Title: Vivica, Chapter Seventeen
Author: frkwerewolf
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Draco/Ron, Lupin/Snape
Rating: R
Summary: Changes are in the air and Draco discovers something about himself that will change everything he knows.
Notes: this is my longest chapter yet. 13.4kb. i'm so proud huggles monitor and I loved Harry in this chapter.

Chapter Seventeen

That simple, civil conversation that Ron and Draco shared appeared to their last. Whether they had both come to their senses, realizing they did in fact hate each other, was uncertain. Hermione suspected it was sexual tension. But when she tried to offer up her theory, Harry had run away in a mad panic. The Boy Wonder had, apparently, not come to terms with his best friend lusting after a Malfoy.

Time passed. Arguements flew. Ron became twitchy. Draco started making odd cooing noises when Ron was in the vicinity. His Veela was begging him to comfort the stressed teen, but Draco would have none of it. He had more control than that. While his previous actions proved differently, Draco truly was starting to control his Veela side. It was thankful that he was more human than Veela, otherwise he suspected that his attempts would never work.

In the end it was Hermione who took charge of the situation. Harry merely chose to watch from the sidelines, certain that Hermione would kill them both. He definitely wanted to be there for that. He was in for quite the let down, when Hermione created the most romantic setting he had ever seen, complete with candles and sappy music. Harry could only scowl as they waited outside the normally empty classroom. Draco was the first to arrive.

"Now, Draco, you must not screw this one up." Hermione said sternly. Draco glared at the witch before sauntering inside without a word. Ron appeared shortly after, looking like he had ran the whole way.

"What's the emergency?" Ron asked, panting slightly. "You-Know-Who? What's going on? Oh, god, we aren't getting attacked are we?"

"What did you tell him?" Hermione hissed at Harry. Harry looked away innocently, leaving Hermione to scowl. "Ron, it's okay. It's nothing. Breathe. Thats it, deep breaths. You okay? Good. We have a suprise for you is all."

"Suprise?" Ron asked, immediately cheering up. He gave Harry a funny look. "Why did you scare me like that, then? That note you left on my bed nearly gave me a heart attack."

"I was hoping to get some entertainment for the evening." Harry said calmly.

"Just go inside?" Hermione encouraged. Ron entered the room, hearing Hermione tell Harry off as the door shut behind him. He turned, looking around the room carefully before letting his eyes land on the far couch which Draco resided. Letting out a long sigh, he walked over and sat next to the smaller boy.

"She is getting out of hand." Ron stated.

"I don't think so." Draco replied. Ron looked over at him, before turning away.

"What now?" Ron asked softly.

"If you would just stop being such a prat, we would have already gotten over this step." Draco accused. Ron glared at him, causing the blonde to smirk. "Honestly, Ron. What's keeping you from tackling me to the ground and ravaging me with sweet mouth of you?"

"You're so fowl." Ron muttered, his face burning bright red. Draco grinned.

"You enjoy it." Draco whispered, his voice nearly erotic. "Makes you hot and bothered and you know it, Weasley."

"You're leaving for Christmas?" Ron suddenly asked, changing the subject. Draco narrowed his eyes before sighing.

"Yes, I am." Draco grumbled. "Father insists. Damn shame. We would have had most of Gryffindor Tower, not to mention my chambers, to cover our scent with."

"Why does that sound so vulgar?" Ron asked. "Do you ever get your mind out of the gutter?"

"Not since this Veela thing." Draco admitted. "It's worse when I'm around you. You make me hard and aching, Ron."

"Stop that!" Ron glared at Draco's easy chuckle. Ron shifted in his seat and looked away. He once again attempted to change the topic of conversation. "Does your father know? About you being a Veela?"

"He probably does." Draco frowned. "He's the one I heard it from first, you know. I was standing in the hall and he was arguing with mother. I only caught glimpses of the conversation, but it involved my name and the word 'Veela'. Thus starting my obsession to figure out what the hell was wrong with me."

