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 THIRTEEN
Harry woke with a jerk and an almost silent whimper. Almost silent because it was still loud in the stillness of his infirmary room. The terror that had woke him was quickly gone, not forgotten but certainly lessened once his eyes were open and staring up at the ceiling that Sin had thought of as a joke, but he knew he would not be going back to sleep anytime soon. Besides, he had gotten at least three hours of uninterrupted sleep, something that was unusual for him. With a sigh and a whispered tempus he saw it was just after four in the morning. Yup, three hours. He felt refreshed and calmer than he thought he would after the events of last night.
'Must be the bond', he thought as he slowly got up from his bed. Deciding a run was out of the question he took care of his morning ablutions and then settled into the seat at the window, the bay window was a feature Madam Pomfrey had added to his room when he had had to stay in it for a week in second year. Sin had asked her and they had both surprised him withit when he had come back in third year. Of course, he had had to take a lot of ribbing from his friends on getting his own room in the infirmary but it had actually been a good thing. He had spent almost as much time in here as he had in the Gryffindor dorm. He had pouted about it but a look from Sin and he had let the matter drop.
With a wave of his hand his CD player flew through the air and landed beside him. He quickly set it by magic to start to play and then set it to playing without the head phones. He relaxed as Beethoven's Rondo Allegretto moderato Prestissimo started to play softly. As he listened to one of his favorite pieces he watched the last star fade as the sun slowly rose bringing with it a soft golden light that not only lightened the area outside but the darkness that had been dwelling inside his heart as well.
Though he did not want to think about the events of yesterday or the hell that he just knew was going to come from those events today. But there was no way that he could keep them from running through his mind, over and over until his head felt like it had suddenly been stuffed with cotton and he was very, very dizzy. He was suddenly overcome with a feeling of stillness which he recognized as a spike, but, of a kind he had never experienced before. He breathed slowly and deeply, knowing, he did not quite know how, that he was standing on the cusp of 'something'. Something that might define who he was to become. 'No,' he thought with an inward smile, 'who we would become.' Thinking that he was not as scared to stand there and be ready to fall and knowing that he would be caught and loved and…well, everything.
Because he now knew that this had something to do with Draco and the Veela Bond and because of that feeling he knew he needed to start thinking of them as we, us, couple. There was no more I, me, or alone. He honestly didn't know what to think about a lot of this so far- so- he decided to think about something else, or at least try to. He prayed to every deity ever brought into being by wish or desire, that this bond was going to give him what he so desperately needed. A family. A life. And a love to end all of his pain and suffering. If he was willing and able to take that step that would give it all to him. His past experiences were going to be hard to overcome it would be difficult to let himself go enough to be able to take that one step.
With a gentle smile on his lips, he watched as the sun crested the hill outside Hogwarts. He knew that just as that ball of light was pushing away the last of the dark night; it was also pushing away his fears and his own dark past and giving way to a future that might be just as bright. His mind's eye saw he and Draco standing a step away from each other. Draco's hand was outstretched toward him and Harry was breathless at the look of love in his eyes and the smirk/smile on his face. All Harry had to do was take that step and grasp the others hand in his.
Could he- would he- be able? God, he hoped so!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Vince watched from his place guarding the Gryffindor's room as the still shoulders of his best friend's mate slowly released their tension. The spell that let him see through the wall was not one that was clear enough to see his expression but he was very good at reading body language. He didn't know what the other man was thinking but he knew they were not thoughts that would lead him down the wrong path. How Vince was capable of doing this was hard to say, it was just something he was good at. Why he should be able to read the Gryffindor's emotions so easily baffled him, since he had never been able to do so before.
'It had to be the bond' he thought with a smile. He was one of Draco's best friends and that caused a bond between them all. Granted the bond between him and Blaise was stronger than what they each had with Draco but it was still strong enough to help him with the Veela's mate. Once again Vince was glad that they had found Draco's mate and positive that it was the best choice for him.
With a satisfied nod he stepped back into the alcove opposite Harry's door. He still watched but not as intently as before. His orders, from Lord Malfoy, had been to watch and only show himself if there was danger. He felt confident that no danger existed at this moment; he also didn't want to get caught looking at him this closely. Draco had been a jealous and possessive child with things he considered exclusively his own and Vince knew it would be 100 times worse where his mate was concerned. Especially, with a mate that had as many issues, physical AND mental, as Harry Potter did.
'It's going to be great,' he thought with a grin, 'probably terrifying, sometimes funny, but definitely great.'
