Harry slept through dawn the next day, enjoying the feeling of relative safety. Between the heavier wards and having joined two of the people he had trained in combat with he had little worries that something could attack without him knowing. So when light hit the tent the wizard just grumbled and rolled over, tucking his face into Puck's chest who had spooned up behind him and went back to sleep without ever really waking up.
When Harry did wake up it was to a ticking on his ribs. Stifling a giggle, he looked down to see Layla curled around Puck's forearm which was resting on Harry's waist. The couatl must have been dreaming because her little wings were fluttering against Harry's skin. Harry smiled at the snake and used stealth to wiggle out of Puck's embrace without waking the other teen and made his way to the bathroom.
After a much needed hot shower Harry made his way out of the tent, passing a still snoring Hulk. Once outside he saw both Luna and Neville sitting at a new common sitting area they must have arranged in the center of all the tents which were arranged in a circle around it. Now that they all had kitchens in their tents they wouldn't have to worry about camp fires to cook anymore.
On the heel of that thought, Harry considered what they were going to do for food. Between the two groups they had enough for a day or two, but they were going to need to go hunting. With nine teenagers to feed they were going to need a lot of food. That wasn't even counting the animals. Hulk had been getting his own food since he joined them, but here in this ring there were no animals and the closest biomes were the desert and swamp. He hated to admit it, but they were not going to be able to stay there. The group needed to settle into an area that provided what they needed without having to travel too far.
Harry made his way over to his friends, collapsing on a sofa. "Morning," he greeted.
"Good morning, Harry. We we're just talking about what to send up with Malfoy," Neville told him.
"What have you got so far?"
"We were thinking going simple with a rock. We don't know how long we are going to be here so we can't use a stick or anything plant in case it decomposes. We just have to find a rock light but big enough to be seen. We can use rope to secure it to Malfoy's back," Neville informed him. Harry snorted at the image. Neville must have guessed correctly what Harry was thinking because he sent the green eyed boy a disapproving look. "Really, Harry. He's not so bad. I mean, yeah, he's a prat, but if we are going to be stuck here can't you just try and get along with him?"
"He protected me from the muggles, Harry. Even though he didn't have his wand," Luna reminded him.
"You guys know I don't really mean it. It's just familiar, it's how we communicate. I know Malfoy isn't an evil git anymore, just a normal git." Harry looked at his friends who didn't seem to accept his reasoning. The wizard groaned. "I'm going to have to be a grown-up about this, aren't I?"
"Yes," they replied in unison, both nodding.
Harry threw his hands up. "Fine! I guess if I can get along with Snape I can get along with Malfoy," He conceded. "Actually, speaking of Snape do we have any idea where all these people disappeared to or why none of us did."
"Other than Luna's theory about the Gorging Gilpie-"
"Galumping Gorloft," Luna corrected.
"Yes, that. Other than that, we don't know. It can't be our magic because the Tina and Kurt are muggles." Neville paused. "Though we never had them try a wand or anything, maybe they are wizards now like Puck. Nice going there by the way, mate."
Harry grinned. "Thanks. So I didn't really get to talk to Tina and Kurt much last night. What are they like?"
"Well Tina is kind of quiet, but really sweet. She doesn't mind getting her hands dirty and she definitely pulls her weight around camp. I like her, she's good," Neville told him.
"I like Kurtie. He's nice and smart. Plus he's fierce."
Harry snorted. "Fierce, Luna?"
"Oh, yes. Very much so. The word just fits him. He was telling me he gets bullied at their school for being different, but I can tell he doesn't let it change him."
Harry smiled fondly at the blonde. "Sounds like someone else I know."
Luna blushed lightly. "So tell us about your muggles, Harry."
"They are hardly my muggles."
Neville snickered. "Well, at least one of them is."
