Harry's Pack
Chapter 6: Dragon
Harry landed with a groan on the cement floor, Ginny rushing immediately to his side, face filled with worry and concern. They'd been there about a week and a ½, and Harry had just been 'returned' from his 2nd 'question session' of the day.
"Alright love?" Ginny asked softly, eyes scared for him, as she carefully brushed the unruly hair back from his forehead.
Harry smiled the affirmative weakly up at her, answering, "I'm sore, but I'll live"
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ginny asked worriedly, biting slightly at her bottom lip.
"Well…" Harry dragged out, giving her a mischief-filled smile, "I could do with a kiss to make it better."
Ginny returned the grin, her own eyes dancing with laughter as she leaned down. Their lips met softly, gently, lovingly.
"Blech!" Ron yelled jokingly, "That's my sister you're snogging mate!"
Harry laughed and smiled over at his best friend of 6 years and stuck out his tongue childishly. Ron laughed deeply and then he and Neville carefully pulled Harry to his feet. Supporting him on both sides, the two other boys gently placed him into a sitting position against the only wall in the cell, careful not to jostle him anymore than need be.
Ginny came to his side instantly, Harry's arm wrapping around her waist as she snuggled into him carefully, avoiding the bruises skillfully. Emrys came to his other side, carefully pressing into him, gazing worriedly up at his favourite protector (not that he didn't love the others but Harry and Emrys seemed to share a special bond.). Ron and Hermione chose to sit directly opposite their alphas. Luna and Neville sat on Ron's other side and Rose sat on Hermione's other side, creating a nice, tight circle.
Harry smiled softly at his friends, his emerald eyes travelling lovingly over them all. Beaten, dirty, bleeding and bruised and we still stand strong, he thought proudly to himself, This is it. This is 'the power the Dark Lord knows not', not my ability to connect with my magic. That's helpful, but that's not it. It's this- loyalty, friends, hope, love! We're not going to lose!
"Harry?" Ginny asked gently, frowning at her mate's daydreaming.
Harry gave a slight start, glancing down at his mate in surprise, but then gave her a soft smile, saying, "Don't worry, luv, no negative thoughts. Promise. I was thinking positive."
"Oh yea?" Ginny asked challengingly, knowing Harry's penchant for falling into a brooding state at a moment's notice, "Then what, exactly, were you thinking?"
Harry smiled softly down at her, thankful for her concern, answering, "I was thinking about how the Pack is going to cause a whole lot of hell when we get out of here."
"We still don't know how we're going to do that. "Rose pointed out thoughtfully, joining in the couple's conversation.
Harry nodded, saying bluntly, "It's going to be hard as hell to accomplish. We need a pretty thorough plan if we're going to make it."
"Well," Hermione started logically, "Number 1 will be getting out of this, hem, 'room'. And 2 will be getting through all the passages and out of this building."
"3 will be getting away from wherever this place is. And 4 will be place to stay that's safe and big enough to train in." Ron continued thoughtfully.
"Wait," Luna interrupted in confusion, "Why can't we just got to Hogwarts and Dumbledore?"
"Because Dumbledore, while a great man, needs to pull his head out of his wrinkly arse." Neville answered simply.
Harry chuckled, shaking his head at his friend's impudence, saying, "Professor Dumbledore is a great man and a powerful wizard, but he is old and is beliefs and strategies are old. He doesn't think we-who have great cause to be part of this war- should fight until we're of age and he believes we should only defend and not attack and we all know we'll never win a war that way."
"Anyway, back to he plan. Number 1 on the list is easy, we can just-"
Harry was interrupted by a semi-familiar voice incredulously calling out, "Blue?"
Rose's head snapped around to the gate-like wall beside the one they were leaning against, eyes going wide as, her tone matching the young man's, she demanded, "Dragon?"
The teen was about their own age, standing close to 5"10. He had shocked looking gray eyes that flashed with a touch of fear and happiness. His tousled blonde hair and aristocratic features looked oddly familiar…
"Oh my God! Malfoy!" Hermione and Ginny exclaimed in simultaneous shock and realization.
