Disclaimer: In the 1780's, James Graham promised to cure men of infertility by burying them up to their necks in warm earth. Many men actually tried it.
Hiya, guys! Sorry it's been so long since my last update. I got really upset because-PREPARE TO CALL ME STUPID-I wanted the first huge thing in this fic to be something Halloween-y, and then realized I had set it up for thanksgiving, so NOW, I have to wait an ENTIRE YEAR before they can get to the good shits... unless I do a massive timejump xD In which case, ALL IS WELL :D. I had Harry's costume and everything, but because I'm so chronologically challenged, I hadn't known which holiday came first xD
Again, please enjoy this chapter!
Black fur gleamed in the dulled light of the setting sun, shadows of the trees falling over the three beasts as they ran. One's fur seemed to flow off of it's body like ink underwater, turning into shadow as the line separating itself from the world blurred. Another, smaller, but still fairly large creature ran alongside this shadowy canine, it's own fur scraggly and sharp, gently rubbing against it's companion. The last of the three was the smallest, a soft looking grey female. It's yellow eyes weren't as intelligent as it's blackened counterparts, but the joy of the hunt glowed just as brightly.
The ghostly black wolf slowed into a trot, it's glowing red eyes meeting black, and the three spread themselves about the forest, until they had circled to surround a small clearing.
In the clearing, there stood a dirty brown colored wolf, larger than two of our three. It's face was scared and aged, yellow eyes strong and body powerful. Around it were many others, about twelve individual wolves, all of different age and appearance. A fairly sized white wolf growled as Harry moved. This caught the attention of most of the others, including the brown one they assumed to be the pack leader.
The black phantom stepped into the clearing, standing powerful and tall and looking strangely hypnotizing in the darkened light of sunset.
Teeth, snapping and tearing, buried in dirty fur. Growls resounded throughout the clearing as the two fought, red eyes sharpening as the phantom lunged again, going straight for the throat.
He missed.
Teeth clamped down into his right cheek and shook, tearing the soft flesh and drawing an enraged howl from the beast. The Phantom shook the brown wolf off and tackled it to the ground, muzzle going straight for the underbelly. The smaller wolf whined angrily and tried to shake the demon off, only to be shoved back down and subdued. After a moment more of wrestling, the brown wolf finally stilled and showed his throat, drawing a satisfied growl.
The phantom stood and glared around the clearing, snapping and growling at the pack. The other wolves circled him, sniffing and licking at his wounds. Phantom's original pack stayed back, the female watching as the white wolf crawled over to the old alpha and started licking his wounds.
A random wolf raised it's head to howl, soon followed by equally enthusiastic cries.
There was a new leader.
"Oh, Christ, Harry! What happened to your face?"
Draco's hands came up to examine the large bite mark on Harry's cheek. It went from about an inch under his eye to his jaw, and looked red and swollen with recentness. Harry let the blond feel around before he gently grabbed his wrist and pulled away the probing hand.
"It was in the forest a little while after dark, and ran into a wolf... I'm okay, though... It was a neat experience." Harry grinned, pulling his Pilot's cap down into his face. He adjusted his wool coat and satchel and motioned for Draco to follow him to their next class. Draco followed behind hesitantly.
"It may be infected, Harry... don't you think you should get it looked at?"
"Draco, as sweet as your concern is, I'm fine," Harry smiled softly and patted Draco's hand, hooking their little fingers, "It's not the first time I've been attacked by a wild animal."
Draco snorted and tightened their fingers, tugging at his white cardigan as he attempted to keep up with Harry's long legs, "You live the adventurous life."
"Oh, totally."
A few weeks passed, nothing of mention really going on. Remus was getting ready for the full moon, it being only a day after thanksgiving. The family had found a good place in the woods, near the wolf pack, where Remy could run and not cause too much panic. The man had been jittery all that week, and more clumsy than usual, leaving Thanksgiving dinner in Sirius and Harry's capable hands. They'd gone a bit overboard, the dining table having been manually expanded to fit more people, and the food piled on. Harry had put on a black button-up, leaving the top two buttons loose, and khaki skinnies. He chose to go barefoot, as this was his own home, and had removed his piercings for his aunt Andromeda. He had covered his unconventional hair with a tan fedora, leaving in clear gauges and making sure his face was clean of makeup.
When the first car pulled up, Harry had dropped the bowl of stuffing he'd been handling and grabbed his wool coat, slipping it around his shoulders as he hurried into his shoes and running outside.
