Familiars Love

Chapter 32

The room had appeared several days after Harry, Andromeda, and Draco returned to Hogwarts. Dark wooded doors opened into a small garden where roses and lilies bloomed freely. Above the softly dancing flowers, a summer sky glowed, the sun nurturing the brilliant blooms. If you followed the step stone path weaving between flower bushes, you'd find yourself standing before a trickling fountain. A black and white tiger made of the purest marble reclined atop a small hill made of stone. Its eyes were a glistening violet and they seemed to dance merrily beneath the bright sunlight. Perched slightly behind the tiger, a cougar of silver sat, tail paused in mid flick. Sapphire eyes glowed, narrowed slightly as if the massive cat was glaring at anyone who had dared intrude on the small piece of heaven. Lines of water flowed smoothly down the rock face, tinkling as they landed lightly in the small wishing pond surrounding the monument.

Draco Malfoy tapped his chin lightly with one finger as he observed the statute. Chewing his lip, he tipped his head and considered the slowly swirling water. The significance of the small pool had already been explained by Harry, right before the other wizard grabbed a handful of lilies and raced from the room. Slipping a hand into his pocket he withdraws a Galleon. The coin shone as he bounced it in his palm, considering the legend of the wishing pond. Sighing deeply, he closed his eyes, wished, and tossed the coin into the water. He leaned forward as he watched the gold sink lightly to the bottom before seeming to vanish. Narrowing his eyes, he immediately pulled up his sleeve and was about to retrieve the gold coin when a pair of arms wrapped around his waist.

"It takes a little longer than that Draco," Meda whispered into her mate's ear, lips nibbling lightly on the rim of the pale flesh.

"Oh, it didn't take that long Luv." Draco purred before turning and pulling Meda into his arms. His lips immediately seized Meda's in a quick war for control, sighing in satisfaction when Andromeda opened her mouth and allowed Draco to take control. Ending the kiss slowly, he curled his lip at the strong smell that had been tickling at his nose. "What the hell is that?"

"Catnip," Meda announced, holding the plant up for the other's inspection. Draco's eyebrows rose slowly as he glared down at the dark green leafy object held tightly in Meda's fist.

"It's a weed." He muttered, fingers flicking one of the dangling leaves.

"So?" Meda asked, raising her own eyebrows as she pulled the plant away from Draco's tugging fingers.

"It's ugly," Draco growled, watching as Meda tossed the small plant up onto the stones between the tiger's forepaws.

"I know, but you love it anyway," Meda murmured softly, snuggling her face into the pale blue shirt Draco was wearing. "Just like I love you Kitty" Rolling his eyes, Draco buried his nose in Meda's hair. A bright flash had him jerking his face away, ignoring Meda's protests. The statutes remained still under his eyes. Running his fingers through his hair, he pulled Meda from the room, glancing back over his shoulder to peer anxiously at the grinning cats. Shaking his head, he leaned into Meda and allowed the platinum-haired Mage to drag him from the room.

Snapping his head up, he gave Meda a horrified look before demanding, "What did you just call me?" Meda chuckled and dodged away from a swinging hand, snickering as she trotted out the door. "I am gonna get Blaise for that." Draco snarled, remembering something Severus had said to him while he'd been in the hospital. Stalking after Andromeda, Draco bellowed for Blaise, acknowledging the fact that the other wizard had most likely gone into hiding by now.

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Ron sat completely still in the bed, scratchy sheets twisted beneath him. His eyes stared up at the white ceiling of St. Mungos, completely ignoring his mother sitting next to him. The shadows cast by a tree branch setting tiger-like shapes stalking along a wall. Muttering softly to himself, he squirmed from beneath the blankets. A pale freckled hand clenched around the plastic wand he had been given to replace the wood one which had been confiscated upon his arrival. Wandering slowly from his assigned room, he passed medi-witches and doctors, each assessing him as he paced by.