The next morning Harry, Sirius and Remus were sat in the library surrounded by dusty old tomes on Veela, Fae and Elves after discovering that the three magical creatures were quite closely related. Sirius had been mumbling to himself about a crick in his neck for five minutes before Remus suggested they take a break.
"So, Harry, have you found anything else that is going to affect you?" Remus asked the young Veela.
"Yes," Harry grumbled, "And I don't like it. It turns out that the Mating Season for Veela coincides with the beginning of Quidditch Season and, because of the behaviour of the Veela during this time, they aren't allowed to play."
"Behaviour?" Sirius asked.
"The dominant males will be Displaying to attract the submissive males and to warn off any other dominant males. It means that they will be pulling dangerous stunts that might endanger themselves or other players and they might call up their wings, which are a flying aid, and so will face disqualification." Harry answered. "Dark Veela are more on edge and so if a bludger comes flying towards them, they might call up their wings to protect themselves and the Light Veela males, seeing the Dark Veela in trouble, might attack the beater."
"But when Mating Season is over, can you rejoin the team?" Remus asked.
"It didn't say, so I'm thinking it depends upon the officials involved. If its McGonagall then I won't have a problem but if it's Snape then I may as well kiss the golden snitch goodbye." Harry said sourly.
"I'm sure we can come to some kind of agreement with Severus, Firstly about Potions, then Quidditch." Remus said sternly.
"I'd rather not." Harry confessed, making Sirius giggle. "I don't want to do Potions."
"What line of work are you planning on entering?" Remus asked.
"I don't know." Harry admitted. "I would like to do something that involves caring for creatures. I did want to be an auror but I've recently lost my appetite. According to that book it's because of my Dark Veela nature because I am the one who is supposed to be protected, it is the Light Veela who are the soldiers. I'd like to be a healer as well I suppose. I don't know."
"Let's do this the old fashioned way." Sirius announced. "Okay, Harry, I'm going to give you a list of alternatives and you have to pick one that you enjoy more or that works best for you. Understand?"
Harry nodded.
"Okay. Outdoors or indoors?"
"Outdoors."
"Animals or people?"
"Animals."
"Plants or people?"
"Plants."
"Tracking or hiding?"
"Tracking."
"Hunting or protecting?"
"Protecting."
"Determination or defeat?"
"Determination."
"Bitter end or retreat?"
"Retreat, but come back."
"Instincts or tactics?"
"Instincts."
"Tactics or guidelines?"
"Tactics."
"Group work or individual?"
Harry paused for a moments. "Could I have both?"
"On that one I suppose I'll allow it. Leader or battalion member?"
"Makes it sound like I'm going out to war," Harry giggled, "Member."
"Travel or fixed location?"
"Travel."
"I think we have a winner!" Sirius laughed. "You sound like a Ranger to me. They are independent of the ministry and have no official leader. They tend to go alone or in small groups around areas in the magical world that are thick with magical creatures. They are excellent warriors who help to strengthen the defence and attack for vulnerable creatures like Unicorns and vulnerable plants that are widely hunted. Unfortunately, the Rangers don't accept those into their ranks who have anything lower than Outstanding in their Potions NEWT."
Harry groaned. "Alright! But I swear I failed my Potions OWL. Snape was glaring viciously at me and wrote something down that was oddly like a nought on the examinations paper."
Sirius and Remus stared at Harry. Remus grinned and ruffled Harry's hair. "Harry, the exams aren't marked in numbers but in letters. O for Outstanding, E for Exceeds Expectations, A for Acceptable, P for Poor and T for Troll. If Severus did write an 'O' on your paper then you got Outstanding!"
"It looked like an O, Moony; I don't know if it was one." Harry said.
"Well, alright killjoy," Sirius laughed, "We'll know tomorrow anyway, pup."
Harry smiled and stretched. "Remus, how am I supposed to call my wings out? My shoulders feel odd, a bit like my shoulder blades need to crack."
