Thank you to ALL who read and review.
Thank you to my BETA's: Merlin, GoldenSunnyGrl, Malombra.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. belong to JKR. I am not JKR. Therefore, Harry Potter and Co. are just here for me to play with. And I do so love to play…
Pairing: Harry/Draco so this is SLASH.
No MPREG in this story though it is IMPLIED that it happens in the future. If, by some odd reason, I change my mind, I do apologize now.
Also, Blaise Zabini is a girl in this story of mine. I know that in book 6, JKR finally reveals the gender of Blaise, but this was started before book 6 and anyways, I am not JKR so anything, ANYTHING, I write here is AU.
MY STORY IS AU.
Harry's thoughts are going to be in brackets: …….. and italics.
ENJOY!
CHAPTER TEN
HISTORY OF VEELAS cont.
The History of the Veelan Race is one steeped in mystery and quite a lot of blood-shed. From civilly motivated racial wars to coups, the Veela's have had more than their share of loss. Through the interbreeding of the many species, it is thought that there will soon be only one race left on the Planet. It is unknown how many years must pass before this happens. To keep the ruling families as pure as possible, some families are beginning to use darker means to insure that the mates of their children are powerful.
What effect will this have on generations to come?
Excerpt from : Veelan History
By: Lord Rias Malvolio
Information courtesy of The Hogwart's Library
anno domini merlin 1916.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Harry wasn't actually unconscious. Though he had lost a considerable amount of blood, that in itself wasn't enough to keep him under for very long, he was too powerful. The pounding in his head and the shaking in his arms and legs had been an annoyance and had distracted him for a few moments. By the time he had gotten himself under control there were too many people in his room to be comfortable with.
So, he played dead er….unconscious. And he listened.
Draco was ecstatic to see that Harry was awake. When he heard his mate whisper his name without any anger and loathing clear in his voice, the Veela in him started jumping for joy. The Human side of him, always the pessimist, snorted, Harry had lost a lot of blood and that was probably why his voice sounded so soft and full of something that made Draco shake and yearn for him. Draco's Veela side told his Human side to shut it before he beat it down with a sharp instrument.
Draco leaned over the side of the bed and ran a shaking finger over Harry's cheek. "Please…please be okay. Alona wake up for me."
It took everything Harry had to stop the shiver Draco's low and sexy whispered plea was giving him, not to mention that barely there touch of his finger on his cheek. He could hear the desperation, fear, and dare he say it-love, in Draco's voice. It made him want to open his eyes and pull him down for a gentle but I-own-you-till-the-day-we-die-toes-curling-ohmygoddess-kiss. Only the fact that there were obviously others in the room coupled with his general weakness and his uncertainty of whether or not he was that gay had Harry hesitating and deciding to remain 'unconscious'.
I think this is the first time, since the day I met him, that he has touched me without anger in the action. Why?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Draco scrambled up to stand beside Harry's bed when he noticed the others in the room, Harry's hand still clutched tightly in his own. He felt his face flame as he met the laughing eyes of his best friend. He acknowledged her amusement with only a raised eyebrow before turning his attention to the Medi-witch that was trying to push him away from Harry's side. He didn't even attempt to stop the growl his Veela side released as she reached out to touch his mate.
"Draco." His father's even voice carried well in the room and gave him enough control to stop the snarl but not enough to move away as she continued to push at him.
"Stop." Draco snapped at the witch, "I stay here or you leave. Understand?"
"Mr. Malfoy, I need you to let go of him." Pomfrey's voice was soft and understanding but filled with exasperation.
Draco flushed but still held on to Harry's hand, this time pulling it so he could rest their joined hand on his chest right over his heart. "I can't." He whispered.
He's holding my hand. Why does that feel so good? It shouldn't, should it? Harry wasn't surprised when he got no answer to his question. It DID feel good and right now, the way he felt, good was ...good. Why do I like him holding my hand...I detest him...don't I?
Pomfrey hesitated but then nodded her head. "I can do all but one diagnostic with you touching him but you will have to let go for that one."
"I-" His hesitation and apprehension clear, Draco sighed and then shook his head no
"Draco," Sin was able to keep the amusement out of her voice by sheer force of will, "you must. You do not have to go far."
