Chapter Five: The End

The pair had slept until well into the night, the unknown built up stress and delectable sex working better than any sleeping potion that Snape could muster. Harry was the first wake, sleep glazed eyes peering around the room as he subtly removed himself from the bed. He shivered as bare feet connected gently with cold stone floor. Stretching, the emerald-eyed pseudo-human turned his gaze back to the bed, the tuft of his tail gently stroking the exposed chest of Severus who slept peacefully. A warm feeling bloomed within Harry as it always did when he saw the potions master free of worry, distain, or ill temperament, as well as the commonplace sneer or scowl.

The onyx haired youth sighed and looked up the time charm that seemed to reactivate whenever Severus was around. He still had an hour or so before the sun would rise, which meant at least three hours before any of the faculty or students would think of joining the daystar. Casting one last glance at Snape, Harry retrieved his wand from a small box tucked away in a pile of potion texts. Severus may not have known that Harry knew that it was there, but he had been listening to Severus speaking with Albus about his possessions while he had been playing with Fawkes. Harry paused as he moved to the bathroom, his brow furrowing as he remembered how the Headmaster had watched him. With that gleam in his eyes, it led Harry to think it was almost as if he planned with whole little adventure…

Shaking his head, he continued on his way and moved to the farthest end of the bathroom, not wanting to wake Snape as he apparated to the Shrieking Shack. While he had left the outside of the Marauder's hideout a pitiful mess to avoid suspicion, Harry had done much to refurbish the inside, even getting the plumbing hooked up. He shivered, suddenly yearning to back in bed with Severus, but he knew that he need to get back to his classes, something Snape would not allow until he was completely normal…or thoroughly buggered. Sighing, he moved to a dresser, pulling out a grey sweater, jeans, wooly socks, and a pair of silk green boxers Hermione had given to him as a joke. She probably thought he threw them away, but right now, Harry had grown used to feeling silk against his skin and wasn't very eager to go back to cotton. After magically altering his pants, shirt, and robes to fit his new features, Harry apparated back, this time to a prefect's bathroom near the Gryffindor quarters in the firm knowledge that the Gryffindor prefects would be sound asleep by now.

Once there, he settled into the water already prepared by the bath itself, bubbles beginning to flood the surface of the pool as Harry selected a soap that smelled faintly of pomegranates but mostly like the fresh air of spring rain. As the heat seeped in, the emerald-eyed male became aware of just how rough first time sex really was, his rump throbbing softly as the muscles there began to loosen up and allow the pain to register to his nerves. Despite the discomfort, Harry smiled wistfully, a low flame of desire smoldering in his belly at the thought of doing it again. His ears pivoted back as he smothered the flame. He needed to get ready for class no matter what guilt he felt for leaving Severus without warning. Sighing, he brought a wing forward to clean it gently, that snarky little voice in the back of his mind murmuring how it would be so much easier to clean his wings if he was with Snape.

After about an hour of relishing in the perfectly hot water, Harry finally found the will to remove himself and cast a drying spell, fighting the urge to shake himself to get his fur to lie flat on his tail or make his feathers sit naturally. By the time he was finished, the sun was just barely peeping over the horizon. Slipping out into the corridor, the dragon boy stalked through the halls with much practiced silence, his new goal was to retrieve his things for the day before anyone awoke in the lion's den. Slipping past slumbering Gryffindors, Harry gathered his things, briefly wondering how Snape might be taking his disappearance.

~Tilde View Jump~

(Back to Severus)

Severus, contrary to what people might think, was actually taking Harry's vanishing act rather well. He had woken up to a semi-warm bed with a harsh cold wave of disappointment. Yet this feeling vanished, replaced with an elegant brow cocked in irritation if not slight humor when he realized that Potter must have vacated early so he could attend his classes now that he had opposable thumbs and was big enough to use a wand without difficulties.

After that, Snape requested a change of sheets and went on with his day, moving to the Great Hall after some potion brewing for a small breakfast with the rest of the school. Much to his expectance, Harry did not join his peers. Perhaps he was waiting to show them from class to class before he actually began eating in the Hall, or perhaps he had already eaten. Either way, it meant he was not likely to see Harry before his own allotted teaching time with the pseudo-human. Just as Severus was getting ready to exit the Hall, a flash of black too dark to blend with a daytime shadow caught his attention, the object moving towards the kitchens. Snape smirked and let it be, an inkling of what it was, already firmly seated in his mind. The rest of the morning seemed to drag on like watching a first year attempt a good luck potion without instructions.

