Missing Malfoy

Missing Malfoy

A/N: This is a One Shot H/D that I have had stored in my computer for a while now. It is going to be a three-part story. I have the sequal wrote up and the third is upcoming. I need reviews on this first! My other stories, all of which have a high demand for updates, will be updated hopefully by this weekend. :D

-=0=-

Harry ran out of the Trophy Room before he could get hexed again. Damn Slytherins and their duels. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Malfoy who had challenged him. Damn Blaise Zabini to hell! And now…Oh Merlin, now.

Now he was running out to the Lake, trying to get away from Zabini and Parkinson. He didn’t know Malfoy’s bitch was going to be there, or else he would have had a second, too! He was under the impression it was only he and Zabini dueling.

Slytherins.

Scampering to the Lake, Harry jumped into the water. He paddled back immediately after jumping in. Damn it, why the hell couldn’t he swim? He took a look in the water and fainted dead on the spot.

**Flashback**

“You think you’re all that, Potter.” Zabini snarled.

Harry nearly growled. “Only when it comes to besting you, Zabini.” he snarked back.

Zabini smirked and stepped closer. “Is that a challenge?” he asked harshly.

The raven-haired Gryffindor swallowed thickly. “What if it is?” Harry responded. He felt confident he could take the Italian. He beat Malfoy at dueling before, why not Blaise?

Blaise snickered. “Okay, you’re on Potter. Meet me in the Trophy Room at Midnight.” he said, then turned and walked into the Dungeons.

Harry huffed and walked back to the Common Room, informing Ron and Hermione what had happened and where he’d be. Hermione was severely disapproving, especially since school was almost out and she didn’t want Harry in anything but his best condition after their seventh year was out.

Ron and Harry had to calm and sooth Hermione, telling him he’d be fine and he’d win. Ron had full confidence in him. Harry and he practiced defense spells before he left, though, just to warm up.

When he made his way to the Trophy Room, Harry opened the door and was held by Pansy Parkinson as Blaise Zabini pointed his wand at him and muttered words.

Harry felt different after that, but ran the opposite way. Being so close to the ground should have given him a clue that he wasn’t the same as he was when he stepped in the room. Or the fact that he was walking on four legs.

But he didn’t think about that as he ran from the Slytherins. All he thought about was getting the hell out of there before something else happened.

**End Flashback**

-=0=-

“Have you seen Harry?” Hermione asked the first boy who had shown up in the Common Room the next morning.

Dean Thomas raised an eyebrow at Hermione. “No, he never showed up in the dorms.” he said in confusion. “Why, is everything o-” Hermione pushed past him and ran up the stairs to the dorms. “…Or not.” he said and shrugged as he walked down to breakfast.

Hermione opened the seventh year boy’s dorms. “Ron!” she shouted. Seamus and Neville jumped three feet in the air and covered their half-naked torsos from the female.

“Hermione!” they both shouted in unison, their faces a matching scarlet.

“Oh please,” Hermione rolled her eyes and went to Ron’s bed. The redhead didn’t even stir at her shout. “Ron!” she said again, shaking the boy. Ron murmured in his sleep and turned over. “RONALD WEASLEY!” the Gryffindor shouted at the top of her lungs, finally making Ron blink an eye open.

“Bloody hell,” he breathed, looking at Hermione with one eye. “Do you need something, Hermione?” he asked grumpily.

Hermione huffed and tapped her foot. “Where’s Harry?” she asked irritably.

Ron would have rolled his eyes, but he thought at the last moment that it’d take too much energy. Instead, he pointed lazily to Harry’s (unknowingly to him) empty bed.

Hermione looked at it, then back to Ron. “Merlin!” she exclaimed and pulled her wand. “Ron, you’ve got three seconds to sit up and talk to me properly.” she said.

On the other side of the room, Neville and Seamus shared a quick look before diving under the covers and placing their pillows on their heads quickly. Neville swore he heard Seamus mutter, “It’s gonna blow!” which made Neville laugh but hide nonetheless.

Ron snored mockingly at Hermione and turned over, facing away from her. Hermione’s face went scarlet and she pointed her wand at Ron.

“One.” she said clearly.

Ron gave a loud snort.

“Two,” Hermione continued threateningly.

Ron mumbled something about evil women in his ‘sleep’.

“THREE!” she yelled, “Mobilicorpus!” Hermione cast on Ron. She immediately moved Ron from his bed and made him dangle above Harry’s empty one, ignoring his screeches and demands to be put down. “Does he look like he’s in his bed, Ronald?” she asked in complete irritation.

The redhead sighed, but shook his head dejectedly. “No, Hermione. But -”

“Where. Is. He?” she asked through clenched teeth.

Ron wanted to back away from her. Too bad he was suspended fifteen feet in the air. “How am I supposed to -”

Hermione interrupted him. “He’ll be fine, Hermione!” she mocked Ron from the night before. “It’s only Zabini, what could he do?!” she continued through clenched teeth. Hermione moved her wand away and let Ron fall on Harry’s bed heavily. “See! Now Harry’s missing!” she huffed.

Ron moaned and sat up on Harry’s bed, rubbing his butt through his boxers. That damned hurt, he’d have you know. “Look, ‘Mione,”

“Don’t you ‘Mione’ me, Ronald.” the Gryffindor snarled. “If you wouldn’t have supported him going to duel Zabini, he wouldn’t be in this mess!” she accused.

