Chapter Three: Lemon Drops
Draco and Blaise had forgotten all about the passage by the weeping willow and had raced to Dumbledore's side, using their newfound speed but not changing forms. They weren't sure they had a handle on that newfound power just yet. Dumbledore, much to their relief, was still alive but barely. Blaise started pulling potions from his pockets, lying them next to the old man while Draco checked the wards and enchantments they'd placed to keep unwelcome visitors away and to keep Dumbledore invisible if anyone did get in. When he finished, checking his watch, he went to the old wizard's side. They had a little over an hour to get everything in his system and working. Draco hoped none of the potions Blaise had grabbed needed more time than that.
"A no bleed syrup? Blaise really? We've stopped the bleeding already." Draco snapped, looking at what he had available.
"Oh, well excuse me mini Severus, I'm not the potions king, I didn't know what to grab so I grabbed one of everything!" Blaise shot back. Draco rolled his eyes, sorting through the potions- administering them as he found ones he could use. Only a quarter of what Blaise had lifted was useful.
The boys decided to wait until everything was working together before giving the Headmaster a pepper up potion to see if he would, once again, awaken. He did.
"Boyss," he gasped, "you look so well."
"They're enchantments, sir." Blaise said, turning his head from side to side to show off their handywork.
"Your professssors would be proud. And Hagrid?"
"We haven't spoken to him yet. We were attacked. The school was attacked. No idea how they got in. We're going now to get him sir, we had to come back to make sure you were..." Draco paused, he wasn't sure how to tell the wizard he'd thought the old man would be dead, "still okay." he finished, rising to leave. Blaise followed.
"Boyssss...when you can could you," Dumbledore gasped again, fighting to remain conscious.
"Yes?" the boys said in unison.
"Could you bring me some lemon drops?" with that, he was out again.
Blaise and Draco grinned at each other before leaving. The old man really was insane. They discovered then, as they left, that they were too weak to move as quickly as before, or even change form. It took much longer to reach Hogwarts at that rate, the boys still moving faster than the average wizard. They knew they could get their faster on the road out but didn't want to risk being spotted by any unfriendlies.
When they reached the school the boys didn't bother to walk in but walked straight to Hagrid's shack. The Ministry had members and Aurors everywhere, all oblivious to the boys slipping through the shadows. They were too focused on the quidditch pitch to bother to see.
"No wonder they're so easy for you know who to attack," Blaise muttered, rolling his eyes, "they're not very observant." Draco only shrugged in reply, he was feeling the burning itch again, the pull to go to his mate- to go to Harry Potter. If he could only just touch him, just a little, maybe breathe in his scent, he'd feel a little better he knew. If he could just...
"Draco. DRACO. Hagrid's shack is *this* way." Blaise said. Draco snapped out of his reverie to find he'd been travelling toward the school and was way off course. Sighing, he returned to the path he'd been on, quickly approaching the shack. The sun would be up soon, he noted. Yet, as they reached the shack they noticed Hagrid wasn't there. Fang was sitting sentry in front of the door, drooling everywhere. Both boys turned their noses up in disgust and turned back toward the school. They were moving at a slow pace now, even for a wizard. They were just so tired.
"What do we know about them though, what do they do exactly?" McGonagall was saying to Narcissa, Rose and Snape.
"Minerva, really? It's been centuries since either one's breed was born, let alone survived to maturity. We don't know much about them other than they have bondmates and can obviously change form- unlike the Veela female. They're very powerful..."
"And the killing curse? How did that happen? Young Malfoy..."
"Black, damnit BLACK!" Narcissa snapped.
"Young *Black* then, should be dead... but he's not. Only one person that we're aware of has ever survived the killing curse. What of that?"
"As Severus said Minerva, we. don't. know."
"I want to know where they've gone, has one found his mate? Who are they protecting?" Narcissa sighed, gazing out the window of Minerva's office, she supposed the new Headmaster hadn't felt right about using Dumbledore's old office. It was just a shame that he'd been killed.
"I've sent someone to fetch Hagrid," McGonagall said, ignoring Narcissa, "maybe he will know something about the two... boys."
"They *are* boys," Rose snapped, her voice dripping with malice, "not beasts."
