Chapter Thirteen – Working Through It
The first words that come out Draco's mouth when he finally wakes up surprises the founders but not Harry, "Are you freaking kidding me, Hufflepuff! I never thought I would live to see the day when a Malfoy would represent the house of Hufflepuff." Draco sighs and looks around the room from his seated position. He did not even realize that he is still in the library. Draco remembers that before he blacked out he and Harry were talking to the Hogwarts founders portraits.
"And what is so bloody wrong with representing the house of Hufflepuff? I will have you know we are the bravest, smartest and most cunning of all the other houses. What the bloody hell are they teaching you, children, here." Says a very agitated female voice.
Draco looks up from where he is lying down to not only see Harry, but Godric, Salazar and two other women who he can only assume are Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw.
"Smart and Brave my arse, there is a reason we call them puffs," he says sarcastically. A stinging hex is sent his way causing Draco yelp and jump the chair.
"Dammit Draco, use your head and not your mouth," Harry says to him.
"For your information, young Consort, Helga is indeed correct." Responds Rowena. Draco gives her a look of disbelief. "While the Ravens show their smarts, the Griffins display their courage, and the Snakes slither and trick those around them. The Puffs hide in plain sight." She reprimands. "Think about it this way, Puffs are the first to know what is going on, and what is the latest gossip. The other houses speak freely around them, and they are completely ignored and yet they know when to stand up for what they believe and they know when to run from a fight. They also love with their whole heart. If you are looking for spies, you send a Puff to do the job."
Draco begins to feel embarrassed of his idiotic outburst, and he has never thought about it. How many times has he or Blaise talked about an important matter not realizing that someone was standing there listening? Draco shakes his head searching the room for Harry. His eyes lands on his mate and a smile broke from his lips. Merlin Harry is beautiful; his lips were still a bit red and swollen from their kisses in the tower. Draco gets up from the chair and walks over to Harry cupping his face he kisses him, with as much passion as he could muster with others watching. Draco tries to block out the fact that he and Harry are snogging in the private quarters, of one of the founders. Not to mention they are Harry's grandparents. The big question is. How exactly is Harry related to Hogwarts Founders?
A throat clears trying to get their attention, but Draco ignores the noise and continues to make love to Harry's mouth with their kiss. What he is doing right now was more important than anything else that needs to happen. Draco could not stop the need that overcomes him, Harry's kisses in a short time have become like a drug to him. He craves the taste of his sweet mate, and the way Harry response to him pulls him in even more. To add Draco tries to convey his feelings to Harry that anything he has to tell him, he would listen with an open mind and try to be fair and unbiased.
Another stinging hex is sent his way and Draco abruptly pulls away from Harry leaving Harry a bit unsteady on his feet. Draco turns and sends the people in the portrait a scathing and angry look.
"Don't you give me that look young man" Helga snaps. "Our grandson has matters to discuss with you and distracting him will only make him nervous. When he is done speaking with you. You can kiss him for as long as you desire. But for now keep your lips and hands to yourself." The or else is left unsaid in her threat. With her hands on her hips Draco deduces she meant business and would rather not find out the or else would imply. Fuck, why is everyone threatening me tonight?
Draco took the warning, raising his hands to show he surrender. He reluctantly backed away from Harry walked over to the other side of the room. Draco turns his head to the side to see Harry's biting on his bottom lip and an anxious look on his face. Draco pulls Harry in his arms. Harry buries his face in his chest. "Whatever it is we will deal with it together," Draco says. Harry nods his head and lifts his head to look in Draco's face. Temptation gets the better of him, and Draco could not help himself he bends his head to capture Harry's lips in another kiss but stops suddenly.
"I wouldn't if I were you," Says a voice above his head. Draco looks up at the portrait to see all four founder's glaring at him. Then he hears a snicker and looks back down to see Harry covering his lips hiding a smile. Everyone is a fucking comedian tonight.
Draco steps back from Harry then bows, and gives a sweeping motion "The floor is all yours Love."
