Draco was lost. He'd followed a shiny creature into a vast forest but then went farther than planned. He was getting scared. His large round ears were pinned back against his head as he held his abnormally long tail against him.

His large silver eyes were blown so wide you couldn't see the silver.

"M-mother? F-father?" He called, his little voice quivering. His white blazer and grey shorts were dirty and torn. He knew he would be scolded.

It was getting late and since they were on one of his father's business ventures, Draco wasn't sure where to go.

He was 7 years old. Intelligent. Cunning.

And so utterly lost.

He found a stream as the afternoon light glowed orange. He gulped. It was running water. So...maybe safe?

He scooped some up and was about to risk it, sitting on one of the bigger rocks, when a sudden yell made him jump out of his skin. His tail puffed and ears straight up. His claws extended and he gripped the rock beneath him.

"Hey! You're supposed to boil it first to not risk the sicky icky."

Draco turned his head fast, hearing another boy's voice. He relaxed for the most part, now more angry than scared. He got up fast and puffed out his cheeks.

The other boy had black messy hair that looked curly and smaller round ears on his head. No tail that Draco could see. The boy's skin was tanner than his own pale.

He went up as gracefully as he could, fury in his silver eyes, he underestimated the other's height and initially was staring at his chin. The other boy was a few inches taller.

He blushed and looked up.

"You don't just scare people like that! Y-you stupid mushroom!"

Draco knew that wasn't the best insult. His mother was still teaching him the art of the snake's tongue.

The boy tilted his head, confused. "Stupid mushroom? Mushrooms aren't stupid. Oh, that's right. Sorry, Pop always told me to use manners. I'm Pup! Pup Black-Lupin!" He held out a rough hand. Big compared to the body.

Draco gulped. His anger deflated. Pup hadn't meant to scare him. He supposed that was good. He reached out to shake his hand. "Draco. Draco Malfoy. Pleasure is mine."

When Draco went to look at his eyes, he was caught off guard by the beautiful green they were. It was like when he'd lay on the grass and stare up at the leaves, the sun above them giving off all sorts of green shades that always lulled him into a nap.

He blushed.

Pup grasped his hand and led Draco to a good water source. "So...what are you doing out here? Lost too?"

Draco thought to make some conversation.

Pup shrugged. "Not really. Well...maybe a bit. I'm used to wandering the forests, but this one is new and we were camping so I wanted to explore. You?"

Draco blushed and turned his head. "Ah-well...yes. I was gonna lie, but I realized I already spilled the beans."

Pup laughed, which made Draco relax and actually smile. He still didn't spot a tail on Pup.

"Hey, Pup?" He asked after a long silence. They had gathered enough clean water to drink and they were looking for a good sleeping spot.

Pup looked over to him, green eyes still bright. "Yes, Draco?"

Draco blushed at Pup imitating his tone. "I was gonna ask. What are you?"

Pup didn't miss a beat. "I'm a dog. Or wolf. My parents are one of each, so not sure. What are you?"

Draco scrunched his blonde brows. He'd never met a dog or wolf with round ears. Well...he was one to talk. He cleared his throat. "I'm a-"

Pup cut him off. "Wait! Let me guess." He turned to observe Draco. Draco squirmed under his gaze. "You're a ferret!"

A flash of anger rose in the child. "I am not! A! Ferret! I'm a cat!" His nostrils flared and he glared, silver eyes slit.

Pup tilted his head again. "But cats have pointy ears. And they smell bad. I like your smell."

Draco huffed, pouting. It sadly wasn't the first time someone called him a ferret.

Pup saw the look on Draco's face and placed his hand on his cheek, grinning so wide Draco could see all his teeth. Some were missing.

He saw the beginnings of a scar on his forehead, but could see it all due to Pup's unruly bangs.

Something bloomed in Draco's chest at the gentle assurance.

He figured...if Pup thought cats stank, then he could put up with being called a ferret.

They camped in a small cave that night, both knowing it was too dangerous to wander after dark, no matter how good Draco's night vision was.

The next day, Draco foraged for twigs and the like while Pup gathered fruits and insects. Though it surprised Draco when he told him he was carnivorous, Pup actually caught some fish. Small fish, but better than Draco could've done.

It was a similar routine for a week. They even spoke of which houses they might be when older, if they could cheat the hat, in case they get different ones, since obviously they'd be together even after they found their way.

Draco even mentioned one late night that he would've been happy just staying out here in the woods as long as he had a friend like Pup with him.

Draco grew quickly attached to Pup. He'd sell Dobby if it meant staying with Pup.