Severus Snape held up his hand with Minerva McGonagall together- the ministry officials and Aurors were approaching. Matte Belle, a new assistant to the minister, led the charge.
"It seems one of the young students killed in the frey caused a break in your wards just long enough to allow Bellatrix Lestrange in to shatter it. We've repaired the damage for now." Matte said, waisting no time with pleasantries. "Though I would say Minerva, those new creatures...beasts...you've got protecting the castle are quite impressive feats of magic. I assume they're safe to be around the children?" Narcissa, Snape, and Rose sneered at her with pure contempt.
"Yes, they're quite safe," McGonagall lied, she didn't know if they were or not, "thank you and your people for helping us Matte. Also, send the Minister my regards would you?"
"Happy to, Minerva, we shall return this afternoon if you'd like?"
"No. We will strengthen our wards... it's a little harder without Albus, he knew exactly what to do..." McGonagall said, her voice trailing off sadly. "Thank you again for your time, Matte, please assure any parents that don't contact us directly that the students are safe."
Matte seemed oblivious that the Headmaster wanted her gone. She was either stupid or ignoring her, Snape thought as she finally left, her followers moving quickly with her. They already had discussed the incident in length. It would be called a student on student attack. A few had been persuaded by the insane Bellatrix to try to attack the boy who lived in revenge for the death of the Dark Lord. They still wouldn't believe he had risen. Snape knew it would have to get even worse before they would believe. Still, even more students would be removed atop the ones that hadn't been allowed to come in the first place.
In the back of McGonagall's office, a clock chimed. With a wave of her wand the ragged and worn looking Headmaster let the student's know that classes would be cancelled for today. Hagrid appeared then, shuffling his huge mass around them to the transfiguration professor- he seemed to nearly fill the room.
"Yeh called for me, ma'am?"
"Hagrid, you may call me Minerva, remember?" He nodded sheepishly, "What do you know about male Veelas and a Mangiodrago- if anything?"
"Well, ma'a- Minerva, they're very powerful. Very rare indeed. it's an amazing sight to behold one, let alone both. Yeh see, once when they were more prominant- that was a long long time ago yeh see, they banded together. The Magiodrago and the male Veela are capable of great things together. Their magics work together, I reckon. Yeh see that a lot in nature. They both got somethin' called a bondmate too, like the Veela's we know today. The Mangiodrago- the dragon eater- has to work a bit harder to find his or her mate than the Veela, but the outcome is the same. It's somethin' like a dragon ma'am- Minerva."
"Are they dangerous Hagrid?"
"Well it all depends I suppose. I suspect their mates are here ma'am, if their mates get hurt I reckon they're very dangerous. They're both real protective yeh see."
"So we need to find out who their mates are?"
"Yes'um." Hagrid said, exhausted from the lack of sleep. Someone was approaching.
"Thank you Hagrid, you may go- I'd like to speak with you some more on this subject this evening if you don't mind."
"Well I don't see why not..."
"Hagrid? Is Hagrid in here? He's not at his-" Blaise stopped short, seeing the half giant in the room as he entered. Draco slid in past him,
"Hagrid- we have to speak with you. Let's go."
"What fer?"
"Just come on. Now. Come." Draco snapped, he was too exhausted to play nice- even though he noticed the look of shock on his mother's face.
"Now hold on just a blasted minute- can this wait?"
"NO!" Draco said, slumping to the floor. Why wouldn't anyone just cooperate with him.
"It's Fang sir," Blaise lied, fake concern dripping from his voice, "he was wounded trying to protect a first year in the battle. We just found him."
Draco glanced over at Blaise. No wonder the young Zabini had made it to Slytherin. He was born for it. He seemed slighly shocked at the boy's slyness and quick thinking.
"Don't get him all worked up," Draco said, trying to make his look of shock not so suspicious. Then he glanced over at Hagrid, tears were welling up in his eyes, "we can take you to him."
"Well, what are yeh waiting fer?" Hagrid said, rushing for the door, wide awake now.
"Boys! I expect to see you in my office as soon as you return." McGonagall said, her exhaustion and stress coming through in her voice. She sent a sympathetic look to Hagrid. Both boys nodded and began to go after Hagrid. Blaise stopped in the doorway, motioning for Draco to go on.
"Headmaster, are those lemon drops?" He asked gesturing toward the door.