Draco POV

Sliding down his now closed door, putting his knees towards his chest, Draco sighed. His shoulders wouldn't relax. He didn't have much time.

Summer was almost over and he'd be closer to 16 and he still hadn't found his mate.

He remembered Professor Lupin giving a quick, one lesson course on Claiming and what that means for both parties, during his first year teaching when the kids his age were all 13 or 14 years old.

Pup wasn't dead, as he'd feared. If he was, he wouldn't feel the pull or he would've known it before and his body would've accepted another or went into a type of shock.

Ever since, he'd been trying to find out what he could, but there wasn't many by the Black-Lupin name. Individually there was. But not as a couple. Fuck, maybe Pup got it wrong? Draco had found out years ago that Pup was most likely a nickname used so often, the other kid thought it was his name.

The one who Claimed him was practically a ghost! There was no evidence he existed except for the bite on Draco's neck and his memories.

His father was getting impatient and his mother couldn't keep his father calm enough to stall for time much longer.

He wasn't going to marry for power, he swore to himself.

Power had brought him nothing but anger and contempt and loneliness. He didn't care if he lived a simple life like the Weasley's, though he wouldn't dare want that many children, he just knew he wanted to be with Pup. Maybe live in the forest or close enough to one. It'd be a huge change from what he was used to, but that was all Draco had dreamt about for years.

"Dobby." He called, not too loudly. He wasn't even sure Dobby could hear him.

There was a flash and the house elf was there. "Yes, Master Draco?"

He looked up. "Can you find out any married couples who go by the last name Black-Lupin?" He swallowed the lump forming.

The house elf fidgeted. "This-this wouldn't have to do with your mark would-would it? B-because Dobby was ordered to-to not get information for Master Draco regarding the-the person who Claimed him. Dobby is sorry. Stupid Dobby. Dobby's not allowed to say that." The house elf began hitting his own head.

Draco's eyes widened. "What? Why?"

Dobby looked at him, guilt written on his face and before Draco could order him to answer, Dobby snapped his fingers, leaving Draco alone.

Draco's eyes slit to needle points and his hair bristled. Oh, so that's how it was going to be.

Fine then. There was more than one way to do things.

The last month of his summer was spent fighting his father by rejecting each suitor he was met with. He also went to Pansy's and asked Blaise and Longbottom for assistance in looking for his mate. He had to. He wasn't getting anywhere on his own and if he was lucky, which he knew he wasn't, then maybe they went to Hogwarts.

If he was lucky, but...Pup always seemed like the "homeschool" or "no school", let the wilderness be my professor, type of person.

Little did Draco realize how much of his luck he had and how much it was running out.

The day to leave for Hogwarts was upon him. He'd be a 6th year and starting next summer he'd be 16. He shuddered, he felt nauseous as he boarded the train and found a cubby, and he tried curling into himself.

The night before, his father had demanded a family dinner before Draco left the next day.

Little did he know about the unexpected guest to arrive.

It seemed like a normal dinner. Both his parents were acting normal, his father still speaking about suitors and if Draco would just compromise with him. Even his mother had tried speaking with him about how they'd tried being understanding by allowing him to keep the "old Claim" mark as long as they did.

Draco had explained his reasons to his mother on more occasions than he could measure and with his father he had repeated what he usually did. That there was no other he wanted and he would reject the others, so to give up.

That is, until he felt long slender arms go around his shoulders and hot cinnamon spiced breath ghost against the back of his neck. His hackles had raised and he had tried getting away. Which getting away meant falling out of his chair in his haste to guard his neck.

He had panicked, wondering why he hadn't heard anyone behind him, when he realized it was a Bengal. She was beautiful with sandy hair and piercing jade eyes. No wonder he hadn't heard her approaching. He couldn't even cover his neck, his body froze. Then, he had blacked out and the next thing he remembered was putting up a barrier charm 5 times in a row to keep anyone out.

He hadn't cried. All he could do was shake and not utter a word all night. Only the promise of getting away had him leaving far earlier than planned the next morning.

His head shot up when he had heard the door slide open. Harry had poked his head in and smiled.

Draco couldn't even bask in that because right behind Harry was Weasley and the girl Weasley along with Granger.

"May we sit with you, Malfoy?" Harry had asked sweetly.

Draco could only nod. Truthfully the only one he wanted there was Harry. He wasn't even sure why except his voice, or the tone, helped sooth in some way.

