A/N: This chapter is dialogue heavy and hopefully answers some of your questions. Thanks go to mechengmama for looking this over for me.


Hermione could not believe this.

Well, that wasn't exactly true. She could, but she had hoped Harry was smart enough to not let the cat out of the bag. Or wolf. Whatever.

All her hard work keeping them a secret from each other was for naught now that Harry decided it was a fabulous idea to start using alpha commands. He'd been subtly doing it from the moment Draco appeared, but this was reckless. It was one thing to call Draco out on being a werewolf, but it was another thing entirely to make a show of dominance.

There was a reason why Harry's status was supposed to be a secret, yet here he was, blowing his cover. For what? A pissing contest? To show Malfoy who was boss? Ridiculous. She was honestly surprised it had even worked on Draco. While he'd been scared of Wesley the week before, he'd still managed to exert some free will. He'd even somewhat challenged him, so it was odd that a few words had him practically frozen in place. It should be impossible for another pack's alpha to force him to submit this way.

Wait.

No. He couldn't be.

Horror washed over her as she looked at her best friend and then back at Draco's bared neck.

"Harry.." she said his name like it could make a difference but she knew it wouldn't. He was already flashing his eyes and she saw the moment understanding dawned on Draco's face.

He was going to be absolutely livid. With her for keeping this from him, and with Harry because….


"Potter," Draco hissed, shrugging out of his hold. "What is going on?"

The question hung in the air for a moment as they stared at each other, a look of dread washing over Potter's features as he leaned back. It was almost like he was frightened by whatever it was he was about to say. Which from past experience, only meant bad things. "When exactly were you bitten, Malfoy?"

The memory of the black wolf sent a shiver down his spine but he didn't hesitate to answer, "October."

"Fuck." The brunette cursed, "That's when...shit."

Hermione made a noise that was a cross between an angry whine and a sigh as she came to some kind of conclusion from the obscenities. "Oh, Harry, you didn't!" She stomped her foot and fought the urge to strangle him. "Please, tell me you didn't."

"Didn't what?" Draco asked, trying to regain what little composure he had left. "Why does it matter when I was turned?" He had a sinking suspicion he already knew, but he really didn't want to acknowledge the possibility. It would be too cruel.

"Because," she answered him, "Greyback passed through the Forbidden Forest in October." She shot a glare at her best friend. "And who's the one chasing Greyback?"

Hearing the implication come straight from her mouth made his head spin and he felt like he was going to throw up. No. No way. There was no fucking way this was happening.

He looked at Potter and was surprised to see him looking just as horrified as he himself felt. His eyes were wide and he was slowly putting more distance between both of them. "I…how? I didn't...I didn't know."

Hermione was apparently not having it. "Harry, how the hell could you not know?"

Oh, Circe, please let this be a dream.

"It was...I had been chasing Fenrir for two days straight with no sleep...I had been so close to catching him...I was pushing myself and my control wasn't….I was tired and the pull of the moon was stronger….I briefly wanted...but I thought it had been a dream."

"You thought it was a dream? That's absurd. Remus told you about the automatic bonds. You would have felt it!" She screeched, "Even if you didn't know for certain, how could you not even check!?"

"I had to keep going and I didn't… I wasn't thinking. I thought I felt something but I didn't want to believe...I just.. "

"You just left!" She raged on, the anger evident in her voice."This whole time I've been trying to figure out whose pack he belonged to. I even asked around to see if there had been any rogues but there hadn't been any for months so I just knew it had to be Fenrir. Wesley was curious and said it may not be him but I was still so scared that I was right. It never even crossed my mind that it could be you! You've never done something this horrible! Gods, when Draco felt the bond I was scared out of my bloody mind and well, I suppose those fears are now void, but I don't know what's worst. Him being that psychopath's beta or-"

"Stop! Just...stop." He interrupted, his fingers moving to rub his temple. "The situation isn't good either way."

