Not your usual veela mate Part 1!

Not my story, i just wanted to read it on my ipod...

Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 1

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/1/

Downloaded and compiled by DownloadStory v1.5, by StoweMorris Software
http://talix.homeip.net/stowemorris/downloadstory/


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, his friends, or his enemies.
This story will be a slash story in time. However, they will not jump in bed immediately, since this story is just as much, if not more, about personal development and growth. Nagging me about hurrying things up will be pointless, sorry. Hopefully you will find the wait worth the time, grin.
This is an AU, which begins at the start of Harry's sixth year. There will probably be spoilers from all of the first five books, but none from book six since in my universe HBP doesn't exist.
A/N: This chapter has been re-written since it needed a major overhaul.
Thank you Lia, for doing the Beta-reading.

Find Your Mate, Draco
Day One - Monday Sep 2 1996
Draco Malfoy was sitting at the Slytherin table, fighting the urge to bang his head against the hard surface. He was slowly going insane, and there was nothing he could do about it. At least not yet.
The Veela inside him was singing in his blood, urging him to go and find his mate and claim them so that no one else could get their grubby hands on him. The urge was only getting stronger the more he resisted, and Draco wasn't sure how much longer he could fight the siren song that was his other half.
Draco had known almost all his life that he was a Veela; his father had made sure that he knew both of the dangers and the benefits this entitled. Considering the misfortune Lucius had had with his own mate, Draco was very aware of the pitfalls that awaited him until he had safely claimed the other half of his soul, which made fighting the mating urge even harder.
However, he was a Malfoy, and he was not about to do anything foolish that might jeopardise his entire future. If only his father would bloody well hurry up and get here!
"Are you alright?" Blaise asked, sending Draco a worried glance. Of all the Slytherins present, he was the only one who had an inkling what it was Draco was going through. In spite of his dark looks, Blaise Zabini carried Veela blood as well in his veins. It was diluted though, and not many of the Veela gifts had manifested themselves when he turned sixteen, but he knew the stories, and he understood, somewhat, the urges Draco was currently fighting.
"No!" Draco snapped harshly, only to immediately apologise. "I'm sorry, Blaise, but this is driving me batty. He is here, I can sense him, he is smelling so sweetly, but he is so sad, Blaise, so sad. All I want to do is find him and hug him and make everything better, only I can't!" Draco said in frustration.
The blond boy clasped his tea cup in an iron grip - it was a miracle it didn't shatter under the strain - justso he wouldn't do anything foolish, like tearing his hair out. Or run up and down the tables, sniffing the air. Where the hell was his father? It wasn't as if he hadn't been kept waiting forever as it was! He had been waiting the entire, bleeding summer for Salazar's sake!
Draco had turned sixteen in the beginning of June, and once he had recovered from having his Veela blood awakened, something had been niggling at the edge of his senses. It had been extremely distracting, and it was a miracle he had managed to perform as well as he had on his O.W.L.s.
The only thing stopping him from hunting down his mate was the fact that he couldn't pin point who it was, which indicated that whoever it was, hadn't turned sixteen yet. A fact that somewhat put a damper on Draco's spirits. What if their birthday wasn't until Christmas? No way in hell was he going to manage to get anything done while being distracted like this.
Lucius had been sympathetic, but there wasn't much he could do, other than making sure to keep Draco busy. Which had resulted in one of the best summer holidays of the young Veela's life. His father had taken him on an extended trip around the world, visiting places of prominence in both the magical and the Muggle world. Draco had loved every minute of it.
Father and son had ended their vacation by spending two glorious weeks on an unplottable island outside the coast of Australia, doing nothing more strenuous than sunning themselves, laying on a soft, sandy beach, or swimming in the warm ocean. Which was why the blond returned to Hogwarts with a most healthy tan, causing just about everyone who saw him to drool. Because, if Draco Malfoy had been pretty before, he was now down right beautiful, with his pale blond hair that was almost resembling a halo as it contrasted against his nicely tanned skin, which no longer was looking like alabaster.
They had also done a lot of talking, and Draco felt he was a lot closer to his father now than he had ever been before. That he was now considered an adult in the eyes of the law probably had something to do with it, but mostly it was due to the older man working on re-connecting with his son. The two of them had been very close when Draco was a child; however, some of that closeness had diminished since Draco spent most of his time at Hogwarts. But now their closeness was back in full force, and the teen was determined not to let it slip away from him again. Mate or not, he was not giving up on his father as a friend and confidant.
Speaking of mate, where the hell was his father?
Draco sighed, fighting the urge to pout. The distraction the vacation had provided had worked, and he had almost, almost, forgotten all about that niggling feeling, which was probably why he had been hit so hard when he had entered the platform where the Hogwarts' Express was waiting.
One whiff of that enticing scent, and Draco had felt his transformation start. Completely lost in the perfume that spelled Mate, Draco had been unaware of moving. He had been deaf to the calls of his father, and he had been utterly unprepared for the stunner Lucius had cast on him. Needless to say, he had been most displeased waking up in his own bed, in his own room at Malfoy Manor.
Lucius had had to do some very fast talking to avoid both the fight and the hissy fit Draco was ready to indulge in. In the end they had come to a compromise. Draco would be allowed to spend the night at Hogwarts, since that would calm his raging instincts somewhat, but he would not attend the Welcoming Feast, and only appear for breakfast the next morning.
Draco had not been entirely happy, but he had agreed; anything to get closer to his mate. So here he was, sitting at the Slytherin table, waiting for his father so he could start looking for the one that was destined for him. The only thing he knew for sure was that it was a he, and that he wasn't a Slytherin.
Even though he knew that his mate was supposed to be the one being that completed his soul, making him whole, Draco still had feared that it would be one of his fellow Slytherins. Hard pressed to suppress a shudder, the Veela was thanking just about every deity out there for escaping that fate.
"Are you alright?" Blaise asked once more, eyeing his friend worriedly. Severus had given him the responsibility to make sure that Draco didn't do anything rash before Lucius arrived, though the youth wasn't sure how he was supposed to manage that. Draco was far stronger than he was, both physically and magically, and if you equated the Veela instincts fighting for dominance...
"I'm fine, Blaise, there is no need for you to worry so much. I'm just feeling grateful that it isn't a Slytherin," Draco replied, sending the other boy a small smile.
Doing a swift mental inventory of their year-mates, Blaise was hard pressed to suppress his own shudders. "Thanks a lot, Draco!" he complained, doing his best to erase the mental images that had popped into his head. Diane Greengrass was the only female worth her salt, but since her ambition in life was to become the next Celestina Warbeck, she was forever obsessing about clothes, make-up, and music. Only the dire threats from her father caused her to buckle down and study, ensuring she got good grades. She might live for her music, but she wasn't about to starve for it.
The boys weren't much better when it came to marriage material. Draco and Blaise were too good friends to even consider themselves as lover material for the other, aside from the fact that Blaise so far had only liked girls. There was Theodore Nott, but since he was an incredible flirt, who refused to take anything seriously, he was not someone you wanted guarding your back. As for Crabbe and Goyle, could you say 'Eeeuuw'?
"Hey, why should I suffer alone?" Draco asked, some of his good mood restored. Blaise merely huffed, sending his friend a mock glare.
"At least this should get Pansy off your back," Blaise said, turning to more serious matters once more. "I can't believe that your mother is actually encouraging her. Stop. I take it back, yes, I can. But not even she will be able to fight the Mating. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about that," Blaise said with feeling.
He had been a bit worried when his father had informed him that he was betrothed to a witch from Sweden. However, having met her this summer, those worries had been mostly put to rest. She was beautiful, and none of it was due to glamour charms, with long blond hair and dancing blue eyes. It was only an added bonus that she had a wicked sense of humour and an even temper, a perfect match for the steady Slytherin boy who loved playing practical jokes.
The month Blaise had spent with her and her family had been pleasant, and he couldn't wait for next year when she would be transferring to Hogwarts, enabling the two to get to know each other better. She would have transferred this year, only her family had been worried about the unrest in Britain, and had been urging Blaise's father to allow the boy to be the one to transfer instead. At the moment, things were at an impasse, and Blaise could only hope that the war would end soon. He had no wishes of becoming a Death Eater, and he sure as hell didn't wish that fate on Draco, but as things looked at the moment, their futures were bleak to say the least.
Determined to think of more cheerful things, Blaise looked around the Great Hall, trying to figure out who Draco's mate could be. There weren't that many available candidates after all. "Can you sense him?" he asked, still deep in thought.
"'Can you sense him?' What kind of inane, idiotic question is that? Of course I can bloody well sense him!" Draco hissed angrily, giving his friend an incredulous look.
"I know you can, but can you pinpoint from which part of the Great Hall the scent is coming from?" Blaise asked with a longsuffering sigh, waiving the glowering look aside with ease. It wasn't as if he hadn't been subjected to them for years.
Draco huffed, but he too turned to look out over the hall, delicately scenting the air. "No," he eventually groaned, "and it is driving me insane. I need him so much. I have never experienced such a divine perfume, but every time I try to analyse it, I just get lost in it. I need him, Blaise. I need him so much it hurts," Draco moaned, pushing his plate away, suddenly revolted by the sight and smell of his breakfast.
"Calm down, Dray. Look, your Father just arrived, he'll help you make it better," Blaise said, having just spotted the senior Malfoy entering the Great Hall, doing his best to ease the distress of his friend.
"Good morning, Dragon, I take it you are still searching?" Lucius asked, sitting down next to his son and looking at him with worry. He had accompanied Draco to the Hogwart's Express the day before and had barely managed to stop him from hunting down and pouncing on his unsuspecting mate there and then.
Even he had been able to sense the child, and never in all his years had he encountered such a strong fragrance. Whoever the boy was, and it was clear it was a boy, he was extremely strong and not entirely human. It wouldn't surprise him if the child wasn't very human at all. But who? If you went by power alone that would indicate the blasted Boy Who Lived. But both his parents had been extremely human, not a whiff of non-human blood in either of them. So who was this unknown entity?
Realising that there was no way Draco could travel on the train and not attack his mate and claim him right there, Lucius had Portkeyed the two of them home before placing a fire call to Severus. Draco had not been pleased when he woke up in his own bed. In the end, he had given his permission for Draco to return to school in time for the Welcoming Feast, as long as he promised not to leave his dorm before breakfast. Severus had made sure that the promise had been kept by putting up a few choice wards around the dungeons. It had helped that the mate was not a Slytherin, for which Lucius was extremely thankful. Just about anyone was better than his son's Housemates, even a Hufflepuff.
"Morning, Father. Can I go look now? I need him, Father, it hurts." Draco pleaded with his eyes for Lucius to give in.
Normally the blond aristocrat would have reprimanded his son for his behaviour, but how could he, given the circumstances? "Yes, you may go and search for him," Lucius allowed with a small smile of understanding. "Be careful and make sure no one sees you," he added, watching indulgently as Draco jumped up from the table, a bright smile on his face. With him here, Draco should be able to control his instincts better and now that he wasn't taken by surprise, he wouldn't pounce on whomever it was that was calling to him.
Lucius and Blaise watched as Draco sauntered towards the doors leading to the dungeons, the blond boy was oozing sex-appeal, and quite a few individuals were watching him go, lust evident in their eyes.
Draco was blind to them all, totally focused on his mission. Walking through the doors, he quickly faded from everyone's view, slinking back into the hall before the doors closed again. Only Lucius was able to still see him, one of the powers of the Veela that had aided the older Malfoy more than once when he had found himself in a tricky situation. He had been very happy to find out that Draco possessed the ability as well, since it would help keep both him and his mate safe. Not everyone was going to be thrilled with Draco's Veela status, and depending on who his mate was, there could be real danger for the two in the near future, especially before they had bonded.
Then there was the girl, Pansy Parkinson, Lucius was still livid with Narcissa for encouraging the girl, promising Draco to her. He would not allow what happened to him, to happen to his son. He would rather kill the girl than allow her to bound to Draco. The boy did not deserve such a fate.
Draco was unaware of his father's darkening thoughts. Finally, he was being allowed do hunt for his mate! The perfume was driving him absolutely crazy! Not losing any time, Draco walked by the Hufflepuffs, quietly sniffing the air. As he had suspected, none of them were calling to him. Thank Salazar and his snakes! Draco thought, moving swiftly towards the Ravenclaw table. He was pretty sure he would have all but died if his mate had been a Hufflepuff. Lucius' cousin might be happy being married to one, but Draco had so far yet to meet one he actually liked, aside from Mercury's wife who didn't really count since she was more Ravenclaw than Hufflepuff, if you asked him.
His trek around the Ravenclaws took a bit longer, the scent was stronger here, but it was soon evident that it was none of them either that was calling him. Reluctantly, Draco turned towards the Gryffindor table, not particularly happy by this revelation. Swell! he thought, it had to be a Gryffindork! Why me? Salazar, Father is going to kill me! Then again, oh Circe, the power this one possesses!
As if in a dream, Draco found himself moving forward, not having made a conscious decision to move. As he got closer to the last table, all his senses were assaulted, and he felt as if he had been sucker punched. The emotions that washed over him were so powerful that he almost staggered. His mate was so tired, and in so much pain. Not to mention annoyed!
Draco closed his eyes, fighting to stop his feeling from overwhelming him. It did put a damper on his urge to claim what was his, which he supposed was a good thing. Instead, he was overcome with another emotion, that of protection. All he wanted was to go up to his mate, sweep him up into his arm, and take him away from everything that was hurting him. He had never felt anything like this in his entire life, and for the first time ever, Draco faltered, not sure what to do.
Re-opening his eyes, his gaze landed on and locked with Harry Potter's. As soon as their eyes met, Draco knew who his mate was. The Veela found himself frozen to the spot, unable to either move or look away, not that he particularly wanted to do the latter. Then he realised that Potter was looking right at him. Not through him but squarely in the eyes, and Draco felt his eyes widen in alarm. How was that even possible? He was invisible, for Salazar's sake! No one but another Veela should be able to see him, and, whatever Potter was, he was not a Veela. What was going on here?
With almost morbid fascination, Draco watched as Potter opened his mouth as if he was about to address him. Then he closed it again; and shrugging slightly, he turned away and refocused on his breakfast. Picking up his teacup, a look of annoyance flashed across his face when Granger, the stuck up know-it-all began berating him for something or other. It took all of Draco's willpower not to attack her there and then for hurting his mate.
Knowing that there was nothing he could do at the moment, Draco turned away with some difficulty, and made it back to where his father was sitting. As he drew near, Lucius elegantly climbed to his feet, and leading the way, the two of them left the Great Hall together. Once they were secure in an empty classroom, Draco allowed his invisibility to melt away, sagging against one of the desks. He felt strangely drained, and he was panting as if he had run from a herd of rampaging Hippogriffs.
"I take it you have found your mate"? Lucius asked once he had put up several strong privacy wards. In no way did he want this conversation to be spied upon. Moving to stand next to his son, Lucius wrapped his arms around him, lending him his support. "Son?" he nudged gently, when Draco was just standing there within his arms, "are you alright?"
"I am, but I'm not so sure about my mate," Draco finally said, his voice slightly muffled by his father's shoulder.
Lucius' eyebrow climbed an inch. "I see. I am afraid your words are as clear as mud, my Dragon. Shall we start with the more important information first? As in: who is your mate?"
Draco blushed slightly, and taking a small step back, he looked up at his father. "Harry Potter," he said simply.
Lucius merely nodded his head; the revelation hadn't been that unexpected, especially when the scent had led Draco to the Gryffindor table. "Hmm, not a bad choice. He is strong, and powerful, and he is quite easy on the eyes," Lucius mused, thinking the situation through, ignoring the slight growl coming from Draco.
"Too bad he is so firmly under Dumbledore's thumb. It can't be helped I suppose... Very well, we will do what we can to support him; after all, he is family now. Come, my Dragon, let us see that bumbling fool of a Headmaster. The sooner he is informed, the sooner the two of you will be together.
"And Draco? Know that I do not care who your mate is, as long as they make you happy," Lucius added, giving Draco a swift hug before letting him go.
Draco smiled up at his father, feeling ridiculously prideful and happy the man was his father. Lucius had always been there, no matter what. To know that he was supporting him still, even though it was 'Harry bloody Potter' who was his mate, meant a lot to Draco, especially after the summer the two of them had shared.
"Thank you, Father, I promise that I will not let you down," he said softly, gratitude shining from his silvery eyes. Then his thoughts returned to his mate, and Draco couldn't help but wonder what was going on. He wasn't supposed to feel his mate's emotions this clearly, that only came after the bonding, and then only once the two had grown comfortable with each other. To Draco's knowledge, the situation he found himself in was unheard of. Then he snorted. This was Harry Potter; common laws of magic somehow never seemed to apply to him. Why would this be any different?
Deep in though, the two Malfoys made their way to the Headmaster's office, there was a lot of things that needed to be discussed, it was too bad that they couldn't avoid getting Dumbledore involved.
HPDM
"Ah, Draco, Lucius. Come and have a seat. Lemon drop?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling. He had of course been informed that Draco had come into his inheritance last June and he was eager to find out who the boy's mate was. If he was lucky he would end up with the two Malfoys fighting on his side in this war. Draco would never do anything to hurt his mate and Lucius would never do anything to hurt his son. Mentally he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"I take it young Draco has located his Mate?" he asked, playing on his grandfather persona as much as he dared. Magical creatures were so much more difficult to manipulate than humans were.
"Yes," Lucius said regally, knowing fully well what the old schemer was thinking and disliking it immensely. There wasn't much he could do about it though, but play along. At least for the moment.
"Excellent! And may I ask who the fortunate youth is?"
"Harry Potter," Draco stated, no less regally than his father.
Behind his desk Albus Dumbledore felt his control slip, and it was all he could do not to crow in delight. Harry was Draco's mate? This was wonderful news! Harry and Draco, why the Malfoys would fall over themselves to please him now, since that would please Harry, and what Harry wanted, Harry got. He knew he had made the right decision keeping the boy humble and beholden to him, Albus Dumbledore. This revelation could very well change the entire war!
Remembering the Malfoys, Albus swiftly schooled his face to something a little less triumphant, and smiling benevolently, allowing his eyes to twinkle full force, he said, "Wonderful! Congratulations, young Draco, I am sure both you and Harry will be very happy together. Allow me to summon Minerva and have her bring Harry here immediately. The sooner the two of you start to bond, the better. You will both be excused from class, of course, and I believe the suite of rooms your father requested is ready and waiting for you."
While he talked Dumbledore swiftly penned a short note, and summoning one of the house-elves, he requested it to deliver the message to McGonagall, and to inform Severus that he too was needed at the Headmaster's office. With luck, neither of the professors had left the Great Hall yet.
Leaning back into his chair, the aged wizard fell silent, not bothering to try and chat with his guests. At this stage, there wasn't much point in talking with them anyway. Draco was too distracted by his mate, and Lucius... well, Lucius would need some time to come to grips with his need to change alliances.
Instead, Albus happily lost himself in glorious daydreams of the future. With Harry at his side, and with the Malfoys backing Harry, why, the war was as good as won! Harry Potter, eh? he thought to himself. Who would have thought he and young Draco were destined for each other? This is splendid! I couldn't have planned it better myself. This will be so much better than have Harry marry the Weasley girl. The Weasleys are a loyal family, although there has been some discord of late; no matter, I will just have to straighten things out with Molly later. There is no hurry.
But back to Harry... he is a strong boy, and he is so firmly grounded in the Light that there is no way the Malfoys will be able to sway him to see face to face with Tom. If nothing else, their past history will see to that. How fortunate that I managed to get Harry involved with that stone business in first year, it put him right on the top of Riddle's hate list. Yes, I knew involving Harry could only be a good thing.
And to think, with Lucius backing me, I might finally find out just what Voldemort is plotting. Severus has turned out to be woefully ignorant on that point. Silly boy, he never did manage to get back in Voldemort's good grace. Maybe now I won't have to depend on him so much. If I play my cards carefully, it shouldn't be difficult to talk the older Malfoy, and perhaps even the younger one too, to spy on Tom for me. They should be willing to do just about anything to keep Harry happy and safe. Why, it wouldn't surprise me if they don't volunteer for that service, practically begging me to allow them to help, Dumbledore thought smugly
In their chairs, the Malfoys were unaware of the plots the Headmaster were weaving around them. Draco was thrumming with impatience to be near his mate again, and Lucius was plotting strategies to ensure that Potter gave his son a chance and did not refuse him on the spot.
The silence remained until there was a knock on the door, heralding the arrival of three people. "Come in," Albus called cheerfully, almost blinding the three newcomers with his twinkle. "Ah, Minerva, Severus, Harry, I am so glad you could come. Sit down, lemon drop?"

Next Time:
Harry's thought about being Draco's mate
Until Then...




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 2

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/2/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, his friends, or his enemies.
This story will be a slash story in time. However, they will not jump in bed immediately, since this story is just as much, if not more, about personal development and growth. Nagging me about hurrying things up will be pointless, sorry. Hopefully, you will find the wait worth the time, grin.
This is an AU, which begins at the start of Harry's sixth year. There will probably be spoilers from all of the first five books, but none from book six, since in my universe, HBP doesn't exist.
A/N: This chapter has been re-written since it needed a major overhaul.
Thank you Lia, for doing the Beta-reading.

A most wonderful thing has happened today, Harry

Monday, Sept 2
Harry Potter was not having a good day. He was tired and cranky, due to not having gotten much sleep the previous night. On top of that, his friends were really bugging the hell out of him, and for no good reason at all. Considering the summer he had had, you'd thought he'd get some slack, but oh, no, he was the blasted Boy Who Lived, who cared if he was happy or not, as long as he was around to do his 'duty', right?
Snorting with contempt, Harry looked out over the hall, trying to distract himself from his dark mood. He really couldn't afford to lose his temper at the moment, and the way Hermione was harping on him, when she wasn't scolding Ron for his eating habits, it was all he could do not to blow up at her. Merlin and his beard, but when had Hermione turned into a nagging, scolding, not to mention disapproving mother? The way she was treating them you'd think they were three years old. Glancing at the witch, Harry found himself pitying any children Hermione might ever have, he had a feeling that they would not have an easy childhood.
Not wanting to go there, Harry swiftly turned his attention elsewhere. A movement caught his eye, and Harry watched with amusement and some curiosity, as Draco Malfoy, the bane of his existence strolled up and down the tables in the Great Hall. Intrigued, he watched as the blond moved past the Hufflepuff table. Was that a look of relief on his face? What in the world was the other boy up to?
A swift glance to the sides, told Harry that neither of his friends had spotted Malfoy's odd behaviour yet, which was a bit strange, especially considering how closely Ron usually kept tabs on Malfoy. Shrugging his shoulders, Harry went back to watch as Draco more slowly made his way up and down the Ravenclaw table. It almost looked as if he were looking for something, but what?
Harry all but forgot about his bad mood, too intrigued by this new mystery. Then Draco turned towards the Gryffindor table. Bracing himself, Harry waited for the disparaging comments that always flew through the air when the two of them got near each other, but as their eyes locked, Harry felt a strange feeling in his chest, and he was startled by the look of longing and yearning in warm silvery eyes, and Harry found himself wishing he could ease the pain he saw in them.
That thought brought him up short. Since when did he care about Draco bloody Malfoy? Opening his mouth, Harry was about to demand to know what was going on, but something held him back. He wasn't sure what was going on, but somehow he just knew that this was not the place, nor the time, to demand answers.
Deciding to go with his instincts, after all, they seldom led him astray, Harry shrugged, closed his mouth and turned away from Malfoy, picking up his tea cup in an attempt to distract himself from the other boy.
"Harry! Are you even listening to me? We really need to buckle down and start studying early this year. No more slacking off, and absolutely no more adventures! It is vital that we put all our energy and efforts on our school work; the N.E.W.T.s is only a year away, and there is a lot of material to learn before that."
Biting back a sigh, Harry couldn't keep a flash of annoyance from appearing on his face. He bloody well knew how important the N.E.W.T.s were! He bloody well knew how little time there was left, Hermione had after all only been harping about them since their third year. But bloody hell they hadn't even gotten their schedules yet!
Absentmindedly, Harry watched as Draco turned around and left the hall, wishing he could do the same. Instead he sighed and mumbled, "Yes, Hermione, I know," knowing from experience that it didn't pay to ignore her when she acted like this, since that would only prolong the lectures, giving her more things to lecture him about.
When McGonagall started to hand out their schedules, Harry could have kissed her, since that very nicely derailed Hermione from her obsession with their N.E.W.T.s, redirecting her attention to the lessons they would be having that day.
Glancing up, Harry was surprised to see a house-elf pop in next to McGonagall, giving her a note. Something important must have happened, and Harry couldn't help but wonder what was going on now. He got a bad feeling when his Head of House looked up from reading the message and stared right at him. Coming towards him, she gestured for him to come with her, saying, "Mr. Potter, the Headmaster wishes to speak with you."
I knew it! The semester hasn't even begun yet, and already the old coot wants to see me. Great, juuust great! Harry thought moodily, but he obediently climbed to his feet and followed the professor as she marched down the corridors towards the Headmaster's office.
Harry's heart sank even further when Snape joined them outside the gargoyle. Whatever Dumbledore wanted, it was big, and Harry couldn't help but wonder if he should turn tail and start running. He didn't want a part of this, whatever 'this' was. All he wanted was some peace and quiet. Was that really too much to ask for?
Biting back a sigh, Harry nevertheless followed his professors up the escalator, knowing that there was no point in running. He had nowhere else to go anyway. Might as well get the meeting over and done with. It wasn't as if he had much of a choice. As if he had ever had any choice.
Doing his best to school his face into a blank mask, Harry watched as McGonagall knocked briskly on the door before entering. Seeing the way Dumbledore's face lit up when he saw him, Harry just knew that he was doomed.
"Ah, Minerva, Severus, Harry, I am so glad you could come. Sit down, lemon drop?"
"No thank you, sir,"Harry mumbled, taking a seat between McGonagall and Malfoy senior. Snape didn't bother to take a seat at all, he merely walked over to lean against a wall, a dark scowl on his face. Why do I have the feeling I will live to regret this? Harry wondered, doing his best to suppress a shudder. Nope, this did not look good for him, not good at all.
"Albus, if you could please tell us what this is about? Classes will start soon, as I am sure you are well aware.
"Ah, yes, my apologies, but you see, a most wondrous thing has happened today," Dumbledore said, looking straight at Harry.
Harry sagged slightly in his seat, fighting the urge to bang his head against something hard. He knew it!
"Congratulations," Harry said dully, feeling that some sort of response were expected of him, but he'd be damned if he showed any enthusiasm about it, especially since he still didn't have a clue to what was going on. And to think that the old coot had promised him to be on the level with him from now on. I guess that shows how much the old man's promises are worth, Harry thought with a sneer, keeping his gaze on Dumbledore's left shoulder. No way in hell was he going to allow the Headmaster free reign to his mind, but he wasn't about to appear to be cowed by him either.
"Yes, yes, congratulations indeed," Dumbledore said happily, totally unaware of Harry's dark thoughts. "You see, young Mr Malfoy here is part Veela, as you might already know, and he has just found his mate," Albus went on, beaming with happiness.
Slowly, Harry turned his head and looked over at Draco, who was sitting next to his father, looking at Harry with that strange mix of longing and yearning in his eyes that Harry had seen in the Great Hall, only hope was added this time, and Harry had a sinking feeling he knew just who Malfoy's mate was.
Letting his eyes close and his head drop, Harry took a deep breath, trying to sort out what exactly he was feeling. Wonderful! The Fates really enjoy kicking me in the teeth, don't they? he thought resentfully,not exactly thrilled by this revelation. But then his mind kicked in, eagerly telling him of all the benefits and possibilities that would open up to him if he got the Malfoys on his side. If nothing else, they should be strong enough to tell Dumbledore to go fly a kite.
Hmm, maybe, just maybe, I could turn this mess into something positive? The Malfoys aren't exactly fond of Dumbledore either. It all depends on how strong their ties with old Voldie are, I suppose. Surely, there can't be much love between them still? Wait, what if this is just a way to get their hands on me so that they can deliver me to their master!
But no, the look in Draco's eyes... That wasn't faked. Salazar and the Founders, I really am his mate! Harry realised with startling clarity. But... we hate each other! Then again, hate is a very strong word, isn't it? Dislike is more accurate, really. After all, he has been acting like a real prat ever since I first met him.
Yeah, but we were eleven then. I have grown up a lot since that day; surely he has too? Would it really hurt to give him a chance? What do I have to lose? It will piss off Ron and Hermione, earning me endless lectures no doubt. But aren't they already forever lecturing me? Clearly showing their disapproval of me?
Oh, Sirius, how I wish you were here, I could really use some advice right about now. Then again, you probably would only rant about Slytherins and what evil gits they are, Harry thought morosely, knowing all too well his godfather's blind spots.
Glancing back at Draco, feeling that weird feeling in his chest once more, Harry made up his mind. He would give the Malfoys a chance to tell him what it was they wanted from him. After all, everyone else wanted something from him, so why shouldn't they? Taking a deep breath, Harry raised his head a little and focused on the edge of the desktop. "So, what happens now?" he asked dully, knowing that everyone was expecting a rant or a tantrum from him. Well, he was not about to oblige them!
"Draco and you will be moved to your own rooms, which we have already prepared for you," Dumbledore replied with a kind smile, and a merry twinkle. "You will of course have separate bedrooms for now, and you will also share all your classes. As you know, Draco will not be able to be separated from you until the bond has formed. Do not worry, my boy, it will all turn out for the best," Dumbledore said with his best grandfatherly smile. Harry never saw it as he was still focusing on the desktop.
"Shall we? I am sure you are eager to see your new home," Dumbledore continued, a bit miffed that his efforts were going to waste, and not at all happy by the way Harry was ignoring him.
"Yes, sir," Harry said obediently, climbing to his feet when everyone else got up from their seats.
Albus frowned displeased, didn't the boy realise what an opportunity the Light had been given? Why, this development would practically cripple Tom, what with losing his right hand man, and if they were fortunate, Riddle would never recover from this blow. Not many had the resources and influence the senior Malfoy held, despite his somewhat tarnished reputation, and there was no one who could readily step in and fill Lucius' shoes if he deserted Voldemort.
Observing Harry, Albus' frown deepened. By the blank look on Harry's face, the boy really didn't realise what a glorious opportunity this was. Ah, the boy is still young, I suppose, but I truly had thought he would be more aware of the war by now. On the other hand I suppose I shouldn't complain. If Harry got it into his head to do things his own way... Why, I shudder to think of the mess he would make of things. No, better he leave all the thinking and plotting to me, and merely focus the duties I place upon him. Yes, yes, but he still needs to understand that he must make sure to win over the Malfoys. We simply cannot allow such an opportunity to slip through our fingers.
Lucius glanced over at the Headmaster, wondering what mad plots he was scheeming now. Things had gone well so far, better than he had expected to tell the truth. Potter hadn't thrown a tantrum, and he hadn't refused the Veela outright. Maybe there was still hope for them after all.
Giving Dumbledore a gimlet eye, Lucius considered demanding being present, but then he changed his mind. He didn't think the aged wizard would do anything to jeopardise the bond between Potter and Draco, besides, his relationship with the boy was tentative at best, better not do anything that might rock the boat.
McGonagall didn't look happy either about the Headmaster's request, but she knew better than to protest, and so she just shook her head and left the office, waiting for the others to join her.
Severus was the last one to leave. He too knew Dumbledore all too well, and he found himself worrying about what he wanted to talk to the brat about. Though he had a feeling he could guess.
When he had first heard that Potter was Draco's mate, he had hung his head, biting back a groan. He really wished Lucius had given him a heads up on that development. Then again, there really hadn't been time to do so, and considering Draco's strong reactions, the sooner the two were together, the better for everyone concerned.
Still... Did it have to be Harry bloody Potter! The bane of his existence? The two boys loathed each other for Salazar's sake! Severus shook his head in dismay, knowing that all they could do was grit their teeth and hope they all survived the upcoming weeks. Things were about to become very interesting at Hogwarts, very interesting. And Dumbledore actually thought he would be able to manipulate this lot to do his bidding?
Suddenly feeling a whole lot more cheerful, Severus gave his employer a warning look, before joining the others in the corridor. Knowing just how headstrong his godson was, Severus had a feeling things were about to turn out far differently than Albus thought they would.
There was also the added bonus that if Albus was stupid enough to do something that set back the bonding between Potter and Draco, then Lucius would be both willing and able to tear a few strips of Dumbledore's hide, and Severus would get first seat rows to the show. Perhaps there was some merit to the saying about dark clouds and silver linings.
Unaware of his Potions Master's thoughts, Albus watched as Severus left the office, leaving him alone with Harry. Focusing solely on the boy, he started speaking, keeping his tone light, yet allowing a small amount of his disappointment to show through.
"Harry, I don't think you realise what an excellent opportunity this is," he began, once more reaching out to grasp the boy's shoulder, frowning in annoyance when Harry smoothly stepped out of reach and walked over to Fawkes. Crooning softly, Harry began to pet the Phoenix, who eagerly shifted on his perch to give the teen better access, trilling happily at the ministrations, his song lifting everyone's spirits.
"Harry, child..."
Harry bristled but continued with his petting.
Albus gamely forged on, determined to reach Harry and make him see reason. "This might seem like the end of the world to you, I realise that. After all, the record between you and young Malfoy is not the best, to say the least," Albus said with a small chuckle, doing his best to sound optimistic yet understanding. "However, you have nothing to fear. As a Veela, Draco is unable to harm you, and by that I mean both physically and emotionally. I am told that a Veela's love is the most pure love there is, and for you to have been granted this privilege, why... it is a gift most people can only dream of receiving. I know just about everyone at this school would be only too happy to trade places with you, Harry, you should feel very proud for being deemed worthy of Draco Malfoy.
Yeah, sure I should feel proud. It isn't every day that you are being encouraged to sell yourself for the good of an entire world, it is such a privilege, isn't it, old man. And I'm sure it will work out for the best in the end. The question is, best for whom? Don't think I don't realise that the only reason you are so happy about this is because you're hoping to gain a spy or two. I know that you couldn't care less about me and my happiness, Harry thought bitterly, biting back a strong urge to tell the Headmaster just what he thought of his control starting to slip, Harry did his best to blank his mind, keeping his focus on Fawkes and his song.
Faced with such lack of response, Albus began to get a mite irritated with the boy. This was not the time for being stubborn and pigheaded. Doing his best to push the irritation to the side, he was not about to endure another tantrum from the boy, he forged on, "There is another reason to rejoice, Harry," he said, deciding to point out the benefits for the youths since he seemed too immature to spot them himself. "With you being Draco's mate, there is no way he can join Voldemort now. In addition, since Lucius is not about to do anything that will harm his son, he will no longer be able to work actively for Tom, which means that Voldemort is about to lose his right hand man. Don't you see, Harry? We have gained two important allies today; I want you to keep that in mind as you decide what to do next.
Fawkes gave off an indignant note, and flapped his wings in annoyance, but Albus paid him no mind. The Phoenix was a creature of Light, and did not understand that sometimes sacrifices needed to be made.
Slowly Harry turned around and gave the Headmaster a dark look. He couldn't believe that Dumbledore had the gall to practically order him to pimp himself for the good of the war. "Let the news be spread, the wicked witch of the west is dead," he said sardonically, knowing that if he gave into his urge to shout at the old man, he would completely lose control of not only his temper but his magic as well.
"Only this time there was no need for a whole house, was there, sir? All you needed was a bed," Harry spat, wanting Dumbledore to know that Harry knew perfectly well what the Headmaster was encouraging him to do.
Having heard all he could stomach, Harry marched across the office and yanked the door open. Glancing over his shoulder he couldn't resist a parting shot. "Don't worry, Professor, I will do my duty for the war, don't I always? Who cares about personal costs, as long as it gets the job done, right, sir? "
Feeling a small satisfaction at the stunned look on Dumbledore's face, Harry slammed the door shut behind him. If he stayed one moment longer, he would completely lose it, blasting the old man a new asshole right between his twinkling eyes. Maybe then the whole world would realise what type of man they were following so blindly.
Stepping past the gargoyle, Harry came to an abrupt stop when he almost ran into Draco, who was impatiently waiting for him to appear, pacing back and forth before the stone statue. Glancing around the corridor, Harry wasn't surprised to see that everyone had been waiting for him to appear. "Shall we?" he asked, managing a strained smile. Draco might be the reason why he was in a foul mood, but, for once, the blond hadn't done anything to cause his bad temper. And he didn't deserve to be made a target for it, even if it would make Harry feel better if he could vent his ire on the other boy. In the end, it would only make things even more difficult and complicated, so he bit back the harsh words wanting to erupt.
"Let's," Severus said dryly, stalking off down the corridor. Apparently Albus had managed to put his foot in it, if the black cloud hanging over Potter's head was any indication. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. Then again, it wasn't as if he had anything to say to the matter. None of them did. Severus could only pray that Potter didn't turn out to be another Narcissa. Merlin help them all, if that were the case.

Next Time:
Harry inspects his new rooms
Until Then...





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 3

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/3/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor his friends nor his enemies.
A/N This chapter has been rewritten to fix the things left hanging when I rewrote the first two chapters.

These will be your rooms

Monday, Sept 2
The group walked silently together, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, they reached a part of the castle that was abandoned these days since the school no longer housed married couples and their families.
Snape, stalking in his normal fashion, came to an abrupt halt before a portrait of a young knight posing over a dead dragon, his armour shining in the sun. Making a face of distaste, Severus snapped out, "Love is like a red, red, rose," looking as if he had unexpectedly swallowed some Wolfbane.
Harry bit back a giggle, doing his best to school his face into a blank mask when Snape turned his head and glared at him, as if he was the one who had forced the Potions master to utter such a sappy phrase.
"It truly is," the knight exclaimed happily, removing his helmet and mopping his brow. "Why, just the other day I was telling the lovely Violet that very same thing, and she-"
"Yes, yes, now open the blasted door! Isn't that your duty? Or are you incapable of doing even that simple task?" Snape ground out, interrupting what promised to be a long story. His black eyes were shooting daggers at the knight, who huffed and allowed his painting to swing open, revealing the doorway he had been guarding.
Clasping a hand before his mouth, Harry realised with horror that even the act of biting his cheek wasn't enough to prevent himself from laughing, and he desperately turned his giggles into a fake cough. This turned into a real cough as he choked on his giggles. Merlin, but who ever had chosen that portrait to guard their room had not taken Snape into consideration. Vaguely wondering if it was possible to murder a painting, Harry followed the others inside, doing his best to catch his breath.
Severus gave him a gimlet eye, obviously suspecting what was going through Harry's mind, and the black haired teen swiftly shifted his eyes away from the onyx ones that were promising him pain and retributions if the Potions master's suspicions were proven true.
Taking a few steps to the side, under the pretext of taking in the living room, Harry finally managed to get his breathing back under control. That was a bit too close. At least he hasn't taken any points yet. Then again, with McGonagall standing right next to me... Not that that has stopped him in the past, the greasy git!
Hmm, I wonder if Snape made that face at the knight or at the password. Both are hideous. I bet that knight was a Gryffindor! I wonder what happened to him? Maybe I will ask him one day. Harry mused absentmindedly, shaking his head at the truly horrible décor of the room. I can only hope that the rest of the rooms aren't as hideous as this one. No way in hell will I be able to relax and enjoy myself in here! I wonder if Malfoy can change things around a bit?
And speaking of change, that password has got to be replaced at earliest opportunity! I mean, could they get any sappier? Or is it Dumbledore's way of trying to give me a hint or two? Then again, the way he was practically ordering me to jump into Draco's bed...
Feeling a stirring in the air, Harry figured that now was not the time to consider the Headmaster and his plots. He would do that later, in private, when he had far less prying eyes watching his every move.
Returning his focus on his surroundings, Harry sighed and spoke up for the first time since leaving the Headmaster's office. "I trust Malfoy and I will be able to change things around in here? I mean, who ever did the decorating in here tried way too hard to unite the four houses." Harry made a sweeping gesture with his arm, taking in the orange coloured furniture, the green coloured textiles of the tapestries decorating the walls. The throw pillows on the sofa and the armchairs were blue, and the rug on the floor was a vibrant red, making Harry feel as if he was standing on a fire.
And with Malfoy here, I bet there is a ward to make sure the Headmaster can't pop in whenever he likes. Hmm, maybe bonding with Malfoy will have some benefits after all. Now, if he only wasn't such a spoilt brat, this disaster might be less disastrous than I thought. Feeling immensely cheered up, Harry began to wander around to better take in his new home.
"Oh my," Minerva murmured before gathering herself with a small shake of her head. "This is obviously the sitting area. Over there, Harry dear, is your room. It is warded so Mr. Malfoy can't enter it unless you specifically invite him to do so. It is for your own protection, as a Veela can sometimes get... intense in their courtship."
Harry snorted and Draco looked highly insulted.
"Your rooms, Mr. Malfoy, are up those stairs. Both rooms have their own private bathroom, which should make it easy for you to get ready in the morning. You will be excused from classes for the next three days, of course, since you need the solitude to start the bonding process." McGonagall looked over at Harry, the frown on her forehead implying that she was worried.
"Harry, I am not sure how much you know about Veelas since, admittedly, our Defence professors have been somewhat... lacking these past few years," McGonagall said carefully, ignoring the snort coming from Snape. "I advice you to find out as much as possible so that unnecessary strain on your relationship can be avoided. I am positive that Miss Granger will be only too happy to help you with that. As will Mr. Malfoy, I'm sure," McGonagall added, giving Draco a small, somewhat insincere smile. It was clear that she figured that Draco would lie to his mate just to get his own way.
Draco bristled but refrained from saying anything. The hand his father placed on his arm did a lot to help still his tongue. Harry frowned, glancing between Draco and McGonagall. He really did lack knowledge about Veelas. What little he did know he had learned during his fourth year when Hermione had lectured him and Ron on them after seeing the magical creatures at the World Cup. She had expanded the lecturing when Fleur Delacour had descended on the school, causing Ron to behave in a most embarrassing manner, constantly drooling whenever the girl got near, much to Hermione's disgust.
However, this was different. First of all, Draco was obviously a male, not a female. And second, Harry was Draco's mate, and as such he really needed to find out as much as possible about what to expect.
Suddenly Harry realised that his Head of House was speaking again, and he swiftly turned his attention from Malfoy and onto McGonagall, hoping that no one had noted his lack of attention.
"You will need to discuss your schedule while in seclusion. I am aware that the two of you have several classes the other did not select when you signed the list of available subjects. Since this concerns your future, I expect you to make the necessary adjustments. Please consider carefully, this offer will not be made again," McGonagall said, giving the two teens a stern look, causing Draco to bristle once more and Harry felt his own temper begin to stir. Merlin, did they have to treat him like an errant five-year old?
"You are also expected to eat at least two meals every day in the Great Hall. As your teachers, we are aware of the fact that the student body probably will put a strain on your bond. However, we are positive that if you use your alone time wisely that strain can be minimized, allowing you to function normally when dealing with your friends and year mates. If you have any questions, please come and see me or Severus." McGonagall gave Draco a stern look, which softened when it fell on Harry to almost become motherly. With a sharp nod to the older Malfoy she left them to settle in.
Harry looked slowly around the sitting area once more before walking over to his room. Flinging the door open, he shuddered at the sight meeting him. The bedroom was more Gryffindorish than the Gryffindor common room, a feat he thought impossible. Looking over his shoulder, he addressed the only professor left. "Sir, is it possible to change the... décor of this place?"
"Yes, it is. You are able to do just about anything within these rooms," Snape replied, curious about the revulsion he had seen on the boy's face. Maybe there was hope for Draco after all.
"Good. Professor, Mr. Malfoy, Draco, why don't the three of you change the colour schemes to something more tasteful? There is no need to use red or gold on my account, although there is no need to go overboard with the green and silver either," Harry added with a small grin to show that he was teasing.
"And please, could someone do something about the hideous colour-scheme in there?" Harry asked, indicating his bedroom with a jerk of his head. "I don't know who did the decorating in there, but they have had to be even more colour-blind that Dobby is; something I didn't think possible. Then again, considering what a hash they did with the living room, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised." Harry fell silent for a moment, once again wondering if it was possible for Dumbledore to Apparate inside Hogwarts. That would explain how he always managed to appear at just the right moment.
Shaking his musing off, he really did not want to think about Dumbledore right now, Harry went back to the business at hand. "Something in blue and cream would be nice, I think," he said, trying to look past the abundance of red and gold to take in what furniture was present in the bedroom.
However, upon seeing the large four poster bed sitting so prominently against one of the walls, all the anger and resentment he harboured against Dumbledore slammed into him, and for a moment Harry feared that he was about to lose all control. Squeezing his eyes shut tightly, the black haired teen focused on his breathing, momentarily blocking everything from his conscious mind.
Once he was certain that he wouldn't blow anything up, Harry re-opened his eyes and started to head towards the door. He needed to get out of here, now! Before things were revealed that he had no intention of revealing. Especially not to his present company.
"I will be back shortly, there is something I need to do. Don't worry, I won't be gone for long, Harry said, pausing in the doorway. "By the way, that password has got to go!" he added, knowing that he needed to tell the others something.
"Where will you be?" Draco asked, concerned about the things he was picking up in his mate's scent. If he was not mistaken, the other youth was bloody furious. However, the emotions were not directed towards either himself or his father.
For a moment the Veela was puzzled as to who could have angered the other teen so much. Then he knew. Albus Dumbledore! What in the world had the Headmaster said to Potter? For that matter, wasn't the two of them really close? That was the impression Draco had gotten from the past five years. Then again, the previous year had been decidedly... odd.
Harry looked back at the blond. "Don't worry, I'm not running away or anything. I just need to do something. I will be back shortly, and then I think we need to talk. Mr. Malfoy, I hope you have time to remain for a little while?" Harry belatedly asked, looking over at Lucius, suddenly realising that maybe the older Malfoy had pressing business elsewhere.
"Do not worry, Mr. Potter, I will still be here when you return," Lucius said, feeling both curious and perplexed. The Boy Who Lived did not act as he had thought he would when faced with the fact that he was destined to be bonded with his enemy. Clearly, there was more to the boy than met the eye.
"Thank you. Ah, yes. Is there by any chance a way to keep nosy old men out unless they are invited? I would hate to have unwanted guests popping in at odd times, wouldn't you?" Harry asked innocently before finally leaving, the portrait swinging closed behind him.
"I'm going after him," Draco declared, not wanting to let his mate out of his sight. That desire was coupled with the need to see what the other boy was up to. Hurriedly, the Veela climbed through the portal hole just in time to see a door fall close with a bang a bit further down the corridor. Curious as to what in the world Potter needed to do inside an old, abandoned room, Draco pulled the door opened and found himself facing a wand, it's tip glowing eerily.
"Malfoy!" Harry growled in frustration.
"Potter," Draco smirked in reply. "Don't let me disturb you. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
Harry shrugged and turned away. "I'm not in the mood for one our arguments right now, Malfoy. Please leave."
The soft spoken 'please' almost made Draco leave. However, his concern for his mate's state of mind made it easy to squash his urge to comply with Harry's wishes. "I'm sorry, Harry, but until I know that you are alright, I'm not leaving. What is it you need to do anyway?" Draco asked, looking around the dusty old room, which apparently at one time had been a classroom of some sort.
Harry, realising that he truly didn't have the energy or the control to continue to argue with the blond thorn in his side, shrugged once more. "If you're going to stay, I suggest you put up the strongest shield you know," he said. And with that as an only warning, Harry pointed his wand at an old desk and blasted it with the most powerful Reducto Draco had ever felt.
One by one the old furniture came to a messy end while Harry vented his temper. When there was nothing left to smash, he conjured several tea sets and set about pulverising them in the most imaginative ways he could think of.
More than an hour had passed when Harry finally slumped to the floor, panting and feeling utterly drained. Draco dropped his shield - he had needed it - and hurried to his mate's side to offer support and aid. His human side was impressed by the sheer knowledge and imagination of his intended. Not once had Harry made use of the Dark Arts, and he had rarely used the same spell twice. The Veela in him was ecstatic at the power of his mate and it couldn't wait for the two of them to bond.
Draco hauled Harry to his feet while ruthlessly pushing that desire away. Now was not the time for such thoughts. He was more concerned with finding out what had set his mate off in such a manner. If his suspicions were right and it was Dumbledore who had caused this in some manner, then the old man would learn first hand why it was a very bad idea to mess around with a Veela's mate.
Because that was what Harry was now. He was the mate of one Draco Malfoy, and Draco had every intention of making the entire world aware of that fact. Harry Potter was his now. His to protect. His to cherish. Rue those who hurt Harry in anyway, form or shape. Those who did would feel the full wrath of Draconus Malfoy, and miscreants would find out that there was a reason the Malfoy name was feared by most. Even by the Dark Lord.
Draco smirked, he couldn't wait. He had a feeling that neither the stupid Mudblood nor the Weasel was in Harry's good grace anymore, and Draco would enjoy putting them in their place. Ah, yes. Revenge would be sweet, very sweet indeed.

Next Time:
Dumbledore has a little talk with Ron and Hermione
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 4

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/4/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does.
This will be a slash story in time. Don't like it? Don't read it.
A/N: This chapter has been re-posted. A big thank you to my Beta Vaughn for pointing out all my mistakes.

You have to support Harry in his hour of need

Dumbledore looked up as the door to his office opened. Breaking out into a welcoming smile, he offered his two guests a lemon drop before popping one into his own mouth. "Hermione, Ronald, I apologise for making you late for your first class, but I wanted to talk to you."
"Is this about Harry?" Hermione asked eagerly. She hadn't thought much about it when McGonagall had come up to them and said the Headmaster wanted to speak with Harry. But when he hadn't return by the time they were preparing to head for the first class, she had begun to wonder what was going on. She had begun to wonder even more when she had received her own request to come here along with Ron only to find no Harry.
"As a matter of fact, it is. Something wonderful has happened today, and I hope you will be able to support Harry while he gets used to the situation."
"Of course we will support Harry! He's our friend!" Ron said hotly.
"I'm glad to hear that, Ron. You see, young Mr. Malfoy is a Veela."
"And Harry is his mate, isn't he?" Hermione asked eagerly, putting two and two together.
"Harry and Malfoy? What does that little ferret want with Harry?" Ron exclaimed, aghast.
"Oh, hush, Ron. It wasn't as if Malfoy picked him on purpose," Hermione scolded with a frown.
"You are quite correct, Hermione, as always," Dumbledore said with a gentle smile. Hermione beamed with pleasure at the praise. "Malfoy did not, as you put it, pick Harry on purpose. They are soul mates, and once they bond, nothing will be able to break them apart. As you know, a Veela is unable to hurt his or her mate, and they will love and adore them to the day they die."
Hermione got a star struck look in her eyes and sighed softly. She almost wished a Veela would pick her for a mate, from what little she'd read about them, it sounded very romantic. Only not Malfoy. Hermione shuddered. The stuck up, spoilt little prick.
"I know this comes as a shock to everyone, but once a Veela finds its mate, it is for life. Harry is naturally a bit overwhelmed by all this, and I am counting on you two to support and help him accept this bond. As I said, young Malfoy is not able to harm Harry in any way, and will be able to give Harry all the love and affection he sadly has missed out on in life so far."
Dumbledore was happy and proud to see that Hermione had grasped what he was hinting at. Young Ron looked like he was stuck on the fact that it was Draco Malfoy that Harry was about to be bonded to, and had probably not heard a word he said after that. "Can I count on you two to look past young Malfoy's previous behaviour and stand by your friend?" he asked gravely.
"Of course you can, sir." Hermione promised for the two of them. "Where are they going to stay? And what about classes?"
"I have arranged private rooms for them; I'll show you where they are at a later date. They will be excused from class for the next three days, and after that, they will share all classes. I hope you don't mind sharing your notes for these few days, Hermione."
"Gladly, Professor, I'll pick up their homework as well."
"Good. I knew I could count on you. That will be all for now. Here is a pass for your teacher."
Hermione nodded her thanks and accepted the pass from the aged hand that was holding it out to her. Grabbing Ron's arm, she hurried out of the office and towards the Transfiguration classroom.
"How could you agree just like that?" Ron complained. "That's Malfoy, 'Mione! The Ferret! The scum of all snakes!"
"I know that, Ron!" Hermione snapped in irritation. "But on the other hand, it is Harry. He is still our friend and he needs to know that we will always support him, even if he's had the misfortune to be tied to that Snake. I will head for the library after lunch and see what I can find on Veelas. Maybe there is some way to lessen the bond."
Ron brightened considerably at this prospect and entered the classroom in good cheer. Hermione always found a way to solve sticky situations. She would help Harry get away from the ferret, she just needed time to do some thorough research first. If he was lucky, he might even get out of helping her, seeing as she was always complaining that she got things done quicker without his 'assistance'.

Next Time:
Harry asks the Malfoys a few questions about the future and about the war.
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 5

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/5/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does.
This will be a slash story in time. Don't like it? Don't read it.
A/N: This chapter has been re-posted. A big thank you to my Beta Vaughn helping me with those pesky commas.

What exactly is it Voldie wants?
Lucius watched bemused bemusedly as his son followed his mate out of the suite. "That is not what I had expected," he said to Severus and found his long time friend staring at the closed door with a pensive look on his face. "Where do you think he went?"
"Probably to vent that temper of his. It has gotten worse since his precious mutt died. It wouldn't surprise me if there were some Demon blood in that boy, or possibly some Dark Elf. He has their temperament."
Lucius turned that bit of information over in his mind and thought back to the flavour of the scent the boy gave off. "I'd say Dark Elf, he doesn't smell right for it to be Demon. He is temperamental, you say?"
"Yes." Severus snorted. "He only stayed with his relatives for four days. We had to retrieve him after he almost blew the place up for the third time. That child has no concept of anger management. Draco will have his hands full with that one. The brat spent the rest of the summer under heavy guards and wards and he still almost demolished everything around him several times. In the end, everyone just left him alone."
"No one taught him control?" Lucius asked, aghast. To let power like that go unchecked; it was unheard of!
"No, Dumbledore told us to give him space and let him grieve." Severus snorted again. "The old fool."
"Tell me they at least researched his background." Lucius almost implored. "That boy is not fully human, I'll state the Malfoy name on that, and unless we know what we are dealing with, we can't help him deal with and develop his gifts."
"No, no research, nothing. The boy ended up spending most of his time in the Black library reading Merlin knows what."
"Oh dear," Lucius murmured, fighting down an urge to go and hunt the boys down to make sure they were all right. "I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of my time at Hogwarts this year. Do you think the bumbling fool will let me stay here?"
"Offer to teach Defence, and he will welcome you with open arms."
"Don't you have a Defence teacher already?"
"Unfortunately. An ex-Auror who is so old she barely remembers her own name, not to mention the counters to the most common hexes and curses," Severus replied with disdain. Looking around the room, he stepped up to Potter's bedroom. "We might as well do something useful while we wait. I will deal with this mess, why don't you do something about the living room?"
Lucius walked up to his friend and took a good look at the extremely red and gold room. He shuddered. "Who in Merlin's name would do something like this? Dumbledore wouldn't have had the time, and he is the only one I can think of with this garish taste."
"He probably sent that deranged elf that used to plague you. What was his name? Dobby?"
"You know, I must thank that boy for freeing that revolting thing. I never understood what Narcissa saw in him," Lucius said with a small laugh. Life at the Manor had become so much easier after that elf had left them. Of course, his wife had never forgiven Potter for the 'theft'. He would have to talk to her to make sure she did not harm the boy in retaliation. Draco would not take kindly to that, and blood was so difficult to get out of carpets, not to mention tapestries.
Pushing the thoughts aside for later, he turned back to the living room and looked around. The place was well below Malfoy standards, and he would be only too happy to rectify the situation. Twirling his cane, he surveyed the room, and decided to start with the walls. Orange, how utterly tacky.
HPDM
By the time Harry and Draco returned, the living room had undergone a complete transformation. The walls were bare stone with a few tasteful tapestries on them. The furniture was made of butter soft leather and gleaming ebony wood. The drapes and carpet were done in shades of deep green and the pillows adorning the armchairs and couches were done in tones of tarnished silver.
"Much better!" Harry said, sinking into the nearest armchair with a tired sigh. It had been weeks since he'd gotten a good night's sleep, and he was feeling exhausted. His outburst hadn't helped either, and he could feel a migraine forming.
"Thank you," Lucius murmured in amusement.
"What did you do?" Severus demanded, drawing his wand and casting a few diagnostic spells.
"Nothing," Harry answered, closing his eyes with another tired sigh.
"Not much," Draco readily agreed, settling on the floor next to his mate. "Just demolished one of the classrooms, blasting everything in sight into teeny tiny pieces."
"Foolish child," Severus scolded.
Harry mumbled something none of them could make out while scowling darkly. "Is this place private?" he then proceeded to ask.
Draco looked up at him in surprise, having been busy glaring at his godfather.
"I took care of the listening spells when we came in here, Potter," Severus answered scornfully. "I am glad to see that you are finally beginning to use the brain you were born with. It seemed for a while like you were destined to go through life as an imbecile."
"Well, excuse me for being too busy staying alive to concentrate on my classes," Harry snapped.
"That is enough!" Lucius said before the situation could deteriorate further. "That is not why we are here. You said you wanted to talk Harry, I take it you have a lot of questions, and we will do our best to answer them without resorting to insults." He gave Severus a stern look.
"Thank you, sir."
"Please, call me Lucius. After all, you are family now."
A wistful smile played at Harry's lips at that statement. He soon became serious though. "My first question is: is it possible for Draco to find another mate?"
"No," Lucius said with conviction, wanting to make it very clear that there was no way out of this bond.
"What happens if I die?"
"He will die as well."
"I'm sorry, Draco. You should have chosen someone else, the prospects of me reaching an old age are very slim," Harry said sadly, looking down at the boy who was leaning against his knee.
"Don't worry, Harry. We will help you survive this war. There are places you can hide until that madman is defeated," Draco promised, wanting to get that sad look away from his mate's eyes.
"I don't think that will be possible," Harry replied. He was silent for a moment. "Will you promise me that the things discussed here will not be repeated to the Headmaster?" he asked, looking over at Snape.
Lucius leaned forward slightly in his seat, intrigued. What was the boy up to?
"I promise, Potter," Severus said after a moment of weighing his options. He didn't like the brat much, he never had. However, since he was Draco's mate, he figured it was better to be in the know, rather than trying to run after the idiot child in an attempt to keep him alive and out of danger.
"Thank you, Professor. Lucius, Draco?"
"We promise as well," Lucius said, having exchanged a glance with his son. "There is little love between us and the Headmaster, which is no secret. You are one of us now and we will keep quiet if that is what you wish."
"Thank you," Harry said with sincerity, relaxing into his chair for the first time since he sat down. "As you all know, I lost my godfather at the end of last term. What I don't think many know is that I was taken to the Headmaster's office afterwards, where he gave me a pretty little speech about how much he cared for me and how he had wanted to protect me and give me a chance at having a childhood. He ended that little speech by showing me what that fiasco at the Department of Mysteries had all been about."
"He showed you the prophesy?" Lucius asked, torn between amusement and horror.
"Yes. He then sent me to bed, and a few days later, he sent me 'home'. The Dursleys were not happy to see me and I was even less happy to see them. That little scene at the train station didn't help the situation either, and my uncle threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't behave myself, for example, if I didn't work like a house-elf all day long on no food and not complain about it. For the first time, I refused. I actually talked back to him and when he tried to hit me, I retaliated. No, I didn't curse him, I used my feet and fists. That fat oaf never knew what hit him," Harry said smugly.
"But as it turned out, I didn't have total control of my magic. When I got angry, really angry, it got out of control and things began to blow up. After the third time I almost blew the house apart, I was fetched and taken to Sirius' old home. Dumbledore gave me another pretty little speech about how disappointed he was in me, and how I needed to control myself better in the future.
"To make a long story short, I ended up spending most of my time in the library. After all, I have a lunatic after me, and need to read up on ways to get rid of him, right? Besides, the only other person interested in that room was Hermione, and as long as I was reading, she didn't bug me much. Among all the books, I found several that really caught my interest. One of them was a history book, portraying the wizarding world's history from the founder's time to about 150 years ago. It was a very interesting read.
"Another book that captured my interest was a book about the Ministry of Magic and its history. It was while I was reading that book that I realised how warped our Ministry of today is, not to mention what an incompetent fool our current Minster is," Harry added with a snort.
"It is the Ministry that has banned the magical beings of this world to the fringes, forcing them to live as outcasts, treating them worse than Muggles, forcing them to hide in the shadows for fear of persecution. Once, Vampires and other 'Dark Creatures' were held in the highest esteem in our society, and it was considered an honour to have one such being married into your family. Now, they are shunned, and laws have been created that ensure that they can hold no position of power whatsoever. Most cannot even find work to feed their families. No wonder they flock to the ones who promise them fair treatment and a better future.
"Anyway, it got me thinking. What exactly is it Voldie wants? He claims he wants to purge the Wizarding world of everything Muggle, but that is a hopeless dream. There are too many of them for us to manage to kill them all off. And as long as we keep refusing to accept marriages between wizards and 'Dark Creatures', we run the risk of breeding ourselves into extinction; there just isn't enough of us to prevent inbreeding. Not to mention that I have yet to see a master plan.
"From what I've been able to gather, Voldie doesn't have a plan, not any more. He might have had one when he first began, but now he is merely sending his followers to torture and kill Muggles and wizards alike. What does he think he will accomplish with that?" Harry asked the one man he figured could give him an answer to the question that had plagued him all summer.
Lucius sighed and gathered his thoughts. The child had asked a very good question; unfortunately, the answer was not simple. Mostly because there wasn't one. "When the Dark Lord set out the first time, his goal was to purge our world of any Muggle influences, bringing it back to what it once was. He proclaimed himself Lord Voldemort, and to show the Wizarding world his power, he killed off a lot of Muggles. He then turned his attention to those who encourage us to embrace the Muggle-borns and their ways, like Dumbledore does. Slowly he built up a reign of terror and he began to focus more and more on those who opposed him, like your parents. We all know how that ended.
"Once he was restored to his body, we, the Inner Circle, figured that he would bring about the changes he had promised us so many years ago. Unfortunately, his years as a disembodied spirit has affected him far more than anyone thought, and he is now insane. He is no longer interested in changing our world, he is obsessed with bloodshed and finding a way to kill you."
"An existence cursed," Harry murmured, staring up at the ceiling.
"I beg your pardon?" Lucius asked, not sure if he had heard the boy correctly.
"That is what Firenze said when he rescued me from the Forbidden Forest first year, when we were serving a detention with Hagrid. Surely you remember, Draco, we were looking for a wounded unicorn." Harry couldn't help but tease the blond.
"Don't remind me!" Draco muttered darkly. "Freakiest and scariest sight I've ever seen."
"When Firenze carried me out of the forest, he said that anyone who had slain a unicorn and had drunk of its blood would have 'Only but a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips'. I guess that could explain Voldie's behaviour since he got back. But why are his followers still with him? Don't they realise he's mad?"
"Most do, with a few exceptions, but where could we go? If we left his service, we would have to go abroad and live in hiding, always in fear of being discovered. We would have to bring our family with us or have them slaughtered as a discouragement for others who might be thinking the same thing. Not to mention that he can torture those of us carrying his mark whenever he feels like it. We are trapped. Our only other alternative is Dumbledore, and most of us became Death Eaters to get away from his manipulations."
"Ah, yes, Dumbledore. The great and almighty Albus Dumbledore. In a way, he is just as bad as Voldie. He is just as blind. He claims he wants what is best for the wizarding world, but he does nothing to interfere, to help those that suffer from the Ministry's injustices. He has done nothing to get us a competent Minister although he must have had several opportunities to get rid of Fudge. Sirius Black and his innocence would have been one instance in which to be able to get an impeachment, but instead he did nothing. He did nothing when that toad Umbridge created all those laws against 'half-breeds', and he did nothing last year when the toad run roughshod all over the school, in spite of the fact that the Ministry had no influence over Hogwarts and never did.
"And then there is me. They call me the Boy-Who-Lived and have placed me on top of a pedestal, safe in their knowledge that I was there for them. But woe is me if I do anything to tarnish the picture they have painted of me. I know you all know my history so I won't bore you with it, but do you know what is really funny? No one asked me what I wanted, what I believed. Everyone was so sure they knew me they never bothered to find out who I really am. Even I didn't know who I was. After all, I had spent the first ten years of my life living like a house-elf, and the last five years being the hero of the Wizarding world.
"So I spent some time thinking when I wasn't reading, and I figured out a few things. One: I have absolutely no wish or desire to become a minion of the Dark Lord. But, two: I have no desire to follow Dumbledore either. I have been his faithful and blind sheep, I have done all he has expected of me, and yet he deserted me when I needed him the most. He, if anyone, has feet of clay and he is not worthy of my devotion. No, I will never follow him again.
"What is left, you might ask, and that is where I got stuck as well. There is no third option, so I decided to create one. There has to be ways to accomplish the changes that are needed without destroying our world. With a competent Minister, a Headmaster who isn't so busy playing God that he is neglecting his school, and a newspaper that actually reports news and not slander, gossips, and propaganda, it shouldn't be impossible. I know I need help, and with your backing, I am sure we could accomplish something grand. What do you think?" Harry asked, looking from one astonished face to another. Well, Draco was the only one showing his surprise. The two older men were too good at hiding their emotions to give anything away; still, there were a few signs, like the widening of their eyes, that betrayed them.
"I think you have given us all a lot to think about. You are not what I expected, Harry Potter," Lucius said thoughtfully.
"I live to surprise," Harry smirked.
"So it would seem. I need to think about what you have proposed. It might be possible, but it will take a lot of work and it will be dangerous."
"Well, considering I apparently have a prophesy proclaiming I'm the one who has to off the current Dark Lord, I don't think a safe life will be something I'll manage anytime in the near future," Harry remarked dryly.
"I suppose not. But remember, prophesies are notoriously difficult to decipher. Most times the outcome is not what everyone had expected."
"I'll keep that in mind. Not that it matters much as long as it is what the leaders in this war believe."
Lucius gave him a long penetrating look. "You are not alone anymore, child. You have the Malfoys helping you now, and you will never again want for anything. Draco, I suggest you take it easy for the rest of the day, and tomorrow I will accompany the two of you to Diagon Alley. Your mate is in need of a few things, like a new wardrobe."
"Yes, Father. What will you be doing?"
"I will talk to Dumbledore about the position as your new DADA teacher."
"What?" two shocked voices rang out at the same time. "Severus?" Draco asked, turning towards the Potions Professor when it became obvious that his father wouldn't elaborate, especially considering that the man had left without a backward glance.
"Both your father and I feel that you two are going to need close supervision, a task I may not be able to uphold on my own. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a class in ten minutes," Severus said with a smirk, leaving the two boys alone.
"I don't believe him!" Draco seethed. "What does he think I am? Five years old?"
"I don't know about you, but I am hungry. Any idea how to call a house-elf?" Harry asked, not bothered by the veiled insults about their ability to take care of themselves.
"Merlin, Potter, don't you know anything? You just snap your fingers," Draco drawled, sounding very much like the spoiled brat Harry was used to.
"Considering I grew up with Muggles and didn't know house-elves existed until Dobby came and paid me a visit, excuse me for my ignorance," Harry mock drawled right back, not taking offence at all. To tell the truth, he was too tried to care. On top of that, he had a vicious headache that was pounding in time with his heartbeat.
Draco gave him a searching look. Harry had no idea what the other boy saw, but he ordered them some soup and sandwiches. Once the food had been consumed, Harry found himself on the couch, a blanket tucked in around him, and with a stern order to take a nap. He was about to take offence, but he fell asleep before he could tell the blond off.
HPDM
If Dumbledore was surprised to see Lucius Malfoy sail into his office as if he owned it, it was hard to tell. Nothing of what he was thinking showed on his aged face as he merely smiled at his unexpected guest and offered him a lemon drop.
"Ah, Lucius, what can I do for you, dear boy? Is there a problem with the boys' rooms?"
"No, the rooms are fine, after a few changes in the decor. I am, however, somewhat concerned about them. This after all will mean big adjustments for both of them, and I wish to be nearby to support them. There is also the question of security. I fear many of the other students will try and separate them," Lucius stated, settling into the hideous red chair with golden suns on it that the headmaster had created for him.
"Your points are all valid, Lucius, and I will keep them in mind when the boys return to their classes. However, I cannot allow you to stay in the castle unless you have a position on the staff. Unfortunately, there are no vacancies at the moment," Dumbledore said, giving Malfoy a shrewd glance. This was excellent. Malfoy was even more eager than he had dared to hope to mend the fences with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Lucius raised an eyebrow and was about to tell the old meddler that he had every right to spend how much time he deemed needed in the castle when Dumbledore began talking again.
"There is another option though. I take it you've heard of Harry's little club, which he started last year?
"Yes, Draco wrote me about it."
"Harry is going to continue teaching that club this year, only it won't be a secret association this time. We, after all, have a qualified teacher this year."
Huh! Not according to Severus, Lucius smirked to himself.
"But he will need the supervision of an adult to be allowed to run it. Since all the professors have a rather heavy load as it is..."
Ah, Dumbledore, how utterly Slytherin of you. I will agree to your manipulations, if for nothing else to have front row seats when it all blows up in your face. I wonder though, does Harry know of this?
"Of course I will be happy to be of assistance to the boy," Lucius said gravely, noting the glee that sprung into the Headmaster's eyes.
"Excellent! Come with me and we will see if we can find suitable quarters for you not too far away from the boys."

('Only but a half life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips' - This line was taken from the book The Philosopher's Stone, p. 188, and is not mine in any way.)
Next Time:
Harry and Draco discuss their classes and make an attempt to get to know each other better.
Stay Tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 6

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/6/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does.
This will be a slash story in time. Don't like it? Don't read it.
A/N: This chapter has been re-posted. A big thank you to my Beta Vaughn helping me out. Any mistakes are my own.

I don't know if I can trust anyone ever again

Harry woke slowly to the sound of soft humming. Whoever it was had a beautiful voice, and he lay for a long time with his eyes closed just listening to it. Eventually he had to move and with a sigh of regret he opened his eyes and sat up. As he had feared, the humming immediately stopped.
"How do you feel?" Draco asked, looking up from the sketchpad in his lap.
"You have a beautiful voice, Draco," Harry said, standing up and stretching the kinks out.
There was a moment of silence. "Thank you," Draco replied, both startled and touched at the same time. "So how do you feel?" he asked again, returning to safer grounds.
"Better, I think. I really need the bathroom though, be back in a sec," Harry said, hurrying towards his room.
Once his bladder had been dealt with, he walked back into the bedroom and a genuine smile came to his face. This was much better. The furniture was all done in black and the textiles were in different shades of blue and green. All in all, much better than the hideous room Harry had seen when first opening the door.
"They did a great job on the rooms, don't you think?" Harry asked, walking back to the living room, settling back on the couch.
"Yes, they did. I take it you like your new room?" Draco asked. He had taken a peek through the open door and was pleased with what Severus had done to it, happy his godfather had forgone any desires for revenge while doing the decorations.
"Yeah, this is much better. I wonder who did it the first time. It can't have been the Headmaster, although the style definitely is something that would match his tastes. Unless he knew from the beginning it would be you and me?" Harry mused.
"Does it matter?" Draco asked, wanting to pull his mate out of his unpleasant thoughts.
"I guess not."
"Don't worry, he can't manipulate you any longer. You are a Malfoy now, and Father automatically is your guardian now that you and I are mates."
Harry's eyebrow rose of its own volition. "Even if we aren't bonded yet?"
"That is only a matter of time, and in legal matters, only a technicality. We will bond, not today, perhaps not even this year, but it will happen, so yes, the moment I identified it was your scent that was driving me crazy, Father became your guardian," Draco explained, doing his best to get all the details out without spooking his mate.
"Wicked!" Harry smirked, a gleam in his eyes. "I'm going to like being your mate, Draco. Only..." He became serious and looked over to where the other boy was sitting. "I don't want to be cruel or anything, but I don't think I can fully bond with you, not right now, I mean," he hurried to add when Draco's face began to crumble. "Crap! This is coming out all wrong!"
"Calm down, Harry," Draco said, getting up from his armchair and settling beside Harry, wrapping his arms around him. Magic was crackling in the air and a small breeze was blowing around the room. "Take a deep breath, Harry, come on. In, out, that's it. Calm down. I'm not angry. Just take your time and say what you need to tell me. I promise I won't be angry or anything," Draco crooned, praying he would be able to keep his promise.
After several minutes of deep breathing, the wild magic disappeared and the breeze died down. Draco revelled in having his mate resting against him, eyes closed and relaxed. He continued to run his hand up and down Harry's arm and asked softly, "What was it you wanted to tell me?"
Instantly Harry tensed up and tried to pull away.
"No, love, relax. I won't be angry, remember? I promised. Just take your time. If we are going to get to know each other, we need to start talking, don't you think? Not to mention listen. We are strangers to each other, Harry, I know this. I don't know you, and you don't know me. We will take this slow, as slow as you need it to be. Just... please, don't shut me out, let me in. Can you do that?" Draco asked softly, fearing the answer.
"I honestly don't know, Draco. That was what I was trying to tell you. I have been betrayed so many times in my life that I don't know if I can trust anyone ever again. Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, The Order of Phoenix, the Dursleys. They have all let me down and abandoned me at one time or other. I'm just so damned tired! And to find out that you are a Veela and I'm your mate... I don't want to hurt you. I don't even know why I feel like I want to comfort you and take away all your pain, but I do and I don't know how! You really should have picked another mate, Draco, because you got a lousy bargain in me. I'm too fucked up. Not to mention that I've got a maniac after my head."
"Oh, Harry," Draco said sadly. The pain in the other boy's voice was tearing at his heart. He sounded so downtrodden and defeated. Then he got angry. His mate was not supposed to be defeated! He was supposed to be one of the leaders of the wizarding world, not because he carried the title of the Boy-Who-Lived, but because that was his birthright as a wizard. How dare they do this to this kind and gentle soul? But he had the Malfoys behind him now, and no one was ever going to hurt him again. Never! Draco vowed fiercely.
"First of all, you are not fucked up! You've had shit happen to you all your life, and most of it has not even been your fault. It has been the fault of the people around you, people like Dumbledore. As for the feelings you are experiencing, I guess something in you is reacting to me being your Veela mate and is... easing the way, I suppose. I'll ask Father, maybe he knows what's going on.
"And I understand if you can't fully commit to me at the moment. That will take some time, love. That is why we are living together, so that we can get to know each other better. From what I have heard, you have had very little love in your life. That is another thing you need to get used to, love and affection. But part of loving someone, Harry, is supporting them, no matter what. We will have good days and we will have bad days. There will be times we will feel like hexing the knickers of each other, and there will be times we can't imagine a life without the other person in it. We will work it out as we go along. Don't fret about it, ok?"
There was no verbal reply, but Harry sighed softly and allowed Draco to take on even more of his weight as he snuggled closer to the other boy. A pleased smile played on the blond's lips and he tightened his hold just a bit. Everything would work out, he just knew it would!
Harry had no idea how long he'd been sitting curled up against Draco, and to tell the truth, he didn't want to know. But no matter how nice it was, he had things to do, and he reluctantly pulled away.
"Feeling better?"
"I guess so. What classes did you sign up for?"
Draco was momentarily startled by the unexpected question, but answered it anyway. "Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Charms, Defence Against Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Magical Law, and Healing."
"Yes! Draco, I could kiss you!" Harry exclaimed, and did a victory dance around the room.
"I'm not stopping you," the blond stated with a laugh, secretly hoping the other boy would. "What's the matter with you?"
"You, my Veela friend, have just gotten me into Snape's Potions class, and there is nothing he can do about it!" Harry crooned, still jumping around the room.
Draco stared at Harry, then he collapsed in his seat, howling with laughter. "I take it you didn't get the necessary O.W.L.s then?" he asked once he got his fit under control.
"Nope. I got an O in the practical and an E in the theory part, and thus Snape refused to accept me despite McGonagall pestering him about it. I thought I'd have to learn that subject on my own, but thanks to you I won't have to."
"I'm glad to be of service," Draco chuckled, pleased to see his mate so happy and carefree. This was how he was supposed to be. "You realise that Severus just might kick me out of class to get rid of you? Especially if you can't keep up?"
"I know, so you better tell your Housemates to stop sabotaging me, won't you?" Harry asked sweetly, giving Draco a pointed look. "Besides, I've been reading loads about potions this summer, and I think I understand the basics now. I will need to do the summer assignments or he'll have my head!" Harry, said heading for his room and his supplies.
Draco pouted slightly; it would seem that there would be no more cuddling for a while. He went back to his armchair and his sketchpad with a soft sigh.
"Which classes did you sign up for?" Draco asked when Harry returned, his arms filled with books, parchment, ink, and quills.
"Umm, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, Defence, Transfiguration, Magical Law, Healing, Apparation and Forgotten Arts," Harry replied absentmindedly as he settled on the floor, making himself comfortable.
"Our schedule is going to be a nightmare," Draco complained. "Only half of our classes match."
Harry looked up from reading through the Potion professor's assignments and considered the implications. "Maybe we can adjust things a bit?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yeah," Draco agreed, settling beside Harry, borrowing one of his quills. "Let's see, we both have Charms, Defence, Transfiguration, Magical Law, and Healing," he said, writing the subjects down. "That leaves us Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Apparation, and Forgotten Arts," he continued, writing those subjects down on a separate line.
"How come you aren't taking Apparation?" Harry wanted to know, looking over what Draco had written down.
"Because I already know how to Apparate. I'm only waiting for my seventeenth birthday, which is when I can get the license."
"Ah. Who taught you?"
"Father did."
"Do you think he could teach me as well?" Harry asked timidly.
"Of course he will."
"Then that is one class we can discard."
Draco nodded and scratched out Apparation.
"We both want to take Potions so that stays," Harry mused, "and I really want to take Herbology."
"Okay," Draco conceded, adding those classes to the first line. "Though I really don't understand why you'd want to take that horrid class. I don't want to drop Ancient Runes or Arithmancy. They are both really interesting and extremely useful. Too bad you didn't pick those subjects instead of Care of Magical Creatures and Divination," Draco complained.
"What can I say? I was young and stupid," Harry quipped, looking over their list once more. They had quite a number of subjects between them. "How about this? We both drop Defence Against Dark Arts and Magical Law, those subjects we should have little difficulty studying on our own. Considering your father's intimate knowledge of how the Ministry works, I'm sure he could help us with any questions we might have if we get stuck. As for Defence, I have a feeling we're both way ahead when it comes to that subject, and should we need help, you can ask your father or Professor Snape for assistance. If we add Forgotten Arts to the list, it will give us eight classes and we both get two classes each we are really interested in. What do you think?"
Draco read through the list slowly, considering the pros and cons of each subject. "I think it would work. But why are you so interested in Herbology? That subject is boring and not to mention dirty," he said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Because I will need it in my future career," Harry replied, doing his best not to think about how cute the other boy was when he wrinkled his nose like that.
"But I thought you wanted to become an Auror," Draco said in confusion. "You don't need Herbology for that."
"I know what everyone thinks, but that isn't what I want to do. Can you imagine having to take orders from Fudge?" Harry asked, making a face in disgust. "I just said I wanted to become an Auror because that was what everyone expected me to do after graduation. I'd much rather become a hunter of rare potions' ingredients. Think about it, Draco, always moving around from place to place, seeing new things. Never knowing what you'll encounter next. No idiotic bosses to order you around." Harry got a dreamy expression on his face as he explained his dream.
"If that is what you want to do, you should take Care of Magical Creatures as well," Draco said with a soft sigh. He really didn't want to continue that subject, not with that half-idiot teaching it, but for Harry he would suffer the horrors Hagrid considered cute and cuddly.
Harry gave him a soft smile. "Thanks, Draco, but I think it will be safer to learn that subject from a book. Besides, you and Care of Magical Creatures don't mix well, don't you agree?"
"Tell me about it," Draco said, rolling his eyes. "But for you I will make the sacrifice," he quipped.
Harry didn't appreciate the joke though and looked down at his hands, which were resting in his lap. "Don't say that. Not even as a joke. I don't want you to make sacrifices for me and end up being miserable. I can learn what I need about different magical animals from books. It is much more difficult to learn Herbology by merely reading about it, so I'd rather take that class if I have to choose between them."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I only want you to be happy," Draco tried to explain.
"I know that. But how can I be happy if you are doing things that make you miserable? I realise we will need to compromise now and then, but if there is something you really don't like or don't want to do, tell me. Otherwise I'm no better than Voldemort."
"What?" Draco shrieked. "How can you even say that! You are nothing like that half-breed monster!"
"No? If I force you to do things you don't want just because you happen to be a Veela who wants to make his mate happy, how does that differ from what he does when he forces his followers to do things they don't want to?" Harry asked, patiently looking Draco in the eye.
The blond was forced to pause and consider what Harry had said. "Alright, I think I understand what you are trying to say," he grudgingly admitted after a while. "But I still maintain that you are nothing like that maniac!"
"Thank you for that ringing endorsement," Harry laughed. "Just keep what I said in mind, okay? I don't want a slave. I want a companion, someone who will always be at my side, but won't hesitate to tell me if I'm being a horse's arse."
Draco felt tears well up in his eyes and he was forced to look away until he had his emotions under control. That had been one of his fears growing up, that he would find himself bound to someone who didn't care about him, only about the things they could get from him. He should have known Harry wasn't like that. Still... It was becoming more and more obvious that no one knew the real Harry Potter, the person behind the scar and the epithet. He felt both proud and privileged that Harry was allowing him to glimpse the real him and that he wasn't pushing him away.
"So, our classes, we agree upon Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Charms, Herbology, Potions, Transfiguration, Healing, and Forgotten Arts," Draco stated, needing to get back to safer grounds.
"Sounds good to me. Why don't we have an elf pop over to McGonagall with the revised list, and you can do the summer assignment for Herbology," Harry said with a grin, turning back to his own work.
"Sure, make me do all the work!" Draco mock groused, nevertheless writing the note to the professor. Having sent the house-elf off, he climbed to his feet to fetch his own books and quills. Might as well do it now and have it done, especially if Harry is going to work as well and not be available for more talks and stuff.
HPDM
Albus Dumbledore looked out over the Great Hall at the students sitting there talking, laughing and having their lunch. Perfect. He rose and knocked his knife against his goblet. "May I have your attention, please?" he said, and gradually the Hall quieted down. "Thank you. I believe most of you are aware of the club Harry Potter and his friends were running last year."
Excited whispers sprang up among the students and Dumbledore smiled benevolently, pausing to give them time to settle down again.
"That club will go on this year as well, only this time it won't be in secret. An adult has agreed to supervise Mr. Potter, and thus the club will be sanctioned by the school. It will be open for third years and above. A list will be put up in your common rooms; anyone interested please sign the list. The first meeting will take place sometime next week. Any further information will be provided by Mr. Potter when he returns to class in three days' time. There was a small incident this morning and he is unable to see anyone for the next few days. That will be all." He sat back down and watched with amusement as the students began to talk among themselves. This was perfect! By announcing the club's existence to the student body like this, Harry would be unable to refuse to teach it. The club would give Harry ample opportunities to practise leadership without Albus having to relinquish any of his authority. It would also give the boy less time to cause mischief. Harry needed to be held on a shorter leash, especially now that he was going to be influenced by the Malfoys, lest he get ideas of living his own life. That could not be allowed to happen. It was both a blessing and a curse that it was Harry who was Draco's mate. Well, there wasn't much he could do about it but keep the boy closer to him and subtly minimize his freedom without alienating him.
He needed to find a way to teach him Occlumency as well. He couldn't ask Severus this time, which only left himself. Hmm, not a bad idea, actually. That way he would be able to find out what the boy was thinking and if he was plotting something. Ah, yes, things was working out wonderfully. Dumbledore popped a lemon drop into his mouth with a smile. Yes, things couldn't have gone better if he had planned them himself!
HPDM
"I didn't know Harry had agreed to lead the DA. This is wonderful news!" Hermione gushed happily, waiting impatiently for Ron to finish eating.
"But 'Mione! We will be forced to accept those slimy snakes! You know we can't trust them!" Ron complained. "Hey! Maybe they won't sign up. With Harry leading it, no way would they want anything to do with it," Ron said happily, shovelling some more food into his mouth.
"You forget who Harry is with now. If he comes along, I bet you a lot of the Slytherins will join too. It's too bad, but I guess it can't be helped. At least we will learn a lot off stuff not mentioned in the Defence textbook. Oh, I can't wait to get to the library and start looking for spells Harry can use. Can't you chew any faster?" Hermione added in complaint, eyeing the never shrinking mountain of food on the redhead's plate.
Ron snorted but didn't say anything, merely applying himself to clearing his plate. He was not at all happy about Harry being forced to spend his time with Malfoy. Who knew what torture that slimy backstabbing snake was forcing upon his friend? All Hermione cared about was learning more spells. But then, Defence was useful and they'd had a lot of fun last year. Maybe he should look some stuff up himself? There were a few things he'd heard Bill and Charlie talk about that he'd always wanted to try. Maybe he could get Harry interested as well. Nodding to himself, he shovelled the last of his lunch into his mouth and stood. There was no time like the present, and it would get Hermione off his back about not studying for his N.E..

Next Time:
The boys have a most unwanted visitor.
Draco meets one of Harry's friends.
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 7

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/7/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does.
This will be a slash story in time. Don't like it? Don't read it.
A/N: This chapter has been re-posted. A big thank you to my Beta Vaughn helping me out.

How did the Headmaster get in?

"Hah! One down, two to go!" Harry stated happily as he signed his essay with a flourish. "Trust Snape to assign three four foot essays when all the other teachers only assigned one."
"That is Severus for you. He wants to make sure that only those who are really interested in Potions select his NEWT class," Draco said with amusement, looking up from his book.
"Figures! Umm, Draco, would you mind looking through my essay? I'd like a second opinion before submitting it to Snape in case I've made some horrific blunder," Harry asked with his best puppy dog look, holding the essay out for the other boy to take.
Draco snorted but accepted the scroll. Unrolling it, he began to read. When he came to the end, he was impressed. He himself couldn't have done a better job of arguing the pros and cons of using the horn of a unicorn versus the horn of a darcorn in healing potions.
"This is bloody brilliant!" he said, handing back the scroll. "Couldn't have done better myself. But where in Salazar's name did you find a copy of Light Versus Dark When Healing? It is rumoured that there are only three copies left in the world, but if anyone has one, they aren't telling. Father and Severus have been trying to find a copy for years. According to them, there should be a potion mentioned in it that could be used to remove the Dark Mark."
Harry got a pensive look on his face, but before he could say anything, the door opened and Dumbledore walked in. "There you are, my boys, and already hard at work." He beamed. "Lemon drop?"
"No, thank you. May I ask what you are doing here?" Harry asked through gritted teeth. He had thought the adults had put up measures that would avoid precisely this kind of situation.
"Why, I came to check up on the two of you, of course. Wouldn't want you to be fighting or some such, now would we?"
"Of course not," Harry drawled darkly.
"I also wanted to tell you, Harry, to start making plans for that little club of yours." Dumbledore continued, ignoring Harry's comment and the way he bristled at having the DA brushed aside as a 'little club'. "Lucius has graciously agreed to supervise you, so I have made the DA available to the entire school, third year and up. I announced it at lunch, and by the looks of it, there will be quite a crowd at your first meeting, which I told the students would be held sometime next week. I expect you to let the student body know the exact date within the next few days. You will have to change the name, of course, we can't continue to call it 'Dumbledore's Army', no matter how flattering it is," he added with a chuckle.
"I also went by the kitchen, and the house-elves told me you haven't had lunch yet, so I took the liberty of ordering you something. You have to eat, Harry, starving yourself won't help you deal with your grief and your anger," Dumbledore scolded gently.
Harry was by now furious and wild magic was crackling around him.
"You really need to learn how to control that temper of yours, Harry. Occlumency would be of great assistance to you there, and since I refuse to make the same mistake twice, I won't ask you to learn it from Severus. I will teach it to you myself. Our first lesson will be tomorrow night at eight, please try and be on time," Dumbledore said as if he was bestowing a grand and generous gift. He then swiftly decided it was time to leave, as a breeze was beginning to blow around the room. That breeze had been the only warning of some spectacular explosions this past summer, and he had no wish to be caught in another one.
Harry slowly counted to one hundred once the door had closed behind the Headmaster before leaping to his feet. "That is it!" he seethed, marching towards the door as well, Draco hot on his heels.
Once outside, Harry glared at the knight and demanded, "How did the Headmaster get in? I thought the password had been changed!"
"It was," the knight cheerfully replied, removing his helmet and mopping his brow. "But that was the Headmaster of this school."
"So?"
"When he asked me for the new password, I told him. You cannot deny the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Especially since the Headmaster is the grand and wonderful Albus Dumbledore. Why, just the other week I was visiting with the lovely lady Violet when she told me..."
Harry didn't bother to hear what the knight had found out from Violet, he was too busy steaming. So the great Albus Dumbledore had the portraits on his side, did he? No wonder the wards had failed, if all the pompous meddler had to do was ask for the bloody password to have it delivered on a silver platter. But there was at least one portrait the Headmaster would have difficultly sweet talking, and Harry knew exactly where to find it.
"Umm, Harry? Where are we going?" Draco asked, having to hurry to keep up with the other boy. Harry might be shorter by three inches, but he could move swiftly if he was motivated, and right now, he was motivated.
"We are going to find a portrait that isn't an idiot!" Harry fumed, turning around a corner.
Draco decided to wait and see what would happen as they went deeper and deeper into a part of the castle where he had never been before. By the look of it, not many had been here lately, considering the thick layers of dust and the copious amount of spider webs that decorated the corners.
"Aha! There you are! Was it necessary to move to the deepest, darkest corner you could find?" Harry complained, coming to a halt in front of a large portrait.
"But of course, young speaker," a pleasant and cheerful voice said. "How else will I be able to keep in touch with that which does not walk in the light?"
Draco did his best to suppress a shudder. By the sound of it, Harry had found a new Hagrid. Where did that boy find all his weird friends? Why couldn't he have normal friends like everyone else?
"I see you have brought a friend. Care to introduce me?"
"My apologies. Salazar, meet Draco Malfoy. Draco, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Salazar Slytherin."
"A Malfoy, eh? How delightful, I haven't had a conversation with a Malfoy in centuries! You always were the best conversationists, besides the Princes. Such dry wit and sarcastic humour. You simply must come and visit me often, young sir."
"Eh, thank you. I will," Draco said, completely thrown. After all, it wasn't every day you were face to face, so to speak, with the founder of your House.
"Actually, that is what I wanted to talk to you about, Zar. Draco here is a Veela, and apparently, I'm his mate. I only found out today, so don't give me that look. Anyway, we have been given our own rooms, but the airhead that is guarding our door is giving out the password to any idiot that's asking. Would you consider becoming our guardian instead?" Harry asked, giving the founder a pleading look.
"But of course! It will be an honour, young sir, and rest assured, only those approved by you will be granted entrance to your sacred sanctuary. That is the true work of a guardian, although some seem to have forgotten that fact," Salazar said, his face darkening as he remembered something.
"Thank you, kind sir," Harry said with a heartfelt sigh. "Do I have thy permission to move thee to thine new home?" he asked, adopting a more formal air.
"I grant thee permission, my young Lord. Take care not to scruff the frame. The last idiot that moved me damaged it something dreadful."
"I promise to be careful," Harry said, pulling out his wand. "Draco, could you cancel the Sticking Charm while I do the Levitation Charm?"
"Sure." Draco nodded, drawing his own wand.
Together they got the painting off the wall and back to their quarters without any mishaps. Removing the knight proved to be a bit trickier, but in the end they managed, and together they put Slytherin in his place.
"Thank you. Now, what do you wish the new password to be?" Salazar asked, walking around his painting to make sure that his potion lab hadn't been too badly damaged by the move.
"What do you suggest, Draco?" Harry asked, his mind completely blank.
"How about dragons and Parselmouths?" Draco asked after a moment of thought.
Harry grinned. "I like it!" Turning towards the dead founder, he continued, "There are only two of us living in these rooms, me and Draco. The only other ones we grant access to are Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy. If anyone else should try and enter, whether they have the password or not, deny them."
"It will be my pleasure," Salazar said with a glint in his eyes, and Harry almost wished he'd be present the next time Dumbledore tried to force his way inside. Being one of the founders, Salazar still had the ability to access the magic of Hogwarts, making it possible for him to hex those that bothered him in spite of 'only' being a painting.
"Thank you, I knew I could count on you, Zar." Harry smirked.
"What are we going to do with this idiot?" Draco asked, nudging their old guard gently. "We can't leave him on the floor like this."
"I suppose not," Harry said with little interest. Then his eyes lit up. "Hey, I know. Help me get it over to that door over there," he said, rushing over to the door to an old classroom not far from their rooms. A few quick charms had the door looking like a wall, and together with Draco, he managed to stick their old guardian to the false wall.
"Wouldn't you just love to see the look on Dumbledore's face the next time he tries to sneak in on us?" Harry laughed, walking back to their own door. "I bet you no one beside Snape has ever tried to keep him out before and succeeded. Dragons and Parselmouths," he added, walking back inside as the portrait swung open.
"I wonder if it is possible to mount a camera to document the historical moment," Draco managed to get out among his giggles.
"Hey, not a bad idea," Harry said, looking over at Draco. The two boy's eyes met and that was it. They both collapsed to the floor holding their aching sides as they broke down into laughter.
HPDM
Dumbledore returned to his office deep in thought. He had meant every word he'd said to Harry. He was thrilled the youth had been picked as the Veela's mate. Draco would be able to support Harry in a way not many others could. The Malfoy name, although a bit tarnished at the moment, would ensure that Harry would never again want for anything.
Nevertheless, he couldn't help but worry a little. The past summer had not been a good one. Harry had taken the death of Sirius and the news of the Prophesy far worse than Dumbledore had figured he would. It was beyond him how Harry could grieve so for Black. They had hardly known each other, after all. Add to that that they had barely spent any time together, and what you had were two virtual strangers. True, they were godfather and godson, and that was a strong bond in and of itself, but still… How can you grieve so for a stranger?
Albus sank down into his chair and popped a lemon drop into his mouth. He could only hope that Draco would be able to pull Harry out of his funk before it developed into a full-blown depression. Maybe he had made a mistake keeping Harry and his friends separated this summer, but Molly had had a valid point. Headquarters was a dark and gloomy place. He could hardly fault her for wanting to keep her children at home, in spite of the dangers.
Besides, Harry hadn't exactly been thrilled the few occasions he had spent time with Ron and Hermione. Perhaps things would have turned out worse if they had forced the children to spend more time together before Harry was ready.
On the other hand, maybe forcing him to socialize with his friends would have snapped him out of his dark moods.
Well, it was too late now. If only Remus had been available. But the werewolf had taken the death of Sirius extremely hard and had left Grimmauld Place shortly after the happenings at King's Cross. No one knew for sure where he was. The only communication Albus had had was a short note saying that Remus was safe and that he would return when he was ready, whenever that was. His attempts to contact Lupin and tell him about Harry had failed, and no one had seen or heard anything from him the entire summer.
Albus sighed and shifted in his seat. He could understand the wolf grieving for its pack member, but they were at war, damn it! Remus was needed here, with the Order. Riddle was moving again, and they needed to make sure the werewolf clans did not side with the Dark Lord. But to convince them to stay with the Light, he needed Lupin to talk to them. It was too dangerous to send a human to negotiate.
And then there was Harry. If only he wasn't so important to the war. Albus didn't like having to put all his faith in a teenager. Especially not a moody teenager. An adult you could argue with. An adult could be made to see reason. But a teenager? Dumbledore shuddered. A more egocentric being there never was. They refused to listen to reason. They considered authority figures to be the enemy, for Merlin's sake!
He had done his best to give Harry a childhood while making sure he would always listen to his elders and do whatever Albus needed him to do. It had worked wondrously for years, but now when he really was needed, Harry suddenly refused to cooperate. He could not lose Harry. He would not lose Harry. He would do anything to keep the weapon at his side.
The question was, what? For once, the aged warrior was unsure of what actions to take. Hopefully the situation with the Malfoys would keep Harry distracted, giving Dumbledore more time to come up with a working strategy. For now, he would sit back and observe. If he was fortunate, Harry himself would give him the tools he needed to keep him in line.
Nodding to himself, the Headmaster popped another lemon drop into his mouth and turned his attention to the never-ending paperwork. Yes, he would sit back and observe for now, keeping his involvement to a minimum. Hopefully Ron and Hermione would be able to keep their promise and stand by Harry, reminding the boy of where his true friends were. That would minimize the hold the Malfoys might gain on the boy, making sure he stayed firmly rooted on the Light side.
Feeling content and cautiously optimistic, Albus picked up the latest missive from Fudge and set about trying to prevent another disaster. Really, could the man be any more inept?

Next Time:
The boys are bored and decide to have some fun.
Harry manages to impress Severus.
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 8

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/8/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I don't own them, and that is such a pity….
A/N: This chapter has been re-posted to fix the grammar. Thank you Vaughn for helping me out.
Also, a big thank you to everyone reading and reviewing. You people are just wonderful!

I'm bored. Let's go flying!

