BALTO IX: WOLFWINGS AND MARVOLO
BY: EbonyPatriot

BALTO, JENNA, ALEU, NIJU, ANIU, KALTAG, NIKKI, STAR, STEELE, AND NAVA ARE COPYRIGHTED TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.

VOLDEMORT, HARRY POTTER, HERMIONE GRANGER, ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, HEDWIG, ERROL, PIGWIGDEON, HERMES, LUCIUS MALFOY, DRACO MALFOY, RON WEASLEY, PERCY, FRED, GEORGE, GINNY, FLUFFY, FANG, BUCKBEAK, GRAWP, HAGRID, KREACHER, DUDLEY, VERNON, PETUNIA, FAWKES, THE BASILISK, AND THE NAME MARVOLO ARE ALL COPYRIGHTED TO J.K. ROWLING.

MUSHU AND GRAY SMOKE ARE COPYRIGHTED TO DISNEY STUDIOS.

KAMOTS, MATSI, CHEHMUK, AND LAKOTA ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JIM AND JAMIE DUTCHER.

KEMO, JENNER, KALA, AND THE TITLE “BALTO’S BOAT” ARE COPYRIGHTED TO CYBERWULFE.

MIDBACK, BUSTER, MOM, SCRUFFY AND LEFT SHOULDER ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JIM BRANDENBURG.

ACE IS COPYRIGHTED TO SHE-WOLF.

THE INSPIRATIONS FOR JOKER, HARLEY AND MICROWING, THE JOKER, HARLEY, AND BATMAN ARE COPYRIGHTED TO DC COMICS.

THE INSPIRATION FOR BRUCE IS COPYRIGHTED TO ALBERT PAYSON TERHUNE.

BUCK, WILD BROTHER, WHITE FANG, SOL-LEKS AND KICHE ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JACK LONDON.

KAPU, AMAROQ, RAW BONES, AAKA, SILVER, STORM CALL, ZING, WIND VOICE, LICHEN, AND THE INSPIRATIONS FOR TORNAIT AND NANUQ ARE COPYRIGHTED TO JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE.

TUNDRA AND TAIGA ARE COPYRIGHTED TO R.D. LAWRENCE.

JOKER, MARVOLO, MICROWING, BRUCE, SILVER CLOUD, NIGHT JAWS, BLACK EAGLE, HALF-TAIL, WHITE MOON, SNOW FOX, DARK SIDE, ICE FIRE, DESERT STORM, GALAXY, PHOENIX, THUNDER, SAND PIPER, CHROME, QUARTZ, NAG, TOGO, TOGO’S CLONE, NYCTEA, KOJAK, TORONTO, TWISTER, EOS, DELTA, AQUILA, TYONEK, SUDBURY, AND THE NAME EXETER ARE COPYRIGHTED TO EBONY PATRIOT. {ME!}

EBONY PATRIOT’S NOTE: BEFORE READING, KNOW THAT BALTO ISN’T HERE UNTILL CHAPTER SIX. JUST A LITTLE WARNING, TO ASSURE THAT, YES, BALTO IS IN HERE!

VOICES:
MARVOLO: CHRISTAON COULSON NIJU: MARK HAMILL
ALEU: LACEY CHABERT
BALTO: KEVIN BACON
JENNA: BRIDGET FONDA
MICROWING: KEVIN CONROY
STAR: ROBBIE RIST
BRUCE: DAVID OGEN STEIRS
STEELE: JIM CUMMINGS
NIKKI: JACK ANGEL
KEMO: JAMES EARL JONES
MIDBACK: WHOPI GOLDBERG
KALTAG: DANNY MANN
NAVA: DAVID CARRADINE
WIND VOICE: BRAD PITT
BUSTER: JAMES WOODS
AMAROQ: TIM CURRY
KAPU: MICHAEL J. FOX
LEFT SHOULDER: JEREMY IRONS
AMY: PAIGE O’HARA
ZING: JIM BELUSHI
STORM CALL: JONATHAN FREEDMAN
LICHEN: LINDA LARKIN
AAKA: MORIA KELLY
RAW BONES: JASON ALEXANDER
SILVER: ANGELA LANSBURY
JOKER:MARK HAMILL
TAIGA: CARRIE FISHER
KALA: DEMI MOORE
TUNDRA: MATTHEW BRODERICK
NIGHT JAWS: ROBIN WILLAIMS
BUCK: TONY JAY
BLACK EAGLE: TIM ALLEN
SILVER CLOUD: ROBBY BENSON
MOM: JODI BENSON
JENNER: MEL GIBSON
ACE: TOM HULCE
DINGO: KEVIN KLINE
WILD BROTHER: JOHN GOODMAN
WHITE FANG: KENNETH BRANAGH
ANIU: MONE WALTON
TOGO: COLIN MOCHIRE
TOGO’S CLONE:RYAN STYLES
KOJAK: TOBEY MAGUIRE
NYCTEA: KIRSTEN DUNST
DELTA: ELIJAH WOOD
TYONEK: WILLAIM DAFOE
RAVEN: TIM MCGRAW
AQUILA: ROBERT CARRIDINE
AKITA: BEN AFFLECK
TENEBRUS: GRANT BARDSELY
DUMBLEDORE: MICHAEL GAMBON
CRABBE: JAMIE WAYLETT
GOYLE: JOSH HERDMAN
VOLDEMORT: IAN HART
SIRIUS BLACK: GARY OLDMAN
REMUS LUPIN: DAVID THEWLIS
LUCIUS MALFOY: JASON ISAACS
LILY POTTER: GERALDINE
SOMERVILLE JAMES POTTER: ADRIAN RAWLINS
PETER PETTIGREW: TIMOTHY SPALL
PERCY: CHRIS RAKIN
FIRENZE: RAY FEARON
HEDWIG: LIV TYLER
NAG: BRENDAN FRASER
NAGINI: KIERA KNIGHTLY
QUARTZ: COLIN FARRELL
ERROL: HUGH GRANT
FLUFFY: JACK DAVENPORT
FANG: ORLANDO BLOOM
HERMES: PAUL SHAFFER
NORBERT: DOMONIC MONAGHAN
BUCKBEAK: JAMES MARTERS
PIGWIDGEON: BILLY BOYD
HARRY POTTER: DANIEL RADCLIFFE
HERMIONE: EMMA WATSON
RON: RUPERT GRINT
FRED:JAMES PHELPS
GEORGE: OLIVER PHELPS
HAGRID: ROBBIE COLTRANE
KAMOTS: ALBERT BROOKS
MATSI: MICHAEL JETER
SEVERUS SNAPE: ALAN RICKMAN
DRACO MALFOY: TOM FELTON
GINNY: BONNIE WRIGHT
PR. MCGONGALL: MAGGIE SMITH
EXETER: CRAIG FERGURSON
AQUILA: ALAN CUMMING
FAWKES: MICHAEL CRAWFORD

******CHAPTER 1: MEET MARVOLO******

We snakes have always had a bad rap. Yep, always have, always will. Oh, you’re wondering who I am? Well, I’ll tell you. My name is Marvolo, and this is my tale. Marvolo. Yes, the same name as that psycho Voldemort’s old middle name. I loved my name until they told me who I was named after. Still, I can’t help it. I suppose it’s no worse than someone named Judas or Pilate, eh? And as for my colors, I’m an ebony-black basilisk, with blood-red eyes and cat pupils.

Like I said before, we snakes have a bad rap. And the basilisk, at least to the wizarding world, we are the utmost symbol of evil. Why? Because, ever since the Devil took the form of a snake, we have been marked as Satan’s servants. Sure, he couldn’t have been a rat or a pig, no, he had to be a snake.

America is more accepting of us. But what good is that to a snake in England? Oh, and by the way, I’m not from Great Britain. I used to live in Lake Erie, that small lake surrounding Pennsylvania. How good those days were! My brother, Riddle, and I just playing around, jumping on the ice floats, pretending we were Balto; eating that delicious fish, oh, how I miss it. So what am I doing in some hidden Chamber of Secrets in the middle of jolly old England, eating rats and waiting for some wizard to let me out? Good question.

It’s probably because of my heritage. My great grandfather, Exeter, was the monster of Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry. Over fifty years ago, Tom Marvolo Riddle, soon to be known as the evil Lord Voldemort, the Adolf Hitler of the magic world, released him to ‘purge the school of those that came from magic (non-magical folks. You know, the general population) and the muggle-magic hybrids’. Exeter attacked from Tom’s orders, for he could talk to snakes in our own tongue, Parseltongue. Finally, he killed and devoured a little girl, and they said they would shut down the school! So Tom blamed poor half-giant Hagrid, because he knew (and everybody at the school knew) Hagrid loved dangerous beasts. The idiot headmaster bought it, and snapped his wand. Luckily, Dumbledore, the future headmaster, let Hagrid stay as game keeper. So Exeter returned to the Chamber, waiting his time.

Now I was born in 1977, Chinese year of the snake. I was named Marvolo after Voldemort’s middle name, and my bro Riddle after his last. And than in 1989, I was told I had to go over to England and learn Exeter’s trade!

I only went because my parents wanted me to. Yep, that’s why I’m here.Exeter told me my only job was to kill and eat humans! Kill! I only eat fish and rats and pigs, but I would never even bite a human’s pet, much less eat humans. In 1992, Voldemort, by possessing young Ginny Weasley, started setting Exeter on the Mudbloods, but he didn’t get to kill. The famed Harry Potter, also orphan, came down the Chamber.Harry was surely doomed, but then Dumbledore’s scarlet-and-gold phoenix Fawkes came and blinded Exeter, thus enabling Harry to kill Exeter with a sword he had found in the hat (don’t ask).

He saved Ginny, destroyed the memory of Tom Riddle, and left. So for the past four years I had stayed in that tunnel, wanting to be out. I wanted to befriend these wizards, show them we basilisks can be harmless, and be happy. But until a wizard opens the Chamber, I can’t. Suddenly, on the night of September first, I lifted my head as I heard Parseltongue. “SSSSSKERRRRAAAA,” the door opened! I climbed up, and emerged in an old out-of-use bathroom. I was free!

And now my story REALLY begins. Sorry about that bit of rambling, but at least now you know my background!

******CHAPTER 2: I MEET VOLDEMORT******

“Yo!” I called, but no answer. I was wondering were the Parselmouth had gone when a sudden, whiny British voice made me jump.

“Oh, gone to kill more, are you?”

I almost ran back down that drain from fright. “WHO ARE YOU?” I screamed.

“Myrtle,” barked the short, squat ghost of a young girl. I remembered how Exeter had told me (with a chuckle that would always make my spine tremble) that his previous victim never left the bathroom where he had killed her.

“Say,” I said. “You wouldn’t happen to have been that girl that Exeter killed fifty years ago, would you?”

“Why, yes, I am. It was so awful....”

“For it being so awful, you sure look happy thinking about it,” I mumbled.

“Anyway, Dudess, who opened the Chamber?” I asked.

“Some big white snake.”

“Thanks!” I said, slithering off. I soon saw a white tail gliding along the dark ground. “Hey!” I called, chasing after him. The white serpent turned and looked at me with his gaunt face. My first thought was that this was a snake that needed food. “Hey, wait!”

His scarlet eyes, same exact tone as mine, dug into my eyes and then he spoke. “So, you are a basilisk, are you?” he asked in a cold, cruel voice. It was as though Riddle and I were playing on Lake Erie’s ice floats and Pennsylvania's cold breeze had suddenly blasted at our soaked skin. I was stunned.

“Well, what are you doing here? Hunting?” he asked in that same cold voice.

“Uh, no. Some dude opened the Chamber of Secrets and I-”

“Dude?” He stared hard at me with those blood eyes. It was then it struck me just how long he was. His great coils to stretch for over a 100 feet.

“You’re an American. I can tell by the accent. Blasted Yankee Muggle.” he said coldly. I did NOT like this snake. I had a bad feeling about him... “Well, then,” he continued. “You don’t know who I am?”

“No...” Suddenly it struck me. This was no snake! “Why, you’re not a snake, you’re a wizard!”

“Oh, very good. I am Lord Voldemort, THE GREATEST wizard of all time!”

