Howl into the Night

Published: 5/31/2025

Artist: leilazayde

TRIGGER WARNING?

Draco flinched when Granger and Weasley arrived through the Floo. He let go of Harry, who whined at the loss, but immediately jumped up to defend Draco from their somewhat unexpected visitors. Harry let out a growl and crouched to attack, but he stopped when reason returned.

"Oh, sorry, Harry! We should have warned you we were coming," Hermione said, stopping in place and making sure it was okay. Ron had his wand out.

Harry straightened up. "Sorry... and yeah... it's... the moon."

Draco stood up. "It's hard to control at first, but breathe, okay?"

Harry took some deep breaths in and looked to him, probably wanting him to reconnect, again. He didn't care at this point if Ron and Hermione saw.

"Go finish dinner," he ordered.

Harry winced but obeyed with a whine. He went to the kitchen. Ron's mouth dropped open in surprise. Draco sat on the couch and rubbed his face. Hermione waved her wand, and a silencing ward went up.

"I thought Harry broke through the thrall?"

"It's not Imperius. He can break it if he wants... and I haven't really used it that much. He's just really emotional right now, and I don't know how to handle him."

"I wish you two would let Remus help. Harry...."

"No!" Draco hissed and regulated his emotions before Harry came barreling out of the kitchen.

Draco refused to discuss Remus, and Harry didn't seem to want to face him after he had made Draco turn him. The man knew, but Harry told Ron and Hermione to keep what happened between them. Not even Molly knew, as far as he knew. Draco was afraid if it went public... the Wizengamot would take him to Azkaban or worse, give him to the pack... giftwrapped.

Ron said that he'd go help Harry get dinner ready, and Hermione sat next to him. "We still have some time. Are you okay? Is Harry being too...."

"No. Nothing bad. He's just lost and I'm... it's hard enough worrying about my own transformation. Harry's fear and pain is pushing me more, and the other stuff...."

"Sexual attraction?" she offered.

Draco winced. "It's the wolf."

"I know. I read enough of the books to know how... flustered werewolves get at the moon's time. It's perfectly normal, Draco. You shouldn't be ashamed."

Draco was. Perhaps not of being sexually stimulated, but of what Fenrir and the wolves did to him. "Thank you... for coming over... for being kind."

She took his hand. "That's what family is for."

"Pack," he corrected.

She smiled. "Pack? Just to be clear. I have no desire to become a werewolf... no offense."

He nodded and wouldn't meet her eyes. "It's how I think of you... and Ron."

She was quiet. "And Harry... as your mate?"

He flinched. "N-No...."

"Draco... the books? You don't think they mentioned this?"

He flushed. "It's not...."

"Hey... breathe... I knew from the second I saw Harry's hand on your bondmark... and I just saw your hand on his."

"I didn't mean.... I didn't know... and he was upset... I had to..." he stammered.

"Breathe, Draco. You don't have to explain it to me. You don't have to hide it from us... or Harry. He doesn't know, does he?" Hermione asked.

Draco shook his head. "It's not... permanent for him. He has to bite me...."

Hermione tilted her head. "It's permanent for you, though."

"Lupin warned me. I didn't think that Harry would ask me to do it."

"You don't think that Harry will do it? Is that what you're afraid of?"

Tears came out of Draco's eyes, and he heard some commotion in the kitchen. "I don't want him stuck with me... with this situation... with a child that isn't his... with a war that isn't his."

"I don't think that Harry minds with any of that, Draco. And I'd say that it's probably too late to turn back, now."

His skin was itching like it always did before the moon came. The pain was starting, too. He didn't even shift! Why does he have to endure this pain anyway! he grumbled.

"It's going to work out... somehow."

Draco looked at her. "You guys didn't have to... don't have to do this. You're not trapped like Harry is now."

"We're pack, Draco," Hermione said, taking his hand.

It felt right and he hugged her. Ron shouted that dinner was ready, and Hermione led him to the kitchen to eat and take their pain potions.

An hour later, Apparated him to an island after making a false trail in Wales and southern Scotland. Here, however, Draco could only smell salt water. He couldn't see anything on the horizon. They were far from the mainland.

"It's gonna be cold, but we're miles away from the coast. They won't find us," Hermione declared.

Draco wanted to believe her and followed them into the fortified building. Harry was limping from the pain. The first transformation was the worst. Draco tried to reassure him, but it was harder in front of Harry's best friends. Hermione got Harry to drink a pain potion and gave another to him as well after stating it was pregnancy-safe. Draco drank it without question, though he wasn't going to turn. He eyed the large side-by-side cells with trepidation.

"I cast an Obscuro on your... private areas. It will dissipate when you turn... it should," Hermione said, gesturing to the open cell doors. "Do you still want Ron or me to leave while you change?"

Pack. They had already seen him at his worst. "No," he whispered.

He entered the cage and took his shirt off. His skin was pale and covered in scars, but he could no longer see his ribs. His weight and strength had returned to pre-war levels. He handed it to Hermione and slowly lowered his trousers and boxers. His privates and butt were covered with a black fog. He gave the rest of his clothes to her as well.

