Rating: M (for Mud Puppies Baby)

Warnings: Slash/Yaoi, Het, blood and stuff, mentions of underage (I guess)

Disclaimer: I own these things about as much as I own Africa. In other words, not at all.

Note: Alrighty. Another update! I went through to make my chapters a little more detailed, since several of you wonderful reviewers seemed concerned by how I gloss over things. I hope this is a little more to your expectations. It also has the bonus of lengthening my chapters by about half a page. Hurray! Since no one was really voting for pairings, save the odd and sporadic review every now and again, I'll just go with the one thats been lurking in my mind for the past few chapters. See bottom for details!

They'd been back for nearly two weeks. Harry had learned the localized silencing charm and applied it to Ron and Neville's beds. Dean and Seamus had declined the offer, saying that they wanted to know if something was wrong with Jonathan. They'd become rather fond of the baby in the short time they'd known him. Harry didn't mind, as this meant they were almost always willing to babysit for him.

Harry was in the chamber of secrets, a plastic gown he'd bought that summer on over some old clothes. He had dragon hide gloves on as well as a facial mask. He'd noticed that his sense of smell was improving and faint lines were beginning to appear on his thighs and arms.

He was sure that they were the physical manifestation of his connection to Mikael. Slowed, but still appearing the same as the red fangs he'd had as an Inuzuka. He'd soaked the cloth in an herb solution to filter out scents better, not wanting to smell what he was doing.

The first cut was difficult, as the hide didn't want to be pierced. His chakra control had improved, however, so he reinforced the steel of the surgically sharp knife and added a cutting edge of chakra to it. After that, the skin separated easily from the muscle.

Some large containers he'd brought with him were quickly filled with the length of basilisk skin, cut into more manageable pieces. It had taken him nearly two hours to skin the whole thing. He couldn't even begin to imagine how long it was going to take to get the rest of it.

Thankfully, he'd already eaten dinner in the Great Hall, so he had all night to finish this and some time tomorrow. He'd chosen a Saturday night to start on piecing down the basilisk.

When he'd carved down to bone, storing those as well, Harry began the more delicate work on the head. Fawkes had ruined the eyes, but they could still be used for a couple corrective potions. The fangs were handled carefully, as he'd learned that they could be used to make weapons of high quality. They were all capable of injecting venom as well, unlike regular snakes.

It wasn't until he got to the rather large venom sacs that Harry became nervous. He knew how excruciating it could be to have even a little bit in your blood. A smaller, even sharper knife was used to cut the sacs out and he gently placed each one into it's own container.

Cushioning charms were liberally cast on these containers to prevent the membranes from breaking. Harry felt relatively sure he was done when it came time for him to go back up for lunch. He cast as many cleaning charms on himself, and the chamber, as he knew.

To make sure there was nothing harmful left over, he used some of the cleaner water that littered the chamber to bath. Another quick charm to get rid of the water on his body, some fresh clothes, and he was ready to face Hogwarts again.

Jonathan was overjoyed to see him. He kicked up a fuss that drew the entire Hall's attention to Harry. He didn't mind though, happy to scoop his son up and blow a raspberry on his cheek. Harry sat between Dean and Mikael, fondly touching the werewolf's shoulder.

"He wasn't any trouble?"

Dean shook his head, smiling widely at Harry. "Jonathan was sweet as sugar. He was a little upset when you weren't there this morning, but Neville cheered him up," he explained, taking a bite of his salad.

Harry turned a surprised look on Neville, who ducked his head and blushed. "Well, thank you for helping them Neville." The Potter smiled widely at his year mate.

"No problem Harry," Neville mumbled.

When lunch was done, Harry made his way onto the grounds. He laid out a blanket for Jonathan to sit on, scattered some toys, and settled down with Mikael by his side to read. The werewolf was gleefully stacking blocks with Jonathan when Theodore and Blaise settled against the tree beside them.

He tensed up, but Harry simply turned the page and continued to read about elemental magic. It seemed almost exactly like jutsu, only more complicated as it required rituals and multiple people to focus the energy.

Someone cleared their throat and Harry peered over his book at the Slytherins. "Malfoy has been spreading rumors about your son."

There was silence, then Harry closed his book and sat it in his lap. "What rumors would those be?" His voice was calmed, but the stirring anger was evident in his eyes.

"That he's a werewolf you happened to stumble across and claim. That he bit you as well." Blaise said calmly, eyeing Harry for a reaction. The one he got puzzled him.

Harry smiled amusedly, his body relaxing. "What is he using to back up this claim?"

