Howl into the Night

Published: Feb. 12, 2025

Harry watched in half-horror and half-amazement at Draco's quasi-transformation. Draco hadn't lied. He hadn't really transformed. He wasn't a wolf. He was mostly human, and the only changes were a slight hair growth over his body, new razor-sharp claws and pronounced canines. The scar on his shoulder was almost red in color, as though it alone was preventing the change. It must be.

Draco was no longer screaming or howling in pain. He was whimpering, a very dog-like whimper, and still on the floor. Harry hadn't Summoned the blanket yet. The slight hair growth would not cover anything, but he knew he had to. He couldn't let Draco eat it. he pulled out his wand and quietly performed the charm. The blanket came right to him, slipping past the bars.

Draco reared up and snarled at the sudden moment, scanning the room for threats. His eyes were a vibrant silver that shot back and forth across the room. Draco was crouched on his feet and hands like a dog. His expression was frightened like his heckles were raised. His back was arched upward slightly, defensive. His nose was sniffing like crazy, and after a few minutes, Draco decided he wasn't a threat. He still eyed him and paced back and forth in the cage without getting closer.

Harry slowly sat in the chair and tried not to stare at Draco. He was naked and everything was showing. It felt wrong to look without Draco's permission, though Draco had a great body. Eventually, Draco the wolf smelled every part of the cage, evidently reassuring himself that he was alone. He scratched at some rust-colored spots and even marked the back wall. Harry tried not to laugh. Draco wasn't himself... he was a wolf.

The wolf came to the front of the cage and sat down. He was looking right at Harry and whined softly, putting his long-clawed hand on the bar crossbeam. There was no hostility in his expression. Harry had to stay where he was. Remus warned him not to get close. Draco was still a werewolf. Remus said that the wolf wanted a have a pack... wanted to infect him. He couldn't test Draco the wolf's restraint.

However, Draco wasn't accepting that. The whining grew louder... and more insistent. He paced, lunged at the bars, and tried to get through to him. Draco's claws were carving out lines in the metal bars. Harry was unable to relax or ignore it. The whines were like cries of pain and desperation. It was hurting him to ignore the wolf's pleas for...attention? Like an abandoned puppy, trapped just out of reach, pleading for pets and scratches.

Harry just wanted to comfort him. The wolf was base animal instincts... food, shelter, safety... and security. Comfort... Draco was pleading... begging for it. Harry couldn't risk going to him, could he? Draco was very much able to hurt him... by clawing or biting him. He kept away, in his chair, as he decided not to taunt Draco with moving or getting closer. He hoped that Draco would calm down... but he was wrong.

After hours of whining, Draco was on his stomach, pressing his face painfully into the bars. His hands were both through the bars, clawing desperately toward him. His whimpers were quieter but no less sorrowful. He wanted him... comfort. He sounded so pitiful that Harry felt his soul was being raked over the coals. He tried to use words to support him, but they didn't seem to work. However, when he saw tears coming out of Draco's eyes, he couldn't stay there anymore.

He stood up and Draco immediately perked up and sat up, too. Harry slowly walked toward the cage. He had promised Draco that he would take care of him, but he didn't know how. He came up to the bars and looked down at Draco, still sitting, squatting really, on the floor, with his knees bent painfully into his chest. His hands were on the floor, and his bright, silver eyes were watching him.

"Hey, Draco... calm down, okay? I'm right here," he said, trying again to calm him with words.

Draco gave a soft, pleading whine and leaned forward to put his chin on the bars.

Harry sighed and said, "I can't pet your head, okay?"

Draco pulled back and quirked his head... so fucking adorably. Harry came a little closer, almost pulled in by him, but stopped when he noticed that Draco's butt was... wagging. For a lack of tail, Draco was clearly showing that he was happy. He was so cute. Harry smiled and tried not to laugh. Draco, human-Draco, would not appreciate Harry making fun of him. He crouched down, getting to Draco's level. Draco pawed at the bars, keeping his claws tucked away. Harry couldn't see any sign of aggression or desire to bite him. Draco hadn't even barred his teeth once.

"I want to pet you... but it's dangerous, you understand?" he said, quietly, and Draco whined. "I don't know. Maybe... I could pet your back?"

Draco got up quickly onto his feet and hands, and immediately turned around, sitting back down. He turned his head to look over his shoulder, and Harry could see his butt was still waggling. It was also a very nice butt, despite the fuzz of hair. Harry beat down his feelings, though he couldn't deny he found Draco really attractive. He had to think of something disgusting and focus on the issue at hand rather than Draco's naked body.

But then Harry realized that Draco had responded to his words. Did Draco understand him? "Back up to the bars?" he tried.

Draco immediately complied. Now, closer, Harry could easily see Draco's scars and the still slightly glowing brand through the light hair. Draco rubbed his back against the bars and turned his head over his shoulder to look at him, again. A soft, pleading whine came out, urging him for attention.

Harry let out a laugh and tentatively reached out to meet Draco's fuzzy skin. It was so short like a buzz cut, and Harry enjoyed how it felt against his skin. He stayed away from Draco's neck and gave the insistent wolfman a good back rub. Draco let out some soft growls in approval and kept lifting his head upward. No doubt the wolf wanted him to touch his bitemark, but Harry had no idea what that would do.

