A/N: Hey hey, thanks for the huge response to the last chapter. Let me know what you think of this one.

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.

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 5

Two weeks later Harry walked slowly through the portrait-lined corridors making his way to the Headmaster's office. He was still laughing. When he had gotten the note from Dumbledore asking him to come to the wizard's office, Harry had asked if his two best friends wanted to come along. However Ron had declined say that they were planning on doing some revision. Harry had heard the buzz beneath the words at he had learnt over the past few days indicated a lie. "Ron was that a lie?" He had teased, grinning like a madman, having guessed what the two really had in mind. The couple had promptly gone red with embarrassment and Harry had laughed good-naturedly. The Lyfith abilities had been proving to be both useful and fun. As he'd walked away he hadn't been able to help calling over his shoulder "don't get up to anything I wouldn't do."

As he walked pass the doors to the Great Hall, He wonder fleetingly what Dumbledore could want. He smile faded somewhat. It had been a long time since the old wizard had wanted to see him. At first The-Boy-Who-Lived had pegged the lack of contact to the Headmaster's busy schedule. For there had been many issues and lose ends that had still needed to be tied up. Such as returning the bodies of the dead to their proper families, not to mention chasing down a few escaped Death Eaters who had quickly went into hiding. However after a while of prolonged silence from his mentor Harry remembered feeling hurt. He had assumed that Dumbledore had used him and now that Voldemort was dead the old wizard no longer had any use for him. Although in time the teenage saviour realised that the elderly wizard was giving him space, uninterrupted time to just be a kid as he hadn't been able to do since first year. They still talked some times but it was in the capacity of Headmaster to student, he treated Harry like every other pupil at Hogwarts. It was something that the young Gryffindor had soon been thankful for.

As the green eyed teen muttered the password 'strawberry Mouthmelters' a thought hit him like a Bludger to the chest. What if Dumbledore knew about his midnight adventures? Of course the Headmaster knew about his Animagus form, the whole Wizarding world knew of that, thanks to the Daily Profit. But even the gossip mongering newspaper hadn't be able to discover what form his Animagus was- not many on the battlefield saw him in his Lyfith shape. However Dumbledore was even privy to that information. No Harry wasn't worried about himself, he was just anxious for the Dragon.

They had been running together every other night since they met again and although the Dragon had withdrawn back into himself somewhat that next night, Harry with a little gentle persuasion soon had the other Animagus running along beside him once more. For some reason the Gryffindor felt over-protective of the wiry Dragon. They had become friends and Harry didn't want him to get hurt. Yes him, Harry begun believed that the other Animagus was male, he had gotten a vague masculine impression after the first few times running with the Dragon- it was the way it had moved, how it had rose to the challenge and how it had-- in their scuffles-- fought back with every thing it processed, just as Harry Harry was positive a boy.

Harry made his way slowly up the winding staircase toward the Headmaster's office. The thought for the Dragon being a boy hadn't really meant anything to Harry- other than another clue to who the mysterious Animagus might have been. That is until Hermione had uncovered a bombshell- a piece of unwanted information- about his Lyfith form.

*Flashback*

"Harry!"

Harry's head shot up as his name was screamed out. He had just gotten out of bed and was still only in his boxers as the witch that belonged to the frantic voice ran into the 7th boy dorms, causing and outcry among his dorm-mates. Dean having just come from the shower- a towel the only thing saving his modesty- gripped the cloth around his waist tightly and turned tail and fled back into the shower room he just come from. Ron being in much the same sate as Harry, only clothed in a paired to boxers, though the redhead's were a faded blue -instead of Harry's black- and had obviously seen better times, gawked as his girlfriend screamed his best friends name. The startled redhead unfortunately had one leg in his school trousers when Hermione came busting through the door. The freckled teen had let out a strangled cry as he simultaneously tried to cover his thin chest and pull his trousers up. With a loud thump the youngest male Weasley crashed to the floor on the other side of his bed, mercifully out of sight- well apart from his still half-dressed legs. Seamus already fully dressed for the day was now pissing himself laughing at the antics of his friends, his tanned face going red then purple as he clutched his shaking stomach. Harry worried that the Irish boy might keel-over. Neville slept through it all.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" the raven-haired youth asked crossing the room- not caring about his state of undress- to meet her, the witch was not easily rattled Harry knew. He took in her wide eyes and bottom lip were it was now caught nervously between her teeth, what could have happened to upset her so, "What's wrong?" he asked again.

The fizzy haired witch just shook her head, her creamy brown eyes raking over Harry's body as if she were looking for a mortal wound, at last she spoke " Harry I- I need to talk to you," she glanced around at the other occupants of the room "In private…meet me in the library as soon as you can!" and with that she turned and rapidly left the room.

