A/N: Okay, before we start this chapter, I'd like to give a HUGE thanks to all of those who took the time to review/favorite/follow, and I'd like to address some things brought up in some of the comments.

Firstly, thanks for bringing the Harry/Jamie occasional mix-up to my attention. As I am working without a BETA, and usually just write when the inspiration overcomes me, thus typing very quickly, I sometimes miss small things like that, and I'll do my best to ensure that it doesn't happen in the future.

If you want to offer BETA services, that'd be awesome. PM me if you're interested, I guess...

Secondly, there was some speculation on Harry's animagus form, and I quote: "...an invisible undersized monkey is NOT that badass...", and they continued to request a second animagus form.

Firstly: though Harry and Draco are powerful in their own right, this is due to an intense training programme set up for them at age seven, when their magical cores finally stabilized enough to wield wands, which is why they're so advanced. A second animagus form, I feel, would be too much of a power-play, and no one likes a Gary-Stu. Harry and Draco both have their flaws, and, though things may seem fine and dandy now, I plan for there to be bumps in the road.

Secondly: An animagus reflects the innermost personalities of the person. Draco, whose animal is a grim, seeks power over others and enjoys inspiring fear. Harry, on the other hand, is much more subtle, and prefers silent, invisible manipulation over in-your-face Gryffindor styles of intimidation. Thus, a rather sneaky species that can turn invisible was a rather nice fit for him, or so I thought.

I understand that our opinions may differ on this point, but I, as the writer, am trying to make this story as people-pleasing as I can, but I'm going to let my artistic license flow here, and, in conclusion: no, Harry will not be getting a second animagus form, though I thank you for your input.

If you've skipped to here to actually get to the story: Hello! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and, once again, I always appreciate your feedback.

Flames welcomed, I need something to laugh at. 3

Chapter Eleven: Summer Transformations (In More Ways then One)

Malfoy Manor was a rather busy place over the summer after Harry and Draco's second year at Hogwarts. For one, there were several Lords and Ladies coming and going every day, each trying to convince Lucius that their daughter would be the right match for Draco to one day become the next Lady Malfoy.

Regulus and Char were hardly ever seen, as the elder of the two snakes took his time showing his young 'snakeling', as he appeared to have adopted Char, around the Manor, and teaching him the do's and don't's of being a Malfoy snake. Of course, Caelum hardly ever made an appearance as well, as he spent the majority of his time in the Manor's magical animal zoo, spending time with the other Malfoy chama, Aphrodite, who was expecting cubs.

Harry and Draco really didn't have a chance to relax that summer, as, as soon as they'd arrived home, Bellatrix was upon them, thrusting pages upon pages of research into the Dark Arts, and many darker forms of magic that existed in the world at that moment. This included going over an intense study of runes and arithmancy, as both were highly applicable for wards, and, more importantly, the breaking into of wards, which was a necessary skill for the Inner Circle Death Eaters, which was the position Harry and Draco were being groomed for, as well as being War Generals, as war was inevitable in such a situation as this one.

Of course, the Dark Lord was still around, but not in his full, powerful form, merely a shade, going around and possessing different people until he could achieve a full, more powerful means of existing, which was why he needed Potter so badly. The priorities for their summer training, though, were learning more spells, being able to apply them in a practical dueling setting, and the animagus transformation, as they were already proficient in Occlumency and Legilimency.

As quickly became evident as the weeks went on, the Animagus process wasn't the only transformation the boys would be going through that summer. Acne had started to blemish their creamy perfect skin –– though that problem was quickly rectified, Draco using glamour spells and Harry simply using his metamorphmagus abilities –– their voices began to crack and deepen, their Adam's apples began protruding, and they began to quickly sprout like weeds, beginning to transform into the handsome young men that they would be, as a result of good genes.

Of course, the boys were rather awkward about the whole thing, and would be quite uncharacteristically bashful whenever their mother or Aunt Bellatrix began to fuss over how grown up they were becoming, and just spending time embracing the maternal instinct instead of the usual attitude as if they were preparing Harry and Draco for war –– which they were.

