CHAPTER 6: Quidditch, Werewolves and Betrothed…Dear God
Harry had never thought he would find someone he loathed nearly as much as his uncle's whale of a son, Dudley, who had made his lasting mark on Harry. But this was all before Harry had met the jealous rage that was Blaise Zabini. The two were always getting in spats all over the school. Though they never actually fought, their verbal banters were as interesting to watch as actual fighting. The few students who could sense auras and the teachers that came around to brake up the fights were impressed by the mounting power that surrounded the two as Harry insulted Zabini while standing in front of Draco as if protecting him from the other's eyes.
They didn't have any classes with the Slytherins other than potions so it was just his luck that they would be put together for flying lessons.
"Just great. Now I have to watch your sorry arse instead of enjoying watching "experienced" flyers in Slytherin make fools of themselves."
"Yeah, but you love my arse." Draco teased shaking said body part at him. Harry laughed and the two continued down to the field were two lines of brooms were lined up facing each other.
Without being told to the Slytherins took one side and the Gryffindors took the other. Dante hadn't been feeling well that morning so he was spending the lovely Friday cooped up in the white confines of the Hospital wing.
Ron took up a broom on one side of Draco as Harry took up the other with Hermione on his other side.
Hermione seemed to be the only muggleborn Harry could tolerate. He guessed it was because she knew so much magic already and gave the trio a run for the creative prize and most number of points earned. He wouldn't call her a friend just yet because she was still as bit to bookish for his liking but he still enjoyed competing with her in classes, driving them both to bigger and better magic.
Madam Hooch paraded up and down the lines of brooms giving out instructions. When they called for their brooms, Draco and Harry caught theirs smoothly. Ron's hit him in the nose, to which there was much laughter. She walked around adjusting grips and Harry was too pleased to see Blaise had been doing it wrong all the years he clamed to be flying under the same man who'd trained the Holy Head Harpies.
They were at the point of taking off when the real trouble started. Neville, who had been a bundle of nerves since the sign had appeared in the Common Room, jumped into the air before Madam Hooch's whistle could touch her lips. People were shouting at him from all different directions, causing Neville to swerve and sway.
Without much thought Harry jumped onto his and shot into the air. There was something about the way the broom moved that didn't seem natural. He chased after Neville, diving around trees and swerving away from violent jerks the boy's broom was now making. After a minute or so he had grabbed Neville by the collar of his robes and hauled him of his broom with strength none thought the scrawny teen would have.
The broom continued to dance madly in the air as Harry floated to the ground. Suddenly his own broom gave a made shake one that turned him upside down as he clung to the broom and Neville to fall off, only feet away from the ground. There was a thump and Harry was sure the boy's wrist was broken. He quickly rolled over and fixed his bangs back in place while everyone's attention was on the boy.
Madam Hooch rushed over, and after assessing that Harry was in no harm other than a bruised back, hurried Neville off to the Hospital Wing. Harry was brushing himself off when he heard as taunting voice behind him call out, "Lookie here, Hero." Harry bristled, his ruffled hair sitting up on his head like a cat's might. Vexation would have been proud if he wasn't hiding in the Common Room being lazy.
Harry tensed visibly and sent out an aura pulse that even the muggleborns could feel. He turned slowly, like something out of a horror film. His eye flashed pulsing with the lightning and thunder that crashed behind him, lighting them up with a ferocity that had Zabini momentarily regret his words. He overcame the shock quickly though, composing his face into the trademark smirk, his hand holding the little glass ball he'd picked out of the grass, up so that Harry could inspect the prize without risk of him getting his hands on it.
"While you dropped that fat fool on his fat face, he must have dropped it. A shame, if he'd given this a squeeze he might have remembered to ask Hero here to hold on tighter." Harry was advancing quickly on the Slytharin. To avid contact with the fired up teen, Zabini jumped on his broom and took off into the air. He sailed backwards into the sky. Harry didn't hesitate to follow.
