A/N: Sorry about missing some nights when I said I'd try to update as much as possible but I needed to clean out my email! I hadn't read any stories for like a week! And 'Black Truth' by InferiorBeing is updated like every Sunday and is one of my favorite stories! Thanks again for the reviews! Past 300!
(IMP) I noticed after reading the Chapter 15 before posting Chapter 16 that when I update, some words get put together. I checked Chapter 16 before submitting it and it happened again! So if there are problems in this it is the site.
Chapter Seventeen: Learning About You and The End of Summer
With the First Bond in place, Harry and Draco had six months to finish the other two. Three days after the 'Trelawney murder' as the papers were calling it, Draco moved into the Gryffindor Rooms, which made Harry practically glow every time he thought about it.
The next three weeks flew by as Harry and Draco began to get to know each other. It was still awkward at first, but they were civil to each other now, almost like distant friends. Of course, friends didn't suddenly get the urge to snog each other senseless at random times. Draco's Slytherin friends found it endlessly amusing to hear the once rival arguing heatedly in their rooms one minute and then complete silence the next. Draco and Harry usually came out of their rooms looking properly snogged and Snape had taken to staying in his private quarters more often.
But no matter how much they did get along, when they fought, it wasn't pleasant. Draco and Harry still didn't agree on a lot of things. Gryffindors, Slytherins, Harry's friends, Draco's family, Sirius and Remus, Harry's friends, politics, bloodlines and Harry's friends were just a few of the things they consistently clashed on. While not the fanatics that Voldemort thought they were, most Slytherins did taken a person purity of blood into account as part of a person's worth. Harry told Draco that didn't make sense, seeing as someone somewhere made Draco and himself mates, equal in every way and perfect for each other, but Draco's ideals made Harry either his lesser or his superior. Sirius was struck with peals of laughter, even days after their latest debate on the purity of blood when Harry explained how he was technically more pure than them. Snape hadlooked sour.
The best part, according to Sirius, was when Harry threatened Luis Montague after he had insulted both Harry's mother and Hermione Granger, saying muggle-borns or anyone raised by them, didn't deserve an education at Hogwarts. Harry had said that if Luis ever spoke like that again, he, Harry, would castrate him, making sure the Montague line did not continue and then strangle him with his own intestine.
Remus was a bit more strict and chided Harry for threatening other students, but later told Harry he had never seen a person pale so quickly.
The topic they, Harry and Draco, clashed most over were Harry's two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.While Draco seemed to care deeply for his three best friends (since Malfoys hardly ever showed emotion, Draco wouldn't admit he loved them like his family) and Harry seemed to get along with them quite well, Draco would not budge on giving them a chance. The thought of having to give up Ron and Hermione because of Draco made Harry's heart ache but he needed his mate.
Both Gryffindors wrote to Harry twice over the summer break from America, post taking much longer to travel, but Harry hadn't told neither of them about his changing or Draco. It was too dangerous, in case the letters were intercepted and Harry respected both of his friends too much to say something this important in a letter.
Draco must have known Harry cared just as much for his friends as Draco did about his own, because he never once, even while they argued, told Harry he had to choose between them. but Harry was determined to get Draco to see just how much alike their friends were and accept them.
Pansy was, although she didn't show it, amazing intelligent, just not in the Hermione I-Can-Repeat-Everything-You-Just-Said-And-Then-Do-It-Backwards-And-In-French Granger way, but had her own twist on everything. She could also be very nosy and annoying, but in that same caring way that Hermione was.
Blaise, while very refined and a bit stuffy, was every bit like Ron when it came to homework and Quidditch, he hated the first and adored the latter. He also had a liking for the Chudley Cannons, as Harry found out early one Saturday morning when he left his rooms to find Blaise dressed in violently orange pajama bottoms in the Slytherin Common Rooms, slipping coffee. He was also fiercely loyal to Draco, which Harry took great comfort and annoyance in.
Theodore, or Theo as Harry found out everyone called him, was oddly enough, like Seamus Finnigan. Both boys had gotten fairly good, depending on how you looked at it, reputations early on from the opposite, or in many cases, same sex. He was also, bloody impossible to wake in the morning.
Harry found himself getting along with them, laughing and joking and wondered if this was how it could have been had be picked Slytherin instead of Gryffindor. Thinking about Gryffindor reminded Harry that they still hadn't caught the dirty bastard who had tried to kill him and had kill Trelawney. It just had to be a Gryffindor. Someone who had talked to Harry, knew he liked to eat in the kitchens sometimes, knew he knew a few House Elfs there that he trusted.
