Harry Potter and the Himeros Effect
Chapter Three: Displaying and Reasoning
The next morning Harry awoke to find Draco nowhere in sight, though the mattress was still warm from where he'd slept with his head resting on Harry's chest. Harry's first thoughts were where is he? What's happened to him? And who did it? He would have gone completely ballistic if an elf, who'd brung him some soap and a towel, that he hadn't even noticed, pointed out the note that was at the center of the table by the wall. He breathed a sigh of relief as he read:
Harry,
Sorry, but I forgot I promised to help Snape prepare for class today. I would have woken you, but you just looked so cute I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'll be working through breakfast, so we'll have to meet at Divination class. See you soon,
Love,
Draco
Harry grinned to himself. Love Draco. After reading the note a few more times Harry thanked the elf, bathed, pulled on some new cloths and his school robes, and was out the door with his bag not ten minutes later. He entered the Griffindor common room shortly after that to meet Ron and Hermione for breakfast, like usual.
"Ello Harry," Ron greeted as he grabbed his and Hermione's bags and swung both over his shoulder.
"Harry, your hair is still wet!" Hermione fussed. "It's the middle of winter! In this weather you're likely to catch a cold!" She held out her wand and muttered a quick spell, and Harry's hair dried instantly. "Much better!"
"Thanks Hermione," Harry said happily. "So shall we go to breakfast?"
His friends nodded and were joined by Neville and Ginny on their way out the portrait hole.
"Good morning Harry," Ginny and Neville said together.
"Morning," Harry said, walking fast so that the others almost had to jog to keep up with him.
"So where's Draco?" Hermione asked, guessing that was where Harry was headed in such a hurry.
"Helping Snape," Harry replied. "He said to meet him at Divination."
"Ah, no wonder you're in such a hurry," Ginny observed. "You want to get done with breakfast so you can get to class and see Draco sooner."
Harry merely nodded.
"Anyone who can make Harry anxious to go to Divination has to be his soul mate," Ron said, rolling his eyes at the word divination.
"Especially when that mad woman is seeing him die in some new, cruel way ever other prediction," Hermione said in annoyance at the mention of Professor Trelawney.
The conversation stayed on Divination and Trelawney through the rest of breakfast until the owls came, which was a bit later than normal. A large gray owl, which Harry recognized as a school owl, landed on Harry's shoulder. It held out its leg and, as soon as Harry untied the message, flew off again. He knew immediately it was Dumbledore's handwriting. He tore it open and began to read:
Dearest Harry,
I request a word with you and Draco today after lunch. Draco has already been informed and Professor McGonagall will be aware of your absences. As you know, we have much to discuss. Please be at my office by twelve thirty.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
-P.S. Bring some chocolate frogs if you have any.
Harry smiled. He knew the last sentence was code, as Hermione and Ron looked puzzled over his shoulder.
"Why on earth would he want you to bring chocolate frogs?" Ron asked quizzically.
"I thought he was allergic," Hermione agreed.
"He is," Harry said, still smiling. He turned to the teachers' table and saw Dumbledore smiling at him with the same mysterious twinkle in his eye.
(A.N: I have no idea if Dumbledore really is or not)
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Harry was practically running up the stairs to the astronomy tower after breakfast, Ron and Neville struggling to keep up.
"Harry, slow down!" Neville begged.
"Malfoy's not going anywhere!" Ron agreed.
But Harry continued to take the stairs three at a time. In just a few moments he was through the door to the classroom and searching for pale, blonde hair.
"You wouldn't be looking for me, would you?"
Harry spun at the sound of Draco's voice and grabbed blindly.
"Whoa, Harry!" Draco half screamed in surprise. "Harry, what's wrong with you? You're ghostly pale!"
It was true; Harry's face lacked any color other than his emerald eyes.
"You look ill," Draco said worriedly and took Harry in his arms. "Oh! You're freezing! But you're sweating...We should get you to Pomfrey."
"Is something the matter dears?" Professor Trelawney said, almost appearing from nowhere.
"Harry's not feeling well," Ron said, helping Draco support Harry.
"Oh, he is quite pale," Trelawney observed. "Perhaps he should see Madam Pomfrey?"
"We were just taking him," Draco said.
"Taking him where?" Lavender Brown asked, having walked in and seen the large group.
"Taking my boyfriend to see Pomfrey," Draco almost growled.
