DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
DEDICATION: Paul, has never a finer horse ran the earth, Rest in Peace old man.
Chapter 28 – Silver Bells and Pitch Black Cells
Damian hissed in pain as he slammed into the cold hard ground. His lips curled back as he shook the remains of the package from his muzzle. Pupils dilated as the panther sought the surrounding darkness for a possible clue to his location. Panic rose sharply as unfamiliar scents lapped at his nose. The cage was bleak and smelled sharply of freshly turned earth. The only light was a dull glow piercing from beneath the door that guarded the exit. Ears swiveled and whiskers twitched in desperation. Rolling slowly, the cat crouched on the ground; hackles standing up as he listened to the dull thud of boots approaching his prison. Slipping into the thicker shadows, Damian watched the outline of the cell door silently, expecting it to swing open any moment. The tread of boots grew closer but passed by the cage without pause.
Snarling, he turned and paced the length of the cell wall, whiskers guiding him with perfect precision. Crouching back down, he rose up on his hind legs, paws patting frantically at the stone. Claws bit into the dark stone, tearing grooves and loose earth free in a hopeless gesture of futility. Sliding slowly to the ground the panther parted his muzzle and called softly. Ears swiveling as he listened for a reply. Magic gathered and swirled, the bond struggling to bring itself into full power. Tendrils reached and tugged, attempting to pull power and magic from the second part of the bond. There was a small crack and the panther reeled back, head shaking at the pain chewing its way up his muzzle. Aching and miserable, the cat slouched into a corner and curled up, muzzle rising one last time to emit a loud yowling cry. Silence reigned through the dark space; the only sound the constant drip of water from the dark ceiling.
"Harry!" Draco screamed. The shrill cry echoing through the common room and bouncing up the shadowed stairs into the Slytherin dorms. Startled students whipped around, eyes wide in fear as they listened to the tormented cry of their Prince. The stairs trembled beneath the Slytherins as they pounded down from their rooms to investigate the disturbance.
"Harry!" Draco repeated, silence reined as the cry faded and died. Slytherin house stood still in the common room, all eyes locked on the sight before them. Collapsing to his knees, Draco burst into sobs and clutched at the carpet in desperation. Tears slid down his face as he attempted to call for his mate again. The words catching in his throat as arms wrapped around him tightly.
"Calm down Draco," Blaise whispered softly. Running a calming hand over Draco's back as he looked at the students milling about outside the room.
"What happened?" He demanded, eyes searching for a sign that someone knew something. Shrugs were the only answer he received as eyes slid away from his.
"Harry's gone." Draco croaked quietly, the words piercing the hearts of the assembled Slytherins.
"It's a big school, surely he's somewhere," Blaise soothed, rising and pulling Draco up to stand beside him. "Listen up! I want all of you to alert the other houses that Harry is missing. Crabbe! Goyle! You two are to go up to Gryffindor and check in with that lot. He may be up there doing whatever it is the Gryffindors do in their spare time." Taking charge, he assisted Draco into one of the chairs before the fire in the Common Room.
The snakes leapt into action without further instruction. Wands were drawn and checked over before they headed out the portal, each and every one of them hoping that Harry was indeed visiting with the Gryffindors. The wall fell closed behind the pack, leaving Draco and Blaise too the calming crackle of flames emitting from the hearth.
"I'm going to go and get Snape." Blaise murmured, patting Draco on the back one last time before leaving quickly. Now wasn't the time to leave the other wizard alone.
Draco peered into the dancing flames, the soft hissing calming him into a trance. Orange, reds, yellows, and the palest blue danced at the heart of the always burning flame. Feeling his heart slow, he watched absently as the flames took on a form. Crackling and snapping as a red panther snarled in outrage and stalked back and forth across the burning logs. Gasping at the sound echoing through his skull, he shook his head and peered back into the flames, only to find the image gone. He closed his eyes tightly and hoped someone arrived with news of Harry. Wishing against all odds that the bond was wrong and Harry was wandering the halls aimlessly.
