A/N; well, another week another chapter. Thank you to all those who wished me happy birthday, and thank you to all my readers and reviewers! YOU GUYS ROCK! Sorry, but it always makes me smile to read reviews, 'tis fun!

Disclaimer; you know the drill, I don't own a thing

Warnings; language that may be probably shouldn't read by kids, slash that probably isn't suitable for kids, mentions of abuse/self harm that probably aren't suitable for little kids to read… sigh little kids, this just isn't your day, is it?

Speech "Blah"

Thoughts 'Blah'

DmHp

Harry opened his weary eyes slowly, blinking back the sleep that had invaded sometime during the previous night. He smiled lightly, snuggling further down into the couch, only vaguely recognizing the fact that he was now safe in a comforting cocoon of warmth.

It was rather strange; really, he hadn't even felt tired the night before; there had been no signals telling him he was falling asleep. He spotted the book lying on the floor a little way away, one of its pages folded awkwardly underneath it due to a messy landing. But then, if he hadn't realized he was dropping off before he did, when had he had time to conjure the blanket that was currently wrapped protectively around him?

Harry slowly sat up, looking around the room properly, taking the time to register every detail into his brain. Well, it didn't look like Draco was up, that was a good start to the day. But then again, was it really? Was that really what he wanted? Didn't he wish to be woken up in the morning and find himself laying next to the blonde, didn't he wish to have a gently kiss planted lovingly on his fore-head when his lover noticed he was finally awake?

Harry shook his head violently, massaging his temples. Where the fuck had that come from?

DmHp

Draco rolled over in his sleep, reality increasing its grip on his mind and forcing him violently back into the real world. The blonde groaned as his eyes opened of their own accord, and sighed upon realizing he would never get back to sleep. He threw off his quilt, sitting up in his bed, then swung his legs over the side and planted his feet firmly upon the carpet.

It was going to be another long day, he just knew it. Just what the hell had been wrong with Harry the day before anyway? Draco picked out a clean towel and threw it over his arm, then left his bedroom for a shower.

Harry was still asleep; looking as beautiful as ever as he lay sprawled out on the couch. 'Like a dark-haired angel,' Draco thought, taking care not to wake his mate as he crossed the room.

Once in the bathroom, he stripped of all his night-clothes and turned on the water to wait for it to heat up. It didn't take long, and soon he was leaning up against the wall of the shower as the water trickled slowly down his lithe form.

Harry…why couldn't he get that stupid Gryffindor out of his head? Draco sighed angrily, letting his head bang on the wall behind him. Maybe it was his stupid veela side taking over, torturing him with oh so sweet images of the other teenager when in reality the boy seemed to hate him.

Hate? Was that really such an appropriate word? Draco grabbed a bottle of shampoo from the shelf as he thought. No, surely not hate; Harry had been perfectly fine with him before yesterday. So it couldn't be hate, right?

DmHp

Harry jumped, startled, as he heard the bathroom door open and watched the blonde haired teenager emerge…with nothing but a loose towel clinging half heartedly his waist. He couldn't remove his eyes from the other teenager's form as Draco crossed the room, captivated by the toned muscles and slender curves of the male body not all that far away from him.

Harry blinked rapidly, trying to remove his attention from the other male, hoping Draco hadn't noticed him staring. However, the blonde merely crossed the room without so much as glancing his way and entered his own bedroom.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief; glad his torture was over, then finally stood from the couch and stretched, grimacing at the loud cracking sounds that followed from angry joints. He picked up the blanket and went into his room, closing the door softly behind him.

DmHp

The rest of that week passed, in general, without great incident. The two teenagers avoided each other as much as possible, only speaking to each other when absolutely necessary. Tracy came to teach every day, but each time left within an hour or so because of the unbearable tension between the two boys that were supposedly her students. She wondered what had happened between them, but figured they would have to work it out between them. They stared at each other throughout her lessons -when they thought the other wouldn't notice - and frankly she wished they would just kiss and be done with it.

