DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 7 – A Familiar's Tale

Draco stood in front of the door that guarded his father's study. Looking at the door, then the letter resting lightly in his hand, he chewed his lip before glancing down at the massive Black Panther standing beside him. The panther's eyes sparkled and there seemed to be a look of pure glee plastered all over the cats face. It was almost as if he was eager for the meeting that lay ahead. 'Stupid animal, father is going to be right pissed when he gets a look at my school marks.' Thought Draco before raising his hand to knock gently on the cherry-wood door. Entering cautiously after his fathers barked enter.

The room was thick with darkness. His father's study was rarely lit by anything more then several candles, making it a very intimidating room and one of his most feared. Draco approached the massive desk carefully, comforted by the presence of Damian who prowled along confidently beside him. He extended the envelope to the hand that had appeared seemingly out of the shadows. Seating himself gracefully in the chair that was offered with a small sweep of his father's hand, he looked at Damian who had left his side.

The panther was glaring at a moving portrait of his godfather that hung next to the mantle of the fireplace. He seemed to hate Severus, managing to chase him down to the Blue room no matter how early or late Severus arrived. He bit back a smile as he remembered Severus declaring that he had seen the cat watching for him from one of the windows as if he knew Severus was coming. Draco had begun to expect the unexpected from the panther, especially after the first time he had appeared after being locked in the sitting room. Whenever he was about to be confronted by his father in one of the halls, Damian would glide casually around the corner, as if he had been following Draco at a distance.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he clicked his fingers lightly, drawing Damian's attention and signaling him to come. He held his breath as the panther gazed at him thoughtfully before stalking to him gracefully and crouching down near his feet.

"An 'A' Draco?" The soft purr from Lucius was less then friendly.

"It's not my fault. That horrid giant teaches that class and his dumb animals are always attacking me. He's also a friend of Harry Potter, which makes him biased against the Slytherins." Draco said softly, he'd known that his grades were going to anger his father. He'd passed every class with an 'O', except for the two 'E's he'd received and that damning 'A'.

"I expect better from you Draco." The slow hiss had Draco drawing back and closing his eyes, awaiting the blow that usually followed that sentence. He heard the soft creak of wood and then a soft thud. Opening his eyes, he quickly stood and attempted to pull the panther away from the desk. Damian had stood up on his black legs and placed his forepaws on the desk. Dagger like claws protruded from their sheathes, marring the perfect surface of the wood as they bit into it.

"Down Damian." Draco hissed clinging to the panther, surprised when the animal dropped back to the ground obediently, though still softly emitting a low rumble from deep within his chest.

"At least you took my advice and finally beat some sense into that animal." Lucius Malfoy assumed, glaring at the pair, "You're expected to meet your mother in her sitting room in five minutes. I expect you to be on time so I suggest you leave now."

"Thank you Father." Draco muttered, exiting the room quickly before stopping suddenly at the loud shouts of his father. Whirling around he noted Damian was nowhere to be seen. Swearing softly he dashed back to his fathers study, stopping in the door way and staring in shock at he sight that met his eyes. Damian was sauntering towards him innocently from where he had been by the fireplace. One of the chairs that sat before the fire bore the marks of his threat. Deep claw marks ran through the rich fabric of a padded seat, ruining a perfectly matched pair of chairs that had probably been in the Malfoy family for generations. Seizing Damian's collar he dragged him from the room before his father could recover from the shock and draw his wand.

Sitting in a comfortable chair in his mother's brightly lit sitting room, Draco pondered Damian's actions. The panther seemed to delight in destroying furniture throughout the manor, especially if the word Malfoy was placed on it anywhere; Draco's room had gone relatively unscathed this far. Damian also spent a considerable amount of his time running his claws through every picture of Lucius Malfoy he could find, and then making Draco follow him so he could be sure his work was admired. Shaking his head, he looked at his mother who sat across from him; she was delicately sipping a cup of tea while reading a letter from an acquaintance. Setting the letter down, she looked at her son thoughtfully before picking up a jeweler's box that was resting on the table next to her chair.

"When I was first married to your father, he gave me a familiar. I was so pleased I'd never owned anything like her in my whole life. It was a bonding by blood only, it took me a while to figure out that he was storing magic in her and drawing upon her life force. She was the sweetest little lioness, I remember naming her Doria, for the golden colour of her coat." She paused, glancing at Damian who was peering angrily at a picture of her husband. The large cat tipped his ears back before bringing a heavy paw down on top of the picture, completely obliterating the frame; duty done, the cat prowled on. Draco was surprised when he saw his mother smile at his familiars antics before continuing the tale of Doria.

"She made life here bearable, I could always count on her to be there when I needed someone. A true familiar is extremely loyal; they will follow you no matter where you go or how dangerous the situation. Damian, will guard you with his life if you let him. It seems to me like you've got yourself a clever little champion there, I'd imagine he would do anything you asked him. Several days before Doria died, I'd gone to a special shop and had several tags made for her collar. I hope you will use them on Damian; he seems to care for you as much as Doria did me. Now I'm going to get my cloak so we can go to Diagon Alley; I imagine you have school supplies you need to purchase."

Handing him the velvet box, she began an elegant glide towards her bedroom, pausing and turning slightly before murmuring, "Love your familiar Draco, and he will love you in return." His mother vanished into her room, leaving him staring at the box in his hands.

Harry continued his prowl around the room, listening to the conversation between Draco and his mother. Some things she'd said had come to close to the truth for Harry's liking and her last statement had made him shiver. Gliding towards Draco, he placed himself firmly in front of the wizard and sat down, peering into the jewelers box. Four charms glowed softly against the black silk. The first charm Draco picked up was a gold sword with a sapphire in the hilt. A small tag identified it as a protective charm that had been spelled with the strongest defense magic's known to wizards. Next to it was a twining 'D' crafted of fine bronze, a tag marked it simply as Doria. The final charms were a pair; two silver bells. They tinkled softly as Draco picked them up gently, holding one by the chain that was attached to it and allowing the other to rest in his palm. Harry peered at the tag cautiously, emerald eyes widening in surprise. The tag marked it clearly as a form of portkey. When the master of the bond held the bell in his hand and said his familiar's name, he would be brought immediately to the animal's side. He watched as Draco put the one bell around his neck before carefully attaching the other three charms to Harry's collar.

Draco grinned at Damian who sat placidly in front of him. The charms shining gently as the panther shifted. Draco rose as his mother entered the room, quickly moving to hug her.

"Thank you Mother, they're beautiful. Can you tell me what happened to Doria?" Draco asked the question softly, looking into his mother's eyes.

"She died. I found her one morning lying in the garden. She bore no physical injuries; it was as if the life had been sucked right out of her. As I assumed it had been." For a moment it appeared as if she was going to cry, but the look vanished and she led them towards the door. Sliding a hand through the velvet fur on Damian's head, he looked down into the emerald eyes.

"I hate that man." The statement was hardly even audible, but the panther loosed a low snarl.

Me too

The voice whispered softly through Draco's head, jerking his head and drawing his wand he spun around but the room was empty. He looked down into the panthers emerald eyes before murmuring something about hearing things and running after his mother, intent upon catching her before she flooed without them.

A/N: I'm so glad everybody's enjoying my story. I've had many wonderful reviews and would like to remind everyone there is no such thing as a stupid review. There've also been a few questions, some I can't answer because that would ruin the plot. However I will inform you that Draco will eventually figure it out, and Harry is staying in his animagus form because he chooses to.