By the time passing period before his class with Harry, Snape felt mentally and physically tired. Scowling, he realized just how much Harry served to calm him during his classes with such inept students. Hell, the dragon even scared a few of his less controllable brats into cowed submission. He sunk into his chair, ready and willing to take a small nap until the soft creak of his classroom door announced an extremely early student. Snape rose, fully prepared to give the brat one of his iciest glares he could muster, only to be deflated when he saw who it was storming quietly into the dungeon room. Harry Potter, his wings slightly flared, tail twitching spastically in anger, and his pupils narrowed down to slits, as he marched up to Severus's desk. At first, he figured Harry would merely stop once he got to the desk. Yet, Harry corrected this thought when the emerald-eyed youth leapt nimbly over the desk and landed gracefully in front of him. A pair of emerald gems bore into his obsidian ones, burning with unbridled anger, or perhaps a mix of confusion, disbelief, hurt, and fury. Hesitantly, Severus reached up, cupping Harry's cheek with a pale slender hand. The younger male leaned into the touch slightly, the fire dimming a fraction.

"What's the matter Harry?" Severus murmured his tone soft and comforting. "I take it he populace didn't like your new appearance?"

Harry scowled and stepped closer, burying his face in Snape's chest, his words muffled by the thick black robes.

"They knew."

Severus blinked, startled by the simple statement.

"Who knew?"

"Hermione…Ron…even Albus…they set it up."

An icy streak of anger flashed through Severus' mind. Pulling away, he led Harry into the adjoining room that served as his office and personal secondary brewing lab. He tugged Harry into a hug, trying to comfort the boy who was practically trembling from the mass of fighting emotions. The potions master nuzzled the top of Harry's head, a hand gently massaging the tense muscles of the youth's back while the other rested gently on Harry's slender hips.

"What do you mean they set it up?"

"The potion and the accident…Hermione spelled my book to make it look like Albus' old potion recipe was the cooling potion we were supposed to brew. Ron made sure the cauldron spilled on me. Albus supplied the potion and the orders that were distract you while I brewed the potion wrong. That is why they did not come looking for me. The rest of the school was left uninformed."

Snape thought over what Harry had said as the boy snuggled closer, his tail curling against Snape's leg.

"Why do you think they would have done this?"

What Severus did not see was the furious blush that bloomed across Harry's face as the boy buried his face further into his robes to hide it.

"…"

Harry mumbled words swiftly, soft and strung together incoherently. Snape quirked and eyebrow and pulled back slightly, lifting Harry's chin to look the younger in the eye.

"Come again?"

The emerald-eyed boy's blush deepened, but he obliged the man anyway, his voice boasting embarrassment.

"I told Hermione and Ron that I liked you when they were pressuring me about my grades. I couldn't stop thinking about you." He looked away, as if ashamed to be admitting this. "Whenever my attentions strayed in class, I found myself thinking of you…and then I couldn't stop until someone tore me away from my daydreams."

Harry sighed and pulled away, his wings, ears, and tail drooped as he turned his back. Severus was baffled and touched by this confession. Perhaps to some this may have seemed like a one sided confession, especially given whom the participating parties were, yet the obsidian haired male felt oddly… joyous. Moving to stand behind Harry, Snape snaked his arms around the younger's waist, pinning Harry's wings between them as he nuzzled his neck.

"Why do you turn away?" He murmured heatedly into the smooth flesh, making Harry shiver. "After last night, I would have assumed that telling me this would have brought no problems. I too couldn't stop thinking of you Harry…can you forgive me for not bringing my affections to you sooner?"

Harry laughed at this and leaned back into Severus' lean body, his tail pushing slyly against the older man's crotch through his robes. Severus coughed, a sound made in warning before pulling away to prevent any sort of seduction he would not be able to resist. Harry flashed a devilish smile, his wings flapping once to resettle feathers mussed by the short embrace. It was nearing the start of his class and he highly doubted he properly teach the rest of the brats with a stiff one straining against his pants. Clearing throat, Severus spoke with a low even tone, one that sent shivers down Harry's spine.

