Title: Wind Beneath My Wings
Rating: R
Author: Green Eyed Serpent
Disclaimer: See chap ONE
Status: Work In Process
Chapter Two
A Soul to Keep Silent
When Draco awoke the next morning, the first thing he found himself doing, was groaning. He was groaning because his body was in pain. It was aching as if he'd just run a marathon at breakneck speed. The first explanation for this strangeness that came into his mind was that he was sick. He certainly felt sick. His stomach was churning heatedly and his skin felt overly sensitive, much like the times when he was out in the scorching sun for too long and his skin got a nasty sunburn.
Curling up into a tight ball to try to rid this feeling, he forced one bleary eye open and almost immediately flinched at the blinding light streaking into the room. The sun felt like poison to his delicate irises and without a second thought, he sought the cool shadows, like a helpless worm seeking the filthy earth.
Ahh... cold.... floor... he thought in relief, pressing his flushed cheek against the smooth stone. He let his eyes flutter close for a moment until slowly, very slowly, his brain began to process his oddly acute senses. Something was amiss. Or rather, something was different. The coldness felt extremely calming, yes... but....
Didn't he usually sleep on an incredibly soft bed with fluffy feather pillows beneath his head? Where was his cozy duvet and the sound of his House Elf calling him awake?
Stretching out his stiff body like a lithe cat, he vaguely noticed that his bare foot had hit something hard and sharp.
He opened his eyes once more and stared at the scenery surrounding him. He blinked and tried to figure out where he was, for it most definitely did not look at all like his room.
Towering shelves of books- enough to make one dizzy in the head. And a tall window with thick green curtains draped elegantly from the ceiling.
He glanced down toward his feet and saw a single hardcover book; a very thick one at that, who's pages were squashed and sprawled at awkward looking angles.
And it all came flying back to him.
His room- himself, cutting Glican weeds- then accidentally piercing his hand with the razor-sharp knife. Blood. Blood everywhere, red blood, silver blood, mixing together and pain. Excruciating pain.
Stifling a scream, he scrambled to his feet, and wrapping his arms protectively around himself, began pacing back and forth along between the two shelves sandwiching him.
It was amazing how sleep could be driven out of one's mind the minute something rather more significant was brought back to memory. Panic was flooding through his veins again, as if a bucket of ice cold water had been dumped onto his head, and he had no idea what he was going to do. In fact, he wasn't even quite sure what exactly had happened to him. The only thing that he knew was that the book had stated that he was now a Veela.
A VEELA.
Oh fucking dear god. This cannot be good...
Draco bit his lip nervously, his mind racing.
So he, the one and only heir of the Malfoy line, was merrily a Veela now. And a cursed, incomplete one at that. What would he tell his parents? How was he supposed to go back to school? Perhaps there was a counter potion that he could take to undo the transformation?
He really knew absolutely nothing about Veelas; only that they were magical, non-human, immortal, beautiful, and extremely vicious. From that, being Veela certainly didn't seem too bad, but he was sure that there had to be something accursed or else people wouldn't fear them so much. And even though eternal life and godly powers were appealing, he wasn't quite eager to give up his life as a human.
Didn't Veelas have crazy rules like mate bonding? Draco thought, horrified. Not wanting to waste time, he scrambled up and began unloading as many books on Veelas as he could off the shelves and stacked them on the ground. He sat down and took the first one and skimmed through, hoping beyond hope, that in one of these eight books, he would come across something that would prove helpful in this devastating situation. There had to be lots of people who accidentally cut themselves while handling Veela blood, right?
He feverishly thumbed through page after page, but nothing seemed to mention anything about a way to undo an unintended transformation.
Feeling slightly flustered, he tossed the first book carelessly off his lap and reached for the second one.
And then the third.
And the fourth.
By the time he was searching through the seventh book, he was beginning to worry that there was absolutely nothing in the world that could cure him of his hapless slip-up. It was more than a slip-up. His life was now a complete haven leading to hell. There was no way that he could possibly keep it a secret.
