Chapter 13: Back to Hogwarts

Harry was pacing nervously in his room. It was September 1st and there were only a few hours left before he and Draco had to leave to catch the Hogwarts Express. 'It won't be that bad. I'll have Draco there with me. I don't need Weasley and Granger.' Harry was trying to convince himself that everything would go smoothly.

"I just need to make myself not care. I've been playing the Gryffindor Golden Boy for so long that my Slytherin side has been neglected. Now is the perfect time to show them who I was meant to be." Harry said as he walked towards his now full closet.

Draco had done as promised and taken him shopping for a new style that fit Harry's new outlook on the world. He wasn't as naïve and blindingly trustful as he had been before. Harry searched for just the right outfit; he wanted to make a lasting impression at the train station, one that would emphasize the change he was doing to make. Harry finally settled on a pair of tight fitting jeans as black as his hair, a silver undershirt that was nearly the same color as Draco's eyes, and a black short-sleeved, button-up shirt that matched the darkness of his pants. Harry pulled out a pair of silver converses and a thick, black bracelet with silver studs around it. Harry took a shower before getting dressed and stared at himself in the mirror.

'Who'd have thought that I could actually look half way decent in the proper clothes?' Harry mused silently before walking back into his bedroom and beginning to pack. He was about halfway through packing the clothes in his closet when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in." he called from within his closet. He heard the door open and footsteps making their way towards him before strong arms wrapped themselves around his waist.

"Good morning, Emerald." Was whispered softly in his ear. Harry shivered and turned in his dominants arms.

"Good morning, Angel." Harry whispered back before leaning up on his toes and pressing a chaste kiss to the taller boy's mouth. Harry pulled away and took the pile of clothes he had folded to his suitcase and packed them in. "Have you finished packing your clothes?" Harry asked as he turned back around to face Draco.

"Harry why would I pack my clothes when we have house-elves to do it for us?" Draco sighed in mock disappointment.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because they are your clothes?" Harry said chuckling softly.

"Harry that doesn't make any sense!" Draco said. "And speaking of clothes, what do you think you are wearing?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow as he looked Harry up and down.

"What do you mean? What's wrong with what I have on? It matches, Draco, I know it does because you gave me five sodding lessons on how to match clothes together!" Harry exclaimed in bemusement. 'Sometimes I can't believe how much of a ponce he is, but then again if he wasn't we wouldn't be together. Guess I can't complain too much then.' Harry smirked slightly at the thought.

"Yes it does match Harry. You did a good job." Draco said, patting Harry on the head like he was a small child. Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco in warning and the blond held up his hands in surrender. "Harry, you can't wear that out! You look way too damn sexy already but this makes you drop dead gorgeous!" Draco shouted waving his hand at Harry's attire.

"What's so bad about that? You're always telling me how good I look." Harry widened his eyes and looked up at Draco hesitantly. "Were you lying? I look horrible don't I? I knew it! I look hideously ugly!" Harry wailed. Draco was wrapping his arms around Harry in the next instant.

"No! Harry, I swear I wasn't lying. You look so beautiful it's insane! Of course you look amazing in this outfit!" Draco whispered comfortingly as he stroked Harry's hair. Harry pulled back and smirked up at him.

"So you won't mind me wearing them. I seem to recall you saying that 'Malfoy's always deserve the best.' So I've got to wear this exact outfit. See?" Harry explained, emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. 'Who knew manipulations could be so fun?' Draco glared at him.

"No, I don't see." Draco snapped. "Now you will take these clothes off and put on something that won't have everyone drooling all over you and trying to touch what's mine." Harry slipped out of Draco's hold and narrowed his eyes up at the blond.

"Are you trying to tell me what I am and am not allowed to wear? Because for a second there that's what it sounded like." Harry hissed in irritation. He was tired of people telling him what to do and how to act. He wasn't going to stand for it any longer. 'Not even from my mate.'

"Well if the cloak fits…" Draco said with a shrug. Harry crossed his arms and sat stubbornly on the bed, glaring defiantly.

"I'm not changing clothes." Harry said.

"Harry, you can't go dressed like that. You look way to delectable and I won't have the whole train full of students attempting to touch you." Draco leaned down and tipped Harry's face up, capturing his lips in a heated kiss. "You. Are. Mine." He said forcefully once they broke apart.

"Yours." Harry breathed back dazedly. 'I guess it's not too big of a deal. If it makes him happy I'll change my bloody clothes.' Harry pushed Draco away and stood up, walking past him.

"Harry-"

"I'm just picking out different clothes Draco. If it means this much to you I'll change." Harry said, smiling at the blond over his shoulder.

