I don't own Harry Potter or its characters. The veela idea I did not get off Frizzy, but Minerva-Severus-Dumbledore who got it off Frizzy. I have read Magnetic Attraction, and I thought it was great!
I have Frizzy's permission to use the idea!
Thanks to Lunar Shadowsong, who is Beta reading this for me!
Crazy in Love
Harry was walking along the deserted Charms corridor, when a tall figure slammed into him. Harry and the person fell to the floor in a tangle of arms and legs. He had a confused impression of blonde hair and silver eyes, before Ron and Hermione pulled him up. They looked on as Blaise Zabini helped a scowling Draco Malfoy to his feet. There was a hush up and down the corridor as the two enemies stared at each other, and several whispered 'uh oh's could be heard as the crowd waited for the explosion.
It never came. Instead, Draco gave Harry a puzzled look, shook his head and turned away from the confused, unruly-haired teen who stared after him with puzzled green eyes.
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah?"
"What happened?"
"Hey, we'd better get to Charms, or we're gonna be late," Ron interrupted, looking at his watch.
The trio trooped into the Charms classroom, where Flitwick was just starting the lesson – summoning fairies for the Christmas Ball. He explained that the sixth years would have the task of producing fairies to decorate the rose garden. Harry switched off as soon as Flitwick started talking, his mind focusing on Malfoy's unusual behaviour. The blonde hadn't been himself for a week; he'd been spending a lot of time in the infirmary and was noticeably paler – which Harry had previously thought impossible. Hermione nudged him, breaking his train of thought.
"Harry! You've been staring into space for five minutes! Weren't you listening?"
"What? Oh, no. What are we doing?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, and Ron explained to Harry what they were doing. Harry firmly pushed all thoughts of Malfoy to the back of his mind, and got on with the lesson. To Hermione's astonishment, he managed to produce five glittering fairies by the end of the lesson, and earned Gryffindor ten house points for making the last one's wings shimmer from blue to green.
Draco wasn't at Dinner, and while Hermione was arguing with Ron over SPEW, Harry wondered what was wrong with him. About halfway through his Shepherds pie, Madame Pomfrey slipped into the hall and whispered something into Dumbledore's ear. Dumbledore smiled at her, and looked meaningfully at Harry, who abandoned his dinner, and went up to the staff table.
"I'll need you to come up to the infirmary, Mr Potter," Pomfrey told him worriedly.
"Ok. Why?"
"Nothing to worry about, Harry, just something we need to clear up," Dumbledore reassured him, blue eyes twinkling.
Harry followed the two older wizards out of the hall and up to the infirmary, which was empty, apart from the bed at the end, which was hidden by the large, pale blue screens Harry knew so well. Feeling uneasy, Harry waked slowly behind Dumbledore around the screen, and found a pair of desperate silver eyes locked on his own.
Draco's wrists were tied loosely to the bed, and his hair was loose, falling over his face. He looked trapped, like a wild animal, and he unconsciously leaned towards Harry.
"Mr Malfoy is ill," Dumbledore stated.
Harry looked at the pale boy, and scowled, making Draco retreat against the pillows, looking hurt.
"What's that-" he stopped himself from spitting the word 'ferret' with a conscious effort, "-got to do with me?"
"He cannot think clearly or rationally, instead his consciousness seems to retreat, leaving his brain functioning on its own, almost as if he is asleep, but sleepwalking. We are not completely sure why, but we think it could be because he is part Veela."
'Figures he's not completely human' Harry thought. "So?" he said out loud.
"You've been studying veela this term, haven't you?"
"Um, yes, every other week." Harry now had one lesson a week with Hagrid, and one the next with Grubbley-Plank. It was Dumbledore's way of letting Hagrid teach; yet letting the students learn as well.
"Then you'll know that we are one week into the mating season."
"Yes," Harry said cautiously. "But I still don't see what this has to do with me."
Dumbledore, as usual, did not answer his question, but continued to run through the facts, like an investigator putting the evidence together. Harry was ready to bet that his headmaster was a Sherlock Holmes fan. Probably another reason why Fudge thought he was completely barmy.
