Chapter 30 Garou
Harry's eyes almost popped out of his head. Walking up the aisle were two, well he wasn't sure what they were. They looked kind of human, they walked upright, two arms, two legs, and they had faces, a little canine looking though they were, and their entire body's were covered with fur. They both had long thick noses, with large eyes, that were constantly scanning everything in the room. And when the one with the white-blonde fur had started talking to Cat, you could see his teeth, they were huge, just like a wolf's. The other one was slightly smaller, with brown fur, that had copper streaks running through it. She noticed Harry staring at her, at first she seemed angry, but as she looked closely at him, a wonderfully human smile shone through. Harry was so distracted by the sight he became startled when he heard Cat's voice again.
Shaking her head she sighed "And now the fun REALLY begins. Hello Fang, and.... Gaz?..... is that you." she sounded surprised "Still hanging out with him,... I'm surprised, I really thought you would have gotten tired of him by now."
"Eehh, he's got his strong points" the Garou with the dark brown fur said as she shrugged her shoulders. Her friend Fang had noticed her staring at Harry and his eyes narrowed as he walked up to them.
"Oy, and what's so interesting over here then?" Fang asked, sounding like he was ready to attack someone as he looked from Gaz to Harry. Fang bared his teeth at Harry and began to snarl dangerously as he edged closer to him. Harry wasn't sure if he should do something or not, his wand was in his pocket and he sincerely doubted he could get to it before Fang got to him.
Harry jumped about 3 feet in the air as a shoe hit Fang on the side of his head. "You do, and I'll kill you where you stand." It was MacLeod's voice, and she wasn't bluffing, even Raul and Remus looked nervous. They were standing next to her, Remus had one of her arms and Raul looked as if he were ready to rush to Harry's defence in a moments notice.
Fang looked from Harry to Cat, still snarling a little. Then he suddenly stopped, knitted his brow, and did a double take "No way,..... he's yours?" Fang laughed or maybe howled would be a more appropriate term, as he easily picked Harry up out of his seat. "Angel, why didn't you tell us." Harry wasn't sure what would kill him first, the fright or the embarrassment. "Look Gaz, he has her eyes" Fang continued as he flipped Harry around towards Gaz as if he were a doll.
MacLeod came towards them quickly, limping a little due to her lost shoe "Would you please put him down. Honestly Fang, can't take you anywhere can we?" she snapped, sounding extremely irritated. Picking up her shoe and slipping it back on she continued to chastise him "And to get so bothered by a child. Really. Are you that insecure? I thought even you had more sense than that."
Fang looked at MacLeod with amusement "Well, well. Quite the little lioness aren't you." he said with a smirk on his face "Did I scare your baby? Fang sowwy , didn't mean to scare wittle boy" he finished staring directly at MacLeod
Cat sized him up carefully and responded calmly "You know, I can singe the hair right off your ass Fang. Or have you forgotten what happened last time you overstepped your bounds with my clan."
"Touchy..... you know I didn't come here for abuse." Fang replied snarkily
"That's right" Gaz said "you came because I made you." Harry could tell just by looking at her that no one was going to challenge her. "And you're going to behave" Gaz continued as she walked right up to Fang "even if it kills you, understand." they were face to face now, trying to stare each other down. Harry had no doubt that Gaz would win, she didn't look like the type who liked to lose, in fact right now, she was looking downright scary.
"Break it up you two" Raul interjected "This isn't the place, in case you hadn't noticed, there are children present." It was his way of warning them, he wasn't about to let Fang's attitude ruin this opportunity for his clan. Walking towards them, Raul stood behind Harry, placing his hands gently on his shoulders, "The boy is under my protection as well. As are the students of this school, if you cross that line Garou, you must face Clan Gangrel and Clan MacLeod, understand this." Harry was amazed at the way Raul was handling this situation, not 5 minutes ago, he had been playing around with Cat and Remus acting like one of the Weasly twins, and now you would have thought he was Albus Dumbledore.
Fang looked from Gaz to Raul to Cat and rolled his eyes. "Crickey, can't anyone here take a joke. Soooo sorry, didn't mean to offend anyone." Fang said sulkily.
