Howl into the Night

Published: Jan 25, 2025

Draco only wanted to be with Harry. Rolling around in Potter's scent did not do the trick, though he was enjoying it. Kinda embarrassing that Potter caught him doing it, but he was happy that Potter came back for him. He was a bit apprehensive about going to a house filled with people, but they were Harry's people. He trusted them, so Draco should be able to as well. He made sure that all of his scars were covered, besides the one on his face.

Potter gave him the floo address, but Draco insisted he go first. When he came out, he was flooded with so many scents that he nearly coughed. He closed his eyes, and Harry grabbed his hands.

"I'm right, here. There's no one else in the room but us. Draco... look at me," Harry said, softly.

Draco opened his eyes, and the room was empty, though hundreds of scents rolled through the den. He could make out Weasley... Ron-Weasley's... scent and Granger's.

"Harry? We decided to each come in small groups to meet Draco, so we don't overwhelm him, okay?" Mrs. Weasley called and popped her head in before approaching him.

Draco looked at the floor. He knew that she was the matron of the house. "T-Thank y-you for-for in-inviting me."

She came closer and slowly took his hand in hers. "Oh, sweet child. I'm glad you came. You are always welcome here, young man. The past is in the past, and we will accept you, no matter what, understand."

He nodded. "S-Sorry...."

"No need to apologize. Harry is our family, and we will welcome anyone he wants to bring, love," she said, sincerely, judging by her smell. "Now, I need to get dinner out. Don't worry. You'll be next to Harry and me at the table."

Mrs. Weasley went back into what looked like the kitchen, and Luna and the Weaselette came out. Draco, again, didn't look at them. It was too forward for someone as low as him. They said hello, and Luna thanked him for all the food and books he had brought to her when she was a prisoner. Draco only nodded and apologized for not doing more. Weaselette-Ginny only said hi and that she was glad he could come.

They went back into the kitchen, and Harry asked if everything was okay. He was doing alright, even as Weasley and Granger came out. He could smell them.

"Hey, Draco, it's nice to see you up and about," Granger said.

Draco felt guilty, though. He had hurt them so much. "Sorry... for everything," he murmured to the floor.

"Don't apologize. We were all stupid kids back then. We're fine. You don't have to... feel bad about it. Let's not worry about the past."

They were only saying that because they had found him being used in that cabin. He couldn't look at them. He didn't have the right to.

"Thank you... for the books," he mumbled.

"Oh right... no problem," she said, smelling confused, and Harry shrugged.

"Your scent was on them," he explained.

"Right. Handy..." Weasley said.

Draco could smell that they had had sex recently, even with a shower. He decided that it would not be best to mention that. Luna and Ginny were all over each other, too, which he was happy about. Both because Luna had someone, and that Ginny was also out of Harry's love life.

Weasley shuffled his feet. "Malfoy... I just want to thank you for... what you did at the manor. I know you suffered for it, and I'm sorry."

Draco took Harry's hand, like he didn't know what to say. There had always been bad blood between him and Weasley. Harry squeezed it gently to encourage him.

"Thanks... and sorry... about... being a ponce," he finished, with a smirk.

"You can say..." Weasley started, but Hermione smacked him. "What? He said it!"

"Ron!"

Draco smiled, but wouldn't meet their eyes. The situation was still too tense.

"Dinner!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. "Come sit down!"

Draco could hear people come in from outside, and then more came down from upstairs. He retreated into Harry, who's scent overpowered the others, and calmed him down.

"Draco?" he heard, and he recognized Blaise's voice.

He didn't want to look and see the pity in his friend's eyes. "Blaise?"

"Draco... I'm glad you're alive. They wouldn't tell me... what happened."

"I'm a werewolf," he admitted. He wasn't sure if that mattered to Blaise or not.

"Yeah... I got that part. I meant I didn't know... before the war ended. Vince and Greg are dead, if Potter didn't tell you."

Draco grimaced. "How?"

"Technically, they killed themselves with stupidity and fiendfyre. Potter was kind enough to save me from their idiocy."

Draco met Harry's eyes, and he nodded. "Blaise saved Hermione in the same fight... and then Fred and George... and Tonks. He fought on our side at the battle."

