Anything But Ordinary

by Terion

AU. On Halloween of 1981, not only did James and Lily Potter die but so did their son Harry in the backlash of magic that followed the destruction of Voldemort's body. ...or did he?

13. When in Trouble, Run Like Hell

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

Chapter 13

When in Trouble, Run Like Hell

"Now," said Dumbledore as he settled himself into his chair, "Mister Potter, if you would grace us with your natural form."

Harry snarled then appeared with a subtle pop, his long hair falling in a cloud about his shoulders.

"You've never seen my natural form, old man," he snarled viciously. "And the arrival of the two of you made me lose him!"

"Who, Mister Potter?" asked McGonagall.

"SIRIUS BLACK!"

" 'Sirius Black?' " repeated Dumbledore. "He cannot be here."

"Oh really? Then explain the scent of Azkaban in the bloody entrance hall!"

McGonagall frowned at that.

"How can you smell Azkaban?"

"Despair and anguish, professor," spat Harry, eyes flashing. "I may not have grown up here but my foster father, if you don't recall, was an Unspeakable! He went to that place you people call prison innumerable times and told me what happened to those who were imprisoned there. I know what the place smells like because the scent in still in some of his clothes! And now, thanks to you two, Sirius Black is loose in the castle!"

"Minerva," said Dumbledore without taking his eyes off Harry. "Get all of the children into the Great Hall."

"Albus, he could be gone…"

"Minerva!"

McGonagall started then nodded, saying, "Yes, Albus."

As she turned to leave, the old wizard said, "And Minerva?"

"Yes, Albus?"

"Send Severus up here. You and the rest of the teachers guard the children."

McGonagall just nodded then left, leaving the two of them alone in the office. Harry glared at Dumbledore then began to pace, his tail flicking behind him.

"I can't believe the nerve of you!" he spat, ears laid back against his head.

Dumbledore sighed and asked, "Were you never taught manners, child?"

"DO NOT CALL ME 'CHILD'!" bellowed Harry, snapping towards the older wizard. He then resumed his pacing, fuming in silence. "I am not a child."

"You are seventeen…"

"THAT MEANS NOTHING!"

"Harry…"

"No," spat Harry. "I never – never – gave you permission to use my first name. You will not call me by it without my permission."

Dumbledore frowned and mused, "I don't recall that being anything from the Japanese culture."

Harry sneered at that.

"It's not. It is an akurei custom. And one we hold dear. That you so blatantly disregard it grates on my nerves."

"I did not know, H…" Emerald eyes turned to glare angrily. "…Mister Potter."

"That's what annoys me more," hissed Harry, clasping his hands behind his back. "You people – you humans – think you are superior to everything. Everything! Vampires, werewolves, demons, house-elves, other intelligent creatures: we are all less than you!"

"You are half human, Mister Potter," pointed Dumbledore.

Harry snarled and spun on him, going abruptly from his human form to his demon. Slamming his hands down on the desk and digging his claws in, he snarled, "I. Am. Nothing. Like. You. People."

"But you are."

"SHUT UP!"

"Mister Potter…"

"No," hissed Harry, taking a step back. He held up a clawed hand in front of his face and looked at Dumbledore past it. "Look at me. My mother may have been human but I am not. My father's blood prevents that."

Dumbledore looked gravely at him then his blue eyes moved to something behind the han-akurei. Harry frowned and sniffed the air then turned his head slightly to find Snape standing behind him.

"Sensei," he mumbled, dipping his head lightly in greeting.

"Harry," said Snape, nodding towards him. He then looked beyond the han-akurei at Dumbledore and said, "Professor. Minerva said you wished to see me. Also, may I ask why the children are being escorted to the Great Hall?"

"Sirius is in the castle, Severus," said Dumbledore.

Snape's black eyes snapped angrily and he spat, "Black. Here? When?"

"About twenty-five minutes ago," growled Harry. "I would have had him if some people hadn't barged in and distracted me." He glared at Dumbledore here and Snape frowned.

"I feel as though I'm missing something."

