I got SO many reviews! When I went to check my e-mail the next day after I posted the fifth chapter, I was like, "OH MY GOD!!" I swear, my eyes were bulging out!! I mean, I got about 30 reviews in one day!!
Hmmm…and I got reviews from my idol (you know who you are!!), and my friends (you know who you are as well!!). Hmmm…come to think about it, I actually got reviews from the two people who inspired me on this!! Michael Serpent and Frizzy…hmmm…interesting…
Anyhoo…the beginnings of this chapter is just short clippets of stuff from different time periods…hee…it'll get better…
AND!! This chapter's deticated to Michael…since he's gojng through a haaard time!! Love ya, babe!!
Chapter 6 ~ Dead or Dying?"Dr-…Draco? Where are you going…?"
"Out…"
"But…but you can't! I mean, you're too weak! And…and you'll get worse!"
"I want to see the outside of this damn room before I…before I go…"
"But…but…"
"And besides, Pansy, who cares if I get worse? It's not like staying here's going to get me anywhere besides Hell…"
~*~
Iris sat next to the fireplace, blinking her eyes rapidly. She willed herself not to cry. It would be stupid, after all. She couldn't cry! Moons never cried, just like Malfoys. Hell, none of the Slytherins really were allowed to cry…
But really, on an occasion like this, who wouldn't cry? After all, one of her friends were going to die within the next two hours. One of her best friends, actually. He was going to die, and it was all Harry Potter's fault.
Stupid Potter…fuck him, he was the cause of all this! Why couldn't the Dark Lord just have killed him when he was a baby? What was so special about him to have been able to repel the spell?
Iris hated him with all her heart. He might as well have killed Draco by using the Avada Kedavra curse, because there wouldn't be a difference. It would just have been dying sooner…
But still, stored deep in her soul, one little part of her was telling It is that it actually was partially her fault that Draco was going to die…if she hadn't pushed Potter…maybe he would have kissed Draco on his own. If she hadn't forced him…
Oh fuck, why did she? Draco had warned them…warned her a number of times about not forcing him…and she did! She bloody pushed Potter! If she didn't…if she hadn't…
Iris sighed tiredly. It wasn't any help now…she had pushed him, and now she regretted it.
It just wasn't fair…it fucking wasn't…
~*~
"Oh Severus…" Dumbledore sighed.
"What?" Snape snapped back. He was in an extremely bad mood, and every little thing could annoy him.
"You know what, Severus," Dumbledore answered, gazing sternly at Snape over the top of his glasses. "I warned you a number of times about the mate process…and still, you did not listen. And even besides that, you are educated enough about Veelas to know that you cannot force their mate to kiss them!"
Snape glared at Dumbledore angrily. "It wasn't my fault!" he hissed. "If Potter had not been so arrogant about kissing Draco, then this would not have happened!"
"Harry and Mr. Malfoy have been enemies for six years," Dumbledore said calmly. "It is not easy to show any affection, much less love, to one that you have hated for so long."
"This isn't about love!" Snape barked. "This is about one god damn kiss! What's so hard about it?"
"What's hard about it, Severus, is that you must put force a type of love in order to kiss a Veela, if you are indeed his mate," Dumbledore replied. "Harry never had any love for Mr. Malfoy, and it is not easy to change the black in Harry's heart to white."
"I'm not going to stand lolling around talking to you about mushy stuff Dumbledore," Snape retorted. "What are we going to do about Draco?"
"If they are indeed meant to be, and if Mr. Malfoy is not to die, then fate will take course. " Dumbledore said. "We must wait and see."
~*~
"Harry!"Harry turned around, hoping that he was hearing things. He had no intention of striking up a conversation with anyone.
However, he was disappointed.
Katie Bell came racing up to him; hair messed up, face red with fury.
"Where the hell have you been?" she screamed. "You left us out there for three fucking hours! Where have you been? I've been trying to find you all day! What have you got to say for yourself?"
"What?" Harry asked, bewildered. Then, he suddenly remembered. "Oh! Quidditch!"
"Yes, Quidditch," Katie ranted. "You never came back! I finally let the team leave when Jack Sloper fell asleep on his broom, in mid-air! Where the fuck have you been?"
"I…I…" Harry was about to tell Katie the truth, but then, stopped. Firstly, it wasn't a good idea to tell anyone about him being Draco Malfoy's mate, and secondly, Katie wasn't going to believe him anyway.
"I forgot…" he mumbled, hoping to sound truthful.
