A/N: So this isn't the first story I've written, but it is the first I feel comfortable posting. No promises on updates. Unbeta'd.
"So why don't you watch where you're going, potty?" The smirking blonde snipped, a smug look on his pale face.
"Because I keep getting horrified by your ugly mug." Harry snarled, ignoring the crushing feelings in his chest. But Master's beautiful. Oh, how I want him.
"Better an ugly mug than that thing. Who could want that?" Another smirk.
"Why don't you go ask your mother?" Harry snapped. But I could never bear to touch her. My body is my master's alone.
The blonde scowled and stormed off, flanked by his two goons and followed by the simpering Pansy, who was trying unsuccessfully to get his attention. Harry snorted in derision and turned to go. "Wow, mate." Ron jostled Harry's arm and Harry ignored the way the tightness in his chest increased at the redhead's use of 'mate'. "You really told him." Harry smirked and hid his distress.
"Oh, hey. Let me slip off for a second and I'll meet you at lunch."
"M'kay." Harry ducked into an empty bathroom and unconsciously warded it against entry as he fought back tears. You've been such a naughty pet. Is it any wonder he doesn't want you? Came the instinctive thoughts. Harry stifled a sob, letting delicate, feathered wings emerge from his back. You're unwanted. Unworthy of your master's attention. You're pathetic, acting so independent. What master would want such a bad pet like you? You couldn't please him if you tried. Another sob and Harry crumbled to the floor, his vision fading as he wrapped himself halfheartedly in his wings. You're worthless and weak. Better to have him go on and find someone more competent. Let yourself fade. It's better this way. Harry nodded, whimpered softly and accepted his fate, letting the darkness overwhelm him.
Draco strode confidently into the potions classroom, nodding curtly to his godfather as he perched on a stool. He surveyed the room as he thought deeply. Harry's not here. He thought with concern. I hope he's alright. The students took as much time as they dared to get inside, as no student not in Slytherin wanted to spend any more time around Professor Snape than absolutely necessary. There's the Weasel and the know-it-all mudblood. No Harry, though. For a fleeting moment he reconsidered telling Harry of his heritage but quickly returned to his original plan. I'll wait the year and approach him after graduation. He frowned as the bell sounded and Harry still hadn't shown his face.
"I see our Mr. Potter has deemed himself above attending his classes." Professor Snape purred unpleasantly. "Get to work. Brew me one of the last four potions we have gone over. You have until the end of class and no longer. Try not to destroy my classroom." Draco noticed the other students whispering and nonchalantly eavesdropped on Harry's friends, who, having to take the last available seats, had ended up right next to him, much to their consternation.
"Harry never showed up for lunch." The Weasel muttered under his breath.
"I'm sure he's just fine." Granger hissed back. "Now work. I won't get a fail here."
"Yeah, but what if he isn't? I dunno, but he's been acting kind of funny lately." Ron missed the calculating glint in his partner's eye.
"Oh, really? How so?"
"Well, he's always seeming to spend as much time on the floor as possible, when before he liked to be up on the furniture, and this morning, I found this feather in his bed. Come to think of it, I've been finding feathers all sorts of places. And they are not from any bird I've ever seen. He's more compliant, too, when before, he'd only cooperate when he was in a good mood.
Cold fear clenched at Draco's stomach. Can it be? The shedding of feathers with stress, the subconscious desire to sit at the dominant's feet, the base need to follow orders. I know what I am but the submissive counterparts are rare as all hell. I never thought...Oh, crap. If he thinks I've rejected him...
Draco swore very loudly before sprinting out the door. "Draco!" His godfather roared after him. Draco skidded to a halt in the entrance hall, then ran instinctively up to the fourth floor. Please, Please, Please. The bathroom. That's where the call is coming from. The blonde arrived at the door and the wards recognized the dominant mate and fell. The silence unnerved him and he quietly crept forward, then froze. "Oh, no." He whispered, quickly running to kneel by the still form. "Harry?" He hesitantly touched the pale face, brushing the soft wings aside.
"Harry? Please don't fade." Harry shuddered slightly and Draco pulled the lithe form into his arms. Harry shuddered again, more violently this time as he whimpered softly, and Draco pressed a chaste kiss to his brow. "Wake up for me, pet." He murmured softly. "Come on, now, open those beautiful green eyes for me. That's right, good boy, just like that." Harry's eyes fluttered open, glazed emerald orbs staring at Draco in confusion before filling with fear. "Such a good pet." Draco crooned as Harry began to cry, wet tears streaming down his cheeks. "Don't cry, my sweet." Draco soothed as he stroked the softness of Harry's cheek. "Shh... Hush for me, now."
