Ch 25 Reaching Out
"What did McGonagall say?" Hermione pressed. Ron only bit savagely into his dinner and swallowed after giving it a perfunctory chew.
"Gave me a biscuit and told me to be careful. Said that messing with a Ministry official at this point could cost me a lot more than a few late night detentions."
"You don't mean they'd mess with dad do you?" Ginny asked, scandalized.
"I reckon that's exactly what she meant. Bloody cow is undersecretary to the minister or something like that isn't she? Bitch can do what she pleases, and dad can't afford to lose his job now."
"That bitch," Ginny whispered, her eyes as round as saucers.
"Well, it hasn't happened yet and as long as you don't go provoking her again…" Hermione pointed out.
"I will not allow that colossal toad to try and tell me that if we all just stay in line and behave the bogey man won't come snatch us from our beds. The Dark sod is back and I am not going to just sit here and do nothing about it," Ron fumed.
"What do you intend, then, big brother?" Ginny inquired.
"First, I'm going to make sure that everyone knows Harry isn't crazy and neither is Dumbledore. I'll hex anyone who says otherwise, but for now I'm heading to the library."
"Why?" all his friends chorused.
"I'm going to see if Madam Pince is good for anything except scolding giggling first years. Uncle gave me a list of books to read and study along with a few other things he thought I might find interesting. I'm going to see if she can order any of them in for me."
Ron stomped off, his foul mood radiating like a bright light, warning all those who might approach to keep their distance.
"My brother is becoming almost…" Ginny paused as she groped for the right word.
"Academic?" Neville supplied.
"Good a word as any. I hope he doesn't stay a surly git for the rest of the year."
Neville shrugged. "It's rough on him, that's for sure. Hard to sit there and keep silent. Don't know how you did it, Harry."
"I didn't think it would do any good to argue. She's been sent here for a reason and I doubt we're going to change her mind."
Ginny grinned as she recognised a tell-tale smirk flit across her boyfriend's face. "You've got a plan, though."
"It's not totally formulated and I'm not completely sure how to make it work, but it's there, yeah."
"Care to share?" Ginny prodded.
"Well, Uncle S gave us more than a few training tips and tools to keep us in shape. We can certainly continue that, and see if anyone else might want to join. Not like anyone can criticize a bunch of fifth years for wanting to work harder, can they?"
"We could transfigure a few things into the obstacle course from back home, and I bet Ron would help out with shooting the hexes. Do you think we could duel on the grounds though?" Ginny wondered aloud.
"If it was controlled and not some sort of free-for-all. We might be able to sneak onto the pitch and practice there. That's harder to see. If anyone asks, we'll just tell them we're working on Defence."
"You don't seriously think that Umbridge woman is going to let you get away with that, do you?" Hermione asked sceptically.
"Why wouldn't she?" Ginny demanded.
"That would be a direct challenge to what she's trying to do here."
"I'm not so sure about that," Neville cut in. "She's here to keep an eye on things, certainly. Here to be a spy for Fudge; Gran always did say he was useless, but I don't think she has the power to directly punish students for something that may not be against the rules."
"Isn't spellwork outside of class against the rules?" Hermione challenged.
"Not necessarily, I saw the NEWT and OWL level students last year practicing down by the lake. I believe it has to be of a menacing nature. I doubt very much that anyone is going to dock points for practicing something for lessons."
"But what Harry is talking about won't be for lessons. Ron told me some of what they were doing this summer and shooting even mild hexes at another student would land us all in detention even if everyone agreed to it!"
Harry snapped his fingers. "Then I'll go talk with the Centaurs. Maybe they can shoot blunted arrows or something like that."
"You're out of your bloody mind," Neville exclaimed.
Harry shrugged. "Likely, but I'll do it none the less. We'll build the course Friday after dinner and I'll go talk to the centaurs after that." A sudden flash of orange streaking across the corners of the Great Hall caught Harry's attention. "I have to go see a cat about his family," Harry mused as he leaned in for a quick kiss and then vaulted over the table.
"Mr Potter!" came the futile call from Cousin McGonagall. Normally he'd listen but technically he had just stepped foot out of the doors and could claim he didn't hear her. She wouldn't believe him of course, but it would give her the ability to save face with the other teachers when he explained the real reason he was in such a hurry.
Two legs flashed quickly into four as he sprinted along the stone corridors, the sound of nearly silent paws racing in front of him. Nearly being the key word.
