Chapter 2
Obligatory Veela Fic
Summary: Here is my obligatory veela fic since all hp/dm authors must write one as a rite of passage. ;) Draco doesn't know he's a veela! Angry Ron! Semi-OOTP compliant Harry/Draco Slash
Disclaimer: All these lovely characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I just use them for my evil purposes.
Harry didn't really understand why he was defending Malfoy so zealously, but he remembered the terror in those silver eyes when he had first caught him, and the way his magic seemed to be reaching for Harry like a lifeline. Harry knew he'd never be able to hurt the boy again. I'm sure Malfoy will be back to his usual insulting self before long, Harry thought as he fell asleep.
Unless they were in the same class Draco made sure to avoid Harry whenever possible. Before long he was headed home for break. Dressed in some of his finest robes he was sitting at a fancy dinner to celebrate his first night back.
"So how has school been so far Draco?" his mother asked with a smile.
He looked at his father nervously, but decided to mention his problems in case it was some sort of dark spell causing it. His father was an expert there, he thought.
"Well, some weird things have been happening to me," he said cautiously. "I thought I might take a look in the library for some clues."
His mother looked concerned and motioned for him to continue.
"The worst thing seems to be that no one can touch me," he said hoping to leave Potter out of the conversation completely if he could. "It burns my skin until I have to get away."
He saw his mother looking at him somewhat sadly. Did she know what was happening, he wondered.
"You've inher…" she started to say when his father reached across the table and slapped her across the face cutting off anything else she was about to say. The glare he sent stopped her from saying anything else.
Draco flinched, and wanted to run over to help her, but was afraid that it might make things worse. Staying seated, and behaving like he was taught, his father actually looked somewhat proud of him. He felt like a bastard.
Walking up to his room he slipped off the fancy robes, and went to take a shower. When he came out he was dressed in some nice black silk pajamas. They were much nicer against his skin than those robes which were far too warm, and made him sweat.
Slipping back downstairs quietly for a cup of hot cocoa before bed he heard his parents having an argument. That in itself was rare since his mother usually gave in to whatever his father wanted. He could only hear part of it through the closed doors, but didn't want to get any closer in case he someone saw him.
…can't stop me from telling him…
That was his mother, he thought. What did she want to tell him? Was it what she was going to say tonight?
…don't want it mentioned again…
That was his father. They were definitely talking about dinner, he decided.
…filthy Black bloodlines…
What was wrong with mother's bloodlines? She was from an old pureblood family. Draco felt even more confused.
…your parents arranged…bastard…shouldn't have agreed…
…family…centuries of pureblood wizards…worthless heir…filthy…
That was when Draco decided that he had heard enough and made his way back upstairs. His father's words had hurt, but it really wasn't as much of a surprise as he had thought it would be. His father always made him feel worthless despite any problems his blood might carry.
He woke the next morning to find his mother in the chair by his bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked right away, worried that something bad might have happened last night.
"Nothing's wrong dear. I was just enjoying watching you sleep. I don't get to do it very often now that you've grown. I wanted to make sure that you knew I'd be proud of you no matter what you do."
"I don't understand." Draco was confused, and even more concerned by his mother's words.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart." She patted his arm gently. "I'd suggest doing your potions homework first." With that she swept out of the room with a smile.
Draco went to his desk after breakfast and picked up his potions manual as his mother had suggested. As he was flipping through the pages a slim book fell out. It was covered in worn dark leather, and 'Veela Heritage' was written on the front in gold letters. Opening it to the first page, he began to read…
Veelas have the power of attraction in the wizarding world. When they enter a room, heads begin to turn to watch these beautiful creatures. They had many men and women enamored of them. Many had mixed blood children with the witch or wizard of their choice, and their children had a tendency to receive the powers that came with being a veela.
Draco skimmed down past the next few paragraph when a heading caught his eye. His jaw dropped in shock as he realized what the information in the book meant as far as he was concerned. His mother must have secretly placed the book in his potions text. This was what the whole argument last night had been about.
Some half-blood veelas will inherit the desire to take a mate. This will happen when their body is ready and their magic finds someone whose magic matches theirs. A note of caution, looking for a different partner is unlikely to work, and will only cause more pain for the veela. Ignoring the situation will create the same symptoms.
Once a mate has been found the veela's magic will attempt to combine with the other person's. Until this is accomplished, touching anyone but their mate will cause a burning sensation that is quite painful. This will only increase as time continues. A veela will be able to sense their mate from some distance, which is helpful in finding them when they come into heat.
Being rejected by their mate is something that happens very rarely. Both people will feel their magics want to combine making them more amiable to each other. In most cases, veela that have been rejected died once their chosen mate had taken another.