He found her some time later in the empty section of the library. She was sitting at one of the many study tables a few books in front of her, Harry quietly took the seat beside her "Now what's this all about?" He asked relieved to see that the girl look a good bit more relaxed.

"I'm sorry about before Harry, it's just that… well it's that, I've found some disturbing information about Lyfiths and you've been so distant lately and I was so worried that.. . Oh Harry, have you imprinted on someone? The witch finished in a rush.

The messy haired boy stared that her in incomprehension " Im-what? I don't even have a clue what your on about Mione."

"Imprint, it is a safeguard all Lyfith's are born with, it allows them to know their Mate when they find them. It's a method that ensures the Lyfith's protection and devotion for it's Mate-"

"Wait, wait, wait, Hermione why do you keep saying Mate, you don't mean Mate-Mate, as in … Soul Mate?"

"Yes Harry that's exactly what I mean." His friend confirmed. "But it's so much more than that, the witch continued as Harry felt himself grow pale. " Imprinting allows the Lyfith to know it perfect Mate- as you said 'Soul Mate'- on sight but in return it binds the Lyith, heart and soul to this being, practically stripping it of it's free-will. It becomes their whole existence with no guarantees that the other will feel the same way."

Harry's eyes stared at the table thinking fast "yes but I'm human, it might not happen to me-"

"That's true, but Harry it a magical creature and as my previous research stated; a wizard with a magical creature for an Animagus form will start to show said creatures attributes and abilities even while in human form. That has to mean you're likely to acquire the imprinting gene as well." Hermione reasoned.

After a short silence she added "and like I've said you've been so distant…"

'Distant' the bi-spectacled boy thought, if he had been distant it was because of the Dragon-he still hadn't told his two best friends about the other Animagus. He did felt some unearthly pull towards the other Animagus but he was one hundred percent sure that the Dragon was a boy and so he couldn't have imprinted or whatever it was on him. Harry wasn't gay.

"Harry?" the boy realised that he hadn't said anything for some time. He glanced at that worried expression on the girl's face and tried to conjure a smile.

"Don't worry Mione, I've just been training and stuff, I haven't imprinted on anyone" he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince.

"But Harry how can you be so sure?" the girl beside him insisted.

"Well wouldn't I have felt something, some… connection?" Harry maintained, he mind flashing back to the moment he met those silver-grey eye for the first time in the forest. He shook his head dislodge the memory.

"It could have been faint, you could have missed it, your still new to this form," Hermione said " but the Lyfith's attribute will only get stronger as time goes on..." However the witch's voice had grown less adamant as she talked, wanting to believe her best friend was right.

Harry just ran his fingers through his mop of untameable hair and sighed, wanting to believe it too.

*Flashback*

"Come in" Harry heard the Headmaster called, as he was about to knock on the door.

"Ah Harry my boy, do come in. sit down" Dumbledore gestured to the comfortable looking visitors chair in front of his desk.

Harry sat down, wondering once again why he was here.

"Liquorice snap?"

"Mm no, no thank you" Harry said, moving nervously back from the feisty candy that was being offered.

Popping one in his own mouth the old wizard fixed Harry with a knowing gaze. A soft smile pulled at his weathered face. "I have some good news, that I thought appropriate to share with you before the rest of your peer find out."

The raven-haired teen frowned but relaxed a bit. This wasn't what he'd been expecting. "Err, what is it sir?" Harry asked.

"The first term is coming to an end and Halloween is well on its way." Dumbledore said slowly. Harry thought maybe old age was getting to him at last, he was petty sure everyone knew what time for year it was. However he reminded silent hoping that the Headmaster would continue.

"And professor Winterbottom has recently informed me that she can no longer fill the post ofDefence Against the Dark Arts teacher… really, it has been the quickest resignation we've had. Normally they wait for the year mark. hmm."

"Sir?" Harry was sitting forward in his sit now. Eager.

"Yes Harry?"

"Sir, who is it?" the boy wondered if Dumbledore enjoyed torturing people.

"Ah yes, well I have asked professor Lupin back and he had kindly accepted the post."

"Really?" Harry couldn't believe his ears. This was brilliant. He grinned broadly.

"He'll be arriving during the Halloween break to take over" the Headmaster continued, a sparkle of amusement in his tinkling eyes.

"This is amazing, b-but how?" Harry suddenly looked confused. "What about the parents, I thought they didn't want a, you know werewolf teaching their kids?"

"Harry my boy, you weren't the only one doing any good in the war. Remus Lupin has been recognized as hero to for his deeds in battle. Of course there will always be those who will object but they are now few.

