Cookies to HeavenGoddess and ahreada for correcting my manners last chapter! (grin)

Cookies to luel for catching a misnamed character last chapter.

Draco's response – Many of you asked about this. I never planned to actually include it but my basic thoughts were: Draco's dazed, Pansy's mad, Chloe's confused, Gaius calms everyone down and explains. Now everyone's mad at Voldemort but also scared and sad. Gaius doesn't relate the prophecy (asked not to) and so it is only he that knows Harry's survival is assured – everyone else is very worried. All recognize the necessity, but are still unhappy. Planning ensues.

Pansy & Neville – Several have asked about their date. I thought about it quite a bit but eventually came to the conclusion that I just didn't have any brilliant ideas about it. So, sorry, no date details. This is the chapter where I would have placed it, had I had inspiration.

Mpreg Warning: The majority of this chapter is still safe for those who don't care for mpreg. Harry conceives the babies here but there is no further development on that front. I've marked the part that deals with the conception with "Conception" (creative, no?) so feel free to skip that part if you wish. I think it's pretty mild, but I leave it to your discretion to read if the concept squicks you. The first sentence of "Holidays" mentions the conception but that's it for the chapter. If you prefer, skipping the relevant section in this chapter should be safe enough to do and not lose the flow.

Chapter 29 – 1st Term & Mating

--September--

Harry and Fawkes were engaged in a friendly staring contest. At least, that was Harry's impression. As he continued staring at the brightly colored bird, Harry also got the impression that Fawkes knew both Harry's plans and what was to be the future of Britain and, while sad, accepted the necessity. As he should, Harry realized suddenly. Did not a phoenix burn to ashes before becoming renewed? Was not Britain bound to burn before becoming something new?

"I specifically told you that you were to stay within Hogwarts when you were not courting, Harry," Albus said sternly.

Harry ignored the man, as he had during the prior five minutes of scolding. Sooner or later, the man might actually say something important.

"Where did you stay this summer, Harry?" Albus demanded.

Harry finally turned his gaze to the headmaster and raised his eyebrows in disbelief. Did the man really think he was going to answer that?

"I am your legal guardian and I require an answer," Albus said firmly.

"I'm seventeen," Harry murmured. He was fully aware, however, that Dumbledore had had the guardianship extended due to "extenuating circumstances." The documents had been quite specific. Of course, his grandfather could have the documents voided in less than a day…

"My guardianship extends until you are twenty-one," Albus said, gazing fixedly at the recalcitrant boy across from him. "I told you this when I gave you the legal papers."

"Convenient laws, weren't they?" Harry mused softly. "Too bad they're completely immaterial."

Albus blinked in surprise at Harry's response then narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

Harry just smiled slightly and kept his silence.

"I have had The Veela Accords reviewed carefully," Albus said, his eyes still narrowed. "There is nothing within them that precludes me from having custody of you as long as I allow you to court and mate."

Harry's expression didn't change.

"You will obey me, Harry," Albus said, his tone unyielding. Harry would take up his duties under Albus' guidance.

"I will do as I will," Harry denied, still smiling. "I am an adult. I do not even have to stay here at Hogwarts if I do not want."

Albus rose and pulled his wand. He didn't allow it to show, but he was taken aback when Harry simply remained seated and smiling.

"And what will you do?" Harry asked in amusement. "Cast imperious on me?"

Albus stiffened in offense. "I would never cast such a dark spell," he said harshly. How dare the boy accuse him of such vile magic!

"Then what? Compulsions? Anyone who can fight off an imperious can fight off compulsion spells," Harry said as he watched the headmaster in unconcerned amusement. He already had an idea of what the headmaster was planning and was looking forward to it failing spectacularly.

Albus gave Harry a sad look. "Do you really think so little of me that I would stoop to such things?"

Harry chuckled slightly. "Well, you are the one holding a wand on me," he said sensibly. "I don't even have my wand out, not to mention my training is about a century less than yours. You are definitely the aggressor here. What could I possibly do against you?" In actuality, he was counting heavily on Dumbledore not casting any truly nefarious spells.

Albus simply continued to gaze at Harry sadly – a look, he noted, that Harry completely ignored – and said, "This will not harm you."

"I don't expect it will," Harry said mildly and continued to sit calmly as he listened and watched as Dumbledore began waving his wand and casting his spell. Harry's smile widened as he recognized the words. His grandfather had been right in his supposition; Dumbledore was casting a tether.

Albus was disconcerted as Harry not only made no move to escape but also started to smile. Nevertheless, he continued his casting of the strongest magical tether possible. The tether would require Harry to be within 1,500 feet of him at all times. He could have made it closer, of course, but didn't want to inconvenience either of them by tying the tether too close. After all, there was no reason for both of them to attend Harry's classes. He would have to accompany Harry on his dates now, but that was actually a benefit; now he would be able to positively identify all the remaining suitors and make sure they were properly informed of Harry's destiny and prepared to help in the coming war.

Harry stared Dumbledore in the eyes as he felt the magic of the tether wash over him…and dissipate.

Albus' eyes widened and his jaw dropped in shock. "What…?" The only reason the tether would fail was if there was already a tether in place.

Harry laughed outright at the look on Dumbledore's face. Priceless!

"This is no laughing matter, Harry," Dumbledore said grimly. "You do not know what this means. This could be disastrous." He sat back down as he contemplated the ramifications. If the one that held the tether kept Harry away from the war…

Harry stopped laughing and stood slowly. He put his hands on the headmaster's desk and leaned forward. The small amused smile was replaced with a vindictive, condescending smirk. "You want to know where I was this summer?" he asked darkly.

"I do," Dumbledore answered calmly. Inside, however, he was unnerved. This was a cold, hard man in front of him, not a sympathetic and smiling child.

