A/N: Same warnings and notes as before.

Any comments would be gladly appreciated, as I have been working on this fic almost as long as Finding Harry, and had I not been publishing FH, it might have been done much sooner. If you would like to email me, my address is elfflame at hotmail dot com.

Thank you to so many people who helped me with this story. The first is Foodie, who read large chunks of this story for character purposes, and is always a doll when it comes to encouraging me to write. The second is to Dark Angel, who was particularly a major influence on the Lucius in this story. Without her, this Lucius would have been much wimpier. And the final thank you goes to my lovely Turtle Avenger, who tells me that she'd read the phone book if I wrote it. :D Love you, hon.

To my reviewers:

Angelkitty77: That would be a good guess. :D

ATadObsessive46: I'm glad you decided to, too. I hope you continue to enjoy. The curve balls start showing in this chapter. :)

Yana5: Well, I'm afraid I'm more of a bottom!Draco girl. But really, this story doesn't focus on those aspects too much…

Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. They belong to a lovely lady who seems to enjoy making us suffer. Hopefully the ending will turn out this nice… ;)

I hope you all enjoy.

What's Done Is Done

By Elf Flame

3 The Problems With Mating

When Draco regained consciousness, the room was lit up, and two dark-haired faces leaned over him. "How long?" he whispered. His throat felt as though he had been screaming.

"Stupid child. Both of you. You deserve each other."

"Shut up, Snape." Harry held out a glass of water to Draco. "You okay now?"

Draco nodded, immediately regretting it as his head exploded in pain.

"What was that?" Harry asked.

"That," Snape snarled, "Was the bond, you imbecile. You activated it."

Harry turned to Draco, eyes wide.

"It's true. It's why I kept trying to stop you." He heard Snape mumble something about brat Slytherins and overeager Gryffindors. "Leave it alone, Severus. He didn't do anything wrong. It's my fault."

Snape shot him a sour look. "And give me one good reason that I shouldn't immediately go and tell your father about this, Draco."

Draco sat up and took another sip of water before responding. "Because you know as well as I do that it won't change anything that's already happened."

Snape seethed for several minutes before replying. "Very well. But don't expect me to come to your aid when your father tries to deal with this, Draco. You and I both know he will, after all." He turned to Harry. "I would ask Draco why he was so eager to sleep with you tonight if I were you, Potter. He's still not told you everything you need to know." With that, he swept from the room.

The two looked at each other for several minutes before Draco spoke. "Ignore him. He's just upset he wasn't able to better manipulate things. And you aren't exactly the mate he wanted his godson to choose."

"Godson? He's your godfather?"

Draco nodded, and was relieved to notice that the pain had already receded almost completely.

Harry climbed onto the bed and sat facing Draco. "What did he mean, Draco?"

Draco put on his most innocent expression. "What do you mean? Which time? Severus is a rather enigmatic person…"

Harry's eyes narrowed. "About how you haven't told me everything yet. I mean, if you'd just told me not to say it…"

Draco snorted. "You probably would have said it all the sooner. Too late to change it now, that's for sure."

"And?"

"And what, Potter?"

Harry ground his teeth, then moved forward so that he was crouched over Draco. "And, what else haven't you told me yet?"

"Trying to intimidate me, Gryffindor?"

"Yes. Is it working?"

"Hardly. It's actually having the opposite effect." He wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders and pulled him down so that they were laid flush against each other, grinding up against him and sighing at the contact. Too bad the sheets were still in the way…

Harry bent his head down and kissed him lightly, then pulled away. "No more. Not until you come clean, Draco."

Draco chuckled. "Well, then we'll probably be in here for quite a while. After all, I am a Slytherin. I thrive on secrets. Telling you all of them could take a couple of weeks, at least."

Harry glared at him. "How about you just start with the information about Veela and their mates, and we'll take it from there?"

Draco eyed him warily.

"You're going to have to tell me sooner or later. I mean, we are bonded now, right? Or would you rather I went and asked Hermione?"

