(Please note, this story is undergoing a name change, starting next chapter it will be titled Hau'Rii)

Hau'Rii

Chapter 3: Attack of the Perverted Spider-Monkey,

And Other Potentially Dangerous Creatures

The first two weeks Harry was on Pandora was spent learning about the planet and what types of creatures and plants residing within the surrounding forest.

It felt, to Harry, like he was back at Hogwarts for first year again. Everything was new and exciting and it always amazed him how different Pandora was from Earth…how much better it was.

The team (as Harry had begun referring to his group of human/Na'vi crossbreeds) spent more time in their avatar forms then their real bodies in an attempt to get used to operating them. Harry was still a bit on the clumsy side since he couldn't seem to coordinate his tail with the rest of his limbs. But he was working on it with a dedication he'd only ever shown in Quidditch.

When Harry asked why it was so important and why they hadn't gone outside the gates yet Grace had explained, in a voice one might use on a small child, "We don't need you dunderheads bumbling around in the wild like a bunch of drunken monkeys. It will be dangerous enough with you two idiots poking and prodding at any little thing that catches your attention."

Harry noted that Grace had not included Norm as one of the 'dunderheads'.

But Grace couldn't postpone her studies forever and she was already falling behind in her schedule so she could not stall their first venture any longer.

Jake, Norm, Grace, and, of course, Harry were ushered into an especially large helicopter and flown out of the base and into the depths of the tropical landscape.

It was an interesting experience for the young wizard, who had never ridden in a muggle helicopter before. It was exceptionally loud on his overly sensitive Na'vi ears, but Harry ignored that I favor of trying to look outside.

Jake was perched at the door, a heavy looking gun slung across his lap which Harry eyed petulantly.

Jake had attempted to teach Harry how to use a gun in the weeks they had spent adjusting. That venture had proved to be a disaster right from the start and resulted in Harry being banned from all forms of weaponry save a slender dagger that was tucked safely into his boot.

No one was exactly sure what had happened, but Harry had somehow managed to sever every hanging light in the room they had been using for target practice. All glass in the room, even the bullet proof windows, had been shattered and sparks had showered down on all spectators. All of this Harry accomplished with a single bullet that had, after causing its initial destruction, had doubled back on its 'instigator'.

Jake had let out an 'oh shit" before lunging at Harry and toppling both avatar's to the ground.

Upon standing the duo discovered the bullet lodged a good three inches into the wall. Directly behind where Jake had been standing.

Jake's tail had twitched before he'd snatched Harry's gun from his hands. The next thing Harry remembered was standing outside with the door securely bolted behind him.

He'd pouted non-stop for a day after the event before Grace had taken pity on him and volunteered to take him under her wing and teach him a bit of her science stuff.

Unfortunately Harry's attention span was smaller then a snitch and his magic had violent reactions to any objects the woman placed in his hands.

If anyone thought it suspicious that any electronic devices placed in Harry's care malfunctioned or, on the truly rare occasions, exploded, no one said anything.

So Harry had been given a pad of normal everyday paper and was told to record 'everything'. What 'everything' was no one had bothered clarifying and Harry suspected his assignment was more to keep him out of everyone's hair then anything else.

So when everyone else was working-be it target practice or science-Harry was left with his doodle pad.

Said doodle pad was tucked away in the light jacket he'd been given while he tried to lean over Jake to see the river stretched out below them.

The river was a vast silver ribbon lined with lush trees on either bank. Pandorian birds, a strange featherless creature with blue and purple marbled skin, cried at them for disturbing their flight. The one closest to the helicopter snapped at them a couple times before turning away and melting into the thick of the flock.

Harry watched the colorful creatures with a wide grin…until the river dropped out from under them in a huge falls. The helicopter driver dipped the machine, turning it on its side. Harry felt himself lifted from the security of the floor and would surely have toppled out of the muggle creation had Jake not latched his arms around Harry's middle and dragged him back down.

