Answers to reviews goes first!!

Bloodseed - Glad you do! The next chappie's here! Thank-a-doodle!

BlackMoon - Yeah he is... he loves Harry like no other likes no other.. =P Thankies!!

Diana Malfoy - *dips head* Here it is! And thanks!

Zarah - Yeah I KNOW... Draco's going to have a lot to act as a cute darling puppy in this chapter... *coos* Oh and thank you!

H - Thankies!

Rebuky - Well, he does have classes to tend to, so he- whoops, can't say too much. Sorry! And thanks!

And now on with the story!!!


Be Cursed


Chapter Two

Draco Malfoy the Siberian Husky pup crept along under the shadows of the corridor leading to the Gryffindor Common Room. He kept himself crouching low, for fear that other people will see him and try to make their pet instead. Finding a little setback in the wall where he could hide until Harry came back, he settled down, puppy eyes anxious and waiting.

After a little more than half an hour, he could see the bushy brown hair of Granger in a distance along with a mop of fire red hair and another mop of messy black ones. Draco tried to calm his equally excited and petrified heart at bay, and stood up. Nearer and nearer the three came. He could hardly restrain himself. As they approached the portrait, he could hear their talking.

"...favourite animal?" Granger was saying. "Probably cats."

"Never expected that," said Weasley sarcastically. "Always thought rats were your favourite."

Granger glared at him.

"My favourite animal," interrupted Harry, obviously on deliberate causes, "my favourite animal are dogs."

That's comforting, thought Draco as the three came even closer. If he moved out of the shadows now, they'd definitely see him. He gulped inwardly, then took a timid step forward, bringing his face to the light.

"Dogs?" echoed Weasley. "I've always thought it were pigs." Weasley snorted with laughter, and Granger scowled. "Ron!" she snapped. "Will you stop - "

"Hey look!" said Harry suddenly. He had caught sight of Draco and was coming towards him. Draco whimpered slightly and backed away a little as Harry crouched down.

"What is it, Harry?" said Weasley loudly over Granger's tirade about lame jokes. Granger glared at him, but she, too, looked over.

Harry ignored them. "It's okay, I don't mean any harm," he said softly to Draco, holding out a hand. Draco blinked at him, heart thumping, then took a teeny weeny step forward, his puppy feet trembling slightly. Harry's face lit up, but he was careful not to frighten the pup. "It's okay, pup, it's okay."

Draco almost flinched at being referred to as "pup", but controlled himself. He took another minuscule puppy step forward, stretched forward his head, and sniffed at Harry's outstretched hand, puppy eyes innocently trusting. I bet I'll get the best dog actor of the year, thought Draco amusedly as he continued to sniff at Harry's hand. If he wanted Harry to believe him for what he apparently was, he'd have to keep up a good act as well. During all those time he had spent at the library, he'd almost memorized every single detail there is to memorize about dogs in the giant stack of books he had dug out about them. Harry's smile widened considerably more, leading Draco to assume that he had done the right thing. The puppy Draco tentatively stuck out a pink tongue and licked Harry's hand timidly. By this time, Granger and Weasley were both crouched over Harry's two shoulders, staring wide-eyed at the puppy.

"He likes me!" Harry said joyfully. His other hand reached out to touch the puppy's body, and, seeing that the pup didn't back away and instead leaned trustingly into his hand, he gently lifted the head to see if there were any collars under its chin.

"And no one owns him," marveled Harry. The pup whined softly, then pressed his soft nose into the palm right in front of him [A/N: I.e. the hand Harry gave Draco to sniff?] Harry smiled again. It's so wonderful to see him smile, thought Draco fondly, and licked Harry's hand again.

"Do you want to stay with me?" asked Harry. Draco wagged his tail so hard that all of a sudden lost his balance, and OOMPH! landed with his but on the ground.

All three Gryffindors laughed at this, and Harry stroked the puppy fondly. "I take that as a yes then," he said, then, picking the puppy up gently, as so not to frighten it off, he carried it against his chest, his books given to Hermione who offered to hold it for him.

Draco snuggled happily into Harry's chest. This was... heaven. Draco wagged his tail again, and Harry laughed.

"Bloody hell, Harry, that dog must really like you," mused Weasley. "Is that what they call a mutt?"

Draco could drop dead at Weasley's stupidity. He glanced up, tail still wagging, at Harry, who apparently was scowling at Ron. "This is not a mutt," he told him, slightly offended. "This is a Siberian Husky, a wonderful breed, and this one here is especially beautiful." He smiled again, and leaned his head down to plant a soft kiss on the dear puppy's soft head.

Bloody HELL, thought Draco, his mind going numb. That was bloody intoxica- Draco the puppy blinked rapidly. That kind of thought wouldn't do for a sweet, innocent Siberian Husky puppy would it? Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, Draco wagged his tail even harder, for joy was almost bursting in his heart.

A hand yanked at Harry's left sleeve. It was Granger. Draco almost growled at her, but stopped himself just in time. This is Hermione Granger, Harry's friend, and for Harry, no matter how he hates her, he is determined to make Granger his friend. First step, Malfoy, is to start to refer to her as Hermione and Weasley as Ron. Hermione timidly gave Draco her hand to smell. He sniffed at it, then licked her hand in return, whining softly. "Good, he accepted me!" said Hermione happily. "Actually, I was going to say that we had better go back to your dorm, Harry. Show the puppy his new home and give him a name."

