Harry idly fingered package in his arms as he knocked on the large door. A minute later the door swung open showing Noir. He blinked once then gave a feral grin and grabbed Harry by the front of his robes, dragging him inside the house and shutting the door behind him.
"Maen!" He sang out. "Guess who's here!"
A moment later the werewolf appeared, grinning at Harry.
"Little Flame!" He greeted.
Then he blinked and leaned over sniffing at Harry's lips. He narrowed his eyes.
"Who touched you?"
Noir turned serious also.
"Tom." Harry waved his hand absently. "I allowed it."
Noir leaned over, holding Harry's chin gently.
"As long as you allow it little flame." He cooed kissing Harry half on the lips half on the cheek.
Harry just smiled airily and handed Noir and Maen a package each. They opened them and stared at the paintings. 'Victory' and 'Survival'. He hadn't sold them for the purpose of giving them to the two.
"I didn't know you could paint little Flame." Noir purred.
Harry shrugged idly.
"Come. Let's go have a drink and talk of your year." Noir said waving his arms as he tucked the painting under his right arm.
Harry just smirked.
.--.
"You be careful little flame." Noir said sternly as he ran a hand through Harry's hair. "There is a murderer loose."
Harry smirked as the gazed at the two. They understood.
"Ah, but who to be careful of?" he said absently.
Maen smirked and Noir kissed his cheek.
"That's our brilliant little Flame. Now run off home to this Tom. And don't forget to keep a blade on you."
Harry gave a nod and let Noir kiss his cheek again before walking outsides the wards to apparate.
.--.
Harry found Tom's fingers being carded through his long hair as the he sat beside him on a couch in a muggle inn room. Tom hummed softly as they waited for the international portkey he had brought to activate (at exactly 3:00). Tom finally stood pulling an emerald green ribbon from his robes and tying Harry's hair back with it. His long fingers then rested under Harry's chin to tip it back so he could gently kiss him. Harry allowed it half closing his eyes at the nice feeling. When Tom pulled back the hand moved to stroke his cheek.
:I ssshall missss you my little Ssserpent.: He hissed.
Harry found he liked to slip between parseltongue and English often. Harry gave a slight smile.
:I ssshall missss you also.:
Then he kissed Ne's head. Ne had expressed a wish to see a different country and he would travel with Tom for the next while. He could be brought back at any time. Tom hesitantly pulled his hand away from Harry to stroke the snake, who was wrapped around his shoulders, once. Then he grabbed his bag holding it in his left hand.
:Look after him Ne.: Harry said.
The snake gave a nod.
:I ssshall missss you Harry.: Ne hissed softly.
Harry smiled slightly.
"You look after him Hedwig." Tom said to the owl on Harry's shoulder.
Hedwig gave an indignant hoot like saying 'what did you think I would do'? Harry smirked slightly and Tom sighed once before glancing to the clock and pulling the spoon from his pocket. He gave one last smirk before he was whisked away. Harry stood and grabbed the room keys so he could check out of the room.
.--.
Harry looked at kids gathered in front of the broom shop. There in the window stood a black firebolt. Harry smirked. His instincts had proved right. The investment had been a good one. The broom could hit 150 km/h in under ten seconds. Amazing. The man, Simon, had built it perfectly. There were only about a hundred of the brooms so far, but they had almost been snatched up immediately. Harry hadn't gotten one yet. It could wait a while as he could not fly in the summer. Not enough time. Harry gazed at the broom a moment before walking off to get a few potion ingredients he needed. And some more vials and jars to hold said ingredients.
.--.
Harry felt the sword slide through the flesh and heard the body fall. He just went back to reading. Noir and Maen were getting drunk in the bar a few seats over while Harry idly read. The bar was in Knockturn alley and welcomed any magical creatures. They allowed humans in, but only powerful ones came in. The body on the floor was some poor veela who had thought Harry would be a good thing to play with. Harry hadn't killed the woman, by request of Noir and Maen, only stabbed her. He heard the creature whimper and a friend come drag him off. Hopefully no one would bother him now that he had shown them he was no ordinary thirteen year old. He smirked at the realization he was a teen now. His birthday had been yesterday.