Harry's stomach flipped and he felt a strange squirming inside at the touch on his waist. Instantly Harry was back in his seat, heat burning his cheeks and luminous eyes cast anywhere but at his companions.

This feeling didn't last long and once he got his heart back under control he'd be back to climbing over Jake to try to see out the side of the copter. Until another gutsy move by the driver sent him tumbling towards the exit again and Jake's strong hands latched onto his waist to pull him back to safety again.

The funny feeling would return and he would retreat until it went away again. This seemed to amuse Jake and Norm, if the smirks sent his way was any indication.

Harry was still pouting when they piled out again. He hung back a little from the group with his arms crossed over his chest.

"We'll be working in pairs." Grace announced when she had everyone's attention, "Stick to your partner and try not to wander off." She instructed briskly, "Jake you're with Harry. Norm, you will be working with me. Now let's go." With a quick dismissal of any military men that accompanied the group, Grace gestured for them to be on their way.

Harry's sullen mood evaporated and he bounced over to Jake, a broad grin stretching across his face.

Jake returned it, fangs glinting in the sunlight giving him a strangely cat like look, especially with his luminous yellow eyes.

Norm and Grace moved through the foliage murmuring back and forth amongst themselves, sometimes in English and sometimes in Na'vi-either way Harry didn't understand one word of it.

Jake led the boy-who-lived a little ahead of their companions. Harry didn't mind, his long blue fingers flitting over any and all plant life they came across.

Harry was captivated, caught up in the mystical flora of Pandora. Everything was so vivid and colorful. Harry might even go so far as to say there were colors here that he'd never seen on Earth and many such colors defied all definition…even when trying to describe them to himself in his own mind.

By Merlin, this place was fantastic!

Not only did everything look different, but things felt odd too. Or were plants supposed to feel fuzzy while looking silky?

It seemed to Harry that all the natural laws he'd ever known existed had been turned on their heads.

Harry couldn't find it in him to care, especially when the serenity of the forest was disrupted with low gurgling sounds. The hair on the back of Harry's neck stood on end, his ears plastering themselves against his scull and he froze where he stood-his hand still outstretched.

The haunting sounds got louder and Harry couldn't suppress a shudder. He desperately wanted to move. All his Gryffindor bravery seemed to have abandoned him leaving him feeling vulnerable standing where he was-away from the man with the gun.

Even if he had managed to gain control of his rebellious limbs again he wouldn't have had time to retreat to his companions before the trees were covered in things.

They were ugly things too, despite their pretty colors. Lanky bodies with two too many arms that bent in odd places. They reminded him uncomfortably of spiders, despite their primate bone structure and bat-like faces.

Harry did not like them.

Harry also got the distinct impression that the creepy little things returned the sentiment.

The young wizard wasn't the only one startled by the abrupt entrance of the creatures. While Norm and Grace looked calm-if not outright amused- Jake had drawn his gun.

'Good Jake.' Harry thought to himself, still keeping one wary eye on the closest of the native intruders.

Laughter broke through the calls of the forest and Harry snapped his eyes to Grace, who was teasingly telling Jake that their little friends were "just tree lemurs."

Harry hadn't looked away for more then five seconds, but when he turned his gaze back to his tree-hugging guest Harry received a nasty shock.

The creature was in Harry's face, literally. Its wide creepy eyes were staring into him and its long skinny arms were stretched out around it among the branches, displaying its blue body in all its furless glory to Harry's poor virgin eyes.

Harry blinked once before screeching and making a mad dash for Jake.

Thin blue arms latched around one of Jake's firm biceps as Harry swung himself behind the big man/Na'vi.

Stunned silence met Harry's hysterical flight.

"Har-what?" Jake asked incoherently.

Luckily Harry didn't need much encouragement to explain.

One lanky arm pocked out from behind the marine and pointed at the offensive creature. "That-that evil, creepy, perverted spider-monkey-thing." Harry's voice spat, still on a frightfully highoctave, "Just flashed me!"

Again the forest was filled with stunned silence as the avatar drivers processed just what their fourth member had just said.

