AN: Alright, so we're now 11 chapters in, and I figure it's time I got me a beta. So listen, if you'd like to help me out and beta the chapters as I write them/consider helping me shape the vague, half-formed ideas I have into a workable plot, please apply in a review. Only requirements, I guess, would be that you're online frequently and are able to get back to me quickly, life permitting.
Anywho, thanks to all reviewers! I love you guys, you have no idea. Here's chapter 11, in all its unbeta-ed glory!
About A Boy And His Veela: Chapter Eleven – Talks and Tonks
September 2nd
EXCLUSIVE: Malfoy Family Shocks Continue!
The wizarding world has been rocked today with the news that newly divorced Narcissa Black, formerly Mrs Narcissa Malfoy, made an appearance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yesterday evening for political talks with headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
While the exact content of these talks is unknown, a representative of Narcissa stated this morning, 'Ms. Black spoke with Albus Dumbledore about herself and her son's future in the upcoming war, and the results have been very positive.'
It has been speculated that Narcissa has decided to switch sides in the upcoming war against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and support the Light, and indeed, this move seems to support this theory. Reactions of her ex-husband Lucius Malfoy, or even You-Know-Who himself, are unknown, although it can be surmised that they would not be happy with this seemingly obvious move on behalf of Narcissa Black to the Light side.
'I always thought there was something fishy about that family,' observed Penny Day, 51, of Bristol. 'But knock me over with a Kneazle, Narcissa's gone and changed my mind about them! If even she is switching sides, that's gotta show You-Know-Who that he's losing support!'
Narcissa's son and future heir to the family name, Draco Malfoy, was unable to be reached for comment.
HPDM
8:30am
"Severus?" Draco knocked three times on the door leading to Professor Snape's private quarters, in the corner of the Potions classroom. He only had to wait a few seconds before the door swung open, and Snape was standing there, wearing loose black pants and a faded black jumper.
Draco raised an eyebrow at him, and Snape scowled. "What are you doing here, Draco?" He snapped. "You're meant to be at breakfast this time of morning."
"I was at breakfast, until I read the front page of the Daily Prophet and realised my mother paid a visit to the castle last night." Draco said pleasantly. "It seemed logical that you would know where she was, if she's still here. I need to talk to her."
Snape glared at him for a moment, and then muttered, "She's in here, still asleep."
Draco raised both his eyebrows, looking at Snape with a soft smirk on his face. "She stayed here overnight?"
"Separate beds!" Snape snarled, a tinge of embarrassment on his cheeks.
"Of course. May I come in?" Draco asked politely, albeit slightly mockingly.
Snape glared at him again. "Yes." He muttered grudgingly.
Draco stepped neatly over the threshold and looked around. Snape's private quarters reflected the man who owned them; ruthlessly organised and dark. There was not a mess to be seen anywhere. They were standing in the lounge room, which was lined with darkly-wooded bookcases and shelves. The carpet underfoot was dark grey, and the lounges were a mixture of midnight blue and forest green.
"Sit down." Snape said, pointing to the nearest lounge. "I'll go get her."
Draco obliged as Snape stalked over to one of the doors that were around the walls, and knocked twice.
"Narcissa?" he said, in a far gentler tone than Draco had ever heard him use. "Your son is here. He wishes to speak with you."
There was an inaudible reply from within the room, and Snape came back and sat down opposite Draco on one of the other lounges.
"She will only be a moment." He said to Draco.
A few minutes later the door opened, and Narcissa emerged, wearing a long, violet robe over her nightgown. She smiled warmly at Draco as she took a seat beside Snape.
"Dragon." She greeted. "How lovely to see you. Did you have a good first day yesterday?"
Draco reflected briefly on his kiss with his mate, and Pansy's advice. "It was average." He said instead, as dismissively as he could. "That's not what I came here to talk to you about though, Mother."
She regarded him seriously for a moment. "I assume you found out about my presence here through a Prophet article?"
"Yes." Draco confirmed. "It said that they had received news you were here last night for political talks with Dumbledore."
