DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Fifteen -Little Red Riding Hood
Harry opened his eyes at the light touch on his shoulder, hand clenching around the hilt of the dagger resting warm against his palm. Standing above him, Ron held up his empty hands and backed away. Relaxing his tensed muscles, he arched a dark brow and slid the weapon away. In his arms, Draco slept quietly, tangled within the long folds of the cloak wrapped around him. The blond's hands were fisted in the soft material, lying lax upon the raven-haired wizard's thighs.
Around the camp, other members of the guard stirred, stretching and flexing as they came awake. Muttered words broke the silence of the sleeping forest, disturbing the peaceful atmosphere they were enclosed within. Within the nearby Spruce trees, small birds greeted the rising sun, their sharp calls piercing the air.
Under Harry's watchful gaze, Ron continued his circuit of the camp, impatiently shaking the slumbering guards awake. He was ruthless in his completion of the task, ignoring the swatting hands and mumbled curses as he moved from cloaked figure to cloaked figure. Rolling his eyes, the redhead nudged one of his brothers with the toe of his boot, smirking as the older wizard sat up abruptly.
"It's not fair," Fred grumbled, slapping the toe of his brothers boot away and kicking at the still form of his twin. Yawning, he rubbed his eyes and glanced about, eyes searching the surrounding forest.
"Life rarely is," Ron replied. Noting that the rest of the guards were already crawling from under their cloaks and blankets, he gave a relieved sigh and flopped to the ground next to the small fire. He fed the little flames absently, tossing small branches atop the crackling blaze.
Feeling the stiffness in his legs, Harry bit his lip and shifted, pausing in his movements as the wizard curled next to him sighed softly. He untangled himself carefully, gently easing Draco's head to the edge of the folded cloak he slept within. Holding his breath as the blond stirred, he smiled and pulled the red cloak up to his pointed chin before rising gracefully.
Gliding toward the fire, he joined the guards waiting patiently for their orders, all watching him expectantly. Stretching his arms above his head, Harry rested his interlocked fingers atop his messy hair and widened his stance. "We travel from dawn to dusk until we get out of the forest. Last night's attack was completely unacceptable and I don't want to risk anyone getting seriously injured."
"The horses can't take that fast of a pace, Harry, especially since most of them are carrying two people." Hermione argued, planting her hands on her hips and working the kinks out of her muscles. Brow drawing down, she gestured in the direction of the mounts. "They're worn already."
"We don't have a choice, they'll have plenty of time to rest when we finish this mission and get back to Hogwarts." Harry stated, dropping his arms and pulling the folds of his cloak closer to his body. He glanced in the direction Hermione had indicated, eyes traveling over the sleeping horses. "Besides, if they're out of shape we have no one to blame but ourselves."
"That's a terribly fast pace to set, Harry. The snow's deep and the paths aren't marked, we're liable to get lost if we move forward so quickly." Fred said, adjusting the hilt of the sword resting on his hip.
"At a gentle gait it would take us three days and four nights to travel through White Forest. If we push ourselves and the horses, we can cut it down to two days. We'll travel day and night, breaking only for meals." Harry ordered softly, raising his eyebrows in a gesture the group knew well. The argument was over, any further attempts to change his mind would be met with silence. With nods and muted mumbles, the small group dispersed.
Sighing, Harry walked back to Draco's limp form and dropped down to his haunches, one of his hands falling lightly upon the blond's head. Stroking the wizard's cheek gently, he smiled softly before shaking his shoulder to wake him up. "It's time to get up, Draco." He whispered, grinning as the blond shrugged his hand off and rolled over. Laughing as one blue eye slid open, he stood and walked over to where Hermione and Ginny were making porridge.
"Here, Harry." The bushy-haired witch said, offering him a bowl of steaming oatmeal. She watched him through careful eyes as he accepted the bowl, waiting for the usual caustic remark.
"How'd you know? Porridge is my absolute favourite." The raven-haired wizard gushed, dipping his spoon into the mixture and stirring it cautiously.
"About that sword, Harry," Hermione murmured, halting the playful fight that was about to begin between the pair. Ladling the rest of the porridge into bowls and passing them out, the witch finished her job while Harry watched her with one dark brow hitched in silent question. "I used to help train several of the younger years when we weren't busy but I can't remember hearing of anyone going missing. Some students dropped out, others found better jobs, but it just doesn't seem right."
