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Rogue woke up abruptly to the internal panic of her girl, she wasn't asleep. Well her girl was asleep but it wasn't against her will any more which meant she was dreaming. Her dreams obviously weren't good ones but that wasn't Rogue's concern right now. They were somewhere new, somewhere dark and cool and it smelled of stale air and mould. Another cage they dare put her in, the new humans. Her green eyed one and the cold one.
Another cage, no doubt another place. She could hear ramblings up above. A male was angry about something abusing someone though no one responded to him angry words. A fool of a male that had no idea what true anger was no doubt. She could show him true anger if he would come down here, it would be the last thing he saw though. Now if only she could get them out of here, get her somewhere safe where no one would hurt her.
HGMMHGMMHGMM
Minerva had shirked her duties, her new transfiguration Professor who she wouldn't admit out loud was bloody hopeless, was driving her up the wall with her advances. The woman was in her early 30's and had taken to listening to the rumour mill. On 'finding out' Minerva was gay the Professor was more focussed on trying to get in the Headmistresses pants than she was focussed on teaching the students. Thus Minerva had sequestered herself away in her quarters pouring over books and notes trying to find anything that could help Rogue.
So far she had come up with nothing and it was frustrating the ever loving magic out of her. She visited Rogue every night after dinner and though the cat was still angry Rogue didn't try to maul the Headmistress through the bars. Filius was doing most of her work unless the correspondence needed her express signature. The staff didn't question her absence, not after the first night when Rolanda had asked where Minerva was sneaking off too. Not wanting Professor Turner to know what her after dinner activities were she had kind of snapped at Rolanda.
Right now she was on her way up the path to Malfoy Manor where she could see Narcissa bolting out of the front door. Minerva immediately knew that some serious was wrong when Narcissa sprinted towards her, it was easy to see what it was when Rogue loped out of the open front door. Narcissa looked terrified and Minerva could see blood along Rogues side and maw.
"Salazar's Snake. Min she bloody killed him..." Narcissa gasped out when the witch reached the Headmistress.
"Who?" Minerva muttered backing up at a brisk pace as she fumbled for her wand in her sleeve, the tiger had slowed.
"Lucius he... he was trying to... ugh. He was being a pig. I don't know how she got out but out of no where she just... god she tore his throat out." Narcissa panted her own wand was in the Manor, she had attempted to hex Lucius but he was on her too quickly and she dropped it. Rogue stopped and regarded the two women for a moment.
Minerva had also stopped and was looking at the tiger closely, Rogues eyes weren't yellow-brown but were flickering between a chocolate brown and the yellow-brown they had been the first time. It was the first real sign of Hermione but it was apparent that the witch within was struggling with her tiger. Minerva frowned and looked closer still, the tigers body was shuddering slightly, the furred skin rippling. Narcissa made a soft pained sound, a sound that the tiger obviously heard as its body still and its eye colour fixed on yellow-brown. Rogue was at the fore.
Minerva watched intently as the tigers ears lay back slightly and Rogue growled, the menacing sound ripping right from the creatures throat. Tiger's eyes flickering from the Headmistress to Narcissa, she was obviously watching their reaction. Narcissa hid herself behind the Headmistress but Minerva stood firm a slight frown on her face and her lips pursed. As if satisfied Rogue made a chuffing sound, almost like a cough but on purpose, and turned going back towards the house.
Minerva and Narcissa stood perplexed for a moment before Minerva turned to Narcissa to check her over. Narcissa had a bruise around her throat and complained of a sore shoulder. Deeming the witch healthy enough Minerva finally managed to pull her wand and turn towards the house. The headmistress had barely made it a few short steps before her wrist was gripped by a frantic Narcissa, turning she lifted a questioning brow.
"What are you doing!? You are literally about to walk into the tigers den." Narcissa hissed at the woman in front of her.
"If she wanted to kill us, we would be dead Cissa. Now pull up your big girl pants and lets get in there. Something is different." Minerva says pulling her wrist from Narcissa's grip and grabbing the youngest Black sisters hand.
