A/N: sorry for the long delay guys, this story will still be continued. I'll try to update sooner. thanks a lot for the reviews.

Love in the Form of a Dragon.

"You know Draco…I heard that Harry Potter was going to start school with you at Hogwarts this year" Lucius Malfoy drawled as his 11-year-old son twirled his new wand in his delicate fingers. It was a 10 inch, Maple wood with a Dragon heart string core, the last item purchased for the young Malfoy to start his schooling years at Hogwarts. He swished it around in the air in wonder, thinking of the many spells he could start casting with it, including ones that are deadly forbidden. He was just admiring the green and gold sparks that were shooting out from his wand when he noticed his father's raised eyebrow and quickly tucked his wand away knowingly.

"yes I know. I heard them talking about it at the tea party yesterday with mother. I'm actually looking towards meeting him" he said uninterested, although deep down he was anticipating the day he meets the boy-who-lived. Lucius chuckled to himself at this.

"oh really ? so what are your plans for him ? You do know he's the sole reason for the downfall of the Dark Lord, or have you forgotten Draco…" The elder Malfoy reminded him with a sneer. Draco titled his head to the side childishly and thought about the situation.

" well the way I see it, he was only a baby when the Dark Lord disappeared, right ? So he must have possessed a power so great that he actually lived through the killing curse and damaged you-know-who while he was at it. You could only imagine what other godly powers he could possess as he becomes of age. So, I for one, would want to be on his good side by then." Draco finished and what he had said made Lucius wonder.

Sure, he could have told him otherwise and filled his son's mind with the many ways on how to get back at him for bringing down their Dark Master, but the boy was right in the sense of becoming friends with the right people. That way, Lucius thought, by allowing his only son to become friends with the boy legend, he could possibly be persuaded into joining the Dark Forces and aide them in the annihilation of mud bloods and muggles. He could use the boy to help them. Lucius agreed that he'll look more into this matter on his own turf. He looked down at his son and heir to the Malfoy name and grinned.

Allow Draco to have his ways with the boy, that way I can get closer to him. He wouldn't possibly turn down *my* son…Draco is absolutely perfect.

The two Malfoys walked silently side by side the rest of the way through Diagon Alley, with one Malfoy thinking of future victories the Death Eaters could obtain with the remaining Potter at their side. While the other found himself excited to be starting school with him. Thinking maybe, just maybe they would become friends. And then would share dormitories in the Slytherin House together. They would rule the school together and become so popular, that their names would never leave the tongues of the teachers and student body. Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. Partners in crime.

That's not a bad idea. He thought as he laughed to himself mentally.

*****

A present day Draco let out a heavy sigh at his tired appearance. He had been leaning over the sink with his face in the mirror for what must have seemed like hours. That memory of wanting to befriend the boy-who-lived playing over and over again in his mind, which he would then mentally kick himself for. Obviously still can't get over his rejection on that first train ride to school. Even after years later.

Why can't I ever forget that ? Maybe because I'm a Malfoy and NOBODY refuses a Malfoy. But you should admit Draco, you did start it after all. But I wasn't planning on letting the muggle-lover and mublood come between us, yet he turned me down for them…

He sighed again. Rubbing his pale, sickly face, then brushing back the chin length blonde hair with his trembling fingers.

"I look like shit…" he said and thought he could rub away the bags under his eyes.

"don't take it personally hun, but I think you do too" drawled the mirror agreeably. Draco paused then narrowed his eyes at the mirror and reached for his toothbrush.

"shut up !…who the hell asked you ?" he yelled feeling a bit awkward afterwards for yelling at his own reflection. He shrugged and thought about his plans for the day.

What the hell am I thinking ? I bet that medicine is screwing with my mind. I can't expect to just change over night. And hell, I'm not about to go and change my ways just to get what I want !! Ha !! …

But maybe…there are some things you can't get just like that, but something you have to earn. Can't always get what you want so easily… You're a bloody fool Draco. He thought sarcastically and shook his head. He turned on the faucet to wash up and prepared for the day.

