor as we understand it…but is there any chance that that was Firenze's attempt at a joke?" Even to his own ears Tidd knew how ridiculous that sounded, but he was also looking into the eyes of his cat, who was apparently once a human being and was now his protector against whoever was attacking students. It was a toss-up as to which possibility made more sense in his opinion.

"I don't think he'd joke about something like this." Allan pointed out, the redhead not taking his eyes off the cat in his arms either, Siam nuzzling against Allan's chest as if to punctuate the centaur's comment that they were somehow magically protected by the love the felines apparently had for them.

A thought occurring to him, Teddy asked Noir if he loved him, the cat immediately turning his head to break eye contact in what could only be interpreted as a definite no.

And shit, appearance aside Noir did act more like a human than a cat. Hell, Noir acted more like a Black than a regular human being. Which…Huh.

"Hey, do you think they could be like the reincarnation of family members or something? I mean love magic is only as strong as the feelings, right, and we've only had them since this summer."

"Who can say." Was Allan's opinion, though there was something about the way he was now looking at Siam that made Teddy think he was missing something here. "Though he's obviously not either of your parents, Teddy, or he'd act very differently towards you and others. It would likely be more logical to assume that he's someone you knew in a past life, since he was once human if Firenze is correct. Which we also have no way of confirming what Firenze said since I'm guessing that if it's true, our animals' abilities are limited."

"Hagrid, have you heard of animals like Firenze described?"

"No, Professor."

"Then for the time being we'll set aside what he said, though I will look into it. Hagrid, thank you for your help and I will see you tomorrow for breakfast. Boys, it's time we head back to the school so that I can perform my own tests on the cats, and then it will be time for you both to retire for the evening."

Looking at each other instinctively, Allan and Teddy silently agreed that it would be in their best interests to do as she said, and so they said their goodbyes to Hagrid before walking back with her towards the castle, their protectors still in their arms.