Narcissa struggled for a moment before relenting and with a pout on her face she reluctantly followed the headmistress into the Manor. There were blood smears on the foyer floor coming from towards the drawing room but otherwise nothing looked out of place. The tiger was no where to be seen but soon after they stepped into the foyer they could hear the big cat chuffing from up stairs.
"Where do you think she is?" Minerva asked curiously but before Narcissa could answer a flash of green light and the distinct sound of a floo activating distracted them both.
"Mother!? Mother are you here?" Draco's voice frantically carried from the room the blood smears lead too and a moment later he was running into the foyer, Ronald Weasley a pace behind him looking pale.
"Draco! I don't think it's safe you should take Ron and go to Grimmauld." Narcissa moved away from Minerva who was watching the scene before her.
"Not safe? Father is in there bloody dead, I think I figured that out." Draco exclaimed looking his mother over for injuries.
"Narcissa are you alright?" Ronald asked reasonably as he noticed the bruising around her throat.
"Yes darlings, i'm fine. Rogue got out and well, now that I think about it I think she was trying to protect me from Lucius." Narcissa frowned and looked back to Minerva questioningly, the Headmistress nodded in agreement.
"He tried to touch you? Bastard's lucky Hermione got out." Draco hissed feeling no remorse over his fathers demise.
"Dray maybe we should leave them to... what ever and go call Harry and Neville to help us clean up here." Ronald suggested looking at the stairs behind Minerva to see glowing cats eyes glaring down at them.
"Ugh... yeah babe lets do that." Draco muttered stepping back involuntarily when he noticed the glowing eyes.
Ron and Draco had only been dating for a few months, they had grown closer during the search for Hermione and Ron soon realised that he was attracted to Wizards and much as he was Witches. He couldn't deny, after getting to know Draco, that he was definitely attracted and after a drunken night they decided to give things a try. They fit surprisingly well.
With the two boys safely back in the drawing room, this time door closed, Minerva and Narcissa turned back and watched as the tiger turned and disappeared back upstairs. The chuffing started again and Minerva tilted her head gesturing towards the stairs and Narcissa reluctantly nodded and stepped closer to the headmistress. They walked quietly upstairs and followed the soft chuffing from the tiger only to find her in a room full of books.
"Oh... I see. These are Lucius' things, this room was warded but now Lucius is gone we can get in. Maybe Rogue thinks there is something in here to help Hermione." Narcissa explains and surprising Rogue chuffs right at her.
"I guess we best start looking." Minerva says softly looking at the cat whose eyes were again shifting between Rogue and Hermione.
"We will sort this out Hermione." The headmistress promised gently and the tigers eyes shone through again. Stepping up to the Headmistress, Rogue rubbed her big head along Minerva's hip before turning away and laying down to groom herself.
HGMMHGMMHGMM
"What the bloody hell happened here?!" Neville cursed looking at the mauled body of Lucius Malfoy.
"I'm not even sure. He was like that when Ron and I got here. As far as we could figure, Rogue got out and mauled Lucius while he was trying to assault my mother." Draco shrugged as he explained and Ron placed his arm around the slimmer boys waist.
"Are you alright?" Harry asks looking at his best friends boyfriend.
"Yeah. You know I didn't care much for him. He didn't speak to mother or I any more He was pissed to be married to a blood traitor and have a son dating one. I wont miss him and he cant hurt mum any more." Draco shrugged and leaned into Ron.
"Fair enough I'd say. Hey I was thinking actually, Hannah made a good point that Lu is engaged to Rolf Scamander." Neville pointed out to the group as he levitated Lucius' body and brought it down onto a Mungo's certified body bag.
"That's great Nev but what is your point?" Ron had a look of questioning that was mirrored on his best friend and boyfriends face.
