I Can't Fight the Stars Chapter 14, a harry potter fanfic

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.

ENJOY!

CHAPTER TWELVE

Draco had been listening to his father explain about the effects of the potions that Harry had been given, something he should have known as potions was his favorite subject. It had taken only a few minutes before he had calmed down but now he was scared that Harry thought him weak. As a male Veela, having their partner think them weak was tantamount to the worst personal insult you could give them. Veela's took care of their mates, and their families, no matter the circumstances.

He had tuned Lucius out as soon as he had calmed down. Sometimes his Dad could rattle on and on and it was getting a little bit on his nerves but he would never tell that to his face. No, Draco loved and respected his father greatly but he also had a large dose of fear for, and of, him as well. But the last few minutes he had been feeling quite a bit of restlessness and he couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

He nodded distractedly at his father just to let him know that he still heard him talking, though listening and understanding was a different point. He didn't want to hear any more about what Harry may or may not be going through. It wasn't as if he was going to deny Harry, it could possibly be the other way around. This acceptance thing between them was not over; he knew it for a fact, even if his Father didn't. He wasn't a determined bastard and the Slytherin Prince for nothing. What was that muggle saying? 'He always got his man' or something to that effect. The Veela would 'get his man' it would just take some work, some tears (hopefully not), and a huge heaping pile of apology. Draco hated to apologize as he felt he was often right, but he would for his mate. He would do anything for him- and he had a bad feeling that he would have to do some really strange things to get Harry to believe he was for real. Whatever it took he promised himself. He knew he was rambling and he tried very hard to bring his focus back to his Father and to actually listen to his advice.

The disquiet he had been feeling over the last few minutes escalated into Harry screaming in his head and without a doubt he knew that he was hearing the call of a Veela's mate in trouble, and without even thinking he stood and blindly rushed out of his room. He rushed straight to his mate inexorably pulled by that anguished mental cry for help. The fear, from Harry and his own, almost overwhelmed him but he was able to push it away just enough to keep his head and stop his body from bashing into walls as he ran as fast as he could. With a confused look after his fleeing son, Lord Malfoy quickly followed. The young Veela didn't stop even when his father yelled at him to; the call of his Alona was too strong.

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As the two Veela raced towards the infirmary, someone else had reached it before them. After momentarily freezing at what the newcomer saw, he soon realized what was happening. Immediately he reached the couple on the bed and pulling Ginny by the scruff of her neck shouted "let go of him, you Bitch!"

Theodore Nott, of Slytherin House, had had a powerful crush on Harry for some time, and the sight of his beloved being mauled was more than he could stand. Furiously he dropped the small bag of chocolate frogs he had gotten earlier that day from Honeydukes as he knew they were Harry's favorite, and when his pulling didn't remove the girl from the terrified boy underneath her, he drew his wand and with a venomous hiss yelled, "expelliramus!" He ignored the loud thud as the girl's head hit the wall first followed quickly by her body and then all of her slid to the floor, unconscious.

The thud of a body hitting the wall behind them was ignored by both young men. Theodore was breathing harshly and both were pale and shaky. They stared at each other with wide eyes but only one of them also had fear and shame in them. The only sound in the room for a long moment was his loud breathing. It took a few minutes for Theodore to work out that Harry wasn't moving or making any noise, he quickly cast a 'finite' towards him and Harry's harsh breathing was now added to his own as the only sounds in the room.

When Harry, overcome by shame and profound hurt and not a small amount of fear curled up into a miserable ball and started to quietly cry, Theodore's heart broke. With a smothered curse he ran to take Harry into his arms in an attempt to comfort him. His intentions were honorable and initially all he wanted was to console the hurting and terrified young man, the man that he loved with all his heart. Holding him tightly, he murmured little words of comfort and endearment. His love was sincere and he hoped that with time he could be the one Harry turned to. A hope doomed to fail, for Theodore did not know that Harry had been claimed by a Veela. And even should the Gryffindor refuse the claim, Draco would never allow one of his own to plunder what he could not have!

