The Black Bunny

Chapter Thirteen

Remus was already in his flat when Harry arrived. The werewolf was rapidly pacing back and forth from the living room to the kitchen. He didn't notice Harry's presence at first since Harry walked in the muggle way, through the front door. After softly shutting it, Harry leaned back against the door to study Remus.

There was something different about him. Harry couldn't tell exactly what, beyond the fact Remus was excited about something. Whether that something was good or bad remained to be seen. Remus' face gave away nothing. Remus looked scruffier than normal, but that could have been because the full moon had been only days ago, but he also looked well rested and that was not normal after a full moon.

Before Harry could say anything, Remus stopped in his tracks, his nose flaring as his head swiveled around to the door. Harry grinned and gave a little wave. "Surprised it took you that long to catch my scent."

"I've been distracted."

"I can tell. Do you want me to make tea?"

"I've already done so," Remus replied, waving a hand towards the stove where there was a kettle covered by a tea cozy. "Only a few minutes ago."

"You alright, Remus?" Harry asked, ignoring the tea for now to sit down on the couch.

"I feel alright, despite everything."

Harry nodded and waited for Remus to continue.

Remus moved to sit beside him before going on. "Fenrir took the Wolfsbane potion away from me. The owl arrived with an empty vial and a note from him… He tracked me to where I usually go for transformations. He brought his pack with him. Perhaps I should be grateful of the disturbance. His presence distracted me from the transformation. It wasn't as bad as it usually would be without the potion."

Harry sat back and listened. Determined not to interrupt. Remus sounded more bewildered than anything.

"Fenrir forced me out of the cabin to where his pack waited… it was the first time I'd ever been introduced to a werewolf pack. They didn't attack me," he said, slightly awed. "Though some were obviously defensive at my presence. Two were expressing hostility because Fenrir… Fenrir was protecting me. He made it plain to the others I was not to be touched. I think the others of his pack were jealous."

"What happened then?"

"We went hunting," he replied in a whisper, again with the bewilderment and awe. "Or at least they did and I went along for the ride."

"Hunt what?"

"No humans," Remus replied at Harry's worried tone. "Mainly the forest wildlife. Deer and rabbits. Things like that." Harry couldn't help but gulp slightly at the rabbit bit, thinking about Tom. "We ran half the night. We played too. Moony was exalted. He likes pack."

Harry snickered. "You liked it to."

Remus looked annoyed. "It was Fenrir," he mumbled. "Moony let him dominate me. That was infuriating. Fenrir is a bastard."

"Actually, he's not so-" snapping his mouth shut, Harry shot from his seat to flee into the kitchen. "Think I will have some tea."

Remus stood slowly, eyeing him. "What were you about to say, Harry?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing," Harry murmured, pulling out a mug. "Do you want some tea?"

"Yes, thanks. You were about to say Fenrir's not so… what?"

Harry bit his lip, cursing his loose tongue. What would Remus think if he knew Harry often saw the elder werewolf at Malfoy Manor? "I was just… Moony. He's not human. He must enjoy having an alpha around…" Harry winced. To his own ears that cover up sounded really lame and insulting. "Fenrir's not such a bastard to Moony. That's what I meant to say."

Harry smiled and turned to hand Remus a cuppa. Remus was eyeing him suspiciously, but Harry pretended not to notice.

"How Gray are you Harry?"

"Very. I do things to make me happy. I do things that are to my benefit. Like… I got married!" he exclaimed, brandishing his ring in Remus' contemplative face.

Remus took a hasty step back. "Already?" he didn't sound pleased at all and Harry's smile slipped.

"Yeah, we kind of eloped. Sort of."

Remus was a mix between angry and unsure now. "I want to meet him, Harry."

Harry took a deep breath. He knew what the werewolf was thinking and he could kind of see Remus' point. "Remus, I promise he's not controlling or anything. He's not making me do anything I don't want to do."

"I'd still feel more comfortable if I could talk to him."

Remus was only concerned so Harry didn't feel the need to get annoyed as he might of with someone else for saying something like that. Molly Weasley for example. Had she said it, Harry would have lost it. And he would love to let Remus meet his husband, in fact he wished they could meet. Harry wished Remus could meet and see the real Tom. The Tom he had fallen in love with, but he knew that was not possible and he told Remus this. Of course this did nothing to dispel Remus' worries and suspicions.

"He saved my life, Remus. I would have died without him. He saved my life and he's kept me safe and happy and firmly out of the war. You'll meet him… one day. Just not now. It's not possible."

"Why?" Remus asked lowly, replacing his mug on the counter. "Why isn't it possible now?"

Harry chewed on his bottom lip. "He's very busy."

"What's his name, Harry?"

"Remus, please. Can't we drop this and talk about something else?" Harry brightened then, thinking about a splendid subject change. "Drake and the twins are going to get married!"

Remus shook his head, a small smile on his face. "I will drop it this time, but be sure, Harry, we will talk about this again."

"I know, Remus."

Remus nodded before turning to go and sit back onto the couch in the living room. "So tell me about Malfoy and the twins."

Draco swept a hand through his hair as he stood at the bottom of a wooden stair case, staring up at the door on the landing. The stairs were pressed against the side of WWW building. He stood there, staring and trying to suppress nerves and wondering if this was such a good idea. He was trying, for reasons known but never spoken of, to keep the three of them celibate for a while. He looked down at himself again, eyeing the pair of jeans he'd borrowed from Harry, or more specifically, Harry had forced them on him. They were a bit loose, except around the arse area, and riding low on his hips. Neither he nor the twins were used to holding out for so long when it came to sex and the clothes he was wearing now certainly wasn't going to help their powers of slipping control.

Lucius had suggested Draco go and tell the fiends himself about the finality of the union and gave Draco the contracts to have the twins sign. Draco took a deep breath and then climbed the stairs; his heart beats gaining speed with each step until he was standing in front of the door. Draco swore his heart was about to beat right out of his chest and his stomach was already in his throat. Imagine. Being this worked up over a couple of Weasleys. A year back he would have cursed someone to death for even suggesting such a thing. This was Harry's fault! As usual.

The blond took a moment to swallow thickly, run a hand over his hair, and then knock. Fred opened the door. Fred who wore a tight white t-shirt and baggy pajama bottoms barely hanging onto his hips. Draco knew it was Fred because of the necklace with the green inverted triangle hanging over the collar of the t-shirt. Draco's eyes lingered on the t-shirt, or specifically the chest the shirt was stretched over, as well as the patches of skin he could see at Fred's hip bones.

"Draco."

Fred's husky voice drew his attention back to the redhead's face. Fred was eyeing him in much the same manner he had been doing and Draco felt like preening. "May I come in?"

Fred stepped aside. "If you didn't I think I might cry."

Draco flashed a grin and stepped inside, trying not to shiver as he did so. The heat in Fred's eyes was intense, and they gazed at him with a seriousness that had Draco thinking he wasn't leaving the flat until morning… if he gave in. Which he wouldn't. He was halfway sure of that.

"I came to talk to you," he murmured as he stepped in. He wasn't surprised when after the door was shut, Fred pressed up behind him, wrapping a tight arm around his chest and waist. Though he did gasp in surprise when a wet hot tongue caressed the side of his neck.

"Have you any idea how sexy you look right now? Wearing these muggle jeans… such a tease, Draco. Decided to give in, then?"

Draco's eyes had just drifted shut when a quiet voice asked, "what the hell do you think you're doing, bro?" not three inches away from his mouth.

