Chapter 1: Finding Draco

This is set in Harry Potter's seventh year. Non- DH compliant.

Disclaimer: If I owned the wizarding world I wouldn't be writing on a fanfiction site, I would be writing for a publisher.

Warnings: Slash. Allusions to abuse.

Chapter 1: Finding Draco

Harry breathed deeply, trying to push away his conflicting emotions.

It was September 1st. The day he would be going back to Hogwarts.

Well, technically he was only getting on the train. By the time said train arrived at Hogwarts, him and four others would be gone.

Hopefully.

Usually Harry would be ecstatic to see King's Cross again, but today it seemed his nerves were muddling that happy nostalgia. He had a few things to do.

He had come into his inheritance over the summer.

His very unexpected creature inheritance.

Harry looked down at his clothing, surprised again by how far he was from the ground.

He stood a solid 6'2", making his growth spurt a whole 6 inches. The change was drastic, but he fit it well. His new build was strong thanks to his Vyspa genes and his years of quidditch and chores.

What is a Vyspa? Well young Harry had to ask himself the very same question.

A Vyspa is a very powerful creature closely related to the phoenix, and Harry was 1/4 Vyspa on his father's side.

Many things had changed since his birthday and along with it his inheritance, but the most influencing one, at least according to Harry Potter, was this: he had a mate.

*FLASHBACK*

Harry cried out in surprise and agony, gripping the dresser as a sharp pain cut through his back.

12:01.

'Happy birthday Harry,' he thought to himself, biting his lip to keep from crying out again lest he wake his relatives.

The pain hit him hard, and he nearly wept. Nearly.

Then an unknown feeling coursed through him. A yearning. An urge. A need.

'Mate. Must find mate.'

His instincts pushed him to focus on that feeling, bringing with it a foggy vision of some sort.

-A tall man was approaching, platinum hair flying behind him as he marched forth.

'Lucius. Why was Lucius here? Is this a vision from Voldemort?'

It didn't feel like a vision from Voldemort. This one felt much more… welcome.

The man crouched down in a swift movement, grabbing hold of the thin shirt in front of him and lifting the wearer of it. A boy, Harry noted, wishing he could see more of who he was obviously embodying than thin, pale arms and a sleep shirt.

"Unnatural is what you are," Lucius sneered to the victim of whom Harry was apparently watching from the eyes of.

'Couldn't be Voldemort's then, I doubt Lucius would speak like that to Ol' Voldy,' Harry belatedly considered.

"You disgust me," Lucius snarled, offering a look of absolute revulsion. "A creature's mate is bad enough, but a submissive? A Malfoy submits to no one!"

A light whimper sounded, and Harry felt an unexpected surge of possessive anger when Lucius dropped his victim in order to smack him.

'Mine!' His mind growled.

"I'd expected more from my heir than to be somebody else's whore. You are no son of mine."

Harry watched helplessly from the eyes of the boy as he was left alone.

He looked up into the mirror facing him with fearful, weeping eyes.

'Draco?!'

"Help me," the blonde whispered, "Whoever you are please help me."

He saw pale hands summon a trunk, and necessities get piled in.

A thick ring was caressed before he rasped, "Take me to the dungeons."

With a pull at his navel, Harry's vision blurred before he saw the concerned eyes of his potion's professor.

"Draco? What's happened?"

And the vision ended.

Harry lifted his own eyes to look in the mirror, Draco's scared face flashing in his mind.

"I must find my mate," he said to himself, "before I lose him."

**END OF FLASHBACK**

It had taken Harry a little while to get used to the idea of having Draco as a life mate, and even more time to get used to the fact that he wasn't completely human, but the more he thought about it, the more the feelings he had for the boy changed from irritation to fondness and the more he understood who he was.

"Now I just need to find him."

Knowing Draco as he did, he had realized that the boy would be on the train as to not draw attention to the fact that his father had disowned him. No one would know that anything was different, except Harry of course and any death eater spawn that had been told.

Harry strolled almost leisurely down the aisle, searching for that special warmth that would come when he neared his mate.

He heard a yell.

"Leave me alone, Pansy, I already told you, it's just a tattoo!"

"I just want to see it!"

"No!"

Harry froze outside the door, donning his cloak lest he be seen as the voices continued arguing. Surely Draco would feel him?

"It's a mate mark!" Pansy accused, "A sub!"

"Knew you'd be a slutty pillow biter," the gruff voice of Goyle sounded.

"I said leave it-"

Harry heard a loud thump of what was obviously a body forcibly hitting the wall, and his anger was nearly overwhelming.