“ME?” Ron yelled, “It was you who told him he couldn’t do it! Even after he defeated You-Know-Who! You probably made him need to prove himself!” he shot back.

Hermione gaped and threw more accusations at Ron. Seamus moaned and grabbed his pillow, walking grumpily to the bickering two. “SHUT THE HELL UP!” he yelled, then whacked each of them with his pillow. Ron and Hermione blinked stupidly at Seamus, who huffed and nodded. “About fucking time,” he muttered and went back to bed.

Hermione huffed. “Detention for hitting the Head Girl.” she said, before leaving the dorms.

Seamus gaped at her, then Ron. “Oh, you can cuss your bloody brains out, and I get detention for whapping her with a pillow?”

Ron shrugged, then snickered. “Does well to date the high authority.” he said.

Neville blinked and looked at Ron curiously, having missed the first part of the conversation. “You’re dating Malfoy?” he asked with an eyebrow raised.

Seamus and Ron shared a look before grabbing pillows and bombing Neville with them.

-=0=-

“Stupid class,” Pansy Parkinson huffed indigently. “I don’t see why we have to learn about the stupid plants. They serve for nothing.” she sniffed, walking with Draco towards the lake after Herbology.

Draco Malfoy sighed and resisted the urge to smack Pansy. Damn girl didn’t understand anything. “We learn Herbology, Pansy, to understand Potions.” he said slowly.

“I still don’t like the stupid plants.” she complained at once. Draco sighed again. “Draco!” Pansy said in excitement, “Look! An animal!” she pointed near the lake.

The blonde rolled his eyes. “What, don’t like them either?” he asked mockingly, expecting another complaint.

Pansy put her manicured hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “A helpless animal, Draco.” she said through clenched teeth. “We should help it.” Pansy suggested, narrowing her eyes at the blonde.

Draco’s eyes widened and he looked at Pansy. “Who are you?” he asked. Pansy swat him on the arm. “No, seriously! We’re not bloody Gryffindors.”

The raven-haired girl paid Draco no mind and walked closer to the animal by the lake. She swished her wand over it, making sure it had no diseases or anything else that she wouldn’t like. Satisfied that it didn’t, she kneeled down by the black-furred animal and checked to see if it was alive.

Draco would have gaped had he been anyone else. Being a Malfoy held him from doing so. “Pansy,” he whispered furiously, looking around to make sure no one saw them. “Pansy, stop that right this instant!” he seethed.

Pansy lowered her ear to the animal’s chest. “It’s alive, Draco!” she said happily, picking it up. She recognized the animal immediately. “Aww! It’s one of your kind!”

The young Malfoy raised his eyebrow. “One of my -” He was cut off when he saw the creature in Pansy’s arms. It was a bloody ferret! “Oh Merlin.” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Pansy, just go put it in the Forbidden Forest. Surely -”

“Surely not!” Pansy screeched. “If you won’t keep him, I will.” she said determinedly.

Draco sighed and shook his head. “Look, your rooms are directly connected with mine. I will not be having that smelly creature in my room!” he said scathingly, looking at the ferret accusingly.

Pansy huffed and pulled her wand out again, pointing it at the ferret and murmuring spells to clean and purify it. “See, Drake? It’s all clean and cuddly now!” she said, holding the sleeping animal up to Draco.

The blonde sneered. “I think it’s dead, Pansy dearest.”

The female Slytherin looked down at the small ferret. “It’s just sleeping.” she said surely. Pansy cuddled it close to her face. “Aww. He has really soft fur, Drake. You should hold him!” she exclaimed.

Draco sighed. “If I hold the damned beast, will you leave me alone about it?” he asked, looking at Pansy expectantly. Pansy nodded at once. “Fine, give it here.” the Head Boy said with another sigh.

Pansy thrust the ferret into Draco’s hands quickly. “I’ve got to go, Draco. See you at dinner!” she said, then ran back to the school. Draco didn’t watch her go. He was too preoccupied with a snuggly ferret in his arms.

Blaise waited for Pansy inside the school walls. When she ran in the school entrance, he looked at her expectantly. “Well?” he asked, moving his hand in a continuous motion.

The Slytherin female nodded. “He’s got Potter.”

Blaise grinned. “Good.” he said. “Draco will be so happy when he finds out he finally has Boy Wonder.” Pansy nodded. “He’s been wanting to shag that boy’s brains out since second year.”

Draco had listened to Pansy absentmindedly as he pet the ferret in his arms. She was right; he did have very soft fur. The ferret arched it’s back and snuggled it’s nose into Draco’s elbow. The blonde allowed himself a small smile at the gesture, but quickly wiped it from his face. If anyone saw him smiling genuinely, it’d ruin him.

The Slytherin quietly took the black ferret to his private Head Boy rooms. Maybe a pet wouldn’t be so bad?

-=0=-

Harry woke up on a comfy bed. He moaned and made to put on his glasses, only to find that one, he didn’t need his glasses since his vision was perfect and two, he had furry paws instead of human hands.

He jumped up excitedly, looking around the room. It hadn’t been a dream! He really dueled by Zabini and (like the arse that he is) he turned him into a…well, a something! Harry got jumped off the bed and ran to a wall where there was a full body mirror and looked up into it.

