(A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating, but as I said if midterms or a project is due, then this will have to wait. Well, midterms are now officially over, I failed miserably, but hey I'll survive. Any hoo as long as ace my finals I'll still get at least B's so expect for me delays, next week is SPRING BREAK so I'm going to try and get an update out on Wednesday and Sunday, JUST THIS ONE TIME to make up for being tardy. Okay. Enjoy. I don't own Harry and the gang they are just being borrowed. And for the record, Draco and Harry do NOT have the same birthday, Draco's B-Day July 1st, Harry's B-day July 31st.)

Chapter 4: New and Improved?

July 1st 8:00 a.m.

Malfoy Manor

Draco's Birthday

"Mother, help me," came a weak strained voice from the pulsating fleshy mass on the floor. A hand reached out through a slit, a translucent white hand covered in the white and red ooze. It was wrinkled, every vein and artery was visible, and you could almost see every bone in the hand. Cautiously, Narcissa walked over to the mass, whatever it was, it had her son's voice and he sounded like he desperately needed her. She went to the mass, and reached for the hand. She grasped it and started to pull when she heard a heart-wrenching scream of agony. "NO, it hurts! Let go, don't touch me!" Said the voice that came from the mass.

Narcissa released the hand and looked at it; it was instantly bruised and had even begun to bleed. Narcissa looked at Lucius and they both drew out their wands the fired a cutting charm simultaneously at the mass that would increase the size of the slit. They moved slowly so as to be as sure as possible of not cutting their son as they tried to free him.

------------------------------------------

July 1st 8:00 a.m.

Privet Drive

Harry had been up for hours his nap the day before made sleep impossible. After cleaning the cupboard, he cleaned the freezer, and the refrigerator. He cleaned cabinets and started breakfast, by the time Petunia was woke up. She started knocking on Harry's door to get him to go make breakfast, when she smelled the bacon frying and realized that he was already about the task. She then went to wake Dudley and Vernon for the day. It was Saturday and though it was customary for them to sleep in, and for Dudley to wake up early for cartoons, today was to be different; they had rescheduled the picnic that Dudley had ruined. Petunia came downstairs and stood in the doorway to the kitchen and watched Harry prepare breakfast. 'Something is different about the boy today." She thought.

Harry had finished cooking most of the breakfast, and was waiting until the last moment to cook the scrambled eggs, so that they would be warm when the family began to eat. He worked quickly and quietly to cook them when he heard Vernon and Dudley on the stairs. After all, scrambled eggs cook the quickest and cool the fastest.

"Boy, I have a list of chores for you to do today, and I want them done before we get back from the picnic today." Said Petunia as she watched Harry work.

"Yes, Aunt Petunia, I'll have it all done before you return. Would you like me to help you make the picnic baskets?" he offered with his eyes down.

This shocked Petunia, Harry never volunteered to do extra work, they usually gave him more than enough to keep him busy for the day, and so he never volunteered to help her with anything.

"Why do you want to help with the baskets, you planning to poison us or something?" She said suspiciously, though on further thought he's had years of making their breakfast in which to execute an idea like that.

"No, Aunt Petunia. I'm just trying to help." He said simply.

Vernon and Dudley arrived in the kitchen at that moment. Harry finished the eggs and loaded them on a plate. He then started to fix the plates for the family.

"Hello Pet, is the Freak causing you any trouble?" Vernon said as place a whiskery peck on her cheek.

"Um, no I suppose not."

"I'll get the picnic baskets and clean up the kitchen while you all eat." Harry said as he headed to the kitchen cupboard for the picnic baskets.

"Why isn't the boy eating with us?" Petunia asked.

"Well, he's on punishment, bloody brat pissed me off last night, so no meals for him for three days." Said Uncle Vernon as he called Harry to load his plate for seconds.

"I want more too," said Dudley. Dudley was delighted to get a fully breakfast that was off his diet, and was even more delighted that apparently Petunia hadn't noticed.

"Boy, why didn't you give Dudley his diet breakfast?" Said Petunia having noticed that her son was eating with such gusto.

"Well, Aunt Petunia, after yesterday, I thought if we fed him a good meal today, maybe you will have a better go at the picnic today. Plus, I figure he can burn up the calories on the picnic." Said Harry, with his eyes down.