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hermione watched as the figure of the big Slytherin stepped back from Harry's door with a chuckle. She was keeping her thoughts to herself but she knew that he was not there to hurt Harry but to protect her best friend if a situation arose where protection was needed. She was glad for that. Harry had pushed everyone away but now he couldn't do that anymore. She prayed that this situation with the young Veela would also let her and Ron back into Harry's life. She had missed him so much.
Draco would move Heaven and Earth to keep his Alona safe. Hermione wondered if Harry knew what was in store for him. With a smile she turned and silently left the hallway in front of the infirmary. Harry was safe and with that knowledge she was able to finally get some much needed rest.
'I can't wait to see what happens next,' she thought with a wicked grin as she walked away.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Draco woke with a sob that hurt his throat as he tried to contain it. Harry's fear had made it past his warded bedroom and threw a spike of feeling straight to his brain by way of his heart. Veela lore stated that the heart of an unmated Veela would not beat correctly until its mate had been found. Then, in the first days of their meeting, the Veela's heart would beat erratically until finally it would settle into the same rhythm as its mate's heartbeat. No one had ever told him how weird it would feel. His heart was literally rolling in his chest.
With a sigh, he rose from his bed and made his way to his private bathroom. Despite the short amount of time he had been asleep he felt refreshed. Determined to not look this gift horse in the mouth he started a shower, called for a Malfoy house elf to go to the Manor to get his 'special products', and prepared to spend a very long time pampering himself with everything his search for his mate had made him neglect. Once Tippy returned to him they set about subjecting his body to the most intensive spa treatment he had ever gone through.
Draco's Father was waiting for him when he finally stepped from his bathroom, many hours later. It had been worth it though. It had been a long time since he had felt this good, and, he knew he looked good too. His hair was shimmering with renewed colour, his face and skin glowed with health once again, and his black robe with a silver flame around the sleeves complimented his station and his looks. He looked like a Veela Prince and he finally felt like a Veela Prince.
With a raised eyebrow his Father drawled, "I am surprised your 'preferences' had not been more apparent to me before this."
"Hush Father," Draco grinned at him and raised his own eyebrow back. "I was not even aware of my 'preferences' as you call it, but now that I am there is no way to deny them."
"Your mother tried to prepare me for this you know?"
"No, I didn't. When?"
"I believe you were six and you didn't want to start Quidditch practices because you would get all sweaty."
Draco stared at his Father in horror. "I did not."
"Oh, yes, you most certainly did. The tantrum you threw will live in infamy at Quality Quidditch Supplies as the worst ever. But not for the normal reason. Most young boys your age were angry because their parents wouldn't buy them a broom. You were livid because I wanted too."
Draco was silent for a few shocked seconds before saying finally, a note of petulance creeping into his voice as he crossed his arms and stuck out his bottom lip childishly. "I was only six!"
Lord Malfoy smirked at his son and nodded. "Can you guess when your obsession with Quidditch began?"
Draco started to shake his head no before he paused to really think. His face flared red before he sighed and said softly, hopefully in denial but it was clear he didn't believe it himself, "no."
"Oh, yes. You came home after that first year and demanded the best trainer money could buy. I don't believe you took a day off from practicing that whole summer."
"Shit!" Draco muttered.
"Language, Draco, though it does clear up quite a lot of questions now, doesn't it?" Draco scowled at the laughter in his Father's voice. He didn't have to think it was THAT funny!
"Leave him alone, Lucius," came the soft voice of his Mother from the open door that neither man had heard open.
"Mum!" Draco cried happily before making his way over to her and giving her a kiss on the cheek and a welcoming hug.
"Now," Narcissa pulled away after a brief tightening of her arms and a gentle kiss to her beloved son's cheek, her tone and mood were now all business, "what do we have planned for Ms. Weasley?"
"I have a suggestion…" Pansy's clear voice came from the hallway. The Malfoy's turned to face her and saw her standing with Blaise, Greg, and surprisingly, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. "It's time to call for a Student Court."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sin knocked on Harry's door and waited for him to let her in, before he did though she turned to the alcove where she knew a guard would have been stationed. "You may go now. I will stay with him until The Malfoy's arrive."
She wasn't surprised to see the bigger of the two Slytherin boys that guarded the young Veela Lord step out of the shadows. With a nod in her direction he made to speak but before he could say anything the door opened.
Vince quickly moved back, not knowing how the Gryffindor would react to seeing him standing there. He could hear the faint strains of classical music coming from the room but he didn't recognize the song.
