Makalani Astral – Thanks! Glad u liked the telepathy thing. I needed them to communicate somehow without Hermione knowing, and that was the first thing that came to mind.
Kyra2 – I thought Volcano! Ron has been done much too often, so I decided to make Hermione the difficult one. She is like that in the books – look at what Harry says to Draco about SPEW. All credit goes to Luna Shadowsong for the dining room scene. I left the boys going down to dinner. I only edited what Luna did slightly. Isn't she a good writer?
Ashes7 – original veela piece? I got the idea off Frizzy, and have her permission to use it. If you've read Frizzy's work, I'm flattered that you think its original, but its not really! I've tried to use my own ideas as much as possible. Thanks for the review!
Yana5 – this chapter is coming out as soon as I finish it! *g*. lol.
Brenna8 – thanks. Um… he didn't plan anything, he just literally tripped over Harry. The veela blood is from his grandma, on his mother's side, and she was bonded to one of the Malfoys. The bond isn't as dominant in female veela, they can have sex with others who are not their bonded. I'm not going into the details; as this story is only really concerned with male veela.
Marauder no.5 – Thank you. I intend to.
Tigerlily Deepdelver – I'll update as soon as possible. But as I've said before, its either lots of updates and short chapters, or longer chapters and updates further apart. Besides, I'm supposed to be studying for exams, not writing fanfiction!
Witchy-Althea – ok, I'll try to make them more emotional. I can't promise too much in this chapter, but defiantly in the next, hehe (grins evilly as she know what will happen as she has already started writing…)
More slashy goodness in this chapter, not too much, just a kiss. Anyway, thought a warning was in order. This is a slash story, even if there hasn't been much action yet.
I HAVE A WEBSITE!!! www.darkside.freeuk.com check it out!!
As soon as they were alone in the deserted entrance hall, Harry wrapped his arms around Draco and held the trembling part-veela tightly. Draco was making small sounds that would have been sobs if they had been any stronger. Draco rested his head on Harry's shoulder while Harry rubbed his back soothingly, the blond's tears soaking the soft fabric of the Gryffindor's shirt. Harry was worried by how tense and afraid Draco was, and started to move them back up the stairs towards their rooms. Draco moved slowly, hiding his face behind a curtain of blond hair. He stumbled several times, and seemed utterly exhausted. The lack of sleep the night before was catching up with him.
Once they were in their rooms he flopped into an armchair and hid his face in his hands. Harry moved around behind the chair and slipped Draco's school robes off of his shoulders, before beginning to massage the blond's neck. Draco didn't move for a while, but as Harry began to work some of the stress out of his left shoulder he sighed and leaned into the touch. Do you think you'll be alright now? Harry thought tentatively, afraid to break the silence. Draco seemed so fragile, as if he would break if he pressed too hard, but Harry knew that a light massage didn't do anything: you had to be firm, so he pushed his thumbs in firmly on each side of Draco's spine and smiled as the blond arched his back and sighed in relief.
I don't know Draco thought back, with something like a telepathical groan I don't know how I'm going to cope in lessons. I'm all over the place. That feels nice…
It'll get better, I promise. Harry tried to sound reassuring, imagining their link like a tube or a tunnel, and sending warm, reassuring feelings along it. It seemed to work; Draco relaxed more and moaned again, closing his silver eyes. Harry kept up the steady movements of his hands on the Veela's neck and shoulders. Pressing his fingers into the tense muscles and teasing them into relaxing. He wished he had some oil; it would make the whole job so much easier. Of course, it would also help if Draco wasn't wearing a shirt. He could almost feel the blond melting under his touch. The skin on his neck was so soft, yet so hard underneath, like wood covered in velvet. Harry wanted to press his lips to the blond's neck all of a sudden. Now where did that urge come from? he wondered. I must be tired. This is Draco Malfoy! All the veela talk must be rubbing off on me. We've only not been enemies for a day. Well, Draco had stopped a week or so ago, when the mating season started, but Harry had known for less than 24 hours, and he was still reeling. That must be it, he decided. Well, he'd ask the blond about the massage at least, and forget about the idiotic idea of kissing him.
Draco- he started. All at once they heard footsteps pounding along the corridor outside, and Ron's voice shouting,
"Hey! Let me in!"
Sir Cadogan's voice could be heard shouting something unintelligible, and Ron's answering. He sounded annoyed.
Draco stood up, shrugged his robe completely off and stood looking at Harry in his black shirt and jeans. "Shall we?" Harry asked. "Do you think you'll be ok?"
"Yes, I'll be fine," Draco said, sitting on the sofa. Harry gave him a reassuring grin.
"Tell me if it gets too much."
"Harry! Malfoy! Let me in! This bloody picture…"
"Cadogan! Let Ron in," Harry called.
"Are you sure? He might be a villain…" the over-enthusiastic picture of the knight shouted.
"Let him in!" Harry ordered.
The picture swung open, revealing a flustered Ron, his face red and his blue eyes angry.
"Hermione is impossible! She's been asking me about you two, prying for information. I told her to back off, but I swear she's planning something. I saw her with Pansy after lunch. They walked off towards Potions together."
