The Druid's Apprentice

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: She owns it, I don't.

It was a beautiful spring morning in the forested hills north of the manor. Viewed from a distance the four figures navigating a narrow trail running along a steep hillside seemed little more than ants. Viewed closer, the figures were obviously human, and if you were among them you could tell that the boy leading them wished he were anywhere else.

"Idiot."

"Moron."

"Dolt."

"Troll snot."

"Shut it you two!" Damon said in desperation. They had been on the trail since before dawn and the constant bickering between Ron and Draco had worn too thin a long time ago. Actually, he knew that in the five and a half months since the oath, the relationship between the two boys had developed into something similar to brotherhood. Somehow, though he doubted they would ever learn to get along.

"Wanker."

"Bloody poof."

They had set out that weekend to explore these hills and to advance their training to another level. All three of his friends had become somewhat adept at hand-to-hand fighting and were now able to cast some of the simpler ancient spells wandlessly. Every possible weekend the boys would get together and either train with Damon or study the very nature of magic with the boy's grandfather. They'd also become part of the local football team in Ottery St. Catchpole. Initially Sharing a mutually distain for the muggle sport, with practice and a few exciting games under their belt they'd soon become obsessed. Though Ron's family had become fascinated by the boy's pastime, save Percy, Draco hadn't even had the nerve to tell his father as of yet.

"Snake breath."

"Weasel."

Harry had benefited from their sleepovers as well. He wasn't able to attend them as regularly as the other boys thanks to the Dursleys and particularly Vernon's lack of desire to see the boy have any enjoyment of his own. But despite that the boy had still filled out thanks to good food and exercise when he could make it. The boy was with them this time and if things continued he'd be the only one to make it to the campsite alive.

"Bag sniffer."

"Your mother..."

"Hold on, no families remember."

"Right then... err. Bogart bandit!"

"Stop! Err. This spot will do," said Damon. They'd come to a medium sized clearing and to the young druid's eyes it looked right. He turned to look over his friends, noting the changes in them since they'd gotten together. Harry was the most obvious. He'd been so pale and skinny from the Dursley's treatment but now he looked Healthy and tanned. He'd become more the extrovert as well, acting impulsively at times, reminding Damon of himself.

Ron had changed little, physically; his true growth had been his attitude. He was calmer now, more centred. 'God forbid,' he thought to himself. 'But maybe we have a Weasley that thinks before he acts.' He turned his attention to his friends and unknowing student, Draco and felt a measure of pride. The changes in the blond had been the greatest but most subtle. The boy still wore his trademark sneer, but the meanness that the boy's father had tried to instil, that had been just visible in his eyes had vanished. In its place was humour, and even true warmth when he thought no one was looking.

Damon had them all sit cross-legged on the grass in a close circle before him. He handed each a small stone on a loop of leather, each was inscribed with tiny and intricate Gaelic runes. "Grandfather created these necklaces for the next part of your training." He said as he sat down among them. "They are spelled to remain around your neck until such time as you consciously wish to remove them. Their power is to unlock the animagus form you will take if you ever wish to learn how. Today, however, the necklaces will give you a taste of what it's like."

The boys shifted excitedly as each held their stone. Ron took on a troubled look and said, "Damon, my dad said that it takes years to become an animagus. How is some stone going to give us all that in one day?"

"The stone won't make you an animagus, Ron," the boy said, "it will simply show you what you'll become if you ever want to try. It's the stone's magic that will bring the transformation." As no one had any more questions, Damon had them all close their eyes and put themselves into the light trance that they used to calm themselves before training sessions.

"Your animal form is inside you, it is part of who you are. It waits inside you from the moment of birth and rages to be free." The young druid's eyes faded again to emerald green and said in a soft voice "look deep inside yourselves now, the beast waits. When you do find it, set it free." The stones on each boy's chest began to glow with a soft light and pulse in tune with each boy's heartbeat.

Harry was the first to change and Damon was hardly surprised, considering the boy's magical nature and the fact that he was his brother. The young druid winced along with the boy's moans as muscle and bone twisted and stretched into its new shape. When all was done a jet-black wolf cub with green eyes padded in a small circle on wobbly legs.

Next was Ron. Slowed by his own fear he eventually leaned forward onto all fours and began to sprout reddish brown fur all over his body. Clothes melded into flesh and soon the boy was replaced by a young hound. The pup turned his weary eyes to Damon and barked once.

Lastly was Draco. Hard-headed as always, Damon was sure the boy was unwilling to give himself up to the beast. Still, the change was inevitable and as white fur covered pink skin, a silver fox took his place. The three young pups milled together for a minute, then dashed off into the clearing to play. Damon watched them go with a wistful sigh. He wanted to join them but he knew someone would have to stay alert for dangers until they had become familiar with their new bodies.

"A penny for your thoughts." The boy smiled, a few years ago he would have jumped out of his skin at the sudden, unexpected voice. Now, though he was more than used to the sudden appearances of his grandfather.

"Just thinking." The boy replied.

"Ah, yes, thinking. I remember it well." The old man sat down by him on the grass. "You know, one of the few regrets I have since taking you on is having you grow up so fast. Even when you were ten, you were wiser than your years. Now you have sixteen years of experience in a nearly eleven year old body and I know you feel like an outsider sometimes."

