Chapter 20: The End of the World
Disclaimer: I do not own this story, well I sort of own part of it. Harpy Wings owns the ideas, plot and creations from chapters one to thirty-three. She has kindly allowed me to adopt it. The world and characters and settings that you see and remember from the Harry Potter Universe belong to JK Rowling and neither Harpy Wings nor I are making any money from this story. The other characters, The Von Hellfire Family, the Lupin-Black Childern belong to Dray-kun.
When Harry woke early the next morning, he found himself pressed against a warm chest. He smiled at the flood of memories from yesterday and looked up to find Draco was awake and watching him.
The Slytherin smiled and kissed Harry's cheek, making the Harpy purr. He murmured softly against the young Harpy's ear, "Listen."
Harry blinked and before he could call on his Harpy skill, he heard faint voices through the silver and green curtains. There was no mistaking that it was Sin and Theo. The Gryffindor knew it was not right to listen in on their conversation, but he was dying with curiosity over what they were discussing. He managed to wriggle up a little in the circle of Draco's arms and caught Theo's soft voice.
"...I want to be your mate."
Harry bit back a relieved laugh and grinned at Draco. His eyes glittered with excitement and simple joy over the fact that Sin was going to live.
Draco smirked. "The news is good then?" His sexy whisper ended about an inch from Harry's sensitive ear.
Harry blushed faintly at the feel of Draco so close to him but still nodded happily as he lay back down against his mate. He noted that he wasn't wearing the clothes from yesterday, but was in a pair of pajamas a few sizes too big. He sighed happily and nuzzled into Draco's chest when he realized that Draco had loaned him sleepwear.
When Draco reciprocated by pulling him closer and nuzzling against his cheek, Harry's Harpy self arched into the touch and purred in pure delight.
Draco grinned to himself as he felt the smaller boy shift closer and make contented noises rather like a kitten nursing. The whole warm, comfortable, and contented scenario was starting to have an effect on the Malfoy.
Harry noticed that Draco was getting slightly excited and decided it was time to change the subject. "I-I need to go back to my dorm." He whispered, holding back a purr as Draco's lips grazed over a sensitive spot.
The Slytherin reluctantly let him go and handed him his glasses before the two climbed out of the bed after silently pulling back the curtains. Draco coughed loudly and Harry looked around his shoulder curiously, biting back a laugh.
It wasn't too difficult to figure out why Draco coughed. Sin and Theo were curled up in Theo's bed, Sin holding his mate against his chest where they had obviously been kissing. They both glanced over at Draco; Sin with an expression of bliss on his face and Theo with a weak glare.
"Go away, Draco." He mumbled crossly. He then caught sight of Harry and smirked. "Actually stay and tell us all about what you and Harry got up to."
Harry blushed while Sin eyed him up and down. Theo chuckled at Harry's embarrassment.
Then it was Sin's turn to bury his face against Theo's neck when Draco's smirk didn't falter as he said, "We were only sleeping. Can you say the same without lying?"
Harry's eyes widened. "Oh! So what have you two been doing?"
Theo smirked, his eyes full of sleep and exhaustion. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
All four of them laughed like maniacs when Harry blinked at him and in a solemn voice stated, "Yes. We would like to know. That is why we asked."
Draco finally managed to regain control and rolled his eyes at the other three. Absently he handed Harry his clothes from the day before. One of the house elves had washed them and they were now clean and fresh. His eyes followed the Gryffindor hungrily as he slipped into the bathroom to change.
Sin and Theo watched Draco as he watched the door, waiting for Harry to reemerge.
Theo's head was resting on Sin's shoulder and the two were giggling slightly at the image of Draco as a cat waiting on a little mouse...
A few minutes later when Harry returned, he noticed that the three Slytherins were also up and dressed. He didn't really want to leave so he moved back to the shelter of Draco's arms. The two of them looked at each other for a few seconds before Draco bent down and pressed his lips against the Harpy's briefly before saying, "Are you sure you need to leave?"
"Well..." Harry wondered if he should broach the subject of what had happened to Theo. But, before he could decide how to start Draco beat him to it. "Before Harry leaves we'd like to know what happened, Theo?"
The small Slytherin closed his eyes and was silent for a time before he opened them again and spoke, looking away from anyone's face. "Millie invited me to the party and I figured it would be a way to avoid….Sin." He glanced apologetically at the male Harpy who pulled him closer. "Well at the party I was….drinking."
Draco frowned in annoyance but didn't interrupt.
