Hi all! I hope I didn't make you wait for too long! I guess 2 days after a cliffy is still too long…^_^; Sorry!
I really wanna thank everyone who reviewed, especially those who answered my poll. I have more ideas, I know a little more where my story will lead.
And also….I reached and even went beyond 200 reviews! YAY! I owe it all to you guys! I know I say it a lot, but THANKS!
Ancient-Legend Setsuna-3000 Mayumi8805 Light Angel Nikki Erika Adb Lady Light Bob Koosei Usagi Asia Maxwell Miranda Compton SylentMage Firelightz Usagi342 Christiane Silverdrake Magic cat Chibi-ami Silverpaws the silver Nukachu MarsMoonStar
Looney space bunny: I don't who'll freak out the most; Harry or Lupin! And I'll check your stories, sure!
Yadrianne: Thanks for answering the poll!
Chibi Koneko: You were specific, thanks!
AznMi: Another vote for wolves!
SachiNyoko: We have the same 'infatuation'! I wish we could meet, we're so alike in tastes! ^_^; *Can I call you little sister?*
LadyKatherine16: Thanks a lot for your opinions! I'll put them to great use!
Poisyn: Thanks for the tips!
Crescendo: I'm happy you finally decided to review!
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Father Mine
Chapter 12: Possessed
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Last time
Hermione was about to say something when a rasping of throat cut her off. "Am I interrupting something?" Charlie Weasley glanced at the group from the sides. "'Cause we're ready to show you the dragons, now."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Is there something wrong?" Hagrid was about to reply when Usagi cut him rather sharply. "Nothing's wrong…Sorry Hagrid." She apologized after seeing the look the half-giant gave her. Another older looking man came to them and addressed Charlie; "Are you coming or not? We won't be able to hold them off like this all day, you know!"
Charlie nodded and motioned to the class to follow him. "I want you to make as littlest noise as possible, please. We gave the 2 dragons a powerful calming draught but let's not provoke them, shall we?" When they approached the lake, the students could hear loud intake of breaths, kind of like big purring sounds. Some could not hold their excitement when they finally saw the big creatures.
They sat at a rather safe distance and admired the beasts, which look like they were sleeping. The bolder students tried to sit nearer, and to everyone's surprise, Harry stayed away from them, alone, far behind. Usagi let him be, knowing it was difficult for him to be near those creatures after the Triwizard tournament and chose to sit by Ron, Hermione, and the slightly quivering Neville.
The older man, whose name was Justin, started the introduction and told everybody that there wasn't any danger as long as they kept their calm. The dragons were both clearly Westerns, and Usagi asked herself why they decided to bring one of the most dangerous kinds. There were 2 of them, but the group was sitting in front of only one. The second one was more on the side and snoring quite loudly.
They were both a gleaming reddish-brown color, and their tails looked dangerous from their point of view. Justin started to talk about them, what they ate, how they were captured and stuff like that. Several, at least a dozen, other men were standing on the sides, paying more attention to the first dragon than the second.
Harry didn't, or rather couldn't, pay attention to what he was saying. After awhile, his scar decided to itch again and he winced, rubbing his forehead slightly with his hand. The more Justin was talking, the more his scar was hurting. He tried to change his mind off of it and gazed at the dragon on the side, following his breathing movements.
Some smoke was coming out of his snout and he admired the dragon's sharp features. However, his breath caught in his throat when he made contact with its eyes. They were open! He was awake?! Yes, awake, and staring right back at him almost viciously.
His scar started to throb even more and he felt the dark presence inside him trying to invade his mind. He couldn't fight it. His eyes turned a darker shade and he silently got up, extending his arms towards the beast. His aura darkened and the dragon immediately felt it. It started to fight the sleepiness that had taken over him and let out a slight growl.
'Yesss, that'sss it! Wake-up and dessstroy!!!' Harry heard it, heard the voice of his most hated enemy, but the pulling he felt was too strong. He felt his lips move without his own accord, and once again was sitting in front of many Death-Eaters and dementors, petting the snake at his side. "Isssn't it marvelous, Nagini? Potter will dessstroy his friendsss, yessss!"
Pettigrew grinned maniacally at his master's side. He tried to fight him, really he did, but his arms didn't obey him anymore. The second dragon became more and more agitated and the first one woke-up. The students yelped and pointed at it, while the men holding it were perplexed. "How did it wake up?! We gave it enough calming draught to last at least 6 hours!!!" Charlie asked, more like yelled to his colleagues.
The dragon had started to growl. Justin started to make the students back away. "Follow me, kids. You don't want to be near it if it becomes aggressive!" They started to back away when Lupin searched frantically through the crowd. "Where's Harry?"
Suddenly, a loud roar was heard and it was as if thunder resonated through the air. The dragon-tamers were shocked to see the second dragon already on its feet! But how? Hermione gasped. "HARRY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GET AWAY FROM IT!!!" Charlie cursed and the others let out gasps of horror when they finally spotted him.