"Duddikins, this is just a one day thing don't expect to be off your diet again, okay?" Said Petunia sweetly to the huge pile of human refuse that was her son.

"All right mum, I want to go out for football team in the fall anyway, but the coach said I need to lose a little weight." Said as he started on the second helping.

Harry cleaned stove and the counters while the Dursleys ate, amazingly Dudley didn't ask for thirds this time. Harry was taking out some food for the picnic when they finished. His stomach ached at the sight of the food for the picnic and the left over breakfast, he didn't get a chance to eat yesterday, and now the thought of not eating for another three days just seemed to make him even hungrier.

"Petunia Dear, do you have the list of the things you want the freak here to do? I want Dudley and me to add a couple of things." Said Vernon as he signaled Harry to bring him a third helping of breakfast.

Harry and Petunia finished loading the picnic baskets around 11a.m., Vernon Dursley spent the time measuring every bit of food in the fridge, and in the cupboards to make sure that Harry wasn't going to sneak anything while they were out.

"Look here boy, I've measured everything if I find even one crumb missing in this house, it will not go well for you." Said Uncle Vernon in his most dangerous voice.

"Yes sir." Said Harry quietly with his eyes down.

"Good, Dudley and I have added a few little things to your list of chores, when we get back, every single fucking thing on that list had better be completed boy or you will have your arse beaten like it never has been before, do I make myself clear?" Uncle Vernon said as he glared at Harry, and shoved the list into Harry's hand.

"Yes, sir. It'll be all done." Said Harry.

"Boy, go put the picnic baskets, blankets, and sun umbrella in the car." Said Petunia.

Harry went instantly into action.

Dudley came down the stairs looking like a baby killer whale. He wore a black and white cow print, open button, short sleeve shirt that he didn't button, so you could see what could possibly be breasts dangling on his enormous chest. He had on huge black, boxer-type swim trunks which went just to below his knees and that actual made him look even short and wider than he actually was, which was amazing to Harry because he didn't think that was at all possible. Dudley completed his black and white nightmare ensemble with an inflatable inner tube around his fat middle that Harry swore must have come off a monster truck, and black flip-flops that showed off his impossibly white feet. This black ensemble just made his whole huge pale body look almost white, thus giving him the killer whale motif.

Harry just shook his head as Dudley tried to get into the car without taking off the inner tube. It was rather like trying get three liters of milk into a one liter container, frankly it wasn't going to happen. After several failed attempts Uncle Vernon finally told him to let the air out of the tube he can re-inflate it at the beach. "Good idea, Dad, that's brilliant" Dudley said happily.

Petunia came outside in a pink flower sundress, with the straps of her pink swimsuit just showing a little at the shoulders. She got into the car, as Dudley squeezed the last of the air out of his inner tube. Even with the inner tube deflated it was still a tight fit for Dudley to get into the car. Uncle Vernon got his keys, and check to make sure he had his wallet this time, then he turned to Harry before leaving the house.

"Listen here freak," Said Uncle Vernon in a most deadly voice. "If I find one thing broken or damaged in this house, they won't be able to find all of you with a hunting dogs, and a map. Don't eat a bloody thing in this house, and I better find the list completed this time or I will make you sorry, the nutter old man left you on our doorstep, am I clear?"

"Yes, Uncle Vernon, sir… crystal." Said Harry.

"Good, we'll be back in about four hours." Said Uncle Vernon who then turned and headed for the door. "Don't fuck this up, boy." He then slammed the door behind him and left. Harry was left alone in the house with his list.

---------------------------------

Malfoy Manor

July 1st

"Waaannnd." said a weak, cracked voice as Narcissa and Lucius finished cutting the mass in their son's bedroom floor. The hand stretched out and then landed on the floor as another hand came out and slowly a humanoid figure emerged from the mass.It crawled out with great difficulty, and it's breathing seemed extremely labored for its effort. Narcissa and Lucius stood and watched in shock as this thing that could have only have been there son, tried to stand and then fall over. Narcissa wanted to go over and help, but feared injuring it with her touch again. Its whole body was like the hand, white and translucent, with red veins and blue arteries showing, the entire body was wrinkled and puckered. The silver white Malfoy trademark hair was covered in the ooze that seemed to permeate the entire being. The ooze effectively made the creature look bald. One could see the skull under it's translucent face. It wore green and white pajamas that were soaked through with the ooze, and matted down to the body of the poor struggling creature. "Waaannnd." repeated he voice.

