Cocking an eyebrow, Malfoy
sneered. "Did you really think I don't know how to get in here? Please…Harry and
I have been seeing each other for almost a month now…" he replied quietly,
annoyed.
Ron's face darkened as he
glared at Draco. "You disgusting prick…I'm going to hex your bollocks off!"
"Ron no! He's a Prefect!"
Hermione cried as she grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"And so am I! And I don't
have to put up with this bloody arse coming in here like he owns the place!" Ron
shouted at her before he returned his glare back to the watching blond. "What do
you want, ferret?" he snarled out quietly.
Eyes narrowing, Draco faced
Ron proudly, head high and wand tucked away. "I didn't come for a fight, though
I have no problem with beating you to get your blockhead out of your arse," he
started coldly and smirked as Ron growled. "I came here to try and make things
better between you and Harry."
"What?! You bloody think I'm
going to believe that?!" Ron demanded in disbelief as he stared at the grim
Draco.
"No I don't. You're so easy
to predict, Weasley, which always makes me wonder what Harry and Hermione see in
you. But there is one thing I can't handle in life…and that's seeing Harry sad
and crying," Draco replied softly, intensely as he glared at Ron and Hermione.
"Crying?" Hermione whispered
as she stared at Draco, paling as he gazed at her grimly.
"Why should we believe you?"
Ron asked softly as his wand came down, though his gaze didn't soften.
"Why don't you find out for
yourself? Why don't you sit up at night and hold him as he asks you if he is a
good friend…a good person? Why don't you listen to him sniffle, trying not to
cry after seeing your best friends ignore you completely? All because of whom
you choose to love…" Draco trailed off and turned away. "Then you can tell me
that you shouldn't believe me."
"You're a bloody Slytherin!
You're prolly gonna give Harry to V-Voldemort at the next possible chance!" Ron
protested, but it was not as heated as he trembled.
Draco looked over his
shoulder and glared at Ron icily. "Voldemort will have Harry over my dead and
decomposed body, Ronald. I would rather die than see him harmed by that
megalomaniac. And if you think those accusations work on me, then think again. I
know who I belong with. I know what I fight for. I know what I love. Can you say
the same?" he asked softly before he started walking away. He stopped at the
entrance, and then turned to look at them. "Harry is someone who has had nothing
most of his life and he has given me something very precious. But I will not see
his heart and soul hurt by friends who can't get over themselves and forgive. If
you're so bloody Gryffindor…then prove it," he stated softly before turning and
leaving.
He walked quickly, needing
to calm himself before he went to get his things, but his heart pounded with
what he had done. He hoped his words had some effect on them, but it was out of
his hands now. With a firm shake of himself, he grabbed his books and headed for
the lake where he always met Harry before their study period in the library. He
needed to see his Harry.
*~~**~~*
"Hey Harry…can we um, talk?"
Harry looked up from his
notes in shock and stared up at Ron and Hermione. He looked at them, noticing
Ron's wary gaze and Hermione's hopeful expression before nodding in assent. He
stood and followed them from the main part of the library to a smaller room and
sat down warily as he watched them. Hermione shut the door and cast a locking
and silencing spell as Ron paced a little, arms crossed over his chest.
Finally, the red head
stopped in front of Harry and faced him. "First…none of this is Hermione's
fault, so don't be mad at her. I'm…I'm the one who…who was um, stubborn." He
flushed as a slight grin came to Harry's face while Hermione snorted inelegantly
before coming over. "Ok, maybe a right ass would be better?" Ron amended huffily
and grinned slightly as Hermione tossed her hair in satisfaction before sitting
next to Harry.
"Harry…I too am sorry though
that it happened. It was a shock, yes, but…well, for me, I was actually happy to
see you happy," Hermione said as she placed her hand on Harry's hand.
"I was never really mad at
you guys, just…" Harry sighed as he trailed off, his hand gently squeezing
Hermione's as he looked down.
"Hurt. We hurt you and…and
mate, I'm sorry. Really I am. It was just…just a shock! I mean…it's Malfoy!" Ron
blurted out hurriedly as he came over and knelt stiffly next to them. "He's been
a prick all his life and…and well how can we trust him?" he asked heatedly as he
leaned in.
"How can we trust Snape,
Ron? How can we trust anyone?" Harry asked gently as he gazed at his best
friend, making his friend blink in confusion. "Because of our gut instincts.
Malfoy…yea, he can be a git. Don't think that we're all lovie dovie all the
time, cuz trust me, we have our rows. You two were the subject at first, but
then other things. It's like any relationship. But I trust him…and…and I…I love
him," he whispered the last bit, blushing as he looked down.
