Disclaimer: Same as all the rest.
Enjoy...
XXXXXX
By the next morning it seemed to Kyler that everybody was smirking at him as they passed, or flat out smiling as though they found him amusing. Of course the only answer was that someone had leaked the secret of what was going on in his life. Thankfully, students seemed to have enough decency not say anything out loud, but it wasn't like the little knowing smiles were much better, he thought. He made his way to defense class as quickly as humanly possible.
Entering the classroom he got even more smiles and made his way to the usual table he shared with Nick. Nick seemed to be glaring everyone he could into submission.
"Oye, you doing alright?"
Kyler only shrugged. "The interest will die down soon."
Kyler didn't appreciate Nick's smile though. "Sure if you say so." He glanced down at Kyler's neck where he saw the chain peeking over his collar and saw the bulge under the vest.
"You do realize that people are going to notice that right?" Kyler glanced down and shrugged. Honestly, he didn't really care what people noticed or not. Keeping a low profile was now out of the question, so to his way of thinking it really didn't matter what the student body saw. He was happy, that was all that mattered.
Professor Mercer came in with his usual speed, slamming the door to announce that class had begun.
"Alright class, today we will be working on something new. Astro pojection. Take notes. It of course is the act of for short time periods projecting your body through space to another region. Con's? Mr. Kyler if you would?"
Kyler glanced up from his notes. Socratic method, he hated it. Was useful but such a pain.
"Your origin is left in a more comatose state, leaving you open to attack."
It was the obvious so he sat back in his chair and thought for moment. "Your spells tend to be weaker when projected, and therefore harsher ones may be necessary. The consequences of the projected self tend to be minimal when hit with a spell though, giving the enemy the knowledge you are projected. It loses its effectiveness."
Mercer slowly nodded. "Good. Take notes on that. It is an extremely valuable skill in battle, but because of the cons must only be used once or twice. Now lets get started."
Within minutes Kyler and Nickolai were paired off and practicing the words. The difference from most spells being that the wand was pointed at ones self. Or not at all if a person had perfected wandless magic.
"Astral Projectum!" Second try Kyler got it, and was walking around Nickolai in his astro state. He was able to keep the position for a few minutes before feeling the tug back.
Ten minutes later Nickolai was able to accomplish the astro form for a minute. They went to Mercer to show the forms and then packed up. Mercer highly believed that once you accomplished the goal of the lesson you could move on and leave for a break. There was no point in clogging up the class with people that had achieved the desired result. Although it was unnerving to him that the same people were always the first to leave.
Nickolai went off to meet Rose in the library to finish some astrology work, while Kyler went to his favorite spot to study. It was a shady little garden area on the perimeter of the school. With a few older benches and a little fountain that didn't work, not many students actually came there. It was exactly why he loved it. Kyler took out the ring out from under his robes, staring at it for a few minutes.
Everything had happened so quickly, but he thought, or hoped it would start to slow down. He hardly felt like himself since the whole veela mate thing had reared its head.
He didn't like that his sense of humour seemed to have disappeared over the last few days, although this morning he was starting to feel back to himself. The ring was still as heavy as last night and, secretly he thought, still as brilliant.
He liked the whole idea of having a family, he just hadn't expected it, and was waiting for the catch. It was more difficult then he thought to simply accept priceless and expensive gifts. He knew Draco didn't care about money because he had it, but Kyler never had. He had skipped school trips to make sure his small trust fund lasted through school, had worked harder then anyone to make sure he could get a job afterward, had given up so much, and now it was being handed to him on a platter. It was just hard to accept, he thought. He had to remind himself that it wasn't Draco's fault their' situations in life were so different.
The veela would just have to learn that Kyler would be earning his own way as well. Maybe it would be a compromise he thought with some optimism. And since when had he, Kyler, ever been one to judge people based on clothing? It really didn't matter to him how people dressed so his accomplishments here weren't going to be diminished because of this relationship, or stuff. Before a couple days ago none of this stuff had mattered.
A couple days ago he would have gone with the flow and given it his all. This man was a veela after all. Nickolai was right. It virtually the one safe bet in life. Veelas never left their mates once they had the person. Merlin, he needed to get back to just going with the flow.
What the hell was I thinking, he thought with a mental smirk.
He had always accepted birthday gifts and Christmas gifts with relish. They were signs that people cared and so now a veela gave him gifts and he had his back up against the wall. It certainly wasn't like him, he thought with a shake of the head. He was still going to do everything he wanted to do in life, this might just add to it a bit. Draco himself planned on working, not sitting and collecting money. It really wouldn't be any different.