The book slipped from Draco's loose fingers, and hit the floor with a thump. Harry Potter was his mate? Without a shadow of a doubt he knew it to be true. His father would kill him, and then he would kill Harry. He was surprised by the slight flare of magic in him when he thought of his mate being injured. Draco put his face down into his hands. His father was a lost cause. The man thought he was worthless, and didn't deserve any loyalty. The thought of joining the light didn't even give him pause, but he knew that after their horrible past Harry would never accept him. For the first time since he was a small child Draco began to sob.
His mother came in before lunch, and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed with red rimmed eyes.
Sitting down beside him, she placed one hand on his knee. "Did you finish your potions homework?" she asked.
Draco knew his mother wasn't talking about potions. Talking about the book out loud wasn't a smart thing to do. His father was so against the subject he was even willing to slap his mother in public. "I did," he said cautiously. "But I had some problems with the essay. Did you have any troubles with potions when you were in school?"
Narcissa understood what her son was asking. He was asking if her nature made her want to look for a mate as well.
"I had a fairly easy time with potions. Everyone in the class liked me, so I had a lot of help."
Draco nodded. She had received the veela attraction, but not the necessity for a mate.
"What about Aunt Bella?" he asked. Since they were talking about it, he wanted to know about the whole family. Bellatrix was not quite sane, and he wondered if this had anything to do with it.
His mother paused. In a low voice she said, "Your Aunt had the same problems with that potion essay as you do, but she ripped up her essay."
Draco gasped. She had killed her mate? Was he about to leave her for someone else? Even so, no veela could willingly harm their mate, or so he had thought. No wonder the woman was a bit cracked.
He was looking for a subtle way to ask how she had ended up with Rodolphus when a house elf popped into the room.
"Lunch is in the dining room when Master and Mistress are ready," the elf squeaked.
His mother nodded. "Thank you Norry." Turning to her son she said, "Your father will be expecting us for lunch, especially since you missed breakfast. Let me fix your eyes so you don't look like you've been crying and we'll head down."
With a couple flicks of her wand, Draco was back to normal. The two of them headed downstairs looking as if it was business as usual in the Manor.
Later that evening Draco was actually doing his homework when his mother walked in.
"Draco," she asked softly. "Do you know who you're supposed to hand in your potions homework to?"
Draco nodded silently, and drew a lightning bolt on his half finished charms essay. He heard his mother gasp behind him, and steeled himself for her disappointment.
What he didn't expect is a kiss on the cheek as she said, "I'm sure you'll do a great job. After all, you're my son, and I love you."
"I love you too, mother."
Draco went back to school wondering what he was going to do about Harry. If the Gryffindor would give him a chance, he might be able to explain. This was where all his planning failed. He wasn't sure what to explain. Should he start by trying to begin a friendship with the other boy, or should he just tell him what was happening? He wasn't even sure if he'd be able to manage a friendship. Such close contact without any intimacy would be a horrible strain on his willpower.
Deciding that he would take things one step at a time, he wrote a note asking Harry to meet him after class.
A nondescript school owl fluttered outside Harry's dorm room window. He pulled the note from its leg, while it sat on his desk waiting for a reply. His eyes widened when he saw who the note was from.
Harry,
I'd like it if we could meet sometime after class today. I know you don't have any reason to trust me, but I promise it is all on the level. Pick any location you want, just please come alone.
Draco
Was it some kind of trick he wondered? It didn't seem to be. Hell, Malfoy had even called him by name, and said please. He had been hoping for some sort of reconciliation between them. Ever since that day in Transfiguration his animosity for the blonde had dropped lower and lower. He found himself biting his tongue when Ron made nasty comments about the Slytherin so he wouldn't tell his friend to shut up. Ron would never understand. Harry wasn't willing to admit it, even to himself, but he was finding the Slytherin quite attractive.
He saw that the owl was still waiting on his desk, so he grabbed a parchment and scribbled…
Across from the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy at six o'clock
Draco grabbed the note from the owl almost before it had landed. Reading it quickly, he smiled, and hope flared inside him for the first time in months.
At six o'clock Draco found himself pacing back and forth on the sixth floor, waiting for Harry to arrive. He ran up the stairs five minutes late, and completely disheveled.
"Sorry, I'm late. Ron wanted to talk to me, and I couldn't get away." He had been listening to his best friend ramble on about quidditch strategies when he realized that he was late for the meeting. Looking at Draco, Harry noticed that the blonde looked anxious and upset. His face was paler than usual, and his arms were wrapped tightly across his abdomen.
Draco nodded, as his throat closed. He could feel his palms starting to sweat, and he wiped them quickly on his trousers. "Where are we going?" he asked, "I'm not really comfortable talking about this in the middle of the hallway."
