Howl into the Night

Published: 3/26/2025

They woke up on the couch the next morning when another owl flew in and squawked indignantly while dropping a letter on Harry before flying out. Harry wasn't pleased about having been woken up.

"Ouch... my back. Another owl?" Harry grumbled, expecting it to have been from Lupin.

"It's from the healer," Draco whispered, obviously smelling the bird or the letter. That meant Draco knew Remus had sent the one that Harry burned last night.

Harry opened it and read blurrily, "She said that she has a theory of what the potion was and why your test results are all over the place. She wants you to come see her."

Draco tensed and growled. "No."

Harry looked at him. He shouldn't have been surprised as Draco had refused to go every time so far. "Draco... we need to make sure you're okay."

"No," he said, shaking. Draco didn't want to talk about it, but this was his health.

Harry tried to say something, but Draco left the couch and went to the loo to prevent any discussion. He showered and took an exceedingly long time to get ready.

"Draco?" Harry called through the door. "Come on... we need to talk."

Draco sighed and opened the door, his eyes averted.

"What's wrong? We need to know what happened," Harry tried.

"I don't want to know. I don't want to think about what they did," he muttered at the floor.

Harry sighed. "I know you don't. But she sounded worried... that you needed to come as soon as possible. You could need potions or treatment, Draco."

Draco walked past him and down the stairs. Perhaps he smelled the food that Harry had cooked while he was showering. It was in the kitchen, and Draco sat down and started eating. Harry sat down across from him.

"Draco... I know you've been through so much, but part of your recovery is making sure you are also physically healed."

"I don't... I can't...."

"Draco...."

Knock, knock, knock. Came from the front door. Draco froze. Harry stood up, confused.

"My house is under Fidelius... only a certain few know how to get here," he explained, but still walked down the hall with his hand on his wand and opened the door.

"Harry, sorry to stop in on you," Remus said, and Harry swore. He knew that the breeze sent his smell through the house, and Draco could smell that he was here, if he couldn't hear him. He hoped it wouldn't be like last time. Draco could attack Remus.

"This is uncalled for Remus. He said no," Harry spat, not allowing him inside. "He needs time."

"I..." Remus started, but then clearly sniffed the air. His eyes widened. "Harry... is... that Malfoy's scent?"

Harry looked at him incredulously and thought he was smelling Draco on him, because Draco's scent was on him so much.

"It's not any of your business, Remus. Draco was upset, and I can support him however I need...."

"I don't mean that... shit!" Remus interrupted and stepped through the doorway, pushing Harry's arm out of the way.

"Hey! Get out!" Harry said and started to raise his wand. However, Remus grabbed his wand hand and pressed him back into the wall.

"Have you slept with Malfoy?" he growled.

"What! Get off me! I'm not doing anything sexual with Draco! What kind of person do you think I am!?" Harry said, offended.

Remus growled, more werewolf than Harry had ever seen him. He hadn't let go of his wrist either. "Please tell me that you have," he asked in earnest.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, confused, and Remus's grip was becoming painful as Harry tried to push him off to no avail. "What is wrong with you?"

Remus was shaking his head. "You really haven't, have you? Fucking hell! No wonder the wolves are tracking him. Malfoy! Malfoy come here!" he called out down the hallway.

"Hey, he said no! You can't just come in here and...."

"I have to see him, now, Harry. This is important!" he said, still pinning Harry to the wall by his wrist. He was forced to drop his wand.

"No! Get out, Remus!"

"I can't, sorry! Not without seeing him. Malfoy! If you don't come down here, I'll tell Harry!" Remus shouted through the house.

"Tell me what? And don't threaten him! Geez! What's wrong with you? He's been through enough!"

"I'm sorry, but I have to tell him," Remus proclaimed, sounding desperate.

Harry tried harder to squirm out of his fingers, but Remus's grip tightened. "Oww! Shit, Remus, let go! You're hurting me!" Harry gasped in pain, his eyes tearing up.

That seemed to surprise Remus. "Oh! Sorry, Harry, I...."

Draco was suddenly only a few feet away. "Let go of him, Wolf!" Draco snarled, and it sounded like a very real growl. Harry saw his eyes flash green, and his back was hunched like his hackles were raised. He was ready to physically attack Remus.

"Malfoy, I need to...."

"Let-go-of-him, NOW!" Draco spat, getting ready to attack.

Remus looked at Harry, still wincing from the pain of his grip. Remus actually seemed confused by it and had to focus to release his arm. Harry cradled his arm. It was bruised, if not broken.

Remsu "I'm... sorry... I-I didn't realize...."

"What is wrong with you? Get out!" Harry said, trying to hold back tears.

"It was an accident, Harry. I'm sorry," he said, and reached for him.

Before Harry knew what happened, Draco pulled him away from Remus and put himself in between them. "Don't touch him," Draco said, his neck tense, like he was ready to lunge at Remus.