"I was at my grandfather's," Harry said simply, softly, then sat back down. His smirk was still in place.

Albus was shocked for the second time in less than five minutes. "Your grandparents are dead," he said softly.

Harry rolled his eyes. "My mother got her Veela genes from somewhere, you know, and it wasn't from the same parents as Petunia."

Albus was quiet a moment. "Your mother was not adopted," he said finally. "Petunia was her sister or the wards would not have worked."

Harry snorted and shook his head. The headmaster was obviously trying to keep his head in the sand. "Petunia is, very much unfortunately, my aunt. My half-aunt, I suppose you could call her."

"How is that possible?" Albus asked quietly.

Harry blinked. Surely that was a rhetorical question? He decided to answer anyway. "It's like this. Grandmother Evans didn't much like her husband and when a charming French businessman came to Britain for a few months she decided she was due some fun. In short, she, an untrained muggle-born witch who never attended Hogwarts, cheated on her husband with a Veela. You must have thought out the possibilities when you became aware of my heritage, Headmaster. Surely you thought of this one? Even if you didn't, I'm pretty sure it was one of the featured theories in The Prophet at some point. With all the theories they put forward, they were bound to hit upon the truth eventually."

"Who is your grandfather?" Albus asked. He needed to speak with the man urgently. It was clear that the grandfather was having a detrimental effect on Harry. Albus needed to ensure that the man stopped interfering in Harry's destiny.

"None of your business," Harry said mildly. "All you really need to know is that all your pretty little legal documents aren't worth the parchment they're written on. Oh, and, of course, that your pretty little tether spell won't work either."

"He has a tether on you," Albus said faintly, understanding completely now why his own spell hadn't worked.

"Yes," Harry said then sneered in disgust. "As I'm sure you're quite aware, even the weakest of blood wards are stronger than other wards. The same is true for tethers. The weak tether my grandfather cast on me will always be stronger than any tether you – a man completely unrelated to me even ten generations back – can possibly muster, no matter what your magical power. Now, to satisfy the tether, I will spend every Friday night away from Hogwarts. I will return for Saturday breakfast. You will not stop me. Unless, of course, you actually do wish for me to suffer?"

Albus shook his head weakly. No, no he didn't want the boy to suffer. He just wanted him to fulfill his destiny and defeat Voldemort. "I would like to speak with your grandfather."

Harry laughed. "I'll tell him," he said, "but I doubt he'll concede to meeting you. He holds you in a great deal of contempt, you see. You know, the whole dropping off his grandson on the doorstep of a magic-hating muggle without so much as bothering to find any other willing relatives that would be better suited."

"I knew of no other relatives," Albus murmured as he shook his head.

Harry snorted in derision. "Maternus Potion," he said sharply. "And, look, you had, and still have, a nice little pet potions master who could have brewed it for you so you could get a nice little list of all my still living maternal relatives. By the way, don't try it now, I've had a block put in place. Snape tries to brew that potion now and it'll just explode in his face."

"There was no reason…" Albus started before being interrupted by an angry Harry.

"Well, of course there was no reason," Harry said contemptuously. "After all, you didn't even bother to ask Petunia if she wanted me. If you had, as you should have, she would have said no. If you had, there would have been every reason to brew the potion, which only takes a day, to find other suitable relatives. You didn't bother. Tell me, Headmaster, did you have some secret desire to see me neglected and abused? Was there some sort of reason known only to you and your pathetic little secrets."

"No, Harry…" Albus started again.

"You stole my life from me," Harry said angrily. "You stole my family. You dumped me with people that hated me before they'd even seen me. And you have the gall to look at me in disappointment? Have you never thought about what kind of monster your actions make you? You use different spells. You use different tactics. You call upon different allies. But your absolute belief that you are right, that only you can be your side's leader, that your actions are justified makes you just as narrow-minded, pigheaded, and downright arrogant as Voldemort."

Albus paled. "Surely you don't mean that?" he asked softly. He couldn't believe their relationship had degraded so badly that Harry would compare him to such evil.

"Every. Word," Harry said vehemently. He doubted, though, that his words would make a difference. Dumbledore was entrenched in his ways and Harry saw no hope, not even in the coming destruction, that the man would change.

"We should continue this discussion another time," Albus said dejectedly. "Perhaps when we have both had some time to think things over."

Harry shrugged his indifference. "My opinions aren't likely to change," he said coldly. "And you have offered nothing for me to think over."

Albus sighed in defeat and closed his eyes. "You may go, Harry."

Harry left immediately and without another word. Albus sat at his desk long into the night creating and discarding various scenarios that would ensure the boy's loyalty to the Light and the cause of Voldemort's quick defeat. If the boy wasn't putting the entire world in danger in favor of being so obstinate, Albus would never have considered such desperate measures.

--October--

Draco clenched his hand tightly under the table. If that stupid bint said one more word…

"Everyone is disgusted with you for refusing to join our Lord," Millicent Bulstrode hissed angrily, but still softly enough that only those closest could hear. "You were raised to serve our Lord and you're abandoning him like some Hufflepuff coward! Our Lord was going to put a price on your head at last night's meeting but your father begged for the honor of taking your life himself. Our Lord…"

"ENOUGH!" Draco yelled as he stood up, fire in his eyes though not yet around his hands. "You are a fool, Bulstrode, just as is my sire and everyone else that serves that disgusting piece of filth!"

Conversation in the Great Hall immediately stopped and all attention was turned to a raging Draco Malfoy.

"Do you think it the height of ambition to kneel like a slave? To kiss the hem of the robe of someone whose body is an abomination of magic? Why don't you go kiss the robes of an inferi? That would be better!" Draco yelled.

"How dare…" Millicent started to protest angrily.