"I will give you a choice Harry. I have noticed, contrary to what people believe; you do not enjoy extra attention lest it be praise for something you worked hard on. I doubt you want to spend another class with a bunch of grown gawking brats, so you may spend this period in here and have a tutoring session to catch you up or you can learn the lesson for today with the rest of the class."

Harry made a face, his tail flicking irritably at the thought of sharing an hour with the people who had made him the way he was…even if they did bring Severus and him together. Severus let out a rare laugh and gathered a few ingredients that he needed for his own demonstrative supplies before leaving Harry to his own devices. When he stepped into the classroom, his robes flared dramatically, his features immediately schooled into a no-nonsense and easily angered teacher that was not going to deal with their inadequacies in a kind manner. He gave them all a standard scowl and with an emotionless voice, told them to open their books to the set page numbers for the day.

~Tilde View Jump~

(Once More to Harry)

Harry pouted as the door shut behind Snape, his ears pinned back in annoyance. He knew Snape would probably come and check on him when the others were enthralled with their attempt to brew whatever the day's lesson was centered on, but that could take nearly the entire period if the instructions were that complicated or the history and use behind the potion was lengthy. He looked around for something to do. None of the cauldrons were full and in the middle of a potion, nor did he think he would dare try and mettle with the neatly sorted herbs and ingredients to attempt his own potion without instruction. He sighed and settled on a velvet carpet that sat in front of the fireplace. Both looked like they had never seen a day of use in their life. Smiling, Harry stripped down, reducing himself to his bare form. He was not afraid of anyone finding him nude on the rug, a small spell cast on the fireplace to get a nice fire going to keep him warm as he waited for Severus to check up on him.

One might asked why he did not feel this particular fear, but if anyone knew the secretive and protective Snape, that question is better left thrown out the window to a Hungarian Horntail. Harry hummed happily and settled comfortably on the rug, his wings resting on the velvet surface on either side of him, his tail curling up in a stretch to graze his shoulders. He extended the appendage as far forward as he could, all thoughts of Snape finding him in this position gone as he pondered the inky black tail. He made it wriggle slightly, the tuft of semi-stiff fur shivering as the main body moved before him. He huffed and let it curl back the other way to complete the stretch, only to shiver with arousal as it brushed up against his no longer virgin opening. He cast a dirty look at the closed door, his keen ears picking up that sinful voice belonging to Severus who apparently was still lecturing the other students. Growling softly, he suddenly decided that his newly awakened libido should not have to suffer the wait for Severus...after all…his tail could replace that delectable cock. Harry shifted, moving onto his hands and knees and cast a wandless lubrication spell. The effort left him panting, but oh so deliciously in tune with the sensations of his body as his magic flowed through him. Curling his tail in again, he prodded the tight bud, the longer hairs of the tuft bending back so that the bony core pushed insistently, on the guardian ring of muscle blocking his path to that delightful gland that could easily bring him to his knees and pledge his eternal servitude to the one that commanded control over it. He whined, blunt nails digging into the rug as he forced the narrow tail tip inside, the fur making it bigger than it really was.

He spread his legs, continuing his conquest of his own body until his limbs nearly gave out from under him as he forcefully hit his prostate. Letting out a mewl of wonton pleasure, he pulled back his tail slowly, reveling in every little sensation as the silkily furred appendage slid slowly out of his tight passage. The narrow bony tail was nothing like Severus' hard pulsating shaft, but it was enough to strangle his ability to reason into oblivion. Thrusting back in harshly, he stabbed at the gland, moaning as a boiling hot wave of pleasure crashed down upon every fiber of his being. Lowering his chest to the floor, he snuck a hand back to lightly, teasingly graze the tip of his already weeping shaft. His mind already achieving lift off in envisioning that it was Severus doing this to him, pumping in and out ruthlessly until tears of unbridled pleasure began to bead up along his eyelashes like clear pearls upon a black flower petal. Harry gasped and moaned loudly, forgetting that Severus was teaching in the next room.

