AN:I considered ending the story after the torment, but decided a break instead. Never quit a story before I finished.

Chapter 26 Close

Harry was worse then most of his classmates counting down the days till Christmas. He loved school but he wanted to be away from the man. He had been told that the position of defence teacher had once seemed to be cursed. The teachers had never remained more then a year. His Papa had said that some suspected it was linked to Voldemort. If it were true or not, the curse had ended when Voldemort had died. Harry wished it would continue though or they could drop classes. Quirell had been switched to defence the year before Albus was killed. Harry had a harder time imagining the man teaching muggle studies but he would be happier with that. It was an elective Harry couldn't take until third year and he had no plan to take when he was. His friends and even the ghosts and some of the teachers had helped him keep his distance from the man outside classes and tutoring when he could not.

The last evening before he was to head home for Christmas he got a message to meet Hagrid. He assumed he was actually to go into the woods. He had not had tutoring in a while as he had been focused on his exams the last days. He was excited to see the centaurs before he left for holidays. He had a gift for Hagrid he would give him in person as well.

Draco shot him a look. "I didn't think you were going until after the holidays."

Harry shrugged as he pulled on his cloak. "Neither did I. But seems the centaurs want to see me."

Hermione was with Draco though. "It seems a bit late. You always have more warning."

Harry wasn't worried. "You know Hagrid will be there. He might just want to see me too."

When Harry was gone Draco shot Hermione a look. "I don't know why but something is bothering me."

Hermione agreed with him. "Maybe we should follow him. Just in case."

Blaise reminded them both. "Harry has permission to be out when he has training. You don't."

Draco thought of something and ran up to his room. He came back with Harry's cloak. "No one needs to know."

Hermione looked a bit reluctant. "Harry will have Hagrid and the centaurs. You won't be so lucky."

They had been in the hall and had not been expecting an answer but gone one. "Not so lucky with what?"

Draco worried it was a teacher but he came face to face with the twins. He hurriedly explained. "I have to go."

Fred stopped him. "I agree with Hermione. You are not quick enough just yet."

George cut off protest from Draco. "Now us on the other hand will be much better."

Draco was reluctant but handed them the cloak. "Just be careful. I don't know why but I have a bad feeling."

Fred and George shared a look. They knew one of them would move faster then both of them and it was silently decided Fred would be the one to go. Fred was always the bit more brash of the two of them. As Fred disappeared George reminded Draco that they loved Harry too. He was a cousin and friend to them as much as he was to Draco. Not to mention their brothers. Even Percy might bend a rule if it would help protect Harry. And that was almost unthinkable.

Hermione and Draco headed with George down towards the hall as it was dinner time. It wasn't curfew so Fred would not have got in trouble being on grounds right now but if he went into the woods he would be.

Hermione looked at George. "What were you doing in the hall? Just luck?"

George shook his head. "Looking for our cousin. We wanted some help with a product we are working on."

Draco snorted. "You know what his grandfathers will do if they learn you are using him to help make joke products."

Hermione actually laughingly thought. "Its study practice. Besides his Papa would approve."

George snorted. "I am more worried about what mum would say if she finds out. She would say we corrupted him."

Draco had met Molly enough to know that. "Between his Papa and Uncle Moony I doubt you are much to blame."

They stopped dead in their tracks when Hermione spotted someone. "What is he doing here?"

Draco saw Hagrid coming in the door. "Harry is not with him. Maybe he is just behind?"

Hagrid usually ate his meals in the hall but they were still shocked. Harry had only left to meet the man some minutes ahead of them. They had taken their time coming down as they had been talking with the twins and before. What ever reason Hagrid summoned Harry for could not have been that short. Even if Hagrid was taking Harry to meet the centaurs he should not have been back so soon. And he should have waited for Harry. Something really was feeling more and more off.

They ran over to Hagrid desperate to find out what was going on. They didn't want to be more worried then they had to, and reminded themselves that they had sent Fred. But they were all on guard.

Hagrid was surprised when the three of them came running up to him. "Hey kids. Anxious for dinner?"

Draco shook his head. "What are you doing here? Why are you not at your hut? Where is Harry?"

Hagrid was confused. "I haven't seen him in days. I usually come in for dinner."

Hermione quickly explained. "Harry got a note saying he was to come. He thought you were taking him to the centaurs."

Hagrid was genuinely confused. "I sent no note. I didn't think I would see him before you left for the train."

