Pawprints of the Panther
By: Lord Gavin Black
Disclaimer: I am not JK, therefore none of the HP characters are mine. I do, however, own RJ, Gina, Gabe, Joe, Ez, and any other characters who appear that are not cannon characters. But I'm sure you guessed that. This is a slash fiction (Male/Male). The rating is for the obvious slash, language,and drug use.
A/N: I have to put this in here... I, in all actuality don't own Gina, Gabe, or Ez. They are characters that one of my friends has allowed me to use. You, however, are NOT allowed to use them. Thank you. LGB
Chapter 3
Harry lay on his back in the Weasley's garden and stared up at the the stars. He felt a shift in the grass next to him and turned to see Hermione laying next to him.
"Harry, you've been quiet this past month, what's going on with you?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbow as she glanced over at him, concern filling her expression.
Harry sighed, he knew Hermione would ask this question eventally, he just didn't know how soon. He turned back up at the stars and sighed again. "I'm tired of this Hermione. I'm sick of people dying because of me. I'm honestly just waiting for something to happen to you and Ron. You're my best friend, Hermione, and that puts you in danger."
Hermione scoffed and smiled slightly. "I'm sorry to say this so bluntly, Harry, but, you're mental. Number one, no one died because of you..."
"My parents died because I was born, Cedric died because I made him grab the Portkey with me that day in the maze," Harry interrupted, his green eyes flaring in anger.
Hermione scowled and locked gazes with him. "Harry, now I want you to listen to me very carefully to me. None of those deaths were your fault. When Voldemort killed your parents you were only a baby, there was nothing you could do. They died saving your live, the biggest expression of love they could ever show. Cedric was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Besides, Cedric made his own decision to take the Portkey, no matter how much you persuaded him, he always could have said no."
Harry frowned and looked back up at the stars. When he didn't say anything, Hermione stood and brushed off her jeans. "You think about those two for a little while. When you're finally ready to listen come see me. Just remember, Moony didn't call me the brightest witch for no reason."
"Maybe being the brightest witch in the world you can explain how I could be stupid enough to get Sirius killed." Harry's voice was raw with pain.
"Oh, Harry," Mione instantly sat back down, her arm snaking around Harry's shoulders. "You know..."
"I know that I killed him." Harry growled, cutting off his best friend. "If I wasn't dumb enough to fall for Voldemort's vision or was smart enough to remember to use that blasted mirror then Sirius would NOT BE DEAD!"
"The only person who is stupid enough to believe that is YOU!" Hermione grabbed Harry and forced him to look at her. "I've tried staying quiet about this, allowing you time to grieve, but I can't anymore. You were NOT responsible for his death."
"Mione, I know..." Harry snapped.
"Shut up, Harry!" She placed her hand over his mouth. "You're going to listen to what I have to say. Voldemort is an evil twisted son of a bitch." Harry's eyes widened at Mione's language. "He would do anything to hurt you, ANYTHING. By blaming yourself for Sirius you are letting him win. Don't you see that? This is what he wants. He needs you weak and broken. He knows it's the only way he'll win."
"I...I never thought about it like that." Harry whispered.
"Snuffles wouldn't want to see you like this, Harry." Mione caressed his face. "He would understand you being upset, I'm sure he was devasted by the loss of your parents, but he wouldn't want you to be ruining your life. You have to move on. You can move past the pain, and always treasure the memories that you have." Mione slowly stood again, placing a kiss on the top of Harry's head. "You may have had to let him go, but that doesn't mean you have to forget."
"I know." Harry looked up at her, her beautiful face bathed in the moonlight.
"Since I'm a muggle-born, let me quote something for you." Mione smiled at him. "Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood, do not let it grieve you. No one leaves for good, you are not alone." Hermione began to walk away, her voice floating back to Harry through the night. "Hold him in your heart, Harry. He's always there. We're waiting for you in the living room, Mrs. W. made peach cobbler. There's a slice waiting for you."
