Familiars Love

Chapter 29

Athena hissed in pain as she slammed into the cold hard ground. Her lips curled back as she shook the remains of the package from her muzzle. Pupils dilated as the tiger sought the surrounding darkness for a possible clue to her location. Panic rose sharply as unfamiliar scents lapped at her nose. The cage was bleak and smelled sharply of freshly turned earth. The only light was a dull glow piercing from beneath the door that guarded the exit. Ears swiveled and whiskers twitched in desperation. Rolling slowly, the cat crouched on the ground; hackles standing up as she listened to the dull thud of boots approaching his prison. Slipping into the thicker shadows, Damian perched himself on Athena's shoulder as they watched the outline of the cell door silently, expecting it to swing open any moment. The tread of boots grew closer but passed by the cage without pause.

Snarling, she turned and paced the length of the cell wall, whiskers guiding her with perfect precision. She searched the cell for any exits when she saw a slight opening just big enough for Damian to fit through. 'Harry I need you to fly through that opening and get help.' Meda said softly to Harry. 'I am not leaving you, this has Voldemort written all over it,' Harry yelled. 'I know but I need you safe and you are the only one who can fit. Please Harry will you do this for me,' Meda pleaded. 'Fine.' Harry said defeated, the two siblings bumped heads, and Meda stood up on her hind legs to give Harry a boost so he could squeeze through. 'Love you Harry be safe,' she whispered as she watched Damian take off into the sky. Claws bit into the dark stone, tearing grooves and loose earth free in a hopeless gesture of futility. Sliding slowly to the ground the tiger parted her muzzle and called softly. Ears swiveling as she listened for a reply. Magic gathered and swirled, the bond struggling to bring itself into full power. Tendrils reached and tugged, attempting to pull power and magic from the other part of the bond. There was a small crack and the tiger reeled back, head shaking at the pain chewing its way up to her muzzle. Aching and miserable, the cat slouched into a corner and curled up, muzzle rising one last time to emit a loud yowling cry. Silence reigned through the dark space; the only sound the constant drip of water from the dark ceiling.

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"Meda!" Draco screamed. The shrill cry echoing through the common room and bouncing up the shadowed stairs into the Slytherin dorms. Startled students whipped around, eyes wide in fear as they listened to the tormented cry of their Prince. The stairs trembled beneath the Slytherins as they pounded down from their rooms to investigate the disturbance.

"ANDROMEDA!" Draco repeated silence reined as the cry faded and died. Slytherin house stood still in the common room, all eyes locked on the sight before them. Collapsing to his knees, tears began to fall and Draco clutched at the carpet in desperation. Tears slid down his face as he attempted to call for his mate again. The words catching in his throat as his arms wrapped around him tightly.

"Calm down Draco," Blaise whispered softly. Running a calming hand over Draco's back as he looked at the students milling about outside the room.

"What happened?" He demanded, eyes searching for a sign that someone knew something. Shrugs were the only answer he received as eyes slid away from his.

"Meda and Harry are gone." Draco croaked quietly, the words piercing the hearts of the assembled Slytherins.

"It's a big school, surely they're somewhere," Blaise soothed, rising and pulling Draco up to stand beside him. "Listen up! I want all of you to alert the other houses that they are missing. Crabbe! Goyle! You two are to go up to Gryffindor and check in with that lot. They may be up there doing whatever it is the Gryffindors do in their spare time." Taking charge, he assisted Draco into one of the chairs before the fire in the Common Room.