Gaz stepped in again "We apologize to you Gangrel. Fang does tend to be a bit,.. temperamental at times, but he can be relied upon. I promise this to your clan" she turned to Cat and Remus "and to yours as well Angel. The Garou wish no harm to either clan, we remember the laws, and honour our traditions."
Harry watched them all closely, he was pretty sure this was some sort of formality more than an apology. Raul's face slackened a little as Gas spoke, and Remus was notably relieved by her actions. Cat on the other hand, had not changed her stance at all, Harry was afraid it was because Fang singled him out. "Miss MacLeod" Harry said softly "He didn't hurt me, really. He just startled me, that's all."
Cat looked at Harry, then back to Gaz and Fang. "Clan MacLeod accepts your position. However be warned, we also know the old laws, and we will enforce them if necessary." Cat walked over to Raul and Harry, purposefully turning her back to Fang. Harry noticed the look in Fang's eye, it seemed almost fearful. Harry continued to watch as Fang kept looking to Gaz for direction on what to do.
Cat stopped in front of Harry blocking his view of Fang and Gaz, she looked at Raul and nodded to him. Raul removed his hands from Harry's shoulders as Cat cupped Harry's face in her hands "Are you sure you're alright sweetie, because if he so much as scratched you.."
"No. Really I'm fine" Harry loved the way she was always so protective and concerned about him, it made him feel warm and secure, although it could be a little overwhelming and embarrassing at times but still "I just wasn't expecting anything like that, no harm done. Right Fang?"
Fang's ears literally pricked up "Right!! See, your little boy knew it was only a joke" Fang was trying his best to seem harmless "No harm, no foul."
Cat turned to Fang "Consider yourself lucky. If you ever try a stunt like that in my presence, you will find out very quickly why they call me Angel." Turning back to Harry she walked him back to his seat "are you sure you're alright Harry, really?" she whispered to him. Harry nodded and took his seat. "I'm fine. But I think you scared him."
Cat gave Harry a lop-sided smile as she rolled her eyes. "Yeh, go figure." Cat turned to the class once again, 'I hope that is the end of our surprises for the night." she looked pointedly at Fang, "The two people who just entered are Garou, they are the most wild and untameable of the wolf-forms. The woman is named Gaz, she is the leader of her clan" Cat motioned to the reddish-brown one who nodded her head, "the one that caused all the trouble is Fang, he is a tracker and scout for his clan." she practically stared through Fang as she spoke. "They are rarely seen by human eyes, they normally keep to the deep forests and try to avoid contact with humans when ever possible. You can see by looking at them why they would be mistaken for werewolves, the form you see them in now is the most comfortable and natural to them, however they can shift to either entirely wolf form, or with great effort and concentration, they can shift to a fully human form. Gaz, would you be kind enough to demonstrate?"
Gaz nodded her head as Cat walked towards her, carrying a robe which she wrapped around Gaz. The class watched in amazement as Gaz closed her eyes and took several deep breathes. Slowly her fur seemed to be sucked into her skin, and the class was amazed to see a fair skinned woman with shoulder length reddish-brown hair standing before them. She looked completely human, no one would have ever guessed that she was Garou.
Gaz began to blush as she heard the oohs and aahs from the class. Cat quickly stepped in front of her, as if to shield her from the stares. "Alright Fang, time to redeem yourself," she said with an edge to her voice. Fang quickly walked to her, waiting for his instructions "I would like you to convert into your wolf-form. No tricks" she added forcefully.
This time Fang nodded his head as he obediently crouched on the floor and stretched, his limbs looking as if they were melting as he shifted into a wolf-form. Shashe began to hiss as Fang took his shape, he was huge, Harry had never seen such a large wolf, and he was almost completely white. Fang got up to walk around the class so all the students could get a good look at him. He stopped next to Harry and sat down next to him.
"Okay, now you're just sucking up" MacLeod said to Fang.
