The Morning after the Night Before

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing. All rights belong to J.K. Rowling and the film producers, including but not exclusively Warner Brothers.

Warning: This Will Soon Become A SLASH Story. Don't like, Don't Read

Ron was the first one awake in the Gryffindor tower, and as such, he was the first person to notice that Harry had not returned to bed last night. 'He's with that bloody Slytherin.' Ron thought to himself. 'I don't know what he see's in him. He tortured Hermione and has bullied us since the beginning. How can Harry forgive him for that?'

Meanwhile, in the Head Boy's bedroom, Harry woke up to find himself in a very unfamiliar, yet surprisingly comfortable position. For a moment, he was startled. This wasn't the Gryffindor Tower. If he wasn't there, then where was he? As he looked around the room, the memories of yesterday slowly returned to him and he calmed. He was safe. The Locking and Repelling charms that he and Draco had put up around the bedroom were so strong, that it would take more than one person to attempt to remove them. Unfortunately, if the twinge in Harry's magic was anything to go by, that was exactly what people were trying to do. A minute or so later, Harry felt the charms collapse. Dracco must have felt the magic failing as, he too sat up, looking annoyed and startled.

'You think that they would realise that we wanted privacy, if we put that many locks around the room.' Draco huffed, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

'I agree. Surely they must have realised that the Locking and Repelling Charms were there to repel people and to give us some privacy. If the school finds out that they can destroy the charms just by working together, we won't be able to get a moment's privacy anywhere.' Harry replied, turning to look at his dishevelled mate.

'But, if they've taken down the charms, why haven't they come in already? There's nothing stopping them now.' Draco asked, looking at his mate, who had a look of intense concentrationon his face. It was at that point that Draco realised that his mate was glowing. He could feel the intensity of the magic that was radiating off of Harry and, he instinctively knew that interrupting his mate at this point would be stupid and potentially dangerous. A few moments later, the magic receeded and Harry collapsed back down onto the mattress, looking rather shocked.

'What did you do, Harry?' Draco asked in amazement. 'What just happened?'

'I'm not sure' Harry answered sheepishly. 'I felt this power just welling up inside of me and I knew that I needed to direct it somewhere so that I didn't hurt either of us. So, I focused it on the door, and I think i've managed to construct some wards, tuned to let only certain people in here.'

'And who might those people be?'

'Me and you, obviously. And then Snape, Your father and Blaise.'

'Why...' Draco's question was interrupted by a pounding on the door. Harry wearily trudged over to it and opened it a fraction.

'What happened here?' Professor Mcgonagall asked, looking like she had run all the way here. 'Who constructed these wards? They take immense power to do so and I want to know who else is in the room.'

'But Professor, there is only me and Draco in the room. I think I moight have constructed those wards. I got annoyed at someone removing our locking charms and so I focused all my magic onto creating a new stronger one. That's all I remember, but when I came out of the trance, Draco said that I had been glowing and that he could feel the magic radiating from me.'

'Harry, I never said that. I thought it, but I never said it. So, how can you know what I was thinking? Professor, do you have any ideas?'

'No Boys, unfortunately, I don't. It may be another aspect of your bond that we haven't considered yet.'

The room was silent for a few minutes, whilst all of it's occupants sat thinking. The silence was eventually broken by Draco, who was preparing to speak his thoughts.

'I was just thinking back through everything that my dad told me about my inheritance. I remember him mentioning something about being able to read your mate's thoughts, but I'm pretty sure that he also said that it only happens to bonded couples. I'll have to remember to ask him about that this afternoon.'

'Your father is coming this afternoon!' exclaimed Harry and McGonagall at the same time.

'Oh, yes. Did I forget to mention that. As Lord and Head of the family, he is coming to be formally introduced to my mate. He doesn't know who it is yet but, I know that he will be really happy for me. Especially as you are accepting me. My father's mate accepted him, but then my Grandfather arranged the marriage to Narcissa instead so, they were seperated.'

'You mean that Narcissa is not your father's mate?' Harry asked, not noticing Professor Mcgonagall stand up and leave, closing the door behind her.

'No. My father is only still with her, because once she became pregnant with me, his mating instincts were transferred to her. Howver, now that I am an adult in the eys of the law, and they no longer have to care for me, he can divorce Narcissa, and bond with his true mate.'

The next few hours of the morning for the two boys were spent telling tales of their past and getting to know each other better.

Meanwhile though, others were not so relaxed. As soon as she had left Draco's room, Professor Mcgonagall had headed straight to the Headmasters office to inform him of their visitor for the afternoon. However, much to her dismay, the Headmaster was not there. After casting a location spell, she headed of to the unused wing of the castle, previously used as quarters for engaged couples and their families. She found the Headmaster organising two suites, and casting strong wards around each of the bedrooms.

'Headmaster! What are you doing?'

'Ah! Minerva, I was meaning to see you this morning. I am arranging the suites for our couple and young Mister Malfoy's father. After all, he is coming to teach here.'

'He's teaching here? What subject? Last time I checked, we had a full complement of teachers.'

'Ah yes. At the moment, of course, we do. But, when Remus goes on paternity leave next week, to look after his wife, we are going to need a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.'

