Familiar

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A/N…Hey guys (ringes expecting flying objects) I’m sorry it took so long for me to update. I had every intention of getting this out before Hallows came out but I hit a funk and was completely stuck on what to write. After I’d read my book I got a cold, via an unscrupulous friend who cajoled me into waiting in line in the rain with her so she could get her own book the night it came out. When the worst was over I had no energy and no imagination to write with. So I slept for a week. Then I had a relapse. Then I accepted three challenges from Lady Diablo and I’ve still got one of them left to write.

Took the challenges cos they’re fun and cos with challenges I feel an obligation to get it done and posted as quick as possible so having three shocked me back into writing. So really really sorry but had genuine excuses and promise not to take so long with the next chapter. Though it may take longer than a week cos its gonna be a long one! This Is the last skippy chapter cos I aint skipped half as much time as I wanted to, so I’m putting the skippies in with the Halloween chapter to give you summat good to read. K?

Or at least that’s the plan, with me ya never know.


Thank you to everyone who reviewed…

Heksy…hey yourself sweetie, long time no see (sorry channelling moaning Myrtle), been trying to email ya for last couple of days, let me know if ya got em. Im starting to get pissed with the damn thing playing up all the time.

Kurai…Thank you so much for your review. I’ve never been worshiped before. I’m extremely flattered. I think I took a bit of a risk with the last chapter, I wasn’t sure what people would think to the argument but it was necessary to the plot and had to be done. So I’m really glad you liked it. As a fellow author whose work I admire, I value your opinion.

Sheree…So far you seem to be the only one who has picked up on the relationship between Harry and Draco. I think I mentioned before that the original idea was to have them become friends first and get together around Christmas time. This didn’t seem to work and I thought it was a little mean, but I still wanted the relationship to be more than…o god we’re mates we’ve gotta jump in the sac…I know most of it is due to circumstance but I wanted the relationship to be more of a friendship at first. Circumstance forcing them reluctantly into the role of friends. They are mates but they’re also friends. Hope that explains why they seem more like friends at the mo than mates, but I can promise it will be changing soon.

WeasleyWench…hey, that’s why I did it. Harry did need to see how much he needed Krai. I know a lot of time hasn’t passed for the characters but this fic has been going on so long I think people have forgotten the beginning. Krai’s guidance was necessary at the beginning and he did manipulate. Since coming into Harry’s life he’s helped the boy gain his confidence, trained him, revealed to him the creature nature that would probably have escaped him if he was left to his own devices. Lets face it Hermione was the researcher, not Harry. He also helped Draco to gather his courage and leave the dark side (strange urge to say “use the force”, anyway) and helped them get together quicker. Since then he’s appeared less and less in the chapters, usually only offering advice. As Harry doesn’t need to be guided so much anymore. In the end Harry and Krai will be nothing more than friends who at one point had a kind of teacher/student relationship. Its been thirty chapters since I introduced Krai and theres still people who think he’s like Dumbledore even though he hasn’t really manipulated in a while. People fail to grasp the difference in intentions and that Krai isn’t human, he’s a snake, he doesn’t look at things the same way as humans do. Anyway thanks for the review hun. I’ll keep an eye out for your AIM, so we can have a chat.

SneakyFox…lol, I think it would be funny if Harry got a postcard from Krai in Majorca. I think our snake could probably pull it off too, but sadly that aint the reason why he hasn’t shown up yet.

Aaliyah…You hit the nail on the head there. You see what Pansy, Blaise and Draco know is actually what Krai knows. So it aint really that much of a secret really is it? I like to plant more than one hint so I’m glad you picked up on that, no one else did. It was overlooked for the Krai bit which was in a way my intention. But theres been hints of this secret since the beginning chapters. Things are starting to come to a head now. Thank you for all your compliments. I too will be sad when this ends but I have…oh god I actually have seven other stories that I’ve begun. If I get even half the positive comments I got for this for one of them then I’ll be happy. This story became more than I thought it would. Started out with such a simple concept, Harry n a guiding familiar. And look at what its become now! For myself I actually think this is way too long and is boring a lot of people, I think theres only two people left from the beginning who are still hanging in. Anyway I’m rambling, thanks again for the review.