"What for? He looks fine to me," Lavender said calmly.
"Wha...?" Ron began, but when all eyes fell on Harry his checks were their normal tan color and he was no longer cold or sweating.
"How...?" Draco began.
"I don't know," Harry said, looking confused. "I was feeling a little queasy when I left the Great Hall, but I kept feeling this...tugging sensation, like I needed to be near you. And it got worse, up to the point where you touched me. Then it just...faded."
"Is everything okay here?" It was Madam Pomfrey, who'd been alerted by a student of Harry's episode. Everyone was surprised just how quick she'd made it half way across the school in so little time.
"Alright now, I think," Harry said.
"But he was pale, he looked dreadfully ill!" Neville protested.
"And he was just better all of the sudden," Ron added.
"I see," Pomfrey said with a quizzical look on her face. "Mr. Malfoy, were you present while this was happening?"
"No, he was already like that when he came here," Draco said coolly. "I was with Snape through breakfast."
"Ah, there we are," Pomfrey sighed in relief. "Common withdraw a Himeros suffers when separated with it's mate for too long a period. So early in the transformation, it is unhealthy for a Himeros and it's mate to be too far away from each other for too long a period; it can lead to serious conditions, some of which have no known treatment."
"Why didn't I know this?" Draco questioned. "I should have known this!"
"Relax Mr. Malfoy," Pomfrey instructed. "I know you're upset, but there's only so much you can learn about a Himeros in five days. Harry will be fine, but from now on I would suggest you are at least with in 150 yards of Mr. Potter at all times."
Draco and Harry both nodded, and Harry snuggled his face into Draco's shoulder.
"I will alert Dumbledore of this incident," Pomfrey continued. "Notify my immediately if there are any more problems."
"I'll never leave you again," Draco whispered into Harry's ear. "I swear it."
Harry nodded into Draco's chest and sighed. "I'm sorry I caused such a scene."
"Don't be," Draco said sternly. "It was my fault for not knowing-"
"It was our fault," Harry corrected. "We're in this together Draco. Besides, there's no way I'm letting you take all the blame for anything any more."
Draco laughed. "Thanks love."
"Eh hem," Professor Trelawney's voice broke through. "I think we will begin class now. Please, everyone take your seats."
Harry and Draco sat in the back of the room with Ron and Neville, Draco still holding Harry to his chest and stroking his hair. Class continued uneventfully as Trelawney lectured something about when Jupiter is in its fifth moon at the same time as a solar eclipse, there could take place a period of no magic.
But their next class, potions, however, was different. Snape started off by asking a question about the homework. Without thinking, Harry put his hand in the air.
Snape did his best not to smirk. "Ah, Potter believes he knows the answer for once in his life. Go ahead, tell us the most crucial ingredient in this healing potion."
Harry swallowed hard, nervous. He wasn't sure he remembered correctly. "I think it said to mix two ingredients to get the proper mix...Mandrake root rolled in ground dill."
Snape continued smirking for a moment. But it faded slowly as he realized that Harry had answered correctly. "Very good," he hissed through clenched teeth. "But can you tell us the alternative if no dill seed is available?" He thought for sure this would get Harry.
"Sage," Harry answered quickly.
Snape glared at Harry and growled, "That's correct." And he turned around angrily, murmuring something about damned Himeroses, before continuing the lesson. "Open your books to pages 122 and 123
And that's the way it went for the first half hour of potions. Then Snape instructed everyone to get his or her cauldrons and potion kits. They were going to brew the potion.
"Make sure you follow the directions exactly," Snape said. "For one wrong move could turn this healing potion to a slop that can have the same effect as a bad case of wizards food-poisoning."
About five minutes later Draco leaned over to Harry, grinning, "That was amazing! You managed to answer a question without getting points deducted. And answer it correctly nonetheless. If I'd known you'd be displaying for me by showing my godfather off, I'd have brung the camera."
Harry looked up. "Displaying? I was displaying?"
Draco nodded vigorously. "Most definitely; do you think you would have raised your hand otherwise?"
Harry squinted a moment. "Now that I think about it...I didn't really have a lot of control. I just wanted to impress you."
Draco gave Harry a soft kiss on the check. "Consider me very impressed."
Harry grinned and was about to kiss Draco back when Snape stepped between them. "This is a classroom, not your bedroom. Until you leave this room you are to act as though you are not together. If I catch you again, it will be fifty points from the both of you. Do you understand?"
