Chapter Ten:

The Snake and The Lion

Around quarter of eleven Harry and Shane left for Hagrid's Hut.

"So um…is it dangerous to get a familiar?" Harry asked.

"It's not" Shane said.

"Oh good" Harry said as they reached Hagrid's hut. Harry knocked on the door.

"Who's there? Oh Arry, Shane almost forgot about ya." Hagrid said.

"Well come on then." Hagrid said walking towards the woods. "Here is what we have to do. Sit in a quite place where you will not be disturbed and face west. Clear your mind and imagine a shining ball of light in front of you. Imagine that the light is the energy of your familiar. Breathe in to the count of four and breathe out to the count of four until you strongly feel the presence of the ball of light. When you're ready let the ball go and imagine that it has gone to get the right animal, bird or reptile for you. Go for a walk with the purpose of finding your familiar. The first animal you see after you're done this is your familiar. It will be with you whether you see it or not whenever you need it." Hagrid said.

"Wow" how long does that take?" Harry said.

"Not sure really" Hagrid said scratching his head sheepishly. "Now you face this way. That's west, and find some place in the forest to sit, and just incase boys I will be right here if anything happens alright?" Hagrid said.

"Sure" Harry said as he started off for the woods with Shane behind him.

After a while Harry found a large rock and sat down on it he watched Shane pass him. Then he started to clear his mind. He imagined a ball of light in front of him. Harry breathed out to the count of four and in to the count of four six times till he thought he could actually see the ball. Then he let the ball go wondering how long it would take it to find his Familiar. Harry stood up and started to walk through the woods hoping to see his Familiar. Harry walked for about twenty-minutes with out seeing anything but trees. He was starting to give up hope when he saw something move in-between a thick set of trees. Harry looked closer, 'No it couldn't be, how would on of those get into the forest?' Harry was stunned. He couldn't believe he was starring right into the eyes of a lion!

'Will it attack me?' Harry thought, but it didn't look upset. It started moving closer to Harry finally nudging him in the head. Harry fell over onto the forest floor.

"You're real" Harry said. The lion just sat down next to him. For a while Harry could not move. He just sat there with the lion. Then he heard a sound from behind him and turned to look. Before he could see anything the Lion grabbed him by the teeth and climb up a huge tree. He dropped Harry in the tree and jumped down back to the forest floor. Harry watched as a lager snake appeared beneath him. It had to be at least twelve feet long Harry thought as he looked at the snake. The lion let out a fearless roar at the snake that seamed to shutter at the noise. Suddenly the snake leapt out towards the lion with it's teeth out ready to bit. The lion leaped to the side and sunk its teeth into the snake's side, but he had not moved far enough and the snake had still bit and poisoned him. Blood leaked from both of them as the poison started to work it was through the lion and he stumbled.

'Come on think' Harry told himself reaching for his wand. "Darum!" Harry yelled pointing his wand at the snake. A white light shot out at the snake and hit his head with no effect. The snake turned and looked at Harry and then stated slithering towards him. The lion moved to stop him but the poison had gotten to him and he fell over and passed out. The snake rammed into the tree knocking Harry out and to the ground.

"Kill him Nagini" a cold voice said inside Harry's head. The snake turned and started towards Harry. It opened its mouth and showed Harry it's large white teeth. Harry closed his eyes and let out the loudest scream he could.

Through his shut eyelids he saw a great flash of red and yellow light. Then everything went dark.

Harry heard voices around him. He tried to open his eyes but they were just too heavy. He couldn't remember were he was. Then everything came back to him. He remembered the lion and the snake and…'was he dead?' Harry listened to the voices trying to hear what they were saying.

"This means he can join now then?" said the first voice.

"Yes" said the second voice.

"Do you think he will" The first voice asked.

"Yes, I just hope he takes it to heart how dangerous this job is." the second voice said.

Harry opened his eyes and felt around for his glasses. When he found them he slipped them on and watched the room coming into view. He looked around. He was in the hospital wing and the two men talking were Lupin and Mr. Weasley. After a while they left and Harry sat up and looked around.

"Harry oh, Oh Harry you're ok! I was so worried about you." Airean cried.

Harry looked over at her. She was sitting on a chair next to him. Harry could tell she'd had been crying a lot because her eyes were all red. "How long have I been here?" Harry asked.

"Three days" Airean said. He noticed she was wearing what she had been the night he left for Hagrid's.

"Where you here the whole three days?" Harry asked.

"Yes…I was really worried about you. You could have died. If something happened to you…I would have died." Airean said starting to cry again.

"Airean don't cry I'm ok" Harry said. She was not listening thought. Harry wasn't sure what to do so he did the first thing that came into his head. He reached out and held her rubbing her back for a while. After about ten minutes she calmed down and looked up at Harry.

"Thanks" she said.

"Um…sure" Harry said.

"Airean why did you stay here all this time by yourself?" Harry asked.

"Because…because…because I care about you." Airean said.

"Oh" Harry said.

"I care about you too." Harry said.

"Really" Airean said her whole face lighting up.

"Yeah" Harry said.

Airean smiled at him.

'Well it's no or never' Harry thought. "Hey Airean"

"Yeah"

"Do you think you'd like to go out with me?" Harry said holding his breath.

Airean smiled. "I think I'd love that" she said.

P.S. I got my info on familiars from a book called The World of Wizards by Anton and Mina Adams

R&R!