"Don't touch me!"

Ron pulled his hand away from the panicking wizard and clutched the offending limb against his chest as though he had been burned. His worried frown bled into an angry scowl, if it had been anyone else he could tempt getting closer, but Harry – being an extremely powerful wizard – stopped him from attempting anything more.

The reason Harry was panicking was quite obvious if one looked at the soiled sheets and rumbled appearances. They had had sex, and Ron regretted none of it. Harry was another matter altogether and Ron truly believed he was taking the matter too hard.

So they had slept together, it didn't change their friendship! Ron was willing to forget everything if it made Harry feel better, he cared too much about his friend to have him suffering.

Harry was a special person to everyone, and someone like Malfoy would never realize that. He deserved to be loved, Ron could give him that, he could give him a loving family, anything. But Harry didn't seem to understand what was being offered to him. As the sun rose that morning and marked a new day, he had woken the dorm with a scream so shrill that Seamus had feared a banshee was attacking them.

It was obvious that the effects of the collar had worn off and Harry was "awake" again.

Before too many questions could be asked – mainly what Harry was doing in his bed –Ron managed to get the other boys out of the room, claiming that he could calm Harry down seeing as they were best friends.

That had been two hours ago and now breakfast was approaching quickly. Harry wasn't showing any signs of letting up his childish act and Ron was becoming testy. There was no time to really do anything productive, especially with Harry huddled up the way he was.

And if Ron didn't figure out a way to calm his friend down, he was going to be in deep shit when Malfoy showed up.

Even now – if he really thought about it – he was screwed either way. His first mistake was even thinking about touching Harry, his second was raping the boy…

"Harry, why are you acting so childish?" Ron asked desperately. "You can't tell me you didn't enjoy it, I'm your best friend! Damn it, why did you choose that bastard Malfoy over me?"

"Don't touch me!" Harry said again as the redhead moved closer, he continued to cower in the corner of the room. He shook his head, gazing downward. "Draco's going to be so angry."

The Gryffindor tried to move forward again but stopped when the green eyed boy looked up, eyes wide.

"I didn't rape you," Ron said defensively.

"I never said you did," Harry replied in a whisper, bowing his head and shielding his face from view. "Please, just don't touch me again."

Ron growled angrily and slammed his hand against the bedpost closest to him – Dean's. Nothing was going right! Harry wasn't supposed to feel anything for the blond! He was supposed to come to Ron willingly! They were supposed to stay friends forever…

"Where is he!"

The portrait door slammed open with the intruder and echoed through the tower. Ron slowly turned toward the locked door with wide eyes, Harry similarly perked up at the familiar voice.

"Draco," Harry whimpered in a mix of relief and fear.

The sound from below was loud enough to reach the boy's dorm and both occupants could tell that the Slytherin was angry, Harry more so by the currents of displeasure radiating through his mind.

I am so fucked. Ron gulped as he ran for the door and quickly unlocked it. He flung it open, and hurried toward the stairs. As he looked down he could see a group of Gryffindors forming in the common room, at the center of the group was Malfoy. Shit, he's already in, who the hell would give him the password?

As Ron tried to step back, the pale head snapped upward and Malfoy's eyes locked onto him, making Ron feel like prey.

"Weasley, where is he?"

Hermione – who had been standing close to the Slytherin – had turned as Malfoy looked up, and now openly frowned at her red headed friend. She could sense that he was hiding something and undoubtedly it was Harry. He should have known that stealing a Veela's mate was not something anyone sane would do!

"I don't know what you're talking about, Malfoy," Ron said with a sneer, breaking the staring match between them.

"Draco?"

The blond smirked at the voice. "Don't know what I'm talking about do you? Harry, come down here at once, you've kept me waiting."

The dark headed boy appeared at the head of the stairs and locked eyes with Draco, his gaze relieved yet pleading. Draco frowned at the odd behavior but beckoned his mate forward nonetheless.

Harry passed Ron, who stiffened but chose to follow soon after. He quickly filled the space between himself and his mate, lowering his eyes as he neared the blond. It wouldn't take Draco long to figure out what had happened, and when he did, heads would roll.

"Harry, what's wrong --"

Draco stiffened as he neared his mate. Without warning his eyes bled silver and his hair stood on end with his anger. The air around him crackled with magic, someone had been touching what was his. His narrowed gaze scanned the room, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled the scent hanging around Harry. It was similar to a thick blanket wrapped around the boy – smothering him – and everywhere was the scent of him.

"Weasley!" Draco whirled around. "You're dead!"

Ron froze where he was and shot frightened eyes toward the enraged Veela. It seemed the blond's powers were more formidable than he had first thought. He thought he would at least have time to get out of the room before he was found out!

