Part IV: Snape's Warning
There was a long moment of silence as Snape stared after his protégé, and Harry trembled on the floor, trying to collect himself after what had just transpired.
The Professor's gaze at long last slid from the door and rested upon Harry, still huddled on the floor.
"I suggest you get off the ground, Potter."
His tone lacked the usual malice and rancor Harry had come to associate with him, and he stared at Snape blankly a moment, still trying to get his head around to these events.
"Well, Potter?" Snape snapped at last, patience wearing thin.
Harry shoved himself up, scrambling to his feet as quickly as his suddenly spent form would allow. He staggered slightly upon rising and had to grip a desk for balance. His glasses were slightly askew, and he adjusted them with shaky fingers.
Snape took this all in with his keen black eyes. "Sit down."
Harry practically collapsed into one of the chairs behind him, still trembling weakly as Snape disappeared into his office. He couldn't believe what had happened. What the hell was that? Some form of enchantment? Imperius? Surely a Veela wasn't that powerful.
It hadn't been like that with Fleur. Not at all like that. How in the hell had Draco done that?
It took him a moment to register it when Snape appeared above him and offered him a goblet of potion. Harry was too shaken to even question it, and he reached out and grasped it, downing the bitter liquid without asking what it was. Immediately a new strength flowed to his limbs, the tremors slowly easing away. He shook his head, finding his vision and thoughts clearing. Snape had leaned onto the desk across from his chair, watching him.
"Better?"
Harry nodded numbly, knowing he should thank Snape, yet still unable to extend the man even that much courtesy. Snape didn't seem to care. He snatched the goblet back from Harry's hand, holding it between two fingers as if the boy's touch had somehow tainted it.
"I suggest you stay away from Draco Malfoy, at least until he's safely bonded to a mate," Snape said slowly and deliberately. "Or you may find yourself in a most unfortunate position of spending the rest of your life with him."
Harry stared at him, his revulsion warring with disbelief. "Is-- is that what that was? He was trying to-- to bond with me?"
Snape's features flickered with distaste. "Worst case scenario, yes. He was in the process of initiating a bond. Hopefully," the Professor glanced darkly towards the door, "he was merely taking advantage of his new powers to play mind games with you. Some time away will hopefully give him the opportunity to reconsider his folly."
Harry's brow furrowed. "But why-- why would he--"
"Oh, surely even you can guess it, Potter," Snape snarled. "You were powerless against him. You can see why Malfoy might enjoy that. I only pray the prospect of enduring you for the rest of his life will deter him from indulging in that pleasure again. He may take it too far next time."
"Too far?" Harry echoed dumbly.
Snape sighed, as if very put upon. "You're aware that a Veela, any Veela, attracts all wizards in its vicinity. When a Veela chooses to bond with one in particular, it focuses that magnetism upon one individual until its magical essence fuses with the wizard's. This is the process of bonding… Essentially, should he focus too much energy upon inspiring an attraction in you, and he'll end up roping himself to you for life."
"So Malfoy can just bond with me? That easily?" Harry said, feeling sick. "I'd be his… his whatever you'd call it?"
"No, imbecile," Snape said, irritated. "The initial bond, he would merely tie himself to you. It's only upon consummation that the bond would tie you likewise to him."
"Consummation?"
Snape leveled him a cruel, disdainful glare.
"You mean sex?" Harry sputtered. "With Draco Malfoy? That's disgusting!"
"Quite," Snape said dryly, mirroring Harry's revulsion. Whether it was more from the prospect of Draco consummating a bond, or from the idea of Harry doing so, the boy could only speculate.
End Part Four
A/N: Feedback is always good.