Harry, crying quietly, was unaware that he was being held. His heart was bruised and his mind in turmoil, rolling in black thoughts of shame. He had always considered Ginny like a sister despite her recent actions and to be betrayed by someone who had had his unconditional love, someone he trusted, was just too much. The tears of shame were hot on his cheeks, feeling like a brand that burned directly to his soul as they fell. He didn't know which way to turn now. Would the Weasley's, whom he had thought of as part of his family for the longest time, reject him because of Ginny and now Draco? Harry didn't want to think of it anymore! It hurt too much.

Theodore talked to Harry, keeping his voice low, gentle, and as calm as he could. The need to kiss away those terrible tears was almost overwhelming, but now was not the time, or the place. He was trying to get Harry to look at him in a more favorable light, true, but he wasn't going to take advantage of him when he was like this, Slytherin or not he had morals.

"It's okay, Harry. She's not going to hurt you anymore. I will not let her near you again, nor anybody else who might hurt you. I promise!" Over and over, Theodore repeated those calming words, all the time gently rubbing Harry's back trying to ease his wounded soul. After long minutes the sobs did lessen but he did not stop his calm, soothing, words.

Draco burst into the infirmary closely followed by a grim looking Lucius. He had expected Harry to be hurt or bleeding or any of a thousand horrible things that had come into his mind while running to his rescue, what he did not expect was to find his mate being held in someone else's arms. The hurt of this perceived rejection and the fear for the life of his beloved were clouding his thoughts and he did not notice the unconscious body of a very disheveled looking Ginny, all he saw was someone usurping his rightful place and his feelings turned to incredible rage and jealousy.

With a blood curdling scream the Veela launched himself at the unsuspecting Slytherin intent on murder and mayhem. His scream got caught in his throat and came out as a pained whimper as he was brought up short by the powerful hold of his King and Father who had had the time to see Ginny's body laying on the floor and to come to a very different conclusion, once again. But then he knew Harry as Draco could not. Draco couldn't understand why his father had stopped him. It was his right to defend what was his. The King ought to understand that. It was his right!

Their headlong rush through the infirmary had drawn Madam Pomfrey's attention and she was the one who ran to the unconscious girl. The two Veela's ignored her and focused on the two figures on the bed.

With a strength born from his rage, Draco was able to free himself from his father's grasp, he then screamed out his rage as he grabbed the back of Nott's neck to pull him forcibly away. On hearing Draco's yell, Harry jumped up with a loud sob and, crying harder than before, threw himself at the Veela. Draco dropped the other boy in order to catch his mate in his arms. The hysterical boy drew all his attention and he let his father take care of the details. He didn't yet know what had happened but, and this was the Veela talking, anything that got Harry in his arms was good. In his joy he had completely forgotten his fury of only seconds before and why he had run to the infirmary in the first place. He buried his nose in the softness of Harry's hair and just held him as tightly as he could for as long as the Gryffindor would let him. He knew that this was not how Harry normally acted and deep down he feared for the reason that would cause such and strong willed man as he was to break down this way. Draco vaguely registered his Father talking but decided to focus only on Harry.

Lucius had to refrain from committing mayhem himself, though Harry was not his mate he was his son's and Veela kept their families as safe as they possibly could. It was in their genetic make-up after all, and something he was sure he would have done were he a Veela or not. He loved his son and he would protect and accept the person his son fell in love with. That it happened to be the Boy-Who-Lived was not really a concern anymore. His son had found his mate and his mate was worthy of him, that was all a Father could hope for his child.

Lucius watched the two men for a few seconds longer and then pulled his attention to the others in the room. He had to find out the facts first and he could kill afterwards. With consideration for the state that Harry was in, he called quietly for a house elf. He requested that the elf ask Professor Sinistra to come to the infirmary in regards to Harry and to take a short note to Malfoy Manor asking Narcissa to come to Hogwarts as quickly as possible. Giving Theodore, whom he knew only because his father was an 'associate' of his, a quelling look, Lucius watched as his son reveled in this chance to hold his mate. He remembered the first time he had held Narcissa in his arms, a feeling that only grew each time he did, with that in mind he quietly told Madam Pomfrey to remove the girl from the room, and he guided the other boy out as well.