The process of thinking it all through alone settled him a bit. He was making a bit of a mountain out of a mow hill. Not at all his style. Must have been shock, he thought with a shake of the head, and he needed to snap out of it.
There of course was the question of what to do about his background though. Draco mentioned going to Hogwarts at some point and that, well, he hadn't decided if that would work. Obviously if things continued along the route they were taking he would have to tell Draco about the identity switched. He looked too much like his biological father for someone at that school not to recognize him, and he wouldn't let Draco be blind sided by it.
Kyler really wished Draco went to another school though, since he had no intention before a few days ago of ever going back to England or Scotland, or anywhere in battle vicinity. It was obvious that the road he was headed down was going to lead to the heart of the battle. He would have to figure that out before he told Draco his little genetic secret. And he was certain it would change everything.
XXXXXX
Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye, Draco thought, and he was quite satisfied with his life on the whole. He was sitting in the library, supposedly studying for his charms exam, but really doing nothing of the sort. Over the past two weeks he had visited with Kyler about half a dozen times, and it was only getting better as far as Draco could see. Kyler was already a different person then he was upon their first meeting.
His mate had become much more open with him, and had started showing his truly wonderful personality, at least in Draco's opinion. He was pleased to find that although Kyler was a serious individual he had a wicked sense of humor and fun about him once he got comfortable. He was loyal and now talked much more about what he wanted from the future.
The had turned a corner when one day Kyler told him he planned on starting at a specialized defense consulting firm once he graduated, and Draco had supported it. It was only later on the Draco realized Kyler hadn't expected that reaction. Personally Draco thought it would be a great job for his mate. Training the security staff at different companies and households would be a lot of fun for Kyler and challenging as well. Once Draco went back and told Kyler how he felt, well needless to say things had gotten a lot easier.
Once the students at Crescenzo had started seeing Draco in their' classes habitually, the talk had died down and a few were even greeting Draco each time they saw him. It absolutely astounded Draco the level of education at the school. His Kyler could brew practically any potion, which he was sure Severus would be quite jealous of. Kyler was also spectacular and languages, defense, transfiguration, and anything else he seemed to set his mind too.
Well, actually Draco thought with a smile, he wasn't perfect and seemed to have a hard time understanding anything in herbology. Draco found out Kyler even had a tutor for the subject. Secretly, Draco thought it was a matter of interest and not ability. Kyler couldn't be expected to put full effort into everything so he cut off a few things, mainly herbology and ancient ruins. He was proficient at the later but Draco noticed Kyler put in just enough effort to keep a high standing in the class, and nothing more. It pleased him that he was starting to learn the more intimate parts of Harrison Kyler. The little things he would remember latter in their lives.
Kyler would still go a little stiff when Draco hugged him, or put his arm casually around his shoulders if they were sitting on a couch, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the first couple days. Draco noticed on those occasions that Kyler seemed to have a mental pep talk with himself and then become relaxed. It seemed that the school, with its no contact from family, seemed to stunt the students a little on displays of affection, because he had noticed it about other students as well. A friendly hug could make one person not only go stiff but have their' wand out preparing for attack. The kids had missed to emotional learning and Draco had gone so far as to mention it to Trighton. The man was indeed looking into it. He seemed to actually care if there was a part of his student's overall mental health he was neglecting.
It still gave him a little thrill whenever Kyler were purposely knock him friendly with his shoulder or smack him up side the head if Draco said something arrogant. In Draco's mind it was the biggest leap of progress. Subconscious touching and familiarity was a leap. Which was good because Draco considered himself a saint for hardly touching Kyler the last few weeks. He'd had a long discussion with Nickolai about the unfamiliarity with people touching Kyler and decided to go back a few steps. First he would get him used to the friendly and flirty touching, which was coming along marvelously.
Kyler was actually doing his own touching now. Of course it resulted in Draco's cold showers after every visit but he was willing to make the sacrifice.
The area they needed to improve on now was the family aspect. Draco had a feeling Kyler still thought of him as a passing through character in his life. They had lunch with Draco's parents twice to try to dispel those thoughts but it didn't seem to work much. Draco had even started looking into real estate where he and Kyler could put down, what his father called, roots. Permanency. Draco longed for that. He could see he and Kyler at their own estate waking up to breakfast in bed, rambling around the house together. Maybe even playing with a dog in the backyard.
Dog, Draco thought with sudden inspiration. Roots meant pets, didn't it? He quickly glanced up to find Hermione across from him, and next to Blaise studying. Rather hardly he nudged her foot, and she looked up irritated until she saw Draco's smile.
"Dogs, they're roots right?" He said demandingly, and saw Hermione for the first time ever looked completely befuddled.
