DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 16 – Enter the Snakes Lair
Hermione raised her hand and knocked on the portrait guarding the entrance into the Slytherin dorms. She stood impatiently as the wizard in the portrait sneered at her before turning to walk down the path behind him, vanishing into the shadows. A moment later the portrait swung open, revealing a younger Slytherin who looked at them suspiciously before inviting them in with a sweep of his arm.
"Draco, a Raven and a little Lioness have come to visit." The small Slytherin purred, moving back into the shadows where he was no longer visible. Hermione shivered at the introduction, tensing slightly and tightening her grip on the wand she held tightly. Her gaze shifted to look at the fireplace, her attention drawn there by the only movement in the room.
"To what do we owe the honour of your presence?" Draco Malfoy said, eyes resting on them as his hand moved to smooth over the coat of the panther sitting next to him. The fire behind them was an amazing backdrop, making the pair look extremely dangerous and elegant at the same time.
"We've come to speak with you Malfoy, it's about your familiar." Hermione stated, drawing herself up and trying to appear as if she belonged there.
"What do you want to know about my Damian?" Draco questioned leaning forward slightly, focusing intently upon the pair intruding upon the Friday night revelries.
"I have reason to believe that he's not who you claim him to be." Hermione murmured, ignoring the warning rumble that crept from the panther's throat.
"Oh?" The elegant rise of an eyebrow was the only response to her statement. A pale hand slid along the cats back, smoothing the raised hackles and calming the animal slightly.
"Yes, I believe that panther is really an animagus in disguise. I also think that it happens to be a student at this school." She said, shivering beneath the flashing emeralds watching her every move.
"Clever Granger, very clever." The words were barely audible above the hiss and crackle of the flames leaping behind the pair.
"You don't believe me?" Hermione hissed, shocked that he wasn't paying attention to what she was trying to tell him. "Fine." Her wand was raised in a flash as she pointed it at the panther and screamed a spell.
"Expelliarmus!" Echoed through the room as every Slytherin drew their wand and pointed it in the direction of the Gryffindor. Hermione's wand skittered across the floor and rolled to a stop under a table, completely ignored by everybody in the room. All eyes rested upon the mass of black fur quivering and shaking on the ground next to Draco.
Draco grabbed the robes he'd draped over the chair he had been sitting in and tossed them over the writhing form of Harry. Carefully wrapping the folds tightly around the smaller wizard he scooped him up and headed toward the door to his chambers.
"Blaise get the door. Crabbe, Goyle, nobody enters this room." He snarled, cradling the precious bundle while awaiting the completion of his orders. Charging through the door that had been hastily flung open by Blaise, Draco moved quickly to the bed as the door was slammed behind the three of them. Gently setting Harry on the bed he pulled the folds of the cloak back so he could look into the emerald eyes he adored so much. Noting the pain blazing through Harry's eyes and the lip clamped between his teeth, he swore loudly before directing Blaise to find a pain potion.
"Hurry up Blaise." He growled, angered beyond belief at the pain Harry was forced to endure due to the dangerously miscast spell. His fingers brushed through the soft black locks as Harry winced and bit back a cry. Draco continued to ignore the steady stream of curse words and thuds coming from behind him as he carefully maneuvered Harry into a position that better allowed him to slide the blankets out from beneath him. Gently settling him further onto the bed before drawing the blankets over the pained wizard.
"Here!" Blaise snapped, slapping the small vial into Draco's hand and moving away to give the pair a little more privacy.
"Thank-you." Muttered Draco. Sitting on the bed next to Harry and lifting him to rest against his chest, he pulled the cork free with his teeth before turning his attention back to Harry.
"Harry," murmured so softly it was almost inaudible, "you need to swallow this for me, can you do that?" Draco watched Harry carefully as he fought against the pain before nodding.
"Just give it to me." Harry hissed out between his teeth, hands clutching his stomach as if trying to hold something in place. Draco poured the liquid into Harry's mouth, fingers absently stroking his throat to help him swallow the much-needed potion. Laying him back down and tucking the covers in around him, he stood next to the bed and watched as Harry's eyes drifted closed, lulled into a painless sleep by the potion.
"She meant well Draco." Blaise whispered, moving to stand next to his friend, eyes trying to read the other wizards emotions as he stood looking down at the boy curled among the blankets.
"I know she did, but that doesn't excuse her. I promised him nobody would hurt him and I've already failed." Draco said, hand reaching out and brushing a strand of hair away from Harry's eyes, fingers brushing along the lightening bolt scar.
"I'm not sure he would see it that way. You should let him rest; don't forget the Raven and the Lioness you left standing in the common room. We wouldn't want anything to happen to them now would we? " Blaise murmured, putting a hand on Draco's shoulder, attempting to guide him from the room. Draco nodded in agreement; turning back to the bed and leaning down to place a light kiss on Harry's forehead.