Severus Snape looked away from the opened text resting on the desk before him as someone pounded on his door. Growling in annoyance, he flicked his wand and watched as the door slid open slowly before a strong hand slammed into it. The loud crack as the door impacted with the wall had him standing and pointing his wand. Blaise Zabini stood in the doorway with his wand in one hand while the other rested flat against the door.
"Harry's missing." The young wizard stated, glancing over his shoulder asa first year Slytherin ran down the hall towards the Common Room.
"Missing?" Severus questioned, dark eyes searching the room behind him.
"Yes, missing. As in disappeared, vanished, gone." Blaise growled, fingers slipping down the warm wood of his wand in a search for comfort.
"Where's Draco?" He snapped, hands pulling a thick book from a stack and jamming it into a cloth bag while his eyes searched for anything else he might require.
"Common Room." Blaise answered softly, eyes narrowing as he looked at the title of the second book vanishing into the bag. "What do you think you're going to do?" He demanded. The grip on his wand adjusted as he prepared for a possible battle with his Head of House.
"Whatever I have too." The Potions Master muttered quietly, his wand flicking in a quick and effortless maneuver. Blaise never saw the spell coming. Standing frozen in the door way, he pointed his wand while his mouth hung open. Striding past the young wizard, Severus stopped and pushed him further into his private chambers, wincing as Blaise's still form tipped over and crashed into the ground. "And don't touch anything while I'm gone." He growled before tugging the door shut and stalking towards the Slytherin Common Room.
"Well if this isn't a surprise." A cold voice drawled. Damian raised his head and curled his lips as he glared at the Death Eater peering into the cell. Snarling in outrage at his treatment and the situation, he lunged and sank lethal claws into the thick wood of the door. Hissing loudly, his tail lashed and his ears flattened to his head as he circled the cell, eyes remaining locked on the masked face staring at him.
"My daughter was supposed to catch my Lord a Dragon but instead she brought him a panther. I have no doubt he'll be pleased. He's been looking for you for a very long time Mister Potter." The Death Eater said softly, eyes following the panther's movements. Roaring in anger, the panther slammed into the door and spat into the wizards face. Spittle flew and clung to his fangs as he snapped at the taunting features before him..
"Poor little kitten. Don't worry about your traitorous lover; I'm sure he'll be joining you in death." The Death Eater laughed as he slammed the small window closed on the large cat's nose. Lurching back, Damian hissed in pain and lashed out. Claws carving deep lines in the wood. Head low and eyes glittering with hate and pain, the panther began a slow stalk back and forth, waiting impatiently for the moment he would face the person who had put him there.
The Great Hall was packed with students, all looking around and whispering loudly. The students had been gathered into the large Hall as soon as it had been confirmed. Harry Potter was missing from Hogwarts. He hadn't been amusing himself with the Gryffindors, nor was he on the Quidditch pitch. Hagrid hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since his last visit and no one had seen him chasing ravens in the courtyard. Whispers and whimpers flew as the professors watched the final lock snap closed on the almost impenetrable doors. Each thunk and thud reverberating through the room.
"Silence please." Dumbledore exclaimed, hands rising in a shushing movement as he peered down at the students. "I'm afraid I must inform you that Harry Potter has gone missing. We believe he has been captured by the Dark lord." Cries and shouts erupted from the students as they glanced about in apparent fear and disbelief. All eyes searched the hall for the one student who would be able to verify if the-boy-who-lived had indeed gone missing. Draco Malfoy sat at the Slytherin table, eyes red and hair mussed as he stared at the top of the table before him. Blaise, sporting a scowl and a bloody nose rested next to him glaring at Professor Snape who was frantically turning pages of a small tome at the Head Table.
"As some of you may have noticed, there are several individuals present who don't belong here. These Aurors were brought in for added safety and protection should Hogwarts be attacked. Until I have further information I would like you to all remain quiet and study or amuse yourselves, just remember to play nicely." Stepping from the dais the older wizard moved to stand over the grimacing Potions Master.