"That won't be necessary, Potter," Draco scowled. "Damn Severus, anyway. I wanted to ease you into this, Harry. Instead, we're being thrown into it." Draco swallowed and looked away from Harry for a moment. He took a deep breath. He was going to have to tell him sooner or later, after all. "All right. But no interruptions, okay?" Harry nodded, and leaned back against the baseboard of the bed. "I already told you a bit about Veela mating rituals, but the truth is, there's more to this than a simple choice. You telling me you loved me was the final step." Harry's eyebrows rose, but he stayed silent. "First, a Veela must choose his or her mate, and decide if there is a bond worth pursuing there. This is really the least important part, and often happens in an instant really. Oftentimes, a Veela doesn't even know they've chosen until the second part of the bond takes place.

"I suppose somewhere in my subconscious, I probably chose you the minute you walked into Madam Malkins that day." He grinned at Harry, who grinned back, then shifted forward on the bed so that he was lying on his stomach, his chin resting on his hands.

"Anyway, after that, once the Veela has decided, it's just a matter of the two, the Veela and their mate, saying the proper words."

Harry snorted. "I love you?" He looked bemused. "How does that cause the bond?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "No questions till after, Potter. Anyway, it's not the words, it's the emotions behind them. Honestly, I'm amazed that some of our fights never triggered the bond while we were in school, really. There was so much feeling behind them."

Harry's eyes widened. "That could have happened?"

Draco felt his cheeks heat. "Yes. In fact, it nearly did. All it would have taken was you saying the wrong words in my hearing, and we would have had this happen then," he waved his hand at himself.

"Why?"

Draco grimaced. "I…didn't really realize I'd chosen. You speaking Parseltongue was just my favorite masturbatory fantasy. And then, one night in third year, I was…caught up in the moment, and…it just came spilling out. I started tingling all over. At the time, I had no idea what it was, so I went to Severus. That was a mistake. He was furious. He demanded to know who it was I'd been thinking about, but I refused to tell him." He snickered. "Every time he saw me with someone, he'd call me into his office to ask me all sorts of questions. I knew he was just trying to figure out who it was, but I wasn't about to tell him." He smiled at Harry.

Harry, though, was not smiling back. "You've wanted me to be your mate since you were thirteen?"

"I was nearly fourteen."

"Thirteen?"

Draco's eyes narrowed. "Yes, Potter, thirteen, okay?"

"How…why did you wait? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Harry, calm down. It's all right. We're fine."

Harry sat up and glared. "Oh, is that why you were unconscious for almost an hour?"

Draco blinked. "An hour?" He whistled. "I had no idea. It must have been the length of time between the two declarations. Someone will have to do a study on that someday." Harry was still scowling at him. "Oh, calm down, Harry. I'm fine."

"Is that everything?"

Draco scowled. He had been hoping Harry would assume that was the only thing he needed to know. "No."

There was a long silence. "Well? Are you going to tell me, or am I going to go wake Hermione?"

Draco swallowed. He wasn't looking forward to this at all. He knew Harry would be furious. "The first time a Veela sleeps with their chosen mate, bonded or not, they become pregnant, or impregnate their partner."

Harry laughed. "That's rich, Malfoy. You're a guy. Guys don't get pregnant."

"Wrong. I'm a Veela. Veela males can be impregnated. And you were inside me, or don't you remember?"

Harry had gone white. He swallowed several times before managing finally to speak. "You're…you and I…we're…"

"Going to have a baby." Draco looked away from him. This was harder than he'd thought it was going to be. "Harry, I'm honestly sorry. I really didn't let myself believe you would even be interested. And I certainly didn't expect to get this far this fast. But I wanted to make sure I had a piece of you before you vanished into the real world, even if you never knew."

"You would have kept him from me?" Harry's eyes had gone dark.

"Harry, you have to understand, I thought it was all I would ever have of you. Just one night. And that I'd never…I just wanted something that was just mine, to remember a wonderful night. I didn't want you to feel pressured by everything to take care of him. And I was sure if I'd told you before we slept together that you would have refused entirely."

