Disclaimer: I only own everything that resides in my room. Oh, and my own original stories. Everything else is someone else's.

Chapter 12

Are You Sure 'To Dance Or Not To Dance' Is The Question?

"Look at this, Hermione!" cried Ginny, pulling a simple dress in navy blue off the rack. She held it up to her body and used one hand to flare out the skirt, grinning over it at her friend. "What do you think?"

The bushy-haired girl turned from where she was browsing through the opposite rack. The two of them were shopping for dresses and – thankfully – there wasn't a crowd. Dumbledore had brilliantly plotted the Winter Dance out and had assigned dates to each year so there wasn't such a rush for dresses and dress robes. Today was the seventh year's buying day and they were out in force.

Since Hermione had no one to go with to Hogsmeade to shop with, Ginny had taken it upon herself to sneak out and help her do her shopping. They'd skillfully avoided the other girls in Hermione's year by hanging around in the Three Broomsticks until a fair amount of the other seventh years had trickled in – then they had gone to shop.

Thankfully, their plan had worked.

Hermione looked at the dress the redhead was holding up and frowned.

"No, I don't think so, Ginny."

"Aw," pouted Ginny, replacing the dress. She then looked at the other girl and asked, "Do you even know what color Harry is wearing?"

Hermione shook her head then went still as the redhead continued, "Do you think he's going to wear that cap of his? I mean, it's a nice cap but it's certainly not the kind of thing you'd wear to a dance."

"Well…I don't know," said Hermione, fear swelling up within her at the question. How was Harry going to manage that? Since he wore the cap every day and was careful to keep it on his head, she knew that his ears weren't like his fangs and claws and able to disappear.

"What about this one?" asked Ginny suddenly, holding up another dress. "I rather like the color. It matches Harry's eyes, doesn't it?"

Hermione turned and stilled at the sight of the dress. It was truly the color of Harry's eyes and the material shimmered gently in the light of the shop. The neck was v-shape and slooped low with the back matching it but laced with emerald ribbon that trailed down to the dress' hem. As Ginny turned about the full skirt swung out, its thick folds rippling out in a smooth circle.

"It's perfect," breathed Hermione.

"Try it," said Ginny, offering the dress. "Then we'll see if it's perfect."

"I think it is," said Hermione as she took the dress and moved to the changing rooms at the back of the shop. It didn't take long for her to strip the sweater and skirt she'd worn underneath her winter cloak and begin to pull on the dress. She shivered at the feel of the material across her skin, which she imagined would be what silk would feel like.

Turning, she looked at herself in the mirror…and gasped.

"Very nice, dearie," said the mirror with a smile in its voice. "You'll certainly turn heads."

"Hermione? Are you okay?"

"Fine!" squeaked Hermione, still staring at herself in the mirror.

"Well then let me see the dress…oh Hermione!"

The older girl blushed and twisted one hand in the other as Ginny gaped at her.

"Good Merlin," breathed the redhead. "Harry's going to have to beat them off with a stick! Oh, you have to let me work with your hair! We can't leave it like it is!"

"O-okay," stammered Hermione, still shocked at how…unreal…she looked in the emerald dress. As she turned to go take it off, she asked, "Ginny? How much is this dress?"

"Oh, don't worry!" said Ginny happily. "Harry told me just to charge it to his account."

"He what? Wait, he knew you were coming?"

Ginny sighed and gave her friend a shove towards the dressing room.

"Hey, he insisted. And, yes, he suggested it. Now let him play the gentleman. Hmm?"

"Alright," sighed Hermione, inwardly fuming. She was going to have a talk with Harry about this!

- - -

"Konnichi wa, Mia-san, Ginny-san!" said Harry cheerfully as he met the girl's leaving the dress shop. He himself had done the same thing they had and waited until most of their year was in the Three Broomsticks. Then he had wandered into the shop to buy his robes and had come out with two sets of dress robes instead of just one. The first were one's the shop owner's helper had chosen, claiming they matched his eyes perfectly – which they did. Harry had picked out the other pair, which were made of a warm but light black material that appeared as though someone had gathered the night together and made the robes from it. The edges of the sleeves and bottom sported a barely visible Celtic pattern of silver and emerald green in the shapes of bounding cats.

Half of the reason he had bought the second pair of robes was the irony in the hem patterns.