"Well?" The old wizard asked, tugging on his beard and watching the students shifting restlessly around the hall.
"Well what?" Professor Snape snapped back, curling his lip and pulling the book closer. Shaking his head in obvious disgust he went back to searching the book for answers. Shrugging his shoulders, the old wizard wandered off, perhaps he'd play a game of exploding snap with aseveral of first years.
Draco stared at the dark wood beneath his hands, fingers tracing a small gash in the wood. Blaise was grumbling about Severus' rude treatment of him. Draco wiped at his face with one hand, his eyes stung and his chest ached. He ignored the stares and whispers that surrounded him, knowing that many were about him. He didn't want people's condolences or their whispers of assistance should he but ask for it. His Harry was out there somewhere and he didn't know where. His hand rose and he whispered his fingers over the small silver bell dangling hopefully from its chain, the soft tinkle calling him, pleading and urging with him to call his familiars name. His hand closed tightly around the bell and he opened his mouth.
Damian snarled and thrashed his head as he struggled against the thick chain attached to his collar. The Death Eater chuckled and jerked on the thick metal, grinning as the panther hissed in pain and lunged forward attempting to swipe at his tormentor. Rough voices spoke back and forth but the cat was blind to everything. He had been resting in a corner when the door swung open, a dirty blanket tossed over his head quickly followed by a torrent of spells as they sought to restrain him. The magic had been deflected by the charm around his collar, spells simply dissolving as soon as they touched his coat. The blanket had been wrapped tightly around his head, forcing him to gasp in deep breathes of air in an effort to keep his lungs inflated. He had been equally unprepared for the force of several heavy bodies landing on top of him while a pair of chains were attached to his collar.
Roaring in outrage, he threw himself backwards and clawed at the chain. Head smashing against a wall in reckless abandon as he sought his freedom. The spittle clinging to his fangs was traced with blood, one fang chipped by a severe blow to the muzzle. Rumbling angrily, he sprang forward and jerked to the right. The Death Eater behind him was flung off balance, stumbling and falling to his knees beside the panther. Fangs closed and locked through cloth, attempting to maintain the death grip while keeping the other Death Eater from further injuring him. A boot smashed into his already tender muzzle, forcing him to lose the grip he had fought to earn. Quivering in pain and anger, he lay gasping on the floor. The chains tightened once again and he felt himself pulled across rough stone. The small pebbles and dips in the floor dragging and ripping at his velvet hide. Clenching his fangs, he crawled to his feet and slowly limped forward, ignoring the whisper taunts and threats as he moved forwards. His magic bubbled and boiled but he decided it was best to save his strength. They would need it in the hours ahead.
The smell of lavender slapped Draco in the face. His mouth snapped closed and he pushed away from the bench. Eyes widening as he attempted to place the familiar smell. Jerking his head around, he observed the students crowded about the Great Hall. The scent tickled at his senses, seeming to grow stronger every minute. Inhaling deeply, he winced as his brain was flooded with information. His magic purred to life, swirling and shifting as it pushed at him. Confused, he opened his mouth to speak with Blaise but shuddered and stumbled. Something crawled within him, clawing to escape. Shaking his head he stared into the questioning eyes of his godfather as the older wizard appeared next to him.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Severus demanded, ignoring the gasps and startled cries of students watching the situation unfold. Draco shook his head and pulled away from Severus, nose leading him on. He froze as the smell intensified, pierced with the strong smell of liquor. Reaching out he placed a hand on the shoulder of the female standing before him. When the she spun, around he found himself face to face with Pansy Parkinson.
"You?" He hissed, eyes blazing in anger. "What did you do?" Pansy shrieked and struggled to back up but found herself halted by a circle of students, all baring the crest and colours of Slytherin.
"Nothing! I didn't do anything!" She squealed, struggling against the hands trying to trap her. Draco bellowed in outrage, eyes glowing softly as he stalked forward.
