Foxwitch: Sorry I haven't updated in so long. I was in Israel!

Harry stepped into a world of bleached color and muted sound. The Veela paradise of Shangri-La was both ethereal and horribly oppressive. Harry wondered how Draco was expected to live in such a sterile place for the rest of time.

Still not understanding exactly what was required to save his would-be mate, Harry headed deeper into the mass of glaring white walls and platinum blonde hair.

As Harry had expected, it didn't take long to find Draco. His connect with the Veela drew him forward and in the exact direction of Draco.

His Veela sat near a sparkling fountain. He was the picture of ethereal beauty, elegant but as disturbingly silent as his surroundings.

"Draco!" He called the other boys name unconsciously, realizing too late that he had done the one thing the Veela queen had told him not to do. And though Draco didn't spare him a glance, as though he was invisible, the other Veela surrounding him turn their startled gazes on Harry.

"Who be you?" A tale male Veela growled.

"Ummm…Harry Potter. I'm here for Draco Malfoy."

"Draco has passed into our hands. What makes you think we will give him back?"

"Please! You don't understand. It's entirely fault that he's here. I- "

"We know," the Veela boomed. "That his death was your fault. However, we are willing to make a deal with you." Scandalized whispered rippled through the previously silent audience. Harry gulped nervously at the malicious glint in the Veela's eyes.

"Y-yeah?" Harry asked.

"Your soul, Potter. You soul for his."

Harry felt the color drain from his face. He had expected to put his life on the line but the actually choose between his own life and Malfoy's. Harry took a deep breath. He knew what he had to do. He had done Draco wrong and he had uncovered strong hidden feelings for the other boy.

"Fine," he said. The maliciousness melted from the Veela's eyes and he gave Harry a sad smile of understanding.

"You are a brave man, Harry Potter." The Veela reached out his hand and Harry could feel the life draining from his body.

Draco jolted up in bed. He had just had the strangest dream.

"Draco!"

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Don't you remember," his mother questioned. He shook his head, looking curiously at the tears glinting with tears.

"No, the last thing I remember is tell Harry that he's my mate and him…rejecting me…" His mother nodded and she gave his father a sad glance.

"Yes Draco, Potter rejected you. For the last few days your soul as resided in Shangri-La." Draco shook his head disbelievingly at his mother.

"I don't understand. If I was dead, then why am I here now?" He could feel the fear rising in his chest. Something bad had happened, he just knew it.

"Potter went to retrieve your soul from death." Draco laughed, not really sure what he found so funny.

"You're lying," He laughed. "That would mean…" His mother nodded cautiously, as though she were afraid for her son's sanity.

"Draco, I'm so sorry."

"NO!" He leaped to his feet, tearing across the hospital wind to where Harry's soulless body lay. He started shaking the other boy's shoulders roughly. "Wake up, damnit. Wake UP!"

Tears were streaming from his eyes and his whole body was raked with violent sobs.

"Draco, stop it." His mother pleaded.

"Draco?" came a faint voice fro behind him. The Slytherin Veela whipped around frantically to stare into the shining emerald eyes of his mate.

"Harry? Oh gawd, I thought you were dead."

"Yeah, so did I."

"Then why-"

"It's quite simple, young ones." The Veela queen said from where she had been standing off to the side. They both looked at her with wide, curious gazes.

"The lord of Shangri-La can not take the life of one willing to sacrifice themselves for their mate. To do so would go against everything Veela stand for.

Draco and Harry both looked so relieved that they both might have burst into tears right then.

Harry and Draco stood in front of the Slytherin common room. Both glanced awkwardly at each other.

"So," Harry said. Draco cleared his throat lightly, toeing the ground nervously.

"Listen, Draco, I'm so sorry about rejecting you. I didn't know –"

Harry found himself unable to finish his sentence due to Draco's lips pressed against his own. At first he stood stiffly with Draco's lips against his but he quickly melted into the kiss. Cautiously, he slipped his tongue out to probe tentatively at Draco's mouth. Draco moaned lightly, parting his lips for his intended. Harry's tongue skimmed across the roof of his mouth, exploring every inch, before finally meeting Draco's tongue. Both battled for dominance briefly but Harry won out quickly and Draco melted into his arms with another breathy moan. Unfortunately, both were running short on air. Parting, Draco smiled cheekily at Harry, winked, and then turned back to the Slytherin common's entrance and whispered the password.

As the door closed behind Draco, Harry ran his hand through his hair, smiled lightly to himself and made his way back to Gryffindor tower.