Chapter Ten: Time to Skin the Dragon
Draco burst through the door of the Gryffindor boys room, the Veelan form inside him threatening to take shape. He let out a slight snarl and slowed. Harry stood toward the back of the room, wand in his hand, pale and staring at Neville who was sitting on a bed, holding a pillow to his bare chest and gaping at Harry. Drawing his wand, Draco moved forward- his senses tingling. Something very powerful- and dark- was in the room... but where?
"Harry-" He said quietly, looking around, checking every shadow with his powerful sense of smell... the room reeked of... sex?
"What the hell was that about?" Ron asked, as he and Hermione entered, Seamus right behind them. Hermione pointed her wand around looking suspicious,
"Harry- are you okay?"
"Merlin, this is embarrassing...I'm fine guys. Got my things Draco... let's just... go."
Draco could smell where Harry was sweating now and he crossed the expanse between them before he could stop himself. The bed, the smell of sex, and Harry were too much for his Veelan side to handle immediately. The sly side of Draco kicked in instantly though as he managed to cover it up by smoothly saying,
"need me to carry anything?" Harry shook his head and swallowed, hard, giving Draco a look of bewilderment. He put his hand on Draco's shoulder and lightly shoved him towards the door.
"Nope. No, thank you- let's just... let's just go," he managed to croak out, and then under his breath so that only Draco would hear him, "go go go go go."
That's when Draco spotted him. He stopped dead, Harry almost running into him. Blaise was lying in the floor, between Neville's bed and Harry's- stark naked, a pleading look on his face. Neville was gaping at Draco, a similar look on his face. Harry had his hands on Draco's back- urging him to go. Draco beamed in the most evil way possible, seeing his chance for revenge on Blaise for what he'd done in the Infirmary. Blaise seemed to read his best friend's mind and shook his head violently.
"Okay, Harry, let's go then- Good day Neville," He said with a curt nod, then, looking at Blaise, "Good day Blaise."
Harry and Draco walked straight past Hermione and Ron who were staring at the now sitting up Blaise and Neville.
"Be back later-" Harry said to his friends who just nodded in response, not really hearing him. Then, as they went down the stairs to Draco, "that was really, really mean. Funny, but mean."
"I *told* you I'd get him back," Draco smirked. They continued to walk in amicable silence until finally Harry slowed near a blank wall.
"Hm...where are we going exactly?" Draco asked, looking around.
"I'll show you," Harry said with a smile, holding up his hand to signal Draco silence. He appeared to be thinking, concentrating on a wall. Draco worried for his bondmate's sanity briefly before a door appeared on the wall. Harry turned to grin at Draco but only received a single arched eyebrow in reply- Draco was rarely shocked by anything the old castle did.
"What is this?"
"The Room of Requirement. *If* you can find it, if give you everything you... require." Harry said, opening the door. The room had given him everything he'd wanted and things he hadn't thought of. It was basically a small flat, included a small kitchen, seating area, and bed. There were two other doors, Harry assumed one was another bedroom and a bathroom.
"Nice." Draco said, taking a quick glance around. Trying to avoid an uncomfortable silence, Draco dove straight into conversation, "so... tell me about this place we're staying?"
Harry grew quiet and his eyes seemed far off, as he took a seat in one of the nearby chairs. Great, Draco thought, here comes that uncomfortable silence. It was only a moment or two before Harry spoke.
"Grimmauld Place, it's not in the best shape right now, though I do want to fix it up. Everything's dusty..." Bells were going off in Draco's head. Grimmauld? Didn't he know that- then realization hit him.
"Sirius Black was your godfather?" Harry stared at him a moment and nodded.
"I thought he wanted to kill you Harry?"
"No, he was set up by a man named Peter Pettigrew- do you know him?" Draco nodded, he'd seen Pettigrew many times at the manor and had been struck by many of his hexes. He couldn't count the scars that had come from him.
Harry proceeded to tell Draco all about Sirius, Remus, his father and Pettigrew. Then there was another long silence before Harry said-
"If I could have anything in the world- other than the safety of my family and friends, I'd want him to pay for what he did. Is that bad, Draco? To want vengeance this badly?" Draco thought on this for a moment before speaking.
