Just a Kiss in the Moonlight
Disclaimer: Starving artist here, I don't own anything especially not Harry Potter.
Warnings: SLASH, flamers to the left, reviews bring updates people. :D they make me happy. Happiness breeds inspiration, you know.
CHAPTER FOUR
"YOU AGREED TO WHAT?! YOU'RE GRYFFINDORS DAMNIT!" Ron roared, shoving his chess set from the table and beginning to turn an unflattering shade of purple.
"You can't do that!" Hermione screeched, slamming her fists on the same table and Ginny just stared at them, wide eyed. She was extremely pale.
"Ginny?" Harry asked, ignoring the others outbursts. He and Neville could do this, and they were going to. The small red headed girl just shook her head, saying nothing.
"We're not going to stop being Gryffindors. We'll still be by, all the time. We're just going to stay there, and keep an eye on them." Neville said, addressing them all. "We'll be fine, and don't you think it's for the best? What happens if one of them doesn't take their potion because we weren't there to watch?"
"They're right Ron." Hermione sighed, exasperated, "Sirius did it with Remus, it makes sense. They'll be fine."
There was a bang at the portrait as Remus stepped through looking highly agitated. He peered around the room, smiling weakly, before addressing Harry and Neville,
"they're up." he said, sighing, "we're going to the dorm, if you'd like to join us."
Harry and Neville said their goodbyes, gathering up their trunks, and promised to be in the Great Hall for dinner. Draco and Blaise were waiting on either side of the portrait of the fat lady, arms crossed and looking miserable asthey all headed off.
"Shoulda stayed in the forrest." Blaise grumbled.
"Shoulda let them get Potter." Draco added, tilting his head toward his best friend.
"Shoulda told Dumbledore to fu-"
"BOYS!" that was Remus, snarling, "I'm not in the mood- not this close to the moon. Stop it."
"Speaking of the moon," Draco said mischieviously, "I intend to make use of these abilities before they escape me."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, peering over his shoulder at the blonde.
"I mean, Potter, that- this close to the full moon- I have full access to that thing in me and I intend on using it. Specifically, my sense of smell. I am a potions genius you know." Draco retorted scathingly.
"So?" Neville asked and Blaise rolled his eyes,
"so Draco can sniff out the polyjuice potion- like a bloodhound you dolt."
"Hey! Watch your mouth Zabini!" Harry scowled. Remus stopped, opening up a portrait of the forrest with the whispered password, 'constellation'. Blaise looked ready to spit venom at Harry but Remus stopped them.
"Listen, we all have to get along. I know that's going to be hard, so just avoid each other if you can't do anything else- alright?" he was tired, and weary. "Allow me to put my things up, as I suggest you do, and we'll go hunting, okay?"
"Hurry it up," Draco snarled with a dismissive wave of his hand, flopping onto the couch. The common room was large, two sets of stairs spiraling off either side of it to several bedrooms. It had a small kitchen area in the back, opposite a library nook. The colors were muted but, the bedrooms were done in Slytherin themes and Gryffindor themes. There was one for Remus, one for Harry and Neville and one for Blaise and Draco. The others were empty. Having deposited their trunks, the two Gryffindors wandered back down to the Slytherins.
"So, where do you want to start?" Harry asked, his body language defensive. Draco fixed him with another glare while Blaise began rubbing his temples.
"Potter." Draco said slowly, leaning forward- eyes wide- "if you were going to pretend to be me, throughout an entire year- where would you spend most of your time?"
"The Slytherin... oh." Harry replied, turning slightly red, "shoulda thought about that."
"Indeed." Blaise nearly growled, nodding, "do you think they're still here?"
"Something tells me they are." Draco said, tilting his head as though listening. Harry was reminded of the werewolves they were.
"You're ah- a really *big* werewolf, Malfoy." Harry said casually, sitting down in one of the chairs, Neville joined him in the chair next to him.
"A werewolf's size is directly proportional to it's magical power." Blaise said as though quoting a book. "whom the werewolf actually is can sometimes be determined by the fur and eye color- before you go mentioning our strange colors, Potter."
"Are you... are you quoting a book?" Neville asked, tilting his own head.
"He is. He does that." Draco said, shooting a glare at Blaise, "it's annoying."
"You're annoying." Blaise retorted, barring teeth.
"I agree with him." Harry said thoughtfully, earning a glare from both.
"So what are your animagus forms exactly?" Remus asked, breaking the silence as he strolled down one of the sets of stairs. Harry grinned over at Neville.
"What are they? Well, rather handsome I think, wouldn't you agree Nev?"
"Oh certainly, and fast."
"Oh yes, very fast, *professor*."
"With teeth."
"Big ones."
"And fur, don't forget the fur."
"Beautiful fur."
"HARRY!" Remus cried, shaking with laughter, "you two sound like the twins, quit."