Harry rolled his eyes at his house-mate and ignored the knowing look. "Mike is pretty cool. He's smart and really good at keeping the peace if theirs an arguement. Finn...well me and Finn don't really see eye to eye. At first we were cool, and he loved magic, even though he got a bit jealous 'cause Puck could use it, but he seemed to get over it quick. The problem started when we began to move inland. Finn kept getting upset because I didn't have all the answers when we got attacked. I think he's kind of over whelmed. I lost my cool at him the other night though. We got attacked by a huge fire shooting scorpion and the bloke started screaming at the top of his lungs. He really put us in danger. I had to spell him silent, so I'm pretty sure we're not going to be friends any time soon," Harry informed his friends.
"Muggles sometimes have trouble accepting magic, you know that better than most."
"I know, Luna. It was just a surprise cause he loved it at first." Harry shrugged. "It's not my problem, though. He'll have to get over it since he's trapped here with the rest of us."
"I'm sure he will. Now, tell us about a certain tanned yummy boy," Luna demanded.
Harry laughed at his friend and actually jumped at the chance to talk about the boy. "Puck. Well, Puck is kind of awesome. Only took a plane crash for me to find a guy," Harry joked. "I told him about almost everything except for the final battle." Neville looked surprised and Luna just looked curious, so Harry shrugged. "He was cool about it. Plus he saved my life the other night, so I know I can count on him. I'm not going to dance around it for a while then give in when I can just let it happen. I like him, he seems to like me, so I figure I should go for it. Gotta start living, you know?"
They nodded at him with understanding looks. And they did understand, Harry had explained it to them after his talk with Hermione and Ron hadn't gone as well as he'd hoped. Luna and Neville accepted where he was coming from when he told them he just wanted to leave and live for himself. The three of them had started to become closer even as Harry drifted apart from Ron and Hermione. Neville and Luna were even helping him find places to visit, even if their suggested vacation spots either featured a rare plant or mythical animal it was the thought that counted.
"We actually sort of met on the plane before it crashed," Harry continued, unable to stop now that he had started. "Once we were on the beach we just hit it off right away. He's charming and sweet, with a edge of bad boy so I know I won't have to protect him from everything in my life once he get's trained up a bit. Puck's smart too, even though he says he didn't do well in school. He's picking up magic so quick, he just gets it. Always wanting to know more about our world," Harry babbled on. "Plus, he's fucking gorgeous! His eyes? Wow. And oh, Merlin, his abs! We went swimming at the beach and you don't know how hard it was to not just lick his stomach."
"You talking about me?"
Harry jumped guiltily at the voice from right behind him and his friends giggled, obviously having seen the other boy come up behind him. Harry sent them a glare and then looked up to see Puck grinning down at him. Harry pouted at having been tricked, but Puck just laughed and swopped down to lay a kiss on him. Harry smiled into the kiss and raised his hand to the back of Puck's neck. Harry shifted his grip carefully and Puck yelped as he was pulled over the back of the couch and the laughing teen landed sprawled out with his head on Harry's lap.
"Hey! Watch it. The baby is sleeping," Puck told him pointing to where Layla had curled up around his neck. The dark snake looked like a necklace against Puck's tanned skin, her wings twitching lightly under his ear. Harry smiled fondly and petted her head softly. Harry ducked his head and stole another kiss from the boy, loving that he was so protective over the snake.
When Harry sat back up both Luna and Neville were smiling at the scene and Harry blushed, having momentarily forgotten they were there. Puck settled in, scooting around so he was comfy, still laying in Harry's lap. Seeing the boy wasn't going to move, Harry rested his hand on Puck's waist and the other in his hair.
"So what are we talking about, besides how much of a stud I am, of course," Puck asked.
"Of course," Harry said rolling his eyes. "We were talking about why all of us were spared when people disappeared." Harry looked up at his friends. "And when we found out Puck had magic, he let Mike and Finn try the wand too, and there was no reaction, so I think it was just Puck."
Neville nodded. "So why us?"
