"I'm Here." . . .By Ravenclaw0829
Summary: All Harry Potter wanted was a family. A family that didn't abuse and torture him for every little thing, like the Dursley's. Draco, being from a pureblood family, has an inheritance, a creature inheritance. In his case, his inheritance isVeela blood. Not having full inheritance yet, Draco has only some of his Veela traits. All Draco wants is his mate. All Harry wants is a family. And when Draco finds out the horrific stuff that the Dursley's have done to him...He tries his best to let Harry know, "I'm here."
Disclaimer: Though I wish, no I do not own Harry Potter or any other Harry Potter Characters.
PREVIOUSLY:
"We understand, Professor. Come on, Ron."
She clasped Ron's wrist and dragged him back to the castle. Professor Snape could hear Mr. Weasley arguing with Ms. Granger about why he had to listen to the 'old git.' Severus sighed as he looked towards the lake. "Dragon, what have you got yourself into?" Severus whispered to himself.
CHAPTER 5: Coming Clean
HARRY:
The first thing Harry could recognize was how safe he felt. He had never felt that type of safety for as long as he could remember. There was warmth as well. Is this what love feels like?
Slowly, Harry opened his eyes. He questioned where he was at first, but quickly came to realize that he was in the infirmary. The raven-haired boy had started to question if he had been in another quidditch accident. But no, the quidditch season was over…so what had happened?
Flashes of memories came to light…Draco. With wings.
Maybe he was just imagining it. Maybe it was a dream. All his speculations turned to dust when his "warm blanket" began to move. Harry looked down to see a massive white wing laying over his body. Connected to that wing was none other than Slytherin's Prince, Draco Malfoy. Draco's head was laying on the side of Harry's bed with his arms under it as support. Draco sat sleeping on a chair at Harry's bedside.
All Harry could do was gasp loudly; waking the blond in the process. Red eyes shot open and wings spread out behind him, scanning the room for any threats to his intended. Seeing no threats, Draco furrowed his eyebrows. He quickly turned to Harry and saw that he was awake. The Slytherin's eyes quickly faded to their original silver color, and he gave a smile that could light up a room.
"Harry, you're awake!" Draco said quite enthusiastically. If the Veela had a tail, it would be wagging from the joy.
Harry was about to speak when the next thing he knew, the raven-haired boy was lifted and placed on the Veela's lap. He was held tightly with his head placed in the crook of the blonde's neck. Harry froze, not knowing what to do or what had happened to make Draco act this way towards him.
"M-Malfoy?" Harry asked attentively.
Draco quickly moved so that the two were looking in each other's eyes- silver looking into green. "Are you feeling better, devi?" asked the white-blonde.
"Devi?" asked a confused Harry.
Draco ignored the question and continued, "Are you feeling better, love? Madam Promfrey has been doing her best treating the malnourishment and sleep deprivation. She hasn't been able to do much about the scars…"
Harry's eyes widened. He quickly stood up from the Veela's lap. And began sputtering what sounded like gibberish.
"Devi, calm down. I don't understand you."
"Don't call me that!" Harry said harshly. "Why are you even here? H-how do you even know about my scars?! What is going on, Malfoy?"
From there a silence and tense pause filled the room. Draco tensed at his intended's harsh tone towards him.
"Harry, lie down," the blonde said calmly and with just a little force.
Harry instantly lied down as he was told to do. Confusion could be seen on Harry's face. Why did he just listen to Malfoy? Why couldn't he control his body?
Draco pulled the raven-haired boy from his erratic thoughts when he sighed heavily. The Veela sat at edge of his chair, and put his hands on his lap.
"Harry, I am a Veela," said Malfoy.
"A Veela? What is that? Are you sick or something?" Harry asked with concern and a heaping amount of confusion.
The white-blonde gave a chuckle. "No, love, I'm not sick at all."
Harry didn't know whether to scowl or blush at being called Malfoy's 'love.'
"A Veela is a type of creature inheritance," Draco began. "Many centuries ago, there was this supposed 'mythical' creatures called Sirens. Sirens were these carnivorous, bird-like creatures that loved to feast on humans. Sirens were quite the power to be reckoned with during their time. They could take flight, lure men to their deaths with just their voice, could use fire at their disposal, and even had blood abilities. Back then Sirens were hideous creatures and all humans feared them…except a few, the wizards.