“Voldemort?!?” I gasped, my heart freezing. This was the maniac who had killed so many helpless humans, the one I was named after! “Are you coming? You could learn a thing or two.”

What choice did I have? My family wanted me to follow him. “Like you care what I learn, so long as you can kill something!” I snapped, my mind clicking. “Hey, who do you want to kill, anyway?”

“A human in phoenix form.”

“Phoenix form? Fawkes is a human?”

“NOT FAWKES!” he snarled.

“This is a very unique phoenix, one which with I have a very old war with. A sixteen-year-old war, in fact.” Just then I noticed the black scorch marks at the joints where his upper and lower jaws meet. He must have been trying to kill a phoenix, but the bird had burst into flames. “Are you coming?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said, following him. Voldemort looked at me, his scarlet eyes filled with a mild interest. I meanwhile, was marveling at his speed. True, he was extremely skinny, but despite how long he was, he moved faster than lightning. After quite a few twists and turns, we were reaching the Gryffindor tower when we saw Peeves the Poltergeist.

“Why, wee little wormies, are you looking for Potter?” He was very annoying, I thought, and I was just opening my mouth to tell him to go soak his head when Voldemort struck. He rose up and struck like white lightning. peeves fell, badly bleeding, venom coursing through his veins. Even Poltergeists are not immune to Voldemort’s venom. He rose up with a smirk among his charred white mouth and slithered off, leaving him to die slowly.

******CHAPTER 3: I MEET WOLFWINGS******

“What you hunting?” I asked.

“Harries.”

“Har- YOU MEAN HARRY POTTER?!?” I screamed. “You can’t hurt him! You’ve ruined his life enough! LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!” I shouted. Voldemort sprung at my throat, missing by inches. He pulled back to strike again.Suddenly, the most beautiful song I have heard rang out. It was vibrating and eerie. A phoenix flew through the opening. He was hung, with an ebony-colored body. His stomach, the circles around his eyes, the wing bones, and the mark on his outstretched wings (it was shaped like a wolf’s head and neck) were all gold. There was a scarlet lightning bolt-shapped scar mark, his eyes were emerald, and tail alternated yellow-and-black.The phoenix pounced on Voldemort, trying break his back. Voldemort rose and struck back.

“Guys!” called the phoenix. “Come! It’s Voldemort!” he screeched.

“Righto, WolfWings!” called a voice, as a huge fiery red cougar pounced into view, claws outstretched. A huge river otter, white and the size of a German Shepherd, ran in, snapping at the tail. I could hear hooves pounding the stone.

“Good one, Concolour!” called the otter.

“Thanks, hey! Watch your tail, Vulpes!”

Voldemort reared and struck at WolfWings, who’s head was turned at the otter’s, with the speed of a falcon. “NO!” I leapt in the way. Voldemort’s icy jaws slashed deep enough to almost severe my neck, bone and all, and then pulled away. He must have known about how the phoenix would ignite and rescorch his jaws. I saw (blearily) a huge three-headed German Shepherd dog run in, a big black Great Dane, a scarlet-and-gold phoenix, a silver stag, a white doe, a big black dog, two Snowy owls, a hippogriff (half horse, half eagle), two snakes, a werewolf, a dust-colored cat, a tabby, a black bear and a black dragon coming. Voldemort hissed at me, turned, slithered a few feet, and with a sound like the crack of a whip, disappeared.

I heard a flutter of wings as WolfWings landed beside me. “Thanks,” I heard him say faintly. My neck had almost severed in two where Voldemort had struck me, and the venom was attacking the blood in my veins, as I felt my life draining from me. I felt the wet, salty tear drops fall on my wound. Oh great, I had thought. The bird is crying over me. He knows I’m dead. The agony tore at my body. Faint, steamy wisps of vapor were rising from my wound, only now there was no wound. My eyes cleared. The pain left me. Of course! Phoenixes can heal! Yay!

“Thanks” I mumbled.

“You’re welcome, but who are you?”

“My name is Marvolo. Who are you?”

“You’re an American. I can tell by the accent.”

“Oh,” I said. What else could I say? Was my accent really that powerful?

“I’m Harry Potter,” he said, turning back into a human, a skinny, glasses-wearing, jet-black haired, sixteen-year-old. The eyes and scar remained the same.

“And my nickname’s WolfWings.”

“So I gathered.”

“And this is Ron,” he said, pointing to the cougar Concolour, who turned into a red-haired skinny boy of Harry’s age. “Hermione,” he said, pointing to the otter Vulpes, who turned into a bushy-haired sixteen year old girl. “Buckbeak the hippogriff; Fluffy the three-headed dog; Fang the boar hound....” I cocked my head at this. I thought he was a Great Dane. Oh well. Who cares?“Mrs. Norris the cat; Norbert the dragon; my father, James, or ‘Prongs the silver Stag’; my mother, Lily, or ‘Charms the white Doe’; Fawkes the phoenix; Mrs. Norris, Sirius, my godfather, or ‘Padfoot the Dog’; Lupin the werewolf, or ‘Moony’; Nagini, she used to be Voldemort’s snake,” he said pointing to the dark gray diamond-backed snake. “Nag,” he said, pointing to pure black male snake, Hedwig the female Snowy, Quartz the male snowy, and Professor McGonagall.”

“Pleased, I’m sure. Listen, is it all right if I just hang around Hogwarts?”

"Sure-say, what are you?” he asked, looking into my red eyes.

“A basilisk from the waters of Lake Erie.” The gathering of humans and animals gasped.

“But,” said Harry. “I’m looking straight in your eyes and I am not dying.”

“American basilisks don’t kill with their eyes.”

******CHAPTER 4: HEDWIG’S EGGS******

Life at Hogwarts is a very grand one. I loved it there. You see, the first day had been, uhm, slightly changed by Fawkes transporting everyone to a grand battle against Voldemort in 1931 Nome with a powerful wolf army, lead by the famed Balto. The attack was a success, the Death Eaters were crippled, and, if needed, they could bring the wolves here to fight again.

I got my first taste of Hogwarts the next morning. I awoke early, yawned and looked around. Moony and Padfoot had had to leave, the monster animals had all left Hagrid’s, so only Harry, Hedwig, Quartz, Prongs, Charms, the other boys, Nagini, Nag and I left. We all went down the steps, while Harry filled me in on what had happened in four years. There was also the black wolf-bird Raven, and the elk stag Akita. Raven and Akita were Americans, like me!

A blond, pointed-faced boy stepped forward. He first struck me as a ‘purebred.’ Ha, in-bred is more like it. The boy, as I learned, was Draco Malfoy, Slytherin prefect and class-A jerk. “Why, if it isn’t Potter, still only second best to Weasley and the filthy little Mudblood?” he sneered. I rose 6 of my nine-foot size I was at that time.

“Watch it,” I growled.

“Well, Potter, fifty points from Gyrffindor for the snake, fifty more from your pets...” I noticed Gryffindors ruby gems in the hourglass that told the points the school had fall down. His head was turned in the direction of the falling gems. And it was then that I saw the scars on the right side of his head, running from forehead to throat. Six slightly smaller slash marks ran inside two very deep fang marks. The fang marks looked like they were so deep they had went to the bone.

Raven yawned his wolf jaws very widely, showing off all of his teeth. It was then I realized it had to have been a wolf who had bitten Draco.

“Who did that?” I asked Akita. And then I remembered that Balto had been half Malamute, half wolf. “Did Balto do that? Boy, I’m liking Balto more and more by the minute!!!” I said loudly.

Draco flushed. “A HUNDRED AND FIFTY POINTS FROM-” he shouted. I said finished it calmly for him.

“Slytherin.” Instantly, the emeralds in the Slytherin globe poured down like rain. “Good, hundred to Gryffindor, a hundred and fifty back to Slytherin,” I said happily.

“Good job!,” said Akita. “To answer your earlier question, Joker, Balto’s wolf grandson, did that. Joker’s father, Niju, crippled Lucius Malfoy, this boy’s father’s, leg.”

Hermione grinned. “Well, this basilisk is a big asset.”

“Yep,” grinned Ron.

Neville, the earlier black bear, (now human form) I had seen last night came up. “We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, WolfWings,” he said. “And I thought you should see who it is.”

Harry took the outline that I read from over his shoulder. “Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Fawkes. Fawkes? The phoenix?” he gasped. “Since when did Fawkes become a professor?” he asked.

*********

“Dumbledore’s little song bird is teaching us?” snickered Draco three days later as the Slytherins and Gryffindor entered the classroom. There was a golden perch sitting in front of the desks. Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

“Why, so I am. All though, maybe you should, eh?” said a voice. Fawkes, the scarlet and gold phoenix, sat lazily on Draco’s head. “Righto, onto business.” He fluttered onto his perch. “I am the new DADA teacher. as you may have noticed. I shall be teaching you not only how to stop evil, but recognize it.”

“Recognize it?

Oh, come on, what a waste of time.”

“Draco, will you ever meet the Devil carrying a pitch fork and wearing horns? No! Neither will you Voldemort and his Death Eaters with a large neon sign reading ‘We are the Baddies.’ Now then, let’s get started.” I was amazed to know how a bird could teach humans.

But just then Quartz, Hedwig’s mate, fluttered down in front of me. “Marvolo,” he whispered. “Will you come with me?” he asked.

“All right,” I sighed, and followed the almost pure white owl. We traveled up until we reached the tower.

“Password?” asked the painting of the Fat Lady With The Pink Dress.

“Bubo Lupus,” said Quartz. The painting swung forward. I followed the raptor until we reached the dormitory. There at Harry’s bed, was beautiful snowy owl Hedwig, her clove-shaped marking on her feathers rising and falling steadily. She was curled up on some of Harry’s old robes.

Hedwig opened her amber eyes as we approached. “Oh, hello Quartz, and hello, Marvolo,” she said.

“Whazup?” I asked. Slowly, Hedwig lifted herself up to her feather-clad feet. There beneath her were two white eggs! EGGS!

“Tell Harry that Quartz will have to do the owl post. And make sure Nag and Nagini know!” (Nag and Nagini had moved down to the Chamber of Secrets, for snakes like the dark and empty.) I rushed off to tell them.

********

For the few weeks I regret to say I do not know much of what happened to Harry and his friends, for I spent most of my time patrolling the school, seeing to it that Voldemort did not get in. One day, however, the monotony was broken, for me as well as Harry. Quartz flew down onto the breakfast table one day, his eyes flashing as he grabbed bacon from Harry’s plate. “No news, Quartz?” asked Harry.

“Well, yes. Our chicks are hatching!” Harry’s group and I took off for the tower, where all of the other animals were watching. The largest egg had cracked, and a tiny curved beak pointed out. The owlet forced his toothbrush-colored head through the egg, the eyes still closed. The bird stayed for second, gathering breath, and then forced his scrawny, wet, gray body free.

Hedwig pushed him gently into the tent of her feathers. An hour later, the second egg hatched and scurried to her mother. Hedwig’s babies were healthy and big. Harry rubbed Hedwig’s head, who she gave a playful nip. Quartz lay down on the babies while Hedwig got up and stretched.

******CHAPTER 5: KOJAK & NYCTEA******

He was Kojak, first son of the British-born Hedwig and the wild-born American Quartz. Kojak was, once he had grown to his full two feet length, immaculately snow-white, not a black mark on his feathers. His golden eyes shone with intelligence. And he was even faster than his unbeatable mother for sending letters. So fast was he that Kojak’s nickname among Raven, Akita and I was E-mail. His voice was pure American, and full of dignity and calm nature. Little did we know what impact Kojak would have on the future.

She was Nyctea, first daughter of Hedwig and Quartz and full twin to Kojak. She was completely covered in the dark cloves of a female snowy owl, save for blaze for the same brilliant white of Kojak’s feathers for her chest and throat. Nyctea also spoke with an American tone, but she was completely without fear or caution.

Now being of magical owls, their already accelerated growth rate was speeded up, so that in a month they could fly. Nyctea and her father were well like by everyone, even the Malfoys. (BOO! HISS! BOO! HISS! BOO!)