"I-" Harry's voice broke, and he gave a wet sob. "I thought-"
"You thought I was rejecting you." Draco finished. Harry nodded fearfully. Draco crushed Harry to his chest and drizzled chaste kisses over the tearstained face. "Never, sweetling. I swear it so. Please don't cry." Harry frantically rubbed at his eyes and Draco deftly caught his wrists. "We'll take this nice and slow, alright? Don't neglect your own needs in your attempts to please me. If you want to cry then go ahead and cry. I'll be right here to hold you." Harry nodded and gave a wet *hic* before sobbing openly.
Draco soothingly rubbed the sensitive area between Harry's wings as he let his own larger wings emerge. He wrapped them up in white softness as Harry calmed himself and then began to coo with pleasure. "Everything's going to be alright." Draco murmured, producing a soft handkerchief and handing it to his submissive, who gave him a grateful smile as he dabbed at wet eyes. Harry licked his lips and Draco groaned inwardly. "May I kiss you, sweetling?" He asked gently. Harry nodded and dropped his gaze demurely.
"Anything to make you happy, Master." He murmured. "I live to please you."
Draco tipped Harry's chin up. "Sweetling, I want you to tell me what you want. Do you want me to kiss you?" Draco was concerned to see Harry's eyes fill with tears as the smaller male bit his lip and shivered. Harry started to weep, gasping deep, shuddering breaths, much to Draco's concern.
"Oh, sweetling, sweetling, what's wrong?" He crooned. "I thought we had taken care of the tears." Harry shook his head.
"I...I just..." He began to sob again, turning his face from the blonde, who promptly stroked the smaller male's cheek until Harry faced him again.
"Look at me, darling. I want you to breath nice and deep for me until you can tell me what's wrong." Harry buried his face in Draco's chest and drew deep sobbing breaths as Draco carefully rocked the shaking form, stroking petal-soft hair and crooning gently in Harry's ear. "It'll all be okay, dearest." Draco soothed comfortingly. "Master's right here. Master will take care of you. Tell me what's wrong and I'll help you. Please?" Harry looked up and Draco ached inside at the fear in his mate's eyes. Harry sniffed wetly and Draco produced another handkerchief, Harry having quite thoroughly soaked the first one. "Tell me." Draco ordered firmly but gently. Harry lowered his eyes and nodded submissively.
"You...know what I am?" Harry whispered. Draco nodded. Harry took a shuddering breath before continuing. "Everything I've ever read said that every bond with a sub-" Harry broke off with a sob. Draco rubbed his back until he was ready to continue. "With a submissive trygon ended with the submissive a virtual slave to their Master's every whim and desire. I-" Harry choked on his tears. "I don't wanna be a...a...but I wanna be a good boy." Harry wailed as he clung to Draco. "I wanna be your good boy." Draco pulled Harry close to his chest.
"Oh, my sweetling." He murmured. Draco rocked his submissive as Harry wept softly, taking comfort from his dominant's arms around him. "Shh... Soft, for me, pet. "
"Well, Mr. Potter." Came the familiar dark drawl of Professor Snape. Harry's arms tightened around Draco's waist. "You vanish for all of lunch, skip class and throw the entire castle into a panic, only for me to find you so pathetically attention seeking-"
"Professor." Draco snarled, turning to face the perceived threat and wrapping Harry securely in his wings. "That is my submissive mate you are insulting and I will not have it." Snape raised an eyebrow at the cold, clipped tone.
"I see." He said curtly. "Let's take this up to the headmaster, shall we?" Draco gave a dangerous growl and gazed at Severus with anger in his eyes before his gaze gentled as Harry nuzzled into his chest. Draco's face softened as he gazed tenderly at the beautiful submissive in his lap. My beautiful submissive. He mentally staked his claim. Harry smiled up at him all soft and sweet and innocent, and Draco felt he could drown in the depths of adoration and endless devotion sparkling in emerald eyes, even as the mating drive urged him to run with his submissive to where they wouldn't be disturbed and claim him so thoroughly Harry'd be unable to walk after.
Snape cleared his throat rather loudly and the pair looked up in surprise. "Oh, yes." Draco murmured, moving to rise but freezing when Harry's face fell. "What's wrong, sweetling?" He murmured, love and tenderness lacing his voice.
"Don't let them... Oh, I..." Harry whimpered with fear, fresh tears welling in his eyes.
"Oh, no, no, darling." Draco caressed a soft cheek. "I'm never going to leave you. I swear it." Harry gave a weak, watery smile.
"Hold me?" He whispered, before ducking his head submissively. Draco tipped Harry's chin up before wrapping his arms around Harry's waist as he stood up. Harry held tightly to Draco's neck and wrapped his legs around Draco's middle. Draco held his wings aloft and sauntered out the door, secure in the knowledge that his submissive mate was happy and protected. Severus rolled his eyes and went to follow the pair up to Dumbledore's office, but frowned as he caught a glimpse of a pink cashmere sweater disappearing around a corner down the hall. He made a mental note of the occurrence as he swept after his godson and said godson's mate up the the headmaster's office.