They were all silent, but it was Luna who found it first. "We're all young."
Puck looked confused. "What would that have to do with anything?"
"It's what we all have in common. All the people who disappeared on our beach were old, or at least older than us," Neville told them.
"Our beach too. They were all adults," Harry said thinking back. "I don't know why that would matter though. It doesn't make any sense."
"It's a magic island, babe. Most of the shit here doesn't make any sense," Puck told him.
"Ugh, Finn! Get out of the bathroom!"
Puck chuckled. "I guess Kurt and Finn are up."
Soon enough Kurt came storming out of the tent he shared with his brother, slightly disheveled from sleep. "Can I use someone else's bathroom please? My brother won't get out of the bathroom," the pale boy growled.
"You can use ours," Harry offered. "Just mind the huge not-wolf."
Kurt paled and looked pleadingly at Luna who giggled. "You can use ours, Kurtie. No critters in there." Kurt looked relieved and made his way to Luna's tent. Harry just shrugged, at least he had tried to warn the boy.
While they waited for everyone to join them Harry and Puck talked with Neville and Luna about the recently discovered wizards training. Harry was thankful for the help in teaching Puck. He knew defense and charms really well, but wasn't proficient enough with the rest to be able to teach it. Harry could tell Puck was excited to start learning about transfiguration after having watched them all do it around him. Once they were able to set up a permanent camp they wouldn't have to worry about being on the move, and Harry promised himself to teach the teen all he wanted to know.
It had been years since Harry had learned he was a wizard but could still remember the over whelming need to know all he could about the world he was now privy to. Puck wouldn't have the benefit of books or seeing Diagon Alley so Harry was going to make sure that his boyfriend still got whatever they could give him. Between the three of them, Harry knew Puck would not go lacking in things to learn if he put in the work. Seeing the look on the mohawked boys face at the opportunity to learn more, Harry was positive that Puck would work hard.
One by one the others trickled out of their tents and made their way to where the group was sitting in the common area until they were all sitting around eating the last of the fruit that his group had collected. Harry was laughing, feeding orange slices to the boy in his lap when Mike brought up the problem Harry had thought about earlier.
"Are we going to be staying here then?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't think we can."
"Why," Tina asked.
"There's no sustainability," Neville answered for him, and Harry nodded.
"Exactly. We are safe in this spot, but there's no food. I know we don't want to move again after it took us all this time to get to this spot, but we don't have a choice. We are running out of food. I think we should stay here in the base of the mountain, but move to where we can get to a biome for hunting. There are nine of us to feed after all and fish and fruit aren't going to cut it."
"How are we going to hunt though," Kurt asked. "We don't have any guns."
"I can hunt in my animagus form," Neville told them. "Malfoy probably could too," the boy in question looked horror struck at the thought and Harry laughed internally at the thought of the posh boy hunting. "We can transfigure knives or bows for anyone else to try. Those who don't want to hunt can gather plants. I can show those which plants are edible. Luna can get up into the trees in her form."
"So we are going back to being hunters and gatherers. I like it," Puck said with a grin. "What about you, babe. Can you hunt in your form?" the boy asked looking up at Harry who shook his head and made a mental note to transform for Puck as soon as possible. He could see the curiosity was killing him.
"When we find a place to settle we can set up the permanent wards to keep us all safe," Neville said.
"Permanent? Shouldn't we be working to get off this island instead of setting up like we're going to live here," Kurt asked.
"We don't know anyway off the island. It's not like we won't work on it, but for now we have to make it livable for as long as we're here," Harry explained. "Our priorities are health and safety, but we will be looking for a way off."
"If we start moving soon, I can look for a place to climb," Malfoy told them. "As a snow leopard I'm built to climb mountains, but it will help if we find a more approachable side."
Harry cast a tempus that read 10:34am. "Will you have enough time to make it up and back by nightfall?"
