Disclaimer: don't own.
Right so-this one's pretty long by my standards-and I've tried to keep it more or less together-so please forgive some slips in spelling and the odd typo, and if things don't quite make sense just let it slide this once-I'm up to my neck in assignments and I've only been back at uni a few days. As promised there is a lot of action.
Chapter 4
The plan was simple. Draco would take Harry to one of the port keys to the Animagis base, and Ron would take Hermione and Clarice, it was perfectly normal procedure when a team had more than one target. But while Ron was quite happy to be escorting his teenage crush and her child to their portkey, Draco was less than amused with his situation.
Babysitting Potter.
How degrading.
They had kept conversation to a bare minimum so far, of which Draco was immensely glad-Potter had a way of getting under his skin and breaking his cool façade-That was why he had normally teased Ron in school, he always had the upper hand over him when he riled him up, and he still did, on the few occasions he took to tease the other man.
Harry had been walking a few feet behind Malfoy. He still didn't quite understand the whole Animagis deal, and he could definitely not understand how Ron could possibly have become friends with him, let alone… Well, Harry point blankly refused to even think about that. He watched, in somewhat perplexed fascination as Malfoy's hair, braided only halfway down with the rest hanging loose, swayed as he walked. His hair seemed to have an entirely different rhythm to the rest of him.
Finally, after two hours of just following Malfoy through the streets, not knowing where he was going, he decided to broach some conversation. "Malfoy…"
"Potter, I would prefer to get through this assignment with as little conversation with you as is conveniently possible-so unless you have something that is actually important to say-as in, 'there happens to be a demon after us', I don't want to know." Draco said, never stopping
Harry sighed, but kept his conversation to himself. And they continued on in silence for a time. He lost himself in his thoughts, wondering where Hermione, Clarice where, glad they were with Ron and not Malfoy-while Ron might trust him, he had no such intentions. He could hold his own against Malfoy if needs be, after all, he had always managed it back at school.
So preoccupied, Harry didn't realise Malfoy had stopped until he banged into him from behind.
"Honestly Potter-how on earth did you manage to survive Voldermort if you can't even walk correctly." Draco sneered.
Harry's eyes narrowed. "Well what the hell did you mean by stopping like that?" he demanded.
Draco's sharp grey eyes flicked round them, he could sense the Chirloc nearby-but they were in human form, or animal, and there were a lot of them or he wouldn't have the feeling quite so strongly. He sensed the attack as it came.
"Down!"
He shoved Potter backwards to the pavement, spinning to meet the attack, he caught the possessed man by the upper arms and fell backwards with him, kicking the man over him and sending him tumbling further down the pavement away from Potter. He summoned up his magic-he didn't have enough to seal all the demons-and besides, he would hardly have time with the number there were. As he twisted up into a crouching position his magic began to take form.
Harry watched in astonishment as Malfoy vanished and a giant white and black striped Tiger leapt forward and into the crowd of people around them, swiping left and right with it's great paws, claws passing straight through the people, and they fell to the ground. Harry was sure they were dead. The Tiger turned from them suddenly, a great growl rumbling in his throat. Harry was transfixed as it began to stalk towards him.
Draco's rumbling growl was directed at the group of possessed muggles crowding behind Potter. And while Draco knew that his Animagis ground animal form was very impressive, he did hope Potter would pull himself together any time in the near future-unless the stupid idiot moved right now he was going to end up dead, and Draco wouldn't be able to stop it. He pulled back slightly, drawing himself up for a leap over Potter and into the Chirloc behind. All he could hope was that Potter would get the message, get up and run.
Harry's mouth was dry, he had faced down Voldermort, but somehow his mind was completely blank when faced with a giant magical tiger who was intent on killing you. He swallowed as he saw the tiger pull back, ready to spring-ready to leap on him and tear him to shreds-kill him as he had killed those innocent people. Something akin to survival instincts made him scramble desperately out of the way as the tiger pounced, rolling to the side and forcing himself back to his feet he scrambled back and away, turning to see the Tiger fall into a crowd of people who had been standing watching, giant claws swiping left and right. Desperately he tried to think of a spell that would put a stop to this madness.
He had always know Malfoy was evil. That he delighted in killing innocents.
Not for a moment did it cross Harry's mind that Draco Malfoy was putting his life on the line to protect him.
Draco could feel his magic start to drain. A wizards magic could never completely diminish, but if that magic is concentrated too long, or used without proper rest, it becomes exhausted more easily. It was this that Draco was beginning to feel. His form wavered slightly, as he twisted, claws driving through yet another muggle, his magic catching the energy of the Chirloc within and dragging it out-a little like an exorcism, only quicker. The muggles fell to the ground, unharmed, but out cold. The only thing he could be thankful for was that the Chirloc had to form their energy into a form that could attack him after they were forced out of their hosts, and because they were unbound chaos that took some time.
He twisted again, only to see Potter standing, like the idiot he was, staring at what was happening instead of running. It was at this moment that his magic had dissipated to the point the could not maintain his ground animal form. He took one last swipe around him, before he dropped it, turned, and with very little dignity, grabbed Potter's arm and hightailed it up the street as fast as he could.