"Shut up!" Draco interrupted furiously. "You stupid, stupid girl! You call me a Hufflepuff coward? Some of our greatest heroes in history were Hufflepuffs! Kiernan MacDougal, Leon Banks, Matthias Chadwick! I'd rather be grouped with them than a group of pathetic, servile, bullies like the Death Eaters!"

"The Death Eaters are the warriors who will secure our future! You should honor them!" Millicent yelled back as she also stood.

"The Death Eaters are the cowards! How much courage does it take to attack someone who can't fight back? None! So who are the real cowards?" Draco shouted.

Wide eyes and open-mouthed stares were the most common expressions throughout the entire hall. Even most of the teachers were wearing shocked expressions.

"Show some pride in your House!" Draco yelled as he flung an arm out to indicate the Slytherin banner. "Salazar valued ambition, cunning, and family! You think he would be pleased to meet my father? He would have spat on him! There is nothing Slytherin about begging for the honor of killing your own child! That's despicable! My father is a fool!"

"It is you who are the fool!" Millicent screamed fanatically. "The Dark Lord is the greatest power that has ever lived! He will cleanse the world of the disgusting muggles and mudbloods! He will bring back purity to wizardkind! He will…"

"He will bring destruction!" Draco roared. "He will bring nothing but shame to our race! When he is finally turned to ash his name will be remembered only as a blight upon our history!"

"He shall never be defeated! He is immortal and shall rule us in glory forever!" Millicent shrieked madly.

"The Gods shall laugh at his twisted soul and shred it to oblivion!" Draco bellowed. "And the same fate shall be shared by all his pathetic dogs! All of you…"

Draco's rant stopped abruptly as three red spells impacted him from different directions and very short range. Vincent Crabbe caught Draco as he slumped at the same time that two more red spells impacted Millicent. Nobody bothered to catch her, though, and she fell ungracefully against the table, scattering dishes, utensils, and food.

Pansy stood and sent her gaze grimly around the Great Hall. Most were still shocked, some were appalled, only a few were starting to look scared. Her gaze swept to the Gryffindor table and she noted that while Harry was still somewhat shocked he was also starting to smile. She locked eyes with Hermione Granger and tried to get across her message. The other girl nodded ever so slightly.

"Bring him," Pansy said softly to Vincent and left the Great Hall at a sedate pace. Vincent, with Draco, and Gregory followed her. They would let the teachers deal with the consequences of that fight.

Pansy was on the fourth chapter of her new novel when Draco finally stirred from the stunners he'd been hit with. She marked her place, set the book aside, and waited.

Draco blinked his eyes open and stared in confusion at his canopy. Wasn't he just at lunch a moment ago? His eyes widened as his memory came rushing back. He groaned miserably and covered his eyes with one arm. "Please tell me I didn't actually go off on Bulstrode in the middle of lunch," he said to the girl he knew must be there.

"Well, I might classify it as revealing surprising information in a public forum," Pansy said casually.

Draco whimpered.

"It's not as bad as you think," Pansy said with some amusement.

"Merlin," Draco whined. "How can this possibly be not as bad as I think? The things I said…"

"Harry was impressed," Pansy said. That should get his attention.

Draco lowered his arm and looked over to Pansy hopefully. "He was?"

Pansy smirked at the pathetically hopeful expression on her friend's face. "Well, I heard from Hermione Granger that he was grinning like an idiot the entire rest of lunch. I admit I took that as an indication of a positive response."

Draco smiled. "You're right, it's not all bad."

"Of course, Millicent wants your spleen on her dinner plate," Pansy said blithely.

Draco shook his head. "Of course she does," he murmured. He'd have to watch himself around her from now on. Bulstrode, Death Eater hopeful that she was, was no slouch in the dueling department. "You'll help me watch her?" Draco asked.

"Of course," Pansy said and waved a hand dismissively. "You know you don't have to ask. Vin and Greg, too."

"Thank you," Draco said with a sigh. "I should apologize."

"No, actually, I don't think you should," Pansy said with her own sigh. "The two of you scared a lot of students today, but I think your words have really gotten a lot of them thinking. Finally. Should you apologize, the impact you had today will diminish greatly."

Draco cupped his hands behind his head and stared at his canopy. "I'm sure you're right," he said eventually. "But at least let me apologize to you for the hassle of dragging my unconscious body through the dungeon corridors."

"Vin did it," Pansy said dismissively.

Draco smiled as he recognized that he was forgiven.

"I talked with Granger and we decided to drop the afternoon meeting," Pansy said into the silence and braced herself for Draco's response.

"What?" Draco cried in alarm as he quickly sat up and stared at his friend in disbelief.

"You're too agitated," Pansy said firmly. "Today's outburst is ample evidence of that."

"That's the point!" Draco exclaimed in alarm.

"Draco…"

"No!" Draco denied loudly. "The whole point of setting up thrice daily meetings was to get me into as desperate a state as Harry! We need the bond to be as powerful as possible! We can't…"

"And what kind of bond will you have if someone figures out why you're so agitated and kills you!" Pansy yelled over Draco's protests.

Draco drew in a shocked breath.

"You're a mess, Draco," Pansy said softly. "It's only been a couple months, nearly. I'm not denigrating your force of will – Merlin knows you weren't prepared for this like Harry was – but you're not going to make it."

"Pansy, I…," Draco stopped short, unable to really argue her point.

"You won't make it to December," Pansy said gently. "Not like this. Harry's already having a hard enough time staying away from you. If you start obviously straining towards him someone will figure it out and then you'll both be in danger."

Draco closed his eyes and slumped in resignation. "I know," he said quietly.

"So Granger and I decided to drop the afternoon meeting," Pansy said briskly. "It was the hardest one to hide, anyway. She also suggested that you take up some kind of physical fitness regimen. Physical effort should help you keep your mind relatively clear but shouldn't affect the disruption in your magic."