"I'm bored," Harry said some time later, after they had finished the food Dumbledore had ordered for them.
Draco looked up from the book he was reading. "You still have to finish two of Severus' essays," he reminded his mate, who lay sprawled on the floor, a book on his chest.
"I know, but I still have two and a half days to get it done. Besides, I'm not in the mood to study. I want to do something fun."
"Like what?"
"I don't know." Harry pouted. "Hey, I know!" he suddenly yelped, smoothly getting on his feet, causing Draco to drool at the fluid motions of skin and muscles. "Let's go flying!"
"What?" Draco asked, pulling his mind out of the gutter with an effort.
"Let's go flying! I haven't been on a broom in ages! Stupid Umbridge!" Harry added under his breath. "Wanna come along?" he asked, heading for his room to get his trusted Firebolt and put on a robe.
"Sure, why not?" Draco gave in. Staying here and reading about boring plants, or be with his mate flying? There was no contest.
Five minutes later, the two boys were standing in the Quidditch pitch. Classes were still in session, so they had the place to themselves.
"How about some friendly competition?" Harry smirked. "You and me and a Quaffle?"
"Think you can win, Potter?" Draco smirked right back.
"Against you? Hell, yeah!"
"Too bad we don't have a Quaffle, or I'd make you eat those words," Draco challenged.
"Who says we don't?" Harry asked, pulling something from his pocket. He twirled his wand over it, and moments later, he was holding a bright yellow ball in his hand. "Are you game? Or is hot air all you've got?" he teased, throwing the Quaffle into the air and catching it again.
"Bring it on!" Draco called, zooming into the air, stealing the Quaffle with ease. He laughed out loud at the indignant cry from below him and then Harry was next to him, laughing as well.
HPDM
Draco was in the lead, 20 to16, when a shout came from below. Looking down, he saw his father waving for them to join him. Looking over at Harry and noting he'd seen the summons as well, the two of them flew down to land beside the blond aristocrat standing at the edge of the pit.
"Having fun, boys?" Lucius asked, watching the two windblown, red-faced, and above all, happy looking children.
"You bet! You should have seen me, Father. I beat the pants off Potter," Draco crooned happily. This was the most fun he had had in ages and he was riding high on those happy feelings. That his happiness was amplified with the feelings coming from Harry only heightened his happiness even more.
"In your dreams, Malfoy," Harry replied smartly. "Just wait till next time!"
"Hah!"
"Boys," Lucius said sternly, not wanting to put a damper on their good mood, but he had no desire to stand there and listen to the two of them banter back and forth either. "Severus and I need to talk to you."
"Sure," Harry said easily, and headed towards the castle. "I still say I will win next time, Malfoy. You had an unfair advantage this time, that's all."
"Unfair advantage!" Draco spluttered.
"Yeah, everyone knows that Veelas have the biggest sweet tooth," Harry drawled.
"What has that got to do with Quidditch!" the blond demanded to know.
"The Quaffle was made out of a Bertie Botts Every Flavour Bean," Harry laughed, taking off running, a mock angry Draco chasing him while shouting insults.
Lucius watched them go, shaking his head. He was pleased to see Draco so carefree and happy. It reminded him of how he had felt in the beginning when he had found his own mate. He also remembered the complaints from his own father and he was getting an inkling of what the man had been through trying to keep the reins on an infatuated Veela pursuing his mate. Especially since he had not approved of the match. This was going to be an interesting year. At least no one would interfere and meddle with their happiness. He would not allow it. History was not about to repeat itself!
However, Narcissa had already attempted to make that difficult, Lucius mused as he thought about the events of earlier that day...
Lucius walked beside a deeply thinking Potions Master, pleased with the way his day had gone so far. After his second meeting with the Headmaster, he had Apparated home and packed a few things, informing his wife of his plans. She had not been pleased with Draco's mate, and by the time he left, his ears were ringing from her screams and several priceless vases and urns had met their untimely death.
His next stop had been to see his 'Master', who had reacted the exact opposite of Narcissa. After a long good laugh, Lord Voldemort had instructed Lucius to make sure that the boy was swayed to their side and had graciously given them until Christmas to corrupt the boy and bring him before the Dark Lord.
That would buy them some time to prepare and would ensure that Narcissa received a cold shoulder when she came and demanded something to be done to save her precious baby.
Lucius snorted. As if she had ever cared for the boy. Draco might be her son, but she only acknowledged that fact when she wanted something. She was a cold-hearted bitch, and he would never forgive his father for saddling him with her, especially since he had already found his mate. They had never bonded though, his father had seen to that! I hope that bastard is rotting in the hottest pit in Hell for what he did to me, Lucius thought darkly.
"This can't be right," Severus said suddenly, bringing Lucius out of his dark musings.
"What?"
"The painting is here, but it shouldn't be," the Potions Master elaborated, looking pensively at the portrait guarding the boy's rooms. "It is too soon."
Lucius raised an eyebrow in surprise. 'Too soon?' Sometimes his friend just didn't make sense. "Aconite," he said, not bothering to comment on the other's statement.
The painting swung open and Lucius walked inside, coming up short. A dusty, unused classroom met his astonished gaze.
"Told you so," Severus said smugly, looking around the room as well. "It would seem the boys changed the guard on their door. I wonder why?"
"My guess is Dumbledore," Lucius said, stepping back into the corridor. "Shall we see if we can find their rooms?"
Severus snorted and stalked down the corridor. He came to a halt in front of a large painting where a tall, dark-haired man was bent over a cauldron, adding something neither of them could identify. The Potions Master cleared his throat and the unknown brewer looked up. Startling green eyes evaluated them, and then he broke into a grin.
"A Malfoy and a Prince, correct?"
"Yes," Lucius answered, a bit perplexed.
"I knew it! I can recognize either family a mile away. This is wonderful, I haven't had a decent conversation for years, apart from the lad of course. And if you are to have a conversation filled with dry wit and sarcasm, then there is no one better than a Malfoy and a Prince, I always say. You simply must come and visit often. Do you reside here? I could just as easily come and visit with you and it would ensure we had some privacy. A drafty hall is, after all, not the place for gentlemen such as us to gather in."
Severus eyebrow rose. "I take it you are the new guardian to these rooms?"
"Of course. The lad came and asked me, and how could I say no? Especially considering the trouble he had with the last guard. Dreadful business."
"What happened?" Lucius demanded, getting worried.
"Did you know the airhead actually gave out the password when asked? Outrageous! A home is a sacred castle and you do not violate someone's sanctuary. It simply isn't done! But what do you expect from a Gryffindor who comes from Hufflepuff stock? No brains, that one. No brains at all. No wonder he ended up being roasted alive in that ridiculous armour of his."
The two men exchanged a worried glance. So the Headmaster had come and bothered the boys, as they had feared he would. After all the safety measures they'd put up to make sure such a thing didn't happen, and the man had gained entrance by simply asking the guard for the password.
Lucius shook his head. "Are the boys in?"
"No. They went flying. They walked out of here carrying brooms. They did not confide in me as to where they were going."
"I bet you it was them I saw at the pitch. I'll go and get them."
Severus nodded. "I will wait here."
"You may wait inside if you'd like," the portrait offered.
"But I do not know the password," Severus replied, wondering if this painting was going to just let anyone enter as well.
"That is true, but the lads told me that the only ones save them that could enter their domain were Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy. I take it you are he?"
"Indeed I am," Severus said with a slight inclination of his head.
"Excellent! From what the lad tells me, you are quite the potion maker. I would love to come and have a chat or two with you, to compare notes on the progress made over the years. Most of the paintings in this castle have no interest in sharing their discoveries; not that many are in my league anyway," the dark haired man complained, returning to his cauldron, peering inside.
"Drat. Another failure!"
"Are you by any chance Salazar Slytherin?" Severus asked, watching with interest as the cauldron was emptied with a flick of the hand and the brewer started all over.
"That I am, young lad."
"But I thought there were no portraits of you in the castle."
"Ha! That is what they want you to think. No, there are quite a few paintings of me still in this place, but most are locked away and forgotten. The current Headmaster found me while he was still a lowly professor and tried to hide me away too. He failed though," Salazar said smugly. "I was too smart for that brainless idiot and I've been lurking about in the shadows since then, keeping tabs on what is going on, and lending what aid I could when needed.
"Not that many have bothered to heed my words though, until the lad found me. We have talked many a night, and he is quite intelligent. Hides it though. Afraid to lose his friends, he was. Lost them anyway, but that is life for you. I do hope you will be able to assist him in his future endeavours. He has quite a future ahead of him unless he succumbs to the stress and decides to end it all. If that was to happen, would be most displeased," Salazar said the last while glaring fiercely, and Severus had a feeling that the painting he was standing in front of was more than a mere portrait. How that was possible, he had no idea. Before he could ask though, Salazar began speaking again.
"Dear me, here I am blathering away. Why don't you wait inside?" he asked, swinging the door open. Severus took the hint and entered.
Having too much on his mind to be able to just sit and wait, Severus paced around the room pondering the things he'd been told today. Potter had not been reacting as he'd expected and that bothered him. Instead of breaking down sobbing at the unfairness of being Draco's mate, he had stated that he had no wish to follow either Dumbledore or Riddle. Instead of throwing a tantrum that he was now linked with the Malfoys, he had asked for their help to establish a third power in this war.
Then there was the things Slytherin had said. There was little doubt the lad in question was Potter. If Draco had found the Founder during one of his nightly wanderings, Severus would have known about it the same night. His godson would have been unable to keep such a find to himself. There was also the fact that Salazar now was acting as door to these rooms. Who else would have offered to help with the switch if it wasn't Potter who'd known where the Founder hiding?
Had the brat really been thinking about committing suicide? Only those without hope pondered over that option. He was well aware that several of his snakes were considering that option to get away from an, in their eyes, hopeless situation. But for the Boy Who Lived to even think such a thing...
Severus wasn't sure what to think. If the boy had been that dangerously depressed, why had no one acted upon it? He found it extremely unlikely that the boy's friends would not know about it. They clung to the boy like leeches, after all. And the Headmaster… surely Albus would have noticed and done something?
Unable to assimilate the conflicting information, he was almost happy when he noticed a scroll laying on the coffee table with his name on it. Snatching it up, he unrolled it and began to read. Recognizing Potter's scrawl, Severus realised he was reading one of his own assignments. Sinking onto the couch, he groaned. Due to being the mate of Draco, Potter had found a way to sneak his way into his N.E.W.T. class. He closed his eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. Blast and damnation! He thought he was rid of that menace! Sighing deeply, he opened the scroll and continued reading, figuring he might as well get this over and done with. He shuddered at the thought of having to wade his way through the boy's drivel. Potter might be a hero, but he couldn't write an essay to save his life!
HPDM
When the others entered Severus was still sitting on the couch, scroll in hand, staring into space.
"Hey, Uncle Sev, are you alright?" Draco asked in concern when there was no reaction from Snape. The man was always aware of his surroundings and for him not to notice three people entering a room, especially since none of them had been quiet, was cause to worry.
"Severus?" Lucius asked, walking over and settling beside his friend, getting concerned as well. Reaching out a hand, he placed it gently on Severus' brow to check for a fever.
"Hmm? Oh, good, you are back," Severus said, slowly coming back to the here and now.
"Stop that, Luce, I am perfectly fine!" he added, batting the hand away that was now resting against his throat, checking his pulse.
"Forgive me for getting worried upon finding you sitting here, staring into space like a centaur." Lucius couldn't help tease, earning himself a fierce look.
"Potter, I've been reading your essay, and I must say it is the first time ever that you have shown to be the owner of more than one brain cell. Why you haven't bothered to apply yourself before is beyond me."
"Why, thank you, Professor," Harry smirked, pleased that his effort had earned such high praise. And from a man that it was notoriously difficult to please at that.
"Why have you never shown this level of intelligence before?" Severus demanded, not about to be deterred from getting a few answers.
Harry sighed but realised it was better to give in than to try to avoid the subject. Sinking into a chair, he felt his good mood disappear. Darn, and it had felt so good to let everything go and just be one with the broom and the air. He was startled when a weight settled in his lap, and he opened his eyes he was unaware he'd closed to find Draco sitting there, arms wrapped around his neck. Harry blinked a few times, just staring at the blond. Then he decided he didn't want to know. Turning his attention back to the not so patiently waiting professor, Harry sighed again and replied, "Because I had no idea how to write an essay."
"How could you not? You went to school while living with those Muggles, did you not?" Severus demanded.
Harry snorted. "Yeah, I went to school. When they let me."
"Harry?" Draco asked, not liking the emotions rolling off his mate.
"No, I need to talk about it. Might as well do it now," Harry sighed. "When the Dursleys wanted to punish me for something, they always locked me into the cupboard under the stairs. It could be for a day or two, or it could be for weeks. It all depended on the 'crime' I had committed. It is a tad difficult to keep up with your schoolwork when you are kept out of class. The teacher didn't bother, they just thought I was playing truant, especially since I was usually at the last place in class. I learned early on it was safer for my health to do worse than Dudley, and since he has the brain of an amoeba, that took some work," Harry explained.
"But what about when you came to Hogwarts?" Lucius asked, fighting to keep his temper in check. They had locked the boy into a cupboard? Considering how small the child was, he had a sneaking suspicion they hadn't bothered to feed him while he was locked away. Those Muggles would pay!
"Yeah, Hogwarts," Harry snorted. "I had no idea I was a wizard. I didn't find that little fact out until Hagrid came to get me when I didn't receive my Hogwarts letter. Have you any idea what it was like going from being a nobody, a freak, to being the Saviour of the wizarding world? I had no idea what was going on. I had no clue how to act, so I tried to do what I've always done, stay in the shadows and observe. But it is a difficult to find a shadow when the spotlights are shining right on you.
"By the time I was no longer feeling like I was treading in quicksand, my role had already been established. I was to hate all things Slytherin, I was to be a brilliant Seeker, and I was the balance between my two friends, Ron and Hermione. Woe is me if I did better than her in any subject. The only class where I was allowed to shine was in DADA, considering that I would need it in order to defeat dear old Voldie. To compensate though we have been given the worst teachers possible aside from Remus Lupin.
"Almost all of the teachers expected me to already know the things we were studying and were disappointed in me when I didn't pick things up as quickly as Hermione. When I tried to approach a few of them to ask questions, I was mostly brushed aside, so I stopped asking, doing my best to find out things on my own like I've always done. And then people can't understand why I don't have the 'proper respect' for authority," Harry snorted, unconsciously wrapping his arms around Draco's waist. He liked the way the blond was running his fingers through his hair. It was very soothing and relaxing.
"Then how do you explain this essay?" Severus asked, allowing Lucius to take it and scan through it.
"I told you this morning. I spent the summer thinking."
"Thinking doesn't teach you how to write excellent essays, Potter," Severus snapped, earning himself twin glares from the Malfoys.
"No, but it made me realise that I no longer cared what other people thought of me. The wizarding world is either worshipping me or hating me. My so-called friends have both turned on me one time too many. Dumbledore lost all my respect the night Sirius died. Since I was alone anyway, I decided it was time to live my life the way I wanted to, and not how everyone else thought I should. So I spent the summer reading. Did you know the Blacks have amassed a most incredible library? I found several books dedicated to becoming the perfect scholar, and it was from them I finally learned how to properly structure an essay. I'm glad I got it right," Harry added, sending Snape a smirk.
"I say you did," Lucius said impressed. "Any potion magazine would be proud to accept your essay. It is well thought out, and your conclusions are very impressive and refreshing. But tell me, did you really find a copy of Light Versus Dark When Healing?"
"Like I said, the Blacks own a very impressive library. Not all of the books are gathered in the main library."
"I've heard rumours of hidden rooms, but I never found any," Severus said, contemplating the dark haired youth. Maybe he had misjudged things a tad bit.
"I'm not surprised, they are very well hidden." Harry said, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Want to share, love?" Draco asked, having a feeling Harry was drawing this out only to torture Severus, and he didn't want them to come to blows. And that might very well happen if Sev's temper blew.
"Spoil my fun, why don't you," Harry pouted, but gave in. "I talked to Mrs. Black one night when I couldn't sleep. She was most accommodating once we came to an understanding."
"Mrs. Black? An understanding?" Severus was flabbergasted. "How in Merlin's name did you manage that? She hates anything not Dark."
"Ah, but you forget, Professor, I own a trait that is considered very Dark," Harry said, unable to hold back a triumphant smirk.
"Parseltongue. You talked to her in Parseltongue, didn't you?" Draco said in awe. He had been raised with tales of the Black family; his mother was a Black, after all, and she had shared many a tale of the late Mrs. Black.
"Yes, I did. I accidentally woke her one night, and I didn't want her to alert the entire house, so I hissed at her. I wasn't really talking to her, but more cursing my bad luck. I was floored when she started talking to me in a civil manner. We talked for hours, and I visited with her several times after that. She told me quite a bit about the house and where I could find interesting rooms and such. Some of the oldest rooms were actually guarded with passwords in Parseltongue; she said it was a trait that had once been part of the Black legacy since a Slytherin had married into the family. It died out several hundred years ago though, and the rooms have been locked shut since."
"But Harry, the house isn't that old," Severus said, perplexed.
"That house isn't. But it is connected with the Black Manor and it is."
"You've been to Black Manor?" Lucius asked, amazed. "I thought it was a myth. A legend. Lost to time long ago."
"No, it exists. It is extremely well hidden, but it still stands," Harry answered.
"Wow. Will you take me there sometime?" Draco asked.
"Sure. You are of Black blood; you should be able to access a lot of the rooms I couldn't get into. The Blacks are very focused on blood, it seems. I spent some time talking to the paintings. Most wouldn't give me the time of day once they realised I wasn't of their blood, but since I was a Parselmouth, they didn't kick me out either. According to them, I must be very Dark and powerful, so they either tolerated or ignored me."
Severus and Lucius shared a glance. The boy was full of surprises, it seemed. And he spoke so causally of visiting the Black Manor, as if it was no more remarkable than a trip to Diagon Alley.
"Harry, about the book. Did you find a copy?" Lucius asked, returning to the question that caused this latest tangent.
"Oh. Yeah. I did. I take it you want to see it?"
"Yes, I would. We would," Lucius amended, looking over at Severus once more. Could it be possible that their nightmare was about to end?
Harry looked at the two men, hesitating. He wanted to help them, but he wasn't sure he wanted to give up his secret. He had a feeling he already had said too much, but he really couldn't see what was so special about him visiting the Manor. It was just a house, right? Sure, it was old and contained a lot of things that's been forgotten over time, but it still was just an old house filled with stuff.
"Harry?"
"If I let you read the book, will Professor Snape cease prosecuting me in class?" Harry asked bluntly.
"Blackmail, Potter? How utterly Slytherin of you," Severus smirked, not at all offended. In fact, this gave him a way to change his behaviour without losing much face or having, Salazar forbid, to apologise. "Very well, I promise to treat you better in class if you continue to show me that you have a brain and aren't afraid to use it."
Harry considered the wording carefully. Having spent some time among Blacks and Salazar Slytherin, he had learned, the hard way, to pay attention to what people actually said and not accept at face value what you thought they said.
"Deal," he agreed eventually. "Draco, would you mind?" he pointedly asked the blond, who made no move to get off his lap.
"Don't want to," Draco pouted playfully. "Ouch! Hey, that was uncalled for!" he protested when Harry pushed him off and he landed on the floor with a thud.
"Sorry, dear, but I'm not about to stand between a Potions Master and a new book he wants to read," Harry grinned, looking down at the Veela. Stepping around him, he went to his room and closed the door. Five minutes later, he returned, carrying a large book bound in black leather. Stopping in front of the couch, he held it out for Snape to take.
Severus accepted the book with reverence, letting his fingers trace the title carved into the leather. "So it really exists," he whispered, tracing the name of the author. Helga Hufflepuff.
Lucius looked up at Harry. "How in the world did you manage to get that book out of the Manor? Wasn't there wards protecting against theft?"
"I don't know, I suppose." Harry shrugged, settling back in the chair he had vacated earlier.
"Harry?" Lucius prompted, letting a hint of steel enter his voice. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
Harry pouted but realised the folly of thwarting the elder Malfoy's authority. "Salazar showed me a spell that will allow you to copy any book you are interested in. No matter what protections the owner has in place, no matter what spells used to prevent copying without authorisation, this spell overrides them all."
"Bloody brilliant!" Draco breathed. "You've got to teach me that spell!"
"Sorry, Draco, it is in Parseltongue."
"Figures!" Draco said dejected, but then he brightened again. "But you could copy any book for me, right? If I asked nicely?" he added, sending a flirtish look at Harry, batting his eyelashes.
Harry blushed. Then he laughed, but did not comment.
Severus ignored the byplay and rose cradling the book to his chest. "I will head down to my rooms and read through this treasure. I will give your essay full marks, and I am looking forward to reading the other two. I would, however, keep quiet about this book, or the Headmaster will find a way to confiscate it, in the name of the war of course. The same goes for any other treasures you've found this summer."
Harry nodded that he had understood and watched as the Potion Master swept from the room, the book now safely hidden inside a pocket. Turning back to the others, he opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by his grumbling stomach. Snapping his fingers, he said, "I'm hungry. Either of you want anything?"

A/N: I bet not many figured that was how Harry impressed Snape, am I right? Grin

Next Time:
Harry decides it is time for a little payback. Everyone appreciates a good prank, correct?
Apparently not the Headmaster.
Stay tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 9

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/9/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I don't own them, and that is such a pity….
A/N: This chapter has been re-posted to fix the grammar. A big thank you to my Beta Vaughn for all the help. Any mistakes left are my own.
This will in time be a slash story, don't like it? Don't read it.
This story is also an AU from book five. (Book six? What book six? Never heard of it, never read it, never disliked it immensely!)

Time for Payback
"Albus, there is something that I believe you need to see," McGonagall said, walking up to the Headmaster where he sat working behind his desk.
"What is it, Minerva? I trust there are no troubles?"
"No, no troubles. Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy sent me a letter earlier today in regard to their schedules," McGonagall explained, holding the letter out for the other to take.
Dear Deputy Headmistress,
My mate and I have talked things through and we realise that our schedule is a nightmare the way it stands now. Not to mention that we will be overloaded with far too many classes. Therefore, we made the decision to coordinate our choices and, this is the result. I trust you will find your work easier now and will accommodate our wishes.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Classes we wish to take:
Ancient Runes,
Arithmancy,
Charms,
Herbology,
Potions,
Transfiguration,
Healing,
Forgotten Arts.
"Very commendable of them," Albus said with a soft smile. He was positive this was Harry's idea, that boy was always so considerate of others. He read the list once more and frowned. "This must be a mistake, they have both dropped Defence," he said, looking up at his deputy.
"That is why I decided to bring this to your attention." McGonagall nodded. "Albus, Harry needs Deence Against The Dark Arts if he is to survive this war, not to mention we can't let the boy lead a defence club if he isn't taking Defence. What example would that set for the students? Not to mention what the parents will say when they find out." She shuddered at the thought of all those Howlers she'd be swamped with.
"Put both boys down for Defence," Albus decided. "I have a meeting with Harry tomorrow night; I will speak with him about this then. I am sure he will be made to see reason, and if he finds the workload too heavy, he can always drop one of the other classes," he stated, dismissing the issue from his mind and returning to his letter. Fudge was demanding his advice again. The Headmaster almost wished the man still had his head in the sand, then he wouldn't be pestered with letters demanding advice on just about everything.
Day Two - Tuesday
Harry woke with a gasp and a shudder. He slowly sat up in bed, his heart beating wildly. Ever since about two weeks before his birthday his nights had been filled with weird dreams of a forest and a woman singing. He had no idea what she was singing since he didn't understand the language, but it was a beautiful song, albeit sad. It filled him with such longing, and he often had to fight an urge to just leave and rush headlong to find the singer.
So far, he had managed to stop himself though. He had no way of knowing where this mysterious singer was. Or knowing who she was, for that matter. What if this was just another trick from Voldemort? But each time he heard that song, the pull became stronger. How much longer was he going to be able to resist the lure?
Sighing softly, Harry threw back the covers. There would be no more sleep tonight, he might as well get up and do something useful. At least it hadn't been another torture filled nightmare of dear old Voldie killing innocent people. It was a wonder he hadn't developed insomnia by now!
Suddenly he smirked. Tonight was the perfect opportunity for some payback. He had been nice for far too long. It was time to make some people realise what it meant to piss off the Boy Who Lived. It was time to tap into the mischievous streak he had inherited from his father. Oh yeah, they would never know what hit them.
Quickly he got out of the bed and dressed in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He didn't bother with shoes and only pulled on a pair of socks to ward off some of the chill from stone floors. Grabbing one of his beloved Bertie Botts beans, he quickly transfigured it into a large bowl, which he shrunk and put into a pocket. Digging out the map next, he pulled the invisibility cloak over himself, ready to wreck some havoc on the castle. Then he paused. Draco. The other boy was still sleeping, but what if he woke up and couldn't find Harry? Since he had fallen asleep with the door open, one look was all it would take, and if Draco worried and began searching for him...
With a shake of his head, Harry scribbled a brief note, hoping it would appease the Veela and stop him from causing a ruckus. Everything hinged on no one suspecting him. Ah well, only time would tell.
Activating the map, Harry made sure everyone was where he or she were supposed to be, or rather, made sure no one was where he planned to be. On silent feet, he left the living room and sneaked along deserted corridors. Not even Mrs. Norris was about; she probably figured that no one would cause trouble on the first night of classes. Harry smirked. If only they knew.
He reached the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office without being detected. Gently he reached out a hand and placed it on the statue's nose, whispering to it in Parseltongue. Zar had been extremely helpful once he heard Harry's idea, and the Founder had even improved it a bit.
Without making a noise, the gargoyle stepped aside from its guard post without alerting anyone and allowed Harry entrance. Having a sneaky Slytherin on your side was a very good thing, Harry thought smugly. Quickly he climbed the escalator that for once was not moving, and made it to the Headmaster's office. Once more, he reached out his hand and placed it on a specific spot, whispering a spell Zar had taught him that disabled the security spell on the door.
Easing it open, Harry slipped inside, making sure the door did not close. Hurriedly he stepped up to the desk and to the bowl of lemon drops standing on it. Pulling out his wand, he dug the bowl from his pocket, not bothering to resize it, and placing them side by side, he cast a spell linking them together. Smirking, Harry searched the desk and found several bags of the sweets and linked them to the bowl he'd brought as well. Returning everything to the place where he'd found it, Harry placed the empty bowl back into a pocket and turned to leave, only to come up short when he noticed Fawkes.
Drat! He had forgotten all about the Phoenix. The paintings adorning the walls had been included in the override spell he'd whispered to the door, preventing them from noticing him. However, the familiar was not affected by the spell at all. Holding his breath, Harry waited to see what the bird would do. The breath exploded from his lungs when all Fawkes did was to wink at him and hide his head under a wing. Harry broke out into a wide grin. He tiptoed to where the bird was resting and petted the soft feathers gently.
"Thank you, my friend. Come find me if I can ever do anything for you," he breathed, before leaving the office as silent as a ghost.
Once he was far away from the office, he gave out a soft whoop and jumped into the air. Yes! Step one of operation payback was underway. Now for the next step. Running, he set off for the Great Hall. Easing one of the smaller side doors open, Harry slipped inside and pulled out a bottle from his pocket. Walking over to the Slytherin table, he dribbled a few droplets onto each seat, making sure not to miss a single one. When he was finished, he hurried over to the Gryffindor table and did the same thing there. Putting the now empty bottle back into a pocket, he eased his way out of the hall and ran back to his and Draco's rooms. If the potion worked, the students should have an entertaining morning.
Smirking, Harry gave Zar the password and slipped inside. He had made it! He had begun his reign of terror and no one knew!
"Where in Merlin's name have you been?"
Draco's cry of indignation cut short Harry's self-congratulations. "Ehm. Morning, Draco, what are you doing up so early?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"I woke early because my prat of a mate was up doing no good, patting himself so loudly on the back that it woke me from a sound sleep. I didn't know what to think, so imagine my surprise when I climb out of my very soft, warm, not to mention comfortable bed to find that my mate is nowhere to be seen and that he only left this measly little note behind! Where were you? What did you do, and why in Circe's name didn't you invite me along?" Draco demanded, looking very put out.
Harry blinked at the barrage of demands. "Umm, I woke early, couldn't go back to sleep and didn't want to wake you?" he offered hesitantly.
Draco waved the explanation aside. "Next time, and I am sure there will be a next time, wake me. Okay? I have some people I want to prank as well. Why should you have all the fun?"
"How did you know I was going to prank anyone?"
"Oh, please. It said so right here," Draco said, waving the note Harry had left him.
Confused, Harry took the note from him and read what he'd written.
Draco,
Gone to take care of something.
Will be right back.
Harry
"It doesn't say anything here about pranks," Harry protested.
"What else would you be doing, sneaking off like that? Especially in the middle of the night?"
Harry huffed and pulled the bowl from his pocket, placing it on the coffee table after having returned it to its original size. He walked into his room and returned shortly with a box of Bertie Botts. Settling on the sofa, he upended the box on the table and watched as the beans scattered every which way. "Do you happen to know of a spell that separates the tasty from the nasty?" he asked, still looking at all the beans.
"Umm, no. I don't think there is a spell for that," Draco replied in surprise. "Why?"
Harry frowned. "Are you sure there is no way of separating them?"
"Salazar's teeth!" Draco swore and settled in a chair, pulling the table closer. Swiftly he began to separate the beans into two piles. "Where do you want the tasty ones?" he asked, indicating one of the piles.
"Put them back in the box. You may have them if you like," Harry offered, holding out the box. "Put the nasty ones in the bowl."
Draco gave him a dark look but continued to work diligently. Before long, the scattered mess had been dealt with and the bowl was filled with a rainbow of colours.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on now?" Draco demanded.
"Soon. But I think you can guess in a minute." Harry smiled and upended the bowl, once more scattering the beans all over the table. Pulling his wand, he whispered a spell, turning all the beans into lemon drops. With another wave, he moved them back to the bowl.
Draco watched in fascination. Slowly he reached out and picked on up. Turning it round and round, he inspected it. It looked just like the sweet the Headmaster was so crazy about. Gingerly he stuck his tongue out and licked it. Immediately he screwed his face up, making a face, dropping the sweet onto the table.
"Ugh, gross! Raw liver!" he complained, and eagerly accepted the glass of water Harry conjured for him, gulping it down.
"Let me guess, this bowl is somehow connected to the one in Dumb's office?"
Harry laughed and nodded.
"So every time he takes one, he risks getting one of these? Brilliant! I wish I had thought of that. How did you get into his office? That place has wards and security spells you wouldn't believe."
"Yes, but it helps to have the emergency passwords Slytherin installed in case the castle was ever invaded," Harry grinned.
Draco gave him a look of admiration. Then he began to laugh, imagining the look on Dumbledore's face when he began to suck on one of these lemon drops. Maybe now he'd be cured of his unhealthy obsession with the Muggle candy.
HPDM
"Good morning, boys," Lucius greeted them several hours later.
"Good morning, Father."
"Good morning, Lucius."
Draco and Harry chorused, looking up from their books. Harry was working on Snape's essays, and Draco was looking through Harry's books for the Forgotten Arts class since the subject was new to him.
"Such diligence, and so early in the morning. It makes a father's heart proud," Lucius sighed dramatically, walking over to where the two boys were working. "Or is it a by-product of being up early, pranking your Housemates?" he asked knowingly.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Father." Draco said, looking up at his father with eagerness and curiosity. Had Harry done something else beside rig Dumbledore's candy bowl? "Did something happen this morning?"
Lucius studied his son and realised that he had no idea what had occurred earlier this morning. Looking over at Harry, he knew the boy was behind the sudden confessions the two Houses had decided to bestow on the unsuspecting Great Hall.
"Did something happen, you ask? Something did indeed happen. I was calmly eating my breakfast chatting with Severus when suddenly...
Lucius had made his way down for breakfast, feelings of anticipations coursing through his body. Had Severus found what they had been searching for, for so long? Making sure that his mask was firmly in place, he entered the Great Hall and settled at the end beside the Potions Master.
"Good morning, Severus, I trust all is well?"
"Yes. I was unexpectedly called away last night, but the meeting was brief and didn't come to much," Severus replied blandly, taking a sip from his teacup.
Lucius cursed silently, but the hand holding the cup was steady, and Severus' eyes were clear, with no signs of being under the Cruciatus Curse, thank Salazar.
"I'm sorry to hear that your evening was a waste. I take it you didn't have time to check up on that potion we were discussing?"
"Unfortunately, no. The Headmaster called a staff meeting when I returned, and spent too much time discussing the Potter brat and his new status," Severus muttered, stabbing a sausage. "The entire evening was a..."
He never got to finish what he was going to say because Ronald Weasley suddenly rose from his seat, and in a clear -and not to mention, ringing- voice said for all to hear, "I hate Snape!" Then he sat back down and continued to eat as if nothing had happened.
A deathly silence fell upon the hall, and every student looked over at the Potions Professor to see what he was going to do. Severus put his cutlery down in calm manner that only caused those watching to shudder in fear and anticipation. However, before he could do anything else, Pansy Parkinson rose and proclaimed, "I hate Draco Malfoy" before sitting down again.
As if that had been the trigger, more Gryffindors and Slytherins began popping up to proclaim what they hated, and soon the two unaffected Houses were laughing at the things they found out.
Ginny hated having red hair. Hermione hated not knowing things. Neville hated his toad, Trevor. Crabbe hated grapes. Goyle hated having to follow Draco around. Blaise hated the colour blue. On and on the list went until the last student, a seventh year Gryffindor, proclaimed to hate Transfiguration, causing McGonagall to hiss like an angry cat. Lucius had a feeling that student would find new reasons to hate Transfiguration from now on.
"That was a most unusual morning," Dumbledore said, getting to his feet. "I trust no one will torment a fellow student by the things they have found out this morning. I must say I am most displeased with the one behind this prank. Please come to my office sometime today so we may have a little chat." He sat back down again, his eyes for once not twinkling.
Lucius and Severus shared a look. They had a feeling they knew who was behind this and it would be a cold day in hell before he willingly went to see the Headmaster.
Severus rose gracefully from his seat and immediately every eye went to him once more.
"Finished already?" Lucius asked innocently.
"Yes. I need to see a student about his disrespect for his professors. It shouldn't take long," he smirked and headed across the floor to stop behind Ron's chair. No one could hear what was said, but the sudden paleness of Ron's face spoke volumes. Abandoning his plate, he followed the Potions Master out of the hall and a storm of whispers sprung up once the heavy door had closed.
"Oh man! I wish I had seen that. Poor Ron, not." Harry gasped, fighting to regain his breath from all his laughter.
"I am more interested in the fact that Pansy hates me," Draco stated, fighting to get his own hilarity under control. "The way she's been hanging on to me telling everyone who wanted to hear, and those who wouldn't, that we were going to get married and have a slew of kids together. She made my life miserable and she hates me? Just wait until I get my hands on her!" he seethed, all laughter forgotten as he remembered how she'd clung to him. Just like a leech, now that he thought about it.
"Calm down, Draco. I am sure you can find a suitable way to make her regret her statement," Lucius drawled, noting the look the two boys shared and the glint that sprung into their eyes. It would appear that life at Hogwarts would be very interesting this year in more ways than one.

Next Time:
The Malfoys take Harry shopping.
Stay Tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 10

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/10/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I don't own them, but oh how I wish I did.
Summary:
Draco finds hit mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Severus and Lucius meet Salazar
Harry decides it is time for some revenge
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
I've got a beta-reader, whohoo! This chapter has been checked by the talented Keikokin. A million thanks for your help in making this story better. Any mistakes found below are my own.

Got Anything In Leather?
"If you are quite finished? We need to get going." Lucius reminded the boys.
"Where are we going Father?" Draco asked getting to his feet.
"Diagon Alley. Harry needs a new wardrobe and I understand you need a few new books?"
"Oh. I'd forgotten." Draco said going to change his clothes.
"You don't have to Mr. Malfoy. I was going to transfigure some stuff later on when I got the time." Harry said still sitting at the table, picking up a quill and toying with it.
"It is no trouble and it is Lucius, remember? You are family now and no family of mine is going to walk around dressed in rags. Or have to transfigure their own clothes. You deserve the best and that is what you are going to get. Now hurry along please, we have an appointment in half an hour."
"Yes sir." Harry murmured and went to put on his school robe.
Hmm, it would seem the boy reverts to formal address when he is unsure. He had no problem calling me by my name last night when we were relaxing and chatting over hot cocoa. I'll have to keep an eye on that. Lucius mused waiting for the boys to return.
HPDM
Harry walked between Lucius and Draco as they headed outside towards Hogwarts' wards. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and there was only a soft breeze flitting in and out of the treetops. Harry smiled; if he tried, it was almost as if he could hear tiny silvery laughter. Taking a deep breath, he let the autumn air fill his lungs and he felt strangely content. It was as if his entire being was recharged once he was away from the stony halls. As if the walls of his only home had been holding him down and penning him in.
Shaking his head, he pushed such nonsense to the side and returned his focus on the easy banter between father and son. Never in a million years would he have imagined the dignified Lucius Malfoy to actually have a sense of humour. Or have a soft side where his son was concerned. Talk about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! Harry thought amused. What you saw was most definitely not what you received when it came to Malfoys.
And that went for both of them. Draco was an entirely different person when they were alone and Harry was beginning to realise that he too had only seen the mask they presented to the world. Not the real persons hiding behind it. Merlin, he had been such a child! But then, there hadn't been anyone around to teach him such things, had there?
"Such deep thoughts for such a lovely morning." Lucius voice cut in, bringing him back to the here and now. Blushing Harry realised they had passed the wards and that Lucius was holding out a portkey he was yet to touch. Feeling his entire face grow hot, Harry quickly placed two fingers on the disk Mr. Malfoy held and then came that hated feeling of a hook behind his navel, jerking him through space.
Harry landed with a hard thud and it was only the quick grab on his arm from Lucius that prevented him from falling to the ground. Eyes closed and breathing deeply he fought the nausea and the terror that swept through him. Not there, not there, I'm not there! was the mantra he clung to and eventually the feelings died down and he became aware of his surroundings once more.
Opening his eyes, Harry saw he was standing in a large fitting room with three people looking at him in concern. Ducking his head he murmured: "I'm alright now. I just really hate portkeys."
Lucius nodded and let go of the arm he was holding, prepared to catch the boy if needed, but Harry was firmly on his feet and took a few steps forward, looking around with curiosity.
"Welcome Misters Malfoy and Potter. I am Henri and I understand one of you are in need of my services?" the tailor said, ever the expert. He was going to pretend that little episode had never happened. He did not intend to lose the Malfoys as his clients. Very bad for business that. Very bad indeed.
"Yes, my son's mate needs an entire new wardrobe." Lucius drawled leading Harry to the stool placed before three mirrors. Urging the boy up on it he removed the robe and smirked at the shocked gaps from Henri.
"Zut alor! This is simply hideous!" the tailor hissed walking around Harry taking in his too large hand-me-downs. "This will have to go," he added fingering the sweatshirt Harry was wearing with distaste.
"Trousers first I think, non?" he said and with a flick of his wrist the clothes Harry had been wearing disappeared. Another flick had him dressed in a pair of black trousers. "These are made from our finest wool. As you can see they have a lovely fall and will cling just so to the wearer's body..." Henri said pointing out this aspect and that to the two Malfoys.
Harry didn't listen, more intent to look at himself in the mirror. The trousers were ok he supposed, and he wouldn't mind seeing them on Draco. Nevertheless, they were not for him.
"No," he said interrupting whatever the tailor was saying. "I don't like them."
Henri spluttered, but held his tongue. "I see, perhaps this will be more to your liking sir," he said and did the same little flick with his wrist. Instantly Harry was dressed in a pair of silk trousers that had Draco practically drooling.
Harry merely shook his head. "No. Don't you have anything in leather?"
"Leather?" Henri was shocked. "How utterly tacky! Certainly not young sir. We do not provide with that type of clothes here."
"Then I apologise for taking up your time." Harry said hopping off the stool.
"Now look here, I don't think you understand." Henri said getting nervous. He didn't want to loose a huge sale, but there was no way he was going to get a reputation for selling leather!
"I think it is you who don't understand," Harry said firmly. "It is my choice. My decision. Right Lucius?" he asked looking over at the older man who seemed to find the entire situation extremely amusing.
"Yes Harry, it is," he agreed and re-dressed the teen in his own clothes. "It would seem we are done here for this time." And with that he swept his two charges out of the shop.
Looking up and down the street, Lucius tried to decide where to go next. He wasn't entirely pleased with Harry's desire to wear leather, but he wasn't about to deny him this either. He could understand Henri's reaction though. Only vampires and those on the prowl wore leather today. It really wasn't something you wore in polite company. Biting back a sigh, he led the boys down the street towards Knockturn Alley. A shop there sold leather clothing.
Unfortunately, it was more a sex shop than a clothes store.
He could only hope that Harry's fascination for leather clothes was a passing fad. Like the time when Draco refused to wear anything, but blue. He had even managed to colour his hair blue, and it stayed that way for an entire month. Not even Severus had been able to do anything. No amount of pleading, bribery or threats had managed to sway the toddler. It had been a nightmare. Fortunately, he had soon after become taken with dragons, and things had returned to normal. He was to this day thankful the boy hadn't found a way to change the colour of his skin!
Harry watched with interest the shops and the people they were passing. That they were heading towards Knockturn Alley didn't worry him much. He was well equipped to take care of himself, unlike the first time he'd ventured here. He noted with amusement the way the passersby moved out of the way when they realised who was walking down the street, giving them a wide birth.
"Is it a Malfoy thing or a Death Eater thing?" Harry asked in a low voice, his amusement evident.
"A Malfoy thing of course," Draco replied haughtily, sounding highly insulted he could even be considering another reason for the treatment they received.
Before Harry could comment, they were steered into a small shop that didn't look very appealing on the outside. If it hadn't been for his present company, Harry would never have set foot in this place.
"Hello and welcome to the Seven Sins. I am Cheryl, how can I help you?" a young woman asked popping out of nowhere.
Draco's eyes lit up when he heard the name of the shop. Lucius noted this and grabbed hold of his son's arm, not about to let his heir wander about unaided in this place.
"Yes, we are looking for some leather. As in clothes," he added fearing what else the woman might try to sell them. He didn't think the boys were ready for that. He knew he wasn't ready for them being ready for that.
"Of course, come this way please and I'll call Sean." Cheryl smiled and led them to a room in the back.
It resembled the fitting room they had recently left, Harry noted, but this place was more lived in somehow; as if the one on charge didn't take himself as seriously as Henri did.
"I heard you wanted some clothes?" a young man in his late 20's asked appearing from behind a tapestry.
"That is right. My young charge here wishes to renew his wardrobe." Lucius drawled giving Harry a gentle push forward.
"Right. Hop up on the stool kid and I'll see what I can do." Sean pointed at the stool in front of three mirrors while Lucius and Draco settled in two chairs to watch.
"Ugh, that is ugly." Sean commented when Harry removed his robe. "I can see why you'd want something new. Right, we've got lots to do. Trousers first," he pulled his wand and Harry found himself dressed in a pair of leather trousers. They looked like they had been moulded to him, fitting like a second skin. Much to Draco's delight, they left nothing to fantasy.
Harry frowned at his reflection and tried to move around a little. The trousers were snug. "I'm not a street-walker you know," he said causing the three men to splutter. "I want clothes made of leather but this is ridiculous. Don't you have something that isn't so tight?"
Sean recovered from his shock and thinking for a moment, he waved his wand dressing Harry in another pair.
Harry shook his head. The trousers were looser all right, but showing far too much skin. "I want a pair of trousers, not a sieve!" he complained. "Honestly!"
Annoyed he called his wand to him and froze the mirror image. "This is what I want," he stated dressing his image in a pair of leather trousers that fit well, but weren't too snug. They clung nicely to his hip and upper thighs, and became wider and loser as they fell down his legs to pool around his ankles. They allowed him maximum of movement and the loose fit around his lower legs would allow him to hide a few things, like a nice dagger or two. To that, he added a well fitting silk shirt with billowy sleeves and a leather vest that practically moulded itself to his upper body.
Intrigued Lucius stepped closer to the mirror thankful that Harry had turned down the shops usual selection. "Not bad. I like it. Do you want that in normal leather or dragon skin?" he asked tilting his head to the side. With the correct material and spells such an outfit would make him safe from most trouble makers. Perhaps he should get a few sets for his son as well?
"I hadn't thought that far." Harry mused, not about to admit that he was going to transfigure his clothes from what ever would work. Type of leather had never entered the equation.
"Dragon skin will cost you, but the result will be so much better." Sean said with enthusiasm, playing around with the image, dressing it in different types of leather, showing off the different effects and colours of each species. "Then there are the added bonuses that dragon skin will protect you from most spells and if you add silver you can bespell it and make the outfit even more resilient. This is brilliant! Will you allow me to purchase this idea? I know several customers that would love this look."
Lucius' eyebrow rose. "We will need to consider that. We also need to see the finished result."
"Right you are! What are we standing around here for? Let's get working!" Sean said with enthusiasm and called over several tape measures. Having what he needed he bounced out of the room leaving three bemused people behind.
"I really like your idea Harry. Where did you come up with this?" Draco asked standing beside his mate, looking over the figure in the mirror.
Harry shrugged. "I'm not sure I can explain it. I was reading about some war between Elves and Vampires. There were drawings of several of the leaders and the way they looked, the way they were dressed. It got me thinking. I guess I just melded their styles, picking what I liked and left out what I didn't'."
"Well I think it's brilliant. Would you mind if I got some outfits like that?" Draco asked, unable to tear his eyes away. There was something about the image, something different, that called to him though he had no idea what.
Harry laughed. "If you can persuade your father I don't mind."
Draco merely grinned smugly, certain about his ability to sway his father to see things his way.
Lucius watched them from the chair and bit back a chuckle. Sometimes his son was so mature, and then at times like this, he acted as he'd done when he was five and wanted his own Kneazle.
"Here we go! I used deerskin since that is easier and quicker to work with than Dragon hide. Not to mention, that is what I had on hand," Sean said bounding back into the room dressing Harry in the trousers he'd made. To that he added a jade green silk shirt and the vest.
Harry turned this way and that, looking himself over. Then he jumped off the stool and walked around the room. Suddenly he squatted down and placed his hands against the floor, going up in a hand stand. Flipping over he rolled and was back on his feet.
"Excellent, precisely what I was looking for. Now, a few more details," Harry stated walking back to the still frozen mirror image. However, the flat surface was too inadequate for Harry to get his points across and he soon became frustrated at his inability to explain what it was he wanted. Running a hand through his hair, his gaze landed on Draco. His eyes lit up and he broke into a grin. "That's it! Make an outfit for Draco here." Harry ordered and ushered the blond to the footstool.
Sean sent a questioning glance at the senior Malfoy who nodded his consent. Setting to work, it didn't take him long to return with Draco's copy of Harry's design. Looking over himself in the mirror Draco had to admit that he looked good. The black leather enhanced his paleness and the deep blue silk shirt brought out the colours of his hair and eyes.
"Come on down Draco," Harry ordered pulling on the nearest arm, the unexpected move causing the Veela to overbalance and fall off the stool. "Sorry," Harry said not sounding sorry at all, his focus on Sean. "Now this is what I want you to do. I'll need a pocket here that will act like a wand holster, make sure to bespell it, so the wand won't be harmed and that it will withhold summoning charms and such. On the other leg, here, I'll need several small pockets that will hold throwing stars, make sure to remember to bespell the leather to be impenetrable as I don't want to be pricked by my own weapons..." Harry said walking slowly around Draco, spitting out his orders in a swift fashion that told those present that this was something he had considered carefully for a long time. Eventually he wound down and Sean had several scrolls with instructions.
"Can you manage that?" Harry asked looking the tailor in the eye.
Sean gulped softly realising that lying was not an option, not to this kid. "Yes, I can do it. It will take some time though and I might have to get outside help for some of the spell work."
Harry tilted his head to the side, thinking. "You take your time and make sure to get it right and I will let you use the design for your clients, minus the spell work of course. I also want you to make two more outfits for Draco and myself, in different colours, to wear until you've finished the ones made of dragon skin. Besides, it will give us ample opportunity to advertise your skills," he added with a smirk
"Consider it done!" Sean said eagerly, already dreaming of the added profit that this would get him. "And if you should come up with a new design, owl me and I'll make a set for you, free of charge."
"Okay," Harry said with a shrug, not really interested in the offer, but accepted it nevertheless. After all, Draco might have some ideas once he'd have time to think it over.
"Excellent," Lucius said getting up from his chair. He was pleased with how Harry had conducted himself today. "We will need a few more shirts though before we leave. What else do you have to offer on that front?"
Sean snapped out of his dream world and called for Cheryl. Together they showed off the different shirts, polo necks, and t-shirts the shop carried. By the time Lucius had made his selection, there was a large pile waiting in front of Harry who eyed it wearily. He didn't protest though when Lucius directed where to send the clothes and the bill. He was going to have a quiet word with the man once they were in private though.
"Where to now?" Lucius asked once they'd left the shop.
"I need boots," Harry promptly said, looking around as if a shop filled with boots would appear magically at his words.
Lucius chuckled softly and led the way.
The boot maker took one look at Harry and almost began to drool. Draco scowled and had to be held back by Lucius, so he wouldn't interfere. Harry was oblivious to the whole thing, solely focused on getting shoe wear that fit exact to his standards.
Still, Draco heaved a relieved sigh once they left the shop. He would have to keep a close eye on his mate once they went back to school. If he was able to get such a reaction out of a hundred year old man, how would a school filled with adolescences react? Suddenly the idea of getting Harry an entire new wardrobe didn't seem so smart anymore. It was too late to back out now though.
"Is there a shop that sells precious stones around here?" Harry asked looking up at Lucius bringing Draco back from his dark thoughts of revenge on anyone who as much as looked at his mate.
"Yes, there is. May I ask what it is you need?"
Harry looked around and leaned in to whisper: "It's a secret. A little, say we say, surprise for a nosy old man?"
Lucius bit back a grin and walked back into Diagon Alley. He was beginning to like this new Harry Potter more and more. He looked to be a perfect match for his son. Maybe this wouldn't be such a disaster after all.
HPDM
Harry walked out of the shop almost an hour later carrying several bags with precious stones and rare minerals. The shop possessed a larger selection than he'd imagined and therefore decided to really go overboard. He had the money to splurge after all and who knew when he'd be able to come back? These things really could not be bought via owl mail. You needed to hold them and feel them to be sure they were what you needed. Feeling very pleased with himself, Harry wasn't aware that he was humming softly as he considered all the things he wanted to try. The two Malfoys noted however, and they shared a look of pleasure at making him happy.
"Do you two need to go anywhere?" Harry asked coming to a sudden stop. So far, the other two had indulged him, but he felt it was time to let the others do what they needed to do.
"Not really," Lucius replied. "We need to go to Flourish and Blotts to get the extra books you and Draco need, but that is it."
Harry blinked, unable to comprehend that they had arranged for this outing just for him. "Oh. I didn't realise... Never mind. Is there any other bookshops than Flourish and Blotts?" he asked, abruptly cutting off whatever he was going to say.
"Not really. There is a second hand shop not far from here, but they mostly carry old school books. There is an antiquarian down Knockturn Alley though."
"Can we go there? Please?" Harry asked sending a pleading look up at Malfoy senior.
"Very well."
"Thanks!" Harry said his whole face lighting up in happiness.
It should be pathetic how easy it is to please that boy and yet I can only find it tragic that such a small thing should make him so happy. Lucius thought, leading the way back into Knockturn Alley. Has he really had such a miserable life? I thought those Muggles pampered him. That's what we were told after all. Is Dumbledore even a bigger fool than I thought him to be? But then the boy did say that they locked him up in a cupboard. Why do I have a feeling that was not all they subjected him too? I think I need to have a talk with Severus.
Blinking at the sudden dimness, Lucius realised he was inside the bookshop with no memory how he got here. That was too dangerous and he mentally berated himself. Even with the Dark Lord on his side, for the moment, there was always the risk of random attacks from Death Eaters, Voldemort supporters, or those loyal to Fudge.
"Ah! Mr. Malfoy, it is a pleasure to see you again. I have something in the back I think might interest you, if you have a moment?"
"Very well Blackshaw, but it better not be a waste of my time," Lucius stated following the proprietor. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the boys happily perusing the shelves and he had little qualm leaving them alone. This was one of the better shops and it was unlikely something would happen in the short time he would be gone.
"Here we are Mr. Malfoy. I only received this shipment yesterday," Blackshaw said with a bow, directing the aristocrat to a table with a few books on it. Picking the first one up, Lucius dismissed it out of hand. It was a rare potion book, but he already had a copy of it in the Manor. Picking up the next, he raised an eyebrow. It was a rare book on herbology, not an area he was usually interested in, but he had a feeling it would interest Harry. After all, his new career choice was to be encouraged, especially since he couldn't become an Auror while being Dracos' mate. Putting it aside, he picked up the next to last book and his eyebrow climbed even higher. If he was not mistaken, the book was written in Parseltongue. Harry would definitely be interested in that one.
Putting that one to the side as well, he picked up the last book in the pile and nodded in satisfaction. It was a book he and Severus had spent months looking for. Opening it carefully, he skimmed through it. It looked to be in good condition and he found no spells, or other nasty surprises. "I'll take it," he said, "Along with these two."
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. It is a pleasure doing business with you." Blackshaw bowed and smiled in what he thought was an ingratiating manner, but Lucius found repulsive, making the proprietor looking like a snivelling idiot in his opinion. Not that he ever told the man as much.
Returning to the front of the shop he was relieved to find the two boys still happily browsing, no sign of other customers or trouble.
HPDM
"Why are you interested in those old books?" Draco asked, watching as Harry selected several old law texts from a shelf. "Those books were outdated by the time my great-grandparents were young," he scoffed.
"I know, but I want to see what changes have been made over the years. Most of the laws today are rubbish and I am curious to see when the Ministry became such a parody. With luck, I might find out why it happened as well. Besides, I don't have a big old Manor filled with books my ancestors collected before me. I figured out a long time ago that if I wanted a well stocked library I had to get the books myself," Harry said with a shrug, looking over an old DADA book, adding it to the pile in his arms.
"What do you mean you don't have an old Manor?" Draco asked in curiosity. "The Potters are an old family, just about as old as the Malfoys. They must have loads of estates, filled with books and other artefacts."
Harry shrugged once more. "I wouldn't know. If the Potters have a Manor, surely they would have hidden there when they went into hiding. My parents, I mean. Why did they choose a small cottage like Godric Hollow? And don't give me the crap about the Fidelius Charm. From what I've read, and from what the Blacks told me, an old Manor warded with Blood Wards would have been impossible to break into. Even by the Dark Lord and his followers when he was at the height of his powers. They would have been safe there, and no one not authorised could have entered. Pettigrew couldn't have led his Master there, no matter how much he wished to. Why didn't they hide there? It would have been the logical choice, wouldn't you say? No, something tells me that there is no Potter Manor. Therefore, I'm building my library from wherever I can. You never know when a text and its knowledge will come in handy. And even if they do only sit in some room and gather dust, it will be more of a legacy to my children than I ever got," Harry said a bit sadly, adding a few more books to the growing pile.
Disturbed by what he'd been told; Draco looked at the books with a new eye and began to pursue the shelves with more interest, finding several old tombs that looked interesting. Still the things Harry had said churned at the back of his mind and he couldn't shake the feeling that more was going on than met the eye. He needed to have a serious talk to his father and soon.
HPDM
"Are you sure you don't want the rest of the store?" Lucius teased when the youths finally had picked out the books they wanted. They must have emptied a good part of the shop's inventory the aristocrat thought with an inward cringe. Not that many of the books here held any value. Nevertheless, he held his tongue and paid for the books, earning a dark look from Harry who looked like he was about to protest, but an elbow from Draco caused him to hold his tongue.
Out of the shop, Lucius led his charges to Flourish and Blotts. It was getting late and he wanted to get back to the castle. For one he was getting hungry. Thus the boys must be starved by now. And two, the Veela bond would begin to strain from being in contact with all these strangers. He wished they could have waited for a few more weeks before doing this trip. But by then the boys would be immersed in their schoolwork and it would have been much more difficult to get the Headmaster's permission to leave the castle. Besides, he wasn't about to let Harry wander around in those hideous clothes a moment longer. Why no one had helped the lad to dress properly before was beyond him, but then he was beginning to find that a lot of things concerning the Boy Who Lived were beyond him. Or any decent wizard.
Dumbledore had a lot to answer for and Lucius was going to make sure the man did.
"Um, sir, is it alright if I pop into one of the shops down there? I promise I won't be more than five minutes, ten at the most. Draco knows which books I need and this way you won't have to wait for me. Please?"
Lucius blinked and found himself on the steps to the bookshop. Never before had he had such difficulties keeping his mind on what he was doing. Reluctantly he looked down where Harry was indicating. There was a sweetshop, a junkshop and a beauty parlour. Thinking that Harry wanted to buy some sweets, he reluctantly nodded his consent. Maybe the boy just wanted some privacy; Merlin knows he hasn't had much of that lately. Or maybe he wanted to get a surprise for Draco, something which should be encouraged.
"Very well, but no more than 10 minutes, if you run into trouble, don't hesitate to call on us."
"I promise. Thanks." Harry said running off down the street. Only then did Lucius remember that Harry didn't carry one of the Malfoy necklaces. Something he'd have to rectify at the earliest opportunity. After watching Harry enter the sweetshop Lucius reluctantly followed his son into Flourish and Blotts. For some reason his skin was itching, a most unpleasant feeling. Doing his best to shrug it off, he helped Draco pick out the missing schoolbooks and a few extra texts in DADA and Magical Law.
HPDM
Harry entered the sweetshop and hurried up to the disk.
"May I help you sir?" the young girl asked, a moonstruck look on her face. Harry shrugged the weird look aside and nodded his head.
"Yes, I'd like 50 boxes of Bertie Botts Every-Flavour Beans please."
"50?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"Um, no, just a bit unusual. Please wait a moment," the flustered girl said walking to the back and shouting for someone named Charlie.
Jumping from foot to foot Harry impatiently waited for them to bring out his purchase but finally he was done. Rushing out of the shop, he ran to the junkshop next door and burst inside.
"Merlin and his beard child, where is the attack?" an old lady asked picking her knitting up from the floor where she'd dropped it when Harry burst through the door.
"I apologise for startling you ma'am, but my friends are waiting and I don't want to hold them up." Harry explained.
"Well isn't that considerate of you. Young people today only think of themselves," she said a bit sadly and Harry had a feeling that she was lonely.
"Yes," he nodded thinking back to a few of his schoolmates.
"So what can I do for you?"
"I want to buy all of your books." Harry replied promptly.
"They are in the back dear, behind that red drape over there. Pick out the ones you like and I'll ring them up for you."
"No, you misunderstood me. I want to buy all your books." Harry told her gently.
"Goodness gracious me! That was a tall order. Have you any idea how many books we have?" she asked astonished.
"No, but I have a feeling it is a lot." Harry smiled. "What can I say? I love to read and several of my friends are in Ravenclaw; they are always looking for a book they haven't heard of yet." He chuckled, winking saucily.
"Then who am I to stand between a Ravenclaw and their books?" the old lady laughed, looking years younger. "Now the books are a Sickle a piece. To pack them all will take some time I'm afraid," she said attempting to get business like, but failed due to being all flustered at the unexpected situation she found herself in.
"How about this?" Harry suggested. "I will give you some Galleons and you pack all the books that amount will give me. Then you can find out how many books there are left and tell me and I'll send you the rest of the money, how's that?" Harry asked aware of the time ticking away. For some reason he didn't want the Malfoys to know he was in here.
Digging into his money bag he pulled out handfuls of galleons, placing them on the counter. "This should be about 500 galleons to start with. Send the books to Hogwarts in the name of Harry Potter with the note of how much I still owe you. Deal?"
"Goodness gracious me! Harry Potter!" the old woman looked even more flustered and for a horrified moment, Harry thought she was going to bow to him. In the end, she just clutched her knitting closer to her chest. "It will be an honour sir, to think that Harry Potter would walk in to my shop, all polite no less. My, my, my, what is the world coming too?"
Harry had a feeling he should take offence at the old woman's prattle, but he found the entire situation hilarious. He bit back his laughter though, not wanting to offend the shop owner.
"Do we have a deal?" he asked once more.
"Yes, of course. Where are my manners? I apologise young sir. The books will be sent to Hogwarts as soon as I've got them packed. You have my word."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to returning at a time when I have the time to properly browse your store." he smiled and with a small nod he left. His time was up and he really didn't want to face two angry Malfoys.

Next time:
Dumbledore tangles with Salazar Slytherin.
Guess who the winner is?
Stay tuned.





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 11

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/11/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I don't own them so please don't sue.
This chapter has been re-posted to fix the grammatical errors. A big thank you to Vaughn for all her help.

An unhappy Headmaster
"Now I remember why I don't like shopping," Harry sighed, collapsing on the couch, not caring where his bags ended up.
"Come now, love, it wasn't that bad," Draco teased, settling next to Harry, running his finger through the dark hair.
"No, it could have been worse. At least no one was gawking at me, and only one lady recognised me, and she didn't make much of a fuss," Harry conceded.
Draco paused. Harry hadn't noticed the way people had been eyeing him? Opening his mouth to point that fact out to his clueless mate, he abruptly closed it again. It would be much easier on his nerves if his mate remained oblivious. Not that he thought Harry would chose someone else, but he wasn't about to risk competition until he had a firmer grip on Harry's affection and love.
Lucius noted his son's reaction and nodded his head in approval. It really was unnecessary to alert the boy to that little detail. "I am going to go and change and then I am ordering some food. Would you care to join me for a bite to eat?"
Both boys nodded vigorously. Now that the aristocrat had brought up food, the two of them felt how utterly empty their stomachs were.
"I'll be right with you, Father," Draco said, popping up from the couch and heading for his room and a quick shower.
Harry was slower to get up though, giving the older man a calculating look. "Sir, are you doing anything special tonight?"
"Not that I am aware of," Lucius replied a bit wearily, not liking the way Harry was looking at him.
"Good! Would you mind meeting with me and discussing the DA? Draco may join as well, if he is interested. With Dumbledore granting access to the third year and up, I have a feeling there will be plenty of kids wanting to join. The stupid bastard, why did he make such an announcement without asking me first?"
"To make sure you wouldn't refuse him. Why tonight though?"
"Because I am supposed to meet with the old fool tonight at eight, so that he can teach me Occlumency," Harry explained with a sweet smile. "But what if I have plans with you, and everyone knows what a busy man you are. Well, it isn't my fault I can't be in two places at once, is it? I am sure the Headmaster will understand."
"Very well, you imp. I will come here shortly before eight o'clock, and we can make a sketchy plan for the first few meetings," Lucius allowed with a soft chuckle. The child was turning into a true Slytherin before his very eyes. How the boy had avoided being sorted into the snake house was beyond him. Slytherin was clearly Potter's true House. Shaking his head, he left to take his own shower and to change his clothes. Shopping was always such a dirty business, especially if you spent much of the time outside Diagon Alley.
HPDM
Albus Dumbledore was not a happy wizard. First, there had been that embarrassing scene earlier with Fudge. It had taken a lot of sweet-talking and reassurance that the whole thing was nothing but a prank by one of the children. It had helped somewhat that the lemon drop he'd taken immediately after the Minister had also tasted foul - human blood if he wasn't mistaken - causing him to splutter and spit it out as well. Still, it had taken him almost ten minutes to apologise, soothe ruffled feathers, and avoid being taken to the Ministry for questioning. Once he found out whom the prankster was, he was going to serve detention with Severus for three months!
What he really wanted to know though was how they had gotten in. A careful check of his wards had shown that no one had been there but those authorized to be there, and he didn't think anyone on his staff would play such a rotten prank. Not on him. Fawkes knew something, but the bird wasn't talking. He just looked insufferably smug.
To top that off, Potter hadn't shown up for their eight o'clock meeting and it was now twenty past eight. The boy needed a reminder that he was still a student of this school, and if he didn't like it, he could return to those relatives of his! That should work as a lovely threat... No, blast it all. He'd forgotten about the Malfoys. They wouldn't allow him to ship the boy off to some Muggles, and would simply bring him home to their Manor, and Albus wasn't prepared to let that happen.
No, he needed Harry here, where he could keep an eye on him. He was still waiting for the 'power the Dark Lord knows not' to manifest. He had thought it would happen during Harry's birthday, but nothing had happened. The only thing notable was that the boy's temper got worse. Another thing he needed to tend to. He couldn't have the child blowing up a classroom filled with students. The parents would come down on his head for sure if he allowed such a thing to happen. Perhaps if he kept him out of Potions? For some reason, Harry and Severus were always a violate mix. But no, Severus and Lucius would surely protest against that since it meant Draco couldn't attend either.
Blast it all to the hell! He was beginning to think that Harry being Draco's mate was a bad thing, a very bad thing.
Ah, there was the portrait. Harry better have a very good reason for not coming to his office tonight.
"Aconite," Albus stated, figuring the Potions Master had created the new password. The man did so love his potions and their ingredients. The painting swung open, and Dumbledore stepped inside, coming to an abrupt halt once the surroundings registered in his mind. Fuming, he walked back out and faced the knight.
"Why were you removed and who did it?" he demanded. If either Severus or Lucius were responsible for this, he would have their heads!
"I take it they did not appreciate my giving you the current password, Headmaster. They behaved most rudely and replaced me with some bloke I did not get a good look at," the knight complained, pulling off his helmet. "Oh, the agony…Ending up guarding an empty classroom…The horror. The ..."
"Who moved you?" Albus asked impatiently, not wishing to spend the entire evening listening to the other's complaints.
"Why the children did, the little hooligans!"
"Thank you, Sir Knight; I apologise for your indignity and will endeavour to find something more suitable for you to guard."
"Oh, thank you, kind Sir! I shall write you a sonnet to express my gratitude!"
However, Dumbledore had already stalked off. His day was just getting better and better. Scowling, he came to a halt before an unfortunately familiar face. "Salazar Slytherin! How did you end up here?" he demanded.
"Do my eyes betray me, or is it the Headmaster who is out taking a stroll?" Salazar mocked. "As for how I got here, it all began when I and a good friend of mine began to deplore of the education of the youths in our vicinity."
"That is not what I meant and you know it!" Dumbledore snapped, getting angry. Talking with Slytherin always gave him a headache, and the Founder never gave him the respect he deserved. Which is why he had had his portraits stacked away at the far corners of the castle, where no one ever ventured. Apparently, someone had stumbled across one of them and decided to put him to good use.
"My apologies, my dear Headmaster, what was it you inquired about then?"
"Who made you guard over these quarters?"
"Ahh, was that what you wanted to know? How silly of me. It was the young Lord of course."
"Young Lord?" Albus repeated baffled. "What young Lord?"
"That would be telling, and I do not kiss and tell. What type of man do you take me for?" Salazar demanded, striking a pose. He so loved taking pompous windbags down a peg or two.
Dumbledore pinched the bridge of his nose and counted to ten. Then he counted again just to be sure not to hex the painting back to the Dark Ages. "Would you please open up?" he gritted out through clenched teeth.
"Password?" Salazar asked in a sugary sweet voice.
"Aconite."
"I am so sorry, that is not the correct password."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm afraid that is not within my powers to inform you."
"Nonsense, I am the Headmaster of this school. You must obey me!"
"And I am one of the Founders of this school. Wouldn't that imply that you have to obey me?" Salazar mused. "A thorny little problem we have, don't you agree? If only Rowena was here, she so loved solving puzzles like these."
"Stop this nonsense, or I'll have you removed from here and destroyed."
"Sorry, old man, but Hogwarts won't allow you to harm me. As you well know," Salazar informed the now fuming Headmaster with a smug smirk.
"Could you at least inform Harry that I wish to speak with him?"
"But of course! I'll be happy to do that for you. Why didn't you ask me to do that before? Could have saved both of us a lot of time and bother," Salazar said, disappearing from his painting.
He shortly returned with a hangdog expression. "I am so sorry, sir, but there appears to be no paintings in the rooms inside, I cannot alert them to your presence."
Albus turned away with a curse and began to pace. There had to be a way to get past that blasted painting!
Salazar leaned against the edge of his frame, impressed in spite of himself, as he listened to the esteemed Albus Dumbledore spend the next ten minutes cursing vehemently in several languages.
"Can you at least tell me who are inside?" Albus asked after having vented some of his temper.
Salazar thought for a moment. "Two Malfoys and a Potter," he eventually replied.
"Then will you please go find Severus Snape and ask him to come here?"
"I am sorry, Headmaster, but I am the guard of these chambers, not a messenger boy. I am sure you understand why I have to decline your request."
Albus twirled around with a vile curse and stalked back to the knight. At least he would do as told and not give him a headache!
HPDM
"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?" Severus asked coolly, walking up to where Dumbledore was pacing back and forth, mumbling under his breath.
"Yes!" he snapped, but immediately reined in his temper. "Yes," he said in a much calmer manner. "I had a meeting with Harry earlier tonight, but he did not show up. Slytherin here refuses to let me in and apparently there are no paintings inside, an oversight I will rectify immediately, as he can't inform Harry that I am here. I assume you have the password, considering your relationship with young Malfoy?"
"Yes, I do have it," Severus replied, thinking furiously. So, Harry was showing his independence. Good for the boy. He did not want to let Albus inside, but he could see no way out of it. Albus had his hooks in him too deeply for him to buck his yoke. Sighing softly, he stepped up to the portrait and whispered the password, knowing full well that even with it, Albus wouldn't be able to enter. However, the longer that information was kept from him, the better.
Given the password, Salazar was forced to open up, and Albus pushed Severus to the side and stormed inside. The Potion Master hesitated for a moment, but decided that since Dumbledore had dragged him all the way across the castle, he was going to watch the show.
Stepping inside, he found the Headmaster scowling darkly at the occupants. The man must really be rattled for him to show his emotions so freely, Severus mused. Usually you got more true emotions from a rock than from Albus Dumbledore.
"Harry, I believe we had a meeting tonight," Albus said, after taking a deep breath. It would not do to start the conversation by shouting at the boy. Kindness and a firm hand, that was the ticket, and if that didn't help, a heavy dose of guilt.
"Yes, Headmaster," Harry acknowledged, not taking his eyes off the chart he was creating.
"May I ask why you did not attend?" Albus asked with forced civility.
"Yes, Sir," Harry replied, still focused on his chart.
"Yes, what?" Dumbledore frowned, not understanding the answer.
"Yes, you may ask why I didn't attend," Harry replied cheerfully.
"Harry," Lucius warned gently, although all he wanted was to laugh his head off. He didn't think anyone had ever managed to come out on top of one of Dumbledore's little chats.
"Sorry, Sir," Harry murmured, looking up briefly from what he was doing.
Albus fumed. Malfoy was getting more respect than he was. He would put an end to that as soon as possible.
"Harry, why didn't you come to our meeting? You know how important it is for you to learn this skill."
"I'm not sure I agree with you, Headmaster. Besides, all it gave me last year was a headache, and made it easier for Voldemort to access my mind," Harry replied, finally looking up at Dumbledore, who winced slightly.
"I am sorry to hear that, but you know my reasons," he said gently with a hint of scolding in his voice. "And that is why I will be teaching you this year."
"I appreciate the offer, but I am going to decline," Harry stated firmly, looking back at his chart before Dumbledore could establish a Legilimens link between them.
"I'm afraid you can't refuse, Harry. Too much is at stake for you to leave your mind unguarded any longer."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why is it dangerous? You haven't bothered with it since Professor Snape stopped giving me lessons. Why is it so urgent to suddenly begin them again?"
"Because you know the entire content of the prophesy, Harry, and we can't let that information get back to Voldemort."
"Why not?"
Albus frowned; the boy was being stubborn and wilful; he really needed to change that child's attitude.
"Because your life will be in even more danger if he finds out."
"Why?" Harry asked again. "Why is it so dangerous? I am already his number one enemy. The prophesy doesn't say how to defeat him, only that I have the power to do so. Why is it so dangerous for both sides to know this? I can understand why it was hidden while I was a baby, but I am not a child anymore. I am over sixteen and fully capable of taking care of myself. Besides, as long as I reside here, I'm safe, right? Isn't that what everyone says? That Hogwarts is the safest place to be, barring Gringotts?"
"Harry, you know that is not quite true when it comes to you," Albus reminded him gently.
"And maybe if a certain Headmaster didn't do his damnest to toss me and old Voldie together, that statement would be true for me as well!" Harry spat, beginning to get angry.
"I have not tried to, as you put it, toss you and Voldemort together, Harry. I have done my very best to give you a carefree childhood, as you very well know. However, it is time for you to shoulder your responsibilities, and one of those is learning Occlumency. It is too late tonight for us to get started, so we will have our first lesson tomorrow morning instead. Come to my office at nine o'clock." Dumbledore turned to leave, but was stopped by Harry's reply.
"No."
"Harry...!" Albus warned.
"No! I will not have you muck about in my head! I don't care if Voldie finds out about the blasted prophesy! I don't care if he sends me false visions; there is no one left he can use against me!" Harry snarled, his eyes glowing an eerie green. "You no longer have any control of my life and I will not bow down to you."
"Harry..."
"The child has declined your offer, Albus. You cannot force him," Lucius said quietly, deciding it was time to step in before something irreversible happened.
"He needs to learn Occlumency, Lucius. It is too dangerous for him not to shield his mind. He knows too many secrets to allow him to wander around unprotected."
"Then I will teach him," Lucius said simply. "It is time for Draco to learn that skill anyway, I can just as easily teach them both.
"But..." For the first time in years, Albus floundered. This was not how it was supposed to happen. However, it was clear that he couldn't do anything tonight. His mistake had been not to wait until Harry was alone.
"Very well, thank you, Lucius for your kind offer," he managed to grit out with a smile. "That reminds me, I noticed earlier today that neither of you are taking DADA, may I-, that is, why ever not? Surely you must both realise how important that subject is."
"We do," Draco answered simply. "And that is why we are studying it independently. Frankly, neither Harry nor I have much faith in your Defence teachers, and figured that we will learn more on our own."
"I see. I am afraid I cannot allow that though. This year's teacher is very competent," Albus explained, ignoring the derisive snort from Severus. "And I am sure she will be able to teach you a lot you can't learn from merely reading a book," he continued, doing his best to sound persuasive.
"Headmaster, I find it commendable that you are so concerned for your student's safety, but the fact remains that you can not force them to take DADA," Lucius stepped in once more. "Furthermore, they have my permission to study Defence independently. I think young Harry here, at the very least, has proven that he is capable of such a thing, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes, yes, but he can not be allowed to lead the defence club unless he is taking Defence," Albus said, pulling out his triumph card.
"Since that idea was yours, I don't object to being banned from leading the DA," Harry said calmly, holding out the chart he'd been working on. "Here, maybe the next leader will have some use for the ideas Lucius and I have come up with," he added.
"If Lucius isn't assisting with the DA, I cannot permit him to stay in the castle," Albus said, doing his best to hide his desperation. This was not going the way he expected.
"Who said Mr. Malfoy can't help with the club? Just because I'm not leading it doesn't mean the new leader won't need help keeping control over the students." Harry shrugged, unconcerned.
"Harry, that club is yours. I cannot allow it to run if you are not leading it."
"Then start another club that isn't associated with me," Harry said, really not caring one way or the other.
"Harry, why are you so difficult about this?" Albus asked, getting hold of his emotions. He really shouldn't have let Slytherin get to him like he had. He should have kept his cool, and then this entire squabble could have been avoided.
"Can you really blame me, Headmaster? I have been here for five years, and for four years the Defence teachers has done their best to harm, if not kill, me. I think I am safer studying on my own than subjecting myself to another of your choices. As for the DA, we started that when it became clear that Umbridge wasn't going to teach us any defence, only a lot of theoretic drivel. If this year's teacher is as good as you say, there is no need for the DA. If she isn't, I'm sure those interested will start up a new club, with or without your permission.
"Now, if you like, I'll lead the new DA - although you could have had the decency to ask me before promising my services - otherwise, find someone else. Either way it's fine with me. I will not, however, take Defence, I have enough on my plate with the classes I wish to take. Now, if there is nothing else? I am tired and want to retire."
"I will consider what you have said and get back to you about both the DA and the Defence class. There is one more thing though. You will give me the password to these rooms and I will send one of the house-elves to put up a painting in each room, that way you will be notified if someone is at the door and wants access."
"Very well." Harry gave in, earning himself several startled looks. "The password is: 'in your dreams', and if you don't mind, we will provide the paintings ourselves. I wouldn't want to be stuck with a gossiper in here, you understand," Harry said, smiling sweetly. "If that is all, I am biding you good night," he added, getting up from the table and walking into his room, shutting the door behind him firmly.
"Good night to you. Are you coming, Severus?" Albus said, pleased at partly getting his way. All he needed to do was get hold of himself and stop reacting to the situation.
"No, I have a question for Draco concerning one of his essays. I might as well get that out of the way after having my evening ruined," Severus said, settling into the chair Harry had vacated.
"Very well, I trust I will see you both tomorrow morning." Albus nodded to the two adults, ignored Draco, and sailed out of the room. Harry just needed some reminders of who was in charge, that was all. He would make sure to corner him at first opportunity when he was alone, and things would be back on track. Whistling a merry tune, Dumbledore retreated to his office, plonked down in his seat, and plopped a lemon drop into his mouth. And promptly choked - boiled cabbage. Glowering, he emptied the bowl and refilled it from a fresh bag, making sure it had not been tampered with. Plopping a lemon drop into his mouth carefully, he smiled blissfully, as it tasted as it should. Just wait until he found the one responsible!
HPDM
"Has he left?" Harry asked several minutes later, popping his head through the door.
"Yes, he is gone."
"Good!"
"I can't believe you agreed to put up paintings in here, Harry!" Draco complained. "That old fool will use them to spy on us!"
"I know. But what if there is nothing that can reveal our secrets?" Harry asked with a grin.
"Huh?"
"What if we put up a few landscapes on the walls? No one said anything about the motif, only that we needed something to enable Zar to come and get us when we have guests."
"That's bloody brilliant!" Draco beamed at his mate.
"Language son," Lucius murmured, nodding his head in agreement, "but where to find some? I can't remember ever seeing a painting with no people in them at the Manor, or the galleries," he mused. "And finding a painter to take a commission could take forever. There are so few with skill today," he bemoaned mockingly.
"Or we could have Draco here paint something," Harry suggested. "What?" he asked at the stares that earned him. "I've seen you sketching, Draco, I'm sure you could put something together."
"In your dreams, Potter!" Draco snorted.
"Then I guess we'll just have to wait until we've found the right painter and the right motifs. After all, we never said when we would put the things up, only that we were going to." Harry smirked.
"It will be interesting to see if your Slytherin side will survive my Potions class," Severus drawled. "I think I am going to enjoy teaching the sixth years this year," he stated, leaning back in his chair. "Anyone up for some tea?"
HPDM
Lucius sat slouching in an armchair, staring into the flickering flames in the fireplace. His long legs were stretched out before him, crossed at the ankles, and a glass of white wine dangled forgotten from slim, elegant fingers.
Something kept niggling at the back of his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp what it was. Letting his mind roam as it wished, he recalled moments during their shopping trip. The way Henri had spluttered when the boy had demanded leather. The look on Harry's face when he had been dressed in Sean's usual fare. Chuckling softly at that image, he suddenly frowned. Freezing the memory in his mind, he examined it closer. Something was different with Harry, but what? Letting the memory roll forward, he froze it once more when Draco was standing next to him, critically looking over the mirror image Harry had dressed. Was it his imagination, or did the boy standing on the stool seem taller? But why would Harry hide such a thing? Deciding to let the question be for now, Lucius climbed to his feet and went to bed.
Tomorrow was a new day, and he had a lot to do.

Next time:
The boys will look through a lot of books,
and Harry makes a rare find.
Stay tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 12

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/12/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of writing these things, I think it is rather obvious that I don't own Harry Potter, and that all rights to him belongs to Rowling.
A/N: I messed up with the teaser for this chapter. The reason why Harry bought all those books will be revealed in two chapters time, not now. My apologies please don't flame me.
Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Shopping with two Malfoys
Dumbledore butt heads with Salazar Slytherin
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
A big thank you to Keikokin for being my beta-reader.

Books, books and more books
Day three - Wednesday
Harry woke early the next morning and indulged himself in an old-fashioned lay-in. When he could remain in bed no longer, he reluctantly threw the covers aside, and climbed out of the bed. A quick shower ensured he became fully awake and he walked back into the bedroom, rubbing a towel over his hair. Maybe he should drop the glamour that hid its new length? It could always be explained away with a spell or potion. Putting the notion aside for later, he ambled over to the large wardrobe filling most of one of the walls.
Stopping in front of it, Harry pulled the doors open and took out a fresh set of underwear. It had been bloody embarrassing looking over the Seven Sin's selection of underwear, trying to find something that wasn't made of leather and wasn't shaped as a thong. Draco had drooled over some of the items and had tried to talk Harry into buying them; causing Harry to turn several shades of red by the time they were finished. Fortunately, Lucius had been there and had put a stop to his son's shenanigans, keeping a businesslike attitude the entire time.
Slipping the underwear over his hips, Harry considered his vast collection of shirts. Lucius really had gone overboard there and he reminded himself to talk to the blond and make sure he paid back the money Mr. Malfoy had spent on him.
Hesitating briefly, Harry pulled out the leather trousers done in blood red and pulled them on. They were a bit stiff, but fit nicely just as the pair he'd tried out in Sean's fitting room. Adding a deep black silk shirt and the vest made in the same colour as the trousers, Harry looked himself over in the full length mirror. Not bad, not bad at all. Settling on the bed, he pulled on his boots, opting to tuck the trousers inside the bootlegs. Standing up he frowned when he caught sight of his reflection. The black boots didn't fit at all. He wasn't sure what was wrong with them, but they somehow ruined the ensemble. Shrugging, he turned them the same colour as the trousers, much better. Nodding in satisfaction, Harry left the bedroom to find some breakfast.
He found Draco sitting at the table, sketching once more. Harry raised an eyebrow. It clearly was more than a way to pass time. You didn't work so diligently at something unless you had a real interest. I wonder if he'll show me what he's sketching if I asked?
Not feeling secure enough with their tentative friendship to be nosy, Harry decided to ask some other time, setting for a soft, "Good morning Draco."
Draco looked up startled; he hadn't heard the other enter the room. Then his eyes widened and he grinned. "Looking good there Harry. Those clothes suit you," he said getting up from his chair to slowly, almost predatorily, walk around his mate to fully take in how he looked.
Harry squirmed uncomfortably and in an attempt to turn the attention away from himself said, "You're not so bad looking yourself." And indeed the Veela looked very handsome dressed in black leather and a pale green shirt. Silk of course.
"Why thank you kind sir," Draco replied with a small bow. He straightened and was about to say something more when there was a pecking sound on the window. Opening it an owl flew inside settling on Harry's shoulder, holding out its leg and the scroll tied to it.
"Thank you." Harry said untying the letter and opened it.
Dear Sweetie,
In the bag you will find the transporter for the crate with your books.
Having done a quick inventory, the rest of my stock amounts to 483 Galleons and 11 Sickles, if you are still interested in them that is.
While I was packing, I remembered that my great-grandfather gathered several trunks worth of books and stuff that he for some reason never bothered to include into the shops inventory. If you are interested, you may buy them, unseen, for 15 Galleons apiece. I do not know precisely what they contain, but I do know that my great-grandfather had a nose for finding valuable and unusual things. Please let me know if you are interested.
Sincerely,
Abigail Sweetwater
Harry tilted his head to the side as he thought. Was he interested? 15 Galleons apiece wasn't much money, unless there were hundreds of trunks, but he had a feeling that wasn't the case.
Walking carefully to the table, not wanting to disturb the owl, Harry settled down to write his reply, offering the owl some water and one of Hedwig's treats. The owl hooted its thanks and drank deeply of the water.
Opening the pouch, Harry found a stone disk that he carefully placed on the table. Calling his moneybag to him, he counted out the required sum and placed it in the pouch, adding a feather light charm to be on the safe side. Picking up a quill he thoughtfully stroked the tip against his chin as he tried to formulate what he wanted to say.
Dear sweet lady,
I thank you for your swift service and I hope you did not spend the entire night slaving away to fulfil my request.
Harry sniggered to himself, but Abigail had set the tone in her letter and besides, he liked her.
I have included the amount you asked for and are eagerly awaiting your next shipment.
Yes, I am interested in your great-grandfather's trunks and will gladly buy them unseen if you were to tell me how many of them there are.
Sincerely,
Harry Potter
Once the letter and pouch had been secured to its legs the owl promptly took off, flying out the still open window.
"Who was that?" Draco asked trying to sound casual and disinterested, but inside he was burning up with curiosity mixed with some jealousy. Was it a rival for his mate's affection?
"Nothing important," Harry replied not noticing the storm brewing in silver eyes. His focus was on the strange stone disk. "Hey Draco, what's this?"
Draco plucked the disk out of Harry's fingers and examined it. "It's a transporter," he answered giving it back to the other boy.
"How does it work?"
"Were you given a password?"
"Umm, no?" Harry said after scanning the letter quickly.
"Then all you need to do is tap it twice with your wand. Make sure your not holding it when you do so and that you are doing it someplace with enough space."
"But what does it do?"
"I'm guessing you bought something yesterday," Draco said trying to fish for information.
Harry merely nodded.
"Whatever you bought must have been too large or too heavy for the owl to carry, so the shop sent you a transporter disk. They work like a portkey, but instead of taking you to them; it is taking what you bought from there to here."
Harry nodded. It made sense. Fingering the disk he headed to his room, but half-way there he paused and glanced back at Draco. On one hand, he didn't want to clutter up the living room, and if the books only cost a Sickle the amount of books he'd gotten must be huge. However, if he placed the crate or whatever in his room that meant that he'd spend a lot of time in a room Draco could not enter and that wasn't exactly fair to the Veela. Hesitating a bit more he walked to the wall next to his door. Moving the small table standing there aside, he placed the disk on the floor and tapped it twice with his wand as Draco had dictated. There was a flash of light and a large trunk appeared where the disk had been.
Staring at the large steamer trunk Harry blinked stupidly. Stepping up to it, he flipped the lid open and chuckled. It was filled with minimized books, each book barely the size of his palm.
"Books? You've bought more books? What are you? A Ravenclaw in disguise?" Draco demanded coming to a halt beside Harry.
"No. Just following advice from one of your ancestors," Harry sniggered dropping to his knees pulling out a few books, examining them, noting absentmindedly that they regained their original size the moment they left the trunk.
Draco snorted but knelt beside his mate and began to examine the books as well. After all, he was curious what kind of books Harry had gotten and he couldn't help wonder where he'd gotten them from.
HPDM
Silence reigned for the next half hour as Draco sat reading a diary written by a French wizard named Claude de Merle, whom he suspected was a distant relative of his. He'd have to ask his father to be absolutely sure.
Harry on the other hand was still picking up books only giving each a cursory glance, sorting them loosely after language. Picking up a worn leather journal, he opened it and gave it a curious glance. His eyes widened slightly when he saw it was written in runes and he haltingly translated what was written on the first page, the ink faded with time.
"Hey, Draco, does this say what I think it says?" he asked nudging the blond with a sharp elbow. He'd learned some runes during the summer, but he was no way near fluent.
Annoyed, Draco accepted the journal and read the inscription. He gasped and the book fell from nerveless fingers.
"You ok?" Harry asked in concern picking the book back up.
"Give me that!" Draco almost shouted and grabbed the book from Harry, reading the first page once more, this time out loud. "This is the private work journal of Killian Longbottom. Harry do you know what this is?"
"A journal written by one of Neville's ancestors?" Harry ventured a guess.
Draco snorted. "No, you moron! This is the legendary journal of Killian Longbottom! I can't believe it!"
"Why? What's so special about him?"
"Don't you know? Don't you realise what a find this is?" Draco was getting more and more agitated.
"Take a deep breath Draco. That's it, just breathe," Harry soothed not understanding why someone could get so worked up about an old book.
"Killian Longbottom lived about eight hundred years ago. He was a Potion Master, most considered him a genius. During his time, he created loads and loads of new potions or improved those that already existed. Many of the potions we use today have its beginning in Longbottom's lab.
"When he died lots of people wanted to get their hands on his work journal, but no one could find it. Not even his heir. It is said that Longbottom left a letter with clues as to where his journal was hidden, but no one has been able to solve it and some even think that the letter is a forgery. For this book to turn up like this, it's... it's like as if Merlin himself had suddenly appeared in the room." Draco tried to explain.
"Oh," Harry said softly taking the book back and carefully flipped through it. "Do you think Severus would like a copy?"
"Like?" Draco spluttered. "Harry he'd willingly give you his first born child just for the chance of looking through it!"
Harry wrinkled his nose. "He can keep it," he stated getting to his feet. "Be right back," he said over his shoulder and disappeared into his room.
True to his word he re-entered the sitting room only moments later, his arms filled with parchment, the book, and a box of Bertie Botts.
"Would you mind sorting these?" he asked holding out the box to Draco who grumbled, but complied.
"Why don't you do this the way everyone else does? By tasting them?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Because, I've never developed a taste for them, normally I'd just use whatever bean I'd grab, but I figured you'd want the nice tasting ones. If you're not interested you don't have to, I'm sorry," Harry apologised pulling his wand to put them all back in the box.
"Don't you dare!" Draco growled. "I was curious, that's all. Unlike you, I want them. I like them," he explained popping a yellow one into his mouth. "Mmm, vanilla custard."
"I don't understand how you can know by just looking at them," Harry said shaking his head.
"I can't. I have to touch them as well. I've always been able to tell, ever since I was little," Draco replied working diligently. It didn't take long before there were two neat piles, one which went back into the box. Draco indicated for Harry that the other pile was his to do with as he pleased.
Nodding with a small smile in thanks, Harry transfigured one of the beans into a bowl and placed the rest of them in it. Placing the journal on the table, he placed a stack of parchment next to it, making sure the two touched. Lastly, he placed a hand full of beans on top of the stack of parchment.
Settling comfortably in a chair Harry put one hand on the journal, and one atop the small pile of beans and began to chant a spell.
Draco started at the hissing coming from his mate, but then he realised he was talking in Parseltongue. A soft bluish glow surrounded each of Harry's hands. The light grew and then it vanished and on the table were two identical journals, except one looked brand new and the other looked decidedly shabby next to it.
Seeing Draco's look, Harry picked up the new copy and handed it to him. Draco accepted it looking as if he'd been given Merlin's legendary staff, caressing the leather lovingly.
Harry watched him in amusement for a few moments, but then he turned his attention back to what he was doing and prepared to make another copy. If the journal was that important, he didn't want the original to leave these rooms. But he didn't want there to be a fight between Draco and Severus either about whose turn it was to read it. Better to create each man a copy while he was at it and thus preserve the peace in the family.
Once the second copy was done, Harry slumped back into his chair, feeling tired and drained. Draco looked up sharply from his reading and snapped his fingers ordering breakfast for the two of them.
"How in Merlin's name did you manage to copy the Black library if creating two copies tired you out this much?" he demanded fussing over Harry. "And how did you come up with the idea to use Bertie Botts Every-Flavour Beans to transfigure the cover? Won't it deteriorate with time?"
"When I copied the Black library I was using another spell, and I was using my anger. If it hadn't been for all that work, I'd flattened the place I was staying at several times over," Harry replied with an amused smile. "As for the beans; I don't think the cover will deteriorate with time. I guess I could create the copy out of thin air but that takes much more power and magic. After all, it is easier to create something out of something else," he teased using one of McGonagall's favourite sayings.
"Ugh, don't remind me! But why the beans?" Draco persisted.
Harry shrugged staring down at the table. "With Dumbledore and the Order of Phoenix keeping close watch on me I had difficulty getting what I needed. I couldn't buy parchment beside what I'd need for the school year, and I couldn't get empty journals for the same reason. They would all get suspicious and ask me what I want it for. However, a teenaged boy is supposed to be a bottomless pit and no one minded buying sweets for me. So I used what I could and the magic did the rest."
Draco silently fumed. How dare they treat his mate in such a fashion! "I understand, I think, but Harry, there is no more need for you to make do. If you want something or if you need something, tell father or me, and we will be happy to get it for you if it is within our power. And as Malfoys there isn't much we can't get," Draco stated arrogantly making Harry laugh.
"There, that's better. Now eat while the food is hot," Draco ordered settling at the table as well, picking up the fork with his right hand and the journal with his left, forgetting everything as he sank into the ancient world of potions.
Harry didn't take offence. He merely shook his head while laughing softly. Soon the delicious smells of the food caused him to forget everything else and he dug in, eating heartily.
HPDM
With a soft sigh, Harry put down his cutlery and picked up his tea cup. Taking a drink from it, he looked over at Draco for the first time since he began eating. Snorting a laugh he watched as the blond sat there utterly oblivious to the world, his eyes glued to a page in the journal. His right elbow was planted on the table and a fork filled with scrambled eggs was held half way to the mouth, forgotten; the eggs now cold and unappetising.
"Hey, Draco! Are you finished?" Harry called reaching over and gently nudging the hand holding the fork. By the looks of it, the blond had only had three bites of his breakfast, if that. The fork and its content fell to the table with a clutter as Draco started and looked up at him with glazed eyes, his mind still on potions.
"Did you say something?" he muttered, eyes already going back to the journal.
Harry laughed. "Hey, air head, I thought you were hungry?"
"Hungry?" Draco asked still not fully conscious of his surroundings.
"Accio Longbottom's Journal," Harry said, elegantly catching the book as it came sailing towards him.
Draco blinked, then frowned. "Hey! I was reading that you know!" he complained.
"I know. But I thought you were hungry? Remember breakfast?" Harry teased not repenting in the least.
"Breakfast?" Draco repeated looking down. "Oh," he blushed as he realised what had happened. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you like that."
"Hey, I don't mind." Harry said soothingly putting the book down by Draco's side. "I just wanted to make sure you ate something."
"Oh. Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Harry smiled gently sending the remains of his own breakfast back to the kitchen. "How about some tea and croissants? That must be rather cold and unappealing by now."
Draco looked down at his tray, poking his eggs and bacon with the fork. Putting it down with a look of distaste he nodded and Harry called for a House elf.
Having made sure that Draco ate enough to sustain him to lunch, Harry settled to work on Snape's last potion essay. Looking over the assignment 'Discuss the different stages when brewing Veritaserum', he couldn't help but feel there was a trap somewhere in there. Not sure what it was he nibbled on his quill and wrote:
When brewing Veritaserum you have to be diligent and mindful of every detail of the different stages of the potion. If you are not diligent you will end up with an acid that will corrode human flesh, or a truth potion that is about as useful as dishwater.
There that sounded good he thought.It will show that I know some of the dangers of brewing the thing incorrectly and that you need to have a mature attitude if you are to make this stuff.
He had read up on the potion last night after he had retired to bed and he felt fairly competent that he now understood the different stages. He was about to list the ingredients, but paused and read the assignment once more.
Nope, he isn't asking how to make Veritaserum, he wants us to discuss the different stages. I'm gonna take a risk and skip the list of ingredients Harry thought, picking up the quill again.
You begin the process with filling the cauldron with three parts pure water and one part unicorn tears. It is important to get the mix exactly right. If there is too much water, the tears will be weakened and the finished potion will not force the drinker to speak the truth. Add too little water and the tears will react violently with the griffin feathers, which are added at a later stage, risking the potion to blow up in the brewer's face.
Harry paused and read through what he had written. Nodding in satisfaction, he checked his potion book to make sure he remembered the next step correctly.
HPDM
It was with a pleased smile that Harry signed his name with flourish, happy to have finished the thing. Reading it through once more he cast the spell to check on his spelling. Satisfied, he created a copy of the essay adding a copyright spell one of the Black ancestors had suggested to him. Better to be safe than sorry after all. He only hoped Professor Snape wouldn't blow a fuse when he realised the essay was almost 2 feet too long. He wasn't about to edit it though and risk missing some vital part of the process.
Looking over at Draco Harry couldn't help but laugh, the blond was still deep within the journal, absolutely dead to the world. Deciding to forgo his usual second opinion Harry went to get the other essay wanting to hand them over to Severus now, along with Longbottom's journal.
"Hey Draco, I'm going to head down to the dungeon to see Professor Snape. Then I'll head outside for a bit to get some fresh air. Wanna come?"
"Mm-hmm," the Veela murmured and Harry was positive the other hadn't heard a word of what he'd said. Grinning he wrote a note, placing it beside Draco and left.
Harry was almost at the potions classroom when a panting Draco landed at this side.
"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" he demanded looking affronted when Harry burst out laughing.
"I did. I wasn't sure you heard me though. Have a nice read?"
Draco blushed, ducking his head, and nodded. "Yeah, that Killian was some Master. I wish I could have met him, too bad our current Longbottom is worthless at potions."
"Do you think that's why Professor Snape is so horrid towards him?"
"Maybe, or it could be because of all the exploded cauldrons he's caused during his past five years," Draco shrugged, not really interested in why his godfather and the bumbling Gryffindor didn't get along.
Harry was about to knock on the classroom door when the bell rang and he quickly jumped to the side so as not to be trampled by the students rushing for the door wanting to get out as quickly as possible.
He was wise to do so as the door was thrown open and a score of third year Hufflepuffs ran for freedom. The Ravenclaws were not as rushed to leave as Snape had a little bit more tolerance towards them, but no one wanted to linger.
Harry and Draco made their way inside and walked towards the teacher standing behind his desk, clearing the blackboard.
"Sir?" Harry said placing the two scrolls on the desk.
"Harry, Draco, I wasn't expecting to see either of you anytime soon," Severus drawled putting his wand away.
"I had finished the summer assignments and wanted to hand them over to you as soon as possible," Harry explained. "And I wanted to give you a copy of a journal I bought yesterday. Draco thinks you'd enjoy a copy of your own," Harry grinned impishly pulling the book from his pocket.
Severus gave them both a suspicious look, but accepted the book and opened it. Promptly all colour left his face and he sank into his chair. Leafing through the book quickly he focused on the two boys standing before his desk.
"Do you know what I am holding in my hands?" he croaked out, too shocked to speak.
"Yeah, an old potion book," Harry teased. "It has to be good 'cause Draco's been buried in it ever since breakfast."
"An old potion book... To call this journal such a thing is blasphemy of the highest degree Potter!" Severus growled, but there was no heat behind his words. "I can not accept such a gift Harry. If you were to sell it you could name your prize and have it met,"
Harry shrugged, not impressed. "I'm not interested in money," he said simply. "I have enough for what I need. I'm not Potion Master material and we both know it. You and Draco are though, so who better to have that book?" Holding up a hand to stop whatever Severus was about to say Harry continued: "If you can't accept it as a gift, then consider it a thank you for saving my life – numerous times. I owe you a life dept or two if I understand wizard laws and customs right, maybe that book can be considered a down payment for what I owe you?"
Ducking his head in embarrassment Harry began to back away. "I'll just leave you now to prepare for your next classes. Bye sir," and with that he ran out of the room leaving two shocked people behind.
"I better go after him and make sure nothing happens to him," Draco murmured looking worriedly after his mate. "Enjoy the book Sev, I'm really looking forward to discussing a few of the things written in it with you. See you tonight?" he asked over his shoulder not really waiting for a reply.
Severus stared at the now empty spots where the two boys had been recently standing. Slowly his gaze returned to the book in his hands. Caressing the leather he felt how stiff it was, indicating the newness of the book. But the content proved its age. The pages were yellowed and stained in several places; the ink was faded and smudged. When Potter had created this copy he had copied the original down to the last imperfection of the original paper. To be given such a treasure... Severus shook his head, he couldn't believe it. He couldn't understand it. No one had ever given him gifts just to please him, no one... but Lucius Malfoy. Hugging the journal to his chest Severus felt tears well up in his eyes; that stupid, wonderful, reckless boy. It was a miracle he'd survived for as long as he had. It was fortunate he now had the Malfoys on his side; such a soft heart would soon be snuffed out in the harsh realities of war.
Hearing the sounds of footsteps approaching Severus gathered himself, and quickly put a protective charm on the journal, putting it into a pocket. The scrolls he locked into a drawer for later. Oh how he wished he could skip the rest of the classes for that day and sink into his favourite chair with his new book. Unfortunately, duty called and he glared as his fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors entered the room.
He waited for the bell to ring and then smiled at his class, causing them to shudder in fear. Opening the bottom drawer, he pulled out a stack of papers and placed them on his desk. Then he uttered the words that put fear in every student that heard them. "Class, today we are going to have a pop-quiz."
(Le Merle is Blackbird in French. I figured that to be a good name for a relative to the Malfoys, grin.)
Next time:
The boys mixes rocks and transfiguration and have some fun.
Stay tuned.




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 13

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/13/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Dumbledore butt heads with Salazar Slytherin
Books, books, and more books
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Million thanks to Keikokin for being my beta-reader.

Going for a Ride
Draco tracked his mate down to the lake and watched as he wandered around the small beach, his head down obviously looking for something. He could sense that Harry was uncomfortable and he guessed it was from the sudden turn his conversation with Severus had taken. He would leave that topic to the Potion Master and his father though, no way was he touching it.
"What's up?" he asked walking closer.
Harry's head snapped up, but it quickly dropped down again without answering.
"So what are we doing?" Draco asked after he'd walked beside Harry for several minutes. The boy was stubbornly staring at the ground. Now and then he'd bend down to pick up a small stone, but almost immediately he dropped again.
"I'm gonna do something I've always wanted to do," Harry said in a small voice Draco could barely hear.
"What? Picking pebbles?" Draco demanded incredulously.
A snorting laughter was torn from the brunet. "No silly. Just watch," he said shoving Draco gently.
"Harry, love, I have watched you and all you do is pick up pebbles. And for this you dragged me away from the find of the century?"
"Silly!" Harry repeated with another snort. "Aha! This should do!" he crooned happily pouncing on a rock the size of his fist. It was dark grey with inlays of a whitish mineral. Not particularly beautiful in Draco's opinion and he said as much.
Harry gave him a look, but didn't say anything. He merely walked away from the sand and once he had grass under his feet, he dropped the stone on the ground and drew his wand.
"See? Pebble picking and dropping. Not much fun in that if you ask me," Draco drawled, secretly pleased when he tricked another laugh out of his mate. Harry was made for laughter. His mate had a most beautiful laugh, too bad he seldom displayed it.
"I'm gonna make you regret those words Draco Malfoy," Harry stated moving his wand in a twirling motion uttering an enlargement charm. The rock went from being barely fist-sized to being a hefty boulder.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Bravo! What's for encore? We drop that thing in the lake?"
"Just wait and see," Harry smiled mysteriously, murmuring a spell Draco couldn't make out. He could see the result though. Slowly the boulder shifted and came to life. Within moments, a beautiful grey horse was standing where the boulder had been. Draco stepped forward, drawn to the beauty of the animal. It was an Arabian if he wasn't mistaken.
"It is beautiful," he whispered holding out a hand for the horse to examine.
"Isn't he?" Harry asked smugly pulling a handkerchief from a pocket. A twirl of the wand and it changed to a thick sheepskin saddle blanket. A few beans become a saddle and tack. A flick of the wrist and the horse were ready to be ridden. "Wanna join me?"
The question broke Draco out of the stupor he had fallen into. The smirk the other boy wore woke the competitive side of the blond and he instantly rose to the unspoken challenge. "You bet!" he answered already running towards the lake to find his own rock to transform.
Not bothering to search as carefully as Harry had done, it didn't take long for Draco to find a rock he was happy with. Joining his mate, he placed the whitish stone on the ground and repeated what Harry had done. Soon a beautiful roan was standing next to the Arab, pawing the ground with a slender hoof and tossing her head.
Using his own handkerchief and a few beans Harry kindly donated, Draco repeated what Harry had done, and soon the two boys climbed onto their mounts' backs.
"Is it true you've never been on a horse before?" Draco asked settling into the saddle, adjusting the stirrups.
"Nope. The only things I've ever ridden is my broom, a hippogriff and a thestral," Harry replied watching closely what Draco was doing and trying his best to copy it. Seeing this Draco showed him what to do and soon they were ready to ride.
"How about you? I take it you've ridden horses before?" Harry asked, settling his feet more firmly in the stirrups.
"Yes, father began teaching me when I was about six years old. We have both regular horses and Pegasi at the Manor. We even own a few race horses a Muggle is training and racing for us. We usually visit Ascot every year to see them race," Draco told him noting the wistful look on Harry's face. It was a crime the way that boy had been treated and to think he had once thought him a spoiled brat!
"Are you ready? We'll take it slow until you've gotten used to his movements," Draco dictated clucking slightly and squeezing with his legs. From the corner of his eye, he noted Harry do the same and the horses eagerly jumped forward. For a moment, Harry tottered and Draco thought for a horrific minute that the other was going to fall off. But then his natural gracefulness came to his rescue and he straightened himself with a laugh. Taking a deep breath, Draco managed a small smile and before long, they were walking around the outer border of Hogwarts.
Harry soon became bored with the slow pace though and urged his mount forward. The horse eagerly complied and began to trot. Harry gave out a whoop of joy startling his mount into a gallop. Having little trouble finding the rhythm Harry was enjoying himself to the hilt, sharing a laugh with Draco when he came up beside him.
Seeing his mate take off had caused the Veela's heart to stop beating for a second, and then it had lodged itself in his throat, refusing to return to its proper place. But when he once more was alongside the other boy, and seeing his happiness he couldn't bring himself to scold him, and instead shared in with his happiness; storing into his heart the sight of sparkling green eyes, red cheeks and laughing mouth.
HPDM
Albus was in his office pacing around the room and dictating a letter to a potential ally to the Order when he happened to look out the window, and promptly choked on his lemon drop. In dismay, he watched it fly from his mouth and end up on the tray under Fawkes perch. Not even with the strongest cleaning charm would he be able to put that candy back into his mouth, and it had taken him four tries to find one that wasn't tainted, having encountered the nasty tastes of burnt toast, salt, and black pepper before finding a lemon drop that was a lemon drop. He had learned his lesson though, and only licked the candy instead of plopping into his mouth, as was his habit.
With a heavy sigh, Dumbledore vanished the now ruined sweet and carefully picked a new candy from the bowl. Licking it warily, he made a horrendous face throwing it across the room in a fit of temper. Spoilt milk! Summoning another drop, he tried it out and sighed in bliss when the taste of lemon filled his mouth. Plopping it onto his mouth he turned back to the window, suddenly remembering the sight that had started the whole thing.
There on the lawn beneath his window, were two figures on horsebacks, chasing each other and laughing. Since school was still in session it wasn't difficult to figure out whom the two were – Harry and Draco.
Albus made a face. It wasn't for this he had excused them from their classes. They were supposed to be in their suite, bonding with each other. And where in Merlin's name had they gotten those horses? If Lucius had brought them here without consulting with him first he was going to give the blond a talking to he hadn't had since the time Dumbledore caught him, Severus and Alexander Zabini spiking the teachers pumpkin juice with a sex-changing potion. Albus shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if they hadn't been caught and the potion disposed of.
With one last dark look at the two boys, Albus turned his back on the sight and concentrated on the letter he'd been writing. If he worded things just right, he might be able to sway the Marietti clan to join his side in the war. The vampires were fierce fighters and if you managed to gain their loyalty, they would always come to your aid when needed. On the other hand, they were some of the most difficult people to deal with, choosing mostly to stay out of mortal business, and only come out if their clan or an ally was threatened.
Sighing softly, he read through what he had already written. If only more magical beings would understand what he was trying to do, who and what he was fighting for, he was sure they would flock to his side. Unfortunately, they were obstinate and wilful and most of the time they acted like small children, and couldn't care less about what he was trying to accomplish. Why couldn't they understand that he was trying to create a better world for everyone?
HPDM
Harry had no idea how long he and Draco had been horsing around. He couldn't help but snort at his own unintended wittiness, but he was beginning to tire. He wasn't used to this type of exercise and his muscles were beginning to protest. Draco must have noticed because he reigned in his mount and came to a halt. Harry slowed his own horse down and stopped at his side.
"I don't know about you but I'm getting hungry. How about we head to the Three Broomsticks and have some lunch?" Draco suggested not wanting the fun to end just yet.
"Do you think we are allowed?"
"Don't know and at the moment I don't care. No one said we had to remain in our rooms for the three days we were excused from class. The purpose was after all for us to get to know each other better," Draco replied with a small shrug.
Harry thought it over and broke into a grin. "Let's go," he said, urging his horse forward.
Side by side, the two boys walked their horses towards the wizard village and all too soon they arrived at their destination. Dismounting in front of the pub, they secured their horses to the tied back window shutters and entered.
If Rosmerta was surprised to see them, she didn't let it show, but led the boys to a table and took their orders. Munching their food and sipping Butterbeer, they talked about everything and nothing, having a wonderful time. Nevertheless, no matter how much they didn't want it to, time marched on and it was time to leave. Settling into the saddles, they walked their horses back towards the castle and Hagrid's hut.
Draco wondered a bit puzzled why they had stopped here, but didn't ask merely sliding off his own mount when Harry did.
"'Ello there 'Arry! Malfoy! Tis some beautiful beasts ye got there," Hagrid boomed, coming out of his hut to greet his guests. He had seen them earlier and had been happy to see Harry's carefree face as he and Draco chased each other.
"They are, aren't they?" Harry lit up, patting his horse on the neck. "I was wondering Hagrid, if we could put them in the stables. I don't want to lose him and I'm sure Draco feels the same way about his horse."
"Of course ye can! I've always liked horses and it will not be trouble at all looking after these beauties. Leave it to me," Hagrid readily agreed taking the reins from the two boys.
"Thank you Hagrid!" Harry said and impulsively stepped forward and gave the half-giant a fierce hug. Blushing he stepped back, ducking his head slightly. "We have to go back now, but I promise to come and see you real soon," he promised peeking up at Hagrid through his bangs.
"Yer always welcome at my place 'Arry," the half-giant said, patting Harry on the back, almost sending him into the ground, face first. He eyed Draco a bit coldly. "Can't say I much like ye Malfoy, but if ye promise to behave ye are welcome to come visiting with 'Arry here."
"Thank you Hagrid," Draco nodded not sure how to treat the man he had sneered at since before his arrival at Hogwarts.
Hagrid merely nodded and began leading the horses away.
"Come on Draco, I bet your father is looking for us," Harry said and began walking. "Didn't he say he was going to come see us once he'd visited the Manor?"
"Yeah, he did," Draco nodded beginning to walk a bit faster. "I forgot."
"Hmm, I wonder why?" Harry teased taking off running with Draco chasing after him, promises of retributions ringing in his ears.