Remus frowned and stood behind Harry, massaging the teen's shoulders lightly. "Remove your shirt, Harry." He instructed. He noticed the redness and felt the tenseness under his hands.
"If my assumption is correct," Sirius began, "Your wings will grow through slowly. I vaguely remember Lucius talking about it to Narcissa, as they are a bit older than me. I think Lucius was sixteen when I was ten or something like that. Any who, the wings now are just a small cluster of energy in each shoulder blade. They're starting to affect your body and change it so it learns to grow the wings. They will grow slowly and it will be painful and sore but when they get to be as long as your arms you'll be able to hide them. Until then you'll have to find another Veela who can cast an illusionment charm on them."
"Your ability in things like Charms and Transfiguration will increase exponentially." Remus explained. "Veela, Fae and Elves are naturally more in tune with their magic. Your Transfiguration will cease to be an illusion; it will change to Transmutation, something that only Masters are usually able to do. Your charms will be stronger and far harder to break, counter or see through. Your Glamours, which you will place on your wings, will be powerful enough to withstand magical detection, they will be invisible and intangible and not even Moody's Eye could see them. "
"I can't wait to see Hermione's face when I'm suddenly fantastic at Charms and Transfiguration. She will be so jealous!" Harry laughed.
"What's more is that you'll be able to do wandless and wordless magic fairly easily and the Ministry will have a game finding out where it's from; it's untraceable." Sirius said excitedly.
Harry grinned. "Pranks on the Minister? Almost makes me wish the 'High Inquisitor' were still present. I should like to do a few nasty things to her." Harry grumbled, rubbing the top of his right hand.
Remus and Sirius shared a sad look before embracing the Dark Veela who was lost in thought.
"Do you want to practice your Charms and Transfiguration? We can measure how much they have changed." Remus suggested.
"Do your Patronus Harry!"
"Wandless and wordless?" Harry asked.
Remus shrugged. "Try it. I doubt you'll do it first time but it's worth a go."
Harry stood up and breathed slowly. He immersed himself in the good memories and good feelings from the day before. He smiled and marvelled at how good he felt as his heart overflowed. He thought of the stag and felt power awaken inside of him, rush to his fingers and burst out of him.
Sirius grinned as a corporeal white stag materialised in front of Harry. He watched, fascinated, as the stag stepped forward and shook his head, snuffling and looking around curiously. It was alive, Sirius realised, and it had a personality and complexities as a living thinking being… it was more than the programmed version ordinary people churned out because it had focus on things other than inherently Evil beings or threats to the caster.
"Prongs…" Sirius whispered.
The magnificent beast turned to Sirius and cocked its head to the side just like Sirius had seen James do in both his animagus form and his human form many times before.
"Prongs really rides again." Remus gasped.
He stood and reached his hand out to touch the beautiful creature. His hand came into contact with the soft fur of the animal and it did not burn but felt warm and comforting. He ran his hands over the face and neck of the stag and watched in awe as the stag reacted to the touch by leaning into the caresses.
"Harry, come here." Sirius stood and held out his hand to his Godson. "This truly is your father. Your Patronus form isn't just in your father's image; it is in your father's spirit. I highly doubt he can rearrange himself into a human image, but he understands us just fine."
"You mean it's like he's really here?" Harry asked.
"Lily wasn't the only one who died for you, Harry." Remus answered. "She left her mark with the protection in your blood. But it seems to me that your father left his with a protection on your soul. This is what has caused you to instinctively know your father, because he is still here inside of you, more in you than in anyone else."
Harry stepped forward and stroked the stag's cheek, smiling and sniggering a little to himself when the stag reacted. He fondled his 'father's' ears and ran his finger lightly over his nose once giggling when his 'father' sneezed.
"Sirius? Remus? I'm feeling a little bit tired." Harry said, feeling a wave of dizziness come over him.