Reaching down to lift the breakfast tray she had had Dobby get her, she said quietly before the door closed behind her, "thank you, Mr. Crabbe."
The second the door was closed she saw Harry's cheerful façade vanish and she wisely said nothing but asked instead, "hungry, Harry?"
"Not particularly." Harry replied as he walked back over to the window to stand looking out, body tensed, arms crossed and face blank.
"Too bad." She came back cheerfully in direct contrast to his emotionless tone.
Harry snorted and threw her a 'you have got to be kidding' look.
"Now." With that one word Harry sighed and wisely turned to go to the small table in the corner of his room. It was their tradition to spend breakfast together whenever he was in the infirmary and since he had his own room that should be a hint as to how often that was. 'At least she brought my favorite, waffles, instead of the tasteless porridge she brought last time,' Harry thought. She had been angry with him, again, because a pretty straightforward mission had gotten him shot. Shot! Harry had known what the young wizard had had in his hand the second he had reached for it. His partner had not. He had instinctively pushed the older man out of the way and tried to roll so he would be missed as well but it had not worked. So, of course, he had been hit.
It was a side wound, barley a graze he tried to protest, but it had hurt like a bitch and Madam Pomfrey and Sin were so mad at him that he thought they were going to refuse to heal him. When he wouldn't tell them how he had gotten shot, Madam Pomfrey had poured a blood replenishing potion, a pain potion, and half a vial of dreamless sleep potion down his throat before he could protest. Ten minutes later he was unconscious and when he woke up he had a nice scar on his side to go with all the others. Sometimes he got the distinct impression that he had a scar only because he had pissed them both off.
He had thought it funny; it was in the shape of a star. That was until he got the howler from his partner. In retaliation he had pulled the memory out and sent it to him, making sure to add how much it had hurt. He had laughed out loud at the one word reply of 'FINE' that he had received in return, even with that one word Harry heard the familiar arrogance and surprisingly the acceptance of his actions.
"Harry?" Aurora's voice was soft but loud enough she knew it would pull him from his thoughts. With a smile of apology to each other they set about eating breakfast and trying to come up with a plan to deal with the events of yesterday. She was sure that the young Slytherin would already have his family and friends taking care of that. She even thought she knew what they would do. They hadn't had a Student Court in 50 years. It was about time that particular Wizarding tradition was brought back into the public eye.
'I just hope both of them are strong enough for what is to come in the next day or two,' she thought as she sipped her tea and sat back to wait on her young charge to start talking.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
After everyone was settled in the small sitting room that was a part of the Malfoy Suite in Hogwarts there was a tense silence. Each of them knew why they were there -for Harry- and to make sure that justice was seen in this awful turn of events. Notably missing was the Slytherin's Head of House (who had not been invited), the Headmaster (who needed to be seen as above the planning), Vincent Crabbe (who was guarding Harry) and Professor Sinistra (who was with Harry at this moment).
The Headmaster knew what Hermione and Pansy were going to suggest as a whispered word in the Head Girl's ear early this morning had her dragging the resident know-it-all to the Library for research. They were surprised to see Ron Weasley already there but Hermione had just given him a loving kiss on the cheek and sat down to get to work. By the time they had found what they needed it was way after breakfast. Pansy had assured the two Gryffindors that Draco was probably just now getting out of the bathroom as the unlikely group made there way to his rooms.
Ron had been reluctant to go with them but they had just dragged him along anyway. Now, as they all gave each other contemplating looks, he knew it was right for him to come. "Malfoy…Draco?" Ron started after everyone had settled into chairs.
Draco shot him a startled look and raised one eyebrow in question.
"Look…" Ron paused before throwing a quick look at Hermione. When his girlfriend said nothing and just returned his look he drew a deep breath before he continued. He tried to make his voice as formal as possible as he stood back up and bowed to the stunned Veela Prince, his family, and his friends. "On behalf of the Weasley family, I would like to formally ask for your acceptance of our deepest apologies for the harm caused to your mate by a member of our family."
Not a sound was heard and for once surprise was shown on everyone's face there but his. "On a less formal note and completely personal…Harry…he's my best mate, but he is as stubborn as a mule, as hard headed as a goblin, but as loving as a unicorn. Win his heart and you can have the world. Hurt him and I will hunt you down and dismember you inch by inch until there is nothing left of you." By the end of his speech his voice was hard and unyielding which gave the impression to the listeners that he was completely serious.
"You honour the Weasley name, sir. And, on behalf of the Malfoys, I accept the apology set forth by the Weasley family, formally and informally." Surprisingly it was Narcissa who replied, as both her husband and son were still too stunned to return the courtesy.