'Quickly, love, he'll be here any minute. We can't stay long.' The distinctive purr of one wayward Crookshanks confirmed Harry's suspicions. He rounded the corner and ran face first into a fearful feline family.
'Dad, there's one!' mewed a small smoke grey kitten. Crookshanks rounded, his fur bristling and eyes alight. Harry merely smirked.
'Long time no see, Mog. How's the family?'
'Thank Isis! Harry you have to help us. He'll be here any minute.'
'Who?'
'Filch! My love's former pet. He's gone berserk.'
'Slow down, explain,' Harry demanded.
'He found the kittens, a few weeks after they were born…' Crookshanks began.
'And he's positively mad with jealousy! I'm sure he thinks I'll abandon them for him, but he tried to drown them,' Mrs Norris cut in, clearly not over the whole ordeal.
'He didn't actually try to drown them, love. He just tried to bash my head in with a broom handle,' Crookshanks assured her.
'But I'm sure that's next! My kittens aren't safe,' Norris wailed.
'We've been secreting them about this school, but he's managed to unearth us at every turn. I'm not sure what to do, but I know he saw me an hour ago. He was right on top of us and it takes us so long to move all five of them.' Harry saw the fear and exhaustion in his friend's eyes. He thought for a moment.
'What about the kitchens? I don't think the old man ever goes in there.'
'Where are they?' Norris asked, a faint spark of hope in her eyes.
'You really don't know?'
'I've never had cause to find them. My pet always fed me himself,' she meowed softly, betrayal colouring her whole demeanour.
'Do you know where the badger burrows are?' Harry asked, remembering what Bridgette had told him.
'Of course!' Norris responded.
'They're behind that big painting of fruit. I can get them there a bit faster if you can hold out here for just a few minutes.'
'You're leaving?' Norris asked, anxiously, her nerves showing.
'I'm bringing reinforcements,' Harry grinned and sped off in search of a girl he knew would understand.
He rocketed into the Great Hall, where the rest of the student body was just finishing up their dinner and leapt directly into Ginny's lap.
"Mew! Merow, prrt!" Harry urged. Ginny nodded several times, obviously not fully understanding what he wanted but getting the gist.
"Alright, Paws, I'm coming. That is what you want isn't it?"
"Merorow!" Harry insisted.
"Alright, keep your fur on." Ginny wiped her mouth on a napkin, vaulted herself across the table ignoring the admonishment from her Head of House as she sped out the door.
"Tsk, tsk, Minerva. The students here certainly do not seem to respect authority do they?" Umbridge scolded, a strange look in her eye.
"Perhaps not, Dolores, but they are mine to deal with," McGonagall bit back. "And given the nature of the offense and their previous accomplishments, I hardly think that chasing them down at this particular venue is prudent."
"This sort of thing breeds anarchy and disorder," Umbridge countered.
"I find a little bit of disorder good for the soul now and then. I would be more concerned if I thought they were up to any real trouble, but I suspect it's just a yarn ball."
"Pardon?"
"A yarn ball, Dolores. The boy is irrevocably fascinated with them. I suspect he wants to share one with Miss Weasley."
"I see…"
"No, I don't suspect you do, but that's neither here nor there. If you will excuse me, I must be off. I have a bed and several strands of my own I must attend to. Good night, Dolores."
Elsewhere, Crookshanks and his mate were furiously trying to calm the frightened mews of their kittens at the sudden arrival of a large red lion.
'Hush little ones! Or the Filch will find you,' Crookshanks scolded.
'But she'll eat us first!' the smallest, an orange and white striped kitten Crookshanks had referred to as Ohron, squealed.
'You don't recognize me?' Ginny asked, finally breaking her silence.
All five kittens, suddenly silent, shut their eyes to answer in the negative.
'I am the light that points the way, the rough tongue to bathe your fears and the claws to defend you. I am the whiskers and the teeth.'
'Bast?' Ohron finally mewed.
'It is! I recognize her from Mum's stories,' another began.
'She's here to save us!' all five cried.
Harry stood in awe of his human. Where had she learned to say that? He shook himself roughly. This was no time to get spiritual. They trusted her now, and that was all that mattered.
'Do you think you kittens can hang on?' Harry asked.
'You mean… we'd ride her?' Ohron's other brother, Honestlyronald , asked with awe.
