AN; well, I hope you like the last chappie. Term break was certainly an exiting one for Harry, eh? Though it appears Ron isn't too excited about it...

NOTE!!!! In this chapter I'm using the Quidditch stands like they are in the movies, not the way JK described them in the books. You'll find out why later...

Chapter 16 (YIKES!!)

Estranged. .

Ron didn't wake Harry the next day, and was downstairs when he woke. Harry dressed and came downstairs (trying to ignore his howling stomach) in time for breakfast and sat down in the free spot next to Lupin and Tonks. Hermione and Ron where sitting opposite him, but they didn't look up when he entered, or when he said good morning.

Lupin and Tonks were sporting bruises from the night before and it appeared Kingsley had some sort of sore rib. Harry's feet were aching, but otherwise he was fine.

All that day Ron and Hermione didn't talk to him. Harry got sick of trying to be nice and went and pulled weeds in the garden, trying to ignore the boiling feeling that was welling up inside him. It was obvious that both his closest friends where angry with him for not telling him about the mission, but Harry couldn't see how it was really any of their business. If he had told them they would have gotten mad and made life difficult for everyone before he left, which no one needed.

Halfway through the afternoon Percy dropped in and made a point of finding Harry for a chat. Harry was still in the garden, though the warmth of the sun had him working slower than that morning.

"Hi perc!" called Harry, wrapping his hands around a distinctly odd looking plant.

"Hello Harry."

Percy was looking better than the last time Harry had seen him. He had more weight, and was no longer looking like a scarecrow.

"How's it going? Part of the OotP?"

"Yep, the more the merrier apparently."

He didn't stay long, and they didn't chat about anything in particular, but after Percy had gone Harry was feeling distinctly happier than he had been earlier, and found himself smiling as he worked.

By the end of the day the garden was looking much better, and Harry was exhausted, more so than he had ever been when he had been ordered to tend to Aunt Petunias garden. He headed inside for a drink, and Dobby (who had been doing some gardening too) handed him a butter beer. Harry thanked the elf, drank the butter beer and went upstairs to shower and change. When he came down, food was on the table and it was dinner time.

Ron and Hermione barely talked at dinner, and never to him. Harry's anger resurfaced and boiled, until he saw Lupin watching him with and odd expression on his face. The anger died very quickly after that.

The next day was hectic, and they were to return to Hogwarts on the train (which was now fully prepared and just as shiny as ever). As Harry g=dragged his trunk downstairs, Lupin caught up with him.

"Harry, you know you won't be on the train don't you?"

Harry sighed and let his trunk drop.

"I had thought about it."

"You'll have an escort."

And so it was that Harry found himself watching Ron, Hermione and Ginny disappear. Ginny, at least waved.

Ten minutes later Harry, Tonks, Lupin and Moody were flying to Hogwarts.

They arrived about an hour before the train. Harry landed, thanked his friends, and watched them fly away. Some house elves took his trunk to his room and Harry thanked them for the 'good service!'.

He was wondering what to do when;

"Potter?"

Professor McGonagall was walking along a hall towards him.

"Hello Professor."

McGonagall gave him a shrewd look, "I suppose you flew."

"Yes professor."

"Well, as you're here early you can run a few errands for me."

Harry groaned inwardly but obeyed.

Ten minutes later he was halfway to Hogsmeade carrying a parcel for the lady behind the bar at the three broomsticks (name?).

He was wondering why he had to become a messenger boy when a screech from over head made him jump. He looked up. Far, far above, what appeared to be a huge bird wheeled over head. At first he thought it was a hippogriff, but it was too large for that. It looked like a huge version of a vulture, with a featherless neck and cruel beak. It was undoubtedly watching him. He stare back, and then turned to keep going towards hogsmeade. The next time he glanced up it was gone. The encounter worried him, for some reason that he couldn't fathom.

The uneasy feeling didn't disappear. That night at the feast Harry couldn't help but feel that something was very wrong, besides the fact that his two best friends in the world weren't talking to him. He sighed and after dinner went down to Hagrid's hut.

The half giant welcomed him happily and gave him a cup of tea.

"I hear you've had a mission?" chuckled the gamekeeper.

"Fat lot of good it did me." Said Harry angrily.

He told Hagrid about how Ron and Hermione weren't talking to him. Hagrid was sorry for him, but didn't have any advice. Harry sulked for a minute and then asked Hagrid about the bird he had seen. The giant spat out his tea, spraying it all over fang, who barked indignantly.

"What do yeh want to know about them?" Hagrid croaked, his ruddy face pale under his beard.

"What's wrong?? Asked Harry surprised, "what's so bad about them?"

"There the most vicious and sadistic beasts on this land. sly and so cunning. What just mentioning them makes me shudder. There more feared than dragons and giants."

"What are they called?"

"Griffon."

"What?"

"Griffon."

"Never heard of them."

"Not many have. They're pretty much extinct. There's a colony of Madagascar I think. What made you ask?"

