Chapter Nine

A/N: I OWN NOTHING! Yes, I've slowed down the aging process for Simba because I want him to be the same age as Harry for this story.

Taking one last look at the door his brother had passed through; Simba gently pulled Ron onto his back. It was harder than it was when Harry rode on his back and it made Simba wonder just how much Ron ate in a day.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.

"I'll be fine," Simba said. "Ron's just heavier than I thought."

Hermione gave a small smile and they made their way back to the third floor corridor.

"I can take him from here," Hermione told Simba, and she lifted Ron and carried him on her back. Halfway to the Hospital Wing, they ran into Professor Dumbledore.

"Harry's gone after him?" he asked and didn't even stop to hear the answer. Simba blinked; that was bizarre.

"Okay then," Hermione said slowly. "Let's continue on."

The nurse was nicer than Simba believed her to be but she was still strict. Laying Ron on a bed, she chased him out—only allowing Hermione to stay.

"Great," Simba grumbled. "Now what am I to do?"

He bet that once Harry came up, he'd have a thrilling tale to tell. Simba raced to the Common Room and hopped onto a couch.

"What happened?" Neville asked as the spell wore off. Simba chuckled under his breath.

"Long story Neville," he whispered. "One I hope has a happy ending."

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When Harry didn't arrive in the Common Room the next day, Simba grew worried. It didn't help that there were rumors spreading like wild fire.

"Did he really survive Devil's Snare?" Neville asked Dean, who had just finished telling the story that he'd heard from a sixth year.

"That's what I heard," Dean nodded. "I also heard that they had to fight three trolls!"

Simba slinked by them and left. He, who had actually been there, was in no mood to be interrogated by First Years. He would rather spend time with Harry. However, the doors to the Hospital Wing were still closed to him.

"Hey buddy!" Timon called out as he walked to Hagrid's. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," Simba sighed and plopped down. "Have you guys seen Harry?"

"I thought he was with you?" Pumbaa asked. "Is he avoiding you again?"

"No," Simba shook his head. "I just thought maybe he'd be visiting Hagrid or something."

Timon shook his head.

"Sorry kiddo," he said. "Maybe he's at the pitch? There's a game on right now, after all."

Simba grinned and raced there, however it was to his disappointment that Harry wasn't flying at all.

"Ravenclaw's got the snitch," Lee said in a depressed tone. "Ravenclaw wins the cup and the match."

Simba watched as the team landed dejectedly and wondered just where Harry was.

"Hey Fred!" he called. The mischief-maker turned around and grinned when he saw the cub.

"Hey Simba," he said.

"You know where Harry is?" Simba asked. "I can't find him."

Fred looked guilty. "Sorry buddy, I don't. Last I heard he was in the hospital wing but the rumor mill could be wrong."

Simba thanked Fred and then raced back to Gryffindor Tower. Maybe Ron and Hermione were back. Harry was usually with them and if he wasn't, they'd know where he was.

"Hey Simba," Ron said. He still had a bruise on his head from where the Queen knocked him out.

"Have you guys seen Harry?" Simba asked. They shared a look, which worried Simba to no end.

"He's still unconscious," Ron said. "We just got back from there."

Simba filled them in about the match so they could tell Harry if and when he woke up. Simba only hoped it would be soon.

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Two days later and no word of Harry's condition made for an extremely irritated lion. Simba could be seen pacing the floor of the common room, growling at anyone who tried to talk to him.

"Simba!" Ron ran into the Common Room. "He's up!"

Simba grinned and ran to the Hospital Wing only to be stopped by the matron.

"He's already had three guests. He needs his rest!"

Simba growled and curled up in front of the door. If she wasn't going to let him in, then he'd slink in when Harry had another visitor. Of course that didn't occur until the next day.

"Hey buddy," Timon woke him up.

"Huh?" Simba groaned and realized that he'd fallen asleep in front of the door.

"Hagrid wants to see Harry, but you're blocking the door," Pumbaa told him. Simba got up.

"Oh," Simba said. "Sorry Hagrid."

The bigger man smiled and shook his head as if the cub had done nothing wrong. But he had. Simba had failed to protect Harry and now he was in the hospital wing. Letting Hagrid go in, Simba walked away dejectedly.

"Hey Simba," Timon said. "He'll be alright. Remember when he fell out of that tree when you both were nine? Bounced back from that pretty quickly."

Simba sighed.

"I hope you're right," he said. He went back to the Common Room and jumped on a sofa once more. His weary body collapsed against the back of the sofa and he fell straight to sleep. The next thing he knew, Harry was poking him in the head.

"Hey, you going to the feast?" he asked. Simba jumped up and pinned his brother to the floor.

"You're alright!" he grinned and rubbed heads with him. Harry chuckled and patted Simba on the head as well.

"Yeah I'm good," he said. "Madam Pomfrey is a little crazy when it comes to her patients. Did you really sleep outside the door?"

Simba nodded and Harry chuckled. Simba followed Harry to the feast where he once again ate chicken to his heart's content under the table. The train ride was interesting, though he mainly rode with Fred and George.

"Sorry Harry," he said as they got on the train. "I promised them a few days before you got out of hospital."

"It's alright," Harry said. "I'll see you when we get off right?"

"Nothing will stop me," Simba promised. Timon and Pumbaa were already with Hermione and Ron.

"So what were you saying about a jokes shop?" Simba asked after Harry left.

"It's our dream to open one," Fred said. "Mum thinks we should go into the ministry."

"Ick!" Simba wrinkled his nose. "You guys are too cool for such a boring sounding job."

The twins' grinned.

"You're alright for a lion," George said. "Hey, I figure Ron will invite Harry to spend some time at our place for the summer but you're welcome to join as well."

"Awesome!" Simba grinned. A few hours later and the train stopped. Getting off, Simba failed to see Harry.

"Get in," Fred said, pointing to his trunk. "I'll take you out to the muggle world."

Simba hopped in and hoped that Timon, Pumbaa and Harry were alright. When they entered the other side, Simba was shocked to see a giraffe like woman clutching Harry and crying.

"Oh Harry dear! We thought we'd never see you again!" she cried. Harry looked so confused, but he left with them.

"Stay down," he heard Fred hiss. Over in Ron's trunk, he could almost smell Pumbaa and Timon's scent wafted down from Ron's pocket.

"What the hell was that about?" George asked.

"I don't know," Ron frowned. "But I want to find out. We'll talk later when we're at home."

"Honestly I don't see what the big deal is," Percy frowned. "So the aunt was a little over zealous in her welcome of young Harry back from his first year at Hogwarts."

"Come along kids," their mother said before Ron could retort. "Your father is coming home early for a big celebration."

Simba wondered how he was going to keep his existence a secret from Mrs. Weasley. She seemed like a type of woman who wasn't easily fooled. But on a more important note, how was he going to get his brother back from the animals who had kidnapped him?

TBC….