Draco's hands were starting to lose their frenzy and were now turning the wads of pages rather listlessly. I'm doomed. Was the only thing he could honestly think to himself. Fucking Veelas and their fucking blood... fucking.... wow.
He halted and his eyes widened at a large picture on the page where his hand was hovering over. He felt as if he could not tear his gaze away from the breathtaking swirl of color... it was more like a priceless piece of art than a mere photograph.
It was a picture of a full-blooded Veela when their charm was radiating the strongest. They looked like angels, with a hint of mischievousness and sexiness that would make any mortal drool. Draco wasn't even attracted to women, yet these Veela seemed to have a sexuality of their own.
Shaking himself, he slammed the book shut and reached for the last book. It looked promising, but probably only because Draco was getting so desperate that any mention of the word 'Veela' or 'Blood' snared his attention now. The book's title was:
Veela blood: A Hundred and One Secrets To Solving Their Mysteries
Pleading silently that there would be something useful in this book, he touched the faded purple cover to open it. But just as he was about to do so, he heard the distinct creaking of a door and with a startled gasp, released the book as if he'd been burned.
"Draco?"
It was his father's voice. Draco stared down at the pile of books around him. He couldn't let his father see what he'd been up to. Biting his tongue to keep himself from making any noises, he stooped down frantically and began stuffing the books haphazardly back into the shelves.
"Draco, is that you?"
"Yes father- I'll be out there in a moment-"
Forcing the last book into the crammed space, he took a deep breath and walked out from between the shelves while pasting an leisurely look onto his face. He discreetly wiped his sweaty palms onto his pajamas and glanced up to see his father standing in his night robe with his silver serpent staff in one hand. He was looking oddly at Draco with raised eyebrows.
Draco was very conscious of the fact that he must look extremely odd in just his pajamas and barefooted. His hair was probably a mess too. How the hell was he supposed to make up a satisfactory excuse?
"What are you doing in the Library so early, Draco?" Lucius asked. His voice sounded almost too loud in Draco's ears, making his eardrums throb sorely.
Waving the pain off, he stretched his arms casually. "Looking for a book, obviously." he replied.
He tried to ignore the suspicious glint in his father's eyes. "You hardly ever come in here."
"So?" Draco nearly snapped, but he controlled his tone just in time. "If you must know father, I was merely in here to look for a book that might help me with an assignment. School does start next week after all."
Lucius sighed. "Don't tell me you haven't done all your school work yet. You've had a good month to finish it. I won't have you receiving lower grades then that muggleborn Draco. Do you know how much shame that brings to the family?"
Draco growled and lowered his eyes. "Yes father."
"I expect you to return this year with exceeding N.E.W.T.s. Is that clear?"
"Yes father."
"And Draco?"
Draco clenched his fists in irritation. But there was something other than irritation boiling up inside of him. It was an emotion he'd never felt before. As if he wanted to scratch his father's eyes out...
"Yes, father?"
Lucius stepped forward and lowered his face dangerously close to Draco's. Draco sucked in a sharp breath.
"Might I remind you that you will be receiving the gift from the Dark Lord when you come back for the Holidays. I suggest that you do something before then in return. If you cannot think of something suitable, then I will decide for you."
"I will think of something father." hissed Draco, stepping back and glaring with an insulted air. "You don't have to worry about that."
"Good. Well it is time for breakfast. Let us adjourn to the dining room."
Lucius gave Draco one scrutinizing look and then he turned on his heel and strode out of the Library without another word.
When the door swung shut again behind his father's retreating back, and there was silence once more, Draco let out a long sigh and unclenched his fists that had been gripping handfuls of his silk pajama bottoms. The anger inside him ebbed away, but he felt nothing close to relief. In fact, he felt confused because of this anger. He'd never in his life wanted to actually physically hurt his own father. Perhaps he'd been angry enough to give him the silent treatment in the past, but never anything worse. He usually looked up to him and held some amount of respect for the man.
