A/N: Yay! Finally I get to update more. Here's a Christmas present for you all. Thanks for all the reviews Yeah pleasing others does please me a bit.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Tender Moments Interrupted
The next few weeks went by quickly with no more attempts on Harry's life and the Elemental Veela volleying back and forth between Draco and his Gryffindor friends. Hermione's friendship with Pansy continued to grow, much to Harry's happiness and Ron's disgust. Ginny avoided Draco's friends, sending a death glare at Blaise whenever he entered a room, confusing everyone, as most of Hogwarts' population hardly knew the gender of Blaise much less his House, to hate him for it. The redhead was, however, every happy to hear about Harry's mating-ness to Draco. It apparently made so much sense now that they were soul mates.
Draco, Lucius, Snape and Harry continued to work on their Werewolf cure into late October with no success. The first test had caused the infected blood to erupt into violet flames that resisted being magically put out. The next one had turned a nasty shade of green and sprouted tentacles and warts. The last one they had tried actually tuned into a miniature pony. Each failure had the Elemental Veela more frustrated, making Snape throw him out once, when the temperature rose too high in the Potions lab with his anger.
"Each failure is, in many ways, a success in Potion Making. As each variation fails we get closer and closer to our goal." Snape had said after the second test. Harry had rolled his eyes.
The group had already made a list of all the side effects they suspected, going on Harry's Transformation experience. They expected the patient to have chills during the day and a slight fever during the night only to a lesser effect than Harry's.
"Why was it like that?" Draco asked, looking contemplative. "This could have something to do with our potion. Why hot at night and cold during the day?"
Harry, for some odd reason, knew the answer immediately. "It has to do with opposites. Daylight and sunlight signify warmth and heat so I'd be cold. The night is cooler and damper so I'd be hot. Look at us. We look like opposites and your my mate. I think all of Elemental Veela magic has something to do with opposites."
The next symptom would be vomiting up blood or having a very bad nose bleed. The blood had to come out somewhere. The opposite of that would be swelling and having too much blood in the body, either one killing the patient if too severe. The last change the four expected to take place was the formation of some of the characteristics of an Elemental Veela. They would just have to wait and see.
At the moment Harry was walking up the corridor toward the Quidditch Pitch. It was the first practice of the year and Harry couldn't wait. If Ron took the time to talk to the Slytheirns he'd see that him and Blaise weren't that different when it came to Quidditch. Both loved the sport in a Oliver Wood kind of way and favored the Chudley Cannons. Fortunately that was where the likeness ended.
Harry was just about to open the doors when a voice stopped him.
"Potter! Mr. Potter! Please wait a moment."
It was Madam Hooch. She reached him quickly, panting, her yellow eyes downcast.
"I need to speak with you about your place on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team."
Harry felt his eyes widen and dread settle like a stone in his stomach. Madam Hooch continued.
"Now, I don't really care if you've got these great cosmic powers now. You were a damn good- great- flyer before but the rules state that a magical being cannot participate in competitive Quidditch. Damn idiotic rule if you ask me but that's the rules. If you played and won, the other houses could and would fight it and your team would have to forfeit the Cup. I'm sorry, Harry."
The-Boy-Who-Lived sighed. "It's not your fault Madam Hooch. This is the price I pay for being different. Could you tell my team mates? I don't think I can face them."
Quickly Harry walked away, his robes and Firebolt slung over her shoulder looking defeated. The team would have to play Ginny, who was good but like Ron had once said "Not Harry."
That was another one of Harry's problems. Ron was noticing that Harry spent more time away from his friends then anything. When Harry had claimed to be spending time with Sirius and Remus Ron had given him a strange look.
"Harry, I like my parents well enough and all but normal teenagers don't spend that much time with their guardians."
Ron also knew Harry was lying when he said he was in the library. Harry had never been there before why would he now?
Hermione had come to the rescue once, saying that Harry was using a lot of time to try and find his mate, while giving Harry a 'Tell him!' look. Now anytime Harry came to the Gryffindor Tower, Ron would ask him if he had found her. Her. Ginny would wince every time he said that. By Ron's attitude, the redhead was not going to be happy when he found out he was the only one of Harry's friends who didn't know his mate was Draco a Slytherin and a boy. Harry thought as he remembered the last time he had talked to his best friend.