"Wizards wanted the Sirens' abilities for themselves, but blood abilities were not something that could be recreated by magic. So, wizards…had their ways with the Sirens, some mating sexually while others collected semen and other fluids to impregnate wizards. As the years past, Siren and wizard offspring were born; the Veelas. Veelas had the beauty of a human, and the powers of Siren. Veelas did keep some of their Siren characteristics and instincts…like the wings and their mating behaviors.
"Like the Sirens, Veelas mate for life. It isn't pre-destined or anything like that. There is this scent that the mate has, like everything a Veela loves all rolled into one. You, Harry," Draco nodded to his intended, "are everything I love rolled into one; those cakes I love that mother gets, those roses that grow in the back garden, cinnamon, chocolate-covered strawberries, EVERYTHING I love. You are my mate, Harry…"
…
…
…
Harry lied there, stiff as a log but with his eyes wide.
Draco Malfoy is a Veela.
Draco Malfoy has wings.
Draco Malfoy just said that Harry is his mate!
What the bloody hell?!
Is this a dream?! Is it a nightmare?!
Draco seemed to sense Harry's internal struggle. "Harry, I'm not pressuring you. A Veela has a mate, but the intended can refuse the advances. It is all up to you…as for knowing about the scars. Zabini and Parkinson overheard the Weasley twins speaking about how some of your wounds didn't look like you got them from playing quidditch. After they told me, I came to you and that is why we're here. I had to make sure you were alright."
Draco remained quiet for what felt like hours. He said nothing as he waited for his intended to process what he had just been told. The Veela kept his head down and his heart pounded as he waited for Harry to reply. Anything was fine.
"…After…Voldemort…I had no one. There was no one to take me in other than my mother's sister- my Aunt Petunia. Aunt Petunia is married to my Uncle Vernon, and they have a son named Dudley who is a little bit older than I am. They hate magic, so they hate me. They hated my mum and dad, and they still left me with them. I thought that the way they treated me was normal at first, but then I saw that Dudley never got hit. I cooked and I cleaned to make them like me, but it was never enough. It's mostly Uncle Vernon who punishes me, but the Aunt Petunia sometimes does it if anything 'abnormal' ever happened to Dudley.
"If I did anything they thought was wrong or magic, they would punish me. Uncle Vernon always uses his belt…that's what the scars are. He and Aunt Petunia both hit me or pushed me into the wall…that's what the bruises are. My cousin, Dudley, is a whole different situation. He and his friends pound on me whenever they have the chance.
"I didn't want to tell anyone. Not even Hermione and Ron knew until now. I didn't want people to see me as weak. I didn't want anyone to know that-that I'm not loved. That I'm not wanted. M-my own family doesn't love me! My mum and dad died and I don't have anyone left. I want them to love me, but they don't and they never will! My a-aunt, my uncle, D-Dudley! They hate me because I'm a wizard…because I'm a freak! That's what they call me. A freak! I'm a freak and that's why they don't love me. No one is ever going to love me! No one!"
Draco sat silent throughout the whole story. The end just tore him apart. His intended felt like nobody loved him, and that he was a freak. His family has done quite an amount of damage towards Harry both physically and emotionally. Harry's large green eyes were stained by his tears, his cheeks rosy from the heat of the moment. The raven-haired boy used his arms to hide his face from the Draco. He quietly sobbed to himself, repeating that he was a freak and that no one would ever love him.
The white-blonde slowly stood up from where he sat. He placed his arm under his intended's knees and another supporting his back. He gently picked up the Gryffindor and moved him into a new position. Draco sat on the bed with his back against the wall and Harry sat on his lap with Draco's wings folded to protect him from the outside world.
Draco began slowly rubbing Harry's arm as he tried calming Hogwarts' Golden Boy. After a while, Harry's crying diminished to just sniffs. The raven-haired boy's head was resting on the crook of Draco's neck. The boy had never felt as safe and loved as does right now. But then Harry reminded himself that no one would want him, not even his family wanted him.
"Harry, I'm here…you're not weak. You're not a freak. You're magic, and that is something those muggles don't appreciate. Hell, you defeated the 'Dark Lord' for Merlin's sake," Harry gave a wet laugh at that comment. "Those muggles might not want you, but I do. I am your mate, and you are my devi. I will always be by your side through the good times and the bad. I have loved you from the moment I saw you back at Malkin's Robe Shop…"
Harry's eyes shot up to look at Draco, "Really? I remember that day. You already knew what house you wanted to be in, and I didn't have a clue what you were talking about."