The blond forced his eyes open. George stood before him wearing an identical set of pajama bottoms, though he had no shirt on and his hair was wet, dripping beads of water onto his shoulders and down his neck. His eyes were sweeping up and down Draco's body. The blond felt Fred's lips curl into a grin against his neck.

"I was just-"

George reached out to rip the hand away that had been travelling beneath Draco's shirt. "You can't start the seduction without me, wanker!"

Draco had a feeling George used the words 'The Seduction' with capital letters. As if they had the whole process completely planned out and written in permanent ink. That made him blush madly. He knew the kinds of things they planned out in detail on parchment.

"I'm sorry. But just look at him… couldn't help it."

"Yeah, I'm looking…"

Draco drew in a breath. He was quickly losing control. "Um… I came to talk to you," he whispered, reaching out and laying a flat palm against George's chest. He couldn't help it. It was the first time he'd seen either twin without a shirt on and it was a very nice chest. He liked what he was seeing and feeling. Not too buff, just the right amount of muscle, completely lickable… "When was the last time you two spoke to my father?"

"Do you think it's possible for me to think coherently when you're touching me, hot stuff?" George asked.

Draco smirked, pushing back against the cock pressing against his arse while moving his hand, fingers lightly skimming over a raised nipple. The twins sucked in breath at once. "Try," he hissed. George squeezed his eyes closed, clearly trying to think.

"It's been days," Fred finally said. "Why?"

"Today Father revealed that I am to get married for the family name. He's already decided on the union."

George's eyes popped open and he looked behind Draco to his brother in a panic. "Wha-"

"No," Fred growled and hugged him tightly. "No way. He said we could have you. He gave us his word on your family name. He swore!"

"As if I were a pet," Draco said, sounding tetchy, but very pleased by their reactions. He pulled away from Fred and sank a hand into his back pocket and withdrew a tiny envelope and then moved away completely to go sit down on one of the couches. The twins converged together and started hissing to each other. No doubt making plans to storm Malfoy Manor and demand his father change his mind. They would do it too. Draco smiled broadly from the thought as he gingerly sat down on the ugly seat, making a note to tell them they would have to move. There was no way he was living there.

Draco set the shrunken envelope upon the coffee table and used his wand to restore it to its proper size. "Fiends, come sit down."

They looked decidedly enraged as they each took a post beside him. "What've you got?" George murmured. "If your father thinks he's going to get us to do another job for him…"

"He can go to hell!" Fred snapped. "Don't care how much he's promising to pay this time!"

Draco's lips curled into a smirk as he unsealed the envelope and pulled out several manila colored documents, laying them upon the brown envelope, before crossing his arms over his chest leaning back. The twins studied him for a moment, looking at his unconcerned expression, looking at each other, and then lurched forward to look at the documents.

"I just have to say," he began levelly after their eyes widened on the marriage contracts and they started rummaging around for a quill as if their lives depended on it, "how dare you go to my father for a union! No one said anything to me about it."

"You needed a bit more persuasion, Draco love," Fred muttered right before he raced out of the living room to the bedroom.

George was murmuring to himself, standing in the kitchen, rummaging in the drawers for a quill. "We were going to tell you—found one!"

When they were once again sitting beside him, Draco bit his lip when George paused before signing his name. He and Fred exchanged a level serious look and then George dropped the quill on the documents without signing.

"W-what?" Draco croaked and felt the first stirrings of panic. Maybe they weren't as serious as they'd been saying. Maybe this had all been a game. Maybe all they had wanted was to shag him and then laugh afterwards as they walked away, never to be seen again. This was exactly why Draco was holding back in regards to shagging.

Before he could fully hyperventilate and run away, as he was seriously planning to do, George threw an arm around his shoulders and leaned in to press his lips against the pale man's throat. Fred grabbed his chin and forced Draco to look at him, pressing their lips together. It was a reassuring brush of lips, soft and warm and soothing.

"Is this what you want?" Fred asked, whispering against Draco's lips when he pulled back slightly.

"Oh, now you want my opinion?"

"Well… we just want to know if you need more persuasion. We don't want you to feel trapped."

Draco huffed and stood. "You did trap me! You stalked me and you sent me horrible yet delicious letters and did small yet simply wonderful things… just sign it already! If I wasn't pleased, I would never have come here! And before you sign, you should be prepared to move. I will never live here. We have to live between the manor and somewhere else," he commanded. "Somewhere less… plebeian."

The twins laughed as George picked up the quill again as Fred pulled Draco back down to sit. "Your haughtiness is so cute, Draco."

"I mean it!"

"Yes we know," Fred snickered as George signed his name and then passed the quill to him.

"I'm serious!" Draco whined. "You'll have to work your arses off! I will not be married to paupers!"

"We know this too… Draco, did you think we chose you in the spur of the moment? We know you as well as you know us. Stop worrying. We'll take splendid care of your spoiled whiney self."

Fred grabbed him around the middle and dropped down, pulling Draco's body over him, while George climbed over the suddenly complacent blond. "It's signed. You're definitely ours now."

Draco allowed George to snog the life out of him while Fred's tongue continued to stroke fire along his neck while his hands were everywhere they could go.

"Have you ever had a threesome, Draco?" Fred whispered.

"…no."

"Is that why you're holding out? Are you scared of us?"

"I'm not scared! Just… Just nervous, I suppose. And there's also one other reason. My mother."

George jerked back as if just speaking of her would conjure Narcissa Malfoy into the room. Draco snickered at his terrified expression. "She's scary," Fred whispered against his neck.

"Yes. And she needs to be told before I let you two have your wicked way with me," Draco replied with a smirk. George was shaking his head back and forth rapidly.

"You're still stalling," Fred murmured and somehow wrestled Draco around until their stomachs were pressed together. "But that's okay," he murmured before lifting up to catch Draco's pouty bottom lip between his teeth. "We still get to keep you. It's all good. In the end your mother will adore us as well."

Draco moaned into his mouth, thinking of course it was all good. He had a skillful tongue in his mouth, a very large hot cock pressing against his, and four hands were now running over his arse in a reverent fashion. There may be no shagging yet, but no one said they couldn't snog for hours on end. His worries over his mother took second place to this. He had two lovers who spent most of their time making sure he knew how devoted they were to him and how loved he was. Annoying pureblood tendencies and all.

"Remus is demanding to meet you."

Tom lifted his head from his pillow where he lounged on the bed with his arms up and hands linked behind his head. He gazed down at the naked boy draped comfortably over him. Tom raised a brow when Harry's striking green eyes opened to look at him. It was early morning and Harry had yet to wake fully, so his eyes were droopy and sleep glazed. He looked adorable.

"Not you exactly, obviously," Harry went on. "If he knew it was you, he wouldn't want to see you and probably never want to see me again either," he ended in a whisper, laying his head back on Tom's chest. Tom pulled a hand from behind his head to run it through Harry's hair. "Why did you send Fenrir to him? Why're you trying to get Remus on your side? It can't be because you think he'll be useful in your plans. Or that he'd make much of an impact."

"You're right. He's alienated himself away from the rest of the werewolf population. There's not much I need from him beyond another voice in favor."

"Then why?"

Tom frowned and stared up at the mirror Harry had decided to add to the kink room above the bed. He really didn't want to confess to this. He was aware he was becoming too much of a sap when it came to his husband. His minions were going to start laughing at him and then he would need to start killing perfectly good henchmen. "If he willingly joins my side, it's unlikely he'll turn away from you… I suppose if you want, I can meet him with the glamour."

Harry frowned at the idea. Tom smiled at that, knowing Harry was constantly annoyed of having to show off a glamoured husband in public. It astounded him that Harry really did want to show that he was married to the Dark Lord. Harry didn't show it in any way, but Tom knew Harry liked the power his every position afforded him. Being neutral, being married to the Dark Lord, being free and powerful and wealthy. Harry loved it all and was proud of all that.

