DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 14 – My Slytherin
Draco groaned and rolled over, running a hand over his face before slowly opening his pale blue eyes. His room was still pitch black, the only light creeping through the dark came from under the door and between the cracks of the curtains covering the magic window. The window was more of a picture, following the steady patterns of the moon and sun as they rose and set. However it lacked something that a real window showed, life, a picture could never really show a growling thunderstorm or the snow whispering along the glass. It was one of the few reasons Draco hated the living in the dungeons, but like all good Slytherins, he learned to adjust.
Today was Friday, his new favourite day of the week. All of the sixth years had been given the morning off for free study or practice, normal classes resuming after lunch. Two hours of Defense Against the Dark Arts followed by Transfiguration and he got to sleep in until lunch: heaven. Softly whispering tempus he looked at the numbers floating above him before they vanished in a puff of red smoke. It was only nine twenty-six, which meant he could get ready for lunch and finish his other schoolwork before he had to attend his afternoon classes. Then he was free to spend the whole weekend lazing about and playing with Harry and Damian. Draco smiled devilishly at the thought and sat up in bed, carefully wiggling out from under the covers and crawling down the bed to where Harry lay. The panther was sleeping sprawled across the foot of the bed, front paws and ears twitching as he dreamed panther dreams. Extending his hand slowly, Draco grabbed several long black whiskers and tugged gently before whispering 'Harry' overly loud.
What? Harry mumbled obviously still half asleep.
"Be a dear and do my homework while I'm in the bath." Draco murmured softly, running a finger along the side of the cats face before scratching behind one ear, smiling at the low throbbing purr that immediately filled the air.
Which work would that be? Harry sighed, absorbing the feelings of playfulness and laughter floating around, setting his mind and body afire with a content feeling he had never felt before.
"Never mind, chances are you'd muck it up anyway." Dodging a soft swatting paw, Draco climbed off the bed, giving the panthers tail a pull before cheekily stating, "Heaven knows how you've made it this far." Gliding towards the door and heading off to the bathroom, softly closing the door behind him.
Harry watched as Draco exited the room in that slow sweeping gait that made it appear as if he were floating above the floor. Closing his eyes, he internally murmured a spell he knew by heart and groaned at the feelings sweeping along his spine. His bones crushed and remolded, reverting to their former shape. His teeth and nails shrunk, returning to the dullness that they had previously been. He lay still upon the bed, allowing his body and mind to adjust to being back in their natural form. The pain of the transformation was a distant memory but he could still imagine the feeling as it overtook his body. Stretching his arms above his head, he sat up slowly, body relearning how to balance after spending so much time running around on four legs rather then two. Standing carefully he grinned at the feeling of being back in his first body, it was like being home after spending weeks in a hotel that lacked certain amenities one was used to.
Walking to the curtains, he drew them back to allow small fingers of light shine into the room. Turning, he moved slowly to Draco's wardrobe, reaching in and pulling out a pair of black slacks. He tugged them on and shook his head as they fell loosely about hips; he had lost more weight over the summer then he had originally believed. His eye's caught a flicker of movement and he turned to catch the dull outline of himself in a full-length mirror. His hair was sticking up everywhere and the scar upon his forehead glowed a nasty red. The silver collar glittered in the faint light, amazingly tight against his throat even though the panther had a wider neck then him. He shook his head and grinned wickedly, the thoughts sweeping through his head none to clean as they took in his appearance. Combing his fingers threw his hair; he moved to sit down at Draco's desk. Settling a piece of parchment before him, he glanced at the crystal clock sitting on the desk, figuring he had at least another thirty-five minutes before Draco came back. The sound of approaching boots had him frowning, Draco always took at least forty-five minutes to get ready which meant that someone other then Draco was approaching the room.
"Draco!" Blaise hollered, raised fist pounding on the door in a rapid beat meant to force Draco from sleep. "Damnit Draco!" He had a question about Ancient Runes and Draco went and vanished on him, he grinned as he grabbed the door handle and found the door to be unlocked. Draco generally finished his homework as soon as it was assigned; he'd said something about making it easier to laze around and do nothing and then muttered something about beauty sleep. Throwing the door wide and marching in uninvited, he went straight to Draco's desk and rummaged around through the loose papers sitting on top, grinning as he found the completed homework. Glancing about he frowned at the lack of panther on the bed; generally Damian remained in Draco's room until the pair were ready to proceed to the Great Hall. Holding the paper tightly he was about to leave when his finger smudged one of the answers. Fresh ink? He'd been in the common room for the past twenty minutes and hadn't seen any sign of Draco; drawing his wand quietly he moved to the door and shut it softly.
Standing in the shadows right next to the door, he winced at the thought of either Draco or Damian returning to find him in their quarters. Eyes carefully examining the room, he waited patiently for something to happen. Several minutes had passed when he heard a slow creak emit from inside Draco's wardrobe. Slinking to the door, he readied himself before yanking the door open and screaming 'Lumos'.
Draco dropped his head back on the folded towel he was using for a pillow. The prefect's bathroom he was using belonged solely to the Slytherin Prefects, seeing as none of the other houses would bother coming down here to use these ones, the Slytherins used them as often as they wanted. He floated among the bubbles smelling overly sweet of vanilla. He couldn't imagine living without Damian, but surely Harry would have to return to his human form soon. He imagined that Dumbledore was frantically looking for the lost wizard when he was really right here under his nose. Closing his eyes, he grabbed a handful of bubbles and allowed them to run through his fingers before gazing at the ceiling arching above his head. Damian had become an important part of the Slytherin House. Not just to Draco but to everyone. The first years moved about the school unthreatened and no longer required guards to go to the library or just outside to play. In only a week, the presence of panther Harry had given the Slytherins a new hope and new lives. Draco rose slowly, he didn't know what he would do if he lost Harry and Damian, together or separate, they had become the most important part of his life.
