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

Author's Notes

The other Guess-the-Reference from Chapter 14 has been solved! Good job, CelticHeiressFiona! The reference was Snape's ancestor, Vlad the half-vampire. Everyone remember Vlad Tepes, who inspired Bram Stoker's Count Dracula? There yah go.

Oh, and Happy New Year, everybody!

Chapter 21

Rule No. 44: Never Cage a Demon in a Place Without Windows

"I signed no such paper as would give this Ministry the right to lock away one of our citizens!"

Hermione blinked and paused on the staircase up to Dumbledore's office. McGonagall – who was still struggling with the Ministry but it looked as though they were never going to allow her guardianship of Harry – had told her just minutes ago that she was needed there but after hearing that angry voice she wasn't sure if she wanted to go in there.

And was it her imagination or did it have the same accent as Harry?

"Mister Potter is also an English citizen," she heard Fudge sneer and her right hand curled into a fist. Oh, what she would give to be able to knock a few of that man's teeth out. "Therefore we have to right to…"

"He is a Japanese citizen first and foremost!" shouted the first voice in response to Fudge. "And I have begun an investigation into my office to discover who allowed such a thing to happen to him."

Fudge sputtered at that and then Dumbledore's calming voice broke in.

"Gentlemen, please, let us have this conversation in as much a calm manner as we can. Severus, can you go see what is keeping Miss Granger?"

"Of course, Albus."

Hermione jumped up the last few steps at the sound of Snape rising and was standing in front of the door when he opened it. His dark eyes blinked at her in surprise then he smiled – a true smile – and murmured, "Come in, Hermione."

She nodded and entered the Headmaster's office, not able to keep a scowl off her face when she saw Fudge. The Minister of Magic blinked at her then flung himself out of his seat, glaring at Dumbledore.

"No, Albus! This girl is too close to Potter to be in on this conversation!"

"You said the same of me, dear Minister," growled Snape, moving to stand protectively behind the young woman. "I doubt Albus will force her to leave if I am allowed to stay."

Dumbledore nodded and looked at Fudge, who now looked fit to pop a vein.

"Severus has a point, Cornelius."

"Hmphf! Fine! The girl and your pet Death Eater can stay then."

Hermione saw the Japanese Minister's left eyebrow arch at that and she took a moment to study the man. He looked to be somewhere between his late thirties and early forties, his black hair shoulder length and drawn back into a loose tail at the base of his skull. His face was lean and finely boned, which reminded her sharply of Harry, and he appeared to be tall and seemed to keep himself in shape. He was darker skinned than Harry, though, and his eyes were slightly almond shaped, the iris a rich amber color. She looked closer and saw that his pupils were not only a lean line like Harry's in his full demon form, but were horizontal. On closer inspection of his person, she saw that his ears were pointed and clear claws tipped each of his fingers that lay on the arm rests of his chair. There were also silvery patterns of what appeared to be scales on the backs of his hands, on his face to his cheeks, and on his collarbone where it was partially visible through his crisp white shirt, which had some sort of pin on the right collar.

It was then that she remembered Snape saying that he believed the Japanese Minister was a quarter demon.

The man smiled at her and rose, bowing in her direction.

"Konnichi wa, Miss Granger," he intoned. "I am Akito Masamune. It is a pleasure that you could join us for our discussion. I'm certain the with your help we may clear this matter up quickly and have Mister Potter released."

Hermione's heart leapt at his words and she nodded, suddenly unable to speak. She looked at Dumbledore and he smiled before saying, "Very well then. Shall we begin, gentlemen?"

"Yes, I believe we shall," said the Japanese Minister. "Though I doubt this will take long. I had no part in Mister Potter's…imprisonment…and I insist that Minister Fudge release him immediately."

Fudge sputtered at that.

"Why would I do such a thing!"

Masamune narrowed his eyes at the pudgy man and sneered, revealing gleaming fangs. "I myself am a quarter demon, Minster Fudge. Keeping any of our kind encaged in the place Professor Snape claims you are keeping Mister Potter is not a good idea. We are creatures that enjoy freedom, much like the werewolves your Ministry tries so hard to persecute. And when we cannot enjoy that freedom, our wilder sides destroy all that keeps us from doing so."