"So, let me see if I've got this all straight. Misters Malfoy and Potter are Dominus and Submorus Venti, respectively, are destined mates, and are requesting rooms for a courting couple as well as a complete reworking of their schedules. Along with this, Mr. Potter needs an appropriate chaperone."
"That sounds about right." Draco said casually, stroking soft, inky-black locks as Harry cooed happily and nestled further into Draco's lap. Suddenly a frantic Ron and his sister burst into Dumbledore's office.
"Professor, we can't find-" Ron caught sight of Harry in Draco's arms, in his lap, no less, and turned a shade of red to rival his hair.
"Harry! What are you doing with that..that-" Ginny looked to be at a loss for words before continuing in a shrill pitch. "That thing?" Harry flushed and Draco addressed a fuming Ginny.
"I'll thank you not to speak with my submissive like that." He snapped.
"Your- submissive?" Ginny raged. "How dare you take him from me?" She suddenly changed to a sugary-sweet tone that was no less frightening to hear. "Harry, darling," She purred. "Surely you couldn't want a Malfoy over me? I can be better for you than that. We'd look perfect together. I can give you children. I know how much you've always wanted a family and I-" Ron stepped up behind Ginny and covered her mouth with his hand.
"Ginny, please shut up." Ron asked quietly. "Don't embarrass me any more that you already have, please." Ginny broke away from her brother, shrieking in outrage. "How dare you? How dare you humiliate me like that, Ronald? Harry's mine, do you here me? Do you? Mine! Mine! He'll marry me and we'll have babies and I'll be the most popular witch there is! He's mine!" Ginny rushed forward and attempted to drag Harry off Draco's lap. Harry whimpered and clung to Draco as the blonde snarled angrily and attempted to rip Ginny's arm off. Ginny shrieked wordlessly and swore as she tried simultaneously to pull her arm away from Draco and molest Harry with her unoccupied hand. Harry was sobbing now and Draco was roaring, attempting to rip a shrieking, screaming Ginny's throat out as the two professors attempted to separate them. Suddenly all went quiet after Ron's roar of 'Stupefy!'
Draco pulled Harry close to him and covered him with his wings in anticipation but was shocked when nothing happened. He was shocked to see Ginny slumped to the floor and Ron stowing his wand away. The redhead turned and bowed to Draco and Harry. "May I congratulate you on your bonding on behalf of the Weasley family. May you and your mate live long and in happiness." Draco was too stunned to offer anything but the proper response.
"My mate and I thank you for your blessing. May you also be lucky in love and life." Harry looked up at Draco and smiled brilliantly.
Snape spoke then. "Well, this is a rather surprising turn of events. Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you write to your father, as he is more likely to accept this than your mother, and I suggest Mr. Potter write to his...godfathers." Severus looked like saying godfathers was a monumental struggle on his part but Draco nodded in approval.
"We'll do that." Turning to the Headmaster, he asked, "And how soon can a suite of rooms be ready?"
"Just a moment. Twinky?" A small house elf appeared. "Can you go now and gather a group of elves to prepare the rooms behind the painting of the dancing hippopotamus in a tutu, please?"
"Oh, yes, yes. Twinky is being happy to be helping Professor Dumblydore, sir." The small elf squeaked.
"Hem, hem." The small cough had the group turning to find Professor Umbridge smiling serenely at them. "Why ever would it do that? Surely not for a student."
"Madame Umbridge, I cannot see how this is any of your business."
"My business is to see if this school is being run properly and I have just received a Ministry decree which states that in the interest of equality no special treatment is permitted, under any circumstances, barring Ministry-approved situations."
"You overstep your bounds, Madame." Snape murmured.
"What? How dare you?"
'According to the educational decree, the Ministry is prohibited from interfering with magical education under any circumstances excepting examinations, and is furthermore banned from interfering with any other educational establishment except in an advisory capacity, according to the Educational Standards Decree of 1872. Furthermore, your appointment here is not official, having not been accepted by at least two-thirds of the Board of Governors, according to the 1926 Defense of Education decree, and therefore you are trespassing.
Umbridge was speechless, and her face was turning a frightening shade of red, and uglier than ever, if that was possible. "You're all making a very big mistake." She began in a cold tone.
"I very much doubt that and so will not read very much into your threat, Madame. I'm going to have to ask you to leave." Dumbledore smiled politely. "I'll give you an hour to be off the grounds. Have a lovely day." Umbridge scowled darkly in response.
"You'll regret this, all of you." She snapped before storming off.