Malfoy looked up at the towering mountain with appraising eyes. "No, probably not. If we can find a place today, I can start early tomorrow morning and make it back by night," Malfoy told Harry without a sneer any kind of insult. Harry was betting either Neville or Luna had given the blonde the same speech that he'd had about letting their rivalry go, at least for now. That would make it easier to get along with him and Harry was thankful.
"We should move soon then," Mike said. "Which direction though?"
"I think our best bet would be to go towards the jungle. There were plenty of fruit trees and there should be some game in there too," Harry suggested.
Since there were no better ideas, they packed up camp and set off. Harry had the privilege of waking up the sleeping Hulk, while Layla was settled into her pouch around Puck's neck. It was okay for her to be out around camp, but neither Puck nor Harry wanted her out while they were traveling.
Harry walked with Neville to discuss the possible wards for their site and Puck set off with Luna who was teaching him the fundamentals of transfiguration. Malfoy's eyes were darting up the mountain as they walked, looking for climbing points. After Neville, Harry moved flitted around the rest of the group and just chatted about different things, like missing their families and other friends or what they would be doing instead of being trapped on the island. Harry just nodded along and ignored the fact that now he really didn't have any actual motivation to leave quickly. It was actually kind of fun, like being on an adventure that wouldn't, hopefully, end in death.
In the distance the swamp gave way to the desert, which eventually gave way to the forest that they had avoided the day before. When they finally came to the point where the forest met the jungle they had been walking for six hours. About a mile before they stopped Malfoy found the place he would be climbing the next morning so they were all more than ready to stop for the day.
Semi permanent wards were set up while Luna set up the tents. Neville and Harry both agreed they would need hours to set up the permanent wards and didn't want to rush the job in this kind of environment. The spot they ended up settling in was a large grassy area, so they were able to see if anything were to come near even before the wards could pick it up.
As soon as dinner was finished Harry dragged Puck into their tent, bidding the rest of the group good-night as they snickered about what they couple were about to get up to. Harry didn't correct them about their assumption though.
Harry looked around the expanded tent, taking in the amount of room available. He shrank Hulk's bed and moved to stand in the now empty area.
"What are you doing, babe," Puck asked curiously as he sat on the coffee table.
"You wanted to see me transform. You ready?"
Puck jumped back up, his face lit in excitement. "Fuck, yeah! Let's see it!"
"Alright, just stay there until I'm finished and don't freak out, okay?"
(((000)))
Puck rolled his eyes at the green eyed boy. Really after all he had seen in the last week he doubted Harry turning into an animal was going to freak him out. "Come on, dude! I wanna see!"
Harry smiled then started to grow. And grow. And grow. Black fur grew covering pale skin. Puck watched intently, carefully not freaking out, as his boyfriend continued to transform until finally he stopped. The hazel eyed teen just stared wide eyed at the creature in front of him.
The animal was watching him carefully as Puck's brain tried to sort out exactly what it was seeing. At a quick glance the animal looked like a stag, but only for a second. Puck thought back for a moment on what Harry had said about his form: "No, I'm not a stag like my dad." It was true. It still didn't look anything like a normal deer.
Harry was probably about 10 feet tall, not including the antlers which added another 5 feet at least. The long deer like legs and bottom half of the animal's body were covered in jet black fur. The chest, neck, and head were cerulean blue colored fur which trailed down his spine and tapered off in his fuzzy black tail. Harry's chest had two blue spikes that curved upwards protruding from it. The face of the animal was very deer like, but the bone from it's antlers traveled down the cheek area and the center of the nose. The same color bone ran along the edges of the creature's legs ending in a point which it walked on.
The antlers were the most breath taking of the transformation. They spanned about 5 foot wide and the larges and five foot tall. The reached up in eight individual horns , four on each side of his head, spread out like a fan and ending up in sharp points. Each one had a dark blue bulb near the base and a separate spike at the top in the same dark blue. The antlers and the bones on Harry's face and legs were all a pale light blue.