Everyone admired the Kojak, but they feared him, too. Kojak was a spitfire, fine unless you mentioned something bad about America.Both were dignified, which was shocker to me. Ya see, their father was dignified for most of the time. Most. He could also be crazy if he felt things were too calm. (Later, Kojak would do this too. But that’s only when he’s hyperactive.) Why, take for example that fateful October day, Pigwidgeon, Ron’s little Scops Owl fluttered around the common tower before landing in front of Ron.

“Ello-hay. I’m Ig-Pay. I can peak-say Ig-pay Atin-lay!”

“What?” asked Ron, staring the owl.

Quartz brushed a wing across his amber eyes. “Aww, my little prize student. I taught him Pig Latin!” he said proudly.

“Why...?” asked Hedwig and the Britons slowly.

“I...-I do ot-nay nown-kay. It as-way fun, hough-tay.”

“Quartz, my husband, I love you with all my heart, but sometimes you are crazy,” said Hedwig softly. Everyone laugh. That peaceful and humorous feeling was quickly broken.

“SSSSSCCCEAEEAEAEAEKKKKKKEEEEEE!” cried Kojak. He flew down, his white wings knocking everything of the table.

“What wrong?” I snapped, before I realized how serious it must be, for Kojak’s eyes had never shown so much amber. Nor so much fire.

“Voldemort, he’s here! And so are the Giants!!!!” gasped Kojak.

Fawkes flew up. I hadn’t even known he was there. “It is time to call in the wolves.” He flew to get Dumbledore.

******CHAPTER 6: I MEET BALTO******

Balto, the dust-colored half Malamute, half wolf, stood stunned on the table in the Great Hall, surrounded by sixty-two canines. He shook his fur and glanced around. There was Kapu’s pack, Wind Voice, Storm Call, Lichen, Amaroq, Silver, Sweet Fur Amy, Uqaq, Bird Egg, Owl Feathers, Big Ears, Raw Bones, and Aaka; Buster’s pack, Left Shoulder, Mom, Scruffy, and the three three-month-old pups, Icy, Orca and Polar Bear; Buck and his buddy Wild Brother; White Fang; and Balto’s family: his mate Jenna, his fellow dog-sledders Steele the Alaskan malamute, Nikki the Chow-Chow, Star and Kaltag the Siberian huskies, Balto’s pups, Jenner, Kala, Suma, Dingo, Ace and Aleu, Aleu and her mate Niju, their pups four-year-old pups: Joker, Tundra, Taiga, Silver Cloud, Black Eagle and Night Jaws, Niju and Aleu’s three-month-old litter, Tornait, Sand Piper, Chrome, Desert Storm, Galaxy, Phoenix, and Thunder, Joker’s mate Harley; Niju’s brothers Toronto and Twister; Balto’s father Togo and his brother Togo’s Clone; Balto’s half-brother Kemo, Kemo’s mate Midback, their three-month-old pups, Nanuq, Half-tail, Dark Side, White Moon, Snow Fox, and Ice Fire; and Balto’s four year-old pups, MicroWing and Bruce.

“WHOA! WHAT TH-ah, Fawkes, it’s you!’ said Balto, his dark hazel eyes set on yellow shining with intelligence.

“Yep, we need you guys. You see, Voldemort’s here with some Death Eaters and giants. Can you guys help us?” said Fawkes quickly. I

had expected Balto’s dark ears to go back, for his teeth to bare, for him to shout, ‘Giants? Are you crazy?!? We ain’t risking our lives to save you!’ But, instead, Balto’s tongue lolled out and he grinned. “Don’t worry, we’ll help you!’

“Yeah,” laughed the ebony-and-coal-and-snow Joker. “I’ve been dying for a chance to finish up my job with the Malfoys!” The wolves and dogs looked around.

“Nice place,” said Kemo, his voice sounding like wild thunder over the mountain.

‘Very, VERY nice,” said Dingo, looking up. “Hey, Ace! Look at the ceiling!”

“Wow, how do they do that? It is so COOL!!!” said Ace.

Snow Fox jumped on his mother’s neck. “Mom, I want fight, too. Can I?” he cried.

All of the pups started jumping up. “Please, please?” asked Tornait to Aleu.

“NO!” cried Jenna.

“The pups to stay hidden.” Nava turned to Harry. “Do you have a hospitable place here or something?”

“Sure. It-” The rest of school had just walked in and froze at the sight of the animals. Draco and the sallow-skinned, nasty teacher Snape stepped forward, a sneer on both of their faces.

‘What’s this, Potter?” laughed Draco. “This will be-”

“Why, if it isn’t little Dracy. I’ve been waiting a long time to meet you again!” chuckled Joker in his insane, taunting voice. Draco paled, and I couldn’t blame him as I grinned. From what Fawkes had told me, it was Joker who had ripped up Draco’s face and Joker’s sire Niju who had crippled Draco’s father Lucius Malfoy. (Is it just me, or does Lucius sound a lot like Lucifer?)

Dumbledore came in. Fawkes flew to his shoulder, telling him everything that had happened with the wolves in phoenix tongue. Dumbledore grinned. He turned to the school. “These wolves are to help protect our school from Lord Voldemort. So, the shall have the run of the place, and I advise you not to kick them or in any way threaten them, as those teeth hurt, and spells don’t work on them. Leave them alone, and they shall leave you alone.”

Murmurs went through the crowd. “Wolves? Wolves patrol the school?” gasped Pansy Parkins,

“And what if they bite us?”

“These wolves are very well behaved...”

“And we can talk!” barked Balto.

“Really, Dumbledore, wolves? Surely Harry does not believe he will be able to control all of these curs?” sneered Snape.

“CURS?!? Don’t EVER call us that!” snapped Raw Bones.

“And besides, we can control ourselves,” said Tundra.

“Well..what about the owls?” asked Snape reluctantly.

“We eat caribou, not birds,” snarled Buster.

“Any more arguments?” asked Dumbledore. “No? Good.”

“Very well, Harry, you and your buddies, can you guys come with me?” asked Niju. The wolves led them to the top of the Astronomy Tower. They walked out into the clear, dim starlight. Dumbledore handed something to Harry.

“Here. put this on Kojak, and send him out.” Harry read the heavy letter’s address.

“Grimauld Drive.”

“The Order?” breathed Hermione.

“Yes, Fawkes is teaching, so he can’t go, and Kojak will see to it that this letter is not intervened. And I think Balto has an idea.” I watched as Balto faced north, his nose quivering. He nodded, and then turned to the huge pack.

“ARRRRRWWWWWOOOOO!” he howled. One by one, all of the wolves joined him in a howl that told of their great power and strength. I watched as Harry tied the letter to Kojak’s leg.

The snowy owl nodded. “Let someone try to get this letter!” he snapped, before taking off like a white ghost. Balto and the team howled for a half-hour, and then suddenly stopped. They followed me as I lead them toward the Chamber of Secrets.

******CHAPTER 7: Order Of the Phoenix******

The wolves roamed about the school at will. They were to almost all of Hogwarts just furry, playful dogs that wandered about. To the Slytherins, however, the wolves were cold, fanged furies. Draco feared them the worst. He always would be cowering in fear. HAH!

The Order arrived the next morning, summoned by Kojak. “Things didn’t go well. You see Kreacher, the traitor hose elf, attacked Kojak. Kojak, being the spitfire that he is, fought back. It took all of us to make him let go. That’s what took us so long,” explained Sirius.

“So...” asked Lupin. “Where shall we stay until that point when Voldemort attacks?”

I raised my head. “I can take you guys to the Chamber of Secrets.”

“But,” said Ginny. “It’s so...wet down there.”

“Ahhh, you never went into old Exeter’s den?” I asked.

“No.”

“Well, then come on.”

*********

We were passing the dark chamber. On either side of us were giant snarling snake statues. I lead the group through the green water to the statue of Salazar Slytherin. I reared up. “Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of Hogwarts Four!” I hissed, and then turned to Harry. “You know, I still hate saying that downright lie.” He grinned. The lower jaw of the statue opened. I slithered forward, through the water and into the mouth. “Come on,” I said to the hesitating humans.

I heard all of the people gasp as soon as we entered. Well, after all, they were probably expecting a stone dungeon, not a five-star suite! The carpet was thick and lush. There was air conditioning, fires, TV, VCRS, and computers. There were also feather bed and jacuzzies. Harry turned to me. “Why would a snake want all of this?” I stared at him.

“Slytherin,” I started. “Wanted a place to hide and breed the basilisks. So he made this. It gets hot, so he created some Magical AC. The Televisions, VCRs and computers are mine. I bought them online. I had originally only had one laptop.” I pointed to my old laptop, with the cracks in it and the blotches on the screen.

“So, why were you so dying to get out?” wondered Hermione aloud.

I sighed. “Because I WAS gonna to die. Exeter said he would eat me if I didn’t take up the ‘noble’ title of the ‘Slytherin’s Purebred Monster”

“EAT YOU? BUT HE’S YOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER!!” gasped Ron.

“Basilisks aren't family oriented. Well, if they are in America they mellow, but that’s why I hate this place. You would, too, if you were afraid of being dinner.” I went into the rooms. “This is where the Order can stay. Enjoy yourselves. Oh, and by the way, this is our little secret.” I grinned. “All right?”

******CHAPTER 8: CALM BEFORE THE STORM******

Yes! Finally! I got to see one of Fawkes’s lessons. Fawkes had took them through the exams first, and then had taught them all he knows. The pupils soon learned how to recognize evil just by the look in the eye, the way one walks, even by the tone of voice what one’s intentions are, and taught them how to avoid it. Today Fawkes was teaching not to go by looks alone. Fawkes stood on his golden perch, watching the students as I lay curled up in the shadows. I lifted my head. What was that? Fawkes too lifted his black-and-red banded crest, and then lowered it. There was the faint pad-padding of paws, the snap of a yellow eyes, and the furry gray head of Wild Brother, Buck’s wolf buddy, was forced out at us for a few seconds, and then disappeared back into the shadows.

Fawkes cleared his throat. “Everyone here? Good. now we have a guest today. Joker, will you come here, please?” Joker, son of wolf Niju, and the daughter of Siberian husky and wolf-dog Balto, Aleu, walked in, his black shoulders pumping up and down. Joker was a handsome wolf, I thought. His spine and skull was raven, the rest coal. His face, from the ‘stop’ down to his throat, was a mask of white. His jaws were the color of a ghost, and his eyes were pure gold. He surveyed the class, swish-swishing his black-and-white tail. “This is Mr. Joker,” explained Fawkes. Joker ran his eyes over the class again.

His jaws broke into a grin at the smiling Ron, Hermione and Neville. And his glowed a demon yellow at the sight of Draco and his cronies, who had five seconds ago been sneering as usual at the half-bloods, were now cowering in fear.Snape, a former Death Eater and by far my least favorite person here, (and I’m including old cannibal Exeter in this! Although not Voldemort) walked in.

Snape sneered at Fawkes. “Well, well, Dumbledore’s little canary.” Draco laughed.

“That’s PROFESSOR Fawkes, Dumbledore’s little canary, to you, Snapey,” snapped Fawkes, the first time the great bird had ever snapped through his long immortal life. Snape’s lip curled.

Joker’s throat started rumbling with snarls. His eyes glowed. “Mr. Nazi,” grumbled Joker. “This is Fawkes’s class, not yours. Give your message or get lost. Fact is, even though he’s a bird, he’s still a better teacher than you. Tell that to Voldey.”

The class stared. Snape, who’s sallow skin had gone very pale, stepped forward. “Dumbledore happens to trust me, you little cur.” Nyctea (who was sitting next to me) and I gasped. A wolf, especially an American wolf with Niju’s fiery temper in him, will NOT stand for being called a cur by anyone, much less an Englishman, and a nasty one at that.

To my surprise, Jokers tongue lolled out. “You know what? You’re right. And you know what else? I can help you get that scar off of your arm.” I stared at his eyes. They were glowing a demon yellow, the way they did when he was in a killing mood. This can’t be good.

Snape grabbed his inner forearm, where I knew the Dark Mark, Voldemort’s branding for his Death Eaters (See why evil is never worth? To be branded like so many stupid cattle?) still glowed. “Yeah, right, you stupid mongrel.”