Next time:
For all of you who have wondered what exactly it is Draco is sketching,
next chapter the secret will finally be revealed.
Stay tuned.




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 14

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/14/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Books, books, and more books
The boys goes for a ride
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
As always a bit thank you to Keikokin for being my beta-reader.

Added Protection
Lucius walked up to Hogwarts enjoying the beautiful day. He had spent the morning at the Manor taking care of business. He had only been interrupted only once, when Narcissa came storming into his study to demand money for a new dress robe and jewellery for some party or another. It had been a pleasure telling her that he had no intention of going to the stupid thing, and if she were so set on going she could find someone else to take her; meaning someone else would have to foot the bill. She had stormed off in a huff, and Lucius was happy to notice that he was no longer consumed with a desire and a need to satisfy her every whim. A fact his wife had used shamelessly in the past.
He entered the school and noticed a group of children coming from the dungeons. Severus' latest victims, the blond smirked. On an impulse he hid in the shadows, curious to hear what horrors the Potion Master had subjected his students to this time.
"Hiya Gin. You're looking pale, what did that greasy git do now?"
Lucius bristled at the careless words coming from the Weasley brat. How dare he treat a Professor with such little regard!
"Oh, Ron, it was horrible!" Gin moaned to her brother, accepting the comforting arm around her shoulders. "First he smiled at us."
Ron and Hermione shuddered.
"Then he gave us a pop-quiz!"
Both sixth years moaned in sympathy.
"I mean it was the first day of the term and he gave us a pop-quiz! Then he gave us the 'this is your OWL-year' speech and then he assigned us homework." Ginny paused dramatically, "A 4 foot essay! We are to find 5 potions that contain ant parts and discuss them!"
"Poor Ginny," Hermione said wrapping an arm around the girl's waist. "I've got a list of potions that has ant parts in them. I'll show it to you when we get back to the common room."
"Thanks 'Mione! I've got no idea where to even start looking for something like that."
The children began moving towards the Great Hall and lunch.
"Any idea when Harry comes back? I want to talk to him about the D.A." Ginny said, opening the door.
"He should be back tomorrow," Hermione replied.
"Good," Ginny smiled causing Lucius to smirk. It seemed the youngest Weasley wanted to do more than talk to Harry. Too bad the boy is already spoken for. However, I better warn Draco, I wouldn't put it past the brat to try something stupid.
Waiting a few moments, Lucius entered the Great Hall as well, disappointed to see Severus' usual seat empty. Settling into the chair next to Sev's Lucius piled some food on a plate and began eating. It was still early, maybe he was just detained?
"Ah, Lucius, just the man I wanted to see."
Lucius clenched his jaw and plastered on a bland smile. "Headmaster," he said pleasantly.
"I was wondering if Harry has changed his mind when it comes to D.A.D.A." Albus asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I'm afraid not. He still has no desire to subject himself to a new D.A.D.A. teacher and from what I understand the boy could take the N.E.W.T. exams tomorrow and pass with excellent grades. So why should he bother to follow a class that is beneath him?"
Albus hummed gently getting a thoughtful look on his face. "Do you think Harry would be interested in taking the Defence N.E.W.T.'s by Christmas? That would make things easier for me, and the child would have one less N.E.W.T. to worry about."
Lucius bit back a snort. I'm sure that would make things easier for you old man. As always you have no concerns for others, only what benefits you! "I shall ask Harry his opinion if you like."
"Do that, Lucius." Albus nodded. "I saw the boys earlier; they were outside, riding a pair of horses. Do you know anything about that?"
"Horses?" Lucius echoed nonplussed. "No, I have no idea where they got those from. They must have transfigured them from something or other." Lucius thought feeling amused. Would those boys ever cease to amaze him?"
"I want you to talk to them Lucius, horses are not allowed at Hogwarts. If the other students see them, they might wish to join them, and we'll end up with a mess on our hands."
"I can't see what has you so worried Headmaster. Surely, there are no problems with the children riding on horses, especially if they transform them from a rock or something and end the transfiguration when they are done. The older students can help the younger ones who haven't learned that advanced transfiguration yet," Lucius said cheerfully taking a bite of his lunch.
"Still, I wish you to talk to the boys. If any of the children were to be harmed because of something they started... I'm sure Harry would be devastated if that happened," Albus said with a stern look that was destroyed by the twinkle in his eyes. Pleased with himself, he turned to ask McGonagall something; leaving the blond fuming.
Damn you Albus Dumbledore, I am not your lapdog, or your servant. To use such an argument is such a low blow; to put the blame on a 16 year old child! If you have such qualms, why don't you talk to the boys yourself? I will not serve as your scapegoat. If you want them to stop you will have to bloody well tell them so yourself!
His appetite gone Lucius shoved the plate away from him and got to his feet. It was clear that Severus was eating in his rooms today, so there was no reason for him to hang around in the Hall. Especially considering the company he was forced to endure here.
"One more thing, could you make sure that Harry and Draco come down for breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"Of course, now, if you'll excuse me?" Lucius did his best to bite back a sneer and left before he did something he probably wouldn't regret later.
HPDM
"Good day to you Salazar Slytherin, are the boys in?"
"Greetings to you as well Lucius Malfoy. No, they left some time ago."
Lucius frowned and considered his options. He could leave a message and wait for the boys to return in his rooms, or he could wait for them in their rooms. Considering Draco and Harry had been given bigger and brighter rooms, the choice was given. "Very well, I shall wait for their return then, dragons and Parselmouth."
The portrait swung open and Lucius entered, letting his gaze sweep around the room. His eyebrow rose at the sight of the trunk against the wall and he stepped closer to take a look. He refrained from touching any of the books though, and walked up to the table doubling as dinner table and study desk.
He smiled slightly at the sight of the potions texts and guessed what had kept Severus from the Great Hall. Harry must have finished his summer work and had obviously handed them over to the Potions Master. Idly wondering if the youth had used some other rare potion book as base for his work, Lucius noted Draco's sketchpad and picked it up, leafing through it.
The first drawing he encountered showed that Parkinson chit, dressed up like a princess, only her face was that of a pug, and the hands holding her scepter were not that of a human but that of a dog. Chuckling slightly at the sight, Lucius turned the page and came across a drawing of Blaise Zabini.
This time Draco had used a fox, something that fit the Zabini boy to a T. He was sharp, witty, curious, quick, hardly ever missing a clue; in short, a true Slytherin. Draco had always been perceptive of the people around him and ever since he'd been a young child had had the tendency to give those he drew traits of animals that suited their character. Never once had he known his son for choosing the wrong animal.
Curious to see what else his son had sketched, Lucius turned the page and paused. Entwined together lay two people, one dark and one fair, innocent in sleep. The pair was lying in what looked to be a meadow, and a butterfly was hovering above them increasing the cuteness of the picture. Lucius couldn't help the sappy smile that came to his face, Draco and Harry just looked so right together.
On the next page, the couple was kissing, an innocent, chaste kiss yet filled with devotion and love. It would seem Draco's Veela Dreams had started, good. It would help keep his son's Veela side pacified until Harry was ready to bond.
Turning the page, Lucius found himself blushing and he slammed the sketchpad shut. Damn, but he did not need the image of his son, on his knees, in front of a naked Harry Potter who had his head thrown back, clearly in the throes of passion. He would have to have a talk to his son about the dangers of leaving his drawings where anyone could stumble upon them. Lucius didn't think Harry was ready to see what else the Veela was dreaming of, he knew he wasn't ready to see what his son dreamed about. He could still vividly remember the dreams he had had about his mate all those years ago.
Badly needing a distraction, Lucius picked up the plain black leather book lying on the table. It looked new and he opened it cautiously, hoping it wasn't Draco's private journal he had picked up. Reading the faded runes on the first page, Lucius felt all blood leave his face and he felt faint. Sinking into the nearest chair, he turned around and glanced at the trunk sitting so innocent against the wall next to the door to Harry's room. Was this one of the treasures he had brought from the Black Manor? Looking down at the book in his hands, Lucius came to a decision and made his way to the couch on slightly unstable legs. Sinking into the soft cushions, Lucius made himself comfortable and began to read.
HPDM
"Hi dad!" Draco greeted as he and Harry tumbled through the door to their rooms. Noting what his father was reading, the blond broke into a huge grin. "You found it, good, isn't it cool? Harry found it in that trunk over there, and he made me and Sev a copy," he gushed, walking over to where his father was relaxing. Lifting up the long legs, Draco settled on the end of the couch allowing his father's legs to rest on his lap.
"Yes, it is indeed 'cool'." Lucius said with an amused drawl. He hadn't seen Draco this happy and carefree in years. "May I ask what you two have been up to?"
"We went riding." Draco told him, his eyes shining brightly.
That explains the carefree happiness. My little dragon always did love riding be it brooms or animals. "I wasn't aware that Hogwarts had horses", he said, feigning ignorance.
"They do now," Draco laughed sharing a look with his mate, who burst into giggles.
Lucius sat up properly and gave them a look. "Alright, what did you do and how much trouble will it cause me?" he asked dryly.
"It was Harry's idea Father," Draco promptly replied earning himself a 'Hey!' and a pillow to his face. "It was brilliant dad and I don't know why no one has thought of it before. We transfigured two rocks into a pair of horses and we've spent the morning riding around having fun."
Lucius gave Harry an appreciative look. "Very clever," he nodded bestowing a small smile on the boy who blushed and ducked his head. "I hope you saved those rocks. If you want to do this again it is easier to transform a rock which has already gone through the change once, than always picking new stones. No one knows why, but it is a fact."
"Umm, we never changed the horses back," Harry admitted. "I asked Hagrid and he is looking after them for us. I don't know if they'll need to eat and such, but I figured Dumbledore wouldn't be pleased if they walked around freely on the lawn."
"No, he probably wouldn't like that," Lucius was forced to agree. Hell he didn't even like the notion of a horse being on 'his' property. There is no way I'm going to tell them Dumbledore's 'orders'. They are far too happy for me to spoil their fun. I am going to talk to Severus first before I say anything, I'm sure the two of us can think of something to keep the old fool off their backs. "But what prompted you to take such an action?" he belated asked.
"It was something I read in a book this summer. It said that if you created an animal, and kept it around, spending a lot of time with it, if you were lucky, and felt enough love towards what you had created and were magically strong, it might come to life. I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep them around."
"I'd like to read that book if you'd let me, Harry. I've never heard of such a thing happening, but then it sounds like it is a rare phenomenon. I wager not many are strong enough or even interested enough to make it come true."
Harry tilted his head to the side in thought and nodded. "Sure, I don't mind." He got up and headed into his room, grabbing a handful of beans on his way. When he came back, he held a large tome in his hands that he held out to Malfoy senior.
Lucius accepted the book and leafed through it. Shaking his head, he closed the book and looked over at his son's mate. The boy was turning out to be a true find, not to mention a mystery.
"Thank you Harry. I will take excellent care of it," he promised.
"It is a copy. If you like, you may add it to your library, just give Draco and Severus a chance to read it if they are interested," Harry said, settling more comfortably in his chair.
"I promise." He was about to say something more when an owl demanded entrance through one of the windows.
Harry bounded over and opened it for the bird that swooped inside and settled on the boy's shoulder. Taking the note Harry scanned it quickly.
Dear Sweetie,
I had a feeling you'd want the rest of the books so I packed them as well. I then went to check around to make sure there were no books lying around and it was then I remembered the trunks. There are 23 of them and for 15 Galleons a piece that comes to 345 Galleons. I understand if you don't want to buy them sight unseen and you are welcome to come and view them at anytime you wish. Please let me know your decision.
Sincerely,
Abigail Sweetwater
Scratching the owl under the beak Harry said: "Your mistress is a kind and gentle old lady, did you know that?"
The owl hooted indignantly and nipped Harry's finger hard.
"Ouch! I guess you do," he chuckled untying the pouch and withdrew the disk it contained.
Offering the owl some water and treats, Harry put the asked for money into the pouch and reapplied the featherweight charm. Once the owl was satisfied, Harry tied the pouch to a leg and petted the soft feathers. "Take this back to your owner, but it is no hurry, ok? If you need to stop and rest, do so. I don't want you getting sick, you hear?"
The two Malfoys watched in astonishment as Harry petted and talked to the bird and they both swore the owl was talking back to him. They watched as it took off and flew out the window, finding an upwind and sailed lazily on the currents.
"What?" Harry asked seeing the weird looks his companions sent him.
"Love, do you always talk to owls like they were a person?" Draco asked, wanting to know, but not wanting to offend the other boy.
"Sure, don't you?"
"Umm, no."
Harry shrugged in a 'your loss' manner. "You should you know, owls are some of the smartest animals I've encountered. Hedwig has always acted as if she understood me perfectly. But then, she was my only friend when I was stuck with the Dursleys. It was talking to her or talking to myself."
Lucius leaned back and mulled over what he had seen and what he'd been told. "Considering that we bond with our owls, it is similar to the bond you have with a familiar, only weaker. It stands to reason that the more you invest in that bond, the more you get back. Most wizards only see their owls as a means to deliver mail, and leave them be unless they are needed. You wanted a friend, so you spent a lot of time with your owl and she responded to that, and your bond became both stronger and closer than what most wizards achieve."
Harry nodded in understanding and Draco vowed to pay more attention to his own screech owl. He had seen the way Harry acted around Hedwig when he'd spied on the boy, but he hadn't really understood what he'd been seeing. He remembered the envy he'd felt though, at the close bond the two shared, but he had shrugged it off as a Boy-Who-Lived thing. He hadn't realised it was a bond forged out of loneliness. He will never be that alone again. Not while I'm alive, he vowed fiercely.
"May I ask what that is?" Lucius asked nodding towards the disk Harry was still holding.
Looking down at it Harry blinked, he'd forgotten all about it, too wrapped up in the conversation and the thoughts it had inspired. "It's the rest of my books," he said looking around the room for someplace to put it where the trunk wouldn't be in the way.
In the end, he placed it in the middle of the floor, figuring he would move it later when he knew the size of the thing. It turned out to be a second steamer trunk, just as large as the first one, and just as scuffed up.
"Cool!" Draco said with enthusiasm, popping up from his seat. "Can we check it out now? Can we? Please?"
Harry laughed and flipped the lid open. "Be my guest," he said with a wave of his arm. Before he had finished speaking Draco was on his knees picking up a handful of books which he carefully examined.
"May I ask where you got that?" Lucius asked, wrinkling his nose at the dust and the grime. It was clear that Abigail hadn't bothered to clean the books before packing them.
"I bought them yesterday," Harry explained walking over to the first trunk he'd received. "I went to the junkshop next to Flourish and Blotts, and told the lady behind the disk that I wanted to buy all her books. I'm afraid I shocked her quite badly," he chuckled at the memory.
"The junkshop?" Lucius said both appalled and horrified. "Why in Merlin's name would you want to enter a shop like that one?"
"It wasn't that bad," Harry defended his actions.
"Harry, love, only people with no money enter that shop in hopes of finding something useful they can afford to buy," Draco said looking up from the diary he was holding.
"Humph! Then maybe it is about time someone with money did go there," Harry said, his nose in the air. He then abandoned his pose and chuckled. "It was actually Bartholomew Black that gave me the idea. He told me that he used to visit junkshops, using a disguise of course, looking for finds. That is how the Black family came to be the owners of the legendary Heart Ruby, whatever that is," Harry explained. Giving the two blonds a pointed look he added: "and considering the fuss you both have made over that journal I found this morning I'd say my point has already been proven."
"True, you can't argue with that." Draco conceded. Remembering the diary he'd been reading when Harry had interrupted him, he called the book to him and showed it to his father. "Isn't this a distant relative of ours?" he asked pointing to the name on the first page.
"I believe so. I think he is the son of your four times grandfather's sister. I believe she married into the Le Merle Family and if memory serves, her third son was named Claude. I would have to look into it closer to be absolutely sure, but the year would indicate that is him."
"Cool! I've read some of it and he sounds like he was a nice kid," Draco explained. "You should read it father."
"Maybe I shall." Lucius said with a smile, refusing to commit himself further.
Shrugging, Draco returned to examine the books in the trunk. Harry had lost interest though, and was looking at Lucius with a pensive look.
"Is there something on your mind Harry?" the aristocrat asked hoping to encourage the boy to confide in him.
"Actually there is. I've been wondering about something," Harry said getting to his feet and walked over to where Lucius was sitting. "It's about Hagrid. He was expelled from Hogwarts, accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets. But he was framed by Tom Riddle, something the Headmaster knows very well. Still he has done nothing to have Hagrid cleared. He is innocent and it is cruel to deny him the use of his magic because of something he didn't do. I know you don't like him, but isn't there something we could do to help him?" Harry asked turning large, serious eyes on Malfoy.
Lucius blinked and found it extremely difficult to deny those green, shining eyes anything, especially when it was coupled with a trusting look that screamed 'I know you can make everything alright'. Draco had looked at him like that when he was a child, and it had been just as difficult to deny him, as it was to deny Harry now. Merlin help him if they ever decided to turn that look on him simultaneously, he'd be utterly powerless to deny them anything if they did that.
"To tell you the truth I don't know Harry. I have never given his situation much thought. An official hearing would probably be the way to go. As you say, he was framed. He did have some type of monster hidden though."
"Yeah, Aragog," Harry nodded," An Acromantula; scary, but not the monster that terrorized the school."
"How do you know of that?" Lucius asked.
"I met him."
"You what?" two shocked blonds cried out.
"I met him in my second year. Ron and I were in Hagrid's hut when Fudge came to arrest him, hiding under my invisibility cloak. Hagrid told us to follow the spiders if we wanted to find out what the monster really was."
"Tell me you didn't," Lucius groaned.
"We did." Harry replied sheepishly. "We followed the spiders, right up to their nest. Aragog was most accommodating, telling us what had happened 50 years earlier. Then he gave us to his children since we had after all strolled into their home, and fresh meat was fresh meat."
"However did you get out of there?" Lucius asked shaken.
"Mr. Weasley's Ford Anglia came to our rescue and took us back to the school. It went back into the forest. We returned to the school, and it took weeks for Ron to forgive Hagrid. I thought he was never going to stop ranting and raving at him," Harry laughed. "Ron hates spiders with a passion and coming face to face with Aragog did not cure him."
"It seems the Weasel have more sense than you," Draco snorted, shaken at the close call his mate had had. "That's it! You are never to set foot in the Forbidden Forest again. Ever!"
"Calm down Draco. With the Centaurs acting like they are, there is no way I'm going in there. Unless there is a life at stake of course," Harry couldn't help adding.
Draco glowered and threw a book at him. Harry caught it with ease and didn't repent at all.
"That reminds me," Lucius said butting in before the children came to a tussle. "Draco come here," he ordered pulling a box from a pocket, opening it to reveal a beautiful necklace.
Draco shuffled over to his father, pulling out the necklace he was wearing. Taking the necklace from the box Lucius placed them next to each other, and touching them with his wand, he recited a spell that caused them to glow.
"Harry I want you to wear this always. Don't take it off, no matter what," Lucius said seriously, holding it out.
Harry walked over and sat down on the coffee table, accepting the necklace from the blond. It was beautiful. A thick silver chain, and hanging from it was a pendant in the shape of a snake. He gently touched the jade green stone admiring the way the sunlight was caught in it. "What does it do? I can feel the magic, it's very powerful, but I can't tell what it does."
Lucius took the necklace back and placed it around Harry's neck, whispering a complex locking charm. The chain shrunk until the stone sat comfortably in the hollow of Harry's throat. "It is one of the Malfoy necklaces, and it has been in the family for centuries. It will protect you from minor curses and hexes and a few not so minor. It also contains a powerful tracking charm, so that I will always be able to find you; Draco has one as well as you saw. I have already linked yours to mine, so that you can call on us if you wish. All you have to do is grab the stone, and whisper our name." To demonstrate Lucius pulled out his own necklace. It was similar to Harry's only his stone was a much darker green.
"Harry," Lucius murmured and instantly Harry felt his necklace get warm. "Can you hear me?" he added and Harry nodded. It was a most peculiar sensation. On one hand, he could hear Lucius through his ears, the man was only a few feet away after all, but he could also hear him at the back of his mind.
"Wicked!"
"To deactivate the call you only have to let go of the stone," Lucius explained, letting go mid-sentence and Harry felt the tiny presence disappear with a soft pop.
"You are, however, not to use this unless there are an emergency. If you use them to amuse yourselves during lessons, or Merlin forbid, to cheat at tests, you will not like the punishment I will come up with," he said sternly knowing fully well the mischievous mind of his son.
"Yes father," Draco said looking properly chastened.
"Wouldn't dream of it, sir," Harry said but with a gleam in his eyes he was unable to hide completely.
Lucius merely shook his head and sighed. "Why don't I believe you?" he asked the air causing the boys to burst into laughter.

A/N:
Thank you to everyone who is reviewing my story, you people rocks! You keep the muse happy and the fingers flowing across the keyboard. You are the reason I wake each morning with a million ideas in my head. Hopefully they will all end up written in the end, lol.
I also want to send a special thankyou to Kitten for the plotbunny. Who knows, I just might write it, it has a lot of potential. Got any more?
On an other note, did you enjoy finding out what Draco is sketching? I wasn't going to tell until much later, but since so many wanted to know, I decided to put it in early.
Next Time:
The boys return to class, but things don't go as smoothly as they figured.
Stay Tuned.




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 15

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/15/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
The boys goes for a ride
What is Draco sketching?
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
As always a big thank you to Keikokin for being my beta-reader

Returning To School
Day Four - Thursday

Harry woke with a smile early the next morning. There had been no nightmares, no visions, and no strange ladies singing. For once, he'd actually gotten a good night's sleep. Stretching like a cat Harry savored the feeling of being well rested before he jumped out of bed. He had far too much energy to laze about.
Looking out the window at the beautiful morning, he quickly got dressed. If he hurried, he'd manage to do some flying before breakfast, or horseback riding. Bounding out of his room and up the stairs to Draco's he knocked on the opened door, snickering at the sight of blond hair sticking up in all directions.
"What?" a petulant voice asked. Clearly, the Veela had not appreciated being awakened at 5.30 in the morning.
"Good morning sleepy head!" Harry called chirpily. "It's a glorious day outside and I am going riding. Wanna come?"
"Humph!" Draco groaned pulling the covers over his head.
"No? Ok, see you at breakfast then," Harry called, determined to savor this morning no matter what.
However, Draco was beginning to wake up and his brain had, reluctantly, kicked into gear. Throwing the covers back, he quickly sat up calling: "No! Wait! I'll come with you."
Harry's face lit up. "You will? That's great Draco! I'll saddle up the horses. Don't be long!" he said running from the room.
Draco groaned, but climbed out of his nice warm bed and headed for the bathroom. This was the second morning Harry had dragged him out of a lovely dream, and he had a feeling it wouldn't be the last. Grumbling he dressed and hurried after his mate, not wanting to keep him waiting. Merlin only knew what mischief that boy might decide on with no Draco there to keep an eye on him. He had had no idea that such a devious mind had been kept hidden behind the meek persona Potter had presented to the world for the past five years. He couldn't wait to find out what else Harry had been hiding.
Walking outside Draco found Harry already mounted and waiting for him, holding the reins of his roan. Accepting them, he gracefully swung into the saddle, only then noticing the large dog sitting on the other side of Harry's horse; his tongue lolling as he panted.
Draco looked up at Harry, one eyebrow raised.
"Don't look at me, he wanted to come with us, and I'm sure the horses won't mind. Much."
Draco snorted. "Don't come crying to me when you get thrown because of that coward of a dog. Really, what Hagrid sees in him I'll never know."
Harry merely laughed and urged his mount forward. With a shout, Draco gave chase and soon the two were laughing, chasing the wind, not a care in the world with a wildly barking Fang running alongside them.
Hagrid looked out of his window and smiled at the sight. He'd been worried when the Headmaster had told him of the Veela and his choice, but so far Harry had been happier than he'd seen him in years.
Another set of eyes were watching and smiling as well. Silver eyes that usually were cold warmed at the two carefree figures, and he felt a feeling of gratitude sweep through him. He had worried that Draco would end up in the same trap he had been in, but so far Harry had been a delightful surprise. Lucius had a feeling the wizarding world would never realize what was going on until after Harry had molded the world to be what he wanted it to be.
Chuckling he turned away from the window and went to take a shower. He hadn't been entirely truthful with the boys. His necklace, being the Master, gave him far more information than he'd led the boys to believe, and he had felt the two of them wake up that morning, the exuberance coming from Harry waking him up from a sound sleep. He didn't begrudge them though, and decided to join them the next time. Maybe he could even talk Severus to accompany them. Merlin knew the man could do with some fresh air, and with some fun.
HPDM
"Harry! We have to stop now if we are to be ready in time for breakfast," Draco called almost an hour and a half later. They were cutting things close, but he hadn't wanted to stop the other's fun.
Harry nodded and turned his horse towards the stables. "I guess. I wish I could just go on and never turn back," he said wistfully.
"I know. But Dumbledore asked us to be there this morning remember? And we can't oppose him openly, not yet any way."
"I guess. Still."
"I know," Draco said once more, hiding his own regret and he jumped off his mount's back.
Removing the tack didn't take long and they turned the horses loose in the small corral next to the stable. The horses whinnied and began chasing each other in a friendly game of tag. Clearly they were not satisfied with the morning exercise either.
"Come on Harry, we can come back tonight after class," Draco said gently, pulling on Harry's arm.
"I guess," Harry sighed climbing off the fence.
In silence, they walked together back towards the castle. Entering Draco looked down at his clothes and wrinkled his nose. "I guess we'd better take a shower first. We can't enter the Great Hall reeking of horses."
Harry leaned closer and took a sniff. "I don't think you reek, but if you say so," he took a step back and shrugged, casting a cleaning charm on Draco. Doing the same on himself Harry approached one of the doors to the Great Hall.
"Harry? What are you doing?" Draco asked confused.
"I'm going to eat breakfast," Harry said looking back at Draco with wide innocent eyes.
"We aren't exactly dressed for breakfast. We don't have our school robes, remember?"
"But nothing in the rules states that we have to wear them during the meals Draco. If we eat now we'll have plenty of time to head up and grab our robes and bags before the first class."
Not sure what to say to that and curious to see what Harry was up to, because there was little doubt in his mind that the brunet was up to something, Draco shrugged and waved for Harry to proceed.
When they entered the hall side by side, they were met with total silence. Not many had ventured down for breakfast yet, but those who had stared at the two boys first in astonishment and then with lust. They were making a striking sight, with Harry dressed in his blood red leather and black silk shirt and Draco dressed in black with a shirt the color of tarnished silver. Forks were held half way to the mouth, forgotten, and several who had been about to drink from their goblets didn't notice the juice dribbling down the front of their robes. Draco did though and smirked.
"Good morning all. And a lovely morning it is, don't you think?" Harry called into the silence, feeling unnerved by the unblinking stares. His voice startled everyone awake from the fog they'd fallen into. I wonder what's wrong with everyone today? They act as if they'd never seen me before. It is too early for the Prophet to have cocked up some story...

"What's wrong with everyone?" Harry hissed quietly to Draco, walking further into the Hall.
Draco gave him an incredulous look, but wasn't about to enlighten him. He wasn't given a chance either since Dumbledore chose that moment to stand up and address them.
"Ah, Harry, Draco, good morning to you both. It is a pleasure to see you again. May I ask where your school robes are?"
"Morning sir," Harry replied still walking. "They are in our rooms I should think. Draco and I decided to take advantage of the fine morning we are having and we've been outside. I'm too hungry though to bother to go up there and get them only to come right back down again. We'll get them later when we retrieve our book bags."
"I see. Please make sure to bring them in the future."
Harry merely shrugged. He was far too hungry to bother to argue such details with stubborn old fools.
Albus frowned, but decided not to argue the point in front of the school. Disappointed not more students were present, he decided to address those already there, knowing he'd have to do it again later when the remaining student body arrived.
"Students, as a few of you might already know, young Malfoy here is part Veela. He came into his inheritance last spring and it would seem young Harry Potter here is his mate. I am sure you will all respect their bond and not try to interfere. In addition, they will be welcome at both the Gryffindor and the Slytherin table during meals. Anyone not treating them with respect will be suitable dealt with. Harry, Draco, why don't you sit at
the Gryffindor table this morning?"
"Sorry sir, but I already promised Draco that I would sit with his friends this morning." Harry lied smoothly and pulled Draco along to settle at the Slytherin table, allowing the blond to subtly prod him to where he wanted them to sit.
"Welcome to Slytherin Harry," Blaise said with amusement having ended up beside Harry with Draco at Harry's other side.
"Thank you." Harry nodded loading his plate with a mountain of pancakes, whipped cream, and jam. "Sorry, but I'm starving," he apologized setting about to inhale the mountain he'd created, ignoring the more or less hostile looks the Slytherins sitting nearby sent his way. Draco and Blaise ignored them as well, knowing that none of their housemates weregoing todo anything until they knew for sure where the Veelaand his mate stood politically. Instead the twoboyswatchedHarry in awe as he did a fairly good imitation of Weasley eating, only Harry had his mouth closed as he chewed.
"Wanna tell me why we are sitting here and not among the dorks?" Draco asked later when Harry had slowed down and was only nibbling on his food.
"Because I didn't want to spoil a fun morning by listening to Ron moaning about the slimy snake that was sitting at their table, when he wasn't demanding you return here and leave me alone, that is. Hermione would have spent her time trying to shut Ron up, and grilling us for details about Veelas, their bond, and who knows what else." Harry replied taking a sip from his tea cup.
"It's enough we'll have to endure that all day today. No need to start the torture early. Besides I really did want to meet your friends," he added looking over at Zabini. He didn't know much about Veela's and their behavior, but he guessed that for Draco to have put him between Blaise and himself, then Zabini was 'safe', whatever that meant. "So, are you a friend of Draco's or did we just end up here by chance?"
Blaise was surprised into a laugh. "And here I thought all Gryffindorks were brainless and rash."
"Can't speak for all of us, only myself, and I happen to think that I have an excellent mind," Harry said with a smirk, giving the other boy a wink. That earned him another laugh and a slap on the back.
"I like him Dray; you better keep a close eye on him so no one tries to steal him away."
"Dray?" Harry asked with a predatory smile, looking at the blond.
"My name is Draco. I can't help if a few cretins are too lazy or too stupid to manage my entire name. And don't you go and get any ideas now, you hear?"
"I hear." Harry nodded meekly, but the act was belayed by the glint in his eyes and the smirk that played at the corners of his mouth. "We better hurry if we are to get our stuff and make it to the first class. By the way, what is our first class?"
"I have no idea; Severus hasn't given me my schedule yet. I wonder why not?" Draco mused.
As if they had heard him, the Heads of Slytherin and Gryffindor walked up to where they were sitting.
"Mr. Potter, here is your schedule," McGonagall said briskly, holding out a piece of paper to Harry while Severus silently handed Draco his, all the while looking foreboding and extremely displeased.
I wonder what bug crawled up and bit him? Harry wondered, but didn't feel daring enough to actually ask the man. Snape hadn't mellowed that much towards him.
"Mr. Malfoy, you have been excused from all Prefects duties this week, but you will resume them come Monday. The other Prefects have generously agreed to cover for you until you have settled into your new situation." McGonagall continued, giving the blond a once over as if to check for herself the status of one of her least favourite students.
"Then there is the question of Quidditch. You have both been made Captains of your respective team. Unfortunately, only one of you can remain playing, as it would be unfair to have a bonded pair playing against each other. The Headmaster has decided to leave it up to you, who will quit their team. That is all, now please go and get your robes and don't be tardy, you have Transfiguration directly after breakfast. Good morning to you," McGonagall nodded and marched back to the head table leaving a stunned Draco behind and one silently fuming Harry.
Abruptly he got up from his seat, and not uttering a word, he stormed from the Hall. He could feel his magic getting out of control and he wanted out of there before he did something he'd have to apologise for. Draco quickly scrambled to his feet and followed him, anxious to find out what was wrong.
Once the door had closed behind them, whispers sprung up like wildfires.
"Did you seem them?"
"Oh my gosh! I had no idea Harry was that sexy!"
"Did you see what they were wearing? I wonder where they found those outfits."
On and on it went. Chuckling softly, Blaise rose. Grabbing his book bag, he left the hall as well. This was going to be an interesting year, to say the least.
"Harry, wait up!" Draco called the moment the heavy doors closed behind him and he was free to spring after his retreating mate. He could feel the fury rolling off him, but he wasn't sure what had caused him to lose his temper in the first place.
"Hey? What's wrong?" Draco asked when he finally had caught up with Harry. For such a small guy he sure could move quickly when motivated.
Harry gave Draco an incredulous look. "How can you even ask that? Didn't you hear what she said?" he asked enraged.
It was Draco's turn to give Harry an incredulous look. "Of course I bloody heard her! But what I don't understand is why you are so angry. I will quit the team and you will go on playing..."
He got no further when a hand grasped his elbow and yanked him into an empty classroom.
"And why the hell are you assuming that it is you who are to quit the team?" Harry growled into Draco's startled face.
"Because it is customary for the Veela to stand down in situations like this?" he squeaked. He hated it that his voice broke when he needed to sound cool, but Harry was scary damn it!
"And what did I tell you about not wanting a slave?" Harry snarled, getting even more into Draco's face.
"That you don't want one?" Draco managed to get out, holding his ground although all he wanted was to move, preferably to the other side of the room. Heck, the other side of the castle was sounding good at the moment.
"Exactly!" Harry all but shouted, moving away from Draco to the blond's relief. "But that is not why I am angry."
An understatement if I've ever heard one! Draco thought to himself.
"The reason why I am angry is that this whole discussion shouldn't be taking place at all. I was not on the team last year, remember? That bitch had me banned from Quidditch. And they know one of us can't play and yet they reinstated me on the team, without even asking me if I wanted to continue playing, putting you on the spot where you are forced to resign!" Harry gave the Veela a dark look before resuming his pacing, muttering angrily under his breath.
Draco blinked. Looking over the situation he realised Harry was correct. He shouldn't have been made captain. If he wanted to return to the team after the ban was lifted, he should have been made to participate in the tryouts like everyone else. "I, ah, see your point. So what do we do?"
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, some of his temper spent. "I don't know why Dumbledore is doing this, but I'm not in the mood to meekly do as he says. I had no plans on getting back on the team anyway. I will be too busy studying. There are loads of interesting books I 'borrowed' from the Black library I haven't had a chance to look at yet. Not to mention all those books I got from the junkshop. On top of that, I'm now supposed to train the D.A. Add to that the fact that I have absolutely no desire becoming the Quidditch Captain and I think you have your answer. You stay on the team. Unlike me, you have earned to right to the Captaincy. I want you to accept it and do your best to lead your team to victory."
"But what about your friends?" Draco asked once he had his voice back under control.
"What of them?"
"Don't play dense Harry! Ronald the Weasel will be furious with you for quitting the team, and you know it."
"Yeah, I know it. But you know what? I don't care. They managed just fine last year without me. Ginny is a good Seeker and if Ron can keep his temper and his cool he is a decent Keeper. They don't need me to have a chance at the cup. This world has become far too dependant on one kid for my liking. Especially since that kid is me. I think it is time for the wizarding world to learn to make do without me holding their bloody hand all the time!"
Draco looked at Harry with some concern. He looked tired and dispirited and he had a feeling his friends had done something to him, something that had hurt him deeply. Now was not the time to find out what though. Making his decision he stepped up to Harry and enveloped him in a warm hug, ignoring the way Harry flinched at first.
"I want to thank you for being such a kind and considerate mate," he said eventually. "You are right, you know. I don't want to quit the team. I love the sport. And I think I can make a great Captain. Thank you for allowing me the chance to prove it to both myself, and to the rest of the school." Reluctantly he pulled away. "But for now I guess we better hurry or we'll be hopelessly late for class."
Harry smirked. "Don't bet on it." Snapping his fingers together he called out: "Dobby."
"Harry Potter sir called for Dobby? How can Dobby help the kind and generous Harry Potter sir?"
"Dobby, we are running a bit late. Could you go to our rooms and get our book bags and school robes please?"
"Of course sir! Dobby is happy to do this for the great Harry Potter sir!" The elf fairly beamed in happiness and disappeared with a pop.
Draco did his best to keep his hilarity to himself; he really did, but... "Harry Potter sir?" he asked, earning himself a part disgusted and part sheepish look that was his undoing.
By the time Dobby returned with their things Draco was laughing so hard he was crying.
"Ha bloody ha!" Harry muttered disgruntled, pulling on his robe. "Come on Dray, or we will be late."
Draco did his best to dry his tears away and put on his robe. He now had teasing material to last him until Christmas.

A/N:
Thank you to everyone who is reviewing my story, you people rocks! It's been bugging me that I can't comment on the things you write me about in the reviews, so I have gotten myself a live journal. I've begun to make my responses and I'm hoping by the time for my next update, I will be ready to publish the link in my bio. Until then, please keep reading and please keep on commenting on what you've read.
Janara

Next Time:
The boys return to class, but things don't go as smoothly as they figured. This time they will actually make it to the classroom, Grin.
Stay Tuned.




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 16

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/16/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
What is Draco sketching?
The boys return to class
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
A/N: For those of you who thought I've fallen off the planet, be calm, it was nothing that drastic, just my mother lovingly sharing her flue with the rest of the family, BG. Then once I felt better, I had to do some adding to this chapter due to the input from a few of my reviewers who wanted to know the schools' reactions to Harry and Draco returning to class. Well, here it is. (Beware that the first bit hasn't been checked by my beta…)
As always a big thank you to Keikokin for being my beta-reader

Lots of Talent
Harry felt like the entire school had gone mad, maybe it was affecting the entire world for all he knew. He and Draco had made it to their first class with a few minutes to spare and they had settled at the only chairs left empty, at the front centre of the room, causing Draco to lift his eyebrows in surprise; usually either Granger or some eager Ravenclaw took that seat.
Harry had merely shrugged his shoulders and settled before McGonagall could jump down his throat. But during the entire class he had felt the other student's eyes boring into his back, and when the lesson ended he had no idea what the Professor had been lecturing about, his only hope was that Draco had managed better to focus.
Things did no improve once they had left the classroom, on the contrary things only got worse. Students who never used to talk to him, much less give him the time of day, were trying to catch his attention. Robes were left open, and they weren't the only thing left unbuttoned to Harry's chagrin. People constantly tried to touch him, or brush past him. It made navigating the corridors hell, and by the time they made it to their next class, Harry was extremely frazzled, and Draco looked like he was ready to commit murder.
This time, having learned his lesson, Harry settled at the back of the room, as close to the door as he could get. Once the bell rang signalling the end of the lecture, which Harry again hadn't heard a word of; he sprang into action and ran from the room, Draco close on his heels. Dashing down corridors, using every shortcut he knew, Harry managed to get the two of them to the kitchen, and he collapsed at a table for once ignoring Dobby's enthusiastic greetings.
"What has gotten into everyone?" Harry exploded, boring his eyes into Draco's startled ones. "Zacharias Smith kept putting his hand on my shoulder, wanting to talk to me about the D.A. Zack never talks to me outside the meetings, that stuck up prick isn't exactly fond of me, and after all the times he's been talking back to me the feeling is definitely mutual!
"And what was the matter with Susan Bones? According to Ron, she is the most prudish girl in school so how come I could see most of her chest! And what was up with Sally Perks? She kept giving me those weird looks that made her look like a sick cow! And what the hell was wrong with Justin Finch-Fletchley? He kept passing us I don't know how many times in the corridors, behaving in a most peculiar way, flexing his chest and moving his arms about. Was the entire school Confounded when no one was looking?" Harry was almost shouting at the end, and Draco thought he hadn't seen a more beautiful sight, with his hair on end, more than usual, and his green eyes flashing with passion, making Draco wanting nothing more but pull the other youth down onto his lap and devour him, the rest of the school be damned.
Then it sunk in what Harry had said, and the Veela blinked in astonishment. Harry didn't know what was going on? It seemed unbelievable. Almost the entire school was throwing themselves at him, and his mate didn't see what was going on? Relief flooded through him, and Draco was unable to hold back a snicker.
"Don't tell me they got to you too!" Harry cried in alarm and that was it for Draco, who promptly laughed himself silly. He knew it was merely relief of stress from a most strenuous morning, but he was unable to tell his mate that, a mate who grew more and more frantic.
Harry watched with irritation and then growing alarm as Draco, the cool, 'I'm always in control' Draco Malfoy was practically crawling on the floor in hysterics. Was he the only sane person in school today! Not knowing what else to do, Harry grabbed on to his necklace. "Lucius? Are you there?" he asked, hoping desperately that what ever was affecting the school had bypassed the older Malfoy.
"I'm here Harry, what is wrong? And where are you?"
"We are in the kitchen but something is wrong with Draco. He's on the floor, laughing his ass off, should I take him to see Madam Pomfrey? It looks like whatever is affecting the school, has finally caught up with him." Harry replied, eyeing Draco with growing concern.
Lucius blinked in surprise, but feeling the mounting worry from his charge, he quickly tried to sooth him. "I don't think that will be necessary, I am on my way now. Just stay put and don't go anywhere."
"Believe me we won't!" Harry muttered with feeling.
It didn't take Lucius long to get to the kitchen but it felt like forever to Harry who was ready to throw himself at the aristocrat by the time he arrived.
"Thank Merlin you are here! Look at him! What should I do? I didn't dare cast any spells since I wasn't sure what was going on. Do you know what is affecting the school? Is it a spell? Or is it a potion? But if it is, why aren't we under its influence?" Harry asked, grabbing hold of Lucius arm in a bruising grip, he wasn't about to let go of the one sane person left in this world.
Lucius looked down at Harry in surprise, hiding a wince at the strong grip the boy possessed, and then allowed his gaze to wander to his laughing son. "I think you better start from the beginning," he said aloud, wondering who would dare to bespell a newly formed Veela couple. Someone at this school clearly held a death wish.
Having listened to Harry's somewhat jumbled story, Lucius slowly sank into the nearest seat. He should have realised this would happen, he should have foreseen this and made preparations. Hell, they both should have seen this coming a mile away. But they hadn't, and now he was left with the task to somehow tell Harry Potter that he suddenly was a babe-magnet. Ah, yes, and this is exactly why none of us said anything. Lucius thought sarcastically to himself.
"H-hey don't worry love, I'm alright," Draco managed to choke out, finally getting off the floor. Dusting himself off he settled into a chair next to his father, reaching out to take hold of one of Harry's hands.
"You most definitely are not!" Harry snapped, not in the mood to be appeased.
"I promise you, I'm fine Harry," Draco persisted, giving the hand he was holding a light squeeze.
"Then explain to me what that was all about!" Harry gritted out, pointing towards the floor.
"That was me releasing some stress, I'm sorry if I worried you but you have to agree that it was pretty funny."
"It's a bit difficult to agree when you don't get the joke!" Harry snapped, wrenching his hand away, only Draco wouldn't let go and hung to it with all his might.
"Harry, love, the reason everyone was acting so weirdly is because they, they fancy you," Draco said gently, watching Harry's face intently for his reaction.
Harry looked down at Draco with wide eyes. Then he smiled a sweet little smile and patted Draco on the shoulder. "Sir, I think we should get Draco to see Pomfrey, he clearly isn't feeling very well," Harry whispered to Lucius, still petting Draco on the shoulder.
Draco heard him though and exploded, "I'm feeling fine you prat! The school is drooling over you because you look hot in leather ok? They think you are desirable, sexy, the catch of the year, do you need me to go on?" he asked dangerously.
Harry just shook his head sadly, looking to Lucius for help. Lucius in turn just shook his head as well, not believing how dense the brunet was. Didn't he see? Didn't he realise how beautiful he was, especially now that he dressed properly?
Harry however, took the blond's head shake for despair at Draco's condition and swung into action. Before either Malfoy could react, he had swung the young Veela over his shoulder and was striding for the door.
"Harry Potter, what the bloody hell do you think you are doing?" Draco shrieked in outrage. "Put me down this instance! I don't need to see Pomfrey you clueless git!"
"We are going to see Professor Snape, maybe he can figure out what hex or jinx you were hit with," Harry replied determinedly.
Before his son could resort to violence, Lucius hurried to the brunet's side and gently placed a hand on his upper arm. "Harry, what Draco is saying is the truth. The school has wakened up to how beautiful you are, and they are all vying for your attention," he said gently, willing the boy to believe him.
"But why?" Harry asked in confusion. "No one has bothered to look my way since Cho Chang, and besides, they all know I'm Draco's mate so why should they bother?"
"Because people are stupid? Because they don't see what is right under their nose? I don't know. And just because Draco has picked you as his mate, it is not written in stone that you will end up together, you are under no obligations to bond with my son," Lucius said, hating the words before they even left his mouth, but they had to be said.
Harry scoffed. "That is plain stupid! From what little I have read about Veelas, they don't just pick some random stranger to be their mate. The mate has to complete them, they are the most perfect match possible, and I'm supposed to just turn my back on that and pick someone else, knowing fully well that if I do, Draco will die? What kind of mate would that make me?" he demanded in outrage, never noticing the twin sighs of relief from the Malfoys, he was to busy pacing around the kitchen, cursing peoples stupidity.
"Love, do you think you could let me down? I'm getting kind of dizzy here," Draco said in his most soothing voice, hoping Harry would comply before he made a fool of himself, not to mention that his stomach and chest did not appreciate the close encounter with Harry's bony shoulder.
"Oh, sorry," Harry murmured, blushing a deep red. He'd actually forgotten he was still carrying the blond around.
"No harm done," Draco said with a small smile, surreptitiously rubbing his aching torso. "So, how about some lunch before we have to brave the rest of the world once more?"
"You go ahead, I'm not very hungry any more," Harry groused, still pacing around the room, muttering under his breath.
HPDM
In the end, Harry did eat something. Together the two Malfoys were deadly and no mere mortal could withstand their charm. Nevertheless, it was a very unhappy Boy Who Lived who went to his next class, the Forgotten Arts. He was not looking forward to being in the centre of attention once more; he had had quite enough of that over the years. Nothing good ever came from it. At least before they'd had a 'good' reason, thinking he was the Heir of Slytherin or some such, but this time? Just because he no longer dressed like a ragamuffin they thought it was alright to try and snag him, even thought they knew he was with Draco? Was stupidity one of the qualifications to become a wizard?
Grumbling under his breath, Harry took a seat at the far back of the classroom, having learned his lesson. At least no one would be able to send him go-go eyes in this class. Keeping his head down, Harry kept his attention firmly on the top of his desk until the bell rang, signalling the start of the class. With a bang the door burst open and an elderly wizard with hair flying in every direction strode into the classroom, calling out cheerfully, "Welcome to the Forgotten Arts. I am Professor Peregrine Sprout, and I will be teaching you this semester. Yes, Professor Pomona Sprout is my younger sister," the Professor said before anyone could ask. There was really no need to ask though the family resemblance was striking.
"This class is called the Forgotten Arts, but the things I and your other Professors are going to be teaching you, aren't really forgotten just very rare in today's society. For some reason not many are born nowadays with talents for working with woods, precious stones and minerals and so forth. Scholars have yet to solve this mystery. But do not despair, even if this type of magic doesn't come naturally to you, you will still be able to learn and use it to decorate your home. After all, when it comes down to it, what it really takes is willpower and intent.
"Today you will begin trying your hands at sculpturing. It may sound easy, but I will tell you now; it is not. It may sound useless to some, but you will be surprised at the things you will be able to do with the right spells." Professor Sprout said, sending each student a toothpick.
Draco glanced over at Harry, raising an eyebrow, silently questioning the saneness of their teacher.
"Don't worry; I haven't lost my marbles, not yet." Sprout chuckled. Waving his wand the toothpicks grew until each desk held a nice log, standing two foot high. "This is maple wood. You will be working with other types of wood later on when you have gotten a feel for how to work with this type of material. Do not be afraid to try, the house elves will still be able to use it for firewood, I assure you." the Professor chuckled at his own wit. "It will probably take you a few tries to get it right. As I said, this is very much about willpower and intent, quite different from the magic you've worked with so far, where the words of the spell takes care of that for you.
"The incantation is Didedoum. A nice drawn out 'I' and 'E' with a slight emphasis on the 'um'. I want you to look at your logs and try to imagine what they would look good as. What comes to your mind? A bear? A dolphin? A hand? Whatever it is, hold on to that image and place the tip of your wand on the log and say the incantation. Like this." Sprout said demonstrating the spell. The log seemed to contort and when it stilled, an elephant was standing on the desk.
"This might not look like much," Sprout said looking mischievously around the class. "But what if I did this?" With a flick of the wand, the elephant was on the floor. A whispered charm and the small statue grew to life-size proportion. An animation spell and the elephant swung its trunk and let out a mighty trumpet.
The class stared in stunned silence. Then most of them broke into an impulsive round of applause.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Harry whispered, and Draco just knew the youth was thinking of way to apply this to future battles and pranks.
"Thank you class, settle down now. I want to see you try," Sprout called after restoring the statue to its original unanimated state.
Harry looked down at the log and tried to think of something. His mind was a blank though. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't come up with an image of what he wanted to create. Acting on an impulse he placed the log on its side, but found that that didn't help him much. Huffing a sigh, he leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
It was while he was staring at the grey stones, not thinking of anything in particular, that an image came to him. He tried to focus on it, only to have it slipping away from him.
Trying to keep his mind blank, the image crept back in, almost like a shy animal. The more you looked at it the more skittish it became, but if you ignored it, it became bolder and came closer.
When the image was as clear as he figured it would get, Harry placed the tip of his wand on the log and whispered the spell, not daring to look. It was Draco's indrawn breath that made Harry dare to look down to take a look at what he'd created.
There standing proudly, his head held high, was Prongs. To his left was Padfoot, in his customary 'hey come and play with me' posture, with his front paws against the ground and his back end held high, tail swishing, mouth open and tongue lolling in a happy dog grin. To the stags other side sat Moony. The wolf was much more dignified than the Grim, but you still could see the pleasure and contentment oozing of it at the sight of his
friends. He too had his mouth open in a happy wolf smile; tongue lolling and ears perched forward.
"My, my, my, not bad at all, twenty-five points to Gryffindor. It would seem you have some talent for this Mr. Potter," Professor Sprout said putting the statue down gently, giving Harry a new toothpick to work with.
Harry hardly heard him; he was too caught up in his memories.
"You alright Harry?" Draco asked softly placing a hand on his mate's arm.
Startled Harry looked over at the blond and managed a smile. "I'm fine. It just took me by surprise, is all," he reassured Draco, visibly pulling himself together.
"Good. Then maybe you could give me some pointers? I don't think I have any talent for this," Draco groused looking with disgust at his 'masterpiece'.
Harry bit back a laugh. He was guessing Draco had tried to create a Kneazle, but it had ended up contorted and twisted as if it was under Crucio or some similar curse.
"Not bad for a first try," Professor Sprout said having come back to their side. "Do try and fixate on the image in you mind more firmly before you try next time," he added giving the blond a new toothpick as well, vanishing the first one with a flick of his wand.
"That's easy for him to say," Draco grumbled under his breath. "Every time I try and concentrate, the image I'm after slips through my fingers. How am I supposed to 'fixate' on it if it does that?"
"Do what I did. I had the same problem, until I tried the opposite. I thought of nothing special until that popped into my mind. By not thinking about it, and by not thinking of anything else either, the image became clearer and clearer in my mind. When I figured it couldn't get any clearer I said the spell and there you have it."
"Hmmm, it's worth a try I suppose," Draco grumbled, slouching down in his seat.
Harry gave him an amused glance, but turned his gaze to his new log. What should he do this time? Letting his mind wander, he noted Ron and Hermione at the front of the classroom.
During the summer, during the few moments they'd actually spent together, they had spent quite a bit of time discussing what classes they wanted to take, and which they were qualified for. Neither of his friends had expressed any interested in the Forgotten Arts class though, until they found out that Harry was going to sign up for it whether they did or not. By the next day, they suddenly had changed their minds and ended up signing up
for the class as well. He wasn't sure it was because they had become genuinely interested once they'd read a bit more about the class, or because they had been told to by others.
Not wanting to get angry, Harry pulled his thoughts from dangerous ground and let his gaze drift around the room. From what he could see, no one was having much better luck than Draco had. Mentally shrugging, Harry's eyes were caught by Ron's red hair glistening in the sun. It really was very red. From the red of the hair Harry's mind wandered to all the times he and Ron had played chess. From there it went to McGonagall's giant chess set in first year, and he suddenly remembered the elephant Sprout had just done and he wondered idly if you could make a chess set where all the figures were animals.
Instantly his mind sharpened and he considered the idea. The king would be a lion of course, and the queen a lioness. The knight would be a zebra, the pawns? Antelopes he decided after some thinking. The towers could be elephants, and the bishops a pair of cheetahs.
Nodding to himself, Harry put the wand to the log and spoke the spell. There was a strong flash and then a tinkering sound as many small pieces fell to the desk. The class as one turned and looked at him. Harry grinned sheepishly, "Ooops?" he said ducking his head and picking up one of the chess pieces. It was the king and the smug grin he wore reminded him of the Malfoy smirk he'd been subjected to so many times in the past.
"Wonderful! 50 points to Gryffindor. It would seem you really do have talent for this type of magic Mr. Potter," Professor Sprout said excitedly examining the chess pieces as well. Pulling a toothpick from his pocket, this one black, he proceeded to show Harry how to create a copy of what he had already created and soon he was the proud owner of two sets of chessmen.
"If you stay after class I'll show you how to create a chess board. You will have to find out on your own how to animate them though," Sprout said with a smile and a wink. "Why don't you start with the homework for next class? Read chapter one and two from 'How to Capture an Image and Mould it' and summarize them, minimum length: 1 foot.
Harry nodded and pulled his book out.
Draco had watched Harry and the Professor with a small pleased smile. This was his Harry, the one with glowing, shining eyes and a happy smile adorning his face. Carefully capturing the image, he whispered the spell; afraid that he would botch things again. Looking down, he felt a surge of happiness and smugness at the perfect bust he had created of his mate. Harry was smiling; his eyes bright with happiness and his hair looked windblown as if he'd been out flying, or riding, his scar standing out proudly on the forehead.
"Excellent! 25 points to Slytherin. It would seem you have some talent in this area as well Mr. Malfoy. Here, try something else," Sprout was almost dancing with joy, pushing a new log onto Draco's desk.
Suddenly feeling self-conscious and not wanting for anyone else to see his Harry, Draco shrunk the bust and put it carefully in his pocket, wrapping it in his silk handkerchief. Turning back to his log, he felt his mind go blank again. Trying to let his mind wander he suddenly realised the Harry he had captured was the one he had seen this morning, galloping on his steed, free as the wind. Thinking of the horses, he decided that was as good an image as any and he did his best to coax it to the front of his mind. In the end, it
became an image of Harry, his horse and Fang racing the wind but he could live with that. Muttering the spell he watched in satisfaction as his image was forever preserved in the wood. He had even managed to capture the blades of the grass under the animals' feet.
"This is wonderful Mr. Malfoy. 25 points to Slytherin," Sprout had once more materialised at their side, almost as if he had apparated there. Picking up the statue, he examined it carefully.
"Tell me Mr. Malfoy, do you by any chance sketch?"
"Yes I do." Draco replied, too tired all of a sudden to hide his surprise.
Giving the blond boy a sharp look Sprout nodded. "I thought as much. Your work is very detailed, extremely so and it takes a lot out of your magic to recreate all those fine details. In time, you will get used to it, or learn not to be quite as detailed while working with wood as when you use pen and pad. I want you to go to the hospital wing and get an energy potion. You will need it. Please make sure he does so, Mr. Potter."
Harry nodded and packed his things, helping Draco to do the same. Shouldering both their bags he gently took hold of the blond's arm and led him towards the door.
"Ah yes, I almost forgot. Here," Sprout handed them 6 toothpicks. "Until next time I want you to create 3 figures each, points will be given for individuality and creativity. Be wild boys, use your imagination," he winked at them and shooed them out the door.
Once the door had closed behind them, Draco looked at Harry. "That man is barmy, utterly and completely barmy!"
"I like him," Harry grinned, urging the blond to start walking.
"You would!" Draco snorted but he was too tired to keep up the banter.
HPDM
"What have you done this time?" Poppy demanded coming down on them like an
avenging angel.
"Draco here used a bit too much magic in class and Professor Sprout sent us up here to have him checked," Harry smiled sweetly, happy he wasn't the one caught in the nurse's crosshair for once.
"Humph, that Forgotten Art's class. It always ends with one or two students ending up here, overtaxing themselves or having strange reactions to the material. Hop op on a bed dear and I'll look you over."
"Take that one," Harry nodded steering Draco to the bed he usually ended up using. "It has the best cushion charm on the mattress," he explained.
"Really Mr. Potter, how many times do I have to tell you that I do not use cushion charms on my beds?"
"One more?"
"Humph, that is what you said last time I asked." Turning her back on Harry, Poppy ran her wand over Draco and went to fetch a bottle. "Drink this and then get some sleep," she said sternly.
"But what about class? We have Potions next."
"It is either sleep now and be free to go by dinner time. Or go to class, fall into your cauldron and end up here for a week."
"I'll take the nap," Draco said quickly, earning himself a triumphant smile.
"I thought you'd see things my way," Poppy smirked and left them alone.
Harry sighed and turned a few beans into a comfortable divan. "Get some rest Draco, I'll call your father and ask him to explain things to Severus. I'm sure he won't fault us. How were we to know this would happen?"
"Considering how Severus views his potions he can too fault us for missing his class," Draco murmured, falling asleep before he had completely finished the sentence.
Harry smiled softly at him. Asleep the normally arrogant boy looked so young and sweet. Shaking his head to get those thoughts out of his head, Harry looked around to make sure they were alone before grabbing the pendant Lucius had given him the day before. He figured it was best to tell what had happened before anyone got worried, hopefully that would save him a lot of aggravation he could do without.

A/N: A few have asked me who Lucius' mate is; hanging my head, and I thought my hints had been so clear… sigh. Take heart, who it is will be revealed in the next chapter, grin.
And to all of you wanting to know when Harry and Draco will get together... All I can only say is, be a bit patience, after all, it is only their fourth day together, please allow at least a week or two to pass before they get deeper involved with each other, lol. (Draco will have a lot of wooing to do first.)
Next time:
Lucius and Poppy have a little chat about the boys.
Stay tuned.




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 17

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/17/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
The boys return to class 1
The boys return to class 2
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
As always a big thank you to Keikokin for being my beta-reader, if I could I'd give you a chocolate covered Lucius, lol.

A Serious Discussion
Lucius strode into the hospital wing and up to the only bed with the privacy screen drawn around it. Entering inside, his stern visage melted into a soft smile. Draco was fast asleep curled up around his pillow, looking five years old. Next to the bed curled up on a divan was Harry, also fast asleep, with a book on his chest, held loosely by lax fingers.
Stepping up to the sleeping brunet, Lucius gently removed the book and the glasses, covering him with a blanket. After he was sure they were both resting comfortably, he went in search of the nurse.
"Checking up on the boys Mr. Malfoy?" Poppy asked, her voice laced with humour.
"Yes. I was told they had ended up here, but the details were a bit sketchy. Could you perhaps fill me in on what exactly happened?" Lucius asked giving the stern nurse a charming smile.
Poppy blushed. Then she laughed. "You always were a charmer Lucius Malfoy. Want some tea?"
"I'd be delighted."
Poppy muttered something under her breath and summoned an elf to get a tea tray.
"So what really happened?" Lucius asked settling back with a teacup in his hands, pleasantries dealt with.
"Well, for once it wasn't the Potter boy, and thank Merlin for that," Pomfrey said heartfelt. "I've never met a boy more prone to accidents and weird happenings." She levelled an eye at Malfoy. "I assume you know they had their first lesson in that dratted class Forgotten Arts today?"
"Yes, I was aware of that," Lucius nodded.
"Your son, from what Professor Sprout informed me, created two wonderful pieces out of wood. Only his images were too detailed, and his magic had to work too hard to recreate the picture he had thought up. This is no cause for alarm. Now that we are aware of his talents and tendencies, Professor Sprout will make sure he doesn't overdo it. In time, Draco's magic will learn to cope and he will no longer get exhausted. Practise makes perfect and all that rot," she added with a small smile.
"From what I understand, your son has quite a future as an artist. I have never seen Peregrine so excited about a student in his class before and from what I understand; Harry is just as talented as Draco is. I hope you will encourage them to explore this newfound talent of theirs. Merlin knows we need some skilled craftsmen considering the mediocre skill that is out
there today," Pomfrey said with a shudder.
"It would seem I need to have a chat with Professor Sprout," Lucius mused. He too was well aware of how rare the true skill to work with wood and stone was today. If someone wanted to create a Manor nowadays, it would be but a shadow of the grand buildings done in the past. The talent to form the materials to the wielders wishes just wasn't there anymore. No one knew why, but ever since the founders time those skills had dwindled; as if building Hogwarts had drained the land until nothing was left. He knew that was merely fanciful thinking, but the fact remained, that talent had all but disappeared in British wizards. Draco and his mate could make a handsome profit and live very comfortable lives if they chose to pursue this line of work.
Of course, between the Malfoy and Potter fortunes, the boys didn't need to work a single day, but he didn't think either were suited for a life as playboys. Turning his attention back to the nurse, he asked, "What should I be looking for?" knowing she would understand what he wanted to know.
"If they work with wood make sure they don't create more than two pieces at a time. If it is very detailed, no more than one piece. Also, make sure there is at least two hours, preferably more, before they try to make the next one. You probably will have your hands full making sure they don't overdo it," Poppy said with a chuckle. "In the past, those with talent for this type of magic have had a tendency to overdo things. If they seem tired, put them to bed and have me or Severus check them over. Don't dose them with energy potions thinking it will take care of the problem, since too much could make them seriously ill."
"I'll make sure they behave." Lucius vowed.
"Like I said, that could be more difficult than you realise. Just wait until they start working with precious stones and minerals," she said knowingly.
"Oh?"
"Yes, it takes some serious magical energy and willpower to mould the stone to what you want to make, and still have the same stone and not cause it to change into something else. I expect quite a few students will end up here with severe cases of headaches and/or exhaustions."
"And they allow this class to be taught to children?" Lucius asked aghast. He hadn't taken the class when he was a student here and he couldn't remember any of his friends doing it either. Right now, that decision seemed very wise and he wondered if it was too late to talk the boys out of the class as well.
"No, but to young adults, yes," Poppy replied dryly bringing him out of his thoughts. "You know as well as I do that some skills needs to be discovered and developed when the children are still young or the talent will be locked away for ever, no longer accessible. But don't worry, we are keeping close eyes on the children and none have had any long lasting effects," Poppy added in an attempt to reassure him.
"Pardon me for wanting to keep my son and his mate safe," Lucius said somewhat surly.
"I'm afraid that is not possible," Pomfrey stated with a knowing smile that infuriated the aristocrat for some reason.
"However, I am glad you came here today. There is something I'd like to talk to you about and it concerns Harry."
"Oh?"
"Yes. The boy is far too small for his age, not to mention skinny. I have noticed that when he is stressed or under pressure, he has a tendency not to eat. I want you and your son to keep a close eye on his eating habits. Try to keep him relaxed, and keep him away from any 'adventures'. The boy has had enough of those to last him a lifetime!"
Lucius noted the exasperation and filed it away for later. He had a feeling the nurse knew more of what had been going on for the past five years than she was letting on. He also flashed back to the scene earlier in the kitchen, when it had taken his and Draco's combined charm to get the teen to nibble on some toast and drink a cup of sweetened tea. It only proved to him that the nurse did know what she was talking about Lucius promised himself to pay close attention to what else Poppy had to say.
"There is another thing. Normally I wouldn't be discussing one of my patients with an outsider, or without said patients consent, but considering you are now his legal guardian..." the nurse put her cup down and walked over to the door to peek into the infirmary. The boys were still sleeping and no one else was present.
Closing the door and putting up several strong privacy and anti-listening charms Poppy retook her seat. Leaning forward and looking Lucius in the eyes she said in a stern and business like voice: "I've never agreed on how that poor boy has been treated. I have butted head with Albus on more than one occasion, but since he was acting as the boy's guardian there wasn't much I could do.
"Harry came to us that first year looking extremely pale. He was far too small and skinny. When he landed himself here after a Quidditch accident, I did some scans. He was severely undernourished and there are signs of broken bones that have been healed with magic, but not by a professional. I gave him a few potions and did what I could to rectify the problems I
encountered.
"If that had been that, I would have put it out of my mind. But each year he returns unwell, underfed... I think you get the picture. This constant abuse has taken its toll and it has affected his skeletal, and even his nervous system. He has not been able to put up a fat reserve or put on a bulk of muscles, there has been nothing for his body to work with to accomplish that.
"His years here at Hogwarts have put added strains on his system. Not many know this, but whatever the children eat during meals here at Hogwarts, are used to restore the drain on their magic the classes put on them. Not much is left for the body to use. That is why the children tend to grow like weeds during the summer break, when they are prohibited to use magic. That in fact, is the reason for that rule. They need the break to give their bodies a chance to catch up. But in the case of Mr. Potter, he has never been given that chance since his muggle guardians' neglect and starve him."
"And you are saying that Albus Dumbledore knew about this?" Lucius asked not believing his ears.
"Yes. Unfortunately, the blood protection set up to protect the boy from Death Eaters made his Aunt's and Uncle's house the safest place for him to stay," Poppy said giving him a pointed look
Unable to sit still, Lucius jumped to his feet and began to pace. The blood protection nonsense would only work if there were love between the protector and the protected, something Dumbledore must be well aware of, so why not remove the boy from a clearly unsuitable household? Because it would look bad for the man who put him there? Shaking his head Lucius strived for calm. He would ponder this news later. There were more pressing matters to deal with first.
"Is there something that can be done now, or is it too late?""It is almost never too late!" Poppy scoffed. "I will need to do a thorough examination, much more thorough than the ones I've managed in the past. If my suspicions are correct, I might have to re-grow 80 of the boy's bones. It will be uncomfortable for the poor dear, but manageable. It will be done in stages, of course. He will also need to take quite a few supplements to give his body the boost of minerals his body is lacking. I am sure Severus
will be happy to brew those.
"What concerns me though is the need for his body to rest. He cannot use a lot of magic while this is happening. His body will simply not be able to handle the stress of repairing itself and recharging the magic that is spent in classes. You might have to take him out of school for a few months."
"Months?"
"Yes, months. It will take that long to completely heal him and ensure that there are no problems later on in life. You must understand Mr. Malfoy, this type of neglect, if it is not treated, could take years off his life."
Lucius paled and sank back into his chair, his legs shaking. "It's that serious?" he asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Poppy merely nodded, a grave look on her face.
"Thank you, I need to consider what you have told me carefully. Harry needs to be informed as well. I really appreciate you telling me this, and I realise how hard it must have been for you," Lucius said, acknowledging her dilemma of keeping the things she knew confidential warring with the desire, the need to save a patient.
"Thank you Mr. Malfoy. I know you will do what is right for the boys, for both of them," Poppy smiled gently, taking down the wards she had put up.
"Is it alright if I sit with them?"
"Of course, Draco should be asleep for another hour or so. You are free to take him to their rooms once he wakes up. What he'll need then is a decent meal and I'm sure you can manage that on your own."
Lucius laughed. "Madame, if there is one thing my son knows, it is how to make sure his stomach isn't suffering."
Poppy chuckled and stepped over to her desk. Giving Lucius a wink, she handed him a book.
"Why don't you read for a while, while waiting for the sleepy heads to wake up?" she asked urging him out the door.
Lucius chuckled and allowed her to shoo him from her office.
However, all traces of laughter disappeared when he settled at the end of the divan, gently placing Harry's feet across his lap. To think that this courageous boy had been mistreated so badly and still come out with such a sweet nature.
He does have a temper though, from what Severus has told me. But who can blame him? Being forced to spend the summer with the very people who have abused you all your life, locked up in a cupboard for Merlin's sake. Beaten, starved, what else did they do to him?

And Albus... how could he let this happen? No way am I letting Harry near that old fool ever again. Perhaps I should just take them home now and teach them what they need to know myself! I am sure Severus and I can deal with all their lessons between us.

Severus... he cannot resign as long as he wears that cursed mark. I cannot do that to him. Seeing Draco is the only bright thing left in his life. Then there is us, the compulsion keeping us apart is so thin, it is practically nonexistent, it would take so little to break it for good. Can I really up and leave when we finally are able to live in the same place? Able to see each other daily? What if that daily contact is helping the weakening somehow? Dare I take the risk that staying apart will somehow strengthen the bond with Narcissa?
And what about the boys? Can I really isolate them at the Manor? Merlin help me, what should I do?
HPDM
By the time Draco awoke, Lucius still had no answers to the questions plaguing him, but he did know a bit more about Harry's situation. The book he had been given was guide for healers on how to treat patients who'd been starved and tortured while in captivity in either of the last two wars. It made his blood boil to think that what those muggles had subjected Harry to was too severe to be considered 'mere' abuse.
The book had given him some ideas of what was needed to be done to help Harry recover, and getting him eating regularly was an important place to start. With Draco's aid, he felt sure they would be able to monitor the eating habits of one boy, especially when that boy was the chosen one of a very protective Veela.
"Hello father, have you been waiting long?" Draco asked sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
"No son. How do you feel? I understand you did well in class today," Lucius smiled softly at his son.
"Yeah! You should see what I did dad!" Draco said brimming with enthusiasm, his eyes shining in remembrance.
"Lets wake sleeping beauty here and you can show me while you eat," Lucius stated, gently shaking the nearest shoulder.
Draco looked down at this mate and his eyes went soft as he watched Harry come awake.
Blinking sleepily Harry looked around and blushed when he realised he'd fallen asleep. Sitting up carefully he looked over at Draco, frowning slightly in concern. "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine, but starving. Should we tell Pomfrey or just sneak out?"
"Sneak out," Harry promptly replied, standing up and gathering their things.
Lucius chuckled softly. "Considering you are free to go, how about we just stroll out of here and return to your rooms?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Draco complained, but climbed out of bed without further ado.
Lucius merely shook his head and urged the boys to leave; picking up Draco's bag - not wanting the boy to exert himself just yet - and waited patiently while Harry banished the divan he'd been sleeping on, before he managed to get them out of there.
HPDM
"I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!" Draco stated walking into their living room.
"I wouldn't say such things where your horse can hear you Draco. She might object," Harry teased.
"For your information, my horse isn't here, is she?"
"True, but who knows what things she might hear?" Harry said, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Draco looked worried for a moment, and then he ruefully grinned. "Prat!" he said, giving Harry a show.
"Children," Lucius admonished stepping inside, allowing Salazar to close behind him.
"About the food, what would you like?"
Draco shrugged, "Doesn't matter as long as it is hot and plentiful."
"Harry?"
Harry opened his mouth but closed it again, shaking his head slightly. "It doesn't matter. Order what you like Mr. Malfoy," he said taking his bag to his room.
Mr. Malfoy eh? Lucius thought placing his hand on Harry's arm. "What were you going to say child?" he asked gently.
Harry looked up at him with a pensive look. "It doesn't matter."
"It matters to me child. You know you can tell me anything right? And that I won't be angry with you?"
Harry nodded hesitantly.
"Then what would you like to eat?" Lucius asked once more, keeping eye-contact with the skittish child.
"It's silly."
"I'm sure it isn't." Lucius tried to reassure him. Merlin, how can he be so confident in one moment, butting heads with Dumbledore without hesitation, then be so insecure and unsure of himself he doesn't even dare to tell us what he wishes for dinner?
"I'd really like some pizza," Harry admitted shyly.

"Good choice Harry," Draco said wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "I haven't had pizza in ages! Not since the last time we were in Italy and that was what? Three years ago?"
"Two actually, I wouldn't mind some either. Why don't you two go and freshen up while I'll call a house elf?" Lucius asked, sensing that Harry needed a moment to himself.
"Sure dad. Lots of cheese, ham, shrimps, and pineapples on mine please," Draco said hurrying up the stairs to his room.
"What would you like on yours Harry?"
Harry thought for a moment. "The same as Draco I think."
Lucius nodded and watched with a sad smile when Harry almost scurried into his room, closing the door behind him. They had a lot of work cut out for them if they were to heal all the wounds that child carried.
Snapping his fingers, he summoned an elf and gave it their request. At the last moment, he added a message for Severus, thinking the Potions Master might want to join them during their meal.
HPDM
Looking up from the book he was reading, Lucius felt his face break out into a smile at the sight of the Potions Professor. "You look like something the cat dragged in. Tough day?" he asked in mock concern.
Severus gave him a glare. "You'd be tired too if you'd been surrounded by dunderheads all day that spend far more time blowing up their cauldrons then bothering to follow a few simple instructions," he snapped, but with no real heat behind his words.
What there was evident was a weariness that went soul deep. For a moment Severus allowed him to see behind the mask and what he saw made him long, no ache to take him in his arms and soothe it all away. Then he blinked and the mask was firmly back in place and Lucius once more cursed their fathers for condemning them to this fate. He almost wished the bastards were still alive so he could kill them; slowly and extremely painfully.
Severus gave him a rueful smile; as if he'd been able to read his thoughts. Then the moment was destroyed when Draco came bounding down the stairs calling out: "Father. Severus! Look what I did in class today!"
Proudly he held out his two sculptures to the two men that meant the world to him, reminding them of when he'd been a small child, wishing to share with them what he'd managed that day. Unlike the sometimes forced praise he'd received when he was a toddler, neither man had any problems praising his achievements today.
"This is really good my dragon," Lucius said turning the bust over, looking at it from all angles. Draco had managed to capture the boy precisely, even though he himself had never seen this look on Harry's face before.
Severus was also admiring the detailed work of the rider, his horse, and dog. Even though he might have wished for another motif, he never let on and instead told his godson how proud of him he was.
"This is nothing, you should see the stuff Harry made," Draco said, secretly pleased with the warm words he'd been given. "Hey, Harry, why don't you show dad and Sev what you did today?"
Harry felt unsure of what to do. He wanted to refuse, brushing Draco's request aside, stating that it was nothing. But he knew that if he did that, he'd only appear to be fishing for compliments. As if he was an attention seeker, which he wasn't! He really did think it was nothing to make a fuss over. But if he said that the others would feel compelled to contradict
him and make an even bigger fuss to try and make him feel comfortable or something.
Sighing softly he decided to just get it over with, and pulled the wooden figures he'd made earlier out of his pockets. Resizing them to their original size, he placed them gently on the table, next to the things Draco had created.
Severus froze, and then glowered darkly at the sight of the three animals, but for Harry's sake, he held his tongue. He concentrated on the chess figures instead and was genuinely impressed with what he saw.
"This is really well done Harry," he said turning the lion between his fingers. "Are you going to animate them?"
"I don't know. The Professor was going to show me how to make a chessboard after class, but he never got the chance. You think I should?" he asked a bit hesitantly, but figured that if anyone was going to tell him the truth it was the Potions Master.
"Yes I do," Severus said handing the lion over to Lucius. "I have never seen chess men quite like these before. The details are incredible and the idea well though out. If you sent a copy of these to the company that makes and sells chess sets, I bet they'd be interested in your idea."
"Really?" Harry asked a bit stunned. He had never expected such praise from the usually sarcastic man. He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You aren't just saying that to make Draco happy, are you?"
"Mr. Potter!" Severus snapped in a manner Harry recognised only too well. "I would never praise someone unless they have earned it!" he stated. "These are bloody brilliant and you know it!"
"No, they're not," Harry said looking away.
Gentle, yet strong fingers grasped his chin forcing him to look into onyx eyes. "Humph, and to think I used to consider you overconfident!" Severus muttered to himself, looking deeply into green eyes, noting for maybe the first time the insecurity lurking in their depths. "Harry, your work with wood shows real talent, a talent very few posses today. Your chessmen really
are that good. They are original. The details are exquisite and I am positive the chess company would jump at the idea of using your design," he said gently, but with such conviction Harry had to believe him. Blushing faintly he smiled, ducked his head and whispered a soft 'thank you'.
Severus let him go and looked over at the table. "Looks like the food has arrived, I don't know about you but I am starving. I skipped lunch today."
"Severus Snape, how many times do I have to tell you not to skip meals?" Lucius groaned in mock despair, thankful for his attempt to lighten the mood.
"Too many times to count?" Severus teased.
"Humph. No wonder you're only skin and bones." Lucius groused getting to his feet.
"Why Luce, I didn't know you noticed," Severus laughed.
Lucius didn't though; merely looked at him with sadness and longing. Severus caught the look and gave him a soft, reassuring smile. 'Soon' he mouthed, wishing with all his heart it were true.
Draco and Harry caught the exchange, but chose not to comment. Instead, they settled at the table and loaded their plates, hungrily digging into the food.
HPDM
Once the dishes and the leftovers had been sent back to the kitchen Harry looked over at Severus, carefully gauging his mood. The food and the good company seemed to have mellowed the Potions Master quite a bit and Harry deliberated with himself if he dared to approach the Professor concerning the things he'd found that morning. Deciding to take a chance he tentatively said, "Professor? Do you know why Dumbledore made both me and Draco Captains for our Quidditch teams?"
Severus' mood immediately darkened. Taking a deep breath, he held it before slowly letting it out. It wasn't the boy's fault the Headmaster couldn't stop his scheming and plotting. "He told us during the latest staff meeting that he would make you the captain in spite of both my and Minerva's protests. She wants you on the team make no mistakes about that, she has every intention of keeping that cup. But we both agreed it would send the wrong signals if you just waltzed back on the team without a tryout, no matter that there is no competition for you.
"But Albus overruled us, as always, claiming it would be a good chance for you to practice leadership. There would be just enough pressure for you to sweat under the yolk of leadership, but he was sure it wasn't more than you could handle."
Harry snorted and shook his head. Would he ever be free to live his own life?
Severus watched him with a raised eyebrow. "I take it you do not agree?" he asked.
"Oh I'm sure I could do it alright, if I wanted to. The thing is - I don't. Moreover, I don't like it that no one bothered to ask me whether I wanted this or not. Once more it was just assumed that I would be thrilled to get this chance. Well, guess what? Draco and I have talked things over and I will be the one quitting the team, not him."
"Harry, are you absolutely sure about this? You are a brilliant Quidditch player after all," Lucius said, wanting to make sure Harry knew what he was giving up. "If you are to play as a professional you need to keep playing. Your chances will be even bigger if you become captain, especially if you are successful, which I am certain you will be."
Harry gave the blond a grateful smile. "Thank you for your concern Lucius, but I have made up my mind. And it isn't something I decided on the spot either. I thought about it during the summer, while I was making copies of the Black library. I now know what all this is about. I know I won't have a moment's peace until Voldie is gone. I don't know yet how to manage that, but I figured the answer is somewhere in those books. Or in the books I got from the junkshop. I need to study them, and I won't have the time or the peace to do it if I am the Quidditch Captain. Ron alone would hunt me down and plague me with strategy every chance he get. Besides, I don't know the first thing of what a captain is supposed to be doing. All I know is how to be a Seeker. I have no idea how to formulate plans for the other players, or how to cheer them on, or how to get them to do their best. Besides, I have no desire to play professional Quidditch. That's Ron's dream, not mine."
"Are you quite sure you won't regret your decision?" Lucius persisted. He knew how happy Draco had been when he'd been given the Captaincy, but he also knew that this could very easily come between the boys, putting an unnecessary strain on their relationship.
"Yes I am sure. What no one seems to understand is the fact that I love flying. Not Quidditch itself. Don't take me wrong, it is a great feeling holding the Snitch in your hand and knowing you are the one to win the game for your team, but I get the same feeling racing my horse against the wind. So to me, not playing isn't such a great loss."
His three companions sat back and considered his words. Severus felt a knot untie in his stomach. He had been so angry with the Headmaster for forcing Draco from his well-earned spot. Some of that anger had been transferred to Potter, since he had been so certain the boy would grab onto the honour with both hands and not let go. Once again, the boy had surprised him by not doing the expected.
Lucius relaxed back in his seat and tried to analyse what he'd heard. Harry was far too mature and he cursed the war and Dumbledore who had forced him to grow up too quickly. He could tell from the necklace that the teen was telling the truth. To him it was no big sacrifice giving the team up and Lucius felt a warm glow of pride. Draco's Veela side had chosen well and he couldn't wait to see the man Harry would grow into. He had a feeling that the man would accomplish many grand and wondrous things, shaping their world to become something better than it was.
Draco beamed at his mate and could have done a happy dance around the room if he wasn't too dignified for such things. Harry cared for him. He really and truly cared for him and wasn't afraid to step back and do things just because he knew it would make Draco happy. He could have shouted with joy. Harry might not love him now, but the Veela was now certain that one day soon, he would. And then his life would become complete.
HPDM
The four sat together in a comfortable silence. But eventually the Potions Master began to fidget and soon after he excused himself. Helga Hufflepuff's book was calling to him and he was eager to finally get a chance to study it. Lucius was no less eager and he decided to follow Severus down to the dungeons. Besides, the boys could do with some time alone.
Draco went to fetch Longbottom's journal and made himself comfortable in one of the armchairs, while Harry settled on the floor with several pieces of parchment to write a letter to Moony. So much had happened in so few days it felt as if it was almost a lifetime since he'd seen the werewolf last. Choosing his words carefully he told Remus what had happened since he returned to school. It was with a sad smile he pictured Sirius' reaction and he couldn't help but wonder if his godfather would have ever accepted Draco and Harry together.
Draco noted his mate's sombre mood but chose not to interfere. Some things you just had to endure alone. But that didn't mean it didn't tear at his heart to see him so down.
Having finished his extremely long letter, Harry settled down with his copy of "How to Capture an Image and Mould it", looking through it for tips on what to do with a sculpture once you've finished. Following the advice in chapter three he carefully oiled the wood, making it glisten in the firelight. He also added an anti-scuff charm and lastly gift-wrapped it carefully. Maybe the memento could give the last Marauder some peace. At least Harry hoped it would, and maybe lessen some of his guilt for getting Sirius killed.
Putting the things to the side, he would visit Hedwig tomorrow morning, Harry quietly said goodnight and went to bed.
Draco watched him go, his silver eyes filled with concern but there wasn't much
he could do to help.

A/N: Wow! I can't believe how much response you gave me for the last chapter, you really missed me didn't you? I don't think I have ever felt as appreciated as an author before. A big thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers!Speaking of reviewers, I haven't forgotten that I promised you that I would post my responses at my live journal, but being sick put me behind. Add to that the fact that the muse hasn't been whispering in my ear lately, she's been fairly screaming at me and I figured you would prefer an update to a review response. Don't worry though, the live journal will be up and running soon, just not as soon as I expected.
Next Time:
Harry is musing about his relationship with Ron and Hermione
Stay tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 18

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/18/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
The boys return to class 2
Lucius and Poppy have a talk
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Thank you Keikokin for you help with those pesky commas, grin.


Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments

Day Five- Friday

Draco woke with a start and an ear-piercing scream echoing in his ears. Bolting upright he panted, his heart beating wildly. What in Merlin's name had that been? He was brought up short when another scream echoed around the room and he realised it came from Harry.
Jumping out of his bed, the Veela rushed to his mate's side. Only to be stopped by the wards preventing him entrance. Cursing up a streak, he ran his hands through his hair. He needed to help his mate, but what could he do? He couldn't enter! Curse Dumbledore and his meddling!
A third scream made Draco's heart bleed. Unconsciously grabbing his necklace, he suddenly knew what he could do. "Lucius!" he called with desperation. "Father! Harry is having a nightmare and I can't get in! You have to help him! Please!" he begged, tears falling down his cheeks, unheeded.
"Calm down, my little dragon, I am on my way," he heard his father promise. Barely had the voice faded from his mind before the portrait was almost wrenched open and Lucius was at his side.
"Help him father," Draco pleaded and began to cry in earnest when Harry screamed again.
"NO! Sirius! SIRIUS!"
Lucius ran inside the room and gathered the thrashing teen into his arms, cursing the events that had cost the boy so much.
"Hush now Harry. You're safe," he murmured rocking the boy back and forth. It took several minutes, but eventually he managed to ease the poor child away from the nightmarish images that were holding him.
Not truly awake and only aware of the soft voice and the gentle arms holding him Harry broke down and began to cry; huge wrenching sobs that shook his entire body, all the while muttering "My fault, I'm so sorry, all my fault," over and over again.
"Oh Harry. No child, none of it was your fault," Lucius murmured trying to get through to the boy. Harry wasn't listening though and the blond was getting worried. Suddenly remembering his son Lucius made a decision and picked Harry up, blankets and all, and carried him into the living room. He transformed one of the couches into a large bed and settled against the headboard, Harry still in his arms.
Draco was at his side the second he stopped moving, sobbing as well and extremely distressed he'd been unable to come to his mate's aide. Lucius did his best to soothe them both, but it was a long time though before either of them fell back asleep.
HPDM
Harry was the first to wake up the next morning and he frowned at the weirdness of his pillow. It was hard and it moved. Opening a bleary eye he quickly scooted back and then blushed hotly at the sight of the two Malfoys. Belatedly he remembered his nightmare. And that he'd forgotten to put up silencing spells around his bed. Cursing himself for his stupidity, he slid out of the bed. Wanting to get away for a moment, at least until he'd had a chance to collect himself, he grabbed the letter to Remus and fled the room.
Shivering in the cold air Harry belatedly realised that maybe he should have put on some clothes before he fled the suite. Ah, well, it was too late now; he would just have to make sure not to be seen by anyone.
That notion lasted not five minutes before Harry was forced to stop and do something about his state of undress, since his bare feet were complaining too much about the cold stones and the rest of him wasn't too happy either. Not about to get a cold, Harry grabbed his wand, he fortunately had thought of taking it with him, and paused, unsure of what spell to use.
He didn't have anything he could transfigure into something warm, and he wasn't skilled enough at conjuring things to just magic clothes out of thin air. He could however conjure apples… Smiling to himself Harry did just that, creating three nice, mouth-watering red apples, two of which he immediately changed into a pair of boots and a warm robe. Slipping the clothes on, Harry sighed in pleasure and continued on his way, munching on the third apple as he travelled the corridors of Hogwarts.
He made it to the Owlery with little problem, not seeing a soul, not even Mrs. Norris, and he was greeted with soft hoots from the occupants of the tower. Smiling softly Harry greeted the birds, all the while looking for a special someone who came floating down to him on ghostly silent wings. Holding out his arm, Harry watched as Hedwig landed elegantly, ruffling her feathers back into place and wandering up his arm to his shoulder where she gave his ear a friendly nibble in greeting.
"Hi there girl, I'm sorry I haven't seen you for a while, but things have been just plain crazy lately," Harry said softly. Walking over to the windowsill, he settled down, after having cast a quick yet powerful cleaning charm, mindful not to jostle his passenger. As a safety precaution he also put up a powerful silencing charm, all too aware of the possibility of spies or just plain old busybodies.
"Oh Hedwig, you wouldn't believe what a weird start of school this has been!" Harry said with a soft sigh, stroking the soft feathers of Hedwig's chest. The owl promptly wandered back down her owner's arm, settling comfortably on his forearm giving him the look that to Harry said, 'Alright, I'm here now, tell me all about it'. Chuckling softly, the teen did just that.
"You know, every year I think to myself, 'There is no way things can get more weird. There is no way in hell this year can be topped'. But do you know what? Every year I am proven wrong. This year I found out on the first morning of school that I am Draco Malfoy's mate. Can you believe it? Finding out that Draco is a Veela was no shock, I mean, come on, with that complexion of his? But that he has chosen me of all people, yeah, that threw me for a loop. I mean, look at him and then look at me, can you say different as night and day? And I'm not talking about our colouring here.
"He is everything I used to want to be, suave, sophisticated, yeah, yeah, spoiled brat and a bully. I haven't forgotten what he was like before," Harry said almost defensively at the look Hedwig gave him. Apparently the bird remembered only too well the rants he used to give about the blond prat who loved to torment him. "But that was before you know? No, I guess you don't," Harry added with a soft sigh.
"He is so different now from what he used to be, and I guess that is what has thrown me the most. Both he and his father act like they really and truly care about me. I don't know how to deal with that, Hedwig. The Dursley's never behaved like that towards me, and thinking back I can't think of one person who behaved towards me like those two do. Heck, even Professor Snape has began to act as if he cares whether I live or die. It's just plain weird Hedwig. I don't know what to do," he added, running a hand through his hair, mindful not to unsettle the avid listener on his other arm.
"I mean, I know I've told Draco that I will stand by him, and I guess I do mean that. It's not like I'm going to turn my back on him, and not just because I know it will kill him if I do… It's more like… I don't know! And I guess that is the problem, isn't it?" Harry said slowly, coming to a startling revelation. Looking back down at Hedwig, Harry ran his fingers through the soft feathers, attempting to marshal his thoughts. Over the years, the teen had found that things became much clearer if he talked it out with Hedwig, as if the owl somehow could read his mind and tell him what was wrong, or help him figure out what to do next. Not to mention that she was the only one who had never turned her back on him.
"I don't see what made Draco pick me as his mate," Harry said, trying the words out as he spoke them. "He could have had anyone he wanted, so why did he pick me of all people? I mean, we haven't' exactly been friends in the past, have we? He is the epitome of all things Slytherin and I'm the personification of a true Gryffindor. But then he did offer his hand in friendship that day, didn't he? When we met at Madam Malkin's, only I was too much of a prat and turned him down." Harry's face darkened in a scowl.
"More manipulations of Dumbledore's; It can't have been an accident that the first thing Hagrid told me, beside the fact that I was a wizard and that my parents had been as well, was that everyone who'd turned evil was or had been a Slytherin. Talk about oversimplifications! As if the House you are sorted into will determine if you are good or bad! It sure made an impact on an insecure eleven year old though, didn't it? And I fell for it hook, line and sinker," Harry sighed sadly, looking out the window and out over the Forbidden forest. "That bastard took so much from me, practically ruined my life, and for what? So he could have his precious saviour at beck and call, ready to sacrifice everything to save the world? How could he do that to me, Hedwig? Merlin, I was just a child, a baby, and he left me with those people, never checking up on me, leaving me in hell while he was safe here at Hogwarts playing the doddering Headmaster, winning over just about everyone's love and devotion."
Shaking his head sadly, Harry squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to allow the tears that had filled his eyes to fall.
"I mean, just take my new clothes," he went on once his throat had unclenched and he could speak again. "I get a set of decent clothes and suddenly everyone is falling over themselves to get my attention, what's up with that! If how I looked was so important, why in Merlin's name didn't anyone point it out to me sooner? Or did it fit in with some kind of image I was to portray? 'The poor little Hero who overcame every hardship thrown his way? But look, he is still modest and doesn't allow the fame to go to his head! What were they afraid of, that I would become a new Gilderoy Lockhart? Did they know me so little?" Harry asked the air sadly.
"And that is one of the reasons I can't figure out why Malfoy would settle with me. I've been such a fool. I was so terrified to loose my first two friends that I never noticed that they weren't much of friends to begin with, at least not to me. I clung to them so tightly I never noticed that I didn't have any other friends besides them. I worked so hard on pleasing them; I never noted that they never did anything to help me. For all her naggings and superior knowledge, Hermione has never told me anything that wasn't related to school or our adventures. She never talked to me about the wizarding world in general, or sharing what she found out about customs and traditions and such. And Ron has done nothing to explain things, assuming I suppose, that just because we were magical, we should know this stuff automatically or something. Or was it because I'm the Boy Who Lived and thus don't need to be told? Conveniently forgetting that I was raised by stupid muggles who couldn't have told me about wizarding stuff, not that they would have even if they had known; or was it that it made Ron feel superior knowing stuff and I didn't?
"I don't know anymore, Hedwig. I just don't know what to think, what to believe. Has everything up until now been nothing but a lie? Were Ron and Hermione ever my friends? My true friends? How much did Dumbledore know about what was going on? Did he orchestrate things, turning a blind eye and allowing me to do his dirty work for him, testing me to see if I had the strength to kill off Voldemort? Doesn't it seem a bit suspicious that he brought the Philosophers Stone to a school filled with children, knowing full well who was after it? Then telling me just enough to make sure I knew what was going on, and when the excitement was over, have the Stone destroyed? Why not destroy it in the first place?" Harry cried, coming back to an old debate he'd been having over and over again this summer. Taking a few deep breaths, he did his best to allow the anger he was feeling to slowly flow out of him.
"But that is not the topic for tonight's debate," he smiled weakly at Hedwig, allowing the bird to gently nibble on his fingers, the look in her eyes one of support. How had he gotten so lucky to get such a great friend?
"Considering what happened this summer, I have to come to the conclusion that Ron and Hermione never were true friends to me. It hurts like hell, and I don't like the implications of such thoughts, but I have hidden my head in the sand for too long. It is past time I saw the world for what it is, not for how I want it to be… and that leads me right back to Draco Malfoy. Is the person I have seen for the past four days the true Draco Malfoy? Has he too been hiding behind a mask for the past five years? It seems impossible, but look at me. I've been hiding who I am - what I am, for fear that others would shun me otherwise, and we both know how well that went. They all ended up shunning me anyway, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. And I suppose there is till nothing I can do about it. Apparently I'm in people's good grace this week, I wonder how long it will last? I bet you that it won't last for long, before they turn their backs on me once more."
"And that is what I fear will happen with Draco, isn't it? He is kind and gentle and smart and funny now, when he is desperately trying to from a bond with me. But will it last once I have committed myself to him? Will the 'true' Draco emerge then, the one I have seen for the past five years? Will he once more be cruel and cutting, doing everything in his power to put me down and make me feel stupid? I don't want that Draco back; I like this new one too much. But it has never been about what I want, has it girl? It is always about what everyone else wants, not caring if it is at my expense or not. I guess only time will tell, but it hurts Hedwig, because, Merlin help me, I think I'm falling in love."
Bringing his familiar closer, Harry laid his temple against Hedwig's warm little body, soaking up what warmth and affection he could. There, he had said it, admitted it to himself. He was falling in love with Draco Malfoy and it was scaring the hell out of him. How was it even possible? They'd known each other for four days, how could you go from enemies to being in love in just four short days? Were these even his own feelings or was he under some kind of Veela spell? Unable to sort out anymore of his jumbled feelings, Harry just sat on the windowsill with Hedwig and just enjoyed her company, watching the sun rise, colouring the sky with blazing colours, allowing it to fill him with a moment of peace.
Eventually though, he stirred. The day was approaching and he needed to get back to the suite before he was missed. Petting Hedwig a last time, Harry tied the letter and the pouch to her legs and watched as she launched herself into the sky, her strong wings taking her further and further away. Sending a quick prayer for her safe return, Harry turned away from the window and began his trek back across the castle.
HPDM
Draco woke suddenly and with a start. Blearily he looked around and blinked in confusion when he saw his father next to him. Then it all came back – the nightmare. Harry's screams. Harry! Looking around wildly he couldn't see his mate and when he closed his eyes he couldn't sense him either. Harry had left. What if it was for good?
"Dragon? Is something wrong?" Lucius asked blinking sleep from his eyes.
"Harry. He isn't here," Draco said with a tremor.
"Calm down, son. I'm sure he hasn't left for good," Lucius said wrapping an arm around his distraught son's shoulders. Clasping his necklace he sent the magic out and it didn't take him long to locate the missing teen.
"He is in the Owlery, probably talking to his owl."
Draco glanced over at the table and noted for the first time that the letter and present were gone. "I think he was writing a letter to Lupin last night. The letter is gone."
Lucius nodded. "That's probably what trigged the nightmare."
"That ward is coming down. Now!" Draco said in a hard voice. No way was he going to agree to be kept from his mate ever again.
"I agree. Why don't you go and get dressed and order breakfast? I will take the ward down and if Harry hasn't returned by the time we are finished, we'll go look for him, agreed?"
"Yes father."
"And Draco, I trust you will be able to control yourself if I do this. If the instinct becomes too great I trust you will come to me or Severus. Or send Harry to either of us until things have calmed down again," Lucius said sternly, letting his son know how serious this was.
"I promise father," Draco nodded before he climbed off the bed to prepare for a new day.
HPDM
Draco was just about to go and find his mate when Harry returned. He was looking a little bit better, but unable to meet either Malfoy's eyes. Lucius gave him an apprehensive look, walked up to him, and enveloped him into a hug.
Harry jumped and attempted to wriggle free, but Lucius held him firmly, yet gently. "Hush, child. Everyone needs a hug now and then. And right now you look like you could use a hug," he murmured softly.
Harry stilled, but he didn't relax, expecting to be let free soon. Lucius had other ideas and continued to hold the brunet, running a hand soothingly up and down the stiff back.
Almost against his will, Harry felt himself relax, until he was resting against the taller man, his head on his shoulder. It was almost... peaceful to be held like this. No one ever had. Not that Harry could remember anyway. It was different from when his friends hugged him, not that they did very often. Then it was a quick squeeze to make sure he was alright, or in an attempt to give support.
This though, this was a hug filled with infinite patience, and love, and support - an adult's support. One who knew how it feels to be caught up in life's yarn and thus knew how to give strength when one was floundering. You needed experience to be able to give this kind of support, Harry realised. Something neither he nor his friends had yet. Hesitantly he let his arms circle a trim waist and relaxed even further, soaking up what was freely offered.
Draco watched them from the doorway to his room. He should be jealous he knew, that someone else was able to soothe and comfort his mate. But this was his father; a man who knew how to give great hugs. How many times had Draco himself sought out the man to have him soothe his troubles away? How could he begrudge Harry that experience? Silently he stepped back into his bedroom and settled on the bed with a book. He would wait until they were finished. You did not rush moments like this.
HPDM
Harry had no idea how long he'd been standing there, but eventually his stomach grumbled, loudly. Blushing hotly he reluctantly stepped back, not daring to look Malfoy in the face.
"Feeling better?"
"Yes. Thank you."
Lucius sighed softly and put two fingers under Harry's chin, urging the boy to look at him. "You have done nothing you need to feel ashamed about, child. We all need a hug now and then. We all experience nightmares we need help to deal with. You are only human Harry, no matter what rot the wizarding world has tried to cram down your throat. I know you are not used to having people around who are prepared to help and support you. But you have us now. Me, Draco, even Severus. Let us help you child. Let us be there for you."
Harry felt tears fill his eyes and he angrily swiped them away. "I can't afford to show any weakness, you know that!" he almost spat the words out.
"Accepting comfort when it is freely given is not a weakness Harry." Lucius scolded gently. Merlin! Talk about deja vu. Severus had said almost the exact thing when they were getting together all those years ago.
"Tell them that!" Harry stated angrily trying to pull away.
Lucius refused to let him. "I don't care about 'them'. 'They' are nothing, but mindless sheep that bleat and gossip about what ever the Daily Prophet has printed that day. 'They' do not count Harry. Only family does, and you are family now."
"'They' might not count when you are a Malfoy Lucius, but if you are the blasted Boy-Who-Lived, then unfortunately, 'they' have a very heavy pull on your life; 'they' have the power to make my life miserable and if I show any weakness it will be shouted from the roof tops before you can blink your eye," Harry said tiredly, his anger gone.
Lucius considered this while he steered the tired boy towards the table and the breakfast waiting for them. Making sure that Harry was seated, he settled next to him, absentmindedly calling his son to the table as well.
"I can see your point Harry. I understand that you can not show any weakness when in public. However, these are your private rooms. What happens in here will not be spread to 'them'."
"Unfortunately Skeeter is an illegal animagus, and who knows how many more there are out there. I'm not safe anywhere," Harry said despondently.
"Then we will make sure you are as safe as possible, and if anything should be leaked to the press, we will weather the storm. Together!" Lucius stated, buttering a scone with precise movements.
Harry gave him a disbelieving look, but left the argument for now and concentrated on his own breakfast.