"Did you know Remus had never run with a werewolf pack before the last full moon? Fenrir showed up at his hiding place with other werewolves and persuaded him to join. I think Moony really liked it. Did you send Fenrir that last time? Did you make him take away the Wolfsbane?"

"No. I told him to pressure a little more. I was unaware of how he planned to do so."

They lapsed into another contented silence and Tom marveled at how he really did feel content with lying here in bed with Harry, doing absolutely nothing. He marveled at how wonderful he felt to have Harry's hand's caressing along his sides in leisurely patterns. Tom's gaze returned to the mirror, watching the muscles on Harry's back moving as the young wizard finally moved to slide down his body. Tom watched as Harry's arse lifted slightly while a tongue slid over and into his naval, chest brushing over Tom's frequently interested Harry was stripping away his control once more and Tom was thinking it would be an improvement if they added mirrors to the walls lining the bed as well.

Just as Tom felt a release was imminent, Harry pulled away with an obscene slurp and a 'pop', grinning outrageously. And then he began crawling off the bed. "Where do you think you're going?" Tom hissed, trying valiantly to keep the need from his voice and not staring pitifully at his painful erection that jumped for Harry's attention as it always did.

"Remember those essays I begged you to make Snape stop giving me and you refused? That's where I'm going. There's an essay due later today. Must work on it," Harry announced cheerfully as he slipped off the bed and grabbed for one of the robes hanging off the bedposts.

Tom stared dumbly at him for a second, thinking Harry was only playing with him. Surely Harry wouldn't be so cruel. He was supposed to be the only cruel one in this relationship. "You wouldn't dare…"

Harry's grin widened as he belted his robe. "It's a brutal essay, love," he said, and just when Tom didn't think anything could get worse, Harry opened his mouth to sing. "It's a world of laughter, a world of tears. It's a world of hope, a world of fear…" and opened the door. "There's so much that we share, that its time we're aware-"

Tom snarled violently, twisted around to grab his wand from under his pillow and pointed it at his husband, hissing out a curse that hit the raven in the backside just before the door shut behind him. Harry didn't notice the spell and he wouldn't, not right away anyway and when he did notice, Tom was going to make sure there was an audience.

"That's your plan?" Draco exclaimed, staring back and forth between his father and Severus. "You want to get mother drunk before telling her. And then what? Are we supposed to hope for the best?"

The two nodded and Draco groaned, burying his head in his hands. The twins stood behind him, hands on his shoulders, patting him in comfort.

"Why don't we just tell her Draco's been knocked up?" Fred suggested.

"Yeah!" George exclaimed, getting into it, "and we can say Draco knocked one of us up as well. Then she wouldn't have a choice but to accept… even though Draco doesn't really top, but she doesn't need to know that."

Lucius looked slightly ill. Severus stared blankly at them. Draco turned to them slowly. "That's actually… a brilliant idea!"

"What's a brilliant idea?"

Fred and George quickly snatched their hands away from Draco's shoulders and the five wizards tensed as Narcissa entered the library with Harry and the Dark Lord behind her.

"A dinner party," Severus smoothly interjected; mentally shaking his head at the others' scared expressions. "A private, non formal dinner party."

"What is the occasion?"

"Draco's promotion to the Inner Circle," Tom provided. He wasn't sure if Narcissa would believe that, as usually when someone was initiated, there was no party. Usually there was some torture to insure unyielding allegiance.

"Oh, lovely!" Narcissa smiled and pinched Draco's cheek. "I am so proud of you, darling."

The twins snickered when Draco whined about her pinching his cheek; until she looked at them and pinched harder, causing Draco to flinch. She eyed the twins strangely a moment before looking Draco in the eye. "My darling innocent baby boy," she ended fondly.

"Father," Draco whined softly trying to shift away from his mother, but not trying too hard as he wanted to keep his cheek connected with the rest of his face.

"Narcissa, would you like a drink?" Lucius inquired, taking her hand and easing her away. Draco, rubbing his sore cheek, hurried to the other side of the room with the twins and Harry to talk about whatever they usually talked about. Tom thought he heard Quidditch and sex mentioned. Did they ever talk about anything else?

After a few minutes, Tom leaned against the mantle and discreetly pointed his wand at Harry, whispering, "evigilo." Activating the dormant spell.

Harry gasped and shuddered violently for a moment and then all went back to normal. Tom frowned. The transformation should have been immediate. Harry stood there, frowning and staring at his hands, wondering what had just happened. He looked around the room in confusion, before going back to talking to Draco and the twins.

Tom made himself relax and watched his young husband's every move. A laugh nearly escaped him when Harry suddenly paused in his speaking to lick the back of his hand and then lift it to the top of his head to slick his wet hand back over his hair. Draco gaped at him while the twins looked sort of concerned in an amused way. But Harry continued to talk as if nothing had happened. And then he did it again without missing a beat. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Err… Harry?"

"You alright, mate?" the twins inquired carefully.

"Course. Why wouldn't I be?"

Draco frowned. "You licked yourself. Twice. Just now."

"No I didn't. Why would I lick myself?"

"You did, Harry. You licked the back of your hand and then pressed it against your hair… like a cat washing its fur."

Harry frowned with annoyance. "Very funny, guys. Cut it out." He then did it again.

Draco pointed at him. Harry paused mid swipe at Draco's gesture and then very slowly lowered his hand from his hair, looking very perplexed. Tom had to look at the ground as a grin flashed across his face without permission. Lucius, Severus, and Narcissa, having been watching all of this, turned to look at him. Tom quickly slid a stoic expression onto his face.

"Erm," Harry whispered, scratching his head, "that was weird." He then pulled his hand away quickly, staring at his fingers. "That's weird too. I have nails." They weren't very long or anything, but he usually bit his nails until there was usually nothing left. But now he had very nice nails that seemed to be kind of sharp. But he… he hadn't bitten his nails in a while, had he? Harry couldn't remember, actually. So he shrugged it off.

"Why is that weird?" Lucius wanted to know.

"I, uh…don't have nails. I bite them."

"Disgusting habit," Tom drawled.

Harry shrugged again. They'd had that conversation one too many times in his opinion. It was a habit he would probably never quit. "Can't help it…Anyway," he turned back to his friends, laughing in a strained way, "what were we talking about?"

It was silent for a moment. All anyone did was stare at Harry. But when nothing else strange happened, the four boys went back to talking. Draco and the twins started to relax, only to quickly return to being very concerned when Harry spoke again. They were concerned because after every few words he spoke, a meow was thrown in the mix. Everyone went back to gawking. Still Harry didn't seem to notice what he was doing.

George dropped a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, are you taking the piss? If so, bravo."

"No! Meow! I swear the new team is meow good. They're definitely going to meow some headway in the league next season."

Draco drew in a breath, exchanged looks with his boyfriends, and then took Harry's elbow. "Let's sit down, shall we?"

By this time, Severus had figured out what was going on and smirked at the Dark Lord. Tom was having a hard time keeping the mirth from his eyes. This was too good! Better than expected! The boys moved over to sit down and as soon as Harry's arse hit the couch, he whined and shot back up again, craning his neck to stare at his backside in disbelief.

"Harry?" Draco asked carefully. "What's…"

Harry squeezed his eyes closed and hissed as if in pain. He began to shift his weight back and forth on his feet. After a moment his eyes popped wide open and he ran away to the back of the room, disappearing behind bookshelves. The room was utterly quiet until they heard the sound of ripping fabric and then, "…WHAT THE FUCK? MEOW!"