"Thank you," he muttered as she left, closing and locking the cell door.

Ron had taken Harry's clothes. Draco only glanced at Harry, who was staring at him unrestrained by propriety. He sat down on the floor, which was covered in Cushioning Charms again, and tried to control his fear.

"We'll be outside this door and will be watching all night. We'll fortify this place even more. You shouldn't have to worry about... them."

No... just Harry, he thought direly. He looked at the bars between them and wondered if Harry would fuck him through the bars. They should have separated the cells. He tried not to shake or show fear. Potter could probably smell his terror, though. He didn't look at him again.

"Do not come in here until morning. Do not risk yourselves if they do come," Draco ordered, failing at reigning in his fear.

Harry was getting more agitated. Draco tried to push out his emotions so they wouldn't be driving each other up.

"Well... we should check that...."

"No. Not for any reason, Granger. Promise me that you will decidedly not check on us or retreat to this room," Draco said, looking at the floor. "No matter what you hear."

He could smell her confusion, concern, surprise and then fear. She was probably figuring out her error in the cell placement. "Draco... there might be enough time...."

"No. Please leave. I need to calm down," he said, trying to maintain his breathing.

"O-Okay... hopefully... it'll be alright," she said and mumbled something to Harry, before she and Weasley finally left.

Draco was resisting the urge to cry. Panic was radiating out of him. Harry was saying something.

"Draco!" he yelled. "Hey! Look at me!"

Draco rarely felt the pull to obey him, anymore, but slowly turned his head.

"You're going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you. I won't hurt you."

"You can't stop it. We're werewolves... mindless beasts. Power, control, food, prey... and sex. Our base instincts."

"That's not true, and you know it, Draco," Harry said, struggling to remain standing as the full moon was set to rise.

"Yeah, it is!" Draco cried but decided to lie down before the tremors dropped him.

"If it was... Draco... you would have eaten me or turned me the second I got within reach of you the last two times," Harry hissed, going to his knees, twitching.

Draco didn't reply. He didn't have an explanation for that, but he winced as Harry's pain scent spiked. It was time. The full moon had risen properly. His body jerked and twisted. It tried to turn... but his morphing body was shoved back inside of itself by the throbbing mark on his shoulder. Draco's cries turned to whines, and wolf-him heard his mate screaming and writhing in pain. He felt the need to go to him, and his wolf instincts were already pulling him to go toward his mate. The wolf had taken over.

Slowly, wolf-him rose. His mind clear. His senses heightened. His claws and teeth sharp. His sharp eyes looked at the still-spasming body in the next cell. His mate was a mass of black fur. His limbs were still twisting and snapping into place as the full-grown wolf transformed.

However, he had not changed. He was stuck in this wrong form. He was stuck in a cage again, too, and he was separated from his mate. His shoulder ached from the bad mark. He couldn't run... hunt... see the moon... and his body was wrong. So wrong....

He whimpered and his mate lurched to his feet, displaying. He was jet black. A beautiful mate. Strong... huge... powerful... ready to defend... ready to stake his claim. His mate was confused, though, learning his new form. He trotted around uncertainly, getting used to the movement, but his eyes never really looked away from him. His mate whined, trying to communicate... trying to get him to listen to him... to reason.

Reason didn't matter much to wolf-him. He wanted to bite, kill... turn. Most of all, he wanted his mate. But his mind recoiled from the idea. His human mind was hurt... he was hurt. Memories of the other wolves were overpowering him and filled his mind with images of his capture and torture. Wolf-him dropped his head, whimpering, remembering submitting to his sire... his former Alpha. His human mind felt misery from it and so did wolf-him.

But his mate stood tall, ready to attack... protect. His mate paced angrily, trying to find the source of wolf-him's anguish. The black wolf growled and snapped, desperate to fight something or anything. Frustrated, a loud, ear-piercing snarl came from his mate. Wolf-him cringed away. As much as he wanted his mate, the memories were too painful. He backed to the corner, refusing to look at his mate, who was pleading for him to come closer.

No, his mind punished him. His mate was a wolf... an alpha. Alphas hurt. Alphas control. He didn't want to go back. He didn't want to be chained. He didn't want the pack to hurt him. He whined loudly as his mate bit, scratched and snarled at the metal poles like they were the enemy. But wolf-him refused to go to his mate.

His former Alpha hurt him. He was free from Alpha. His mate freed him. His mate was an alpha. His mate will now hurt him.

He tucked his non-existent tail between his legs as his mate charged and smashed into the bars separating them. His mate wanted him badly. He retreated further into the corner, whimpering from the aggressiveness in his mate. It was scaring him worse than when the pack came. The Alpha... the Alpha was absolute. Obey... must obey. Pain... no mercy. He whined louder. There was no escape.

His mate was bleeding. He could smell it. He still refused to look, though. He didn't want to be forced to obey... but he was worried about his mate. Was his mate injured? He was supposed to help his mate. The growls grew more frustrated. His mate was pacing again... anger and fury scenting the air. Wolf-him tried to dig into the corner wall to get further away.