"I believe you had a run-in with Draco earlier today."
"Yes."
"Well, I'm going to put this plainly."
'At last!' Harry thought impatiently. 'About time too!'
"When Draco touched you, he could think properly again. The touch was only for a moment, but its effect lasted for about ten minutes, long enough for him to find a teacher and tell them what he happened."
Madame Pomfrey now stepped forward. "Harry, will you please hold Draco's hand. We just want to see what happens."
Very reluctantly, Harry stepped to the bed and reached out to touch the back of Draco's pale hand, below the guard that held it to the bed rail. Draco twisted his hand desperately, grasping at Harry's wrist with strong, slender fingers. Harry resisted the urge to pull away, and looked at Dumbledore, who was looking at Draco.
"Draco?" the sliver-haired Headmaster asked gently.
"Yes?" Draco replied quietly.
"How do you feel now?"
"I can think. How did I get here? The last thing I remember is running into McGonagal after bumping into Har- Potter."
"You slipped back," Madame Pomfrey told him gently.
"Oh." Draco looked down at where his had was gripping Harry's wrist, before looking up at the dark haired teen, who was currently staring at him with a pair of emerald green eyes narrowed in dislike. "Hi. Um, are you the reason I'm sane right now?" he asked.
"Yeah, I suppose. How long will this last? How long is the mating season? A day or two? A week?" Harry asked, sitting in the chair by Draco's bed.
"Three months."
"WHAT? Three MONTHS?? I have to hold your hand for three bloody months?!?"
"Sorry. I can't help it."
Harry scowled furiously and glared at their joined hands.
"Harry?" Draco asked hesitantly.
"What?"
"I'm really sorry. I can't help it. Please don't leave me." Draco's begged, his voice pleading, his eyes large and frightened.
Harry wasn't heartless, and he softened in the face of such desperation. "Ok. As much as I hate you, I won't let you go any crazier than you already are," he said grudgingly. Dumbledore beamed at him.
"Well, that's settled!" with a flick of his want, Draco's wrist restraints were unlocked, and the blonde teen clambered out of the bed, still clutching tight to Harry's hand. He smiled nervously at the raven haired Gryffindor, who nodded, his jaw clenched, his green eyes smouldering.
"Lets go. Have you eaten?"
"No."
"Kitchens, then. Come on."
Hand in hand, but walking as far apart as possible without blocking the corridor, the unlikely duo walked towards the door.
"Boys," Dumbledore called after them, his blue eyes sparkling merrily. The pair turned to face him. "If you walk closer together, your robes will hide the fact that you are holding hands. But, you don't have to hold hands all the time, yet. You will soon, once the mating season reaches its peak. But for now, it should be enough to simply brush hands every few minutes, then you should be ok. Draco, remember to tell Harry if you need more contact, won't you?"
Harry looked extremely relieved at this piece of information, Draco, to Dumbledore's amusement, looked slightly disappointed. The two turned without a word and waked out of the infirmary together.
"They do make a cute couple," Dumbledore commented to Madame Pomfrey, who stared after him in astonishment as he slipped out of the infirmary.
~*~
The house elves were delighted to give Harry and Draco a tray piled with all sorts of food, from tomato soup to fruit salad, and drink, from pumpkin juice to butterbeer. Harry suggested they find an empty classroom to eat, as it was snowing outside, and Draco agreed. Harry was surprised that Draco was being so co-operative. He hadn't insulted Harry, complained or tried to pick a fight. They had talked a little over the food, and Draco had started to explain what was going on.
"This is such a funny thing for me to try to explain, but here goes. I'm part veela, and the mating season is from December to early March. Veela need someone during that time – a mate – to stabilise them. Veela's have a fragile state of mind – they are quick to anger or love. Without a mate at this time, they are reduced to nothing; their minds shut down and refuse to deal with the world," Draco had told him.
"But why me? Why did you choose me?"
"I don't know. You are caring, brave, protective, right. I didn't consciously choose you, but I am glad I did."
