Disclaimer: I DO NOT and never will own the rights to the Harry Potter world or the characters or concepts within the universe of such.

Harry backed up a few more steps, though he knew that the distance wouldn't do him any good. The creature standing before him was rippling with muscles and he could imagine how easily it would be for it to spring forward and rip him to shreds. He placed his hands slightly in front of him in an unconscious attempt to show he was unarmed.

$What is your name stranger?$ Now that he could fully see the creature with the brighter light, he noticed that it wasn't the head of the creature that was speaking at all. The head and body was that of what appeared to be a panther on steroids, but the tail had scales and there was the head of a snake attached to the end, peering over the shoulder of the rest of the body.

$H-$ He stopped. He didn't know what this creature was, he didn't know if it held any allegiance to Voldemort and realized that he shouldn't be so forthcoming with his honesty. $Salazar$ If the snake part of the creature was associated with the dark forces at all then maybe a slytherin name would help him to escape with his life.

$Ssssalazar.. Fitting for a speaker. I like it. Now what are you doing in my territory?$ The main head of the body lowered, emerald eyes so like his own coming to gaze at his chest as the serpent head came face to face with him.

$I.. I do not know. I was a part of a great battle, but after it ended I thought my life lost and I woke up here.$ Better to leave out the attempted suicide so I don't appear weak. Self-preservation took over. $I do not know where I am, but I know it is not the place I last saw before my eyes closed.. Are there charred trees around and a great clearing with a giant castle nearby? That is the last place I remember.$

The eyes of the panther part of the creature darted up and down his form and he got the uneasy feeling that it was sizing up how much of a snack he would be. He attempted to shove down the feelings of how nervous he was, believing that the creature would be able to sense it and take it as a sign to just throw aside the conversation and just eat him already. He let his eyes dart down to the legs of the beast and suppressed a shudder at how big they were. There was no way he would be able to outrun the creature, its legs were nothing but sinewy muscle rippling under the fur and one leg was nearly as tall as his full height. Play nice, play nice, distract and figure out what to do. THINK!

As if the snake, or panther or whether the whole thing thought as one, knew of the thoughts racing thru his head it turned and chuckled. Harry had never heard a snake laugh, not counting Voldemort's snake-like visage, and discovered it was not a pleasant sound.

$Calm little one, I am not going to eat you. You are too intriguing as of yet and to oblige and answer your questions, no there are no scorched trees and there is only one clearing somewhat near here. I have never been in it but I have seen it thru the treeline as I have hunted. No giant building, what I believe is what you humans call a castle, but there are giant rocks. Bigger than I have ever laid eyes on before and they scream of magic.$ The snake and panther both tilted their heads in unison, it was an eerie sight and he got the feeling that no one had lived to see this creature and it's habits and quirks. $The magic is similar to yours… Strong, yet different. Is that where you came from, speaker Salazar?$

Harry wracked his mind, a blessing as he pushed the thoughts of being swallowed whole out of his head and used his brain to be productive. $I do not know. Possibly.$

There was silence for what could have only been seconds, but what felt like hours. $I shall take you to see.$ The creature stepped forward and Harry couldn't help his immediate reaction to keep the distance between them, taking a few shuffled steps back. The sound emitted from the creature was even more disturbing than the snake's laughter. It was something between a growl and a purr. Was the panther laughing at him? $Fear not, I am of my word. You have nothing to fear at the moment.$

$Why would you take me?$ Harry couldn't stop the question from pouring from his lips. He cursed his lack of control as the panther's eyes lowered until they were across from his own.

$I've already told you, speaker. Curiosity is strong motivation. You have a power you seem to not know but we of the ancients respect. If you are worthy of it will be the final decision of if you are nothing but food.$

Harry swallowed audibly and gave a shaky nod. The panther bent its legs slightly and turned to expose its back. When he didn't move, it turned to give him a glare and huffed impatiently while the snake laughed once more. Gathering up his Gryffindor courage, he stepped forward and used a small bit of magic to levitate himself so he was resting on the beasts back.

I must be losing my mind. There's no way this can be real.

Ah but it is youngling.

Harry jumped and spun his head around looking for the voice, a sense of déjà vu capturing him.

Have no fear youngling. It is I who's fur you are clutching too tightly. I could balance an infantling on my back should I so desire it. You will not fall.

"You can speak?"

Not in your tongue, but in other ways, yes. What you wondered is true, but not. We are of one mind, but separate. One being, but different.

"O..ok.." Harry pretended he understood, but knew he did not. The beast gave off what he had assumed was a laugh earlier again and stood to it's full height with an elegance and gracefulness that a creature of its size should not have had. It was disconcerting.

Hold on youngling. And with that, it began bounding thru the forest.

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"There is a shift in the magic of the area, I am telling you! The sprites do not lie, they cannot! We MUST stop construction until we know what it is."

"She's right, even the earth has shifted in response. We cannot put the lives of children at risk, we cannot! We must know if whatever this unknown entity is, if it's dangerous or if we can even ward against it. Otherwise we must find somewhere else to teach."

Godric watched the flames of the fireplace dance before him, seeing the tiny sire imps dancing upon the logs. They reached out occasionally to lick at his robes but even as they touched the fabric, it did not burn. His thoughts were bordering on chaotic as so many unknown variables were present in their current situation and he kept shifting them around in his mind, attempting to strategize. The women behind him had fallen silent, letting him ponder before he spoke. He had to bite back his immediate replies as they were rash, which he was known for. Act first, think later was his mantra. In this situation eh couldn't afford to. They had worked too hard for this. He turned and looked at the two witches seated on the lavish furniture in his sitting room and frowned, a thoughtful look crossing his features.

"Godric?" Helga tentatively questioned.

"We can't move the location. It took us years to find the spot. The leylines will never intersect so perfectly like they do there. The magic is consecrated in the ground itself, the wards would be protected by the very nature that surrounds it. There is not a better area."

"That may be true, but what will it matter if it all gets destroyed because there is an unknown.. What if it is the very magic we are depending on to protect the school, is what is sending this to stop us?" Rowena finally put in her thoughts and it caused the other two in the room to pause and consider.

"Then.. Then the only thing to do is to find out and confront it."

Sapphire and yellow eyes snapped to look at their friend startled. The former's clouded into a thoughtfulness expression, while the yellow only conveyed worry.

"Have you lost your mind Godric? What if it kills us?!" Helga squeaked out.

"Actually it could work." Rowena's voice cut thru Helga's worry. "Think about it. Most magical beings demand respect and if you show that respect then normally you are allowed to leave with all your limbs intact. And at the least it should hear us out, unless it is something too inept to be reasoned with."

"And if it can't be reasoned with?"

"Then we shall have to fight it." Godric sounded too cheerful at the prospect, which earned him a glare from both of those present. "What? It's not like the three of us can't handle it together."

"Not the point you sod," Helga rolled her eyes and sighed in resignation. "You win. We'll try it your way and if it doesn't work then I am not above telling you I told you so."

Godric laughed, "Fair enough."

He strode to the drafting table in the corner, waving the ladies to join him so they could start their planning. As rash and in the moment he could be, he knew the benefits of having a foolproof strategic plan before potentially going into battle.

"Fool resistant, no such thing as fool proof," Rowena said matter of fact, as if she was reading his thoughts. There was laughter behind her eyes and he tightened his shields around his mind and playfully rolled his eyes.

"Let's get to it then. We have an unknown beast to meet."