Tracy didn't want to be stuck inside a teenager soap opera.

DmHp

Narcissa had also visited again, though had also found the two at odds. When she asked Draco, he had told her that Harry had been a bastard to him and he was merely returning the favour. Harry refused to speak to her about it.

"Hey, Tracy?"

"Yeah?" The blonde looked up from the book she was reading as Narcissa entered the rooms they were sharing during their stay at the castle. Dumbledore had decided it was most likely unsafe for Narcissa to leave her son (he would undoubtedly need help with any problems with his Veela side, and she would miss him too much anyway) and of course Tracy was staying at the castle to teach her half brother.

"Well, have you noticed anything odd between Harry and Draco recently?"

Tracy snorted, snapping her book shut. "Odd? You mean the tension and stuff? I mean, it's so easy to tell they care for each other – and if not they are definitely lusting – and yet they're being bloody prats!"

"Yes, that's what I thought," the elder woman replied, sitting in a chair opposite Tracy.

"What do you think brought it about?"

Narcissa gave a half shrug. "As far as I could tell originally, they were getting along just fine. I mean, before this they were always at the each other's throats, but in my opinion it was just a way of being close to each other. I mean, during the summer all Draco could talk about was 'Potter this' and 'bloody scar-head' that.

Then, when this whole veela thing kicked in, Draco was okay with it all. He had a crush on Harry for quite a long time – though I don't think he knows I know – and Harry seemed to take it just as well anyway. They were getting along fine."

"Maybe Harry has a bloody hero complex," Tracy muttered, opening her book again.

Narcissa pursed her lips, thinking it over. "Maybe."

DmHp

Monday. Monday morning. Monday morning, the day Harry and Draco were due to return to classes. Oh bloody hell.

Harry rolled over, groaning loudly as a protest to being woken up. He didn't want to go back to school; he didn't want to go to class. The two teenagers had been delivered knew time-tables the day before, as they were expected to now share all the same classes. Fucking Dumbledore, making it hard for him to ditch the blonde.

They were also supposed to eat together. Harry scoffed at the idea; there was no way they were going to sit together at all, not even in class. It was hard enough trying to keep the other teenager out of his thoughts, never mind out of his sight. If he had to spend just a little more time with Draco he would snap, his whole plan crumbling down around him like a biscuit dunked in tea.

Although, it had worked relatively well up to that point. Harry rolled over again. Draco had taken to avoiding him, and seemed to have gone back to hating him. Well, at least he didn't like him anymore; that would only make the whole thing harder.

But it hadn't been as east as Harry had thought. He had yet to stop thinking about the blonde, and it hurt to see Draco scowl at him again when they happened to pass each other. He guessed he deserved it really; he had been the one to start the whole thing. Why, why did Draco have to hate him again?

'Because you're a stupid idiot that thinks it's better this way,'

Harry had always looked away too quickly to spot the aching loss in Draco's eyes.

DmHp

Draco stared at the soft silvery grey ceiling above him, wondering what the day ahead would be like. He and Harry had gone back to being enemies, and he doubted they would make it through the day without at least one argument of some sort.

But then, just what had brought about this sudden change in Harry, just those few days ago? The dark haired teenager had just started pushing him away, with no reason to do so, began to add a spiteful edge to his tone, began to scowl more frequently in his direction…

Pushing him away…was that supposed to make sense? Was there supposed to be a point to what Harry was doing? Did he have some unknown and bloody stupid reasoning to back him up?

Pushing him away…it sounded like such a stupid thing to do.

Pushing him away…

Draco was positive there was something significant in those his wording of what Harry was doing. If only he could figure out what it fucking well meant.

DmHp

Harry, wearing a deep scowl and glaring at anyone who tried to talk to him, plonked down at his house table, picking at the little food he had put on his plate. He felt the two seats on either side of him being taken up, and watched as Hermione began to pile more, healthier food onto his plate.