"C'mon boys, let's leave the faggot. Don't want to be contaminated."

The pug-faced girl strutted out, leading away Crabbe and Goyle, and Harry slipped in behind them.

He ripped away his cloak, performing a locking and silencing charm on the cabin.

"Potter-!"

"Draco," Harry interrupted, turning to look the boy in the eye.

Draco stopped, swallowing a gasp.

"You- you're- but you hate me. I can't be- must be a-"

"I swear if you say mistake I might have to hit you."

Draco flinched, seeming to curl in on himself.

Harry softened, moving to pull Draco's chin upward.

He winced just as Draco did.

"I didn't mean that like it sounded; I would never lay a cruel hand to you. Ever."

Draco nodded, averting his eyes.

"Draco?"

His mercury eyes snapped back to him, biting his lip with the effort it took to hold his tears back.

Harry's eyes followed his lower lip as it was nervously rolled between his teeth.

"Yes?"

Harry searched Draco's face before prompting, "Do you still need me to help you?"

He nodded again.

Harry saw the unshed tears and he lifted a hand to stroke his cheek, "Well, I'm here."

Draco seemed to be battling within himself.

"What is it Draco?"

"I- May I- Um."

Harry leaned forward, pressing their heads together.

"Anything. Just tell me."

Draco averted his eyes, focusing on the wall behind him as saltwater trailed down his cheek.

"I-" he broke off in a sob, covering his mouth to hold it back.

Harry brought the smaller boy into his arms, rocking him back and forth.

"Oh, darling, what has happened to you?"

"Did you see-? He hit me. He saw your mark and he- he exploded."

Harry held him closer.

"I'm so sorry, baby, I didn't know I was a Vyspa, much less that you were my mate. I would've never let you back in that house if I did. Snape and I had planned your protection to begin when we got back."

"You did?"

"Of course. You are no death eater. Snape's cover is going to be blown within days, when they realize that Dumbledore's death was faked. He was going to find a safe house for you."

Draco closed his eyes. Harry's words were so hard to believe, but all his instincts were screaming for him to lean on his dominant, and even without the inheritance he would know to trust the word of Harry Potter.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Crying on your robes, and for making you get stuck with me. I'm sure you don't want someone like me as a mate."

Harry pulled him further onto his lap, brushing the hair from his eyes.

"Of course, I want you as a mate. Don't think for a minute that I don't. If I didn't, then I wouldn't have come, I would've started my mission and left you to Snape."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm taking you with me of course. You are my mate, I must have you near to protect you. I have to know that you are safe."

"I don't need protection."

Harry frowned, bumping their noses to gain the attention of the smaller boy.

"You are mine to protect."

Draco pouted.

"I'm not some girl Potter, I can-"

"I am aware that you are not a girl, Draco. If you were, this wouldn't work. You are still my mate and I will keep you protected."

"Just because I'm your sub-submissive doesn't mean you can order me around."

Harry made up his mind then, leaning forward to catch Draco's bottom lip. He sucked lightly at first before initiating a soft kiss.

"We are partners now, and that means we protect each other. I want you by my side. Dray."

Draco considered his emerald orbs, agreeing with a nod of his head.

"Okay Har- Potter."

"Call me Harry, Draco. You more than anyone have that right."

"Why? We've been enemies since first year."

"Doesn't matter. You are no longer my enemy, you are my mate. You belong with me, and I'd appreciate if my lover called me by my given name."

"Your lover?"

Harry rose an eyebrow.

"I didn't mean to sound presumptuous, but you are my-"

"I know. I just didn't know if you would want- I'd understand if you didn't-"

Harry kissed him again, effectively shutting off his jumble of words.

"I want all of you, but we will go slow eh? I can tell you are weary of the subject."

"I've never-"

Harry smirked.

Draco scowled, "Don't-!"

"I'm not making fun of you Dray, I am actually quite pleased. My possessive nature calms when it doesn't feel threatened."

"Oh."

"Well, come along. We need to disappear. The train has nearly arrived. Snape will take care of their memories and meet us at HQ."

"Oh."

"Are you alright, Draco?"

"Just peachy."

"Draco, what's wrong?"

He nuzzled Harry's shoulder, taking stock of the warmth while he still could, for this surely wouldn't last.

"I'm just frightened. It's a lot to take in."

Harry hugged him, pressing a butterfly kiss to his neck.

"I'll keep you safe my dragon," he assured before saying the trigger words.

"Mischief Managed."

Then came the familiar pull.

TBC