He was cool, calm when Draco was freaking out, and he could hunt! He was smart too, though VERY reckless. He could even do some magic without a wand! He knew his parents would approve and make an exception.

They weren't sure if they were going in circles or if the forest was just that big.

Both their clothes were torn and dirty, most of Draco's shirt was used as bandages for whatever recklessness Pup got in to.

It was early morning on the 8th day, they were watching the sun rise.

Curled into Pup the night before, like all of the days they'd been lost, Draco had remembered something his father said about marriage. He was vaguely aware of the memory, only remembering because Pup had set his warm hand on the back of his neck when petting Draco's head, thinking the other was still sleeping.

"I'm probably never gonna be allowed out after this."

Pup looked to him, tilting his head again. "Why?"

Draco leaned his head on the other's shoulder. "Because I ran off. Then I'll be trapped and won't see you again and then be married off when I'm of age. I wouldn't be able to look for you if we got separated. Whatever that 'of age' thing means!"

Pup stayed quiet, but reached over to the hysterical blonde, holding his hand. "It's okay. I'll find a way to find you again. And you can't get married till then."

Draco looked at him, ears down sadly as he sniffled, trying to regain himself. "Why?"

Pup got close, determination in his green eyes. Draco gulped. "Simple. My Pop and Dad said the person you marry is your best friend. I am already your best friend, so you can't."

Draco's curiosity was poked. He knew how his family married. Was it different for other people? "How do you dogs marry anyway?"

Pup sat back, his chin in his hand as he thought, his eyes scrunched. Draco scooted closer.

Pup jolted after a few minutes. "We leave a bite scar on the back of the neck since rings usually get lost or can be easily removed and it connects you closer with your mate, too. That's what Pop told me when I asked." He shrugged.

Draco blushed. "That's...kinda like how us cats used to. We used to mark them with our scent and then nip them on their strongest scent gland so they smell like their mate, even a bit. But because of issues with cheating, my great-great-great grandparents were the first to just use rings and power.Except we have this big party thing. It's a big deal...for some reason."

Pup shrugged. "Pop and Dad had a small group of pals to celebrate."

Draco couldn't help his mumble, "That sounds nice."

Draco was usually looked down in his family. Only because he had round ears, not pointed, and his hair had a blonde tint, unlike pure white like the rest of his family. So to maybe even be a part of a small group of family, celebrated with your mate, their mark on you making it known you were married and wanted, was a nice thought.

Pup got a sudden glint in his eyes and pulled Draco close and in front of himself slightly.

Draco couldn't even ask before he felt Pup bite hard into the back of his neck. Usually a small nip would suffice on the gland, if Pup was trying to imitate the cat's way, but he wasn't. This was the dog's mark. A strange pulse went through Draco as he felt Pup's teeth sink deeper as his jaw clenched tighter. 'He's still tightening his grip?!'

He should've feared that Pup would sever his spine, but he didn't. His mind was a mess of happiness and uncertainty.

Pup let go after a moment and grinned widely, obviously proud. "There! Why wait till we're older when we can promise the other forever now?"

Draco was frozen. He felt a strange mix of emotions his little body couldn't process.

His mouth opened and closed over and over. "M-m-my turn." He croaked out, his face breaking out into such a red color it didn't look natural. He went to reach for Pup, the other allowing it, when they both froze.

A rotten smell invaded the area. Both children looked around, and held their breaths at seeing a giant polar bear, it's nose looking infected and rotting. Neither knew what one was doing in the warmer regions. Draco saw the glint of Pup's makeshift spear and breaking eye contact, he lunged forward and ran, trying to reach the spear a few feet away.

"DRACO!" He heard Pup yell, fear evident in his tone, but Draco couldn't risk looking back. Before his hand could grasp the spear, terror gripped him instead as a large, heavy paw slammed into his tail, pain shooting up his spine and blossoming in the back of his skull.

He screamed.

He could feel the hot breath behind him until it let out a roar. A terrible noise as he gagged at the smell of its infection and breath.

He looked back through tear clouded eyes to see Pup on top of its head, clawing at it the best he could, even using his large canines to bite into it.

Fear dug itself a home in his chest. Draco panted. "Pup, don't! R-run!"

With Pup's distraction, Draco was able to remove his now broken and bent tail but his breath caught again at the sickening sound of the bear smacking Pup with one paw, sending his future mate flying and against a bundle of large boulders, another crack being heard.

Draco, with his heart in his throat and the blood drying on his neck, he would do the only Gryffindor thing he'd ever do...he ran towards Pup.

Draco began to hyperventilate but stopped again when he heard infuriated snarls and howls. Angry canines.