"Oh." The Gryffindor boy looked down a bit sheepishly but was soon grinning again.

"Now I believe you have detention with professor McGonagull presently?" Dumbledore inquired, his wrinkled eyes creasing even future in merriment as he watched the boy blink once and literally jump out of his sit.

"Yes sir, thank you sir." Harry hastened to the door having totally forgot the time only to be stopped as he once more reached for the handle.

"Harry?"

"Is there anything you wish to tell me?" the old wizard asked, his soft gravely voice seeming to draw echoes from the air around them.

The-Boy-Who-Lived felt his body go immediately tense. Harry tried to relax the stiff muscles in his back. His thoughts flickered to the Dragon and his mind hummed. He had forgotten to breath. Keeping his eyes on the door he pulled in a shuttering breath and tried to calm his voice, "no sir."

"Very well, if you do think of anything, I'm always here." The ancient wizard sighed. "You may go."

Harry yanked heavy door open and escaped.

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The saviour of the Wizarding world rushed into to the room at top seed. He skidded to a stop just before he could fly into the only two other occupants of the room.

"Good grief, Mr Potter. Slow down, you are early!" McGonagull reprimanded a hand clutching the robe over her heart.

Malfoy snorted in amusement beside her. The dark haired teen whipped his head around to look at the other boy in surprise. Realising that he was staring, the Gryffindor glared before turning back to his Head of House.

Harry half listened to McGonagull's instructions for the night's detention. The rest of he mind was on the pale boy beside him. Malfoy had been ignoring him lately but it was more than that. The blond had been really quite and withdrawn the last two weeks. He didn't make snide remarks or try to gloat Harry into fights. Ever since Harry had nearly strangled the boy, Malfoy hadn't acknowledged him at all. It was the reason why Harry had been so surprised at the Slytherin snorting at his expense.

'The pounce is probable afraid of me.' Harry realised a bit uneasily. He thought back to their last detention the week before. Malfoy hadn't said a word. The Gryffindor had thought the blond was sulking about that night's assigned task. However later Harry was unsure weather they were to stack the caldron in order of size or by the number of legs they had and so he had asked the Slytherin Prince. Instead of receiving a sizzling insult Harry had been met by stony silence. In the end he had just ordered them by size, muttering the whole time about some people's lack of common courtesy. It had been the first night he really noted his rival's strange behaviour. However it became more and more evident as the days went by.

Only yesterday he and Ron and been walking to the library to meet Hermione. The redhead had been looking at Harry as they discussed Quidditch tactics for the upcoming game against Hufflepuff and so hadn't seen Malfoy before it was too late. The books the blond had been carrying had spilled to the floor. Harry remembered thinking that it seemed to happen to the boy quite a lot and why was the Slytherin always carrying books around anyway. He had said something of that effect to the Slytherin who had just begun to gather the fallen tomes. Malfoy said nothing. At that point Harry had been so aggravated at the blond's passive disregard that he had begun actively trying to rile the other boy into a response as Ron had sniggered beside him. He had even gone so far as to call the aristocratic teen, clumsy but it hadn't worked. The blond Ponce had simply retrieved the rest for his books and left, never one meeting the incredulous green eyes that had trailed him.

Harry Potter's keen and penetrating mind had only come up with one possible reason for the Slytherin's bizarre behaviour. Malfoy was up to something, Simple as that! And Harry would figure it out; it's what he was known for- solving mysteries, beating the bad guy and all the rest. He didn't stop to think about why it was so important to him that he discovery Malfoy's secret. Nor did he care to investigate why his rival's lack of attention bothered him so much in the first place. He was a Gryffindor after all and as such was talented in ignoring the obvious.

So he calmly watched as McGonagull finished taking, bid them good night and walk from the room in the dungeons, that they were suppose to now dust and mop- though for what reason, god only knew. Once the witch had left, Harry turned to the irritatingly silent boy- when had he started to long for his nemesis's biting insults?- crossed his arms and stared. After a moment or two Malfoy realised that he was the only one working, weary grey eyes flicker towards Harry for only a moment before the Slytherin picked up his mop again.

' What is the slimy Slytherin up to?' Harry thought. Perhaps this was some new plot to lull him into a false sense of confidence then BAM! One ticket to Humiliation Avenue. Well Harry wouldn't allow it; he wouldn't fall for the ferret's tricks. Swinging his tanned arm out, he grabbed hold of the boy's mop; bringing it to an abrupt standstill.

"Potter let go" Harry thought Malfoy voice was slightly strained. The blond didn't remove his eyes form the dusty stone floor that was now splashed with water and suds.