"Malfoy, it's not what you think," Ron said, slowly raising his hands in a defensive pose.

"Not what I think?" Draco growled. "What I think is that you've been touching someone that doesn't belong to you and never will!"

Ron's hand shot into his robes as he whipped out his wand and crouched into a fighting stance, "Alright then, so what if I did touch him? What are you going to do about it, little birdie?"

Draco's eyes widened further. "You're admitting to touching him?" A feral grin it his features. "Then surely you understand the penalty that goes along with your admittance."

Hermione gasped along with a few others who understand what was going on. "Ron, don't be stupid!"

"Hermione, stay out of this!" Ron demanded. "Well, Malfoy, are we going to duel or not? I'm sure Harry would like to be given to his new master soon."

Draco growled. "He will return with me, so get ready to loose, Weasley!"

The two wizards moved toward each other and readied for a duel, as was custom. Hermione watched on worriedly, if they went through with this foolishness someone was going to get hurt, or worse, killed!

"Ronald Weasley, if you don't stop this instant I won't hesitate to owl your mother!" Hermione whispered desperately.

Ron looked at her through disgusted eyes. "It's too late, Hermione, so why don't you mind your own business?"

She gasped and recoiled from the hurtful words. How could he say something like that? She was only trying to help! Hermione turned toward Harry and felt her heart clench at the lost expression he held. He had no idea what was about to happen. She turned back toward the vengeful wizards. "At least take it outside! Harry shouldn't have to see this!"

Draco looked at his mate and growled in annoyance as he felt a weak sense of dread clench at his gut. He moved away from the Gryffindors and made his way toward the door. "Let's go, Weasley, Granger is right. I don't want my mate to witness your downfall no matter how amusing."

"You'll regret those words, Malfoy!" Ron chased after him into the hall.

The Fat Lady shut herself behind the two boys with a slight click and huffed in exasperation, "Children these days!"

The few students that had gathered turned their attention onto Harry and he felt himself flush in embarrassment, he hadn't asked for this to happen! Why was everyone looking at him for answers?

"You lot go about your business!" Hermione scowled. "This is no fault of Harry's."

She stepped close to Harry, in a friendly manner and smiled at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry about them. I know how much you hate attention."

He shook his head. "It's alright, I'm fine. Do you know what's happening with Draco though?"

"Those two dunderheads have decided to fight over you." She shook her head in helplessness. "It's an old tradition amongst the purebloods. It only happened on occasion, but when there were two suitors after the hand of the same witch, they dueled each other. Whoever won the duel married the girl."

Harry's face twisted in horror. "Why would Draco agree to that? I'm his, I only belong to him! Is it because I betrayed him? I didn't want that to happen, it wasn't my fault!"

Hermione touched his shoulder gently. "Veela are protective of their mates by nature, Harry. Draco is extremely protective, and I can see that now. And as much as it hurts me to say this, he's going to win so you have nothing to worry about."

He nodded slightly, eyes still worried despite the reassurance. Hermione couldn't do anything else for her friend, only Draco could tell him it was alright.

"Harry, I'm going to go check on those two, alright? Please, stay here and don't do anything." Harry nodded as she walked away.

Hermione sent one last glare toward her housemates as she exited. As the door shut behind the bossy witch the whispers immediately broke out amongst the eager Gryffindors. Harry winced away from the voices and tried to disappear into the couch he sat himself on. He bowed his head forward and buried his face in his hands. This was all his fault, no matter what anyone said. He didn't know how, he just knew that it was.

He felt the cushion dip beside him with the weight of someone, by the feel of it, the person was female. Harry lifted his saddened eyes and stared at the girl.

Ginny smiled sympathetically and tried to pat Harry on the back but he flinched away. "I'm sorry about my brother, Harry. I know you probably don't understand why he continues to follow you about. But believe it or not, you two were pretty close."

"I don't care," Harry said. His head lifted furiously as he looked away towards the door. Why is she talking to me?

His movement drew her attention toward his neck and Ginny whistled in appreciation as she spied the collar around Harry's throat.

"Nice accessory you've got there," she smiled, trying to be friendly with the boy she had used to know. Ginny didn't really care about the collar or the story behind it; everyone knew what it was a sign for. Malfoy was claiming his property, there was no use dwelling on it until Dumbledore returned and took care of the Slytherin prat. It was obvious that they couldn't do anything against a Veela and its mate.

Harry shrugged and discreetly scooted away. "I can't take it off so I'm stuck with it." He didn't feel comfortable around the girl, she looked too much like the other one, the one that had… his eyes shifted to his feet, he didn't want to think about it.

Ginny perked up. "I can help, Harry," she said, revealing her wand.

