A/N: My tattoo's not too sore tonight so I've decided to update! Getting it was one interesting experience. Thanks for all the reviews guys!

Chapter Thirty-Three: Flirting With Disaster

Harry sat at the dining room table, grinning as Sirius tried to cook them up some breakfast. Remus was recovering in the Hospital Wing from his transformation that night and had left the two to eat on their own. They were just lucky it was a Saturday and not a school day or else Sirius would be teaching.

At the moment, Sirius was flinging out his black French Toast.

"I don't understand it. Remus just puts it in and lets it cook and flips it every now and then and it comes out fine. I do that and it looks like a piece of burnt tire."

Harry snickered. Sirius had yet to figure out that Harry could cook; fifteen years as the House Elf of his relatives had given him that talent.

Two more attempts at French Toast and three burnt eggs later, Harry took pity on his godfather and offered to cook.

Sirius sighed but amusement shone in his clear blue eyes. "Fine, I surrender to your cooking expertise but I accomplished what I wanted to today."

"Funny, I thought you'd fancy actually eating this morning. What did you want to achieve?" said Harry as he broke three eggs to scramble.

"I wanted to make you smile and forget what Ron had said. He'll come around. A friendship like yours won't end over something like this."

Harry's smile faded as he remembered the whole reason for his bad mood that morning.

"No, Harry, smile!" protested Sirius waving his arms. "Now my work will be for nothing!"

Harry gave a small smile to his 'distraught' godfather as he put down a plate in front if him and one for himself.

"Draco not joining us this morning?" Sirius asked with a mouth full of scrambled eggs. Harry wrinkled his nose at his godfather's horrible table manners before shaking his head.

"He's actually still asleep which is weird. I don't remember going to sleep last night in my bed but I was there this morning and Draco is sleeping like he didn't get in until late."

Sirius shrugged. "You know I was with Moony all night. It's easier for Remus with Padfoot to distract him."

Harry bit his lip. Sirius was trustworthy and wouldn't tell Remus anything until they were sure and Harry couldn't keep this secret much longer.

"If Remus could be cured of this, do you think he would take the chance?" Harry asked cautiously, picking at his eggs.

Sirius snorted. "Hell, yes. It's horrible what he goes through even with his Potion, you know that so why are you asking?"

"Because we might have found a cure."

Harry's declaration was met with silence before Sirius' shaky voice answered back.

"Harry there is no cure. People have been trying to find one since Werewolves were first created."

"I know," Harry began. "but Draco and Snape and Draco's dad and I have found out something that could help. Think about it. Lycanthropy is called a curse right? Well every curse has a counter-curse."

Sirius pondered that for a moment before pointing his fork at Harry.

"What about the Three Unforgivables? They're unforgivable because they can't be stopped."

Harry had to think about that for a moment but slowly he began to answer.

"Well, they aren't cured or stopped or healed with a magical counter-curse are they? It's more of a strength of character. Some witches or wizards don't take to well to a potion or spell and die anyway, no matter how simple the curse. Let's start with the Imperius Curse," Harry said, holding up one finger.

"It controls your mind and ultimately your body. Some can throw it off, most can't. People who can are known to be independent, strong willed and stubborn are able to resist it."

Harry held up another finger. "The Cruciatus Curse causes intolerable pain on it's recipient. Again, muggles have been known to be able to push away pain and become stronger because of it. It's like a mind over matter sort of deal."

Sirius nodded but raised an eyebrow. "What about the Killing Curse? Only you've ever survived that."

Harry looked down and cleared his throat. "I've got this theory. To cast Avada Kedavra, you need to feel hate and anger and rage...negative emotions. Dumbledore said that my strength lies in my ability to love. Cheesy I know but that's what he said. He also said that it was my mum, sacrificing herself for me that saved me. So the answer is love."

Sirius was pale. "Li-" his voice caught. "Lily sacrificed herself? You mean Voldemort didn't just kill her on sight?"

