"Arry, you need to ride the train with all of the other students."
Arry sulks at Minerva, "But Minva, why? It's not like Luna is using the train, and the nest isn't any closer to London than it is to Scotland."
"I'm still the Head Master to you at the moment, and it's one of the rules of the school."
"But it's so boring, and none of the rest of the hive have to do it."
Minerva puts her hands on her hips, "So Mr Hopkins and Finch-Fletchley are not part of the hive now?"
Arry winces, "Sorry guys, I forgot you're not genetic members. Ok fine, I'll ride the train, but I'm leaving as soon as we get to the station."
"Once you've left the train like other students, no teleporting out of the train, unless it's an emergency."
"But"
"And you will make sure that Mr Hopkins and Finch-Fletchley are picked up by their parents safely. You are the queen of the hive, and it's your responsibility."
"But I'm only 11."
"And the queen of the hive. We will support you where we can, but it is still your responsibility. And no, you can't delegate this to someone else, it's not that sort of responsibility."
"Fine!"
Minerva ruffles Arry's hair, "I know it's hard, you're only just learning what it means to be human, and already we're making you take responsibility for things."
"But it was so much simpler when it was just T'o-Ba'sall and I."
"Simpler, yes, but knowing what you know now, would you change anything about meeting Ptiana?"
Arry crosses her arms, "No!"
"Then go on, the train's going to leave in a moment, and I know they've saved you a seat."
Arry sticks her tongue out before disappearing with a pop.
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After several minutes of shuffling around uncomfortably on the compartment bench seat, Hermione finally exclaims, "How are you doing that Arry?"
Arry blinks as she brings her attention back to the train, "Huh? Sorry Hermione, I was miles away."
Susan snickers, "Literally."
Hermione humphs, "How are you doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Sitting there so comfortably with your tail?"
Arry scratches her head with her tail, "I'm not sure what the issue is."
"My tail, I can't get it comfortable at all."
Susan and Hannah look surprised, and Sally-Anne pokes her head over the edge of the luggage rack, "I wasn't aware that you had a tail."
Hermione shrugs as she shifts again, "It's not very long yet, and it only started growing just before Easter."
Oliver frowns, "Could you speak aloud for those of us not in the hive please?"
Sally-Anne just sticks her inner mouth out, while Susan translates, "She says, 'Sorry, but I can't, and I packed my leg this morning.' Before that Sally said she wasn't aware that Hermione has a tail."
Wayne looks a little worried, "Does that mean I'm going to grow a tail too?"
Hannah holds up her hand to show the sharpened, claw like, nails, "Probably not, as you've not been having trouble with your fingernails, that's the first change we noticed. Oh, and Oliver, Sally wants to know if you're going to join the hive."
Oliver grimaces, "I need to talk to my head of house before making an oath like that. No offence Arry, but as you're also the Lady Potter there's politics involved no matter if I like it or not. I got a letter from my father after Wayne made his oath, and I quote 'Congratulations on being one of the youngest ever to achieve an animagus form. However, I have just had Mr Hopkins tell me about the oath his son made without his permission. I absolutely forbid you from making a similar oath.'" He smiles as Susan places a hand on his leg, comfortingly, "Hey it's not all bad, at least we can get a hunting bond going."
Everyone in the compartment thinks about McMillian and Entwhistle, who are going to have to go the long way to discovering their own animagus forms. They've also been drawing away from the rest of the hufflepuffs, as they make friends outside the house.
While there's a lull in the conversation, there's a rapid knock on the door, and Millicent opens it and steps in, quickly followed by the xenomorph she's been looking after, "Sorry about this, but can I hide here with all of you?"
As she says that, Oliver's eyes start to glaze until Suzan stabs him with a fingernail, "Sure, what's going on?"
"Bloody veela! Did you know that the Veela in Luna's hive are now all pure veela?"
Oliver licks his lips, "Millicent would you…"
There's a flash of movement, and Arry has her hand around Oliver's throat, "Oliver, I think you want use your animagus form, don't you."
Oliver swallows hard and nods as he slowly shifts into his xenomorph form and climbs up to the luggage rack on the other side. There he seems to have a silent conversation with Sally-Anne, that then gets relayed to Susan, "Oliver says he's sorry, he couldn't help himself."
Millicent waves a hand as she collapses into the space that Oliver just vacated, "It's still better than it was out there. About the only boys that weren't hitting on me are either known to be wizards wizards, or were in our year. It's gross, and scary…"
The door slides open and a 4th year witch, with Gryffindor colours looks in, before zeroing in on Millicent, "Hello gorgeous, would you mind swapping owl details with me, as I'd love to get to know you over… Arrrghh!" The witch stumbles back as Arry's tail stabs her 'lightly' in the thigh.
Millicent smiles at Arry, "Thank you for that. Rachelle said she'd visit over the summer to teach me the control exercises they use. I wouldn't mind, but the veela in Luna's hive are all pure veela, and I've skipped over the normal maturation cycle as I'm already 11."