Draco nodded but said nothing, he kept his eyes on Harry trying to wish his bedine awake by sheer force of will. With his free hand he motioned for the Medi-witch to get on with her work.
Oh! That was actually sweet!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Snape stared at the two young boys in disgust. Not because Draco's mate was another male but because it was Harry bloody Potter! How he despised that boy! He knew he wasn't a very nice man, and he liked it that way. Bitterness was a way of life for him now and in this one aspect, Harry Bleeding Bloody Potter, he would never change. He hated the boy with a passion he had only reserved for one other, James Potter. He felt justified in making the son just as miserable as the father had made him.
"Already going downhill, I see." Snape murmured too softly for anyone to hear.
Or so he thought.
"How dare you!" Pansy hissed.
"Ms. Parkinson, I assure yo-" Snape said as he stared down his long beakish nose at his student.
"And I assure you that one whisper of your hatred for that young man and my son will tear you limb from limb." Lucius voice was so cold there could have been icicles forming nearby. "Do not give me reason to mention it."
Thank you partner!
"Tell Draco." Pansy said sharply as she watched her Head of House. "Maybe then the Professor can grow up and stop acting like the six years old he is portraying at this time."
Snape drew in a harsh breath as he prepared to put his student in her place. "Fifty points from Slytherin, Ms. Parkinson."
"Fifty points! Is that all you got old man!" Pansy sneered. "That boy has done nothing to you and you know it. It is your baseless accusations that have caused the conflict between you. All because of the actions of a dead man!"
Is that Parkinson? Pansy Parkinson, Queen of Slytherin is defending me, Harry Potter, Boy Who Lived, Gryffindor Idiot, me? What is the world coming too?
Now, Pansy had a great respect for her Head of Houses' abilities, in the Potion's Classroom and in his spying, but he was a small and bitter man who was unable to garner any amount of emotion when it came to the help that the students in Slytherin House needed. It was left to the older students and the House prefects to take care of broken hearts, nightmares, and tears. Though this is their job...it is why they are the prefects and head boys and girls...but the spiritual and moral guidance should have been Snape's responsibilities as the Head of House, a Teacher, and an Adult; political differences notwithstanding. Snape should have been their Father Confessor, the one to teach them compassion and understanding...a sixteen year old is not always cool headed enough to do that. Of course, this should apply also to Dumbledore and the other teachers and adults but those in Slytherin House were left to fend for themselves. None of them liked it but they all knew it was better this way. The first night of each year was spent educating the new Slytherin students on House rules and House etiquette from that night on Slytherin House stood together.
Each first year was assigned a 'mentor'. These were the ones that the new students could go to for help, with anything that troubled them. Pansy herself was a mentor to two first years and a third year. Her second year student had been killed in a raid over the summer. It had taken Draco and the others days to help her get over her grief. As a pureblood they were taught to be cold and never show emotion to anyone outside of their 'group'. As a mentor to the younger students, each of them, Draco included, though he only had Greenleaf to deal with, had learned to show enough emotion to help others. It was not something that Slytherin House disclosed to the other Houses.
Severus Snape was beyond furious. How dare this…this girl, one of his own students, talk to him like that. He opened his mouth to verbally slash this child to bits when he was interrupted.
"Shut up!" Draco hissed as he stood at the end of Harry's bed he had been surprised to hear Pansy berating their Head of House in front of others (as they normally saved that for the privacy of Draco's rooms) her harsh voice had drawn him into an argument that was distracting him from his mate. In his anger at the older man, Draco let go of Harry's hand, something he had told himself he wouldn't do, to get closer to the argument. His thoughts about his Head of House were private and he would never let on how he actually felt about the older man but that was beside the point right now. Even if Pansy was right. "One more word and I swear-"
Bloody Hell! Why does it have to be so sexy when he talks like that?
"Draco!"
"Mr. Malfoy, that is enough." Sin's calm voice helped to take some of the edge off of his anger, well that, and his father's admonishment.
What the hell is that bastard here for? Harry could feel anger, fear, and frustration come at him from somewhere. He couldn't stop the shiver that coursed up and down his spine as it felt like Draco's voice reached out an caressed him. He was pretty sure they were not his emotions so where the hell were they coming from? Where they Draco's? If they were that means that the bond had somehow already started. How was that possible? He hadn't accepted the claim…had he? As if I would take anything that man offered me anyway. Make him go away, Draco!
