Harry Potter and the Love of a Veela

Chapter 4 - Return to Hogwarts

(Bitterness and Rivalry)

By: Schittlez

The wind was cruel. It seemed like nothing was going to give him a break. As he clasped onto his ticket, his knuckles going white, he thrust himself through the crowd, head down and eyes shut. No one recognized him as he parted through the sea of students on Platform nine and three-quarters. Who would think Draco Malfoy to act in such a manner? Draco was always given the red carpet treatment. Two aristocratic, adored figures standing by his side as the current sea would normally part to let them pass, showing nothing but the utmost respect. But his parents were not there and Draco did not wish to be seen, so he was taken as none other but one of them. Shoulders shoving and feet stomping on him were not taken lightly by his anger but he couldn't care less. They could die as far as he was concerned. All of them could. If only to avenge him for what had happened. He deserved none of this. To have his life destroyed and flipped upside down in a matter of less than a month was no deed that should have been done to a Malfoy.

Yes, the wind was cruel. It whipped his hair in all different directions as he made his way to the Hogwarts Express. His carry-on bag was clutched tightly in his other hand as his robes whipped at his sides, exposing his cold, thinly covered legs. They seethed with hate as much as the rest of him did. His muscles clenched, just like the teeth hiding beneath his lips. He dared not part them when he made his way onto the train and few students took notice of him enough to greet him. They were brave—brave indeed. The temptation to hex them all into oblivion was none shorter than great.

At least the rain spared him as it waited to fall until after he entered the train. The horn blowing and steam billowing outside to warn the late, straggling students to make haste was distant in his mind as he settled himself in an empty cabin. He indulged in the moment of silence, knowing it would end too soon, when Crabbe and Goyle would search for him and invite themselves in through his wall of privacy as they always did. It was the price to pay when one was well known. Everyone wanted to see and be near him. He wanted them to keel over. There was a time when popularity and status was something he could never see himself living without. It seemed like now he would give anything to have people, especially those two lackeys, ignore him right now. Malfoy was not in his right mind at the moment. He wanted to be alone to think things through.

And as if thinking these thoughts triggered an unwanted fate, the compartment door slid open and two, hulking figures stood in the doorway. They sat down without a moment's notice when they realized the occupant of the small area and started to make conversation.

It was all the same for Malfoy. These two were not nearly intellectual enough to utter phrases past, "How's it going?" and "How was your summer?" After light conversation, Malfoy drifted off into his own world. It wasn't hard to ignore them. They never took notice whenever small talk veered towards food.

On cue, a trolley started to take route down the aisles of the train after the Hogwarts Express began to make its way across the tracks to its destination. A sea of students followed and made way towards it, impatient for it to make its way to their compartment.

It was the worst time for his Veela senses to start kicking in. The last thing he needed was to literally feel the emotions and hear the heightened volumes of kids excitedly purchasing sweets to cause their hyperactive moods to be kicked into overdrive. But there was one strong emotion; one tiny scoff carried in the distance that his ears barely picked up, that was far from happy. On the contrary, the only thing this one being seemed to be eager for was solitude—same as Draco himself. And as if lightning tore through his senses and jolted him back to reality, he knew who that person was. He could just feel it all over. No proof, just knowing… it was his mate.

He pushed past Crabbe and Goyle, who were busy hovering over the trolley and knocking over smaller students who were trying to do the same, darting his way through the aisles. He searched the train section by section. His rational mind was screaming, 'what the hell are you doing?' but his body wouldn't respond. The only thing Draco's body was obeying was an impulse. It felt no shame as it pushed over students and threw opened doors. The only thing important to this new Malfoy was this person and it would get to its goal no matter what.

Steam erupted from the train, which sounded off its last alarm. Remaining students on the platform were giving last minute hugs and hurried good-byes as they rushed to the Hogwarts Express. One of these students was Harry. He was bidding one more goodbye to his former professor, Lupin.