"Oh right the point." Neville rolled his eyes like it was obvious. "Its just that Lu is engaged to Rolf who is Newt Scamander's grandson. You know, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, so what if we asked Rolf to talk to his grandfather about Rogue."
"Wow, that's actually not a bad idea. They are going to be at the Cauldron tonight right?" Draco asked curiously. Neville nodded.
"How do we know that the Headmistress and Narcissa hasn't come up with anything though?" Harry asks zipping the bag.
"They haven't, I was talking to Cissa last night while Draco was taking a bath. It's been frustrating the Headmistress and Narcissa was pretty close to burning all her books last night." Ron shakes his head somewhere between amused and frustrated himself.
"Damn. Alright Ron, you with me Draco with Nev? Nev's heading for St Mungo's i'm off to inform Kings." Harry looked at the couple before looking at Neville.
"Sounds good. I'll meet you at the Cauldron tonight babe. I'm going to swing by the burrow after talking to Kings." Ron says kissing Draco chastely.
"Alright love." Draco smiled and said bye to Harry as he and Neville stepped up the floo and levitated the body bag with them.
After Neville and Draco left with the body Ron and Harry spent a few brief minutes scourgifying the blood smears from the floor before heading back to the floo and going through to the Ministry. Being an Auror had allowed the young men the freedom to look for Hermione while still doing their job of rounding up Death Eaters. Now that Hermione was found Kingsley had tasked them with research of the Rogue situation, it was also an under wraps situation.
When Hermione went missing the Wizarding world was incredibly distraught but now she has been found it was decided to keep it quiet since they couldn't seem to separate Rogue from Hermione.
HGMMHGMMHGMM
Rogue was still awake but the females, the green eyed one and the cold one, were fast asleep side by side on the floor. The cold one was sitting up against the wall with her head drooped forward. The green eyed one had moved in her sleep until she was laying down and was now pillowing her head on the cold ones thighs. It looked less than comfortable.
That's because it is. I could make them more comfortable if you would let me forward. Her girls voice sounded in her head.
Rogue wouldn't do that, it wasn't safe. She couldn't let anyone hurt her girl and even though she trusted the green eyed one and the cold one she refused to take the chance with her girl. Her girl had been through enough at the hands of these humans, the cold ones sibling was one of the worst. Rogue was getting angry at the memories and growled softly.
You're impossible! I've been in a forced sleep for months, I want to see my friends! Rogue was impressed with her girls level of fury. It fed her own.
Rogue could see the girls point really, but could the girl see hers? Rogue didn't want to let the girl she couldn't trust that she would be safe and the girl was hers, she would keep her safe. The only one she trusted was the green eyed one. Hers. But then it was tentative.
Fine but you have to stop thinking of me as your girl. My name is Hermione and the one you claim as yours is called Minerva. The cold one is Narcissa.
Rogue approved of the name Minerva, even Narcissa seemed to fit the cold one well. With a soft huff the tiger pulled herself from where she was laying and padded over to the two women. Gently nipping Narcissa blouse sleeve she pulled the woman down and forward a little. Narcissa didn't the rest of the work and settled herself and settled herself so her hand was resting on Minerva's hip and then pillowed her head on her hand. Rogue looked the pair over satisfied they would be more comfortable this way she settled herself down against Minerva's front. It wasn't even five minutes before first Narcissa and then a minute later Minerva buried their hands in the tigers thick furr.
So are you gay because I am? Hermione asked suddenly.
No.
HGMMHGMMHGMM
Minerva woke with a groan and stretched her legs as she rolled onto her back, the weight that had been on her hip shifted so it was pressed on her stomach. Looking down Minerva groaned again seeing Narcissa sleeping face slightly hidden by the younger woman's arm that was slung across Minerva's middle. She easily figured out that the two had fallen asleep while looking through books last night.
The Headmistress was startled out of her internal grumblings by a loud yawn right by her head and turning to look she literally came face to face with Rogue. Startling even more she jerked her head back and accidentally head-butted Narcissa right on the pubic bone. Narcissa woke with a pained groan and curled as best she could her hand gripping tight the fur she was clasping. Narcissa unscrewed her eyes and looked up first at the apologetic Headmistress and then at the irritated tiger.