‘Bloody hell,’ Harry thought to himself. “Kek kek!” he screamed out loud, running from the mirror. Damn Blaise to hell and back -- He’d turned Harry into a ferret! “Kek-kek-kek!” Harry continued chanting, running around the room. He suddenly heard someone right outside the door and stopped chanting in mid “Kek,” then hurriedly hid under the bed.

Draco opened the door to his Head Boy room and looked around for his pet. “Ebony?” he asked. Harry sniffed with his little ferret nose. He knew that voice. “Ebony, come on out boy.” he clicked with his tongue to try to get his ferret.

Harry’s eyes widened. Not Malfoy! He could have hit his head on something. Instead of doing physical damage, he resolved to just keep hiding from Malfoy. No way would Harry make it out of this alive.

‘And what does he mean, ‘Ebony’?' Harry thought crossly. How long had he been with Malfoy? Damn blonde already named him.

The blonde sighed and walked across the room. Harry watched the Slytherin’s feet, to keep track of where he was. “Okay, don’t come out. But I brought you food.” Draco said to the hiding ferret. He placed a plate of food from dinner on the ground, then went into the bathroom.

Harry made sure Malfoy was safely in the bathroom before moving towards the food. He hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch, and he’d miss dinner if he didn’t eat now. If Malfoy did come out, though, Harry could wait. He lived with the Dursleys for ten years. Malfoy was only a little worse.

Harry looked at the food Malfoy brought for him, though. He wouldn’t skip a meal if he had a choice. Chicken, that had already been torn into small bites for him, some biscuits, and some corn. It was a good thing Malfoy brought him human food. He didn’t think he’d appreciate ferret kibble too much.

The black ferret slowly inched his way out from under the bed and sniffed the food questionably. He didn’t have his wand and couldn’t check for poison. But the hunger in Harry’s stomach over ruled any common sense he had, and Harry picked up a piece of the chicken and started nibbling on it.

Draco opened the bathroom door quietly, poking his head out to see his little ferret munching happily on a piece of chicken. The blonde smiled at him and crept towards the black animal, then swooped it and the plate up in his arms suddenly and falling on the bed with it.

“Kek-kek-kek!” Harry screamed immediately, trying to get away from the person who’d picked him up. “Kek-kek-kek-kek!”

“Shhh,” Draco soothed, petting Harry behind the ears. Harry tried to tell himself it didn’t feel good. He was completely lying and he knew it. “There, see?” Draco asked soothingly, coddling the ferret close to his face.

“Dook dook dook purr.” Harry agreed, snuggling back. His eyes widened and he stopped the cuddling immediately. This was Malfoy! But still, Harry did like this Malfoy more than the one he had faced in the past. This Malfoy almost seemed human.

Draco smiled and grabbed a biscuit, taking a bite of it then handing it to Harry. Harry sniffed it, then took it in his small paws and nibbled it happily. The blonde smiled and kissed the top of Harry’s head. “Remind me to thank Pansy for finding you,” he said softly, petting Harry’s back with his long fingers.

Harry stopped in mid nibble. “Kek-kek!” he screeched at the mention of Parkinson. He dropped his biscuit and ran in circles on Malfoy’s bed. “Kek-kek-kek-kek!” he yelled in hysteria.

Draco sat up on his knees. “What?” he asked hurriedly. He reached over and grabbed Harry while he was running. “What is it, Ebony? That bad girl scare you?” he asked mockingly, scratching Harry’s ears.

“Kek-kek,” Harry said right before, “Dook dook dook.” at Draco’s attention. Draco smiled again as Harry cuddled up into his arm. “Dook,” he said softly. He really liked this Draco.

Draco grabbed another piece of chicken and gave it to the black ferret. “Good boy,” he said fondly as Harry ate the food from his hand. He suddenly moved the plate away from he and his ferret, then grabbed Harry ‘round his middle and cuddled him close to his chest. “You’re such a pretty ferret.” Draco said into Harry’s fur.

Harry’s eyes widened and his breathing sped up. Did Malfoy just call him pretty? Harry turned his head and rubbed against Draco’s neck, making the blonde hum against his head. “Dook dook,” Harry replied before he could stop himself.

“Draco!” Pansy squealed suddenly, throwing Draco’s door open. Draco sat up in shock, cuddling Harry close to his chest to protect him.

Harry took one look at Parkinson and started yelling in fright again. “Kek-kek-kek-kekkekkekkek-kek-kek!” he exclaimed, clawing out of Draco’s embrace and hiding under a silk pillow.

Draco turned his hard silver eyes onto the Slytherin Prefect. “See what you did?” he asked accusingly. “Ebony doesn’t like you.” the blonde stated, huffing and trying to get Harry out from under the pillow. Harry would have none of it. He bit Draco’s finger softly. “Now he won’t come out. What the hell do you need, Pansy?” he asked irritably.

Parkinson swooned. “Aww, you like him!” she cooed. Draco huffed and muttered about ferrets being cute and cuddly. “I knew you’d like him, Draco.” she said, nodding with a smile.

“Yes, yes,” Draco snapped. To tell her the truth would kill him. But, maybe he could get Ebony to come out from under the pillow! “Dinner was terrible. I just wanted to come back and see him.” he said quietly, shifting his eyes to the pillow Ebony was under.

Pansy ‘awww’ed and swooned over Draco. “That’s so sweet!” she cried.