"Were you scared?" Ron asked. "When you found out, I mean."

"Not really. Confused, maybe." Draco shrugged. "I think the only thing that worried me was when I started having the dreams."

"Dreams?"

"This Veela woman." Draco said softly, his steel eyes suddenly looking thoughtful. "She called me her child. Told me that you were my mate. I didn't want to believe it, but I knew it to be true. That was the last time I had the dream, the day I came to the realization. Odd."

"You're insane." Ron simply stated. He stood, straightening his robes. "But then again, I always knew that. Even before you turned half-Veela."

"Shut it." Draco sneered.

"Everyone here knows you're in need of some psychotherapy." Ron smirked. Draco stood, walking over to Ron and looking up into his eyes.

"I'm shocked you even know what that word means, Weasley." Draco told him. "Your fat mother must of sold half your house in order to afford your fine education."

"You know, Malfoy." Ron said calmly, though Draco could see a fire burning behind his eyes. "You truly amaze me. Always coming up with these insults about my intelligence or wealth. I feel I should award you on your creativity."

"I know a way you can award me." Draco literally cooed. Ron blinked in shock from the tone, but didn't back away. Draco let his eyes drift from Ron's eyes to his nose, then finally to his lips. Slowly, as though giving Ron time to pull away, Draco pressed his lips against Ron's.

Their first kiss had been all anger and passion, something Draco had enjoyed to no end. But he was in for a pleasant discovery when he found this soft and gentle kiss even more arousing. The caress of Ron's lips against his own, neither initiating anything more. Just the simple touch of lips in a loving gesture. Then Draco felt it, Ron's tongue lightly touching his upper lip. He couldn't control the moan that escaped him.

A chuckle erupted in Ron's chest and the redhead pulled back to smile at Draco. "You really are eager."

"You have no idea." Draco muttered, still staring at Ron's lips. Ron rolled his eyes at Draco's vacancy before turning and heading for the door. "Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving." Ron said simply. "I plan on spending the last day before Chistmas with Hermione before she heads home."

"What about me?" Draco literally pouted.

"Honestly, your impossible." Ron opened the door and peered around it at Draco, a slow grin appearing on his face. "Come back from break in one piece, Malfoy, and we just might do this again."

The moment the door was shut, Draco let out a whoop of joy. One second later he realized what he had done and began straightening his robes and fixing his hair. But the smile never left his face. Who would of thought, playful arguement and suggestive comments was the way to Ron's heart.

Draco waited a moment longer before leaving the room. After packing for Christmas break, he decided to make a quick stop to Lupin and Snape's rooms. Knocking on the door, Draco waited with a small smile on his face. He couldn't help it, ever since the kiss he had been carrying a dopey smile on his face. After Crabbe and Goyle made a comment on it, he had managed to tone it down a tad.

"Draco?" Lupin asked, opening the door and peering out. Draco took a moment to realize last night had been a full moon. It was no wonder Lupin looked out of sorts. "Is something wrong?"

"No, why would you think that?" Draco said with a genuine smile. Lupin looked taken aback.

"Well, you haven't come to see me in quite some time." Lupin opened the door further and gestured him inside. "So, what can I do for you, Draco?"

"I have a favor to ask." Draco told him. "This is going to sound really weird, but could you watch Ron while I'm gone?"

"I'm certain Ron will be okay." Lupin said, but he was smiling.

"I know. I'd just feel better if someone was keeping an eye on him." Draco replied.

"Very well, Draco." Lupin agreed.

Draco left Hogwarts the next day feeling much better than he thought he would. While he wasn't sure spending time with his father and mother, away from Ron, was going to be pleasant. Still, he knew that he would be back to Hogwarts soon and once again able to get his mate into his bed.

The train ride was utterly boring, as far as train rides went. Hermione almost sat with him, but the staring of Crabbe and Goyle appeared to be much more than she could handle. His father's assistant met him on platform nine and three-quarters and then he was home. The quietness of the house seemed more pressing than it use to. Draco suppose it was because he had gotten used to the Golden Trio's noise.