"Why isn't she mauling us." Narcissa whispered and Rogue seemed to roll her eyes before dropping her head back down onto her paws.
"Too bony." Minerva bites her lip looking sideways at the woman still using her as a pillow.
"Thanks." Narcissa dead pans before smoothing Rogues fur back down and sitting up. Minerva followed suit.
"Yeah sorry about that. She surprised me." Minerva sighed as she moved and leaned back against the wall beside Narcissa.
"Its ok. Only hurt a little bit." Narcissa smirked and Minerva chuckled.
"I could kiss it better." Minerva offers feeling decidedly playful and flirty.
"Tempting though I think I will take a rain check Min. Though I am sure your Professor Turner would accommodate you if you're feeling particularly randy." Narcissa teased but as she said the last Rogue stood and growled.
"My sentiments exactly." Minerva spoke to the cat before them and Rogue seemed to calm considerably.
Narcissa watched intrigued as the massive animal turned and pressed her head into Minerva's chest for a moment before chuffing softly. Minerva tentatively lifted her hands and rubbed the creatures ears before Rogue turned towards the door and snarled. Not a minute later Draco appeared in the doorway only to look worriedly at the tiger standing pretty much on top of Minerva and his mother. Rogue stepped towards him and Draco stepped back.
"Draco, wait down stairs we will be down when we've dragged old bones off the floor." Narcissa urges a little worried for her son. Draco nodded and quickly disappeared, Rogue calmed.
The two witches, stiff from sleeping on the floor, grumbled to one another as they stoop up from the floor. Narcissa was only middle aged and though Minerva was quite a bit older her animagus had kept her young of body. Mostly. She was still old but she was fit and would live several more decades yet. Finally on their feet the women stretched before heading for the door Rogue padded after them but stopped at the top of the stairs and watched them descend.
When the duo made it into the Drawing room it was to see that not only Draco but Luna, Rolf, Ginny and Harry were there. It was a little odd that Ronald wasn't there but it was kind of early still for a Saturday so it was understandable. Ginny smiled seeing Minerva but then quickly frowned seeing both women's clothes were kind of rumbled and their hair unkempt.
"Min did you stay over with Narcissa?" Ginny's question came out sounding casual but the look on her face made it seem far more suggestive.
"I thought you were into what's her face? Professor Tuner?" Rolf inquired confused having heard the rumours as well. Minerva sputtered.
"Turner, mate. Professor Turner." Harry corrected politely.
The visiting group were all chuckling at the conversation that Minerva was rather put out by when Rogue stalked in growling furiously. The large tiger didn't take her eyes off the three males in the room as she pushed between Minerva and Narcissa and physically pushed the older witch away from the others. Narcissa heaved a sigh but before she could do anything Rogue had moved over to her and began herding her towards Minerva snarling the entire time.
"Oh! She is gorgeous. Hello Rogue. Hello Hermione." Luna spoke up finally stepping right up to the posturing tiger before anyone could grab her. Rogue was a little startled by the little blonde.
"Luna." Minerva hissed worriedly but Luna knelt in front of the tiger and looked directly in her eyes.
Rogue was still growling but the rumbling sound softened as she gazed back at the blue eyed witch before her. Luna smiled brightly and suddenly, the move startling the surrounding on lookers, stepped forward and pressed her big head into Luna's chest much the same way she had greeted Minerva only a half hour ago. Luna smiled wider and lifted her hands rubbing the fur smooth over Rogues large head.
"You are a savage thing aren't you hm. Protecting your chosen mate. Yes, so noble." Luna cooed to the tiger as if she was a happy little house cat. Rogue surprisingly chuffed softly almost a purr.
"LuLu she isn't a pet." Rolf spoke gently to his fiancee.