Harry nodded in agreement. Hogwarts taught its students morals and ethics, trained them to be the best witches and wizards they could possibly be. "You don't just drop out of Hogwarts, Hermione. People who leave like that are dismissed from their duties for some other reason."
"You mean for screwing up royally?" Ginny asked around a mouthful of porridge. The redhead shrugged her shoulders when Hermione shot her an annoyed look, swallowing her mouthful and mumbling an unapologetic 'sorry'.
Harry nodded slowly, licking the back of his spoon as he stared blankly at the ground. "Generally they're stripped of their swords, though." Wiping his mouth on the sleeve of his robe, he handed his empty bowl to the nearest witch. "Try and compile a mental list of the students you remember being kicked out of Hogwarts. One of them has to be our rogue wolf."
Rubbing his hands on his pants, he walked away to help break camp as the rest of the group finished eating. Horses needed saddled, equipment needed to be gathered, and nobles whims catered to before they could begin the days journey.
XxXxX
Darkness had fallen upon White Forest as the group traveled deeper into its barren arms. Every turn in the trail brought forth new challenges and hastily made decisions. The snow that fell constantly within the forest had obliterated any sign of the well traversed path, leaving the entire group second guessing every turn they took. Tempers had flared quickly, arguments halted only by Harry's sharp commands and the arrogant arch of a dark brow.
As the moon had rose above them, the tired horses had become more skittish, prancing and bolting at the slightest noise. Exhausted from the hard pace their riders set, they fought the bit and commands issued, reacting sluggishly. Sweat clung to their coats, foam staining girths and reins as they rubbed once glossy flanks. Both Minerva and Top had developed bad limps, finally forcing Harry to relent and slow the grueling pace he'd set.
Swearing softly, the raven-haired wizard slapped his thigh with the gloves dangling between his fingers and rubbed his forehead in annoyance. "That's it," he bit out. Growling angrily, he spun around and placed his hands on his hips as he looked over the line of tired horses and their riders. "Dismount, everyone, we're camping here."
"I thought you said we were riding all night." Hermione stated, throwing her leg over her gelding's rump and sliding gracefully to the ground. Walking stiffly forward, she tugged the reins over the horse's lowered head while Ron slipped from the hard saddle.
"Plans changed." Shaking his head over their badluck, he stalked to the front of the procession and raised his arms to help Draco from the tall hippogriff's back. "I won't push two injured horses, especially when they've worked as hard as they have today." Catching the blond by the waist, he eased him off BlackHeart and set him gently on the ground, his hands lingering longer then necessary.
"Thank Merlin." Ginny groaned, giving her mare a relieved pat on the shoulder. She smiled as the horse snorted, nostrils flaring as it shifted stiffly on its three good legs. Next to her, Pansy grimaced and wiped her hands on front of her robe, attempting to clean them of sweaty horse hair.
"I'll wrap Top's leg," Neville called from where he crouched beside the thestral, one of his hands smoothing up and down the animal's injured foreleg. The stout wizard shook his head in disgust as he stood, slowly leading his hobbling mount off the trail. "Give me a shout if you need any help with Minerva, Ginny."
"Hey, Harry! When you said we were camping here, did you mean here?" George hollered, gesturing at the ground he stood on. His waving hands drew a squeal from the winged horse standing behind him, its long wings unfurling as it gave a half-hearted rear.
Stepping away from Draco, Harry surveyed the stretch of trail they occupied, eyes searching out any defensive qualities the sparsely wooded area offered. "I doubt we'll be in anyone's way." He muttered, patting BlackHeart heavily on the neck. With several efficient hand movements, he loosened the girth and freed the hippogriff of its bridal. "Where you're standing is where you're sleeping."
"I refuse to sleep in the snow again." Pansy shrilled, stomping one foot for emphasis. Her actions were wasted on the rest of the group, all of them going about the process of unsaddling their exhausted mounts.
"We could tie you into a tree," Harry suggested, a sinister edge to the words. Ignoring the warning look Hermione shot him, he smirked evilly and looked the witch up and down. "And forget where we put you."