"Lucius, I think he wants his wand. It's there on the desk, give it to him." Narcissa said without taking her eyes off the figure on the floor.

Lucius walked over the Draco's desk picked up his wand and tossed it at the creature on the floor. He looked on in disgust, 'How could this thing be his son, the Malfoy heir?'

The creature grabbed the wand and half crawled, half dragged itself into Draco's private bathroom. Before the bathroom door closed Narcissa and Lucius saw a charm hit the mirror that turned it back and no reflective.

"Dilly, clean up this mess." screamed Lucius as he pointed at he pod or cocoon or whatever it was that the creature emerged from.

"We have to call a healer, something went horribly wrong. My poor Puff. My poor, poor Puff." Said Narcissa as she began to dissolve in tears.

"Do you actually think a healer can fix that? I can think of single healer in the wizarding world that would even begin to know what to do." Said Lucius coldly.

"We aren't getting a wizarding healer, we are getting a veela healer. We are now in my domain, Lucius. For better or worse, Draco has come into inheritance as such he comes under my domain. He is now Draco Aaron Malfoy-Black." She said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

"No, he is the Malfoy heir, he has been and will remain Draco Lucius Malfoy. Do you understand me woman?" Lucius said in a dark tone as advanced on Narcissa.

"No, you understand me. I've let you lead this family in the wizarding world in order to give our son a fair choice as to where he will belong and who he should be. I figured that since he was going to be essentially wizard until now there would be no harm in him being trained as a wizard. However, he has come into his veela heritage and so he must learn the ways of the veela, and part veela. Further, I saw the way you looked at him just now, you're disgusted. He's your own son, your 'precious' heir, and you look at him like he's some sort of monster. Well, what would you do with you precious heir if this is how he will remain?" Said Narcissa her eyes flashing.

"Maybe I'll get me another woman and have another child, one more suitable to carry the name, than that creature of yours. After all what female would want to have children with that thing in there. Maybe I should have him put down, it would be the merciful thing to do." Said Lucius as he ran a hand through his hair.

"You will do no such thing. He is my son. I don't care what he looks. You go near him again, you'll see just how much veela I am, and trust me Lucius, I am far more veela than you can possibly handle." Said Narcissa as she rounded on him.

"Are you threatening me, woman?" Said Lucius incredulously.

"No, Lucius darling, I'm letting you know the consequences of any action you take against my son; notice, I didn't say our son, I said MY SON." Said Narcissa a mere two or three inches from Lucius' face.

Narcissa turned, "Dilly, get the veela heeler Meenax, here straight away, tell her its an emergency."

"Yes, Mistress Narcissa, Dilly be going to get Healer Meenax now." (Pop!) And with that the elf was gone.

"I have business to do, I'll be back later to check on…(Lucius resisted the urge to say 'it') Draco." He said and then left his cloak billowing behind him.

Narcissa sat at Draco's desk. 'Plans have to be made now, things are going to change,' Narcissa thought to herself, as she took out three pieces of parchment. When she heard water filling the tub, she looked to the bathroom where her son was sequestered. "Please gods, let that be a sign that he's going to be okay." She said in a whisper.

It was noon by the time she finished the letters.

"Puff, dear, I'll be right back, the Healer should be here soon. I just have to get some letters off at the owlery, and I'll be right back okay? Do you hear me, Puff?" Narcissa yelled at the bathroom door. An indistinguishable grunt was heard from the other side of the door, Narcissa took it as a sign of her son understanding that she would be back directly.

------------------------------

Malfoy Manor

Lucius' Study

Lucius was in his study, working on some papers. Despite himself, he couldn't help but wonder what the hell went wrong with Draco. As he worked, he noticed the fireplace flare; some was trying to contact him. "Hello, who's there, I don't have time for trifles today." Said Lucius his anger over the day beginning to disturb his aloof manner.

"Is that anyway to talk to your Master." Said Voldemort as his snake-like head appeared in the flames.

"Master, I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you. Please forgive me." Said Lucius as he bowed low to the head floating in his fireplace.

"What put you in so foul a mood, Lucius?" Asked Voldemort in very uncharacteristic concern.

"It's nothing to trouble you about my Lord, just some family issues." Said Lucius as remained bowed on one knee before the fireplace.