Circumstance meant that their Uncle Sev would be over much more often as well, as he himself was an animagus –– a bat, who would have guessed? –– as he guided them along the transformation, which was a rather tedious process.

"Now that you have fully studied the anatomy of your animagus forms," he said in his usual silky baritone teaching voice. "You will be able to attempt partial transformations. Now, this is very similar to human transfiguration, which one usually doesn't learn until their seventh year at Hogwarts. However, since the two of you are very advanced, I have no qualms that you will be able to do so." He paused.

"Now, the process of partial transformations is rather simple. As in transfiguration, you are focusing on turning a part of yourself into the part of the animal. Now, in both cases, the two of you have tails, so you'll have to focus on elongating your tailbone into the tailbone that resides inside the respective tails of your two animals, which will be a bit harder for you, Harry, because your tail will be like a fifth appendage."

Draco smirked at Harry, who rolled his eyes at his brother's childish behavior, which, apparently, puberty had done nothing to change.

"Basically, what you do is you channel your magic –– you two know how to do that, correct? You had to learn channeling magic to learn Occlumency –– anyways, you channel your magic into the body part that you change, and make sure to factor in your clothing so you don't leave it behind."

The boys nodded, and Harry paused.

"Will it be easier for me to learn as I'm already skilled in morphing myself because I'm a metamorphmagus?" Snape's eyebrows furrowed and he shrugged.

"I guess we'll find out."

Harry quickly began the meditative process to find his magical core, which was a bright, blinding electric blue, and began channeling his magic through wispy strands into his tailbone. When he emerged from the trance –– around an hour later –– he saw, with great pride, that a long, thin, silky silver fur. He waved it around.

"This is weird," he informed his godfather matter-of-factly, and Severus chuckled.

"I would assume it would be," he said dryly. "Unless you've secretly been harboring a secret tail all of your life." Half an hour later, Draco emerged from his trance-like state, and Harry watched giddily as his left arm turned into a long, white furred leg of a grim, complete with paw.

"I feel unbalanced," he was complaining, and Harry just grinned cheekily at his brother.

"Mutt."

"Monkey."

"Alright," said Severus. "Now try and change back."

By the end of the next hour, both Harry and Draco emerged, back to normal, both of them panting slightly with the magical exertion.

"I suppose it gets easier with practice?" asked Harry, and Severus nodded with a tight, apologetic smile.

"You'll be magically drained for a while afterwards until you get the hang of it," he confirmed, before pushing them in the general direction of the Solar. "Go and get some rest, the both of you. We'll continue working within the next couple of days. I've no doubt you'll have it mastered by the end of the summer holidays."

As a cool down the next day from their magical exhaustion, the boys spent their time in the Malfoy Family Library, flipping through large tomes to research more Dark Magic. Some of the spells that they came across and began practicing on muggles were as follows: blinding curse, lung crushing curse, human explosion curse, tongue cutting curse, freezing charm, spine cracking curse, flesh rotting curse, and the spell that allowed one to create an inferius, which was quite nasty business.

One would think that the three Unforgivable curses would be hard to master, when, in reality, they were some of the easiest spells out there, as they were all about intent. The intent to kill someone, the intent to torture someone, the intent to dominate and control someone. That was basically all there was to it, so the boys didn't really need to focus their studies on something as simple as that.

Overall, the summer was just one big project after another. During the school year, Lucius had taken the time to renovate a large section of the grounds at Malfoy Manor and create training grounds, which had a track, a large swimming pool, an indoor set of weights and other body building mechanisms –– none of them muggle, of course –– so Harry and Draco spent their mornings there, working underneath the sun, which was very unusual for a pureblood.

The only reason they bothered with all the exercise was because it was proven that there was a correlation between magical energy levels with mental and physical health, and the higher the physical and mental health, the higher the magical power. Thus, it was a win-win situation. Harry and Draco stayed healthy, and their magical cores only grew, and never shrunk.

(POV switch for a little fuuuuun)

Daphne strummed her fingers against the dining table as she anxiously awaited for her mother to take her to Malfoy Manor, where she'd be spending the day with Harry, and most likely Draco. Astoria was peering at her curiously through baby blue eyes, her dark bangs nearly covering them.