"Indeed I was." Narcissa agreed. "I suppose you're here to find out information about that?"
"Yes." Draco said patiently. "I need to know what to tell others if I'm questioned about it."
"Naturally." Narcissa paused for a moment, considering. "Dumbledore was very receptive, and agreed to offer us the full protection of the Order. I gave him all the information I have stored up about Lucius and the Dark Lord over the years, some of which he found very useful. He will fight for us, should anyone try to question our loyalties."
"So we're officially on the Light side now?"
"Yes." She smiled at him. "However, I do not want it too heavily publicised, nor do I want Lucius or the Dark Lord to know for sure which side we have chosen. Political talks with Dumbledore could mean anything, and no one will ever know for sure, no matter how much the Prophet theorises."
"So…" Draco ran through it again in his head, "We are on the Light side but no one is to know for sure that that is true except for us."
"Yes." Narcissa smiled again. "It would be better to be considered 'neutral' until the war begins in earnest. Then, we can publicly declare our allegiances. Until then, should anyone ask you, just tell them that my talk with Dumbledore had a positive outcome, but you have no comment besides that."
Draco nodded.
Narcissa heaved a tiny sigh and sat back in the lounge. "Now, enough about our political allegiances. Have you found your mate yet?"
Draco absently chewed his lip. "Yes."
"Who is it?"
"I…I don't think I'm ready to tell you." Draco said, looking away from his mother and Snape's piercing gazes, strengthening his Occlumency shields as he did so. "I'm handling it so far, Mother, but I really don't want to tell you at this point."
Narcissa looked thoughtful as she gazed at him; however, Snape's black eyes glittered with knowledge.
"Something happened with them, didn't it?" he said quietly.
"What? No, nothing happened, as such…" Draco protested.
"Have you completed the second stage of the bonding process with your mate, Draco?"
"I…no, but…maybe." Draco muttered. He considered using his Allure to get them off the topic, but he knew it would probably just make Severus angry.
"You have?" Snape leaned forward urgently. "Draco, you have to tell us. The next step of the process is absolutely crucial."
"Excuse me," Draco said, his voice cool, "but as far as I know, I don't have to tell you anything. Last time I checked the only one whose business this is is me."
Snape moved back in his seat as though slapped; Narcissa glared furiously at her son.
"That is no way to speak to your godfather, Draco." She scolded. "Your situation is his business because he cares deeply about you, as do I. We want to help you."
"I don't need your help!" Draco was on his feet now, furious at them and at himself. "I can handle the whole thing just fine on my own, and I don't need either of you to tell me what to do!"
"Draco, you are speaking like a child." Snape said coldly. "Sit down, and get a hold of yourself."
"No!" Draco ran to the door; Snape and Narcissa both got to their feet. "Just leave me alone, both of you! You have no idea!" With that, he threw open the door to the Potions classroom and ran through it, slamming the door behind him as he went.
Narcissa moved to go after her son, but Snape caught her arm before she could. "Let him go." He said quietly.
"But Severus…"
"No, he has to learn." Snape's black eyes gazed unseeingly at the door through which the young Veela had disappeared. "If he wants to run things his way for awhile, then fine. He is yours and Lucius's son, after all. He has a great need for independence, and despises relying on others."
"I know," Narcissa groaned, sitting back down and burying her head in her hands. "But what if something goes wrong, Severus? He's far too stubborn and headstrong for his own good. I feel I was correct in guessing who his mate was. Draco will force himself to continue hating the boy, I know he will, and he will go insane within the year."
"No he won't," Snape soothed, sitting back down also and hesitantly rubbing her back. "Draco's instinct for self-preservation is far stronger than his hatred for Potter. If the second stage of the bonding process has already been completed, it will be very difficult for Draco to resist seeking approval from Potter. He is every bit as stubborn and difficult as Lucius was at his age, Narcissa, but he also possesses aspects of your personality, remember. We can only hope he allows those ones to shine through at this time."