Theo flinched as he admitted, "I guess someone must have slipped me a drug or something
because after that everything was kind of hazy, well except for getting hit."
Sin tensed and his eyes flashed darkly at the reminder of Theo's injury.
"I can remember telling Mille that something was wrong. She helped me to the bathroom and locked the door on the guys. Someone managed to break the ward and that's when I got hurt. I must have passed out then because the next thing I remember is waking up here about an hour ago."
Draco and Sin both had a cold look in their eyes that did not bode well for the Chudley Cannons if they ever encountered them again. Harry's heart went out to Theo whose eyes filled with tears that he hurriedly blinked away. Harry forced a smile. "We should get breakfast. I'll need to get out of here before the rest of Slytherin house realizes I'm here."
Draco nodded and kissed him softly before handing him his invisibility cloak. Harry sent a small smile to Theo and Sin before pulling the cloak over his head and slipping out of the dormitory then out of the common room.
The corridors were deserted due to the early hour. He pulled the cloak off before he faced the Fat Lady. She looked him up and down, realizing he hadn't changed clothes and winked. "Had fun?"
Harry flushed pink and gave her the password. He slipped into the common room while trying to ignore the giggles coming from the portrait. After tucking Draco's cloak under his arm securely, he took a quick glance around the room noting that it appeared deserted; the fire dead and the grate cold and empty.
Then Harry noted the bushy haired girl asleep in an over stuffed chair, a blanket slipping off her lap. Harry moved swiftly forwards and pulled the blanket up. He smiled fondly at Hermione, who was practically his sister.
The Gryffindor girl stirred sleepily and when she realized it was Harry she sat up, alert and awake. "Harry! What happened? Where did you go? Did it have something to do with Draco?"
Harry blinked at the onslaught of questions, but sat gracefully on the arm of the chair and answered them all. "Theo got into some trouble so Sin, Draco and I went and rescued him. We went to some party out of Hogwarts. And it sort of had to do with Draco." Harry smiled suddenly, his Harpy-self purring in giddy joy. "And I kissed Draco, he knows."
Hermione let out a very girly squeal and threw her arms around Harry's neck. He promptly fell backwards, causing both of them to land in a heap on the floor.
Hermione beamed at him. "What happened? Tell me everything."
Harry groaned and sat up after Hermione climbed off of him. She smiled in apology and extended her hand to pull him up. Harry accepted her hand then picked up Draco's cloak and faced his friend, telling her everything that happened from when he met Draco at the staircase.
Hermione was brimming with questions, but contained herself. She let out a small gasp when he told her about using his magic. When he finally told her about their kiss, he blushed faintly and Hermione giggled.
Once he reached the comment from Draco he paused and Hermione tilted her head. "Harry, what's wrong?"
Not being able to keep something from his friend Harry sighed. "It's probably nothing. Just well….Draco called me a 'thing'." He looked at her begging for assurance. "It probably meant nothing."
The brown-eyed girl sent him a small sympathetic smile. "I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it."
Harry nodded, trying to cheer-up, after all he was finally with his mate and Sin was with his, but the comment just stuck at the back of his mind. "I know it's nothing just….well I know I'm not actually considered human anymore but it's just…"
"You feel insulted?" Hermione offered softly.
"Sort of." Harry sighed. "It shouldn't matter. I need to get used to this, I am a dark creature now."
Hermione hugged him again, this time more delicately. "He loves you, Harry. I'm sure it was a badly worded sentence."
Harry nodded and hugged back. He could still feel the lingering presence of his mate and it comforted him slightly. He smiled at the girl. "I'm going to write to my aunt."
"Petunia?" Hermione asked, rather startled.
Harry laughed at her shocked look. "No, Silvia." He left her there and went up to his dormitory to write to the Queen.
He told her all that had happened since he'd left the Headquarters and after a short hesitation left out the 'thing' comment from his mate. He then wrote to Rorin and Elysia, bragging over his mate. Once he was finished he whistled for Hedwig.
Hedwig listened patiently while Harry explained that she needed to deliver the Queen's letter first, and then hooted her understanding. After they finished making a fuss over each other, the owl took off with his letters tied to her leg.
Letter writing finished, he made his way to the bathroom where he took a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes. By the time he returned to the dorm, his other roommates were starting to wake up.
Ron walked over to the short Harpy and whispered to him. "Where were you, mate?"
Harry smiled and whispered the short version of his story. Ron twitched and whined a bit about TMI when Harry gushed on about kissing Draco in the rain then spending the night in his dorm with him. Harry huffed at the snickering red-head and muttered, "We spent the night sleeping, nothing else but sleeping. He is my mate you know."