Tom dropped his face into his hands, unable to contain his laughter any more. Draco and the twins stared at him for a moment before rushing away to find Harry.

"Blimey, Harry!"

"Is that a tail?"

"I have a fucking tail! Oh, Merlin, it won't stop growing! Stop! STOP! MEOW!"

They heard Draco gasp and the twins snicker. "Look at your ears! They're fading!"

"There's something growing out of your hair, mate..."

"Your hair's getting longer!"

"Shaggier," Draco corrected and Harry screamed in terror. It was all very hysterical in Tom's opinion.

Narcissa turned to him. "My Lord… did you do this?"

Tom smiled gleefully. He was delighted. Harry was meowing! "It's not working the way it was supposed to. Though I must say this is better… a bit of payback, Narcissa."

"Tom! Tom, something's wrong with me!" Harry cried. The panic in his voice had Tom moving to find him, though he was still amused. He would not feel guilty. His little minx deserved this.

By the time Tom and the others found him, there were two things growing out of Harry's hair- which had grown shaggier and now framed his face like a small black mane- and his ears were completely gone… at least his human ears. The somethings growing from Harry's hair happened to be two triangular black ears. Cat ears. Harry didn't seem to notice this though. His entire attention was on the wiggling object in his hand. A long sleek black tail. Tom moved forward, took Harry by the shoulders and turned him so that he was looking at Harry's backside. The tail had grown right out of his tail bone.

"Meow!" Harry hissed, jerking away from Tom when the Dark Lord leaned over to touch the base of his tail. Tom leaned against the nearest bookcase, threw back his head and laughed. "Stop laughing! Do something, pervert!"

"Why should I? This is what you get for misbehaving," Tom drawled when he managed to stop laughing.

Harry's lips parted in shock. Draco leaned forward for a better look. Harry had two little sharp feline teeth. Not very long, but they were there.

"You did this to meow?" he asked in a small voice, his eyes gone wide and sorrowful, like an unhappy kitten. Hands wringing around the tail that now hung limply in his hand.

Tom pressed his lips together in a thin line. He refused to be moved. Harry had this coming. He really did. "You deserve it. You left me in an unacceptable state."

Those big green eyes began to water and the cat ears drooped to the sides. Tom mentally cursed. Even he couldn't remain unaffected by that! "It's not permanent," he muttered. His only answer was another whimpered meow; tiny and heartbreaking.

"Oh you poor thing!" Narcissa exclaimed, pushing by the group of wizards to grasp Harry's shoulders and pulled him into her arms, pressing his face into the crook of her neck. "For shame!" she boldly snapped at Tom before guiding Harry away, reaching up to pet his cat ears. "How about some creme? Would you like that?"

The wizards behind heard Harry mumble a "yeah," and then they watched those cat ears perk up and Harry answered with a bit more spirit, "meow, that sounds really really good! Crème!"

"Your tail is lovely, Harry."

"Thanks!"

And then they left the room, leaving Tom, Lucius, Severus, the twins, and Draco to stare at each other. Lucius broke the silence with a snort. The twins looked as if they wanted to laugh, but to do so would mean betraying Harry in some way. That's how they looked to Tom anyway. Draco stood there biting his lip. Severus had a pleased expression on his face. He looked extremely amused. Tom felt like a bastard.

"He was supposed to turn into a real cat," he said.

One of the twins couldn't stand it any longer. He laughed and burst out with, "this was way better! Brilliant! Can you give me the spell?"

Draco and the other twin smacked him upside the head.

The spell hadn't worked as it was supposed to. Harry was still human but with certain cat characteristics. His maturity seemed to decline a little as well, but not a lot. Just enough that he seemed incredibly young. Kitten-like in a young man's body. Tom rather liked the outcome. In small doses. Harry reacted like a cat when his emotions were high; he growled and hissed and meowed and purred at times too. Or so Tom had been told by Narcissa. Harry only hissed when Tom tried to get near him throughout the day. He hissed and growled and ran away. Like a baby.

That could have been because Tom's spell wasn't so temporary. It wasn't permanent, but since the spell hadn't worked like it was supposed to, Tom wasn't sure when the spell would ware off. He could probably find a spell to immediately turn Harry back to normal, but Tom was thinking even if he made the spell dormant, it wouldn't completely leave Harry. This was another down side to his temper. He hadn't really thought about what he was doing when he shot that spell at Harry. Only that he knew it wouldn't hurt his husband and only teach him a lesson, whatever that lesson was.

Tom sort of liked this outcome, which is probably why he wasn't racing to find a counter spell. It was something probably very simple too. Something even Granger would be able to find. Tom knew better to let this out around Harry, unless his young husband admitted he liked being half a cat at times. And again, Tom had a feeling Harry did enjoy the enchantment. Harry was very child-like anyway, and being half a cat gave him more excuses to act like one outright without worrying about consequences.

Harry had finally returned to their home and was currently draped over a leather bench in his private study, laid out under the window where the sun shone through to smother his back like a blanket. He laid there in blissful contentment under the sun. His tail moving lazily back and forth against the carpet beneath the bench as his mind napped. He had been hiding away in his study since leaving Malfoy Manor and refused to even contemplate talking or seeing Tom. All the doors had been sealed and there was no way for Tom to get through until Harry wanted him to. Or at least that's what he thought until the fire in the fireplace roared green and Tom stepped out. Harry hissed in annoyance. He'd forgotten his fireplace was connected to the castle's Floo network.

"Harry."

Those ears flattened against Harry's shaggy hair. "You made meow a cat," Harry hissed. "I haven't even been married to you for two weeks and you made me a cat."

"Not exactly a cat," Tom murmured as he moved closer and sat at the end of the bench.

"I 'meow' and love to drink crème from a bowl, for fucks sake!"

Tom smirked and reached down to grasp that tail, sliding it through his fingers. Harry stilled and then shivered as Tom continued to stroke. He watched as Harry's fingers clenched around the end of the bench and his backside raised slightly. "I have crème. Though it will not be from a bowl."

Harry slowly turned to look at him, his eyes half lidded. Tom dropped the tail and leaned over to scratch Harry behind an ear. Harry slapped his hand away. "Don't do that!" But Tom did do it again, scratching and stroking the ear and scratching again until Harry's eyelids began to droop and he basically melted over the bench. He started purring and suddenly Tom was driven to see how much pleasure he could give to his transformed husband in this state. To see how much pleasure he could gain from giving Harry pleasure.

Tom dropped to his knees beside the bench, continued to scratch Harry's- dare he say adorable ears- and returned half his attention to that tail that lay half limp half twitching whenever Tom hit a nice spot. He stroked the tail from base to tip and Harry moaned in delight, arching his back at the motion.

"Have you a cat fetish, Tom?" Harry asked, his tone low and laced with a rumbled purr that had Tom smirking.

"Cats are evil little creatures," he responded.

Harry laughed. "That means yes."

"No, I don't like cats. However, I do adore my little minx."

Blinding pleasure sparked those emerald eyes. "You know, that came from Manx, and Manx's don't really have tails. They have stubs for tails. Did you know that?"

"Yes, but the term minx also has a definition. The word is defined as a pert, flirtatious, or impudent young person. In other words: you. Now turn over," Tom commanded.

Harry didn't seem to mind the command. He followed it without complaint. First lifting by his arms and stretching out in a languid fashion, just like a cat; lifting that pert arse as he stretched his arms out and his nails kneading into the leather of the bench. Tom ignored the nail marks in favor of staring at Harry's arse which was very near his face and close enough to bite. But Harry was through with his stretching and easily flipped over onto his back.

