DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Three - A Minor Confrontation
The squeak of leather and wood was the only noise that broke the silence of the comfortable carriage. Well, that and the monotonous droning of their chaperone's voice. Draco rolled his eyes as Snape quizzed Pansy on a chapter of their history book, ignoring the murderous look the blonde witch shot him. Closing his own book, he reached out and lifted the edge of the green curtain drawn over the window. Snow covered mountains were the only thing of interest within the range of his vision. The Red Lion's had divided themselves into two small groups, the first group bringing up the rear while the second rode ahead of the carriage. Sighing, he flopped back against the bench and closed his eyes.
"Draco, I asked you a question?" Severus murmured silkily, turning the page of the text he was reading. Peering at the younger wizard, he raised a dark eyebrow.
Cracking one eye, Draco considered feigning sleep. The swift kick someone dealt to his shin had him gasping and sitting up, wrapping fingers around his aching leg. "Dammit Blaise, that hurt!" He yelped, glaring at his dark haired friend. Eyes narrowed, he aimed the toe of his boot at Blaise's shin and let go. The sudden whoosh of air that left Severus' lungs had him freezing. "Sorry?"
Pulling his leg up into his lap, the older wizard massaged the tender area with his fingertips. "I know that it's hard for you to concentrate for any length of time, Draco, but I insist you pay attention." Severus grumbled through his gritted teeth. Pulling his wand out, he muttered a spell and sighed as the pain quickly began to fade.
"Severus, we're bored." Draco whined on behalf of his friends, setting his book aside and folding his hands in his lap. Thumping his head back, he gestured at the closed window. "Can't we ride outside for at least a little while?"
"I really don't think that would be appropriate." Mumbled Severus, closing his own book and glancing at the weary faces of his charges. Seeing the boredom and the beginnings of a tantrum forming, he sighed and slumped down in his seat. "Fine, go but don't come crying to me when you get a cold."
"Thank you, Severus!" Draco whooped, grabbing his cloak and shouldering into it. Pansy and Blaise seemed just as relieved, drawing on their cloaks and mittens as Draco thumped on the roof of the carriage. Bracing themselves, they waited for the carriage to still completely before opening the door.
"Sweet freedom." Pansy breathed, tipping her face up towards the sky. The faintest sliver of the sun could be seen, peeping from behind a fluffy gray cloud floating above them. Extending her hands, she allowed Draco and Blaise to help her down.
The shadow that fell over them had all three freezing before glancing up. Sitting before them atop the giant black hippogriff, Harry Potter glared down at them. His hands rested on the animals feathered neck, shifting slightly in an absent caress. "May I ask what you're doing?" He questioned politely, the commanding tone in his voice had Draco shifting uneasily.
Offering the raven-haired guard a small smile, Draco stepped forward and raised a hand. Seeing the fingers moving toward his face, the hippogriff hissed and shook his head. Jerking his hand back, the blond stared at the ground and dug a small hole in the snow with his boot. "The carriage was stuffy. We were hoping we might be able to ride out here for a little while. If it's alright with you?"
Emerald eyes narrowed in thought as Harry glanced around them at the snow covered mountains. Shaking his head slowly, he rested a gloved hand on his thigh and straightened his back. "I don't think so." He stated simply, his other hand gesturing widely at the surrounding scenery. "The risk is to great that we'll be attacked. It's much safer if you ride in the carriage."
"I don't want to ride in the carriage anymore." Draco growled out between his teeth, shaking Blaise's hand from his shoulder. Planting his gloved hands on his hips, he took a step forward in an effort to invade the other wizards personal space. The hippogriff ruined his efforts when he opened his wings and reared slightly, taloned front legs raking the air in warning. "Let us ride outside for just a little while and then we'll go back inside."
Steadying the plunging, heaving hippogriff, Harry shook his head again. "I would prefer if you ride in the carriage but if you insist in this foolishness then I will submit. However, at the first sign of danger you will get into the carriage without argument. Should you fail to do so, I'll lock you in and you can remain there for the duration of our trip." A light heel in the side had the hippogriff wheeling around and cantering back to the head of the column.