Draco nodded and fleetingly glanced around at the room. The Weasley twins were hanging by the door to the kitchen. Blaise had a look of concern on his face. He looked back down.

"Sorry... it's been hard," Draco mumbled.

"I know, Draco," he said.

"Come sit down, boys," Mrs. Weasley yelled from the kitchen.

"We'll talk after dinner, Draco," Blaise said, and Harry's scent seemed to worry about that.

Mrs. Weasley sat at the head of the table and had him sit next to her. Draco didn't let his eyes wander to the rest of the table. He could feel people staring at him and his scar. Mrs. Weasley made sure that there was plenty of food on his plate.

"Don't you worry, here's a nice, rare piece of roast right here. Bill likes his like this, too," she said, and put it on his plate,

"You're too kind, ma'am," he murmured, but was glad for the bloody meat.

"Nonsense, we have no scruples when it comes to dietary preferences. Eat up, dear. You need more meat on your bones!" she insisted, and he slowly complied.

It was very good. Draco relaxed as other conversations picked up, and he wasn't the center of attention. Harry brushed his hand against his and smiled. Draco met his eyes and went back to his food. He was handling it, and he felt comfortable. Harry was blocking out most scents, but there were a few that were strange and he couldn't identify. Mrs. Weasley forced seconds on him and Harry, and he managed to eat that, too.

"More, dear?" she asked, plate already in hand to drop more. She was a great cook, but his stomach wasn't that healed to handle so much.

"No! Please, no more, ma'am," Draco said, holding his hands over his plate.

"Okay... and you don't have to call me ma'am, Draco," she said. "How about... Aunt Molly? Would that be alright?"

Draco managed to make eye contact with her for a second. "Yes... thank you... Aunt Molly."

"Thank you, dear," she said. "Your mother and I... were schoolmates, though she was a Slytherin. It was before the war when the house animosity wasn't as bad, but she was a kind woman. She may have saved my life at the battle."

"She did?" Draco asked and looked at her properly.

Aunt Molly smiled fondly and nodded. "She did. Jumped right into a duel and helped me. She was a brave woman, who took care of her child when she could. I can respect that, and the least I can do is offer you shelter and comfort anytime you need it, okay?"

Draco's eyes got a little misty, and he nodded. "Thank you. Has... has there been any news... about her trial?"

Aunt Molly shook her head. "No child, I'm sorry. Investigations are still ongoing. Percy and Arthur will check for you regularly, and if we hear anything, we will owl, okay?"

"Yes, thank you so much, Aunt Molly."

Eventually, people started to get up, but Draco didn't like the movement. Harry seemed to sense this and took him back into the den. Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour came from the other door into the den that was near the patio door. Draco stopped in his tracks, and Harry tried to tell him to calm down, as the eldest Weasley son came toward him. He knew that Greyback did that to his face... when he had let the Death Eaters in.

"Draco, don't worry about anything that happened. It wasn't your fault," Bill said, holding his hand.

Draco tensed, but after a second, it didn't come closer. He looked at Harry, who nodded that it was okay, and he slowly put his hand into his. Bill didn't grab him but shook it lightly.

"Thank you for that. I don't blame you at all. Scars just show that we are survivors, one scarface speaking to another, anyway. Though I guess Harry counts, too."

Harry laughed and bumped Draco's shoulder. Draco smiled, too, and managed to look at the taller man for a second. The side of his face had many bite marks, though they were smaller than his. He lowered his head.

"I'm still sorry. I... didn't know he'd come. Even then, I knew... he was vicious," he murmured, then he picked up a strange scent that was coming from the person next to him. He wrinkled his nose and glanced to Fleur, looking at her, confused.

"Ah... Draco... I am part-veela. My grandmere-mother was one... tha' is why I smell different. You smell different as well, though my nose est not as sharp as yours," she explained in a French accent.

Draco nodded and looked back down. "Apologies if I offended. My nose is one of the few defenses I have."

Bill's scent changed to curious. "Really? Can I ask what you mean?"

Draco glanced to Harry. "I knew Harry was there to help me. The healers at the hospital wished me harm, and I could tell that your mum... she's very kind and protective."

Bill just said, "Huh. Well, that is interesting. Remus never mentioned that."