Joker sprung, his jaws clasping around Snape’s arm in a whirl of black-and-ghost colors. The next second, Joker stood on the ground, a long black something in his mouth. For a few horrible seconds I wondered what it was, and then i realized (to my great relief) that he had ripped the sleeve of Snape’s rope, in hat spilt second wolves move in. joker sprung again. I suddenly realized what he was trying to do. He was going to slash Snape so badly, that the scar would indeed be gone.

Much as I didn't like the favoring Snape, I couldn’t let that happened. Nyctea and I leapt. But we knew it would be too late. Fawkes erased our worry. He struck Joker with his wings, just enough to stop his pounce. As he fell, I caught Joker in my coils, holding him until Snape was gone, while Nyctea took his message.

Joker didn’t struggle, but watched Snape leave the room with his tongue lolling and his eyes narrowed to yellow-and-black slits. A lolling tongue and slitted eyes in a wolf means he is very pleased. The Slytherins kept making dark glances at Joker. Sensing that the danger had passed, I let him go and returned to the shadows.

Fawkes straightened up. “Right, so that was a bit of a delay. Anywho, as I was saying, this is Joker. He is by Niju out of Aleu, and is Balto’s fifth grandson. When you look at him, what do you see?”

Pansy Parkins raised her hand. “An ugly, mangy cur?” Joker snapped his jaws menacingly. Pansy screamed and cowered.

“Right. Never insult a wolf, they are very proud. And they make a hippogriff’s strike look like a playful tickle. Those teeth hurt. Any other opinions?”

Luna Lovegood, an odd-ball Ravenclaw, raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“He looks like a cuddly, fluffy handsome wolf.”

Joker’s tongue lolled, his eyes narrowed to pleased slits, and his tail wagged happily. “Ohhhhhhh, I LIKE her,” he grinned.

“Right, and these wolves are some of the best animals I’ve ever seen. These wolves are loving to all pups, care for their sick, take only what they need for food, and are always faithful to their mates. but, if you are food, or you are going after their pups, you’ll find yourself with something as mean as a werewolf, and just as dangerous, as Professor Snape found out the hard way. Do you see what I’m trying to say?” began Fawkes.

“No,” chorused the class.

“Never judge something by their actions to their equals, or by their looks. Joker here is the runt of his litter. But he is fiercest and most aggressive. Very rarely are the most obvious the culprit,” said Fawkes softly. I was amazed at him. Fawkes was an animal, and therefore thought in animal terms. Animals do not judge or put down. He wanted to teach them how to defend themselves. I often had to remind myself during that lesson that it was Fawkes speaking, not his excellent master Dumbledore.

*********

I followed them as the trio and Neville left the lesson together. Nyctea had flown ahead to meet her brother Kojak for their feeding of lemmings in the Owlery. Even though the sibling snowys slept in Harry’s dormitory, they still went to Owlery to get their favorite food, a reddish rat-like creature called a lemming. To our great surprise (mine included) Joker, instead of trotting of to join his siblings or his mate, went with us.

Joker looked at Harry, his black ears forward. “So, what is your tale?” he asked. Harry explained his whole tale as we entered the Great Hall. When he had finished, Joker sighed.

“That is how it is.” He stopped and produced several thunderous barks. The wolf’s tongue lolled as Draco ran away from him, eyes glaring at Harry.

“Seriously, what’s wrong with him?” asked Joker. “Why does he hate you?”

“Oh, we’ve hated each other since day one.”

“Ah, well, you know, you should try and get along.”

“GET ALONG!?!?”

“Oh, no! I’m not supporting him. I’m the one who slashed the in-bred’s face open in the first place, remember? But, you should try to get along with the Slytherin. I mean, look at Nagini. She was Voldey’s snake, but she’s sweet. And Snape, he was a Death Eater, and is pretty nasty. But he...well,...he...uh....uhm... O.K., so I can’t think of anything in his favor except that Dumbledore trusts him. He’s a total jerk!” “

After lunch we set out to Hagrid’s for Care of Magical Creatures. Tyonek, the chrome-colored caribou from Balto’s home (Nome), came running up, closely followed by his huge tribe. “WolfWings!” he gasped. “Be careful! Norbert’s got his buddies up here! So’s is Fluffy and his father! And Aragog! It’s a meeting of the monsters!” We froze.

******CHAPTER 9: THE WOLF’S HUNT******

Harry, Neville, Ron and Hermione looked stunned. Norbert was a huge black Norwegian Ridgeback dragon. His buddies therefore would be huge dragons, too. Fluffy was a giant three-headed German Shepherd-dog. His father, as Fluffy had said, was Cerberus of the myths. Aragog was the giant elephant-sized fifty-four year-old spider. He was the reason Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts. Harry and Ron had meet Aragog in their second, and were lucky to get way from him and his sons and daughters alive. They were not eager to meet the black blind spider again.

These monsters! With the class? I thought. I spoke. “Oh, come on. Maybe they-uh, aren’t so bad. I mean, I’m the great-grandson of Exeter and I’m nice. And Nagini was Voldemort’s snake but she’s perfectly okay! Maybe the dragons will be good...”

“Maybe them. Maybe Cerberus. But Aragog did try to eat us!” snapped Ron.

“Oh, well, I think he’ll be too busy to bother us,” I said quietly.

“Why?”

“Well-”

“Oh, MY!” cried Hermione. There at Hagrid’s hut was a huge black spider with gray marks. And talking to the spider was Hagrid’s half brother, the pure giant Grawp!

Grawp looked up. “Hermy! So good to see ya!” he called. It was in full sentences now, not like before, when he could barely talked. But now he was in a tuxedo?!? His teeth, which were once yellow, were white now, and his muddy eyes were now a clean yellow and shining with intelligence. “Ah, Hermy, so good to see you! I was just speaking with Mister Aragog here, and I am so glad to see you!”

“Good to see you, too,” gasped Hermione.

Fluffy, the black-and-tan giant dog with three heads ran over, along with another huge dog. He was pure black, and the eyes in his three head were red. He looked like a coal-colored Siberian husky. His tail was like that of a furry snake’s, with heavy feathering. “This is my father, Cerberus.”

“Hello, Harry. Are you the one my son keeps talking about?” he asked in a dignified voice.

“Yep! Hey, you should meet my Mum. Yo! MUM!!!”

A beautiful snowy white-female walked over. She looked like a Irish Wolf hound dog, and had very gentle dark brown eyes. Her left head nuzzled Cerberus, the right quickly nuzzled Fluffy, and the center looked at Harry and his friends. “Hello. My name is Eos,” she cooed.

I looked at Harry. He was no more expecting this than me. Tyonek looked anxiously at Hagrid as he walked up. “Hallo! Family reunion! Now today, wer’ learn’ about dra’ons!”

“What?” gasped Draco. Raven snarled and Akita trumpeted, scaring them (and me, I didn’t know they was there!) Buckbeak looked anxiously at Fang. “Hey!” snapped Draco. “There’s the hippogriff that was supposed to be killed. He’s the one who attacked me!”

“You mean Beaky?” stammered Hagrid.

Buckbeak jumped forward. “Ya, well, I’m not Beaky. Or Buckbeak. I’m-er-Bob.”

“Hi Bob,” laughed the Gryffindors.

“Right! Now, lik’ I said, we’re learning abou’ dragons!”

“DRAGONS!”

Seven huge scaly dragons flopped down, lead by Norbert. “Oh, er, sorry Hagrid. But you see some of my buddies at the pack, well, they wanted to see about this man who tames dragons.

Anyway, this is...” A huge black female dragon stepped forward. Harry looking at her like she was very familiar...” “Hey!’ he cried. ‘You’re that dragon that was up against me in the Tournament!”

She grinned. ‘Why, yes, I am. You fly well. My name is Bludger.”

“The next three dragons are the mates of those who were Tournament,” explained Norbert.

A handsome silvery-blue dragon with emerald eyes stepped forward.

“I’m Qudittich. You know my mate?” he asked.

“Yeah. She fought against Cedric...”

Harry stopped. I knew talking about Cedric most be hard. Cedric was the first to die under Voldemort’s hand...and Harry had seen it.

“Really, you shouldn’t worry about Cedric,” said James, tossing his antlered skull. Harry stared at his father.

“Yes, we meet Cedric. He’s very happy up there,” said Lily, pointing her smooth head at the Heavens.

“And besides, he’s here,” added a relaxed Sirius, trying to catch his tail with his paw.

“Wha-?”

“He’s here in spirit, trying to help against Voldemort. Really, fear of death is much worse than death itself,” explained Lily.

Qudditch bowed his head. “Ahhh, yes, she told me about him. So sad. I’m sorry.” He really did look sorry. “But, you should meet my son.” He pointed to a bluish-gray small male with silver-colored eyes. The adolescent was a few feet shorter and skinner than the others. “This Neptune.”

Neptune was wore a very look friendly look. A Chinese fireball dragon, flame-red with gold ruff-spikes, stepped forward. “I’m Seeker. You know my mate?”

“Victor Krum had her. But he-er.”

“Hit her in the eyes and crushed the eggs? Those weren’t real eggs. Dumbledore replaced them with fake eggs, just in case that happened. A wise man, he is,” said Seeker. Seeker turned to two smaller dragons beside him, both males. “And these are my sons. This is Cirdec,” he said motioning the larger dragon that was mainly gold, save for a sparkle of red down back and chest and the green eyes. “And this is FireSnitch.” he motioned to the fiery red one with the gold throat and chest and silver eyes.

A Common Welsh Green Dragon dragon went forward. “And I’m Boa,” he said simply.

Tyonek, who was shying from the huge dragons, turned his head to the flapping of leather wings. “But who’s that?’ he asked. For two huge dragons had suddenly flown down. One was snake-like. He was scarlet, with a black eyes, dark red ridge on his back, his two unicorn-like horns were dark blue, with black tips, and a gold underside and gold whiskers from each side of his muzzle. The other was smoke-colored with , blood-colored eyes and a body typical of Chinese mythology. Gold whiskers also flowed from each side of his muzzle.

“Who are you?” asked Norbert.

“Who am I? WHO AM I? I am the guardian of lost souls! I-” began the red one.

“Cut to the chase!” snapped FlameSnitch.

“I am the powerful! The great-”

“We asked for your name, not your pride,” said Raven in a cold, receiving a small kick from Akita.

“I AM MUSHU!!” finally snapped the red dragon. Mushu had a great voice that sounded like it should be coming from the throat of a stand-up comedian.

“And I am Gray Smoke.” (The gray dragon had more of a firm one.)

“Well, we heard about the Man Who Tames Dragons, and we decided to check it-WHOA BABY!!! LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT SPIDER!! GRAY SMOKE, KILL HIM!!!” said Mushu, spotting Aragog.

“Well,” snapped the spider, his pinchers clicking with every word he spoke. “I would still be in the Forbidden Forest, had not those curs come along and killed Mosag!”

“Gee, then you really shouldn’t sic your offspring on everything that enters your cove,” said a dust-colored wolf-dog as he entered. It was Balto. Behind him was a huge hunting pack: Niju, Joker, Tundra, Taiga, Silver Cloud, Nava, Buster, Kemo, Midback, Left Shoulder, Buck, Wild Brother, White Fang, Amaroq, Kapu, Kala, Storm Call, Wind Voice, MicroWing, Bruce, Aaka, Sweet Fur Amy, and Lichen.

“We were hunting, trying to get food,” said Nava.

“Yeah, first we tried unicorns,” started Buck.

“Yo’ didn’t!” growled Hagrid.

“No, we didn’t. Don’t worry,” said Wild Brother quickly.

“We tried. but they were so helpless, they couldn’t defend themselves,” said Kapu quietly.

“Yeah, and guess what? They’re monogamous,” said Amaroq.

“What?’ asked Neville. Draco laughed. The wolves glared.

“So he doesn’t know. Stop laughing. It means they only have one mate for life. Being faithful to only one female is unusual for all animals, especially herbivores,” explained White Fang.

“So then.” (Left Shoulder was continuing the tale.) “We accidentally entered Aragog’s haunt. He tried to have the spiders attacked us and-” Aragog howled in agony.

