Engagement Season; Chapter Four

The first week of school went well for the Golden Trio. A few very intense wannabe paramours had leapt out of the woodwork, leading Harry to do his best to hide in between classes from the many admirers. Ron and the others had laughed it off; Harry was a single, very attractive wizard, who also happened to be the Savior of the Wizarding World. Though the several very aggressive sixth and seventh years trying to corner Harry had all learned rather quickly why it was he was the one to defeat the darkest wizard of all time. Of course, in all honesty they had expected Harry to come after them with a wand, and thus had been suitably prepared for that; so when he had come out fists swinging, they had been caught by surprise.

The last instance is what lead to Harry's detention gathering potion plants in the Forbidden Forest. Filch had happened upon an overly aggressive seduction attempt, and had delighted in giving both boys detentions when he'd caught them wrestling in the hall. The sixth year Slytherin that had pinned Harry in an alcove in his attempt to woo him got just what he deserved in Harry's opinion; the guy was stuck scrubbing cauldron's with Harry's very irritated and over protective father.

Severus while unable to get Harry out of the undeserved detention had been able to make it at least more enjoyable than his own students. Luckily for Harry, Ron had decided to brave the Forest with him to keep him company.

~oOo~

"So what's going on over there?" Harry pointed to a large walled off area filled with trees and what he thought were tents, their points sticking up just enough to see over the tall wall.

Ron smiled; they hadn't gotten to purebloods with magical creature inheritances yet. "It's called the Maze, its part of the Engagement Gathering that takes place during the Engagement Season. You see, most pureblood families have some sort of magical creature blood in them like: veela, vampire, etcetera; it's considered a symbol of both status and blood purity to have magical creature blood in the family tree. Anyway, at the beginning of the school year, the Ministry helps set up the Engagement Gatherings, a bunch of party like gatherings where their children choose mates."

"Why haven't we ever seen one here before?" Harry asked curiously. "And why the beginning of the school year?"

Ron shrugged, "Because of the war the Engagement Gatherings have been held elsewhere, on neutral ground for the last like forty years or something. The purebloods didn't want to have it here because of Dumbledore and Voldemort. They needed somewhere neutral where there was no dark or light side influence. Not a problem anymore though which is why the tradition of holding it at the school has been reinstated. You most likely didn't notice when the older students left for a week or more at a time because you didn't know what to look for. And their mating season just happens to fall at the beginning of the school year, thus the 'Engagement Season'."

Harry nodded, "Makes sense. So it's all the purebloods with creature genes?"

"In the case of the Engagement Gathering's, it's all the veela descendents."

"Oh. So what, they throw all the girl's in those tents and let the guy's race around and try to pick the best one?" Harry giggled at the thought of Malfoy running around trying to find the prettiest girl.

"Not exactly," Ron blushed.

"Well what happens then, come on mate?" Harry asked.

"It's not a question of male and female. It's dominant and submissive. A male submissive magical creature is capable of getting pregnant and continuing the line."

"What," Harry asked shocked, thinking back to his dreams. "Men can get pregnant?"

"Not normally, at least not without potions; a male wizard with no creature inheritance can get pregnant with the aid of a potion, the ones that have magical creature blood can get pregnant naturally."

"Holy Merlin," Harry stopped and thought about that. "So you mean that I could take a potion and get pregnant, have my own baby?"

Ron laughed at the gob smacked expression on his friends face, "Yep."

"Wow," Harry said dreamily. In his mind's eye he could picture himself, stomach distended with his child as he sat on the couch curled against his partner.

"So," Ron said continuing his lecture, pausing momentarily gather his thoughts. "The dominants can sense the submissive's, and they feel for purity and power."

"Typical," Harry snorted.

"Not really mate, it's instinctual. Once the submissive's come into season, they start to give off a… um a scent I guess is the best way to describe it, pheromones or something; but the dominants can actually feel them as well, sense their innate power. The submissive is basically advertising their power and purity, not blood purity but purity of body. The dominants don't want someone who's been around the quidditch pitch if you know what I mean. Anyway, then, once the dominants sense 'the one', instinct takes over and the submissive once they know they've been scented, are given over into their instincts as well. Just think mate," Ron laughed, "if you were a veela submissive, those dominants would be all over you like those guys at school have been."

"Ha, ha," Harry blushed. "So does your family go? You're pureblood, do you guys have magical creature blood?" He asked curiously.

"The Weasley's used to participate and we are pureblood, but it's been a very long time since we've married with someone of magical creature descent. Bill and Fleur's kids will be the first Weasley's to participate in an Engagement Gathering in almost seventy years when they come of age." Ron shrugged.

Harry nodded. "How did Fleur end up with Bill if he didn't go to a Gathering?"