"It's because you haven't yet allowed Prongs to be free of your magic, Pronglet, so his existence is draining you. Just relax and feel for the bonds between you both and snap them." Sirius said, using his mind magics to help guide Harry to his core.
Harry relaxed when he felt the bonds break but kept his eyes closed, not daring to open them in case the stag had disappeared. However, a soft bray reached his ears and he felt himself grin widely.
"How long will you stay for?" Harry asked James, not really expecting an answer.
"Your magic in him should hold out for a good while yet. Enjoy your time together, Pronglet and Prongs. We'll be in the kitchen making dinner." Sirius and Remus left the two Potters in the room alone together.
Harry fell to his knees on the floor, startling the hell out of the stag, and began to cry softly. He lifted his face as the stag nuzzled him and sighed sadly as the stag licked the tears from his face.
"It's alright. I'm sorry. I'm just so happy." Harry said.
The stag tilted its head to the side and it seemed to Harry that it smirked.
"I've always wanted to know something about death." Harry said, not caring if the stag could really understand or not. "I've always wondered if those that have died and passed on into death can see their loved ones and watch over them."
The stag nodded and snuffled Harry's hair.
"You can? Good. Then I'd like to say that I'm sorry for all the times you've been disappointed in me, that I'm fine, for all the times you've seen me hurt, shut up, for all the times you've laughed at me for doing or saying something stupid and, most importantly, that I love you. I love you and mum. Thank you for everything you have done for me. Oh, and say hello to Cedric for me."
The stag brayed a laugh and awkwardly lay down on the floor beside the boy. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the child's shoulder, carefully angling himself so that he didn't hurt Harry with his antlers; he breathed a soft unintelligible whisper as the Dark Veela fell into sleep.
Remus walked back into the library carrying a tray of sandwiches, followed by Sirius with a tray of drinks and a dish of water for the stag. They smiled when they saw the father and son lying on the floor together, snoozing in the sunlight that came in through the window. Remus walked forward and gently touched the white stag on his head to get his attention.
"How long do you think you have left, my friend?" Remus asked him quietly.
The stag brayed sadly. Not long. Not long at all.
"Should we wake Harry? He might be upset if you don't say goodbye." Remus said.
"And he might be devastated if he watches the closest thing to his father fade out of existence. No, better leave him and remind him that he can call you back." Sirius suggested. "Oi, Jim, Snape's a bleeding teacher at Hogwarts."
Prongs snorted and shook his head in disgust. He leaned towards Harry and nuzzled his hair before looking back at Sirius and tilting his head slightly.
"Yeah, Snape bullies him. Pretty badly actually. Poor Harry, he must have been very confused when he first got there and there was suddenly this teacher who always wanted to rip off his head and shit down his neck at any given opportunity." Sirius said, sitting down and biting into a sandwich.
"You don't mince your words, do you Paddy?" Remus smirked. "He's alright though, James, he has McGonagall looking out for him. And the Weasleys. What do you think of the new batch, by the way?"
Prongs brayed softly twice, snorted once in disgust, snorted twice in amusement and then twitched his lip and finally brayed softly once more.
"So you like Bill, Charlie and Ginny, you think Percy is a right twat, you absolutely adore the Weasley twins and you're unsure what to think of Ron." Sirius translated. "I know the feeling. Sometimes the kid's alright, but then other times he upsets Harry with his jealousy and his bluntness. I think it's because they lack things in common; Ron's a decent chess player, Harry can't play at all (just like you, Jim, actually), Ron likes to follow sports avidly whilst Harry prefers playing, Ron likes to milk things and get a lot of attention from them whilst Harry just wants to fade into the background (like Lily, oddly enough) and Ron wants to know everything about his friends so that there's no privacy but Harry wants his space and often downplays a lot of his fears and troubles so he doesn't upset his friends but they give him grief for it."
