DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Fourteen - First Night of the Full Moon
The merry tinkle of bells faded into the night, replaced by the harsh sound of breathing and the crunch of snow under boots. Rising from their places, the Red Lions moved cautiously around the crackling fire, eyes searching the surrounding shadows. An owl hooted in the distance, its haunting call echoing in the vastness of the forest.
On the edge of camp, the picketed horses stirred nervously, pawing at the ground and tossing their heads. With a crack of wings, BlackHeart rose up on his hind legs, beak parted on a shrill scream. Hissing and spitting in warning, the hippogriff slammed sharp talons into the snow and fluffed dark feathers. Around him the restless horses flared pink-rimmed nostrils and huddled closer together, their dainty ears flicking back and forth.
"Tighten up," Harry breathed, one of his hands vanishing among the dark folds of his cloak. Steel shimmered coldly as the gloved hand reappeared, fingers wrapped almost reverently about a sword's silver hilt. A finger was run gently over the glistening blade, testing the cutting edge carefully.
Bells sang sweetly from the left, turning heads and drawing frightened cries from the nobles. Daggers slid smoothly into waiting hands as the guards scanned the darkness, the cloth of their cloaks rustling in the night's breeze. Before the soft jingle could fade, another string of bells took up the taunt.
"They're testing us." Hermione whispered, reaching over her shoulder to pull an arrow from the quiver hidden beneath her cloak. She settled the red-feathered arrow upon the string and pointed it at the ground, her arms shaking with restrained energy.
Shaking his head slowly, the raven-haired wizard turned on the balls of his feet, sword swinging loosely in his grasp. "No, they're not." He murmured, reaching up and opening the clasp of his cloak with a quick flick of fingers. Cloth the colour of the night sky floated to the ground, hissing softly as it folded in on itself. "They're teasing us."
"Who's teasing us?" Pansy hissed sharply, fingers tightening in the cloth of Blaise's robes. Her whisper caused several of the guards to jump, their fingers clenching around the hilts of the weapons they held.
"Shut up and move closer to the fire." Harry ordered, striding quickly toward the three frozen nobles. He hauled Pansy and Blaise to their feet, pushing them in the general direction of the fire and the safety of Seamus and Dean. His gaze searched the darkness, jumping from shadow to shadow as he sought their tormentors.
Draco was unceremoniously prodded in the same direction, Harry's hand firm at his back. "Um, Harry? Can I talk to you?" He asked, stumbling as the dark-haired wizard shoved him inside the protective circle the guards were forming about the twisting flames. Tugging the edge of his long coat from under the heels of the boots he wore, he peered at the back of the other wizard's head.
"Not now." Harry hissed, frowning as the red-haired witch next to him rolled her eyes. Burying his elbow lightly into her side, he widened his eyes in warning and hefted his sword. In turn, the witch smiled sweetly and planted the heel of her boot atop his toes, grinding down mercilessly.
"But Harry-"
"Not now, Draco." Pansy snapped, grabbing the blond by the sleeve and dragging him closer. She huddled back against Blaise, yanking Draco down to cower next to her in the snow. "Doesn't he seem just a little busy?"
"Hush." Hermione said quietly, fingers tensing on the string of her bow. The red-feathered arrow rattled against the pale wood of the weapon, the soft sound betraying the witch's outward facade of calm.
It was the low groan of breaking wood that had the group whirling around and glancing upwards, all eyes locking on the pale outline of the large tree as it fell toward the blazing fire they were standing around. Lesser trees crumbled beneath the birch's mass, branches and twigs raining down upon the assembled guards. Shouts of warning and startled cries heralded the immediate flurry of movement as everyone lurched out of the tree's path.
Spinning around, Harry sought out the nobles, noting the relatively safe position of Pansy and Blaise before realizing the blond was missing. His eyes darted from black cloaked figure to black cloaked figure, searching for a flash of pale hair.
"Harry!"
He spun frantically to face Ginny, sword dangling uselessly from his fingers as he stared wide-eyed at the witch. With a jab of a slender finger, the witch redirected his attention, pointing at the lone figure crouched next to the fire. Emerald orbs shot upwards even as he lunged toward the noble wizard, left hand outstretched. Bellowing in warning, he grabbed Draco by the front of his robes and tossed him backwards, ignoring the blond's cry of fear as he flew through the air.
