Chapter Eight: A Wizard's Debt
Disclaimer: Still don't own HP
Warnings: Still slash- last warning for it guys!
Even though they could fly now anyway, Draco and Blaise still loved their brooms. They also loved the game of Quidditch. Draco sat quietly, well above the Pitch- waiting for the Snitch to show itself, occasionally diving to score with the Quaffle. It was acceptable, considering they only had two players. Blaise was exceptionally good at blocking and had kept the score pretty even- all things considered. Draco had only seen action with two bludgers. One had been dodged, the other successfully batted at Blaise's head. Each player, even Harry and Draco, had their clubs with them- it was the only way without taking both (they only used one) bludgers out of action all together.
Seamus and Ron cheered as they managed to score and Draco rolled his eyes. Harry grinned, having moved closer while Draco was looking for the snitch.
"You're gonna lose Malfoy!"
"Unfair odds Potter! Unfair!" Draco called back.
Then, suddenly, they both spotted movement in the distance. Turning quickly they tried to find it. The snitch floated steadily right above the announcer's stand. Behind it, running toward them, was Hermione Granger- a large book tucked under arm- Neville not far behind. Draco's heart leapt to his throat as both he and Harry dived in the same direction- though not for the same reason. Harry turned, the snitch in his hand, holding it high in the air. His friends and Blaise gathered around him cheering- but where had Draco gone?
"Granger- stop. Please, stop."
"Get away from me Malfoy, you- you- well you're up to something, that's what you are! I'm not going to let you hurt anyone!" Her voice was shrill, she was out of breath from running. Neville was quickly catching up.
"You can't do this to me Granger! DAMNIT! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"
"And why not? You could be VERY dangerous!" Hermione drew her wand, sticking it to his chest, "I said get. away. from. ME!"
"You have to let me explain, please, just..."
"Hermione! Hermione! Stop it!" Neville said, trying to pull her arm away. Hermione pushed him back, away from her.
"You don't know him Neville!"
"I do! Hermione, please, listen to me- I do know him. Blaise told me everything. Hermione- stop. It's not yours to tell!"
"Zabini! So he *is* the Magiodrago! I have to warn the others!"
"NO!" Draco roared, "stop it Granger, you idiot. Stop this now! You- you owe me a wizard's debt Granger. YOU FUCKING OWE ME! I saved your life! I'm calling in your debt to me Granger!" Draco put his wand to Hermione's head, " You will NOT say a word about me being a Veela- not one fucking word to anyone but me, until I say!" Hermione paused at this.
"I'll find a way Malfoy- I will." With that, she lowered her wand. Draco had already put his up. The rest of the group was fast approaching.
"Granger- Hermione, please. Please, I am begging you, just let me explain. I'm sorry- for every thing I've done- just please let me explain all of this first. We'll go to the library, I'll tell you everything- I know you know spells to tell if I'm lying- I'll even take a truth serum. Just please, let me explain first! I wouldn't beg YOU, of all people, if I had any other choice."
"Fine. FINE MALFOY- but we're going. Now." The group was quickly approaching.
"Dray! Potter caught the damned snitch! Get on your game!" Blaise yelled, running up to them.
"Draco- where'd you go? One second you were behind me, the next- gone." Harry added. Pulling up the rear was Ronald Weasley,
"ready to eat those words Malfoy?"
"Good game Weasley, Finnigan. Blaise- shut up. Harry, sorry, I saw these two racing down here and I thought there might have been trouble-"
"And you didn't yell for us Draco? Hermione are you okay?" Harry asked, concerned.
"Yes, Harry, I'm fine. I may have found something useful though- it's very complicated though. It involves... potions to some extent. I thought Mal- *Draco* here would be able to assist me in figuring out what it all means."
"You were running for that?" Ron asked, suspicious.
"Well yes, Ronald, it's very exciting you see. It's spans back over centuries of time- well before most of our modern day potions and spells were involved. If you can recall our first year Potions class with Snape, you'll all remember tha-" Ron held up his hand to stop her, and interrupted,
"alright, 'Mione, alright- we get it."
"Guys- it really is exciting. You see, back then there were many more magical creatures-"
"Hermione, do you know what they are exactly?" Harry asked.
