Disclaimer and warning at the beginning of first chapter.

Flirtation and Protection:

Sirius stared into the mug of coffee cradled in his hands. Last night he and Remus had gone straight to bed, not talking about what they had discovered earlier that day, much to his relief. He didn't know what to say.

His godson was the mate of Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy, who was a well known Death Eater in Voldemort's Inner Circle, and Dumbledore, for some peculiar reason foreign to Sirius, seemed to approve of the match – hell, the old man was almost forcing the two boys to spend time together.

"Sirius?"

"Hmm?"

Sirius lifted surprised blue eyes, eyes still faded from years locked away with only the thought of his own innocence to keep him sane, not having noticed Remus' presence.

"Are you alright?"

"No," Sirius confessed, knowing by now that Remus would see straight through his lies. The werewolf had always known when people were lying, especially him.

"Just leave it, Sirius. Dumbledore knows what he is doing."

"Does he, Remus? Honestly? Could you see Harry being happy with Draco Malfoy? They hate each other!"

A soft smile flittered across Remus' face; carefully making sure to hide the sadness he knew would be present in his voice and expression. He had never known any love, but he had been hated. He had repeated the quote to himself, constantly, as a child, after another bout of taunts and fearful looks aimed in his direction whenever anyone discovered what he really was.

"There's a fine line between love and hate," he quoted the familiar words.

Sirius paled, staring at his friend in disbelief, not noticing the sadness in his friend's voice, which relieved Remus. He didn't want to explain himself, knowing that Sirius would try to persuade him to ignore those that hurt him. It was easier said than done.

"What?" he finally shrieked.

Remus laughed out loud at Sirius' expression before calming starting to prepare breakfast for them both, pretending not to notice the glares aimed in his direction by the disgruntled animagus.

It was about five o'clock the next morning when Harry awoke, feeling the first rays of the sun's dim morning light flitter across his face. He blinked sleepily, his eyesight blurred, as he had taken his contacts out. He sighed softly, until his mind wandered to the dream he had. He had dreamed that he was being seduced by Draco Malfoy.

"Barmy" he mumbled, stumbling out of bed towards the shower.

He showered lazily, relaxing under the water, a luxury when one shared a dorm with four other teenage boys. He carefully washed his hair, making sure to avoid letting the shampoo run into his eyes, before rinsing.

As he stood in front of the mirror, dressed in just a towel, his mind came into focus and he barely prevented the scream from escaping his mouth. It hadn't been a dream. Draco Malfoy was trying to seduce him! Draco Malfoy was a Veela and wanted to mate with him.

An image of the silver eyed Veela came into his mind, along with the memory of the soft kiss. It had been his first kiss. Draco Malfoy had stolen his first kiss. Only two days ago that thought would have made him laugh hysterically but now a feeling of dread entered him. He had a powerful male Veela trying to mate with him. It was going to be a disaster, he knew it.

"Bloody hell" he swore softly.

He hastily changed into the uniform that he had been wearing ever since his first year at Hogwarts. As he tried to comb his wild hair into some semblance of control, he wondered just how he was going to avoid Draco that day, especially as Dumbledore's new friendly inter-house relationship idea had somehow meant that Gryffindors and Slytherins shared nearly every class together. Harry wondered idly yet again whether Dumbledore actually wanted him to survive his sixth year at Hogwarts, even without any interference from Voldemort.

He finally left the dormitory silently, not bothering to wake up the other boys in the room, as it was still early. They never woke up until seven o'clock and had all agreed publicly that Harry was losing it when he had first started waking up early. Harry had had to convince Hermione that he wasn't ill. He had started waking up earlier to try to get used to having less sleeping time. Sirius had warned him about needing less sleep if he ended up in the middle of the war after he graduated.

'Why do I always somehow get myself into a mess?' he thought sadly.

As he entered the Common Room, he was surprised by the fact that there was someone in there already, a boy with silver eyes who watched him intently from a red sofa next to the fireplace, lean figure sprawled out casually as if he had done so numerous times before.

"Hi" Harry croaked out.

"Morning" Draco replied easily, standing up gracefully in one fluid motion.

"What are you doing here" asked Harry, forcing his voice to remain neutral so that it wouldn't show any of the inner turmoil he was feeling.

"Dumbledore gave me the password after you left. He assumed that you had already told the Gryffindors" was the answer.

Harry weakly nodded.

"Good. I came to escort you to breakfast" Draco smiled charmingly, flashing perfect white teeth.

Harry gulped, edging nervously away from the blond. Draco sighed impatiently and grabbed his arm, effectively dragging him through the portrait and out into the corridor. He didn't let go, and Harry was alarmed to find that the hand holding him was strong yet gentle, the fingers almost caressing the bare skin of his arm.