"Hi, Harry," said Ginny, her freckled cheeks red from the cold winds gusting through Hogsmeade. Her brown eyes flicked to the box tucked under his arm and she added, "I see you got your shopping done."

Harry just grinned then looked at the two girls, frowning when he saw Hermione was carrying a box similar to his but Ginny wasn't. The redhead noticed his look and smiled.

"Don't worry," she said calmly. "I have a dress. It's Mum's but wizarding style hasn't gone that out of fashion in the past few years so it's okay."

Harry frowned some more then glanced at Hermione, who was glaring at him.

"Mia-san?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed and she spat, "You told Ginny to charge my dress to your account."

"Yes," said Harry, nervously taking a step back from the enraged girl.

"Why?"

"My foster father taught me that men take care of their women…and buy things for them when they must." He shrugged helplessly, already feeling his cheeks heat up from his words. "Since you asked me to the Dance, I felt I should do something for you."

"See?" exclaimed Ginny, punching Hermione on the arm. "A gentleman! Now stop whining, Hermione, and let's go get another butterbeer at the Broomstick before we have to head back up."

"That is a very good idea, Ginny-san," said Harry with a smile. "Right, Mia-san?"

Hermione turned to glare at him but found her heart melting from his smile. It was the smile he'd given her the day she'd met him – the one that had, as she had said then, set every girl in Hogwarts after him.

She gave in to his smile and moved closer to him, feeling warm when his free arm came down across her shoulders, steering her towards the Three Broomsticks.

- - -

The day before Christmas holidays began, Hermione found herself wandering down to Harry's rooms. She managed to avoid any Slytherin's on her way down and she smiled at Myelin as the approached the portrait.

"Ah!" said the Lady Slytherin at the sight of the Gryffindor. "Come to help in the packing?"

" 'Packing?' " repeated Hermione. Her heart dropped and settled somewhere down near her stomach. "Is Harry leaving?"

"Harry? Oh no!" Myelin laughed. "You misunderstand me, child. Harry is helping his young charge pack. He, alas, is not able to return home as both of his foster parents are caught up in some rather hectic business."

"Oh. Sorry."

"No need to apologize," said Myelin, waving a hand. "It is my fault that I did not make that clear. I do suggest that you wait inside, however. Harry and the young one are in Slytherin House itself and I would not suggest you enter in there." She sighed then and shook her head, continuing, "It is sad that Salazar's House has come to this…this enmity with Godric's. They were once such good friends…"

"What broke them apart?" asked Hermione curiously.

Myelin smiled sadly and placed both her hands just below her collarbone.

"I, sadly, was the straw that broke that ox's back. My brother was so protective of me – so protective that he would not allow a man the simplest courtesy to me! But one day he was called off for a few days to assist a number of peasants being attacked by a dragon. And that was when Salazar took the opening like the Slytherin he was and spoke to me. He confessed his affections for me and I swear I fell for the man then and there."

She smiled suddenly in happy remembrance and Hermione knew then that Salazar Slytherin had not been all he was said to have been. He couldn't have been. Myelin – in the time Hermione had known her – did not seem to be a fool and she had really, truly loved him.

"I was only fifteen then," continued Myelin. "In those days we began to learn magic much earlier and I had been declared a full witch by my brother and the Duchess Ravenclaw a week before. Salazar was in his early twenties and was well versed in the Arts. He knew those spells that could be used for Light magic…and those that with the right incentive could be made Dark. 'Know how your enemy will play the game' he told me. That way you could know how to defeat them." She smiled again, this time sadly. "He was a warrior, my Salazar. And I loved him."

"How did your brother find out?" asked Hermione, entranced by the tale.

Myelin just smiled and replied, "He found us. I thought he wouldn't return for another week, so I invited Salazar for supper. We went for a walk in my garden after that and then…he kissed me. That was where Godric found us – there in my garden with Salazar, who my brother had rescued from witch hunter's in Austria, and him kissing me."

"Godric flew into such a rage as I had never seen before. He would have killed Salazar had I not stepped between them, proclaiming my love for my beloved. My brother would not believe me, however, and it tore asunder the friendship they had created in the years after he had rescued my Sal. And that, my child, is how the rift between the House's of Gryffindor and Slytherin was torn. I, sister of Godric and wife of Salazar, was the cause of the entire debacle. Not the sole cause, I assure you, but the one that finally shattered the peace."