Snape had pointed out Ron and Hermione and even Ginny, which irritated Harry to no end. Yes, they did know that information about Harry but they were an ocean away! Harry distantly wondered what it was about him that made his aunts and uncles hate him simply on the principle that he was Harry Potter. Snape and his Aunt Petunia could make a club, get together every Saturday and discuss what they hated most about Harry. That thought was very depressing.
Two days before they were scheduled to start school, Dumbledore reminded Harry, Sirius and Remus to meet at his office at noon. Receiving three blank stares, the Headmaster explained that Lily and James' Will were to be read that day.
Harry looked at his kippers with mixed feelings. He was happy to be finally learning more about his parents but saddened at the reason why. In a world without Voldemort and with Lily and James Potter, Harry would have been different. He would have known about him being an Elemental Veela, known about Snape and his aunt, everything he didn't have today. He wouldn't have been as strong willed or mature but he'd be more innocent. But one thing he would always have was Draco.
Chuck, Draco's book, had told them that in any afterlife, past life or alternate universe, their souls would be bound for each other. He had explained that even this universe that they lived in now, could be the result of them bonding in another one. It reassured Harry that Draco would come to love him someday and reassured Draco that this was right, their relationship.
Draco had been afraid that Harry would have been a weak-willed sex driven Elemental Veela to which he would slowly loose his independence and free will to if they bonded. That wasn't the case. While Harry's feelings for Draco grew, Harry wasn't afraid to tell Draco when he was wrong.While Draco didn't cringe from tell Harry when he was being stupid, which wasn't happening as often as it did before.
Finally midday rolled around and the three Gryffindors left the Slytherin Common Rooms where they had been relaxing. His problems with Draco solved, for the moment, Harry turned his attentions to his guardians. He was a matchmaker by nature and Harry had come into the ability to not only see bonds but tell them apart. There were sibling bonds, blood bonds, friendship bonds, bonds of love and, like his and Draco's, mate bonds which were the strongest. Remus and Sirius shared a mate bond, but it was slowly breaking down over the years apart they had spent. Even now, with Sirius free, both men acted like teenagers around each other. It made Harry just want to throw them in an empty broom closet until they got over it and snogged.
That's it! The Veela thought as they traveled up the moving staircase, his mind made up. If they don't do anything about it by tomorrow, I'm stepping in. The sight of a dying bond was horrible to an Elemental Veela.
In Dumbledore's now familiar office was the Headmaster himself and an old, mean looking goblin who introduced himself as Swifthelm. Harry found out the reason he looked so old was because he had looked over the Potter Vaults for nearly three hundred years. He was old.
Everyone settled down in the comfy armchairs Dumbledore had once conjured for himself in front of the entire Wizengamont, Harry between Sirius and Remus, Swifthelm on the right side of the Dumbledore occupied desk, many papers stacked beside him.
"If everyone is present we may begin." Swifthelm said, his voice wheezing slightly.
Everyone present was forced to sign their full names, Dumbledore's taking the longest, on many official looking documents before they were magicked off to the Ministry.
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter requested that their son, Harry be put into the guardianship of Sirius Black or, if for some reason that request is not possible, Albus Dumbledore. Is Mr. Potter in one of yours care?" The goblin inquired.
Sirius nodded. "Harry is in the guardianship of Remus and myself. I am his godfather and Remus was a very close friend of the family."
Dumbledore looked at Swifthelm. "I was unaware that I was also named as a suitable guardian of Harry. He was placed with his mother's sister and her husband up until the beginning of this month."
The goblin shifted through some of his papers his eyebrows frowning. "No, no, no. Mrs. Potter clearly left notice that her son was not to be placed with a Mrs. Petunia Dursley, in case of her death, but to yourself or Mr. Black. If both of these choices were not available, then as 'Last Resort' movement was to be filed and Harry was to be placed with Mr. Lupin."
Remus closed his eyes. He had missed years with Harry, his cub in all but blood, but was making up for that now.
Dumbledore looked at Harry gravely. "I apologize for not looking into the matter more closely. I could have saved you all from much heartbreak."
Harry nodded. He wasn't surprised that his mother had not wanted him placed with the Dursleys, but it was over with now. No good living in the past.
Swifthelm pulled out a ratty piece of parchment and looked at Dumbledore.
"I will need seven drops of blood from Harry please. Right on the middle of the parchment."