Fudge's face purpled at that and he rose angrily from his seat again.

"Nonsense! Absolute bloody rubbish…"

"Have you seen him?" growled Snape suddenly and Hermione shuddered and she heard that dangerous growl of his again. "No, you haven't. You're too afraid to go and face the child you persecute mercilessly. Well I have seen him. And had I not sworn years ago to never take another sentient being's life excepting when it was absolutely necessary, I would kill you for what you've done to that blentyn." Unlike with Harry, Snape didn't bother explaining the Welsh. And from behind his desk, Dumbledore frowned at his Potion's Master, who he knew for a fact never spoke in his Mother Tongue unless his temper was truly riled up.

Fudge shrank visibly away from the dark wizard at his words whilst Masamune looked vaguely impressed. His expression then turned stony and he said, "I demand that Mister Potter be released, Minister Fudge."

"No!" exclaimed the diminutive man, still eying Snape uneasily. He then blanched at the expression on Masamune's face. "Ur…unless you give a much better reason than you already have."

Hermione couldn't take it anymore and leapt out of the seat she'd taken next to Snape, shouting, "You don't need anymore reason! Minister Masamune has made it quite clear that if you don't let Harry free, you won't be dealing with a han-akurei anymore. You'll be dealing with what is essentially an akurei – a full-fledged demon and I know for a fact that no one in the British Isles has been equipped to do that for four centuries!" She panted slightly from her rant then said in a calmer but stern voice, "I have seen Harry at his worst, Minister. And do trust me, you do not want to face it."

Fudge stared at her, his face gone pasty white. He began to stammer something then stopped, shivering. Then he turned to Masamune and muttered something no one else could hear. The Japanese Minister nodded and smiled politely, not showing his fangs this time.

"Thank you, Minister Fudge," he said carefully. "If you would now come with me and tell the Auror's I have been told are guarding Mister Potter that they may stand down, it would be much appreciated."

The English Minister of Magic looked horrified at the thought and looked to Dumbledore as though from help. He got nothing from the old wizard except for a cold smile and a nod.

"Very well," he muttered after a moment.

The two Ministers rose and began to leave the room, Hermione quickly rising to follow them. She heard Snape say something to Dumbledore then he was on her heels as they went down the winding staircase, moving to walk beside her as they entered the corridor.

"You did well," he commented as they walked.

She nodded then asked, "Did you really swear not to harm a sentient being, sir?"

Snape looked down at her for a moment then back up, nodding slightly.

"A long time ago during the war I did something I was not proud of. There are certain…intricacies…within my bloodline and one of them is the worrying ability to lose myself in the lust of battle if I'm not careful. This happened. After that I swore."

Hermione frowned then remembered the words on the chair in his room. She'd tried to research them but had come up with little to show for it. Accepting that she had identified the language of the second line and managed to translate a few of the words.

"The Blood of the Dragon?" she queried innocently.

Snape's pace faltered momentarily but he quickly regained it and covered his look of surprise.

"You saw my chair."

"And the crest. Sir…Severus…that text was Romanian. And the only thing I could think of Romanian that involved the Blood of the Dragon was Dracula." She then smiled tightly and added, "But that's impossible, isn't it?"

Snape arched an eyebrow at her and Hermione saw an indefinable expression in his dark eyes.

"You should know by now, Hermione," he said softly, "that nothing is truly impossible."

She blinked.

"So…you're…"

"A descendant of Vlad Tepes, better known as Dracula, the son of the Dragon? Yes."

Hermione blinked at her professor in shock, stunned by the fact that at least a small bit of the younger students speculating that he was a vampire was true. Snape noticed her expression and chuckled, saying, "I also should point out that my only vampiric traits are the battle blood lust and an aversion to long bouts of sunlight. Beyond that, I am human despite all the tales you students spin about me."

She flushed at that.

"You hear those?"

Snape smirked at her and said, "Ah, I forgot to mention slightly heightened senses. Nothing comparable to Harry's or Minister Masamune's, I dare say, but good enough to hear what's whispered about me in passing." He then frowned and looked ahead of them to where the two Ministers were about to reach the door to the third floor corridor. "Something's wrong."

