Harry POV
AN: starting a new idea of doing each chapter is their POVs (so 3 is Harry, 4 is Draco) just an FYI and I'll let you guys know at the beginning which it'll be.
Turned out... things didn't get easier when you found the one you were looking for.
Nor was it easier when they didn't recognize you.
Harry sighed, running his hand down his face.
It was late in 4th year. Some trouble during the year made school go for a bit longer in summer. Tomorrow would be the 5th of June. They could all go home then.
His Pop would be excited. He was too, they'd get to see Dad everyday. They'd do what married mates did.
Harry sighed deeper. He always did fantasize what it would be like to reunite with that boy he Claimed.
Now that he was older, he knew it was dumb. Neither knew what a mark would do to them. He didn't regret it. He did regret not being able to find him, though.
Reckless...was what he'd been.
Then when he did...he swore that day on the train, Draco recognized him, maybe even was angry for not finding him sooner. But it became quickly apparent that Draco didn't know who he was.
Then Draco just kept pushing him away. Over and over.
When they were fighting one day, it was early into their years at Hogwarts, he was beginning to think Draco truly wanted nothing to do with him.
Until he went to pin him by grabbing his neck. He had paused for a moment because the mark he left was untouched. There was no scratch marks, like one would want to be rid of it, there was no one else's bite either.
He remembered when he reached for his neck, Draco's eyes held some fear before he twisted his body so unnaturally that Harry swore he had to have broken something. But Draco had turned so Harry couldn't get to it and Draco had let out a hiss right in his face, mere centimeters away, as well as a low threatening growl. He was shaking. His adorable round ears had been pinned to his skull.
"Don't you dare touch me, Potter or I'll gut you in your sleep!"
Harry remembered what he'd said because he remembered Draco hiking his shoulder to his jaw, defensive, a way to protect his neck from someone.
Harry hadn't been mad. He acted it, in front of the crowd they'd gathered, then a professor came and they separated.
In his bed that night, Harry had giggled and blushed. Embarrassing, but he did. That meant Draco treasured him. Treasured his mark. Even though he didn't know it was him.
He wanted to tell him. But with the animosity between them and that Draco was actually, well...part of something deeper. Something more. How could "Pup" compare to that?
He couldn't. "Pup" was a nobody. "Pup" was a kid with big ideas and endless energy who thought he could do things and made promises he couldn't keep.
"Mate, go for a walk. Your sighing is waking me up." He heard Ron say, the Capybara becoming annoyed.
He made a grunt and got up. Maybe he would.
He put on shoes, a jacket, and grabbed his Muggle MP3 player that his Dad got him when he was 8 years old, hoping to cheer him up.
He couldn't even track Draco's scent after the attack. His Pop and Dad had moved him and neither knew that there was another kid there until Harry broke into sobs, explaining what happened, who he was with, and then breaking into sobs or staying silent for months after. Even then...he faked his smiles for a long time.
Suddenly he saw a long, crooked tail make a turn a few stairways over, he knew who's tail that was.
Instead of alerting Draco he was there, he followed as silent as his large feet would carry him.
He lost sight of Draco a few times, but followed his scent. As a kid, he didn't lie. He did like Draco's scent. He shook his head. He couldn't get lost in his memories.
He followed the scent to a ledge out one of the hall windows. Draco was sitting, his knees pulled to his chest, that same crooked tail wrapped around his shins. He swore he saw those silver eyes shine with wetness. He wasn't sure if Draco knew he was there.
Before he could clear his throat to make his presence known, Draco scooted a bit more.
"That's you, right, Potter?" He turned his head after quickly wiping at his eyes.
Harry's voice caught. It was equally the saddest and most beautiful sight. He always liked seeing Draco in moonlight. His silver eyes and pale skin always had a lovely glow. Then his blonde hair shone like there was a halo around the little devil's head.
He nodded and slowly walked over, sitting with a bit of distance. They both were in pajamas.
He blew out a breath after some time. He didn't like this silence. It wasn't a comfortable one.
"So..." he went to try for a random topic when he felt the MP3 poke is thigh. He got an idea. He took it out and presented it to Draco with excitement, a grin on his face. This made Draco startle at his movement but then looked confused, his brow arched and lip puckered out slightly.
'Cute!' He thought, his grin growing.
"What's that?" Draco asked.
Part of Harry was horrified. Draco didn't know!
He took apart the ear pieces and brought one close to Draco, who leaned away. "You put this part in your ear and this device plays music. I want to show you some." He knew he sounded excited. He wanted to show Draco what he liked!
Draco looked hesitant, but did. Harry played some upbeat music, one of his favorites. Draco's body jolted but he stayed patient and after a bit, began to bob his head to the beat.
Harry swore his face was splitting with the force of his grin.
Draco began to hum to it, Harry doubted he realized it even.
Harry gulped, a bit nervous of what he was going to ask.
He stood up, startling Draco.
He held his hand out to the feline.
"W-would you care to dance, Malfoy?"
'Dammit, I stuttered.' He thought bitterly.
