An Auror in Dog's Clothing - Part 2 (H/D, PG-13)

[sesheta66]

Title: A Sheep An Auror in Wolf's Dog's Clothing (Part 2)
Author: sesheta_66
Betas: alaana_fair and softly_sweetly
Pairing: Harry Potter / Draco Malfoy
Rating: PG-13
Wordcount: ~ 11,000 words
DH epilogue compliant?: EWE.
Summary: At a dead-end in an illegal potions case, when the Aurors finally have a lead, the only way they can act on it is by using a rather unconventional undercover technique. When Auror Potter discovers someone else undercover, he has a choice to make. Trust the person and team up or go it alone. Originally written as a gift for ravenpan for the hd_inspired Animagus fest.
Disclaimer: Characters and setting all belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No infringement is intended, and no money is being earned.



The next day, as they had discussed, Harry went out with the flock as usual. This time, however, he led one unsuspecting sheep astray. Making sure he wasn't followed, he slipped with the sheep beyond the wards and to the edge of the trees where he had first gone undercover.

He transformed back into his human form, and activated the coin to contact Ron. Within minutes, Ron was by his side.

"What is it, mate?" Ron asked. "Everything okay?"

"We move tonight. I need the counter-spell for Obfirmo Claustrum." Ron sent off a Patronus to the investigative team.

"We've found where the lab is, and I think I can get my hands on evidence," Harry explained.

"We?" Ron asked.

"Um … yeah. There's someone already in there, and he's been a great help."

"Who?"

"I'd rather not say."

"Harry, that's not like you, covering up for someone who's involved in something like this. Friend or no friend …"

"He's not a friend," Harry said, though he wasn't sure that was true any more. He and Malfoy - Draco - had become friends of a sort, hadn't they? Well, he supposed it might be a friendship of convenience more than anything else. "Not exactly, anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean we've never been friends before, but we sort-of are now. He's not involved in this; he's just trying to help out a friend."

"Who --"

"You need to promise me that you won't jump to any conclusions, Ron."

"Of course not," Ron said indignantly. "I always consider the evidence."

"Consider this, then. He was here for weeks before I arrived. His friend is addicted to this shit, and her father tried to get her out. He threatened the bastards, and they kidnapped her."

"Why weren't we notified?"

"He was told that she'd die if he contacted the Ministry."

"So how did this non-friend of yours get involved?"

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

"Humour me. We're still waiting on a reply to your question anyway."

"He's an Animagus," Harry said.

Ron's eyes narrowed. "There haven't been any registered for --"

"I've seen the list too. He's unregistered. Just like me."

"But you have Ministry approval. You have a good reason."

"So does he," Harry argued. "Well at least now he does. He's been able to show me all around the place, and he knows a fair bit about the operation. The guy who runs this place never suspected his dog of listening in."

"He's a dog too?!" Ron asked.

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, but a real haughty one."

"So tell me the plan. You're going in tonight, but you don't actually have any evidence yet?"

"It's the best I can do, Ron. We'll go in around eleven, but the guy running the place isn't consistent about his bedtime. Show up here, but stay well beyond the wards until one o'clock, or until you hear a commotion. Be prepared to break down the wards and come in then."

"At one o'clock."

"More than likely when all hell breaks loose, but failing that, yeah, one o'clock."

They stood watching for the farm hands to come searching Harry out. "I gave him my word," Harry said, "that I wouldn't involve them unless absolutely necessary. He wants to stay out of this."

"If something goes wrong, Harry, I need to know who this is."

"I know."

A Patronus Harry didn't recognise returned with the counter spell. "It'll be nice to have you back, Harry," Ron said as the Patronus vanished.

"Thanks. It'll be nice to be back." Harry looked down at the sheep. "I'd better go." He looked at Ron and said, "It's Malfoy. And Pansy Parkinson is the one who's been kidnapped. If anything happens to me, you need to keep them safe." Without waiting for Ron's reaction, he changed back into a dog and led the sheep back to the flock.

~*~*~

As he passed by Draco the dog, Harry the dog nodded. Their plan was a go. He'd explained to Draco that they would likely need help to get out, especially since they had no idea what shape Pansy was in. Harry had given Draco his word that neither of them would face charges, but he'd explained that he needed to let Ron know about his involvement. To Harry's shock, Draco had agreed. He knew that there was every possibility they would die without help, and he figured a ruined reputation was the least of Pansy's worries. She needed help. But first, she needed to get out.