"Muggle families and couples get dogs don't they? Psychology class, remember? Something about how it makes a family more real, is it true?"
Hermione finally seemed to catch on.
"I suppose. Or in invokes a sense of responsibility in children. Of course magical families usually get magical pets, which take care of themselves for the most part. Doesn't have nearly the same effect as a muggle cat or dog. Some say horses work too. Couples generally get them in the years prior to having kids so they know they can raise a living being. It has to do with nesting," she finished with certainty.
Another light entered Hermione's eyes a she realized why Draco had brought it up. They had all been thinking of ideas for the last few days on Draco's dilemma of getting Kyler to mentally realize that Draco was staying in his life.
"Absolutely brilliant idea!" She sounded more shocked then anything that Draco had thought of something so simple. It was rare but not unheard of the magical couples to have muggle pets. It might actually work. She looked over to Blaise who nodded that he agreed.
"So," Draco started, moving forward with the brilliant idea, "Where does one get a dog?"
"Well," Hermione thought, "first make sure you're ready to take care of it because having one growing up, trust me they are a lot of work. You can get one though from someone who breeds them or some type of shelter. Depends what you want I suppose. At a shelter you can pick one out a lot of homeless ones. Scout the area first and then bring Kyler there and see how it goes."
Draco smiled, not worried at all about the added responsibility. He would clear it through Trighton first, to make sure having a pet on campus could be arranged and then clear it through Snape and Dumbledore. His parents would keep the dog for short periods of time he was sure, once they realized the reason behind getting the animal.
He made his apologies and excused himself, going to work on making his plan happen.
XXXXXXXX
It was a couple days later that Draco apparated to Crescenzo and finalized the details with Trighton. The headmaster had actually thought his gift a good idea. Now all he had to do was convince Kyler that it was a good idea as well.
He found his mate lying on his bed, head stuck in a book, and he didn't even look up when Draco walked in. It wasn't the first time he had been in a bedroom with Kyler, but it was the place he tried be the least. Draco could never keep his thoughts on what he was trying to say when Kyler and he were near a bed together. It tended to draw images that he was sure Kyler wasn't exactly ready for. He would definitely have to start moving his mate along that road soon as well.
"Hey," Kyler said smiling, finally seeing Draco leaning on the doorframe.
Draco only smiled and walked forward. He walked up to the bed slowly, putting his hands on both side of Kyler's body and leaned forward, planting his mouth directly onto Kyler's. It was new. Usually Draco went for his customary kiss below Kyler's ear.
Draco lightly kissed his mouth, then gently nipped at Kyler's slightly fuller bottom lip, demanding entrance. Finally Kyler gave a little sigh and opened his mouth to Draco's more demanding one.
Draco's tongue rubbed up against Kyler's and then retreated applying some suction, and Draco heartily groaned when Kyler's became more comfortable and followed Draco's tongue back into his mouth. Kyler explored the unfamiliar mouth and rubbed his tongue along Draco's, with a little groan.
Kyler's hands finally moved from his book, one going to the back of Draco's neck pulling him closer, while the other traveled from Draco's chest, stopping to undo a couple buttons of the silk shirt, caressing down Draco's muscled abdomen to the zipper of his pants.
Neither had stopped for breath as the kiss became hotter, and Kyler slowly lowered the zipper on Draco's pants, slipping his hand inside and around the blonde's shaft. Draco let out groan at the feel of Kyler firm hand surrounding him, and gave into the urge to thrust against it. It felt like heaven to him. All warm and hard.
Draco felt liked he was slowly losing his mind. It was the first time Kyler had taken the initiative, and it knocked the breath right out of him. Merlin, he had a talented hand, Draco thought as he gave into the urge to thrust again.
Kylers hand moved down the shaft, his finger rubbing lightly on the head, caressing it. Within seconds Kyler felt moisture wetting his finger, and he smiled intot he kiss.
Draco knew he was reaching the point of no return, and tried to remind himself that today had been planned out. Merlin, though, all he wanted to do was continue till he and Kyler were feeling a lot better. Wrapped in the sheets, with Kyler writhing under him for a couple hours was exactly the sort of day he wished for.
Finally Draco slowly pulled away from the kiss and removed Kyler's hand. It took every ounce of will power he had in him to accomplish it, and he thought of throwing the whole plan in the garbage when he saw Kyler confused flushed face.
Draco gave him once last reassuring and thorough kiss before straightening and zipping up his pants, mean while Kyler stayed exactly where he was.
Draco finally forced a smile and looked towards the raven haired man, "You realize that I never leave here without going immediately to a cold shower, right?"