"I take it that means more than just quidditch," Draco said, not looking forward to such a thing.

"Yes," Pansy agreed. "Vin and Greg said they'd be happy to do it with you, too. On the bright side, should Harry choose to make you chase him…"

Draco snorted. "Which he will, I'm sure," he said as he put his head in his hands.

"Then you'll be better prepared to catch him," Pansy finished. "Granger says that he can run all the way around the lake without stopping."

Draco dropped his hands and looked up in surprise and not a small bit of alarm. "He can? I'll never catch him!"

"You have two months to get in shape," Pansy said grimly with a sharp nod.

Draco nodded back just as grimly.

--November--

Minerva ran through the halls as fast as her cat form would allow. She'd quickly outstripped the already breathless fifth-year that had come to summon her and was nearly to the tower. All the child had had to do was gasp out "Potter" and she knew what was happening.

It was the 15th today, exactly two weeks past when all the teachers had expected Harry to enter the fourth stage of Désespoir. His unusual stability was attributed to the nightly snuggling he did with his friends. Every evening for two hours before curfew Harry and friends would commandeer one of the common room couches and Harry would lay his head in the lap of either Neville Longbottom or Lavender Brown-Cadbury and rest. Often the one that wasn't at Harry's head would sit at the other end of the couch and hold Harry's feet. Upon occasion that spot was taken by Hermione Granger or, rarely, Ginny Weasley.

But today, now, at five o'clock in the morning, Harry had finally entered stage four and was screaming and crying up in the seventh-year boys' dorm.

She made it to the guardian portrait and shifted back to human form. "Putrid Purple Pockmarks," she snapped out and strode into the Gryffindor common room then stopped short. Nearly the entire House was awake and in the common room. Also… "Why is Mr. Creevey tied up and stuck to the wall?" she demanded.

"He was headed to get his camera," said one of the fifth year girls. "We didn't want any more trouble today and thought we should keep him from getting murdered."

"I assure you that no one…," Minerva started.

"Granger said she'd do it herself if she saw a single hair of his near Potter before he was ready to come down from the dorms," said one of the third-years. All of the students looked like they believed it.

Minerva pursed her lips but said nothing. Given Miss Granger's attitude the past six months, she wasn't sure she didn't also believe it. She ignored the situation for now and quickly headed up the stairs and to the now silent seventh-year boys' dorm. She wasn't surprised when she tried the door and found it locked. She was surprised when nothing she did allowed her entrance. She pounded on the door. "Let me in this instant!" she called loudly.

The door was open less than two seconds as Minerva was grabbed, pulled in, and the door slammed shut behind her. She was about to object to the rude handling when her eyes were caught on the tableau before her.

A very naked Harry Potter was arched and convulsing with an equally naked Neville Longbottom and Lavender Brown desperately working to keep him from hurting himself. But it wasn't the nudity that had caught her attention. It wasn't even Harry's loud, pained cries. Harry's magic was visibly coruscating across his body and throwing off occasional sparks. The magic rippled and spun, swirled and eddied, almost as if it was trying to escape. It was a sight at once both awe-inspiring and horrible.

"Merlin, we need to get him to the infirmary," Minerva said and stepped forward to do just that. She didn't expect to be met with a wand in her face.

"You will do no such thing," Hermione said dangerously. "He will remain here, in our care, until he is ready to face the world. That might be later today or that might be a week from now. It doesn't matter which. You have now seen him and can confirm the situation with others. Please leave. Should he notice you, your presence will only disturb him."

"Fifty points from Gryffindor for drawing your wand on a teacher," Minerva said angrily.

The wand didn't move and Hermione's face remained a cold, hard mask. "Leave."

"Put your wand away this instant," Minerva hissed, infuriated both by the disobedience and the disrespect. This was exactly why she had refused to ratify Hermione Granger as Head Girl; Minerva had predicted this behavior, predicted that the girl would choose her friend above all else.

Hermione stepped back two steps while simultaneously pulling an object out of her robes with her left hand. She didn't drop her wand. "Do you know what this is?" she asked as she held out a silver sphere.

Minerva glanced at the sphere briefly and blinked in surprise. Nevertheless, she addressed the subject at hand. "Mr. Potter needs to be taken to the infirmary immediately. You will stop this foolishness!"

"You are the only fool here," Hermione said coldly. "Harry will not be going anywhere near that woman. There is nothing she can do for him but make him worse."

"He could die without appropriate assistance!" Minerva said, practically shaking in anger.

"Which he won't get from her," Hermione spat in disgust. "We are the only appropriate assistance he needs. And he won't die." At least that prophecy was good for something, she thought.

"Yes, he could!" Minerva insisted. "Madam Pomfrey…"

"Is incompetent, untrained, or forsworn," Hermione said emotionlessly. "She will be getting nowhere near him."

"How dare you," Minerva gasped. "Madam Pomfrey…"

"Should have easily picked up on the signs of neglect and abuse the very first time Harry was in the infirmary and reported it to the proper authorities," Hermione interrupted again. "She either didn't see it at all or she did see it and kept her silence. I've no interest in which it is. You're more than welcome to investigate for yourself."

Minerva's eyes went wide at the accusation then her eyes narrowed in fury. "You will allow medical assistance or I will have you expelled," she ground out. "Now get out of the way." Minerva started to pull her wand but found herself disarmed before it was even half drawn.

"You never did answer my question," Hermione said dangerously. She waved the silver sphere briefly. "Do you know what this is?"

Recognizing her precarious position, Minerva pursed her lips and asked tightly, "Where did you get that?"

"That is completely immaterial," Hermione said. She certainly wasn't going to admit that she'd had her people make it for her. "Do you know what it is?"

"It's a beacon," Minerva said grudgingly.