"I'm worried about Dumbledore." Remus confessed. "He's getting too controlling over Harry, trying to play him like a chess pawn. He stuck Harry with the Dursleys, which I'm sure you've seen the results of and know more of it than we do. Harry told me once that in his second year he wanted to stay over at Hogwarts for the summer, which has actually been done in Cornelius Fudge's case when he got held back and had to redo his third year, but Dumbledore denied Harry although knowing full well that Harry was abused."
"I wish I could get legal custody of him." Sirius said whilst twitching James' ear between his fingers, "But I have to wait a whole year since my name clearance before I can. True enough, it's only another eleven months but its eleven months too long. Harry goes back to school in two weeks and spends ten months at school so that leaves two weeks with the Dursleys where Harry will be mistreated."
Prongs nosed Harry's hair one last time before standing slowly, allowing Remus to gently and slowly pry Harry from the stag whose time was now up. James stood and with one lingering look at his best friends he faded and dimmed to a translucent dull white and then slowly into nothing.
When Harry awoke sometime later he was lying across a sofa with his head in Sirius' lap whilst Sirius sipped on whiskey and stared into the fireplace intently.
"Remus has gone out." He said without looking down to check that Harry was up. "He's gone to see Severus about the Wolfsbane and getting it delivered."
"How long has he been gone?" Harry asked sleepily.
"Ten minutes."
Harry suppressed a giggle. Remus had been gone ten minutes and already Sirius was getting stormy and worried. He looked around and sighed morosely when he could see no sign of a white stag.
"He'll be back. Not even death can keep James away from seeing his child. He's always been like that. Retreat, but come back." Sirius said whilst running a hand through Harry's hair.
"Remus will be too." Harry smiled. "Remus is a lot more stubborn and resilient than he looks."
Sirius smiled. "Too many people underestimate him."
"We don't." Harry said. "And he knows that. And as long as he knows that we don't underestimate him then he will be fine."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The rest of Harry's time at Lupin Cove was spent harnessing and developing his Veela senses and skills, exploring new areas of study and perfecting the old and completing his Animagus Transformation, turning into a young buck stag, earning him the nickname Bambi from Sirius and Remus which Remus elongated to Bambolini which is Latin for doll.
Harry's Potions skills, with the help of Sirius and Remus, had increased exponentially and it seemed to them that Harry worked best in Potions without any distraction from the hustle and bustle which was usually found in classrooms. He was able to brew the Potions and recite the theories of Potions well above NEWT level, which pleased Sirius to no end and caused him to gloat about being a better teacher than Snape.
Harry had summoned James several times; once to show James his animagus form, once on the Full Moon so it could be as close to old times for Moony as they could get it, once on James' birthday where they showered him with gifts and attention and finally on the night before Harry left for school.
"James is staying for much longer, see? He's been here sixteen hours already. Harry, you are well on your way to becoming a Master at Charms and Transfiguration." Remus said, delighting in the way that Harry now shined under praise instead of blushing madly beneath it.
"And Potions, you're really getting there with Potions now. And we all know you're destined for a Mastery in Defence, especially now with some basic physical combat beneath your belt." Sirius beamed,
James brayed in agreement and snuffled Harry's head, which was about three inches up his, James', neck with Harry in his animagus form.
Harry was unable to sleep. He was nervous about leaving his Godfathers and terrified at the prospect of school and finding a Mate. He had been completely baffled at first as to why he was such a state when he had been rather calm in his first year but he put it down to his Veela Inheritance.
It was five in the morning, four hours before he had to go and meet his friends in the Leaky Cauldron and the three father figures of Harry Potter were beginning to get very worried. They didn't want Harry to fall asleep during the welcoming feast or on the train. Sirius had considered a mild sleeping potion just to get him to rest for a few hours before they left but then realised that sometimes no sleep at all is less exhausting than too little sleep.
"I hope you're not crabby later." Sirius said.
Harry transformed back from his animagus form and scowled at Sirius before transforming back into his animagus form, snorting disgustedly and hiding behind his father's legs.