'You'd have to hang on,' Ginny affirmed and each kitten mewed with increasing fervour their desire to do so.
The kittens' parents loaded them each on and Ginny winced as they dug their claws in to grab hold.
'You alright, Sparkplug?' Harry asked with concern.
'I'll be fine. I can't believe Filch wanted to drown them,' she growled.
'She's growling!' Ohron squealed.
'She's going to eat the Filch, I know it!' McGonyowl (the smoke grey one) giggled.
Ginny clearly was enjoying not only the feel of the kittens (minus the claws) but of the whole idea that she was a noble warrior goddess. Harry laughed as her stride became more or less a swagger. Her large body rippling with taut muscles and wiry sinew… Harry crushed those thoughts right there.
The kittens, too were having a good time, meowing and purring with abandon. Even Mog and Norris had seemed to have calmed down a little, though Harry could sense the tenseness that remained in them both.
As they rounded a corner the entire party stopped. There in front of them stood the Headmaster speaking with none other than the caretaker, Argus Filch.
"I can't find her anywhere, Headmaster. I know she's run off. She had a whole litter of kittens. What am I supposed to do with them?" Filch demanded, angrily.
Harry glared at the man and he could hear the total silence coming from Ohron and his siblings. Even their breathing was barely audible.
'Act natural, and keep moving, Sparkplug,' Harry advised.
'Dumbledore is going to see us!' Ginny warned.
'He doesn't know it's you, does he? Not like the man is mad enough to challenge a lioness with kittens. Mog, stay away from Filch and Norris stay underneath Ginny in case someone tries to grab you. Now… walk.' Of course it is well known that when moving Kneazles do not walk, neither do lions. They saunter, haughtily. This isn't a conscious choice, merely a fact of nature. So, it was with wide eyes that Argus filch saw the makeshift Pride saunter past him in regal form.
"Ah, there she is, Argus. She seems perfectly content," Dumbledore smiled.
"Headmaster… There's a lion in the castle!"
"Indeed there is, but as she seems to be a very friendly one, I don't think that it will be an issue. Of course I doubt others would view it this way so perhaps this is something best kept between ourselves."
Filch could only sputter incoherently and nod vaguely at the Headmaster's request.
The caretaker's eyes seemed to bug out of his skull when McGonagall walked past and gave the entire feline company a polite nod as she came walked past. Harry's keen ears picked up the conversation, even as they moved steadily toward the kitchens.
"Ah, Minerva, what can I do for you this evening?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's about Professor Umbridge," McGonagall began before she was interrupted.
"Professor, didn't you see that?" Filch demanded.
"See what?"
"The herd of… wild animals traipsing through the corridor!"
"They were hardly traipsing, Argus, they seemed more on a leisurely family stroll. The night is plenty nice enough for it. Now, Headmaster…"
"Shouldn't we do something about it?" Filch squawked again.
"I shouldn't think so. I believe the kittens are residents of the castle and the others will show themselves out in due time. You look positively frightful, Argus. Are you coming down with something? Perhaps you better see Poppy for that," McGonagall suggested.
Harry smiled as the thread of conversation finally became too thin to follow. He always did like Cousin McGonagall.
oOo
"Try-outs tonight," Ginny observed.
"Mhmmm," Harry agreed.
"You going?"
"Nope."
"Angelina is going to go out of her tree; you know that, don't you?"
"Angelina can stuff it for all I care right now," Harry grumped.
"Being a surly git isn't going to make this year any easier," Ginny pointed out.
"Something is wrong with Ron," Harry growled. "He's been pale, snappy and not his usual self but he won't tell anyone why."
"Well he's been having detention all this week hasn't he?" Ginny pointed out. "That's enough to put anyone in a foul mood."
"I asked what he was up to, he said he was only being made to write lines," Hermione added. "But to be fair he has been awfully secretive and introverted."
"I've got to see the Centaurs tonight, but we need to figure out what's going on soon," Harry groused. "This isn't like him and the only thing I can figure is that he keeps cutting himself accidentally."
"What on earth are you talking about?" Ginny demanded.
"There's always this faint smell of day-old blood on him and I thought I saw a scratch on the back of his hand. I just don't get it."
"Lines on the back of his hand?" Hermione asked, her eyes going wide. "Are you sure?"
"Fairly, in any case I have to see the Centaurs tonight, "Harry declared and stood.
"Watch out for Angelina," Ginny warned.
