Chapter Text
Harry Potter Story
Mercury eyes stared intensely at the Gryffindor at a mop of ebony hair that sat on tan – though paler than normal – head that was facedown on the dining hall table. Silver eyes followed as he watched the head slowly raise to reveal dull green eyes that gazed blankly at a seemingly interesting wooden table. The boy’s skin seemed pale and almost sickly, and his hair looked flat, long gone was the healthy shine that once shown in the hair. The boy, now a grown man who has seen war, looked thin and frail. Since the silver-eyed man knew him, he had never seen him that thin, and there were many a time that the man wondered if the other was even eating.
A brunette woman was chatting animatedly with a familiar ginger, seemingly ignoring the pained expression on the man sitting next to them. In fact, he even bet they forgot him entirely. Blue orbs gazed lovingly at the curly haired woman as she spoke about whatever she was talking about in a passionate manner. He was certain that it was about something trivial, perhaps something random she had learned or some animal that needed saving.
“Draco!” Silver eyes snapped to the owner of the voice, landing on a dark-skinned male snapping his fingers in his face.
“What?” Draco snapped, icily.
“You’re staring.”
“Nonsense, Blaise.” Draco shrugged off his friend. The darker boy raised a single, perfect eyebrow.
“So you’re telling me you aren’t staring at Potter?” he asked, not buying the Malfoy’s fib. Draco scoffed.
“Of course not. Who would be interested in that mutt?” Silver eyes adverted his gaze from the darker skinned boy. A few silent moments passed by. “But wouldn’t you say he’s gotten rather skinny since last year?” The other gave him a hard looked before discreetly taking a glance at Potter.
“He looks sick. Doesn’t Granger and Weasley notice?” he asked incredulously.
“Clearly not, otherwise they would stop fawning over each other and be more concerned about Potter looking like he got run over by a muggle transportation device.” Both boys’ brows furrowed in concern.
Suddenly, Potter started coughing, quickly covering his mouth with his hands. His body was wracked with deep coughs that seemed to vibrate throughout his whole body. Draco watched in horror as his two “best” friends ignored him as they continued talking amongst each other. They weren’t the least bit concerned about their friend. It makes him wonder if this were a common occurrence. A few Gryffindors shot worried looks towards the boy, but none tried to comfort him. Peculiar that the boy who won the war was now ignored like a neglected child. Draco thought he would have been treated every bit like the golden boy he always was, even more so since he died and came back, saving everyone.
Potter stood up abruptly after looking at his hand. Draco could have sworn that he saw a tinge of red on the corner of the other’s mouth. No one else seemed to notice as the brunette swiftly exited the dining hall, not a single set of eyes followed the retreating figure, nor did they try to help him. Draco allowed a few minutes to pass before asking,
“Should we follow him?” Blaise’s eyes snapped back to the blonde.
“I’m sorry, is Malfoy beginning to care?” An eyebrow twitched.
“Fine, don’t help!” The blonde stormed off. Blaise jumped out of his seat in his pursuit to follow.
“Draco, wait up! I was just kidding!
~.~
The pair searched the entire castle for the missing brunette, concerned about the wellbeing of the boy. The blonde would admit, when a Potter wants to hide and not be found, he was damn good at it. They changed their area of search to outside of the castle, much to the Malfoy’s disdain. It was cold and frigid, and he absolutely hated it. He made sure to put several warming charms on himself to keep him warm and toasty in the freezing air.
Soft white snow blanketed the ground around the castle, more falling in sheets. Draco found it hard to see anything in the storm, but he kept on. His concern for Potter fueled his search, no matter how many times he had to perform a drying spell on his clothes when they became wet from melting snow.
Just when Draco thought he had scoured the entire grounds, no stone left unturned, he found a large tree nestled between multiple other growths and trees, obscuring it from clear view. Draco hesitantly walked up to the tree, an ominous feels exuding from it. It reminded him of the Whomping Willow. A hollow clearing, similar to a small cave, was at the bottom of tree, covered by the trunk of the tree. A deep growl emanated from the cave, a warning growl it seemed. Draco could not see what was in the cave, a pang of fear striking his heart. His eyes glances nervously at Blaise, who was looking at the cave just as nervously as Draco felt.
A pair of glowing green eyes appeared in the dark, staring dangerously at the two boys. A large feline foot stepped out of the depths of the tree. Soon, a large lion stood in front of Draco and Blaise, but not a typical lion. Draco looked on in fear as a large pair of black wings and a serpent for a tail, similar to a cobra. The creature stepped forward, releasing a ferocious roar – except it devolved into a coughing fit, blood spattering onto white snow.
Draco wouldn’t call it his smartest moment, but he inched toward the beast, his hand reaching out towards it. The creature attempted to growl at his, backing up against the tree, but it continued to cough blood. Green eyes peered intensely at the blonde.
“Go away, Malfoy.”
The blonde looked around, trying to find the voice that sounds suspiciously like a certain Potter he was trying to find. Finding no one, his eyes landed back on the giant feline.
“Cat got your tongue?” The large cat’s head tilted. Draco’s eye widened.
“Potter?!” he whispered.
“Leave me alone, Malfoy.”
“Who are you speaking with, Draco?” The dark-skinned boy inquired. Silver eyes snapped to brown, blonde eyes furrowing.
“You don’t hear him?”
“Who?” he asked incredulously.
“Potter!” Brown eyes slid back to the beast before landing back on the blonde.
“Potter isn’t here, Malfoy,” he said with a tone of finality. “I think you’re getting a little too invested in this search. Aren’t you concerned about this freaky cat that could potentially rip our throats out?!” Draco groaned in frustration and threw his hands up.
“Blaise, that cat is Potter! He spoke to me!”
“Really? Because I certainly didn’t hear it.”
“It’s called telepathy. I’m sure a Malfoy would have heard about it.” Came the snarky reply that played in his head.
“He did it again! He can use telepathy!” Draco inspected the creature, now known as Potter. He spotted a familiar lightening bolt scar, though it was hard to see through all the fur covering it. “Blaise, look at his forehead. The scar!” Brown eyes widened when they landed on the missing fur.
The feline started into another coughing fit, more blood leaving the mouth and landing in a pool on the ground. The scene was terrifying to the two. It looked like a large amount of blood that was just pooling around the large, furry body. After watching in horror for what felt like several long minutes, the cat fell limp against the snow, mane becoming wet in blood and melted snow. Draco and Blaise each took a moment to break out of their stupor.
“Should we bring him to Madam Pomfrey?” Blaise asked. Draco shook his head.
“How would we explain this?” he motioned to the large cat with wings and a snake for a tail.
“Animagus?”
“Is he registered? I’m sure it would take time to get that information. Far more time than we have.”
“Would it hurt to see if we attempt to force him out of his form he isn’t an animagus?” Draco shrugged in reply. Blaise muttered an incantation and pointed his wand at Potter. The large lion slowly transformed into a small, delicate frame that looked too thin for comfort.
“Bring him to my dorm.”