"I...I don't know how." He spoke softly.
Harry grinned. "It's okay. Neither do I."
A surge of deja vú hit him. They'd said these words before.
Draco looked almost alarmed at his hand, but he took the ear piece out and gently put his own soft hand in Harry's. Draco was trembling.
He wasn't sure if he was as well.
Harry grabbed the device with one hand, the other still grasping Draco's, and played one of his favorite albums.
He swayed his hips, trying to ignore Draco's hand in his. Draco definitely didn't know what to do, he observed how Harry danced and tried to imitate.
Harry bit his lip to stop himself from stopping and squeezing the life out of Draco.
Draco released his hand, much to Harry's disappointment, and tried dancing how Harry was.
They both looked like idiots. They had to have went through an hour's worth of songs, all upbeat as they both melded into a silly, dancing but kinda just moving, rhythm.
By then, whether due to genuine enjoyment or sleepless delusion, Draco was laughing so hard he was gripping his stomach and had tears in his eyes.
Harry liked his laugh.
When they both began to get sleepy, their swaying became slower. Draco's eyes kinda drooped and his large smile turned into a small grin.
Harry decided that that was probably enough. They both had a long way back to their dorms. Maybe he could walk Draco to his?
"Uhm.." he started as they both were back in the halls. "Would you like me to walk you to the Slytherin dorms?"
Harry's heart was in his throat, beating erratically. He was never a nervous Person. Never...well, actually. Only when it came to the person he wanted to impress most. Even when they were kids.
He hunted and protected Draco because he wanted to.
His Dad always told him that if you like someone, prove what you can do for them through your lives. Later he took Harry by the arm to specify it was a romantic gesture, not one to show EVERYONE.
He knew that. That's why he bit Draco. Even as a kid, he liked him. His Pop was the one though, after, to explain how big a deal Claiming was and the potential danger he put Draco in.
Returning to the present, Harry saw the shock then skepticism on Draco's face.
"Why?"
Harry scratched the back of his head. "Well...I know it's probably quite the walk and I know you've been alone-"
"Oh."
That made Harry's stomach drop. The tone. The guarded look that wasn't there earlier. Harry opened his mouth to ask, but Draco cut him off, putting his hand up.
"No need, Potter. I don't want anything to do with Hero "boy who lived and can't die" Potter." Draco sighed, looking away. "Right."
A bubble of heat formed in Harry's gut. A flare of anger. Insulted, should be the word.
"What does that mean, Malfoy?" Harry crossed his arms. He had forgotten, and so quickly too, that they weren't as close as they were. They weren't "friends" nonetheless "mates", despite the Claim saying otherwise, because...Draco didn't know.
Harry wasn't expecting the silver slits look right into his own green past the glasses.
"It means, I know you. I know more about you than everyone so I can see past your-your- facade!" Draco threw his hands up, but he wasn't done. He never was.
"I see how your jaw clenches when you don't want to do what others say or when you get mad." He stomped closer. Harry didn't move.
"You are such a people pleaser and all they see is this "boy who lived"! Yes, you survived something tragic and horrific as an infant. No one knows what happened after until word got out you were attending Hogwarts. You grew up as that title. NOT as Harry. Or-or whoever!"
Draco was in his face by then, forcing Harry to grab Draco's upper arms, a glare on his face. Draco had to be wrong. He about said it, but Draco was always better at getting his words in.
"No, Harry James Potter. I'm not done. You let them hold you up to such high expectations because you are so frightened of being alone! Of being abandoned by all these strangers, you don't know what to do with yourself! So, you fight and fight and let people walk over you. You get into unnecessary danger because you can't! Say! No! Because for some reason, the people you have isn't enough! It drives me crazy!"
As Draco panted for breath, Harry asked. "Why do you care?"
That wasn't the right thing to say. Draco glared, he saw the beginnings of tears, his fangs barred.
"I care because I'm tired of seeing it! I'm tired of knowing the pain you're in and how much you're suffering! I'm sick of somehow knowing when you've pushed yourself too far and you have no one to go to so you grin and bear it like you're invincible! News flash, Potter, NO ONE IS INVINCIBLE! Including you! So no-"
Draco pulled himself from Harry's grasp.
"Thank you. I can get there myself."
Without another look, and with his head high, Draco left.
Harry couldn't even get the words "this isn't because I'm a hero," out of his mouth. So he swallowed the lump and had to wonder, why couldn't Draco get it? Only mates know how the other is in pain like how Draco explained it.
Harry didn't sleep that night. He stormed around the halls and stairs to burn off his frustration then sat in his bed, quietly thinking. He felt so much of the frustration and so many fights could be avoided if he could feel what Draco was, like how Draco could him. But Draco didn't get the chance to bite him that morning.
Harry sighed, seeing the sun rising. He gripped his hair, ears against his head. Why did Draco have to be so prickly! What happened through the years between the Claim and seeing him again that made Draco so guarded?
