Disclaimer and warning at the beginning of first chapter.

Chapter 2: Coping with the Truth:

"You're lying" Harry snapped, desperation in his voice as he looked at Sirius for the truth, knowing that Sirius would not lie to him about something so important.

Sirius bowed his head, unable to bear the desperation in his godson's eyes. He wished he could stop this entire situation but there was no way Dumbledore would allow him to do anything to prevent the inevitable. As they had all discussed before Harry had entered the room, Veela will take their chosen partner as a mate and will never cease trying to bond with them. As much as he hated to admit it, there was nothing he could do. Harry had no choice. He could fight it until he died, but he would never have a happy life. Draco Malfoy was not likely to leave his mate alone. If there was anything the Malfoy's were renowned for, it was their stubbornness and the way they took what they wanted, no matter what the obstacles were in their path.

"But why" begged Harry.

"I don't know" replied Malfoy, pity in his gaze, mingled with lust and desire. He understood exactly what Harry was going through, having been through the same denial himself, but the veela blood flowing through his veins had taken control, and he merely wanted to comfort his mate. Besides, Harry was an undeniably attractive boy…

Harry wondered why he had never noticed it before; those silver eyes seemed to strip him naked. He shivered, feeling nauseous, and wrapped his arms around himself in an unconscious gesture which made him seem suddenly vulnerable and fragile. Sirius wanted to wrap his arms around him; he wanted to protect the child James and Lily Potter had entrusted into his care - but he couldn't.

"Why me? You could have anyone you wanted! Why not Pansy or..."

"I don't want them! I want you!" Draco ranted, his voice gradually getting louder with each word, his overflowing emotions making his usually collected composure snap. "You have no idea of the self-control I have had to use this week; every time I saw you, I wanted to pin you down to the floor and ravish you. You tease me! Your scent is everywhere... I can't escape it... how the hell do you think I coped when I discovered I wanted you"

"I... Please... I can't..." muttered Harry, green eyes strangely unfocused.

He didn't want this. He wanted to lead a normal, happy life in the following order: defeat Voldemort, the man who had made his life hell since birth; fall in love and marry the girl of his dreams; buy a family home and have a dozen children, something Harry had always longed for. He vividly remembered his own lonely childhood and wanted to fill his future home with love and laughter.

Malfoy sighed softly, eyes soft and filled with adoration as they fixed on the other boy. He had never seen Harry so confused, so afraid… What could he do? He knew what he wanted to do...He wanted to lock himself in his room, alone with Harry, where he could kiss that soft mouth, touch that tanned skin, suck on that tempting neck and…

"Draco" scolded Dumbledore hastily, recognising the look in the Veela's eyes.

Draco flushed slightly, but didn't apologise. Malfoys did not apologise to anyone, except family. It was the unspoken rule. A Malfoy must be proud of their heritage at all times and not show weakness. Apologies were a sign of weakness and Lucius had lectured his son countless times on how to behave properly in society.

"What about your father" said Harry desperately, suddenly remembering the loathing expression the elder Malfoy wore when around Harry. Lucius Malfoy would surely not be impressed with his son consorting with Voldemort's number one enemy, mate or not.

"I do not plan on ever becoming a slave to Voldemort," Draco said smoothly, eyes narrowing as he recognised what Harry really meant. He was inwardly amused, however, by how Harry didn't actually state what they all knew to be the truth. Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater and had been since Voldemort's first reign, even if the public thought that Lucius had been under the Imperious curse. "I have my Grandfather's mansion, his money and estate; I am perhaps as wealthy as my father in my own right. I do not intend to keep in touch with him if he decides to force me against you. I would never allow him to harm you, Harry. You are my mate and I will never harm you deliberately – I can't. My father will understand this."

The possessiveness in Malfoy's voice made Harry distinctly uneasy. He suddenly remembered the way that Malfoy concentrated on catching the snitch in a Quidditch match. There was the same stubbornness, determination and pride on the aristocratic face which he showed when in the air. Draco Malfoy had a strange feline grace; he was like a predator, waiting for his prey before pouncing at exactly the right time.

He had never seen the other boy lose his self control so easily before and the way that the other boy seemed to have accepted being tied for the rest of his life to a boy he hated made Harry speculate whether Draco had actually hated him previously, or whether it had been simply childhood rivalry. The change in the boy that he had always believed he knew inside out scared him. Hell, he was terrified! Malfoy was serious...he wanted to mate with him...wanted to have sex with him!