With another bow to finish the impromptu rite, Ron sat down with a lighter heart. Harry would be protected and loved, he was certain of it. If he was wrong he was glad he had spent a few hours last night looking up some very interesting curses. He felt Hermione's hand slip into his as she started to talk.
"A Student Court is our best option. For one, the attack happened here. Second, it involved a very serious charge of attempted rape that was witnessed by another student. Third, Harry shouldn't leave Hogwarts right now. And lastly, Student Court is a legally recognized proceeding and the decision here will be held up in any court in the world."
Pansy took up the explanation that she and Hermione had thought up just an hour ago. "I am Head Girl and Terry Boot is Head Boy. Unfortunately, I can not sit in judgment due to my closeness to Draco. Hermione can not take my place because of her closeness to Harry. Since I am Head Girl I am allowed to pick my replacement from the prefects of any House. We have decided on Susan Bones."
"Perfect." Greg laughed. Everyone knew that Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was Susan Bones' aunt and a great friend and staunch supporter of Harry Potter.
"We have to move fast." Lord Malfoy said. He had been quiet until now because he had wanted to see if Harry's trust, or what trust he did give, was well placed. He was pleased to see that it was.
"We can send the appropriate messages out and we are positive once everyone is informed no one will decline to participate." Pansy inclined her head in acknowledgment at the unspoken sentiment in the older Malfoy's voice.
Lord Malfoy quirked an eyebrow back at her and then just stated more clearly what he had meant in the first place. "I mean move fast to start proceedings before the Ministry finds out and tries to stop you."
"I umm…" Ron said sheepishly, "I already did that. I owled my Dad, he'll take care of the Ministry side."
"And your sister?" Draco asked sharply.
Ron was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "Ginny is…no longer a Weasley." Once again he had surprised the Slytherin's. "The family vote was unanimous. Mum searched her room. What she found confirmed our worse fears. She was very…disturbed. She had, well, let's just say that she fancied herself in love with Harry and nothing was going to stand in her way. She is my sister but even that can not overcome what she has done. She had the diary." Ron noticed the only one that reacted to that statement was Hermione and the elder Malfoy.
The two men looked each other in the eye and Ron noticed the hidden guilt there. If this got out and Draco found out then it could potentially hurt his son's chances to win his mate. Ron nodded once to Lord Malfoy before continuing to let him know he would never tell his son. "I am positive that she will try something else. We need to make sure that Harry is safe."
Draco nodded before turning to his Father. "Let's write the messages and get them sent out. I want…," here he paused as an unreadable emotion passed over his face and he drew in a sharp breath. "Can you do that so that I can go to the infirmary and check on Harry?" It was clear he was trying very hard to hide the anxiety in his voice and his shaking hands but that kind of intense feelings were always hard to hide in a Veela that had found its mate but had yet to bond with them.
Pansy started hesitantly, "Draco, it would look better if you wrote the messages yourself. As the Veela you have that right. You only need four yeses to proceed. Anyone who does not want to adjoin the Court can decline or sit in judgment. You are Harry's mate, Draco, show him that. And show the world it can not mess with either of you or the consequences would be great."
"I don't bloody care about the world." Draco snarled, his voice was very cold and the outside edges of his body seemed to fade out a little, a clear indication of the Veela in him trying to take control. His eyes flashed liked lightening and his hands curled into tight fists on the arms of his chair.
"We know, Draco."
"Fine," Draco huffed in annoyance, "bring me some parchment. The faster I get done the faster I can see Harry."
Everyone chuckled but moved to do what was necessary. This wasn't a Veela Court but Draco was also a Wizard and Harry was the Boy-Who-Lived. If needed, the Malfoy's would take the complaint to a full Veela Court but Draco didn't think that they would need to do that. The Student Court could legally strip Ginny Weasley of her magic if she was found guilty. Draco preferred death. She had touched his mate. She had kissed him! She had hurt his mate so deeply that he had lost a sense of himself! Yes, death would be merciful. He planned on pain, lots and lots of pain.
While he wrote out the messages he could hear the others talking quietly. Hermione and Ron came closer to him but they were whispering to each other and he couldn't hear what they were saying.
"Just tell him!" Hermione hissed and Draco's head jerked up at that.
"Tell me what?" He was slightly confused. Except for the last hour he hadn't had a decent conversation with either of them and he had no clue what else they needed to tell him.
Hermione bit her lip and then gave him a small smile. "We would like to talk to you about Harry before you go."