"But you married Slytherin," said Hermione. "Couldn't your brother have refused?"

"Ha!" exclaimed Myelin. "My brother knew better than to do as such. He may have been a fair hand at making war, but I was well versed in the spells you call hexes now. Had my brother so foolishly interrupted my wedding to Salazar – an event that both the Duchess Ravenclaw and Lady Hufflepuff approved of – he would have faced my wrath."

"That's…amazing. I didn't even know Slytherin was married…or that Gryffindor had a little sister."

"Yes. They do not place such things in the history books. They simply wish to tell history as they will, not with the truth. Oh! Get inside quickly! Young Malfoy comes!"

Hermione wrinkled her nose then gently pushed Myelin's portrait open just wide enough that she could get in once she got a grip on the frame. She then tugged it closed behind her just before Malfoy passed in front of it, complaining about having to stay for the 'stupid Winter Dance.'

Taking a deep breath, she took a step back…and screamed as two hands grabbed her from behind. Shrieking, she spun about and attempted to hit whoever had grabbed her.

"Sumimasen, Mia-san!" exclaimed Harry, ducking away from her hand as it swung at his face. "I didn't mean to startle you!"

"Harry! Don't scare me like that!"

"Sumimasen, Mia-san," repeated Harry, bowing his head. "As I said, I did not mean to startle you. What are you doing in here?"

"I came to see you," replied Hermione.

The han-akurei blushed and stammered, "Er…I do not know what to say."

"Harry?"

"Hai, Mia-san?"

"Do you…do you…?"

"Do I what, Mia-san?" asked Harry, tilting his head.

"Do you…like me?"

Harry ducked his head then looked up at her shyly, his green eyes gently glowing.

"Hai, Mia-san," he breathed. "If that is wrong, I shall…"

"No!" exclaimed Hermione, grabbing for his arm. "No, it's not wrong! Unless you don't want a normal girl…"

"A normal girl would be boring," said Harry, lifting a hand to touch her cheek. "And you, Mia-san, are far from normal."

Hermione smiled at him and earned his gentle smile in return. He then said, "We should go see Wen off. I actually came in here to get her Christmas present…"

"Okay."

Harry smiled again then picked up a small wrapped present that sat underneath a little tree he'd placed on a side table. It sparkled gently with careful light charms and Hermione found it a charming little thing.

A warm hand then slid into hers and Hermione jumped then turned to smile at Harry. He just grinned back at her then pulled her from the room so they could go say goodbye to their young friend for the holidays.

- - -

"How on earth are you going to hide these?"

"Mm?" mumbled Harry sleepily.

"Harry," said Hermione, nudging his shoulder. His eyes winked open and he peered sleepily up at her.

"Nan no?"

Hermione sighed and tugged gently at his ears, asking again, "How are you going to hide these? You can't wear your cap to the Dance."

"I know," said Harry. "I'll figure something out."

"I hope so."

"Don't worry, Mia-san."

"Mm," said Hermione, her fingers stroking the fur on his right ear. Harry's eyes slid closed in content and he shifted slightly so she could reach his ears better.

The bushy-haired girl blinked at him then chuckled, saying, "You act just like Crookshanks when I do that."

"Is that a bad thing?" mumbled Harry.

"No," replied Hermione as she saw the tip of his tail flicking up and down. "Unless you mind being compared to an actual cat."

Harry opened his eyes to a slit and said, "I am a cat, Mia-san. Why would I mind?"

The girl just shrugged then said, "Maybe you should do ask Professor Snape how to hide your ears. Wait… How did you hide them at the Sorting? You took your hat off!"

"Professor McGonagall cast a charm."

"Can't we just cast it again?"

Harry shook his head and sighed.

"Unfortunately, magic cannot be used for long periods of time to hide my ears or my tail. They repel it like a rock repels water."

Hermione blinked and lay silent for a moment before she breathed, "Even Dumbledore can do nothing to them?"

"Hai."

"Harry…that means you're more powerful than Dumbledore. And he's the most powerful wizard of our time!"

Harry nodded and opened his eyes, looking up at her. Sadness showed clearly in them as he said, "Hai, I know this, Mia-san. That is why your Ministry so fears the cross blending of different species. They fear the power that could possibly come from some combinations."