"I-" Harry gulped, "I saw one."

"WHAT!! where?"

"On my way to Hogsmeade earlier today-but"

"We have to tell Dumbledore!" yelled the huge man, leaping out of his char and grabbing Harry by the arm.

It wasn't long before they were at the office, and Hagrid said "chocolate frog" and they went up to the headmaster's office.

Dumbledore was waiting; he always knew what was going on.

"Professor, Harry 'ere has something to say."

Harry shot Hagrid a 'thanks very much.' Look and turned to Dumbledore,

"I saw a huge vulture like bird this afternoon that had black feathers and red eyes, and Hagrid says that it was a Griffon."

Dumbledore had stiffened. "Are you sure?"

"Well I've never seen one before, or heard about it but when I described it to Hagrid..."

"Black feathers, red eyes, what kind of feet?" Dumbledore's eyes were piercing.

"ummm...." Harry thought back to that afternoon, "two talons at the front and three at the back."

"So he has enlisted them too." Said Dumbledore thoughtfully.

"Sir?"

Dumbledore started, apparently having forgotten they were there, "I'm sorry Harry, you had best go now, but tell no one of what you have seen."

"Yes sir."

It wasn't hard. With no one to confide in, Harry couldn't tell anyone anyway. The next week passed frightenly slowly, Harry seeing to is head boy duties, studying, practicing Quidditch for the p coming match against slytherin; he kept looking at the sky, watching for the bird. The teachers were on edge too, McGonagall was sharp with Neville, something she hadn't done in a long time, Flitwick was nervous, Trelawney was predicting more doom than usual. Only Harry seemed to notice these things how ever, and with Newts coming up he had no choice but to study hard. He saw Ron and Hermione in the library often, but they never talked to him, so he ignored them. It was lonely, but at least he got his study done.

The day of the Quidditch match arrived. Harry woke dressed, ate, and went to the Quidditch pitch.

The game started. Malfoy dogged him, copying every move he made. Harry ignored the taunts thrown at him by the blond, concentrating on the game.

Slytherin was leading fifty to forty when Harry saw the Snitch. He went after it with a burst of speed that would leave Krum open mouthed. His hand was closing over it when three things happened, all at once. Something slammed into his back, knocking him forwards on to his broom, smacking his nose against the handle, the crowd began to scream in terror and he heard a screech like the one he had heard last week...

Harry clung numbly to the broom and looked up. A huge bird was circling about one hundred meters above him. It was a Griffon. Harry swore as it dived, and dodged, flying in a circle to the right. The crowds screaming redoubled.

"Harry! Land!" he glanced sideways and saw Madame Hooch next to him.

He landed at the end of the pitch and ran towards the exit. A screech stopped him. There was a thump and the Griffon was blocking his way. The evil eyes gleamed at him. It attacked, lunging forwards with terrifying speed, but Harry was back on his broom. It missed, and Harry soared into the air.

"CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK!"

Harry looked up down, saw another griffon swooping in on him. Its wing caught him in the chest, flinging him backwards into the air off his broom.

"There's two of them?" Harry thought as he began to fall. Above him the Griffon wrapped its powerful claws around his Firebolt, there was a sickening crack and splinters flew.

Harry's fall ended. With a crack that lot him his breath and all feeling excepts pain in his right shoulder he landed on his shoulder on the roof of one of the towering stands. A piece of wood splintered under him and he began to roll towards the edge of the slanted roof. He fell over the edge.

Instants of time flashed.

He looked up, saw the edge. His right hand shot out. His fingers gripped the very edge.

The screaming from below him as the stands emptied re doubled as the first Griffon flew at him. He felt talons rake across his back and howled in pain. The Griffon came again and this time the talons wrapped around him, tearing him free of the stand, leaving the skin from his fingers behind.

With the talons wrapped firmly around him all Harry could do was be carried.

Spells shot from the teachers stand impacting the Griffons right wing. The Griffon began to fall, but turned as it did, and flung Harry into the air like a feather. Harry tumbled through space, feeling that horrible hollow feeling in his stomach that everyone feels when they know that 'this is gonna hurt!'. He cartwheeled for a few more seconds through the air then- a triumphant screech and more talons found him. The other Griffon had him. Harry realized in shock that the Griffon that had been hit with the spell had quite deliberately thrown him for the other to catch.

That's was when he stopped reacting and acted. He stuffed his hand down the front of his now rather ripped Quidditch robes and pulled out his wand (he always had it during Quidditch matches with Slytherin).

With difficulty he pointed the wand up at the Griffons underbelly and cried weakly, "RICTA SEMPRA!" the spell hit the griffon it howled with pain and realeased him.

He fell. He prayed.

"wingardium Leviosa!"

"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!"

"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!!" came from the teachers stands and Harry floated softly to the ground, unconscious and covered with blood.

An; nah nah nah!! Hehehehehehehehe! I know u just love me! Stay in touch and for heavens sake REVIEW!!