Howl into the Night

Published: 2/8/2025

Artwork by: leilazayde

Trigger warning: discussion of past assault, small flashbacks, degraduation

Draco awoke and noticed, for the first time, that Potter had remained in their bed. Probably because Draco was practically laying on him. He waited for the embarrassment to ooze in but it didn't. He was enjoying this. He liked being close to Potter and could barely believe he had offered it. Draco had quickly fallen asleep and probably would have slept longer, but he was starting to feel his insides shifting... preparing. The itchiness had begun. His skin was loose on him.

Tonight was it... the full moon... and he didn't want to face the horrors of forced transformation, again. He remembered the fake Mad Eye's punishment. He remembered being forced into a smaller body, trapped, scared, and vulnerable. It was one of the most traumatic moments in his life, and it was going to happen, again, except worse. He was going to lose his mind, too. He wouldn't have any control over what he is.

"Draco?" Harry asked.

He didn't answer him.

"You're whimpering. Are you okay?" he asked.

Draco stopped. He hated being a werewolf with his emotional state on display. The wolves he had met never acted like him. Scared and whining like a beaten dog whenever stressed. Maybe that's what he was. He tried not to think of that night and what Greyback said. He tried to not think about anything that he had barked at him during the week they were together. It wasn't true... he wasn't... it couldn't be true. He tried to stop his thoughts and memories but it wasn't working. Whispers seeped in.

"Beg me, Omega. Beg me for it...."

"I can't wait to see you, big and swollen for me...."

He was losing his grip, but then Harry's hand caressed his bite mark. He whimpered again, melting under his touch as the memories faded away. He couldn't stop whining, though it was degraded. His wolf was crying and he looked up to find reassurance in his master's face. No... not his master... he wasn't his master, but what was he? His protector. He rubbed his face against his chest, trying to get as much of his scent as he could. Why?

"How are you doing, Draco?" Potter asked.

Draco turned his head to look at him but didn't answer. Not when his hand was still on him. Draco cuddled closer to Potter, wrapping his arms and legs around him. It felt so good to be next to him, to clutch him tightly. Potter sighed and continued rubbing his neck until Draco fell back asleep. He woke back up near noon when Potter moved.

"Sorry... I need the loo," he muttered, and seemed to have put it off as long as he could.

"Right... thanks," Draco said, as Potter hurried out the door.

Draco sat up and put his feet on the floor on Potter's side of the bed. His legs bounced anxiously as he scratched his arm, unable to stop himself. When Harry came back, he gave him a sad look and came over, kneeling in front of him on the floor. He took his hand.

"Hey, breathe. Calm down," he said.

Potter had to look up to look into his eyes. The position was so non-threatening, and Draco felt even more at ease.

"We knew this was coming, and I know you're scared right now. I'm going to be here all day with you, okay? So take some deep breaths."

Draco tried, but the fear wouldn't completely go away. He got his breathing under control and followed Potter down to the kitchen for a brunch. Moonlight was in seven hours. Potter made him eat everything, even though the food had no taste. Afterward, he tried to ask him what he wanted for dinner and even suggested bringing food overnight.

"You are not going to feed me like a bloody dog!" he snapped and then started crying. Maybe he would be hungry, but the indignity of Potter serving him kibble in a dog bowl was....

Flash. Draco's vision nearly went out as he was sucked into his memory. Greyback was making him beg for food... beg like a trained mutt in front of the others. Then he dropped the bowl of raw innards in front of him. Eat it, the Alpha ordered. He had to obey. He lowered his head into the bowl as the wolves howled with laughter.

"Draco!" Harry shouted, and Draco felt his hand on the back of his neck.

He was on the floor with no memory of how he got there, as he had been sitting at the table. Harry was still rubbing his back, trying to redirect the bad memories. He stopped when Draco looked up at him.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked.

Draco just nodded, having no other answer to give. Harry helped him up, and they went into the den and sat on the couch. Harry pulled him into his arms, again, and hugged him. Draco cried into his chest for a few minutes.

"T-They... He... made me... eat..." he couldn't finish it. He wanted to talk to Harry, but he also didn't. He cried more because he couldn't get the words out.

"The food?" Harry guessed. "They made you eat like... like a dog?"

Draco nodded. "I had... I had to obey... the wolf in me... it made me."

Harry rubbed his back, and he breathed more easily. "Draco... this bite mark... it makes you do things... it takes away your will a bit. That's why he could make you... do things."

Draco grimaced.

"I never want to do that to you, Draco. I won't use this to control you, okay?"