"That can be explained later," said Dumbledore. "Right now you and I, Severus, are going to comb the castle for Black. Mister Potter here is going to go to the Great Hall where he will be under the protection of…"

"I don't need your protection," snarled Harry. He clenched his fist and bared his fangs at the old wizard, hissing, "I have all the protection I need right here."

"Harry," said Snape, causing the teenager to look at him. "Please."

The han-akurei frowned for a moment then sighed, pulling his human attributes to the forefront once more. He then looked at both older men with human eyes and said, "There."

"Thank you, Mister Potter," said Dumbledore, rising to his feet. "Now, if you would please go?"

"Aren't afraid I'll run into Black and die?" sneered Harry as he wrapped his tail around his waist.

"As you say, you can take care of yourself."

Harry smirked. "Yes. Never forget that." He then summoned his cap from his rooms and left without another word.

There was silence in the office for a moment before Snape turned towards Dumbledore and snarled, "Do not anger him! You have no idea what he is capable of!"

"I have a fair one, Severus," said Dumbledore with a frown. "That's all I need."

"No, it's not, sir! You know nothing of his kind!"

"He doesn't have a kind, Severus. He's trapped between two worlds."

"He is half-demon, sir!" hissed Snape. "They are a kind all their own. Not quite human and not quite demon – much like a Halfling vampire. But still a species of their own!"

"He is still a child, Severus."

"No, Headmaster, he is a young man. He has dealt with the fear of discovery his entire life, something very few children here ever have to face. And he has lived with the fact that he shall be the one to destroy the Dark Lord once and for all."

Dumbledore frowned and asked, "How does he know of the prophecy?"

Snape laughed harshly at that and sneered.

"Come, come, Headmaster. You well recall William Chamberlain."

"The Unspeakable."

"The ex-Unspeakable," corrected Snape. "He is Harry's foster father. He heard the prophecy. Did you not think he would tell the boy?"

"I had no knowledge they knew each other."

"Chamberlain would have found the boy and told him even if he had not been trusted with his safety. You should know that."

"Yes, well…"

"Nevermind, Headmaster," said Snape, looking a little disgusted. "Let's just go find Black. Maybe that will lighten my mood."

With no other word, he whipped out his wand and snapped around to stalk out of the office. Dumbledore looked after him for a moment before he cast a weary glance at Fawkes, who seemed to be as annoyed with him as Snape, then followed the Potions Master.

- - -

After Harry left the Headmaster's office, he headed towards the Great Hall. He really wanted to transform again and go hunting for Black but the thought of leaving Hermione and Ginny alone in the Hall with no one but the teachers irked him.

So, he slipped around through a secret passage and came out in one of the side rooms that lead out behind the Head Table. Stepping through the door that led into the Hall, he pulled his cap low over his eyes and sniffed at the air. He winced at the unwashed smell of someone near him and hurriedly moving away, trying to find Hermione's scent amongst the crowd.

Before he found her, however, he stumbled into Ron Weasley. Remembering hearing Malfoy calling him Hermione's lapdog, Harry moved behind the other teen and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, Ron-kun…"

"Bloody hell!" exclaimed the redhead, spinning around. He staggered backwards a step, one hand clasped to his chest as he hissed, "Merlin, Potter, don't do that!"

"Sumimasen," apologized Harry. "I did not mean to surprise you."

"Well, walk a bit louder, would yah?" asked Ron. "Er…what do you want?"

"Have you seen Mia-san?"

"Hermione? Um…yeah, when we came in here. Last I saw her, she wandered off that way with Ginny."

Harry looked where he'd pointed then nodded, saying, "Arigato, Ron-kun," before he headed in that direction.

"Er, welcome!" called Ron after him.

Harry waved over his shoulder after him then sniffed the air again. Skirting a Slytherin who smelled strongly of Ogden's Firewhiskey, he finally caught a whiff of Ginny's scent. Latching onto it, he followed it until he found a crowd of Gryffindor's in one corner of the Great Hall.

Frowning, he tapped Dean Thomas on the shoulder and asked, "What's going on?"

"Hmm?" said Dean as he turned. His eyes darted up from where they'd originally been at Harry's chest then up to his face. "Oh, hi, Harry. One of the girl's found a dog and they've been fawning over it for the past five minutes."