But not today. He hated his father for the first time. And only because he'd gotten on Draco's nerves.
God, what the fuck is going on with me? Draco implored desperately as he ran an unsteady hand through his hair. It's even starting to mess with my mind.
Quickly checking once more that the books were back in the shelves in an inconspicuous way, he made his way to the dining hall in nervous spirits.
His mother and father were already seated in their places, and hardly acknowledged his arrival. The House Elves were scurrying back and forth from the kitchen to the long table, carrying trays and trays of food.
It was the scene he saw every morning and nothing seemed out of place.
Draco himself, sat down at his usual end and patted down his table napkin with tense fingers.
"Master Draco?" a high-pitched squeak sounded from beside him.
"What?" he exclaimed a bit too loudly. "I mean, yes?"
The House Elf looked confused for a second and then it's expression became polite.
"What would Master Draco like for his breakfast this morning?"
"Oh-" Duh. Putting on a look of superiority, he frowned. "Whatever father is having."
"Yes, Master Draco."
Draco snuck a quick glance at his father, but his father was eating his roll and jam with a copy of the Daily Prophet propped in one hand, showing no sign that he was even aware that Draco was present and sitting in the same room. So far, everything was going normally and knowing that made Draco relax a might.
A few seconds later, the same House Elf appeared next to him and bowed low before setting the basket of fresh bread rolls, jam, and eggs on the table.
The good first half of breakfast was a silent affair. Mrs. Malfoy excused herself after finishing her cup of Black Tea and Draco was once more alone with his father.
"May I see that after you, father?" Draco inquired lightly, wiping his mouth with his serviette before taking a sip of his coffee. After a pause, Mr. Malfoy refolded the paper and snapped his fingers sharply. A House Elf immediately rushed up to him and took the paper from him with humble hands.
"Give this to Draco."
"Yes, Master."
The House Elf bowed low and then was at Draco's end of the table in less then three seconds. Considering the length of the table, it was quite an extraordinary thing.
"Son?"
Draco looked up from the paper abruptly and gulped. "Yes?"
"I believe today is the 25th?"
Draco's eyes flickered to the top of the Daily Prophet where the date was printed. "It is."
"Then perhaps you should get ready, or do you have other things in mind?"
"Get ready....?"
"I am sure I am not mistaken when I say that you usually go shopping for your school things on the 25th?" his father said with his eyebrow raised.
Draco bit his tongue. Any more of these mistakes and his father would surely come to suspect something...
Forcing himself to look right into the other pair of piercing blue eyes to try and show that he wasn't making anything up, he shrugged.
"I'd thought I'd have one of the House Elves collect my things. It's a bit of a bother to have to go all the way to Diagon Alley just to get a few books and new robes and such."
Lucius' frown was rather cold and made Draco cringe slightly. "Then I suggest that you use the time to study, as you seem to be behind this summer."
"I'm not behind." he protested. "I just need to read over a few assignments and make sure that they're flawless."
"Very well." his father placed his table napkin atop his empty plate and stood up. "I have to visit the Minister, so I will be gone for most of the day." He made to leave but then turned again. "Oh and this morning, I received a reply from Professor Snape about the Head Boy issue and he was able to convince the Headmaster to appoint you the position."
Draco only nodded.
All of the sudden he wasn't so tickled by the thought of becoming Head Boy. Until yesterday, he would have been pleased with the power his father had and his ability to ensure that Draco got the best of everything at Hogwarts, but now... Now was a different story.
Now, he could only regret ever wanting to become Head Boy in the first place. Now, he wished that for the first time in his life, he could become unnoticed; enough to blend in with everyone around him. He really didn't think that with all the Veela research he planned to do nightly while the other students were asleep, he could keep to the duties that were expected of the Head students. Not to mention the fact that he would be breaking about half the rules of the school himself by sneaking to the Library during the darkest hours.