His ears were pinned back in pleasure, his wings extended and draped over the floor for balance, his face contorted with euphoria. Then, just as the incident with Snape's pillow, Harry climaxed, the door swinging open dramatically to reveal a shocked Severus. Dark obsidian orbs narrowed, a dark flame of desire and amusement sparking to life at the sight of the disheveled Harry Potter.

Harry slowly removed his tail from his entrance, the slicked furred appendage sliding from the stretched opening with a wet sucking sound, his once spent shaft quickly coming to life under the smoldering gaze of Snape thanks to teenage hormones and youth. The corner of Severus' mouth pulled into an amused smirk as he leered at Harry.

"I see you couldn't wait for me."

Harry whimpered softly, a low down ach building within his groin, the subtle scent of honey filling the air. Severus paused, inhaling the strange new addition to Harry's scent with puzzlement. It was an intoxicating undertone to the boy's heady arousal, one that made Severus desire to mount and mark him as if he had been turned into an animal instead of Harry. Harry narrowed his eyes, watching as Severus shivered with barely restrained desire. Somehow, he knew what was going on, it felt natural despite what his logical half was shrieking. It almost felt like he needed bred, not breed with a female, but mounted and bred until his belly was full with his mate's offspring. He paused at this, reptilian eyes feral, as he looked the dark male over. Could Severus be his mate?

He is certainly strong enough to protect him and any possible young. His more primal side voiced. This part of him had appeared during his first few days as an animal, guiding him where his human mentality failed to grasp lessons that needed learning when he was a dragon. Moreover, he like him…a lot…that makes him mates material… right?

His primal half purred in agreement and urged him to try to coax Severus in a quick bout of sex, the knowledge that Severus still had a couple classes left still helping to guide his actions. He smiled sheepishly, silently apologizing for the new mess he made before turning himself so that his back faced Snape. He feel the older man's eyes boring lusty holes into his back, making the line of fur along his spine stand as erect as his cock. He looked over his shoulder, his voice nothing more than a husky purr as he tucked himself into a similar position as the day before. His arms tucked to his sides, his chest pressed flat against the velvet rug and his arse high in the air with his tail pulled to the side in invitation. Had Harry never been changed by the potion, he might not have been so willing to act whorish, but now he was had a new inner voice tempering his actions. He smiled, half-lidded eyes focused on Severus who stood rigid, torn between desire and the need to prepare for his next class.

"Come on Sev…" Harry purred, wiggling his rump slightly. "I already prepared myself…how about a quick one before you have to go back to those brats?" When Severus only twitched in signal that he was listening, Harry reached back, fingering the abused hole. "Come on…think of it a stress reliever."

Apparently, that little push did it as Severus snapped and strode forward, dominance and primal authority oozing from his figure, making Harry have to bite back a moan of satisfaction. An ear pivoted back, catching a quickly mutter lubrication spell as the sounds of discarded robes, rustling fabric, and a zipper being drawn faded away. Harry gasped as he felt something hard and hot rutting teasingly against his prepared entrance. Harry whined and pushed back against the rigid shaft, his tail curling around the other's waist, pulling Severus closer. The man chuckled at Harry's impatience, but did not argue, if they were going to finish before they had to make their appearance at lunch, then he was not going to torture his insistent uke. Pulling his hips back, Snape lined himself up before thrusting forward, the motion hard and powerful as he buried himself to the root, tearing so many sweet moans from Harry's luscious lips. Severus groaned, wincing slightly. They may have coupled yesterday, and it had seemed like Harry did a good job stretching himself, but he was still so tight.

Harry mewled and pushed back against him, urging him to move. Severus obeyed the emerald-eyed boy without hesitation, moving as he had seen Harry working himself just moments before. The pace was fast and hard, animal like and nothing more than carnal desire laced with a strange deep-seated love neither one had realized they possessed. Sure, they had known of the attraction. Yes they both knew they would desire nothing more than a year locked away from civilization to make this love grow and blossom as well as bugger each other senseless. Harry moaned, his wings stretching as far as they could as Severus began to stroke his weeping shaft, pearls of pre cum dotting the rug's deep emerald surface. He was so close, his mind nothing more than a churning sea of euphoric pleasure, every fiber of his being calling out to the man currently pounding him into the floor to mark him, claim him so that no other would ever think of trying take him as their own. Harry tilted his neck to the side; his magic flaring, enveloping Snape's own, sharing with him the curse of potion that Albus had brought forth from the dark recesses of the Hogwart's vaults. A sharp pain blended in a musical perfection with his pain, bringing down an indescribable orgasm.