Alarm bells went off in Harry's head at that and he asked, "What kind of dog?"

"Big shaggy black fur ball," grumbled Seamus Finnegan before he sneezed loudly. Rubbing his nose with the sleeve of his pajamas, he said, "I'm allergic to the bloody things."

Scowling, Harry moved past the two boys then shoved a stocky Ravenclaw aside to find Ginny standing near the group of girls crouched around a big black dog.

The same black dog he'd encountered in the entrance hall.

Immediately, the fur on Harry's tail puffed out in outrage and he fought to keep his lips from pulling back from his sharp canines.

"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione suddenly, looking up at him from where she was scratching the dog's ears.

"Mia-san," growled Harry, glaring venom at the dog Animagus. Inside he was waging a battle against his demon side, which was raging to be released and rend the Azkaban escapee limb from limb. "Get away from that dog."

Hermione frowned at him and started to rise to her feet.

"Harry, what…?"

"Mia-san, get away from that dog," snarled Harry. The dog was now backing away from him, its blue eyes showing…fear?

FEAR?

Harry's logical human half wondered why Sirius Black would be frightened of him even as his demon half demanded the threat to what it perceived as its mate be destroyed.

"Harry, what's going on?" asked Hermione, moving close to him. He turned his head towards her and she gasped, hand coming up to cover her mouth.

She could see the demon part of him raging behind his emerald eyes.

Harry ripped his eyes away from her and fell on the dog, which was staring at him now. There was fear and…hope…showing clearly in its piercing blue eyes.

Shoving up walls between his two halves, Harry looked straight at the dog and said, "Come." He then wrapped an arm around Hermione and moved back through the crowd, none-too-gently shoving people out of his way. The dog followed them with tail hanging until they reached the door Harry had entered the Hall through. He opened it and looked again at the Animagus, saying, "Go."

The dog looked up at him then nodded and went through. Harry glanced towards where the teachers were to make sure they hadn't been spotted, then grabbed Hermione and went inside, closing and locking the door behind them.

"Now," he growled as he turned so Hermione was squarely behind him, "show yourself."

"Harry, what…"

"Hush, Mia-san, and all will be explained."

Hermione frowned then gasped as the dog looked up at Harry then with a pop became a man. He was not quite as tall as the han-akurei, perhaps six foot solid, and was as thin as humanly possible. Long, tangled black hair fell past his gaunt shoulders in a ragged mane and covered part of his face as well as his eyes, which peered sharply out from behind the mass. Torn and stained brown robes hung from his emaciated frame, patched in some of the torn places but not in others. Through the others, old scars and the pattern of tattoos could be seen, showing starkly against his pale skin.

Harry frowned at him for a moment then said, "Mia-san…meet Sirius Black."

"Wh-what?" gasped Hermione, clutching at Harry's shoulder.

Black frowned and took a step forward, saying, "Harry, let me explain…"

There was a sound like a blade being drawn and Black jumped back to avoid five sharp claws that nearly gave him a ventilation system in the middle of his chest. Harry hissed angrily and unsheathed his other set of claws, snarling, "Move another step and I will kill you."

"What…" began Black, staring at him. "What are you?"

"Not James Potter's son," replied Harry with a smirk.

"What?"

"Harry, should you…"

"Hush, Mia-san," said Harry, sparing her the barest of glances. He then locked eyes with Black and added, "I am not James Potter's son. I am the child of a demon and the woman you betrayed – Lily Evans."

"I…I never betrayed them!" cried Black, taking a step back with fear in his eyes. "I loved Lily and James! And you…the other you…they made me your godfather!"

"My double's godfather, you mean," hissed Harry. "Although I suppose since I am technically him, you are my godfather. So…start explaining, Black. Oh, and if the pieces don't fit, I'll tell you now that I intend to kill you."

Black looked from Harry's stony face to Hermione's fearful one then back again. He then swallowed hard and began to speak.

- - -

"Perhaps he escaped," said Snape as he and McGonagall headed towards the Great Hall to inform the students they'd be sleeping there tonight.

"I doubt it," replied the older witch as she straightened the bun her graying hair was done up in. "We both know that Black only wants one thing in this castle."

