Cupid Wings

24. Smells

The wind was howling through the valley and battering the little half-timbered buildings of Hogsmeade with all its might. At least it wasn't raining, Harry thought, but they'd had to wrap up warmly against the first signs of Highland snow despite it only being November. The snow was only light and intermittent, small biting flakes that seemed to get blown away on the wind but the skies looked heavy, ready to empty deep snow on Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, shutting them off from the world. Harry sighed, thank heavens for Floos and Apparition, the thought of being trapped by the weather unsettled him.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend and Harry was on the rota with Luna and Neville as the staff on duty. He glanced at Luna and Neville as Luna straightened Nev's scarf, and despite feeling rather like a third wheel, he was happy that it was the three of them. Together with Pads, they wandered down the steep path from the school. He smiled at the fact that Neville still liked to wear earmuffs with his long brown duffle coat, and Luna's long dirty-blond hair whipped around her face from under her dusky pink bobble hat. Harry wore his usual black, the only additions were a beany and fingerless gloves. He had, from his Auror days, mastered a good warming charm, but even the wind seemed to biting at his skin through his clothing.

The uneasiness of the weather seemed to heighten his senses, he felt on edge. Even Pads seemed skittish.

He cast a shield around them, just to protect them a bit and so they could talk without their words being blown away on the wind. It suddenly felt calm, the bubble creating the effect of stepping into a warm room. He smiled to see the fur of Pads' back suddenly drop compared to the ruffled whirlwind patterns a few moments earlier where the wind had stirred it up.

Pads barked gratefully.

'How is your ankle, Harry?' Luna asked.

The wind buffeted the shield Harry had cast, causing them to rock slightly.

'Harry, Minerva said you weren't to do any patrolling, Luna and I'll take the outskirts of the village,' said Nev.

'I have a cushioning charm around it to protect it. I'm alright really.'

'Does becoming the big cat help?' Luna said.

Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at her, his mouth open.

'You haven't exactly been discreet, Harry, when you go for your late-night runs with Pads as the wolf. We all know he's really a wolf.'

'Please don't tell anyone about the Hunter, Luna. It's highly secret and if it gets out then it could cause all sorts of problems. And Pads isn't a wolf, that's his glamour from when I was undercover.'

'Oh, he's definitely more wolf than dog,' she said with determination.

'Do you mind telling me what you mean by "becoming the big cat"?' said Neville, looking slightly pale.

'Oh, Harry's an Animagus, his form is a black wild cat.'

Harry shook his head, 'Luna, I just asked you not to tell anyone.'

'Yes, but it's only Neville,' she dismissed.

'How come I'm always the last one to know these things?' Neville said.

'Oh, believe me, you're not,' Harry said darkly. 'Outside the Ministry, I can count those who know on my whole fingers and it needs to stay that way. You're now part of a very exclusive club.'

'Are you registered?' Nev said, intrigue clear in his voice.

'Only with the Aurors, not on a public register. And Minerva, Draco, Madeleine, and Severus know but they've taken a secrecy vow.'