Nine Lives and Bad Luck

24:

      Percy Weasley could feel the guilt gnawing at him ever since he had seen Alexander Milton rushing towards them a panicked expression on his face, a troll carcass between the two groups. No, that was a lie, he had been guilt ridden and worried ever since he had heard the enraged roar followed by a wild snarl. He knew there was no reason for that second sound unless... unless....His group had found the teachers, but got their first sight of the troll as it fell to the floor with a sickening, wet thud.

A more sturdy thump sounded as well and wands were immediately raised at this new threat; it was large, possibly reaching as far as the mammoth troll's waist, with shaggy fur, floppy ears, and quills rising from its fur and tail, long fangs gleamed in its mouth and Percy nearly screamed as the dagger like tip of the tail swung to where the missing student sat, wide eyed with shock. To his relief and surprise the tail changed becoming fluffy and spotted as it gently draped over their shoulders and blurred eyes focused on the approaching students and staff. Percy recognized those brillant green eyes even warped as they were and blurred by agony.

It was Asphodel.

It seemed he wasn't alone in recognizing them, surprisingly it was Professor Snape who shouted for them to halt and put their wands away, that it was safe. Professor Flitwick had seemed taken aback before he too seemed to reach the same conclusion and he hurriedly stowed his wand demanding they do as well. Even if it hadn't been Asphodel they needn't have worried, it collapsed quickly, the dim spark fading out. Professor Snape darted forward and began casting spells to hold it- him- in a stasis.

It was mostly this guilt that drove him to check in that night on Harry just as he had earlier ones, Mcgonnagall had told her two lions to keep quiet for now on what had happened so the hospital wing wasn't overwhelmed with visitors and it seemed as if the Slytherins in the know had been told something similar- or at least had enough honor to not make a spectacle of Harry.

    Moonlight drifted into the near empty room through the large windows and there on a bed sat the dark haired vampire- he had noticed right away when he first visited the ward; the pearly white fangs, papery, bloodless skin, and the barely disguised eyes had given it away- at its side were two spotted cats, the smaller one curled around the vampire between its lower back and the headboard while the larger one lay only loosely curled by its side.

The vampire glanced up with a sneer, "Yes?"

"Er, I uh, I... I came to make sure everything was okay here?" He suddenly felt nervous under its piercing gaze, like he was a young child again, caught up past his bedtime in the kitchen sneaking an early helping of whatever sweets his mum had baked that night. 

"Was that meant as a question or an answer?"

  "Oh, uh, answer, sir- ma'am."

"Well, clearly everything is okay here." The word was mimicked almost mockingly with a voice both as smooth and as sharp as glass. The larger cat, Asphodel, he recognized, raised its- his- head then gaining both of their attentions. Finally dark eyes returned to him and as if being forcibly drawn away as it continued, "Thank you for your concern." Glinting in the dim light, green eyes turned to face him and he received a small nod. Percy barely managed to nod back before he fled the room.

"What did you say to earn that kind of exit?" Harry turned his head back to Akasha, "He fled even faster than your normal victims on a bad day."

"Your insinuations are worse than normal, clearly you are too exhausted to utilise that last brain cell that assumably escaped your attack on whatever intelligence you once held,"

"Got it, got it, I'll rest up so you can return to your dungeon quicker, Night, Asha."

Long, thin fingers carefully stroked his head, scratching behind his ears, "Goodnight Asphodel, sleep well."

"Aww love you too."

"Sleep, impertinent beast, you worry Kore too much." The infirmary soon fell into silence again as Akasha sat motionless in the dark, careful not to disturb the two around her.

The next morning Akasha, under layers of sun protection spells and a cloak, cast a final few diagnostic charms before declaring him healed. With those words he was finally allowed to transform, sliding out of the bed and standing up as a human with a satisfied grin and turning to face them wiggling his hands.

"Opposable thumbs."

"They're really overrated quite frankly, are you su-"

It had been a common conversation they had had, whether he would stay at Hogwarts or not, Silk had strongly wished for him to remain at her side where she could make sure he wouldn't take similar risks as confronting a troll head on in the hallways, but he had wanted to stay with his friends for at least awhile longer and knew he would see Silk again soon. He was selfish, and there weren't many other chances in the magical world for those outside of olde families with connections carefully spun like webs over decades to make friends close to their age.

     In the end she always wanted him to make his own life choices and grudgingly caved. He rolled her eyes at her. "I'm sure. Absolutely, positively sure."

"Alright..." Silk gave an uncertain look before pulling him into a tight hug.

"Bye Silk, I'll see you in December, okay?"

"Of course," she retreated patting his head as she went.

Akasha gave him a stern look before bending slightly to give him a stiff, one armed hug as well, when she stood straight again she mused quietly, "I'm mildly disappointed, I never saw this bat of the dungeons I kept being compared to."

Harry stared at her, "Yes, yes you did."

"No?"

"Professor Snape, remember? Snape. ...Severus Snape. The potions master?"

"Do you need another eye appointment or has Kore cursed your sight again? We share no resemblance."

"One of you commented on the robes style you have!"

"It is rare to find some one with at least semi decent tastes."

"You look almost exactly the same!"

Silk cut in with a role of her eyes, "All of you humans do, you just don't realize it either."

"Either." Akasha raised an eyebrow and glared as she whirled to face Silk.

Silk attempted a pleasant smile, "That is what I said, and be careful Kitten, alright?" She pulled him into another hug before turning and walking off to where Pomfrey was waiting by the floo, Akasha glared, barely refraining from sputtering behind her, "I'll Miss you!"

In a flash of multi-colored scales in cooler tones, Silk was out of sight and Akasha nodded once to the medi-witch before stepping into the flames. "You will be well behaved and remain out of trouble, Hadrian Asphodel Tiamat, I do not want to hear about any more injuries during your term. And I will find out if there are."

"Want a pinky promise?" He grinned.

Akasha scoffed, although one of the edges of her lips twitched upwards, before she turned back to the fireplace and disappeared in a flash of emerald flames.

       His smile lingered for a little while longer before it faded with a small surge of loneliness; he was going to miss them. Silk had basically raised him, taught him most of the things he knew, and Akasha had taught him, been there for him, too, although it was to a lesser extent as her duties kept her from leaving the libraries for too long.

      He forced himself to stand tall though, he might be a little homesick, but he still wanted to be here, with his friends, for longer.