Draco gave a chuckle and said, "Yes, really, love. And yet, even meeting the great 'Slytherin Prince,' you still ended up being 'Gryffindor's Golden Boy,'" Draco gave a dramatic sigh.
Harry playfully hit Draco's chest. "You do know that the Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin, right?" Harry asked sweetly.
The white-blonde's eyes widened at that. "You're serious?! Then why the bloody hell are you in Gryffindor?" Draco asked.
"I asked the Sorting Hat to put me in Gryffindor…You-Know-Who was in Slytherin. And you made fun of Ron! He was my first friend!" Harry answered.
"I thought were going to be great friends! And from there I would slowly make you fall in love with me using my wit, beauty, and charm-being a Veela didn't hurt. and then we would have lived happily ever after. Funny how things don't turn out how you plan," Draco pondered.
Harry smiled and said, "No, it didn't quite turn out how the eleven-year old you would have wanted it." Harry pondered for a moment. "Is me being your…'intended' the reason why you hurt all those guys?"
Draco smiled without shame, and Harry gasped. "It is! You were jealous! Draco, you hurt all those guys!" Harry accused.
"Well, how would you feel if the love of your life hated you, and decided to saunter around with all those men?!" Draco snapped back.
Harry blushed. "I did not 'saunter around' with men. I had a few boyfriends here and there, but it wasn't anything that ever got serious. You scared them all off with your acts of jealousy," huffed Harry.
"Don't worry, love. As long as there is no guy other than me looking at what is mine, then I won't display acts of jealousy. Those with Veela blood tend to be quite possessive," informed Draco as his arms tightened around Harry's waist.
Harry blushed once again. After the minutes past, the mood dimmed and became serious. "Draco," began the raven-haired boy, "I don't know if me being your mate is the best decision."
Draco suddenly felt his heart split by the words uttered by his intended. "Why is that, Harry?"
"I-I don't know. We're just so different. All we've done is fight. What if people don't accept us? What-what if you end up changing your mind about me? What if-" Harry was interrupted.
"Love, we are complete opposites. We fight because we haven't had the opportunity to get to know each other yet. If people don't accept us, then that is their own business. And I would never change my mind about you. I've waited years for you…I would die without you by my side, devi." Draco said.
Harry could only smile at the white-blonde's words. "What's devi? You've been saying that since I woke up," Harry asked.
"Devi is what Veela's call their mates; it is used as a term of endearment towards them." Draco explained.
Harry could only when with an "oh," and a red blush on his cheeks. Draco chuckled at his intended's embarrassment.
"Harry, you are my intended and that only means that if you accept, then we can be together. I will give you everything you've ever wanted. Be anything you want me to be. Give you the love you deserve. I will stand by your side in the good days and bad. And when death comes knocking at our door, I will follow you to the afterlife so that I am able to spend the rest of eternity making you happy and being by your side. What do you say, Harry? Would you let me court you?"
Harry didn't know what was going on. Draco had just proclaimed his undying love for Harry. For the third time that day, he cried. He could not believe what was going on. He hoped to Merlin that this wasn't a dream. That this was real and that someone was willing to accept him for all that he was. Not that he ever admitted it to anyone, but he had always found Draco attractive. To add to that, he was intelligent- even beating Hermione back in third year for top grades. Plus, from what Harry has seen, he treats his Slytherin friends well and dare he say, like how a family should treat each other. Draco was right; why didn't his lovely plan work back in first year. They could have been together a long time ago, even if it was just as friends in the beginning.
Slowly, but surely, Harry nodded his head. "Yes," he let out.
Draco's response could have lit up the room! His smile was wide, eyes bright and practically glowing with emotion. "Really?!" Draco asked, needing to make sure he heard correctly.
Harry let a small chuckle and said, "Yes, really. You can court me."
If it was even possible, Draco's smile got even bigger. He tightened his arms around Harry, squishing the air out of the poor boy which caused Draco to apologize repeatedly.
"Sorry-Sorry. I just can't believe that this is happening. That you said yes, and that I have you in my arms. Thank you, Harry!" Draco said.
