Author's Notes: Okay so I know this isn't getting updated as much as I would like. I'm struggling to find time in my writing since I signed up for a bunch of Big Bangs for Supernatural and with NaNoWriMo just around the corner I need to get those done before I put too much effort into something else, this included. I'm sorry.

Chapter 21

*~* Time Skip with Harry before Malfoy Manor *~*

The next day didn't turn out any better for Harry than the day previous. In fact, if anything it turned out much worse. Remus who hadn't been there when the package arrived found out that there were magical properties of the gift given to him by Lord Malfoy. To say he was furious would have been an understatement and Harry felt that it would only get worse before it got better. Bill, fortunately, was able to get through most of the magic, and although he was unable to take off any of the charms, which was strange considering his carrier choice, he was able to see that nothing was intended to harm. Still, he was advised to leave the pendant with Bill for a few more days. Although after noticing the estimated price of the necklace the eldest Weasley promised no harm would come to it.

Harry decided to wait until Dumbledore arrived before he announced that he wanted to go to the next meeting. There was no hope of him getting support for his choice even from the Weasleys who were being as sympathetic as they could towards Lord Malfoy. There was always the risk that the vampire would lose his control with his scent alone and harm him. It was a risk that Harry felt that he had to take. Like the night before he kept his mouth shut and didn't so much as speak to his two best friends when they came to him, instead he merely shook his head, and they left him alone. Over the past few weeks he felt like he didn't fit as well with the other two as he did before, maybe it was because they were now officially a couple while he was the third wheel.

Both Hermione and Ron made sure to try and include him in everything like they had every other year, but it was different this time. He had thought that because they all were staying at headquarters that perhaps they would become closer, but the opposite was true. A part of that he was sure it was because everyone, including his best friends, had expected him to get together with Ginny once Hermione and Ron came together. It was inevitable that the muggle-born and the pure-blood would eventually get together. What they didn't expect was for someone else to try to claim Harry instead of the female Weasley. Ginny understandably was upset, but even if Harry didn't choose to be with Lord Malfoy, he had too much power to reject his claim without at least trying.

They couldn't even be together in secret as the scent would carry onto each other and in turn, would inform the vampire of their relationship. In his own way, Harry was thankful that he didn't have to be with Ginny, he loved her that was true, but as a sibling not as a lover. Molly was upset, but she was old enough to understand that one could not turn down a creature claim, and with that, she tried her hardest to give Harry her full blessing should he chose to be with Lord Malfoy. Nobody, not even Moody seemed to discard Harry, and they all made it a point to make sure that he knew that they would not refuse or think anything less of him for the fates choosing his mate for him. It was only Remus that was entirely against the idea; even Moody was willing to accept it so long as Lord Malfoy proved himself which he was more than happy to test.

When Dumbledore did come to headquarters as he did for every supper, Harry waited until after their meal before he spoke up. The Order was not due for a meeting until a few hours before they were to leave for Malfoy Manor the next day, but they all seemed to eat at headquarters, most likely because of Molly's cooking. Once everyone was done of their meal Harry spoke up, his voice was firm the same tone that he used when he vowed to avenge his family against his godfather is what seemed like forever ago.

"I want to go with you to the meeting at Malfoy Manor."

Like he expected there was dead silence before everyone began to speak at once. Several, if not all of those around the table started to protest, Remus and Moody being the loudest in their accusations of what may happen if he was permitted to go. Dumbledore, however, stroked his beard while thinking and gave Harry a curious but also accepting look that he wasn't expecting. Not turning away from the headmaster Harry kept his gaze, trusting the older man not to invade his mind but to read from his expression alone that he needed to do this, that it was something he would not move on. With his usual twinkle, the man opened his mouth and spoke which caused everyone else to become silent around the table.

"If this is what you want then, of course, I will support it. Meeting ones mate however can be dangerous, so I would like to put up a few precautions if you will. First, you will be arriving last so that the rest of us are there to protect you should Lord Malfoy lose himself to his base instinct. Secondly, you will not be occupying a room with him alone; one of us will remain close so that he cannot harm you in any way. Now if the meeting runs late he may offer rooms for the night, should this happen you are to remain close to myself, Remus I am sure would like to stay near you as well. If you can convince him to relinquish his wand, I am sure we would feel more comfortable and stay at a farther distance so long as yours is always with you. I believe this to be reasonable, don't you agree my boy?"

Thinking it over Harry wondered if there was anything in his requests that he wouldn't agree with. There was only one thing that he wanted to change.

"I understand having someone there when I arrive but having everyone there I'm sure would make it crowded. Can't we select a few people to stay? Yourself Headmaster; Remus and perhaps Mrs. and Mr. Weasley, along with Hermione and Ron?"

Smiling Dumbledore nodded his head, and with that everyone else at the table started up again about how dangerous it would be for Harry. Harry, as well as most of the others, knew that there wouldn't be any persuading otherwise, once Albus decided then it was as good as done. Not wanting to hear what they had to say, Harry left the room to go to his bedroom and was closely followed by Hermione and Ron who didn't say a word until the door was closed behind them. Sitting down on his bed the three made themselves comfortable before Hermione started.

"Are you sure this is safe Harry? I don't mean to sound rude, but he is a vampire, and they are not known for controlling themselves very well. I've read every book I could find about them in the Black library after we learned about Lord Malfoy, but I couldn't find a single reference of a vampire having a mate predestined chosen. I've read plenty about other creatures, but not vampires, and even in those stories, the creature needs to claim their mate once they see them. Very few are willing to court their mate before they take them, and with dark creatures it is always violent."

"Yeah mate," Ron pipped in, "sure my family is all for the true Lord Malfoy coming back to help with the war, but he can't change his creature any more than Professor Lupin can."

Thinking back to the one story of a vampire mate that he read Harry knew that it was a risk. The vampire in that story was forced to turn his mate... but not until after she turned him down several times, so there was hope. He believed that had she told him or had he noticed the other life growing inside her if she gave him a reason why he would never have harmed her as he did. It was his nature to try and keep his mate safe, and so far, Lord Malfoy had not wanted to hurt him or force himself on him.

"I don't think he's going to hurt me. Even if he tried, Dumbledore wouldn't let him, and Remus will be there not to mention your mom, Ron, and your dad. I'll be safe don't worry... but I can't keep myself from meeting him. Eventually, I will need to meet him face to face, and when that happens, I don't want it to be in front of the public not knowing what will happen. I want it to be secluded, and with all of you there I will be the safest I can be."

The two friends took a few moments to think about what he said before they both nodded and changed the topic. The three of them sat around and talked about normal seventeen-year-old things, like what classes they were taking, how they thought the school would be different this year and Hermione made sure that both boys had their homework done. Which they both said they finished, even though Ron didn't start his Charms essay yet and Harry needed to complete his potions. For the first time in a while Harry, Ron and Hermione all enjoyed an evening together just acting like regular teenage children, but Harry, unlike his two friends, even in those few hours couldn't feel like an ordinary teenager, and he knew that for some reason that he never would.

P.S. If you want to keep up to date on my writing add me to Facebook, Tumbler, Twitter or Instagram as CrowNoYami ;-) Also, if you want to see what I'm reading (I always review so you know what you're getting into) I'm on Goodreads as well, the same name as always.