"Where's Draco?"

"How the hell should I know?"

The fork in Hermione's hand stopped on its path to Harry's plate, the potato that she had picked up dropping with a quiet 'thunk' to the table.

"Isn't he supposed to be with you?" Hermione asked, trying to word her phrasing correctly so she wouldn't make her friend's mood worse. Harry shrugged.

"Probably. I don't care though. I don't ever want to see that git again."

"Thank you, Harry! Welcome back to reality," Ron patted his friend on the back, and proceeded to engage Harry in a bitching session about the blonde.

"Harry, did something happen between you two?"

"Oh no, why would you think that?"

"Just drop it Hermione, I told you the ferret wasn't any good," Ron interjected, trying to talk to Harry again without his girlfriend butting in.

"Shut it, Ronald. Harry, what happened? Did you have a fight, you seemed to be getting along so well? You have to give it time, you know, but you can-…"

"I don't care, 'Mione. I don't want to get along with him. He's a Malfoy."

"Harry, are you pushing him away for a reason or are you just really thick?"

"WHAT?" Harry cried, turning to face her fully "What the fuck are on about?"

Hermione studied his eyes, confirming her fears. Ever since she had visited the two only a week ago, she had been worried that perhaps Harry would push Draco away, trying to protect him. She always knew Harry had a hero complex.

But before she could say anything on the topic, Ginny came up behind Harry and threw her arms around his neck, squealing in delight. Hermione growled angrily as Harry proceeded to return the hug, then make room next to him for the red-head to sit down.

"Oh, Harry, I was so worried about you, who knew what that filthy little ferret would do to you? He didn't try anything did he? Oh, I just want to strangle him…"

Hermione huffed, mumbling something under her breath about jealous hormonal teenagers, then began to eat her breakfast, deciding she would lecture Harry later.

DmHp

Draco had arrived at the Slytherin table early, then proceeded to bitch to Pansy about Harry, complaining that the dark haired teenager was pushing him away without reason. Blaise had told him he didn't need the bloody Gryffindor; that he could do better anyway.

Pansy had sworn to kill the spoilt brat as soon as she got her hands on him.

Draco had only stopped his ranting when he spotted a red head blur speed towards Harry, then hug him tightly. That little red-head wrench was cuddling his Harry; his mate.

He growled angrily, fisting his hands and mutilating his food to stop him going over there. He would not submit to his feelings, he would not admit he was jealous. Let the brat do what she wanted, it's not like he could give a damn anyway.

DmHp

The morning had passed relatively well, or as well as it could have done with two enemies forced to spend every lesson together. They had always sat on opposite sides of the room, never speaking or looking at each other; of course, those sneaked glances and stolen stares didn't really count, right?

Some of the other students, of course, had heard about the blonde being a veela and the Gryffindor being his mate (because, let's face it, only the most important secrets are ever discovered that quickly), but were pleased to find nothing had changed between the two. After all, the walls of reality would begin to crumble if the school's two biggest rivals were suddenly holding hands and smooching in class.

But, by lunch, Harry had begun to feel sick, his stomach swirling and his head aching. He had brushed it off as being tired; he hadn't slept well the previous night due to a nightmare. It was starting to annoy him though, and, as much as he hated it, it looked as though hospital wing might be his best option.

DmHp

Draco knew what was going on. He knew what the sickness meant, how to cure the dizziness, and he cursed his veela side for forcing it upon him. Damn Harry and his bloody pathetic stupidity, why couldn't the Gryffindor just accept that they were mates and get over it? If they weren't going to get along Draco would appreciate it if the dark haired boy just bloody rejected him and get it over with. But, what did it matter; at this rate they would both be dead soon anyway.

DmHp

Within a few days, Harry quickly decided he missed being friends with Draco. He missed sharing meals together in their rooms, he missed hearing Draco's voice without even the slightest trace of malice, he missed Draco's smile and he missed being woken up in a morning by his blonde angel. Wait, his blonde angel?

