Harry stood with hands on hips, surveying himself in the full-length mirror, teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he frowned uncertainly. He wasn't the biggest fan of Hallowe'en, not only because it was the anniversary of the murder of his parents, but also because he didn't really enjoy dressing in costume. He was never confident in his costume choice and this year wasn't any different.
He was tempted to just forget it and go as himself, but unfortunately for someone like him, that would look as though he had the most inflated of egos. Draco would never let him live it down.
Harry stared at the gold wings bobbing about behind him and the gold sparkles in his black hair and couldn't help but think that he looked really…
Gay.
At the time, dressing as a Snitch sounded like a good idea; simple, with the only elaborate part being the golden wings. When all was said and done though, he just looked like a shimmery gold fairy.
Harry sighed and pushed his glasses farther up on his nose as he continued to frown at his reflection. Maybe he should just start again, throw a white sheet over himself and go as a Muggle ghost.
The door to the loo opened and his mate finally emerged after nearly an hour of mysterious costume preparation.
Harry was instantly distracted from his costume troubles when he spotted Draco and, unable to help himself, started to laugh.
Draco smirked loftily as he strut across their room under Harry's amused gaze; faux black tail hanging lifelessly behind him.
"You can't go as a Nundu," Harry managed between peals of laughter.
"I am not a Nundu Potter, I am a simple black cat," was Draco's sniffy response.
This caused Harry to laugh even more, and Draco's haughty expression finally broke as he smiled at his entertained mate.
Harry walked over, gaze running up and down Draco's body, taking in the whole costume. He was dressed in a simple black t-shirt and had placed a fuzzy pair of black cat ears on his head, which were attached to a fuzzy black Alice band, and the piece de resistance was the rather naff black elastic belt around his waist with the black tail hanging off the back. Oddly, it looked as though his mate had acquired his entire costume from a Muggle pound shop. Everything except for the…
"Are those leather?" Harry exclaimed, eyes widening as he reached out to finger the smooth material of Draco's black trousers.
Draco frowned down at them. "I believe they are some sort of pretend leather. I borrowed them from Blaise."
"They're… uh, nice," Harry said, swallowing, and wondering if Blaise would be willing to part with them. He tore his gaze away from the fitted trousers and reached up to flick the little silver tag attached to his mate's green collar, grinning. "Where are your whiskers?"
Draco snorted. "I draw the line at make-up." He paused and then seemed to take in his mate's sparkly attire for the first time. "As for you…"
Harry groaned and turned away. "Don't say it."
Draco smirked. "What?"
"The horrible comment on the tip of your tongue Malfoy."
"Which one?"
Harry rolled his eyes and then promptly grimaced as he caught sight of his reflection again. "All of them."
Draco smiled and slid his arms around Harry's waist, resting his chin on Harry's shoulder as he surveyed his mate's reflection in the mirror. "I'm rather partial to the comment about you looking like a raging homosexual though."
Harry half-laughed, half-groaned, as he hung his head dejectedly. "That's it, I'm changing."
"No time," Draco rejected immediately as he turned Harry around and took ahold of his hand. "We're already running late for the Feast."
Harry reluctantly allowed himself to be tugged along to the door after his mate. "Only because you took forever getting ready - doing Merlin knows what in there. All you had to do was put on ears and a belt."
"And this," Draco reminded, indicating the collar.
Harry leaned in and read the inscription on the silver tag: 'If found, return to HP.'
Harry laughed and shook his head as he followed Draco out into the corridor, eventually joining the throng of students still streaming towards the Great Hall. Happily, it seemed that everyone else was running late too, and Harry wouldn't be quite so conspicuous in his costume when he entered the Hall amongst the hordes of other brightly dressed students.
Harry waved at Ron and Hermione over with the Gryffindors before he and Draco took their seats at the Slytherin table. They always had breakfast with Gryffindor and dinner at the Slytherin table with Draco's housemates; it was the only fair way to share their time between the two houses.
Harry was greatly regretting that decision now as he approached a table full of Slytherins who were all openly smirking at his costume.
"What a lovely costume Potter," Pansy was the first to simper as Harry sat down across from her.
Harry realised with horror that Pansy was dressed as a lavender-coloured fairy - complete with sparkly lavender wings which closely resembled his own golden pair.
"Yes very fetching," Blaise commented in a choked voice.
"Yes all right," Harry snapped in exasperation. "I know I look ridiculous. Go on then, get it out of your system."
"Bearing in mind that raging homosexual has already been used," Draco interjected obligingly as he reached for a buttered roll.
There was a smattering of snickers around the table and Harry dropped his forehead onto the table with a groan.
"Oi! You're getting glitter all over the food Potter," Gregory Goyle complained beside him, swiftly moving his plate away from Harry's head.
Thankfully, the Headmistress stood then and made the usual Hallowe'en Feast opening speech; thanking the professors who had helped decorate the large Hall, telling everyone to enjoy themselves, and asking them all to please be responsible.