Harry had been too stunned by the sudden tug on his arm to protest or pull back for a full three and a half minutes, in which time they had turned one corner, crossed a street and were just about to turn another corner, when Harry finally jerked to stop, forcing Malfoy to stop with him.
Draco wasn't expecting Potter to suddenly stop, and was thrown of balance when he did. He took half a second to regain his balance, glance around, probing for Chirloc, and finding none for the moment, before he turned, eye's gleaming with an icy light that could cut through anything. "Just what do you think you are doing Potter?" he asked scathingly. "Why do you seem to have an aversion to doing what you're supposed to!"
"Oh." Harry said angrily, his face darkening. "And what am I supposed to do-help you escape after you murdered all those people?" he demanded.
Draco was literally astonished for a full minute, staring at Potter like he had just spilled the secret of life, before he lost his control and laughed.
Harry frowned at Malfoy, finally calling to mind some spells. The other man was obviously insane. He took a step back-seeing Malfoy laugh somewhat hysterically was a rather frightening sight all told.
Harry never saw it coming until he was pulled bodily round the corner and into a deserted road and slammed against the wall, with Malfoy's face very close to his own-all laughter gone.
"I am going to explain this to you once Potter-and only once. I don't like you, I never have and I never will. However, I take my job very seriously-and unfortunately that job dictates I have to get you back to headquarters in one piece, otherwise I would have quite happily have left you back there-I might have even cheered the Chirloc on while they ripped you limb from limb. But I didn't. I put my life on the line to save your sorry ungrateful ass Potter. Now I don't really care what you think of me-but for the duration of this mission you are going to start using what little brains you possess and think before you start jumping to conclusions. Because you almost got me killed back there Potter. And I am not in the mood to die for you or anybody else. Have you got that?"
Draco's voice was slick and silvery, and cut like a knife. He released his hold-hiding how worn out he was already. Once he got back to headquarters he would have to go to the medic-his reserves were far to low for a simple poisoning.
Harry rubbed his neck where Draco's arm had pinned him, and looked at Malfoy. "Chirloc? Those people back there were demons?" he asked.
Draco shook his head. "No, they were possessed."
"Did you kill them?" Harry asked, his tone sharp, he would go no farther if he had.
"No Potter, I did not." Draco snapped. "Now cut the talk I don't want to hear it." He looked up the street. If memory served, which it normally did, this road should take them back out onto the main road, a detour, but a necessary one. Another hour or so and he could hopefully fob Potter off to someone else and not have to think about him again. He started walking, knowing Potter would follow him.
He was halfway down the street before the feeling struck him.
"Now is the time to start using those brains I mentioned." he told Potter sharply before the world seemed to erupt around him. And he was thrown backwards, hitting the pavement hard.
Harry took one look at that same combination of shadows and light that made up the Chirloc, saw Malfoy thrown back. Yes, he had faced the Dark lord-but Voldermort had at least been human once. He had no idea of how to deal with a Demon. So he did the only thing he could. He ran.
X
Ron, contrary to Draco, was enjoying leading Hermione and Clarice through the streets towards the Portkey. Of course his vigil was constant, he was always probing the airs energy for anything resembling the Chirloc. But so far there was nothing. The conversation was nice, pleasant. Hermione wanted to know absolutely everything about the Animagis, his life in it, Draco. Everything. And Ron indulged her questioned, after warning her against even thinking about mentioning any of it back to Draco. Ever.
"-Right-so Draco's doing his usual-bitching and complaining, because one of the guys told him he was a 'sidekick'-"
"Why a sidekick?" Hermione asked with a smile, keeping an eye on Clarice, who was walking a few steps ahead.
Ron laughed. "Because of the two of us, he's normally the one who gets captured, beat up, poisoned and nearly killed. I'd need an extra twenty hands to count them all up." he smiled. "It drives him absolutely mad when people say it-because he is actually the best Animagis among us." He turned his head slightly-feeling something stir.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, seeing the laughter fade from his face.
"Hermione, down this road there's a branch off to the left, go down it, the second road on your right after that will take you to a square-once you're there go into the little pub on the corner and wait there for me. Ok?"
"Is it them Ron?" She asked, a tinge of fear, not for herself, but for her daughter.
Ron nodded. "I don't know how many or how close, but we'll probably get separated. Just go to the pub. The Portkey's there. I'll know it when I get there, so just wait. I'll just have to distract them for a little while."
Hermione nodded. "Ok Ron. But if we do you have to promise to be careful. Don't die on us just when we finally find out your alive."
Ron smiled at her fondly. "I won't 'Mione-besides, a few Chirloc don't bother me."
She smiled at him and took Clarice's hand. They hadn't stopped walking, so the turning loomed closer. she cast a sideways glance at Ron, a little feeling of dread began to well up in her gut.
They took the turning. The street was less busy than the last. Ron kept all his attention on locating the Chirloc. They were close. He wasn't sure how close, but the were nearby. He felt the energy stir up behind him and summoned his magic.