Lupin started to run towards him but Usagi was quick enough to grip his robes. Lupin struggled to get out of her grip but she wouldn't let go. She used her strength and pushed him backwards. He landed in the arms of Justin, who gripped him in his turn. "You can't go there, Lupin! That's too dangerous! The dragon-tamers will get Mr. Potter out of there!"
Usagi narrowed her eyes. "That's not Harry." The group stopped their movements to look at her. Lupin began his struggle again and Justin had all the misery on Earth to hold him, he was a werewolf, after all. "OF course it's him! HARRY! HARRY! COME BACK! PLEASE!!!" Lupin implored him with all he had.
Harry stopped his movements but his hands stayed extended towards the glowering dragon. The first one was being successfully held off, but for how long? Harry turned his head slowly, and they gasped.
"No, it's not Harry." Usagi repeated, glaring darkly. Indeed, 'Harry' was looking at them with dark eyes, those of a maniac…those of…Oh god. Remus' eyes got bigger with dread and realization. The controlled Harry let out a dark laugh and turned back to the beast, which was starting to advance slowly towards him.
Harry felt Voldemort speak to the dragon in Parseltongue, something very nasty and provocative. The dragon's patience snapped. He roared fully and a ball of fire started to form in its open mouth. Usagi cursed loudly and sprung into action well before anyone had the time to stop her. She heard cries of worries behind her but chose to focus on Harry.
The fireball was about to reach the possessed boy when she pushed him roughly out of the way, sending them toppling on the side roughly. The grass where Harry stood caught on fire, as well as Usagi's robes. She tossed them away quickly, not minding for a second she only had a muggle tank top and a pair of denim jeans under. 'Damn! I can't use my true attack powers here! There's too many people! They saw me use harmless bits of energy, but not real attacks! They'll question me if I try anything now!!!' She though with distress.
'Harry' started to struggle fiercely under her grip. They were both sprawled on the ground and she restrained him by pinning him with her body. He started to speak in the harsh sounding language again and was looking at her with murder in his eyes. She glared icily at him. "Leave him alone, you old bastard! Once I'm done with the traitor, I'll be coming for you!" She hissed back at him.
'Harry's' eyes got bigger. Voldemort put 2 and 2 together. 'Could sshe be the one to have messsed with my plansss?! Thissss girl? Thisss nuisssance?' Voldemort though darkly. He glared at her with hatred and spoke loud enough for her to hear; "I'll kill the Potter boy! There'ssss nothing you can do about it!"
Then he started to speak in Parseltongue yet again and the dragon focused on them for the second time. It was going to repeat the attack once more. She heard the desperate pleas of the class members in the background and looked around for a way to save herself. But first things first, the trashing 'boy' in his arms had to be stopped.
She glared, and then smirked at the dark eyes, which narrowed in suspicion. "You're nothing compared to me. You don't know what true evil is." She didn't let him the time to ponder on that and promptly kissed the boy. The shock of it made Harry regain his senses and his eyes became their vivid green color again. He kissed back enthusiastically until Usagi remembered why she was here.
The footsteps of the dragon resonated on the ground dangerously. When she retracted, Harry really came back to reality and he slumped a little, tired by the strain it had taken him by trying to resist Voldemort. He didn't even remember what had happened between Voldemort and her. She didn't let him the time to speak and pushed him out of harm's way, where a dragon-tamer brought him back to Hagrid.
Another fireball hurled straight towards her and she watched it approach at full speed. "WATCH OUT! MISS TSUKINO!!!" The others were panicking now and some of them covered their eyes in horror. Usagi closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. 'Better me than Harry.' Was her last thought, before the intense fire hit her head on.
Even in his state, Harry shouted desperately; "NOOOOO!!!!!!! SERENA!!!!!" It took everything to the half-giant to restrain him. So, in their terror, they didn't see the comet-like light that struck Usagi from the side before the fire.
After the second fireball, a strong spell was cast by all the dragon-tamers and Charlie simultaneously and effectively made the dragon's eyes drop. He let himself fall on the ground with a deafening thud and they gave him another calming potion. Nobody was celebrating, however. Hermione was crying her eyes out and Harry looked totally paralyzed.
The thought of loosing one of their classmates like that shook them to no end. With the strain, Harry's eyes dropped low and he choked back an anguish sob. He was fighting consciousness when a small neigh sounded from above them. A gleaming light descended towards them and they backed away in fear.
Multiple feathers accompanied a gust of wind and the mysterious creature was revealed. "It's a Pegasus!..." Murmured Hagrid in total awe. The flying horse finally touched the ground and whinnied once again, before letting its wings down. Hermione let out a cry of joy and once again started to cry. Harry, who was barely conscious now in Hagrid's arms, jadedly asked her; "What's going on?" His view started to fade into blurriness.
In a small voice, Hermione responded; "It's Serena, Harry! She's alive!" Harry sighed. "Serena." Was all he said, before he let darkness claim him with a small smile.
