Chapter 7- Me ow

Once the last of the guests had left, Harry and Draco slowly made their way to Dumbledore's office. Harry had been told that there was important information that he needed to be filled in on. Draco decided to go for moral support. As much as he tried to play his chumminess with Harry to lust, it wasn't working. He was falling head over heels in love with the boy, and wanted to protect him from every evil thing out there. Even if that evil thing was bad news from Dumbledore. Harry, on the other hand, was preparing himself for the worst. Random visits to Dumbledore's office were never good. Draco could sense that Harry was freaking out, so he did something that he never thought he'd do. He held Harry's hand. He was afraid that Harry would pull away, or scoff or something that Draco himself would have done, but he didn't. He took the hand and squeezed it to show his appreciation. Once Harry said the password, they made their way up the stairs and to the door. Draco thought that Harry would pull away once the door opened, but that didn't happen. Harry even tightened his grip. Once inside, they were instructed to take a seat. Harry looked at his dad and noticed he was very nervous. Harry's heart was breaking; it had to be bad.

"Now, Harry, we have some news that you need to be told of right away," Dumbledore said, with a twinkle in his eye. This gave Harry a bit of hope. The twinkle was always a good sign. Harry looked at Remus and noticed he was holding the book that Hermione gave him for his birthday. He didn't think any more on it when he looked back at his dad, who looked like he wanted to cry. "This is very important, Harry."

"He's not my dad, is he? He's a clone or something," Harry said, almost at the verge of tears himself. Harry's sudden outburst seemed to lighten the mood a little- his outbursts did that a lot. James snapped out of his stupor and laughed.

"What? No, Harry. I am your dad. What on earth made you think that?" James asked as he took the seat next to Harry, taking Harry's hands in his.

"Well, on the way up here I prepared myself for the worst. And that was the worst."

"Oh no Harry, this has nothing to do with me, but more you and your mother."

"Oh..... well then let's hear it. By the look on your face before it can't be good."

"No, Harry, it is good. I looked like that because I'm a forgetful bastard." This is when Dumbledore stepped in.

"Have you ever heard of a Familiar, Harry?

Harry nodded.

"Yeah, I have, but I don't really know much."

"Well, Harry, what do you know?"

"I know that it was a companion for witches and wizards, but after the wars, which I know nothing about, they became rare and now only squibs have them. Like Mrs. Norris."

"Right you are, Harry. But what is even more rare are the human forms of Familiars. They are called Grimalkii. Your mother was one, Harry. Which makes you one as well."

"Wait, what?" Harry looked to his father for some answers.

"Harry, your mother was my Familiar. Grimalkii bond to their companions. It's much like a veela bond, but more powerful. She passed that gift on to you. And before you ask me how I could have forgotten something like that let me explain. Your mother was my wife and my one true love. I rarely ever thought of her as my Familiar. Frankly, when she told me what she was, and what we were, the only thing I could think about was how I could be with her forever. I know it's not much of an excuse, but its all I have."

Harry wanted to cry, so he did. James pulled him close and let him just let it all out. Draco sat there in shock. He had read about the Grimalkii and his father had told him stories on how he and the other death eaters were trying to find the last of the species to mate them to create more. He couldn't stop shaking his head.

"So, Harry is a magical creature?" Draco had to voice his disbelief; which got Harry's attention.

"Yes, indeed he is, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said, nodding his head slightly.

"Wait. I'm a magical creature? How did I miss that part? Mum was a muggle born. How can that be?"

"No, Harry. Your mother is from a long line of squibs. Long enough for her to be considered muggle born. But when she was born as a magical child, the Grimalkis blood in her became active. When she had you she passed it on."

Harry just stared at Dumbledore, trying to take it all in . He hardly noticed when Remus sat on the desk in front of him with the book that Hermione got him.

"Here Harry, let me explain the science of it all," Remus started. "Okay, well first off, Grimalkii are the offspring of animal Familiars and their Companions. Before you ask how a human and an animal can mate, let me tell you. Familiars can take human form in front of their companion and their companion only. Since there is a close bond between the two, breeding was not uncommon. But it wasn't entirely common either. Grimalkii were rare, even more so now. But because Grimalkii take human form all the time, and in adulthood can become the animal their ancestor was, much like animagus; the rules change for them. You are a Familiar to somebody Harry, just it is a more powerful bond. There is a bonding process that bonds mind, soul, heart and body." Harry looked freaked out. Remus noticed.

