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Harry Potter and the Beast Within	By : bgardne Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 3260 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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MNK: Just a quick note on how to pronounce Peridot�s name. It�s Pronounced �Pair-i-doe.� Also. If you don�t know what a mantle is, look at a picture of Kurama of Yu Yu Hakusho, when he�s wearing that yellow mantle during the Dark Tournament.

�Don�t own it, Don�t want it. (Okay, I want it, but I�m not gonna get it.�

----Mister Nice Kai, speaking of the work of J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 2: The Enigma Named Sapphire

Harry was beginning to think that Sapphire wouldn�t show up, when the entire hall went silent. Appearing uncomfortable under all the stares, she slunk over to the Gryffindor table and sat quietly sat on the bench between Harry and Ron. She had dressed quite nicely; over a turtle-neck and leggings of navy, she wore a black mantle with a gem-like shape embroidered in navy right above her heart. Every one in range watched as she filled her plate with salad, when she poured a large glass of water, and even when she nervously took a bite of carrot. Hermione shook her head.

�Girl, you need some protein. Have some turkey?� Sapphire shuddered.

�I�m...a...vegetarian.� she said softly, still gazing shyly at her plate. Hermione raised an eyebrow.

�No offense, but you�re going to get sick.� Sapphire smiled a bit at the girl�s ignorance.

�Thanks, but my body has different needs than yours. I�m a...different breed.� Harry glanced pointedly at her ears, and the tail that lay curled up on the bench between her and Ron. Hermione�s eyes widened.

�What are you, a Lican?� The blue eyed beauty finally looked up and smiled at her.

�Yes. My parents were both Salzains that had escaped the destruction of Planet Vegeta, and I was born blessed with the power of Mother Lica coursing through my veins.� She returned to her rice.

�Still, how can you go without protein for so long?�

�My stomachs have acid strong enough to absorb even the slightest bit of protein from whatever I eat, be it carrots or rice. The Salzain body evolved so that it could survive off of rocks, bones, and plants, because the Saijins were controlling the meat trade. Often we were left with only bones. Therefore we evolved to survive off of just that...Bare-bones rations. Can we please change the subject? Salzain anatomy is hardly a choice topic for a lunch conversation.� Now, Hermione had read of the Licans and their powers, but she�d not read much about the Salzain race. The thought that she was now sitting across from a living, breathing Lican, a Salzain no less...it was almost more than her mind could handle.

�One more question.� Sapphire sighed in a somewhat annoyed tone.

�Shoot.�

�Have you ever eaten meat?� Sapphire just nodded. �What was the last kind you had?� Sapphire�s fork fell to her plate with a loud clatter. Her eyes were wide, and the hand that had held her fork was trembling like a wet cat. �Well?� Harry kicked his friend under the table to shut her up. Sapphire muttered something in another language. �Pardon?� Sapphire stood.

�You ask far too many questions, Miss.� she turned to leave. �Goodbye Harry, Ron.�

�It�s just that I�ve studied the Licans for years, and I�m more than interested. I think you�re all fascina-----� Sapphire spun about, her cheeks flushed, her eyes burning.

�You think we�re something to STUDY?!� she hissed. �Like we�re just another wild animal or plant to dissect?!� Hermione leaned back, pale in the face. �Well, I�ve got news for YOU, human...We�re far nobler, smarter, stronger, and just plain more deserving of life than YOUR race are. If you wanted answers, you should not have asked in PUBLIC!!!� She drained her enormous glass of water in one draught, and spun on her heel. �Goodbye, Harry, Ron.� she snarled. �I don�t care for the company you keep.� With that final insult, she stormed out. Finally, the hall became full of talk again.

�What was the big deal?� Hermione whimpered. �I just asked what kind of meat it was!� Harry looked solemnly toward the doorway that led out of the Great Hall.

�I think that�s what set her off.�

�But why?� Ron asked.

�I�m not sure...� Harry answered. �But I plan on getting some answers after lunch...�

~*~

After lunch, all five headed up the stairs in the East Tower, to Sapphire�s room. They could hear a muffled sobbing coming from within, so only Harry entered. The others listened at the door. The curtains were drawn, leaving the room dark and gloomy. Sapphire lay in the corner of her room, at the corner of the bed closest to the wall, curled up in a tight ball. Harry sat beside her and rubbed her back. �Harry?� she whimpered.

�Yes. It�s me.�

�Good.� she sniffed. �I was afraid you were that horrid girl come to taunt me again.�

�She wasn�t taunting you, Sapphire. She really is interested in you, but I agree, she shouldn�t have asked in public.�

�Of course she shouldn�t have. Her asking me about my body and my past is like me asking her about her sex life.� Harry blushed a bit. Sapphire started crying again, though more quietly this time.

�You�re not the kind to get this upset over a little misunderstanding...� he said quietly. �What�s really wrong, Sapphire?� There was silence for a while.

�She reminded me of the past.�

�What�s so bad about your past that it would make you cry?� he asked without thinking. He slapped a hand over his mouth when he realized what he�d just said. �Sapphire, I�m sorry. I wasn�t think----�

�It�s all right, Harry.� Sapphire said quietly. �I trust you. You could ask me just about anything, and chances are, I�d answer without flinching.� She turned around and lay her head on his knee. He reached down and began stroking her silken hair.

