Don't Miss Your Chance – Chapter 1 (Found)
Graham Montague never expected to find himself back at Hogwarts a few years later after graduating. He had hated the prejudice for being a Slytherin and the constant curses for that and who he was. He hated his parents, that had never changed. It grew to loathing and wishing they were dead the older he got.
It finally came to a head when they tried to kill him. They no longer cared if they didn't have an heir. His refusal to join that evil bastard sealed that.
Everyone knew that the Dark Lord was back, hell he knew it the year after he graduated Hogwarts. Despite how much the Ministry tried to make Potter a liar. Even Marcus had come to him about it. He knew there were more to than the Ministry of Magic's denial about the matter.
Marcus Flint wasn't even friends to Potter, the most was them being rivals. But the man had never hated him. Graham didn't think he hated the Gryffindor, he just irked him most times. Perfect Gryffindor and all.
But Marcus had come to him, to let him know that if he was found dead, he would know why. Like Graham, he had no intention of joining the Dark Lord. He may have been a Slytherin, but he did not support a mad man. He would rather die first. Which was very likely to happen.
Which is why Graham totally understood where Marcus was coming from. Like his friend, his parents were supporters and followers of the Dark Lord. He was not suicidal enough to admit that to his parents that he would rather support Dumbledore than the Dark Lord. But that didn't matter.
Once Graham refused to go with his parents and be marked, he was suddenly the enemy. He would not be a Death Eater.
The Cruciatus Curse caught him off guard as he screamed.
His mother looked at him with pure loathing as she tortured her own son. Then slowly he felt his bones being broken by a Bone Breaker Curse, courtesy of his father.
He panted as the curse slowly ended.
"If you won't join him, then you will die," she hissed.
Graham bit his lip; he could already take the blood. He needed to get away and fast. In an effort to distract his parents, he cast a Blood Boiling Curse in hopes it would hit one of them.
There was no time to smirk as the curse landed on his mother and let out a piercing scream. At least she stopped the Cruciatus Curse. That didn't stop his father from sending back a severe Cutting Curse. He could feel the deep wounds that cut straight through his robes. Blood was quickly soaking through.
His last thought was Hogwarts as he disapparated.
Graham landed on the outskirts of Hogwarts with a thud, just outside the gates around Hogsmeade. He couldn't help the painful groan that escaped his lips.
He knew that he was in bad shape and not just from the tremors that was wrecking his body. Got to love the aftereffects of the Cruciatus Curse. He felt incredibly weak as he struggled for breath. He knew he was in bad shape and not because he had several bones broken in his body.
Graham cursed under his breath for never learning on how to heal when you broke your bones. He just hoped that they would heal the right way. He couldn't even chance to try to heal them in case of the chance that he would mend them wrong. Then they would have to be broken again. He shuddered, which only jarred the pain he was in.
His eyes glanced down; he was covered in blood. He couldn't even muster the energy to move. He could feel himself already bleeding out. Those curses weren't easily healed either. A simple cutting curse was one thing. These were laced with dark magic.
His parents could probably track where he went. He needed to get to Hogwarts, he had more of a chance of survival there.
Graham's eyes fluttered closed for a moment, he wasn't sure if he could make it.
There was one option.
Graham could transform into his Animagus form, perhaps the pain wouldn't be as bad. He probably could heal faster that way too.
He tried not to sigh, knowing it would jar the pain and make things worse. He didn't really like his Animagus form. Mostly due to the fact it was a cat. Not something that he felt useful as a Slytherin. He could have accepted if he could easily blend in, but it was the fact that he was a colored cat. It was like shouting to everyone where he was. And he hated that.
Deciding that this was his best option, he slowly morphed into his Animagus form. He could feel it as his bones tried to shrink as he yowled in pain. The bones were still broken. Was he still covered in blood?
The Slytherin tried not to think of that. He noticed that walking was easier, at least easier than when he was in human form. His tiny paws kept moving forward until he couldn't go on anymore.
By then he was on Hogwarts grounds, trying to make his way past the grounds. But not far enough it seemed. It put him near the lake until his tiny body crashed to the ground. It was confirmed that none of his attempts would succeed. He was going to die here. At least it was somewhere safe and not in his own blood back at his home.
Not that it was ever home to him. Everything about his life was surrounded in darkness and curses. Very fitting as a Slytherin. Hogwarts had been his only escape in life. And that was where he was going to die.
Graham was very confused when he woke up, one it was due to loud voice which made him start to panic. Terrified of the fact that his parents had found him to finish the job.
Which is when Graham realized he was surrounded by Gryffindors. The last people he wanted to be found by, besides his parents, of course.
He felt his claws unsheathe as they tried to get close to him. He didn't care, he would defend himself even if it killed him.
"I wouldn't get too close," one of the Gryffindors tried to warn.
"It's a cat, what's the worse that could happen," another one replied.
Graham hissed as he claws drew blood. He felt satisfied when it drew a scream of pain. Serves them right.
The witch made a humph noise, "told you."