Harry couldn’t believe his ferret ears. ‘Malfoy had missed me? he asked himself in disbelief.

Draco saw the pillow twitch. He grinned and continued. “He really is cuddly, Pansy. His fur’s really soft.” he winked and looked at the pillow, trying to explain. Pansy knew he was trying to get Ebony out from under the pillow.

Harry turned and stuck his little head out from under the pillow and looked at Draco curiously. He kept his distance from Parkinson, though. “Dook?” he asked curiously.

Draco smiled and put his hand down flat on the bed for Harry. Harry smelled the hand, then nudged it with his nose. The blonde turned and got a piece of biscuit, offering it to the black ferret. Harry came out of the pillow immediately and used his small paws to stuff the biscuit crumb into his mouth happily.

The blonde grinned again and swooped Harry up in his arms. “Dook!” Harry said happily, cuddling the Slytherin.

Draco laughed and kissed his head. “Beautiful boy,” he murmured. Harry was really glad his fur was black, because he knew it’d be red from blushing otherwise.

Pansy smirked and left the room, having successfully checked on the progress of Potter and Draco.

-=0=-

Harry woke up before Draco the next morning. He stood, stretched his hind legs one at a time, then leaned back and stretched his front legs, too. He heard the blonde breathing softly beside him. Today was Wednesday, and he had classes. Classes! Harry hyperventilated roughly. He was going to miss so much!

The teachers wouldn’t even suspect anything…Dumbledore told all of his teachers he didn’t have to show for class if he didn’t want to after defeating Voldemort. He needed “breathing room,” Dumbledore had said. Harry had rolled his eyes to it, but was thankful for it now.

He took a look at the time. It was quarter ‘til eight in the morning. Classes started at nine, and Draco always showed up at breakfast. Harry climbed onto Draco’s chest and crept up to his face. He looked really angelic when he slept. In fact, when Harry thought about it, he looked angelic yesterday, too. His laughter still rang in Harry’s ferret ears. It was a beautiful sound that he’d never heard before.

Harry crawled a little closer and licked Draco’s chin softly. Draco smiled in his sleep and brought a hand up to pet Harry’s soft fur. “Dook dook!” Harry said happily, rubbing his head on Draco’s chin.

Draco laughed and opened his eyes, seeing Ebony on his chest, his ferret tail swinging happily. “Morning, Ebony.” he said first off.

“Dook dook!” Harry said back, licking Draco’s chin again.

The blonde smiled and sat up, cuddling Ebony close to his bare chest. Harry sniffed him before he knew what he was doing. Draco smelled of Vanilla Spice, an expensive cologne that Harry had seen in Diagon Alley when he was getting his school supplies. But he also smelled of pine and some brand of soap that Harry couldn’t recognize off hand.

“Dook dook dook purrr,” Harry said happily, cuddling the blonde’s hairless chest.

Draco smiled and kept Harry close as he got out of bed. He went to the wardrobe and started shifting through his robes. Harry yawned and climbed out of Draco’s arms, crawling up onto his shoulders and laying on one.

“I have to get dressed, Ebony.” the blonde said with a small laugh. Harry huffed and didn’t move from his perch. “Ebony,” he said playfully, walking over to his bed and grabbing his ferret off of his shoulder. He placed Ebony softly on his comfy bed and nodded sternly. “I have class, you silly animal.” he said and turned back to his wardrobe.

Harry looked at Draco with wide eyes, but dooked quietly and laid his head on his paws as he watched Draco get undressed. Draco's hands slipped under his sleep pants and he pulled them down, revealing smooth legs and black boxers. Harry's heart sped up and he couldn’t help dooking more, but he tried to keep it quiet. He ran and hid under a pillow again to stop himself from looking at Malfoy. Nice or not, he could not get the hots for Malfoy while he was a blasted ferret!

Draco finished his dressing by combing his hair after putting on his pants and shirt, then slipping on his robes. He turned back to the bed, where he’d left Ebony, only to find him not there. “Ebon-” he started, but immediately saw the black ferret tail sticking out from his pillow. Draco grinned and got on the bed carefully. The tail stopped swishing when the bed depressed under Draco’s weight. Draco quietly inched towards his pet and reached under the pillow, then grabbed Ebony around the waist. “Gotcha!” he exclaimed, snuggling his ferret to his face.

Harry licked Draco’s cheek. “Dook dook, dook dook!” he said, cuddling back.

The blonde smiled and lifted Ebony’s head to look at him. “Giving me kisses, my beautiful boy?” he asked with a smile.

Harry’s eyes widened. No, he was not giving Malfoy kisses! “Dook,” he said softly. Okay, maybe a cheeky kiss. He hid his head in Malfoy’s neck to hide his embarrassment.

Draco smiled and laughed. “Such a handsome ferret,” he said, cuddling Harry’s head with his neck. Harry licked Draco’s neck with his small tongue. Draco smiled. “I’ve got to go to class.” he said regrettably, placing Harry down on the bed again.

The black ferret’s eyes went wide and he stood on his haunches. “Dook?” he asked softly, placing his two small front paws on Draco’s hand. “Dook dook?” Harry asked, nudging his palm with his nose.

Draco shook his head sadly. “You can’t go, little one.” he said softly. He heard Ebony whine again. “No. Ferrets don’t go to class.” Draco walked over to the plate on his end table and put it on the bed. “Eat some food. I’ll come back after Double Potions to see you, how’s that?” he asked, scratching Ebony’s ears.

