Harry nodded and steadied himself. "Okay."
                              
He walked outside and walked toward Draco.
                              
***
                              
Shadow spotted Harry first and bound across the yard, jumping into Potter's open arms, wiggling excitedly. Gus ran halfway, turned back around, jumped on his leg before heading back to Potter, and then stopping and turning to look at him, just like he had done to get him to go outside. Draco smiled and walked over to Potter, who was kissing Shadow and baby-talking him. Gus ran back to him and hopped up on his back legs, encouraging Draco to pick him up, too.
                              
Draco obliged, taking him up to his chest and letting Gus lick him more. He had gotten used to dog kisses. Potter came over to him, smiling.
                              
"Draco," he said, his eyes on him and only him.
                              
Draco swallowed and said, "Hey, Harry. I... wanted to... thank you... for all your help. It was something I could do."
                              
"The kitchen looks wonderful, Draco. Beautiful, actually. It doesn't even feel like the same kitchen. Thank you," he said.
                              
"You're welcome. I didn't change your garden, just... pruned it a bit."
                              
"It's perfect, too. You didn't have to do all this."
                              
"No, but I wanted to. It's important to you, and you're working so much and helping me."
                              
"You are more important to me than my garden, Draco."
                              
Draco blushed and didn't know what to say to that.
                              
"Shadow is very happy. Thank you for playing with him."
                              
I can't tell you the emotions I feel from him."
                              
"Feel?"
                              
"Yeah, you can feel your bond with your familiar. It took me a while. You sometimes don't need words to communicate with them, but it takes a bit. They will understand you too."
                              
"Yeah, I asked them to get their toys out of the kitchen, and they did."
                              
Harry laughed. "What good puppies!" Shadow licked him as he squirmed in his arms, and Harry set him back down on the ground. Draco let Gus down, too, and the krups started to play and tussled with each other.
                              
"Shadow's been with me all day. I assumed you told him to watch me."
                              
"I didn't, but I'm sure that he knows that I worry about you. They can feel our emotions, too."
                              
Draco nodded and looked uncertainly at the krups.
                              
"Let me show you," Harry said and sat down unceremoniously on the ground. Draco followed, crossing his legs under him. "Come here, boys!" And the krups came to their laps. "Good boys. So, Draco, I'm assuming you've felt the bond, at least Gus's love for you? Can you feel it now?"
                              
Draco looked at Gus, who turned to stare at him as though knowing what he was doing. He nodded.
                              
"You can find that connection no matter where you are. You can call your familiar and talk to him. Tell him to go bring you something."
                              
Gus tilted his head, and Draco focused and asked him to get his squeaker toy. He quickly ran over, grabbed it and came back. "Good boy!"
                              
"See? And they pick up on other things, like when you are sad, scared and upset without words."
                              
Draco nodded, remembering last night when both pups were with him on the couch.
                              
"Now, try to ask Shadow to get something," Potter commanded.
                              
Draco grimaced, confused, but Shadow listened, got a loose stick in the grass, and returned. Harry smiled and rubbed his krup.
                              
"Harry? Why did he listen to me? He's... your companion."