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Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

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CHAPTER FIVE

Weeks had passed since Draco had left Harry sobbing on the floor of the infirmary. He refused to listen to his friends and had even stopped speaking to them after the third time they had tried to talk to him about Harry. He had taken to eating early or late and walking away whenever anyone got to close to him. He had heard that Harry had stayed in the infirmary overnight but had not seen him for at least two weeks now.

It was fine for him, he was still so angry. He had used him. To him that showed him that Harry had never really loved him. That he had only been with him so that Draco could kill for him.

He had hexed Hermione two days ago when she had managed to corner him outside of the library. Damn Gryffindor! Why couldn't they leave him alone? He still laid awake at night thinking about Harry and he could not get himself to stop. He hated him now. He had given up everything for him and he had taken everything from him. And what had he gotten in return? Nothing. He had believed in Harry, believed in their love, and now he had nothing to show for that belief except a power that was slowly killing him.

Once again he found himself spending all his time on the same Tower he had spent the last eight months. He had not went back to class after he had been cleared by Madam Pomfrey. He spent his days on the pitch flying, his afternoons laying on his bed, and his nights staring at the stars. He didn't need his wand to do magic anymore and he found that he was more in tune with magical things than he had been before.

At least once a day he was overcome with dizziness and when he had went to Dumbledore to ask him why he had told him he did not know but maybe the answer would be in the research that the others had done. He had gotten the papers a few days later but had not looked at them. He really didn't care.

It seemed he cared about nothing now. He had lost more weight and his hair and clothes were no longer in his usual immaculate condition. He just didn't care about things like that anymore. He stared at his right hand where the bond ring that Harry had given him still circled his finger. He had tried to take it off but the thing would not budge. The silver band gleamed in the light of the stars and he Draco could feel the pulse of magic that surrounded it.

He remembered the night Harry had given it to him. Harry had used Pansy's Head Girl room and transfigured it to look like a Forrest, complete with a waterfall and a campsite. He had place a blanket on the ground and a picnic basket was sitting beside a chilled bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. After a delicious meal he had seemed so nervous and Draco had teased him immensely.

FLASHBACK

"Geesh, Potter, what is wrong with you? Pansy isn't hiding behind one of those trees is she?" He had teased him. He grinned impishly at the blush on his lovers face.

"I…umm…" Harry had stammered as his face got redder and redder. He had refused to raise his head to meet Draco's eyes and he was fiddling with the threads on the sleeve of his sweater, a clear indication in Harry-speak that something was up.

Draco could remember being overcome with a very bad feeling. Harry had been acting weird all week. Even Ron and Hermione had been watching him warily, well more closely than they had before he had fallen for their best friend. "Harry…" Draco whispered fearfully.

Harry had looked at Draco in terror. He stood and started to pace the room, missing the worried looks that Draco was shooting at him. With each second that passed the fear in Draco's heart grew and he was startled when he began to talk softly. His first words sent fear into his heart and his breath caught in his chest.

"All my life this is exactly what I have wanted. You…you are everything to me and I am so afraid I am going to lose you."

"Harry. I'm not going anywhere." Draco said softly, relieved that this was what the other boy was worried about and that Harry wasn't breaking up with him.

Harry had whirled around and glared at him. "You can't say that. You don't know what is going to happen in the next hour let alone the next year."

"I know that, Love. I will never leave you willingly." Draco said as he stood and walked up to Harry. When he refused to meet his eyes Draco had gently lifted his chin until they were looking deeply into each others eyes.

"I. Love. You." He said gently but forcefully. "Never doubt that, Harry."

Harry had shuddered and tears had fallen from his eyes as he gathered Draco tightly to him. "I love you too, Draco." He whispered in his ear before taking his lips as his own. As they kissed Draco had been amazed at the difference he felt from Harry. It was as if he had been holding back before now. This was no shy teenager kissing him, this was a man totally committed to what he was doing. Teenage kissing Harry was wonderful. Man kissing Harry was absolutely mindblowing.

Harry had pulled away as both of them tried to steady their breathing. He had fumbled in his pocket for something and pulling it out he took Draco's hand in his and slipped a ring onto his finger. Draco had stared at it in shock. It was a beautiful silver ring that he had placed on his finger.