"One sec," Harry said as he paced back and forth in front of the wall. After the third pass a door appeared in front of him. Pushing it open he motioned for Malfoy to enter.
The room was decorated in white and blue, and a fire blazed cheerily along one wall. Two comfortable chairs and one sofa were arranged neatly around a lovely coffee table.
"What did you want Malfoy?" asked Harry slowly, half expecting the Slytherin to say something rude in response.
"I…um..." Draco stuttered, and he could feel his hands shaking. He took a deep breath to calm himself but it wasn't helping. He could feel his magic was reacting to Harry's presence. He stared at the brunette with quiet intensity, and tried to think of a way to respond.
Harry watched him, concerned. This wasn't normal Malfoy behavior. Combined with everything else that had happened during the year, he was really starting to worry about the boy. Ignoring the fact that this was Malfoy he was worried about, he looked up at the blonde openly, and waited for him to answer the question.
As if he was controlled by some invisible force Draco walked forward, and wrapped his arms around Harry. Pulling him even closer he registered the surprise in the Gryffindor's eyes, but ignored it. Desperately he slammed his lips down onto Harry's. After a moment of what seemed to be shock Harry began kissing him back. Pressing himself fully against the brunette he knew that this is what he had been made for. His magic was humming joyfully as it wrapped itself around them both.
Then with a gasp, Harry shoved him away. "What the hell was that Malfoy?" he asked. He couldn't deny that it was a really good kiss, but he couldn't think why his enemy of five years would want to do something like that.
"I…" he started, and realized that he was close to tears. Harry must have seen it also because he led Draco over to the sofa, and sat down beside him.
"Explain," he said, and waited.
"Do you know any of my family history?" Draco asked, not sure how to explain what had happened to him. Harry shook his head. "At one point, someone in the Black family tree married a veela. My father, rather predictably, flipped and refused to let me know anything about it. Actually, I'm surprised that he didn't leave my mother as soon as he found out, except that it just isn't done in pureblood society. Anyway, this year some unusual things began to happen to me. I didn't understand what was happening, but when I mentioned them over Christmas my mother secretly told me everything."
"This is all connected with the problems you were having when people touched you isn't it?" asked Harry, and Draco nodded with a quiet sigh. "I can touch you though," he said musingly, and then something else occurred to him. "There's something special about me isn't there?"
Draco nodded once more, and he was gripping his hands together so tightly his knuckles were white, and his nails were digging into his palms. This was where his mate would reject him. He didn't really expect anything else, but he had to tell Harry everything anyway. With a choked voice he said, "My veela genes showed up by all of a sudden deciding I needed a mate. I'm not sure how it works exactly, but it's supposed to be whoever's magic is compatible with mine." Draco hung his head, and let Harry process the information.
"Me?" Harry whispered and pointed to himself.
"Yes," said Draco so quietly that Harry almost didn't catch it. "Please go now if you don't want me. Go quickly, and don't look back."
Harry looked at the blonde. He found that he wasn't nearly as surprised as he should be. That one day before the holidays he had felt his magic reacting to Draco as well. . Ever since then his feelings had softened considerably toward the Slytherin. Harry realized that he cared, he cared a lot. Next to him, the blonde's shoulders were visibly trembling, and he started to leave. Ron and Hermione would be angry, but in that moment Harry knew exactly what he wanted. He leaned forward, and kissed Draco softly. He almost laughed at the look of surprise on the blonde's face.
"What do I need to do?" he asked. He was pretty sure that this would be for life, but his instincts were pressing him forward with certainty. They had never been wrong before, and he wasn't going to try second guessing them now.
Draco tensed. "What?" he asked. Maybe he had misheard. It couldn't possibly be true.
Harry touched him gently, tentatively. The proud, assertive boy he knew, was looking so unsure. Understandable, he thought, since this was life or death for him. "What do I need to do?" he repeated. "I don't know what's involved in being your mate."
"Don't," he whispered, shoving himself away from Harry. "Don't touch me. I can't control it. I can't control myself when you do that."
Harry placed one hand softly under his chin, and lifted it so Draco would look at him. "Tell me, so I can help."
The Slytherin panicked and ran. He backed himself into the furthest corner of the room, afraid to let himself hope that this might work. "Help?!" he yelled. "Help? Idiotic Gryffindork, when will you learn that you can't save everyone? Don't you understand? This would be forever! You'd be stuck with me forever! You don't even like me, let alone love me! What insane idea is going through your head that makes you think bonding with someone you despise is a good idea?"