"Why don't you sleep a bit now and sleep a bit more on the train?" Remus suggested.
Harry shook his head and pressed himself against the large form of Prongs and brayed loudly in protest.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Meanwhile, over at Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, the Lord and Lady Malfoy were having similar problems trying to coax their son into sleep. They were exhausted and exasperated as they watched the Malfoy heir work up a storm in a tirade, its components of anticipation and uneasiness.
"Mother, father, will you please make the House Elves check that everything is packed again? I have a horrid feeling I've misplaced something."
"They have checked, my dear, and what's more, I have checked, you do not think I would miss anything important to you, do you, my Dragon?" Narcissa cooed sweetly, smirking as her son went into another flap.
"Of course not, mother! I just- I feel-"
"You feel lost, my child," Lucius supplied, "You are as a white cloud amidst a black storm. It is because you are not around potential Threats and potential Mates. Your Veela senses are screaming at you that you are in the wrong place, that you should leave the safety of your Nest and throw yourself into battle for the best potential Mate you can find."
"Yes! Let's do that!" Draco cheered, feeling chipper once more and heading to an open window that looked out upon the grounds of Malfoy Manor.
Narcissa had to bite back the giggle that threatened to flow from her lips as her son braced himself for flight with his four inch wings.
"Wait." Draco suddenly said to himself, logic kicking in moments before instinct would have thrown him out the window for a long drop and a quick stop. "What am I doing? The stairs!"
"Or not." Lucius offered, smirking widely as he steered his son towards the bedroom with a firm hand. "You must be patient, my Dragon. A Malfoy will have no less than the best, and as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is the very finest you shall wait until the beginning of term before finding your Submissive. I would like for you to pick only out of the crème of the crop, which is to say, do not allow yourself to bed a non-Veela, non-Elf, non-Fae or non-Nymph."
"But father, female Veela are sickening and Dark Veela are very rare, what if there are no Dark Veela at Hogwarts?" Draco protested. "As for the others, there are none of them at Hogwarts either. Almost the entire school is made up of Mud- er, Muggleborns."
Narcissa did not bat an eye lid at the mistake.
"There is one Dark Veela, my Dragon. He came into his Inheritance during the holidays and to my knowledge he is the only one. That is why I have pushed you so hard, My Dragon, because of Theodore Nott's Veela blood, Blaise Zabini's Vampire blood and because of Seamus Finnegan's Fae blood. They are all Dominant and will kill you to get to the Dark Veela.
"The Dark Veela in question is Harry Potter. He came into his Inheritance a few weeks ago and is unaware as to the four who will fight to the death to Mate him. If you must assist anyone, My Dragon, assist the Fae or the Veela. You know it is not in our nature to hurt our Mates, so Theodore's family can be persuaded to aid the Dark one and Finnegan is unlikely to hurt his Mate, considering who it is. But Blaise could become a major problem.
"As a Vampire he is gifted with unnatural speed, strength and stamina. He will be difficult for you to fight off but I have faith in you. You are far more resourceful than Zabini and your physical training has become such that you can match him, but you must not drag it out with him or he will best you." Lucius said, stressing the importance of Draco's attention
"Do not worry about Blaise, father, I am more focused than he is and I know of a few tricks to cut his Vampire oddities down to an ordinary level. All is fair in love and war, and this is both, so the saying goes double here." Draco replied, now determined to get to Harry. He began to go over a list of Potions and Spells in his mind. "When can I make my move for Potter?"
"After Halloween." Narcissa answered. "Before then you must Display yourself, try and get closer to Harry and perhaps approach Theodore and Seamus about Blaise. Do exceptionally well in your studies and be sure to get intimately involved with those with big mouths."
"If they talk, my Dragon, and Harry hears of your sexual exploits and your skill in that area then he will be likely to hold you in favour." Lucius explained.
