Chapter Twenty-One
A/N: I do not own anything from The Lion King or from Harry Potter. If I did, I would not be writing Fanfiction.
Simba stretched out in front of Hagrid's hut, thankful for a few minutes of uninterrupted slumber since the beginning of term. The castle was abuzz with the Hogsmeade trip that day—something Simba was not going to attend and therefore did not care about. He'd been in a rather foul mood for the week, as his nightmares had returned with a vengeance since that day on the train. Even Harry had taken to avoiding him.
The whiff of an unfamiliar scent on the grounds was what caused him to open his eyes and take a look around. Upon nothing catching his eye, Simba set his head back down and enjoyed the rays of sunlight falling down on him. When the scent came his way again, he groaned but got up.
Hello fellow feline.
Hey Crookshanks, Simba nodded to the only cat who didn't flee the scene when he approached. Of course, the only other one would be Mrs. Norris and that cat hated Simba with a fiery passion. Being petrified last year did not improve her personality at all.
You look troubled.
There's a new scent on the grounds and I can't identify it. Do you know who it could be?
Crookshanks seemed to almost smirk, if a cat could possibly smirk, and walked off without answering. Simba, a little peeved, followed him but paused when the cat entered the Forbidden Forest. He hadn't been back in there since First Year when he would visit Desdemona on occasion—and for the only detention he had ever served.
Are you coming?
Crookshanks had looked back at Simba, and Simba nodded. There was no way he was going to pass up the opportunity to see what a potential new scent was. Seeing as Harry had been predicted to die, Simba wasn't going to take any chances. Following the ginger cat into the forest, they didn't stop until they reached a clearing.
Where are we?
About to meet the owner of the scent, Crookshanks told Simba before running off into the forest once more. Simba only had to wait a few seconds before Crookshanks came back; this time with a man. A man who's face looked familiar.
"Black!" Simba growled and got down into an attack pose.
Friend, he's good! He told me his story, Crookshanks got between them, as if to protect Black. Simba scoffed.
"Good lion," Black was saying in a soothing voice. "Please don't eat me. Dog doesn't taste good anyway."
"I'm not going to eat you," Simba scoffed. "You're too gamey."
The fact that he could understand Black didn't even surprise him at this stage in Simba's life. After two years of it, it was pretty common place by now.
"Whoa!"
Apparently, Black hadn't realized the possibility of Simba understanding him and so freaked out a tad.
"For the love of Merlin, do you want to get caught?" Simba asked before the freak out could continue. "Now. Three seconds. Convince me that you're not after Harry."
There was a pause and then the words Simba did not expect at all came out of the prisoner's mouth.
"Because I'm innocent."
000
Simba arrived back to the castle a few minutes later. Black, innocent? Yeah, and he hadn't caused the death of his father.
"Hey Simba," Harry smiled at his brother upon seeing him as Simba entered the Common Room. "What's up?"
"Didn't you go to Hogsmeade?" Simba asked, curious. "All the other third years have been talking about nothing else for the past three weeks."
Harry seemed to become uncomfortable but sighed. "The Dursleys didn't sign my form and unfortunately, Timon doesn't count as my guardian. I can't go."
Simba frowned and butted Harry's hand with his head. Harry chuckled and began to scratch Simba behind the ears.
"What are you going to do about Black?" Simba asked out of the blue, causing Harry to stop scratching.
"How'd you know about that?"
"You actually thought you'd be able to keep something from me?" Simba asked with a scoff. "Please Harry. You've got the worst innocent face anyone could ever have. I did a little digging. Plus the twins told me about him."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "Maybe Ron was right about you spending too much time with them."
"I'll stop spending time with them when you stop giving me a heart attack every year," Simba shot back, causing Harry to get up and begin to chase the lion all over. They only stopped when the portrait hole opened to let in the returning students from Hogsmeade.
"I'm starting to get used to this," Hermione said as she was the first one to enter the Common Room before the boys stopped chasing each other.
"Told you," Ron smirked.
"Five sickles on Simba," Fred muttered to George.
"You're on," George muttered in return but then frowned as Simba managed to pin Harry to the ground. "Oh come on Harry! I had money riding on you!"
Both of the brothers' heads popped up and their eyes landed on the crowd gathered in front of the portrait hole.
"Well, this got awkward," Simba noted and then hopped off Harry as if all he did was hug him.
"You're getting big," Harry groaned as he got up. "Wood's not going to be happy."
"Is that boy ever happy?" Simba countered and Harry conceded, causing the crowd to laugh at the look on Wood's face.
The crowd then dispersed and everyone prepared for the Halloween feast. Simba climbed under the table and proceeded to feast on his usual dinner of chicken legs and the occasional crumb that any messy eater managed to drop (most of the time the food belonged to Ron and the twins). They proceeded back to the Common Room after wards but found their access blocked.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Neville's probably forgotten the password again," Ron groaned, not noticing the look Hermione and Simba were giving him.
"Hey!"
Simba looked behind him to see Neville looking somewhat put out by that comment. Ron noticed it as well, which only added confusion as to what could be behind the blockade.
"The Fat Lady, she's gone!" Ginny exclaimed as she almost ran towards them. Simba's eyes got big upon seeing the three gouging slash marks on the canvas. Only two things could have made those. Claws or a knife.
No hyenas, no hyenas, no hyenas, Simba thought as fast as he could manage. For there to be hyenas in Hogwarts, it would mean that they had found him. That was not a very happy thought to have during a time of confusion such as this.
"Simba, come on!" Harry urged and tugged him back to the Great Hall.
"What are we doing here?" Simba asked.
"Black's in the castle!" Ron hissed and Simba tensed. Black, innocent? Yeah right!