Visions of an Empath

Chapter 7

Lucius sat in his study, staring pensively at his desk. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally reached into the desk drawer and pulled out a small jewellery box. Lucius slowly opened the small box and gazed speculatively at the silver ring inside, wondering if he should go ahead and formally initiate the bond with Harry. He knew that Harry cared for him, but would Harry actually want to bond with him so soon?

With a determined nod, Lucius closed the small box and slipped it into his pocket. He would ask today. It was just a matter of finding the little imp. As he stood to leave, though, his house-elf, Toffee, popped into the room. Lucius gracefully sank back down into his seat and looked at the elf. “What is it, Toffee?”

“Toffee has news to report, Master,” said Toffee demurely.

“Go ahead,” said Lucius.

“Toffee has heard the location of Puff’s cup, Master. The Strange woman has it hidden in her bank vault,” said the house-elf dutifully.

“That’s going to be a problem,” murmured Lucius softly. It would be extremely difficult to retrieve the artefact with all security at Gringott’s. They couldn’t exactly waltz into the bank the same way they had the Ministry. He waved absently to the house-elf as he ruminated on how he and Harry would go about getting that cup. “Thank you, Toffee. You may return to your duties at the Manor.”

Toffee nodded but paused before leaving. “Master, Toffee is glad you have Master Harry as mate. He be good for you. Master Harry make you much happier than former Mistress ever did.” With that said, Toffee popped out of the room.

Lucius shook his head wryly. Harry was obviously a bad influence. A month ago, Lucius would never have thanked a house-elf for anything, and Toffee would never have been bold enough to say what she had. Getting back to his feet, Lucius left his study to search for his wayward mate. The brunette was probably in the library again.

***

Harry sauntered into the library and saw Draco sitting at his favourite table. Truth to tell, he was a bit surprised to see the blonde since Draco had taken to helping Severus brew potions every day. Harry ambled over to the table and sat down across from Draco.

“Hey, Draco. Whatcha reading?”

Draco rolled his eyes at Harry’s obvious cheerfulness. “A book about becoming an animagus. Severus said he would help me learn after I read the book.”

“So what’s your animal form?” asked Harry curiously. He honestly didn’t see why Draco would need Severus’ help. All it required was a little meditation and research. How hard was that?

Draco raised his eyebrows. “I don’t know yet. Severus hasn’t cast the spell to show me.”

Harry blinked in surprise. What in Merlin’s name was Draco talking about? “What spell? I didn’t need a spell to become an animagus.”

It was Draco’s turn to be surprised. “You’re an animagus? When did you learn to do that?”

“A couple of weeks ago,” said Harry slowly. He looked at the book Draco was reading and shook his head. Going over to the bookcase, he pulled out the book he’d used to become an animagus and carried it back to the table. “That’s the book I used. It was fairly simple to follow.”

Draco looked at the book for a moment before opening it. Quickly flipping through the pages until he reached the chapter on animagus transformations, Draco read the chapter with growing disbelief. “Meditation, recognition, and transformation? That’s it? That’s all you did to become an animagus?”

“Yeah. Like I said, it was fairly easy to follow,” said Harry.

“So what’s your animagus form,” asked Draco suspiciously.

“Oh, I’m an Earth Drake,” said Harry absently, flipping idly through the pages of the book Draco had been reading.

“What? But that’s supposed to be impossible! Drakes are magical creatures,” sputtered Draco.

“I know, but I think it may have something to do with being Lucius’ mate,” said Harry.

Draco thought that over for a moment. “You may be right. As mates, your magic naturally complements each other.”

“Wanna see?” asked Harry with a grin.

“Yes,” said Draco.

Harry crossed to the centre of the room and transformed into his drake form. As Draco watched in awe, Harry’s form suddenly shrank and disappeared. He’d been practising that move ever since the locket heist at the Ministry.

“Harry?” Draco searched the room intently, trying to catch sight of the small drake. He gave an undignified squeak when a puff of air hit his neck and whirled around only to find air. However, Harry suddenly shimmered into view, causing Draco to stumble back a step.

The drake huffed in laughter and transformed back. “So, what do you think? Was that cool or what?”

“I didn’t know drakes could alter their size like that or become invisible,” said Draco softly.

“Lucius showed me that trick,” said Harry proudly. “Are you going to try it?”

“Sure, why not,” said Draco. He sat back down and settled comfortably in his chair. Severus had been teaching him Occlumency lately, so he started meditating the way the Potions’ Master had taught him. Clearing everything out of his mind, he thought about what his animagus form should be. To his surprise, an image of sleek, golden scales and white, feathered wings began to form. Startled at the image, Draco broke his meditation.

“What did you see?” asked Harry excitedly.

“Golden scales and white wings,” said Draco softly. “I’m some kind of winged snake. Maybe an occamy?”

Harry hurried back to the bookcase and pulled down another book. Flipping quickly through the pages, he then pushed the book toward Draco. “Is this what you saw?”

Draco looked down and stared at the photo of the occamy Harry showed him. Draco sighed in disappointment and shook his head. “No, I had feathered wings.”

Harry hummed thoughtfully and went back to perusing the book. He suddenly giggled, causing Draco to glance at him suspiciously. Harry ignored the look, though, and pushed the book back toward Draco. “Does that look more like it?”