"Alright Harry, you better get going. Remember what I told you. Stay to yourself during the full moon. Other than that, you should be okay. I've sent Dumbledore a message about what's been going on and he'll be arranging a meeting with you later."

"How were you able to do that? I thought owls would be intercepted even more, now that everyone finally believes Voldemort's returned. That's not information you should deliver freely."

"Oh, they are increasing security, especially at school, Harry. There are more ways than one to contact people. Trust me. Dumbledore and I are the only living souls who know. And he'll be helping you through the school year to control your new abilities."

"I'm surprised he doesn't know already and just hasn't said anything like always," Harry scoffed.

"Now, don't go picking with Dumbledore already. You haven't even gotten to school yet. Now hurry, before you won't even be able to get there."

"Alright," Harry sighed. He was quickly embraced by Lupin before being shoved reluctantly towards the train.

Out of all his years going to Hogwarts, this was one year he wished he could do without. Too many things were going on around him, and inside him, for him to deal with much else. Homework, detention, exams, not even Quidditch was something he needed to worry about right now. At least Lupin had been very helpful over the summer. Aiding with Harry's hungers, helping him grieve over Sirius, discussing ideas about Voldemort's next possible action. Most things might have seemed depressing, but it helped Harry cope more when he was actually able to speak out and not be told everything was okay. More importantly, Remus helped him hone his senses, making them more controllable, although sometimes they still got out of hand.

Right now was one of those moments. Students were frantically mowing over the aisles, trying to find places to sit, looking for their friends they hadn't seen in months and trying to see if the trolley would be coming soon, now that the train had departed. The noise was bad enough for normal ears, but so many students talking in one area and so many heightened emotions were enough to make him want to hurl.

He rushed as quickly as he could towards the back of the train, hurrying to find a seat before the crowd slowly dissipated and the few left in the halls would finally take notice to him. He disguised himself well. His recent change in height left him inconspicuous and his longer bangs not only covered his scar but his eyes.

One person caught sight of him, however. The fifth year girl seemed immune to being ignorant toward most things others took no notice to.

"Hi Harry!" Luna Lovegood shouted as she tried to make way, past the sea of girls and boys, towards one student who only wished to be alone.

Harry tried to hurry as he finally made it to an empty compartment, but failed to lose her. She quickly swooped in, before he could even try and get the door closed, and sat firmly across from him. He sighed as he pasted on a fake smile. He couldn't help but try and be nice, although he was screaming for her to go away. She just seemed so much more excited than usual; but then again, Luna always seemed to like Harry more than the other students.

"Hey Luna," Harry said, trying to seem happy to see her.

"My, you've grown a bit. How was your summer? Mine was much more eventful than usual. Usually, I stay at home by myself while my dad travels to find new articles for The Quibbler, but it seems the only story he's been interested in lately is our story at the Department of Mysteries. But isn't everyone all over that story now? It's just crazy how that's all you see in newspapers and magazines now. I mean they can't stop going on and on about you and You-know-who and how the Minister was a crackpot, which I already knew…"

Harry slowly dazed out as Luna rambled on and on about the public going on about him and being on his side now. He was surprised she could even mutter more than two sentences per hour. She even mentioned how she had gotten a few article spots here and there about her involvement with the incident. Harry doubted that what few reporters who showed interest in Luna made her appear like a surviving hero. Instead, they probably veered more towards her looking like a goofball tag-along of Harry's and only spoke to Luna in hopes of her babbling about him. She seemed pleased to have people listen to her nonetheless.

More importantly, she almost glowed when she talked about how her very own father put her on the front page of the September issue of his paper entitled; Family Member Stands by Harry's Side Against all Odds. Luna seemed rather proud of herself as she brandished a pre-release copy.

This was the most emotion Luna ever shone toward Harry, and he let her as the minutes ticked away and he hoped either someone else would come and interrupt so she could finally cease her rambles, or for her to go away altogether.