“Kek,” he muttered. Harry didn’t want to be left in a blasted room all day! He nipped Draco’s finger when he tried to pet him, then went to the silk pillow and laid under it to sulk. He was surprised to see Draco’s blue eyes full of sadness, directed at him. Harry sighed and gave in. “Dook,” he said softly, trying to appease the blonde. Draco smiled sadly and grabbed his bag, then headed out the door.

Harry huffed and curled up under the pillow again. Damn Blaise. Stupid Slytherin.

-=0=-

Draco had made it halfway to the Great Hall. He kept stopping, thinking about going back to get Ebony. Poor ferret looked really depressed about staying there all day. Truth was Draco didn’t want to leave him there, either. Pansy met him on his way to the Great Hall.

“Good morning, Draco!” she said cheerily. The blonde looked at her, then simply walked past. “Where’s Ebony?” Pansy asked, ignoring the blonde’s grumpy behavior.

“My room,” he said irritably. “I can’t take him to class, Pansy.” Draco explained before the dumb chit asked why.

Pansy raised a fine eyebrow. “Why not?” she asked instead. Draco clenched his teeth and didn’t answer. “We have Double Potions, Transfigurations, and Astronomy today.” she reminded. “Snape’s your godfather, we’re going to try to transform into Animagi with McGonagall, and we’re working on Star Charts in Astronomy. How much trouble could he get into?” Pansy stated expectantly.

It took Draco a total of two seconds to think about it. He turned and sprinted back to his room, going to get his ferret. Pansy grinned and walked into the Great Hall, sitting next to Blaise. “He’s going to get him,” she said at once. Blaise smiled humorously around his breakfast sausage.

-=0=-

“Ebony!” Draco said hurriedly as soon as he opened his door. He ran to the bed and moved the silk pillows, but he found no ferret. “Ebony, come out!” he demanded, still trying to look for the black animal.

Harry raised his head as he heard Draco calling for him. He stretched sensually in the wardrobe, before walking out of it lazily. “Kek,” Harry muttered again at the blonde. Until he saw him, anyway. Malfoy looked to be close to shitting a canary! “Dook?” Harry pondered softly, standing on his back legs and sniffing the air curiously.

Draco turned at the sound of a kek. His ferret was still mad at him! Draco scooped the animal in his arms and cuddled him close. He heard Ebony dook softly at him and he smiled. “I’m sorry, Ebony.” he said quietly, walking out of the room and shutting the door. “I’m going to take you to class. Sod everyone else.”

Harry grinned and licked Draco’s chin again. “Dook dook!” he said happily, crawling up onto Draco’s shoulder. The blonde smiled and pet Ebony’s tail as he walked to the Great Hall. He had just enough time to eat.

Now, if Draco wasn’t a Malfoy, he was sure to have been embarrassed about walking into the Great Hall full of students with a ferret on his shoulder. Being a Malfoy, though, and getting stared at regardless, he didn’t much mind and took his seat by Blaise like normal. Blaise took a double take on the ferret, pretending to be surprised.

“Nice ferret, Draco.” he said in approval.

Draco smirked, in a public place. Harry turned his head to the side and saw Blaise. “Kek kek!” he hissed, moving away from him. Damn Blaise was why he was in this mess. Blaise only smirked. Draco picked Harry up and set him in his lap.

“He doesn’t like either of you,” Draco pointed out lazily, feeding Harry sausage. Harry accepted the food quietly. “I wonder why?” he asked no one.

Blaise and Pansy shared a look. “No idea,” Blaise said eventually. “Maybe he doesn’t like our scent or something. Ferrets are picky creatures.” Draco looked up and nudged him. “Well, they are!” the Italian huffed.

“Dook,” Harry purred against Draco’s petting hands. Draco smiled at the ferret and fed him some egg. Harry ate it with his paws. “Dook dook!”

Hermione had seen the ferret. It was black and, from her view, it seemed to have green eyes. It looked a lot like Harry. Ron, the pig, didn’t even look up from shoveling food in his mouth. Hermione swore he ate like it was a dying fashion.

“Ron,” Hermione nudged him quietly. “Did you see Malfoy’s ferret?” she asked softly, leaning in towards Ron.

Ron choked on his food. “His say what?” he asked with wide eyes, looking at Hermione like she had grown two heads.

Hermione took a double take on Ron. “EW! No, no! I meant the animal, Ron!” she said, blushing profoundly. “Malfoy came into breakfast with a ferret on his shoulder.” she explained, her eyes on Malfoy again.

Ron’s gaze also snapped to the blonde. “He’s…feeding his lap, Hermione…” he said slowly.

The brunette slapped him on the back of the head. “No, his ferret’s in his lap.” Hermione stated. Ron snorted something that sounded like, “Mine too,” but Hermione paid no mind. “I think the ferret is Harry.” she said quietly so only Ron could hear.

Ron chuckled. “No way.” he snorted from laughter.

“How else do you explain it?” Hermione asked, still watching the Slytherins. “Think about it, Ron,” she ordered. Ron sighed and waited for the long-assed explanation. “Harry goes to duel Zabini; he doesn’t show up in the dorms last night; Zabini is sitting there this morning like nothing happened, and Malfoy has a new ferret!”