Next Time:
Harry has a confrontation with Ron and Hermione,
Stay tuned...




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 19

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/19/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Lucius and Poppy has a serious discussion
Harry has a nightmare
A/N: Sometimes you are plain lucky! I placed Draco's birthday in May since that fit with my story, I just went to check with the Harry Potter lexicon and found out that Draco's birthday is June 5, so I have changed the date in this chapter and will use that from now on.
Dedication: I wish to dedicate this chapter to my two swiftest fans. I don't know how you do it, but within minutes after I have uploaded a new chapter, I already have two hits on the stat-page. Whoever you are, you do wonders for my ego, lol.
I also wish to thank all you wonderful people who review my story, thank you for your all your kind words!
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Thank you Keikokin for checking my grammar.

Confrontations
"Harry! There you are! What happened to you yesterday? You never showed up in Potions. Professor Snape was not pleased! Oh, yes, here's your homework and here's my notes," Hermione said pushing a stack of parchments into Harry's hands before he could get a word in edgewise.
Rolling his eyes at Draco, he accepted the stack and put them into his bag. "Good morning 'Mione, Ron," Harry said with forced cheer. He knew it was interrogation time and not for the first time he resented the way his friends were acting towards him. What had happened to his friends? And when had they become his bloody keepers? I wonder how much of what I say is reported back to Dumbledore verbatim, he added in his thoughts, startled at how bitter he sounded. Remembering this morning's musings Harry came to the startling realisation that he had already written off the two standing before him, and was no longer considering them as his friends. They were just two people he knew, their opinions no longer mattered to him. He just hadn't wanted to admit it to himself, hadn't been prepared to let go of five years of friendship, even if it had been one-sided.
"Hiya mate." Ron said clapping Harry on the shoulder. "So what did happen to you yesterday?"
"I overdid things in class and ended up spending the afternoon in the hospital wing," Draco drawled coming to his mate's rescue.
Ron gave him a pitying look causing both boys to bristle in resentment. "Too bad Malfoy, but why didn't Harry show up for class?"
"Because I am a Veela and he is my mate?" Draco asked lifting an eyebrow, looking at the redhead as if he was an imbecile.
"Do you mean to tell me that Harry is joined at your hip? That he can't do anything if you aren't around? That's just sick!" Ron nearly shouted gaining the attention of those nearby.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Really Ron, couldn't you have shouted just a tad bit louder?" he asked. "I was with Draco while Pomfrey examined him. We were talking and then we both fell asleep. And no, we aren't joined by the hip. I suggest you actually learn a bit about Veelas before sprouting off nonsense."
"But Harry, Ron has a point," Hermione cut in giving him a reproving look. "Until you bond Draco won't want you out of his sight, and even after you bond he will keep tabs on your every move. That isn't healthy and you should be allowed your own life and not be forced to live whatever life Malfoy deems worthy."
"Please! What trashy novels have you been reading lately?" Harry scoffed. "For your information I went to the Owlery this morning. Alone," he added meaningly. "And Draco here did not throw a fit. He didn't even interrogate me or demand to know where I'd been. Unlike some people I won't name. Now, we better hurry or we'll be late for class," Harry said with a snort and ignoring his friend's gaping mouths he stalked down the corridor, Draco at his side.
"Nice!" the blond drawled. "However, you do know that the only reason I didn't 'throw a fit' was because Father could tell me where you were? That and I noticed the letter you'd written last night was gone."
Harry glanced at Draco, amusement evident on his face. "But they don't know that, do they? And there is no reason to tell them either, is there? 'Forced to live whatever life Malfoy deems worthy', please! It makes me sound like your lapdog or something! As if I'd allow you to control my life like that!" Harry snorted rolling his eyes in exasperation, yet there was a small nagging doubt at the back of his mind. How much free will would he have once the two had bonded? Maybe it was time to take his own advice. With everything that had been going on he hadn't had time to do any reading about Veelas. He didn't know more today than he had at the end of term, having only the scant information they'd gotten during those two lectures the Hogwarts staff had provided when Draco had come into his inheritance last June.
"That is how some view a Veela marriage," Draco said in a low voice, wanting his mate to know how many looked upon a Veela union, but reluctant to point it out in case Harry decided to not bond with him.
"Really? And the Headmaster assured me that to have a Veela's love was the purest love you could experience."
"That is true you know."
"So as usual, people pick and choose what to believe and ignore the truth?" Harry asked, not really interested in the topic anymore.
"I guess," Draco acknowledged after some thought.
"Then I suggest we live our lives in whatever manner we wish and ignore the fools and the idiots the best we can," Harry said. Glancing over his shoulder he added, "Speaking of which, try and keep your temper ok? They used to be my friends and maybe they will be again some day – although the way they have been behaving lately I don't see us become close again any time soon, if ever. They are no threat to you; they will not come between us. I want, no, I need friends, not people who tries to control my life 'for my own good'."
Draco nodded, a bit worried about the desolated look in Harry's eyes, but he wasn't given a chance to comment as Hermione suddenly was in their faces.
"Harry! That was just plain rude! Ron and I don't interrogate you! How dare you suggest such a thing!"
Harry sighed, but stopped and turned his attention to the angry witch. "Did I say I was talking about you and Ron? No, I did not. However, you can't argue that last year you both kept nagging me to tell you what was going on; if I was having a nightmare, if I was feeling fine. Merlin forbid if I slipped away for a bit of privacy to think, or to study 'cause when I came back I'd be faced with a third degree, with you two demanding to know exactly where I'd been and what I'd done. You are not my parents, 'Mione, or my keepers. Merlin help me, I thought you were my friends. Friends don't act like that."
"We were worried! Can you blame us? You never talk to us about how you feel Harry. You need to talk about what is going on in that thick skull of yours," Hermione softened her tone and continued. "It isn't good to always bottle up your feelings Harry. Let them out now and then and you'll feel much better afterwards."
"Yeah? How can I, Hermione? How can I confide in you when I know you will run to the Headmaster as soon as I tell you something?"
Hermione blushed, but refused to back down. "He asked us to keep him informed Harry. He needs to know what is happening with you, so that he can help you."
"I see. The Headmaster is so worried about me that he ignores me completely for the entire school year. Hell, the man wouldn't even look at me, making me wonder what the hell I had done wrong to offend him that much. Do you know what I thought, Hermione? Do you? I thought Dumbledore blamed me for bringing Riddle back! If he was so worried about me, then why the hell didn't he talk to me himself? Or the very least written me a note explaining what was going on! Instead I find out that he used my friends to spy on me, and then you have the gall to ask me why I don't confide in you! If you were so worried about me, then why didn't you tell him about Umbridge? Why didn't you add that little titbit into your report, or was the fact that one of our teachers were torturing her students during her detentions not worth mentioning huh?" Harry asked dangerously, his temper flaring, his eyes flashing with emotions, and he stepped closer to he witch, forcing her to step back, making her thump into Ron with a soft squeak.
He only calmed down when Draco placed a hand on his back, moving it in soothing circles. Looking away in disgust, Harry took a few deep calming breaths, working hard on getting his emotions back under control. Dumbledore would never forgive me if I accidentally levelled Hogwarts, Harry thought with sudden dark humour.
Hermione no longer could meet his gaze, "Because you didn't want anyone to know."
"So then you kept your word, but not when I confided in you about personal things? Some friend you turned out to be," Harry spat, feeling his anger rising once more. He needed to get away before he did something he would later regret, like hexing those two back to the Dark Ages! "I don't know what orders Dumbledore has given you, but I'd appreciate it if you two kept away from me until you have proven whose friend you are – mine or his. You can't be both."
"Harry! He is trying to look out for you!" Hermione cried. "I don't know what happened between the two of you last year, but he apologised to you, he told us that he explained to you why he was ignoring you. He had a valid reason for behaving like he did, you have to admit that Harry. He was worried about the safety of this school, he was worried what knowledge You-Know-Who could gleam from him, using you as a conduct. You have to agree that you didn't exactly put any efforts into learning Occlumency," Hermione practically hissed, going on the offensive, not liking the way Harry forced her to defend her actions.
This was not her Harry, this was not the boy she had been friends with for the past five years. She had promised the Headmaster that she would support Harry now that he was as good as bonded to Malfoy. But this she would not stand for!
For the past four days, Hermione had spent most of her time reading everything she could get her hands on concerning Veelas, wanting to be prepared for when Harry came to her for advice, and listening to Ron bemoaning how Harry now was lost to them. She knew some of the adults in the Order were concerned about Harry, but she had paid them no mind, knowing that her Harry was nothing like that. But seeing him like this, she had to admit to herself that Harry had changed, and not for the better.
Was he already putting Malfoy above his friends? How was that possible after only four days? Did Veelas have some sort of compulsion they put on their mates after all? None of the books had mentioned anything like that, but then, magical creatures tended to be secretive, not revealing everything about themselves to others. Who knew what secrets they had kept from the wizarding world?
But Harry's change had began earlier, hadn't it? She could still remember how worried Dumbledore had been that Harry was avoiding him. He had explained a little of what had been going on the previous school year, and Hermione couldn't understand why Harry hadn't forgiven the Headmaster. It wasn't like him to hold a grudge, not like this.
Dumbledore had had a very good reason for his behaviour, why didn't Harry acknowledge that? He needed the Headmaster and the help he could offer, so why was Harry cutting himself off from that help? She just didn't understand any of this, and she had been determined to get the answers she needed once they were back at Hogwarts and not under the close scrutiny of the adults.
Only Harry wasn't cooperating. He was supposed to have come to her for advice, as he always did. He hadn't. She hadn't seen hide or hair of him for the past three days, and when he finally emerged from wherever the Malfoys have had him tucked away, he chose to sit with the Slytherins!
Hermione didn't know what was going on, but she was determined to find out and undo what ever had happened to Harry, so she could have her friend back. She loved Ron, but even she was forced to admit that the redhead wasn't the smartest apple in the cart. She needed Harry to ensure her place in the wizarding world, and no one, not even Malfoy, was going to stop her from getting what she wanted!
"Really? He has a very strange way of showing that! You never stopped to think that maybe there was a reason he and I don't see eye-to-eye anymore? How come you never asked me why I was pulling away? For someone who's supposed to be so smart, you can be really stupid sometimes. Come on, Draco, we're gonna be late and I for one don't want to face Madam Pomfrey's wrath this early in the morning," Harry stated hotly, bringing the witch out of her musings.
Harry began to walk again, but was stopped by Ron who had moved to block the way. "I don't know what that git has done to you Harry, but that is not my friend talking. You never should have agreed to move in with him. He is a slimy snake Harry, a Malfoy. Have you forgotten how he's treated us for the past 5 years? His Father almost got Ginny killed for Merlin's sake! How can you just forget that?" he shouted, getting more and more angry as he spoke. "Not to mention that he was there the night Sirius died. I'm sure you haven't forgotten that!"
Harry took a step back and watched Ron with impassive eyes. "No, I haven't forgotten. Nor have I forgotten that we are living in a war. Things happen in a war Ron. People take orders, whether they want to or not. People are killed because one leader wishes to make a point to the other leader, or to his followers. Don't you think it is time you grew up Ron? The world isn't black and white. It is an infinite amount of shades of grey. All Slytherins are not bad. All Gryffindors aren't good. Remember Wormtail? Remember Fudge? Neither are Slytherins. You can't blame all the things that are wrong in your life on them. Grow up and see the world for what it is!" Harry snapped.
"I sure as hell can when the things wrong in my life are their fault!" Ron spat, turning an unhealthy shade of red. "You might be able to forget the wrongs the Slytherins have done. You might be able to forget what the Malfoys have done, but I can't. Do you know why? Because it was me and my family that suffered because of their high and mighty ways; it is because of them my little sister almost died. I will never forgive them for that!"
Harry looked at Ron, really looked at him for perhaps the first time ever. And he did not like what he saw. Ron had been his first real friend and looking back he supposed he'd been prepared to forgive a lot just to keep that friend. But the limit of what he was prepared to forgive and forget had been reached and he would no longer allow Ron to dictate his actions.
"Yes, Lucius planted that diary on Ginny. He did have a part of what happened to her. But Ron, you and your family were not blameless. You too played a part in what happened that year."
"What? Are you saying Ginny is to blame for opening the Chamber of Secret?" Ron asked, not believing his ears. "How can you say that! You really have joined Voldemort, haven't you?"
"It's so easy, isn't it? To blame all the things that are wrong in your life on others," Harry mused, looking into space. "Ginny was nearly killed by Riddle's diary, so it must have been Lucius' and the Slytherin's fault."
His focus returned to Ron. "Let us ignore the fact that your father had taught his children never to trust something whose brain you could not see. And let us ignore the fact that Ginny had four older brothers going to the same school as her, belonging to the same House as her and none of them noticed that something was wrong. Not one of them. And let us not forget that she never turned to anyone to get help once she realised things were wrong. No that would be taking responsibility for your family and your own actions, so just let us blame the Malfoys, hmm Ron?" Harry all but purred, glaring hotly at his former friend. Next to him Draco was fairly humming with anxiety, but the brunet couldn't afford to take his attention off Ron, all too aware of his hot temper and his tendency to do stupid things when riled.
Ron blushed, turning even redder, but for once he had no ready comeback.
"That's not exactly fair, is it Harry?" Hermione asked, albeit a bit timidly, she too was well aware of Ron's hot temper and she couldn't believe the way Harry was accusing his friend of not looking out for Gin, if anyone was protective of his sister it was Ron Weasley.
"Fair? No I guess not. It is the truth though," Harry replied, looking steadily into her eyes, mocking her to deny it.
Reluctantly Hermione broke the eye contact. She was not about to get in the middle of this explosive topic. "Perhaps," she murmured, refusing to take a side, "But that is not what we were talking about. What we were talking about was the fact that the Malfoy's don't let you out of their sight. You spend all your free time with Draco and none with us. We are your friends Harry, and we've missed you. Can't you understand that?"
"Hmmm, I guess. But then, you didn't exactly miss me this summer, did you? You hardly ever wrote me any letters, and the ones you did write were filled with complaints. Ron was constantly moaning about how unfair it was he couldn't leave the house, not even to go out flying with the others. You kept harping at me how Ron was either ignoring you or teasing you about your studying. That is when you weren't complaining about being stuck indoors all the time. Guess what Hermione? That has been the entirety of my summers for the last few years. Did I complain? No. Did I bore you endlessly about it? No. Welcome to my world Hermione. Perhaps now you understand how I felt when you went traipsing around the world while I was stuck with the Dursleys. It isn't fun, is it, to have your movements restricted 'for your own good'" Harry sneered.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped, dismayed at how painful his words were. Was that how he had felt all those summers? Why hadn't he said something? "Why didn't you say something? We might have been able to help you..."
"Help me how? You were perfectly happy letting Dumbledore rule my life last year. What changed? Did you find out that it wasn't as much fun when he began ruling your life? Don't come crying to me, because I will show you just as much compassion that you showed me. I'm sure you can remember how much that was."
"Now look here Harry! We did what we thought was best," Ron said angrily.
"No you didn't. You did what the Headmaster told you to do. And I bet you he told you to 'support' me, now that I'm 'stuck' with Draco. I'm right aren't I?" Harry crowed when he noted the guilty looks on his former friend's faces. "Then why the bloody hell are you fighting with me?" he nearly shouted, getting angry again. "Why are you constantly in my face, trying to make things as difficult as possible for me and Draco?"
"Because that Ferret doesn't deserve you! Because that slimy Slytherin will end up stabbing us all in the back! Because it is you Harry, who are our friend, not him!" Ron shouted getting into Harry's face. "Merlin Harry, can't you see? He is running your life! The next thing you'll tell us is that you won't play Quiddich this year, just so he can stay on the Slytherin team!"
Harry took a step back and wiped his chin with a look of disgust on his face. Looking Ron up and down, he smirked. "Funny you should say that Ron. As a matter of fact, I won't be playing for the Gryffindor team this year."
"I knew it! Why the hell not! We need you Harry! You are the best Seeker in the school!"
"Maybe. But since Dumbledore was kind enough to volunteer my services, I'll be far too busy running the D.A. to have time playing Quidditch. If he hadn't done that, maybe..." Harry shrugged, trailing off suggestively.
"But Harry, you had no problems doing both last year," Hermione cut in when it looked like Ron was going to explode.
"Really? For one thing, the D.A. of last year was much smaller. And two, I was banned after the first match, remember?"
"Oh..." Hermione mumbled, suddenly realising he was right.
Harry smirked at her. Then he cursed when the bell rang. "Damn, we are late! You couldn't have waited until after class, could you?" he demanded breaking into a run.
"How nice of you to finally join us," Poppy snapped as they entered the infirmary, not pleased at all by their tardiness. "5 points each from Gryffindor and Slytherin. Now find a seat and sit down!"
"Yes Madam Pomfrey," Harry and Draco murmured and settled at the front of the room. Ron and Hermione glowered at them and settled at the back, out of the teacher's eye.
"As I was saying before I was interrupted, in this class you will learn the basics of healing. Not many have a true talent for healing, but everyone can learn the basic spells and potions to deal with cuts, bruises, and headaches."
Harry ducked his head and bit back a snort, remembering Lockhart. The git couldn't get a spell correct if his life depended on it!
"Today we will be going through the human body and talk about the bones that make up the skeleton," Poppy continued her lecture, giving Harry a quelling look.
Sitting up in his seat, he did his best to pay attention. This was important after all, if only he wasn't so tired.
HPDM
"That was really interesting," Draco mused as they made their way back to their rooms after their double class with Poppy. "She really knows how to teach her stuff. I hadn't realised there were so many bones in your body; and she actually made it interesting. I thought she'd teach the same way as she heals. You know, all stern and not a funny bone in her body, but she was alright."
Harry nodded in agreement.
"What was so funny at the beginning of the class? I thought you were going to laugh in her face."
"I remembered Lockhart."
"What of him?"
"Don't you remember? I broke my arm in that Quiddich game and the stupid git removed all the bones in my arm instead of healing them. A picture of him flashed into my mind when she said, "But all can learn the basic spells and potions to deal with cuts, bruises, and headaches." Imagine what he'd do with a headache if that is how he treats broken bones?" Harry glanced at the Veela and they both broke down in giggles.
"Wanna go flying? We have a free period before lunch." Draco asked later, after their hilarity had died down.
"Nah, I think I'm going to take a nap. We have both Herbology and Ancient Runes after lunch and I want to be awake for both of them."
Draco nodded, giving his mate a concerned glance. The other boy did look tired, just how early had he awakened anyway? "Alright, you get some sleep and I'll read some more from that journal you found," he decided.
"Just make sure you wake me up in time for class. I don't want to miss anymore of them. It isn't worth the headache trying to catch up," Harry warned, pausing in the doorway to his room.
"I promise." Draco nodded.
"Thanks".
HPDM
Later that night, after he had made sure that Draco was fast asleep, Harry pulled off the shirt he was wearing and ran his fingers up his left bicep. Feeling the armband wrapped around his arm, Harry took it off and placed it on the floor, watching with fascination as it became visible and retook its original size and shape. He never got tired of watching the transformation, and he basked in the surge of pride this event always gave him. He had created this trunk; he was the one who had figured out how to hide it from nosy friends and headmasters.
Chuckling softly at his thoughts, Harry threw the lid of the trunk open and climbed inside. Sighing in delight he stepped into the cosy living room, looking around with a sense of pride. Professor Sprout's class wasn't his first introduction to working with woods, he had spent several happy hours this summer creating trunks and wooden boxes, decorating them using carvings or inlaid wood. By the time the summer holiday had come to an end he had been quite skilled at it, making him look forward to the Forgotten Arts class even more. So far the Professor had not disappointed him.
His skills with wood was particularly evident inside this trunk, where wooden furniture were tastefully placed on display, each peace polished until they gleamed, and carvings and inlays of flowers, vines and animals decorated every available surface. Yet it was not a sterile room, on the contrary, it was giving off an inviting aura. This was a home, not a show display.
Turning his attention away from the cosy living room, Harry turned to the right and headed for the library. That room too showed off his skills with wood and the bookshelves were carved with images that fitted the contents of the different subjects. In the centre of the room a tall pedestal was standing and Harry made his way over to it. Tapping the thick ledger resting on top of it, he stated with a clear voice, "Veelas and their mates', then he stood back, waiting.
For a second nothing happened, then the book glowed and the next moment a thick stack of books had appeared next to the ledger. Giving the stack a glowering look, Harry nevertheless levitated every last one to a nearby work desk and made himself comfortable. Taking note of the time, he swiftly looked through the books, sorting them by language. Picking one up that was written in Latin, Harry opened the book and began to read. Soon all that could be heard was the gentle scratching of a quill and the turning of pages.
HPDM
Harry had no idea how long he'd been reading, but his stomach was making grumbling sounds that it had been far too empty for far too long. Putting the quill down, Harry sighed and stretched aching muscles. No matter how comfortable he made the chair, he still ended up stiff and sore after a few hours of studying. Perhaps Severus could give him a hint or two? Considering how many hours that man spent correcting essays, he had to have some tips on how to avoid this state. Getting to his feet Harry paused, maybe that was why Severus was so grumpy all the time. Snickering softly to himself, the youth made his way to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat.
Having satisfied his stomach Harry debated what to do next, continue his reading or head off to bed? Considering the amount of information he had already gathered Harry figured he had done enough for one night. He realized some rest would benefit him more than continuing to read with a tired mind.
Walking back to the library Harry paused by a box and opened it, pulling out the time-turner resting inside. Smiling slightly the youth caressed the hour-glass. It wasn't only books he had found at the Black Manor, he had found a few other extremely useful items, and the time-turner was only one of those things he had shamelessly 'borrowed'.
Giving the device several turns Harry felt the familiar tug and then he landed in the library, having timed things so he arrived just as he was entering the trunk. Putting the device back in the box, he nodded to himself as he entered the room and quietly walked out, climbed outside and went to bed, casting his invisibility cloak over the trunk to ensure that no one saw it before he had a chance to put it away. He had never worked up the nerve to see what would happen if he changed the trunk back to an armband while he was inside it. What if he accidentally killed himself off? That would be a bit awkward to explain, wouldn't it?
Snuggling deeper into his pillow, Harry sighed contentedly and went to sleep. His reading marathon had done a lot to ease his mind. The texts he'd gone through so far had all stated that a Veela would always stand by their mate, no matter what, and would love and cherish them to the day they died. Harry still thought Draco had made a poor choice, but the risk of the blond to revert to his former behaviour seemed less likely. At least he wouldn't behave in that manner towards Harry, and frankly that was all the brunet cared about.
His last thought before sleep claimed him was that he had to remember to share the library with Draco.

Next time:
The boys enjoy their Sunday morning
Stay tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 20

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/20/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Harry has a nightmare
Harry has an confrontation with his friends
A/N:
I wish to thank all you wonderful people who review my story, thank you for your all your kind words! However, one of the reviews sent by Nigelous I felt needed a response. You can find it at www . livejournal . com / users / janarae / 727 . html (remove the spaces.)
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Thank you Keikokin for checking my grammar
You Friends Are My Friends
Day Six - Saturday
Draco reluctantly swam out of a deep sleep when his bed began to bounce in a most annoying manner. He'd had the most wonderful dream too. He and Harry had been sunbathing on a beach. Out of consideration, he had been rubbing some oil onto his mate's back and things were just beginning to get interesting when his bed began to behave most rudely. "What!" he growled in annoyance.
"Come on Draco. It's a lovely morning and I want to go riding. Do you think Blaise will want to come with us? I think he is lonely now that you aren't there anymore. Is it ok if I ask him?"
Draco blinked and tried to understand the words fired at him rapidly. A rough shake of his shoulder helped to kick his brain into gear and he sat up.
"Good. Are you awake now? I'm gonna go riding. Do you want to come with me? Is it alright if I ask Blaise to come with us?" Harry asked again, looking at the blond with some concern.
"Why do you want Blaise to come?" Draco almost snarled the last question the only one that had really registered in his mind.
"Merlin, are you always this slow in the mornings?" Harry huffed, rolling his eyes at the ceiling. "I'm not interested in Blaise Zabini, so stow that jealousy act. I know he is your friend and I bet you he is lonely now that you no longer live in the dungeons. There's no one for him to talk to, right? So, I thought maybe the two of you would like it if he came along. If you don't want him to, say so. It is no skin off my nose," Harry said folding his arms across his chest.
"Oh," Draco said intelligently, looking a bit sheepish. "Yeah, he might wanna come. We will probably have to make his horse for him. He isn't exactly good at Transfiguration," he snickered at a memory. "What about your friends? Think anyone wants to come?"
"I don't think Neville will be interested. Ginny might, but I don't want to cause trouble between her and Ron. Luna might but somehow I can't see her interested in common horses, can you?"
Draco shook his head. He didn't know the loony Ravenclaw but he'd heard stories about her. "Very well, let me get dressed and we'll head down to the dungeons. And Harry? Thanks."
"No problem. It's like I said to Hermione. We aren't joined at the hip and we are allowed to have friends. Both of us," he added meaningly before leaving the room.
Draco sighed in relief, throwing the covers back. Gingerly he climbed out of bed and scurried into the bathroom. He had a little problem that needed to be dealt with – in private.
As they made their way to the dungeons Draco couldn't help but mull over what Harry had said earlier, that they were both allowed having friends. When he found out who his mate was, he had figured he'd be doomed to a life surrounded by Gryffindorks. Never in a million years believing that Harry would tolerate any of his friends even if he managed to win the brunet's affection and love.
Once more, the youth had surprised him with his mature attitude. It bothered him though that there was a rift between Harry and Ron and Hermione. They had always seemed inseparable. Well, aside that time in fourth year, or that time in third... Hmm, maybe they had been drifting apart for some time now, only no one had realised it?
A slight shove brought him out of his musings and he found himself staring at the closed entrance to the Slytherin dorms. He had no memory of how they'd gotten here and he gave Harry a suspicious look, just how did a Gryffindor know the way to the Slytherin dorms? Harry just smiled at him, if Draco squinted his eyes he almost could make out the halo on top of the other boy's head. Snorting, not trusting the angelic look one bit, he uttered the password and walked inside, Harry close on his heels.
"What is he doing here?" Pansy shrieked causing Draco to wince and Harry to rub at his ear.
"Merlin girl, you should record that sound and sell it to farmers. They'd never have any problems with vermin ever again," Harry said giving Pansy an almost admiring look. Only if you looked closely, like Draco was doing, could you detect the smirk that played along the corners of his mouth.
There was a shocked silence. Then sniggers sprung up among those present and soon they were roaring with laughter while Pansy was screaming insults at Harry at the top of her lungs.
"Some lung capacity that girl has," Harry stated to Draco, looking impressed. "Forget the farmers; she'd make a fortune as a fog horn. If every ship used her, there'd never be any accidents at sea again."
Draco had done his best to keep his amusement under control, but that turned out to be his undoing. The image of Pansy being tied to the front of a ship, using her voice to warn off other ships was too much and he began to whoop with laughter.
Pansy had finally remembered that she was a witch, and she pulled her wand and threw a nasty curse at Harry, who merely smiled and put up a shield that absorbed her spell.
"If that is the best you have to offer I'd say you should go for a career as a fog horn," he said infuriating the blond girl further.
Predictably, Pansy threw several more hexes, none that hit their goal. Screaming in rage, she threw a nasty cutting hex just as Severus Snape stormed into the common room. His eyes widened, but fortunately Harry's shield held and the hex was halted before it hit its mark.
"What in the name of Salazar is going on in here!" he snapped. "Pansy, you have two weeks detention with me for hexing a fellow Slytherin! Now get out of my sight!"
"He's no Slytherin!" Pansy cried in outrage.
"No? And why is that?" Severus fairly purred. "He is Draco's mate and as such he has been granted memberships in both Houses, as has Draco."
"That slut is not Draco's mate! I am! Everyone knows that! Drakie is merely confused. I bet Potter used Imperio or something on him to take him away from me!" Pansy stated, throwing her hair over her shoulder and giving Draco a smouldering look. Well, what she thought was smouldering.
Draco shuddered and was forced to look away or risk being violently ill. Then it registered what she had said and he became infuriated. "What did you call him?" he seethed.
"Parkinson, I would never take you as my mate! Not even if we were the last people on earth would I as much as touch you. You are the one who is a slut! A tramp! You are nothing but an empty headed lowlife who is only suited to become the wife of a troll! You both have the same amount of I.Q. Merlin help any child unfortunate enough to have you for a mother," Draco spat out. Taking a deep breath he was going to continue his rant, but an arm around his shoulders and a look from his Head of House froze his tongue.
"That is quite enough Draco," Severus said evenly although he was secretly amused by his godson's words. He'd have to share this with Lucius. "Pansy? Leave!"
Fury and humiliation caused the girl to flee the room in tears.
"I hope this is the last time I'll walk into such a deplorable scene," Severus said looking out over the now filled common room. "You are Slytherins and I expect you to behave as such, not as some sentimental Hufflepuffs. Is that clear?"
Nods and murmurs of affirmatives were heard from all over the room.
"Good." With that the Potions Master swept from the room.
"Hey Dray! What are you doing here?" Blaise asked bounding over to the blond's side. "And that was bloody brilliant Harry! I've been wanting to say that for years!"
"What stopped you?" Harry asked with a smirk.
Blaise looked surprised for a moment, opening his mouth, but closed it again unable to come up with an answer. Laughing he patted the brunet on the nearest arm. "This one is definitely a keeper Dray! So why did you come down here for anyway?"
"To ask you if you wanted to come with us into the fresh air," Harry said. "Figured you might be lonely in here," he added in a lower voice only the two boys next to him could hear.
Blaise tilted his head to the side and glanced at his friend, who gave a small nod of consent.
"Sure, why not? Just let me get my cloak."
Draco took Harry's hand and walked over to a chair, sinking into the plush cushions, pulling Harry into this lap. Harry stiffened in surprise, but then he gave the Veela a dirty look. He forced himself to relax, leaning against a handy shoulder, his arm draped around the blond boy's neck. He knew the importance of showing a united front, especially with this crowd. It didn't mean though that he wouldn't get even – at a later time.
"So, Draco, where did you find those outfits?" Theodore Nott asked sliding into a chair next to the one the Veela occupied, eyeing the two boys appreciatively. Harry was stunningly dressed all in black beside his forest green shirt. Draco was dressed in tan leather with a Slytherin green shirt, looking no less stunning than his mate did.
Draco smirked and played with the edge of Harry's vest, "At the Seven Sins."
"You were allowed to go there?" someone squeaked in disbelief, Draco couldn't make out whom.
"Sure," he drawled. "Harry wanted some leather and they are the best place to get it. Unfortunately for them, my mate wasn't exactly impressed with their stock, so he designed his outfit himself. Didn't you love?" he asked Harry giving him an impish grin.
"I had to," was Harry's laconic reply. "I might like the idea of leather, but I have no intentions of walking around looking like a common street-walker."
"But you have to admit those pants looked good on you," Draco leered causing several of his audience to drool at the thought.
"Please!" Harry scoffed. "I wouldn't mind seeing them on you though," he said with a wink, causing most of the females in the room to sigh. Picking up on it – having students throwing themselves at you tended to make you take notice when someone was drooling – Harry decided to elaborate, payback and all that. "Yeah, those trousers were moulded to the skin, showing off everything you've got. And Draco here has a lot to show off, haven't you love?"
"I'll get you for this!" Draco growled, pushing Harry off his lap. Harry merely laughed and picking himself up from the floor made his way to the door, Draco close on his heels. The Veela wanted out of there before anyone got any ideas, the student's reactions of the past few days had made the blond itch to curse someone. So far his House had respected their bond, for the most part, and he didn't want anyone deciding it was worth the risk trying to poach on his territory. Harry Potter was his and he would anyone thinking differently rue their birth. Hmm, perhaps a little something in everyone's pumpkin juice would teach the adventurous ones a lesson as well as serve as a warning example? Draco was sure Severus would gladly give him a few hints if he asked.
"What did I miss?" Blaise asked having noted how the atmosphere in the common room had been filled with something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Harry here decided to be a prat!" Draco complained with a pout.
"Come on! You started it 'Dray'," Harry laughed, not in the mood to repent in the least.
"Git!" Draco murmured, but there were no real heat behind his words. They had experienced their first true encounter with the Slytherin House and Harry had handled himself admirably. It will take Pansy days if not weeks to recover from her humiliation. It couldn't have happened to a nicer witch, Draco thought with a smirk, still miffed at the revelation that the blond girl hated him.
"So what are we going to do? I hope you aren't going to say flying," Blaise warned. "I've never understood what you yahoos ever saw in mounting those sticks. Give me a nice steed any day."
"If you are nice we might actually do that." Draco snickered. "Who will get them and who will help Mr.-I-suck-at-Transfigurations?" he called to Harry who was several steps in front of them, too eager to get back on a horse to wait for his slower companions.
"I'll get them. After all, he is your friend. Wouldn't want you to think that I like his rock better than yours," Harry laughed over his shoulder and ran off to the stables.
"Is he alright Dray?" Blaise asked in concern.
"Ignore him; the prat actually thinks he is funny. Come on, we need to find you a rock," Draco said grabbing his friends arm and towed him towards the lake.
A rock? I knew a Veela got a bit barmy before he's fully bonded with his mate, but I never read it affected the two of them.
"Hurry up will you? We haven't got all day you know," Draco said impatiently.
"So, this rock... Anything in particular I should think about when picking one?" Blaise asked a little hesitant looking down at the pebbles littering the small beach at the edge of the lake.
Draco blinked and looked at Zabini as if he'd grown an extra head. "Anything in particular... Blaise are you alright?"
"Am I? Am I! I'm about to ask you the same mate! Why would Harry like my rock better than yours and what in Merlin's name do I need a rock for in the first place? I knew Veelas got a bit peculiar when they first connect with their mates, but this..."
Draco watched his friend rant with wide eyes and an open mouth. Then it all clicked and he burst out laughing, doubling over, and holding his soon aching midriff.
"What did you do to Draco?" a voice asked Blaise from behind.
Blaise turned sideway to answer and came face to face with a horse. Blinking he took a step back and saw Harry sitting on one of the most beautiful Arabians he had ever seen. Beside him was an equally beautiful roan. Rocks, Mr.-I-suck-at-Transfigurations, like his rock better than yours. Suddenly it all made sense and he found himself blushing.
"I always knew you lived in the gutter," Draco chuckled walking up and petting the roan.
"You need a rock, so I can transfigure it into a horse so you can go riding with us, that is if you want to," he said amid sniggers.
"Prat! Of course, I'd be glad to ride with you." Muttering under his breath Zabini went and looked for a suitable rock and he soon returned to Draco's side, holding out his prize.
Draco took it from him and walked over to the grassed area, doing what he and Harry had done that first time. Soon a pale grey horse was standing there with the faintest hint of pink among its hairs. Demanding Blaise's handkerchief Draco even created the tack and had the horse saddled for his friend. Together they mounted and soon they were walking around the lake.
"Whose brilliant idea was this and how come we haven't done this sooner?" Blaise asked enjoying being back on a horse again.
"It was Harry's and I don't know," Draco replied very pleased with his mate.
Harry merely gave them a disgruntled look and urged his horse into a gallop.
HPDM
They had been riding around for about half an hour when Ginny waved them over. Reining his horse in Harry looked down at her, grinning with happiness and looking windblown. He looked absolutely stunning the redhead realised with a small start.
"Hiya Harry, where did you get those horses?" she asked looking longingly at the boy of her dreams.
"We made them from rocks Gin," Harry replied with a grin, petting his mount on the neck.
"Wow, can you make me one too?" Ginny begged doing her best puppy dog look.
Harry shrugged. "I'm sure you can do one on your own, Ginny, it isn't that difficult. You covered that material at the end of last term. Ooops," he added as his horse, tired of standing still, suddenly reared up and took off.
Ginny and Draco watched with their hearts in their throats as Harry stayed on the spirited animal with ease and soon had him under control. He didn't stop though and with a shout Draco took off after him.
"Sorry I can't help you out Weasley, but I suck at transfiguration," Blaise said with an apologetic look before taking off after the other two.
Eyes hardening in determination Ginny went to the lake. She would show them, she would show them all. She was going to make the most beautiful horse anyone had ever seen and then they'd know that she wasn't some little girl to be ignored. Oh, yes, she would show them all right!
Feeling a sudden pain in her left hand Ginny looked down, startled to find that she had been squeezing the rock so hard it had cut into the palm of her hand. Brought back to earth she smartly turned on her heel and marched back towards the castle. She would need to check up on her notes before she attempted to create a horse, not about to risk making a fool of herself in front of everyone, she especially didn't want to bungle up in front of Harry.
HPDM
"So, Draco, where did the two of you find those outfits?" Blaise asked sometime later when the horses had calmed down and the three of them were content to walk alongside each other, enjoying the sunshine and the fresh air.
Draco shared a glance with his mate before the two of them burst into a fit of giggles.
"Did I miss something?" the Slytherin asked dryly, amused by their antics.
"Not much, just a small conversation we had with Nott," Draco replied once he had calmed down a little. "We got them at the Seven Sins after Henri threw a fit when Harry asked for leather," Draco explained, breaking into laughter as he remembered the look on the tailor's face.
Blaise cast a longer, more contemplative look at his companions. "First of all I am stunned, not to mentioned shocked that your father allowed you to visit that place, and secondly, I had no idea they carried such a tasteful stock. From what my brother had told me, I figured their ware tended to be more… trashy."
"Your brother is right," Draco nodded in agreement, "you should have seen the pants Sean put Harry in. Not exactly something you'd wear in polite company, so Harry here took matters into his own hands and designed this outfit. He did a pretty good job of it, wouldn't you say?"
"I do say. Not the style I'd favour perhaps, but I have to agree that it looks good on the two of you. But why leather?"
"Why not leather?" Harry asked, deciding it was time he entered the conversation, after all, it was about him wasn't it? He might as well contribute to it. "It is comfortable, it is naturally resistant to some minor spells, and it will protect you far better than most other materials when you are in rough terrains. Now you might not have to consider such things, but I tend to find myself in the weirdest and most bizarre situations just because I'm the Boy Who Lived. After a while you learn to think ahead," Harry said with a shrug.
Blaise found that there was nothing he could say to that, and wanting to get the worried look out of Draco's eyes, he decided to change the subject. "Who do you think it was that pranked the Great Hall last Tuesday? I haven't heard as much as a whisper of who the culprit is, either it is someone new or whoever did it has learned not to brag about it."
Draco and Harry once more shared a look before they broke down in giggles.
"Will you two stop doing that?" Blaise cried out in indignation. He wasn't used to being laughed at every time he opened his mouth. "Circe, what's wrong with you two?" he demanded when the fit looked to go on forever.
"Sorry Bly, but you are looking at the mastermind this very minute," Draco explained with pride.
"Bly!" Harry asked incredulously, wanting to change the direction of the conversation, trust Draco to spill the beans!
"Hey, if he can shorten my name, I can shorten his!" Draco defended himself with indignation.
"Mastermind?" Blaise asked, much more interested in finding out who had done what, then rehash the old argument about their names. He and Draco had been friends since they were toddlers, old friends like that should be allowed some leeway. "You mean you were the one who did that Draco? Why did you target your own House, why didn't you go after the Hufflepuffs and the Ravenclaws? But then again, no one is suspecting us; most think it was one of the seventh years Ravens who did it on a dare. No one has admitted anything though, so everyone is left guessing."
"I didn't do it, it was all Harry," Draco proclaimed with pride. "Don't worry Harry; Blaise isn't going to tell anyone, are you Bly?" Draco asked meaningly, boring his suddenly flinty gaze into Zabini, making the other boys flinch.
"Of course not!" Blaise replied indignantly, no snake tells on another snake, especially not if that snake happens to be a friend, or the mate of a friend."
Harry pulled his horse to a stop, turning to glare at the dark-haired youth. "See to it that you don't," he warned. "Draco might not do anything to you if you tell anyone I was behind that prank, but I most certainly will retaliate, and Zabini you don't want to find out what I am capable of!" With a last dark look, Harry kicked his horse into a gallop leaving the other two behind.
"I'm sorry Draco, I shouldn't have asked. I put my foot in it this time, didn't I?" Blaise said ruefully, not wanting to admit even to himself how shaken he had been by the other boy's threat.
"No, it is I who should apologise. I shouldn't have told you, it wasn't my secret to tell. I just… I was so proud of him I…"
"You couldn't help but brag a little?" Blaise filled in gently with a knowing smile. "Especially since you knew I would never betray your trust."
"Right," Draco nodded with an embarrassed smile. "I suppose I better go after him and apologise."
"You do that and I'll go back to school, I don't think I should be with you for this conversation. What do you do with the horses, turn them back into rocks?"
"No, Hagrid's been taking care of them for us, keeping them in the stable behind his hut. Why don't you take your horse over there and let it loose in the corral? I'm sure if you ask nicely he won't mind looking after your horse as well, especially considering that you like his class and are sharing the top spot with Granger."
Blaise nodded and turned his mount around. "I'll do that while you soothe some ruffled feathers."
HPDM
Draco found Harry standing by the lake, throwing pebbles into the water with a pensive look on his face. The Arabian was contentedly grazing; the reins looped loosely around one of the teen's arms.
Draco sat silently watching the scene for a moment, trying to gauge the mood his mate was in. He didn't fully understand what had set his mate off, but it was clear by the force he was throwing those pebbles, that the teen was not happy.
Sighing softly, Draco slid off his horse stepping up to where the other boy was standing, raising an eyebrow as he walked through a privacy screen. That he had not expected, why the need for the secrecy? There was no one, but the two of them and the horses within sight. Shaking his head Draco decided to focus on one problem at the time.
"I'm sorry Harry. I guess I shouldn't have told Blaise you were behind that prank, not without asking you first. It was just…" he began, only to be cut off by the dark look sent his way.
"Just what?" Harry bit out through gritted teeth, not looking happy at all.
Yep, he is pissed alright, I still can't figure out why though, Draco mused to himself. Doing his best to ignore the ache in his heart he shouldered on. "I'm just so proud of you, alright? Have you any idea how difficult it is to make something like that? Since you weren't present in the Great Hall, you had to have used a potion. Potions that make the drinker confess something are among the hardest ones you can make. Why do you think Veritaserum is so difficult to make? Do you know how many Potions Masters are able to make that stuff? Five! That's how many."
"Add to that, the fact that you are considered to be one of the worst brewers in this school. Yet you managed to not only find the recipe to whatever potion you brewed, you managed to do it flawlessly. You, Harry Potter, managed to make a complicated, potion. Is it any wonder I'm so proud of you I could burst? Hell, I'm betting you Severus is so proud of you he could burst! So yes, I told Blaise because I knew it was safe to tell him, he won't tell a soul, especially if we ask him not to. Can you forgive me?"
"You're proud of me?" Harry asked a bit stunned. That was a reaction he hadn't expected.
"You bet I am!" Draco stated with emphasis.
"But why? It was just a potion. I don't understand…" Harry said bewildered. Would he ever understand the other boy?
Draco looked up towards the sky, seeking patience. He was going to find those relatives of Harry's, and he was going to make them hurt. "Harry, didn't you hear what I just said? That potion…" Draco paused with a frown. "What potion did you do anyway?"
Harry snickered. "Black Truth," he replied once he could speak again. "Invented by one Horatio Black, he used it to spike the drinks at the Wizarding Gathering of 1022. I understand he caused quite a stir."
"Quite a stir…?" Draco replied in a shocked whisper. "Harry! Because of what he did there was a feud declared between the Merpeople and the Vampires that lasted for 250 years! Have you any idea what a mess that feud caused us wizards? Water supplies were contaminated; protective barriers were erected making it impossible for us to enter certain areas. The Merpeople even denied us access to their fire lilies because they wanted to make sure no Vampires would get their hands on the rare flower…!" he continued in an outrage.
"Why are you yelling at me?" Harry asked with a curious air, fighting hard to contain his amusement. "I wasn't even born in 1022. It wasn't me who spiked those drinks, so why are you standing there, shouting at me, waving your arms about?"
Draco paused, why was he shouting at his mate? Blinking rapidly as he gathered his scattered wits, he suddenly remembered what had started him off. "Didn't you realise what a dangerous potion Black Heart is?" he cried, his indignation back in full force. "The drinker will express their darkest, deepest desire, the darker the better. And you fed it to a bunch of school kids?" Draco could not believe what he was hearing. Had he been that wrong about Harry? Had he managed to hide a dark and sinister side to the wizarding world for the past five years? Draco felt a shiver run down his spine, who exactly was he trying to bond with?
Harry's amusement died down some once he realised just how upset the Veela was. "Calm down Draco, the potion only has that effect if you drink it. I poured some on each seat, causing it to be absorbed via the skin through the clothes. Taken that way, the potion only causes the victim to state what it is they hate. I would never do anything to deliberately hurt someone, I'm not my father. If I prank someone, it is either as payback for past sins or for fun. True, the lions and the snakes might not have found the episode funny, but from what Lucius told us, the other two Houses were practically crawling on the floor at the end."
Draco stopped to think. What Harry said was true; no harm had come from that prank. Then he smirked, the Weasel might not agree with him though, considering that Severus had had him spending an entire evening pickling bat spleens, and murtlap tentacles, and stewing slughorns, as punishment for his remark about the Potions Professor. The blond had a feeling that the redhead's feelings for Snape had not warmed one iota.
"I stand corrected. I guess I'm a bit sensitive about that incident. The Malfoys held exclusive rights to any harvested fire lilies and when we no longer could provide them, the Potions Masters hit the roof and demanded retributions from us. It was quite a mess, and since no one knew who the culprit was, there was no one we could demand revenge upon. Should have figured it was a Black that was behind the entire thing. There hasn't been a Black born who wasn't up to something no good." Draco sighed.
"If you didn't know who did it, how do you know what potion was used?" Harry wanted to know.
"You don't think that was the last time that particular potion stirred up trouble do you? Oh, no. It has popped up every once in a while, always causing a mess. Did you know that the arranged marriage between Vampire Queen Serezza of the Cobra clan and High Lord Montgomery Snape, designed to create peace between the Vampire clan and Wizards, was cancelled due to Snape's unfortunate confession that he dreamed of staking the queen's younger brother? Quite understandable if you ask me since the vampire had killed off Snape's parents and two older sisters. The Queen was not as understanding and the whole thing was called off, almost resulting in a full blown war and all because Dimitry Black fancied the Queen and wanted her for himself.
"Trust me Harry, when I tell you that that potion has cased nothing but trouble. In fact, I thought all traces of Black Truth had been destroyed to ensure that no one could ever use it again," the blond added with a thoughtful frown.
"They did," Harry nodded. "I'm not sure what they did, but it is impossible to write down the recipe. I wonder how they did that?"
"Then how did you find it?" Draco wanted to know, intrigued in spite of himself.
"The recipe might not exist on paper anymore, but the inventor still remembers how to do it. He was only too delighted to talk me through the different steps. I have never been so relieved to be finished with a potion, as I was when I bottled that thing. A more obnoxious, unpleasant painting I have never met!" Harry said, shuddering at the memory.
"Then why did you put up with him?"
Harry shrugged once more. "For one, I didn't know until later what a dangerous potion Black Truth is, and second, I like the idea of its effect too much to pass it up just because my teacher was as bigheaded as Lockhart, only not as pleasant."
Draco laughed. "You have got to take me to see the Manor! Maybe during the Christmas break?"
"Sure, why not? It is yours by birthright anyway. You are the last male Black descendant. That reminds me, what did you mean with 'there was no one we could demand revenge upon'?" Harry asked with curiosity.
"My forefather swore an oath, that if a Malfoy ever found out who the culprit behind that debacle was, they were bound by his oath to demand retribution to the loss of face and the loss of income his or her actions had caused." Draco explained, intrigued by the look on Harry's face.
"Is that oath still valid?"
"Of course, a Malfoy takes revenge very seriously. Especially when it involves a slur on our good name. Did you know that one of my forefathers utterly ruined the current Minister of Magic because he had the gall to make a disparaging comment about his youngest daughter?"
Harry waved that incident aside, far more interested in the implications Draco's first statement had awakened. "Then aren't you bound by that oath to take revenge on Narcissa, since she is a Black?" Harry asked, putting on his most innocent face.
Draco's mouth fell open and he felt heat creep up into his cheeks. He had totally missed the implications by his own words. His father would never let him live this down! His father… Black… Draco began to smirk. "As a matter of fact, I am. And so will my father once we tell him about this. Come on lets go!" Draco demanded, grabbing hold of Harry's arm, dragging him towards the school.
"Not so fast," Harry protested, digging his heels in, refusing to budge. "We aren't finished yet."
"What else is there to say? I bet you a lot of the contracts mum has will be invalid due to the oath. Do you realise what this will mean for us when father finally can throw that bitch out for good?"
"I'm not talking about your stupid revenge!" Harry sighed, rolling his eyes. "We got sidetracked, remember? I want you to understand why exactly I got so mad at you."
Thinking back at the events that had led up to all this Draco remembered that, yes indeed, they had gotten a bit sidetracked. "I'm listening Harry," the blond promised with a sincere look on his face. He really did want to understand why the other teen had flown off the handle the way he had. He had just bragged about his mate to his best friend, what was the harm in that?
Harry sighed and rubbed his nose. This being a mate clearly would take some time getting used to. "I guess I kind of understand why you told Blaise that it was me behind that prank. He is your friend…"
"Yeah, we've known each other since we were mere babies," Draco helpfully cut in.
"But I don't think you understand what being with me means," Harry continued to speak as if the blond hadn't said a word.
"What is it I don't understand?" Draco asked with a frown.
"You know fully well that Skeeter is an illegal animagus," Harry said pointedly, giving Draco a dark look; he still hadn't forgiven him for the things he'd said to that bitch during their fourth year. "Add to that, the fact that Fudge would love to drag my name through the mud and you have to be very careful about what you say to people, always being very mindful of where you are. Now, inside Hogwarts it is safe to talk about stuff, since there are several wards protecting the students and the Professors from eavesdroppers. Salazar saw to that, unfortunately it was too late to prevent that bitch from printing her nasty stuff. He might 'only' be a painting, but Salazar still holds strong ties to Hogwarts, and he had a talk to her and together they modified the wards inside the school to prevent people like Rita Skeeter to eavesdrop on private conversations.
"However, out here, there are no protections. If you are to talk about sensitive stuff you have to erect privacy wards. Ron, Hermione, and I became experts on those during last year, what with hiding away from that toad and her Inquisition Squad. Now it is practically second hand to always put up a screen if I want to talk about things I don't want to become common knowledge. Call me paranoid, but Mad-Eye has a point. Constant Vigilance, it is the only way to stay ahead of the game."
Draco leaned back looking up into the sky considering the things Harry had told him. Was it really that bad? Somehow the blond found it difficult to believe it was, but for now he would respect Harry's wishes and play along. Later he would have a quiet word with his father, maybe the older Malfoy had some pearls of wisdom that applied on this situation? Then he remembered. "What about that day in Hogsmeade, when we had lunch at Rosmerta's we talked about a lot of personal stuff then, how come…?"
"You mean you didn't feel the privacy screen I erected once the food had been brought to us?" Harry asked with disbelief.
Thinking back Draco was forced to shake his head, he hadn't felt any magic being used.
"Huh," was Harry's response.
"I'm not sure I fully understand what it is you are worried about, but I promise to be more careful in the future," Draco said eventually, deciding this was matter he needed to consider later and in private.
"Good. Thank you," Harry added with a small smile. "I know you and the rest of the wizarding world think I'm leading some kind of charmed life, but I think you will find that it is far from fun being the Boy Who Lived, and I'm not only talking about the fact that I have a madman out for my life." Unwrapping the reins from his arm, Harry walked over to his horse and after a pat to the proud neck, mounted his ride once more. I really need to think of a name for him, I can't go on calling him Horse, he mused "I don't know about you, but I'm famished. Wanna head inside and get some lunch?"
"Gladly, some prat woke me at the crack of dawn and forgot to feed me!" Draco complained haughtily, pleased when his antics tricked a laugh out of Harry. Side by side they walked the horses back to the stable, and side by side they headed back towards the school. For this brief moment in time, life was good.
Next Time:
Harry has another confrontation with Hermione,
things doesn't go exactly as the witch has imagined it…
Stay Tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 21

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/21/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Harry has an confrontation with his friends
Harry and Draco enjoys their Sunday morning
Disclaimer:
See chapter one
A/N:
You can find my responses to some of my reviews for chapter 20 at: www . livejournal . com / users / janarae / 927 . html (remove the spaces.)
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Thank you Keikokin for checking my grammar, any mistakes left are my own.

More Confrontations
"You two look like you have been enjoying yourselves," Lucius said looking up at the two teens as they entered their rooms, looking windblown and happy.
"Hello father! Yes, we've been out riding with Blaise. We had a race to see whose horse was fastest and Harry's won," Draco said bounding over to the coffee table and the tray with refreshments. Pouring himself a goblet of juice, he drank from it eagerly, not pausing to breathe until he had finished.
Lucius looked over at Harry, an eyebrow raised in inquiry.
"It was my idea," Harry answered the unvoiced question. He shrugged slightly. "They were friends before I came into the picture. I'd hate for them to stop being friends because of me."
"I see. That is very mature of you," Lucius said once more thanking the deities for the kindness they had bestowed upon his son.
"Not really, I know how important friends are and how much it hurts when you loose one. Sometimes it is unavoidable and sometimes all it takes is some effort. Draco is not my slave. He is free to have whomever friends he likes." Eying the tray Harry changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I am starved."
"So am I," Draco piped in, pouring himself some more juice. "How about some more Italian? I'm in the mood for some pasta."
"That's fine with me, I'll just need to go and get cleaned up first," Harry nodded his agreement.
"I guess pasta it is," Lucius said with amusement to the empty room. At Harry's words Draco had rushed to his bedroom to shower and change as well, leaving the elder Malfoy alone.
"Hey dad! You are never going to believe what potion it was that Harry used when he pranked the Great Hall," Draco said eagerly once they were sitting down at the table, their plates loaded with food.
Lucius merely raised an eyebrow, it wasn't exactly a question he had lost any sleep over, but by the way Draco was fairly vibrating with excitement it must have been something spectacular that had been used. "Then why don't you spare me the effort?" he drawled with a teasing smile.
"Black Truth!" Draco crowed timing his reply to when his father put some pasta into his mouth, laughing in delight as his father promptly choked.
"Black Truth!" Lucius managed to wheeze out, grabbing for his wine glass in an effort to get his windpipe unblocked.
"Black Truth," Draco nodded in confirmation.
"Where, in Merlin's name, did you find the recipe for that thrice-cursed potion boy?" Lucius roared, turning his now blazing gaze on the brunet sitting next to his son.
Harry shrank back from the angry man, having a flashback to his uncle. The shout of 'boy' did not help him stay in the here and now. Sitting there, frozen in fear, Harry soon bolted from the room when Lucius suddenly reached out to grab him by the front of his vest.
Running into his bedroom, Harry threw up the strongest warding charms he knew before looking widely around the room. He shouldn't have run in here, now he was trapped! Cursing vehemently at his own stupidity, Harry dived into the wardrobe, slamming it shut and warding it as well. He hoped by doing so that either they didn't manage to break down the doors, leaving him alone, or that by the time they reached him they'd be exhausted and he would be able to slip past them and get away.
In the living room two blond men stared at the seat where Harry moments earlier had been seated. Then the surprise wore off and Draco rounded on his father. "What did you do that for? "he shouted incensed. "Harry didn't know the history that potion holds to our family! But thanks to him we now know who the inventor was; who it was that used that thing to spike those drinks, and you will never guess who it was! Montgomery Black! Which means that the Blacks owe us retribution! And that is why I brought it up, because this means we will be able to take an even more effective revenge on mum than just kicking her out of the family! But you had to scare Harry off with your display! How could you?" Draco screamed, his worry for his mate overriding everything else.
Lucius had by now calmed down, realising that his reaction had perhaps not been the best when dealing with an abused child. However, he was not about to allow his own son to talk to him like that.
Glaring at the youth, he sent a powerful calming spell his way, waiting for it to take effect. Once he had calmed down, Lucius glared at his son and hissed, "I know he is your mate, but you are never to speak to me like that again, understood?"
Draco gulped and nodded wearily, he had for a moment forgotten how scary his father could be when truly angered.
"Good, as for my reaction, how did you think I would react? Calmly say, 'that's good Harry, would you mind telling me who the inventor is?'" Lucius asked his voice laced with sarcasm. "Of course I was going to hit the roof! It took the Malfoys years to win back their good name as providers of excellent potions ingredients, and we never truly managed completely; thus forcing my great-great-grandfather to give up on that avenue after the mess with the Weasleys. You know very well how much money we lost then."
"No, what you should have done was find me alone and tell me this in private. Harry might be a part of this family now, but some things are better told when alone, and don't you ever forget that." Lucius pierced his son with a dark glare, still infuriated at how immaturely Draco had handled the entire thing.
Draco sighed and hung his head. His father was right. He had just been so eager to share the good news, but thinking back at how he himself had reacted, he could see that this was not the best way to go about it. "You are correct father, and I apologise. I did not think, I just…"
"I understand my Dragon; believe it or not, I still remember how it was to be young and impulsive." Lucius smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand on his son's shoulder, pulling him into a hug.
Draco fairly melted into the hug, it showed him better than any words that his father had forgiven him.
"What about Harry?" Draco eventually asked, pulling away with regret. Now that his worries with his father had been sorted out, his concern for his mate was back in full strength.
"Let's see if we can convince him to come out," Lucius mused, grabbing hold of his necklace. "I felt the strength of those wards he put up and I do not wish to attempt to break them down. He will be truly formidable once his powers have fully developed."
Draco beamed with pride, taking hold of his own necklace, intending to eavesdrop on the conversation.
"Harry? Can you hear me child? I wish to apologise for my outburst, it was most un-courteous on my part and I wish to beg your pardon," Lucius stated formally.
Draco snorted; no way was that speech going to get Harry to come out from his room!
Harry was sitting curled up on the floor of the wardrobe when Lucius' voice suddenly appeared at the back of his mind. Stiffening, the brunet listened intently. The elder Malfoy didn't sound angry, but you never knew. He hadn't known the older man for that long, what if it was just a trick to lure him out?
"Harry?" Lucius asked once more, a bit worried that the teen hadn't answered him. Just how badly had he frightened the boy?
"Hey Harry, it's alright. Dad isn't mad anymore," Draco chimed in helpfully.
Harry slowly backed further into the wardrobe; he was confused and didn't know what to do. He wanted to believe them, but did he dare to?
"Harry? Please answer me if you can hear me," Lucius said getting extremely worried.
Slowly Harry grabbed hold of his necklace. Lucius sounded worried; there wasn't a hint of anger in his voice. Uncle Vernon had never managed to mask his emotions that well, maybe it was safe? "Lucius?" he all but whispered, as if speaking the blond's name would bring him crashing into the room.
"Harry," Lucius said, his voice filled with relief. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine sir," Harry replied automatically.
"Somehow I don't think you are," Lucius stated dryly. "I'm sorry I scared you, I wasn't thinking… Would you please come out so we can finish our lunch? You must be starved by now and I promise not to do anything to upset you again."
"Lunch? You're still going to feed me?" Harry asked without thinking, revealing more than he'd intended to the two Malfoys.
Lucius hung his head in sorrow; did the child really think they would withhold food? Then he mentally shook his head, of course he would think that, that was the lesson those blasted muggles had instilled again and again.
"I want you to know something Harry, and I want you to believe what I'm about to tell you. As long as I am alive and breathing, you will never want for food ever again, understand?"
"Yes," Harry whispered, although deep down in his heart he did not believe Malfoy at all.
Lucius sighed, but did not push the matter, only time would tell the boy that he could trust them to take care of him. "Will you please come out? The food is getting cold and Draco is wearing a path in the carpet."
Draco looked up from where he was standing next to his father and stuck his tongue out.
"You promise not to shout?" Harry asked timidly, wanting so badly to believe Lucius when he said he wasn't angry anymore.
"Yes, Harry, you have my word as a Malfoy," Lucius replied, willing the skittish youth to emerge from his room.
For several long moments Harry just sat there, clasping the necklace tightly. Then he sighed and dropped it. He couldn't stay here for the rest of his life, so he might as well go out and face the music. And the next time he fled, he'd make sure not to box himself in like this!
Taking the ward down, Harry emerged into his bedroom. Sending his senses out, he listened intently, but nothing could be heard. Knowing he had no other options, he took a deep breath and took down the wards on the bedroom door.
In the living room, the Malfoys let out a sigh of relief when they felt the ward go down. Eagerly they waited for the door to open.
It took another five minutes before it opened though, and Harry timidly peeked out through the small crack. Being met with twin reassuring smiles, Harry emerged from the bedroom, still looking tense and ready to run.
"There you are," Draco said in delight, bounding over to his mate, wrapping a friendly arm around stiff shoulders. Steering Harry towards the table, he decided he better apologise to the brunet as well.
"I'm sorry Harry. This whole mess is my fault. I should have known how dad would react to our news, and I should have told him in private. That potion really is a sore point for us Malfoys and I really, really should have known better, and…"
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. "Draco, you're babbling. I forgive you. Besides, I overreacted as well." Shrugging slightly Harry settled back in his chair, picking up his fork, determined to put the entire episode behind him.
The Malfoys were no less eager, and they too resumed eating, chatting pleasantly about nothing at all.
Privately though, Lucius was determined to find out what had set Harry off, there had to be more to it than him merely loosing his temper.
However, the three of them were destined not to have a quiet meal in peace. They had barely taken three bites of their lunch when there suddenly was a ruckus outside the door. It almost sounded as if someone was screaming at Salazar.
"Maybe we should put up a temporary painting to avoid situations like this," Harry mused, wincing at a particularly loud scream.
"Circe and Merlin, what is going on out there?" Lucius demanded getting to his feet, making sure not to show his growing irritation, afraid he'd set off Harry again. Throwing the portrait open he found a red-faced Hermione Granger standing there, wand in hand, and her hair transfigured into a horse's tail.
"Miss Granger, what is the meaning of this?"
"I want to see Harry!" Hermione demanded, levelling her wand on the aristocrat.
"And for that you see fit to cause such a ruckus? Who told you where he was if I may ask?" Lucius asked having a feeling it hadn't been Harry who'd told her of his new whereabouts.
"Does it matter? You have no right keeping his friends from him!" Hermione snapped.
"I suppose it was Dumbledore then. Very well, you had better come in I suppose. I do hope you have better manners sitting at the table then you have displayed so far."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked entering the living room.
"We were just sitting down to eat lunch. I assume you wish to join us?" Lucius said with a long suffering sigh.
"I, um, I don't want to impose," Hermione said a bit uncomfortably, she hadn't counted on Malfoy senior to be present. But what did I expect? They are keeping him a prisoner here, forcing poor Harry to be rude to his friends. Well I'm going to show him that no matter what, he still has friends. No matter what he is forced to do to push us away.
"Since you already are..." Lucius said meaningly causing Hermione to blush.
Holding her head up high she stated, "Then I'd be delighted to join you for lunch."
"Splendid. I am sure the elves made enough for one more," Lucius said with air of a martyr, causing Harry to choke on a giggle.
"Hello Hermione, I wasn't expecting you. Is everything alright?" Harry said doing his best to be polite. He didn't feel like being a good host though, he had come to cherish these moments when it was only him and the Malfoys, and he was resenting this intrusion very much. Added to that was the fact that he still felt shaky and insecure about the incident earlier… He did not need to deal with the extra strain of having Hermione present.
"Yes, everything is fine," Hermione replied sitting down between the two Malfoys, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Her eyes widened when she finally noticed what was being served and she dug in with relish.
Beside her, Draco rolled his eyes but he refrained from saying anything. He was too busy wishing the witch to the other side of the earth. He wanted to reassure himself that Harry really was all right. Besides, he still hadn't forgiven her and the Weasel for the things they had said to Harry. Those three were supposed to be the best of friends! How dare they treat Harry like that?
"I didn't think you and Ron were talking to me, considering the things you said before the healing class," Harry prodded rolling some spaghetti onto his fork, mirroring the actions of Lucius and Draco to the best of his ability. The Dursleys had never bothered with good manners at the dinner table and Harry didn't want the Malfoys to feel ashamed of him.
"Oh? And what did they say?" Lucius inquired. If those immature brats were interfering with Draco and his mate they would rue they day they where born.
"Nothing of importance," Harry waved the question aside, not wanting to go through that argument again, especially not in front of Lucius.
"Harry! How can you say that! Ron had some valid points and you know it!" Hermione snapped levelling a glare at the boy sitting opposite her.
"And what exactly did Mr. Weasley say?" Lucius purred.
"What didn't he say? He sprouted the usual nonsense that all Slytherins are slimy snakes, not to mention that you are both Malfoys. Then he was miffed I could look past the way Draco has been treating us for the past five years, as if we have been behaving any better," Harry snorted earning himself another glare from Hermione.
"How dare you Harry! Have you already forgotten all the times Malfoy there called me a mudblood? Or all the times he's insulted you and Ron? If you say you have I won't believe you and I will drag you to see Madame Pomfrey to check for memory charms or other spells!"
"No one has memory charmed me, but maybe someone has done that to you? Yes, Draco has made it a sport to torment us, but tell me Hermione, would he have continued to do so if we hadn't raised to the bait each and every time? It is no fun teasing someone who doesn't react. We have said and done some pretty nasty things too. What about the time Ron tried to hex Draco into spewing up slugs? You didn't seem to mind that very much. What about the time you slapped him? If you had ignored him he would have gone away, instead you gave him power over you, we all did."
"But he always started it!" Hermione cried out in righteous anger.
"Oh, please! What are we, five years old? It is all in the past, let it go Hermione, I have."
"What about the diary he gave Ginny? Huh? What about that? Or when Sirius died? He was there that night too!"
"Is there a point to all this?" Harry asked through gritted teeth. He was starting to get angry, tired at being on the defensive. He had actually thought Hermione would be able to support his decision in giving Draco a chance, clearly he had been hoping for too much.
"The point is that you can't trust them Harry! Don't you see? They are turning you away from your true friends, by alienating them until all you have are them. They are Death Eaters. They are on Riddle's side. They will turn you over to him once they have earned your trust, can't you see that? Come back Harry, come back to the tower where you belong before it is too late."
Harry slowly rose from his chair, his eyes glowing with suppressed rage and power. "I think it is you who should return to the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione. And you can tell the Headmaster that you did your best, but I am not about to turn my back on the Malfoys. Yes, they have acted as enemies in the past, but in the past week they have acted more like true friends than you and Ron have in a long time. If I am forced to choose, then I chose them. Not you and Ron. Them. Stew on that why don't you? And while you are at it, I suggest you re-read those books on Veelas I know you've been going through. Clearly the information missed your brain and hit further south!" he snapped, stalking over to the door and flinging it open, pointedly waiting for Hermione to leave.
The witch sat in her chair, stunned. Seeing the disapproving stares the Malfoys were directing at her Hermione gave off a soft eeep and fled the room, not daring to stay a moment longer.
"I'm sorry you were subjected to that," Harry said with a tired sigh, sinking back into his chair, looking at his food with distaste before pushing the plate away, unable to stomach the food on it anymore.
"I am more concerned about you," Lucius replied pushing the plate back. The child had hardly eaten anything at all. "Eat a little, you will feel better afterwards," he coaxed gently.
"I'm not really hungry anymore." Harry said with a wry grin.
"I know, but you need to eat, how about one of the croissants?"
Harry gave in and took one of the breads, split and buttered it. He bit into it and chewed but Lucius was betting a pretty Knut that the child didn't taste what he was eating.
HPDM
Lucius watched as Harry and Draco made themselves comfortable, stretching out on the two couches, each holding an old journal from one of the trunks. The events from earlier in the day were praying heavily on his mind. Harry had more issues than he'd suspected, but he shouldn't have been surprised by the boy's reaction to anger. He came from an abusive household for Merlin's sake; of course the child was going to react badly to displays of anger. They needed to address what had happened, yet, at the same time Lucius didn't think it was wise to bring it up so soon.
Then there were the things Granger had said. By Salazar, could she have brought up the events at the Department of Mystery at a worse time? Harry was already dealing with so much; he didn't need the reminders of that night, not after that nightmare… Maybe he could ease the child's mind when it came to his involvement in that fiasco. Making up his mind, Lucius made his way over to the couch Harry was occupying, saying softly, "I wasn't there that night you know, the night the Dark Lord lured you to the Ministry."
"I know," Harry replied dully, not wanting to talk about it.
Sighing softly, Lucius settled next to the teen. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but the boy needed to realise that what had happened wasn't his fault.
Before he could say anything, Harry continued in a monotone voice, "It was Avery using Polyjuice. Dumbledore told me this summer. He didn't want me to fly off the handle if I was to find out that you were out and about. Apparently no one told my 'friends' this little fact." Harry snorted. "For some reason I wasn't allowed to read the Prophet. Was Fudge using his usual approach when dealing with unpleasant facts?"
"You could say that yes. He was forced to admit that the Dark Lord is indeed back, and he tried to get the heat off himself by attempting to prosecute you for breaking into the Department of Mysteries. I don't know what Dumbledore did to prevent that going to trial and frankly, I don't care."
Harry nodded, not interested either. "Why did he polyjuice Avery? Why not send you if he wanted you there?"
"The Dark Lord wasn't sure his plans were going to work. Moreover, he needs me too much to risk having me arrested and my good name smeared any more than it already is. So he sent in Avery in my place, thinking that if it blew up in our faces, as it did, it would muddle the waters and make people think that the other times they'd seen me, maybe it wasn't actually me."
He looked down at Harry and added, "Harry I have done a lot of things I'm not proud of in the name of the Dark Lord."
"I know. You don't have to explain," Harry said gently, placing a hand on the older man's arm. "I can't tell you how I know, but I know that Severus will find a way to remove the Dark Mark and you two will be free to be together as you should have been all along."
"How did you know?" Lucius asked in shock.
"I'm not sure," Harry tried to explain. "But ever since my birthday I have had dreams. At first I thought they were more visions from dear old Voldie, but I'm not so sure anymore. I saw you coming into your inheritance. I saw how you found your mate in Severus. You were so happy." He smiled at the memory. "Then your fathers decided to step in and I saw how they forced you to take the mark, tearing you apart. But I have also dreamed a dream where you two are together, free of the mark, free of that bitch Narcissa, and the four of us are living as one big happy family. I couldn't make sense out of that one but then I found out that Draco was a Veela and I was his mate and I couldn't help but wonder if that had been a glimpse from the future and..."
Harry wasn't aware he was crying until Lucius pulled him up and into a gentle hug. Burying his face into the strong shoulder Harry let the tears flow, for the first time not ashamed of them. Then an added warmth appeared at his back and he realised it was Draco, silently offering his support as well.
"Harry, I promise you that we will do our utmost to make that dream come true. You have my word as a Malfoy," Lucius whispered, rocking all of them until Harry had cried himself to sleep.
Easing the boy back down on the couch, tucking a blanket around him, Lucius sat and just looked at the youth who had given him so much hope.
"Father?"
"Yes son?"
"Do you think he is a Seer?"
"I don't know my Dragon. It is centuries since the Potters produced a true Seer and Lily was supposedly muggle born. I am beginning to doubt that though. All we can do for now is be there for him and keeping his secrets. It is clear that he has told no one and I'm guessing he has good reasons for it. Who knows what he has 'seen'.
Draco settled on the floor next to his father, pressing into his legs. "Thank you for being there for him father."
"That is what families are for son. A true family never lets its member's struggle through life
alone."
Draco looked pensively at his mate, who looked so peaceful while he slept. It was dawning on him how... drawn Harry looked while awake. As if he carried a heavy burden on his shoulders. Silently he cursed the wizarding world for doing this to his mate. He did not deserve that. The state of the world was not his fault, or his responsibility and he couldn't help but wonder how different Harry's life would have been if his parents had been alive. That reminded him of their conversation in the bookshop and he turned troubled eyes on his father.
"Dad? Do the Potter's have a Manor?"
"A Manor? The Potters? I would guess so son. Why do you ask?"
"It was something Harry said while we were shopping the other day. He said he didn't think the Potters had a Manor, because if they had, why didn't they go there when they went into hiding? You've always told me that if the Manor's Blood Wards were raised, no being would be able to penetrate them and that we would be perfectly safe there..." his voice trailed off and he looked expectantly at his father.
"That is true Draco. I've never thought about it before, but Godric's Hollow is, well, was, nothing but a big cottage. It sure as hell was no Manor. Considering how old the Potter Family line is, yes, they should have a Manor, if not a Castle (even). I wonder why James didn't take his family there? He must have known they would be safer there than under even the Fidelius Charm. After all, there are ways to get around that charm. There is no way around
Blood Wards." Lucius stared into space as he tried to remember the things he'd been told of the Potters.
"Do you think it was more meddling by Dumbledore? After all, he knew the entire prophecy. Maybe there was something in it that he considered worth sacrificing some of his most loyal followers for in hopes of bringing Riddle down."
"I don't know. Considering the way he has been treating Harry all these years, I'm beginning to wonder. I have always considered Albus Dumbledore a meddling old fool. I never took him for being a ruthless bastard as well." He looked Draco in the eyes, trying to convey how serious he was. "I want you to be very careful Draco. Make sure you always carry your portkey, and I will be giving one to Harry as well. Considering the actions of his friends, I am beginning to fear that Dumbledore might try and separate the two of you, no matter how supportive of your union he seems to be."
"Dad?"
"I know he is desperate to get the two of us on his side in this war, but at the same time he is even more desperate to have Harry completely under his thumb. He wants to have a pawn, not a warrior. Harry is starting to show his independence and I fear the blame will be put on us. Promise me that you will be extremely careful from now on, Dragon. Don't trust anyone or anything unless it is given to you by me or Severus."
"I promise Father." Draco swore solemnly. "What have you found out? Has Dumbles done something else to hurt Harry?"
Lucius considered carefully what to tell his son, but in the end he opted to tell the truth – the full truth. His son deserved to know and he needed to know if he was to help his mate heal. "While you were sleeping in the infirmary, Poppy had a few things she whished to share with me..."

Next Time:
Dumbledore steps up his meddling and Harry hits the roof,
Stay tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 22

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/22/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Summary:
Draco finds his mate and a tentative relationship is beginning to build
Harry and Draco enjoys their Sunday morning
Hermione comes for a visit
A/N:
You can find my responses to some of my reviews for chapter 21 at: www . livejournal . com / users / janarae / 1032 . html (remove the spaces.)
This will in time be a slash-story. Don't like it? Don't read it.
Thank you Keikokin for checking my grammar, any mistakes left are my own.

Meddling Headmaster and the Dark Mark
Hermione marched down the corridors of Hogwarts, fuming. That had not gone the way she had anticipated! She had been prepared to go and visit Harry and be gracious when taking him back, although he had not been behaving the way he should. He hadn't even bothered to tell her and Ron where his new rooms were, she had to go to the Headmaster to find that out.
Had Harry been grateful that she had come? Noooo. He had hidden it well, but Hermione could read him like one of her books, and she knew fully well that he hadn't been pleased to see her. Who the hell did he think he was? Didn't he realise that he was nothing without her? Who kept nagging at him to make him study? Had he any idea how abysmal his grades would have been if it wasn't for her helping him with his schoolwork?
Furthermore, who exactly was it that had puzzled the pieces together when they had been trying to figure out what that menace Fluffy was hiding? Who was it that had figured out that the monster that was roaming the school during their second year was a Basilisk? Hermione Granger, resident genius, that's who!
How dare Harry throw all that aside? How dare he spend all his time with the Malfoys and not acknowledge that he still needed her at his side? What did the Malfoys have that she didn't? Besides money, but Harry had plenty of that himself and he didn't need any more.
Didn't he realise? No he didn't, Hermione was forced to admit, and that was one of the reasons she had stayed friends with him for all these years. She had early on realised that although wizards like Albus Dumbledore liked muggleborns and did not discriminate against them, most of the wizarding world was not as forward in their thinking and still measured a person by their blood. If she was to get somewhere, she needed the help of a wizard like Harry Potter.
The boy had no political aspirations what so ever, but Hermione had, and she figured she easily would become the next Minister of Magic after she graduated if she had the backing of the Hero, Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived. She was not about to let her dreams allow to go up in smoke just because Harry suddenly was the mate of a Veela!
Hermione shuddered at the thought. At first when Professor Dumbledore had told her and Ron that Harry was a Veela's mate, she had been thrilled for Harry's sake. It was an added bonus that the Veela in question was Draco Malfoy. If she could get both those boys behind her, there was no opposition she could not overcome between her intelligence, Harry's hero status, or the Malfoy prestige; although it was a bit tarnished nowadays she had to admit. Still, if they were associated with Harry Potter, the smudge would soon be forgotten.
However, that was before she truly studied what being with a Veela entitled, and she hadn't liked what she'd found. If only she had read up on the creatures last year, but for once Hermione hadn't bothered since she was more concerned with the end of school and recovering from the fiasco at the Department of Mystery. Being the chosen one of a Veela was nothing like the romantic notions she'd had, fuelled by the lectures given by McGonagall.
She had been given the impression that the Veela would spend his or her life doing everything in their powers to make their mate happy. Hermione had liked that idea, and had even spent a few evenings dreaming of having her own Veela, but that was only half the truth. The lecture hadn't mentioned much that the mate was virtually their Veela's slave! They could not spend time freely with other people; the Veela had to sanction which people it was alright for their mate to associate with. Furthermore, the Veela was extremely reluctant to let their mate out of their sight, ruled as they were by their fears that their mate would leave them.
Hermione snorted; of course the mate would leave them, when they were given no freedom. All her life Hermione had been ruled by other people and once she was considered an adult no one would ever tell her what to do ever again! Her parents had forever kept nagging at her not to read so much and spend time with her friends. Her 'friends' never wanted to sit quietly in a cosy corner and read, they only wanted to run around screaming and playing some silly game or other, when they weren't gossiping about boys and clothes. Hermione suppressed another shudder.
Her teachers hadn't been much better; either they had tried to hold her back to give the idiots in her class a chance to shine, or they were pressuring her into taking special classes, which brought her parents down on her back for spending too much time studying and not enough being a kid. Well maybe she hadn't wanted to be like those stupid children she'd been forced to spend time with? Maybe she wanted to read and become something more than some stupid dentist!
To think that people thought she was in the bathroom crying because something Ronald Weasley had said that time in first year, as if that prat had meant anything to her then! No she had been furious with her teachers; Flitwick had been the third teacher to inform her, gently and with a pitying smile no less, that first years weren't allowed to do special projects for extra credit. Only those in third year and up could do that, since it was believed a student needed to concentrate on their lessons for the first two years since magic was new to most of them. Hermione snorted at the memory, as if she hadn't been on top of all her classes, showing everyone that she already knew the material and could very well do a few extra projects, but nooo. They could bend the rules for people like Harry Potter, but not for her! Oh, it still made her so angry just thinking about it.
Hermione came to a stop at an isolated alcove and she slipped inside it, settling on the windowsill, looking out yet not really seeing the landscape spreading out before her. She missed Percy. Despite the fact that he had been a fifth year and a Prefect, he hadn't minded spending time with her in the library, explaining things to her when she got stuck. In return, she had listened to him when he talked to her about his ambitions and the views he held for the future of the wizarding world. It was those talks that sparked her own political interest. Finally, here was somewhere that she could make a difference, an area where she could make a name for herself and show all those thumbing their nose at her simply because she wasn't like them.
Oh, how many times she had to bite her tongue not to lash out when Ron was maligning Percy? He just didn't understand what it took to get somewhere in life. He didn't realise what guts it took to go against your own family to do what you knew was right. So what if Percy had chosen to believe Fudge instead of following Albus Dumbledore? They were both trying to improve the wizarding world, only they went about it in different ways. It was Ron, not Percy that was shallow and petty. How dare he cut all ties with his brother just because they disagreed on a few things?
Hermione sighed and stared up into the sky. If only Percy wasn't engaged to that chit Clearwater… She wouldn't mind trying to win him for herself, just think of all the things they could accomplish together. With an ambitious man like Percy at her side, and with the backing of Arthur Weasley, who might not be high up in the Ministry ranking, but he did have friends and connections just about everywhere, plus the good word of Harry Potter…
Hermione sighed once more. What she had was Ron, a not particularly bright boy, but he did love her and he would support her no matter what, of that she was sure. She would still have the senior Weasley's backing, now all she had to make sure was that Harry didn't pull away any further than he had. It was probably all Malfoys doing anyway. Harry had been a bit distant during the summer, but everyone knew that was just his way of dealing with his grief. But he had had the entire summer to come to grips with his feelings, and it was time for him to focus on other things, like his studies and being with his friends.
All she had to figure out now was how to make him see that being with Draco was a very bad idea, and bring him back into their trio. She liked being a part of the Golden Trio, and she would do anything to make sure they stayed a trio. She had invested far too much time and energy in Harry to allow him to turn his back on her now. Especially since they only had two more years before they graduated. She had not allowed herself to be dragged along for all those adventures, and broken all those rules, just to be left with nothing at the end of the day!
Hermione tapped her bottom lip trying to think of what to do next. Talking to Harry had been pretty pointless. She would need help to get through to him. Unfortunately the only one she could think of who could help her was Ron, only Ron was too infuriated with Draco to see things clearly. Maybe if she talked to him, she could get him to see reason. Maybe if he realised that blowing up at Malfoy would only serve to drive Harry further away. While if they ignored the blond, Harry would probably listen to them and agree to come back to them.
Nodding her head decisively, Hermione left the little alcove, with a new spring in her step. She had a plan. Now all she needed to do was find Ron, who probably still was in the Great Hall considering that lunch was still being served. The witch shook her head in dismay, the way that boy stuffed his face all the time; you'd think he had tapeworms or something. Hmm, I wonder if they affect wizards? Perhaps I'll ask Madam Pomfrey the next time I see her.
HPDM
Hermione walked into the Great Hall, and as she had suspected, there was Ron, eating and talking with Dean and Seamus. They are probably wasting away the time discussing some silly sport when they could be studying. Boys! Hermione snorted with disdain. Plastering on a pleasant smile, she walked up to her year mates and settled down opposite of Ron. "Hello," she greeted them pleasantly, picking up an apple and toying with it.
"Hello 'Mione, how did… Merlin! What happened to you?" Ron gasped, choking on his mouthful of food.
"Ron?" Hermione asked, confused by the redhead's reaction. A snicker next to her caused her to turn towards Seamus, who was turning Weasley red in the face from holding in his snickers. "What's wrong with you people?" she demanded, getting annoyed.
Dean didn't bother trying to talk; he merely transfigured a napkin into a mirror and held it up for her to look into.
Hermione gasped and her hands flew up to her hair that somehow had been turned into a horse's tail. Feeling the coarse horsehair under her trembling fingers Hermione gave out an ear-piercing cry of outrage before she fled the Hall, tears of anger gathering in her eyes. Just wait until she got her hands on Harry! This was all his fault, she just knew he was the one behind this! She was so going to make him pay! Then she was going to make him come crawling back on his knees, begging her for her forgiveness!
HPDH
"Headmaster! Something has to be done! Just look what he did to me!" Hermione cried bursting into Dumbledore's office, not waiting for the aged man to greet them.
Dumbledore looked up from the book he was reading and blinked. Then he blinked again. He had never seen Hermione Granger this agitated before, and he had certainly never seen her wearing a horse's tail either. "Miss Granger?" he asked putting the book down. "Would you like some tea?" He didn't dare offer her a lemon drop. With a soft sigh he looked longingly at his stash, the candy always helped him think better, helped clear his mind. He wasn't about to try one in front of company, though, not as long as they were unpredictable. If only he could figure out how that hooligan did it!
"No thank you sir. What I want is for Harry to be detangled from the Malfoys. They are a bad influence on him! Just look what he did to my hair!" Hermione cried out in indignation, stalking about the room.
Ron, who had accompanied her for moral support, cautiously settled himself in a chair, eager to stay out of the enraged witch's way.
"Calm down Miss Granger and tell me what happened," Dumbledore soothed, turning his mind away from his lemon drops. This was clearly something serious that deserved his total focus.
Hermione stopped her pacing and took several calming breaths. "We, that is, Ron and I, tried to talk to Harry yesterday on our way to class. Malfoy was there - as always!" she snorted, getting agitated again. "He is always hanging around Harry these days. It is impossible to find Harry alone. We tried to connect with Harry, but Malfoy sabotaged us and we ended up in (a...) an argument." She turned large, earnest eyes on the Headmaster. "Sir, we know how important it is for us to support Harry, especially at the moment, but must he hang out with Malfoy every second of the day? I don't like him. He always provokes an argument. How are we to talk to Harry and remind him of where his friends are, when we can't talk to him? Harry is turning away from us, and I don't know how to stop it!" she burst into tears and Ron hurried to her side, putting his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her.
"That does sound a bit worrisome, I have to agree." Dumbledore mused. "But I find it hard to believe that Harry hexed you, or allowed young Draco to do it."
Hermione snorted, coming out of Ron's shoulder, drying off her tears feeling a bit embarrassed for her lack of control. "It wasn't Harry that hexed me," she stated with disdain. As if Harry had either the power or the knowledge to hex, jinx or curse her with a spell she couldn't undo! "When I was unable to get rid of this… thing, I went to see Madam Pomfrey and she claims it must have been done by someone in close contact with the castle, because she was not allowed to change my hair back. Therefore, I went back to talk to the portrait guarding Harry's door and he had the gall to inform me that since I was showing such bad breeding, he had hexed my hair as a lesson! All I did was tell him to allow me to enter since I was one of Harry's friends, but all he did was argue with me! Another fine example of how those Death Eaters are keeping Harry alone and isolated, and Harry is so naive that he allows it. He's so desperate for some affection that he can't see what is going on! Headmaster, please, you have to do something, before it is too late!" Hermione pleaded, wringing her hands in agitation.
"Hmm, yes, I've had my run-in with that particular portrait myself. Rest assured, something will be done, I will speak with Harry and make him see how he is neglecting his friends. I will also speak to him about his door guard. I assure you, something like this will not happen again."
"Oh thank you sir! I knew you would be able to make Harry see reason." Hermione beamed.
"Yes, however, I must urge you to try and get along with Draco. I know it is much to ask of you, but you must remember what is at stake. Lucius Malfoy is a strong wizard with connections just about everywhere. It is for a reason he is the Dark Lord's right hand man. If we can lure him away from Lord Voldemort, it would be a big blow to him. That will only happen if Harry refuses to join the Dark side. We all know Harry is firmly set in the Light, but if we alienate Draco too much, they might be able to sway him away from us and over to their side. You said it yourself Miss Granger," Dumbledore continued when the two teens opened their mouths to protest. "Harry has had very little love in his life. If he were to get it from the Malfoys they just might be able to influence his thinking."
"Then we should try and get him away from that Ferret!" Ron exploded. "He doesn't need them! It is Malfoy that needs Harry, not the other way around. Separate them and Harry will return to us and all will be as it was!"
"I'm afraid it is not that simple, young man. The Veela laws are very strict. If I were to try to separate the two of them, the law dictates that the pair will be taken out of Hogwarts and given into custody of a guardian who is willing to promote the bond between them. We all know Lucius Malfoy will do everything to get Harry to mate with his son. Are you prepared to have Harry taken away from us? I know I am not."
"Oh," Ron said intelligently, realising for the first time what a bind his best friend was in.
"But isn't there anything we can do?" he asked almost imploringly. He didn't want the slimy Ferret around, and Ron knew his parents weren't happy with the situation either.
"I'm afraid not. All we can do is to be there for Harry and remind him of where his true friends are. Can you do that?" Albus asked, allowing his eyes to twinkle in a merry way in an attempt to break the solemn mood.
"Yes we can," Hermione stated fiercely. She wasn't ready to loose her friend or the influence she always had had over him. She would find a way to get him back, no matter what the cost.
"Thank you. Now I think it is time for you to return to your common room, it is almost curfew after all."
"Yes sir. Um, you wouldn't by any chance know of a spell to fix my hair?" Hermione asked hopefully, surely Dumbledore would be able to do something even if Pomfrey wasn't.
"I'm afraid not Miss Granger. That portrait is Salazar Slytherin. All you can do is wait for the spell to wear off on its own."
Hermione made a face and bid the Headmaster goodnight.
Dumbledore watched them leave, deep in thought. It would seem things were turning out a bit more complicated than he'd figured they would. He knew Harry was angry with him for the way he had handled things last year, but really, holding a grudge for this long? He had after all, apologised to the child. Sighing deeply Albus picked up a lemon drop and turned it around, and around. Something had to be done and quickly before the situation deteriorated even more.
Taking a cautious lick, he plopped the sweet into his mouth and settled down to plot.
Day Seven - Sunday
Harry woke late the next morning. Considering he'd been having trouble sleeping, it was no surprise. Not in the mood to wake up just yet he lay there, eyes closed, savouring the softness of his bed. It was something he still was getting used to, even after all these years at Hogwarts; waking up to the feel of a soft mattress and warm non-scratchy covers. Would he ever get use to such simple pleasures?
Would he forever be marked by his childhood?
Not wanting to dwell on such depressing thoughts - he had enough problems as it was and had no wish to dwell on the past - Harry climbed out of bed and into the shower. He was in dire need of a distraction!
"Good morning love, slept well?" Draco asked when Harry stumbled into the living room, towelling his still wet hair.
"Morning Draco. Yeah, I slept all right. At least I didn't suffer from any nightmares," he shrugged, settling at the table and the breakfast that was waiting for him, warming charms keeping it fresh and warm for him. Harry gave Draco a grateful look and started eating.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Draco asked causally, watching Harry eat with a pleased smile. Lucius had told him everything he'd found out while Harry slept on the couch. It had angered him that such a sweet and gentle soul as Harry had been made to suffer so, and he longed to hex Dumbledore, but good, for allowing it to happen.
His father had brought him back to earth though and together they had worked out a plan to make sure Harry was well taken care of and Draco had promised to make sure that his mate ate properly. Thinking back, Draco was forced to conclude that Harry had never eaten as much as he had during their week together. Whatever feelings the brunet had for him, he truly didn't see Draco as a threat and was far more relaxed with him than he'd been with Granger and that Weasel in years.
Considering the confrontation between the three of them, it didn't surprise him. Had those little twits really gone behind their friends back and spilled his secrets to the Headmaster? And people called Slytherins backstabbers?
"Go riding for a bit I guess. I still need to finish the homework for Potions, Healing, and Forgotten Arts. That reminds me, would you mind checking through my essays for Charms and Transfigurations?"
"Not at all, especially if you'd look through mine?"
Harry nodded in agreement and speared a last sausage, popping into his mouth. Sending the leftovers back to the kitchen, he grabbed a cloak and headed outside with Draco.
They had just reached the Entrance Hall when Dumbledore called out to them, halting their progress.
"Harry, do you have a moment?"
Knowing it wasn't a question Harry stopped and turned around, offering the Headmaster a weak smile. "Sir."
"I need to speak with you Harry for a moment. Would you come with me to my office?"
Harry nodded and followed the aged wizard, smiling slightly when Draco planted himself at his side.
Dumbledore led the way to his office, not looking pleased when Draco followed them and settled into the only chair available. With a suffering sigh, Albus conjured a second seat and settled in his own chair. Both boys noted that he did not offer them a lemon drop as was his custom.
"Harry, I have decided to allow you to lead the D.A. in spite of you not taking D.A.D.A. I would feel better if you took that subject, but as Mr. Malfoy said I can not force you to enrol in that class."
"Good, because I'm not taking it!" Harry stated, ignoring the disappointed look sent his way.
"Then there is the matter of your meals. I have been a bit lax these past few days, but I want you to start eating in the Great Hall again. You are to alternate between sitting at the Gryffindor table and the Slytherin one. You are now both members of both houses and it is time to see past your silly feuds."
Harry snorted. "It isn't me you need to preach to, but your precious Gryffindors. Did you know Ron almost physically attacked Draco last Friday? He certainly laid in on him verbally, accusing him of being a slimy snake and a Malfoy, whatever he meant by the last.
"On top of that, Hermione visited us yesterday as I am sure you are well aware of. Did you also know she begged me to come back to the Gryffindor tower and return to being 'their' Harry? Or did she leave that part of her report out?" Harry asked snidely, glaring at the Headmaster.
"I will not subject Draco to such nonsense. We will try to eat more often in the Great Hall, but you will not dictate where we will sit. If the Gryffindors can't look beyond the past, then it is their problem, not mine. I am through making excuses for who I am and who my friends are."
"Harry," Albus said, gently rebuking the agitated teen. "Hermione isn't reporting to me. She is your friend and I know she is concerned for you. She only wants what is the best for you."
"You really need to make up your mind sir. When I found out that I was Draco's chosen mate, you were very pleased with this fact. You even told me this was a chance to get both Malfoys over on your side. What happened? Have a change of heart?" Harry sneered, ignoring the twin gasps of dismay and outrage.
"Did he really say that to you?" Draco demanded.
Harry nodded, never taking his eyes off the old wizard, "Implied that if I was accommodating enough it would strike a bad blow for old Voldie, losing both his right hand man and his son. Quite a coup wouldn't you say? What happened, too much of an outcry from the public about the Golden Boy going Dark? Why are you trying to form a wedge between me and Malfoys?"
"I am doing no such thing Harry. Moreover, I resent that you try to paint me in an unfavourable light. I said no such thing to you. What I did was encourage your friends to support you while you get to know young Draco here better. I had no idea they'd said such things to you, but can you really blame them? You have changed Harry. I am not saying that it is bad, but you are not the same boy you used to be. Added to that, is the fact that you've spent most of your time with Draco and I am sure you can see where their concern comes from."
Harry clenched his jaw in an attempt to reign in his temper. "And I say again that you need to straighten out your priorities. Either I am to accept that I am the mate of a Veela, or I'm to reject it, make up your bloody mind. What did you expect me to do? Spend as little time with Draco as possible? Knowing it would slowly drive him out of his mind? Am I to spend my evenings in the Gryffindor tower as if nothing has changed, subjecting him to jibes and jeers from those who can't see past the emblem on his robe? Tell me, Headmaster, what is it you want me to do?" Harry almost shouted coming out of his chair, unable to hold still any longer.
Draco rose as well and put a calming hand on his mate's shoulder. He could feel the magic crackling in the air and unless one of them backed down, things would get ugly.
"I am well aware of the needs of a Veela Harry, and I am happy that you are dealing with the situation as well as you do. But there is no need for you to forget your real friends. You need them Harry, whether you realise it or not. I strongly urge you to spend more time with them, I am positive young Draco here will understand that. I have therefore banished your horses; you will spend the time you used on them to be with your friends."
"You did what?" Harry asked outraged.
"Really Harry, the school does not allow for any other pets than owls, cats, and toads. It is not fair on the other students that you are gallivanting around on horses when they can't have one, is it? And I would not believe it of you to use your status to make Hagrid tend to those mounts of yours."
"All I did was to transfigure a rock into a horse," Harry said tightly. "If anyone else wanted to do the same, they were free to do so. I didn't end the transfiguration at the end of the day because I wanted to perform an experiment. I didn't ask, beg, or bribe Hagrid to tend to them. He offered, I accepted. If he hadn't, I would have tended to them myself." He shook his head.
"It is sad you know? For five years, no make that four years, you've been my mentor, and still you don't know me better than that. I guess you can't see past the scar either," Harry said sadly. "Was there something else you wanted?"
"No, not at this time, consider what I've said Harry. I am sure you will do the right thing."
Harry snorted, but didn't comment. He merely gave the Headmaster a dark look and swept out of the office.
HPDM
Both Severus and Lucius looked up in surprise, breaking off their discussion, when the portrait to Severus' rooms was opened with a bang. They were even more astonished when a grim faced and obviously furious Harry Potter marched inside, closely followed by Draco.
"Lucius, Severus, may I see your Dark Mark please?" Harry asked not really waiting for an answer. He merely grabbed the arm of the man closest to him and pulled up the sleeve. Pulling at the arm, he brought it to eyelevel and glared at the snake and the skull.
"Potter, unhand me this instance!" Severus snapped, unnerved by the strange behaviour of the normally meek teenager.
"Hush! I'm trying to listen," Harry replied tilting his head to the side. Turning the arm he was holding this way and that, he closely watched the magic of the tattoo. Hissing a question at the snake he watched in fascination as it came to life and hissed back. The three people with him startled and stared at Harry who oblivious to his surroundings had a deep discussion with the snake tattoo.
"Right, I know how to get rid of that mark now. It will take some time and you will need to brew a few potions, but it shouldn't be difficult."
Severus just stared at him while Lucius drew a sharp breath. "What do we need to do?" he asked in a strangled voice.
"You need to brew the Sanastosia Potion mentioned in Helga's book. You will need quite a lot. Then you need to fast for three days and perform a cleansing ritual to clear your magic and your aura as much as possible. You will then immense yourself completely in the potion, and stay submerged for at least 6 hours. After that, the invading magic will be easy to see and I will pull it out of you. Since Voldie used Parseltongue when he created that mark, only a Parselmouth will be able to remove it. It is really quite clever. He used the spirit of a real snake and entrapped it in that tattoo; the skull is acting as an anchor. The origin of the magic he is using is from America. The native Indians used it to call on the Spirit World to ask for guidance. They used the spirit of their totem and afterwards it was set free, it was never meant to be used like this. But since he is using the spirit of an actual snake, he is able to command the tattoo in a way he otherwise couldn't, like making it hurt when he summons his followers. He really is quite sadistic. It also enables him to always know where each and everyone of you are, and it also gives him an inkling of how loyal those people are to him. I'm sorry Severus, but he's probably known of your dubious status for quite a while now - especially since he's spent so long as a kind of spirit himself," Harry said almost apologetically.
"That's it! You are not going back there!" Lucius ordered agitatedly, scared out of his mind that he would lose his true mate now that they were so close to getting free.
"I promise I won't return to him," Severus said, shaken. "But what will we tell Albus?"
"Not a thing!" Harry stated harshly. "That old fool doesn't deserve your loyalty. He is just as bad as Riddle and you have paid more than your due to him and to the Wizarding World. We both have. Start brewing that potion and ignore everything else that is my advice."
"What happened?" Lucius asked in concern, Harry wasn't normally this obvious with his dislike of someone.
"Dumbledore happened," Draco snorted. When it became obvious that Harry wasn't going to tell them the blond did, recounting everything that had been said not long ago.
"That bastard!" Severus hissed. "That's it. I am going to make sure I have enough of the ingredients I need. Luce, could you go to Diagon Alley tomorrow and get what's missing?"
Lucius nodded his agreement. The sooner they broke free from the bonds holding them down the better, for all of them. Besides, he needed to set in motion the process of disentangling himself from his 'darling' wife. Narcissa would not be pleased and she would fight him with everything she had. Unfortunately for her, once he bonded with Severus any and all contracts and agreements she'd made with his father would become worthless and devoid any legal statue. She would leave the marriage with exactly the same things she had when she entered it. If he felt generous that day, he might allow her to keep her clothes and jewellery. After all, they were of no use to him. But then again, he or Draco might have a daughter or two and at least the baubles would amuse them.
Narcissa couldn't even use Draco as a means to stay in the arranged marriage since he was now 16 and an adult in the eyes of Veela law. The fact that he was in the middle of wooing a mate of his own would only strengthen the fact that he was now an adult and no longer in need of his mother, freeing Lucius from the binds his father had put on him.
It was no easy feat to override a Veela's mating instinct. But it could be done if someone got pregnant with their child before they had bonded with their true Mate. His father, curse the man, had used that fact and somehow made Narcissa pregnant. Lucius to this day had no idea how the man had managed it, he sure as hell had never slept with the witch and he'd felt no desire to do so during their seventeen years of marriage. But Draco was now an adult and the protecting urges toward his child that had bound him to Narcissa were growing less intense and weaker each day. With Severus free to bond with him, they would be able to break the last of the compulsion with ease.
Lucius blinked to clear his eyes from the rising tears. He would soon be free. A moment he had longed for, for seventeen long years, but never truly dared to believe would come. Free. Free to be with the man that he loved and adored. Free. What a lovely word. Free.

Next Time:
Our boys spend a quiet Sunday afternoon together.
Stay tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 23

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/23/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: Updates might be somewhat slow in the near future. For one I have kind of written myself into a corner and I need to re-read what I have written to find out where I went wrong and fix it, which might probably take some time. Second, I have begun to re-post the earliest chapters since they were in desperate need of Beta work.
I am in NO way or shape abandoning this story! Do not worry, it will be done, I just might have to slow down the update-pace a little.
Thank you to Keikokin for being my Beta for this chapter. Please note that a part of this story has not been checked by her, any mistakes are my own.