"So why did you stop?" Kyler asked a little confused. It was the first time he had been so forward, and Draco had ended up pulling away.
"Because it isn't the time or place. Well actually more the time. I have a feeling that you and I are going to end up doing it anywhere we can once we start. Today though I kind of have planned things out."
Kyler shrugged and got off the bed. Kyler was going to pass Draco, but he caught Kyler as he passed, pulling Kyler into his arms and hugging him close. Draco lowered his mouth to Kyler's ear a whispered.
"You're the most important thing in my life now. So when you're actually ready let me know, okay? These days, I'm a little close to the edge of not being able to pull back if you say no farther then the point we got to right now. Merlin, I want you every second of the day, but I want you to be ready."
Draco then renewed the hug, and when he pulled back saw that Kyler was smiling at him. It was another bridge they crossed, Draco thought. Thinking that the cold shower might actually be worth it this time.
Kyler lightly kissed the blonde on the mouth, whispering, "thanks. "
Draco then chuckled, "Don't kid yourself. You're a bloody difficult person to pull away from. I've dreamed of having you over me, under me, with any part of you inside any part of me and vise versa for quite some time."
Kyler looked him over, eyeing the bulge in Draco's pants. "What makes you think I'm not at the same level of wanting as you are? Not needing you the same way?"
Draco breathed in and out further trying to calm himself down, and it didn't help that Kyler was only looking at him smiling. Finally, Draco took the young mans hand and dragged him off through the door.
"Where are we going?" Kyler asked.
The blonde only smirked back, "you'll find out when we get there."
XXXXXXXXX
Fifteen minutes later Kyler was dragged around the side of a cinder block building still wondering where the hell they were. Draco had aparated him, with Trighton's permission, to some previously determined location.
As he looked around he finally saw a sign that said quite plainly "Animal Services."
What on earth was going on he thought, but looking to Draco saw the man had only his customary smirk on his face.
They walked in the doors of the place, and Kyler noticed that it was clean with staff busily typing on computers and a few people demanding their attention. Draco pulled Kyler along to a side door. Obviously he had been here before.
A few seconds later Kyler was walking down rows and rows of kennels filled with dogs of all sizes and varieties. He looked in each cage giving Draco a light smile, and wondering what they were doing here. Wherever "here" was.
Finally at the end of the third row, and probably fifty dogs, Kyler turned to Draco in the hall.
"What are we doing here?"
"This is your next gift. If you want it that is." Draco gave a huff, at his mate's confused look and decided he was purposely being dense.
"I think we should get a dog," he saw Kyler open his mouth with a frown and instead of giving him the chance to shoot the idea down, Draco blustered on.
"We should have a pet. Trighton thought it was a good idea, if you agreed to it, as did my head of house. My parents would even be willing to play the part of sitter sometimes."
With less pushiness and a slow breath he looked Kyler right in his eyes, and started again.
"This is something that I think you and I should do. Something that we can raise together. Something permanent. It will probably pee and shit all over the place, ruin countless good Italian loafers. Merlin knows how many of your new ones will be eaten, but it would be worth it." Draco finally saw the look in Kyler's eyes and knew he was caving.
"Besides, it's a shelter. These animals are homeless and we're in the process of forming a home." Kyler still looked a little skeptical, but after a few moments opened his mouth.
"A home eh? You do realize that puppies wake you up at all hours of the night right? And this is a muggle species? They don't understand you nearly as well as the magical species do. And housetraining, I've read can be a bitch. And according to books they need exercise, lots of it. And training, lots of that too!"
Draco started grinning half way through Kyler diatribe. Wouldn't you know it, Kyler had thought of this at some point and even researched it. He wondered silently how long his mate had wanted something like this.
"I know," Draco whispered with complete confidence. "We should do this."
Kyler nodded smiling a little, and silently walked on to the next row. It seemed, Draco thought, the discussion was over.
When he caught up with Kyler, his mate was standing in front of one cage. Looking down Draco saw six tan and white balls a fur. He looked back up at the card and saw the information.
"Says the are golden re-try-ver and border coa-lie mixes. What ever that is. Just weaned and available for adoption" Draco looked over to see Kyler looking at him completely bemused, and shook his head as Kyler pronounced the name correctly. He had been close.
Draco thought they were okay. They were yipping though, and were completely without grace. And he already saw poop in the cage. His mothers hand woven carpets were going to be destroyed. He saw the eaten stuffed toys and only thought of his wardrobe.
He thought of all the bad until he saw another little head poke through the rest of wiggling bodies. It was longer furred then the rest with white little paws and a big blaize running up its face. It was, he thought, more dignified then the rest.
