Chapter: 2

Disclaimer – It isn't mine

Chapter 2 – I Have Another

'What the hell is he still doing here?'

Harry's words were cold as four hours later he stepped silently into the library. Moody and Shacklebolt had gone out to pick up supplies and Dumbledore had returned to Hogwarts as the new school year would officially start the next morning. Snape had gone to Hogwarts briefly to check on his Slytherins, but had returned to Godrics Hollow and would go back in the morning in order to begin the first day of classes. Right now Remus and Tonks slipped from the room, knowing that Snape would be the best person to calm the angry vampire.

'Sit down, Harry.' Severus gestured to the chair opposite him. Harry just arched an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest, his expression once again coldly impassive. 'Now please.' Snape's voice was as cold as Harry's had been and Harry's eyes darkened even as he took the offered seat. Snape watched as the boy folded himself elegantly into the chair before fixing a blank stare on the older wizard.

'What the hell is he still doing here?' He repeated curtly.

'Why do you think he's still here?'

'I told you what would happen if he was. So why is he here?' Harry hissed.

Snape studied him in silence for several moments before his black eyes softened. 'To be perfectly blunt, Harry, I'd tell you to ask him that yourself however, I am reticent in asking you to do something that I know is painful for you.'

A muscle in Harry's jaw twitched, the only sign of movement. 'It is not painful.'

The potions master arched an eyebrow before leaning forward in his chair as if to reach out to Harry. 'If you continue on this path it will be your downfall, Harry.' He murmured softly, his expression and tone not hiding the concern he clearly felt for the teenager in front of him. 'How long will you wait? Until your body is so cold no fire on earth could warm it again? Until your heart is so broken that you will never be able to rid yourself of the pain? Please don't do this.'

Harry's own eyes softened slightly and he sighed. 'It wasn't your fault, Severus.' He whispered sadly. 'Will you never believe me?'

The older man looked away to the slowly darkening sky outside. 'Not until I see with my own eyes that it hasn't cost you everything.' He replied.

There was a stilted silence that lasted for several moments before Harry rose and crossed quietly to the door, drawing the potions master's attention back to him.

'Harry?'

The Boy-Who-Lived stopped in the doorway, his green eyes slightly glazed. 'I just can't. I'm sorry.' He whispered before he slipped silently from the room.

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'How long has he been out there?' Dumbledore asked curiously as he looked out of the window of the sitting room to see Draco still leaning up against the trunk of the oak tree; a blanket underneath him and another over his knees as he stared up at the clouds drifting slowly across the sky.

'Since you left on Sunday.' Remus answered him.

Dumbledore turned to him, his eyes wide. 'Four days? He's been there for four days?'

Remus nodded.

'He refuses to come in.' Tonks added tiredly. 'We've tried everything in the end we've just taken his meals out to him and he's stayed in that spot, refusing to move until he has spoken to Harry.'

'And what of Harry?' Dumbledore seemed slightly disturbed.

The two exchanged glances. 'Severus did speak with him before he left on Sunday, and again on Tuesday when he came but without success.' Remus murmured. 'Harry completes his training each morning, his studies each evening and runs in the afternoons. He completely ignores Draco. As if he's not there. Dora did ask him to take a plate of food out to Draco yesterday but he just gave us that look of his and left the room. Short of actually getting Galen here to order him to do it…and I'm not sure that would work anyway…I don't see what else we can do.'

Dumbledore hummed as he glanced out the window again and tossed over what the two had said in his head. 'You are probably correct, Remus, but we daren't give up just yet. I will return tomorrow morning. In the meantime, just keep trying.'

Remus and Tonks exchanged another glance and nodded, knowing that it was going to be fruitless to disagree. The watched as the Headmaster stepped back into the floo before Remus wrapped his arms around the pink haired witch. 'It'll be okay, Dora.' He murmured.

Tonks shook her head and sighed. 'It's just so hard seeing him in so much pain.'

'I know.'

'Do you think Lily and James would think we've failed in keeping him safe?'

