A/N: Hello again everyone! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I will answer them all at another time, but right now I'm kind of busy and just wanted to get this chapter out to you as soon as possible. Please review and give your opinions and suggestions; they're always welcome! This chapter really gets behind the reasons why Harry is Draco's soulmate; I just never saw enough veela!Draco stories that said why the two boys were perfect for each other. Tell me what you think!

Warning: This story contains slash, if you haven't figured that out by now, then you are in grave trouble beyond my, or anyone else's, abilities to help you. It's rated R for some language and future scenes, and just to be safe; I don't want to corrupt the kiddies.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and anything related to it belong to J.K. Rowling, WB Studios, and lots of other people, none of them me. Which is why I am still a poor college student. :(


Lost Without You
Chapter 3: Fight for Love

Draco smiled down on Harry, the first genuine, heart-felt, warmth-filled smile of his life. Extending a hand to Harry, Draco stated simply, "I know why you cry alone at night."

Slowly, Harry put his hand in Draco's and was pulled to his feet. That same encompassing warmth possessed both boys the moment their skin came in contact. This time, instead of breaking away quickly, they let it coarse through their bodies, emanating from their enjoined hands. Looking down at their hands, Harry looked up into Draco's eyes. Something definitely weird was going on here, but Harry couldn't figure it out. But it feels so right, part of him said. He almost felt as if their lives depended on this touch. Draco brought Harry's hand up to his mouth, gently brushing his lips against the skin on the back of Harry's hand.

This act shook Harry from his reverie. Gently, almost unwillingly, he withdrew his hand from Malfoy's. He was afraid of the consequences of breaking that hold, but he had always faced fear with a brave face before. As soon as they broke contact, the warmth whisked away from them, leaving both teens cold, empty, and in Harry's case, shaking. Putting his hands in his pockets to hide his nerves—he didn't want to seem weak in front of Malfoy—he looked at the ground, not knowing what to say.

"Harry," Draco said gently, causing him to start in surprise. He had used his first name! Harry looked at Draco, confusion writ across his face.

"Malfoy, what's going on here?" He wasn't afraid of Malfoy; he never was afraid of the other boy. So why was he nervous; why was he shaking?

"There's something about me you should know," Draco began, hoping his voice sounded as calm and cool as he wanted it to. Inside, though, he was shaking just as much as Harry. This had to go well, if it didn't—well, he just wouldn't think about that.

"What?" Harry asked simply.

Taking a deep breath, Draco replied, "I'm a veela—well, a half-veela, to be exact."

Harry scoffed in disbelief. "You're telling me Lucius Malfoy has veela in his blood? Yeah right."

"No, not Lucius. My mother did, and…well. Let's just suffice to say that I am a half-veela. When they turn 17, their soul reaches out to find their mate, and draws the two together." Those words, "draws the two together," struck a chord with Harry. Was that this tugging sensation that even now was pulling Harry, toward Draco? "The two people are meant to be together, perfect for each other in every way. I know this is hard to believe, but—"

"Hard to believe? Malfoy, that is this century's greatest understatement," Harry retorted. He hoped he sounded brave and confident, but even he detected a slight waver in his voice.

"All right, I know, this sounds crazy. But, here, this will help." Draco reached into his pocket to draw out a vial.

"What's—" Harry began, but recognized the lie detecting potion they had just made the other day in Potions.

"I took this before I turned a vial into Snape. Take it, and then listen to my story again, if you don't believe me." He handed the vial to Harry. Unbeknownst to Harry, Draco had already swallowed the contents of the third vial he had collected before coming to speak with him.

Taking it in his hand—thankfully it had stopped shaking—Harry examined the vial. "How do I know you didn't poison it or something?" he asked.

"Come on, Harry. We have our rivalries, but I don't want you dead, for crying out loud."

Shrugging, the boy had a point, Harry titled his head back, swallowing the creamy liquid. It slid down his throat, and Harry hiccupped, looking at Malfoy. "What if the potion didn't work; what if we made it wrong?"

"Potter, I helped make it. Obviously it's perfect," he said a little haughtily. "Here, I'll tell a truth, and then a lie; you tell me if it works." At Harry's nod, Draco said, "I go to school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Harry saw nothing. "I am in the Gryffindor House," Draco said, and with those words, Harry saw a bright red flare around the other teen. Blinking, Harry had to acknowledge that the potion worked. "All right, so I'll tell the story again. I just discovered I was a half-veela, and that at 17 their soul reaches out to find its mate. It took awhile to find you, because you aren't of veela blood, but when it did, it called for us to be together. As much as I didn't like it at first, I came to realize that you're my mate, and there's nothing I can do about it," he finished, with no flares of red in Harry's sight.

