DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 2 - The Return to Hogwarts
The rhythmic rumble of the train as it thundered down the tracks had Harry yawning widely and throwing an arm across his eyes. The compartment they were in was slightly warmer then it could have been but with the summer sun shining in the windows there was really nothing that could be done. He stretched out a little further and propped his feet against the window ledge, attempting to ignore the grumbles coming from the other bench. He knew without looking that Hermione was reading the massive book she'd been dragging around for the past two days and Ron was half-heartedly trying to read an old article in a Quidditch magazine.
Loud voices calling back and forth down the hall had Harry whimpering in defeat. He knew it was the first day back and everyone was happy to see each other but did they really have to be so loud about it? The low creak as the compartment door slid open had Harry tensing but relaxing just as fast. The light smell that invaded his nose was one he recognized, having spent the past week at the Burrow. Ginny's high-excited voice had him gritting his teeth and sliding one eye open. Peering around his hand, he viewed the young girl with tired eyes. Heaving a reluctant sigh, he was about to sit up when Hermione dropped her book on the seat and fled the compartment with Ginny close on her heels.
"Please say the problem is in the first car." Harry prayed softly, ignoring Ron's snort of amusement.
"No such luck, mate. There's a fight between some Slytherins and Ravenclaws two cars back, Hermione's dealing with it." Ron announced, smashing Harry's dreams of a quick nap.
"Thanks a lot Ron." Harry grumbled, burying his face in the crook of his arm and trying to settle deeper into the hard cushions of the bench. Silence settled on the compartment again as he allowed himself to drift, all thoughts easing from his mind. A loud thud and the sudden rush of cool air had his eyes jerking open.
"Well if it isn't Scarhead and his little Weasel." Harry rolled his eyes as he recognized the voice. Lying quietly, he kept his face hidden beneath his arm and hoped the blonde would leave before a serious altercation occurred. He shifted his head slightly and peeked carefully around his elbow, eyeing the elegant wizard leaning in the doorway with a slight frown. Something was different. The stag was shifting below the surface of his mind, bugling and snorting in warning. Harry pressed the feeling down and hoped Ron managed to control his own animagus to some degree.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Ron snarled. Remaining perfectly still, Harry listened as the magazine dropped forgotten to the floor and the door creaked as weight was applied to it.
"Aw, is the wittle Weasel afraid I'll wake up Scarhead." Draco Malfoy crooned, tossing a quick glance over his shoulder to check for anyone who might try and interfere with his fun.
"Son of a Death Eater!" Ron roared, jerking to his feet and beginning a slow prowling stalk towards the other wizard. His hands were extended and he'd bared his teeth in what could have been either a tactic to inflict fear or the wolf inside him trying to get out. Before he could make it any further, Hermione slid around the edge of the door and pushed past Malfoy, placing a restraining hand on Ron's shoulder.
Shoving Ron back into his seat against the window, she whirled on Draco and eyed him angrily, arms crossed and one foot tapping loudly, "You're both in Sixth year and should be setting a good example for the younger students. Not squabbling like a bunch of immature little babies. You, Draco Malfoy, are a Slytherin Prefect. Just a moment ago I had to stop a fight between members of your house, which might I add, is your job. I suggest you leave off tormenting us and go change into your school robes." Thus stated, the aggravated Gryffindor sat back down and reclaimed her book, ignoring the stares and glares pointed in her direction. Harry bit his lip to keep from laughing and focused on the disgruntled look on Draco's face.
Icy blue eyes cast an angered look around the compartment as the wizard curled his lip and sneered at them. Harry stiffened as the pale orbs fell on him, acknowledging the fact that his stag was standing quietly in his mind in a solitary effort to avoid conflict with what it viewed as a dangerous animal.
"Mind your own business mudblood, the Weasel and I were just having a little conversation." Draco spat, taking a slow predatory step into the compartment, eyes fastened on Harry's prone body. Before he could proceed any further, a hand seized his wrist and jerked him back out of the small room, leaving the trio staring at the empty door way.
"Close the door behind you!" Ron bellowed for good measure, pretending he hadn't noticed the pissed off look gracing Hermione's face.
"I can't believe the pair of you. I leave you alone for one minute and you start a fight." The Gryffindor Prefect said, shaking her head while turning the page of her book. Ron sputtered for a moment before reclaiming his magazine from the floor and flipping it open, reddening as one of the pages ripped. Harry chuckled and sat up slowly, peering out the window before flopping back wards. Stretching, he rubbed the back of his neck and observed the pair sitting silently across from him; both pretending the other didn't exist.
"Um, Hermione? Did Draco seem different to you?" He asked finally. Harry held his breath as Hermione and Ron exchanged a look before nodding slowly, preferring to put their differences aside for the moment and deal with the problem at hand.
"Yes, he did," Hermione said softly, setting her book back down and looking thoughtfully at Harry. "He seemed more dangerous; a greater threat then usual."