Noir had given him a rare old book, Maen had given him a few potion ingredients, Hermione had sent him a muggle book and some candy, Blaise had sent him a small dragon figurine and some candy also, Tom had sent him a earring that had a small dangling black snake along with a book on hexes, and D had given him a large cake and a elegant Japanese hair ornament. He was reading the book Tom had sent him at the moment. He was also wearing D's gift. The ornament was holding his hair in a messy bun. They were large sharp needle, senbon D called them, with beads and braided colored thread attached to them. Some hung down over his hair and some mixed with his hair. He liked it. Suddenly a hand gently fingering his throat tore him from his books. He scowled and turned his head slightly sending a glare at the vampire behind him. The man gave a charming smirk.
"What's a human as pretty and young as your-self doing in here?" He purred.
"I was reading." Harry said flippantly.
He noticed he was picking up some of Snape's sarcasm and Noir's carefree speech and attitude. He could easily use them in speech without any emotions behind them. The vampire just leaned over and kissed his neck. Harry sent him a nasty glare that was a mixture odd Malfoy's, Snape's, Tom's, and D's. It was quite good. The man just gave him another charming grin. Harry found it oddly attractive. Then his shook his head. The vampire was letting off natural charm and trying to seduce him with his magic. It was something all vampires did.
Harry spun in his seat to face the man and felt fangs glide over his skin. He pulled out his knife and jammed it in the man's chest before he could react. The man choked and stumbled back. Harry pulled his knife out then kicked the man to the ground and proceeded to carve his heart out. The bar watched in a stunned silence, except for a dunk Noir and Maen who continued a drunken song. Harry flicked the blood from the knife as he pulled the heart from the vampire. He let it bleed over his hand as he gave a satisfied smirk. He cleaned the blade on the man's clothing and sheathed it.
He leaned over and reached in the man's clothing to pull a pouch of galleons and other things. He stuffed it in his own pouch and straightened. There was no movement or sound, except from Noir and Maen. It's not often you saw a twelve year old with blood drenched arms, splatters of blood across his face, a heart in one hand, a dead body at his feet, and a satisfied look on his face. Harry smiled at the people in the bar. It was a cold smile. Then he grabbed the rag from the bar keepers hand. He wiped the blood off his hands and licked some off his face. Then he sat down at his book again ignoring the body. After a minute everyone slowly started to chat and drink softly. Harry saw Noir give him a drunken thumbs up then kill some guy coming onto him. They were dangerous even when drunk. Harry shot them a look of mild annoyance and returned to his book.
.--.
The fur felt so soft, velvety. It was a deep rich black that seemed to absorb light. Golden eyes peered at him as lips pulled back in a smile of sorts to show sharp white teeth. Harry opened his eyes after picturing his animagus form and found himself in the wolf's body. He gave a sharp bark like laugh and gazed through the trees towards Maen and Noir's house. He gave a canine like smirk and took off running. Powerful legs hit the ground in a steady rhythm as his body surged forwards. It was quite close to being as nice as flying. His whole body felt the burning of energy as he ran in any direction under the light of moon. It felt so nice to be back in his animagus form. He gave a howl and loved the sound it made in his ears. He felt free once again.
.--.
Harry smiled at the tiger beside him and softly stroked its white fur. It purred, cleaning its paws as Harry leaned into its side folding one hand to rest his head on, the other still stroking the tiger. On his opposite side a cheetah wrapped lazily around him. He was getting use to D and his animals. Harry glanced up to Hedwig who was sleeping in the rafters. A raven was sitting on his bed post examining the painting of Snape ('Regret'). It tilted its head while examining it. Then it hopped off and flew from his room. Harry just watched it leave before half closing them. A moment later the raven returned, a small snake it its talons. The snake was hissing at it in annoyance. The raven dropped the snake on Harry's lap. The snake gave a sigh like hiss.
:Imber wissshesss to know who the man in the painting is.: The snake hissed deadpanned.
Harry gave a lazy smirk. The animals had taken to bringing snakes to him when they wished to talk with him. It was interesting that all animals could understand one another yet he could only understand the snakes.
:Tell him it is one of my teachersss.:
The snake turned to hiss at the raven in a slightly deeper hiss Harry could not understand. He had the suspicion snakes could speak two snake languages. One used to talk with speakers and one to talk with other animals, which they seemed to know both of automatically. The snake turned from the raven after it cawed.
:He wissshesss to meet the man and asssksss you to take him with you when you go to thisss Hogwartsss.:
:He wissshesss to meet him from looking jussst at a painting?:
:You ssshow many things in 'jussst' a painting.:
Harry nodded once.
:I ssshall take Imber then.:
:He will jussst come back if he doesss not wisssh to become the man'sss familiar.:
Harry gave another half nod before closing his eyes again and drifting off to the content purrs.
.--.
End Of Chapter 19.