Tiger, Tiger.
After an Animagus potion gone wrong, Harry becomes a tiger and is unable to change back. Though, without the weight of the world on his shoulders, Harry enjoys his new body, until something happens to make him go back to Hogwarts in the possession of Draco Malfoy. HBP.
Pairings: Harry/Draco one hundred per cent, there will be Blaise/Luna and eventually Neville/OC. Not much more romance other than this, maybe some off screen romance, I don't know, I haven't decided yet.
Warnings: there might be strong language, possible gory scenes in the future. I'll warn you though, so don't worry if you're squeamish. Also (I was supposed to mention this in the earlier chapters but…) Dumbledore! Ron! Hermione! Ginny! Bashing.
I don't own Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling or the poem 'Tyger, Tyger' by William Blake. Also anything you might recognise from other fics on this site or another is purely coincidental. Enjoy!
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Tyger, tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies,
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tyger, tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
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Chapter six: In which bonds are completed.
Draco grimaced. His head felt like he had a million bludgers zooming around on the inside, and his bare chest stung. He could feel silken sheets beneath him and a feather pillow under his head so it was obvious that he was in his bed. He groaned, shifting slightly and repressing a gasp at the twinge of pain in his chest. At least he was alive.
"You took quite the tumble there Draco, frightened your mother half to death." Draco heard his godfathers smooth voice float across the room. He merely groaned in response. Draco tried to push himself up off the emerald clad bed, wondering why Severus didn't try and help him. Once Draco sat up and his vision cleared (it had gone blurry when he began to sit up) he could see why his godfather didn't come to his aid.
There, lying on the end of his bed was Prosper, gazing at Draco with bright intelligent eyes. "The second you passed out, Prosper here broke through seemingly unbreakable chains and started licking your chest. He hasn't left your side since. He also tried to eat Jara (Severus' harpy eagle familiar) when she landed on your bed post." Draco smiled at Severus. "So it worked?" Sev grimaced before nodding slightly. "Yes you idiotic boy, it worked. You went through some... physical changes as well. Narcissa didn't want this to reach the media and Obliviated Markus." Draco nodded and turned to get out of the bed. Severus stood to push his godson back down but he was beaten to it.
Prosper laid his paw on Draco's shoulder and pushed down, a growl-whine rumbling his deep chest. Thankfully, Draco complied with his request, lying back down. Prosper took his paw off Draco's shoulder and curled up beside the boy, and soon the great tiger was snoring. Draco ran a finger across one of the many black stripes and marveled at the softness of the rich orange coat.
"He's been awake since the ceremony, not eating, just watching over you. For four days he sat at the end of the bed, not letting anyone but Narcissa get closer than across the room from you. It was amazing." Severus said softly. Draco pushed his covers down to his waist and looked at his chest. There on his left pec was a Celtic paw print, complete with claws and all. Draco ran his finger over it, feeling the indent on his skin. Glancing towards the sleeping tiger, Draco asked Severus "What did Prosper get?" Severus shrugged his cloaked shoulders "He growled whenever anyone went near him and to be honest no one wanted to be near his rather large and sharp claws." Draco smirked and sighed happily into his pillow.
Severus cleared his throat, demanding his godson's attention once more. Draco looked up tiredly. "You have to stay here for a further three days to completely seal the bond. The house elves will bring yourself and Prospers food whenever you all them. No contact outside the elves will be allowed because it messes up the magic in the bond. The door will lock after I leave and won't open until the bond has been successfully completed. I'll inform you mother that you have awoken. I suggest you put Prospers collar on when he wakes up." With that the formidable Hogwarts potions master mask made it's way back on Draco's godfathers face and the tall man made to leave the room in his impressive way of swishing black cloaks, before stopping short of the heavy wooden door. "Oh, and Draco? Congratulations." Severus smiled and with a small nod he left the room, closing the dark heavy mahogany door behind him, the lock clicking shut.
Draco sighed at the closed door and pulled the covers back up to his chin, rolling on his side with his back to Prosper. Finally giving in to his exhaustion, Draco slipped into a dream full of black stripes and glowing green eyes.
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It was many hours later when Draco awoke. His chest sill stung and he felt uncomfortably sticky. Pushing himself off the bed, he noticed that Prosper was still asleep. Reaching out a hand gingerly, Draco ran his fingers across the striped fur. Prospers eyes snapped open and he rolled over and stood up. Draco still had his hand extended and was quite surprised when Prosper head butted it, licking it with his rough sandpapery tongue.
Still feeling tired but unable to sleep, Draco petting his tiger. "Hey there Prosper, I'm just going to have a shower… or a bath… yeah, a bath." Draco half spoke to himself and half spoke to Prosper. Prosper nodded and jumped off the bed and stretched before looking back at the still bed ridden Draco. Draco shook his head and rolled out of bed, landing on the carpeted floor with the grace only a Malfoy possessed. Well, actually, he landed on his face, but he was still half asleep and thought that his floor face plant was graceful. Somehow.
As Draco walked into the bathroom, he heard Prosper do his huffing chuckle and Draco paused. He had heard that laugh before, and not just in the pet shop. Shaking his head, Draco walked into the bathroom, suddenly more awake than he was only seconds before, and feeling completely and utterly mystified.
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Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… CHAPTER SIX! *bows to adoring crowds* Anyways, enough of my awesomeness, if you see any mistakes or have any questions about this chapter or the previous five, ask, and I will do my best to answer, either in the next chapter or through PM. Sorry about the shortness, I just couldn't continue in this chapter. Thank you my snozberry sandwiches. I love you all.
In reality though,
I'm secretly annoyed with you
0_o