Warnings: spoilers for books 1-5 just to be safe. Also there will be NO spoilers for book 6. Eventual non-con. OOC for most characters as I'm not too good at writing Snape or Dumbledore to well.

AN: Thanks to Artificer for beta'ing all 7 chapters at once!

Silver and Cold

Chapter 7

The next morning, when Draco went to check on his mate, he found that his godfather was still by his mate's bedside. Draco felt better knowing that if his mate had woken up at some point during the night, Severus would have been there to take care of him. At this point, Draco knew it would be some time before Potter would be comfortable with him. Draco just had to tread carefully for now.

"How are you, Draco?"

The blonde Veela looked over at his godfather and gave a sad smile. "As well as can be expected, I suppose. You'd think finding one's mate would make everything all right, but apparently that won't be the case."

Severus Snape sighed softly. "I'm sorry Draco. I had hopes that your mate would at least be a Slytherin to make things easier. The only thing I can say would be to remember that despite being a Gryffindor, Harry is unique. You won't get anywhere treating him as you have done for the past six years."

Draco gave a low growl of frustration. "I know that! Trust me Sev, I know how difficult Potter can be; I know that it's going to be hard to convince him of anything, but it's just going to have to be."

Snape rose from his chair and headed for the door. "I'll leave you two for now. You need time to be alone and get used to each other, and I have classes I need to prepare for. You know how to contact me if you have need."

Draco smiled at his godfather. "Thanks, Sev."

Severus nodded and swept out of the room, his robes billowing behind him dramatically.

Draco sat in the chair his godfather had vacated and watched his mate sleep. There were a lot of things that needed to accomplished soon, but it would all depend on how Potter reacted to the situation. Draco dismissed Potter's earlier reactions due to the number of potions he was under because of his injuries.

Once awake, Draco planned on discussing their relationship, with Potter in a mature fashion. Draco didn't know if it would work, but snapping at him the other day probably hadn't endeared him to Potter either.

"I want to see my friends," a soft voice croaked from the bed.

Harry had heard Snape and Malfoy talking. He didn't like they way they were discussing him as if he had no choice in the matter. Harry hated feeling like a prisoner. He needed to see someone besides Malfoy and Snape. Harry needed to see someone who he knew didn't want anything from him. He needed to see someone who cared about him.

Draco glared at his mate, ready to deny the demand. I'm heir to the house of Malfoy. I take orders from no one, Malfoy thought angrily.

"You're not leaving this room until Madam Pomfrey has cleared you. Do not ask me again," Draco stated coldly, but wished he had responded more carefully. There was something in his mate's eyes that, had he not been a dominant Veela, he would have reacted to very differently.

His suspicions were proved correct when Potter angrily sat up and began hissing in Parseltongue. Draco recognized spell casting when he heard it, no matter the language.

"If you dispense with me in any way, you'll be stuck in this room forever. The door will only open for me and there is no other way out."

Harry glared as he continued to hiss more irreverently. Before Draco could decide on how to restrain his mate, Potter did the most unusual thing Draco's ever seen.

Draco blinked in confusion. "Potter, did you just stick your tongue out at me?"

To Draco's utter disbelief, Potter flopped back on the bed and pulled the blanket over his head. Draco sneered in annoyance. How dare Potter act like a childish prat! Draco leaped to his feet with the intentions of snatching the blanket away from his mate and giving Potter a piece of his mind.

As soon as Draco pulled the blanket to reveal his mate, he froze. Draco couldn't move because Potter lay on his side curled into a fetal position, making gasping noises. Draco sighed inwardly as he realized Potter had been trying to hold in his sobs. He needed to handle Potter carefully. After all, his mate has already recently suffered a trying ordeal. Alienating Potter from him wasn't going to do him any good. There was a limited amount of time Draco had before he and Potter had to consummate their bond before both of them would begin to show signs of insanity. They had less time than Draco would have liked before Draco's Veela instincts would begin to get beyond his control.

So, instead of once again snapping at his mate, he responded calmly. "I'll let your werewolf stop by for a visit. Severus can show him the way." It was spoken gently in order to try and soothe his mate.

It was a while before the gasping sounds stopped, but Potter remained in his fetal position, his body trembling only slightly. Draco wanted to once again growl in annoyance, but managed to restrain himself from doing so. It wouldn't do to belittle his mate now. He already had six years of animosity to make up for.

Draco placed a hand on Potter's shoulder and nearly jumped in surprise when his mate flinched, until he remembered why his mate would be scared. It was obvious Potter had expected some type of physical assault and that drove Draco even further in his hatred of his mate's muggle relatives. He was immensely happy he got rid of them, but wished he had kept them alive if only to torture them some more. Merlin knows they got off easy and deserved so much more for what they did, Draco thought darkly.

"When can I see Remus?" Potter said softly, bringing Draco out of his thoughts.

Draco looked at his mate's pleading expression and softened a bit. "I'll talk to Sev and arrange for him to come here for dinner."

Potter gave Draco a smile, causing Draco's heart to brighten. If it was all he was going to get for now, he would take it. "I'll be back shortly with breakfast."

Draco left Harry and went to collect the breakfast Dobby should have already brought and left in common room. As Draco approached he saw his mate flinch again in fear. Draco stopped short of physically touching Potter.

I really need to stop referring to him as 'Potter,' Draco mused.

Draco smiled gently at his mate. "I know this is all new and probably strange as well," he began.

Harry looked at Draco with tears welling up in his eyes. "…no one ever came before…" Harry whispered.

Draco looked at Harry inquisitively. "What do you mean?"

Unconsciously Harry leaned away from where Draco sat next to the bed.

"I always hoped someone would come. Take me away. By the time Hagrid came, it didn't matter anymore," Harry explained in that same quiet voice, refusing to meet Draco's eyes.

Draco frowned in confusion. "Hagrid didn't bring you back. I did."

Harry huddled, bringing his knees up to hug them closer. He shook his head negatively. "Not now, before Hogwarts," Harry said softly.

Draco's heart began to beat faster. His mate couldn't be saying what Draco thought he was saying, could he?

"What do you mean before Hogwarts? You mean before we started attending?"

At Harry's affirmative nod, Draco wanted to break something. He wanted to scream his rage for the whole world to hear.

"Those disgusting muggles have done this to you your whole life, haven't they?" Draco growled, not expecting an answer. He didn't see the scared look that Harry gave him. He was too busy connecting the puzzle pieces in his head.

The first and foremost factor that had always struck Draco as odd was the whole Boy-Who-Livedfactor. Why was the most famous magical child in the wizarding world sent to live with muggles? Why did the Boy-Who-Livedwear ragged muggle clothing when he was the wizarding world's darling? None of it made sense. Later on, it had become painfully obvious that Harry had no clue about certain things that most wizards knew.

Draco forced himself to calm down. He looked to his mate and smiled softly. "There is one thing you can count on from now on. I swear no matter what anyone else has done, I will always come for you," Draco stated sincerely.

Harry looked up at Draco, eyeing him carefully. He nodded slowly, acknowledging Draco's promise. Maybe this won't be a bad thing after all, Harry mused hopefully.

Draco grinned brightly, happy in Harry's acceptance, no matter reluctantly it was given.

Edited Jan. 06, 2006