"Never again." He whispered softly before standing and trailing Blaise from the room.
Hermione stood next to Terry, mouth trembling as she stared at the closed door. She had never expected the spell to cause such a reaction. She balled her hands into fists and bit her lip before slowly turning to look around the room. Her eyes widened as her gaze met that of several Slytherin's sitting patiently about the room. She took a step back in fear at the animosity in several pairs of eyes; as if they would love to use the wands they held loosely in their hands. Her wand had vanished, scooped off the floor in the middle of the scramble and pocketed by one of the Slytherins. The door slid open quietly behind her, drawing the undivided attention of the common rooms inhabitants.
Draco and Blaise stood shoulder to shoulder, their gazes traversing the room as they eyed their fellow Slytherins.
"I don't suppose I need to remind you that anything that occurs within this house stays within this house?" Draco's voice was calm and reserved but the threat it carried had all students nodding. "Excellent." He murmured, gaze moving to rest upon the intruding pair. The two Slytherins moved further into the room, the door behind them closing softly and a low snick echoed through the room as the lock engaged.
"I'll stay here with Crabbe and Goyle, make sure nothing exciting happens while you're out." Blaise stated, resuming his place before the fire and picking up a chess piece, twirling it in his fingers absently. Crabbe and Goyle nodded their agreement, taking up their place before Draco's door. Draco nodded his at the loyalty they showed him, eyes still locked on the pair that had dared to harm his familiar and friend.
"You two, come with me." He hissed, stalking by the pair and throwing the portal open, glaring at them as they stood frozen in place before quickly chasing after him and ducking out under the painting. Draco tossed one more glance back at the room before allowing the portrait to drop closed behind him, the thud causing the members of Slytherin house to stir and turn to look at Blaise for an explanation.
Draco stormed down the hall leading away from the dungeons. His mind was working on two levels at the same time. On one he was furiously trying to restrain himself from drawing his wand and screaming curses at Granger and Boot while on the other his mind was trying to maintain contact with Harry through the bond. The emptiness and lack of feeling running through the bond had him worried but he placed it on the simple fact that Harry was in a deep sleep due to the potion he had been given. Stopping before the locked door that led into the potions room, he tapped the lock and whispered Alohomora. Pushing the door open and stepping back, he waited for the Lioness and the Raven to proceed him into the room, knowing better then to present his back to individuals he didn't trust.
"What exactly were you trying to prove mudblood?" Draco hissed, slamming the door behind him and leaning back against it, pale eyes carefully judging the two standing before him.
"I…I didn't mean." Hermione stuttered, eyes tearing up as she focused on the stone floor, afraid to meet the gaze of the furious wizard before her.
"You didn't mean? Well that's wonderful, perhaps I should kill you now and inform Severus that I didn't mean to do it. Hhmm, do you think that would work?" Draco growled, wand dangling loosely from his fingers as if tempted to forget magic and go straight to physical altercation.
"I studied that spell, I spent hours reading up on it and it never said anything about causing the animagus pain when forcing them to turn back." Hermione claimed in defense. Eyes widening at the threat behind Draco's words as she took a step back to stand next to Terry.
"I also read over the spell. There was nothing mentioned about the animagus feeling pain when returning to their human form." Terry muttered, fingers running through his hair while trying not to further anger the Prince of Slytherin.
"That's because you're both a pair of incompetent morons who believe they've read up on everything. The fact that Harry was bound to me while in his animagus form interfered with the original binding spell. It altered it due to the complication in binding another freethinking mind to a powerful human one. The spell you just performed was never intended to compete with a spell that would hold the mind of a second wizard. Harry and I were bound together through blood, magic, and soul. You can't just pull one thread and expect the whole ball to unwind. It will literally take the bond days to heal itself and repair any damage caused by your stupidity. Do you understand or do you want me to draw you some pictures?" Draco roared, anger rising as he was forced to remain away from his bonded familiar for longer then he had originally intended.
"I…I didn't think." Hermione whispered, tears slipping from her eyes as Draco stomped back and forth before her.
"Well isn't that perfect? You forgot to think. Imagine that, the mudblood forgetting to think about something for a change." Draco rumbled, turning and heading towards the door, fully intending to return to his chambers and check on Harry before anything else happened.
"Malfoy?" Hermione called out at the back of the retreating wizard, "may we see Harry, please?" She stared at his back hopefully when he paused in the doorway, turning slightly so that he could take both of them in.