"I need to plan." Draco announced. "Where's my owl? I'll owl Granger and ask her about Potter. I'll… no, I'll wait until School. If I owl her now she'll think it's some envoy from the Dark Lord or something. I shall make her my accomplice and then make alliances with the Veela and the Fae on the sly and set them up against Blaise, then I'll faze the Fae out entirely and battle it out with Nott and then beat him and then Mate with the Dark Veela.
"No, no, that's far too obvious." Draco mused. "I'll work spontaneously. No need to be predictable and give myself away."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
At the Leaky Cauldron the next morning at nine, Tom had served the company of eleven their respective drinks and had watched from his perch behind the bar as they chatted amicably and thrived in each other's company. He peered curiously at the young man who had rented a room at his inn only two years ago. He marvelled at how the boy had grown; Harry had grown taller, if only by a few inches, and had kept his slender figure, he still retained a pallid ethereality about his skin though his lips, which were now fuller, had garnered a soft rose-pink hue.
Tom had been surprised when Harry had walked in without his glasses on, and was happily informed by Harry himself that Harry had brewed an eye-sight corrective Potion and it had worked splendidly. Tom had in turn congratulated Harry on his success and had commented on how he could really see the dazzling emerald now more than ever. Tom had chuckled to himself when Harry had preened under that praise.
An hour passed quickly in busy times at the Leaky Cauldron inn and Tom watched sadly as the fellowship of adults and children strolled out onto the High Street towards Kings Cross Station where they would be catching their train and be gone for almost another year.
Harry cuddled into the double embrace of his two Godfathers and repressed the tears that were threatening to fall. He did not want to leave the two men now, not after such a wonderful summer. He felt Ron's hand land on his shoulder and tug him from the comfort he was wrapped in.
"But I don't want to go." Harry whined.
Ron smirked. "You don't, mate, but I do, I can't stand another moment of 'remember your suitcase, Ronald. Do well in your lessons, Ronald. I wish you'd got more than an A in Potions, Ronald. Honestly, Ronald, a Troll in Divination? Divination is simple! Stay out of trouble, young man.'" Ron scoffed, mimicking his mother's voice.
Harry forced a smile and turned to his Godfathers, giving them one last hug before scrambling onto the train and into their compartment and pressing himself against the window.
"I'll miss you. Make sure you write to me! Remus, keep Sirius away from trouble. Sirius, make sure Remus lets loose every now and then. Come to Hogsmeade when we go!"
"We will, Bambi." Sirius and Remus chorused together.
"Stop calling me that!" Harry whined.
The two men laughed and waved as the train rolled away.
Harry slumped down in his seat and fussed Hedwig through her cage. He seriously considered conjuring Prongs, but he felt it to be a private thing that he didn't want his friends to share in just yet.
"Bambi?" Ron asked, outraged.
"Short for Bambolini, it means Doll. They began calling it me ever since Bill made that comment on my birthday about me looking like a female porcelain figure." Harry grumbled as he lied. He had also decided that he didn't want to share his Animagus form with his friends yet as that was a little secret between himself and the remaining Marauders. His form and name were his birthright and two of the only things that linked him closely with his father. He may have been selfish in hiding it but it was his choice after all.
Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna laughed out loud and began to tease Harry mercilessly until Hermione cut in with her change of subject.
"Did you all finish your homework?"
Harry shot her a grateful look. "Yeah, I finished mine a few weeks ago. It wasn't too difficult really, I expected much worse. Sirius would help me sometimes but Remus outright refused, he just pointed me to helpful books."
Hermione beamed at Harry. "How did you manage the grade five Healing Potion? Did you find it alright?"
"Yeah, actually, I guess it was just the class distracting me before, I can brew fine on my own. What did you think of the Transfiguration? I thought it was dead easy, I was actually disappointed in McGonagall for it." Harry giggled.
"I got it after the first few tries. Can I see your notes?"
"They're in my trunk." Harry said sadly. "What about you four?"
"I finished all mine, did the Potion last week. Ron didn't even start his." Ginny said smugly.
