DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 8 – Diagon Alley
Boredom had set in two hours ago for Harry. Though watching Draco try on numerous outfits, all in various shades of silver, blue, and black, had been entertaining. The most humorous moment so far had arisen when Draco had commanded Madame Malkin to find an emerald silk that perfectly matched his panther's eyes. The harried woman had brought out every emerald silk she had in store but not one was up to Draco's standards. While Draco was throwing a tantrum, Harry returned to his people watching, glazed eyes staring out the front window. His eyes were beginning to drift closed when a familiar flash of reddish orange hair had him leaping to his paws. Flashing emeralds glanced at Draco before Harry began slinking towards the door; carefully hooking a paw in the handle and easing it open so he could pass through.
Diagon Alley looked much different through panther eyes, every thing he saw was a possible danger to him causing his hackles to raise slightly before he calmed himself. Darting out of the doorway to Madame Malkin's, Harry plunged through the people clogged streets before reaching an alley, which he quickly turned down. Stalking silently through the shadows he sped along between the stores's that lined Diagon Alley, his goal was to cut Ron off before he reached his destination. He froze at the top of an alley, sinking into the shadows watching for his prey. His eyes locked on Ron standing outside a store, waiting impatiently for someone. Crouching low, Harry began to cautiously approach his friend. His stalk was halted when Hermione came skipping out of the store Ron stood before, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a quick kiss.
Harry swore softly as the duo began to head back from the direction Ron had originally traveled from. He knew there was no way to cut them off due to the confusing tangle of alleys. Glancing up he looked at the wall of the building he was crouched next to, rumbling unhappily; he gathered his back legs under him and prayed he wouldn't kill himself. His claws bit into the shingles of the roof, hind paws clawing desperately in an attempt to find purchase. With a quick maneuver he managed to pull himself onto the roof, ignoring the nagging voice in his head that informed him he hadn't quite thought this one through.
Running along the roofs of the stores gave him a whole new view of Diagon Alley. Every store was decorated differently and had its own smells, making it easier for him to identify the store that the roof he was currently running along belonged to. Freezing on a roof with red shingles, he lowered himself to his belly before sliding forward gently, digging his claws into the shingles so he could lean over the edge of the roof. Ron and Hermione stood beneath him talking softly, their voices almost impossible to hear in the bustle of people milling about Diagon Alley. In an effort to hear more, he crept forward and hung the front end of his body over the edge, ears cocked forward, listening intently.
Ron and Hermione stood out of the way of the numerous people shopping. School was just two days off and many students had come to pick up books and other supplies required for the new year.
"Ron, they still haven't heard anything about Harry." Hermione hissed, poking Ron in the chest.
"I don't see why everyone is worried about him, he seems to survive no matter what happens to him. Chances are he's off on some mission the order doesn't want us to know about." Ron muttered, looking away from his girlfriend, his eyes searching for his parents among the traffic.
"Smarten up Ron. They wouldn't put Harry in danger, he's much too important. Do you honestly believe they would just send him off without telling one of us? He has to be alive, Ron. Remember the whole saving the world thing, Harry is the only one who can defeat You-Know-Who." Hermione turned and was about to head back into the flow of people when a massive black ball plummeted to the ground in front of her. Leaping back she grabbed her wand as Ron stepped up next to her, both pointing their wands at the snarling panther in front of them.
Hermione studied the Black Panther crouched before her. The animal wore a silver collar with several charms dangling from it and had to have been the largest cat she had ever seen. The panther stalked forward hissing angrily, Hermione quickly cast the Immobulus spell but was horrified when the cat leapt out of the spells path. Rumbling even louder the animal lunged forward, Ron grabbed Hermione's arm and scrambled backwards falling into the middle of the street and screaming for help. Witches and wizards spun around, glancing at the enraged panther; dozens of wands were drawn as the immediate chorus of Immobulus echoed through the alley. The massive panther wasn't fast enough and froze in mid leap.
As soon as the threat had passed, Ron moved forward and slung a fist at the head of the beast. Hollering that the animal was sent by You-Know-Who to kill them, he aimed a kick at the panther's middle. Immediately blows fell upon the cat, various people taking the chance to get back at Voldemort for crimes against their families. Minutes later, two Auror's arrived on the scene, forcing the crowd back away from the animal lying still on the ground. One of the Auror's knelt down in a pool of blood, examining the badly injured animal sprawled out in the middle of Diagon Alley. The second immediately began questioning the crowd, trying to discover exactly what had happened, the whispers led him to believe that the panther had attacked ruthlessly and without provocation. He turned to his partner who was staring in shock at the tags hanging from the black panthers collar. Concerned for his partner, he bent over and spoke softly in his ear, jerking back at the muttered response.
Draco pushed his way through the crowd, Damian had vanished from Madame Malkin's and he'd been looking for his familiar for the past twenty minutes. The sight that met his eyes had him, dragging in a deep breath. Damian was unmoving and covered in blood; rushing forwards he pushed the Auror aside before pulling Damian's head into his lap.
"Who did this!" His roar echoed through Diagon alley, heads turned and looked at the angry young wizard who was running a bloody hand over a limp foreleg. Ignoring the Auror's efforts to apologize over the incident and soothe the young Malfoy before he could draw his wand on the crowd, Draco sat glaring at the mass of people staring at him in fright, his gaze focused on the only two he recognized, the Weasel and the Mudblood.
"I'll get you for this Weasel!" Draco snarled, before swearing softly and looking at the ring on his right pinkie. Spinning it on his finger, he activated the port key that would take him to his Godfather.
Draco sat on a guest bed at Snape Manor, watching as Severus examined Damian's wounds. None of the wounds had been lethal, though several had been deep and in spots that would impede the cats movements. He watched impatiently as his godfather ran his fingers carefully over the panther's head. He bit his lip in concern as Severus frowned and reran his fingers over the cat's forehead. Severus sighed before drawing back, and looking at his godson.
"The wounds are mostly superficial. I've put a potion on them that will heal the cuts quickly. I've also given him a potion to increase blood production; he's lost a dangerous amount of blood and I'd rather be safe then sorry. He also has an old scar on his forehead, most likely from the attack of another predator; its already healed so there's nothing to worry about." Staring at his godson, he accepted the nod that Draco gave him before moving to leave the room.
"Severus! Thank you, thank you so much." Draco murmured.
"You're quite welcome Draco. Just use the floo whenever he comes around; he should be fine to travel. I'll see you at the Hogwarts tomorrow." Waving as the older wizard left the room, Draco placed a loving pat on the panther's shoulder before leaning forward and whispering softly in a dainty black ear.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. Hope you're all still enjoying it and I promise they'll be at Hogwarts soon.