"Yes," said Snape as he took one long step forward and opened the door to the teacher's corridors that led into the Hall for her. "But we must remember that Harry is not as weakly armed as most of our students."

McGonagall frowned as she preceded him into the corridors, heading towards one of the rooms off the Hall that led out into it behind the Head Table.

"He could still be hurt, Severus. You know that. Black was – and still is – a seasoned Auror."

"And I am an ex-Death Eater. What is your point, Minerva?"

She glared at him, one hand on the doorknob to the room off the Hall, and said, "My point is that Black is dangerous to Harry no matter how he has been trained – or what blood flows through his veins. Now let's…"

The door finished its opening swing as her voice trailed off and in that space of time, Snape had stepped past her, his wand out and with anger clouding his face.

"Get up, Black," he snarled to the Azkaban escapee, who was sitting on the floor. Blue eyes stared up at him from under the tangle of dark hair then darted behind him. Snape turned slowly and found a pair of glowing cat eye's boring into him from a shadowed corner.

Harry seemed to melt out of the shadows, pulling Hermione along behind him, her hand clenched in his clawed one. Snape slowly made note that the young man was in his full demonic form and wondered if it was something Black had said that had triggered it or his and McGonagall's entrance.

"Konnichi wa, sensei," murmured Harry, bowing his head. "What brings you here?"

"We were looking for Black," replied Snape, glancing at the convict out of the corner of his eye. "But it seems you found him first."

"I am good at finding things that hide in plain sight. Ah, konnichi wa, sempai."

"Mister Potter," said McGonagall, her wand now trained on Black but her eyes on Harry. "May I inquire of how you happened to get entangled with teacher's business?"

"As Mister Black is my godfather, I think it is actually my business, not the teacher's business," replied Harry. "Correct, godfather?"

"Indeed," croaked Black, looking warily at the two wands aimed at him.

Snape glanced from the convict to the han-akurei then snapped, "Harry, what is the meaning of this?"

Emerald eyes locked with black and Harry said, "He is innocent, sir. I know it is hard to believe after everything but, please, believe me."

"How do you know he's not lying to you?" asked McGonagall. "You can't possibly…"

"There is a scent to truth, professor, and one to lies, as well. Haia trained me to check for them in any conversation I was not sure of." Harry looked at Black and continued, "This man is not lying to me. He was not the one who betrayed my mother."

"Then who?" growled Snape. He whirled on Black and snarled, "Who betrayed Lily, Black?"

The other man lifted a weary gaze to the snapping black one and replied, "Peter. It was Peter."

"Peter Pettigrew?" gasped McGonagall. "No! He couldn't have!"

"He did," insisted Black in a weary voice. "We switched the Secret Keeper's after we told everyone who it was going to be. We thought…we thought we were being so smart. But instead we handed James and Lily's lives into Voldemort's hands." He looked at Harry then and shook as he whispered, "I'm so sorry, Harry. If I'd known…"

"You couldn't have known," said Harry softly, his eyes slowly softening from the sharpness of his demon form back to human. He then smiled gently and added, "And even if you had…I don't think you should have stopped him."

"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, staring at him. The han-akurei raised a hand towards her, shaking his head.

"No, Mia-san, I am right. If the Secret Keeper's hadn't been changed, things might not have happened as they have. Voldemort may never have found them and he might even still be here were it not for that betrayal." Harry forced a smile as he continued, "Even though I would love to have known my mother and to have had a real father during my childhood, even if he was not my birth one, I do not think that I would have such a thing."

"Why not?" asked Hermione, tears blossoming at the corners of her eyes at his words. "Harry, why would you say such a thing? If they hadn't switched, you could have had a family!"

The han-akurei turned towards her and reached out a hand to brush her tears away, murmuring, "I have a family, Mia-san. They just aren't my birth parents. And even though I would give anything to meet them, I would not give up the life I have already lived. Especially not if it meant I never met you."

"Oh, Harry…"

Snape coughed softly and said, "Harry, we should remove this…dog…from the premises if we wish him to live."