Harry dove forward, tucking his legs and rolling to avoid the tree that smashed into the ground where the blond had been crouched seconds ago. Ashes and embers leapt into the air, crackling and sparking before falling to the snow covered ground. Darkness consumed the camp, the once roaring fire smothered under the tree's bulk.
Squealing in fright, the horses jerked and lunged against the ropes holding them in place. The whites of their eyes flashed as they shoved at each other, rearing and prancing anxiously. BlackHeart hissed angrily, his wings unfolding with a snap to arch above his broad back; to either side of him, the twin's nervous mounts followed his example and spread their narrower wings.
"They're here!" Dean hollered from the nearby shadows, his voice ricocheting through the forest. As if on command, howls and sharp barks shattered the night, sending the Red Lions scrabbling for their weapons. Out of the night they prowled, shadowed forms slinking ever closer.
Swearing softly, the raven-haired wizard grabbed the quivering blond by the ankle and pulled him backwards. His hands patted the snow in search of the sword he'd dropped, digging and pawing frantically as he watched the lupine figures slink between the thick trunks of the surrounding trees. "What's your count?"
"Um . . . two or three this side of the tree." Fred offered, his eyes tracking the werewolves stalking toward them. Beside him, George dumped his saddlebags in search of flint, fingers flying over the various pieces of equipment scattered upon the ground.
Harry groaned as he tucked Draco behind him, right hand finally landing upon the firm metal of his sword's hilt. "We've got two more over here." He stated, shooting the blond a warning look before rising gracefully to his feet. Bouncing his sword lightly, he considered the werewolves creeping silently through the darkness.
"Only five?" Hermione whispered, nodding at Ginny as the redhead strung her bow and slipped an arrow from the quiver dangling from her waist. Standing side by side, the witches chose their target and drew back the strings of their bows, arms shaking as they held the position.
"Greeting party," Harry said with a fierce grin, emerald eyes locked on the dark werewolf prowling straight toward him. The beast's calm walk turned into a fast lope, closing the distance between them in a blur of fur and fangs. Given only seconds to prepare, the raven-haired wizard ducked beneath swinging claws and sank his sword hilt deep into the werewolf's chest. He let go of the weapon's grip and skittered backwards as the animal screamed in pain, its overly long fingers scrabbling at the metal.
Behind him, battle cries and roars of pain announced the beginning of the skirmish. Arrows flew and blood covered blades flashed in the dull light as the guards defended themselves. Pulling a second blade from the small of his back, Harry danced fluidly in front of the werewolf, assessing the situation as best he could.
Snarling in outrage, the werewolf finally managed to free itself of the sword, its paws burnt from the engraved silver hilt. Its amber eyes glowing eerily, the large wolf rose up on its hind legs and tipped its head back, jaws parting around a haunting howl. From the surrounding darkness, wails of triumph rose up and fell away, melding with the dark wolf's call. Curling lips back from saliva coated fangs, the black werewolf threw the blade at Harry and quickly followed.
Harry jumped aside, biting his lip as the tip of the long blade grazed his forearm. Slapping the palm of his hand over the injury, he glanced up in time to catch the malicious glint in the werewolf's eyes before the creature crashed into him. The wind was knocked from his lungs as he fell backwards, dripping fangs snapping above his face. Huffing loudly, he sank his fingers into the thin fur covering the beast's throat and pushed, straining to gain some room to maneuver. His second hand was pinned between the wolfman's chest and his own, the dagger rendered useless by the position.
A low whistle rang through the air, ending in a soft thunk as an arrow sank into the werewolf's upper back. The moment of distraction was all Harry needed to shift the beast and push the sharp blade of his dagger home. Twisting the blade for emphasis, he smiled as the werewolf whimpered before going limp, its body collapsing lifelessly atop him.
It was Draco's shrill screech that had Harry twisting under the black werewolf, the hand clenched around the dagger's hilt running with blood. The blond dangled from the claws of a thin, silver werewolf, his legs kicking wildly as he swung back and forth. With a fanged smile, the werewolf ran its rough tongue the length of the noble's cheek, chuckling harshly as Harry let out a roar of anger.
Rolling the dead werewolf aside, Harry rose slowly to his feet, cringing as a stab of pain raced up his injured arm. "Let him go," he ordered softly, lifting his bloody dagger up for inspection. He narrowed his eyes as Draco whimpered in distress, taking a prowling step toward the small werewolf.
