Harry's book bag floated idly behind him as he stepped off the moving staircase and knocked on his Grandpa's door. He had been extremely relieved earlier when his request to visit him had borne an affirmative and no hint of rebuke for the fact that he had sent it during his history class.
The preteen ran a hand through his hair as he entered the room at the headmaster's call, feeling his worries decrease substantially at the twinkling eyes that met his and the headmaster's "Lemon drop Harry?". He chuckled as he sat besides the man on his chair, popping the sweet into his mouth and sucking eagerly on it while the old wizard enlarged the chair to accommodate them more comfortably. He leaned into the arm that was wrapped around his shoulders and continued to suck idly while the headmaster used his free hand to finish add his signature to the parchments that shuffled towards him on the desk.
Workload for the morning officially completed, Albus guided the papers into their respective folders before summoning an elf to deliver them to his deputy's office. Desk considerably clearer, the man turned his full attention to the preteen who was casually twirling the end of his beard around his fingers.
"What did you want to talk about Harry?" he asked, starting their conversation.
Harry released the bit of hair with a sigh. "Draco and I are fighting."
"Oh?" was the man's response as a puzzled frown creased his brow. Of course he knew of what had happened thanks to Severus' note but he had thought by now the pair would have sorted out the matter. They usually did relatively quickly and without seeking outside assistance. "Is Draco still mad that you did not inform him of what was occurring?"
"How did you know?" Harry inquired before shaking his head. "Never mind, you know everything."
"I wish I did," Albus chuckled. "But in this case I was told."
The wizard was a bit surprised when besides him the child tensed slightly before giving him a wary look.
"You are mad at me too?" he asked in a small voice.
The boy's tone worried the headmaster considerably. It was as if the child was expecting him to release a torrent of scolding upon him, something he had no intention of doing. Albus truly considered himself Harry's grandfather in every way that counted and in his opinion a grandfather's job was to spoil and not discipline. He was not the scolder, he was supposed to be waiting on the sidelines to soothe away the sting of rebuke with cuddles and sweet treats.
The fact that the boy feared more retribution concerned him and Albus wondered just how much the boy had already been scolded on the matter. He knew that Severus had written to the Malfoys, and he certainly hoped they had not overdone it. To do so would be to gang up on a child, whose actions, while not being totally acceptable, were truly not wrong. If that was the case and they had taken the situation too far he would have to rectify it, but before he started to make plans, he needed to know to what extent the situation had already been addressed.
Tipping the boy's head gently, he questioned him. "I know your parents were informed of what occurred. They didn't scold you too badly did they?"
He felt relieved as Harry shook his head negatively.
"No Grandpa," Harry reassured, while wondering why his question had been met by another question. "Papa said that he understood that I wanted to become more self-reliant, but I had to learn to know my limits. Mama sent me some sweets and said to be more careful and to tell someone next time. But Grandpa, you didn't answer me. You're not mad right?"
"No my boy," Albus whispered, "I am not in the least upset with you, although I do share Lucius' sentiments. You'll be a teenager soon Harry," he continued in a whimsical tone, reflecting on the fact. "You'll soon have to start making decisions on your own and you must take care that you make the right ones. I hope you see this as a lesson about choices."
"Oh I do," Harry agreed nodding furiously. "I just didn't want to be babied again," he admitted.
That simply statement put everything in perspective for Albus. Eyes darkening sadly, he moved Harry who gave a surprised "Eep," as he was shifted unto the man's desk.
Albus cupped the boy's face in his hands. "Needing assistance does not make you an infant," he intoned seriously. "And people wanting to protect and take care of you does not make you weak. It shows that you are loved."
The sudden shift in conversation had Harry squirming slightly as the words hit home. "Grandpa..."
"Don't let the past control you Harry," Albus said tersely, as the memories from that accursed house rose within him. "You are very much loved. It is not a burden for us to take extra measures to keep you safe. You are worth it and you never need fear of adding duties to our lives. We are your family and that is what families do."
Harry's breath hitched as the man's words flowed over him compounded by the warm hands on his face. Had he really been feeling that, he wondered, eyes closing as he searched himself for the answer. Was he afraid of becoming a burden, a nuisance? Yes, a tiny voice responded from deep within his subconscious. Everything always seemed to happen to him and at times he had to wonder which incident would be the one to break the camel's back.
"Grandpa," he repeated thickly. "I never realised...I didn't know..."