"You can deny this all that you want but I intend to make you mine. I will never give in, of that you can be sure" said Malfoy, voice strangely gentle, but the implicit stubborn determination in his tone was clear.

"But why me" asked Harry quietly, slight disbelief in his voice.

There were other people whom would better suit Draco Malfoy. Pansy Parkinson had been planning on being the next Mrs. Malfoy since Harry had first known her, and she had been born into a wealthy pureblood family. Why hadn't Malfoy chosen her? Why did he have to make Harry's life more complicated than it already was?

Harry was so busy with his thoughts that he never noticed when Malfoy stood and moved towards him, before reaching out and gripping his chin and forcing it back until he was staring up into the other boy's silver eyes.

Draco studied the boy before him. How could he tell Harry how beautiful he was? How could he tell him how much he adored the thick messy hair, which always seemed to stand on end, as if he had not even bothered to brush it? He idly remembered overhearing Lavender Brown telling Parvati Patil that Harry had bedroom hair – as if he had been ravished and simply not bothered to brush it. He mentally made a note to make sure that Lavender Brown stayed away from his mate in the future. How could he tell the other boy, who was known to being completely hopeless about his own physical appearance, that he loved the bright emerald eyes and proud figure? How could he tell this boy that he needed him, wanted him, desired him?

"You are beautiful, strong, proud, powerful - you are everything I could ever possibly dream of" Malfoy replied at last, making sure that his voice was steady and calm. Malfoys never lost control, after all.

"I don't know what to do... I hated you and I thought that you hated me. I'm confused..." mumbled Harry uncertainly, feeling uncomfortable with the other boy so close.

"Then take your time to work it out. I only want you to be happy. Think about it, Harry. I can give you everything you ever desired: affection, protection, and friendship…" Draco deliberately left out the word 'love.' He would never confess such a powerful emotion in front of so many witnesses, especially when he mistrusted several.

He knew that Black was Harry's godfather, and apparently cared deeply for Harry, but he was wary of Professor McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore. To a Slytherin like Draco, who had been taught to look for traps and hidden messages, he knew that the two were manipulative when the opportunity arose and he wanted to cover his tracks to avoid being put in an awkward situation.

"I will never physically force you to bond with me. Veela only want to please their mates to the best of their ability," Draco continued, voice now holding a trace of arrogance. He smirked at the blushing Gryffindor. "All that I ask is that you don't shut me out. I must confess that it took me a while to accept the circumstances for what they are and I understand that it will take the same for you, but denial is not going to help you in the long run."

"Can't we be friends" Harry asked finally, after a moment of silence, trying to jerk his face away, but the Veela's grip deliberately tightened – not enough to bruise, but enough for Harry's eyes to widen.

"If that is all you are prepared to give me at the moment" consented Draco, voice carefully devoid of emotion.

He lightly moved his thumb to stroke Harry's bottom lip in a surprisingly tender gesture, which made Harry ill at ease, due to the fact that he had never been treated that way before. He got lost in Draco's eyes for a moment, marvelling at the silver eyes that now, when he looked closer, had pale blue tints around the pupil.

Harry blinked in confusion, pulling away from the Veela with a sudden jerk that made the fingers loosen. He lifted startled green eyes up to the other boy, a question clearly visible in their depths. Draco smirked in amusement, but there was also relief in his gaze.

"What did you do" snapped Harry angrily, embarrassed by the sudden flare of desire he had felt.

"It seems that you are not completely immune to my charm, after all. The stud does take away most of the magnetic attraction you will feel towards me but under constant pressure it will start to break down" Draco explained.

"So I'll still be attracted to you" asked Harry, clearly looking horrified.

Snape snorted, obviously amused by the Boy Who Lived's eloquence. Draco sent his Head of House a brief look, conveying his thoughts, and the Potions Master merely stared back obstinately. Draco maybe one of his favourite students but he would not change his opinion of Harry Potter.

"Yes" Draco said easily, looking back at his mate.

"Harry, you don't have to decide now. You can take your time..." mumbled Sirius, sounding as if he would like nothing better than to pretend the whole scenario wasn't happening.

"I guess..." Harry muttered uncertainly.

