Chapter 3: Acceptance
"Harry?" Hermione asked gazing at him questioningly.
"It's true Hermione. I am Draco's mate," Harry answered.
"Malfoy! You're Malfoy's mate?" Ron said angered and confused.
"Yes Ron," Harry replied. Hermione in better spirits than the speechless redhead excitingly inquired, "Have you bonded yet?"
"Uh..um..urr, ya see,"
"Yes! Miss Granger we have!" Malfoy answered over Harry fumbling.
"Don't tell me you're happy about this, Hermione. It's bloody Draco Malfoy we're talking about not Dean Thomas!" Ron interjected regaining his ability to speak.
"Well, no not totally, but can't you see that Draco makes him happy?" Hermione reasoned with the infuriated red head.
"Happy! HAPPY? Monie he's ridiculed, bullied, and tortured us for years. Not DAYS, YEARS!" Turning to Harry, he continued, "How could you? How dare you! I'm sorry Harry, but I just can't." With that, Ron stormed off into the castle, leaving behind a hurt Harry and a flabbergasted Hermione.
"Don't worry about him, Harry. He'll come around," Hermione said walking after the now seething red head.
"Harry, are you okay?" Draco asked the smaller boy.
"I...I just want to be left alone for a while all right?" Harry whispered.
"Fine. Just don't do anything rash, okay?" Draco counseled, fearing for his mate's state of mind.
"Sure Draco," he replied striding into the castle. Gazing fondly at his retreating back Draco inwardly seethed. You will pay for this Weasel. You will PAY!
Gryffindor Common Room
"Ron! How could you? Harry's your friend," Hermione asked, appalled at the redhead's adamant position.
"Have you forgotten? Have you! The insults, pranks, unrequited HATRED! He called you a mudblood Monie, to your face!" Ron answered.
"No Ron, I haven't forgotten. It's just that Vampires are rather jealous creatures. I kind of understand why he's been acting the way he has."
"Understand? You think you might UNDERSTAND!" Ron hissed.
"Yes, I can. You see, Harry refused him first year. Therefore, he saw us as competition. Being a Slytherin, he believed that by insulting us, Harry would realize that he was better. Twisted morals, true, but no less, that was his train of thought," Hermione explained.
"Well…well I just can't forgive him," Ron huffed.
"But Ron, what about Harry? He's your best friend?"
"He ceased being my friend when he started running with Malfoy. He betrayed me! Not only that, but in the worst way! He fell in love with my enemy!" Ron said stomping up into the boys' dormitory.
"Oh Ron," Hermione sighed.
Dinner Great Hall
Hermione and Ron were enjoying a nice quiet dinner when a shadow fell over their plates. "What do you want Ferret?" Ron growled.
Flinching at the nickname, Draco replied, "I wanted to speak with Granger, if you don't mind Weasley."
"Why? What's wrong?" Hermione asked, knowing Draco would only approach them if something happened to Harry.
"It's Harry. Harry's missing, I haven't seen him all day," Draco said.
"What do you mean? We left him with you," Ron sneered.
"Well, after your little display by the lake, he wanted to be left alone!" Draco snarled.
"Probably realized what a loser you are, and decided to break up with you," Ron said.
"Don't bet on it!" spat Draco.
"BOYS! Stop it. The important thing is that we find Harry," Hermione said.
"We've got to hurry before he dose something rash!" Uh-oh, they didn't know Draco though catching a glimpse of a confused look, as it flashed across Hermione's face.
"What do you mean by rash?" Inquired Hermione, her curiosity clearly peaked.
"I uh well that is – shit! I can't tell you. Just know that we have to find him, and find him quickly," Draco answered.
"Fine, I'll let it go for now. Ron! Are you coming?" Hermione asked of the up to now silent red head.
"No, Harry's no longer a friend of mine. He's a traitor!" Ron answered stabbing at his peas.
"He could be in trouble Ron! You can't destroy a friendship in one day and over a Malfoy no less!" Hermione cried.
"I resent that," Draco sniffed.
"SHUTUP!" Hermione spat.
"Sorry Monie. I just can't forgive him either," Ron whispered.
"Fine! C'mon Draco, lets go. Oh!" Hermione said, turning back to Ron. "Yeah, and just so you know, we are through," she hissed into his ear.
Nodding sullenly, Ron strode out of the great hall and towards the Quidditch pitch.
Astronomy Tower
The knife flashed like a small beacon as Harry sent it tumbling end over end through the air once more. Ron I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you; it's just that Draco makes me happy. Harry sighed, the handle of the knife snuggly settled into his palm once more. Just one shallow cut and his pain would be relieved. It would be so simple.
Go on you filthy maggot it's all you're good for anyway, no wait you're a pretty sweet fuck too.
No, I promised Draco I'd stop
Is Draco here? C'mon, he doesn't really understand.
He wants to help me.
Help you? Yeah right, he's immortal remember? You're nothing more than a bed warmer, and all you can drink buffet.
No, that's not true! Draco loves me. I'm his mate.
Mate, lover, companion, they all mean the same thing…WHORE!
Oh, Merlin, Oh, Merlin! Please help me. Harry opened his eyes, his vision blurred by angry, desperate tears. Upon his hands, the dagger glinted invitingly.
Yes, that's it. You need this, remember? Weak little kitten… Oliver said that remember… Your love KILLED HIM remember?
No! Lies, lies, its all lies. Harry feebly rebuffed, his self-control waning.
Weak little kitten, Whore! Freak, traitor, fork tongue, you have nothing but this. Nothing but the reality of the pain you bring to yourself.
I…I...I Harry began to tremble. Tears streaming down his face in trickling rivers. Gently he pressed cool metal of the blade to his skin. Loving, and yet hating the sensation he knew would soon come if he pulled back on the deep mahogany handle of the blade against his skin.
"Stop! Harry, please don't." Suddenly Harry felt a cool set of hands covering his own.
"Draco?" Silently he nodded, tears filling his silver eyes at Harry's state.
"Let it go, Harry. You don't have to do it. You're… you're better than, than this," Draco's breath caught. He began to cry. Vampire Draconius Lucien Malfoy cried, pulling Harry's shaking frame to himself.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Don't ever scare me like that again.
"Draco?"
"Yes?"
"Will you… Would you kiss me?"
"Why wouldn't I kiss you?" Draco asked.
"Cause - I'm not worth it." Leaning foreword, Draco closed his lips over Harry's, holding him as close to himself as possible, as if afraid he'd disappear.
You're worth it Harry. You are. Conjuring a bed, Draco carried the exhausted Gryffindor over and nestled him under the covers. Lightly placing a kiss on Harry's forehead, he whispered into his ear, "You're worth it, Harry. You are."
Lying down, he drifted into sleep. Harry snuggled into the taught stomach of the Slytherin. Before sleep claimed him, he wondered softly aloud, "Am I?"