Harry smiled slightly and nodded. "Give me a minute." He lay back on the grass and sighed. Hermione's words had cut through the dark fog of his grief. He felt as if most of the burden had been lifted off of his shoulders. He could still feel the pressures of Voldemort, but the aching throb in his chest was relieved. He smiled and stood up, brushing off the back of his jeans. Harry turned and with a new spring in his step he made his way into the Burrow.
RJ made his way out of his bedroom for his morning lesson with Professor Snape. Dumbledore had given him a couple of days to get adjusted to the new life at Hogwarts, but soon afterwords began his studys to become up to speed with the rest of the seventh years. He wasn't sure how he would be able to learn six years worth of lessons in a few months time, but in the few weeks that he had been studying he had already learned much of the first three years' curriculum. He stopped in front of the Potions lab and straighten his tie and cloak. Dumbledore had requested that he be in his uniform during his lessons. He claimed it was to get him used to wearing the odd clothes, but RJ had other ideas about his reasons. But, that was neither here nor there. He made sure his black tie with the Hogwarts crest was straight one last time before slowly opening the door and striding into the room.
"Your lesson was to begin three minutes ago, Mr. Fannon. I do not appreciate your tardiness. Ten points from your house upon the beginning of the term," Snape said, without looking up from his lesson plans. "Today you will be brewing the Wit-Sharpening Potion. This is a fourth year lesson. Directions are on the board, begin."
RJ sighed and pulled his cauldren off the shelf. He carefully pulled the correct ingredients from the student's shelf next to Snape's desk. RJ copied the directions from the board to a piece of parchment sitting on the desk next to him. After a half an hour of cutting and crushing his ingredients were ready. He sighed and looked up at the clock. He was improving on his preperation time and his slices looked neater. Just before RJ began to add his ingredients Snape made his way over to the table. He looked down his hooked nose at the cuttings and powders that sat in a neat line across his desk.
"The powdered moonstone is before the eye of toad, Mr. Fannon. Three points from your house for your stupidity,"
"Actually Professor, I read ahead a bit in the text and upon seeing more detail on the properties of both ingredients. After seeing that, I realized that if the moonstone has simmered for five minutes, stirred clockwise for three, the eye of toad will be strengthened and therefore the effects of the potion will last longer," RJ explained, looking up at Snape a small smirk on his lips.
"I'm impressed by your knowledge. Continue. But know this, you are the one that will test this potion, not me. Be sure of your calculations." With that, Snape turned back to his desk, his cloak flowing behind.
RJ grumbled under his breath and began adding his ingredients. He knew that this was only an act for the students and in actually Severus wasn't as menacing as he seemed. Draco and RJ had become fast friends after their meeting in Diagon Alley. RJ had returned to Hogwarts to find Draco sitting with them in the Great Hall that evening. He quickly took the seat next to Draco, glad to be with someone his own age again. After that first night they spent most of their free time together. Since Draco was living with Severus, who was actually his Godfather, RJ had started to see more of the potions master than just his lessons.
What had surprised him most about the seemingly dark and somber man were his jokes. Once Severus was sitting in his chair by the fire in his rooms, the man was actually quite plesant and witty. RJ had a sneaking suspicion that Professor Snape and Gina would get along perfectly. RJ silently dropped the last ingredient into the slightly silver potion and it began to bubble and shift to a deep royal purple.
Snape cautiously strode up next to RJ and looked into the cauldren. "Well, the original potion would appear a light silvery purple, but yours has deepened, possibly denoting the strength of the effects. Bottle two vials of your potion and meet me in my quarters after dinner. We'll continue the research on your potion then. Actually, make it three vials, Draco may like to join," Severus smirked and strode back up to his desk.
RJ stared at Snape for a moment before placing the corks in the vials and cleaning his area. He strode up to the desk and set the three vials on the work strewn out in front of Snape. "I have a feeling you know something that I don't, Professor."