A Quiet Sunday Afternoon

"Greetings, what are you doing inside on such a fine day?" Lucius asked stepping through the portrait hole. He had been surprised when the necklace informed him that the two boys were in their rooms.
Harry had left shortly after he'd dropped his little bombshell, Draco going with him. Lucius had stayed for a while longer, but when Severus immersed himself in research of the potion they needed he had decided to leave. If you disturbed the Potions Master when he was working, your health was definitely in peril. Lucius had no wishes to get additions to his body thank you very much, or have his current limbs changed into strange colours and/or shapes.
Besides, he needed to make sure that Harry had calmed down after his meeting with that fool Albus.
Harry looked up from where he was sitting, a bowl of beans beside him. "Hello Lucius, I'm working on extracting revenge and trying to think up something to do for the Forgotten Art's class. What do you think of a statue of the Dark Lord in his full glory?"
"Umm, maybe you should try and do something less... violent and... gory. I don't think that was what the Professor had in mind when he told you to be creative."
"Pity," Harry said with a straight face. Then he broke into a fit of giggles, leaving father and son to shake their heads at his antics.
Harry went back to bespelling his beans, using an old spell he'd found in one of the journals from the Black library. The only drawback was that they had to be bespelled individually, or they could be traced back to him and that was something he wasn't ready for yet. He wanted to aggravate Dumbledore, make his life hell for a while as he had done to Harry, but he wasn't ready to openly defy the old man. He was still too vulnerable for such an occurrence, hence why he was spelling several dozens of beans one by one.
Glancing up, he couldn't help but smile. Lucius and Draco were sitting side by side on one of the couches, talking about something. The atmosphere in the room was cosy and inviting and he knew that if he wanted to, he was welcome to join them. They honestly wanted to be with him, spend time with him. To them he wasn't a burden, or a chore. They actually, genuinely, cared for him.
Finishing off the last few beans Harry created a pouch and put them in it. He would seek out his potential ally later tonight and hopefully there would be chaos tomorrow morning. Harry grinned, he couldn't wait.
Leaning back and stretching, Harry considered what to do next. He wasn't in the mood to work on his essays or read. He longed to join the two blonds, but they were having a serious discussion about something and he didn't want to intrude until they'd finished.
Pulling one of the 'toothpicks' from his pocket Harry resized it and stared at it with a pensive look. For once he actually wanted to show off in class and he had no idea what to make.
Letting his gaze wander around the room his eyes fell on an open book Draco had been leafing through. There was a picture of one of the constellations and suddenly an image jumped into his mind. Rushing into his room Harry went to the small bookshelf in the corner and he searched the books almost frantically. He had gathered all his school books there, including the ones from his Astronomy classes. There should be a detailed sketch in one of them of the night sky, he thought.
Finding the book he needed Harry returned to the living room, never noticing the curious looks he got from the other two. Opening the book at the appropriate page, Harry committed to memory the layout of the stars and the correct placement of all the constellations. Cutting the log in half, he placed the tip of his wand on one half and uttered the spell. When he opened his eyes again, a sphere was resting on the table and on it was the entire night sky, the stars standing out in relief.
"Wow it is beautiful," Draco said with awe, having walked over to where the brunet was sitting, gingerly picking the sphere up.
"Yes it is. You did an excellent job on that Harry," Lucius nodded taking the globe from his son's hands. Glancing over at Harry he added sternly "But no more magic for you young man; not for an hour or two. Unless you wish to end up like Draco did, in the hospital wing? Under the tender mercies of Madame Pomfrey?" he added seeing the mutinous look on the boy's face.
Harry shook his head vigorously 'no'. He had had enough of the hospital wing to last him a lifetime thank you very much.
"I thought you'd see things my way," Lucius said smugly, putting the sphere back on the table. "You should use a sliver of wood and create a grand stand for that one. Later that is," he added to be on the safe side.
Harry picked up his creation and looked it over. If he painted the globe dark blue and made the stars white or yellow, maybe he could charm them to twinkle? Perhaps if he used glass or something instead of wood, it just might be possible to make it a nightlight, a rather cool nightlight. Feeling the first stirrings of a vague idea forming, Harry was startled from his thoughts as Draco said, "I don't know about you, but I could do with a snack."
Looking up at the blond with a fond smile Harry nodded his head in agreement. Now that the subject had been brought up, he found that he felt a little peckish as well.
HPDM
The atmosphere during the meal was light and filled with banter between father and son. Lucius told several amusing tales of things Draco had done as a child and Harry was in stitches when he pictured in his mind a blue baby boy who stubbornly refused to change back.
Lucius and Draco exchanged smug looks over Harry's head. They had both worried about the brunet after his disastrous meeting with Dumbledore, and it was a delight to hear him laugh himself silly. Especially considering how utterly furious he had been when he stormed into Severus' chamber.
Harry for his part couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed a meal this much. His earlier anger was all but forgotten, and although a small part of his mind was busy plotting revenge on the Headmaster, he did not allow it to consume him.
When the leftovers from the tea was sent back to the kitchen, Harry felt more relaxed than he had in ages. Getting up from the table, his eyes landed on the sphere he'd made earlier and Harry walked over to it and picked it up. Remembering his vague notion, he paused, tilting his head to one side.
Looking over to where his companions were settling down in front of the fireplace, Harry thought back to the idea he'd had during the summer. He still thought it was a good one, but if he was to realise it, he'd need help.
Toying with the sphere, throwing it lightly from hand to hand, Harry thought back on the past week. The Malfoys had been nothing like their public persona. On the contrary, they had done everything they could to make Harry as comfortable as possible in the new situation he'd been thrown into. So far they had never lied to him, or attempted to manipulate him. They had given him straight answers, and never pressured him into making the decisions they wanted him to make, leaving it utterly up to him to decide what he wanted to do. Surely he could trust them to give him an honest opinion? Especially if he asked them to?
"Harry? Is something wrong?" Draco asked with a hint of concern. He had watched for several minutes how his mate was fighting some inner battle and he was getting worried. Harry wasn't contemplating dropping him was he? The brunet's life would get much easier with no Malfoys in it. Draco had never dreamed that him declaring Harry as his mate would cause such a ruckus, and he was getting more and more worried for each day that Harry would grow tired of the hassle and leave him to his fate.
Harry looked over at the Veela and gave him a reassuring smile, surprised at the fear he could see in the depth of those silvery eyes. Shrugging his shoulders, Harry tried to explain. "Nothing is wrong per se, I'm just trying to make up my mind on something."
Not realising that Draco was interpretation his words completely wrong, Harry ambled over to where the two blonds were sitting, still toying nervously with the sphere. "If I were to ask your opinion on something, would you give me an honest answer?"
"Of course," Lucius nodded, wrapping an arm around his son, hoping to stem the panic attack he could sense building within the teen. "Neither Draco nor I would ever lie to you Harry. We would do our best not to hurt your feelings, but if we think you are wrong, we will tell you so."
Harry searched Lucius' eyes for a moment, looking for deceit. Finding no such thing, he nodded once, giving the aristocrat a tentative smile. "Thank you. Would you mind taking a look at an idea I've been toying with during the summer? I think it could really work, but then, I'm no expert at the wizarding world so I could be wrong."
"It would be our pleasure," Lucius nodded, giving the teen what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Whatever the idea was, it clearly meant a lot to the boy, and Lucius could only hope that he truthfully could give his support to whatever the project was. He was not about to go back on his word though, and give false praise.
"Thank you. Wait here, I'll be right back," Harry said, hurrying into his room. Making sure the door was closed before he removed the armband, he waited impatiently for it to change into a trunk.
Climbing inside, Harry swiftly walked to the library and the small table standing against one of the walls, and the stack of beautifully inlaid boxes sitting on it. Picking one of them up, Harry opened it briefly to make sure he had picked the right one. Hugging it close to his chest, Harry hesitated briefly - was he doing the right thing? Did he dare share his dream? But both Malfoys had proven themselves to be trustworthy up till now, hadn't they? Besides, if he didn't dare share this, how would he dare sharing his bigger secrets? Making up his mind once and for all, Harry nodded once to himself with decision and turned to head back outside.
Returning to the living room, Harry settled next to Draco, noting that the look of fear was still present and the frowned slightly. "Draco, is something wrong?"
Draco did his best to appear nonchalant. "No, I'm just curious about your idea."
Harry gave him a searching look, then he shook his head. "If that was it, then you wouldn't be this scared. What happened? Did I do something wrong?"
Forgetting his own worries, Draco wrapped his arms around his mate and did his best to reassure him. "No. No, you didn't do anything wrong so stop worrying this instance," he ordered.
"Then what is wrong?" Harry asked in a low voice, not feeling reassured at all. For Draco to be this on edge, it had to be something big, not to mention something very bad.
Draco sighed, he didn't feel comfortable talking about his fears. Unfortunately, he had a feeling that Harry would take it wrong if he tried to just shrug it off. The other boy was far too perceptive at times, which was surprising considering how utterly dense he could be at other times.
"I'm worried about how long it will be before you decide your life would be easier without me in it," Draco eventually said with a sad sigh.
Harry pulled away. "What?" he could only stammer, feeling utterly flummoxed.
"If it wasn't for me, you would still be friends with Ron and Hermione. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have Dumbledore at your back, making your life difficult…"
"Now you listen to me Draco Malfoy! Never, ever, think that again, you hear!" Harry burst out in outrage.
"But…"
"But nothing! Yes, me being your mate has accelerated the break-up, but considering what happened this summer, our friendship would have fallen apart anyway. Ronald Weasley is a small minded prat who for all his skills at strategy, can't see past his own nose. As for Hermione," Harry shook his head somewhat sadly. "I don't know what happened to her, but I think the fight at the Department of Mystery really shook her up. She acted really weird afterwards and considering…" he abruptly broke off, not ready to get into that.
"As for Albus Dumbledore, he is a manipulative son of a bitch, and after the way he treated me last year, there was no way I would still follow him blindly. Yes, I'm mad as hell at him, and no, you had nothing to do with that. I would still have refused to be his puppet. In fact, being with you has made things much easier, since I am no longer fighting this battle alone. So don't you dare think that I'm about to leave you, just because things are difficult at the moment. On the contrary, you had better get used to it. Things always seems to get complicated when I'm around," Harry said, with a touch of sadness in his voice at the end, as his anger deflating somewhat.
Draco pulled Harry into another hug, whishing he could remove that sadness. He was also getting immensely curious about what the hell had happened during the summer, but that was a conversation for another day.
Yet for the most part he was almost giddy with relief. Harry was planning on standing by him! He wasn't even contemplating the notion of letting him go. To the Veela the relief was immense and Draco found himself relaxing in the embrace as the fears left him.
HPDM
"What was it you wanted to share with us?" Lucius asked sometime later, when the tender moment between the two boys had ended and they were once more sitting side by side.
Harry looked over at Lucius and felt all his earlier nervousness return with a vengeance. This was it, the moment of truth. He had been thinking on and off about this ever since he'd given his winnings to the twins to start their shop. He hadn't spent any real time on his idea though, until this summer when he was desperate for any and all distractions. He was pretty sure he had a good and solid idea, but what if the others thought he was foolish?
"Harry?" Draco asked with some concern, sensing from his mate's scent that he was getting more and more agitated.
"All right, this is probably a stupid idea, but... how difficult and expensive is it to set up a shop?"
"A shop?" Draco echoed aloud, voicing his father's thought.
"Yeah, a shop. I know I gave the twins 1000 Galleons for their joke shop, but it must cost more than that, doesn't it?"
"It all depends on what type of shop you wish to have; how expensive the inventory is, and how easy it is to sell."
Harry tilted his head to the side and considered the answer. "What if you opened up a new sweet shop?"
"Sweet?" Draco echoed once more.
"Um-hum," Harry nodded with enthusiasm. "Think about it Draco. What types of sweets are there in the wizarding world? Chocolate frogs, liquorice wands, Bertie Botts Every-Flavour Bean, cauldron cakes... they've been around for years. I mean, Ron's parents ate the same candy we do when they were young, for Merlin's sake! I know you look down on all things muggle, but they constantly create new things. Each year they come out with new types of sweets and ice creams. New flavours are constantly invented. It got me thinking, why don't we do that in the wizarding world? So I began to toy with a few ideas for new sweets and chocolates, and, well, this is a few of my ideas." Harry said a bit nervously, opening his box.
Inside the box were dozens of scrolls, if not more, and in one corner was a second box that Harry carefully pulled out.
"Take the chocolate frogs for example. They have cards of important wizards and witches. I guess that is important, after all, we wouldn't have been able to figure out what was hidden at Hogwarts during my first year if it wasn't for me getting Dumbledore's card on the train here. But if it is something this world is crazy about, it's Quidditch. It got me thinking; why not create chocolate figures in the shape of famous Quidditch players, riding on a broom of caramel? One could charm the broom, so the player flew around the room until the broom was broken and then you could eat it as regular chocolate. In addition, inside the box there could be a card of the player for the eater to collect. I made a few prototypes, what do you think?" he asked eagerly pulling three miniature figures from the box, enlarging them with a softly spoken charm.
Intrigued, Lucius picked one of them up and examined it from every angle. The figure was amazingly life-like and he thought he recognized one of the beaters for the Chudley Cannons. Rising an eyebrow, he sent a reproving look at Harry. "Don't tell me you are a fan of that deplorable team, Harry. They haven't had an acceptable season in years!"
Harry snorted a laugh. "I don't, but Ron does. He has given me several of their posters and since I don't know any other teams, I had to take what I had. Here, I put my ideas down on one of these scrolls," he added looking through them swiftly, holding one out to Lucius.
Putting the figure down, Lucius accepted the scroll and read through it. The boy had obviously put a lot of thought into his idea, and the plans were very detailed and well organized. It was clear he had no idea how to make the chocolate, or how to get the charms to work for what he wanted, but then he was still in school and not a Charms Master.
"It is doable, very doable. The difficult part would be to get the teams to agree, but I think they would be rather interested. Your idea is new and fresh, not to mention different. What else have you thought up?" he asked passing the scroll over to his son who eagerly snatched it up.
"This is bloody brilliant Harry! I'm actually surprised no one else has thought of it before. I'm with Dad, what else is there? Have you got anything with dragons?" Draco asked waggling his eyebrows electing a chuckle from his mate.
Flushed by the praise, Harry showed them. Scroll after scroll was examined, along with the prototype Harry had created, using his beloved beans. Cats, dogs, phoenixes, dragons, griffins, snakes, magical and non-magical animals, all done in a cute style, and most of them with detailed plans for how to animate them. With the figures would come a card that told of the animal, its magical proportions, and other facts Harry had figured was important.
"This way the children could learn about the animals in their world in a fun way. An early Care of Magical Creatures education, if you like. That should appeal to the parents and the kids would have something more to collect if they wanted to. If it is a success we could include more rare and/or mythical beasts, but I figured it was best to start with animals that are the most recognised."
Draco nodded, examining a small figure. It was a dragon sitting in a bathtub, playing with the bubbles. "Where did you get the idea for this!" he asked unable to take his eyes off the cute little thing.
Harry blushed. "In the muggle world there are a lot of knickknacks, portraying animals like dragons and frogs and such. Many are made for fun, like that one, and not really meant to be realistic at all. It was just an idea, I can toss it if you think it is stupid," he said getting even redder out of embarrassment.
"It's not stupid Harry. It is actually very sweet and I've never seen anything like it. Are you going to make the whole thing out of chocolate?"
"No, I was thinking of making the dragon out of that, but have the tub made of caramel or something, in different flavours. You know, apple, orange, and cherry, the taste depending on the colour of the bubble bath. You really like it? You aren't just saying that because I'm your mate or something?"
Draco slid closer to the brunet and enveloped him in a gentle hug. "I really, really think it is a wonderful idea Harry. I would never do anything to hurt you, but I'm not going to falsely praise you either, not when I know you are counting on me to give my honest opinion. These things you've thought up, they are incredible. They are... actually, I haven't got words to describe how wonderful I think they are, not to mention how wonderful you are. If you opened a shop with this inventory, I guarantee you'd be a success within the first ten minutes. Right Dad?"
"Indeed. Your ideas are refreshing and well thought out. Your prototypes are endearing and appealing and I know just the man to ask for assistance when it comes to hiring the one skilled with potions. I am sure Flitwick knows someone skilled with charms that needs a job as well." Lucius agreed.
Harry peeked at the older Malfoy through his lashes. "You really think it could work? How much do you think it would cost to set it all up?"
"Yes, I really think it will work. As for the cost, I'd say you need to be prepared to invest
10, 000 Galleons. You will need a substantial stock of each figure. It will take a few months to build that up. As well, it will take a few weeks at least to create the moulds and make sure the charms work properly. You might have to invent or at the very least modify a few charms to get them to work as you wish. Then there is the printing of the cards, the packing of the sweets. You need to hire at least four people who need to be paid during this time, and then there is the cost of the shop."
Harry's face fell. "I'll never be able to do all that. I knew this was a stupid idea," he muttered, beginning to put the scrolls away. He knew he had a lot of money in his vault still, but it was supposed to support him for years yet. 10, 000 Galleons was a lot of money to risk on something that very likely would fall flat on its face; if he even could withdraw such a large sum. He was well aware there were limits to his spendings, placed there by his parents and by Dumbledore, and he was fairly certain 10 000 was beyond what he was allowed.
"No Harry, it isn't. And no one is expecting you to do this all on your own," Lucius said gently, taking hold of the fluttering hands. "That is why we have solicitors and business managers and (That is) why we will ask Severus and Flitwick for recommendations on people who will be able to do the job, saving us the time to shift through all the unskilled ones who'd apply for the job if we advertised in the paper. This is quite feasible and I'd be delighted to help you sort out the details."
"Thank you sir, this means... I can't tell you how much this means to me." Harry whispered, scrubbing furiously at his eyes, refusing to start crying over something like this.
"All this talk has given me a severe craving for sweets. Got any more boxes you want sorted?" Draco asked earning himself a chuckle from his mate. He had been serious. His mouth was literary watering at the thought of trying out a few of Harry's ideas. Forced to make do with what there was, he would settle to nibble on a few beans.
"What are you going to call the shop and would it be possible for me to buy a few shares? I'd make a bloody fortune in no time at all," Draco said cheerfully, accepting the large box filled with smaller boxes of Bertie Botts. "Hey, how many of these did you buy?"
"50. I thought of naming the shop 'Orion', in memory of Sirius, and would you really want to buy shares in my business?"
"Wow! What do you need that many for? I like the name, it isn't obvious but to those in the know. And you bet I'd invest in a shop selling sweets!" Draco said popping a green bean into his mouth. "Mmm, mint ice cream."
"What do you think Lucius?"
"I think the name is a good choice. Especially if we made the sign in dark blue or possibly midnight blue and the letters in the shape of bright yellow stars. That will catch the eye of the public and that's important. As for the shares, unless you are offended by the offer, I'd be honoured to invest in this adventure with you."
Harry tilted his head to the side as he thought. He knew absolutely nothing about starting a shop, or running one for that matter, or even how to invest in one. He knew the twins were doing well and that they'd been setting a side a small amount of Galleons into his vault each quarter that came from their shop. Neither of them had mentioned it and Harry had a feeling they never would. If it was their way to payback the money he'd given them, or if it was his share as their 'investor', he didn't know and he found he didn't want to know. All he cared about was that the twins were doing fine. Moreover, since they were a huge success, he was happy for them and that was that.
"I don't mind at all. But are you sure you want to risk that much money?" Harry asked, wanting to be absolutely sure the other man wasn't doing this to be kind.
Lucius allowed a small smile to show. "Yes Harry, I am absolutely sure. Your idea is good and I think it is about time that Honeydukes got some competition." He decided not to mention that he spent far more money than what this would cost him investing in new companies each year. He didn't want to belittle the boy and since his idea really was that good... Merlin, his self- esteem must be lower than dirt when it comes to pushing his own ideas forward. Draco will have his work cut out for him, that's for sure.
"In fact, if you ever get any more ideas, show me and I promise to do my best to make them come true. I promise I will never lie to you. And neither will Severus," he added suddenly remembering the chessmen. "In fact, how about we find out if the Loreleis are interested in your idea for a new chess set?"
"The Loreleis?" Harry asked confused.
"Yes, the leading company for making chess sets. They even create and sell sets for the muggle market."
"I don't mind, as long as you don't tell them who made the figures. At least not until after they have decided if they wanted them or not. I don't want people accepting my ideas because of my name."
"I understand and I'll make sure they'll keep their mouths shut."
Harry smiled bleakly. "Thanks."
Feeling emotionally drained Harry leaned back on the couch, watching as Lucius went through the rest of the scrolls, showing those that particularly caught his eye to his son. Draco eagerly looked through them when he wasn't sorting beans, grumbling under his breath that it wasn't nice to tease. Harry never noticed when he dozed off to sleep, or when Draco draped a blanket over his slumbering form with a gentle smile.
HPDM
Later that night, Harry was back inside his trunk searching for a particular book. He had managed to put his anger aside while he had been with the Malfoys, not wanting the Headmaster to destroy his downtime with the blonds, but he had neither forgotten or forgiven what the old man had done.
"So Hogwarts only sanction toads, cats, and owls huh? What about Ron's pet rat eh? What about Lee Jordan's spider? You didn't complain about them, did you? You know, I was going to let bygones be bygones, after I had played few well-placed pranks of course, but this is going too far. Way too far. What have I ever done to you? Damn you to the deepest hell Albus Dumbledore!" Harry shouted not caring if the sound carried topside or not. All his earlier anger came crashing down on him and it was all he could do not to destroy the room he was standing in.
Dropping the glamour, Harry quickly went to the next room where a lush conservatory was situated. Breathing in the smells of damp soil, fragrant leaves and the aroma of delicate flowers, Harry felt his anger die down to a more manageable level. Closing his eyes, he just revelled in being alive, allowing the peace of this place soothe him.
Harry had no idea how long he had been standing there when he finally opened his eyes again. He didn't really care about the time either, if it was too late he could always use the time-turner. Feeling in control of himself and his emotions, the teen returned to the library and this time he quickly located the book he needed.
Settling at a workstation, Harry gently traced the leather cover with a smirk on his face. So, Dumbledore wanted to play tough guy? Thinking that if he only put his foot down, Harry would meekly back off and do as he was told. Well, it was time the Headmaster realised that Harry Potter was his own man, and that once you had lost his trust it was gone for good.
His eyes glittering with suppressed glee and fury, Harry settled down to write a proposal for a project for extra credit in Transfiguration. He just knew McGonagall would be unable to turn it down. With her backing him, there was no way in hell Dumbledore would be able to stop him. If the old man had objections to a couple of horses, what would he have to say about his precious school run over with pets of all forms and shapes? Chuckling softly at the thought, Harry put his mind to writing the best proposal he could.
HPDM
It was just after one o'clock at night when Harry snuck out from their private rooms safely hidden under his invisibility cloak, map in hand, having made sure Draco was fast asleep. He was going to hunt down a poltergeist. Harry knew Draco would be miffed for being excluded on this joke as well, but at least he would be there to see the effects this time.
On silent feet, the brunet made his way towards the trophy room. Why Peeves would want to spend his time there was beyond Harry, since the Headmaster had made sure that the poltergeist couldn't mess with the display cases.
"Psst, Peeves," Harry hissed, when he'd located the poltergeist, allowing the hood of his cloak to fall back, exposing his head. "Peeves, I need your help."
Peeves halted mid-summersault and looked at Harry while hanging upside down in midair. "Why would ickle Potter need my help?" he eventually asked, righting himself.
"Because I want to play a prank on the teachers and only you could set it up," Harry whispered, wishing the ghost would keep his voice down.
"Ohhh, a prank? What? What? What?" Peeves asked eagerly bouncing around the room.
Harry hurriedly outlined his plan and handed over the pouch with the bespelled beans. Peeves cackled with glee and zoomed away, swatting Filch on the head as he past by the squib in the doorway. Harry had barely time to pull the hood back over his head before he sprinted from the room, not eager to serve detention for being out after curfew.
Pleased with what he had accomplished, Harry slid into bed and quickly fell asleep, still wearing a smug smirk.
In his bed, Draco turned over and grumbled in his sleep. His mate was up to something again. He better share or else! Falling into a deeper slumber, he smiled softly as he dreamt of him and Harry on a tropical beach, sunbathing in the nude. This was more like it. His grin deepened when Harry stretched, very much like a cat causing Draco to wonder about his mate's animagus form, asking the blond to put some lotion on his back. Draco eagerly complied and before he lost himself in the dream completely, he spared a thought that if Harry came and woke him up this time, mate or not, Draco would hex him but good!

Next time:
Harry pranks the school to Dumbledore's annoyance.
Stay tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 24

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/24/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I'm back. Kind of. Hopefully the updates will be back to once a week, but I'm not making any promises.
Thank you Vaughn for doing the Beta on this chapter.


Time For Payback II
Monday #2
"Okay, what did you do last night and why didn't you invite me to come along?" Draco grumbled when he heard Harry enter the room, his attention firmly focused on his book. Looking up, he had to bite his lip not to drool. Harry was dressed in dark charcoal coloured trousers and vest, setting off the ensemble nicely with a deep yellow velvet turtleneck. His mate looked delicious and his book lost any of its appeal at the comparison.
"Draco? Are you alright?" Harry asked, a bit unsure, worried by the glazed look in the Veela's eyes.
"You are not going out looking like that!" Draco suddenly exploded, coming to his feet.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked, not believing his ears.
"Have you any idea how desirable you look dressed like that? It was bad enough when you were dressed in your black leathers with that green shirt! This is ten times worse and I am not going to have people lusting after my mate!" Draco all but shouted.
Harry took a step back. "Are you alright? Do you want me to get Lucius? You obviously aren't felling well."
"It is you who are oblivious. Don't you know how desirable you are? How attractive and sexy you have become? I won't have others drooling all over you! Change your clothes, or at the very least put a robe on! A loose robe!" Draco ordered, advancing on his mate.
Harry gave the irate Veela an incredulous look before fleeing, slamming the door to his bedroom shut and warding it just to be on the safe side. Grabbing the pendant around his neck, he called, a bit panicky, "Lucius, can you hear me?"
"What's wrong, Harry?" Lucius asked in concern, picking up on Draco's agitation and Harry's panic.
"It's Draco. Something's wrong with him, he's acting all weird. Complaining about my bloody clothes and not making one lick of sense. Can you come over?"
"I'm on my way," Lucius promised with a soft chuckle. Evidently Draco's Veela side was making a stand. He had been expecting it, but still...
Hurrying down the few yards separating their rooms, Lucius entered the boys' suite, only to encounter an angry Draco shouting through a closed door. It seemed Harry had been wise enough not to stay in the living room and had locked himself away.
"Dragon?" Lucius asked, doing his best to hide his amusement. It wouldn't do to have his son angry at him as well.
"Father! Thank Circe you are here! Maybe you can talk some sense into Harry. I simply cannot allow him to go out dressed like that! Tell him!"
"Calm down, my little Dragon," Lucius soothed, wrapping his arms around his agitated son.
When he was sure Draco had control of himself, he stepped up to the brunet's door and knocked. "Harry? It is safe to come out now," he called, hoping the boy could hear him through the massive wood.
The door cracked open and Harry peeked outside. Seeing the older Malfoy, he opened the door more fully and waited, prepared to slam the door closed a second time if needed.
Lucius swallowed; the boy was exquisite, even more so since he hadn't noticed it himself. "Harry, for the peace of mind of my son, could you put your school robe on?"
Harry shrugged, but did as asked. Re-entering the living room, he skirted around Draco and settled on the edge of a chair, prepared to flee if necessary. He never noticed when Draco shot an enlargement spell at his robe.
"What was that all about?" Harry demanded, still eyeing Draco carefully.
"That was a fit of a jealous Veela. I have to agree with him though, you look very good dressed like that, Harry; you will have half the school wanting to get into your knickers. Those colours really suit you."
"What do you mean, 'dressed like that'? I've been dressed like this since you took me shopping and he has never flipped like this before," Harry complained.
"That is because you look exceptionally handsome today," Lucius tried to explain, only to be met with a confused stare from Harry and an angry growl from his son.
"Calm yourself, Dragon, I am not competition," Lucius scolded lightly, prepared to defend himself if need be.
"I know, but don't talk about him like that!"
"But, Draco, I don't understand. I'm not handsome, or, Merlin forbid, sexy," Harry complained, cursing the blush that stained his cheeks. "You are the one who is beautiful. I could never compete with you."
Draco's face softened and he went to Harry's side and gave him a gentle hug and a kiss on the top of his head. "Never change, Harry, promise me that."
"Huh? Change what? What are you on about now?" Harry demanded, not sure if he should get angry or not.
"Never mind, love. I'll explain it to you later." Much later when we are naked in bed doing wicked things, Draco thought dreamily, remembering the dream from last night.
"I think you better head down for breakfast, I am sure Dumbledore is waiting for you. And Harry, it doesn't matter if you understand or not, but either put on some other clothes or make sure to wear your robe all day," Lucius said, hoping Harry would take the hint and go change, but having a feeling that he wouldn't. He was proven right when all Harry did was Accio his school bag and leave, shaking his head and muttering about crazy Veelas with not a lick of sense.
Draco sighed and summoned his own bag. At least the bulky school robe would hide most of his mate's delicious attributes. Hopefully that would be enough.
HPDM
Entering the Great Hall, Harry looked around, assessing the mood of the room. Hermione still wore her hair as a horse's tail, it looked like she had been unable to get it fixed. Ron was shooting him daggers, daring him to bring Malfoy over to sit with them. Spotting Neville sitting by himself, Harry walked over to him and plonked down beside him. "Morning, Nev, fall out?" he asked, indicating the irritated looks sent their way.
Neville snorted. "You could say that. Congratulations on being picked as a Veela's mate, by the way. I've tried to make the others see reason, but they are blinded by the fact that the Veela in question is a Slytherin and a Malfoy. No offence, Malfoy," he hurriedly added.
"None taken," Draco assured the shy boy, who didn't look quite so shy anymore. He had lost much of his baby fat over the summer, and was turning into a handsome young man. Not as handsome as Harry of course, but then, no one was as beautiful as Harry was.
"Ron has been going on all weekend about how you are going Dark," Neville continued,toying nervously with his fork. "And how you are being corrupted, and how you no longer are their Harry. He's also going on and on about how you've changed since Sirius died, and that something must have happened when He possessed you." Neville whispered the last, making sure no one could overhear them.
Harry snorted. "He's still on about that? I tried to tell him during the summer, but he never listened. To hear him talking I'm supposed to just brush the whole incident off and not be affected by the fact that I watched my godfather die before my very eyes. The git! If they give you too much hell, tell me and I'll find a way to help you."
"Thanks, Harry, but that is not necessary. At least... not yet."
"What about Granger?" Draco asked curiously. Usually she could be relied on as a voice of reason.
Neville chuckled. "She's spent the entire weekend buried in books. Who did that to her hair? She isn't telling and none of the counter-curses she's tried have worked."
"Our guardian is Salazar Slytherin," Harry explained.
"Oh, that answers that question, no one will be able to do anything until the castle allows it, or the spell wears off, which can take a while. What? I've talked with Helga Hufflepuff a lot. She was incredibly skilled when it came to Herbology and we enjoy talking about my experiments," Neville said, seeing the surprised looks his companions sent him.
"Good for you, Nev," Harry said, looking up as the owls arrived with the mail. Two owls landed next to Draco and Neville, both carrying a Daily Prophet. The boys freed the birds of their burdens, and they immediately took off again. Harry snorted in disdain, applying himself to his breakfast, missing the owl that came for him until he had company on his plate.
"Well, hello there," Harry said, freeing the owl from his burdens. Offering the bird a ration of bacon off his plate, Harry unrolled the letter and scanned it quickly.
Hello Sweetie,
I'm sorry for taking so long getting back to you, but Aires - my owl - needed to rest up a bit before making the journey again. He is getting on in years, I'm afraid.
I have included the usual Transporter. Please tell me if there is anything else I can do for you.
Sincerely,
Abigail Sweetwater.
"Bloody Hell!"
The outcry pulled Harry away from the letter and he looked up at the cause of the commotion, Ronald Weasley. Seeing the looks he got from everyone, he groaned and held out his hand for the paper. Draco gave it to him with a smirk.
The Boy-Who-Lived A Fashion Designer?
by Rita Skeeter
Yesterday the Daily Prophet got an anonymous tip that Harry Potter, more commonly known as the Boy-Who-Lived, has branched out to do more things than fighting You-Know-Who. He has, in fact, designed his own clothes.
The anonymous writer directed us to the disreputable shop, Seven Sins, and this reporter talked to the enthusiastic co-owner, Sean O'Connely. He confirmed that the Boy-Who-Lived indeed preferred to go around dressed in leather. "He is rather picky about the style though, was most displeased with my usual fare, and decided to create his own look when he couldn't find what he wanted," Sean said with a big grin. "He claimed he didn't want to walk around looking like a street-walker," he added with a laugh. A sight this reporter wouldn't mind seeing.
Mr. O'Connely continued to divulge to me that Harry Potter had given him the right to sell this design to his usual clientele and that he was delighted to do so, not at all offended that the design wasn't originally his. Sean O'Connely has even promised to sew up any ideas the Boy-Who-Lived might have. Is this the beginning of a new fashion designer? Only time will tell.
Under the text were several pictures of Sean modelling the new style. There was even one included of him, and Harry realised it had to be one of the mirror images he had created and forgotten about. Apparently Sean had saved it.
"'Bloody Hell!' summons it up nicely," Harry groused. "This is all your fault, Draco."
"Mine? It was you who insisted on wearing leather."
"Yeah, but it was you who told Nott," Harry grumbled, grabbing a piece of toast and chewing on it angrily.
"Don't worry, love, it will soon blow over, and in the meantime this will do wonders for Sean and his shop, which should induce him to hurry up with that special order, wouldn't you say?" Draco purred, wanting to tease Harry out of his bad mood.
"I guess. But you'll deal with the Howlers!" Harry threatened. "Are you finished? I want to head to class."
"Why? It's still early," Draco said, perplexed. Then his eyes narrowed in suspicion, but he didn't say anything, merely wolfed his food down.
"Are you coming, Nev? You've got Transfiguration now too, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," Neville nodded, having seen Draco's reaction. Something was up and if Harry thought it was wise to head out early, who was he to dawdle?
HPDM
Harry settled into one of the seats. Draco raised an eyebrow and sat down next to him. For once Harry had chosen a desk at the front of the room, in the front left corner to be exact. As far away from the door as possible, the blond realised as he looked around the classroom.
"Alright, what did you do?" he hissed.
"You'll soon see. It's just a little something to keep the Headmaster busy," Harry smirked.
"That's it! No more pranking without me being present! Why should you have all the fun?" Draco complained, mulling over ways to extract that promise from his slippery mate.
"But, Draco, I didn't set up this prank," Harry said, with wide, innocent eyes.
Draco made the mistake of looking into them, and he happily drowned. Damn, that yellow colour really brought out his mate's incredible eye colour.
"Mr. Malfoy! Please desist ogling Mr. Potter and hand in your homework!"
Draco blinked and the spell was broken. Looking around the room, he noted an irritated McGonagall and several students that were practically drooling, eyeing him in a most disturbing way.
"Ooops, sorry, Professor," Draco said sheepishly, realising what must have happened. He'd lost control of the Veela allure and had almost ensnared the entire class.
"Make sure it doesn't happen again," McGonagall snapped, accepting the two boys' homework.
The bell rang and the professor faced the class, noting that three of her students were missing. Sighing mentally, she opened her mouth to start her lecture when a scream and a clang of something metallic hitting stone were heard outside the door.
Perplexed, McGonagall marched to the door and yanked it open. Outside, in the corridor, were her missing students. There was also a suit of armour that was swinging its axe at anything moving, including her. Quickly McGonagall dropped to the floor and rolled away in a manner that seemed to prove that she had once been a great Chaser for Gryffindor. The axe lodged itself into the door and the armour tugged at it, attempting to free it.
"Finite Incantatem!" McGonagall bellowed, but the animated armour didn't stop moving as she had hoped, but continued to work at freeing its axe, finally succeeding. Gesturing for the children to move inside quickly, McGonagall pushed the door closed and warded it, just as the armour managed to yield its weapon. A dull thud could be heard from the other side, and the door shuddered under the assault, but the wood and the wards held, much to everyone's relief.
Pointing her wand towards herself, McGonagall whispered a spell, allowing her to tap into the magic of the castle, an ability she had thanks to her role as Deputy Headmistress.
"Attention all students and staff: The armour outside of the Transfiguration classroom has been animated and is attacking anything that moves. A simple Finite Incantatem will not work. We need to be rescued, but move with caution in case this is not the only armour that's been enchanted in this way."
Ending the spell, McGonagall turned towards the class. "If anyone knows anything about this, I strongly urge you to step forward and speak up now before anyone is harmed."
No one moved a muscle beside the few girls that were sobbing softly from the fright they'd received. A few of the boys looked like they wanted to join them.
"Very well then, today we will begin to work on transfiguring a mammal into a fish. What are the problems with such a transfiguration? Mr. Malfoy?"
"A mammal is warm blooded while a fish is cold blooded. The animal will resist the change and you will need more focus and willpower to make such a transformation work," Draco drawled, earning himself a disappointed look from Hermione and five points from the professor.
"Exactly. If you have done your homework thoroughly, you will know both the wand movements and the incantation. I am going to send around a crate filled with mice, chose one and try to change it into a fish of your choice. I'd recommend something small and non-hostile. I do not want to see a shark in here, is that understood?"
A chorus of 'yes, Professor' caused her to snort, but she sent the crate around the classroom as promised.
Harry picked one of the mice and stunned it. For a moment he considered what he wanted to do, before picking the image of a tropical fish he'd seen a picture of once and then he attempted the spell. Slowly the mouse began to change, but it was slow going. It almost felt like he was wading through a river of molasses. Pouring more power into the spell, concentrating fiercely on what he wanted to happen, Harry almost fell face first into the desk when with a 'pop' the mouse was replaced with a colourful guppy, which weakly flopped about gulping for air. Draco quickly conjured a bowl of water and levitated the fish, dropping it inside.
"Well done, Mr. Potter. Ten points to Gryffindor." McGonagall beamed at him.
Harry mopped his face and was surprised to note that he was the first to manage the spell. Not even Hermione had succeeded, and she was glaring darkly at him. Seeing he was watching her, the girl turned a cold shoulder to him and made a second attempt at the spell.
Draco snorted and took a stab at the spell as well. He had been too busy watching Harry to make an attempt of his own.
Five minutes later, a beautiful angelfish was flopping on his desk and Harry returned the favour by placing it into a bowl of water.
"Wonderful, ten points to Slytherin. Homework for next time is an 8-inch essay on your observations of casting the spell," McGonagall said after admiring the blond's fish. Looking out over the classroom, she hurried over to one of the students, intent on rectifying the mistake he was making before something nasty happened.
By the time the bell rang, both Harry and Draco had finished their essays, handing them in as they passed the desk. A scream caused them to turn around sharply, in time to see the armour swing its axe at the students who tried to exit the room. Both Harry and Draco put up a shield, casting the same spell at the same time, causing the shield to blend and become stronger. Strong enough to push the armour out and close the door shut in the armour's 'face'.
"It would seem we are stuck here at the moment," McGonagall said, sounding a bit flustered. "I am sure the Headmaster will have everything under control soon. Why don't you pull out your books and read the next chapter while we wait."
The class settled down and did as they'd been told. Silence soon prevailed except for a thudding sound now and then, causing the students to jump each time they heard it.
HPDM
Earlier
When McGonagall's magically enhanced voice travelled through the school, all the teachers froze in shock and Dumbledore almost choked on his lemon drop. (It had taken him 15 tries to find a real one and he was getting mighty annoyed at the prankster.) This was far more serious though and he hurried from his office to come to his teacher's rescue.
Lucius looked up from the book he was reading and frowned. Getting up, he was about to go and investigate when a house-elf appeared, handing him a letter. Giving the blond a toothy grin, the elf bowed and disappeared with a soft pop.
Dear Lucius,
If you are reading this then my little revenge is working fine. Don't worry, the suits of armour are not charmed to harm anyone, just to give them a good scare. The spell will be activated by the bell ringing for first class, and it should deactivate when the bell rings for lunch. If it doesn't, the cancellation spell is: God Save the Queen. What can I say? It was a Muggle-born who came up with the spell I used.
I hope you aren't too angry with me.
Harry
Lucius chuckled; it would seem the boy wasn't above getting revenge on his enemies. Good for him. He only hoped he had covered his tracks well, after what had happened yesterday, Harry would be a prime suspect for this calamity.
Considering his options, Lucius changed his clothes and left. He had an appointment with the goblins at Gringotts at eleven and he had no intention of missing it because of a few clanking armours. By the sound of it, it would take him some time to sneak out of the castle. After all, it wasn't just the armours he needed to hide from, but the Headmaster as well. Unless he wanted to be roped into aiding the trapped students, and frankly his business with the Goblins was much more important than this mess.
Severus looked up in surprise at the announcement and stalked over to the classroom door, using his wand to yank it open. He had the same reaction as Minerva, only he had two armours standing outside his doors, armed with halberds. Slamming the door shut, and warding it to be on the safe side, Severus turned back to the class. Silently, he stalked to the front of the room and pivoted around smartly. Looking out over the sea of faces, he slowly smirked.
"It looks like we will be here for a while. It will give us ample opportunity to get this potion right. It is a simple healing salve that I am sure even you can get right, eventually. The instructions are on the board. Get to it!"
The children paled dramatically and ran to get the supplies they needed. This was hell, locked in the dungeons by deranged armours, held prisoner by an equally mad professor. They were doomed!
Professor Flitwick almost fell off the books he was standing on in shock at the news. He used a charm to look through the door and upon seeing the armour with a bow in his hands, an arrow ready to let go, he simply warded the door and turned back to teach his class.
Albus was getting frustrated. On his way to rescue Minerva, he had encountered no less than three armours, which were now hell-bent on getting through the door he'd been forced to hide behind. None of the spells he'd shot off had worked and he was beginning to get worried. Who was behind this? How was he going to get help? For that matter, who could help them? And how was he going to avoid this mess being spread across the Daily Prophet?
He was still mulling over this problem a few hours later when the bell rang for lunch. As the bell ended, there was a loud clang, and when Albus causiously opened the door, he noted a pile of armour lying on the floor. It looked like the nightmare was over; he could only pray that it was for good.
Prodding the pile carefully with his toe, Albus made sure it was not about to come back to life again. A few spells confirmed that whatever enchantment had been used had now worn off.
Clearing his throat, he cast the same spell McGonagall had used and addressed the school. "Attention everyone! The armours have been defeated. Proceed with caution to the Great Hall. Thank you."
He ended the spell and hurried to the Great Hall as well. He needed to make sure the children were all right. If they thought he had ended the spells, well, that was only good for the school morale, right?
HPDM
Harry bit back a laugh at the rumours spreading like wildfire. It was amazing what people could come up with when they tried. The latest piece of gossip was that it was You-Know-Who who had cast the spell in an attempt to take over the castle. It was only due to the heroic actions of the Headmaster that the plot had been thwarted.
Dumbledore, for his part, merrily sat at the Head Table and twinkled at the students, basking in the many admiring glances sent his way.
Eventually he rose and everyone grew quiet. "Today we have been subjected to a most insidious attack. It is fortunate indeed that no one was hurt. I am urging any of you that know anything about this vicious attempt on our lives to come forward. I promise that no one will be punished for this, since I am positive forces outside this school were behind the attack. All classes will be cancelled for the rest of the day while the teachers and I make sure this will not happen again. Students, please return to your common rooms. Prefects, make sure no one is left wandering the castle. Dismissed."
Harry barely made it back to their rooms before he collapsed, laughing until tears streamed down his face and he had to hold his aching midriff, fighting for his every breath.
"That was bloody brilliant!" Draco said with admiration. "But how did you manage to get all those armours without getting caught? What spell did you use? And how come you didn't tell me!" he demanded, waiting impatiently for Harry to get his breath back so he could begin to explain. He had quite some time to wait.

Next Time:
Harry does some explaining.
Stay Tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 25

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/25/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: Some of you have mentioned that you didn't think that the prank seemed to be much of a payback, in fact, quite the opposite. All I've got to say to that is, just wait until you see what Harry has in store for the next Monday prank, and the Monday after that…
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta

Explanations
It was late afternoon by the time Lucius arrived back at the castle. He cautiously made his way through the large front doors, all too aware of the suits of armour standing nearby. He had faith in Harry, but things did not always go the way you'd planned, and he was not in the mood to be assaulted by yet another suit. The one he had encountered on his way outside had been enough, thank you very much. Lucius absentmindedly reached up and rubbed his shoulder. He and the armour had practically walked into each other when rounding a corner. The thing had managed to take one swing with its halberd, but fortunately for the blond, the suit had only severely bruised him and not killed him, as had been Lucius' first thought. He had not given the thing a second chance, shouting out the counter-curse, one of the most ridiculous phrases he had ever heard!
It had worked though, and the suit had stood down and ambled back to wherever it came from, enabling Lucius to make his escape. He had managed to flee the castle without any further encounters, to his great relief.
Walking swiftly along the corridors, Lucius noted that nothing seemed out of place, and unless he had witnessed the mayhem himself, he wouldn't have believed what had been going on here this very morning. Shaking his head in amazement, wondering how Dumbledore had taken the disturbance, the aristocrat made it to the boys' rooms unmolested.
Entering through the door, his eyes lit up at the sight of the two of them sitting peacefully side by side doing homework. "I take it you are pleased with yourselves?" he asked, walking over to them, taking a look at what they were working on.
"Of course, sir, wouldn't you be?" Harry asked, tongue in cheek, his green eyes dancing with merriment.
"Brat," Lucius replied with a laugh. "Spill it, how in Salazar's name did you manage to do that?"
"Sorry, Lucius, you have to wait until Severus gets here. The story isn't so thrilling that I wish to tell it three times in the same day," Harry replied laconically.
"Humph, it is fortunate for you, young man, that I like you," Lucius said with a sniff. "Very well, since it seems I have some time to wait, I suppose you can use the time trying these on," he added, pulling two packages from his pockets, enlarging them, and giving one to each boy.
Draco eagerly tore into his, while Harry subjected the blond to a suspicious look. Lucius merely lifted an eyebrow, daring him to make a fuss.
Realising the futility of making waves before he even knew what was in the parcel, Harry sighed and tore into it, groaning when he noted several sets of leather clothes. "Lucius, we have got to talk about your tendency to splurge on clothes for me. I already have plenty of clothes, I don't need any more!"
"Thanks, Dad, these are so cool," Draco said in delight, having unearthed several sets of leather outfits as well.
"You are most welcome, son." Lucius smiled. "As for you, Harry, I will overlook your comments, considering you grew up with heathens. A Malfoy never has too much clothes, besides, not even you can consider three outfits to be plenty."
"It's more than I've ever had before," Harry grumbled quietly, but his two companions heard him anyway.
"You are a Malfoy now, Harry, and you need to keep a certain standard. These outfits together with the ones you already have should tide you over until your real outfits are finished. It seems Mr. O'Connely has run into a few problems with some of your modifications," Lucius replied, sending a house-elf to get some refreshments.
"Let's see what colours he got you," Draco said, pulling the leathers from Harry's unresisting hands. "White, emerald green, jade green, royal-blue, navy-blue, tarnished silver… oh, you will have the entire school drooling over you dressed in these," Draco said with evident pleasure.
"Is that something to desire considering your reaction this morning?" Harry asked dryly, realising that he was fighting a losing battle. The Malfoys were going to do as they liked, he might as well go along for the ride. He would get his revenge at Christmas though. If they insisted on showering him with expensive gifts, it was only fair that he got to do the same, right? And by then, maybe he would know the men well enough to know just what to get them. Smirking slightly, Harry joined in the spirit and began to examine what Lucius had gotten for his son.
HPDM
It was very late afternoon by the time Severus could make his escape. Albus had gathered his most skilled teachers and had them examine the suits of armours for signs of magical spells or potions. They had found nothing. Whatever had been used to animate them, it was gone now, gone without a trace. There weren't even any signs left that they had ever been animated.
Dumbledore had refused to give up though, and had kept the professors at it long after they had given up on finding the culprit. Eventually Albus had been forced to give in and he had dismissed them, convinced Dark Magic had been behind it all, and he had left muttering about strengthening the wards and finding ways to scan for the Dark Mark.
Severus sneered and for once did not head for his dungeons, but to the ones he was positive were behind this whole mess. He was going to demand an explanation, ream them out but good and - maybe - award them a few points for a revenge well done. Oh yes, this had Potter written all over it. That boy had grown up and anyone not seeing it was a fool – an extremely blind fool.
"Are they in?" he asked Salazar, who nodded with a smirk.
"Good, dragons and Parselmouths."
The portrait swung open and Severus entered into a very cosy scene. Lucius was stretched out on one of the couches, reading, while Draco and Harry were sitting at the table, a few logs of wood sitting between them, talking softly and giggling.
"Alright, you little rascals! What did you do?" Severus snarled, stalking further into the room.
"Severus, I'm glad you came. What is the verdict?" Lucius asked, sitting up.
"The verdict, as you put it, was… that somehow the Dark Lord managed to get past Hogwart's defences and enchanted the suits. That would explain why the spell collapsed so suddenly, he didn't have the stamina to keep it up any longer."
Harry snorted, shaking his head.
"Quite! So what did you do, you little menace?" Severus asked again, his black eyes boring into Harry's skull as if he could will the information out of him.
"What makes you think it was me?" Harry asked innocently.
"Please! You are the only one with a grievance, no, let me rephrase that. You are the only one I know of at the moment who is angry enough and powerful enough to attempt to extract revenge on the Headmaster. Everyone else is merely gnashing their teeth or muttering angrily in dark corners. Well?"
Harry smiled ruefully. Trust Snape to be the one to figure it out. But then, the man was a spy and skilled at picking up even the smallest clue. "Yes, I'm the one who did it, and I've already promised Lucius I'd tell him what I did as soon as you got here. I did not relish the thought of telling my tale three times."
"And since Severus has arrived, it is time to talk. Tea anyone?" Lucius asked, snapping his fingers to summon a house-elf.
Severus nodded and sank into a chair, accepting the teacup filled with his favourite blend, along with a plate filled with sticky chocolate cake.
"Right. Where to start?" Harry mused, making himself more comfortable. "It began this summer when I stumbled across this diary, written by Norabeth Mulligan. She was a Muggle-born witch who lived during the reign of Elizabeth I. Her father was a merchant and married to a mouse of a woman, according to Norabeth. She was fascinated by the queen, but didn't dare name her only daughter after her. Instead she mixed and matched until she came up with Norabeth Elizandra Mulligan."
"Poor kid," Lucius murmured.
"Anyway, when she got her Hogwarts letter, her family was aghast and they threw her out. Norabeth didn't mind too much though, she was highly intelligent and had always dreamed about learning. She often eavesdropped on her four brothers' lessons and read their books any chance she got, much to her parents' dismay. From what I gather, she was something like Hermione, only with a far better attitude."
"This is all very fascinating, but what has it to do with what happened this morning?" Severus asked impatiently.
"I'm getting there," Harry smirked. "Norabeth was sorted into Ravenclaw and was apparently a whiz at Arithmancy. She was also something of a prankster. Her best friends were a fellow Ravenclaw named Augustus Snape, and a Slytherin named Lucien Malfoy."
Lucius and Severus both gasped.
"Apparently they too were also well known pranksters. Then one day, the school began to argue about who was the best pranker of the three. I'm not sure how, but they were roped into a bet. They got a month to create a brand new prank that would take place during a Friday, morning to lunch, lunch to dinner, and dinner to midnight. The students and the teachers were to be the judges.
"All three of them set to work, and what you saw this morning was Norabeth's prank. She bespelled a handful of small pebbles and dropped them into the suits of armours lining the corridors. When the bell rang for first class, the spell was activated and the suits began to charge down everyone that moved. When the bell rang for lunch, the spell was finished and the pebbles were banished. Thus no one knew how it was done and Norabeth had managed to create havoc inside the school," Harry ended his explanation.
"I agree it was a brilliant idea, but, Harry, it also very dangerous. What if someone got hurt?"
"But that's what's so brilliant with the spell she used." Harry laughed. "You can't get hurt. She thought of it too, you see. It was actually one of the rules, you couldn't hurt anyone, and you couldn't humiliate someone. The weapons still looked real, and if it hit stone or wood, they even sounded real. But, if they hit someone living, it would be like being hit by a weapon made of rubber. It might bruise, but it won't maim or kill."
"Hmph," Severus snorted.
"I can attest to that," Lucius said ruefully, rubbing his shoulder and the spectacular bruise he was sure was hidden under the clothes. His action drew the attention of the Potions Master, and before he knew it, Lucius found himself stripped to the waist while Severus carefully examined his injury, prodding with gentle fingers to make sure that a nasty bruise was all he suffered from.
"You will live," Severus said in a matter of fact tone, spreading some salve over the bruise, ignoring the way the blond wrinkled his nose at the smell.
"What I want to know is who won the contest," Lucius said with a grin once he had been allowed to redress; after all, the honour of one of his ancestors was at stake.
"Actually, they all won. The students couldn't decide which prank was coolest, and the teachers were all so impressed with the ingenuity and the spell work involved that they couldn't decide either," Harry grinned.
"Why do I have a feeling we will be subjected to the other two's pranks as well?" Severus asked with a small groan.
"Umm, maybe because you will?" Harry said, bursting into laughter upon seeing the men's faces.
"What happened to this young witch?" Lucius asked, deciding a change of subject might be good.
"She married a wizard three years her senior named Orion Black and gave him seven sons and three daughters."
Lucius nodded. He had guessed as much when Harry said it all began this summer. He hadn't bought the trunks then, and the only books he would have had access to were those found in the Black libraries.
"That reminds me. The families in the old days, at the time of the founders and there abouts, they all had loads of children. Why don't the families of today?" Harry asked with curiosity.
"In the old days the life was much harsher. Children died as infants at a much higher rate than they do today. Even if they survived the infant stage, life was still harder than nowadays, and duels to the death were not uncommon when settling a grievance. To ensure that the family named survived, they had more children. If you had only one, the risk was very big that they could be killed off, thus making a distant relative head of the family. Or the family line died out completely."
"But what about today? In the past 100 years, we've had two big wars, and one that is still being fought. Isn't the risk of something happening to the heir just as big today as it was then? What would happen if, Merlin forbid, something happened to Draco? Wouldn't the Malfoy name die with him?" Harry wondered with a frown, trying to understand.
Lucius shuddered, paling drastically.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," Harry said miserably.
"You didn't," Lucius said, trying to reassure the youth and collect himself at the same time. "You just happened to touch one of my nightmares. I always wanted a large family, but Narcissa, the cold-hearted bitch, refused. Claimed it would ruin her 'perfect' figure. Having large families fell out of practice a few hundred years ago, at least among the Purebloods, when there were a few rather vicious fights about who was to inherit the title and the property. It even went so far that one son killed off his five brothers to ensure he was the one to inherit when their father died. Seeing that, many families began to have only one son to ensure that such a thing did not happen again."
Harry snorted. "And the Purebloods moan about how the Muggle-borns are taking over their world. No bloody wonder when they are breeding themselves out of existence! That attitude really needs to change if the wizarding world is to survive. Each family should have at least two children, a son and a daughter. At the very least! I'm only surprised those idiots at the Ministry haven't tried to make a law or something, deciding on the number of children a family is to have. Surely others beside me are aware of the dangers we are facing?"
"I'm afraid not," Severus commented. "Everyone is so focused on the war that they are fairly blind to everything else. Whoever ends up leading the wizarding world once the Dark Lord is gone is facing a gargantuan task getting it back on its feet. The outlook on Dark and Light needs to be revised, a lot of subjects need to be reinstated here at Hogwarts. The issue of the number of children needs to be addressed, and then there is the whole question of Dark Creatures, which is a beehive in itself."
Harry nodded. "Another problem is jobs, isn't it? There are too few jobs in the wizarding world, so the Muggle-borns return to the Muggle world where they can get a second degree and find jobs more easily. The Muggle world also has all these modern commodities that they are used to and that the magical world is lacking. Hogwarts doesn't show them how to compensate for dishwashers and washing machines and such. There is also the fact that they aren't fully introduced to the wizarding world. They don't understand the customs and laws that rule it. No wonder they return to what is known and thus more comfortable. Reading all these diaries is helping me to understand better, but I am still lost when it comes to a lot of things. I'm not sure I will ever be fully comfortable in the magical world, and that makes me so mad because if it wasn't for Dumbledore's meddling I would have had a real childhood. I could have grown up, learning all the things the purebloods do, and not walking around feeling like I don't fit in. That I don't belong, just because I didn't inhale it with the mother's milk the way children like Draco did."
Draco scooted closer to Harry and wrapped him into a hug. "Hush, love. We will get rid of Voldie and deal with Dumbles and we will make sure no child ever has to experience what you did. Okay?"
Harry buried his face into the crook of Draco's neck and nodded. Putting his arms tentatively around the Veela, Harry basked in the feeling of love that seemed to come off the other in waves. All directed at him.
Lucius and Severus both watched the scene with sad eyes. In getting to know the boy better, they found it was criminal the way he had been treated. How he still was able to feel compassion was beyond them. So easily he could have been turned into something Darker than even Tom Riddle, yet he hadn't. Harry's soul was shining through and it was almost blindingly bright. It only made the knowledge of his abuse even more difficult to bear.

Next Time:
The four discuss the Dark Marks and Severus and Lucius learn a bit more about the Spirit Snakes.
Stay Tuned…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 26

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/26/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I invented the ritual mentioned below. I hope I haven't offended anyone since that was not my intent.
A BIG thank you to all you wonderful people who has reviewed my story.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta.

Dark Marks and Spirit Snakes

Severus put his cutlery down and gave Harry a pointed look. "I've been meaning to ask you something, young man," he began, gaining the attention of everyone around the table.
"What's that, sir?" Harry asked with some trepidation, uncertain what he could have done to put that look on the Potions Master's face.
"Severus?" Lucius asked, wondering the same thing. He wanted to turn the attention away from the youth, but he was unable to as long as he didn't know what the problem was.
Sensing the older Veela's concern, Severus flicked his hand as if to wave the worries aside. "I'm just curious is all," he said, as if that explained everything. Returning his focus on Harry, he went on, "What in Merlin's name made you try to talk to the Dark Mark?"
Harry blushed and ducked his head. "I'm not sure. When I left Dumbledore's office, I was just so, so angry. I was actually on my way to the Room of Requirement to ask it for something I could smash, hoping to vent my temper that way.
"The 'talk' he and I had also made me realise that the complete break between me and Dumbledore was closer than I'd figured, and that we probably need to get away from here sooner rather than later.
"And it was then it hit me… I had no idea what the Dark Mark is like. I mean, I saw it for the first time at the end of my fourth year, when you, Severus, showed it to Fudge as proof that Voldie was back – and by the way, we have got to do something about that imbecile! – but other than that… " Harry shrugged. It wasn't exactly as if he was friends with any Death Eaters, and Snape and him had only recently become friendly towards one another. Harry could picture what would have happened if he'd walked up to Severus last year and said, "Hey, wanna show me your tattoo? I'll let you see my scar in exchange, if you'd like." Yeah, that conversation would have gone over very well, not! Snape would have hexed him into next year, if not further, and there was no one else he could have asked, now was there? It wasn't exactly something you went up to people and inquired about. And the way Dumbledore refused to share matters of importance and discouraged true exchanges of information…
Severus and Lucius nodded their heads in understanding. It really wasn't something the boy would be familiar with.
"But what possessed you to try and talk to it?" Severus persisted.
Harry shrugged once more. "When I was holding your arm I felt something. I'm not sure I can explain it, but there was an… awareness to the tattoo I didn't think was normal, not even for the wizarding world, so I played on a hunch and to my utter amazement, the snake actually talked back."
"What did it say?" Draco asked eagerly. He too wanted the mark gone, and yet he couldn't help but be curious as well. He knew of course that his father wore the Dark Mark. He had seen it on several occasions, mostly by accident. He had learned from an early age not to ask questions about it, but still he was burning up with curiosity.
Harry frowned in thought. "It didn't so much talk to me with words, rather it communicated in images. The spirit embedded into Severus' arm is a cobra. Once it roamed the spirit world freely, looking out for members of its race. Then Voldemort came, and somehow, the snake isn't sure how, he managed to wrestle her from the spirit plane and into this world and forced her into the tattoo. The ceremony was not designed for doing that.
"The American Indians used the ritual to embed the spirit of their totem onto their flesh so they could seek their guidance, and afterwards the spirit was let free again. Riddle somehow managed to bring the spirits to this world, without gaining their permission first, anchoring the spirits to the skull part of the tattoo, preventing them from leaving again. In time the spirits grew resentful and angry and they reacted the only way they could, by making the person they were tied to feel just as angry, resentful, and downright mean as they did.
"When Riddle 'died' when I was a baby, the spirits were almost freed from their prisons and they were able to somewhat return to their rightful home. Unfortunately, Voldemort was too tightly tied to his followers, and it was those spirits he had enslaved that unwittingly helped him to survive as they partially pulled him into the spirit plane with them. Over time he grew more powerful and, well, we all know what happened next," Harry said, making a face.
"Fascinating," Severus said, looking down at his arm. "But how did the snake know what potion to use?"
"We… I guess you could say we had an exchange of knowledge," Harry mused, staring into space as he tried to recall exactly what had happened that morning.
"An exchange of knowledge?" Lucius asked, sharing a look of concern with his mate.
"Yeah, remember, they are used to sharing information with and guiding the ones calling on them? They can't do that unless they know what it is the caller needs, or why they were called in the first place. If they find the one calling on them worthy, they will give the requested information, in riddle form, of course, otherwise they will remain silent until they are released.
"Salissa went into my mind and extracted everything I knew of the war, and it was she who realised that the Sanastosia Potion would help in freeing her. She isn't sure if the release part of the ritual would be strong enough to set her free, considering that it wasn't any of us who imprisoned her. Added to that is the fact that Salissa and the others captured by Voldie have been bound for far longer than any other spirit ever has, and we are faced with a lot of uncertainties. Seeing as I was one of the worthy, she allowed me to find out about the true purpose of the ritual and a few other things as well," Harry finished a bit lamely, not sure how to explain the images and emotions he had been given. It really wasn't something that could be described.
"Salissa?" Draco asked.
"Uh-huh, that is the name of the cobra. She seemed really nice. Once this whole mess is over, do you think I could get a few snakes? They are highly intelligent and I wouldn't mind having a few as pets," Harry said, giving Draco an eager look with some pleading behind it.
Draco thought quickly. He didn't care that Harry was a Parselmouth. No, that wasn't quite right. To tell the truth, he was delighted that his mate had such a rare gift, and he knew better than to think it would turn him Dark. Besides, a few poisonous snakes set on defending his mate could only be a benefit. "I don't mind at all, in fact, I think it is a great idea. Just think of all the things they could snoop out and report back to you," he added with a grin.
Harry was tricked into a laugh. Trust a Slytherin to see schemes around every corner.
"I think it is an excellent idea as well." Lucius nodded his head in agreement. "But let us finish this conversation first. Are you sure there was no harm done to you? After all, we know nothing about this spirit, not all of them are benevolent," he cautioned, more concerned than he wanted to let on.
A soft hissing sound caused all of them to startle, and Severus grasped his arm with a soft gaspUndoing the button, he reluctantly rolled the sleeves of his robe and shirt up. This was something new. The sensations running up and down his arm were nothing like when the Dark Lord summoned him, and the mark had never been hissing at him before either.
Harry, on the other hand, was fascinated, and he tilted his head to the side, listening intently. Reaching out, he gently yet firmly grasped Severus' arm and held it up closer to his face, the better to understand what Salissa was saying.
'These humans are annoying, but they mean well I suppose. They worry about you, snakeling, and I sense that they will not calm until they understand. Wake the spirit I can sense near me and together we will make sure the humans understand that I mean you no harm,' Salissa ordered with an annoyed hiss.
Harry bit back a smile and let go of the professor's arm. Looking over at Lucius, Harry hesitated briefly before saying, "Sir, I need to look at your mark as well."
Lucius merely lifted an eyebrow, giving Harry a searching look before he repeated his mate's actions.
Holding out his arm for Harry to grasp, the brunet accepted the limb and looked closely at the Dark Mark. There seemed to be a small difference between the two, not so much in looks as in the feelings they emitted.
'Hello,' Harry hissed hesitantly.
'It is about time someone bothered to talk to me!' a haughty voice hissed.
'My apologies. Who are you?' Harry asked, not sure how to deal with a hissy snake.
'I am Eturo, an Ashwinder. I sense a fellow spirit, who is it?'
Harry looked from one arm to the other, uncertain of what to do next. On impulse he pulled on the two arms until they were laying next to each other. Placing his hands over the marks, Harry felt how the spirits used him as a conductor, enabling them to talk freely.
Harry had no idea how long the conference between the two snakes was, but when he came back to himself a frantic Draco was shaking his shoulder so hard it was rocking Harry's head back and forth, making him feel extremely nauseous.
"I'm all right," Harry croaked hoarsely, wanting nothing more than to lay down and sleep for a week.
"Thank Merlin! Don't you ever scare me like that again!" Draco exclaimed, pulling Harry into a tight hug. "I thought I had lost you! You wouldn't react and there was no way of bringing you out of whatever you were doing," the Veela murmured into Harry's neck.
Harry wrapped his arms around the blond and returned the feverish hug. "I'm sorry I worried you, but the snakes needed to have a talk." Looking over at Lucius, he continued, "Salissa realised that you would worry until you knew for sure she meant us no harm. Unfortunately, she is too weak to communicate with you the way she did with me, something about me being a Parselmouth making it easier to form a temporary connection between us. With Eturo helping out, and if you don't fight her, she should be able to talk to you, albeit briefly."
The two men looked both eager and hesitant. They were both extremely interested since this sounded like a new form of magic, something they both were interested in. Yet this was an unknown entity, and they weren't as sure as Harry was that they meant no harm. After all, they had been enslaved for years, wouldn't it stand to reason that they wanted to pay the ones back who had enslaved them? Even if Severus and Lucius weren't the ones tying them to the tattoo, they were the ones who had carried them with them for twenty or so years.
Harry shifted slightly so he was curled up against Draco's side, not ready to leave the feeling of safety the blond provided. Draco was only too happy to wrap an arm securely around the brunet's shoulders.
"All you have to do is place your hand on the other's mark, the snakes will do the rest," Harry said with an encouraging smile.
Severus and Lucius shared a dubious look, but in the end they complied. As their hands touched the tattoos, they both stiffened and their gazes turned vacant.
"Is that how I looked?" Harry asked, beginning to understand a bit better why Draco had been so frantic.
"Yeah. It was creepy as hell," Draco muttered, still feeling unnerved as he remember how unnaturally still his mate had been.
"I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologise, love. You didn't do it on purpose, and from what you told us, it needed to be done. Just… don't go looking for other spirits to talk to, okay?"
Harry chuckled. "I shall do my best," he promised, settling in for a long wait.
HPDM
Severus slowly became aware of his body making him feel extremely heavy after having been soaring with the spirit snakes. Blinking his eyes, the room slowly came into focus, looking very dull and bland after the clear and vibrant colours on the spirit plane. Giving his head a shake, Severus snapped into the here and now with an almost audible snap.
"Here, this should help," Harry said, pressing a goblet filled with fresh water into the Potions Master's hand.
Severus accepted it gratefully and took a sip. Immediately the parched feeling in his throat disappeared, and he felt less drained and disoriented. Glancing over at Lucius, he noted that Draco was doing the same for his father.
"How long?" Severus croaked.
"Not that long, about half an hour or so," Draco replied, returning to his seat next to Harry, wrapping an arm around his mate. "So how was it?" he asked eagerly.
Severus lifted an eyebrow in surprise; it had felt like a lot longer. "Harry was correct, it is difficult to explain," he mused, feeling the sensations the snakes had given him disappear more and more until they became vague and almost dreamlike.
"With the two of them working together, they managed to return briefly to their natural home and they showed it to us," Lucius said, picking up the tale. He too wore an almost pensive look on his face as the images retreated from his mind as well. The human mind just wasn't meant to experience the brilliance of the spirit plane, and it was protecting itself the only way it knew how, by dimming the experience until it was practically forgotten.
"They also managed to convey that they wished none of us any harm, and that all they want is to return home. Once they are freed, they will summon the Spirit Council and make sure something like this can never happen again. They even might find a way to free those still trapped in the remaining tattoos."
Harry grew thoughtful, trying to phantom what it would mean if they really did manage to remove the Dark Mark. "You said, that first day," he began slowly, trying out the words as he spoke them, "that most of his followers realise that their Lord is mad."
"Yes." Lucius nodded, remembering that conversation as well. It was the first of many instances when Harry had shocked and surprised him, and as he had found out, it would not be the last time that had happened.
"What if we approached those who wanted out? What if we showed them that the Dark Mark can be removed, and with no ill effect to the wearer? Wouldn't that encourage those who already want out to actually get out? The old Pureblood families could hide out in their Manors, couldn't they? And the others should be able to skip out of the country quietly until the war is over," Harry said, getting more and more exited at the thought of robbing Voldemort of some of his key supporters.
Lucius leaned back in his chair, thinking carefully about what the brunet had said. Glancing over at Severus, the blond could see that his mate was considering what he himself was contemplating. Ever since the Dark Lord's return, the more intelligent of his followers had been growing more and more discontent. They had not joined the Dark side to be cursed and subjected to the Unforgivables just because their leader was having a bad day. They had joined because they believed in their world, and because they realised that things had to change if they were to survive and prosper.
The only thing that tied them to Voldemort was the mark on their arms. Too many were terrified of what the maniac would do to them and their loved ones if he ever became suspicious of their true thoughts, and desertion was unthinkable under the current circumstances.
But if the circumstances changed…
"If we could prove that the Dark Mark can be removed safely, I know of several families that would cut their ties with Riddle in a heartbeat. They would not be willing to join with Dumbledore though," Lucius said, giving Harry a measuring look.
Harry shrugged. "I don't want them to join Dumbledore. He would only encourage them to serve him as spies, and since it is a miracle that Severus has survived for as long as he has, I'm not about to put someone else in that position. No, it is enough to rob Voldie of his followers. They made a mistake when they were young, and I for one think they have paid their dues for that mistake. As long as they promise not to aid their former Master in any way, I'm happy to help them," Harry stated, giving Draco a brief smile as the blond squeezed him with the arm wrapped around his shoulders.
"Most, if not all, would agree on those terms." Severus thought aloud, nodding his head slowly. "And I have to agree with you when it comes to Albus, he would not be willing to just let them walk away from the war, not without repaying the Light side in some way for their crimes. He doesn't realise that many of them joined with Riddle just to get away from him and his manipulations. Slytherin House was in an uproar more than once due to the mild punishments given to the Marauders. Dumbledore refused to see that many of those 'pranks' were vicious and anything but good-natured, and most of the other teachers followed his lead," Severus finished a little bitterly, remembering past humiliations at the hands of Potter and his friends. Was it any wonder that he had hated the son of his nemesis? Some wounds just went too deep to heal on their own.
However, some wounds could be healed by cauterizing them. Severus glanced over at the youth snuggled into Draco. In a way that was what had happened when Potter had been picked by the youngest Malfoy Veela. Severus had not been happy, but he had been prepared to make an attempt to tolerate the boy, if only for Draco's sake.
But something had changed when he had read that first essay he'd assigned as homework for the summer. For the first time he had realised that the brat had a brain in his head, something he had been seriously doubting until now.
That one essay had opened him to the possibility that there was more to the boy than a scar and a thirst for fame. That small crack in his shell had allowed him to start to see Harry Potter for who he was, and that was not a clone of his father. Nowadays Severus had a hard time remembering how he could ever have mistaken Potter for being a spoiled attention seeker. I suppose I was as much a victim of Albus' manipulations as everyone else was. He always delighted in pointing out to me how much like James Harry looked, and how proud that prat would have been over his son. If James was alive today, I think he would have been anything but proud of his son. He hated me with a vengeance, and he disliked Lucius almost as much. For the boys to be destined to be together… James would have hit the roof and probably pulled Harry out of Hogwarts and hidden him somewhere, not emerging again until Draco was dead.
Shaking off his sombre mood, Severus refocused on the discussion going on between the other three.
"If we are to lure Riddle's followers away, we first need to make the Sanastosia Potion. I researched it thoroughly yesterday, and I feel confident I should be able to make a first attempt to brew it. Draco, why don't you come with me down to the dungeons? You haven't set foot in a potions lab for well over a week now, we don't want you to lose your touch. Potions is a delicate science and you need to keep on practising the art constantly, or you will soon lose your edge," Severus lectured as he got up from his chair. To tell the truth, he still felt a little unsettled by his earlier experience with the two spirit snakes, and he was in dire need of doing something familiar. Brewing potions were just the cure the Healer recommended.
Draco rolled his eyes good-naturedly, but rose obediently to his feet without complaint. Severus had taken him under his wing and sort of unofficially made him his apprentice. Besides, Draco was not about to say no to an opportunity to spend time with someone he loved doing something he enjoyed immensely. "Want to come along, Harry?" he asked, looking down at the youth, who hadn't budged from his seat.
Harry made a face. "Nah, run along and have fun, I'm going to stay here and read for a bit. I like potions better now that I understand them, but it still isn't my idea of fun," he answered, glancing up at the Potions Master, who merely snorted.
Severus knew not everyone loved potions the way he did. Merlin knew he got proof of that in practically every class he taught. Still, he could not understand how someone could not love the sight of a simmering cauldron, or feel the delight a perfectly made potion inspired.
"Your loss," Draco said with a shrug, doing his best not to show his reluctance to leave Harry alone. "What will you do, Dad?" he asked, turning his attention to his father.
"If Harry doesn't mind the company, I'd like to join him and do a bit of reading myself," Lucius replied, glancing over at Harry, who gave him a small, genuine smile in welcome.
"Good, then that is settled. Draco, come along, the day isn't getting any younger and enough time has been wasted by Albus, forcing us on that wild goose chase," Severus stated, marching towards the door, his mind already on the potion he was gong to attempt to brew.
Draco rolled his eyes once more, eliciting a giggle from his mate, before he followed the Potions Master out the door. There was no point in dawdling when the man was on a mission. Such actions would only be rewarded with him being elbow deep in something disgusting.
HPDM
Lucius allowed his book to flop down on his chest as he took a sip from his wine glass. Looking over to the armchair where Harry was curled up, buried in his own text, he couldn't help but smile. The brunet looked so cute when he was scrunching up his nose in thought as he battled to understand whatever he was reading.
Lucius was well aware that Draco would never have accompanied Severus to the dungeons if he hadn't volunteered to stay here with Harry. The two boys' relationship had progressed nicely, but it was still too early for the Veela to be comfortable with leaving his mate on his own, especially considering how most of the school was lusting over the boy, and considering the hostile environment brewing between Harry and his two former best friends.
Lucius didn't mind being a babysitter one bit, in fact, it fit his plans perfectly. He and Harry needed to talk, and he had a feeling that for this, it was better if Draco wasn't present. He was a bit unsure of how to get the conversation started though. If he was completely honest with himself, this was one talk he was not eager to have. Still, he did not dare allow the matter to fester. Worst coming to worst, they could very well end up with Harry being afraid of him, and that would be a catastrophe.
The blond was so deep in thought he almost dropped his wineglass when Harry suddenly said, "Whatever it is you are agonising over, just get it out, I promise not to take offence."
Lucius looked over at Harry sharply, stunned to find himself under close scrutiny. Smiling ruefully, he put his book and glass aside, turning his full attention to the teen. "I was trying to figure out how to ask you a delicate question," he allowed, quirking an eyebrow.
"Like I said, just get started and we'll take if from there, although I'm guessing what it is you wish to ask me," Harry sighed, not really wanting to discuss this. Not now, not ever.
Lucius merely nodded, not about to let the matter drop. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened on Saturday, I need to know what I did wrong so I can avoid repeating that action in the future."
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It was nothing, I overreacted and acted stupid. Don't give it another thought," he said, making another attempt at dropping the subject.
"I'm sorry, Harry, but I can't do that. Something I did yesterday upset you greatly, and I want, no, I need to know what it was I did."
Harry sighed again, leaning his head against the back of the chair. "My uncle called me that. I was never Harry to them, it was always boy or freak. I tend to react badly when someone shouts 'boy' at me, especially if that person is angry. It always meant something unpleasant was about to happen to me… When you shouted that at me the other day, I guess I flipped. It won't happen again, so don't worry about it."
Lucius' heart clenched at the matter of fact manner in which the boy spoke, as if it was an everyday occurrence or something. For all he knew, maybe it had been. "It still doesn't make it alright. I lost my temper and that alone was unforgivable. I'm afraid that the Black Truth is a very sore point to us Malfoys. Draco hit the roof as well, didn't he, when he found out?"
Harry nodded as he remembered. "Yeah, he was shouting at me, waving his arms about, I couldn't understand what he was angry with me for."
Lucius nodded. "It was the vengeance oath prompting his actions, it is a very powerful oath and not to be sworn lightly. Still, his reaction was nothing next to mine, and I'm afraid that Draco underestimated my reactions to it. Since I am the current Lord Malfoy, I am the one holding the full obligation to the oath, one of the reasons I reacted as violently as I did. It still doesn't excuse my behaviour though."
"It's alright, Lucius, I understand, sort of. Like I said, don't give it another thought," Harry said reassuringly, wanting to make the older man feel better.
Lucius gave Harry a stern look. "Why is it alright for you to try and make me feel better, but you won't allow me to do the same?" he asked bluntly. "Stop being so understanding. I was in the wrong, I admit that, and I am trying to apologise to you for it. It is very sweet of you to want to brush the incident aside, but we still need to talk about this. I accidentally stumbled upon a sore point with you, and I need to understand why it is a sore point to make sure I never upset you like that again."
Harry ran a hand through his hair, beginning to feel annoyed. "We all know the Dursleys didn't exactly care about me, why sit around and talk about it ad nauseum? It won't change the fact that they were abusing me. I know it, you know it, hell, Dumbledore knows it. I will never return to them, it is over and done with, let it drop."
"I'm sorry, child, but I can't do that," Lucius said calmly, not taking offence at the tone of Harry's voice. "I'm glad you realise that what those… Muggles did to you wasn't right. It won't go away though, just because you want it to. You need to talk to someone about it, preferably Draco, since he will be hurt if you exclude him from something that personal. He will have to understand though if you don't feel ready to talk to him yet. I am willing to listen and so is Severus. At this stage I don't care much who you talk to, as long as it is someone."
Harry snorted. "Like I said, what is there to talk about? Or do you want to hear all the gory details? If that's the case I'm sure Professor Snape will be happy to share what he learned during our so called Occlumency lessons last year," he added spitefully.
"No, Harry, I don't want to hear about the 'gory details', but you still need to talk about this. You were correct in what you said earlier, you cannot afford any weakness and this is a weakness. I can assure you that the Dark Lord will use anything he can against you, he fears you that much. If he ever found out how much your uncle is affecting you, he would kidnap the man and find a way to use him against you the next time you meet.
"Then there is our Occlumency lesson that we will need to begin soon, you will never be able to learn it properly unless you deal with all the unresolved issues you have. The same will go for Draco as well," Lucius added, seeing the mutinous look on Harry's face.
"But I don't have any unresolved issues," Harry spat, starting to get angry.
Lucius merely lifted an eyebrow.
Harry blushed faintly and looked away, refusing to comment.
It was Lucius' turn to sigh; he had known this would be an uphill battle, but did the child have to be so stubborn? "All I'm asking is that you think about it. Poppy told me that the abuse you have suffered has left scars on your body, both on the outside and on the inside where they are not visible. The same thing has been done to your mind. There are scars there that you might not be aware of yourself, which will nevertheless appear at the most inconvenient moments. We all need to be aware of that, and prepare to deal with it when it happens, and it will happen. We will be very fortunate indeed, if all we have to deal with is your adverse reactions to anger and the word 'boy'." Lucius stated solemnly.
Harry stared into space while he listened to what the elder Malfoy had to say. He didn't like it, but he had to agree it made sense. He knew his childhood had left him with mental scars, he just didn't like having someone else pointing that out to him, especially someone who, until a few days ago, was someone he regarded as an enemy. Merlin, could his life get anymore confusing?
"I'll think about it," Harry grudgingly agreed when the silence in the room was beginning to get oppressive.
"Thank you, that is all I'm asking," Lucius said with a pleased smile.
Harry snorted but did not comment; instead, he picked his book up and turned it around, holding it out to the blond. "Could you please explain something to me? The author claims that to be able to do this charm, you need to focus on a happy memory, but I thought it was only the Patronus Charm that worked that way. As far as I can tell, there is no similarity whatsoever between the Patronus and this levitation spell, so why the need for the happy thought?"
Lucius looked the passage over and then began to explain the basics for the charm, happy that Harry wasn't going to sulk or had thrown a snit. It would have been understandable if he had, and the aristocrat was one more struck by how mature the boy sitting opposite him was.
HPDM
When Harry crawled into bed later that night and snuggled down under the soft covers, the conversation with Lucius popped back into his mind. It annoyed him how right Malfoy had been. He did have issues with his childhood, not to mention a lot of lingering anger that no one had done anything. Up until now, he had always come up with excuses for those close to him. 'They didn't know' was the most popular one he had hidden behind. Unfortunately, his safe haven was turning into a sink hole. They had known, and they had all been content to let things stay the way they were. What did it matter as long as he was 'their' Harry and came to their rescue when the situation called for it?
None of the people he had counted on had cared about him, only what they could get from him. It was a sobering realisation, and Harry hadn't been prepared for how much the knowledge hurt.
Closely followed by that hurt was anger. No, not anger, fury. What right did they have to condemn him to a life in hell? What right did Dumbledore have to treat him the way he had? And then have the gall to hide behind some excuse that he wanted Harry to have a childhood! And Ron and Hermione, how dare they come whining to him about their miserable summer when they knew fully well what his summers were like?
How pathetic was it that the only one who cared about him was Draco Malfoy? Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, Harry turned over and buried his head in his pillow, not wanting to think anymore. Unfortunately, his brain didn't cooperate and happily continued to point out each and every time his friends had turned a blind eye to what was going on.
Suddenly a hand was placed on his back, causing him to jump and sit up, wand in hand aimed at the intruder. Only to come nose to nose with Draco Malfoy. "What are you doing here?" Harry asked, mortified at how raspy and tight his voice sounded.
"I felt your distress and I couldn't sleep," Draco explained. "Want to talk about it?"
Harry snorted, belatedly lowering his wand. "No."
Draco merely shrugged and pulled the other boy into a hug, ignoring the way he stiffened. Placing his head on Harry's shoulder, the blond took a deep breath, breathing in the unique aroma of his mate, and waited.
After a while, Harry relaxed a little and placed his own head on Draco's shoulder with a soft sigh. He wasn't sure what it was the other boy was doing, but what ever it was, it was shutting his brain off and that was all Harry wanted at the moment. Sighing deeply, he relaxed further, allowing Draco to take more of his weight, and before he knew it, he was fast asleep.
Draco smiled softly and gently ran his fingers through Harry's hair. He had managed to calm his mate down and get him to relax, two sure signs that Harry was accepting him, and it filled the Veela's heart with happiness and contentment. Moving carefully, he manoeuvred the two of them into lying positions and it didn't take long before he had followed Harry into dreamland.

Next Time:
Pansy finds out why you shouldn't make Harry angry.
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 27

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/27/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I invented the ritual mentioned below. I hope I haven't offended anyone since that was not my intent.
A BIG thank you to all you wonderful people who has reviewed my story. You totally make my day!
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

Consequences of Making Harry Potter Angry

Day 9: Tuesday
Harry woke slowly the next morning, vaguely surprised at how comfortable and safe he felt. He didn't think he had ever felt this good and he couldn't help but wonder what had caused this feeling. Opening a bleary eye to investigate, Harry was astonished to find Draco peacefully sleeping next to him. Blinking both eyes open, he noted that yes, the Veela really was sleeping next to him. Casting his mind back, Harry tried to figure out why. Had he had another nightmare? Shouldn't he remember it if that was the case? Especially if it was bad enough to have made Draco come running?
"Morning, slept well?" Draco asked sleepily, luxuriating in being so close to his mate.
"Um, yeah, I think so," Harry murmured, still trying to figure out what had happened. Then he remembered and he allowed his head to drop back onto the pillow. How utterly humiliating, not being able to go to sleep without a hug, as if he was some baby.
"Whatever you are thinking, stop it this instance!" Draco ordered sternly, "you are interrupting my basking."
"I'm what?" Harry asked, utterly baffled.
"I'm trying to enjoy my first night in your bed," Draco patiently explained, still snuggled down next to Harry, his arm around the other boy's chest, revelling in the warmth. "I don't know what you were thinking, but the bad vibes are interfering, just thought you might want to know," he added graciously.
Harry stared up at the ceiling in disbelief, then he broke down into giggles. This was just too surreal! "I'm so sorry to disturb you, your highness, let me know when it is safe to start thinking."
Draco's reply was a sharp poke in the ribs with a pointy index finger. "I don't mind you thinking, you prat, but I do mind when you get all tensed up and start thinking that you've done something wrong. So you needed a hug last night, so what? I've needed a hug lots of times and neither father nor Severus think any less of me, so why should you? Unless you think you should be above such things?" he demanded, causing Harry to sigh.
"No, I don't think I'm above needing a hug. The point is that I shouldn't need it!"
Draco considered the statement for a moment. Rising up on an elbow so he could see his mate's face, he said, "That made no sense whatsoever, you know that right?"
Harry groaned in annoyance, it did too make sense. "What I meant was that nothing happened yesterday to make me feel like I'd need a hug," he answered patiently.
Draco merely shrugged and snuggled back down. "Then I guess the two of us will have to agree to disagree," was all he said, pulling Harry close for some more basking.
Harry wasn't sure how he felt about that, but he was too comfortable to make a fuss so he too snuggled down and drowsed for a few more minutes.
The alarm clock put an end to their lay in when it went off a few minutes later, causing Harry to start, and Draco to almost jump out of his skin.
"Salazar and his snakes, what was that?" the blond demanded when he had gotten his wildly beating heart somewhat under control.
"That was my alarm clock," Harry replied with a grin.
"That thing could wake the dead!" Draco complained, "Are you that much of a hard sleeper?"
"Ron gave it to me last Christmas; he said he was sick and tired of trying to wake me up in the mornings. I'm usually a light sleeper, but what with the visions and the nightmares I suffered from last year, once I was asleep, I tended to stay asleep," Harry said somewhat sheepishly, crawling out of the bed.
Draco merely snorted, but made a mental note to get Harry a new clock. One that didn't give you a heart attack while wakening you up. Stretching, the blond got up out of bed as well and headed into his own bedroom to get ready for new day. A hot shower did wonders to wake him up fully and he looked through the clothes his father had bought the previous day, finally deciding on the set made in lilac, finishing off the ensemble with an off-white turtleneck.
Walking back into the living room, he was somewhat startled to see Harry sitting slumped in a chair at the table, but he was momentarily distracted by the way he was looking dressed in deep navy-blue leather and a white velvet turtleneck. When his gaze landed on Harry's face, however, Draco frowned at the pensive look he was sporting. Walking over to him, feeling a tendril of worry, Draco asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Yeah," Harry said with a sigh. "I just remembered. Dumbledore is expecting us to spend time with the prat and her pratiness. Only I utterly and category refuse to spend a second more with them than I have to. He can't force me to socialize with them, can he?" Harry asked, sending a searching look at Draco.
Draco wrapped his arms around his forlorn mate and shook his head. "No, love, he can't. He might be the Headmaster of this school, but he can't dictate how you spend your time," he said reassuringly.
"He's gonna do his level best though," Harry stated glumly, not in the mood to be cheered up.
It was Draco's turn to sigh as he pulled up a chair next to the one Harry was sitting in. "I know he will do his best to try and control you. Merlin knows he's done his best to do so in the past. But your heard Severus and father yesterday, it won't be long now before they are free and we can leave here. Just grit your teeth and remember that, okay?"
"I suppose…" Harry nodded. Taking hold of one of Draco's hands, he began toying with the fingers.
"You don't like that idea, why not? You would never have to deal with Dumbles or your friends ever again," Draco demanded, secretly pleased with the way Harry was touching him, as if it was something natural.
"You're going to think I'm crazy, but I don't like that solution," Harry admitted somewhat reluctantly. "It feels too much like running away. True, I would get away from Dumbledore and his manipulations, but at the same time we'll leave the school wide open to him. Just think about it," Harry said eagerly, warming up to his topic, "with Severus gone, who will protect the Slytherins? We all know the extremes that man is prepared to go to, he didn't even protest when Si-sirius sent Sev after Remus during the full moon that time. If he needs a rallying point, what will stop him form using the Snake House to gain the support of the other three Houses?"
Draco sat back, feeling a little stunned and somewhat nauseated. What Harry was saying was true, although he had a hard time believing that Dumbledore would ever go that far. But if he lost Harry… Draco shook his head and determinedly pushed the unsettling thoughts to the back of his mind. Now was not the time for such worries.
Turning his attention to his mate, Draco tried to come up with something that would ensure that Harry wouldn't have to spend any more time with Granger and the Weasel than he had to. Thinking back to the recent most unpleasant meeting with Dumbledore, his silvery eyes lit up in delight. "Harry!" he said, giving the other boy a slight shake. "Harry, you don't have to spend any time at all with Granger and Weasley, not if you don't want to."
Harry gave Draco a confused look. "But Dumbledore said –"
"Dumbles ordered you to spend time with your friends," Draco said eagerly. "He never specified who those friends were."
Harry broke into a grin, which was swiftly followed with a happy laugh. "Hey! You're right, he did say friends, didn't he? 'Your friends', even." The grin morphed into a mischievous one. "So, wanna go and see what Blaise is up to?"
Draco blinked. "Blaise?" he asked, trying to understand Harry's reasoning.
"Yeah, he is your friend, right?" Harry asked with a giggle, placing emphasis on the word 'your'. "Besides," he added growing serious again, "it isn't like I can go to the Gryffindor Tower and ask to see Neville, now can I? Ron and Hermione would go ballistic and demand I spend the time with them, or they will run off to Dumbledore and complain. They will probably do that anyway, but the longer we can hold them off, the better."
It was Draco's turn to laugh. Harry was turning more and more into a Slytherin, and Draco couldn't be more proud of him. Slowly the other boy was relaxing and daring to show the side he had kept hidden for so long. Standing up, he urged Harry to do the same. "Yeah, let's go and see if Blaise is awake yet. If he isn't, I know just the trick to get him out of bed."
"Oh? Want to share?"
"Nah, I might need to use it on you some day," Draco said, wrapping his arm around Harry's slim shoulders.
Harry snorted but cuddled into Draco's side, surprised at how good it felt to stay so close to someone. He had never felt comfortable before with people touching him, it had always made his skin crawl. When Draco was touching him though, it filled him with a sense of peace. Deciding not to attempt to analyse why, Harry just revelled in the feeling as they made their way down to the dungeons.
HPDM
They arrived at the doorway to the Slytherin common room unmolested and unaccosted. Since it was so early in the morning, not many students were up and about, and the ones who were, were more set on getting their breakfast rather than keeping a lookout for Harry Potter.
"What is he doing here?" Pansy asked shrilly, being the first who had noticed that they had entered the common room.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Do we have to go through this every time I come for a visit?" he asked with a longsuffering sigh. "I am Draco's mate, and as such, I am allowed to come down here whenever I want," he said slowly, as if he was talking to a small child. "There, do you think you will remember that until next time, or should we start hexing each other so you can earn yourself another two week's worth of detentions with Professor Snape?"
Pansy narrowed her eyes in anger and drew her wand. She was going to show that upstart just who was the Queen of Slytherin. Gathering her magic, she was about to let loose a nasty hex when Harry nudged Draco in the side and said in a stage whisper that could be heard by everyone in the room, "Considering how eager she is to get detentions with Professor Snape, do you think she fancies him?"
When Pansy's mind had registered what Potter had said, she let loose a shriek of pure rage, and forgetting she was a witch altogether, she launched herself at the intolerable brunet. Dropping her wand, she went for the green eyes that were mocking her, slashing at Potter's face with her claw like nails, all the while screaming and spitting, doing a remarkable imitation of a bobcat.
The two boys were, at first, frozen in shock; never in a million years had they expected Parkinson to react in such a manner. When she launched herself at Harry though, they quickly unfroze and Draco snarled in anger, grabbing hold of the flailing arms, pushing her away from his mate as hard as he could.
Harry also came to life, drawing his wand and sending several spells at the girl before she could regain her footing from where she had ended up sprawled on the floor after Draco's push. Advancing on Pansy, his green eyes narrowed in annoyance and his magic crackling around him, Harry bent down and picked the transformed girl up. "Consider this your last warning, you bitch! Draco Malfoy will never be yours! You will not come near either of us ever again. If you should choose to ignore this warning, I will show you what I am capable of. There was a reason I was chosen to be Draco's mate and not you. You do not want to test my patience. Do. You. Understand? Nod if you do. Oh, I forgot, you can't nod, can you?" Harry snickered.
"What is going on in here?" Severus demanded, sweeping into the common room, not surprised to see most of his snakes present. Seeing Harry holding a fluffy, neon pink teddy bear was a bit shocking, however. "Why did my 'student in danger'-alarm go off just now?" he asked, since from the look of things, everything was calm. Then he noted the wand on the floor and he gave the brunet a pointed look.
"Hey, don't look at me," Harry protested. "I didn't start anything!"
Severus sighed. "You never do, Potter. What happened this time?"
Draco snorted, walking over to where his mate was standing. Wrapping an arm around his shoulders - the Veela was getting addicted to having the other boy so close to him - and taking the bear out of his hands. "Pansy is what happened," he said with disdain, throwing the toy into the air and catching it again.
"And what did Miss Parkinson do this time? Where is she, by the way?" Severus added, surprised he couldn't see her. It was not like the witch to leave a confrontation, especially not without her wand.
"Nothing much," Draco said causally. "She was about to start an argument with Harry again, and then she was about to hex him."
"Yeah, and Potter asked if she fancied you since she seemed so eager to earn herself more detentions with you, Severus," Blaise said, ambling over to where his friend was standing, sniggering along with half the common room.
Severus groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had a feeling that he didn't want to know what had happened next.
Draco was sniggering as well. "Apparently she didn't like having her infatuation displayed for everyone to hear, because she attacked Harry, trying to claw his eyes out. I pushed her away and Harry cursed her so she couldn't do anymore damage," he finished the tale, allowing Blaise to catch the bear so he could examine it more closely. Zabini might suck at Transfiguration, but he was fascinated by the subject and loved to study things that had been transformed, trying to figure out how it had been done.
"What did you do to her?" Severus asked with some trepidation. He had seen firsthand what the boy could do when angered, and by the sounds of it, Parkinson had managed to anger Potter severely. From the strength of his alarm, he had first believed that several of his snakes had been involved in an all out duel at the very least.
"Oh, not much," Harry smirked. "I just made sure she wasn't a danger to either me or Draco." He looked over to where Blaise was standing and Severus followed the look. Seeing the bear, Severus suddenly knew what had happened to Pansy. Closing his eyes, the Head of Slytherin took several deep breaths in an attempt to stem the conflicting emotions rising within him. On one hand, he wanted to laugh his head off at the suitable punishment, but on the other hand, he was furious with the boy for doing something as dangerous and stupid like that. One wrong move and he could have killed the foolish girl; how was he supposed to change their world from a cell in Azkaban? On the third hand, he was fighting a surge of panic over what Dumbledore would say when he found out what Harry had done, not to mention how delighted the Dark Lord would be over this, taking it as a sign that the boy was going Dark.
"Give her to me," he ordered calmly, once he had his voice under control.
Blaise quickly complied and handed the pink bear over.
Grabbing the toy carefully yet firmly, Severus gave Potter a glare. "I do not approve of the way you handled the situation. You are very fortunate indeed that you didn't kill Miss Parkinson with your spell. Twenty five points from Gryffindor and a detention with me." With a last dark look, he swept from the common room, heading for the hospital wing. He wasn't about to try and restore the foolish girl himself, and he knew that Harry wasn't going to do it, not while he was still angry. Unfortunately, Harry was quick to anger these days and slow to forgive. Albus really should have taken the time to get to know the boy during the summer, to find out what had triggered his change, and not merely brush it off as grieving for the mutt.
Severus shook his head in sorrow. When had the man he had come to know and love as a mentor changed so much? Had Albus always been this ruthless and manipulative? Had he manipulated Severus along with others, or was it just Harry Potter that brought out that side of the man? The Potions Master didn't know, and frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. What he did know was that Harry had extended his hand in friendship with people he had no reason to ever consider friends, and had all the reasons to view as enemies. He had even attempted and found a way to remove the Dark Mark, something Albus had never done.
The boy was a true gem, always more concerned for others than for himself. He was fortunate that Draco had picked him as his mate, since the Veela would make sure Harry was well cared for and wanting for nothing. And he would do his level best to ensure that no one was taking advantage of the kind-hearted boy.
Pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind as he arrived to the infirmary, Severus opened the doors with a bang and swept inside as if he owned the place.
"Severus! You scared me half to death! What is the emergency?" Poppy snapped, coming out of her office. Seeing no one with the dour professor, she returned her attention to him, noticing the bear for the first time. "A pink teddy bear, Severus? I would have thought you were more into black rather than pink," she commented, lifting an eyebrow, her lips twitching.
Severus snorted and placed the bear with exaggerated care on the nearest bed, suppressing the urge to just throw the toy onto it.
Poppy blanched. "Don't tell me…"
"That is Miss Parkinson. I trust you will be able to change her back to her not so charming self?"
Poppy pulled out her wand and cast several diagnostic charms. "Merlin help us, that really is a student! I will need Minerva, she is far more skilled with accidental Transfigurations than I am. We will need to inform the Headmaster as well…" Pomfrey muttered to herself as she headed for her office in a daze.
Severus snorted and wished he could head down to his beloved dungeons, but he knew Albus would want to know what had happened. Snapping his fingers, he waited for one of the house-elves to appear.
"Master Professor called?"
"Yes, find Lucius Malfoy and tell him to come to here immediately," Severus ordered.
The elf nodded and popped away.
"Severus? Poppy said a student had been transfigured?" Minerva asked as she walked through the doors to the hospital wing.
Severus merely pointed at the pink toy and stood back as McGonagall bent forward to examine the bear. "Oh my, that really is a student. Whoever did this was extremely powerful and had complete control of his magic." Straightening she turned her attention on her colleague. "Who did this?"
"Who else? Harry Potter."
"Oh dear," Minerva muttered, sinking down on the bed, narrowingly missing sitting down on the bear.
HPDM
"That was absolutely wicked!" Blaise said with admiration, turning towards Harry once Severus was gone.
"Yeah, whatever gave you idea to use those spells together like that?" Theodore Nott asked, looking at Harry with both admiration and lust, causing Draco to bristle and pull Harry close to him.
Harry chuckled. "Would you believe me if I told you that that 'spell' was 'invented' by a nine-year old who didn't like his tutors?"
"What?" several voices cried out from all over the common room.
Harry nodded and his chuckle grew into a full-blown laugh. "Yeah, he had a reputation of being a spoilt brat and a true terror to those he didn't like. His parents employed several tutors, but most didn't last a week. They just up and disappeared one day. The parents grew annoyed, of course, but they never bothered to hunt the tutors down to demand an explanation, they just hired a new one, and a new one, and a new one.
"Then the boy's grandparents arrived for a prolonged stay, and one day his grandmother poked her head around his bed- and playroom, discovering several toys with a strange feel to them. She gathered them up and brought them to her rooms, and later that night she showed them to her husband, who happened to be a Spellcrafter. It took him several days, but eventually he figured out what his grandson had done and the unfortunate tutors were freed from their prisons."
"What happened to the kid?" Blaise asked, not believing his ears.
"He was brought before the Ministry and eventually it was decided that he would have to apologise to his tutors, and as punishment, his magic was bound until such a time that he could prove that he no longer was a spoilt brat. He was also placed in his grandparents' care, since his parents clearly weren't up to dealing with him."
"Did they ever unbind his magic?" a little girl asked, looking up at Harry with wide eyes.
"As a matter of fact, they did. The boy eventually came to realise how horrible he had been, and he set out to do something nice to every person he had turned into a toy. He then went into politics, and in 1398, he became Minister of Magic."
"1398? That was the year Antares Black became Minister. You mean to tell us that the Minister of Magic that is known to this day as 'Antares the Just' was such a brat as a child?" Nott asked in disbelief.
"Yep. He was determined to repent for his actions as a child, and he wanted to make sure no one else would suffer the way those tutors had, so he worked will all his might to make our world a better place. Too bad Fudge isn't following his example," Harry added with an angry frown.
"If anyone is an idiot, it's that incompetent fool," Nott snorted, and that was the trigger to a discussion of all the foolish things Fudge had done during his time as Minister, and a few things he'd done before his elevation to that position.
Harry sat snuggled up to Draco's side, listening avidly, committing the more serious offences to memory. Trust a Slytherin to know what is going on in the political world, Harry thought. Ron wouldn't have known even a fraction of all the things that were discussed that morning, in spite of having a father working at the Ministry.
It was with regret that he left when the summon came ordering him to meet with the Headmaster.
HPDM
Lucius strode into the infirmary, not pleased with being summoned here so early in the morning. From the lack of urgency in the message, he was assuming that nothing life threatening had happened to either of the boys; still, Severus could have been a bit more specific about what exactly had happened. At least he wasn't getting any alarm signals from his necklace.
"You wanted to see me?" he drawled, lifting an eyebrow at the mass of people gathered around one of the beds. Poppy he had expected to see there, as well as Severus, and possibly Dumbledore. He had not been expecting McGonagall, or the official looking employees from St Mungo's and the Ministry.
"Ah, Lucius, I'm afraid we have a somewhat sticky situation," Dumbledore said, gesturing for him to come closer.
Lucius approached the bed and stared dumbly down at the fluffy, very pink teddy bear resting on the pillow. Looking over at Severus, he lifted his eyebrow in silent inquiry.
"That," Severus said with a heavy sigh, "is Pansy Parkinson."
Lucius looked back down at the pillow with disbelief. "It is too early for this to be a class accident, so what happened?"
"Apparently, young Harry took it upon himself to curse Miss Parkinson," Dumbledore said gravely. "If we can not reverse the magic he used, I'm afraid he will be expelled from Hogwarts, possibly even end up in Azkaban."
Lucius snorted derisively. "Are you trying to tell me that a sixteen year old managed to cast a curse, hex, or spell so strong that you can not undo it? I find that extremely difficult to believe. Do you even have proof it was Mr. Potter that cast whatever spell that was used?"
Dumbledore glanced over at Pomfrey and McGonagall, who both shook their heads minutely; neither of the women recognized the magical signature on the toy. It was similar to Harry's signature, and yet it wasn't his. "Severus?" he next asked, looking over at the professor.
"I did not see the confrontation. I was in my chambers when an alarm alerted me that something was wrong in the common room. When I arrived most of the students were present along with Mr. Potter, and that was on the floor," Severus explained.
"Then why are you trying to pin the blame on Harry Potter?" Lucius demanded to know. "Have you even asked the boy, or any of the students, for that matter, what exactly happened? No? Don't you think you should before determining who is guilty and who is innocent? Or has Hogwarts changed its policy on that subject?"
"Lord Malfoy is quite correct," one of the Ministry officials said before Dumbledore could open his mouth. "I suggest we call the students involved in this incident to an informal hearing so we can find out what exactly happened. Mere speculations will not get us very far."
"Yes, of course. We could use my office if you like," Albus said, determined to take charge of the situation once more. If he was fortunate, he could use this situation to get Harry indebted to him for keeping him out of trouble with the Ministry. If Fudge heard of this, the Minister would use this to get rid of his archenemy once and for all. He was still ranting about being unable to expel the youth for unlawful use of magic during the summer before his fifth year.
"No offence, Headmaster, but your office is too small. How about the antechamber next to the Great Hall?" Lucius suggested smoothly. "That way the children won't risk missing out on their breakfast."
A short conference later, and most of the people were leaving the hospital wing and heading down to the antechamber.
HPDM
"You sent for me, sir?" Harry asked, stepping into the room which held no fond memories for him. Shrugging off the memory of the Triwizard Tournament with determination, Harry looked around the room, a bit surprised at the number of people present.
"Yes, my dear boy. Come and have a seat." Dumbledore smiled jovially, causing Harry's hackles to rise and his suspicion to increase tenfold.
Draco felt his reaction and casually placed his arm around Harry's shoulders, quietly offering his support.
Silently the two boys settled into the empty chairs before Dumbledore. Once seated, Lucius came and took up vigil behind them, placing a calming hand one each boy's shoulder.
"Harry, we understand you had an altercation with Miss Parkinson. Could you tell us what happened?" Dumbledore asked gravely, looking sternly at the green-eyed youth before him, wanting to convey to him the seriousness of the situation.
Harry frowned, not liking the feelings he was picking up. "What is going on, sir? Why are there people from the Ministry present?"
"Just answer the questions, Harry," Dumbledore admonished.
Harry stubbornly folded his arms across his chest and slowly shook his head. "No. Not until I know what is going on."
"We need to know what you did to Pansy Parkinson so we can change her back, now stop being childish and answer our questions," Dumbledore said sternly, sending his most disapproving look at Harry.
"Unlike two years ago, I am now well aware of my rights," Harry stated, ignoring the disapproving stare with ease. Dumbledore had sent him so many during the summer that Harry had become immune to them. "If I am accused of something, then I demand a solicitor. If I am not accused, then I demand that the Ministry employees leave the room; they have no business being here."
"Harry, as I said, we need to find out what happened to Miss Parkinson so we can change her back. If we find that you inappropriately used magic, then an official hearing will be needed."
"So I am accused of something," Harry said almost triumphantly. "Then I demand a solicitor be present to protect my rights."
"Harry, don't be silly. No one here is trying to harm you, we just need to know what happened," Dumbledore said, growing impatient.
Harry merely settled back in his chair, a mulish look on his face.
For several minutes no one said a word, everyone waiting for someone else to say something. Eventually Lucius decided to break the silence. "The boy is within his rights to demand a solicitor to be present, since he clearly is not prepared to speak unless his demand is fulfilled, shall I summon one?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Lucius, there is no need for a solicitor! Harry, I demand that you tell us what happened in the Slytherin common room. What where you doing there anyway? I was under the impression that you would spend time with your friends this morning?"
"I am not going to answer any of your questions until I know that my rights are being protected," Harry said, his mulish look deepening to a firm scowl.
"Harry, child, no one in this room wants to persecute you," Dumbledore said with a tired sigh. Of all the times for Harry to be stubborn, he had to pick now! Albus was seriously rethinking his decision to encourage the boy to accept Malfoy. Clearly the two Slytherins had managed to get a greater hold on the boy's loyalties than he had thought possible. He needed to break that hold and quickly, or all would be lost.
"Is that what you told Hagrid? Is that why you didn't stop the trial Minister Fudge put me on? Excuse me, Headmaster, but after you allowed that toad Umbridge to take over the school last year, not even stepping in when she was torturing her students, pardon me for not believing that you have my best interests at heart," Harry snorted. Standing up, he took hold of Draco's hand and pulled. "Come on, Draco, we are not staying here."
"Harry, sit back down this instance! We are not finished here," Albus thundered, allowing his magic to flare in an attempt to subdue Potter to do his biddings.
Harry glared at his former mentor, and Draco could feel the first stirrings of a breeze whip around them. Casting a panicked look at his father, he wrapped his arms around his mate, attempting to calm him down. Now was neither the time nor place for Harry to lose his temper.
Lucius figured it was time he stepped in. He had wanted to let Harry take the lead, to show the Ministry officials that he was not controlling the boy's actions, but enough was enough. "My son's mate has stated his wishes, and what he is asking for is within his rights. Either I call in a solicitor, or this 'meeting' is over."
Dumbledore looked like he was about to hex the older Malfoy, only the whispered conference going on between the Ministry workers stopped him.
"Since we need to know the details of what happened here this morning to save the life of a student, we will agree to have a solicitor sent for, especially since it is within the boy's rights. Lord Malfoy, do you have someone in mind, or should we send for one of the public lawyers?"
"I will send for my own solicitor," Lucius stated, already scribbling a note for Mercury. Summoning a house-elf, he gave the note to the creature and sent it on its way.
Ten minutes later, a windblown and an out of breath Mercury Malfoy arrived, glaring around the room, taking immediate charge of the situation. "Right, Mr. Potter, if you would be so kind and come with me?" he said, gesturing for Harry to come over to him.
Harry obeyed the command and walked up to the stranger, Draco at his side.
Once the boys were away from the group, Mercury put up a privacy screen, making sure to make it opaque so no one could see what was happening. He would not put it past Dumbledore to use lip-reading in an attempt to find out what was going on.
"Right," he said briskly, "first of all, I want to welcome you to the family, Mr. Potter. I am Mercury Malfoy, and yes, I'm related to Lucius Malfoy; we are cousins, in fact. I'm afraid any further greetings will have to wait. What has happened for this gathering to occur?"
Harry shook his head in amusement. Suddenly Malfoys were crawling out of the woodwork, and all of them seemed very likable. What was next? Would he be surrounded by Snapes now, all of them determined to befriend him?
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Malfoy, and please, call me Harry," Harry said with a warm smile.
"Only if you call me Mercury," Mercury injected.
"Thanks, as for what's happening here, beats me," Harry said with a shrug. "I had a disagreement with Pansy, eh, Parkinson, are you familiar with her?"
"Yes, unfortunately. What happened?"
So Harry told of the altercation, with lots of input from Draco when the blond felt Harry was leaving too many details out.
"I see," Mercury said, his lips twitching in amusement, but he did his best to appear serious. This was not the time to laugh. "But why the need for this gathering? It sounds like a case of self-defence, you might have gone a bit overboard, but then again, she was provoking you," Mercury mused.
"I don't know, we never got that far," Harry admitted.
"Well then, let's see if we can't straighten out this mess. Don't worry, boys, leave everything to me," Mercury said, rubbing his hands together. He loved a good fight, especially when it looked like he would win before the argument had even begun.
"Gentlemen," he said, addressing the gathered officials the moment the screen had been taken down. "I fail to see the need for this gathering and would like some explanations as to why you have seen fit to attempt to punish a youth that was merely defending himself."
"Defending himself! He transfigured a fellow year mate into a teddy bear!" one of the Ministry officials protested heatedly.
Mercury blinked. "I didn't think they had learned how to do full human transfiguration yet. Isn't that something that is taught in seventh year?" he asked in surprise, casting a glance at Dumbledore.
"It doesn't matter what year they learn such magic," the official snorted with contempt. "The point is that the boy did it! Such an offence is punishable with expulsion, suspension at the very least!" he added with a sniff.
Mercury looked down at Harry. "I'm beginning to see why you wanted me present," he said, placing a calming hand on the teen's shoulder. "So you have already convicted and condemned Mr. Potter here, without even hearing his side of the argument? Lovely, I'll be sure to mention this to Madam Bones the next time we speak. I thought we had learned our lesson with Sirius Black, but apparently not. Very well, since you are all so set on punishing this young man, there isn't anything more we can do here now. Lucius, I suggest you withdraw the boys from Hogwarts while I set up a date for an official hearing with Madam Bones."
"Now wait here," Dumbledore protested, "no one is trying to convict Harry, we only need to know what magic he used, since none of the Healers can reverse it."
Mercury lifted an eyebrow in a very Malfoyish manner, proving without a doubt that he was a member of that family. "Are you implying that a sixteen year old boy is capable of doing magic no Healer can reverse? I find that extremely difficult to believe," he said, his voice laced with scorn.
"Believe what you wish, the fact remains that the Healers can not undo whatever Dark curse that boy used."
Harry bristled and started to stalk over to the official who had sprouted that piece of nonsense. He was stopped by two sets of hands on his arms though, and he turned his ire onto the Malfoys. "I didn't use any Dark magic!" he gritted out through clenched teeth.
"I'm sure you didn't," Mercury soothed, glaring daggers at the official. "I find that I wish to see the result of this magic myself. I take it the girl is in the hospital wing?"
"Yes, she is," Dumbledore nodded. "Shall we go back up there and find out what progress has been made?" Without waiting for a reply, the aged wizard got to his feet and swept out of the room.
This was turning into a catastrophe! If people began to think that Harry had used Dark Magic, then there really was nothing Albus could do for him. Considering the time the teen had spent reading in the Black library, it was possible the boy had begun to dabble in the Arts. On the other hand, none of the wards set up to warn him when someone used the Dark Arts had gone off, so maybe Harry was still safe.
However, as soon as this unfortunate incident was dealt with, he would have to find a way to keep a closer eye on Harry, a much closer eye. It was clear that he had given the boy too much freedom, and that had given the child ideas that needed to be nipped in the bud.
"Have you made any progress?" Albus asked, walking into the infirmary.
"No, Albus, we still can't figure out how the poor girl was transfigured into a toy bear," Poppy said, coming towards them, abandoning her place around the bed.
Harry snorted and rolled his eyes. "Idiots, the lot of them," he muttered under his breath.
Draco heard him though and gave him a small smile in agreement.
Mercury stepped up to the bed and took a look at the bear that had given everyone such trouble. "Hmm, interesting colour," he commented, secretly thinking it served the girl right.
"Is that all you have to say!" one of the Healers demanded in outrage. "The poor girl was subjected to a rare Dark curse and all you can do is comment on the colour she's been turned into!"
Harry had had enough and stalked up to the bed. The breeze was back and it whipped at his hair. "Will you quit it with the Dark Arts crap?" he demanded. "No wonder you can't turn her back! Finite Incateratum," Harry said, pointing his wand at the bear. "There, that took care of the spell resisting the Finite Incantatem. Finite Incantatem, and that took care of the spell turning her clothes into a teddy bear costume, and the paralysing spell," Harry continued his lecture. Next he cast the counters for the shrinking spell, and the spell rendering Pansy mute.
When he had finished the witch was back to her natural size and looks, minus her clothes that had unfortunately disappeared when Harry cancelled the spell on them, causing Pansy to squeak and turn red in embarrassment, and Poppy to jump forward with a blanket to cover the unfortunate girl up. Everyone else just looked at him in awe or astonishment.
"You mean you hadn't transfigured her?" one of the Healers asked in disbelief.
"Of course not! Have you any idea how difficult that is? Not to mention dangerous?" Harry replied, his voice still filled with scorn. "Now, if no one else wishes to accuse me of something I didn't do, I'm heading down to get some breakfast." With that, the brunet left the infirmary, Draco close on his heels.
Albus opened his mouth, but closed it again without saying anything. There was still the matter of Harry's punishment, but that was probably better dealt with in private.
"Are you all satisfied that no Dark Arts were involved in this?" Mercury asked, looking around the room. "Good, then I suggest this whole matter be dropped. It might have been a bit extreme, but Harry Potter did nothing but defend himself and his boyfriend."
"Boyfriend? I thought Draco was the Veela?" one of the officials asked in confusion.
Mercury raised an eyebrow. "So what if he is? You didn't think the emotions were one-sided, did you? Harry has just as much a right to defend his boyfriend as Draco has to defend his mate. Let this be a warning to you, young girl, stop lusting after Draco Malfoy or risk being subjected to something worse than this," Mercury warned, turning his attention to a fuming Pansy.
"I want that menace punished for what he did to me!" Pansy cried, ignoring the warning she'd been given. "He humiliated me, and attacked me, and I want him to pay for that!"
Lucius gave her a long and searching look. It was clear to him that she had learned nothing from this experience. "You realise of course, that if Harry Potter is punished for what he did, you will have to be punished for what you did?" he asked, attempting to get through to her thick skull before one of the Ministry people could meddle any further.
"I didn't do anything!" Pansy protested indignantly.
"No? So you didn't attack Harry, attempting to claw his eyes out?" Mercury asked since he knew his cousin probably didn't know that little fact.
Pansy blushed and looked away, not making any comments.
"I thought so. I suggest we allow the matter to drop. No good could come from pursuing the matter further," Mercury said, looking out over the room.
Most of the people gathered around the bed looked like they wanted to protest, but they were also aware of that they didn't have a true base for further accusations against Potter, and reluctantly they nodded in agreement.
"Good. Then, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I'm going to get some breakfast. Lucius, would you mind some company this morning?"
"Not at all, dear cousin. Come this way," Lucius said grandly, gesturing for his relative to precede him out the doors.
"Miss Parkinson, I suggest you head down to breakfast as soon as you are dressed, classes will begin soon," Severus said dispassionately before he too left the hospital wing.
Once he was sure no one could hear him, Severus couldn't help but chuckle. The spells Harry had used had been brilliant, well worthy of his legacy as his father's son. Severus knew all the spells the boy had used, but he would never have thought to combine them in such a manner, and he sent a prayer of thanks that the Marauders hadn't either, or he surely would have been subjected to the humiliation Pansy had been subjected to.
That thought made him pause. He should have been outraged on behalf of one of his Slytherins, but in this instance Severus found that he couldn't muster even the smallest amount of indignation for the girl. She had made Draco's existence hell for years, and as far as Severus was concerned, she was only getting what she deserved. He didn't even mind that it was a Gryffindor that had humiliated Pansy; on the contrary, it only felt right that Harry had stood up for Draco, and defended him against unwanted attention. It also boded well for their future life together.
Fighting the urge to hum a merry tune, Severus made his way to the Great Hall. Classes would indeed start soon, and he had no intentions of teaching the dunderheads on an empty stomach.

