Chapter seven

Bond length

Month: 1

Week: 3

Day: 2

Stage: friendship

The sun had already set with the moon blazing bright and full when madam Pompfry finally realized the boys with a clean bill of health. Despite the fact that Draco has turned several shades whiter - his skin now resembled freshly fallen snow. It was the very dark rings around his eyes that made Harry worried.

It was the ever familiar bats that squark endlessly during full moon nights at Hogwarts that brought Harry out of his concern.

"So your dorm?" Harry asked

"I would love too Harry. I really would... but not tonight". Draco said sly looking over to the corridors, where Harry noticed Snape was standing. Arms folded. He too looked even paler... which was amazing considering Snape always resembled purslane.

"Everything okay?"

"You've asked me that four times in the last hour and my answer is still the same. I am fine! Please stop worrying your pretty little head." Draco replied, placing his hand on Harry's shoulder making it shudder. His hand was icy cold , not Draco's normal soul warming touch.

"I have to go" Draco replied, running his fingers over his mate's cheek causing Harry to close his eyes in both pleasure and chill. When he opened them Draco was gone. his heart sunk a little; something was wrong with his mate and he's mate knew it and worse of all; his mate was purposely not telling him. What the bloody hell! he thought they were at least suppose to Friends. Harry hated not knowing when there was something wrong with his loved ones.

Harry slowly and without motivation made his way to dinner. No one stopped him to ask about his perception of Draco's soul, this surprised Harry. Hogwarts was notorious for gossip... as evident by Lavenders out of control rumor, that spread its halls a week ago, which too Harry's disappoint was still making his way around.

Smiling at his friends, Harry took his seat, as he had done 3 times a day, everyday for the last 5 years with his Gryffindor friends and ate what ever well prepared meal the house elves had made. Tonight is was a selection of soups. Harry choose pumpkin soup with a crusty loaf. it was warm, creamy and overall delicious,

"Hey, Herms?" he asked, spooning a third helping in mouth.

"Hmm?" Hermione replied filling her bowl up with chicken noodle, Ron looking up from his chicken Laska

"What did you think of potions on Friday?"

"I wasn't surprised to find out that my soul perceives Blaze as a French aristocrat. He is really not that much different with or without the potion."

"What about you Ron?"

"I saw Hannah playing with a child... it was something about me seeing her as a mother type".

"Maternal. You saw Hannah as maternal" Hermione corrected, A hint of jealousy in her voice.

"So... What do you think about how I perceived Draco?" Harry's soup spoon begun to shake.

"Why? How did you perceive Malfoy Harry?"

"You don't remember?"

Hermione stared at Harry confused "Harry when you're under the effects of the potion. You don't notice anyone else... "

this caused harry blow out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Thank god.

"Admit it though mate, you saw him as a ferret. Didn't you?" Ron announced. Neville over heard this, spat his soup over Shameus face in attempt to stifle his laughter... but the soup that covered the Irish, only caused Lavender to giggle, which resulted in a 4th year giggling... which eventually erupted in a Gryffindore roar. it was nice... Harry felt that for a moment in time, things were normal. things were easy. No pending war, no forced marriages with ex rivals, no sudden intense desire or soul hitting attraction. it was normal and it was nice.

Harry stared back at his soup. It was warm and delicious, but it just wasn't satisfying anymore. he pushed the soup away. Thoughts still pondering ... Draco really did look ill ... what if he had fainted some where and need his help? What if he was being attacked by angry death eater wannabes? surely with Draco's sickness he wouldn't be able to defend him self... that's when harry hit himself in on the forehead with his palm.

"Of course!" He whispered.

Harry rushed out of the great hall and straight up seven flights of stairs in a matter of minutes.

He pulled open his trunk and rummaged once again for his Maurders map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up too no good"... "where are you? Where are you?" Harry mumbled. Clicking his tongue.

Harry scanned the map over and over again. it was obvious in the first scan, even obvious in the second and by the third he had to admit to the realization. Draco ... or Snape's name could be found. Harry checked again. Nothing.

It was this inconsistency that made Harry question Sirius about It was during Christmas holidays last year and with utter most glee, Sirius finally let slip how the map worked- much to Remus dismay. Sirius explained that when the map is activated it would tap into a wizards magical signature and place them in the location of what ever magical ward there signature interrupted. This surprised Harry. He knew that Hogwarts contained numerous wards, but for one unique one to be placed in every room in Hogwarts was unbelievable... but, once Harry thought about it - it wasn't unexpected.

So, by contrast, there was only three place that wouldn't show someone's name...

the first and most obvious was the Room of requirement, which Sirius explained is a parallel dimension within Hogwarts, but not exactly apart of the school.

The second was the chamber of secrets. It was herminoe that came up with the explanation; she felt that Salazar was so deadset on keeping his chamber a secret from the other founders that he didn't use the traditional ward that his colleagues were commonly using.

