*Discontinued* No Longer

The Other Mate

Era Damon White**

"Era! What's wrong! Era!" Lucius was nearly shouting as he ran into the room, a house elf having run to get him.

"I'm fine," Era gritted out through his teeth, pain having driven him to his knees, "It's just a headache."

"A normal headache doesn't make people fall to the ground! Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Come closer," he said, not moving himself.

Lucius came up right next to him, not quite touching, and Era lay supine on the carpet with his head in Lucius's lap. The blond veela began stroking his hair, and slowly the pain began to ebb. He was calmer just being in his mate's presence, and so very grateful for it.

"Thank you love," Era said earnestly as the headache at last disappeared. 

Memories of the events leading up to this moment all crowded in, but he determinedly pushed them away, shoving them behind a wall for later.

"There's something I need to tell you," Era said seriously.

"Yes?" his mate queried gently, not pushing him to reveal anything.

"I found out that we have another mate."

"I know that Era, remember? We tried to talk with Severus already."

"No, I mean another mate."

The hand on his dark chocolate hair stalled for a moment as he absorbed the information.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Do I know him?"

"That's a complicated question."

Gray eyes met his brown ones, and Lucius said a bit warily, "Make it uncomplicated."

"Promise to keep an open mind, alright?" Era said, searching his mate's face as carefully to ensure an honest response.

"Alright," was the quiet, truthful answer.

"So, I'm actually going to tell it to you like a story, because I think it's the best way for you to understand. On December 31, 1926, a half-blood wizard was born. His mother was a witch who had used a love potion on a muggle, and she died while having him. The father wanted nothing to do with the child, and so he was sent to an orphanage.

"There he spent the first eleven miserable years of his life, always being the 'different' one, never having any true friends. He was powerful, and his power led to accidental magic that scared off all the people who tried adopting him, making sure that each time he was adopted, he was eventually sent back within the first week. 

"By the age of seven, the Director of the orphanage always dissuaded people looking for a child from the boy, even though he was an attractive child and many showed interest, because she wanted to have a better chance of a child being adopted into a happy family.

"When he turned eleven, his Hogwarts' letter was returned unopened, resulting in the Headmaster at the time to send a Professor to explain things to the boy and orphanage. That professor was Professor Dumbledore.

"Upon first sight, Dumbledore mistrusted the boy. He was far more powerful than an ordinary child, and the years had not been kind to him, resulting in a hard, unyielding shield protecting him from being hurt again. He told Dumbledore of all the things he could do, things he'd learned after  years of uncontrolled power messing up his life, and rather than finding comfort for his difficulties, the power displayed made Dumbledore draw his sympathies even further from the child.

"At Hogwarts, he was sorted into Slytherin House. He was very charismatic, though he didn't truly make any friends. He was smart and powerful, always polite, making students admire and become jealous of him, even as all his teachers adored him. Well, with the exception of Dumbledore.