Ron was a pure blood. He knew what finding one's mate and bonding with them entailed. He really did not want to see Harry hurt and with Draco Malfoy involved that was a real possibility. "Just be careful." Ron told him gruffly, hating the thought of his friend, who he considered a little brother, being around Slytherins and Malfoy at that!
Harry nodded and waited for him to get ready, all the time musing over various problems. The 'thing' comment refused to just go away. How fast should he move this new relationship with Draco? Theo appeared to finally be accepting Sin, but there was still the issue of what had happened yesterday at the party...
Slytherins are so sexy!
Blaise Zabini was proud to say he knew his best friends well. Since they were children it had always been Draco, Theo and Blaise. The three were as close as brothers; they knew everything about each other.
They all knew what happened to Theo in his family. They all knew that Draco resented his father for wanting him to be a death eater and they all knew that Blaise was now a death eater.
But something that Blaise never knew or was prepared to take in was Theo's sudden, and totally unexpected, relationship with Sin.
The day Blaise got back from the Death Eater gathering (that made him an official Death Eater, much as he hated to become one), he had walked into the Great Hall and sat beside Draco, glanced across to see Theo and Sin, oblivious to whatever was going on around them, being very couple-like.
Blaise's eyes flew open as he watched Theo hold a slice of bagel with cream cheese and strawberry jam up for Sin to bite. He watched in horrified fascination as Sin's tongue licked Theo's fingers before his Crest white teeth gently separated the bagel while nipping Theo. His mouth about hit the table when Sin picked up Theo's goblet of creamed coffee and sipped from the same spot Theo had.
Draco snickered as Blaise blinked and rubbed his eyes. He watched the Italian boy pinch himself and act totally shocked that he was apparently awake. It was a difficult concept to grasp; Theodore Nott, the same Theo who swore he hated Sin, was being uber friendly to said Sinclair Von Hellfire, willingly!
"The world has ended, right?" Blaise asked Draco.
Draco looked up from whatever he had been staring at while trying to control his mirth and focused on Blaise. "What are you talking about?" He drawled.
"Am I mistaken or is Theo being….nice to your cousin?"
Draco looked over at the two and a serious look took over his features. "I think Theo is under some sort of spell or potion." He gave a delicate shrug that could have meant anything. "I've tried to help him but I can't. Maybe you should try something?"
Blaise was horrified. Theo was in trouble! He gathered his wits and marched right around the table, which was a long way, and grabbed Theo, pulling him away from the evil Sin and shook his friend.
"Blaise, what the hell are you doing!?" Theo snapped, trying to get out of his grip.
Sin pulled Theo free and growled at Blaise, grabbing the Italian teen's shirt and pushing him up against a wall. "What the hell, do you think you are doing, Zabini?"
A few curious students looked over at the pair, but not many had actually noticed the Slytherins. Even the small group of teachers was ignoring them, which was a good thing.
Blaise blinked. "I am rescuing Theo from the spell or potion he is under?"
Draco burst out laughing, his eyes watering, while Theo chuckled. "You thought I was under a spell or potion?"
Blaise pointed at Draco. "He told me you were."
Sin released him and smiled in apology before turning on his cousin, who couldn't stop laughing, and launched across the table to tackle him.
Theo watched in amusement as the two cousins' wrestled while Blaise straightened his clothes and watched in confusion.
"So you aren't under a spell or potion?" Blaise finally asked Theo.
Theo shook his head and smiled. "Believe it or not, No. After fighting my way through the attraction to him, I accepted it, and now I am dating him freely."
Blaise nodded, a little confused. "I thought you hated him?"
"I thought I did too. But a lot has been going on since you left."
Blaise decided not to pry further; he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to know what had happened. He guessed it was very unlikely that Theo had simply woken up and decided he liked the Von Hellfire; it had to be something more complicated.
The two cousins were still fighting; Sin obviously had the upper hand. Theo checked to make sure they were not hurting each other then picked up his bag, hugged Blaise briefly, and said, "I'll see you later. I'm glad you're back." He departed from the hall leaving his half eaten breakfast and the fight between the two cousins.
Blaise blinked after Theo (had cold Theo hugged him?) and sat down. He had definitely missed a lot.
Harry met up with Theo at the lake. Harry had taken a stack of buttered toast with him and he ate as they walked around, discussing the sudden relationships that had developed in a sudden, unexpected light.