Rolling his eyes, Draco elbowed the other wizard in the abdomen as he walked around him. "Pansy, we're in the middle of a forest, where would you like to sleep?" He asked, wiggling his cold toes in his boots as he trudged toward the witch. Raising his hands, he eased the hood of the black cloak he wore off, leaving the brilliant scarlet cloth of Harry's summer cloak visible.
Sniffing in a ladylike manner, the witch tossed her blonde curls and glared at her friend. "That's not the point, Draco." She said churlishly, crossing her arms over chest. "I shouldn't be forced to travel like this, like some commoner. I am a Parkinson, daughter of-"
"Not now, Pansy." Blaise grumbled, nudging the witch aside as he staggered under the weight of the saddle Seamus had dropped into his arms. Depositing the heavy saddle on the low hanging branch of a tree, he groaned and pressed his hands to his back as he stretched.
Huffing in disbelief over her boyfriend's words, the witch collapsed to the ground at Draco's feet, nose in the air. "Mind your own business, Zabini."
Shaking his head at the arguing trio, Harry set his own saddle on the branch next to Seamus', stroking the leather thoughtfully as he looked around. He glanced over his shoulder as he felt a presence behind him, meeting the concerned eyes of Ron and Hermione. "We'll tie the horses where they are," he murmured, lifting a hand and gesturing at the trees standing leafless around them. "Fire is practically our only defense out here, so we'll use it to our advantage."
"As long as we don't set the forest on fire, I'm in." Ron said, rubbing his hands together. Nodding at each other, the pair separated, casting anxious looks up at the darkening sky and the sun vanishing upon the hidden horizon. As the others finished up with their horses, they joined the two wizards.
Half a dozen smaller trees were cut down quickly, the bare branches sheered from the thick trunks. The smaller branches were piled in the center of the chosen area, a flame put to the dry wood as nightfall leapt upon them. Nerves were pressed as a paler silver orb took the sun's place in the sky, its glow illuminating the forest. Shadows twisted and turned tauntingly, weaving a dance that had the guards reaching for their weapons.
"Should we light it now, or wait?" Fred asked an hour later, his eyes narrowed as he looked out into the darkness. His sword had seemingly materialized into his hand, the blade shining as he shifted anxiously.
"Wait," Whispered Harry, his own eyes seeking out the forms he expected to see slinking across the snow. Slapping the redhead on the back, he rolled his shoulders and headed toward the fire blazing in the middle of the path.
Weapons were held lightly in everyone's hands, fingers constantly testing the sharpness of a blade or the tension of a string. Wide eyes darted back and forth, each breath seeming loud in the silence that had settled upon the group. The faint rustle of fabric and the crunch of snow under hooves or boots was enough to have everyone jumping and swinging about, leveling weapons on one of their own.
Hours later after several members of the troop had already drifted off, Harry sat glaring into the darkness, his chin propped atop his folded hands. His ears were tuned to the sounds of the night forest, each crack and groan making him flinch. Curled next to him, Draco slept silently beneath the thin red cloak. It was a taunting chuckle that had him straightening, hand tightening on the silver hilt of his sword. Rising swiftly, he searched the shadows, freezing as his eyes landed on the figure standing outside the ring of downed trees.
"George, Fred, light it." He snapped loudly, his tone bringing all the guards to their feet. He lifted his sword into position, a proud smirk sliding over his face as the twins grabbed torches and tossed them onto the trees they had felled earlier. In a loud whoosh, flames crawled across the dry bark, leaving the group standing within a fiery hexagon.
Beyond the leaping blaze, large wolves glided back and forth, flashing fangs in parodies of smiles. More and more slunk out of the darkness, stalking as close as they dared to the crackling fires. Yipping and growling, they patrolled the perimeter of the Lions defenses, testing the height and width of the burning trees. Throwing back their heads, they sang to the moon, their haunting cries echoing through the night.
The picketed horses trembled in fear, raising their heads and flaring their nostrils as they inhaled the smell of hungry wolves. Jerking against their leads, they pranced nervously, taking little comfort from the calming words of their riders. Flapping their long wings, the twins mounts tried to launch themselves into the air, straining against their halters. BlackHeart threw back his narrow head, shrieking angrily as he lifted his own wings in warning.