"I think, Harry, that vengeance can be a terrible thing, like war. But sometimes it's not. War is necessary, sometimes, for freedom. Vengeance is necessary, sometimes, for justice. They're not always good, but, sometimes they are. They're both also natural reactions for humans."
"I'd never thought of it that way, thank you."
"No, thank you, for letting me know that mother and I aren't the only black sheep in my family. I thought Sirius was as Dark as Aunt Bella."
"Tonks, I mean, Nymphadora- she's a blast."
"Yes, I'd forgotted about Nymphadora- she'd been disowned. I think I've met her once or twice in public places. I don't know that I'd use the words 'a blast' to discribe her."
"Draco!" Harry admonished.
"Hermione!" Draco shot back. Harry paused for a moment before bursting out in peals of laughter.
"Oh Merlin, I do sound like her don't I? Sorry 'bout that. Don't mention that to Ron, he'd die!"
"Hm. Don't see myself conversing with Weasley a great deal." Harry looked a bit perturbed at this, and Draco added, "we seem to have come to a mutual agreement in your common room earlier though."
"Oh? What was that?"
"That we dislike eachother and I'm a far better person." Draco said, giving Harry a wild smile. Harry grinned back,
"well you didn't kill each other, that's good enough I suppose. At least you and Hermione are doing better. Oh, that reminds me, did you and Hermione find anything in the library?"
Draco blanched and looked around the room. Spotting the two other doors, he smiled.
"Sort of- so, where do you think those doors lead to?" Draco stood, and quickly crossed the room. He knew he was running from Harry, but he hoped Harry didn't know it. Grabbing the door and swinging it open Draco saw a lavish bathroom. "Wow- this room doesn't skimp on luxury, this reminds me of the summer home we visited when I was a child!" Then, turning to the other door, Draco peered in to find a closet larger than most bedrooms. "I think, Harry, that this room is focusing on me, this closet is huge. I'm sure when Mother comes back she'll have more than enough to fill-" Draco had turned to find Harry standing right behind him. His arms were crossed over his chest, his lips pressed tightly together. Draco backed into the wall, though Harry had given him plenty of room.
"Draco- I feel like you're hiding something, changing the subject. This isn't the first time. If those creatures have something to do with me, I need to know. Death Eaters and Voldemort do their best-"
"No, they weren't trying to attack you- we were helping you."
"We?!"
"Can we sit and talk about this? Please?"
"I don't know Draco- what the bloody hell is this we shit?"
"Please, Harry, just have a seat again. I'll tell you what's going on, I swear I will. Please, just sit. You're making me nervous as hell."
"Fine." Harry bit off, sitting down. "Go."
Draco started to sit and then stood back up and began to pace. He wasn't sure where to start- how to tell his bondmate that he was... what he was. Then, Hermione's written words went through his mind. What if he didn't know? Draco mentally made a note to hug her later.
"Voldemort didn't start out to capture me, he started out ready to give me the Dark Mark, like Lucius. Something though, something caused him to find out that my mother had been unfaithful to my father, that I'm not a Malfoy- that I'm not pureblooded. My mother, Narcissa, she's a Veela, Harry. Normally, when Veela females have male babies, they're just... wizards, or something like a squib. I'm not though, I'm a Veela male-"
"Pfft. Bullshit, Malfoy, I looked into it during the Triwizard tourney- there are only females."
"No, Harry, not true. There are Veela males, though it's exceedingly rare. There hasn't been one in centuries. I don't know why, or how, I got here. Veelan males aren't much like our female counterparts. I can change to a 'true Veelan form'. Curses and spells don't work well on me, not unless cast by someone very talented. They captured me then, they realized my full potential and tortured me for days, trying to turn me. Apparently, Voldemort was in an outrage that I wasn't a pureblood. He dove into everyone's histories. Blaise's father was killed, but they kept Blaise. Apparently, due to some freak gene centuries ago - he's a Magiodrago, the other creature you saw. We honestly have *no* idea why we're like this, it's not normal. They tortured him along with us. Then Uncle Sev- my godfather- found us in the dungeons, chained and nailed down. Having watched us both grow up, he couldn't bear it. He betrayed the Dark Lord and freed us. We ran and were seperated. I thought he'd been killed, and my mother too. We fled as quickly as we could and hid, going from place to place, trying to hide forever. We hid in caves, abandoned houses, barns, whatever we could find. Every time we set up wards to try and be safe, they'd find us soon after and we'd flee again. It was like some force was leading us away right before the Death Eaters struck wherever it was we were. We were too weak to do much, even with special healing abilities and the potions I managed to make, to change- so we didn't know we could. Our change, I believe, is special. It's connected to our mates directly." Draco stopped, trembling. He'd let it all spill out so fast.