“Yeah, just because we killed his whole family you think his world’s going to end-” started Niju. “You’re kinda cruel, do you know that? We did kill his family,” snapped Aaka.

“Well, he deserved it.”

“Anyway”, said Kala.

“We still haven’t killed any-”

“Who are you?”

A white bodied-and-haired centaur walked in, surrounded by the whole herd. “What, weren’t you listening? Sorry, but we already already said our names once, Pony Boy, and-” started Buster.

“PONY BOY??!?!??!?” cried the centaurs.

The white centaur rose onto hind legs. “We ARE NOT HUMANS! OR HORSES!! WE ARE A PROUD AND ANCI-” he began, rearing up. (The centaurs looked murderous.)

“Oh, but, of course you’re different. You aren’t humans,” cooed Midback.

“Yeah! Humans don’t have BIG HORSEY BUTTS!!!”

“Buster!!” cried all the wolves

Ron turned to Wind Voice. “Buster isn’t too bright, is he?”

“Oh, yes, he is a very intelligent wolf. But, he always has been and always will be a fast talker. Don’t worry, he’ll snake himself out of it,” said handsome Wind Voice.

Firenze, palomino centaur and the Divination teacher, came up. “Now, now, settle down. These are just American wolves, they-” started Firenze.

“We don’t care, traitor! Leave us!” Niju was muttering with Kapu, Silver Cloud, Storm Call and Tundra.

“Are they animals, or human hybrids?” Niju was asking.

“We do not attack humans,” said Nava, shaking his aged gold-gray face.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out. Let’s ask them,” said Storm Call, raising his sea ice-colored head.

“Ask them? Come on, they’ll lie!” snapped Silver Cloud. They ignored him. Silver Cloud’s black-tipped ears tipped forward toward the herd.

He walked forward. “Are you human-hybrids?” he asked.

The centaurs roared. “WE ARE NOT HUMANS!!” snarled the white one, striking out.

“Well, that answers that question,” said Kapu.

“CHARGE!” called Balto. The wolves attacked. They ran beneath him, slashing at his legs. The centaur screamed and fell. Niju leapt at the throat of a sorrel-bodied centaur, killing him. The rest of the herd fled, leaving behind their dead fellows.

Niju looked at Storm Call. “You know, for having nothing to do with humans, they sure scream like them,” he muttered. The wolves started feasting, while the class stared on in amazement.

A skeletal black winged horse, a therstal, went forward. His pale moon eyes looked at the class, as he swished his long black tail. The therstal went to Balto’s side. “Hello,” he said, in a voice like a whisper.

The whole class turned to him. Hermione shouted. ‘Hey, we can see the threstals!” The whole class nodded.

“Ahh, well, thos’ cen’aurs had die’, so I guess...” explained Hagrid.

The therstal looked at the class again, swishing his tail. “I’m Tenebrus,” he explained. “May you share in your food?’

“When we’re done, of course you can,” said Balto gently. In a remarkably short amount of time the wolves had finished their kill, leaving some leftovers to the threstals and dragging the rest back to the castle to feed the others.

“Right, so... Galloping Gargoyles! Look at the time. You’d best be headin’ back!” said Hagrid, dismissing the class.

******CHAPTER 10: EXETER RETURNS******

We returned late that night to the dormitory. Two coal-black ravens were flying around. When I first heard their cry of “Corronk,” I simply thought it was Aniu, Balto’s mother wolf who can turn herself into a raven. (Long story.) But then I noticed there was two.... They landed close to me, close enough to see the fiery red glint of their feathers, wait, FIERY RED GLINT?!!? “Hold it,” I snapped. “Are you Fred and George?” With that, the ravens disappeared, leaving two red-haired twins, the prankster brothers to Ron, Fred and George.

“How did you recognize us?” asked Fred.

‘I've never seen a red-head raven before,” I replied simply.

George looked up. “Oh, and here comes Sagy.”

“Saggy?” A tan-and-white antelope galloped in. I recognized it to be a pronghorn, the only kind of antelope in America. There were familiar red marks around his eyes that looked like horn-rimmed glasses... A tawny-colored Screech Owl fluttered down onto the pronghorn’s shoulder blade.

“Hey, Percy!” said Ron. Within a second, the pronghorn disappeared and a grouchy-looking twenty-year old took his place. He looked frowning at Fred and George.

“Have you been calling me Sagy again?”

“Oh, no, Perce,” cooed George.

‘Yeah, we were just saying, ‘corronk’!”

Percy lifted his eyebrows. he sighed and strode over to Akita, undoing tying what I recognized as a video recorder. He placed the triangular play button, and instantly the sounds of a “Hoo-hoo!”; “Corronk, corronk!” And George calling Sagy.

Percy grinned and returned the the tape recorder. “Bad Akita!” chorused George and Fred.

“Why Sagy?” asked Ron.

“It’s my pronghorn nickname, Sagebrush,” said Percy stiffly, turning back to into a pronghorn as the twins turned back to ravens.

“Yeah, Sagy.”

I noticed how uneven the hooves on his fore feet were. ‘What happened?” I asked.

“Oh, that. Well, I had-er-sided with the Ministry over the family and disowned myself. Hermes finally said I was an idiot for not putting family first and he-er-convinced me to rejoin the folks.” Hermes grinned. “So I had to peck quite a few times before he changed his mind, big deal.”

The twins started laughing, the hoarse caws and corronks of raven laughing. Percy’s pronghorn body tensed.Before the siblings could attack, two snakes, one a dark gray snake with diamond-shaped patterns on her back and the other a coal-black snake entered.

The diamond-back one was Nagini, former pet of Voldemort. The black one I actually knew. He was Nag, the half basilisk, half black mamba, and he was from Lake Erie in Pennsylvania. Nag and Nagini were mates. They looked up, said hello, and curled up in front of the fires like dogs. Well, Nagini, at least. She had many a time lay in front of the fireplace when she was Voldemort’s pet. But Nag, like myself, was a water snake and feared fire. He only went close enough to stay near Nagini. As always, they started telling of their experiences.

Harry sighed and told about what had happened in June, how had been tricked in leading Sirius to his death and Voldemort had yet again attacked.  Nag suddenly lifted his head and stared at Harry with emerald eyes when Harry had told about how he learned how Voldemort was an Animagus.

“Harry,” he said quickly. “Do you know how to stop a big snake from strangling you?”

“No.”

“Well, they’re Muggle things, but, hey, they work. For one thing, snaked cannot stand water, or even better, alcohol, sprayed in their faces. It hurts, and they let go. Or you can grab the snake’s tail and bent it backward, that is the ultimate pain.”

“O.K....I’ll remember that.”

Kojak, Nyctea, Quartz, Hedwig, and Pig, Ron’s tiny Scoops owl, all flew down. So did Errol, the ancient Weasley Great Gray Owl. Errol held out his leg.

“Here, Ron. It’s from eBay.”

“eBay?”

“eBay,” said Harry. “Is a website Muggle use to buy things. But how-?”

Ron opened it. “Dear Mr. Ron Weasley, thank you from the New York Raptor Center, for adopting the Peregrine Falcon #729, or Delta, as he answers to. eBay will be transporting him. For the price of twenty dollars, you have received him, his hood, jesses and a certificate ensuring that Delta is yours.” Ron looked up. “What are they talking about?”

I had to speak. “The New York Raptor Center, they had a falcon. But there’s nothing wrong with him expect he wants to be with humans. They were looking for a falconer that can take him. Someone who was good with raptors. I sent them a picture of Errol, told them how old he is and they were impressed by how well he was treated, so I paid for him and now he’s here. He’s Errol’s successor. You won’t kill Errol, will you?” I asked.

“Of course not!”

“Good.”

“Cree, cree, Ree-Creet!” A very young peregrine falcon, huge for a male, hopped down. His black masked-and-mustached face made him look fierce. He was the slate-gray Delta.

Delta looked at Ron. “Are you my master?”

“Well, my family is.” The falcon actually grinned.

“Ahh, you are a kind master. My name’s Delta, I’m from Manhattan, New York,” he added, stretching out a yellow foot with long curled claws. What’s your name?”

“Ron,” he gasped, taking the foot.

“Falcons,” said Akita. “Are the fastest birds ever. They reach speeds of 250 miles-per-hour, and are very fierce. You’ve got a good bird.” Delta flew up onto Ron’s shoulder.

Errol sighed happily. “Now, I can enjoy my golden years. Finally.” He flew off.

Delta looked at something in the dark. “Hey, who’s that fellow?” he asked. There, with ear tufts up, was a giant owl. He was a pale goldish-grey, with fierce red-orange eyes and a dark chocolate-colored gold-grey sprinkled back. There was a pale ‘bib’ around his neck, black feathers were sprinkled throughout his chest, and a small-snakelike mark on his chest. He was an Eurasian Eagle Owl, a very familiar Eagle Owl...

“Hey, that’s Draco Malfoy’s owl,” gasped Hermione.

“Why, so I am. Pleased to meet you,” said the Eagle Owl, bowing his head.

“My name is Aquila, and I-”

Aquila was interrupted by a loud roar. It was Kojak, his amber eyes on fire. “YOU!! YOU ARE THAT IN-BRED’S OWL!!! WHAT, COME TO INSULT HERMIONE?!?”

‘No, not all, sir. I’m not. I just wanted t-” said Aquila quickly.

“Kojak, please!” exclaimed Nyctea.

“HE’S THE PET OF A NAZI!!!” roared Kojak.

“And I’m the former pet of Lord Voldemort himself,” said Nagini quietly.

“Well, yeah, but...” I knew Nagini had said the magic words. For Kojak greatly admired Nagini.

“Will it hurt to listen to what he has to say?” asked Nyctea.

“Well, no, I guess not....” Kojak’s still simmering amber eyes turned on the Eagle Owl. “All right, Bubo...”

“Aquila.”

“Aquila, Bubo, whatever. Go ahead.”

Aquila lifted his pale-gold head. “Listen, I just wanted to warn you guys and and especially Harry...Beware the Malfoy Death Eater.”

“Malfoy?” asked Quartz. “But Niju crippled Lucius, oh, don’t tell me. He’s finally swallowed his pride and used Muggle cures and so now he’s fine?”

“No, no, Lucius still won’t take the Muggle cures. So, yeah, he’s still crippled. What is it he keep saying? Oh, yeah,” said Aquila, shaking his head. “ ‘No pure-blood will ever have anything to do with Muggles.’ ”

“So, if it’s not Lucifer-ah-I mean Lucius, is it his wife?” asked Hedwig.

“Narcissa? No, no.”

“But then, who?’

“Listen, I’m not supposed to be telling you this. Draco would kill me if he knew.... But, listen! Beware the youth Death Eater Malfoy!”

“ ‘Beware the youth Death Eater Malfoy?’ Hmm, sounds almost as cryptic as ‘Beware the Ides of March,” muttered Delta.

The American and Muggle-bloods laughed. Seamus, a fellow Gryffindor, shook his head. “I don’t get it.”

Akita looked at him. “Did you ever hear of a great Greek Muggle emperor named Caesar?”

“No.”

“Well, he was a great, powerful figure. So naturally, they wanted to kill him. A prophet warned ol’ Caesar, ‘Beware the Ides of March.’”

“Come again?” asked Dean.

“The Ides of March means March fifteenth,” explained Akita in his soft voice.

Raven leapt down from the chair. “So Caesar on March fifteenth, went to the old prophet dude and said. “ ‘Hah! I’m fine and the Ides of March have come.’ ‘But have not gone,’ said the prophet, shaking his head.”

“And then when Caesar went out, Brutus, his old ‘friend’ leapt out, holding a knife,” continued Quartz.

“Caesar said... ‘Eh tu, Brute?’ ” said Raven.

“Brutus drove the dagger into his chest...”

“And down he went!” said Raven, falling stiffly as though dead.