But unfortunately, there was no backing out of it now. He would have to face the coming school year in the shape he was in whether he liked it or not. He still had a week to think things through and plan things out.
Unconsciously rubbing the stretch of skin on the back of his hand where he'd cut himself the previous night, he sighed and retreated to his room.
They were standing on the familiar platform, being jostled back and forth by the angry swarm of students fighting to make their way through like everyone else.
In front of them, billowing magnificent plumes of white steam, was a scarlet locomotive with HOGWARTS EXPRESS dashed across the side in impressively large, gold letters.
Harry couldn't suppress a rather childish grin as he followed after Ron, who was busy brandishing his owl cage at the smaller students, shooing them out of the way.
"Head Girl, The-Boy-Who-Lived, and Gryffindor Prefect coming through! Skip along now! Make way!"
"Ronald Weasley!" the aforesaid Head Girl scolded sharply. "That is not how you treat younger students! Try to be a good role model for Merlin's sake!"
Harry laughed and shaking his head, nudged his redheaded best friend in the back with his elbow.
"You're starting to become Fred and George, Ron. I'd be careful if I were you."
Ron's eyes widened in mock horror.
"Gosh, Harry. Wouldn't want that now, would we?"
"No, we definitely wouldn't." Hermione said seriously. "That would be a nightmare, honestly. From the looks of it, we've probably got enough Dungbomb parties to deal with without you joining in the festivities."
And Harry had to admit that Hermione had some point. This year's first years seemed to be just full of innocent pranksters that had only one thing in mind for Hogwarts- to find a way to sneak off to Hogsmeade on the weekends, even though the town was strictly off-limits to them. Harry saw a good number of them with oddly bulging pockets that looked only too familiar to his eyes, as he'd spent half his years at Hogwarts watching Ron's two older twin brothers throwing them into Filch's office for fun.
But, it didn't bother him any because he wasn't the one that would have to deal with the little mischief makers; that task would be left for his best friends.
"Come on 'Mione. Lighten up. It's our last bloody year and all. We've got to have so fun." Ron said with a frown. Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. "What- you don't expect us to drive ourselves into depression with thoughts about N.E.W.T.s do you?"
"And why would you get depressed by studying for something that will largely effect what becomes of your future?" she asked incredulously, then paused as an afterthought. "No- don't answer that. I don't want to feel any more hopeless for you then I already do."
Ron glared at her as if she was being completely insensible. "You feel hopeless for me? Why? What's wrong with me?"
Hermione exhaled exasperatedly. "Nothing. Never mind. Now can we just board the train already or must we wait until it leaves without us?"
"I'm not the one holding us up." Ron muttered, heaving his enormous and battered trunk up through the door of one of the cars.
Once they were all inside with their luggage carefully stowed in the baggage rack, they hurried down the length of the train in an attempt to find an empty compartment.
"Is it just me, or are there an exceeding number of first years?" Harry mused outloud to no one in particular.
"The more, the merrier." was Hermione's reply.
In the end, although they weren't successful in coming across a completely empty compartment, they were somewhat obliged to be satisfied to share one with a noisy groups of first years who seemed keen about hopping around on the seats and waving their wands around and shouting meaningless incantations.
Stuffing their fingers in their ears, the trio sat themselves as far from the hyperactive younglings as they could and tried to act as if the loud screeching and giggling did not bother them a bit. Hermione was fairing the best, as she had enough patience to smile warmly at them every now and then, but Ron and Harry were sure that if the noise didn't die down soon, they would.
"And you said 'The more, the what'???" Ron shouted furiously at Hermione.
"Oh don't be so unfair Ron. They're just excited about starting Wizarding school for the first time in their lives. I remember you were ecstatic about it too seven years ago." she said placidly.
Ron laughed. "I was not ecstatic about it! You were the one going about insulting people because their spells didn't work!"
