Looking for Title of Book

[WynterRose]

I read a book several years ago and can't remember the title or much about it. It was most likely an adult book, though it could have been young adult.

The main character was a boy in his teens (I think) who had an alien companion (pet?) that was always with him. He had some kind of powers, telepathy possibly, when the alien was near. In part of the book he was separated from the alien when he had to go speak to an authority figure who didn't want him using his abilities against him.

It's not the Flinx and Pip series by Alan Dean Foster, but other than that, I can't remember anymore.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Expendable]

Do you remember anything more that happens in the story? The more of the plot we have, the better chance we have to identify it.

-Ex.

[Colonel Worf]

Umm... the first thing that popped into my head was Starswarm by Jerry Pournelle.

[Ropie]

Sounds a lot like Choccy by John Wyndham.

[microbes]

Maybe Heinlein's "The Star Beast"? A boy and his telepathic Venusian Dragon...