"Hush child," was the response. "It is not your fault; none of this is your fault. You run around so happily, it's hard to remember sometimes that you have more to bear than just this." He ghosted his hand over Harry's forehead. "My boy, could I rid you of the scars you bear on the inside, I would."
From across the office, Fawkes trilled, lightening the emotions the pair felt until they could both smile softly at each other.
"That means a lot Grandpa," Harry murmured. "Thank you."
"There is nothing to thank me for. It is my duty to you."
A while later, Harry spoke once more with his mouth half crammed with a biscuit. "Do you want to know why we are fighting?"
"If you wish to share," Albus murmured, dabbing at the corner of Harry's mouth with a napkin.
"Well," Harry began, after gulping down some juice. "I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. Uncle Sevvy had given me a potion but apparently, it had worn off. I decided to check my work but he had already done it and I only had to fix spelling...one word!" he declared proudly.
"Very good!" was the headmaster's happy response.
"Thank you," Harry preened before continuing. "But after I fixed it I had nothing else to do so I ended up thinking and well, I got mad."
"Why?"
"I started to debate whether Draco really had a right to be mad. And then I realised that I should be mad at him!"
"And how did you come up with this belief?" the wizard asked, unable to follow the train of thought.
"He left me Grandpa," Harry frowned, as if the answer had been obvious. "How can he be angry with me when he left? He heard me moving about and came to talk, saying that he was sad that as my dominant I hadn't come to him with something that important."
"And your response?"
"I told him that if he were my dominant he would not have left me when I was upset."
"You sound as if you are leaving out something," Albus prodded.
Harry gave him a sheepish look. "Well, I kind of shouted that bit."
"Ah, I see," Albus nodded.
"Yeah, well, after that he got angry too and..."
"Don't try to turn this back on me Harry James!" Draco snapped, folding his arms. "You've made a mockery out of me! I can't protect you if I don't know what's wrong!"
"Maybe I don't want you to protect me from everything!" Harry grated.
"I am your dominant!"
"A dominant that left me there alone! I was crying Draco and you didn't care!"
"I couldn't stay there Harry James! It was leave or do something drastic!"
"Well, I preferred for you to have attacked them...at least it would have shown that you cared about me!" Harry insisted stubbornly, mimicking the veela's actions by folding his arms.
"I do care!" Draco insisted.
"Then act like it! If you cared, you would have stayed. If you cared, you would have found out the truth. If you cared you would have been here to put me to bed!"
"And if you had cared you would have told me. If you had cared, you would not have lied to me. If you had cared, you would not have put yourself into such a terrible situation when it could have been easily rectified!"
"Don't turn this around on me Draco Lucius!"
"So this is my fault? Pet, I think you're confused."
"I am not confused!" Harry yelled at the top of his lungs
"After that Trix and Dobby appeared," Harry continued, playing with his fingers. "They heard our fighting while they were neatening up. They separated us until breakfast. I'm glad today's Friday as Draco and I only have Potions together. I really did not want to talk to him. Lunch was awkward enough. We had to have it together and I think everyone noticed that we were fighting."
Albus nodded thoughtfully. "Yes well with how close you two are, any discordance would be easily to notice."
"Probably." Harry snorted, not really in the mood to reflect on how they usually acted towards each other. "So, what do you think?" he questioned, reaching for the tray.
Albus looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think that question should be directed at you."
"Huh?" Harry grunted, a biscuit half chewed in his mouth.
"Swallow Harry," the man admonished lightly. "What do you think should be done?"
"I asked you," the boy reminded with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah, but it is not I who am fighting with someone."
The pre-teen gave the headmaster a pointed look, but apparently that particular gaze only worked for the resident potions master for the old wizard only responded with an innocent twinkle that had Harry sighing in resignation. Reaching back, Harry tangled his fingers in his hair, tugging slightly on it while he thought.
"Maybe, we should try talking again," he allowed, "without shouting this time." He gave a hefty sigh before saying reluctantly. "I guess that I may have overreacted because of my emotions."
The headmaster nodded in agreement. "It is one of the disadvantages of communicating while upset. However, I do agree with your reasoning. Nothing will be better than the two of you talking peacefully."
"I guess," Harry replied, reaching once again for the tray.
"That's quite a bit of sugar you're consuming," Albus pointed out, glaring at the portrait who had snorted at the irony of the statement.
"Sugar keeps you calm," was the pert response as Harry chewed.
"And just where did you hear that?" Albus inquired, knowing that in fact sugar did the opposite.