Draco's own mouth Gaped open, as he demanded, "Granger Weasley?" his eyes then took in the rest of the Pack and he groaned, "Oh God, he's got you too!"
"What are you on about Malfoy?" Ron asked rudely, eyeing the blonde Slytherin with distinct displeasure.
"Wait a minute," Rose cut in, eyes clouded with confusion, "How do you guys know Dragon?"
"Oh no, Rose. Please don't tell me this is your 'Dragon'!" Luna groaned.
"And why shouldn't he be Luna?" Rose demanded angrily, eyes narrowing suspiciously at her Pack-sister.
"Because Malfoy's a slime ball!" Neville snarled, cutting Luna off before she even opened her mouth.
"Watch your mouth Neville!" Rose yelled angrily green eyes flashing.
"Enough!" Harry said commandingly, "Pack does not fight among each other!"
The Pack went immediately quiet, eyes downcast from their alpha's own eyes. From his place on the other side of the bars, Draco shot them all a curious look.
"Now," Harry began, his tone softening 'though not any less commanding, "Can we be civilized please?"
"Sorry I was rude Malfoy," Ron said, but only because the hard eyes of his alpha demanded it.
"So am I," Neville mumbled reluctantly as Harry's gaze settled on him.
"Me too" Luna said on a sigh, averting her eyes from Harry's.
"Sorry I snapped Nev." Rose said with slightly flushed cheeks.
"That's much better," Harry said approvingly, before turning his attention to Malfoy, eyeing him silently.
"How are you here, Dray?" Rose asked moments later, unable to remain silent any longer.
"How am I here? Jesus Blue! Why are you here? You're supposed to be in Canada, safe and away from all this bullshit!" Draco said.
"My Dad got transferred back to England," Rose shrugged.
Draco growled, "That's not what I meant, Blue, and you know it."
Rose sighed in defeat, answering, "Harry and I were best friends in childhood. We met up again the day I moved back. And wherever Greeneyes goes, trouble follows and I'm just along for the ride. But you didn't answer me; how are you here?"
Draco dropped his eyes from Rose's, muttering miserably, "This is my house."
"What?" Ron demanded
"It makes sense," Hermione cut in logically, "Lucius Malfoy is probably Voldemort's biggest supporter and we already know Voldemort broke Malfoy out."
Draco grimaced, mumbling, "Worst thing to have ever happened in my life."
"What was that?" Harry asked sharply, eyes staring intently at Draco.
Draco lifted his chin, meeting Harry's gaze levelly, "I said, that my father getting out of Azkaban is the worst thing to have ever happened to me in my life."
"My father is a horrible person, Potter, as you 7 well know by now I'm sure. Do you want to know the real reason I've been such a bastard to you all over the years?" Draco demanded fiercely, "Because if I didn't Lucius would torture my moth er-the only person who loves me- and then send me the pictures of her in insurmountable pain. And then, once I came home, he'd torture me. Crabbe and Goyle were never 'body guards,' they were 'enforcers,' who told my father everything I did.
"Do you want to know what the first thing that man did to me once he got out of Azkaban? He tortured me to within an inch of my life. The only reason he didn't kill me is because he doesn't want the bloodline to end," Draco choked out, eyes filling with tears.
"Oh Dray!" Rose whispered sadly, jumping from her seat on the floor to rush to the bars, grabbing onto his hands tearfully.
"I'm alright, Blue," Draco assured her, smiling softly at the girl, "I survived."
"I think we've found our answers to numbers 2 and 3," Harry said simply, cutting into the conversation.
"What?" Draco asked with a slight start, having forgotten everyone else in the room, and confusion.
"We're getting out," Rose informed him simply.
"No one's ever gotten away from the Dark Lord," Draco protested.
"Except Harry," Luna pointed out sagely.
"But we're going to need your help Malfoy," Harry interrupted, staring pointedly at Draco.
"And what if I don't want to help you?" Draco asked, more curiously than reluctant to help.
