A/N: So this is the chapter I mentioned I really liked before. I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you so much for all your reviews!
Chapter 11: That Never Happens
Draco nodded numbly and disappeared down the hall and into his room. Harry looked around the flat once and then out the window once again. He watched the two people for a moment longer, trying to catch a glimpse of their faces, but he was having no luck. He waved his hands quickly, casting the spells that he told Draco he would and then walked over to his fireplace. He heard Draco close his bedroom door and turned to watch him make his way towards him. He was very pale and looked to be on complete edge. Harry didn't blame him at all.
"Are you ready?" Harry asked quietly. Draco nodded wordlessly and stepped over to the fireplace. He reached up to a little pot on the mantle and took out some floo powder. He tossed it into the fireplace and it came to life. Harry watched him for a moment and reached for his hand again as they both stepped into the fireplace. He shouted their destination and they felt the pull of the floo and soon tumbled out of Harry's fireplace. Harry immediately jumped up and cut the floo connection. Draco was standing in the middle of his sparse living room looking around.
"Not much here, is there," he commented absently.
Harry took Draco's bag and headed out of the room and down the hall. "To be honest, you're the first person that has ever been here. I have been here ever since I left," he called to him from the hallway. Draco frowned as he followed behind him. He glanced out the window and saw the London skyline. He glanced back to where Harry was, his eyes questioning. Harry had been so close this entire time, Draco thought.
"You weren't too far, were you?" Draco asked as he walked into what he assumed was Harry's bedroom.
Harry didn't look up from where he was pulling out some blankets and extra pillows. "No," was all he said in response.
"Harry, is there more to what's going on then just someone coming after me?" Draco asked as he settled on the bed. He turned to look at Harry willing him to look at him.
Harry sighed and looked over at him. He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. "If there is, I'm not privy to that information," he replied.
Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. "I am so tired of not getting straight answers from you," he said tiredly.
Harry huffed angrily. "Well, I am so sorry that I am not a wealth of information. It's better to keep some things from you to keep you safe anyway," he replied heatedly.
Draco stood up and stomped his foot like a petulant child. "I am so tired of this keeping me safe bull shit! I'm a big boy! I can protect myself!" Draco cried angrily. Tears were pricking the corners of his eyes. Harry saw them and he felt a tug on his heart as he moved quickly and pulled Draco into his arms. Draco was shaking hard and he began sobbing. Harry said nothing and only rubbed his hand up and down Draco's back in soothing motions.
After several minutes of Draco crying and Harry saying nothing, Draco stilled and was only sniffling now. He stepped back, but Harry did not remove his arms from around him. He moved them to his hips and looked down at him. He brought a hand up and brushed a stray tear from Draco's cheeks. Draco looked up at him and blushed slightly.
"Sorry, I guess I'm not as strong as I thought," he whispered.
Harry shook his head and cradled Draco's face in his hands. "You're very strong, Draco. You are holding it together a lot better than most people I know could. I know you're scared and I know you are worried. I also know that I will do my best to protect you even though you can protect yourself," he replied quietly. He gave him a small smile before he kissed him lightly.
"But you said I couldn't protect myself before," Draco pointed out sounding still a bit sore.
Harry blushed. "I may have exaggerated some, but that doesn't mean that you can do this all by yourself. If you could, I wouldn't be here right now," he pointed out.
Draco smiled slightly at him and nodded. "You're probably right. Listen, I'm pretty beat. Can I take these pillows and blankets out to the sofa?"
Harry looked over at the pile. "Actually, those are for me. You will sleep in here. It's more comfortable." He kissed Draco once more on the cheek and walked over to pick up the pillow and blankets. He started for the door, but stopped to turn and look at Draco.
"Harry, I don't want you to give up your bed. I don't mind sleeping on the sofa," Draco insisted.
Harry shook his head and smiled. "No, you will sleep there. Besides, I don't sleep much anymore. I can't get settled down enough. Sleep well," he replied. He smiled once more and left the room. Draco watched after him and listened to his steps pad down the hallway. He sighed and reached for his overnight bag and took out some pajamas. He was exhausted, but it felt good to cry and have Harry hold him. Somehow he knew that Harry was right and with that thought in mind he got ready for bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow and he settled into the bed, he was asleep.
Harry sat on the couch, the blanket and pillows still in a nice pile next to him. He leaned back, placed his arm over his eyes, and closed them. He felt like there was so much that he didn't know and he hated it.