The redhead rolled his eyes. “You don’t know, Hermione.” he said surely. “The ferret may very well be female. Then it couldn’t be Harry.”

Hermione huffed. “It has green eyes,” she pressed with determination. “How many ferrets have black fur and green eyes?”

Ron chewed his food slowly for once. “Not many. Not even in the Wizarding World.” he admitted. “Green eyes are pretty rare. Ferrets usually have blue or brown eyes.”

Hermione nodded. “We’ll just have to keep an eye out for Malfoy.” she said. Ron nodded, not even bothering to argue. After making sure his girlfriend was lost in thought, he shoveled more food into his mouth.

-=0=-

Harry rode on Malfoy’s shoulder down to the Dungeons. He was shaking, and it wasn’t just because the dungeons were freezing, either. Snape scared him witless. Dumb greasy-haired vampire. Harry shivered at the thought. Draco picked Ebony off of his shoulder and looked at him curiously.

“You okay Ebony?” he asked the ferret.

Harry regarded the blonde lazily. “Kek.” he said softly.

The blonde raised an eyebrow. “Now, when you meet my godfather, be nice or he might not let you stay.” Draco warned his ferret. He tapped his finger on Ebony’s little nose in warning. “Nice ferret,” he reminded.

“Kek,” Harry repeated solemnly.

Draco smiled humorously and kissed the top of Harry’s head as he entered the Potion’s Classroom, flanked by Goyle and Crabbe. Snape sat at his desk, grading third year’s assignments. Draco waved a hand at a desk, making Crabbe and Goyle sit. The blonde walked confidently up to the desk and held Harry under the ferret’s arms up to his godfather.

Snape’s eyes slowly rose to see a male black-furred ferret in front of his face. He looked past the animal to the smirking face of his godson. Snape sighed and felt like hitting his head on the desk. “Can I help you, Draco?” he asked regrettably.

“Can Ebony stay in class with me, Sev?” he asked, keeping Ebony dangled in front of his godfather. “He’s completely docile. Won’t harm anything.” Draco continued. “Right, Ebony?” he asked, cuddling the ferret close to his chest.

“Dook.” Harry said unconvincingly.

Snape raised an eyebrow. “Draco, does that ferret remind you of someone?” he asked carefully.

Draco raised his own eyebrow and looked at his ferret, but didn’t get a chance to think since Pansy ran up to Snape’s desk and he felt Ebony tense. “Kek!” he hissed, jumping out of Draco’s arms and running towards the exit of the classroom.

“Ebony!” Draco called after him, shooting Pansy murderous looks.

Harry kept running, until he felt arms around his middle. Someone had picked him up. He was turned and met the red hair and freckled face of Ron. “Dook!” Harry said happily, cuddling into Ron’s neck. “Dook dook! Dook, dook.” he purred into the redhead’s neck. Ron could change him back!

“Erm…” Ron said unsurely.

“Dook.” Harry said blandly. Okay, maybe Hermione could change him back. He jumped out of Ron’s arms and found Hermione already sitting down. He rose on his haunches and placed his small front paws on her leg. “Dook?” he asked cutely, wagging his ferret tail.

Hermione smiled widely and picked up the ferret. She looked at him closely. “Harry?” she asked in a whisper.

“DOOK!” Harry answered happily.

Draco pulled Ebony from Granger’s grasp before she gave him fleas. “Don’t touch him, Granger. He doesn’t need your germs.” he sneered at the Gryffindor. Harry cuddled the Slytherin, trying to get him to calm down. He was pleased that Draco kissed his head again. Then he felt magic hit him, cleaning his fur and ridding him of any odor.

Hermione fumed. “I don’t think you’d be so keen to hug and kiss that ferret if you knew who he was!” she said through clenched teeth.

The blonde regarded her with a heated stare as she stood in front of him. “Oh yeah? Who do you think he is?” he snarled.

“Harry!” she exclaimed instantly.

Draco raised an eyebrow. “Potter?” he asked her curiously. Hermione nodded. For some reason, Harry suddenly didn’t want Draco to know he was Harry Potter. He would hate him again.

“Go ahead. Ask him if he’s Harry. He’ll dook.” Hermione said, crossing her arms. Harry’s breathing increased.

Draco lifted Harry from his under arms and stared into his green eyes. “Potter?” he asked in a whisper.

Harry stared back blankly.

“Potter?” the blonde asked louder, narrowing his eyes.

Harry cocked his head, looking at Draco curiously. His ferret tail swished once, and Harry tried to lick Draco’s chin. He pouted the best he could while he was a ferret.

Draco cuddled Ebony close immediately seeing the ferret’s sad eyes. “It’s okay, Ebony.” he said sensually. “I’m not mad at you, it’s okay.” he said, kissing the ferret’s head again.

“Dook dook purr.” Harry accepted Draco’s words and snuggled into his neck.

The blonde glared at Hermione, who was looking at Ebony in disbelief. “But…but…” Hermione stuttered. “I said Harry, and he dooked!” she said determinedly.

Draco rolled his eyes and pet Ebony’s soft fur. “Okay, sure Granger.” he said with a tsk. “Just shut your ugly mouth and go back to reading your textbook, Mudblood.” he sneered, turning and walking away from the Gryffindor. He sat down at his assigned table, next to Theodore Nott.

