Furry Magic

Title: Furry Magic, chapter 48

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to others.


They hit the ground rolling, the apparating spell thrown off kilter by the unintended addition of Graeme. Furniture went flying, a side table and a well padded chair, as well as a lamp and a dozen knick-knacks, were tossed about by their tumbling entrance.

They came to rest against one of the walls of the Hogwarts Castle, in the sitting room of Remus Lupin.

Lupin was caught completely unawares, pouring his cup of tea, when suddenly his room was host to a snarling were-wolf, a hissing were-cat, and a bewildered, terrified looking Harry Potter. His tea splashed over the rim of the cup and overfilled the saucer, dripping onto the counter before Lupin managed to react. The pot hit the counter with a crash as he nearly tossed it down, and leaped for the boy, to drag him away from the immediate danger of the already scrapping were-animals.

Harry was screaming over the cacophony. "Sirius, Graeme, stop....Stop! Don't hurt him! Graeme, I am OK! Sirius!" He was hopping up and down, waving his arms, unable to decide what to do.

Lupin arrived at his side drawing him back, but Harry fought the man's protective hold.

"You don't understand!" He yelled. "Graeme will kill him! He doesn't know who he is! He thinks I am being threatened. Let me go! Graeme, stop! Please!"

But, Lupin did not turn him loose. He did however raise his wand and cast a spell. Both combatants froze in place for a heartbeat, then tumbled to the floor in twin heaps. Lupin hurried to the black were-wolf's side. "Get them apart, Harry. Spells don't last long on lycanthropes. We are resistant to magic."

Harry lost no time pulling Graeme over to the far wall and sitting on him, as Remus did the same with Sirius. It was only moments before Graeme heaved under Harry. Harry wrapped arms and legs around the bigger were-leopard, clinging with all his strength.

"Graeme! Graeme! Can you hear me? It's Harry! Graeme, don't fight any more! It's my godfather. He isn't going to hurt me!" Harry repeated over and over, clutching at the big, strong body.

"He stinks." Graeme's voice was surprisingly even, as he gained his feet easily despite bearing Harry's weight as well as his own. One hand moved under Harry's butt, supporting him. Harry didn't loosen his hold. "He is a were-wolf."

"He's an animagus." Harry corrected, only to hear a voice from the other side of the room.

"No." Remus Lupin said. "He...we, are both lycanthropes. Were-wolves, Harry. Sirius didn't want you to know until you were older."

"Now...too....late." Sirius Black slurred, from under the shielding form of his best friend, Remus. "Gonna ask Tambyn, wanted to make you one of us. Ghod-damned Malfoy got to you first. I'll kill the perverting bastard!" Sirius' voice grew stronger as the magic wore off.

"No!" Harry yelled, hearing Graeme's growl. "Sirius! It was an accident. I was attacked by one of the monsters. One of the ones you were with when you entered the Malfoy Manor." Harry frowned. "Why were you with them?"

"I chanced across them, they were talking about going to the Manor, confronting that feline ponce, and they smelled so fucking awful neither of them noticed me, or that I went along with them. Somethin' wrong with those two." Black glowered at the were-cat Harry was holding.

Graeme was half human, half animal. Sirius was all human now. And the state of the leopard told him, even in his agitated mind, just how powerful the cat was. He'd have to get Harry away from him carefully. Make Harry come to him, get far enough away the cat couldn't grab on this time, and apparate the two of them out...without the damn cat.

"Sirius, don't you dare do what you are planning. Graeme, I believe your name is, after all it is the one Potter has been yelling. No more. Let us sit down like civilized men and talk." Remus said, actually...ordered. "You, Sirius, are going to stay with me, where I can watch you. And Harry you stay with your cat."

Harry was carried by a wary and suspicious Graeme over to one of the overstuffed chairs closest to the door leading into the hall. Sirius snarled but allowed himself to be taken to another chair, and sat down, only to have Lupin sit in his lap, trapping him.

"Hey," Black complained. Lupin shook his head.

"No. Don't even ask. I am too tired to deal with your shenanigans. You are going to stay put, and we are going to solve this with reasonable conversation and negotiation, not fighting. He's stronger than you anyway, in case you haven't noticed. And, in case you haven't noticed. Harry is fine with him, he isn't afraid of him. So let it be." Remus scolded, sighing. "You made me spill my tea."

"I'll get you some, professor." Harry said unwinding himself from the tall, copper-haired were-leopard, who growled. "You want some, too, Graeme?"

"No. I don't know it is safe. You won't have any either." Was Graeme's clipped response.

"But, I can get if for professor Lupin?" Harry pressed. "Then I'll come right back."

Graeme shook his head, and rose. "If you insist on getting it for your professor, I will go with you."

And he followed Harry into the kitchen nook where Harry searched through the cupboards for a clean cup and saucer, filled it, located a few sweet biscuits, and carried both over to the table next to the chair that held Lupin and Sirius. Sirius snarled and heaved at the weight in his lap half-heartedly, not budging the vigilant Lupin.

Graeme snarled right back, and had Harry up and over his shoulder, moving for the door almost before Harry had the saucer down.

"No!" Harry shouted. "We have to talk! Stop." And to his utter shock, Graeme did, sitting down, tucking Harry half behind him in the chair, his hands, sporting long, wicked claws which he showed to the two were-wolves.

"So talk. Convince me why I shouldn't kill you for assaulting my king's Chosen." Graeme rumbled, his lips peeling back from his fearsome teeth. Harry gaped at him.

"He was my godson first!" Sirius howled, in agitated response. Remus and Harry looked at each other, and sighed.

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