One hope came true as the compartment door slowly slid open.

"Look Harry. There's even a picture of you on-"

"Harry! We thought we'd never find you, mate."

As Ron rambled, Hermione immediately plopped down on the seat next to him and gave Harry a hug. Harry felt his lungs being squeezed by his very own ribcage, as Hermione showed no signs of letting go.

"Oy, 'Moine! Let him breathe," Ron laughed as he took a seat next to Luna, completely unknowing to her presence, let alone the fact that he just interrupted her.

"Sorry, Harry…" Hermione trailed off as she pulled away and looked at his face. Her smile quickly faltered as she gazed at her pale friend. "Harry? What's happened to you over the summer?"

Harry felt himself grow hot. He had no intention of telling them something he hadn't even completely coped with himself. Ron was also now taking in Harry's slight change in appearance. Harry took resentment as he tore his eyes away from their gaze. He didn't look that different, did he?

"What do you mean?" Harry retorted more so towards the floor than Hermione.

Hermione raised a concerned eyebrow. His actions weren't helping her become less ignorant towards the situation. "What do you mean, 'what do I mean'? You look different. What happened?"

"Nothing happened Hermione. I just changed. No one knows why they grow up looking the way they do. No one asks why Ron keeps getting taller."

Ron shrugged, but Hermione seemed persistent. Luna also seemed to start to look at Harry differently; her expression of feeling insulted from being interrupted earlier had now faded.

"Look, Harry," Hermione spoke up again, weighing her words carefully. "We can't begin to understand how last year has affected you and we're not going to try. But we do know that closing up isn't going to help. Don't push away what friends you have left."

Harry's chest clenched as he'd been slapped by that last comment. She had nerve bringing up Sirius. She didn't utter his name, but he knew that she was weighing more on that topic than anything else.

"Hermione," Harry uttered slowly. "Let's end that conversation right there before you bring up my godfather. You have no business mentioning him." Hermione's face of hurt morphed into concern as Harry's emerald eyes started to almost spark with malice, raising her worry even more.

"But-"

"Oh, Hermione, give it a rest," Ron sighed. "Harry's just grown a bit, hair and all. I swear you're always trying to analyze things into being more than what they really are."

Hermione seemed ready to retort but felt best not to push. Harry was grateful.

"So, Harry. Has the trolley come this way yet? It passed us as we were in the prefect's carriage, but they wouldn't let us out until the meeting was over. I'm starving!"

"When are you not hungry, Ron?" Hermione shot back.

Harry looked at Ron and shook his head. He was glad to talk about something else. Things even seemed pretty normal after that. Hermione and Ron were trying to make small talk with Harry about summer vacation, while Luna returned to her original self—less talkative and more engulfed in the interests of The Quibbler. Harry didn't doubt she was reading the article about herself for like the hundredth time, but he couldn't figure out why she seemed to have to cross her eyes to do it.

It had only been a few minutes since Ron and Hermione had joined them, but they could hear the trolley coming down the aisle. Ron was up and ready. Hermione just rolled her eyes as she pulled out a couple of Silver Sickles.

But as Ron slid the door opened, the view in front of him was something he was definitely not expecting to see. He fell back in his seat with surprise, bumping into Luna. She gazed towards the door with a slight hint of irritation. When she realized who it was, she resorted back to her paper.

Someone was just about to run through the doorway before coming face to face with Ron, causing Ron to fall back in his seat. When Hermione and Harry looked up, all they could do was frown. No one took notice to the trolley, so the elder witch gave up and continued to move down the rest of the train.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron spat as he stood back up, almost as if he were trying to defend the compartment.

Harry looked at the blonde teenager with loathing. His biggest rival at school, who was bested only by Snape and the Dark Lord himself as the person Harry hated most, stood before him in all his pure-blood glory. Harry wanted to rip his throat out. He placed his hand in his robes, itching for his wand; ready for whatever this prick had up his sleeve.

