One

"What in Merlin's name did you just say?"

Draco Malfoy stood in front of his father, his mouth wide open, all knowledge of Malfoy-like manner and charm completely forgotten. He seemed to remember his father speaking but was absolutely positive that he'd heard the words entirely wrong because what he'd heard couldn't possibly be true. Not even if Merlin himself had deemed it true would Draco ever even consider believing it.

A good slap to the back of his head by his Godfather, Severus Snape, brought the blonde back to his senses. Abruptly, he closed his mouth and stared wordlessly at the men standing before him. His father, sounding entirely too amused by the whole idea, repeated the same dreadful words from before and Draco wanted to cry.

"Our family is believed to be among the last known Dragon Shifter Clans in the world, Draco. You've known for some time that you would have to take a mate by Midnight on your Seventeenth birthday. I have no idea why you're acting like I just told you that you're moving to Beauxbatons this year."

Finally, Draco found his voice. "You never told me that I couldn't choose my own mate! How was I supposed to know that by 'take a mate' you meant soul mates?! No one ever even thought about mentioning that little bit of information to me, now did they?! I think not!"

Severus laughed, unable to control his amusement. To see his normally calm and collected godson throw a temper tantrum was simply too funny. Yes, he had a point but that by no means made the sight of Draco stomping his feet and shouting like a two-year-old any less hilarious. In fact, it made it even more funny.

"Draco, do quit acting like a three-year-old boy and collect yourself. This is not as big a tragedy as you make it seem. My lord, you make it seem like your entire world has just crashed down on you." Lucius said, a touch of amusement hidden in his voice.

Draco glared at his father, "I'll thank you not to judge my reactions for me Father."

At this, both Severus and Lucius lost it. Usually, mouthing off to Lucius in such a way would earn Draco a six-day grounding and a revocation of flying privileges. Today, though, it only made Lucius laugh. He remembered what it had been like at sixteen to learn that 'take a mate' meant soul-mate. He'd been even worse than Draco. Screaming and yelling, he'd caused such a ruckus that his father had threatened to make him sleep outside on the Quidditch field. Draco's reaction was to be expected and Lucius was just pleased that it hadn't been nearly half as bad as his own.

"I wasn't allowed to tell you specific details until three months before your seventeenth birthday, Draco. You know the rules. If I had told you, your first transformation would be ruined."

Draco sighed. "Yes well you could have given me some warning!"

"If I would have given you any warning at all, the entire transformation would have been ruined. It is forbidden to know until three months before your seventeenth birthday."

"You have effectively ruined my life." Draco crossed his arms and stared away from the men before him, feeling like his life had just come to a close.

"Once you've found your mate, you may change your mind on that."

"How on earth am I ever going to find my mate? I don't even know how!"

Lucius smiled at his son. "Close your eyes. Focus on your magical tether and follow it. You'll get a glimpse of your mate's most prominent feature. With your mother, it was her smile. Which I knew immediately because she was the only Ravenclaw who'd dare smile at the Malfoy heir. Not to mention the mole above her lips."

Draco rolled his eyes but followed his father's request. His tether led him to a set of eyes. Brilliant, emerald green eyes. He knew those eyes. He'd sketched them in the back pages of his journal, had stared into them tauntingly throughout his years at school. But there was something odd. How could Harry Potter be his mate? Harry was a male and it was exceedingly rare for a male dragon to mate with a male human unless the human was powerful. Which made sense, in a way, because Harry Potter was indeed quite powerful.

This posed a bit of a problem, however. Voldemort would use this against Harry. The urge to protect his mate was almost stifling at the very thought of Voldemort touching Harry. Draco opened his eyes and widened them at his father. His father was smiling at him.

"Who is it then?" Lucius asked, hoping it wasn't someone from a Dark family. If his son could be Mated with someone from a Light family, the Malfoy family could finally come out of the Dark.

"Harry Potter. I'd know those eyes anywhere."

"I'd guessed that this would happen..." Severus stated softly.

"How on earth could you have guessed who Draco's mate would be?" a new voice asked.

Draco looked around with a small smile. His older brother, Asterion, was leaning against the door to his father's study. Asterion was four years older than Draco and had been a Ravenclaw like their mother. He was the heir to the Black Estate and owned his own business on top of it. Draco, meanwhile, was heir to the Malfoy Estate and a student. A damned good one, though, Asterion bragged to anyone who would listen.

"Easily enough. I watched the way your father reacted around your mother before it was discovered that she was his mate. Draco reacted similarly around Potter."

"This...could be a very, very good thing for our family..." Lucius said, looking at Asterion.

Asterion nodded. "Father's right. With a mate as powerful as yours, we'll be safe from Him. He won't be able to stop us from changing sides. We don't have to be Dark anymore..."

"We can be ourselves. No more Evil Malfoy's." Lucius' voice was almost ecstatic.

"I didn't think of it that way..." Draco said in a soft voice.

Severus smiled. "What do we do? We need to arrange a meeting between us and Potter but I know for a fact that he's staying with the Weasley's."

Lucius grinned. "I know just what to do. Arthur and I... we used to be friends. In fact, he was my best friend. I'll write him a quick letter, explaining that I need to see him and his family as soon as possible. We will meet with them first, explain why we turned to the Dark side at all, and then we'll meet with Harry. Arthur's a good man, he believes highly in Family, he will understand."

"I'll be coming along, of course." Asterion said, standing at his full height.

"Of course. Your mother is busy today unfortunately, so we will have to do this without her."

"All right."

Lucius rushed off to send an owl to Arthur Weasley while Draco and Asterion waited with Severus. Twenty-two minutes later Lucius walked back in with a light smile on his face.

"He said he'll see us in the back garden. I think he's wary but he'll understand when he's heard our story."

"All right."

"Severus, you stay here and wait for Narcissa to return. We'll be back as soon as possible."

"I will, Lucius."

Draco went towards his older brother and Asterion held out his arm. Together, the three Malfoy's apparated into the back garden of the burrow. Awaiting them were Molly and Arthur Weasley along with their children, including Hermione Granger and Harry Potter. At the sight of Hermione, Draco heard his brother give a sharp intake of breath. Inwardly, he shrugged his shoulders. He'd find out what was so special about Hermione after their meeting, he supposed. Right now, it was time to effectively break ties with the Dark.