DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
A/N: I must thank everyone for pointing out my mistake in chapter 18. My mind was already on chapter nineteen and I wanted to post before I went to my torts test. So I rushed…which I will never do again. I'll also study before said test instead of showing up without touching the material.
Chapter 19 – Pulling the Panther's Tail
Ron padded softly down the stairs from Gryffindor Tower. His mind was racing over the thoughts and possibilities of the meeting that lay ahead. Grinning he pulled his wand from his pocket and flipped it expertly, twirling it on one finger before sliding it up his sleeve and into the waiting sheathe. He turned down one of the main halls heading towards the Great Hall and allowed his mouth to fall open in shock. A slim figure with a head of pale hair glided along before him, alone. Ron looked around the hall before smirking evilly and cracking his knuckles.
"Hey Malfoy!" Ron snarled, stalking towards the figure that froze at the sound of his name. Turning slowly, Draco raised one eyebrow in a commanding expression before snorting indelicately at the oncoming figure.
"Well if it isn't the Weasel. Finally managed to climb out of your hole I see." Draco purred, fingers edging to where his wand had been placed before leaving the Slytherin common room.
"Rather it was from a hole than under a rock, Ferret." Ron roared, pulling his wand and aiming it at the Slytherin Prince. Malfoy mirrored Ron's movement and pulled his own wand in a slick and effortless maneuver.
"Expelliarmus!" The two voices echoed through the empty hall as they tried to remove the others wand before their enemy could cast a spell. The clatter of light wood on stone faded as both wizards stood in shock for a moment, eyes following their still rolling wands before looking at the other.
"Well that works for me Ferret." Ron stated, lunging at Malfoy who hadn't been expecting a physical attack. Ron's fist connected firmly with Malfoy's jaw, tossing the other wizard back against the wall. Draco's head connected with a sickening thump and he slumped to the ground. Ron smiled at the crumpled figure lying against the base of the wall, unconscious. Smiling happily over his easy victory, he planted one foot firmly in Malfoy's middle before proceeding to the Great Hall for dinner.
Hermione sat at her desk in her dorm room, quill skating across the parchment before her. She had decided it would be best to write a letter to Harry and Draco rather then verbally attacking them again. Straightening in her seat, she looked back over her letter before smiling and rolling the paper carefully. Now for the final touch, she thought. Reaching into a small bag, she pulled out the ribbon she had purchased yesterday. Braiding the three strands of ribbon together quickly, she wrapped them around the roll of parchment, fingers fiddling with the loops of the bow before deciding it was perfect.
"Good luck me." She murmured softly. She held the small roll in her hand, fingers brushing along the ribbon. Emerald silk for Harry's eyes, blue for Draco's, and a strand of white as a sign of peace. Hermione tucked the message into the pocket of her black robe, patting the pocket before heading towards the door. Sighing as she left the Tower, she hoped that the pair noticed the significance of the ribbons colours.
Blaise prowled along one of the dungeon halls. Though the darkness was frightening sometimes, it was a high point that only the Slytherins would walk around the damp halls by themselves. He had needed some time to think and retreated to the dungeon halls for a few moments of privacy before heading up to dinner. Rolling his eyes as his stomach growled, Blaise rubbed his belly before changing direction and moving back past the Slytherin common rooms and Professor Snapes private chambers. Gliding up the stairs in an elegant manner, he proceeded down the hall, the drumming of his boots echoing as he made his way toward the Great Hall.
He froze at the sound of a low groan, and carefully approached a shadowed alcove. Running the last few steps, he dropped to his knees and peered at the crumpled figure of his friend. Draco had blood dripping from his mouth and was clutching his stomach, eyelids fluttering as he tried to remain conscious. Blaise carefully threw the other boys arm around his shoulder, hefting Draco up so he was practically sprawled across his back.
"Wand." Draco murmured, pain laced the word as a finger slowly rose and pointed to the piece of wood lying against the opposite wall.
"Right." Blaise muttered, bending down carefully and picking the wand up, sliding it into Draco's pocket before beginning to carry him gently back to the Slytherin common room.
Harry sat in Draco's chair before the fire. He was dressed comfortably in the dragon skin pants Draco had bought him. He wore an emerald shirt that matched his eyes, the top few buttons left undone so the collar encircling his neck could be seen. His eyes flowed over the parchment resting in his hands as a second year stood patiently beside him, fingers fiddling with his quill as he waited for the older student to finish.
"It looks good," Harry murmured, grinning at the little Slytherin who smiled back with joy at the praise. "I'd just change these two around; it would flow better that way." He instructed, taking the dangling quill and rearranging several sentences carefully before handing the project back to the other student. Harry watched with an amused grin as the second year raced back to his table and sat down with several other students, exclaiming loudly that Harry had helped him. Leaning his head back against the chair, he closed his eyes and smiled at the feeling of contentedness creeping along the bond. Sitting up suddenly, his eyes widened as the feeling flowing over the bond changed. His eyes went to the entrance portal as it was thrown open and Blaise staggered in, half carrying half dragging Draco behind him.