Next Time:
Harry's morning continues to go down hill and there isn't a break in sight.
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 28

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/28/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I can hardly believe it, but the previou chapter broke the record when it comes to the highest number of reviews! Thank you so much, each and every one of you who sent me a line. I'm glad the pranking of Pansy was loved by so many of you. Just wait until you see what I have in store for her next!
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

A Truly Rotten Morning

Or
A Jackass for Breakfast
Harry was not in a good mood when he stalked into the Great Hall. What had promised to be a good morning had quickly deteriorated beyond belief. How dare they accuse him of using the Dark Arts? Were they trying to turn him into a new Dark Lord? It didn't exactly inspire him to fight for the future of the wizarding world, now did it? At the moment they could all go and hang themselves for all he cared!
Sitting down at the edge of the Gryffindor table, Harry stabbed a few sausages and put them on his plate, adding a few spoonfuls of scrambled eggs. His appetite was long gone, but he knew he needed to eat. He only managed a few mouthfuls though, before his body rebelled at the mere thought of more food.
Draco watched him with some concern, but refrained from saying anything. Now was not the time to push his mate to eat better. Instead, he applied himself to his own breakfast; they really didn't have much time before classes began.
Or rather, he attempted to apply himself to his breakfast. The accusations had angered him as well, and in the end his anger and irritation at Dumbledore won out over his appetite. It was with relief he noted the arrival of the mail and he looked up in an attempt to spot his owl.
Harry was listlessly sipping the last of his pumpkin juice when the mail came. Looking up, searching for Hedwig, he was surprised at the large number of Howlers clamped in the sharp beaks. He was even more astonished to find that most were heading his way.
Dozens of red envelopes rained down on him and it wasn't until Errol dropped onto his plate, more dead than alive, that Harry came out of his stupor. Sighing in disgust, he untied the letter and opened it. Might as well find out what had everyone's knickers in a twist.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! HOW DARE YOU ACT SO DISGRACEFULLY! HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE VISIT THE SEVEN SINS? AND TO FIND OUT FROM THE DAILY PROPHET THAT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE WENT THERE! YOUR PARENTS MUST BE ROLLING IN THEIR GRAVES!
"YOU ARE TO DESTROY THOSE DISGUSTING CLOTHES AND YOU ARE TO PROMISE ME YOU WILL NEVER WEAR LEATHER AGAIN, IS THAT CLEAR, YOUNG MAN?
"I'M NOT SURPRISED THOUGH, SOCIALIZING WITH THOSE MALFOYS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHEN RON TOLD ME DRACO IS A VEELA AND THAT HE HAD PICKED YOU OF ALL PEOPLE. IF THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE LURED YOU INTO DOING, THEN YOU HAD BETTER BREAK OFF THE RELATIONSHIP RIGHT NOW! OR YOU ARE NEVER SETTING FOOT IN MY HOME AGAIN. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?
"I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN YOU, HARRY. I REALLY THOUGHT YOU HAD BETTER TASTE,AND ABOVE ALL, BETTER MANNERS THAN THIS. LEATHER! MALFOY! REALLY!
"YOU BETTER CLEAN UP YOUR ACT, MISTER. THOSE DEATH EATERS WILL ONLY BE THE DEATH OF YOU! UNTIL YOU HAVE BROKEN OFF THIS UNHEALTHY ATTACHMENT WITH THE MALFOYS, YOU ARE TO STAY AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN. ONLY CONTACT THEM WHEN YOU HAVE REPENTED FOR YOUR ACTIONS!"
With that, the Howler burst into flames and ashes rained down on the breakfast table. Harry snorted and cast a cleaning charm. Watching the trembling letters that waited to spew forth their spite, Harry shook his head and incinerated them, never bothering to open them.
"Honestly!" Harry snorted, his words easily carrying to everyone in the Hall since the students were all holding their breaths, not wanting to miss Harry's reaction to the accusations. "Who does she think she is? Consorting? Unhealthy attachment? Disgusting clothes! She hasn't even seen how I dress and she is casting me aside because I dare to be different?"
Beginning to get truly furious, Harry rose to his feet. "Well, screw her and everyone else who doesn't approve of what I do. I might be the Boy-Who-Lived, but that doesn't give her, or anyone else for that matter, the right to dictate how I live my life. If you can't deal with that, tough!"
"That's my mother you talking about!" Ron growled angrily, stalking down the table. "Apologise this instance!"
Harry snorted, getting to his feet, wanting to be prepared in case Ron decided to do something stupid. "Not bloody likely! If she can badmouth me, I can badmouth her! At least I have a reason to. Unlike her," he sneered.
Ron stared at him, hard. "She is right, you have changed, and not for the better if you ask me. The Malfoys are bad for you, mate. Cut the ties and come back to where you belong. Come back before it is too late."
"Has it ever occurred to you, Ronald Weasley, that I changed because I grew up? I watched my godfather, the only person who cared about me as a person, die before my very eyes and I was unable to stop it. Did you really think that wouldn't change me? That I would merely shrug my shoulders and say 'too bad, hey Ron, wanna play some chess?' How thick can you get? I am happy where I am, thank you very much. I like the way I look. I don't mind spending time with Draco. If you can't deal with that, like I said, tough! Come on, Draco, it's almost time for class," Harry said, looking down at the still seated blond.
"Admit it Harry, you are Dark. What I want to know is, for how long? Have the Malfoys already managed to seduce you to the other side, or did it begin earlier? Was it Black that talked you into studying the Dark Arts? No matter what he proclaimed, he was a Dark Wizard, you know," Ron said, making sure his voice carried across the entire room.
Harry watched his former friend for several long moments. Everyone was practically holding their breaths, not wanting to miss how the Boy-Who-Lived would answer those accusations.
In the end Harry just shook his head sadly. "You, Ronald Weasley, are nothing but an ass!" With those words he turned away from the redhead and stalked out of the Hall, not once looking back.
Ron watched his best friend walk away from him in disbelief, his mouth hanging open in astonishment, making him look extremely stupid. Then his face hardened and he closed his mouth with an audible snap. Gathering his wits about him, he reopened his mouth to shout a parting salvo at Potter's back, but all that came out was a high-pitched 'hee-haw'.
The Great Hall was silent.
Then a few muffled sniggers could be heard, despite the owners' frantic attempts to muffle them. It was to no avail, and soon the merriment spread until practically every student was laughing. Most of them even had tears running down their faces.
Ron's face grew pale. Then it grew red and the youth opened his mouth to shout at them to shut the hell up! But all that came out was 'hee-haw, hee-haw', causing the laughter to increase in both strength and volume.
Dumbledore looked out over the room and realised the futility of trying to get even a semblance of order over the students. Instead, he gestured for Hermione to come and take her boyfriend to the hospital wing. At least Harry wasn't the guilty culprit this time, since neither he nor Draco had pulled out their wands during the altercation. Shaking his head sadly at how out of control things were getting, the Headmaster left the room and headed up to his office. He needed some peace to think of what to do next.
HPDM
Lucius had watched the confrontation between Harry and Weasley with concern. The boy had enough to deal with and did not need the added stress. And who did Molly Weasley think she was? To send such a Howler to Harry, how dare she? She was nothing but a Prewett, a Wizarding Family with an even lower standard than the Weasleys had. Clearly, her standing in the Order of Phoenix had gone to her head!
"I find it amazing that no one has ever bothered to tell that woman what an offensive voice she has. Especially when she is screeching like a harridan. How her children put up with the humiliation…" he murmured to Mercury, noting with pleasure that his cousin was just as incensed as he was. Sitting back in his seat, Lucius sipped the last of his tea; with Mercury on the job he could be assured that revenge would be swift and thorough.
HPDM
Harry stalked down the corridors of Hogwarts, silently fuming. Had the entire world gone mad? Dark Arts! They dared to accuse him of using Dark Arts? And Dumbledore had done nothing, nothing to stand up for him! In fact, the man had had the gall to believe him guilty as well! No wonder Tom Riddle had turned out the way he had, if he had been faced with this type of treatment and with no friends to lean on!
Your days as Headmaster of Hogwarts are numbered, old man, Harry vowed fiercely to himself. You are forgetting what Hogwarts is. It is a school, for Merlin's sake, not a place to recruit followers. And it is not your place to decide who is to follow the Dark Lord and who isn't! You might be many things, Albus Dumbledore, but you are not a god!
And Ron, what in the world had possessed the redhead to sprout that nonsense? And how dare he talk that way about Sirius? But Harry knew where the real blame lay and he would make sure to pay her back for the discord she was creating. Just you wait, he thought darkly. As soon as I have a moment free, I'm coming for you, and then you'll see what Sirius taught me for yourself!
"Harry? Wait up," Draco called, gently grabbing hold of one of his mate's arms in an attempt to gain his attention. The blond couldn't help but worry about the other teen, his dark mood was like a storm cloud surrounding him, and his magic was practically crackling in the air.
Harry was so deep in his own dark thoughts that when he felt someone grabbing hold of his arm, he swung around in full battle mode, a ball of magic gathered in his hand within a blink of the eye, ready to let loose.
Draco blinked and froze. Harry was a magnificent sight; his green eyes were glowing, and he seemed to grow taller. A wind was whipping his hair, which looked to be both darker and longer, and with his glowing hand raised as if to strike, he was a terrifying sight. He reminded Draco of a picture of a warlock he had seen when he was a child, and the Veela within him was feeling incredibly smug at the knowledge that this powerful entity was his, all his.
Harry, his mind still wrapped up in his inner monologue to Dumbledore, was a heartbeat from striking out at the enemy. Seeing warm, silvery eyes filled with love and adoration, instead of twinkling blue ones, Harry froze. Then he paled when realisation of what he had almost done hit him. Feeling sick to his stomach, he swiftly banished the magic he had gathered. Taking a staggering step back, he whispered in anguish, "I'm so sorry, Draco. I'm so sorry."
Draco blinked, coming out of his daze. "Harry?" he asked, reaching out a hand, attempting to touch him, not understanding the other's change in mood.
"I'm sorry, Draco," Harry whispered, and with that, he whirled around and ran.
"Harry? Harry!" Draco shouted, and took off after his mate.
But Harry didn't hear him. He was filled with terror and consumed with only one thought – to get away. To get as far away as possible. Merlin, he had almost hurt Draco, the last person he wanted to harm, and he had almost blown him to smithereens. Draco would never want to be with him now, and Lucius and Severus would turn from him as well. How could they not? He had almost killed the one person that meant the most to the two men.
With a sob he tore past Salazar, almost going through the painting when it didn't open quickly enough, and ran for his room. Looking around wildly, Harry waved his wand and sent his belongings into his trunk, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for his things to be packed.
"Harry? Where are you?"
Harry's head snapped up. That was Draco calling. What was the Veela doing here? Didn't he understand what a danger Harry was? Running a hand through his hair, Harry wondered wildly what to do next. He couldn't let Draco come near him, not when he was a danger to everyone, but what to do? In a few moments the blond would come in here and…
Making a split second decision, Harry threw up the strongest wards he knew, making sure that no one could come in anytime soon. Shrinking the now packed trunk, he put it into a pocket and headed for the window, his broom in hand. He would only need a few minutes more, and then he would be gone and the ones he cared for would be safe.
Rushing towards the window, Harry reached for the latch, intent on flinging the window open. Only the window did not budge. Growling in frustration, Harry cast every unlocking spell he knew on the thing, but nothing worked. In the end he threw raw magic at it, in hopes that that would do the trick, but it only made the window glow and still it didn't open.
Not sure what to think, Harry paced around the room, resembling a caged tiger. He couldn't get out, and the ones at the door would soon be in, already his wards were buckling. Doing the only thing he could think of, Harry retreated into the wardrobe, pulling the armband off his arm. If they wouldn't allow him to leave, then there was only one way open to him to ensure that he would never again be a danger to anyone.
Climbing into his trunk, Harry slammed the lid shut and put up a hasty ward. It wouldn't hold for long, but hopefully it would be long enough to enable him to do what he had to do.
HPDM
Draco cursed as he rounded the corner Harry had disappeared around only moments before, and only saw an empty corridor. There was no sign of the brunet. Salazar, could that boy run! And he used shortcuts Draco had never been aware even existed. Fortunately, he seemed to be on his way back to their rooms. Deciding to act on his hunch, Draco stopped trying to follow his mate, and worked on getting back to their rooms as quickly as possible.
Grabbing hold of his necklace, he panted out, "Lucius. Father! Harry's flipped and I'm trying to catch up with him. Please hurry and come to our rooms." He didn't bother to try and give any details as to what had happened, he was far more interested in catching up with his mate before Harry did anything stupid.
In a hallway several corridors away, Lucius looked down in surprise, wondering what could have happened to make Harry 'flip'. Sensing the uselessness in trying to get anymore details out of his son, he turned his attention to his cousin, who was watching him with an air of curiosity. "I'm sorry, Merc, but apparently something has happened and I need to get to the boys."
"Don't be silly, I'm coming with you. I'd like to get better acquainted with the boy anyway," Mercury cut in, making a gesture for the other to lead the way.
Lucius nodded once and hurriedly began to work his way to where his boys' private chamber was.
"Are they in?" Lucius asked Salazar the moment they arrived.
"Yes, you better hurry though. The lad is attempting to leave through the window in his bedroom. I am having Hogwarts stop him, but who knows what he will do next?"
The two blonds shared a worried look and Lucius hurried inside, only stopping when Mercury gave a shout. Looking behind him, he noted that his cousin was no longer with him.
Feeling torn between helping Mercury and helping his son, Lucius sighed and stepped back outside. He had a feeling he would need all the help he could get, and that included Merc. "Salazar, we need to get inside and help the boys," he said with as much patience as he could muster.
"The young Lord told me to only let in yourself and Severus Snape. That man is neither of you. He stays here."
"When Harry issued that order, he didn't know that Mercury existed," Lucius pointed out. "Look, he is a Malfoy, I take full responsibility for allowing him inside. We don't have time to squabble over this!" he added with a pointed look, when Salazar looked like he wanted to argue.
The founder closed his eyes and got a faraway look on his face. "Very well," he reluctantly agreed, allowing the portrait to open.
The two men rushed inside, not happy with the delay and impatient to find out what in the world was going on!
Draco was standing before Harry's bedroom, working diligently on pulling the ward preventing him from reaching his mate down. He had transformed into his Veela state, and the black wings were glistening in the light.
Not saying a word, the two men went to stand beside him, adding their magic to the youth's, and immediately they could feel the wards begin to buckle.
With an angry snarl Draco threw a burst of raw magic at the buckling ward and with a shout of triumph, he felt it go down. Not waiting for the others to move, he threw the door open, almost tearing it off its hinges, and rushed inside.
There was no sign of Harry and Draco growled in annoyance. The window was closed, so he couldn't have gotten out that way. He took a step towards the bathroom, but almost immediately swung around and headed in the other directions. His Veela instincts were pulling him towards the wardrobe, and Draco was not about to disregard his instincts, not when they were screaming at him that his mate was in danger.
Tearing the doors off their hinges, Draco groaned in annoyance when he saw no Harry, but an innocent looking trunk sitting on the floor. Stepping up to it, he growled; how many more of these blasted wards had Harry erected?
With the help of his father, it didn't take the youth long to tear the last ward down, and Draco couldn't help but frown at how flimsy this one had been compared to the ones on the bedroom door. What was Harry up to? He must have known that this one would put up barely any resistance at all.
Flinging the lid open, Draco climbed inside, allowing his instincts to guide him. Rushing past the living room, he didn't have either the time or the inclination to appreciate the room's beauty at the moment. Next he came to a library which he spared only a glance, his focus was on the room next to the library. His mate was inside, and something was extremely wrong. The place inside him that was always aware of his mate was growing colder, as if Harry was slowly fading away. Howling in outrage and anguish, Draco hurtled into the room, coming up short, causing the ones following him to crash into his back. This room was heavenly, filled with magical plants, giving the room the feel of a lush jungle, and for a moment Draco was transfixed with the tranquillity he could feel throughout the place.
A hard shove to his back caused the Veela to remember why he was here, and Draco rushed inside, using his senses to track down his mate.
HPDM
Lucius followed his son deeper into the conservatory, a small part of him marvelling at the work that had been put into this room. Only someone with a great love and skill for all things living would have been able to create this. But just as his son, he didn't have time to fully appreciate the marvel surrounding him.
Following closely on Draco's heels, Lucius rounded something green and extremely frail looking when he once more bumped into his son's back. Looking over his shoulder, he was relieved to see Harry sitting next to a small yet beautiful pond. Then he frowned.
Harry made no move to acknowledge that he had noted their arrival. On the contrary, he was rocking slightly back and forth, staring into space, and clutching a potions bottle.

A/N: To avoid being flamed to death, let me assure you, This Is Not A Suicide Attempt! Harry would never do anything like that; especially knowing how much is depending on him.

More explanations in next chapter




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 29

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/29/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: Wow! If chapter 27 broke all records when it comes to reviews, then chapter 28 really went through the roof. Because of all the heart-warming reviews you people sent me – and not one flame! – how can I do anything else but upload the next chapter? So here it is. Enjoy!
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.



Hurting
Harry slowly swam towards wakefulness. Something was telling him that he would not like what he would find once he opened his eyes, so he tried to remain in that state between asleep and awake for as long as possible. Unfortunately, his body had other ideas.
Cataloguing the sensations he could feel, Harry felt somewhat reassured that he was somewhere warm, since that ruled out the Dursleys. Besides, he was laying on something soft, which definitely ruled out the Dursleys. And was that arms wrapped around him?
Frowning slightly, he tried to figure out who was holding him. The only person Harry knew who held him that tenderly was Draco, but Draco would never be holding him again. Not after… The frown deepened. Not after what? What had happened?
"I think he is waking up."
Harry smiled gently; yep, that was Draco all right. The smile died and the frown returned. Draco wasn't supposed to be here. The Veela was supposed to hate him.
"Good, it is about time, he's been sleeping for far too long."
That was Severus. What was he doing here? None of them were supposed to be here. They were all supposed to hate him, weren't they? Struggling to remember what had happened, Harry gasped as his memory returned as if a floodgate had been opened. He had been furious with Dumbledore and with Ron. And Draco… Merlin, he had almost killed Draco!
Opening his eyes, Harry was dismayed to see that the arms that were wrapped around him did indeed belong to Draco. Scrambling, he tried to get as far away from the blond boy as possible, ignoring the hurt look that appeared briefly in the Veela's eyes. Better he be hurt now than killed later, Harry thought grimly, almost sobbing with frustration as the hold on him didn't lessen. In fact, it grew stronger and he was dismayed that he could not break it.
"Shhh, calm down, love, I'm not going to hurt you," Draco said in an attempt to soothe.
Harry froze, staring at the other boy in total disbelief. Draco thought Harry thought Draco was going to hurt him? Didn't he realise it was the opposite?
"You have to get away from me," Harry whispered, hoping to be able to talk to sense into the younger Malfoy since it seemed impossible for him to get away at the moment.
"No, I don't." Draco disagreed with a gentle smile.
"Draco!" Harry glowered, beginning to get irritated.
"I'm not letting you go, Harry," Draco said patiently, as if talking to a small child.
Harry bristled and tried to get out of the hold the other boy had on him.
"Listen to me, Harry, I'm not letting you go. You are my mate. You are my life. I love you, why should I ?"
Suddenly feeling beyond tired, Harry slumped to the bed. He could feel Draco gather him even closer, but he couldn't find the energy to fight him. Closing his eyes, he did the only thing he could think of, he began to retreat into his own mind. At least there, he would be no danger to anyone but himself.
"Oh, no you don't!" Harry could hear Severus say, and then a jolt of energy zapped through him, causing him to lose his focus. Snapping his eyes open, Harry turned his head slightly to glare at the Potions Master.
"You will not act like some foolish Hufflepuff! You will face what happened, and-"
"And what?" Harry growled, attempting to sit up so he could glare more efficiently at the insufferable man. "What are you all doing here anyway?" he added once he'd noted that not only was Draco and Severus with him, but the two elder Malfoys as well.
"Where else would we be?" Draco asked, somewhat confused.
"Anywhere but here!" Harry cried in frustration. "Don't you understand what almost happened earlier?" he demanded, rounding on the blond next to him. "I almost killed you! Any sensible person would keep as far away from such a threat as possible, not chummy up with it!"
"But that is just it, Harry," Draco said, finally beginning to understand why his mate had woken up in such a panic. "You didn't kill me. You didn't hurt me. You didn't even harm that idiot Weasley when you had the chance. There is no reason for me to fear you."
"Yes, there is!" Harry growled angrily. Taking several deep breaths, he tried to think of something to say to make his stubborn boyfriend see reason.
"Harry, I believe it is you who doesn't see," Lucius said gently, figuring it was time he tried to talk to the distraught teen.
Harry merely lifted his head a fraction so he could send a glare at the aristocrat.
"Everyone here is well aware of what almost happened earlier," Lucius began.
"Good, then maybe you could make your son see reason and tell him to get the hell away from me!" Harry growled in frustration.
"The keyword though, is almost." Lucius continued as if Harry hadn't said anything.
"Almost?" Harry repeated, not understanding what the older man was talking about. "Almost what?"
"Exactly." Lucius nodded in satisfaction, ignoring the look mixed with irritation and confusion sent his way.
"Harry, you almost hurt me. Almost," Draco said, gently taking hold of Harry's chin and turning the other boy's head so that he was looking at him. "You could have done it, but you didn't. You stopped yourself in time, and then you walked away. Don't you see? You didn't hurt me," he added, stressing the point he was trying to make.
"This time," Harry said darkly. "How can you be so sure I won't hurt you the next time?"
"Because there won't be a next time," Lucius said with a reassuring smile. He opened his mouth to go on, but Harry beat him to it.
"Damn right there won't be a next time, because Draco won't be anywhere near me for there to be a next time!" Harry said almost triumphantly.
"Harry," Lucius said seriously, attempting to get through to the teen, "you are Draco's mate. He can't live without you, you know that. Are you really prepared to reject him for something that might happen? Remember, you are not alone anymore. We will help you, all of us. You are family now, and the Malfoys stand by family, no matter what."
"Then maybe you should find someone more worthy of being a Malfoy," Harry said quietly, unable to look at anyone.
"Harry?" Draco asked, not liking what he was hearing in his mate's voice, unconsciously loosening his hold on the brunet.
"Oh Draco," Harry whispered, reaching up to run a finger down a pale cheek. "I'm so sorry. I never should have raised your hopes like this. I should have put a stop to this long ago. I just…"
"Harry?" Lucius asked, his heart tearing at the despair and loneliness coming off Harry in waves.
Harry turned dulled green eyes to look at the head of the Malfoy family. "I think it is time you found someone willing to carry Draco's child," he said quietly, so quietly that Lucius had to strain his ears to hear the words. When the implications of what was being said hit him, he reeled back as if hit.
Draco didn't react any better, but before he could do anything more than gasp, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, preventing the words that wanted to be shouted.
"Harry? Why? I thought you and Draco were happy together. Things were progressing fine between you. Why are you trying to make the two of you miserable?" Lucius asked, desperate to understand so he could fix whatever had been broken.
Harry sighed and scooted back until he was curled up by the headboard, glad to be away from Draco's arms yet missing them the moment they released him. Wrapping his arms tightly around his knees, he tried to find the words he needed to make them understand. Unable to see the recriminating looks the others were giving him, he put his forehead on his knees in an attempt to hide away from the world.
"I forgot. For a glorious moment I forgot who I was. I actually thought I could find happiness. The world reminded me though, that that isn't possible. I'm sorry I got you all involved in my screwy life. I'm dangerous. That is the simple truth. I am a danger to everyone around me. For the most part I can control myself, but the control is wearing thin, and soon I won't be able to hold back. Dumbledore isn't exactly helping, and neither are Ron and Hermione."
Harry sighed and shook his head. "I never should have come here. I should have stayed at the Black Manor. Several of the portraits were helping me with my studies, and there were plenty of books in the library. Somewhere in there I'm sure is the answer to defeating the Dark Lord. You and Severus will soon be free, you should be able to help Draco and whoever you choose to bond him with. You don't need me anymore."
Draco was unable to keep quiet, and he burst out, "I will always need you, you blockhead! I refuse to bond with anyone but my mate, and if you leave, I will just have to go with you! If you try to leave without me, I will just follow you until that thick skull of yours realises that We. Are. Mates!"
Harry looked up, his eyes burning with anger and sadness. "And when will it get through that thick skull of yours that I. Am. Dangerous?" he practically shouted, glaring hotly at the Veela.
"This is all Albus Dumbledore's fault," Severus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand, while holding Draco's shoulder firmly with the other in an attempt to hold him back and not make an already explosive situation worse.
"Severus?" Lucius asked, knowing where the man was going with this, but realising that Harry needed to hear it.
"I told the old fool not to leave the boy alone all summer with only books for company. We could all see his temper growing shorter and more explosive. Did he do anything to help him? No. That would have been the sensible thing to do, and when has Albus ever done the sensible thing?"
Harry snorted and put his forehead back on his knees.
"Harry, don't you see? It is only natural for you to have trouble controlling yourself, your temper, and your magic, especially if you inherited any traits from a magical being," Lucius said, attempting to get through to the youth. By Salazar, the boy was as stubborn as Severus was, and just as impossible to get through to when his mind was made up! Lucius almost felt sorry for his son.
Harry snorted once more.
Lucius was getting very tired of those snorts.
"Don't you think I've thought of that? Don't you think I've read just about every book I could find in the Black libraries about ways to control your magic? Don't you think I've talked to practically every painting in the Manor who deigned to talk to me in hopes of finding something or someone who could help me? Don't you think I've tried just about every technique known to the wizarding world? Nothing worked, okay? Nothing fucking worked, and because of that I almost killed your son!" Harry shouted hotly, coming up from his hiding place to glare at Lucius. Slowly a wind began to stir around the angry wizard, and with a groan Harry dropped his head back down and took several deep breaths in a futile attempt to calm himself.
He was unprepared for the arms that wrapped around him, or the face that settled in the crook of his neck.
"Oh, Harry," Draco whispered, finally having come to terms with the things his mate had said. Harry wasn't pushing him away. He was trying to protect him. Ever the noble Gryffindor, Draco smiled to himself.
"Is that why you considered drinking Le Muerte de Magic?" Severus asked, wanting the answer to one of the questions that had been plaguing him.
"Yeah," Harry murmured, refusing to look at anyone. "I knew my magic was getting out of control. I knew I might end up hurting someone one day, so I planned ahead. I knew I couldn't kill myself, what with being the Saviour and all that rot, but I figured that if I drained my magic, it would take a while for it to come back, making me safe in the meantime."
"Idiotic child! That potion doesn't just drain your magic! It kills it! Making the drinker not much more than a Squib!" Severus all but shouted, not believing what an incredible stupid stunt Potter had almost pulled.
"Better a Squib than an out of control freak who kills anything around him," Harry muttered, ignoring Severus' sigh of frustration.
"Harry, child, we can help you," Lucius said, placing a hand on the teen's shoulder. "It is next to impossible to learn control on your own. You need an instructor, a mentor. There are even special mentor bonds that will enable your instructor to help you with your magic until you have managed to find your centre. And he will be able to safely dispel any magical spikes you might suffer from in the meantime," Lucius went on explaining, willing the boy to accept the help that was offered.
"We also need to start your Occlumency training as soon as possible. That too will help you when it comes to controlling that temper of yours," Severus cut in, wanting to give the boy as many options as possible. "As I said, this is all Albus' fault. He should have helped you long before the situation got out of hand like this. Instead, he left you to fight your battles alone. Well, no more! Both Lucius and I are willing to become your mentors, and we will all stand by you, no matter how long it takes for you to get a handle on your emotions, your magic, and your temper."
"But what if I hurt you?" Harry whispered, looking up from his knees, tears falling from his troubled eyes.
"You won't," Lucius said with conviction. "You might be extremely powerful, but we will still be able to help you. It is only when powers like yours go unchecked that they become dangerous. And Harry, you still haven't grasped the point we were trying to make earlier. You. Never. Hurt. Anyone. It was close, yes, we are not denying that. But It. Never. Happened!" Lucius said, looking deeply into Harry's eyes, willing him to believe, willing him to understand.
Harry searched the blond's eyes for a long moment, searching for signs of deceit. Finding none, he sighed and allowed his head to drop. "I want to believe you," he said in a low voice, "but…"
"It doesn't matter if you believe us or not, love," Draco murmured, pulling away from Harry's shoulder to give him a tender smile. "Believe in me, in us. Believe in that we care for you, and that we are not about to leave you to struggle on your own, okay?"
Harry gave the Veela a wan smile and pulled him close, burying his head in Draco's shoulder, breathing in deeply and allowing the love he could feel from the other boy soothe him. "I'll try," he eventually whispered.
Draco smiled and gave his mate a brief hug. "Good," he said, pulling Harry closer. Feeling his mate's fatigue, he made himself comfortable, prepared to wait while Harry slept for a bit longer, realising that the brunet wasn't up to anything more strenuous than that.
HPDM
"How is he?"
Draco looked up and smiled when he saw his father enter the bedroom. "Fast asleep. He's exhausted, the poor thing, not that I blame him," Draco said with a fond smile, glancing down at the dark head resting on his shoulder.
Looking back up at his father, he asked the question that had been foremost on his mind since this entire mess began. "How could they do that to him, Dad? How could they just leave him to struggle alone like that? When I came into my inheritance, you and Severus were with me every step on the way. When I had difficulties controlling the boost I received, you were always there to help me. Not once did you leave me on my own. So why did they do that to him? He is Harry Potter; everyone knows he is powerful, even though he tries to hide that fact most of the time. I… I just don't understand. I thought they cared about him. I thought they loved him."
"You are asking the same questions I'm asking myself," Lucius admitted, carefully sitting down at the edge of the bed. "Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. From what Severus has just told me, there has been discord within the Order of Phoenix ever since last summer. Apparently Fudge's smear campaign was able to shake the confidence of the Order members as well, and not even Dumbledore's unwavering faith in Harry has been able to dispel all doubt."
Draco growled in annoyance at the mention of the Minister of Magic, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on his mate. "Harry is right, we really need to do something about that fool!" he spat softly, not wanting to wake the other boy up.
Lucius smiled tenderly and reached out to muss his son's hair. "We will," he promised, "but first we need to figure out a way to help Harry. He still doesn't trust us, and as long as he doesn't, we can't create the mentor bond. And until we have established that bond, he will have a very difficult time getting the control he needs. It is a vicious circle, one that needs to be broken somehow."
"What should we do?" Draco asked, not liking the implication that Harry was hiding things from them, from him, but knew it was true. After all, they didn't even know what type of magical being Harry was.
"I'm not sure," Lucius admitted, though he hated to do so. "All my instincts are telling me to bundle you two and Severus up and take you to the Manor. You would be safe there. And with no outside influence to set our relationships back, Harry should be able to begin healing and start learning to trust us. Not to mention that Severus might finally be able to let go of some of the masks he's been forced to wear for far too long."
Draco nodded in agreement, liking the way his father was thinking very much. "But?"
Lucius smiled ruefully. "Ah, yes, the infamous but." He sighed and ran a hand through Harry's hair. "But I'm not sure taking Harry out of Hogwarts is for the best, even though it would be better for him not to be forced to interact on a daily basis with the people who are trying to manipulate and control him.
"I'm worried about what Dumbledore would do if I attempted to take Harry away. Then there are those in Slytherin House. Without Severus there to protect them, how many will be forced into the service of the Dark Lord? Without Severus here to act as a buffer, even though his hands are tied most of the time, how badly will the other Houses treat the snake house? Will they be pushing them onto the only path open to them if they want to get away from the scorn and hate?
"For far too long, the good of the many has overruled the good of the one when it comes to Harry, and yet, I find that I am considering doing the same myself. Harry deserves to be the centre of attention, to be the one put first, and yet…"
"He understands, Dad," Draco said, glancing down at the dark head once more. "We were talking about this the other day, and he has the same concerns you do. He would love to get the hell away from here, but he too is afraid of what will happen to this school if he does leave. I hate it! I hate it with a passion that I can't protect him, but you know what? He is right. I don't trust Dumbles anymore than Harry does, and it would be just the thing for him to do to gather sympathy from the rest of the wizarding world. How can we live in safety at the Manor knowing that the others are helpless in the hands of that manipulating bastard?" Draco took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. Now was not the time for raging emotions, now was the time for calm thinking and strategy.
"I still don't understand though," Draco admitted with a soft sigh. "How could he be driven to such despair, and yet no one knew? They were his friends, how could they not see? How could they just stand back and not help him?" Draco asked, looking up at his father with haunted eyes, reliving the scene he had stumbled upon in the trunk.
Flinging the lid of the trunk open, Draco climbed inside, allowing his instincts to guide him. Rushing past the living room, he looked neither right nor left, blind to the beauty of his surroundings. Focusing totally on his Veela instincts, Draco allowed them to guide him as he hurried to wherever Harry was.
Something was wrong. Deadly wrong. The connection between them was growing dimmer, it was steadily becoming weaker, as if Harry was slowly dying. Howling in distress, Draco rushed forward, his only intent was getting to his mate before it was too late.
Not seeing the grandness of the library he was rushing past, Draco made his way into a lush and obviously well tended conservatory. Entering, he came to an abrupt halt. Malfoy Manor had a conservatory as well, but this place had a feel to it that he had never felt before. For a moment he was transfixed by the swirls of magic he could feel throughout the room. It was only the thud of his father running into him that jolted him out of his daze. Shaking his head, Draco forced himself to push past the distractions and refocus on his mate.
Moving deeper into the room, he was once more hit with the urgency of earlier, and he started to run. Rounding a clump of something green, Draco came to a screeching stop at the sight of his mate. It was only when his father ran into his back again that Draco came to his senses, and with a cry of anguish, he threw himself forward, landing on his knees next to his mate.
Wrapping his arms around the other teen, Draco pressed his face into Harry's neck and began to croon in an attempt to gain the other boy's attention. Harry didn't react, and merely continued to rock back and forth.
"Try to get that bottle away from him. We need to know what's in it and if he was foolish enough to drink whatever brew that is," came the voice of the Potions Master, and Draco pulled away slightly, the better to see what he was doing. Wrapping a hand around the bottle, he pulled gently, giving it a little twist in hopes of getting it away from Harry without the need to wrestle him for it..
But Harry was not about to let go of his prize, and he whimpered in protest, pulling the bottle closer to his body.
Ignoring it for now, Draco refocused his attention on reaching his mate, and he resumed his crooning and his petting. It took several minutes, minutes that felt like years, but eventually Harry began to calm down. Blinking his eyes into focus, he looked dumbly at the blond head next to his. "Draco? What are you doing here?"
Before Draco could reply, Harry's eyes rolled up in his head and he slumped sideways in a dead faint.
The next few moments were a blur, as Severus rushed forward and wrestled the bottle away from Harry's firm grip. Reading the label, the Potions Master cursed up a storm as he uncorked the vial. Sniffing carefully, his grim face grew even grimmer. Pulling a leave off one of the plants, he allowed a small drop to drip onto it. With a grimace of distaste and fear, Severus quickly let go of the leaf and carefully put the stopper back, making sure it was secure. Pulling out his wand, he banished the leaf, making sure no trace of the potion was left on the ground or anywhere else.
Next he cast a diagnostic spell on Potter, and only after he'd read the result of the scan did he begin to relax.
"Severus?" Lucius asked, worried by his mate's reactions.
Sighing deeply, Severus put the bottle away. Casting a strong cleaning charm on himself, he then pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't know how, but the foolish boy somehow got his hands on a dose of Le Muerte de Magic. We can only thank our lucky stars that he never drank it."
"Le Muerte de Magic…? But doesn't that…?"
"Yes, it does. He must have been truly desperate to even think of drinking that devil's brew." Severus nodded with a deep sigh. "You realise what this means?"
It was Lucius turn to sigh. "Yes, that we don't dare to leave him alone until this matter has been resolved. My only question is what happened? I know the boy was furious when he stalked out of the Great Hall, but he was nowhere near angry enough to do something stupid like this."
The two men shared a look and as one, they turned and looked at Draco, who was still cradling his mate to his chest and rocking them both back and forth.
"How could they not have known?" Draco asked once more as he returned to the here and now.
"I don't know, son. I just don't know and I have a feeling that we will never know. It doesn't matter though. What matters is getting Harry back on his feet. It won't be easy, and he will probably fight you, but you can't allow him to push you away."
Draco snorted; as if he would ever let Harry do that! The two of them were mates, and he would move heaven and earth to ensure that the two of them were together forever. He wasn't about to let anyone come between them, not even Harry's own noble impulses.



Next Time:
The boys share their first kiss… and their second
Until Then…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 30

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/30/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: This chapter has been reposted, and have been checked by my Beta Vaughn, thank you Vaughn for helping me fix things. Any mistakes left are my own.

Starting to Heal

Harry slowly blinked his eyes open. This time his brain was much more alert and he had little trouble figuring out where he was. Especially since he was resting against Draco's chest, his head raising in sync with the Veela's breathing. Taking a deep breath, Harry slowly let it out again, a little surprised at how relaxed and content he felt. Considering the meltdown he'd had earlier, this was not the aftermath he'd been expecting.
"How do you feel?"
Harry smiled slightly and stretched, not surprised in the least that the blond knew he was awake. "Good," he said, sitting up and scratching his head. "I'm a bit hungry though. And I really need the bathroom."
Scooting to the edge of the bed, Harry took a good look at the room he was in for the first time, and paused when it registered that this wasn't his bedroom. Unfortunately, nature was calling most insistently, and Harry had no choice but to seek out the bathroom.
Once his bladder had been dealt with, Harry walked over to the sink and washed his hands. Drying them, he looked into the mirror, pleased that for once it was one that didn't talk back at you. Gripping the sink with both hands, holding so tight his knuckles went white, Harry looked himself deep into the eyes.
Merlin, was his life forever going to be one fuck-up after another? All his life he had only one person he could count on. Only one person he knew would always stand by him. That person being himself.
He had done fairly well as long as he was staying with the Dursleys. The rules then had been simple: keep your head down, don't make waves, and never ever talk back. Then he found out he was a wizard, and he had been thrown into an entirely new world with no idea what to expect. No one had shown him the ropes. No one had bothered to tell him what the rules were. They had just thrown him to the wolves and expected him to manage on his own. And he had. He had managed, but at what cost? The school either loved him or hated him. Hell, the entire fucking world was forever judging him, and usually he was coming up short.
Sighing, Harry hung his head, suddenly feeling tired. All his life he had wanted only one thing. For someone to love him. Now his wish had been granted, and what does he do? He almost kills that person. Was this the gods' way of telling him that he was better off alone? That he was the freak the Dursleys had always accused him of being? Should he just walk out now and hope that that would save the people around him?
Harry sighed once more, his shoulders sagging. Deep within his heart, Harry knew that leaving was the right thing to do. But Merlin, he was so tired of being alone! Squeezing his eyes shut, Harry did his best to prevent the tears from falling. Now was not the time for self-pity, but by the gods, why did it always have to be him?
HPDM
Draco watched Harry enter the bathroom with a soft smile. Sighing, he put the book he'd been reading down and got out of bed as well. He and Harry needed to talk, and Draco didn't think the bed was the best place for that. Pacing back and forth, the teen ran a hand through his hair, contemplating whether he should ask his father to join them or not, when suddenly his head shot up. The sudden flood of negative emotions was strong enough to make his knees buckle, and Draco had little doubt as to where they were coming from.
Firming his resolve and straightening his back, Draco marched over to the bathroom and wrenched the door open. This shit ended now!
The sight of his mate hurting caused Draco's anger to evaporate, and in two strides he was next to the brunet. Giving Harry a concerned look, Draco didn't hesitate before wrapping Harry up in his arms. Two startled eyes looked up at him, then Harry crumbled, burying his face in Draco's neck, and he broke down and started to sob. Draco did the only thing he could think of: he tightened his grip and allowed his mate to purge his soul. When Harry's knees buckled, Draco gently guided them down to the floor and he pulled Harry even closer, all the while humming softly in the hopes that it would help soothe his mate and calm him down.
HPDM
Harry had no idea how long they'd been on the floor, but it was long enough for both of his legs to have fallen asleep. Pulling away from Draco's shoulder, he made an attempt to wipe away the tears and to fight down the blush he could feel heating his face, sighing in defeat when he did a lousy job of both. Merlin, I'm acting like such a girl! Draco must think I'm such a fool, Harry thought bitterly, turning his head away so he wouldn't see the contempt in the silvery eyes he had grown to love.
"Hey, are you okay?" Draco asked softly, reaching up to stroke one tear wet cheek. Then he chuckled slightly. "Stupid question. Of course you're not okay." Gently he pulled Harry into a hug. "What do you say we get out of here and find you something to eat? You must be starving by now."
Harry nodded, too tired and too ashamed to actually say anything. With Draco's help, he managed to climb to his feet and stay on them, despite the wobbling he did for the first few seconds before his knees locked. Allowing the blond to take most of his weight, Harry didn't care much where they were going, but he balked when Draco steered them towards the door. No way was he ready to face Lucius Malfoy yet. Preferably, he would never see the older man again.
"Shhh, Harry, it is alright," Draco murmured, guessing what was troubling his mate. "There are only us here. Dad is down in the dungeons with Severus, and he won't be back anytime soon, unless we call for him."
Harry gave the other boy an uncertain look, but allowed him to steer them both into the living room and over to the table where they took their meals. Sitting down, he folded his arms on the tabletop and rested his forehead on them, wishing he was anywhere but here.
Draco gave him a concerned look, but busied himself with ordering some soup and grilled cheese sandwiches from one of the house-elves. Once the food arrived, he pushed one of the mugs until it rested next to an elbow, while picking up the second one and taking a sip. Closing his eyes in bliss, Draco enjoyed the taste of the hot soup as it slid over his tongue and down his throat.
Re-opening his eyes, Draco frowned in displeasure when Harry hadn't made a move to pick up his own mug. "I realise that you aren't feeling very well right now, but starving yourself is not an option," he said sternly, ignoring the muffled snort.
Eventually Harry sighed and lifted his head. Giving the mug a baleful glare, he nevertheless picked it up and took a sip. Experiencing the exquisite taste, Harry lifted and eyebrow in surprise and looked over at Draco. "Hey, this is pretty good," he said, allowing his astonishment to shine through.
"It is, isn't it? It is one of my favourites," Draco said, pleased that his mate shared his taste.
The two boys ate their late lunch in silence. Draco kept quiet because he wanted Harry to get some food into him, and Harry because he was in too much turmoil to handle idle chitchat.
Eventually the food was gone, and Draco banished the dishes back to the kitchen. Grabbing hold of Harry's arm, he pulled on it until Harry took the hint and stood up. Leading his reluctant mate over to the fireplace, Draco lighted the fire and settled down on the nearest sofa, pulling Harry to sit down next to him.
"Now, I know you don't want to talk about it, but we are going to," Draco began without preamble. "I want you to get that look off your face, and I have a feeling that won't happen until that thick skull of yours gets that what happened wasn't your fault!"
Harry snorted. "You don't believe in tact, do you?" he asked, a small surge of amusement coursing through him in spite of the serious subject.
Draco shrugged. "Would you believe me any more if I wrapped it up in cotton?"
Harry thought for a moment. "Probably not," he sighed in the end.
"Thought so," Draco said smugly.
"But Draco, it was my fault. I allowed Dumbledore to get to me. He is right, you know, no matter how much I hate to agree with him, but I do need to get a hold of my temper," Harry said morosely, staring into the dancing flames of the fire.
"Bullshit! I was bloody furious and it wasn't me they accused of using Dark Magic! You had every right to be angry, Harry. It didn't exactly help that that… cow sent you a Howler, or that the Weasel was mouthing off, although that isn't exactly an uncommon occurrence," Draco muttered in aside. "You, my friend, need to stop feeling guilty about everything and start admitting to yourself that you are entitled to be angry. You are allowed to be sad, and scared as well, for that matter. You are human, Harry, and humans have emotions. So what if you've got a temper? So does Severus, and no one is crucifying him for it."
"At least he isn't killing people with his anger," Harry muttered, unable to hide a wince when Draco called him human. He wasn't, not anymore, but how could he tell that to Draco? How could he drop that bombshell now when things were so messed up anyway?
Draco noted the wince, but he acted as if he hadn't. That was a discussion for another day. "Neither did you, in case you haven't noticed," he said, giving Harry a pointed look. "It isn't a ghost you are snuggling with, you know."
Harry flinched at the truth of that statement, and he tried to pull away.
"Oh no, you don't! We are going to get this sorted out once and for all," Draco stated, tightening his grip on his mate. He was not about to let Harry withdraw from him. "Harry, I'm not going to let you go. I love you."
"How can you? How can you say you love me when I came this close to obliterating your atoms?" Harry demanded, twisting around so he could look Draco in the eyes.
Draco smiled softly and reached out to push a lock of hair out of Harry's eyes. "Because you didn't. You didn't kill me. Hell, you didn't even hurt me. When will that fact get through to you? I love you because you are beautiful, both on the inside and on the outside. You are handsome, you are witty, and you are smart and clever. You are kind and sweet, and I couldn't have asked for a better mate. Get used to it, Harry, I love you and I will stand by you to the end of time."
Seeing the unbelieving look in those green eyes, Draco acted on an impulse, leaning forward and kissed Harry on the tip of his nose.
Pulling back, he couldn't help but laugh as Harry scrunched his nose up, crossing his eyes as he tried to look where Draco had kissed him. Blushing, Harry ducked his head and he ended up hiding in Draco's shoulder.
"I'm not. I'm not handsome, and I'm not beautiful, and I'm most definitely not sweet!" Harry stated, coming out of the blond's shoulder to give him an indignant look once what Draco said had penetrated.
Draco cupped Harry's face and let his thumb run back and forth along the cheekbone. "But you are," he said with a gentle and tender smile.
Harry sighed in frustration, unable to stop himself from leaning into the soft caress. "What can I say or do to make you see reason?" he asked, closing his eyes and sighing in pleasure.
"Funny, I was just about to ask the same thing," Draco smirked.
Harry snorted. "I bet you were. Draco, be serious. I'm dangerous. I admit that the mentor bond your father mentioned sounds like a good idea, but I don't think it will help me." Harry opened his eyes, attempting to convey to the Veela how serious he was. "I… I'm not…"
"Shhh, I already know that you aren't fully human. In case you have forgotten, neither am I. Neither is my father. We don't care. I love you, and I know that Father cares for you, and Severus does as well." Draco pulled Harry close, urging him to rest his head on Draco's shoulder. "You don't have to tell me now. I admit that I'm curious, but I am willing to wait until you are ready to tell me.
Harry allowed himself to be wrapped up in strong arms, soaking up the warmth and the feelings of security it gave him. "I want to believe you, Draco. I really do-"
"But life has kicked you in the teeth one time too many," Draco said, ending the sentence for him.
Harry chuckled weakly and nodded his head in agreement.
"I can wait. And don't think I haven't noticed that you've tried to change the subject. I'm not afraid of you, Harry. I trust you. I know that you won't hurt me."
"But how can you be so sure?" Harry cried out in frustration, trying to get away from the arms holding him. "How can you be so bloody sure when I'm not?"
"Because I know you," Draco said calmly.
That simple statement took the wind out of Harry, and he turned to look at the other boy with eyes filled with disbelief.
"I know you, Harry. I have seen your soul, and it is bright and beautiful. In spite of all the horrors you've seen, in spite of all the terrible things you've been forced to live through, your soul is still bright and unsullied. Given a choice, you will never hurt anyone that is innocent."
"How can you be sure?" Harry whispered, wanting to believe Draco with all his heart, but he didn't dare to.
"Because I am."
Desperately Harry shook his head in denial. "No. You're wrong. Cedric died because of me. I got Sirius killed because I didn't listen. I-"
"You did not get them killed!" Draco stated hotly, suppressing the urge to shake his mate until he got rid of all that guilt.
Harry didn't reply, he only hung his head in sorrow.
Sighing, Draco ran a hand through his hair and tried to figure out what to say to get through to his stubborn mate. He narrowed his eyes as an idea came to him. "Tell me, Harry, how old was Cedric?"
Harry blinked in surprise and glanced up at Draco in confusion. "I'm not sure, but since he was in seventh year, I'd say seventeen or eighteen."
"And how old were you?"
"Me? I was fourteen."
"Exactly. Cedric was three years older than you, shouldn't he have been the one to protect you rather than the other way around?"
Harry blinked. Then he frowned in thought. "Maybe," he hedged. "But if it wasn't for me, he would never have taken that cup-"
"Circe, but you can be thick at times!" Draco snarled. "How the hell were you supposed to know that the cup was a Portkey! If none of the teachers, hell, not even Dumbledore, had cottoned on that Moody was an impostor, than how could you have known?" he demanded angrily.
Harry looked down at his lap, chewing on his lower lip. Had there been any signs that the cup had been tempered with? Well, obviously he hadn't picked up any bad vibes. And considering that Cedric had taken the cup with him, apparently neither had the older boy.
"I suppose I couldn't have," Harry eventually said slowly. "But-"
"But nothing!" Draco cut in sternly. "You couldn't have known, end of discussion! As for Cedric, I'm not surprised he's dead."
"How can you say that?" Harry cried in outrage.
Draco ignored him. "What did you do once you arrived?"
"Um, I ended up on the ground due to my bum leg. I got back on my feet, and we looked around. We took our wands out and then someone came towards us, which turned out to be Wormtail with Voldemort," Harry replied, his confusion temporarily dampening his anger.
Draco nodded in encouragement. He already knew the story from his father, who had heard it several times from the Dark Lord. "What did Cedric do?"
"Do?" Harry asked nonplussed. "He didn't do anything."
"You had just been Portkeyed to a strange place, and someone you didn't know was approaching you, and you did nothing?"
"Um, no?"
"You didn't erect a shield or prepare yourself in any other way?" Draco persisted, knowing fully well that the boys hadn't.
"Um, no," Harry murmured, reluctantly thinking back on that day.
"Why ever not?" Draco demanded. "You had no idea what was going on. You had no idea if the people coming towards you were friend or foe, and you were just standing there?"
"Hey! How was I supposed to know what to do!" Harry said angrily. "I was fourteen, for Merlin's sake! I wasn't even supposed to be a part of that stupid tournament!"
"Exactly!" Draco crowed in delight.
"Huh?"
"You were fourteen. You weren't even supposed to be there. If a seventeen year old didn't know what to do, didn't know how to react, how the hell were you supposed to know?"
Harry blinked and considered what Draco had just said. Thinking back, he could clearly remember how they had just been standing there for several minutes. They hadn't tried to get to cover. They had barely pulled their wands out, for crying out loud. They had not been prepared to meet hostile fire. Sighing deeply, Harry slumped back against Draco's shoulder as the guilt of what had happened to the Hufflepuff began to leave him.
Above Harry's head Draco smirked in triumph. He had actually managed to talk some sense into his stubborn mate.
"Do you see? You haven't killed anyone, Harry. And you won't kill anyone unless that is your only option. You are not a murderer."
"I will become one though," Harry sighed, beginning to get depressed again.
"Lets not borrow trouble, love. We have enough as it is," Draco said, pressing a kiss against Harry's dark mop of hair. "You don't know for sure what the prophecy means, none of us do, not until it has been fulfilled. And Harry, prophecies are notorious for being fulfilled in ways not predicted.
"And don't think I haven't noticed that you are changing the subject again. Do you believe me when I tell you that you are not a danger to me?"
"I don't know," Harry said slowly.
Draco sighed. He had known that this would take time. At least he'd managed to get through to the stubborn brunet and made a small dent on his convictions. "Will you promise me not to try and push me away?" he asked softly. "Will you promise not to shut me out? I need you, Harry; I couldn't live if you rejected me."
"I just want to keep you safe," Harry whispered, pushing his head into the crook of Draco's neck.
"Love, I will only be safe by standing by your side."
Harry snorted but did not comment.
"Just give us a chance to help you, can you do that? Can you give us a chance to prove ourselves to you?"
"But you haven't got anything to prove to me, Draco," Harry said, looking up in astonishment.
"No? Don't we need to prove to you that we will not abandon you? That we will stand by you, no matter what? Can you honestly say that you trust us to choose you before anyone else?" Draco asked a challenge in both his voice and demeanour.
Harry blushed and looked down, unable to look Draco in the face.
"I thought so. So, will you give me, give us, that chance?"
Harry turned his head and looked into the fire. He wanted to believe in Draco. He wanted to believe in Severus and Lucius as well. He was so tired of being alone. He was so tired of not having anyone to turn to. Could he give them the chance Draco spoke of? Could he not give them that chance?
Making up his mind, Harry turned back to Draco. "I promise that I won't push you away, for now."
"Thank you, Harry. I promise that you will not regret this," Draco said with a happy smile. Hugging Harry tightly for a moment, the blond Veela couldn't help himself and pressed a second quick kiss to the tip of Harry's nose.
"You are a nutter, you know that, right?" Harry stated dryly, rubbing the back of his hand against his nose in an attempt to get rid of the tickling sensation.
Draco just laughed and cuddled up with his mate, a feeling of contentment spreading through his body.

Next Time:
The lessons in Occlumency begins
and Harry meets with the original DA members.
Stay Tuned…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 31

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/31/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I can't believe it! The number of people who has reviewed my story is… unbelievable! I have never received as many reviews before. Thank you all! I will do my best to reply to you, but the muse comes first. Your positive responses have really caused the creativity to flow. Thank you.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

Occlumency and the DA

Lucius sat perched on a workbench, watching Severus stir a cauldron adding something or other. The Potions Master was pure poetry in motion, and the blond enjoyed watching him work. Considering how harrowing their morning had been, they both needed this time to get their equilibration back. He fully understood and agreed with Severus' decision to send today's classes to the library to do bookwork. He wouldn't feel up to facing a class full of silly children either.
Instead, the man had holed himself up in his private lab and had spent the entire day brewing different potions, once he had reassured himself that the boys would be fine. That reminded him…
"How did you know that something was wrong this morning? Mercury and I had already left the Great Hall when Draco called me. Do you have a spell monitoring the boys?" Lucius asked, not sure how he felt about that if that was the case.
Severus snorted and glanced up from what he was doing. "Nothing that drastic, but now that you mentioned it, maybe that would be a good idea."
"I don't think Harry agrees with you," Lucius said, reluctantly dismissing the idea. "So how did you know there was trouble brewing?"
"Hogwarts told me."
"Hogwarts?" Lucius echoed.
"Yes, Hogwarts, the school we currently are living in?" Severus said, talking as if Lucius was one of his more dense dunderheads.
Lucius sent his mate a dark glower. "Very funny, Sev. I know what Hogwarts is, thank you very much. But I've never heard of the castle talking to anyone before."
"Oh, she does, but only when she thinks it is urgent or extremely important. Ever since I was made Head of Slytherin, she's been giving me hints of what is going on with my snakes. One of the reasons I always manage to be where I need to be, when I need to be there." Severus smirked, sending Lucius a look, well aware of the many times he'd thwarted some of Draco's more elaborate attempts at getting the Gryffindors and the Hufflepuffs in trouble.
"I'll be sure not to tell him," Lucius said, his voice laced with amusement. He too was well aware of his son's prank attempts. "So Hogwarts told you…?" Lucius asked, returning to his original question.
Shaking his head ruefully, Severus added the last ingredient and set the brew to simmer before he answered that question.
"She told me that Harry was about to lose control and she wasn't sure if she could contain the magical surge without help."
Lucius blinked; that was not the answer he'd been expecting. "That she couldn't… He is that powerful? According to Hogwarts: A History, the founders put in some very impressive wards to ensure that no student was injured due to lack of control. Or have the wards diminished with time?" he mused, looking for other answers, not sure he wanted for Harry to be that powerful.
"I don't know about the wards, but yes, I suspect he is that powerful." Severus nodded, checking the cauldron one last time before erecting a ward to make sure nothing was added to the potion, whether by accident or by malicious intent. Peeves had yet to manage to find a way into Severus' private lab, but he was all too aware that the poltergeist was not about to give up anytime soon.
"Where do you think he got that potion from?" Lucius asked, turning his attention to the second issue that had occupied his thoughts. "From what Draco has told me, and from your rants, I thought the boy was hopeless at Potions, and yet he managed to brew that dratted Black Truth. Do you think he has been holding back?"
"No." Severus disagreed with conviction. "I've been watching that boy like a hawk, and he has displayed none of the skills Lily displayed. If she hadn't decided to concentrate on Charms, she could easily have become a Potions Mistress, and one of the top five at that.
"Hmm, that still doesn't explain where his sudden skills are coming from."
"I'm not sure," Severus mused, coming to stand beside the Veela. "The only possibility I can think of is that he somehow got his hands on an instructor… and on a Time-Turner."
Lucius head shot up in alarm. "A Time-Turner? You don't think he brought it with him, do you?" Nightmarish images of Harry slipping away and doing something foolish in an attempt to protect them filled his mind.
"That I do not know, but I believe it would be best if we restricted Harry's access to his trunk. Who knows what other devilish brews he's got down there?" Severus said gravely. "I think you need to extract a promise from that boy that he won't go down there again unless he is accompanied by either you or Draco. Potter might be foolish and rash, but if he makes a promise, he keeps it."
Lucius nodded, his agile mind already trying to come up with arguments that wouldn't push the youth further away, yet would extract the promise they needed. There was no way he would allow Draco to lose his mate if he could help it. And even though he had only known Harry for a short time, he was becoming increasingly fond of the brown-haired teen, and he wanted to make sure he was safe for his own sake and not only because of his importance to Draco.
"Is he still asleep?"
Lucius closed his eyes and focused on the information his necklace was giving him. "No." He shook his head slowly. "They are both awake, and from what I can tell, all is well."
"How about we join them? You, my friend, missed lunch, as did I, and I for one am getting hungry," Severus said, taking one last look around to make sure everything was in order.
Lucius nodded and slid off the table. He was not about to turn down the offer of support in confronting Harry about his trunk. Quenching his impulse to hug the other man, Lucius was content to walk out of the lab side by side with his mate.
HPDM
Stepping over the threshold to the boys' room, Lucius grew somewhat concerned when he could only see his son's fair head. There was no sign of Harry, and he quickly made his way over to the sofa. Opening his mouth to inquire of the brunet's whereabouts, he closed his mouth, questions unasked when he saw Harry laying stretched out with his head pillowed on Draco's thigh. "Comfortable?" he asked, only half teasing the youths.
"Very, thank you," Draco replied, looking up from the book he was reading, never stopping his petting of the dark head on his lap.
Harry didn't bother to answer, he merely continued to stare into the fire.
"Hey, you two, it is time you ate something," Lucius said, giving the brunet a worried glance. He didn't think he had ever seen Harry that despondent, and, well, depressed. The spark he was used to seeing in Harry just wasn't there anymore. But then he was driven to practically commit magical suicide, what did you expect? Lucius thought to himself, reaching out and gently shaking Harry's shoulder when the youth made no move to get up.
Harry sighed but obediently rolled to his feet. Not looking at anyone, he made his way over to the table where Severus was supervising the miniature feast one of the house-elves were putting onto the table.
Plonking down into a chair, Harry stared down at his hands, not even reacting when Draco sat down next to him, wrapping his arm around his shoulders.
"I know you probably don't feel like it, but you need to eat, love," Draco murmured, hoping he wouldn't have to force his mate to eat.
Harry just sighed. "I'm not hungry. In fact, I'm going off to bed." He started to rise, but both Draco and Severus moved in to stop him.
"Let go of me," Harry said in a quiet voice that demanded instant attention and obedience.
Draco reluctantly moved away, worried he might set his mate off again, but Severus had no such inhibitions.
"No," he said calmly. "I know you don't want to be here right now, and I understand if you don't feel like eating, but running away will not solve your problems."
Harry looked up at the Potions Master for the first time since the man had entered the room, his green eyes smouldering with emotions. However, before he could say anything, Severus scowled darkly at him and snapped, "Are you going to prove to me that you are the spoilt brat I always took you to be?"
"Severus!" Lucius gasped in shock. Surely that was not the right approach to take right now when the boy was so fragile.
As if he had read the blond's mind, Severus glanced over at him and snorted. "Potter is not fragile, Lucius. He is a child used to getting his own way, and now that he has run into more than he can chew, he is taking the coward's way out, and is running away instead of facing his troubles head on."
"How dare you!" Harry growled, glaring darkly at his professor. "How. Dare. You? You know nothing about me. Nothing!" he ended up shouting, getting to his feet so forcefully that his chair fell over.
"Then tell me!" Severus roared, standing as well. Placing his fisted hands on the table, he leaned forward and got right into Harry's face, not backing down an inch. "Tell me! Make me understand! Only then will I be able to help you. Only then will we be able to help you. Running away by taking potions in hopes of a small reprieve is not dealing with your problems. That will only make them worse!" He glowered at Harry, his silent stare taunting him to either accept the offer of help or run away with his tail between his legs.
Slowly the fight went out of Harry's stance and he looked away, unable to look into those knowing onyx black eyes any longer. "I feel stupid, okay?" he murmured, bending down to righten his chair.
Draco immediately wrapped his arms around his mate and pulled him down to sit in his lap, ignoring the surprised squawk his actions elicited from his mate. He knew enough to stay out of the argument, he'd probably only make things worse anyway since he didn't have a full understanding of the situation. But he'd be damned if he was letting his mate go through this on his own.
"There is no need to feel stupid. As I told you before, this is all Albus' fault. In fact, almost the entire Order of Phoenix can be faulted for the predicament you find yourself in. To a small degree even I am to blame for this," Severus said solemnly, sitting back down as well. He never took his eyes off Harry, attempting to convey how serious he was about this.
"Your fault?" Harry asked, looking up from where he had been hiding his face against Draco's shoulder. "How can this be your fault? Up till a week ago, we didn't even like each other. I hated you, remember? I even accused you for getting Sirius killed. I'm sorry for that, by the way. It was utterly unfair of me to put all the blame on you. For one thing, Sirius should have taken his duel with Bellatrix seriously. Maybe if he hadn't been toying with her like he did, things would have ended differently," Harry said solemnly, shifting until he was sitting more comfortably on Draco's lap, not making any moves to get off and into his own chair.
"Your apology is accepted," Severus said, inclining his head slightly. "I hope you will accept mine as well. Yes, we were at odds with each other. Yes, I did dislike you, since the moment you were born if I'm to be honest. Yes, I was furious with you for putting the entire blame for the debacle in the Ministry on me. But I was still your professor. I saw that you were not doing well, I noted that not one of the people staying at Headquarters were coming to your aid. I should have been able to put my feelings for you aside and approach you and offer my help. I didn't, and because of that, you are now suffering. I-"
"Should have, could have, would have. It is all in the past, sir. You are offering to help me now and that is what counts," Harry said, cutting in to Snape's somewhat awkward explanation, not wanting the proud man to have to bend his neck more than necessary.
"Thank you, Harry, you are most generous. Do you believe me when I say it was wrong of us to leave you alone to struggle with your grief and with your inheritance?" Severus asked, daring to press the issues he wanted the teen to face, seeing as he was calm and not showing any signs of being upset.
Harry looked down and didn't meet Severus' eyes.
"Harry?" Lucius asked, deciding it was about time he joined Severus, and showed his support in this battle of wills.
Harry merely shrugged, still not looking at anyone.
"Love, when I turned sixteen, I had Severus and later on my Father at my side every moment," Draco said, thinking that maybe if Harry knew of his own struggles it would be easier for his mate to talk about his own ordeals. Or even accept the fact that he should not have been forced to deal with this on his own. "When I was struggling, be it with my emotions or my powers, they were there to help me in anyway they could. Even if all they could do was to give me a hug, they did it. And they constantly told me they loved and supported me.
"And believe me! I needed that support. In spite of the fact that I had been prepared for that day since I was ten years old! No one prepared you for what was to come, and from what little you have told me, you had no one you could turn to for support. We are trying to make up for that now. Please let us help you. Please, don't shut us out," Draco pleaded quietly, knowing fully well that he was playing dirty. But he hated it when Harry was hurting, and right now, his mate was hurting.
Harry sighed deeply and turned to look at the young Veela. Seeing nothing but love and a wish to help in the depth of those alluring silvery eyes, Harry sighed once more and turned his head slightly to look at Severus. "So what do we do?" he asked quietly, not sure if he wanted to know.
"First, we are going to eat," Severus said matter-of-factly, reaching out for a roast beef sandwich. "Then, we will begin Occlumency practise by teaching the two of you how to meditate."
Harry thought that over for a moment before nodding his consent. Giving Draco a small smile to show that he was all right, Harry slipped off the surprisingly comfortable lap and settled into his own chair.
HPDM
"There is one thing I'm curious about," Severus said, as he was making himself comfortable on the floor once their meal had been consumed.
"Only one? I'm impressed." Lucius teased from where he was settling on the floor on the other side of the room. It had been decided that he should teach Harry, while Severus taught Draco. Hopefully, that would help Harry to be more open to the teachings, since he had not had the best of experiences with the subject.
Severus ignored the aristocrat with practised ease. "If you thought Le Muerte de Magic would suppress your magic for a short while, why didn't you drink it? If you were that desperate, why didn't you follow through with your intentions?" he asked, looking over to where Harry was settling on the floor.
"Severus, this isn't exactly the time-" Lucius began to say with an angry frown.
"No, it is alright," Harry hastened to reassure, not wanting the two men to disagree. "I had actually removed the stopper, and was lifting the bottle to my lips, when I was hit with a thought. As you have guessed, I'm not fully human. The other part is highly magical and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to it if I was to suppress my magic. Would that part of me be able to handle the decrease of magic? What if I got sick because I didn't have any magic for a while? What if… I died? That was never my intention you, know," Harry said earnestly, looking at the three people with him in the room. "I wasn't trying to commit suicide. I couldn't do that to Draco. I couldn't do that to all those people waiting for me to deal with the Dark Lord. I just… I just wanted to make sure I was safe…" Harry's voice trailed off and he looked down into his lap, fidgeting.
Lucius smiled sadly and scooted closer to the teen, enveloping him into a hug and whispering, "I'm glad you never drank that potion, and I will make sure you never feel like you'll need it ever again." He promised solemnly.
Draco got up from where he was sitting and walked over to where Harry was. Sinking gracefully to his knees, he wrapped his arms around the other boy as well and gave him a big hug. "I love you Harry, no matter what. I will always stand by your side, remember that," he promised, tightening his hug slightly.
"Thanks, Draco, Lucius," Harry murmured, blushing slightly, not having expected that show of love and support.
"I'm proud that you didn't foolishly rush in like a Gryffindork, but stopped to think your actions through," Severus said, wanting to show his support, but not quite ready to join the group hug. "Now, how about we begin tonight's lesson?"
Draco rolled his eyes, but after one last squeeze he let go and returned to his former seat across from Severus and paid attention as the man began to explain the how's and the why's of meditation.
HPDM
Harry climbed to his feet and stretched. He felt stiff and his muscles were cramping after sitting in the same position for so long. Not to mention that his foot had fallen asleep. He felt causiously optimistic though, even if he hadn't shown much progress tonight. Meditating was not as easy as it sounded, and reaching a truly relaxed state took a lot of willpower, not to mention concentration.
"You did very good for a first try, Harry," Lucius said, coming to stand next to the teen.
Harry made a face. "Not really. I couldn't turn my mind off," he replied, looking over to where Draco was still working with Severus. The privacy barrier the blond aristocrat had erected at the start of their lesson ensured that they weren't disturbing the other pair.
"Draco make it look so easy," Harry commented as he saw the relaxed look on the Veela's face.
"Draco was taught how to meditate when he was six years old," Lucius replied, slinging an arm around the brunet's shoulders. "It helped to relax him when he was overtired or stressed. Besides, it is a well known fact that if a child starts off his day with a few minutes of meditation, he will have an easier time learning its lessons."
"Wow. Six, huh?" Harry said, looking impressed.
"Yes, but he was only taught the first level of meditation. Severus will show him how to go much deeper than the surface calm Draco has experienced so far. With some practice he should be able to access his magical core, and if he is fortunate, he should be able to start learning how to do wandless magic as well as Occlumency."
"Wandless magic?" Harry asked, intrigued, looking over at the man standing next to him.
Lucius nodded. "Think about it, Harry. What is magic? It is will and intent. My son is extremely stubborn, and once he has figured out how to access him inner core, he should have little trouble being able to manipulate it to do his biddings."
Looking down at the teen, Lucius smiled ruefully. "From what I have seen, you are just as stubborn as he is, and once you've learned how to meditate, I have little doubt you will be able to learn wandless magic as well."
Harry broke into a wide grin. "I hope so! Just think of all the cool stuff we could do!" Then he grew pensive. "Do you think it is possible to duel using wandless magic?"
"Why do you ask?" Lucius wanted to know, not about to give a quick yes or no until he knew more of why Harry wanted to know that.
"Because Voldie and I have brother wands. That is what saved me after the Tri-wizard Tournament. But how can you successfully fight someone when your wands won't allow you to cast harmful spells on your opponent? I figured Dumbledore would come up with a solution, but it's been over a year now, and he still hasn't addressed that problem. Do you think I should go to Ollivander and try to get a new wand?"
"That is a problem, isn't it? I had actually forgotten that little fact. I know the Dark Lord has not bothered to get a new wand yet, and he probably won't. As you know, the wand chooses the wizard, and not the other way around. That makes it rather difficult to pick up a second wand, as long as the first one is still functioning. A wand is not sentinent, and yet it has the power to decide which wizard it wants to work with. That same phenomenon is what is preventing you from getting a second, well matched wand. To my knowledge, there has only been three occasions in our history when a primary wand has agreed upon its owner getting a second wand. It is quite possible you could turn out to be the forth, still…
"I think your best option is to develop your wandless magic skills. If you are strong enough, and fit enough, you should be able to duel successfully without your wand. You will need to build up your stamina though. Both physically, mentally and magically. It will not be easy," Lucius warned, giving Harry a grave look. He was worried; the youth had presented him with a new problem, as if they didn't have enough of them already! Albus should have begun the boy's training long ago! It was criminal to have left him alone and untrained for this long, and yet having no compunctions placing the knowledge that the future of the world rested on Harry's shoulders, and his alone.
"I don't care. As long as it gives me a fighting chance to put an end to this madness once and for all," Harry said, looking over at Draco once more.
"Very well. I will think of what you have said. But there is still plenty of time, so I want you not to fret, alright? Take your time and learn how to meditate properly. If you rush it, you will never reach the level of awareness you will need, and we will have to start all over again. Once you have connected with your magical core, then we can start pushing, but not before. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, and I promise to do the best I can," Harry promised, giving Lucius a small yet genuine smile.
"That is all we ask," Lucius said, giving the slim shoulders a gentle shake. "Now, how about we wake those two up? I'm in the mood for some tea and sticky pudding."
Harry chuckled, and stepped forward, unconsciously taking down the ward as he walked through it. Lucius felt his eyebrow climb upwards, but refrained from saying anything. He needed to talk to Severus in private. They really needed to find out what magical being Harry was.
HPDM
Harry was enjoying his tea and the easy banter between Lucius and Severus when he suddenly remembered. Casting a quick Tempus, he cursed when he noted the time and flew up from his chair.
"Language!" Both Lucius and Severus chorused automatically while Draco gave him a concerned look.
"What?" he asked, getting to his feet as well.
"I can't believe I forgot! Bloody hell!" Harry cursed, ignoring the disapproving looks from the adults.
"Forgot what?" Draco persisted.
"I'm supposed to meet with the DA in ten minutes!" Harry replied, looking down at his clothes. Deciding that he looked okay, he made sure he had his wand and started towards the door.
"The DA? I wasn't aware that you had scheduled a meeting for tonight," Lucius said with some concern, standing up as well. Harry was not in any shape to meet with the school tonight.
"Not the school," Harry said, shaking his head in the negative. Noting that he would not get out of the room without an explanation, he sighed in irritation and turned around to fully face the others.
"I realised that I will need help if I am to teach most of the school. It was hectic enough last year, and we were only a small group. So, I've set up a meeting with the DA members still at school and I will ask them to help me with the teaching," he explained, inching closer to the door.
"Do you have to do it tonight?" Draco asked, not wanting Harry to having to face Weasley so soon after that morning's mess. Facing him tomorrow was soon enough in Draco's mind.
"I've postponed it far too long as it is. The first official meeting is tomorrow night. I have to see them now. Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'm sure the entire school have heard about Pansy by now and they will know better than to make me angry. Besides, these people know what I'm capable of, unlike Parkinson." Harry smirked at the memory.
Draco folded his arms across his chest. "You are not going to that meeting alone!" he stated with a dark look.
"I didn't think I would," Harry said mildly, sending the disgruntled Veela a tender smile. It was quickly returned and Draco's forbidding stance softened considerably.
"Then come on! The clock is ticking and I'd hate arriving late," Harry said, motioning for the other boy to hurry up.
Checking that his appearance was acceptable, Draco walked up to where Harry was practically bouncing with anxiety. "I'm coming, keep your shirt on. No, on second thought, lose it, I wouldn't mind."
Harry snorted, grabbed hold of Draco's arm, and dragged him out through the door.
"I foresee a long and interesting relationship," Lucius said once the door had fallen closed behind the two boys.
"You forgot to mention rocky," Severus said, staring at the closed door with a pensive look. "I really don't think this is a good idea, Luce. It is too soon. No way he has recovered as well as he is pretending he has."
Lucius sighed. "I know. I totally agree with you. But what am I to do? Forbid him to go? Lock him in his room? He is sixteen years old, he is practically an adult. Besides, isn't that what Dumbledore has done to him all these years? I can't afford to have him at odds with me, things are strained between him and Draco as it is."
"I know. Still…"
"All we can do is to be there for him and pick up the pieces when things fall apart. I only hope that immature brat has the good sense to keep his big mouth shut!" Lucius growled, not happy either at the thought of Harry and Ron facing each other so soon.
"The odds for that happening are slim, I'm afraid. We can only hope Granger will be able to keep him in check."
Lucius snorted, but nodded in agreement of the situation. Then he snickered. "I wonder who it was that hexed him this morning? The look on his face was priceless."
Severus chuckled as well, remembering the scene in the Great Hall vividly. "I have no idea, but fifty points to whoever it was. I wonder if Poppy has been able to fix him yet?"
"I have no idea, but I hope not. Life would be so much simpler if not quieter with him being unable to shoot his mouth off."
HPDM
By using just about every shortcut he knew, Harry managed to get him and Draco to the Room of Requirement before any of the DA. Pacing back and forth, Harry focused on what type of room they would need for tonight. It should be something informal, yet with a few hints of their usual room to remind everyone of the good times they had shared in there.
When the door appeared, Harry walked up to it and opened it, nodding in approval as he stepped inside. To the side was a duelling platform, a fire was burning merrily in a fireplace, and soft cushions were scattered all over the floor. This should do just fine.
Walking over to one of the cushions, and making it slightly larger, Harry plonked down on it, not making any comments other than a slight 'oomph' as Draco settled in his lap. Clearly the Veela was going to make a statement and Harry found that he couldn't push him away. To tell the truth, he was far less sure of himself than he had let on to the adults. This meeting could backfire on him, and badly at that.
Taking out his wand, twiddling it between his fingers, Harry waited for the first members to appear. He considered getting back to his feet, but he didn't want to appear threatening, so decided to remain where he was. Besides, it was actually rather nice having Draco sitting in his lap.
Further hesitations were shelved as the first DA members began to enter.
HPDM
"What is he doing here?" Ron shouted even before he was fully inside the room, temporarily forgetting that he was still unable to talk. He glowered in anger and frustration at the sniggers the others were doing a poor job of hiding, when nothing but donkey sounds came out.
"What happened to you?" Harry asked, nonplussed, having missed Ron's nonhuman shout at him this morning due to being too busy seeing red.
"Someone cursed him, and Madam Pomfrey couldn't reverse it," Hermione replied, having taken the roll as interpreter for her boyfriend. "As if you didn't know that already," she added, giving Harry a dark look.
"Me? I didn't do anything," Harry protested, feeling sad that she would automatically pin all the blame on him.
"No? You were the one closest to him. You were the one calling him an ass! Are you telling me that you didn't hex him?" Hermione demanded, fighting to keep her emotions in check. "I find that very difficult to believe. Or are you going to blame this on your door guardian as well?" she couldn't resist adding snidely.
Harry shook his head sadly. "So just because I called Ron an ass, I'm automatically to blame? In spite of the fact that I was not holding my wand at the time? What if I called you a snot-nosed, stuck up baboon? Will that turn you into an ape? Come on, Hermione, say something, if you dare."
Hermione sniffed and stuck her nose into the air. "I know you had something to do with that hex. Just you wait until I find proof, I'll-"
"Since you are clearly fine, let's get this meeting under way," Harry said, dismissing the witch and her threats. "I bet you are all wondering why I called you here, since the first official DA meeting is tomorrow night. Due to miscommunications, I was not informed beforehand of the headmaster's plans for the DA and I have been scrambling to try and figure out a way to make it work with so many students. I have come up with a few ideas, but I am going to need some help." Harry took a deep breath and looked out around the room once more.
"Tomorrow I am going to test everyone to find out their strength and their weakness. Well, at least so I can form a vague picture of their abilities. The DA will then be split into three groups, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each group will meet on their own night.
"However, I will need help with instructing the Beginner and the Intermediate groups, and that is why you are here tonight. I was wondering if there are any of you who'd be interested in helping me? Are any of you considering becoming teachers? This would be a great opportunity for you to get some practise. As a bribe, I can mention that those interested in helping me teach will get advanced training from Lucius Malfoy and myself.
"I also realise that you have lives of your own and won't be able to attend every meeting, but if you could assist me a few times a month that would be a great help. You don't have to decide tonight, it is enough if you give me your answer by Friday.
"There is one more thing." Harry looked each and everyone in the eye. "During the DA there will be no House rivalry. Each and everyone will be judged by their skills, not what House they were sorted into. We all know it worked here among us last year. I will make that clear to those attending tomorrow, if they don't like that rule, they can leave. No one is forcing them to do this.
"There is one last issue I have for you. It is about the name. We jokingly named ourselves Dumbledore's Army. That name is hardly suitable now. For one, we are not an army, and second, we do not belong to Dumbledore. I would like to hear what you think our new association should be named. Any questions?"
"Are you going to allow the Slytherins to join?" Hermione called out after some persistent nudging from Ron.
"Yes, I am. I know most of us look at them as miniature Death Eaters. They aren't. Many of their parents are, I am not denying that, but the students here at this school has yet to take the Mark."
"Come on, Harry, they will take what they learn here and use it against us!" Ron shouted angrily, unable to keep quiet. Then he beamed in happiness at having his voice back, although a few groaned softly in annoyance. They had actually enjoyed the redhead's predicament. Besides, it had saved them from listening to anymore rants about how Harry Potter was turning Dark.
"Will they? Perhaps. I don't know that. Neither do you. We have all been raised with the belief that Slytherin is the epitome of evil, that they are slimy snakes that will stab you in the back. But what about the other Houses? None of them are exactly pure as snow," Harry snorted. "Yet no one is considering excluding them."
"That is not the same thing..." Ron began to protest.
"No? It was a Gryffindor who betrayed my parents. Peter Pettigrew was my parent's Secret Keeper, remember? It was a Ravenclaw who betrayed this group to Umbridge last year. During the past five years I've attended this school, all the houses has turned their back on me for one reason or another. Yet none of those students are accused of being backstabbers. Once I was proven in the right, everyone just forgot about their actions and went on with their lives as if nothing had happened," Harry said, glaring daggers at Ron.
"Voldemort is a Slytherin, yes, it is true. He was an orphan, forced to grow up in a Muggle orphanage when his Muggle father turned his back on him because his wife was a witch. His mother died in childbirth. He was all alone in this world. Then he came here. The other Houses shunned him because he was a Slytherin. His own House shunned him because he was a Half-blood. If one single person had reached out a hand to this lonely boy, becoming his friend, maybe there would be no Voldemort today. Just maybe there wouldn't be a war going on right now because he would have had something other than his anger to fuel his ambitions.
"Can you blame the Slytherins for joining him? Where else are they welcome? Three fourth of the wizarding world views them with suspicion. As soon as they hear the name of their House, they cease being viewed as a person, and are instead viewed as a... an incarnation of evil or something. What would you do if all your life you've been told that you are evil? That the world would have been better off if you hadn't been born? Who would you turn to? Wouldn't you join the one man who is offering you the opportunity to live your life without the prejudice? Turn to the one man who is saying that you will become more powerful than your tormentors, thus allowing you to live your life in peace? Well, what would you do?" Harry asked, looking across the room, noting with hidden pleasure that a few seemed to actually think about what he'd said.
"I'm not saying you should all run out of here and embrace the Slytherins with open arms. Many have been raised by Death Eaters, and some believe the nonsense Voldemort is sprouting. All I am asking you is to stop hating them because of the House they belong to. That is all."
Noting the pensive look on many faces and the way Ron had gone red, Harry decided he'd given them enough things to consider that night and said as much.
"I know I've given you a lot to think about, so I'll leave you to talk this out amongst yourselves. You know where to find me if you want to talk. Good night."
Harry headed for the door and slipped outside, Draco on his heels.
"That was quite an earful you gave them, love." Draco said wrapping an arm around his mate's shoulders.
"I know. I hadn't planned on it though. Just... Ron got me so mad. He's acting as if all the other Houses are so goody, goody, and only the Slytherins are evil and bad. The world doesn't work like that."
"I know. But you can't expect to change something that's taken years to build up," Draco soothed.
"Maybe not, but I can bloody well try and get them to think before they speak!" Harry growled.
"Let's head back. I bet you'll feel better after some hot cocoa and cake," Draco said, batting his lashes at Harry.
Harry snorted but didn't disagree. Together they made their way down the corridor when suddenly Harry started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Draco demanded to know.
"Oh I just remembered what Severus said as the two of you left for the dungeons yesterday," Harry sniggered.
Draco began to chuckle as well as he remembered the scene.
Following his godfather, Draco had been forced to stop when the man paused in the doorway, looking back towards Harry. With a glint in his black eyes, the Potions Master said, "Ten points to Slytherin, Mr. Potter, for a well thought out revenge, and ten points more for getting away undetected. Clearly, Draco has been a good influence on you. Good night."
He had left then while Harry was still spluttering, torn between outrage that the points had gone to Slytherin, and pride that the hard taskmaster had given out points at all.
"I can't believe that Severus gave me twenty points for playing a prank on the Headmaster. Just typical of him though to give the points to his House and not to Gryffindor. That man is so Slytherin." Harry sniggered.
"Of course he is. You didn't think just anyone can waltz in and become Head of House, did you?"
"Considering my experience with Defence professors..." Harry said meaningfully, trailing off.
Draco grunted but did not comment.
HPDM
"I don't believe him!" Ron seethed after his ex-friend had left. Followed by that bloody Malfoy. It was all the blond's fault that he had lost his best friend.
"I don't know, Ron. Much of what he said made sense, actually," Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Hermione!" Ron turned on his girlfriend.
"Oh, shush, Ron. I know Malfoy has always acted like a pompous git towards us. Not to mention Parkinson, but Zabini has never done anything towards us and neither has Nott. Not Bulstrode either, not really. Yet we all view them in the same light as we do Malfoy. Harry has a point, I might not like it, but he does."
"Come on, Hermione! Don't tell me he is getting to you too!" Ron shouted, waving his arms angrily.
"Stuff it, Ron! That is not the issue here!" Ginny snapped angrily at her brother. "The issue is, are we going to help Harry teach the beginners? I know I will do what I can to help."
"As will I," Neville nodded. "I wonder what extra training we will be getting? I bet Mr. Malfoy knows a lot of useful spells."
"Neville, hello! The man is a Death Eater!" Ron bellowed.
"Who better to teach us how to defend ourselves against one?" Ginny asked. "Besides, his son is mated to Harry. There is no way he is going to turn him, or us, over to Voldemort. Grow up Ron, it's high time!" Ginny said, advancing on her brother, an angry gleam in her eyes.
The pair was soon involved in a screaming match with Hermione and Neville trying to break them up. The others watched for a few minutes, but soon they began to drift off to their respective common rooms. They had been given a lot to think about, and Ron's shouting did nothing to clear the confusion many felt.