Harry blacked out seconds later to the feel of Severus' fresh hot seed filling him full.

~Tilde View Jump~

(Back to Snape)

Severus panted heavily, suddenly feeling spent as their magic mingled for a few seconds longer before parting. His mouth tasted faintly of copper, yet he did not know why. At some point a darker part of his mind, one he had kept under lock and key for most of his life, took over, guiding his movements as he struggled to keep above the tidal wave of passion, love, and bliss. Looking down, he saw a bite wound on Harry's neck, crimson jewels beading up slowly like dark gems before running slowly down sweat soaked skin. Out of a strange impulse, Severus lapped up the blood slowly, making sure he got every droplet before cleaning up the source. He hummed in satisfaction before pulling out of Harry, and arm still looped around the younger's waist to prevent him from merely collapsing to the floor. Casting a time charm, he saw that he had about ten minutes to get the boy roused and ready to go to the Great Hall for lunch. He scooped up Harry, his dark eyes soft, as he looked the young male over. He felt a sense of completion, not just from the sex, but also as a whole. He moved to lay Harry on one the bare tables he normally prepared potions on before retrieving a potion that would wake the pseudo-human. He paused when he slipped between a pair of cupboards, a nagging twinge in his back flaring before dying away. Shaking it off, he retrieved the potion, just managing to get it down Potter's throat before it returned with a vengeance.

Snape hissed in pain as his magic shifted, pushing against his back until new set of appendages broke free, his shirt ripping as it gave way as did his pants when his spine decided to elongate into a tail that looked similar to Harry's. His magic shifted again, this time working to heal and mend the damage, as Severus stood rigid in pain, a headache from the growth of horns, the change in his ears, and sudden super senses. It was enough to nearly stagger and collapse with the sensory over load. Harry groaned, causing his ears to swivel forward in attention, making Severus grimace at how the seemed to move on their own accord.

The pain…no wonder the potion knocked him out and put him in a protective shell…and these things! They seem to move on their own.

Harry sat up, giving him a dreamy smile, as he looked him over. Harry purred and stepped off the desk, hugging Severus' form, his hands drifting over the new wings. Unlike Harry, his wings tipped in a shimmering emerald green caught between Harry's eyes and the Slytherin house color. Even though he wanted to explore these new traits, he had matters that revolved mostly around dragging Harry to the Great Hall. Tossing Harry his clothes, he gave a murmured command for Harry to get dressed. By the time they had freshened up (Snape summoning some fresh clothes he magically tailored while Harry 'cleaned' himself) and got to the Hall, everyone was already there. Yet curiously, there were two open chairs at the teacher's table. Harry looked to Snape in confusion who returned it, both of their tails twitching with curiosity. Was there a new teacher about they did not know of? Severus strode to his seat, sneaking in stealthily while Harry merely followed, unsure if he should go and sit with his friends or his mate. Albus winked at them and motioned for Harry to sit in the spare chair. To Severus' surprise, no one seemed to notice their odd appearance. In fact, there was not even a curious stare or sly attempt to peek.

As the lunch hour whittled away - with Harry nearly ready to simply lean on him and doze off - Albus coughed softly as he passed by to get their attention. After a brief interlude to inform them of the new password to his office, he gave them the friendly invitation to visit him as soon as they were ready to depart from the Hall. Harry simply nodded and snapped up the last of his lunch while Severus merely finished off his drink. They settled into the padded chairs comfortably…well as comfortably as they could with wings and tails, both sets of eyes on the Headmaster.

"Lemon drop? Licorice Snap?"

Albus offered merrily despite the fact he knew both of them would turn the kind gesture down. Severus cleared his throat, a scowl on his face.

"Ah well, more for me I guess. Now my boys, I suppose you would like some answers."

