A/N: Okay, and the obligatory explanation chapter... *grin*

3. Snape's Lecture

It was two minutes past eight in the morning. Harry Potter, dressed in faded jeans and a black jumper for the windy day, was standing in the middle of Professor Snape's office in the dungeons. Draco Malfoy was standing beside him, his skin oddly moon-bright, his hair more radiant white than usual and his eyes reflecting lunar glow. Or was it just a trick of his mind? Harry couldn't decide, because he had never really looked at Malfoy before that closely.

"Potter, I do not expect you to understand much about Veela, which is exactly why I have asked you here this morning," Snape began.

Harry scowled at him. More because he actually found Snape's statement true.

"It is very important that you know some essential facts about Mr. Malfoy if you are to protect him during these following weeks. Therefore, sit down and pay attention, for once in you life," Snape continued.

"Well, I think it is rather important to know what kind of a freak I am forced to live with," Harry retorted. "So I'm listening."

"Freak? You call me a freak?" Draco cried, dismayed.

"Well, obviously," Harry sneered.

"Boys," Snape interrupted. "Five points from Gryffindor, for insulting my godson."

Draco simpered. Clearly he was enjoying this lecture, knowing that every single minute of it would be slow torture to Harry.

"Potter, sit down," Snape commanded.

Harry strolled patiently at one of Professor Snape's leather couches, sat down, crossed his arms and looked steadily forwards. Snape positioned himself behind his massive desk, obviously trying to look very authoritative. Although, Harry thought, the plate of sandwiches and the pumpkin juice can spoiled the image a little.

Draco hopped in an armchair next to Harry's, threw his legs lazily over the armrest and yawned. Harry couldn't help wondering the total lack of fear the Slytherin boy showed towards his professor. Obviously they were pretty close. Godson? Oh, of course.

Snape glared at the Gryffindor. "So, Mr. Potter… Perhaps it would be wise to start this little briefing with Mr. Malfoy's background."

Harry made no comment, only cocked his head a little, showing that he was listening.

"It is a very rare coincidence that Mr. Malfoy here has inherited some Veela genes. Active Veela genes, that is. As you might have heard, which I doubt, though… Veela are usually always female. Actually, Draco is only the seventeenth male Veela ever registered."

"Wonderful," Harry smiled, his eyes dim with disinterest.

"His genes are inherited from the late Mr. Lucius Malfoy, who was a half Veela himself, and the sixteenth registered male Veela in the world. Lady Narcissa is not of any Veela inheritance, his connections being in the Black family."

"How interesting," Harry simpered.

"Potter, if you find something funny in my relations…" Draco began, but Snape silenced him with a wave of his hand.

"Draco, remember what happens if you lose your temper now."

Sulking, Draco returned his attention to his shoelaces.

"What happens if Malfoy loses his temper?" Harry asked, now genuinely interested.

"You know what happens, Potter," Draco muttered, "You were at the Quidditch World Cup in 1994."

"Oh," Harry bit his lip. "Yeah… I guess I remember now. The Bulgarian Veela."

"Exactly."

"Their faces… they turned into sharp, cruel-beaked bird-heads and they grew long, scaly wings."

Draco eyed Harry warily, as did Snape, and Harry found their confused expressions so hilarious that he couldn't help bursting out laughing.

"Oh… Merlin…" he breathed in between his choked giggles. "The ever-handsome Draco Malfoy, turning into a bird!"

"Sorry to spoil your fun, Potter," Draco shouted in between Harry's noisy laughter, very much aggravated. "But as I am only partly a Veela, only the wings part works with me. I am not going to change into a bird!"

"But still! You are going to grow wings," Harry choked. "Let's see it, then!"

"Nope," Draco frowned, "Growing wings would ruin my best shirt and cloak."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Honestly, you're such a vain snob, Malfoy."

"Of course I am. The War didn't change everything," Draco grinned, half amusedly.

Harry grinned back, not knowing exactly why.

"Alright, let's continue…" Snape massaged his temples. He was obviously disturbed by the mysteriously easy atmosphere the boys so suddenly had started to create. "Potter, when Veela go angry, there will also happen other transformations than the wings. They also grow sharper teeth and long, pointed claws."

"And now you're going to spoil my fun again and tell me that only the claws part works with him, because he's only partly a Veela."

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Mr. Potter. It is the sharp teeth part works with my godson."

"So don't try to jump me, unless you wish to lose your tongue," Draco added.

Harry looked disgusted. "I wouldn't jump you even if you were the last person on earth besides me. Basically, I wonder if I'd rather jump Voldemort's dead body than you."

"Uh… Bad mental image, Potter," Draco gagged. "I'm not that awful."

Harry wondered what he had just let out of his mouth and gagged, too. "You're right –you're not that awful."

Snape massaged his temples again. "So… Mr. Potter, given the circumstances what happens if Mr. Malfoy goes angry, I suggest you really try to get along with him. Unless you wish to end up in the hospital wing, that is."

"Yeah, yeah," Harry drawled. "And was there something else to discuss, still?"