Draco scowled; he really wanted to see his mate. But he also couldn't pass up the chance to learn more about him either. He gestured for them to sit and then waited patiently, well, as patiently as he could. It included a lot of sneers and finger tapping but it was patience.
Ron sighed and leaned forward with his arms braced on his legs and a look of concentration on his face. Hermione patted him on the arm and then looked back to Draco.
"Harry does not know that we know he is gay." Draco started at that. The thought of his mate's preferences had never crossed his mind and he hadn't known how relieved that information made him. Hermione grinned and then continued, "he really hasn't had any opportunities either."
It took a second for Draco to realize what she meant. His mate was a virgin! The smile that crossed his face was not one that a virgin, though he was one himself, should have. "Really?"
Hermione nodded. "Until he was eleven years old he grew up in a very restrictive Muggle environment. Gay was a dirty word there, and Harry was perforce influenced by his relatives' opinion on the matter. It wasn't until after his Uncle's death that he received his first hug from his Aunt." Hermione sighed sadly before continuing, "he is afraid of our reactions; of anybody's reaction! With you he is confused, because he is attracted by the whole package of being a Veela's mate and what it has to offer. The love and warmth he has never had…but at the same time you are a boy and…if you have been taught since you can remember to believe certain things, it is very difficult to accept that they were wrong. When he came here he felt that he could finally be Harry. But that wasn't to be the case; he had to be the Boy-Who-Lived. And since then he has always been conscious of the fact that if he attempted a relationship in our world that he couldn't guarantee that they were with him for him or for his fame."
Draco nodded as it made perfect sense to him. He had had the same thoughts as well. Would his mate want him for his own sake or because he was a Veela? And all magical creatures grew up with stories of the wonders of being a Veela's mate! When he found out his mate was Harry one of the first thoughts that he had had was that he was glad it was someone who would understand his position in his world and in the Wizard world.
Ron snorted but stopped at the quelling look from his girlfriend. He sounded reluctant to say what he was about to say but speak he did. "He was always conscious that if he had any relationships in our world, he would always doubt it would be for his sake alone. That damn Muggle Uncle of his always told him he was worth less than nothing. That he was a freak and that nobody would ever love him. If he weren't already dead I am sure the Veela in you would search him out to kill him. Harry knows now that he was exceptionally cruel…yet, ingrained beliefs are hard to be rid of. Harry has still, deep down, a very low opinion of himself. The relationship he has now with his Aunt and Dudley, his cousin, has helped him overcome some of those insecurities."
Both Hermione and Ron knew that they were telling things about Harry's life that he probably did not want anyone to know about but they had talked and had decided that if they could help Draco understand a little bit about Harry before he sat down to really talk to him that the acceptance would go a lot smoother. And what everyone in this room wanted was for Harry to accept Draco's Veela claim with as little problems as possible.
Draco's voice was small and wavering when he next spoke after a few minutes of tense silence. A sense of foreboding washed through the young Veela as he forced himself to speak from now cold and trembling lips, "you keep saying 'our world'. Does that mean he has had a relationship in the Muggle world?"
Both Hermione and Ron hesitated but when they saw the growing panic on the other boy's face they rushed to reassure him. "No!"
Hermione stopped Ron from speaking with a pointed look, got down on her knees beside Draco's chair, and held a shaking hand in her own. "I will not lie to you Draco. He did try-" Hermione was interrupted by the painful cry from the now shaking Veela.
Those three words made it feel as if Draco's life had come crashing down. The burning acid of jealousy swamped him. Harry! His Harry had looked to someone else for love! He felt betrayed! He felt helpless, a failure. He had no control over his now shaking body and his heart, that was suppose to beat in tune with his mate's, turned over and hurt so badly that Draco was sure it was going to stop. The sense of wrongness was back in full force.
For a Veela, just the thought that someone else had touched their mate gave them a sense of unworthiness. Added to the events of last night and not being able to protect his bedine, the feelings grew so quickly and so strongly that Draco could not handle them. He knew, logically, that just because Harry was his mate didn't mean that he couldn't have been with someone else. But panic always overrode logic.
Hermione saw, out of the corner of her eye, Mrs. Malfoy rush over to hug her son and start to rock him all the while whispering soft calming words. Draco's sobs were hard to hear for anyone in that room. It actually gave testament to the Veela's commitment to his undeclared mate that he was so quickly overcome. No one looked away, though they all knew that when Draco recovered, the Slytherin in him would not appreciate them all seeing him like this. But the Veela's emotions were paramount and Draco had no choice but to hang on for the ride.