Draco looked down at the book and gasped in surprise. It was a photo of a silver snake with white feathered wings, two legs, and a barbed tail. “That’s it!” He looked at the next page to see what the creature was and scowled, finally realising what had caused Harry’s giggles. The creature was called a mini-wyve or fairy wyvern. “Ha ha. Very funny, Potter.”

Harry just laughed again. “Now that you know what you are, try to transform. Just pull the image of your animagus form to the front of your mind and focus your magic on achieving that form.”

Draco gave Harry a sceptical look but did as he was told. Taking a deep breath, Draco closed his eyes and focussed on transforming. A moment later, golden scales formed across his skin, and his body began to shrink and become serpentine, his wings appearing a second later.

Harry beamed proudly at Draco, lifting the mini-wyve off the floor. “That was perfect, Draco.”

Draco flicked his tongue out and flapped his wings, flying out of Harry’s arms to zoom around the room. Harry grinned and transformed directly into his mini-drake form and chased after the mini-wyve. A game of aerial tag soon began. It was the most fun Harry had had in ages.

The game of tag was interrupted, though, by Severus. “Harry, what in Merlin’s name are you doing? That is a mini-wyve. They’re extremely poisonous.”

Harry immediately transformed back and grinned at Severus. “I know, Severus, but...”

“Just stay here, and I’ll get rid of it,” said Severus sternly, stalking toward the mini-wyve. To his surprise, the creature shot passed him and curled around Harry’s shoulders.

“I tried to tell you, Severus. He won’t hurt me because this is Draco,” said Harry as he stroked Draco’s wings soothingly. “Show him, Draco.”

The mini-wyve slowly uncurled from Harry’s shoulders and flew to the brunette’s side. The creature suddenly began to transform, revealing a grinning blonde. “I did it, Severus. How cool was that? And it was so easy, too.”

“But how?” asked Severus.

“Harry showed me,” said Draco, missing the flash of hurt that crossed Severus’ face. Harry didn’t, though.

“I see,” said Severus softly. “In that case, I have a few potions that require my attention. Excuse me.” He turned and left, leaving a bemused Draco and a guilty Harry behind.

“I need to ask him a quick question. I’ll be right back,” said Harry. He ran from the room, trying to catch Severus. He finally caught up with the other man just as he reached his potions lab. “Severus, wait.”

“What is it, Potter?” snapped Severus, glowering angrily at he brunette..

“I’m sorry,” said Harry quietly. “I didn’t realise I was stepping on your toes by helping Draco.”

“You didn’t step on any toes,” snapped Severus. “I don’t care what you do with your spare time.”

Harry sighed. “I just wanted to apologise, that’s all. I’m sorry if I hurt you with my actions.” He turned to leave, but Severus’ voice stopped him.

“Apology accepted.”

Harry nodded briefly and walked away.

Severus watched him walk off with a bemused look on his face. He honestly didn’t know how Harry always managed to get under his skin like that. It was hard to stay mad at the brunette when Harry was so sincere in his actions. Besides, no harm was done. Severus could still spend time with his godson. After all, Draco loved potions almost as much as he did.

***

Lucius headed for the library since Harry spent an exorbitant amount of time in that room. However, Draco was the only one in the room. “Draco, have you seen Harry?”

“He should be back in a minute. He had to talk to Severus about something,” said Draco nonchalantly. He looked up at his father and grinned proudly. “I completed my first animagus transformation.”

“Really? What is your animagus form?” asked Lucius curiously.

Draco blushed slightly and muttered, “I’m a mini-wyve.”

“Also known as a fairy wyvern,” said Harry impishly, leaning casually against the door frame.

“Dammit, Potter, don’t call me that,” snapped Draco indignantly, glaring at the brunette. “It’s undignified.”

Harry just smiled innocently. “But, Draco, you’re such a cute fairy wyvern.”

“That’s it. Next time I transform, I’m going to bite you,” said Draco sullenly, pouting slightly.

“That’s no big deal,” said Harry dismissively. He grinned cheekily. “It’s your tail that’s poisonous.”

Lucius watched the exchange with a fond smile. It was nice to see his mate and his son getting along together for once. Walking over to the brunette, he took Harry’s hands in his. “I need to speak privately with you, if you don’t mind.”

“Sure,” said Harry. He wondered what Lucius needed to talk about. Had one of the house-elves reported Voldemort’s activities?

“Good. We’ll take this to my study then.” Lucius looked back toward Draco. “Congratulations, Draco. I’m proud of you.”

Draco blinked in surprise before a wide smile curled his lips. That was the first time his father had said he was proud of him in years. His smiled slipped slightly, though, when he saw his father pat his pocket nervously, seeing the outline of a small jewellery box. Lucius was going to propose to Potter. Draco honestly didn’t know how he felt about that.

Draco looked at Harry and realised that despite their previous differences, Harry had become his friend. Not just a friend, though. Harry was a true friend, someone who liked him for who he really was. Looking at his father’s relaxed visage, Draco decided that he was happy for them. Harry had just best accept the proposal, or else. Nobody hurt his father and lived to tell the tale.

“Hey, Draco? We should play aerial tag again sometime. Maybe this time we can get Lucius to join the game,” said Harry playfully.

“We’ll do that,” said Draco.