"Thank you." Draco mumbled under his breath, accepting the driver's help up onto the bench. Breathing deeply, he smiled and leaned back against the carriage. Beside him, Pansy sat on Blaise's lap and drew a throw she'd dragged with her over their legs. Neville, the wizard who'd tossed his cookies over someone else's boots, flicked the reins and gave the order to move on.
Shifting uncomfortably on the hard wood, he peered ahead to where Harry rode in silence. To either side of him, a red haired wizard rode. The pair spoke quietly a moment before saying something to the raven-haired wizard. At his nod, they spun their winged horses around and trotted towards the carriage. Turning their mount's heads, the pair fell in to flank the black carriage in a guard position.
"If you don't mind me asking, what pulls this carriage?" Draco asked into the lull, his heels drumming against the underside of the bench. Pulling his cloak up, he tucked himself into its folds and awaited an answer.
Neville peered at him out of the corner of his eye for a moment. "Thestrals." He answered finally, face pale as he stared straight ahead. Clucking loudly, he flipped one of the reins and called out. "Pull hard Top!" His cry seemed to echo for a moment in the stillness.
"Thestrals." Draco whispered softly, narrowing his eyes and peering at the empty space before him. The only sign there was anything there was the imprint of hooves that appeared every few seconds. "You can see them?"
Turning his head, Neville nodded stiffly. "We all can." Draco grimaced and muttered an apology. Shivering, he rubbed his gloved hands together. Only individuals who had seen death could see the Thestrals. These were soldiers though, each of them had probably watched a friend or enemy die in battle.
The carriage jerked suddenly, sliding into the deep snow on the edges of the road. Neville rose quickly, snapping the reins and yelling encouragement to the obviously struggling animals. As the carriage lurched to a stop, the small wizard groaned before vaulting from the drivers bench. Pale faced, both Pansy and Blaise clutched the rail before them.
"Why did we stop?" Snape growled, stepping down from the carriage and glaring at the milling guards.
"We're stuck." Harry returned sharply, sliding from the back of his mount and stalking to where Neville knelt examining the lodged wheel. "How bad is it?"
Shaking his head, Neville rose and brushed the snow from his knees. "It's good and stuck. I knew we should of put the skis on." Still shaking his head, he leaned against the carriage and tried to rock it.
Seeing that Neville was getting no where, Harry waved his struggle down and glared at the wheel. "Alright, here's what we're going to do." Harry began, raising his hands to gain the attention of the Red Lion Company. "Hermione, Ginny, if you could hook your horses up with Tip and Top it would be most appreciated. Neville, back up on the bench. Fred, George, and I will place ourselves above the carriage and try to lift it slightly to make it easer on the pullers. The rest of you can push."
Draco, Blaise, Pansy, and Snape all moved off to the side and stood quietly, watching in fascination as the entire group put their backs into freeing the stuck carriage. The rhythmic thud of wings and the sudden flurry of snow indicated that Harry and the twins had taken up their positions. With the two witches pulling on their horses bridles and yelling encouragement loudly, the carriage pulled free and rolled forward quickly.
"Good boys." Neville crowed, hopping down and walking to stand at the front of the carriage. Lathering praise upon the tired pair, he stroked and petted as the others sorted themselves out. Blaise and Draco both reclaimed their seats on the drivers bench, eyes following the movements of the group as they untied ropes and checked horses over for possible injuries. Several minutes later they were on there way again.
"Is it always like that?" Blaise asked Neville, staring at the endless range of mountains.
Snorting, Neville bobbed his head and smirked. "We've been in worst situations and still pulled free." He murmured, flicking a rein absently and clucking lightly. Nodding in satisfaction, Blaise lost himself in thought.
XxXxX
Harry shifted in his saddle, soothing BlackHeart with a pat as the animal stalked along unhappily. Both would have preferred to fly but with the two young noble wizards riding outside, it was safer to remain close at hand should something unexpected happen.
"I don't see why we can't just travel DragonAir." Ron argued loudly, shaking his head as Hermione once again began to debate his opinion. "We'd never have to worry about all this crap. I mean, when was the last time a dragon got stuck in a snowbank?"