Harry remained still and complacent as Tom unbuttoned his shirt, watching him with drowsy green eyes and his patented lopsided grin. When he pulled Harry up in order to slide the shirt off his shoulders, Tom covered that half cocked smile with his lips and relished in the feel of Harry's arm circling his neck. This all meant Harry wasn't angry with him anymore. Tom really despised it when Harry was irked with him.

Tom's hands paused in their roaming of Harry's back when he felt something brush over his crotch, and since Harry's arms were around his neck, he took notice and pulled back. Harry was grinning now and Tom looked down to find Harry's tail caressing him. Apparently Harry had learned how to control the tail. Tom wasn't really surprised that he found it a turn on instead of being disgusted by it.

Harry's arms shifted and his hands ran over his broad shoulders and then down his chest in order to press Tom's robe off his shoulders with an eager scoot closer, pink tongue peeking out at the corner of his mouth as he concentrated. Tom groaned and tapped Harry on the thigh with his wand and his husband was left there naked as the day he was born. Harry didn't seem to mind. He scooted even closer until he was settled quite nicely on Tom's thighs, a little purred meow passing his lips before Tom commenced with devouring him for long minutes on end.

After a time, Harry wriggled off Tom's lap with an impatient meow and slid back until he could lower onto the bench, pressing his stomach against the leather and keeping his torso lifted by his elbows. Harry's tail swung gaily back and forth, his ears danced, and that pink tongue was back in the corner, peeking out of his swollen delicious lips. His striking green eyes were transfixed on Tom's crotch. "Crème?" he asked eagerly without raising his eyes. Tom wasn't even being touched at the moment and he was seized with such heat he thought he might combust.

"I will definitely use this spell on you again in the future," he breathed as his fingers dropped to his pants and worked on the clasp, cursing because his fingers really weren't steady. Harry purred and his hands were suddenly on Tom's thighs, little sharp nails lightly digging into the fabric and into his flesh, kneading softly. "Do not bite me with your feline teeth, Harry," he ordered when his cock was free.

Harry finally looked at his face and smirked. A smirk that had nothing to do with being half a cat and was all Harry. Devious and brilliant and teasing. And then his attention was elsewhere. Tom sucked in a breath when Harry started and bit back a moan when Harry began to lick his up and down at his own leisure. Tom wasn't sure, but he was almost certain Harry's tongue felt rougher than usual and that along with Harry's skill with his tongue had him trembling and thinking he may not last long enough to be able to flip Harry around and fuck his husband's tight arse right off the bench. But then again, Harry wanted crème, so he supposed he could look forward to them being locked in the study for quite some time.

It didn't even occur to him until later that their guests would be arriving the next day and Harry would probably still be a cat and would be seen as one when they arrived. Tom had no intention of hiding his husband away… why were his plans concerning Harry always backfiring on him?

Hermione Portkeyed home, sighing when she arrived, pleased to know her parents were safely tucked away from the Order and the Ministry's clutches. What she wanted now was a long relaxing bath before she went to see Voldemort to ask what her next assignment would be, and hoping it had something to do where she would need another body guard. One in particular whom she hadn't been able to speak to since he'd asked her out.

"Harry! Come down! Be a good boy and come down!" a voice called out from down the hall. Hermione's brows furrowed. That had sounded like Draco.

"I may be kind of a cat meow, but that doesn't make meow stupid, Drake! Don't talk to me as if I were five!"

"Then get your arse down, Potter! We need to get ready for the Veela! You can't be seen running around in muggle jeans and an old t-shirt if the Veela should come across you. It's a miracle they even agreed to come here as it is! You need to make a good impression! Come down!"

"Meow! It's fun up here! My balance is so much better with this tail! You should try it!"

Hermione cocked her head as she approached the open hall leading to the stairs. Cat? Tail? Veela? What on earth is going on? And what was up with the meowing? Was Harry drunk, maybe?

Hermione stepped out of the corridor and into the massive hall, finding Draco, George, and Fred standing a little off center staring up at the huge chandelier lighting the hall. Hermione paused and her gaze traveled up. She gasped when she saw Harry squatted inside the top of the chandelier. Hands on the edge with his chin dropped on his knuckles, grinning down at his friends.

"Harry!"

"Hermione! You're back! I missed you!"

And then she saw a tail pop up and start waving around behind him. After that she noticed the ears and was kind of speechless. She had no time to comment on that as footsteps from the staircase was heard. Long purposeful strides. Harry's ears twitched and a mischievous grin spread across his face as he ducked into the chandelier until she couldn't see him at all except the shadow he made against the crystal. Hermione made her way over to Malfoy and the twins just as Voldemort appeared at the top of the stairs, glaring at them as he made his way down.

"Where is he?" he demanded.

All of them pointed to the chandelier. Even Hermione, as she knew without doubt that he sought Harry. The Dark Lord stopped in his tracks, his eyes swiveling to the slightly swaying crystal chandelier. Hermione watched as a soft amused smile crossed the Dark Lord's face before he wiped it clean.

"Harry, show yourself."

Hermione frowned where Harry didn't answer, wondering why, and above all, wondering why her friend seemed to be a humanoid cat.

"Harry, the Veela will be here in an hour. You are to stop playing and prepare. You can continue to play after they arrive and we have greeted them properly. But you must be dressed." His answer to that was a long drawn out hiss. Strangely, Voldemort found this funny and he smirked. "I have crème."

Harry's head popped up instantly. "Your crème?" he asked, licking his lips. From where she was standing, Hermione saw the Dark Lord's eyes darken. It was plainly desire and Hermione thought she'd heard all she would want to hear at this point. So she turned to the three beside her.

"What is going on?" she whispered. "Why is Harry a cat? And why is everyone talking to him as if he were a child?"

"He's not really a cat…" Draco started, glaring when the twins laughed. "He only has certain characteristics of one. And he might have digressed a few years personality wise."

"He's as spastic as a kitten like this," one of the twins put in.

"But why is he like this?"

"The Dark Lord cast a spell," Fred murmured. "It's only supposed to be temporary, but for some reason the Dark Lord and Harry seem to have forgotten about that. Despite what he says, I think Harry likes being this way. The Dark Lord likes it too. Harry says the Dark Lord has a soft spot for cute furry little animals."

Draco glared. "Also concerning Harry's current mentality, it didn't help that you two set loose two dozen fake mice around the place," he snapped. "Every time I manage to get Harry to settle down, another one of those blasted mice appears, racing across the ground, and then he's gone, racing after it."

"Harry, now!"

The three turned to find Voldemort looking less amused and Harry ducked back into the chandelier. Low growling meows preceded the Dark Lord's commands. One of the twins snickered. "Harry's still pretending he's mad at being turned into a cat."

"I think it's definitely only an act," Draco said.

"Miss Granger. Perhaps you can get him down and appropriately attired." It was command dressed as a suggestion. Voldemort spun on his heels and disappeared back up the stairs.

Hermione quickly ran up the stairs until she was nearly eye level with the chandelier. "Harry, how'd you get up there?"

Harry popped up again and grinned. "I jumped! From the railing where you are. Just look, Hermione! He gave meow a tail!"

"Harry, you really need to come down and dress. You need to dress appropriately and be able to stand beside your husband when the time comes. Don't you want to show your support to him? I mean… its Veela!"

"Meow."

Hermione backed up when Harry shifted, leaning over the edge of the chandelier. She saw the boys below pointing their wands at the light fixture. Probably to keep it steady and make sure Harry didn't tumble to his death. Harry deftly leapt from the chandelier over to the railing of the stairs, landing on his feet in front of her. Hermione studied him with wide eyes and watched as her friend licked the back of his hand and brought it up to wash one of his ears.

