The Bodyguard

Chapter 4

AN: Again, I apologize for the long wait! Everything is running smoothly again, and there will be another chapter up tonight I promise!

As Harry watched in amazement, she ran a hand over her ponytail and smoothed out her clothes before taking a deep breath and walking sedately down the stairs.

"Robert!" She exclaimed brightly. Harry stifled a wince at the shrillness of her voice. "What are you doing here? I thought Max said you were going to France for the summer!"

"There was a slight change of plans. Besides, I couldn't go without seeing my favorite girl, could I?" The tall, handsome young man held out his arms. "What, no hug?"

Hermione blushed and obediently walked into his arms, completely unaware of the cat glaring suspiciously at her companion. Harry glanced at Emma, sure she would say something, but she just smiled. "Why don't you two sit and talk for a bit. I have to make a couple of phone calls, and then I'll be right back." As she passed Harry, who hadn't yet been noticed by the stranger, she brushed a hand over his back and murmured, "Settle down and watch. I'll be back soon."

Bemused, he watched her disappear through the kitchen door before being distracted by Hermione and Robert settling on the couch. His tail twitching with anxiety, Harry studied their body language. She was sitting with her body turned toward him, her expression open and eager as she waited for an answer. Harry frowned. Robert, on the other hand, sat back lazily, with all the arrogance of a coiled snake ready to strike. Harry didn't like him. He stared hard at the other man's face, mentally scanning the list of profiles Remus had given him to study of suspects the Order believed could be posing as a double agent.

"So what happened?" Hermione inquired impatiently once they were seated. "This trip was all you talked about in your letters."

Ah-hah., Harry thought triumphantly, finally pinpointing who he was. Robert Crawford was a  former Ravenclaw, graduated a year before Harry's arrival at Hogwarts, although Harry thought he would've done just as well in Slytherin. He was also Max's nephew, as well as the son of Michael Crawford, one of Lucius Malfoy's business cronies. Rumors flew about the Crawfords, although nothing had ever been confirmed as to which side they were on. Crawford Sr., while working with Malfoy Sr. on business matters, supposedly didn't support his point of view toward Muggle-borns, although he didn't shy away from dealing with some of the more shady creatures from Knockturn Alley, either. Crawford Jr., however...Harry eyed him darkly Tall, dark, with broad shoulders and a too-white smile, Robert Crawford was very good looking--and knew it. He reminded Harry of Gilderoy Lockehart, although not nearly as flaky. And, like with Lockehart, Hermione was falling for the charming good guy act, at least as far as he could tell. Mentally rolling his eyes, Harry returned to the conversation.

"...so, since that was no longer an option, I decided to come out here," Crawford was saying. "It's quite convenient, really, especially since my cousins are staying at their country estate for the summer. Things are getting a bit thick 'round the Ministry, so Uncle Lucius decided he didn't need Draco and his friends underfoot this summer."

Hermione coughed . "Your cousins have a house...out here?" She repeated faintly.

"Mmhm. Couple of miles outside of town--not too far from the shelter, actually. It's Unplottable, so the muggles can't see. You know the old haunted mansion up on Majestic Hill?"

"That's the Malfoy Mansion?" She gaped at him. Harry knew the reason for her dismay. She had apparently been living and working a mere couple of fields away from her worst enemy at school, and hadn't even known it!

"Amazing illusion spells, no?" Crawford grinned proudly and a touch arrogantly as he slung his arm casually around Hermione's shoulders. Harry bristled. "In fact, Cousin Draco invited his mates out for a house party, once they get settled in of course. Should be a big to-do. You'll come with me, as my date. " He made it a statement instead of a question.

"But--"

"I won't take no for an answer 'Mione. I'll pick you up Saturday at seven. Dress robes are required. " He stood up. She automatically rose with him. He leaned down to kiss her goodbye--just as Harry made his move. Stepping out the shadows, he deliberately shoved his way in between them, knocking them both off balance and away from each other.

"Leo!" Hermione exclaimed, even as she instinctively dung her fingers into his coat for stability. Crawford tried to grab on too, but Harry glared at him and showed a hint of teeth and he jerked his hands away. "Robert, I am so, so sorry, I forgot he was there--" She apologized, wrapping her fingers into Leo's collar. She pinched the skin at his nape warningly, and he subsided, although she could still feel the tension running through him.