"That bad, huh Harry?"
Hermione asked with a teasing grin as he glanced at her cautiously.
He grinned back and nodded.
"That bad. We have a lot in common and we both love challenging the other. But,
well…yea friends were an arguing point. He was negative about you guys and I was
the same about his friends. But then we talked and we watched each other
interact with our friends. And we saw things. I bet you guys didn't know that
Goyle, Pansy, and I studying together every other Wednesday, huh?"
"Goyle studies?!" Ron
squeaked out as he sat back abruptly, staring at his friend in shock.
"Yea and he's really good at
this thing called origami. I should show you some of his work," Harry replied
enthusiastically as he grinned. "And he's actually really smart, just can't stay
focused. He's more of a hands-on type of guy. And Pansy's really good with her
Charms. And Crabbe is actually quite articulate on things. You wouldn't realize
they were that way cuz of how they have to act, but they're actually kinda fun
to hang around," he explained warmly.
"Have we been replaced?"
Hermione asked somewhat teasingly, but almost sadly as she smiled at Harry.
"Never! But I've just…tried
to get to know them. And Draco's…well he's Draco. He can be a snob, but he
really cares. He helps Crabbe with his homework and I bet you didn't know that
he helps Goyle get new clothes too every Christmas," Harry answered with a soft
smile.
"I just can't believe that…"
Ron muttered as he stared at Harry wide-eyed. He sighed and glanced over at
Hermione. "Ya know…they're out Gryffindoring us," he commented lightly, earning
laughter from his friends.
"That'd be great! It'd be a
time for all of us to interact! That'd be awesome!" Harry answered so
enthusiastically that he received wide grins from his two best friends in
return. He hugged them both suddenly, holding them as tightly as he was being
held. "I missed you guys so much. And I'm sorry I kept it quiet from you,
but…you did prove why I did," he mumbled as he held them.
"Yea….we did. Sorry about
that mate," Ron replied apologetically as he leaned back and rubbed the back of
his neck sheepishly. "But well…you understand, right?"
"Yea I do, Ron. We're good,"
Harry replied as he smiled at his best friend reassuringly. "So…wanna go back to
the library with us?" he asked, grinning as Hermione nodded happily, earning a
much-put-upon sigh from Ron. They stood and headed back in, talking eagerly and
catching up on things, surprising their classmates at their renewed warmth.
Harry sat back down and
grinned at Pansy as she cocked an eyebrow expectantly at them before gesturing
huffily to the two free seats next to her. "Well come on then! We don't have all
day, you silly Gryffindors!" she exclaimed, earning a snort of laughter from
Goyle as he looked over his Charms notes.
Hermione and Ron looked at
each other and grinned before sitting down as well. "Too right…another thing to
get used to," Ron muttered as he squirmed in his seat between Pansy and
Hermione.
"Awwww…is whiddle Won afraid
the big bad Slythewin is going to bite him for his girlfweind?" Pansy asked
sweetly, cooing as she leered at him. Ron stared at her wide eyed as he leaned
back, swallowing hard.
Hermione though was amused.
She smirked at Pansy as she slid her hand around Ron's shoulder and down his
chest. "Now, now Pansy dear…no need to muscle in on another girl's territory.
You've got so much for you already," she purred, earning a laugh from Pansy and
Ron's face turning bright red as Harry and Goyle tried hard to stifle their
laughter.
"Oh I like her…you can keep
her, Harry," Pansy beamed as she looked over at Harry in amusement.
"Not as stuffy as you
thought, eh Pans?" Goyle asked before offering the others some of his candy. Ron
took some hesitantly as he continued to eye them, resulting in a lot of
amusement.
"So um…where's Malfoy and
Crabbe?" Ron asked squeakily after clearing his throat and bringing out some
books.
"Vincent is taking Care of
Magical Creatures and Draco will be back soon. He had to use the little tot's
room," Pansy replied airily as she waved her quill, earning a giggle from
Hermione as she brought out her Potions' essay to work on.
"I heard that, Pansy," Draco
drawled out as he came back and sat down next to Harry. Harry grinned as Pansy
squeaked while the other three laughed in amusement as Draco leered at her. "I
was thinking Harry might follow, but he still doesn't get the concept of
bathroom stall quickies," he added as he winked at a now very red Harry.
"Oh SO not what I needed to
hear about my best mate's love life!" Ron groaned out as he covered his eyes,
grunting as Hermione elbowed while the two other Slytherins laughed in
amusement.