He also didn't really want to put his hand so close to Draco's mouth. Remus's warnings were screaming in his head from being this close, but Draco was so calm and relaxed. Harry wanted to be closer to him. Draco wanted simple human comfort, and Harry couldn't ignore it anymore.

"You're being so good for me," he whispered, and wondered how human-Draco was going to react to his words.

It wasn't clear if Draco would remember everything. Harry was under the impression that Draco would remember. Draco the wolf, however, was very happy with his words, and waggled his butt, just like a dog would for saying "good boy". Harry decided not to say those words for fear of upsetting human-Draco. Draco probably would be upset about what he had done so far. He had been traumatized by the wolves, and they treated him like a dog. Harry didn't want to remind him of what they did.

Draco nudged his neck against the bars again, though. He wanted to be petted there. Harry sighed, knowing that the area was so sensitive for Draco. "Okay... but... can you lay down? Against the bars for me?"

Draco dropped to the floor. His back and neck pressed against the bars, and he completely relaxed. Harry laid down, too, very appreciative of the Cushioning Charms. He scratched his back, and Draco's leg kicked happily. It was cute, though Draco would probably be embarrassed by it.

"There you go," Harry muttered, unable to stop himself from commenting. He loved seeing Draco happy though. The weight of his abuse on his mind was gone in this state.

Slowly, in case something terrible happened, Harry reached out to gently touch his neck. Draco immediately shivered and relaxed his head on the floor. Harry tried again, keeping his hand there. Draco let out a content whine and his whole body relaxed. Harry kept rubbing his neck and let Draco relax under his touch. Hours ticked by, and Harry was nearly asleep, too. His wolf hadn't moved, except for small ticks in his hands and feet. Draco was basking in the attention.

Suddenly, a howl pierced the quiet night. It was close and before Harry could respond, Draco was up, growling, his shoulders tensed like he was ready to fight. Harry quickly pulled his hand back, surprised at the speed with which Draco managed that. Remus's warnings were right. It was dangerous to stick his hand anywhere near the bars, much less through them. But Draco wasn't looking at attacking him. His head was locked on the door.

Another different howl sounded closer than the first. Draco was truly whining now, not from begging but in fear. His silver eyes looked to him and then to the door. Harry went to the door. It had a small window at eye level on the door. He saw at least three huge wolves, probably werewolves, pacing outside of the ward lines, but it was hard to see. Suddenly, one charged the line and it sizzled before throwing him or her back. The wolves let off other howl to call more.

"Shit," Harry said and checked his watch. Two hours till sunrise. He took a deep breath, realizing he had laid a fresh scent trail and the wolves wanted him. He put Draco in danger as the only human in their vast woods. He glanced back at Draco, worried for him, and saw that the wolf was up against the back wall, lying down, clearly frightened.

"Don't worry, Draco. I promised I wouldn't let them get you again," he said, pulling out his wand.

He spent the next two hours casting nearly nonstop to rebuild wards and trying to push the wolves back or disable them. Spells bounced right off... ropes tore and the ward line got closer and closer. Harry even tried some pain spells, but nothing held back the pack. They dodged his Avada Kedavra spells, which he hated casting, but it was do or die. The wolves finally slammed into the door, and Harry was forced to retreat to the cage door.

He saw that the sky was brightening. They only had a few more minutes. He reinforced the door by conjuring rocks to fill it, but the wolves were trying to come in from all sides, regardless if there was a door. He gathered his strength and cast a powerful Protego Horribilis, and the Shield Charm ward pushed out all the wolves back away from the cabin. Harry was panting hard, shaking from the effort of the magic. The wolves were pushed back to the original ward lines.

Suddenly, he felt something wet touch his hand. He turned and saw that Draco had come to the bars. He had licked his hand. Harry was still trembling from the spell and dropped to his knees. Draco wouldn't hurt him. He reached through the bars, and ran his fingers through Draco's somewhat shorter hair. Draco's nose and lips nuzzled his hand as he petted his head. There was no sign of teeth.

"I will always protect you, Draco," he vowed with all his might.

Draco licked his wrist in response, but suddenly jolted, falling to the floor and spasming. Harry looked at the small window on the door. Daybreak had come. He could hear the yelps of pain from the other wolves outside. They had made it. He watched Draco's short hair disappear back into his body. His claws retracted and though unchanged, his bones shifted, again painfully. Harry waited until Draco screamed in his human voice before he opened the gate.

He covered Draco with the blanket he brought and waited a little longer for the spasms to stop. Then he lifted the unconscious Draco up and Apparated home, through the wards, which wasn't easy. He set Draco on the couch before he ran to the kitchen to get the potions he had set out. Draco was still out when he came back into the den. Harry sat on the floor next to his makeshift bed, deciding it could have gone worse, but they were safe. He didn't want to magic them into Draco's stomach and just set them on the table.

Exhausted from the long night and the amount of magic he channeled, he put his head down on the couch next to Draco and fell asleep.