Kitsune no Yobi (狐の呼び)

Friday 10th September 99

Harry had not been able to find Draco all week. The only time he saw him was during potions and sometimes during meals, but they never got the chance to speak. Heading to their common room after his last class of the day, he was determined to have a talk with him. His face lit up when he saw Draco all curled up in one of the armchairs near the fire. He looked around. No one else was there so he approached him. A book was open on his lap. "Kitsune?" He frowned. "I didn't know he was interested in magical creatures." Carefully, he took out the book and, in the flick of a wand, mobilicorpused Draco, making him float in the air. As silently as he could, he moved him to his room upstairs.

Once he had gently dropped Draco on his bed, he put down the book and sat next to him. If he left now, maybe they would not get a chance to talk. Softly, he started stroking his hair... And something was there. "What the fuck?" He thought, poking at the invisible thing on Draco's head. As he was going to poke a third time, Draco abruptly woke up, covering his head.

"What the he- Harry?"

He was heavily blushing.

"I'm sorry I... I didn't mean to wake you."

"Why are we in my room?"

"You fell asleep on an armchair so I brought you here."

"Oh... Where's my boo-"

"Right here." He patted the dusty tome sitting on the bedside table. He hesitated before pursuing. "By the way... There's something invisible on your head."

Draco paled, his hands still covering his hair.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah... Yeah, everything's alright."

"Are you sure?"

He started shaking. He brought his knees closer to him, burying his head in them as he hugged himself.

"No." He then whispered. "Everything's not alright."

Harry wrapped an arm around him and rested his head on his shoulder. "It's okay. It doesn't have to be." He waited for a couple of minuted before asking. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Draco looked up. Their faces were a few centimetres away from each other and Harry could clearly see Draco's pupils shaking from doubt.

"Would you listen?"

"Of course."

Draco sighed. "Promise you won't laugh at me."

"Why would I laugh?"

"Just do it."

"Alright, alright. I promise I won't laugh."

Draco got up and - taking off the charm hiding his fox-like features - waited for the laugh to come. But it never came. He looked down, meeting Harry's sparkling eyes. He looked amazed.

"May I touch them?"

"What?"

"Your ears. May I?"

He smiled and bowed slightly for Harry to access the top of his head, which he started to pat, gently caressing the fluffy ears emerging from his hair.

"They're so soft." He laughed.

"I guess they are." Draco was too red to his liking. "But it's tiring to hide them."

"Disillusionment charm?"

He hummed.

"Brilliant." Harry frowned. "Since when?"

"It all started a week ago. I panicked so much I ended up begging Granger for help."

"That's why you were together!"

"Yeah. Let me explain it all to you."

After the long minutes of recounting, Harry was gaping. "Wow... So... You're a Kitsune. And you're not a Malfoy."

"I think I'm not."

"And you could die we don't know when from extreme pain, if you don't bond soon."

"Right."

"And you can't bond with someone unless both parts are in love."

"Exactly."

"You were happy there was no mating but I feel like it would've been easier for you if you had a mate somewhere..."

"Maybe you're right, but at least I can choose."

"I hope you'll be able to find in time."

"Oh," Draco smiled, "I already found who I want to be bounded to. I just have to wait for them to confess their love to me."

He noticed Harry's gaze sadden. "Dumbass, I'm talking about you." He thought.

"Alright... Well. It's, er- It's almost dinner time, I think I'm going to go." Harry mumbled, standing up.

"Didn't I say I was waiting for you to confess?" He blurted.

"What?"

"What 'What?'?"

"Me?" His cheeks had turned strawberry red.

Draco leaned forwards, softly taking his chin and lifting his head, making them a few centimetres away. "Don't you love me?" He then murmured.

Harry looked away, a pout slowly forming on his lips. "What if I do? You're going to laugh it off anyway."

"Why would I?"

He did not know what to answer. Right, if he had already chosen Harry to be bounded with, why would he laugh off his love?

"So," Draco asked again, this time in his ear, "do you love me?"

As red as his tie, Harry slowly nodded. "I do, of course I do."

"Great." Draco responded, causing a shiver down Harry's spine. "Cause I love you too." He kissed Harry's jaw softly and moved away. "I won't ask you to bond with me just now. Let's give us some time. Alright?"

Harry hummed before burying his head in Draco's neck. His warmth felt so good. Draco closed his arms around him.

"Harry?"

"Hm?"

"Why don't you hate me?"

Harry moved away, a frown joining his brows. "What do you mean?"

"I'm a Death Eat-"

"No, no, no. What are you saying?

"I am." His voice broke. "Look." He rolled up his left sleeve.

Harry gently took his arm, lifting it close to his face, and kissed the Mark. "That's not who you are. Besides, you didn't really have a choice there, did you?"

"No but... I was proud about it, about having been chosen. I was so stupid." Draco was looking at the ground.

"You've got your lot of grief because of that Mark, but it's only a tattoo now. Only an ugly tattoo."

He grinned, lifting his head. "You're right, it's pretty ugly."

Harry pat his head. "What a lovely smile. Let's go get dinner."

Blushing, Draco nodded and they headed out of their dorm.