"I cannot just leave him here, to deal with it himself." Narcissa said miserably. "I cannot abandon my son."
"I will be here." Snape said, rubbing her back again. "I promise to you, I will not let things get too bad, even if Draco refuses my help. I will keep an eye on the situation whilst you manage business at Malfoy Manor."
"Oh, thank you, Severus," Narcissa said, swiftly grabbing the Potions Master into a grateful hug. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done and continue to do for me."
Snape, frozen in her embrace, patted her hair awkwardly, marvelling at its silkiness. "It is no problem." He murmured, closing his eyes.
"It is no problem."
HPDM
The dull thud of their shoes echoed down the dank corridor as Harry, Ron and Hermione descended the stone steps, once more heading for their Potions class. For the moment, all three of them were silent, lost in their own thoughts.
The afternoon before, during their free period before lunch, Harry had confronted Malfoy about the incident on the train, as he had promised himself he would. Malfoy had kissed him rather than answer him, and the memory of that kiss still sent a chill up Harry's spine when he remembered it. The only person he'd ever kissed previous to that had been Cho Chang, so he didn't have much to compare it with; Cho had been crying when they'd kissed last year. He'd had no idea Malfoy was capable of kissing the way he did.
Understandably, once coming to his senses, he'd fled. He remembered storming around the corridors of Hogwarts, torn between fury, mortification and lust. How dare Malfoy do that, howcould he have done that in front of all those seventh years, and why did it feel so good?
He'd found Ron and Hermione in the library already doing research on the chain of events Harry had been experiencing. They knew him well enough to know from the look on his face when he'd walked into the library that something had happened; however, Harry refused to tell them about it. How could he, when it meant linking it back to what had happened on the carriage? The idea of even saying 'Malfoy kissed me and damn it was good' was unthinkable. He just couldn't do it.
They had researched the entire free period, after Harry had given them an update about the change that had happened in his recurring dream. Lunch and double Herbology in the afternoon had been awkward, purely in that Ron and Hermione knew Harry was keeping something from them, and the situation was not helped by Malfoy's presence in both cases.
Today, his friends acted normal with him, but Harry knew they wanted to know what had happened during the free period after Potions the day before. The dream had also changed again since last night. The murmurs from the bright white light had become discernable, but they were in a language Harry didn't know, and spoken by a voice that he felt he should recognize, but couldn't pinpoint. Harry fully intended to inform them of this change during break, as Hermione would be in Charms when Harry and Ron had a free period.
He hated keeping things from his friends, but there was nothing else for it.
HPDM
Thudthudthudthud. Draco drummed his pale fingers slowly on the desk. Thudthudthudthud.
"Darling, really, I know you're agitated but there's no reason to make that noise." Pansy reprimanded from beside him, looking at him reproachfully. "It's not my ears' fault what's been happening to you."
Thudthudthudthud.
"Draco!" she snapped.
Thudthudthudthud. He glanced over to her irritably. "Forgive me, Pansy, if this is the way I choose to work out my frustration." He hissed. "For you see, I have a lot of it at this point in time." Thudthudthudthud.
Pansy rolled her eyes. "That's all very well and good and poor you and everything, darling, but could you stop? It's irritating."
Draco fixed her with a malevolent stare, and slowly and purposefully drummed his fingers on the desk again. Thudthudthudthud.
"Well, that's just fine, be a baby." She huffed, turning away from him. "Merlin, no wonder Potter ran away from you."
In an instant Draco had seized her shoulders and pulled her so she was facing him; the steely glint in his beautiful silvery eyes was scary to behold.
"He didn't run away from me." Draco snarled desperately. "He doesn't know the truth, he didn't know what he was doing." He released her slowly, looking shell-shocked, as though unsure what had come over him. "He doesn't know." He said quietly, turning on his stool to face the front of the classroom again.
Pansy sighed, also turning to face the front. Draco had come to her in one of the break classrooms yesterday, all wide eyes and unsteady breathing. Eventually she'd forced the story out of him; he'd completed the second stage of the bonding process, he'd begun the body segment of the bond. He'd kissed Potter. There was no turning back for him now.