"Oh please. They haven't
gone past blow-jobs, Weasley. Take a pill, as Harry likes to say," Pansy
retorted with a smirk, grinning widely as Draco shot her a glare.
"What? What's holding you
two back?!" Ron demanded as his hand dropped immediately, and then blushed
brightly as his eyes went wide. "Oh don't answer that! I'm sorry mate!" he
blurted out as he waved his hands.
"It's ok, Ron," Harry
replied warmly as he smiled at Draco. "We're just…taking our time. It's nice to
savor the good stuff…especially when it might be th-"
"Not that again!" Draco cut
him off with a growl, frowning at his boyfriend fiercely and surprising Ron and
Hermione. "You're going to kick the Dark Lord's sorry arse, and then we're going
to move in together and tell the world where to shove it! Now stop being so
maudlin!" he hissed out angrily. But what surprised Harry's best friends was the
hint of wetness in Draco's eyes as he glared at his boyfriend.
Smiling soothingly, Harry
rested his forehead against Draco's as he laced a hand with his boyfriend's.
"I'm sorry, Draco…I'll try," he whispered soothingly before he was kissed
tenderly.
Ron and Hermione looked at
each other with wide eyes. Though they had caught the two before, this was
something new to them. At first, they had assumed it was some spell or
something. But the love the two young men showed each other spoke of far more.
They had indeed been wrong. Focusing back on the others as the awkward silence
passed, they went back to studying and found themselves relaxing.
*~~**~~*
"Professor Evie? Are you
scared about tonight?"
Crabbe's murmured question
brought the young woman's attention to him and she smiled warmly at him. "No
more than usual, why?" she asked in response as she came over by him as his
fellows listened in.
"Well with everything we saw
and…with everything going on…" Crabbe trailed off and looked down, embarrassed.
He looked up as a gentle hand rested on his shoulder into her smiling green
eyes.
"You are a sweetheart,
Vincent. I thank you, but to ease your heart, Remus and I will be going to our
home this time, so be sure all of you are good while we're gone. Oh, and of
course Happy Halloween," she commented lightly with a wink, earning some
laughter from them. She nodded and clapped her hands then as she came to the
front. "Well, since my husband is taking his sweet little time in coming in
here…let us begin," she ordered as she faced them.
"Got him good, eh
Professor?" one of the Gryffindors called out, earning laughs and hoots from the
rest of the class as she grinned widely at them.
"I heard that!!" Remus
called from the upper office, earning even more laughs.
"Not that it is any of your
concern, but he had to be…batted down…a bit before class," Evie added, laughing
softly as several wolf howls and catcalls went out, earning even more laughs.
Harry glanced over at Draco and winked before wiggling his eyebrows naughtily,
earning a smirk from his boyfriend before they were brought to attention again.
"Enough, enough you bunch of pervs. And I thought randy werewolves were bad,"
Evie declared in amusement as she brought out her wand. "All right, today we are
going to start working on non-verbal magic. Pair up everyone and I want you to
practice doing your shielding and casting simple disarming curses without
speaking," she ordered as she waved her wand, sending the tables and chairs to
the side gracefully.
They all stood up and broke
off into pairs. Harry grinned as Draco stood in front of him, while Hermione and
Ron stood next to them and Pansy and Goyle were just beyond them. They all
looked over as Evie paced before them, waiting for them to settle down. “Good.
Have you decided who will defend first? Good, good…Now, everyone focus
internally and envision the shield charm or whatever jinx that you are going to
use. Envision yourself yelling it, but don’t. Use your mind to focus your magic,
like we have been teaching you a bit in the Dueling club,” she instructed as she
watched them prepare themselves.
Silence fell over the class
as they concentrated, trying to do as she instructed. Harry found himself
closing his eyes as he struggled with sending his jinx at Draco.
‘Expelliarmus....Expelliarmus....’ he kept thinking hard, having about as much
success as the rest of the class. Suddenly, the concentration was broken as an
owl flew in and landed on Evie’s desk at the front.
“Oh hello...” Evie said in
surprise as she went over and took the package it had on its leg before giving
it a treat. She frowned in confusion as she opened the small package and pulled
out the box and letter within while her students stopped and focused on her.
Cocking an eyebrow, she looked up over at the office. “Remus love, do you know a
Fenrir Greyback?” she asked as she started to open the box. She looked front as
the kids gasped in shock and horror before looking down at the box in wonder and
confusion while opening it, unable to stop herself. Something called to her...
