A/N: I would just like to say that I am amazed and astounded by the response this fic has received already, thank you to all of you who put this story on Fav and Alert, you rock!

And a special thanks to MiseryluvsDeath, TheGingerBreadMan15, Abil dark Angel and Delta10-don't worry we're on the same page- for reviewing you, made my day! This chapter is for you.

Summary: Harry has defeated Voldemort using powers gained form his newly acquired, very rare and extremely powerful Animagus form. But this extraordinary gift has its downsides. And when Harry imprints on a stranger in the wood will he be able to complete the bond or should the question will he want to. Ok so this is my second ever story and first ever Harry Potter fic so R&R.

Beta: TheGingerBreadMan15

Disclamer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters, though I wish I did.

Warning: this story contains YAOI boy/boy don't like don't read.

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Chapter 2

Draco felt the light-headed rush that came with the transformation from Animagus to human. He pulled in a shuddering breath and blinked his weaker human eyes, as the Owlery came into focus once more.

'Shit, shit, what that hell was he doing there!' jumping to his feetand looking out the window of the tower to reassure himself that he had not been fallowed.

There was no doubt in his perceptive Slytherin mind that he had just met the very same Animagus he had once caught a glimpse of, the night Voldemort had been defeated. Harry Potter's mysterious Animagus form. It was the night that life, as he had known it, had been ripped from beneath his feet. It was not like he'd forget it anytime soon.

He had been assigned to lead a small number of his Slytherin housemates into battle and to with deal with as many DA members as possible. Simple, right? And yet he had, for some unknown reason, found himself merely disarming and incapacitating them instead for doing any real damage. And if that had been all that had occurred, he had been sure that he could have swept it under the rug and explained it away as a reluctance to fatally hurt someone which he had attended school with. However it had not been. When he had come across Bellatrix using the torture curse on that snivelling wimp Longbottem, he had disarmed and confounded his Aunt before he even realised that he had his wand raised. Yep he was an idiot.

And that had been all it took. Suddenly he had to defend his back form a borage of curses that had come from his housemates and former allies. All for a decision that he hadn't even been a hundred percent conscious of making. Where's the trust, hun? He remembered noting that Blaze, Pansy and a few other Slytherin had actually followed his idiotic example and switched sides, and had stood alongside the rag tag band of Gryffindors Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs that they called an army.

The blond's aristocratic brow creased in a frown when he remembered that, it was that 'rag tag band' that had in fact defended him from a few nasty curses that he hadn't been able to deflect in time.

Draco checked the empty corridors for any sign of Filch or that damn cat of his and sped, as quietly as he could, towards the dungeons and the safety of his room.

It wasn't like he hadn't believed that the bloodlines- for the good of the wizarding community- should remain pure, he reasoned. But because of the Dark Lords campaign… well, he had had his doubts of a couple of years now. After all, Voldemort himself wasn't even a pure blood. Not to mention half crazed, but that meant in no way that he had wanted to join the glorious Potty's little Fan Club.

The slim boy felt bile raise up his pale throat just thinking of how he had been treated as some kind of adorably reformed scoundrel after the final battle, he had received nods and even a pat on the back or two. It had been insufferable. Bloody Gryffindors.

The worse was, Draco reflected, as he made his way through the Slytherin portrait, that Longbottem had followed him around like some little lost puppy until Draco had with a hunting sneer, told the bumbling boy, very politely of course, to please just fuck off.

With a disgusted huff at the memory, the slender youth undressed for bed and silently slipped between the covers.

As his breathing slowed to a rhythmic pace, his thoughts turned again to his most recent encounter with Potter. Their relationship hadn't changed and Draco was more than glad for the normalcy. The Golden Trio still treated him with suspicion and distrust. In the weeks after the war, they had seen each other briefly a few times during various hearings. In fact he and old Scar Head had even got into a scuffle after his parents trail in which his father was sentenced to life in Askaban. His mother- who still blamed Draco for his father's downfall and was tenaciously not talking to him- had been adjudged to house arrest. Potter had said something that enviably got the youngest Malfoy's back up and it had ended in punches.