�I wasn�t always like this...� she began quietly. �It started in the Beast-Man War of my eighteenth year.� Her long, blonde tail swished violently. �My home planet, Aniria, is divided into three main continents: Anirania, Agricuria, and Dethernia. Dethernia is the home of the most horrible monsters you can�t even begin to imagine. It is also the home of thousands of humans. Dethernia is much less prosperous than Anirania, and the inhabitants are bitter. The year I was born, mon Sistrette Ambrosia had a vision...one that showed that the Dethernians were planning an attack on the shores of Anirania, in nineteen years. I was brought up a killer, in apprehension of the war, coached in the ways of the warriors of Planet Vegeta, my parent�s home planet. I was taught to maul and to kill, to beat and to break the humans. By the time the men attacked, in my eighteenth year of life, I�d become a monster, full of blood-lust and hate.

�Then, one day, the men were attacking from the western shore of Anirania, while my army was fading fast. Finally, I snapped.� She shuddered. �I transformed, and charged into the army of humans, tearing them to pieces.�

�Transformed?� Harry asked confusedly. Right before his eyes, her form melted into that of a blonde Snow Leopard with four inch upper fangs, spots like morning glories, and eyes of the deepest, darkest blue he�d ever seen in nature. �You�re...an Animagus?� he asked, stunned. Sapphire resumed her birth form.

�No, most Licans are born with the talent to transform into one or more types of animal. Demona can become a Lynx, a Mongoose, or a cobra, Kitty can also become a Snow Leopard, and the twins Dahlia and Delilah can both transform into enormous birds of prey or winged tigers. My Shrean brother Flamenzio can become a flaming bull, a fox, or a fox demon, and my Shrean brother Skriker can transform into an enormous, shaggy black dog. Your kind know him as the �Grim Hound,� but you�ve got his story all wrong. Most people die after they see him because he tears the evil ones to pieces.� Harry flinched.

�I can still hear the bones crunching...the men screaming...the taste of human blood as I feasted on the spoils of my attack...� He felt her shudder, and held her close. �...But it wasn�t until I attacked the last human...a crippled old man with a spear and a shield so bright it reflected like a mirror...that I saw it. I saw my face in his shield, lips pulled back, fangs bared...and the eyes of a predator, under a coat matted with blood. I stared for what felt like hours, while my people watched. Finally, I regained my shape, and helped him to his feet. I had my people load the bodies of the dead humans into one of the ships they came in, and sent him home, with the message that if they ever tried anything again, they�d get the same treatment, though I knew full well that someone else would have to carry out my threats.� Sapphire sat up, and hugged her knees to her chest. �It was at that moment that my decision to become a vegetarian and a ranger was made. By being a ranger, I�d do penance for my blood lust, and by being a vegetarian, I�d be reminded of all the humans I�d devoured.�

Out in the hallway, Hermione leaned against the wall, slack-jawed in shock. Sapphire had been a man-eater?!

�The taste of man flesh is salty and sweet, and the blood is like wine---intoxicating. I sometimes wish I could go back to how I was, but it�s people like you who keep me on the right track.� Hermione could hear the pain...the remorse in Sapphire�s voice. Back in the room, another tear fell from Sapphire�s eye. Harry reached over, and lay a hand on her knee. Confused, she looked over at him. He smiled softly.

�Come �ere...� He gently pulled her into his lap, embracing her tightly. She reciprocated by wrapping her arms around his neck, and her tail around his waist. She lay her head on his shoulder, listening to his heartbeat. He released her from her entrapment, and gently cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her head back slightly. She looked over at him, her azure eyes sparkling with emotion.

�Harry...� She gently pushed him away a bit when he tried to pull her closer. �There�s...something I need to tell you.� Worried, he pulled away a bit.

�What�s that?�

�How old do I look?�

�Nineteen...Twenty...Why?�

�The war was in my nineteenth year...fifteen years ago.� his eyes widened.

�So...you�re...�

�Thirty-four Earth years old.� she sighed looking at the bedspread. �And you�re only eighteen.�

�So?� She snapped her head up to look at him.

�You...don�t care?� she asked dubiously. �I�m nearly TWICE your age, and you don�t CARE?� He smiled, shaking his head.

�Not a bit.� He slowly guided her lips to his own, and felt her shudder when they met. Moments later, he rolled so that he was on top of her, gently pushing her into the mattress, and kissing her for all he was worth.

As of yet, the four out in the hall had heard nothing for ten minutes, and Hermione was getting suspicious. �Trans Paranto.� she whispered, tapping the wall with her wand. She turned to her friends as the wall slowly became clear as glass. �Now they can�t see us, but we can see...� upon seeing the stunned looks on her companions� faces, she turned to stare at the scene before her. As though looking through a window, they saw the bed pushed up against the invisible wall, with Harry lying on top of Sapphire, straddling her waist, their lips locked together. Finally, they came apart, and Harry came to a kneeling position over her lower stomach, gazing down at her in fondness. She smiled up at him.

�Your friends will be suspicious.� she murmured.

�You knew they came?�

�I can sense them outside the door.� He carefully rolled off and stood. He glanced at the clock on the wall.

�Dinner time already?� he said in disbelief. �Wow! Sapphire, will you accompany us to dinner? I�ll tell Hermione to keep her mouth shut.� She smiled at him and crawled off the bed.

�Nix.� Hermione whispered, causing the wall to return its previous rocky state. The door to Sapphire�s room opened, and Harry stepped onto the landing, followed by Sapphire. She led the others down the stairs, and opened the door to Iris� room.

�Iris, I�m heading to dinner.� she said to the black and purple haired woman, who was currently engaged in staring at the wall.

�No, I�m staying here. Have fun, though.�

�All right.� With that, the six headed down to the Great Hall.
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Harry Potter and the Beast Within