"No, wait." Draco said as he grabbed onto Harry's hand. "You…you don't have to change. I'm just being paranoid I guess." Draco sighed as he pulled Harry closer. Harry nuzzled Draco's neck lightly.

"I don't want anyone else, Draco. I belong to you, only to you." Harry murmured softly.

"And I belong only to you, Submissive." Draco said. They stood silently for a while before Harry pushed back again.

"I have to finish packing, Draco." Harry said as he began to walk back to the closet.

"Just let a house-elf do it. You need to eat breakfast." Draco said taking Harry's arm and dragging him towards the door.

"I'm not hungry! And I can fold my own clothes, Draco! I'm not an invalid!" Harry protested even as he allowed Draco to pull him from his room and down the stairs to the dining room. 'He's so good to me. No one has ever really cared whether or not I eat. Most of the time the Dursley's made sure I didn't.'

"Are you insinuating that I, Draco Malfoy, am an invalid because I let an elf pack my suitcase?" Draco mock growled at Harry.

"Well…if the cloak fits." Harry teased and then ran away as Draco tried to tackle him.

.

Severus swept into the dining room, his cloak flaring out behind him. He cleared his throat and waited for Draco and Harry to stop snogging and turn towards him. Harry blushed brightly and Draco just raised an eyebrow.

"May we help you?" the young Malfoy heir drawled. 'Insolent brat!' Severus refrained from making a comment.

"It is nearly time for us to depart. Get your things ready and meet me at the fireplace." Severus ordered and then swept back out of the room.

"Do you think he charms his robes to do that?" Severus heard Harry say as he left.

"I heard that, Potter!" he shouted over his shoulder, shaking his head. He made his way to the fireplace where he met Lucius and Narcissa.

"Good morning, Sev." Lucius greeted him.

"Morning, dear Severus." Narcissa said. Severus stared at them silently for a moment before nodding sharply once.

"Oh, come now! Severus you can't still be angry!" Lucius demanded.

"I can and I am." Severus responded softly. "I told you, both of you, what we needed to do and you go and do the exact opposite."

"Severus we have apologized many times already! To you and to them! What more do you want?" Narcissa pleaded with him. 'If they knew what it was like, if they knew the lasting damage abuse can cause, they would better understand.'

"I want you to prove that you can help him the way he deserves to be helped." Severus hissed. The sound of footsteps behind them cut off any retort the Malfoy's would have made. Severus turned as the sound of bickering got louder as the footsteps came closer.

"Draco, for the love of Godric! I can carry my own suitcase!" Harry snapped.

"I know that, Harry. I want to carry it for you." Draco said amusement clear in his voice.

"Draco, give me my suitcase! You're already carrying yours. I'm not a sodding girl! I can carry my own shit!" Harry insisted.

"Well I certainly hope you do not! That's highly unsanitary and-OUCH!" Draco's shout of pain was followed by a loud thump. A few seconds later Harry came around the corner with a scowl on his face and a suitcase in his hand. Not long after Draco walked around the corner rubbing his arm with his free hand, a suitcase in the other.

"No need to beat me, Harry." Draco snapped. Harry stiffened and Severus shook his head. 'How is it that the Prince of Slytherin does not realize that some things should not be said?' he thought idly. Harry was slowly turning towards Draco with a dark look on his face.

"Time to go." Severus interrupted whatever Harry had been about to shout at his mate. Lucius held out the floo powder and Harry took some, threw it angrily into the fireplace and shouted, "Platform 9 3/4!" before disappearing in the green flames. He was followed by Narcissa then Draco leaving behind Lucius and Severus.

"Severus, if anything happens…not just with Draco but with Harry, you will tell us, won't you." Lucius asked.

"Of course, Luc. I do not like what you did but I can see you are trying hard to make it up to him and besides, I would never keep information concerning your sons away from you." Severus said before grabbing a handful of floo powder and stepping into the fireplace. "Platform 9 ¾!" Severus said, throwing the powder down and vanishing in the green flames.

.

"Harry, I'm sorry!" Draco whined for about the sixth time since stepping into the train station.

"I said okay!" Harry snapped, glaring over at the blond.

"Yeah, but you're still mad." Draco pointed out.

"Because being beaten isn't something you joke about, Draco!" Harry hissed and then started to storm away from him.

"Harry!" Draco reached out and grabbed his arm, dragging him to a semi-private spot. 'Merlin, I'm an idiot.' "I really am sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I would never make fun of what you went through. I know how horrible it was remember? I felt and saw it." Draco whispered, wrapping arms around his mate to hold him closer.