Theo demanded details on what had happened between Harry and Draco while Harry demanded details on what had happened between Theo and Sin. By the time the two were finished they had made a full two laps of the lake.
Curious students sent the two unlikely friends confused looks. Despite not wearing their uniforms anyone could see that they were from rival houses. It was a mystery why the two were even exchanging a civil word.
Theo tilted his head to the side when Harry hesitantly told him about the 'thing' comment, brushing it off as nothing, although Theo picked up on the distress it was causing the young Harpy.
"Draco has a tendency to say the wrong words. You shouldn't read too much into it. Besides, he really likes you and wouldn't intentionally hurt you." Theo assured the Gryffindor.
Harry nodded and smiled. "Thanks. So, you've finally gotten over your fear, huh?"
Theo blushed lightly. "Not really….but I don't know, as long as Sin doesn't decide to go kill himself."
Harry nodded and brushed crumbs off his shirt. "I doubt Sin would do that to you. Does he know about your….family history?"
Theo shook his head. "Not the greatest topic." He gave Harry a weak smile. "It doesn't matter."
Harry frowned but didn't say anything further, continuing to walk with Theo. They passed Hagrid's hut, but Harry couldn't see the half-giant and frowned slightly when he realized that he had not seen Hagrid around in awhile.
"What's wrong?" Theo asked, noting Harry's mood.
"Hagrid hasn't been around." Harry explained.
Theo shrugged. "Maybe he's doing something for the war or whatever."
Harry studied Theo carefully. "Theo…what side are you on?"
Theo glanced at Harry, easily picking up the meaning of the question. "I'm not a Death Eater supporter. I'm not a Dumbledore supporter either. I care little about the ideology of this war and I don't want any part in it."
Harry blinked and said nothing. He wished he could simply ignore the war, the impending doom. But he couldn't, he of all people couldn't.
Theo noticed his distress and smiled, facing Harry. "If I was ever forced into a corner, to choose a side, I'm with you. Although I doubt anyone will bother with my loyalties."
Harry smiled and they continued on, chatting about random topics.
Draco waited in the common room for Theo's return. Everyone was heading to lunch so the common room was basically deserted.
Theo smirked when he saw Draco sitting on the couch, obviously waiting for him. "Waiting for me, Dragon? Aww, I'm flattered!"
Draco scoffed. "Uh huh."
Theo sat down beside the blond and looked around. "Where's Sin?"
"In the dorm." Draco smirked. "I knew you liked him."
Honey coloured eyes rolled skywards and he muttered. "Well aren't you smart."
"That I am. Were you with Harry?"
Theo nodded and stretched. "You know, for such a smart man, you sure are stupid."
Draco gave his small friend a confused look. "What are you talking about?"
"Calling Harry a 'thing' was not your smartest move."
Draco blinked and realization hit him hard. "Shit!"
Theo nodded. "Yep. You are going to have to apologize." As Draco got up to leave Theo
grabbed his arm. "But first! There is something Harry didn't tell me that I need to know."
"What?"
"There is something about mates that he hesitated for a few seconds then changed the subject completely."
"Did he tell you about Bonding?"
"What?"
Draco explained the bonding and the death that came with it. Theo's eyes were wide through the explanation and when Draco was finished the explanation he winced when Theo's eyes narrowed.
"When is Sin's birthday?" Draco almost shivered at the iciness of his tone.
"April fist." Draco gulped.
Theo stormed off to the dorm, slamming the door after him. Draco was quick to cast a silencing charm so no one would hear them and got up, heading out to find Harry and sort out the mess he'd made.
He thought Harry would head to the great hall for lunch so he slipped into the hall and scanned the Gryffindor table, but couldn't spot the messy haired teen or his two close friends.
Thinking they'd either be in Gryffindor tower or the library, he made his way to the last, hoping to find them. The library was practically deserted, only a few students cramming in forgotten homework were left. He slipped into the corner table and saw, to his relief, that Harry, Hermione and Ron occupied it.
He was slightly annoyed at having to face Granger and the Weasel, but it was too late to change his mind because Hermione spotted him and smirked as she poked Weasel to get his attention. Ron glared at the blond as he walked over to Harry, who looked up and smiled at him. Draco motioned gently for him to follow him and drifted away from the table.
Harry turned to his friend and told them he'd be back before standing and disappearing into the stacks following Draco.
"Hey." Harry smiled when Draco didn't attempt to break the silence.
"I'm sorry about the 'thing' comment." Draco rushed.