"Somebody attacked him!" Blaise shouted, holding still as Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and lifted him gently from Blaise's grasp. Blood had soaked through the pale green shirt he wore from the wound on the back of Draco's head.
"Open the door Blaise!" Harry demanded, weaving towards the door of Draco's chambers. Blaise threw the door open and let it slam against the wall, moving ahead of the pair to clear the bed of new clothes. "Damn." Harry murmured assessing the blonde's wounds.
"Harry?" Draco mumbled, slowly opening his pale eyes to search the room for the familiar voice.
"I'm sorry Draco, I should have been there. I should have known somebody would try something like this." Harry rambled, hands searching and finding one of Draco's to cling too. Harry peered into Draco's pained eyes, watching as he bit his lip to contain a yelp as one of Harry's fingers grazed a cut.
"Not your fault, should have known better then to go out alone." Croaked Draco, fingers clutching desperately at Harry's. Silver eyes met the emerald ones as Harry hovered over Draco, afraid to sit on the bed for fear of disturbing Draco.
"Tell me who Draco? Who dared harm what is mine?" The last sentence left Harry's throat in a low growl. Draco whimpered at the pain creeping up his hand as Harry unknowingly applied more pressure to his skinned knuckles.
"The Weasel. Came up behind me. Attacked without reason." Draco hissed between his teeth, holding back a cry of pain as the bed shifted beneath a body. Harry snarled, flashing lengthening fangs at Blaise who had leaned against the bed to have a closer look at the wound. Blaise jerked back and held up his hands, trying to calm an enraged Harry.
"It's the familiar bond." Rasped Goyle, leaning closer to Blaise in an effort to draw Harry's attention from the smaller wizard, figuring he'd have a better chance of surviving a full on attack.
"Ron!" Harry roared, wheeling about and charging for the door.
"Harry!" Draco shrieked, trying to sit up and pull Harry back to him. Fingers still laced with Harry's, he tugged futilely in an effort to drag the other boy back to his side.
"He has gone to far this time Draco." Harry growled, emerald eyes flashing dangerously as he glanced about the room, noting the nods of agreement coming from several other students.
"I know." Draco murmured, "But at least take my wand." The whispered words had eyes widening and gasps escaping several Slytherins. Wands were considered sacred; to allow another to use your wand was like allowing them to hold your heart in their hands.
"Draco…" Blaise murmured, his face showing his evident shock over Draco's exclamation. Harry stood silently before slipping a hand into Draco's pocket, fingers withdrawing the wand that rested there.
"I'll take care of it Draco." He murmured, fingers running over the wood in a loving caress. Ignoring the others crowded into the room, Harry leaned over Draco and pressed his lips gently to the blondes in a kiss no more than a whisper before standing and plowing his way through the shocked crowd. "Gregory! Vincent! With me." Harry snarled, pausing outside the portal to wait for the two much larger Slytherins. Harry caught the thick silver cloak that was tossed at him by Vincent, pulling it on and flipping the hood up over his mop of black hair.
"What are we going to do?" Gregory growled, eyes meeting and holding those of the boy-who-lived.
"I am going to put on a little show. You two, are going to get Snape." The Slytherin bodyguards looked at each other and sighed, whenever Harry did something he went all the way, which meant that there was bound to be more then a little fight.
"Perhaps one of us should-"Vincent started, jogging to keep up with Harry.
"No! I will deal with Ron, no one else." Came the rumbled response as Harry prowled down the hall, raising his head slightly as if testing the air for the scent of his old friend.
"Its dinner isn't it?" Purred Harry, a slow grin creeping across his face as he glanced back at the pair puffing along behind him.
"Yes." Gregory grunted, clutching at the wall in a vain attempt to climb the stairs faster.
"Excellent." Harry murmured, unable to contain the fierce grin creeping slowly across his face.
The Great Hall was full of chattering students. Nearly all the tables were filled completely, students from all houses having returned from a hard day of shopping to eat a companionable meal with their friends. Laughter and friendly arguments rose and fell around the large room as the houses celebrated their return to the school. The teachers lounged about at the head table watching the students to make sure nothing got out of hand, as it often did on Saturday nights of the first month. For one moment, it was like somebody had flipped a switch as the hall went completely quiet. All eyes widening as the whole hall began to shake softly and a low rumble became audible. Ron paused with a fork half way to his mouth, eyes roving over the other students to see what they were listening too. He followed the questioning glances towards the door as the rumbling and shaking stopped. The fork continued its trip but the food never made it to Ron's mouth as the doors imploded.
Harry paused at the main doors into the great hall. Tugging the hood forward so it better covered his face, he raised one hand and pushed his magic into the doors. The massive wooden doors shivered and buckled as he pushed harder. Harry closed his eyes as the magical force inside the door became too much and they imploded, spraying the inside of the great hall with small slivers of wood. He stood in the door way for a moment and allowed all the students and staff to stare at him before stepping into the hall.