"Dog?" exclaimed Sirius, his previously dull blue eyes sparking with anger. "What do you mean, Sniv…"

"Stop," growled Harry, making a slashing motion with his hand. "We must work together if we intend to get anything done. Sempai? Sensei?"

Snape sighed and grumbled, "I will undoubtedly regret this later." He then said, "Very well. Minerva?"

"Albus will kill us if he finds out we did this."

"Come now, Minerva, you know Albus would ever do such a thing. So, let us conspire as to how to rid ourselves of this beast."

"Keep talking like that, Snivellus, and I'll be forced to hurt you."

Snape laughed brashly and turned towards Black, who was now standing and glaring at the other dark-haired wizard. "Please, Black," he said, "don't be foolish. You have been free for barely over a year and I doubt you have had a healthy meal or a day's peace in that time. As you well know – or you should if you paid any attention when we covered the limits of wizarding powers in Charms – a weak body does not promote strong powers. Therefore it would not take much for me to strike you down. As I have great respect for Harry there, I will not injure you."

He smirked and added, "At least not until I can get a good fight out of you."

Black scowled in return and hissed, "Deal."

Harry sighed and Hermione shook her head, muttering, "Men…"

"Hey!" said Harry in an offended voice only to sink to one knee when Hermione reached up and scratched behind his left ear. "Oooo…"

"Miss Granger, cease that," ordered McGonagall sternly. "Severus, go ahead and make sure the corridor we came in here through is clear. Mister Black, come over here so I can attempt some sort of disguise for you."

"No," purred Harry, leaning so far towards Hermione he looked like he was about to fall over. "Don't stop, Mia-san…" His tail flicked and curled about the girl's ankle as he leaned further into her touch.

"Very well," said Snape with a nod. He glanced at Hermione and Harry and shook his head in amusement before he struck out down the secret passage he and McGonagall had entered through.

As he left and the secret panel slid shut behind him, Black took a few nervous steps towards McGonagall, trying to stand straight even as his body attempted to bend inwards. After years spent curled up in a cell in Azkaban, trying to keep his mind intact despite the Dementor's ripping away at it, his body had almost permanently conformed to that shape.

"Hold still," said McGonagall as she flicked her wand, causing it to glow green at the end. Black nodded, swallowing nervously at the wand pointed at him (as he himself was unarmed and his Auror training was shouting at him to run or at least duck), then looked over at the two teenagers. He blinked at the sight of his godson curled up at Hermione's feet like a large cat, his tail flicking back and forth as the bushy-haired girl scratched his ears.

"He's…" he began "…he's like a big cat."

McGonagall glanced over at the two and smiled slightly as she changed the length and color of his hair.

"Yes," she said softly. "He is. I am surprised he has stayed so long around you."

"Huh?" said Black, looking flabbergasted at her even as she caused his tattoos and scars to vanish.

The older witch just smiled and said, "Because of what he is – part cat demon, as you can likely tell – Harry is very much unfavorable of dogs."

"I'm just a dog Animagus," defended Black, wincing as he suddenly dropped a few inches in height. "Professor!"

"Mister Black, it is simple transfiguration and I will remove it once we have transported you to safety. Now go, down the corridor after Severus. I must get into the Hall and tell the students they will be sleeping there tonight before Albus discovers I have not."

"What about…"

"Harry? I will…"

"Be sending him with you," said Hermione as she ceased her scratching. Smiling slightly, she shook the han-akurei, who mumbled something in Japanese and batted at her hand. She then leaned over and kissed his cheek, stunning him out of his stupor.

"Eh?"

"Wake up, sleepyhead," murmured Hermione, rubbing her boyfriend's shoulder. "You have to go."

Harry blinked then looked up at the transfigured Black and McGonagall. "Oh." He then looked at Hermione and said, "You'll be alright, won't you?"

"Of course, silly," replied Hermione with a smile. "Now go. I'll stay with Professor McGonagall until you get back."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Okay," said Harry. He bent his head and kissed her before rising to his feet, extending a hand towards her. After he pulled her up, he smiled then turned and went to the passageway where Snape had disappeared. Depressing the hidden button that opened it, he motioned his godfather in before him then paused at the door to look back at Hermione before he let the panel slid shut behind him.