"I feel the difference sometimes," the boy said, "but the last eleven years of my life have been better than I could have ever hoped for." He looked up into the old man's eyes. "You gave me a childhood and a family I wouldn't have had otherwise. Thank you."

The old man pulled him into a one-armed hug and then ruffled his hair. "All well and good lad but I want you to go be a cub again for a bit." The boy stood up, a big smile on his face and jumped onto all fours. By the time his h ands had hit the ground they were paws, and a cougar cub ran out to frolic with his friends.

Hours later four weary cubs padded back into the campsite, each found their spot and curled up to sleep. The old man stoked the fire one more time as each returned to their human forms, he stood and dusted his hands before vanishing like he'd never been.

Draco woke and cracked an eyelid and glanced around, darkness shrouded the clearing. By starlight he could see both Harry and Ron sleeping, heads on their packs. Unable to see Damon, he sat up and looked around. He spotted the boy standing on a high spot in the clearing, staring up at the stars. The blond walked up and joined him in silence.

"It's so peaceful out here," the young druid said, "I'm going to miss it."

"What do you mean?" Draco asked, turning to his friend with a frown.

"In about three months we start to school, peaceful moments like this are going to be harder and harder to find after that. Grandfather is taking me to Hogwarts tomorrow to make sure my name is down to go."

"You make it sound almost scary," said the blond, "it's just school."

Damon continued looking out into space and said, "Don't you wonder why my grandfather decided to suddenly appear again after so long? There's a big war coming and it'll change the world for everyone, wizard and muggle alike.

"Dumbledore is planning on using Harry as a tool for the light just like Voldemort will use your father and likely you for the dark. They'll both manipulate whomever it takes to win this war regardless of whom it hurts. It will be the end justifying the means."

"But Merrill is planning on doing the same thing isn't he?" asked Draco, "For his own ends."

At this the young druid barked a short laugh. "I said the same thing to him when I was five."

"What did he say?"

"He gave me a choice." The boy replied. "I could train under him and go in with both eyes wide open or be blindly manipulated by men who would use me for their own ends."

"This sucks, you know." Said Draco finally. Damon nodded as the first rays of the sun began to peek over the horizon. The blond boy and the young druid stood silently for a bit then Draco's eyebrows came together in confusion and he said, "Wait a sec, I can understand Harry or me, but why would you have to make that choice? Nether Dumbledore or Voldemort even knows you exist yet."

"We'd best get back to camp," said Damon, starting off down the hill, "everyone will be up soon." The blond stood staring after his friend in thought for a long time before following him down the hill.

-

The entire staff was present in the great hall for the end of term meeting. Classes were out and the students would be gone for two whole months. They had settled in for lunch when a tapping was heard coming from the great doors at the end of the hall. Dumbledore, caught oddly unawares, looked up curiously from his meal.

"I don't suppose anyone was expecting visitors today?" he asked. Getting a negative reply he scrumptiously took his wand in his hand and nodded to Mr. Filch. "Let them in Argus, if you'd be so kind."

The old caretaker walked to the door with a characteristic grimace on his face. He opened the doors wide and revealed an old man in a tweed suit. His white hair and beard were cropped short and he seemed, if anything, older than Albus. At his side stood a young brown haired boy of ten or eleven. Wearing jeans, t-shirt and trainers. The boy carried a cane in his right hand and walked with a slight limp as they approached the head table.

Not waiting for the headmaster to speak the old man said, "Albus Dumbledore?"

The headmaster, allowing some of the tension to escape, released his wand and steepled his fingers before him. "That would be me, and what can I do for you Mr...."

"Forester, Merrill Forester. I doubt you'd remember, but we met quite some time ago when you received the order of Merlin after the whole Grindewald affair."

The twinkle that had been missing from the headmaster's eyes was suddenly back at full force. Snape had told him of his encounter with Draco and young Mr. Forester several months back. Now his grandfather, patriarch of one of the oldest wizarding families in all of England, had shown up on their very doorstep.

"I do remember, though it has been quite some time. What can we do for you?"

"Firstly, you can call me Merrill," said the old man, "secondly my grandson," he took the boys shoulder, who nodded to the assembled wizards and again to Snape, "will turn eleven on August 1st. Having been abroad, I wanted to come in person to make sure his name is down before the beginning of term."

"Of course, I'll see to it myself. Could I offer you a bit of lunch?"

Merrill shook his head and laid a hand on the neck of his grandson, who was still staring fixedly at the end of the table where Snape was. "We have to be going. Promised to show the lad Hogsmeade." Wishing them all a good day, the old man turned and guided his grandson out of the hall.

As they left the grounds, the old man asked, "So what do you think?"

"Lets see," the boy said, "The war hasn't started yet but Voldemort has not only invaded their school under Dumbledore's nose but has possessed one of the teachers. It's going to be a very interesting year."

Ok kiddies, this concludes the druids apprentice book 1. Book 2, the sorcerers stone won't be started till blind faith book 1 is finished. Hope you enjoyed it.