When the door was closed Lucius turned to the younger Slytherin and asked him what had happened.

"I heard that Harry was in the infirmary and came to see hi-" Theodore was interrupted as Professor Sinistra came hurrying into the room.

The Professor didn't even acknowledge the young man or even Madam Pomfrey as she made a beeline straight to the older Veela. "What's wrong? Where's Harry?" The anxiety in her face and voice was very clear.

Lucius raised a hand in what he hoped was a calming manner but really only emphasized his noble upbringing he motioned to the young man standing beside him. "Mr. Potter is with my son, Professor Sinistra. I was just about to find out what the problem was when you came in. Mr. Nott, proceed."

With horror they listened to his story as he described the scene he had witnessed in entering the infirmary, and his subsequent actions. Theodore, although he had heard the change in the voice of the attacker, had not understood its meaning. But Lucius, to his horror, did. And he was reminded of the part he had played in that old affair. The Diary! The thrice dammed Diary! The youngest Weasley had been touched by that Evil...Oh Shialla! That part of his past had come back to bite him, something that he hoped wouldn't get in the way of helping his son and his mate. And now, Harry had paid the price for someone else's actions, once again. Would his friend ever forgive him? He hoped so, for his sake and the sake of his son, he sincerely hoped so.

Madam Pomfrey had arrived just in time to hear the end of the young mans speech and with a muttered curse she stormed over to the bed that held the youngest Weasley and snapped out, 'dormus', before she had gotten close enough. Her aim was true though and with a twitch the girl on the bed fell into a not so natural sleep.

Lucius sighed in relief when Narcissa swept into the infirmary as regal and beautiful as ever. Using the sign language that all Malfoy's learned, Lucius waved her to silence. He could see her fury, though she didn't yet know what this was about, she instinctually knew it was about her son and his Alona. She nodded once in response to her husbands request for silence but conveyed to him with a glance that she would only be quiet for a few minutes.

Once things had been explained to Lucius' satisfaction, he and Narcissa went to explain things to Draco and restrain him from killing Ginny Weasley. The only reaction that passed the beautiful face of Narcissa Malfoy when she found out who her son's mate was, was a slight widening of her eyes. Lucius sighed silently, he had a lot of explaining to do once the two of them made it back to Malfoy Manor tonight. He knew that Narcissa was not yet satisfied with the explanation and that he would have to ease her fears when they were done consoling Draco and Harry.

They found the two boys sitting on the bed in the small room that seemed to be for Harry only. Draco had his arms wrapped tightly around the other man and was whispering in his ear. There were still tear tracks on his face but Lucius was relieved to see that it was the only indication of what he had been through. A slight shudder by the dark haired youth had him quickly changing that thought but he smiled when he heard his son whispering softly into Harry's ear. Shortly the shuddering ceased and Harry leaned heavily into Draco's side.

Things finally calmed down and the three adults, Lucius, Narcissa, and Sinistra quietly discussed the earlier events to the utmost embarrassment of a very disheveled Harry, who had withdrawn in embarrassment from the Veela's embrace. Draco stopped the instinctive reaction to pull his mate back in his arms and let the other boy lay back on the bed.

Lucius, ashamed for his role in this, quietly told Harry what Nott had told them he saw. He forced himself to meet the shocked, but surprisingly blameless, eyes of the young man before him. His son's mate didn't blame him, he thought in relief, it was more than he thought he deserved. He could feel the heated and questioning gaze of his son but a few finger movements let him know that they would talk later. Narcissa and Professor Sinistra fussed over Harry until he waved them away with a blush and a protest. Unfortunately for Draco, he did not return to his embrace but he did shoot him a quick glance.