He looked up into Harry's eyes. "I know you won't," he murmured, fully believing those words. Draco put his head back and rubbed his face against Harry's chest before he could stop himself. Holy Merlin, he had no control right now.

"Sorry... it's... your smell...."

"It's okay, Draco. I have figured that out already. I'm fine with it... if it helps you."

"It does... it really does. Thank you... especially for last night."

"It was easy," Potter said, quietly. "You kinda anchored me, too. I haven't had any nightmares the past few nights."

"You... you don't think it's weird?" Draco asked, embarrassed.

"No, I don't think it is weird," Harry said, laughing a bit. "It... kinda feels nice."

"Nice?" Draco asked, hesitantly.

"I've never really had much of... well... anything... in my life."

Draco leaned back to look at him, unsure of what he meant.

Harry shrugged. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it awkward. I never really got any kind of affection before Hogwarts. No one held my hand when I was sad... or hugged me to comfort me when I was upset. Sure, I got some from the Weasleys and Hermione... but... that's it," Harry finished, looking more open than Draco had ever seen.

Draco's heart ached at his pain and frowned, knowing that Harry had never been taken care of before.

Harry mistook his expression. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything... sexual about it."

Draco shook his head. "No... I understood you. Besides... I can smell your every feeling."

Harry snorted. "Right. What am I feeling now?"

"Curious."

"Well, that is obvious," Harry chuckled.

"Sad... hurt... vulnerable..." Draco added, and leaned in to hug him, again. Harry's emotions and smell changed immediately. He turned his nose into his neck to sniff deeply "...happy... content... hopeful...."

He could feel Harry's heart beat faster at his words. He didn't dare look back up at him. Draco wasn't sure what Harry was hopeful about, but Harry's strong emotions kept him present. Under all of Harry's smells and emotions was the overwhelming drive to protect his own. Draco always knew that. It was the first thing he smelled that day Harry came to rescue him. He gripped him harder as though Harry could possibly save him from tonight.

Harry didn't say anything, he just kept holding him and rubbing his neck ever so gently. Draco could only relax under his ministrations. He didn't let the fear take in and even napped for a bit. Hours passed before Harry finally took his hands off him. Draco noticed immediately and whined briefly.

"We need to eat before... we go. It's important. I also got a pain potion. It won't help much... but a little."

Draco sniffled quietly. "I-I don't want... Harry... please...."

Harry hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, Draco. I can't stop this, but we will get through this. I'll be right there with you. I promise, but food is important. You need to eat."

Draco silently got up and went to the kitchen. He didn't pay attention to what Harry was making or even what it tasted like. He followed Harry's instructions to eat. He could feel his body changing... preparing....

"Do you want to change?"

Draco shook his head. He couldn't move. Fear was gripping him. Harry made him drink a pain potion, though he smelled it first. Harry guided him to the front door, grabbing a pack, and Draco had to look into his eyes for reassurance before he stepped out. Potter patted his shoulder supportively.

"It's going to rough... the smells are still there. I tried to cover them, but you seem to be able to smell through them. It was the best I can do."

Draco nodded.

"Take my hand. I won't let go," he assured him, and Draco took his hand.

Harry pulled him into his Apparation, and he landed roughly. The scent of the woods overpowered everything and he locked down. He was thankful that Harry had taken him outside, yesterday, because he probably would have been on the ground. He could smell the werewolves, too. He screwed his eyes shut, fighting the memories of the camp... of that night... of all the nights... of Greyback dragged him out for the others to have.

Draco's knees gave out anyway, and he collapsed to the ground before Harry could catch him. Harry rushed to Draco's side and pulled him into his chest. He rubbed his neck, and Draco's eyes popped open. He couldn't break free of the memories.

"I'm sorry, Draco. Maybe it'll be better inside. I didn't want to risk trying to Apparate through the wards," Harry said, and then lifted him off the ground, groaning from the effort. "Well, at least you're gaining your weight back."

Draco was too shaken to be ashamed that Potter was carrying him bridal style, and that remark about his weight, though he didn't mean it as an insult. Potter must have carried him when he found him... at the camp. Potter was carrying him toward an old log cabin that looked abandoned. He mumbled a spell under his breath and the door opened. Potter didn't even use a wand. He closed the door with his foot, still carrying him in his arms.

Draco calmed down as the scents diminished, but he could still smell Lupin. It was the same scent that Harry had on him yesterday. Harry sat them down on the floor, and then kept massaging his mark and whispering reassurances. After several more minutes, Draco started breathing easier and accepting his environment.

"You doing okay?" Harry asked, stopping his petting.