"There is," Snape said, with a low, warning tone. "You're not going to get out of this room before we have discussed this matter thoroughly. I will not tolerate you insolence. You've just made my godson's life a huge degree more difficult, and I expect you, as a bloody Gryffindor and Harry Potter at that, to make your best effort to correct your mistake."

Harry felt a little nervous, and a little guilty, too. "Okay."

Snape sat down, grabbing a croissant from a plate that was next to a huge cup of coffee on his table. He bit one end off, and chewed it before he continued. The both boys waited in silence.

"I think it is wise to cover your basic information about the Veela. There are namely some other matters than their visual transformations."

Harry nodded, glancing at Draco, who was now examining his nails.

"Veela are very beautiful and powerful magical creatures. They are called the Spirits of the Wind. This is because their ability to control the air. They can invoke storms and whirlwinds and that sort of things."

"So if I were you, I would watch my broom when next playing Quidditch," Draco added.

Harry raised his brows. "I don't believe this."

Grinning lopsidedly, Draco waved his hand and summoned a little whirlwind above Harry's head. It tousled the Gryffindor's hair even more messy than what it already was, before fading away.

"That was just a tiny one, I've not yet become in my full powers. The last night's medicine dose is still affecting somewhat," Draco explained.

However, this did not make the awed expression on Harry's face falter. "You did that without your wand."

"Of course I did. Veela do not need wands."

Professor Snape had now finished his croissant. "Alright, let us continue again. I have other plans than to spend my entire morning with you two."

Draco nuzzled more comfortably in his chair, and began to stretch his fingers. Harry turned his attention back to Snape.

"Veela are very gifted in the healing arts, knowing especially much about natural remedies, which is why Draco is so good at Potions. Their instincts guide them, and they can recognize the attributes of the ingredient by merely smelling or touching it."

"And here I always thought Malfoy's just kissing your ass, and not really being good at Potions," Harry muttered.

However Draco heard him, and sent him a deathly glare. "Watch your mouth, Golden Boy."

Snape decided to ignore, and continued as if nothing had interrupted his tirade. "But what makes Mr. Malfoy here exceptional, is that he is also a very gifted mediwizard, with the healing capability bound in his magic."

Snape fell silent, as if waiting for Harry's comment. Harry raised his brows.

"Okay, so he can do a couple of Healing Charms better than the rest of us. What's the fun in that?"

Draco's eyes widened, flashing with rage, and he leaned aggressively forwards, supporting his elbows on the armrest. "A couple of Healing Charms? A couple of Healing Charms? Oh, I think I can do so much more than that, Potter!"

"Now, now, Draco, remember your temper," Snape admonished. "I believe Mr. Potter shall find out soon enough what I really meant."

Harry was confused and eyed the blonde Slytherin sceptically. Draco's expression was like one of a little child having a tantrum. "Is there something more, still?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, there is," Snape smirked, his oily black hair falling over his eyes. "Veela are also very, and I mean very, jealous natures. If Mr. Malfoy happens to find his mate, do not go in between."

"Where did you even get the idea that I would go in between Malfoy and his mate?" Harry laughed. "Ridiculous! I think I wouldn't even be able to watch him if he was sucking someone's face."

"I only said it in case Draco's charms begin to affect also you," Snape sneered.

Harry looked appalled. "But Dumbledore says that it's very unlikely."

"Yes, it is very unlikely," Snape admitted. Then he seemed to ponder something, but obviously decided not to mention it. "Alright… I think we have now covered the most important facts. I am sure Mr. Malfoy is willing to explain you further details if needed, Potter."

"If needed?" Draco mocked.

Harry cast daggers at the Slytherin.

Snape brought his already-cold cup of coffee to his lips. "Off you go now. I've had enough of you two."

Draco hopped immediately up, went to Snape's desk, gathered a pile of food on a tray and walked at the door.

"Potter, if you would bring the pumpkin juice?" he impatiently hollered back at Harry, who clearly was perplexed about the rapid ending of the meeting. "We're eating our breakfast in the Slytherin common room."

"Oh, of course," Harry mumbled.

Slowly, Harry rose up from his couch, picked the juice can up in front of Snape's crooked nose and sauntered after Draco.

"Um, why was that again?"

"Look at the time, Potter. It's almost nine a.m. The Great Hall breakfast is over."

Harry scowled at his wristwatch, finding Draco's statement true. "I didn't even have time to explain things to Ron and Hermione. They were already sleeping last night when I returned to the tower, and I planned on telling them this morning before classes."

"Do you always need to explain everything to them?" Draco mocked. "How pathetic."

"It's called more like polite and friendly, Malfoy. If you know what those two words mean," Harry looked frostily at the blonde.

"Look, you can tell Granger in fifteen minutes," Draco sighed, "She's in my Arithmancy class."

Harry was amazed. "Malfoy, did you just say something nice to me?"

"Huh? No!" Draco frowned. "I said Granger is in my Arithmancy class. What's the nice in that?"

Harry simpered.

"Potter, I did not say anything nice to you!"

Harry hid a wide smile behind his palm.

…TBC…

A/N: Patience… ;)