That glance had Draco moving closer to Harry, though he refrained from reaching out and touching him again. It was too soon; he would let Harry come to him. He wanted Harry to do so willingly just as he had jumped into his arms, sobbing, earlier. When the adults left he quietly asked him how he was feeling. Harry ignored the question but did not back away, so he just kept up his commentary patiently, hoping that this would pull Harry out of his misery.

Harry was obviously ashamed and clearly did not want to talk to anybody and certainly not to Draco...not just yet. He kept his head down and tried to ignore Draco's soft voice. He felt dirty, embarrassed, and full of mistrust and fear. If the one he had called sister could do this to him, how could he believe anybody else's declarations of love? His whole body felt heavy with shame and a little bit of fear that now Draco wouldn't want him. Though Ginny had not achieved her objective, it had done its own damage. All his life he had thought he was worthless and she had almost succeeded in taking the one thing he had left-himself.

Harry let Draco's voice wash over him. Forcing himself, he pushed everything away except that soft voice and let it do what it wanted to do. Slowly, so slowly, it washed away his fear and shame. All that was left was Harry now, and he could but hope that it was enough. Without even realizing it he tipped gently into sleep.

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It was hours later that Draco finally stopped talking though Harry had been asleep for quite sometime. Knowing that the other boy had fallen asleep listening to his voice had pleased the Veela in him. The reason he had kept talking, once he realized that Harry was asleep, was purely for his own benefit. Not only did it help him deal with his own fear and sense of unworthiness as a Veela that hadn't been able to keep his mate safe, it had had the added bonus of him "talking" his feelings and fears out. He knew there were going to be plenty of times that he would fear for the fool hardy Gryffindor and this time, the first time, was going to set a precedent for all the other times to come. And since he had a feeling it was going to be many, many, many times that he would have to do this it was a good thing he was setting the ground work now.

When Harry had been awake he had refrained from touching him but now he sat, hours later and still talking, holding his hand in both of his and them all tucked safely under his chin. Every minute or two he would lift their clasped hands to lay a gentle kiss onto Harry's knuckles but the hands were always returned quickly.

The others had left hours ago, his Father and Mother back to their rooms and Professor Sinistra had mentioned something about having a talk with the Headmaster. He'd rather she talk to him before he or his father got to him. Twinkling eyes or not, Draco was sure he could suss out the killing curse, well-maybe a crucio or two, on the first try. He really did not like that conniving loony old man and didn't trust him at all.

It was late in the night now, and both Harry and Draco had been sleeping badly before this night. Both had been tormented by nightmares. Harry would cry out whimpering, mumbling pleas, and Draco would immediately hold his hand tighter, whispering soothing words. Draco thought he was dreaming about Ginny's attack, but some of the words would make no sense...unless they referred to something else entirely, hinting at other attacks, other terrors. At one time, he even thought he heard his Father's name; but surely he had imagined it? Only when the exhausted Gryffindor would slump back on the pillow to resume his fitful sleep, would Draco be able to calm himself. But the madness at the edge of his mind felt once again too near while listening to his mate. It had been a long few weeks and an even longer day and night and Draco decided that he needed Harry to confide in him. It was the only way he could come to understand his bedine. And to be understood in return. Harry would refuse to open up initially, to disclose his inner devils, which he was sure was going to drive Draco batty. After the longest time he finally stopped talking and laid his head down on the bed by Harry's thigh, hands still clasped underneath his chin.

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Draco had woken only a few hours later with a crick in his neck and a hand slowly moving through his hair. He hadn't wanted to move but the pain in his back and neck was only getting worse.

"Don't stop." He whispered as he moved to angle his head better and still have it where the other boy could run his fingers through his hair. He was surprised that Harry was awake so soon. The day had been one emotion filled event after another. After a slight pause, the hand continued and Draco sighed in relief. Just this small amount of contact was enough to keep the Madness away and though it had been only a few hours it had been the best sleep he had gotten in weeks.

They had been sitting there like that for a while now. Draco was emotionally wrung out by the events up to now. The silence between them was heavy but neither wanted to be the first to talk. But if one of them didn't start talking soon, he was afraid he was going to lose it. He managed to barely control himself and, leaning forward, he gently guided Harry to look him in the eyes.