Draco took a deep breath at the other wolf's name, and Harry tensed next to him. "I don't know much about... werewolves. I just know what I can smell."

"I understand. It was good to meet you, Draco. Please don't be afraid to come over for the family dinners on my part. I bear you no ill will. I made many terrible decisions when I was in school. Someone died for it, so I can understand mistakes... especially during a war."

Fleur nodded. "I agree, Draco. We must be going. We are leaving early tomorrow for France. We haven't been able to cross the border since the war started. I miss ma sœur and ma mére."

"C'est un plaisir de faire votre connaissance, mademoiselle," Draco said, giving a bow.

Fleur laughed and said, "Parlez-vous français?"

"Pauvrement," he admitted. "A few phrases only."

"Still... I do enjoy hearing it, merci. Allons-y," she said to Bill, and they both said goodbye to their family before leaving.

Harry smiled at him, and he felt like that meeting had gone well, too. However, he managed to see three people enter the room before he looked down. It was the twins. They did smell very much the same... and had Blaise's scent all over them. Interesting. Blaise wasn't straight, he knew. He followed slightly behind them.

"Hey, it's little Malfoy!"

Draco froze under their scrutiny, and Harry stepped forward. "What the heck, guys?"

"He's still younger than us," George or Fred said, as Draco couldn't tell which was which without a name to the smell.

He felt like growling and showing how little he was.

"No hard feelings Malfoy. We're friends with Blaise now..."

"...and bygones and all that, cream puff?" one of them offered.

"No!" Harry said, stepping closer and looking at him. "Do not eat anything they give you. They own a joke shop."

Draco wasn't interested in trying it anyway. It smelled hexed.

"We own a joke shop, Harry," one said, pointing at him.

"You still have 10%."

That was news. Harry was an investor?

"Speaking of which... we'd like to talk to you about the business and expansion," one of twins said, while the other said, "Privately."

Harry straightened up, sighing and then muttering, "Give me a minute."

The twins walked outside, and Blaise kept his distance. Clearly, they were told to separate Harry from him.

"Draco... I won't leave you alone unless you want me to," Harry said, looking at him.

"Blaise wants to talk to me. I trust him. I think I'll be okay," he whispered.

"Fine, but I'll be just outside the window, okay?" Harry said, and Blaise took that as an invitation to come over.

"I promise I'll take care of him, Potter," Blaise said, and his tone implied a "better than you can."

Potter nearly growled at him, but he shrugged off his button-up shirt that was over his t-shirt and handed it to him. "Here. So you can warm up. I'm sorry you're cold."

Draco controlled his expression as he didn't know what Potter was talking about until he got a fresh wave of his scent from the shirt. Harry did it so he would feel safe, even with him at a distance.

"Thank you," he murmured.

Harry went past Blaise and outside to where the twins were. Draco lowered his head to his best friend.

"You're cold? It's blazin' in here," Blaise asked, and Draco could smell the twins on him, too.

Draco shrugged. "Harry said that you... told him... about me. Thank you."

"I was there when we found you, too... I would have... skinned those fuckers, like what your mum did."

Skinned? "Thanks."

"Draco? I know that Potter is... taking care of you, but I can help you. You don't have to stay with him. You can stay with me... or I can get your own flat? Potter is a... Gryffindor."

Draco nodded. "He is..." he agreed, but took another long sniff of Harry's shirt. "But he keeps me safe. I feel safe. I trust him... more than I ever trusted anyone. He's kind and considerate."

"Potty is considerate?" Blaise scoffed, and Draco laughed, while meeting his eyes.

"He is. Thank you... for the offer, but I want him... as long as he'll have me."

"Draco... are you sure? I don't want you to feel trapped."

He shook his head. "I'm sure. Besides... I can smell them on you. I... can't handle that... kinda of stuff right now."

Blaise looked confused and then embarrassed. "You can smell that?"

Draco nodded. "Don't worry. I won't say anything."

"Who are you going to tell anyway?" Blaise scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Potter?"

"You really threw in with them?"

"They are very attentive," he said, smirking.

Draco wasn't sure that he could handle talking about it any more than that. He looked down and sniffed Harry's shirt again, and tried not to think about... what happened. He wondered if he could ever have sex again without his mood immediately dropping. He took another sniff.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring you down, Draco."