"That is usually the case of student and teacher, Mr. Fannon," Snape replied calmly.
"I ment about this potion, sir. Is there a reaction between eye of toad and powdered moonstone that I'm unaware of?"
"No, but there is a reaction between the powdered moonstone and and the unicorn hair that you didn't take into consideration. I expect a foot and a half parchment on my desk at the beginning of your lesson tomorrow,"
"But sir, I thought we were continuing the research this evening in your quarters," RJ said, being careful not to whine.
"That is correct, and you will find most of your information will be gathered from that period of time. You are dismissed, thank you, Mr. Fannon."
RJ scowled and strode out of the room so quickly he didn't notice Draco standing outside the door until he had already knocked him over and landed on top of him.
"Now, this is a wonderful greeting, Ralston, but I do feel it is a little..." Draco began.
"Stuff it, Draco. I didn't see you there," RJ said, standing and offering a hand to Draco to help him up. "And how many times have I told you, I hate that name."
"And how many times have I told you I know?"
RJ laughed and pulled Draco to his feet. "Lunch, Mr. Malfoy?" he asked, motioning to the passageway out of the dungeons.
"Why, yes, Mr. Fannon."
The two made their way up the stairs and into the Great Hall. During these meals, RJ learned more about Draco and the hirarchy of Hogwarts. He had already learned much about the inner workings of the schhol and much of the backgrounds on the students that attended. Although, Gina did caution him one night, that while some preconcieved notions about people and Houses may be true, many times, they are not. RJ knew that Draco may be a bit prejudiced since he was already sorted into Slytherin house and he himself had yet to be sorted. A ritual that RJ was already quite nervous about, even though it was still a while away.
"Do you want to take a trip out to the Quidditch pitch after dinner tonight?" Draco asked, interupting RJ's musings.
"Can't, Snape's got some kind of research for me to do on this potion I tweaked during lessons today. He told me to meet him after dinner. Said something about you maybe being interested in joining in." RJ shrugged before standing and gathering his things for his afternoon lesson with Dumbledore.
"Sounds interesting, I might have to check it out. Later, Ralston,"
RJ smirked and turned away. "Later, Draconis," he said, laughing at the surprised expression on Draco's face as he walked out the door. He turned and walked up the steps to the Headmaster's office, a smile still on his face. RJ spoke the password, "Jolly Rancher", and stepped onto the moving staircase that went to Dumbledore's office and private chambers. He knocked on the ornately carved door and slowly opened it.
"Ah, Mr. Fannon, presicely on time. Do come in, we've got a lot to go over this afternoon. Lemon Drop?" the old professor asked, holding out a tin to RJ.
RJ politely declined and sat down in a chair in front of the large desk. He had a feeling this was going to be a long and tedious lesson. Sighing, he bent down and pulled the parchment and quill from his bag and set them on the edge of Dumbledore's desk.
Harry sat on the edge of the couch and quietly moved a piece of the chess set. After two large slices of cobbler, the second insisted upon by Mrs. Weasley, Harry found himself completely full and quite relaxed. His talk with Hermione had brightened his mood and those in the Burrow could feel the difference in the air. Ron was quietly enjoying Harry's company during their almost nightly game of Wizard Chess.
"Check," Ron said, moving his queen to the front of Harry's king.
"I'll never win against you, will I, Weasley?"
"It's doubtful, Potter. But I do enjoy watching you try," Ron laughed, clapping Harry on the shoulder. "More pumpkin juice?"
"Yeah, sure," Harry said, handing Ron his glass. "But I want a rematch when you get back."
"Not like you'll win," Ron said, turning around and noticing Hermione come down the stairs, her nose burried in a book. "Want some pumpkin juice, Mione?"
"Thanks, Ron. Sure," Hermione said, sitting next to Harry on the couch. She sat the book down on the table in front of her and rubbed her eyes.