"That's right," Hermione said softly. "A beacon. A homing beacon. I activate this little sphere and there will be a dozen Veela guards here within five minutes. If they come here, they will do anything necessary to protect Harry. Anything. Do I make myself clear?"

"I will see you expelled for this," Minerva said just as softly.

Hermione smiled grimly. "Go ahead," she said with some amusement. "I don't need this school. I could have passed my N.E.W.T.s three years ago and you know it. I don't think you will, though, because if I leave, so will Harry. Your precious Headmaster won't want that. No, I think I'm safe enough from your threat."

Minerva shook silently in rage and fear. This young woman before her was no longer a child, but a fierce warrior willing to protect, at any and all costs, what was important to her. And she was right. Albus would never expel her if it meant losing Harry. "Give me my wand," she whispered.

Hermione tossed McGonagall's wand to her and watched as the woman left the dorm.

"Merlin, Hermione, you're scary," Ginny whispered.

Hermione turned her head and raised an eyebrow at the redheaded girl staring at her in awe and trepidation. "You've not seen anything yet," she said. What they'd learned in the DA in fifth year was nothing compared to the training she'd received this summer. With proper instruction, she'd found herself taking to dueling like a duck to water. It also probably had something to do with accepting her place as an Unspeakable. She wasn't a master like Professor Flitwick, by any means, but she'd become quite accomplished in just two months and could back up her threats of violence if necessary.

Ginny merely nodded dumbly.

"Did you silence the bed?" Hermione asked curiously, finally noticing that Harry's cries hadn't interrupted her confrontation with McGonagall.

"It didn't look like you really wanted to be interrupted," Ginny said wryly.

Hermione quirked a smile and turned her attention back to the occupants of the bed. Harry's condition didn't appear any better than it had ten minutes ago. She dispelled the silencing charm, despite not wanting to hear Harry's cries. They needed to be able to encourage him and hear if he actually spoke.

It was a long, hard hour before Harry stopped convulsing every other minute. It was another hour before his magic retreated back inside his body. It was six more hours before he was able to speak even a little bit coherently. It was another six hours before Harry was stabilized to their satisfaction. It was only fifteen minutes after that that they were all asleep.

It was two days later that the party emerged from the dorms, only Harry looking the worse for wear. McGonagall's glare was still furious, but many of the remaining teachers only looked concerned or thoughtful. The entire student body gasped and gossiped over Harry's ragged appearance. It was only Ron Weasley, though, that spent any time in the infirmary due to damage from a Veela's fireball as a result of voicing nasty comments.

Speculation ran rampant throughout the school, and then the media, about whether or not Harry would find a mate in time. The nastier papers claimed that Harry had already chosen a mate but was delaying the mating for some selfish purpose. It really was quite ironic that nobody believed those papers; they were actually right.

Everybody carefully watched, in fear or fascination, as Harry Potter started truly falling apart.

--December--

The Saturday morning that marked the start of the winter holidays was marked by an unexpected event. Nichol, the great huge eagle that had been absent all term, arrived at breakfast with a loud screech of triumph.

Everyone watched in curiosity as Harry rose and lifted his gloved fist into the air, inviting the bird to land. Nichol took the offered perch, spread her wings wide, raised her head, and let out another loud triumphant screech. Everyone watched as Harry removed something from the eagle's left leg then launched the bird back into the air. Everyone watched as Harry gave his first smile in five weeks then laughed in delight.

Whispers started immediately. Was this it? Was this the suitor that had won? Would Harry Potter finally mate? Who had been chosen?

Harry turned to his friends. "Are you ready?" he asked with quiet eagerness. He was well past ready to mate.

Lavender smiled softly. "Of course we're ready, Harry," she said. "All packed and ready to go. In fact, our trunks have already been picked up by one of Neville's house-elves and should be waiting for us at the gates. Would you like to leave now?"

Harry nodded eagerly so Hermione, Neville, and Lavender stood to join him.

"Good luck, Harry," Ginny said sincerely. She was aware that while she was privy to some things about Harry's courtship, there were other things that were being kept confidential. She understood the necessity and didn't begrudge the others those secrets. Of course, it helped that she knew that Lavender was only in the know by accident.

"Going to go spend a week shagging, Potter?" Ron called loudly, most of the still whispering hall easily hearing him. The Hall was even more quiet as Ron spoke again, his jealousy showing in his words. "Finally decided who you're going to spend hours of ecstasy with?"

Everyone was expecting another sight of fireballs and was therefore surprised when Harry simply gaped at Ron then started laughing hysterically.

"What's so funny?" Ron demanded angrily.

"Hours of ecstasy?" Harry finally managed to question in amused disbelief. "You obviously still haven't bothered to read anything about Veela. We're a mix of human and hawk, you know. Do you know how long hawks go at it? Five seconds would be a marathon. And that's if they do it on the ground or on a perch. If they did it in the air, and some do, sex takes, like, a quarter second. Sex at a Veela's initial mating is the same. It's in, out, and over. Hours of ecstasy, indeed!"

Harry walked away, laughing at Ron's foolishness. His friends followed him, snickering and smirking at the bright-red faces all around the Great Hall. Thankfully, Nichol had come near the end of breakfast so Harry and his friends had already finished eating and had simply been chatting amiably as they waited for the delivery of the portkey.

"And just where do you think you are going?" demanded McGonagall as she caught up with them outside the doors. "The carriages will not be leaving for another hour."

"Tell your master that we are all adults and are exercising our right to leave school grounds for sufficiently important personal reasons, as per code 143 in Hogwarts: A History," Hermione said without even bothering to look back.

"And what are those reasons?" McGonagall asked furiously, completely missing the insult against Albus.

"We have been requested by Harry to accompany him on his mating day," Hermione responded. They'd talked about this already and had decided that there was no harm in it getting out that Harry was going to mate today. Everyone would figure it out soon enough when Harry returned in January a totally different, normal, person.