When Harry did nothing but look at him, Draco dropped his chin and whispered pleadingly, "talk to me, Harry! I am not asking for your acceptance right now, but you have to talk to me." He was desperate and he knew it was clear in his voice.

"I spend most of my time feeling awful and scared inside, Draco, what did you expect?" Harry said softly after a long tense moment finally giving in to his own need to talk. He had his head lowered and Draco thought it was in shame but after watching for a few seconds he could tell it was so that he couldn't see the depth of Harry's pain. He did the only thing that he could and that was to listen, after a few more minutes of silence Harry spoke again. "I grew up long before I came to this world, I wasn't given a choice. I used to sit and think about all this… mess for hours at a time, did you know?"

Harry continued after a second of silence. "There were never any clear answers though. Before I came here, I thought I must have done something pretty terrible to have had such an awful life so far. Only I can't think of what it was I could have done. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't think of a single thing. When I came here, for the first time in my life I discovered what friends were. I loved them just for that; you belittled the first precious thing I ever had and I hated you, just for that. And now the one I thought of as family betrays me, and you, the one I always thought of as my enemy offer me love. More questions and no answers!"

Draco waited a long while and then asked quietly, "did you figure anything out?"

Harry sighed and glanced at him quickly. The smile wasn't huge, and it never reached his eyes, but it warmed the Veela's heart to see it just the same. "Kind of. You might think it childish-"

Draco flinched but couldn't say anything in his defense. He had never treated Harry nicely. He motioned to Harry to continue when he hesitated and just barely managed to keep his calm façade in place.

Harry drew a ragged breath and tried to calm himself before starting to speak again. "I think that things happen and there isn't always a why to them. I had to accept them and move on with my life and spending a lot of time looking for reasons that weren't there was a waste of time and energy- something I didn't have a lot of." Harry shrugged as if the last six years of his life where nothing and having a Dark Lord after you was the same as having a hangnail-no trouble at all and easy to take care of.

"You believe that?"

"Absolutely."

"Is that why you seem much…older, this year?" The Veela asked because it was something that he'd noticed just in the few times he had had contact with the Gryffindor.

Harry sighed and then nodded, "possibly. When I was little and sitting in my cupboard I would wonder if I did something wrong and that is why my parents died. I know better now, but old habits are hard to shake, and some sense of that guilt still remains, and I don't seem able to shake it …"

Draco could feel his heart pound with emotion. He listened to what Harry was saying but never having had to experience it, he was left with trying to understand the other's hurt based on what he was hearing.

"You can't look at what you've lost, Harry, you need to look at what you have left. The ones you have lost, you loved, but there are ones left that love you. You are not alone, Harry. Now, if you accept, I am here. I will never hurt you intentionally, and any hurt that I inflict on you unintentionally will be made up to you with utmost care and love. I will never leave you by choice and I will fight with everything that is in me to get back to you if I am taken away from you. I don't know what more I can tell you that will make you believe that I am telling you the truth. I will never leave you. I love you, Harry."

Harry stared at Draco with wide eyes and open mouth, the startled look on his face was not really attractive but Draco still felt a thrill of satisfaction at seeing it. Harry closed his mouth with an audible snap, never had he thought that he would hear that said to him. He had resigned himself to living what was left of his life alone. It was a hard pill to swallow right now. The emotions of the last few days and the uncertainty of the future, combined to make him want his mask back. He wanted to feel indifferent again, or at least until he had some time to get used to all this Veela business. He knew that what Draco was saying did come from his heart. There was no way that he, being a Veela, could have said something like that to someone that was not his mate. Their instincts wouldn't let them.

Harry took a second to breathe deeply before responding. "I can't…right now I just…," he sighed again and ran a shaky hand through his hair. "Damn it, I just need some time, Draco. What you just said…"

Harry had lowered his head, still blushing and missed the look of bleak dread flitting through Draco's eyes. If he rejects me, what will I do?' He shuddered as a cackling laughter seemed to echo at the edge of his subconscious. But the Slytherin had had years of training in hiding his innermost feelings and ruthlessly drowned his fears, and the moment passed, unnoticed by Harry. With a deep breath in an attempt to cover his fear, Draco smiled sadly. "No regrets, Harry. I am glad that you are my Alona."