"Well, honestly! Sunshine, daises, butter mellow- turn this stupid fat rat yellow! ? What kind of ridiculous incantation is that?"
"How was I supposed to know it was bogus? I mean, Fred and George were in their third year and knew a hell of a lot more stuff about magic then I did!"
"But still. Anyone could tell that there is no such incantation in all the books of the wizarding world."
"You're making it sound like I'm totally incapable of having a brain! But let me tell you that I have one, and it's in spiffing working condition-"
At this point, Harry knew that he'd have to cut into the rather heated conversation or he'd surely go deaf; as the intensity of noise was literally whacking out his brain cells one by one. He held both his hands up to get their attention and opened his mouth to bellow something along the lines of "SHUT UP" but was saved the trouble by a flying chocolate frog.
One of the overly excited students sharing the compartment with them had just opened a fresh packet of chocolate frogs but hadn't been forewarned that the delicacies actually jumped like real frogs.
Harry watched in horror as the frog leaped in slow motion out of the surprised boy's hands and soared through the air and over his head.
Ron's mouth stopped moving too and his eyes widened as the frog landed with a squelching 'shlump' on Hermione's face, clinging with it's webbed feet for dear life.
There was a dead silence for a moment before Hermione's piercing scream exploded through the whole compartment. In fact, there was no doubt in Harry's mind that the conductor (if there was one) at the front of the train, could hear it too.
It was complete chaos from there.
Hermione shot up from her seat and waved hands frantically at her face while pleading with someone to get whatever that was on her face, off. Ron was hopping around her, telling her to 'calm the bloody hell down, it's just a chocolate frog- I'll get it off of you if you stop flailing!' and the first years were all giggling and laughing joyously as if they were watching a spectacular circus stunt.
Harry decided with a small smile that he'd sit back and enjoy the show too, as this was the only and last time that he would see his two best friends making such fools of themselves together. They were always so intent on biting each other's head's off, that something like this made them seem almost human.
If only the impossible happened and they suddenly decided to fancy each other. Now wouldn't that be golden? Harry thought amusedly.
But alas, two people so inconceivably different could not possibly learn to see each other in a romantic way. Hermione had her books to keep her content, and Ron had his Quidditch Captain duties, and Harry personally thought that other than the fact that they both had obsessions, they did not share a single interest that might spark something anew.
Not that Harry spent his time pondering about his best friend's love lives. In truth, the concept of 'love' seemed quite preposterous in his mind's eye, since nothing of the sort had ever happened upon him, even by chance. At least not since the Cho stage he'd long said goodbye too back in his fifth year.
That had been his first and last exploit to attempt reaching out toward the opposite sex.
He'd decided that to bother with dates and mates was just simply... bothersome. And there was no other way to put it. The less his mind was preoccupied with being embarrassed about girls, the more relaxed he felt. And it wasn't as if he cut himself off from the whole population of girls either. He had Hermione, who was indeed a female, and he spent enough time with her to prove this fact.
Besides all that, he was positive that if he wasn't the bloody Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, then he would be receiving none of the attention that he was getting now. No one would want someone like him who wore ridiculously baggy hand-me-downs of his mammoth of a cousin, sported thick glasses, and had untamable hair that looked as if he hadn't combed it since the day he'd been born.
He didn't dislike his own appearance, yet he didn't care for it either. The only thing that mattered in his life were his friends, getting through the school year alive, and Quidditch. It was a simple life, (if he looked past all the near-death encounters with Voldemort, and the press and flashing cameras always chasing him around), and he wanted it to stay simple.
And like Ron had said, after all this being his last year at Hogwarts, the only place where he could call 'home', he wanted to cherish it and enjoy it as much as he could, despite the heavy fear of N.E.W.T.s looming ahead of him like a huge nimbus cloud.
I don't care what happens this year. I'll take it in a stride and be grateful for it. Harry decided sure-footedly. It'll be a good year.