On the contrary, as Draco stood there, he made no remark to any of the other students, not even a scowl. Instead, Draco was searching the cabin, oblivious to his surroundings. His eyes were near menacing in the way they looked around. What the hell was he looking for? Hermione gazed with interest. Harry just seemed confused. Ron, on the other hand, became more irritated.

"Did you hear me Malfoy?" Ron asked a little louder, with anger dripping more off of every word. "Or did you put so much grease in your hair that it finally clogged your ears permanently!"

Any insult towards Draco was enough to bring him out of anything. Whoever appeared in the doorway just seconds ago was now replaced by the teenager they all grew to know and hate. The Malfoy darted his gaze towards everyone sitting in the space he now occupied as well. His eyes went wider every time he rested them on the next person in the compartment and he nearly fell over when they finally stopped with Harry. His parted lips quickly closed in a tight frown and his eyes quickly narrowed, finalizing his well-known scowl.

He tilted his chin up a little more as he turned his attention to Ron.

"Anything that involves me, Weasel, is something you are never worthy of knowing. Address me in that way again and I'll make sure that when I'm done with you, even you're filthy parents won't be able to recognize you. I'm sure you can't afford risking your life because who would pay for the burial?"

Any confused expressions Harry and Hermione were showing before quickly mirrored Ron's face. They both sat up straighter, quickly going on the defensive.

"Watch what you say to my friends, you git!" Harry cut in. "Even you wouldn't be able to afford much if I made sure you were dead."

"How dare you even speak to me, Potter!" Draco spat literally onto the carpeted floor in disgust. He stared at Harry menacingly, while his hair almost seemed to flow with whatever anger was coursing through him at that moment. "You have guts to talk to me after what you did to my father. Everything's your fault! Everything that happened is all because of you! I swear on Merlin's grave if it wasn't worth all the mess, I'd kill you on the spot right now."

The surge of rage that suddenly enveloped Draco was evident and not one of the four passengers missed it. His whole demeanor quickly changed from high-school bully to full-out darkness. Harry faltered a bit as he recognized the change in Draco a little more intently than the others did.

His senses were picking up something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but this wasn't the same Draco that he thought he knew. But there was no way Harry was going to back down to Draco, no matter how angry the prat became.

"Go ahead. Have a go! We all know you're Death Eater material just like your dead-beat father. Why not just bring it out in the open now and save us the trouble?"

Right after Harry mentioned the words 'Death' and 'Eater', Draco's scowl faltered just a bit. Whatever was on Draco's mind was definitely drilling through him pretty hard. But the Malfoy teenager bounced back and uttered his next words without missing a beat.

"No. I'd rather see you meet your end painfully slow. Next time, you won't be able to get away with just a scar."

With those last few phrases uttered, Malfoy turned and stormed away without another word. His robes billowed behind him, in a way that would almost make Professor Snape jealous, as he tore back down the aisle.

"What a bastard!" Ron roared to the whole compartment. Then, he stood back up to slam the door shut.

"Yeah," Harry trailed off, thinking of Draco's last words. "What do you think he meant though, 'next time you won't be able to get away'?"

Ron just shrugged but Hermione seemed to dwell on the words, too, as she raised her hand up to rest her chin on it. Ron saw the two of them deep in thought. Then, he looked over at Luna, who was also deep in thought, but only about her paper. And Ron couldn't figure out why she had to cross her eyes to read it.

"Aw, forget about ferret-breath. He's been wishing for Harry's death since we first started school."

"I suppose," Hermione replied. "He seemed to know something, though."

"Yeah," Harry added. "It was like he was so certain that something's gonna happen. And even before the argument. Didn't it seem strange how he almost barged in here, like he found something and was ready to jump on it?"

"I guess you could put it that way." Hermione bit her lip. "It was like he was looking for something really important."

