-1Chapter 19-Man or Wolf pt. 1

Harry stood and snapped his neck. It just wasn't his day. And where did Draco go? Harry found him across the room unconscious. He shook his head and picked him up. Draco rested on his shoulder, limp like a sack of potatoes. He found his stuff: wand, ripped shirt, and his broom. He was surprised it was all in one piece. If it had been him, he'd have snapped the wand and broom. It bothered him that she didn't. What where they really up to?

Harry made his way to the secret entrance to Hogwarts. They could take care of Draco and fix him up in the process. McGonagall was going to have a fit when she found out, not to mention Tonks and Remus.

He made his way down the corridor to the exit under the tree. He imagined what they would say, "How could you go in half-cocked!!" or "I can't believe they caught you so easy, you could have been killed!!" He chuckled imaging the looks on their faces, and then he had a look of horror at what they had done to him, after they got their relived worries off their chests.

He snuck out from underneath the tree, hitting Draco's head on a loose root. He touched the knot, and waited for the limbs to fall still. As the last branch eased its movements he made a bee-line for the large doors leading to his favorite place.

He pushed open the doors and was shocked by what he saw. The castle wasn't as he left it 20-well a year ago. The walls were battle stained, the floors cracked in some places. The stairs worn, and not polished like they used to be. The upper stairs were darker, as if they couldn't afford to keep on all the lights. The place looked like a dump, to be honest.

"Harry Potter?!" Harry's head snapped in the direction of Professor Trelawney. He winched as he heard her voice and saw that she was heading his way. "Harry, I have bad news, something terrible has happened to you and your friend. I saw it and was on my way to help you." She said.

Harry shook his head and brushed past her. "Thanks for the warning, but I'm in a hurry to the hospital wing."

She nodded and let him pass, "Your friend is hurt. You should hurry and get him help."

He just nodded and rushed up the stairs and made his way to the hospital wing. Draco was starting to stir against his back and he was getting weaker by the minute. With luck, Madam Pomfrey was coming down the hall right to him.

"Harry!!! What happened?!?" she said rushing towards him. Harry smiled softly as she reached him and helped place Draco on a floating charm. She led them both to the Hospital Wing, and again he was shocked by what he saw.

The wing was expanded, filled with over 100 beds, all full. Madam Pomfrey added two beds and laid Draco down on one. She quickly examined him as Harry sat on the other empty bed. She quickly revived him and mended his wounds.

Draco sat up and looked over to Harry. He was doubled over, and still bleeding. He was somehow different, and Draco couldn't quiet place his finger on it. Something about his body mass, he was thicker or something. Almost as if something was about to break free from beneath his skin.

Madam Pomfrey turned to Harry and gasped, finally seeing the full damage. She immediately got to work on healing his wounds. Draco sat back and rested his eyes, hoping Harry would be okay. He saw what happened to him. He wouldn't wish that on his worst enemy, but of course he felt guilty about helping Marcus in the first place. All of this was his fault, if he hadn't told Marcus what Harry would do to save him. It didn't help that he didn't know that Marcus was pretending to be his father. He didn't feel sorry at all for what Harry did to him.

Harry woke slowly and growled at the bright light in his eyes. His senses were on fire. Smell, sight, touch, hearing. All of it was super sensitive. He looked down at himself, his chest was scarred over by the curse he was cut with and that his pants were stained by his own blood. Strange thing was the blood wasn't red, it was orange and still fresh enough it hadn't stained fully yet.

He sat up and felt his muscles tense and flex beneath his skin, but his skin was tighter. Almost like he gained body mass. He rubbed his forearm and felt tiny hairs protruding from his skin, like tiny fur. The only time he ever felt like this he was halfway through his transformation. Why was he stuck? If he was.

Something caught his nose. The tangy juicy smell of raw meat. His mouth watered as he craved to dig in a juicy steak. He pulled himself out of the bed and snuck out of the hospital wing. He traced the smell down to the kitchen. Perhaps the fridge was loaded, he after all was starving.

He stuck to the shadows as he made his way downstairs. Familiar voices stopped him.

"I'm sorry but with the information we've gathered he's dangerous. Who knows what happened to him but he's stuck between phases and could be dangerous. From what Draco told me he killed a man, ripped him to pieces. I can't let anyone near him until things are settled and it's safe." McGonagall said. He stood beside the doors to the Great Hall.

According to the scents the entire Order was seated inside along with Hermione, Ron, and Draco. They were obviously talking about him and what happened.

"He needs his friends right now. Something happened to him and we should be there to help him along to recovery." Hermione said. Once he heard her voice, all his senses focused on her. His chest tightened and breath became heavy. He was intoxicated with her. The way her hair smelt like vanilla and strawberries. The way her voice was a soft melody that eased his soul.

His other senses craved for her. To touch her, taste her. He pushed his way through the doors and walked to where Hermione was standing. The group turned to him, some with worried looks, others with looks of fear and concern.

"Harry, you should be resting." McGonagall said, surprised at his entrance. Madam Pomfrey stepped forward and Harry jerked away from her.

"Why rest when you all are enjoying talking about me behind my back." Harry said. Ron stepped forward and touched his shoulder.

"Harry mate, were not doing anything like that." Ron said trying to get Harry to back away from Hermione. Harry sensed his unease and realized what he was up to.

Harry grabbed him and pushed him back a few feet, right into Draco. "Don't even Ron. I feel fine, just a little hungry. If you don't mind I'd like Hermione to join me."

This time Remus stepped forward. "Harry, I don't think you should be around anyone right now. You're in between both parts of you right now. Who knows what werewolf traits will become dominate and at what time. It's safer if you head to a private room for the evening until I can figure this out." He said.

Harry growled in disagreement. "I won't hurt her." He said hoping someone would believe how true those words were.

"I trust you Harry, but I want you to get better also." Hermione said.

Harry felt trapped between two walls that were squeezing him into a smaller space. Remus took a few steps forward again but he was drawing smaller into himself. Ron stepped back, too afraid to get close to Harry again. It's not like they're the best of friends at the moment. Draco was working his way around the back of him. Yet Harry noticed all of this. If he didn't see it, he heard it. His sense of smell was infused with Hermione.

"Harry, please. Just get some rest." Remus said now standing at a bow. Draco reached for Hermione and pulled her back, away from Harry. Harry growled and turned; his fist connecting with Draco's chest. The blonde flew across the room and landed hard on one of the dinner tables. The room fell silent as Harry scooped Hermione off her feet.

Before they could stop him he was out the doors and gone. Remus sighed and prepared for the onslaught of questions he was about to receive.

"What was that Remus?" McGonagall asked. Ron was helping Draco to his feet and Madam Pomfrey was helping.

"Listen, Harry has been spiritually a werewolf for 20 years, physically only a year. He has pack leader qualities that are beginning to show themselves. Now that he's been back long enough to stabilize; this experience he just went through has caused the suppressed qualities to gain dominance."

A few had understanding looks, well all but Ron. "So what does that mean?" Everyone turned to Ron; he just simply shrugged "What?"

"It means, Harry's more werewolf than human, and it looks like he's picked his mate."

Authors note: I know that last chapter was so so, but it was leading to this. I hope you all liked it; I spent all day writing it. Let me know what you think and I'll look forward to what you have to say.

The Wigster