- - -

"So," said Black as he and Harry walked down the dimly lit passageway.

"So," repeated Harry, his eyes glowing slightly since he had reverted back to his demon form so he could see clearly in the dim.

"You're a demon."

"Half demon," corrected Harry. "We call my kind han-akurei in Japan."

"Oh." Black frowned for a moment then asked, "What happened to your father?"

Harry frowned at that and Black thought for a moment that he wasn't going to answer. As he opened his mouth to say something, the han-akurei whispered, "He was killed. By another akurei – another demon."

"When?" asked Black.

"Not long before I was born, so I'm told," replied Harry. "Haia was never too sure on the information she received on that fact."

Black frowned.

"So…he could still be alive?"

Harry shook his head slowly at that.

"No," he whispered. "He can't. If he were, he would have come for me. Demons don't abandon their children, even if they are half human. And I know my father would not have cared."

"Why is that?" asked Black, looking at the young man walked beside him.

Harry turned his inhuman eyes on his godfather and responded, "Because he loved my mother."

Black blinked then nodded, leaving the two of them walking in silence for a few minutes. After a few minutes, Harry softly asked, "What was she like?"

"Hmm?"

"My mother. What was she like?"

Black blinked in surprise then frowned, thinking. He then said, "She…well, she was Lily. Everyone liked her – maybe loved her. Even the Slytherins. She was…stubborn but strong. One of the strongest willed people I've ever met, and I'm pretty strong willed myself. So was James. They argued like cats and dogs, those two, and we all swore they were going to get married. Weren't surprised when they did."

He paused then and asked, "Did he know?"

"James?" asked Harry. At Black's nod, he replied, "I don't know. I always assumed he hadn't since she created my double a few months after I was born. That was when her time in Japan was up and she had to return to England."

"Poor James," said Black. "He was proud of you, y'know. I just can't believe she didn't tell any of us…"

"How would you have reacted?" asked Harry.

"Badly, most likely."

"Exactly. The same reason I tell so few people what I truly am." He frowned, ears flattened against his head as he added, "People inherently fear that which they do not understand."

Black studied his godson for a moment then said, "You're rather smart for a teenager."

Harry smiled tightly and replied, "I had to be in order to survive." He looked ahead of them and his eyes glowed brighter for a moment before dimming back down. "We're almost there."

"How can you tell?"

"I can see Professor Snape at the end of the corridor."

"Oh."

"Black," growled Snape as the two of them approached. "Harry."

"Snivellus," spat Black as a greeting.

"Sensei," muttered Harry. He then pulled out his cap and placed it snugly on his head, saying, "Shall we?"

Snape nodded and looked at him for a moment before he opened the corridor's door into one of the castle's halls. He looked to make sure no one was there then stepped out, motioning the two of them on.

Black stepped out first, looking nothing like himself thanks to McGonagall's transfigurations. Harry moved out behind him and padded along silently behind the two men, eyes darting from shadow to shadow and ears listening all about.

After a few minutes of walking, he said, "Filch passed by not too long ago but everyone else is on floor's above us. As long as we move fast, we can get out of here with no one seeing us."

"Merlin bless your ears, Harry," muttered Snape as they cautiously made their way towards the staircase down into the entrance hall. "Damn."

"What?" asked Black, trying to peer over the Potion Master's shoulder.

Harry reached up to grab the man's shoulder and pulled him back, muttering, "It's Dumbledore."

"So?"

"Were it anyone else we would continue on," said Snape, sliding back so he was hidden from the old wizard's sight. "Although I do not doubt Minerva's transfiguration skills, he would sense who you are by the time we got close."

"Then how are we going to get out?" asked Black, his face draw with worry.

Harry sighed and said, "I will be your distraction. Sensei, you must hurry after I begin. Both the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall know my Animagus form."

"The tiger?" gasped Black.

"Hai," replied Harry with a smile even as the transformation to his Animagus form began. When he was done and standing on all fours again, he shook himself then turned his head to stare at the two older men with predator's eyes before he crouched. The great muscles underneath his striped coat coiled and hurled him forward as he bounded around the corner. A low growl that began deep in his chest trickled up and gushed from his mouth in a roar as he leapt over the banister to the floor below, causing the castle about him to shake with the vibrations.