Draco paused on his way through the Slytherin common room, stopping to talk to several individuals before continuing to his chambers. Throwing open his door wide and stomping in, he readied himself to push the panther out of bed and haul him to lunch. His eye opened wide at the sight before him and he quickly lurched fully into his room and slammed the door, causing several students in the common room to jump at the thunderous sound in the nearly empty room.
"Hey Draco." Harry's soft voice filled the air, causing Draco to draw in a breath before moving further into the room. The Boy-Who-Lived sat cross-legged on his bed, fingers idly playing with the small charms dangling from the silver collar around his neck.
"Morning Draco." Draco's head whipped around and he stared in shock at Blaise who was perched elegantly on a chair before the desk. "Harry and I were just talking about you."
"Actually, Blaise was helping himself to your homework. I was merely finishing the task you asked me to complete." Harry said, grinning widely at the look of understanding crossing Draco's face. "He, of course, decided to keep me company until you arrived."
"Yes, well now that I'm back he may leave." Draco glared in the direction of his friend who merely shook his head and smiled.
"This has to be the most interesting thing that's happened in the Dungeons since first year. There's no way I'm going to leave until I hear every dirty little detail." Blaise stated happily, making himself more comfortable in the desk chair, before putting his full attention on the pair. "A lion in a panthers body guarding a nest of snakes, this has to be one of those once in a life time things. Now do go on, we have class in a little while and I haven't yet had lunch."
"Well…" Harry said, turning his head so he could hold Draco's eyes with his, "I suppose it all started back in first year when the sorting hat was going to place me in Slytherin."
Hermione Granger sat in a quiet corner of the library. Several completed assignments rested before her, all neatly rolled and bound with a piece of gold and red ribbon. She was staring thoughtfully at that small piece of cloth decorated in her house colours. One never really took into account the significance and role that the housing system played in their lives. It separated the clever from the students who may not have been so swift. It built a wall between the weak and the strong. Weren't the brave supposed to protect the weak? Every house was a small puzzle piece, a piece that would never fit into the puzzle because the other pieces had been thrown in different directions. Frowning she leaned back in her chair looking at the various groups of students seated around tables, all wearing their house colours proudly. Glancing up from her thinking she, her eyes met those of a male Ravenclaw who was heading in her general direction. She was surprised when he stopped beside her and pulled out the chair across from hers.
"We need to talk."
Draco and Blaise stared at Harry in shock. The tale he had told them had been none to pretty and neither wizard knew exactly what to say.
"Lunch is almost over." Harry stated, glancing at the clock on the desk, fingers pulling on one of the pants cuffs as he waited patiently for the other two to come back to their senses.
"Does this make you a Gryffindor or a Slytherin?" Blaise wondered aloud, gazing at Harry thoughtfully. "I mean you were great in Gryffindor but you lacked something there, I'd almost say heart but after everything you've been through I'm guessing that's not it."
"He's Slytherin." Draco stated, glaring at Blaise as if he had just called Harry a child. "The damn hat obviously had it right but wonder boy was to stupid to believe he'd fit in with a group of snakes so much. Now we better get our buts in gear or Snape will be down here demanding to know what we've been up to and I'm not ready to tell anyone who Damian really is." Draco said, gazing at Harry who was nodding in agreement.
"Well I'd best change back then." Harry stood staring at the pair before rolling his eyes and asking them to turn their backs. He chuckled softly at Draco's muttered 'prude' and concentrated on returning to Damian.
Draco and Blaise turned to look at the massive panther standing where Harry had been a few minutes ago, the slacks thrown casually across the foot of the bed.
"Alright, lets get the show on the road." Blaise said, straightening his robes quickly before striding towards the door, pausing only to grab the Ancient Runes papers he had originally come for.
You know you really are a Slytherin right? Draco murmured softly, hand resting on the back of the panther's neck in a familiar gesture of affection.
Am I? Harry asked, emerald eyes gleaming at the look on Draco's face.
Yes, My Sytherin. Stated Draco, the meaning behind those words had Harry's heart leaping and a mutual feeling of love creeping along their mental path. Hey Harry, exactly how much do you know about Ancient Runes?
Draco, I know as much about Ancient Runes as I do about what goes on inside Dumbledore's head. Harry laughed, flashing his fangs to the people moving down hall, clearing them a path instantly. Draco's startled laughter filled the hall, causing people to turn and stare at the wizard who was laughing for what seemed no reason.
Hermione Granger stared at Terry Boot in amazement, not fully able to grasp what he was trying to tell her. She'd been surprised when she had initially heard his story but when he reached the part about the panther talking and protecting the first year her chin had almost hit the table. The behaviour was certainly very Harry like but the thought of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy getting along was just too unbelievable. She had looked over the animagus spell and found that it was too dangerous and complicated for even her mind to comprehend. The most concerning part was that the two wizards had been bound together without knowing whom the other was. If the Slytherins found out Harry was parading around house dressed as a panther there would be a new fur rug decorating their common room floor.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reviewing, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank You Everyone! Quick story, I was sitting here typing this up and my brother came in with a back pack, so I asked him where he was going and he said camping (code for bush party), then I asked what was in the bag and he said clothes (code for liquor). So I'll never be able to keep a straight face the next time my friends tell me were going camping and to bring some extra clothes.