"Why" Harry finally managed to ask.

"I woke up early, so I decided to come and wait for you. It isn't a crime, is it? After all, I thought I'd save you from the early morning Gryffindor dumbness as Weasel finally realises that it wasn't a dream" Draco smirked inwardly, finding his mate's incoherence amusing.

Harry gulped audibly.

"Besides, it isn't as if I need an excuse to visit you. I plan on spending more time with you - Dumbledore agreed that we should get to know one another first" Draco continued arguing, knowing that Harry would not go against the man he respected.

"Figures..." muttered Harry quietly.

"We have Medical Magics first" Draco added.

Magical Magics was a new class, which had been added in Harry's fifth year. It was a class devoted to fixing wounds, healing charms, and potions devoted to healing. Harry had guessed correctly that Dumbledore was preparing the students for war. It was no big surprise to anyone that Harry was at the top of the class, due to having a natural gift with healing, which perhaps had something to do with the fact that he was the most frequent visitor to the Infirmary after the Weasley twins and the Marauders.

"Did you do your homework" Harry asked, genuinely curious.

"Of course, but I know for a fact that it won't be anywhere near the standard yours will be. You will have to give it to me to read it in the Hall" Draco smirked, eyes glinting mischievously, watching Harry blush at the compliment.

They were soon near the Great Hall. As they stepped inside Harry was relieved to see only a few students, as well as the teachers. Harry made his way to the Gryffindor Table, forgetting about Draco until the boy sat down next to him.

Harry gaped. He had never known a Slytherin student to ever sit at the Gryffindor Table. Harry wondered whether it was against school rules.

"What are you doing" he hissed, suddenly noticing that they were attracting attention.

"Eating breakfast with you. I don't intend to sit across the room from you when I can sit next to you" came the reply, the voice coated in innocence as he raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Harry blushed uncomfortably, shifting slightly away from the Veela. He was entirely aware of the disbelieving stares from most of the staff and all of the students present. In fact, the only people who didn't look surprised were Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall.

Harry quickly picked up a piece of toast and began to eat; he watched thankfully as the Veela promptly did the same. It was an uneasy silence as more and more students wandered in, staring in disbelief at the couple at the empty Gryffindor table, whom they had thought were still rivals.

Twenty minutes later there was a huge babble of noise and then nearly the whole of the Gryffindor house swarmed in, led by a frantic Ron. Ron rushed towards Harry, stopping abruptly when he noticed the boy by his side. His face paled considerably.

"Malfoy" he managed to choke out, the usual loathing still present.

"Weasley" drawled Draco easily, smirking.

"Harry, Draco" called Hermione's voice as she sat opposite the two seating boys, her intelligent brown eyes filled with calmness.

"'Mione" Harry breathed in relief, shooting Ron a concerned look.

Ron promptly sat next to Hermione, eyeing Harry in sympathy. Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration before helping herself to her breakfast. Gradually the other Gryffindors sat down; Seamus next to Harry, much to Draco's disgust, and Fred next to Draco.

"Have a nice sleep, Harry" asked Seamus in his thick Irish brogue.

"Er...I guess" Harry answered uneasily, shooting Draco warning looks.

The Hall was still silent, the students watching the small group intently. To everyone except Harry, Draco Malfoy appeared calm and unruffled, but the Veela's eyes were dark with barely controlled fury as they fixed on the boy next to Harry.

"Why are you so interested, Finnigan" he sneered.

"I was worried that he might have had nightmares" grinned Seamus innocently - too innocently, Draco thought.

"And what, may I ask, have Harry's nightmares got to do with you" he spat out.

"Harry's my dorm mate" smirked Seamus cheerfully, winking at Harry.

Seamus leaned lightly over Harry, making sure to brush his shoulder, eyeing the Veela through lowered lashes to hide the devious expression in his eyes from view, and Draco lost it. He had had enough of the Irish prat trying to seduce his mate. Harry was his!

"You little..." started Draco, intent on yelling and screaming.

"Malfoy" Harry cried angrily, a warning in his voice.

"I'll behave" answered Draco calmly, fighting the urge to murder Seamus for daring to touch his Harry. He could feel his Veela blood trying to take control, urging him to protect his mate from danger.

"Good" said Harry, relaxing instantly.

"If he moves" added Draco firmly.

"No way" smiled Seamus.

"You little Irish bastard."

"Malfoy" snapped Harry, quickly placing his hand over his mouth to stop him from swearing and making a scene. The last thing Harry needed was for the entire school to be discussing the latest episode of Harry Potter's life.