Remus hugged her tighter but didn't answer.

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Harry stared down at the pale figure several feet below him, stretched out under the oak tree, a light blanket covering him and an open book lying on the grass beside him. Harry closed his eyes and let the boy's scent wash over him as he had every night since the young man had arrived. He knew it was wrong. He knew he should be far away from Draco but he couldn't. He told himself that he was doing this to strengthen his resolve, but every night he felt closer and closer to the stunning creature curled in the grass at the base of the tree. He could still smell the taint of the Dark Mark, but as he got more used to it, and assuming he didn't breathe too deeply, it was overpowered by the boy's natural scent and Harry found himself drawn closer and closer to it.

He slipped silently from the tree and knelt beside the boy's head, staring in fascination at the porcelain skin shining in the moonlight. Part of him desperately wanted to reach out and touch the smooth cheek but he knew it would be his undoing so he kept his hands tightly clenched by his side. He did however allow himself to lean down until his nose was inches from the others throat and inhaled deeply for just a moment. His eyes closed and he grimaced as the taint invaded the edges of his senses but the overpowering scent of mint and chocolate and….Draco…made his mouth flood and he clenched his jaw tightly in an effort to control himself. He knew that he couldn't wait much longer. His skin was now so cold that even he could notice it. When he touched someone else during training it felt as if their hands were made of fire and he could tell by their winces that he felt like ice. And his heart, as Severus had said it would, shattered a little bit more each day. He would have to either start this…or end it…and soon.

Harry ducked under Kingsley's outstretched arm and dropped Moody with a double tapped stunning spell as he kicked out at Tonks before tossing a binding charm on her and spun around once again, a sword in each hand, one pointed directly at Remus' throat and the other at Kingley's. 'Yield.' He said coldly, looking between them, and the two men nodded slowly. Harry dropped the swords and walked over to place them down on the edge of the wards. He didn't look at Draco even though he could feel the silver eyes boring into his back as he reached for a jumper and pulled it over his head before donning a warm cloak over the top. His vampire inheritance gave him incredible advantages such as speed, strength, endless energy and the requirement of not having to actually breathe. But as every day passed he grew just a little bit colder and the minute he stopped moving he practically froze. He knew he shouldn't feel the cold. Vampires in general didn't, but he figured it wasn't his physical body that was actually cold, but his magic as it was stretched further and further from his mate.

He felt Dumbledore come up behind him and turned to face him, his eyes widening as he immediately stood at attention.

'Good afternoon, Potter.' The tall gentleman at Dumbledore's side said briskly.

Harry gave a short sharp bow. 'Sir.'

Dumbledore reached out and touched Harry's wrist although he removed his hand quickly. 'Galen has asked to speak with you, Harry.' He said hesitantly.

Harry looked to the older man who was the current Head of the Unspeakables. Before his birthday Harry had been working for the man in secret since he was fourteen as part of a top secret covert team and each time his tasks had gotten more difficult. Harry had excelled in the sometimes lethal environments; the more dangerous the better as far as he was concerned. The missions had all come to a shuddering halt on his birthday however and Harry wondered what the wizard could want. Half of him hoped there was an opportunity for a mission coming up but the other half decided that staying right here was far more important.

The man studied him in silence for a moment. 'Things are becoming more unstable, Potter, and we need to finish what we have started.' Galen said quietly. 'The unit needs you back at work but I cannot in all good conscience send you out in the field when the situation with your mate is unresolved.'

Harry restrained himself from glaring at the headmaster, knowing that Galen would not like it, and that it would cost him in the end, but his eyes darkened in anger as he looked at the edge of the forest in the distance. 'There is no situation with my mate, Sir, because there is no mate.' He said coldly, ignoring the tiny gasp he heard from ten feet behind him, even as his own heart lurched. 'I am completely in control and ready to return to work whenever you need me, Sir.'

Galen took in the clothing and heavy cloak in spite of the sun beating down on them and arched an eyebrow in a remarkable likeness to Snape. 'Do you think I can honestly believe that, Potter. Unmated, you are a danger to everyone around you, no matter how exceptional your self-control may be.'

