Harry was living as ordinarily as he could until changes he could not have expected rocked his foundation. With new purpose and resolve, he found he liked his new freedom. Those who had used him did not and sought to regain control, but it was too l...
The tunnel passage Lady Hogwarts had given to Harry as an escape route was quickly testing the endurance and willpower of the weakened Incubus to survive in the newly transformed Incubus-state that Harry was in. He had stopped for at least three rest breaks since his body may indeed have some foreign substance in it.
After resting he felt more tired than when he had sat down to begin with, and he was beginning to get feverish. His body temperature was now much colder than normal or more than it ever should be. Incubi and Succubae thrived in warmth and tended to like weather that was hot and humid rather than cold and dry weather conditions. Harry never admitted it to himself before now; but in light of his situation, he did acknowledge that he preferred the warm weather rather than the cold one.
Despite his liking of snow and being away from his relatives before, Harry never minded the summer heat...just the company he was forced to endure it with.
Harry finally regained some energy and forced himself to his feet, though he had not wanted to move at all. He groaned in distress as his body wracked with pain and he felt like he would double over.
"I cannot let myself stay here." He told himself quietly, "Too risky even for a secret exit out the castle. Have to keep going."
His body protested every step he took and Harry knew he was near collapse. His body was physically tired as well as emotionally. His hunger for food was back with vengeance; as well as that he needed the presence of Tom right now to comfort his other sort of hunger. His body was weak, but he kept moving as he had no choice.
Another hour and Harry finally saw a glimpse of the end of the tunnel.
"Finally." He said
When he emerged, it was dark out and the forest was still as death. His senses automatically knew something was off and his ears heightened to listen for any signal of oncoming danger. He sensed nothing, but did not relax completely. He collected some brush and twigs, cast a perimeter barrier for a certain area and made fire. The barrier was more to cover smoke signs and to protect him from creatures that would eat him in the night.
He sat on the ground after he summoned a couple of blankets and closed his eyes in thought.
"Okay Harry, you know that you can get out of this if you're careful. You've been through worse lately and this is not the end of civilizations as you know it. You are on the opposite edge of the Forbidden Forest from the entry into it from the castle. Tom's mansion is relatively a two day walk without magic and I cannot afford to be sensed. Lady Hogwarts mentioned something called Aurora to help me, but I don't even know what she or it even is?" Harry muttered to himself
"You have a way to prevent hunters and trackers from finding you if you use any magic only for so long and so fire and blankets will not last forever. Food is hard to get unless hunted for, but that would be noticeable. What to do."
Harry was so in-tune to his thoughts he had not sensed or heard the thundering footsteps headed in his direction.
"Lord Gryffindor, you are safe but very ill." Aurora said as she landed into the clearing unannounced.
"Agh." Harry yelled in shock as he tumbled backwards
"Don't do that. Scare me half-way to the netherworld. I happen to enjoy living, you know." Harry bit at her and then noticed he was talking to a dragon.
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