A/N: Hey, sorry for the mere suckiness of this chapter. I had it really good till my computer decided to malfunction and I had to close the Word Processor down without having saved ANYTHING!!!! *Starts to breathe heavily* Okay well here is the slightly worser (I know, that's not really a word!) chapter 13 of 'Holding My Last Breath'
The Eyes of the Forest
A large black dog bound through the thick overgrowth of the Forbidden Forests. He wasn't sure how he'd escaped from the clutches of Draco Malfoy and the Death Eaters, but he was grateful. Silently he moved in the shadows, should unfriendly beasts and humans be tracking him. The dog sensed nothing, but would not allow that belief to blind its senses. Death Eaters had ways of sneaking up on those who believed they were safe. He knew. It had happened to him once before, and his parents. Sighing (if dogs can sigh) the dog Shadowfax bound closer and closer to the one place he had first called home. Toward the one place where he knew he could find sanctuary. Steadily, Shadowfax the dog bound toward Hogwarts, school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
* * *
Dumbeldore had sensed a presence familiar and welcome for some time now approaching the school. He wasn't sure who it was, but knew that they were in animagi form. Patiently he waited, his eyes focused on the grounds. Hagrid the gamekeeper was struggling with a few Christmas trees to place in the school for the coming holidays. The Headmaster smiled and continued to survey the grounds. At last his sharp blue eyes caught sight of something. A large black dog sat in the shadows of the Forbidden Forest, panting heavily. It looked tired and worried, but all right nonetheless. Dumbeldore smiled, and within a few moments had appeared on the ground, bidding the dog forward.
With a gentle yip it obeyed, and greeted the old man as if it were his master. But Dumbeldore knew better. This dog had no master, nor would he ever. A smile crossed the man's face as he scratched the animal gently between the ears.
'We've been worried, Harry.' he whispered with a wink. The dog yipped once more, licking his hand appreciatively. 'I am quite glad to see you on your feet. All four of them!' Hagrid marched by, dragging a few large pine trees behind him.
'Good mornin' Professor!' he nodded his head and smiled.
'Good morning Hagrid. Have everything there all right?'
'Nothin' to it, sir.'
Dumbeldore waited for the large Gamekeeper to be out of range before turning to face the dog once more. To his surprise Harry stood before him, smiling weakly.
'Hello Professor.'
'Harry...' the old man smiled. 'We've been worried.'
'I know. I'm sorry.'
Dumbeldore held up a hand. 'There is no need, Harry. I understand your predicament, and you were right to do what was needed to keep yourself safe.'
'I...thank you sir. Have you heard from anyone?'
'Anyone?' Dumbeldore smiled in an attempt to be comedic. 'Just anyone? Harry I hear from all sorts of people every single day.'
Harry smiled. 'I mean Sirius, or Remus, Hermione or Ron? How have they been?'
At this, Dumbeldore sighed. 'Sirius has been a hard one to get through to. But I imagine your talk last night with him made him feel much better.'
Harry stopped. 'You knew about that?'
'Harry, since when have I not known about your actions?' he smiled sweetly, like a grandfather to his young child. 'But yes, though I did not read through the conversation. I'm not nosey in my ways, just curious. A rather brilliant form of communication, if I may say so.' He wrapped a friendly arm around Harry's shoulders. 'I am quite impressed, though you never cease to make me so. I imagine his moods have changed dramatically in knowing that you are safe!'
Harry smiled, going slightly red at Dumbeldore's comment. 'What then of the others?'
'Ron is upset, but I imagine he will recover. He's strong, and has picked up on some of your more admirable traits. Determination, strength, wit...he will come to believe that you will be fine in the end. Your friend Miss Granger is in Europe exercising her first job as an Auror.'
Harry looked up in amazement. 'Hermione is in Europe? Isn't that place drenched with Death Eaters?'
'She will be fine, Harry.' Dumbeldore assured him. 'It is you, once again, that we must fear for.'
'For some reason I'm not surprised.' Harry laughed. Dumbeldore chuckled, releasing Harry's shoulder's from his arm.
'You have no reason to be. My only fear is where are you going from here?'
Harry sighed. They were still outside, and he began to grow wary of their surroundings. 'A fear I fear I cannot quell at this time, Professor.' Harry smiled innocently. Dumbeldore raised an eyebrow, his face looking rather surprised.