"'Mione Now!" he yelled, taking off from the ground, changing into his air animal, avoiding the poisoned claw that was sweeping towards him. He saw Hermione scoop Clarice up and start to run. Now to business. He turned his attention to the large Chirloc he was hovering just of reach of. One nick from that claw and he could kiss goodbye to at the very least 6 months of life-at most, his life completely.
Without Draco to back him up he was going to have to be more careful than he normally would be when dealing with the Chirloc. With a piercing screech he dived, dodging the claws that tried to catch him, ripping through the chaos energy surrounding the demon, distracting it long enough for him to land a safe distance from it. He uncurled from where he landed, his hands moving rapidly to create the fiery symbol that would seal the demon away.
When he had completed it, he stepped back, just as the Chirloc was moving forward. He summoned his magic together and sent the symbol hurtling towards the Chirloc. It caught it dead centre. He put all his concentration and reserves into the sealing. The demon was too large and too powerful for him to do anything less. All he could hope was that there wasn't another somewhere close by.
So absorbed was he and determined, that he failed to notice the claws, flailing as the demon fought to escape being sealed, come swinging towards him. Until he felt the skin on his arms and chest rip open. Even as his eyes widened in pain, he desperately called upon what was left of his magic and sent it hurtling to the symbol, giving it the boost it needed to seal the demon completely.
His hand went to his chest, feeling the poison already working it's way into his system. Drawing suddenly ragged breaths he pulled what was left of his magic reserves to change, a much as possible, into his red kite shape, forcing himself to take off, flapping his wings awkwardly as he made his way painfully to the pub.
X
Draco rolled out of the way as what could be termed a fist was slammed into the ground where he had been. Quickly getting back to his feet Draco spared a glance to see where Potter had gotten off to, in time to see him dive round a corner at the end of the street. Glad he now didn't have to think about getting Potter out of harms way, Draco turned his full attention to the Chirloc. Hoping the others he had exorcised were not going to show up as well.
"This." he said in an angry mutter, shoving the hair that had come loose and was sticking to his face with sweat behind his ear. "Is entirely Potter's fault."
He registered the 'fist' coming for him again, and forcing his exhausted body and magic to combine he lifted off the ground, silver wings shining at his back. He avoided the clutching appendage three times before his wings began to fail him and he wasn't quick enough. He choked as the Chirloc's chaotic energy closed around him, sucking the breath from his body, crushing him in it's tight grip. He tried to struggle, but stopped when he started to feel his bones squeaking together.
The next thing he knew he was slammed bodily to the ground, hearing bones crack. He got his arms under him and pushed himself up-hissing in pain as his right arm trembled under the strain. He forced himself to his knee's. his eyes narrowed and very, very angry. With a speed that he should not have had, his body as beat up as it was, he had twisted to his feet, facing the demon. His left hand already tracing his symbol into the air.
Sensing what was going to happen the Chirloc charged forwards, reaching to pound him into nothing. There was no fear in Draco's eyes as he released the symbol-putting everything he had into sealing the demon away-refusing to admit defeat, though he was the weaker. His energy waning with every passing second. The determination kept him standing, kept him from backing down, kept his magic flowing into the symbol despite all the warnings his body was sending.
He dropped to his knee's, eyes clenched shut, teeth gritted. Until finally his magic failed him entirely. Gasping he opened his eyes, expecting to feel the Chirloc's final blow.
But it never came.
Where the Chirloc had once been there was nothing. Closing his eyes in relief, catching himself on his left hand as he began to fall forward he allowed himself a weary smile and a moments rest before he forced himself slowly and labourisly to his feet, stumbling over to the wall, his hand on it for support.
Now to find Potter.
X
Ron practically collapsed as he reached the front of the pub. Ignoring the stares of the muggles around him. He didn't care. In the fight against the Chirloc whether the public saw or not was not important, just so long as they were destroyed. But right now he was just in too much pain to care. He pushed open the door of the pub. A silence fell immediately. Clutching his chest he looked around with blurry eyes, looking for both the portkey and Hermione and the kid.
"Ron!" Hermione cried, rushing forward, Clarice in tow.
Ron tried to smile for her. "Hey 'Mione…" he gasped out, his eyes still searching for the portkey. His vision faded in and out, he barely heard Hermione's questions, though if he had the energy he could have guessed them-but he didn't. If he didn't get to the medic and get some very strong potion right now he was going to die. Not something he really wanted to do.
Draco would kill him if he died.
"'Mione… 'Mione, that table, the one by the window. The ashtray. Get it now…" he told her through gritted teeth.
Hermione went without question, of which he was glad and came back with the ashtray. Ron reached out to touch it. Hermione made Clarice do the same. With his other hand Ron pulled out his pendant symbol and he concentrated on home-in the medic rooms.
A swirl of magic later and they were there, startling the medic who had just been settling down to read through his potions book. Ron saw him start towards the potion cabinet immediately, saw Hermione's worried face, and then his vision when completely black.
I'm nearly finished chapter 5-so that should be up soon. I hope you liked and please leave lots of nice reviews-you can leave two if you really want to-make me feel loved here plp!
Thank you!