The Brits were staring at the odd animals with open jaws. We Americans were laughing, and Aquila was watching with great interest. The door opened. In walked the very last person I would have ever imagined entering, Draco Malfoy. On either side of Draco trotted Niju and Joker, their eyes narrowed to slits. They were pleased that the nasty Draco greatly feared them. Draco’s cold gray eyes turned on Harry. He looked nervous. Was it because the wolves whom he was mortally afraid of were next to him, or from the Gryffindor’s looks? The Gryffindors were looking at him in the exact same way I had seen a wild pack in Canada staring down the moose they were going to kill. If the Gryffindors had sprouted fur and fangs, and Draco antlers, and then the Gryffindors dragged him down, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Nyctea grabbed Kojak’s mane, to keep him from lunging at Draco.

“What are you doing here?’ asked Harry coldly. Draco stared at him

“Think you’re funny, don’t you Potter?” he sneered.

“Stealing my owl!”

“Bubo?” asked Kojak.

“No!” snapped Draco.

“Aquila! How dare you steal him? Is not the pure white owl enough for the famous Harry Potter? Oh, no. He must show how clever he is and steal mine...” he sneered. I could tell from the way he was eying the wolves that they were scaring him, despite his usual sneering comments.YAY!

“For the last time, I DID NOT STEAL HIM!!”

“So what’s he doing in here?”

There was a great pause. I knew Aquila could not tell why he was really in here. And so it was I who came up with the solution. “Kojak must have chased him,” I said calmly. We all knew Kojak had a record. When he was in the Owlery, he was almost always peaceful with the others. Almost. One day Pansy Parkins’ (Draco’s girlfriend. Bleechk!) tawny owl made the mistake of insulting America in front of the snowy while talking to a screech owl. In a whirl of feathers, Kojak’s sharp talons were in the tawny’s bleeding stomach, aiming for the gasping owl’s throat with his curved beak. It took both Fluffy and Hagrid together to part them. (The tawny survived, in case you are wondering.) Heck, there was even a rumor that Kojak was pure white, not because he was a snowy owl, but because he a ghost of a white wolf killed by the Death Eaters on September first. And now he come back in the form of an owl, to kill off all Slytherins. (Of course, this isn’t true.) So, to sum it up, Draco would clearly believe Kojak was chasing Aquila.

Harry walked over to where the Eagle owl was perched, had him get on his wrist, and strode over to Draco. “Here, here’s Aquila. Now get out!” Draco put

Aquila on his shoulder. “How do you know his name?” he said, gray eyes narrowed. Harry pointed to the silver collar Aquila had around his neck. There were emerald studs around the words Draco Malfoy. And on the center emerald was the Slytherin serpent inside of it and the word “Aquila” written in silver.

“Oh, right..” Draco suddenly caught sight of Delta. ‘What’s that, Weasley?” he sneered.

“Delta. He’s my new family messenger. Got him off of eBay, he’s Peregrine Falcon from New York. You know, in America.”

Draco sneered. “Dear me, how much gold did that cost you?”

“Gold? No gold. Just twenty dollars. That’s American money, you in-bred fool,” said Delta.

Niju suddenly spoke. “If you want to stay, go ahead Dracula. I haven’t had any action since that centaur...”

Draco paled, turned, and strode out. Aquila hooted suddenly and loudly. “Oh, be quiet Bubo,” snapped Kojak.

Once Draco was gone, we turned to Kojak. “He reminded us of the message,” explained Nyctea. Harry screamed and suddenly clutched his scar, making me jump.

“What’s wrong?” asked Padfoot. “Voldemort, he’s happy and close...”

“CORRONK!! CORRONK!” A raven circled. She landed, looked at us for a few seconds with her no-pupiled blood-colored eyes, and turned back into Aniu the bluish-white wolf, Balto, Kemo, and Clone’s mother. “Something wrong,” she said. “There’s a snake in the forest...”

“A white one?” asked Harry.

“No, he was a darker color. A huge, green one, (over fifty feet) with horns and yellow eyes that mad me feel cold...” All of the sudden I had a bad feeling, like I had overlooked something major...

Nagini yawned. “Well, we better patrol the Chamber...”

“Me too,” I said quickly, slithering out.

********

I was going through the dark Great hall, when a figure bathed in moon light appeared, pacing the hall, with an owl on his wrist. I tasted his scent. It was Draco Malfoy and the owl was Aquila. Raven appeared, his eyes glowing red.

“What’s he up to?’ I asked him.

“When is Draco ever not up to something?” I suddenly saw wolf eyes snapping out of the darkness.Draco turned to his owl. “Listen you,” he snapped, trying to be quiet. But wolves (and I) can hear much more than humans think..“Bring this to Father, and be back quick! You got that?” Aquila hooted. “And don’t ever go into the Gryffindor Tower again, unless I tell you to! Got that?” I saw that head of pale gold clearly as Aquila hooted again. “Good, good, now go!” He threw up his arm, and Aquila flapped up on silent-feathered wings.

Draco watched him until the eagle owl turned black from lack of moonlight, and was swallowed in the darkness. Suddenly he gripped his left inner-forearm, gasping in pain. I cocked my head. I knew that Death Eaters have painful tattoos on their arm in that spot, and that Draco’s father was a Death Eater, but would young Draco too be branded?My thoughts vanished, for Draco, in turning to leave for the Slytherin tower, had tripped over me. His feet struck me so hard in the ribs, that I felt a few of them snap. I felt like crying out in pain, but eons of wild animal life in my blood kept me silent.He screamed and quickly got up. “W-who’s there?” he croaked. I couldn’t understand it. So he tripped. Big deal. Suddenly I heard Balto and Aleu howling in the distance and it struck me why he was worried. He was afraid it was a hungry wolf... I heard second howl, but this it was Steele the Alaskan Malamute. I could tell because dogs have a whinier pitch to their howl. Steele was joined by Jenner, Kala, Ace, Suma, Dingo, Ace, Aleu (all first litter of Balto) Star, Kaltag, and Nikki. Everyone knew that they were dogs, seeking to tease.

All but Draco, who must have thought it was the wolf pack. (Genius, eh?) Eyes wide, he ran out, clearly afraid. I waited until the clunk-clunk-clunk-clunck of his dragon-skin boots had dulled and disappeared before retuning down the Chamber.

********

I sighed as I slipped in the DVD labeled ‘Exeter’s Death.’ I watched Harry’s grand fight. I snarled as I saw my namesake. I saw Fawkes the phoenix blind Exeter. I watched Exeter depart, only to burst through the water just as Harry thought he was gone. My brow crinkled as I watched how many times Exeter missed. Exeter never missed twice... Suddenly the eyelid drooped enough to see gleaming bronze that Fawkes had missed, wait a minute. BRONZE? My stomach sank.

Exeter’s eyes were a demon’s yellow. How many times had I seen those cold yellow eyes? I watched as the bronze color shine five more times before Harry finally drove the sword through he’s head and he screamed and died. I put two and two together. That wasn’t Exeter. That was him at first, but it wasn’t he who was killed. It was Sudbury, Exeter’s more elusive twin brother. My heart rate shot up. But then Exeter wasn’t dead! And I would no way of knowing, because I had, once Voldemort’s memory was gone, never left the statue. “But,” I shouted aloud. “Maybe Fawkes had killed him...”

“I didn’t,” said a soft voice. I whirled around. It was the-scarlet-and-gold phoenix Fawkes.

“Huh?”

“I wounded Exeter, and he left. I blinded Sudbury, but I still wasn’t able to kill Exeter. Harry was still in danger.”

“So, he’s alive?”

“Yes, it would seem so, or so Mr. Aquila has told me...”

At Fawkes’ side was Aquila the eagle Owl, Malfoy’s letter still tied to his leg. The pale gold-gray bird looked exhausted. “Yeah, Marvolo. It’s Exeter. And Beware The Youth Death Eater Malfoy. Now, please excuse me, I must be delivering this...”

“Yes, and thanks, Aquila.”

“Any time Fawkes.” The owl took off. I sat stunned for a few minutes.Fawkes turned to me.

“Listen, tell WolfWings to be warned. Get the wolves. Voldemort’s leading an attack...”

“But, Dumbledore...”

“Leave him to me.” In a flash of fire, Fawkes disappeared.

*******

I Appearated in the Gryffindor’s Tower, gasping. “I didn’t know you could Appearate,” mused Harry.

“No...time..WolfWings” I gasped. “Exeter, he’s not dead. And Voldey...”

Ron turned into the great red cougar screamed the panther’s scream. Within a second all of the dogs and wolves appeared.

“What is it?” barked Jenner.

“Danger,” said a voice I had never heard.

It was a huge bald eagle the size of Fawkes. His dark body was almost black, with unicorn-colored head and tail. And he had gray human eyes no eagle ever has... “CEDRIC!” gasped Harry. So this was Cedric, the first to be killed. He had come back, animal form, like Sirius and Lily and James...

“Yes, Exeter’s back. And Voldey has him.”

“And the giants?” snapped Neville.

Cedric actually grinned. “Well, half of them had a run in with Hagrid’s pets... You know, Aragog and Fluffy’s parents and Buckbeak and the dragons and his half-brother Grawp and well, the threstals will be happy...”

Dumbledore’s voice boomed through. “Students, to the Great Hall. Wolves, come here.” With that we took off.

********

We were standing with several of the teachers and all of the order of the phoenix. Dumbledore looked around. “Yes, Voldemort’s here. And, yes, we have to find him. That’s what the wolves are here for.” He turned to the wolves. “Are you willing to fight?”

Balto looked up. “We’ll attack as soon as the door opens,” he said calmly, with his eyes blazing. Dumbledore nodded and opened the door. There was a loud hissing sound. we strode and stared at the emerald face of Exeter.

“YIKES!!”

“Ah,” he sneered. ‘So it’s my worthless little great-grandson, eh?” I stared at his side, at the pale albino-looking snake-like Voldemort. Voldemort’s blood-colored eyes turned on Harry. I rose up.

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!!” I shouted, realizing as I did that Voldemort was Slytherin’s last heir.

“A courageous little snake,” said Voldemort softly,a cruel amusement in his voice. Exeter was staring at me utmost fury. Suddenly remembered I had broken the most ancient laws, the most important of the many laws laid down by the first basilisks. Never ever disobey the Heir of Slytherin. Even we Americans are duty-bound to the Heir. And if a rebel snake should come up cannibalism can and will be used, to clean the Earth of him.I stared back at Exeter. So what if he ate me? I would die saving the good...

“So, you stand up, do you, Snake?” asked Voldemort.

“Marvolo. If your going to kill me, get my name right!” I snapped. “Yeah, I was named after you.”

Ron, Hermione and Harry went forward. “You’re not coming in,” said Harry.

“Yes, just you and the snake? Where’s the others? Oh, yeah, they had a little run-in with the wolvies, eh?” sneered Ron.

“The wolves aren’t here,” Voldemort dawdled slowly. Hermione gasped and grabbed Ron, to keep him from answering.

“Don’t, don’t answer him. He’s right.” The wolves were gone.

“May I introduced you to my newest Death Eaters,” laughed Voldemort. A dark figure stepped forward, wand out. I tasted its scent and gasped.

“IT’S DRACO MALFOY!!” I screamed.

******CHAPTER 11: THE NEXT GENERATIONS******

Draco grinned. “Why, yes, Potter.”

“Good boy.” I turned around. There was Lucius, Draco’s father, leaning on crouches.

“Where are your little doggies now?” asked Voldemort slowly, knowing perfectly well the wolves were gone. I could hear Harry whispering.

“When I say so, transform.” Suddenly Voldemort caught site of Nagini and Nag.

“Ahh, well if it isn’t Nagini. Tell me, do miss human food?”

Nagini hissed. “KEEP AWAY FROM YOU FREAK!! I DON’T MISS YOU!! AND I DON’T EAT HUMANS!!”

“Whatever. Well, Draco, newest Death Eater, what are you waiting for? Kill the Mudbloods!”

Draco strode forward, a smirk on his face. “AVADA-” he started to cry. There was suddenly the pounding of hooves. Also there was the snapping of long tendons that sounded like bongo drums. A large silver-and-snow stag rammed into Draco, lifting him up with his antlers, almost impaling him. He tossed the sixteen-year-old onto the ground. The stag rose and struck out, his hooves falling like shooting stars. Draco ducked barely several times. The sharp hooves left long gouges in the Earth. Slowly my mind processed the moon-bathed stag’s sudden attack. It was Tyonek, the caribou from Nome!!!