"Why?"

"Imagine a powerful demon – one so powerful he could wage a good battle against ten wizards. Now imagine that this demon fell in love with a witch powerful in her own right, perhaps not enough to fight him but a most powerful person amongst her own people. Imagine further that they had a child – a child in whom fractions of both their powers would be. Would you not fear such a child?"

Hermione stared at him for a moment then leaned down slightly so she could look into his eyes.

"I'm not afraid of you, Harry."

He smiled at her and said, "I knew you'd figure it out. But there is more, Mia-san. You recall I told you of my double?"

She nodded.

"When Voldemort attempted to kill him, he forgot one simple thing. My mother had died to protect him – she had sacrificed herself to protect that was essentially her child, perhaps not in truth but in enough that it mattered. That sacrifice called old magicks to life and Voldemort forgot this, which was foolish since he studied these old magicks. When he tried to kill my double, the old magick my mother had called to life sprang forth and ripped his soul from his body, as well as a fraction of his power. That power, having no where else to go, attempted to go into my double."

Harry paused then continued, "His power was too much for my double. It killed him. And then after that it had only one place to go…"

"To you," gasped Hermione.

"Hai," said Harry, nodding. He closed his eyes as he continued, "I have the power of my demon father, my witch mother, and that of the wizard who attempted to take my life."

"Harry…"

"Do you fear me now?"

Hermione blinked then said again, "I'm not afraid of you, Harry."

The han-akurei smiled up at her from where the two of them lay on his bed then slowly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He pressed his face into her bushy hair and murmured, "I am glad. The thought of you fearing me is…it is not one I wish to think of."

"Then don't," whispered Hermione as she curled up in his arms.

- - -

Christmas Eve was the set day of the Winter Dance and those students who had remained for it had set the castle into an uproar. Girls were rushing from dorm to dorm looking for all sorts of things whilst the guy's cringed nervously and wondered what they'd gotten themselves into.

In Gryffindor Tower, Hermione watched Lavender and Parvati with amusement as they rushed about their dorm in a panic. Behind her, Ginny was attempting to tame the bushy mane the brown-haired girl called hair.

"Down, hair, down!"

Hermione giggled and asked, "Having trouble?"

"Yes," hissed Ginny. "And your hair is giving it to me."

"If I could tame it, I would."

"It needs a taming! By the way, where are you going to meet Harry?"

"He said he'd meet me in the Great Hall before the Dance starts," replied Hermione as Ginny tugged a brush through her hair. She silently thanked any listening gods that she wasn't tender-headed; else she wouldn't have been able to sit through the redhead's tactics. "And where are you going to meet your date?"

There was silence from the girl behind her then she murmured something Hermione couldn't hear.

"What?"

"I don't have a date," mumbled Ginny in a louder voice as she snapped an elastic band about Hermione's hair.

"Why not?"

"I'm not really…" Ginny trailed off as she rummaged in the bin of stuff she'd brought with her.

"Gin?" asked Hermione nervously.

"I'm not really…interested…in…guys."

Hermione sat silent for a moment then realization washed over her.

"Oh."

"Mmm," said the redhead. "So…"

"It's perfectly alright, Ginny," said Hermione, turning slightly to pat her friend's hand. "Is there anyone…"

"I like? Not yet."

"You'll tell me when there is, won't you?"

Ginny blinked and stared at her for a moment before she breathed, "You'd want to know?"

"You're my friend, Ginny," said Hermione. "As long as you're happy, I'm okay with it."

"Oh, Hermione!"

The redhead enveloped the older girl in a crushing hug then pulled back to continue her work on her hair. Hermione just sat through the ordeal with a smile on her face that was half from the happiness she could just sense bubbling from the girl behind her. The other half came from the fact that Lavender and Parvati had collided with each other in one of their rushes across the room.

- - -

Snape and Harry walked up from the dungeons together with only enough time to make it to the Great Hall before the Winter Dance started. As always, the Potions Master was dressed in black but he had replaced his usual academic robes with a dress robe faintly edged in Slytherin green. Beside him, Harry was wearing a pair of black slacks tucked into calf-high leather boots complete with a sheath on the left for a dagger and the right for his wand – a gift from William for his birthday the year before. A crisp white shirt with the black robes he'd bought in Hogsmeade belted loosely at the waist completed his outfit.

