CHAPTER TWO: Don't Give Up...

Disclaimer: Same.

Draco leaned up against a tree, panting heavily. It was all over. He'd failed his mate. He'd failed Blaise. He had his money now, and he appeared to be his old self due to the charms he had successfully cast. The Death Eater's had been faster though. He and Blaise had to split up. Someone had died, he'd heard the killing curse and no one else had been there, save for him, Blaise and the Death Eaters. He felt broken inside. He had failed. His Veela blood screamed red hot through his veins. He had to find his mate, had to keep them safe. He would fight off the Death Eater's himself. Maybe The Boy Who Lived would help him. Yes... the Boy Who Lived. He was a goody goody Gryffindork wasn't he? He'd help Draco purge the castle of Death Eaters. He'd help Draco protect his bond mate, help him bring Dumbledore back.

But Draco didn't know where he was, didn't know if he was even safe. He glanced around. How would he find the school now? His love? Suddenly his newfound Veela senses kicked in. Draco knew where his mate was, school had already started he'd be there and he was feeling a very strong pull in a Northern direction. The fatigue was suddenly gone and Draco was filled with need. He knew where to go, energy enough to fuel the entire school for decades flooded through Draco, the surrounding trees bent and swayed beneath the power. Draco puffed with pride and took off at a full scale run, almost floating. Veela's were incredibly fast. This particular Veela was going to search out his mate and could have outrun anything.

Draco let nothing but the idea of reaching his mate flood his mind. Pain shot through his wizard body, being pushed far too hard. Draco was covering miles quickly. He feared he wouldn't last and a suddenly a sharp pain racked his body. Draco cringed, his eyes squeezing closed as he fell. He held out his arms to stop his fall, but never hit the ground. Cautiously Draco opened his eyes. He was floating at least 20 feet in the air. He swung around madly, trying to see what had him, it was as if he was suspended by invisible wire. That's when he realized what the pain had been. Draco had wings. Big, black, leathery wings. After testing them a moment it seemed they operated on thought and sight, sort of like a broom.

Draco pushed himself higher and higher till he was far above the trees. He could sense another powerful magic, maybe a band of Death Eaters, far off but heading in the same direction as the school. Draco's eyes narrowed to slits.

"I'll be damned." he hissed. He focused all his thoughts on the school and took off at a frightening speed, even for Draco who was an expert on a broom. He pushed the other magic out of his mind and focused only on speed, on beating that thing to Hogwarts. He had a feeling he was going to die before he could even meet his mate. He would die defending him. 'HIM?!' Draco's mind shot back. 'No time to think on that, I have to reach him, I have to. I have to. I have to.'

It wasn't long at all before Draco was gliding over the forbidden forest. He slowed now and as he tried to land, promptly hit a tree limb. Embarrassed, Draco jumped up, dusting himself off. He had no idea why he was embarrassed. No one else was there, it was his first landing, he could have died so he did a pretty good job... he thought. Draco's wings folded neatly around him, like an expensive cloak. He liked that a lot. He reached up to touch the rough exterior of the wings and noticed two things at once. Long, sharp talons had grown from the ends of his long fingers and each fiber on his wings seemed to be it's own bit of magic, barbed at the end of each strand. The wind blew and he watched each strand shift with it, until he caught the scent. His mate was so close. Draco took off through the forest, realizing he wasn't alone as he traveled. The other power he'd felt earlier was close and headed in the same direction he was. They were going to intersect.

Draco tried not to let out a yelp as he came upon the creature. It was a dragon, snarling and snapping. It was unlike any dragon Draco had ever seen, about twenty feet long and crimson red. It appeared to be covered in feathers. The dragon lunged at Draco, easily dodged. Draco bore his fangs, hissing and lashed out at the creature that was trying to encircle him, trap him. A familiar smell invaded him.

"Blaise?" he hissed.

"Draco?"

There was a loud pop and the two creatures stood there looking for all the world like two normal Slytherin boys. "Draco! Mate, I thought you were dead!" They embraced happily, relieved that neither was the threat.

"What the fuck were you Blaise?"

"What the fuck were YOU Draco? You didn't look at all like yourself either."

"I don't know? A Veela? We'll figure it out later," Draco said, feeling the pull of his bondmate. He glanced in the direction of the school, they were just outside the Quidditch pitch now, a game was being played. Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. "Please don't let it be a Gryffindor." he whispered.

"I'm more worried about my mate being a Hufflepuff." Blaise whispered back, even though he knew Draco was talking to himself. They carefully strode out of the Forbidden Forrest, trying for all the world to look like they belonged there. They didn't make it far when McGonagal stopped them.

"Boys," she said in her normally callous tone, wand drawn, "what are you doing here? You two have been reported missing. Your mothers are here, worried sick." Blaise blanched and looked at Draco, a wide grin spreading over his face.

"They're alive," the boys whispered simeotaneously.

"We missed the train." Draco said, staring down his Transfiguration professor.

"We had to walk." Blaise added.

"I know that's a lie boys, we'll sort it out later, come along." McGonagall said, leading the way to the castle.