"Don't thank me. You've been trying for years. The least I could do was give you a chance," joked Harry.
Draco's smile turned into a smirk at his intended's humor. "Good thing I didn't stop. If I did, I wouldn't have you. Right here. Sitting on my lap." Draco leaned down lightly to give Harry a chaste kiss on the forehead.
Harry felt his face heat up. As he was about to remark, they heard a rather loud cough. Harry was still being covered by the Veela's wings, so he could not see who it was until Draco lifted a large, white wing. In the room were Ron, Hermione, Blaise, Pansy, Professor Snape, Madame Promfrey, and lastly, Headmaster Dumbledore. All of them had varying facial expressions. Ron had a face of pure confusion and…well, confusion. Hermione's face was a cross between worry and surprise. Blaise smirked, and Pansy was smiling ear to ear. Professor Snape's face was unreadable as usual. Madame Pomfrey was just plain upset that her patient is up and she had not been called in. Headmaster Dumbledore had a questioning, but genuine smile on his face.
Before either of them were able to respond, questions and comments were thrown their way.
"Harry, mate, what in the bloody hell is going on?!"
"Way to go, Malfoy!"
"Harry, are you alright?"
"Draco, love, I'm so proud of you."
"Mr. Malfoy, get off Potter's bed immediately!"
It was after the various questions that Dumbledore finally got everyone's attention. "I think it is best if we give Madame Pomfrey some time to over Mr. Potter. Students if you could please follow me to the Great Hall for supper," said the Headmaster. "Mr. Malfoy, that includes you as well."
Draco scowled. He didn't want to leave his intended after everything that has happened today. But he didn't want to get on the Headmaster's bad side. With a quick look at Snape, who nodded, Draco settled Harry into the bed.
"I'll be back to see you tomorrow, love. Hopefully, you'll be discharged by then," and with a quick kiss on the forehead, Draco turned and made his way out.
"Weasley. Granger," he acknowledged.
Ron stared wide-eyed at the Veela. "Ferret," Ron acknowledged back. He heard two stifled laughs coming from Malfoy's two friends.
Draco's lip turned to a smirk, "See you around, Gryffindors."
Draco walked out with Pansy and Blaise following suit.
Ron and Hermione turned to Harry. Both were confused and with questions.
"I'll tell you guys everything tomorrow. I promise," said Harry.
They nodded. Hermione said, "We'll be back tomorrow, Harry. Have a good night."
Ron, still trying to wrap his head on today's events, numbly said, "Yeah, mate. See you tomorrow."
And with that, two-thirds of the Golden Trio left with Dumbledore-leaving only Snape and Pomfrey.
Professor Snape made his way to Harry's bed-side and handed him a small, glass bottle. "This is a scar-reducing potion. It doesn't make scars go away completely, but it can help with the pain and make them less visible. Madame Pomfrey will apply it, or you can. However way you are more comfortable with."
Harry took hold of the potion. "Thank you, Professor."
Snape a sharp nod and made his way out of the infirmary.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Potter?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
Harry smiled slightly. "I'm feeling fine, Madame Pomfrey. The usual."
Pomfrey frowned. "The usual is a broken arm or a snitch in your throat. Not abuse," she commented.
Harry looked down, not knowing what to say. Pomfrey looked at Harry sternly, but sighed in the end. "My dear boy, you've been through so much. I'm just upset I hadn't noticed. How can I call myself a nurse if I can't even see you're deprived?" Pomfrey said.
Harry looked up to see the Hogwart's nurse. "You didn't notice because I didn't want you to notice. None of this your fault, Madame Pomfrey."
Pomfrey did nothing, but smile his attempt to make her feel better. She said, "Well, let me do a little check-up. See what else we can do for you while you're here."
Harry gave a nod. From there, Madame Pomfrey performed spell after spell, and deciding what should be done. Once finished, Harry was given supper by the house elves, plenty more than necessary in fact. And he waited for tomorrow to come. So that he could see Draco…and his friends of course!
And there you go, guys. Fifth chapter is up!
JohnLockSher, judging from another review, it looks like I'm not the only one who enjoyed your feedback. I will see what I can do! Thank you!
Guys, I know it's a long wait for each post, but please keep in mind that I am in school. I will try to publish a chapter at least once a month. See you guys on the next chapter of "I'm Here!"