Harry POV

Harry groaned, looking into the mirror at the sink.

He looked at his rough, scarred hands. Draco's were so small in his. Long and elegant. Draco let him kiss his hand.

If he didn't know, why did he let him?

His ears twitched around. Neville and the Slytherin he brought with had gotten Draco's things earlier that morning. Harry knew he had bags under his eyes. He'd been so worried for Draco, but unable to follow, he didn't get any sleep.

So, he ended up in his Pop's study reading with him all night. He did get restless, not being big on reading for hours like his Pop.

Harry realized he was shaking.

His scars revealed he was a fighter and he was! But when it came to Draco he just...he was a fucking coward! He couldn't tell him.

"You done in there, Harry? We're going to be late for lunch." Hermoine said.

"Yeah." He sighed, ruffling his already messy hair with his hands.

Upon entering the main hall with the bundles of noise, his eyes scanned for his mate.

No sign. He sat, Ron blabbing about something while stuffing his mouth.

Harry wasn't hungry. He saw Hermoine push some food to him.

"Eat. I bet he's fine. He's a Malfoy, we would've heard something by now. Come on. Eat." Her tail swayed in satisfaction as Harry reluctantly ate some berries that were put in front of him.

A few minutes later he heard the doors open and in came Neville and...Draco! Harry's ears perked and his nose caught his scent. Harry examined him as he walk passed some tables, headed for the Ravenclaw one.

Draco's tail wasn't in a splint, though the crook was still there. He moved it like normal. He must've went to Madame Pomphrey.

Harry's heart leapt to his throat as Draco's eyes locked with his. It was only for a moment, enough to get Harry's attention but no one else's suspicions.

When they approached the Ravenclaw table, Neville waved, coming towards the Gryffindor table after.

Harry's eyes stayed not to subtly on Draco as the blonde approached Luna Lovegood. The other Ravenclaws looked surprised, as did many others. At first they must've thought it was to pick a fight, but Luna had jumped up happily and hugged him!

Harry felt a jealous pang at seeing Draco smile at the girl and pet her head. He didn't know what they were talking about, but she looked relieved. Luna Lovegood was a mouse and very odd.

Harry startled at hearing a snicker. He turned his head and saw Hermoine smiling wickedly, Neville was grinning too, similar to Hermoine's but not as tricky.

His ears went back.

"What?" He felt himself blush.

"Oh, nothing. You're just staring is all." Hermoine said innocently, her tail giving her away.

"You sure, 'Mione? I bet he wants a certain blonde cat to have his tongue." Neville quipped. Harry blushed harder.

"Alright, Longbottom, you've been around Slytherin's too much." Harry said, folding his arms. He was pouting though he'd never admit it.

Draco's scent got stronger and judging by Hermoine's reaction, Draco was close.

Too close.

His breath caught as Draco leaned over his shoulder, arms behind his back. He was so close, Harry could only smell him and it stirred something in his veins, effecting his impulse.

"Granger. I missed some classes. Mind letting me borrow notes?" Draco had asked and Harry fought to not nose at his jaw. Draco had terrified him yesterday and having him so close was probably bad.

Hermoine nodded. "I'll give them to you next period. Wanna sit with us?" She asked sweetly. Harry both wanted to agree and say no.

Was it just him or did Draco become more beautiful?

There was something, but Harry couldn't pin it.

Draco shook his head, the air moving and making Harry's mouth water. He gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing, and turned back to the berries. They didn't look as appetizing now.

"Sorry, Granger. As much as I'd love to torment you all and gather intel, I see our zany Headmaster seems to be getting ready to speak. So my house awaits. Take care of my honorary Slytherin." He smirked at Neville who laughed.

"What the fuck is Malfoy talking about now?" Ron asked. Hermoine just patted his leg.

Draco put his hand on Harry's back to push himself into standing straight, when he wasn't bent that far, but paused right next to Harry's face.

"Uh..." he giggled lightly. The sound going right to Harry's heart. Draco must've found out how to kill him and was acting it out. Draco bit his lip and in barely a whisper, Harry barely heard him as much as reading his lips. "Harry, you have berry juice on your face, so unless I have to make fun, I'd get rid of it."

With that, Draco left with a light pat and Harry was already missing his hand on his back.

Once Draco was out of earshot, Hermoine whistled. "Oh man Harry." She giggled. "You have it bad. Your eyes are still dilated and he's quite a bit aways now."

Harry hummed but his mind was far behind in a memory. When they were kids, no napkins or anything and Harry was a much messier eater (thanks Dad) back then.

Draco would comment about food being on his face but at some point he would use his hands to wipe it away and lick his fingers. Waste not want not was how they thought. He always did wonder what Draco's tongue felt like. That wasn't a new thought, though back then it was more curiosity and now it was...well...'Bad thought! Bad!' Harry blushed with a vengeance.