Harry looked over at Fang and laughed, even Ron and Hermione were craning their necks to get a good look at Fang. Harry looked across the aisle to see Draco giving him an evil stare as he whispered something to Crabbe. "Oh no, Malfoy's up to something again" Harry said to Ron and Hermione "He's going to do something to Cat, I can tell." the anger in Harry's voice was evident to his friends, and also to Fang.
"Alright Fang, that's enough" MacLeod told him "Please return to the front. Now, you have seen the wolf-forms that both Gangrels and Garou can use. Unfortunately the only one we could not show you was a true werewolf as that would be far too dangerous to both the students and our werewolf."
"Oy, you mean you actually have a werewolf" Fang said as he quickly reverted back to his normal form "where? I've never seen a real one before." he began looking around the room "Is it true what they say, about them being completely mad"
Remus stood up and said "Yes, it is true. When the transformation takes place, you can't remember anything or anyone. All you want to do is attack and kill anything that moves." he said painfully
Fang looked at Remus "No way. You expect me to believe that YOU'RE a werewolf?" he said with a mixture of awe and revulsion "Not much to look at are you. I was expecting a drooling madman, not some wispy wizard."
"Well, looks like we all learned something here tonight. Didn't we" Raul said, placing his hand on Remus's shoulder reassuringly.
"Yeah, I learnt I can take on a werewolf," Fang said cockily, "Can you even fight?"
As Cat turned to put a stop to the conversation, Remus held up his hand, signalling her to stay out of it. "You want to know if I can fight? Are you sure you want to see that, it could be very embarrassing for you."
"Embarrassing for me. I don't think so old man." Fang sneered . At this point Gaz had stepped up next to MacLeod, ready to stop this herself.
MacLeod put her hand on Gaz's arm "Remus wants to handle this himself. He has the right to accept the challenge." MacLeod said softly "We don't get involved unless someone gets hurt." Gaz nodded her agreement as Fang and Remus continued to spar verbally.
"Go on old man, you can take the first shot." Fang said confidently, holding his arms open as if to give Remus a clear shot.
Remus grabbed his wand quickly and said TRICHO AZURE as a long thin blue beam of light shot out of his wand and coiled itself around Fang turning his fur a lovely shade of sky blue.
Gaz's eyes almost popped out of her head as she laughed uncontrollably, leaning on Cat for support. Fang had no idea what had happened at first, he stood there trying to figure out why Gaz was laughing so hard, until he caught sight of his own arm "Blue!!! You nancy bugger, what's the idea. You're supposed to be fighting me," Fang said amazed and irritated at the same time "not giving me a make over, or is this the best you can do?"
"Just trying to give you a chance to back down" Remus replied, smiling from ear to ear.
"Back down,.... not bloody likely. Besides, I look good in blue" Fang said, admiring the colour. As Gaz howled with laughter still holding on to Cat for support.
Cat meanwhile had her face in her hand, repeating over and over, "please tell me this is not happening"
Fang decided it was his turn, taking a running leap at Remus he tried to snatch his wand away from him. Remus quickly side stepped Fang, to the cheers of the class and stood in front of the Ravenclaw students, waiting to see what Fang would try next. Looking over his shoulder, Remus saw Jamie Krafty directly behind him, "Miss Krafty, you may want to moved a bit closer to Mr. Harper" Remus said quickly "there's no telling what he's going to do". Almost on cue Fang made another leap at Remus, growling loudly. Remus hit the floor and rolled out of the way, yelling ALOPECIA as he did.
Fang landed easily on the floor and turned slowly towards Remus, "And exactly what was that supposed to do?" Fang asked smugly, "turning me pink now, or maybe a perm?"
Remus sat on the floor, shaking his head and smiling broadly, "Fang, .....maybe you should look down"
By this point Gaz was, quite literally howling with laughter, while Cat's mouth was wide open and her face very, very pink.
A slightly confused Fang decided to look down, and froze.
Looking over to the nearest table, he grabbed Seamus Harpers cloak from the back of his chair, causing Jamie to practically jump onto Seamus's lap. Fang never even noticed her reaction. "You bloody bugger!!! What did you do to me...... WHERE IS MY FUR" Fang yelled, nearly hysterical with panic.