She frowned at him then felt it too, her stomach clenching in response to the sudden wrongness in the air. Looking ahead, she saw Masamune grimace, the silvery scales on his face rippling with the motion. He felt the wrongness too and turned to motion them forward.

When they were close, he held his hand out towards Hermione and she took it. His translucent claws rested as lightly on her skin as Harry's did and she met his worried gaze with a slight frown.

"I fear we are far too late, Miss Granger," he murmured as Fudge tried to open the third floor corridor door. He was then shoved aside by a snarling Snape, who opened the door with a muttered charm. "I can tell you sense this wrongness as same as I but I know the source. A strong akurei presence has just formed from near nothingness. I would wonder at how easily it managed to overpower Mister Potter but your Headmaster informed me of what happened to him."

Hermione felt tears prick the corners of her eyes as she remembered that night when Voldemort had released all that held Harry's full demon side back and had tried to make him kill her. She then clenched her jaw and said, "I've pulled him back before. Maybe…maybe I can do it again."

Masamune frowned and said, "Perhaps. Love, it is said, conquering many things. But you must be careful, Miss Granger."

"I know."

"And we will follow behind you. If you cannot bring him back, I know the spells that demon hunters use to bring down rampaging akurei. But they will only be used as a last resort."

"Thank you," whispered Hermione. He nodded to her then led her towards the now open door that Snape stood beside, his face a blank. But his dark eyes showed worry and clear fear, as he knew what she was intending. Though she knew he wouldn't try and stop her.

A shrieking howl from within the corridor made Fudge fall to the floor with a yelp, his eyes wide with fear. The sound of wood shattering and two voices shouting caused Snape to rush into the corridor, his wand out.

Masamune scowled and entered the corridor at a fast walk, pulling Hermione along after him. She blinked in the darkness of the corridor, trying to see, then stopped bothering when she figured out that the Minister could see in the dark. Absently she wondered what sort of akurei he shared blood with…

A female scream of pain from down the hall shook her to her core and then she heard Snape bellow out a curse. Vicious snarls answered it and she saw a flash of light near the end of the hall before something was running at them out of the dark.

Masamune hissed and pushed her towards the wall, putting himself in front of the creature that was coming down the corridor in a snarling rage. She watched as a ball of crimson light appeared in his hands then was launched forward to strike the oncoming figure. It burst on the figure's chest and she got a brief glimpse of Harry's face set in that same expression as he'd had that night.

Only this time there was nothing but the feral soul of his demon side in his emerald eyes.

His dark shape leapt and she heard a Masamune grunt as they collided. The two fell to the floor and she heard them scuffling, Harry's snarls punctuated by the Japanese Minister's throaty growls.

Light burst around her then and she blinked against it, shielding her eyes with her hand. Masamune then hit the wall not three inches to her left and she gasped as he fell to the floor of the dusty corridor, lying there unmoving. She jerked her eyes away from him at a shouted curse and saw a grim and bloody Snape facing off against Harry.

In the light she could now clearly see the one she loved and she nearly wept in response. Voldemort's manacles gleamed at her from his wrists and throat and she saw a line of blood on the cheek facing her – probably from one of the Auror's. He looked like Hell warmed over: his long hair falling in unwashed strings about his shoulders and face, skin pale and wane and starting to stretch over his bones, his eyes holes in his face, and the fur on his ears and tail unkempt.

A snarl bubbled up out of his throat and she watched as he fell into a slight crouch, his toe claws digging into the stones of the floor. She watched the muscles in his leg tense and felt horror swell up in her belly. He was getting set to attack Snape, who she noticed was favoring a bleeding left side and probably could move out of the way is Harry jumped him.

Harry would never forgive himself if he killed the man who'd done so much to help him.

Without thinking, Hermione flung herself in front of Snape as Harry leapt. She barely heard the professor's startled cry as she focused her entire being on the young man hurtling towards her.

Her eyes closed as she watched with hurt as humanity failed to return to his eyes as she met them.

"Harry," she whispered seconds before he would hit her. She expected to the thrown to the floor, his claws digging into her flesh once more and causing wounds that might very well spell her death.