His mind shut down. Another multitude of emotions swam and crashed in his body, none good.

Draco ran away.

Draco awoke with a gasp and body wracking sob. His body was covered in sweat and tears ran down his cheeks.

His heart still hurt, even 4 years later. Now that he was older. Old enough to understand, he knew why.

Claiming was a curse.

His ears, now a more normal size lay flat as his bent tail wrapped around him.

He basked in the temporary calm the buzzing of the mark on his neck gave him.

Looking at his bags, he remembered what that day was.

First day at attending Hogwarts. He was to be a Slytherin. Like everyone else in his family.

The least he could do, was be the best Slytherin his family had ever seen, to make up for his abnormalities and his claim from someone he couldn't even show existed.

He had to wrap his tail once around his thin waist to hide the length and the terrible crick. There wasn't anything he could (or wanted) to do about his ears.

He sat near the window as he and others boarded for their first year.

He sighed, beginning to take out a book to get his mind off the memory and to kill time when the door to his little cubby opened. No one had dared to come sit near him, but his breath caught when he saw a mop of messy black hair, with round ears and skin tanner than his own.

His eyes widened and his ears at attention. He wanted to believe, but Draco was no idiot. There were too many odds against him.

"Oh, can we sit here?" The boy spoke.

Draco took a deep breath to gather himself. He went back to looking uninterested.

"Do what you please." Instead of being curled, comfortable, he moved to sit straight and proper.

"Sorry, my friends should be in soon. I'm Harry. Harry Potter." The boy, Harry, reached his hand out and Draco's stomach clenched painfully. The gesture similar.

The name...he knew the odds were too stacked. This Harry Potter, he'd heard of before only in papers and the scoffing of his father. "The boy who lived." Is what they called him.

Draco scoffed inwardly. He was just another Bear, who just so happened to look a little like his Pup.

Draco ignored the hand.

Not too long after, a ginger and a curly haired brunette opened the door.

The ginger Draco recognized immediately but kept his trap shut. It was a Capybara Weasley. The girl had proper feline features, unlike Draco. A tabby.

Draco wasn't the only one thinking so because next thing he knew, the Weasley gave him a look of disgust.

"Let's move, Harry. You don't want to be near a Malfoy."

The girl sighed. "Ronald, don't be rude."

Part of Draco appreciated she didn't know him. But with others still around, he couldn't let it be shown he was allowing a mixed breed to defend him.

He channeled some of his pent up frustrations and pointed it towards the other feline.

"Who might you be, Muddled Tabby?"

He saw her hackles raise. She hissed. "Granger for your information. Don't act like you're better. Ugh here I was defending you. I'm NOT lesser than you because of it."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Of course I am, Granger."

"It's fine, you two, let's find another cubby." Harry said, Draco not even looking at him.

The ride there to the castle was long and all Draco could think, was he felt like he'd done something wrong.

Looking at the note his father put in his pocket that he'd forgotten about, Draco groaned.

'Befriend Harry Potter. He could be an asset.'

Was written in his father's hand. He wanted him to try and be friends after what happened on the train? Though his father wasn't aware of the exchange.

He was only 11!

Oh how he sometimes wished he could go back to that week with Pup.

All along stair cases were first years like himself and other years as well. Harry was chatting it up with Granger, Weasley, and some others. All of them gushing about him being "the boy who lived" over and over.

Draco rolled his eyes so hard it hurt his head and took a deep breath, approaching.

"Potter. I'm afraid we got on the wrong foot. Perhaps we can wipe the slate clean and start anew?" He held out his hand similar to Harry did earlier.

Harry didn't take it, but he did fix Draco with a glare. In the lighting, Draco wasn't able to see his eyes well, but he knew by his mouth he was glaring. And his ears.

"Even if you apologized to my friends, I wouldn't shake your hand. Ron's told me about you."

'Of course he did.' Draco thought sarcastically.

"Of course, take the word from the hammy down Weasley's and a Mudblood Tabby."

He drawled.

He wasn't even sure why he was trying to make enemies with someone the Wizarding world held in a such high praise.

He just wanted Harry Potter to be his enemy. He just did.

Professor McGonagall split them up before things got ugly as Harry shook with a protective rage.

Draco felt a cold iron like heat of anger boil in his belly along with relief that Harry though of him as everyone else did of his family.

He didn't like these confusing feelings. He hated how some of them, he understood why he felt them.

A last glance towards Harry, seeing how much he looked like he could be Pup but older, even his retreating back, solidified Draco's choice. If the world was going to play a cruel joke on him, he'd fight them by making Harry "boy who lived" Potter, enemy number one.

Everyone else, would follow suit.