"Mates?" Harry questioned. Draco could see the realization forming in the very back of his mind.
"Bondmates. We litterally live to protect them. Once we hit our adult birthday we feel the need to find them very strongly. Though that same feeling is there are whole lives, it doesn't take full effect till we hit adulthood. Then we feel a sort of pull, to go and find our bondmate. We protect them, provide for them, love them. I suppose if we're trying to protect them, sense they're in danger, or just to show off we make the change. I couldn't help it the night on the Pitch Harry, it just happened. I could smell the dirty little bastards and then when I saw them, I just changed and went into attack mode. I couldn't have stopped it if I wanted to. It's all consuming, a search and destroy sort of thing. That's why Voldemort wants us dead, he doesn't want to have to contend with our kind of power for the Light. If our mates were dark, he wouldn't have had to even ask us to join him. That's the majority of what I know, Harry, I'm sorry I hadn't told you yet. I didn't know how to say it exactly."
"Hermione was running to tell us, wasn't she?" Harry asked, realizing. Draco nodded.
"Am I the only one that doesn't know about this?" Harry asked angrily, why was he always the last one to find out these types of secrets?
"No, not at all. The adults know, McGonagall, Severus, Mother, Aunt Rose, and Hagrid. Neville, Blaise, Hermione and myself... and now you. That's it."
Harry suddenly blushed bright red.
"Blaise and Neville? They're... bondmates?"
"Yes, we can't be attracted to anyone other than our bondmates, it's not possible."
"You're okay with that? Blaise being homosexual?" Draco looked very confused.
"Why wouldn't I be, Harry? Blaise is my best friend, a brother in arms... homosexuality itself is rampant in the wizarding world."
"It is?"
"Yes. You never noticed? Finnegan and Thomas?" Harry shook his head no though he seemed to be realizing several homosexual couples he knew.
"Sorry, Draco, it's just that in the Muggle world, homosexuality is frowned upon. Pretty badly, people get killed for it even."
"That's disgusting." Draco said, looking ill.
There was another long pause, Harry was deep in thought. Draco didn't want to interrupt him- it was best to let it sink in. Draco pulled out the book Hermione had handed him and was flipping through it idly. A half hour passed before he spoke again, softly.
"Draco?"
"Hmm?"
"Which one were you?"
"Which what?" Draco asked, reading a passage in the book.
"Which... creature... or whatever, on the Quidditch Pitch?" Draco closed his book and set up, pulling his legs beneath him for comfort.
"The one that had the wings and talons you spoke of earlier."
"Oh."
"Oh?" Draco questioned, arching his eyebrows delicately.
"That was pretty fucking awesome. Seriously." Harry said, standing, "be right back." Draco beamed internally, like rays of sunshine from inside him threatening to burst out.
"Prett fucking awesome," he said to no one in particular, knowing Harry couldn't hear him in the bathroom or see him he allowed himself to smirk. When Harry came back out Draco audibly heard him gasp. Looking up from his book questioningly, Draco's heart sank to his stomach. Harry was staring at the single bed. He turned and ripped open the closet door- staring inside for a moment. Draco could almost hear him think; 'definitely a closet'. Then he searched the walls, most likely for another door. Then back to the bed. Then, finally, his eyes landed on Draco. Afterall, the room of requirement gave you what you needed. Grabbing the back of the chair he'd been sitting in earlier to steady himself- Harry stared. Draco wasn't sure if he preferred the staring or the anger from earlier.
Ever so slowly, Harry made his way around the chair to sit back in it.
"You okay?" Draco ventured, trying desperately to break the silence. Harry just stared. Draco raised his eyebrows in question.
"Draco?"
"Harry?"
"Who- who is uh," Harry turned bright red, "who's your bondmate?"
"Who do you think it is?"
"DON'T *toy* with me- who. is. it?"