The plan was simple, if not foolproof. Harry would go to the office and Draco would go to the lab. Harry had tried to argue that the potions needed to be secured and that he should be the one to go down there, but Draco had insisted that he be the one to get Pansy. She might fight Harry, but she would be glad to see Draco. Harry relented, and Draco assured him that he would ward the lab himself so that the potions wouldn't be destroyed. Well, unless the whole lab blew up, which was still a possibility. They only hoped there would be time, and that whatever was in the safe would help convict everyone involved in the illegal operation, with or without the actual potions.

~*~*~

Harry slipped out of the barn on schedule and made his way to the main house, only to discover the owner sitting on the porch, drink in hand, Draco the dog at his feet. So focussed on the white dog, Harry hadn't noticed the man. A moment too late, Harry turned himself around.

"Hey, boy," the man called, clearly agitated. "What are you doing out here?" Shit! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! Harry thought.

"Fantastic, Potter," he heard Draco the dog say beneath the growl he was aiming towards him. "Of all the nights …" He didn't need to finish that thought. Harry felt bad enough already.

"Back to the barn with you!" the man shouted at Harry the dog. Harry considered bolting, but the last thing they wanted was to have a hunt on for the dog when he and Draco needed them all to be asleep. They needed time to get the evidence and get to Pansy before the Aurors starting busting through the wards. If they didn't get what they needed tonight, the case was as good as done, because they'd pick up and relocate, with even more security. And what about Pansy? There was no doubt in his mind she'd be dead before the night was through. He'd really fucked this up.

"I'll come back when he's gone inside," he said to Draco.

"Try not to fuck that up too."

"I'm sorry."

"Pansy --"

"I know. We'll get her."

"Easy now," the man said to Draco the dog as he petted him. Not that it was the time for laughter, but Harry could only imagine Draco wanting to bite the slime ball. "You're a good guard dog, aren't you?"

"Hands off!" Draco barked at him.

The man led the way, Harry beside him and Draco following with a growl. Harry wasn't so sure he was only playing the part.

As the door to the barn closed, Harry sat down. His stomach lurched, however, as he heard a latch fasten on the other side. Fuck! He was locked inside. Now what was he supposed to do?

~*~*~

Harry sat for about five minutes, then got up and started pacing. His return to the barn had woken some of the other dogs and they were muttering noisily. Harry's head was spinning worse than on that first night.

He paced back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. He knew Draco had seen Matheson lock him in, but would he come back? Would he be able to come back? Would Matheson let him out of his sight?

You're being ridiculous, Harry chided himself. All Matheson saw was a dog. He doesn't suspect a thing. He really didn't know if he believed that, but he hadn't sensed any paranoid feeling from the man. Just annoyance. Which was to be expected.

Draco was pissed at him. Would he …? No, he wouldn’t dare. Well, honestly, who would know? Draco could go get Pansy and escape when the Aurors arrived. He could say something went wrong, and leave Harry behind. Leave him with no evidence for his case. Leave him to be discovered or killed …

No! He won't do that. Harry knew he could change back and Alohamora the door, but would that set off alarms prematurely? Would he have enough time to make it to the house? To get to Draco? To rescue Pansy? To get the evidence? He wondered when the evidence had become the last of his priorities. Stranger still, when did Draco become his first?

Harry was just about to transform and take his chances when he heard a muffled voice beneath a bark just outside the door. He couldn’t quite make out the sound, as though it were a whisper.

"Hello?" Harry the dog asked.

"Potter?"

"Draco? Oh, thank Merlin. I was going crazy in here wondering if you were coming back here, or if I'd have to cast a spell, or --"

"Yes, yes, Potter. Do shut up now would you. I need to think. There's a padlock on here, and I'm not sure I can unlock it without magic."

"How about a key?" Harry asked.

"Oh, silly me! I hadn't thought of that," Draco snapped. "You idiot! Matheson has the keys on him, and I didn't really think we needed both of us caught tonight."

"Oh. Right."

"Honestly. How on earth did you ever make it to Senior Auror?"

"Luck I suppose."

"Figures."

"Um, Draco, I realise you're here to help me and all, and I should be grateful, but could we move this along? Pansy. The evidence. Aurors arriving. We need to get going."

"Really? I hadn't thought of that, what with getting caught and - oh, no, wait! That wasn't me. That was you. Right."

Harry could sense Draco's glare. "Stop glaring at me!"