Harry looked at the goblin confused. Blood magic was illegal, that had been plowed into his head by the fake-Moody in his Fourth Year. With the outcome of that year when Voldemort used Harry's blood to return, he was very reluctant to let anyone have his blood again.
Sirius explained at the guarded look on Harry's face. "Your blood is more unique than even your magical signature. Even polyjuice cannot replicate a person's blood. It's just another precaution pure blooded families use. Seven drops because seven is a very magical number. It's the only bit of blood magic still legal."
Harry relaxed at that. A quick poke from Dumbledore's wand and seven drops later, the room watched as emerald green writing began to form on the old parchment.
The Last Will and Testament of Lily Jade Potter and James Dominic Potter
Recipients:
Only heir and son: Harry James Potter
Others: Sirius Cesear Black, Remus Jacob Lupin, Albus W.B. Dumbledore
Goblin Representative: Swifthelm.
Date: August 30th, 2005
Many other formalities followed until the parchment glowed red and gold and five sheets of parchment were pushed out of the old ratty one.
Each one was clean, blank and new looking, and was addressed to of one the five occupants of the room. Swifthelm had to sign his and them stamp it with a seal form his ring which he wore on a fine gold chain around his neck before more writing appeared on the separate parchments.
Harry had, as everyone had thought, all of the Potters money, titles, posessions and properties. It was a lot. Harry, also being a direct descendant of Godric Gryffindor, inherited a fourth of Hogwarts itself. His paper went on to say that when Godric had died, he had passed on his part of the castle, like his three companions to the next Headmaster, who was like a tenant, buyer and groundskeepers all in one. Harry owned part of the castle but he couldn't take it but he was fine with that.
He was also very rich, but that was to be expected, his father being from a pure blooded family. All pure blood families owned special vaults deep in Gringotts with th Family Treasures in it. He now also had say in any Potter stocks and dealings.
His mother had left information on her father, not the one Harry had heard his aunt call father, but her Elemental Veela father, who had it seems, passed away a few years before Harry was born. His name had been Halyn Farrell. Him and his sister, Astrid had been the last of a small colony of Elemental Veela before Halyn had met Harry's grandmother, Juliet Evans his mate. She was already married and had a child, Petunia went he had claimed her as his mate. They spent one night together before she turned him away and he died of a broken heart. Juliet found out after that she was pregnant and told her husband Phillip, that it was his.
"So you could say it runs in the family, this if-it's-weird-give-it-to-him thing that happens. My grandfather on my mum's side became the only Elemental Veela to have died of a broken heart. I'm destined to be abnormal." Said Harry after reading his mother's words.
Sirius had gotten the Manor that James, Remus and himself had bought when they were Aurors in training and access to the Potter Vaults to 'take care of Harry'. James had also left a journal for Sirius, with all the pranks they had ever done in it for safe keeping. They mainly just wanted him to look out to Harry.
Remus was given a sizable amount of money, having been disowned after he was bitten, and James had written that it was because he had deserved it. He was also given a cottage deep in the forest to relax at. Remus was given his run of the Potter Libraries in Gringots and many Defense Against the Dark Arts books were passedon tohis possession. A personal comment was left at the end of both men's parchment which made Remus blush and Sirius look torn between amusement and longing.
The reading of the will had taken almost all day and went late into the night. Harry had many documents he had to read and sign before they were freed.
Silently they walked back to the Slytherin Common Rooms, which were empty. Sirius and Remus went straight to bed, calling out soft good nights.
Harry entered his rooms and went straight to check on Draco. Today had been the longest he had gone without his mate and by supper time he was missing the blond.
His Veela side sighed in relief when he saw the head of silky white blond hair sticking out form the covers. The Veela in him worried everyday for his mate even more than normal because of the attempted murder on him. If anyone knew about his unique family, the easiest way to kill him would be to go after Draco. Harry would die from his connection with him.
He had the mad urge to crawl into bed with Draco but shook his head and willed himself to leave. Draco wasn't ready for that yet, hell, Harry wasn't ready for that yet.
Going through his nightly routine, Harry quickly crawled into his own bed and let sleep take him. Too soon, he'd have Ron and Hermione to talk to about this whole experience. At least he hoped.
All day on September first, Harry was tense. Hermione was pretty open about things in the magical world, once she knew all the facts. Same thing with anything in the muggle world. Ron on the other hand was almost the exact opposite. When Seamus came out and said he liked girls and guys, Ron had avoided the Irish boy for almost six months.