"It's expensive, Ron." Hermione repeated for the third time, tossing her brown hair and rolling her shoulders. Snorting, her horse tossed it's head and shied away from a bush peeping through the white blanket. Slapping the animal playfully on the neck, she began to hum softly.
"I don't really think expense matters, Hermione. Did you see the jewelry that witch is wearing?" Ron responded, tapping his shaggy pony in hopes that the animal would lengthen his stride. Instead of extending it's stride, the animal tucked its head and performed several neat bucks in hopes of dumping Ron into the snow.
"Material possessions aren't everything Ron. Maybe they want the experience of cross country travel." She suggested, wincing as Ron clung desperately to his pony's neck.
"Hermione, you're in charge." Harry ordered sharply, his anxious voice breaking the long going argument. In a flash of dark feathers, wizard and hippogriff climbed into the sky, leaving the small parade startled and worried.
"On guard all!" Hermione called, rearranging her robes so she could pull her wand if she needed it. Sighing, she set her eyes to scanning the snow covered cliffs and ridges.
XxXxX
Harry circled BlackHeart slowly, allowing the animal to ride a thermal gently. His eyes searched the white world below him, narrowing when they saw the first splash of red. Urging his mount down, he dismounted and walked towards the torn up snow. The carcass of an elk lay ripped apart atop the well packed powder. Blood and bone were scattered around the main kill site, a sure sign that there had been more then one creature feeding. Kneeling, his fingers smoothed a large clawed print so similar to BlackHeart's.
"Griffins." He whispered softly, shaking snow off a small feather he pulled from the wreckage. Standing, he turned in a circle slowly. His green eyes searched the open sky, praying the dangerous animals had left the area and were denning elsewhere. He considered the frozen deer before calling his hippogriff forward, watching as he trotted toward him eagerly. The animal gave a croon of delight as he buried his sharp beak into the cold flesh. Leaning against the animal's shoulder, Harry smoothed the shining feathers and watched the sky.
XxXxX
Harry and BlackHeart swept over the top of the carriage. Flaring wings, the pair dropped to the ground in front of Ron and Hermione. Sighing in relief at the return of their leader, everyone relaxed once more. Wands were tucked away and small weapons were put back into hiding without a second thought. Fishing around inside his pocket, Harry offered the bushy haired witch the small gold feather.
Twirling it between her fingers, she shot a quick glance at the sky. "Griffins." She muttered, looking at Harry over the shining feather. At his silent nod of agreement, she moaned softly. Beneath her, her horse sensed her agitation and danced in place, ears flipped back.
"What is it?" Draco called from his place on the carriage, eyes locked on the object partially blocked by Hermione's fingers. Raising an eyebrow, the witch handed the small feather back to Harry.
Moving BlackHeart off the road, Harry waited for the carriage to pull up alongside him before holding the feather out. "Griffin." He murmured, jumping at the brush of fingers as the blond accepted the small shining feather.
Running his fingers over the feather, Draco looked up at the sky. "Do you think they're still about?" He whispered in concern, hand clenching around the soft feather.
"No, besides there's worse we could encounter out here." Harry answered, giving a quick nod before returning to the front of their procession.
Shivering, Draco slid the small feather into his pocket. Glancing at Blaise, he pulled his cloak closer to his body. As the small group continued on their trip, the first snowflakes of the day began to fall.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review!
Shakespeares Whore - lol, it was just the way the cards played out for this one. I also prefer a dominant Draco, but what can one do?
xXxEmileighxXx - Definitely Drarry and my imagination is just getting started.
Lina - lol, glad you like it so far.
Wizli - I can see that happening in a future chapter. . .
Spirited Celebration - Yah, me too but less noble and perhaps a little more rowdy and excitable.
fourth-face-of-the-goddess - lol, I don't like Cho either.
PotterEnigma - Discontinue my newest pet? Never! I've only ever dumped one story and that was a crack fic I was writing with a friend. I have great plans for this story and shall take it all the way to Diagon Alley!