No.

No, she had to trust that he would never hurt her.

She was his.

As he was hers.

And nothing could ever make them harm the other.

She had to believe that.

Something hard hit her and grunted before clutching fiercely at her. She felt a clawed hand at her throat, the tips digging viciously into the skin there, and opened her eyes.

Brown stared into emerald and she smiled despite the hand at her throat. The hand that with a simple twitch could send her lifeblood spilling to the dusty stones in a crimson cascade.

The other hand clutched at her waist, holding her pinned tightly against Harry's body. She glanced her eyes down at it then lifted her hands, running her left slowly up the arm that held her close. A soft snarl made Snape shift behind her but Hermione continued her movement, ever trusting. Both hands reached Harry's shoulders at the same time and she remembered the soft fur there as well as the light striping that ran down his arms.

She moved her left hand to cup his bloodied cheek, wiping it away from a wound no longer there with her thumb. Then she looked into the feral eyes, staring toe-to-toe with the akurei soul Voldemort had released.

"Harry," she breathed and felt the hand on her throat tighten. Then it relaxed and she saw something spark in those inhuman eyes. His ears flicked forward, as though listening to something then lay back in the position she recognized as shame.

She looked into his eyes and saw he was not entirely back but he was there. Her Harry was there.

"Mia-san," he gasped in a raw voice, his hand dropping from her throat in shock. He then shuddered and pulled her closer, leaning his head against hers. "Kami…I'm sorry. Sumimasen, sumimasen…yurusu. Yurusu!"

"It's alright," whispered Hermione, clutching her poor han-akurei. "Everything's going to be alright now."

- - -

"Well, my boy," said Minister Masamune almost four hours later to Harry as they sat across from each other in the hospital wing, "you gave us all a right scare."

Harry looked up and winced as the quarter akurei pulled the pad soaked in healing potion from his neck. His fingers flexed as he remembered his claws slashing the Minister's throat. He expected the man to be angry with him for that and the slight concussion he suffered. Unlike Harry, who healed far quicker than a human, Masamune's healing abilities weren't much to brag about. After four hours, the claws marks he'd suffered where just starting to heal on the outside after having finished their job inside.

His concussion, on the other hand, had vanished in the first hour and the man had filled Harry in on what had happened.

All Harry could remember was losing it and then brief flashes. He saw those Auror's that had guarded his door – who he had been told were both all right – and Snape…his heart clenched as he remembered both sets of his claws digging into his sensei's left side with reckless abandon. If the man hadn't twisted away, Harry might very well have ripped out his vital organs.

Then he'd attacked the Minister of the country he'd grown up in before turning on Snape again. If Hermione hadn't thrown herself in his path…

He shuddered, trying not to think of what might have happened.

A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up into Masamune's amber eyes.

"Be easy, ko," he murmured. "None were seriously harmed and you are in control of yourself again. And I doubt that your Minister of Magic will be locking you up again."

Harry blinked at that and the older man smirked.

"After this fiasco and what I am going to raise about the false documents he used to imprison you, he'll be lucky to ever get a job in politics again. Anywhere."

"Arigato, Masamune-san."

"It is no trouble, Harry-kun," said Masamune. "When I heard of what was happening to you here, I was forced to step in. I could not allow one of my own to be in harm's way and not help them."

Harry nodded slowly then said, "You're part dragon akurei."

Masamune smiled. "And you are half neko. Yet no matter what akurei type blood we have, we are still both akurei. And we protect our own, do we not?"

The younger stared at the older then smiled and nodded.

"Hai."

They both jumped as the hospital wing doors flew open, Minister Masamune sliding off his bed and turning towards them in case Fudge came through. A small, dark-haired form followed by a blonde one rushed through and darted towards Harry.

The han-akurei's heart leapt at the sight of them and he fell to his knees, catching one girl in each arm as they ran at him. He hugged them tightly to him, suddenly aware that he'd missed them as much as he'd missed Hermione.