Harry had also seen the look in his best friend's eye during their Third Year when Hermione had told them Remus was a werewolf. Ron looked at Remus like he was a monster. The Weasleys may be open to muggles but they were still pure bloods no matter how much they liked muggles, one was never good enough to become a Weasley. Bill had broken off his engagement to Fleur after Ron spilled the beans about her being part Veela. The whole family had said it was because she had never told him herself but Harry and Hermione saw it different.
He wasn't the only one nervous. Pansy finally proved that Slytherins did have nerves and they could be shaky. There were deep emotions under those masks.
"Be who you are and say how you feel, Pansy." Said Harry with a shaky smile. "Those who care don't matter and those who matter won't care."
Draco looked at the Gryffindor. "Where'd you hear that?"
Harry grinned. "Hermione. She's always sprouting things like that.She could be a greeting card writer if she wasn't such a great witch."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Sure. Now why don't you follow your won advice?"
Harry closed his eyes and sighed. "Because those who matter usually care."
At supper time Harry gave Draco one last kiss before going to wait for his friends in the Entrance Hall. Draco frowned at this but left with his friends to sit at the Slytherin Table in the Great Hall. Harry would see him that night, as Dumbledore had shown them a portrait of Merlin that hide a stairway to the rooms in the dungeons. It was at the bottom of the Gryffindor Tower so Harry could easily get from his rooms to his friends.
As the minutes went by Harry's nerves went crazy. Most of the school would be able to look at Harry and see that he had changed, his two best friends would notice it at a distance. His hair stuck out vividly, the locks of pure white hair looking like shooting stars in his usually midnight black mop which was now stripped with a dark red. His skin was pale, almost glowing, his scar not as noticeable as before, his eyes dark with worry and not hidden by those horrible glasses.
He had also grown, like Sirius had said, a good eight or nine inches in the last month, his body looking lean but strong. If Ron didn't catch up on it, Hermione sure would.
Professor McGonagall came out from her office and smiled at Harry. Most all the professors knew about Harry's Elemental Veela transformation and that Draco was his mate. Professor McGonagall, being his Head of House, had told him about his mother's transformation and how James had accidentally rejected her as well. She had also told him, in a jokingly strict voice, that his new powers had better not affect his Quidditch training. She would hate to have to find another Seeker as good as Harry.
"Ready Potter?" she asked and opened the door at Harry's nod.
The students came through the door like a wave of black water and just as noisy. Many were second, third and fourth years Harry didn't know too well but they still called out to him. Stupid Veela charm.
Ginny caught sight of him and pulled on Hermione's arm, pointing. The bushy haired Gryffindor beamed at him before grabbing her two companions and dashing for him.
"Harry! It's great to see you! I've been so worried! I can't believe someone killed Professor Trelawney while you were here!"
Hermione had said all of this in a rushed voice while she had grabbed the Boy-Who-Lived in a tight hug, filling his mouth with her hair as he tried to answer.
Ron pulled her back. "Let him breath Hermione. You don't want to kill him do you?"
Hermione pulled back and grinned. She was taller than before and very tan. Ron and Ginny had gotten extra freckles, if that were possible, from all the sun they had gotten in America.
"Sucked without you mate. Had to listen to these two talk about all the guys. Drove me mad!"
Ginny whacked her brother in the arm and hugged Harry as well. Since having gotten over her crush in her third year, Ginny wasn't shy around Harry at all. she was also, the last Harry heard, dating his year mate Dean Thomas.
"He's just upset that we couldn't visit any nude beaches. Hermione's relatives like to follow the rules, just like her."
Hermione glared. "Following the rules never hurt anyone." she said before turning back to Harry taking him in.
Harry grinned nervously at her as she noticed the difference between the Harry she left in June and the one standing before her. Ron also looked at him.
"Wow, you've actually grown Harry! You're 'bout as tall as I am."
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Ron, that's about eight inches in two months most boys grow that in a year if it's the peak of their growth spurts. You didn't use magic did you?"
Hermione looked a lot like Mrs. Weasley did when Fred and George did something they shouldn't have, which was often.
Harry looked insulted. "No. I'll have you know this is all me. Sort of. I'll explain it later. Let's go to the feast!"
Ron nodded in agreement. "I"m starving. Missed the food trolley because the midgets were fighting."
Hermione huffed. "Ron they're not midgets! It's First Years!"
Harry smiled as he sat in his usual place. It was good to have Ron and Hermione back.
A/N: There's not much talking in this chapter, sorry. The next will have Harry explaining what happened and everything. Loads more talking! Promise! Now I'm tired. It's four in the morning here!
Thanks for the Reviews!
S.Tangerine