Blaise trailed Draco as he stumbled across the hall, surprised when Severus brushed by him. Smiling evilly he raised one foot and brought it down on the older wizard's cloak, frowning when the ripping sound failed to incite a reaction. Grumbling over his failed attempt at revenge he rushed after Draco and Severus, halting when Draco spun Pansy around and began to yell at her. His eyes widened in shock when Draco began to prowl towards the panicked witch. It seemed like everything slowed for a moment before a flash and a surge of power knocked students and professors off their feet.
"We're all going too die!" A third year Hufflepuff whimpered loudly in his ear as he struggled to push her off him. Grimacing as her hands locked into the expensive collar of his cloak, he struggled frantically to loosen her grip. The low snarl had a hush falling across the hall. Blaise sat up slowly and peered in the direction of the sound, voicing his own whimper at the sight that met his eyes.
A leopard crouched in the center of the hall. Its eyes blazed a crystalline blue as he stared at the sobbing witch before him. His coat was the palest of gold, almost silver under the bright light emitted by the dozens of hovering candles. Black spots dotted the shining silver, making the large cat appear even more dangerous. Shifting, the leopard began a hunting glide. Ears swiveling as its long tail flicked rhythmically. Around its neck a silver bell sang softly with every precise movement. Hissing softly, the leopard gave one last stride before lunging. Fangs sank deep into the pale arm raised in a hopeless effort to ward the large animal off. Shaking its head, it tore deep into the flesh and bone. Growling, it loosed its prey and glared at the witches and wizards pointing wands at it.
"Calm down Draco…uh cat, um big cat." Professor Snape whispered, wand leveled at the slathering beast. The leopard growled and buried its claws deep into flesh, purring at the shrill scream of pain that erupted from Pansy. Snape shook his head and watched the leopard drop its head and sink fangs slowly into the witch's throat. Raising his wand he flung a spell at the leopard, jerking in surprise when the panther leapt nimbly out of the way. Hissing at being deprived of its prey, the cat prowled back and forth unhappily. Pausing suddenly it raised its muzzle and called loudly, the cry making everyone cringe in fear. Ears twitched as the cat glanced around, whiskers curved forward as the leopard called again. Severus shuddered at the cry, each note seeming to tug and pull at him, made him feel the he should do something to ease the animals suffering. With one last roar, the leopard vanished with a pop and a flash. Staring at the spot the leopard had stood, he stumbled forward when someone slapped him on the back.
"Magnificent! A Leopard, can you believe it? You must be so proud!" Blaise whooped in his face, clutching one of his hands and shaking it roughly. Staring blankly at the excited face of the younger wizard, he could only frown slightly, a leopard indeed.
"What do you think we should call him? I mean I personally would go with Spot but I don't think that's something Draco would like." Blaise muttered thoughtfully, staring at the bleeding witch sprawled out on the floor before them. Severus shook his head and wondered what he was going to tell Lucius.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who took the time to review. I will of course accept any name offerings you may have for Draco's animagus form. I couldn't really name him Spot now could I? Thanks again for your continued support.
sbkar – lol, certainly but not quite as easy as that.
ToyoKadiyaMikalya – I'm afraid A Panther's Heart is coming to a close, two more chapters and an epilogue and it'll be finished.
webweaver – You were exactly right and he couldn't do anything but try and save him.
kikasspunk93 – Uh, I'm not really sure, genetic's? I chose to make Pansy a horrid-drunken-ass-kisser because it suited my purpose and it was the way I envisioned her character. I also apologize for not allowing leopard Draco to tear her limb from limb.
AngelFYI113 – No, I decided to leave the bond alone, the boys will have enough to worry about without having to worry about their allies tinkering with it.
Elentari Elbereth – At this time I'm not at liberty to put Lucius on either side basically because it could spoil the plot.
0xoox0friendless0xoox0 – I can promise they will but it won't be in the next chapter…they'll be a tad bit busy.
The Insane Imortal Dragon - Thanks for your extra plushie, I'll most definitely need it when I begin writing the next chapter.