"Hawy!" Came a childish cry. Teddy, in all his colourful glory, came rushing from the car and jumped into a kneeling Harry's arms, both laughing and spinning like maniacs. They stayed in a tight embrace for a few seconds, Giggling with delight, before Harry sat down to see Teddy's ridiculous little sailor outfit under a heavy brown coat. He looked up at Nymph and glared.
"Why the hell is Mini Me wearing this thing?"
"Watch your mouth in front of Teddy," Tonks admonished, grinning, "And I think it suits him."
"It suits no one!" Harry cried, hanging his head and snuggling his little brother dramatically. Teddy giggled and pushed him away.
"Hawy! Geddoffa me!"
"No! I haven't seen you in weeks, and I need to hug you to death!" Harry growled, standing up with the toddler in his arms. The teen almost didn't notice the other person stepping out of the car, until a snooty voice caught his ears and he wanted to run away.
"Harry," Aunt Andromeda smiled, eyeing her nephew with ill contempt. Harry turned around slowly, still holding Teddy, and grimaced.
"Hello, Auntie... How are you?"
"Well, It's no secret I'd rather be in my garden making sure my babies are safe for the cold... This little feast you and your... guardians have prepared has taken quite a chunk out of my day," She scrunched up her face and started toward the house, giving Harry a once over before snorting, "Clean up that thing on your face... I won't have Theodore getting sick because you won't take care of your dog wounds."
Harry growled, quite like a dog, after her and started to speak, an angry insult on the tip of his tongue telling her right where she could shove her flowers, when Tonks' hand came to rest gently on his shoulder. He seemed content to just turn a high pitch voice toward the woman.
"Oh, God nooo! Please Harry, anything but eating my face!" Tonks couldn't help but giggle at her ex-husband's son, patting his head through his hat and following her mother. Harry grinned at the little boy in his arms.
"Ready to go see papa?"
Harry made dramatic trumpet noises as he and Tonks entered the kitchen, Teddy's tired but happy face grinning cutely at his dad. Remus and Sirius both ran over to coddle the boy, but Remy layed claim and snatched him up, hugging him desperately.
"Sweet boy, how are you?"
"I feew sick, buh 'm okay!"
Harry smiled at the pair and patted Teddy on the head, walking over to the sink to wash up and finish supper. Sirius took the hint and took over Harry's stuffing, making faces all the while because 'the shit was nasty'.
Just as Harry put the Kettle on for Tonks and Andromeda, the grody sound of their doorbell echoed through the small house. Sirius went to answer, abandoning the idle and awkward chat between himself and Andromeda. Shortly after, the sound of shouting could be heard and, exchanging a look, Harry and Remus rushed out of the room to see a police officer standing at the door and an angry woman shouting at poor Sirius, who just looked confused. A leashed Harley could be seen with her head hanging pitifully, a small whimper coming from her every now and again.
"-keep that monster away from out yard! There are children, for God's sake! Who knows what that mangy animal could be carrying!"
Harry growled at the woman, eliciting her attention, and her eyes widened at the sound. Her brown hair was shoved haphazardly into a bun, and green eyes looked confused and angry at the same time. The teen stepped forward and pulled Sirius, who was still confused, out of the way, standing tall over the woman.
"I am very sorry for the inconvenience, but watch your mouth. Harley is completely healthy and harmless. She only bites those I want her to bite."
The last part was said so menacingly the police officer finally decided to step in, "Alright, alright! That's enough. No harm was done, but keep your wolf on your own property. I know you three pulled some strings to be able to keep it, but the people around here are still nervous around her. There's a local wolf pack that's been getting rowdy."
"Of course, Officer," Remus said kindly, his smile immediately dissipating any tension in the room.
The woman and the officer left peaceably, the mood of the afternoon greatly spoiled. Harry found about halfway through cooking that he'd forgotten bread, and was sent on his way to get some, slipping on his chucks and a black wool coat and stepping out into the cold air.
As he walked, head dipped and hands buried in coat pockets, he couldn't help but think of Draco. Nothing specific came to mind, but as Harry walked along the whitened path toward the market he couldn't help but picture that soft, pale face, and unnaturally blond hair that unknowingly excited him every time he saw it. The boy was fun to be around, if only to tease, and Harry found himself gravitating toward the other teen. The only problem was... He was sure that Draco felt rather differently.
While contemplating this, he didn't really notice his surroundings, so he was surprised when an old voice spoke up.
"Lost, are you?"