"From Hermione," he said absentmindedly. "Ron always has a bag of some sweet or the other to offer her. It stops her from ranting at him."
"All the time?" the man asked with a tilt of the head, thinking it odd.
"Well, no, just a couple of days every now and then. He gets her mad really easily then."
"Oh I see," the man murmured, playing with his beard and wondering if Narcissa had ever explained the female experience with puberty. Probably not, given Harry's naive answers. Not that he had any plans of doing it. Nope, that was solely for the Malfoys.
Shaking his head, he observed the time. "Lunch is almost over. Whom do you have now?"
"I'm free until Potions. Can I stay please? You wouldn't even know I'm here."
Harry gave the man a bit of a pout as he waited for an answer.
"Alright, you may stay with me. Fetch your books while I transfigure you a desk."
"Thank you," he chimed happily, retrieving his Ancient Runes notes.
"Feel free to ask me a question if necessary," the headmaster offered as he opened a folder.
"I will," he promised, picking up a quill.
They worked in silence, the odd scratch of a quill the only disturbance. Harry had gotten through a good bit of the weekend's reading by the time Albus indicated that it was time for him to leave.
"Take the floo to Severus," the headmaster instructed, as he looked around to ensure that nothing was left behind.
"Yes Grandpa."
"The powder is on the mantle."
"Okay," Harry said as he grabbed some. "Thank you for talking to me Grandpa. And for letting me stay."
"It was my pleasure," Albus replied warmly. "Have a good evening."
"You too!"
Harry thought he would find the potion's office empty, thinking that the potions master would be in the midst of either concluding a class or preparing it for his third years. This however was not the case and Harry found himself staring nervously at black robes as his eyes slowly rose to meet the man's cool gaze. He nipped his lip as he remembered the man's previous words to him. Despite the fact that he had been put to bed with all of the usual tenderness, the professor was not entirely pleased with him. That fact had the preteen fidgeting nervously.
"Good afternoon," he said softly. "Grandpa told me to floo here from his office."
"He would," the potions master said in a musing tone, as he closed the book he held. He continued towards his bookshelves – his destination before the floo had activated. "Are you ready for class?" he asked absently as he selected another text. "It is theory only so you may leave you other materials here."
"I will, thank you," was the polite reply before Harry heeded the offer. He stood nervously afterwards, clutching the quill and parchment sheets to his chest while wondering if he had been dismissed. Severus was not paying him any attention, instead searching through a text for something or the other.
"Um," Harry started awkwardly, "I'll go to class now."
He was almost to the door when the man spoke up in a more alert tone.
"I want you back here afterwards."
"Huh?"
"I have something to say to you, but it requires more than the few minutes left before class commences."
"Um...okay," he agreed, wondering what they would talk about.
"Oh and Harry, I will tell you the same thing I told your mate when he was here earlier."
"And what is that?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice even as he noted that Draco had gone to his godfather much like he had sought out the headmaster.
"It doesn't matter that the two of you are currently at odds. I expect your normal exemplary behaviour throughout class or you will both squirm through dinner. I am not pleased from the reports the elves have given me about your behaviour thus far today. Is that understood?"
"Perfectly," Harry replied quickly, a bit put out by the warning.
The man was acting so conflictingly, he thought as he walked into the empty potions class, sitting in his normal place. One moment the man was all but ignoring him, the next he was issuing directives as if nothing at all was wrong. And what was the point of that warning anyway? Harry would never antagonise Draco during class; least of all in potions where retribution would undoubtedly be swift.
His ponderings were broken as he felt a familiar presence enter the room. He panicked mildly, rustling the materials on his desk in an attempt to appear occupied when the veela sat down besides him.
"Good afternoon," the blonde said neutrally. "I trust your lunch hour passed pleasantly?"
Harry strove to adopt the same nonchalant tone as the veela, but even to his own ears, it sounded strange, the words emerging stilted. "I did and I hope you had the same."
"Uh-hmm," was the mumbled reply as the veela sorted through his belongings, effectively dismissing him.
The actions irked Harry and he found his irritation with the blonde rising once again. Draco had no right to act this way, he thought with a silent snarl. He opened his mouth, ready to recommence the early morning argument when the potions master's inner door opened, revealing the man. Harry's words died in his throat and he grudgingly acknowledged the man had been right in his earlier warning. Taking calming breaths, Harry focussed on a crack in the wall, studying it in detail until he was certain he was once more in control of himself.
