Dragon Hunt

Ron was shaken awake by a terrified and very nude Harry. He looked around, realizing the stares of his dorm mates. Harry was babbling a mile a minute; he only managed to make out a few words, but it didn’t take long to realize that they were words that shouldn’t be overheard. Quickly, he slapped Harry, trying to being some silence. Harry obliged by slumping down. “Help,” he said brokenly.

“What’s going on?” Neville asked with a yawn.

“Dunno,” Ron muttered, trying to sound annoyed with his friend, even though he was worried. “I’m taking him to Pomfrey. Go back to sleep,” he suggested. His dorm mates happily obliged. Ron threw his robe over Harry’s shoulders and escorted him through the halls. “Let’s get you to the hospital wing. You need to calm down.”

“No,” Harry muttered. “Snape. I need to get to Snape.”

“Uh-uh,” Ron said. “I am not going to the dungeons in the middle of the night.”

“Dumbledore, then!” Harry demanded, already running in the direction of the Headmaster’s office. When he reached the statue, he sputtered off the name of every candy he knew until the passageway appeared and he entered without knocking.

“Harry!” Dumbledore said happily. “Good to see you!”

Harry rolled his eyes and started explaining what had happened, ignoring the sex half, of course. He told Dumbledore of Draco’s flight. “What if it’s Voldemort?!” Harry shouted. “What if he found a way to—“

Dumbledore turned his attention away from the young man as Harry began spouting off theories of where Draco could be and who could have done this. Instead, he stepped towards the fireplace and called for Severus Snape. Snape stepped through a moment later and took in the scene. The Golden Boy had some sort of fit or panic attack as the Headmaster stood quite calmly watching. And the youngest of the male Weasleys was snoring quite peacefully on a chair in the corner.

“Severus, it seems that young Master Malfoy has flown the coup, so to speak.” Harry made a noise of distress and tried to focus on the conversation between the two professors. “Mister Potter wonders if it is Voldemort’s doing.”

“I have heard nothing,” Snape said flatly. “I am sure he will return when he has forgiven whatever idiocy you have committed.”

“You don’t understand!” Harry shouted, his panic falling back to a workable level. “He couldn’t stop the change from happening. It was exactly like when his father forced the change in order to capture him!”

“No control?” Snape asked, concern finally finding its way onto his features.

“Exactly. He was sleeping when he started to change. I woke him up; he tried to calm himself, but was unable,” Harry explained. “We got him out onto the balcony and then he was gone, flying into the Forbidden Forest.”

“As a dragon, he can fend for himself,” Snape said.

“But not if someone is controlling him!” Harry shouted.

“There’s nothing to be done until morning,” Dumbledore said cheerily. “I suggest we all go back to sleep.”

“What?!” Harry practically screamed.

“We must keep up appearances, after all. In the morning, we will send Hagrid out into the forest to look for him and Severus can contact Voldemort without arising suspicions. Am I correct, Severus?” Dumbledore asked innocently.

“Actually, I don’t know that can ask the Dark Lord of this at all. If he is a part of this and doesn’t want me to know, he will not tell me. And if he is not part of this, saying anything will arise suspicions about Draco’s loyalty,” Severus said.

“Well, never-the-less,” Dumbledore continued. “There is no use in searching for him until daybreak. Hagrid will handle it personally.”

“I can’t rest until I know he’s safe!” Harry shouted. “I’m going to look for him now if you’ll do nothing!”

“Well, I guess I can go with you if you’re that intent on wondering through the forests in the middle of the night. Why don’t you take Ron back to bed when you get dressed. Also, do remember to bring your wand. The forest can be quite dangerous, you know. Severus, why don’t you check the Head Boy suite in the dungeon just in case it is was some misunderstanding between our young lovers?” Dumbledore asked. Snape nodded and stepped into the fire. “Meet me back here when you are ready to embark, Harry,” the Headmaster said sweetly.

Harry grabbed Ron and dragged him all the way back up to Gryffindor tower. He pushed him in the general direction of his bed and bolted up to his private room. As he scrambled to pull clothing on, Harry stared out into the night and he saw it, a flash of moonlight reflected off something deep in the woods. He wasn’t going back to the Headmaster’s office. Instead he grabbed his broom and his wand and leapt, just as Draco had done.



Harry spent hours in the forest searching. He’d managed to fight off two attacks from creatures he couldn’t name and convince the centaurs that he would cause no harm. It wasn’t until light had begun to breach the leaves did he hear the purr. It was odd, that purr. It was proud and satisfied and happy. Harry hadn’t heard anything quite like it from Draco, yet. He followed it to a clearing and saw the silver dragon curled up asleep. “Draco?” he asked tentatively. The dragon didn’t move.

He stepped closer and knelt beside him until he finally reached out and lay a hand on his dragon’s neck, just at the base of his skull. The purr was oddly soft, weak and tired, though it seemed content and happy at his presence, but still the dragon did not stir. “Draco?” He asked again. “Baby, wake up. Please?” he begged.

The dragon managed to half open his eyes and see Harry. Harry managed a relieved sigh when he saw the dragon begin to shift and change and become human yet again. Harry managed to maintain contact as he turned and pulled him into his arms so that he was cradling the exhausted blond. “Draco, wake up,” he urged.

“Tired,” Draco complained, curling tighter into Harry’s arms. Harry slumped in relief. His mate was fine, just exhausted. They’d figure out the reason for his actions later, but right now, everything was all right. Harry held Draco tighter and looked around the clearing as the light began to show it clearly. Harry could see the imprint in the grass where Draco had been lying.

And the center of that imprint, there was an odd rock that he somehow knew he couldn’t leave there. He threw his robe over the rock and wrapped it up, cradling it to his chest.

It was awkward. In the end, Harry had to bind Draco to himself so that he could get them all on the broom. He got them up to the balcony, leaving Draco out there while he placed the rock in the center of their bed. He went back and retrieved his mate, laying him on the bed beside the rock and covering him with a blanket before dropping into the chair and staring in wonder at the scene before him.

Dobby appeared out of thin air with a pop. He put a tray on the table. “Dobby is happy that Harry Potter is back at Hogwarts. Dobby has missed Harry Potter!”

“Thank you Dobby,” Harry said dully.

Dobby turned and looked at the bed. “Master Draco is in your bed?” he said curiously. Harry took a deep breath to explain, but Dobby continued. “Master Draco is a good match for Harry Potter. Master Draco will protect Harry Potter and make Harry Potter very happy.” Harry smiled at the comment. “Harry Potter will call for Dobby if he needs anything.”

“I will do that, Dobby. Thank you. I think I want to get some sleep.”

“Whatever Harry Potter wishes,” Dobby said before disappearing with a pop. Harry nodded, satisfied and leaned forward. He took a few nibbles from the snacks on the tray and went back to the bed, crawling in it and lying so that he was wrapped around Draco from behind, protecting his dragon as best he could. And in the comfort of his mate’s presence, Harry drifted to sleep.