"Ginny!" Ron hissed his neck and ears turning red. "I was busy."
"Yes, busy fawning over letters from your friends and your posters of the Chudley Cannons." Ginny giggled.
"Anyway, we don't have to do Potions," Ron said, gesturing between him and Harry, "We were smart enough to fail it to save us from Snape. I'm going through in Charms, Defence, Care of Magical Creatures and I'm going to try and convince McGonagall to let me into her class, I did get an E after all."
"If she doesn't let you in, you'll only have three NEWTs scores." Luna said.
"I know that." Ron said indignantly.
"I finished all my homework except for Snape's. I didn't get an O so he won't let me in. I got an A in History and I got an O in Herbology, Defence, Care of Magical Creatures and Charms though. I don't want to take Potions and Transfiguration forward, so I'll be just fine with what I have." Neville said. "I even got a distinction in my Herbology."
"Oh, well done Neville!" Hermione praised him. "What about you Harry? What did you get? I got straight O's, but I'm dropping Astronomy, I think."
"I got an E in Divination and an E in History and Astronomy, O's in Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Creatures and Herbology and I got an O in Defence with two distinctions." Harry recited, reddening slightly at the gaping expressions on his friends' faces. "I've decided to take Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defence, Creatures and Transfiguration forward."
"You actually passed Potions?" Ron said disbelievingly.
Harry nodded and produced his papers for his friends to look at.
"Oh no, Harry, I'm losing you!" Ron wailed dramatically. "Come back to the light!"
Harry giggled and shrugged. "It will get me where I want to go, so I'm not concerned. Oh, and I'm dropping Quidditch. I got the captaincy but I'm relinquishing it to you, Ron, after I make you permanent Keeper and Ginny permanent Seeker."
"Harry, why?" Hermione asked, dumbfounded. "You love flying!"
"I do." Harry agreed. "And I'm still going to fly, and I'll probably be working one on one with Ginny to help her get some specialised training in but as it is I have too much to do so I could do without it really."
"And you came into your Inheritance." Luna said.
Harry couldn't help but smirk. "Yeah, and that. How do you know?"
"I am an aura reader. I knew something was going on when it was your birthday but it was too fuzzy for me to tell. Now I know what you are, but I shan't say, it's up to you who to tell and when, if at all."
"What are you, Harry?" Ron asked, excitedly.
"I'll tell you later, it's too crowded on the train, anyone could be listening in."
The Welcoming Feast was spectacular. Harry had to giggle at the First Years who were so small and excited and terrified. He looked up to the Head Table and saw Snape looking as sour as ever, Hagrid was rosy-cheeked and laughing as always, Minerva was poised as usual and Dumbledore was twinkling still. He noticed a new teacher. A fat, balding man in Slytherin Green robes who was calculating the entire room as he surveyed it. Harry wasn't sure whether to take an instant liking or an instant disliking to this man.
"Is that the new Defence teacher?" Ron asked.
"No." Harry answered quickly. "He's fat. No real Defence teachers are fat, Umbridge doesn't count, and he won't be like her. Dumbledore goes from one extreme to the other so he would have picked an active person."
"Then who is our teacher this time around?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know." Harry answered.
"Well, as long as it's not Snape, I don't care." Ron said, biting into a leg of chicken.
It was in the dormitory that night that Harry first had chance to lay eyes on Seamus. He felt the pull instantly. It was the same pull as the one where he had seen Draco in Diagon Alley on his birthday.
"Dark Veela."
"Fae."
"Well, that's solved two mysteries of this night then. You two aren't mortal enemies who will kill each other, are you?" Dean asked nervously.
"No," Seamus answered, "But we'll be doing something else that might make you wish one of us died so you'd get a decent night's sleep."
"Or not." Harry said, purposefully rebelling against the actions that the dominant Fae expected of him. "There are others who you need to get through first. And, with other Veela around, it is not in my nature to fall beneath the Fae first."