Next Time:
We find out what is inside a few of the trunks Harry bought.
Until Then…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 32

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/32/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A/N: I can't believe the number of reviews each chapter gives me. Thank you so very much to everyone taking the time to press that blue little button.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

A Whole Lot of Trunks

Harry was enjoying his cocoa and the easy banter between Lucius and Severus when he suddenly remembered. Putting his cup down, he rose to his feet and went to his room. Digging around in his bag, it didn't take him long to fish out the Transporter he had received from Abigail the day before. With everything that had happened, he had totally forgotten about it.
Returning to the living room, giving the other three a suspicious look at the anxious look they were giving him, Harry sat back down in his seat. Deciding that he didn't want to know, Harry began to toy with the stone disk.
"When I bought those two trunks," he began, nodding towards the two steamer trunks still sitting on the floor, "I was told the shopkeeper had several trunks tucked away in the attic. I was asked if I was interested in buying them, and after some thought, I did. I received the Transporter yesterday. The thing is, there are over twenty trunks coming, and there is no way we can put them in here. There just isn't room. Not to mention that Abigail has no idea what they contain. Any suggestions?"
Lucius and Severus shared a look. "I suppose we could use the spare room in my suite," Lucius mused. "Since we don't know what's in them, and considering the amount of potions ingredients present in Severus' rooms, I think that would be the least volatile solution."
"Great! Can we bring them here now?" Harry asked, literally bouncing in his seat.
"Why not?" Lucius agreed with a laugh. It was good to see that Harry still was capable of childish behaviours, especially considering recent events.
"Cool!" Draco cried in delight, already half-way across the room and practically out the door. "Well, come on! What are you waiting for? Who knows what treasures Harry has bought this time!"
The two men rolled their eyes, but they obediently rose from their seats and ambled after the hyper blond. To tell the truth, they were just as curious as Draco was, they were only better at hiding it. Having spent some quality time with Harry, they were learning to expect just about anything. And starting to know the Harry Potter phenomenon bit better, they were convinced that the trunks would hold either worthless junk, or treasures untold. Probably the latter.
Harry snorted and shook his head. It was good to see Draco acting childish and carefree. It gave him hopes that maybe he wasn't ruining things for the other boy, what with the weirdness that always seemed to follow him around.
Entering the set of rooms Dumbledore had given him, Lucius didn't hesitate as he walked over to an unused bedroom, motioning for the others to follow him. "Why don't we put the trunks in here until we've had a chance to look through them?" he suggested, throwing the door open.
Stepping inside, the four of them surveyed the room. It wasn't much to write home about, containing only a bed, a nightstand and a small wardrobe. With a flick of his wand, Lucius had the few pieces of furniture stacked along one wall, leaving the centre of the floor empty.
Harry stepped forward and placed the Transporter on the floor, tapping it twice with his wand. Moments later, twenty-three trunks had arrived, carefully stacked on top of each other. Lucius lifted an eyebrow and shooed the boys out of the room, while Severus cast several detection spells, examining each trunk the best he could considering a few of them were blocked from view.
"The good news is that there is not a trace of Black Magic here that I can detect. Dark Magic, I cannot say for sure. Several of these trunks have preservation spells on them, and I'd like to save those for later, when we know a bit more what the other trunks contain. Just to be on the safe side," Severus said, coming to stand by the door with the others.
"Can we open one of the other trunks, Dad?" Draco asked, brimming with excitement.
"Harry?" Lucius asked with a quirked eyebrow, already knowing the answer.
"Please!"
Severus and Lucius shared a look and a snort of amusement. Turning his attention to the stack of trunks, Severus walked over to it and carefully levitated the top one to the side, placing it gently on the floor out of the way. "That is one of the ones with preservations spells on it," he explained, levitating the next trunk to sit at their feet.
Seeing how eager Draco was to find out what was in the trunk, Harry made a sweeping gesture with his arm. "Please, be my guest, Draco. You'll probably have an easier time than me telling what is junk and what isn't," he added with a chuckle.
Draco wasn't about to be told twice. With a few bouncy steps he was next to the trunk, and he dropped gracefully to his knees, eagerly reaching out and opening the lid. Or rather, he tried to. The trunk was locked. Fortunately for the blond's temper, a simple Alohamora was enough to unlock it. Peering inside, Draco wasn't sure what to feel when all he saw was hundreds if not thousands of small boxes, all which fitted comfortably in the palm of his hand. Not a book in sight.
Lucius, who'd been peering over his son's shoulder, cast a spell to double-check that the contents were safe, and he lifted a pale eyebrow when he discovered that each box had a preserving charm on them. Bending down, he picked up one of the boxes, being forced to levitate it in the end since the boxes were fitted so snugly. Cancelling the charm, he opened the box carefully, fully aware that he was taking a chance but too curious to leave it for later. Besides, he had every confidence that Severus would be able to react quickly at the first sign of danger.
Peaking inside the small box, Lucius could feel the blood drain from his face and it was sheer willpower that prevented his hands from trembling. The box contained seeds. Lots and lots of seeds, and the words Blue Dragon were carved on the inside of the lid.
Having seen the older Veela's reaction, Severus shifted his stance slightly so he could peer inside the box as well, holding his wand at ready just in case. "Salazar and his ancestors," he whispered with reverence, when he too noted the name carved into the lid.
"Is that all?" Draco asked, feeling rather disappointed.
"Bite your tongue, son! Don't you know what the Blue Dragon is? Or rather, was?" Lucius asked, torn between outrage at the casual dismissal and elation at the extraordinary find. Trust Harry Potter to find proof that the legend was true. Scholars had been arguing for centuries whether the plant existed or not, and here was a sixteen-year-old boy, who without even knowing the dispute existed, had put an end to that age-old feud. That is, if the inscription in the lid was true. Lucius couldn't help but shake his head at the improbability of it all.
The two boys shared a glance before shaking their heads, unaware of the conflicting thoughts inside the elder Malfoy's head.
"It was a flower," Severus replied. "It is said to be the most delicate shade of blue ever seen. The scent is said to be able to calm even the angriest of men. And, according to the legend, a war between two countries was stopped when the daughters of the two fighting rulers brought armfuls of the Blue Dragon to the battlefield. No one has seen this flower for at least a thousand years. It was thought to be a myth, a legend," Severus lectured, reaching out to gently touch the top layer of the valuable cargo. Already his agile mind was gathering all the knowledge he could remember from reading about the rare plant, and he was almost giddy with excitement at the thoughts of all the experiments he could conduct on the seeds alone. With Harry's permission, of course.
"Do you think the seeds are salvageable? Do you think it is still possible for them to germinate and grow?" Harry asked eagerly, bending down to open up a second box.
"Maybe. Probably. I'm not sure. I'm not a Herbology expert. I suggest you talk to Professor Sprout, she should know. I also suggest we leave these boxes alone until an expert has had a chance to look at them," Lucius added, stopping Draco from opening a third box.
Draco nodded reluctantly and Harry agreed after a quick look at the inside of the one he was holding. "Silver-bells," he said simply, and even Draco had heard of that one.
"If it turns out they cannot be grown, I still want them to experiment on," Severus said, worried that Harry would throw the seeds away, thinking them useless if that was the case. "I might still be able to use them in a potion or two."
Harry sent the man a smile and a nod.
Carefully they put the boxes back, reapplying the preservation charms on the two opened boxes, and closed the lid of the trunk. In a moment of inspiration Harry conjured a note and wrote Seed on it, sticking it to the lid.
Lucius placed the trunk to the side and brought the next one down. A second Alohamora and Draco threw the lid back, both excited and disappointed when this one only contained several bags made of cloth.
Gently opening a bag, Draco poured the contents into his hand and gasped when a beautiful black opal dropped into his palm.
"This gem is priceless!" Lucius said with some awe, picking it up with care from his son. "I have never seen an opal of such fine quality. It is worth a fortune!"
He was still examining it while Draco and Harry opened several of the bags. It turned out that each bag contained one or more precious stones of highest quality. However, to Draco's disappointment, the entire trunk wasn't filled with such treasures. Beneath them were a stack of books, and he soon forgot everything when he lost himself in a book about cauldron making.
Severus had several times told him of how Merlin and a few other powerful wizards and witches throughout history had created their own cauldrons from rare metals and stones. The art was long since forgotten and here was a book, written in an old rune language he had trouble reading, describing step by step how it was done!
"Harry Potter, I love you! And so will Severus once he gets a look at this book! But he can't have you!" he added, feeling a surge of jealousy at the thought of Severus kissing his mate.
"What book is that?" Severus asked with curiosity, looking up from the book he himself had been reading with avid interest.
"Don't worry, Draco, he can't have me. What's the book about anyway?" Harry asked, wrinkling the nose at the mental image the Veela's words had produced, not noticing the jealousy glittering in Lucius' eyes.
"The title is: How to Make Cauldrons From Precious Stones. Do you think that's what that great-grand father was going to do?" Draco asked, not protesting as long, slim fingers plucked the book from his hands.
"I have no idea. It would be a crime to use these stones to make cauldrons though, wouldn't it?" Harry asked, looking at the opal Lucius was still unconsciously toying with.
"Most certainly!" Lucius agreed with a shudder.
"Have either of you any idea how valuable this book is?" Severus cut in, disbelief colouring his voice, and his hands were trembling slightly. "Have you any idea what book this is, for that matter?"
"Severus?" Lucius asked, getting worried at his mate's reactions.
Looking up at the aristocrat, Severus held out the book for the other man to look at. "Tell me I'm not seeing things. Tell me I'm not going crazy. Tell me you see the mark as well," he all but begged of the older Malfoy.
Getting really worried now, Lucius sank to his knees next to his mate, and carefully examined the book. Running his sensitive fingers over the leather, silvery eyes widened and sought out onyx ones. "It can't be," he stuttered. Reluctantly he broke the eye contact with Severus and looked down at what his fingertips were feeling.
"Dad?" Draco asked with some concern, not understanding what the fuss was about.
"Merlin!" Lucius murmured, all of his attention still focused on the book.
"Dad?" Draco asked once more, placing a hand on his father's shoulder.
"Merlin," Lucius said, looking up at his son, his eyes swimming with emotions.
Draco frowned. It had to be something extremely disturbing for his father to invoke Merlin's name and not Salazar's. "I don't understand," Draco admitted reluctantly. He hated to admit that he didn't understand or know something. It was not the Malfoy way to openly admit such things. A Malfoy used all his skills and cunning to find out that which he did not know, and he did not tell the world as if he were some silly Hufflepuff.
Severus huffed a small laugh, figuring what was going through Draco's mind at the moment. "This book was written by Merlin himself," he explained, reaching out to trace the marked carved into the old leather on the inside of the cover.
"Really? How can you tell?" Harry asked, moving to stand behind the Potions Master, peeking over his shoulder.
"See this mark? Merlin put it on every book he ever wrote. He used magic, and so far, no one has been able to figure out how he did it. And no one has been able to duplicate it either, making it impossible to create a fake," Lucius explained, having pulled himself together.
"Practically everyone knows that Merlin created at least one cauldron using Dream stones, but no one has been able to duplicate what he did. Merlin carefully guarded that secret. This is… this is an incredible find and if you were to make it public… Harry, you could name your price and have it met. You could ask for anything, and it would be given to you," Severus said, turning slightly so he could look the brunet teen in the eyes. "Not to mention that every shady dealer and collector would do everything in their power to get their hands on this book," he added solemnly, as the situation slowly sank in.
"Wow. Umm, I guess we better keep it secret then," Harry murmured, a little shocked that the innocent looking trunk had contained such a treasure. Then he grew concerned; Abigail had really gotten the raw end of this deal. He looked over at the pile of trunks sitting on the floor.
"Harry, with your permission, I would like to take this book back to the Manor. It would be safe there. And I give you my word that anytime you would like to study it, I will take you to it," Lucius said as he too began to realise the potential danger this finding had created.
Harry straightened and began to pace around the room. Trust him to create even more problems for the people around him. Part of him wanted to just chuck the book into a corner and forget all about it, but the bigger part of him knew that that wasn't possible. The cat was out of the bag. The book was found. A secret would not be kept a secret for long, and he could just imagine what Dumbledore would do if he ever found out. Taking into account the old man's love of using Legilimens on his students… What if he wasn't the only one with that habit? Wouldn't that explain why secrets never stayed a secret within Hogwarts?
Coming to stand next to Lucius, he looked up at the older man. "Please," he said simply. "And could you take the trunk with seeds with you too? Should we move the other trunks as well?" he wondered, a pang of regret at not being able to examine them shooting through him. He had actually looked forward to going through them together with Draco.
As if the blond boy had heard Harry's thoughts, he moved closer to the teen and wrapped an arm around him, leaning his head against a handy shoulder.
"No, I don't think that will be necessary," Lucius disagreed after a moment of thought. "We don't know for sure that the contents are dangerous. And both Severus and I can put up wards that will alert us if anyone tries to sneak in here without our knowledge."
Harry sighed in relief; he really didn't want to move the trunks before he knew what was in them. Then he yawned.
Both Severus and Lucius chuckled.
"It is getting late and I suggest you head off to bed. You both have classes early in the morning and don't forget, there is the DA meeting tomorrow night," Lucius said, reaching out to ruffle the dark locks.
"I guess you are right," Harry said reluctantly, looking longingly at the remaining trunks.
"Don't worry, child, they will still be here tomorrow. I promise not to peek."
Harry laughed and allowed himself to be steered to the door. "Good night, Lucius, Severus, and thank you both for your help."
"It was my pleasure. Good night, you two rascals, and please, no more surprises. I'm not as young as I used to be," Lucius mock complained.
Harry and Draco shared an incredulous look. "Yeah, right, Dad, whatever. Good night, see you tomorrow," Draco replied for the both of them, sending his father a cheeky grin.
"Get out of here, you brats," Severus mock growled, causing the boys to burst out in giggles.
"Wouldn't it be cool to make your own cauldron out of Dream stone? It is said that Merlin had one of those, and he created the most amazing potions with it," Draco said dreamily as they made it back to their own rooms.
"I guess," Harry shrugged, not really understanding what had Draco so thrilled. "I don't know about you, but I'm tired. I'm off to bed, see you tomorrow," he said, walking through the doorway and making a beeline for his own room.
Draco watched him with a worried frown. He didn't like the thought of Harry sleeping on his own. He especially didn't like the thought of Harry sleeping on his own in his room. Harry still had his trunk in there. Severus had confiscated that horrid potion, but who knew what else the teen had down there? Would Harry try and go back down there? He had seemed less depressed the further along the day went, but considering what a good actor his mate was, could he trust that cheerfulness?
Making up his mind, Draco went to his own bedroom and prepared for the night. His teeth brushed and dressed in his favourite pyjamas, the Veela determinedly walked over to his mate's room, right up to the bed and without as much as a by your leave, he climbed under the covers and made himself comfortable.
"What on earth are you doing?" Harry asked, not sure if he should feel outraged or amused.
"I'm getting comfortable, what does it look like I'm doing?" Draco snarked, sneaking an arm across Harry's chest and sighing in bliss as he snuggled down next to his mate.
"And you can't get comfortable in your own bed because…?" Harry asked, settling on being amused.
"Because you aren't in it," Draco replied truthfully. Lifting up his head, he gave Harry a suggestive look. "Want to come over to my place?"
"Said the spider to the fly," Harry said dryly, his lips twitching as he tried to suppress the sniggers that were welling up within him.
"I am so not some common spider," Draco huffed, snuggling down under the covers once more.
Harry gave up containing his amusement and broke off into a peal of laughter. "I never said you were common, now did I?" he asked once he could talk again.
"Prat," Draco said with an amused smile of his own, taking delight in the beautiful sight his laughing mate made.
Harry settled down next to Draco. He wasn't stupid, he knew fully well why the Veela had chosen to climb into his bed. And while he ought to take umbrage that Draco didn't trust him, he kind of understood what was driving the other boy. He would be doing the same thing if the roles had been opposite. Deciding that any soul-searching conversations could wait until morning, Harry inched closer to the other boy and closed his eyes with a content sigh. Besides, Draco was extremely nice to sleep next to, so why kick him out of bed when he helped keep the nightmares away?
Draco felt Harry move closer and he smiled tenderly. Things were looking good. No, they were looking better than good. Hopefully Harry would be ready to bond with him soon, because Draco was not about to let the other boy go. Not now, not ever. Echoing his mate's sigh of contentment, Draco closed his eyes and went to sleep.
HPDM
Lucius glanced over at where Severus was leaning against the doorjamb to the spare bedroom. "Who would have thought?" he asked with a small smile, still feeling overwhelmed about their unexpected finds.
"Who indeed?" Severus drawled. "Considering that the brat was involved, I should have expected something like this. That boy will never lead a normal life, and I hope you and Draco are up to dealing with it."
"Me and Draco? What about you?"
"Me? Why would I care?" Severus asked with a teasing smile.
Lucius snorted. "Nice try, Sev. The moment these Marks are off, you will be mine, and that means that you will be just as involved in helping me deal with the boys as I will be. And don't you dare trying to wriggle out of it by hiding yourself away in your lab, experimenting!" Lucius growled, not entirely joking.
"Don't worry, Luce. You will do a wonderful job with those boys, and you know it!" Severus said in an attempt to comfort.
"Nice try," Lucius repeated with an amused smile. "But flattery will not get you out of helping me keep those two in line. And you never told me what you think of those," he added, gesturing towards the pile of trunks sitting in the middle of the room, looking innocent.
Severus smiled ruefully; the blond knew him too well. Looking down at his feet, he pinched his lower lip while gathering his thoughts. "I can't say I'm surprised those trunks turned out to contain something rare, extremely valuable, and potentionally dangerous," he began slowly. "Harry Potter was born under a cursed star, and those surrounding him better get used to that fact quickly. That said, I find that Harry is a sweet boy, which is surprising considering the life he has led so far. If anyone deserved making the find of the century, hell the find of the millennia, it is that boy. Besides, he will do the right thing and he will undoubtedly look out for the good of the many and won't only look for his own gain. What are your thoughts on all this?" Severus asked after he had had his say, neatly volleying the ball back to the Veela.
"I think Draco is extremely fortunate to have Harry as his mate. My son has many faults, I am well aware of that, and one of them is that he easily gets bored. Harry, I think, will never allow him to get bored with him, he will constantly keep Draco on his toes. Harry has a rather unique outlook on life, and I find that I don't mind that much, especially since it has already caused him to make several important finds in places none of us would ever consider looking. I mean, a junkshop? I only pray that nothing will happen that will prevent them from bonding. Harry has a lot of scars, many of the emotional, and Draco will have an uphill struggle until they have been assessed and healed."
"Don't worry, Lucius. They are already connecting. Harry has been surprisingly open to the idea of the two of them bonding, especially considering their past. They will be fine. With you there to guide them, how can't they be anything else?"
"Thank you, Sev, I needed to hear that," Lucius admitted, stepping closer to his mate and enveloping him into a hug.
Severus stiffened at the unexpected close contact, but slowly he relaxed and returned the hug. "Don't worry so much, my friend, we will be fine. We will all be fine. Any other outcome is unacceptable."
Lucius chuckled into Severus' neck and slowly he pulled away. It was killing him not being able to freely be with his mate, but the time was not yet right. But soon.
"So, when will you take the book to the Manor?" Severus asked, more to get a little distance between them than a burning desire to know.
"Tonight, I think," Lucius replied, forcing himself to take a step back. "I don't want to keep it here longer than necessary, and Salazar alone knows what will happen tomorrow."
Severus sniggered. "I'm sure it will be something highly entertaining."
Lucius mock growled but was forced to agree. When Harry and Draco were involved, there was never a dull moment. Gathering the book and the trunk, not daring to shrink either for fear of damaging them, the aristocrat prepared himself for a quick trip home. He had a feeling that he was going to need a good night's sleep to be able to deal with tomorrow. If nothing else, Dumbledore would be sure to hunt him down and demand an explanation for the boys missing class. Pushing all thoughts of that old fool from his mind, Lucius locked up the spare room tight, and left with his mate for the trek to the front door, and the Apparation point beyond.
It wasn't until he landed in his study that Lucius remembered that they had forgotten to extract a promise from Harry not to go into his trunk on his own for a while. Hesitating briefly, Lucius considered returning to Hogwarts immediately, more worried than he'd like to admit. Looking down at the book in his hands, he sighed and went to hide it where not even Narcissa could get her hands on it. If he knew his son, Draco would not leave Harry out of sight for a very long time. They should be all right for one night.

Next Time:
Harry has a nightmare,
And we find out more about where Remus Lupin is.
Until Then…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 33

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/33/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own

Early Morning Musings
Day 10: Wednesday
Harry ran down the corridors of Hogwarts. He had to find Draco. He wasn't sure why, he only knew that something terrible would happen if he didn't.
Rounding a corner, Harry sighed in relief as he saw the Veela's fair hair practically shine in the dimly lit corridor. Opening his mouth to call out to his boyfriend, Harry froze as he saw himself move towards Draco, whose face lightened up in a happy smile.
"No," Harry whispered in anguish, suddenly just knowing that things were about to turn ugly. "No!" he shouted, trying to rush forward, to stop whatever was about to happen. But to his horror Harry found that he could not move. He shouted once more to alert Draco of the danger, but the blond boy didn't hear him.
"Harry!" Draco cried out in happiness. "There you are. I've been looking all over for you. Where were you?"
"I was working on getting you a present," the wrong Harry said with a tender smile. "Do you want to see it?"
"Are you kidding? Of course I want to see it!" Draco replied, sounding and looking really excited.
"Draco, no!" Harry cried, fighting to get closer to the other boy, but it was as if he was walking in quicksand or something. The events taking place before his eyes seemed to happen at an accelerated pace, while he was moving excruciating slow.
"As you wish," the other Harry said, and with a smile, he threw his hands forward. Lights appeared at the tip of his fingers, and throwing his head back, laughing like a maniac, the lights shot forward, into Draco's chest.
Draco looked down, surprise and confusion evident on his face. Looking back up at Harry, he managed to get out a, "What…?" before he exploded like a firecracker.
"Nooo!" Harry shouted, and finally, finally, he was able to move again. Rushing forward, he grasped the other Harry and threw him against the wall. "Why?" he demanded, "why did you do that? Why did you kill Draco!"
Harry just smirked at him. "Because I could."
"No." Harry shook his head and slowly began to back away from the laughing figure in front of him. "No," he whispered, heartbroken. "Noooooo!" he threw his head back and screamed.
"Nooooo!"
Draco was startled awake by a hair-curling scream. Shooting up in bed, he looked around wildly in an attempt to find out where it was coming from. A moaning sob had him turning towards his mate, and he realised with a start that it was Harry who had screamed. Fully awake in an instant, he reached out and shook Harry's shoulder, trying to rouse him, but Harry merely moaned and curled up in a tight ball.
Filled with an urgent need to wake his mate now, Draco grabbed his wand and dosed Harry with icy cold water. It worked wonders and the brunet sat up with a gasp. Looking around widely, much as Draco had done minutes earlier, Harry began to cry when he saw Draco sitting there, alive and whole. With a strangled sob, he shot forward and wrapped himself around the Veela, causing him to gasp when the cold body hit him.
Draco rallied though, and instantly wrapped his arms around his mate, attempting to soothe him.
It took several long minutes before Harry even began to calm down, and Draco was content to whisper sweet nonsense into his ear and run his hand up and down the still too thin back, only pausing long enough to spell both of them warm and dry. Lucius would kill him if he got the two of the sick, and Pomfrey would take too much delight in torturing them with potions and bed rest. Draco shuddered at the mere thought of such a fate.
"I'm sorry."
Harry's soft whisper brought Draco out of his imaginary visit to the hospital wing and he looked down at the dark head resting on his shoulder.
"Whatever for? You had a nightmare. Everyone gets those now and then," Draco murmured, wanting to get rid of the sadness and the guilt he could hear in his mate's voice.
"You don't understand," Harry whispered miserably. "I killed you."
"No, you didn't," Draco immediately replied, thinking that Harry was referring to the scene yesterday morning.
"No." Harry shook his head before lifting it so he could look Draco in the eye. "In my dream, I was looking for you. But the other Harry found you first. You asked me, the other me I mean, where I had been, and he told you that he had prepared you a gift, and then he gave it to you. Draco, he, I, killed you. When I asked him why, he said 'because I could'. He was right, you know. I could kill you. I'm powerful enough to kill everyone inside this castle. What if-"
"Nonsense!" Draco cut in, wanting to derail that line of thinking immediately. "Yes, you are powerful. Extremely powerful, even, but, Harry, it isn't in your nature to kill anyone. Yes, you probably could kill just about everyone in this castle. But love, so could I. Salazar knows I've been well trained in the lighter of the Dark Arts. Are you going to abandon me now?" Draco asked with some trepidation. It was one thing for his mate to know he was a Slytherin, it was something else to have proof that Draco had been trained in the Dark Arts. Not the darker parts of the arts, but would Harry realise and understand there was a difference?
"Don't be stupid!" Harry said forcefully, anger lacing his voice. "I know you, Draco Malfoy, and you are not about to use those skills on anyone unless you are defending yourself or your loved ones."
"Why is it that you can accept that I'm not about to go on a killing spree, but you can't accept that you won't do the same?" Draco asked gently, reaching up to brush a lock of hair away from Harry's face.
"Because I know you," Harry repeated, looking down, unable to meet Draco's silvery eyes, which shone with trust and love.
"That would sort of imply that you don't know yourself," Draco said, his agile mind picking up on the things Harry wasn't saying.
Harry merely shrugged, still refusing to look at the Veela.
"Hmm," Draco mused, his mind going a mile a minute. Thinking back on the things he knew about Harry, or rather, the things he'd thought he knew about Harry, he suddenly realised something. "You poor thing," he whispered, hugging Harry close to him. "You've been hiding yourself, who you really are that is, all this time, haven't you? You made the hat place you in Gryffindor instead of Slytherin, where you belong, and to fit in you had to hide big parts of yourself. But it goes further back than that, doesn't it? You had to hide who you were from the Muggles as well, and now when you are finally free to be yourself, you have no idea who that is. That is why you are so freaked out, isn't it? That is why you are so afraid of your new powers," Draco said excitedly.
Feeling Harry stiffen and try to pull away, Draco tightened his hold for a moment before allowing Harry some space.
"How did you know?" Harry whispered, brushing a teardrop away with the back of his hand.
"It wasn't difficult once I put all the pieces together. Remember, I'm a Slytherin, I'm used to analysing what is said, and more importantly, the things that are not said."
Harry chuckled weakly and Draco beamed at him.
"You are not alone anymore, love. And I will not turn my back on you, no matter who you turn out to be. I am part Veela, for better and for worse, I have chosen you. You are the one person on this earth that compliments me. How could I turn my back on that? It is only a fortunate bonus that you are both smart and gorgeous. Not that a Malfoy would ever pick someone as a mate who wasn't witty, clever, and handsome," Draco added, breaking into a smug grin when his plot to make Harry laugh worked.
"You, Draco Malfoy, are a prat, but I find that I like you," Harry said with a shy smile.
"How could you not?" Draco asked with a teasing smile. He then became serious. "I will stand by your side, today and always. We will find out together who it is you are, and we will live happily ever after. I promise. Now, I don't know about you, but I could use some more sleep. Do you think you could get back to sleep, or do you need a Dreamless Sleep Potion?"
"Nah, I'm fine," Harry said with a small smile. Waiting until Draco had made himself comfortable, the brunet snuggled down next to the Veela, and waited for him to nod off. It didn't take long, and Harry raised himself up onto one elbow, looking down at the blond who was looking so peaceful in his sleep.
Sighing softly, he reached out and traced a finger down a soft cheek, starting at the temple and going all the way down to the moist lips. Draco made a mewling sound and nuzzled the finger, silently demanding more petting. Harry was only too happy to comply.
Making himself comfortable, Harry continued to watch the other boy sleep while he thought about what Draco had said. Could it really be that simple? Had he hidden whom he was for so long that not even he knew who he was anymore? Was that why he had felt as if his world had fallen apart when he discovered his inheritance? No longer was he Harry Potter, a wizard of wizarding parents. Instead, he was something else, and he was no longer so sure that his parents had even been a wizard and a witch. His inheritance had to come from somewhere, right? And he didn't think this was something that had been transferred to him by Voldemort's spell.
In fact, Harry slowly realised, he had been doubting Dumbledore's words more and more this past summer. He wasn't so sure anymore that his Parseltongue ability came from that misfired spell. What if it was a gift he had inherited from his ancestors? It was possible. Especially since he didn't even know who his ancestors were, for Merlin's sake! He could have all kinds of beings in his family tree, and he didn't know because no one had bothered to tell him. And he had been too scared to have his suspicions confirmed; he had never done any of the potions designed to find out your ancestry. What did that little fact say about the Boy Who Lived?
Damn it, but Draco was right! I don't know who I am. For so long I was Dursleys' whipping boy. And then, when I found out I was a wizard, I was so elated, and at the same time I was furious because that meant that my 'family' had lied to me all these years. And I was unable to confront them about it, because I was too scared about what would happen if I did. So I just pushed my feelings aside, and focused on being a wizard.
But things didn't turn out to be that simple, did they? From day one, I was told that I was the Boy Who Lived. The one who had destroyed the evil Dark Lord. No wonder I began to feel schizophrenic! On one hand, I was this skinny kid who had no idea he was a wizard, and on the other hand I was this powerful wizard who had destroyed You Know Who when I was one year old!
On top of that, I did ask the hat not to put me in Slytherin. Scared stiff that I would be considered Dark and Evil, afraid that I wouldn't get any friends if I was placed in that House, and ending up being shunned by the wizarding world just as I had been by the Muggle one.
Harry chuckled darkly. Damn! Dumbledore really did know what he was doing when he placed me with my relatives. He created an insecure little boy, who acquired a hero complex a mile wide after constantly hearing he had single-handedly saved everyone. And after the happenings in my first year, it was cemented in my mind that I was to save everyone. After all, I had survived two encounters with Voldemort, not something many could brag about.
No wonder he had been so devastated after Cedric's death.
But Draco was right again – and wouldn't the blond be unbearably smug if he knew what Harry was thinking? Cedric's death was not Harry's fault. He had been a fourteen-year-old kid. Cedric had been seventeen, and he still hadn't had a clue as what to do when faced with an unknown, potentionally hostile situation.
It was the fault of the Ministry and Dumbledore, Harry realised with a start. None of them had done anything to prepare the students for an eventual return of the Dark Lord. The wizarding society of Britain had buried their heads in the sand and had happily lived their lives as if nothing bad would ever happen again. And even if the threat of Lord Voldemort was a rather slim, there was still the threats of werewolves, Vampires, Lethifolds, Banshees, and Merlin alone knew what else. Just because Voldemort was gone, it did not mean that the wizarding world was without dangers. How could they not have prepared the students to face those dangers? Did they honestly think that the Aurors would somehow pop up and save the day?
Quirrell had been a joke! Lockhart hadn't even rated that high. Out of Harry's six years at Hogwarts, only one Defence teacher had been capable of teaching his subject. Well, he couldn't really say for sure how incompetent this year's teacher was, considering that he wasn't taking DADA. But he still had a feeling that the students were not being prepared adequately to face the dangers residing outside the walls of Hogwarts.
Hmm, I think I need to talk to Lucius about this. Maybe we could put up some sort of practice course or something? Similar to the maze used in the Triwizard Tournament, only more fun and less lethal? Perhaps the Room of Requirement could be used?
Sighing softly, Harry allowed that idea to be placed on a backburner. He had a feeling it would take a long time before the students were ready for anything like that. So he allowed his mind to drift, while his fingers carded gently through Draco's soft hair. He wasn't ready to ponder the things the blond had said at the moment. The vividness of his nightmare needed to dull a little before he felt comfortable enough to consider just exactly who he was. What he was.
Instead, he cast his mind back to the previous night. It had been so exiting, opening the trunks, and finding out what they contained. He still couldn't believe that they had found a book written by Merlin himself. And that was only two of the trunks, there was still twenty-one left to be explored.
He couldn't help to feel a bit bad for Abigail though. She had given up a fortune for only a measly fifteen Galleons per trunk. That was nothing compared to the untold wealth he had found so far. Maybe he could get her to accept a higher price? And why in Merlin's name hadn't her ancestor done anything with the trunks? He at least must have known what treasures he had gathered. Why had he just put it all in the attic to be forgotten about? It just didn't make sense!
Deciding to write the older woman a letter, Harry sat up carefully, not wanting to disturb Draco, who was still sleeping peacefully beside him. Calling a sturdy book, a quill, some ink, and a piece of paper to him, Harry considered what he wanted to say for a moment. Putting the quill against the parchment, he began to write.
Dear Abigail,
I wanted to let you know that the trunks arrived here yesterday evening, safe and sound. I have already gone through a few of them, and I must admit that I am astonished at the wonderful things I have found so far.
Harry paused, but figured it would be safer for them all if he didn't specify what exactly it was he had found.
The thing is, the items are worth far more than the few Galleons I paid you, and I feel that you got the short end of this bargain. I would feel much better if I were to pay you ten times the amount we originally agreed upon. Would that be all right with you? If not, write me back and I'll try to come and visit you in person to make this discussion easier to conduct. (I won't allow you to say no in this matter.)
I am also dying of curiosity regarding why your great grandfather didn't do anything with the treasures he gathered. He must have known what it was he brought home, so why didn't he capitalise on his finds? Any light you care to shed on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Yours Truly,
Harry Potter.
Looking down at the letter, Harry frowned slightly. It wasn't the best letter he had ever written, but it would have to do. He was finally beginning to feel sleepy, and stacking the book, the letter, and the other things on his nightstand, Harry pulled off his glasses and snuggled down to lay next to Draco. Within moments he was fast asleep.
HPDM
Draco woke slowly and in stages, not ready yet to face the new day. For a long while he just lay there with his eyes closed and basked in the warmth of the bed and the nearness of his mate.
Eventually he was forced to come fully awake, as the buzz coming from Harry was driving him batty, not to mention that it was distracting as hell. Cracking an eye open, Draco turned over and looked at the other youth, finding him sitting propped against the headboard. The fingers of one hand was carding through the Veela's hair, not stopping even as Draco moved, they just adjusted the angle and continued with the petting, while the other hand held a thick, old looking tome. A slight frown on his handsome face showed that Harry was deep into whatever he was reading, totally oblivious to the scrutiny he was under.
"Good morning. Didn't you sleep?" Draco asked, his voice still husky and deep.
Startled, Harry looked up before breaking into a beautiful, happy smile. "Hi!" he greeted Draco, tugging gently on the lock held between his fingers. "Yeah, I fell asleep, and then I woke up again." Shrugging slightly, he went on. "I realised it would be futile to try to go back to sleep, so I summoned a book and settled down to do some reading instead. Did I wake you?"
"Nope," Draco replied, sitting up in bed, stretching. "In fact, this was the best sleep I've had in a long time. Are you ready to face a new day?" he asked, reluctantly getting out of bed. A quick Tempus told him it was getting late, and if they wanted to get down to breakfast in time, they better get a move on.
Harry made a face and closed the book he'd been reading with a snap. "No, but I suppose it would do no good attempting to hide out in here?"
"Nope," Draco said a second time, just as cheerful. "That will only bring Father and Severus in here, not to mention Dumbledore, demanding to know why we aren't in class. I think I'd rather attend than spend the morning explaining why we aren't. Wouldn't you?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, nodding reluctantly. He was not keen on being face to face with the Headmaster at the moment. He still hadn't forgiven the aged wizard for his accusations of the previous day.
Sighing once more, but bowing his head to the inevitable, Harry threw the covers aside and climbed out of bed. He might as well get up. If he had to get ready to face the new day, he might as well do it in a timely fashion, and not wait until he was hopelessly late. The brunet hated to rush around like some headless chicken trying to get ready in the shortest amount of time possible just because he'd accidentally overslept. He wasn't about to put himself in that position due to reluctance to face his fate. Shaking his head at his morbid musings, Harry gathered a change of clothes. Maybe a hot shower would be able to wake him up properly and shake off the disturbing mood he had fallen into.
Draco watched the different moods come and go on his mate's unguarded face. Wanting to help, but not quite sure what to do, the blond walked up to the other boy and gave him a hug. "Don't worry so, love. Everything will be just fine, I promise."
Harry gave Draco a tentative smile, but it was clear he didn't believe him. Disentangling himself gently, Harry headed for the bathroom. If Draco felt the need to comfort him, then he really needed to pull himself together.
HPDM
Stepping out of the now steaming bathroom, dressed in his black leather with a black silk button down, Harry gathered the things he'd need for the day's classes together. Making sure that he had all the homework packed in his bag, he walked out into the living room to wait for Draco.
The blond appeared from his bedroom, dressed in his grey leather with a deep green silk shirt, which brought out the paleness of his skin and the fairness of his hair beautifully, and Harry could only stare at him in wonder. This beautiful being had chosen him?
"Is something wrong?" Draco asked, not sure what the look on Harry's face meant.
"You, Draco Malfoy, are beautiful," Harry said with reverence.
Draco found that he could not look away from the intense gaze, and to his surprise and horror, a fierce blush spread across his face. "Not as beautiful as you," he managed to stammer out, willing his blush to disappear. A Malfoy did not blush. They cause other people to be flustered while they are the picture of calm and aloofness. Draco had a feeling that he looked anything but aloof at the moment.
"Shall we go?" he asked in an attempt to get his wildly fluttering heart under control.
"If we must," Harry sighed, the mood broken. "Do you mind if we make a quick stop at the Owlery first? I want to send off this letter before braving the Great Hall."
"Sure. Is it another letter to Lupin?" Draco asked, walking towards the door, making sure he was the first one stepping through the doorway in case someone nasty was waiting for them on the other side. Draco wouldn't be surprised if the Weasel had been laying in wait for them, in hopes of getting a cheap shot in on Harry, away from prying eyes.
Fortunately, the corridor was empty, not a redhead in sight.
Relaxing muscles he hadn't been aware were tense, Draco looked over at Harry when he realised that the other boy hadn't answered him. "Harry?"
"No, it isn't a letter to Remus," Harry said with some reluctance, feeling certain that Draco wouldn't agree with his reasons for writing Abigail.
"Then who is it? If you don't mind me asking, that is," Draco said belatedly, realising that just because Harry was his mate, he was under no obligation to share every detail of everything he was doing.
"No, I don't mind you knowing. It's just…" Feeling flustered, Harry ran a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. "I'm writing to Abigail. I don't feel right buying those trunks so cheaply. Especially considering the things we've found so far, and we have only examined two trunks. There are over twenty trunks left; who knows what we will find in them?" Harry explained, bracing himself for the derisive comments he was sure the blond would start shouting at any moment now.
But the comments never came. Glancing over at the Veela, Harry was astonished to see a pensive look on the other boy's face. "I'm not sure I agree with your reasoning. She is the one who decided to sell them to you, without bothering to find out what was in them. However, you wouldn't be you if you didn't do this, so I'm not going to try and stop you. I'm not even going to argue with you. It is your money, your decision."
"Thank you, Draco, for understanding," Harry said, and with a happy laugh he launched himself at the Veela and gave him a brief yet fierce hug. "Come on then, breakfast should start soon." Grabbing hold of the blond's arm, Harry proceeded to drag him down the corridor, suddenly feeling much better than he had when he woke up.
HPDM
Looking around the Owlery, Harry felt a pang of worry when he couldn't spot Hedwig anywhere. She should have been back by now, and he could only hope that nothing bad had happened to her.
"Why do you suddenly look like your best friend had died?" Draco asked, causing Harry to shudder.
"Hedwig isn't back yet, and I'm getting a bit worried," Harry admitted, looking more closely at the darker corners, in hopes that his faithful owl was in a snit, and therefore slow to come to him.
Draco frowned; the letter to Lupin had been sent off days ago. "Do you think something's happened to her?"
"I don't know," Harry admitted with a sigh, the realisation that his friend truly wasn't back yet slowly sinking in. "But then again, Remus isn't exactly close by or easy to find."
"Oh?" Draco said, looking like he wanted to ask for more details. Instead he looked around the rafters of the tower as well, spotting his own owl sitting on a beam, watching him with his amber eyes. "If you'd like, you could borrow Aries, I'm sure he'd love to help you out."
"Really? But won't you need him?"
"Nah. Besides, I'm sure Father would let me borrow one of the family owls if I should suddenly need to send a message off urgently," Draco said with a negligent wave of his hand. Giving off a short, sharp whistle, the two boys watched as a large, black eagle owl took off from where he was perched high up under the rafters and landed elegantly on the arm Draco was holding out.
Harry watched as the Malfoy heir greeted his pet, acting very much as he himself did with Hedwig, and the brunet was stunned to realise that under the cold Malfoy mask beat a very warm and loving heart, and he felt tears spring to his eyes. Wiping them away with an angry swipe of his arm, Harry carefully tied the letter to the outstretched leg.
"Thank you, Aries, for agreeing to helping me out," Harry said, holding out his hand for the bird to inspect, not about to pet the beautiful creature without some sort of go-ahead first. The bird stared at Harry with his amber eyes for several long moments, before he suddenly reached out and nibbled on the nearest finger. Smiling happily, Harry reached out and gently stroke the soft feathers on the owl's chest. "The letter is for Abigail Sweetwater, she runs a shop in Diagon Alley."
Aries hooted once, nibbled Draco's ear in farewell, and took off out the window.
The two boys watched him fly off, before turning away and make their way out of the tower. They really needed to get a move on if they were to make it in time for breakfast.
"So, where is Lupin?" Draco asked, more to make conversation than a burning desire to know.
"He is in a werewolf colony in Australia. Apparently, he has several good friends living there. I think they are pretty close, and he has gone to them before, when life got a little too much for him to handle. The colony is heavily warded, and only birds from those given explicit permission are able to find it.
"Remus has taken the death of Sirius pretty bad, and he told me where he was going and why. I hated it that he was leaving. For a long while I felt like he was deserting me. But in my heart I knew that he needed to go. He needs to heal. The wolf inside him is too emotional to be of any use to me or anyone else," Harry said softly, with a heavy sigh. He might understand, but he didn't need to like it. And he didn't. Not one bit. His last father figure had left him. Not out of desire, but out of need; it didn't matter much, because in the end, he had still left. Just like Sirius had. Just as his parents had.
Draco shook his head and wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. No wonder the boy had problems keeping his temper. Had no one bothered to put Harry first? Did they all buy into the tripe of the Boy Who Lived? Did they think he was indestructible or something? Did they not realise that he too needed support? Both moral and especially emotional? No wonder he thought Draco would leave him at the first signs of trouble. Everyone else certainly had!
Fuming at the unfair treatment of the gentle boy walking beside him, Draco vowed to never leave his mate, come hell or high water.

Next Time:
Some days you should remain in bed,
Or,
Opening your mail can be hazardous to your health.
Until Then…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 34

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/34/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

34 Why Me!
Harry felt rather grateful for the arm slung round his shoulders, and he leaned slightly into Draco's side, unconsciously seeking the blond boy's support. He had not been exaggerating when he'd told Draco that he did not want to face everyone this morning.
The situation between him and Ron and Hermione was not good. Knowing the pull the two of them held in Gryffindor, he was rather certain that they had been badmouthing him at every opportunity.
The question was, how many had bought the tripe they'd been sprouting?
Both Dean and Seamus had been members of the DA the previous year. But Seamus had bought the crap the Daily Prophet and printed and had glowered at him darkly when he wasn't avoiding him. The youth had apologised, but Harry wasn't holding his breath, expecting him to stand by him if both Ron and Hermione turned their backs on him.
As for Dean, he had no idea where the boy stood in all this.
Neville had grown to become a very good friend the previous year, and from the few times he'd really talked to the other boy this year, it looked like Neville was on his side.
Ginny… She was an unknown. They had become friends, but she was Ron's sister. Considering Mrs. Weasley's opinion of him, and after yesterday's Howler, would she still side with him? Was she strong enough to go against her family?
Harry didn't know, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to force that choice on the redhead. You shouldn't have to choose between your family and your friends. Besides, considering how close the Weasley family was, Harry feared that he would come out the loser if Ginny was forced to pick sides.
As for the rest of the Gryffindors… he really didn't know them that well. He had never tried to become friends with them. He had been content with Ron and Hermione, and hadn't believed he would ever need anyone else but them. How naïve he had been.
Shaking his head at his own folly, Harry walked over to the edge of the Gryffindor table and sat down. He really didn't want to be here. But he wasn't about to give his house members the impression that he was scared by sitting at the Slytherin table. He had done nothing he needed to feel ashamed of. If they had a problem, it was just that, their problem. Firming his resolve, Harry grabbed a bowl and spooned some porridge into it, adding a drollop of honey.
"Don't worry so much, love. Things will turn out just fine, you'll see," Draco murmured watching his downhearted mate, filling his own plate with a large stack of waffles. He could understand why Harry was nervous, but he was also certain that things would blow over and settle down soon. They always did. No, Draco was more concerned about the teachers who would demand an explanation as to where the two of them had been all day yesterday. What was he to say to that? 'Sorry I missed class, but my mate was having a nervous breakdown'? That would not go down well.
"Morning, Harry, Draco," Ginny said, sitting down opposite the two boys.
"Morning," Neville echoed, sitting down next to the redheaded girl.
Harry looked up in shocked surprise before breaking into a grin. "Morning, you two. I'm guessing things didn't go too catastrophically wrong once Draco and I left?"
"Nah," Ginny said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Ron sprouted off a lot of nonsense about you and the Slytherins. I disagreed and spent the next fifteen minutes chewing him out, while Neville and Hermione tried to restore some order. It was great fun!" Ginny sniggered.
Neville rolled his eyes, not agreeing in the least. "Most of the others left shortly after you did," he told the two boys. "With the Weasleys going after each other's throats it was a bit too loud to do any constructive thinking. I think many of the old members agree with what you said, although they will delay supporting you until they see for themselves what the Slytherins will do. Then there are those dead set against the snakes joining, and they will do everything in their power to make trouble."
"Let me guess, Ron, Smith, and Finch-Fletchley," Harry sighed, rubbing his temples.
Neville didn't bother to reply, he merely nodded his head as he applied himself to his breakfast.
Shaking his head in disgust, Harry ate his porridge while fuming silently.
"Anyway," Ginny said, determined not to let her friends to get depressed. "Neville and I talked things over, and we'd like to volunteer to help you teach the beginners."
"Uh-huh." Neville nodded, glad for the change of subject. "You are going to need help. I remember how pitiful we all were when we started the club up last year. Well, except for you and Hermione of course. We talked a bit, Ginny and I, about the last few Defence teachers we've had, and I shudder to think what the lower years know. The third years had Umbridge last year and the fake Moody the year before that. I'd be very surprised if they know any defence at all. They really are going to need a lot of help to catch up."
"Yes, they will, and Nev and I decided that we are both able to face the challenge. With you telling them what to do and with us correcting their wand movements and pronunciations, they will be DADA experts in no time!" Ginny grinned, giving Harry a wink.
Harry laughed. "I am glad to hear you are that confident in my abilities," he teased. "But what about your mother, Gin? I don't want to cause trouble for you."
"Psh! If she wants to send me a Howler, she's welcome to it. I'll just send her one right back! I happen to like the way you dress, and Ron is a prat who needs a good spanking. He might be ready to throw away years of friendship, I'm not."
"I feel the same way." Neville nodded. "I have finally gotten to know you, and I like what I found. You can count on my support, no matter what Ron says and does. You are not Dark, and you are not going Evil. Ron is one of the lucky ones, life hasn't touched him yet. One day it will, but until then he will always continue to be a prat, and a jealous prat at that."
Harry tilted his head slightly to the side, considering the shy Gryffindor's words. "You're right. I still hope tragedy doesn't touch him for years. Hopefully, he will mature on his own. I'm not holding my breath though, not anymore. Or maybe Hermione will be able to drill some sense into him. But I'm beginning to doubt that as well. She's changed, and not for the better."
"Tell me about it!" Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "All she cares about is books and what Dumbledore says. The man has become her god or something. And the way he takes advantage of that is... Frankly, it's disgusting, using a student to spy on another. Really!" She rolled her eyes once more.
Harry merely shrugged. "I figured as much. I guess the reality of war was a nasty shock to her system, but enough about them. Nev, Gin, I want you to put together a duel for tonight. To show the new members a few of the things we learned last year. Make it fun as well, if you can."
Ginny and Neville looked at each other, a light coming to their eyes. This could be fun!
HPDM
Albus Dumbledore watched as Harry and Draco walked into the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table for some breakfast. Once he had calmed down, he had realised just how badly he had handled the situation with Miss Parkinson. He should have pulled Harry to the side and asked him what happened. He shouldn't have allowed his fears, and his irritation, to rule him. Yesterday's lapse of control had cost him dearly, and he now needed to find a way to get back in Harry's good grace, and quickly.
"I'm relieved to see that Harry looks so fine this morning," he said, turning his attention to Lucius Malfoy. "I was a bit worried when neither of the boys turned up for their classes. Care to tell me what happened to them?"
Lucius slowly chewed his mouthful of food while considering just what to tell the Headmaster. He and Severus had made a few loose plans, but both had been fairly sure that Dumbledore would corner his professor rather than tackle Lord Malfoy.
"Understandably, Harry was rather upset when he left the Great Hall yesterday morning. That scene with young Weasley did not help improve his mood. Seeing how upset he was, I decided it would be pointless in ordering the boys to attend their classes, and gave them the day off to recover from their ordeal. After all, it isn't everyday you are accused of using the Dark Arts, and before Ministry officials, no less. I must say I'm surprised our esteemed Minister of Magic hasn't shown up in person to demand an explanation for the latest accusations against Harry," Lucius said, unable to resist the temptation to get a dig in at the Headmaster.
Dumbledore winced minutely. Yes, he had really messed up yesterday. Harry might forgive him, but Lucius would hold this incident over his head for months, if not years to come. He coughed and took a sip of tea to stall for a few minutes.
"Cornelius did in fact contact me, but I was able to assure him that everyone was fine and that no Dark magic had been used. He insisted on questioning Harry himself, but considering the bad blood between the two of them, I managed to talk him out of it," Albus said, hoping that the fact that he had kept Fudge away from Harry would get him on Lucius' good side. At least a little.
Lucius didn't comment, he merely reached for his tea, taking a sip.
"However, there is still the question of Harry's punishment. He did attack Miss Parkinson, after all. He might have been provoked, but I feel the retaliation was a bit extreme."
"I believe that Severus has already dealt with that, deducting a large sum of points and assigning detentions," Lucius replied calmly, feeling that the Headmaster would not be satisfied with that answer.
He was right.
Dumbledore nodded in approval. "I still feel that he needs to be reprimanded for the insolence he showed yesterday morning, not to mention skipping his classes yesterday. You, Lucius, are not a professor, and therefore you do not have the right to give them leave to take the day off like that. Next time, take the boys to Poppy and get her to approve their absence."
Lucius opened his mouth to retort to that nonsense, but he wasn't given the chance since Dumbledore continued to speak.
"I realise you only had the boys best interest at heart, but the rules are the rules and I cannot go around bending them. Not even for Harry Potter," Albus said, cheerfully ignoring all the times he had done just that. "I believe a detention with their Head of House is in order, don't you?" Albus asked, looking over at Lucius, his eyes twinkling.
Finally, he would get a chance to corner Harry for a little chat, one on one. With Draco occupied with Severus, Harry would be alone without an annoying Malfoy to act as a buffer. Since it was a detention, Lucius would have no reason to accompany the boy, giving Albus the opportunity he needed.
Lucius frowned, but kept his peace. He was sure that he and Severus would be able to work something out to prevent the Headmaster's latest plot. He wasn't stupid; he knew fully well what the old man was attempting to do. Satisfied with that plan, he returned to his breakfast, absentmindedly checking up on the boys.
HPDM
"Here's the mail. Looks pretty red today too. I wonder what the Prophet's written about your little speech yesterday," Draco said with a drawl. He had remained silent and focused on eating his breakfast. The DA was Harry's baby and he was not going to interfere with that. He would save his comments and make them in private.
Harry looked up and noted that Draco had been correct. A swarm of owls were coming his way, most carrying a red, trembling letter in their beaks. Sighing he made room for them, making sure that the non-howlers were put in a pile on the side.
When no more owls were coming his way, Harry put the stack of Howlers on fire, banishing the ash. "What? I don't want to hear what they have to say. Why should I subject myself to that rubbish?" he asked, seeing the surprised looks Ginny and Neville sent him. "I don't know these people so their opinion doesn't matter to me. Why ruin a perfectly good day by listening to strangers shouting nonsense at me? What does the Prophet say?" he asked, turning to Draco, who was reading the front page, a look of unholy glee on his face.
Without a word the blond turned the paper over, allowing Harry to see the front page.
Apparently the editor of the Daily Prophet had been unable to decide which story deserved the front page the most, so he had split it in two. On one side, the Headline Boy-Who-Lived Declares His Independence! met Harry's eyes, and on the other side the words Junior Assistant Helped Orchestrate Attack On The Boy-Who-Lived! were plastered for everyone to see.
Harry felt his eyebrows climb upwards and he began eagerly reading the second story, Draco draped over his shoulder so he could read the article as well.
Junior Assistant Helped Orchestrate Attack On The Boy-Who-Lived!
By Rita Skeeter
After weeks of investigation,
Here both Harry and Draco snickered, doubting that statement very much.
this reporter finally found indisputable proof yesterday that the Dementors' attack, which occurred two summers ago against our own Harry Potter, was in fact orchestrated by the Ministry of Magic itself.
Dolores Umbridge, the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, was heard confessing to several students that she was the one behind the attack, and that it was she who had sent the Dementors to the summer residence of the Boy-Who-Lived in hopes that they would give the boy the Kiss.
I was astonished when I first heard of these accusations, and found it difficult to believe that the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, would sanction such an action. The fact that no legal charges have been brought against Miss Umbridge made this reporter believe that the accusations were just that, baseless accusations from disgruntled students.
However, being the dedicated reporter that I am,
Here both Harry and Draco snorted, knowing fully well just what type of reporter Rita Skeeter was.
I decided to investigate anyway. Since Dolores Umbridge was the Senior Undersecretary before she became High Inquisitor, it would only stand to reason that she had access to the files containing such confident material as Harry Potter's address. However, I could find no proof that she had ever accessed those files.
However, someone else close to the Minister had. Moreover, he had no business asking for that file, unless someone with higher authority told him to. This reporter would very much like to know why the Junior Assistant of the Minister of Magic, one Percival Weasley, asked for and perused the file of Harry Potter, especially since there is a lot of bad blood between the two, unlike the rest of the Weasley children, who have all proclaimed to be close friends of the Boy-Who-Lived.
Does this prove that the Dementors' attack that almost resulted in Harry Potter being Kissed, not to mention almost expelled from Hogwarts due to him using magic during the summertime, really was orchestrated by Dolores Umbridge? Or was she ordered to arrange the attack by her superior? Is that why no legal action has been taken against her?
This reporter, for one, would like to know the answer to these questions. So far, the Minister has not been available to make any comments.
Harry felt a warm glow in his chest, and he was hard-pressed to hold back the beaming smile that was threatening to break out. No one had ever stood up for him like this before. Some had raged, others had offered their pity or condolences, but they had never done anything to get back at the people stabbing him in the back. This was the work of Lucius Malfoy, he just knew it was.
Fighting down the urge to rush over to him and thank him, Harry turned to the second article and began to read.
Boy-Who-Lived Declares His Independence!
by Rita Skeeter
Yesterday morning Harry Potter declared in front of everyone in the Great Hall while they were eating their breakfast that he intended to live his life as he saw fit and if anyone objected, tough. Apparently he had just received a Howler from the mother of one of his friends, complaining about his new clothes and the fact that he has been picked as a mate by Draco Malfoy, who is part Veela.
One of his classmates, who wishes to be anonymous, told me: 'It was awful. She was shouting at him for wanting to dress in leather. Normally I wouldn't be seen with anyone dressed in that, but Harry has designed an outfit that is very tasteful, and I wouldn't mind having a few myself. She also went on how horrible he was for consorting with Draco Malfoy and his father, and that Harry wasn't welcome in her house again unless he repented for his actions. She even mentioned how displeased his parents would have been. That was really going too far. Harry hasn't done anything wrong, and people should just leave him alone!'
It would seem our little hero is growing up and is beginning to shed the shackles holding him down. Once he has come into his full powers, this reporter is certain that You-Know-Who will have reasons to fear this young man even more. Maybe it is time we started calling young Harry Potter the Man-Who-Lived?
Harry snorted. "At least she isn't calling me deranged, or a troublemaker. Not even a Death Eater in training, what is the world coming to?" he asked, the warm glow in his chest growing even bigger. With these two articles, both Mrs. Weasley and her son had gotten a taste of their own medicine, and it couldn't have happened to nicer people
Ginny and Neville shared a look and burst into laughter. Draco and Harry soon followed.
Up at the Head table, Lucius hid a grin. His little chat with Skeeter had gone better than he'd expected. Too bad he couldn't mention the cow by name, but he was sure the identity of the sender of the Howler would soon leak out and then Molly Weasley, look out!
Turning his attention to the second article, Lucius re-read it with well hidden glee. He had known Mercury would do a good job, but this even exceeded his expectations. How in the world had they found out that quickly that Percy Weasley were "was" indirectly involved in the Dementors' attack? If he had known Merc would be this swift with his retaliations, Lucius wouldn't have bothered with his article. Then again, Molly Weasley deserved every bit of the misery this would give her. Either way, it looked like he needed to pay his cousin a visit, and soon.
Unaware of the blond aristocrat's thoughts, Harry turned to the second pile of letters next to his plate. Picking one up, he turned it over in curiosity. Whoever would be writing to him? Hit with a sudden thought, he scowled. It better not be people gushing over him like his schoolmates had done since his return to school. It was bad enough when those he knew acted weird around him, he wasn't sure he could handle it if total strangers acted like that.
Harry hesitated briefly, but then he made up his mind. Better to find out now, then he could ignore the letters with a clear conscience. Pleased with his reasoning, Harry broke the seal and pulled out the letter, not noticing the included photo until it landed in his plate. Looking down he turned an interesting shade of red. The woman in the picture was wearing a big smile and nothing else.
Seeing his mate's reaction, Draco turned to look and shot to his feet with an angry cry, setting fire to the thing. "Who is that tramp?" he screeched, gaining the attention of everyone in the Hall, including his father, who hastily made his way to his son's side.
Blaise had looked over to the Gryffindor table when he'd heard Draco's cry. He had read the two articles with relish, and he had been looking forward to the first opportunity when he could corner his friend and find out what was going on. It was not like the blond to miss classes. Unless he had a very good reason.
Add to that today's attack on the Weasleys, and Blaise just knew there was a good story, and he wanted every detail of it. Seeing Draco's violent reaction to whatever had been in the letter Potter had just opened, Blaise realised that Gryffindorks or not, this he wanted to see!
Climbing to his feet, he murmured to his fellow snakes, "This looks like fun. I haven't seen Dray lose his cool like this since Vince and Greg accidentally turned his skin red in third year." Their sniggers followed him as he sauntered over to where the Malfoys were standing.
"I have no idea," Harry murmured, turning his attention to the letter he was still holding.
Not satisfied with that answer, Draco pulled it out of his hands and began to scan it quickly. "A marriage proposal? Who does she think she is? You are..."
"That is enough, Draco!" Lucius said sternly, stemming the words about to spill from his son's lips. Things had finally settled down again between the two boys, and the aristocrat was not about to allow a fit of jealousy cause a setback. Even if his son did have a right to throw a hissy fit. In fact, Lucius was seething as well at the audacity of the woman. Who did she think she was?
However, their feelings did not matter at the moment. Harry's did. Lucius had a hunch the youth would not take this well. Furthermore, he would not accept even the smallest hint of accusation, and he did not want a repeat of what had happened the previous day to occur, especially not in the middle of the Great Hall! If nothing else, he did not have the patience to console a moping Veela. Not with everything else going on at the moment.
"But Father! Look at this!" Draco complained, thrusting the letter at his father.
With a put upon sigh, Lucius accepted the letter and quickly scanned it. Suppressing a shudder, he folded it and placed it back in its envelope. "A bit on the tacky side, I agree, but I'm afraid this was only to be expected, especially after the article in yesterday's Daily Prophet. Your mate has grown up to become a fine young man, and others are bound to notice," Lucius said in an even voice, attempting to will his son to calm down and start thinking instead of just reacting.
"But she offered to carry his children! As if a Sweetberry would ever be worthy of such a thing!" Draco sneered, every bit a Malfoy in his disdain.
"Calm down, Draco. As if I would ask some woman I've never met to do such a thing," Harry snorted, picking up another letter, eyeing it a bit warily. They couldn't all be propositions, could they?
"Calm down! Calm down? How would you feel if some bitch..."
Harry never heard the rest of what Draco was saying as he felt the all too familiar feeling of a hook behind his navel as the seal on the envelope was broken. One moment he was sitting calmly at the Gryffindor table, and the next he was sitting on the floor of what must be the most garish room he'd ever seen. It was even worse than his new room before Severus changed it, no matter how impossible that seemed.
Gingerly he got to his feet, pulling his wand and clasping it tightly just to be on the safe side. This didn't look like anything the Dark Lord would put up with, but you could never be to sure. The man was insane, after all.
Walking towards the nearest door, Harry tested the doorknob, jumping back in shock as the door was flung open, narrowly missing being hit in the face.
"You came! My sweet prince, I knew would come to my rescue!"
Harry gaped in shock at the female, at least he thought it was female, who was quickly advancing on him. She (if indeed this was a she) had a head full of shocking white hair that flew every which way. Her face was filled with wrinkles, suggesting she was two hundred years old, but with surprisingly sharp blue eyes. "Um, hello. Might I ask you who are? And where I am, for that matter?" he belatedly asked, trying desperately to get a handle of what on earth was going on.
"But of course, my sweet prince. I am Josandra Tiller - but you, sweetie, can call me Josy - and this is my home."
"Ah. It is a pleasure to meet you, um, Josy. It would have been nice getting some warning though," Harry said, thinking furiously, trying to find a way out of the mess he'd landed in.
"Yes, well, I'm sorry about that. But I just had to see you and I figured this way we would have at least half an hour before you are rescued. You see, this is about my nephew. Oh, but where are my manners? Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please," Harry murmured, having no intention to accept anything this obviously loony elderly lady offered him, but anything that kept her occupied was good in his book.
"Tilly! Some tea for our guest. And cake! All young men likes cake, don't you, sweetie?" Josy asked, turning her attention back on Harry from the house-elf who'd popped in, out, and back in again, carrying a laden tea tray the second time she appeared.
"Um, I guess so. Perhaps not this early in the morning though," Harry mumbled, wishing with all his might that the Malfoys were present. He could use their help right about now. Remembering the necklace Lucius had given him, he clasped it in a sweaty hand, murmuring the blond's name as quietly as he could.
"Nonsense, it is never too early, or too late, for that matter, for some cake. Especially if it is chocolate filled raspberry cake," Josy stated, pouring Harry a cup of tea and cutting him a large piece of the mentioned cake.
Harry forced a smile on his face and accepted the cup and the plate, never letting go of the necklace. "So, Miss Josy, um, Tiller, you said this, eh, meeting was about your nephew?" he asked, trying to get a conversation started, hoping Lucius knew who this madwoman was so he could come and rescue him.
"Yes, yes. A sweet boy, but so shy. I despair, I tell you, for him to ever venture into something. When I read that article in the Daily Prophet, I just knew you were the one to help him along."
"The article in the Daily Prophet? Which one?" Harry asked, trying desperately to figure out what in Merlin's name was going on here.
"Why the article about how you had designed your own clothes of course!" Josy beamed at him.
"The article about my clothes?" Harry echoed, nonplussed. "I'm going to kill Draco for that one!" Harry muttered under his breath. Louder he added, "I still don't understand, Josy."
"My nephew designs his own clothes as well, and mine. He is the one who designed this dress. Isn't it divine?" Josy asked, hopping up from her chair and twirled around to give Harry a better view, causing him to reconsider her age. No one who was two hundred years old moved that nimbly.
"I don't know much about dresses, I'm afraid, but yes, that one is very pretty. I still don't understand though."
"I want you to share with Ambrose, that is my nephew by the way, how you managed to get that shop owner to accept your design. Poor Ambrose has been struggling for years to get someone besides me to acknowledge his skills. I know most designers don't want anything to do with other designers, but I figured a nice boy like you would be able to look beyond the competition and give my sweet Ambrose some help. It would mean so much to him, and to me as well," Josy added, giving Harry another dazzling smile.
Harry leaned back in his chair and concentrated on his breathing. This situation was just too bizarre. He had been kidnapped just so he could give tips on how to sell designs for new clothes?
"Harry?"
Harry blinked at the twin calls of his name. Belatedly he remembered that he was still holding his necklace. "Yes?" he answered Josy and Lucius both.
"Are you feeling alright, dear?" Josy asked. "Have some cake, I am sure it will make you feel better."
"We have arrived at the cottage where Mrs. Tiller is supposed to be residing. Hold on a few more minutes and this will all be over," Lucius said, causing Harry to collapse in his seat with relief.
"Dear?" Josy asked worriedly. "Tilly! Something is wrong with our guest! Get a Healer here immediately!"
"No! There is no need for that!" Harry quickly declared, not wanting any more strangers around, in case the Malfoys had trouble getting through the wards.
"Nonsense! I can't have you getting sick now, can I? How will you then be able to help Ambrose?"
"Everybody freeze!" Lucius Malfoy cried out, bursting through the doors causing both Harry and Josy to jump.
Harry reached up a hand and rubbed at his temple, letting go of the pendant as he did so. That shout had felt like a spear through his mind, and he now had a fierce headache on top of everything else.
"Harry! Merlin, are you alright?" a frantic Draco cried, shouldering past his father and hurrying to Harry's side.
"What in the name of Circe is going on here?" Josy cried in alarm. "Who are you people? Get out this instance!"
"Hello. Which of you lot is the patient?" an elderly man carrying a bag asked, looking around the room. He knew his good friend was a bit eccentric, but this was unusual even for Josy.
Harry looked at the scene before him, unable to believe his eyes. A practically hysterical Draco was sitting in Harry's lap, running his hands everywhere he could reach in search for injuries. Lucius was holding Josy at wand point, his gaze darting between his prisoner and Harry. Severus, along with Tonks, Shacklebolt, and Moody were spread out in the room, looking for hidden enemies while the Healer was casting examinations spells at everyone, trying to figure out where the emergency was. This was just too surreal, and Harry felt himself begin to snigger. The stress was getting to him, and once he'd started laughing he couldn't stop.
The Healer, happy to finally have a patient, bounded over to Harry and forced a calming potion down his throat, to the immense displeasure of Draco. As the room began to fade, Harry watched as the Veela hexed the man, snarling threats and promises of retribution.
HPDM
Draco sat on the bed, his mate in his arms, watching him sleep peacefully. When Harry had disappeared from the Great Hall he had panicked. Never in his life had he felt such pain as he did then at the thought of never seeing Harry again. Only Lucius' grab of his arm had prevented him from blindly rushing from the Hall and seeking out Riddle, convinced this was a plot to capture the Boy-Who-Lived.
It didn't prevent him from going into a rage though, and he had transformed into his second form, his wings sprouting from his back, showering those nearby with blood. Things were getting ugly, and only the fact that Harry had called Lucius just then had stopped him from ripping the heads of his father and godfather, who had joined the fray by then. The knowledge that Harry was alive and all right had enabled him to start thinking again, and he had allowed Lucius and Severus to bundle him off to the Headmaster's office, where a rescue mission had been planned.
His heart did not calm though, until he saw his mate with his own eyes. Finding Harry alive and whole...
Draco shuddered and pulled Harry closer. It was pure luck that it was a barmy old woman who had kidnapped his mate. It could just as easily have been a Death Eater, or worse, someone who had the audacity to think that Harry would marry them.
Harry was his. No one else's. His!
Brooding darkly, Draco was returned to the present when the body in his arms groaned, and twitched.
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"Harry, are you alright?"
"I don't know. Is it too much to hope that being kidnapped by a deranged aunt who wanted me to help her nephew sell clothing designs was just a very weird dream?"
"I'm afraid so," Draco chuckled. "Seriously, how do you feel?"
Harry sighed and attempted to sit up proper. "Fine, I guess. What happened?"
"You got a bit hysterical and that fool of a Healer forced a strong Calming Draught down your throat. You had a bad reaction to it and threw up all over him, serves him right, the git! Severus checked you over and figured you'd be alright after some sleep. We are back at Hogwarts, in the hospital wing. Pomfrey looked you over as well, and since she agreed with Severus, we've let you sleep it off."
"Oh, what time is it?"
"It is shortly after three o'clock. Welcome back to the land of the living. How do you feel?" Lucius asked, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his son and mate both wide awake and apparently feeling fine.
"I'm fine. Thank you for rescuing me. What will happen to Josy? You didn't send her to Azkaban, did you?" Harry asked a bit worriedly. This was Malfoy after all, a very protective Malfoy.
"You are very welcome and no, not yet. We figured you would get a say in the punishment, since you were the one being kidnapped. However, that can wait until later. For now you are to eat something and get some more rest."
"Yes sir," Harry said with a small smile. To tell the truth, he still felt tired and he was way too comfortable to want to get up. Pushing his worries to the side for now, he settled back against Draco and closed his eyes with a content sigh, never seeing the soft smiles coming to Draco's and Lucius' faces at the sight.
"Dad? There's something I've been meaning to ask you," Draco said a little hesitantly, looking down to make sure that Harry was indeed asleep.
"What is it, son?" Lucius asked, stepping forward to perch on the edge of the mattress.
"That day, when Harry ended up in the trunk," Draco began quietly, wording what he wanted to say carefully. "It felt like he was dying. That awareness I have of him at the back of my mind, it was growing cold, it was … fading. How come?"
Lucius was silent for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. "I believe that he was so focused on the decision he was trying to make, that he accidentally performed a sort of Occlumency. The connection you share, what you are feeling, is an echo of Harry's emotions. Normally something like that isn't established until after you bond, but with exceptionally strong mates, it is not unheard of it happening beforehand.
"I think, that when he was trying to decide what to do, he was focusing all his energies on that decision, shutting everything else off, including his emotions. If you remember, he did not react to our arrival, and when he finally became aware again, he instantly fainted from the strain. The connection returned shortly thereafter, did it not?"
Draco thought back on that horrifying moment, trying to pinpoint when his awareness of Harry had returned. It was when Harry had been placed in his bed, and Draco had crawled in with him, finally reassured that his mate was fine and was going to live. "Yeah, it did," he said, looking up at his father with a faint smile.
"Good. I suggest you keep a close eye on him for the next few days. Severus and I will screen his mail from now on, to ensure that this doesn't happen again, but who knows what ideas this has given your schoolmates."
Draco growled and pulled Harry closer to him. He knew the mindset of some of the students only too well, having been forced to listen to them brag of what they would do the moment they had graduated and finally were old enough to be allowed into the Dark Lord's army. They would only be too happy to attempt sending Harry to that monster.
Lucius smiled in understanding. "I'm going to head down to the dungeons. Severus and I will be discussing added protection. Sev suggested adding his own monitoring spell on the two of you. I am inclined to agree with him."
"Dad," Draco moaned, but did not argue. If Harry was ever kidnapped again, he wanted to be able to find his mate in a heartbeat. It was worth sacrificing their privacy for that, wasn't it? He had a feeling, though, that Harry wouldn't agree.
"See you later, my little Dragon," Lucius chuckled, and left the private room the boys had been given.
HPDM
Lucius never got to have that discussion with Severus, however. He had just set foot inside his mate's office when his Dark Mark began to burn. Hissing a curse, he clamped his right hand over his left arm, darting a look at Severus, who had scrambled to his feet, not showing any signs of being summoned.
"Come, you can borrow my robe and mask," Severus said, guiding his friend into his private chamber. "It will save you time, and believe me, that is always a bonus," he said with feeling, charming the robe to fit the slightly taller man.
Lucius didn't argue, only slipped the hated robe on, putting the mask into a pocket.
"Take this, it will bring you directly to the hospital wing," Severus murmured, pressing a bracelet into Lucius' hand. "To activate it, say 'sanctuary'."
"Thank you. I promise to be careful," Lucius promised, giving into temptation and pulling his mate into a brief hug.
"You better promise to come back alive," Severus whispered, returning the hug fiercely, if briefly.
"I promise," Lucius whispered, pulling away reluctantly. Putting his Malfoy mask firmly in place, he left swiftly while he still could.
HPDM
"Ah, Lucius, so good of you to come," Voldemort hissed sarcastically when his right hand man entered the library at Riddle Manor, kneeling before him in greeting.
"Master," Lucius intoned, kissing the hem of black robe, careful to keep his feelings locked away where the monster could not pick up on them, he sincerely hoped!
"I have been hearing the most extraordinary things about young Harry Potter. I was hoping you could verify them for me?"
"I live to serve you, My Lord," Lucius said, wondering just what exactly the children at Hogwarts had been reporting to their parents.
"See that you do, Lucius, see that you do," Voldemort threatened, pointing his wand at the blond. "Rise!" he snapped impatiently. "Tell me, did Potter really curse Pansy Parkinson?"
"Yes, Master, he did."
"Excellent. Well, don't just stand there. Sit! Tell me! And Lucius, don't skip any details," Voldemort warned, rolling his wand between his fingers in a threatening manner that made most of his followers extremely nervous. Malfoy, he noted with a smug smile, didn't so much as flinch. He liked that in the man, even though it made him very dangerous. If Lucius ever decided to break away… Tom quickly shut off that thought, it did not merit any further thought. Besides, as long as he kept the man on a short leash, everything would be fine. And as long as he had Severus on an equally short leash, he had nothing to fear from either man. Settling into his chair, conjuring a glass of wine, Riddle prepared himself to listen to what exactly Harry Potter had been up to.
Lucius, not aware of his Master's thoughts, launched into a description of what had taken place since Draco had discovered who his mate was, keeping as many details as he dared away from the Dark Lord. "It would seem, My Lord, that the old fool has alienated Harry Potter to such a degree that he no longer has the boy's trust," he carefully began.
"Oh?" Voldemort asked in delight. This was getting better and better! "Tell me! Does that mean that the boy is open to a change of alliances?"
"I think so, Master, he is most displeased with the Headmaster's actions," Lucius reassured him and launched into his story.
Voldemort stroked his chin, chuckling at the revenge the boy had taken on the foolish girl. Maybe that was something he himself could adopt? Casting the Cruciatus Curse on the ones who failed him was amusing, but after a while it grew tiresome. On top of that, it did not stop the fools from continuing to fail him… Perhaps spending some time as a toy would be a stronger deterrent.
"You and your son have done very well, Lucius. Harry Potter will soon be ours. Very well done indeed. However, there was another reason I sent for you."
"My Lord?" Lucius asked, wondering about the odd tone in Voldemort's voice.
"Narcissa has complained to me that you have been neglecting her. I do not approve of being involved in your domestic life, Lucius. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Lucius groaned silently, cursing Narcissa silently. "My Lord, my wife expressed her wish to go to one of the Ministry parties. I informed her that I would not have the time, but that she was free to go with someone else."
"And why did you not wish to make your wife happy?" Voldemort asked with deceptive gentleness. Was the bond between the two Malfoys weakening? He could not allow that.
"My Lord, I felt it more important to help my son bond with his mate than to escort my lovely wife to a party," Lucius said honestly, managing with some difficulty to keep his tone bland and neutral. He couldn't afford to betray his intense dislike for his wife, not now when he was so close to getting free.
"I see. You reasoned correctly, Lucius, at the moment Harry Potter is more important than some party, even if it is one organized by the Ministry."
Lucius heaved a silent sigh that he had once again escaped the Cruciatus Curse. Debating silently with himself, he decided to take a risk. "Master, I found out by chance from Harry that the inventor of the potion Black Truth was in fact one Horatio Black. I find myself in somewhat of a quandary, since I am oath bound to demand retribution from the descendants due to the unfortunate happenings in 1022…"
Voldemort tapped his wand against his cheek. That was indeed a bit bothersome. Narcissa Black was Lucius' wife, and Bellatrix Black was one of his most devoted followers. "What did you have in mind?" he asked eventually, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"I was considering sending Narcissa to one of the more remote properties, forcing her to spend some time there alone since I figured it would pain her the most to miss the parties that are coming up in the next few months."
Tom considered the suggestion. It was quite devious. Narcissa would not be pleased about missing out on the festivities. It would also give Lucius the time needed to cement the bond between Potter and Draco, making sure that the boy was loyal to him and not Dumbledore. And it would ensure that she couldn't come snivelling to him for every perceived slight. Yes, he liked it very much. "What about Bellatrix? And what of her other sister, Andromeda?"
"Andromeda has been struck from the family tree and is no longer a Black, My Lord. As for Bellatrix, I will leave that up to you, Master. Far be it for me to decide suitable punishment for one of your devoted followers," Lucius said, being as obsequious as he could stomach.
Voldemort nodded his head in pleasure. That was one of the things he liked about Lucius Malfoy, the man knew his place. Unlike some… he thought darkly. "I think that a suitable punishment would be for Bellatrix to follow her sister to this remote place of yours. I have noticed that she's been a little peeked lately, I am sure the rest would do her good. And since we both know how much she loves her sister…" Voldemort said suggestively before breaking out in gleeful laughter.
Lucius hid a wince; the estate he had in mind would never be the same again. He would have to order the house-elves to clear it of anything valuable before sending the women over. Then he was forced to bite back a chuckle of his own. So, Bellatrix had managed to anger her Master, again. Served her right, the bitch, for trying to get into Severus' knickers. She knew very well that the Potions Master had no interest in her, and yet she kept trying.
Feeling his tempter start to boil, Lucius forced himself to push such thoughts to the side. Patiently he waited for the Dark Lord to stop laughing.
"Very well, make the preparations. Send me a Portkey for darling Bella once you are ready. I believe the stay should last until Christmas, don't you? That should give them plenty of time to think over their actions. And Lucius, I would be most displeased if they were to return sooner…
"Oh, and Lucius? Make sure Harry Potter teaches Severus how to make that potion. I can think of quite a few amusing instances where the Black Truth could be useful. You are dismissed."
Lucius bowed and backed out of the library. With a soft sigh of relief, he straightened and made his way back to the Manor. He knew Severus would be worried about him, but he needed to get the ball rolling. He couldn't believe that Riddle had actually agreed with him! Narcissa must really have annoyed him with her whining.
Then he shuddered. They needed to find a way to make sure that Voldemort never got his hands on the Black Truth. The havoc he could wreak…

Next Time:
Someone is having a bad day,
and for once it isn't Harry and Draco.
Until Then…




Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 35

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/35/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A big thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I really and truly appreciate all the positive feedback. Thank you!
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

Someone is having a bad day.

Arthur Weasley looked up from his cup of tea when the owl carrying his copy of the Daily Prophet came flying through the window. Relieving the bird of its burden, and dropping the required Knuts into the little pouch tied to a bony leg, the Weasley patriarch lost all interest in the owl as he unfolded the paper and opened it. Picking up his cup, he promptly choked on it as his glance took in the headlines.
"Arthur, dear, are you alright?" Molly asked her husband, walking over to his chair from the stove and beginning to pound on his back.
"I'm fine, dear," Arthur gasped, attempting to shift away from his wife's enthusiastic pounding.
Molly didn't hear him. Her eyes were glued to the front page of the Daily Prophet, and she gasped in outrage. Snatching the paper from her husband, she began to read the article, muttering parts of it aloud.
"How dare he?" she cried, brandishing the paper in her outrage. "How dare he! How dare Harry put the blame for what happened that summer on Percy? Yes, yes," she added irritably when her husband tried to get a word in, "Percy has sided with the Ministry, and he has said a few not so flattering things about Harry, but that doesn't give Harry the right to badmouth my boy! Percy would never do anything to harm his family, and until recently Harry Potter was family. I can't believe how badly that boy turned out, but what did you expect? With Sirius Black as his godfather? Remus is a dear, but he isn't exactly a good role model for a child to have either, and poor Harry attached himself to the two of them. He should have taken Percy as his role model instead. I should have known though, when I found out he had helped the twins with that appalling shop of theirs."
"Now, Molly, you know very well that Harry hasn't turned dark. As for Percy, he is not the model of good behaviour that you tend to paint him. He is a stuck up prick, refusing to see the evidence staring him in the face. He is blinded by ambition; it was only a matter of time before that ambition placed him in hot water," Arthur said, tired of the way his wife refused to see what Percy was really like.
"How dare you! Percy is our son!"
"Is that why you have been painting Harry Potter blacker than black? In an attempt to muddle the waters so no one in the Order would realise what type of person Percival really is? You used to adore Harry, Molly, what happened?"
"What happened? What happened? He got a student killed, Arthur! He got poor Cedric killed by You Know Who! Was I just to stand back and wait for him to get our children killed too? Just look at the mess he caused at the Department of Mysteries! He was lured into a trap, and he took. My. Children. With. Him!" Molly shrieked, getting red in the face with her fury.
Arthur shook his head sadly. "When are you going to realise that the children are growing up? When will you acknowledge that they no longer are babies, but adults with a mind of their own? Harry didn't force them to come with him to the Ministry, they chose to follow him. If you go on treating them the way you are, Percy isn't the only of our children that will turn their backs on you."
"How. Dare. You!" Molly whispered, too shocked to get her vocal cords to work properly.
"How dare I?" Arthur asked mockingly. "How dare you! For years you have placed Percy on some sort of pedestal, holding him up to the other children as a paragon of model behaviour. Just because he wasn't playing pranks on people, and because he was getting good grades, you turned a blind eye to his less pleasant qualities. Open your eyes, Molly, before it is too late. The other children never could stand their brother; did you ever consider that maybe they had a reason? Merlin knows I've done my best to treat all of my children equally, can you say the same?
"As for Harry. You agreed to take him in and treat him as one of your own. You went back on that promise, and I can't tell you how ashamed of you I am for that. I know, I should have put my foot down a long time ago, but I was weak. I wanted to keep the peace within the family, and look at us now. Bill and Charlie moved halfway across the world to get away from us. Percy is refusing to even talk to us, and I'm guessing it won't be long before the twins move away as well, considering how well they are doing with their business. You should be proud of them, and yet you belittle them at every turn. They have made something of themselves, and for some reason you refuse to see that. I can't help but wonder why. Are you jealous of them?
"I can only hope that Ron and Ginny learn to think for themselves soon, before you have poisoned their minds as well. Harry Potter is a good boy, and he has done nothing which deserves the spite you have been spewing over him lately. He is not the root of your problems. The sooner you realise this, the better."
"I think you should leave now," Molly said frostily. "You have said more than enough."
"You know, I don't think I have," Arthur mused, getting up from the table. "However, since I can't afford to be late, I will indeed leave. See you later, dear," he added, Apparating away and leaving his wife fuming.
"How dare he!" she snarled, throwing the paper into the fire. "How. Dare. He?" she shouted at the air, almost missing the head that had appeared in the fireplace.
"Molly, are you there?"
"Oh, hello, Hestia, what can I do for you?" Molly asked, forcing herself to calm down with some difficulty.
"I was just reading the paper, you have seen it, haven't you? I just couldn't believe it. Please tell me that Percy would never do such a thing!"
"Of course he wouldn't!" Molly snapped, her temper starting to boil once more. "I'm sorry, I just had a row with Arthur over just that subject. Percy is a good boy; he would never cause any trouble for anyone, unless they deserved it," she added, conveniently forgetting all the times he had snubbed her and given her the cold shoulder since he had started working at the Ministry.
"That is what I thought. It is appalling the way that woman Skeeter is allowed to write articles like that, not caring in the least who she is hurting in her attempts to sell papers. Well, I better get going, I just wanted to make sure for myself that the article was false," Hestia Jones said, ending the fire call.
Her call was only the first of many though, and by noon, Molly was forced to put the fire out if she was to get any work done at all that day. Relatives, friends, people she hadn't talked with in years, they all called her and wanted her input on whether Percy was guilty of aiding in the Dementors' attack or not. To her dismay, Molly was powerless in stopping the sympathy that was creeping up for Potter. Suddenly, now that the Dementors' attack had been confirmed by the Prophet, people were actually feeling sorry for Harry, or thinking he was brave for fighting off two Dementors by himself. To her utter horror, she was unable to disabuse the callers of the fact that Percy would never engage in such reprehensible behaviour.
No, her day was definitely not off to a good start, and Molly was seriously contemplating sending that Skeeter woman a Howler when a strange bird flew through the still open window, depositing its burden on the kitchen table before veering off and heading back the way it had come, not bothering to land to rest up first.
Molly stared, dumfounded, at the red envelope that was lying on the table, trembling. Gingerly she picked it up, not understanding in the least why anyone would be sending her a Howler. Before she could decide if she should open it or just banish it, the letter took matters into its own hands and sprang to life.
"HOW DARE YOU BEHAVE IN SUCH A DESPICABLE MANNER? THAT BOY THINKS THE WORLD OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY THAT KINDNESS? BY HEAPING ABUSE ON HIM FOR BEING CHOSEN BY A VEELA? BY YELLING AT HIM FOR DARING TO BE HIS OWN MAN? YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A NARROW-MINDED SIMPLETON!
"MY FAMILY AND I, SO FAR, HAVE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HARRY POTTER, BUT REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT THAT BOY KNOWS HE HAS PEOPLE HE CAN COUNT ON. REAL PEOPLE, REAL FRIENDS WHO WON'T TURN THEIR BACKS ON HIM JUST BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH SOMETHING HE DOES.
"YOU WERE GIVEN A PRECIOUS GIFT, THE LOVE OF THE BOY WHO LIVED, AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HIM? SHAME ON YOU!"
Molly could only stare as the Howler burned itself into ashes, her ears still ringing from the strident voice telling her off. Then she got angry. How dared that hussy tell her what to do? Molly didn't recognise the voice, so she had no idea who the sender was. Which would indicate that the sender of the Howler didn't know her either.
"Just you wait until it is your children that are dragged into danger, all because of a child who don't know how to stay out of other people's business. Harry had no reason getting mixed up with the Philosopher's Stone! And the Chamber of Secrets, how dare he risk his life like that?" she snorted, conveniently forgetting that Harry had been the one to save her daughter's life.
This was all Potter's fault! Percy had been right, that brat always got everyone's attention. No wonder he was as spoilt as he was. To think she had worried about him. Served him right that he had been picked by the Malfoys, he fitted right in with that Death Eater crowd! Just you wait, she – and Percy – would soon be proven right, and then they would all be sorry they hadn't listened to them!
Smug in her knowledge that she was right, Molly turned to the stove to fix some lunch. However, she froze when she spotted three owls, carrying very red letters in their beaks, making their way towards the opened window. For a moment she considered closing the window, denying them access, but then she sighed. You could not stop a Howler. Resigning herself to a few unpleasant moments, she greeted the owls, who refused her offer of refreshments, gave her an evil eye before taking off, their mission accomplished.
xXx
Arthur Weasley remained at his job for as long as he could, even doing the paperwork he had been postponing for the last three months, anything to avoid going home. In the end there were no more excuses, and he Apparated home, not looking forward to the welcome his wife was sure to give him.
He was therefore utterly unprepared for Molly to throw herself around his neck and start sobbing.
"Molly? Dear? What is wrong? Is it the children…?" Arthur asked, getting worried.
"Howlers," his wife howled into his shoulder, "and fire calls. All day long. They all think Percy did it, they wouldn't listen to me. And the Howlers, I have received over two hundred of those foul things, all of them screaming at me for sending Harry that Howler," she sobbed, making it almost impossible for her husband to hear what she was saying.
He caught the jist of it though, and with a sigh, he set about calming her down. Deep within his heart though, he found next to no sympathy for her plight. In his opinion, it was about time someone stood up for Harry and told those belittling him off. He only wished he had been strong enough to step in before things had gotten so out of hand. He would have to write Harry a letter and apologise to the lad for his wife's actions. He could only hope that the youth would find it within his heart to forgive him.
HPDM
Cornelius Fudge was humming as he ate his breakfast. There had been no catastrophes, everyone was doing what they were supposed to do, and things were for once running smoothly. Hence the reason for his good mood.
He was therefore utterly unprepared for the headline blaring at him as he opened his copy of the Daily Prophet. Reading the article with growing dismay, Fudge fought the urge to bang his head against the table. What in Merlin's name had Dolores been up to during her time at Hogwarts? He had heard a rumour that she'd attempted to interrogate the Potter brat with Veritaserum, but he had disregarded that as nothing more than a rumour intent on blackening the Ministry. Dolores knew very well that such interrogations were not to be taken lightly.
Then there had been the mumbles that she'd tried to cast an Unforgivable on one of the students. Cornelius had dealt with those swiftly and brutally. This, however, he could not hush up. The public would demand an investigation, and considering that he was the one who had assigned Dolores to Hogwarts, making it very clear that she had his full support…
Gulping, Cornelius managed to make it to his feet. Stumbling slightly, he made his way to his fireplace, putting in a call to his senior solicitor. He had a feeling a simple denial would not work this time. Then he groaned; Potter had the Malfoys behind him now; if there was even an ounce of truth in Skeeter's accusations, then Cornelius was in deep trouble. Very deep trouble.
HPDM
Percy was having a good morning as well. The previous evening he had been out with his fiancée, Penelope, and they had had a grand time together.
Opening his copy of the Daily Prophet, Percy felt his good mood evaporate like dew in the morning sun. Stumbling up from the table, he left his half-eaten breakfast without a second thought and hurriedly finished dressing. The Minister would no doubt wish to speak with him; Percy only hoped he would be given the chance to give his side of the story before being dismissed from his job.
Grumbling under his breath, Percy Apparated to the Ministry, thinking dark thoughts about Harry Potter, who seemed to delight in getting Percy into sticky situations.
HPDM
Dolores Umbridge was enjoying a morning in bed when her house-elf approached with a letter in her hand.
"This better be good!" she demanded harshly, reluctantly sitting up to better be able to tower over the creature. "I gave explicit orders not to be disturbed."
"Selly is sorry, Mistress. Letter arrived for Mistress," the elf said, holding the letter with a trembling hand.
Dolores sniffed, but in the end she snatched the thing from the elf. Waving the creature from the room, she examined the seal. Seeing the personal seal of Cornelius Fudge, she broke into a big smile and eagerly tore the envelope open.
Dearest Dolores,
What have you done! I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened this morning's Daily Prophet. I can only pray to Merlin that Skeeter is wrong, and that you haven't done what I'm beginning to think that you have done. Do you realise what a spot you have placed me in? You better get to my private office as quickly as possible, we will need to some damage control on this one!
Cornelius Fudge
Minister of Magic.
Dolores stared stupidly at the letter. What could have happened to put dear Cornelius in such a tizzy? Shouting for her house-elf, she climbed out of her bed with some difficulty; those blasted Centaurs had really done a number on her. Grumbling about stupid half-bloods and how she was going to kill every last one of those disgusting things, she made her way into the shower to start a new day. Best not to keep Cornelius waiting, the man always got so impatient when you did that.
HPDM
"You wanted to see me, Cornelius, dear?" Dolores asked in her little girl voice as she stepped inside the Minister's private office.
"Don't you 'dear' me, Dolores Umbridge!" Cornelius snapped, having worked himself into a frenzy. His interview with Weatherby had not gone well, and the advice he had received from his solicitors was even worse.
"Cornelius?" Dolores asked, faltering slightly. The Minister had never addressed her in such a manner before.
"Have you read this morning's paper?" Cornelius asked, brandishing the paper in question at her.
"No, I didn't have time, I came here as quickly as I could," Dolores simpered, giving the agitated Minister her best girlish smile. For once, it failed to impress.
"Then I suggest you read it," Fudge snarled, throwing it at her.
Dolores caught it awkwardly, crumbling it even more in the process. Opening it to the front page, she gasped in outrage at the headline. "How dare that woman meddle in things that don't concern her?" she gaped, scanning the article quickly.
"Did you send those Dementors after Potter?" Cornelius asked in a tight voice.
"What? Why would you think that, Cornelius? You know Skeeter, always eager to bend the truth to make a sell." Dolores giggled lightly, not about to admit to anything.
"Did you send those Dementors?" Cornelius asked once more, determined not to get sidetracked.
"Now, Cornelius, why would I…?"
"Dolores! Just answer the bloody question! Did. You. Send. Those. Blasted. Dementors?" Cornelius roared, slamming his fist down on the top of his desk.
Dolores blinked. "What makes you think I had anything to do with that unfortunate incident?" she eventually sniffed. "What makes you think…"
"Because while he there," Fudge pointed a finger at Percy, "might have been able to access the file containing Potter's address, he did not hold the authority needed to give orders to the Dementors. You, however, do."
"Oh, very well," Dolores sighed, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Yes, I did give the orders to send a couple of Dementors to Surrey. I thought you would be happy, not yelling at me like this," she added with a pout.
Fudge just stared at her, along with the three solicitors and Percy.
"You thought I would be pleased that you sent Dementors after a fourteen year old boy?" he asked, just to make sure he had understood her correctly.
"Come now, Cornelius," Dolores scoffed. "You spent weeks moaning and complaining about Potter and Dumbledore, how they were conspiring to get you out of office. I figured that with the boy kissed, or at least incapacitated, he would cease to be a threat to you. It worked wonders too, didn't it? The public ate it up, believing every word the Daily Prophet printed about him being insane, not to mention an attention seeker, and a spoiled brat," Dolores added with a shrug, not seeing the problem.
Fudge groaned, sinking into his chair, burying his head in his hands. Percy had grown pale and looked like he was about to be sick.
"But," the redhead stuttered, "you said… Did you really try to question Harry Potter using an entire bottle of Veritaserum? And did you truly attempt to put him under the Cruciatus Curse? And did-" Percy was forced to break off and moisturise a suddenly bone dry mouth. "Did you really use a Blood Quill on him?"
Dolores sneered at him, transforming her already unattractive face to something truly appalling. "I don't have to explain myself to you, you little toad," she snapped.
"No, but you will explain yourself to me!" Cornelius thundered, lifting his head from his hands and giving her a penetrating stare.
"Cornelius, dear-"
"Weasley, call in the Aurors," Fudge ordered, so upset that he for once remembered the name of his Undersecretary.
"Yes, Sir," Percy murmured, scurrying towards the door and the guard posted there.
"Cornelius!" Dolores cried out in protest, beginning to get slightly nervous.
"Tell me the truth, Dolores!" Fudge ordered, sending a signal to Percy to start taking notes.
"Very well," Dolores pouted, huffing a sigh and folding her arms across her ample bosom, looking like a five year old about to throw a tantrum. "Yes, I tried to interrogate the brat with Veritaserum. He knew more than he was letting on, I'm sure of it! The fact that he somehow managed to sidestep the effect of the truth potion only proves it!
"As for the Cruciatus, yes, I tried to use it on the little freak. If it wasn't for that friend of his, I would have succeeded and then I would finally know where Black was hiding, not to mention I would have had Dumbledore's secret weapon in my hands."
Cornelius could only stare at one of his most trusted people in horror. She had been prepared to use the Unforgivables on Potter? What else was she capable of? "What about the Blood Quill?" he managed to ask, not sure if he wanted to know the truth or not.
"Oh, I used that all right," Dolores stated smugly, a satisfied gleam in her eyes. "It was an old family heirloom, and it was ever so much fun giving Potter detentions on the flimsiest of reasons and then watching him use the thing, scarring himself for life. Oh, I don't think I will ever forget that sight," she sighed lustfully.
"Aurors, arrest that woman for the use of the Unforgivables, and for the use of an illegal torture device," Fudge said hollowly, not able to grasp the enormity of what he had been told.
"Cornelius! How dare you do this to me! I did this for you! You are the one who wanted the boy neutralised!" Dolores screeched, refusing to follow the two Aurors that were trying to lead her away.
"I would never have authorised the use of a Blood Quill," Cornelius said sadly, "and I think you know that. You have not helped me, in fact, bloody hell, woman, you have put me in a most awkward spot. You better pray that I will manage to salvage this mess, or you will live to regret it, mark my words!
"Weatherby! Prepare a press release, a special edition for tonight. The British people need to know that this unfortunate business is being investigated thoroughly."
"Yes, Sir," Percy mumbled, already trying out several phrases in his mind, looking for the best angle to minimize the damage to both his and Fudge's careers.
"You will regret this, Cornelius! I will never forgive you for this!" Dolores screamed as she was forcibly towed from the office. She continued to heap abuse on Fudge's head, and then at the Aurors leading her away, and it was with a sigh of relief that a third Auror hit her with a Silencing Charm.
Fudge turned to his three solicitors, and his heart sank as he watched them confer among themselves. The way they were shooting him glances and were shaking their heads did not bode well for him and his career.
Unable to sit still, Cornelius jumped to his feet and began pacing, trying to think of something, anything, to do to save himself. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind. He would place the entire blame on Dolores, of course, but since he had praised her with such ringing endorsement, her actions would still reflect back on him, painting him in a very bleak light.
A sound made him look up. The sight meeting his eyes caused him to pale drastically and sink into the nearest piece of furniture. The air was thick with owls, and they all were carrying large red envelopes.
For a moment, time seemed to be frozen. Then the screaming began.
HPDM
Percy had been working diligently on the press release for about half an hour when suddenly an owl flew over his head, dropping a Howler onto his desk.
The redhead watched the thing for several tense moments, but in the end he sighed and opened the envelope, bracing himself for his mother's strident voice. To his shock, it wasn't his mother who had sent him the Howler; however, it was much worse. It was Penelope.
"PERCIVAL IGNATIUS WEASLEY!
"HOW COULD YOU? HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING SO DESPICABLE AS AIDING THAT TOAD UMBRIDGE IN PERSECUTING HARRY POTTER? I KNOW THAT, FOR SOME REASON, YOU ARE NOT FOND OF THE BOY, BUT THIS IS LOW EVEN FOR YOU!
"I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WHEN I READ THIS MORNING'S PAPER, BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, PERCIVAL WEASLEY: WE. ARE. THROUGH! I REFUSE TO SPEND MY LIFE WITH SOMEONE SO NARROW MINDED AND SHORT SIGHTED. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT YOU HAD A FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU. APPARENTLY, I WAS WRONG.
"YOU BETTER APOLOGISE TO HARRY FOR YOUR PART IN THIS FIASCO, OR MY FAMILY AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER TO MAKE YOUR LIFE MISERABLE!"
With that the Howler burst into ashes, leaving Percy pale and shaken. How could his life fall apart so quickly? Taking several deep breaths to steady himself, he began to shake with anger. Apologise to Potter? Not likely! This was all Harry's fault! He was nothing but a spoilt little boy who was forever seeking attention! It was sickening how everyone was forever falling over themselves to give into that child's smallest whim, while other more deserving, not to mention hard working, students were completely overlooked and pushed aside! No, if Penelope chose to side with the likes of Harry Potter, then he was better off without her!
Snorting in annoyance, Percy returned to working on his press release. He didn't get very far though, before several owls came through the delivery chute, each of them with a Howler clamped in their beaks. Slowly Percy leaned forward until his forehead was resting against the table top, and as the first Howler sprang to life, he began banging his head against the desk, whishing he had never heard of Harry Potter.
HPDM
Narcissa smiled smugly when the wards told her that her husband had returned home. She knew the Dark Lord would be able to talk some sense into her wayward spouse. To think the man had the nerve to ignore her! Her!
The smile transformed into a smirk as she made her way to Lucius' private study. Walking through the door, she was a little surprised to see him with what looked like a small army of house-elves, but she merely shrugged it aside. House-elves were of no concern to her.
"Lucius, darling, it so good to see you again," she said, gliding towards him. "Does this mean that you will be accompanying me to the Ministry party after all?" she added, secure in the knowledge that he would, already planning what dress robes to get and what type of jewellery she would need to go with it.
"Hello, Narcissa, my darling wife," Lucius said with a heavy dose of irony. Dismissing the elves, he turned to look at the woman who had made his life miserable for so long. To his great satisfaction, he found that he felt nothing. Not even the smallest urge to make her happy, or to fulfil her whims. Shaking his head, he chuckled, this would be easier than he'd thought.
"Lucius?" Narcissa asked, sensing that something was off with her husband's behaviour.
"Narcissa, Narcissa, Narcissa," Lucius said, still chuckling and shaking his head. "How aptly named you were. Do you ever think of anyone but yourself? No matter, the Dark Lord and I had a most interesting chat today, and oddly enough, you popped up in our conversation. Apparently, I've been 'neglecting' you. A more ludicrous statement I've never heard, considering that I haven't even been gone for two weeks. We've been apart for longer times than that in the past."
Narcissa snorted. "Perhaps so," she said with an elegant wave of her hand, "but you have never refused to accompany me to a party before."
It was Lucius' turn to snort. "All you are interested in is getting new clothes, jewellery, and lording over all those pathetic women who are as obsessed as you are with parties and their social standing.
"Never mind that. As it happens, the Dark Lord and I talked about a few other things as well," Lucius said, smoothly changing the topic, not interested in getting into a screaming match with his wife just yet. "A certain potion was mentioned."
Narcissa looked unimpressed. "Unless it was a pregnancy potion, I don't see how it concerns me," she stated, giving him a dark look. He wasn't about to bring that nonsense up again, was he?
Lucius laughed. "No, it wasn't a pregnancy potion, you are quite safe on that front, Narcissa, darling."
"Then what potion was it?" Narcissa asked impatiently, wanting to get back to talk about the party.
"Black Truth," Lucius said with a smug smirk, leaning back in his chair to be able to fully take in the expressions on his wife's face.
"Black Truth?" Narcissa asked, striving for nonchalance and disinterest but not quite managing it. "What of it?" she added, wondering just what he knew.
"Apparently, Harry found and talked to the creator of that potion this summer. You will never guess who that was."
"Who?" Narcissa asked, beginning to get nervous. This could spell catastrophe for her. Blast that boy to the deepest hell!
"You are not to touch the boy, Narcissa. He is Draco's mate and the union has the Dark Lord's full support," Lucius said with a warning glare.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of interfering, dear," Narcissa said sugar sweetly.
"I'm sure you wouldn't," Lucius snorted, not believing her for a moment. "But that is neither here nor there. Back to the Black Truth. It has come to my attention that it was one of your ancestors who invented the thing. One Horatio Black? You realise what this means, don't you?"
"Means?" Narcissa echoed with a frown.
"Yes, means. One of my ancestors swore an oath of revenge on the creator of that blasted potion."
"What does that have to do with me? I wasn't even born when that thing was made," Narcissa scoffed, feeling a cold fist grip her heart. She wasn't as ignorant as she pretended to be. She was, after all, a Black. The Black family was famous for their willingness to go that extra mile to get revenge for the smallest slight.
Lucius smiled a truly feral smile. "I have petitioned the Dark Lord, and he agrees with me, that I am within my right to demand retribution from the Black family. Your punishment, well, part of it anyway, has been decided. You will be banished to a remote little estate that has been in the family for generations. I suggest you go and pack, and pack for a warm climate, dear."
Narcissa gasped. "You can't do this!"
"I can and I will. You should have thought of this before you went whining to the Dark Lord, Narcissa, he doesn't like it when domestic disputes get brought to his attention. Now run along and pack."
"How long will I be away?" Narcissa asked with forced meekness, determined to get back at her husband as quickly as possible.
"Don't worry, dear, it is just for a month or two. Take heart, it could have been much, much worse," Lucius warned. Dismissing her from his mind, he turned his attention to the various documents scattered on his desk.
Narcissa watched for a few moments, waiting for, she wasn't sure what, but in the end she went and packed as ordered. She would make him pay for this though. She couldn't believe the lengths he would go to just to get out of attending a party! Grumbling to herself, she made her way to her bedroom. Oh, Lucius would pay for doing this to her!
Lucius watched her leave from the corner of his eye, biting back a chuckle. Who would have thought getting Harry Potter as part of the family would be so much fun?
"We is done as Master wished," a voice said, causing Lucius to start and look down to his left.
"Good. Everything of value has been removed? And you have made certain that neither of them can leave nor have contact with the outside world?"
"All is removed and special wards has been put up," the house-elf promised, giving her Master a wolfish grin, which Lucius returned. He knew none of his elves had ever cared for Narcissa, and by the looks of it, they were not above getting some payback for all the misery she had caused them.
"Thank you. Please take this note to Lord Voldemort, and bring Bellatrix to the hideout as soon as he says she is ready to go."
Messy bowed, and taking the note, she popped away.
Grinning, Lucius made himself comfortable, and began to read the missives Fudge had sent to him that Narcissa hadn't bothered to send along to Hogwarts. He would have to have a talk to the house-elves about setting up some sort of communications system since he had no intention of leaving the school anytime soon.
HPDM
Narcissa picked herself up from the floor, ready to scream bloody murder. It was humiliating enough that she had to hold on to a house-elf of all things to get to wherever she was going, but the blasted thing had had the gall to drop her midair!
"Very graceful, 'Cissa, what will you do for an encore?"
The blood freezing in her veins, Narcissa turned to look at the person who had spoken. When she came face to face with her sister, she did scream bloody murder.
"What are you doing here!" she shrieked once she could talk again.
"I accidentally made the Dark Lord unhappy with me, and he figured I could do with a vacation. What about you?" Bellatrix asked calmly.
"Lucius refused to take me to a party, and concocted some lame story of owing Horatio Black payback for some potion or other," Narcissa said with disdain, looking around her new 'home'.
Bellatrix paled. "Was the potion called Black Truth?" she asked with a trembling voice.
"I believe so, yes. What's the matter with you?"
"Narcissa Belladonna Black, you are an imbecile! Mother was right about you, she always said your lack of appreciation for the family history would be your downfall!"
"So what?"
"So what? Due to the happenings of 1022, the Malfoy family swore an oath to get revenge on the family that had created the Black Truth! Do you honestly believe that banishing you to this place for a few months will satisfy an Oath of Vengeance sworn by a Malfoy? Then you don't know the Malfoy family at all, despite being married to one of them for almost twenty years!"
Narcissa snorted. "Lucius won't be able to do anything to me. I'm his mate."
"No, you're not!" Bellatrix stated bluntly. "We all know Severus Snape is Lucius' true mate. With him spending so much time at Hogwarts, aren't you afraid your iron grip on your husband will loosen? A year ago, hell, six months ago, would he have been able to deny you anything?" she added in a taunting voice, happy to see the righteous look on her sister's face slip a few notches.
"He wouldn't dare!" Narcissa cried angrily. "Besides, the Dark Lord won't let him."
"Voldemort wouldn't have much say in the matter, now would he? Not if the ties to you are starting to disintegrate. And with the two of us stuck here, Lucius will be free to seek Severus' company to his heart's content. Very clever of him, and with getting Voldemort's permission, there isn't much our Lord can do, is there?" Bellatrix asked, beginning to admire the excellent way Lucius had handled things. "I wouldn't be too surprised, sister dear, if you were served with divorce papers the moment your confinement here is over."
"He can't!" Narcissa stated hotly, though she was beginning to get worried.
"He can. Veela law, my dear. Any Veela not bonded with his or her true mate can get a divorce once their true mate is found."
"But he is bound to me, his father made sure of that."
Bellatrix shrugged her shoulders; this exile was turning out to be fun! "That forced bond was based on Lucius' desire to protect his child. Draco is sixteen now, in the process of wooing his own mate. He isn't a child anymore. You should have used the time to bind him tighter to you, and not relying solely on his bond to Draco."
Narcissa looked for something to throw at her infuriatingly smug sister. Not finding anything, she stamped her foot and swept out of the room, intent to get a hold of one of her lovers.
xXx
Half an hour later, Narcissa collapsed on her bed, sobbing in frustration. Lucius Malfoy had, for the first time since their marriage, managed to outsmart her. There was no valuable objects in the house for her to throw, so there was no point in throwing a tantrum, leaving her without her usual mean of venting her emotions.
The house was not hooked up to the Floo system, so she couldn't use that to contact any of her lovers. The wards around the place prevented her from Apparating, and there was no bird of any kind, so she couldn't even send a letter.
To add insult to injury, she was trapped on a tropical island! Lucius knew very well that she burned easy, making it practically impossible for her to venture outside due to the strong sun. Something Bellatrix was only too happy to gloat about, spending several hours outside, enjoying the fresh air and the warm water of the ocean.
At least he had given her the aid of a house-elf, so she wouldn't have to clean or cook. Unfortunately, he had given the thing strict orders of what it was allowed to do, so it too was refusing to help her, and when she tried to make it change its mind with a bout of the Cruciatus Curse, it had the nerve to take her wand from her!
Slowly it began to sink in. She was trapped on a tropical island she could not enjoy, with her insufferable sister, with the bare minimum of furniture, and with only Muggle books to read. She didn't even have any chocolates or other sweets to dull the boredom with – she wasn't counting the tins filled with Lemon Drops, she wasn't that desperate!
At this rate, she would be insane, if not dead, by the end of the week! How was she supposed to last an entire month! Oh, she was so going to get Lucius for doing this to her!
HPDM
Albus Dumbledore walked into his office with a tired sigh and collapsed into his chair. Fawkes trilled a few notes and flew over to land on his bonded's arm, rubbing his head against Albus' cheek.
"This has not been a good day," the aged wizard said with another tired sigh. "In fact, it has been a lousy few days. I have handled the situation with Harry totally wrong. I had no idea he held so much hostility towards me. I just don't understand. I apologised to him. I have done my best to show that I support him and believe in him. I have told him how important he is to this war; what more does he want from me?
"And then there is the kidnapping. We were fortunate it was just some dotty old woman, and not Tom. We will have to be careful from now on though, in case this gave him ideas. Whatever Tom is, he isn't stupid. In fact, apart from Hermione Granger, and possibly Minerva, I don't think I have ever taught a more clever and intelligent student. Too bad his ambition took him on such a dark and dangerous path."
Leaning back in his chair, absentmindedly stroking his pet's warm feathers, Albus lost himself in memories of days gone by.
The hoot of an owl brought him back to the present. Looking up, he noted yet another owl, with a red letter in its beak. Accepting the Howler, he waited until the bird had left before flicking it into the fireplace. It immediately sprang to life, spewing forth its message. Fortunately, the strong wards Filius had helped him put up several years ago prevented him from hearing what the sender had to say.
Sitting back in his chair once more, Albus found himself both grateful and curious that Molly hadn't contacted him to shout at him for allowing Percy to be dragged into this mess. As if he had any control over what her son was doing. No, young Percival had made his choice, and would now have to live with it. As they all had to do.
Giving Fawkes a final pat, Albus climbed to his feet and made his way to his bedroom. Maybe things would look a bit brighter after a good night's sleep. And maybe, just maybe, he would get some inspiration on how to deal with Harry.