Hell, he must really be ill.

The sickness hadn't gone away, not even in the slightest. If anything, it had gotten worse. The only time it seemed to relent was when he was near that stupid blonde veela, which wasn't really often.

In reality, he almost regretted his decision to push the blonde away. Almost. He was doing this for Draco's safety, he was doing this to safe the blonde the death penalty. He didn't care, and Draco had already adopted his role and returned to hating Harry as he always had. It didn't matter whether or not he missed him. Not at all.

DmHp

"Watch it, Potter!"

"Shove off, Malfoy, you're the one that walked in to me,"

"Taken a trip to fairy land, have we, you stupid Gryffindor? You and retched Mudblood loving friends should be tripping over yourselves to get out of the way, bowing down as we pass."

Hermione sighed angrily, shaking her head as Ron also joined in the fight. Spats like these had become frequent over the past few days, always starting or involving with some sort of physical contact between the veela and his mate. She knew what was going on, anyone with half a brain could figure it out. Pity the two in front of her had heads full of dusty boxes and mouldy wood.

It was quite simple, really. Harry and Draco were beginning to feel the strain, the built up tension that was ripping them apart in side. It was common knowledge that a veela and their mate had to remain constantly in sight of the other, and needed to feel the comforting touch of their significant other on a regular basis. Harry and Draco spent as much time as possible out of each other's way, so this fighting was the only way to find some sort of release; the more time they spent fighting, the more time they spent with each other. The more they were in contact with each other, the better the two felt.

It was just a pity that the two idiots found punches and shoves the only way to be in contact with each other.

DmHp

Draco smirked at Harry, viciously shoving him out of the way as they raced each other to their dorms. It had become a regular fight, racing each other to see who was the better of the two. Upon reaching their rooms they would try to enter at the same time, pushing and shoving as much as possible to get through.

Draco knew what they were doing, and vaguely wondered if Harry was feeling it to. He kept searching for the dark-haired boy out of the corner of his eye each time he looked up, kept repressing the need to see and touch his mate at every possible moment during the day.

That's why, when they passed each other in the halls, he would shove the other boy out of the way, or start a verbal (sometimes even physical if he hadn't seen his mate all day) battle, each one sticking around for as long as possible just so they could see each other. It was rather pathetic, really.

DmHp

Harry flopped onto his bed, thanking the gods it was the end of the week. His world was still spinning, and it had been so bad that he hadn't eaten anything that lunch. He had begun to find he couldn't take his eyes off the blonde in lessons, finding it harder and harder to concentrate throughout the day. In potions, when they were partnered together (Snape had picked up on the fact that they weren't on good terms, and had decided to be a bastard again) he found that they would brush hands a little too often for it to be accidental, though neither ever said anything.

It hurt, to hear Draco insulting him and his friends again, it hurt to see the anger and hatred in the blonde's eyes. It hurt, to push him away.

And not for the first time that week, Harry regretted ever having made the decision to push him away.

But if it saved Draco, the stupid veela who had gotten them both into that mess just two weeks ago, he was quite happy suffering for eternity.

Pushing him away…it had seemed like such a good idea at the time.

DmHp

Pansy gave a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes as she watched Draco and Harry fight again. Only this time, Harry had been the one to start it; a clear sign that the Gryffindor was finally beginning to feel the heat. It was the beginning of their second week back in lessons, their second week of ignoring and hating each other, their second week of constantly fighting and staring when they though the other wouldn't notice.

In all honesty, Pansy was beginning to worry. Her best friend was being torn apart in side, that was obvious, and yet refused to admit it. Draco had told her that Harry had simply started being rude as fuck, and had reverted back to hating him. In retaliation, Draco had done the same.

Being the stubborn Malfoy that he was, he refused to admit he had done anything wrong.