"No one is required to attend the Gatherings. Fleur told her family that she wanted to wait a year before participating so she could go out and experience the world a bit, and then she met Bill. She told us it was the most romantic thing; she felt drawn to Bill and started 'displaying' for him. Bill felt the attraction, knew she was veela so did a little research, and then put together a mock Maze with Mum and Dad's help. So she got her 'Gathering', and the right to test her dominant for worthiness, and the rest was history. Fleur's parents were very impressed that Bill went to so much trouble."

"That is so romantic," Harry sniffed.

Ron rolled his eyes and pat Harry's back. You know, they should really have a class or something for the muggle borne about Wizarding traditions and stuff."

Harry nodded. "Siri, Sev, Hermione, and I have a list of things that we will be presenting to the Ministry's Board of Education for the muggle borne, as well as any half bloods that are raised in the muggle world, about exactly that. So back to the thing, they are having their first whatever you call it today?"

"Engagement Run; the submissive's start coming into 'season' shortly before school starts. The dominants have two weeks to begin 'displaying', and then the Gatherings begin. They do the Run through the Maze, and then mate with their selected partner; and though like I said you are not required to participate, it's recommended. It used to be a free for all, and the witches and wizards without magical creature blood started getting hurt when the submissive's came into season and they got in the way of the dominants. Don't get me wrong, the dominants will fight each other if they're attracted to the same submissive, sometimes even to the death, but by keeping it organized like this, that hardly ever happens anymore. "

"That'll happen?" Harry asked wide eyed.

"Instincts Harry, they can't stop themselves. Once the dominants sense the one they want, they fight for the right to mate with them. That's why they gather the way they do, to protect the rest of the students. They put together the Maze to even things out, and to keep everyone else safe. We passed it on the way out here. They have a huge area closed off, and the first big tent in the front is where all the families and dominants wait while the submissive's are being readied. Each submissive goes through some sort of cleansing ritual or something, Mum never really explained that part, and then they are led to a tent in the maze. Once everyone is situated, they blow the whistle and they're off. Charlie said it's like a quidditch match with all the dirty and not quite legal tricks."

Harry laughed at that. "But what if the submissive doesn't want them?"

"Well, that's where it gets interesting," Ron said slowly trying to remember the lessons from so long ago. "Hey, I think you probably have enough ingredients, let's start to head back." Harry nodded in agreement, and the two teens turned to make their way back. "The submissive, if they find the dominant unworthy, can fight them." Ron restarted the lecture.

"Huh?"

"The submissive's instincts tell them to mate with the dominant that matches them in power, the one who will be strong enough to defend their family."

"So again, there is no real conscious choice, it's all based on instincts?"

Ron laughed at his friend. "It's actually a real honor Harry, besides mate, some of those guys have turned real aggressive on you. Maybe they were displaying for you." He waggled his eyebrows at his friend.

"Don't even joke about that," Harry shuddered. "They only want me because I'm the boy-who-lived and I have more money than the Malfoy's."

Ron laughed. "You could always marry Ginny."

Harry wrinkled his nose. "No offense Ron, but not only is she a girl, but she's like my sister."

"I know, and she knows, but she's still holding out hope that you'll change your mind."

Harry sighed. "I know that too."

The two friends remained silent for a while, just walking, when Ron heard the bushes rustle in front of them. "Hey mate, we're not anywhere near Hagrid's pet spiders are we?" he asked worriedly as he checked the surrounding area for giant man eating spiders.

"Umm no," Harry said also taking in their surroundings. "Aragog's nest is quite a ways north of here, we never got close to it."

The rustling got louder, and was now accompanied by low guttural growling. Ron stopped in his tracks, Harry beside him. "What is that?"

Harry stiffened, and let out a low trill startling himself and Ron.

"Harry," Ron whispered looking at his friend. Harry's pupils had contracted to the point where he could see nothing put huge emerald irises in the other teens face. "Holy fuck," Ron whispered, "I was just kidding!"

"What's going on Ron," Harry asked fearfully, momentarily kicking the fog that hazed over his brain. He took a deep breath and let out another low trill.

Ron watched as several broad bodies made their way out of the bushes. "Harry mate, don't move."

"Ron?"

"Don't move mate," Ron repeated as he slowly began to inch away.

"Where are you going?" Harry's eyes were blown wide in fear, his voice trembling; the dominants reacted with low crooning trills sensing their submissive's panic.

"I'm sorry mate, but I really don't want to be in the way when they start fighting, they won't hurt you though, ok?"

"I-I don't understand… Ron?"

"Harry, you remember just a few minutes ago when I was joking about you being a veela?"

"…"

"Umm, well the only reason I can think of, of why there are a bunch of mating dominant veela's here, is you." Ron flinched; only Harry…

"What?" Harry screeched. The dominant veela's reacted violently to their chosen's distress, one lunging forward in an attempt to embrace Harry. He dodged out of the way of the out stretched arms just as another veela launched himself at the first.