"Wait. Wait. Let me get this straight," Draco started, finally getting a word in, "What I think I'm hearing, and for Salazar's sake correct me if I'm wrong, is that you were the one that bit me?"

"I...yes, I think so." At least he looked a bit sorry about it as he rubbed his chest and said, "It would definitely explain why I've been antsy to come back to Hogwarts this whole time. I needed to come back for….you."

Draco let out a deranged sort of laugh. Yes, it would happen this way. He'd been delusional to think he'd get by without ever finding out who turned him. The remorseful look the wolf had given him that night and the pull he'd been feeling periodically suddenly made a whole lot of sense. He'd known there was something that was missing, but this? This was just, "Brilliant. That's just brilliant, Potter." He felt like howling. "You're my fucking alpha? This has got to be some kind of 's no other explanation as to why the universe would tether me to you like this. "

He got a glare in return. "It's not like I'm exactly thrilled about you being my beta either, Malfoy."

Hermione dragged her hands down her face and muttered mostly to herself,"I cannot believe this is happening."

"You're not thrilled?" He asked Harry incredulously. He was getting closer and closer to snapping, but something inside of him said that it wasn't a good idea. "I'm a fucking werewolf because of you!"

"I wasn't turned on my own accord either."

Was this bloke serious? "Oh, that's supposed to make me feel better, is it? That makes this situation better? That absolves you of your sins?"

"No, I'm not saying that," he insisted, "but we're in the same boat."

"So what now? I'm just supposed to...do your bidding... be a part of your...your bloody pack?"

"I don't know." He admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Hermione is the only one left that my wolf views as pack and I've never turned anyone. I wasn't prepared to become an alpha and I never planned to curse anyone else, so I don't even know how it works."

A hand suddenly appeared between them, coming down and smacking the shorter man in the head. "You have got to be joking!" Hermione yelled. "You don't know how it works?! Godric, Harry. I know how it bloody works. You're an alpha. You've been an alpha for nine months and you don't know anything? If I had thought for one moment that you weren't prepared I would have helped! You basically went rogue! How irresponsible can you be?"

"I'm sorry, Hermione," He said, rubbing his head. "I didn't think it mattered as long as I was in control."

She looked like she wanted to eviscerate him. She'd been quiet the whole time they'd been talking but apparently, it was the calm before the storm. "Yes, well the control you so covet slipped and you had no failsafe. You really screwed up this time! Do you realize how this could have turned out for everyone?! What if I hadn't found him? What if he'd continued suffering alone? He could have died. He didn't know how to handle it."

Draco frowned. That wasn't entirely true. He thought he had been doing quite well given the circumstances.

"Draco could have killed someone," she continued, "and it would have been on your head for not being there to help him through the transition. It is a good thing that I was the one that found out about him and not someone else. He's already been on thin ice with the authorities. What exactly do you think would have happened if someone turned him in? Why do you think I hid him from you? His reputation isn't as good as yours. The Ministry doesn't care about your status as a Lycanthrope. You could get away with bloody murder but a former follower of the Dark Lord wouldn't be given the same treatment."

Listening to her defend him made his chest ache and fill with warmth. He hadn't even thought about all of that, but obviously, she had. She'd been looking out for him even when it came to lying to her best friend.

"And it's a good thing I know so much because of you, Wesley and Remus. He's lucky he had me because he sure as hell didn't have anyone else. I've been teaching him and helping him shift. I've been helping him learn control like I helped you, but it shouldn't have been me teaching him. It should have been you!"

He finally took a good look at his alpha and for the first time in all his years of knowing him, he saw a fully chastised Harry Potter.

"I'm sorry." He muttered and met Draco's eyes. "Malfoy, I'm...I'm so sorry I turned you against your will and then disappeared." Draco could only nod. What else could he do? "There's nothing I can do to make it up to you, But I'm...I'm here now. And I promise I'll help you."