"Why Fang, what ever do you mean? I thought you wanted to fight, I was only trying to make you feel...."
"Shut up!! Just ... Shut up... and undo it, NOW!" Fang was beside himself, cowering behind Seamus's cloak,
"You know Fang, it might help if you actually put it on." Remus said, trying to keep a straight face, as a laughing Raul walked up next to him "You do know everyone behind you can see....everything."
Fang's eyes grew wide as he realized what Remus had said, he turned around quickly, giving the front half of the class a very 'interesting view' of himself. Harry didn't know what to do, leave it to Remus to pull a stunt like this, and poor Fang looked devastated, he didn't know what to cover first, and he kept looking to Gaz and Cat for help. Sighing deeply, Harry got up and walked to Fang "Just stand still a minute.... here, wrap it around like this."…
Snuffles was roaming the halls looking for Remus or Harry, when he heard the laughter coming from one of the old classrooms, pushing the door open with his shoulder, he pauses and took in the scene. There was a bald, naked man in the middle of the class and Harry was trying to help him put on a cloak. Remus and Cat were laughing like lunatics as were the two other people with them. Sirius had no idea what had happened, but he felt it was a pretty safe bet Remus was intricately involved somehow.
Sirius entered the class slowly and decided to hang around and enjoy the entertainment. His attention was quickly drawn to Cat, who was holding her sides as she made her way to the podium and tried to regain order. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't stop giggling long enough to get out a sentence clearly. Sirius wished he could smile right now, he wanted to be part of this so badly, he wanted to be able to join his friends in their laughter. He missed hearing this so much, especially Cat, it had been years since he heard her giggling like this, no matter what his mood was, hearing her laugh always made him smile. He looked back up to her, she was trying once again to maintain some semblance of order.........
Giggling hysterically Cat's head was on the podium, she raised one hand into the air and said as clearly as she could "Remus, please, for the love of heaven. Give him back his fur,..... there are children present, and this.... truly,.... is not a pretty picture."
Remus looked up at her and grinned "I don't know Raul, do you think he's learned his lesson yet? Or should I take it a step further."
Raul winked at Cat and turned to Remus, "I'd be careful if I were you. Garou are notoriously slow to learn. You might need to reinforce this just a little."
"NO, ...No...I learned my lesson" Fang said frantically "I promise, no more trouble, not from me"
Gaz looked to Remus and Raul, "That is enough, he has learnt his lesson." she said firmly, he needed reprimanded, not demeaned "Please restore him." Gaz reverted back to her natural form as she walked to Fang. Offering her hand she led him up to Remus and Raul "Now, please."
Remus nodded and touched Fang with his wand;. Fang watched in wonder as his fur quickly grew back in. "By the way, you should really thank Harry." Remus said softly to Fang "He pretty much got you out of it with his Mum up there." he winked at Fang as he finished.
Fang looked at Cat who was smiling at Harry, and reverting to wolf-form Fang went to Harry, sitting obediently at his side.
"Looks like Potter has a new pet" Draco sneered "A wolf to go with his pet cat, or maybe he's her pet." the rest of the Slytherins joined in. "Yes, her 'little' boy."
"Shut up, Malfoy" Harry hissed, his hand involuntarily grabbing his wand. Fang's quick eyes and sensitive ears caught the entire exchange. Sensing a chance to redeem himself, Fang quietly circled behind the Slytherin table, waiting for his chance.
"I wonder what would happen if someone where to put a moonstruck curse on one of them" Draco said maliciously as he fingered his wand.
"Care to see" growled a angry looking Fang as he leapt on the table directly in front of Malfoy. Grabbing him by the back of the neck and effortlessly picking him up Fang carried him to the front of the class and held him, dangling in mid-air, before the podium. "Oy, Angel. Mind telling me what a moonstruck curse is, and why this little whelp might want to use it on you." Fang asked as he held a struggling Malfoy several feet above the stone.
Cat took one look at Draco and her face turned into pure malice, "A Malfoy, what - a - shock." she said icily, pronouncing each word very, very clearly, she had actually bared her teeth as she finished pronouncing the 'ck'.