"It's quite the honor," Neville added as he gripped Harry's arm tightly to keep him from running towards the gates. "Only the closest friends and family are invited. Think of it as us leaving to attend Harry's wedding, if it makes you feel any better."

"And a wedding is a sufficient reason," Hermione said. "Would you like me to list some recent precedents?"

"No, Miss Granger, I would not," McGonagall hissed angrily. "What I would like is proper documentation before you set foot off these grounds!"

"You won't get it from us," Hermione said implacably. "And we are not required to give it to you at any rate. You're welcome to ask Harry for confirmation once we return, as he issued only verbal invitations."

Harry was only vaguely aware of the argument going on between his friends and McGonagall. Nearly his entire focus was on getting out of here and taking the portkey to the site of his mating. He wondered where it was that Draco had chosen. It didn't really matter. They were going to mate. Today was the day. His magics clamored. Soon. Soon. Soon.

It took only a few minutes to reach the gates and the contingent waiting there.

"What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall asked tersely upon seeing the dozen Veela guards waiting just outside the gates.

"This is to check my charge and his friends for tracking spells," the cloaked chaperone told McGonagall. "There will be no interference today."

"You dare insinuate…" McGonagall started indignantly.

But Harry didn't hear her or the rest of her protest nor any subsequent arguments. He stepped into the safety of his grandfather's arms and ignored the world, knowing that those with him would get him to where he needed to be. He didn't notice as he and all his friends tested positive for several tracking spells. He didn't notice as the spells were removed, some of them being transferred to McGonagall in annoyance. He didn't notice anything until someone tried to take the portkey from him.

Harry pulled away from his grandfather, shifted to bird form as he took a crouching position, and hissed for all his might.

"Stop that, Harry," Hermione said primly. "It's time to go. Unless, of course, you want to mate here in Hogsmeade?"

That got his attention. He shook his head frantically and held out the portkey. It was a tight fit, especially with four of them holding on to trunks, but the seven of them going were able to touch the large ring that Draco had provided. His grandfather activated the portkey and moments later he found himself beak-first in leaves and snow. He shifted back to human form as he regained his feet and looked around.

"Eastern France, looks like," Neville said as he, too, looked around the snow-covered clearing, studying the plant life. "Maybe the Alps."

"There're wards thirty feet over there," Hermione said as she gestured in what appeared a random direction. "Powerful ones, too. We won't be able to see behind them until we're keyed in."

Harry felt a bit of smugness at that news; his chosen mate was obviously an excellent protector. He watched the two guards as they sent out spells to do perimeter sweeps and came up with nothing nearby. This news, too, pleased him.

"Come, Harry," Robert said. "Let's take a walk. It's a beautiful day, even if a bit chilly."

So they walked. And talked. And in the mid-afternoon Harry took a short nap on a conjured bed with spell-warmed blankets. Neville talked finance with Robert on occasion but spent most of his time studying the local plants. Hermione shared esoteric spells with the guards or read. Lavender talked with Robert about the preparations needed for Harry's presentation ball some vague time in the future and took a nap alongside Harry.

It was a long wait, but it had been deemed the wiser course of action for Draco to take the Hogwarts Express like usual and join them later with his attendants instead of also taking a portkey. They had toyed with the idea of having Harry ride the Express but dismissed it as much too confining an environment for keeping Harry calm in the last few hours before the mating.

At a quarter past four o'clock, Draco arrived with Pansy, Vincent, Gregory, his great-grandparents, and several pieces of luggage. Draco's eyes alighted on Harry and he shifted to his Veela form in readiness to pounce…only to find himself face-first in the snow as Vin and Greg tackled him. In the next second his great-grandmother had whapped him on the head and told him to behave. But this was the day! Why were they insisting he act like a gentleman for another hour! What difference would it make?

Draco was hauled to his feet – facing away from his mate-to-be – and told to shift back. He eventually did but he was one very unhappy man and scowled at everyone as he tried to crane his neck to see Harry.

"Have you forgotten you need to key us into the wards, young man?" Chloe asked sharply. "There will be no mating on this side of the wards, so you had best pull yourself together!"

That threat was a splash of cold water in his face and Draco gave a concerted effort to calming himself. It wasn't easy. The taunting he'd been subjected to since the week before school had done exactly as intended; his magic was raging with the urge to mate. Eventually, though, he did manage it and was allowed to turn around and see Harry.

Who was looking at Draco with defiance in his eyes.

Draco growled. Oh, no, there wasn't going to be any of that today. Harry was going to be his even if… He was shaken out of his overly possessive thoughts by Vincent. Draco took another deep breath and began the process of keying in his twelve guests to the wards around his own personal manor. Thirty minutes later he led them along the pathway to the front of his, and soon to be Harry's, home. The trunks had been left behind for Draco's house-elf to retrieve.

"Oh, my, Draco. This is beautiful," Pansy said in awe.

"Welcome to my home," Draco said as he bowed slightly to everyone.

"Impressive, Malfoy," Hermione said softly as she, too, gazed at the three-story manor.

"Would you like a tour?" Draco said stiffly, hating to even ask but knowing he wouldn't be able to get away with not. He wanted to mate! Forget the tour! That could be done later. Much later.

"We'd be delighted," Neville said as he and one of the guards reinforced their hold on Harry's arm, preventing him from pulling away and going to Draco.

So Draco gave his guests a tour. He showed them the grounds first, pointing out various spots were he planned to place gardens or outbuildings. None of those things were there right now, he told them, because the manor was new and he hadn't yet arranged for them to be built. He then took his guests inside and led them through the nearly empty rooms. The only furniture in the entire place was a simple bed and matching wardrobe in one of the ground floor rooms.

