Chapter Seven:

Scent Sensing

A/N: All of my reviewers make me happier than ever, I love you guys! ^_^ Pleeease read, review, and enjoy this one! We've gone from awkward!Harry to research!Harry and now it's a little time for naughty!Harry, hehe...(He'll get much naughtier in the coming chapters)...

The mental patient - I hope these fic muffins are tasty enough for you, for now anyway!

ruth hammond - I'm not too sure how many updates I can get in a week, but it seems as though this story is being written quicker than I thought so I hope that I get enough done to satisfy you before your vacation! Have fun wherever you're going! ^_^

Fablousy-Cratz - hehe, glad you like it...I'm trying to make Draco into very much of a victim...lets see how much Harry can...victimize him ;) hehe...

Bob Da Peach - I'm glad you like my numerous different Harry attitudes, I thought I'd make him a more diverse character than other fanfictions do. I'm not too sure how much drama you're expecting, but I hope Chapter Eight will be sufficient enough! xD

"Why 'ello, Malfoy, fancy that..."

The holidays passed without incident, and it also gave Harry a lot of time to think about all this new information. He had begun day dreaming about Draco constantly; his hair, how smooth his skin must be, how his lips might feel. And with each realization that Harry told himself he was infatuated with Draco, the more comfortable he became with it all. There were no more doubts in Harry's mind that the Veela had to feel the same way about him, and he was confident in his plans. He just needed to wait until the perfect time. As he sat across from Ron and Hermione, Harry was once again caught up in staring at Draco from across the Hall. It was the first day back and term was beginning with a double dose of Dark Arts.

Across the Great Hall during breakfast, Draco couldn't keep his eyes on his meal. He had gone back to the Manor for his holidays and prepared himself thoroughly for scent finding his mate. His head pounded the entire time he was home, and it was only eased when he returned to Hogwarts where he knew his mate was residing. But now, as he sat down for breakfast, his stomach churned and he felt dizzy. He leaned his head down on the palm of his hands, he couldn't take much more of being apart from his mate. He needed to figure out who it was, and when he did...he had no plan and all he knew was that he needed to ravish them. Draco felt such a strong pull towards them, but he still couldn't decipher who it was.

And then there was Potter. He was staring at him constantly from the Gryffindor Table, and Draco couldn't help but allow his eyes to trail up and meet those beautiful jewels of emeralds. He conveyed no emotion on his face, but he was captivated by those eyes and lost in them for minutes at a time before him or Harry tore away from one another. They did this at least every two minutes, and Draco was becoming thoroughly unnerved. It was just something about Harry, when they looked at one another, something about his presence seemed to ease everything inside of Draco.

"You got Dark Arts too this morning, Malfoy?" Blaise asked, pulling Draco's attention away from a certain Gryffindor and across his own table to the handsome Zabini.

"What's it to you?" Draco snapped, he didn't feel like talking. Or being distracted from the only thing that calmed the pounding in his head and stomach.

"Don't get your wand in a knot," Blaise hissed in response, "I was just wondering if we could walk to class together is all, I do believe we are the only worthwhile of our lot in it," he said motioning to the other Slytherins.

"Crabbe, Goyle? You're not going?"

"Not this term," mumbled Crabbe before devouring a few more sausages. Draco turned his gaze on Pansy who lightly shook her head and he sighed.

"I guess it's just us then," Draco said and then his eyes travelled back up to the Gryffindor Table where Harry was staring pointedly at him again, "Us and them," he whispered.

"Us, them and the werewolf," Zabini hurumphed, "Honestly, what kind of school is that old crook running here? Having a werewolf half-breed teach our classes? I think we should get somebody who actually knows the Dark Arts to teach us how to defend them,"

"Too right," Draco agreed quickly, but he honestly didn't care. All that mattered was that he had Double Defense Against the Dark Arts class and the Gryffindors were going to be there, including Potter.

As breakfast drew to a close, Draco walked side-by-side with Blaise up the stairs of Hogwarts. "Do you think we'll be able to use our wands this year?"

"Well, now that the Umbridge cow is gone I am rather certain of it," Draco said reassuringly, they all had missed real Dark Arts classes where you got to practice what you learned.

"Near the back then?" Blaise suggested as they came into the familiar classroom, nudging his head near the seats at the back of the class. Draco shrugged, he really didn't care. They took their seats as the rest of the students slowly filed in.