Harry sat up and looked away across the room. "I probably would have. Refused. But not for the reasons you think, Draco. When we came in here tonight, yeah, I thought there was a possibility for sleeping with you. I was quite attracted to you. But if you'd said you'd get pregnant from the act, I would have had second thoughts." He turned to look at Draco. "I thought I was just another in a long line, Draco. That you'd sleep with me and toss me aside. That's why I kept protesting. Not because I didn't want to. I certainly never would have agreed to bring any child into that. Would you have told me everything beforehand?"

Draco swallowed. "No."

"Then you're right. I would have refused. I don't know whether to be angry or glad you did it, Draco."

Draco's eyebrows rose. "Glad?" his voice squeaked on the word.

Harry laughed. "Well, all I've ever dreamed about was having a normal life. A wife, kids…Guess you're not much of a wife, but tonight, well…I never thought about the kids, really. I mean, I didn't even know it was a possibility. Can we have more?"

Draco laughed a little hysterically. "Well, it's not heavily researched. But I'm sure we'll figure something out. You're not mad?"

Harry crawled over to him and put his arms around his waist. "How could I possibly be mad when I've just gotten everything I've ever wanted?"

Draco couldn't help but grin. "Everything?"

Harry grinned and hissed something, sending shivers down Draco's spine.

"What was that?"

"Just 'I love you.'"

Draco pulled closer to him, burrowing his face into Harry's shoulder. "God. That was…"

Harry's laugh rumbled through his body, and Draco could feel the vibrations. "Yes, love?"

Draco pulled back, and looked up at Harry. "You can do that any time you want, okay?"

Harry laughed again. "I'll keep that in mind." Draco snuggled back into his embrace. "So, is that everything?"

Draco shrugged. "Pretty much."

"No other little secrets, like that you're engaged, or something?"

Draco wrinkled his nose. "God, I hope not."

"Good. Then you're all mine."

The two of them lay back and snuggled under the blanket together before falling into a deep and completely restful sleep.

They were woken early the next morning by Draco's door slamming open. "Draco Magnus Salazar Black Malfoy! What have you done?"

Draco sat up, wide-eyed, and looked at his father, who was rapidly approaching. He was just glad he and Harry hadn't indulged again last night… He took a breath and calmed himself before answering. "Good morning, father. Is something wrong?"

Lucius snarled down at his son, then glared at the young man who was attempting to feign sleep by his side. "I think you know precisely what is wrong, Draco. And I suggest you deal with it before I do."

"Deal with it? You mean get rid of Harry? I don't think so. Things have gone a bit beyond that stage, or didn't Severus tell you that?"

Lucius paled. "Tell me you didn't," he growled.

Draco grinned. "Oh, father, you are behind the times, aren't you? Too little, too late."

Lucius's nostrils flared, and he looked down at Draco and Harry for several moments before speaking again. "It seems we need to talk, Draco. Get dressed and come to my study. Alone."

"There is nothing you can say that will change what has happened, father."

"No, but there are things you don't understand, Draco. Obligations that might have stopped you from doing this had you known. Just come to my office, and we'll speak." He turned away and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Harry opened an eye. "Draco Magnus what?"

Draco sighed. "Salazar Black Malfoy. My father was a bit full of himself when he named me."

Harry snickered. "I can tell."

"Is that a comment, Harry Potter?" Draco growled.

"It's not as bad as yours. At least my middle name's just James…"

"True. Just promise me when we name our son that you won't let father have any input into what we choose."

Harry looked at him incredulously. "Why on earth would I even think of allowing that?"

Draco smiled and slid out of the bed. When Harry sat up to do the same, Draco shook his head. "Go back to sleep. I shouldn't be long. If father had been willing to talk in front of you, he would have done it here. When he says alone, he means it. I'll be back before you know it." He pulled on a robe, then leaned over and kissed Harry quickly on the lips. "I'll see you soon."