Draco nodded, and Harry just stared at his desk in annoyance. As soon as Snape left Harry began to grin. He pulled his kit to him and began to dig through it. After a moment he pulled out a two vials, one of green liquid and the other of purple.
"Harry, is that-?" Ron began, but Harry interrupted him.
"Skewrt blood? Yeah, it is," he grinned mischievously.
"Harry, you aren't-" Neville began.
"Oh, I am," Harry continued grinning. He poured the blood into the potion, causing it to turn yellow, and quickly poured in the purple liquid, which changed it to a red color, the correct color of the potion. He filed an empty vile full of his potion and put a cork in it to close it. The he began to shake it under the table, causing Ron, Neville, and Draco to gasp and hold back giggles at what Harry was about to do. "Professor Snape, I'm finished."
Professor Snape glared at him. "We'll see about that." He examined the vile closely. "Hmm..." Then he uncorked it.
Shhhh-kapop! There was an eruption and Snape disappeared into a purple cloud. When the smoke cleared the entire class began to laugh. In Snape's place there stood a short, elderly old man...in a tight red dress.
No one could stop laughing at Snape's transformation, especially Draco and Harry.
"S-Snape," Harry choked on the word. "You l-look re-diculous!"
Snape glared with almost pure hatred. "Fifty points from Griffindor, detention for the rest of term, and fifty points from Griffindor! Oh, and lets not forget Weasely and Longbottom. Another hundred points!"
Everyone continued to laugh, all still too hysterical to care.
"Harry, you may now consider me extremely, amazingly, unbelievably impressed!" Draco cried out, eyes watering. Harry grinned and grabbed Draco, pulling him into a heated kiss. This caused the class to stop laughing and to instead gasp and stare.
After a few moments they broke apart, both smiling contently. Then Harry checked his watch: 12:20. "We have to go, Drac." He took Draco by the wrist and they ran out.
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Harry and Draco were laughing again by the time they reached the gargoyle.
"Did you see his face?" Draco giggled. "He was so embarrassed! I've never seen Snape embarrassed before!" He kissed Harry again, nipping at his lower lip affectionately.
Harry grinned and pulled Draco to his waist, then turned to the gargoyle. "Chocolate frogs."
It jumped aside instantly and revealed the winding up to Dumbledore's office.
When they entered they found Dumbledore standing behind his desk. "Come, sit boys. I believe it would be best to begin so we can get through this."
The boys did as they were told.
"Now, before I begin," Dumbledore said, "I must approach the incident that just occurred in potions (both boys began to giggle). I will let it slip this once, Harry, since you could not control yourself due to your need to display for young Draco. But if anything as extreme as that happens again, I will be forced to allow Snape to deal with you in any way he sees fit. All house points have been returned, but Harry will have detention with Snape for the next two Saturday mornings." Then he smiled with his usual twinkle in his eye. "Although I must say, it was quite humorous Harry."
Harry continued to giggle. "Thanks (giggle) Professor."
Dumbledore nodded. "Now, on to business. Draco, may I ask you a personal question about your family history?"
Draco looked a bit confused but nodded.
"Do you have any creature blood in your line?" Dumbledore asked.
"No sir, not that I'm aware of," Draco replied. "Why?"
"Have you not guessed it yet?" Dumbledore questioned. "Draco must have some creature blood in him, otherwise Harry might not have chosen him as his mate."
"What?" Harry asked. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Dumbledore began, "It is true that you two are soul mates, but there is another reason your case it special. Normally, Draco would have been born a female because most Himeroses mate with the opposite gender. Draco was born male because he was meant to; something kept him from becoming a female. The only thing that could do this is creature blood. So there is a reason that Draco was born male, and that Harry has been so drawn to him."
"So you're saying that if I had been born female, with no creature blood," Draco said, "it might not have been as obvious to Harry that I was his mate?"
"Precisely," Dumbledore said. "Now we just need to know what's in Draco so we can know what to expect when the connection is made."
"Well, are there any more obvious choices?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore nodded. "A few more likely choices, yes. He very well could be part Veela, but there is also the possibility of part vampire because of Draco's pale skin and..."
"Mainly acid attitude towards others?" Draco finished for him.
"Uh, for lack of a better term," Dumbledore said.