He barely managed it when his uncle started the lesson. However, the veela mate found himself unable to concentrate, thoughts drifting first towards his irritation with Draco and then to the upcoming discussions with the professor. Those two things were currently a lot more important than listening about the properties of aconite and the different ways it could be utilised in potions and the effects said ingredient would have.
Sometime during the class he felt the professor's eyes on him and he straightened slightly, only now realising that he had yet to even open a parchment. No wonder the man had noticed. Quickly rectifying the situation, he moved his quill in idle lines across the sheet, continuing to do so for the remainder of the lesson. Lost in his own personal activities, he was not immediately aware of the class ending until he felt the familiar warmth of Draco disappear.
Looking around quickly, he saw that students were already on their way out of the classroom, with the veela stuffing away his belongings. With his bag stored away in the potions office, Harry simply watched him. Feeling the gaze on him, the veela spoke without looking.
"We need to talk."
"I know," he said as he pushed away a strand of hair from his eyes.
"Meet me home after you are done with Uncle Severus," he continued, in a level tone.
The tone of his voice had Harry gritting his teeth. "I will come home when I please," he declared.
The veela's eyes narrowed and his voice grew tight. "I said that you will come home."
"And I say I will come home when I want!"
Whatever response Draco wanted to make was cut off by a loud bang from behind them. Spinning, they found their Uncle watching them with glinting eyes. Near to the door, their collective friends looked on with worry, before leaving at the look the potions master shot them.
"I am not above carrying out my threat whether or not class is over," Severus ground out. That curbed both of their tempers. "Harry, go into my office. Now." The stern tone in the man's voice demanded immediate obedience, and Harry complied, shooting a last glare at his mate before he scurried out of the room.
"As for you," the man continued when the door clicked close, "did we not talk about this?"
"His petulance," Draco began before being cut off.
"Harry's petulance is nothing new to you Draco and you know how to deal with it. Although with the high handed manner you adopted just now, is it little wonder why he refused?"
"Uncle,"
"Hush. I thought you had enough time to calm your emotions but obviously I was wrong. Go home now and relax for a while. When Harry joins you I expect you to work this out civily. If you two are still at odds by tomorrow, I will bundle you to the manor and let Lucius and Narcissa set you to straight. Hogwarts does not deserve to suffer because you are fighting. Just how much longer can you have before the strain on your bond increases so much that you revert to your aggressive self?"
The question was clearly retoric as they both knew that time was lacking. Even now, Draco's temper had grown quite short. The fact that he lost it with Harry was sign enough that their bond was being sorely tested.
"Go on now Draco, and remember, I will send you home if necessary."
"I understand," the teenager nodded, before leaving, the clicking of his shoes against the floor audible.
Severus huffed as the veela left, falling back heavily unto his chair. "I need a drink," he muttered, leaning forward unto his hands. Face carefully hidden, he allowed the mask he had been wearing for the majority of the day crumbled, leaving him sporting a troubled look. It had been extremely difficult to act normally when all he wanted was to go in a corner and reflect on his actions (Merlin forbid he admit to moping about). It had especially been difficult with his last period third years for the object of his preoccupation was seated right there in the second row.
His preoccupation stemmed from his actions with the eleven year old the previous night. His actions had been anything but refined and for that he owed the child an explanation. He had placed his own needs above Harry's, something that never should have happened. He could only hope the child would forgive him.
Harry swung his legs idly as he nibbled on his lower lip, checking the time once again.
Fifteen minutes.
It had been fifteen minutes since he had been ordered in here and the professor had yet to join him. He had heard a muffled conversation between him and Draco but had not been able to discern much. However, he was certain that he had heard the outer classroom door close. Therefore, the potions master was alone. So what was he doing so long to keep him here waiting? Despite his mild apprehension as to what was to come, he felt his boredom level spike. A little longer and he would find himself exploring the office.
He was just about to give into his boredom when he heard footsteps approaching from the outside. Harry schooled his appearance, observing the teacher as he shrugged out of his robe, hanging it on a rack. He sat while rolling up his sleeves. The disciplinarian look had faded from his expression. Indeed, there was a troubled look on his face, something that had Harry furrowing his brows in worry. He truly did not like the expression the man sported.
"Are you okay Uncle Sevvy?" he questioned, concern lacing his voice.
His question startled the man for he jumped slightly, apparently drawing himself away from his thoughts. As the spoken words hit him, he gave the boy an incredulous look before giving a rueful laugh as he wiped his brow with the back of a hand.