"Harry, I need a word," a woman's voice said into Harry's mind. He groaned and tried to ignore it. "Stop ignoring me young man. This is important. It's in regards to Draco," she replied in an annoyed tone.
Harry moved his arm and stood up. He waved his hand in the direction of his room and faced his living room. "What do you want?" he demanded.
A woman materialized near the front door. She walked in and removed her hood. Harry had seen her before and each time he was caught off guard momentarily at her beauty. She was very fair skinned with dark brown hair that was nearly black. Her hair went to her waist and fell in gentle waves. It was very common for the people in his new kind to be very beautiful. It was part of their allure.
"Harry, I know that you are angry with us and I know that we are keeping things from you. I also know that I am risking disciplinary action by being here, but I believe that there are things you should know," she explained.
Harry stared at her for several seconds. He sighed and gestured to his sofa. "Have a seat. Would you like some tea?" he asked. She nodded and he disappeared into the kitchen to get some tea. He returned a few moments later with two cups. He set one down in front of the woman and then took a seat across from her. She sipped her tea carefully and then looked up at him.
"You had mentioned before that you felt a pull to Draco and that you felt that there is more than just protecting him. You are right. What is happening between you and Draco goes deeper than just protecting him. It has never happened in our society," she explained.
Harry lifted an eyebrow at her statement. "Okay, tell me something I don't know," he replied almost in a biting tone.
The woman narrowed her eyes at him. Harry could feel the dark part of her nature coming to the surface. He sank back slightly away from her. It disappeared nearly as quickly as it came though and she smoothed her robe carefully. "You and Draco had bonded before you became one of us. That doesn't happen in our society. Yes, by saving him three times it turned you into this, but the truth is that doesn't play a factor in you being tasked to protect him. There are circumstances in our society where we are given a mate and it is usually someone that is a part of our kind, but that is not true in your case either. Draco is your mate and that is why he is so important to you and you are so drawn to him," she explained.
Harry's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "You can't be serious, Arabella," he questioned.
She nodded. "Draco is your mate. You have a wizard for your mate and that never happens. A mate is either someone from our kind or a mortal or as you call them, muggles. Draco does not have any creature blood in him that we are aware of. He is simply a wizard and he is your mate," Arabella continued.
Harry blinked slowly. "And that plays a factor how? That shouldn't matter. Actually, it should make me want to protect him even more since he is my mate," he responded.
Arabella nodded, but then she frowned. "This is where it gets tricky. Once you have completed your task, you can never see them again. It will be as if you do not exist anymore. He will move on with his life and yours will be cut short because without your mate, you are nothing anymore. You will die," she said quietly.
Harry stared at her. His heart was racing now and his brow was sweaty. "But, I thought it was protecting them for life. That was how I understood it," he questioned.
Arabella shook her head. "Alador was incorrect. You have that one task and that's it. Unless you are needed by that person again, you will do what needs to be done and then you will never see them again."
"So what you're telling me is that I won't be protecting him for the rest of his life and he is my mate and once I'm finished I will no longer be able to be with him and he will move on and I will die?" he questioned.
Arabella nodded. "I'm sorry, Harry. I wish there was something else that's more positive that I could tell you, but there isn't. I don't know how to get around it either. I'm sorry," she whispered.
Harry nodded. "Thank you for telling me. Did you all know before I was given this task?" he asked quietly.
Arabella shook her head. She stood and walked over to him and placed a hand at his cheek. "We did not know before you were given the task. If we had, we would have done something different. However, you're lucky to have the time that you do with him. Many of us do not get the opportunity," she told him kindly before she disappeared right in front of him.
Harry stared at the empty place in front of him. He sighed as he stood up. He walked down the hallway to his room. He pushed the door open and peeked in on Draco. He looked so angelic and beautiful in sleep. Harry smiled fondly at him. Harry stepped into the room with a wave of his hand as the lights in the living room went out and the silence bubble that surrounded the area around Draco dissipated. He lifted his shirt over his head and undid his pants while he slipped out of his shoes and socks. He took his pants off and walked over to his dresser and quietly removed a pair of pajama bottoms. He put them on and quietly padded over to his bed. He lifted the blankets and slid in next to Draco. He draped an arm across his waist and molded his body against Draco. He nuzzled into his neck and took a deep breath.
"You're my mate Draco and after this is all over, we won't be able to be together. I'm sorry for that," he whispered. He kissed the back of Draco's neck and closed his eyes. As he drifted off to sleep, Draco opened his eyes and a few tears escaped. He settled his hand onto Harry's and linked their fingers together. He closed his eyes again and snuggled into Harry's warmth.