To Draco, the touch of Harry's skin on his own was too much. He had been fighting the Veela pull since his Inheritance and had forced himself to ignore it, but knowing that his mate was so close, so near, was mental and emotional torture. Draco caved in, needing to physically feel his mate to reassure himself that Harry was his.

Harry was not prepared for Draco lightly sucking at his fingers and nibbling at his palm. He jolted in shock and tried to pull away but the Veela prevented it. Draco possessively wrapped an arm around Harry, who silently pleaded with his eyes to a dumbstruck Ron and Hermione for help. They didn't move.

Draco lightly slipped a hand to caress Harry's back soothingly as his lips assaulted his neck, sucking at the soft skin and leaving red marks where he had sucked too hard. Harry yelped as teeth grazed his skin, silently begging Hermione to stop the Veela before it went too far.

However, it appeared as if everyone was too astounded to do anything. Even the Slytherins were deathly silent, watching the whole scene with barely concealed horror and anger. Harry struggled wildly but this seemed to make Draco worse, and his Veela charm switched on. Harry felt the same magnetic pull and never even noticed when Draco's lips pressed against his own, claiming him utterly and completely in front of the entire school.

"Mr. Malfoy" called Dumbledore suddenly, his voice sounding as if it came from far away to the dazed kissers.

Thankfully, the voice must have entered Draco's mind as he slowed down the kiss and brought it to an end. He lightly licked Harry's swollen lips before releasing him, his left arm staying entwined around his waist as he shot a smug look at the stunned Irish boy next to Harry. The possessive gesture made even Ron look at Malfoy strangely. Draco Malfoy was jealous of Seamus Finnigan.

Harry felt himself jolt to his senses. He stared numbly at Draco, his face paling as he realised that the entire school now knew about their relationship – if you could call it a relationship, as Harry considered it all one-sided on Draco's part.

Suddenly there was a loud shriek, and before Harry could move a hand came flying at him and slapped him across the face, sending his head reeling. The sickening crack echoed around the room before Draco leapt up, eyes fixing on Pansy Parkinson who was trembling with a mixture of horror, fear, and fury.

"You little whore! Parkinson, what on earth did you hope to achieve by that little stunt" he hissed, reaching for his wand, his only thought to punish the person who had harmed his mate in order to get revenge.

"Mr. Malfoy" yelled Dumbledore, rushing forwards with Snape to try and control the angry Veela.

Harry stared at Pansy in shock, a vivid red handprint on his cheek and a trickle of blood trickling from his nose. He had known that Pansy wanted Draco Malfoy as her husband but he had never considered her capable of losing control like that.

He vaguely felt Hermione rushing towards him, and hastily pressed his handkerchief to his nose to stop the flow of blood, which was rapidly increasing at an alarming rate.

"I can't believe you were kissing Potter" screeched Pansy hysterically.

"And since when, Parkinson, have my actions ever needed to be approved by you?" Draco spat, eyes cold and hard.

"It's Potter! A boy! The Boy Who Lived! Stupid, ugly…"

Snape hastily gripped Draco's arms to prevent him from lunging at Pansy, noticing the murderous gleam in his eyes. Veela were protective, severely so, and Draco would not rest until he had taken revenge for his mate, of that Severus was certain.

"I can assure you that Harry is in fact completely a boy, much to my satisfaction, and can I also remind you that he won the International Duelling Competition? Your ludicrous words of scorn are complete and utter fabrication. As if a Malfoy would bind themselves to anyone less than perfect in appearance, intellect and power!"

"You're gay," she screeched, outraged.

"I have no problem admitting my preference," Draco hissed arrogantly.

"You're a Malfoy – Malfoys aren't gay," Pansy shrieked.

"I can assure you that they have been and are."

"He's the Boy Who Lived"

"Fascinating," Draco mocked, trying to reach for his wand, which Dumbledore seemed to have managed to collect.

"You're supposed to hate him!"

"Why? Unlike you, Parkinson, I have never admitted to wanting to spend the rest of my life as a slave to a half blood who's completely and utterly deranged and infatuated with a boy who he can't even kill. Tell me, Parkinson, how powerful is Voldemort when he can't even kill a barely two year old baby?"

"You! That's…! How..?" Pansy, for once, seemed totally lost for words.

"I hate to disappoint you, darling," the endearment was filled with loathing and was meant to mock her, not as a sign of affection, "but I never even conveyed any ideas to you about a potential marriage arrangement between us, no matter what your family seemed to think."

"But your father will " argued Pansy obstinately.

"Will leave both myself and Harry alone unless he wants the Ministry to find out certain things" spat Draco.

Pansy gaped in shock, clearly not believing that Draco Malfoy was threatening to hand his own father over to the Ministry if he objected to Draco being with Harry Potter. Malfoys were extremely loyal and abided by their name until death. Everyone knew that to betray a Malfoy meant trouble, particularly if the betrayal was within the family.