"You are sure this charm will work, sensei?" asked Harry as he gingerly ran a hand through his hair, which he'd tied back in a loose tail except for a few strands that hung forward to tickle his cheeks.

"Quite positive, Harry," said Snape, tugging the han-akurei's hand down. "I have researched the charms I used ever since we discovered your little problem. As to how they are working…" He looked at the slightly shorter wizard's head. "They are performing their duty quite well."

"How'd you figure it out?"

"Actually I didn't," said Snape. "Your mother did."

Harry blinked.

"What?"

"A diary of your mother charmed with an encryption was sent to me by delayed owl on the day of your eleventh birthday. I presume she thought that your 'foster' parents would have brought you back to England and enrolled you in Hogwarts at that time."

"Why to you?" asked Harry. "Why not to Haia or William?"

"Your mother and I were…acquaintances," said Snape carefully. "She also knew of my past…allegiances. The less than reparable one's for the most part."

"Oh."

"I assume she thought I could protect you better than anyone else. When the diary was sent to me, I could not break whatever charm she used on it so I locked it safely away. Of course, when you arrived, I decided to dig the diary out and attempt to break the charms again."

"I can almost taste a 'but,'" jibed Harry with a grin.

Snape's mouth quirked as though he wanted to smile.

"Apparently your mother charmed the diary to decode itself when your presence was near. I read it in its entirety and found the charms she had devised to help hide your father's own demonic attributes." He gave the han-akurei a small smile as he added, "I'll have to remember to let you read it. There are some things that your mother wrote that are to you…as well as some things written by your father."

Harry staggered as he stopped walking and turned to stare at the only teacher in Hogwarts he trusted.

"My…father?"

Snape nodded, knowing that the teenager before him – despite having grown up in a loving family who had known his parents – still knew very little about them.

"Consider it a rather late birthday present," said the dark professor. "Now come. I know there is a certain young lady who would undoubtly be very annoyed if her date did not appear at this dance of our dear Headmaster's."

Harry chuckled and broke into a steady walk again, Snape following behind him with a wry grin.

"Excited, Mister Potter?"

"Hai, sensei."

"Well don't get any wild ideas."

"Sir?" said Harry, looking at the man beside him incredulously.

"Don't act innocent, young man. I remember what it was like to be a teenager."

"I wouldn't…we wouldn't…"

"Perhaps not now," said Snape, waving Harry's excuses away with a hand. "Perhaps not ever. But still…be careful, Harry."

"Are you saying Mia-san is not trustworthy?"

"Miss Granger is one of the most brilliant and trustworthy soul's within this school. Were she not, I would not have allowed her to escape my wand that night. But it is not her I caution against."

"Others," said Harry.

Snape nodded and said, "Indeed. Others who would use Miss Granger against you."

"So now I can't even have a relationship?" snapped Harry, his eyes flashing angrily.

"I did not say that. I simply caution against displaying such things publicly. Don't shove a woman who loves you for what you are away, Harry. To do as such is a foolish mistake and one you will forever regret."

"You speak as if from experience, sensei."

"Indeed. But I digress. Go and enjoy this night with your young lady."

"Hai," said Harry, bowing slightly to the man before he hurried off towards the Great Hall.

- - -

"Where is he?" demanded Hermione as she looked around for Harry. The Winter Dance had begun five minutes before and there was still no sign of him.

And that was beginning to annoy the generally calm Gryffindor.

"Calm down, Hermione," said Ginny gently. "He'll be here, I'm sure of it."

"He'd better be," growled Hermione. "Or so help me, I'll injure him in a place where no male wishes to be injured."

"Please keep all hands, feet, and wands away from my mata."

"See," said Ginny as the two girls turned to find Harry striding up behind them. "I told you he'd be here."

"Sumimasen, Mia-san," murmured Harry as he bowed slightly towards his date. "I was…distracted…by a rather intriguing conversation. But now I am here and ready to serve the two most beautiful ladies in all of Hogwarts."

"I'm not impressed," said Hermione as she crossed her arms and glared at him.

"I am!" chirped Ginny, grinning from ear to ear.

Harry just sighed and offered an arm to both girl's, saying, "Forgive me, Mia-san, I did not mean to be late. Don't be angry." He smiled gently at her and Hermione's cold demeanor finally melted.