That was the last interaction he had had with Potter until tonight. The drowsy teen sighed.

'I still can't believe I got caught in my first night as unregistered Animagus' the blond thought despairingly as he pulled the clean cotton pillow over his head ruffling his platinum locks in the process. ' and by the Boy Wonder at that!' He let out a muffled groan. 'Well' the blond grey-eyed boy reasoned bleakly inside his mind 'it's not like he knew it was me.' And yawned again.

It had been due to the Saviour of the Wizarding World that he had even spent the few time he had on the many hours needed to gain an Animagus form in the first place. He had to admit that when he had spied the other boy's Animagus form during the final battle, he had been reluctantly impressed that the Gryffindor was able to accomplish such a feat. But mostly he was just pissed that the Golden Gloater had yet another achievement to add to the ever increasing space between their levels of ability. And for some reason- that Draco didn't even want to investigate- he hated the thought of Potter being so far above him. He needed to narrow the gap.

To be honest the perpetration and the time involved had also been a great way to keep his mind of the less appalling thoughts. They seemed all to ready to dwell on these days. Such as his mother continued estrangement. It also kept him out of trouble since he had been back at school, which was most likely a good thing, as he was still on dodgy footing in that area. There had been many people that hadn't been happy about him being allowed to attend Hogwarts for the last year.

Shifting to get comfortable, he kicked his feet out the end of the blanket he was rapped in; he hated when his feet got too warm. Sinking deeper into sweet sleep, the last thing he was aware of, was the impression of drowning in a sea of emerald green.

Harry couldn't wait for curfew.

For the past three days, he had searched for any sign of recognition in the eyes of the students surrounding him. He even had let his impatient gaze flicker up to the teachers' table once or twice during meals, just in case anything would strike him as familiar, though thankfully it did not. He couldn't imagine the unknown dragon turning out to be one of the teachers. So the dark haired wizard had sighed and let his emerald gaze go back to the teenagers around him.

It had been during the forth period that day, when Harry finally had realised that it wasn't going to be that easy. He had thought that if he had just laid his gifted eyes upon the secret Animagus, that the person -who ever it may have been- would be surrounded by the telling green shimmer. However, it had dawned on him at last that there was no concealment now, only his own maddening lack of knowledge. With a frustrated groan the Boy Hero had flung his disillusioned head into his arms, which were folded out in front of him.

That had left him with the last resort of prowling the school grounds each night after curfew, looking for any sign for the Dragon Animagus. No such luck.

Harry was growing desperate. What would he do if he never saw the other Aqnimagus again? For some unknown reason, that thought was agonizing.

But no he couldn't think like that! He was a Gryffindor. So where was his Gryffindor optimism? Where did he lose it? In the Potions Lab, most probably.

So when the lights in the dorm where switched off one by one and the other boys were all in bed, Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and made his way through the abandoned corridors of the castle, until he was outside. The nights, so he noted with a shiver, were getting colder. Autumn was well underway.

The Gryffindor waited until he lost himself among the whispering trees. Then he transformed, once again in animal formal he allowed himself a wolfish grin at how easy the transformation was becoming.

His breath caught in his chest as he heard a familiar crack of a tree branch being broken by something that was at least as large as he himself.

Quietly as a hunter seeking its prey, he stalked around the area that the hopeful sound had come form.

There, between two huge pines, Harry saw the long sought- after dragon, once again surrounded in his talent's green glow. It looked to the emerald-eyed boy as if the other Animagus was stuck. As incredible as that sounded. With out farther thought to his actions, Harry moved to help.

The Dragon's head flew up at the sound of his intrusion, shock sleeked across the reptilian face, to be quickly followed by recognition, irritation and - if Harry guessed right - a tiny little bit of exasperation.

The dragon, redoubling its efforts to free itself from the trees, crashed its left flank against the rough bark and winced. Harry smiled at the very human expression on the dragon's face.