"What happened?" asked Wencia when they pulled away from each other. Her violet eyes stared curiously at his face and he felt a surge of happiness when he realized that any fear she had had in reaction to him was gone now. Although that fact he should have realized when she had risen to defend him the day the Ministry had come after him. "Hermione came and told us that you had gotten out and you were in the hospital wing and we got so worried and McGonagall came in and didn't want us to come and see you but we snuck away 'cause Meru knew some of the secret passages and…"

Harry held up a hand to stop her and said, "Wen-sama, you must breathe."

The blonde blinked then smiled sheepishly and nodded. On Harry's other side, Meru grinned then threw her arms about his neck, pressing her face into his shoulder. He turned and inhaled her scent, noting that Snape's scent around her was much more evident now. Had they become closer since he'd been locked up?

The dark-haired girl then looked up at him and said, "I'm glad you're okay, Harry."

He winced at that and muttered, "Not that okay, Meru-sama. I…I nearly killed…"

She laid two fingers over his mouth and shook her head, saying, "You didn't kill Uncle. He survived under Voldemort – he'll live."

Harry blinked at her then chuckled.

"You surprise me, Meru-sama."

"They both surprise me," said Masamune, speaking for the first time since the girls had entered. He smiled gently down at the two as they sheepishly noticed him and added, "It is reassuring to see young one's who do not fear those of akurei blood."

"Akurei?" said Wencia uncertainly.

Meru leaned over and explained, "Demon."

"Oh!"

Snape's niece shook her head then bowed slightly in Masamune's direction.

"Konnichi wa, Minister."

The older man blinked then smiled, responding with, "Konnichi wa, young one. And you are?"

"Meru Snape, Minister."

"Snape?" Masamune looked curiously at Harry then asked, "You are a relation to the professor?"

Meru nodded and smiled when Harry explained, "She is his niece, Masamune-san. A kitsune who knew my father raised her and they helped me when I had to go and rescue Mia-san."

"Which was also when your full akurei half was released, correct? When that creature chained you and attempted to bind you to him."

"Yes," breathed Harry. Wencia looked from one to the other then turned on the Minister in a fury, shouting, "Are you accusing him of something! 'Cause Harry did all he could in that situation!"

Masamune looked at her, his amber eyes sad, and softly said, "This I know, child." He held up his free hand and held it palm up, his fingers curled so the light glinted off his translucent claws. "I have less akurei blood than he and of a completely different nature, but all of our kind feel the same. When one we love is in danger, we do all that we can to save them. Even if it is giving all of ourselves to that which holds them."

That made both girls silent and Wencia blinked before murmuring, "I'm sorry, I…"

"It's nothing, child," said the Japanese Minister gently. "You care for him and would defend him against all. That is to be respected."

The blonde flushed scarlet and hid her face in Harry's shoulder in reaction. Masamune smiled then looked up and scowled, the low rumble of a growl sounding from deep in his chest. Harry glanced up and hissed, ears lying flat against his head, when he saw Fudge lurking in the doorway behind Dumbledore and Snape.

Meru and Wencia also turned to face the newcomers and Harry smelt anger from both of them. He rose to his feet then, laying a hand on each of their shoulders as he settled back into his demon form.

Dumbledore looked at them then said, "Cornelius owes you a great apology, Harry. He…"

"I don't care to hear it," snarled the han-akurei. "I have heard enough from him to last me for a lifetime."

He shook his head with a hiss and lifted his hand from Wencia's shoulder, jabbing a claw in the man's direction.

"Because of him, I could have killed not only Auror Hawke and Talbot but Minister Masamune and Professor Snape!" he shouted. "Because of him and his idiocy I lost myself! You have no comprehension of what it feels like to be trapped – helpless – within your own body and know that next to nothing will be able to stop you from killing all that stands in your path!"

Fudge had gone pale and was shaking now, while Dumbledore looked ashamed, his blue eyes averted from Harry's. Snape was simply looking at him, dark eyes apologetic – as though he was apologizing for not getting Harry out before he'd lost himself to his other side.

Suddenly Hermione ran into the room with Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall on her heels, her eyes wide.

"Why is there shou…" She trailed off as she noticed Fudge and started towards her, brown eyes glinting murderously. "You…you bastard!"

She moved to strike the Minister, who flinched back from her, but Madam Pomfrey caught her wrist and pulled her back. Hermione spun towards her in a fury but the mediwitch didn't flinch.