Harry is nervous he does not know where to start? That is the question. Harry takes a deep gulping breath and starts from the very beginning. "Well, it all began the night of my birthday….." Harry tells Draco that he was all packed and ready to leave his relatives, and about the bright light. Blacking out and waking up. He purposely skips the part about inspecting himself in the mirror feeling a bit embarrassed by that part. Harry explains to Draco about Fawkes appearing in his bedroom and being taking him to meet with the Founder. Harry tells Draco about meeting his brother but deliberately left out who is brother is. It is at that point in the story that Rowena takes over and explains to Draco their reason for opening the doors to their home that is now Hogwarts. Helga takes over and tells Draco about their belief and what they hoped to accomplish by starting the school and their pureblood ideals.
As his grandmother's spoke, Harry watched Draco's reaction. The surprise and shock look on his mate's face would have been comical if the situations were not serious. The depth of which Helga and Rowena explained their desire to see our world exists, and thrive only to hear that the Wizarding world is filled with prejudice and mistrust hurts.
"So," Draco Begins. "You're telling me that the man that have been spouting pureblood propaganda has it all wrong? And add to the fact that he is also claiming to be the Heir to Salazar Slytherin is nothing more than a liar, and a thief?"
"I will say this for the last time. The man or thing known as Voldemort is not and will never be my Heir." Salazar Slytherin yells, "Just because he speaks to and can understand snakes does not make him a Slytherin descendant. If that were the case, Lady Hogwarts would have granted him access to these and the other quarters in the castle." Snaps Salazar.
"But Harry can speak Parseltongue?" Counters Draco. Merlin Draco certainly did not know when to shut his bloody mouth at times.
"Yes, he can. And so can other wizards. Some can hear plants, some can hear lions, tiger, and bears, Oh my!" Shouts Salazar, Harry is confident that if his grandfather were in the room, it would shake with his anger. "But do we count them as Heir or even descendants of Gryffindor or Merlin for crying out loud!"
Draco turns to Harry and points to the portrait. "Now I know where your temper comes from."
"Young Consort, you don't know the half of it," Godric says agreeing with Draco. "Do yourself a favor young Consort just agrees with everything he says from this day forth."
"Honestly!" Yells Harry and Salazar together.
Both Godric and Draco chuckles, while Helga and Rowena look on trying to hide their smiles.
Salazar clears his throat glaring at his chuckling mate, and then turns back to Draco and Harry. "Are there any questions thus far?"
Instantly Draco straightens up realizing that the conversation has gone back to the matter at hand. "Yes, actually, I do," Draco says. "You mention that other than magic wizards are born with the ability to communicate with nature and beast, wouldn't that be a matter of bloodlines and heritages?" Draco asks. "For instance, the men in the Malfoy line are all pureblood Veelas, when we reach our majority we know that we will be Veelas and will have a mate. You are saying that these particular abilities are something different from a creature inheritance?"
"Think of it this way, young Draco. May I call you that," Godric asks.
Draco nods his head, "Yes, that will be fine."
"Very well, gaining a creature inheritance is entirely different. Having a Veela or an elf bloodline that passes down from family member to member is extraordinary yes, but it is known you can trace to the exact family member." Godric tells Draco. "With this gift that Mother Magic and Sister Earth saw fit to bestow powerful wizards and witches to be able to heal and, understand their creatures and nature. They are there to aid us as we are here to aid them. Think of this young Draco if you have an animagus ability, what is it?"
Draco looks at Harry never taking his eyes off his mate. "It is a Horntail Dragon" Harry gasps at the revelation.
"Can you understand or speak to them? Harry asks sounding a bit excited. Draco reluctantly nods his head yes. "When did you realize you can hear them," he asked again.
"At the Tri-wizard tournament, it's not just the Horntail either its all of them. They were so scared, and they didn't know what was happening all they wanted to do was protected the eggs."
"Does anyone else know?"
"No! I saw what happened to you when they found out you spoke to snakes. Hell, it was part my fault. But, I did not want the same thing to happen to me. So I kept it a secret from everyone, not even my father knows and I tell him everything." Draco says. He walks over to Harry putting a hand on the nape of his neck pulling their foreheads together. "Baby, I'm sorry for what happened to you, granted I was the one that started it all. I just…" Draco takes in a large gulp of air letting it out slowly then he lifts his head so that he can look into Harry's eyes. "I just didn't want anyone to look at me with the same fear and contempt the way they looked at you. I was a coward Harry, and I know that now. But I can promise you that I will no longer hide behind my father or anyone else. It is my job to protect you, or better yet we will protect each other."