Draco had a panic in his chest. He tried to calm himself. "The centaurs will see him. I mean if he goes to the woods."

Hagrid wished he could calm them. "The centaurs are preparing for the solstice. They won't be near the edge."

George was headed for the door. "We have to go. If Harry thinks they are waiting, or you are waiting for him…."

Hagrid and the others followed him out. Hagrid explained the centaurs did not celebrate the Christmas season. But they did celebrate winter solstice. Harry had been invited to attend and he would be brought back to school by his Papa for it as it was two days after end of term. The hunters would still be out on patrol but not this close to the school. They only came this close to the school when they had a reason like when collecting Harry. They usually stayed deeper in the woods.

George kept trying to remind himself. "Fred is with him. They can both hold their own and together."

Harry had no idea what was happening and was not worried. He had not thought anything of the invitation. It had come with a school owl which was not odd, Hagrid did at times. Harry for a moment thought it a bit odd as he remembered the centaurs were busy with their holiday. He was excited he had been invited and would be coming back in a few days for it. Grandpa Galrod was even coming from France to attend. Both he and Tonks had been invited to attend. Tonks was not as close but like Harry she had got to know the centaurs well when she trained with Galrod. They were both welcome there.

Harry was confused when he found Hagrid's hut to be empty. There was lights on but there was no sign of the half giant. He found Fang which seemed even more odd. The only time Fang did not go with him was when he went to dinner.

Harry pet the big dog on his head as he put the gifts down on the table. "Hey Fang, where is Hagrid?"

The big dog just licked him.

Harry was about to leave when he spotted some light in the woods. "The paddock. Hagrid must be out there."

He was confused though as he headed into the woods. For a moment he thought maybe he should turn around. He had never known Hagrid to go into the woods without his big dog. Not that Fang would ever hurt a flee but the dog scared off some due to his sheer size at least. And Hagrid had always told Harry not to go into the woods by himself. He had always taken Harry to meet the centaurs and waited for him. He thought maybe Hagrid had lost track of the time or something.

He came to the paddock where the hippogriffs often were. He spotted one that he knew well, Buckbeak. But there was no sign of Hagrid any where. He saw the torch near the paddock but no sign of who left it.

He was on edge when he heard a twig break off to the side. "Who is there?"

He nearly freaked when he felt a hand on his arm but he heard a voice. "It's just me."

Harry realized it was Fred and not seeing him knew he had Harry's cloak on. "What are you doing out here?"

Fred whispered. "Your friends were worried about you. I followed to make sure you were okay."

Harry was feeling uneasy and he could see that Fang was reacting to something. "I think we should head back."

Fred went to pull him under the cloak. "Come on."

Harry shook his head and whispered. "No one can know you are here. But let's go."

Fred was confused when they seemed unable to leave the woods. "What happened? The wards?"

Harry shook his head. "Only the centaurs should be able to activate them. And they wouldn't."

Fred slipped out from the cloak. "Someone lured you out there. Now we are trapped."

Harry tried to call for Kreacher but his elf was not coming. "This is bad, really bad."

Fred motioned. "Maybe we should head for the centaurs. They can't be far."

Harry stopped him and motioned. "I have a better idea."

Fred watched in confusion as Harry headed into the paddock. He watched as Harry bowed to the hippogriff and was reminded Harry and Charlie were close. Between Charlie, the elves and Hagrid, Harry knew a lot about animals. Harry motioned to Fred to bow to the hippogriff and see if he could as well. Buckbeak took a few moments but he bowed to them both. Harry knew there was a risk but he hoped that they could fly over what ever was keeping them in,

Fred was reluctant as he was not sure this was a great idea. He was worried it was not safe which was saying a lot coming from him. But Fred was not worried for himself. He'd take risks with himself but not Harry.

Harry noticed Fang suddenly started snarling and panicked. "What is wrong? What is it boy?"

Fred was on high alert. "Charlie says that dog never even barks."

Harry motioned. "We need to get on and on now."

Fred clambered on behind him. "How do we guide this thing? I have never heard of anyone riding one."

Harry knew they would have been safer with a thestral but this is what they had. "I don't know. But anywhere is better."