Even Fang was taken aback by the anger in her voice, and the flashing of her eyes looked as if the living fire of the Morrigan was within them. "Angel, ..... is it your wish that I take care of this problem for you?" Fang asked smiling evilly.
"Don't tempt me Fang," she said loudly, then walking close to Draco and Fang she whispered "Right now Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore are the only things stopping me from ripping the heart out of your chest and putting an end to your entire wicked line."
Draco's eyes grew wide with fear, he could hear the venom in her voice, he had no doubt that she meant every word she had said. "You wouldn't dare, you're a teacher" he said, his voice trembling "and my father is....
"I know exactly who your father is," Cat growled, "and no one will stop me from killing him, he helped kill my mother. I will have vendetta." Gaz walked up behind Cat and placed her hand on her shoulder. Cat looked at her angrily, then softened her expression as she drew in a deep breath. The two regarded each other for a few moments, and then Cat nodded.
"Fang, bring him with you" Gaz commanded "Angel is going to allow us to make an example out of him." A hush fell over the class as Fang carried the still struggling Draco out of the class and into the hallway, making sure to leave the door wide open. Gaz followed behind, pausing only to stare at the large black dog, sitting in the back of the classroom.
Harry and Remus gave each other horrified looks, Harry knew that she disliked Malfoy, but she wasn't going to let Fang and Gaz kill him, was she? Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. Ron who normally was all for any sort of Malfoy bashing was becoming pale, and Hermione looked as though she were going to panic at any moment.
Remus on the other hand was terrified, he knew exactly what Lucius Malfoy had done to Cat and Lily, he knew Cat blamed him for a great deal of the pain and suffering that Voldemort had caused. After all if Lucius hadn't started recruiting people, bullying them into doing what he wanted, Voldemort never would have gained power so quickly. His belly lurched at the thought of what Gaz and Fang could do to a child like Draco, one bite, one tear of their claws and it would be over..... the only thing Draco had going for him was his age, he was still considered a child, and no matter how angry she was, Remus could never picture Cat allowing a child to be harmed in her presence, much less by her command. Still, the anger on her face when Fang brought him up was frightening....
Sirius couldn't believe what he had just heard, there was absolutely no way Cat would ever allow something like that, not even to Draco Malfoy. Sirius silently ran out into the hall, only to see a terrified Draco, being held several feet in the air as Fang pinned him roughly against the wall "Well, well. What a naughty little boy we have here." Fang said mockingly "What do you think we should do with him Gaz?" Fangs face was a fraction of an inch from Draco's.
Draco could feel Fang's hot breath, and see every sharp tooth in his mouth, he wanted to cry out for help, but he was too terrified to speak, he couldn't even summon the will power to fight back. Draco just hung there like a rag doll, waiting to feel Fang's teeth sink into his flesh…
Meanwhile, every set of eyes in the classroom was focused on Miss MacLeod as Remus came running up to her. "Cat please tell me that this is a very sick joke. You really don't intend on letting them hurt him" Remus was telling her more than asking "You know you'll never forgive yourself if you do, he is still a child."
"Child?! You take a good look at that creature and tell me; What part of him is a child?" Cat responded angrily "His father's influence is all over him, he has already killed and more than once. You tell me Remus. What part of him is still a child?!"
Remus stood there dumbfounded, 'killed', he knew Cat and her abilities far too well to question how she knew this, but still he couldn't let her do this. "Cat, please......
'Remus, its alright....they have no intentions of killing him" Raul spoke up "They understand the laws and traditions. Even if she had asked them to, they would not. Not here, not like this."
Remus felt a heavy burden lift off of his shoulders "even if she had" he had truly been worried that she had ordered them to do harm to Draco. He shook his head, he should have had more faith in her than that, he knew her better. "Then, what are they doing to him?" Remus asked, confused. As Raul walked past him, towards the open door….