"I'd like that," Harry whispers to Draco. Slipping his hands around Draco's neck Harry pulls him down for a kiss.
Harr understands Draco's fear. If the circumstances were reversed at the time, he would have done the same thing by not telling anyone he is a Parseltongue. Draco pulls him closer as they devoured each other.
Again they used their passion for each other to convey what words could not. Slowly they pull away from each other. Harry lifted his head and looked into Draco's blue-grey eyes. "I forgave you for that a long time ago. We were young Dray, and I know that now. We've matured since then." He gives Draco another kiss this one was shorter than the one before but it had the same passion as all the others they have shared since meeting that night. Harry felt like a kid in a candy shop finally getting to taste his favorite treat.
When they pull back from their kiss, "Do you still want me to continue, or tell you the rest later?" Harry asks Draco running his hands over Draco's larger chest. "We can take things to a more private setting?" The only thing on Harry's mind right that minute was getting Draco naked, and have him do more like what they did in the Astronomy tower and maybe a bit more.
Draco smirks and stares down in aroused and dilated eyes. Harry is sexy when he is horny. Draco also loves how brazen Harry gets when he is in the mood for sex. "As much as I want to take you to our new bedroom and lick your body from head to toe and watch you squirm and come undone just from my touch." Draco hisses when Harry cups his clothed cock and squeezes it.
To stop himself from taking things further Draco steps away from Harry's. His mates touch makes him want to forget that they had things to talk about but not right now. "I think we need to finish this conversation because make no mistake Harry the first time we make love I want nothing between us. No secrets or any other barrier holding me back from cumming inside of you and hearing you scream my name."
Draco watch has Harry's eyes becomes more hungry with passion and lust, he shivers as if a cool breeze entered the room. Draco cannot believe the amount of desire bottled up inside of Harry just waiting to popped. The amount of time we wasted fighting when we could have been fucking makes no sense. We were such foolish children!
Draco walks over to one of the empty chairs and sits down. He gestures for his mate to do the same. Draco expected Harry to sit in the next chair beside his. But he is surprised when Harry sits in his lap and begins to run his hands through Draco's hair. Feeling calm and soothed Draco leans his head back and wait and tell Harry to continue with his story.
Harry smirks, he has found the best way to keep Draco from blowing up. Right now his mate is relaxed, so Harry continues his story. He tells Draco about going to Gringotts and looking after his accounts. Again, it comes to another part of the story that caused him to debate if he should tell Draco, on whether to share that between him and Neville combined are the two richest wizards in Wizarding Britain and Europe. Draco, no Malfoys are proud individuals. Add in his Dominant Veela status where Draco feels it is his job to care for all of Harry's needs, could end up them arguing. Harry wonders how Draco will feel to know that he and Neville are Dukes twice removed.
But Draco said he wanted no secrets between them. So he revealed everything to leaving out all the information about Neville. Harry feels to tell Draco about Neville would be a violation of his brother secrets.
"Let me get this straight. Not only are you filthy rich, but you are also Duke Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Peverell?" Harry nods his head. Draco did not say anything for a while, and that worried Harry. In a Dom/Sub Veela relationship, the Dom is the one that provides for his mate and their kits. Harry stops running his hands through Draco's hair and gets ready to get off his lap when Draco stops him. Instead Draco motions for Harry to continue.
Feeling a little better but still unsure Harry continues with his tale. It is when he reaches the part he overheard Dumbledore, Weasley and Granger plotting his death and line theft Draco became enraged.
Harry knew this would happen it is one of the reasons he debated on what to tell his mate. "I'm going to kill them, Harry," He growls. "How can you continue to be friends with them knowing what they are planning? And, the fact that the Weasley bitch, wants to steal your line, to have your children just to get your money? Are you fucking kidding me? You are not allowed to have kits with anyone but me, do you hear me!" Draco's blue-gray eyes turn stormy gray, and Harry swore he saw a flash of lightening sparked his pupils.
