DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 19 - Consequences
Rays of fiery light brightened Hogwarts as the sun rose slowly over the Forbidden Forest. Gray stone was warmed beneath the gentle caress, the walls and windows of the castle absorbing the natural heat. A breeze brushed the tree branches lazily, its touch so soft the leaves barely whispered beneath its breath. On any other day, the school would have been teeming with student's eager to go out and study or play on the lush lawns. This morning proved very different. Students moved silently about their business, books clutched to chests and bags slung over shoulders. The faintest of whispers would reverberate down the crowded halls, turning heads and narrowing eyes. Even with the entire student population present, Hogwarts seemed hollow.
Pale faced, Hermione sat cuddled up against Ron. Her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks red from the constant swipe of her sleeve. Sniffling loudly, she accepted the handkerchief Pansy handed her. "Thank you," she croaked, dabbing at her glistening orbs. Ron's arm tightened around her waist as the door behind them swung open.
"Professor Dumbledore." Blaise murmured from his position beside Pansy, his hands stilling on her back. The witch turned in his arms and peered hopefully at the headmaster, her brave facade vanishing as he shook his head in regret. Taking one deep breath, Pansy struggled to smile before dissolving into sobbing wails.
"I'm afraid there is nothing that we can do." Albus Dumbledore stated softly, he walked slowly towards his desk and claimed his seat. His eyes were weary, face showing his age as he peered at the four students seated before him.
Ron grimaced as Hermione shuddered within his grasp, tears running freely down her face as she burrowed against his shoulder. "What do you mean there's nothing you can do?" He growled, hands sliding up and down his girlfriend's back in a soothing gesture. His angered rumble seemed to incite Hermione further, pushing her into loud sobs of anguish.
"It could take years to find out exactly how to counter the broken curse, Mister Weasley." Dumbledore explained, hands whitening on the quill he had picked up. His usually twinkling blue eyes were sad, the orbs empty as he watched the two Gryffindors and the two Slytherins huddle together. "The experts and specialists from St. Mungo's have the wands and shall attempt to uncover the curse that the Dark Lord was trying to use when his wand was broken. However, we must assume the worst."
"Why?" Hermione gasped out, raising her face and turning to glare at the older wizard. "Why do we have to assume the worst? They're going to be okay. I know it!" Her voice rose, making her sound slightly hysterical by the time she was finished speaking.
Dumbledore smiled sadly, hands falling apart as he held them up. "I do not doubt the integrity or strength of Harry and Draco. The spell that was used had a strange affect and we will not know it's exact perimeters until they awake."
"When can we see them?" Blaise muttered, face buried in Pansy's hair.
"Anytime." The Headmaster responded quietly. Offering them a reassuring smile, he waved them towards the door.
Ron helped Hermione to her feet, rage at the older wizard's acceptance of the situation making his blood boil. He glanced at Blaise and saw the same look portrayed on the Slytherin's face. "Thank you, sir." The redhead mumbled, leading Hermione from the room silently. Pausing in the doorway, he turned and looked back at the gray haired wizard. Dumbledore sat with his head in his hands, elbows planted on the gleaming surface of his desk. "Sir? What about Voldemort?"
Blaise raised an eyebrow at Ron's question but shot a look over his shoulder. He felt Pansy still in his arms, waiting with bated breath for the older wizards response. Clenching his teeth, his body vibrated with the growl that rode him at Dumbledore's drawn out silence.
"Missing. The Auror's have found no sign of him." Dumbledore said, not bothering to glance up. Nodding at Blaise, Ron continued from the room. His feet unerringly led them in the direction of Harry and Draco, wanting to see for himself the condition of the pair.
XxXxX
Golden sunlight was filtering through the creamy fabric of the tent, softening itself to a pale light within the silken dome. The walls rippled gently with the small breeze that coursed across the grounds. Stirring at the brush of grass against his cheek, Harry mumbled under his breath and attempted to shift away. He frowned when the sweet smell of fresh dirt filled his senses, the overpowering scent of outside reaching his delicate nostrils. Cracking one eye open, he stared up at the silver canopy floating above him.