"Alright, we'll go back to that. Let's talk about what kind of a Grimalkis you are, shall we?" Harry nodded. "Good, well there are three kinds. The cat, the dog, and the raven. You, Harry, are of the feline persuasion, which is the most common. Hence your sudden fear of water. When you turned sixteen you went into Grimalkin puberty. I'm sure you've noticed some of the changes you've gone through in the past month." Harry nodded again, it was making sense. "Your hair, the long part in the front around your face is slowly forming into whiskers. I wouldn't be surprised if they are already becoming sensitive. So, Mr. Malfoy, be careful, and don't pull on Harry's hair."

"And why would you think that I would need to know that?" Draco asked trying be look innocent.

"Right..... Ok. Anyway, Harry, you will develop claws that are extractible. Here let's try this, you might have them already. Tighten your fingers as if you were stretching them out."

Harry was a bit worried. What if it hurts? But he tried anyway. At first nothing happened. But he felt something, so he tried again. He felt a pressure at his fingertips.

"It's okay Harry, you might not have them yet," James said, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"No, I'm feeling something." Harry gave it one more go. He thought he was going to faint. Sticking out of his fingers were sharp pointy claws. Draco stared in awe. As did Harry and everybody else.

"Well, there you go, Harry. Defense number one, there are a few others that we will get into shortly. Now to put them back just tense your fingers again. Yes, there you have it. By the looks of it they aren't fully formed, but well on their way to being so." Harry only nodded again. "Now, within the next few weeks or so your k-9's will enlarge, but not enough for people to really pay notice. They will, however, become larger when you are needed to use your defensive skills. Your eyesight will also improve. Soon, you won't need your glasses anymore."

Remus kneeled in front of Harry and placed the book in his lap, open so he could read it. "Now Harry, what I'm about to tell you is very important. In the last week of September, you will go into your first heat."

"HEAT?! So are you saying I'm going to have to find my mate and bond with them then? That's impossible. I can't find them in a month!" James wrapped his arm around Harry tighter. Draco just stared at him.

"No, Harry, you don't have to find anybody and you don't have to bond. You will however... well... um...."

"You'll need to shag."

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."

"Welcome," Draco said with a grin and a wink at Harry, who then blushed.

"You'll need do that. You won't have to bond though. Male Grimalkii are more aggressive, and when it comes to mating, are in control. When it comes to a male-male bonding, the Grimalkii will give up control and allow themselves to be taken. It, in a way, symbolizes their love for their companion. Grimalkii are very romantic creatures."

"Wait, so how do you know that I will be bonded to a guy?" Remus and James looked at Draco then back to Harry. "Oh, that." Harry blushed. "But, wait, how do I know who my mate is?"

"That, Harry, I don't know. I would assume that you will just have a sense."

"I asked Lily that once. She said that she just knew. But it also has a bit to do with who you are in love with when you first start to change, whether you love them consciously or subconsciously," James said, giving Draco a wink.

Draco felt a bit better. He had been staring at Harry the whole time, and the whole time his heart was breaking. Harry would mate with somebody else, and bond with them. Draco didn't know if he could take that. He had finally been coming to grips with how he felt about Harry, and now he was going to be taken away from him. Deep down he was hoping that he was Harry's companion. But he wasn't about to get his hopes up. He wanted to cry. He snapped out of his train of thought when he felt Harry touch his hand. He looked up to see that Harry wasn't looking at him but at Remus, but Harry had searched out his hand. Or maybe he did it subconsciously. Then James' words ran through his head, whether you love them consciously or subconsciously. Please let that be true.

"Now, Harry, a few things will happen when you go into heat. One, your pupils will dilate and turn into cat-like slits. Two, you will begin to purr. Three, your body temperature will rise. You will be almost feverish. Trust me the fever is not pleasant. It will only subside once you mate. Panting and breathing heavy is very common until you scratch the itch, so to speak. And you will also stop at nothing to get to the one you want to mate with. It won't be with just anybody. If you are worried about not being with your mate, or that you won't know who your mate is when you go into heat, your heat will tell you. If you know your mate, but you just aren't sure it if it is them, they will be the first person you go to when your heat starts. It's almost like a sixth sense, and trust it. It won't lie to you."

Harry was staring into space again. Remus knew he was listening because he had that concentrated look on his face. Draco looked plain worried. He was praying to whatever god or gods that may exist that Harry goes to him during his heat.

"How long will it last?"

"Two weeks. But once you mate for the first time, the urge subsides.... a little. You will be surprised by yourself, Harry. You will dominate the act. Though you will never hurt who you are with, and if they say no you will stop. But you will be in control. Your mate..." Remus was talking to Draco, but looking at Harry, every so often he would glance at the blonde. "Will need to understand that if they try to dominate you, it will end badly. The only time you will allow yourself to be 'bottom' is when you are ready to bond. If they allow you to do what you need to do, it will be a very loving experience."