Vlad…you never fail to make me smile. I don’t care that you don’t review every chapter I’m just glad you’re still reading. Don’t worry I have no intention of stopping writing after this story, I’ve got several on the go. One’s up to a hundred pages! N the end of that aint even been thought of yet. So don’t worry I’ll definitely be around for a while so theres no need to kidnap me. Whether or not the stories are any good remains to be seen. I’ve had some good feedback on them though. So we’ll see. I want to get as much as I possibly can done on my next one so that when I post it I’m so far ahead I’m not rushing and ruining it.

Narutolovr…Thank you so much. I would really love to be an author, it’s my dream job. The problem that I seem to have though is my imagination runs away with me. This story is an example of that, its developed a lot and while I was writing it I’ve had other ideas that just have to be in separate stories. I have been trying to write a book and like with my fiction I started with one and have ended up with around seven different ideas and a couple of them stretching over more than one book. I have the ideas but not the time o write them, I have to write every idea I get down in a notebook I always make sure I’m carrying. Unfortunately I’ve decided that the book I had the most done on needs to be near enough started over again. Sorry for the ridiculously long time between updates. Everything seemed to hit me at once. I cant thank you enough for the compliments you gave me and the boost of confidence your words brought was priceless.

Kerrick…Don’t worry about it. I’d have made my boyfriend buy me a laptop too if he wrecked my computer.

Bludraconis…Hey, I’m sorry I tried to email you with updates but it said the address wasn’t available. If you have another address can you either email me or leave a review with it inside and I can let you know about the next update. I haven’t been but I’d love to go. I think hunting dogs are absolutely beautiful. Lol, I don’t mind lizards really but I can definitely see where you’re coming from, we had an infestation of skinks in a hotel once, it was an interesting experience.

Redneckmama…(DH SPOILERS), thought I’d better put that in so no one flamed me for revealing owt. I agree I would have liked to have seen more house unity in the last book. It’s almost like anybody bar the main characters or the DA just followed like sheep. The only interesting thing to happen was Pansy saying they should throw Harry out the Castle and the other tables uniting against the Slyths, I would have liked to have seen some of them switch sides and not be the typical evil gits. I loved the book but there was way too much left un said for me. And she killed Lupin off, I can never forgive her for that. (sobs) Naw it was good but a little un-emotional, same with Hedwigs death, he seemed to forget about her too easily for me. Ok force myself off that topic or we’ll never get to the story. It’s nice to hear someone likes the relationship between Harry ad Krai, as I’ve said before people don’t seem to get him. I think I’m failing in my characterization.

Katie…Thanks for defending me that was really sweet. Authors flaming other authors is something I don’t get either. I write this cos I love writing. That’s why I’ve said I’ll always finish a story unless its getting no interest at all. And in that case I’d take it off re-write it and try again. I hate to say it but I’m guessing there will be fifteen or so chapters left in this one including an epilogue. God that’s a lot. I hope you’ll have the same thoughts at the end of this. Cos originally I only thought it’d be about twenty chapters. (grins)


To all those reviewers who said they had just read this story straight through, thank you. To me there is no higher compliment that can be paid to an author. Its very flattering to know my story is able to hold your attention for over thirty chapters.

Thank you to everyone else who reviewed…Jan, FireWitch1, Thrnbrooke, Kida, PleiadesWolfe, and HarryxXxDracoxXx,



Chapter 33: The Passing of Time part 2


28/09…A Meeting Continued.


Harry sighed, sitting back and ignoring his breakfast completely. He was too worried about Krai to leave it another day but he couldn’t ignore the letter.

‘Ron.’

‘Yeh mate?’

‘I’m going to need you to do me a favour tonight.’

‘What do you need me to do Harry?’

‘I need you and our friend if he’ll go, to go down to the lake.’ He didn’t need to say anymore, Ron knew exactly what he wanted him to do.

‘You’re worried?’

‘Of course I’m worried, he shouldn’t be out there.’ Harry said heatedly.

‘Why aren’t you going yourself...?’ he glanced at the letter still in Harry’s hand. ‘What…?

Harry interrupted him with a gesture and passed him the letter. Ron read it, his face growing paler with each word.

‘What the hell could he want?’ he whispered worriedly.

‘I don’t know.’ Harry replied. ‘I know he’s found out some things, I know he knows about Krai…Oh shit…’

‘No!’ Ron said. ‘Dumbledore doesn’t have Krai. He’ll be out there under a rock resting after a good hunt. You’ll see.’ Harry nodded, Ron’s words didn’t comfort him much.