Harry blinked and a light rose pink blush tinted his skin. "It's all right." But Draco could feel there was more to it and he reached out, brushing his fingers across Harry's cheek. "You can tell me anything." Draco promised softly.
Harry avoided his eye and spoke so softly Draco strained to hear him. "Just…do you see the dark creature I am?"
Draco shook his head and moved forward, embracing Harry warmly. "Harry, you forget who my family is. I have seen Harpies. Until yesterday I had never seen you as anyone or anything except Harry. And when I saw your wings yesterday it only reinforced that point. I only see you, Harry."
Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around Draco. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Draco kissed him softly as an unspoken promise before pulling away and smiling down at him. "Doing anything tonight?"
"Not that I know of, why? Have something planned?"
"Maybe." Draco kissed his cheek. "Meet me at the humped-back witch around six?"
Harry nodded and pulled away, slipping past him and letting their hands brush then cling for a second, Draco watched him until he was out of sight before heading in the opposite direction out of the library and to his dorm.
He just hoped Theo and Sin had stopped arguing long enough for him to get changed.
Harry made his way to the humped-back witch. He was thrilled about Draco's answer and honestly a little relieved. After being interrogated by Hermione, and a little by Ron, Hermione had promptly dragged him back to his dorm to get him ready, with a giggling Ginny in tow..
Harry sighed, far too used to this than was healthy for a boy in his position.
After letting him have a small lunch, the girls tortured him for nearly two hours. They'd have probably kept at it, but he gently pointed out that it was nearly six and he still needed to get dressed.
Hermione smirked as she handed him an extremely tight pair of jeans. Ginny just handed him a long sleeved grey shirt with the design of phoenix emerging from flames on the back in white. They added the leather jacket and gave him contacts again before adding a thin layer
of lip gloss and eyeliner.
Harry slipped out around six and made his way to the concealed Hogsmead tunnel. When he reached it the corridors were deserted and he leaned against the wall, waiting for his mate.
Draco didn't take too long and arrived shortly after Harry did. He was wearing black jeans with a dark grey sweater. He smiled at Harry, taking the Harpy's smaller hand in his.
"Ready?"
Harry nodded and let Draco lead him through the dark tunnel and into the cellar, sneaking past the owners and into the nearly deserted streets. Draco wrapped an arm around Harry and they walked down the street together. They kept their chatter light as they discussed random topics until they reached a small café that Harry had never been to before.
The café was lavishly decorated in rich colours and was filled with only four other guests, no one paid the couple any mind as they took a table by a window that gave a view of Hogsmead's Main Street.
"So how are Theo and Sin?" Harry asked once they'd gotten their food.
Draco shrugged. "Theo went after him around the same time I went looking for you this morning. They were still arguing when I left to come out with you." He looked at Harry; grey eyes alight with wickedness and solemnly added, "I think Theo has been demanding that they do the dirty already. Sin is holding firm though. No ding ding without the wedding ring."
Harry did not even bat an eyelash at the outrageous blond. "It's like a miracle. A teenage boy who thinks with his brain above the belt. It's like a miracle really."
Draco grinned. "Seriously it's so weird seeing Theo acting nice! I know they are destined mates and all, but to see it in reality is a bit startling. Especially for anyone who knows Theodore Nott."
Harry laughed softly. "Well they are destined to be together."
Draco shook his head. "Still strange."
When the two had finished the small dinner they headed, hand in hand, to a small hill that over looked the forbidden forest. The two sat down together and talked as the sun sunk lower over the tree line.
Casually Draco glanced over his shoulder, and then swore softly. He quickly pulled Harry out of view from the Hogsmead streets.
Curiously, Harry looked up at his mate. "What's wrong?"
"Friends of my father, Death Eaters." Draco explained in a rushed whisper.
Harry's heart thumped painfully loud against his ribs and he glanced around the corner and saw two men dressed in dark robes. From this distance he couldn't make out their faces but his Harpy-self shrieked danger.
The incident put a bit of a damper on their evening together, and when they were sure no one was looking the two slipped back into Honeyduke's cellar and through the tunnel.
Near the entrance to Hogwarts Harry lightly grabbed Draco's arm. "We can't do this openly, can we?"
Draco gave him a confused look. "Do what?"
Harry sighed. "We can't let people know about us. You're a Death Eater's son and I'm Harry Potter."
Draco cupped his face gently and kissed him soundlessly, holding him close. "I don't want to hurt you, ever."
Harry nodded, burying his face in Draco's shoulder. "I know."
The two stayed like that for a bliss filled moment when they weren't who they were.
-TBC-