"Why are you so anxious?" she asked. Daphne shot her the patented 'Slytherin Ice Queen' look with her piercing emerald eyes.

"You'll understand when you're betrothed." The younger Greengrass scrunched up her nose in distaste.

"No thank you," she said. "I'd rather not."

"You don't really have a choice," said Daphne blandly. "It's not up to us… I'm just thankful that Harrison took interest… Father would have to be daft to turn down a marriage proposal from a Malfoy, even if Harry's only to inherit the title Lord Black instead of Lord Malfoy."

"There's a difference?" asked Astoria, and Daphne almost let out an unladylike snort. Almost.

"Of course, the Malfoy fortune is the largest in the wizarding world as of the moment, with the Black fortune coming in at a close second." Astoria rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

"Daphne!" called the chime-like voice of Delilah Greengrass came from the front parlor, where the flooing fireplace was located. Daphne –– in a very ladylike manner –– hurried over to her mother, making sure to smooth down her summer casual dress, which was pale blue and black. Daphne was the spitting image of her mother, except with her father's eyes.

"Ready, darling?" asked Delilah, and Daphne nodded firmly.

"Yes, Mother." She stepped into the fireplace, holding a handful of floo powder, and said clearly: "Malfoy Manor!" She spun through the floo network effortlessly and landed gracefully in the Malfoy fireplace.

"Daphne! Welcome!" Daphne stepped out of the fireplace and came face-to-face with Narcissa Malfoy, who was smiling at her kindly. "The boys are in the training area, outside and down the gravel pathway to your right."

Daphne nodded and began walking outside and followed the gravel pathway, subconsciously twiddling with the button on the neckline of her dress, which was filled out much more than her dresses had been the year previous, as she'd done quite a bit of growing, too.

The gravel path twisted elegantly through the pristine gardens of Malfoy Manor, and the training area became exposed to her, complete with track and swimming pool. With a bounce in her step, she made her way to the glass doors and peered inside, and her mouth gaped open when she looked in.

Draco and Harry were both lifting weights, shirtless, their chests gleaming with perspiration as they focused on the task in front of them. Sure, Draco was a fine catch, but Daphne only had eyes for Harry, whose form she took in with her eyes hungrily, like any teenaged girl her age would. She'd really gotten a good one.

She finally composed herself and elegantly walked into the cooled interior of the training area, and her appearance quickly became known to both Harry and Draco, the former who quickly performed a cleaning spell on himself, as well as an aguamenti and drying charm, until his toned chest was dry and squeaky clean.

He came over to her, smiling.

"Hey, Daphne!" she met him halfway, and he pulled her into a tight embrace, in which Daphne practically swooned, feeling his bare muscles against her, and she resisted the strong urge to feel the tones areas of his abs and pectorals, fighting to stay composed as the pureblood heiress she'd been raised as.

"How has your summer been?" he asked her, and Daphne smiled winningly up at him, batting her eyelashes.

"Wonderful, so far," she said sweetly. "More lessons and training, both etiquette and defense. My mother can't seem to decide whether she wants me to be a housewife or a warrior. Yours?"

"It's been great," he practically purred at her, still holding her in his arms. "But it's just gotten better." Daphne stifled a giggle and Draco rolled his eyes, and Daphne quickly swatted at Harry's chest, laughing lightly.

"That was cheesey," she said, and Harry grinned at her cheekily.

"Who, me?" he laughed and kissed her on the forehead softly, before stepping back. "One moment, while I go to the showers and get properly cleaned and clothed. You coming, Draco?" The older of the two nodded and they hurried away, leaving Daphne to her own devices, and she found herself simply admiring the beauty of Malfoy Manor.

Five minutes later, they'd returned, hair wet, though it wasn't a problem for Harry, who could ensure it stayed out of his face.

"What have the two of you been learning so far?" she asked, and the two launched into an explanation of all of the wondrous things they'd been covering that summer. The three spent a rather relaxing afternoon together, and Draco retired early to let the two spend some time together alone.