And then this morning, after reading the article about his mother, Draco had disappeared from the breakfast table only to reappear not half an hour later, scowling furiously with murder in his eyes. Pansy still didn't know what had happened, and Draco wasn't showing signs of wanting to tell her.
"If you want my help, darling," she murmured to him now, "you have to keep me updated on what's happening. I'm no good to you this way."
There was a pained silence, where Draco sat with his head buried in his hands and Pansy watched him. Finally, he mumbled, "I know, Pansy. I just…" he uttered a soft whimper. "It's so hard."
Unexpectedly, his head snapped up, and he stared avidly at the open classroom door. Knowing what was coming next, Pansy turned to look in that direction as well, and sure enough, not ten seconds later Potter and his little friends walked into the room.
Draco made a quiet gurgling sound in the back of his throat as he watched Potter walk to the back of the classroom, determinedly not even glancing once towards where Draco was sitting.
"Potter…" Draco murmured, his silvery eyes glazed. "He's right there, I've just got to go tell him and everything will be fine…" he actually made a move to get off his seat and do just that, but Pansy forced him back down.
"You will never forgive yourself if you do that in the middle of Potions, with Snape about to enter the room." She hissed into his ear. "I know it's because of the Veela thing and you can't control it easily and it's all very romantic and everything, but for the love of Salazar, try to conduct yourself as befitting a Slytherin!"
Draco straightened up, actually shaking his head in an effort to rid himself of the sensation he was experiencing. His heart was most definitely beating faster, and it was almost like there was a force trying to pull him towards Potter, like someone had lassoed him with an invisible rope and was pulling on it with all their might. Just staying where he was near the front of the class when his mate was in the back of the room took a huge effort.
Before anything else could be said, Snape swept into the room, his cold black eyes not even glancing once in Draco's direction. Draco took this for what it was; Severus was choosing to adhere to Draco's demands he'd made that morning. Severus would leave him alone, to the point of flat out ignoring him.
"Turn your books to the correct page." Snape sneered once he was out the front of the classroom. "There will be no need for me to say anything further on the theory or method of this potion, as I am continuing with an assumption that all of you have studied it overnight and are adequately prepared to begin work on it. You have an hour and a half. Begin now."
He swept behind his desk and sat, and Draco and Pansy busied themselves with beginning work; it would not do to be distracted enough that they wouldn't finish the potion in time. Draco pushed down as best he could all the urges he felt, working with steely determination that he would not let himself think about the presence of a certain Gryffindor in the back of the classroom. Well, not too much, anyway.
HPDM
12:30pm
"I have another change to tell you guys about," Harry began as they took their seats at row of three desks in a corner of one of the break classrooms. "About my dream."
Hermione looked at him carefully as she pulled out one of the thick books she'd borrowed from the library from her bag. "Fire away then, Harry." She said.
Harry quickly described the newer version of the dream he'd experienced the night before.
"Huh." Hermione frowned, her brows furrowed as she absently pulled out two more. "And you're absolutely certain that you didn't recognize the language at all?"
"Well, yes." Harry said. "It didn't sound like Latin, I know that much."
"Latin is the traditional language of magic." Hermione said, half to herself, still frowning. "But that doesn't mean anything, whatever is happening is still obviously very connected with magic." She looked up at Harry. "Could you try tonight to remember something, anything of what is said? Even if you don't know how to spell it, try and write it down as soon as you wake up."
Harry nodded. "I'll try."
"Good." Hermione heaved a tiny sigh and then pulled Magic Malfunctions and Abnormalities towards her. "Well, there's nothing more to be done about it now. Let's just start researching."
Ron, on the other side of Hermione, groaned and grabbed one of the other thick books on the table, Recurring Dreams and Their Meanings, and pulled it towards him.
Harry sighed as well and took the final book, When Your Magic Goes Wrong, and opened it up to begin reading.
