If there was an award for weirdest week ever, this one would win. Harry was trying to get to his den to check on the portrait that he was sure had the name 'Prince', but every time he tried to go, something stopped him. He had detentions, quidditch practice, classes and homework, and yet he still could not get a second to himself. He didn't know if it was planned by someone or just coincidence, but it was one hell of a coincidence. It was finally Saturday morning and it was one of those rare times when the weeks between going to Hogsmeade were shortened. And he planned on being there. He didn't know the driving force behind such a desire, but be damned, he was going. This wasn't avoidance, exactly. He just wanted to finally do something everyone else was doing. He needed some air that wasn't directly related to Hogwarts, and as stupid as that sounded, it made the best sense to Harry. He already worked out how he was going to do it. He was going to wave to his friends like normal, and then hitch up his weighted bag and make for the library, looking at as many people as possible. When things died down, he would grab his cloak and make for the road.
Everything worked to plan, especially because on his way to the library, he saw four professors, three ghosts and at least a handful of students. He stepped as quietly as possible and left the Entrance Hall. He walked down the path and felt elated. He was free from the confines of the castle and free from the issues of family. It's funny how he wanted nothing more in the world than to have a family, and as soon as he gets one, it gets shot to pieces in a heartbeat. In the back of his head he laughed at the fact that he was actually having a family squabble. He heard Petunia talk all the time about them before and after Marge came around.
He walked through throngs of people, always making sure his cloak was over him and he didn't run into anyone. He stood outside each shop, taking in the sites, but never daring going in. There were too many people jumbled together and he didn't want to risk getting caught; especially when he just got there. He went from window to window until he saw a familiar flash of black. He followed as closely as possible until it was just a stretch of grassland, with no one around. He took extra care to look around, and when he was sure they were alone he called out.
"Here boy. Come on buddy." He began to whistle until he saw the dog's ears perk up and then he came bounding over to the invisible area that was Harry.
"Here I am, boy." Harry held his arm out of the cloak and let the big black dog smell him. When Harry felt the wet nose under his palm, he began to scratch behind the dog's ears.
"I really should give you a name, shouldn't I? What about Bear. You look like a bear." If a dog could look skeptical, that would have been what Harry saw.
"Well, what do you know, you're just a dog." Harry laughed as Bear bared his teeth, but wagged his tail. Harry walked over to a large rock set just off the road and covered by trees. He took one look around and decided that since he was so far from the actual hustle and bustle, he was relatively safe. He removed his cloak and placed it over his lap. He sat still and looked out over his little area of Hogsmeade and ran his hand down Bear's fur.
"I sure wish I brought something to eat. I bet you're starving, aren't you boy?" Harry heard a thump of a tail and then like a flash, Bear was on his paws and took off down the path leading away from Hogsmeade. Harry gave a heavy sigh and leaned back on his rock. It didn't seem to be as exciting as he thought it would have been to be out in Hogsmeade. He figured it was because he was alone. It was twenty minutes before he heard gravel crunching from the same direction Bear left from. He felt slightly better knowing the dog came back until he heard two words.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry was stuck in the position he was sitting. He felt like he could move his head, but didn't dare try. He watched as Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle stepped into view.
"Well well well, Potter. Not so tough when it's just you, huh? Where are the mudblood and weasel at anyway?" Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes. Malfoy shows up with his cronies and attacks Harry in surprise, and he's the weak one?
"Well, that just won't do. Someone could just walk by here and see you, now can't they? No, let us make use of that fancy little cloak you've got there." Harry wanted to groan. Leave it to his luck to have him display his invisibility cloak so well. It was rather obvious, since his thighs and left foot seemed to be missing. All he could do is watch as Malfoy grabbed his cloak and tossed it over him. The last thing Harry saw was the crew of Slytherin's laughing and retreating forms. Harry tried to move his head, but it wouldn't budge. Obviously he was imagining things before. He blinked his eyes repeatedly, willing any other part of him to move. He felt his nose start to itch and tried to groan. Of course his nose would itch.
Harry wasn't sure how much time had passed, but he felt it was starting to get cold and the sun was starting to set. It wasn't yet dark, but Harry felt it wouldn't be long before it would be, and then he'd really be stuck. He heard more gravel crunching and felt a spark of fear until he heard a soft whimper. He darted his eyes over and saw Bear sniffing the ground trying to find him. He tried desperately to make any sound or movement, but failed on all accounts. Eventually Bear's nose found its way under the cloak and pulled it gently with his teeth. Harry felt the cool breeze blow across his face and felt relieved, but only slightly. He sat there on the rock, frozen in place with a large black dog sitting by his side whimpering. He already knew he was going to be in trouble, and no one was going to help him this time.
'Help. Of course! Draven can help!' He thought. If the bloody bird can prevent him from being late for class and curfew, he could at least get him out of this mess. All he had to do was whistle; that's what Severus' letter had said. Could he whistle? He was in a full body bind, but that didn't stop him from breathing. He just needed to form his lips just the right way. He spent a good twenty minutes twitching his lips to get them formed. For all he knew his lips never moved. He kept blowing air from his mouth and finally heard a small whistle come out. He blew a few more times and smiled inwardly when a loud fluctuating tone came out. He counted the seconds in his head until he heard a soft hoot. He watched as Draven circled overhead and then land directly on his shoulder. He wished he could have communicated something to Draven to get him out of this mess, but couldn't think to do anything. His eyes darted from Draven to the cloak. Immediately the owl snagged the cloak in his beak and pulled it down around Harry's legs. Draven looked at Harry, scrutinizing him momentarily, before he grabbed his Gryffindor patch and ripped it from his robes. Harry thanked whoever was listening that he was wearing his school robes. It was something he normally didn't do on weekends, but he was glad for it. Draven gave a comforting hoot, nipped Harry's ear and set off. If Harry could smile, he would have been grinning ear to ear. If only the feeling was to last.