So, he wasn't lying. Now Harry was even more confused. "But, why me? I mean, Malfoy, in case you hadn't noticed…uhm…we hate each other."

In Malfoy's sight, Harry flared red. Potter didn't hate Malfoy, which Draco knew from talking with Granger the other day. "You don't hate me, Harry. You're too noble for a feeling like hate."

"Well, whatever, Malfoy. Why me?"

Running a hand through his hair—a motion Harry found quite distracting—he sighed. "I wondered that at first, but then I found out that veela mates are usually always opposites. They're meant to complete the other, fill in the other half of all the missing qualities. We're complete opposites," Harry snorted at the understatement, but Draco ignored it. "Thus, we seemed to be perfect matches." There was no flare of red around Draco, so Harry assumed he was telling the truth.

"But, I mean…you serve Voldemort, for crying out loud!" Harry was reaching for reasons this couldn't be, and Draco knew it. "It just can't be. It's impossible!" He thought he had to be going crazy; perhaps he always was going crazy, and this was the last hold on reality snapping.

"Harry, hush," Draco said softly. Reaching out a hand, Draco stroked Harry's black hair, which instantly soothed and quieted the other boy. "I know this is hard to absorb at first, but Harry, you have to understand. I didn't choose this, it just has to be."

"But why?" Harry questioned. "Do you even love me?"

"Veela mating usually has little to do with love. It's about possession, and claiming. Usually, though, after completing the bond, the two do fall in love."

"I can't take this, really, Malfoy. This is insane, like Dark Magic or—" Harry broke off. "That's it! This has to be another one of your stupid tricks, Malfoy. And I almost fell for it. Shit, Malfoy, I knew you were low, but this is just disgusting."

"Harry," Draco sighed patiently.

"No, Malfoy!" Harry disentangled his hair from Draco's fingers, almost whimpering out loud at the loss of contact. It was hard enough to think with this magnetic pull drawing him towards Malfoy, but Gods, when Malfoy touched him Harry thought he would simply melt. "I don't believe any of this! This is just insane, Dark Magic, or something like that. I don't give a rat's ass about you, Malfoy." Flares of red lit up around his face in Draco's sight. "You're just, playing with me. I think you just want to see me hurt, no matter what the consequences." No flare of red, obviously Harry really did think Malfoy didn't care about him. "I don't care about you at all, just, leave me alone. I don't know what the hell I was thinking even listening to you!" Red, red, was all Draco could see. Lie after lie Potter said to try to defend himself. "I'm leaving now, and I don't want you to ever speak to me again!" Red flared up so strong in Draco's sight he thought he would be blinded. "Good bye, Malfoy."

"Harry, wait, please. You don't understand. I need you, and you need me." Harry saw no red. How could this be, how could Malfoy be telling the truth?

"No, Malfoy. I never needed you, I don't need you, and I never will." One red flash, another red flash, and yet another red flash, the intensity of them causing Draco to blink and rub his eyes. When they cleared, Harry was walking away from him towards the castle. Sighing, Draco stuck his hands in his pockets. Although he had been prepared for this, he had hoped it would have been easier. What did he expect, though? Harry Potter was a proud Gryffindor, and Draco was sure that, had the situation been reversed, he would have simply hexed Harry on the spot and left. Shaking his head, Draco followed Harry towards the castle slowly, giving the other boy enough space so that he didn't turn around and hex him.

xXxXxXx

Who ever knew that git could sink so low, Harry thought darkly as he made his way to the common room. It was one thing to constantly be rivals, but another thing entirely to somehow make Harry fall in lust with him and make up a crazy story about half-veelas running around mating in the moonlight, or some crap like that. 'He wasn't lying, though' the rational part of his mind said. 'There was no red.' Oh, shove off! Harry told the rational part of his mind, mentally adding a few curses. No one wanted to be told off, especially by himself.

"Mandrake juice," Harry uttered to the Fat Lady, who, before swinging open, asked Harry, "What's wrong dear? You look dark and gloomy."

"Nothing, just some stupid git of a Slytherin giving me a hard time," he replied, before stepping in the common room. All he could hear was a fire crackling. Apparently more time than he had thought passed while he was with Malfoy. It was nearly midnight, and most everyone was in bed. However, not everyone was in bed Harry soon discovered, walking past a red plush couch.

