Chapter Twenty-One: The Decision
LuvlyLadyLexi, lookingthroughthemirror, HP-Lette-Fan: Thank you! It's finished now, and I'm kinda sad it's over :( I'm seriously considering a sequel though. I'm currently working on another Veela!Draco fic but I'm stuck, so a sequel would be a nice change. Let me know what you think in the reviews or PM me! (especially you LuvlyLadyLexi!)
Disclaimer: Still own nothing.
It had been months since they'd finished the house, it was now a deeply powerful place, much more so than it had been before. Draco and Blaise had both insisted on a charm on all the fireplaces that caused a person, besides themselves, to foget the location or the words to get back as soon as they left. They'd also insisted on a phrase that could be changed to get there through the floo instead of the name of the house. Everyone was still suspicious of a traitor in their midst, due to the attack on Grimmauld place. Hermione had transfigured another gated fence around the yard, mainly for Ron's sake. Their trip to Diagon Alley had been a successful one and none of them left the house without taking polyjuice first. Dumbledore was up and walking around now, though terribly weak and had announced his return to the wizarding world.
Early additions of the Daily Prophet had came out that night, flooding in everywhere. Dumbledore's twinkling eyes were everywhere they went- announcing that Hogwarts would be back in the fall, stronger than ever. They learned, through Harry's nightmares, that Voldemort was furious and had killed Pansy Parkinson when he discovered that Draco had not, in fact, been killed. Now, most of Harry's nightmares had come back with a vengeance, only easing when Draco began to brew large vats of calming draught and dreamless sleep. Voldemort wanted Draco and Blaise dead. They were too strong an asset to the side of Light, Dumbledore had explained.
Blaise and Neville were still just as in love, having officially bonded and accepted each other as their partners for life. Harry, however, had not. He refused to bond with Draco. Ron and Hermione had been fighting a lot. She fought with nearly everyone when they asked her what was wrong. For reasons only Hermione knew, she was becoming more and more stressed out as time passed; Draco seeming to be the only one unconcerned- urging people to just stop asking and leave her be. When they did, she seemed calmer though Harry and Ron could still see the worry in her eyes.
They were all sitting around the table one morning, eating breakfast, when Neville came in from a garden Blaise had bought the plants for, a rolled piece of parchment in his hand and Abeo on his shoulder.
"We all just got a letter from the rest of the Order. Death Eater's attacked Beauxbatton's last night. No one was killed but several were injured. I think he's trying to make a point to you Draco. Trying to draw you out," Neville said, looking concerned. It was common knowledge that Veela's frequently invited to attend Beauxbattons. Draco had even admitted to getting a letter from both there, and Hogwarts, before knowing his heritage fully. For unknown reasons, he'd chosen Hogwarts- most likely a subconscious pull to his bondmate.
"Good luck to him." Harry snapped, "Draco's not going out there. I hate that there was an attack, it's terrible. But, I'm not going to just send Draco out as a sacrifice, Voldemort can sod off."
"Calm down, Harry, no one expects you to do that," Neville replied- frightened at Harry's temper.
"Neville's right, Harry, there's no point in getting upset." Ron said, watching Harry carefully.
The table shook beneath them, rattling all the dishes together- causing everyone to tense up and push away from it for a moment. Harry sighed and tried to calm down. He was shocked, he hadn't had an outburst like that since he was a child at the Dursley's. Everyone was staring at him,
"I don't know where that came from, I'm sorry. I'm just really angry. I'm sorry." Slamming her plate down, Hermione got up and left the room with a huff- snarling under her breath. Everyone watched her, bewildered. Choosing, yet again, to pretend Hermione hadn't just had a fit, Draco broke the silence,
"No one's going to draw me out, Harry, I'm not stupid," he said, placing a reassuring hand on his bondmate's arm.
"No. He's not," Harry snarled, removing his arm from Draco's touch, "if anything, he's going to draw *me* out- to end this. It's getting really bloody old."
"Harry- it's not time for that. You have to let him come to you, to us. We're going to do this together," Blaise interjected, gesturing around the table and to Hermione who had just stormed back in, door swinging in her wake, book in hand.
Hermione crossed the room, passing her seat and everyone else by, straight to Harry. She slammed the book down in front of him, pointing at a particular passage, seething in anger.
"You *really* need to read more about the stuff that happens to you. Seriously, Harry, I can't keep doing all this," she snapped, her finger now in Harry's face, "calm your arse down." Causing Draco to snarl at her as she went back to her seat, shooting a daring look at the Veela. Harry read the passage out loud,
"A male Veela is often seen with a Magiodrago, being equally rare. The Magiodrago feeds off the Veela and the Veela in return, does the same. This show of power has occasionally been seen in female Veela's with the Magiodrago, but is considerably rarer than even it's existence..." Harry read silently for a moment before reading aloud again, "...both creatures have the ability of passing the same power weilding ability to each of their chosen bondmates... that's what happened on the train before Bellatrix and Lucius attacked? Draco was able to stun us all, because I was there?"