FLASH BACK
Harry quickly stepped through the Portrait hole and removed his invisibility cloak with a sigh. Ron had bugged him into 'coming to visit' the Tower tonight when everyone else was asleep. Although the Elemental Veela was tired, having spent most of the day in classes and doing homework, he missed his friends.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the armchairs closest to the roaring fire that was the only source of light in the Common Rooms. The youngest Weasley son smiled as Harry revealed himself.
"Blimey, I always forget that you look every bit the Elemental Veela you are Harry, mate." Ron teased before frowning. "I haven't seen you very much this year though."
Harry tried to look apologetic, but inside, was cringing. He really wasn't spending enough time with his friends but he had until January to bond completely or, well...die.
"Yeah, I've been spending more time with Sirius and Remus and trying to find my mate...it's been stressful." Harry lied skillfully. Hermione and Ginny shot him twin looks of annoyance that he ignored.
Ron smiled and shrugged. "Well, when you find her, bring her here for us to meet. It would be interesting to find out who Harry Potter's other half is."
"Yes, interesting indeed." said Hermione slyly but the hint was lost on Ron. It was Harry's turn to give her a look. As Harry sat with the group asRon continued.
"Maybe we can help. Do you know which House your mate is in?"
Harry faked a sigh of longing while internally panicking. Ron wanted to help! Lazy arse Ron who Harry had had to scare out of bed on Saturdays withthreats of spiders, wanted to help! DAMN!
"Well I'm sure it's not a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff but we don't really have enough classes with Ravenclaw and we don't socialize with Slytheirns."
Ron made a face. "It's definitely not a Slytheirn. They're a bunch of evil Death Eater wanna-bes. Harry's not like that."
"Ron! Stop being so close minded! There are many more good Slytheirns this year and you know it!" Hermione scolded, frowning. "What if his mate happened to be a Slytheirn?"
Ron raised his eyebrows at the bushy haired Gryffindor as Crookshanks jumped up into Harry's lap and began to purr.
"That's not going to happen Hermione. No way would a Slytherin be paired off with a Gryffindor. It would never work. And we all know that Malfoy will always be an evil git."
For the second time Harry could not withhold the growl at the insult to his mate. Three heads turned to stare at him. Harry blushed and quickly looked about before his eyes settled on the cat in his lap.
"Don't look at me! It was the cat."
Ron eyed the ginger haired animal suspiciously. "Maybe you should get him checked out Hermione. He's been acting funny. I swear that thing can apparate."
Ginny let out a nervous giggle. "Don't be silly Ron! Maybe he just doesn't like you."
Ron ignored his sister before shaking his head and looking back at Harry.
"So Ravenclaw it is then. Merlin first Hermione now another know-it-all. You're killing me Harry."
Hermione glared at the insult but was silent. Sometimes talking to Ron was as productive as beating yourself with a stick.
Harry forced a smile at Ron's humor. Talk about being set in your opinions. Anymore set and they'd use Ron as a replacement for quick drying cement!
"So any other clues? Got a particular hair color you fancy over another?" Ron continued like a one man investigator.
Harry shrugged but suddenly smiled brightly at Ron. "I'm actually partial to blondes."
Ginny snorted while Hermione smiled slyly at Harry's joke. Ron furrowed his brow in confusion.
"A blond Ravenclaw...blond...Ravenclaw..." he muttered while the other three Gryffindors grinned at him.
Then, quite suddenly, Ron's eyes widened unattractively and he made a choking sound in the back of his throat. They're grins quickly turned to looks of shock and worry as Ron spluttered and made the most strangest faces imaginable.
Finally, after he had calmed down Hermione spoke up.
"What on earth was that about?"
Ron wiped his streaming eyes as he spoke.
"Harry, mate, please tell me it isn't Loony Lovegood! Please!"
"Ron! Don't call her that!" Ginny screeched at her brother as Harry and Hermione gave him win looks of confusion.
"Luna?" Harry asked, totally amazed. "You think it's Luna?"
Ron blinked back at him. "Well, what other blond Ravenclaws do you know?"
Hermione, suspiciously quiet through out that whole part of the conversation suddenly busted into her own bout of giggles. The oddness of it all soon caught on and everyone is the Common Rooms were laughing.
"You think...giggle...that Luna...gasp...is Harry's...snorting laughter...mate?... more laughter."
Ron took a deep calming breathe. "Okay, I'll admit that wasn't the best guess but it was good for a laugh. Can you picture them together?"
Ginny was stretched out on the floor hands on her stomach as she began to giggle again.