"Get out!" Draco snarled. The need for his Head of House to leave rose in him so quickly that he wasn't able to stop the Veela from trying to take control. He didn't hate Snape but right now he would gladly rip his head off and use his skull as a planter for his Venus Flytrap.
"I will not."
"What are you doing here anyway? Madam Pomfrey is here. There is no need for you to be here and I want you to leave."
"This is not your room, Mr. Malfoy. I was asked to come."
"And now you are being asked to leave." Sin decided it was time to step in before the Veela in Draco rose too high for him to be able to control.
Snape drew himself up tightly so that he could glare at her down his large skinny nose. He thought it looked intimidating but really, it only made him look like a fool. "I was summoned to help for my expertise. The potions-"
"Your expertise," Sin's voice was full of sarcasm, "can be best utilized as far away from this room as possible."
"Is there a problem?" The Headmasters voice was calm though he could feel the anger in the room.
Lucius snapped his head around to glare at the unwelcome interruption. How had he gotten pass the Slytherin students? Probably made them leave citing House points removal and detention if they didn't. If he knew Draco's friends he could bank on the fact that they had gone only far enough to make the Headmaster think they had followed his orders. His Slytherin students were not far away but hopefully those irritating Gryffindors were long gone.
Albus was very aware of the hatred between Harry and Severus. He chose to ignore it. He needed both Harry and Severus and didn't really care if the animosity between the two had risen to out and out hatred.
Severus spoke before anyone else had a chance to. He sneered at his co-worker. "It seems that Professor Sinistra has taken control of the situation and requested that I leave."
"Me too," Draco's Veela side was high in him now and he had no wish to lessen its control over his actions.
Me three! Go wash your hair, you slimy greasy nasty git!
Lucius walked to stand beside his son and placed a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. He could feel the tension in his son and was afraid that the Veela in him had too tight a control for Draco to break. "Das, a'a Son."
Draco was having to fight his first instinct to tear Severus into little pieces and offer them up to his Alona on a silver platter. He could feel his own feelings for his Head of House get regrettably darker. He tightened his hands into fists and drew in a slow breath, trying desperately to calm himself. It wouldn't do to get Harry's nice bedroom all covered in blood now would it? How would he ever explain that to his mate? With sudden insight he knew that all the feelings were not all his own and he turned to look at his bedine.
Taking the chance while everyone was focused on the argument, Pomfrey leaned as close to Harry's ear as she could and whispered, "just how long are you going to stay 'unconscious', Harry?"
A smirk was the only answer she got and with a chuckle she continued looking like she was doing everything in her power to 'heal' Harry. She found it funny that he was doing this, though she didn't want to be anywhere near him if Draco found out about the masquerade.
Draco decided that he wanted nothing to do with the stupid argument that was going on around him and with one more glare at Professor Snape, he stepped back and turned his attention to the boy in the bed and the witch leaning over him. He was so beautiful! With narrowed eyes he watched as Madam Pomfrey also ignored the others in the room to take care of her patient. He saw her conjure a wet cloth to wipe away the blood from Harry's face and moved forward to take the cloth from her.
"Let me." Pomfrey nodded her head as she rummaged in her bag for another potion.
I don't want no more bloody potions, woman! You know I'm not unconscious. I think you are doing this out of spite!
"This is not good for Mr. Potter. Either take this outside or I will be removing him from the room." Madam Pomfrey was highly upset when her demands were not even heard by the adults in the room. She sniffed angrily then left them to argue as she turned back to her patient. Really, couldn't they act like adults?
"Should he go to the infirmary?" Draco's voice was shaking and so soft that the Medi-witch almost didn't hear him. He gently drew the cloth over Harry's face trying not to hurt him anymore than he already was.
Oh, that feels nice. I wonder if all his touches will be this soft? What? Harry couldn't believe that he had just thought that. He didn't want Draco touching him…did he?
"It would be best. At least over-night."
"May I stay?" Draco was trying very hard for his voice not to sound to pleading. He could tell by her small smile he hadn't succeeded.
He wants to stay with me in the infirmary? All night!
"You may."
