If I Told You I Was Yours...

I'm prepared to sacrifice my life

Consuming all the air inside my lungs,
Ripping all the skin from off my bones,
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life,
I'd gladly do it twice.

Mercy - Shawn Mendes

There was a lump in the back of his throat that refused to go down.

Draco sat on the bed staring at the wall. His keen ears were pricked, trying to catch as much of the conversation happening outside the room as possible. Dumbledore wasn't supposed to know he was a veela. Heck, his mate wasn't even meant to know.

The mark on his arm began to itch. The wounds he had raked into his skin with his talons were already scabbing over. He had the urge to start scratching them again until the still tender skin broke but he held strong. He had been wired since he was a child to never show weakness, he didn't before and he won't now.

There were footsteps. He looked up from the none too interesting spot on the wall and came face to face with the headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Master Malfoy," Dumbledore greeted amicably, "I trust you have been recovering well."

Draco instinctively his his left forearm from view and met the old wizard's gaze.

"Professor." Draco answered, nodding in acknowledgment.

The man regarded the young wizard in front of him. The boy was on guard, that was for sure. His blue eyes took in the blonde's form. It had barely been three hours since the incident and the boy's injuries seemed to have sealed themselves.

'Interesting,' he thought.

Putting on a smile he hoped was reassuring, Dumbledore clapped his hands, "Once you are discharged, you will be moved from your dorms to a private room that you will be sharing with Mr. Potter."

Draco opened his mouth to protest but he was shut down before a sound could make it past his throat.

"I am sure you are aware of the repercussions of ignoring a veela bond," Dumbledore warned, eyes glinting, "And despite your death eater status, you are still my student and I do wish to protect you."

Ice filled Draco's veins. So they were aware of his mark then. He should have known, Potter had seen the mark. There was no way he wouldn't have tattled to his friends and the headmaster. Not to mention Pomphrey, she probably saw the mark when she was healing him.

'Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.'

There was white noise in his ears. He knew Dumbledore was talking but he couldn't make out the words just staring blankly at the man.

'WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO? HOW COULD HE?'

He couldn't go back to the manor. He was meant to be here. He was supposed to finish the mission.

'MY PARENTS.. HE'S GOING TO KILL THEM. THEY'RE VULNERABLE!'

"Mr. Malfoy!"

Draco startled, his eyes eyes snapping to focus on the worried looking headmaster. Dumbledore sighed worriedly and folded his arms behind his back.

"I know Tom enough to know that he probably has some kind of bargain chip over your head," Albus said solemnly, "If you agree to work with me, then I can assure your protection."

Draco's thoughts skidded to a halt. Dumbledore would protect him? Would that even work? He stared at the man in deep contemplation. This could very well be a trap but what other choice did he have. He ran his tongue over his dry lips.

"And my parents?" Draco asked, "Will you protect them?"

Draco did not care much for himself. He had known the day he presented as a veela and found his mate that he was probably going to die and he had long since made peace with that. His parents, as cold as they were, still loved him. He loved them.