The teasing smell of his mate flirted with Draco's Veela side and he veered away from Blaise and the professor, with Blaise quickly following suit.

"We should go with her." Blaise said in a warning tone, "can't you wait Draco? We've waited this long."

"I cannot." Draco replied, nearing the stands. He climbed up into Slytherin's stand, McGonagall yelling at them to come back. Several professors were gathered with her now, they knew something was wrong.

"Draco. DRACO!" That was Snape.

"Dracoooo. Deathhhh Eaterrr." Blaise hissed. Draco ignored him, trying to follow the scent of his bondmate. It had been here but now it was gone. Somewhere on the other side of the pitch. One of the players then, because no one had passed him going down.

Blaise spotted the Death Eaters before Draco did. It was dusk now and they were easily hidden in the darkness outside of the pitch. They sprang onto it, curses flying. Panic ensued, professors were ushering students to run to the school. The DA was forming on the pitch around Harry Potter. When Draco spotted Harry, he knew. This was his mate. His stomach flip flopped at the beautiful sight. Then alarms went off, there were far more Death Eaters than there were the DA. Draco felt his body turn and change to the Veelan form. He jumped from the top of the stands, his wings spread open and he let out a terrible howl, diving for the Death Eaters, claws bared. Blaise was encircling the DA, pushing them back towards the school, in full Magiodrago form. They stabbed at him with their curses, Harry doing the most damage. Draco tore through the Death Eaters, clawing and beating them back. He was covered in their blood and they shot curse after curse at him. He couldn't count the number of banned curses they were using, even unforgiveables. He felt none of them, batting them off, like flies. They were all students he noticed, ripping out Crabbe's throat as he headed for Nott. Slytherin students.

Blaise cried out in pain behind him. *Harry* Draco turned to run for them, Blaise was standing on his back haunches, wings spread, spitting a little amount of dark red fire, slashing his tail wildly at more of the Death Eaters. The DA stood behind him now, covered in Blaises blood and feathers, staring. They had no idea what was going on. Bellatrix was there, appearing as if from nowhere, aiming her wand at the group. She was saying something snide to the Golden Trio, ready to fire. Draco took to the air, flying faster than he thought he could as he topppled straight into Bellatrix.

"GET OFF OF ME!" She shrieked, pushing away. Draco shook his head wildly, he was growing weak. "I WILL KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE HALF BLOOD! YOU BLOOD TRAITOR!" She shrieked, aiming her wand at him, readying to cast the killing curse no doubt. Draco was weak, and he could feel Blaise losing. Then she paused, an evil smile came over her face and she bent down to whisper. "or maybe I'll kill your mate..." Quickly, she pointed her wand at the DA and Blaise. Draco was quicker, he dove onto the DA just as Blaise was encircling them tighter. Instinctively Draco spread his large wings out, pulling as many of them to him as he could.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bellatrix shrieked, hitting Draco square in the back. He fell forward on top of the mixed house group of students. Blaised coiled even more tightly around the bunch, fitting them all beneath his friends impressive wingspan. He was too weak to fight anymore. His friend was dead, and he was using his body as shelter. But his mate, and hopefully Draco's were safe within his coils. He fought for consciousness and sanity as aurors flooded the field, wands drawn, the dark mark glittering in the sky. The death eaters were gone, those that lived. Blaise released his grip and rolled himself out, writhing in the pain he was feeling. His best friend, his life long defender was dead, laying on the ground beside him, wings crumpled. The aurors were rushing them now. Blaise bared his rows and rows of sharp jagged teeth, attempting to snap. Why did everyone have to wear black robes? It was hard to tell who was friend, and who was foe.

Hagrid was rushing between them, arms raised, warning off the aurors. Something about danger, that the students were okay...something about rare beasts. He wasn't a beast, Draco wasn't a beast... he rolled over to Draco and let out a whimper, nudging him with his tail. He let out a howl, though not loud because he was soon to lose consciousness. His ears were ringing louder and louder. The last thing he remembered was Draco's unbroken wing rising into the air, and his clawed hand reaching out for the injured Magiodrago.

"Are they okay...?" he was whispering. Blaise managed one last nod and what he hoped was a not too terrifying smile before he let the darkness take him.

The next thing Blaise knew he could hear Draco's voice through the darkness as he fought to seek out his friend.

"YOU mean abosolutely NOTHING TO ME! You WILL free me, you will do it NOW! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" Draco was roaring at someone. The room shook.

"Mr. Malfoy, I would ask you to..." That was Madame Pomphrey.

"I must find him I must and don't you MR. MALFOY ME! My name is not MR. MALFOY it's-"

"DRACO!" That was Narcissa. Blaise opened his eyes, dizzy and still groggy. He pulled himself up to watch. The infirmary was filled with students, all wounded from the battle on the quidditch pitch. Draco cast a glance over to Blaise, ignoring his mother.

"Things are not well Blaise, they're not. Can you move? We have to go. They have me hexed to this damned bed Blaise. We have to go, we have to go now."

"Draco." his mother soothed, petting back his hair, "Draco, calm yourself."