Harry looked at him, eyes wide. "Didn't you know? The Dementors make me remember my dad telling mum to take me and go while he held off Voldemort. After he killed him, Voldemort came upstairs to my room and told mum to stand aside. She wouldn't. She begged for him to kill her instead and he did but still came after me. All I remember after that is this flash of green light and my forehead stinging."

Sirius had his hand to his elbows resting on the table, hands to his mouth, eyes closed. Harry sighed.

"The whole reason I brought this up was because being a werewolf has been called being cursed. I figure it's nothing too physical because it would be in the saliva and you've swapped spit with a werewolf and haven't been turned. So it's magical. You know that my blood is pure, even more so than Draco's and that it got this way because it forced out impurities. Well, if we use a Potions with a few drops of my blood in it...it just might work."

Sirius nodded and a smile grew on his face. You know what Harry? It just might."

Draco took that moment to stumble into the kitchen, yawning and stretching, making Harry grin.

"Hey sleepyhead, what happened to being up and at 'em like every self-respecting pureblooded wizard?"

Draco turned to glare at the smug Gryffindor when Harry let out a gasp, quickly followed by a growl and a hand grabbing his mate'schin.

"Who ever did this to you will wish their grandparents had never been born when I'm through with them!" Harry hissed as the room's temperature skyrocketed.

The water in Sirius's glass began to boil as Harry's pupils narrowed into cat-like slits, big dark and angry. The Elemental Veela's hair bristled like a frightened cat's fur, the colors glowing with power. His canines, while not lengthening, sharpened.

While that was the only change in Harry it didn't make him ugly like the bird-Veela at the Quidditch World Cup but instead more like the powerful Elemental Veela that he was. Harry still looked human, just a more improved version of one.

Sirius stood walked cautiously over to his godson.

"Harry, you need to calm down. I'm sure Draco has a perfectly good explanation as to why his face looks like he got into a fight with a door and lost."

Harry growled at Sirius before lifting a glowing hand to touch the bruise gently. Draco flinched and Harry slowly slid his other hand on the right side of Draco face, bringing the bruise to his lips. Just as gently as his hands, Harry placed a glowing kiss to the bruised cheek, the Elemental Veela's print staying there like glowing lipstick before it faded into his mate's cheek. The bruise shrank and faded leaving perfectly place white skin.

Those emerald green cat-like eyes never left Draco's as Harry's hand slide down between them to disappear under his shirt. There, it came to rest on the ribs that Weasley had also bruised the night before. Pressing in lightly, Harry's powers left a glowing hand print this time, healing the injury before lightly caressing the healed skin and pulling back. Draco missed their touch.

Feeling his mate's disappointment, Harry wrapped his arms around the slim body beside him, pressing his forehead to the side of Draco's.

"Are you better now?" He whispered, his eyes closed as the heat retreated along with any physical characteristics that told thatHarry was angry.

Draco nodded. "Better thanks." The blond turned his head and looked around the kitchen. "What's for eating?"

Harry gapped. "Aren't- are you- would you mind- what the fuck happened to your face, Draco!'

Sirius was standing with his arms crossed looking torn between amusement at Harry's possessiveness and the need to discipline Harry for cursing.

Draco sighed, looking nervous. The whole point of kidnapping Weasley was that, if talking with him didn't go as planned, Harry wouldn't have to know about it. If it had, Draco would have bragged a little.

"Are you going to want an honest answer?"

Harry rolled his eyes as Draco pulled away form him and sat at the table, pulling Harry's breakfast over and beginning to eat it.

"No, of course I want you to lie to me. Did you just see what I did? I almost cooked Sirius because you were hurt! I think you owe me an answer!"

Sirius made a funny noise in his throat. "Why'd you almost cook me! What did I do? I didn't do that to him! Why cook me!"

Harry sat down next to Draco. "I can't hurt my mate. You were the only other person in the room the magic could have attacked if I had gotten that angry. Be thankful my control is better."

Draco sighed, pushing away the empty plate. It was honestly, in everyone's best interest for him to just explain what happened to Harry. The lad was smart, he'd see Weasley in class with some bruises of his own and put two and two together. While Harry the Wizard might not want to kill Ron, Harry the Elemental Veela would do it gladly and not leave anything to bury.