The human part of him was stunned and a bit apprehensive to hear an apology and a promise come from the man in the same sentence, but now that the confusion and sense of threat was gone the wolf in him was elated. He felt it stir beneath the surface, not ready to emerge but calling out to the other wolf. Suddenly he understood. Having Granger was great, she was amazing and perfect and complex and felt like she belonged, but ...she wasn't a wolf. Even with her by his side a tiny piece of him always felt alone. But now? He looked at Potter and felt something akin to family. To home.

"Umm...Malfoy?" His voice was much closer now than it was before, his scent stronger.

Draco blinked. He hadn't realized he'd moved forward but he was now leaning into the other man, brushing his cheek against his shoulder.

He backed away quickly, mortified. "Sorry...I don't...sorry."

"It's fine." Hermione and Potter said simultaneously.

Hermione rested a hand on his arm. "He's your alpha and you've been more or less an omega for months."

He scratched the back of his head and sighed. "Be that as it may, I'm still not used to this whole….tactile scent marking thing. Getting all cozy with you is one thing, Granger." He told her, giving her a knowing look and ignoring the indignant grunt from Potter, "but wanting to...that is...it's different."

It looked to him like she was holding back a giggle and his irritation grew. "I can't say it wasn't a strange thing to witness."

"Yes, well, I'm sure it was a good show. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Oh, don't be cross, Draco." She laughed, playfully knocking her arm against him. "After all the embarrassing situations we've been in, you'd think it would have loosened you up by now."

He cut his eyes at her. "You're wrong as usual, Granger."

"Since when am I wrong? If I recall correctly, you're the one admitting defeat more often than not."

Seemingly having enough of their banter, Potter cleared his throat to gain their attention. "Just how close are the two of you, Hermione?"

Draco raised a brow and Granger rolled her eyes. "Is that really what you want to be focusing on right now?" she asked, and when he just continued to stare at her she quietly admitted, "Close enough that he growled at Wesley for touching me."

"Granger!"

"What? He was going to find out eventually."

The alpha pinched the bridge of his nose. "Malfoy, do you have a death wish?"

"It's not like I did it on purpose," he scoffed, "While I do enjoy a good row every now and then, I don't particularly fancy being ripped apart by a pack of angry werewolves."

"Again," Hermione came to his defense, "something that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't run off after biting him, Harry."

"I get it, Hermione. I bit him. I messed up."

All the talk of biting made his side twitch with phantom pain. He pushed a hand against it but the move caught his alpha's attention.

"Is that where it is?" He stared at the place where Draco's hand rested. It made him feel a bit uncomfortable. "Can I see it?"

His brow furrowed. "The bite?"

"Yes," he replied, fascination evident.

"I...I suppose." He untucked his shirt from his trousers and exposed the area of marred skin. "You sure picked a hell of a spot."

Callused fingers brushed against it and he closed his eyes. A simple touch shouldn't feel so good. Fucking werewolves.

"It was so deep," he muttered, running his thumb along the bottom row of teeth marks. "I can't believe I did this."

"Why?" His voice was quieter than he'd intended when he spoke, "why do you think you bit me?"

"Honestly?" he proposed, dropping his hand to his side, " I think it's because I needed help. A pack makes us stronger. The need for power must have been so strong it overrode my humanity for awhile."

Draco hummed in response. "It makes sense. And in your defense, and I mean tiny defense, you looked pretty remorseful for an angry slobbering mutt."

He rolled his eyes. "Well, at least now I can sleep easier knowing I felt bad after attacking you. Maybe I'm not beyond hope after all."

The way he said it made Draco pause. "Hey, don't get all self-deprecating on me, Chosen One. You were out of your mind at the time. The wolf inside did this," he pointed at the bite. "Not you."

There was a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Thanks, Malfoy. I appreciate the attempt at understanding, but what I did to you was horrific. I can't pretend it's not my fault. I gave into the urges. I let it happen. So, whether I logically chose you or not, doesn't matter. The fact is, I bit you without your consent. I have to live with that."

