Chapter Twelve

Draco was padding through Diagon Alley, people were giving him strange looks and giving him a wide berth; but he didn't care. He was wandering past the ice cream parlor when he heard giggling; pausing, Draco turned towards the noise. He felt the fur rise on his back, it was Thomas Gaunt. Draco was about to pass by when he saw who he was with. He stared growling; it was Granger.

Draco didn`t understand it, but he felt strangely protective of her; it was probably just because she was carrying his whelp. Walking over to them, he sat at her feet and started growling at Thomas.

After Hermione's orientation for her training, Thomas had asked her out. Not being able to think of a reason to say no, she agreed. They'd gone to Florean Fortescue's; Hermione was actually having a good time. They were almost done when she heard growling; confused, Hermione looked around. She felt something warm press against her leg; looking down, her heart skipped a beat; it was the black wolf from the forest.

Hermione was shocked; she almost didn't realize that Thomas had taken out his wand. It looked like he was about to curse him, when Hermione stood up, "What are you doing?" she shrieked.

Thomas looked bewildered, "That's a wolf, what do you think I was going to do?"

Hermione gave him a cold look, Maybe this was a mistake, "He's my wolf," she said frowning, Í thought I left him at my apartment." Standing up, Hermione snapped her fingers at the wolf, hoping he'd understand, "Uhmm, I think I should leave, I'll see you in a few days Thomas."

Thomas sighed, "Bye Hermione."

Hermione walked away, she could feel the black wolf walking along with her. Hermione was shaken, she couldn't believe that the wolf had found her, let alone that Thomas was going to harm it; she felt some sort of connection it him.

Hermione sighed as she walked towards the Leaky Cauldron, "Well, wolf… You got a name?" she asked looking down at the wolf. She saw him prick his ears towards her and wag his tail. "I'll take that as a yes," she said laughing, "but you can't talk, so how will you tell me?" Hermione cocked her head thinking, "Well, I'll just have to give you a name then," she said smiling at him, "What do you think of Dragon? Like in the muggle fairy tales, how the Dragon's would guard the princesses in their towers." The wolf barked, and Hermione took that as a yes.

Laughing, Hermione stopped, "Well, now that you have a name, what are you going to do? And who did you get here?" Hermione shook her head, "Huh…well, you might as well come home with me." She said smiling; she was finally going to get a dog. She glanced down; the wolf was eyeing her oddly. Hermione frowned, "I'm not going to keep you there." She sighed.

The wolf seemed happier with that because he then pressed up against her leg and looked up at her; Hermione frowned, it almost seemed like he was moving to apparate. Shrugging Hermione disapparated back to her apartment; pausing at her door, she glanced down at the wolf, "Now, Dragon…" she started, looking worried, "I have a cat. Will you behave?" The wolf looked up at her, and Hermione could have sworn he was laughing at her. "Alrighty then." She said, opening her door. Dragon trotted through her open door and jumped up on her couch.

Hermione laughed, "Okay, but don't make a mess. I'm going to make some supper. What do you want?" Hermione asked, walking into the kitchen. Dragon barked, "Well," Hermione said looking in her fridge, "Wolves eat raw meat, but the best I got is some leftover stew. Is that okay?" she asked, looking over at him. He'd gotten off the couch and came over to her, when she held out the stew Dragon barked. Hermione laughed, "I'll take that as a yes."

Hermione made herself some dinner, and re-heated the stew for Dragon; she was getting ready for bed when Dragon walked into her room growling. Hermione frowned, "What's wrong?" she asked, pulling on her pants. He backed out of her room, and padded to her front door; frowning Hermione followed him, she'd just gotten to her living room when she heard a knock on her door. Hermione glanced at Dragon before answering it; it was Ginny. Hermione frowned at the wolf, "Hey Ginny, come on in."

Ginny smiled, Hey Hermione-" she was just about to walk into the apartment when she spotted the wolf, "Uhmm, Hermione?" Ginny started, frowning at the wolf. Dragon started growling at her, "What's with the wolf?"

Hermione glanced down at Dragon, "Oh, that's Dragon." Hermione said smiling, "Remember how I said I wanted a dog. Well, this is the dog I wanted."

Ginny smirked, "Okay… Well, anyways, I was just wondering how it went at the Ministry today."

Hermione sighed, "It was just the orientation. We start next week."

"Oh, well, at least they didn't change their minds, right?"

Hermione laughed, "Yeah. Is there anything else you needed?"

Ginny sighed, "No, I just missed you. With you and Harry not talking, it seems like I never get to see you anymore."

Hermione smiled, "I know." She said glancing back at Dragon, "How about this; tomorrow, we'll go shopping. We'll have a girl's day out."

Ginny grinned, "Okay, thanks Hermione. That sounds great." Ginny said, hugging Hermione.

"Bye Ginny," Called Hermione, as Ginny walked down the hall, "see you tomorrow." Smiling, Hermione closed her door and looked down at the wolf, "Well, aren't you cleaver… But that was Ginny, she's my friend; you don't need to growl at her."

The wolf cocked his head at her and trotted back to her room, Hermione sighed and followed him. It was late, and Hermione was tired. Crawling into bed, Hermione felt Dragon jump on to the bed.

Draco sighed; he was tired, but he couldn't help but feel that the night wasn't over. The look Thomas gave him was one of sheer hatred; Draco could tell that he'd known it was him. And Draco was sure that this wasn't the end. From the look he'd given Draco, he felt as though he knew about Hermione. Draco shuddered, he could feel something building.

Hermione woke up the next morning with the sun blazing through her window. Rolling over and shoving her head under her pillow, Hermione felt something stir by her legs. Looking over, she saw the black wolf; Hermione smiled, "Hey, Dragon," Hermione said sleepily, "how'd you sleep?" Dragon wagged his tail, and rolled onto his back. Hermione giggled and leaned over to rub his belly. "I'm going out today; do you want to stay here? Or come with us?" The wolf barked, "Okay then…" Hermione said, laughing. She didn't know what that meant, but she'd find out when she left.

"Okay," She declared, jumping out of bed, "What's for breakfast Dragon?" He barked in response. Hermione smiled to herself as she walked down the hall to her kitchen. Looking through her cupboards, she found some pancake mix. Looking down at Dragon , she smiled, "This'll do." She laughed.

She had just finished cooking the pancakes when Dragon started growling again. Assuming it was Ginny, Hermione skipped over to the door. But when she opened it, it wasn't Ginny, it was Thomas, and he looked mad.