"A rather fetching Gryffindor?"
"SayitDraco."
"You, Harry. Harry Potter. You're my bondmate," Draco snapped, irritated at the Gryffindor for being so angry with him. Harry looked like he might faint, all the color fading from his skin, Draco moved to him quickly and Harry jumped so he made sure not to touch him, "you okay?"
Harry just stared in response and slightly nodded.
"I'm sorry Harry, I didn't exactly know how to tell you. What was I supposed to do? Just walk up and be like, oh hey Harry- I feel that we're supposed to be together- I'm a Veela and Voldemort's been trying to kill me. Just forget all the animosity we've had throughout the years because I'm in love with you, and take me now? Though I suspect that's something like how Blaise did it- I'm not so crass." Harry's eyes were as big as dinner plates now.
"You're-" Harry coughed to clear his throat a bit, "you're in love with me?"
"Well yeah, it's in my nature."
"You're sure? I mean you're sure it's me? You're in love with me?"
"Never been more positive."
"How do you know?"
"I just do. I knew it on sight at the Quidditch Pitch. I know you're smell. I can find you, relatively easily- by that pull I was talking about. It's like a magnet. It's also why you touched my wings without getting hurt. I can't hurt you Harry. You can hurt me, but I would die before I hurt you- it's just how I am. Don't be mad- please- it's not something I can help."
"Am I supposed to be in love with you?" Harry asked, thinking back to the dorms.
"No. You can reject me, feel nothing for me. I, however, can not stop it."
"Have you tried?"
"I seriously considered not telling you, had to swear Granger to secrecy. It's not something that can be stopped. At all. Though, if you'd like- I can go away. Just say the word, and I'll be gone. You don't have to do anything."
"Blaise and Neville... so soon?" Harry said, trying to remain coherent.
"Well, that's different. The Magiodrago's mate feels a strong bond to it. Neville is drawn to Blaise as much as Blaise is to him."
"I don't really know what to say, Draco, I'm sorry. This isn't something I know how to deal with. There are so many questions-"
"Ask me then, I'll tell you."
"You're... gay too?"
"No. I'm not homosexual. I only have one attraction. Just you. That's it. Forever... and I'm okay with that. To me, that's normal."
"Then- you want me?"
"Desperately."
"What is it that I would have to do for you? I mean earlier, you said that you'd do anything for your... bondmate... right?" Draco nodded. "So then what is it I'm supposed to do?"
"Nothing. If you chose to be with me, it would be enough. Though, there are benefits for me as well, besides that," Draco said, remembering a passage he'd just been reading, "you draw power and strength from me and I from you- not take power from eachother but sort of share it I suppose. Together, our magic bonds and builds upon one another. Also, if you're very close- preferably physical contact, I will heal much faster than normal, even being a male Veela and we heal vey quickly anyway."
"The infirmary- you... I..."
"You saved my life, yes," Draco said, smiling genuinely, "that's not the first time either. I suspect, though I'm not sure, that's how I survived the Killing Curse. When you reached out and touched my wings, our magic melded before my life slipped away. Basically you kept me here, like the spell only grazed me. I think. I really don't know but that's the theory. I'm not willing to try it again to find out."
"I can say no though right? You can't make me do anything?"
"No, I cannot. I can protect you, I can love you unconditionally, make you more powerful, spoil you... I can do just about anything for you, Harry- but I cannot make you reciprocate the emotion. Don't worry though, even if you don't return my feelings for you- that's really okay. It's what I do. If not being with me is what you want, I'm pretty much required to give it to you."
"What happens *if* I ended up feeling the same way?"
"I don't know, I would be deliriously happy with it I suppose- feel whole. To me, you're like a missing piece. However, I would know if you didn't. We wouldn't bond properly, I wouldn't feel whole."
"How do we bond? If it comes to that?"
"Sex is usually the preferred method actually." Harry paled at that.
"Draco... have you done anything for me specifically yet, besides protecting me on the pitch? Have we connected in any way?"
"Yes, I have. I considered keeping this away from you, like a secret. That way you wouldn't feel the need to go all Boy Wonder and pity me- I don't want nor do I need your pity. Also, though I didn't realize why I was doing it at the time, I got you a gift of sorts."
