Malfoy Meets Muggle

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling

Warnings: Non epilogue compliant, some strong language

Rating: T

Chapter 10. Zoo

Draco hears the crack of apparition and the next moment Harry walks into the living room. Draco glances up and mutes the TV when he sees the look on Harry's face.

"Still no luck?" he asks, levitating his files off the sofa and patting the space next to him.

Harry sighs despondently and flops down next to him, threading their fingers together. "I don't know why I can't do it. Maybe my magic's just not strong enough."

Draco snorts. "Are you serious?"

"What else could it be?" Harry sniffs, "I mean, how did you do it? Yvonne says you picked it up quicker than anyone she's ever assisted."

Draco shrugs; he wants to help Harry, he really does, but he just doesn't know how. "I don't know. Once I figured out what I was it just seemed to happen naturally..."

"Wait," Harry interrupts, "Once you figured out what you were? But nobody knows what type of animal they'll be until they transform for the first time!"

Draco rubs Harry's knuckles. "Well, I didn't know what species, exactly, but I sat down and had a really honest think about what animal my personality matched. I came up with feline and something just seemed right, and once I knew roughly what I was aiming for, it made it a lot easier to finish off the details."

Harry's brow furrows. "So, what, I just need some animal inspiration?"

"Essentially, yes. You don't have to figure it out exactly, but if you have a vague image in your head it will definitely help you focus your efforts. So, any idea where to start?"

Harry opens his mouth then pauses, grinning. "Actually, I think I do."

"What was this place called again?" Draco asks as Harry pays for their entrance. Draco doesn't know why they didn't just apparate inside the fence and avoid paying. He supposes that's why he's not a Gryffindor.

"A zoo."

"And it exists why?"

Harry rolls his eyes. "So muggles can fulfil their curiosity about animal species which are not native to their own country. And the breeding programmes increase the populations of species on the verge of extinction, of course."

"That was actually rather eloquently put, Harry," Draco says, impressed.

Harry laughs. "I'm learning from the best. So, where shall we start?"

Draco glances at the map and grins evilly. "The reptile house."

Harry elbows him in the stomach. "Be serious, will you?" He freezes, and his face pales. "Oh hell, you don't really think I'd be a snake, do you?"

Draco sighs and takes Harry's arm, ignoring the curious looks from the children around them. "I don't know. I was thinking about it last night, and I find it hard to pin you to a single animal. But that's why we're here, isn't it? Don't look so worried; I'll love you whatever you are."

Harry takes a deep breath and nods resolutely. They head towards the reptile house, and Draco's eyes widen as they step inside. He knows what all the animals are at a basic level, but he's never realised just how many different types of everything there are. This single room houses at least half a dozen types of tortoise, several lizards, something that looks suspiciously like a miniature crocodile and several types of snake. Fascinated, he heads over to the symbols of his Hogwarts house, reading the little placards attached to the wall with interest. He senses Harry walk up next to him, and the next moment a shiver runs up his back as he hears Harry hiss softly to the large royal python, which rises up and eyes them with far more interest than it had been doing a moment ago.

"What's it saying?" Draco asks excitedly.

Harry smiles sadly. "He's lonely, and his tank's too small."

And suddenly Draco isn't too enamoured with the zoo anymore. He looks around and can see that yes, the majority of animals are in tanks and cages far too small, with children constantly banging their hands on the glass to try and get them to move. He's never seen animals as anything other than inferior, a lesser species to humans, but if snakes have a language and intellect complex enough to hold a conversation with Harry, what other animals could be intelligent enough to know they're caged but unable to do anything about it?

"You know, the first time I talked to a snake was at a zoo when I was ten," Harry says quietly, "It was upset because it had never seen Brazil, and I accidentally vanished the glass and set it free."

Draco doesn't doubt him for a second. "Could you do the same for this one?" he asks, looking at the poor snake with pity.

Harry stares at him. "You want the Head Auror to intentionally free a hungry, six foot constrictor into a muggle area full of meal-sized animals?"

"We could steal it and take it with us!" Draco says, "As long as it doesn't eat us, of course."

"Have you completely lost your mind?" Harry asks incredulously, "I am not stealing a snake because you've suddenly decided you want it as a pet!"

Draco attempts The Puppy Dog Eyes, but he's never been as good at it as The Death Glare. "You said yourself it's lonely. Just ask him what he wants!"

Harry gapes, but after a moment he checks there are no muggles in hearing distance before hissing softly to the snake. He cocks his head as the snake hisses back, and he squeezes his eyes shut and clenches his hands so hard his knuckles turn white.

"Well?" Draco asks impatiently.

Harry's breath whistles out between his clenched teeth. "If we steal this snake, he's your responsibility. You feed him, you vac up his shed skin..."

"Done," Draco announces.

Harry groans. "You're going to be the death of me, you know."

Draco happily grabs Harry's arm. "But you love me anyway. Tell him we'll come back for him at the end of the day. So, are you feeling any animal instinct vibes from anything in here?"