In the distance, students called loudly, their voices seeming to echo within the confines of the tent. Blinking furiously as understanding struck, he began to sit up. His head tilted dangerously at the sudden weight he found himself bearing. Closing his eyes, he raised his head and ignored the shriek of silk as one sharp tine slid neatly through the cloth. The added weight of the tent was enough to have him flopping back to the ground, head slamming inelegantly against the dirt and grass. Snorting angrily, he leaned forward and folded his long forelegs.
Beyond his small world, a murmur of voices rose in argument. Grimacing at his Professor's angered voice, he stretched his long neck out before attempting to lift his head. The low shred of silk had him sighing and closing his eyes as the tent once again wrapped itself around one pointed prong. His emeralds flew open at the sound of approaching footsteps and the brush of clothing against silk as someone pressed their way into the tent. The arrival of Ron had him settling slightly, the presence of a friend and herd mate calming his nerves.
"Hey, mate." Ron whispered, smiling slightly at his friend's predicament. Raising one hand, he rested his fingers on the stag's arched neck while carefully pulling the fabric of the tent off Harry's antlers.
Staring at the redhead, the big black stag shook it's head and groaned. "What happened?" Harry asked quietly, peering at Ron with eyes not quite those of a stag.
Ron cleared his throat before dropping to his knees, fingers immediately curling through the lush grass beneath him. His eyes were sad as he looked at Harry, shadowed from a night spent worrying about his friend's safety and health. "How much do you remember?" He questioned, running his tongue over his lips as the stag closed his eyes in thought.
"Voldemort. I remember charging Voldemort. Beau was there, too." Harry mumbled, eyes popping open as he looked to Ron for confirmation. At the redheads nod, he lowered his head and nibbled on the grass under his muzzle without thought, ignoring the snort of amusement his actions incited as he tried to remember. "He was casting a spell when Beau grabbed him. I don't remember anything after that."
"Beau closed his mouth around Voldemort's wand. When he bit down, he snapped the wood." The redhead murmured, glancing at his fingers as he uprooted grass. He took a deep breath and balled his hands into fists. "We don't know what spell he was trying to use when his wand was broken. Auror's don't even know if there's a way to either complete the spell or reverse it."
Harry's mouth fell open at Ron's announcement, half chewed grass spilling from his gaping muzzle. He blinked furiously as his mind wrapped itself around his newest problem. "Draco?" Harry demanded, forelegs beginning to straighten as he pulled himself to his hooves.
"The same. He took the brunt of the magical surge seeing as the wand was in his mouth when it broke. The doctors from St. Mungo's say he'll be alright once the burns heal completely." Ron responded, his voice quiet as he raised a hand and rubbed at his eyes. He sniffled loudly and shuffled back as the dark stag dragged himself slowly to his feet. "I'm sorry, Harry. I should have been there."
"You were there, Ron." Harry reminded quietly, smiling as he shook his entire body. Black fur shifted and resettled, small bits of grass and dead leaves drifting to the ground around him. His antlers raked at the silk, tearing small holes and gashes in the light material. "Ember and Frost kept the Death Eater's off our backs. If the pair of you hadn't been entertaining them, Beau and I would most likely be dead."
"Hermione said that." Ron grumbled sullenly, standing and grabbing one sharp antler as the stag waved his head around. Wrapping his fingers around the pointed tines, he held the stag's head still and looked Harry straight in the eyes. "We made a decision, Hermione and I. As long as you're like this, we'll never leave you."
Harry's eye narrowed at the conviction in the redhead's voice. Shaking his head slowly, he swallowed before opening his mouth. "I'm not holding you to that, Ron. We don't know how long I'll be stuck like this. Body of a stag, mind of a human. It's not fair to the pair of you to hold you here for the rest of your lives."
"You make it sound like a life sentence, Harry." Ron chided, tightening his grip on the stag's crown. He smiled as he watched the emerald eyes roll in annoyance. "The foods great, the beds are comfy, and this is where my best mate will be."
Rather then argue the point further, Harry sighed heavily. "Whatever you say, Ron. However, if in two or three years you decide to leave, I shall claim I told you so from the highest tower of the Hogwarts."