"Congratulations, Potter, you've trapped yourself wonderfully. Why, even we couldn't have come up with something as ingenious as this." The voice was amazingly cheery, a hint of humour underlying the sarcastic words.
"It's the Hogwarts training, surely you remember it?" Harry sneered, tracking the silver werewolf with his eyes as it paced before him. He shot a look over his shoulder, quickly checking the placement of his friends and the nobles they were guarding. Seeing that the Lions had paired off and were gliding back and forth along the impromptu fence, he nodded his head sharply and turned back to the gray werewolf.
"So you figured it out, I knew you would." The silver werewolf rumbled, rising up onto its hindlegs as it stalked toward Harry. Grinning, the beast dropped into a crouch, muscles tensing as it prepared to leap the flames. As if on some discussed cue, the rest of the werewolves rushed the burning logs, tossing themselves liquidly into the trees hanging over the group.
Harry heard the twang of bow strings as he spun around, diligently scanning the arcing branches above him in search of the werewolves. Shadowed forms fell from the trees as gracefully as they had leapt into them, rushing the guards. Swords swung and arrows hurtled through the air, sliding through fur and sinew.
It was the thud behind him that had him spinning around, sword lashing out in an attempt to injure the silver wolf. Hissing angrily, he lunged to the side as the werewolf lurched past him, long claws closing over the sword that had come amazingly close to decapitating the beast. Growling angrily, the gray werewolf tugged hard on the blade, pulling Harry off balance. With a victorious howl, the creature backhanded the wizard, sending him flying through the air.
XxXxX
Draco gasped as werewolves dropped from the trees above him, flashing fangs and charging the guards. He tucked himself closer to Snape, crying out as the large grey wolf that had been arguing with Harry attacked the raven-haired wizard. In a momentary loss of sanity, the blond attempted to rush to the guard's side, slapping a hand over his mouth as the werewolf grabbed the blade the other wizard swung at it. Howling happily, the wolf used the sword to swing Harry around, sending him hurtling through the air.
Screeching in protest, Draco sprang forward only to be yanked back by Snape. Trying to pull himself free of the older wizard's grasp, he failed to notice Harry had been knocked unconscious upon impact with the icy ground. Slapping at his chaperone's hands, he screamed when he was suddenly torn away from the man's side.
"Put me down!" He yelped, his pale eyes widening as he was dangled above the ground. Kicking his legs and clawing at the taloned hand holding him, he found himself spinning in a circle, his frantic movements stilling only when he met a pair of shining amber eyes.
"Hello, little Red Riding Hood." The silver werewolf cooed, giving the blond a malicious smile. Rumbling happily, the wolf tucked Draco up against its chest, bending its long legs as it launched itself upward. The wolf easily grabbed a branch, flipping itself neatly to sit upon the barren wood. Rising fluidly, he threw back his head and bayed at the moon, his cry ringing through the night. "We've got what we came for!" Message delivered, the werewolf sprang into the shadowed forest, Draco tucked beneath one of its muscular arms like a piece of baggage.
As the taunting call died away, the other werewolves fled the battlefield, leaving the bleeding guards to gather their wounded and build up the dying fires. It would be minutes later before Harry was woken and informed of Draco's disappearance. Seconds after the raven-haired wizard's temper tantrum that he issued orders and took off after his beloved charge.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review.
Peaceful Angel – lol, I had a really weird one last night where I was trying to pick roses but kept cutting myself on the thorns. Way too much sleep.
LandUnderWave – He'd have to be rogue, wouldn't he? I couldn't imagine any really good student deciding to turn on Harry . . . unless he had a great big grudge.
The Wykkyd – A tremendous compliment indeed, I'm very glad you're enjoying it.
animelvr4evr – Yet the show is still running, strange isn't it? A former student of Hogwarts gone wild, thrilling, eh?
PleiadesWolfe – I suppose I should start tying some knots and bringing everything to a finale. If you think about it, this is the major highlight of the story, after this only the end can come.
GryffieGurl – lol, glad you enjoyed the suspense, just know I have as much fun writing it as you do reading it.
Crystal Malfoy – And Snape reappears kind of . . . just know he's going to have a huge fight with Harry in the next chapter.