Draco was truly experiencing an intense and profound sense of fear, Fang was slowly, purposefully tearing through his clothing one layer at a time, each one going deeper and deeper, the last one had gone through his robes and shirt, causing a raw stinging as the claw tore at his flesh. Draco was trembling now, why wasn't anyone coming to help him.
Sirius was unsure as to what he should do. He recognized Garou when he saw them, he had met some when he, James, Lily, and Cat had gone for a small trip to her families place in Caledonia. They could be vicious, but he couldn't stand there and do nothing, even if it was a Malfoy. Sirius began to growl, but Fang and Gaz ignored him completely. As Sirius growled even louder, he prepared to fight, his muscles began to flex and tense as he crouched down getting ready to spring at Fang, only to be stopped by a gentle hand on his neck.
"Don't worry my brother, they only mean to scare him" Raul whispered into his ear as he crouched down next to Sirius. 'My brother' thought Sirius 'he must know I'm not a real dog' he wondered if Raul knew about animangus or if he simply assumed he was a Gangrel, like himself. Sirius's thoughts were interrupted by an inhuman scream, he looked up to see Gaz, mouth opened wide, fangs bared swiftly moving in for the kill............
Gaz let out a horrible growl as she lunged at Malfoy's throat, Fang released his grip just as Gaz made contact with Draco's shoulder, nailing it with her elbow as Draco fells limply to the floor, stunned but still quite alive. He looked up to see Gaz, Fang and Raul laughing at him, "What's wrong little man, 'ave an accident 'ave we?" Fang laughed pointing at Draco's thigh.
Draco looked to where Fang had pointed and immediately felt his cheeks flush with anger and embarrassment, he had been so scared that he had wet himself, much to the delight of the Garou, who were still howling hysterically..........
Every student in the class became very quiet and a bit paler than when class had started. They were completely terrified now, expecting the worse. Miss MacLeod on the other hand, gathered her grading books and opened them on the podium as she spoke calmly "Well, now that that's over with, we will begin with the pop quiz." she had a strange smile on her face as she looked out at the students. "Don't worry, there is no penalty for wrong answers." The student stared at her in disbelief, even Harry had a look of utter horror on his face.
Cat looked to Harry, and her smiled quickly disappeared when she saw the look on his face. Taking a deep breath she yelled toward the hall "Are you two done yet......Or do I need to come out there?"
"Hang on a minute" Fang yelled back between bouts of laughter "He's not exactly cooperating here." Fang popped his head in through the opened door. "Is he always such a baby?" he asked with the goofiest grin on his face that Harry had ever seen. It reminded him of the look Sirius and Remus would give when they knew they had been caught in the middle of getting into trouble.
"Yeah, pain in the ass that one" Cat replied bluntly, "we're ready for the quiz, you joining us, or did the little nancy pass out on you or something." The class erupted in nervous laughter, they were not use to hearing a teacher talk in such a manner.
"Yeh, yeh, we're coming" yelled Gaz from the hallway, she grabbed Draco by the wrist and pulled him into the classroom holding him in one hand and his robes in the other. "Sorry about the delay, Angel. It seems the big bad wizard over here had an 'accident' I didn't realized how fragile the poor baby was." Gaz explained mockingly, using a pouty face and a voice to match.
There was a moment of dead silence before the entire classroom erupted into fits of hysterical laughter. Harry and Ron had tears running down their cheeks, they couldn't believe it, Draco was completely humiliated. "Gheez Harry, I've seen you face you-know-who and come out better than that." Ron said loudly, making sure Draco heard every word.
Sirius sat in the back against the wall watching everything, he had to admit, this one would live in infamy for quite a long time, if only dogs could laugh. Looking over at Harry, Sirius almost transformed right there, Harry and Ron had their heads resting on the tables, pounding their fists until their parchments were jumping across the table, he could actually see the tears dancing down their cheeks.
But his attention was quickly drawn to Cat and Remus, as he watched the way they held onto each other, part of his heart literally panged, he wanted to be the one she held onto, no matter what the reason. The other part of his heart was glad to see that Remus and Cat had remained so close over the years, Sirius had to remind himself how playful they had always been with each other, it never meant anything to them, "just their way" Lily used to tell him.......