The two preformed an intricate dance of dives and spins as Harry chased after the aristocrat. Zabini began to loose his confidence as Harry continued to pull speed from the ancient broom. Zabini looked back as he raced away. The pest was gaining on him fast. He pitched the small sphere into the air and dove for the ground. With a steep dive and a roll, Harry caught the transparent ball and landed smoothly without a stumble in the entire maneuver.
"Mr. Potter! Never in all my years at Hogwarts!" Harry smiled softly at Draco and passed the little ball to him. He followed McGonagell up to the arch and into the castle. Draco assured his classmates, having heard the well-covered trace of excitement in their stern teacher's voice. He left Ron, Dean and Shamus and headed for the Hospital wing, the remebral clutched in his hand.
He nodded to the medi-witch as he walked the prize to Neville who was lounged out on the bed, his arm on the mend. Draco smiled as delight light the boys face and explained how Harry had saved it for him. Neville stared at the small ball in his hands, taking in all Draco had told him. The blond clapped him on the back and said "Harry's watching out for all of us." Neville nodded still stunned. Draco had moved on before he could think of anything to say.
Draco sat behind a closed off section of the Hospital wing with a pale and sickly looking Dante. When the boy woke enough to notice Draoc's presence, the first question out of his mouth was "Where's Harry?"
Draco laughed slightly and ruffled the wolf's hair. "Hello to you too." Dante smiled back, bearing his elongating fangs. Draco proceeded to explain the happenings of that day's classes much to Dante's amusement and at the end all he could say was "That boy better have not gotten himself a detention for tonight or I'll eat him."
Draco laughed at the serious look on the young wolf's face. "You know, you're the only one who could say that and mean it." Dante left the ghost of a smile settle on his face before looking out the window at the forest. "This will be my first change without dad." He whispered. Draco's smile dropped from his face faster than water off a rock.
"I had forgotten." He muttered apologetically.
"I'm sure Harry did as well. I'm going to need Mr. Flash-Happy to rain me in. I'll keep looking for my alpha. I might get out of control. You'll tell him?"
Draco nodded, saying, "He probably already knows."
Draco stayed with his cousin until he drifted into an uneasy sleep. Draco ruffled the hair again before leaving quietly out the front door, unnoticed by the small batch of third years come to get boils removed after a potions accident.
Draco found Harry wandering around dazedly, with a string of worried admirers following him around asking questions incessantly, despite their unanswered nature. Dinner was starting soon so the majority had given him up as a hopeless cause but a few lingered on his chain. Draco dispatched of them quickly. They picked Ron up outside the Hall doors and the three went in for dinner where Draco extracted the information.
"Seeker?!" Ron cried as soon as they understood Harry's fragmented speech.
The hall turned in their direction as whispers broke out amongst the crowd. "But first years never make the house team." He stated agog, the stake and kidney pie on his fork, forgotten midway to his mouth. "You must be the youngest player in…"Draco trailed off thinking.
"In a century." Harry filled in for him.
"Merlin. This is wicked!" Ron gasped.
"No, I'm Harry. Jeez Ron, Quidditch really does addle your brain."
Ron gave Harry a whack upside the head in a friendly fashion.
They were contemplating how Dante would react to the news when a shadow blocked Harry's view of his plate. Turning around he saw Zabini towering over him.
"A duel, tonight Potter. Trophy room, unless you're chicken." Harry raised an eyebrow at the boy but nodded in agreement. Zabini left, feeling like he'd finally won.
"Moron." Harry whispered. "Like I'd fall for that. He'll just alert Filch and catch us like the dirty rat he is."
Ron nodded before returning to his cold pie. "How's Dante by the way?" He asked his mouth full at the time. Draco, used to such sights from Dante returned, "Better, he should be out by Wednesday. He also said he was going to eat you if you got a detention." He informed Harry who paled. "He means it too." Harry gulped. Ron and Draco laughed, Harry joining in when his pout got him nowhere.