"Someone is already in your favour then?" Seamus asked, circling the Dark Veela.
"Perhaps." Harry smiled and made his way over to his bed. "Our seasons start together, yes?"
"Yes."
"I need to speak to McGonagall."
"Go in the morning, Harry," Hermione said from the doorway, having watched the whole action with Ginny. "Right now, you're both going to talk to us and tell us about yourselves, as we clearly do not know you as well as we thought. I never thought you'd be a dark creature Harry."
"Dark as in colouring, not in nature, Hermione. And I only found out on my birthday." Harry said. "Sit down, you two."
Hermione and Ginny sat on Neville's bed with the other occupants of the room, minus Seamus and Harry.
"Me first, you second." Harry said to the Fae, knowing that too would tick him off. "Okay, basically, a Dark Veela is a submissive male Veela. There is a tale that tells of how the Dark Veela first came to be." As Harry recited the tale he edged away from the Fae, slowly coming to sit on Neville's bed next to Ginny.
"So you're submissive, gentle and protective, not evil, violent and unruly?" Hermione asked, continuing when Harry nodded his assent. "And you are darkly coloured, what with the hair and whatnot, but you are not in the slightest bit evil? Good."
"The Fae," Seamus began, "Are the cousins to the Veela, distantly, of course. We are the elemental opposites to our Elven cousins; they are earth and water and we are fire and air. The Veela are individuals in that area. The Fae are very dominant creatures and do not take well to disobedience and disrespect." Seamus snarled, glaring at Harry whilst Harry just preened under the attention. "Like the male Veela we only Mate one time. Once we find our Mate, that's it, no more searching or one night stands or anything.
However, unlike the Veela we can be petty and cruel to our Mates and will be if said Mate doesn't behave himself. We are easily angered and it is quite common in our species for our Mates to anger us so badly that we end up killing them and then the Bond drives us mad and makes us kill ourselves."
"The Fae," Harry said, "Are also known to be Schizophrenic."
Seamus scowled at Harry as Hermione, Ginny and Dean laughed.
"Be silent, submissive." Seamus snarled.
"No!" Harry chirruped, grinning. "I shall stop speaking as and when it pleases me and I shall start again as I like too. Fae or not, Dominant or not, I will not let you control me. Try it, and you'll find out exactly why Voldemort fears me."
"Why do you resist your nature?" Seamus asked, going red in the face with anger.
"I don't." Harry answered. "I have seen a Light Veela male who caught my attention and holds my favour, regardless of anything before this term. His species alone is enough for me to favour him above you, but he is more dominant and he shows it well, and I know that if I do become his Mate I will be well looked after for the rest of my days."
Seamus growled loudly and stalked over to his bed. He drew the curtains shut and drank down a vial of a potent Sleeping Potion.
"I wonder what happened to him over the summer to cause him to be like this." Dean mused worriedly.
"It's his Inheritance. The Fae are naturally short tempered, but right now, being close to a potential Mate so near to the start of Mating Season is enough to get his hackles raised. That I am in a way rebelling against him only adds fuel to the fire." Harry explained. "It's odd how your Inheritance alters you. He won't be the only one, either."
"Who else is there?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know all of them yet," Harry confessed, "But there is one who I'm certain of, a Light Veela in Slytherin, he holds my favour at the moment. There was another Light Veela scent that I caught and a darker, more foreboding scent that I don't recognise; all coming from the Slytherin House."
"This might be dangerous for you, mightn't it?" Hermione asked. "Surrounded by potentially dangerous creatures vying for a place in your bed, they might kill one another to get to you, they might kill an unsuspecting student and, if when the Mating Season is over and you are Mated to one and there is another of the four who lives… This other might kill you both."
Harry nodded. "Such is life, I'm afraid." He smiled and stood, hugging his friends one by one until there were none and then headed to his bed to get a decent night's sleep after putting up several anti-Fae wards that he knew of, vowing to do more research in that area when he got chance.