McGonagall was well aware that the eighth years were planning a late night trip to the Hog's Head for further revelries once the Feast was over, so Harry suspected those remarks were directed towards them.
He and Draco had declined to join their classmates in Hogsmeade though, due to the fact that it would be all too easy to target Harry out in public like that on such a busy night. A crowded pub would be an ideal location for the men to snatch Harry unnoticed or slip something into his drink. It simply wasn't worth the risk.
Harry was disappointed because it was his last Hallowe'en at Hogwarts, and he might've pushed the issue if not for his vow to avoid heaping unnecessary stress onto his Alpha.
Once McGonagall was finished speaking, they all tucked into their food, and Harry silently hoped the Slytherins had been diverted from openly criticising his appearance.
"How about Poofter Pixie?" Pansy suggested thoughtfully, twirling her spoon as she smirked at Harry.
Draco snorted while everyone else laughed heartily. Harry sighed and prayed for the floor to swallow him up as he tried his best to ignore them and eat his meal.
Draco leaned in and kissed the side of his neck. "Just ignore them Potter, I think you look adorable," he murmured.
"That's not really what I was going for," Harry muttered, but flashed him a quick smile to let his mate know that he wasn't really bothered by the good-natured ribbing.
Harry found that he'd actually started to enjoy the sharp snarky banter at the Slytherin table. There was something rather refreshing about it. As much as he dearly loved his own house, he did find them somewhat too polite at times. He supposed the Sorting Hat had it right when it said Harry could go either way. He definitely felt on the fence between the two houses; not completely Slytherin, but not wholly Gryffindor at times either.
"What are you supposed to be Zabini?" Draco asked, attempting to take some of the heat off of his mate.
Blaise shot Draco a withering look. "Isn't it obvious?"
Harry squinted at the Slytherin, also trying to work out his costume without success. The Alpha wasn't wearing his school uniform but he wasn't wearing anything resembling a costume either. He was dressed in nice black trousers and a grey button-up shirt underneath a deep purple waistcoat.
"I'm the Minister for Magic."
Harry paused in his chewing. "Which one?" he finally asked.
"I am the future Minister for Magic."
Goyle goggled at him. "How do you know who the future Minister for Magic is?"
Pansy rolled her eyes and swiped a lock of purple hair out of her eyes. "He means himself you knobhead."
"Is that really what you want to do?" Harry asked, wondering if he was the only one at the table who wasn't aware of the Slytherin's impressive aspirations.
"I enjoy politics, and that is, after all, the definitive position for a politician, is it not?" Blaise replied as he poured himself a goblet of pumpkin juice.
"I suppose," Harry said slowly, wrinkling his nose in distaste. He loathed politics.
"Good luck convincing people to vote in a Slytherin," Pansy put in cynically.
"My rise to power will take many years Pans, people won't remember such trivial things such as house affiliations by then," Blaise retorted, unbothered.
"I'd vote for you," Goyle put in around a mouthful of chicken leg.
"Thanks Greg."
"I wouldn't," Pansy interjected with a saccharine smile.
Blaise rolled his eyes while Goyle asked her why not.
"Because," she said haughtily, "it's time we had a female Minister. Not me, obviously," she added, before anyone could make a snide remark, "I wouldn't be a politician if you paid me; too much arse-kissing for my taste. Someone sensible and intelligent, not like you hormonal Alphas."
"Hermione would be a brilliant Minister," Harry put in casually before biting into his pumpkin pastie.
Pansy arched a dark brow at him, speculative gaze sliding over his shoulder to the Gryffindor table for a moment. "I would prefer someone a little less like an uptight virgin, but she's a better choice than Blaise," she allowed.
Harry grinned as Blaise spluttered with indignation.
"What happened to house pride and unity?" he demanded.
Pansy rolled her eyes as she lifted her goblet, which looked suspiciously as though it was filled with champagne. "That went the way of the Dark Lord, dear," she drawled.
The others snickered and Harry continued to eat the delicious meal with a grin on his face, nearly able to completely forget that he was currently dressed as a sparkly gold fairy.
Once Harry had eaten all that he possibly could, including second helpings of pudding, he and Draco said their goodbyes to the Slytherins then wandered over to say goodnight to Ron and Hermione.
"One word about my costume and I will hex you," Harry warned Ron before he could open his mouth.
Ron looked as though he was swallowing a laugh before he quickly shook his head, all innocence.
"At least Harry actually wore a costume Weasley," Draco commented.
"This is my costume," Ron replied with a lopsided grin before glancing down at his West Ham Football Club t-shirt and jeans. "I'm a Muggle. I even have one of their communication devices."
Harry laughed as Ron pulled a mobile phone out of his pocket and waved it about; plainly without a clue of how it actually worked.
"Nicked it from my dad," Ron explained before Harry could ask. "Had it in the shed out back hanging on a piece of string from the ceiling."