Harry sat back snugly in his seat, feeling pleasantly content with himself, and not knowing that while these thoughts went through his mind, there was another soul in the same train, sitting only a few compartments away, who was thinking the exact opposite. And that these opposite thoughts had to do with him, Harry Potter.
A/N
Second chapter up! Sorry for the wait! I hope you like it.
Review! Review! Review!
Thank you!
X
Green Eyed Serpent
Now! A special thanks to all my reviewers:
swtdreams07
Har har har. We'll just have to wait and see about the potion, hm?
Thanks so much for reviewing.
Alora
I know- totally Draco and Harry forever, right? lol.
I'm thrilled that you find this story exciting. I can't wait to hear how you liked the second chapter. XXX
KeyvieSnape
Hope the second chapter didn't change your opinion about this becoming a GREAT story! Please tell me how it faired for you and I will be truly grateful. Thanks for reviewing:)
NettieT
I've had a bunch of 'What potion was Draco making???' Q's and my hands are itching to write more about it. But it will come soon, probably in the next chapter. The part about his parents? Well, hopefully this chap answered that question. :) Thanks for reviewing!
LUCKYSTAR14
Wow, I don't even deserve that awesome review you gave me. You're too wonderful. And I see you've even added me to your fav list. That is waaaaay too sweet. I hope you like this chapter, and I am excitedly awaiting your reaction to it. Lots of hugs to you.
LaraBlack
Is your name really Lara? If it is, I just want to bring up the tiny fact that I love that name. Mostly because of Lara Croft (she was hot). Sorry, way off topic. AAAAnyways. I'm glad you liked it! and I hope you like this new chap too! Thanks so much for your review.
Yana5
Your review was simple and sweet, yet surprisingly, it made me incredibly happy. Thanks so much for reading my story and reviewing it. XXX
TERRY MAXWELL
Don't worry, you'll be able to read more and more and more and more...
I'll make sure of that. And hopefully, I won't let you down.
Thanks over and over again for reviewing!
Makalani Astral
I wasn't aware that it was that much of a new twist but I seem to be getting a lot of people saying that they've never read a story where the Veela thing is accidental. (nods head and smiles smugly) Cool. Heh heh.
Thanks for reviewing! Hope you like the next chapter.
Angelous999
I always think original is good. And I've been trying that for a while now. But this story just might be my golden galleon. Hm?
Thanks so much for reviewing:)
zoomaphonethepirate
Very cool name. Like it. :)
Draco being a Veela? Who could ask for anything more sexy?
Tell me, WHAT could be any hotter? (grins stupidly)
Alright. Anyways, thanks for reviewing, and I hope you liked the new chap.
Kavfh
Did you like the second chapter? Please say yes? heh.
Just want to say thanks for reviewing, I like it when people use happy exclamation marks in their reviews. It quite makes my day. -winks-
Slash-Lover
Ahh. It's the slash lover. You're officially my friend.
Well, that is if you refrain from killing me. You can do anything else that you want, just keep me alive or I won't update for you, and wouldn't that be a shame?
Tell me what you thought of this chap, will you? Hope you liked it:)
fragonknight01
Where the &$ is the update? Here it is. I hope 96 hours wasn't too long of a wait. -winks-
Thanks for reviewing! And hope this chapter sufficed.
Warmlight
You likey? Me very glad.
I'm happy that you like the story so far and hope that this new chap is just as good as the first.
I agree that the 'hey I had no idea but all of the sudden, Draco's family tree had Veelas, did you know?' thing was getting kind of old. So TADA, new version coming through! :)
nightwing
The wandlight behind the ear? Haha, thanks. Small comments on my writing helps me out a lot and makes me grin like an idiot.
Thanks so much for reviewing and I hope you like this new chapter!
Thanks again to all that reviewed! And of course to all that read my first two chapters.
-Kevin (aka green eyed serpent)