It was Lord Malfoy that was able to calm his son. Though his mouth was set in a tight line his words were said in a soft, calm tone. "Draco…son, nothing happened."
Blaise shook her head; a Veela in this state would not be brought back by a few words, "how do you know?"
The older Veela sighed. "I have been working with him for a while now. Believe me son, nothing happened. I came to know him quite well, and in a moment of weakness he confided in me, about his attempt at a relationship with a Muggle, and of how it failed miserably. He was quite upset that he could not seem to manage any kind of rapport; he felt he was lacking in some ways. But we do know now why that was, don't we, my Draco? Nothing happened. Because nothing could happen!"
Pansy knelt beside Hermione and took Draco's other hand. "Please Draco. Listen to us. Harry is still yours. He is free. Please, calm down, we can beat this. You can beat this."
Over and over again soft words were spoken until the crying finally slowed and Draco had himself under control again, it took a very long time.
Draco's human side knew, logically, that just because Harry was his mate didn't mean that he couldn't have been with someone else. But the Veela in him couldn't even think it, let alone hear it. Sitting there hearing that Harry might had been with someone else had been enough to bring back all of his earlier helplessness. A Veela's mate was for a Veela! No one else. Ever. But Harry had another life in the Muggle world, a life that Draco didn't know about, had never seen. All these thoughts had run through his head as the feelings grew to such heights it made him dizzy Draco forced himself to speak from now cold and trembling lips.
"I am s...sorry. I..." Draco tried to apologize to everyone but they all brushed it off. Each of them could see what he had just gone through but only his Father, a Veela himself, could really understand. That Draco, a proud Slytherin, had broken down in front of two of the people he had considered enemies just two days ago gave evidence to how bad off he really had been. If he had been in his right mind this would never had happened but the Veela in him was at the front of his consciousness and that part of him had just heard that his mate, his bedine, had been with someone else. Giving his mind frame of the moment it took him longer to absorb and understand what his Father had just said.
Draco lifted his tear stained face to his Father. His voice was a little harsh but from the crying and not the anger. Still, jealousy and suspicion lingered. "Working?"
The older Veela could have gotten angry at the tone of his son's voice but he didn't. "I am his partner." Lucius was going to leave it at that but then figured a little bit more explanation would not hurt. "He helped me when Toshiri was captured."
"Toshiri?" Ron asked sharply. The name sounded familiar but he couldn't place it. Draco and Mrs. Malfoy, along with his friends, were already nodding in understanding. Hermione leaned over and whispered in Ron's ear and then he added his own nod to the group.
The smooth aristocratic tones got on Ron's nerves but he said nothing about it as the older Veela continued. "Toshiri is a Prince of the Air Clan. He was captured by Greyback last year. I had no one to turn to so, in desperation, I contacted Mr. Potter. He helped me…gain his release and got shot in the process." The second he said that he knew it was the wrong thing to say.
The younger Veela roared and tried to attack his Father when he heard about the injury to his Alona.
"Draco, stop!" The commanding voice of his Mother was the only thing that held him in his chair. Hermione and Pansy had scrambled away so that they didn't get hurt. The only sound in the room was the harsh breathing and a not-so-quite- sob from the shaking boy in the chair.
Lucius knelt by his son's chair and drew him into his arms. He didn't care that he had just shattered the Malfoy Image of Aloofness; his son needed him and one thing everyone knew about Veela's was that Family came first, always- of course, that brings up the question of 'What the hell was he thinking by taking sides with Voldemort?- but no one mentioned that. His words were disjointed and had none of his usual elegance. "He was fine. It happened sometime back. He and I have been partners since then. We worked well together and decided that from time to time we could help each other. I would never have let him be seriously hurt even before I knew he was your Alona. I have a great deal of respect for that young man, my Son. You must come to accept that part of him or you may well lose him. He is Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, and he will be that for the rest of his life. He must fight the good fight, it is what makes him who and what he is and you will not be able to stop him." Lucius drew back and looked deep into his sons tear and pain filled eyes. "You have to accept him too Draco…all of him."
Hermione saw the understanding finally cross the young Veela's face before she said with a voice that was warm and caring, though she was still on the floor a few feet away from him, she was no longer afraid of him either. "He will love you Draco, take my word for it." The others backed away again as it was clear that the two Gryffindors had something else to say to the Slytherin Prince.