Madam Pomfrey, I am shocked! Harry had to fight really hard to keep a smile from his face. Draco wanted to stay with him all night. That was…unheard of in his thinking. well, his thinking until last night.
"They are getting loud aren't they?" Draco turned to see Pansy standing there staring at him as he wiped Harry's face clean of the now dried blood.
Draco sighed and smiled weekly at his best friend, "yeah."
"You okay." Pansy didn't reach out and touch him, as she would normally have. She knew better.
"As long as I can see him, I'll be fine, thanks." Draco turned from Pansy and locked his gaze back onto Harry. He couldn't believe how beautiful his mate was.
He sounds like he really cares. Can I believe this? Am I his mate? Why does he have to be sweet now? Where's the bastardly git that was there last year?
"-now see here-" Draco and Pansy both flinched as their Head of House's voice rose and his anger got the better of him. He was surprised that his father had stayed out of the argument. Turning to look at him and noticing the faint smile on his father's face, Draco shook his head. The littlest things amused him now, Draco thought fondly of his father.
Draco turned to Madam Pomfrey and could see her anger quite clearly. "Take him to the infirmary."
Pomfrey turned to the young Veela and studied him for a moment. As the resident Medi-witch of Hogwarts, she was one of the few that was trained in Veela anatomy and physiology. Of course, she didn't know the first thing about Veelan pregnancy but she had been at Hogwarts long enough to have picked up enough to help a Veela and his/her mate. She could see Draco's anger at the others in the room but overshadowing that was his fear for his mate. She would normally have wanted Harry in the infirmary but she wasn't sure if he should be moved.
"I need to run one more test and then we can move him if it is okay." Pomfrey kept her voice even and low, trying to keep the others out of the conversation. Besides, if Harry, whom she was very close to as he spent more time in her infirmary than any other student in the 77 years she had been here, accepted the claim, the young Veela would have a huge say in his care and well-being. She could see that, for Draco, the claim was already over. All that was needed was a conscious Harry Potter, and that was something that she could provide.
"Okay." Draco forced himself to step away from Harry so that she could finish and they could leave. It was a move that was a physical hurt as his body was clamoring to stay as close to his hurt mate as possible.
"Ms. Parkinson," Madam Pomfrey turned to the young Slytherin standing close to her friend, "conjure a stretcher for Mr. Potter, please."
"Yes, Madam Pomfrey." Pansy slowly drew her wand. She made sure that Draco saw her doing it before she cast the spell. All they needed now was a furious Veela in attack mode. She had seen it only once, when a very drunk wizard at one of Mrs. Malfoy's famous parties decided he was a better mate than Mr. Malfoy was. Come to think of it she hadn't seen that particular wizard since that night. Oh, well, she happened to like the new Minister of Sports from Italy. He was very young and very sophisticated. She had liked him so much she had sent her older sister an owl introducing them. The family fully expected a wedding soon.
Pomfrey levitated Harry over to the stretcher. She didn't say a word when Draco reached down and grabbed onto Harry's hand tightly.
He is holding my hand so tight. Can we do this? Will he be worth it? Harry decided not to think about this anymore. His head was pounding and the others yelling wasn't helping.
"Severus-" The Headmaster tried to calm him down as he could see that this was about to get ugly but was interrupted by another angry professor.
Madam Pomfrey ignored everyone as she guided the stretcher to the door. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lord Malfoy follow them his face, normally cold and unemotional, was full of anger and amusement, a very ugly combination that made him look like he was sucking on a lemon and smiling at the same time. She filed that memory for later viewing and sharing. As she steered the stretcher around the Headmaster she heard Sinistra snort and knew that her blowout was going to be spectacular. She slowed so that they could all hear it.
"No! YOU, see here, as Harry's familial representative in the proceedings with the Malfoy family's youngest son on the claim of Veelan Rights, I have the say. So, Snape," the derision in her voice was loud and clear, "I suggest you leave this room immediately. If we need any more potions we can send someone to get them." Sin was proud of herself. She had stayed calm, in a way, and hadn't hexed him yet. Sin didn't hate Severus, but she did disapprove of the way he treated the other students, especially those in his own House. He could be a small and bitter man on his own time but not when it involved Harry.
Now that is why I love this woman! Harry was unable to stop his grin and tried to crack his eyes open to see if he could see Snape's face. A sharp pain lanced through his head so unexpectedly that he wasn't able to stop his moan of pain.