"And Blaise." Hermione added.
"So that's why he wants Malfoy dead so badly," Ron said, pondering, "he makes you more powerful, mate," then, grinning, "he's scared, Harry!"
Blaise, Neville, Ron, and Draco all cheered, Voldemort was terrified of Harry's power. It was about time. Hermione was grinning but watching Harry's face carefully. He grinned sheepishly back at her before excusing himself to go check the wards. Draco looked after him, concerned.
"Let him go, Draco, I'll check on him." Hermione said, raising to follow a few moments later. "He'll want to talk about you, not to you." She finished before heading out the door. Sighing, Ron got up and followed suit.
They found Harry out by the gate, speaking to Regina. She was telling him how happy she'd been of the loss of the spiders, the increased amount of rabbits and rodents, and the spot Harry had personally cleared for them to sun themselves. Raising her head and hissing a greeting at Ron and Hermione, Regina left.
"Hey, Harry, you want to talk about this?" Hermione asked, sitting beside him. Ron sat on the other side, arm around his best friend's shoulders.
"Come on, mate, you know we're here for you," he said, smiling.
"Voldemort- he's not going to stop until Draco's dead," Harry said, his voice cracking, "I'm so tired of losing people. He seems to love to go after..." his voice trailed off.
"Draco's going to be fine, Harry. We're all here, we're not going to let that happen." Ron said, grinning.
"Then you're just going to get hurt too. All of you, because of me..."
"He seems to go after what, Harry?" Hermione asked, placing a comforting hand on his knee.
"Those I love. I'm in love with Draco bloody Malfoy... or Black. Whatever." Harry sighed, placing his head on Hermione's shoulder. Tears streamed down his face.
"...you should tell him, he doesn't know, does he?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head in response, "then tell him, Harry. You have to."
"It's something he needs to know," Hermione said, nodding and stroking Harry's hair comfortingly.
"No. If he knew he'd never leave. He'd always be in danger. I don't think I want that. I think I'm just going to break up with him. He'll be safer that way, if we weren't together."
"No!" Hermione said, a little too forecefully. Both Ron and Harry turned to stare at her. She opened her mouth to speak but felt her throat start to constrict and sighed, exasperated. "Harry, you need him to help win the war."
"No, I don't. I'm destined to defeat Voldemort anyway, remember? It may be easier with Draco, but it's not worth it in the end. Not with the possibility- and it's a strong one- of his death." Harry said, causing Hermione to scowl. She threw her hands into the air with a cry, aggravated. Standing, she stared down at her two best friends- disgusted.
"Lots of people have died already, Harry. A lot more are going to, and do you know why? It's not because of you, or anyone else. They're dying because they chose to fight for what they believe in. This is everyone else's world that he's threatening too, Harry. You *really* need to realize that," she snapped, running back to the house- Ron and Harry scowling after her.
"That doesn't mean I have to throw him into the grave!" Harry roared at her retreating back, furious. Ron's scowl deepened.
"I don't think you should break up with him, Harry, but it's your choice. I'll be here no matter what and I think we could keep him safe. I've seen Fleur and Charlie- you deserve that kind of love."
"Thanks, Ron. I don't think I do, but thanks."
Back in the house, Hermione ran in, door swinging shut behind her. She ran straight to Draco, practically tackling him in a hug and sobbing. Draco glanced awkwardly at Blaise and Neville who both just shrugged. Hesitantly, Draco hugged her back, lightly.
"You okay, Granger?"
"It's five months tomorrow, Draco. Five!" She cried out, looking up at him with tear stained eyes. Blaise motioned for Neville and they left, sensing it was a personal moment. Hermione watched them leave, sniffling, before turning back to Draco. "I think he does love you, Draco, you have to tell him. You have to. I've tried to find a way, but I can't because of this stupid Wizard's debt... tell him, please. You've become a good friend, Draco, and a valuable asset- you can't just go."
"I can't, Hermione, it's his decision and I won't be an obligation."
Raising herself up, away from Draco, Hermione stared. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open- gaping at him in disbelief. "Please, Draco, please..." she begged. He just shook his head in response. Enraged, Hermione rared back and smacked the blonde, hard. Just as Harry and Ron walked in. Sniffling, Hermione ran from the room, Ron following.
"WHAT THE *BLOODY* HELL WAS THAT?"