"How do you --? Stop doing that!" Harry smirked. "And stop smirking at me!"

"How did --"

"Two can play that game."

"Great. So what do you need?"

"A partner who didn't get caught?"

"Prat. I mean what do you need to open the lock?"

"Something to pry it open, I suppose, but there's nothing out here."

"There are some tools in here. Let me try to find something," Harry suggested. "It's dark in here, so it might take me a while."

"We don't have a while, Potter."

"I know. I'll be as fast as I can."

Harry began searching the barn for something, anything that might be able to pry open the lock. An Accio was tempting, but he couldn't risk detection. At last he found a branding iron, and figured the handle might do the job. He went back to the door.

"Don't speak," he heard Draco's voice hidden by a growl.

"Good boy," Matheson's voice sounded. "You were just making sure he didn't get out again, weren't you?" he asked. "I knew you were a smart one when I got you. But your job is to guard the house, not the barn. Come on back. It's past midnight and I need to get to bed."

Two thoughts flew through Harry's mind as he listened to the retreating steps of Draco and Matheson. First, he was stuck here until Draco could get back. Second, they had less than an hour before a team of Aurors showed up and all hell broke loose.

Well, fuck!

~*~*~

A short while later, Harry got up, having tried not to cause a disturbance with the other dogs, lest that give Matheson a reason to come back.

Figuring he had no choice, Harry listened for any sign of movement outside before making his way over to a small side door, transforming into his human form, and inserting the branding iron into the space between the door and the wall of the barn. He figured breaking it open would draw less attention than using magic. As the door gave way with little fanfare, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Not knowing what time it was, he returned to his Animagus form and ran across to the house, this time watching for any signs of life outside. There weren't any. Including Draco. And after returning to human form and donning the Invisibility Cloak, he discovered the front door was locked and the dog's entrance had disappeared. What the hell was with the locks all of a sudden? he thought. There was no other choice, so Harry growled, "Draco. You there?"

"Potter? The door's locked."

"I figured that much out myself. Can you unlock it?"

"I could if I weren't being watched."

"There's someone there?"

"There's a camera trained on the door. Seems the night for added security."

"Are you tied up?"

"No. Look, Potter, as titillating as this conversation may be, we don't have time for your kinky sort of --"

"God, Malfoy, is that all you think about?"

"It passes the time."

"I meant can you move around?"

"Sure."

"Try wandering out of camera range and let me in through the window in the sitting room."

"Okay."

Harry climbed through after Draco, now in human form, let him in, and they ran over their plan. Harry gave Draco his cloak so he could get past the cameras undetected, and he went to the office. A quick glance at the wall clock before they parted ways told them they had just under twenty minutes before the Aurors started on the wards.

In exactly five minutes, they would each cast the spell to drop the wards and enter their respective rooms. They hadn't had a chance to check if it was the same spell on the office, but they figured it likely was. No time to ponder what other traps might be set, they were going in blind, but there was nothing else for it. If one of them triggered an alarm, each had the same amount of time and opportunity to get what they needed and get out. There would be no looking back.

Harry removed his watch and returned to Animagus form, just in case he was seen before getting into the office. Ten seconds before the time, he transfigured back. At the right time, he whispered, Effringo Claustrum, reached for the door and went in. So far, no auditory alarm had sounded, from either his magic or his opening the door.

Harry closed the door behind him, and went directly to the safe. If there was anything incriminating in this room, that would likely be where it was, and he wasn't wasting time searching anything else. He did a quick scan of the safe front; it didn't appear to have any additional wards on it, so he entered the combination and opened it carefully.

There were several compact discs inside, and two notebooks. A quick scan again revealed no magical barrier, so Harry reached inside and removed the items. As he heard a soft click, he knew something was wrong, yet there was still no noise. He pocketed the items, closed the safe and made for the door. Which was locked. Shit!

He tried the spell to open it, but it didn't work. Not that he thought it would. He tried the window, but that was locked too. As he was about to blast the window open, he heard a faint hissing sound. He looked down at the floor, and watched in horror as billows of smoke flowed from behind the skirting boards, filling the room with who knew what. After several tries, he was finally able to blast the window open.

As he crawled through the rough opening, his lungs filling with whatever the gas was, Harry hoped that Draco would make it out with Pansy. Then he cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself - too little, too late, he thought absently - ran about twenty metres, hoping against hope for some alarm to sound and alert the Aurors, and passed out.