"Harry, you just-"

"I meow! Can't help it!"

"At least you don't have whiskers… how did he manage to get the Veela to agree to come here?"

"That was his last mission," Harry replied. "Apparently he impressed them. Somehow. They'll meow decide if they meow to offer allegiance after tonight. Allegiance or promise to meow out of the fight altogether."

"How do you know that?" Hermione asked, trying not to show how amused she was at the random meowing.

"He tells meow little things," Harry murmured and then licked his hand again. "It makes him think better meow… when he can talk out loud to someone who's listening." Harry smiled brilliantly, "and I'm the only one he feels comfortable enough with to talk to in that way. Well… me and Nagini. Speaking of, she promised to play with meow," he murmured and then quickly looked up at the landing and his ears perked. "Mouse!" he cried, and then was gone.

"Harry!"

Draco turned to his boyfriends, glaring at them, but they were too busy holding onto each other and laughing.

The Veela arrived by an untraceable Portkey provided by Tom within the large Entrance Hall to ensure the Veela would not be able to divulge the castle's location to anyone else. Tom managed to get Harry settled down enough to dress and then stand with him and greet the Veela with the promise that he didn't have to stick around once the initial greetings took place.

The Veela already knew about Harry. Somehow they had caught on to rumors about the Dark Lord being married, and after taking a vow of secrecy, had been told the truth of the matter. Tom concluded it would only do him good rather than harm if they knew the truth about who he was married to. Harry had known Tom was going to tell and use his marriage to the Boy-Who- Lived as an advantage. Harry had told Tom he didn't really mind.

"Lord Riddle… may I inquire as to why your husband seems to be half feline?" the lady Veela asked. Her name was Iseut, a strange but pretty name, and she smiled a soft smile at Harry, who returned the smile full force. "I'm perfectly aware Harry Potter was not born this way."

Harry giggled from where he was snuggled against his husband's side. "She called you Lord Riddle. Meow," he snickered before licking his hand. "Does that make meow Lord Riddle too?"

"Yes," Tom answered Harry as he quickly snatched the hand out of the air just before Harry would have slicked it over his ear.

Mentally he rolled his eyes. This was his fault so he couldn't very well blame Harry for acting out of turn. It wasn't Harry's fault he was still under the spell. Fortunately the two Veela ambassadors didn't seem the least bit insulted. Seems they were charmed by his husband's antics. It wasn't surprising. If Harry could charm the vampires by being himself, then he could charm anyone being this way. "Truthfully… Harry played a prank on me and I returned the favor. He should return to normal soon. Hopefully."

Harry's smile turned into pure mischief. "But I thought you liked me like this," he purred, lifting his tail to caress Tom's crotch right in front of their visitors. Iseut raised a hand and laughed softly behind it. The male Veela, Diandre, simply smirked, giving Harry a nod of approval.

Tom gave Harry a look. Harry ignored it of course. "Can you tell meow why you've come here?" he asked the Veela instead. They were very pretty. Both had striking white blond hair. Lighter than Draco's. Their faces seemed ageless, locked in time, but their eyes were turbulent storms of sea green and arctic blue and very expressive. Looks can be deceiving. He'd learned that over the years.

"Harry," he was warned, but again he ignored it and stared at the Veela expectantly.

"I'm only curious, Tom. They've come alone, meow… and I wondered why. Aren't you afraid?"

"Your husband extended a hand of peace when he visited our nation," Diandre answered.

Harry cocked his head, looking at Tom. "Which is basically a peace treaty between myself and the Veela until the talks are finished. I would not attack them here. That would cause complications I'm not prepared to take on and they know this."

"And we came here, because like you," Iseut ended, still smiling at Harry, "we are curious. Your husband is not the same as he once was."

"No, of course not! If he was, I wouldn't have married him."

Both Veela nodded. "We also wished to talk outside of our nation. Where he ruled. In order to see. We've had dealings of sort with Lord Riddle over the years. Our Seers thought we should come here."

One black ear flickered with uncertainty and Harry was suddenly peering at them suspiciously. It was completely obvious when he grew very serious, no longer playful. Hostile was the correct term. And to Tom's utter shock, Harry stepped around to stand in front of him like a shield. "Aren't you Light beings? What are you doing here?" he demanded. The suspicion and warning was clear in his low voice. Both of his ears were pinned against his head, the hair on his tail was standing on end, puffed out since he was threatened. His wand was suddenly in hand and Tom could feel him gathering his power as if preparing for a battle. "I will not let you hurt my Tom!"

My partner. My little minx, he thought with proud fondness as he laid a firm hand on Harry's shoulder.

"We do not wish to allow the wizards war into our nation," Diandre answered.

"Then why the blazing meow are you here?"

Tom increased the pressure of his hand. "Harry, we can talk about this later."

"Meow! They could meow here to try and hurt you! I won't let them!"

"Harry, calm down and put away your wand."

"Your husband's hand is stretched far out, far beyond Britain," Iseut began. Her smile still in place. Tom thought she was just as enchanted by Harry's protectiveness as he was. "Even on the Continent, his hand stretches far. Should we choose to help, he has promised to stay away from our nation. That is why we are here. To decide if we are to help. To give assistance if he should need it. We are not exactly Light. We do what is best for our people and Veela do enjoy politics of every kind. We're also aware of what Lord Riddle wants in regards to magical creatures and beings. Did you know young Veela are kidnapped and sold as sex slaves, Harry? It is a travesty that happens every day."

Harry deflated slightly as his eyes grew very round in horror. "No," he whispered, "I didn't know that."

"Your husband swears to help stop this horror."

Harry turned and graced Tom with one of those illegal smiles. The Veela did not miss this, nor did they miss the Dark Lord's reaction to it. They didn't miss the genuine affection and love passing between the two before Harry and Tom turned back to them.

"Oh… well that's good then. Can I go play meow?" Harry directed to his husband. Tom nodded and then gritted his teeth when Harry spun around without a backward glance at the Veela to race away. Tom looked to the ambassadors, feeling slightly as if he should apologize for Harry's lack of manners, but he would do no such thing as he refused to ever apologize to anyone aside from Harry. However, again, the Veela didn't seem to mind Harry's rude departure.

"Sorry!" Harry cried from somewhere behind him. Tom turned to find his husband hurrying back to them, and was relieved Harry at least wasn't running this time. "I'm sorry, that was rude, wasn't it?" he smiled and held his hand out to Iseut, "it was a pleasure to meet you."

She smiled back and gave him her hand. Harry's smile grew and he kissed the back of her hand. She really liked that. When he dropped her hand, he turned to Diandre who, Tom noted with a great deal of irritation, already had his hand out. Never mind that the Ambassadors were mates. Tom was preparing a hex in case Harry or Diandre tried to kiss each other's hands, but that didn't happen. They firmly shook, Harry again bid them a proper farewell, turned and planted a chaste kiss on Tom before he could stop it, and then took off again, shouting excitedly, "mouse!"

Tom pinched the bridge of his nose and refused to turn around and look. Though he did swear he was going to find Fred and George Weasley when this meeting was over with and hang them in the dungeons, perhaps fire off a few painful curses as well. "Shall we?" he asked the Veela between clenched teeth, turning and gesturing them into the formal parlor off the entrance hall.

"He's not what I expected, Lord Riddle," the female murmured as she and her mate followed him inside. Usually anyone who addressed him in such a way would immediately be struck down, but the Veela had always called him Lord Riddle and he couldn't do anything about that. Not at the moment. Not when he wanted their cooperation without turning it into a bloodbath.