Draco didn't even have to turn around to know that Potter just walked in the door, he felt it and he heard his low chuckle amongst his best friends. He heard that Granger girl giggling as well, but he didn't care for that, Harry's small laugh resounded in Draco's ears like a beautiful musical tune he found himself mystified by.

He watched the Golden Trio from the corner of his eye as he took out his own book, parchment, quill and ink and set it up for class. He also placed his ivory wand on the table, the light wood constrasting against the darker desk. Draco observed the way the three Gryffindors settled themselves at the very front of the classroom, Hermione sat across the isle with Pavarti Patil, she was clambering on about something or another as Ron and Harry were chuckling again. Harry took out his things and then gently excused himself, the redhead merely nodded.

Draco's breath caught in his throat, 'No, he isn't coming back here...is he?' and his heartbeat began to speed up as Harry neared the back of the classroom. He locked eyes with Draco and strode lazily over towards him, his robes slightly wrinkled and his hair unkempt as always. Draco noticed that from this distance, the boys rounded glasses were lopsided and didn't quite fit his head right.

"Potter, your glasses are all..." Draco trailed off and scowled, he didn't know exactly how to describe the mess that the pieces of metal were in. Harry grinned loosely, his green eyes were mirthful as his hands rested lazily in his pockets and he eyed downward at Malfoy. 'Why is he standing here? What does he want with me?' Draco wondered, but he didn't feel too bad about the situation. The headache had completely disappeared and his stomach unknotted itself.

"Just was making sure you had a good holiday," Harry piped cheerily, "And did you?"

Draco was caught off guard but he kept his mask firmly in place, but something in the other boys eyes told him that he knew so much more, "Just brilliant," he bit on his own words, "Yours?"

"Fabulous. Did a lot of, er, researching,"

"You found a library, good for you," Draco sneered, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat and raising an eyebrow. He knew he had to keep up his appearances and Potter didn't seem to mind his flippant mood.

"Right then, see you later," Harry beamed and nodded dimly towards Blaise, "Zabini," he addressed curtly before turning on his heel and striding back to his seat.

"What does that tosser think he's up to?" Blaise hissed under his breath, but Draco merely shook his head and concentrated on the lesson as their Professor strode in with a light limp.

"Good morning, class!" Professor Remus Lupin chimed quickly, a small grumble of a response was heard. But Draco noticed that Potter was absolutely beaming up at the ragged man, and the Professor winked down at him. He grew curious as to the full extents of their relationship.

"Today we will be finding your magical aura. When that is found, you will seek out the one who has the same as your own, or at least the closest to it. You might feel a natural pull towards the person with an aura close to your own, and I ask that you do not deny this no matter who the other person is," he said firmly, everybody nodded dimly, "Now can anybody tell me why we might be doing this Divination exercise in this classroom? Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Because, sir, if we are to do spells, hexes and other magic with a partner who has a close magical aura, we will be evenly matched, sir," she finished with a small smile.

"Exactly. We will be doing practical lessons every other class, and learning the spells that we will theratically be using the lesson before that. It is important that we are evenly matched, we wouldn't want anybody getting hit by the force of a hex too strong for one to repell with their own defenses," he took a deep breath and surveyed the bored faces of the classroom, "Read pages 120-130 in your texts and this will teach you how to focus your inner eye and concentrate on your aura. Once you are certain of your own, do the exercise in which you can see others. You have until three quarters into the period and once we are all paired, I would like to start some practical review," he instructed and then with a slight wave of his hand, all of the students were quickly turning to the appropriate pages.

Draco wasn't exactly keen on this lesson, he feared being partnered with Longbottom or Weasley. That would do to ruin his image, if he had the same magical aura as one of them. Reluctantly he started off wtih his readings. It was pretty simple to be able to see one owns aura, it was just a matter of concentrate. Having already done this as a Divination exercise, Draco quickly found that his was a brilliant purple hue, light around the edges and darker the closer it got to his body. He was pleased with this, for it meant great strength in the offensive and not as much in the defensive.

Taking a deep breath and concentrating on all the others in his room, unfocusing and focusing his vision and try and catch a glimpse of their own colours. There was a small incantation one could do to make it easier, he lifted up his ivory wand and flicked it saying, "Aurialias Reveala," and he took a look around.

He saw that Blaise's aura was a deep navy blue, Draco looked curiously down at the notes in his book and read that this meant a natural balance. He was pleased that his mates colour wasn't ruby or pink, which in his opinion meant the person was an insufficient wizard. "Look, you're not a Squib," Draco commented dryly to Blaise who sneered at him.