"Only you Harry," he murmured, almost to himself as he leaned back against the chair back.
"Only me what?" he questioned softly.
The response was so quiet that Harry literally had to lean forward to hear it. "Only you would be concerned for someone who has so wronged you. Where did you get such a big heart from child?"
"I don't understand Uncle Severus," Harry replied, tilting his head softly.
"You wouldn't," Severus laughed dryly. "Child you don't even know what I have done, do you?"
"No."
Severus smiled sadly, reaching forward to stroke Harry's face. "My reaction to you last night was completely unjustified and unnecessary."
Harry leaned into the touch, grasping the man's wrist when he made to withdraw it. "You were disappointed with me last night. Is that what you mean?"
"Exactly that."
"Why were you?" Harry asked. "What was it that I did to make you disappointed in me?"
"Merlin Harry," Severus breathed, "I was not disappointed in you. Not truly."
"Then why?" he pressed, a half-plea in his tone.
"I admit that I was a bit disappointed that you did not come to me, but mainly it was directed at me."
"For what?" Harry asked, perplexed. "Why would you be angry with yourself Uncle Sevvy? What did you do wrong?"
A reply was not immediately forthcoming as the man instead flashed the child a sad smile. Finally, he freed his hand from the boy's cheek, letting it lie limp on his side. "Harry, do you remember my days here?"
The boy nodded hesitantly. "Coming here was the best and worst thing that ever happened to you," he recited, drawing from memory. "You got to come here with mummy and made friends with mama and papa. But daddy and Uncles along with other students made you miserable."
"Exactly that Harry," Severus affirmed, his voice lowering. "My last few years in Hogwarts were nothing short of torture. I would never have wished that on anybody, not even an enemy."
From the man's tone, Harry realised that he was withdrawing into his memories and he settled back against his chair, recognising that the man needed to talk.
"When Draco was born, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I really do not know who was more anxious to see him, Lucius or myself. He was the perfect baby, a credit to his parents. He was so innocent and pure. When Lucius put him in my arms that first time and I watched those tiny blue eyes, my heart melted and I vowed then that my godson would not live the life that I did. I vowed to protect him.
"And as he grew older, as he took his first steps...the first time he called me Papa, my desire increased. I would have willingly died that night when Voldemort ordered Lucius to kill them. Hell, I would have killed Lucius myself had I even suspected that he would heed that order. That is how much I wanted to keep my promise.
"And when my little dragon was seven, you came to us, a tiny thing, so shy and hesitant that my promise immediately stretched to envelope you...moreso than with Draco given what you had gone through. I swore to myself that you would never know fear again, not from anyone as long as there was a breath left in my body.
"And then, to get that summons from Minerva, to hear what those miserable creatures had to say made me see that I had failed you. Failed to keep my promise. You were under my sight every day and yet were being bullied. I was disappointed. Not in you, but in me. How could I not have seen what was under my very eyes, what did I do wrong? Did I not make myself as available to you as I could have? Did I somehow give the impression that you could not come to me with any problem, no matter how small? Was our bond not as strong as I believed it to be?
"All those thoughts ran through my mind, and by the time you joined us, I had let those emotions override everything else and I withdrew myself from you."
By now, the man's words were coming out in a torrent, his tone laced such emotional depth that Harry's heart ached in sorrow for what the man had been going through. He could understand the man's reaction now, and he found that he could not fault him for it. Instead, he moved to comfort the man in the only way he knew how.
And so caught up in his speech, Severus never noticed when Harry slipped out of his chair and forced his way unto the man's lap, wrapping his slender arms around the man's neck as he continued to talk, offering him support as he went through the last of his emotions.
"You were standing there, crying and terrified. Draco had left you and it was obvious you were shaken. And what did I do? Nothing. I left you standing there for more than a minute before Minerva prodded me into action. And I did not comfort you as I should. I cast a charm of all things, something I would do for a stranger in distress. It did not matter what I did afterwards. I failed you, breaking my promise by allowing my emotions to take over."
Severus paused to take a breath and it was only then that he felt the slight pressure on his throat. A chill coursed down his spine as he realised that while he was exposing his guilt, Harry was offering him comfort, holding him securely and tightly, his head resting near Severus' shoulder. A tickling feeling assaulted his throat as his arms rose up to encircle the child.
"Harry," he breathed as soulful emerald eyes met his.