He looked back up and shrugged. "I'm... fucked up, now. Something always... brings me down. They... broke me," he admitted.

"They tried. Draco... you're alive and you're walking. You're more than what they made you do."

Draco's eyes watered. "I don't know if I am."

Blaise looked worried. "Draco, you...."

"Blaise... I can't... protect myself."

"Of course, you can. Do you have a wand?" Blaise asked and looked him up and down. He glowered. "He didn't give you your wand back?"

Draco shook his head. "I didn't ask for it."

"That's no excuse."

"I don't think...."

"You're a wizard, Draco. Werewolf or not... they can't take away your magic. Practice it every day, okay? It'll get easier."

Draco nodded and Harry came back inside. Blaise immediately turned to him. "Potter, why the hell haven't you given him his wand back? Did you lose it in the two weeks since the war ended?"

Harry grimaced and squirmed under Blaise's scrutiny. "I was just waiting until Draco was ready."

"He's ready. Make him use it. Give him his confidence back. Or do you want to trap him in your house without a way out?"

Draco flinched. "Blaise, Harry wouldn't...."

"I would never want him to feel that way!" Harry growled, interrupting him.

Blaise didn't back down. "Then take care of his needs, including his belief that he can't take care of himself."

Draco blushed and just wanted Harry and Blaise to stop arguing. Harry smelled upset and Blaise was pissed.

"What's going on out here?" Aunt Molly came out. "Are you okay, Draco?"

"Yeah... Blaise and Harry were talking about... things," he muttered, and they pretended that they weren't arguing. His hands were shaking.

"Come here, dear," she said, opening up her arms and gesturing to the kitchen. "They can talk without you."

Draco took her offer and went into the kitchen, shutting the door to the den. Mr. Weasley, Percy and the other brother, who Draco thought was Charlie, shut the other door after going outside. Aunt Molly gave him some apple pastries and tried to keep his mind off the loud voices in the other room, that his werewolf hearing allowed him to hear clearly. His hands were still shaking, and Aunt Molly gently took one.

"They care about you very much, Draco. They are more upset about what happened than mad at each other," she said, and he nodded.

He heard Harry's voice. "How the hell would I know that Voldemort would do that to him? We barely escaped alive!"

Tears came out of Draco's eyes, and even Aunt Molly could hear that. Draco stopped her from getting up and going back into the room. He murmured that he was okay. He had Harry's scent and could handle it.

"You didn't even care! Would you have even gone after him if his mother hadn't made you promise to?" Blaise shot back.

"I wanted to know what happened the second you told me that something did happen, Zabini," Harry hissed. "Did you go after him? You sure as fuck knew long before I did that he was missing! You knew he was missing since Easter break ended. I didn't find out until the battle! What's your excuse? You're the one who was hanging around Death Eater wannabes when I ran into you."

"I had to get them to tell me where he was! I didn't know what they had done with him."

"Really? How'd that work out?" Harry spat.

"Why the hell does Draco want to stay with you?" Blaise countered.

Harry was quiet and Draco had to strain to hear. "I don't know. I just know that I will try to take care of him the best I can. I don't know if a wand will trigger him. He was tortured by wizards, too, Blaise. I don't use mine in front of him. Draco is... recovering... and I'm taking one step at a time. I didn't appreciate you making me bring him here this early. The full moon is in a few days, and Draco shouldn't have been forced to face so many people at once."

"He's doing great," Blaise said.

"He is. It could have also gone terribly wrong, too. I get that you care about him, but I do, too."

Then they went quiet. His heart fluttered at Harry's words. He didn't doubt it, but Harry admitted it. He smiled and so did Mrs. Weasley.

She nodded, knowingly. "I think Harry's taking great care of you."

"He is, ma'am," he replied. "I mean Aunt Molly. I'm sorry to cause so much tension in the house."

"Oh, posh. I have raised six children... seven if you count Harry. Fred and George caused more destruction on a daily basis growing up than this little spat."

"I'm sorry... for hurting them... all of them. I didn't want... to do it, I swear," he said to the table, tears forming.

"Shh... dear. You're a good lad. I know that you were trapped, but you're free, now. I will be happy to have you in my home at any time," Aunt Molly said, holding his hand.