The older wolf growled under his breath and seemed ready to meet the challenge, but he shook his head clear, like he needed to get ahold of his emotions. He wasn't looking directly at Draco but at the floor.

"I didn't come here to fight, and I didn't mean to hurt you, Harry. The smell is overpowering my control," he said, as an excuse.

Harry didn't know what he meant, but he didn't care. He was happy that Draco was standing up for... well... him. He'll take what he could get. "Remus, leave," Harry said, from behind Draco.

"I can't," he muttered and looked at Draco's feet. "Malfoy... do you want him to know what's going on? Do you even know?"

Draco growled in response and pressed backward, closer to him, as though protecting Harry from Remus. It was kinda cute.

Remus held up his hands and refused to look at Draco in the eyes. "Draco... I'm trying hard not to meet your challenge. It will be nearly impossible to stop it if we start. I didn't come here to fight. Please calm down before something happens and I hurt you, unintentionally."

Draco's demeanor immediately changed, like Remus's words had shattered whatever spell that had given him the courage to face him. Draco was now backing away from him, them... down the hallway.

"Draco?" Harry whispered, trying to call to him.

Draco looked terrified and slowly backed away more.

"I'm sorry, kid. Do you know what's happening to you?" Remus whispered. His eyes softened in sympathy as he looked at Draco, now that they were both calm.

But Draco fled. He went up the stairs and slammed what sounded like the bathroom door. Harry made to follow him, but Remus stopped him.

"Give him time."

"What is going on?"

Remus frowned. "I'm sorry that I hurt you, Harry. I'm not used to the smell. He's unmated and is practically calling for... it."

"What?" Harry said, alarmed.

Remus cast a furtive glance at the hallway and frowned. "I don't want to make him be the one to tell you, Harry, and you need to know."

"Tell me what?!" he shouted, exasperated.

"He's pregnant, Harry..." Remus said, anger and disgust in his voice.

Harry blinked. What? It wasn't possible. "W-What? He's...."

"Pregnant. That potion... right before the full moon... Fenrir must have given him the ability..." Remus said, shaking his head. "I know the smell. I know when humans are too... and he is... breeding."

Harry glared at him... at the term. "But... he's a guy."

"Magic, Harry. Men and women... homosexual men and women... can get pregnant. There's a potion... that will... allow it. I can only imagine that Greyback wanted Draco... for more than... pleasure."

Harry's mouth dropped, and he didn't know what to say. Greyback wanted to... use Draco like that? As a broodmare?

"I really am sorry for Draco. I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

"You asked if I did...."

"A vain hope, Harry. It's likely Greyback's pup, but who really knows? He's well into the first trimester. Wolves breed faster than humans do, too."

Harry's head popped up. "What?"

"A couple months shorter. I'm not sure that he could...."

"Could what?"

"Get rid of it. Werewolves are strong and resist magic."

Harry's heart shuddered. A pup... a baby...? He didn't know how to feel... except... he knew that he wanted it... her or him. Some part of him already felt connected to the baby.

Remus's hazel eyes darted back to him.

Shit, wolves could smell anything. Harry struck first. "You should go. I need to see Draco."

The older man looked wary. "Harry... this isn't your... problem."

Harry glared at him. "It is, now, Remus."

Remus didn't like that. "I need to explain to Draco."

"I'm not going to let you terrify him any more than you already have. Draco will have to decide what he wants to do."

Remus sighed. "It's not just this, Harry. He has no idea what's going on. What the heck would you have done, if I hadn't come by? Let him be confused and in denial? I need to explain to him what's happening. Greyback surely didn't! I remember how scared, confused and alone I felt after I was bit."

"Another day, Remus... on his terms."

Remus rubbed his face in his hands. "A few more days. I'm not waiting that much longer."

Harry nodded and Remus finally left. Harry went upstairs to the bathroom door. He could hear the shower going. He knocked on the bathroom door, but there was no answer. He opened the door and carefully looked inside. Draco was sitting fully clothed in the stall, rocking back and forth, with hot water raining over him. Draco shook his head, like he didn't want to believe it. Harry still kinda didn't, but he remembered that Draco was throwing up in the mornings and his test results were all messed up.

"Draco?" he whispered, looking at him and stepping closer.

"It's not true... it can't be true..." Draco repeated like a mantra.

Harry hated seeing him so despondent. He shut the water off and knelt down next to Draco, not caring that his trousers got wet. "Shhhh... it's okay, Draco. It's going to be okay."

Draco shook his head and continued rocking incessantly. "He lies... Alpha lies... it's not true... it can't be true...."

Acute pain flashed through Harry. It was beyond painful hurt to see Draco this way... in such profound denial and mental anguish.

Draco stopped and looked at him, worried... about him. "Harry?"

"I'm here, Draco. I'm not going anywhere," he said, softly, and opened his arms up.

Draco lowered his eyes, but slowly leaned him, crying into his chest. Harry didn't care that he was getting wet. He just closed his arms slowly and held him. Draco pleaded that it stop... that it be over... that he'd be free. Harry reassured him the best he could, but his words didn't seem to help. When Draco started whining, Harry gently rubbed his bitemark and Draco started to calm down.