"Not a chance, not until you tell me what your up to?" Harry growled back, having had enough of the other boy's games. He shook the wooden handle in his callused hand, attempting to make the other boy meet his eye.

With a sigh the blond slipped his moonlight pale figures from the captured mop and moved to pick up the one meant for Harry. "I'm not up to anything, so…so just get back to work." Still the other boy did not look at him. Why was the prat being so placid, why wouldn't he fight back. The frustration made Harry's jaw jut out and his shoulders tremble.

Throwing the boom he was holding clattering to the stone slabs of the dungeon floor, Harry reached out and yanked the new one form the Slytherin's grip. Finally the slighter teen met his gaze with a glower that would have the killing curse running for cover. Inside Harry something relaxed, he hadn't realised that he waiting for the eye contact, irrelevant to what form it came in. however the contact was severed as the taller boy turned and headed for the door.

Before he reached his goal the Gryffindor strode forward and caught the blond's upper arm, ignoring the frill the buzzed through him at the touch, he demanded, "Where do you think you're going? Don't think you're leaving me here to finish by myself, again!"

Harry's outstretched hand clutched at empty air as the Slytherin whirled out of his grasp, finally snapping he turned and punched the offending Gryffindor smack bang in the face.

Harry stumbled back; heat booming across his left eye- since when could Malfoy punch. He wasn't given time to recover; the blond had fallowed shoving his broad chest heavily. "Don't touch me, I-just don't!!

The raven haired boy flung out his hands trying to fend off the angry strikes, they where merely slapped aside as the assault continued. He didn't even question why they where once again physically fighting instead of duelling, it just seemed the natural thing to do when it came to the Slytherin. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?" the blond snarled, smacking Harry across the head. "Why can't you just leave me alone!" the blond raged.

Harry thinking of no other option kicked his leg out aiming for the boy's shins. He heard Malfoy gasped in pain as his legs were kick out from under him, causing him to barrel forward and shoot straight into Harry, slamming them both into the stone floor.

Taking advantage of his opponent's distraction, Harry rolled them till his was practically on top of the other teen and quickly restrained Malfoy's arms and legs. He heard the boy below him groan in pain and looked down. His eyes widened at the sight that met him. Malfoy was sprawled out beneath him, completely vulnerable. His grey eyes screwed shut in pain. His pale skin was flushed with anger and a glossy bottom lip was caught between his white teeth to keep himself from groaning again. Harry was transfixed, he couldn't move, couldn't think. He didn't even fully register the warmth that seeped into his body wherever it made contact with the boy trapped beneath him. He was just taking in the other's appealing dishevelled blond hair, when the owner of that blond hair opened his eyes. Those grey eyes drew even wider as the Slytherin took in Harry's face and their position. Suddenly the blond was writhing under the Gryffindor trying to dislodge him.

Panic spilled across the blond's face and now two sets of eyes were widening as Harry felt something hard pressing warmly against his tense abdomen. 'What the-' But the thought was in interrupted.

"Potter, get the hell off me, now!" the boy who had been his adversary for the last seven years hissed darkly. In disbelief Harry watched as the boy's cheeks glowed pink, instead of doing as instructed the dark haired boy found himself inexplicably and incredibly drawing closer to that flushed face and those pouting lips-

"NOW!" The scream snapped him back to reality and numbly he let go of the boy's wrists. Slowly he moved off the Slytherin to sit on the cold flagstones dazed. When he came around the blond was gone and he was alone.

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The hooded man moved silently through the dark alleys, rats fleeing before him along the wet cobblestones. Keeping to the shadows he glanced around the abandoned street till he spied the pub he was looking for. He was to meet his contact inside the dubious looking place.

The door creaked horribly as he entered the dimly light bar; it stank of steal beer and smoke. He peered out for beneath his dark cloak and seeing his associate sitting at a one of the dirty tables in isolated corner he walked over. "Sorry to keep you waiting"

"Never mind Jinkins, let's get down to business shall we?" The seated figure said in a voice as sweet as honey and as cold as ice.

"Yes of course" Jenkins replied somewhat nervously. "Are you sure that you want to go through with the plan, I assure you, I could understand if you thought it better to wait-" he was cut-off by the cold voice.

"That boy is the reason for our downfall. Don't you want to avenge your master?"

"Y-yes of course, sorry" Jinkins murmured letting his dirty figures slide over the Dark-Mark on his arm.

And so the two sinister individuals set about discussing details.

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Ooooh the plot thickens,

What will Harry make of Draco's hard-on??? We'll have some Draco PROV in the next chapter to see how the blond is handling all this sexual tension and maybe even something LEMON favoured if your all good and .

So review and let me know what you think.

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

-wingedstranger