"She would make Harry make the Ministry release it's army of Heliopaths because it is animal cruelty."
Harry scoffed. "Ha ha. Let's all laugh at the mate-less Elemental Veela here. And are you making fun of Luna, your very good friend?"
Ginny quickly stopped laughing.
The night went on but Harry soon left, turning on his invisibility and using his cloak. Hermione looked worried and offered Ron up to walk him back but Harry had declined. No use putting another innocent person at risk.
FLASHBACK
Harry shook his head. He knew he should just tell Ron and get it over with but just thinking about it made his heart clinch in fear and his chest tighten. Ron wouldn't understand.
Determined not to worry about Ron yet, Harry decided to go down to the Dungeons with Snape, Lucius and Draco. They were still working on the cure, determined to get one by Christmas.
Three heads looked up in identical surprise as Harry entered the fume filled room. Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Why aren't you at Quidditch practice, perfecting ways to beat and humiliate me in public?" Harry knewhe was joking but didn't feel like laughing.
"Apparently having, and I quote 'great cosmic powers' doesn't allow me to be able to compete in Quiditch. I had to leave the team."
Draco blinked. "Are they completely idiotic? You're a Gryffindor, you'd never cheat, it's against that stupid moral code you all have beaten into your heads from First Year. Can you even cheat? You're the best flyer Hogwarts has seen in centuries!"
Harry smiled at the compliment but sighed as he threw himself dramatically into a chair by Snape's desk. The man was oddly silent about Harry's being kicked off the Quidditch Team.
"Draco of course I can cheat. Anyone's capiable of it and you know I can control air currents. Just a little tug here and the Snitch would fly right into my hands even from here in the dungeons. Don't be so outraged on my account."
Draco scoffed and his father crack an amused smile. While royally pissed, Draco's movements in cutting up the Potions ingredients were completely calm and steady.
"I believe Draco's more upset in the lack of competition this year. Hufflepuff hasn't had a good Seeker in years and Ravenclaw's has been somewhat lacking." Lucius said as he added a tiny shaving of silver tot he swirling potion.
Harry's eyes widened at that action. "Are you sure that's safe, you know, with Remus being allergic and all to silver?"
Snape rolled his eyes, a very un-snape-ish motion really.
"Potter, the werewolf in Lupin in allergic to silver, not Lupin himself. It is necessary to destroy the tainted blood."
Harry nodded but still felt a bit unsure. Draco suddenly put down his knife and stretched. Harry felt a tendril of lust curl through him but suppressed it. Draco wasn't anywhere near ready to complete the bond and there was no way in hell Harry would force him.
"Why don't you boys go and get ready for the Halloween Feast. Severeus and I will finish up."
Draco nodded and made toward the door, Harry followed. He suddenly felt the urge to get out of his Quidditch robes. They were no good for him nowanyway.
Harry sped up, walking swiftly to his rooms when suddenly he felt Draco's hand on his arm, pulling him to a stop.
"Slow down Harry. We've got plenty of time to be ready and if not, we can always be fashionably late." He said as he saw and felt Harry's nerves. "Or is something else bothering you?"
Harry contemplated lying to him, he really did but with Draco having been much more open with him this last week, Harry just couldn't lie to him.
"I'd just rather get out of these clothes right now that's all."
Draco pulled him over to an alcove in the wall before looking back into his eyes.
"It hurt you more than you let on, being kicked off the team, didn't it?"
Harry nodded and to his horror, felt tear well up in his eyes. What was wrong with him? Why was he being so emotional?
That's when Harry suddenly felt two arms slide around his waist as Draco pulled him into a hug. Harry was stiff in complete shock until Draco whispered in his ear.
"Hey, I'm kind of new at this but I know that you're supposed to reciprocate."
Harry sighed as he slipped his arms around his mate and drew comfort from this rare moment.
Draco pulled back and smirked.
"If we're done with touching moments, I'd really like to snog you now."
Harry grinned and quickly captured his mate's lips in a hungry kiss. So caught up in snogging, neither Harry or Draco heard the footsteps coming down the corridor until a familiar voice sounded breaking them apart.
"Might I inquire, just what in the fucking hell do you think you are doing?"
A/N: dun dun dundun! Sorry I have to leave you all like this but I'll be back Monday to update. Going to my Uncle's for Christmas Day! What you've all been waiting for is next. Ron's reaction!
Thanks for all the Reviews!
S.Tangerine