"Hurting him won't make you feel any better, child," she said gently. "And he will get what he deserves."

"He deserves nothing more than an eternity in Hell," snarled Hermione, jerking her wrist away. She spun back towards Fudge, who flinched, but she made no move towards him this time. "You forced Harry to do something against all he is. You caused him to nearly kill a man he looks up to! And you forced me to once again see the man I love lost in himself, something I never wished to see again in my lifetime!"

Fudge staggered away from the enraged young woman, slumping against one of the hospital wing doors. Auror Shacklebolt and Tonks came running in then with their wands drawn and the tall black wizard blinked as he saw the Minister of Magic flinching before the wrath of a seventeen-year-old girl. Tonks – her hair now scarlet streaked with black – stared at those gathered within the hospital wing and said, "Uh…are we interrupting something?"

"No," replied Hermione sharply, her eyes digging daggers into Fudge. Then she turned and crossed the wing, walking straight into Harry's arms. She nuzzled his neck with her nose and he rumbled a greeting in neko akurei as he pulled her tightly against him.

"Sorry it took so long," she whispered. "I didn't expect to be given the third degree by McGonagall when I went and got her."

"It's alright," breathed Harry back. "You're here. That's all that matters to me."

Dumbledore looked at the couple for a long moment then turned and said, "Auror Shacklebolt, I do believe it would be a good idea if you and Auror Tonks escorted the Minister to his home. He has had a trying day it seems."

Shacklebolt frowned then nodded and said, "Nymphadora."

Tonks scowled and hissed, "I told you not to call me that!" as she took the distraught looking Fudge by the arm and started to lead him out of the wing. Her superior frowned after her then turned towards Dumbledore with an apology on his lips.

"Albus, if I could have stopped this without putting myself in danger…putting the Order in danger…you know I would have. What he did…what he did to that young man was inexcusable. If I could throw him out of office right now…"

"That, Auror Shacklebolt," said Masamune, striding forward as he tossed the pad that had been healing his throat wounds aside, "I may be able to help you with. I too would like nothing better than to see him out of office."

Shacklebolt frowned and looked curiously at the older man's translucent claws and amber eyes then noticed the silver pin on his right collar. As an Auror and subject to be transferred anywhere at a given time, he had memorized the symbols used by various other branches of government. Which was how he recognized the pin that Japanese Minister's had been using to identify themselves for nearly two centuries.

"Minister Masamune," he said with a slight incline of his head, "your help is greatly appreciated."

"Good," said Masamune. He then frowned and turned to study his throat in a small mirror lying on a table at the end of a bed. "Hmm. Those are deeper than I thought…"

"If you need another pad, I could…" began Madam Pomfrey, only to be cut off with the wave of a clawed hand.

"There is no need, Madam. It has healed far faster with your potion than it would have on it's own but the wounds are closed now. Though it may take a day or so, my akurei healing will complete the task. Thank you for the offer."

The mediwitch smiled and said, "It's my job. Now, if you'll excuse me…Severus Snape! Come here and let me check your wound!"

Snape scowled from where he'd been standing in silence since he'd entered with Dumbledore and Fudge then limped after the woman as she went behind a curtain that hid a bed. Harry looked after him, wincing as he smelt blood and pain wafting faintly from the man. Meru caught the wince and asked, "Will he be okay? He said he'd be okay!"

A note of panic had drifted into her voice and Hermione turned to comfort her with a smile.

"Madam Pomfrey has healed him from worse, I'm certain," she said. "He'll be fine."

The dark-haired girl bit her lip then nodded before dashing towards the curtained bed. A muffled comment was made then there was silence.

Masamune looked after her then said, "I will be in contact with you, Auror Shacklebolt. If I could I would speak with you now but, alas, I must start on my journey back home. I left my Vice-Minister in charge of a very delicate situation to come here and should return as quickly as I can." He turned towards Harry and inclined his head, saying, "It has been a pleasure to meet you, Harry-kun. And you, Miss Granger. Luck be with the both of you."

"Thank you," murmured Hermione as Harry inclined his head towards the man.