"What's that, Mione?" Harry asked, glancing at the title on the cover. "'Discovering the Inner Beast: A guide to becoming an Animagi.' What are you doing with this?"
"I thought, since I'm here for the remainder of the summer, we could follow in the Marauders' footsteps." She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips.
"That's a great idea. Wait... you're staying until school?" Harry smiled, pulling her into a hug. "This is so great! When can we start?"
"Well, I've just finished reading it, and, based on the text and my calculations, if we start tonight, we can have it finished and registered by the beginning of term."
"Oh, I have a great feeling about this summer! Maybe this year won't be too bad after all," Harry said, smiling.
RJ walked into the quarters that he shared with Gina. He looked around for his guardian, but only found a note on the table in front of the fireplace.
"RJ- gone to Sev's quarters. Change into something comfy and meet me there after dinner. -Gina." RJ sighed and shook his head. "So Gina's in on this, too. What's so interesting about this potion?"
RJ sighed and pulled a pair of jeans and a t-shirt from the drawers. He quickly showered and changed before making his way over to Professor Snape's personal rooms. RJ stopped infront of a large painting of a field of roses, he stooped and brought his nose close to the canvas before sniffing and stepping back from the frame. The door quickly opened and he stepped in, closing the painting behind him.
"Finally, Ralston. What'd you do, get yourself all prettied up for me?" Draco drawled from his seat on the couch.
RJ rolled his eyes and sat down in an overstuffed armchair next to him. "Shove off. Apparently, I have work to do."
"Right you are, RJ. Parchment and quill at the ready?" Snape appeared, his school robes gone, in a pair of loose black pajama pants and a black t-shirt.
"I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't think to bring my parchment or quill down here," RJ said, looking into his lap.
"Here's a set," Snape said, waving his wand and a parchment and quill appeared in front of RJ. "Remember to take detailed notes."
Suddenly the portrait opened and Gina stepped inside. "Don't start without me, Sev!"
"I wouldn't dream of it, Gina," Sev said, handing her a vial of the deep purple liquid. "Besides, having you here is half the fun of this,"
Gina raised an eyebrow at his remark, but made no comment. Turning to RJ, she asked, "What has your young student brewed up this evening that calls for such a meeting?"
"Well it seems that Mr. Fannon has unknowingly brewed an alternitive Wit-Sharpening potion. He didn't take into account the reaction between the powdered moonstone and and the unicorn hair. This is his research session on the effects of the potion," Sev answered, handing the other two potions to RJ and Draco.
"Why aren't you taking one, Uncle Sev?" Draco asked.
"Because he promised me during the lesson this morning that he wouldn't be testing this potion. I would. But, Professor, why are Gina and Draco also taking it?" RJ asked, turning from Draco to Severus.
"I'm your control group, RJ. And please, you know in my private chambers you don't have to call me Professor," Sev said, smiling over at RJ as he took a seat in the other arm chair.
Gina sat on the couch next to Draco and opened the small vial. "Well, it doesn't smell rancid," she said, taking a small whiff.
"But that can either be a good thing or a bad thing, Gina," Draco said, examining the deep purple liquid.
"That's correct, Draco," Sev said, looking over at the young blonde.
"I spoke with Professor Dumbledore on the reaction you mention, Sev. He gave me some cryptic message and changed the subject. He said, 'The sight of unicorns, but the maddness of the toad.'"
"Leave it to Dumbledore to give you the answer but still make you figure it out yourself," Draco said, shaking his head. "I'll give the old coot a point for his knowledge of riddles."
Gina laughed and shook her head. "He's always been that way, Draco. Probably born like that, I say."
"How do you know, Dumbledore, anyway, Gina?" RJ asked.
"I guess I never did explain that to you, did I?"
"No you didn't," RJ said, a bit roughly.
"Sorry. Anyway, I was made your guardian many years ago. In fact, I moved into the neighborhood the day after you were found on your parents doorstep. I've always known about your magic and was sent to watch over you, to make sure nothing would prevent you from your destiny."