Laughing, the redhead let go of the stag's antlers and wrapped his arms around the long, muscled neck. He squeezed tightly and pressed his face against the thick black coat. "We'll see, Harry, we'll see." He whispered with a smile, fingers clenched on soft fur. He ignored the tear trailing down his face, choosing to rub the stag's neck affectionately and let the drop of water finish it's solemn path.
XxXxX
Draco growled softly and curled a lip at the tug on his whiskers. One pale eye opened slowly, peering up at the top of the tent in undisguised anger. His nose quivered and his whiskers twitched as he sifted through various scents. Above him, cream silk was flushed a brilliant gold by the sun. Small particles of dust dancing at the faintest of breezes sweeping through the thin cloth. His eyes drifted closed as he felt a hand curl itself around his gently flicking tail, gripping tightly before pulling hard. Yowling, he sat up and glared at Blaise.
"What the hell was that for?" He demanded loudly, tail jerking from the dark haired wizard's grip and coiling tightly against his side.
Sitting back, Blaise grinned and held his hands up in surrender. "It's rude to pretend to sleep when you have visitors." He said, hands dropping into his lap at the last word. The pair sat quietly for a moment, staring at each other.
Draco shifted one large paw, nails sliding from their sheathes and slicing into the ground without effort or thought. "What happened?" He whispered, the tenderness around his mouth making him frown.
"Voldemort happened. You broke his wand while it was in your mouth, hence the tail and whiskers." Blaise stated, one finger rising to jab at the appendage that was once more waving gently next to the stretching feline.
Draco froze, entire body stilling in remembrance. He blinked blue eyes owlishly, mouth opening and closing in shock. "Is he dead?" He asked abruptly, watching Blaise squirm beneath his gaze.
Blaise locked his fingers together and glanced over his shoulder at the tent's entrance. "They're not really sure. The Auror's can't find him." He finally whispered, cringing as the tiger let out a roar of anger.
"What do you mean they can't find Harry?" Draco snapped, already beginning to rise. His paws were spaced widely apart as he relearned how to balance, claws burying themselves in the rich soil.
The snowy tiger was already making for the exit when Blaise snagged him by tail. Hissing in protest, Draco spun around as best he could and snarled, lips curling in warning. "Harry's fine, I thought you were talking about Voldemort." Blaise mumbled, letting out a tense chuckle as the tiger sagged in relief.
"Why would I care about that crazy bastard?" Draco demanded, shoulders slumping as he tried to get over the fact that Harry was alive and well.
"Considering the fact that he was trying to kill the pair of you, I'd think you'd be pretty concerned about his current condition." Blaise answered, one eyebrow raised as he watched the tiger run his tongue along the back of a paw. Shaking his head in disbelief over the calmness that had settled upon the cat, he figured he might as well break the news to Draco. "You do realize you're licking yourself, right?"
Draco paused in mid swipe, tongue resting firmly against white fur. Blinking in confusion, he raised his head and peered at Blaise. "Do explain." He growled haughtily, tail beginning it's slow dance once again.
"You broke the wand in mid-spell. Voldemort had only uttered the first half of the incantation when you snapped it. Nobody knows the spell that he was trying to use." Blaise began, shifting back from the tiger and crossing his legs. His hands worked to straighten the cloth of his trousers, fingers smoothing the same wrinkle over and over again. "If they can't figure out what spell he was using, you'll be stuck like this for the rest of your life. Harry is pretty much in the same situation so you may as well not panic."
"I have to spend the rest of my life as a tiger?" Draco muttered, flopping onto his side and looking at Blaise for confirmation.
The dark haired wizard gave a slow nod, eyes closing in regret. Inhaling deeply, Blaise fought to smile. "At least everyone will think you're handsome?" He offered, shrugging his shoulders as the tiger's eyebrows raised.
"What happen's now?" Draco wondered out loud, eyes drifting closed against the cheerful golden light filling the tent. His ears flattened as distant conversations reached them, struggling to push away the unwanted voices.