Katie seemed to believe him. "You forgot?" she screeched. "How could you forget? I thought Quidditch was important to you!"
"It is!" Harry shot back. "But I am allowed to have other things on my mind…"
"You…" Katie started, but then stopped. "Okay…" she said, breathing heavily. "I'll forgive you…I just hope you don't do that again…I don't have time to fight with you anyway…I have to meet up with Anthony…"
She seemed to be talking to herself in the last few sentences.
"Anthony Goldstein?" Harry called after her, as she walked away.
Katie turned, her face redder than before. "Kind of…" she muttered.
"Harry! Where have you been, mate?" Harry climbed into the Gryffindor common room to find Ron and Hermione anxiously waiting for him.
"No where…no where…" Harry muttered.
"Ummm…yeah…you have been somewhere…we haven't seen you all day!" Ron said. "Where?"
"Just…out…" Harry said. "Doing…you know…nothing…"
"So why didn't you come back to practice last night?" Ron demanded. "Katie was furious!"
"Yeah…I know," Harry said. "She caught up with me…"
"But…but how did you just disappear for the whole entire day? We were so worried!"
"I'm sorry…" Harry said. "I…I fell asleep outside last night…and it wasn't the whole day! You saw me at mealtimes…"
"Yeah…" Ron said. "But then, before we could talk to you, you always disappeared again!"
"I…I've just been thinking…" Harry muttered.
"Really, are you okay, Harry?" Ron asked. "You don't look very well…did you meet up with Malfoy or something?"
"NO!" Harry jumped to his feet and stared wildly at Ron. "Who told you that?" he asked shrilly.
"No…no one…" Ron said, looking totally bewildered. "It was…I was…"
"Harry?" Hermione, who had been quiet the whole time, now spoke, while giving Harry a strange look. "Are…are you sure everything's alright?"
"Yes…yes…fine…" Harry said. Then, he got up. "I need to take a walk…"
"But you just got back!" Ron protested. "And besides, you might be caught by Filch! Why don't you at least bring your Invisibility Cloak! I mean…Harry…Harry?"
But he was already out the door.
Harry walked, hoping not to get caught. Part of him didn't really care, actually, because a little detention would bring things back to reality.
He needed time to think. Things were so confusing right now…it was as if his life just made a sharp U-turn. Everything was the opposite now…he forgot about Quidditch…he didn't want to talk to his best friends…and…and he was Draco Malfoy's mate…
Harry didn't know what to think about this. A piece of him believed it, and another didn't. He and Malfoy had been enemies for so long, after all…what was the sudden change for all this?
Why couldn't his mate be someone like Parkinson, or Moon! Why did it have to be Harry?
And the thing about it being Harry…it meant that Draco Malfoy was gay! Malfoy, of all people…if anyone had told Harry that Malfoy was gay, a Veela, and Harry was his mate a week ago, Harry would have told them that they must have taken a hit on the head by a Bludger pretty hard.
Harry had been trying to comprehend all this ever since he was thrown out of the dungeons by Snape. He had gone on a long walk around the castle trying to think it through, but failed miserable. Hell, he had even spent a cold, lonely night outside by the lake to get his mind to work with him.
But nothing worked.
All Harry could think were the words, "No…please…don't…h – h - hurt him…Don't hurt…Harry…".
That was it. That weak, feeble voice calling out as if it's life depended on it…and Harry knew that it was Malfoy's.
It was so strange…he never would have thought that Draco Malfoy would be weak, and helpless. Harry had always known Malfoy as some sneering over-powering git who never should have set foot on this earth. But now…now Harry also could know Malfoy as a fragile body who was practically doomed…
Because of him…
It just was so-
Wait…what was that?
Harry could've sworn he felt something…it seemed familiar…like he had felt it before…but…where?
He hurried on through the corridors, his feet seeming to walk by themselves.
No…please…don't…h – h - hurt him…Don't hurt…Harry…
Damn…where had that come from? Harry didn't need that right now…not when he was trying so hard to remember where this sense was coming from…
No…please…don't…h – h - hurt him…Don't hurt…Harry…
"Go…away…" he muttered to himself.
The feeling was stronger now…he was getting closer, he knew it…he felt like a predator after his prey…only he didn't know what his prey was…
Harry rounded the last corner…
~*~
Draco stumbled on and on, not knowing where he was going, and past caring. It didn't matter…he was going to die anyway…
Because Harry didn't want him…
Because he was an arrogant git…
Everything was so damn strange these days…it was just so off-course. It seemed like months ago that he had turned 16…years ago that he had a normal, carefree life, with no worries except for his studies…years ago that he hated Harry Potter.