"Will you two stop!" the third Gryffindor commented. "If you haven't noticed, they're hurt, so let's stop bickering. And why the hell are you still following me!?"
The last part was aimed at Ron, someone that Harry didn't like very much.
The two suddenly went quiet, though it was more sputtering on Ron's part.
The third Gryffindor slowly approached Graham, who kept hissing.
"I just want to help, you're hurt," he said softly.
Graham didn't trust the words, especially from who was saying them. Since when did Potter know anything.
"Uhhh… Harry, I don't think it can understand you," Hermione mumbled.
Harry shrugged, "you never know. Maybe they are a familiar and can understand me. Can't hurt to try."
The other male Gryffindor shook his head, "you're on your own, mate. That cat is mad."
"I am not your mate. And that is because you tried to touch it," Harry retorted. "That was your own fault."
Harry then turned back to the cat; you could see its fur matted with blood. It was a pretty cat with patches of black, orange, and white. "If you want me to help, you will have to let me get near."
The ruffled fur slowly settled down. Would it really be so bad? But it was hard, he never trusted Gryffindors. So, to trust one to help him… It would be near impossible, but he didn't trust the other two.
Harry slowly knelt down as he held his wand in a surrender gesture. He muttered a few words under his breath as the blood slowly vanished from the cat's fur.
The cat still looked in bad shape and he noticed that two of its legs were twisted and bent in the wrong way.
Harry grimaced; the cat would not like him for this. Without warning, he cast a silent stunner.
Graham had noticed the spell aimed at him but was too full of pain to dodge it.
The Gryffindor felt guilty that he had to do it, but he didn't want the creature to feel what he was about to do.
The way the leg was, he knew what it felt like to have bones healed the wrong way. It had hurt enough when they got broken the first time. This way, the creature wouldn't have to worry about additional pain. He had some books back in his dorm about the anatomy and he didn't want to screw up. He was near the end of his apprenticeship under Madam Pomfrey.
He wasn't sure on where this cat came from, obviously whoever he belonged to, had a lot to answer for.
Harry wasn't keeping an eye on if Ron was still there but when he looked up, he was gone. No doubt he got bored of watching, spying really. He had never cared much for the redhead, who always wanted to know his business. He even got on Hermione's nerves sometimes.
"You're not going to take him to the dorm, are you?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged, "it obviously needs help and it'll die without any aid."
Hermione gasped, "you don't mean that…"
Harry frowned, "afraid so. The small scan I did show some internal bleeding. It's got some broken bones which will have to be rebroken. I know felines are pretty fast healers, something that will not be pleasant."
"That is why you sent the Stunner."
"If you think that tiny scratch that Weasley got hurt, I don't want to be in its path when it comes to healing."
"So, why are you not healing the poor thing now?" Hermione asked.
"I am pretty confident that I can do it. But I got some books that will help refresh my mind on a feline's anatomy."
"You'll make a great Healer," Hermione grinned at him as he slowly picked up the cat.
Even stunned the cat snuggled into his arms. The fur was incredibly soft and looked adorable. Something that would be different once the creature woke back up. He doubted the cat would be happy with him later. He could already feel his arms getting wet with blood.
"She is adorable," Hermione muttered, her fingers tracing its fur.
"So sure that it's a girl," Harry grinned at her.
Hermione frowned before lifting the tiny tail," it's a boy," she muttered.
Harry snorted, "let's hope Hedwig don't get mad at me."
Hermione laughed, "how about we get him back to the dorm and see how he adjusts. If he's anything like Crookshanks, you'll be in for a treat."
"That bad?" Harry gulped.
Hermione smirked, "just a bit demanding, guess you'll find out."
Harry groaned, "that does not make me feel any better about this."
"You wanted to help an injured cat, one that doesn't seem to want to be helped," she shrugged.
Harry proceeded to ignore her.
When Graham finally woke up, if that is what you would call it. He didn't feel all there. And for a Slytherin, that was very alarming to experience. He knew how good his eyes were. Even as a wizard, even more so as a feline.
Then there was the dull throb. Something very different than the deliberating pain he was in. He wasn't stupid enough to believe the pain disappeared. But who?
Bleary eyes blinked open. It was slightly foggy and then all he saw was red.
Even in his Animagus form, he shuddered. How could anyone stand that color?
Everything slowly focused and Graham wished it hadn't.
His eyes glimpsed a Gryffindor, hence all the red. Even his robes were red, besides the typical black fabric.
Potter.
How was he not dead yet?
His bleary eyes looked at Potter as he turned around. That was when he noticed how green his eyes were.
"You're awake!" Harry shouted, surprised.
If only Graham was able to muster a sarcastic remark.
The Gryffindor's eyes were narrowed as he felt them over his body. Was he looking for something?
Suddenly a wand appeared in the teen's hand.
Graham felt his body curl in on himself.
Harry suddenly looked guilty.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I had to stun you. I had to rebreak your leg so it would heal right. Your cuts are all healed up, though they kept reopening. Shouldn't have to worry about that now."