Far too soon, it was time for Daphne to return, and she and Harry embraced tightly, his deepened laugh rumbling through his chest against hers. He tilted her head back slightly and leaned forward, and Daphne stood on tip-toe –– Harry had sprouted like a weed –– and their lips met softly for a few moments.

"Goodbye, Daph," he said, smiling as she swatted him on the head teasingly for addressing her by her nickname.

"I'll see you another time," she promised, before entering the parlor, where her mother was waiting, as the two of them returned home, a large smile on Daphne's face.

"What's got you so happy?" asked Astoria curiously when they returned, and Daphne shook her head fondly.

"You'll understand when you're betrothed."

(and back to normal. :p)

The summer passed quickly after that, and, true to Severus' word, the two young Malfoys mastered the animagus transformation with two weeks left of summer to spare. After all of the training they'd undertaken, they looked to be fourteen or fifteen instead of their actual age of thirteen, but had not gained any facial hair –– naturally, that is. Harry could grow it whenever he felt like it –– so they still looked like young teenagers and not yet fully grown aristocrats.

Their training was progressing very smoothly, and Bellatrix, Severus, Narcissa, and Lucius couldn't be more pleased with them. The week before term began, however, the Daily Prophet provided a rather shocking headline.

Peter Pettigrew Escapes From Azkaban!

Peter John Pettigrew, aged 33, escaped from the Wizarding Prison Azkaban in the late hours last night, somehow escaping the wrath of the Prison Guards, the Dementors, which are creatures known for sucking out souls and taking all happy memories away from all in their presence, only to be warded off by a Patronus charm. Pettigrew was convicted twelve years ago for aiding You-Know-Who in the invasion of the Potter ancestral home, the attempted murder of Jamie Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, the murder of the other Potter twin, Harald Potter, as well as the murder of thirteen muggles that arrived at the scene in order to try and catch a glimpse of what was going on. The Minister was not to be reached for comments on how this Inner Circle Death Eater might have found his way out of the world's most secure wizarding prison.

-Rita Skeeter

"I wonder how he slipped," pondered Harry, his pale eyebrows scrunched together in confusion. "From what Father has said, Pettigrew was little more than a squib. There's no way he'd have been able to escape from Azkaban!"

"And what's even more upsetting," said Draco as he flipped through the Prophet. "Is that the Weasleys won the weekly Ministry Galleon Draw."

"How much?" asked Harry.

"A thousand galleons." A scowl to match his brother's crossed Harry's face.

"That's more than the blood-traitors deserve," grumbled Harry, his silver eyes flashing red for a moment, portraying his deep anger that the blood traitors be rewarded, for anything. "They deserve to be penniless, just like we ensured eight generations ago!"

Eight generations ago, the Malfoys had cheated the Weasleys out of their fortune by baiting them with their re-instation on the Wizengamot and the return of their title as a part of the sacred twenty-eight. Marcus Weasley, the then head of the Weasley house, had been a rather avid gambler and drinker, so he'd had no qualms in bargaining his fortune away, and had unfortunately died before the Malfoys could ensure they fill their part of the agreement, which died with Marcus.

Sadly, the Weasleys could not reclaim their fortune, and had been left penniless, and the Malfoys were just that much richer.

"I know, brother," said Draco, sighing heavily, his own silvery grey eyes shining with anger and disgust. "But Arthur Weasley won't fall for the same tricks his ancestors did. He may be a muggle-loving piece of trash, but he is a good strategist. He'll manage the money well, and ensure his banshee of a wife doesn't spend it all."

"How have they been paying for Hogwarts for seven?" wondered Harry aloud, and their father provided the answer when he prowled into the room.

"The Potters have been providing them with funds, as they are friends of the family," said Lucius, his nose scrunched up in distaste. "Honestly, to think they'd sink so low as to accept charity from non family members. The gall of it all…. Are the two of you prepared for the start of term?"

"Yes," said Draco. "Our letters arrived just this morning. We'll just need to get our new textbooks. All the core classes, and then Care of Magical Creatures for the both of us, Divination for me, and Ancient Runes and Arithmancy for Harry."