“What?!” Remus shouted as he
came out of the office in a rush. “No Evie! Don’t open that!!” he cried as he
reached for her. Too late, he watched her startled look up at him just before a
silver and green beam seemed to explode out and hit her, sending her flying into
the wall, where she hit hard and slid to the ground with a cry. “EVIE!!”
“Professor Evie!!” several
of the students cried as they ran towards her, but stayed back as she groaned
and shuddered. She struggled to get up, but then almost rippled in pain as she
gasped, clenching her hands tightly as her body spasmed.
Remus ran down the stairs as
he shouted at them to stay back before scooping his love to him. “Evie...speak
to me...Evie!” he pleaded as he held her spasming body.
She opened her eyes and
looked up at him in pain, earning a gasp of horror from him as he saw the gold
of the wolf in them. “Remus...quickly…the children! Get them out...get them
OUT!!” she snarled out in terror before screaming and arching in pain. Remus
tried to hold her as her body twisted, and then began to change. Bones cracked
as she screamed in agony, her muscles reshaped themselves, and fur grew swiftly
along her writhing body as she transformed into her lupine form.
“Get out!! Get out now!!”
Remus shouted as he let go of his wife, his wand out as she panted in pain
before standing shakily on her paws. She looked up at them as she heard
scrabbling and soft screams, her eyes blood red as she growled. Her hackles rose
slowly as she stalked slowly forward, her fangs glinting in the daylight as she
came forward, growling in a rising decibel. Remus backed up slowly as she
stalked forward, feeling his heart clench in fear and heartache and felt Moony
rise up within him in a need to claim his mate. He looked over his shoulder
briefly to see what students were left as Evie continued to advance. "Get
Dumbledore now!!" he shouted before focusing on his wife. He cried out as she
roared and leapt to the attack, sinking her fangs into the arm he brought up to
protect his face. His wand was knocked out of his hand as she fought with him,
and then sent him flying through the doorway.
She attacked again, snarling
as she fought with him to get at his neck, but then was knocked to the side by a
stunning curse. She shook herself and looked over, snarling as she saw the
students watching them fearfully. She grinned suddenly, a feral grin of such
evil that it sent chills through all of them as she began once more to stalk
towards her prey: Harry.
Harry stared at her in fear
and anguish, trying to see his godmother there, but only seeing a feral beast.
He felt himself being tugged along, but resisted, trying to find a way to get
through to Evie. "Harry!! Run now!!" Hermione cried at him as Evie continued
towards them. But he couldn't move, held prisoner by those blood red eyes.
'Blood red…Voldemort…' he thought in sudden rage.
But this rage only enticed
the werewolf as she hunted down her godson, almost chuckling with the evil that
possessed her. She snarled suddenly and leapt up, heading straight for Harry and
his friends as screams and shouts echoed out. All of a sudden, a black furry
shape hurtled towards her, knocking her to the side as she was grabbed and
thrown off course. She stood again, growling in rage as she focused on the
creature stopping her. Padfoot faced her, snarling as his fangs glinted in the
light, his snout wrinkling with his warning as he growled. He stood between her
and Harry, tail high in warning as she stalked towards him.
They suddenly leapt at each
other, biting and clawing at the other as they snapped at each other, their rage
and fighting instincts sending them clashing repeatedly as more students
surrounded them and teachers joined in with the crowd. Snape pushed towards the
front and pushed Harry back. "Go Potter!!" he ordered sharply.
"No!! I can't! Aunt Evie…"
Harry stopped as a sickening yelp echoed out and Padfoot was tossed to the side
by the werewolf. He tried to stand, but the wolf was there, grabbing his neck
and shaking him violently. "NO!! SIRIUS!!" Harry shouted in anguish as he tried
to run forward, but was grabbed by multiple hands and held back.
"Daro, Hênnen Ithil!!
Daro!!" Remus shouted desperately as he struggled to stand and they all watched
in shock as the werewolf dropped Padfoot's body and looked over at him. "Daro…
Hênnen Ithil…daro…maetho…Voldemort…" he pleaded
as he stumbled forward, holding his bleeding arm to his side. (Stop, my
Moonchild!! Stop! Stop…my Moonchild…stop…fight…Voldemort…)
The werewolf faced him,
mouth open and glinting with blood as she almost seemed to sneer at him, panting
heavily as her blood red eyes flashed gold briefly. She shook her head for a
split second as she shuddered before looking up at Remus again, her eyes gold
again before going blood red. She snarled and snapped at him before facing where
Harry was, almost laughing as she turned towards him.