Draco dropped to his knees trying to pet that one, and scowled at the rest for trying to push the one he wanted out of the way. Mean siblings, he thought.
Draco saw Kyler turn around and walk away amused, and figured he was off to get a staff person. Draco on the other hand figured he should stay exactly where he was and protect the little fluff from on the rest of the feral pups in its litter.
Kyler came back minutes later with a bubbly frizzy haired woman in tow. She had a leash and a big smile.
"So I hear you might want to check out a puppy?" She started to unlock the cage, and Draco gathered his wits and looked to Kyler.
"This is your gift Ky, you pick one out." Though he knew he gave himself away by looking at the long haired, white pawed furry one again. He heard Kyler's husky chuckle.
Kyler pointed to the one Draco was obviously already head over heals for, and the woman went in the cage instantly getting stampeded by the puppies.
"This one?" she asked, holding up the wiggle worm with a proud smile.
Kyler nodded and the woman brought the puppy out with them to a play yard, leaving them alone to get to know the puff ball, and read over the information on the litter.
Immediately Draco was on the ground with the puppy not really caring about how much his pants had cost, or the watch the puppy was now chewing on. Kyler sat in a chair nearby and read aloud.
"Says they are eight weeks. Found by the staff at the front door in a box a few weeks ago. The one you have is a little boy. Already neutered."
"Neutered!" Draco said aghast, looking sadly at the puppy.
"It's population control Draco. Too many dogs, not enough homes. Says he is friendly, though a little stubborn. Smart breed though, and he is going to get big."
After a few minutes Draco realized Kyler hadn't even come over to play with the little fur ball. Of course he thought he would be the one on the bench, not really ever having the taste for fur all over his priceless garments. But the little fur ball WAS adorable. He would be handsome grown up too, and smart. Kyler didn't seem too interested though, and that worried him.
Finally Draco got up from the ground, dusted off his pants, and walked over to Kyler who was still sitting. They both stared as the pup ran after a large tennis ball, trying to wrap his little mouth around it. Draco stood by Kyler's side with his arm around his shoulders, and finally broke the silence.
"Why don't we go look at the others? Or I saw another litter when we first came in? They were a little smaller which might be more practical? Or a fully grown one?" He was rambling he knew.
A few minutes of silence and Kyler finally spoke. "You think we can raise a puppy?"
Draco answered with confidence. "I think we can do anything we set our minds to…together. However, if you are really not interested in this one, well then that's fine too."
The puppy came trotting over, tail wagging, and obviously proud he had been able to bring the ball over. He sat in front of them looking from Draco's face to Kyler's. Finally he seemed to know who held the decision making power and leapt up to Kyler with a little woof. Kyler lifted the wiggling puppy up and let the little monster give his face a lick.
Draco wondered what his mate was thinking, as the minutes passed and Kyler just sat with the puppy on his lap. Surprisingly the puppy didn't make a move to run off, and curled up with a yawn. The pup really was cute Draco thought, and he never thought he would be such a sucker for this type of thing.
However, looking down at Kyler, who he saw was actually starting to smile, he couldn't think of a better way to start making their' family. Maybe Kyler didn't realize it, or maybe the quiet reflective time meant he did, but either way this puppy meant roots.
"Alright." Draco barely heard Kyler speak.
"Sorry?" He asked looking down, and saw Kyler finally detach his gaze from the golden haired pup.
"Let's adopt him. But I don't want to hear any complaining about torn up shoes, shirts, or boxers!"
Draco broke out into a grin at that, and leaned down to Kyler's ear giving it kiss. "Well I don't think the puppy will be anywhere in the vicinity when I get my boxers finally off."
Kyler flushed and looked away, obviously deciding to ignore the comment for the moment.
Draco walked out of the pen to find the staff person, and secondly to give Kyler and the pup some time to bond. His talk with Hermione had suggested that if he really wanted Kyler to bond with the puppy then he had to make sure that Kyler bonded with him first, fed him, and gave him the treats. He thought it was going to be easy, but not spoiling either of them was going to turn out harder then he thought.
An hour later Draco found himself signing on the dotted line so to speak. Kyler had made him go through the contract word for word. They promised to always care for the animal and provide for it. Looking over to his mate sitting in a chair and silently talking to the puppy, while holding his two front paws up to eye level, he realized that would be no problem.
Draco looked back amused to the paperwork and saw that two of the young staff ladies were staring at Kyler. Draco knew that look, the one that said if Kyler stood and proposed marriage to either they would quit their jobs on the spot, but didn't feel himself getting jealous at all. He realized he was going to have to get used to it once his mate graduated. Kyler wa simply always going to be a stunning person people were attracted too. And he was his. More his then his then he was even an hour ago.