He scooted more against the window, almost flush to it. His knees were still up against his chest and his tail was wrapped tightly against his legs. He tried making his head lower, making his neck harder to get to.

He hadn't even realized that's what he was doing. He just knew he was in no mood to be the perfect Malfoy. He was so tired.

During the ride, he noticed how close the Weaslette sat to Harry. How she angled herself and spoke to him as if he were everything she'd dreamed of.

Draco would've laughed if he didn't feel wretched. What she saw in Harry was an illusion. Not real. Whatever heroic bastard she thought up, wasn't the man he truly was.

What Draco knew, was he was a dork, sometimes hard with words, spoke with his hands a lot, was a people pleaser with a hero complex and mauder like tendencies. He loved treacle tart and odd music that made your body pulse with it. He also had a temper once pushed a certain way or to a certain brink and Draco rarely liked being on the receiving end of it.

Harry either hadn't minded or was oblivious, judging by his lack of reacting to her flirting. Gross.

When the trolley of sweets and treats came by, most of them, except for himself and Granger, got something. He hadn't felt hunger since the night before and it seemed Granger just wasn't a fan of sweets.

"Your hair is looking nice this year, Granger. Not as poofy." Draco had commented with a tired smile. She sat beside him, Weasley on the side near the door while Harry was near the window opposite himself with the Weaslette opposite her brother, next to Harry.

"Of course it is. Hermoines's hair had always been nice." The Weaslette said. Draco swore he said that quietly enough but the cubby was small.

He did catch Granger's gentle grin at him. "Thank you, Malfoy." It seemed she knew how to take a compliment when it was given.

Draco did glare at the Weaslette though.

She wrapped her arm around Harry's, who tried to pull away, but ultimately put up with it.

'Little Bitch.' Draco thought.

The Weaslette started chatting with Harry then, on mundane topics or what he did over summer. Barely giving him time to reply while she spoke of her's.

He jolted, feeling a hand pat his back. Looking over slightly, he saw it was Granger. She gave him a sympathetic look. She could probably tell by his body language that he wasn't in the mood.

He really did judge her too early when they were younger.

As a topic of interest to the others came up, it got considerably louder. Draco was in no mood.

He tried making himself even smaller, tried being even quieter. He couldn't even focus on Harry's voice since the others were speaking even louder.

He tried focusing on inside then, since he couldn't outside. He thought of memories. Ones with Pup though, his happiest ones, he had come to a realization, only brought a gut sickening guilt.

Like he'd already done something wrong by him.

He breathed deep through his nose. The birthday memory the year prior with Harry brought not as much pain. He focused on that.

It worked, until it didn't.

He felt a tight grip on his tail as it was pulled from its spot next to his feet and pulled far, fast.

The thing with cat tails, is they're sensitive. All bone, nerves and fur. So when one is crooked, like Draco's, it's even more sensitive to touch.

He hadn't even realized he'd closed his eyes until they flew open and he swiped in the direction his tail was pulled.

The Weaslette squeaked and ended up yanking the tail hard, her grip tightening at the sudden claws going towards her face.

"What the Hell, Malfoy?" She yelled. She still had a grip on his tail and it hurt!

His eyes were needles. "Let go of my tail, Weaslette!" He hissed. It shot so much pain up his spine, Draco couldn't even touch his own tail to pull it away.

He saw the fire in her eyes, the challenge that he never even offered.

"Ginny, let go. You're hurting him." Harry said softly, trying to ask nicely.

Granger nodded. "Ginny."

That seemed to only piss of the younger teen more. Instead of looking at them, she glared at Draco. He had no idea what her beef was with him! He never said a word to her except then.

She looked at Harry innocently a moment later. "But, Harry, it can't be real. Look how long it is and it's all crooked and weird." She tried defending then pulling again while tightening her grip.

Draco lunged and went to swipe at her but a rough, warm hand stopped him.

With his other hand he reacted, swiping at who stopped him without seeing who did.

He regretted it the moment he did.

Harry let out a quiet hiss of pain as his cheek was slashed by Draco's claws.

Draco began to pant, his body tensing and adrenaline running from the pain. He thought Harry would hit him back, scold him, something, but he simply wrapped one arm around his shoulder, the other still holding his wrist.

"Let's get you a different cubby. Come on."

Harry's voice was soft, trying to be comforting, if the feel Draco got from him was right.