Harry and Sirius were bantering back and forth when Draco just butted in.

"After you went to sleep last night I went to see Weasley. I tried to talk some sense into his thick skull but ended up punching it instead"

Harry looked shocked. "Ro- Ron did this to you?"

Draco nodded and quickly began explaining as Harry's eyes narrowed in anger and he began to shake.

"Don't do anything you'll regret Harry. I sought him out and threw the first punch. I was trying to get you your friend back. If it makes things any better, he doesn't hate you, he just has a very short, almost to the point of not existing, temper and feels like I stole you from him. A bit possessive as well, Weasley. Is that another Gryffindor trait?"

Harry took a deep breathe. "So you were trying to get me my friend back even hough you absolutely loathe said friend?"

Draco shrugged. "Okay so it does sound a bit far fetched but it's true.But you go all weepy without your Weasel."

Sirius snorted. "IfI didn't like you so much Draco, I'd be pretty upset about that. The Weasleys are family you know."

Draco sniffed. "Not to me." Sirius rolled his eyes and mouthed 'Malfoys' to Harry who snickered.

Draco continued as if nothing had happened. "If you want him back, you'll simply have to go and talk to him."

Harry scoffed and shook his head. "He was the one who ended the friendship. If he wants to talk, he's coming to me."

Sirius grinned. "And here comes Gryffindor trait number four! Stubbornness!" The black-haired wizard then began to sing a 'Stubbornness' themes song that consisted of the word stubbornness being sung to the tune of 'Spider man'.

Draco frowned. "Four? I've only got three."

Harry smiled. "You missed the Guilt-Complex trait we've all gotten in some way or another."

"Ah. So it's aGuilt-Complex, violent tempers, stubbornness and aHero Complex?"

Sirius's song had ended. "So if Harry's going to be stubborn, allow me to talk to Ron for you. If I can't smooth things over, it's a lost cause."

Draco snorted. "Well Harry I hope you had some fond memories of Weasley because Black here is going to screw it all up."

"You know, I'd like you better kid, if you were more funny Ha ha than funny sarcastic. I'm off!"Sirius declared as he grabbed a piece of black toast, popped it in his mouth and left to find Harry's ex-best friend.

Draco was slipping Harry's orange juice as the Elemental Veela gazed thoughtfully at him.

"You know, I think I'm turning you into a romantic."

Draco choked on his juice.

"You think what? Don't be ridiculous! What have I done to be accused of becoming romantic?"

Harry smiled and rested his chin on his propped up hand.

"You would help me get back my best friend, who's family you've hated for centuries because it would make me happy. Admit it."

Draco fidgeted. "Perhaps I did it to save my own skin. I don't fancy spending all my days with you as a depressed Elemental Veela, lonely and pinning for his Weasel to play Quidditch with."

Harry laughed. "Well, whatever the reason, if this works out I'll owe you one."

Instead of continuing the flirty banter between them, like Harry had intended, those words out his mate on edge.

"That reminds me of something we need to discuss."

Harry felt a bit uneasy. "What's that?"

"My father came to me with the idea and I quiet agree." Began Draco. "We're trying to bond Harry. Completely. If one of us dies, we lose our chance of happily ever after. Why don't we just go away until the danger's gone? Until the war has begun to die down? We'll be safe."

Harry's face had closed off, it was a mask, Draco realized. Harry Potter had a mask.

"No Draco. I can't do that. We can't do that. We'll be running! Hiding! If we do that, what kind of message does that send? We'll be letting him win!"

Draco shoved his glass away and turned to glare at Harry.

"I can't bond with you if you're already dead now can I? We'll be safe until the end of the war! You can come back and kick some death Eater arse to satisfy you're Hero Complex if you need to!"

Harry growled at Draco. "And what? Leave Sirius and Remus, Hermione and Ginny, the Weasleys, hell you're family and friends in danger to fight? To die in our place?"

Draco stood up in anger. "It's not your war to fight Harry!"

"Of course it is!"

Both teenagers were silent. Draco was angry. All the hurt from last night at hearing how Harry didn't trust him had come back.

