Howl, Harry

Chapter Four

Three days.

It had been three days since the Order had fallen back, occupants of Hogsmeade with them.

Hogwarts was up in arms now. Third years helped Madam Pomfrey with the injured, while the Fourth years and up trained for the upcoming fight. Everyone else stayed in their common rooms.

Harry closed his eyes. As of now, he sat at the High Table, awaiting the moment that the wards of Hogwarts fell.

He could feel it.

He was ready.

He counted down the moments, unaware of the various eyes on him.

At the Slytherin table, Draco shuddered imperceptively at the coldness, it had accompanied the pain the past couple days. His mother was dead. One of the bodies that the Order had brought back. As of three seconds ago, it had ceased to matter. Opening his eyes, he stared hard at the gaunt form of the supposed Savior.

He didn't look like one. Feeling someone looking at him, he turned his head to the Gryffindors.

Granger.

She was perceptive. Once sure that she had his attention, she slowly dragged her eyes to Harry. Draco's narrowed when she turned back, a worried, knowing look in them. She could feel it too. Harry was getting ready to move.

As Harry stood, a crack echoed around the Great Hall.

Harry moved forward, but stopped, eyes wide when Krista appeared in his path.

"Move, Krista." he pleaded quietly.

Krista sneered. "Take it off."

"Krista please." he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

Her voice echoed. "Take. It. Off." Harry closed his eyes and shimmered. The air was filled with gasps as the entire school took in the form of the silver wolf, marked only by the thin, black lightning fur.

Krista folded her arms, staring down at the wolf. "Howl." she commanded softly.

Harry's eyes widened, but obediently, he howled.

It sounded defeated, weak and didn't echo as it once used to. It obviously didn't satisfy Krista.

"Howl." she commanded again.

Again, Harry howled.

The Great Hall was silent, taking in the broken sound. Draco felt his breath catch. He had severely underestimated his mate's pain.

"Howl."

Hermione felt tears form as Harry's howl nearly turned into a choke.

"Howl."

Ron's fists shook in suppressed rage as Harry shook, trying to please the woman before him.

"Howl."

Dumbledore stood and made his way down the center.

"Howl."

"Stop this at once."

"Howl."

Ron shot to his feet. "Enough! Can't you see that he's doing the best he can?!"

Krista ignored them both.

"Howl." she snarled.

Blood pooled at Harry's feet, dripping down silver fur.

"Howl."

Harry coughed, blood coming up, and landing with a soft 'glop' on the ground.

"Howl."

Molly Weasley cried as her surrogate son struggled to stay standing. "Stop it please!"

Draco closed his eyes against the sight of the weakened silver wolf.

Ron choked on his rage and sadness.

Hermione buried her face in her arms and cried.

"Howl."

Around the hall, murmurs of encouragement went out to Harry.

"Howl."

Slowly, Harry collapsed.

Krista sneered at him. "You are weak. You expect to save all these people? You can't even save yourself."

Harry stood slowly, his limbs shaking. "I'm not weak."

Krista stared at him. "You are."

"I'm not."

"You are. You can't even howl."

Harry raised his head, eyes blazing. "I'M NOT WEAK!"

"Prove it." Krista challenged.

Harry threw back his head and Howled.

The sound echoed around the room, shattering windows and the closed wooden doors shook.

The pure strength in the sound made the entire hall stand, sorrow forgotten.

As the sound faded, Harry looked Krista in the eyes. "I'm not weak."

Krista smiled. "No. You're not. Make them all proud. Call on the Wolves."

Harry sat at her feet and howled. The sound wove through the bodies of the hall, giving strength and courage that had shattered in the face of their weakened Savior.

The castle itself groaned as Wild Magic flooded the grounds, opening craters in the stone and wolves of every shape, size, and color poured from them, surrounding Krista and Harry.

Krista looked at the Slytherin table, not surprised to see the pure black wolf standing on it. "Draconis." she murmured.

"Thank you."

"Harry." He looks at her. "Howl." she murmurs.

Harry gives a small smirk and throws his head back, howling once more. The entire room echoes it.

"Good luck, Harry. The Dark One is here. You can beat him."

"I can. I will. Let's Run!"

Krista chuckled as the room began to empty, through windows. She moved gracefully to the door and threw the doors open, turning to look back at those still in the Great Hall.

"Keep him safe, Draconis." she whispered, before fading.