"How long is this for? Life?"
"Yes, I'm afraid. Now I've chosen you, I don't think I'll be able to be with anyone else. If you die, I will. We are connected, or rather, I am connected to you."
"Will you ever need anything more than just contact?"
"Yes. Not for a few years, but yes. I will never force you, however. I cannot hurt you."
"I'm not gay."
"Sorry, but I think you are now. I'll… attack anyone else you go with. I'll also attack anyone who hurts you."
"And if I die, you die?"
"Yes."
"You shouldn't've picked me. I'm the only student that has their life threatened regularly every single year."
"But you're still alive."
Sitting in the owlery, writing to Remus, Harry looked back over the conversation. It had been surprising, and he had found out a lot about what he had been throw into. As long as Draco carried on acting as civilly as he had been, Harry thought he could adjust and accept what Draco had told him. He just didn't want to be in Draco's shoes when Ron found out though. Grinning slightly at the thought of his red haired friend, Harry re-read what he had written.
Dear Remus,
How are you? Full moon was last week, hope it went ok. I've found out something odd. Draco Malfoy is a part veela. You probably know all the facts about veela, so I won't wait parchment telling you what you already know. Apparently I am the only person who can keep him sane. Advice would be nice!!
Merry Christmas
Harry
Hedwig fluttered softly down and landed by Harry's knee. She stuck her leg out, and allowed him to tie the letter on. Once it was secure, he stood up and carried the large white bird on his wrist to the window.
"It's for Remus, ok? Be careful. Make sure he gets it, and you get back in one piece."
Hedwig nibbled gently on his ear and hooted softly before talking to the air and soaring off over the grounds like a white ghost. He watched her go with a sigh, before he heard a weak cry from the other side of the door.
"Harry…"
Harry rushed to the door, flung it open and reached down. Draco was huddled against the wall, shivering. He was curled into a ball and rocking back and forth, muttering.
"I'm ok, he's next door, I'mokI'mokI'mok… Harry's next door, Harry…"
Harry reached for the blond's hand, and Draco gripped it tightly. After a few seconds he stopped shivering, and looked up at Harry gratefully.
"Mind over matter. Guess it doesn't work though," he smiled weakly.
"Sorry I took so long."
"That's ok. I have a theory. Want to hear it?"
"Ok."
"The more contact I have before you leave, the longer I'll be able to hold out."
"So… If I hold your hand for five minutes, I'll be able to leave you for fifteen?"
"Yes."
"We'll try that tomorrow. Come on, hold my hand up to Dumbledore's office; you're still shaky. I shouldn't've left you for so long."
"Don't beat yourself up over it," Draco reassured him as they walked towards the office, unconsciously talking Dumbledore's advice, and walking close together so that the contact was unnoticeable.
~*~
After the had got in – Aniseed Balls, who would've thought… - Harry refused the offer of a Murray mint and plainly stated what they have come to ask.
"Where are we going to sleep? The rest of Gryffindor may not kill Draco, but it might come close, and the Slytherin's would definitely kill me."
"Don't worry. We have rooms for you, one of the lesser used towers in the south wing. Views of the Quidditch pitch, lake and forest. You can see it from your dorm window you know, Harry."
"Oh, the small, dark one at the corner?"
"Yes. Lovely view."
"Sir? How do we get there?" Harry asked, fighting down impatience. Draco noticed his frustration, and squeezed his hand comfortingly.
Dumbledore told them the way, and they set off, towards what was soon to be their new home.
"Just why it had to be behind the picture of Sir Cadogan I don't know!" Harry muttered as they exited the office. Draco, not knowing what they were in for, just smiled warily.
Ok… please leave a review. Ideas would be great! Would you like Ron to blow up? Or should Harry and Draco have a fight? Harry's been quite accepting so far, and maybe it should stay that way, because even if he hates Draco, this Draco is being nice, and I don't think he would wish insanity on anyone -–apart from Voldie! Maybe they should have a totally pointless argument, like who gets the pink toothbrush, or which side of the bed they should sleep on? Tell me what you think!!!