The evil spider monkey stared at them with deceptively innocent eyes. Harry peeked out from under Jake's arm to glare at the creature that -Harry was sure- returned the look with a malicious grin of its own. Then the beast leapt back into the trees with one last creepy google-coo that echoed sinisterly in the silence.

Harry shuddered.

This seemed to be too much for his teammates.

It started with a snicker, from whom Harry was never able to decipher, before raising into howls of laughter.

A heavy arm draped itself over Harry's thin shoulders, drawing him out from behind the bigger avatar to sulk next to Jake. "It's not funny." Harry grumbled, only causing his friends to laugh harder, "I'll be scared for life, I'll have you know."

"Harry, Harry, Harry." Norm chanted teasingly, shaking his head back and forth in a mock sympathetic movement, "Just how old did you say you were again?"

Harry bristled at the insult, "Eighteen." He declared proudly. He had always hated being treated like a baby. Even Hermione and Ron had that particular bad habit, much to Harry's chagrin. It wasn't as if he had asked to be the youngest person in their year, and he certainly hadn't asked to be so unfairly small.

But despite his birthday and stature he was not a baby, and he resented being called (or treated like) one.

Unfortunately Harry's outburst threw his team into another bout of stunned silence.

"Oh, really." Harry thought in irritation, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.

"You're practically a baby." Jake declared unreasonably. Harry glared up at him mutinously from under his arm. "Your parent's must be worried sick."

Harry tore himself away from the large Na'vi, "I am not a baby." He spat vehemently "And I don't have parents. I've lived with my mother's sister since I was a small child." Harry scowled at the thought of the Dursley's. He hadn't been living them since he'd come of age a year…well, six years ago now, and he didn't think they would have cared about his disappearance. In fact he reckoned they had celebrated it like they had never celebrated his birthday.

"Besides, I'm not exactly 18 anymore, now am I?" He asked a touch bitterly. He'd effectively lost five years of his life, and this was the first time he'd truly thought about that. Hermione and Ron were long married by now, with a child and maybe more on the way. Ginny must be more then over him by now and likely married to someone else. And Teddy, sweet Teddy was almost old enough to attend Hogwarts.

It was a painful thought, he'd missed so much in his family's lives, and how much more would he lose while he was on Pandora before he could find a way home?

The team were watching him again, pity in their lemon hued eyes.

Harry's tail lashed behind him testily and his ears curled back, efficiently hiding in his wild ebony curls, "Let's just go." He growled, but no one seemed to have heard him. Rolling his eyes he turned his back on the small group, lashing his tail more harshly now, "I thought we were out here to do science stuff, not talk about little old me."

Grumbling to himself Harry stomped ahead of his companions. Behind his back the three other avatars smiled in amusement.

Harry's ire was quickly forgotten. He just couldn't stay upset with such splendor surrounding him.

Norm and Grace were soon lost in their science-herbology again, but Harry hadn't been concerned with them in the first place and that didn't change now.

Harry scrambled over tree roots and under large drooping branches tripping over a particularly ill placed root, before regaining his balance and deciding what plant he wanted to look at first. He stepped closer to examine one of the peacock plants, delighting in how it trembled under his touch. Harry gently trailed a finger over the feather-leaves, smiling at the ripple his touch left on the delicate material.

Curious about what else he could play with Harry darted around a particularly large tree and stopped in his tracks. Sun-bright eyes grew wide as he took in the pink spiral flowers growing in the small clearing. They were huge with cloth like folds Harry thought resembled Hermione's Hogwarts school uniform skirt.

Jake came to a stop behind him, and Harry grinned at the taller Na'vi over his shoulder before bounding into the thick of the plants.

Jake followed at a more sedate pace, amused by the younger man's bouncy enthusiasm.

Harry turned in a tight circle, his eyes sweeping over every plant and his fingers just itching to touch. He settled on a particularly large one dead center of the cluster.