"Shove off Malfoy, I think I've found my match," Zabini hissed, and he didn't seem too happy about who his match was either. Draco watched with eerie amusement as Blaise dragged himself up from his seat and towards the other end of the classroom to promptly sit next to Neville Longbottom, whose aura was a lighter, navy blue.

Draco continued surveying the classroom, taking note of everybody's auras. He wasn't highly impressed, but then the corner of his eye caught a brilliant purple emenating from the front of the classroom. He groaned, hoping to the Gods it wasn't Weasley. He picked up his wand and shoved it in his pocket and slowly brought himself to his feet, he stalked past all of the students looking at his own beautifully, purple aura and to the one whose matched his own.

He came face-to-face with a grinning Potter, who winked up at him, "Why 'ello, Malfoy, fancy that. I was wondering when you were gonna get your arse over here," he said, looking between both of their auras. They weren't even a shade off, they were exactly the same colour. Down to the dot.

Even Draco knew automatically that this was rare, for their auras to be exactly the same. He took Weasley's vacated seat and sat down next to Potter, attempting to ignore his goofy grin and the way his green eyes were lit up. Draco couldn't say he wasn't pleased though, for all uneasiness inside of him had gone away. "Hah, Ron's with Nott and he doesn't look too happy about that..." Harry whispered amusedly, leaning in close to Draco.

Draco looked over behind his shoulder and saw the definite dislike on both boys in question faces and smirked, "Serves them right," he merely said, and before Harry could ask why the Professor was standing in front of them again smiling.

"It seems we have all found our parnters, that's fantastic!" he beamed, looking between all the desks, "I would like you to spread apart from your partner and practice simple Tripping Jinxes, Boogey Hexes, and whatever else you learned last year that you are certain your partner is capable of deflecting. Simple Protego shields should work fine for most of the hexes," Remus explained, all of the students nodded eagerly. They just wanted to duel.

"But, before that I would like to draw everybody's attention to the front of the classroom please!" Remus said, looking down at Draco and Harry. Draco groaned, 'Merlin please don't point out the fact that I'm so identical to Potter...merlin please...'

"We have a rather rare pairing here," Remus continued with a smirk, Harry was still beaming up at the older man, "Mister Potter and Mister Malfoy here have exact replica auras. Can anybody tell me what that means? Ah yes, Miss Granger if you would,"

Hermione was biting her lower lip at Harry and sending him an apologetic gaze but he shrugged it off, seemingly not minding the entire situation as Draco fumed in his seat, "Auras that are so closely match mean that the two Wizards are of equal strength and defensive skill, though not overall ability. They are quite...identical...to one another," she said uneasily, Draco was scowling at the desktop by this point as all eyes were on them.

"Exactly! Now I'm certain that whatever Mister Malfoy throws at Mister Potter, can be easily deflected. And the other way around. Now then, get right to it and remember...only things you have learned last year and nothing too harmful!" Remus pronounced firmly, and everybody jumped out of their seats and readied themselves.

Harry and Draco, however, took a little longer. Hexes were already flying this way and that, groans were heard and Remus' was bouncing from partner-to-partner fixing their stances, waves of their wand and incantations. "Scared Potter?" Draco drawled, slowly bringing himself to his feet and taking a firm grip on his wand.

"You wish," Harry flashed a brilliant smirk at Draco that nearly knocked the blonde off his feet right then and there, but he quickly covered up with his cool mask.

And then they began. Simple jinxes flew between them, hexes, curses, everything and anything the two boys could think about. Colours flew, sparks erupted, shields were thrown up every couple of turns, everything was deflected but after a half an hour the boys were beginning to sweat. Draco was smirking, he always enjoyed a good deal and at this point he was equally matched and he oddly found himself enjoying it more thoroughly.

Potter seemed to be having a great time, he was smiling largely and despite the sweat jumping into every hex as quickly as it rolled off his tongue. His power erupted and conneted with Draco's, their magic caught and entangled midair before dispersing and allowing them to start it all over again. It was energetic, colourful, magnificant, and they didn't even notice the entire class had stopped to watch them.

"Good...hex...form...shield....Malfoy," Harry panted with his teeth fully in his smile now, directed straight at Draco who shielded himself from Harry's Bat-Boogey Hex.