"A gift?" Harry asked, obviously confused.
"Yes, I litterally was on the edge of Malfoy property when I ran back into the Manor to get it. Something just drove me to go back and look, I didn't even know it was there till I found it. I suppose I was feeding off you even then, not even having known who you were."
"You risked your damned life, to get me a gift?!" Harry asked, increduously, "are you insane?!"
"People have questioned my sanity," Draco laughed, "you'll have to forgive me Harry- it's a pretty big gift. Probably the reason Blaise and I didn't get here more quickly. It was sort of... hard to move. Don't get all upset on me either, I didn't know you were my mate, nor did I know that I was doing it for you. Not then anyway, though I believe I can recognize the signs now. I suppose I could have been doing it for everyone as well, but to be honest," Draco sat back at this, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly, "I don't really care what everyone else does."
"I don't want a bunch of gifts, Draco. I mean it."
"Don't give me that, I have money to burn quite litterally. I'll buy you something if I want, though I promise to try and take it easy. Unless, you're rejecting me? If you're rejecting me as a bondmate, and telling me you don't want me to- then okay, I won't."
"If you're going to insist on gifts, then take any money you're going to spend on me, Draco, and put it to good use. I don't really know if I'm rejecting you- I need time to think about this. It *is* a lot to take in."
"Fair enough, take as long as you need. It's harder for me to see it from your side Harry, it's a natural as breathing for me. I will understand if you say no. I do ask a few things though, if you don't mind." Draco said, glancing at the ground. Harry turned to face him, curious. What could he want that he didn't have or couldn't get besides Harry's love?
"Sure, what's up?"
"Just, let me protect you, okay? I know, you're a big brave Gryffindor- but if you're under attack- if your life is endanger, stay close to me, okay? Just stay close. I know who you are, I know you'll have to fight. Allow me to stand beside you and fight too. It will help calm the Veela in me."
"This is your world too, I can't stop you from fighting for it...just don't get killed because of me, okay Draco? Is that it?"
"I'll do my best. Also, touch me every now and then," Harry went bug eyed at this and his mouth fell open, "Oh, stop looking at me like that Harry. I'm not being sexual, and I won't unless you want me too. I mean, just touch me, physical contact. Put your hand on my arm, anything, it helps to heal me and I haven't recovered fully from being captured- or the Quidditch Pitch. It will keep the Veela calm too, I'm likely to overreact given my natural temper and the Veela temper, and I don't want to hurt anyone over some stupid tiff with you. I don't know that that would happen, but still."
Harry sat and thought about it a moment before nodding his consent and smiling. Then, his bright green eyes lit up like Draco had never seen. He stared at Harry, unable to do anything but focus on his eyes,
"I understand the request for contact, Draco, just like that night in the Hospital Wing, it definitely makes sense to me. I'd be more than happy to help you get to full health, on one condition."
"Anything."
"I want to fly. I can fulfill two requests at once here," Harry bargained. Then with a sly grin Salazar Slytherin would have been proud of, "You want to know something about me? I love to fly- I don't care how, I just love to fly, it's a part of me. It would also give you the close contact you want- and now you've learned something else about me."
"You're asking me to... give you a ride? Is that why you were so entranced with my Veelan form? You want a ride?" Harry nodded, and seemed like a small child,
"Can you do that? Carry that much weight or..."
"Of course I can, what kind of question is that Harry? It's a powerful form. I'll fly with you any time you'd like. Don't expect anyone else to get carried though. Seriously. I'm not doing it. Anyone else risks getting sliced to pieces anyway."
"Deal." Harry said, grinning like a maniac.
"I'll circle the grounds then take you up to see what I got you, okay?" With that, Draco stood away from the couch so as not to damage it.