"I've left it unfurnished because I want you to be involved in its decoration," Draco said directly to Harry. "I want you to be comfortable here in your new home. I have a lot of catalogs in the wardrobe that I thought we could look through over the holidays."

The fire in Harry's eyes went up a notch as he grinned in delight and nodded. He was beyond speech at the moment, putting all his efforts into restraining himself just a little bit longer.

Eventually the tour was done. It seemed like an eternity to both Harry and Draco but it had actually taken only an hour. Undoubtedly the tour would have taken at least twice as long had Draco been truly inclined to show off and not just to get it done and over with. Draco led everyone back outside to their starting point.

Draco and Harry stared at each other as Robert and Gaius cast monitoring and tracking spells. At the whispered urgings of their respective guards Harry and Draco let loose their magic and let it whip wildly, desperately, against each other.

Robert stepped in front of Harry at the same time Gaius blocked Draco's view. Both young men screeched in fury and denial. "Harry! Look at me. Do you remember what to do?" Robert asked urgently.

With his last bit of coherent thought, Harry nodded.

"Then go. Run!" Robert said intensely.

And Harry shifted to Veela form and sprinted away.

Draco screeched his anger and gave chase, also in Veela form, not two seconds later as his guards released him.

"Well," Lavender said as the two males disappeared into the trees. "Shall we go inside?"

--The Chase--

Harry ran. There was joy in the running, even though he knew he was being chased. The brisk evening and the beauty of the snowy landscape were a pleasure to see as he raced through trees and over small obstacles. He could hear the dominant behind him screeching in frustration. He knew this was his chosen, but refused to stop and submit. He would have to be hunted down. His chosen was going to have to prove himself one last time.

And Draco chased. It was quite the chase, too. His mate was fast and nimble. In other circumstances, this would please him. But not now! Now it was time to mate! And his mate was running! There were several times when he almost caught his wily mate, but his mate was using the trees to great advantage, darting in and out and escaping at the last moment. But he had one thing his mate didn't: familiarity with the area. And his mate had just made a wrong turn and was heading towards ground that would quickly become impassable. He changed his direction to intercept where his mate would be herded by the landscape. It would only be a couple minutes now! Soon he would have his mate!

Harry followed the line of the gorge, not realizing that it was slowly changing direction and forcing him along the path of an arc. As a result, he was quite surprised when his chosen mate, previously behind him, suddenly appeared right in front of him. Unable to change direction fast enough due to his speed, he ran right into the dominant. Less than a second later he found himself face-down on the ground. He screeched his fury and struggled.

He'd caught him! All had gone to plan and Draco now had his hands full with a furious mate. All he had to do now was hold on long enough for his mate to realize that he wasn't getting away. Then they could mate and go back to the nest to rest for the night.

Harry struggled and screeched but soon came to realize that his chosen had gotten a good grip and had him well and truly subdued. He wasn't going anywhere unless his chosen released him. Once he realized that, Harry abruptly went from fighting to still.

Draco screeched his triumph and the magics flared, becoming a visible mass of swirling energy. He moved his left hand to his mate's shoulders to continue holding him down and used the claws of his right hand to rip apart the coverings on both their bodies.

Once Harry felt the cool air on his bare skin he tilted his hips. It was a move that would have lifted tail-feathers out of the way had he had any.

Draco screeched again and joined their bodies. The magics swirled into a brilliantly-colored and awe-inspiring tornado of power that was perhaps best that it was being seen by no one.

Draco screeched again as he felt his seed leave his body. The magics snapped down and through them both. Pushing, pulling, swirling, digging, flaring, flying, cutting, diving. The bond-magics permeated every cell of their bodies, every corner of their minds, and every tendril of their magics. It merged them for an eternity, a millisecond, then abruptly settled into a contented background hum.

Draco crooned. It was done! They were mated! He lay against his mate placidly, waiting. He didn't move until his mate twittered in discontent. He unjoined them and moved away then rose and offered his hands.

Harry smacked the hands aside with an agitated chattering. He rose and stripped the remainder of the coverings from his body in irritation then started off in what he thought was the direction of the nest. His mate stood in his way and pointed a different direction. He chattered again but changed his direction obediently. It took about half an hour of tromping through snow and the occasional examining of interesting things to get back to the nest.

Draco trailed after his mate uncomplainingly. He knew his mate wouldn't want anything to do with him until the morning. That was all right. He would watch over his mate until then and ensure his mate's safety.

Harry went into the nest and saw his and his mate's family in one of the rooms off the entryway. None of them made a move towards him but he hissed at them in warning anyway. He then traipsed through the nest to find the best spot. Eventually, he chose a room on the second floor and curled up in the middle of the floor to sleep.

--Conception--

Draco had followed his mate diligently, never more than five feet away. His mate eventually found an acceptable spot and curled up and fell asleep. He sat down a few feet away and settled in to watch, knowing that this was the time of conception.

Two hours after Harry fell asleep he let out a long cooing sound then chattered and sat up abruptly and looked around in alarm. When he saw his mate watching attentively he calmed and curled back up and went to sleep again. An hour later, the scene was repeated.

Draco couldn't contain a smug clicking sound. Already Harry had conceived two children. As the night wore on, Harry conceived again and again, and Draco became more and more pleased with himself. When dawn came Harry conceived for the final time. And Draco was fit to burst with pride. His mate had conceived the total possible of twelve children! Those children may or may not be born, but just the fact that they had been conceived was quite a feat. Very few x-males conceived all twelve children. It showed that the mating had been an exceptionally powerful one.

Harry finally woke two hours after dawn. He sat up, obviously uncomfortable, and saw Draco. He hissed, cranky from the aches throughout his body.

Draco gave an admonishing caw and Harry looked away in apology. Harry then chattered his discomfort and Draco cooed at him in forgiveness.