The Minister smiled then bowed to Dumbledore and McGonagall before he left the hospital wing. Shacklebolt said something softly to the old wizard then left as well, likely to go and dig up something to use against Fudge.

Dumbledore looked after the two of them then turned and asked, "Minerva, did you…"

"I have yet to be granted guardianship," replied the stern witch. She looked apologetically at Harry then said, "Perhaps if we can get that idiot out of office, something may come of it. By then, however, Harry will be of the age that he won't need guardianship."

"I see. And you, Harry, are you alright?"

"I have been better," replied the han-akurei. "And, sir, you…"

Dumbledore frowned and lifted a hand, cutting him off. "Yes, I still have yet the permission to use your first name. Forgive me, Mister Potter."

Harry nodded then asked, "Can we go then?"

"Yes, you may go," said Madam Pomfrey sharply as she reappeared with Snape and Meru on her heels. "As can you, Severus. Though your left side is still healing, so be careful!" She turned to the dark-haired child and continued, "I know he'll ignore me, so I'm counting on you to make sure he doesn't end up back here before day's end."

Meru grinned and nodded, reaching out to clutch at her uncle's hand. He scowled at Pomfrey then looked down at the girl at his side, his gaze softening as he looked at her. Then he looked up and smiled at Harry and Hermione before he began to walk off, favoring his left side. Meru waved at them and chirped a "See you later!" to Wencia as she tagged along beside her uncle.

The blonde smiled then looked up at Hermione and Harry, who had their heads leaning together. She then silently crept away and slipped past a smiling McGonagall, who looked at the couple for a long moment before she too left.

Dumbledore lingered for a few moments then nodded to Madam Pomfrey, who was glowering at him, and left.

As soon as the mediwitch retreated to her office, Harry looked down at Hermione and said softly, "Outside."

"Okay."

Harry smiled then bent and lifted her into his arms with a squeal, grinning as she clutched at his neck. He then ran from the hospital wing, a blur to anyone he passed, and leapt out the first open window he found – which turned out to be on the second floor.

Hermione's arms about his neck tightened but she didn't scream as they fell, which was something since she had a fear of heights. Harry bent his knees as he fit the ground but only crouched for a brief moment to absorb the shock of landing before he was running again, his toe claws digging up small pieces of earth. He sprinted around the lake and past Hagrid's hut near the edge of the Forbidden Forest before he came to a halt in a small copse of trees near the entrance to the grounds. If he climbed to the top of the trees, he could look down on the back of the stone boars that guarded the gate.

Setting Hermione down, he stalked around the edge of the small glade within the copse of trees, sniffing to make sure that they were alone. After being satisfied that no one had found this spot, he went back towards where she had remained standing in the center of the glade. Taking her in his arms, he bent his head and gently kissed her before moving down to nuzzle the pulse point in her throat.

"Why'd you bring me here, Harry?" she asked softly. "I know it's something more than you needed to be out of the castle."

He lifted his head and looked at her for a long moment before his ears drooped slightly.

"I…I'm sorry," he mumbled. "It's just…"

He sighed and lifted a hand, cupping her cheek gently so his claws didn't scratch her.

"It seems like it's been so long since I've seen you, touched you, held you…I just…I…" He shuddered and looked away, muttering, "I just wanted…you."

"Me?" whispered Hermione, frowning. Then she blinked and flushed scarlet. "H-Harry…"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just carried you out here and expected you to…" He shook his head and trailed off. "I acted on my instincts before I thought."

"Harry…"

"I'll take you back to the castle if you…"

Hermione's hands on the back of his neck jerking him down and her mouth covering his made his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth and his words flee him. He cupped her face and deepened the kiss before pulling away with a groan.

"Mia-san…"

"I love you," breathed Hermione, her face inches from his own. Her hands on the back of his neck were hot and he was acutely aware of every scent about her that changed. "There are no excuses for it."

He blinked down at her then his eyes widened, his iris' becoming near imperceptible slits.

"You…"

"Yes."

"Mia-san, are you…are you certain? I wouldn't want to take advantage…"

Hermione kissed him fiercely and lifted herself up on tiptoe to growl in his ear, "Harry, if you don't continue what you came here to do, I'm going to take advantage of you."

