Chapter 5 – A Cosmic Prank
After Transfiguration, Harry walked up to Professor McGonagall's desk. She continued stacking her parchment papers, but acknowledged him with a brief "Yes Mr. Potter?"
He offered her his now familiar slight bow. "I wanted to ask if my lifetime ban from Quidditch as applied by Delores Umbridge has been reversed, Professor."
She raised surprised eyes to his. "You did not receive notice, Mr. Potter? There was a sweeping reversal of all of that woman's rules and punishments. Oh, of course. You were not at your home during the summer to receive the notice."
"Thank you, Professor. Do you happen to know what she did with the brooms she confiscated? I haven't seen my Firebolt since last term."
She narrowed her eyes and her mouth thinned. "I will check her former office, Mr. Potter. It must be locked in there."
"And if it's not? I wouldn't put it past her to destroy someone else's property."
A look of pain crossed the witch's face. "A professional grade broom…the cost of a single Firebolt is comparable to a complete set of standard broomsticks for a full Quidditch team."
Harry met her eyes. "It's not the cost, Professor. Sirius gave me the Firebolt. It's one of my few remembrances of him." He felt the interwoven harmonies of the lowaar sending him their love and support.
The austere woman's face softened. "I will search her former office upon completion of my classes, Mr. Potter. Hopefully, I will return it to you before dinner."
Harry nodded and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Professor."
It was difficult to keep his attention on Charms and Ron noticed. "What's up, mate" he whispered as Flitwick wrote on the board.
"Professor McGonagall is going to search Umbridge's old office for my Firebolt. What if she doesn't find it?"
Ron gripped his friend's arm tightly in empathy. "It has to be there. Even the Toad wouldn't dare just destroy something that valuable."
By the end of the day, the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team had learned of Harry's missing broom and were waiting in the Common room. The picture frame swung open and their Head of House stepped through, pausing in the entrance at the many faces turned expectantly towards her. Harry's face froze into an impassive mask when he saw no broom in her hands. The older witch met Harry's eyes and then slowly her normally austere face softened into a smile and she opened her hand. "Engorgio!" she cast and his broom grew from several inches to its full size.
Cheers erupted around the room and Harry stepped forward eagerly. His present from Sirius was safe!
"It will need a little attention, Mr. Potter, but I'm sure you are capable of bringing it back up to your normal standards."
Harry gave a brilliant smile to the older witch. "Yes, Professor. It will be a pleasure."
Ginny called out "Then you'll be at try-outs, Harry?"
Professor McGonagall interjected with some asperity. "I would certainly expect the Quidditch Captain to attend the try-outs, Miss Weasley."
Harry looked at his Head of House with some surprise as additional cheers and whoops burst out. "Captain?" he mouthed. She nodded complacently. "Captain, Mr. Potter, assuming you accept the position."
"Yes Professor. I accept." Katie Bell and Ginny Weasley grabbed him and started an impromptu dance. Their Head of House looked on with tolerant amusement before slipping away.
Near the end of breakfast the following morning, owls began arriving in ever increasing numbers. They circled the hall, but the majority seemed focused on the Gryffindor table. Harry eyed the dozens of owls and groaned.
"Steady mate" Ron grinned. Hermione had thought this would happen.
Neville, Ron and Hermione stood poised as the owls began dropping their missives. About half a dozen were red and quivered on the table causing Harry to calmly cast "Incendio" on them without bothering to check the seal. Ron, Hermione and Neville scrambled to pick up the others as the owls dive-bombed the dark-haired Gryffindor.
Neville grinned as he handed a stack of letters to Harry. "You weren't interested in listening to the Howlers?"
Harry chuckled warmly, flashing white teeth against his tanned skin causing a few of the nearby girls to sigh. "Anyone I respect wouldn't have sent me a Howler about that Witches Weekly article, so they were either sent by Fudge and Umbridge or their lackeys. The rest I'll sort out and attempt to respond. It's about time I started to manage my public relations rather than shunning it and leaving all the power in the hands of people like Rita Skeeter.
He chuckled again at the dumbfounded looks on his friend's faces. "Yes, I know. I hate being a so-called celebrity, but since I'm going to be whether I want to or not, I may as well be damned for who I really am rather than who the Rita Skeeters of the world make me out to be."