And the third was the deeper depths of forbidden forest, apparently, Hogwarts grounds only lasted 6.5 miles into the forest - after that, it became ministry grounds and thus its wards no longer existed. It was this area that was often used by seven year students and professors when trying to appereate.

"Well... " Harry thought. He needed to trust Draco and let him come to him when he was ready but simultaneously he needed to know that where his mate was. It really annoyed him that he didn't know... especially if he was sick.

It was as if The batrothel bond was telling him to trust Draco, to give him space - to let him come to him when he's ready, But the sanctuary bond was on edge - he didn't know where his submissive was and it left him uneasy.

In the end, he decided to mediate. He would check the room of requirement and if Draco wasn't there then he would let it be. It would satisfy the sanctuary bond while satisfying the batrothel bond.

Harry left the common room and arrived back within 10 minutes. Laughing.

While, no - he didn't "find" Draco physically. The room must have taken his request for Draco to symbolically because Harry found himself in a room full of photos of his mate. School photos, baby photos, family photos, portraits... it seemed it supplied Harry with every single photo Draco had every been in over his sixteen years.

Back in his dormitory Harry once again pulled out the Maurders map and once again did not see his mates name. However with both bonds satisfied and at ease, Harry turned off his light at when to bed.

Harry awoke Monday morning to the sound of a crackling thunder. A storm was brewing. A quick Temprus told Harry it was 6:00. Breakfast wouldn't be served for another hour.

He made his way to a hot shower in order to warm up his chilled bones and relax his normally very stiff muscles. Harry liked his shower, there was something about the water that aloud him to think a bit more clearly. A lot has changed in the last two months... two months ago Harry would've had no hesitation is hexing Malfoy to the cows come home... but now ... Harry closed his eyes. The blonde was on his mind, the blonde was always on his mind these morning, however, it was one of THOSE days... because all Harry could see was Draco's well defined muscles, his healthy clear skin, his soul warming grey eyes, his perfect smile, his wonderfully styled hair ... dear god ... this man was sculpted like a god.

Oh no.

Harry opened his eyes and looked down. He was hard. He was very hard... and very aroused and worse of all his hand had subconsciously gone to grab himself... he barely had any comprehensive thoughts before another imagine of the perfectly sculpted Draco flashed before his eyes... that was it. Harry was gone. His hand begun to move. slowly and first, his body beginning to tingle.

He moaned in pleasure ... and his speed picked up. Faster and faster... a loader more desperate moan escaped his lips, before he eventually saw stars - spilling his seed over the shower floor.

Shit! .

Harry shut off the hot water as quick as he could and blared freezing water over his pale skin. It worked in essence for calming the physical, slowing the biological and as a bonus it cleaned the floor.

Masturbating wasn't new in the boy's dormitory. In fact, it has happened so much since 4th year, that the six year Gryffindor boys have an unspoken agreement... it was fine as long as no one ever spoke about it, it was done in privet and the mess was cleaned up.

Changing into a clean uniform, Harry activated the map one more time. he saw Draco's in Snape dormitory. This made Harry smile. Draco was safe and under the care of a parent. Good. Great!. No need to worry anymore...

Breakfast, in essence, was fine. Charms in essence, was fine... it was the swap over from Charms to transfiguration that Harry once again glimpsed at Draco. He was thankfully looking healthy and tanned. The dark circles under his eyes where no longer present. Draco nodded to his mate, grabee Harry's hand for a second before while slipping into the next corridor. This caused Harry's heart to leap. Draco physical touches were intoxicating.

The rest of the day went by eventuality. A few more nods, a few smiles, a few more hand grabs.

Tuesday arrived with a note from Harry to Draco given between DADA & history of magic through a split second hand grab.

Miss you. How are you going?

This note seemed to of started as a catalyst. Several notes seemed to passing between the two boys all today- sometimes Harry would slip Draco a note between classes, sometimes Draco would transform note into a butterfly that would find its way to Harry... sometimes Harry went muggle and just created a paper plan. But, for the first time since the bond begun the boys were in constant communication... by the end of the week Harry has collected 147 notes from his mate, and nothing made his heart more giddy.

That was until Friday in Arithmancy, when Harry received the final note.

St. Charles the fair of the European conquest. Knock 3 times.

Harry spend an hour after potions that day, dressing and grooming. He brushed his hair, sprayed his most seductive cologne and dressed in his black leather pants and silk white butted shirt ... the ones Draco got him. Harry certainly got a few raised eyes brows as he made his way out of Gryffindor tower and towards the dungeons.

Facing the Saint, Harry knocked three times. Opening the door was Draco, smiling. He too, smelt nice... actually, no, he smelt very bloody seductive! Draco was certainly playing with Harry's arousal levels and he bloody well knew it. Draco's hair was brushed and wild, he wore knee length jeans and a short-sleeved, green button shirt. It was a simple choice of clothing, but simple to Harry meant humble and humble caused Harry to hold his breath and his heart begun to race.

"Do come in, my love"