There, curled in Ron's lap, arms around his neck, was Hermione. Ron's lips were on her neck, his eyes closed. Her eyes closed too, Hermione thought she heard something. Peeping one eye open, she squeaked and almost fell off Ron seeing Harry standing right there, his eyes wide. "Oh, oh, Harry," she stuttered.

"Oh, uh, hey mate!" Ron said, laughing hollowly. Why was Harry looking at them like that? Gods, you would think Ron just resorted to cannibalism the way Harry was gawking.

Blinking, Harry shook his head. "Oh, heh, great guys. Looks like you're feeling better, Ron. I'm glad you finally stopped skirting around the issue. Uhm, congratulations, you two. I, uh, gotta go to bed," he stammered, running out of the room.

Flying into his room, Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak. For not the first time in his life, Harry wished he could put this damn thing on and never take it off. Swirling the cloak around him, Harry stalked out of the common room, past the two lovers who sat there, staring at one another.

When Hermione heard the portrait door open and close, she realized Harry must have snuck out with his cloak. "Oh no! Ron, I've gotta go after him. Stay here, in case he comes back!" she said, running after Harry quickly.

Stepping out into the hall, Hermione tried to think of where Harry could go at this hour. Kitchens? No, the House Elves would make too much racket about that. The grounds? No, it was too cold. Think Hermione, she yelled at herself, think! He couldn't go to his two best friends, so who else might he go to? Hedwig! Dashing off to the Owlery, Hermione prayed she was right.

Before bursting blindly into the room, Hermione waited cautiously outside. She took her Defense Against the Dark Arts seriously, too, and Caution! was etched into her brain as well as Harry's. She could hear Harry's voice inside, talking to Hedwig. Leaning closer to the door, she decided to eavesdrop a little.

"—to see them wrapped around each other like…licorice for crying out loud!" He was telling his owl. She heard Harry sigh. "I'm not mad at them, you know. Ron's liked her for ages, I swear. I really am happy for them. I'm just so freaking alone! I know, I have you, Hedwig," she heard him say.

"It's just...listen to Malfoy's latest stunt. He must have put some love spell on me, or something, because I can't get him out of my head. Then he tells me this crazy story about veelas. Only I don't think he was lying, oh hell, I don't know anymore. Anyway, he tries to convince me we should be together, and I should give myself to him. I'm not sure if it's another one of his tricks, or if he's helping Voldemort try to kill me through driving me mad. I'm sure that would help Voldemort considerably. Drive the Boy-Who-Lived crazy, and then fight him. Sounds like something he would try, and I wouldn't put it past Malfoy to take part in that plan. He's always hated me." Hermione grimaced at Harry's words. Obviously Malfoy had approached him, and Harry took it all wrong.

"But Hedwig, the worst part is I do have feelings for him!" Hermione could hear the pain in his voice. "I never hated him, but I told him I did. I only fought with him, because, well, it was expected. It was always a fun kind of rivalry, but I never hated him. I always respected him, a little. But now, I don't know anymore. Ron and Hermione don't care, they've got each other. And all I have is the knowledge that pretty soon I'm going to have to fight Voldemort and probably die in the battle. So, yay for Harry. Thanks, Hedwig, I love you too," he said. Obviously Hedwig had shown him a sign of affection. Putting her face in her hands, Hermione groaned. This was all going terribly wrong!

Looking up, Harry heard the noise. "Who's there?" he called out, pulling out his wand, getting in the correct wizard fighter's stance.

"It's me, Hermione," his friend said, before she came in.

Narrowing his eyes, Harry lowered his wand. "Were you listening to me?"

"Look, Harry, it's not what you think. Malfoy was telling the truth."

"What, so you're in on it too?" he said, backing away. "Jealous of me, finally? Mad because—"

"Harry, shut up!" she interrupted him. Whenever she used that tone, people obeyed. "You need to understand a few things. First of all, no one is 'in' on anything. Second of all, Malfoy was not lying to you. I figured it out before, about his veela heritage, and confronted him about it."

"Well, I mean…how the hell is he a veela?"

"His mother is a half-veela, and she obviously mated with another half-veela before marrying Lucius. Draco is her son from her true mate."

"Oh, well, that makes more sense than it doesn't. He didn't tell me that."

"Well obviously Harry. No one wants to tell everyone that their father isn't really their father."

He made a face at Hermione; she was always right. "Why me, then?"

"Because opposites attract. Harry, I'm sure he explained all this to you, why won't you believe it?"

"Because, Hermione, in case you were forgetting who we all are, here, I'm Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. I unseated Voldemort from his throne of power, which greatly pissed off a man named Lucius Malfoy. Now, this man has a son, named Draco Malfoy, who is enrolled at our school. For seven years now, he's fought every day against me and anyone else remotely considered 'good.'"