Harry ground his teeth but continued to stare impassively into the distance, not meeting any eyes. 'I understand. I know I am in control, Sir, but I do appreciate why you might think otherwise. I will defer to your judgment and remain here in training until you have need of me again. May I be excused?'

Galen glanced at Dumbledore before looking back at Harry's rigid shoulders and set jaw and realized that he would get nothing further from the young man. 'You are dismissed.' He sighed and Harry bowed sharply before turning on his heel and stalking silently across the field directly past Draco and into the house.

Dumbledore sighed also and cast a silencing charm around the group.

'Is he out of control?' Galen questioned.

His four instructors exchanged glances before as one they shook their heads. 'No. In fact I've never seen him so contained.' Kingsley admitted.

Galen looked at the blonde teenager sitting quietly under the nearby tree, an open book on his lap as he slowly ate an apple left over from breakfast. 'You have a week, Albus. After that I need him back. We have a war to finish and we cannot hide our greatest weapon away any longer. We cannot afford to take the losses we are while we wait.' The Unspeakable nodded to them all before tracing Harry's footsteps towards the house and to the floo in the sitting room from which he had arrived a scant ten minutes before.

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'Remus, he'll be soaked through if he stays out there much longer.' Tonks insisted as she glanced once again at the rain streaked window. It had started raining heavily quite a few hours before and while Draco had asked for a slightly warmer blanket and had cast several strong water repelling spells, he still refused to come in. At dinner Harry had looked at the rain and heard the thunder but seemed oblivious to the plight of his mate. For three hours the summer storm had raged on outside but nothing would induce the Slytherin to come inside. He had made a vow and he would keep it.

'Short of stunning him, Dora, there isn't much we can do.' Remus gave her a wry smile.

'Well why don't we do that then?' Tonks insisted. 'He could catch his death out there in spite of the repelling charms.'

Remus placed a hand on her arm in an effort to calm her down. 'Because he is doing something for himself, Nymphadora, and for probably the first time in his life. I will not take that from him.'

Tonks scrunched up her face at the name but didn't broach the topic again as they sat in silence staring at the crackling fire. Some time later the sound of the front door opening had them both off the sofa and out into the entrance hall wondering who would be visiting by apparition and not by floo on such an appalling night.

Remus' eyes widened and Tonks jaw dropped at the sight of Harry cradling an extremely wet and clearly unconscious Draco to his chest as a puddle of water grew beneath them. He didn't say anything however, moving silently past them and up the stairs with the two adults quickly following. They watched as Harry brought Draco to his room and laid him down on the bed, wandlessly stripping him of the wet clothes and drying him before conjuring some soft silk pajamas and using more magic to dress him again. He placed several strong warming charms on the bed and pulled the covers up to the pale chin before moving to sit down in the chair in the corner, dropping his head into his hands.

Tonks cast a few charms at Draco and smiled softly as Remus crossed to place a hand on Harry's trembling shoulder. 'You did the right thing, cub.' He said softly.

Harry didn't respond and several minutes later the two left, immediately heading to the floo to contact Dumbledore.

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Draco felt warm and safe and comfortable for the first time in almost a week. He didn't know where he was and he didn't really care. He'd never felt so good. Last thing he remembered was being so tired. He was so tired he could barely keep the repelling spell up after having to recast it quite a few times and, as he drifted off, he felt it fall. The ice cold rain seeping through his clothes had only reawakened him for a short time until he could stay awake no more.

He idly wondered if he'd died but then realized it probably wasn't true as he opened his eyes to see a stunning mural covered ceiling above him. He glanced further around the room, taking in the period furniture and rich floor coverings before his eyes landed on the figure seated in the chair in the corner with his head in his hands. It was then that he realized that it had been Harry who must have brought him inside last night. Half of him cheered, the other half was sad. Harry was the picture of despondency and Draco knew he was the cause.