Tom smiled without humor. "What did you expect?" he asked this already knowing the answer.

"When we learned you were married to Harry Potter, naturally we expected the boy to be under an enchantment. You've spent many years trying to kill him."

"Did you come here to save him?"

"No," Iseut murmured, taking a seat upon the blood red duvet Tom motioned her to. "But we would have found a way around the Oath you made us take. We would have found a way to help him. But now… it seems we feared needlessly."

"Was this the only reason why you've come here?" Tom hissed.

"We are also here for the reasons explained to your husband, Lord Riddle. Shall we discuss it now?"

Remus stumbled into his little flat, shaking and haggard, trying to ignore the pain in his right side, left leg- which he had to limp on- and his arm, all of which he feared was damaged so badly he'd need a healer. He dragged himself to the chair in the kitchen and gingerly sat down, only to curse lowly and tense when someone knocked on his door. Remus sat there still and tense, unsure of what to do. He was pretty much useless at this point. Had one of the Order followed him back here? That couldn't be it. He'd been very careful when going home and no one knew it had been him as he was currently polyjuiced… another knock. This one louder.

Remus lifted his wand, knuckles turning stark white, making the bruises and bloodied cuts stand out in stark contrast. When someone called his name through the door, he unconsciously released the breath he was holding as well as the death grip from the wand, though he didn't release it completely. It was still danger. Remus climbed from the chair and slowly limped to the door.

Fenrir flashed a toothy grin when the door was opened to him, only for it to slip away once he took a good look at Remus. Hostility entered his eyes as his nostrils flared.

"It's me," Remus said, his voice raw from yelling out spells and curses for what seemed like hours. "I'm only polyjuiced."

Fenrir sniffed again and the hostility disappeared for the most part, though he still looked angry. "Yes and you're injured," he hissed. The elder werewolf grabbed Remus' good arm and barged into the apartment, dragging the relatively amiable younger werewolf with him. Remus snarled inwardly. Moony was bloody happy to see Fenrir. Traitor, he thought almost petulantly.

"At least you had the courtesy to knock on the door first before coming in," he mumbled and it wasn't until he'd been tossed onto the worn and battered couch did Remus realize Fenrir had not come alone this time.

"Expelliarmus! Stay seated!" Fenrir barked when Remus started to try and scramble off the couch, ignoring his limp arm and injured leg. Despite having his wand snatched, Remus ignored him and continued to try and escape the low couch as he watched the tall wizard with the gleaming red eyes come in and shut the door behind him.

Fenrir growled and trapped the younger werewolf against the couch by wrapping his hand around Remus' throat and pushing him back. "Easy, cub," Fenrir murmured. He lifted his arm back and Voldemort took Remus' wand into his hand. Remus bared his teeth, his eyes flashing betrayal. Just when he thought he could blend with his wolf, when he could find some modicum of happiness with Moony… it all turned out to be a lie.

Voldemort left the hood of his cloak on for the moment and studied the werewolf glaring balefully, not at him, but at Fenrir. Oh, the betrayed look was succulent. The Dark Lord would be sure not to pass that on to Harry, but still… whatever Fenrir had been doing, it seemed to have been a great success if Lupin were now looking betrayed.

He noted Lupin didn't look himself tonight, nor was he completely healthy. Currently he looked to be the twins' age, with dark brown hair and pained blue eyes; tall and lanky and spitting mad but too tired and injured to do much of anything, especially without his wand. He had cuts and scratches and blood splattered all over him.

"Why are you injured?" Voldemort finally questioned.

The wolf's gaze finally returned to him, but he gritted his teeth and refused to say anything.

"Come now, Remus. Do not invite death," Fenrir whispered. "The Dark Lord asked you a question."

Remus bared his straight teeth. "Take your hands off me."

"You've been in a battle," Voldemort guessed, once again drawing Remus' attention. "Against who? There were no Death Eater raids tonight."

"You would know," Remus spat. When Voldemort did nothing but incline his head, Remus went still in shock. He'd never come into contact with Voldemort before, but he'd heard stories and knew anyone who back talked was immediately tortured for it. "The Order," he finally whispered.

A particularly gleeful expression appeared on Fenrir's face, while Voldemort took two steps closer. "You fight the Order now, Lupin?"

"When necessary and not for your sake—why are you here?"

"I've come here to make someone happy."

"Yourself, no doubt," Remus growled and ignored the sudden pressure bearing down on his throat.

Fenrir bared his teeth, leaning until his lips were beside his ear. "You really are a feisty cub, aren't you? Behave, Remus."

"Werewolf," Voldemort called. "Werewolf, look at me. Fenrir, release him." When he had Remus' complete attention and Fenrir had stepped away from his cub, Voldemort dropped the hood of his cloak. "Are you watching, Lupin?"

Remus shook away the surprise at seeing Voldemort looking as he did and narrowed his eyes. "What does this have to do making someone happy? Do I look happy to you? Am I supposed to be happy to see you looking human now?"

Voldemort closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Harry," he muttered, as if reminding himself of something.

"What did you just say?" Remus shouted, bolting to his feet with strength he, Fenrir, nor Voldemort had thought he could possess at the moment. "What have you done to him? What have you done to Harry?"

"Contain him or I will," Voldemort hissed to Fenrir. The elder werewolf shoved Remus in the chest, and because of his injuries, Remus fell easily back onto the couch. "Do I look familiar to you, Lupin?" the Dark Lord went on, raising his wand to his face, erecting the glamour he usually wore when out in public with Harry.

Remus watched and held his breath when the wizard started to look familiar. When he started to look like Harry's fiancé-now husband. "No."

"Yes. Now pay attention, Lupin. This is the face Harry prefers," Voldemort went on and erased the glamours so that he was once again looking as he was meant to. Red eyes included.

"This… is a joke."

Voldemort found it amusing when Lupin turned to Fenrir for explanations. For the elder werewolf to tell him it was a joke. Fenrir told him it wasn't a joke and nothing else was said for a few minutes as that was when the Polyjuice potion began to fade.

"I don't recall you being this pale," Fenrir said, studying Lupin's face.

"That's what shock and loss of blood does to a person," Remus snapped back. "Bloody Moody, he-" he pressed is lips together and looked away.

Voldemort returned the hood of his cloak up. "We'll return to Malfoy Manor. Bring him. He needs to be healed and Harry will want to see him."

Remus had been silencioed and Fenrir had him firmly in hand, making sure the younger werewolf couldn't move out of the shadows from where Voldemort had them hidden within a shallow alcove. So all Remus could do was stand there and watch the four down the hall silently and with wide eyes; all he could do was watch and listen.

"Shouldn't you be in there?" Harry asked Draco and the twins, gesturing to the double doors they all stood in front of.

The twins quickly shook their heads. While Draco said, "Severus thought he and Father should speak to her first, loosen her up with alcohol… and if that doesn't work, then we'll go for the pregnancy thing."

"I really don't think that's the best way to go," Hermione put in. "Why don't you three be honest with her. She's a pureblood. Won't she see that you need to marry in order to carry on the name. Eventually-"

"Granger, shut up," Draco muttered as he pressed his ear against the door. "You don't know my mother."

"She is a bit scary," Harry agreed as he went to join Draco, pressing his ear against the door also.

Remus stood frozen watching the twins lean over Draco and press their ears to the door as well. Hermione laughed softly and then giggled when Harry grabbed her hand and yanked her forward to press her ear against the door as well. They were all smiling. Well except for Malfoy, he had an apprehensive look on his face. Both twins had a hand on his tense shoulders, squeezing gently. Harry and Hermione were whispering and laughing together… until Draco turned and kicked Harry's shin and sent a scathing look at Hermione, one in which she ignored.