"Yes it will," James piped in. "I remember when Lily would go into heat. Blasted amazing. She wouldn't allow me to put trousers on for two weeks. You'd think that at nineteen I would be able to keep up. Oh no, I kept up for maybe the first day, after that, you just need to hang on and enjoy the ride. Literally in my case."

"Too much info, Dad," Harry said chuckling.

Draco felt that the story was directed towards him in some way. He liked the way James and Remus were assuming that he was Harry's mate. He had doubts, but maybe they saw something he didn't.

"Well, son, I'm sorry, but it just needed to be said," James said with a laugh.

"Right..." Harry shook his head, then looked at Remus. "You seem to know a lot about this. Almost like you're speaking from experience."

"Well, um... well, yes..."

"Go on Remy... tell him."

"Well, yes, um, Sirius was my Familiar," Remus said with a gulp.

"Oh... oh Remus.... I..."

"Don't worry Harry. I um, I wanted to tell you, I did. We both did. We just didn't know how to."

"I always knew you were close, but that close. Wow." Harry had a sad look on his face. He was thinking. Two things were plaguing his mind.

"What's wrong, Harry?" It was Draco who asked the question.

"Oh, I dunno. Just thinking. About Sirius. I miss him.... and well, this may seem a bit sudden to bring up but... I ,um, I just always wanted kids, and now I guess that's not going to happen," Harry ended with a shrug.

"Harry..." Remus took Harry's hand in his. "It will happen. Trust me. Familiar Magic is wild magic. People who don't possess that magic can't understand it..."

Harry was confused. Draco could tell. He had that cute eyebrow thing going on. Again Draco prayed to the gods that he would be Harry's.

"You see Harry, when you bond, you will release some of that wild magic into your mate. That magic will make it possible for your mate to conceive. So children will happen. Our modern magic birth control methods don't work against wild magic. Trust me on that," Remus finished with a wink.

Harry looked at Draco, then to his Dad, then to Remus. He looked at Draco one last time, hoping that it would be alright that he would be getting him pregnant. Wait, I just thought that, he must be my mate, please let him be my mate. Wait, but Remus...

"Remus..." Harry'svoice was almost a whisper. "Are you pregnant?"

Remus only smiled and stood up. He took Harry's hand and placed it on his stomach. He couldfeel the roundness of Remus' stomach that was hidden by his baggy clothes. James' jaw hit the ground. He couldn't believe it.

"Remus, no way..." James put his hand on Remus' stomach. "Oh, Remy.... you're going to be a mummy. Well, no.. oh you know what I mean."

Draco felt left out. He just sat back and watched them all coo over Remus.

"Hey, Dray... feel this..." Harry picked up Draco's hand and placed it on Remus' stomach. Now it was Draco's turn to coo.

"So, there's a little Sirius Black in here?" Draco asked.

"Well, actually, there are two."Now that cooing was magnified.

"I can't believe I didn't notice. Damn those baggy clothes." James shook his fist at Remus' clothes. "Wait, how come you didn't tell any of us?"

"Well, I didn't know how really."

"That's why..." Everybody jumped when they heard Dumbledore's voice. They had forgotten he was there. " That is why, James, I am going to ask you to take over as DADA teacher for the second term. From my understanding, Remus is due in February, so he will need plenty of rest after the holiday's. Can you do it, James?"

"Yes I can, and I'd love too."

"Well, good, now that that is all settled. I think we have had enough learning for tonight. How about we all retire. It's been a long day."

Everyone agreed, and made their way through the halls to their rooms. Remus gave Harry his book and told him to read pages 248-264 to learn more about his puberty and what to expect. Harry had decided to walk Draco back to his common room to hopefully talk. But none of that really happened. Harry could tell something was wrong.

"Dray... are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. Where would you get the idea that I'm not?"

"Well, you just look sad. What's wrong?" Harry put his hand on Draco's arm to stop him. "Tell me."

"I'm just... I dunno. Scared I guess. Don't tell anybody I admitted that."

"I won't, and why. You shouldn't be. After all of that you're still completely human."

"I'm scared that I could lose you, okay." Draco crossed his arms over his chest.

Harry put his hands on Draco's arms and uncrossed them. He ran his hands up Draco's arms and rested them on his shoulders. He smiled and leaned in placing a delicate kiss on Draco's lips. Their first real kiss.

"There's no need to worry," Harry said before leaning in for another.

Draco deepened the kiss and tangled his fingers in Harry's hair, pulling him closer. When they were all out of breath they pulled apart. Harry smiled with swollen lips and rested his forehead on Draco's.

"There's no need to worry at all." With that, Harry placed a quick kiss on Draco's nose and turned to walk away.

"Wait, does that mean I'm your mate?"

Harry turned, but continued to walk backwards.

"I dunno, but I can tell you that it feels right. I guess we'll know for sure in a few weeks. Just remember that it feels right."