One of the two women finally walked over to gather the paperwork, and saw Kyler smile at Draco's back.
"It really is a nice puppy. We were all playing with the litter before we opened today, and hoped that one would find a good home. Puppies are always adopted but we sometimes worry about them finding a permanent home. So thanks." She was a kind person Draco thought, with a little respect. For a muggle anway.
"Well you can trust me when I say that, that pup is never going anywhere. He will have everything he could ever need."
The staff woman, smiled indulgently, and didn't think she needed to tell him that his watch, clothing, and ring had already told them all that the puppy would financially be taken care of…and then some.
"Good. Your boyfriend definitely seems to be bonding with him." She stapled the paperwork and handed him his receipt.
Draco folded it, and looked to her one last time. "That was the point."
Draco and Kyler walked out a few minutes later, with the pup seemingly grinning over Kyler's shoulder, and the staff all smiling in the office.
XXXXX
The great hall that night was in a complete frenzy! Kyler had a test the next morning so it was agreed that Draco would take the pup for the night, and then give him to Kyle in the morning for the next week or two. Kyler had said at the pet store that they would trade off days, but Draco wouldn't hear of it. Kyler had to bond.
So now here he sat, eating dinner, and hearing the puppy yip with excitedly as he was passed into another pair of Slytherin arms. The rest of the tables looked on in shock and envy. Some even came up to give the puppy a pet. Draco saw with a smirk that even the Gryffindors were fighting down the impulse to come over.
"Yours Malfoy?" Seamus Finnigan, a brave Gryffindor, asked while petting the puppy.
"My mate's really. We got him today." Seamus let the puppy lick him all he wanted. Being half blooded he had a dog at home, and always missed the silly terrier while at school. Finally he sighed and handed the pup back to Malfoy.
Blaise looked up from his meal into the puppy's face, which was watching him eat, and silently sitting at attention should Blaise decide to share. He gave the pup a little piece a chicken.
"He got name yet?"
"No," Draco answered watching the puppy take the treat off to a corner to eat in privacy. "I wanted Kyler to name him. The names up for discussion so far are Prince, Zeus, Dragon, and Buddy."
"Buddy!!" Blaise sputtered.
"It's a muggle dog name," Draco sneered, while Blaise laughed so hard Hermione started glaring at him.
"Wait let me guess," he choked out in between laughs, "you chose Dragon and Buddy!" Draco only muttered into his food.
"Well at least with the collar we all know who he belongs too. Overboard much?" Blaise said, finally controlling his mirth.
Everyone had noticed that for such a tiny puppy the collar was handtooled leather, with sapphires and emeralds blazing, and Draco had even worked in a little version of the Malfoy crest.
"Well no one would ever think about stealing him now." Draco said with confidence and noting the five people all milling around the pup.
Blaise looked incredulous at Draco then at Hermione for some support. His girlf friend only looked over and shrugged, "What? He has a point. Would put a tracking spell on the collar though. Its more likely to get stolen then the pup."
Ten minutes later Draco finally cleared the people away from the puppy and brought him to the dungeons for some needed sleep. Not to mention the tracking spell was a bloody good idea.
XXXXXX
The next night during a potions make up Severus was all about the questions. He had received more information from rumors then anything else and he wasn't quite pleased about that. So naturally, he informed Draco that he was a potion behind in class and would need to do another to get ahead. Whether or not that was true, well, that wasn't really the point to the Potions Master.
Draco stirred the truth potion calmly as Snape looked on.
"Where is the four footed terror tonight?"
"Staying with my mate," Draco answered calmly.
"Yes, Kyler I believe his name is." Severus phrased it as a fact, seeing if his godson would take the bait, but he didn't.
"Fine moving on. Do you plan on bringing him here anytime soon?"
"He's not ready for that." Draco answered just as calmly and sprinkled some hippogriff toenails shavings into the cauldron, again not looking at his Godfather.
Finally Snape huffed, "Dragon, would you please give me some information?" He hated using the word please. Utterly despised it really, but it did the trick and Draco turned with a smile.
"If you're going to be all polite about it then I guess I have to. Alright go ahead." Draco set the cauldron to simmer, checked the clock, and finally gave his attention to Snape.
"Why won't you bring him here to meet your friends?" It was the foremost question Snape could think of. If Draco were to bring the man here then he would be able to judge this so called mate.
"There's no real reason too. Besides his Headmaster isn't likely to let him come, so I haven't pushed it. Blaise should like him well enough though, and so should Hermione. The rest of the Slytherin crowd won't really care beyond surface value."