That night, Harry and Draco snuck out of their Common Room and to the Hospital wing. Harry pulled himself into the shadows gracefully, Draco following in his footsteps just avoiding the squeaky tiles. The two slipped out onto the grounds and spotting Madam Pomfery with Dante in toe.
"I'm sorry I can't give you Woflsbane like I gave your father but you history…"
"I know Madam. I'm a potion baby after all. None of the potions any human can make will work with my genetics." Dante sighed a bit softly.
"You're not the only one you know." She whispered. They disappeared behind some trees, which Harry looked through with his magical eye so as not to loose them.
"They met every once and a while, when it gets too hard. I can introduce you to them. They've made some attempts at recreating potion that work for the chemical structure of your bodies. I'm sure they'd love your help."
Dante didn't answer, too involved with his fighting the Change to focus any more. "Thank you." He growled out at last. "Sure dear." She muttered soothingly as she strapped him down to the bed within the shreaking shack. "I'm sorry to do this dear."
"It'd be different if my father where here, I know. Besides I don't blame you." His eyes had gone icy blue and Madam Pomfery had hardly enough time to escape the passage, let alone reassure him. She sighed and made here way back to the castle.
Harry and Draco made their way back to the shack and hit the knot with a well aimed twig, before slipping in, changing in the tunnel. Harry's arm's elongated and his body coated itself with feathers of the gold, red and orange variety. Fire raced though his eyes and danced in his mind as he stretched the Pheonix wings and trilled happily at the Ice Dragon next to him. They two were using their most powerful forms as they would need all their strength to help their friend retain his mind.
They entered the room to find the werewolf pup thrashing about in his shackles. Flying into view, Firefly, a girly name Evangeline had picked out for his form, distracted the pup while Icicle unlocked the shackles.
The pup jumped up and began clawing the wooden cupboards, howling in pain as he flexed and turned, his skin twisting with the final stages of his Change. Suddenly his icy eyes sprang open and he let out an ear-shattering howl that shook the small cabin violently.
Firefly whooshed down singing a soothing song, causing wolves and dogs and stages made of brilliant fire to run around the floor. The pup watched with longing and soon he let out a cry of longing, one that Remus heard miles off and returned with one of his own as a large black dog calmed him by snuffling into his neck. Beside them, a white fox, a snake and a raven watched sadly as their friends suffered.
Dante got his answering call and was content, knowing his alpha was still around and longing for him. He wouldn't be replaced. They spent the night romping through the woods with only a few near misses when Dante tried to run off to find his father. A few hours before dawn, Firefly led Dante back to his bed where the wolf allowed Icicle to return him to his shackles. The pup watched as his two friends left him as he began his Change back. He thrashed in the chains and ripped his skin bleeding over the old sheets.
Harry and Draco had made their way back to the castle, only to find Mrs. Norris staring at them with her lamp-like eyes. They made a mad dash for it, know Filch was right on her tail. She followed, screeching like a Siren for her master. Harry and Draco slammed through doors and passages finally loosing the beast three staircases up as they forced themselves though a locked door.
Pressing their ears to the door they heard Filch pass by and let out a sigh of relief that they only choked on seconds latter when they heard the low growl, in three different octaves.
Barely daring to turn, the two boys looked over their shoulder to see the monstrous three-headed dog that bared its massive fangs at them. It began to bark, massive booming barks that put Fang to sham. Harry and Draco couldn't suppress the screams as they fled the room, slamming the door on one of its noses.
Painting, the two turned to each other and smile drunkenly.
"Ha…haha…Hahahahahahahha." Harry couldn't help it. Something about being mauled by a three-headed dog was just so amusing. Soon Draco had joined in and the pair where piled in a heap at the bottom of the stairs laughing so hard their ribs hurt.
When they had control again they made their way into the Gryffindor Common room and up to the dorms, still laughing at bit as they climb into bed for three hours of sleep.