"But he's so cute," the gray wolf crooned, "and amazingly sweet." The werewolf's words fell into a sudden silence, its amber eyes widening as it found itself under the close scrutiny of the entire Red Lion Company. As the sharp tips of several weapons were slowly swung in its direction, the silver werewolf swore and dropped into a crouch, Draco tucked against its narrow chest.
"I'll only ask you one more time," Harry snarled, tensing as he readied himself to spring at the werewolf. His eyes flicked to the sword lying forgotten in the snow, mentally calculating his chance of grabbing the weapon before the creature vanished into the shadows.
Baring glistening fangs, the werewolf ran his long tongue over his dark nose and laughed wildly. "It's been a pleasure, Potter!" The werewolf chuckled as his amber eyes danced. In an effortless motion, he heaved Draco over Harry's head and launched himself into the darkness, vanishing among the shadows before any of the guards could react.
Stumbling over the broken snow in pursuit of Draco, Harry vaulted agilely over a broken tree branch, the heels of his boots skimming the pale bark. His eyes scanned the darkness as he trotted forward, the breath leaving him in a rush of relief when he caught sight of the blond's crumpled form. He closed the distance between them quickly, falling to his knees next to the other wizard and settling a light hand upon his cheek.
"Harry," Draco wheezed, blue eyes cracking open as he stared into the shadowed canopy above him. He lifted one of his own hands and patted the raven-haired wizard on the side of the face, offering him a half-smile. "You did your best."
Snorting, he slipped his arms under Draco and scooped him up easily, holding him gently against his chest as he trudged through the deep snow to where his team was gathering. The small battle was already being rehashed, each blow and strike exaggerated as wounds were carefully examined. "You're not dying," Harry said, lowering the blond to the ground next to Blaise. "The worst you've got are some bruised ribs."
"Other then some minor injuries, everyone seems all right." Hermione announced, stepping away from Seamus and putting her hands on her hips. She peered around the ruined campsite with a raised eyebrow, shaking her head at the carnage and carcasses. "What do you want to do?" Harry shook his head and eyed the huddled group, noting the bloody weapons still held in white knuckled hands. "Build another fire. We're not going anywhere tonight." Swiping his dagger's blade on the cloth of his pants, he slid the weapon away and walked cautiously around the body of a werewolf to retrieve the cloak he'd dropped earlier. Shaking it free of snow, he looked up as Fred appeared next to him, sword still held lightly in his right hand.
"We're missing a horse, Seamus' gelding to be exact." The redhead murmured, tipping his head in the direction of the picketed mounts. With a twist of his wrist he sheathed the sword, gloved fingers remaining posed upon the metal. "Why would they take a horse?"
Folding his cloak over his arm, Harry peered in the direction of the horses, internally counting the stiff-legged animals. "An easy meal," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head as he glanced in the Irish wizard's direction. "This is going to break his heart; he loved that horse."
Fred followed Harry's gaze, watching as Seamus and Dean built up the fire they had started. "Do you want me to tell him, or do you want to do it?" He asked, hand falling away from the sword and sliding into the deep pocket of his robe.
"I'll let you take this one." Harry said, bobbing his head as Fred slapped him lightly on the back and drifted off toward the growing fire and the two wizards watching over it. Sighing sadly, he ran a hand over his folded cloak before wandering after the taller guard in search of a warm place to sit and think.
XxXxX
Draco watched as one of the redheaded twins whispered with Harry, their heads bent close together as they peered into the shadows surrounding the camp. Giving a nod, the raven-haired wizard watched the redhead depart, fingers caressing the silky cloth of his cloak as he slowly spun to face the group. Tired emeralds scanned the small group crowding around the fire as Harry trudged toward them. Heaving an audible sigh, the raven-haired wizard sank to his knees a couple of feet away from the blond, placing his back to the birch tree.
Allowing his eyes to travel up the guard's body, he gasped when he noticed the gash in the sleeve and the blood slowly staining the cloth. "You're hurt, Harry." Draco said softly, eyes locked on the tear in the material. He slid closer on his knees, hands outstretched as he sought to draw the wizard's injured arm closer.
Frowning, Harry followed the blond's gaze and groaned. "It's nothing." He mumbled, tugging his arm from Draco's grasp and burying it in his lap. It was the truth, the blood running from the wound was already slowing. Allowing his eyes to drift shut, he shook his cloak out and wrapped it around his body, hearing the quiet chatter of his team as they resettled themselves.