Harry jumped out of Draco’s arms and stood on his back legs, staring at Draco cutely. “Dook!” he said happily, running around the cauldron. He sniffed the cauldron carefully, then jumped inside it. Harry poked his little head out of the top, his small paws hanging over the edge as he looked up at Draco cutely. “Dook dook!” he said with a smile.

Draco smothered a laugh with a cough, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. He picked Ebony up out of the cauldron. “You have to be good, or Sev will make you go back to my room,” Draco mumbled into Harry’s fur as Harry cuddled Draco’s neck.

“Sir,” Hermione said suddenly, her hand in the air, “I don’t believe Malfoy is allowed to have a ferret in the school grounds,” she said strictly.

The blonde sneered at her. Harry hissed as well, shocking himself. Hermione was his friend. But if Malfoy couldn’t keep him, he’d be sent away! He was a male…he’d get sent to Hagrid, and Hagrid would snap his neck. “Kek kek!” Harry hissed, the fur on the back of his neck standing on end.

Draco pet him, trying to calm him down. “Have you read the rules lately, Granger?” he hissed fitfully. “Pets do now include docile ferrets, as well as small dogs and snakes.” Draco corrected with narrow eyes. “But it seems someone still has a large kneazle as a pet here. They’re not technically allowed.” he countered.

Hermione’s jaw dropped suddenly. “But -”

“Ten points from Gryffindor, Ms. Granger.” Snape said coolly. “Mr. Malfoy has, clearly, read the rules. You shame your house. How you made Head Girl is unclear to me.” he snapped. Hermione shut her mouth and looked away. “And Mr. Malfoy does have a point about your kneazle. I will be checking in on that.”

The Head Girl huffed and crossed her arms. “He’s only complaining because Crookshanks could eat his ferret,” Ron muttered in her ear. Hermione nodded irritably.

“Another ten points for talking during class, Weasley.” Snape said, his back to the students as he wrote directions on the board. Ron’s face matched his hair. Draco snickered quietly in his seat.

“Dook dook,” Harry said into Draco’s neck. He liked hearing the blonde laugh.

Ron and Hermione shot him dirty looks. He only sniffed and burrowed deeper into Draco’s chest protectively. Draco’s arm wrapped around his slim body and he kissed his head. Harry smiled.

“We’ll be brewing quite a simple potion,” Snape began suddenly, startling many. Harry included. “The Beautifying Potion takes proper delicacy and care, which many of you are seriously lacking.” he said, mostly to the Gryffindor side of the room. Ron and Hermione shot him glares of their own. “You have fifty minutes. Get to work.”

Draco stood to gather his ingredients. Harry climbed onto his shoulder to free up his hands, and snuggled into his neck. He felt Draco turn his head and cuddle his head softly. As Draco gathered the requested ingredients, Hermione and Ron walked into the Potion’s cupboard.

“Better make more than requested, Granger.” Draco sneered at the bushy-haired girl. “It’s going to take a lot to help you any.”

The Slytherins nearby snickered and stared cruelly at Hermione. Harry laid on Draco’s shoulder unflinchingly, staying out of it. He was technically Draco’s pet, and therefore should back Malfoy up, but Hermione and Ron were his friends. It was a difficult choice for some reason, and he decided not to interfere.

“Funny, coming from you.” Hermione said snootily. “Not much prettier than a monkey’s backside. Whoops, sorry Parkinson.” she put a hand over her mouth in fake emotion and shoved past the Slytherins. Ron coughed and took his seat again.

Harry lifted his head. Now, that went a little too far. Malfoy looked a hell of a lot better than a monkey’s backside. Harry jumped off of Malfoy’s shoulders and ran towards Hermione. “Kek!” he said, staring at her.

Hermione turned around and kneeled down. “You’re Harry, aren’t you?” she narrowed her eyes.

Harry wagged his tail, knowing no one could see or hear him right now. “Dook!” he said smiling.

Hermione huffed. “Harry, why won’t you tell anyone?” she whispered. “You like staying with Malfoy?” the brunette asked disbelievingly.

The ferret wagged his tail again. “Dook dook purr.” he responded happily. He ran back to Malfoy, standing on his back paws cutely and resting his two front paws on Draco’s clothed leg. “Dook?” he asked sweetly, cocking his head slightly to the side.

Draco gave a small smile and picked Harry up, holding him close to his chest. Harry burrowed his face in Malfoy’s elbow. “Beautiful boy,” Draco whispered so only Harry could hear him. Harry dooked in reply. Draco took his ingredients back to his table and set them down, letting Harry sit between he and Theodore’s cauldron on the desk.

Harry sat there, sometimes standing up and peering into the cauldron as Draco added ingredients or stirred the simmering liquid. Draco pet him behind the ears occasionally, too.

Pansy and Blaise sat near each other, keeping an eye on Draco and Potter. “Getting along well,” Blaise said as he added the chopped roots to his cauldron. Pansy nodded absently. “I wonder when we should tell him it’s Potter.” he continued. “Almost found out today. Damn Snape can’t keep his mouth shut. I only wonder why Potter acted oblivious when Draco asked him if it was him.”

The raven-haired girl shrugged. “Maybe Draco liking Potter wasn’t as crazy as he thought,” she said. Blaise stirred his cauldron, looking at her curiously. “Well, what if Potter liked Draco too?” Pansy asked. “Then he might think Draco would hate him if he found out.”