Harry nodded and grinned suddenly. "You want to go with me, Sparkplug?"
Ginny shook her head. "Love you, Paws, but it's Quidditch."
"Fair," Harry admitted.
That evening, Harry plodded as silently as he was able on two feet through the forest. The dimming rays of the sun were burning their final yellow glow into the bark and leaves of the canopy leaving the floor in shadow. He knew approximately where the centaurs were, but without his regular Kneazle senses they were going to be hard to find.
Thwaack! Harry bent sideways just in time to avoid an arrow grazing his ear as the normal din of the forest was supplanted with an explosion of hoof beats.
"Who goes there?" a roan pony-man demanded.
"Trespasser!" a dapple coloured one declared. Harry forced his breathing to slow and made several discreet hand motions. The pride would move to their locations without the Centaurs even knowing they were there.
"I'm Harry Potter and I've come to talk to Ronan."
A red coloured centaur emerged from the group, the arrow on his bow nocked. Steely brown eyes met hard green as the two evaluated each other.
"You have trespassed in our forest, foal. Turn back now and we will allow you to leave."
Harry's hackles went up involuntarily. "Your forest? Where on earth do you get the nerve to think this is your forest?"
"Typical human!" cried one.
"Who does this forest belong to if not us?" Ronan demanded. "You humans think that everything on this earth will bow to your dominion. We will not! We are a wise race and proud to live apart…"
"Isis above you talk some shite. I'm starting to see why the Unicorns always made fun of you. At least the Hippogriffs fought for honour when they got all philosophical."
"Insolence! We are law here. This forest is ours and ours alone. Intruders must be dealt with," another centaur bellowed. Actually, Harry thought it might have been the same one from earlier.
"Yeah, I suppose I am, but no more than you. This forest doesn't belong to me anymore than it does you. We're the residents to be sure, but you belong to it, not the other way around."
"What do you mean?"
Harry winced at the volume. Did centaurs come with a mute function? "This forest is our home. Yours as well as ours. Don't make the mistake of thinking otherwise," Harry warned. "But in the meantime I've come to ask your help."
"Help? We don't help humans," Ronan snorted with upmost derision.
"I tire of this one, Ronan. We should dispose of him."
"Quiet, Bane," Ronan warned as though the other centaur were letting out a big secret.
Harry made another hand gesture and the glade erupted into a symphony of low growling and caterwauling. Harry smiled grimly. "There is power in this forest, but you aren't it. I've watched you and talked with my kin. You are a proud race, to be sure, but blinded by the light of the moon. Have you ever stopped to think about anything below your feet? If it isn't something wildly catastrophic, the death of a Unicorn or the return of Voldemort, do you even notice? I've gathered three hundred of my closest kin here. Toms and mollys ready to pounce, and they have never tasted pony flesh before."
The growling became louder and more intense a few hisses were also heard, adding to the ferocity. The indignation of being referred to as 'ponies' died on the centaurs' lips before a word could be uttered.
"But I didn't come here to pick a fight. I came to ask your help. The Dark Lord known as Voldemort has been reborn and if the creatures of light do not stop him then Anubis and his legions of Rottweilers will rule the world."
Bane was just about to open his mouth when a smaller and older looking centaur walked out in front. "What would you ask of us, foal?"
"Firenze, this is unconscionable!" Ronan hissed.
"I'm asking you to shoot arrows at students," Harry grinned and for once the pony-men had no retort. They all stood there looking at him as if he'd gone mad. "Not sharp ones, obviously, but we mean to train members of the students to fight and I was hoping that you would help."
"I'm not sure I understand, little one," Firenze replied.
"Look, we can't block all the nasty and evil curses that come our way, but dodging has always seemed a reasonable option. We're not allowed to practice our spells in the corridors, but no spell work would be needed. Your archers get to practice on real targets and we get something to work on," Harry explained as the growling in the circle subsided.
"You're serious?" Firenze asked.
"Deadly."
"No, this is not the way it is done! Next they will be asking to ride us for practice," Bane exploded.
"That's just stupid," Harry scoffed. "Who would want to ride you? You can't fly. Thestrals are much better mounts."
A quelling look from Ronan was all that seemed to stay an itchy bow hand on Bane. "I'm sorry young one, as… entertaining as your proposal is I don't think that…"
"I'll do it," a black coated centaur emerged from the back of the group, his bow slung over his shoulder in a casual manner that suggested familiarity with its use.