"I know, it's just…it's hard to forget. I guess it's still a touchy subject." Harry sighed softly as he laid his head on Draco's shoulder.

"I completely understand. I'm sorry."

"I forgive you."

Draco leaned down and captured Harry's lips in a slow, loving kiss that left them both breathless.

"Ready to face the crowd?" Draco asked as he released his hold on the younger male.

"Why the hell not?" Harry smirked, shrugging lightly. They stepped out into the crowd, Draco slightly behind Harry and on his right. They walked down the platform with their heads held high as Severus, Lucius and Narcissa joined them.

Everyone went silent, too focused on them to do anything else. It wasn't until they ran into a group of redheads that they had a problem.

"Harry? Mate, is that you?" Ron gasped incredulously. "What are you doing with the Ferret and Snape?"

Draco growled and was about to take a step forward when he felt Harry's hand on his arm, restraining him. 'Mine. Harry is my mate. I will not tolerate that weasel calling him that anymore.'

"First, don't ever call me mate again. Second, don't ever insult Draco or Professor Snape again. Third, get out of my sight. All of you." Harry said in a low, cold voice that had Draco shivering in pleasure. 'Why does he have to sound so fucking sexy?'

"Harry, what's gotten into you? It's us, Ron and Hermione. We're your friends." Granger said taking a step closer. 'If she gets any closer I will greatly enjoy clawing her little know-it-all brains out.' Draco growled softly at her and wrapped an arm around Harry's waist, pulling him back against his chest. Draco leaned forward, cheek pressed against Harry's, to glare at her.

"Some friends you are. Do you even know what happened to him this summer? Or where he's been staying for the past two weeks?" Draco snarled. Granger's eyes went wide and Weasley glared at him. 'They didn't even notice he'd left. Do they ever check on him while he's there?'

"You left the Dursley's? You know you aren't allowed to leave unprotected!" Weasley snapped taking a step forward and towering menacingly over Harry. Harry had his wand at Weasley's throat faster than he could blink.

"I do believe I told you to get your hideous face out of my sight." Harry whispered, looking up into furious blue eyes. "Did you not here me the first time or are you just too stupid to comprehend what I'm telling you?" Draco snorted and raised a mocking eyebrow when Weasley turned his glare on him.

"Harry what happened to you? Why are you acting as if you hate us?" Granger whispered her eyes bright with tears. Draco sneered at her in disgust and Harry tensed in his arms.

"Because I absolutely loathe you." Harry breathed. "I can barely stand looking at you right now. I know what you've been doing."

"What? Harry, we aren't doing-" Granger snapped her mouth shut when Harry growled at her.

"I know. So don't you dare stand there and try to lie to me! I know Dumbledore is paying you to be my friends and send him information on what I'm doing, where I'm going and how I'm acting. I've known for a while now and I'm not taking your bullshit anymore!" Harry snapped. No one spoke a word for all of five seconds and then Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and before Draco or Harry could react she had slapped Harry hard enough to send his head whipping sharply to the right.

"How dare you! We took you in and treat-"

Draco had immediately begun to growl loudly. He slowly released his hold on Harry and pushed him into the arms of his father as he stalked forward. 'She touched him. She hit him! I'll kill her!'

"Draco! Draco, stop!" Draco heard his mate shout at him as he struggled to get free. Draco slowly shook his head.

"She hit you." He hissed, glaring with such ferocity that the group of redheads took a collective step back and drew their wands. 'As if that would protect them.'

"Draco, I'm okay. It didn't even hurt. I've had far worse." Harry reminded him. Draco whirled around to stare at his mate. There was already a bruise forming on his cheek. Harry might not think so, but that hit had been hard, it was proof enough that his uncle had beaten him often and with vigor. Draco closed his eyes in pain. 'He shouldn't have had worse! They should have seen what was happening, should have protected him! He's been through so much already and I will not allow anyone to hurt him without consequences.'

"I won't have it! She fucking hit you! Right in front of me and you expect me to do nothing?" Draco snapped, shaking in fury as he balled his hands into fists.

"Yes." Was the simple reply he received. Draco stared at him then turned back around.

"I'm sorry." Was all Draco said before his hand flashed out and grabbed Mrs. Weasley's throat and yanked her closer, ignoring the cries of outrage and the threats tossed his way.. "If you or any member of your disgraceful excuse for a wizarding family ever touch my mate again I will kill you." Draco snarled before pushing her away from him to glare at the rest of the redheads, most of which had their wands out and trained on him, he noted with surprise that the Weasley twins were glaring hard at their family and seemed to step away from them. "That goes for all of you." He added as he held a hand out for Harry.