"I forgive you," she sighed as she looped her arm through his. On his other side clung Ginny and Harry could already see other's looking at him in either distaste or envy.

"I am glad," said Harry with a smile as he led the two girls over to where the House tables had been split into sections and grouped. The three of them settled down at an empty table and were soon joined by Hermione and Ginny's fellow Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom, who had the Ravenclaw Luna Lovegood on his arm.

"Hi, Hermione; hi, Ginny," said Neville with a smile as he courteously pulled out Luna's chair. "This is Luna."

"A pleasure," said Luna, smiling oddly at all of them. She then looked at Harry and added, "Hello to you too."

"Konnichi wa, Luna-san," said Harry with a grin as Neville sat down. "And to you, Neville-kun."

Neville smiled and said, "Hi, Harry. Um…what happened to your hat?"

Harry grinned – mainly because of the shocked look Hermione had turned on him – and replied, "It was being annoying so I gave it a time-out."

Neville blinked then smiled in amusement, shaking his head. Beside him, Luna gave Harry a lopsided smile and laughed a little.

They sat talking amiably as everyone else gradually made their way into the Great Hall then fell silent when Dumbledore appeared in the middle of the room wearing shiny purple robes.

"Oh," mumbled Harry, blinking. "I'm blind."

"Hush," admonished Hermione.

"Welcome, welcome!" said Dumbledore, smiling at the students packed into the Hall. "It is good to see so many of you turn out. So now, without further ado, let the Winter Dance begin!"

There was a 'bang' from the side of the Hall were a stage had been set up and the band the Headmaster had procured walked out. The first song they did was a slow one and Luna immediately gave Neville a nudge. He blinked at her then swallowed hard as he got the hint, rising from his seat. The blonde dragged him out onto the floor after that, her bottle cap necklace clinking as she moved.

Ginny laughed at them then giggled happily as Harry got up and gracefully extended a hand towards Hermione.

"Shall we dance, Mia-san?"

Hermione flushed and placed her hand in his, allowing him to pull her onto her feet.

"Yes, we shall," she murmured, lost in his smile.

Harry smiled down at her then promised Ginny he'd take her out for the next dance before he led Hermione out onto the floor. She placed one hand on his chest as she couldn't reach his shoulder and let her other rest on his belt as his hands rested on her waist.

They danced in silence for a few moments then Hermione asked, "How did you…?"

"Professor Snape," replied Harry. "Apparently my mother sent him a diary of hers with charms within it that together are very good at hiding things."

"Indeed they are," said Hermione, eying his head. There wasn't a part in his hair to give the notion that he actually had cat ears and he even had normal ears. "Can you hear out of those?"

Harry shook his head slowly as he spun the two of them in a slow circle.

"No. It's just an illusion, Mia-san."

"Oh. I like you better without it."

The han-akurei flushed darkly and his emerald eyes showed warmth and great affection.

"You do not know what that means to me, Mia-san," he murmured, pulling her a little closer. He leaned his head against hers and whispered into her ear, "Acceptance is not something my kind often receive."

Hermione's heart ached as the pain she heard behind his words and she leaned into his embrace. Tilting her head up, she breathed, "I'll always accept you, Harry. Always."

"Thank you, Mia-san. Thank you…"

- - -

The Winter Dance lasted well into the early hours of the morning, at which point the teacher's ushered those students still awake to bed. Ginny, Neville, and Luna had retired at around eleven o' clock and Hermione had followed two hours later.

Before she had left, she had given Harry a kiss that had summoned catcalls from some of the Slytherin's and glares from the Gryffindor's. The han-akurei had just stood in shock staring after her for a moment before he grinned lopsidedly and went to get another cup of punch.

Now, nearly an hour and a half later, Harry was stalking the shadows of Hogwarts. He'd attempted to sleep after being ushered to his room but the insomnia he sometimes got decided to rear it's head then, leaving him sleepless.

So now, dressed only in the black slacks he'd worn earlier with a black muscle shirt thrown over it, he slipped from shadow to shadow. He dodged Filch on the third floor by ducking into a secret passage and came out on the second floor only to nearly trip over Mrs. Norris.

The red-eyed cat purred and hurled herself at his chest as he sat wincing on the floor, trying to catch his bearings again. He then sighed and picked up the cat, cradling her in his arms as he leaned against the wall.

