Shadow Claw: The Life Story - The Final Chapter

Ch. 2 - Fallen Warrior

Euuurhh, just noticed the spelling of Milly should be Millie. If you spot 'Milly', don't bother pointing it out, I have enough to edit without the correct spelling of a name. -_-

There was a sudden spurt of blinding golden light, then a dull crack, and a serpentine voice. "Your wand, Selwyn, give me your wand!"

Then it all went quiet.

We had reached the edge of the protective charms barrier.

I glided through the open air, flapping my wings softly every now and again. "You two alright?" I murmured to the passenger's on my back. I glanced back briefly to see that Otto and Jenny had morphed back into their true appearances; they nodded, though Jenny had tears in her eyes and was clutching her arm - her Dark Mark - and Otto was quivering gently and grasping at his left leg, which had been split open slightly and was dripping crimson blood everywhere.

"Hold on." I growled, folding in my wings and diving again, this time towards The Burrow. I landed heavily within a minute, shaking my head and padding forward to the clearing and spotting the open door where Harry, Hagrid, Mrs Weasley, Lupin, Bill, Fleur, Hermione, Kingsley (who left soon enough to get back to Downing Street), Mr Weasley, Fred, Ron, Tonks, Millie, James and Ginny were chattering rapidly, their pale expressions concerned, worried and confused. I stayed low in the fields at first, my tail curling and my ears flattening. Something was wrong, and yet Jenny kicked her heels into me, and I relented. I was vaguely aware of a slight whimpering coming from Otto and his blood staining my fur.

I padded out into the clearing and gave a low rumbling to let people know I was here. From behind the house, I spotted Nova and Hawthorne with their little kittens, and Shade standing close by with a dark expression in his eyes and his arms folded, Tobias and Snowy beckoning for him at his heels quietly.

Lupin, James and Mr Weasley faced us, the adults' wands pointed at us. I allowed Jenny and Millie to climb off and then I shifted back. Shade walked over too, his face slightly aghast, hiding our kittens' view from me, and when I glanced over myself, I realized that my side was completely shredded and my upper left thigh was lacerated. I gasped, stumbling back slightly with a painful groan, "Shadow-"

"Which creature did Shadow Claw attack during her first hunting spree?" Lupin asked calmly, but his body was tenser than I'd ever seen it.

"A herd of centaurs." I replied, and with a small nod from Mr Weasley, I ran to my mate and kits, staggering forward with a gasp. "Easy, easy- careful, Shadow." Shade swept me up into his muscular arms and carried me into The Burrow, and the last thing I remembered seeing was Harry running from the house to hug Jenny, before mt vision blurred and then went darker than it had ever been.

* * *

Why were my eyes closed?

Where was Shade?

Where was Snowy and Tobi- where was anybody?!

"Shade." I croaked, but as I squinted through my barely-open eyes, I saw it wasn't Shade leaning over me, but a man with shaggy hair, a scarred face and a fang earring. "Bill?" I muttered, and the figure nodded with a small smile. I spotted Fleur in the background and raised a hand to my forehead, "How long was I out?" I questioned, grimacing as my eyes adjusted to the light, revealing Lupin and Tonks watching from the corner of the room.

"Days." Bill answered.

I made a dull groaning noise and rolled on my face, "Kill me." I grumbled.

"Mummy!" There was an in-sync squealing, and then Tobias and Snowy leapt on my back. I uttered something incoherent into the sofa, and then sat up carefully, gazing down upon my kittens warmly. I kissed their heads and ran my fingertips through their fur, "How are you feeling?" Lupin asked, his tone soft and yet his face was more lined and tired than ever.

I gave a gentle nod and breathed in deeply, "Really shitty." I trailed a hand over my bandaged stomach and leg, then I stretched out and cuddled my kittens. Tobias gave a little giggle, "Naughty mummy." I gave him a tap on the head and cuddled them again, their soft furs calming me down. "You lost alot of blood, Shadow. Mad-Eye would have been proud." Tonks said, sharing a look with Lupin and linking their hands.

I froze, "Would have been?" What had happened whilst I was unconscious?

Bill gave a small start, shaking his head slowly, "Mad-Eye died. Mundungus panicked and Disapparated and he got hit in the face." He said bluntly.

Time stopped for a moment and I felt like choking, "Oh." I felt a new presence beside me, and realized it was Shade. I leaned into him, my eyes lowering and becoming teary. "Baby, are you okay?" He murmured, pressing his cheek to my head. I nodded faintly, "Yeah- yeah, I'm-... great." I rasped faintly. Snowy licked my arm and I smiled weakly to show her I was okay, "Don't worry about me, babies." I assured my kittens that everything was alright.

There was a small ruckus and Jenny and James came through, grinning from ear-to-ear, and suddenly James bursted with words. "You're finally awake, Shadow! You know it's Harry's birthday today! Oh, George had his ear lopped off with a curse and Millie is going all soppy! You should see it, Shadow, it's really nasty, like actually the nastiest thing you've ever seen- oh yeah, I'm hyper, because nobody has noticed whatsoever and that's really ironic- Jenny taught me that word, I don't think I used it right, but it sounds like iron and iron is hard like steel and stuff, but that's all Muggle stuff, right-? But then you know what else is hard- Shade's di-"

"OKAY! That's... enough, James." I shouted, blushing profusely whilst Shade gave a sheepish grin.

"He's had cake, for Harry's birthday. Molly did a massive Snitch cake, and it does taste really great. I saved you some." I could tell Jenny was slightly sugar-rushed too, but she could hold it back enough that I didn't have to mention it.

"Rufus Scrimgeour is here!" Somebody called.

"The Minister?!"

"He wants to see Ronald, Hermione, Harry and Jenny!"

My eyes widened as I gazed at Jenny, who was frozen staring at the door. Harry made a sharp, gruff noise in his throat and stepped in front of Jenny protectively, and Shade did the same with me.

The Minister entered.