"Love me, Fire." Harry had whispered as he had gently clasped Draco's hand to his cheek.

"Always, Ice." Draco had whispered back lovingly. Both of them had felt the power swell in the room but they had thought nothing of it as they had already fallen back into each other.

END FLASHBACK

They had found out days later when Draco had presented Harry with an exact replica of his own ring that they had truly bonded that night. Months had passed in complete bliss as their bond had grown stronger. Then, his mother had died, and weeks later Harry was spending all of his time in the Library and not speaking to him.

Draco sighed as the memory of their bonding faded and the tears he had kept at bay for so long spilled unto his cheeks.

"Stupid Potter." He muttered as he wiped the tears from his face and then had to keep wiping. He couldn't seem to stop the tears from falling. He missed him so much but he was still so furious at being manipulated that he would not give into the pull to go to him.

"You, Draco Malfoy, are a fool." Came the sharp voice of Ron Weasley.

Draco turned to stare coldly at him but said nothing. Ron gasped at the tears running down his cheeks but grew even more angry at his refusal to speak and since Draco hadn't hexed him yet took that as a sign to continue.

"Do you know what you have done to him? I know you are hurting Draco, everyone can see that. And I was there these last months so I know what you went through then as well. You are killing him Draco, just as sure as your father did." Ron's voice was weary but laced with iron and loads of contempt and understanding.

He had had every intention of hexing Ron until he really listened to the pain in the other man's voice. Pain for his best friend, Draco's only love, and amazingly for him.

"What do you mean?" He croaked out, a worry he didn't want to identify starting to grow in his chest.

"He stayed with you. Everyday he was here with you under his invisibility cloak. He stayed under it because when he tried to come to you, you freaked out, lost control of the Powers, and brought down part of the infirmary." Ron said with a slight smile at that. Draco frowned as he didn't remember that.

"He fought everyday to stay here Draco. Hogwarts didn't want him here anymore. You were so weak but he was weaker. He was dying again right along with you."

"Why do you say again?"

"Because he did die that day. He was dead for minutes and then, suddenly, he was breathing again."

Draco said nothing, he just turned from Ron and stared at the stars unconsciously playing with his ring as thoughts flew through his head.

"Read the notes, Draco." Ron said understanding apparent in his voice as he turned to leave. He was stopped by Draco's now cold voice.

"Where is he?"

"He's gone." Ron snapped, all the understanding from before gone now. He left the terrible silence behind him, wondering what Draco was going to do now.

XXXXXXXXXX

I have finally broken down and joined the ranks of the Veela writers and have started another story. I will not post it until I have a few more chapters written but I actually kinda like it. I have gotten permission from Frizzy or anything like that...should I ask? I don't know. Well, I guess as long as I don't steal her ideas it shouldn't be that big a deal right?

Here's the summary and a small overview; ya'll let me know what you think! I really, REALLY, didn't want to write a Veela story but this would not leave me alone.

Summary:

Draco Malfoy had known what was going to happen to him on his 18th birthday since he was 5 years old. But damn, even he hadn't expected this.

Overview:

Draco is a Veela (obviously). Harry will be his mate. Draco does not know who his mate is, just that it is a boy. When he finds out, there will be hell for the fates to pay. Is it the madness overtaking him or is it really and truly love?

Harry is indifferent. He knows what is going on but he just can't, or won't, care. He is too involved in training to stay alive. He is not clueless and he is going to be brilliant (just because I think a brilliant Harry is a sexy Harry) but it WILL NOT be in DADA, I was thinking more along the lines of Astronomy. He will be good in DADA because he really has no choice not too, BUT, it will not be his passion. He will just be an average wizard learning everything he can to survive. When he is finally forced to acknowledge events, what will his reactions be?

What happens when the Slytherins find out? The Gryffindors?

Also, I don't have a title yet, so if any of you have any suggestions based on what I have told you, please let me know. If someone suggests one that fits I will gladly use it and give them full credit.

So, what do you think? Do I have a shot at a decent story or should I stop right now?

Let me know!

Till next time...

ENJOY!

LMG