Tyonek was herding Draco slowly to the well-named Whomping Willow, still striking out with those murderous hooves, still seeking to impale the sneering purebred who had for so long annoyed him. The tree’s branches started to strike as it felt something brush against it. Tyonek, however, deflected every blow with now-velvet-free antlers. Draco quickly evaded the striking hooves by going into the narrow tunnel beneath. This was what Tyonek was looking for.

Striking back at the branches, the caribou ran out, leaving Draco trapped and ran back. A seventh-year Slytherin jumped and grabbed the stag’s throat, attempting (fruitlessly) to reach through the thick snow mane and suffocate him. The stag gasped for his a breath a few times, but that was it. For Tyonek had risen up and struck the boy on his head with those sharp hooves. The boy went limp.

The caribou pointed his antlers at Voldemort and the others, daring they to come closer, his gray sides heaving.A long, echoing trumpet bellowed across the ground. The red wapiti stag Akita stood. Around him were creatures with yellow eyes. Creatures that were slowly trotting closer, their eyes turning into bluish-greens and blues and browns and golds, their thick ruffs, sharp ears set on good-natured faces becoming bathed in moon light... A long, eerie howl echoed...It was the wolves!

“You’re back,” gasped Ron.

Togo, purebred Alaskan Malamute and father to Balto and Clone, looked at us. “Oh, come on. You didn’t really think we’d let you take on these psycho maniacs alone?”

“Yeah, we did,” I mumbled.

Togo’s Clone, full brother to Balto, grinned. “O Ye Of Little Faith, of course we’re back. We wouldn’t desert you.”

Tyonek turned to the brown caribou herd following him. “HALT!”

Tenebrus the therstal suddenly flew in, black wings curling around his shoulder blades. “Fawkes!” he cried. “The giants!” Huge, twenty-foot humans were coming towards us. The Death Eaters laughed. I saw a small streak of red go by. It was Mushu, eight inches long form.

“Mushu, no!” cried Nag.

The giant leader laughed as tiny Mushu shot sparks at him. He picked up the dragon on his thumb, lifted him until the little red animal was eye-to-eye, and attempted to squash him. “I’m warin’ you now, don’t even think about it! Oh, that does it!!!” I heard Mushu say, before he transformed, with a small pop, into an eighty-foot-long beast. “Oh, you in big trouble now!” snarled Mushu in the stunned giant’s face. He shot a bonfire of flames at him, charring its face black. “Aha! Now, Gray SmoKay, you finish him!” Gray Smoke tripped him, slashing at the throat. The other dragons attacked, repeating Gray Smoke’s attack.

The Death Eaters were too stunned to do anything. Giant three-headed dogs attacked as one. Buckbeak, Fang, Grawp and Hagrid watched as the dragons saw to it that the threstals would be well-fed. The wolves lifted their heads and howled, bringing the attention back to them. Something like trumpet swept through Voldemort’s scarlet cat eyes. He stepped forward...

“I wouldn’t transform, if I were you. If you do, I'll break your back, Snakey.” We all whirled around. Sitting on the castle roof was the huge eagle of Cedric, gray eyes on Voldemort.

“Who are you?” barked Voldemort.

“Oh, you know me, Voldey. You know all of us.”

“Us?” came the sneer of a reply.

“Yes, us. We are the Innocents, the ones you killed who shouldn’t have been.”

Cedric flew down and stared at him. Suddenly, I was aware of shape stirring behind us. A white elephant, a Rottweiler dog, the stag form of Harry’s father James, nicknamed Prongs, the black dog form of Sirius Black, James’s friend who’s nickname was Padfoot, and the white doe that was Harry’s mother and James’s wife, Lily. (Lily was nicknamed Charms.)Voldemort’s expression was hard to read. He pointed his wand at the elephant.

“And, who are you supposed to be?” Hhhmmm, I couldn’t tell if he was afraid or bored. That stupid soft voice of his.

“Bertha Jorkins,” snapped the elephant. So this was Bertha, the Ministry of Magic witch that he killed last summer.

“And I’m Frank Bryce. Remember me? I cared for the house where your Father died. The MUGGLE’S village?” sneered the Rottweiler.

“We have seen and know all about death, and we died not fearing it,” continued Cedric.

‘THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN DEATH!!!” snarled Voldemort.

“There is no reason to fear it!” growled Lily.

“Well,” said James, his lips curling into an odd smile. “When you stop and think about where he’s going, there is every reason to fear death.” The group laughed. Voldemort however looked back at his troops. I knew what he was thinking. His surprise had been blown. He would try again later. The Death Eaters started to follow him into the Forbidden Forest. The wolves snarled, knowing something wasn’t right.Kemo’s mate, the beautiful white Midback, with the black strip to her tail starting at the middle of her back, realized it.

“They’ll head for the school! We’ve got to get there first. Come on,” she said, the wolves slinking to the school.

Balto, Harry, and I stopped, waiting for the caribou.Tyonek was acting very odd as he watched Lucius limping badly across the lawn. His ears were flickering back and forth on his skull. “What’s with him?’ asked WolfWings.

“He can’t make up his mind,” I replied softly.

The caribou’s eyes widen, his ears were back. He looked up at the Heavens, mouthing the words, “Why me?” Tyonek stepped in the stunned Malfoy’s wake, lowering himself down. He sighed. “Lucifer, you don’t have to walk. You’ll just hurt your leg more. I-I-I’ll give you a ride.” I grinned, knowing how hard it was for the proud caribou to give this snob of an in-bred who fathered yet another Death Eater to swell Voldemort’s ranks an easier time.

Lucius’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, and what plan is it this time, Bambi? Going to impale me the second you get running?” The caribou’s ears went up.

“Don’t tempt me! No trick, I just can’t stand to see someone suffer. Now get on, now, or would you like to be introduced to Mr. Hooves?” Lucius obeyed, though Hagrid had to help him on.

“You’ a great caribou, Tyone’,” said Hagrid.

“Hmmm, too great,” muttered Tyonek, rising very slowly and going gently, while Mr. Malfoy held tight onto the antlers, clearly afraid of the stag bucking. Wolf Wings and I followed him.

“Why is Tyonek so kind to him?” asked Harry.

“Because-I don’t know. But this doesn’t mean he likes him. Didn’t you hear what he called him? He called him Lucifer.”

********

Late in the Great hall, the wolves explained that had happened. Dumbledore nodded. ‘He’s braver then before,” he sighed.

“No, something’s wrong,” said Amaroq silently. With a wave of his wand, purple sleeping bags fill the room.

“We will stay here. Get the owls, Kojak."

“Right.”

“Fang, go and get Hagrid. No one else is to leave. Voldemort is in the Forbidden Forest.”

******CHAPTER THIRTEEN: EVIL INVASION******

We settled ourselves down as the dragons patrolled the school. Aragog hissed at the active wolves. “See, if you hadn’t had attacked my family, they could have gotten Voldemort.

Kapu grinned. “Well, Spidey,” he said, his tongue lolling and eyes narrowed. “I f some wolves can defeat them, would they be able to stand up to the Dark Wizard?”

Kojak and Nyctea flew down, followed by their parents and Delta. “Where Snapy?” asked Nyctea.

“With the Death Eaters,” replied Quartz.

“And speaking of Death Eaters...” said Kojak softly, amber eyes blazing.

Aquila the Eagle Owl flew down. “Hello.”

“HELLLO! WHAT IS UP?!!!!” Pig flew over heard twittering madly.

“Hello, Bubo!”

“It’s Aquila.”

Kojak prepared to strike. “Oh, stop it, Kojak! Aquila’s a friend!” snapped Nyctea.

“Yeah. Remember the hint. ‘Beware the Ides of March’- oops, wrong cryptic message,” said Delta. Everyone, even the pure white snowy Kojak laughed.

“Yeah, did you figure out it was Draco?” asked Aquila.

“Yes...”

“So, Kojak, will you forgive him?” asked Hedwig.

“Oh, all right,” sighed Kojak.

The doors BANGED open. Exeter, huge, poison emerald-green, yellow-eyed killing basilisk Exeter, entered. A white snake whipped by. I looked at Dumbledore. But he was gone. A huge, sky-and-snow-colored phoenix blazed past. I caught sight of twinkling clear blue eyes before the bird struck. It was Dumbledore!Voldemort, who had been aiming for the black-and-gold phoenix, was checked by Dumbledore.

Exeter reared and aimed for Harry. “Stop, EXETER!” I screamed. He looked at me.

“I’m not aiming for the boy, you fool, not until I get you!” My mind started racing. I saw the wolves, taking on Death Eaters and trying to stop the basilisk.

“Get!” The class scattered.

“Amaroq, Buck, Tundra, Taiga, Nava, Aniu, Marvolo, Left Shoulder! Bring them to the Come-and-Go room!” ordered Dumbledore. We set off with the students.

“What the heck did he say?” asked Left Shoulder.

“It’s a room that only comes when you need it. But I’m not sure where it is...” I replied.

“This way!” It was Aquila and Kojak, followed by Delta, Nyctea, and Pig. We followed the ghost-like team. Nearing a vase, the wolves stopped.

“Stay here,” ordered Buck. The team ran.

“JUMP!!” called Aniu in a bored voice. Suddenly I tasted the air. It was Draco, hiding behind the vase. He had used the same trick last semester to catch Harry. He had laid a tripping spell. The wolves jumped six feet into the air, looking more like birds of prey than canines. Taiga’s ears flattened and a fiery hating look came into her yellow eyes.

“I know you’re there, Dracula! Take this!” she screamed, striking out with her back leg. Her left hind paw struck firmly in the young, still bleeding, Death Eater’s chest. We all heard his loud “Oof!” of pain. All of this happened in the spilt second way wolves react. Nava, old gold-gray wolf, had not been able to clear the spell, falling as Draco fell. Before Draco could grab him, though, the old wolf had twisted over, getting his paws under him and taking off. The owls flew over head, but Draco didn’t notice that his owl was with them, since the whole school was stampeding over him. The seven wolf pack ran back and forth.

Using their tails like rudders, the wolves turned in three-hundred-and-sixty-degree circles, darting back, a whirl of gold-gray, ebon, snow, gold, and bronze. “Come on,” muttered Tundra. Three times they crossed before small cave appeared with an even narrower entrance.

“What is it?” asked Ron.

“A wolf den. They’re very big in the inside,” said Harry, having fought the snake-Voldemort in one.

Amaroq looked at the class. “We need to do it again! Now! Owl Pack! Nyctea, Kojak, distract Draco. Aquila, you and Delta go to the Great Hall. Pig...get the rest of Owlery fighting.” With that, the huge pack of wolves ran back and forth again, so that only shades of yellow, white and black could be seen and the clatter of claws heard.

“YES!” The cave entrance had widened. All of the class save for the trio had gotten in when the entrance narrowed again.

“How are supposed to get in?” asked Hermione. “Transform!”

barked Buck. Hermione in normal otter size, disappeared.

Ron the cougar looked at us. “I’m not going in there.”

Amaroq straightened his ebon form up. His gold eyes blazed. “I AM THE ALPHA! GO!!” he ordered tail up. Ron hurried down, stopping half way.

He was stuck. “Told you so.”

“On your side!” barked Left Shoulder. WolfWings was next followed by the wolves. I was last to disappear. It was well suited to the needs. The students were sitting comfortably on the soft earth. I grinned at the team. The wolves and dogs (everyone, including the staff, had just arrived) weren’t grinning.

Steele turned. “We’re being chased.”

Niju looked heart-broken. “And the snake killed Huron and Hera.” Huron and Hera were brother and sister, part of the original OceanPine pack. They might have been in Kemo’s new pack, but they were still close. A sudden, pale arm sweep into the cave entrance. It was the badly wounded arm of Draco, fresh with Kojak’s attacks. The team set on it.

With a scream, Draco pulled it back. Exeter’s huge emerald head struck to cave knocking it down. The school screamed. He snarled, ready to strike. I saw Nag and Nagini, as they wolves and snakes rushed to attack. A sudden thought came to me.

