Chapter Six

The Inheritance

Harry met with Severus and Draco in the dungeons early Saturday morning as requested. After reading the books he now knew what he was likely going to be facing, and, if he was honest with himself, he was scared.

The first thing he noticed was that Draco was huddled in a pile of blankets shivering. Magic was almost tangible in the air as it swarmed around him and Harry cool see his face was wrecked with pain.

Next to the emerging Draco, Severus was whispering soothing words. His face was strained as he addressed Harry.

"Veela transformations are extremely painful. We have no idea how long it will take to actually happen or how it will effect you…" the professor trailed off. "Oh crap. Potter….you're shivering."

And Harry realized he was. His body seemed to have turned ice cold. The magic swarming around Draco suddenly seemed to be speaking, screaming at him. He felt dizzy and allowed himself to sink to the floor.

A moment later Snape was wrapping him up in blankets as well. "You're ice cold Potter," the professor's voice seemed far away. "First sign of the transformation."

And then all Harry could focus on was the pain. He was aware that his own magic had surrounded him and was pulsing against him. The noise from it was tremendous to his years. His final thought before the final pain erupted inside of him was that Snape would have to say the binding spell.

Then…he screamed, Draco's voice rose beside him, as in unison, their magic centered in their bodies and erupted.

"In trust," Severus' voice intoned the binding spell. "Bring these two bodies together. Let their souls intertwine and their minds join together. Blood of blood, let them share their sorrows. Magic of magic, let their powers be one."

Harry felt something drive itself into him.

And then…..nothing.

When Harry awoke, he found himself in the dungeons. He checked himself over mentally. He felt the same as always. And then he opened his eyes.

His glasses had been lost somewhere in the chaos, but Harry could see better than he ever had with them. And that wasn't the only change in his eyes.

Draco was still unconscious but his changes were evident. His hair had lengthened and had an iridescent glow. His nails too had the glow, and were sharp and curved. His mouth hung slightly open, and Harry could see the small, sharp canines there.

But even more interesting was the red glow emanating from the new Veela, outlines with silver. He stared at it, and was surprised as it gradually disappeared. He shook his head clear, and was about to look himself over more thoroughly when Severus walked in, juggling a small multitude of potions.

Harry was momentarily blinded as an emerald light flashed in his sight, vaguely reminiscent of the Avada Kedavra. Harry blinked rapidly and once again his vision cleared.

"Ah, I see you're awake," Severus said. He was obviously worn out. "I'm afraid that Draco's transformation forced yours as well."

Suppressing the urge to say 'no shit, sherlock', Harry accepted the potion Severus handed him, noticing his claws suddenly, which were longer and sharper than Draco's and tinged with black. He drank the potion and the pain still wracking his body subsided.

"Did the spell work?" Harry asked, and ralized his voice had changed as well, and was rather melodic. Harry suspected he could probably control the infamous 'Veela song' now.

Severus rubbed his temples tiredly as he administered the same potion to Draco's still form. "I don't know Mr. Potter. I fear that the spell may have lost its potency seeing as it was not delivered from your mouth. I suspect that only Draco knows."

Harry sighed, "Do you have a mirror sir?"

Severus seemed to wince. "Mr. Potter, the changes you underwent were dramatic. I'm not sure that that's the best idea right now. You look very different, and I'm not sure…"

"Please sir," Harry interrupted him. "I need to see."

Severus seemed as though he wanted to argue further when he abruptly acquiesced and conjured a full-length mirror, then turned his attention back to Draco.

The reflection in the mirror startled him so much that he had to touch his face to be sure that it was real. The image had a mixture of gold, red, and ebony hair, falling in messy waves to his waist, and emitting the same glow that Draco's emitted.

He was taller, and more built. His face was the same as usual, safe for his eyes being slanted more, and his lips were more red, and seemed fuller. His whole body was pale, probably from the mixture of Vampyr and Veela genes. When he opened his mouth he found his fangs, longer and sharper than Draco's. His ears were even more pointy than before.

That was when he realized his biggest change. Protruding from his back were two wings, the same height as his body. They were ebony, save for the tips which alternated read and gold feathers.

He hadn't been prepared for this. The book had told him that Vampyr's had wings, but he hand never really believed that he would.

"How am I going to hide this?" Harry moaned, surprising himself by shifting his wings anxiously.

Severus directed this attention away from the now-awakening Slytherin to address Harry. "I suspect you will be able to conceal them given time," he said rather nonchalantly.

Harry groaned, but didn't respond as Draco chose that moment to completely awaken.

"What happened?" he queried lethargically. Now that his eyes were open, Harry could see that Draco's once ice blue eyes had changed to a lusty silver.

"You transformed Draco," Severus explained gently. "You're a Veela now."

Draco's eyes widened marginally, allowing his surprise to show. Severus directed the boy to the mirror and Draco assessed his changed appearance, touching his hair and then staring with open shock at his fangs and claws.

Gradually, the novelty of his appearance seemed to wear off and the Slytherin turned to address Harry and Severus, looking Harry over appreciatively.

"You're Veela side seemed to come out nicely," Draco said coyly, and Harry rewarded him with an angry glare. "You seemed to have lucked out Potter."

"I owe nothing to your despicable race," the statement shot out of Harry's mouth unthinkingly. Draco snapped right back at him though.

"Unfortunately you seem to have inherited the Vampyr stupidity."

Harry growled and his eyes brightened angrily. Draco responded in kind and soon magic was emanating throughout the room. Suddenly Snape's voice cut through to both of the creatures minds. "Enough of this foolishness. Stope this now, both of you."

And just like that, they stopped, shooting each other sheepish looks. Snape looked amazed and rather bemused.

"So the hatred between Veela and Vampyr really is instinctual," he mused to himself. Then he seemed to snap out of it. "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter, even though there is considerable animosity between your two races, I expect you two to stay level headed."

Harry frowned and Snape noticed. "You two are still children in regards to your inheritance. I will remind you Mr. Potter, that while you are predominately Vampyr, you are also Veela, Elfin, and human. I suspect you will meet with considerable hardship for this mixture, but you can also use it to gain powerful allies. Do not forget this. Friendship between Veela and Vampyr is possible. After all you're mother and father managed it."

Harry nodded, looking rather ashamed of himself. Draco too, looked embarrassed. He surprised himself by holding out a hand.

"I'm sorry Potter, I don't know what came over me."

Harry stared at the hand, remembering that day all those years ago when he had refused the blonde's friendship. In a way, the Veela was offering that chance once more. He looked up into the Slytherin's face and saw only sincerity residing there. He took his hand.

"Likewise."

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