Hannah looks up at Oliver before saying, "What difference does it make if they're pure or not?"
Millicent laughs, "Magical blood dilutes Veela blood, so after a few generations their allure is no more than natural charisma and beauty. First generation magicals are barely able to use wands, and in many countries are apparently still considered to be magical creatures. They're also the type that used to be called Harpies, as apparently pure veela's are far more avian in appearance."
"I think you're getting off track."
Millicent shrugs, "Sorry, I guess the real differences are that their allure is weaker, and their form becomes more human as they are further from pure. Also their passion fire is more like fire than the balls of lightning that the pure veela throw. I don't know if you've seen Valérie around, but she was the last one rescued before they came to Britain, she was the only pure Veela that was ensnared with a forced mating bond. Now all of us are going the same way."
Arry interrupts, "Not quite, like Hermione, you'll find yourself developing xenomorph traits. I bet your nails are already sharper. That will cross over into your animagus form too. However, our genetics are always looking to improve, and so we pick up the best traits we can from our hosts. Beth and Septima have been working on this with E'jeah in what little spare time they have, they think that our magic is allowing those changes to propagate through the hive rather than just from host to chest burster. But only to those who are genetically connected to the queen." Millicent just looks confused, so Arry rephrases it after a pause, "They'll lose their bird forms as they take on more xenomorph traits, eventually having the best of both. I wonder if you'll be able to fly in your animagus form. Ah, we'll find out later, just keep an eye on the members like the one you've been looking after."
With that, the compartment settled into easy conversation, occasionally punctuated by a scream of agony from a boy, or occasionally a girl, who got ensnared by Millicent's allure and opened the door to chat her up. Nothing permanent, or life threatening, but enough that they weren't going to forget about it for a while.
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As the city of London starts to go past, Arry suddenly remembers that she needs to speak to each family that isn't part of the hive, but can turn into xenomorphs.
"Millicent, has Luna told you that she needs to talk to your parents before they leave?"
Millicent looks confused, "Why would she need to do that? Luna's confused too."
"Are you going to have rotating guards so there's always two hive members awake at your home?"
"Well, obviously."
"Then she needs to tell your parents that it's going to happen, and why."
Millicent's eyes go blank for a moment, before they refocus again, "Luna's going to be there with her father and Clothilde." She flushes bright red, "I did not what to know that. Um, they have something they want to ask you, and Valérie through memory at the hive before saying, I'm next."
"What is it, no wait, if it's about sex I know far too much about it already and I don't want to know anymore. La la la."
"Valérie says, 'Give it 5 years and you'll be singing a different tune. Maybe I should ask my sister if she wants to join your hive'."
Susan, Hannah, and Hermione all shout, "No! Please no."
There's laughter from around the compartment, as even the two transformed humans sort of giggle.
It only another 20 minutes before the train is carefully pulling into Kings Cross Station. As soon as the train has stopped, Arry pops out of the carriage and onto the platform. A moment later Millicent, Susan, Hannah, Hermione, and Sally-Anne all do the same. This gives Arry time to meet with the Abbotts before anyone else gets off the train.
"Mr and Mrs Abbott, my name's Arry, I'm one of your daughters classmates."
Mr Abbott nods his head, "Lady Potter, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Arry grimaces, "Please, just call me Arry. You may already know this, but one of my hive members. People who have a xenomorph animagus form? You're friends with Amelia, she can explain it to you. Anyway, they were attacked because of that form. Because of that I'm making sure that there are people around who can sound the alarm if it happens again."
Mr Abbott waves his hand, "It's not needed, Madam Bones checks our wards regularly."
"That may be true, but I'd feel safer if Hannah had people watching out for her. Whiskey, Tipsy, Disky, and Floppy all volunteered to look after Hannah." As she calls their names, four house elves appear before vanishing again, "Of course, if they get bored they're liable to clean your house and manage your grounds, so just consider it a bonus."
"Lady Potter, you are far to generous, and it's not needed."
Arry waves him off, "It's already done, and I can see Justin with his parents. I need to speak to them too."
Before she can get half way across the platform to the Finch-Fletchley's, a slim, well dressed woman with straight dark hair and a single blond streak running through it, stops her, "Lady Potter, please can I talk to you? I've tried to send you multiple letters, but they've all returned undelivered. I even tried sending a letter to Madam Bones, but I got no response."
Arry blinks, "You have? Um, sorry I didn't get them, though I have no idea why you'd want to contact me."
"My name's Narcissa Malfoy, and you exiled my son last year. Hasn't he been punished enough."
Arry blinks a few times as she tries to remember what happened, and then an expression of comprehension crosses her face, "Oh, right. Sorry, it wasn't a punishment, it was to save his life. But if I do bring him back, what guarantee do I have that he won't try to get himself killed again?"