"Brock, I forbid it!" Ronan barked.
"Dad, leave off, it's not like it'll hurt anything. It sounds like fun and I for one am a bit tired of stargazing. It's an imprecise art at best."
"Brock, show respect for your elders!" Ronan yelled this time. His wayward foal merely shrugged.
"I'm all for it. He isn't like a normal human, is he? Not like he came in here with his wand pointed at us demanding we help him. He asked, and he obviously has a ruddy great lot of friends. Balls of solid rock, too, walking in here like this. Gotta admire a foal like that, and one more thing, he's right. Not like living apart did us great shakes the last time they changed governments is it? At least the goblins have a nation. What do we get? Come on lads, anyone with me?" Harry was surprised to see several of the younger centaurs walk up and stand next to their spokes-pony.
"This is not the way things are done. You may not be able to come back," Ronan warned.
"Was going to have to leave sometime, Dad." Brock nodded at Harry. "Lead the way and if you could ask your furry little friends not to eat us I'd appreciate it," he winked.
Harry nodded dumbly and turned to leave, but was stopped when another shouting match developed (though it seemed rather one sided).
"No, younger stallions we can allow, you are not to leave!" Ronan bellowed and Harry could just make out the shape of Firenze who stood before his leader.
"I must go where the stars lead me and I find after considerable introspection that it does in fact sound like quite a good time," Firenze concluded, and with that, turned at walked calmly towards the rest of the group. "Shall we?"
oOo
Harry clambered in through the portrait hole, meeting a nearly deserted common room. The dying fire and lack of usual commotion allayed the danger causing Harry to react a moment too slowly as he was grabbed by the shirt collar.
"What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Angelina demanded, her voice a soft yet dangerous rumble.
"Coming back from the Forest. What the bloody hell do you think you're up to?" Harry retorted.
"You missed try-outs. If you weren't the best goddam Seeker in the school I'd have thrown your arse off the team before you could say boo," she ranted.
Harry put up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "What did I miss? Did we get a new Keeper?"
Angelina snorted and shook her head. "I imagine you'll find out in due time, and you better make every one of the next practices, Potter." Harry was released and his captain spun and stalked off, clearly fuming and leaving Harry somewhat confused by the ordeal, and lowering his guard once again. A moment later he was surprised by a body planting itself squarely across his chest and a death grip encircling his neck. The scent, though, was unmistakable.
"Happy to see me, Sparkplug?" Harry asked softly as he finally disentangled himself just enough to stare into his girlfriend's eyes.
"You complete tosser," she grinned back before slamming her lips onto his. "You missed the most bloody fantastic try-outs there ever were. We're going to be unstoppable this year, Harry!"
"Why?"
"You are thick, aren't you. I made Keeper," Ginny grinned.
Harry gasped and looked a little confusedly at his human. "I thought you wanted Chaser, though. You were going on all summer about how it wasn't fair that the Chaser slots were all going to be full up. I even suggested you try out for Keeper. You said you didn't have the right build for it."
Ginny gave him another mischievous grin before kissing him again. "What can I say, Paws? You make me believe in myself. You're not angry that I didn't tell you?" Ginny trailed off uncertainly. A look of vulnerability passed through her eyes. Harry shook his head slightly and smiled.
"Surprised, certainly, but not angry. You're a lion. How could I be angry when you roar?"
Ginny smiled and kissed him again. "You're the best, Paws." Harry only shrugged. "Now, tell me all about the Centaurs. Will they help us?"
This time it was Harry's turn to smirk. "Some will, but they definitely want to shoot arrows at us, and we need to make a training course like the one we had back at home."
"Do you think that we'll get in trouble for this?" Ginny asked uncertainly.
"There stands an excellent chance," Harry admitted. "Does that bother you?"
"No. It isn't like we haven't been in trouble before, but I just worry that they might not only punish us. I mean, Dad works for the Ministry and Uncle S is still in prison there. Even Ted and Andromeda are connected. It isn't just about us, is it?"
"Do you think any one of them would want us to just lie down?" Harry retorted.
"No, I don't suppose they would, but we must be careful."
"Careful is my middle name," Harry winked.
AN: I'm back, I swear I plan to finish this. I hope this does it for a little while. I've started back to school and with work it's been a struggle. I hope many of you are still reading this. Thanks as always for the support and reviews.