The hippogriff suddenly took to the air and neither of them had any idea where it was going. They clung to each other, and Harry around the neck of the beast as he took to the sky. They were relieved when the hippogriff was able to leave the woods but they had no idea where he was going. Harry had thought maybe to head to the centaurs but there was no way to direct the great animal. They held on for dear life as the great beast flew, eventually landing. They were confused when they got off and found themselves on the grounds of some odd manor. Neither had any idea where they were and the hippogriff took off again. Not knowing what else to do Harry tried summoning Kreacher again and this time it worked.

Harry was relieved to see the little elf. "I need you find my Papa and grandfathers. I need you to bring them."

Hagrid led the kids reluctantly towards the woods. They were joined by Filius who seemed to have been out visiting Pomona in the greenhouses. He was as worried when he was told what was happening. Harry was in his house but it went much deeper then that. Most of the teachers had a special spot for Hary since he was little. Filius did not want to alert to many, especially a certain teacher, but he sent an elf. He summoned both Minerva and Hugo.

They found no sign of the boys in the hut but they found Harry's gift for Hagrid on the table. And there was no sign of his dog. Hagrid and the other teachers shared a look as they headed into the woods.

Filius stopped the kids before they followed. "You will remain here. You are not coming into the woods."

Draco wanted to protest. "Our cousin is in there. And Fred. We need to make sure they are okay."

Hugo agreed with Filius though as he arrived with Minerva. "We need to focus on finding him. This is too dangerous."

Minerva motioned to the hut. "If you step one foot out of there I will not only give detention but tell your mothers."

George paled as he knew the second was far worse. "Just find them. They have to be okay."

Knowing they had to let the teachers go find Harry and Fred quickly, they went into the hut. Minerva was not sure she could trust the kid even with the threat. A howler from Molly was usually enough to scare any of her kids but this was more. She motioned to Hugo who put up a ward to keep the kids in the hut. They did not need any more kids in danger in the woods. Harry was not in trouble as he thought he had been summoned and had permission. And Fred would not be either.

Hagrid was confused when they came into the paddock and he noticed Buckbeak was missing. The hipppogriffs were not usually in the paddock except for lessons. But Buckbeak had been there being treated for an injured claw.

Minerva was shocked when Hagrid said that. "Surely the boys would not take off on it? There is no reason."

Filius was uncertain. "If they thought they were in danger. I am sure Harry knows a lot of them."

Hagrid looked around. "They were close to the edge. Why?"

It was a newly arrived Firenze who spoke. "New wards were erected. My father detected them and brought them down."

Hugo turned to them. "New wards? The boy was lured in here and trapped."

Minerva finished for him. "They must have escaped on the bird." She turned to Hagrid. "You said it was injured."

Hagrid assured her. "Just a minor wound. If Buckbeak let them on him he is fine. They are in no danger."

Filius had to wonder."Where would they go? I mean where would the bird take them?"

Hagrid had no idea. "I don't know. Buckbeak has never taken anyone off school."

They knew they needed to head back to school and contact his family and the Weasleys as Fred was with Harry. Both boys were of course a concern in this. They had no idea what had brought Harry out here or better put who had brought him out. But even Filius had his suspicions as he had not missed some of the looks. The tutoring had not sat right with him and he had tried to veto it before.

Firenze accompanied them but he mentioned he had seen odd tracks. They didn't belong to any of the animals of the forest and had been near the paddock. He could usually tell what animal they were but they had been obscured.

Filius was alert on that. "Obscured? Someone tried to cover their tracks."

Firenze nodded. "It seems to have been an animagus as my guess. But with the obscureness I can't tell what."

Minerva shot Filius a look and Hugo. "Is that man an animagus? I don't recall hearing."

Hugo shrugged. "If he is he is not registered. Moody keeps track of any teachers here who are. Security."

As they got back to the hut Minerva thought. "That doesn't mean he could not be unregistered. We know a few."

Before anyone could answer the man in question appeared strolling from the castle."Did I miss a staff meeting?"

They all watched the man and it seemed he had come straight from the castle. But something was bothering them all about this situation. Minerva had her own reasons to be suspicious of the man. The marauders had come to her when James had been drugged. She had believed them but she could not get a kid in trouble with no proof. She could admit part of her had been looking for a reason to rid herself of him. Hugo was just as on alert. He may not be an auror anymore but Moody and Sirius were both close friends of his. And they both had asked him to keep an eye on the child since he began school.

Before they could answer an elf appeared behind them. "Mistress Minerva and Master Filius I be sent to bring you."