"Good to see the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Department is well in hand," Draco commented wryly.
"Are you an astronaut?" Harry asked Hermione while Ron flipped two fingers at his mate. She was wearing a white and silver jumpsuit and was carrying a rounded glass-fronted helmet under one arm.
"I'm Helen Sharman," she replied proudly, as though that explained everything. She sighed at Harry's blank look. "She's the first Briton in space and the first female to visit the Mir space station."
"Why Muggles feel the need to explore the vast nothingness of space is beyond me," Draco commented with a shudder.
"Yeah, they haven't even realised that magic exists yet. How are they supposed to discover life on other planets when they don't even know what's happening on this one?" Ron said with a grin.
Harry laughed, having to agree with his housemate on that one, while Hermione looked vaguely insulted.
"Seriously though, Harry, what are you supposed to be?" Ron asked.
"I'm a Snitch," Harry clarified, exasperated, and studiously avoided Draco's amused gaze.
"I really think you ought to reconsider Harry," Luna spoke up as she joined them, sliding a warm cloak on over her unicorn costume. "You make a very handsome fairy."
Draco and Ron both snorted with laughter.
"I wish you were coming tonight," Hermione said to Harry, ignoring them.
"So do I," Harry replied unhappily.
"I think you're doing the right thing though," she added in a quiet undertone. "It would be too easy to lose you tonight, even with Draco there."
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, absently scowling at the glitter that covered his palm afterwards. "Yeah, I know. Hopefully by Christmas I can join you again."
Hermione nodded and reached out to pat his arm before picking her cloak up off the bench. Ron meanwhile completed his authentic ensemble with a blue Muggle raincoat.
Harry gasped and his heart stuttered in his chest when two very strong arms suddenly grabbed him from behind and yanked him back to be trapped against a tall someone who was definitely not his mate.
"Gotchya!"
Before Harry could even comprehend what was going on, Draco had whipped out his wand in record time and, with a furious growl, fired off a hex. The purple bolt of light flew over Harry's head and struck its target square in the face.
The arms wrapped vice-like around Harry's chest instantly slackened and before he could turn around to see who his assailant was and what had happened to him, Draco had reached out and snatched Harry back to shield him with his own body, wand still pointed at the fallen wizard.
"Stop Draco! Stop!" Hermione called out frantically.
Harry turned his face away from being suffocated in Draco's chest and looked over his shoulder, feeling disoriented, his heart still racing.
Anthony Goldstein was lying on the ground in a rumpled heap of pale blue and black robes.
The teachers were beginning to converge on them, and every student in the Hall had stopped to watch the scene unfold.
"He's not trying to hurt Harry," Hermione continued, gently now, still addressing Draco, "Anthony's dressed as a Quidditch player. I think he was just trying to be funny - by grabbing Harry because he's a Snitch?"
Harry swallowed and realised she was right. Anthony was dressed as a player from the Appleby Arrows.
Harry turned back around to face Draco and frowned sympathetically at the burning rage in his Alpha's eyes, his darkened gaze still locked on Anthony and chest heaving as he kept his wand pointed at the fallen Ravenclaw.
"Hey," Harry said quietly, placing a hand on either side of Draco's face and attempting to direct his mate's gaze back to him. "Draco, it was just a joke, I'm fine. Look at me."
Draco seemed to shudder in his grasp and then his grey eyes slowly refocussed on Harry's face.
"What is the meaning of this Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall was demanding as she swept up the long aisle towards the group.
"That's it," Harry said, cajoling, keeping his focus on Draco and nothing else. "See? I'm all right."
"It was just a misunderstanding Professor," Hermione said, stepping forward while Harry worked on calming his mate down.
Harry tuned them out as he watched Draco's dilated pupils shrink back down to normal and his breathing began to even out.
Draco finally, reluctantly, lowered his wand arm, his left arm loosening its hold on Harry a little. He breathed out shakily and began to blink at an ordinary rate once more.
Harry smiled in relief, the expression clearly easing his mate's concerns too as Draco instantly buried his face in Harry's neck, inhaling his scent and pressing warm lips to the Claiming Mark; the action comforting the both of them after the brief moment of all-out panic.
"Foolish boy should've known better than to attack Potter like that," McGonagall was saying to Hermione disapprovingly as some of the other teachers tended to the fallen boy, "even if it was in jest."
Anthony was finally coming round again, a slight moan escaping his lips as he sat up with Hagrid's assistance.
"Perhaps you two should make yourselves scarce before Mr. Goldstein recovers his faculties."
Harry glanced up to see Professor Garrick next to them.
"Mr. Goldstein seems a nice chap but I'd hate to see him go up against Mr. Malfoy should he be displeased upon finding out what happened," he added.
"Yeah, I think you're right," Harry replied with a nod. "Is it all right if we go back to our room now Professor?" he asked the frowning headmistress.