"Just get on with it Potter." Draco snapped, rubbing his temples. Blaise made a rough hiss of agreement. When they turned to glare at the animagi they were met with the sight of fur black and brown, instead of skin- though the eyes were the same, brown and green. Remus cried out in shock, hugging the dogs to him.
"Notice Longbottom is a breed, scottish terrier I believe." Blaise said snickering. Draco's eyes widened and he let out an outright laugh.
"P-Potter! YOU- you're a mutt!" he laughed, gasping for breath. Harry barked, indignantly if possible- that's what he was going for anyway. He morphed back, glaring at the offending Slytherin.
"I may be a mutt, Malfoy, but..."
"What? I am? I may be a werewolf Potter- but I'm a pureblooded one. A very attractive wolf too, thank you." Draco snapped, glaring.
"Oh, I agree Malfoy- completely." Harry said, stalking to the door and swinging it open. Everyone was staring at him, completely shocked. He turned, looking over his shoulder and grinned, "the wolf doesn't speak." Even Blaise laughed at that and they all rose to follow.
The Slytherin commons was deserted, but they got in anyway, eventually guessing the password. Draco sauntered to the back, disappearing into the dorm rooms while Blaise walked around the commons, gently sniffing. There was a screech and Millicent Bulstrode tore from the rooms, yelling. Draco sauntered after her, grinning like a cheshire cat.
"YOU ARSEHOLE!" she shrieked, throwing a pillow at him, which he deftly caught. The Gryffindors and Blaise just stood by, watching, as she flung stuff at him- screaming. "YOU YOU YOU- SLIMY GIT!"
"Millie what *are* you on about?" Blaise purred, finally distracting her.
"Draco! He- you-" she shifted nervously, spotting the Gryffindors suddenly, "DON'T TALK TO ME!"
"Look, Mills, I don't know what happened, okay? I've been...on hiatus, and whoever was here- in my place, and Blaise's was not us, okay? Polyjuice, okay?" Draco said, stepping forward stiffly.
"That's true Miss Bulstrode." Lupin offered, using his title of professor to calm her.
"Well- but- lemme see your arms." She snapped, crossing her own across her chest. Both Slytherin's rolled their eyes but showed her and she sagged with relief, hugging them both. "The others- they were marked."
"Death Eaters then." Neville whispered and Harry shot him a look, causing him to blush. The Slytherins ignored it. Of course they were Death Eaters.
"Think, Millie, think- I'm going to find them. Did I leave?"
"Yes, you took your trunks with you. But... but you didn't... hmmm." she seemed to think her eyes flicking around, seeing memories that they didn't, "I don't think you left, really. I mean them. I think they're still here. There were some first years... I think they said they were going to the library, they claimed they'd seen you- coming out of the forrest."
"That may have been me, Millie, when?"
"A week ago."
"Then no, it was not me. So I'm still here, what of Blaise?"
"He's still here." She said,nodding, "though he doesn't sleep here- I don't know where he is, but I've seen him, out by the Pitch. I thought you were on a mission or something."
"You didn't tell anyone?" Blaise snapped, glaring and she flinched.
"While I don't agree with the mark," she hissed, sending Harry an apologetic look, "I'm not going to get my own housemates thrown in Azkaban. All your plots fail anyway." she dismissed Draco's disgruntled look with a wave of her hand and a huff.
"We have to hurry." Neville said suddenly, startling them all, "The other Gryffindors know you're here! It could be around the school by now we have to get to them... if they've not left yet."
"Then they're about to." Harry finished, realization hiting him. Draco snarled, and then stopped, frozen. Everyone stared at him as his eyes flicked about the room nervously. He turned, slowly, head tilted. Then, he spun around, grinning. A genuine grin.
"Got him." he said, smirking. Blaise stiffened and grinned.
"Millie- we'll see you at dinner, gotta go!" he called over his shoulder, already sprinting with Draco to the door and they all tore out, hot on Draco's heels. Draco raced through the dungeons, only pausing to scent the air in turns before taking off again. They were being lead deeper and deeper into the dungeons and then up, heading toward the unused back of the school.
"I get the feeling," Harry panted, leaning on a wall as Neville stopped with him, "that they're faster and stronger than us." he gasped as the other two werewolves burst past him. Neville nodded, clutching his side as Remus and Blaise yelled for them to hurry up.
"Bloody wolf strength," he muttered, shifting into his dog form. Getting the idea, Harry nodded and shifted too. Using four legs instead of two now, they were easily able to keep up. They followed the werewolves, paws striking the stone floor hard as they lept around turns, passing both Remus and Blaise again, easily keeping up with Draco. Harry managed to glance around, realizing that they had somehow come up close to the library from behind. Draco stopped at the door, sniffing gently and growling,
"he's in there. They both are."