And why, though? Why didn't Draco hate Potter anymore? Why was Harry Potter his mate? Was it fate, or a coincidence?
There were so many questions swirled in Draco's head that he hardly had any mind left to think, much less try and walk in a straight line.
Was this new feeling that Draco had for Potter love? Or was it just some overpowering lust? And how could it be love, anyway? When Draco had hated Harry all those years…how could he love him when they had been archenemies for the past six years? It wasn't possible, was it? How could Draco "love" someone, just because he happened to glance at their direction?
Not like it mattered…Draco was going to die anyway. Harry didn't want him…and that was that. Nobody cared…
He would have just lied on his sickbed, waiting for that peaceful, eternal sleep to come to him, but he couldn't. He wanted to go outside, to try and watch the beautiful moon, and the bright shining stars one more time…to feel the cool breeze of the night tickle his skin…
And so, because of this, Draco was here, staggering, his eyes unfocused, his hands moving up and down the walls, trying to feel his way outside of the castle…to be able to die in peace among the wondrous gloried of the earth.
He was still stumbling when a voice called out,
"Draco? Is…is that you?"
All Justin Finch-Fletchley wanted to do that night was take a late shower, while thinking about how to seduce his one true love, Draco Malfoy. He was sure that he, Justin, was the half-Veela's mate, and it was just taking Draco some time to get used to it. That was all. He'd come around soon.
But this was even better. Standing in front of him, were all of his wishes and reams come true. It was as if fate had brought them here, so that they could be united. This was just great.
"Draco?" he said again, grinning like an idiot. He glanced up and down the halls, and found, with immense satisfaction, that no one was in sight. This was perfect…
Draco finally seemed to realize who the speaker was, and his face screwed up into a scowl. "What do you…want…Finch-Fletchley?" he asked in a raspy voice.
Justin took a step forward. "Are you catching a cold, Draco?" he purred. "You really shouldn't be out this late…it's so chilly…"
"Like…I…care…"
"Oh, but I care," Justin said. "Want me to help you…warm up?"
"You…wish…"
"Upon a star," Justin recited, his eyes gleaming wildly, still walking slowly towards the half-Veela. "And you'll help me make that wish come true, won't you?"
"Fuck-"
But Draco was silenced when a palm was placed on his mouth.
"Shhhh…Draco," Justin said, leaning in and talking into his ear. "You really mustn't swear…it's not proper for you…" he paused, a disgusting smirk placed across his lips. "Unless…you wanted to say 'fuck me'…now…that's proper…and that's what I'm going to do…"
And with that, he leaned back, and tried to meet Draco's lips with his own. When Draco struggled and kept his face away from Justin, he let out an angry growl and leaned back.
"Now now, Draco," he whispered. "I wish you wouldn't do that. But still, I'm not going to put any bind on you, because if I do, what's the fun?"
He leaned back in, and this time, instead of trying to kiss Draco's lips, he put his mouth on his neck, and started sucking hungrily. Draco let out a gasp of revulsion, and desperately tried to struggle away. However, this only made Justin more desperate to hold on, and he ended up using his hands to pin Draco's arms against the wall.
"I like the naughty you, Draco," he murmured, with a need in his voice.
He took his hands off Draco's arms, and before Draco could react, he was pinned down again, this time on his chest. Justin's greedy fingers started unclasping Draco's robes, his eager fingers sliding across the pale, smooth skin.
"I know you like this, Draco," he smirked. "Don't struggle…why won't you just admit that I'm your mate? That we're destined for each other? Well, you don't have to," Justin continued. "I'll make you."
Draco felt like crying. Here he was, helpless, about to be raped. It wasn't fair…he had just about half an hour more to live…he was never going to see the moon again…never again the stars…he would never feel happiness rise up in him when he was outside, a bright sun overhead, being happy with his friends. He would never see his friends again…his family…
He would never see Harry again.
As these thoughts entered his mind, he tried to swallow the lump that was mounting in his throat…tried to blink away the tears. He must keep his dignity…
But he also found it hard to do, as he saw Justin about to lower his mouth to his nipples, and as he felt fingers trying to undo his trousers.
And he knew that all was lost.
Or so he thought.
"Hey, Justin!"