"Don't get sarcastic, Harry," she warned, her voice threatening. "I know who everyone is, here. What I don't understand is why you just won't consider it."

Smacking his forehead with his hand, Harry replied, "Hermione…why are you standing up for the bloody ferret?"

"Because, Harry, you need him. I still don't like him, but if I have to work with you two to get the both of you together, I will, not for him, but for you."

"I don't know why everyone has this idea that I need him. I've always been alone, why should now be any different?"

"Because, Harry, pretty soon you're going to face the hardest challenge of your life. You know that. And you've never truly been alone. You've always had Dumbledore, me, Ron, lots of people who would go with you as far as they could go and care about you the whole way. Where you're about to go, what you're about to do, I don't think all of us can follow. You need someone who can be with you until the end, always with you, no matter what. That person is your soul-mate Harry, Draco Malfoy. He'll be able to love you and help you in a way none of us can."

"And besides, you need someone right now, for love and companionship and fun. I know how alone you feel, Harry. I felt the same way before Ron finally told me how he felt about me, but I'm sure it's much worse for you with this veela bond pulling at you. It will get much worse, too."

"What do you mean, 'much worse?'"

"Harry, if veela soul-mates don't complete the bond, awful things happen. He didn't tell you that?"

"Uhm, no, he kinda left that part out."

"Oh, well, I can see how he didn't want to make you feel like this was forced on you. Okay, well, it's like this Harry. The soul-mates are meant to be together, and they have to be together, or the soul practically dies. The person leads an awful, horrible life, often ending in young death, suicide, or insanity. No veela mate has ever led a normal life who didn't complete the bond."

"Well, no one had ever stood up to Voldemort before, and I did that, you know," Harry pointed out. "Maybe I'm the person to accomplish all sorts of 'firsts.'"

"I don't think this is the same thing, Harry. You-Know-Who was evil, this is love."

"He doesn't love me, though."

"He would, if you gave him a chance," she replied quietly. "Please, Harry, I know this is hard. But I also know it's what has to happen. Promise me you'll talk to Draco soon."

"Well, you know everything…so I promise."

"I know I do," she said playfully. "Come on Harry, let's go back to the common room. Take some time and think about all this. This is just another challenge in your life, but the rewards are beyond belief."

Harry nodded. "Thanks, Hermione. I just need some time. Let's go back."

"Great, Harry. Oh, and by the way. Ron doesn't know anything about this, I'm still trying to figure out how to break it to him."

Smiling, the two friends left the Owlery, both appearing to be in a considerably better mood. Inside, though, Harry was struggling to come to terms with this new and interesting development. Could he really belong to Draco, and claim the other boy in turn as his own? And what exactly was 'completing the bond' that everyone kept talking about?

xXxXxXx

A week later, the Slytherins and Gryffindors were leaving Hagrid's hut after their Care of Magical Creatures class. Harry walked away with Ron and Hermione, heading to lunch. For Harry, this past week was even more awful then before. He knew the reason the feeling was getting worse, but still couldn't bring himself to talk to Malfoy. He wondered if it felt this bad for Draco. Lost in his thoughts, Harry almost stumbled over a rock. "Whoa, careful there, mate!" Ron said, reaching out to steady Harry.

"Thanks," Harry mumbled. "Wasn't looking."

Walking a bit behind the trio, Draco's eyes narrowed in anger at hearing someone else call his mate their own. Shaking his head, Draco tried to clear the thoughts from his mind. Ron isn't claiming Harry, relax, he told himself.

Ron slung his arm around Harry's shoulders. "Come on mate! Cheer up! We don't have Potions today! That makes any day a good day!" Harry hardly heard his friend's words. All he could feel was this intense anger inside his head, but it wasn't his own anger. It was that feeling, that pulling presence that was furious, just like it had been when Ginny was flirting with him. Instantly he knew it was Draco, mad that someone else was touching what he considered his own. It pained him, to know he caused Draco hurt. Who cares, he told himself, it's not your problem. Get a grip on yourself!

When Draco saw that Weasel touch his Harry, the rational thoughts fled his head like mice running from a cat. That son of a bitch! was the last thought he had before he found himself in front of Ron, blazing in fury.

His voice low, Draco said though gritted teeth, "Don't you ever touch him again, you slimy Weasel-bee jackass!" Swiftly, he sent his fist crashing straight into Ron's nose. Looking at Harry, who was staring at him dumbstruck, he shook his head. "I'm sorry," he said, before walking away.