~*~

Draco had woken up later than usual that morning and found himself running to catch the last bit of breakfast. His weakened state as a result of his animagus, still leaves him very tired and worn out. Disrupting his sleep pattern and causing him to wake up late in the mornings when he couldn't afford to. And the medicines he was given weren't doing very much either. All they helped him do was feel more ill to the point where he would actually vomit.

He flung his slipping school bag over his shoulder and dashed towards the doors of the Great Hall when they suddenly opened on their own causing him to get caught up in a tangle of limbs, books and parchments.

"ARG !! What the hell Malfoy are you blind ??" shouted a very irritated Weasley. Draco scowled and dusted himself off.

"no I am not !! I'm in a hurry and don't have the time to quarrel with you today so out of my way" Draco retorted while collecting his books off the floor. He then straightened himself up and nodded to Hermione and Harry.

Harry…

Draco allowed his gaze to linger on the boy a bit longer than the other two. Harry raised a questioning brow at his attire. He noticed that Malfoy seemed a little disheveled today. His pale blonde hair was loose, falling over clouded gray eyes, and his school clothing a bit untidy and seemed liked he was getting dressed while running to breakfast. The other two Gryffindors have noticed too and exchanged looks between each other secretly. For being a rich snob, Draco Malfoy was always quite the gentlemen when it came to adequate dressing. But today, he seemed rather comical. Harry on the other hand thought he looked more…well more like the teenage boy he is than the snobbish prick they came to know and hate.

Draco was the first to break the gaze between them. He backed away and broke free from their curious looks with out any further suspicions.

"Granger, Potter…thanks for breaking my fall Weasley…" he fumbled to say calmly. He ran into the Great hall, leaving the three Gryffindors dumbstruck.

"what's up with Malfoy?"

Harry's gaze lingered towards the direction that the Slytherin ran into, curious.

"who knows…"

~*~

It was potions first on the agenda and Snape stalked up and down the aisles. The class was bustling around to gather the ingredients needed for the new potion. Draco was still in his seat with his head in his hand carelessly and yawning every often. His partner came to their work station with about ten jars in his arms and dropped them on the table in front of Draco with loud clangs, disrupting the sleepy boy out of his dazed mind.

"what the…"

"you're not helping at all !! C'mon ! get off of your lazy arse and gather the things we need. I can't afford to lose anymore points in this class if I ever want to pass with a decent grade." Draco blinked uninterestedly then yawned again. This made Harry even more frustrated.

"what's up with you ? Just because you have it easy in this class doesn't mean that I do now go get the pixie wings before they run out" Harry yelled but Draco just kept yawning.

"alright alright I'm going" Draco said while flipping his loose hair out of his eyes and dragged his heavy feet to the supply table. He grabbed the wrong jar and slowly walked back to his desk. Harry quickly grabbed the jar and began mashing the contents of it then sprinkled them into the boiling cauldron. Harry's eyes widened as the brew gave a sickly color of gray and started bubbling furiously and spilling the edge. He looked at the jar and growled in anger.

"you idiot ! You got the wrong jar !!. We needed the pixie wings not the beetle wings! In case you didn't know, there's a difference !!" he yelled and Draco shrunk in his seat, no longer feeling tired. Just then, a tall mass of black swaying robes flew by and stopped at their desk. Professor Snape was towering over Harry within seconds of their little accident.

"what did you mess up this time Potter?" he asked in his usual nasally toned voice. Harry let out a sigh of frustration and thought better of it then to tell the eerie potions Professor the truth. He was going to get punished for his accident either way. Even if it was Malfoy's fault.

"what happened Professor was--"

"It was my fault Professor…" both Harry and Snape swiftly turned their heads in Draco's direction. Draco straightened himself up from feeling so awkward all of the sudden. For Draco Malfoy never takes the blame. Never did before. He always manages place the blame on anybody else.

"I read about the extra credit potion we can make out of this potion, you know the Tonic potion. Instead of adding pixie wings we put in beetle wings which would just be the same. But I think I put in a little too much and…" Draco stopped suddenly. He couldn't take anymore of Snape's eyes boring into him. He swallowed, and prayed that his story would get him out of trouble which would be impossible since the whole thing was made up. Who was he trying to fool, this was Snape. The Potions master. Snape sighed irritably after a moment and corrected the potion by adding more of another powdery substance.