"I love you Uncle Sevvy," Harry said simply. "And I'm not mad at you. Please don't be sad anymore. I don't like it."
Those simple words, said in such an innocent voice rid Severus of the majority of his guilt. With a hoarse laugh, he tightened his hold on the boy. "Such a compassionate heart," he whispered into the boy's hair, marvelling at the boy's forgiving nature. So much like his mother. "Don't ever change my sweet child. Don't ever change."
"I'll try not to," Harry murmured, snuggling closer. The aura around the man felt considerably lighter and he was glad.
Time passed as they sat together, simultaneously taking and receiving comfort. Eventually, as Harry felt a slight strain on his inner bond, he pulled away with a soft sigh.
"I have to talk to Draco," he murmured, watching him.
"I know," Severus agreed. "This dispute has gone on long enough. Your relationship will grow strained."
Harry nodded minutely. "He told you?" he inquired, fiddling with the top button of the man's shirt.
"Him and the elves," Severus supplied, shifting Harry into a better position.
"So you know what is bothering him?"
"Yes but I won't tell you. That is something for him to reveal himself."
"You sound like Grandpa," Harry pouted. What naught but a chuckle met his response, he grumbled, briefly settling his head against the man's chest.
"You don't think I'm throwing a tantrum right Uncle Sevvy?"
"No, you are too old for tantrums now, although I will say that your temper is as hot as ever," he said, tapping his nose with a finger. When Harry laughed softly, he continued. "Keep your cool and you will be fine. You two love each other too much to allow something like this to come between you."
"I know," Harry said, twisting his fingers. "But he's so annoying like this."
"And he feels the same," Severus pointed out. "But then, no two people can love everything about the other. It's part of life."
"Uh-hmm."
"And so I want you to remain calm during the next few minutes. Can you promise me this? I hate seeing you all like this."
"I promise," Harry agreed, settling in for another hug as he anticipated the talk to come.
Draco was waiting for him on the divan when he stepped into the room. The veela had taken a bath, evident by his damp and slightly wavy hair. A towel wrapped around his neck prevented water from dripping unto his shirt.
Harry observed him carefully, mildly surprised to note that there was no trace of animosity on his face. The veela's expression was neutral yet somehow inviting. It seemed that his earlier anger had completely vanished. Not that Harry himself felt particularly angry any longer.
Between his talks with his grandfather and uncle, the preteen was tired, and wanted to bring closure to the issue. They were right, at the end of the day he and Draco belonged together. This was their first major argument and undoubtedly, there would be more in their future, but for now, it was time to end the drama. He would heed the advise given, try to reign in his temper and talk to his mate, really and truly talk to him.
As calm as possible, Harry sat besides the veela, dropping his bag unto the floor. Reaching up, he loosened the tie around his neck before tossing it to join the bag. Next he bent and dealt with the shoes in a similar manner.
"How are we going about this?" he asked, feeling the blonde's gaze upon him, marking his every movement.
"Hopefully without yelling," was the dry response.
Harry twisted slightly to observe the teenager's face, but saw no sign of derision there.
"You sound calm," he observed, struggling with a stubborn sock.
"Well I was here for over an hour," Draco replied, lips twitching slightly. "A long bath will soothe away just about anything. But more than that, I realise that my temper was not helping the situation in the least."
"Neither was mine," Harry admitted, throwing the sock haphazardly to join the growing pile on the floor. A snap of his fingers had his robe joining them.
With nothing left to remove, Harry sat backwards, relaxing against the piece of furniture. He felt a stirring within him and made a ghost of a smile, feeling the weight within him lighten considerably. Apparently, they had already taken the first steps needed to heal the rift between them.
"Let's promise not to argue this time okay?" Draco said as he shifted slightly so that he was facing his mate.
"Okay," Harry nodded, ruffling his hair. "I really don't want to be sent home."
"Neither do I," Draco seconded. "Mother and Father would not be pleased, especially since they leave for their second honeymoon next week."
Harry could not help but snort at that. "Which second honeymoon is this?"
"Um, the ninth?" Draco replied without certainty before chuckling ruefully, Harry joining him for a few seconds.
Draco for his part was glad that the tension between them was fading. A long hot soak had gone a long way into helping his current demeanour, reminding him of what was important. Harry. The time for arguing had past. It was tiring he thought, noting that he was considerably more drained than usual for the end of the week.