"We need to hurry." Draco gasped as he tried to hold onto Harry's hand, lean over to peer at Harry, reign in his Veela side from taking control and going crazy, and look to find his Dad. "Dad?"
"I'm here, Son." Lucius kept his voice calm and once again settled a hand on Draco's shoulder. "He'll be fine, let's just get him to the infirmary."
"I can't get the stretcher out the door unless you let go, Mr. Malfoy." Pomfrey said quietly. The four of them had ignored the rest of the argument still going on behind them to turn their attention to the task of calming the overly distraught Veela.
Draco sobbed, it was too much, everything that had happened had now overwhelmed him to the breaking point. All he wanted to do was take his mate in his arms and he couldn't. "I can't."
"Hop up." Lucius took control and picked up his son to settle him next to his unconscious mate. He smiled indulgently at his son as he pulled his bedine as close as possible on the slender stretcher. The was barely enough room on there for the unconscious boy but Draco made short work of the lack of width.
Oh My! He's holding me so tight. Is he crying? Draco Malfoy is crying over me. Harry was completely shocked. He could feel the stretcher moving again as Draco settled more comfortably around him.
"Please, Harry, please, be alright." Draco pleaded unknowingly as he tightly wrapped his arms around Harry.
Draco's pleading was making Harry feel ashamed for his 'unconscious' act. But it had helped him to see that Draco really did care for him. But was it because his Veela side was making him or because he really did care? Until that question was answered he couldn't show any feeling towards the other boy. No matter how much, deep down and in dreams he never acknowledged, he wanted too.
With a quiet sigh that only the boy holding him heard, Harry let himself succumb to the countless potions that Pomfrey had poured in him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The Headmaster smiled at Sin and then nodding his head at her, drug Severus out of the room, hushing his protests. He heard the spell cast by Sin just as the door was about to close and couldn't help but chuckle. Severus should know not to mess with an angry mother…mother type figure. The consequences could be bad. Or funny in his case.
Albus decided not to tell Severus that he now resembled a big footed, big eared, shortened, version of himself. He looked vaguely like a squished house elf, as he was barely over two feet tall. Thankfully, the corridor outside of Harry's rooms was clear of the students, as he had sent them on their way.
"Tea, Severus?" Maybe if he could get his changed Potions Master to his office the hex that Professor Sinistra had cast on him would wear off before his next class. It was clear that the other man did not know he had been hexed. Albus made a note to himself to find out what hex she had used, it was very entertaining.
Severus didn't answer but gave a jerk of his head and swirling his cloak, stalked down the hall. He let his dark thoughts and hatred rise for Harry. He sneered as his vicious thoughts centered on a potion he was thinking of brewing. He hadn't brewed it only out of respect for the position he was in. But after today, he couldn't care less if the Boy Who Lived was found dead after puking his insides out.
Albus laughed trying to do it quietly. He didn't see the calculating and hatred that graced the altered face. He let the humor overshadow the seriousness of the situation; ignoring what it would do to his Potion Master to be so undermined like that. The stomping, arms crossed, head raised high, mouth tightened into a straight line, and his cloak swirling around him, well, it was impressive when Snape did it, when he looked like he was suppose to. But now, even the esteemed Headmaster of Hogwarts couldn't keep his laughter in.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the Medi-witch and the others walked by, a lone figure watched from a dark alcove at the end of the hall. Angry, but obsessed eyes, took in the fact that the Veela was wrapped around her Harry as if the supposed claim had already been accepted. She didn't believe in this farce! Harry was hers and the second she could get him alone she was going to remind him of it!
As she stepped out to go to class, Ginny didn't see the silent figure shadow her down the hall.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Das, a'a Son means Calm, my Son.
Well, here is another chapter. I have taken into consideration the many, and all very nice, punishments for Ginny. It will be coming up in later chapters. I hope I do it justice.
Another update on a different story: I will be reposting 'I Understand' that FFN deleted a few months ago. Keep a watch out for it!
Sorry for the long time between chapters. At first it was because I was stumped on how to proceed and then it was because of real life rearing its ugly head. But…hopefully, that is all taken care of and we can get back to this!
ENJOY!
LMG