"You want to." Harry said confidently, not even bothering to answer the question.
Draco frowned at the other boy's confidence, asking, "How do you know?"
Harry smiled knowingly, "Because, young Malfoy, a man or woman never leave their mate in danger if they could save them. And, I assure you, there is no doubt at all in my mind that you are Ro's mate."
Draco stared at him silently, until finally saying, "Alright, what's the plan?"
Harry smiled triumphantly, "Well, on whichever day we choose, we'll let ourselves out of this lovely room. Then we'll have to find our way out of here, which is where you come in since you've lived here all your life and know your way around. We're also going to need you to figure out which wards surround this place and how far they extend so that we know how far we'll have to go before we get to our safe place."
"Anti-Apparition surrounds the entire estate and then some. The Floo network is not connected, and portkeys don't work." Draco answered promptly, and then, seeing their questioning looks, said, "I know this because I've been imaging ways to escape since I could crawl."
The group fell into silence, thinking of ways to get off the Malfoy estate without expending their limited energy. The silence reigned no ore then a minute before Ginny was crying out in triumph.
"The Knightbus!" Ginny crowed excitedly, "We could just call it and have it bring us somewhere safe!"
That could work if…"Harry turned to the blonde, "Draco?"
Draco grinned broadly, "Mum and I have called it here lots of times."
Harry's answering grin was slightly predatorial, the wolf in him coming out. But it disappeared as he asked, "But what about number 4? We need a safe place to go to where we can train and remain away from both Dumbledore and Voldemort."
"Home." Emrys suddenly declared, interrupting the thoughtful silence that had fallen.
"What, cub?" Harry asked in confusion, having mostly forgotten that Emrys was even there, the child had remained silent through the whole exchange.
Emrys' eyes were bright with remembrance as he said, "Home! With mummy and daddy. Away from the meany-man and Dumbley-dore."
Harry gave the child a slight smile, "Yes, Em, we'll bring you home first."
"No, no, no!" Emrys said, exasperated Harry hadn't understood what he meant, "Pack come with! Pack stay in the Realm with Emrys!"
"Em, I don't think we'd be welcomed in the High Realm. We aren't elves." Harry answered.
"Everyone welcome in the Realm!" Emrys said adamantly, "There lots and lots of differences living in the Realm with us!"
"What do you mean by 'differences' cub?"
"Differences!" Emrys exclaimed, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "D'elves and d'humans! Centaurs and werewolves and de vampires! Mummy and daddy always tell me that everyone be treated equally because nobody's better than anyone else."
Harry chewed it over for a moment before nodding his agreement with a large grin, "I think we've got ourselves a plan!"
Draco shook his head thoughtfully, saying, "No, wait, there's a snag in your plan.
"What is it?" Harry asked, a frown marring his brow as he went over the plan in his head all over again.
"The distance form her to the door. It's a pretty long way and added to that that we'll have to get away from the doors before we call from the 'Bus so we're not seen it's an even greater distance. And in the state you're all in, you'll never make it, "Draco said of their beaten and bloody appearances.
"Oh, don't worry," Harry said with a mischief-filled grin, "We've already got that part covered."
Draco's eyes narrowed at the other boy, "What have you got up your sleeve now Potter?"
So Harry proceeded to tell Draco everything about their connecting to their magic, placing his trust unquestioningly into the boy. In doing so, Draco became accepted into the Pack, 'though it didn't mean that Pack had to like him!
"Shit, Potter! You are good!" Draco laughed.
"Of course," Harry grinned, eyes dancing, then adding, 'We'll have to teach you most of this stuff too."
"So, the day we choose, which will be sometime after Draco's training is done, we'll heal up anything major, magically unlock the door then switch to wolf-form. Before we call the 'Bus, we'll have to disguise ourselves so no one knows who we really are, and then we'll go to the Realm." Harry said, grinning widely at the thought of their freedom.
"Hey!" Ginny yelled suddenly, causing everyone to start from their dreams of freedom, "Since we've got the whole 'secret mission' thing going on, can we have 'spy names'?"