"My destiny?" RJ asked, his face filled with curiousity and confusion.
"That's not something we can discuss at this time. Now is the time for potions," Gina said, holding her vial up a little. "Ready for your research, RJ?"
RJ sighed and uncorked his own vial. "As ready as I can be, although Dumbledore made me a little wary of taking this. A toad's maddness doesn't sound very pleasant."
Draco nodded. "You're right about that one, Ralston,"
"Will you ever call me anything different?" RJ asked, raising an eyebrow in Draco's direction.
"It's doubtful,"
"Fine. Bottoms up," he said, before pouring the potion into his mouth.
RJ set the vial down on the table next to him and looked around the room. He watched as Gina and Draco up-ended the vial's into their mouths. He waited for some strange feeling to pass over him or for something to shift, but the feeling never came.
"How do you feel, RJ?" Sev asked.
RJ shrugged. "I feel fine, sir. I feel no noticable shifts in personality, form, or knowledge. I should probably write this down shouldn't I?"
Sev nodded. He waited as RJ wrote down the information before he continued. "I want you to also make a note on the taste, smell, and texture of the potion."
RJ nodded and began writing his notes down. He nearly fell out of his chair as his words began to form into shapes. He picked up the parchment and stared at it as the shapes moved into pictures. RJ threw down the parchment and looked around the room at the faces that regarded him with curiosity.
"They... it... trick parchment." he stuttered, sitting back in his seat, crossing his arms.
"I'm sure," Snape said, a smirk on his lips. "Do you feel any different than you did when I first asked you?"
"Um... I feel lighter. Kind of... connected to something,"
"Good, take note of it. Your ink won't move, don't worry."
RJ sighed and picked up his parchment from the floor. He looked down at it and saw the words he wrote before the ink started to shift. He nodded and began to write his findings. He was relieved to see the ink not moving on him again. He turned from his parchment and looked around the room, seeing people that he once had never seen.
"Who are they?" he asked, looking around the room.
"There's no one else here besides us RJ," Draco said, looking around the room.
RJ's head cleared for a moment and the vision faded. He turned to Severus and smiled. "It's a halucinagnic. 'The sight of the unicorn and the maddness of toads.' It makes sense now!"
"Very good, RJ. You'll have moments of clarity between hallucinations, so try and write down whatever visions you see. They may have some meaning to you,"
RJ nodded, but again nearly fell out of his chair as Draco screamed from the couch.
"Get him away from me!" Draco thrashed on the couch, his eyes closed tightly.
"Draco! He's not here, it's only a hallucination." Sev said, gently shaking his godson's shoulders.
Draco slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Sev. "It was... him. My father."
Sev slowly turned to RJ and sighed. "This is why I didn't take the potion. Some of the hallucinations are tramatic, if someone isn't around to bring you out, you'll stay mad forever."
RJ nodded and looked at Draco. "Is there an anti-dote?" he asked.
"No, the effects will wear off in time. Approximately a half an hour."
RJ nodded as he watched Gina walk around the room as if she was picking out clothes.
"No, I think the leather would look better on him," she said, turning to an unseen person next to him. "Tight black leather."
RJ turned and saw a large golden lion stride into the room before settling on the floor next to his chair. "Who are you?" he asked, looking down into the deep tri-colored green eyes of the animal.
"A friend. One you have yet to meet," he said, before standing and vanishing.
RJ furrowed his brow and turned to his parchement, quickly writing what he saw. Knowing, somehow, that this one vision might be the most important of the night.
A/N: To those of you who have followed the story thus far: THANK YOU! I'm eternally grateful to all of you.I do, however, ask that I possibly get a few more reviews. I would love you ALL forever if you would. ;-) I'd love to know what you like, what you don't like, things I could change, things that aren't understood, the like. :-D Well, I'm off to write another chapter... ;-) LGB