THE ELF PRINCE'S MATE

AUTHOR: fantasylover12001

RATING: R

DISCLAIMER: I do not own HP. Otherwise I would not be racking my brain figuring out who the Half Blood Prince was because if I owned HP that would mean I would know.

PAIRING: Draco/Harry, Ron/Hermione, Seamus/Dean, and many others mentioned.

SUMMARY: Draco and Harry continue to happily explore the new level of intimacy they've reached while Draco's mother insists that traditional festivities go on as usual.

AUTHORS NOTES: My computer is back to normal! More or less. Hopefully now I can almost finish this. I forgot to mention in the last batch of author notes that there is going to be Mpreg in this now. Within the next few chapters to be precise. I know some people have a problem with that so if you do, keep it to yourself and DO NOT FLAME ME.

Thank you to all the reviewers who reviewed the last part and supported me during this difficult time with my computer ;smirk; Thankfully it's fixed. For now at least. Pray it decides to stay that way.

CHAPTER 12: FESTIVAL

Harry woke up very warm. Warmer then he had ever been in his life. Slightly confused he turned and froze when he encountered the source of the warmth: Draco's very warm, very NAKED body. A flush made it's way across his face when he remembered the events of last night. He turned even redder when Draco grunted in his sleep and tugged him closer, causing him to feel...well, EVERYTHING.

'Why am I blushing?' Harry thought in embarrassment. 'It's not like I haven't woken up next to him before.'

But this was different. Sleeping next to each other completely bare just seemed more intimate. Despite what had happened last night it made Harry feel nervous and self-conscious. Just as he decided to get up Draco rolled over, effectively pinning him under the Prince's larger frame. An arm had thrown itself possessively across his stomach and Draco had buried his head into his neck. Now if Harry moved there was no way he wouldn't wake the Prince up.

'I swear he planned this,' Harry thought in mild exasperation as he tried to ignore the morning erection that was pressed against his hip suggestively.

So he ended up laying there for awhile. Normally he would have just gotten up but he didn't want to wake Draco up. His mate needed to rest, he had barely gotten any sleep the past few weeks. Then he blinked, slightly startled at himself. That was the first time he had ever thought of Draco as his mate.

Harry turned his head slightly and came nose to nose with Draco. He then couldn't help but smile softly at the sight of the elf. For once the Prince was completely relaxed. His face didn't have the strain of having to act serious most of the time, his blonde hair was tangled and hung all around the two men, and he was snoring softly with a content look on his face.

'My mate' Harry repeated in his head. Then he grinned broadly and snuggled closer to the elf. Now that he thought about it, he could use some extra rest as well.

dmHPdm

Draco's mother had been after his father to get an assistant for years. An assistant who could proofread through laws and other such nonsense, and do all the little things for him to make his life a little less busy. His father, being the stubborn man he was, had insisted that if the past Kings had not needed an assistant then he most certainly did not either.

Draco, while stubborn as his father, could occasionally see reason. Now that he had done the job for over a month he could see that his mother had a point. So he hired Ginny Weasley to be his assistant. It was a bold move, hiring a female, but she did the job well. Ginny had been raised in the court, she knew all the inner workings of law thanks to her father and more importantly, Draco trusted her. Far more then that weasel of a man, Pettigrew, who Fudge had offered up for the job. Something about the man unsettled Harry, and if his mate was uncomfortable around the man then he wasn't about to trust him. Harry was usually trusting.

As always, the thought of his mate, brought a grin to his face. This past week had been amazing. Last weekend had opened the door for a even more pleasurable relationship with Harry and it was fantastic. The two were becoming quite familiar with each other's bodies with all the exploring they did. Harry was a dream to explore. He was amazingly responsive and yet still adorably shy sometimes with him. His mate also seemed to enjoy exploring him as well and he had no complaints whatsoever about that. He now looked forward to the end of work because it meant he could return to his mate.

Which was why he was only slightly rushing through signing the documents he needed to sign before the end of the day. When he finally finished he gathered his things and looked at Ginny who was filing papers across the study. "Anything else on the agenda today, Ginny?"

The redhead shook her head. "Nope. Go on, get out of here while you can. Say hi to Harry for me."

The blonde chuckled. Obviously Ginny knew exactly what had been distracting him lately. "Don't work to late, all right? The last thing I want is your Mum getting on me about working you to hard."

Ginny snorted. "Scared of her too?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Ginny, anyone in their right minds would be scared of your Mum."

"True."

With a wave, Draco left and went in search of his mate.

He found Harry where he thought he would: in the infirmary's stock room.