HPDM
12:50pm
The students whispered and murmured excitedly as they came in their pairs and groups into the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom. It was the very first DADA lesson for the sixth years, and everyone was speculating as to what Professor Tonks, the Ministry Auror, was going to be like.
Several believed that if she worked for the Ministry then therefore she would be similar to Umbridge; however, most of the students were of the opinion that she looked like a damn slight better teacher than Umbridge ever was. Harry and his friends, who knew Tonks, were quick to assure those they knew that Tonks was a good person and would be a good teacher for them.
Everyone had only just taken their seats (Harry trying very hard to ignore the gaze he could feel fixed upon his back) when Tonks walked in. As during the Welcoming Feast, her hair was dull brown and her eyes shadowed. However, she did smile at the class as she set her things down onto the desk at the front of the room, and gave a little wave of greeting to Harry and his friends.
Silence fell immediately as people noticed her presence. She moved to the front of the desk and leant back casually on it, her hands resting on the edge.
"Well, hello everyone." She said. "My name is Tonks and I'll be your Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher this year. I would also prefer it immensely if you refer to me as that, and not 'Professor.'
Glances were exchanged amongst the students at this; teachers usually actively encouraged formal address by the students for their professors. There was a silent feeling already that Tonks would be a 'fun' teacher.
"Now from what I understand, you've had a very fragmented time of things in this subject," Tonks said, "with…five teachers, is it, in the last five years?"
There was a murmur of assent from the class.
Tonks nodded. "Well, it doesn't seem to have adversely effected you, if so many of you have managed to pass your OWLs well enough to be in this class. Congratulations to all of you, for that. That shows me I'm dealing with a group of very competent and talented young witches and wizards." Flattery was the oldest trick in the book for a new teacher to use with their classes, but Tonks seemed completely genuine, and so it worked a charm; people sat up straighter, listened more attentively.
Tonks cleared her throat. "Now, I'm not Delores Umbridge and so I'm not going to bother trying to protect you from what you know is the truth. You-Know-Who has returned to power and is at large once more, and all of us may suffer consequences from this, and we all know it. Therefore, this year the lessons I teach will not only be to try and get you all to meet Ministry requirements for the course; it will be to try and ensure you are able to live up to your capabilities and be able to defend yourselves."
Her eyes, which were brown today, flicked to Harry, and Harry thought he saw a glimmer of the old Tonks behind them. "I will also take this moment to say that the organisation known as the DA has my full support and the continued approval of the Headmaster, and I strongly suggest looking into that if you feel this class will not be enough to prepare you."
Harry grinned at Tonks, appreciative; Tonks smiled slightly back and looked away before continuing.
"Now, to business!" she said. "You've learnt your fair share about curses from Professor Moody, and about Dark creatures from Professor Lupin." Harry thought he saw her falter briefly over the werewolf's name, and wondered what that meant. "But, you haven't yet started on the skill of performing non-verbal spells. Can anyone tell me what the advantage is in using a non-verbal spell, first of all?"
Hermione's hand shot straight into the air, predictably. Tonks looked slightly startled, but called on her nonetheless.
"Yes, Hermione?"
"Your opponent will receive no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform, giving you a split-second advantage." Hermione rattled off at once.
Tonks nodded approvingly. "Very good, take five points for Gryffindor. Yes, non-verbal spells are extremely useful, which is why the Ministry feels it paramount you learn how to do them. Some are better at them than others, of course, as it takes concentration and mind power to get them to work. Instead of speaking the incantation, you think it, so the theory of it is not difficult, although as I said, the practise is without doubt harder."
She clapped her hands. "Let's see how you go, then, shall we?" she declared. "Divide into pairs, and have one partner attempt to jinx the other in silence, whilst the other attempts to repel the jinx in silence as well."
Harry paired with Ron whilst Hermione went with Neville. Harry and Ron sat facing each other in their seats.
"Do you want to be jinx-er?" Ron asked him.
"I dunno." Harry shrugged. "You try it first."