Indeed, Usagi was alive, though unconscious herself, rested against the horse's back. The Pegasus bent slowly and let Usagi slip gently on the ground, before flapping its powerful wings and flying away.
*~*
"Are they awake yet?"
A big sigh. "For the 10th time today, Mister Weasley, NO! Now leave!" Pomfrey pushed Ron out of the infirmary and shut the door close. She then continued the task of healing the 2 exhausted young adults. Usagi was ok, except being stressed out by today's events but Harry's mental walls had been severely damaged. Luckily, he wasn't in any danger and the damages weren't permanent.
Usagi had gotten more visits then Harry this time. Seems as if the students were more and more scared of him now that the Dark Lord could control him at anytime. The Gryffindors didn't really know what to think of it either. When the infirmary door finally closed for the last time, Usagi breathed a sigh of relief and sat up in her bed, groaning a little in the process.
"Finally! I thought they would never leave!" She muttered to herself tiredly. She had awoken a good hour ago but she didn't feel like facing the world and their questions. She didn't really remember how she had been saved and it was irking her to no end. She got up, albeit wobbly, and opened a window.
It was a little chilly, but she jumped out of the window nonetheless, landing on the ground, stumbling a little. She marched right back where the incident had happened and searched for something out of the ordinary. Something glinted in a patch of grass with the help of the moon's rays and she bent to pick up the thing.
"Oh, Harry. It's eating you from inside even after 2 years. I wish I could tell you, so much!" She clutched the other side of the broken communication mirror near her heart and some tears made their way down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?" Usagi yelped in surprise at the new voice. She turned swiftly and chuckled softly. "I should've guessed it was you. You've been following me for some time, haven't you, Pegasus?" The horse nodded its head and transformed into his human self. He bowed and smiled a comforting smile. "You shouldn't cry, Hime-sama. Everything will work out in the end."
Usagi snorted but her tears came back again. "You sound like Setsuna…And I can't help but to cry, Helios! Harry's suffering so much and there's nothing I can do! I can't tell him, and he'll hate me for keeping that from him when father returns! There's nothing I can do…" she finished lamely.
Helios gazed at her sadly. "Of course you can help him! And you know, I think you're making him suffer more by ignoring him than by not telling him everything. Have you ever talked again about your relationship?" He asked softly.
Usagi blushed under his stare and stuttered. "N.No! Not really. We were pretty emotionally wounded when 'it' happened and we needed to vent some pressure. I guessed it was more of a one-time passion thingy than anything else…" She didn't finish her phrase as a shiver ran through her.
Helios cocked his head on the side, before transforming back into his Pegasus self, covering her shivering form with one of his wings. She closed her eyes peacefully at the fluffiness and warmness of his feathers. The horse caressed her cheeks affectionately with its snout. "A one time thing? Did you ever consider asking him what he thought about it? He needs to be loved, Hime-sama, just as you do, and he needs a family on which he can count on. He unconsciously needs you to catch Pettigrew so his godfather will finally be able to resurface again and claim his rights. It will be hard for some people to see him alive and well when they have suffered the thought of having lost him forever but you'll see; everything will work on fine, because you're there to help them. Just take care of yourself for now, and talk to the boy."
The horse backed-up and spread its wings, preparing to take flight. "I will see you again, Hime-sama! Take care!" And then, he was gone. Usagi stared peacefully at where the guardian once stood. "You can come out, you know. There's no point to stay in the darkness." She addressed to no one in particular.
Hoof beats thudded on the ground and the centaur came out of the forest. "To speak to and befriend a Pegasus, so many secrets surround you, neither human, nor child." Usagi covered her bare arms with her hands but chuckled at the centaur nonetheless.
"I thought you said that next time we would meet, you would call me by my name." Bane chuckled lightly. "Too true…Serena. You're shivering. Allow me to escort you back to the castle."
Usagi shook her head. "I don't want to be a bother. And anyway, don't you hate these grounds?" Bane shrugged. "It's no problem at all. What would friends be for? And it's night-time. Nobody will see us. Get on my back; it will be faster this way."
Usagi fidgeted but agreed anyway. It wasn't all uncomfortable and they would arrive faster this way. She thanked Bane when they arrived at the doors and he went back to his forest with a nod. She couldn't get into Hogwarts like that, so she teleported to the infirmary, where she covered herself with the thick blankets.
She gazed one last time at the broken mirror dejectedly and said, softly; "Why didn't you block Voldemort from your mind? Snape was supposed to teach you Occlumency! What happened? Once I get my hands on him!..."
There was a pocket in her infirmary gown and she put the mirror in it to keep it safe. No doubt Harry would like to have his artifact back. It was, after all, her father's last gift to him before he 'died'.
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I hope you liked! I know you've been waiting for the dragons! So, as a thank you gift, I want many reviews!!! ^_^
Next update will be Monday, Oct 13th. If I have enough reviews…^_^ *wink wink*
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Love ya all!
Eternal Cosmos ^_~