"Because of the prophecy? Because of the spewings of some mental old attention seeker you would stay here to die?"

Harry had gone pale. "You know about the prophecy?"

"I know of it. That it's about you and Voldemort. Why didn't you tell me?"

Harry laughed harshly. "Why? Did you really want to hear you were the mate of a walking target? Voldemort would kill for this information. Tell me, would you die to hear it? Would you die to keep it a secret? Would you die for me?"

Draco felt like Harry was mocking him. "Of course I would. What kind of stupid question is that?"

"Why?" Harry asked, looking as though Draco was a child how didn't understand who to cast a certain spell.

"Why? Becasue...I-I jsut...-I just would alright!"

Harry was still looking at him sadly. "So you don't love me but you would die for me? Don't you understand that your life depends on this?"

"Don't you understand that your life depends on this as well? A prophecy won't mean much if you can't trust me enough to bond and die in January, which I remind you, only two months away!"

Harry cocked his head to the side. "Do you even know what it says? The prophecy?"

Draco shrugged. "Does it matter right now? Not all prophecies are fulfilled. What's more likely to happen quicker, us needingto bond or this prophecy and Voldemort?"

Harry shrugged. "It's a toss up really."

Draco sighed in frustration. "Harry if we just leave until the war's over it won't matter."

"Yes it will! Draco, the prophecy names me as the only one with the power to defeat Voldemort."

Draco froze. "No, it can't- Dumbledore-?"

Harry pfft-ed. "Draco, Dumbledore is old. Voldemort hasn't changed much since his last Reign of Terror. Soon Dumbledore's body will not be able to keep up with his mind. Then what? Draco, it's always been me and Voldemort."

Draco shook his head. "It- there has to be some kind of mistake. Tell me the whole thing."

Harry sighed. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies... It's pretty straightforward and gets repetitive pretty early on."

Draco looked grim and defeated. "So it's you. In the end it'll be you and him?"

Harry cleared his throat before moving closer to his upset mate. Draco took a step back. Hurt, Harry tried to explain.

"It could have been Neville, had Voldemort chose differently but it's me. Only Dumbledore, myself and now you know it's full contents. I couldn't tell you-" Harry voice broke. "because I've only just found out last June. I couldn't tell you because of the way you're looking at me right now. Like I'm a lsot cause. Like I'malready dead."

Draco took a shaky breath. "You could have told me. You know that. Merlin, Black and Lupin...they don't know either? Or Granger or Weaselette or Weasel."

"I can't!" Harry said, his fear written on his face. "Do you have any idea what Voldemort would do to them- to their families!- if he knew they knew about the prophecy! Sirius has already died once!"

Draco closed his eyes. "So this is another way to save everyone but leave you here to suffer? Do you realize how twisted that is? You may be the only one who can kill Voldemort but we're fighting this war too. Without you half the Weasleys would already be dead! If you had told us we could have helped. We still can!"

Harry threw his hands up in the air. "Don't you get it! Knowing this will put them-you!- in danger!"

"We're already in danger! My family began spying before you were even thought about! The Weasleys are the biggest bunch of 'blood traitors' this side of Britain and Granger is a muggleborn. We'd be in danger without you! I'm choosing to help you becauseI believe you can do this! But not without help."

"This coming from the guy who, just moments ago, wanted to turn tail and run from the war? Now we're fighting it head on? This isn't your fight. Mine: yes, yours: not really. Tell your father he can spirit you away but I'm not coming. Voldemort will follow me where ever I go."

Draco stood his ground. "I'm not leaving without you. If you're staying I'm staying."

Harry began to panic. Push him away, his mind told him while his heart disagreed. Just until the danger's passed.

"Perhaps I don't want you here. Maybe it would be better if we took a break. You're not ready for commitment anymore now than you were in August."

Draco's light grey eyes were wide before they narrowed in anger. "Fine. You try and blame this all on me when it's you who lied. What a fucking double-standard. When a Slytheirn lies they're evil, when a Gryffindor lies-" Draco walked over to the door "- it's for your own good! Fuck you!" He slammed the door.