"Perfect" interrupted Dumbledore, looking pointedly at Sirius, who blushed slightly at the silent rebuke.

"Albus, what will you do about Mr. Malfoy? After all, you can't let a Veela stay unprotected in the school" pondered McGonagall, voicing a question that she had been meaning to ask since she had found out about Draco Malfoy's condition.

"Draco will be given his own room and study. There's also an en-suite bathroom, if I remember correctly... yes, it's behind the painting of Merlin on the top floor of the abandoned Tower" Dumbledore said thoughtfully, a wizened finger stroking his chin through the long, white beard. The half-moon spectacles slipped down the crooked nose as he peered at the Veela with joyous blue eyes. Draco was unnerved to see that the old man found the whole situation hilarious.

Draco moved his head in a gesture of superior acceptance, which seemed to make Dumbledore's perceptive eyes twinkle even more but he ignored then, focusing instead on the dazed Gryffindor before him. He vaguely noticed that McGonagall's feathers seemed to have been ruffled by his lack of respect towards a man many people considered to be the most powerful wizard in existence.

"Of course...oh, I believe that we had better leave the pair of you to discuss your...relationship" Dumbledore added, moving quickly towards the door with an agility surprising for such an old man, and forcing everyone else to leave, much to Sirius's chagrin, as the animagus was clearly against the idea of leaving his virtuous godson with a Veela, and Lucius Malfoy's son at that.

Harry gulped, wondering why he always had to get himself in impossible situations and why Dumbledore, as usual, made him unable to protest. He watched uneasily as Draco moved to sit down on the chair next to him again, the Veela's eyes strangely calculating as they watched him. Harry shivered, unsure of what to say.

"I know that you are uncomfortable with this situation and I just have to say that I will try to control myself. However, there will be times when the desire will get too strong for me to control" Draco finally said.

"What will happen then" asked Harry softly, somehow knowing but wanting to hear it out loud to try and make everything seem a little more realistic.

"I am most likely to try and pounce on you. If I go too far, stop me immediately" the answer was soft, the warning unmistakably clear.

"Thank you for warning me," Harry managed to choke out, looking at the floor.

"Just don't shut me out. I'd like to get to know you, Harry. I can manage with just friendship for now" Draco said evenly, his voice not showing the trepidation he felt at the thought of Harry rejecting him. Even the considering the possibility made Draco's heart ache.

"I'd like that" smiled Harry weakly, realising that that was the only easy way out he was likely to receive. It was obvious that he would obtain no help from his Professors, and the Headmaster was holding Sirius at bay.

A small smile flitted across Draco's lips, making the cold face transform into a thing of beauty before the usual cold mask fell into place. Harry shoved the thought that the other boy looked better when he smiled to the back of his mind. He didn't need to make the situation even worse by considering the other boy attractive, even if he was a Veela and even if Harry was his mate.

"I won't ever give up trying to seduce you" Draco smirked, after a while.

Harry laughed, finding his honesty amusing. He was glad that at least the other boy was being open with him. He doubted that he would ever understand the boy – his emotions changed constantly.

"Just don't force me to..." Harry broke off, his face turned so red that even the tips of his ears burned. He couldn't believe that he was discussing his love life with Draco Malfoy of all people.

"I know."

"How" asked Harry, stunned.

"I can tell by your scent. You're so innocent...so pure – it's addictive" Draco confessed, voice dropping an octave and gaining a distinctive purr.

Harry blushed even more, if it was possible. He was mortified. Draco Malfoy knew that he was a virgin, and had done for some time, and it was obvious that the Veela was flirting with him. Even Harry, however dense he may be to most sexual advances, understood that.

"Don't be embarrassed" Draco smirked"I intend to ravish you soon."

Harry choked, hastily moving his eyes to Fawkes, who had been strangely silent during the whole meeting. The Phoenix merely eyed him calmly, and almost seemed amused; if Harry knew that it was possible for a bird to be amused, but then again, this was the wizarding world and Fawkes was a magical creature…

Draco gave a triumphant smirk at the way his mate was avoiding him, pleased with the success he appeared to be having. He leaned over quickly, slowly brushing his lips tenderly over Harry's for a moment before tugging at the full lower lip. Harry appeared to be too stunned to move or stop him so he decided to deepen the kiss, fighting back a moan as he tasted the scent that had been driving him crazy since his Inheritance – the smell of perfection.