Draco turned his back on the Weasley family, making sure to stay between them and Harry in case they decided to try anything.

"We're boarding the train now." Draco said as he laid his head on Harry's shoulder and looked at his parents and godfather. "See you at school, Sev. We'll come home for the Christmas holidays." He said, directing the last part to his parents before tugging Harry in the direction of the train. Harry broke out of his grip and, to the surprise of everyone, wrapped his arms tightly around Narcissa and Lucius, whispering something too quiet to hear. He let them go, smiled up at Severus as the potion master gave him a healing potion and then took Draco's hand so they could board the train.

"What did you tell my parents?" Draco asked as they looked for an empty compartment. Harry shrugged as he drank down the potion with a grimace. Draco watched in satisfaction as the bruise disappeared.

"Nothing really. I just told them the truth." Harry said and smirked when Draco continued to question him.

.

Harry sat curled up into Draco's side as the blond ran fingers softly through his hair. 'This is nice. I wish we could be like this all the time. It's going to be difficult pretending that I don't care about anyone.' Harry sighed softly and pressed closer to Draco. They had been sitting quietly since boarding the train, spending the time basking in each other's presence. Their serene silence was broken by a knock on their compartment door. Harry shared a look with Draco and they slowly stood, pulling out their wands and aiming at the door.

"Come in." Harry said and tensed when the door opened to reveal identical redheads.

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked suspiciously as he stepped in front of Harry.

"Relax-" The one on the right said, Harry thought it was George.

"We aren't here-" The one on the left continued, Harry assumed it was Fred.

"To pick a fight." George finished. Harry stepped around Draco and narrowed his eyes on the twins.

"Then why are you here?" He asked.

"We don't think-" Fred started.

"That you've gone all dark on us." George said.

"We were worried. Mom must have gone completely bonkers!" Fred said incredulously.

"Yeah, I never thought I'd see her hit anyone like that." George shook his head. "Anyway we really just came to tell you-"

"That we're still your friend if you'll have us." Fred finished for his brother.

Harry looked at both of them before throwing himself in their arms.

"Thank Godric! I don't know what I would have done without you two! Who would I have pranked with?" Harry mumbled as he hugged them tightly.

"About this pranking, we'll be coming up with some good ones for Ickle Ronnikens." Fred whispered conspiratorially.

"We can't believe the git was actually using and spying on you like that!" George hissed angrily. "Some of the things he was saying about you this summer were just…horrible."

"But enough of this heavy junk." Fred interrupted before turning to Draco. "What's up with you and Malfoy here?"

Harry blushed and looked up at Draco asking silently if it was okay to tell them.

"If you think they are trustworthy." Draco said, laying a hand gently on Harry's cheek causing the younger teen to blush deeper. Harry peeked over at Fred and George and cleared his throat.

"You see…Draco is a…well Draco and I are…um…" Harry looked pleading up at Draco who shook his head firmly.

"Your friends, you tell them." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Harry turned to face Draco fully. He placed his hands on the blond's firm chest and stretched up so they were eye to eye.

"Please?" Harry breathed, making his eyes big and round. Draco groaned loudly and wrapped arms around Harry's waist.

"Not fair, Emerald!" He said before bending down and engaging Harry in a searing, passionate kiss. Draco lifted his head and looked at the Weasley twins who were staring back in amusement.

"What happened to 'your friends, you tell them'?" Fred asked, snickering lightly.

"I can't help it when he looks at me like that! Eyes all big and round and so green." Draco looked at Harry adoringly. 'I love that look, I want him to always look at me like I'm the most important thing in the world to him.'

"Anyway, I am a Veela and Harry is my mate. My mate, Weasley's. That means he can never even appear to be yours so you better not get any ideas that will require your immediate death." Draco snarled. Harry smacked Draco lightly on the arm and smiled at the twins.

"As you can probably guess, he's the dominant." Harry said.

"You're bloody kidding!" Fred gasped.

"We had no idea! Couldn't tell at all!" George shouted.

"Not with the way he attacked mom-"

"Or gives in to you with a little look-"

"Or growled at us just now."

"Never would have guessed!" they said in unison.

"Shut up." Harry grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Anything from the trolley?" Harry heard an old woman yell. He perked up and dashed out of the compartment, yelling over his shoulder, "I'll bring you back some blood pops, Dray!" He caught up with the trolley woman and began listing off what he wanted.

"Can I have a licorice wand, Bertie Bott's, some chocolate frogs and a few ice mice?" Harry asked, plunging his hand into hid robes for his money pouch. He was making his way back to his compartment when he ran into Neville. Harry tensed and eyed him warily.