Next Time:
The boys have a quiet afternoon,
and the first DA-meeting is taking place.
Until Then…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 36

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/36/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A big thank you to everyone who has reviewed. I really and truly appreciate all the positive feedback. Thank you!
Vaughn has corrected this chapter; any mistakes left are my own.

Tender Emotions

Harry woke up and immediately knew where he was. There was only one place that smelled the like this. The hospital wing.
For a moment he debated going back to sleep, but he was too well rested for that to be an option, so he opened his eyes instead, intent on sneaking out of the infirmary at earliest opportunity.
Instead of the sharp, bright light that usually assaulted him first thing when he managed to open his eyes in this place, he was faced with a sea of green. Blinking his eyes a few times to see if that made a difference - it didn't - he leaned up on an elbow to try and figure this mystery out.
Then he chuckled. How could he have forgotten Draco? It was his shirt he had been pressed tightly against.
"See something amusing?" Draco asked, having followed Harry's attempts to fully wake up.
"Nah, just trying to figure out when Pomfrey abandoned white for green," Harry replied, sitting up properly in the bed.
Draco looked startled for a moment, and then he laughed. Setting the book he'd been reading aside, he too sat up, allowing the light blanket that had been covering them to fall to the side. "Is there any point of me asking how you are feeling?"
"Nah, I'm fine," Harry said with a giggle. It felt good to have someone to joke around with. To be with someone you could be yourself with; someone with whom you didn't have to watch every word you were about to say in fear of setting them off into a rant if what you said didn't fit their image of you.
Feeling his heart swell with emotions, Harry reached out and gently stroked the back of his fingers along Draco's fine cheekbone. "Thank you," he whispered, knowing the words were woefully inadequate for expressing what he wanted to say.
"You are welcome, love," Draco murmured, afraid to upset the fragile moment, happily drowning in Harry's green, expressive eyes.
Harry had no idea how long they'd been sitting there, gazing into each other's eyes when his stomach suddenly growled, destroying the moment.
Looking down and giving it a glare, he couldn't help but chuckle when Draco's infectious laugh filled the room. "I think someone needs to be fed," Draco said with affection tinged with amusement.
Harry smiled ruefully, "I guess so. What time is it anyway?"
Draco cast a quick Tempus. "Five o'clock. No wonder you are hungry, you haven't eaten since breakfast. I'll call for the nurse and…"
"Do you have to? Can't we just sneak out of here? She will spend the next half hour fussing and scolding. I'm fine. Starved, but fine. Please, Draco?"
Draco looked at his mate and caved. How was he supposed to refuse that look? Besides, both Severus and Pomfrey had stated that all Harry needed was to sleep the effects of the potion off, and he had done that. Add to that the way the nurse had been skulking around, looking like she wanted to do something to the brunet, but unable to due to him being so close to the Veela, and the decision to sneak out was easy to make.
Nodding his head in agreement, Draco slid out of bed, picking up the book he had been amusing himself with while waiting for Harry to finally wake up, and shrinking and tucking it into a pocket. Looking over at Harry, he wasn't surprised to find that the youth was already waiting for him at the door, practically jumping from foot to foot. Snickering softly, Draco hurried over to the other boy, and together they opened the door a crack and slipped through it, never alerting the mediwitch of their departure.
HPDM
"That was way too easy!" Harry stated, collapsing on a sofa the moment they arrived in their private suite.
"Not really," Draco disagreed. "We were just lucky. Apparently there was a scuffle in the Hufflepuff common room, and Pomfrey went there with Professor Flitwick in an attempt to sort them out. I understand the little fools added a few charms and things got… interesting."
"Hufflepuff?" Harry echoed. "I didn't think they had scuffles."
"Oh, they do. They mostly have them in places where the rest of the school never hears of it. Not all altercations are as public as the ones we used to have," Draco admitted a bit ruefully.
Harry laughed as he remembered a few of their more colourful confrontations.
"So, what do you want to eat?" Draco asked, turning serious and business like. He was not about to let his mate go hungry a moment longer.
"I'm not sure. Do you think the house-elves could rustle up some Chinese? I've always wanted to try deep-fried pork, and shrimps, not to mention deep-fried squid," Harry said a bit dreamily. "The Dursleys would always lock me up in my cupboard when they had Chinese take-out. Vernon said it was too expensive to waste on me."
Draco managed to hold his temper, but only barely. The matter-of-fact way that Harry used when talking about such blatant abuse had the Veela seeing red. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Draco snapped his fingers and summoned Dobby, knowing the elf would know how to get hold of the desired foods.
HPDM
"That was absolutely incredible!" Harry stated, putting down his chopsticks. "I knew this stuff smelled divine, but I had no idea just how good it tasted."
"I'm glad you liked it. I don't know how he does it, but Dobby has always been the one to go to when you are in mood for Chinese," Draco said, putting down his own chopsticks. It had been fun, what with teaching Harry how to use the chopsticks, and Draco couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten such a fun and light-hearted meal.
"I'll have to remember that. Do you think Dobby would agree to come and work for you again? I find that I don't want to leave him behind once we leave Hogwarts. And how come he was so mistreated? From what little I have seen, you don't abuse house-elves the way Dobby seemed to be abused when I first met him in my second year."
"I hope he will agree to come back to us," Draco nodded. "As for the abuse, the Malfoy family have always realised the importance of house-elves. Without their help and assistance, our lives would be that much harder and much more boring. Even with the help of magic, cleaning and such are no fun!
"No, it was Narcissa that abused the elves. Teaching them to fear their masters. With Father being under her spell the way he was, he was forced to go along with her ideas, at least in public. Poor Dobby came with her when she married Father. He was her personal elf, you see. They were bonded shortly after she was born. She was livid that Dad had lost her Dobby, and she made his life miserable for months. But you know what? When I got home that summer and he told me what had happened, we were both happy that you had freed him. Since he was Narcissa's personal elf, there wasn't much we could do to help him," Draco said, a far away look on his face as he remembered.
"Then I'm glad I did it," Harry said, putting a hand on Draco's. "Thank you for telling me this. It's actually been bugging me a little. The Malfoys I've been seeing the last few weeks just didn't match the Malfoys I was seeing before. Frankly, it was giving me a headache! But I think I understand better now, and I promise you that I will do everything in my powers to remove the Dark Mark from both your father, and from Severus, and do anything I can to make sure those two are bonded and given a chance to live happily ever after. They deserve it."
Fighting back the tears that threatened to fall, Draco pulled Harry into a fierce hug. "Thank you. Thank you for looking beyond the mask. Thank you for caring."
"Oh, Draco. How could I not care? You are a wonderful person, and I think I'm beginning to fall in love with you. No, I'm the one who should be thanking you. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for taking the time to see beyond the scar. Thank you for not running away, screaming. Thank you-"
Draco shut his mate up the only way he felt was right. He pressed his lips against Harry's in a chaste kiss. Pulling away after a few seconds, he couldn't help but grin at the blush heating the brunet's face.
The grin turned tender when Harry ducked his head and gave the Veela a shy smile, glancing up at the other boy through his lashes. Pulling Harry into a hug, Draco sighed with contentment when Harry snuggled his head into the crook of Draco's neck.
HPDM
That was the scene Lucius walked in upon half an hour later when he came to check up on the boys. He had been with Severus, giving him a report of that day's events when Poppy had come marching, smoke practically coming out of her ears and nose, demanding to know where the boys were. She hadn't been mollified until Lucius had promised to go and check on them personally, and that he would take them to the hospital wing at the slightest hint of something being wrong.
Planting his fists on his hips, Lucius looked the two boys over slowly, causing Harry to squirm and Draco to roll his eyes.
"I hope you have had the sense to eat something," he eventually said, when he had judged the silence to have gone on long enough.
"Yes, Father. Of course, Father. You really shouldn't worry so much, Father," Draco said in a droll tone of voice, causing Harry to giggle.
The corners of Lucius' lips twitched. "Don't take that tone of voice with me, son. I am still capable of doling out painful and unusual punishments."
"Oh? Like what?" Harry asked, his eye lightening up with intrigue and amusement.
Lucius laughed and dropped his pose of stern and disapproving father, and settled in a chair opposite the boys. "Like taking away his broom, forcing him to fly on the laughable things the school provides. Forcing him to spend time with Narcissa during the holidays. Though I suppose that one is no longer available," Lucius mused, a glint in his eyes.
"What happened? Have you divorced her already? What did she say? What did you say?" Draco asked eagerly, leaning forward in his seat, the questions tumbling from his lips not giving his father a chance to reply.
Lucius chuckled. "No, we aren't divorced. Not yet, anyway. When I left the hospital wing, I was summoned by the Dark Lord. He had heard what had happened to Pansy Parkinson, and he wanted me to confirm the rumours, and give him a status report on our seduction of Harry Potter to the Dark side.
"Turns out Narcissa had gone complaining to him that I was refusing to take her to some party or other, I never did get the particulars. Not that I was particularly interested in finding out what stupid thing she was set on going to this time.
"Anyway, I apologised profusely, and informed him of the origin of the Black Truth. He was most interested, and agreed with my suggestion of sending Narcissa into seclusion. He liked the idea so much he agreed on sending Bellatrix there as well. I have no idea what she could have done to anger him that much, but both of them will stay where they are until Christmas, which should give us plenty of time to arrange everything," Lucius concluded with a pleased little smile.
"Where did you send them?" Draco asked, not particularly concerned about his mother's fate.
"To that small, unknown island just outside the coast of Australia."
"Mother can't have been pleased when she found out about that!" Draco chuckled. "She burns really easy and hates the sun with a passion," he explained to Harry, who had given the Veela a questioning look at his reaction. "Add to that the fact that she loathes Aunt Bella, and you have a recipe for disaster."
"Won't she be able to escape?" Harry wanted to know. "She is a witch, after all, as is Bellatrix."
"True, but I had a few of my house-elves go there and erect a ward that she cannot penetrate. I even had to have one of the elves bring her there, since no Portkey or other means of travel will be able to penetrate it. It is not widely known, but the Malfoys have always been on good standing with the house-elves. It is witches like Narcissa that give the magical world a bad name," Lucius added, looking grim for a moment.
Shaking the mood off, he continued, "Besides, I have several of the elves keeping an eye on them. They have been given permission to do everything it takes to make sure the two don't escape. They are completely cut off from the outside world, and are utterly unable to send a message to anyone, so a rescue isn't possible either. No, they are stuck there until either I or the Dark Lord decides to call them back.
"That reminds me. Why didn't Riddle pick up on the fact that I am no longer loyal to him? I'm good, but I'm not that good; he should have known something was up the moment I appeared before him, but he didn't as much as twitch, behaving as if I was his most loyal follower."
Harry looked pensive for a moment, absentmindedly chewing his lower lip while he thought. All three startled when a soft hissing suddenly emitted from Lucius.
Making a face, the blond aristocrat pulled the sleeves up, baring his forearm. It was not exactly painful; still, it was a most peculiar sensation, almost like a large snake was slithering just under his skin.
Harry hissed a greeting, and more snake sounds came from the arm.
Laughing slightly, the brunet relaxed back in his seat, unconsciously snuggling closer to Draco. "It was Eturo. He sent old Voldie what he wanted to know, making him believe that you are just as devoted to him now as you have ever been. He saw no reason to distrust you, because the snakes have never lied to him before," Harry explained with a relieved smile. He hadn't realised until now just how much he cared for the older Malfoy, and how devastated he would be if anything happened to him.
"That is good to know," Lucius acknowledged. "Please tell him that I am very thankful for his assistance, and that I'm grateful she decided to help me."
Harry nodded and translated the message. Eturo hissed once more and then grew still, becoming a tattoo once more.
"He says you are welcome. However, he didn't do it for you, he did it for himself. He isn't sure he would be released if you were killed before we release him, so it was in his own interest to keep Voldie happy."
Lucius blinked, then he laughed. Trust a snake to act like a Slytherin. Rolling his sleeve down, the blond felt a change of subject was needed. "Are you ready to face the school, or should we postpone the first DA meeting? I am sure they will understand, considering that you were kidnapped this morning."
Draco pulled Harry closer to him, as he remembered the feelings of rage and helplessness that had filled him when his mate had disappeared right in front of his eyes. Harry gave him a glance, and a small smile, patting the closest arm in an attempt to offer comfort. Turning his attention back to Lucius, Harry nodded his head. "I'm ready. I need to do this tonight. I can't allow fear and worries about what might happen rule my life. If I did, I would never leave these rooms again. Besides, I have both you and Draco to look out for me now, none of the students of this school would be stupid enough to mess with me with you two present."
"That is not what I asked, Harry," Lucius scolded lightly.
"I know," Harry acknowledged with a soft sigh. "I'm fine. Josy didn't have time to hurt me, and I've slept off the effect of that dratted Calming Draught. Don't worry, sir, I'm fine."
Lucius gave him a searching look, but allowed the matter to drop. He couldn't wrap the boy up in cotton, no matter how much his instincts were screaming at him to do just that. He had to trust that Harry knew his own limits, and support him as much as possible, keeping a lookout for complications and hidden dangers.
"So, son, when will you hold the first Quidditch meeting? You need to do it soon, or the other Houses will have booked all the good practise slots."
"Yeah," Harry piped up, "you need to make sure the Slytherin team is in top form, you will need it to push the Gryffindors out of the sky."
"Supporting the enemy, Harry?" Draco teased, lifting an eyebrow in a superior manner.
"No, just wanting to make sure that you cream Ron. With me off the team, I bet you a hundred Galleons that they make Ron the new Quidditch Captain for the Gryffindor team. I'm pretty sure Angelina won't want it, what with this being her N.E.W.T. year and all. I want him to look extremely foolish when he loses against the snakes. He is forever bragging about what a splendid tactician he is, and how the Chudley Cannons would never lose a game ever again if they would just employ his ideas. I want him taken down a peg or two. You will make sure he loses, and loses spectacularly, won't you, love?" Harry asked, batting his eyelashes at his boyfriend.
"With an incentive like that, how can I do anything other than my utmost to make sure Ron gets what he is due?" Draco asked with a delighted laugh. He had been worried that Harry would resent him still being on the team, no matter what ringing proclamations of the opposite.
"See that you do," was Harry's only reply, before he started to discuss different tactics to use against the different teams, leading to a lively debate between the three of them that lasted until it was time to head off to the Great Hall.
HPDM
Harry looked out over the sea of faces that were all looking at him, and couldn't help wondering how on earth he had allowed himself to be talked into this. It was one thing to tutor a few students wanting to thumb their noses at Umbridge. This... this was something completely different, and Harry found himself unsure if he was up to the task.
Draco seemed to sense his unease, for the blond leaned closer and whispered, "Just imagine how utterly disappointed Dumbles will be when you turn the student body away from him."
The image did wonders to Harry's confidence, and it was with a cheerful smile that he climbed up on the duelling platform the Headmaster had created for him. Looking out over the gathered students, Harry was pleased to notice that a surprisingly large number of the Slytherins were present. It looked like his tentative attempts to get to know the snakes better were paying off. At least they had come to find out what was going on and weren't rejecting him outright for being a Gryffindork.
His smile widening, Harry threw his arms out in welcome and said, "Greetings to everyone. I'm happy to see so many of you have decided to come here tonight. It is dangerous times we are living in, and knowing how to defend yourself and your loved ones is becoming more and more important each passing day. However, I'm not about to lecture you on what's going on outside these walls, so relax.
"What I am going to do is help you learn how to take care of yourself when faced with a threat. That threat might be Dementors, Devil's Snares or, Merlin forbid, Death Eaters. If you become a member of this club, I will do my utmost to teach you all I can to help you survive another day. To do that, we all must forget about the House rivalry. I don't care if you are a Hufflepuff or a Slytherin, a Ravenclaw or a Gryffindor. What I care about is that you all learn to the best of your ability. Because what I teach you may one day save your life.
"Since there are quite a few of you, and only one of me, I will split you into three groups –
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Which group you end up in depends on you. I will judge by skill and knowledge. I don't care if you are a fifth year or a third year. In here, we are all individuals. Last year when I taught the DA, we were a mottled group ranging from fourth year to seventh, and we all got on more or less well. There were a few moments when nerves were ragged and we disagreed on things, but in the end we worked together, and we beat the odds.
"We worked together as a group, growing stronger together, and that is what I want for this group as well. United, we are strong, divided, we will fall. I will lead you and teach you all that I know. The rest is up to you.
"However, I won't be the only one teaching you. As you can see, Lucius Malfoy is with us tonight," Harry said, indicating the blond standing to the side, watching the students with hooded eyes. "He has generously agreed to supervise us since the headmaster deemed it necessary to have an adult's help in case we take on more than we can handle," Harry ended with a grin, which earned him a few titters. "But he isn't the only one. Ginny and Neville here have also promised they will help with the instructions, and I am hoping a few more of the original DA will assist me as time and homework allows.
"There is one more thing I wish to bring up before we start what we came here for, and that is the name of this club. We jokingly named ourselves 'Dumbledore's Army' when we formed the DA. We thought it appropriate at the time since we formed it to spite Umbridge and Fudge. That is no longer the case. We are starting this fresh with new members and a new structure. If any of you have an idea what we should call ourselves, please write it down and hand it to me, Draco or Lucius. The winner will receive a box of Chocolate Frogs," Harry finished, earning himself a cheer from most of those present.
"To show you a little of what we did last year, my two assistants have promised to show off a few of the tricks they learned under my excellent tutelage. Ginny, Neville, the stage is yours," Harry said with a wide grin, jumping off the platform.
Ginny and Neville walked to the middle of the platform, and turned so they stood back to back. Smartly they marched the required steps, and spun. Bowing, never taking their eyes off each other, they waited while Lucius counted down to three. On three, Neville cried, 'Stupefy', which Ginny neatly sidestepped, crying, 'Expellariamus'. Neville put up a shield, absorbing the spell.
The following duel was talked about for a long time. The two duellers really did put on a show, and Harry wondered how they'd managed to coordinate the thing, considering how little time they'd had to put it together.
Lesser spells like the tickling charm were intermingled with more difficult charms, showing that it didn't matter much what you hit your opponent with, as long as it did the job of distracting the enemy. The key word being 'hit'. In the end, more difficult spells were brought into play and the duel was ended in a spectacular way when Ginny bounced her Stupefy off the wall and hit Neville from the side, but not before he had managed to conjure a Devil's Snare that wrapped itself around her feet, preventing her from dodging his disarming spell. Thus the duel ended in a draw, and the students went wild, clapping and cheering.
Harry laughed and banished the plant before it could climb too high, and revived Neville, who took the tie with a laugh and a shrug. It had been fun, and it didn't matter much to him that there was no clear winner, at least not this time.
It took a while, but eventually Harry, with the help of Lucius, Draco, Ginny, and Neville, got things calmed down and organised, and they spent the rest of the evening testing the students on their skills with some basic spells for their respective year, taking note of strength and accuracy.
By the time they were finished, Harry was exhausted and he was extremely happy to send them all off to bed with the promise of letting them know which group they'd been sorted into and when the next meeting was by Saturday. The students left, chatting excitedly amongst themselves.
"You did well, Harry," Lucius said, settling next to the youth, who was slumping against a happy looking Draco.
"Thank you," Harry said with a soft smile. Turning to his friends, he added, "Gin, Nev, you were terrific! I can't believe you put that together in one day."
"Thanks, Harry, but it wasn't that difficult. We just mixed together a few of the things you did last year and went from there. It was fun. You should include that in the club, allowing a few to work out a duel against each other and have them do it before an audience. Their fellow members could be the judges and they could give points for originality and stuff, and deduct points for bad performance and such. I think it could be a great help."
Harry folded his arms across his chest and stared down at the tip of his boots. "That's not a bad idea, Gin. I'll consider it and see what can be done." Looking up, he grinned. "I don't know about you, but I'm wasted. I'm going to bed." He pushed away from the platform, missing the warmth from Draco immediately. The two Malfoys rose to their feet as well and began to leave the Hall, walking beside him.
"I don't care what Ron says. Those two are good for Harry. I've never seen him this happy. Last year his eyes were so haunted, so sad. But this year..."
"I know what you mean, Gin. He is happy, maybe for the first time in his life," Neville replied. Then he was ambushed by a yawn. "Harry had the right idea. Let's go to bed."
Ginny nodded, and together the two friends left the Hall, talking softly about their duel and about the students they had assessed that night. If that was the best they could do, the future of the wizarding world was bleak indeed.
HPDM
Later that night, Ginny crawled into bed, but although she was tired, she was unable to relax enough to actually fall asleep. So much had happened lately. Ever since she had laid eyes on Harry, she had fancied him. Many a time she had fantasised about how it would be to marry him and settle down in a cottage, not unlike the Burrow, with lots and lots of kids. Harry would come home at night, after a demanding day working as an Auror, but never being too tired for her or the children. And they would go on exciting holidays, seeing the world.
Her hero-worship took new flight after the fiasco with Riddle's diary, when Harry came down to the Chamber of Secrets to save her, just like a dashing knight rescuing his chosen damsel.
For years she had yearned and hoped that he would see her as more than Ron's little sister. However, that day had somehow never arrived, and when she found out about Malfoy being a Veela, her heart had been crushed. She had still hoped though, that somehow, miraculously, Harry would wake up and realise that it was her he belonged with. Not Draco Malfoy.
Now she was wondering though. What she had told Neville was the truth; she had never seen Harry this happy. And she knew Harry well enough to know that rich or poor didn't matter to him at all. Draco could have been as poor as the Weasleys were, and Harry would have been just as happy. No, Harry wasn't shallow like that, not like her brother Ron, who let jealousy rule him.
Shaking her head, Ginny turned over, trying to find a comfortable position. Then there was the whole thing with the mail. She had never been so embarrassed as when her mother's Howler had reamed Harry out in the Great Hall, and for what? It was just as Harry had said. He dared to be himself, not caring what others thought. And Draco had supported him. She would never have been able to do that. As the youngest, she was used to having to fight to make her family see and hear her, but she still craved their good opinion of her. She was well aware that her mother would have a lot to say to her if she ever found out that Ginny was still supporting Harry, and knowing her brother, her mother would find out sooner rather than later. She still wasn't sure how to handle that fallout. Would she be strong enough to stand up to her mother to do what she knew was right?
If she couldn't even stand up to her own mother, how would she be able to stand up to the rest of the world? A world that was so quick to condemn, without bothering finding out what the truth was?
Shifting around once more, Ginny was forced to accept the harsh truth. She would never be that strong. She would never be able to support Harry the way he needed to be supported, and no matter how much it hurt to accept it, she knew Draco Malfoy was. Especially if he was backed by his father; Lucius Malfoy had the connections to protect Harry. Neither she nor her family had the power of influence needed.
Burrowing into her pillow, Ginny made her decision. She would do everything in her power to support Harry, but no more would she build her hopes and dreams around him. She would find herself a nice, uncomplicated boy who shared her dreams of a quiet home life with lots and lots of children. Ginny had a feeling that a life with that as of yet unknown boy would make her much happier than a life with the Boy-Who-Lived ever could.
HPDM
Back in their rooms, Draco found it impossible to relax enough to even think about retiring for the night. He had managed quite well in pushing the kidnapping to the back of his mind, but now, when he had nothing more that needed to do, and Harry was safely tucked away in Draco's bed, the Veela found that his mind kept playing the moment Harry disappeared again and again. And again and again he remembered the feelings of fear and rage that had filled him, as realisation sunk in that someone had dared to snatch his Harry away.
The letter and photo from that tart Sweetberry didn't do anything to calm his mind. A sudden burst of pain emitting from his back caused Draco to jump and rip the vest and ruined shirt off his body. Craning his neck, he glared at the two black wings that had suddenly appeared; he hadn't realised that he'd been that angry and concerned.
"Looks like you can't settle down either," Harry said, causing Draco to jump again, since he hadn't heard the other boy approach. He hadn't even noticed that his mate had gotten out of bed. Shaking his head at his own inattentiveness, Draco sighed and then murmured a sheepish, "Yeah."
"May I?" Harry asked, stepping closer and indicating the beautiful wings the Veela carried.
Draco looked startled for a moment, before nodding his consent.
Stepping even closer to the blond, Harry tentatively reached out a hand and allowed the tip of his fingers to run along the closest wing. His gasp of delight at the softness of the feathers was echoed by Draco's gasp of pleasure as his mate touched him.
"Did I hurt you?" Harry asked, snatching his hand away.
"No, that felt good," Draco replied, wishing the other boy would do it again.
Growing bolder, Harry reached out to more firmly stroke the wing, causing Draco to practically purr in happiness.
All too soon the wings melted back into the Veela's back, as he grew calm and content under the ministrations of his mate. Both boys sighed in disappointment. Sharing a glance, they began to snicker, and soon they were leaning on each other, laughing uproariously.
"So… how come you aren't asleep?" Draco asked, slinging an arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Probably the same reason you aren't," Harry said ruefully. "I can't get what happened this morning out of my mind. Every time I close my eyes, I can feel the hook of the Portkey and then I remember the fright of finding myself in an unfamiliar place. It doesn't exactly help that I keep flashing to that time when I found myself in a graveyard," he admitted somewhat reluctantly.
Draco's reply was to wrap his arms more securely around the brunet.
Harry hesitated for a moment, before wrapping his own arms around Draco, accepting the comfort the other boy was offering.
Eventually he began to fidget. The comfort and the pleasant feelings it brought with it were good and fine, up to a point. Harry was still not comfortable enough to just let the moment to drag on, and he cast his mind about trying to think of something to say or do.
It was as his gaze travelled over one of the steamer trunks that he was hit with an idea, and he pulled away from Draco to better see his reactions to his suggestion. "I know!" he said excitedly, "what we need is a distraction, and I know just the thing!"
"Oh?" Draco asked, intrigued. When Harry grabbed his wrist and began to tow him to the bedroom, he couldn't help but start to get excited. Did Harry have in mind what Draco thought he had in mind?
His excitement turned to disappointment with a touch of curiosity when Harry, instead of heading for the bed, pushed the sleeve of his t-shirt up and removed an armband. It didn't look like Harry was in the mood for some snogging. Biting back his sigh of disappointment, he couldn't help but smile at the eager look Harry gave him just as he threw the armband on the floor.
When the armband contorted and changed into a trunk, Draco inadvertently took several steps backward. Was that…? Did Harry really expect him to climb in there? Apparently, because Harry threw the lid open, and without even one backward glance, climbed inside, clearly expecting Draco to follow.
Hesitating briefly, Draco was not sure what to do. Should he call his father for help? Should he command Harry to get the hell out of there? Opening his mind to do just that, he suddenly remembered the library he had passed on his wild dash to find Harry and that clinched it. Pushing his rolling emotions to the side, Draco climbed inside, willing himself to give Harry a chance to explain what he was up to. Draco could always drag his mate out of there and confiscate the armband if he didn't like the answer.
"What took you so long?" Harry asked, giving the blond boy a searching look.
Draco just shook his head. Was Harry really this dense, or was he just pretending to be this stupid? "What is this?" Draco asked, throwing his arms out to encompass his surroundings.
"This is my super secret library," Harry replied with a slight smirk, grabbing hold of Draco's wrist once more and towing him to where the library was situated.
Draco reluctantly followed the brunet, unable to suppress a shudder as memories of his mad dash assaulted him. Feeling the tremors, Harry turned around and gave him a concerned look. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, getting worried.
"I'll be fine," Draco murmured, doing his best to suppress another shiver. "Why are we here? This is the trunk, isn't it?"
Harry looked blankly at Draco, then he smacked himself on the forehead. "How stupid can you get? Brilliant! Well done, Potter!" he muttered to himself, starting to pace. "Here you want to help him, and you invoke even worse nightmares than the one we just lived through. Great! Juuust great!"
"Harry, calm down," Draco ordered, taking hold of the furiously pacing and muttering boy. "Why did you bring me here?"
"I wanted to show you the books I got from the Black library," Harry muttered, sounding miserable and unable to look at Draco.
"You have them in there?" Draco asked, momentarily forgetting where he was.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I know how eager you've been to explore the Black Manor, and I figured this could do for now. I… I'm sorry. I didn't think. We can leave and do something else," Harry murmured quietly, already heading towards the exit.
"No," Draco said decisively. "I refuse to let a bad memory scare me away. Especially since this is important to you. Could you just… could you just promise me to never come down here unless I, or someone I trust, is with you?" he asked a little hesitantly, not wanting to outright forbid Harry to come down here, but not willing to allow him to come here on his own.
"Don't worry, love," Harry smiled tenderly, reaching up to cup Draco's cheek. "I've already promised your father."
"You have? When?" Draco asked startled.
Harry shrugged, not particularly interested in the subject. "The other day. You were in the bathroom, I think."
Draco mentally promised himself to have a little chat with his father, but allowed the matter to be dropped for now. "So, mind if I go inside and have a look around?" he asked, his earlier enthusiasm at the thought of exploring the Black library back with a vengeance.
Harry chuckled. "Be my guest. But before you disappear among the books, would you mind reading something? I'd like your opinion before showing it to McGonagall."
"I'd love to," Draco said eagerly, happy that Harry valued his input that much. "Why do I have a feeling that this will be something Dumbledore will live to regret?" he asked, rubbing his hands together in delight.
"Because he probably will?" Harry chuckled, casting an almost flirty look over his shoulder. Heading over to a table, he began to rummage around, looking for a certain scroll. Finding it, he picked it up and turned back to Draco. "You didn't think I'd forgotten what he did to our horses, did you? Or think that I had forgiven him for his meddling? I've just been biding my time, waiting for the right moment."
Draco chuckled. "This I've got to see! Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie," he added with almost childish petulance, practically tearing the scroll from Harry, and unrolling it eagerly.
Harry laughed, and turned his attention to the desktop and the research he had begun when he was last here. Not feeling in the mood to read more about Veelas at the moment, Harry walked over to the ledger and began looking for something to grab his interest.
HPDM
Draco eagerly scanned the proposition Harry had put together. Intrigued by the theories the brunet had put forth, the youth read the thing over once more, this time going much slower, almost savouring the contents of the scroll.
Coming to the end for the second time, Draco leaned back and considered the implications and the possibilities of Harry's proposal. It was simple, held endless possibilities, and would drive Dumbledore absolutely batty. It was perfect! Chuckling at the deviousness of his mate, Draco looked around, attempting to discern where he had gotten to.
"Do you like it?" Harry asked from behind Draco, causing the blond to jump. Scowling fiercly, Draco decided he didn't like how many times the other boy has startled him lately. A Malfoy was never startled or surprise, for that matter.
"You don't like it," Harry said, disheartened, misunderstanding the reason for Draco's scowl.
Draco considered holding the brunet in suspense, but in the end he couldn't. "Are you kidding? This is great! I can't wait to try it out! What do you think I should get? A snake? But that is so cliché, somehow. What do you think of a dragon? But then, dragon breeding is forbidden. Then again, this isn't exactly breeding, is it?" Draco mused to himself, momentarily getting sidetracked.
"You think McGonagall will go for it?"
"Are you kidding me? She will jump at an opportunity like this! You might not know it by looking at her, but McGonagall used to do a lot of research when she was younger and wasn't so swamped with responsibilities as she is now. Being the Head of House, not to mention Deputy Headmistress, has severely diminished the time available to her to do other things than school business.
"She's had loads of her papers published, and mostly in only the most prestigious of magazines. She also used to be invited to all the important conventions to give speeches and such. Trust me, she will jump at the chance of getting involved in all that again. She won't allow anyone get into her way, not even Dumbledore," Draco assured his mate.
"Wow, how do you know all that?" Harry asked, impressed.
Draco chuckled. "When it was time for me to begin school, Mum and Dad were fighting about whether to send me to Durmstrang or to Hogwarts. In an attempt to sway her, Dad did extensive research on all the teachers. A few summers ago, I got curious, and I looked up what he had found out. I couldn't understand why he didn't put up more of a fight since I knew he didn't exactly have positive memories from Hogwarts. Did you know that the Professors employed here is far more merited than those found at both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons?"
Harry grinned knowingly. "I bet you were hoping to find something you could use as blackmail," he said slyly.
Draco returned the grin, but did not comment.
"You really think I dare showing this to McGonagall then?" Harry asked, allowing the matter to drop.
"Yes," Draco replied simply. "Now that that is out of the way, do you mind me exploring the library?"
Harry smiled affectionately. "Not at all. The ledger is over there, on that pedestal. Why don't you ask it to show you the Potions section?"
"I think I will do just that," Draco nodded, heading off to where Harry had pointed.

Next Time:
Harry and Draco have another confrontation with Ron.
This time things really get out of hand.
(For those of you who has impatiently waited to find out what Harry is,
the revelation to that is in chapter 38. Not long now, wink.)
Until Then…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 37

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/37/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A BIG thank you to all you wonderful people who has reviewed my story.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

The Loss of a Friendship

Day 11: Thursday
Draco Malfoy woke the next morning feeling extremely happy and content. Mindful not to wake up his mate, he snuggled closer to Harry and he tightened his grip on the brunet slightly. Last night had been a dream come true in more ways than one. To have Harry understand and accept his edginess was a godsend. The other boy had understood and done what he could to help Draco settle his Veela side, and hadn't merely sent him off to bed with strict orders to get some sleep. Instead, they had spent hours together in the library, allowing the Veela inside the blond to calm on its own in the soothing presence of his mate, while the human part of the blond had been ecstatic about the books he'd found in the library, settling that part down as well while reading up on a few interesting things. It had also given him a chance to build up new and better memories of being inside that dratted trunk.
Speaking of interesting things, he had found the most intriguing potion, and it would be perfect to pay Pansy back with. All he needed now was to find a way to talk Severus into helping him make it, not to mention finding some Tiger Eye Orchids. Maybe there was still some growing in one of the Manor's greenhouses?
Draco's musings were cut short when Harry stretched lazily beside him. He watched with tenderness as green eyes blinked open and a small happy smile graced rosy red lips. "Morning," Harry murmured, burrowing down under the covers, clearly not ready to face a new day.
Moments later, the head popped up again. "Draco?" Harry asked with some confusion. The last thing he remembered was putting away the Time-Tuner after having used it to give the two of them a few hours to sleep before facing the new day. No matter how he strained his brain, he could not remember leaving the trunk or getting into bed.
"Morning, love." Draco grinned. "Thank you for one of the most interesting nights of my life."
As expected, the other boy promptly blushed a fierce red. Then the blond found himself whacked with a pillow. Laughing, he battled it away, giving his mate a mock scowl before launching a tickling attack.
Several minutes later, two winded boys lay panting and laughing on the rumpled bed. Draco was the one who regained control first, and he reluctantly climbed out of the bed. Oh, how he wished he could stay and do other things to have Harry withering against him in ways that utterly strained his self-control. Only the knowledge that his mate wasn't ready for that level of intimacy enabled the Veela to put some space between them. He could wish though, right?
"Come on, lazybones, it is time to get up," he stated regretfully, pulling ineffectively on a foot in an attempt to get Harry to do something besides just laying there, looking delectable.
"You go ahead, I'm still tired. I'm going back to sleep," Harry stated, rolling over on his side, curling up into a ball, pulling the covers back over him.
Draco blinked. "You can't still be tired!" he exclaimed when it became obvious that Harry meant what he had just said.
"Why not? We didn't leave the library until six o'clock this morning!" Harry complained, curling up deeper under the covers, leaving only a tuft of dark hair visible.
"That was before you used the Time-Turner!" Draco stated sternly, grabbing hold of a corner of the bedding, attempting to pull it off his mate, the way his father had always done to him the times he had tried to remain in bed as a child. Unfortunately, he didn't get the same results as his father, or Harry had a stronger grip than him, because all that happened was that he ended up in a fruitless tug-of-war, which Harry was winning.
Harry just snorted, still buried under the bedding. Then he sighed and emerged enough to look at Draco with sleepy eyes. "What happened after I put the Time-Turner away? For some reason, I can't remember a thing."
Draco snorted. "I'm not surprised; you put the Turner away, and then you walked over to the sofa and just crashed. I don't think I have ever seen anyone fall asleep that quickly. Being the considerate boyfriend that I am, I carried you outside and put you to bed."
"Thank you, Draco. That was indeed considerate of you. Sorry for falling asleep on you like that. In fact, I'm about to do it again. I'll see you when I wake up next," Harry said, putting his head back on the pillow, covering himself up with the bedding once more.
Rolling his eyes in exasperation, Draco decided to change tacks. Settling on the edge of bed and patting the lump he figured was Harry's shoulder, he said, "Come on, love, why don't you want to get up? And don't give me that crap about being too tired," he added warningly.
Harry sighed. "I just don't want to, okay?" he replied with some exasperation, hoping against hope that the blond would let the matter drop. He wasn't that fortunate.
"But why not? It isn't like you to behave like this," Draco persisted, beginning to get worried.
Harry threw the cover down so he could glare at the other boy. "I don't want to face the bullshit the Daily Prophet is likely to publish about me; there, happy now? I'm going back to sleep!" he all but snarled, pulling the covers back over his head.
"Language, Harry," an amused voice came from the doorway, and Draco quickly looked up to see his father lounging against the doorjamb.
"Eh, good morning, Father, this isn't what it looks like," Draco stammered out, worried that his father would put the wards back up. It was one thing to comfort his mate when he had a nightmare, and an entirely different thing to sleep with him without such pressures. But then, yesterday hadn't exactly been the norm, so maybe his father would let it slide. Besides, it wasn't like he was forcing himself on Harry.
"It looks to me that you're having trouble getting Harry out of bed this morning," Lucius said with a chuckle, causing his son to blush. "Want a hand?" he asked teasingly, pushing away from the doorjamb.
Draco shrugged. "I've already tried."
Lucius stepped up to the bed, taking hold of a corner of the bedding with practised ease, and pulled, baring the huddled brunet beneath them. Draco sent his father a glowering look; he'd have to ask how he did that.
Lucius just smirked, knowing fully well how much it infuriated his son when he did that to him.
"Hello? I'm trying to sleep here. Call me a coward, I don't care, I'm not about to put up with whatever crap is about to hit the fan. If you are that eager to find out, you head down for breakfast," Harry complained, having given up on getting the covers back and simply burying his head under the pillow in hopes of being left alone.
It looked like he was destined to be disappointed this morning. Draco simply grabbed hold of him and threw him over his shoulder, ignoring the indignant squeak coming from Harry, and carried him into the bathroom. Without as much as a by your leave, the blond dumped his reluctant mate into the shower and turned the water on, jumping out of the way of the water's sprays. He then quickly left the bathroom altogether; he figured it was only prudent if the language used was anything to go by. It wasn't as if he had used cold water, he wasn't that suicidal! Besides, he much preferred facing any retributions fully dressed and in the company of his father.
Half an hour later, a wide awake and fully dressed Harry Potter entered the living room. To express his intense displeasure, he was dressed totally in black, not realising his choice of colour was setting off his pale complexion and his startling green eyes, causing Draco to drool at the alluring sight.
Giving the other youth a dark look, Harry stalked out of the suite and headed down for breakfast; he might as well get this over and done with since his original plan of spending the day in bed had been thoroughly derailed. It didn't help his mood one bit that Draco was walking beside him alternating between snickering and sighing lustfully.
Still, it was with some trepidation that Harry entered the Great Hall. He just knew Rita Skeeter would have had a field day with the Josy debacle, writing Merlin knew what, blowing the whole thing out of proportion and ending up encouraging other crackpots to take their best shot at the Boy Who Lived. And Draco wondered why he preferred to stay in bed?
Sighing softly, Harry steered his steps to his now usual place at the Gryffindor table when he suddenly froze. Taking a second, more close look around the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but chuckle. Sitting spread out at the Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff tables were several students dressed in leather. They hadn't gone so far as to remove their school robes - apparently, they weren't prepared to challenge Dumbledore's authority by going that far - but the robes hung studiously open, displaying the leather vests underneath. You couldn't really see if they were dressed in leather trousers as well, but Harry was prepared to bet that they were.
Suddenly feeling a lot lighter, Harry continued on his way to eat breakfast, the wide grin on his face telling everyone what he thought of the show of support his fellow students had displayed.
He wasn't stupid, he knew fully well what the sudden change in dress meant, especially after Mrs. Weasley's Howler the previous day. They were showing their faith in him, and that they couldn't care less what people like Molly Weasley thought. Swallowing down the lump that suddenly had formed in his throat, Harry got his feet moving again, making his way over to the table to sit opposite of Neville.
Still grinning like a loon, Harry greeted his fellow Gryffindor with a soft 'Morning'.
"Someone seems to be in a good mood," Neville chuckled, watching as Harry grabbed a stack of toast and began to butter them, generously giving half to Draco, who nodded his thanks, doing his best to hide his shock and delight in the simple gesture that spoke such volumes. "And you, who didn't want to come down for breakfast," he said teasingly, nudging Harry with his elbow.
Some of Harry's glow dimmed, and he sent Draco a withering look. "Don't think I have forgiven you, Draco Malfoy," he said, putting his nose in the air. "Now stop putting a damper on my good mood." With that, he turned back to his breakfast, ignoring everyone and everything but the food.
Neville lifted an eyebrow. "Didn't want to come down for breakfast?" he echoed. "Why ever not? You can't be worried about getting more Portkeys, I'm sure Dumbledore has seen to that by now."
"Nah, that wasn't it," Draco explained, enjoying the way Harry was pretending to snub him. The bond between them told him that the other boy wasn't serious, so he could take the antics in the spirit they were meant. "This big baby over here didn't want to find out what the Daily Prophet has made of the happenings yesterday."
"I don't blame you, Harry. Skeeter can be vicious if she wants to. Unfortunately, she almost always wants to," Neville sighed.
Draco nodded his head in agreement. He knew all too well what type of woman the so-called reporter was. There was a reason she got along so well with the public Malfoys. Not wanting to think of his actions of their fourth year, Draco applied himself to his food as well, biting with relish into the toast his mate had prepared for him.
Their meal was eaten in silence until the mail arrived. Harry's shoulders tensed minutely, but otherwise there was no visual proof of his discomfort. Same as the day before, several Howlers were delivered, but Harry merely put them on fire. It was the second stack that had him worried, and he refused even to look at it once the owls had left. Instead, he watched Draco from the corner of his eye, wanting to have some forewarning of what the paper had written.
"I don't believe it. I fucking don't believe it!" Draco groused, throwing down the paper in disgust.
Lifting an eyebrow in surprise, since that was not quite the reaction he'd expected, Harry picked up the paper and quickly scanned the headline.
Boy-Who-Lived Kidnapped by Designer's Aunt.
by Rita Skeeter.
Feeling his eyebrows climb even more, Harry turned to the article to see just where Skeeter was going with this.
Yesterday morning, Harry Potter, also known as The-Boy-Who-Lived, was opening his mail in the Great Hall while eating his breakfast when suddenly he was whisked away from Hogwarts by a Portkey. Understandably, his boyfriend, one Draco Malfoy, who also is a half-Veela, became frantic and a rescue team was swiftly put together to rescue our Hero.
The mastermind of the kidnapping turned out to be a Josandra Tiller, the widow of the world renowned Charms Master Gerome Tiller. The reason for her kidnapping Harry Potter was that she wanted his help concerning her nephew, Ambrose Tiller, who has followed his uncle's footsteps and become a Charms Master as well. As it turns out, he is also a fashion designer in his spare time, but so far no one has shown any interest in his ideas, and Josandra Tiller was hoping young Harry Potter would be able to give her nephew some pointers on how to make shop-owners interested. As you readers probably remember, it was revealed just the other day that The-Boy-Who-Lived is the designer of the leather clothes he has taken to wearing lately.
Having seen the outfits Ambrose Tiller has designed for his aunt, this reporter sought out the aspiring designer in hopes for an interview. As it turns out, young Ambrose is a charming young man who has a real talent for fashion. He was only too happy to share a few of his ideas with me, and I must say it is a crime that the ones responsible for fashion in wizarding Britain have disregarded this young genius.
For a more indepth interview of Ambrose Tiller and his designs, see page 3.
"Do you realise what this means?" Draco asked lividly once Harry had finished reading. "This means that anyone wanting to become someone is going to try and kidnap Harry in hopes of making a name for themselves. I cannot believe that cow did this, I'll have her head!"
"And you called me a baby because I didn't want to read that drivel?" Harry teased. He then grew serious and sighed heavily. He knew Draco was right. That had been his reaction as well when he read the article. Wasn't it enough that he had Voldemort and his Death Eaters after him, would he now have to look over his shoulder expecting to see crackpots there as well?
Then again, no one had ever said that Voldemort and his merry men were sane. And the Dark Lord had promised to back off until Christmas. That should give him some peace and quiet until Halloween, at least on that front. That meant that he only had to worry about the crackpots for the time being, and if he didn't open any mail, and if he always kept the Malfoys close… then he only would have to worry about the reactions of the school, and that was old hat by now. But that still didn't mean he had forgiven Rita Skeeter! Or that dotty old Aunt Josy Tiller!
True, he had been toying with the idea of having Lucius discreetly look into the nephew and see if he was worth helping. But this? This was... this was unbelievable. If his life had been difficult before, it was going to be more so now, with every crackpot and their uncle after him in hopes of furthering their own career. Never had he been so happy to have the Malfoys at his side as he was now. He doubted Dumbledore would do anything to try to stop this catastrophe. He would probably just pat him on the head, offer him a lemon drop, and say something inane like, 'I'm sure it's not going to be so bad'. Or, 'I'm sure it will pass soon, try not to worry about it.' The git!
"There isn't much we can do at the moment, so I suppose we better head off to class," Harry said, getting to his feet.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it though!" Draco complained, climbing to his feet as well. Glaring balefully at the innocent looking stack of mail, he swept it up and stalked across the Hall, dumping it beside his father's plate for him to deal with. He had no desire to know what those letters contained. Returning to his mate's side, the two left, ignoring the whispers from the other students.
It didn't do much to lift Harry's mood though, and he was distracted the entire morning, having a hard time paying attention in his classes. It didn't help his temper any that the rest of the school was still acting crazy around him. Girls were dressed in their most provocative clothes, and so heavily painted that an American Indian would have been impressed, and so drenched in their favourite perfumes that they caused Harry to sneeze until his nose was red and tears streamed from his eyes.
The male students were a bit more restrained, but they too did their best to attract Harry's attention. Added to that was the gossipers who were hounding them for the juicy titbits of yesterday's adventure, and Harry was quickly developing a blistering headache. A glance at his companion told the brunet that Draco was about to hex the next person coming close to them to the Dark Ages.
Then there were the ones dressed in leather. Harry felt that he couldn't just ignore them as he did with the rest of the student body who was trying to catch his attention. A few might have bought the clothes because they liked the design, but for them to put them on today of all days… No, he couldn't just ignore them, much to the annoyance of Draco.
"Hello, Harry. Draco," Theodore Nott greeted the brunet warmly, but was noticeably colder towards the Veela.
"Hello, Theo." Draco nodded in greeting while Harry just gave the boy a smile.
"I hope you don't mind me wearing your design, Harry," Theodore asked with a sultry smile.
Harry ignored the attempt to flirt and replied to the voiced question. "Not at all. After all, I gave Sean permission to sell it to his other customers. I'm just surprised your parents allowed you to visit such a place," Harry said with a puzzled air, realising that Nott couldn't have gone to the shop in person.
Theodore laughed, causing Draco to gnash his teeth. "Nah, Mum would have Hippogriffs if I set foot in the Seven Sins. To tell you the truth, I didn't think my parents would allow me to wear leather either, but when she heard about the Howler from Mrs. Weasley, she was livid, and then she read the article in the Daily Prophet, and the next thing I knew, I received a special delivery…" Theo shrugged. "I wasn't about to complain, now was I?"
Harry chuckled. "Of course, not. Only a Hufflepuff would do that, and we all know that you are no Hufflepuff."
"You've got that right." Theo nodded, pushing his chest out.
Draco rolled his eyes and grabbed hold of Harry's arm. "Sorry, Nott, but we better get going or we'll be late for class," he said, walking off and pulling Harry with him.
"You realise half the school will rush off and buy that damned leather now, don't you?" he hissed at Harry, dragging his mate down the corridor. "Did you have to talk to Nott? Did you have to laugh at what he said? By Salazar, all those gold diggers will think there is a chance to catch your attention now! I can't believe you!"
"What was I suppose to do?" Harry asked, a little annoyed; Merlin, but the Veela had a firm grip. "Shove him aside? Ignore him? He made an effort to show his support, Draco. I had to acknowledge that! Even if it encouraged the entire bloody world to try and come on to us, I could not ignore him!"
"I know," Draco sighed, loosening the firm grip he had on his mate's arm slightly. "I know, but until those knuckleheads realise that you are mine, life will be hell. They will take even the smallest thing you do and turn it into an opportunity to get close to you, and I…"
"Draco, I don't like the attention anymore than you do," Harry said, putting a soothing hand on the blond's shoulder. "Keep that in mind, okay? I find that I like you. I don't want anyone of them, I want… I want you," he said shyly, looking down at the floor, unable to even glance at the other boy, and blushing hotly.
"Oh, Harry," Draco murmured, a warm glow filling his entire body. Acting on impulse, he pulled Harry into a brief yet strong hug. Letting the other go, he glanced at the time and cursed. "There is no way we will get to class on time now," he snarled, taking off down the corridor.
HPDM
When the bell rang for lunch, the two boys shared a glance and a nod, and used Harry's invisibility cloak to sneak back to their rooms, both in agreement that they were in desperate need of a break and the kitchens just weren't safe enough.
"What made you bring the cloak to class?" Draco asked, pulling it off them once they were safe inside their private rooms.
Harry collapsed onto a couch with a groan. "I just knew today would be horrible. Maybe next time you'll allow me to remain in bed," he groused, giving Draco a dark look. Then he relented, seeing how disgruntled and discontented the Veela looked, and he patted the seat next to him invitingly.
Draco gave him a grateful look and collapsed next to his mate. Reaching up to massage the bridge of his nose, he groaned, "The next time I might actually listen to you. Has the entire school gone mad? The next person coming close to us stinking with perfume is so going to regret it!"
"Too bad there isn't a bog of eternal stench around here where we could dump them," Harry mused.
"A bog of what?" Draco asked startled, giving Harry an incredulous look.
"Oh, nothing." Harry waived the question aside.
"We don't have a bog, but we do have the lake. What do you say about dropping a few students into the lake?" Draco asked with a wistful look on his face.
"Don't you think the Merpeople would object to having their lake contaminated?" Harry asked, finding himself actually considering the idea.
"Humph, serves them right, the little menaces," Draco snorted, not caring one whit about the ones living at the bottom of the lake. He had still not forgiven them for the incident in 1022.
Harry just laughed and snapped his fingers, summoning one of the house-elves. He wasn't particularly hungry, but knew he'd need something in his stomach if he was to face the rest of the day.
HPDM
Unfortunately, the tranquillity of their simple lunch didn't last once they left their quarters, and Harry could feel the soup and sandwiches churn in his stomach, threatening to make a second appearance. Things just could not go on like this, something had to be done, or he would be driven absolutely loco before Halloween!
Harry's spirits didn't lift until he entered the Forbidden Arts classroom and saw Professor Sprout waiting for them at the front of the room.
"Right then, settle down, class, and bring out your homework. I will walk around the classroom and judge your work, and then we will proceed to today's lecture." The professor was practically bouncing up and down, reminding Harry of an eager kid.
Reaching into his bag, Harry pulled out a box and placed it on the desk. Opening it, he took out three small objects wrapped in cloth. Beside him, Draco was doing the same.
"Excellent! Five points to both Gryffindor and Slytherin, you two took precautions to make sure your sculptures weren't damaged. After all, I haven't had a chance to tell you yet how to protect the surface from wear and tear. Wood is a soft material and can easily be scruffed up if you aren't careful," Sprout said in his professor's voice, addressing the class.
Harry and Draco shared a grin and proceeded to unwrap their treasures, restoring them to their natural sizes.
The professor had returned to the front of the class and began at the left hand corner, incidentally starting with Ron and Hermione. Picking up the first piece of art, Harry had to fight to hold back a snicker. Poor Ron; whatever he was, a sculptor he was not. He had attempted to create an image of Crookshanks, but only one who was very familiar with the cat could tell what it was. It reminded Harry a good deal of Draco's first attempt at sculpturing, actually. The redhead's other two attempts, a sculpture of Hermione – at least Harry figured it was supposed to be Hermione, he couldn't see his friend allowing Ron use anyone else as a model – and an apple – the apple was almost recognizable – were just as sad.
Surprisingly enough, Hermione's attempt wasn't much better, which caused Harry to blink. He had yet to encounter a subject Hermione hadn't mastered. Well, beside Divination, and Harry had always felt that was more because of the teacher than a lack of interest in the subject.
She had also tried to create a sculpture of Crookshanks, as well as a Hippogriff, and Hogwarts. Harry was forced to bite back a second snicker. He knew the castle wasn't exactly square, but Hermione's attempt looked like an extremely drunk architect had done the blueprints.
Professor Sprout was kind to them though, and awarded them a few points for their attempts. The sad thing was, Harry discovered, that out of a class of fifteen students, only five had managed to create something half-way decent. Then Sprout came to him, and Draco and Harry just knew he would lose Ron and Hermione as friends after this class.
Sprout picked up the first of Draco's creations, a Hungarian Horntail. It was standing on its hind legs, breathing fire, and Harry knew the image was from his first task in the Triwizard Tournament. The professor gushed over it for several minutes, remarking on the richness of details. He was just as happy with Draco's second attempt, an elegantly decorated bowl filled with different fruits. His third log had been turned into a sculpture of Severus Snape. The Potions Master was hard at work in front of the cauldron, in the process of adding something while stirring the potion. His fierce concentration and the hidden joy at what he was doing was captured exquisitely. Sprout lectured for almost five minutes over that one, pointing out the details and the need to know your subject well if you wish to capture it in its glory.
Then came Harry's turn. The sphere won him a lot of praise, especially for originality. He had cut a thin slice from the block left over from when he created the globe, and from it, he had created a stand for the sphere. It was a flat, not particularly large disc, and from it rose several tendrils that spiralled upwards, creating a cradle for the sphere to rest in. Harry had been rather pleased with that one and, apparently, so was Sprout as well.
Next came his own dragon figure. He had used Norbert as a model. Remembering the baby dragon, Harry had done his best to recreate what it looked like when it was first born. His last figure was of Draco, flying flat out on his broom, chasing the Snitch, a grim look of concentration on his face, his cloak billowing out behind him. A thin stalk shooting up from a flat disk held the flyer, showing off how perfectly balanced the sculpture was, enhancing the illusion that the figure really was flying through the air.
Each piece earned them twenty-five points, and it was two happy students that did their best to focus on the following lecture. This class was fun.
HPDM
"My, my, my, if it isn't the high and mighty Harry Potter," Ron spat angrily, confronting the two in the corridor as soon as the class was out. "Alleged kidnap victim, fashion designer, and now a star of the Forgotten Arts. Whatever will you be doing next? Huh? Does it feel good to have a subject that you can lord over the rest of us? Does it make you feel more loved and worshiped by the masses?" Ron asked snidely.
"What is it you want, Weasley?" Harry asked tiredly, noting absentmindedly that the confrontation was gathering quite a crowd of onlookers. Ten to one, this mess was going to be plastered all over the Daily Prophet tomorrow. He so did not need this right now, but he should have known the redhead wouldn't leave things alone.
"Want? Me? Why ever would I want something from you, Potter? After all, whatever have you to offer? Nothing! You don't mind helping perfect strangers, but you can't help your best friends. Some friend you turned out to be, Harry Potter."
"And when, exactly, haven't I helped my friends?" Harry asked, getting an edge in his voice. This was going too far.
"And what the hell did you mean by alleged kidnapping?" Draco demanded, not satisfied with staying out of this. Harry was hurting, and it would be a cold day in the nine hells before he left his mate to fend for himself.
"Ron, I don't think this is a good idea," Hermione said, tugging urgently on Ron's arm. She had been forced to listen to her boyfriend rant and rave the entire morning, but things were getting out of hand, and she didn't like it. She had a feeling things were about to get ugly and she wanted no part of that. Unfortunately, she couldn't just abandon Ron to Harry and Draco. To make matters worse, they were garnering quite a crowd. She wanted to confront Harry as well, but not in front of witnesses. Witnesses would only make it more difficult for her to talk her and Ron out of trouble, and could seriously mess up their chances at staying in the Headmaster's good graces. She could not afford to lose his support as well.
"Oh please, Malfoy! As if what happened yesterday wasn't staged to give Harry here more sympathy. Holing up in the hospital wing afterwards was a clever touch, I give you that. Making everyone wonder and worry about you while all the time Potter was as right as rain. I bet you were laughing at us the entire time, weren't you, Potter?" Ron demanded, poking his finger hard into Harry's chest.
Getting angry, Harry grabbed the offending finger and twisted, electing a howl of pain from Ron. "I don't know what the hell happened to you, Ronald Weasley, but whatever your problem is, don't take it out on me. If you have a problem, deal with it! If it is sexual, I'm sure you can get Hermione to put out for you." He didn't care at the moment that he was being crude. He had had enough. Enough of listening to Ron moon about Hermione. Enough of Hermione complaining about Ron not asking her out, or being romantic enough to suit her. Tired of getting the blame when things weren't working out between the two after they sort of got together. Tired of having to apologise for existing, for not doing things the way Ron and Hermione demanded he do them. At the moment he had no idea why he even became friends with them. Draco had, in the two weeks they had been together, been a better friend to him than Ron and Hermione had during their five years together. That was telling, not to mention frightening.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped, scandalised, not believing her ears, glancing uneasily around at the avid listening group of students.
"How dare you, you measly faggot!" Ron roared, raising his wand and shouting a hex Harry was unable to dodge in time, earning himself several angry hisses and boos from the crowd. Several of the original DA members that had gathered around them pulled out their wands, fingering them in a manner that told that they would not allow anymore harm to come to Harry.
Harry didn't cry out, but he did put free his hand to his bloodied nose, angry at himself that he hadn't realised Ron already had drawn his wand before the confrontation began, hiding the fact in a fold of his robe. "Is that the best you can do? My Muggle uncle punches harder than that," Harry said slowly, his eyes like green ice.
Ron just readied his wand again, but the hex froze on his lips as two wands suddenly were aimed at his face, never noticing the ones at his back and sides, but Hermione did, and she belatedly pulled her own wand. She hated it sometimes when she was right; it would be difficult to talk her and Ron out of this one.
"Did you really think I'd give you a second shot, Weasel?" Draco sneered. "I thought you three were friends. It looks like I was mistaken. Know this; you two are now on my list. Do not come near Harry again, you will not like the consequences if you do. I know more hexes and far worse curses than you do so Do. Not. Tempt. Me."
"Yeah, right, as if you'd ever do anything to us," Ron stated smugly. "For one thing, Harry won't let you. And for..."
"Why should I stop him?" Harry broke in, starting to feel a bit dizzy but doing his best to hide it. His face was aching something fiercely, and all he wanted was to find someplace soft and curl up and sleep for a week. However, he wasn't about to give Ron the satisfaction of knowing that.
"What?" Ron gasped in outrage. "Of course you'd stop him!"
"Why should I?" Harry asked again, getting thoroughly annoyed.
"See? This was what I was talking about, Harry," Hermione said a bit sadly, turning slightly so she was addressing the crowd as well. Maybe she could do some damage control. "They are turning you away from your true friends, leaving you no one but the Malfoys. You're even threatening your own friends."
Harry sighed, biting back a moan of pain. "Tell me, Hermione, who was it that started this confrontation? Who was it that spewed forth a lot of poisonous accusations? Who threw the first hex?"
"I know Ron cast the first hex, but that's just Ron. You know he has a hot temper, Harry, you know that." Hermione demanded, turning her full attention to the brunet. Harry wasn't about to do something stupid, was he?
"So that makes it alright?" Draco asked incredulously. "Just because Weasley has a hot temper he can't control, it's alright for him to hex people, even his friends? Some defence you've got there, Weasel. I'll have to remember that the next time I get into trouble. 'I'm sorry, Professor, I don't know what came over me. But it is alright, it was just my hot temper that got out of control there for a moment.'
"'Ah, is that what happened, Mr. Malfoy. Then it is all right. Move along now before you're late for your next class', " Draco simpered, doing a fairly good impression of Professor McGonagall, earning himself a lot of laughter and snickers from the onlookers.
Harry snorted a laugh as well, unable to keep back his amusement at Draco's antics. His two ex-friends were not amused, however, and Ron sent the blond a curse they'd been practising in DA the previous year. Eyes widening in disbelief and then anger, Harry quickly conjured a block of wood, sending it into the path of the spell, intercepting it. "And you accused the Slytherins for wanting to use the DA to learn spells to use on us. This has gone far enoughPetrificus Totalis!"Harry roared, petrifying Ron, who fell to the ground with a thud.
"Harry?" Draco asked in concern; he had never seen his mate this angry. Around them, DA members muttered angrily among themselves, and non-members looked uneasy, unnerved by the reactions by those who clearly knew what the spell the redhead had used did.
"And you! Why didn't you stop him? You know what that spell does!" Harry shouted, rounding on Hermione.
"Harry, calm down, he didn't mean it," Hermione said, attempting to soothe Harry, only succeeding in making him more angry.
"Didn't mean it? Didn't mean it? He cast the spell, didn't he? How can you not mean casting a spell, huh?"
"What is going on here?" a silky voice asked. Turning around, Harry and Draco saw Lucius coming towards them, easily forming a path through the ring of gathered students.
"Weasley cast Sleep of the Dead on Draco," Harry answered, looking down on the boy he had just petrified. "We learned it in DA last year. I thought it would be an effective spell to use if we ever ended up fighting Death Eaters. Figures none of us remembered it at the Department of Mystery debacle. I don't feel too good," he added, when a strong wave of dizziness hit him, causing him to sway unsteadily.
Draco forgot all about Weasley and jumped forward to take some of Harry's weight. How could he have forgotten that Harry was hurt? He should have ended this long before, but Weasley had gotten him so mad.
"Draco, why don't you take Harry to the hospital wing? I shall escort Miss Granger and her friend to the Headmaster, and I will join you as soon as I can," Lucius said, taking charge of the situation, easily dispersing the crowd with a glowering look. He might not be Severus with his 'Snape Death' glares, but the students obeyed him quickly and silently, and soon he was alone in the corridor with only Granger and the still petrified Weasley.
Draco nodded and began leading Harry down the corridor. At the moment he couldn't care less about the two troublemakers, all that mattered was Harry and getting him well again.
"What was that spell the Weasel cast at me?" Draco asked, more to ensure that Harry stayed conscious than any real desire to know. "I don't think I've ever heard of it."
"You probably haven't," Harry sighed tiredly; Merlin, but his face hurt. "It is a very old Healing spell. I think it was invented a hundred years or so after Hogwarts was built. It is designed to mimic the effects of the Draught of Living Death, which is why the spell is called Sleep of the Dead.
"Anyway, the spell was designed to put a seriously ill patient into a deep healing sleep. Only, the spell doesn't work."
"So it wouldn't have put me to sleep? Then why did you get so angry if the spell is a dud?" Draco wanted to know.
"Because the spell isn't a dud. Just extremely unreliable," Harry sighed, leaning a little more heavily on Draco. "No one knows why. A few of the most reputable Masters have tried to fix it, and all have failed. You see," Harry elaborated when he realised that Draco had no idea what he was talking about, "a few of the patients the spell was used on would indeed fall into a deep healing sleep. They would wake up a couple of days later, much improved. But other patients would fall into a deep sleep that lasted for weeks, months, and some never woke up, ending up sleeping their entire life away. Nothing the Healers tried could wake them up until the spell had run its course.
"But that wasn't the only effect the spell had. Most subjected to the spell would wake up, healthy, with the same magical powers they had when they went to sleep. A few woke up with double, even triple the amount of magic that they had when they fell asleep, but most woke up Squibs. A few regained their magic with time, while others never got their magic back."
"And you were going to use that spell on the Death Eaters?" Draco asked, aghast, suddenly realising the danger his father had been in.
Harry shrugged, not about to repent an action he hadn't committed yet. "Yes," he said simply. "I figured that if the situation was that dire and desperate, it was better for the DA members to cast the Sleep of the Dead rather than Avada Kedavra. And no, I haven't taught the DA how to cast that one," Harry chuckled weakly. "I figured it was better to be able to walk away and fight another day, without being sent to Azkaban, than use less dangerous spells and risk getting killed. Dead people are of no use to anyone."
Harry sighed. "There is also the benefit that no shield can stop it. At least not to my knowledge, and the only way to stop it is to put something solid, nonliving in its way, which is why I used that block of wood.
"Besides, the spell is fairly complicated to use, and it drains you quite a bit, so it isn't anything you would throw out in a childish skirmish. Trust me, I made it abundantly clear to all the DA members the dangers of that spell, and told them only to use it in life or death situations, and if I found out that they had used the spell carelessly, I would come after them and make their lives hell. Ron knew fully well what he was doing, and I can't believe Hermione was making up a feeble excuse like that," Harry said, feeling almost more betrayed by the witch's actions than Ron's.
Draco was also fuming, but he held his tongue since they had arrived at the infirmary. He would make sure that Ronald Weasley was very sorry for even thinking of casting that spell. He would be delighted in making the redhead's life completely miserable! Maybe he should use that potion he'd found last night on the Weasel instead of Parkinson, as he had first planned.
HPDM
Hermione was forced to almost run to keep up with the elder Malfoy as he swept down the corridors, heading towards the headmaster's office, levitating Ron before him. She had no idea when things had gotten so out of hand, or what to do now to fix things. Harry was angry with them, and honestly, she couldn't fault him. He was stressed as it was, having to deal with the Malfoys around the clock, he didn't need the extra stain. Ron's anger had not helped the situation any, and her attempts to reach her friend had been ignored or sabotaged.
Feeling close to tears, Hermione stepped past the Gargoyle and rode the stairs upward in silence. For once, she had no idea how to resolve the situation she found herself in. In the past, things had been so simple, she was faced with a problem and whatever solution needed could easily be found in a book. Unfortunately, none of her books had informed her how to extract a friend from the evil clutches of a persistent Veela. And now this! She so did not need this right now. How the hell was she supposed to get Ron and herself out of this mess? If only Ron had kept his cool, he should have realised that there wasn't much they could do with half the bloody school watching their every move!
Dashing the back of her hand across her eyes, Hermione forced herself to focus as Malfoy released Ron from the spell holding him frozen.
"I will leave you to deal with these two, Headmaster, I need to get back to the hospital wing and check on Harry. Apparently, his friends saw it necessary to hex him, not to mention that they attempted to curse my son," Lucius said, giving the two teens very dark and disapproving looks before sweeping out of the office.
"A lemon drop?" Albus asked, gesturing for the children to sit down. He knew it was a risk to offer the damn things, but he needed a sense of normality, since going by the look on Lord Malfoy's face, he did not want to know what had happened.
"No, thank you, sir," Hermione said a bit timidly, while Ron just shook his head in negative.
"Now then, care to tell me what that was all about?" Dumbledore asked mildly, popping a sweet into his mouth, sending up a thought of thanks, as it was a non-tampered candy he'd picked.
"Hey! It was all Harry's fault!" Ron protested angrily, shifting forward in his seat, practically glaring at the Headmaster.
"Ron!" Hermione hissed; they needed a cool head, not a hot temper, if they were to get out of this one.
"What? It was! You saw him! Sitting there, sniggering and making fun of our efforts in Forgotten Arts. As if he is so clever because he can form things out of wood! And the entire thing yesterday, don't tell me you weren't worried sick about him, only to have him waltz into that DA meeting as if nothing had happened!" Ron snapped, glaring daggers at Hermione.
Dumbledore sighed and looked down on his hands, which lay folded upon his desktop. As he had beginning to fear, urging the two to take the Forgotten Arts class had backfired, and done so badly. "I take it you do not enjoy that particular class?" he asked, forcing himself to sound concerned.
"No, we don't!" Ron snorted. "And even less so when Potter and Malfoy lord how great they are over the class. Even the teacher spends most of his time gushing over them. I bet you that it isn't even Potter who makes those pieces. I bet you it is all a plot orchestrated by the Malfoys to stoke his ego."
"Is that why you found it necessary to hex your friend?"
"Harry is no friend of mine! Not anymore!" Ron snorted, ignoring the cry from Hermione. Looking the Headmaster in the eye, he continued, "Do you know what Harry did this summer while he was at the Headquarters? Do you? He spent what little time we were allowed together ignoring me. Ignoring us," he amended with a glance at his girlfriend. "Instead of hanging out playing chess or talking Quidditch, or planning ways to get back at Malfoy, he spent all his time in the library, no doubt reading about the Dark Arts. On top of that, he could give my brothers thousands of Galleons, but he couldn't bother to give me a few so I could ask Hermione out properly.
"The entire summer everyone has been tiptoeing around him, treating him as if he was made out of spun glass. Because of him we had to spend almost the entire summer inside the Burrow! We couldn't even go and fly as we always do! I mean, he wasn't even there! But I didn't complain because I figured things would get back to normal once school began. Once the first of September came around, I'd get my friend back. Did I? Nooo. Instead we are told that that Ferret is a Veela! Malfoy stole my best friend away, and I am sick and tired of being 'supportive'. I want my friend back. I want Harry to come back to the tower. He never liked Malfoy before, so why the hell is he picking him over us! Can you tell me that? Huh? Can you? He's even given up playing Quidditch for that slimy snake! Harry loves playing Seeker! I'm certain Malfoy is behind that decision. He knows we have no chance winning the cup this year unless Harry is on the team. Which he isn't! And guess who's fault that is?"
Dumbledore shook his head sadly and cast a calming spell on the teen wandlessly. Out of all of Molly's children, it looked like Ronald had inherited her temperament. "Is that why you cursed young Draco?" he asked once the youth had regained his normal facial colour.
Ron merely shrugged. "Yeah, I tried to hit him with the Sleep of the Dead. I figured that if the Ferret was out of the way for a few days, we might have a chance to talk some sense into that thick-headed skull of his."
"Oh Ron," Hermione sighed. She had been shocked and stunned at the things she'd been told. She knew Ron had been angry with Harry for the way he'd been acting during the summer, but she had no idea he blamed Harry for the restrictions that had been placed upon them. No wonder he'd been so irrational lately.
Dumbledore was reeling from shock as well. He knew Ron had a quick temper and a streak of jealousy a mile wide, but he couldn't believe Molly hadn't explained the danger they had been in or that the restrictions were due to the many close calls there had been with attempts of retaliation from Riddle and his followers. He really needed to talk to her about her compulsion to keep her children ignorant. If only she had agreed to stay at the HQ like last summer. Instead, she had insisted her children needed some normalcy and had stubbornly stayed at the Burrow. Now look at the mess they had on their hands. Maybe all this could have been avoided if only Ron had understood what was going on. Sighing deeply, he turned to the business at hand. He needed to do something to make the boy understand the severity of the situation, or Lucius Malfoy would do it for him, without hesitation.
"I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way, Ronald. The reason you were kept indoors most of the summer were because of the Death Eater attacks launched on your family. No less than five attempts at retribution were thwarted at the last moment. Harry had nothing to do with that.
"As for the curse you sent at young Malfoy... If you had hit him, the consequences had been a bit more severe than a few days of sleep. I'm sorry, but I will have to duct fifty points from Gryffindor and give you detention for a week, starting tonight. Report to Hagrid at seven o'clock. Dismissed."
"But Headmaster...!"
"Dismissed," Dumbledore repeated, giving the redhead a hard and disapproving look.
Ron growled but rose from his chair, helped by the hand clamped around his bicep.
Once he was alone in his office, Albus sighed deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose. He would write a note to Professor Sprout, informing him of the loss of two of his pupils. He would let Minerva tell the teens that they no longer needed to take that class. Nothing but more strife would come out of it. And he had had such high hopes that Ron and Hermione would do much of his work for him when it came to influencing Harry. It looked like he would have to come up with a new plan. Perhaps he could pressure Severus into modifying young Harry's thinking. There wasn't much love between the two, but since the Potions Master was Draco's godfather...
Getting up from his chair, Albus left his office and headed for the hospital wing. He supposed he would have to make an appearance and inquire about their young saviour's health. And tell the Malfoys about Weasley's punishment.

Next Time:
Well, the truth will be out there. Next Monday, grin.
Until Then…





Not Your Usual Veela Mate, Chapter 38

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2571676/38/Not_Your_Usual_Veela_Mate


By Janara
Author of 9 Stories 1. Find Your Mate, Draco2. A most wonderful thing has happened3. This will be your rooms4. You have to support Harry5. What exactly is it Voldie wants?6. I Don’t Know If I Can Trust Anyone7. How did the Headmaster get in?8. I’m bored Let’s go flying!9. Time for Payback10. Got Anything In Leather?11. An unhappy Headmaster12. Books, books and more books13. Going for a Ride14. Added Protection15. Returning To School16. Lots of Talent17. A Serious Discussion18. Nighttime Terrors and Tender Moments19. Confrontations20. You Friends Are My Friends21. More Confrontations22. Meddling Headmasters and the Dark Mark23. A Quiet Sunday Afternoon24. Time For Payback II25. Explanations26. Spirit Snakes and the Dark Mark27. Consequences of Making Harry Angry28. A Truly Rotten Morning29. Hurting30. Starting to Heal31. Occlumency and the DA32. A Whole Lot of Trunks33. Early Morning Musings34. Why Me!35. Someone is having a bad day36. Tender Emotions37. The Loss of a Friendship38. Don’t Hate Me39. Unhappy Weasleys and Unexpected Allies40. Harry Awakens41. Revelations42. Plans for the Future43. Property Hunting44. A Second Kidnapping45. Picking Up the Pieces46. Finding The Strength To Go On47. A New Day – A New Start48. Dream A Little Dream49. Mail Call50. Talks51. New Resolve52. Mail call II53. The Headache That Is Harry Potter54. Revenge Comes In Many Forms55. Should I Stay Or should I Go?56. Should I Stay Or should I Go? II57. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? III58. Back To Hogwarts59. Standing On Opposite Sides Of The Gorge60. Mayhem At Hogwarts – It Begins61. The Mayhem Continues62. A Harry Sized Headache63. Enemies Galore64. The Value Of A Good Book65. The Night Before66. Operation Distracting Dumbledore67. Will Plans Ever Go As Planned!

Rated: M - English - Romance/Humor - Harry P. & Draco M. - Reviews: 7,290 - Updated: 09-29-08 - Published: 09-08-05 - id:2571676

Disclaimers: I don't own Harry Potter.
A BIG thank you to all you wonderful people who has reviewed my story.
Thank you Vaughn for being my Beta. Any mistakes left are my own.

Don't Hate Me

"Mr. Potter! What happened this time?" Poppy asked, swooping down on them the moment they entered the hospital wing.
"A Bludger hex. I didn't think the idiot was going to hurt me, so I wasn't prepared. This is the only shot he gets though. Next time I will retaliate and I don't think he'll like what I plan to do," Harry replied darkly.
"What I want to know is why you stopped me from hexing that little twit! He had no right to do what he did! Besides, it is my right as your mate to defend you when you are attacked, and you, my friend, were attacked! You're lucky he didn't do worse damage than breaking your bloody nose! He could have killed you!" Draco seethed, halfway out of the ward to find the little Weasel, not caring much about the danger he himself had been in.
"Draco, calm down. If you hex him to a slug, the blame will find its way to us. If we do nothing, the blame cannot be put on us. If there is a next time, however, I promise you may do with him what you wish," Harry said tiredly, accepting the smoking goblet Poppy handed to him. "Besides, with half the school watching that deplorable scene, the entire school will know about this before the end of the day. Ten to one, this will end up in the Daily Prophet. This way, no blame can be placed on us; instead, we should earn a lot of sympathy if Skeeter, for once in her miserable life, does the right thing, that is," Harry allowed, looking down into the goblet and shuddered.
"I want you to lie down and get some rest. Your nose was indeed broken, and there is a hairline fracture to the cheekbone. I want to keep an eye on you to make sure it heals properly. I also want to make sure there is no damage to your eyes. You were extremely fortunate that none of the glass ended up in your eyes, or that the frame didn't do worse damage than it did when it were destroyed," Pomfrey said, eyeing the bloody scratches his smashed glasses had left behind. "Well, what are you waiting for? Drink up before it gets cold," Poppy scolded gently.
"How is he, Poppy?" Lucius asked, sweeping through the doors and heading to where Harry was standing.
"I'm fine, sir, just a bit dizzy. That Bludger didn't do too much damage," Harry replied tiredly. He swirled the goblet between his fingers before sighing deeply once more. There was no way in hell he dared to drink this down. But knowing the nurse as well as he did, he knew there was no way around her. Snapping his fingers, he summoned a house-elf and asked it to go and get Severus Snape.
"Didn't do too much damage?" Poppy repeated, swelling up very much like a bullfrog. "Didn't do too much damage? That hex broke your nose, young man, and was powerful enough to cause a hairline fracture of your right cheekbone! You're damned lucky your eyes weren't affected! A bit more power behind that hex and you could have ended up blind! Now get into that bed and drink that potion before it gets cold!" Poppy demanded, hands on her hips, the picture of stubborn righteousness.
Lucius had been watching Harry while Poppy argued with him. The boy looked exhausted and extremely ill, but what really had him worried was the 'sir'. It was clear this whole episode had affected the boy severely. It made him even more furious with the youngest male Weasley. The boy was supposed to be a friend, for Salazar's sake! Why had he done this? Why had he attacked Harry like that? He almost wished he had stayed to listen to their explanations, but his need to be near his son and his mate had been stronger than his need to find out what was going on. Besides, he trusted Severus to manage filtering out the details.
Returning his focus on Harry, he was concerned to see that he wasn't taking his potion. The pain he was in had to be bad. Casting about his mind for an explanation, he suddenly remembered his reactions to the Calming Draught that idiot of a Healer had forced on him yesterday. Did the boy know more than he let on about his magical inheritance? He really needed to get Mercury started on researching the Evans' magical background.
"Harry? Child? Is there something wrong with the potion?" Lucius asked, walking up to the boy's side.
"Humph! As if! I brew the potions used in this hospital wing. Or are you doubting my abilities? Severus asked darkly, stalking to where Harry was leaning against one of the beds.
"What happened to you this time, Potter? You look like death warmed over. Why aren't you in bed? And why didn't you drink that potion before it grew cold? It's useless now," Severus scolded, grasping the boy's chin with a surprisingly gentle hand, tilting the head up and to the side to get a better look at the damage.
"That is what we are trying to figure out, Severus. If you would kindly stop meddling in things that do not concern you!" Poppy huffed, attempting to shoulder the Potions Master out of the way. She hated it when he swept into her domain, taking over as if he was the one educated as a Healer and not her. Lifting her wand, she prepared to cast a second diagnostic spell, one designed to check a patient more deeply than the surface one she'd used when Potter was first brought to her ward. Her only focus then had been to find out where the problem was and how bad it was. Now though, she had time to do a little more in-depth checking.
Harry gave her a dark look and stepped to the side, keeping the Potions Master between himself and the nurse, causing the spell to hit Snape instead, earning himself a dark glower from Pomfrey, while Severus gave the nurse a scathing look and a biting remark as to watch where she was aiming her wand.
Poppy was not about to be deterred and took a step to the side so Harry once more was in her sight. Quickly she sent her spell, only to see it rebounded on the shield Harry had erected, sending the spell back at her. Unable to react in time, Poppy could do nothing but stare as a parchment appeared in thin air, listing her medical condition down to the paper cut she had given herself earlier in the day.
Draco quickly turned around and did his best to hide his snickers in his father's side; the strict nurse would probably never forgive him if he laughed her in her face.
Severus pointedly ignored the nurse, although on the inside he too was snickering; served the busybody right to be caught in her own spell for once. Instead he kept his main focus on the youth before him. For Harry to so bluntly disrespect authority, it had to be something very big or very serious he was trying to protect. If this had been last year, he would have cast the spell himself to see what the boy was hiding. However, this wasn't last year, and he had too much respect for the brat to do that to him. "Harry?" he asked with concern, earning himself a weak smile.
"I'm fine, sir, but I need to talk to you. Not here though, somewhere private," Harry replied tiredly in a low voice, a warm feeling growing in the pit of his stomach. They cared about him. All three of them, even the adults, they honest to god cared about him, not only Draco, who had planted himself at his side and refused to budge an inch ever since they had arrived in the infirmary.
"This has something to do with your reaction to the Calming Draught, doesn't it?" Lucius asked, watching Harry closely all the while keeping an eye on Poppy to make sure she couldn't send that spell at Harry once more.
Harry merely nodded. "This place isn't secure enough. We need to find a place where we won't be overheard."
"I will take full responsibility for him, Poppy. Don't worry," Severus assured the upset nurse and went to scoop Harry up into his arms. "Come with me, we will continue this in my rooms," he murmured to his two fellow Slytherins, swooping out of the hospital wing, leaving a spluttering nurse behind.
When the Headmaster walked in fifteen minutes later, he was met with a fuming nurse and an empty hospital wing.
"I take it young Harry wasn't as badly hurt as we feared?" he asked amusedly, figuring Draco had insisted in taking his mate back to their rooms.
"Humph! I wish! No, that dratted boy refused to drink the potion I gave him. Before I could corner him, Severus arrived! Albus, this time he's gone too far! He took Harry out of here, without my permission! The boy was still untreated, for Merlin's sake! I know you put a lot of faith in Severus, but let's face it. I am the one will medical training, not him! He has no right interfering like this!" Poppy cried, incensed.
"I'm sure he had a very good reason for acting like he did, but if it makes you feel better, I will go and talk to him. You are correct, after all, you are the school nurse, not him. But Severus has always felt responsible for those he cares about, as you well know."
Poppy merely snorted, not appeased in the least. "You do that, and make sure to bring Harry back here after your talk. I didn't even get a chance to examine him properly," she complained.
Albus frowned at this. He had hoped a full medical scan would give him the answers he needed when it came to the child's inheritance. So far no signs of any new powers had manifested, unless you counted the boy's temper. Sighing softly, he left the infirmary and made his way to the boys' private rooms.
HPDM
Using the back corridors, the group managed to make it to the dungeons unseen. The fact that most of the students and staff were in the Great Hall eating helped ensure they went by unnoticed.
Settling Harry on a couch, Severus sat beside him, his sensitive fingers carefully examining the damage area.
"Child?" Lucius asked softly from behind Severus, wrapping an arm around his son's shoulders in an attempt to give support.
"I didn't want anyone to find out. Not until I knew more myself, but I guess it is too late for that now. Stupid Ron!" the brunet muttered in aside. Taking a deep breath, moaning softly at the pain, Harry allowed the glamour he'd worn since before his birthday to drop.
Three gasps caused him to flinch, and he dropped his face, allowing his long hair to shelter him from the rejection he was expecting.
"I knew your scent wasn't fully human," Lucius said excitedly. "This is wonderful, Harry, why are you ashamed?"
Harry pulled up his knees and wrapped his arms around them. "Who wants a freak?" he asked softly.
Draco gasped and pulled away from his father, pushing Severus out of the way. Sitting next to his distraught mate, he gently put his arms around him and just held him. "You are not a freak! You are the most beautiful being I've ever seen! And that was before you dropped the glamour! Now I found you even more stunning! I am going to find those Muggles and I am going to hex the living daylights out of them! The freak stuff, that is them talking. It isn't Father. It isn't Severus. And it isn't me. And Harry, love? It never will be me. I love you, all of you. You are so beautiful to me, and I wish I could show you how lovely and delicious you are. But all I can do is tell you, and I am going to still tell you when we are old and grey," Draco said fiercely, willing with all his heart that his words were getting through.
He was startled when two arms wrapped around him and squeezed him hard. The next thing he knew, his mate was crying against him. Crying and moaning in pain. He looked helplessly to his father for guidance. He couldn't stand the thought of his mate being in pain.
Lucius came out of his shock when he saw the pleading look his son sent him, and felt the despair and pain both of them radiated. Changing the couch to a divan, he settled carefully on Harry's other side and added his own arms around the distraught teen. No, child. This was a small, vulnerable child.
"Loveling, what Draco said is the truth. You are not a freak, and you certainly aren't ugly either. You have to be one of the most beautiful beings I've ever seen. You can't beat Severus though", he added, earning himself a glare from his son and twin snorts from his mate and Harry. It was followed by a soft moan.
"Can't you do anything for him?" he asked the Potion Master, realising why the boy had refused the potion earlier. Harry was no longer fully human and he had to be careful what potions he took from now on. He had spoken the truth though, when he had said the child had become even more desirable.
Midnight coloured hair cascaded down his shoulders, and Lucius was prepared to bet it reached down to the teen's waist. Pale skin the colour of alabaster that seemed to almost glow with an inner light. Green, green eyes and a pair of delicate pointed ears were peeking out of the sleek mass of hair. The boy had indeed become a thing of beauty. If the rest of the school ever found out, they would lust after the youth.
Then he snorted mentally. Half the blasted school was lusting after the boy as it was, but so far they had, for the most part, kept their distance, content with trying to catch the boy's attention. If they ever found out that Harry was part Elf, they would no longer be satisfied with keeping their distance. Their pursuit would be much more aggressive, the more ambitious ones would probably try to kill his son to eliminate the most obvious competition, thinking it would make it easier for them to claim the price for themselves, not caring whether Harry wanted to be with them or not.
Oh yes. If Harry Potter had been a sought after price as the Boy-Who-Lived, he'd doubled that by being part Elf. No one had seen a High Elf for centuries, and to have one - even if it was a half-blood - in their midst, things could turn very ugly, very quickly. Thank Circe and Salazar the boy had had enough sense to hide this from the meddling old fool. Lucius had no doubt whatsoever that the Headmaster would find a way to exploit the fact that Harry Potter was part Elf. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but wonder where that inheritance came from. He really needed to get his solicitor to look into the boy's family tree.
Severus had been studying Harry as well, trying to remember what he'd read about Elves. Stepping closer, he placed a hand on the only visible temple and whispered a sleeping spell. Harry succumbed immediately and Draco grew frantic.
"Don't worry, Dragon. He is merely asleep. I don't have any potions that I can give him, and I don't dare try any of the common Healing spells. The best thing we can do for him is to allow him to sleep and let his own body deal with the damage," Severus explained, helping his godson move Harry more comfortably on the divan.
"Salazar, what a mess! I'm going to start brewing the Sanastosia Potion tonight, we might have to leave here and hide at the Manor if things turn ugly. I hope that it won't come to that, but it is better to be prepared for the worst. Circe! No wonder he couldn't learn Occlumency last year. His brain was unable to form the necessary defences, it was preparing itself for his sixteenth birthday! He was wide open for attack and I only made things worse! I can only hope the poor boy can forgive me one day," Severus said sadly, stroking a hand through the soft black hair.
"I know he will, Sev," Draco said softly, giving the older man a sad yet encouraging smile. "He's forgiven me, hasn't he?"
"Yes, he has. He is quite a remarkable young man, isn't he?" Severus mused. Straightening up, he ordered lunch for the three of them. While they ate they prepared the cover story for why Harry hadn't taken the requested potion. In the end, it was quite easy to explain; the Potters were known for their quirks, and one of them were the tendency to develop an allergy for some of the more common potion ingredients. Harry had developed this allergy, and he didn't dare take any potions until he knew for sure it was safe. He was too bashful though, to tell Poppy himself, and he was afraid someone would overhear them discussing this and using the knowledge against him in a prank.
It was harder to come up with a reason as to why he had avoided the scan, and in the end they decided on Lucius using his charm to avoid that issue all together.
When Lucius explained it all to the nurse, her anger melted away and she chuckled about boys and their weird modesty. She readily agreed to keep this new knowledge to herself and even offered to let the Headmaster know not to feed Harry any potions unless she or Severus had okayed it. She was so amused by Harry's bashfulness she utterly forgot to ask about why he avoided the diagnostic scan.
It was a smirking blond who returned to the dungeons and his worrying son.
HPDM
Dumbledore left the hospital wing and paused once the doors closed behind him. Where would the prickly Potions Master have taken Harry? Since both Malfoys had been present, it would seem logical that they had taken Harry to their private rooms... And that meant another confrontation with Slytherin. Biting back a sigh, the Headmaster made his way to the Veela's suite.
"Greetings, old man. What brings you to this part of the castle?" Salazar called cheerfully as soon as he laid eyes on the aged wizard. "Got bored terrorising children, or were you in the mood for a good game of wits?"
Dumbledore glowered darkly at the founder. How he wished he could set the thing on fire. Unfortunately, experience had taught him that that was a very bad idea. A very bad idea. The castle had not forgiven him for months when he'd tried that as a young professor.
"No, Salazar, I came to check in on young Harry and to have a word with Severus. I take it they are here?"
"Of course they are," Salazar scoffed. "Where else would they be? Unfortunately, they have been too busy to put up any paintings inside. Add to that the little fact that Lord Malfoy left strict instructions not to bother them, I'm afraid that all I can offer you is to leave a message."
"Nonsense! I am the Headmaster of this school and I cannot be banned from my students. Not even you have the power to do so. Now open this door immediately!" Dumbledore demanded, feeling the first tendrils of fury shoot through him. One of these days, Salazar would push him too far, and the consequences be damned!
"Normally, you would be correct in your statement, Headmaster. However, you forget. This is not one of the dorms. This is the rooms of a Veela and his as of yet unbonded mate. The school rules do not apply to them. If they have stated a wish to be left alone, no one is to bother them. Not even you, Headmaster. Try and force your way inside and you risk ending up in Azkaban for a minimum of six months. More if your presence is deemed as dangerous to the pair. Do you still intend to insist you are given access?"
Dumbledore growled. No matter how much it galled him, he knew Salazar Slytherin was correct. For once he could not use his status to get his own way and he was not about to risk being removed from this school. Too much was at stake to dare risking pushing the Malfoys too far. Cursing under his breath, Albus turned away from the smug looking portrait and started making his way back to his office. This was becoming intolerable. And to think he had thought it a good idea when he found out Harry was Draco's mate. If anything, his life was turning into a gigantic headache. Just because Harry now decided it was a good idea to become stubborn and wilful.
Turning around, Albus stalked back to the painting. "Could you please tell Lucius Malfoy that I wish to speak with him at his earliest convenience?" he asked with as much politeness as he could muster, which, in truth, wasn't much.
"But of course, sir. As soon as I see the gentleman in question, I will give him your message." Salazar smiled broadly, knowing very well how thin the other man's patience was growing, and there was nothing he could do about it. Serves him right for trying to get rid of my portrait the way he did. The castle might have forgiven him, but neither of us have forgotten. I think it is time to remind that old meddler that people have a will of their own, and though Albus Dumbledore might be many things, a god is not one of them.
Waiting until he was certain Dumbledore had left and wasn't about to come back, Salazar left his painting and made his way down to the dungeons. He'd had no qualms about lying to the Headmaster. As he had told him many times before, as one of the founders, he was under no obligation to obey Dumbledore the way most of the portraits in the school were forced to do. He had taken a liking to young Potter, and he knew there was little love between the two at the moment. If Harry had been hurt, then the last thing he needed was to spar with stubborn old men.
HPDM
"Hah! I thought I'd find you lot here," Salazar stated cheerfully, stepping into the Potions Master's private rooms. "Bumbles popped by your suite earlier, asking for the lad. I told him you were all inside and had left word not to be disturbed. He expressed his wish to talk to Lord Malfoy, so whenever you have the time, be a good boy and pop by, will you? I don't like that old boy and have no wish to see him twice in the same day."
Draco bit back a laugh. The more time he spent with the Founder, the more he liked him.
Severus lifted an elegant eyebrow. "I wasn't aware the portraits were able to lie to the Headmaster."
"Most of them can't, since they are tied into the castle's defences. But I am one of the founders, and my tie to the castle is different. My powers might be limited from what they once were, but I am under no obligation to obey Albus Dumbledore."
"I see," Lucius murmured. He was pleased to find they had such a powerful ally on their side. How typical of Harry to get one of the founders on his side. He would have to ask the boy how that came about one of these days. Turning his attention back to Slytherin, he asked, "You wouldn't happen to know what happened in the Headmaster's office earlier today when he took to task the two students who attacked Harry and Draco, would you?"
"Of course I do. That is why it took me so long to come down here. I stopped by and had a chat with Hogwarts first to find out what was going on. As always, dear old Dumbledore was a bit short on details when he came by and issued his orders."
Severus and Lucius blinked.
"So what happened to the Weasel?" Draco demanded.
Instead of answering verbally, Salazar played out the memory Hogwarts had showed him, showing the entire confrontation from the moment Lucius had swept into the office, until the two children had been dismissed.
"Is that all he did?" Lucius asked fuming. "The punishment for casting such a curse as the Sleep of Death is a month's suspension. I can't believe he's still coddling the Gryffindors! Hasn't he learned anything?"
"I guess not," Severus drawled. "My guess is that he doesn't want to offend Molly Weasley anymore than he has to. That family is one of his strongest supporters. If they were to turn their back on him, he would lose a lot of support among the masses. The Weasleys might be blood traitors, but they are still Purebloods, and they have a very strong reputation of only supporting the Light," he continued.
"Maybe so, but still! It wasn't just a Slytherin he attacked, that boy also attacked Harry Potter. The light of the Light side," Lucius seethed.
"Yes, and who has dared to appear in the paper wearing leather. A tasteful outfit, but still leather. Molly is not pleased with the boy at the moment."
"I don't care! If Harry had chosen to dress like a streetwalker, Molly Weasley's son still had no right attacking him unprovoked like that. I think it is time I and the Headmaster made a few things clear between us. That reminds me, how soon will you have enough of that potion?"
Severus tilted his head to the side as he made his calculations. "I need to make four more batches if I am to fill up the old Prefect's bath. I figured we'd want to do this at the same time," he said in aside, giving Lucius a look. "That will take me a few days. Today is Thursday, I figured we'd start our fast on Tuesday. Do the cleansing ritual on Friday – I will have to cancel my classes that day, but that is a small price to pay. After soaking in the potion, Harry can then remove the Dark Mark on Saturday morning, giving us the rest of the weekend to recover in case there are any unforeseen problems."
Lucius considered what he'd been told, tapping an index finger against his lower lip. "Sounds good. Between us we should be able to hold off Dumbledore that long." He nodded. "In the meantime, I better go and see what he wanted, and to make sure he won't come near Harry until he is ready to face the world again. I might as well talk to Poppy while I'm at it. We don't need her on our backs either."
"Very well. I'll be in my lab in case you need me. Draco should be able to keep an eye on Harry." Severus agreed, getting onto his feet. Things were moving faster than he felt comfortable with, but he was nothing if adaptable. Besides, the sooner they were free, the sooner he and Lucius could bond with each other. Suppressing a shiver of delight, he briskly walked into his lab, his mind already focused on the upcoming brewing.
Lucius and Draco watched him leave, both wearing an indulgent smile on their faces.
HPDM
"Lucius, come in. I've been expecting you," Dumbledore called out merrily as soon as the gargoyle informed him he had a visitor.
Lucius ignored the greeting and swept regally into the office. "Salazar conveyed your message," he stated, settling into the chair that had been conjured for him. "I take it you wish to inform me that the brat has been suspended?"
Albus blanched slightly. He should have known Lucius would demand that punishment; still, he had hoped the aristocrat would be satisfied with the punishment he had already given out. "Don't you think that is a bit harsh, Lucius? After all, no one was seriously injured," he said mildly.
"Thanks to Harry's quick reflexes," Lucius said, not prepared to back down. He then remembered belatedly that he wasn't supposed to know what the punishment was. Sighing, he asked, "Very well, what punishment did you give that hot-headed menace?"
"Fifty points were deducted, and young Ronald was given a week's worth of detention," Albus happily answered, hoping against hope that Malfoy would be satisfied with that.
"Humph! Not much of a punishment, is it? Not considering the curse he cast on my son. But I suppose I can be generous, considering that Harry was there to save the day." Lucius leaned back in his chair and considered his options. "Very well, I will not insist on suspending the boy. I do, however, demand that his Prefect Badge is taken away from him. The way he has been behaving is not how a Prefect should behave, don't you agree?"
Dumbledore bit back a groan. This was not going the way he wanted it to. To make things worse, Malfoy was correct in his assessment and Albus knew it. "If I take away the badge from Ronald Weasley, the rift between him and Harry will never be healed. I'm afraid young Ron will put the blame of the loss on Harry. Do you really wish for that to happen?" he asked nevertheless, angling for some sympathy. He did not want to tell Molly of Ron's disgrace. The explosion would be phenomenal and extremely unpleasant.
Lucius merely lifted an eyebrow. "Do you really think that I will allow that boy anywhere near my son or my charge if I can help it? I am very familiar with the Weasley temper, and unless that boy learns there are consequences for losing it, he will become a very dangerous man. Do you wish that on your conscience?
"Besides, what kind of message will that send to the children who saw the confrontation? I'm sure you don't wish to encourage the kind of behaviour Ronald Weasley displayed towards Harry and my son. Especially since Harry isn't a Slytherin. Or have the times changed that much?" Lucius asked with a soft purr.
Dumbledore sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Having to battle with both Salazar Slytherin and Lucius Malfoy in the same day was more than any man should have to endure. "I value every student just as much, no matter what House they are sorted into," he said reproachfully, giving his former student a wounded look.
"My mistake, Headmaster," Lucius said with an insincere smile, both men knowing the truth of Dumbledore's statement. "Be as it may, you still need to send a stronger message to the student body. Considering the ambition of some of the students present at the school, how long do you think it will be otherwise, before they decide to take matters into their own hands? If Ronald Weasley can get away with such behaviour, putting the blame on his hot temper, how long before others follow his example? If that was to happen, I would be forced to remove my son from this establishment for fear for his life. I know many would share my concerns…" Lucius allowed his voice to trail off, knowing the Headmaster would read into it as the threat it was. Albus Dumbledore might not like the Slytherins, but he wasn't about to lose most of them, and that is what would happen if Lucius Malfoy went out and voiced his concern for his heir's health if he remained at Hogwarts. Half of the Ravenclaws would not hesitate to follow his example, and after them the Hufflepuffs would soon follow, leaving Dumbledore with a handful of Gryffindors…
Albus cringed. He was backed into a corner and he knew it. "Very well, I will inform Mr. Weasley of his loss as soon as classes are out for the day."
"Good," Lucius said briskly, getting up from his seat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to see the school nurse and then I need to return to my son. Don't expect either of the boys to return to classes before Monday." With that, the aristocrat swept out of the office, not giving Dumbledore a chance to question him further.
Albus sat back in his chair and sighed. Things could have gone worse; still, they could have gone much better. Sighing once more, he plopped a lemon drop into his mouth without thought and promptly choked. Ear wax. It was not tastier the second time around. Abandoning his sweets, he wrote a note to Minerva, asking her to bring Weasley to him. Now all he had to figure out was whom to give the badge to. No matter who it was, he would suffer greatly from Ron's temper. He supposed he should give it to Harry, he had shown his maturity time and time again, after all. However, he would be busy with the DA and not have much time for Prefect duties. Add to that the fact that he no longer lived in the dorms…
But the only other sixth year boy he could give it to was Neville, or possibly Dean, but neither boy deserved to be caught in the middle like this. Damn Lucius Malfoy to the seventh hell; this was all his fault, anyway!

A/N. Well, folks, the secret is out. (How many of you had guessed correctly?)

On popular demand, the sneak peaks will stay. So… for next week, Molly will make a visit to Hogwarts, and we will find out what she thinks of Ron's behaviour.
Until Next Time…
Janara