A/N: Guys, soon the updates are going to slow down a bit. I'm not talking like, months at a time, but maybe one a week or every two weeks if I've got a ton going on (midterms or the like). I love reviews! Just thought I'd throw that in there. Thanks everyone who reviewed!

After eating breakfast together the day before, Draco and Harry had both gone their separate ways. Harry had personally spent the day thinking about the sudden turn his life had taken in the two weeks since arriving. He had decided that, although it was very different, it wasn't necessarily bad.

He no longer had an enemy at school, he had gained a – tentative - friend, and he was sure he would get used to the weekly feedings.

That brought him to the present. He was in the Great Hall once again, eating across from Draco. The difference being that this time, they hadn't come down together. At the moment, they were discussing classes.

"I don't know. I just can't seem to concentrate. I don't understand how, but it always goes wrong" Harry said, slightly embarrassed, referring to potions.

"I suppose I could help you sometime. Assuming I get something in return" Draco answered, looking up at Harry through half lidded eyes.

Draco had decided after the night he had spent in Harry's room that he wouldn't need to try as hard as he had originally thought to get Harry to fall for him. It had been somewhat of a relief to find out his growing feelings of lust for Harry had at least been reciprocated.

Of course, that didn't mean he was abandoning his plan.

Harry swallowed thickly and tried to focus his thoughts. On the one hand, he did need help with potion and he had come to appreciate Draco's company, but on the other, being alone with him for an extended period of time sent off warning sirens in his head.

All this aside from the fact that he said he would want something in return. That alone was enough to sent Harry packing. Or make him hard. Depending on how it was interpreted.

As he was weighing his options, an owl that he recognized flew out to them. It occurred to Harry that he hadn't seen an owl in all the time he'd been here. He briefly wondered why Draco wasn't in communication with anyone, but before he could think on it too much, the owl dropped the letter on his lap. He checked and saw that it was from Ron.

Harry,

Hey mate! How've you been? Haven't heard from you much lately. Everything okay? I imagine you'll be wanting to get away from those muggles so I asked mum and she says she's fine with you coming over anytime next week. How bout it? Write back and I'll see what I can do!

See you soon

-Ron

Under this, there was a note from Hermione, judging by the handwriting.

Is everything okay? Are the Dursley's being more unfair than usual and not letting Hedwig out? I see Ron's invited you to the Burrow, are you going? Please owl me back, I want to know that you're safe.

Harry smiled at all the questions Hermione had asked. So like her.

Under the smile however, he was worried. Should he tell them the truth? He didn't see how he could get around it, seeing as how Ron had invited him over and he was positive he wouldn't be able to go.

Making up his mind, he quickly excused himself from the table and a slightly confused Draco and walked slowly up to the Owlery. He didn't exactly know how he was going to answer their letters, but he knew he had to, considering how worried they were.

Once there, he reluctantly pulled out a scroll and quill and started composing a letter to both of them, saying that he was at Hogwarts, and therefore, safe. He also added that he had recently found out something very important, but that he didn't want to put it in writing.

After assuring them that it wasn't really bad, or something to be worried about, he called a school owl, Hedwig being out hunting, and tied it to its leg, sending it on its way.

Realizing that he really needed to blow off some steam after all this stress, he hurried to his dorm, grabbed his broom and opened the window. He sometimes did this at night during the year when something big had just happened or he was stressed over homework, Snape, Malfoy etc.

It being mid summer, not having had much to eat at breakfast, and it being his first real exercise in a couple weeks, he quickly got overheated and tired. While he was flying somewhere over the forbidden forest, just starting to think about heading back, it hit him that he had left Malfoy at the breakfast table. He felt inexplicably bad about this.

He knew he shouldn't. After all, the things Draco had done to him had been much worse, but he couldn't help it.

This isn't normal, he thought. I shouldn't be able to feel such compassion for someone that constantly made my life miserable up until this summer. I might need to investigate this vampire thing a little more…

On this note, he flew back up to his room, not feeling any better then when he had left, and put away the broom. Debating on whether he should go to Dumbledore or the library, he remembered how Dumbledore had mentioned emotional changed back when he had first found out that he was a vampire. That would do.

After a few minutes of guessing sweets, the gargoyle finally opened up to 'Peppermint Snaps'. He immediately saw the Headmaster sitting at his desk, seemingly waiting for him.

He always knew exactly what was going on in his school and it made Harry want to verbally wring his neck.

"Yes Harry, how may I help you?" he smiled sweetly. You already know, Harry thought bitterly, quite aware that Dumbledore just wanted him to say it.

"Well Sir, you remember you mentioned emotional changes in a vampire? I was wondering about that. What might these changes be?"

"My boy, I knew you would ask eventually," Harry glared at him. "You see, vampires all have mates; people they will be with forever once they are found. Your perspective on a lot of things will no doubt change to accommodate said being."

"WHAT!" Harry yelled. "I don't want to be tied down to someone forever!" And he really didn't.

Trying to compose himself a little, he then asked "Aren't I a little young sir? I mean, to be so… dedicated to someone?"

"Not for a vampire Harry. In fact, most vampires have found each other and consummated their bond within weeks of becoming of age. Now you on the other hand, will most likely take more time with this because the idea is so new to you, but it will eventually happen."

Harry hated this idea. While it meant he wouldn't end up alone, something he had always feared, it meant he didn't get the choice of who he spent his life with.

Without warning, a violent, horrible thought hit him.

"Sir," he hastily asked "Is my mate a vampire?"

"Not necessarily. While it can happen, your mate could also be a human." Dumbledore said, knowing what had been going through his mind. "Your mate will be someone who you are meant for. It is not the bond that will make you fall in love, it will only help you to realize it."

"But sir, I thought you said that having a mate would change my perspective on some things… What did you mean by that?"

Dumbledore hesitated. "In some cases, and I'm close to assuming yours might be one of these, the mates have had past contact, some of which might not have been…favourable to their bond. It will then change the emotional status of the mates to become more compatible. But only to the slightest degree. It simply ensures that they will put any past differences aside to allow feelings to come through. It is a slow process which is why you have only just started to feel it. It will most likely stop soon, so do not be worried."

His last comment had been very reassuring for Harry, who now knew that these feelings would soon become more normal and they wouldn't completely change who he was.

On the newly discovered subject of mates, he knew that even though he technically wouldn't have a choice, he would most likely be happy with the choice made for him.

"Yes sir, thank you." He said, not all that unhappy anymore.