Draco liked to act like he was better, and that's what Harry thought he turned out to be at first. But then he saw Draco getting along with Neville, someone everyone either ignored, didn't take seriously, or thought as weak. Then Harry saw Luna Lovegood chatting with Draco as well and he caught once, ever since, Draco wearing something she made for him. It was under his robes, but he still wore it.
Harry couldn't feel what Draco was, or what he might be truly thinking, but there were some ticks he saw, gestures and the such.
How he held his head high, when mad or in pain. He did that when they were children too. How he wouldn't be as venomous to those he started being soft to.
Harry had a silly thought. Like himself with having a bit of the Slytherin self preservation instincts, Draco had the Gryffindor bravery. It was rare, so much so no one ever saw it, unless looking.
He truly didn't get his mate sometimes. Sadly, he wasn't sure if that was because Draco was an enigma or if it was just a mate thing.
His Dad and Pop fought sometimes, got mad and all that.
Truthfully, what Draco said, hurt. It stung. He thought what he was doing was a good thing, that's why he did it. He was trying to prove he could protect Draco or whoever but Draco...apparently didn't see it that way.
"How am I gonna make it up to him?" Harry thought, flopping back onto his bed. He had packed to let out more of his frustrations. He and Pop would take the train like everyone else, so maybe he could ask him then.
As he waited for his turn to board the train with Pop, he caught a familiar scent then saw the familiar cute ears and blonde hair, approaching them. Draco was dressed nicely. Unlike the night before, where Harry realized, he hadn't even noticed that Draco's hair had been a mess and he was in pajamas like himself! He should've stared more...wait...
Shaking the thought away, he saw Draco talking to his Pop. Acting like he totally wasn't listening, he listened.
"Thank you, Professor Lupin, for your help. Defense Against the Dark Arts has been interesting this year. And for...the other stuff." Draco stood stiffly but his voice was full of gratitude.
Harry was curious. Since when did Pop talk with Draco?
He jumped when Draco turned to him. He saw his Pop wave and board ahead.
"Potter...I-uh..." Draco took a deep breath and Harry so badly wanted to pet him. But, he wouldn't.
Harry took a deep breath. "Yes?" He cringed. He didn't mean for his voice to come out croaky.
Draco looked him in the eye, his not guarded or angry. "Thank you. Our dancing and you just...acting like an idiot...was a great birthday gift. Even if...it ended badly."
Harry's brows shot up in shock. "Y-your birthday? Yesterday? Why-why didn't-" Harry was short circuiting. He had no idea! His heart clenched. The mate side of him was both happy at the information and devastated he didn't know and didn't do anything for him.
Harry startled when he felt Draco pat his cheek. Not slap him, he just...patted his cheek. Harry whined in his head, wanting to lean into it and keep Draco's hand there, but Draco removed it.
"Stop panicking. No one knows except my family and a few I've told. Plus it's usually when I'm home for the summer, so what would be the reason to tell? And for your information, it was today. So I'm counting our dancing, since it was past midnight while we were, part of it. I haven't laughed like that since I was little."
Draco got a nostalgic look on his face and smiled.
Harry's hands were clenching and unclenching at his sides. He so badly wanted to hold him. It was getting harder to resist each year.
Before Harry could reply with a "you're welcome", the train whistled and Draco waved, leaving to a different part of the train as Harry boarded as well.
He couldn't tell if he was happy or just as equally heartbroken he had to leave him again.
Harry trudged up the river bank with some fish. They weren't the biggest, but he thought he did well for a beginner. His Pop had begin teaching him to hunt only recently.
He also had some berries for himself he scavenged so Draco could have more meat. Harry knew he could eat a lot, so to make sure Draco was well fed, he'd find other things in his diet to eat.
His heart swelled with pride.
When he got to their little camp, something stirred in his belly. Draco was adding wood to the fire and was drying Harry's shirt as he hummed a tune. One Harry didn't know.
Draco seemed to be looking at flowers as well.
"What're you doing?" Harry asked as he got closer.
Draco startled, his tail going up. "Oh, it's just you, Pup. I was drying your shirt and looking at these dandelions. I can't remember what the scientific name for them is." He looked to his catch and Harry blushed at the look of awe Draco gave him. Draco blushed at being caught looking.
"I-uh...g-great job." He looked at Harry with large silver eyes and Harry felt his breath catch.
"I-I like you, Draco!" Harry yelled as he ran over and engulfed Draco in a hug. He couldn't help it. Draco made him feel so much. He heard a snort and pulled away, seeing Draco laughing.
Harry pouted, an unsure feeling in his belly. He began to pull away, feeling rejected, but he didn't get far when Draco wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him back, getting on his toes and while he was still giggling, he kissed Harry's cheek.
"I like you too, you idiot. Isn't it obvious?" He said between giggles and Harry blushed so hard it hurt. Draco's silver eyes were glittering and crinkled, almost closed and his cheeks were pink. His little fangs pearly and filling his open mouth.
Harry thought he was the most prettiest thing he'd ever seen.
His heart swelled. He wanted to keep Draco forever.