The young Lyfith moved slowly but purposely up to the other Animagus until they were yet again face to face. As the stranger was startled to stillness, Harry found himself held captive by those stormy grey eyes, so familiar but unrecognizable. The-Boy-Who-Lived blinked, focused and then looked pointedly at those eyes, trying to convey his meaning. Once he was sure he had the others attention, he then moved his gaze deliberately over his back to where his wings where spread. With a decisively slow movement he folded them until they lay flat against his muscled back, like a second skin. He repeated the gesture twice and then looked back to see if the Dragon had understood.

He was met with a probing silver gaze, then with a little huff of arrogance and a roll of its eyes the dragon looked over it's own shoulder. Harry followed its gaze and watched as the Animagus struggled to collapse its mossy green wings.

While the stranger was preoccupied Harry let his eyes roam over the gawky creature in front of him. The Dragon was all sleek muscles and jutting bone, which give it the awkward appearance. Its hide was a dusty green, the colour darkening around the joint and face. The wings were bat-like and even as he watched the other's pugnacious attempts to fold them, Harry couldn't think of ever seen anything as elegant.

The young Animagus withdrew from his observations as the dragon finally succeeded in its task and slipped from in between the trees with a pleased grin, though when it noticed Harry's attention the look was replaced with one of superior indifference.

The Gryffindor barked a laugh at the change of expressions, which in turn made the other animal jump in surprise.

Harry bounded up to the other, his tongue lolling in an easy grin. The creature drew itself up suspiciously, every part of its reptilian body dipping distain at Harry's canine like attics. The Gryffindor wasn't put out though, having just decided to peg the behaviour as a result of the others earlier embarrassment.

With a gleeful yelp, the scruffy haired wizard playfully shouldered the unsuspecting dragon. Though perhaps with a bit more strength then he originally intended, for the jostled Animagus staggered back sharply, its legs tangling beneath it as it promptly collapsed.

'Oops!' the Lyfith winced, though couldn't help but huff a laugh at the affronted look that played over the dragon's features. At the glare he received, the smirking lion put on his best 'superior' face and raise one brow in challenge. The dragon's mouth fell open in indignation and then it seemed to realise Harry was teasing and a reluctant grin pulled at its lips.

As the other Animagus got unsteadily to its feet, Harry was practically prancing around it, eager to play a game and generally just happy being in the others presence, for some inexplicable reason.

The green-eyed teen circled around the dragon, fainting in and then dodging the badly aimed swipes, only to dance in again from another direction.

The clumsy dragon was clearly becoming more and more steady on its feet as it got use to coordinating its long limbs. Once or twice Harry found himself stopping to show the other a better way to place a leg of foot, and then the game would start again.

---

Draco stared at the parchment in front of him, not seeing the words. He was deep in thought as he let slim fingers rake through the pale strands of his usually immaculate hair. Last night, oh how he hated to admit it, but it had been…fun?!

At first he had cursed his own bad luck for running into the Gryffindor Hero again- seriously, was the git following him now? Then it had went from bad to worse, with the embarrassment that had raged through him at having the messy haired wizard seeing him in such a humiliating predicament. But the Gryffindor had actually been …helpful. Though Draco was convinced, that if the other boy had been able to talk, he would have rubbed it in. Smug jackass that he was.

But as it was, the insufferable boy had been unabashedly playful and open. Which had only served to make the Slytherin all the more suspicious. It was a side of the teen the Malfoy heir had never seen these past few years directed at him. Never! The kindness and loyalty every child in the damn country knew the Boy Hero had in him, had always been directed at his bloody Gryffindork friends. And although he had planned to sneer at the Lyfith's clowning around, he couldn't help but be reluctantly amused.

The Slytherin frowned incredulously at his own thoughts and looked around the nearly empty library- it would be closing soon, and thanks to Potter he had barely written a paragraph. And really it wasn't like the Boy Wonder would have acted like he had if the boy had known that it was the 'dreaded Draco Malfoy' in the forest with him. Not that Draco gave two gallons what the-Boy-Who-Lived-to-Irritate thought of him. He couldn't care less.

With a frustrated grunt he snapped his books shut loudly, ignoring the glare Madam Pince sent his way and strode haughtily from the library. 'Stupid Potter.'