Ron nodded and fell silent, his face falling into a look of concentration as he looked determinedly at Harry. Harry waited, ready to perform the Shield Charm necessary should the jinx ever come, but after nearly ten minutes of it Ron had still not done anything.
There was a bang behind them; Harry and Ron spun around to see that Neville had been thrown out of his seat from the strength of Hermione's silent repelling of his muttered Jelly-Legs Jinx.
"Well done, Hermione!" Tonks enthused, as Neville got to his feet. "Take another five points to Gryffindor."
"You try." Ron said to Harry as they turned back around after giving Hermione a thumbs-up for her success. "I can't get it to work."
"Alright." Harry briefly cast around for a spell to perform before deciding on the Tickling Charm.
Rictusempra, he thought, flicking his wand, and at once Ron was doubled over in giggles. Harry blinked, surprised; his magic really did seem to be behaving strangely. He would've bet that he would never have been able to perform a non-verbal spell so easily before all the crazy occurrences and incidents started happening, and found himself wishing he knew why it was happening, even though in cases like this it was a good thing.
"Well done, Harry!" Tonks came over to congratulate him, lazily taking the Tickling Charm off Ron as she did so. "Five points to Gryffindor."
"Thanks, Tonks." She smiled mutedly at them for a moment, and then hurried off to take Lavender's whispered Conjunctivitis Curse off Parvati. Harry watched her go for a moment, and then turned to Ron.
"Don't wait for me at lunch," he muttered. "I want to hang back and talk to Tonks."
Ron looked slightly startled, but nodded nonetheless. "Alright, mate."
There was a strangled noise from the back of the room; Harry and Ron looked around to see that Malfoy, fury in his eyes, was struggling valiantly to get out of his seat and being kept from doing so by both Crabbe and Goyle, under instruction from Pansy Parkinson.
"Jeez, what's wrong with Malfoy?" Ron said confusedly, watching them for only a moment before turning back around again.
Harry scrutinized the blonde; Malfoy's beautiful silver eyes were fixed straight at Ron, almost glittering in their fury. Harry wondered at that, but supposed there was not much he could do to find out what had caused Malfoy's behaviour. The sight of those eyes in themselves made his stomach squirm uncomfortably in memory of the previous day, and he hastily turned back around as well to continue on with class.
At the end of the double when the bell had rung for the start of lunch, Harry hung back, waiting for the classroom to empty (Ron had already grabbed Hermione's arm and informed her of what Harry was doing before they left together, something Ron hadn't looked unhappy about) so that he could talk to Tonks. When the last student had left the classroom, Harry approached her desk.
Tonks was sitting there, writing; upon sensing his presence she set her quill into its inkpot and looked up at him, bewildered but still friendly.
"Harry? Why aren't you going to lunch?" she asked.
"I wanted to…um, talk to you." Harry said hesitantly. "I've noticed…well, me and Ron and Hermione have all noticed, that you don't seem yourself."
Something indiscernible flickered in Tonks's brown eyes; they appeared to close over. "I appreciate your concern, Harry, but I'm fine, I assure you." She said.
Harry dithered for a moment, not wanting to leave it at that, but quickly thought of a way to test a theory and find out information at the same time.
"Have you heard from Lupin?" he asked, seemingly off-handedly.
Tonks visibly jumped in her seat; her eyes betrayed her, hardening at the mention of the name. "No." she snapped uncharacteristically. "He's gone underground with the other werewolves for Dumbledore. I haven't seen him since July."
Harry raised his eyebrows slightly, finding his answer for both enquiries in her response. "Alright." He said quietly. "Sorry to bother you, and thanks for the lesson and for supporting the DA."
She sighed and rubbed her hands over her face, but still saw him off with a quiet smile. "No problem, Harry. See you."
"Bye, Tonks."
TBC
AN: A relatively short chapter, but an update nonetheless. I went back and did some minor edits of the other chapters, nothing too big, just correcting typos and grammar and the little errors and miscalculations on my part.
Remember to let me know if you want to beta for me, and please review, it makes the chapters come out faster!
Until next time,
bleedingxheart