He shifted back slightly and sat up, noticing the far too big pyjamas he was wearing and knowing instantly they were Harry's. He slid his legs off the bed and padded the several steps to where Harry sat and knelt down in front of him.

'You will never know just how sorry I am.' Draco whispered and finally Harry looked up, his green eyes as dark as Draco had seen them and so full of pain. Draco reached out to place his hand on Harry's cheek, unable to hold back a gasp at the iciness he felt. It was much colder than when they'd touched at the Welcoming Feast. Harry froze but he didn't remove his hand though as he continued staring intently into the green eyes. 'If I could take it back I would.' He went on. 'I never meant to cause you such pain.'

Harry's eyes closed and his forehead creased into a wounded frown. 'Please….don't move.' He breathed as he bent his head and laid it alongside Draco's but not quite touching, his nose resting just above the Slytherin's pulse point as he breathed deeply.

Draco remained motionless. Harry's skin was freezing and Draco couldn't help but think that was partly his fault. He could feel the soft cool breath washing over his neck and he struggled not to be affected by the creature looming over him.

'Thank you.' Harry gasped, pulling away moments later. Draco could see that the young man was now more relaxed, his eyes were less pained and the weary expression they had contained had softened.

'Why is your skin so cold now?' Draco asked hesitantly.

Harry looked away, grasping Draco's elbow and pulling him to stand as he too stood up and moved away. 'My body.' He began quietly. 'My body misses yours.'

Draco's eyes widened. 'But you barely know me. Before this morning you'd only touched me twice. How can that cause such a change?'

Draco watched as Harry's jaw tensed. 'My body knows yours. The magic in me knows yours. The Regalis in me knows you. I have tried to fight it but I cannot any longer. I don't know what to do.'

'Don't fight it.' Draco said softly reaching up to place a hand on Harry's shoulder. The Boy-Who-Lived tensed and moved away again even though Draco knew his touch warmed the vampire like nothing else.

'It is too dangerous.' Harry murmured sadly. 'I smell the taint and my mind seizes. It is hard enough when I'm not touching you. What happens if I lose control?

'You won't.' Draco said firmly.

Harry shook his head. 'You can't know that, Draco Malfoy.'

'Then figure out some way to make it safe.' Draco said bluntly, folding his arms over his chest and arching an eyebrow.

Harry looked up at the Slytherin incredulously. Didn't the other boy have any idea of just what he was in the room alone with? And now he wanted to get even closer. Harry started to shake his head. There was no way. No one was quick enough to stop him and he didn't know if he had enough control to stop. His eyes took in the other boy in his green silk pyjamas. He looked so warm. So beautiful.

He turned on his heel suddenly and bolted from the room and Draco hurried to follow him.

Remus, Tonks, Severus and Albus were all gathered down in the sitting room when Harry arrived, his eyes slightly wild.

'Harry?' Severus was up off his chair almost instantly.

'Can you watch me?' Harry pleaded with the potions master. 'Please, can you all watch me?'

There were a few quizzical glances thrown until Draco stumbled into the room and Harry's eyes went to him instantly.

Severus could see Dumbledore wanting to question Harry but he shook his head. He had some idea of just what was going on and he realized that this might just be a beginning. 'What do you want us to do, Harry?' He asked turning the young man around so he could see his eyes. 'You have to tell us exactly so nothing goes wrong.'

Harry swallowed. 'I need you to watch me, stun me if necessary.' He insisted. 'And if I tell you to take him, you have to get him out of the house, completely. Promise me you will.'

Severus stared at the young man realizing this was the turning point they'd been hoping for and leaving on hand on Harry's shoulder he looked to the others. 'Lupin, you are the fastest, you are to take Draco and Portkey him away if Harry says to. Albus, Dora, wands at the ready.' The two pulled out their wands as Severus did the same.

Harry gave the man a grateful look before turning to Draco. 'Are you sure, Draco Malfoy?'

Draco took several steps until he was almost in the middle of the room. 'It's just Draco.' He murmured and Harry's tense expression softened just slightly.

