Familiars Love

Chapter 2

The bright lights beating against her eyelids had her wincing and raising a hand to block the offending rays only to feel the brush of soft fur against her nose. Losing an unhappy snarl she opened her eyes only to find herself peering at a wall of stone. Giving another tigerish groan as a streak of pain raced through her body she began the slow task of pulling herself into a more comfortable position. Twisting her head, she felt the cold bite of steel. A thick collar encircled her neck, slowing her movements and irritating the fur of her neck. Someone had dared to put a collar on her, Andromeda Jackson protector of Hogwarts.

A low snarl had her dropping into a crouch and pressing her ears tight against her skull. A large grey wolf rumbled at her from a cage to the left before slinking back into a corner and fading into the shadows. The only sign it remained was the flashing of gold eyes that held only fear and pain. Not another Animagus then, damn.

Standing carefully she began to pace the confines of the cage. Made of sturdy steel, the bars were firmly set within the concrete floor of the cage. Centering herself she pushed her magic outward, seeking any other magic entities within the area. With an unhappy sigh, she settled back; magic seemed to not work where ever she was.

Breathing deeply, she attempted to use her much simpler enhanced senses to detect anything of interest in the air but only received the smell of stale urine and old blood for her troubles. Her last fleeting memories were of her flight through the forest and the sudden pain in her flank, hunters. She had been hunted down as the animal she was marauding as.

Snarling in anger, she pushed against the bars in a vain attempt at freeing herself. The sudden pressure of her weight caused the bars to creak softly but also made her flinch at the pain tracing its way through her left flank. If the pain wasn't enough, the continuous whisper of her conscience reminding her that no one knew where she became an unsettling factor.

The only people she had ever considered family were almost all dead and the ones who were alive had turned on her all except Harry. The soul person she promised to protect with her life as his protector. She was isolated from him all summer; forced to live in the hellhole, she called home, and they were only able to communicate by mind-speak. Harry who was weighed down with being, the Saviour of the Wizarding World, was left in the dark to stumble over any information he could find. Because Dumbledore and the order were all too big of asses to give him any information on what was to come. Then when something went south she was the one who protected Harry with her life, Harry was like her little brother, and to her family was everything.

'Maybe Harry and I should both disappear because I refuse to leave Harry alone' it was then decided as soon as she was free she would contact Harry and ask him to disappear with her. Only heaven knew how much both of them needed to get away from the wizarding world.

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Hermione Granger looked up from the book she was reading. She couldn't help but smile as her boyfriend Ron Weasley entered the room and collapsed gracelessly on the floor next to her feet. Carding her fingers through the mess of red locks, she chuckled as he rolled his eyes at the title of the book she clutched, 'Top Twenty Healing Potions and Spells'.

"'Mione?"

"Yes, Ron?" Hermione sighed, realizing that he wouldn't leave her alone until they had discussed whatever was plaguing his thoughts.

"I think we should tell Harry and Meda...about us."

"Darling, we all know how Harry has to spend his summers and I feel that it would be best to tell him and Meda when we get back to school. No need to bother them with unnecessary problems during their vacation, they'll have enough to think about when we get back to Hogwarts." Looking at the top of Ron's head, she smiled sadly; he obviously missed his best friend and the kind protector.

"I know, but I feel sorry for him all alone, forced to spend his summer with those horrid muggle relatives of his, and Meda is alone on that blasted farm probably bored out of her mind."

"Hm, it's for the best," Hermione murmured, returning her attention to the book that lay open in her lap. Continuing the soothing motion of running her fingers through Ron's hair, she smiled as he sighed and leaned back into the caress.

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The ringing of boot heels echoed in the cavernous warehouse; turning Meda's head and drawing a snarl from the wolf hiding in the shadows. Acting on instinct, Meda slipped back into the shadows of the cage she was trapped within. She had no doubts that they were heading towards her or that she was most likely the topic of the discussion they were holding. Tipping her ears, she worked to decipher their conversation in hopes of having a better understanding of what they wanted with her.

"You informed us that you were looking for something rare; unusual and original I believe your words were. So when one of my men heard a rumor about a large cat outside of Little Whinging they were quick to investigate. I'm sure glad they got there before someone else; capturing an animal like this is a once in a life time thing." The man who spoke had a scruffy look to him as he'd just climbed out of bed and hadn't bothered to shave or dress in clean clothes.

"It had better be the best." The voice rang cold sending shivers down Meda's spine and raising her hackles in reflex. The second figure became visible to her and she could only gap in astonishment at the man glaring at her from several meters away. Violet eyes followed the sweep of black cloth upwards and locked with the pale eyes, "Because Malfoy's only own the best."

Sinking deeper into the shadows, Meda continued to stare at Lucius Malfoy. The scruffy man continued to ramble on about silver collars and transfers as a silent battle for dominance occurred between wizard and tiger. Meda did what the tiger demanded she do in such circumstances, she snarled angrily while showing off her sharp white teeth. When the senior Malfoy stayed where he was; Meda lunged at the bars in an effort to strike the man who challenged her but received a sharp crack as the cane impacted with the side of her head.

Shaking the blow off, Meda paced unhappily into the shadows as she watched the two men shake hands. She had just been sold to a death eater and known supporter of Voldemort.