~*~*~

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Harry heard in the distance as he regained consciousness, vaguely aware that he was not lying on the ground at the farm, but in a bed. Not dead, then, he thought as he lifted his head. The world began to spin and his head suddenly felt like it was caught in a vice. He groaned loudly as he flopped back down on the pillow. On second thought …

"Harry!" he heard Ron call from across the room. Ah, of course, that's who was calling him stupid.

"Potter?" another voice asked from behind him. Harry turned over, and saw a pale and very worried Draco staring down at him. "Are you okay? How do you feel?" He spoke in an almost whisper.

"Fabulous," Harry choked out, which started a coughing fit. The coughing reverberated in his head, which made his eyes water, and caused him to choke even more. "Never better."

"I'll get the Healer," Ron said and he left the room.

Harry tried to say something, but it started another coughing fit. Draco laid a hand on his arm. "Later, Harry. We can talk later."

Harry shook his head. He needed to know that look on Draco's face didn't mean that Pansy hadn't made it.

"Pansy?" he was finally able to wheeze out.

Draco's face broke into a small but heart-felt smile. "She's fine. Well … not fine. She's here, at St. Mungo's. She's getting the help she needs, Harry. Thank you."

Harry nodded then closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

Several hours later, he awoke to find Draco still there and Ron gone.

As if he knew what Harry had been thinking, Draco said, "Ron had to go back to the Ministry. He's got reports to file, but he refused to leave until you'd regained consciousness."

Harry tried to talk, but Draco's hand on his arm again stopped him. "Harry, Pansy's father wants to see you when you're strong enough. I told him that you will do your best to keep her name out of things, and … well, he doesn't even care about that, so long as his daughter's okay." Harry nodded.

"Draco," he rasped.

"Here." Draco got him a glass of water and lifted it to his mouth, holding his head up. It hurt much less than trying to lift his own head.

"Thanks." Harry's throat was raw, and he had a bitter taste in it. Grimacing, he asked, "What was that stuff?"

Draco's face went serious. "Some concoction of their own," he explained. "Fortunately, the details were on one of those discs you got. The Healers were able to stop the progression of the poison while they figured out an antidote, but you had inhaled quite a bit, so they couldn't prevent some damage."

"Damage?"

"Your immune system has been weakened, and your muscles were affected. Nothing permanent," Draco assured him, "although I suspect you will have a sore throat and a headache for a while."

"Already figured that out, thanks."

Draco smiled. "Prat."

"Git."

~*~*~

Harry spent the next week in St. Mungo's driving the staff there mad. He was under strict orders to stay there for the week, but it didn't mean he had to like it. Surprisingly, Draco had remained nearly the entire time, only leaving to check in on Pansy, who wasn't technically allowed visitors while recovering, and to go home to sleep.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, would you give these poor people a break?" Draco chastised him, not for the first time, as he entered on Harry's second-to-last day, while he was whinging to one of the matrons about his captivity. Because there was no other word for it. She took the opportunity to scoot out quickly.

"Stop barking at me!" Harry said petulantly.

"Oh, very funny," Draco replied. "You're a real riot. Just don't give up your day job."

"Argh! I just want to go back to my day job!"

"Now who's barking?"

"Shut up."

"Hmm. How do you propose to make me do that?" Draco asked, waggling his eyebrows, voice laced with meaning.

Harry flushed, his mouth opening to say something, then closing when he couldn't think of a retort; then he repeated the action. He suspected he looked a bit like a fish.

"Is that an offer, Potter?"

Harry cleared his throat, then coughed weakly.

"What a shame," Draco sighed dramatically. "I suspect your throat's a bit too raw for anything as adventurous as that just yet."

"Yet?" Harry squeaked. In a very manly, dignified way.

"It would do you well to remember that it was your day job that got you here, and as you well know, you are not allowed back for another three weeks after you get out of here."

"What the hell am I going to do for three weeks at home?"

"Oh, did I not tell you?" Draco asked. At Harry's confused look, he explained. "As part of my deal not to be charged with obstructing justice or holding onto information or whatever the hell charge they'd come up with, I have been assigned to be your nursemaid for the next few weeks."

Harry gaped as a vision of Draco in a nurse's uniform flashed before his eyes.

Draco didn't miss the look. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Harry," he said as he traced his finger along Harry's mouth.

Oh, God, Harry thought. I want to kiss him right now. "What did you have in mind?" he asked instead.