The stock room was rather small and Harry was in the process of placing stuff on the shelves they were meant to go on. One wall of the rectangular walk-in room was shelves, while the other wall was a counter area with cabinets and drawers below. His mate had yet to notice him in the doorway and with a smirk Draco walked up behind the smaller man and waited until his arms were free of the things he was stocking.

When Harry was done he reached out and pulled him up against his chest. Harry gave a startled yelp but quieted when Draco kissed him hungrily.

It still amazed him sometimes just how wonderfully the two of them fit together. Harry was just smaller enough then him to fit perfectly in between his legs and to lean against his chest. He felt Harry sigh happily into the kiss when he pressed the other man closer against him. He felt light-headed when slim arms came around his neck and hands tangled themselves into his hair.

How was it that just kissing Harry could make him dizzy? They weren't doing anything more and yet he felt like he was on fire, a feeling that he had only gotten before during sex. But even that didn't compare to this. He didn't even pay attention to his surroundings like he normally did because he was too focused on the perfect creature in his arms.

Which was why he was startled when someone cleared their throat.

He and Harry turned and both started when they saw Poppy standing there with a basket of cloths, looking at them with mild amusement.

Harry turned beet red and tried to hide his face in Draco's neck in embarrassment. His mate was always uncomfortable with public displays of affection. Getting caught making out in the stock room was probably even more uncomfortable for him.

Poppy took pity on him. "I think you two might want to take this somewhere more private before someone other then me comes in here." Then with a wink she just walked away.

Taking her advice, Draco led Harry somewhere more private.

dmHPdm

From the journal of Harry Potter:

September 16th,

I know, I've been bad about writing lately. I guess I've been a little caught up in this new part to our relationship. Not that I mind in the least. I don't know what I was so nervous about. This is wonderful, and we haven't had the REAL sex yet, all we've done so far is basically touch each other. If it's like this when we just touch, what will it be like when we actually make love?

Draco is...a very focused lover. When he looks at you or touches you it feels like you're a God or something or some perfect being who needs to be worshiped. He's completely gentle, but at the same time really passionate. He's absolutely perfect.

What on Earth is he doing with someone like me?

I'm really grateful that there are elf bonds now. If there weren't I'm pretty sure that Draco and I would never have met. Even if he had somehow met me, he wouldn't have looked twice in my direction. So I'm thanking my lucky stars that this bond exists. For all the bad things that I've gone through, I'd go through them again in a heartbeat if it meant still meeting Draco.

God, I've turned into such a sap. I hope to God no one ever EVER reads this.

Harry

dmHPdm

Draco looked at his mother in exasperation. "A festival, Mother?"

"Do not give me that look, Draconis Malfoy, you knew perfectly well that this festival was coming up. It's been a tradition for centuries, no war is going to stop it if I have anything to say about it." His mother looked at him severely when she said this and Draco knew he was not going to get out of this.

One of the things he hated about being royalty was showing up to all the cultural events and balls. He might not have minded festivals if he could go and enjoy them with the regular people. Unfortunately, protocol made it so he had to stay at the castle and attend the royal balls that came with them. That meant putting up with not only the council, but other royals (most of whom he found to be a pain), nobles, and basically every gossiper and social-climber in town.

This was when he had to deal with mothers throwing daughters or sons at him in the hopes that they would be his mate. He smirked to himself, they were certainly going to be disappointed this year.

This particular festival celebrated the beginning of the fall harvest and was enjoyed throughout the realm for one week. Harry and his friends even knew about it, as the town of Surrey had been mainly a farm town. He smiled slightly when he recalled the story Seamus and Dean had told him in delight about a mishap Harry had during a game of Bob for Apples once when he was fifteen.

"Is it absolutely necessary?" he asked.

Narcissa sighed. "No. But it would be a good thing. This city has been on edge ever since Lucius and the armies left. Maybe this sense of normalcy will help ease their minds." Then she grinned wickedly. "Besides, now you finally get to show off your mate to the court and get Mrs. Parkinson off your back."

Draco flinched at the mention of Mrs. Parkinson. She was one of the worst nobles in the court. She had been pushing her daughter, Pansy at him for years, even though the two elves knew perfectly well they weren't mates. Pansy was nice enough, the two had gone through a brief flirting period during their early teenage years, but she was more like a cousin or friend to him then a woman to pursue. The fact that Mrs. Parkinson didn't know her daughter preferred girls to boys did not help matters. Getting the woman to stop forcing the two into embarrassing situations was quite appealing.

"All right. But I insist on lots of security though, just in case Voldemort gets any ideas."