Experimentally Harry brushed the outermost ridge with the tip of one finger. The feather like touch was more then enough to draw forth a reaction, and a violent one at that.

One minute the bloom was stretched wide and welcoming the next the ground had opened up and ate it.

Harry, reasonably alarmed, jumped like a startled kitten and scrambled behind Jake again, using the larger warrior as a shield against attack…not that he'd do much good against the ground, but Harry figured the ground would have to eat the other avatar first and Jake was very big. This should give Harry enough time to make his get away.

Yes, Harry's Slytherin side had been pulled to the fore since arriving on Pandora, but he didn't care. It wasn't like any of his friends were here to hold him to his Gryffindorish-ness. Besides, Pandora was a very dangerous place and he would ere on the side of caution for the time being, thanks.

When nothing happened, and both Jake and Harry remained safely standing on their own little patches of dirt, Harry peaked out to the side. He could feel Jake vibrating with suppressed laughter where Harry pressed a hand to his back.

Harry ignored him and deemed the clearing peaceful and still, and thus perfectly safe for Harry to continue his play.

So Harry did the only logical thing in such a situation. He touched another, and followed it down to where it disappeared.

As it turned out, the ground hadn't eaten the flower at all. The pale blossom had shrunk and spun itself into a small slit in a thick rope-like vine looping over the forest floor.

Intrigued now, Harry hopped over to another bud. He hovered in front of the large flower, smiling innocently at his guest before his smile spread and his lips peeled back in an evil toothy grin.

Then he spun around and touched the plant before dancing to touch another, and another, and another. His game came to a close when the plant had decided it had had enough of the crazy Na'vi girl and all the blooms disappeared in one sweeping movement around the startled couple.

Harry's trilling laughter died when he came face to hammer with the largest animal he'd come across while on this new planet.

The beast was large and had a thick grey skin; it seemed to be a crossbreed of a hammerhead shark and a rhino. Either way it did not look nice. And, more importantly, it was a lot bigger then Harry.

Apparently Harry wasn't the only one startled by the abrupt meeting as the giant flared it's brightly colored crest, trumpeting threateningly.

Harry was paralyzed, with shock, memories of trolls and hypogryphs flashing through his mind. Luckily for the young wizard Jake didn't seem to have the same problem. Strong fingers wrapped around Harry's upper arm and tugged him backwards, pushing him behind the taller Na'vi.

The creature was trumpeting and stomping it's feet in agitation, Jake's gun was not only in his hands but aimed at the large animal.

Harry couldn't help but think bullets wouldn't do much good against something that…well…big. It would be like trying to slay a dragon with a slingshot-that is to say, impossible.

Grace and Norm could be heard running towards them, but they skidded to a stop just short of the clearing, "Don't shoot!" Grace ordered from the tree line.

Harry shot her an incredulous look. Yes, he had just come to the conclusion that shooting it wouldn't do much good, but Jake could still scare the thing off, or at the very least, injure it.

"Don't shoot." She reiterated, "You'll only piss it off."

Harry turned wide, frightened eyes back to the creature, who was now swinging its head around aggressively, tearing at the terrain. Grass and clumps of dirt were flying everywhere and trees were upended from the ground roots dangling uselessly, before being tossed aside.

If possible Harry's eyes widened further and he could feel his heart pounding in his ears. Yeah, piss off…sure.

IT WAS A LITTLE TOO LATE FOR THAT.

Jake seemed unsure of what to do, his head whipping between Grace and the beast. Harry could feel his magic boiling under his skin, stinging his fingertips in its need to do something.

Harry reeled in all his excess magic and shoved it roughly back into his core before latching onto Jake's shirt from behind. Now was not the time to be experimenting with his magic. There was no telling how it would react to, not only the environment, but its new vessel as well.

Sensing Jake's uncertainty Grace continued talking, her voice cooling off and softening with each word she spoke in an attempt to sound reassuring-it wasn't helping, "Jake, that armor's too thick. Trust me. It's a territorial threat display." Uhuh, yeah, okay. That doesn't exactly help. "Don't run or he'll charge."