Blaise tried to move and was incensed that he couldn't. He struggled angrily against his bonds, there was no escape. "Draco, you must calm yourself. Your powers are new. You could hurt someone."

"I'll hurt YOU ALL if you don't let me GO!"

"He doesn't like being bound. We were bound for a long time. Let us go. Let us go now," Blaise hissed, searching for the 'beast' as Hagrid had called it, inside him. Narcissa sighed as Snape approached. Both boys seemed stilled for a moment.

"I have potions for both of you, I meant to be here when you awoke. I feared you had been killed." He said, addressing them together.

"They won't take their potions." Madame Pomphrey grumbled. Snape ignored her and went to each boy, and they willingly drank the potions vials he offered. She just stared. Snape lifted his wand and released them both.

Faster than anyone could stop the boys pounced him and Narcissa, hugging them with whispered praise and vows of loyalty. Rose Zabini chose this moment to run into the room and was promptly tackled by both teary eyed boys. "we thought you were all dead" both boys kept lamenting.

"Headmaster, I believe you want to speak with our boys?" Rose said, glancing at McGonagall. Draco and Blaise both paled, staring at each other. Blaise dry heaved.

"What day is it? WHAT DAY IS IT?" Draco screamed, glancing down at a wizards watch he had on his wrist. They had four hours to return to the true headmaster before the last of the potions they had left to sustain him wore off.

"Malfoy. How did you get here?!" It was the Golden Trio and several other Gryffindors including Seamus, Dean, and Neville. They all had their wands drawn, though not aimed. Except for Harry. He had his pointed straight at both boys. The rest of the group followed suit slowly. "Did you do this?" He accused gesturing at the wounded students with his free hand.

"Well Ferret?! How did you get here, you weren't on the train." Ron snapped.

"He's a Death Eater just like his *father*," Harry snapped in chorus. Blaise drew his wand to defend himself but lowered it when he heard Draco snarl. That must mean that... Oh...oh, no. Harry Potter was Draco's bondmate? A wave of sympathy crashed over him. Poor Draco.

"He is NOT a Death Eater!" Narcissa shrieked, reaching for her wand.

"Stop this NOW." Blaise roared, using his magic to nearly deafen them all. "We are NOT Death Eaters Harry Potter! You don't know as much as you think you do. In fact, you don't know shit, none of you do. You have no respect for this school or Madame Pomphrey, raising your wands in here like this, amidst your Headmaster and professors! It's time to GROW UP!"

At this, everyone lowered their wands. Draco was inching away, whimpering under his breath so that only Narcissa and Blaise could hear him- being as they weren't human. They were causing a scene and he knew his own bondmate was close by. It wasn't as easy for him to find that person as it was for Draco. Though he knew, whoever it was, was very anxious and scared... and in very close proximity. He sighed, relaxing. The smell of his bondmate was soothing to him, calming his inner...beast. Glancing back at Draco he realized what was happening. Draco was slowly maneuvering himself between Snape and Harry. He didn't even realize he was doing it. Protecting Harry from a Death Eater, albeit a safe one. Blaise attempted to give Draco a reassuring smile, as he looked broken,

"Dray...Dray?" he tried to get his friend's attention. He looked as though he was going to panic, "Draco," he said, a little more forecefully and getting his attention, "we have to go- there's no time for this... stuff. Later, Draco, we'll deal with all this later. Together. We can not give up hope."

The young blonde Slytherin composed himself almost immediately, nodding.

"Headmaster, mother, Aunt Rose, professors, we really must be going... we will return. Within a few hours... there's something we have to do."

"You will stay here. We have to discuss all that has happened Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall said.

"There's no time. No time," Draco said, drawing attention to himself while Blaise raided the potions cabinet. "A life depends on us leaving right now. A very important one. We have to go..." Narcissa, Rose, and Snape glanced at each other and then at McGonagall who was watching them as if they contained all knowledge. "I'm sorry, I really am. We have to be going now."

"Only one life? Can't one of you stay then?" Rose asked. Draco and Blaise glanced at each other. It was obvious the elder Slytherins thought a bondmate was involved directly.

"No, mum, we go now. Together. No seperation. Not after everything."

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Several of the younger Gryffindor's chorused.

"Going to meet your dark lord?" Harry hissed. Draco paled but continued to move around them, heading for the door.

"We will come back." He replied to Harry, like a promise. With that, he was gone, rushing down the cooridors. Harry and friends turned to follow.

"MR. Potter, you will stay right where you are. You too Mr. Weasley, Granger, let them go." McGonagall said. They watched together from the windows of the infirmary as the two young boys raced off the front steps and off the grounds, disappearing into the darkness. "I believe we need to know more, before we grant you all asylum." McGonagally said, turning to the elder Slytherins. Madame Pomphrey was busy pulling the stay asleep charms from the wounded students in their beds. She was muttering something about Blaise and Draco's health, not being well enough to leave. She turned to the Gryffindor group, eyeing them in annoyance.

"It's past curfew, go to your dorms!" McGonagall snapped. With that, they all rushed off to whisper in the common room and try to figure out what was happening and where those creatures had come from, and where they'd gone- or even WHAT they were. They'd check with Hagrid in the morning.