His eyes widened in panic as he tried to stop her. "No, don't --"

"Alohamora!"

Harry screamed as the collar fell to the ground with a muted clatter. He continued to scream even after Ginny dropped her wand and ran for help with her own screams.

His blood was on fire! He choked and spluttered as his throat blossomed with agony, he couldn't breathe properly. His heartbeat thudded in his ears while his eyes watered and blurred with his struggles. The pain from the backlash was so intense that it sent him to his knees, sobbing and clutching his neck.

Draco! Draco, help me! He felt his brain shutting down as the fire licked at his thoughts.

He screamed again, arching his spine as the pain flamed through his veins and spread through his being. By then his head was thrown back in anguish and his voice continued in a pained moan as he lost consciousness. Harry fell to the floor in a shuddering heap, eyes moving furiously beneath his lids as his breath came in quick pants.

Draco chose that moment to burst into the common room, wand in hand and face livid. His flaming eyes laded on his fallen mate and he roared.

"Damn you, Weasel!" Draco screeched, his Veela powers beginning to slip through. "What the fuck did you do to him!"

"I was trying to help him take that collar off!" Ginny panicked and didn't protest when Draco insulted her.

Hermione ran up, hair askew and cheeks flushed. "Professor McGonagall is coming. Try to keep him calm until then!"

Draco's face contorted in rage. "Why would you do something so foolish you stupid Mudblood?"

The girl halted. "What? I was only trying to help --"

"If I need help I will tell you," Draco snapped as he leaned down and cradled his mate against his chest. He lifted the limp figure and stood, sparing a glare toward those who watched him. "Thanks to you he will need to visit Madam Pomfrey, and I won't forgive you so easily," he began walking away, "I will return for full compensation at a later time."

No one stopped him as he took their broken savior and slammed the door behind him.

--- --- ---

Harry had been rushed to the infirmary by Draco, and he had been forced to remain in the comatose state he was currently in. Madam Pomfrey had refused to use any potions or spells on the frail boy, claiming that he wasn't strong enough to withstand such efforts considering what he had been forced to deal with so far.

Draco had not taken well to the decision and had voiced his arguments with both magic and foul language – as he was prone to do.

Sadly his childish behavior had made it all the more clear that Harry should not be moved into his care and both McGonagall and Pomfrey had agreed that the unconscious boy should spend the night in the infirmary.

The Slytherin boy had been sent to class with a stern reprimanding, though it was obvious that the lesson wouldn't stick.

By this time, Minerva was seriously counting down the days until the Headmaster returned. This "important" business was beginning to sound more and more like a last minute vacation with every passing day. Until he returned she would be forced to deal with the young Malfoy, a task she wished upon no one.

Despite the morning's transactions, the day passed as normally as it could. That was without including a temperamental Veela that seemed bent on ripping off a certain Gryffindor's head. These two students especially seemed to ignore the normalcy of the day and continued to taunt each other throughout.

When the day was called to an end the teachers – and students – who were forced to deal with the two breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully everything would return to the way it had been before that day, even if it was at the cost of Harry Potter's freedom.

It seemed that everything – and everyone – was finally calming down to the steady pace of night. Beds were filled and eyes were closed. The infirmary was another matter though and was neither silent nor calm.

Both of Harry's suitors had hatched a "brilliant" plan to steal him away in the night, not knowing that Madam Pomfrey stayed with her patients most of the night.

After his attempt to infiltrate the infirmary failed, Draco was sent to bed with a loss of house points, followed soon after by Ron. Madam Pomfrey shook her head as she watched the two boys leave; she then glanced over her shoulder at the bed nearest to the door.

"You're causing quite the stir, Mr. Potter," she said.

With a last sweep of the room, she turned and closed the doors, locking them with the appropriate charms as she did her last rounds. When everything proved to be satisfactory she bid a farewell to the sleeping figures in the beds and she too turned in for the night.

Midnight rolled around and Hogwarts was silent with sleep. The only movement that could be traced was the small shifts of a restless occupant in the infirmary.

Harry screwed his face in pain while he turned, deep in sleep, trapped in dreams. He was not alone in the silence though, for in the darkness calculating eyes watched him.

"Look at you, such a fine specimen you've become." A dark chuckle reverberated through the room. "You will do very nicely now that you've been broken."

The shadowed figure detached themselves from the darkness licking at the corners of the room. Moonlight from the undraped windows spilled across the high cheekbones and pale skin as a leering smile broke across the flawless face.

"My Lord will be pleased."

Lucius Malfoy laid a gentle hand across Harry's brow and smiled once more before the two wizards vanished from the infirmary.

----

AN: Well, at least he has the collar off…

-Red