Harry glances around but shakes his head, and the pair leave the reptile house and continue meandering around the zoo. Draco expects Harry to have a reaction to the lions, but he glances at them with no more interest than the he does the hippos or the giraffes. The monkeys draw a blank, as does the aviary, and as they near the end of the day Draco starts to worry that Harry's not going to find the inspiration he's looking for. He reaches out for Harry's hand, ready to tell him that he musn't worry, that Harry must be something really rare and spectacular and that he'll get it eventually, but Harry isn't there.

Draco wheels round and scans the busy path for his boyfriend. He starts panicking when he can't see Harry anywhere and he hurriedly backtracks, fighting his way against the tide of laughing children and their haggard-looking parents. Out of the corner of his eye he suddenly catches sight of the light shimmering, the classic sign of someone moving under a disillusionment charm. Hoping it's Harry, Draco darts across the path and slips down behind one of the thick shrubs lining the side of a large animal cage, casting some quick muggle repelling charms as soon as he can get the wand out of his pocket.

"Harry?" he whispers, "Harry, are you there?"

The air shimmers in front of him and then Harry appears, his face as white as chalk and his teeth digging furrows into his lower lip. Draco sucks in a deep breath and leans forward to grip Harry's forearms.

"Harry? What's wrong?"

Harry's eyes, big and green and agonised, meet Draco's and he glances across into the animal enclosure. Draco follows his gaze and his breath catches in his throat as he sees exactly what animals the pen holds. They're far more impressive than Draco's housecat form, that's for sure.

"Harry," he breathes.

To his astonishment, Harry looks near tears. "I should have known," he whispers.

Draco frowns. "Known what?"

"That this is what I'd be. A carnivore. A killer."

Draco recoils, shocked, hardly able to believe that Harry feels that way. He glances up again, and the sleek grey animal stares at him for a moment longer before turning tail and loping off into the bushes. Draco feels his insides squeeze. It is perfect for Harry, but Harry obviously hates the thought. How is this possible? Can Harry really hate the physical embodiment of his personality enough to drive him to tears?

A single bead of moisture escapes Harry's eyes and winds its way down his cheek. Draco's heart breaks for him and he pulls Harry into a crushing hug, tucking his head against Draco's neck. Harry shudders against him.

"I was so excited at the thought of it," he whispers brokenly, "But now..."

He trails off, and Draco nuzzles gently into Harry's neck. "You're not a killer, Harry."

Harry sniffs. "But..."

"Just listen to me for a minute. Both of us know you're not a vegetarian, so forget about the carnivore bit. You are not a killer, Harry Potter."

Harry doesn't meet Draco's eyes. "Then why that animal?"

"Because they aren't killers either, not in the way you're afraid of. They do only what they need to survive. Now, who does that remind you of?" Harry glances up for the barest second, long enough for Draco to see the spark of hope flare in his eyes. "As far as I'm aware, you've never once used the killing curse. You've been in battles for your life and still you wouldn't use more than a stunner or expelliarmus. You did only what you needed to, nothing more.

"As for the rest of it, everything fits. You practically got adopted by the Weasleys, essentially like a young pup joining a new pack. You're fiercely loyal and protective of those you consider family, and look after their kids as if they were your own. Rose and Hugo adore you, we both know that. Despite being a family man, you're not afraid to strike out on your own. You've got all the qualities you admired in your godfather, just in a bit more mature package. Above all..." Draco pauses, takes a deep breath and puts his fingers under Harry's chin, raising his head until their eyes are locked. "You mate for life. This animal fits you perfectly, Harry. I love it, and I love you."

The hug Harry gives him nearly crushes Draco's ribs, but he doesn't mind one bit. He pets Harry's hair gently, before lowering a thumb to brush the tears off his cheeks. Harry sniffles and pecks kisses along Draco's jaw line.

"Thank you," he murmurs, "Thank you. Are you sure you're okay with the fact that, well, the carnivore thing?"

Draco rolls his eyes in exasperation. "I'm a cat, Harry. Not a very big one, I admit, but I've still got all the appropriate hunting instincts. Think of me as a tiger in a more manageable package."

Harry laughs, and the sound is like music to Draco's ears. "So you think I'll be able to do it now I know what I'm going to be?"

Draco rubs Harry's knuckles. "I don't think knowing was the issue. I think that, subconsciously, your mind didn't approve of the form you were trying to impose on your body, and it wouldn't let you transform."

"That makes sense," Harry muses, "But hopefully that shouldn't be a problem now."

Draco kisses Harry's temple. "You're going to be magnificent."

Harry flushes. "We'll see. So, how about going to dinner to celebrate?"

"Sounds good," Draco says, getting up and pulling Harry to his feet, "We'll go as soon as we've rescued the snake."

Harry groans. "I was rather hoping you'd have forgotten that part," he says, but he's smiling as they slip out from behind the shrubs, and Draco's heart feels ten times lighter.