Harry gets off Draco's lap and this time Draco did not stop him. Harry is not sure if he is happy or disappointed Draco is angry enough that he did not want to touch him.
"I have to Draco, and it's the plan we came up with that way I can gain more information. We can't let them know that I know as of yet. We need them to incriminate themselves!"
Draco quickly gets up from his chair and stand in front of Harry blocking his view. It is then Harry noticed Draco wings flare out ready for battle. "We!" Draco yells. "Who the hell are these "we" you keep talking about?!"
Dammit, I knew this would happen. Shit, wait until he finds out about Lucius. In for a penny, in for a pound as the muggles always say. Harry gets ready to answer Draco when he turns around to face the founders portraits.
"Are you guys in on this plan as well? Draco demands.
"Don't you dare take that tone with us little dragon master!" Salazar shouts.
"No we are not in on this plan, in fact, this is the first time we hear of this," Godric says much calmer than Salazar.
'Yes, why is that my little snake?" Salazar asks with a perfectly arched raven eyebrow. "What have you been up to?"
Harry is nervous about telling Draco and his grandparents about part of the plan that he and the other's came up with the part that involves him becoming closer to the Headmaster. Speaking of others where are they when I need them? "Well, you see," Harry begins rubbing his hands together. "When I heard the conversation between the Headmaster and the rest I ran to the only person I could trust besides my brother. Then we called in the rest, and things snowballed from there to me having an inner circle of trusted people."
Harry can see the anger on Draco's face, and his eyes are still stormy gray. "And, was I ever going to be in this trusted inner circle of yours," he ask snidely. "And who is this brother you keep referring to, where the hell did he come from and where has he been? As far as I know you are an only child."
"Of course Draco," He says stepping closer to him. "I mean once I learned I can trust you completely. You and I know that trust is something that will take time." Harry mutter. It is not his intention to hurt Draco's feelings by leaving him out of things. But everything happened so quickly before he realized what was going on at the time.
"And the brother?"
Harry sighs, "I cannot tell you who he is as of yet," Draco gets ready to speak when Harry cuts him off. "It is not my story to tell but his. If he gives me permission to say who he is."
Draco concedes to that point and nods his head. "So who is in this inner circle of yours, that I have to gain your trust and acceptance to join?"
Harry flinches as if he was slapped. "Come on Dray please my Dominant, don't be like that." Harry begs. "We are only just coming to terms with each other. Trust takes time."
"I understand that Harry, but it just hurts," Draco tells him a bit calmer than before. "I just got you, and I feel like I'm going to lose you and it hurts that our past made you turn to others you seem to trust more than me." Harry can hear in Draco's voice how much he is wounded.
Draco did not want to fight with Harry anymore that night. "Just tell me, Harry," He says with an exasperated sigh. "Who are the people you chose to place your trust in over me."
Harry turns away from Draco for a few minutes then face him again. "Well let's see, there is Weasley Twins, Luna. Neville, Charlie and Bill Weasley and Remus Lupin." Harry pauses before saying the last two names.
Draco notices that Harry is fidgeting more and knows that is not the end of the list. Draco did not understand why Harry would be anxious about telling him is in his inner circle. Draco summarizes that Harry would have at least run to the werewolf after all he is like a godfather to him. Draco would have done the same thing in Harry's place. It is what I did tonight before seeking out reasons to talk with Harry.
"Who else Harry?"
Clearing his throat, "Severusandyourfather." Harry says in one breath.
"Come again my Submissive, I did not quite understand that."
Harry steels himself, "I said Severus and your Father."
Draco is silent for what seemed like forever, but in reality it was only for a millisecond before he explodes. "My father! You trust my bloody father over me your mate for fucking life. The man who has tried to kill you, on the orders of that psychopath."
"Oh! Get off it Draco you and I both know that your father switched sides a long time ago. It was why you were so worried that summer Voldemort wanted them to seduce the French Diplomat." Harry yells back at his mate. "I know that the information he learned will not make it back to Voldemort," Harry yells back. He maybe the submissive in the relationship, but that does not mean he lost his backbone.