"it needed more basal, and it's not the Tonic potion that you would get as a result" he snarled and Draco's breath got caught in his throat.

"you would get a healing ointment that can be used for arthritic joints." He said and the brew thickened and turned into a more attractive shade of blue.

"10 points…" Snape bellowed and Harry gasped. He was so ready to protest.

" …will be awarded to Slytherin" Draco opened his mouth in disbelief and Harry frowned. But he was glad for the time being, no points were taken from him. That's all that mattered.

"you can learn something from him Mr. Potter. However, I still suggest for you both to stick to today's assignment, Mr. Malfoy" he warned them before returning to his desk. Draco nodded oh-so-innocently then slumped into his seat in relief.

"woah…"

"extra credit Malfoy ?" Harry asked in bemusement, obviously forgetting about the mishap earlier. Draco leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He loosened his already undone tie, then grinned to himself in satisfaction.

"I swear…I just made the whole thing up" he replied leaving Harry to blink in surprise.

~*~

Harry walked into the locker rooms after Quidditch practice quite pleased with himself. Good Quidditch practice or the actual game events, always left him in high spirits. He took off his shirt and was going for his pants until he then heard a fit of coughing noises coming from the other locker room inside. Curiosity led him to the source. It was a frail body dressed in the Slytherin Quidditch outfit, huddled over the toilet in a stall, practically puking their insides out. Harry took another step, but the sound of glass turned his eyes to the floor and found several vials lined up next to the sick person. His green eyes widened, then locked onto cold gray ones in panic.

"what are you doing here Potter ?" asked the blonde Slytherin, trying his best to maintain a straight face, but his voice was shaky and beads of sweat shone on his face. He looked terrible.

"I was just…are you ok ?" Harry asked a bit worried not even sure if he should be. Before Draco could say anything, he had gathered up all his medicine vials and fled out the locker room, leaving Harry to gaze after him.

~*~

Later that night, Harry sat back against the front of his dragon peacefully and crossed his arms behind his head to gaze up at the starry night sky. He immediately was able to point out a few of the known constellations and traced them unconsciously with his finger. The white dragon was positioned like the great Sphinx in Egypt, with Harry in between its forearms and had its head rested on his shoulder as he laid back. Harry felt the dragon sigh peacefully into his neck. Surprised that it was cool despite the fire it could breathe. It was a soothing and relaxing moment. The boy's touches turns Draco into mud, and he can't help but reach out to rub his head against Harry in response. Just like a cat would. Sometimes Draco wondered if he was meant to be a cat.

This had been the only time the two could be at peace. In each other's warmth and presence. Both could almost agree to say that they were in love. Harry often imagined his dragon would be something he could maybe kiss, then have it turn into a person, just like in the fairytales he grew up on. But he thought he was being silly, because he only felt in love by spending time with a creature.

You can't fall in love with a creature. This was reality.

Draco thought the same way. Except he couldn't figure out why he didn't feel this way with Blaise. He can't even remember how he started feeling this way with Harry of all people. But he didn't care. It felt good being with him like this. No lip-locking, no words to be exchanged, just be held and snuggled against. Sometimes that's all that's needed to express love and affection.

"I was thinking about Malfoy today…" Harry suddenly said out of the blue. Draco's ears perked up to this.

"I mean why is he… well the way he is ? It can't be just because he's a Malfoy. Sometimes, if you look close, he is human after all. But he would quickly change and become the most annoying…" he started but flashes of the blonde's strange behavior as of late coursed through his mind.

"ugh I don't know, he confuses me…but I think with him, its really my fault he hates me. Because he did want us to get along at first. Heck I could've changed him if I had accepted his hand in friendship back in our first year. But I really hated how he treated Ron and Hermione. And not to mention how very different we are, I mean we're almost like…oil and water, you know ? Uh…I'm not making any sense…" he said then began wondering how things could've been different if he hadn't turned down Draco Malfoy.