Hermione was holding a handkerchief to Ron's nose, which was bleeding. "What the bloody fuck was that all about?" Ron was yelling while Hermione fought to sop up the blood.

Turning to look at Harry, her eyes narrowed and glinted. "Harry, did you ever talk to Malfoy?" Seeing him shake his head, she stamped her foot in fury. "Go talk to him right now! Before I drag you in front of him myself!" she yelled. Harry left to go find Malfoy.

xXxXxXx

"Malfoy?" Harry said softly, seeing Malfoy sitting by the lake, his favorite spot.

Malfoy looked up. "Yes?" he said, standing up to look at the other boy.

"Uhm, well, Hermione said I needed to come talk to you."

"Oh," was all Draco said. So he didn't come because he wanted to, only because he had too.

"I just, well, this is all really confusing, you know." Draco merely nodded in reply. Scratching his messy black locks, Harry continued. "I'm not saying I don't have feelings for you, Malfoy. Whatever spell this is, it's got me wrapped up tight in it, too. But I can rise above feelings and ignore them. I want to come to know you for who you really are, not just Malfoy. I think you should get to know the real me, too. So, let's just wait on all this stuff, okay? Give me time, and in the meantime we'll be civilized to each other and see how things work out, all right?"

Stepping close to Harry, Draco reached out a hand, and grasping Harry behind the back he gently pulled the other boy close. For all Harry's talk of being able to ignore feelings, he certainly came willingly closer to Draco. Softly, tenderly, Draco brushed his lips against Harry's. Helpless to resist, Harry returned the kiss, cursing himself for his weakness and cursing Draco for being such a damn good kisser. Pulling away, Draco replied, "All right. Take your time."

Nodding, Harry walked away, a hand against his lips where he could still feel Draco's mouth on his.

xXxXxXx

Two weeks' time later found Harry sitting by himself outside the castle doors. His head in his hands, Harry thought about Draco. Every day the feelings grew stronger; he could hardly resist from reaching out to grab the other boy in the hall. Sometimes they talked briefly in between classes, but nothing more than school talk. Acting all brave around Malfoy, and pretending that these urges weren't killing him was hard. He was so lying when he told Malfoy he could ignore these feelings.

Grumbling to himself, Harry walked inside the castle. It was almost dinner time, and he was hungry. He also had a hell of a lot of homework to do after dinner. Looking up, Harry saw Draco heading towards him. Quick, hide! he thought Looking around, Harry hid behind a statue. Gods, I am so lame! He rolled his eyes. Why couldn't he just face Draco? Because he didn't want to give in, he realized.

"Harry," Draco said, staring at Harry, his arms crossed over his chest. "You're not that good at hiding."

Huffing angrily, Harry leaned against the statue. "I wasn't hiding," he said.

"Liar," Draco said, almost with amusement. "You were hiding from me."

"I was not, Malfoy!" he retorted. "Just, leave me alone."

Suddenly angry, Draco grabbed Harry hard around the wrist. "No! Harry, no more waiting!" Turning, Draco led Harry toward an empty classroom. Dragging Harry into the room, Draco slammed the door shut, locking it with a charm. Whirling around on the other boy, he backed him up against a desk.

"Malfoy, what on earth do you think you're—"

"Shut up, Harry," Draco commanded. Harry shut up. "Now, sit down, and listen to me." Harry gulped and sat down on the desk, his legs gently swinging in the air. Draco sounded mad at Harry, but not the anger his voice always held before when they fought. This was the anger between two lovers, not two enemies.

"Good, that's better," Draco said. "Now, Harry, I've waited a good long time for you to come around to your senses. I'm sick of waiting, Harry."

Staring to feebly protest, Draco grabbed Harry hard around the jaw. "Harry, shut up." Gods, that hurts! Harry thought, wanting more. "As I was saying…I am sick of waiting for you to nit-pick and shilly-shally around this situation. You're not a delicate flower, Harry Potter, who needs to be coddled and treated daintily. I tried to do that by giving you time and space to come to understand that we have to be together. What you need," Draco said, putting his other hand roughly behind Harry's head, "is some sense to be knocked into you. Now, why the hell is it taking you so long to think about this?"


A/N: How does everyone like it so far? Give me comments, suggestions, maybe even a little praise if you liked it. If you loved it, tell me why; if you hate it, tell me why too. Next chapter will be up sooner rather than later, but I am starting school tomorrow (agh!) so it may not be as soon as I like. Thanks for reading guys! Now, click that little butten to review down there, you know you want to!