Harry had been going on and on, his mind about to burst with curiosity and need for finding his destination. His feet were leading him, walking on their own. He had no control over them.
Down one corridor…up one staircase…it seemed never ending…
Until…
Harry's feet abruptly stopped, and he glanced around, confused. What was so interesting about this place?
Then, he heard it…it was just around the corner…a…a whimpering of some sort…he cautiously leaned around it, pulling his wand out as he did so.
What he saw next made him gasp in shock. There was Draco Malfoy, with Justin Finch-Fletchley practically on top of him, pulling at Draco's trousers, his mouth lowering to Malfoy's chest.
The look on Malfoy's face, Harry knew, was most likely to be etched in his mind forever. It was disgust…anger…but besides that, Harry could also see fear…hopelessness. It was too agonizing to watch…
He took a step forward and called out, "Hey, Justin!"
Justin froze, lifted his head up, and stared at Harry, apparently in shock. Malfoy had also lifted his head, and was now gazing wearily at Harry's direction. Harry didn't know if Draco recognized him at all.
Justin finally shook off the shock, and scowled. "What, Harry?" he asked. "Can't you see we're a little busy right here?"
Harry made a face. "I can see that you're busy," he said. "But I'm not sure about Malfoy here…"
"Oh please," Justin said, rolling his eyes. "I'm just helping Draco here how to finally recognize me as his mate!"
"Justin…" Harry said, sounding serious now. "You know that rape isn't allowed here…"
"Since when have you become the prefect?" Justin sneered.
"Since never," Harry replied. "But I can take this to Dumbledore…"
Justin narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't…"
"Watch me," Harry said simply. He turned to leave.
There was a pause - and then, "Expelliarmus!"
Harry, however, was ready. Turning, he raised his wand and cried, "Protego!"
The spell rebounded and hit Justin. He flew a good 30 feet, and finally got up, wincing.
"You'll pay for that, Potter," he threatened. Then, turning to Draco, he said, "And we'll finish this later…privately."
He left, glancing nervously over his shoulder as he went, and Harry was stuck alone with Draco Malfoy.
For some reason, Harry felt uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because Malfoy, for once, was quiet, lying shuddering on the floor, face turned away. Or, maybe it was because just less than twenty-four hours ago, Harry found out that he was Draco's mate. Whatever the reason, Harry felt very awkward.
Finally, he decided that he ought to do something. "Er…Malfoy?" he asked, inching closer to the trembling boy.
Draco made no reply, but Harry thought he heard him give a soft sigh. He bent down next to the blonde, and gently turned him over. The Slytherin looked like he had just been given the Dementor's Kiss. He was staring straight ahead, his shoulders trembling, mouth slightly opened. He seemed absolutely petrified.
"Malfoy?" Harry tried again, starting to feel slightly worried. What if Malfoy got permanent damage from this? How would he, Harry explain to everyone what they were doing late at night, outside their dormitories?
But he really didn't need to be worried. Because as soon as he called the blonde's name a second time, Draco's feature suddenly seemed to snap, and he looked curiously up.
"P-P-Potter?" he asked raggedly.
"Yeah…" Harry said uneasily. "Me…er…can you stand? I think I should help you get back to your dormitory…"
Draco nodded weakly and began to stand, Harry was still on the ground, frozen as he watched the boy with his struggle to stand.
With a cry, Draco's knees gave way, and he fell backwards unsteadily. He would have crashed into the floor and fallen into the peaceful bliss of unconsciousness, if two strong arms had not reached out and caught him.
Harry looked at the boy in his arms, so fragile and weak. And he felt something stir somewhere in his chest…something that made a lump come to his throat, and make it hard to breathe. And he was scared. He had never felt anything like this before…he had never felt anything but hatred for Draco Malfoy…and now…it was so different…
Draco Malfoy could feel that he was dying…it was obvious. And it wasn't so bad, actually…there wasn't any pain involved…it was just sleepiness. He was getting more tired and weak by the minute, but that was okay. It didn't hurt.
And besides, he was in the arms of Harry Potter right now. His mate…he had saved him…so really…it was alright…
Besides the fact that he was never going to see his parents again…he was never going to see his friends again…nor enjoy the crisp sunshine…he was just going to be…gone…
And how did he know if there actually was an afterlife? Oh sure…there were the ghosts that came back…but how did Draco know that those weren't just special people who were fated to be like that? What if there was no afterlife? What if…when he died…he just…died? Never to know anything again…
He didn't know it, but two drops of clear liquid came spilling out of his closed eyes, down his cheeks.
