Disclaimer: Err, I guess I don't own the adorable little munchkin but then again J.K brought him to us at 11…he's four now…#rubs chin thinking before grabbing him# MINE! MINE! MINE! Muahahahahahha!

Rejected Runespoor

Chapter 8

:Wizards.: Harry asked with no inflection in his voice before making a noise and hurrying back outside. Their old den had basically been an underground fox's den. A hole in the ground really. The newer one was stone partially and better hidden simply because it was so natural. The earth around here was rugged with several small rock outcroppings and this was one. Almost totally a stone den except for the floor it was so perfect he figured the only reason he and the snake hadn't moved there first was because of distance, which he could handle much better now. The only thing now was that this den wasn't made for hiding like the other.

Harry made an annoyed noise again. :If we cover the opening in foliage it will look strange with all the rock! And I don't think I can roll a stone here.: He looked at the opening with a sigh. :I don't want them to find me. I'm happy here. Maybe we can move back to the old den? It will be easier to hide. And I can curl up. It wouldn't be that tight a squeeze: Harry finished hopefully.

:Little one.: His mother said softly. :If you don't want to be found just wish it. Or…will it.:

Will it. Harry took a deep breath and turned from the front of the den shutting his eyes. I don't want you to find here. I don't want you to see here. I don't want you to find me. I don't want anyone to find me. He hated the thought of being taken away from here and put all his desire to stay behind the spell he was hopefully casting and cheered internally as he felt magic washing over him.

He opened his eyes with a happy grin. :They won't find the den. So we just have to stay in here until they leave.:

:How much water do we have:

:Five or six bottles. And you know we can make them last. I hardy need more water than you when I'm not working.:

:It will leave you weak.:

:Rather weak and here than strong and gone.: Harry said flippantly. :We have food and fresh supplies. We can wait them out.:

:Do you think they will just leave:

:Well yeah. Don't they have lives? Whatever they are looking for they will either find or not and leave.:

:Kid don't be stupid. They are looking for you! And if they've been doing their guesswork they'll know you're here.: The right head hissed irritably.

:Muggles are missing things. They might think it's some random other muggle stealing things but if you added it all together it looks like someone trying to survive in the wild. The wizards will know…: The left head added.

:And little one, you must face the fact. It is your time. We were expecting the wizards to come.:

:We were wondering what was taking them so long.: The right head said with ironic amusement.

:It's my time? What?…:

:You are close to maturing. At this time wizard hatchlings are gathered at the wizard schools to learn…you have more than enough magic to be one chosen. I guess you are ready now. It is time.: The left head hissed softly.

:No! I'm not going. I refuse to! People abandoned me here and I won't be again. This is my home now and no one is taking me from it! I say we try harder to protect the forest. Maybe even make it harder for the wizards to get around with their searches. And I've got just the thing…:

The other snakes in the reserve were muggle ones. They weren't special then, like Potty. But some were still poisonous and even the grass snakes could be helpful. So he had spent the last hour of pre-dawn time visiting nearby dens to ask assistance. The few snakes he'd talked to would be travelling all day around the reserve to tell others to gather here. It was a sort of…snake guard, Harry thought with a smirk.

:Another thing. These new coverings…:

Harry only smiled and kept walking, heading back to their den. :You like? I got it from the muggles. I don't have to go hunting naked at night now. A relief, let me tell you: Harry mock shivered.

:What is it:

:I have noooo idea. And I found this other thing, like a toy but it doesn't seem to do anything. It's like a long stick…only not that long. And more…: Harry cocked his head. :Proper.: He pulled it out of the snug pocket and the snake moved from where it was wrapped on his wrist to the object. :And shiny. See:

:It's a wand.: The left head tasted it inquisitively with it's tongue flicking the air before it's eyes widened.

:Shush! I heard something: Harry had frozen almost mid-step. :Shoot. We should have waited so late to head back to the den! The wizards…:

He swallowed heavily as he heard talking and took a quiet step. Onto a old tree branch. Harry looked down eyes widening comically before he made a dash for the closest set of trees and scrambled up one quickly. He paused up in the thick of a tree as the first of his pursuers came into view. A woman with short pink hair who was making a fair amount of noise herself paused under the tree and looked around. And yes she was definitely one of the wizards. He was yet to see a muggle in this reserve dressed like that! Harry was sorely tempted to grab a branch and hurl it down at her but instead started making his way to the other side of the tree soundlessly. It was all about balance really and he used the arch of his feet to their full potential to grip the branch under him as he judged and jumped to the next tree with only a light thump on landing. It wouldn't be heard down there. He made three more jumps and was almost home free when the person under the tree he'd just jumped to stiffened. The black-haired man said something quietly to the taller man beside him who started to move away before pulling out a stick. Harry eyed it, eyes narrowing and suddenly had a bad feeling. The man below too pulled a stick and looked up suddenly, Harry taking in the pale face, sharp nose and dark eyes almost instantly before he realized he was spotted.

It was a chase now Harry jumping from tree to tree, the people running along beneath him and shouting to each other. He didn't take notice of what they were saying just led them back away from the den. He'd lose them eventually and then he'd go back home and hide under his blanket. Harry kept chanting this to himself as he ran, crawled and jumped along, almost losing his balance on tree limbs sometimes. And then suddenly there was no place to go. Harry groaned his frustration before sitting down on the branch he had ended at, the next…too far away.

"We know you're up there. Come down!" A deep voice called up.

Harry sat thinking and swinging his legs off the branch. :Well Potty. Hope you're happy.: He hissed quietly.

:It was your idea to go form the snake guard! Why…: The right head hissed back affronted.

:Mother, you could have told me it was too close to dawn:

The other two heads' eyes rolled while his mother spoke. :You couldn't hide forever child.:

Harry pouted. :Sounds like you're trying to get rid of me.:

"Come down now or we will fire spells into the tree." A dangerous toned voice called. Someone down there muttered something and next an almost friendly voice called.

"Harry." The person in questioned blinked surprised at his snake. "We aren't here to hurt you. Just come down."

:Can't be getting rid of you if we're coming with.:

Harry sighed. :Down then? To see how these wizards know me:

The three heads bobbed and Harry sighed again before pushing of the branch and propelling himself forward. He resisted the urge to enjoy his free fall as he usually did, landing safely as usual, this time in a tumble from the extra height before standing slowly, brushing himself down and turning to the assembled people.

:Hello.:

I don't know why everyone thought it was a wand…I've changed it to that because it fits in better now that I think about it…but it wasn't a wand! #snickers# More like a….wand #wink, wink#, when you make jokes like…be careful where you 'poke' that thing.