1999

Initially, Draco had not realized anything was different about the lithe little mammal he had spotted scampering across a field one night - it looked just like any other otter he had seen over the years on the expansive Malfoy property.

He had just helped George Weasley off through a small hole within his wards where apparition in and out could be hidden from his parents. Draco had admired the way the moonlight glinted off the little otter before striding back along the trail towards his house. During the mile or so walk, he had not thought on it again.

The next time he saw George, he had not seen the otter. But the time after that, Draco had been running a few minutes early. When he made his way down to the secluded grove, an otter was once again just disappearing in the night. Remembering the last time he had seen an otter, he could have sworn it was the same one. He could have also sworn it had flounced its tail at him a bit aggressively.

As he turned to regard his informant, he observed George doing nothing to hide a snicker.

It had taken him nearly a week of sitting calmly near the water's edge on the small lake he owned before the otter let itself be seen. Not for a single moment did Draco doubt it had been regarding him each night before, weighing the pros and cons of coming out of its hidey-hole.

The otter stood up on its forelegs, regarding him coolly from a safe distance. Sitting quietly, he wondered if he could win a staring contest with the little bugger. When it went down onto all fours, looking as if it meant to leave, he gave in.

"I could have sent my hounds out for you that same night."

He felt, more than saw, its disdain. The creature did not stand back up again, but merely cocked its head to the side, eyes glinting in the moonlight.

"I also could have used a myriad of spells to track you down."

In the quiet night, the sound of its snort traveled to him easily.

"Muggle traps with charms to make them undetectable would have worked nicely."

Brazenly, the otter moved closer, then turned, tail raised, to show him its arse. Draco laughed. Laughter was rare for him these days, and he treasured the moments he felt free enough to indulge in it.

"No, I suppose you're a bit too clever, even for that, if you've managed to become an unregistered Animagus," he acknowledged.

It turned back to face him again, but did not bother to move back to its former spot.

"What now?" he asked. "Do you plan to reveal who you are?"

The otter shook its head.

"Do you need anything from me?"

The otter nodded.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

The otter chirped at him. He imagined it saying, "Fuck you."

"Right. I suppose you expect me to trust you because George Weasley knows you?"

The otter laid down on the ground. Draco was not sure what that meant, at first, until it rolled over and showed him its underside - a sign of vulnerability.

He sighed, conceding, "Okay, you're right. In the end, I do have the upper hand. But, if you refuse to switch back to your human form, how am I supposed to know what you want?"

The otter flipped over and supinely ran under a bush. Leaves flipped up behind its paws until a scrap of parchment was revealed hidden underneath the debris. When Draco stood to retrieve it, the otter skittered to the side to avoid him.

"Ahhh, so the trust doesn't quite go both ways. Yet, you knew I would sit in the same spot as last night, and you prepared for me. You really are a smart little thing," he concluded.

When he grabbed the paper it had four words printed on it in neat script he found vaguely familiar: I need Mandrake leaves.

He looked down, taking barely a second to digest the words, but the otter chose that time to race away. The thought occurred to him that he had a wand, and that it would be fairly easy to fire any number of spells at its back. Instead, he took pleasure in watching her gambol across a few logs before she dove into the depths of the moonlit water.

Chuckling to himself, Draco strolled back toward the manor. He had a lot to think about. First and foremost, was the new clue to mystery of Animagus' identity to ponder. The otter's belly reveal had shown Draco he was definitely dealing with a witch. Additionally, he now had the conundrum of how to get his hands on Mandrake leaves without raising suspicions.

This isn't going to be a very long story - we're at the halfway point already. I do love getting feedback, even if you want to give me some constructive criticism.