Title: Seven of Swords
Author: Magpie quill
Summary: AU. Harry Potter has two lives: 1. The boy who lived and 2. Doitvite, the juggler. He thought that he could keep them apart but when it turns out that he's the mate of a Veela, problems arise. Ignores HBP. slash DMHP, child abuse.
Disclaimer: Many characters and places seen here are the property of J. K Rowling and Warner Brothers. Everything that you do not recognize from the Harry Potter books and movies is mine.
Warnings: AU, OC, DM/HP, slash, child abuse, complex characters, mild drug/alcohol abuse, Dumbledore bashing

Slowly Harry followed Snape away from the Headmasters office. Ahead of him he saw that Lucius Malfoy and Snape were talking in hushed tones and, judging by the glances they kept sending back, it was about him. How bloody typical.

Quite suddenly they stopped in front of a large tapestry. Looking at it Harry realized that he'd never seen it before, not completely unusual because of how large the castle was, but still… strange. The tapestry was about eight feet wide and stretched from floor to ceiling. Depicted on a red background was a huge tree that filled the entire space. Hanging off the branches was everything from garlands of flowers to fish. Clearly the artist had taken the idea of "the tree of life" to an extreme. Sitting on one of the branches was a man and a woman chatting amicably. Looking over the tapestry Harry noticed that unlike in a painting most of the elements stayed relatively still. The animals still flicked their tails and the branches swayed slightly but nothing moved from their place. Entranced Harry was about to examine it more closely when Snape suddenly spoke.

"Love makes the world go round" Snape managed to spit out, looking, for all the world, as if the words physically pained him.

With a small rustle the tapestry rustled back revealing a wooden door behind it. Still chuckling to himself about Snape's face when he had to say that particular phrase he followed the Slytherins into his new quarters.

Looking around the common room Harry was impressed. It wasn't huge just a couple chairs and a big couch around a fireplace with a desk and some bookshelves in another corner but it exuded an air of comfort. The color scheme was also a comforting mix of the two house colors with green walls, pillows and carpet and gold and tan furniture and moldings. Some how the combination turned out all right.

"When you are done examining the room Mr. Potter we will need to speak" Came Mr. Malfoy's voice. Clearly he was trying to be polite but it was obviously not something that came easily. Turning he saw that all three Slytherins were watching him with unreadable expressions. Sighing slightly Harry nodded.

"Yeah, let me just drop some stuff off in my room and I'll be right there." He told them self-conscious of the fact that there was still a knife strapped to his leg. He supposed that while Pixie may have approved Professor McGonagall would not be so happy. He was about to turn and go when he realized a rather important detail. "Umm, where is my room sir?" he asked Snape.

Clearly resisting the urge to role his eyes, Snape pointed to one of the two doors in the opposite wall. "Your room, Potter is through the door on the right. It is spelled so only someone you want to enter may do so." Without another word Harry stepped through the door and into his room.

The first thing he saw was red. Red was literally everywhere. Red walls, red carpet, even red tinted wood. The second thing Harry noticed was the bed. It was big, red, and in the very center of the room. The message delivered was neither restrained nor subtle. It was simply put "have sex with Malfoy ASAP."

For a second Harry just stared, then he got mad. How dare the interfering old coot do this! He was not some slut to be used as the headmaster saw fit! Resisting the urge to burn the horrendous thing that was taking up his room, Harry drew his wand and concentrated hard. With a few quick angry jabs the entire room had changed.

The walls and ceiling now were an incredibly deep cobalt blue. The moldings and all the fixtures had been painted white making them stand out. The carpet was gone and in its place was hard wood floor. The desk that had been crammed into the corner was now changed into an extensive work table with all the things he might need: paper, parchment, pens, quills as well as other items he might need: things like a miniature blow torch and coils of copper wire.

The…thing that had been taking up his room was now a single bed in one corner. The sheets had been turned light blue with navy blue and white Polk-a-dots. The blood red comforter had been transformed into a crazy quilt made of various blue and white pieces none of which were alike.

Surveying the room once more, he noticed the things he didn't really see before: A small armoire which his trunk was by, a door that he assumed led into a bathroom, a big bay window (thought the curtains were drawn so he couldn't really see what it overlooked) and a rug that was still the irritating red. Another flick of his wand fixed that issue. Realizing that time wasn't on his side Harry quickly rolled up his pants leg and un-strapped his knife.