He should never have sent Krai away.

Sod that, he should have sent him back to the Manor the moment he found out the old coot knew he was there. Should have sent him away. Krai might think that he was there to protect Harry and that was the end of it but Harry thought of their bond as more of a partnership than anything. Sometimes it was the Master’s job to protect the familiar, not just the other way around. He had to send Krai away, the snake needed to be kept away from Dumbledore just like the basilisk egg.


***


Later that night, he headed up to Dumbledore’s office. Ron and Draco had already left for the lake before he set off. The three of them had discussed it at Lunch and other than Harry, they knew that Draco probably had the best chance of finding the snake.

Dinner seemed to fly by for him. The prospect of another meeting with Dumbledore didn’t thrill him. And at the back of his mind there was still his worry for Krai. He had felt more and more on edge since Krai had disappeared, it was like a calming influence, the rational side of his brain was gone. He was worried about Krai, the possibility that Dumbledore might have gotten hold of the snake was frightening.

That worry though was at the back of his mind, in front of it was Draco. His worry for Draco was increasing with every step he took. He was regretting sending him out into the night with only Ron for protection. He knew that his mate could turn into his animagus form at a moments notice but that did nothing to appease his worries.

What if Dumbledore knew about them being mates? What would he do? Having a mate, like having a familiar gave Harry someone to talk to. Someone to take advice from, someone who’s only self interest was making sure that Harry was alive and remained so. In Krai’s case because that was his duty, though Harry liked to believe it wasn’t only obligation that kept the snake loyal to him. And in Draco’s case…well, Draco just wanted to be with him. As he wanted to be with Draco.

His worry put thoughts in his mind. What if he was ever forced to choose between the two of them? He knew he would choose Draco over his familiar, there was no doubt about that. But he knew, especially after the last couple of days that not having Krai around would kill a part of him. And he’d never get that back.

He’d never realised until Krai was gone just how much he’d miss him, how close they really were. The familiar bond was subtle in its magic, from the first moment you felt a connection and afterwards whenever you spent time together the bond grew. It wasn’t noticeable. It was gradual, it crept up on you, much like the bond with Draco had.

He headed up to Dumbledore’s office his feelings of dread increasing with each step. He gave the password when he reached the Gargoyle, with a sick feeling in his stomach.

‘Blood Pops.’

Harry was growing increasingly fond of undercooked meat, his steaks…cooked to order by the house elves were becoming rarer and rarer. Pretty soon he would have to give up eating meat in the Great Hall, before he just went for raw pieces. It seemed it may be prudent to start dropping hints of becoming a vegetarian. He needed the meat though and would have to sneak down to the kitchens on a night. Anyway the taste of blood might be becoming more and more palatable to him. But there was something about an ordinary human liking the taste of blood that gave him the willies. The opening of the staircase brought him out of his thoughts.

He thought it was pretty stupid of Dumbledore not to have changed the password since his last visit but that oversight of Dumbledore’s might come in handy at some point. Instead of climbing the stairs he let them carry him upwards.

And like always Dumbledore’s voice rang out asking him to come in before he’d even knocked on the door.

Nothing in the office had changed. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, chin resting on the steeple of his fingers. His eyes were twinkling away as he gazed up at the ceiling in silent contemplation.

‘Have a seat Harry.’ He said gesturing to the seat before the desk. Harry had a sudden inexplicable fear of sitting in that chair but pushed it aside. He sat gingerly in the seat, trying not to betray his nervousness. But Dumbledore looked up at him with one of those small smiles of his and said…

‘Don’t worry Harry, you’re not in trouble.’ Dumbledore sighed. ‘There have been several events recently that you must be apprised of.’

‘Voldemort.’ Harry guessed, at Dumbledore’s nod he carried on. ‘What’s he been up to? The Daily Prophet hardly seems to be reporting anything.’

‘It isn’t.’ Dumbledore said gravely. ‘He’s lying low at the moment, keeping his operations as quiet as he possibly can. Though he himself fears nobody but you, he now realises just how vulnerable his followers are. His support is increasing daily, whether by force or by choice it does not matter but he knows that if the Light side banded together his forces would be outnumbered.’

‘That’s why he’s concentrating on the Giants isn’t it sir?’

‘Yes Harry, the Werewolves also. Creatures are harder to kill than humans.’