"Well," said Harry, slowly making his way over to the other boy. "You're right, I don't love you. But I don't hate you either. I know that I do care about you. Give me a chance, and I think I could learn to love you. Something deep inside me says that forever with you might not be so bad."
"My father…" began Draco, hoping to warn him away.
"I have a dark lord out for my blood, and you're worried about your father?" Harry laughed, and closed the distance between them.
Let's hear it for Gryffindor bravery, thought Harry as he pulled the blonde against him, and ran his tongue over his bottom lip.
"Take me," whispered Draco, giving himself over fully to his mate.
A bed appeared over in the corner. Harry picked up the smaller boy and carried him over. He took his time removing their clothes, and by the time he was done they were both panting with desire. Moving himself between Draco's legs he leaned over the blonde, and kissed him softly. One hand slid down to caress his hip, as the other gently threaded through soft light hair.
Draco wanted more, and he opened his mouth, sucking gently on Harry's bottom lip. When Harry responded he let his tongue taste the inside of his mate's mouth. Arching up, he pulled the brunette tight against him, and his hands roamed hungrily over his body.
Harry moved away and began kissing his way down his mate's body. While giving a lick here, and a suck there, he prepared his lover gently with the lube the room had graciously provided. Harry looked down at Draco's beautiful body, his head thrown back with desire, and his breath coming in soft pants. Harry knew without a doubt that this was where he was meant to be. Mine, he thought to himself. Without a single regret, he slid home.
Draco felt his magic thrust forward into Harry, as the brunette made them one. Harry's magic responded in turn, and slammed into Draco full force. Arching up he screamed from the amount of power rushing through them. They found their release simultaneously calling each others' name.
"Oh, my God," Draco whispered.
Harry lay down next to him, barely registering that tears of joy were running down his face. "Mine," he whispered happier than he had ever been in his life. "Mine." Before he knew it he was fast asleep.
"I love you, Harry," whispered Draco when the other boy's breathing evened out. Then he wrapped himself around his mate, and dozed off as well.
Harry woke with a bit of a shock, stiffening and looking around. For a moment, he hadn't realized where he was. He relaxed as the memories from last night came back to him.
Draco looked at his face in concern. He had woken up when his mate had sat up so rapidly. "You're not sorry are you?" he asked worriedly. "B-because there's nothing I can do anymore." He looked down at his hands. Harry had made such a quick decision last night. He had every cause to regret it. His hands trembled. What would happen if he didn't want him?
Harry pulled Draco onto his lap. He was just as beautiful nude as he was clothed. Kissing him gently on the forehead he said, "I'm not sorry. I was surprised because I forgot where we were." Harry kissed him once more, this time on the lips. "Nothing has ever felt as right as being here with you."
"I'm just…" Draco trailed off. "You decided so quickly yesterday. I wanted to be sure you hadn't changed your mind."
"I guess even Slytherin Ice Princes need reassurance sometimes," teased Harry.
"It's been a rough year," grumbled Draco. "What are we going to say about us?" he asked, wondering how to handle the rest of the students.
"Whatever you decide is fine with me," said Harry. "But right now I could really use a shower. I wonder if the room saw fit to give us a bathroom." Harry walked toward a door across from the bed.
"Want company?" asked Draco mischievously, and Harry smiled as the other boy ran over to him.
Their shower didn't include much more than a few kisses and caresses as they soaped and rinsed themselves clean. They didn't have much time before breakfast, and both of them were hungry. Wincing, Draco started dressing in the clothes he wore yesterday. A cleansing charm just didn't cut it, he thought.
"Wait," said Harry seeing the look on the blonde's face. He was such a vain git, thought Harry with amusement. Draco straightened, wearing just his boxers and raised an eyebrow. "Dobby," called Harry, and a house elf appeared in front of him. Draco was surprised to see the small creature throw itself against Harry and begin hugging his leg.
"Good to see you too, Dobby," smiled Harry. "Do you think you could get us some clean clothes from our dorms?"
The elf nodded so hard, Draco thought its head would fall off. With a burst of adulation for the Great Harry Potter it disappeared. Reappearing shortly after, it handed them each some clean clothing. Harry thanked the creature, and it disappeared after more adulation.
Harry saw the look on his face and asked, "What?"
"That's a pretty strange house elf," he finally said.
"He is that. He's always liked me since I freed him from your father. Dumbledore pays him wages now."
Draco just shook his head in disbelief.
"I don't want to hide," Draco said out of the blue. "I want everyone to know how I feel about you."
Harry nodded. "Ok, as long as you know that you'll be putting yourself in danger. I don't want to see you get hurt."
"I understand, but it doesn't change my mind."
Harry smiled at his mate, and held out a hand. "Let's go then."
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To be continued…
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