"And, how do you know that, huh! I love my father Harry, but he will do anything that is self-serving." Draco counters back.
"You want to know how I know he will not tell anyone what we have discussed. Huh!" Harry screams in Draco's face. "Do you have such little faith in your father, Draco? Or better yet do you have such little confidence in me? I know that we are embarking on a new part of our relationship from enemies to lover and eventually bond mates. But make no mistake; I am not a fucking idiot. I had your father swear on his magic that the only person he was allowed to tell is his wife. And if either of them pass the information on to anyone else not only will they lose their magic they will die. Is that simple minded enough for you Draco?"
They were both quiet. Draco is absorbing what Harry just told him. It was not like he did not know his father was a good man. But there are times his father will take an opportunity and run with it. He is a Slytherin after all. "Look Harry…"
"Don't….I honestly do not want to hear what you have to say right now." Harry gave Draco a look that said if you touch me right now I will end you. "I'm going to bed. Take the guest bedroom or the couch but tonight you are not welcomed in our bed." And with that he turned and walked out of the library leaving Draco to deal with his Grandparents.
Draco walked over to the fireplace then sits heavily in the wingback chair. He leaned back and looked at the four founders seated in what seemed to be a round table. "I fucked up big time just a second ago didn't I?" He asks them.
They all nod their heads in affirmation. Rowena gets up from her chair and makes her way to the front of the table. "You see from what Harry has told us and what we have gathered. People tended to underestimate how clever he is. All they see is Harry the Golden Boy or the vanquisher of this supposed Dark Lord. No one ever sees the real him. I guess what he was expecting is that his mate will see the real Harry. So what you need to ask yourself young dragon what do you see when you look at Harry?"
That questions stumped Draco. He has always prided himself on being smarter than most, of knowing what to look for in people. But with Harry he missed so many signs that were right in front of his face. Like the fact that he was being abused by his muggle family or that he is definitely not what Draco and other people made Harry out to be. When Draco thinks back, he realizes that Harry always seems to shy away from people. It is Weasley, and Granger that always dragged Harry into dangerous situations. Gods, I am such an idiot, how could I think that Harry would not know how to take care of himself.
Draco has to fix his mistake. He could not wait until the morning to make it right Draco needs to go and find Harry. With a new determination, he gets up from his chair. Draco yelled goodnight to Harry's grandparents and went to make an apologize to his mate.
The founder watch Draco walks out of the library. Godric pulls Salazar into his arms. "Do they remind you of anyone Love?" he asks.
Salazar giggles "It's like looking at a younger version of ourselves, instead of red and blond hair its midnight black and blond. The fire in their bond will never fade. It is the same with us." Salazar says with a sweet smile.
"Aye, that it is m'Love, that it is." Godric pulls Salazar into a kiss that could melt the picture and frames off the wall.
In another tower similar to Harry and Draco, two beings lay entwined and engrossed in each other. Hands are ripping at clothes button flying all over the room. Mouth, lips and tongue touching every inch of visible skin; breaths mingling and minds blending. Neville pulled away from kissing his mate. "I'm so glad you decided to give us a chance Blaise. I know we are destined mates, but I want our bond to be stronger before we take the next step."
Blaise looks at Neville, Merlin he was handsome and smart and most of all made just for me. I would be an idiot and not give us a chance. Blaise did not care that Neville is in Gryffindor or any of the accolades that he came with his name. All Blaise see's when he looks at Neville is someone to love and to love him back. And that is all Blaise can ask for now that he has found his own. Balise will be damned if anyone tried to come between them. I hope if he does have another mate he or she will understand the meaning of love and acceptance. But secretly Blaise hopes that he is the only mate Neville has or wants. After Neville announces his title, many gold diggers will come out of the woodwork to get at Neville.