"Well, no, not exactly. Not yet, that's what I needed him for." Hermione said, spitting the word 'him'. It was Harry's turn to interrupt her,
"okay, well you two go to the library and figure it out- I'm going to go see if I can find McGonagall and see if anything has changed. I'll meet you guys down there."
"Ron?" Hermione gestured, asking if he would go.
"Not today 'Mione, I'm going to stay out here with Seamus and practice some more." Ron said, sending a grin at Draco, "not that we need it"
"I'll go with you Harry, if you don't mind," Neville said and then paused, "Blaise?"
"Lead the way Potter- lead the way."
Hermione collapsed into the nearest chair, glaring at Draco.
"Spill it Malfoy." Draco drew his wand and waved it around them.
"Muffliato," he whispered, then he looked at Hermione, "so no one *else* finds out anything else."
"Fair enough. Go." Hermione said, gesturing with her hand for him to hurry up.
"You could have been a Slytherin Granger- could have been a good one. That was smooth what you did back at the Pitch."
"Yes well, no one ever wants to play the what-Hermione-learned-today game. Now, stop stalling. Speak."
"Watch it Granger," Draco snarled, "you don't really mean shit to me, you will speak to me with respect. Now, moving on, I supposed you found out that I'm a male Veela?"
Hermione nodded.
"yes... well, I don't know a lot about it... except what my mother told me before... before we were captured. Male Veela's are very rare- there hasn't been one for centuries. Veela's- the females, only give birth to other females- it's been this way for hundreds of years. Occasionally one is born with no Veela attraction- kind of like a squib. She had expected that I would be that way, when she found out that I was male. As you saw, male Veela's can transform into what's called a true Veelan form- I didn't expect what happened either by the way. I'm not sure how to control that just yet. Though, don't worry, I'm still the same person- even in that form. We still look like the Veela women in hair and skin color, and we still have mates. Female Veela's, however, don't always find their mates- the wizarding world is large you know. This doesn't really effect them, they can lead normal semi-happy lives without their mates (my mother seems to have)- though they will be unable to reproduce-"
"Then where did you come from?"
"I don't know Granger, my mother refuses to speak of my biological father."
"You're not a Malfoy?"
"No. I'm not a Malfoy. Great powers of deduction there. I expect papers any day from the Ministry, letting me know I've been disowned and disinherited. Mother expects me to go by Black then. Anyway... male Veela's have what's called bondmates. Each and every one of us is born with a mate. We have to find that mate. It isn't hard, there's sort of a pull, like a sixth sense, that guides us to them. We can also smell them, and sense when they're in danger. If we do not bond with that mate, completely, we will die. If our mate rejects us, we will die. We have six months from the day we find them to complete the bond. That's not even written in stone though, Mother only believed it was six months- she wasn't positive. Male Veela's- and female's alike- would willingly give up their lives for their mates. We love them unconditionally, follow them anywhere, they're apart of our very being. If our mate dies, before or after we bond- even if it's before we meet them- we also die. It's an all encompassing, powerful magic- unlike any other. Except for maybe the Magiodrago. That's what Blaise is. Directly translated, it means 'Dragon Eater'... what. are. you. doing?!"
Hermione was now furiously scribbling away on a piece of parchment, tongue stuck out slightly to the side in concentration.
"I'm taking notes- continue."
Draco just stared at her.
"You need real help Granger, I would pay for you to go to a therapist-"
"Just continue Malfoy."
"Whatever. So, the Magiodrago and the male Veela, have a certain bond. We work very well together like a clownfish and an anemone. They're very rare as well, if not rarer than male Veela. We used to be very prominent. The Magiodrago- Blaise- have mates as well, and will also perish without them especially if their mate dies- though it takes years and years without the mate's death- depending on the power of that particular one. It's also harder for them to find their mates, even though Blaise has succeeded. Their mate's are bound to them as much as their mate is to them. It goes both ways. Even though they can deny them and the bondmate survive easily. Mangiodrago's, dragon eater's are said to have swallowed all the knowledge of dragon's and can interact with them peacefully. Also, they always take the shape of a dragon- just like Blaise did- though the dragon may be different for each individual. Male Veela's- I think- all look something like me."
