Only Death Will Have Me

Incarcerous

Neil was tired, it was a common thing these days, and he usually rested during the day so he could move during the night. His feet ached and it still seemed like a long way to go, even when he could see Hogwarts silhouette bathed by the moonlight. He could have apparated, he could since he was 14, but he couldn't find the energy right now. Since his mother died, it's been ten times harder, her last wishes were that he found Dumbledore, he would protect him, she assured. His muggle uncle couldn't help much besides providing new names, but Neil wasn't ready to face him yet. 

After burning and burying her body, Neil traveled north, to Germany, to retrieve some of the money she hid. He found a tiny village of werewolves near the mountains and the leader took him in, they were all wizards that were bitten. They didn't need wands to perform magic, they had a hidden community and it was perfect. They fed and befriended him, and never pushed for information, only the right amount so the leader would let him stay. 

He stayed there for nearly five months, he always spent the full moons away, in a town, even in his fox form it was dangerous, the werewolves could be violent when hunting as a pack. When he couldn't stall anymore he gathered his stuff and said goodbye, he had to go back to England and find Dumbledore. 

His mother was an animagus and a seer, they escaped his father for so long because she could see him coming, but not always, last time ended up with her death. Neil only arrived at Hogwarts months later, having no energy when traveling alone, he couldn't mourn properly, and felt guilty for letting it happen. His father used a weird spell, it had hit his mother, but made no external wound, he only knew she was about to die when he felt her stiff and swollen stomach. 

The castle was near, he knew the defenses were high because of the war that was going on, so he had to find Hagrid. Neil should say his mother's name and he would know what to do. He sat on a flat rock to catch his breath, reaching inside his extended duffel bag for his watch, it was near nine. He drank a bit of water and got up, he should find his house near the forest tree line. 

Neil heard rustling nearby, which set him into fight or flight mode. Neil transformed quickly into a fox, and hid under some bushes, his body was a little big for a fox so he laid on the forest floor. The rustling got louder and then a boy was walking through the trees, he had a loose red and gold tie, his sleeves were rolled up, he was wearing black armbands, even on the hot summer night.  The boy had blond hair and a frown while he tried to light up a cigarette. Neil felt his muscles tensed, but it was no threat. When he moved to get away his back legs got caught in a trap, he whined, it was an enchanted cord trap. 

The boy heard him whine and looked directly at him, even in the dim light it was obvious he'd been spotted. He approached and Neil jerked away, the boy extended his hands in a calm gesture, the lit cigarette between his fingers, Neil stopped showing his tiny sharp teeth in warning, he had never bitten anyone, but he was willing to.

"I won't hurt you." The boy said and kneeled in front of Neil. "You have… a blue eye. 

Neil knew, his mother told him, he probably did the spell slightly wrong and one his eyes ended up blue, like heterochromia. The boy examined the situation, he showed his hands again, then they went to his combat boots, drawing out a wand. He muttered finite incantatem. And the cords disappeared, Neil got up in a second, less afraid of the boy, he didn't run away, maybe the boy could help him. His hand came forward once more, but stopped an inch from Neil's head, he wouldn't touch him, so Neil nuzzled his palm with his nose, it smelled of smoke, that comforted Neil. The boy petted him, a twitch on his lips indicating amusement. Neil felt like a silly dog, but it was good somehow, he couldn't remember pleasant touches, only his mother handling him roughly, and his father's attacks, they were touchy on the werewolf village, but never towards Neil. The boy looked around, and got up, taking a drag of his cigarette, before putting it off. Neil felt his legs falter, the trap hurted him, he couldn't transform back, not in front of the boy. Neil limped and the boy noticed, he crouched again.