Facing Fears

"Hey Tori," Harry said as he walked over to Astoria who was sitting against a tree by the lake. "where are your friends?" Harry asked as he sat down next to her.

"They are in the common room," Astoria answered. "I told them I just wanted to have some time alone."

"Time alone huh? Do you want me to leave?" Harry asked.

"No," Astoria shook her head. "you can stay."

"That's good because I already sat down," Harry smiled at her. "how's the hand?" Harry asked.

"It's better." Astoria said as she showed Harry her hand, the scars appeared to be fading.

"You are lucky that she only used it once, if she did it repeatedly then that could have caused permanent scarring." Harry replied,

"Yeah." Astoria sniffed.

"Hey," Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders and allowed her to lean into him and rest her head on his chest. "it is going to be fine, I sent a letter to Tonks."

"Your girlfriend?"

"My girlfriend who happens to be an auror." Harry smirked. "She will do whatever she can to help and if she can't then I will go straight to the ministry myself. I am the boy-who-lived and Lord Potter plus Heir Black, I have quite a lot of pull there."

"Thank you Harry." Astoria smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You are welcome." Harry kissed her forehead. "Have you told Daphne yet?" Harry asked.

"Hmm? Tell her about what?"

"About your hand and Umbridge." Harry answered.

"I...I don't know if I want to. She'll just worry." Astoria mumbled.

"Yep," Harry nodded. "but at least she cares about you. Trust me when I was your age I didn't have anyone who really cared for me, at your age I would have killed for a sister like Daphne."

"I am only a few years younger than you, stop talking like your an old man." Astoria rolled her eyes.

"That's your fault." Harry replied.

"What?"

"It's your fault that I am 'talking like an old man', you're making me be the adult here."

"Oh shut up prat."

"Brat."

"Jerk."

"Midget."

"Boy-who-stinks."

"Munchkin."

"Mr 'unable to use a comb'."

"Miss 'too short to reach up high shelves'."

"Hey, enough about my height," Astoria complained. "I am still growing."

"Whatever you say shorty." Harry grinned at her. "So, are you going to tell Daphne or not?"

"If...if I do then will you come with me?" Astoria asked as she looked up to him. "Please."

"Fine, if that's what you want." Harry nodded.

"Great, thank you Harry." Astoria smiled brightly at him.

"You're welcome."

"Great, now can you do me a favour and turn into a tiger." She said.

"Why?"

"Because I want a cuddle and your girlfriends won't get jealous if I do it when you're a tiger." Astoria replied.

"You just want to pet me again, don't you?" Harry said with a knowing look.

"Maybe." Astoria smirked, Harry rolled his eyes but he did transform into a tiger, he lay down and allowed Astoria to hug him for a few minutes before she placed his head in her lap and gently stroked him.

In a death eater meeting Voldemort sat on his throne and listened as Snape, who was on his knees like the other death eaters, gave him a report. Snape was informing Voldemort about how Dumbledore was still on the run and did not contact anyone beyond a couple of letters that he would send at random times from random locations.

Snape had suddenly stopped speaking when he felt something brush past his leg, he looked down and saw a King Cobra slither past him and towards Voldemort. The King Cobra hissed at Nagini in what Snape suspected was a greeting, Nagini hissed back before the King Cobra turned to Voldemort. The King Cobra hissed once more before suddenly changing shape and a second later Apophis was standing in front of them. Snape and the other death eaters were beyond surprised to find out that Voldemort's heir was apparently an animagus, though they all agreed that a snake was a fitting form for him.

Apophis walked towards and Voldemort who did not look surprised in the least and whispered something into Voldemort's ear, it was several long and dragging moments after Apophis finished whispering before Voldemort finally spoke.

"Well...that is interesting." He smirked.

....

Can't wait to read ahead by more than 60 exciting premium chapters.

Then what are you waiting for, join my p*atreon right now.

Link: p#atreon.com/InfinityWeaver (Remove the #)

Free members can unlock 2 chapters.