He swallowed again and reached to pull off the thick jumper he had on leaving him in just a thin cotton shirt. If he was going to do this he would try to gather as much warmth from the other boy as he could…just in case. He glanced around to see that everyone was ready before he stepped forward until he was toe to toe with the blond Slytherin. 'Don't move.' He whispered again, bending his head slightly and wrapping his arms around the warm body and holding it carefully lest he accidently hurt him.

Draco 's skin felt scorching on his own and Harry almost let out a cry at the feelings that coursed through him as his body registered that he was actually holding his mate. He could smell Draco's scent. It was overpowering. It seemed the running after Harry had increased his body temperature and heightened the smell even further until it all but covered the taint. The Slytherin was so warm and Harry's body trembled with emotion as he felt Draco's small but warm arms wrap gently but loosely round his waist. Harry ran his hands down Draco's silk covered back, pulling him slightly closer as he bend his head and nuzzled at the pale throat beneath him.

'Careful. Harry.' Severus murmured from nearby and Harry immediately lifted his head and pulled Draco back close to his chest and he rested his head on top of Draco's, inhaling the smell of his mate when combined with the shampoo Draco used.

As Draco's body cooled against his own the boy's own scent receded and Harry smelt the taint flood through him once more. 'Thank you.' He breathed before grasping Draco's arms and gently pushing him away.

'Harry?' Severus asked carefully and Harry shook his head.

'Thank you.' He said again, his voice louder but raspier, clearly directing the comment at all of them but not looking up as he darted from the room. A second later they heard the front door open and close and Draco suddenly sunk to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees as he attempted to warm himself after the icy feel of Harry's skin.

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'Short of cutting off his arm there is no way to remove it.' Severus snapped back at Moody. Harry had been gone for hours. Moody and Shacklebolt had returned to listen to what had occurred with incredulous expressions. Draco was currently wrapped in a blanket and sipping a cup of hot chocolate as the rest of the adults sat around and discussed where to go from here.

'If it can be put on then it can be removed.' Moody said gruffly.

Snape let out a derisive snort. 'Oh, yes of course. Why didn't I think of that reasonable explanation all those years ago.' He sneered.

'Gentlemen please, this is not getting as any closer to solving this problem.' Albus said calmly. 'We know the magic of the Dark Mark is tied to Tom. We know that even another Parselmouth cannot remove it. We studied this in depth with Harry several years ago. Alastor, you know this. Why do you think Severus remains marked?'

The potions master glared at the ex-Auror just willing him to make a snide comment and thankfully, if unusually, he remained silent as Draco reached out and placed his hot chocolate on the table. 'He says the smell of the Mark makes him lose control.' He said quietly. 'I don't think he'll ever be able to get past that. You can feel the instant he smells it. He goes so rigid and he feels like he's almost in pain as he tries to control it.'

'He cannot help it, Mr Malfoy.' Dumbledore murmured kindly.

Draco pushed the blanket off his shoulders and stood up, crossing to stand by the window as he stared out into the forest surrounding Godrics Hollow. 'I'm sorry.' He said softly. 'I wish I'd never agreed. I wish I'd never let Him do that to me.' He added sadly as he lifted the sleeve of his shirt to see the Mark glaring back at him.

The adults in the room exchanged concerned glances as Draco continued staring at the writhing tattoo on his arm before pulling out his wand.

'Draco?' Severus stepped closer to the young man and Draco did glance up at him and hesitate for a fraction of a second before pointing his wand at his elbow and murmuring softly.

'Abrumpo.'

'No!' Albus yelled and as one the group of adults rushed towards the Slytherin, but they were too late as the lower half of Draco's arm fell to the floor. The young man let out a shriek of pain as he slumped against the windowsill and blood flowed heavily from the wound.

'Sweet Merlin's beard.' Remus gasped as Dumbledore quickly cast a cauterizing charm on Draco's elbow and Snape a burning charm on the limb on the floor.

'Severus, what did you do that for?' Kingsley snapped. 'We could have reattached it.'