"Three electives?" asked Lucius with a raised eyebrow, directing the question at Harry, who shrugged.

"I needed a bit of a challenge, seeing as I already breeze through my core classes, and Ancient Runes and Arithmancy interest me. CoMC is more for laughs." Lucius nodded, and observed both of his sons with keen silver eyes.

"I am very proud of the both of you," he said suddenly, and the boys lit up at the praise from their father. "You have been, and will continue to, done the Malfoy family name justice. I could ask for no more from the two of you." He allowed them a small smile, and hugged the both of them briefly –– which was more of a show of outward affection than Lucius had allowed in a very long time –– before exiting the room and being on his way.

"Boys?" asked Severus, who entered the room a few minutes after Lucius had left, walking in to see the boy idly chatting.

"Yes, Uncle Sev?" they asked in unison, and a small smile tugged at the Potion's master's lips.

"Are you two ready to go to Diagon Alley to pick up your school supplies?"

"Yes, Uncle Sev." He gracefully held out an arm to the both of them, and side apparated them both to Diagon Alley, where he would accompany them on their endeavors to procure the necessary items for that school year. Lucius was unavailable as he was needed in a conference with the other underground Death Eaters, and Narcissa was off visiting her grandfather, Arcturus.

"Which books do you need?" asked Severus as they entered their first destination, Flourish and Blotts.

"Two copies of the Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three, Intermediate Potions for the Potioneer, Intermediate Transfiguration, Herbs and Magical Fungi Vo. 3, and The Monsters, as well as one copy each of Numerology and Grammatica, Unfogging the Future, and Decoding: A Guide to Ancient Runes," Harry listed recalled from memory, and Snape nodded.

"Here they are," he said, and quickly summoned the necessary titles to his arms, and the boys quickly made their purchases and accepted the wrapped package gracefully, and they summoned Dobby to drop it off back at the Solar.

They then went to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, as they had grown quite a bit over the summer, and spent an achingly boring hour being fitted for their new school robes, the assault of poking and prodding needles and measuring tapes annoying, to say the least. After that, they went to Merlin Outfitter –– where only the elite wizards shopped, the witches favored Twilfitt and Tatting's –– in order to purchase the clothes that were worn under Hogwarts robes.

Crisp white button-up shirts, light grey sweaters, and long, black pants were the standard Hogwarts wear, along with shining black leather shoes. Harry and Draco purchased plenty of those, as well as Slytherin ties, scarfs, cloaks, and hats, before they moved on to more casual clothing. Silk and cotton t-shirts were purchased, as well as pairs of denim pants, and several loose fitting shorts for when they were around casual company and not pureblood aristocracy.

Potions supplies were procured at several different shops, including Slug & Jiggers Apothecary and Potage's Cauldron Shop. Different colored inks as well as reams of parchment were purchased at Scribbulus Writing Instruments, while quills were bought elsewhere at Amanuensis Quills. They stopped for a moment at Sugarplum's Sweets Shop to stock up on enough confections to last until the first Hogsmeade visit. After a quick snack at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, the three were on their way back to Malfoy Manor after a long day of shopping, all eager to get a few moments of rest.

It had become bearable after the visit to Merlin Outfitter, though, when they'd met up with Nott and Zabini and had a good time catching up a bit, where some good natured ribbing and otherwise being teenaged boys occurred, and Severus let them wander by themselves for a little while, and they'd all ended the day with ice-cream, which was always a good thing.

With one week of freedom left, they spent as much time as they could cramming all the information about the Dark Arts that their Aunt Bellatrix had provided them with that summer, trying to make sure to retain everything, and be able to execute every spell perfectly, which naturally meant that they had to kidnap more muggles in order to properly practice.

At the end of the week, both boys were exhausted, and thus were ready for the school year to begin, and, at the platform, they quickly said their goodbyes and boarded the train eagerly, waiting for another year at Hogwarts to begin.

Another Pesky A/N: Hey guys, me again. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, be on the look out for the next one!

Reviews Wanted:

*Flames welcome

*Constructive criticism welcome

*Suggestions/Likes/Dislikes

Until next time!

-Sam