Glancing at each other, Blaise nodded and Theodore spoke. "Several people heard you bark at the hippogriff. There have been other, rather canine, behaviors you've been displaying too. Plus, your son looks enough like you to be related, but not enough to be directly from you."

"He's claimed that you fed Jonathan blood through the bottle in one of your classes as well. And that the baby acts like a wolf cub," Blaise added.

Mikael frowned at them, but kept Jonathan distracted. "I assume he's referring to the nuzzling and growling that Jonathan loves to do?" At the confirming nod, Harry chuckled.

"I admit that my behaviors have become more canine, but it isn't because I was bitten by a werewolf. Jonathan acts that way because he's imitating me. I growl quite a bit, though he's the only one in any position to hear it." Harry smoothed out his robes. "Also, he had a cold a couple days ago so I was mixing his potion, which is red, in with his milk. He doesn't like the taste."

"So what did cause this change in behavior?" Theodore asked, the more curious of the pair.

Harry shrugged, glancing toward Mikael and Jonathan to make sure they were still alright. "Family secret. Why don't you two tell me why you warned me about Malfoy?"

Another shared look between the pair, this time Theodore nodding and Blaise opening his mouth to explain. "I am set to inherit the Zabini estates when I reach majority. Theodore is second son, but his father is considering him for an arranged marriage. You already hold Lordship over the Potter estates and would make a powerful political ally."

"I have many brothers by my mother's other husbands, some of them older than me, but most of them not. They live with their father's sides of the family, but should something happen to me then the Zabini fortune would go to the next oldest of my brothers upon my mother's death."

Theodore cut in "And if I could claim a significant political ally, I might be able to wiggle my way out of this marriage. The witch he has chosen for me has already graduated Durmstrang and is less than agreeable." He grimaced, obviously thinking her distasteful.

Hesitantly, Mikael crawled up to cuddle against Harry and stare at the pair. Jonathan was napping at their feet. "Have you told your father that you don't like her?" He asked, his voice quiet and a little shaky. Harry smoothed Mikael's hair down to show his support.

"Yes. He says I should learn to deal with it and be happy that she is the only child of the family. I would be in charge of their estates should we marry." Theodore sneered, though the expression wasn't aimed toward Mikael.

Werewolf and human glanced at one another. "I don't see why we shouldn't form an alliance. So long as you continue to warn me about anything you learn regarding myself, of course."

"Then the House of Zabini offers friendship to the House of Potter." Blaise said, extending his wand formally. Harry glanced down at it, then stretched his own wand out.

He wasn't sure if he was right, but he'd never read about this ritual so he'd just have to wing it. "The House of Potter accepts the House of Zabini as a friend."

Theodore's lips twitched, but he didn't correct Harry. "May our battles and triumphs be as one." Blaise murmured, followed closely by Harry's repetition of his words. There was a brief flash of magic between their wands, then something warm settled in Harry's mind.

It felt similar to his bond with Mikael, only less. There was also the feeling of fragility, as if it were easier to break this bond than it would be to break the one with his werewolf friend.

"That was a minor oath. It will discourage you from betraying each other. Should one of you break it by betrayal, the other will be immediately notified," Theodore explained. "You did pretty well for not knowing about it Potter. Your wording was a little off, but obviously the magic took so it's fine."

Mikael shivered, pressing his mental self against the bond he had with Harry. "I could feel it." Both Slytherins turned their attention to him sharply. "It was like with you, only smaller." Mikael turned golden eyes on Harry, who was frowning down at him.

"Did it hurt?"

Mikael shook his head, pressing closer to Harry. "No, it just felt odd. Like a cat rubbing against your hand when you're already petting it."

Blaise frowned "Do you share a bond with Potter? Your last name was Demidov so you aren't a part of House Potter."

"Yes, he's bonded to me. The nature of the bond doesn't matter, I just want to know if this oath will affect it." Harry interrupted before Blaise could ask anything else. Mikael hid his face in Harry's side, uneasy.

Shrugging, Blaise looked out at the lake. "It shouldn't. The only thing is that he's bound to the oath as well. He can't give away my secrets without me knowing anymore than you can."

Harry nodded, satisfied. The sun was beginning to set, so he scooped Jonathan up, deposited him in Mikael's arms, and cleaned up the various things that had been spread around. "As interesting as talking with you two is, Jonathan needs to have his dinner and go to bed. Good evening."

The sentiment was replied and Mikael trailed after Harry up to the castle. He was carrying the baby bag, as Harry had taken Jonathan. Once the baby was done for the night, Harry helped Mikael with his charms essay. His own homework was finished afterwards and they went up to bed.