Snape digested this and then asked his next question. Only Merlin knew how long Draco would be agreeable so he chose his questions wisely.
"How is your relationship going?"
"That's a loaded question Snape. Watch it. Well enough though. We definitely have made a lot of progress. He still goes a little stiff, but after research I realized that will take loads of time for him to really get over that. I'm standing though, so you obviously know we are together often enough that the bond is in fine form."
Snape's attention had been caught in the first half of the answer, "He goes stiff?" That could be problematic, and it was a little odd to Snape's thinking. Teenage boys should be trying to get their' hands on anything they could.
"Yes well he has been at school since a very very young age. A strict boarding school, that doesn't really ever allow them to leave. His parents passed away when he was really young. At first the stiffening bothered me, but I realized he had not experienced any familial touching since before grade school. No hugging, no slaps on the back, no getting tucked in at night, or having your parents button your jacket, nothing. So the stiffening is normal for that school. He accepts praise and kind words just fine, but the touching aspect is new."
Snape was excited to say the least, though he didn't show it, that he was getting some actual information. Lucius had not even provided this much.
"And let me guess, the puppy was to start increases the affection level?" It made sense to him, though he really disliked the muggle animal.
He saw Draco give a shrug. "Sort of. More for creating a sense of permanency though. I want to make a life with him Snape. A family. Having ties, roots, a lifestyle, will help make that possible."
Snape actually felt himself tearing up just a little. Merlin, knew he would never admit it, but Draco, the closest thing he had to a son, was planning a life with someone. Merlin, time just flew by.
"Are you planning to live at the estate?"
"No," Draco said carefully, "I have a realtor looking and she has found several places that might work. A few are outside the country though. I want some space and quiet for us…that was your last question."
Snape sneered but was pleased with the information. Draco went back to stirring while he went back to cauldron resurfacing.
"Snape?" Draco called, focused on stirring, and Snape merely grunted assent.
"You tell anyone anything about this conversation, and I'll know."
It was said with out the slightest waver, and shocked Snape to the core. His Godson had actually just threatened him. Protecting someone Snape had never met. He couldn't believe it, but still grunted affirming he had heard it. He did hear it, just had no idea where to go from here.
XXXXXX
Draco finished off the potion with an inward smile. Snape got what he want, a little info, and Draco had done what he came to do. Today when he had dropped off the puppy, Kyler had actually come forward and kissed him right in front of Trighton. It was a major breakthrough.
Even in couples that had been together a while, he knew that public displays of affection were sometimes an off limits thing. It seemed Kyler had no problem with it though. Well, he thought, it wasn't really public but it was as good as it could be.
They had played with puppy for hours, still debating names, and letting other students play with him as well. The pup seemed to have a knack for getting everyone involved in his game of chase, and then plopping down on Kyler or Draco's lap for a much needed rest.
Draco had even brought up Kyler visiting Hogwarts again, which Kyler had said he really didn't want to do anytime soon. He was honest and just said he had his reasons, and Draco trusted that. He wondered what they were, but maybe he had an ex girlfriend that went to Hogwarts or something. Or a previous Professor, though that was less likely.
It didn't really matter to Draco. Kyler would, just like today had shown, come around in his own time.
And now even Snape knew not to mess with him on the issue. Was a fine night over all.
XXXXXXX
Days Later…….
Draco aparated to the headmaster's for his usual meeting time, but saw that the man was nowhere in sight. Usually the man was there waiting and told him where to find Kyler. He really wanted to see his mate and little Zeus. They had finally agreed upon a name, and it had only taken a week. In just a week the little pup had implanted himself into their lives, and he couldn't wait to see them.
If only Trighton had actually been in his office at the appointed time. The school was so large that it would be impossible for Draco to just walk around and find Kyler. He could of course track him by scent bit it wasn't very reliable.
He weighed his options and decided to stay until the headmaster returned. The man was probably finishing up a meeting or important business anyhow. It finally gave Draco the opportunity to look around the office at leisure. There were pictures on most of the walls, and Draco had always been curious about them. Never had he been given the opportunity to really look though.
The wall next to the door was covered in the graduating class pictures, going back about a hundred years. Older ones he had seen in the halls of the main campus buildings. In each the people waved at the camera and were dressed in customary black robes, and stoles engraved with the year. It gave him much amusement to see the various hair trends of time. Sideburns he saw in some. He didn't understand that one.
The next wall, adjacent to the large windows in the office seemed to be the more private photos. They weren't really viewable form where students might sit, being in an alcove area. The headmaster was in a few of them with other people. One looked like it might be the headmaster's wife, but then again Draco thought, they looked a little too alike. Possibly a sibling he thought again. Another was Trighton with a bunch of people obviously receiving some awards.