It took a long time, but Harry slowly let go and very carefully pulled off Draco's shirt. Draco trembled at being bare, though it was only his shirt so far. Harry wrapped a fluffy towel around his shoulders, and he calmed down, at least until Harry made him stand up. The shaking started all over when Harry slowly removed his wet trousers, too, but left his boxers on. He wrapped another towel around his waist. Draco's eyes watched him carefully as Harry took his hands, guided him to their room and sat on the chest at the foot of the bed.

Harry was almost alarmed by the trust and faith he saw in Draco's eyes as they looked at him. He wanted to reassure him that everything was fine. Nothing had changed with this news. Harry dried his hair with the towel around his shoulders. Draco took short, choppy breaths.

"Shhh... breathe in deep and slowly out. Two showers in one day, huh? It's fine... you needed it. You needed to calm down. It's going to be okay. I promise."

Grey eyes met his, again, as though he believed him or wanted to, anyway. Draco was never this good about eye contact. Harry finished drying his hair and cleaned his face. He gently traced Draco's scar down his face, and his werewolf pulled his head down, clearly shamed by the mark.

"Sorry," he murmured. "It doesn't bug me, Draco. None of it does."

Draco didn't look up, again. Harry grabbed a clean shirt out of Draco's wardrobe and brought it over to him. Draco didn't move to accept it, so Harry pulled it over his head.

"Come on, Draco."

Draco pulled it down and put his arms through the openings. Harry removed the towel, and now, they had to do the harder one.

"Stand up, come on."

Draco got up. Harry asked him to pull off his pants, but he didn't move. He was still in shock. Harry slowly pulled them down, avoiding touching him too much. Draco blushed and Harry patted down to dry him off. He brought another set of pants over and slowly dressed Malfoy. He took the wet towels and clothes to the loo and came back. He guided Draco to bed and let him curl up into his chest. Draco rubbed his head against him, and tears came out again.

"I-I...."

"Shhh... just breathe. Don't worry about it, Draco. Breathe."

Harry held him for a long time until Draco fell asleep. He tried to control his emotions with Draco's nose literally against his throat. Harry had already gone through shock and denial. He was quickly turning to the anger phase, and he had to control that. He didn't want to scare Draco. Greyback marked and bit Draco. He made it so that he couldn't do magic, but also force-fed him a potion that allowed Draco to bear children.

He frowned when he thought of Draco's words... Alpha lies. Greyback probably taunted him mercilessly. Made all kinds of... comments about what Draco was and didn't explain anything. Draco mentioned that they used his sense of smell to terrify him about what they intended. Draco... he had no one after he was turned. No one to help him understand his wolf. His sense of smell... his role... what was happening... and worse... they tortured him mentally and physically. Harry wanted to rip them apart.

Draco's eyes suddenly opened in alarm, and he looked around.

"You're safe. Sorry. I was angry about... what had happened. Are you... okay?"

His wolf ignored him and rubbed his face against his chest. Harry smirked and tried to control his feelings. He liked it when Draco did that.

"Draco? Come on... answer me."

His grey eyes slowly turned up to meet his eyes. "I... don't know. I... didn't want to...."

"Believe?"

"Yeh... it was... too much... to think about. Is it really true?" he whispered.

"I think so. Remus was sure."

Draco growled at his name. "He hurt you."

Harry followed his eyes and, sure enough, there was a bruise around his wrist. He had forgotten it in his haste to reassure Draco. "He didn't mean it. He said that smell is overpowering."

Draco snorted. "Says the wolf."

Harry laughed but then went quiet. "What... do you want to do?"

"Want to do?"

"Yeah... we can... let nature happen and care for it... when the baby comes."

Draco tensed up and his breathing became erratic.

"Or... try to... umm... you know... get rid of... it," Harry finished. He tried not to feel sad, but it was. It was unbelievably sad. "You... get to decide. It's your body... your choice."

"Harry... I don't...."

He tried really hard not to feel sad, but Draco stopped and looked right at him.

"It's too much. I don't know... what to do."

"You don't have to decide. I'm letting you know that you have a choice. I'll support whatever you want to do."

"You smelled...."

"Don't..." Harry took a breath. "It's hard on me, too, and I can't control every feeling I have. I'm sorry that you're put in this position. I'm sorry that this was done to you. I will respect whatever decision you make, and I will not... hurt you for making either decision. I do want you to understand that you have a choice, and I will support you, either way."

Draco rubbed his face against him again. "Thank you, Harry. It's all so unreal for me. Alpha... said... things. I didn't want to believe him."

"Understandable."

Tears welled in Draco's eyes. "Can you... please?" he pleaded.

Harry knew what he wanted and carefully petted his bitemark. All the tension drained out of him. "I'll take you to the healer tomorrow. We'll see what we can do."

Draco didn't answer, though Harry knew it would be more difficult in the morning.