'You do not trust me, Harry?' he asked. A pang of guilt hit Harry hard in the stomach.
'No, Professor. It isn't that.' he looked to the forest. 'We are being watched. And it is not so much that I do not trust you, it is because I do trust you. That makes you a target. So I cannot tell you, and even if I could, I don't know where I am going right of this moment. Perhaps I will contact you again.'
Dumbeldore nodded. He too had sensed the eyes from the forest, but they were well out of hearing range from the creature.
'Be careful, Harry.' Dumbeldore whispered, grabbing the boys arm so as to also grab his attention.
'I will. Tell everyone I'm okay and I'll see them again soon.'
Dumbeldore nodded. 'Until we meet again.'
With that, Harry transformed into the big black dog that was so similar to his godfather and bolted into the forest, some twenty yards from where the eyes were still watching the wizard. Dumbeldore sighed sadly and hurried back to the school.
* * *
Sirius saw with great joy the large black dog bounding out of the forests behind Grimmauld Place. His heart fluttered as he stepped lightly through the halls of his house, not caring if he woke anyone within. He entered the garden where the dog waited patiently, his tongue hanging out as he panted. The moonlight bathed them both, freezing them in a majestic, surreal painting like atmosphere for but a few moments before the dog once again took the shape of Harry Potter.
'Sorry I'm late.' Harry stated, cocking a crooked smile. Sirius and Harry embraced for a long moment.
'Here's something I thought I'd never see again.' Sirius stated tearfully.
'The same here.' Harry replied. They pulled away, eyes connecting. 'I can't stay.'
'I know.'
Harry nodded. 'Where are the others?'
'All inside, sleeping.'
'Or so you assume.' he nodded to an upstairs window. Sirius looked up to see Remus and Ron smiling down at them. They were down in the garden within a few moments, all of them greeting Harry warmly.
'You ass!' Ron hissed, punching him once in the shoulder, then hugging him.
'Don't know what to make of that, but okay.' Harry laughed when they pulled apart.
'Its good to see you, Harry.' Remus stated, embracing Harry as he might have James so many years ago.
'And you, Professor.'
'Remus, Harry. Remus.'
Harry again cocked that famous crooked smile he'd earned from his father. 'Very well.'
'Where are you going now?' Sirius asked after they had all greeted each other.
'I don't know. I can't go back to Hogwarts though, its being watched.'
Remus' brow widened. 'Does he know.'
'Yes. But they've got eyes on everywhere they believe I'd go. I have a feeling they'll be watching this place soon enough too.'
Sirius nodded. 'So no more visits after this one?'
Harry sighed sadly. 'Probably not. At least not outside. I might be able to get in via Floo Powder, that is if you're hooked up to it.'
'It can be arranged.' Sirius smiled. Harry did as well.
'We'll see then.' Harry smiled. Sirius nodded. He moved to say something when a sudden rumble in the forest made them all turn their heads and instinctively draw their wands. 'Damn.'
'What is it?' Sirius hissed, trying not to mind his godson's new bad habit.
'Whatever it was, its the same thing they've got posted at Hogwarts.'
'Could it be the same one?' Ron asked.
'No.' Harry stated. 'A forest troll.'
'A wha..?' Ron looked to Harry with a raised eyebrow. All his years as a wizard and Harry could still surprise him with new information.
'A forest troll.' Sirius repeated. 'Rare, but no less dangerous than any of its cousins.'
'Rare!?! I thought they were wiped out!!!' Ron near bellowed.
'Sshhh!' they all hissed.
'Is this all they've got after you?' Sirius found himself saying with a mocking smile. 'I think they've underestimated you.'
Harry could not help but laugh. 'No. This is what they have as posts. Everywhere they think I'll go, one of these things will be waiting there. He's already reported I'm here.' he looked to Sirius. 'I'm going to have to go.' Sirius nodded. 'Get back inside.'
They did, but Sirius turned his head just in time to see a large black dog barrel into the other side of the forest, the troll's eyes (all that had ever been visible) suddenly disappeared, no doubt its gaze following the wizard it was after.
Sirius sighed, but a warm hand came across his back.
'He'll be fine.' Remus smiled. Sirius knew it to be true, but he still could not help but worry.