"I'll have to ask Harry if he wants to see you because you aren't getting anywhere near him unless it is what he wishes." Stated Draco, before resuming his solitary march back to Slytherin House, leaving the pair standing in the middle of the deserted classroom.
Blaise was waiting patiently for Draco to return, eyes scanning the Slytherins who waited quietly as snakes in the grass for the return of their leader. The soft hiss of the portal releasing had everyone sitting up and jerking to face the direction of the entrance. Draco stood completely still before running a hand over his face and through his hair. Glancing at the door to his room, he noticed that Crabbe and Goyle maintained their places; eyes glowering at anyone who dared get to close.
"Draco, was that Harry Potter?" One of the Slytherins asked, eyes carefully examining the other wizard who remained just inside the entrance.
"Yes, yes it was. Harry Potter was bound to me using the familiar bonding ceremony late this summer." Draco murmured, closely watching his housemates to judge their reactions. The whispers rose quickly, spreading like wildfire through the common room.
"I always knew there was something snake like about that Gryffindor."
"So he's been living among us for the past week?"
He hasn't even tried to kill us!"
"Of course not, he's a Gryffindor."
"Don't forget the Gryffindor you're speaking about spent the week guarding you. How many of you were threatened this week? Or beat up? None of you. That's because Harry Potter chose to protect you. He could have attacked and killed anyone of us but he didn't." Blaise announced, eyes moving around the room, watching the reactions of the others at his speech. Almost immediately the room was filled with nods.
"Can we see him Draco?" A first year murmured, looking pleased that he may actually be given the chance to speak with the famous Harry Potter.
"Yes, but not today. He'll see you on his own terms and when he's ready, so be patient." Draco murmured, moving towards his door and placing his hand on the doorknob, feeling the lock disengage at his touch.
The room was silent except for soft breaths coming from the form curled up on the bed. Harry lay on his side, one hand tucked under his chin while the other arm was curled up under the pillow his head rested upon. After making sure that he was sleeping deeply, Draco grabbed the stuff he would need for bed and headed off, tired from the past few hours and what they had wrought. Returning to his room, he told Crabbe and Goyle they could go to bed before giving a wave to Blaise. Carefully resetting the door locks, Draco crawled into bed and curled up next to Harry, throwing an arm around the warm figure and resting his forehead against the mass of black hair resting on his pillow. Closing his eyes he drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Hermione trekked slowly back to the Gryffindor Tower. Her mind whirled at the complications she had forgot to include in her calculations. She had never considered the fact that the two wizards had been bound using the familiar binding spell. Eyebrows drawing down into a frown she chewed her lip as she climbed the final staircase before stopping before the Fat Lady.
"Out a little late aren't you young lady?" The portrait snapped, eyes taking in Hermione's face.
"Jetaway Doctor." Hermione murmured, ignoring the Fat Lady and stepping into the room. The Gryffindor 'I Survived the First Week of School' party was in full swing, she imagined the Slytherins would be celebrating nothing tonight. Ignoring Ron's calls and the cheers of happiness that greeted her she proceeded up to her room where she seated herself at her desk. Tugging a scrap piece of parchment loose, she wrote several words down before tapping her quill against her lip. Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and Damian. Harry Potter had abhorred Draco Malfoy, and vice versa, but Damian adored Draco Malfoy and Draco Malfoy cared for Damian. Did that mean that Harry Potter loved Draco Malfoy? Closing her eyes, she dropped her quill and threw herself backwards onto her bed, staring at the red and gold canopy while wallowing in her thoughts.
Professor Severus Snape sat in his personal chambers, several books lay spread across the table before him. A forgotten cup of tea cooling on a dusty side table as his eyes crawled over yet another book on the familiar bond and the attempts made to break or alter it. With a sharp crack the book was closed and flung across the room, falling to rest against a large trunk. Nerva rose and wandered over to him, placing her head under his hand while he glared at the flames and drifted in his own thoughts. A life and death bond created between a wizard or witch to an animal that has been chosen to store magic in, the longer the pair are bound the stronger the binding and greater the chance of death or permanent mental injury should the bond be broken. What had his godson gotten himself into?
A/N: Well I suppose I'll start off by wishing everyone a wonderful Easter. Thanks again for the reviews, I'm getting some good suggestions and hints as to what people would like to see. I guess I made it too easy to guess who was at the door, huh?
Kizunakat- Midnight Jade shall reappear under new ownership eventually.
Dragenphly – Ah Ron's note, I thought of what I was going to have it say then went back and looked over it and I found it so crude and offensive there was no way in hell I was actually writing it into the story, but if you really feel the need to know tell me and I'll pass it on.
Hedwig11445 – My course is, lets just say, low maintenance. Meaning I have several major projects and lots of spare time but technically I am studying. I'm improving my typing skills as we speak.