With that, Draco sat down, almost collapsing in his chair. Hermione continued to scribble, pausing only to look up at Draco- appearing to be checking to make sure he was still there- before continuing again. Finally, she broke the silence,
"your mate- do you know who it is?" Draco nodded.
"*bondmate* Hermione. Females have mates. I have a bondmate."
"Bondmate then. Who is it?"
"I don't think that's important." Draco said in his laziest drawl.
"Oh, but it is, I need to determine if you're dangerous or not." Hermione shot back.
"Fine. It's Harry."
"HARRY POTTER?!"
"No. The other Harry, Granger, really?!"
"Sorry. So Harry is your bondmate. Does he know?"
"No! No, he doesn't. I don't want him to either."
"Why not?"
"Because, Harry is... I don't know, he's just got a big heart I guess..." Hermione smiled softly and nodded, "He just... I don't want him to bond with me because he doesn't want me to die."
"You know, it figures. Harry has all the weirdest stuff happen to him. We can't get through one year without something strange." Hermione said with a big smile. "Though, Draco- you never know with Harry. He might want to. Don't you at least want to find out?"
"No. I- if he rejected me- I'd die. I can't protect him if I'm fucking dead."
"True. But you'd still have the same amount of time to protect him if you didn't tell him. At least that's how I understand it."
"I'd just be weakened more, I guess. I don't know."
Hermione gasped, so startled that she sat back. She was now staring at Draco, her mouth gaping open- as if he had two heads. Afraid that Harry was behind him, Draco spun around. They were still alone.
"What? What is it?"
"You... you're face..." Hermione whispered. The disillusionment charm had worn off. Draco closed his eyes, tired.
"It was a charm, that truth telling spell you didn't think I saw must have reacted with it. Please, can you put it back?"
"I can try," Hermione said, pulling out her wand, when she was finised she sat back down. "what happened to you?"
"Voldemort and his Death Eaters happened to me. They wanted to give me the Dark Mark though I never wanted it. They somehow discovered that I wasn't pureblooded. They were just going to kill me, then they discovered Blaise... I guess Voldemort thought- with two creatures as powerful as us suddenly popping back into existence when we should be extinct- that he could use us in the war. He... they... tortured us for a long time, trying to turn us. Anyone else would have turned but we had already come of age- we could both sense our mates. I suppose, looking back at it now, every single thing I've done from that point forward has been some subconscious pull to please Harry."
"Even when you didn't know him?"
"Yes. To a Veela, they've always known their mate, whether they've been introduced or not."
"How did you survive the killing curse?"
"That's still a mystery to me- I honestly don't know." There was a long pause before Hermione said,
"I still think you should tell Harry, Draco. He deserves to know."
"No. You saw my face right? Well he has too. No one will want that Hermione. No one. I'll not be pitied by him, I won't."
"Draco..."
"NO! I'll not let him bond with me out of pity- or just to keep me alive. A life, for me, Hermione- is nothing. NOTHING- without the real love of my bondmate." Draco was angry, slamming his fist into the table, "and you won't tell him either. You owe me. He doesn't need any more stress."
"Draco, I can't keep this kind of secret from Harry, please- don't make me do this. There's got to be a way around it."
"No. No way. Just know Granger, that as long as I am breathing, as long as I can I will be close. You won't always see me, but I'll never be far from him. I *will* protect him, I will be there until I die. You won't see me then either."
Hermione nodded, biting her lip.
"And if I can figure out a way to tell him, a way that he can know- so that you know he's not just pitying you or just... being Harry, I guess, what then?"
"If you can do that Hermione, I will praise your name for the rest of my days. If you could just give me a chance, tell me what to do- say my name and I'm there. I've done nothing but think about it since I realized he was mine."
"You really love him don't you? You're willing to die- probably painfully- just to keep him happy and unknowing?"
"I'd give him anything."
"I *will* figure this out Draco. Harry needs someone willing to stand beside him through all this mess- he needs someone more than Ron and I... I know he has to be lonely, though we all do our best. I will always look out for Harry too Draco, as will the people that really know him." Hermione chose this moment to stand, gathering her books and papers, holding out her free hand she added, "welcome to the ranks, Draco Black. We can use everyone we get."