He chuckled at that and growled, "Oh, you think you can take me?"

"You doubt me, Mister Potter?" she purred.

Harry smirked at her and hissed, "Never, Miss Granger."

"Good," said Hermione before she pulled him down for another kiss. Harry absently held out a hand to summon something as they fell together onto the ground.

Darkness fell and while those in the castle wondered where the young couple had gone, they did not go out and search for them. A small blinking bauble sitting on a shelf in Dumbledore's office had caused the Headmaster to caution his teachers against the search. It was focused on a certain glade near the entrance that had once been a favorite of young couple's. Ordinarily he would have sent someone to the glade to disturb whoever was there but this time he didn't bother. He had a good idea who it was and, frankly, they deserved a bit of peace and quiet.

In the glade on a summoned cloak with another covering them, Hermione stirred. Harry looked down at where her head was pillowed on his shoulder and lifted his hand to brush his claws against her cheek. She leaned into his touch and slowly blinked open her eyes, looking curiously at him. Then she flushed scarlet and he chuckled before pulling her tightly against his side.

He rubbed his cheek against her hair, purring loudly in the back of his throat. She giggled and closed her eyes as she leaned closer to him.

"That was…"

"Shh," mumbled Harry. He growled something in neko akurei as he wound his tail about her waist.

"What was that?"

"Hmm?"

"That sound you just made," said Hermione. "What was it?"

Harry was silent for a moment then replied, "It's how neko akurei spoke before we learned the language of man. We know it the moment we are born and it's the first language we speak. It's simplistic but that is its purpose since it's mainly spoken between mates and their children."

"Mates?"

The han-akurei blushed slightly and said, "It's just the way it sounds."

"Oh. Um…"

Harry chuckled and lifted her chin to kiss her lightly.

"Most akurei mate for life, Mia-san," he murmured. "And, yes, I have found mine."

Hermione smiled and shifted, moving so she could lay with her head tucked under his chin. Once settled, she said, "I know."

They lay in silence for a moment and Harry had almost dozed off when she spoke.

"Harry?"

"Nan no?" asked a half asleep Harry. He then grunted and corrected himself. "What?"

"Can you…can you teach me?"

Harry frowned down at her and she blushed before stammering, "Can…can you teach me how to speak neko?" He blinked at her for a few moments, letting what she'd asked settle in, then chuckled.

"Of course, Mia-san," he rumbled, rubbing his cheek against her hair. He then uttered a low, purring growl and mumbled, "Repeat."

It took her a few tries but Hermione managed to repeat the sound and Harry smiled sleepily down at her.

"Good," he said as he closed his eyes, ready to give in to sleep.

"Harry?"

"Mmm?"

"What did that mean?"

"Mate," replied Harry as he rolled onto his side, ducking his head to nuzzle her throat. He then shifted so her head was pillowed on his shoulder and murmured, "I told you it was simple."

He could feel her staring at him for a few moments then she snuggled against him, her arms sliding around his back. She purr-growled at him and he responded with the same noise before breathing, "Sleep, aisuru."

"'Kay," mumbled Hermione from her shoulder-pillow.

Harry smiled and closed his eyes, absently tugging her closer to him with his tail before he lost himself to Sleep.

The glade fell silent then and lay as still as the two figures in the middle of it, their sleep watched over by a certain red-eyed cat that had followed Harry's trail from the castle. She sat in a tree and guarded the one two-leg besides her master that she liked and his mate.

And all was at peace for the first time in a long while.

Author's Note

More of Guess-That-Reference! And once again, whoever guesses it gets to create a character for later use in this story! There's only one reference this time, so start looking.

Also, there are several things this one can refer to. As long as I can find that it does refer to whatever you tell me (be it if it's not something I already know it refers to), you'll get it.

And to note, ABO is far far FAR from being over. I was originally plotting 26 Chapters but I sense it's going to go beyond that. Definitely not Not Myself beyond (nothing will likely ever be longer than NM) but long enough. We're currently 132 pages and counting as of the last letter of this chapter. Yeowza.

Translations

Yurusu: Forgive

Kami: God

Ko: Cub

Neko: Cat

Aisuru: Beloved