He could hear the truth behind his words and felt the heaviness in the air as the ramifications of his actions became ever clearer.

Draco cleared his throat, attempting to alleviate the awkward silence. "So, what happens now?"

"Now," he stretched his arms out above his head, "we focus on how we're going to take out Greyback."

"What do you mean, we?" Hermione cut in.

He turned to her. "We. As in Draco and me."

"You want Draco to help you?"

"He's my beta, Hermione. We would be stronger together and it is obvious that I can't do it alone."

"But he still hasn't mastered the shift and the two of you really need to talk and figure this out."

"I didn't say we were chasing him down today. I still need to work out a plan, so we have time."

His reasoning calmed her and gave Draco an opening to speak. "What's our first move?"

"Well, first, the two of you need to get back. They have probably noticed you're missing."

"What about you?" she, asked.

"I'm going to speak with Wesley. Bennett's death was messy and he needs to be aware of the details. We may have to temporarily join our packs to handle this turn of events. We can't afford to let Fenrir get stronger."

"Be careful, Harry." Granger pleaded softly.

"You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine." he looked over at Draco and nodded. "I'll contact you as soon as I've figured things out with Alpha Abner."

He acknowledged his statement but didn't respond as he watched the other wolf disappear into the treeline.

"Why didn't you tell me about Potter?" he asked when he was sure they were alone.

Guilt flooded her features when she glanced over at him. "I thought about it, honestly. But I didn't really think it was relevant at the time. His status is a well kept secret right now. Only a select few know he's a werewolf and he's never lost complete control like that before. I had no reason to believe he was the one that bit you."

He thought about it for a moment. He couldn't lie and say he wasn't upset with her, but he wasn't angry.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Draco. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting you by keeping it to myself."

"I won't say that it's fine," he told her, "but I do understand your reasoning. I don't blame you and I know if you had known Potter was my alpha you would have told me."

"I would have." She gave him a weak smile. "How are you dealing with this, Draco?"

"I'm not." he admitted. "I keep telling myself that it is better this way and that I should be grateful that it's not Greyback. But it's going to take me awhile to be ok with this. I never...after Voldemort I told myself I'd never let anyone have that kind of control over me again...and well, here I am. Under Potter's thumb."

"I know the two of you don't have the best record, but I promise you, Draco, Harry would never try to control you like that."

"So what do you call what happened earlier, if not bringing me to heel?"

"He didn't know he was your alpha then. He was just being a cocky prat. Now that he's aware, he won't do that again," she insisted, adding, "at least not on purpose."

"Forgive me if I don't hold my breath, but I've haven't had many positive experiences with him."

"That's understandable, and I admit that this won't be a walk in the park, but at least trust me when I say you're safe with him."

His eyes caught hers. "I will always trust you, Granger."

Her mouth dropped a bit in disbelief. "Even after what happened today?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "You've done more for me in the last three months than anyone has done for me in my whole life, besides my mother. You had every reason and opportunity to turn me in or hurt me, and you chose to help. You helped someone that hated you, someone, that wasn't anywhere close to being a friend at the time. A lie by omission doesn't wipe that all away. You're my friend. I trust you."

Her face lit up. "You see me as a friend now?"

That's what she got out of that little speech? "I thought that was a given?"

"No, well, yes, I felt like we were friends, but you are rather reserved. I never know what you are thinking or what you want. I don't want to presume anything."

He highly doubted that. After the Abner pack incident and the full out snog session the night before, what he wanted was becoming fairly obvious.

"Well," He smirked and leaned into her, "I know we are friends, but I'm starting to think my wolf wants to be a little bit more." He swiftly turned around and began walking up the hill to the school. "But you already knew that didn't you?" He called back.

She didn't answer him but she didn't need to. Whatever it was he was feeling for the witch would have to be put on the back burner. They had enough on their plates as it was.