"Well how do we find out for sure?" Harry asked.
"Simple," Dumbledore said. "Draco, please hold out your hand."
Draco did as he was told and Dumbledore used his wand to create a small cut in Draco's palm. The blood dripped out and lingered in mid air. Dumbledore mumbled a few words and the blood glowed.
"Ah," Dumbledore said, twinkle in his eye growing, "he's part Siren." The cut healed itself quickly.
"Siren?" Harry asked, and Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Sirens," Dumbledore said happily, "are beautiful creatures with skin soft as silk and perpetually seductive voices. In more primitive times they lured unsuspecting creatures with their voices and then raped and killed them. But once they choose a mate, it is for life. Now a days, they are just like any normal person except for the fact that many people find it hard not to desire them sexually."
Draco blushed. "Oh, that's..." but he couldn't find the words to say.
"Hmm...the possibilities," Harry murmured happily.
"Harry!" Draco grinned a little, pushing Harry playfully. "So, what can we expect of the bond? Anything special?"
Dumbledore sighed, looking a little disappointed. "To be honest, boys, I do not know. I'm having Hagrid search back as far as he can, but this may very well be the first time a Siren and Himeros have mated."
"So we're basically the guinea pigs?" Draco asked out loud, more to himself than to anyone else. "Oh, well that's brilliant."
"What happens if we are the first?" Harry asked. "What will we do then?"
"Look for similar cases," Dumbledore said. "That's all we can really do. We'll search through and study the mates of past Himeroses and Sirens and hope that one has mated with a creature similar to one or the other." Then he sighed lightly. "But, one thing I can tell you is what to expect when Draco's Siren side take over."
"What do you mean my Siren side will 'take over'?" Draco asked nervously. "I'll still be...me, wont I?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Oh yes, on the inside; but most of the transformation takes place on the outside. There will only be a few changes in your attitude and personality."
"Like?" Harry asked, leaning forward. This mattered to him a great deal and he needed to know all he could.
"For one," Dumbledore said. "Sirens are very, very possessive of their mates. They rarely leave the room that their mates are in, let alone leave their mate's side. And it is even rarer for a Siren to let their mates be touched by anyone other than themselves."
"That does sound like Draco," Harry said with a smile, taking Draco's hand in his.
"What's mine is mine and mine alone," Draco said, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Also," Dumbledore continued, "many dominant Siren's have been known to grow retractable wings from their arms. These wings can grow to be twice their size and are hard as steel when the Siren is angry or in pain, and soft as silk when it is calm or happy."
"Oh, I like the sound of that," Draco mumbled. "Anything else?"
"Yes, one more crucial item of information," Dumbledore said, seriousness in his eyes. "When a Siren sings, it causes anyone that hears them to lose complete control over themselves. They sink into a coma like state, hypnotized. Most importantly, they lose control of their magic. They are completely vulnerable. This could make a dangerous situation worse if they Siren lost control of its voice, because it always sings when it feels most happy or most pleasured; there is no way to stop it."
There was silence.
Suddenly, Draco realized how dangerous this could really be. He hadn't stopped smiling since Harry had kissed him. He'd been happy for a week straight. If he sang when he was happy, he'd be singing all of the time. "Oh Merlin..."
Dumbledore nodded. "You'll have to train yourself to control the song. And just to be sure, I shall have Severus work on a potion to block out the Siren song to others. Otherwise, the whole school would become immobile and would be very vulnerable to any attacks led by remaining Death Eaters."
"We'll work on it," Harry promised, smiling encouragingly.
Draco smiled weakly back. He wasn't so sure that he could handle it. He'd always acted tough, like every other Malfoy before him, but he just wasn't as stone cold as his father. He wasn't evil. Therefore, he did not have as much control as he appeared to have. He wasn't a strong as everyone thought.
"So, when does this transformation occur?" Harry asked, twisting his shirt tightly, releasing it, and then repeating it.
"On Draco's eighteenth birthday," Dumbledore said coolly.
"What?" Draco exclaimed. "That's in two days!"
"It is?" Harry said, confused. "I never knew that."
"I'm going to be a Siren in just two days!" Draco continued. "I've got hardly any time to prepare! What am I going to do? I've- I- But I-"
"Draco!" Harry said, grabbing his love by the shoulders and holding him still. "Calm. Down. You're going to be all right, you've got me and I'm going to be there the whole time, ok? I wont leave you for a moment and I'll help you through every step." He'd taken Draco into his arms and was stroking his hair and back, rocking him back and forth. Draco began to calm down, breathing returning to normal.