"Yes, good idea Potter," she replied, waving a dismissive hand at them. "I'll ensure Mr. Goldstein has recovered enough for further celebrating in Hogsmeade tonight. I'm sure by morning he'll have forgotten all about this little incident."
Harry nodded gratefully and turned to his friends. "See you later," he said with a despondent smile.
"Bye Harry."
"See you Harry."
Draco finally decided to put his wand away, one hand still clutching onto Harry as he did so.
"I'll walk with you," Professor Garrick offered, falling into step beside them as they walked away from the crowd of costumed students.
Draco quickly pulled Harry to the other side of him, placing himself in the middle next to the professor. Harry complied without a word; his Alpha's system was probably still thrumming with protective testosterone after witnessing Anthony's stunt and he wasn't about to make it worse by objecting to the dominant behaviour.
"Are you all right Draco?" Professor Garrick enquired quietly as they left the Hall.
Draco swallowed, his jaw working, as he composed himself. "Yes, I'm fine," he replied tightly.
"Harry?"
"Yeah." Harry quickly nodded.
"I saw the whole thing," Professor Garrick said with a frown of concern. "It looked like he latched onto you rather aggressively."
Draco inhaled sharply through his nose.
"No, it's fine. He… he didn't do any damage," Harry was quick to assure, even though he thought there may be some bruising come morning. "Erm, professor? There was something I wanted to talk to you about," he added. He wanted to change the subject for Draco's sake, but he also wanted to speak to the professor about something that'd been on his mind since their last conversation.
"Yes?"
"I know you're not the Transfiguration teacher, but I was hoping for a little guidance with my… my Animagus training."
Professor Garrick's face broke into a smile. "I would be happy to help you Harry. I need to prepare a few things, with your involvement, and should be able to start in about a month."
Harry smiled, looking forward to it already. "I know the perfect place to practice too," he said keenly.
Draco glanced at him and a little more tension seemed to ebb away at Harry's pleased expression. His gaze ran over his mate's body, confirming that he was, in fact, all right, before he allowed a tiny smirk to pull at his lips.
"I think your lovely fairy wings are ruined Potter."
Harry twisted round to look over his shoulder and saw that his shimmery gold wings were indeed crushed beyond repair after Anthony's attack cuddle.
He mock glared at his mate but was happy to see that Draco was feeling a little more like himself.
"Good," Harry said emphatically. "This costume is officially retired."
. . . .
Harry grinned as the fluffy little Caipora nuzzled into his hand, searching for more figs.
"I'm going to ask Hagrid if I can take him home," Ron said, also smiling, as he placed a piece of banana in front of the Caipora's nose and it immediately grasped onto it with its tiny clawed feet.
"Not before I do," Harry replied, chuckling when the little creature gobbled down the banana as though it was the last piece of fruit on earth.
Hagrid was attempting to educate the eighth years about the Caipora's place of origin in the Amazon and about their history, but the students were too distracted by the creature's delightful charm and adorable appearance to absorb much of it. Harry and Ron included.
Harry handed the creature over to Ron as he continued to feed him the rest of the bruised banana. Apparently the more bruised and mushy it was, the better, as far as the Caipora was concerned.
"So I start my Animagus training the first Sunday in December," Harry mentioned quietly. The paired students were scattered around the large paddock and no one was close enough to overhear their whispered conversation. Plus they were all too engrossed with their own Caipora. "Is Hermione still on about me registering?" he asked.
Care of Magical Creatures was the only time Harry had alone with Ron, now that he lived with Draco, and he wanted to make sure that they made time to talk about all the big things going on in their lives - without the interference of their respective partners. He didn't want to lose the closeness he had with his friends like some people did when they became wrapped up in their love lives.
Ron tickled the Caipora under the chin as it mashed the banana pieces into its small mouth and happily chewed. "I don't think she understands quite why you want to transform. I get it," he added assuredly. "Wanting a bit of freedom where those tossers can't recognise you; makes complete sense to me mate. It's kinda like what Sirius went through. Your dad and his mates all had an Animagus form," he finished with a shrug, as though it was obvious that Harry would also want to follow in their footsteps.
Harry leaned forward onto his knees as he nodded, eyes on the little animal cupped in Ron's hands. "I just don't want to make a big deal out of it - and I don't want the Ministry to say no, either."
"Yeah, and the less people that know, the better, right?" Ron said. "Those blokes could work in the Ministry for all you know."
Harry reached down into the bucket at his feet and selected another squashed banana for the Caipora. "So how are you and Hermione going?" he asked, chuckling when the fruit was snatched from his fingers with a squeak of delight.
"Yeah good," Ron replied ardently. "She's uh… really surprising sometimes."
Harry grimaced. "Is that a sex thing? Because I really don't want to know, she's like a sister to me."
"Hey, if I have to put up with the thought of you and Malfoy shagging, then you can suck it up when I talk about snogging my girlfriend," Ron shot back with a grin.