“DUMBLEDORE!”

“Yes, Marvolo?” The sky-and-snow Dumbledore phoenix, with the scarlet-and-gold Fawkes and the ebon-and-gold Harry by his side, appeared.

“Dumbledore. We must go! Thirteen O’clock! Yellowstone, U.S.A. Semper Fi!” The Britons stopped and stared at me. Only the Americans seemed to get where we were going.

Nag shook his head. “YOU DON’T DO ANYTHING HALF-WAY, DO YOU, MARVOLO?!?” With a sudden whirl of fire and color and sound, Hogwarts was gone.

******CHAPTER 14: SEMPER FI******

We landed in the bright sunlight of a Montana park land. The wolves were thrown onto their chests and throats. I shook my head and glanced around. The activity around the park froze. The buffalo stopped running from the equally amazed wolves at their heels, the real pronghorns stopped pushing each other with their horns. All dark eyes were fixed on us, all jaws were open. A chrome-and-snow wolf came close. He was Kamots, the Alpha, and his mate, Chehmuk, the black wolf. Matsi, a tan wolf who was the Beta, stood with his brother Lakota.

“Who are you?” asked Kamots.

“Uh..uh...we’re from...”

“Oh, you’re a Englishman. I can tell by your accent,” said Chehmuk.

“I AM NOT!!! I’m an American!” I snapped, my temper getting the better of me. (I had been touchy about this fact.) Matsi cocked his ears to my reply and looked closer at me.

“Yes, you are. From the Midwestern area. You’ve just been in England for a long time.”

“Wise Matsi. I wish I could be as smart as you,” said Lakota, shaking his head.

“Anywho, what are you guys?” asked Chehmuk.

“Long story, no time, just...make sure no one comes.”

“O.K...but what about the kids?” asked Kamots.

“Leave them to us,” said Raven.

Exeter rose his emerald head. “Ahh..well, if it isn’t the little blood traitor.” He still hadn’t forgiven me for defying Voldemort, heir of Slytherin. And he wouldn’t until he sank ivory fangs into my flesh.

“Come and get me. I’d easily bite Moldey again!” I sneered. Voldemort let a roar of fury. He turned into the white serpent and struck for the phoenixes. I wanted to help, but Exeter reared and I knew I had to follow my plan...to get rid of him.

I took off, the raging basilisk following. The hot ground scorched my stomach. There was a tawny grizzly, about 500 yards later, who was chasing the tan-and-white pronghorns, while her one cub watched. I had no choice but to slither past her. The cub squeaked indignity, but then let a horrible scream, followed by a death rattle. A whirled my head around. The cub had been in Exeter’s way. So, instead of going past her, Exeter had struck, killing the cub.

The cub’s mother turned in time to see him devour the once grand youth bear. She roared and attacked. How Voldemort-like!!! For Exeter to kill the bear who had simply gotten in his way. A giant black and white bald eagle flew overheard. I remembered my quest, and hurried on. I had reached a raging river.I heard a horrible, cold, cruel laugh, and Exeter struck, missing me. I dove into the fast water, letting it take me down shore. I soon emerged, covered in foam. We had now reached a gray plateau.The earth suddenly gave out from beneath me and I fell into a crater. I struggled trying to get out. Before I could get a grip, Exeter had struck. For that second, I remembered how Exeter never missed twice. Sure enough, his jaws clasped around my body, pulling me up. His many fangs shattered my spinal cord. It was utmost pain. He shook me like a dog with a rat and then dropped me. (Because I had been half way down the crater, he hadn’t gotten me good enough.) Ilanded, my body out at odd angles, covered in blood and foam.

Cedric the eagle flew overhead. “One O’five and all is fine!”

All is NOT fine, I thought, but this is the right time... Exeter struck. At that moment, he discovered that the crater I had fallen into was a geyser. A very famous geyser, in fact. By the name of Semper Fi, or Old Faithful.Exeter’s head and neck lifted up 175 feet. The boiling, two hundred decree water came up, as it had every sixty-five minutes ever since it’s finding in 1875. For fifteen minutes the water held him up, its roar harmonizing with his scream of fury. Then the water descended. And Exeter fell, dead. (It was the real Exeter, not an impostor.)

“Sorry, Exeter,” I whispered. I felt he at least deserved this, as my great-grandfather. I couldn’t help grinning, as Fawkes and the others came up.

“Semper Fi,” I whispered, before everything went back.

********

Well, since this is a first-snake story, you know I didn’t bleed to death, that I lived, so why waste any more time milking sympathy? It took all three of the phoenixes, but I lived.  Kamots and Matsi came up.

“So, what happened?” asked Kamots.

“We won.”

“Good, good, say all of the others, they’re gone.”

“What?” I cried.

“The Death Eaters are gone?”

“If that’s what the Masked Ones are called, yeah, them and the snake,” said Matsi.

“So, why did you decide to come here?” asked Harry. I noticed his wings and chest were bleeding.

“Remember how Nag said snakes hate having water in their faces? Well, that’s what I did, only with 10,000 gallons instead of one bottle...”

******CHAPTER 15: THE OWL PACK******

Kojak looked mournfully at the gathered pack. Night Jaws, Black Eagle, Harley, Raw Bones, Amy, Raven, Lichen, MicroWing, Bruce, Kapu, Amaroq, Aaka, Silver and Akita were talking to each other. “Yeah, well, I’ll be glad to be back.“ Raw Bones was saying.

“After all, there are so many humans here!”

“Oh, but I’ll miss Harry,” sighed Harley.

“And the centaurs. They are actually very tasty,” added a yawning Black Eagle.

“Oh, but what about the school? The teachers?” asked Silver.

“Well...I will miss tormenting Draco,” said Night Jaws.

“Night Jaws!” ordered Togo as he and Clone came up.

“What? I agree with him,” said Clone.

“Well...I know he’s not very nice but, still...” said Togo.

Sweet Fur Amy looked at the table. “Yeah, and I’ll miss Fawkes.”

“What am I, a Death Eater?” I asked.

“Oh, and of course you, Marvolo!” laughed Lichen quickly.

Zing looked a this brother Kapu. “Heck, live’s gonna seem dull after this,” said Zing.

“Well, maybe. Maybe not. The battle’s not over,” said Tundra wisely.

“True, very true. Unfortunately,” agreed Aaka.

Steele lead Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Jenner, Kala, Ace, and the younger pups down. “I’m gonna miss the food,” said Steele.

Peeves suddenly swooped down and pulled the malamute’s tail. “Ahh, just out of the hospital with a vengeance, eh? The well-named Peeves?” asked Jenner. Peeves blew a raspberry at him.

Ace leapt up, grabbing his leg. “Got your leg! Hah!!” cheered Kala.

Ace spat him out. “Ewww... yuck! You taste horrible!”

Peeves suddenly pulled out water balloons.

“Don’t dare,” snarled Amaroq.

“He dare,” said Kapu quietly.

“What a pest!” exclaimed Nikki.

“He is the most irritating, the most irksome, the most vexatious...” said Kaltag.

“He’s annoying!” shouted Star, getting him self a large clump on the head.

Aleu yawned. She looked at her pups, then at Midback and Mom. “Well, back to home.”

“Yeah, well, it will be nice,” said Mom.

“Boring but nice,” agreed Midback.

“We will miss you,” said Raven.

“And we are sorry about Huron and Hera,” said Akita softly.

Peeves zoomed over and pulled Scruffy’s tail. Scruffy whimpered and cowered. He rolled over on his back. “Please, Mister Peeves, uh, sir. Don’t hurt me!” Peeves leapt forward, only to be pinned to the stone ground by a flash of black. It was handsome ebon MicroWing.

“Leave him alone!” snarled MicroWing.

“Yeah, what’s he ever done to you?” asked tawny Bruce. “You never strike a wolf who’s on his back!” he continued.

“And if you do, I’ll finish Voldemort’s work,” growled MicroWing, getting off.Dumbledore walked over, Fawkes on his shoulder.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” chorused the team.

“Just remember,” said Jenna. “If he bothers you..”

“Call us,” finished Balto.

“Farewell, and thank you,” said Dumbledore, raising his wand. With a final crack, the wolves were gone.

I felt sad to see the grand team gone. Suddenly, there was a loud rustling of feathers overhead. It was mail time, and the owls were delivering the mail. They suddenly screeched and pulled away. Hard wings, lacking the soft muffler edges to the wing feathers that owls possess, were striking the air.A slate-gray and and black falcon flew in. It was Delta. He stood out like a soar thumb, due to his colors his wings. (You see, owls have muffled wings that make no sound. Falcons, however, lack this linings on their wings. Thus, his wings gave loud rustlings every time the wings struck the air.)

The owls were unnerved by this loud-flying bird. “How do they know that’s not Voldemort?” a barn owl asked a tawny owl.

“Oh, he’s not. He’s one of those independent bull-headed Yankees,” the tawny answered.

Delta looked at him, landing on the Hufflepuff table were Cedric was still sitting. “Yeah, I’m an American, and proud of it. You have yet to win a war against us, so there, nah!”

Delta took of, rising like a firework, straight into the air, before diving at the Gryffindor table. He spread his wings and tail, rose back up in a loop-de-loop, and flew back down at Ron. I quickly grabbed the falconer’s glove of the ground and tossed it at him, who had barely time the put it on before Delta landed on his wrist.

“Show-off,” mumbled Ron.

“So?” asked Deltas.

“Hello, Delta, what’s new?” asked Harry. His arm and shoulder were still slightly torn from Voldemort’s fangs.

“Two things. One.” Delta held out his foot. “Look at my jesses.”

There, deeply craved into the leather, was the Weasley family crest.

“Yeah, Mum did that last night,” said Ginny.

“Fred told me. He, Percy, and George returned to work on the Order.”

“And look at this.” Delta pulled the paper from the leather throng tied onto his jesses.

“Front page: Lucius Malfoy fined a hundred Galloens.”

They glanced over to Malfoy. Aquila had flown down at the Slytherin table, loaded with sweets from Narcissa. Draco gently stroke the tired owl with his still-mangled hand and gave him some bacon. “His one redeeming quality, he’s nice to his owl,” commented Hedwig.

Aquila flew over. “Hiya, E-Mail!”

“Hiya, Bubo!” said Kojak.

“Look at Delta’s jesses,” said Nyctea.

“Wow...so, do the Weasley’s like you?”

“Well, they were a little uncertain about using owls at first but then they’ve seen how fast falcons can be,” said Pig.

“How Errol?”

“Loving his retirement.”

“Good, good, hey, let’s fly! Shall we visit Hagrid’s dogs, the dragons, or annoy the centaurs?” asked Aquila.

“Annoy the centaurs,” said Quartz quickly.

The owls took off. I grinned at the look of horror on Draco’s face when he saw how Aquila got along with Harry’s pets.As the raptor pack took off, I couldn’t help but wonder...was there any symbolism in this? Delta looked different, and he could represent (and I apologize to Delta for this) Voldemort, for he looked like he would destroy the group. And Pig was like the Muggles, not as strong but just as mighty in spirit. Kojak Gryffindor, bold and independent. Nyctea was like Ravenclaw, clever and cunning. Aquila was Slytherin, crafty and with evil origins. Quartz was like Hufflepuff, just and fair. And Hedwig was like magic, the origin. And yet they all flew together as one. And Delta, despite his looks, simply united them, making the stronger. Was I seeing a glimpse at the future, or was I just making a big deal out of nothing? Yeah, probably that last one.Well, that ends my story, for now. But not my tale. The war’s not over.

What will the future bring? Only time will tell......

THE END!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO MY FIRST FANFICTION, “FAWKES WOLF WARS.” AND THE SECOND HARRY POTTER/BALTO CROSSOVER. IT STARTS ON THE NIGHT MY LAST FANFICTION ENDS. THIS IS ALSO MY FIRST STORY DONE IN FIRST-PERSON. OH, AND BY THE WAY, THE WHOLE “IT WASN’T EXETER, IT WAS SUDBURY” THING MARVOLO TALKS ABOUT, IT DIDN’T HAPPEN. I JUST NEEDED A REAL THREAT TO THE WOLVES. -EBONYPATRIOT