"Hey, Harry." Neville said, smiling down at him.

"Er, hi, Nev." Harry said hesitantly.

"Where are you sitting at? Luna and I are in that compartment." Neville pointed to a door three compartments away. "You can join us if you want."

"I don't think you'd want me. Haven't you heard? I'm the new Dark Lord." Harry said sarcastically.

"I don't believe the rubbish in the Prophet. I know you aren't going dark." Neville said with a shake of his head.

"Would you say the same thing if I told you I was in a relationship with Draco Malfoy? If I told you he was a Veela and I was his mate?" Harry questioned softly. Neville blinked at him in astonishment before beaming down at the dark-haired teen.

"Harry, that's great! Wow! Being the mate of a Veela is something anyone would kill for." Neville said, clapping him on the back in congratulation. Harry stared up at Neville in bewilderment.

"Wait, what? You aren't…mad or…or disgusted? You don't mind?" Harry stammered.

"Well, I won't immediately start liking him, there's too much bad history for that, but I will give him a fair chance. You deserve this, Harry. After all the bad you've been through you deserve something good." Neville said softly. Harry swallowed thickly and smiled shakily up at him.

"Thanks, Nev. That means a lot. Do you…do you want to come meet him?" Harry asked, eyes shining hopefully. 'Not everyone has turned on me! I've still got friends!'

"Lead the way." Neville said with a sweep of his hand. Harry laughed and grabbed Neville's arm, dragging him quickly behind him.

.

Draco was slumped in his seat, eyes closed as he waited for Harry to get back.

"Hey, Malfoy?" One of the twins, he couldn't tell them apart, called to him.

"What?" He sighed without opening his eyes.

"Why did Harry leave his relatives house? Did they put bars back on his windows?" the twin on the left asked.

"You know about that? You saw it?" he demanded, eyes snapping open. They nodded.

"Back in second year, we broke him out and-" the twin on the right was cut off as the compartment door opened.

"Look who I found! It's Neville!" Harry burst in excitedly, dragging Longbottom behind him. Draco held his arms out for Harry and eyed Longbottom suspiciously.

"Congrats, Malfoy. Harry told me about the mate thing. You had better be good to him." Longbottom said with a steely glint to his eyes that had never been seen before. Draco decided right then that he was trustworthy.

"Of course." Draco sniffed. "I will give him everything he could ever want. He'll be fine." Draco smiled down at his mate as the dark-haired teen pressed against him.

"I bought some candy. We can all have some." Harry said as he dumped the whole bag of sweets onto Draco's lap.

"Harry, my lap is not a table." Draco sighed. Harry looked up from examining a Bertie Bott's bean.

"I know that, Draco. I wouldn't sit on a table like I sit on your lap. What's your point?" Harry said with a shrug as he decided the bean was a good one and popped it into his mouth. "Oh! Strawberry, my favorite." Harry licked his lips happily.

"My point is…um…" Draco trailed off as he was currently distracted by the way that Harry was licking another bean in an attempt to guess its flavor. 'Merlin! How am I supposed concentrate when he keeps doing that?'

"Draco? Your point? Do you even have one?" Harry smirked up at him, emerald eyes twinkling with mirth. Draco groaned and gave in to the temptation to lean over and engage Harry's lips in a breath stealing kiss.

"So would I be correct in guessing that Draco is totally whipped?" Weasley twin number one stage whispered.

"I would definitely have to say yes." Twin the second whispered back. Draco pulled away from Harry to glare at them.

"I am trying to snog my mate senseless here! It would really help if you all would sod off." He grumbled.

"Draco don't be mean! These are the only friends I have left. No driving them away!" Harry said, shaking his finger in Draco's face before turning back to inspect his Bertie Bott beans.

It was dead silent after that. Harry looked around and sighed.

"Guys, it's not a big deal. No need to get all mad about it. So what, the entire wizarding world thinks I'm training to be the new Dark Lord and so what, Dumbledore is a manipulative arsehole and who cares if the two people I thought of as best friends have completely turned on me and hate my very being." Harry said, his voice was choked with emotion by the end and his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I don't care. They don't matter, nothing matters except killing Voldemort."

Draco wrapped an arm tightly around Harry's waist and looked at the other Gryffindor's. They nodded at him and he knew he wasn't alone in making sure Harry got his revenge. 'They hurt him. I'll kill every last one of them and this time it won't be a slow death.' Draco smirked as visions of torturing Dumbledore, Granger and the Weasel played in his mind.