These...bad thoughts weren't new either, they just have been building especially since Draco showed his true colors when they were 13.

He'd have to burn off this energy. Good thing, there was a Quidditch match soon.

He tried using a dish to see his reflection and saw he did have some juice on the corner of his lip.

Draco was right and Dumbledore announced that after the Hogsmead trip, those who would go, namely the 6th years, there would be a parent/guardian visit day so their guardians could get a chance to see how their studies were going and socially how they were doing. Harry didn't mind, it just meant he'd have a day with his Dad and Pop.

He'd also get to say hi to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.

He liked them and their boys weren't bad, then again the older ones didn't have Draco to deal with to cause issues. That had been why he was lenient with Ginny for so long. It seemed, that was a bad decision on his part.

Speaking of, he spotted Ginny approaching and Harry thought it best to make her apologize to Draco before they all went their separate ways for classes.

She looked excited to see him. She must've thought she was off the hook.

She went up and grasped his sleeve. She still didn't have the confidence to hug him full on, it seemed, or she had to know she was in trouble.

"Harry! Harry! Did you hear that? It's going to be great. I wonder if dad will want to ask a bunch of Muggle borns questions. What do you think? Oh, by the way, is there anyway you can walk me to class? I can feel Malfoy's glare from here and I'm worried he'll do something." She said this all in one go.

Before he'd thought she was just a bit clingy having a guy friend who's not a brother.

Turns out he's bad at reading signs.

Plus, he'd be worried if he was her too. Draco was many things and sometimes forgiveness came with a hefty price in his eyes.

He sighed. "Actually, Ginny, we're going over to D-Malfoy- so you can apologize to him." He knew if he just sent her, Draco would probably hex her to America and back.

She looked at him in disbelief. "Why would I apologize to a-"

Harry growled lowly, fixing Ginny with a warning. "It doesn't matter who it is. Come on."

She bit her lip but followed.

Draco had been fiddling with his tail, getting dirt and crumbs from the floor out.

Harry thought the humming was a bonus on top of just being cute. Draco seemed to be in a good mood. Everyone had mostly dispersed to either the yards or classes and it seemed they caught him right before.

When Draco saw them, Harry didn't blame him for narrowing his eyes and standing.

Harry spoke first, to make the reason clear. "Ginny has something to say about yesterday. Go on, Ginny."

Draco crossed his arms and looked to Ginny, unimpressed and almost expecting an insult. His tail flicked.

Harry would have to ask him later why he was actually allowing it.

It's not that he doubted Ginny would apologize. He just knew Draco and he could be petty.

Ginny got closer to Draco, Harry had a gut feeling but tried giving her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she didn't want to cause a scene.

But to his surprise, Draco, though eyes slit and tail flicking more in agitation by the second, he put up his hand.

"Don't waste your breath, Weaslette. I will never accept false apologies. We both know you'd do it over again if given the chance."

With his head high, Draco walked past Ginny, towards Harry, most likely to walk past him as well.

Harry saw Draco reach up, like to gently push him aside. Harry had realized too late that he was blocking Draco's way.

He went to move to the side as Draco's hand touched his bicep.

Harry opened his mouth to apologize himself, for being in the way, when Draco moved the hand from his bicep to his lips.

Harry's breath caught and he knew he was blushing. Since when did he become weak to this beautiful creature?!

Looking at Draco, he looked like he was going to say something, his face in an expression Harry rarely saw. It looked like fondness, but that wasn't right, when Ginny's wand tip was at Draco's throat, under the side of his jaw.

Harry froze and felt Draco do the same. He couldn't even hear him breathing.

"Take Harry off whatever hex is on him. Now." Ginny demanded.

The few stragglers stopped and began to whisper. Ginny wasn't being quiet.

Harry felt a protective coil burn and spread. He about went to grasp Ginny's hand, to demand why she's being like this. She was usually shy and yes, hard headed like Molly, but not so venomous to others.

Before he could, he felt Draco's fingers press against is lips, the equivalent on placing a hand on the chest.

He glanced at Harry for a moment before his eyes went back to Ginny.

'So he wants to hear this? Is that what he's saying?' Harry was confused and the longer Ginny's wand stayed on Draco's throat, the more angry Harry became.

"What makes you think there's a charm?Potter, really. You should've told me, I would have made it fun." Draco drawled, sounding bored.

Harry looked at him, eyes wide, wondering what his mate was thinking.

Harry swore Ginny's eyes blazed like fire. Draco's own had hardened.

She snarled, her voice loud, bringing out her inner Molly Weasley.

"I know so because Harry hates you and now he wants me to apologize to you?! I admit you were right. I'd NEVER apologize truthfully to you. You've tormented my brother and I and belittled us Weasleys. You made fun of Hermoine. Not to mention you've hurt Harry so many times so-"

Harry halted her short by gripping her wand on the space between Draco's neck and Ginny's hand. Ginny whimpered at the look he was giving her.

