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.: This is thought speech :.
Chapter 2 - Introductions
Harry sat on one of the sofa at headquarters, wondering what exactly happened. The train ride to London was normal, his uncle picking him up was normal. But something happened between the car ride home and him and the Dursleys entering the house.
Vernon Dursley was angry at Harry, at what Harry could only guess was what happened before his fifth year: the dementor incident. Dursley sent Aunt Petunia and Dudley shopping once they were home. Harry remembered being scared, and a lot of pain, but nothing much else.
He knew McGonagall came and got him, and that he was in pretty bad shape. Well, actually, he still was in pretty bad shape, but at least he wasn't bleeding anymore. McGonagall was able to take care of most of the injuries, then she flooed to Hogwarts to get Madam Pomfrey.
So, when the floo flared up, he expected it to be McGonagall or Madam Pomfrey. Instead, it was Snape.
"Potter," Snape hissed, moving away from the fireplace. The floo flared up almost immediately, and a boy Harry had never seen before. "What could you have done already that you got yourself injured?" Another boy came out of the floo, running into the first boy.
"Ugh. I never want to do that again," complained the second boy. "I think I'd rather live the rest of my life as a cockroach." Harry looked at the two, confused, then turned to his professor.
"I didn't do anything." Snape snorted.
"I don't believe that for one minute, Potter." The floo flared once again, and the first boy moved out of the way, but the second boy didn't. A blonde haired girl ran into the second boy.
"Marco! You could at least have had the sense to move," she told him.
"Hey, Jake didn't, Rachel. " The girl glared at the boy named Marco and moved over to the boy Harry assumed was Jake. "So, how did you come from that with no soot on you whatsoever? Is Xena really that immune to getting dirty?"
"Shut up, Marco, or you'll be sorry."
"Oo. I'm soo scar. . . ow! Why did you do that for?"
"I told you to shut up." The floo flared. Another boy came out, but fell to the ground immediately.
"Humans need more legs. Eggs. Two legs are far too unstable."
"Sure Ax, whatever you say," said Marco, helping Ax up. The floo flared twice more, and one more boy and a girl came out.
"I would move if you wish to not get run into," Snape flatly told the group crowding around the fireplace. Next came Dumbledore, McGonagall and Pomfrey.
"Mr. Potter! I was hoping to not see you for the next two months at least!"
"This really wasn't my fault, Madam Pomfrey."
"Yes, I was told that. Come on, let's see what's wrong," she answered. Harry blushed at the amount of people around see this.
"Come, now, everyone. Let's go to the kitchen and talk."
"This is headquarters?" Marco whispered to Jake, but it was still loud for everyone around to hear.
"It's better than the poop infested barn we hang out it," Rachel stated.
"True, too true. No offense, Cassie, but we really do need a decent meeting place. A few comfy chairs, sound proof walls, all the latest technology. And uniforms."
"Not on this again, are we Marco?" Jake asked, seemingly bored.
"Hey, can you blame me?" Harry watched as the group entered the kitchen.
"Who are they?" he asked.
"I don't know. Well, you seem alright. Here," she said, handing him a pepper up potion. "Just get some rest, and don't do anything strenuous for the rest of the day." She flooed out of headquarters, and Harry went to the kitchen. What he saw surprised him. There was a weird, blue creature, looking somewhat like a centaur with too many eyes and a blade tail, Hedwig seemed to be having a not-so-nice "conversation" with a hawk. Of course, the second he walked in, everyone, including the hawk, turned to look at him. Hedwig flew to Harry, and the hawk seemed to glare at Harry.
.:So, you're her owner. Owls:. he said with disgust.
"What's wrong with owls?" he asked, wondering who exactly he was talking to.
.:They are suppose to be sleeping at this time:. is all whoever it was said. Jake turned to Snape, obviously intent on getting whatever his point was across.
"The Yeerks could be anyone. We don't know if there is anyone here from our town. We can't risk being recognized, especially since we are supposed to be home doing whatever they are doing at this time. They can't know we are human. It would be too dangerous for us and our families."
"So they believe you are . . . what? Andalites?" Snape asked.
"Yes. And we want them to keep believing that."
"And if you are suppose to be home, who is there?" Jake sighed.
"We can't tell you that. Just know that we have some allies taking our place for a time."
"Human?"
"No quite. Androids, to be exact."
"Very old androids. Dog loving androids," Marco added.
"So, you have a bunch of robots taking your place while you are here? Won't someone notice?" asked Harry. Marco laughed.
"Well, I know my father will probably wonder why my room is actually clean, but he'll be more happy about it than anything else. And hey, as long as whoever is taking my place doesn't get rid of any of my stuff, I'm fine with that." Rachel rolled her eyes.
"No, they won't notice," Jake said plainly. "And I told Eric to tell them to not clean your room this time. In fact, expect it to be worse when we get back."
"You didn't!" Marco complained. Jake just smirked. McGonagall shook her head.
"You are too young," she said. The animorphs suddenly became very serious.
.:There is no one else:. said that voice again.
"Who is that?" Harry asked. Marco burst out laughing again, and pointed to the hawk.
"That was bird-boy there." The hawk seemed to glare at Marco, then turned his gaze on Harry.
.:I'm Tobias.:.
"Hi," Harry said. "I'm Harry," he told Tobias.
"Which brings me to another question," Dumbledore cut in. "Tobias." Tobias looked at the headmaster. "You said you live as a hawk?"
.:Yes.:.
"What about your family?" There was a sizable pause.
.:I don't have parents, and my uncle probably thinks I'm with my aunt, and vice-versa. They don't care:. he answered, obviously not wanting to talk about it, which Harry only knew oh-too-well. The room was silent for awhile. The silence was interrupted by someone's stomach growling.
.:I believe you are hungry, Marco:. said Ax.
"Shut your mouth, Ax," snapped Marco.
.:I do not have a mouth.:.
"It was a figure of speech, Ax," explained Cassie. "Which works better with those who do have mouths."
"Would you be willing to wait an hour for food?" asked Dumbledore. "Molly will be here soon, and I am sure she would love to make dinner."
"Of course," answered Jake.
"I am interested in your morphing ability," said Snape. "What animals can you become?"
.:Anything we can get close enough to touch:. answered Tobias.
"Anything?"
"Anything with DNA."
"So you could morph another human."
"Yes. But we don't do that unless a mission calls for no other option."
"I see." In the other room, they heard the floo flare up several times, then a bunch of loud noises. Almost immediately, they came into the kitchen.
"Oh, Harry, are you okay?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah," he answered, still paying close attention to the strangers in the room.
"Hey, who are you?" asked Fred, looking at said strangers. Jake sighed, then looked at Dumbledore. He didn't want to explain this again.
"We will explain that after dinner. Molly, would you start dinner?"
"Of course."
"Severus I would like you to stay," said Dumbledore as Snape started walking toward the door.
"I have things I need to get done."
"Anything that can't wait until later this evening?"
"No, of course not," sighed Snape.