"Twinky?" Professor Dumbledore asked. Twinky nodded. "Can you go now and do what I asked?" Please tell me when you've finished." Twinky nodded and vanished with a *pop*. The two professors turned their attention back to the teens. Draco was cradling a softly sobbing Harry and cooing gently as Ron varied from looking concerned to looking at his sister with distaste. "Mr. Weasley? I'm going to floo your mother. Can you get your sister to the hospital wing?" Ron nodded.
"I'm going to take Harry down to the Slytherin dorms for a while." Draco murmured. "He's getting tired." Dumbledore nodded and Draco ushered Harry out of the office. Snape turned to go.
"I'm going to find out just where this came from. Merlin knows his father never acted like this, and Lily was a muggleborn, meaning she would have been tested for this." The Potions Master swept out of the office and down to his library. Dumbledore frowned. Something funny is going on here. And not the 'ha-ha' type funny, either. Harry should have been tested with the other first years. Ah, well. Mrs. Weasley needs to see to her daughter.
Draco carried Harry down to the dungeons and into the Slytherin common room. The common room was empty, but that was no surprise as classes were technically still in session. Harry cooed sleepily and Draco laid the other on his bed. Harry whimpered and Draco snuggled up with him and Harry buried his head in Draco's chest. Draco pressed a chaste kiss to Harry's cheek. "Oh, my dearest one." He murmured. "I love you so very much." Harry gave a sweet sigh of relief. "Sleep now, dearheart. I'll be just right here when you wake."
Harry woke slowly, and Draco paused in the middle of his letter. "Feeling better, lovely?" He pressed a chaste kiss to Harry's temple. Harry nodded and got up, shuffling sleepily to the bathroom and Draco returned to his half-finished letter, absentmindedly twirling his quill. Let me see. What do I have so far...
"My dearest Mother and Father, I'm writing to inform you that I have found my submissive mate and will formally initiate courtship as soon as I am able. I request that you dissolve my betrothal to the Parkinson's daughter, and I will pay the required recompense from my own vault.
On another note, Miss Parkinson has been rather overenthusiastic in her pursuit of me and I fear she will distress my submissive if she feels it might aid her in swaying my opinion. I will write at a later date with more information and wish you both well.
-Your son, Draconis Malfoy."
Draco fetched the disappearing ink he kept for private messages and jotted down a quick note on the back of the paper. Father should know to look for messages Mother should not be aware of. Here's hoping all goes well.
"My dear father, I am sending this to you for I fear Mother's reaction when she learns the identity of my submissive will be to run straight to: a) her lawyers, b) her friends, or c) the library, and attempt to, legally or not, deceive my Ventus into accepting a submissive of her choice. I request that you arrange a meeting with Severus at your earliest convenience and I will explain fully. - Draco
The blonde placed his seal on the first letter and wrapped the parchment in ribbon, setting it aside as Harry wandered back in. Draco pulled Harry into his lap and kissed him chastely on the mouth. "Will you allow me to pay court to you. my love?" Draco asked as he stroked soft black hair.
"I will." Harry murmured in reply. Draco nuzzled into Harry's neck, finally feeling the fabled warmth the books spoke of as he touched and caressed his true submissive. Harry tilted his head to offer better access and Draco kissed the soft skin. "Perfect." Draco mumbled, reveling in the sweet scent. 'So very perfect." Harry cooed with pleasure as Draco stroked the sensitive area between his wings. "My own dear one. My lovely submissive mate. Are you hungry, my dove?" Harry nodded shyly and Draco tipped his chin up. "Don't be afraid to tell me what you need, darling. Promise me so, my dearest one, my sweet dove. I love you so very much, do you know that?" Harry blushed and Draco smiled gently before leaning in for his first taste of his sweet submissive's mouth. Harry tasted like perfection, and Draco nearly swooned at the small bit of paradise he'd found. Lavender, chocolate, vanilla, and honeysuckle, all together in one sinful, velvety soft mouth. All warm, wet and pliant, yielding to my control but still very much engaged in the kiss. Harry whined with base need as Draco ravished his mouth and Draco growled in pleasure at the sound. The blonde took his time, now exploring the sweet cavern, now teasing the shy muscle, now coaxing that same muscle into his own mouth to be sensuously sucked. Harry was breathing heavily and his eyes were closed when Draco pulled away. The blonde smiled and allowed Harry to rest on his chest. "It's almost dinnertime, love. Shall we eat in the great hall or abscond to the kitchens?"
"Great Hall?" Harry answered shyly.
"Are you asking me, or telling me?"
"The...the Great Hall." Harry answered more firmly. "Please?" Draco smiled gently. We'll work on it. I can't expect six months of fears to be erased in a day.
"All right, dearest. Do you want me to wait for you while you clean up?" Harry shook his head.
"I...I'll be fine. You can go if you want."
"I'm going to save you a seat. Take your time, dinner doesn't really start for another fifteen minutes." Harry smiled shakily and Draco caressed his cheek, kissing him chastely before leaving.