Draco looked totally confused, so Rose leaned forward through the gap in the bars, clarifying, "It's a way to keep spirits and hope up, joking and laughing like that. It makes everything easier to deal with."
Draco nodded but was prevented from saying anything further because Ginny was speaking again. With a twins-like grin, she declared, "Harry's should be Sparky!"
Harry spluttered a moment, ignoring the others laughter before demanding, "Excuse me? How, in the name of all that's holy, did you come up with that?"
"Your scar," Ginny answered with another twins-grin, "It's shaped like a lightning bolt and lightning emits sparks. Thus, Sparky!"
The other burst into raucous laughter as Harry scowled down at his mate. However, it didn't last long as he, too, began to laugh.
"Ron should be Knight," Luna said thoughtfully, moments later as they'd all calmed down.
"Why is that?"
"Chess!" Luna answered, "Ron never loses-well, I've never seen him lo0se, and plus, knights of old were renowned for their loyalty to their King-like Ron is to Harry."
Harry smiled, "I like it!"
Ron grinned too, joking, "Hey, it's better than Sparky!"
"Hermione's should be Booky," Rose said, which was agreed on unanimously.
"Luna should be Nymph," Neville continued, "Because she acts like them."
This, too, was agreed upon and the group moved on to Neville. After a moment of thought, Ron spoke.
"Leo," he said firmly.
"Huh?" the others asked in simultaneous confusion.
Ron smirked, "Neville is probably the bravest person I know-no offence Harry. But, Neville is the one who faced his friends, not his enemies, which is much harder.
"And, since Gryffindor is the symbol for bravery, the lion the symbol for Gryffindor and Leo means lion. Also, he falls into the category for a Leo as a zodiac sign since his birthday is the end of June." Ron explained.
Draco smirked, "I like it." And Neville agreed.
"What about me?" Rose asked excitedly, bouncing slightly, 'though she and Draco had sat now, on opposite sides of the bars, still holding hands.
"Flower?" Luna suggested, but Rose wrinkled her nose.
"Doesn't feel right." She explained simply.
Silence fell for but a second before Emrys piped up, "Petal?"
Rose's eyes sparkled and she declared, "I like it!"
The group laughed and then all eyes settled on Draco in contemplation. He fidgeted, slightly nervous of letting them choose his nickname.
"Blondie?" Neville suggested with a slight sneer.
"Or ferret-boy?" Ron added.
"That's enough," Harry said sharply, causing both boys to quiet immediately. Turning to Draco, he said, "I apologize for my Pack's behavior."
Draco looked startled, but Ginny spoke up, again taking away his chance to speak, "I think we should go with Flame. Dragon was a name he liked and used and Dragon's breath fire-or flame- and therefor it's just an extension of his old nickname.
At the Pack's affirmative nods, she grinned impishly and said, "Goody! Now, my turn!"
"Cannon." Harry answered promptly, "Valuable to have, but dangerous if not treated properly."
Laughingly, everyone agreed. Emrys declined the option of a 'spy name', as he already had so many others-cub, luv. Little one, sprite, munchkin…
Harry smiled at the laughing teens, noting the way Rose and Draco looked at each other. His smile grew.
His pack had grown to 9.
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A/N Hey guys! How is everyone? You guys are all so great, and I want to thank all of you for your concern. Sorry it took so long to get up, but I just didn't feel like typing much, ya know?
Anyway, this chapter is dedicated with much love to all my reviewers for their support, and to my Uncle John and soon-to-be Aunt Roxanne-who are getting married in a few weeks!
Thanks again guys, and I'll get the next one up soon, though no promises! You never know what's going to happen with me! Also, like I said before, I've got this one finished, just not typed, and I've got about half the sequel done. The problem is I don't have a name for the sequel and it won't go up unless I have a name for it because I won't change the title of any story after I put it up-my name is a different matter ;) Anyway, if anyone has any ideas. Just let me know and I'll see if it fits!
'My love,
Red