Fawkes watch the Headmaster with disappointment in he eyes. Soon, he will no longer have to pretend to show loyal to this fool. His masters will take their place at the head of the school and possibly the Wizarding world, and the Headmaster will be no more. Master Fawkes have lived a very long time, and he was once the familiar to Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. And now he will be the familiar to their heirs who will do great things to change the course of history. Fawkes gives a pleasant shrill. The time is near; they have found and started to bond with their mates. Soon they will be stronger than the Headmaster and Voldemort combined. As an immortal Being, Fawkes is not afraid of death saying his name does not evoke fear in him as it does humans. Needing to get away from the Headmaster Fawkes flashed from his perch, it is time to check on his Heirs.
Hermione sits in the Gryffindor Common room like she does most nights. It is te start of the weekend, and the Common room is quiet that gives her time to think and plot. Hermione notices that Harry was not at Dinner nor has he come back to the Gryffindor towers. On her rounds as Head Girl, Hermione made it appoint to search for Harry in any of his hiding spots. She also did a find me spell and was still not able to find Harry. She did not tell Ron, Ginny or Dumbledore.
Hermione wants to keep the fact that Harry is missing. She will never admit it to Ron or Ginny, but Hermione fears the Headmaster, his punishments are harsh and unyielding, the scar on her back she uses glamours to hide the proof of her one too many failures. Hermione cannot understand the Headmaster's fascination with the idiot Potter. So what if his parents are dead, so what if his mother died protecting him and so bloody what if Harry vanquished Voldemort before. He obviously did not do such a magnificent job if the man returned. Hermione sighs, she needs to figure out what the little idiot Potter is up to first before she brings it to the Headmasters attention. For an unexplained reason, Hermione feels this new Harry have grown smarter over the summer, and she did not like it.
The feeling that Harry is up to something eats at her, over the years Hermione was the one that did the majority of the thinking in their little group. Hermione was the one to figure out every single clue left for the Tri-wizard tournament and tracking down Voldemort. It was not Harry and definitely not her stupid muscle-bound boyfriend. Hermione will admit Ron has gotten sexier over the summer but no smarter than he was before. And Gods, the things he does to her body in bed has her seeing stars.
Hermione pulls out her charms book that she has read a million times before. She always finds it interesting that the Wizarding world is so fascinating but in need of a dramatic change. Hermione cannot wait to be the first female Minister and disregard the majority of their archaic laws. It is absurd that the men and women of such and educated society still feels and believes that muggle borns are not as powerful as pure blood. How shocked and dismay they will be when she becomes a Minister at a young age. If it weren't for the fact that Voldemort thought along the same lines about Muggle-borns, she would have joined his cause a long time from the beginning. Hermione thoughts are interrupted when Ron comes running out of the boys dorm room.
"Mione, he gone, everything of his is gone, Neville's too. We have to go to the Headmaster," Ron says frantically.
Hermione sighs and sets her book carefully down on her lap. "What are prattling about Ron?" She asks as calmly as possible. Sometimes Ron really grates on her nerves. Hermione promises herself when she become Minister one of her own decrees is to do away with Ron and his ill-mannered family. Hermione mentally smiles at the prospect.
"Harry and Neville, their trunk is not by their bed. It was there this morning and before dinner but now it's gone." He says again.
Hermione closes her eyes and asks for patients. "They cannot be gone Ron the Headmaster would have know. After all, he is tied into Hogwarts wards. He is aware of who comes and goes."
"Not if they used the marauders map and used one of the secret passages," Ron tells her.
Hermione gets up from the sofa quickly stepping into her shoe. "You're right we need to see the Headmaster," She says becoming anxious not because she wants to find Potter but for the punishment she will receive for losing sight of Harry come one let's go. Maybe there is still time to find him, Hermione does not care for Longbottom he poses no threat to her or her cause. "Potter could not have gotten too far. Dinner was only a few hours ago. Come on let's see if we can find him before we inform the Headmaster."
Hermione and Ron rush out of the Gryffindor tower without even noticing that the fat lady is not in her frame. Or the fact that most of the paintings were not where they are supposed to be. Ron and Hermione split up searching all over the castle for had searched for roughly three hours before they ran to the Headmaster's office.
During their search, Ron and Hermione did not take notice that the walls of Hogwarts are glowing. There are preparations to be made and in the coming weeks things within the walls of Hogwarts will change.