"Maybe I'm really no better than he is…" he muttered. Silence played between them for a moment, then Harry sat up straight so sudden, that the hairs on the dragon stood up on their ends.

"I should say something to him, maybe get him to listen. Heck what if he chooses to side with us rather than become a Death Eater. It'll be such a waste to have him serve someone so slimy and disgusting. Do you think he'll listen to me ? But what can I possibly tell him ? Or worse yet…why am I even thinking about saving his sorry arse from Voldemort ? What if he doesn't want to be saved ? I'll only be making a fool of myself" he said as he bit his lip and shook his head. Draco sighed mentally, still not believing his ears.

Here you go again thinking you could play hero by trying to lure me into the light and save me from evil. Bastard, its what I hate about you most. But you know what…you can tell me anything Harry. Hell maybe… I want to listen. Why ? because I'm tired. I'm tired of living up to someone else's expectations.

~*~

Draco couldn't wait until the meeting was over to run back to his dorm and just jump into his plushy bed. Even if he was still clothed in his school robes. He transformed back into human, but as his dragon forearms disappeared and settled on his two human legs. A violent wave of dizziness hits him and nearly doubles over.

He knew tonight wasn't a good to have practiced his animagi, given his current state. But it couldn't be helped. His animal spirit was roaring in his mind, thrashing to be released. So he snuck out to satisfy himself by letting his animal spirit free. Which then led to the summoning of his new keeper. Harry.

But now he was so drained of strength that he couldn't get his legs to stay stable and wobbled his way back to the dungeons. Holding onto the stony walls just to be able to walk straight.

Harry on the other hand was gleeful and felt wide awake despite the late hours He didn't feel like sleeping, but he knew he was going to pay for it in the morning when he's forced to wake up so early. But at the moment, he was hungry. So he thought a little detour to the kitchens shouldn't be so bad since he had missed dinner.

He came to a junction where one way led to the dungeons and the other to the kitchens when he ran into someone while he wasn't paying attention and cursed to himself. Thankfully, the person turned out to be none other than Malfoy and watched the boy search the darkness frantically for what rammed into him.

"Malfoy, hey calm down its me…" Harry said almost amused as he pulled of his invisibility cloak. Draco narrowed his eyes dangerously at him.

"Potter… damn you, I thought you were Filch. Why the hell are you always behind me anyway ??" he asked furiously, while desperately trying to stop his trembling.

He looked awful. Whatever he was doing to himself Harry thought, he'd better quit it before he ends up killing himself. Harry wondered about that last thought.

Here I go again…

"what are you looking at ?? And what are you doing in this part of the castle ?" he yelled which broke into Harry's thoughts. He felt paralyzed in his spot, the situation all too confusing for him. It was Malfoy and yet he felt feelings of worry for him when he hated the boy.

And he did hate him, he was sure of that.

But just when Harry was about to reply, he saw something dark dribbling down from the other boy's nose.

"Malfoy…"

"What ??"

"you're bleeding…" he muttered. Emerald eyes wide in panic at the sight of blood. He always had a problem with it after his fourth year when Voldemort…

Draco lifted trembling fingers to his nose and what he saw on them was true. Before his mind was able to register anything, his legs gave out and watched the world turn black. He then felt himself falling…falling deep down into the abyss of darkness.

Harry gasped as he witnessed the other boy falling over, the scene playing before him very slowly. He immediately reached out and caught the boy before hitting the stone ground. Circling his arms around his thin form then cradled the unconscious boy in his arms to inspect him. There were no injuries visible, yet the boy had just blacked out.

"Malfoy…Malfoy, c'mon, open your eyes… Malfoy !!" he shook the boy slightly, but nothing happened. He was out cold. Harry really began to panic.

"…no, don't you do this to me !" he pleaded and suddenly pictured Cedric's incident all over again. Harry felt pressure well up in his eyes.

No…not again…Cedric…

"what have you found there, my sweet ?…oh, what's this ?…" Harry's head then shot up and suddenly felt the walls closing in on him. That chilling voice…it can only be.

" hey ! you there, what are you--my god, what've you done ?" Harry swallowed nervously.

This was not going to be a good night.