---

Harry was heading back late from Quidditch practice, it hadn't been a notably good session, because he had been distracted. Thoughts of the dragon had been rushing to crowd his more than willing mind any time he let his guard down. He didn't know why the dragon was on his mind so much. He put it down to the excitement of the mystery. And what was worse was, that Ron and Hermione had started to notice his confusing lack of attention, the red-head even getting aggravated enough to call Harry out on it that afternoon, when Harry had inadvertently let his mind wander of the umpteenth time during a complicated drill.

He had just started to recall the minor argument when he felt it. Like a beacon of –not light- but heat, drawing him toward the increasingly familiar presence of the stranger- that of the life he couldn't stop thinking about. Without a second thought, the fixated teen changed the direction in which he was headed, walking away from the Gryffindor tower. Speeding up, he lost count of the turns he had taken. The radiating presence was getting fainter. Disappearing. Frantically Harry picked up his pace until he was practically running down the corridor by the library, searching in vain for the stranger who probably was the dragon.

Taking a sharp right turn, he collided with someone, sending the books that they must have been carrying everywhere, before his legs were caught up with those of the unknown person, bringing them down in a heap of tangled limbs.

"What the bloody hell do you think your doing, potter?" An impertinent voice demanded, full of distain.

"Malfoy!" Harry all but growled out, quickly detaching himself and standing up.

"I know you're used to everyone scampering out of the way of your oh so glorious self, but really Potter you could at least look where you are going!" the Slytherin snipped sarcastically.

"Oh, shut up Malfoy, it was an accident." Harry responded scathingly, already looking past the boy -who had started to retrieve the fallen books- to see if he could catch some sense of the elusive presence. Nothing, damn. "I was looking for someone." Disappointment was clear in the boy's voice and face.

"What's wrong, Potty? Weaselby and the Mudblood finally ditched you?" the blond smirked, picking up the last of the books and dusting it off, only to have them all scatter again as Potter roughly shoved him against the wall, the breathe huffing from his lungs.

"Don't you dare call her that!" the angry Gryffindor spat, slamming the taller boy against the hard stone. God he hated Malfoy; slippery git that he was, he always seemed to be the root of Harry's problems. His hand griped the Slytherin's arms painfully as he glared at the blond, his annoyance at losing the dragon's trail fuelling his fury more than usual.

Draco couldn't help but feel a shiver of fear at the pure hatred in those green eyes. With a surge of will power he smothered it, his anger taking its place. This was the boy he knew and hated, not that happy-go-lucky lion in the forest. And this was the only interaction he could expect to have with the Gryffindor. It was the only kind he wanted.

Harry felt the blond's wiry muscles tense under his hand and suddenly the sharp end of a wand was thrust against his stomach before he was blasted across the corridor to land with a crack against the opposite wall.

Harry dragged a ragged breath into his winded lungs and looked up to see the Slytherin prince glaring fiercely down at him, a trademark sneer his lips.

"You ought to be careful Potter!" Malfoy seethed.

Harry narrowed his eyes dangerously at the other boy as he struggled to his feet and levelled his own wand at the slight youth, "Speak for yourself, Malfoy!"

---

It was Professor McGonagall that found them minutes later; curses flying. She promptly disarmed them both.

"What in Heaven's name is going on here?" the Scottish witch demanded furiously.

Both boys glared at each other, but kept their mouths shut..

"I would have thought, Mr. Malfoy, that your position at that school was tentative enough without you adding fuel to the flame!" the Head of Gryffindor reprimanded. "And as for you Mr. Potter…well. I expected you to have known better. Twenty points shall been taken from both of your houses for such an infantile display." She gave each of them a withering look, as if to daring them to protest.

"And detention, I think… yes, you will both report to me every Friday after class, until the end of the term.", the hard faced witch finished with a flare.

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Well what do you think, I would really love some feedback, and as always if there are any questions or criticisms, feel free to review, hell you don't even need an excuse. lol.

It's proven that reviews help you type faster. Grins.

-wingedstranger