Narcissa starts to cry in frustration, "I don't know, but he's my son, and my husband is dead. He's all I have left."
Arry blinks, and her eyes go distant for a moment, "Well, you're in luck. No one else remembered him either, and Amelia said she'd deal with talking to the other parents."
Arry reaches out with a hand, and the two of them disappear in a flash of fire.
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Draco steps forward thrusting the combistick in front of him before ducking down to the side, and into a roll. He only stumbles slightly as he comes to his feet and curses slightly. Returning to his starting point, he does the thrust again and this time comes to his feet smoothly, facing the direction he came from. With a smile, he returns to his start point once more, if he can this down it will be one more move he can use to defend himself in the hunts. And maybe he won't fall flat on his back when he's forced to improvise next time too.
As he's about to start again, Athe's mouth drops open, and he glances over to look at the girl that has taken to watching him since he killed the Yautja. Turning away he spots a woman that looks familiar, with her long black hair. Standing in front of her, with her back to him, is the woman who sent him to this planet so long ago, her tail lashing behind her. With an anger filled leap, he closes the distance and brings the combistick forward for a strike. A strike that never lands, as the woman disappears with a slight pop, and reappears behind him. Before he can recover, she has her claws around his throat and across his stomach, "If you ever try that again, your skull will adorn my trophy wall."
The woman in front of him cries in shock, "Draco, no. We're here to take you home."
Draco growls, "What are you saying?"
The woman smoothly changes language, "I am Arry, and this is your mother. She asked me to bring you home. But if you attack me again outside a spar, your skull will adorn my trophy wall."
"I'm not afraid of you."
Arry smiles, "Good, I don't like it when people are afraid of me. It does funny things to my instincts. I'm going to let you go now."
"Lady Potter, what's going on?"
Arry steps to one side as she lets go of Draco, "Not sure, give him a moment to calm down."
Once he's free, Draco quickly moves so that he's between the two new comers and the village. Once it's clear that he's not going to be attacked, he collapses his combistick and looks at them more carefully. Hesitantly, his mouth works over the words he heard when they arrived, and then he tries to voice a word in a language that it feels like he last used a lifetime ago, "Mother?"
Narcissa nods, "Yes Draco, do you remember me?"
Seeing that he's relaxed Athe stands up from where she hid behind the trough and cautiously walks over, "Who is this Draco?"
Draco glances at her, without taking his eyes off of the visitors, "I think this one is my mother, and this one is the one that brought me here."
Athe claps her hands together and bows to Arry, "Thank you for bringing Draco to us, I would have been chosen if you didn't. I'm hopeful that Draco will choose me some day."
Draco double takes at the girl, before swallowing a sudden lump in his throat, "Um, apparently they're here to take me home. But, er, I said not without the village."
Arry briefly translates for Narcissa, who looks surprised, and then looks Athe up and down consideringly.
Athe smiles brightly and says, "Great, I'll get the Matriarch." Before running off.
10 minutes or so later, the Matriarch accompanies Athe back to the group, where Draco has started to brush the dust off of his English. When she sees Arry's tail, she stops and stares at it, before breathing, "Raka. We must warn the Hunters."
Athe tugs the Matriarch's hand, "No Matriarch, she brought Draco here, and wants to take him home."
"You've spoken to it?"
Athe looks confused, "I'm fairly sure she's a person."
"I would recognise that tail anywhere, one just like it went through my mothers back while she was putting me to bed before I was brought here."
Arry glances over, but otherwise doesn't make any move.
"I thought you were born here."
The matriarch shakes her head, "No, sometimes the Hunters will take us if we survive whatever they've hunted. Bringing in new blood. I don't remember my home anymore, just that moment."
With that Arry says something to Draco and Narcissa before sitting down, facing the matriarch, with her tail curled around her against the floor. It doesn't take long for Arry's presence to be virtually forgotten, as Narcissa draws her wand and conjures 4 chairs, a table, and a pitcher of water. As their conversation starts slow and gains pace as Draco's English starts to come back to him while he haltingly translates for his mother. Arry smiles and slowly applies house elf invisibility. With that done, she returns to earth and, politely, asks Vivian and E'jeah to take over for her.
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Arry appears in the Grangers living room, and Everly jumps when she does, "Where did you come from!?"
Arry blinks, "Another planet. Are you Everly?"
"Uh huh."
"Oh, cool, have you made a decision yet?"
"Not yet, but what do you mean another planet?"
"I was looking for E'jeah and Vivian."
"They said something about visiting the hive."
"Oh ok. Well…"
"No, wait, take me with you."
Arry blinks again, "Wait, really?"
Everly nods, "Just like Star Trek, going where no woman has gone before."
"I just need to make one thing clear, if you go to the hive, you have to join it. It's just not safe for you if you don't."
Everly lunges forward and grabs Arrys hand, "Ouch, your nails are sharp. And yes I'm sure. My mum would kill for this opportunity too. Beam us up Scotty."
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