He knew he must've looked terrifying to a younger girl. His green eyes blazed with anger, his grasp so tight on the wand you could start to hear it crack. If he bore his teeth, it'd be worse, so he tried keeping that in check.

"Ginny. Enough. You've went too far. What I do and who I decide to spend time with is my own business." He got close, a growl leaving his throat. He looked her in the eyes, making sure she got it. "If you dare do something like this again, I don't want to, but I will sever ties with the Weasleys and you will rue the day you laid a hand on Draco. Are we clear?"

He leaned back, releasing her wand and she pulled it away.

All who remained had gotten scared off.

Ginny ran by, trying to hold back tears.

He went to turn to Draco, his anger still bubbling but he knew given a moment, it would simmer.

He had became startled because Draco held a concerned look in his eyes. He didn't expect Draco to grasp his hand with both his shaking ones and without a word, pull him away. Not to class, but a bit outside, behind the main doors.

Harry was slightly sad when Draco released his hand, thought the feline looked like he wasn't sure what to do with them. He looked in Harry's eyes and Harry saw that vulnerability again. His silver eyes wide in disbelief. "Why would you do that? I-I don't care what happens to me, Potter. I don't care about her, there was nothing she could've done or said to effect me, but I know you've cared for and loved the Weasleys for as long as I can remember. Don't throw that away for me. You have..." Draco took a deep breath, trying to regain his calm. He hadn't realized the finger jabbing Harry in the chest.

Harry knew what he was saying and he begged to differ. He grasped Draco's hand that was on his chest, tilted the palm up and kissed there. It was light, but the energy behind it spoke more volumes than any touch could.

Draco's breath hitched. "H-Harry. S-say something. I'm stuttering and it's-it's embarrassing. I'm no damsel, you have to know. I've broken your bones too. So..."

Harry looked, removing his mouth, and saw how red and conflicted Draco looked. He looked lost. There was a small part of Harry that enjoyed it.

Harry felt he couldn't speak. He was still angry and his energy from it was high.

He didn't care if Draco could take him one way or another.

He was Harry's mate and Harry had been a terrible one. He left Draco, he fought with him, he allowed him to get hurt.

Harry couldn't help his next impulse. He gripped Draco around the waist, pulling him against himself. He heard the gasp that left Draco, but he ignored it.

Then, he did what he wanted to earlier. Against the side Ginny's wand had been, Harry placed his nose.

He nuzzled, despite feeling Draco's whole body go ridged and he stopped breathing. Harry knew what this meant back when they were kids. How close and what he should've done.

No. He shouldn't have done any Claiming at all.

He tried nuzzling gently, rubbing the tip of his nose back and forth against the under part of Draco's jaw. He tried apologizing that way.

He heard Draco gulp. "H-H-Harry."

He sounded scared, breathless. Harry felt Draco shaking, one had reached up and clawed the nape of his neck, where the bottom of Harry's hair was. Harry knew it'd bleed.

His energy felt like static. He wanted to hear more of Draco's pleas.

The last time Harry felt anything like this, was before he Claimed Draco.

He could feel his magic pulse around them.

He wanted to do it again. A fresh Claim. Draco was his. He wouldn't lose him.

He hesitated a moment. The air was thick and humid.

Draco was still on edge. Harry ignored that.

Harry tilted his head up ever slightly, his lips against Draco's pulse point.

Something was stopping him from doing it. Not physically. It's like he knew if he did, he'd never be forgiven, even if Draco found out who he was.

He didn't want to risk Draco's trust and secret love for a hormone charged impulse.

Draco wasn't ready to give "Pup" up. He was so scared of losing Draco. He'd waited too long and now he wasn't sure what would be right.

He made a growling whine in his throat. He was fighting it. He wanted Draco so much. This sweet, petty, beautiful cat was his.

But only if he wanted to be.

He hadn't realized how loud his growling got until he felt Draco's hand move from his neck to cup his cheek, startling Harry from in his head.

He hadn't realized he was holding his own breath.

"Harry. I...I need time. Please. Heh, and you know I never say please. Please don't hate me for this."

Harry wasn't sure what Draco meant, until he allowed Draco to pull away.

Draco didn't go far.

With his hand still on Harry's cheek, shaking, Harry froze as he felt Draco's sweet scented breath on his lips.

Draco got closer, his breath shuddering. "I...I've never..." Draco took a large breath and exhaled. Harry's nerves were on fire but he wasn't sure what to do.

Draco leaned in and pressed his lips to Harry's lightly, still shaking.

It was over as soon as it started.

Draco ran and Harry let him, his pulse beating wildly.

Why did he always run away?