"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for being so... kind."

She waved it off. Harry must have finished his argument and came into the kitchen. He still smelled upset, but it quickly turned to worry when he saw him.

"Draco? Are you okay?" he asked, and he nodded. "Do you want to go?"

"If you want," he muttered.

"It's always what you want, Draco," Harry replied.

Draco smiled and met his eyes. "I'm tired."

"Alright, let's say goodbye," he said.

Aunt Molly gave Draco a hug, which didn't hurt. Harry took him upstairs to where Weasley, Granger, Luna and her girlfriend were playing cards.

"We're heading home. I'm tired," Harry lied.

"With all that yelling? I wonder why. I can't believe that Fred and George brought him here," Weasley muttered.

"Blaise is a good friend and they are living together," Draco said, hoping that wasn't too much of a clue as to their relationship status.

"Whatever. See ya, Malfoy... Harry," Weasley said, shaking Harry's hand.

Granger, Luna and Ginny said their farewells. They went back to the den, and it was full of people. Mr. Weasley, the man that Draco's father had insulted, was at the foot of the stairs. He smelled kind, though. Draco didn't meet his eyes.

"Sorry, we didn't get to meet earlier, with dinner getting on the table, but before you go, I'm Arthur. I stand by what my wife said. You are welcome here. I'd never turn out a wayward soul. Please, do come, again," he said, and held out his hand like Bill had.

He looked to Harry, who nodded in encouragement. He shook it with a soft, "Thank you."

Mr. Weasley went into the kitchen where Mrs. Weasley was cleaning. Draco suddenly jumped and nearly growled when a strange, threatening scent came closer. He had noticed it subtly earlier, but he didn't know what it was. Charlie Weasley came up to him, slowly, and Draco locked eyes on the threat. He cringed away, sensing danger, but suddenly he could smell Harry's alarm and need to defend taking over. He started to feel better.

"Stop, Charlie," Harry ordered and squared off.

Charlie stopped and put his hands up. "Sorry, that was rude. I knew you'd get freaked out by the smell. Remus did, too, the first time. It's the dragons. Dragons and werewolves do not mix well. That's why I've been keeping my distance."

Draco blinked. It was getting easier to smell Charlie beyond the fading magical creature smell. "Oh... sorry."

"It's alright. I figured you should get the answer of what the smell is, in case you come over while I'm here. 'Course, every time I see you, I have to take a few showers. Dragons get just as hostile as you, but can't be talked down," Charlie said, with a laugh. "Anyway... nice to meet you."

"You as well," he mumbled. "Sorry for... smelling."

Charlie laughed harder. "Hardly your fault. I smell too, remember? Fleur loves it... and the dragons love her smell, which, as you can imagine, is just as dangerous."

"Yeah," Draco agreed, but he was trying not to yawn in exhaustion. He felt very tired from all the interactions.

"We need to get home," Harry said, somehow knowing that. "See ya, Charlie."

"See you around, guys," he said, and Harry went forward toward the floo.

As they were leaving, Harry bid the twins goodbye, and Draco said goodbye to Blaise, who still looked a little miffed at Harry. They flooed home and landed in Harry's den.

"Draco? How are you doing?" Harry asked, facing him and inspecting him thoroughly.

Draco could smell the concern in his scent. "I'm okay. There were a few awkward moments... but nothing that really... triggered me. They were all very nice."

Harry stared at him, as though trying to decipher if he was lying. "I'm so sorry that I argued with Blaise. I should have put up the wards so you didn't hear that. I'm sorry." Harry's scent changed to a bitter one. Sadness... and shame.

Draco stepped forward, compelled to comfort him. "Don't... I wasn't hurt... I mean, I was scared because you both smelled angry, but I wasn't upset about... what you said."

Harry frowned. "I didn't mean to talk about you like that... without your permission."

"You didn't tell him anything that bothered me. But Harry?" he said, and Potter's distraught eyes met his. "First, I don't blame you for anything. You rescued me and, despite the promise to my mother, you had no obligation to save me... to bring me back here... to care for me. Blaise was wrong to blame you for anything."

"Draco...."

"Second... I'm not mad that you didn't want me to go there, today. Maybe I wasn't ready, but I'm not upset about it. It was rough and maybe too early, but you helped me through it. Thank you for the shirt. It helped so much," Draco said, looking down at it and touching it with his fingers. He didn't want to give it back.