The moment he landed, he spun and bolted, his long tail flicking behind him. Dumbledore raced back up the corridor he had just begun to go down and made after him as Snape peered out again.

"Come, Black," he said a moment later as he moved onto the stairs, wand out. "We must hurry."

"What about Harry?" asked the convict as the two of them descended. His hands twitched nervously at the lack of a wand as his eyes darted about.

"Remember what he is and stop babbling. Now move your decrepit legs or I shall be forced to carry you – which I do not wish to do even to your rotting corpse."

"Yes, Snivellus, I love you too."

Snape glared at the air in front of him then jerked one wing of the main door open, reaching back to grab the convict by the scruff of the neck. He then hurled him out into the night air, providing a kick in the other man's rear to give him extra leverage.

"BLOODY HELL!"

The Potions Master smirked and stepped out, closing the door behind him as he said, "Just showing my love, dog. Now move."

- - -

Harry made a trip down four different corridors before he slipped (actually skidded, as he nearly missed in) into a secret passage and returned to his human form. As he made his way back down to the Great Hall via secret passages, he heard shouts of disgust echoing up from below his feet.

Ears twitching underneath his cap, he halted and listened. Then when someone dashed past the exit to the passage he was in, he threw caution to the winds and bolted out. He dashed downstairs on bare feet and with a speed no human could match even in his or her wildest dreams.

When he reached the staircase down into the entrance hall, he leapt up onto the banister and ran down it, eliciting shrieks of surprise and shock from the students dashing up it. But he ignored them, except for his eyes searching the sea of faces for one in particular as his nose sniffed for her scent.

Dashing into the Great Hall, he nearly ran over McGonagall, who staggered into him as she tried to cease a coughing fit. He held onto her until she was done and steady on her feet again before he asked, "Sempai. Where is Mia-san?"

"Hermione?" choked McGonagall. At Harry's nod, she gasped, "I lost her. Someone set off Dungbombs or something…"

"No," said Harry, eying a pile of plastic in the far corner of the Hall. "Smoke grenades. Haia and the Yokai use them sometimes to drive targets out to them." He then turned, sniffing the air. "But she was here."

"She has to still be in the castle," said the transfiguration professor.

Harry frowned, saying, "I did not see her when I was coming down."

McGonagall frowned then gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.

"Oh my dear Merlin! Mister Malfoy! He bumped into me after the – grenades, you said? – were set off. After that I heard Hermione gasp and then I lost her."

Harry's eyes narrowed to slits and McGonagall could already see his pupils thinning. "Draco," he growled. "That little rat bastard. If he hurt her…"

"Control yourself, Mister Potter," hissed McGonagall.

"Control is not what demons do best, sempai," hissed Harry as he turned slightly, sniffing out the blonde's scent. "Ah. Excuse me."

In a sudden burst of speed he was out the doors and in the entrance hall again. Two quick jumps – one onto the banister of the staircase going up to the next floor and the other onto its banister – had him even with the blonde.

Malfoy stumbled back, gray eyes wide with shock as Harry landed in front of him with a feral grace that he knew was not human. He tripped over his own feet and fell, landing hard on his rear as he stared in shock.

"P-Potter!"

"Where is she, Draco?" growled Harry, slowly tightening his hold on his demon side's reins as it roared for blood.

"Who?" asked the other Slytherin innocently. "I have no idea who you're talking about."

His faux-innocent tone would not have enraged the han-akurei into action if it had not been for the superior smirk that had crossed onto the blonde's face. In one swift movement, he had hit the floor and picked up Malfoy, hurling him up against a wall. By that time, he was in what accounted for his full demon form, claws itching to rend the flesh from the blonde's body.

"Wh-what are you?" stammered Malfoy in surprise as he stared down at the suddenly changed Harry.

"I have a more important question," said Harry as he shook his head, sending his cap flying. Ears laid back and fangs bared, he leaned close to the blonde and snarled, "Where. Is. Hermione?"

"I…"

"MISTER POTTER!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS!" roared Harry, his eyes flashing pure rage as he spun to eye Dumbledore with one gleaming orb. "This one is mine."