Going over to his trunk, Harry opened it up and started digging around for something. Finally he found whatever he was searching for and pulled it out. In his hands was an extra large lock box. Whispering the password, he carelessly flicked open the lid and surveyed his tools.

The train ride had knocked around a couple things but for the most part everything was ok. In the top section were his three knifes and a small handgun as well as his juggling balls. Underneath that was the set of lock picks that Pixie had made him take that he swore he wouldn't use, his "work" clothing, some of the more useful Weasly products, and the various potions that he may or may not need: Polyjuice, pepper-up potion, some basic healing items, and a very small vial of veritsurem. There was also some muggle makeup incase he needed to disguise himself without magic. Seeing it he once more made Harry roll his eyes.

Pixie had put the box together and clearly she was even more paranoid then Mad-eye Moody. Quickly he packed everything away and placed the box gently back into the trunk. Dusting himself he headed toward the door. Struck by an idea suddenly he cast a quick accio and caught the extendable ear that came flying toward him. Sticking it under the door he listened to the conversation going on.

"He's taking a long time." The voice was unmistakably Malfoy, or Draco as Harry guessed he should call him. They were bonded or whatever now.

"I would like to know why he left in the first place." Came the cool voice of the potions master.

"The boy said that he needed to drop something off in his room." Came the aristocratic reply of Lucius Malfoy.

"I am well aware of what he said Lucius, that wasn't my concern." The reply snapped back. In his mind Harry could just see the frown Snape was likely to be wearing.

"Well then what was your concern?" It was clear that all the occupants of the room were very much on edge. With a long-suffering sigh Snape began to explain.

"My concern was what Potter was dropping off. His trunk was already taken to the room, he had no bag, and I didn't notice anything large enough to be uncomfortable in his pockets. So what did he need to go to his room for?"

Before Mr. Malfoy had the opportunity to answer Mal- Draco cut him off. "What were you doing looking through my mates pockets?"

"I was not looking through your mates pockets, Draco. I was taking in details about him and one of the things I didn't notice was a bulge in his pockets."

Deciding that he may as well make reappearance now, Harry carefully put away the extendable ear and headed into the common room. Without so much as a word he took the remaining chair and surveyed the room. Sitting directly across from him looking as imperturbable as usual was Malfoy Senior. It was clear that he too was looking over the newest edition to the Malfoy house. How disappointed he was though, was impossible to tell. Standing by the fireplace was the greasy git, and sitting next to Harry on the couch was the veela himself: Draco Malfoy.

Looking over his new mate, Harry had to admit that at the very least he wasn't hard on the eyes. He was probably about five foot nine inches, putting him about three inches over Harry. Draco's body had also filled out over the summer. More muscular then before he seemed less like the snarky git from Harry's first train ride. Mentally shaking his head he turned back to the situation at hand.

"So how's this going to work, what with you all being rather large supporters of someone who wants me very dead?" Harry asked, deciding that if Lucius didn't know about Snape's position as a spy, he, Harry, wasn't about to tell him. His bluntness clearly shocked the room. Quite frankly though, right now Harry was too tired to care. "Well?" he asked again when it was clear no one was going to answer him.

"Harry, first and foremost you're my mate," Draco began "you clearly don't understand what this means. Even if I wanted to I couldn't do something to hurt you. You're my mate and I will protect you no matter what. If that means siding with the order of the fool, so be it."

The little speech stunned Harry. Hearing words like that from your rival did very little for ones health. It was all in all too weird. Harry glanced at the adults to see if they were as surprised by the little monolog that Draco had just delivered: they weren't. Not knowing what else to do Harry turned to what had always worked before: Sarcasm and anger.

"Thanks for the sentiment Draco, but I don't need to be protected." He snapped, "What I need to know is what in hell is going on and how I'm going to deal with it." He hadn't really meant to say that last part but he was tired. Smoothly Malfoy senior cut in

"I do believe that, that would be useful for us all. As Dumbledore explained in his rather hasty manner, you are a Veela's mate. Of course what that precisely means was rushed over and I doubt you understood most of it." His voice was filled with contempt, whether for Dumbledore or for Harry himself wasn't clear. "Let me explain. As was already told to you, the bonding is more or less a promise for Draco to take care of you and keep you safe and for you to keep Draco's magic in check. This is what the bond gives both of you but it does not describe what the bond actually is. Do you understand?" the question came so quickly it took Harry a second to figure out that he had been asked something.

Quickly he responded.