Harry felt the bond between them stretch painfully before contracting unhappily, as if to say' go after him you idiot!' but Harry didn't. If you love something, set it free; if it comes back it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was.

At least that's what Harry was telling himself.

Draco stormed up the corridor, scattering First and Second Years as he stalked. How could Harry be so...frustrating! Never before had someone made Draco want to punch them in the face and hug them tightly like Harry did.

As the blond fumed silently, his feet carried him toward his godfather's personal chambers. He had taken the long route, not wanting anyone to know where the entrance to Harry's rooms were. If he hadn't been so angry and frustrated and, even though he would never admit it, scared, Draco would have noticed that many Hogwarts students were pointing at him and whispering.

Turing a corner Draco walked alone down the dark, dungeon corridor, his shiny black boots clicking on the cold stone floor. A few meters away for the entrance of the Slytherin Common Rooms was a small alcove. Stopping, Draco whispered the password and waited as the stones shifted like the entrance to Diagon Alley. Stepping in quickly, Draco looked around as the stones reset them selves. Only Draco, Pansy, Theo and Blaise, along with Draco's and his friend's parents knew where Sev's personal chambers were. And Dumbledore. That man knew everything...well, at least way more than most people.

The living room was done in the traditional greens and silver with a bit of black form Sev's own tastes. There was a medium sized dining room and kitchen connected with hallway that had bathroom, a master bedroom and two guest rooms. At the end was Severeus' personal Potions Lab. Just as the blond had suspected, Snape was present, working on the Werewolf cure.

"Draco, good news. This variation works. I administered the cure last night and the blood is lycanthriopy free this morning. A few more test and perhaps we can get Potter to let us try it on Lupin."

Draco nodded, torn between his anger at Harry and his excitement that the Potion worked. Severeus noticed his godson's conflicting emotions at once.

"What has happened Draco? You of all people should be bouncy about in your childish adolescent excitement at this discovery."

Draco sighed and bit his lip. He wanted Severeus to know as well as his parents, what he had discovered.

"Where are Father and mum? They need to hear this as well."

Sev nodded as took his cauldron off the fire and removed his dragon hide apron. Quickly he cleansed his hands and motioned toward the door.

"Lucius and Narcissa offered to watch over Longbottom's detention for me. He was out last night after curfew. Your father also has another pro-type of the cure that he was trying."

Draco nodded. The potions classroom was only up one floor, directly above Sev's personal chambers so that he could hear if anyone broke in. Paranoid as always.

Entering the Potions classroom, Snape stopped to bark at Longbootm who was in the corner, fiddling with something.

"Longbottom! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The cowardly Gryffindor jumped, almost knocking over one of Sev's Storing Cupboards for his ingredients.

Neville was pale. "I-IIII wwasss just-st lo-oo-kin-ing for so-some-e mmo-ore pol-li-lish, Sir."

Snape sneered. "In the corner Longbottom? Your idiocy amazes me." Draco nudged his godfather to hurry up terrorizing the quivering Gryffindor.

"It's in the back Potion Ingredient closet. Don't knock anything over...most of it's worth more than you."

Cloak flapping behind him, Snape left the ashen boy in his classroom and entered his office with Draco close behind him.

Both Slytheirns were met with an odd sight. Snape's desk was covered with a melted cauldron that still had puffs of neon green smoke billowing from it's twisted remain. Lucius was covered form head to toe in soot while Narcissa was giggling, holding onto a small pure white bunny.

Lucius looked up and gave a grim smile. "This one was not a success."

Snape snorted. "A bit obvious there." Narcissa looked up form her new pet and grinned at her son.

"Draco! Come and see this. He's positively the most darling thing I've ever seen!"

Draco smiled and indulged his mother. Narcissa Malfoy was ever inch the lady and absolutely loved small fluffy animals.

"He's charming mother. There is something I must speak to you all about."

Immediately Silencing Charm went up. The door couldn't be locked as Severeus had a detention going on and it was unwise to leave Longbottom alone in an empty room, never mind one full of Potions.

Lucius was still full of soot as he sat and looked at his son.