Both of them nodded, Snape was a bit curt in the movement but both of them shared the annoyed impatience.

"To state simply, both of you were beginning to lag in your works, Harry more so than you Severus, but I suppose that is because you have more control over your emotions. I devised a plan that would - of course- bring you two together. Before you ask, why you two? Through the confessions of Mrs. Granger and Mr. Weasly, and my own mental digging, I found the source of your problems. The potion I used was an old love potion that worked off the basis of two peoples' attraction for one another. The stronger the attraction, the faster the potion worked. Needless to say, I was rather shocked at how swiftly the potion took effect despite my earlier observations." Albus paused to take a sip of tea. "It was in the initial design to at least form a bond of friendship between you two. I see now what I mistook for the desire to be companions was truly a desire to become partners in life. This is evident by the unique side effect of a couple sharing the potion's power through a magical bond."

Albus leaned back in his chair, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously behind those half-moon spectacles as though he was a child tricking his mother into giving him his favorite sweet.

"I used this particular potion because it was a potion you don't know of Severus, this way the plan could commence without you curing Mr. Potter here of his ailment." Albus rose from his seat peering down at them for a moment before moving to retrieve a rather ancient looking scroll. "What I didn't count on was you two going on and creating a whole new species entirely. But as I read this worn scripture at the bottom, it seems that this potion was stored for good reason." He looked up at them. "As it would seem, to solidify a bond that was truly powerful, the potion would call upon their magic cores to alter their genetics and turn the two being into something else. I suppose back then, creatures were less likely to cross breed without outside help."

Severus and Harry looked at each other wide eyes before looking back to Albus, a blatant plea written across both of their faces. Yes, they wanted to be together, but this?

"Don't give me that look boys; this is an ancient recipe, one I took too lightly. This scroll alone predates even the centaurs, I doubt anyone could wrest an antidote in time before your magic cores have settled with the change, making it completely irreversible. If you would like, I can arrange special secluded housing for the both of you here at Hogwarts and outside. Given the nature of your new attributes, I am sure you will both benefit from an area with wide-open skies; perhaps a mountain home?"

Albus looked at the both of them with a serious expression, the mischievous glint replaced by sincere apologies. Severus looked to Harry, lost for words, but went rigid at the familiar gleam of lust in the boy's eyes.

Well…Harry does not seem too plagued by this new upset in his life…

Before Severus could hope to speak up, Harry charged in, his emerald eyes sparking with eagerness.

"A mountain home would be excellent Headmaster! As for Hogwarts, I think Severus' quarters should do." Harry nodded to himself before standing. "Well, we better be off, Sev's still has some classes to teach."

With that, he bade a cheery farewell to Albus before grabbing Severus and pulling him the office, still in a daze about his shift from human to something else. After a few tense lessons, they decided to retreat to Severus' room dinner rather than eat in the Hall. Just as they were rounding the corner that led to his quarters, Snape halted in his steps, the sudden stop jerking harry back into his chest and into a warm embrace.

"You seem completely unperturbed by all this Harry. May I ask why?"

"Because, now I have a valid excuse to be protective if anyone tires to flirt with you again."

Severus snorted at that comment, ushering them inside towards the den where they settled into the comfortably chairs that were large enough to house their wings without awkward twisting.

"I highly doubt anyone would flirt with me."

"They already do Sev; you just make a point to ignore it."

Harry tapped the tip of Snape's nose in a teasing manner, settling in his seat just as a house elf appeared to ask what they wanted for supper. After giving their order and receiving the desired food promptly, Harry moved to curl up in Severus' lap, purring softly as his tail curled about the older man's tail, his ears held in a relaxed position as they ate their food in silence, the dishes disappearing as soon as they finished. The emerald-eyed boy snuggled close, his head tucked under Severus' chin while Snape brought his wings around to serve as a protective feathered blanket. After a while, Harry finally dozed off, leaving a sleep tempted Snape to carry him gingerly to the bed, the fresh sheets just begging to be messed up. Ignoring the urge to wake Harry, he spelled off their clothes and crawled under the covers, positioning the younger flush against him. A smug smile tugged at his lips as he heard Harry speak in a breathy voice before slipping into his own dreamland.

"My mate…"