Harry frowned, he didn’t like the distinction Dumbledore had made there. Dumbledore could be implying that he knew of Harry’s heritage, which was extremely bad. Either that or it was another hint of the old prejudice against non humans that he’d seen since arriving in the wizarding world. Humanoid creatures like Elves and Goblins, as well as ‘former’ humans such as Werewolves were thought of as beneath ‘real’ wizards.
Either way he didn’t like it.

‘Why am I here sir?’ he asked finally.

‘Well Harry…It is my sad duty today to inform you of the death of Nymphadora Tonks.’

The shock hit Harry as hard as a physical blow. He had not been expecting that. No, it was much worse than what he had been expecting. Death compared to Dumbledore knowing his secrets was just…Tonks…dead, Tonks…

His thoughts were whirling, they didn’t seem to be settling…grief…rage…loss…pain…

No!

Harry could hardly speak. ‘Tonks?’

Dumbledore’s eyes weren’t twinkling now, but they didn’t hold tears, they were completely devoid of emotion and Harry had to fight down his anger.

‘Yes unfortunately. She was doing some work for the Order a week ago. And I’m sad to say that she ran afoul of some Deatheaters and died before our reserve members reached her. Unfortunately Elphias Doge also died in the attack.’

Harry’s eyes hardened. A WEEK! And you’re only just telling me!

Instead of saying that aloud he asked ‘Did they get them?’

‘No. Unfortunately Kingsley arrived to see them dissaparating.’

‘Who was it?’ Harry asked, fighting to keep his voice level and not show his anger.

‘The two identified were Macnair and Dolohov, though there were several more.’ Harry nodded.

‘Thank you for telling me that Headmaster. Is that all?’

‘No actually. There is another Order meeting in several days and I thought it was time you attended.’ Harry stared at him in disbelief.

‘You want me to join the Order?’ he asked suspiciously. Dumbledore nodded smiling, no doubt thinking he had won some sort of battle by giving Harry what he wanted. And for a moment Harry’s anger got the better of his discretion. ‘Why now? You’ve kept me in the dark since you knew me. You told me nothing until you needed to do so. And you’ve been adamant about me not getting involved. Why now?’

Dumbledore looked a little uncomfortable now. ‘You know why Harry. You were too young, but now that you are of age I…’

‘What? You can finally allow me to sit in on meetings instead of sending me out to face giant snakes and madmen with second heads.’ Harry spat sarcastically.

‘Quirrell had two faces Harry.’ Dumbledore said patiently like he was reprimanding a child.

‘What does that matter?’ Harry yelled.

‘I wanted to keep you safe.’

‘Oh I can see that. I’ve been about as safe here at Hogwarts as I was at the Dursleys…’

Harry struggled to rein in his temper, he couldn’t risk losing it and saying something he didn’t want revealing.

He remembered the day when his magic had shredded the curtains and shied away from it, the image finally breaking his anger. As much as he hated the old fool there would be too many consequences if he hurt him now.

‘Harry I’ve come to realise how much the Order needs you…’

Harry laughed a bitter little sound. ‘Don’t make me laugh; you don’t think that at all. You’ve just realised that limiting your numbers to the older generation is going to get you all killed. You’ve lost members and haven’t brought enough new ones in. Am I right? I can guess that there will be several new faces at this meeting. Including the Weasley twins who I had been told a little while ago still weren’t allowed in the Order. They’ll be there now won’t they Professor?’

Dumbledore cleared his throat. ‘Yes they will.’

Harry forced out another bitter little laugh. ‘I’ll be there Headmaster.’ He said getting up to leave. He made it to the door before Professor Dumbledore said anything else.

‘I’ll send Professor Lupin for you when its time.’ With a final nod at Dumbledore Harry left the office.

Once he was sure he was far enough away from the man, he sat down in the corridor and tried to hold back the tears long enough to get the anger in check. After several minutes he gave up, stood and ran as fast as he could to the seventh floor and the Room of Requirement.

Give me a room, any room as long as it can withstand my anger!

The moment the door appeared he slammed inside, the force of his shove cracking the stone wall of the chamber. He stumbled to the middle of the room overcome by his emotions, took a deep breath and let his grief for Tonks show.


***


Harry returned to the Common room over an hour later, his mind shying away from what he had just done, to find Ron waiting up for him. He looked at Ron’s face and knew what the red head was about to tell him.

‘We couldn’t find him Harry.’