Ron nodded in agreement, chewing his lip for a moment as he tried to remember exactly what he had felt upon seeing the Slytherin. "To me, he didn't really seem to be that big of a threat. Not that I've ever felt Malfoy was a threat; a stupid prig maybe but not a threat." Harry grinned at Ron's words but couldn't push down the feelings that were consuming him. To him, Malfoy had been a hunting predator ready to pounce.
"What did you feel Harry?" Hermione questioned quietly, breaking his chain of thought. Slowly raising his eyes, he met the searching gaze of one of the smartest people he knew. "I felt like I was staring death in the eye," he whispered softly. Rising slowly, Harry grabbed his bag and pulled out his robes, leaving the pair sitting in silence while he went to change.
The Great Hall was loud as students poured in, ready for another year. House tables were filling up as good natured cheers began, house rivalry coming to the fore as students claimed places on benches and prepared for the Sorting. A hush fell upon the hall as Professor McGonagall led the fearful first years forward, their eyes widening as the roars of the older students picked up. A glare and raised hands silenced the students, all watching with bated breath as the sorting hat was brought forward and placed on a stool before the Head Table. Within seconds it burst into song, weaving a silent message through its words. Younger students whispered in awe as the older students tried to piece together the clues dropped in the verse. As the Hat was removed by the Gryffindor Head of House, Dumbledore rose and took his place at the podium.
"Another year at Hogwarts has begun, and I must say how pleased I am to see you all here. In these times, we must value all the time we have together. While I hope you all enjoy the company of your fellow witches and wizards, I must remind you of several important rules. I first ask that you refrain from using any Zonko's products while on school property. You will also notice several corridors have been marked as out of bounds and I would suggest you heed these warnings. After all, one doesn't know what they might run into while walking down an abandoned hall. The final reminder I must give concerns the Forbidden Forest. I understand the need to explore and the feeling of excitement one gets when they are breaking rules but the Forbidden Forest holds creatures that you know nothing of. That is all for now, let the feast begin." Dumbledore clapped his hands and dishes appeared before the quiet students. As the old wizard took his seat, the hall burst into noise and Hogwarts resumed its normal rhythm.
Draco Malfoy paced his private room with long lazy strides, robes trailing silently along the floor behind him. The pale marble floors were traced with silver and emerald, the room seeming empty as his every footfall echoed around the chamber. Sitting quietly on a chair before the small fire, Pansy was curled up in a thick velvet throw. Her eyes following his every move with the intensity of a hunting predator.
"Draco, what happened on the train?" Pansy murmured quietly, shrinking back against the chair as glowing eyes fastened on her. The fire crackled merrily, breaking the silence that had fallen upon the room.
"Yeah, for a minute there I thought you were going to jump Potter." Blaise put in from where he was sitting on the bed, his cloak resting across his lap. Shaking his head at the question, Draco stalked towards the fire and flopped into the chair across from Pansy, toeing his shoes off. Giving a soft snarl, he sank his fingers into the rich cloth and glared at his fellow Slytherins.
"I don't know. It wasn't me so much as the tiger in me. For a minute I looked at him and it was like I wasn't seeing him. He smelled so good." Draco whispered softly, eyes closing slowly as he curled his lip in distaste. Blaise and Pansy looked at each other before refocusing on Draco, watching as the pale wizard rubbed his face and raised tired eyes towards the fire.
"What do you mean he smelled 'good'?" Blaise asked, one eyebrow raised as his fingers played over the emerald comforter beneath him. A low throb filled the room as Draco swiveled his head and glared at the other wizard.
"He smelled like rabbit, like something to be hunted." Draco muttered unhappily as his eyes drifted closed again. Blaise hissed sharply at the words, his eyes jerking to meet Pansy's. Both exchanged another long look before peering carefully at Draco.
"Draco, neither of us could smell Harry." Blaise whispered, fingers clenching against the soft material.
"Perhaps it was just your imagination." Pansy suggested softly, tucking her feet under the throw in an effort to get warmer. A cool breeze twisted its way through the room, reminding them all that they were back at Hogwarts and would most likely not be warm again until they returned home.
"No, I could smell it clearly...but at the same time I sensed danger. I didn't think he was that powerful though." Draco murmured, bare feet resting on the grate before the crackling embers. Silence crept over the room, each of them locked within their own thoughts as they stared into the mesmerizing flames.
A low pop from the cheerful blaze had Pansy shaking her head and glancing at the gold watch around her wrist. "It's a little after ten, we should all go to bed so we aren't late tomorrow."
"We're Slytherins Pansy, being late only makes us more mysterious." Draco said before slowly rising and stretching. Picking up his discarded boots and socks, he moved towards his trunk and closet, tossing the worn items into a hamper to be cleaned by a house elf.
"Yes, and for some reason makes the Gryffindors think we're up to something." Blaise murmured thoughtfully, abandoning Draco's bed and heading towards the door. Giving a wave over his shoulder, he beckoned to Pansy before sliding out the door.