"Harry," said the old wizard gently, "you must calm down."

"Get him to tell me where Hermione is and I will."

Dumbledore nodded then turned his eyes onto Malfoy. "Mister Malfoy."

"I told you, I don't know!" exclaimed Malfoy. He then choked as Harry shook him and tightened his grip on his neck, claws digging in just slightly.

"Usotsuki!" bellowed Harry, digging his claws in deep enough that he drew blood. Malfoy whimpered and tears sprang up at the corners of his eyes even as he stared down into the feral emerald one's.

"Okay," he gasped. "My father…he gave me a Portkey…to give her."

"Why?" hissed Harry. When the blonde didn't answer quickly enough, he shook him and howled, "WHY?"

"Because the Dark Lord wanted her!"

Every noise around them seemed to still at that confession and Harry tilted his head slightly to the right, his feral eyes growing even more animal-like.

"Where did it take her?" demanded Harry.

"I don't know."

"WHERE?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" shouted Malfoy, tears flowing freely now. His hands clenched uselessly at Harry's, trying to pry the han-akurei's vise-like grip away from his throat. "I DON'T BLOODY KNOW!"

Harry glared at him for a moment then released him, letting him fall to the floor. The blonde lay there in a shuddering heap at his bare feet for what seemed an eternity, hacking and coughing. Then he lifted his head and looked straight into the eyes filled with animal rage.

"What are you?" he asked again, this time in fear.

"Your executioner if she is dead when I find her," hissed Harry in a stony voice. "If I find her dead, Draco Malfoy, you will be the first to fall to my rage. And if I find her injured, all her injuries will be dealt tenfold onto you. Do we have an understanding?"

Malfoy nodded meekly. "Yes…"

"Good."

Harry turned on a bare heel and stared long and hard at Dumbledore before he went to move past the old wizard. A single step had him in his path and the han-akurei growled, "Move, old man."

"Harry, you cannot do this alone."

"If I do not, Mia-san will die," said Harry. "I will not allow that to happen."

"At least wait until morning…"

"No," snarled Harry, causing Dumbledore to take a step back. For half a second, the old wizard had seen the demon's rage in the teenager's eyes. And it had frightened him.

"I go now," added Harry, sidestepping the wizard. "Where is Draco's father?"

"Very likely at the family estate, Brickerwood," said McGonagall as she came up the stairs. "It's around Bangor, Wales."

"How do you know that?" demanded Malfoy, who had finally made it to his feet.

McGonagall looked at him and smirked, saying, "Oh, your dear father didn't tell you? I'm the older half-sister he'd like to forget." She then turned from a shocked-to-silence Malfoy and looked at Harry, saying, "You should be able to get past the wards thanks to your mother's blood. She was descended from a Squib Malfoy line from several centuries back. The blood's thin and not acknowledged by the wizard line but magic has no prejudice's and acknowledges all."

"I know how to break wards if need be, professor," said Harry, trying desperately to quell the urge to go hunting the blood of Lucius Malfoy and Tom Riddle and bathe in it once they were dead. "I will be fine."

"Go then," said Dumbledore, knowing he would have to kill Harry in order to stop him from going. "And be careful."

The han-akurei spared him a short glance then jumped the balcony, landing with all the grace of a cat on the floor below. He was out the door a second later and racing across the grounds, summoning the Nimbus 2001 that had been his sixteenth birthday present from Haia and William. It flew quickly to his hands and he leapt upon it, curling his tail about the handle as he sat sideways, ready to leap off at a moments notice.

I am coming, Mia-san, he thought as he flew as fast as he could push the broom. Inside him, his demon half swelled and crashed against the mental walls he'd erected against it like a tidal wave, all the while demanding the blood of those that had taken its mate. He just hoped when he found them that he had enough control to keep it reined in. If not, there would be a bloodbath to end all bloodbaths.

I am coming to get you. And to kill all that stands in my path, should it not flee before me.

Flashing his fangs in a wild grin, Harry bent low over the broom and pushed it to its limit even as he oriented himself towards Wales.

Translations

Usotsuki: Liar