After regaining his senses Harry pulled away, green eyes wide with disbelief and astonishment. Draco carefully looked into his eyes, clearly pleased by his reaction, and slightly embarrassed by the tenderness he had just displayed so openly.

"Just don't go out with anyone else unless you want me to kill him or her" he said finally.

Harry nodded in a daze, knowing that it was no idle threat. Draco Malfoy had claimed him as his future mate and he would not stand competition. He was after all, a Malfoy, and Malfoys did not share, in any circumstances.

"Especially that Irish prat" Draco snarled, suddenly remembering something else which had been aggravating him for some time.

"Seamus" gasped Harry, regaining enough composure to reply to Draco's warning, but still not understanding why Draco would consider Seamus Finnigan a threat. Seamus was harmless – if a little too friendly at times, but that was how he was.

"He's been after you! I can tell by the way he looks at you, the way he tries to touch you...I nearly killed him the other day when he was drooling over you" Draco snapped, voice filled with irritation as he realised that Harry didn't believe that Seamus was after him.

"Seamus" Harry repeated.

"Yes"

"But Seamus doesn't like me like that!" Harry argued obstinately.

"Harry, that prat has been after you for years... it's practically Hogwarts news that he wants to be the Boyfriend of the Boy Who Lived" spat Draco, jealousy burning in his eyes.

"But he hasn't..." Harry continued to argue.

"You have to be the most exasperatingly imperceptive person I have ever met," Draco interrupted, sparks clashing in his eyes and his mouth narrowing to a thin line.

"Excuse me, but you're the one saying that my friend is trying to seduce me" spat Harry.

"And you're the one too dense to see it"

"Well, I'm glad that is sorted" called Dumbledore, suddenly appearing into the room.

Harry blinked, looking up to see Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus staring at them with a mixture of amusement and slight horror. Harry felt relived to see them, as it meant that he could stop the stupid conversation with an overprotective, jealous male Veela, who was now going to try and seduce him, or as Draco had warned, pounce on him.

"You will both return to your rooms, Draco to his new tower and Harry to the Gryffindor Tower. Harry, I think that you need to have a decent night's sleep" suggested Dumbledore, calmly, ignoring the fact that he had just interrupted a dispute between the two.

"But I want to talk to Sirius" Harry argued, looking at Sirius with pleading eyes.

"Sirius will be here for a few weeks, walking through the school as Padfoot of course" Dumbledore soothed.

"Really" asked Harry, looking relieved to have his godfather's protection.

After all, he would be able to prevent Draco Malfoy from attacking him, unless of course, Sirius pounced on Malfoy he thought with a grin, remembering Sirius' attraction to the Veela from earlier in the meeting. A grin sprang to his face as he hastily turned his laughter into coughs.

Everyone eyed him curiously and he shook his head wildly to show that he was all right. Draco smirked, obviously realising what Harry was thinking.

"Can I go" Harry asked finally, avoiding Draco's eyes like the plague.

"Of course, Potter" said McGonagall, who had just stepped into the room and clearly didn't like the idea of her Seeker being tied down to a Veela, and a Slytherin Veela at that.

As if in a daze, Harry stood up and left the room, ignoring the concerned glances aimed his way. Malfoy sighed, raking a hand through his hair. He sat down, a thoughtful expression on his face before a triumphant smirk adorned his face. Sirius was instantly suspicious.

"He seemed susceptible to my intentions."

Sirius choked.

"I'll get him" Draco smirked.

"He won't be easy to get" Remus added, avoiding Sirius's condemning eyes. He knew more about Veela's than Sirius, due to research on magical creatures like himself. He knew that Draco Malfoy was unable to harm his mate, and would protect him with his own life is necessary. Harry was safe.

"You are right, of course, but I will in the end, and I have the patience to wait until he falls for my charms," Draco shrugged.

"He won't fall for you that easily," Dumbledore warned him, idly summoning a tray of tea.

"I already knew that," Draco snapped, eyes narrowing at the slight reproach he heard in the older man's voice.

"What was your disagreement about?" Remus asked, curious. They had overheard a few words, but had interrupted on hearing the raised voices, not wanting to have the two argue and fall out before they could start to repair their relationship.

"Harry was oblivious to Finnigan's intentions towards him. I merely stated the truth," Draco said simply, voice arrogant.