Draco never thought he'd be so happy (and flattered) to reach out and shake Hermione Granger's hand.
"Hey! It's almost time for supper. Let's go get something to eat, shall we?" holding her arm out for the blonde to take. Draco latched his arm in hers, and grinned,
"what a lovely idea Ms. Granger, I gladly accept!"
"You know, Draco," Hermione whispered conspiratorially as they walked along, "if you and Harry bond, we should really start trying to all get along." Draco hummed in agreement, keeping his senses open for anyone who might hear them. "It might also be best for you to try to make up for stuff you've done in the past..." he nodded again.
"Any ideas on that?" he asked
"Not just yet- though I'll let you know."
When they entered the Great Hall, Draco chose to sit across from Hermione. Everyone was there except for Harry. Hermione looked around.
"Anyone seen Harry?"
"I went to check on him, still in McGonagall's office I suppose." Ron said, eyeing Draco suspiciously. Hermione looked hard at Draco, who just smiled and turned to look at the doors. Hermione shifted her glance as well- just in time to see Harry walk through. Hermione turned to look back at Draco and she smiled.
"Well? Did you find out anything new?" Hermione asked as Harry approached. It was that moment that Draco realized that the only place to sit, near his friends, was beside him. He jerked his head to look down at his plate, up at Hermione who was smiling sugarly sweet at Harry, then back to his plate.
"No sign of those things yet- I really want to know what they were. She seems to be in a really good mood though. Which is weird, because she thinks she's definitely going to have to send everyone home," at that, all of Harry's friends turned to stare at him, mouths gaping. Harry nodded, "there really aren't enough students here to do what they need to. Death Eaters are attacking in so many places- the Ministry keeps making more and more excuses. Lots of other schools are shutting down. Durmstrang caught fire even. She's considering calling it an elongated fall break. We'd all be invited back, next semester."
"Where would you go Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly. This peaked Draco's interest greatly.
"Well I guess I'd stay here with McGonagall-" Ron spluttered and interupted Harry quickly,
"nonsense mate, you're always welcome at the burrow!" Harry smiled back at Ron, pushing his food around his plate. He glanced up at Hermione, then back to Ron and to Draco and Blaise.
"I've been invited to go home, to my home. My birthday will be this fall you know... I'll be of age."
"And you'll inherit...?" Hermione stopped, leaving the question open. Draco was confused, he looked from a very sad Hermione to an about to cry Harry. What was going on? He glanced at Blaise for a hint but he just shrugged. Harry pushed his plate back with a sigh.
"I... I just need to go get some fresh air. I'll see you in the common room tonight." Hermione nodded understandingly. Draco stared at her, boring his eyes into hers- trying to figure out what was happening. Harry stood, and paused, looking down at Draco, "Draco... McGonagall asked me to talk to you. You can come with me or I can find you tomorrow if you'd like? You must be tired."
"No. I am exhausted, but I'll come with you. There aren't a lot of Slytherins down there tonight, you may need someone else anyway." Draco said, glancing over his shoulder at the other end of the single table in the great hall.
Hermione pulled a book from her bag, holding it out toward Draco,
"In case I don't see you again tonight- here's the book you check out Draco. Take it." Not wanting to set off any suspicion, Draco sneered, took the book and nodded,
"why thank you Hermione. I hadn't realized I left it."
As they walked out of the Great Hall, Draco took advantage of Harry's bad mood to peer at the book, 'A History Of Veelas'. There was a small piece of parchment bookmarking... the first page? That's unusual, Draco thought, slipping the ragged piece of parchment from between the pages and putting the book in his robe. Unfolding it he found that, as he suspected, it was a note. Had she wrote that sitting at the table? She really should have been in Slytherin- he hadn't noticed a thing. Draco smirked to himself and opened the parchment only to read Hermione's neat scrawl appear slowly and then disappear- what if he didn't know you were going to die? Draco stopped, waiting for more to appear. There was nothing else. He stood there, rooted in place- just staring at the parchment. He was doing his best to keep from running back to the great hall to hug Hermione. She truly was a genius and he never thought that would cross his mind. Why hadn't he thought of that?
"Draco? What's that you've got there?" Harry asked, having noticed Draco had stopped he'd returned to make sure he was okay.