"No Aunt Evie!! Fight
Voldemort!! Fight him!!" Harry screamed as he broke free, facing her. Her grin
seemed to widen as she bowed her head and stalked him purposefully. She crouched
down suddenly as she growled, then roared as she leapt at him as screams rose up
around them.
"Harry!!"
"Potter look out!!"
"NO!!"
"AVADA KEDAVRA!!"
A green bolt of magic
collided with the attacking werewolf, earning a yelp from her as she was sent
flying into the wall and slid down limply. Everyone stared over at a very pale
Draco as he lowered his wand before locking eyes with Harry. Suddenly, the spell
of horror was broken and voices rose up as Snape ran forward to Sirius, who had
morphed back to normal and was gasping for air through his torn throat. Remus
dragged himself to his fallen wife's side, checking her neck frantically.
"Malfoy you bastard!!! You
killed Professor Evie!!" Ron roared as he rushed over and grabbed Draco's
collar, shaking him in his rage as others crowded close.
"Ron no!! She's not dead!!"
Hermione shouted as she struggled to get her boyfriend to release Draco as the
blond gazed blankly at Harry, stricken.
Staring at Hermione, Ron
blinked as he slowly let Draco down. "What? What do you mean? You heard what he
used!"
"Ron…werewolves are
impervious to Unforgivables, remember? Only a very powerful wizard or witch
could have used it for its full effect!" Hermione reminded him pleadingly as she
pulled on his arm.
Harry came over and suddenly
hugged Draco tightly, squeezed just as hard by his boyfriend as the murmurs and
gossip rose around them. "I was so scared…I saw her coming after you and…" Draco
whispered as he shook even harder, clinging to Harry as he buried his face in
Harry's shoulder.
"You did great…I'm ok, see?
It's ok…" Harry whispered soothingly as he nuzzled close. "Thank you…thank you…"
"I love you…" Draco
whispered to Harry, only heard by his lover as they clung to each other tightly.
Feeling his throat close,
Harry held the blond tightly. "Love you too…" he whispered finally, choked.
"Harry…we have to get Sirius
to Pomfrey," Hermione called as she and Ron knelt next to a shaking Sirius as
Snape worked to close the gaping wounds.
Looking over, Harry nodded,
but then focused on where Remus was with Dumbledore and the fallen werewolf.
Remus suddenly glared up at Dumbledore and snarled something, earning the
younger Gryffindor's need to come over and investigate with Draco. "I won't
leave her, Albus! She's my wife!"
"She needs to be taken
someplace safe and you need your wound looked at, Remus," Dumbledore replied
gently as he put a hand on Remus shoulder, only to be shrugged off. Pomfrey
suddenly rushed in and knelt next to Sirius, pouring a potion down the barely
conscious man's throat as Snape held him steady and murmured quietly to him.
Sirius coughed and made some comment, earning a snort of laughter from his
husband, which relaxed the gathered student body as they mingled and watched
warily.
Glaring up at Dumbledore,
Remus opened his mouth to retort but then stopped as Harry knelt next to him,
eyes wide with fear and sorrow. "Please, Remus…she needs you strong…" Harry
whispered as he looked up at Remus, shaking under the hand that Draco placed on
his shoulder. "Tonight is the full moon…Moony won't be able to handle her this
way…if he is injured…" He stopped, swallowing hard as he gently took Remus' hand
in his own.
Gazing at Harry before
looking up at Draco, Remus sighed quietly before smiling. "That was an excellent
bit of fast work, Draco…thank you," he whispered, smiling as Draco nodded
sharply. He closed his eyes and sighed again. "Very well. I shall go to the
medic ward," he conceded grudgingly as he looked at his unconscious wife.
"A wise decision, Remus,"
Dumbledore murmured as he smiled, winking at the two students before casting a
binding spell on the werewolf. He looked over his shoulder as Hagrid came over.
"Hagrid, please take Professor Evie down to the eastern dungeons. And please be
sure to lock her in carefully. We do not want to harm her anymore than she
already is," he ordered gently.
"Aye Perfessor…I'll be right
careful with the lady…" Hagrid murmured before kneeling and gently scooping up
the unconscious wolf. Remus growled protectively but stopped as Harry squeezed
his hand quellingly. The half giant headed out, the body of students parting
before him.
Harry felt his head become
muzzy as the student whisperings and sounds of crying welled up suddenly around
him and he swayed. He felt himself scooped up into strong arms and was carried
out as he blacked out, followed by Ron and Hermione as they helped Remus to the
infirmary as Dumbledore dispersed the student body either back to classes or in
the case of the current DADA class, to the library for a study period. But the
school was buzzing with the terrifying news of what had happened.
TBC