"Yeah, basically the give-take thing is the side effects not the bond itself."

For a moment the elder Malfoy paused as if trying to come up with a suitable insult before giving up and continuing.

"Close enough. In any case what the bond is, is nothing less then a complete tying of the soul (and therefore magic) to another being, which in cases like this, will fit you perfectly. Most of the changes that happen when a veela finds its mate are to the Veela, not the mate. The only real change you will experience is that it will be uncomfortable to be away from Draco for prolonged amounts of time. You will also be very aware of Draco's magic. That Mr. Potter is 'what in hell is going on' as you so crudely put it." Ignoring Lucius's gibe, Harry jumped straight into the last point.

"What do you mean 'be aware of Draco's magic'? What's going to happen?" It was clear from the look on Lucius's face that he thought this was a drastic waste of time. Before he could make some smart remark though Draco cut in.

"Its different for every couple. Sometimes they just know what their Veela is doing magically. Some people have reported being able to hear music when their veela performs a spell. It just depends." He explained. Harry nodded and sat back to think. Seeing a pause in the conversation Snape spoke for the first time.

"Because of the situation you two will be confined to these rooms here in order to get too know each other better. Sit down Mr. Potter!" Snape snapped as Harry jumped to his feet to protest. "I have no interest on your thoughts on this matter. The headmaster has decided this is best so please spare me your rant." Fixing Harry with one last glare he turned to Lucius. "Lucius, we will need to go and speak with the Headmaster now about your new…situation. Draco to change the password simply point your wand at the back of the tapestry while standing in this room and say the old password plus the new. Please do so immediately." And without so much as a 'good evening' he swept out the door. Lucius stood up to leave but before he reached the door he turned back to his son.

"I would suggest that you two get to know each other or else the rest of your lives will be an incredibly awkward affair. My best wishes to you both." And with that he was gone.

--

The two boys watched the adults leave with two very different expressions. Draco was showing as much emotion as Harry had ever seen him with and looked somewhere between hopeful and happy. Harry meanwhile was feeling as if someone had knocked him in the gut. It wasn't so much Malfoy as it was the idea of being locked in.

Before Malfoy ("Draco" Harry reminded himself) had the chance to say anything Harry walked over to the door to see if there was any chance of getting through. The door though was firmly locked. Banging on it in frustration he collapsed back in his seat. Through out it all Draco just watched him with an amused smirk on his face. Seeing that his mate wasn't about to start the conversation he began.

"Well tell me something about yourself?" Draco demanded. Although it wasn't his usual I'm-the-king-of-Slytherin-fear-me voice, it still wasn't easy for Harry not to curse him simply out of reflex.

"Like what?" Short, abrupt, and incredibly rude: Pixie would have been proud. Still he was tired and didn't want to deal with any of this. In fact he was begging to seriously regret not listening to Pixie and staying home.

"I don't know. How about…" It was clear Draco had no idea what to ask. The two of them had never had a civil conversation in their life so neither knew anything about the other. Finally he struck on something that should be neutral "How you spent your summer."

Instantly Harry paled. Of all the topics Draco had to pick it was that one. Schooling his face back to neutral he gave his usual blasé response.

"Didn't do nothing much. Stayed out of my relatives way, hung out with friends." Even as he said it Harry knew he wasn't being believed. Somehow Draco Malfoy had done what no one else had ever managed: He had figured out when Harry was lying.

Narrowing his eyes the bigger boy turned to his mate. "What happened?" He demanded. Short too the point and very little room left to maneuver.

Harry turned away quickly "nothing happened. It was a boring summer." He lied. Glancing at the veela he could see it wasn't doing any good.

"Don't lie. Its unbecoming." Came the sharp retort "I can tell when your feeling distress and its pretty much rolling off you in waves."

"Well then clearly your veela senses are wrong. I'm fine" Harry replied even as he was trying to concentrate on something different so as to push away the emotions he was feeling.

"Stop lying and tell me what happened."

The two boys were now head to head trying to stare the other one down.

"Please tell me?" Draco asked almost kindly. Harry looked away, and for a second Draco thought he would get an answer. Before he had a chance to even move though Harry had muttered something about being tired and bolted for his room. Watching the door close behind the raven-haired boy Draco sank back into the warm couch. Something was going on and he was determined to find out what.

AN: Hey everyone! I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed already. Like all writers though I love to hear your feedback! Anything that struck you about the chapter that just read please tell me in a review. Thanks!

Magpie Quill