"Oh of course, I know that Rolf. She is just protecting Hermione and Minerva and Cissy." Luna spoke softly looking over her shoulder at the man she was to marry.
"Luna she really is savage. She killed Lucius last night." Ginny tried, they were worried for the eccentric young woman.
"Oh did you? What did he do hm? Threaten someone you like? Narcissa? He mistreated her huh? Tried to force himself on Cissy? Well good thing you were there. No one will miss him." Luna spoke bluntly her words shocking the group of people, she was usually so gentle natured. Rogue had started growling loudly again and looked back at Narcissa before returning her attention to the curious blonde.
Luna shuffled on her knees a little closer and began to run her hands through the tigers fur gently, the action seemed to sooth Rogue but she still regarded the males with contempt. Minerva watched for a long minute before kneeling on Rogues other side and running her own fingers through the fur while Narcissa stepped up beside Rogues head and gently stroked ears as looked at Luna.
"Luna you said Hello to both Rogue and Hermione. Why not just one or the other?" Narcissa inquired curiously and Luna looked up.
"Oh, well that would just be rude to speak to one and ignore the other." Luna tone was never one of 'duh' but the way she dreamily stated things like this could make a person want to face palm.
"Are you saying they are both present?" Narcissa tried again and Luna smiled that gentle smile of hers.
"Oh yes. Rogue is in control but Hermione is in there." Luna nodded as if agreeing with herself.
"How do you know Luna? How do you know they are two separate entities and Hermione isn't just suffering some... split personality." Draco stepped closer only to stumble back when furious yellow-brown eyes caught his and Rogues growling became savage again.
"Two reasons. One; Hermione wouldn't just kill people. Rowle? The campers? That isn't Hermione, not even a little bit. Two; I can see Hermione in there, when Rogue is calm enough her eyes change colour I'd know Hermione's chocolate eyes anywhere." Luna again says it in that gentle way that makes people want to smack themselves.
"Why is she so accepting of you lot but looks like she'd rather maul the rest of us than be in the same room?" Harry asks after a moment too long.
"I don't know. I can only understand her body language not what she is saying." Luna stated stroking fur again.
Luna had an uncanny way of making people think she is less intelligent and then completely crushing that thought process with a few simply stated observations. Narcissa, since becoming acquainted with the young blonde months ago, had grown quite fond of the dreamy Ravenclaw. Luna truly was a kind soul and extremely perceptive, she would for ever be a good ally to any she were loyal too.
"Why are you all here?" Minerva asks finally her tone not unkind.
"Oh right. We all went out last night and asked Rolf if he could talk to his grandfather about the Hermione situation. I hope you don't mind." Harry spoke up explaining the situation to the two women that hadn't been there last night.
"Granddad said he would drop by Malfoy Manor on Thursday night if that is ok. I have to send an owl and let him know." Rolf finishes and Minerva nods.
"Oh that is a great idea. I'd have never thought to ask Newt." Minerva smiles thinking this is brilliant news.
"You can thank Hannah, apparently." Ginny spoke up from her place beside Harry.
"I think I will drop by and see her tonight. Thank you all. I do think I need to be going though. Breakfast at Hogwarts and all that." Minerva says reluctantly standing up.
"Off to Miss Turner I presume." Narcissa teased.
"Oh come now Cissy, rain check remember. Don't be jealous." Minerva teased right back and Narcissa, shockingly, swatted the Headmistress on the bum as she stepped past. Minerva actually giggled.
"I did not just see my mother do that." Draco mumbled a hand over his eyes.
"No, you didn't. Actually none of you did." Minerva's tone is menacing and she steps up to the fireplace looking pointedly at the young witches and wizards.
"Absolutely, we didn't" Harry smirks at the woman whose eyes flash playfully before she steps through the floo disappearing in a flash of green fire.
"On that note, i'm going to soak in a bath for a while. You kids have fun." Narcissa smiles at the group before turning and heading out of the room. Rogue didn't hesitate to follow the woman out.