Draco opened his arms and beckoned his mate over to him. When his mate settled in next to him he started cooing comfortingly and doing his best to rub out the kinks in his mate's back and shoulders.

Harry simply melted under the tentative ministrations and started cooing his relief. Eventually, he felt better and shifted back into his human form. Draco did likewise and continued to rub Harry. Harry simply lay there and let the other take care of him.

"Would you like a bath?" Draco asked softly. "It will help with the soreness."

"What I want is a healing potion," Harry mumbled, not inclined to move away from Draco's hands.

"There are some in the bathroom," Draco said encouragingly.

Harry groaned. "Fine," he said and laboriously gained his feet. He watched as Draco rose then took his time looking over his mate's body.

"Well?" Draco asked in amusement.

Harry looked up then smirked. "You're more slender than I am," he said, sending his gaze to a particularly suggestive spot.

Draco snorted his surprised amusement then stepped forward and took Harry's hand. "Come on. Let's go bathe."

"Wait," Harry said and tugged on Draco's hand to make him stop and turn. "How many?"

Draco grinned widely. "All twelve."

Harry whooped and tried to drag Draco to the room's exit. "Let's tell everyone and celebrate!"

"Not without a bath!" Draco protested as he clung to Harry's hand and refused to move. "And certainly not without clothes!"

Harry looked surprised a moment then started laughing. "All right," he said then started dragging Draco to the bathroom.

Draco laughed as well at his exuberant mate and followed willingly.

--Holidays--

In the end, the announcement about the number of conceptions had proved unnecessary as everybody already knew; they'd both forgotten about the monitoring spells that had been cast on them. Still, prior knowledge did nothing to lessen the celebratory atmosphere. Then Hermione had tested Harry for the presence of bonds and their strength and found that Harry's link to Voldemort was, as hoped, gone. The celebration had reached a whole new level at that news, with more than just Harry weeping in relief and joy.

That night had also been full of celebration. Harry, or, rather, his friends, had come prepared and Harry set up the Rite of Acceptance. Rather than ask his new mate's parents (or great-grandparent in this case) into the circle to Accept his new family, as was tradition, Harry asked Pansy to join him to be Accepted as his adopted daughter. Pansy had accepted tearfully and more jubilation had ensued. It was at that point that Pansy truly knew that Harry wasn't going to try and force her out and away from Draco. Harry had then gifted his new daughter with her own trust fund and the knowledge that a respectable dowry had been set aside. More gifts had followed from Potter's friends and grandfather.

Draco had only nodded at the identity of the chaperone, having already figured out that the man was likely a relative. He knew they were still hiding something from him, however, as the man was wearing a glamour and introduced only as Robert. Draco had pointed out that, given the letter regarding social obligations he had received back in June, he was quite aware that Harry, and therefore Robert, was a member of the social elite of the Veela and why bother to continue to hide the man's identity? As he'd been promised full disclosure after school ended, he had shrugged and dropped the subject. Newly mated, he was feeling relaxed and generous.

The Acceptance of the "in-laws" had happened the next morning, with accompanying presents and jubilation, and the remaining days until Christmas spent in lazy indulgence and conversation. And countless decorating experiments. Draco was more glad than ever that he had decided not to furnish the house; Harry and Pansy were bonding quite nicely over furniture catalogs. Occasionally Chloe and Robert would join them and the four would wander off to one of the empty rooms and start spelling illusions about so as to see what various combinations would look like. The rest of the house's current inhabitants left them to it, only wandering by occasionally and offering opinions.

Then Christmas had come.

Breakfast had gone well. It wasn't until after more food than necessary had been eaten that things had taken a slight downward turn. Harry had fetched a box from his trunk and brought it back to the table. Luna Lovegood had given it to him the day before the mating, telling him that he should open his present right after Christmas breakfast. The girl still creeped him out and he was afraid to disobey her. So the box had been opened and the contents examined. Joy, fear, anger, relief, determination. All these emotions and more had been engendered by what had been found.

Luna had sent very detailed instructions on how to perform a blood-brother/sister ritual as well as all the necessary props and ingredients. The suggestion that he take his three friends as siblings was met with delight and excitement. It was the second suggestion that had cast a pall over the morning. Luna stated, in uncharacteristically direct and plain terms, that once the rituals were completed that Harry should tie his siblings to him with a blood-tether. Given what Dumbledore had tried to do to Harry, everyone was certain they understood why the suggestion was being made.

Despite their anger over what they presumed were Dumbledore's plans, all three rituals were done and duly celebrated. The tethers were cast as well then everyone had set aside their anger and pounced on the presents. Laughter and light-hearted teasing and conversation filled the remainder of the day, but a wariness was now instilled in the back of everyone's minds.

The day after Christmas had seen the departure of all the guests barring Pansy and Neville. Those two were going to use the time before New Year's to continue their courtship in person while they had the chance then leave to spend the remaining holidays with Neville's family. Draco and Harry gave teasing "fatherly" warnings then promptly took off for their own privacy.

Secrets were shared over the choosing of the master suite decorations. A large dark blue oriental rug was chosen and Draco admitted that he'd had several songbirds spy on Harry both in and out of Hogwarts. Harry laughed and said he'd already figured that out. The canopy bed and matching dressers were picked and Harry confided the truth about the baby bracelet. Once Draco had gotten over the shock of the disaster he might have caused, he became smug over the fact that Harry had mostly decided upon him anyway.Bedding was decided upon and Draco quietly talked about his childhood, his father, and his need to be a clone of the man due to the fear of what his father could do to him and the catastrophic results that might have on Pansy. Mirrors and paintings were selected and Harry took his turn relating his abysmal childhood and Dumbledore's actions.

They talked and talked about anything and everything. They also spent a goodly number of pleasant hours on exploring each other physically and pursuing that aspect of their new relationship. It was an enjoyable week and a half before they returned to Hogwarts.