"You are a strange beast," he said to the red-eyed monster, as most of the Slytherin first year's called her.

Mrs. Norris meowed and lifted a paw to bat at his nose. Harry's nose twitched in response and she happily batted at it again.

Play!

Harry sighed and dug a piece of string he'd pulled off his shirt earlier out of his pocket, dangling it in the air before the cat. Mrs. Norris flicked her tail and pounced happily at it again and again.

Mine! My string, mine!

"Hmm," said Harry as he waggled the string back and forth. "You're one of the most talkative cats I've run into."

Give string! cried Mrs. Norris, batting the bare foot nearest her. When he didn't, she swiped at his bare foot again with claws unsheathed.

"Ow! Okay, okay…here."

YAY!

Mrs. Norris happily entangled herself in the string as Harry watched with amusement – mostly because of the comments she kept making. One of his abilities as a cat demon was that he could speak to and understand cats of all sorts.

At that thought, he wondered if he could understand McGonagall in her Animagus form. Or another cat Animagus.

Speaking of Animagi…

Grinning wickedly, Harry gave Mrs. Norris a parting scratch then stood, slipping off down the corridor until he found a rather spacious alcove. He stood in the center of it then closed his eyes, concentrating as his Animagus book had told him.

There was a whisper of magic and when he opened his eyes, he was looking at the floor from a new angle. Tilting his head down, he saw frying pan sized paws where his hands should have been and would have whooped for joy, were he able to. Instead he settled for a hearty growl and stepped out of the alcove.

Mrs. Norris looked up from her string as the emerald-eyed Siberian Tiger approached her. She sniffed at it then purred loudly, padding over to throw herself against its left foreleg. The tiger's black lips pulled apart in a fanged grin and inside Harry chuckled.

Even in his completed Animagus form she could recognize him.

Play? asked the cat, looking up at him.

You're too small to play with me, said Harry to her.

Follow then?

Harry sighed and said, Okay. You can follow.

YAY!

Shaking his furry head at the cat's antics, Harry turned and began to pad carefully down the dark corridor. He avoided Filch a second time with Mrs. Norris' help then nearly got caught by a patrolling Professor Sprout on the first floor.

As he bounded down the stairs into the entrance hall, he was suddenly aware that he was not alone. Coming to a complete standstill, Harry turned his emerald eyes towards the other presence in the entrance hall that stood near the half open doors.

He pulled his lips back from his fangs and growled at the bear-like dog that stood dripping water onto the stone floor. Then he sniffed the air and loosed a roar that reverberated through the castle as he recognized the scent of humanity – a sign of Animagism – as well as despair and anguish – clear signs of either a bad life or worse, Azkaban prison.

And by Harry's calculations, an Azkaban escapee could only be one person.

Sirius Black. The man imprisoned for the betrayal of Lily and James Potter.

The dog snarled and barked at him, its hackles raised and blue eyes gleaming.

What are you? Harry barely heard the dog say. Obviously Animagi has the ability to speak to each other as he did to cats.

Your doom, Sirius Black, he spat in response. In the next second he lunged forward with a roar, the lights in the entrance hall gleaming off his fangs and claws. The dog yelped and ran out of the way as a hundred eighty pounds of massive cat came down in the space where it'd been standing.

Harry whirled, tail flicking angrily behind him, to face the dog again but he had vanished. He then glanced up the staircase and saw McGonagall standing there with her wand clenched in one hand and her graying hair pooling over her shoulders. Dumbledore stood behind her in robes nearly the same color as those he'd been wearing earlier (only with flashing yellow stars) with a grim look on his face.

Jigoku, thought Harry. They know now. Chikusho! Where did he go?

Snarling angrily at himself, Harry sniffed the air but couldn't pick up Black's scent. The smell of wet dog was everywhere and now with the smell of McGonagall and Dumbledore added into the mix as well as his own, he couldn't isolate anything.

Mister Potter, he heard then, sharp and cold in his head. Wincing, he turned and looked up at McGonagall, who was frowning at him.

Headmaster's office, now, spat the deputy headmistress.

Yes, sempai, mumbled Harry, slowly making his way up the stairs.

Bollocks, he added as an afterthought as he moved past the two of them and on towards Dumbledore's office.

Translations

Sumimasen: I am sorry

Nan no: What

Mata: Groin