Severus Snape leapt to attention and pulled his wand from it's sheathe as he stared at the figure standing silently in the door way. Dressed in black dragon skin pants, the figure wore a silver cloak that hid his face. The cloak fluttered softly around the muscled body, blowing in a breeze that no one else felt. Eyes blazed in an eerily familiar way, emerald fire creeping through them as they gazed around the hall. The figure began a slow glide into the hall, ignoring all the shaking wands pointed at him.
Hermione glanced up from the book she clutched, fingers holding her page as she slowly closed it and looked around the hall, trying to find the source of the rumbling noise. For a single moment, she thought that perhaps it was her mind playing with her but as silence crept along the hall it became obvious that the others also heard the noise. When every thing became quiet again, she looked to the head table where all the teachers stood, wands held lightly in their hands as they prepared for whatever was causing the noise. She couldn't help but let loose a gasp and duck as the door imploded. Small shards of the doors rained down on the students, who took cover beneath the trestle tables. Hermione's eyes widened as the familiar figure padded by her slowly, approaching the head table.
Harry stopped directly in front of the staff table. Eye's peering at each individual standing there; he turned slowly to gaze back out over the other students. Silver cloak swirling out behind him in a maneuver only Snape could pull off perfectly.
"I think we should all have a little chat but before I begin, there's a small matter I would like to deal with." Harry growled, flipping back his hood and ignoring the shocked screeches that echoed through the hall. He stood there proudly, tight pants showing off his slim legs, emerald eyes that held the pupil of a panther, and the fangs that flashed as he addressed them. All eyes fell to the silver collar that glistened under the bright candle light. The small silver bell tinkled merrily as Harry shifted, turning his attention to the staff table where his eyes locked with those of Professor Snape.
"Professor Snape, if you would kindly return to the Slytherin dorms with Vincent and Gregory, it would be most appreciated." Gasps and several yells of shock ran through the hall as they watched the boy-who-lived address the most hated professor so politely. Whispers began to race as several students made the connection between the panther Damian and Harry. The collar, the eyes, and those fangs, all made sense. It was the table full of Slytherins that shifted first, rising from their table and sweeping bows to the mate of their Prince. While the rest of the school stared on in shock, Harry Potter's gaze searched the Gryffindor table. Harry paused when his eyes fell upon Ron, a smile slid across his face, drawing whispers from those near enough to get a good look at the fangs.
"Ronald Weasley, I challenge you to a Wizard's Duel." The words rang through the silent hall, causing eyes to widen in shock.
"By what grounds is this duel called?" Dumbledore stated, staring down at Harry, his own wand angled slightly at the ground.
"As bound familiar to Draco Malfoy, it is my duty to avenge any wrong done to him. The Weasel magically and physically attacked my bonded. I am within my rights to demand the chance to rectify the situation in whatever manner I see fit." Harry snarled, eyes narrowing as he glared at the head table. The Slytherin table emptied of students as they moved to form a half circle around Harry, drawing their wands and standing at attention, ready for any altercation that occurred.
"My boy, I really don't think that that's the best way to solve this problem." Dumbledore said, a slight plea in his voice as his eyes followed the movement of the Slytherins. Other students gaped at the sight of the Slytherins guarding the back of a Gryffindor, never before had the Slytherins moved to protect a student of another house. All eyes fell back upon the figure shaking with rage, wand pointing at the ground as he thought the situation through.
"I will have my duel Albus, even if I have to go through you to get it." Harry growled, wand shifting to point at the head master, unwavering as the bright emeralds sparked and burned.
A/N: Once again thank you to everyone who took the time to review, make suggestions, and in the case of chapter 18, point out my foolish mistakes. Currently this story does not have a beta, I would usually run my chapters by Elentari09 but her schedule is way too full and I don't want to bother her with something so insignificant. Hope this chapter was up to everybody's expectations, thanks again.
tati1 – Darling, there are currently 243042 Harry Potter stories posted on FanFiction. If my writing is so juvenile you should find somebody else to play with.
Sweetest Thang – Thank you for pointing out my error.
anna – Thank you for asking, and my presentation went well.
iamwednesday13 – No tears?
kazzzaaa - Thank you for pointing out my error, and I'd also like to point out that there have been various hints through former chapters.
xyvortex - Thank you for pointing out my error. You're correct about Hedwig. She has no clue where Harry/Damian is and took the note to the next best person. Harry doesn't care that Snape knows who he is, he's already been bound to Draco and the bond can't be broken. So basically he has what he wants.
penguin – It makes me happy when I can sit down and write a chapter in four hours then post all in one day.
ch3rryph43k – Hope you have fun!
ToyoKadiyaMikayla – Alive is just a play on words, basically it means whether or not the person would live to see them leave.