'But really Professor Dumbledore! Is Lord Malfoy really the right choice? Surely there are many parents who would object to their children being taught by an ex-death eater?'

Professor Dumbledore refused to answer, and merely continued organising the rooms as if Professor McGonagall were no longer there. Taking the hint, Professor McGonagall left, calling a staff meeting to inform the other teachers of Lord Malfoy's visit and new position.

A few hours later, much to her surprise, the only teacher who had any objection to Lord Malfoy being a teacher was Professor Snape, and that was merely on the grounds that he beieved that Lord Malfoy would favour his son and that this would cause problems among the other houses.

As Professor McGonagall climbed the many winding staircases to the headmaster's office, she wondered how the parents would react. True, Lord Malfoy had put his life at risk, spying for the order in the last year of the war, and true, it was he who helped out in the final battle, helping the order to become victorious but still, did Professor Dumbledore really believe that the parents would be willing to overlook his previous deeds as a Death Eater and allow him to teach their children? Surely many would protest?

As she reached the Gargoyle gurading the headmaster's office, and uttered the password 'strawberry laces', she was met by a surprising sight. Dumbledore's office, rather than being empty like the last time she had visited, was now full of people. Present, in the the office at that time, were Harry, Draco, Severus, Dumbledore himself, Lord Malfoy and several others from the teaching staff who had come to welcome the new professor. She was taken aback to see that even Professor Lupin was there, ready to greet the man who was effectively taking his job from him.

'Ah, Minerva, there you are!' Dumbledore smiled as she entered the already crowded office, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses. 'Professor Malfoy has just arrived. Maybe you could accompany us and the boys to their new rooms, seeing as you already know where they are?'

'Congratulations again, Professor Malfoy, and good luck! DADA is a great subject, but it does get difficult to teach sometimes, and the students do get quite hard to control. Still, I'm sure you won't have a problem.' Lupin shook his successors hand firmly, before bidding him and the rest of the room farewell. He then stepped into the Floo, cried 'Grimmauld Place' and left to be with his wife.

'Professors Malfoy and McGonagall, Harry and Draco, if you'd like to follow me please.' Said Professor Dumbledore, as he headed for the door of his office. They proceeded down many long corridors, to the unused area of the castle. 'This part of the castle hasn't been used in a while. It was previously used to house engaged couples and their families, but, there hasn't been a need for that in a while. Draco and Harry, you will be sharing a suite. Professor Malfoy, your rooms are next door.'

As they entered the suite intended for them, Harry and Draco couldn't help but notice the size. The sitting room was easily larger than the Gryffindor Common Room, so they had no doubts that their bedrooms would be spacious as well.

'Mister Potter, your bedroom is on the left, it is warded so that people may only enter upon invitation from you. Veela have been known to get a bit... out of control during their courtship. Mister Malfoy, your bedroom is on the right, and is warded in the same fashion. Well, if that is all, we will leave the three of you to get better acquainted with one another.' And with that, she and Professor Dumbledore turned and left.

'Mister Potter. It is such a pleasure to meet you again, under infinitely better circumstances than our last meeting. I am extremely happy to hear that you have accepted the bond with my son, and I swear upon the house of Malfoy, that as long as this is the case, you will have our backing, wealth and protection. Welcome to the family.'

'Uh... Thank you Sir.' Harry stuttered, cursing his nerves. This was only Draco's father. It wasn't as if he were in battle with Voldemort. But, at that point, Harry felt as if the battle was far more preferable than this meeting.'

'Harry, shall we have a look around these rooms? I'm glad we finally have somewhere where we can be alone.' Draco saw a look of nervousness cross Harry's face as his father was speaking, and he wanted to do anything to make sure that Harry wasn't going to feel like that all afternoon.

'At last Dumbledore has been able to do something properly. That man may have defeated Grindlewald, but he is getting old now, and he just isn't the same man he was when he was younger. He has become far more controlling. Maybe, as such a powerful wizard, he hasn't had anyone standing up to him pointing out where he is wrong. He was stubborn when he was younger and he is even more stubborn now.' Lord Malfoy had also noticed the look of terror on the young man's face, and so changed tack, in an attempt to appear less imposing.

'I agree!' Harry exclaimed. 'He has spent all of his time since I came to Hogwarts controlling my life. I wasn't too bothered by it, when he was telling me how I could fulfill my desting and beat Voldemort, but now that he is dead, I just wish he would back off a bit and let me control my life. Last year, he tried to choose my NEWT's for me, but that was where I drew the line. He can involve himself in all the trivial things he wants, like my supposed friendship with Ron and Hermione, but he can't choose my future for me. I'm not going to become an Auror, just because he wants me to and the wizarding world expects it!'

After this minor outburst, the rest of the afternoon was spent getting to know each other better. Harry realised that Lucius, for that is how he wished to be adressed, was a much kinder and more caring person that Harry had ever expected. Lucius learnt that Harry was not the spoilt self-centered young boy that Voldemort had made him out to be and was in fact a mature young man. Draco hadn't really learnt anything, but he was just thrilled that his father and his mate were getting on so well.