Voldemort turned to Fenrir. "Keep him quiet and still."

Fenrir nodded, though he didn't tighten his hold on Remus. Both werewolves watched him leave the small alcove. Remus slumped tiredly against Fenrir and continued to watch. Really, his head was blank. What was he supposed to think? That Harry had willingly married Voldemort? That he had joined turned Dark… but Remus really didn't believe that. Harry swore he wasn't Dark. The twins had sworn and whatever else was going on, Remus knew they wouldn't have lied about that to him. They wouldn't have said anything if that were the case, but the fact that they has specifically said they were still neutral… Remus' thoughts stilled when Harry finally noticed Voldemort approaching. Harry's face lit up like Christmas.

Harry pulled away from the door and met the Dark Lord halfway. Remus studied his face carefully. Nothing about him screamed a potion or being under an enchantment. Remus knew Harry well enough to be able to spot the signs. Harry grabbed Voldemort's hand and pulled him to the wall opposite the double doors the others were pressed against.

"Tom, can't you just…" he waved his hands around in between them, "order Narcissa to stop being so psycho about Draco's innocence?"

"I don't feel the need to get involved in this nonsense. Eventually Narcissa will have to see she can't halt Draco's growing up. And Granger was correct. Draco is a pure blood and will need to be married. If Severus and Lucius are smart, they will point this out. She was married right out of Hogwarts. She cannot go against family tradition." Harry frowned and opened his mouth to say something. Voldemort shook his head. "I will, however, promise no harm will come to your twins. Does this please you?"

Harry's returning smile was answer enough and without prompting, he embraced Voldemort. Remus watched Harry's fingers slide into the Dark Lord's brown hair and tug their lips together, seemingly not caring at all that they weren't alone. Remus couldn't help but snort when Voldemort tried to pull away after a few moments and Harry wouldn't let him. It was just so like Harry, especially because Harry was a very affectionate young man. And Voldemort didn't seem to mind at all. Remus thought he would die of shock when Harry pulled back a little bit only to rub his cheek against Voldemort's, and again the Dark Lord didn't seem to mind. The tilt of the Dark wizard's lips even indicated a smile. Remus was finding it very hard to breathe.

Fenrir dipped his head until his lips were against Remus' ear. "He married the Dark Lord willingly, cub. Can't you see it?"

He could, but he couldn't say it as he was still silenced. Though he tried opening his mouth to tell Fenrir his vision was becoming blurry and the alcove they were in had suddenly gone very cold. He couldn't voice that either. But he didn't have to. Fenrir got a clue when he collapsed. The only reason why he didn't hit the floor was because Fenrir already had a hold of him.

"Remus?" the elder werewolf lowered to his knees, spreading Remus out. "Cub?"

Remus didn't even have the energy to silently snarl at continuously being addressed as a cub. He was not Fenrir's bloody cub! Fenrir bent over him, eyes traveling across his body, catching sight of the injuries he had. But the werewolf already knew about those. Remus had managed to stop the bleeding with those; however, he hadn't mentioned the wound on his side. Not that it was Fenrir's business.

The elder werewolf growled. "You're still bleeding! My Lord," he called, despite the very good chance he would be tortured for bringing attention into the alcove. The Weasleys, Malfoy, Granger and young Riddle were looking over now. Voldemort drew his wand, hissing his displeasure.

"He's collapsed, my Lord," Fenrir hastened to say. "He's bleeding profusely from his side."

Harry narrowed his eyes and stepped away from Tom towards the alcove. "Who's bleeding? Who's over there, Tom?"

"First," Tom said, grabbing Harry's hand and drawing him closer to the alcove, "Fenrir and I were not the ones to do him harm. Understand, Harry? And secondly, I was tired of hearing your complaints about him not being able to meet me. So I've brought him here. I'll expect your thanks when I've had him healed."

Harry quickly caught on since there was only one person whom he'd wanted to meet Tom who hadn't already. He pulled away and raced the rest of the way to the alcove, gasping upon seeing Remus on the floor, scratched up and bloody. A large blood spot spreading out on the side of his shirt. Harry fell to his knees beside Remus and grabbed the werewolf's hand. "Remus!"

Tom turned and looked at Draco. "I need Severus and your mother. She has the appropriate healing abilities and potions will be required."

Draco nodded and pounded on the doors. Hermione and the twins were already rushing over and dropped to their knees beside Harry. "How did this happen?" Harry demanded.

"He says he was fighting the Order," Tom murmured as he discreetly ended the Silincio spell. "We found him like this in his disgusting little flat."

"Back away, please," Narcissa cut in as she and Severus approached. The four Gryffindors at her feet didn't seem to want to obey her.

"Do as she says," Tom ordered, bending down to gently grasp Harry's elbow to make him stand. "You do want him healed, correct?"

Harry nodded weakly. Hermione and twins quickly backed away to give Severus and Narcissa room. Severus waved his wand and Remus' body rose into the air and hovered along behind Narcissa and Severus as they moved away towards the stairs. Tom ordered Hermione, Draco, and the twins to remain behind as he slid an arm around Harry's tense shoulders and began to lead his husband after his werewolf.

"What about him?" Harry asked, pointing into the alcove where Fenrir was leaning against the cold wall with his arms folded across his chest. He looked unconcerned about everything and was staring at the small pool of blood there with something like fascination. Harry shivered.

"Fenrir, you are dismissed."

The werewolf jolted and then frowned. "Yes, my Lord." He gave a semblance of a bow and strode out of the alcove and down the hallway towards the doors where he could Apparate outside of the wards.

"Bloody werewolves," Tom muttered as they climbed the stairs. "They're so hard to control at times. Disrespectful every chance they can get… your friend was very disrespectful, Harry. He dared to talk back to me."

Harry laughed… until he remembered what was happening, and then he settled on being angry and worried. Tom released him when they found the room being used for Remus and leaned against the wall while Harry started pacing. Tom studied him, wondering when the spell had faded away. Harry was back to his normal self now. No cat ears or tail, no meowing or hissing. He was about to ask about that, but Harry finally exploded.

"I don't understand why you did this! He'll hate me now!" Harry ranted as he paced back and forth in front of the door. "I was going to tell him one day! I was going to ease him into it! Not… Not like you did! Not like this!"

"Feed him some of your fudge. It'll be alright."

Harry spun around to gape at the man lounging against the opposite wall. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"You said he liked chocolate and if anyone's chocolate will make him feel better, it would be yours." Harry snarled unpleasantly at the placating compliment. "When did the spell end? I was disappointed to find you'd gone back to normal."

Harry pierced him with a look; much of the expression was insecurity. "You… liked me better as a five year old cat?"

Tom mentally rolled his eyes. "I should say not. You would drive me utterly mad in a week."

"Then why are you disappointed?"

Tom didn't want to say that it was because Harry was twice as cuddly and clingy when he was cat like. Harry had practically forgotten about everything beyond the fact of playing with Tom whenever he could get away with it. Tom had even canceled some meetings in order to be with his husband. But he wasn't about to spew such Hufflepuff nonsense out loud. He had a reputation to maintain after all. "Did I marry a cat?"

"No."

"Then of course I do not prefer you as a five year old cat… it was only amusing. And I liked your reactions when I caressed your tail."

Harry blushed and spun away to stare at the door Remus was behind. "Perverted wanker," he muttered. Tom smirked at his back.

A/N: So sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I'll try to get the next update out quicker. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Have a great weekend! :D