Draco stood and removed his robes, stripping down to his boxers and causing Harry to blush. A black mist seemed to ooze off of him, as he changed. It made it hard for Harry to see what was going on but what he could see looked painful. Draco showed no signs of pain. When it was over, Draco was gone and there stood his Veelan form. Harry finally got to get a good look at the thing that had saved his life. Draco had grown at least a foot- now towering over Harry easily. His wings were wrapped carefully around him, folded in on each other. Noticing Harry staring, Draco spread his wings to their full extent- preening. Harry guessed that the span was about twenty feet. His talons really were like a Buckbeak's, though these were settled at the end of very long fingers. They looked razor sharp. His legs were bent backwards like an animals, his feet extended. Harry realized that if Draco were to stretch himself out, he'd be around seven to seven and a half feet tall. He was quite a bit thinner now too. His skin looked scaly and a bluish gray, his body was full of sharp lines, though his shoulders were still pretty broad. His normally straight, aristrocratic nose was now hooked slightly, his gray eyes slanted and larger. His ears had a point to them now and his mouth reminded Harry of something between a human and feline. Draco straightened himself to a fuller heighth... was he showing off? Harry smiled and shook his head softly. Though, he did have to agree, Draco's Veelan form was impressive- a thing to behold and to fear.
Harry decided then to reach out and touch him, he was curious to what his skin felt like. He moved slowly, unsure of what the protocol was in this situation. Looking down at him, Harry's hand just inches from his chest, Draco stepped foward- connecting them. Harry gasped a bit. The skin wasn't rough at all, it was warm and smooth to the touch. It seemed to glow beneath Harry's hand. Startled, Harry pulled his hand back and glanced up at Draco who just tilted his head to the side. Harry's handprint was still there, though fading, like a warm hand on cold glass. Curious, Harry reached up to touch him again, moving his hand this time- sliding it along Draco's chest smoothly. The light smeared, leaving a sort of trail. Draco began to emit a sort of purring sound and seemed to relax quite a bit. Harry grinned,
"you're purring Draco." Draco shook his head in response, looking irritated. Then he leaned over and into Harry, his face inches away. Tilting his head up to meet the Veelan gaze, Harry smiled. Draco returned the smile and it was slightly startling. His teeth seemed normal except four sets of long, gleaming canines. Draco really was deadly.
Before he knew what was happening, Draco had lifted Harry into his arms, swinging him around to his back. Harry found the most comfortable place was right behind Draco's wings and he held onto them at the base near Draco's back. Wherever his fingers touched, glowed, and he made a note to question Draco about that later. Then, Draco moved quickly to a window Harry was sure hadn't been there before, and he lept. Movement on the ground felt something like what Harry imagined riding a large snake would feel like. He could feel the muscles shift and tighten beneath him as Draco's wings opened up, catching an updraft.
Draco soared around the castle, twisting and turning slightly to avoid different towers and one or two owls. Then he was climbing higher and dove straight down toward the lake before rising again, his poweful wings only needing to beat once or twice to lift. They circled the Quidditch pitch, turning almost completely sideways along some of the stands. He could feel Harry shaking and he slowed to focus. Harry was laughing, genuinely laughing. Draco decided then that they would have to do this again soon- he could live off of that sound.
Landing carefully, Draco latched himself to the side of one of the towers- digging his talons into the stone. Harry dove forward and wrapped his arms around Draco's neck, frightened for a moment as Draco scaled the side of the tower, up to it's balcony and crouched there so Harry could dismount. They stood there for a moment, Draco returning to normal, Harry breathing heavily from excitement, his face flushed. Harry realized, as Draco changed, neither of them had thought to pick up the robes that had been discarded earlier. Sighing, Harry removed his, again. Handing them over, Harry playfully jabbed,
"Draco, I think you might be a nudist. You're going to have all my robes before this is over."
"Might be." Draco said, smiling suggestively. Harry blushed bright crimson, matching the red shirt he wore. That only caused Draco's grin to widen.
"That was... awesome, Draco. Purely amazing, thank you." Harry said and then, as if a last minute thought, Harry stepped forward to hug the blonde. Frozen in shock, Draco stood very still, then seemed to melt and flung his arms around Harry. It was nice being shorter than Harry again, he felt that his head was meant to rest on Harry's shoulder.
Harry patted Draco on the back in a very friendly gesture and pulled away, looking around,
"Hey, Draco, where are we?"
"Oh, remember? We're here for you to see what I've been keeping a secret."
"My gift?" Harry asked, frowning. It had to be kept in a tower? Why was this place so familiar.
"Yes, now, if you'd close your eyes, please-" Draco said, reaching for the door with one hand, Harry's hand with the other. Harry decided to amuse Draco, taking the offered hand and closing his eyes as Draco swung open the doors.