To her and Harry's immense surprise, he laughed, catching himself on the couch arm. "It's alright Hermione. So this is the cat Uncle Max was talking about?" He didn't move, but shot Harry an assessing glance. "He's not very big, is he? From the way Uncle described him, I was expecting something more...bulkier." Only Harry saw his eyes glitter maliciously as the remark hit home. "Still," Crawford continued. "are you sure you'll be able to handle him 'Mione? I'm sure my cousin could take him off your hands until--"

Hermione staggered slightly as Leo pulled against her hold on his collar, practically vibrating with the force of his growl. She knew that he could easily pull out of her grasp if he really wanted to. "Leo, stop it! Robert is a friend--you don't have to protect me from him!" Blowing a strand of hair out of her face, she sighed. "You better go Robert. I'll see you at the shelter tomorrow."

Shaking his head, he made his way to the door, giving the large animal a wide berth as he left. As soon as he was gone, Hermione smacked her "protector" on the shoulder. Hard.

"What is the matter with you? How could you embarrass me like that?" She raged, not seeming to realize that she was scolding a large predator who could easily tear her to pieces without effort.

Her mother returned to the living room to discover her daughter faced off with her cat. She had her hands on her hips and was glaring at him. Leo's ears were flattened back against his head, and a distinctly defiantly abashed air hung about him as he returned her gaze.

"What is going on in here?" Emma demanded.

"Leo embarrassed me!" Hermione answered hotly. "Robert was just saying goodbye and he" she shook her finger at the cat "decided to take it upon himself to interfere!"

Emma stifled a smile. "Well, you did say he's more intelligent than the average cat. Maybe he smelled something on Robert that he didn't like." She raised her eyebrows when her daughter turned her scathing gaze on her. "Sweetheart, he's a cat. A part magical cat, yes, but still just a cat. Sometimes animals take an instinctive dislike toward people for no apparent reason."

Hermione huffed.

"Of course, you could always take him back..."

"Oh no!" It was obvious that the thought had never even occurred to her. Leo pricked his ears slightly.

"Well then, you can't stay mad at Leo for doing what he thought was right. He's not like Ron--or Harry," she added blandly. "He thought he was protecting you. He didn't know any better."

Her daughter huffed again, then sighed heavily. "I know. And Ron wouldn't have been nearly as subtle. Harry, maybe, but--" She frowned and stopped.

But what? Harry wondered irritably, still smarting from the blistering lecture he had just received. He had watched Ron be on the receiving end numerous times, but he had usually escaped relatively unscathed. What, did she think that Ron was the only one who could be impulsive? He snorted to himself.

"Anyway, I'm sorry Leo." She snapped her fingers invitingly, but he wasn't so easily persuaded. She watched his ears lift slightly, but he didn't move. She crossed her arms. "Leo!"

"I think his feelings are hurt," Emma said gravely, although her eyes were twinkling.

Hermione stood up and walked over to him. Kneeling down so they were nearly eye to eye, she cupped his chin in her hand, forcing him to meet her gaze. Again, she didn't seem to realize what an unusual gesture that was. To her, he wasn't a large predator, he was just a male in a snit. She had plenty of experience of dealing with stubborn males, having been best friends with two of them for over five years now. She lifted her hand, intending to brush the hair off his forehead, but he jerked his head away from her. "Look, I said I was sorry! What more do you want from me? Robert was one of the first friends I made around here after my first year at Hogwarts. He liked me for me, even before he knew I was a witch or friends with Harry. You may not like him, but he's going to be around. A lot. So we're going to have to come an understanding, or you'll have to go in one of the cages at the shelter whenever Robert is around." Leo's ears flattened again. "You don't want that do you?" He shook his head vigorously. "Does that mean you'll be nice to Robert?"

The things I do for this girl, Harry grumbled. Too bad about this whole secrecy thing--he would've loved to tell her a thing or two about her precious Robert. Reluctantly, he nodded.

"Good." Hermione smiled and stood up. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll make sure to point out Draco Malfoy when we go to Robert's party. You can terrorize him all you want. Just no biting--I bet he doesn't taste very good anyway."

Emma cleared her throat. "Sweetie, why don't you go check on your father. He's out puttering around in the shed."

"Okay." The sixteen year old shrugged.

Harry went to follow, but Emma slipped her fingers into his collar. "I have a nice bowl of tuna fish for Leo in the kitchen. I bet he's hungry. He'll be out in a minute." Not giving cat or girl a change to react, she guided him into the kitchen. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued on her way to the back yard.

What is with the Granger females and grabbing me by the collar? Harry thought.

Emma leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed her arms. "That was quite a performance you put on Harry."