In all honesty, he wanted nothing more than to snuggle down with his mate and have a long conversation about nothing, perhaps even fall asleep together and wake the next morning to a special breakfast containing all of their favourites, prepared by their elves.
However, in order to achieve that, he had to resolve his issues with Harry, and that was another factor contributing to his current calm demeanour.
"What?" he asked in confusion, not catching the end of Harry's words.
Harry eyed him curiously. "I asked how we should start resolving this."
Draco thought for a moment. "Well perhaps we can start with you?"
"Okay. What about me?"
"I want to know what happened from your perspective Harry, inclusive of all your reasoning behind it. I swear I won't interrupt you until you're finished but I really would like to understand what led you to withhold the information from me."
Harry nodded slowly. It was a fair request. "And afterwards you will tell me why you left right? That really hurt Draco."
The veela's expression reflected sadness for a few moments. "I'm sorry I hurt you Harry and yes, I will explain."
That was enough for him and for the next fifteen or so minutes, he spoke softly, hands wringing on occasions when he got to particularly difficult parts. It was hard for Draco to keep his promise, wanting at numerous times to either interrupt with a question or rebuke.
Nevertheless, he held his tongue, digging his nails into his palms as Harry continued; slowly easing the painful grip when Harry explained what had perturbed him. Moreover, by the time the boy was through, Draco found that he could understand Harry's actions, now that he had actually given him a chance to explain.
However, there was one small thing...
"You really had something to do with the first years," Draco mused, remembering how shaken Harry had been after his interview with his Head of House.
"I did," Harry replied hesitantly. "Are you going to tell on me and the twins?"
Draco adopted an aloft expression for a few seconds before shaking his head. "I don't think so."
However, the slight quirk in his voice was not reassuring for Harry and he eyed the older boy suspiciously. "You are not going to make me tell are you?"
Draco could not help but laugh at the boy's assumption. "Under normal circumstances I might have been prone to do so," he allowed.
"But?"
"But, I can't help but think that it was deserved on this occasion. Although no more. Uncle Sirius told us that pranks are meant to be for fun, not revenge."
"And you turning Pansy blue last week was what exactly?" Harry retorted.
"Fun for me," was Draco's pert reply. "Besides, she was insulting you again."
"One of these days Uncle Sevvy will link it to you," Harry pointed out.
"Honestly Harry, if Uncle does not know it is me by now, he's gone soft. As long as it continues to be harmless he won't intervene."
"If you say so," the veela mate responded. "But anyway, it's your turn. Please tell me why you left Draco."
The veela mate's attempt to stare them away from their light-hearted banter back to serious matters was proof enough as to how important the issue was to him and that sobered Draco considerably.
Honestly, the veela had asked Harry to start the discussion simply because he had been unsure as to how to phrase what he had thought. And despite the time respite, he was still not certain how best to start it. Words seemed insufficient to explain what he had felt. It was then that the old saying 'a picture is worth a hundred words' came back to him. If he couldn't bring himself to explain it to Harry, then why not just show it to him?
He posed the question to the boy. After a minute's debate, Harry acquiesced, not minding in the least as long as the truth was revealed.
Bolstered, Draco meshed his gaze with Harry's and allowed him permission into his memories, shifting the ones he wanted him to see to the fore.
Together they felt and in Draco's case relived the moments of the previous day. Harry was assaulted by his mate's concern for him when he started to edge away from the tension in the room; felt the love of the veela as he rubbed a soothing hand along his back, silently offering him comfort.
That faded at the speaking look the potions master shot the blonde and soon a sense of impending doom filled Harry as through Draco's eyes he watched himself hedge around the issue, warning the veela that he would be angry. He felt Draco's disbelief that his anger would turn on his submissive, followed by a period of numbness when he told him everything. That numbness gave way to barely contained rage directed towards him for allowing it to go on so long.
Compounded with that, was a feeling of betrayal.
Startled, Harry delved deeper and Draco, with a mental wince, allowed him free passage. Following the train of thought, Harry discovered that the veela's ego had been hurt. He had felt destabilised, as if he had questioned Draco's dominant position. Harry had not come to his dominant, had not let him protect him and for that Draco felt betrayed.
The veela obviously thought that he was the victim in the whole issue and that irritated Harry. He let the veela know that plainly. Draco responded with an apology and stated that he no longer felt that way. Harry accepted that and moved on, knowing that the veela was being sincere.
