Furry Magic

Title: Furry Magic, chapter 32

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the recognizable characters.

A/N: I greatly appreciate all the wonderful feedback I am receiving. Thank you all so much and I hope you will continue to enjoy my offerings. I am sorry about the slow posting, Sometimes the site won\'t let me on!


Andromeda was furious. She had been lured into a trap by the woman she had been using to further her own plans. And she had not even suspected it. She should have. The bitch was insane, incapable of hiding anything, but in her own arrogance, Andromeda failed to look for duplicity. Now she was caught, albeit temporarily, like a bug in a web.

It was clear as anything to Andromeda now, she was a captive. She had to watch, stay alert and find a way out of this hellhole. The creature brewing potions was not paying due attention to her, and that meant at some point, Andromeda would have an opportunity to escape. She had to be patient.

Now she was restrained, while the foul creature that was Sybil Trelawny was bleeding her valuable blood into to a gleaming, highly polished copper bowl. The witch was licking her dry lips with a long grey tongue, the rasping sound driving Andromeda crazy with skin ruffling irritation. Lick, lick, lick. Ugh. Truly nauseating.

The blood dripped slowly, Trelawny muttering in an undertone, watching each glistening, crimson drop with hungry eyes. Her eyes were the only part of her that Andromeda recognized. The rest, most of which was mercifully hidden beneath her heavy cloak, was disgusting, deformed, and lopsided. A fearful combination of things not meant to be combined. Clearly the result of one of her transforming spells gone horribly, horribly wrong.

Andromeda refused to allow herself to shudder. She was not a mere human to cave into terror. She was destined to rule the were-leopard pride. She was a Queen. One denied her birth-right, but still a queen. And she would not crumble. She would maintain her dignity in the face of this injustice. She would win in the end. She only had to be patient.

Andromeda sighed, and watched the foul old bat stirring whatever concoction she was mixing up. It smelled just awful. Looked worse. Yuck.


Amrys watched as the owl flew, it\'s snowy white wings beating at the greying air. It was nearly time for the storm to break, but the owl was charmed and the weather would not trouble her. She would reach her destination by tomorrow morning.

Lucius had left this task in his hands, knowing it would be well done. He had given his blessing and the missive bore his king\'s mark. Amrys though, had been the one to decide that the were-leopard he now owled should return home. And the order for it flew with the speed of the wind, held in the secure claws of the owl.

He had thought long on just who would be the best to recall from distant lands to perform the job the pride needed done. To find the risk to the students and eliminate it. Then to teach the students who remained at the pride\'s stronghold. Amrys had considered many, but the best had risen to the top of the heap quickly. There was no question.

Bill Weasley was his first choice, an expert at curse breaking, and protective spells. He could discover what was killing the Hogwarts\' students, and thus threatening the pride\'s kittens. And he could teach the boys if they did not return to the school.

Second choice, and not second by much, would be Charlie Weasley, a master of the beasts, and Dragons in specific. He would be able to find any beast, even the magicked one who had eluded the gifted tracker Mantheer. And no one denied he had a gift for teaching and the patience of a saint. He had to, with the irritable Dragons he cared for.

The owl, a mere dot in the sky as he watched it fly, was on the way to Bill. Amrys would expect to hear back in less than two days. If Bill could not come, then the owl would go on to Charlie.

Dumbledore would not get any answers from the pride before then. Lucius had sent him a missive, outlining the full problem and telling the Headmaster of the escape. Surely the old man would be alarmed enough to take more precautions, and understand why the kittens could not return yet.

The risk to the young-lings was too great to allow them to return to Hogwarts in the near future. And, secretly, Amrys knew Lucius did not want to be separated from Harry, his Chosen for that long. The kitten still came to their bed, was permitted to sleep there, a place no kitten had ever been allowed to sleep before. Harry Potter was changing things. Graeme was furious, but thankfully distracted lately.

Amrys admitted to himself he did not want Draco out of his sight for a day, much less an entire term. Even knowing that Mantheer and Yaji would watch over the Mother of the heir. That they cared for Draco\'s safety every bit as much as Amrys did, it was still not enough for his peace of mind. The heir was too valuable to risk his loss, and the Mother\'s worth was almost as great.

The pride had lost two heirs, Draco and Christopher, though neither had died, and two Mothers, Narcissa and Andromeda. It could not afford to do so again, it was a loss so great that it might crumble the pride should it occur. Draco carried the sacred blood of the pride\'s royalty inside his body. The pride needed this heir, desperately.

ne\'ichan
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