Suddenly, loud metal noises screeched out. He had to look. The metal poles were flexing... separating... opening. His mate's magic.

No! He whined and cowered on the floor, ready to submit to the Alpha. His mate came through the bars and quickly came over. Wolf-him bowed his head, touching his nose to the floor and whining... pleading for mercy. Alphas are cruel... that was what wolf-him knew. Submit... but he didn't want to. This form was wrong... everything was wrong. His mate... his mate was strong... free... and he was not.

But his mate stopped right in front of him. His mate's tongue lapped at his head and face, gently. His mate dropped down to the floor, lying down at his level, not towering over him. His mate whined, no longer angry or aggressive. His mate was worried about him and licked his face as wolf-him lifted his head. His mate laid on his side and then stretched out his neck in obvious submission. Wolf-him's fear was fading. The threat was gone. His mate was submitting to him with his vulnerable neck open.

Wolf-him sniffed, checking every intention of his mate as he sat up and looked down at the black wolf. His mate stayed down, though his tail wagged. Wolf-him got to his feet and stood over the submissive wolf, sniffing his mate. Happy... love... safe... content... his mate smelled. He came closer, and when his mate lifted his head to lick his face again, wolf-him snarled, warning the black wolf.

His mate lowered his head back down and even rolled onto his back, exposing his soft belly. Complete submission. His mate whined, and wolf-him inspected his powerful mate. He put one of his not-paws over his mate, claiming... asserting dominance. But his mate did not challenge him or his position over him. While his mate's eyes would look at him, he didn't stare. He averted his eyes out of respect.

Wolf-him then nuzzled his mate's neck, putting his nose to mark... their mark, and his mate relaxed more, even with his neck open and stomach exposed. His mate was like not the old Alpha... Alphas don't submit. His mate wasn't demanding obedience. He didn't smell bad... mean. He found dried blood on his mate's head and licked his injury until it healed. His mate hurt himself trying to reach him and did not resist his tending.

He stood over his mate for a long time, and his mate just waited patiently for his acceptance. Wolf-him did, and then did what felt right. He licked his mate's face and rubbed his head against his mate's. That seemed to break the spell. His mate wiggled excitedly and licked him back. Wolf-him let him. His mate wanted to examine him and slowly stood up, still keeping low, crouching almost, in deference. His mate skittered around him and licked his face, his head, his neck, his back, his legs....

Wolf-him let his mate do it, and eventually laid down so his mate could lick his chest and stomach. It wasn't submission... it was grooming. His mate was cleaning him, calming him... claiming him. Wolf-him smelled no drive for mating, even when his mate sniffed at his private areas, to which he gave a warning growl and his mate stopped.

His mate's nose landed on his stomach, and he laid down and stayed there with his muzzle on wolf-him's stomach. His mate whined and wagged his tail. His mate understood he was carrying. His mate was happy, whined softly, and met his eyes. He licked him more and crawled closer so they were side-by-side. His huge mate curled around him and dropped his head next to his after more licks.

All that anger and attacking... and his mate just wanted to be close... protect him. Wolf-him never felt so safe... so content....

He whined and his mate licked his shoulder and his old soulmark. Wolf-him wanted his mate to bite him... to seal the bond, but his mate wasn't ready. His mate had to decide to do it, like it should be. His mate occasionally licked his neck... especially the shoulder. His mate knew it was hurting him.

Wolf-him turned inward and tucking his head into his mate's body, so he could be closer to him. He hadn't realized until then that he was cold. He didn't have wolfskin, but he felt the heat from his mate's body. His mate was large enough to curl around him. Wolf-him basked in the attention. Trust... loyalty... faith... he felt. There was no need to submit. His mate or him.

He now appreciated his mate's submission to make sure that he was comfortable. It would never be necessary, again. Wolf-him now knew his mate wasn't the old Alpha. He was a true Alpha. He rubbed his head against his mate's head and neck. Glad for his scent again. He had missed it so much. Woodsy... herbal... nice smell... cedar... his human-mind supplied from deep within, so relaxed.

The outside worries or concerns didn't touch him. He wasn't alone. His mate wasn't a soft human anymore. He was an Alpha... strong... protective. His mate laid his head across his neck and shoulders. He would not sleep. He was on guard, ready to protect him. Wolf-him could smell the humans, but he knew that they weren't a threat. Their packmates were guarding them, too. For the first time as a not-wolf, he closed his eyes to sleep.

Aww... did I hype up the tension a bit? I would never have Draco and Harry really hurt each other. Heck, I don't even let them yell at each other.

Sorry if the wolf was confusing. I'm not a fan of having the "wolf" have a different name or personality. But the wolf thinks and responds more instinctually. The thoughts are still human... just very basic. They aren't different from what human-Draco or human-Harry think. 

I might be watching more dog videos lately. And this, conveniently, isn't far off of "Dog Days".

It'll be a bit longer until the next chapter. Focusing on finishing Healing, Draco Malfoy... sigh... the end is in sight! But I might continue writing Harry's POV sooner if I get "writer's block" on HDM (as if).