Draco's emotions were haywire, though, so the effect might not have been ideal. He was in pain. His stomach felt ill, he felt terrible guilt for the night before when he shouldn't have. He was pissed that this little bitch had the audacity to pull his tail and keep doing it, despite his obviousness against it. Most long tailed people hated their tails touched and most nubbed or no tails knew that.

He knew it wasn't pity. He knew Harry just wanted to help, but he was beyond reason. His tail kept flicking, showing his emotion and each twitch it did sent a new wave of pain up his spine.

Harry must've known as well because he moved his face a bit away as Draco went to hiss at him too. He didn't need Harry's heroism complex right then!

The door slid open and Professor Lupin poked his head in and paused seeing the scene in front of him.

"I just was coming in to see if Harry had my scarf, but it seems I stumbled upon something?"

His voice held curiosity.

"H-hey, Professor Lupin, c-could Malfoy here rest in your cubby for awhile? He-he doesn't seem to be feeling too well." Harry asked. If Draco didn't know better he'd say Harry was trying to get out of something.

Professor Lupin took a quick glance and nodded. He looked to Draco.

"Draco, would you like to rest where I'm at? I might have some tea or coffee. Maybe a nice book?"

So far, Professor Lupin had proven himself to be one of the few adults Draco could trust. Draco stood straight, a bad idea, and walked the few steps over and nodded.

As they were leaving, Professor Lupin turned his head. "Harry, when you have a moment, will you bring Draco's things over? You know where I am."

Lupin had let Draco lay down on the seat opposite him, since it was empty. He knew, being a long tailed person, that sitting or standing wasn't the best option when one's tail is swollen.

"Care to say what's on your mind, Draco? Or stay quiet?" He drank some coffee from a thermos. His voice was calm, no scolding, no anger. Just concern and curiosity.

Draco could already feel the lump returning. Lupin had known about his Claim mark, not who did it and the like, but he was kind enough to be a shoulder and a person of wisdom for Draco. Draco would've never guessed how much he needed someone, a parental figure, like Lupin in his life.

Someone who didn't judge. Who listened or didn't have to listen to know.

He shrugged his shoulders. There was a lot, and he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. He saw Lupin stand and crouch in front of him, he smiled gently, one that reminded Draco of Pup, and he pet Draco's head.

"I-I don't need your p-pity, Professor." He ground out, obviously trying so hard to not break.

Lupin hummed. "I'm not pitying you, Draco. I've grown to like you these last couple years and I know this isn't like you. Well...I also don't know the state your tail is in either but I'm sure that's not the only problem."

That got a snort and chuckle out of Draco. It was just how Lupin said it.

"I can't even feel my tail. You sure I have one? Gotta tell me, Professor." He blinked, trying to smirk and play it off, but his smirk came out watery and wobbly.

Lupin smiled. "There's Draco. You know you can tell ol' Lupin."

Draco took a deep breath. "I don't know. I don't know what I did to piss off the Weaslette. I was already on edge because of something, then I let them all come in and then after awhile she just yanks on my tail. She was so obviously trying to get Har-Potter's-attention."

He took a shuddering breath. Anymore and he knew he'd break. Professor Lupin's phone went off. He ignored it, feeling Draco's needs were more urgent. But the person kept calling.

Draco chuckled at the look of utter annoyance passed by the usually sweet Professor's face. He got up and answered.

"Sirius. There's usually a reason why I don't answer. You what? Sirius, I swear, if I wasn't on a train headed to Hogwarts...yes I know. No, Sirius. Sirius, no! If I come back and-no. I have to go now. Yes. Why do I bother? Uh-huh. I'll believe it when I see it, or lack of it. Don't get killed. Hehe, love you too you jackass."

He hung up with an exasperated but happy expression.

Draco had never felt so jealous. "I've never seen that before." He croaked.

Lupin looked to him in question. He nodded to the phone. "You bantered but said you loved him anyway. It was..."

'Full of love.' Is what he wanted to say, but couldn't.

His brows furrowed and he couldn't stop them from doing so. He forced himself to smirk, his slight grimace could be mistaken because of pain. That wasn't the case, in reality.

"...quite annoying. Honestly, your husband sounds like an idiot."

Lupin replied by simply handing Draco a to-go container of hot tea, placing a warm pad against the base of his tail and giving Draco a smile he could only call fond as he nodded.