Moving onwards, Harry learnt that that same sense of betrayal had spurred on Draco's anger and was the core reason for his leaving. Because, in Draco's opinion, Harry had spurned his protection and thus, he had thought it best to leave and let the submissive handle the situation he had found himself in alone. It did not matter if the mate was obviously upset. He had brought it onto himself and should therefore find a solution on his own. Draco's hurt ego led him to believe that his help was not required and consequently, he had left.
Finding what he had been looking for, Harry withdrew from the veela's memories. He shook his head lightly to reorientate himself before shooting the older boy a reproving look.
Ego?
Draco's ego had suffered a beating and that was why he had abandoned him? It seemed almost trivial to him. Somehow, Draco had seen himself as the victim because of a mate who had denied him his rights. It was stupid, and he was about to tell the veela such when he noticed the pitiful expression on his face. Apparently the veela had come to the same conclusion and hence had been reluctant to say it.
It all made sense now, Harry mused. Draco's highhanded mannerism with him had resulted from an attempt by him to regain the grounding he believed he had lost. By ordering him around, Draco was trying to soothe his ego by re-establishing his role as dominant. And when Harry had spurned his attempts by his rebuttals and failure to comply, Draco had lashed out in anger, trying to protect that sensitive core.
"I wasn't trying to hurt you," Harry murmured. "Nor insult you in any way. It was never my intention."
Draco nodded. "I know that now Harry, but yesterday, yesterday I was just...just..."
I understand," Harry responded, interrupting him. "I don't like it but I do understand."
"I let my pride and ego get in the way of my duty to you," Draco said swallowing. "I should have never allowed that to happen and for that I am sorry."
The ease with which the apology flew out startled them both, but it took only seconds for Harry to nod in acceptance. "I'll forgive you for that Draco, as long as you forgive me to. I should have told someone, and for that I apologise."
As Harry had done, Draco accepted it immediately. They looked at each other for several seconds, feeling the bond between them hum happily with renewal. Bit by bit, they closed the gap between them, manoeuvring themselves so that they lay side by side.
"And so ends our first fight," Harry murmured, pressing a cheek against Draco's skin.
"Indeed," Draco agreed, stroking Harry's shoulder. "Let's not do this to often hmm?"
"I don't know about that," Harry said, propping up so he could look into the veela's blue eyes. "Ron and Hermione argue a lot."
"That's part and parcel of them," Draco responded. "Not us."
"Yeah, fighting sure is tiresome."
"Indeed."
After that, Harry shifted until he was half-reclining on his mate, humming softly as he simply basked in being in the teenager's presence. Draco felt the same way, manifested through the affectionate sweeps his hand made over Harry.
"Cub?" Draco called, a long while later, dragging Harry out of the half-dosing state he had fallen into.
"What's the matter?" he yawned, looking at him sleepily.
"You made a mess," Draco pointed out with a toss of his head to the floor.
Harry followed the movement before giving a hefty sigh and plopping his head back down on the veela.
"Dray?"
"Hmm?"
"Shut up, you're ruining the mood."
The haughty tone drew a startled laugh from Draco which dislodged Harry's head from its perch. The preteen growled in annoyance, before seeking revenge by digging his fingers into Draco's ticklish sides. That was the start of one of their infamous wrestling matches that drew laughter, peals and squeals from either party.
So engrossed were they that they never noticed when Severus' head popped into the fireplace, to check on their progress. The potions master observed them for a few moments, a pleased smile on his face before leaving...after snapping a picture to add to the ever-growing collection.
Once the boys had agreed on a truce, they lay contentedly against each other, simply relishing their closeness. Harry laid curled on his side near him mate, eyes sparkling madly in merriment. That green gaze was so beautiful, Draco thought. With their eyes locked, Draco found himself giving into his emotions and bent forward, first bestowing a kiss to Harry's forehead and then his cheek. Harry made a contented sound that had Draco's chest tightening slightly. Unable to resist, the veela pressed his lips against his mate's, silencing the sound. Harry made a slight gargle in surprise before he relaxed into it, enjoying the first "special kiss" that Draco had initiated. It felt nice, he thought, as the contact lengthened and he allowed his eyes to drift close to enjoy the pleasant sensation. He could not restrain a slight mewl when the kiss stopped and he forced his eyes open.
His face felt hot and to his surprise Draco's appeared as flushed as he felt. His tongue darted out to wet his lips before he whispered, "I love you."
If anything, the blush on Draco's face increased substantially before he replied. "I love you too."
With that they settled down against each other on the divan, relishing each other's company.