There were pictures of the headmaster with what was surely some of his favorite students, and he was sure one was of a younger Kyler. Ky looked about age seven, and was getting his first ride on a hippogriff. Even then, Draco noted, the boy looked fearless; laughing while the headmaster held the animal still. It was obvious the man cared for the rider by his intense expression. He must have been hell on wheels, Draco mused.
One of the last was a couple holding a child. Draco was stunned speechless when he recognized the eyes of the child. It couldn't be but it was. Kyler. The eyes were the dead giveaway. As clear as emeralds even at what was probably the age of two or so. The headmaster was in it as well, his hand around the younger man holding the baby. There was a look of pride in his eyes. The young woman in the picture was pretty enough, though didn't look a good deal like Kyler. He seemed to look more like his father.
The young woman was holding a framed paper of some sort, waving it at the camera. It looked to Draco to be some sort of birth certificate. Which didn't make much sense to him. Then again, he didn't know much about the customs in this country he thought with a shrug.
In any case it was the baby that interested him. At least he knew that Kyler's hair would always be in disarray. If it was messy at the age of two, then it would be forever going in different directions. The baby was smiling up at the camera, with a wrinkled brow.
Though as Draco inspected the picture further he got disgruntled that there seemed to be dirt on the glass of the frame. The people in the picture seemed to lose their happy faces as Draco rubbed and finally took the picture down from the wall to get a closer look. He almost rubbed too hard before it suddenly came to him.
Holy shit!
That was all that came to mind. He was almost completely thoughtless as he finally realized it wasn't dirt on the baby's forehead. It was scar. A scar still red and healing, but a scar never-the-less. A lightening bolt scar.
The people in the picture seemed to sigh as they realized what secret they had given away, and the younger version of the headmaster suddenly disappeared.
"No! Fuck it all!!"
I was all Draco thought and didn't even realize that he had practically screamed it at the top of his lungs. He couldn't fucking believe it! Harrison Kyler, yeah right! It was absolute bullshit! Harry-fucking-potter! Suposedly dead, believed to be dead, savior of the fucking world!
Draco didn't even turn to hear the door open as a calm head master and out of breath Kyler walked in. Draco looked down and realized somehow he had dropped the picture, and it lay shattered on the ground. The glass was all broken into little pieces.
Genetics, was that what Kyler had said? Behind a fucking closed door! He couldn't believe he had been duped.
The head master looked to Kyler, both seemingly speechless at the moment, and walked to his desk. Finally Draco had enough of the bullshit. He noticed that Kyler seemed nervous, and could only laugh at the boy's naivete. Oh he sure as hell had a reason to be nervous!
"Care to confirm what I already know?! Or are you going to make excuses?! What's the choice going to be! Is Kyler even a real name?" As Draco said each possibility he stalked up to Kyler, or Harry, he reminded himself with a sneer.
They stood toe to toe. One absolutely enraged and one with a frown, obviously not sure what to say.
"What! No words! Damn it! No, damn you! I was open with you, handing my life to you on a fucking platter! I kept giving and you just sat there with this bomb of a secret!" Draco was enraged.
He had tried to do everything right, taking his time, and the biggest secret of all was kept behind closed doors to him. He wanted strangle the man in front of him. More than anything he wanted the man to have some reason for what he had done. For the secrets he kept. Building trust, ha, what a joke.
Kyler only stared. "I didn't lie. We've only known each other a few weeks, and I just couldn't…." He trailed off, not knowing what to say. He had lived by his values of never lying, trying to be honest and trying to protect his secret at the same time.
"You lied by omission!" Draco railed. "Maybe in your fabulous brain you didn't lie, but it doesn't really matter does it. You weren't going to let me in! Well fuck you and your damned headmaster! Don't come near me, and screw this whole bond. It obviously doesn't mean anything! Savior of the world is a bloody coward. Ready to watch us all die, and too bloody stupid to care about anything but himself! That's right fuck the bond, since we're all screwed anyway!"
Draco turned and stormed to the appariton point, glaring at the Headmaster till he said the word that allowed Draco to pop away, still glaring at both of them.
He never saw the tears glistening in Kyler's eyes, and then be shaken away. Only they returned moments later. Draco didn't see the headmaster looking at the young man he considered his grandson, with sadness and knowing eyes. He never saw Kyler pick up the actual picture that had given away his secret. It was one of the only pictures he had left of his parents. He tore it into pieces, and threw the shreds into the fireplace, with a muttered "Bunch of good having memories does for you."
XXXXX
TBC...