If Graham could widen his eyes he would. Since when had Harry Potter been a Healer?! Was that why the pain hasn't been as bad? Though he knew about the last one, it was a dark curse, course it would keep reopening.
Soft words were mumbled, unable to make them out but it made Potter grin.
"Seems the bones are finally healing the right way. Trust me, bones healing the wrong way would have hurt more than when the bones broke." He didn't mention to the feline he knew that the cuts were from dark magic. But that didn't mean he didn't know how to counter it. The cuts were obviously healing now.
When Graham didn't hiss back at Potter, he took that as a good sign. That didn't mean that he didn't mean he wasn't curious by Potter's words. Why wouldn't he be, this was new information about the Gryffindor he didn't know about.
Every Slytherin talked about how pampered and spoiled Potter and his life was. He was starting to get a false impression of what was told. This was coming from Potter himself, there wasn't another student in that dorm to overhear.
So, maybe… it wouldn't be bad to deal with Potter, it was better than the other Gryffindors. Then he saw something in the corner of the dorm, closest to Potter's bed.
It was a bowl, but he didn't know what it was. His eyes looked down at his paws before letting his tongue bathe his fur.
He shook his head, what made him do that?
Damn those cat instincts.
Graham's cat eyes looked towards Potter; his eyes were focused on him for some reason. Was he expecting him to do something? He didn't feel pain when his tongue ran over his paws.
Slowly he put pressure on his front paws, nothing. What was that spell Potter casted?
Then was the test, Graham slowly pushed his body up and he felt… nothing. Not even a dull throb. Didn't that throb just a while ago?
But that was when his curiosity got the better of him. His paws padded over to the bowl, and it was filled with kibble. He turned his nose at it and let his tongue lap at the cool water before turning away to the other side of the room. If he was forced to be in this room, may as well sleep. And try to ignore that he happened to be in the Gryffindor Tower.
Harry gave an exasperated sigh; he gave a careful glance at the cat before racing out of the dorm. He needed a cat expert.
"Harry," Hermione said surprised, as she lowered the book she was reading.
"Weren't you supposed to be healing that cat?"
Harry gave a hesitant nod, "he wouldn't eat the food I gave."
Hermione snorted, "he's a wild cat, he won't eat kibble like Crookshanks. You want to find meat, preferably fresh. Though Crookshanks prefers that anyways."
Harry's eyes widened, "why didn't I think of that."
Hermione made a small laugh at the remark as Harry raced back to his dorm. At least she didn't have worry about being shredded by a strange cat. Her fingers traced down Crookshanks' fur as he purred.
Harry had done what Hermione had suggested and had called Dobby. He noticed that the cat was watching Dobby until he vanished again. Those thoughts were soon forgotten as he observed the creature eating the pieces of chicken that was given to him.
Harry didn't know why he felt relieved that the cat ate. It wasn't like the creature belonged to him, but he couldn't help but care. So, he went about his day with attending classes, though kept an eye on the cat as it was behaving rather strangely even for a magical animal. He made sure to feed it but when it turned it nose up at the cat food once again, Harry got some left-over chicken again and tried that which was met with much greater success. Which he had figured since the cat had eaten it before. So, perhaps Hermione did have a point.
Although, it was still a skittish creature, Harry had already grown fond of it. By the time the night rolled round, the cat seemed exhausted once again, so Harry made sure it was warm enough and went to bed himself. He didn't mind having a little guest hanging around, it made him feel a little less alone.
Sure, he had Hermione as his best friend, but the feeling still remained. Everyone else seemed to just want to know him because of his fame. He wanted nothing to do with that. Hermione's friendship with him seemed real enough. It had been reason enough why he wanted to go into Healing.
Hermione had smacked him when he mentioned on being an Auror. That had been what was expected of him. He still remembered the lecture of not doing something that was expected of him.
"You hate anything to do with fighting," she had pointed out to him.
It had left Harry in a stump; he didn't know what he wanted to do. Being an Auror had been expected of him, even though he hadn't been very thrilled about the notion. He wasn't too excited about the prospect of going professional in Quidditch either. It was fun to do in school, but that was as far as it went.
He knew a few people that did though, his old Captain, Oliver Wood, was one of them.
It wasn't until he witnessed a fatal injury while being healed while he was in the Hospital Wing. He had broken his arm when a Bludger had hit his arm. It made him curious. So, naturally he had asked questions, he had been thirteen. Which had been plenty of time to plan for a new career. One that he may actually enjoy. He wouldn't have to hurt anyone or do any fighting, this way he could heal and help others instead.
And looks like that decision was aiding him for what he was dealing with right now.
Harry still did routine checks to see how the cat was doing. Mostly it was to keep an eye on how his legs were doing. So, far it was healing well, but one couldn't be too sure. He didn't want to risk anything make it worse. Though he noticed that the first few days that the cat would twitch and shudder. It definitely wasn't a natural behavior, the cat had fur to keep it warm. It wasn't like the dorm was cold, the House Elves made sure to keep the fire going and kept the dorms warm. And didn't cats like warmth?