'I think that the whole point of Draco's display was that he didn't want it anymore.' The potions master sneered as he turned his back on them and began feeding a now ghostly pale and shaking Draco several vials of potion.

There was a choked sound from the doorway and all heads shot up to see Harry clutching the two sides of the frame tightly, the wood already splintering under his hands. His eyes were squeezed tightly shut and the muscles in his neck strained against his skin as he struggled not to remove his hands from the frame and rush across the room. He let out another pained cry before six stunning spells suddenly hit him and he dropped like a stone.

'Remus, take Harry back to his room and make sure you cast as many freshening charms as you can. Severus perhaps you could do the same with Mr Malfoy here and then summon Poppy. I want her to look at that arm.' Albus commanded.

The two men nodded and each began levitating their charge to their respective rooms as the others began a thorough clean of the room to remove even the slightest trace of blood.

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'Draco!' Harry gasped as the stunning spells wore off and he woke abruptly.

'He's alright, Harry.' Remus said calmly from near the doorway and the young vampire's eyes shot to him. 'Poppy's been to seen him and he's resting now.'

The expression that crossed Harry's face was one that Remus had never seen before. 'I have to see him.'

The werewolf nodded and Harry slid gracefully off the bed and stood up, following the older wizard through the halls of Godrics Hollow to the other side of the house where Draco had been given a room even if he hadn't used it prior to this. Remus knocked softly on the door and they both felt several wards drop. Harry gritted his teeth even as he inhaled deeply as Draco's scent, now untainted, washed over him. It was beautiful. He could feel the pull from the other boy's magic and his own soul's desperation to be near its mate.

The door opened and Severus' eyes widened but he did step back and let the two into the room. The potions master seemed ready to grab Harry if need be but the teenager studied the older man intently for several minutes. Whatever the man saw in Harry's eyes seemed to calm him and he stepped further away with Remus following as Harry turned to the sleeping figure in the bed.

He took several steps closer until he was staring down at Draco. The Slytherin had been changed into a clean pair of pyjamas that were his size and he lay under just a sheet. His blonde hair fanned out on the pillow like a halo as the evening sunset caused pink and gold to fall across his cheek. Harry took another step closer as his eyes took in the shortened left arm, currently encased in its sleeve that was pinned up towards the shoulder with a charm.

He couldn't believe the other boy had done this. Most particularly done it for someone he barely knew. He could see a slight frown on the other boy's face as if he was in pain and slowly reached out until he could place his hand on Draco's chest. He could feel Remus and Severus' eyes on him but he ignored it as he sent him magic out into the other boy in order to soothe him before he straightened once again.

He watched as Draco's eyes flickered opened and captured his own. They simply stared at each other in silence for several minutes, the two adults wary of moving lest the spell be broken.

'You didn't need to do that.' Harry whispered finally.

Draco studied him a moment longer. 'Yes, I did.'

Harry shook his head. 'No you didn't. It was reckless.'

'You were in pain.' Draco insisted.

'I have survived much worse.'

Draco frowned. 'Undoubtedly, but it doesn't mean that you should.'

'You could have died.'

Draco shook his head slightly. 'No, I knew the professors would make sure I didn't.'

'What about me?' The question confused Remus and Severus for a moment till Draco answered it.

'I knew that if you smelt the blood and returned that they would stop you also.'

This time it was Harry's turn to study the other intently before his face gained an expression of pain. 'You made a mistake, Draco.' He whispered. 'It should not have cost you so much.' He added causing Severus' mind to flick back to the conversation he'd had with Harry only the week before.

Draco hesitated just a moment. 'It is just a limb, Harry, I have another.' He said honestly. 'And I have gained so much more in return.'

There was another silent conversation that seemed to pass between them before Harry took the final step forward and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for Draco even as the Slytherin sat up and reached for him.

Remus and Severus watched, both sets of eyes suspiciously bright, as the two wrapped their arms around the other and just held each other tightly. There was complete silence for several minutes till Harry spoke. 'I'm sorry.' He whispered.

'So am I.' Draco replied equally as softly.