Bitter Transmutation : Cruel Transformation || Drarry

Part 2

Draco sat on a window ledge and stared out at the long dark expanse of the castle grounds. A storm was brewing, grey clouds darkening the sky as the wind crashing across the tops of the trees, like a wave.

He glanced at the door at the end of the long conference room where he had been told to wait for Potter's guest. He had been surprised about the meeting happening so soon when Potter had been so uncertain she would agree to come at all.

Draco shifted restlessly, an uncomfortable prickle was spreading from his shoulder blades, down his back. He had felt something like this before, but never this strong, like all his muscles were bunching and clenching beneath his skin. And... he felt scared.

He heard a baby cry and dropped his feet to the floor as the door swung open. A beautiful woman with silvery blond hair stepped inside, closing the door behind her as she gently hushed the baby in the sling on her front. Then she saw Draco, and recoiled, her back pressing tight against the door. Her already pale skin went nearly translucent with fear.

Draco felt a flaring aggressive, pulsing thrum in the base of his skull. A molten feeling pooling in his mind, replacing the prickling under his skin with burning pain that spread from his back and shoulders and down his arms.

And at the same time, he wanted to stand. He wanted to- to be bigger. He wanted to be bigger than her. For her to be afraid. For her to run, to go away- just go away. Draco's hand's twitched and ached, clenching and unclenching.

He knew he couldn't allow himself to stand. He didn't even trust himself to move.

Every muscle in his body trembled, fighting against him as he held himself perfectly still. His breathing shuddering in uneven gasps.

"I should not 'ave brought ze baby," she said ruefully, her hand gripping the doorknob, ready to run.

Draco recognized her voice, it was Fleur Delacour, now married to one of the Weasley brood.

"If you do not move, I will talk," Fleur said. She waited a moment and then continued, never taking her eyes off him, " 'arry wrote me and 'e was right, you are a veela."

"What?" Draco breathed.

Fleur nodded, "I can feel it. You can as well, yes?"

"No," Draco breathed.

"It is true," Fleur said shortly. The baby began to whimper, and she pressed a protective hand over their back. Her nails had grown sharp, and black as slate.

"I 'ave read about male veela, but 'ave never seen one. You do not seem possible, yet 'ere you are." Fleur swallowed hard, the door handle clicked as she eased it open, "You are young, an' dangerous. I want to rip your throat out, so I am going to go."

Draco just stared, his mind gone too numb to even respond.

Fleur stepped out into the hall, the sconces hit her silvery hair making it flicker with yellow and orange light, "I will send a list of names, teachers from Beauxbaton, zey might help you. Zere are books veela read to prepare for ze change. I can do no more for you."

The door started to shut and paused once more, her voice carrying through the gap, "Do not see other veela like zis. Once ze change is done, it will be safer."

The door closed.

Draco didn't move. Not until his muscles began to unclench, and the prickling between his shoulders faded.

He collapsed back against the window, the cold condensation soaking through his robe. Draco looked down at his hands, hands he didn't recognise. Horrible long fingers with longer black hooked claws at the end of his fingers and skin that almost looked like scales as it spread up his arm. He stared numbly as his hands slowly changed back, pain radiating through his hands and pulsing up his arms with every beat of his heart. He kept staring long after his hands had gone back to normal.