Draco nodded and the tense look that had been growing around his eyes eased. Hearing her say that gave the Veela in him a chance to start to calm down. That side of him had reared up at the delay but now he was glad that they cared enough about their best friend to help him, Draco, someone they hated. Ron hissing at his girlfriend brought him out of his thoughts of all the harm done to his hayana. He had been getting better since he had found his mate but sometimes he still found his thoughts wandering and this was one time that he felt justified about it too. "What?"
Hermione turned to Ron and said loudly and clearly, "if you want him to know then you tell him Ron Weasley and stop hissing at me."
Of course that made everyone in the room turn back to them to see what else was going on. No one said anything though. Draco didn't want to wait any longer so he sneered at the red-headed Gryffindor sitting in front of him. "What do you need to tell me of my mate, Weasley?"
Ron threw him a dirty look but at a jab in his side from Hermione's elbow he finally relented. "Harry…he's powerful. He's strong physically and mentally. But when it comes to his feelings, his reasonings, he's-" Ron drew a hand through his hair, "he's like a stone statue. There is nothing there."
Draco was confused, again. Was he saying there was something wrong with his mate? He honestly did not think he could handle anything else. For the first time that anyone in the room could recall Draco reached out and laid a hand on Ronald Weasley, his long time enemy, without hatred or anger and he whispered brokenly, "please tell me."
Ron nodded. His voice was low making the others in the room come nearer. They didn't know if they should hear this but all of them knew if it was something that would help them win Harry for Draco that they needed to know. "He wants so much to be held that when the chance comes up - he pushes it away. He wants so much that he has trained himself to not want at all. Merlin! I am not saying this right."
Ron sighed as he stared off into a corner of the room. No one said anything as he tried to get his thoughts in order. If anyone knew Harry, it was he.
"He is so powerful that he feels powerless. That is a downfall of any man no matter their wants. He is the strongest person I know and yet as brittle as thin glass. He has the strongest set of morals of anyone I have ever met or even heard of, yet, he is still a child in most matters…and can still be hurt." Lord Malfoy's tone was quiet and filled with a dignity that served his station in life but underneath it all was also a tone of hurt for one he knew was in pain but for whom he had no help to give.
"Right now…" Draco said with a small smile, "he's…okay."
"How do you know?" Hermione asked.
"I can feel him." Draco said with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"Not possible." Blaise said with a sharp look.
"As we have just established - he is powerful." Draco's eyes flashed and the wicked smile that graced his lips was in direct contrast to the gentle blush spreading across his cheeks.
"Draco!" Mrs. Malfoy said softly in admonishment but her lips were quirking in a smile of her own.
"I tell you it is not possible!" Blaise snapped.
"Why not?" Greg demanded. He didn't understand what Blaise's problem was. So Draco could feel his mate, big deal.
"Because, besides the natural dungeon wards for Hogwarts you have the Slytherin wards, the Malfoy wards, the Veela wards, and two overlapping EMPATHIC wards!"
Hermione gasped.
"As I said - not possible." Blaise jumped up and walked around the room muttering a long string of Latin. Only the Malfoy's and Hermione understood what she was doing. She stopped as she came full circle and looked back to Draco. "You can feel him?" She whispered in awe.
Draco smiled so beautifully and full of emotion he no longer had to suppress that it made all of the others in the room wish that his smile had been directed towards them even, strangely, his parents. "Oh, yes."
"Now…" he held a hand out impatiently for the papers that Greg now held, after a few minutes of tense silence where everyone processed what he had just said. "Give!"
The laughter was surprisingly light and friendly considering who was in the room and why they were all there. It bode well for the development of the fledgling friendship in the coming days. He quickly finished filling out the parchments not really paying attention to whom he was writing. He just automatically wrote what was dictated to him. Then he dropped his quill and immediately left the room taking no notice of the laughter that still made the rounds of the room. At first he did not even acknowledge Weasley-Ron- who was walking beside him.
Half-way to the infirmary Draco stopped and it took Ron a few seconds to realize it before he too stopped and turned to face the once again shaking Veela. Draco was again pale and sweaty, they really had kept him away from Harry for too long, he looked pitiful. Ron never thought he would feel sorry for the Slytherin who had made his school life hell for the last six years but he did now. Of course the words that came out of said shaking individual made him forget his pity and jump straight back to an instinctive resentment.
"Weasley, will you mind to terribly much if I killed your sister?"
Ron stared at him angrily, ready to attack at the unmitigated gall of the boy before him, with one of his well known poisonous retorts but stopped just in time when he realized that Ginny's fate was no longer his concern. It hurt because he was closer to her than to any of his brothers. But what she had done! Merlin! How could he condone that? And Malfoy had, after all, asked for permission! There was a joke in there he just knew it, he was sure the twins would see the humour in it some where.