"Of course."

As he watched his mother leave he sighed to himself. "Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret this?"

dmHPdm

From the journal of Harry Potter:

September 20th,

The Harvest festival is still going on! I adore this festival! It's a week long celebration throughout the realm that kicks off the beginning of the harvest season (hence the name). It's part carnival, part jousting tournament, and part dance.

According to Draco it's a pain in the arse but then I've noticed he's said that about most functions. But I can understand why. It must be irritating to have to dress up and go to all the functions that royals have to do. But I'm still looking forward to this. This city holds not only a carnival like Surrey did but jousting tournaments for the soldiers, as well as large balls in the castle every night. I'll be surprised if any work gets done at all next week.

Harry

dmHPdm

Draco shifted uncomfortably in the dress cloths he was wearing. This was another thing he hated about functions like this. Uncomfortable, overly elaborate clothing. Most people also probably didn't realize that the crown he was forced to wear was heavy.

He paused in his shifting when he came out into the hallway and spied his mate peering around a large column down into the ballroom. The Prince looked him over in admiration before coming up behind him. "Relax. They only LOOK frightening." He nodded down at all the chattering nobles and royals dressed in their finest clothing.

Harry looked at him nervously. "So, they're really normal people then?"

Draco scoffed. "Sure. If you count annoying socialites as normal."

Harry bit his lip and Draco's face softened. He brushed his hand over Harry's cheek. "Relax. They'll adore you as much as I do." Then he frowned. "Well...not as much as I do. But they'll like you all the same."

Harry smiled at him and took Draco's offered hand. Then the two of them turned to face the court. Or hell, as Draco privately thought of it as.

dmHPdm

An hour or so later it appeared Draco's prediction had come true: most everyone seemed to love Harry. Whether it was because of his personality, or because he was the Prince's mate and they couldn't say anything about it even if they wanted too, Harry didn't know. He preferred to believe that they genuinely liked him.

The problem came when Draco introduced him to Mrs. Parkinson and her daughter Pansy. Pansy greeted him warmly and wished him and Draco well. Apparently she and the Prince were old childhood friends. Mrs. Parkinson on the other hand looked at him up and down with a sneer and said, "My daughter was looked over for a PEASANT?"

"MOTHER," Pansy hissed at her, and looked at Harry apologetically.

"Mind your tongue, Mrs. Parkinson," Draco said coldly. Harry couldn't help but stare at him a little apprehensively. He had never seen his mate look quite so cold before. "Apologize to Harry now."

"My apologies, Mr. Potter," the woman said stiffly.

Even though he could tell she didn't mean it, Harry nodded and decided to lead Draco over to Mrs. Weasley and the remaining Weasleys who hadn't gone off to war. It was strange seeing the clan so small, and a little sad.

They chatted for a little while with the Weasleys and were later joined by Pansy herself who again apologized to Harry for her mother.

"She just can't seem to get it through her head, that Draco and I weren't meant to be," the girl said in exasperation.

"I'm sure she'll get over it once you find your mate, Pansy," Draco assured it.

Pansy snorted. "Yes. I just need to find her don't I?" Then she grinned. "Hopefully that will be soon. I sense she's here in the castle!"

"Really? Then maybe you've all ready met her?" Harry suggested.

"I doubt it," the elf said sadly. "My family doesn't come to court that often because my Father detests it. We're only here today because my Mother threatened to divorce him if we didn't come. She misses coming to the balls a lot. Besides, I would have known if I had met her. Elves always know when they meet their mates."

Harry tilted his head in curiousity. "I've been meaning to ask about that. The books I've read on elf mate bonds say stuff like that too but they never describe HOW they know."

"That's because the stories differ for each bonded pair," Narcissa said, pausing in her conversation with Mrs. Weasley.

"Really?"

The Queen nodded and smiled. "Lucius and I knew the minute we shook hands. It was like a rope had come over our hands pulling us together."

Mrs. Weasley then grinned. "Arthur and I knew when we met at age seven after I punched him in the nose for saying I had cooties."

Harry couldn't help but chuckle at the mental image of that.

Before he could ask Draco how he knew he was his mate the Queen suddenly gave a strangled cry of pain and doubled over in her seat.

"Mother!" Draco cried in alarm. He knelt in front her. "What's wrong!"

She gave an anguished cry and gasped out, "Lucius!" Then she fainted.

AUTHOR NOTES: yes, I suck for leaving it there, I know. But it just had to end there. My muses insisted! I'll try to get the next part out quickly. Be warned though, it's going to be very sad.