"Seamus Finnigan?" Remus and Sirius asked in unison, looking surprised.

"Yes."

"Harry's never mentioned him, accept as a friend," Remus tried to soothe the irate Veela.

Draco, sensing his intentions, scowled.

"He may well have only considered Finnigan as a friend but the entire school is aware of the fact that the conniving bastard has been indiscreetly trying to persuade Harry into his bed for the past year, and he will soon be informed that if he so much as stares too long at my mate then he will be physically unable to reproduce due to the loss of a certain body part."

Sirius spat out the tea he had just sipped from the cup Dumbledore had offered him, coughing loudly. Remus sighed, rolled his eyes childishly, and thumped his friend on the back – hard.

"Castrated" he choked.

"Magic is capable of many things" smirked Draco, his warning deliberately vague to avoid punishment but the veiled threat was obvious.

"Mr. Malfoy, I will not tolerate threats to members of my House" snapped McGonagall, sending Snape, who was sitting beside her, a dark look.

Snape just barely fought down the smirk rising on his face. Dumbledore beamed at them, clearly not bothered by the fact that a student was threatening to maim another student. After all, Draco Malfoy was within his rights as a Veela to protect and fight for the person he wanted as his mate.

'It should be amusing,' he thought idly, 'and a welcome break from the disasters Voldemort is sure to bring.'

"Draco" scolded Dumbledore with a smile after seeing the glare Minerva aimed his way.

"I believe that I have not done anything which you can punish me for. I am well within my rights to fight for my mate, as I am sure you are aware. Not one wizard will condemn me for competing for my mate's affections."

"That may apply to life outside of Hogwarts but any child here is under the school's protection," Minerva said tartly.

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Surely you will not object to me warning other school acquaintances of my condition, and the potential threat which may be aimed their way should they not immediately dismiss the urge to seduce and take what is by law mine to take. If Harry is even touched in an intimate way, especially should he give his virginity to someone other than myself, then I will not even try to control my wrath. The Veela blood flowing through my veins will simply take control, and I will be unable to stop it, and neither would I wish to stop it."

"We are quite aware of the Veela's possessive nature" Snape snapped, a look of revulsion on his face at the thought of his favourite student mating with Harry Potter.

Draco smirked, amused with his Potion's Professor's conflicting emotions. It was clear to Draco, even if it wasn't to the other occupants in the room, that Snape would try to help him pursue his mate, even though he detested Harry as much as he had James Potter.

Draco's mind drifted to his potential mate.

'How does one seduce a Gryffindor?' he thought to himself. 'I could try the subtle romance, the cliché flowers and chocolates, but... that nipple ring... mmm... maybe I could just try to kiss him, or maybe give him a little accidental caress - that was definitely worth thinking about...'

"Draco" yelled Dumbledore quickly.

Draco Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy fortune, couldn't help the blush which spread across his pale features.

Harry made his way to the portrait of the Fat Lady. He stared at her for a moment, lost in thought, his mind reeling from what he had just learned and the way his life seemed to have taken an unexpected twist in the wrong direction. He barely heard her when she asked him for the password, frowning at his lack of attention.

She coughed.

"Oh! Greasy hair" he mumbled finally.

She gave him a concerned look before opening the portrait. She seemed to have a motherly affection for all of her Gryffindors, particularly Harry, who reminded her of his father and the Marauders, whom she had often covered up for on their expeditions out of the Tower at night. Harry stumbled inside easily; not hearing her concerned mutters about how some people needed more sleep.

Harry entered the Gryffindor Common Room in a daze. He made his way automatically to the sofa where Ron and Hermione were sitting, finishing their Transfiguration essay, which was due the next day. They looked up in apprehension, noticing the almost revolted look on their best friend's face.

At first they didn't say anything but Hermione soon bit her lip, unable to prevent questioning her friend to find out what was going on. After all, she had never seen Harry in such a state before. What on earth had happened to him?

"Harry? What did Dumbledore say" asked Hermione gently, pulling Harry to sit beside her.

Harry stared at her in silence for a moment until he answered.

"Malfoy" he finally spat, horror obvious in his voice.

The Common Room fell silent as the Gryffindors waited for Harry's explanation, not used to hearing such venom in their friend's voice, but knowing that whatever Malfoy had done this time had gone to far.

End of chapter 2.

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