Chapter 4:
Grimmauld place
The Weasley residence was bustling with activity, everyone was listening to Ron and Remus' plan. Severus had returned in the meantime, and informed them that it was a go. Lucius had fled the Manor. Though before he did, he had placed Narcissa under the Imperious curse.
Tonks, Moody and Kingsley were going to lead the raid with some other young aurors who wouldn't ask to many questions from their superiors.
Bill, Charlie and the twins had chosen some very impressive diversions from the twins' joke shop. Including some of the twins' latest inventions. Dobby had arrived as well, delighted as usual to be able to help. The house-elf code against revealing any secrets from their former master wouldn't have to be broken as Draco was a Malfoy and Harry was his mate. This made the house-elf even happier.
"Yes sirs. Dobby is helpings his masters get mistress out of house safe," the house-elf squeaked happily.
Soon it was time to go and those left were to take his or her posts. Draco and Harry waited by the fireplace with the Headmaster for Dobby to give them the signal. They had decided to floo in and fly out. Mrs. Malfoy was to ride on Harry's back. Dumbledore had explained to them earlier that due to their bond Draco would be able to enter despite the Fidelus Charm. Narcissa however could only enter stupefied.
It would be a minor setback, which she'd hopefully understand once she's been revived. Then the flooplace displayed the familiar green flames signalling the boys that it was safe. As soon as they shouted Malfoy Manor, Albus Dumbledore started the complicated procedure of removing the magical signature that could lead back to the Burrow.
Dobby greeted them as they left the fireplace.
"Hurry masters, mistress is fighting aurors in East wing. She isn't knowing what she do, Dobby is opening secret window in old masters' study. Hurry", the elf squeaked softly as to not arouse any suspicion.
While silently approaching the East wing they saw the fight taking place between some death eaters, led by Narcissa, and the aurors. They were almost there when the diversion started. Quickly transforming the two magical creatures rushed towards Narcissa.
Being under control of the imperious curse she started firing curses at them. While Draco deflected her curses Harry stupefied her. Placing her in a full-body bind Draco secured his mother on Harry's back. They rushed towards Lucius' study where Dobby showed them the way out.
On their way to Grimmauld Place Draco had to stupefy his mother once more. Finally the couple arrived at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Narcissa was still out cold so they simply entered. Everyone was already there and luckily there had been no severe casualties.
"Everyone, they're here!" Ginny called in the hallway.
"BLOODTRAITORS, FILTH, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, YOU DON'T BELONG HERE, MUDBLOOD, FILTH" the painting of Mrs. Black shrieked.
Harry tired of his first flight and carrying his mate's mother on this back heard enough. Before anyone could interfere he kicked the painting with his front legs. Hissing, "Next time you open your mouth I'll run my horn through you."
Mrs. Black was clearly shaken in her painting, as she muttered, "Yes master, of course master Potter."
"Wow Harry, you left your hoofmarks in the painting. I'm surprised she didn't try to hex you or something," Ginny said.
"Come on let's get Mrs. Malfoy to Dumbledore."
They followed the redhead to the living-room.
"Professor Dumbledore sir, we're here", Draco said while keeping one wing around his mate and carrying his mother in his arms. Harry calmed by his mate, had not yet transformed himself back into his human form but kept his wings tucked in his flanks.
Ginny returned to the others in the war-room.
After laying his mother on the sofa grabbed his mate by his shoulders. Searching the emerald-green eyes with his silver ones he knew his mate needed to rest.
"Come love, you need to sleep." He then nudged his mate softly.
"No, my love, I need to know your mother will be al right first. Then we'll rest."
"Harry..." Draco urged him. The Pegasus stomped his front legs stubbornly.
"I'm not going anywhere till I know she'll be al right. I have a bad feeling about this."
Meantime the Headmaster had checked Narcissa over and looked solemn.
"I'm sorry Draco, she doesn't have enough power left to fight off the curse. If I revive her Lucius will know where we are. He didn't just use the imperious curse. He used a Veela curse which enables him to see everything through her eyes and hear everything through her ears and the imperious curse."
Draco swore loudly. This time it was Harry's turn to comfort his mate. Suddenly the Pegasus had an idea. Turning his mate to face him he said
"Dray, place me under the same curse."
"What? No love, you're to weak."
"Just do it Dray," Harry was raising his voice now.
"Gentlemen, if I may", the old wizard interrupted, "Harry what is your plan?"
"Simple Professor. I can fight of the imperious and I can resist Veela charms and curses. Now I want to know if I can fight off both simultaneously. If I can I'll fight it of for her."
