Chapter 1: Tardiness
It had been two months since the start of the school year. Two months and not one person had seen even a glimpse of the famous Harry Potter. Hermione looked around the room on November 1st and it was almost like something started to break inside of her. She thought when she heard his name come out of the Goblet of Fire last night that somehow, he would magically appear… she should have known better than that. People couldn't Apparate inside of Hogwarts. She lowered her head back down to nibble on some toast.
"Hello Hermione," Luna Lovegood's voice was soft as it usually was. Hermione glanced up with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. She might not bully the poor girl like most people, but Hermione just couldn't call her a friend yet either. "It's alright. Hale will be back today. His Banshee was worried and didn't want him back with all of the Nargles that follow him during Halloween." The blond girl turned and walked back over to the Ravenclaw table with a skip in her step. The day was long after that.
Dinner was loud as usual, if not more so with two other schools in attendance. A loud hoot filled the hall as heads turned towards the ceiling. Mail at this time of night was rare so everyone was curious as to who would be the receiver. Silence quickly filled the hall when a familiar snowy white owl soared into the great hall. It circled once before landing in front of an empty plate beside Ron. "Hedwig?" The red head quickly looked around before focusing on Hermione. "If Hedwig is here than Harry has to be too right?"
The owl began to peck at some of the meat on Ron's plate, startling when McGonagall's voice rang out, "Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger a word if you would." The silence broke with that and the two stood and walked up to the dais. "Is that Mr. Potter's owl? What did Mr. Potter say?"
"Nothing Professor. There wasn't a letter with her." Hermione glanced back to see Hedwig was back to eating. This time taking sips out of someone's goblet. "I'll write one and send her back. Maybe he'll answer this time."
"Thank you, Miss Granger. You may…" the old woman cut herself off and her eyes widened. There, standing at the entrance was the missing Boy-Who-Lived. Everyone turned to stare when the doors closed behind him, but none could speak.
Harry smiled as he walked forward between the tables. His hair was short, shaved on both sides and left messy on top. Green eyes brilliant without his usual glasses to hide their color. He was dressed in a short sleeved red shirt, tight blue pants and a leather jacket hanging in his left hand. Red shoes tapped lightly as he walked, the movement smooth. That wasn't what had most people's attention though. It was the elbow height tawny blond wolf walking beside him.
"Sorry Professors didn't mean to be so late. My flight got delayed or I would have been here this morning." Without a second glance he took a seat in front of Hedwig, giving her a pet before starting to eat. A small whine caused him to laugh and grab and entire plate of chicken and placing it on the floor. "don't worry, I'd never forget about you. Eat up. You leave tomorrow."
"Harry my boy." Dumbledore stood and moved to go around the dais. The wolf raised its head and began a low growl. "I believe we should talk. Could you come to my office?"
Harry glanced down at the wolf then up at his Headmaster. "uh, sorry but I don't think he wants to talk right now and I'm quite hungry. I've been up for the last three days trying to prepare for coming back here." He took some mashed potatoes and added them to the plate on the ground with a whisper. "Calm down. It'll be alright I promise."
"Potter! That's a wolf not a pet. Get it out of here." Mad-Eye stood, his staff thumping onto the ground and echoing within the great hall. "I'll gladly do it myself."
Harry stopped eating, his fork partway to his mouth. Lowing his fork, he took a few calming breaths before turning his head back towards the dais. "Excuse me? I don't think I heard you right." When Mad-Eye opened his mouth to speak Harry quickly cut him off. "Don't I was being sarcastic. I heard you perfectly clear and I'm going to address this once and only once. This wolf, and any wolf you see with me are off limits. Should anyone attack them not only will they fight back, but I myself will gladly end you. Is that clear?" His eyes almost seemed to shine in the light of the flickering candles.
Placing a hand onto the wolf's head the teenager used it to leverage himself up. With the smallest wince he put some food onto a plate, picked up the plate from the floor and began walking out of the room. "Harry." Hermione's voice carried to her friend, pausing him in his steps. She could see his shoulders relax a little, but he didn't turn around. "Pardon me Professor." Hermione addressed McGonagall then hurried down the aisle to stands at Harry's side. "Harry, please I just want to talk."
"Okay Hermione. Let's go to the common room."
"Really Hermione? He doesn't show up to school until now, gets himself into the tournament and you still follow him blindly?" Ron's anger was mounting again now that Harry was here. Not only late but causing a scene at that. "He's just trying to get attention Hermione!"
"Ronald!"
"Mr. Weasley!"
"I have to say I agree with Weasley on this. 40 points from Gryffindor for causing a distraction, 20 for disrespecting your professors and another 30 for arriving to Hogwarts late." Snape's voice was nearly drowned out by Hermione's and McGonagall's cries of shock at Ron. "Detention for a week as well. Since the Hogwarts Express does not run during this time of the school year you must have come by illegal means like two years ago."
Harry turned his head and smirked at the dark professor. "Actually, Potions Master Snape, I have a letter to excuse me." The wolf leaned forward and pushed open one of the doors for Harry to walk through. "As Malfoy is so fond of saying, my father will hear about this. He is the one who kept me home anyways." With that parting note the three of them walked through the doors, letting it close behind them with a bang.
I don't own anything but my imagination.