Don't run, don't run? Just what were they supposed to do now? Becoming a Potter-Pancake was not on Harry's to-do list, and he was fairly certain that would not be changing in the near future.

Jake seemed to be channeling similar thoughts because the next thing out of his mouth was, "So what do I do? Dance with it? And what am I supposed to do with Harry?"

Harry let out a half hysterical giggle. Yeah, that hadn't been funny at all.

"Just," Grace paused as if considering her words carefully, "hold your ground."

Harry thought it was a stupid bit off advice and contemplated letting a bit of his magic loose. But no, he really didn't want to chance blowing Jake up, somehow he didn't see the marine ever forgiving him for something like that.

Besides, with his luck his magic would only irritate the creature more, and as specified earlier…Harry had no wish to become a potter-pancake.

More stomping and trumpeting then Jake did something very stupid. Or maybe it was courageous. Either way it was a very Gryffindor thing to do and Harry wished he'd thought of it first.

Screaming at the top of one's lungs and charging a clearly agitated monster a good deal larger and heavier then oneself was something Harry was intimately familiar with.

Although, Harry thought he would have had a little more grace then to wave his arms around like a gorilla, but this was Jake. Obviously the man had a few screws loose. The random bouts of gibberish he was spouting off as he danced about only confirmed this thought for Harry.

"Yeah? Come on, what you got." Jake taunted as he pranced around like a Hufflepuff doped up on fairy dust. The mad man was doing some dance only he seemed to know the steps to. He'd move forward before randomly dancing to one side or the other, constantly moving-and still waving his weapon around in what Harry assumed was a threatening gesture. "Oh yeah, who's bad? That's right."

Harry thought Jake looked very Tarzan-like, posturing with a rhino like he did so every day. All he needed now was the loincloth.

Surprisingly Jake's crazy stunt seemed to be working. The giant's crest drooped and the creature shifted its weight nervously before it started backing away. This seemed to boost Jake's confidence, "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about bitch." He crowed, moving back towards where Harry was waiting. "That's right; get your punk ass back to mommy."

Although Harry was grateful to the man, he thought Jake might be taking things a bit far, but if it made Jake feel better, and then who was Harry to say anything?

Harry was feeling a little delirious with relief himself. His heart was still beating up a storm in his chest and there was a roaring in his ears reminiscent of a waterfall.

Jake continued his pointless commentary, but Harry was no longer paying him any attention. His bones seemed to have melted and he was trembling with relief. It had been a while since he had last stared death in the face. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, and something about Pandora made him feel exposed. The fact that his magic was more or less useless didn't help any either.

Harry let out a long breath, trying to calm his racing heart. The warm gusts of air on the back of his neck and rustling his hair went a long way to help calm his nerves too. The breeze was humid and on the warm side and it smelled a bit.

Harry paused; his nose tilted upwards as he delicately sniffed the air again. Was wind supposed to smell like rotten meat and sour milk?

A chill raced down Harry's spine, a spark of magic setting the hair on the back of his neck standing on end. Slowly, ever so slowly, Harry turned around.

His trembling had increased to outright shaking and he almost collapsed where he was from sheer shock.

"Jake?" He cried tentatively, his voice coming out more like a squeak then anything. Harry did not like the way this new predator was watching him, it had a look in its eye that practically screamed 'lunch'!

Harry briefly thought that this might be worse then being squished into a potter pancake. "Jake!" He cried again more loudly when it was obvious the man was still preoccupied with his presumed victory. Harry had a feeling that Jake had not been the one to scare off the rhino-hammer, after all.

No, when faced with this new monster Jake was nothing more then a glorified pussy cat. This large panther like creature had a sleek black coat that looked almost like snake skin in the dim light of the forest, and had the freakiest mouth Harry had ever set eyes on (it was even more disturbing then the giant squid's beak back at Hogwarts.