"Please Harry, call me Albus in private; Merlin knows you've more than deserved it since tonight. I'm sure you can easily defeat both curses simultaneously under normal conditions however I have two things that I'd like for you to consider. First, Draco is right, it is your first night as a Pegasus and Lucius is a lot stronger than your mate is. Secondly, how do you propose to help Mrs. Malfoy in fighting of the curses?"
"Well prof...Uhm Albus I believe two things first if I fight of Draco I can asses the amount of power I have, taking in account the strength of Lucius, and how much time it would take me to throw him out of her mind. I also believe that the longer we wait the more difficult it will be before we can throw him out, she might even end up in St. Mungo's like the Longbottoms. In answer to you second question, my horn. I'm a Unicorn Pegasus. Dray, if it's not safe we'll wait till tomorrow though I'd rather not."
"Al right Harry I'll do it," his mate answered wearily, "but I'm not letting you out of bed all day tomorrow. Just so you know."
Draco then cursed his mate and placed him under the imperious at the same time. Within a minute Harry had thrown both curses off. Before either Albus or Draco could ask him something the tip of Harry's horn was emitting a soft emerald green glow. Albus stopped the Veela telling him his mate was already in his mothers' head. Draco was starting to panic when Harry still didn't return in his own mind after five torturous minutes. Six minutes, seven minutes the Veela was getting more and more restless. Then finally Harry returned to his own mind. He transformed and crashed on the floor.
"You can revive her now Albus," he panted.
Seeing his flustered mate and the panic that still clearly showed on the silver-haired teen's face, he whispered, "She'll be al right. Now I can rest".
Draco sweeped up his mate and nodded, not trusting himself to not yell at his mate. When they reached the top of the stairs he whispered, "Where's our room?"
Harry didn't have the strength to talk any more so he used his pinky-finger to usher directions. Draco proceeded to carry the raven-haired boy to the third floor. Entering the last door at the end of the corridor. Carefully wrapping his wings around his mate again they both went to sleep.
The next morning Harry woke in the comfort of his mate's wings.
"Dray, wake up love. I need to go to the loo."
Grinning at the sight of his recovered mate Draco simply said, "Well good morning to you too."
He opened up his wings and let Harry step out. The first instinct of the boy was to put on his glasses till he remembered he shattered them the day before. But wait, why was everything so clear and not blurry to his eyes?
"Dray, did you place a spell on my eyes?"
"No why?"
"Cause I can see without my glasses, you git."
"I love you too however it might be that my Veela powers have healed your eyesight as well. Come back to me okay, I'll wait for you," Draco said with a smug smile.
After a few minutes Harry returned to their room followed by Poppy.
"Good morning Mr. Malfoy. I've just seen to your mother. She will have recovered fully in a few days. And how is my favourite couple? I heard some pretty dare devil tricks you played the other night. Especially you Mr. Potter", She looked sternly at both boys then started laughing, "but I'm glad my services weren't needed."
"Uhm, Pomfrey what did you mean with 'the other night'?" Harry asked carefully from underneath the silver-haired boys' loving embrace.
"You were both out the whole day yesterday and quite understandable I must say. I was a bit worried about you Mr. Malfoy healing your mate again so soon after the earlier ordeal. Though when I came in here yesterday I noticed that you two were healing each other. Quite fascinating I must say."
The Mediwitch gave both of them the advise to take plenty of rest and leave the escapades to the 'oldies'. Having said her piece the Hogwarts Mediwitch left.
"Harry, promise me you'll never do something as stupid as that again", Draco looked crossly at his mate, "I was really scared shit-less. We're promised to each other but till the bonding is completed I can only protect you up to a certain level."
"Dray", Harry looked up to him his eyes glimmering with unshed tears, "just hold me. We're in Sirius' old bedroom."
The tone of his voice cut through the blonde. Tightening his embrace, he softly asked the tanned boy to tell him about his Godfather. And so Harry spilled everything, between the sobs Draco heard about the betrayal of Wormtail, the incident at the Shrieking Shack, going back in time to rescue his Godfather, how he had helped Harry with the Triwizard Tournament and with a loud sob ended with the incident at the Mystery Department. "Oh Harry..", Draco sighed. He proceeded by softly wiping Harry's tears away with his thumbs. They just lay there for a while till Harry fell asleep.
It was well in the afternoon when Draco woke up. Seeing his mate sleep he noticed how beautiful he looked with his unruly hair. He was definitely delicious looking. His well build muscles from Quidditch, his slender form... The Veela didn't want to restrain himself any more. He started planting soft little kisses on his mate. The Pegasus woke up immediately and captured his lips. 'Merlin those lips were soft,' Harry thought to himself. Then he felt a tong gently licking his lower lip. 'Hmm..' he thought parting his lips just a little. Draco carefully entered his mouth. Gently exploring. Harry let out a moan. With this encouragement the Veela deepened the kiss. His mate surrendered totally to him. Slowly the Veela pulled back. Smirking at his flabbergasted mate he said, "That's just a taste of what you'll get tonight. Now we need to attend to things downstairs."