"The Wizarding world waits quietly to see if Voldemort is dead or alive. Classes resume and everyone goes back to their lives like this never really happened. Pansy and I keep you sane while St. Mungo's works on a cure." Blaise said quietly, trying not to sound depressed at the idea of spending more time then necessary at Hogwarts. He grinned as blue eyes rolled and the tiger stood nimbly, weaving his way gracefully towards the tent flap. His smile dissolved once the tiger had vanished through the swinging exit. He dropped his head into his palms and locked his fingers in his artfully styled hair. "Heros are always forgotten once they defeat their foes." He breathed, idly wondering if the tiger caught the words. Sighing, he rose fluidly and left the tent.
XxXxX
Harry stood awkwardly before the Forbidden Forest. He peered into its shadowed depths, watching as the leaves shifted beneath the soft wind. His ears picked up the delicate tread of something moving towards him from behind. Swinging his crowned head around, he internally smiled as the large white tiger wove a path towards him. Each paw was positioned carefully before any weight was applied to it, tail held ramrod straight.
"Morning Draco." He called, happy to finally see the other wizard. Chuckling in delight as the pale cat stumbled at the sound of his voice, he could only watch in amusement as the princely tiger tripped over his own paws.
"When I get over there, I'm going to bite you." Draco announced as he sorted himself out. Standing once again, he continued his quest to reach the stag's side, ignoring the dark animals snort of disbelief.
"At your current pace, I believe I'll have moved on by then." Harry teased, smirking as the tiger dropped to his belly beside him. Raising his gaze, the black stag peered into the forest, his eyes narrowing dangerously. Voldemort was out there somewhere. Alive. Sighing at the thought, he glanced down at the tiger before folding his legs and lying down.
"You do realize we're going to have to spend the rest of our lives like this, don't you?" Draco whispered softly, head shifting to rest across the stag's wide back. He allowed his eyes to drift shut drowsily, the suns fingers stroking him into a state of euphoria.
"Is the thought that daunting?" Harry replied, nostrils flaring as he inhaled the crisp scent of fresh grass beneath his muzzle. Giving into temptation, he took a nibble and almost groaned at the sweet taste.
Draco slid one eye open at the crunching sound, ears flicking forward. "Are you eating grass?" He questioned, voice dry as the stag's shifting back stilled under his head.
Snorting at the question, Harry took another mouthful before turning his head and peering over his shoulder at the tiger. "I may as well get used to it." He answered, chomping noisily on the green shoots he'd packed into his mouth. A sudden flurry of footsteps had the pair freezing, ears shifting as their noses searched for the cause.
Bursting forth from the forest before them, two grinning wolves, a coy mink, and a vixen with a bushy coat trotted towards the pair. Without speaking, the four arranged themselves around the stag and tiger. Huddling together in a small pile of fur, no words were spoken for several minutes.
"What do you think you're doing?" Draco asked finally, shoulder twitching beneath the head of the wolf that had propped himself up against the cat.
The white wolf stared at him for a moment before exchanging glances with the smiling red wolf. "We're pack." He reminded softly, tail wagging as the other wolf gave a sharp yap of agreement.
"And we're you're friends." The vixen murmured, giving a wide yawn before burying her pointed muzzle beneath her tail.
"You're all a bloody nuisance." Draco grumbled, closing his eyes again. The brush of fur against his sides and the steady sound of the stag's jaw working lulled him into sleep. Minutes later, the others followed him. Huddled against each other in comfort and love, they slept in the morning sun oblivious to the teachers, students, and Aurors pacing widely around them.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review! One more chapter and this story is done. At this point in time, I believe I have taken this story as far as I can. There is nothing else I'd like to see our little pack/herd do, so I guess it's time to finish this one up. Epilogue will follow next Friday.
MAnny2003 - lol, I told my dad that once and he gave me this weird look. I guess our parents never considered the fact that we don't have to learn if we don't want too.
SilverJadlyn - I guess the tentative leader would be Odin, mostly because deer/elk are herd animals while tigers are solitary.
NinjaoftheDarkness - lol, I don't know if I'd call that luck at all. I have no luck, be it good or bad.
sbkar - There is no excuse for my horrid spelling and spacing. I apologize for rushing something I should have been more careful about.
LandUnderWave - Actually it is the end, well almost the end. I don't believe it's necessary to drag this fic out any longer.
HellHathNoFuryLikeMine - Ah, I didn't really consider Lucius' health. Let's just say that aside from the odd hoof shaped bruise he's fine and dandy.