He left the room quickly. Whatever Lucius was on about, this wouldn't be good. And though Harry was basically part of the family now, there was no reason to expose him to this side of the family dynamic yet. He made his way down to the second floor and his father's study. The door stood open, so he entered, then closed the door behind himself. Lucius was standing looking out the window behind his desk. At the click of the door, he turned to Draco. His voice was low and carefully controlled when he began to speak. "I cannot believe you would be so stupid. This isn't something you can simply jump into, Draco. I am aware that hormones can get out of control, but allowing yourself to bond with that …"

"I don't think you get it, father. This isn't something that can just be changed. It's not something I want to change. You never bonded to mother, did you? You don't know how it feels. I've wanted him for years. Ask Severus. He knows. I won't let you destroy this. I finally have something that you can't take from me. Not without losing me as well."

Lucius's face screwed up in rage. "You stupid boy! Did it ever occur to you that you might be promised to someone else?" Lucius's eyes flashed as he spoke, and Draco could see that he was obviously barely containing himself. Lucius's knuckles were whitening around the head of his cane.

Draco struggled to take in what his father had just suggested. "You didn't. You couldn't. I would know!" Draco was haunted by Harry's words from the night before. 'No other little secrets, like that you're engaged, or something?' If it were true… "Who?"

Lucius shot him a bitter smile. "Arland Parkinson and I made a contract between you and Pansy the year you were born."

Draco was incredulous. "Pansy? That cow?"

"She is a well-bred, properly brought-up girl, who is a far better match for you than that Potter boy."

Draco snorted. "Pansy's a useless, brainless twit. And Harry is the saviour of the wizarding world. Which would you choose if you had to? You were the one who was always telling me how powerful Harry is. Why would you do this?"

"Because, at the time, she was the best choice, Draco. And because Potter will dilute our bloodline! Or hadn't that even occurred to you? You should be grateful. The Parkinsons are nearly as powerful as the Malfoys. Your children will be the pinnacle of Wizarding society."

"My children will be, yes. Because they'll be Harry's children. Not Pansy's. I won't marry her. I refuse."

"You have no choice. The contract is unbreakable."

"Find a way. Because I won't." Draco turned to leave the room, unwilling to listen to more, but before he reached the door, his father spoke again.

"If you refuse, you will lose your inheritance, Draco." Lucius's voice was utterly cold.

Draco spun to face him once more. Lucius, though, didn't look angry, but more resigned than anything else. "Are you threatening me? If you don't leave everything to me, there is nowhere else for it all to go. We both know it. It's an empty promise, father."

There was a bitter smile on Lucius's face. "No. I would not disinherit you. If the contract is broken, the person who breaks the contract looses their manor. Parkinson insisted."

Draco's eyes flew wide at this. This was insane! Lucius would never have allowed Arland Parkinson to get the better of him. Why had he allowed this? Parkinson Manor was barely older than Pansy. Why would Lucius even want it? Why would he even think about risking Malfoy Manor for it? "And you just went along with this? Are you insane?" Draco shook his head. "No, don't answer that. That should be obvious, shouldn't it?" He glowered at his father for a few minutes, then grudgingly asked, "May I see a copy of the contract?"

Lucius waved at a scroll laid out on his desk. "You are more than welcome to look at it, but I'm afraid you won't find a way out of it. Parkinson had the best solicitor of the time go over it for him. He didn't trust me at all, of course." His voice was completely emotionless now.

"Smart man. Too smart. I still want to see it." He held out a hand, and after another moment, Lucius nodded, stepped towards his desk, and picked up the scroll, rolled it up carefully, then handed it to Draco.

Before Draco could retreat with the scroll, Lucius grabbed his wrist. There was a look in his eyes Draco had never seen there before. "Don't assume, Draco, that simply because I never bonded, that I never felt the inclination. Your mother is a good woman, and we have had a good marriage, particularly considering the events we have lived through. There was never passion there, but that did not make it a bad thing, Draco. Perhaps you and Pansy…"

"Pansy and I will never be happy. I lived with her in the same house for seven years, father. I loathe the girl. If I can find a way out, I'll take it. Be glad I care for this manor as much as you do. Otherwise I'd simply tell you to marry the chit yourself." With that, Draco pulled his wrist from his father's grasp, then turned and swept from the room.

TBC