Draco leaned in and brushed his lips gently against Harry's. Then, tracing the path his finger had just made with his tongue, Draco teased a whimper from Harry before pressing his lips to Harry's once more. He then kissed a path from Harry's mouth to his ear and growled, "I'm sure we'll think of something."

~*~*~

Six months later ...

"I'd like to welcome you all to the Auror training program," Kingsley said to the new group of recruits. "Congratulations on getting this far. The fact that you are here means that you have succeeded where many others have failed. Only the best get to this point. But don't be fooled. This will not be an easy two years. You must be dedicated ..."

Harry leaned against the door listening as the sound of Kingsley's voice faded into the background. Harry watched Draco listening attentively and smiled. He recalled the day about four months ago when he had finally been able to convince Draco that he should sign up for the training.

It had been during Draco's Wizengamot testimony against Matheson that the thought had first crossed Harry's mind. He'd told Draco that he was a natural investigator, what with his Slytherin tendency to absorb everything around him. While he took the compliment in stride, Draco had laughed off the suggestion of becoming an Auror. It had taken some time, but eventually he had relented.

They had been seeing each other for a couple of months by then, their relationship beginning the night Harry was released from St. Mungo's. Well, really it had started with those soft kisses that Draco had given him in the hospital. Even more accurately, it had started back at the farm, only neither of them had acted on their feelings then. Harry had explained that their relationship had nothing to do with his suggestion, but Draco had been wary.

Strangely enough, it had been after one of Ron and Hermione's visits that Draco had begun thinking about it. Ron had made the unexpected but accurate observation that Draco's presence at the farm had made all the difference in their case. Not only had he saved Harry time, but he wasn't half bad as an investigator on his own. A week later, Harry handed him the application form and some brochures from the Ministry. Three days after that, Draco was studying for the entrance exam. Not surprisingly, he'd received the highest mark, and was now attending his first day of Auror training.

Willing himself back to the present, Harry went to work, but returned at the end of the day to collect Draco. "Have I mentioned how proud I am of you?" Harry asked after the rest of the class had left.

"Why is that?" Draco asked, his lips twitching.

"Not only are you the oldest in the class, but you're standing up for yourself, against all those that would say a Malfoy could never be an Auror," Harry explained.

"Mm. That is rather brave and noble of me, isn't it?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Let's not get carried away," he chuckled.

"I don't know, Potter," Draco huffed. "I may need some convincing. I think you might have to show me just how proud you are."

Checking to be sure no one else was around, Harry took Draco in his arms and kissed him soundly. "Come home with me," he growled, "and I'm sure I can come up with something to convince you."

~ FIN


Author's note: Obfirmo Claustrum - lock den/prison. Effringo Claustrum - Break open den/prison.

Comments

[alaana-fair.livejournal.com]

Awww... you know how much I adored this. *scratches doggie!Harry behind the ears* Well done, hon!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all your help, sweetie!

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful! I, of course, am partial to dogs and I think I melted at the first wiki link and read the rest of the fic in my goo-form. Oh and what a brilliant pick for both of them! And I loved their banter and the whole concept of communication between animals and Animagi and Animagi and Animagi fits so well with canon. (Like you said, Crookshanks/Sirius deal.)

I loved that the plot was spiced up humour. And the ending was perfect. Yay for Auror training!

Also,

"There's a camera trained on the door. Seems the night for added security."

"Are you tied up?"

"No. Look, Potter, as titillating as this conversation may be, we don't have time for your kinky sort of --"


I was with Draco on this one. :D Camera + tying up = mind -> gutter!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Isn't dog!Harry just so squishable?! And dog!Draco is gorgeous! I fell in love with them as soon as I found those links. ♥

Yay for sticking with canon (whew), and I'm glad you enjoyed the humour & plot. Heh. Mmmm ... tied up Draco. Hey, wait! Don't you usually tie up Harry in your fics? :P

Thanks for reading & commenting.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see, the thing is, Harry fights me and Draco likes it. So, naturally, I want to torture the reluctant one. :D But really, I'm NOT that picky about that particular thing.


Dog!Harry is ... I want one!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

:D I want a dog!Harry too. Scratch that. I just want a Harry. Any which way I can get him.

Shhh ... don't tell Draco!

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*tells*

*and while Draco chases after you, grabs Harry and runs away*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

*trips you and takes Harry*

*laughs at you and Draco falling for Polyjuiced decoy*

:P