The silver-haired blonde jumped out of bed and put on his robes. For the first time in his life he didn't want to take a shower fearing it might take away the scent of his mate on him. He still wasn't too sure about the role of Lupin in his mates' life. But he did want to make sure the werewolf knew Harry was his. Only his. Harry was far too happy to care about a shower so after throwing his robes on, the boys left the room.
When they got downstairs they went to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Everyone there was chatting away merrily. Draco spotted his mother talking to Professor Dumbledore and greeted his mother in the formal way he was used to.
"Mother, how are you fairing today?" Narcissa laughed at seeing her son.
"Dragon, you can stop being formal now, your father is'nt here any more. I suppose I can finally be a real mother to you now. Thanks to you Mr. Potter", she said with revere.
"Mrs. Malfoy", Harry started to say.
"Please call me Narcissa or Cissy which ever you prefer."
"Al right Cissy, I'm just glad you can be you again. And please call me Harry...just Harry." the raven-haired boy said looking every bit as uncomfortable with her statement as he felt.
"I can see why my son has chosen you as his mate. You are extremely powerful yet humble at the same time. I'm sure you'll take good care of my dragon."
The young Pegasus was now blushing a deep red that would rival the Weasley hair.
"Oi Harry, you are not..."
"Nor will you..."
"Ever be..."
"Just Harry..."
"You git..." the twins jibbed.
"Yeah Harry, you're a Potter and a Weasley now and don't you forget it!" Ginny joined in.
"Sorry to disappoint you all but he's my Harry", Draco piped in laughing while looking lovingly at his mate.
"And don't you forget it", Harry now joked while kissing his mate fully on his mouth.
"Ow, jeez, Harry!" Ron mock-gagged, "Did you have to turn that in to a visual?"
This time it was Cissy who jibbed: "Just admit it Ron, you're just jealous because you don't have a mate yet. Or are you planning to fetch your mate?" The last was said with a twinkle.
"Mother", her son said, "what do you know that we don't?
'I've never seen her like this,' the boy mused, 'she looks happy and carefree.'
The Pegasus, apparently sensing his thoughts, let out his left-wing and wrapped it around his love. Startled, the Veela turned and let his head rest on shoulder offered to him while sneaking his arm around the slender waist of his mate.
"Ah, my Dragon, Albus was so kind to restore my memories to me and your friends have been so kind to fill me in on everything that happened from when you disappeared from the Manor till my awakening. I might not be as strong or important, as you the inhabitants of the Fifth House are, however thanks to you Dragon and you Harry, I've been given a chance to start anew. And I intend to fully do that." Cissy Malfoy looked very mischievous now and a loud groan coming from both Lupin and Snape seemed to back that train of thought up.
"Mooney, did you honestly believe Padfoot's favourite cousin would loose her Marauder streaks? Don't forget, to me it feels I'm still..." she didn't finish her sentence seeing the glare that came from both the werewolf and it's mate.
"Stop glaring at her like that Mooney", Harry said in such a tone that all conversations were abruptly cut off. Despite the uneasiness at having everyone stare at him the Gryffindor continued.
"I miss him but I can't bring him back either. Like you have Severus to help you deal with the grief, I have Dray. And I refuse to give in to the grief and the guilt any longer. The only one to blame is Voldemort. You want to send death-glares? Then send them to him not Cissy."
The authority in his voice made clear to all in the room that he would not accept any retort. In a softer voice he continued, "Back in third year when 'Mione and me helped Sirius escape on Buckbeak, the Hippogrif, he told me that those who die never truly leave. They continue living on here", he pointed at his heart, "Never forget that. Please continue Cissy."
Taken aback both Remus and Snape mumbled their apologies, which both the blonde witch and the young wizard waived away before she resumed speaking, "You're a very wise and brave young man. Now where was I? Oh yes, I feel like I'm still twenty."
Noticing how the tension was still in the air Draco changed topic, "Mother, where have the others gone off to?"
This did the trick. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had returned to the Burrow together with Bill and Charlie. Tonks, Kingsley and Moody had decided to accompany them for 'safety measures'. McGonagall and Dobby had returned to the castle, though they would return once 'Harry Potter sir' would be ready to receive him. Leaving just them.
"Harry, would you mind if I had a word with you in private?" Dumbledore said looking the young man in his eyes. Seeing the twinkle gone in those familiar blue eyes Harry nodded, though gestured for Draco to join them.
"Ah, yes of course, how silly of me not to have asked him to join us. Draco, if you please…"
Harry led them to the study.