Rolling his eyes in disbelief, the blond pouted and glanced at the other guards before smiling to himself. "I'm cold." He mumbled, wrapping his arms around his waist and huddling deeper into the folds of his cloak. Widening his eyes, he stared at Harry and let his teeth clatter together, internally applauding his performance.
Harry cracked one eye open and glanced at the blond. Sighing, he relented, gesturing for Draco to come and sit next to him. He dragged his saddlebags closer as the noble wizard flopped gracefully into the snow beside him, seeking the red and gold summer cloak usually buried under his extra weapons and supplies. As the blond snuggled up beside him, he drew the length of material from the leather bags and shook it out. "Here," he said, draping the thin cloak around Draco's shoulders and pulling him closer.
Snickering at his success, Draco curled up against Harry and stared into the dancing flames of the fire. The silence that had consumed the group lengthened, broken only by the occasional snap and hiss of wet wood. As calm settled, he remembered what he'd been about to do before the werewolves had interrupted him. "I'm sorry," he bit out, wincing as everyone turned to look at him with raised eyebrows. Blushing, the blond slid down and rolled over, burying his head in the raven-haired wizard's lap as his ears burned in embarrassment.
Chuckling, Harry dropped one of his hands atop the crown of pale hair occupying his lap and gave a halfhearted glare at his team. Shaking heads met his stern expression and he couldn't help but tug lightly on the blond locks in silent acceptance.
"He knew your name." Draco whispered, wiggling his head further up Harry's thighs. Sliding one of his hands between his chin and the scratchy fabric of the pants the guard wore, he shut his eyes.
Smoothing the ruffled strands, Harry frowned and glanced down at the top of Draco's head. "Who did?" He asked in confusion, huddling deeper into his cloak. A quick look around showed everyone was listening into the conversation, exchanging thoughtful looks as they raised their hands to the fires warming fingers.
Hauling the red cloak up to his chin, Draco snuggled closer to Harry. "The werewolf," he said sleepily. Moments after making the statement, his breathing deepened and he slipped into sleep, unaware of the tension rising in the group.
"He's right." Hermione murmured, leaning against Ron. "That werewolf called you 'Potter'. I don't think any of us had called you by your last name either." Propping her chin on the redhead's shoulder, the witch slid her bow from under the folds of her cloak and ran her fingers lovingly over the polished wood.
"How did he know?" Ginny queried, batting away George's hand as he attempted to draw her hood over her head. Glaring at her brother, she followed Hermione's example and checked the location of her favoured weapon.
"The sword," Neville stated, slapping his knee lightly. The crack of his hand against his leg caused hands to jump to weapons as the more tired of the group snapped to attention. "That sword you found belonged to someone from Hogwarts. Everyone knows the company leaders, no matter what year they're from."
"You think they've gone rogue?" Harry asked in disgust, wincing as Draco moaned in his sleep and threw a restraining arm over Harry's legs.
"It's a possibility." Hermione said, lifting a hand to cover her mouth as she yawned.
Noting the tired faces of his team, Harry raised a hand and ran it down his cheek. "We'll talk about this later, get some sleep everyone. " He grumbled, peering around the circle as the guard's bobbed their heads in agreement. "I'll take first shift, Fred can have second, third goes to Ron. They won't be back again tonight but tomorrow . . . tomorrow's another day."
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review!
karenelaine – Would we have it any other way?
Crystal Malfoy – I tend to forget about Severus, basically because he's there but not really that important (unless I need someone to be mad at Harry, etc.). And with another horse missing, the sitting order will have to be changed again, perhaps something more favourable to our boys can be arranged.
Jenny18 – Another kiss, eh? I suppose I'll have to sneak that in next chapter.
Peligro – Hey! I update weekly, that's as good as it's gonna get. Though if I was less lazy it could probably be more often.
Peaceful Angel – Scariest dreams are the ones where you see yourself sleeping. Nothing beats waking up expecting to see yourself hovering over you.
LandUnderWave – lol, your review made me laugh, and an butt whooping for Theo can probably arranged in a very later chapter (I'm talking second last chapterish).
animelvr4evr – lol, I stopped watching Power Rangers when they switched the cast for like the third time. It got to the point where I just started calling them by the colours they wore instead of their names.
GryffieGurl – A little action this chapter, a little more next chapter, and a bit more apologizing.
PleiadesWolfe – Because White Forest is a magic free zone, they've had to resort to an older method of defense: bells on strings. Barbaric, eh?