"Pansy? Oh no…" Draco lost what little colour he had at the mention of the pug-faced Slytherin girl.
"Speaking of potions, aren't you going to be late if you don't leave now?" Harry asked, worried.
"You don't want Snape talking any more points off of Gryffindor. Since I'm not there, he can't take them off me."
"Shit!" Ron exclaimed, before tearing out of the open portrait hole and disappearing down the corridor.
Harry swung the picture back so it was flush with the wall again, and seriously thought about asking Dumbledore for a replacement. Maybe the Mermaid in the Prefects bathroom, or the Fat Lady's friend, Violet. Strong arms around his waist and a head laid on his shoulder distracted his from his musings. He turned around in Draco's embrace, and held him gently. Looking into the silver eyes, he smiled softly.
"Are you going to be ok now?"
"Yes, I think so. Um… there's a Quidditch match a week tomorrow."
"Yeah, Gryffindor against Ravenclaw. Why?"
"You'll be playing, and I'll be watching, and it might be a long match, and I'll be alone," Draco said quietly, looking lost and worried.
"I'll be talking to you all through the match, and you can talk to me. But if you're really worried, I won't play. I'm sure someone can take my place," Harry said reassuringly, trying to lift the shadows from his future mate's eyes. Draco looked up at the other Seeker, surprised.
"You'd give up Quidditch for me?" he asked incredulously. Harry blushed.
"I need a shower," he muttered, hugging Draco quickly and dashing up the stairs.
"But you had one this morning! It's only just after lunch!" Draco called after him, puzzled.
***
Harry turned on the water, tore off his clothes and dived under the warm waterfall. He couldn't believe he had said that he wouldn't play if Draco didn't want him to. He needed to do some serious self examining. He had meant it, he was sure of that. But when had his feelings, his worry and concern for the blond got that intense? It was only yesterday that he had found out about the whole thing! And yes, he had been worried sick about Draco, but since when had the Malfoy heir been that big a part in his life? It wasn't like they had been close before. He shouldn't be having any feelings for the blond; he was supposed to hate him! But love and hate are close together, he supposed. It didn't feel wrong, but it should.
It must be the bond, he decided. The link between himself and the Slytherin. It was making him care. But… when he thought about it like that, it made it seem like their connection was a bad thing, and it wasn't. It was one of the best things that had ever happened to him. Yet, a few days ago he would have said that being bonded to the pale Slytherin was the worst thing that could ever happen to him, including the Dursley's! Oh, he was confused and messed up! And worse, the school didn't appear to be too happy about it. He hadn't been expecting total understanding, but the blond had been having a bad time at the other table. He just wished Draco had called him sooner; he might have been able to save the blond some heartache.
Still, worrying was one thing, say that he wouldn't play Quidditch was quite another! Quidditch was his life, his two options when he left Hogwarts were Auror, and if that failed; Professional Quidditch player. It was his one real link with his father, the link that he could feel. They had both felt the joy of flying, of soaring through the air.
But he had become distracted. He was supposed to be thinking about Draco, wasn't he? The Slytherin that had suddenly become a huge part of his life. And he didn't seem to be as annoyed about it as he should be. Why was that? The link wasn't all of it. But this Draco seemed to be a completely different person. He had never known the real Draco, he supposed. It must have all been a mask. A mask that now, thanks to Harry, was slipping.
And why did he feel guilty about that? And why had he given the blond that massage? There was no doubt that Draco had needed it; his neck and shoulders had been as tense and knotted up as a piece of wood. But…
Harry? came a tentative thought. Are you ok?
Yeah. I just needed to think. I think better in a shower.
Ok, if you're sure. Don't take much longer please.
Oh Gods, I'm sorry, I totally forgot how upset you were. I was just thrown there for a bit. I'll be out in a minute. Harry climbed out of the shower, and looked around in shock. Shit!
What is it? Draco thought immediately.
Harry stuck his head around the door "Um… Draco, could you possibly get me a towel?" He could hear the Slytherin laughing as he disappeared from view, and blushed. Draco returned quickly, and handed Harry a blue towel. The Gryffindor seeker wrapped it around his waist, and came out of the bathroom. He waked into the bedroom in search of a clean shirt, as his old one was stained with Draco's tears, not realizing the way the part veela was staring at his wet half naked body. The first thing he knew was a tentative hand touching his shoulder. He turned around quickly.
"What?" he asked, a little defensively. But his annoyance soon melted when he saw the lost and heartbroken look in the blond's eyes. "What is it?" he asked more softly.
"I… I…" Draco tailed off, unable to express his longing in words. His heart pounded in his chest and his blood raced like fire through his veins. Draco's pupils dilated in suppressed emotion and anxiety. What could he do? Leave the room? But then he wouldn't be with Harry and he couldn't bear that. Instead he did the only thing that would quell the aching cold in his heart; he leaned forward and covered Harry's soft lips with his own.
Hehe! Harry has a thing for showers, and Draco has a thing for Harry being wet! I'm evil…