Two nights later was the first full moon. Harry followed the faint scent of Mikael down, toward the dungeons, and waited for McGonagall to leave. When she was gone, Harry slipped the invisibility cloak into Jonathan's baby bag at his hip.

The baby himself was peacefully sucking on his pacifier, wide brown eyes taking in their dank surroundings. "Its creepy down here, isn't it Jonathan?" Harry murmured lovingly, smoothing the wild brown hair down.

"But Uncle Mikael needs us tonight, so I'll keep you safe." He grinned when Jonathan reached out with both hands and gripped the one that had just run through his hair.

Harry reached out with his other hand and carefully undid the locking magic on the door. The manual lock was much easier to take care of after that, so the pair of them slipped inside.

Already a werewolf, Mikael lifted his head off of his paws to wuff questioningly at Harry. The green eyed boy smile din return and sat down against a wall. "No, they won't be checking on you. Wizards are far to frightened of you werewolves."

Doggy grin spreading over his muzzle, Mikael pushed his back end into the air and growled playfully. Jonathan growled back, his gurgling voice high pitched and adorable in the empty room. "Oh yes, you two are a pair of terrifying beasties." Harry mock cowered behind the baby.

Mikael stood up fully and came over to sniff at them both, his tail wagging behind him. Jonathan growled at him again, letting go of Harry's hand to grab onto Mikael's ear and tug. The wolf grunted, but didn't growl or jerk away so Harry didn't stop him.

"Remember, be gentle with the baby." Harry finally said after receiving a pleading look from Mikael and a happy squeal from Jonathan. He extracted the child from his sling carrier and set him down on the carpeted stone. At least they'd offered that much comfort to his partner.

Mikael barked playfully at the baby, who was rather surprised to find himself out of the warm sling. Jonathan scrunched up his face, then barked back. It was more an expelling of sound than an actual bark and as far as Harry could tell it didn't mean anything.

Of course, Jonathan wasn't bonded with anything yet so he couldn't really speak the language of canines.

Harry watched Mikael heard Jonathan around, noting the careful touch of the large wolf's snout. Once he was sure they would both be fine without his gaze constantly on them, he began to do careful warm-up exercises.

He wouldn't be able to do a full, intensive session but he could practice some taijutsu with this spare time. About halfway through the night Jonathan nodded off and Harry tucked him into the sling again. It was attached to the wall via a sticking charm, a little above the ground to act as a sort of hammock.

With the baby safely away from them, the pair turned to each other. "Alright Mikael, I think it's time we talked about some things." The wolf whined and Harry rolled his eyes with a small smirk. "No, you aren't in trouble. I just need to explain a bit about myself."

"The bond I initiated with you was originally used by my family to bind dogs to their masters. It gave my family the ability to speak with canines and to perform jutsu that depended on the chakra of an animal." He smiled at the confused head tilt.

"I never explained chakra to you, did I? Essentially, it's an ability made up of your physical body's strength and your spirit's energy. Every living creature on earth has it, though not everything can use it like I do." Mikael crawled forward on his belly and put his head in Harry's lap.

The older boy stroked the werewolf's ears. "The reason I know how to use it is because of my parallel life. I think of it more as a past life, but really it's happening right now in another world." He shrugged a little at the disbelieving snort he received.

"It's true though. In the other life I'm known as Shurachi Inuzuka. I'm alpha of my clan and mother to a group of beautiful pups, one of which is another Jonathan." Mikael whined and Harry shook his head. "No, I didn't know another you. I didn't spend much time in the wizarding world."

The wolf shuddered and Harry closed his eyes. "I'm sure I would have cared for you if we'd met in my other life Mikael. I can't do anything about that now, but if you'd like we could begin learning this bond properly. I've noticed that several things are different than if I'd bonded a regular dog already."

Yipping his agreement, Mikael yawned widely. Harry slid himself out from under the werewolf and settled Jonathan's sling over his shoulder again. "Get some sleep. I'm going to head back up to the tower so we don't get caught when whoever comes to get you in a few hours."

Harry pecked the werewolf on the nose, grinning when the beast sneezed, then slipped out the door.

So, because of who I decided to pair Harry with, he won't be entirely seme. I love seme Harry, but I also love uke Harry. This will be aida Harry, or between Harry. Sometimes he's seme, but sometimes he's uke as well. In fact, most times he'll probably be uke if only because it would have to be rare circumstances that Zabuza would bottom. So no, Harry is not getting back together with Haku. Not in the way you would think at any rate.

Also, there have been some really aweseome reviews lately. I don't like listing names, but you know who you are. Unless you didn't leave a way for me to contact you, at which point you'll just have to decide if I'm talking about you or not. 8D Please keep it up guys, your reviews really help me improve the story!

Taku