Draco rarely spoke when Potter's hands were on him. His eyes focused on his face. "Not really." He sat up and assessed his surroundings. He shivered when he saw the cage, a 10 by 10 metal cell. There was nothing glamorous about the rest of the cabin either: a table and chairs, no food, supplies or running water. It didn't have a lot of light. There were lanterns, but Harry hadn't lit them yet.

"It's just a safe house. I put as many wards as possible, and I'll put more up now that we are here. I already reinforced the cage and put Cushioning Charms on the floor... for when you change. I'll be here the whole time... I promise," Harry vowed, his voice in his ear.

Harry would always take care of him. He wouldn't leave him in there. The cell was for Harry's safety... not to hold and trap him. He blinked tears away and subconsciously rubbed his wrists. He didn't want to be trapped, but he knew he was one of the monsters, now. He looked up into Harry's eyes, and some part of him... the wolf part... wanted him to shift too. He had read that... werewolves desire to spread their...disease. He couldn't do that to Harry. Curse him like he was cursed. He couldn't.

Draco slowly got to his feet and Harry did, too, holding out his hands like he was going to collapse, again. Draco glared and growled, "I'm fine." It had a bit of a wolf tone.

Harry dropped his arms. "Sorry, I'm just making sure."

Draco slowly walked into the cage and Harry followed him. His bones were starting to ache, his teeth hurt and his skin was burning.

"It's going to be in the next half-hour to hour... I mean... according to Hermione's predictions. I daresay we will know when it's about to happen," Harry said, softly. "I'll stay with you until then."

"You can't be in here," Draco cried, suddenly overwhelmed. "I can't... I won't hurt you."

"I won't be. Don't worry."

"I could thrash and claw you. Werewolf claws scars don't heal, remember?" Draco said, pointing at his face.

His arms and legs also had claw marks, but they were covered, now. He looked down at his clothes. Wolves don't shift with their clothes on. He didn't want to be naked again, even in front of Harry, but nudity was pack life... at least his pack life. Greyback never let him put anything back on the whole time he was there. The Omega was for the pack.

Guilt flooded the air. "I... I wasn't going to mention it... but... Remus said it was a bad idea... to leave them on. He said that you will eat it off and then... it's in your stomach," Harry said, awkwardly.

Draco nodded. Harry had seen him almost daily without his shirt on and a few times with just his pants on. But he trusted Harry. He slowly took off his shirt, shoes and trousers. Potter diligently accepted each item and took them to the table. Draco was shaking and tears were coming out. He didn't want to take off his last layer. He was scared.

Harry came closer but didn't touch him. "Hey... I brought a blanket... my blanket... so you can wrap yourself. When you change, I'll just Summon it to me. But it'll keep you covered until then, and it has my scent on it."

Draco looked at him as Harry pulled a throw blanket out of his pack. His eyes watered, his lips trembled, and he whispered, "Thank you...."

Harry nodded and held up the blanket in front of him, blocking his view of Draco's body. Draco slowly took off his boxers and accepted the blanket, covering himself. He could smell Harry immediately and whimpered appreciatively.

"Right... do you want another pain potion?" Harry asked.

Draco shook his head. He looked toward the window and the light was fading fast. He tried not to remember the fading rays of sunlight before Greyback and the others changed. His bones were almost turning in place... getting ready to shift.

"Get out... I don't know when... but it's getting closer," he said.

Harry looked like he wanted to protest and maybe offer a hug, but Draco shook his head. His senses were going crazy. His vision and hearing were clearer. He could hear Harry's heart beating faster and see the beads of sweat on his temple. He was worried.

"I don't want to hurt you. Please...."

Harry turned and walked out the cell door, taking his boxers and setting them on the table. He pulled the door shut and locked it with muggle locks. Then he pulled out his wand, hiding it from view as he cast more wards and locking charms on the building, walls and door. He looked out the window and nodded.

"It's almost dark," Harry said.

Pain flared across Draco's body, and he dropped to the floor. Thankfully, the fall didn't hurt. Potter's Cushioning Charm was very effective.

"Draco?" Harry yelled, coming to the bars.

"Bloody hell..." he swore, cringing into the fetal position.

"Draco... I'm right here... focus on my voice... smell the blanket."

Draco did, though the pain was still burning him. The healer said that the pain would start about an hour before... but it had been dulled by the Pain Potion. He still felt it.

"What do you want to talk about? My greatest debacles? My sad trail of broken-hearted exs?" Harry offered.

Draco laughed. "Cho? The Weaselette? No, thanks."

"You probably didn't hear the most embarrassing bits."