Draco tried to scowl in response, but he couldn't. He was just being complimented by Harry Potter, how could he not keep the smug satisfaction off his face? As Draco sent another curse at Harry, he was surprised with what happened next. Harry released his shield and without speaking a word, his Patronus erupted out of his wand and blinded Draco completely. A large stag burst towards him and Draco attempted to put up a Protego but wasn't quick enough, the creature was too bright and he was too surprised.

Without a word, once again, Harry sent a tripping Jinx Malfoy's way and the light disappeared and when it was gone, Malfoy was flat on his arse. The class was staring in awe between the two boys and Remus was chuckling and clapping his hands together, approaching them. "Good job boys! Good job! Twenty points to Gryffindor and to Slytherin!" he chimed, their classmates broke into grins.

"That there was a perfect example of how evenly matched one is...and how is it that Mister Potter won the duel?" Remus asked, addressing the still distracted class.

Harry wasn't listening to their Professor, he was smiling over at Draco who still sat sneering on the ground. He approached him and held out his hand, grinning, "Need a hand?" he offered, Draco reluctantly took it and stood up.

He felt their skin press tightly against one another and a jolt of excitement ran through his body and touched every single one of his nerves, Draco quickly withdrew his hand before he could really linger on the sensation. Harry was still smiling at him before turning to his Professor and paying attention.

"Harry used wandless magic to surprise Malfoy," Neville stated.

"Close, but no cigar," Remus beamed, "Harry here used wandless and wordless magic to surprise his opponent. This is a skill that is difficult to learn but can be achieved by few great Wizards, and it is exceptional that he used it in this duel. If you have a skill that can become your advantage, use it! That is the most important thing, use what you can!" Remus smiled over at Harry who smirked back, he allowed the class to continue on with their duelling but for the remainder of the period Harry and Draco merely sat back and watched everybody else, too exhausted to do anything else.

Draco kept his mind on that duel all day. Not so much the spellwork or the fact that Harry could so easily perform wandless, wordless magic, but the fact that their hands had touched afterwards. The way that Harry had smiled at him, the way those green eyes lit up brilliantly, the way his skin tickled with unknown, amazing sensations when their skin brushed.

It kept him busy all day, and distracted from the rest of his lessons. Draco kept to himself, mulling over these feelings and also readying for that night. He was going to perform his scent-seeking skills he had learned from Severus over the holidays, and he was more than excited. For whenever he wasn't in the Great Hall or in some lessons, his chest pain increased so much and his head throbbed uncontrollably, it was getting to the point where all Draco wanted to do was crawl back into bed and sleep.

He was excited, maybe it wouldn't be so bad and his mate would be a good looking Ravenclaw bloke. Dinner seemed to drag on, and so did finishing up an Arithmancy assignment with Blaise in the library.

"What's wrong with you lately, Malfoy?" Blaise finally asked, setting down his quill.

Draco looked up from his homework and shrugged, "I'm not sure what you're on about, Zabini," he merely said as Blaise rolled his eyes.

"Oh c'mon! You have barely said anything all day, you didn't even seem mad that you were paired with Potter of all people in Dark Arts, and you just are so...off lately," Blaise explained, not really having any better term for it. He knew he was worried for the blonde, but he would never admit that. They had teased, taunted and fooled around with one another for the past six years, they were essentially best friends but they only showed it in the ways Slytherin's showed how they were best friends.

"At least I wasn't paired with Longbottom, Weasel or a Mudblood," Draco merely muttered before sighing and setting down his own quill. He couldn't concentrate on these mathematics anymore, not with the anticipation of locating his mate that evening bubbling deep inside of his stomach.

"I think I'm done for tonight, Blaise," Draco drawled, standing up and collecting his things into his leather shoulder bag and brushing his platinum hair behind his ears.

"Done to the Common Room it is then?"

"No, you go on. I think I need to take a walk, clear my head," Draco merely said, and was glad that Blaise asked for no explanation but merely bid him goodbye for now. Draco found himself aimlessly wandering the halls for twenty minutes before he came out onto the Hogwarts Grounds. It was a cool evening, but not so bad. It wasn't snowing, hailing, or any of that bollocks and the sky was clear up ahead. The stars twinkled down and reflected off of the Lake, Draco strode over closer towards it and looked out over the frozen water.

He really did love the scenery of Hogwarts, no matter how much he might despise the Professor's and the level of teaching at the school. Draco always felt like he could have done so much better at a higher academic school such as Durmstrang, but with people like Blaise around, he was glad his parents forced him to come here.