And then, the chanting began inside his head.
5 more minutes…
Harry watched the tears with fascination. Here was Draco Malfoy, in his arms, crying. And if that wasn't enough, he looked so pale and brittle that Harry was sure if he moved his arms, he would do serious injury. This was Draco Malfoy, strong-willed and tough in the past, weak and delicate in the present.
And Harry felt the feeling in his chest deepen…his heart pounding ferociously.
"Malfoy…don't cry…" he said pleadingly. "D-don't…don't cry Draco…"
Draco opened his eyes a bit, and looked aimlessly up. "Dr-Dr-Draco…" he whispered hoarsely.
4 more minutes…
"What?" Harry asked, bewildered. Had Malfoy just lost it all? "Er…I'm Harry…"
The blonde gave a small smile, and closed his eyes, causing more tears to spill.
"No…" he murmured. "You…you c-…called me…Draco…"
"Oh…" he had, hadn't he? It was strange…all his life, he had been calling him 'Malfoy', but now…now he just instinctively called him 'Draco'…
3 more minutes…
Draco could feel Death. It was just around the corner, making it's way slowly toward Draco. He felt it's cold aurora, and he shivered slightly, suddenly afraid. The coldness seeped through him, making Death seem filled with hatred…grief…
Harry had also felt something, but not the something Draco was feeling. All he knew was that he had never felt anything like this. The closest he could relate was with Sirius, but that was different than this…or Cho…this seemed like what he had felt for Cho…but it still wasn't the same…Was it stronger, or weaker? Harry didn't know.
And looking at Draco…watching him start to tremble…his face slowly turn white, his breathing shallow…made that feeling all the more. What was it?
2 more minutes…
Oh yes…Draco was absolutely terrified now. Death was just a few feet away from him. Soon, it would lay its icy fingers on him, and all would be over. But then again…maybe not…maybe a miracle would happen, although Draco seriously doubted this. It was already a miracle that he hadn't been raped by Finch-Fletchley…how would another miracle come so quickly?
1 more minute…
Harry was confused. Malfoy looked so…well…scared…like something bad was going to happen. Harry could feel it too, though. Something in the back of his mind was telling him that he should do something, or something terrible was to happen…but…what was it? He couldn't remember. And he also couldn't tear his gaze off the boy in his arms.
20 more seconds…
This was it. Draco could feel Death right now…its hands barely a foot away from him. He gave one last soft sigh, and tried to smile. At least Harry could always remember that smile as the last thing on Draco's lips…
And time slowed.
10…more…seconds…
Harry really was filled with mixed feelings now…it was that one he couldn't describe…and now…he felt a sense of foreboding. It was strange…
He stared at Draco, suddenly realizing that something was wrong with him. He looked…he looked like he was…well…dead…or dying…
And it didn't feel right. Harry didn't want to feel anything as horrible as this.
And besides…looking at Draco Malfoy…Harry could tell that he was beautiful. Wait…he was…?
Yes…Harry decided Draco was absolutely stunning. He had just never noticed it under all the hate that Malfoy put on. But now…after all the despise melted away…Harry could see the true Draco Malfoy. And he knew that Malfoy was not the boy he once knew.
He was more than that. A mixture of emotions…too many to count. And he was hurt…hurt in a way that Harry had never seen before.
And he wanted to kiss the pain away.
So he did.
2…more…second-
Suddenly, Draco was aware of the diminishing of the voices in his head. He felt Death's icy fingers suddenly jerk from his surrounding…he was aware of warmth…slowly sliding into place around him…he was aware that he had stopped feeling so cold…he was aware of the tears on his face.
And he was aware of those sweet…sweet lips on his own.
He was tired…exhausted…he couldn't kiss back…even if he tried, he couldn't. He felt like he was going to pass out if he moved.
But he wanted those lips to stay on his forever.
Finally, too soon for Draco's liking, Harry pulled away. As the two boys stared at each other, none could find their own voices. Finally, Draco spoke.
"You know…" he said shakily. "I'm supposed to be…dead…"
Harry gave him a small smile.
"Maybe you are," he replied.
~*~
*sigh*…that took a while…lol…
Anyhoo…I left it as a "sort of" cliffie, cuz that's what Silvestra (HIHI!!) suggested…hahaha…I get to make you all miserable!! *evil grin*.
So…review!! Or I won't post another chapter up!!
^Kidding…kidding…;)