Harry gave him a weak smile in return, a smile that raised the Veela's hope. "Me too, actually."

"Really?" Draco brightened at that. It wasn't acceptance but it wasn't rejection either.

"I am not some helpless child though, Malfoy. I don't need taking care of." Steel had come into his voice and his gaze had sharpened. The old 'Harry' look was back. Draco reveled in it, even though it was directed towards him.

"I never thought that, Harry, not even when we first met." Draco sniffed haughtily and pointed his nose high in the air. He looked utterly ridiculous and he knew it. It was a calculated move that he was glad to see work when Harry shot him a shocked look and then snorted.

"Ah, yes, I remember that." Harry said with the first genuine smile of the night.

Draco chuckled, glad that the tense mood had been broken. "Me too. Merlin! I was such a brat!"

Harry raised an eyebrow at him and smirked, "was?"

Draco laughed. Harry watched as his eyes lit up and was glad that he could do that for him. The young Veela still had that sallow and sick look about him as less than 14 hours wasn't enough to make that go away. There was color in his cheeks now and someone had healed his lip so that it was now a dark pink color because that was its natural look and not because he had almost gnawed it off in his despair over looking for his mate. He had obviously showered and his hair was no longer hanging limp to his shoulders. Harry wasn't sure when he had stopped slicking it back but decided he liked this look on him.

"May I?" Draco said as he held out an envelope to the other boy.

"Umm, sure." Harry said as he took the envelope. He could feel Draco's eyes on him as he slowly opened it and withdrew the parchment from inside. It was a dark cream in color and heavy, it was obviously expensive. When Harry opened it he saw a poem done in calligraphy in a dark green ink. He read it slowly and then raised his eyes to look at the boy sitting across from him who was now blushing a becoming light pink color.

Draco smiled, "it is how I see you."

Harry frowned, confused, "I don't understand."

Draco blushed even brighter as he stood. His voice was eloquent, though soft, as he quoted.

I looked and saw your eyes in the shadow of your hair
As a traveller sees the stream in the shadow of the wood
I looked and saw your heart in the shadow of your eyes
As a seeker sees the gold in the shadow of the stream
I looked and saw your love in the shadow of your heart
As a diver sees the pearl in the shadow of the sea

Harry was silent as Draco stopped speaking. He looked down to the parchment and then back up to Draco. It was his turn to blush.

"You are the shadow to me, Harry. All of my life I have been looking for you in the shadows, not my mate…you. I was looking for you before I knew I would need you."

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend whom you hate." Harry whispered so low he was sure the other couldn't hear it.

"What?"

"Nothing," Harry said as he waved his hand at him, "it was just something I read once."

"Oh."

"Draco…" Harry hesitated before continuing, "what now?"

"Now? Well now you decide whether you are going to accept the claim or not Harry."

"Simple, huh?" Harry's voice was full of his own special brand of dry humor.

Draco grinned at him but his only answer was a shrug.

"So, not going to attempt to make me?"

"No!" Draco was affronted and it showed. "Even if it would work, Harry, I wouldn't do that."

"I know, Malfoy." Harry placated, "I was kidding."

Draco snorted, "a Veela never kids about a claim, Potter."

Harry sighed, "no, I guess they wouldn't. I knew that. It was just getting…deep in here is all."

Before Draco could respond to that he was interrupted by the biggest yawn he had ever seen. Deciding to shelve that particular discussion for later he said instead, "I'm going to go now, Harry. Madam Pomfrey said you could leave in the morning. May I escort you back to your rooms?"

Harry blushed and nodded.