***

03/10…Reunion


It was a couple of days into October before Harry had any sign of Krai. It was Wednesday afternoon and Harry had a free period. Ron was stuck inside doing his transfiguration homework. Harry had finished his own earlier on and after helping Ron out all he could he had nothing else that he had to do, so he decided to go out and look for his familiar himself, he spent a good hour and half out by the lake. He gained nothing but a chill.

It was a crisp morning with a harsh wind that made the lake waters stir almost violently. He had tried looking in burrows, even beneath bushes but had found no hint of his snake. With the coldness of the day he doubted Krai would be stirring. That was if he was even ok!

Harry was worried, more so after leaving Dumbledore’s office. Tonks was dead. The knowledge that Krai could be also, kept hitting him over and over again like a physical blow. The only thing keeping him sane and stable enough was the sight of Draco. Their stolen kisses were the only things that could warm him.

When he was chilled to the bones and thoroughly pissed off with himself, he decided to go and see Hagrid, to find out if he knew anything about a new snake near the lake.

He didn’t need to bother knocking on Hagrid’s door, he could hear the giant doing something with Fang round the back. He found Hagrid chopping wood, while Fang ran around chasing his tail and left great ropes of sticky drool all over everything.

‘Hi Hagrid.’

‘HARRY!’ Hagrid boomed. ‘Was wonderin’ when yer’d be comin’ ter see me. Haven’t seen yer in a week.’

Harry didn’t have the heart to tell Hagrid that he hadn’t been coming to see him.

‘Got summat fer yer ter take a look at.’ Feeling a little apprehensive at what Hagrid could possibly be wanting to show him, Harry reluctantly followed, thoughts of Aragog and Norbert flashing through his head.

Harry stepped into the warm little hut, nearly getting flattened when Hagrid took his coat off to hang it on the giant hook by the door. Hagrid’s bulk momentarily blocked the rest of the room from view.

‘Come ‘ere Harry. Isn’t he beautiful.’ Hagrid said proudly pointing to a tank at the back of the room. Harry looked where Hagrid was pointing, in the corner was a large glass tank and inside it was…

~Master~

~Krai~ he gasped rushing over. He threw off the lid and lifted Krai out immediately, the snake coiling around his arm lightly.

‘Found him ages ago, bin poisoned. Got better quicker n I expected but then he seemed to sicken again. Seems ter a picked up a bit now tho’.’ He said eyeing Harry.

Sudden realisation hit Harry, familiars felt the separation from their Master’s just as keenly. But to Krai the slight discomfort he himself had felt would have been magnified because he was the one charged with keeping to the bond. Harry had no obligations under the bond but Krai was charged with his safety and by being forced away from him the snake had suffered. Krai had been in pain, why didn’t he come to Hagrid’s sooner.

~I’m sorry~

~It’s alright Master~

‘Well Harry?’

‘I’m going to take him with me Hagrid. I think I know what he needs.’ Hagrid looked at him for a moment before nodding his head gruffly.

Harry was almost at the door when he turned back to Hagrid.

‘Please don’t say anything about me looking after a snake Hagrid. The Press would have a field day, starting that ‘the boy who liveds gone dark again’ crap. Alright?’

‘Yer don have ter ask Harry. Yer secrets safe wi’ me.’ Hagrid smiled.

Harry’s face immediately went from tense to relieved. ‘Thanks Hagrid. Please don’t even tell Dumbledore. You never know who could be listening in.’ And with that Harry left, his familiar firmly wrapped up in his coat and feeling more relaxed than he had in days.



A/N…Well there ya go, what was it like? Did I pull off Hagrid’s accent ok? It’s the first time I’ve tried it and as I’ve said dialogue aint my strong point.





RECOMMENDATION…


Wandless

By Lyiint

http://hp.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600009731


This story begins with Draco deciding he doesn’t want to be part of the war. He makes the decision not to join either side. The deatheaters cruelty isn’t for him but he doesn’t feel he can trust the light side. He decides to bide his time and run. After stumbling across a book on Wandless spells Draco decides to do some self learning. When a spell goes badly wrong Harry steps in. A relationship quickly forms but there’s more trouble on the horizon.

This is a brilliantly written story, the characterisation is flawless and makes for some very funny incidents. Its easy to love and the direction it goes is surprising. It isn’t complete yet but the author updates near enough every Friday.

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