Harry startled and turned to face whomever had spoken, green eyes meeting twinkling blue and he layed his sights upon an old homeless man sitting across the way. He was unprotected from the cold by an old trashy jacket and a blanket with far too many holes. A wool cap attempted to keep his head warm, as did a pair of ratty gloves for his hands, but judging by the blue state of his lips it was ineffective. Despite this, though, he wore a calm and knowing smile behind half moon glasses.
"Are you talking to me?"
"I see no one else around, Child," The homeless man smiled, rubbing his hands together and leaning back against the wooden fence behind him. Harry looked behind him and indeed, there was no other person.
"I-No, I'm not lost... just on my way to the Grocery," Harry said somewhat awkwardly. This did nothing to deter the homeless man.
"I wasn't speaking of destinations, Son... You know that as well as I do."
His brow furrowing, Harry backed up a couple of steps, reading to run away from the strange man. He seemed to notice, but said nothing.
"Then... what were you talking about?" Harry asked, eyes boring into the other's.
"You seem troubled."
"I'm not."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Who are you?" Harry was losing his patience.
The homeless man sighed and looked up in thought, rubbing his hands together once more and folding his legs. He let the silence drag on as he thought his answer over, and just as Harry was about to burst in impatience, he looked back to him with a small grin.
"Albus. Pleased to meet you, Harry."
Harry's eyes narrowed and he sneered at the old man, trying to hide his anxiety. He readjusted his fedora and turned around, making to continue to the grocery.
"He won't always be ignorant, Harry." The stranger- Albus called. Harry's heartbeat stopped and he whirled around, marching forward and shoving the man against the wooden fence. Blue eyes still twinkled, as if they knew Harry wouldn't dream of hurting him.
"Listen, old man. I don't know who the hell you are, but stay away from me. You don't know what you're talking about-
"I think we both know what I'm talking about, My boy. He'll find out eventually. If not from you, then from someone else."
Harry shoved the man into the wall again, "If you tell-!"
"I have no intention of telling. If you keep being so careless, I won't have to."
Harry stared at the older man for a moment longer, eyes frantically searching for some hint of lie in the other's eyes, but when he found none, he let the man go. Backing up a few more steps, he turned on his heel and ran toward the store, now more confused than ever.
"-ever tried to reign in that child, I'd guarantee he'd be less... filthy," Aunt Andromeda called from across the dining table, ignoring the three fuming stares, "I mean, look at him! He's a mongrel! Why, if he were my child, he'd be up in that bedroom studying for college that you know he's never going to go to."
"With all due respect, Auntie, I'm highest in my Art classes and have excelling grades in everything mandatory." Harry said pleasantly through his teeth.
"Don't back talk me, boy!"
Harry spat out a growl and his Aunt flinched, but a moment later he did the same, his Dad having kicked him under the table. Remus was giving him the 'Control yourself' stare. The older man looked dreadful, his pasty skin intensifying the black around his eyes.
"Hawy is duh best! Don't yehw at heeum!" Teddy cried, waving his little fists in the air. Harry inwardly grinned as the pleased expression on his aunt's face turned to anger, and quickly excused himself from the table, taking Teddy with him.
"Teddy, sweetheart... Don't talk back to her," Harry whispered, having gone to his room. Harley looked up from her pile of plushies and whined happily, Harry giving a similar noise in return. Unsurprisingly, so did Teddy.
"Buh why? She's so mean, Hawy!"
"Yes, and that's why you can't do things like that," Harry smiled, hugging his little brother closer, drawing a giggle, "She'll be mean to you, too."
"Oh..."
Grinning, Harry took the boy's hand and coaxed him up, and started leading him down the hall. They came to an old yellow door and, once Harry gave the okay, Teddy pushed it open and stared wide eyed at what he saw.
"It's your new room, Teddster. You're gonna live here."
OMFG. Sorry it sucked. I was really preoccupied with ACTUAL LIFE :D
So no Draco in this chapter. SORRY xD This was a filler-y family oriented chapter, filled with LOVE and TEDDY (3
I swear the next chapter will be better, I'm VERY VERY VERY VERY sure that it's PROBABLY on it's way... MAYBE.
NEXT CHAPTER: WEREWOLVES. DANGER. Harry will mull over crazy homeless guy's words, while Draco tries to figure out if he's a natural blond! Oh my! You'll also see more awesome character's come into "PLAY". HAHA. Get it? Well, YOU WILL SOON!
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-Badger