Harry laughed. "Yeah all right; tell me all the horrible details."
"Mate, her breasts are so-"
Harry scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at him as Ron laughed while simultaneously trying to shield his little furry friend.
They both continued to laugh and the Caipora paused in its chewing to blink up at them in confusion.
"I just meant," Ron eventually said, picking up the thread of their conversation once more, "that she's not as rigid as you might expect. It's our last year at Hogwarts and she's actually ignored her revision timetable a few times to spend time with me."
Harry grinned at his friend. "So what you're saying is that you'll be the cause of her not achieving perfect O's on her NEWTS."
Ron snorted. "Yeah, that'd be a brilliant start to our life together."
Harry smiled and reached out to stroke the fuzzy coffee-coloured head of the Caipora as it sniffed Ron's hand for more treats. "Are you going to marry her, do you think?"
Ron glanced up and his freckled cheeks flushed pink but his eyes sparkled. "Yeah."
Harry plucked the last fig out of their supply box and passed it over.
"What about you?"
Harry glanced up as he wiped his sticky hands on his trousers. "Marry Draco Malfoy?" he asked with a smirk.
Ron made a face. "Merlin, that's a fucked up sentence - but yeah, that," he said.
Harry snorted and rested his elbows on his thighs as he leaned forward and watched their furry friend inhale the last of the food. "No, I don't think so. I don't think Draco's into the whole marriage thing."
Ron frowned. "I'm sure he would do it if you wanted to."
Harry sighed. "I dunno, I'm not that fussed either way."
Ron eyed him. "I don't think there's much he wouldn't do for you, Harry, if you did want it. But," he added, brightening, "if I don't have to sit next to Lucius Malfoy while you make declarations of love to his son, I'm all right with that too."
Harry laughed and would have thrown more snow if he wasn't so worried about traumatising the Caipora.
The two finished feeding him and, at the end of class, reluctantly handed him back over to Hagrid, who placed him into a wooden crate with the others. The little furballs immediately began to squeak and squawk to each other; as though comparing notes on the adventure they'd just had and the snacks they'd just inhaled.
Harry waved goodbye to Hagrid as he and Ron collected their bags and began to walk back towards the school. It was late November and Hagrid had been busy shovelling paths through the thick layer of snow that veiled the extensive grounds of Hogwarts, making travelling between his classes and the castle a lot easier.
Nothing had come of the search for the two Nundu brothers yet and Harry was beginning to wonder if perhaps the two brothers had simply disappeared, planning to remain in hiding until the attack had been forgotten. Maybe they had decided that it was too risky to attempt it for a second time.
At least, Harry hoped so. Not that he or Draco were about to become complacent when it came to Harry's safety, especially not Draco, who was just as overzealous now as he was a month ago. For instance, Harry had to remain with Ron after Care of Magical Creatures until Draco was able to meet them so that Harry was never on his own between classes.
Harry looked up from watching his feet in the snow and blinked when his head spun with the movement. When his head didn't quit spinning, he stumbled to a stop and closed his eyes, swallowing against the sudden onset of nausea in his stomach.
"Harry?"
He opened his eyes and looked at Ron, the other students continuing on past them towards the school. "Uh… I don't feel very good… Like I'm going to be sick."
"You didn't eat any of that Caipora fruit, did you?"
"No I didn't eat the fruit," Harry replied with a roll of his eyes that sent his head spinning once more.
Harry swallowed and began to feel as though he'd ingested something spicy; his stomach began to burn from the inside and sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Oh fuck…" he breathed, suddenly realising what was going on. "What's the date today?"
"Does that matter right this second?"
"Because I think-" Harry bit off as his knees trembled and threatened to give out on him.
Ron dropped his bag to the ground and quickly reached out to support his friend. His brown eyes widened in alarm as he caught a whiff of Harry's scent.
"Shit, Harry, are you…?"
Harry moaned and nodded miserably as another wave of heat washed over him, causing him to slump in Ron's arms.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck…" Ron swore, panicking. "All right, I'll… I'll get you to Madam Pomfrey, mate. Don't worry."
Harry barely comprehended what Ron was saying as he swayed on the spot, closing his eyes as his heat came on like a freight train.
Ron half-carried, half-dragged, Harry towards the castle, cursing under his breath the entire way.
"I thought you were supposed to have all these bloody signs before you went into heat," he accused, as though this was all Harry's fault.
Harry just groaned and tried to move his feet forwards to aid his friend. He really didn't want any of the students to know what was going on, especially any interested Alphas, who might get out of control and become too much for either Ron or himself to deal with before they made it to the hospital wing.
The thought of going through what had happened between him and Professor Fischer again was terrifying.
Ron hauled him up the front entrance steps as quickly as he could and strode forward into the castle. They'd been let off of class a little early so thankfully not many students were in the corridors yet.
Harry tried to control his breathing as the familiar ache and the burning and the overwhelming need increased in pitch to a level of torment that he'd forgotten about - until now.