Draco walked to the door but before opening it he turned to Harry and leveled a piercing look at him. Harry shivered at all the look held and it was only because of how tired, mentally and physically, he was that kept him laying in the bed instead of pulling the Veela into an embrace that his body seemed to cry out for. He was a little shocked at the intense feelings though he had known previously that he was beginning to have feelings for Draco, he had not known that they would grow this fast and be this...heady.

"Tomorrow," Draco's voice had dropped into some kind of silky resonance that just flowed over every inch of Harry's body leaving goose bumps in its wake, "we will talk more."

Harry could do nothing but stare at the beautiful creature before him. Had Draco's voice ever done that before? He was positive that it had never effected him that way before. He drew a deep breath, "I don't think-"

"Harry," Draco took a step back towards him and though his voice was still as silky and soft as before it now had a hardness running through it, "we will talk. I will not let you have this grow in your mind until you have nothing else to think about."

"Nothing happened, Draco."

Draco raised an eyebrow at him and Harry blushed. He had hoped that the Veela would not bring up the subject again. Harry crossed his arms and pouted, "fine."

Draco smiled sweetly at Harry but then ruined it with a smirk. "You will find it much easier to just give in on some things, Potter."

Harry snorted, "yeah, whatever, Malfoy."

They smiled at each other until Harry finally gave in with a sigh and a small nod, he would talk to Draco- tomorrow. It was comforting to know that he wanted to talk to him about it. With a flash of insight that left him momentarily breathless, Harry knew that it wouldn't take much for him to fall for the other boy, no, not much at all. And for the first time in a very long while, Harry couldn't wait for the next day to come.

With a small bow, Draco turned again to leave the infirmary to spend what was left of the night in his own room. He needed to be behind the ward and the locking charm his Father was sure to have placed on his door. The spikes would start back when he was out of his Alona's presence after a while, he thought he had time to make it to his rooms before that happened though. Though he now knew who his mate was, his Veela side would not appreciate being separated from them. He was in for a long night but he held to the hope that it was going to be a bright morning.

Harry laid down, resting his tired head on his pillow, determined to sleep. Determined to ignore the echo of a feminine voice insanely hissing in his ear, a voice that reminded him so much of the deranged Dark Lord. He would not let him win! Never again. He shivered at the memory of the brutal actions of a once beloved friend. Gingerly he touched his neck, at the bite marks that had been healed and the blood that had been washed away but that he could somehow still feel there. No, he would not let her-him win! Or anyone that took from him ever again, that included the ones he thought of as his family.

To fight the tears that threatened, he turned his mind to warm silvery eyes that promised unconditional love and to strong loving arms that offered protection and safety. Would it be so bad to give in to that promise? Would that loving cage be any worse than the cage placed around him by a ruthless old wizard who thought nothing of handing a year old child to relations who despised, feared, and ultimately down-right hated him? If nothing else, his slow friendship with Lucius had taught him that the Malfoy's were nothing if not fiercely loyal to family. And was that not what he most craved? Could he, even though it was something he craved with a deep passion he had thought himself incapable of, give into Draco?

Sleep took him as he was still asking himself those questions. Perhaps the morning would bring counsel and new hope...perhaps. He smiled at the phantom feelings of a warm kiss, a sighing breath against his ear, and strong arms surrounding him. For the first time in a while, the smile stayed even after he succumbed to sleep.

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Dante Gabriele Rossetti (1884-1882) English Artist

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I am reposting 'I Understand'. Thank you to all that kept at me, and you know who you are, to get back to writing it. The next chapter is an exciting one, Malombra and I have been working on this one for a long time and I can't wait to see ya'll's reaction to it.

I have a question- how many of you know what 'Parental Control' is on MTV? I might have an idea about something like that. I was at work and the ONLY thing on was a marathon of it! After a while it was hilarious!!!!! Let me know what you think….

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!!!! Have you ever thought that something you did just wasn't turning out how you thought it should? Well, if you are breathing you have. That is how I felt about this chapter and one of the reasons it has been such a long time in coming. It took a threat of bodily harm from my good friend and BETA for me to post this. She threatened to find a way to come to the U.S.! Be gentle.

ENJOY!

LMG