Harry was backed up against a tree watching the veela dominants fight with terrified eyes when several older men came crashing through the bushes.

"Help," Harry whispered fearfully.

Charlie Weasley slowly made his way over to Harry, trying to keep the dominant veela's from noticing him. "Harry, are you ok?"

Harry whimpered, watching as a Malfoy Jr. crashed into Blaise Zabini, sending them both tumbling to the ground.

"Harry, we can't stop them, their instincts have completely taken over. You're going to have to run Harry." Charlie told his frightened little brother. "Ron, you just stay put, don't move until they've left the area. There's nothing we can do for Harry now."

Ron nodded and turned frightened blue eyes on his best friend turned brother. "It's ok Harry, remember what I said. This is an honor." Harry's bizarre glance made Ron snort; he didn't believe himself either.

Harry turned away, shaking badly by this time, when suddenly Malfoy managed to get away from the fight and pin him up against the tree. He buried his nose in Harry's neck and breathed deeply, crooning low in his throat, trying to soothe his chosen.

Harry melted against the tall figure, forgetting for an instant, before remembering; he attempted to push the veela away just to have Malfoy pin his arms gently to the tree. Harry's instincts went wild at that, and he pushed the dominant away, hard. If the dominant wanted him, he would have to prove himself first.

"Harry," Ron shouted, "run!"

Harry came back to himself momentarily, realizing what he had been thinking. Malfoy was once again distracted and Harry took his chance, turning on his heel and heading for the edge of the forest. He could hear the dominants behind him running through the bushes, rushing after him. His instincts overwhelmed him once again and he moved swiftly, brushing up against the trees and bushes as he rushed passed, dodging to the right, then forward again, spreading his scent. As he ran, he pulled his wand out. The dominants were going to have to try harder if they wanted him, he refused to mate with one who was unworthy. He broke from the trees running full out, passing the gathering of parents on the outskirts of the forest; he raised his wand and shouted, "Accio Firebolt!"

~oOo~

Severus sat at his desk in his classroom watching his student scrub cauldrons. The sixth year had been grumbling for the better part of an hour when Severus finally began to get really irritated. "And what have we learned today Mr. Pritchett?"

The teen looked up and sneered. "I haven't done anything wrong. Potter was displaying, he was asking for it!"

Severus narrowed his eyes, "Excuse me?" he asked, his voice deadly soft.

"It's not fair to the rest of us," Pritchett snarled. "He will be claimed immediately! A submissive like Potter doesn't come around often. He smelled divine, full of power and innocence."

Severus eyes widened in sudden understanding, "Oh Merlin!" he rocked back in his chair in shock. "His eyes, I knew his eyes reminded me of something!" Severus bolted up from his seat and ran for the door, "Leave, now!" he yelled over his shoulder before crashing out of his classroom. He ran into Sirius who had been heading to down to keep him company, a corridor later.

"Whoa," Sirius helped his partner up off the floor. "What's happened?"

"Harry is in the forest!" Severus yelled, taking off again.

Sirius raced after him obviously confused, "Yeah?"

"His eyes you damn mutt, all the affection, being overly emotional, and all those damn teenagers cornering him, he is veela! Harry has been displaying! And now, now he is in the forest right outside of the Gathering Maze; he is going to have a bunch of mating dominants after him!"

Sirius stopped dead in his tracks completely confused. "But Harry isn't veela?"

Severus turned and grabbed his arm before taking off once more. "We know that for certain? Is there any other explanation? Think about it, especially his behavior around the Wolf, a dominant creature!"

"But, but James didn't have any creature blood," Sirius argued while trying to keep with the running potions professor.

"Lily," Severus hissed.

"But…"

The men burst through the front doors of the castle and pelted across the school grounds. Severus could see a group of people standing right outside of the forest and stopped dead, Sirius crashing into him.

"We're too late."

This time Sirius grabbed Severus' hand and urged him forward. "Come on."

They reached the front tent of the Maze just in time to see their cub break from the trees, running full out wand in hand. The wand raised and they heard Harry shout something just as several dominants came rushing out behind him. Harry's broom suddenly flew passed, and Severus watched panicked as Harry stopped to mount, just barely evading the mating dominants. He took off at full speed narrowly avoiding two other brooms that had also obviously been summoned.

Severus couldn't tell who was chasing Harry now; he could just watch anxiously as Harry flew over the tents heading for the castle. Harry had just made it to the edge of the maze, when one of the dominants forced him down, and the three bodies disappeared behind the walls enclosing the maze.

"Oh Merlin…" Sirius whispered in horror.

Severus reached over and grabbed his hand. "Send a patronus to the Wolf and Albus."