“So,” Blaise picked up again, now looking back over to Draco and Harry. Draco had picked the ferret up off the table and kissed him on the head again. “All we need to do is tell Potter Draco would love it if he was him again.”

Pansy smirked, adding a crocodile scale to her Beautifying Potion. “Exactly.”

Blaise sighed, slumping his shoulders. “It’d be easier if Potter would stay still in front of us. Not too happy about putting him in the position.” he reminded the female Slytherin Prefect.

Pansy shrugged, stirring counter-clockwise. “Maybe he’ll be feeling better later. He sure seems to enjoy Draco’s affection.” she noted.

Harry smiled at Draco and licked his chin again. “Dook dook!” he said happily, snuggling Draco’s neck again. Draco cuddled back.

Hermione and Ron also kept an eye on Draco and Harry. Hermione explained what had happened to Ron. “He likes it,” she had said sourly. “He likes being with Malfoy.”

The redhead didn’t want to believe it. Why the hell would Harry want to be with Malfoy? But one thing was for certain, the ferret did like Malfoy. And Hermione swore the ferret was Harry. Ron narrowed his eyes in thought. But Potion’s Class ended soon enough. Snape declared Draco’s, Pansy’s and Blaise’s potion perfect from the Slytherin’s side. Hermione’s was as well. She had been the only Gryffindor to do it perfectly.

Harry yawned and was near asleep on Draco’s shoulder when the blonde stood from his desk. “Kek!” Harry yelled in fright, nearly falling off.

Draco’s hands caught him around his middle. “Shh, you’re fine.” he soothed, cuddling Harry’s head.

“Dook dook purr.” Harry responded. Hermione and Ron watched them interact.

“You know,” Ron said suddenly. Hermione looked at him curiously as they made their way to Gryffindor Tower. “If that is Harry, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stand touching him after this.” he said, scrunching his nose in distaste.

Hermione blew air out of her nose and shook her head, agreeing completely with her boyfriend.

-=0=-

There was a short break between Double Potions and Transfigurations, when Draco took Harry outside to the lake. Harry sniffed around the lake and trees, curious to why he could smell things he’d never smelt before. It was a new experience that he thought of taking full advantage of.

Draco watched Ebony sniff around the lake and trees. He smiled to him and sat down in front of the lake, still keeping one eye on his ferret. He didn’t know if Ebony would try to run away. That would be terrible. As much as Draco didn’t want to admit it, he’d become attached to the little guy fast. His father was still in Azkaban, and his mother loved animals. He felt no sort of guilt or secrecy by taking Ebony home with him when school ended.

Harry had found a tree and it smelled just so, that Harry lifted his leg and peed on it. After he’d emptied himself, he rose on his haunches and sniffed the air. He saw Malfoy sitting by the lake, seeming to be lost in thought. The black ferret grinned sneakily and went on all fours, then crept silently behind the blonde. He was merely a foot away before he wagged his small tail and made to pounce.

“Don’t even think about it,” Malfoy said, still facing out towards the lake. On his face was a humorous smile, not that Harry could see that.

The black ferret stood up on his back feet and whined. “Dook?” he murmured worriedly. What had he done to anger Malfoy? What if Malfoy got rid of him? The thought scared Harry more than he thought it should, but he really couldn’t careless. He didn’t want to leave Malfoy! “Dook dook?” Harry whispered, his little ferret eyes watering.

Draco raised an eyebrow and turned around, only to meet a scene that nearly broke his heart. His little ferret was crying, standing up on his haunches and looking at him with the biggest, sadist eyes. “Ebony?” he whispered to the ferret. Ebony sniffed his little nose as his eyes began leaking tears down his black fur. “Ebony,” he said again, gathering the small ferret in his arms. The animal was shaking and still crying. Draco wiped his own eyes before he started crying, too. “What’s the matter, my beautiful boy?” he whispered sadly, stroking the soft fur.

“Dook?” Harry murmured against Draco’s neck. “Dook, dook?” he asked, licking Draco’s neck with his small tongue again. ‘Please don’t leave me, Malfoy,’ Harry thought sadly, cuddling deeper into the crook of Malfoy’s shoulder.

He was relieved when Draco’s arms wrapped around his small body gently. Draco’s body gave a great shudder and Harry felt a wetness against his back. “I’m sorry,” he heard Draco murmur. “I’m not mad at you, Ebony.” he said softly, wiping his eyes again. He’d seen so many horrors in his life, and he’d never cried before. A ferret comes and looks at him sadly and he starts bawling. Draco found it oddly amusing.

“Dook,” Harry assured softly. He pushed his body up and licked Malfoy’s cheek a few times. “Dook.” he said again, rubbing the blonde’s smooth face with his furry head.

Draco smiled slightly and kissed Ebony’s snuggling head. “My beautiful boy,” he whispered, hugging the small ferret tightly. Harry sighed and snuggled the blonde. Hermione and Ron would kill him if they knew. Harry’s eyes widened.

They did know.

And for some reason, Harry didn’t care. He was, actually, happier now than he was in a long time. While he loved Ron and Hermione, they didn’t show him affection like Malfoy was. Maybe that was what he’d been missing for this entire time.

Maybe he was missing Malfoy.

-=0=-

I hope you liked this installment. The sequal will be up soon! As well as an update to all of my stories. :D Leave a review please!

Slashy Snitch