"Good night Draco." Pansy whispered, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before dashing after her boyfriend. Draco watched the door thud close before dropping his boots in the bottom of his wardrobe. Leaning against the doors, he turned and looked around the room. It seemed sterile and cold without the presence of other people. Whoever had decorated needed a good boot in the butt as far as he was concerned. Shivering, he pulled a cloak of emerald green cloth from his trunk and moved to sit back before the fire, resuming his former position and thoughts.
Harry rested his head against the window frame, breathing deeply of the cool night air. The sixth year boys dorm was still empty, the other guys were still in the Common Room exchanging anecdotes and stories about their summers. He had nothing to tell. It was hard to sit in a room full of happy joking people when it felt like the room was closing in on you. Since claiming his animagus form, he'd begun to hate being inside. Even when he was among friends, the sky and surrounding forest beckoned. The pounding of feet and the low thud as the door was pushed open had him turning and glancing at the doorway.
"Harry!" Ron yelped in delight, bouncing across the room with the enthusiasm of a puppy chasing a ball. Plopping down on his own bed, the redhead grinned and looked at the jumble of clothes and books spread across Harry's red coverlet. "Unpacking already?"
"I figured I might as well get a start. At least then I won't be late for breakfast." Harry replied, closing the window in a casual movement.
"We've never missed breakfast yet." Ron laughed, there had been several close calls but they had never actual missed a morning meal. Blue eyes traveled over the mess before an eyebrow raised and a slow grin crept across the freckled face. "You wanna toss this stuff back in your trunk and go for a quick run?"
Harry chewed on his lip for a moment as he looked back at the window. It was a nice night out. The moon was at the perfect height and a swift breeze was playing through the leaves of the trees. He could already feel the wind in his face and the quiet crunch of grass beneath his hooves. "Let me grab my cloak and we'll go."
"Ronald Weasley! Harry Potter!" Both wizards flinched and turned slowly towards the door, cringing as their names were bellowed up the stairs again.
"Why is she yelling at us? We haven't done anything." Harry whispered at Ron, eyeing the door like it was a hungry lion about to pounce.
"Are you sure you haven't done anything?" Ron demanded, eyes wide as the cry was repeated yet again.
"I haven't left the room and why doesn't she just come up the stairs? It's a lot less embarrassing that way." Harry muttered, as he stormed across the room. His hand had just brushed the doorknob when the heavy door swung open revealing the red-faced witch.
"When I call you the least you can do is respond." Hermione hissed as she breezed into the room. Pausing at the foot of his bed, she eyed the pile of clothes before seating herself next to Ron.
"Sorry Hermione, we didn't hear you," Harry said. Running a hand across his eyes, he moved back to his bed and began to sort through his belongings, carefully placing things where they belonged.
"That's alright Harry. I just wanted to remind you both of several things before I went to bed. First of all, Ronald, is that we're not at the Burrow anymore and must be careful about when and where we go out. We're illegal animagi and we'd be in really big trouble if someone found out. Second of all, there's people in this castle who would love to give us trouble and advertising that we're animagi is not something we should do." Hermione stated quietly, eyes resting on the door in case anyone chose that moment to walk in.
"But Hermione-"
"No Ron! There are just too many people running around here for us to take the chance of getting caught. I'll also warn you that the communication bracelets aren't to be worn to class. If I catch either of you wearing them while we're supposed to be paying attention I'll inflict serious damage." Hermione muttered, holding up a single finger to still Ron's protests. Sighing unhappily, Harry nodded before glancing at the window longingly.
"Come on Hermione, think of how much better we'd both do in class, especially Potions." Ron pleaded, widening his eyes and clasping his hands together before him.
"No Ron! That's cheating! I'm going to bed now and I suggest you two do the same." Hermione rose and brushed off her robes before giving them both a quick hug. Half way to the door she paused and turned around, peering at them with a gleam in her eye. "Harry? Can I see your invisibility cloak for a minute?"
Harry nodded slowly and retrieved the cloak from where it rested within his trunk, running a loving hand over the material. Eyeing Hermione warily, he moved towards her and held the cloak out. Hermione smiled at him before she took the cloak and settled it over her arm, giving a last wave as she headed out the door.
"Hermione? Where are you taking Harry's cloak?" Ron called in a worried voice, chasing the witch from the room. Hermione's loud reply echoed up the stairs as Harry moved back to the window.
"I'm not stupid Ron." Harry released the lock on the window and pushed it wide open. Resting his chin on his crossed arms, he stared out into the night and listened to his friends argue while the cool wind caressed his face.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who took the time to review. I'm actually having a little trouble pulling this together but hopefully the next chapter will come easier. Thanks again.
Iredesent – lol, wow someone's a little excited.
Lady Silverhawk – My my, what a mind you have there…lol. Pansy shall play the role of loving and caring friend to Draco.
BloodyMarry – You'll just have to wait and see…