Draco felt himself rising in the air as Harry got up. The three of them went up to the portrait, Harry muttered, "Loyalty," (Draco: Stupid Gryffindors...) and they went in. Halfway across the common room and towards the dormitory steps, a voice called,

"Oi, Harry, what's that you got?"

Harry and the other two turned to see the whole common room looking over at them in interest. "A dog!" yelped Seamus Finnegan [A/N: Me dunno how to spell!!], rushing over. In a second, everyone was crowding around, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the sweet and cute looking puppy that laid in Harry's arms.

The animagus couldn't stand the pressure anymore. He whimpered. Loudly. And tried to press himself further into Harry's chest.

He immediately felt Harry tense up. "It's alright," he soothed to the pup, before turning to his housemates and saying, "Don't crowd. He's scared."

Everyone backed away instantly. "Where did you get him, Harry?" asked Fred Weasley curiously. "I found him just outside the portrait. Nobody owns him." "But..." said George doubtfully. "What if someone does?" "You never know," finished Fred. There was a pause. "Well, you know Hogwarts. If anyone lost a pet, the rest of the school will know by the next day. If anyone's lost his or her pet, we'll know. And know," Harry sounded firm. "He needs his rest. We'll be going up to our dorms."

The puppy gazed lovingly at the boy who was holding him. This was one of those traits he loved about Harry. He was so... protective of everything, especially of those who are in need of help.

They stopped, and entered the sixth year Gryffindor Boy's dormitory. Harry walked to a bed by the window, and set down the puppy, who immediately began to sniff on everything - books, bed sheets, pillows... everything.

"We've got to give him a name," said Ron as the three of them sat at three other different beds. "Hmm..." Draco wondered what name they would give him. "Hey Harry," piped up Hermione suddenly. "Is it male or female?"

Draco froze. "Ah yes of course!" said Harry brightly, then glanced at Draco. The puppy scampered away, and cowered at a corner, trembling. "He seems to know what we're talking about," said Harry, amused, as he got up went after Draco. The puppy dashed off, frantic but careful not to knock things over. Ron and Hermione, seeing the fun, jumped off the bed to help, and it was long before Draco was cornered by the three of them.

Harry bent down, and, with Draco still trembling, lifted one of his hind legs up, stuck his head under, and sniffed. Draco's body went completely slack and he whimpered loudly. "Male," said Harry defiantly, before reaching out to pat Draco apologetically and reassuringly on the head. The pup presently had his head down, ears drooped and his tail between his legs.

"Oh dear," sighed Harry. "I knew you wouldn't like that. Sorry."

He reached out a hand to stroke the puppy's back gently. Draco looked at him doubtfully, eyes big, but very soon the tip of his tail began to wag, and before long, he was happily licking Harry's hand again.

"Good," said Harry happily. "And now to names."

"Silver?" suggested Ron.

Hermione made a face. "Too common. How about Astrono?"

Ron snorted loudly, and Harry looked at the pup. "You thinking of Astronomy? He definitely doesn't look like a star to me."

"Hey I know!" said Ron. "How 'bout Doggie?"

Harry groaned, Hermione glared, and the pup growled. "Definitely not," said Harry and Hermione in unison.

The spent the rest of the evening doing homework and shooting occasional inspirations at each other. All were either too stupid sounding (those that came from Ron), too clever sounding (those that came from Hermione), or too won't-do (those that came from Harry).

Finally, when Ron and Harry were getting into bed and Hermione was just leaving the dorm, Harry sat up spirel straight. "How about Astrel?"

Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Why not?" agreed Hermione. "It sounds good to me." Ron just nodded.

Harry grinned at Draco happily. "Astrel it is then!" Hermione laughed, called "Goodnight, guys," and went back to her own dorm.

Ron looked at Draco, no, Astrel. "Where's he going to sleep?" Harry looked at him as well. "You like to sleep on the foot of my bed? Well, anywhere could do providing you don't scratch my face colorless." Draco barked happily, tail wagging madly. "Goodnight, Ron," called Harry as Ron's head hit the pillow and started to snore almost instantly. Astrel pounced onto Harry's bed as the boy slid under the covers, scampered to the opening of the bed sheets, and scooted himself under it, only to pop out a nose. Harry grinned at the pup that was obviously getting tired. Astrel yawned, cute, tiny muzzle stretching open. "Goodnight, sleepy pup," whispered Harry fondly as Astrel gave one last look at him through sleepy eyelids, then promptly closing his eyes, and fell almost directly into dreamland.

Harry smiled at the pup. What a wonderful life - no Voldie, great friends, wonderful pets! he thought, before falling asleep as well.


Alrighteo, people, REVIEW!!! How dya like Draco the puppy?

Oh yeah and tell me - would you like a sequel, or should Draco just die? ^^ Give me your answer in your reviews! Oh, and LONG reviews please - if it's possible! *dips head* Thankies!

*Raven sahib dips crown, maw emitting call of thanks*

That was... inspiring? Heh... *weak laugh*

~ Wolfress