Draco set aside his bag and pulled his cloak close to him, he took out his wand and did a quick warming charm on the area around him. He felt it immediately seep over his skin, and he stopped shivering from the cold. Draco crossed his legs underneath himself and closed his eyes, letting the silent wisp of soft wind soothe him into a nice, calm.

He needed to concentrate, to push all other matters from his head other than the deep innate feelings inside of him. So he searched, he searched beneath the brigade of false emotions until he latched onto something he found inside himself, something that felt very much like a want...no, a need for another person. He held tightly onto that mental need and breathed in and out deeply a few times.

Then he did as Professor Snape told him to, and concentrated solely on that emotion of need and the sense of smell. He sniffed, multiple times he sniffed. And finally he got a whiff of something that wasn't there before. It was a musky smell, a strong odour of unmistakable male body sweat. But it wasn't just any body odour, it was his mate's. He knew this automatically and his eyes sprang open.

Something inside of him tugged hard at his being, at every single fiber in his body. Severus had described this is what would happen if it worked. That Draco would be yanked in the direction of the smell. So he grabbed his shoulder bag and allowed his feet to lead him where he wasn't looking, he didn't question but followed his intuition across the Grounds.

Draco kept sniffing and becoming more confident in his strides away from the castle and towards the Qudditch Pitch, lit up with the last light of sun as it set in the distance. That musky scent was becoming stronger, more intoxicating, it was making nerves around his groin react to it and he felt himself needing it. Needing to smell it so much more, needing to feel whoever emitted that smell.

Then as he became close, he realized that this musky smell was smothered in another kind of unwanted smell. It was floral, a sickly perfume of sorts, perhaps it was roses, but Draco wasn't quite sure. It was definately a female smell smothering his mate's smell. His mate's! Draco growled deep in his throat, the creature in him automatically reacting.

"Who the fuck thinks they can touch MY mate?" Draco hissed angrily aloud, now he was stomping with a blurred vision to the Qudditch Pitch.

As soon as he was near enough to see what he needed, his heart stilled inside of him and the creature was raging. There was Harry Potter, his hands on Ginny Weasley's shoulders and gently pushing her away. Draco edged closer, they were sitting in the snowy stands and Harry had his broom in his hand. He must have been practicing late night before curfew. Ginny looked pleadingly at him, he frowned in response. "Please Ginny, you know that I don't want this,"

"But Harry, why not?" Ginny whined, pushing herself forward again and her hand landed on Harry's thigh. Draco's blood boiled at this and he clenched his fists, trying his hardest to remain unnoticed.

"Because Gin..because there's somebody else...and you're, well, erm...not my type," Harry fumbled with his words, even in the sunset Draco could see the flush of pink on his cheeks of embarassment, and he knew it wasn't from the cold either.

"What's wrong with me? Am I not good enough for The-Boy-Who-Lived?" Ginny yelled, standing up now infuriated. Harry sighed and stood up as well and looked down at her with soft, gentle eyes that melted her immediately.

"Ginny...please. You know that's not what I think and that's not what's happening here...there's just someone else..."

"Who is it then?" Ginny snapped, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.

"I-I can't tell you yet because they don't even know. And, erm, it's a delicate situation and...please Gin, don't do this," Harry was begging now, he didn't like seeing her hurt, "You're like a sister to me," He whispered, pulling the frustrated redhead into his arms and she sighed and hugged him back, all of her anger seeping out of her.

"But Harry, all I've ever wanted was to be with you..." she whispered against his chest, Harry was gently stroking her hair and embracing her. He didn't know what to say to console her, he was never good with these situations.

Draco was becoming more livid by the second, his body was shaking with anger he couldn't describe and he had no idea where the source of it was. All he knew is that he couldn't watch that Weaselette touch Potter any longer. He turned abruptly on his heels with a loud growl in his throat, and he began to stalk back towards the castle with a murderous expression on his face.

"Malfoy?" Harry's voice called uncertainly and Draco didn't stop a second in his step as Harry hurried away from Ginny, running through the small layer of snow towards the blonde who was nearing the castle now.

"Malfoy! Come back, it's not what...Malfoy!" Harry had no idea what to say, but he knew what was happening to Draco and he knew he couldn't let it happen. "Malfoy! Draco! Please, Draco come back!" he called desperately.

But Draco wasn't listening, the blood was boiling so loud in his ears and his heart was racing with anger. Draco had disappeared into the entrance of Hogwarts and gone straight down into the dungeons to collapse on his bed, ignoring the faint calls of his name the whole way down.