"Give it a rest you two," Ron whined. "I don't want to think about Malfoy anymore. He made me mad enough as is. Just look at what he did! His perfect timing caused us to miss the trolley. I'm gonna see if I can catch her."

Hermione closed her eyes, straining for patience as he took off. "He's such a kid."

"After all these years, Hermione, you'd think you'd be used to it. Besides, you still put up with him."

Hermione opened her eyes and shot them at Harry, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "What's that supposed to mean! Besides, he's your best friend, too."

"Nothing," Harry chuckled as he turned away and stared out at the rain-specked window. He sighed as he watched the all-too familiar plains roll by. Judging by the landscape, he figured they were close. Not to mention, dusk was starting to take over the day.

Seeing the day change slowly before his very eyes made him think of change. Of his change. If anything, he had no idea how he was going to get through this year. How could Dumbledore help him? How was he going to keep his new secret a secret? Did he want anyone else to know? What about Ron and Hermione? He had already closed up from them so much. Why the sudden need to want to not say anything to the likes of either of them?

They had been with him through it all. They had faults but still stood by his side. But that was just it. Was he afraid they wouldn't stay by his side anymore if they found out what he had become?

Vampires were not a frequently talked about topic, but if it ever came up, they were always described with disdain. Just like werewolves or other creatures, dangerous or not, most magical creatures suffered discrimination from wizards. Wizards wanted to be superior. Anything less was taken captive and enslaved to be domesticated by their standards. Anything that deemed more powerful, wizards tried to shoot them down as well; take them over so wizards wouldn't have the fear of being overpowered.

Maybe that was another reason why wizards and witches harbored grudges against muggles, Harry thought to himself. Maybe it wasn't just the fear of having their magical families diluted into squibs. Maybe since wizards themselves reacted in such a way to something that was obviously more powerful, they thought muggles would do the same if they found dominant proof of the existence of the magical world. Maybe the greater power would scare them to the point where they would violently try to squash it. Harry could just now imagine many Uncle Vernon's and Aunt Petunia's storming the lands with any technology they could muster to kill off 'his kind' as they would put it. The absurd thought of anything that had to do with his so-called 'family' made Harry shudder.

Having his little briefing with Lupin about vampires, Harry found out how wizards tried desperately to wipe them out. And the fact that many vampires gave their entire clan a bad reputation, it only caused wizards to harbor hatred towards them even more. Then, there were ones like his father. Just like Lupin, being a nocturnal creature was something that James had to accept but didn't allow it to change his demeanor. He found ways to control it and tried to let himself be as isolated as possible if the need aroused.

Harry figured it was for James' benefit as well when he and Sirius ran off with Lupin to keep the man isolated when he transformed into a werewolf on the nights of a full moon. Apparently, lunar powers of possession had a hold on many darker creatures, Lupin had said, not just werewolves. It was a perfect time for James to let out his frustrated impulses as well.

Harry noted that Lupin and Sirius kept that information out when they talked about their nights out together.

'We left that part out when we talked to you because we couldn't face ourselves to believe that the same fate would befall itself upon you.'

'Did Wormtail ever take notice to Dad's transformations? He could have told Voldemort.'

'No, I don't think he noticed. He'd always run off while your dad and Sirius tried to keep me at bay. He'd only come back when we were done, if he tagged along at all. So, the git was never around enough to take notice to anything.'

Harry was grateful for that information but remembered holding a strong grudge toward Lupin for the next few days afterwards just for them keeping that information away from him, but he figured it was all just the same. He was too focused on the here and now, trying to cope with what was going on. He didn't have time to ignore the only person who could help him at that moment; and Lupin did help quite a bit.