Though, she figured, he was right. It was mainly Harry's fault they were in that mess, but if Draco would just stop being a fool and talk to him…

Behind where Harry was stood fighting with Draco, his red-haired side-kick giving his own dosage of rather pathetic insults beside him, Pansy caught the brown haired girl rolling her eyes and scowling at the boys.

Pansy began to wonder. Then Pansy began to plot.

And so, whilst the teenage boys were doing what they did best, the Slytherin seventh year crept past them and over to where Hermione was stood.

None of the boys noticed the two girls leaving them in the middle of corridor to fight it out alone.

DmHp

Tracy was rather surprised to hear knocking at her door, just as she was rather surprised when the Slytherin girl she knew to be Pansy entered with a brown haired Gryffindor girl.

She was not, however, surprised when they stated they were worried about the veela and his mate, nor was she surprised when Narcissa came rushing into the room after hearing her son's name and started to question Pansy as to how he was coping.

"I think," Hermione started "that Harry is being very stupid and has gotten it into his head that he has to protect Draco."

Narcissa grimaced, nodding. "Yes, that's what Tracy and I think to. We thought they could sort it out between them."

Pansy shook her head "Draco's falling apart, Cissy. We can't just leave it to them."

Tracy nodded in agreement, and Hermione sighed.

"Perhaps then…perhaps I should call in the team."

DmHp

It was barely half an hour later that Hermione was being introduced to two of Narcissa's friends, Pippa and Cecil, and barely minutes after that that she found herself sitting with the group of Slytherins plotting how to get the two male teenagers everyone was so concerned about to stop being bloody idiots.

Although, she realized, it was nice to see they were nothing like the Slytherin stereotypes; they were kind, caring, surprisingly funny and most of all they all wanted to help the two boys be friends again. Well, Cecil just wanted them to make out, but that was beside the point.

"Perhaps a nice long lecture would do the trick," Hermione wondered, shrugging half heartedly.

"I doubt either of them would listen."

"And they're too stubborn to admit they were wrong anyway," Tracy put in.

"Just lock them in a room together, I'm sure that'll work," Cecil suggested, receiving many eye rolls as a reply "Hey, it was a good idea!"

"I wonder why Harry thinks he is doing good though," Pansy mumbled, leaning back against the chair Hermione was sat in next to the Gryffindor girl's legs "I mean, surely he's noticed what it's doing to both of them."

"Perhaps he is worried that Draco will get too close to him," Pippa replied gravely, frowning slightly "maybe he thinks Draco will become entangled in his life. Maybe he thinks he is not worthy. Maybe he feels that Draco being close to him is just putting them both into more danger. Maybe he believes what he is doing is for the best. He is only trying to protect what and who he cares for the most,"

Cecil gave a dramatic sigh, placing one hand over her heart "Ah, young love."

DmHp

Harry scowled at his reflection in the mirror, casting the glamour charm again to no avail. It just wasn't working. His scowl deepened, only to be broken by a yawn as Gryffindor teenager found his eyes slipping closed of their own accord.

He was tired, that was all he could think of at that time. His magic was draining because of that stupid blonde haired Malfoy (why couldn't the Slytherin just piss off and get out of his head anyway?) and he had found himself tiring quickly when doing even the smallest of tasks.

He wrenched his eyes open, willing himself to stay awake. He had classes all day, and he couldn't leave the bathroom until his glamour was up and the scars were properly hidden.

Perhaps they wouldn't notice, he reasoned, as the charm failed again. Harry looked down as his body, then at his robes that lay in a crumpled heap on the floor. No, he couldn't take the risk.

He tried to perform the charm again.

Harry Potter, seventeen year old wizard and mate of the Slytherin veela, hardly even noticed when his eyes slipped closed once more and his half naked body fell to the bathroom floor.

DmHp

A/N Well, do you reckon Harry will finally get a clue? Lol, 10 pages this time, and I have a feeling the next one will be even longer. Shrug never mind.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter. Review!

Edited; 30-05-07