'Voldemort would kill him as well', she thought wildly.

She didn't understand what had happened to change the boy she had always believed she would marry. She had grown up in love with the idea of marrying the rich, famous and intelligent Draco Malfoy, to unite their two pureblood families together. She had considered them to be as close as a Slytherin couple could be.

The fact that the marriage wouldn't take place had been enough to break down all of her self-control. The thought of Draco turning her down for Potter made her want to scream at the injustice of life. She was everything a man could hope to marry! She was excellent at being a hostess, charming and sociable – everything a pureblooded wife was expected to be.

It was humiliating to be tossed aside for a halfblood – and a boy at that. She would be laughed at throughout the wizarding world for telling everyone about her future marriage to a boy who didn't even like her gender.

"But you can't! You're promised to marry me" she screamed, her face twisting in fury.

"My father never arranged such a absurd match, but I assure you, even if he had, I would rather marry Weasley than you" spat Draco, pushing Snape's restraining arm away.

"Your father will disown you"

"My father would never disown the only Malfoy heir after him. Talk sense, Parkinson, if I am disowned and my father dies then the Malfoy line will end with him. My father's too conceited to do that, even Voldemort is aware of the loyalty my father has to the Malfoy lineage! Besides, he will never challenge my decision when he realises the truth."

"What truth? That you've gone insane"

"No. The truth is that Harry Potter is my mate."

Draco's voice was strong, cool and firm, and everyone believed that he was telling the truth. The Gryffindors shuffled uneasily while Ron and Hermione shielded Harry from most of the incredulous stares from the other students. Even the teachers looked astonished and slightly disbelieving that the Boy Who Lived was the mate of the son of a well-known Death Eater.

"What do you mean" Pansy finally managed to choke.

"I'm a Veela, or part Veela actually" Draco hissed poisonously.

"Veela" echoed Pansy in shock.

"Yes, surely your little brain can remember that Veela like to extract retribution against anyone who harms his or her mate" Draco asked pleasantly, innocence pouring out of his cold silver eyes.

"AAH" Pansy screamed as Draco lunged for her.

The teachers, unsure of what to do, simply tried to pull him back, but it apparently wasn't working very well. Harry had never seen Draco Malfoy like this before. The undeniable rage on his face was frightening, and it was because of Harry. The full situation hit him and he unsteadily made his way to his feet, effectively stopping Draco from trying to murder Pansy by pulling on his arm.

Draco stopped, turning quickly to his chosen mate, unable to prevent himself form obeying his mate's request, even if he hadn't voiced it aloud. His eyes softened instantly and the same glow, which only appeared when looking at Harry, appeared. He lightly rubbed his thumb across the red skin, anger rapidly taking control again as Harry flinched, the drying red blood a sharp contrast to the tanned skin.

"Why did you stop me" he finally asked.

"She's not worth Azkaban" Harry said with a shrug.

"She deserves punishment, and I will make sure she receives it. How do you know that she is not worth my time and consideration"

"You don't spend time with an escapee without learning that Azkaban is your worse nightmare...I learned that in my third year," Harry murmured, voice low to make sure that no one overheard him. He didn't want to be responsible for his godfather being caught.

Draco looked surprised before curiosity entered his silver eyes. What did Harry see when a Dementor got too close? What image made him faint? A sudden surge of protectiveness rushed towards him and he lightly scooped Harry into his arms, unable to control his Veela blood. Harry sighed thankfully, not pulling away but not leaning into the embrace either. He hoped that by holding him the Veela would calm down and not try to murder his housemate. And why, why had Draco told the entire school that he was his chosen mate?

He was about to ask but hesitated. No, he would talk to Draco about his protective and possessiveness later, when they were safely away from Pansy. He remembered the kiss and successfully fought a blush. And why couldn't Seamus leave him alone? And why hadn't he noticed that Seamus' flirting was more than friendship? It was so obvious!

"Then what is she worth" queried Draco.

"She is worth nothing. She's nothing, never will be. Compared to the war and Voldemort she is just a petty, childish girl who should learn to grow up" was the slightly muffled response.

"Since when did you go all philosophical" asked Draco, not bothering to hide the surprise in his voice.

"Since I learnt that childish rivalries aren't worth the effort" was the answer, a small smirk playing across Harry's bruised lips.

Draco stared into his mate's vivid green eyes, hypnotized by the wary maturity which had been forced on a boy, a boy forced to grow up before his time so that mentally he was older than the young body he occupied. It was at that moment that Draco admitted to himself that he was helplessly and hopelessly in love with Harry Potter.

And he didn't care.

End of chapter 4.

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