"Like I told you, Harry did not take well to the idea of leaving."

"Because of the prophecy?" Snape asked immediately, sensing his godson's hesitation.

Draco nodded. "We argued and he told me the truth, for once. According to some crackpot who decided to go out in public for once, Harry is the only one who can kill Voldemort. The only one with the power. Either he kills the Dark Lord or the Dark Lord kills him."

Narcissa gasped and clutched the bunny tightly to her chest.

"But he's only a boy. A sixteen year old. No one would expect that of him."

Draco snorted. "Dumbledore would. The whole Wizarding World does. And so did we."

"How can you be certain it is him? Prophecies are very foggy when it comes to specifics." Lucius asked.

Again Draco snorted. "What's Harry bloody famous for? Defeating Voldemort when he was one. For his scar. The prophecy said something about him being marked by Voldemort. It's Harry, Father.

Severeus looked to be in shock. "This is unbelievable. What powers could the boy possibly posses to kill the immortal? He may be an Elemental Veela but so was Lily and she was murdered!"

Draco shook his head. "Harry's mum sacrificed herself for Harry. She didn't fight back. Her mate was dead, the best she could do was protect her son. She would have died soon after if she had, by some miracle defeated Voldemort that night."

Narcissa looked ready to cry. "How do you know that?"

Draco sighed as he sat down. He was exhausted. "Harry told me. He remembered a lot from that night. Blame the dementors."

Severeus was just about to open his mouth when someone's voice came form outside his office door.

"Neville! How are old boy? Having a detention, I see?" There was a pause in Sirius Black' tremendous voice as Neville's mumbled reply came back.

Snape groaned. Not Black, not in here. He thought as Remus's voice sounded as well.

"Do you know if Professor Snape is around Neville? In his office? Thank you."

The group in the office did not have to wait long before Sirius barged in, leaving Remus at the door, his hand poised to knock.

"Sirius," Remus began, looking a bit annoyed. "It is not very polite to simply come in uninvited like some old friend. Most people knock."

Sirius looked back at his lover and smiled. "But I'm not most people, Remmy." Suddenly the animagus began to search around the office, lifting papers and opening drawers. "Hey, Snapey, do you have anymore pain reliever potions? Poppy's all out until this afternoon and Remus needs one."

Snape fumed with rage as he stalked over to the ex-convict and slammed shut the door he was opening, nearly chopping off the man's fingers.

"Kindly remove your disgusting hands from my property if you wish to keep them attached, Black!"

Sirius looked about ready to bite the Potions Master when another voice interrupted them.

"Draco! Are you here? Something's happened!" came Pansy's voice as she, followed by Theo and Blaise, clamored into the office.

"What's happened? Is it Harry?" Draco asked, feeling bad about how he'd left things with the Veela.

Pansy was bent over gasping so Theo answered.

"Turns out that Weasel can't keep his mouth shut. When he and his sister argued last night the idiot spilt the beans about Harry and Draco. Now the whole bloody school knows."

"Including the killer." Added Blaise.

The room was silent as they processed that thought.

"So Draco's in danger?" asked Narcissa standing up suddenly. Pansy nodded.

Suddenly there was a crash int he classroom, followed by a scream.

"Longbottom." Snape hissed as he stalked into the classroom, followed by the group in his office.

Neville stood at the back of the room holding his wand looking down at the hole that was burning into the floor from the acid he'd spilt. Stressed, Snape lashed out.

"Longbottom you idiot! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Instead of cowering like most in the room expected him to, the boy turned slowly, an evil smirk on his chubby face.

"Just one thing." he said, no stutter in his mocking voice.

"What?" snarled Snape, enraged at the boy's nerve.

"I pledge allegiance to The Dark Lord, Voldemort as my master now and forever."

The Slytheirn in the classroom started but were too late as the room began it dissolve in front of their very eyes and they sank into the darkness.

A/N: Yes, I'm evil. Sorry this was so late but my tattoo's getting better, I had trouble writing the fight AND my cousin decided to have a baby on New Years Eve. It was nerve wracking because she had a few complications. Every thing's peachy now!

S.Tangerine