It wasn't until he had unpacked and ate a late lunch that his father tracked him down in the library. The elder Malfoy looked annoyed, with a pinched look between his eyebrows. Clearing his throat, his father merely gestured for him to follow. Draco held a sense of dread, but it was quickly squashed by his Veela need to put his father in his place. The idea was rather amusing. And now that Draco had nearly full control over his emotions, most of his instincts could be veiwed from an almost comical perspective.

Malfoy senior led Draco to the dining room, where they found his mother sitting with a cold look on her face. His father turned to him and pointed at the seat across from her. "Sit."

"Yes, sir." Draco said, not removing his eyes from his mother's.

"We have something to dicuss." Malfoy told him coldly. "It appears there is a problem with you, Draco."

"Pardon?" Draco frowned.

"Narcissa seems to have come to the conclusion that dirt is running into your veins." His father said through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry Father, but I'm not entirely sure as to what you mean." Draco forced himself to remain calm, his outward appearence showing nothing of the tinge of hurt he had felt from his father's words. Looking carefully at his mother, Draco recalled their conversation they had the month before he left for Hogwarts. His mother knew. His father even knew. He was part-Veela, no getting around it. The fact that his father was not coming out to say it showed Draco that he was indeed ashamed of the fact.

His father was ashamed of him.

The thought fluttered through his mind, while his face and eyes showed nothing of the battle going on inside. If they knew, if they truly knew, there was no point in hiding it. Draco cleared his throat, but did not talk. He wanted his father to make the first move.

"I have been debating this since you left for school, Draco." Malfoy narrowed his eyes in a mixture of thought and arrogance. "But after the behaivor I notice upon my visit a few months back, along with that letter I had recieved, I can come to no other conclusion."

"So," Draco started, feeling it was high time to get this conversation over and done with. "You know. Actually, you knew before anyone else."

"Draco-"

"No." Draco narrowed his eyes, finally showing his anger on his face. "I had to learn about it from a werewolf!"

"Draco-" Narcissa began.

"You mean other people know about this?" His father interupted her.

"Of course they do. How could they not?" Draco looked away. "Dumbledore had to give me my own rooms. Snape and Lupin both know. Lupin has been the only one to explain any of this Veela stuff out to me."

"Bloody-"

"Lucius." Narcissa gave him a warning look, before taking over the conversation. "Draco, we still love you. I still love you. I may not say it much, but I do. This problem is something we are going to have to learn to adjust to. You obviously know what is going on, and how to control yourself. I knew this was going to happen, I had hoped it wouldn't."

"How could you know?" Draco asked, ignoring the fuming look on his father's face.

"I-"

"Oh, here we go." Malfoy looked away.

"Lucius, if all you are going to do is make rude comments I must ask you to leave." Narcissa told him sternly. "Draco, when I went to Hogwarts my best subject was History of Magic. When I agreed to marry your father, I did the only thing that came natural to me: I researched his family. I knew of the Veela blood that was improperly mixed into the Malfoy line. I didn't think much on it, but I knew that there was a small chance that it would cause problems."

"This is ridiculous." Malfoy announced. Draco ignored him once more, staring at his mother in awe. He had never really seen the intelligent side of his mother before. His father stood, breaking Draco from his thoughts. "Look, as long as the word does not get to the public this will be fine. Don't do anything stupid. I don't want to have to cut off your inheritance."

"You would do no such thing." Narcissa shook her head. "What would your friends think, or society, if you did that to your son. Think rationally, Lucius. Draco needs our support, and we will give it to him. Is that understood?"

Malfoy senior glared at her for a moment, pointed at her, and opened his mouth. Draco was expecting him to put her in her place, but he did no such thing. Letting out a frustrated groan, Malfoy spun around and left the dining room. Narcissa smirked before looking at Draco calmly. "He'll get over it. Let him play in his office for a while and by the time Christmas is here he will be fine."

Draco never felt more proud to have her as his mother than that moment.