He kept his eyes closed and hoped he was doing a good job of preventing himself from moaning out loud, but he wasn't positive; everything began to feel a little like he was hallucinating. His body was taking over his rational thought, his pants quickly growing damp as his body pumped out its natural lubricant in preparation for his mate.
Harry bit off a moan at the thought of his mate, the sudden desire for his Alpha pushing everything else into the background.
"What has happened Mr. Weasley?"
Harry groaned under his breath as Ron stopped suddenly and began to speak with someone who his muddled brain couldn't quite identify in his current state.
"Erm, Harry's in heat," Ron answered in a whisper.
The reply was swift and efficient. "Take him to his room, he has a chamber in there set up for his heats and will be safe."
Harry blearily placed the voice as Madam Pomfrey's, the conversation washing over him but not quite sinking in; just insignificant words floating around his head.
Harry frowned as Ron began to drag him forward again, Madam Pomfrey on his other side, assisting. Something she'd said was bothering him - but he couldn't figure out why.
"Should I tell Malfoy?" Ron asked as they slowly climbed staircase after staircase to the third floor.
Harry, unable to help himself, moaned at just the sound of his mate's name.
Madam Pomfrey was puffing with exertion as she replied. "He will probably scent his mate's heat before you are able to reach him, but just in case, try to locate Mr. Malfoy and let him know where Harry is. We will need to lock Harry in from the outside this time, as he is not in his right mind to do it himself. How on earth did his heat surprise him again?" she asked in exasperation as they entered the third floor corridor. "The female Omegas in this school seem to be able to keep track of their cycles just fine."
"I dunno, I think he was waiting to be tired again and it didn't happen."
Harry bit his lip as they stopped outside the door to his room, wanting nothing more than to tear his clothes off and submerge himself in a cold pool of water.
Madam Pomfrey raised Harry's hand and touched it on the door and it immediately swung open. They took him through into the main room and across the flagstones towards the side door that led to the antechamber.
Harry frowned and felt as though he was about to lose consciousness. He opened his eyes and his vision grew black around the edges, tiny pin-pricks of light dancing before his eyes.
He closed them again and seemed to lose track of time and of what was happening to him, as the next time he opened his eyes again, he was alone, laid out on a bed without his glasses.
Harry moaned and reached down to palm his throbbing erection through his trousers. He was still wearing his uniform, as well as his winter cloak, and he was sweltering.
Harry pushed himself into a sitting position and clumsily reached for the clasp on his cloak - and froze.
His mind suddenly seemed to catch up with his surroundings and his stomach clenched in a way that was unrelated to his heat. They'd put him in the tiny room attached to his bedroom, the room he swore he would never stay in because it was so utterly small and dark and panic inducing…
Harry's throat instantly tightened and his eyes widened in alarm.
He blindly stumbled to his feet and staggered to the door. He latched both hands around the handle and pulled, needing out of there as quickly as possible, damn the consequences of trying to get to the hospital wing in his current condition.
The door wouldn't budge.
Harry choked and continued to wrench at the solid door before his arms finally gave out and he lurched backwards, falling to the floor.
They'd fucking locked him in! He was trapped.
Harry tried to fight the haze of panic that filled him, but his claustrophobia was not mixing well with his heat-addled brain, and he could feel himself becoming slightly unhinged.
Harry crawled forward and banged on the door with both fists. Maybe they'd only just left him; maybe they were still close by.
He wanted to scream and yell, but he was having trouble breathing.
Harry felt the hot prick of tears as his banging seemed to go unheeded. He stopped and pressed his sweaty forehead against the door and squeezed his eyes shut, one tear slipping out and trailing down his heated cheek as he whimpered. His cock was still insistently hard between his legs even as his heart raced with uncontrollable fear.
It was too much; it was all too much…
"Harry?"
Harry's head came up with a gasp as he heard his mate's voice call out from the other side of the door.
He let out a sob of desperate relief as he knelt up and placed both palms against the door. "Draco!" he called out frantically, hoping Draco could hear him even though his shout came out thin and dry. "In here! Let me out, let me out, let me out…"
He couldn't seem to stop saying it over and over; stuck in a panicked loop.
Harry heard an uttered incantation and then the door unbolted with a 'clunk.'
The door swung outwards and Harry fairly threw himself into his Alpha's arms as soon as he saw him. He didn't care how pathetic he came off; he needed out of that room, and every cell and instinct in his body told him that he desperately needed his mate.
"Harry…" Draco exclaimed in response, voice sharp with surprise and concern. He pulled Harry in close and stroked his sweat-dampened hair as he dropped his nose to scent at his mate's neck, confirming for himself that Harry was alive and unharmed.
Harry tilted his head away and to the side, exposing his Claiming Mark to his Alpha, and Draco's lips immediately descended onto the scarred skin; alternately licking and kissing the Mark as he calmed his mate.