"Holy fuck, Harry. You're gorgeous," Puck whispered. Harry bowed his head slightly as if embarrassed by the praise and Puck reached out a hand before stopping himself.
"Can I touch you," he asked tentatively, not sure if that was allowed but Harry bobbed his head in assent. Puck gently petted the thick, coarse, blue fur on Harry's neck, having to reach up just to touch him. The animal was huge, bigger even than Harry's patronus! Harry started to make a high pitched purring sound as Puck stroked his fur.
"This is so amazing. I had no idea." Puck chuckled a bit, "You were right. I never would have guessed."
Harry lowered his head until it was level with Puck who notice his eyes were the same blue as his fur and the pupils were an odd X shape. The teen traced along the bones lining the animal's face, before carefully reaching up to feel the cold bone of the antlers. Puck had never seen anything more wonderful.
Harry shifted back under his fingers until the black haired boy was standing in front of him once again. "So, what do you think?"
"That was..." Puck shook his head, speechless for a moment. "That was fucking awesome," he exclaimed. He picked up the now smaller teen and whirled him around, both of them laughing. "That was the greatest thing I have ever seen in my life," Puck told him as he set him down. "What was it?"
Harry was still smiling as he pulled Puck over to the couch to sit. "Like I said before we don't really know much about it. The Japanese book only had a picture and underneath it was the caption: 'Little is known about Xerneas. It's mystery is only exceeded by it's power.' That's all it said. We know it's a magical animal because some weird stuff happens when I transform during a battle. According to my headmaster I am the first magical animagus since Merlin," Harry told him with pride.
"Well you look kick ass. Those horns are wicked sharp looking," Puck complimented him. Puck ran his hand through Harry's hair, imagining where the antlers had been moments ago.
"Oh, they are," Harry told him distractedly, leaning into Puck's hand. Harry's eyes drifted shut as Puck continued to play with his hair so the teen surprised him by leaning forward and kissing him. Harry groaned and leaned into Puck, opening under Puck's mouth. Puck fell back onto the couch, pulling Harry atop him, who squeaked at the sudden change in position, but quickly adapted and covered Puck's body with his own.
Puck arched into the touch as Harry's hand made it's way under his shirt, the green eyed wizard's fingers lightly playing across his abs. Puck's own hands slid up Harry's back caressing the hot skin there as their tongues dueled. Puck could tell Harry wasn't very experienced, but he didn't mind and silently guided their kiss. Puck became aware of a tugging on his shirt and pulled away long enough to tear it off. Once his skin was bare Harry immediately attacked, licking and biting his bared chest. Puck groaned under the attention and started to yank at Harry's shirt as well until the wizard pulled it off and sent it to join Puck's on the floor before frantically diving back to Puck's mouth. The mohawked teen was only too glad to accommodate Harry.
Harry pulled back, his face flushed and his breathing coming out in heavy pants. "I think it's time for bed."
Puck stared at the other teen incredulously. He had stopped a hot make out session to sleep? "I'm not tired," Puck whined, trying to reach up and get another taste of those lips. Harry gave him a wicked smirk which sent blood flying south.
"Neither am I."
Puck groaned, but accepted the hand helping him up. "That was so cliche."
Harry poked his tongue out at the teen. "Maybe, but your still following me."
Puck couldn't really argue with that.
AN: So his animagus has been revealed. If you don't know anything about it, do not fret darlings. Everything will be revealed as the story unfolds. Like with the other creatures revealed in this story and all the ones to come, no prior knowledge is required. Especially since I tweak the poor critters a bit to fit.
Reviews are practically required on this chapter. Pretty pretty please? Oh, gosh. I'm begging. Look what you've made me do!
Alternative tactic for receiving feedback: It's totally my birthday tomorrow. You know what would be a good gift for you lovely readers to get me? Reviews! Hate it? Love it? Ambivalent? I wanna know!