A/N: Longer chapter for you! :) I really suck at this waiting to post deal, I can't seem to wait a full week lol. I want to just publish it all right now and get it over with, but I'd get in trouble so just have to dig deep and find patience!

Harry was truly terrified now. Fighting on both sides and no way to escape. He started to hum, he wasn't really sure why. But he figured out rather quickly that it helped calm his nerves, he backed toward one of the walls pressing himself against it and out of the way. He curled into a ball, trying to make himself as small as possible. His humming grew louder.

Then he felt an arm slip around his shoulders, it was firm and strong. This presence didn't scare him like the other's did. It said to him, let me take you away from all of this. It promised him solitude and the comfort of water. "I'll protect you." A voice whispered in his ear. And Harry knew it to be true.

His humming turned into a song, no actual words, just a simple melody. The fighting around them slowly ceased, the different creatures coming to circle around the two on the floor. The jaguar and the wolf curled around Harry's legs and slept. The more human ones simply watched him, a few glaring at whoever sat behind him.

When his song ended, Draco snarled, "You may have gotten to him first, but don't be so arrogant as to think you'll manage to keep him! I will take him from you eventually."

"Oh I have no doubt you can take me in a fight." The soft voice behind Harry replied. Who's is that voice? He should know it, but the knowledge eluded him. It was familiar, but different. It has a more musical quality, but I know it from somewhere. Whose is it? "Even so, it's not your decision, in the end. You may take him, but that doesn't mean you win."

Harry began to tremble, all these bodies so close to his own… He didn't like it, especially now that he'd stopped singing. The presence behind him wasn't enough to comfort him either. He felt very overwhelmed. Darkness surrounded him, and he lost consciousness. Probably not the brightest thing to do given his situation, but he couldn't control it. Lights out.

***

"…simply horrible Poppy. There he was collapsed on the floor and those ruffians fighting just beside him. Was lucky not to have a scratch on him. Had to stun the lot of them, they were beating… of each other."

"Hardly their fault Minerva. Potter a…would've guessed?"

"Certainly not I." Sniff. "And it gets worse, seems some of the creatures in the Forbidden Forest…his scent as well. They've surrounded the castle! We've had to bar all the doors and windows so that none of them get in. I just hope he finds a mate soon, or who knows how this madness will end!"

"Who do you think it will be?" The voice was excited.

"You never know with Potter. Had it been anyone else, I would've said a creature similar to his own, one that needs the water. My bet would've gone to Neville or Crabbe. But with Potter, it'll probably be something like a fire demon that dies if water touches it!"

"Such a shame. The poor wee lad…"

"Who is awake." The voice was sharp. "If you would join us, Mr. Potter, instead of shamelessly eavesdropping."

"Of course Professor McGonagall." Harry sat up, rubbing his eyes. "What happened, exactly?"

McGonagall started to explain but was interrupted. "Ah, Harry my boy! Good to see you're awake."

"Thank you Headmaster Dumbledore, now could everyone please take about five steps away from me and explain what happened?"

They all moved away from the bed. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "If you will allow me, Harry?" The boy nodded. "Well, it seems the potion that exploded in your class today is one that activates any dormant creature blood in the people it comes into contact with."

Harry stared. So, he was a creature too then? Wicked. "Um…sir? What am I, then?"

Dumbledore smiled, "You my dear boy are a Nokke."

Harry blinked, he'd never heard of it. "Uh…"

"A nokke, Harry, is a musical water sprite. Very rarely seen by humans as they have a rather shy nature."

"Is that why I feel so uncomfortable?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, all we really know about them is that they are usually heard singing at dawn and dusk. Music is part of them, their power source. They can't be out of the water for very long, though you'll probably be able to go without it until this situation is resolved, and they sometimes breed with humans."

"Fun." Harry said sullenly, not too pleased about the singing thing.

Dumbledore twinkled a bit more. "It will be fine Harry, you'll get used to it."

Harry chewed on his lip. "What about the others? I mean, I realize Snape-"

"Professor Snape, Harry." He was reminded gently.

"Yeah him: is a vampire and Malfoy is a Veela. What about Ron and the rest?"

"Mr. Weasley is a kitsune, a fox demon with control over fire. Mr. Crabbe is the opposite, he's an agloolik, his power is over ice. Mr. Goyle is dryad or tree nymph. Mr. Thomas is a child of the legendary Asena-"

"Who's that?"

"A female wolf in Turkic mythology I believe. Well, not so mythological anymore. If I remember correctly, there was some kind of battle. A young soldier, a baby from a nearby village that was destroyed in some tellings, barely survived with his life. Asena, a wolf with a blue mane, found him and nursed him back to health. The boy impregnated the wolf. Asena had around ten babies, half-human, half-wolf, and all male. Mr. Thomas is apparently descended from that line."

Wow… That would be one awkward story to tell the grandkids, Harry thought, a little dazed. "And the rest of them?" He managed to squeak out.

"Ah, yes, where was I? Mr. Zabini is a canaima, or were-jaguar. And last but not least, Mr. Longbottom has revealed himself to be an ashray. A type of water spirit, one that is not so different from yourself Harry. They aren't as musically focused, and are often mistaken for ghosts, but otherwise there is little difference between the two of you."

Harry took all this in. It was a lot of information in a short amount of time, but he managed to retain it. One thing remained unanswered though. "Why were they all fighting?"

"That, my boy, is where the complication lies."

The lack of twinkle that accompanied that phrase told Harry that he wasn't going to like what was coming...