Harry's trembling soon turned into shivers at the touch, and eventually all of his prior fear and anxiety over being trapped in the room, vanished, and he was once again achingly aware of other needs now making themselves known.
Harry's breathing sped up and his heart-rate increased as the Omega in him realised that his mate was right there; available to help him through the burning ache of his heat.
Harry released a hushed moan and pushed his hips forward into Draco's, hands tightening on Draco's back, pulling him in as close as possible.
Draco's breath audibly caught as he paused in his ministrations, he didn't pull away but he didn't respond in kind either.
Harry continued to roll his hips into his mate as he rotated his head around to search out Draco's mouth, needing to taste him as well as try to arouse him into some sort of action. Harry felt feverish with the need for friction and touch and now, his pants soaked through with fluid and his cock positively throbbing.
Draco kissed him chastely, once, twice, and then pulled away, searching out Harry's gaze. "Harry…" he said, his tone was hesitant and admonishing, but his grey eyes were burning with something completely contrary.
"Please," Harry whispered, kissing the corner of Draco's mouth and then flicking his tongue out to lick along his bottom lip. "Please… touch me. I need you…"
A dark corner of his mind knew he was goading his mate into something he shouldn't be, but it was too late; he felt like an out of control drug addict suddenly faced with the very object of his desire and losing all willpower to say no. Fuck the consequences.
"Harry…" Draco moaned lowly, eyes falling closed against a tide of instinct and emotion, clearly wanting to give in but valiantly battling against it.
Harry didn't still his hips, pushing the long hard line of his erection against Draco, who was unmistakably aroused now as well. He kissed Draco, hard, insistently, tongue pushing through stiff lips to sweep into his mate's mouth, trying to coax his tongue to stroke him in return.
Harry made a sound of disgruntled frustration when his mate didn't kiss him back.
Whatever subconscious noise Harry had made seemed to suddenly spur his Alpha into action, as, with a low growl, the Slytherin suddenly began to kiss him back, taking control of the kiss and deepening it.
Harry's knees nearly buckled in relief and Draco quickly moved his hands to Harry's arse and lifted him up so that Harry's legs were firmly wrapped around his hips. Draco carried him over to the bed and threw him down into the centre before climbing on top of him and resuming the heated kiss.
"Yes," Harry breathed as the full weight of his Alpha pressed onto him in all the right places. He writhed and arched and gasped as the touch of his Alpha seemed to cool the intense burning that was roiling through his feverish body.
Draco moved his lips down Harry's neck to the Claim Mark and lightly scraped his teeth over it, causing Harry's hips to nearly come right off the bed at the sensation. Draco hummed in satisfaction, the sound vibrating against Harry's skin gratifyingly.
Harry felt frustration wash over again, needing things to move along much faster than this. He didn't want foreplay - he wanted to be taken. Now.
The heat licked at his body again, escalating as he became frustrated and desperate.
Harry threw his head back on the pillow, hands clawing at the bedclothes on either side of him. "Fuck me," he ground out, arching his neck, face a twisted grimace of urgent need. "Please Draco… please… I need you…"
He looked up at his Alpha, sweat stinging his eyes, and bit his lip hard. Draco's expression was just like it had been on the night he'd claimed Harry; feral and possessive - and fuck if it didn't ramp Harry's arousal up another unbearable notch.
Draco threw an arm out towards the door to their room and Harry heard it lock before becoming muffled by an efficient silencing charm.
Draco sat up and began to rip Harry's clothing off of him in a frenzy, first his cloak and then his shirt - popping buttons in his haste - and then flinging his belt open and wrenching his trousers down and off, Harry assisting as best he could, levering his weight off of the bed, eyes locked on his Alpha, transfixed.
Draco's nostrils flared as he removed Harry's wet pants, the scent of his mate's arousal hitting him like a bludger to the head.
Harry swallowed, breath coming shallow and fast, as he watched with rapt attention as Draco tore his own clothes off in a rush, throwing them to the floor as though he was infuriated with their very existence.
Harry sighed as his mate lay back on top of him, skin to skin, and oh, the relief that washed over his body and into his feverish mind. It was so wonderful; such a sense of rightness and perfection.
Draco snarled as he began to grind down into Harry's flushed prick, the fluid from Harry's arse slicking the way to enable the smooth slide of cock against cock, and Harry thought he just might explode as his legs came up of their own accord to grip on either side of Draco's thrusting hips. Sparks ignited in his groin over and over again at the repeated action.
Draco suddenly shifted so that his stiff cock dropped back and began to drag over the crease of Harry's lubricated arse and bollocks.
Harry whimpered as his arsehole twitched, demanding to be filled and not just subjected to this torturously too-gentle surface glide.
"More," Harry gasped, demanding, ordering his Alpha to comply. Surely he would die if Draco didn't fuck him soon.
Draco knelt up and had shoved Harry's knees into his chest before he even knew what was happening, all the air in his lungs forced out in a sudden 'whoosh.'