Jake still hadn't answered Harry, and he was starting to panic just a little. "Jake!" Something in Harry's voice must have caught Jake's attention because he finally cut off his little spiel, "What is it Har-" He was cut off by a deafening bellow from the panther-thing before it launched itself over their heads.

"Oh shit." Jake cursed, ducking. Both avatar drivers spun around to face the creature, neither wanting their backs to the obviously deadly animal.

"What about this one?" Jake demanded, gun at the ready again. Although Harry noticed he seemed a little more on edge now then he had with the rhino earlier. "Run? Don't run? What?"

"Run. Definitely run.' Came Grace's urgent reply.

Jake wasted no time. He spun on his heel, grabbed Harry's arm, and dragged the boy under the fallen tree the six legged panther had been perched on earlier.

Harry scrambled to keep up, dodging around trees and ducking through any opening his could find. Harry tripped over a root, breaking his and Jake's connection.

The predator was right on their heels, clawing its way through any obstacles in its path.

Jake paused long enough to drag Harry to his feet then they were off again.

Wood and other debris flew in ever direction as the creature tore its way through tree's, lunging after its escaping prey.

Harry dove into a small hole made by the roots of a tree. Jake following close behind.

It was a small space for one Na'vi body, and even though Harry wasn't very big it was a tight fit.

The beast wasn't about to give up though, and tried to follow them.

When it couldn't reach it roared it's frustration to the tree tops, and then tried for a different solution. Sharp claws invaded their small haven, followed up by snapping jaws.

Jake pushed Harry further behind him before firing at the thing.

Nothing happened unless you counted the creature's spike in anger. But Jake diligently kept firing until his gun was wrenched from his hands when the cat latched onto it and tore it away.

Seeing no other choice Jake pushed Harry out of their hiding place and back into the open.

Harry scrambled into a clearing and was halfway through it before he realized Jake wasn't behind him.

Worried Harry spun around.

The creature had Jake's pack in its jaws and was swinging the marine around like a rag doll.

Jake managed to undo the buckle and slip free but one of his arms got caught in the strap and he went flying through the air. He landed, heavily, on the ground several yards away.

The creature's attention turned from the pack onto Jake he minute he started moving again.

It pounced, landing over the marine and it was obvious Jake wouldn't make it.

So Harry picked up the nearest rock and threw it. Adrenaline was running high and he was so worried he didn't even try to check the bit of magic that unfurled from his core and twined around the rock, enhancing Harry's throw to the point that it actually hurt the panther.

A great pained roar split the air and a thick black tail lashed behind the beast. Ears laid back the predator turned its attention to Harry, baring its teeth at the young wizard. Harry felt the blood drain from his face, his tail and ears dropping in realization of what he had just done.

Shit. He was a bloody idiot! But his moment of insanity had given Jake enough of a distraction for him to start running again. The creature's eyes snapped back to his now moving prey and he hissed in irritation, but before he was able to pounce on the fleeing Na'vi another of Harry's rock-missiles connected with its side.

Deciding that he could take care of the running prey after he'd taken out the annoying insect taking shots at him, the predator focused all its considerable attention on the smaller form…namely Harry. The large beast pounced on its new game, grappling with its further most paws to latch onto any bit of Harry it could claim.

Harry wasn't about to get caught, though, and easily dodged the attack. Unfortunately he hadn't factored in the creature's two additional limbs and he felt hooked claws rip through the flesh on his right leg.

Harry ignored the tearing and pain as he followed Jake. When he finally spotted the other avatar driver Jake was standing on a cliff, looking desperately for another escape rout.

Even in his rushed state Harry knew they had no options left, and Jake must have been coming to the same conclusion before fate took the decision out of both their hands. A few yards from where Jake was standing Harry's injured leg gave out and sent him careening into Jake; sending them both over the edge of the cliff.

So, the pole has been closed and I have a clear view of just where I'm taking this story. And yes, before anyone asks, I do remember that Harry is a girl in avatar form…but he doesn't really think of himself as a girl, and it is in his point of view.

Thanks for reading and please:

Review!