Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does.
*Ch. Warning: Cliffhanger! (I'm beginning to notice a pattern here. I'll try and stop with the cliffhangers. I'm SORRY to keep torturing you!)
"You should be resting, My Lord," Severus said as he walked into the room that had been prepared for Voldemort. The Dark Lord was standing by the large bay window that overlooked the gardens of Snape manor.
"I do not need to be coddled," Voldemort said without looking over at his respected minion.
"I am not coddling," Severus said in annoyance. "I am merely trying to be sure that you do not die under my roof."
Voldemort turned empty, crimson eyes to Severus then. "I would rather die than continue this pathetic existence."
Severus walked over to the shirtless man cautiously. "Death is not something to be wished."
"It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and then have we a prescription to die, when death is our physician," Voldemort quoted the infamous Muggle playwright known as Shakespeare. Severus did not like the sorrowfully longing look that began to creep into his usually cold eyes as he simply stared down at him. Voldemort must have been a good four inches taller than the Potions Master.
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things he has not, but rejoices for those which he has," Severus replied quoting his own Muggle: Epictetus. "You cannot die yet, not now that Harry will finally find out the truth. Lucius will be quite cross should you leave us."
The Dark Lord let slip a sad smile before his cold mask was back in full force. "Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least."
Severus had never heard that quote before, and had no idea why Voldemort had said it... Before he could ask, however, Voldemort turned from him and gathered up his robes from the day before. "Goodbye, Severus." He was gone without another glance or word...
The Dark Lord had been acting really strange recently...
Back at the Malfoy Manor the entire place was quiet. No House elves were cooking or cleaning. No post owls were there to deliver any mail. And no one was awake, they were all rather tired after the night before...
Draco, who was still comfortably naked was very content to lay in bed all day long. He reached over to the place next to him to tell Harry that he had been having the most delicious dream about his husband... Who was not there... Draco sat up, his tired haze quickly shifting to alert. "Harry?" he called. He waved his right hand and candles lit up around the room to give him more light.
What is it? Harry mentally asked. Draco could hear the sleep in his husband's tone and he relaxed only slightly.
Where are you? Draco asked.
What are you talking about? Harry yawned. I haven't moved from the bed.
Draco frowned... But then smiled brightly as he felt a warm presence against his hip. He threw back the covers and purred in delight. "Harry!" Laying against his hip was a small, black lion cub. The little cub opened its eyes lazily and let out the cutest yawn Draco had ever heard. "Harry, your form is adorable!" Draco cooed. He pulled the kitten into his arms.
Bloody hell! Harry thought in a panic. Why am I so small?
"You're not small, you're just a kitten," Draco smiled as he gently rubbed Harry's fuzzy, little head. He purred. "Since you weren't born with a form, your form has to mature after you've been bonded to an elf... And you are the cutest thing I have ever seen."
Am I? Harry chuckled as he used his new feline tongue to lick Draco's cheek. He let slip a high-pitched meow.
Draco pulled him to his chest and cuddled him even more. "I'm sure you'll grow bigger than me, so I'll hold you like this while I can! I can't wait to show Father."
You're very excited, Harry chuckled.
"Of course I'm excited," Draco smiled. He began to rub behind Harry's little ears. His husband took content pleasure from the action. He gently bit at Draco's fingers when they pulled away. "I need to get dressed," Draco chuckled. He carefully put Harry down on the bed. "Stay," he ordered.
Kitten Harry rolled his green eyes but remained on the bed. Draco had to admit that he had never seen a cuter sight as he walked over to the wardrobe that contained the clothes he hadn't taken to Hogwarts. "I'm glad nothing important was supposed to happen at school when we left," he chuckled as he pulled on a shirt Harry had left.
However, when they returned to Hogwarts... They would find out just how wrong they really were...