"Fine, whatever, speaking of your family Lucius, I wanted to speak to you about your son, Draco. He is sixteen today is he not?" Said the Dark Lord.

"Aye, sir he is." Said Lucius nervously.

"Well, he should get the mark, he will be one of our youngest Death eaters and a spy in Hogwarts as well. Yes, I have some very interesting plans that will finally rid me of that brat Potter and that meddlesome old fool as well." Said Voldemort.

"My Lord, we may have a problem with that…" said Lucius as tiny beads of sweat began to congeal on his forehead.

"What problem Lucius, your boy is bright enough, and I could use him." Said the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, Draco came into his inheritance today. As you may or may not know, Narcissa and I are both part veela. Draco has come into his inheritance as a male part veela he has transformed, into what; I do not know as of yet, we have a veela healer coming to see him. In addition, as Draco has now come into his heritage my wife has claimed him as part of the veela community; which as my lord knows, is controlled by women. Narcissa actually has great influence with the Veela Council of Elders. Draco cannot take the mark without her permission or you risk having the veela community side with Dumbledore and the light. As you well know my Lord, the veela have not chosen a side as of yet, and their power could tip the balance." Said Lucius as the sweat dripped down the sides of his face.

"You're part veela? Hmm, I suspected as much, Lucius. You are bright Lucius, one of my brightest followers, but not the brightest. You are powerful, Lucius, one of my most powerful, but not the most powerful of my followers, and yet I have always favored you, as my second. I see why that is now. You have the veela allure ability, don't you, Lucius." The Dark Lord asked.

"Yes, my Lord, but it is meager really, very small, I didn't think it could effect one as powerful as yourself. I have only ever used it in your service my Lord." Said Lucius as he began to shake.

"What other veela charms do you have Lucius?" Asked the Dark Lord.

"None, my Lord, Narcissa has the lion's share of veela power in this family though I believe her allure is as weak as my own so we cancel each other out, we are not each other true mate but we are each others number two." Said Lucius.

"Lucius, I would like you to bring your son to me." Said Voldemort.

"My Lord at the moment by son… look barely human, I don't think he could travel to you at present and then there is Narcissa." Said Lucius.

"Tell your mate that I am not requiring him to take my mark or work for me. I simply wish to see him; male veelas that have gone through a major change like what I expect your son is going through are rare. I would see him for myself, besides, maybe his true mate or number two is one or more of my Death Eaters, he would the opportunity examine a large pool of people here. Surely, your wife can't object to that, she can even come along if she wishes, though I would prefer she didn't." Said the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, after the Healer has seen Draco, and when he is approved for travel; I will inform you and will bring him to at your next earliest convenience" Said Lucius.

"Good, good. My curious is piqued; it's been a long time since that's happened. I look forward to seeing you and your son, Lucius. Ah yes, the original reason for this call.

---------------------------------

July 1st 2:00 p.m.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Professor Dumbledore sat his desk in his office going over the mail that arrived at breakfast, when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in Minerva? Lemon Drop?" Dumbledore offered.

"Yes, actually, I could use the sugar." Said Minerva as she took a couple of the sweets.

"I thought I see if you found a DADA instructor yet." Said Minerva McGonagall as she took a seat in the chair opposite Professor Dumbledore's desk.

"No, not yet, not many takers, it seems the position may actually be cursed." Said Dumbledore as he went through his mail. He reached one letter written in purple and in a fine script. He opened the letter and read it and then his crystal blue eyes twinkled. "Minerva, I think I just solved that problem we just speaking of. I think this year will be very interesting."

----------------------------------- To be continued ---------------------------------------------------

(A/N: Well that's all for now. This chapter by itself was turning into a book. It didn't go exactly how planned but hey my stories never do. My style of writing is to let the story take on a life of it's own and I just follow along. My original plan was to have this chapter end on the Hogwarts Express but as you can see that didn't happen, hell it still July 1st. Not worry thing will definitely pick up next chapter and go along a lot faster. Are you still wondering what is up with Draco? Me, too, as I said like to let the story write itself, but I do have a good idea of where this going. So I'm hoping but not guaranteeing to have the next chapter out this WEDNESDAY. Wish me luck. Oh and finally, remember to use Story Alert, it will email you when the next chapter is, and please review, thanks.)