Love of a Monster

Part 3: Rude awakening ...


Cracking an eye open, I tried to get my bearings. I wasn't at the Dursley's nor was I in my bed in Gryffindor tower, that much I knew. I spotted Fang in the corner and everything came rushing back at me all at once. I closed my eye and decided that maybe if I went back to sleep and pretended that it wasn't happening that it would just go away. Fang, it would seem, had other ideas.


//Dip of bed.//


//Bounce and sniff.//


//POUNCE.//


"Ooof! Fang! Get off!" I growled at the dog that was now in my face.


//Lick. Lick. SLLLLUUURRRRPPP! Lick.//


"Ugh! Fang, come on GET OFF!" I said a little more forcefully.


"Ere' now. What's all the commotion?" Hagrid bellowed as he burst into the cottage. "Oh fer cryin out loud, Fang. Get off o' Harry. Sorry bout that Harry." He apologized as he pulled Fang off of me.


"No problem. Just a bit different wake up call then I'm use to is all." I said trying to sound pleasant. "Fang was unfortunate to be the one to figure out my little secret is all."


"Secret?" the half giant asked me.


I smiled a bit, "Yeah, my secret… I'm not a morning person when I first wake up." and I winked.


Hagrid let out a barked laugh as he wrestled the boarhound away. "Seems we share the same secret then, don't it?"


I crawled out of bed while yawning big. Stretching my arms and wings wide, I let my head fall back as I yawned again.


"Cor'!" exclaimed the larger man from across the room.


Perplexed I looked over at him. "What is it, Hagrid?" I folding my wings till they were wrapped around me and clasped them together with the little strange hooked bones at the bend, it felt like I was wearing my cloak.


Shaking himself a bit the giant answered. "Just for a moment there… well yer lookin' like the real thing there, Harry. I was expectin' ye to roar there for a bit."


The day went fairly quick after that. I had to wait until night fall before Hagrid and I could join everyone in Dumbledore's office. Once there the headmaster filled everyone on our plan and we worked well through the night to cover all aspects of my cover story. I felt a little like James Bond from all those muggle 007 films. Though I know I don't have a prayer of looking half as good as Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnen do that is for sure.


McGonagall had covered for me today by telling everyone I had detention with Snape. After conferring with Madam Pomfrey, Snape said that he didn't think the Relocaus Potion would cause any problems to me. Snape and I went over how I was to act and discussed what he needed to do to be me. It was decided that it might be best if I were to stay in the Astrology Tower as far as living arrangements went. Though I protested it at the time. I liked living with Hagrid but Snape pointed out that gargoyles preferred the safety of castles and it would be considered out of the norm. I would have fought it harder but Hagrid had concurred that Snape was correct and I relented.


Dumbledore had owled a friend of his in the Ministry to make sure my letter was found and had ask to see if he would be my alibi. His friend had owled back and agreed to the request as long as he was sent a report on the findings. This out of the way, we covered my physical health. After a rapid discussion we settled on me seeing Madam Pomfrey every other day for a physical to insure there were no other side effects.


"Well now, all you'll be need'in is a new name, Harry." Hagrid said to me as we were about to adjourn .


"I forgot about that." I told him because to tell the truth I really hadn't thought of it at all.


"You'll be need'in a name, Harry and a right good'in at that. Gargoyles don't just name themselves you know. Most just go by, Friend."


"I didn't know that." I replied.


"Hagrid is correct, however, there are a few with names. I've heard tales of an entire clan that live in a place called New York of the United States. It is said that they all have names, but this is pure rumor." Snape informed us.


"Indeed. Hmm, I'll leave naming our young friend up to you then Rubeus." Dumbledore commented.


I could tell the idea amused the headmaster greatly. *And here I thought Dumbledore liked me.* Snape was fighting a grin, the jerk. Pomfrey and McGonagall seemed to be the only ones with sympathy for me. McGonagall winced, while Madam Pomfrey muttered something that sounded like ‘Better you than me.' but I was the only one to heard it due to my new hearing.


What was I going to say… sorry but I don't want to end up like a certain dragon named Norbert or monstrous three headed dog NAMED FLUFFY! Here I was, trying to not hurt the man who had given me so much in my past and not coming up with a bloody thing. So I did the only thing I could, I smiled and nodded my head like it was the best idea I'd every heard all the while silently cringing.

"How about… BOLT? Like the lighten bolt scar on yer forehead." He reasoned out loud.


I rolled the name around in my mind and really considering what I could have ended up with it was a good name as any. *Bolt. Sounds cool.* I thought to myself.


"I like it." I congratulated Hagrid with a huge smile. "It's going to take some getting use to though."


Snape was looking at me with an expression that clearly read, *YOU WOULD.* and rolled his eyes heavenward.


"So, … Bolt…" Dumbledore's lips twitched in amusement. "I'll expect to see you in the morning for breakfast and our announcement."


I nodded and left with Hagrid to spend one last night in his home before I was to live in Astrology tower for the rest of transformation. Hagrid, promised he would visit often and as I drifted off to sleep, I thought. *I'll have a fresh start. Get the chance to be me without being famous or anyone prejudging me.* Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Besides, with everyone looking for a way to reversing the potion, how long could it last?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TBC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry so short but I'm having to write at work and not get caught. (LOL) Reviews as always are welcome.

ta,

Juno