"I think we're going to skip the rest of transfigurations professor," Harry said, taking Draco's hand and still holding him close. "Good bye."
"Good bye," Dumbledore said as he watched the boys' head for the door. When they were gone he sighed and turned to Fawkes. "This will be interesting."
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The rest of the day went by far to fast in Harry's opinion. He liked showing off for Draco, seeing the blonde beauty grin whenever he'd do something as small as answer a question right, or as large as stand up to Draco's old 'gang' of Slytherins.
"Draco, how could you!" Pansy Parkinson cried angrily. "Dating this Griffindork!"
"Shut up, Pansy!" Draco ordered. "You don't ever call him that, not ever!"
"Maybe Blaise was right," Pansy glared. "You're no Slytherin; you're just a Griffindor want to be, a poof!"
Harry drew his wand and was an inch away from the girl within a second. "Call him that again and I'll send you through that wall, understand?"
"Harry," Draco said in a warning tone. But Harry didn't back down.
"How dare you talk to him as though he were beneath you," Harry growled. "He's far from it; you're not even worthy to be the floor he walks on you filth. I don't want you any nearer to him than you need to be, ever. You sit as far away from him as you can in classes, at lunch. You come within one hundred feet of him other wise and I'll skin you; slowly, painfully."
The girl was visibly afraid now. She'd never heard the Golden Boy so serious before, never been threatened like this before. Her hand was trembling slightly and a drop of sweat trickled down her neck.
Draco knew she was scared, but to sweat so? Then he looked into his loves eyes and gasped; they were black with raw power. "Harry," he said calmly and slowly. "Put the wand down Harry." Harry continued to stare at the girl, nostrils almost flaring now. "Harry, please," Draco said in a half beg voice, "put the wand down; for me Harry."
Harry turned and looked at Draco, suddenly aware of how uncomfortable his mate had gotten. His nostrils stopped flaring, his breathing went back to normal, and finally the blackness faded from his eyes and they returned to their normal dark emerald. He lowered his wand and sighed, "Sorry..."
Draco shook his head and held Harry in his arms. "Don't be love, don't be..." Then he looked over Harry's shoulder and glared at the Slytherin girl and her friends, at least those who'd remained through Harry's episode, and hissed, "You might want to begin walking away very fast before I turn him lose on you again; next time, I wont hold him back." The girls glared for a moment, not sure if they believed him. But none-the-less they turned and walked away quickly and nervously.
As soon as they were out of sight and earshot, Draco grinned at the taller, raven-haired boy, "You," he said, kissing Harry's lips softly, "are my hero."
"I wasn't before?" Harry asked with fake hurt.
Draco giggled and kissed Harry quickly and repeatedly. "You know what I mean."
Harry grinned and kissed Draco, then leaned closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Prove it..."
Draco shuddered. "Umm...I would, but we have to wait...but don't worry love, just two days..."
"Speaking of which," Hermione's voice erupted into each boys ear, "we should use that time studying up on Sirens and Himeroses."
Both recovered from the shock, for neither had realized she was there, before Draco tilted his head in a confused manner. "How did you...?"
But Harry just shook his head, "Don't ask Drac, she wont tell; but Hermione has her ways."
"Of course I do," Hermione said almost cockily. "Harry's learned that and knows that it's for the best not to question, and soon, Draco, so will you."
Draco fake glared at her, then smiled. "Oh yes, we'll be getting along just fine, you and I."
Hermione smirked. "I know." Then she took Draco's upper arm and began dragging him, who dragged Harry, up to the Griffindor common room. "Now come on, I've brought back a few books from the library we can look over while Harry's practicing with the Quidditch team."
"And a few is how many?" Draco asked, fearing what Harry knew was true.
"At least two dozen," the raven-haired boy replied with a smile. "I'm sure they're all going to be loads of fun."
"You owe me," Draco said flatly, a smile tugging at his thin lips.
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(AN) Ok, sorry I didn't update last night but I'm being pulled in a dozen different directions right now...Sorry if it's not that great, I'm feeling a little off because my dad's moving out Saturday and finals are quickly approaching. Please R&R :)