Close Enough

NOTE: Thank you for the reviews. and i\'m glad that you are all (seemingly) enjoying my work. hope you like this update.
NOTE2: my beta reread this for a third time and edited some things... this is now a reposted chatper.. :)


Ch 57 Comfortable

“How long until he will be comfortable being human again?” Draco asked, slowly petting his mate, listening to the deep purring sound radiating around the room.
“I don’t know.” Cord said, smiling toward the corner in which Draco and the two large cats resided. “I mean, we don’t even really know what happened to him… not that I can’t imagine…. But I think that the longer Bolt stays in contact with you and Cloe the better… I’m sure his Creature side isn’t very happy right now, and having you close by as well as a member of his pack will hopefully help him recover more quickly.” Cord stated then looked toward her father, who stood off to the side regarding the whole room with the eye of a hawk. “Father, did you get any idea as to what happened before I arrived?”
“Yes and no.” he said not allowing his eyes to shift away from Harry. “He was fairly incoherent and rambling while he was awake,” he narrowed his eyes slightly, “and human.” Severus sighed, “However we did manage to get a small amount of information, not that it makes much sense without the complete picture of events.”
“What did he say?” Cord asked, perching herself on the edge of the hospital bed nearest her, ready to spring up at a moments notice.
“That Granger was there just before he was attacked,” Severus said, his eyes focused on Draco as he lovingly stroked the large black panther.
“That’s all you got out of him?”
“and that she said that he was supposed to be a girl.” Severus added flatly.
“Excuse me?” Cord screeched.
“Harry said that she told him he was supposed to be a girl, but the headmaster convinced his parents to change him to a boy because a girl would not be strong enough to defeat the Dark Lord.”
“One of the best decisions I’ve ever made I think.” Came the light voice of Albus Dumbledore from the doorway. “Besides, he makes a lovely boy.” He added his eyes twinkling.
“You mean that it’s true?” Severus growled. “You forced Lilly and James to magically alter their child?”
“I did not force them to do anything.” Albus commented lightly. “I made a suggestion and they took it, that is all. The decision was made before he was even born, no harm done. In fact, I think it worked out rather well; Voldemort is gone after all.”
“How could you do something like that? How could you allow something like that to be done!?” Cord barked angrily, “That kind of magic is illegal! Do you have any idea the kind of permanent damage that kind of magic can do to a child?? An UNBORN child at that!?!!”
“It was not illegal at the time the magic was performed.” Albus said, watching closely as the panther snuggled closely with Draco on the floor while the leopard moved slowly in between the pair and the headmaster; a nonverbal ‘You have to get through me old man’ action. “Harry is fine, he was not harmed in anyway due to the spell.” Turning his eyes from the scene in front of him to Severus, “Now, Severus, what seems to be going on here?”
“Mr. Potter was kidnapped from the school grounds and attacked.” Severus snarled, angered by the new information.
“Oh my. I assume Poppy has fixed him up?” Albus asked, glancing between the occupants in the room.
“Yes, best she could. It appears that it has affected him in a deep way as far as human contact is concerned.” Cord said through gritted teeth.
“And do we know what happened?”
“Not really, we have to wait until he is human again to ask him.” Cord explained in a strained voice, walking to crouch next to Cloe. “Hopefully we shall know soon.” She sighed, gently stroking the top of her mate’s head.
“Keep me informed. I shall go check the wards for activity. However, many students had passes to leave tonight, so it won’t be much help.” Albus gave Severus a small nod and left the hospital wing in a swirl of blue starred fabric.

Once Albus was out of the door Cord and Severus looked at eachother, nearly identical expressions on their faces; barely contained rage. Cloe slowly moved back to her spot at Harry’s side as he snuggled into Draco; showing her anger in the only way she knew how at the moment, by offering comfort.
“How could he do such a thing and not even be concerned? All of the things that could have gone wrong….” Cord said, perching herself on the edge of the bed again.
“Yes, it was an unwise risk. However we must look at the fact that Harry is here, now and is very much alive and healthy.” The last word left Severus’ mouth sounding strained and almost painful.
“He will be fine father. Harry is very strong. Most victims of a crime such as this one need time.” Cord smiled, looking at the pile of fur and Draco on the floor; Draco and both cats seemed to have dozed off. “And now that we have a way for Harry to be close to Draco even while he is still processing the attack, I believe the bond won’t suffer. I can only imagine what it must be like to have half of your body and mind screaming for your mate’s touch, and the other half terrified of touch at all.” She said with a small shudder. “At least this is something.”
“Yes. However we need him back as human soon, to find out what happened and deal with it. I am quite positive that Draco will want to have the head of anyone involved as quickly as possible.”
“Any good mate would! And I am right there with him.” Cord snarled.
“Yes, well, now we must wait. Hopefully they shall wake soon from their little nap,” Cord nearly laughed at the slightly disgusted look on her father’s face at the idea of a ‘nap’, “And we will have answers then.” Cord nodded her agreement before shifting into a more comfortable sitting position and preparing to wait.