The Swan Prince
Part 6
It was three hours after dawn before Draco finally swam over to the lake side to meet hisfriends. He used his long neck to look in a 360 degree angle before meeting the eyes of Hermione. "I guess now you understand?"
Hermione nodded her feathered head. "Yes, Fred and George told me everything. But I still don't understand one thing."
Draco tilted his head to the side. "And what is that?"
"Why haven't you gone to Harry? Even as a swan you should be able to get him to follow you somehow. If you could get him to the lake, then he would see you change."
Draco fluttered his wings in agitation. "Don't you think I haven't thought of that? I have no idea where I am. I could be thousand miles from the castle for all I know."
Hermione was floored. "What? But we are only about twenty miles from Gryffindor castle right now. I should know, I have been there a few times myself."
Draco's eyes widened in surprise. He couldn't believe he has been that close to Harry this whole time. "Can you take me?" He hadn't felt this excited since he saw Harry those months ago. Just the thought of being able to see him again was almost more than he could bear.
Hermione nodded her head. "Of course. So all we need to do is find this Harry of yours and somehow get him to follow you here. Once you change back into your human self you will be able to tell him everything." She thought a moment before continuing. "Do you have any idea of how to lift your curse?"
Draco nodded his head. "Yes, someone must make a vow of ever lasting love. And they must prove it to the world."
Hermione fluttered her wings. "Well, Fred and George of course will need to stay behind."
George perked his ears up at this. "Why?"
If an owl could roll her eyes, she would have. "Well for one you can't fly, and two you can't keep up with us from the ground. Though I guess I could try and carry you in my talons." She brought one talon appendage up and showed them the inch long sharp talons at the end of each finger.
George took one look at those razor sharp talons before he quickly brought his paws up in front of him and shook his head from left to right. "N..No that's ok. Fred and I will be more than happy to stay. Right Fred?"
Fred quickly nodded his furry head. "I have to agree with you on this one George. Not that I don't trust you, Hermione. It's just that I almost had a close encounter with those, and I plan on avoiding them."
"Oh please." Hermione could only shake her head a moment before turning to Draco again. "Are you ready to go?"
Draco unfolded his long wings and gave them a swoop. "As ready as I ever will be." Together he and Hermione took to the skies, hoping to reunite the two lovers together again.
Draco and Hermione flew above the trees on their way to Gryffindor castle. Draco could hardly hold in his excitement at getting the change to see his love again. He tilted his long neck towards Hermione. "Thanks a lot for helping me Hermione. I had started to give up hope."
Hermione gave a quick hoot of disapproval before answering. "One should never give up hope Draco." She was cut of from saying anything else by an arrow that shot between them. Quickly they both shot apart looking around for the archer. It was Draco who spotted the person first.
"It's Harry!" Draco quickly flew down into the trees and raced towards him.
"No Draco… Wait." It was to no avail. She knew that Draco had completely forgotten that Harry could not hear him. She raced after him as fast as she could her wings were not match for Draco's much larger ones. She could only pray she reached him in time.
For his part Draco continued to race towards Harry. It was the first time he had seen him or any other human for that matter, besides Voldemort, in months. Just when he was around 40 yards from Harry he saw him aim his bow at him again. Panicked Draco quickly shot to the ground as the arrow shot a few inches past his head.
Unfortunately he had miscalculated and he was unable to pull up in time. His body went rolling on the ground to come to rest on his back. When he opened his eyes he was shocked to find Harry before him with the bow aimed. He shut his eyes and waited for the inevitable, but shot them open again when he heard his beloved yell. He looked to see Hermione attacking Harry's bow distracting him.
She quickly yelled out to Draco. "Fly you idiot."
Draco needed no further explanation. While Harry was momentarily distracted he turned and raced towards the lake as fast as possible. He knew that Harry was fast on his heels. He looked at the sky and noticed the sun was setting. If he could get Harry to the lake when the moon rose he would change back, and then he could tell Harry everything.
Harry had been walking now through the woods for over an hour. He had lost Ron at the beginning, but didn't worry for Ron had been in the forest before. He had been looking at everything, making sure to take note of the smallest of creatures incase they would act suspicious. He knew that it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but he owed it to Draco to find him.
After stalking a mouse for about 10 minutes he let out a sigh and looked towards the heavens. It was then that he saw an unusual sight. An owl and a swam flying together. What made it even weirder was how the swan had its head turned towards the owl as it flew. Harry immediately took aim. This had to be the great beast. He quickly aimed and shot his arrow into the air. He let out a curse as he saw the arrow fly between the creatures instead of at one of them. He quickly reached into his back and pulled out another arrow.
When he looked up he was disappointed to notice that his prey had escaped. He was about to walk off when he caught a flash of white from the corner of his eye. Turning he saw the Swan coming right for him. He quickly brought his bow up and took aim, before releasing another arrow. He grit his teeth in frustration as, again, the arrow missed. He knew now for sure he was not dealing with any normal swan. He saw it go to the ground and quickly jumped over a log and ran towards the creature.
He grabbed another arrow and took aim again. He saw the Swam open its eyes for a moment before closing them. Harry was momentarily shocked upon seeing the gray eyes of the swan. So common to another set of eyes the he knew. Before he could think any further something came crashing into his bow, causing the arrow to fire off into the forest. He looked up to see the owl trying to fly off with the bow. He fought with the owl for a few moments before he got control of it back.
He quickly turned back to the swan but only saw its back as it was flying away through the forest. He looked back the other way and noticed the owl had gone. He quickly grabbed another arrow and ran in the direction the swan had gone. There was no way he was letting it get away.
Draco felt his heart beating like crazy as he raced towards the lake. A few times he had turned around only to find an arrow flying towards him. He couldn't believe how fast Harry was. After another 5 minutes of flying he finally burst into the clearing where the lake was situated. He dove onto the water and quickly swam on the lake. He looked at the reflection in the water and was startled to see a swan. He looked quickly up to the sky and noticed that the moon was behind some clouds.
Panicking he looked to find out where Harry was at. It only took a moment to find his beloved, at the lake's edge, no more than 5 feet away, bow aiming (the reader can get confused for he doesn't whom the 'he' is) directly at him. Again he awaited his fate only to be saved by his friends. This time it came in the form of two raccoons that were currently biting on Harry's shoes. Harry started to kick around, trying to get rid of them. Draco saw Fred go flying into the bushes but was relived when he saw Fred limp out.
After a few moments George also went flying, and Harry turned his bow once more towards Draco. But this time fate saved Draco in another way, the water start to glow around him, a sure sign that he was changing. He quickly looked up at the moon. He was saved.
TBC…
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