It still wasn't easy, however, but at least the myth about sunlight was not true. Harry was afraid of that at first. Lupin explained to him the truths and falsehoods about vampire tales. Sunlight was actually not a vampire killer. They were just sensitive to it and it did act as a dilution of their abilities depending on the vampire's strength. This fact definitely held truer meaning towards the bitten rather than the blood born as well. Those born with vampire blood became accustomed as they grew older and the blood learned to cope better with sunlight through time, but not fully. When one's bitten into the world of a vampire and the vampire blood hits a person's already-matured blood, the blood shock is more intense, making them more susceptible to being sensitive to the light and other things slightly hindering to his kind.

Garlic was a total myth, Lupin stated, which made Harry breathed a sigh of relief at the time. Mirrors, though, would not reflect his skin that well so he had to be weary of where he stood, which made Harry roll his eyes. Great, he thought. I have to be cautious about something else.

Could he ever be normal? First, he was The-Boy-Who-Lived. Now, he's The-Boy-Who-Isn't-Human. Did something always have to happen? And the rate that every thing was happening, it was just exacerbating things. It got to the point where he felt himself growing numb every time a new surprise jumped out of the corner, and not pleasant ones at that. Soon, he was afraid he would have to force himself not to feel anymore, period, just to protect himself from growing mentally insane about all his occurrences.

Maybe that's why I can't bring myself to tell Ron and Hermione anything anymore, Harry thought. Reliving every thing aloud would have made it all seem tangible, like it really had happened, when all Harry wanted to do was forget. That was why he couldn't stand to even hear or mention Sirius' name last year. It made it so final. 'Whatever makes you sleep at night,' Harry mused.

It did, Harry told himself as he felt the train coming to a stop. He hadn't even realized it. Harry didn't even notice when Ron had joined them again. When he or Hermione started to ask him questions, Harry had no idea he even made a reply as he was churning through his own thoughts.

"Harry?"

"Huh?" Harry blinked a couple of times.

"We're here, Harry." Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on mate!" Ron punched him in the arm. "Stop thinking of ways to kill the ol' ferret. We'll get our chance on the Quidditch pitch."

Harry returned Ron's smile with a small one of his own, letting him believe that was what he was thinking about.

Luna was already leaving the compartment with an umbrella, fully unfolded and already over her head.

"Luna? What are you doing with that? It's not raining anymore." Harry looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

Luna turned around but looked more towards Ron than Harry, as if he uttered the question, and said, "It might not be raining water out there but there are some creatures that like to fall from the sky and suck out your brain through your very ears, even while it's not raining. Rain is just a cover. I would actually like to keep what knowledge I have left in my head, thank you."

With that, she strolled out towards the exit of the train as if she was trying to float, but she looked moments away from tripping over herself. Hermione gave her a reproachful look that would do Mrs. Weasley justice. Ron stood there, mouth gaped open and Harry was doing anything just to hold in his laugh.

"What she said was wrong on so many levels. I mean… how… what?" Ron stammered. "First of all why is she always making comments about mystical creatures we know nothing of and can't see? Second, I don't want to think about anything with the words 'brain' and 'sucking' in the same sentence ever again after last year. And third… since when does she have any knowledge left at all?"

Hermione's look was almost graced with a pitiful smile.

"Maybe she should have started using that umbrella years ago?" Harry shrugged. Hermione couldn't hold in her giggle after that and Ron laughed the whole way out of the train. Harry smiled at the two as he trailed slowly behind. Well, if he had to deal with anything, at least those two were his friends through it all.

...to be continued...

And there you have it! Not much, but just to prove that this story is going somewhere.

Slythindor: (pokes his head up)… and after only two years! You go… not.

Gryfferin: (finally comes from underneath the bed)… Oh god, she's back! (Whimpers)

Schittlez: (rubs her hands)… you can never escape me. Once you're inside my head, you can never get out! Mwahahaha!

Slythindor: (rolls eyes)… whatever. I made you what you are woman. I'm the landlord!

Schittlez: (stops laughing)… So!

Slythindor: (mutters)… lazy bum.

Schittlez: Shut up!