"You're welcome."

"And lastly... you were right about the wands," Draco said, lowering his head. "I'm not sure how I would have managed if you had pulled it out without warning... at first anyway. Now, I trust you...."

Harry blinked some tears. "I also... didn't want you to... flee... unexpectedly, either. I certainly don't mean to hold you here. You're free to leave at any time, Draco... I just... if you were scared and just Apparated away... I didn't want you to be lost or... alone, when you were so physically weak."

"That sounds reasonable, Harry. Again, I'm not mad... or angry...."

"And... well... I always carried them on me... if you ever requested it back. They are... in the inner pocket of that shirt."

Draco was confused until he realized that Harry meant the one he currently had on. He felt the shirt just below his heart and felt the two wands there. That was why Harry didn't put up wards. He had given him his wand. His heart pounded harder. The wisps of his memories of his father, the other Death Eaters, and the wolves threatening that he'd never hold a wand, again. That he'd never be a wizard, again. His hands were shaking.

"Shit... Draco? Draco, look at me?"

Draco's eyes slowly looked at him and took in his scent. The memories faded. "Sorry... I... just...."

Harry nodded. "I guessed it would be hard. I'm sorry... I didn't mean to force this."

Draco sadly took off Harry's shirt and handed it over. He didn't want to touch either wand. He looked away as Harry took the wands out and slid them into his back pocket.

"Sorry, it's just overwhelming."

"I know... I understand..." Harry said, and then after a pause, he handed Draco back the shirt, wordlessly.

Draco's eyes watered for the seemingly meaningless gesture. He didn't know why he was crying, perhaps it was the culmination of all the day's excitement. He brought the shirt to his chest and held it tightly. He wanted more and looked at Harry, wishing he would understand that he was falling apart. His hands were trembling terribly.

"Hey... come here," Harry said, though he was the one who came closer, his arms open.

Draco immediately stepped into his chest and let Harry wrap his arms around him. His legs felt weak, and he released the breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding. Harry's hand just touched his bite scar, and he felt even better. Harry shushed him as he whimpered in relief. He held him for several minutes as Draco breathed in his scent. He couldn't understand why it calmed him so. He remembered that Potter had found him rolling in his scent only a few hours ago. Thankfully, Potter had ignored that, too.

"You were so good today, Draco. I'm proud of you. I'm glad you came with me, and I'm sorry that I thought you couldn't handle it."

He nodded. "Thank you," he said, still hiding his face in his chest. "I... liked it... them. I'm sorry that I... was... a jerk to them. Aunt Molly... was very kind... they all were."

"They are. They adopted me in my 2nd year when I ran away from home."

"You ran away when you were 12?" he gasped.

"Yep, my aunt and uncle were pricks."

"I'm sorry... but thanks," he said, finally stepping back. Harry let go immediately. He wiped the remaining tears away.

Harry didn't comment about what had happened. He led the way to the den and started reading, again. Draco didn't try. He couldn't even think about the wolves... about becoming one of those... creatures. He knew they wanted him... and not to eat. He looked at the fire and didn't let the thoughts back in. Harry tried to ask what was wrong, but Draco couldn't tell him. The thoughts were just too painful.

As the night went on, Draco nearly fell asleep with Potter's shirt on, and Harry had to shake him to open his eyes.

"Let's go to bed," he said, exhausted.

Draco nodded and followed him quietly up the stairs. Potter went to his room and pulled off his t-shirt. He looked at Draco, expectantly, who went red and went to his room to change. When he returned, he hesitantly opened the door, but Harry was already in bed. He slowly walked over to his own side and slipped in. He didn't think that Harry would object. He pulled the blankets up and noticed that Harry switched pillows. It had more of his scent on it. Draco smiled.

"If you want... tomorrow, I can move your wardrobe in here... unless you don't want to change in the same room as me," Harry said, as he turned off the light. "It's up to you, though."

"I... I'd like that. You don't mind? You're not... worried about what people might say?"

"Nope. I'm completely fine with it."

"Huh...."

"Goodnight, Draco.

He smiled and whispered, "Goodnight, Harry."