Draco scoffed. "Shows what you know. You and Cho met at Madam Puddifoot's of all places. And you kissed Weasley's sister in front of your house after she won the cup for you."

"I wasn't aware that made it through the gossip wheel."

"Please. Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs gossip to no end. Slytherins collect and disseminate it."

"That's a little stereotypical."

"I am stereotypical," he scoffed, rolling onto his back and staring at the soft ceiling.

Potter smirked. "Are you, really?"

Draco snorted. "Had to uphold the family honor and all." He blinked some tears away. He didn't have that anymore. His father was going to disown or disinherit him once he begot a new, worthy heir. He said as much before he tortured him for hours as Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters watched.

"Potter... you haven't mentioned my father," he murmured.

"I didn't want to bring it up. I... figured he had hurt you...."

"Is he in Azkaban?"

Harry sighed. "No... he's gone, Draco."

Draco turned his head to look at him and confirm it was true. "He is?"

"Yes. Do you want to know... how?"

Harry would only ask that if he knew it might hurt him. "How?"

"Your mum... she... killed him and then Greyback. She also helped kill Bellatrix, too. I assumed that they hurt you."

Draco nodded. "They did. Do you know... if my father disowned me? He said he was, but he might not have started the paperwork."

"I haven't heard of anything. I can ask, but everything is still seized. He... really was going to... disown you?" Potter asked, hesitant.

Draco trembled from another jolt of pain and nodded. "I was already a failure in his eyes when the Dark Lord decided my punishment... it was the last straw. I wasn't meant to... come back."

"I'm sorry, Draco. I really am. He was... a monster. All of them were."

Tears rolled down his cheek. "I'm a monster, now."

"No, you are not," Harry snapped. "Being a werewolf doesn't make you one of them. Not all werewolves are evil."

"Really? The wolf in me already thought about biting you."

"It's... nature, Draco. You're not evil for wanting things... food, shelter, comfort... company. But you actively made sure that I was safe and made me leave. Evil people don't do that... don't hurt people. You are a good... moral person."

"You don't know that. After everything I did to you and your friends?"

"Words and actions, Draco. You said some messed up things... but your actions show what you truly are. You wouldn't kill Dumbledore. You wouldn't turn me in. You wouldn't kill, even knowing the cost. And remember... we were kids when most of the shit happened. You still think like you did before the war?"

"No," Draco cried. "I was such a stupid... idiot."

"Ignorant... and arrogant... but you're not anymore. You learned what evil is, and you didn't accept it."

Draco was quiet for a while, as the pain racked through his body, again and again. Suddenly, it felt like his shoulder went out of place and then back in, and he screamed in pain.

"Draco?"

He cuddled under the blanket and tried to fight through the pain. Harry was talking to him, but he could feel something was wrong. Like something was stopping the proper movements and his brand was getting hotter. He tried to fight the memories, but Greyback's words were boring into him.

"Wouldn't want it to get infected. This will stop you from transforming. A little trick few wolves know, but it has to be done beforehand."

Draco tried not to think of the contraption that Greyback had shown him either for the full moon. The thick board with head and hand holes looked straight out of the medieval muggle torture period. It was for keeping him in line and defenseless when he turned. Ropes and chains might not hold, Greyback explained as he tested if the size was set right. He measured it for his human head... not a wolf's. It chaffed for the hour it was on and hurt when Greyback thrusted into him with it on.

Draco realized that Greyback wanted to be able to mount him every full moon, and he could smell the blood on the boards, so Greyback... or rather Fenrir... had used it on another wolf. He was well experienced in... sexually abusing people. He was whimpering, again, and trying to stay out of the memories.

"Draco! Draco! Answer me or I'll come in there!" Harry yelled.

Draco opened his eyes and looked at him. "Harry?"

"Draco... just look at me... get out of your head."

He shook his head. The truth... he needed to tell him. He knew what was going to happen... or not... or he didn't. Greyback knew. He liked taunting him about it, but not telling him anything.

"Draco... please smell the blanket... focus on me! You keep fading out."

Draco curled back into the fetal position as another spasm of pain flared up. His brand was getting hotter. He was facing Harry and did smell him. It was home... protection... safety.

"There you go... in and out... just stay with me...."

Draco sobbed. "Harry... it burns."

"I'm sorry... it will probably be a few more minutes... and then the pain will be gone," Harry promised.

"No... no, it won't," he said.

"I know you're scared...."

Draco shook his head, and cried out as his knees popped in and back out. "Fucking hell!"

"Sorry... I'm so sorry...."