He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "it is your right as a Veela, but do bear in mind that Harry would never, ever forgive you! No matter what the provocation, you do not want to face Harry's wrath. She may have done him harm, but Harry will always see her as his 'little sister' and no one touches what Harry considers his family. I know that Veela's hold Family as paramount, but you do not know just how starved for affection Harry's life has been. You should have been there when he first came to the Burrow, in the summer he turned eleven." Ron drew a deep breath. Though he could not stand what Ginny had done to Harry, she was still his sister and she still had a place in his heart that had not yet hardened against her. "Harry expected to be ordered about and treated as a house-elf, for he was used to being treated that way. When he realized that he would be accepted as a beloved member of the family, you could have touched his gratitude with your bare hands. It was heartbreaking, and I was eleven and really didn't understand what was going on! No, he would not forgive you any harm to a member of his 'Family'. If you want Harry's love you will keep that thought always in the forefront of your mind. It is that important!"
Draco stared at the young man before him. Ron Weasley had never been an elegant speaker but these words came from the deepest part of his being and it showed. "My Mother is right, Ron. You have done your Family proud. I thank you for your support from my very soul. You have shown that you clearly know Harry and not just the image and for that I thank you."
Ron grinned, a very relieved grin, "good! Let's drop this seriousness and leave it to the others." He held out his hand, "to Harry."
Draco glanced at the hand and without hesitation reached out to grab it with a sharp nod. "To Harry."
When Draco lifted his hand and reached for Ron's he saw something that immediately drew his attention. If he wasn't mistaken wrapped around the freckled, muscular wrist of his once enemy was a thick silver bracelet. One that looked remarkably like one he had seen on Hermione's smaller wrist earlier when she had grabbed his arm and one he knew he had seen adorn Harry's wrist just last night. And since he knew he wasn't mistaken about what they were, his Veela side quickly rose up with a low growl and a harsh wrench. The humor faded from his tone and expression so quick the other boy didn't stand a chance to get away.
In seconds Ron Weasley was kneeling in front of the enraged Veela- his arm up and around in an obviously vulnerable position- a wand at his throat.
"Malfoy! What-" Ron managed to squeak out. He didn't move, didn't breathe, as he struggled with the instinctive reaction to strike back.
Draco snarled down at the helpless boy, just barely managing to be understood as his voice was thick with rage, "You have a bond bracelet on? Harry has one too! You tell me right now what the hell is going on Weasley or you will not live another ten minutes!"
Ron gulped and drew a shaky breath as he tried to calm himself and the Veela before he did something he would regret later. Or that Ron hoped he would regret later. Veela or not this was still Malfoy, and a Slytherin, no matter what his instincts were telling him to do. Ron knew he was doing it because he was afraid that someone had gotten to his mate first. Ron understood what was happening. Unfortunately for him, in the unfamiliar submissive position he was in, it didn't help.
"Fifth year." Ron stuttered out quickly. "We did a bond- a blood bond. It was the only way we could think of to save him."
"We?"
"Hermione and I."
"Save him from what?" The question was asked quietly and slowly as if he knew, and dreaded, the answer.
"Killing himself."
Those two words froze the young Veela in shock. Ron stared up at him from the floor not knowing what was going to happen next.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ginny's eyes snapped open as she tried to move. She snarled in rage as the realization hit her that she couldn't. She was tied down. Why? Then she remembered her attempt to get Harry last night and that her last memory had been of flying through the air and hitting the wall. Her vision went red and her whole body flushed as she remembered the feel of Harry's body underneath her own. But she had failed! She couldn't fail. She had to get to Harry before that abomination did.
She whispered the word to change her bracelet back into her spare wand. She had searched for a long time for that spell. Once the wand was in her hand she freed herself and stalked towards the door.
Harry was hers and no Veela bitch was going to take him away!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The explosion that rocked Hogwarts was felt from the Quidditch Pitch to Hogsmead and from the tallest Tower to the lowest Dungeon.
The silence that followed was surprisingly loud in its wake.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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.
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. It has been a rough few months. I don't think that I have ever been this far between posts, it has never taken me so long. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to leave me a post about it, good and bad.
I am sorry about the wait for this chapter and thank you for your patience.
Mate: alona, bedine, and hayana
For those of you that didn't know it: Professor Sinistra's first name is Aurora.
ENJOY!
LMG