Draco dropped one hand to his erection and lined himself up before brutally shoving himself inside of his mate.
Harry cried out in blissful, ecstasy-induced pleasure. His Alpha had a sizeable cock and it usually took Harry some time to adjust to the substantial intrusion, but in his current state, it slid right in with barely any burn.
This was not like their usual love-making at all, even the times they had had to hurry for lack of time, or because they had been gripped by sudden desire. This was rough and feral and much more animalistic.
Draco dragged Harry's legs up over his shoulders and began to pound into him with abandon.
"Y-y-essss…." Harry stuttered, dragging the syllables out like Parseltongue as he closed his eyes and gave himself over to his Alpha; to the ruthless thrusting that brought him quickly to the edge but not quite tipping him over into the blinding orgasm he knew was just there.
Draco held tight to Harry's sweat-slippery thighs as he continued to hammer into him with the staccato sound of skin slapping on skin, filling the room and echoing in Harry's ears like a drum beat.
Harry opened his eyes as an inexplicable frustration slowly stirred his temper again; his body was screaming 'more, more, more' and he didn't know what it wanted or how to alleviate it.
The appalling heat crept back in and caused him to moan miserably.
Draco opened his eyes, his gaze tracking over Harry's expression, searching for something, even as he continued to thrust into him with a grunt on almost every inward push, his platinum hair now gold with sweat and sticking to his temples.
Harry stared back at him imploringly. "More," was the only thing he could articulate, the only thing he knew undeniably. "Draco…" he keened desperately, hoping his Alpha would understand and would know what to do, how to take care of him.
Draco's grey eyes flashed, his pupils blown wide, staring as his Omega desperately demanded more.
Harry gasped as Draco abruptly pulled out and flipped him over onto his stomach, his flushed and neglected cock pressed into the mattress for a brief moment before Draco grabbed his hips and pulled him up onto his hands and knees.
Draco parted his arse and slammed back inside of him, not even pausing before relentlessly pounding into his slick hole again. Harry dropped his forehead to the bed with a bitten off moan, bracing himself on his arms, as he waited expectantly for his Alpha to make everything better; to fix the burning ache that threatened to consume him.
Harry's eyes flew open as something changed, something significant was happening. Draco faltered and then began to slow his pace, changing to long, slow, deep thrusts; in and out, in and out…
But instead of frustrating Harry, it was easing that desperate ache like nothing else had thus far. Suddenly each thrust felt more fulfilling, dragging out immense and unexplainable satisfaction. He could feel a stretch that hadn't been there before, as though his mate hadn't been fully hard when they'd started and now he was becoming more and more engorged.
Harry let loose a long, low moan as Draco's swollen cock dragged over his prostate, catching on his rim, feeling huge and just fucking brilliant.
"Uhhh Harry…" Draco groaned out in a mix of reverence and gratification, as though he couldn't quite believe the pleasure he was experiencing.
Harry wished he could see his mate as he pushed back against him in counterbalance, feeling amazingly full.
Draco pushed in deep twice more and then couldn't pull out again; now firmly knotted inside of Harry.
As soon as this happened, Draco's breath caught in his throat and he froze for a moment, before pressing his hips forward once more, hard, and stilling.
Harry nearly sobbed at the feeling of Draco's cock pulsing deep within him as his Alpha came, groaning above him in the throes of orgasm. Harry quickly reached underneath himself and tugged on his leaking prick. He gasped as he rapidly and efficiently fisted himself, feeling as though he was going to pass out it felt so good.
Draco leaned forward over Harry's sweaty back, bracketing him with his body, and lowered his mouth to firmly bite the silvery Claim Mark.
Harry jolted with a gasp and Draco remained buried deep inside of him as Harry finally, finally, came with a shout; spurting rope after rope of come all over the bedclothes and his working hand.
It was the most explosive and overwhelming orgasm of his young life, and he again wondered if he was going to pass out from the overpowering experience. He was drowning in it.
He continued to milk his prick until his orgasm had completely receded, leaving him utterly spent and trembling.
"I've got you," Draco murmured into his ear as he curled one arm around Harry's waist and lowered them both to lie side by side on the bed, his knot keeping them bound together.
Harry settled back against his Alpha with a weary sigh of contentment, pressing his arse back against Draco's pelvis and tucking neatly into his arms. His heat had now settled into a barely there warmth. As soon as Draco had come inside of him, he'd felt a wonderful cooling sensation wipe over him like a cool cloth on fevered skin.
Harry's eyes fell shut almost instantly, his body demanding sleep before it threw him back into the frenzy of his heat again. He felt sated and protected in his mate's arms, and was absolutely not thinking about the consequences of their actions. He was just too bloody exhausted to give a fuck.
He smiled softly as Draco kissed the top of his head and murmured something that sounded like 'I love you.'
Harry drifted off before he could gather the energy to respond.