He locked his eyes with Harry. He had to tell him. He would be freaking out if... it didn't work. "G-Greyback...."

"Draco, don't think of him right now, okay?" Harry said, trying to be supportive.

"Listen... please," he pleaded, looking at him through the bars.

"I'm listening," Harry said, staring at him, patiently.

"He... that night... the full moon... he said... that the..." he trailed off and pointed to the mark on his shoulder.

"The brand?" Harry filled in.

He nodded, through the tears. "He... said... that... it would keep me... from transforming."

Harry blinked. "What?"

"I-I don't know what he meant, but he said that it had to be on... before I was... turned."

"I... I don't think... I've never heard of that, but Draco... you're shifting right now. You're not... not changing."

"I don't know, but it feels like it's on fire right now... and my body is... like... being forced back into... place," he grunted through the pain.

"We can look into it... tomorrow," Harry said. "Let's get through this."

"I'm sorry I d-didn't tell you," he mumbled, as the pain amplified, both across his body and the brand.

"It's okay... I know it had to be painful for you," Harry said, sympathetically.

Draco gave a crying laugh. "That was the least painful thing that happened that night."

Harry stayed quiet, though, obviously sensing that it was a sore subject.

"Fuck," Draco swore and trembled. The moon was nearly there. He looked at Harry and wanted him to know. "He came and got me the night of the full moon. I was already broken... weak from my father and others. Over a week or two in the dungeon... I couldn't walk then...."

"Draco... you don't have to...."

"I'm never going to say this to you back home. This is a cage... this is in the woods," he rambled. He knew his reason was compromised, his senses were going hayware... and his nails and hair were growing. He could feel them. Maybe he was going to shift despite Greyback's words.

"Okay... I'm here for you," Harry whispered.

"He stripped me and branded me. Said it was payback for purebloods killing wolves... said my blood was... special... because I was a pureblood... and... a-a v-virgin. He... He gave me a potion... Harry. I don't know what it did... I don't know! He... wouldn't-didn't tell me. He didn't... but he said things... my body felt so weird... after... I don't know... I don't know... Harry," Draco stammered on, through tears.

"Shh... it's okay... we'll figure it out, okay?" Harry tried to reassure him.

Draco sobbed, not even caring that pain was hurting him. "I don't know," he repeated.

"Calm down... breathe... you're here. He's gone."

Tears clouded his sight, and he furiously wiped them away. "He... staked me out, on my stomach... so the wolf could... have me," he admitted, as he scratched at his wrists. He couldn't look at Harry. He knew he was damaged, spoiled goods, but to know that an animal had taken him... was too much.

"I'm so sorry, Draco. I wish I could come in there and hold you."

Self-hatred flowed through him. "No... I'm... so fucked up...."

"You're not."

"I need you for everything! I... I don't think that I can... get through this... without you," he confessed.

"You don't have to, Draco. I'm right here, and I'm not leaving tonight, tomorrow or next month."

"And what about after next month? I'm fucked up. Wolves don't act like this."

"I... I don't care. You can stay with me forever, Draco. We'll figure it out."

"You don't need a crazy, possessive werewolf in your house."

"You're not crazy."

"I needed your scent to get through this. None of the other werewolves needed a security blanket with them!" Draco snapped, as he rolled onto his stomach. Bracing his back upward in pain.

"None of them were freshly-made werewolves. Maybe it's because you're new... or maybe it is the potion... I can ask... him... if you want?" Harry said, carefully, though it had the same effect, anyway.

Draco growled a very real werewolf growl, and his eyes flashed to Harry. "Lupin. Don't test my restraint tonight! I do not like another werewolf smell on you!"

Harry blinked, surprised, but then smirked slightly and smelled amused. "Sorry?"

Draco shook his head, getting the jealousy out. "See? Where the fuck did that come from?" His eyes were getting darker, and he looked away, embarrassed. "Thank you... for staying... Harry..." he managed to say before he dropped to the floor and let out a human scream.

Draco started convulsing and thrashing. His limbs twisted back and forth, painfully. He felt his teeth and nails growing longer. He turned on his hands and knees, as his back hunched upward and cracked painfully, one vertebrae at a time upward from his hips to his neck. He whimpered and screamed in pain. His fingers were trying to shrink in and his knees wanted to bend backward, but something was stopping it.

Draco could feel that something wasn't right, like something was forcing his bones back into position. Like something was restricting his body from growing. His shoulder burned, as it pulsated in pain. The last conscious thought he had was seeing a slight sheen of white hair coming out of his skin.

The sun had set and the moon had risen.

Note that the chapter sizes vary.