"It's about time" Neville said with a grin. Hermione and Ron voiced their agreement as well.
Harry had barely entered the greenhouse for Herbology, his last class of the day, when a paper dove flew into the room and landed on a bench near Professor Sprout. It immediately unfolded in to a parchment. The Professor read the missive and raised her eyes to find Harry.
"Mr. Potter, Professor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office. You may use this note as your pass."
Harry sighed mentally and picked up his book bag, retrieved the pass from Professor Sprout and nodded politely to her before quitting the room. He walked quickly back to the castle and then to the Headmaster's office, wondering what the Headmaster wanted this time. He wouldn't interrupt his Herbology class to discuss the Witches Weekly article again, would he?
"Unlikely ghergo'ir" thought Ortinoth. "Family matters perhaps."
Harry's family consisted of the Dursleys and little was known of them to the wizarding world outside of the Order of the Phoenix. While he had no affection for them, he didn't wish them permanent harm either. The only other person he thought of as near family was Remus Lupin. He quickened his steps to the Headmaster's office.
To his surprise, the gargoyle jumped aside as soon as he reached it, not requiring a password. Harry climbed the stairs, knocked politely on the door and opened it at the cheery "Come in, Harry!"
There were four chairs in front of the Headmaster's desk, but it was the occupants of three of those chairs that made Harry pause. Draco Malfoy and his parents, Lucius and Narcissa turned to look at him as he entered. Harry narrowed his eyes slightly upon seeing the pureblood family. There was no denying the relationship between Lucius and Draco. They each had pale blonde hair, grey eyes and a slightly pointed chin. His eyes slid over them to the sole woman in the room. He had to admit that Narcissus Malfoy was more than lovely, she was exquisite. Her long silky golden hair, blue eyes and high cheekbones were captivating.
The Ministry had proven that Lucius Malfoy had been impersonated by Amycus Carrow using Polyjuice during the fiasco when Sirius had died, but Harry still harbored a deep resentment regarding the older man's behavior over the years.
Support came immediately from the lowaar. "Maintain a detached and impassive demeanor, ghergo'ir, while showing them the courtesy for which the Clan is recognized" advised Ortinoth. Harry bowed politely to Dumbledore then inclined his head slightly to the Malfoys.
"Headmaster, you asked to see me?" He was pleased his voice was cool and unemotional.
The Headmaster smiled kindly at him. "Yes Harry, please have a seat."
"I've been sitting quite a bit today sir, so would prefer to stand, but thank you." He didn't feel safe enough to sit with the Malfoys, even though they were in the Headmaster's office. However, he did step forward towards the unoccupied chair so that he became part of the group.
Lucius stood and walked around the chairs to stand in front of Harry who covertly fingered his wand when the senior Malfoy began to move. To Harry's surprise, the older man bowed elegantly before speaking. "Mr. Potter, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, we have been at odds. I sincerely regret that I caused you pain and distress on more than one occasion through my actions. Professor Dumbledore knows that I will now support your efforts in the conflict with the Dark Lord. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I hope you will give me the opportunity in the future to demonstrate my sincere regret and will be able to accept my apology at some point in the future. If there is other restitution that I can provide, please let me know and I will endeavor to provide whatever is needed."
Harry struggled to keep his face impassive even as he reeled under the impact of a Malfoy apologizing for anything. And he intended to renounce Voldemort? Could that be believed or was it part of an elaborate hoax? He wouldn't put such a deception past the Slytherin. When he realized the elder Malfoy had stopped speaking, he inclined his head civilly and managed "Thank you for the apology, Mr. Malfoy. I look forward to observing the effects of your future actions."
As Lucius returned to his chair and sat down, Narcissa stood up and walked gracefully over to Harry. Her golden hair shone in the afternoon light, her face was smooth and unlined, her dark lashes framed the clear blue eyes that regarded him with…curiosity? Harry bowed slightly to her and she offered a slight curtsey in response.
"Mr. Potter, while we have not been introduced formally, I would also like to offer my personal apology to you on behalf of our family for any pain we may have caused you and your family or friends, both directly and indirectly. As my husband said, we would like to make amends and towards that end have pledged our opposition to the Dark Lord. We know it will take continued and sustained opposition to the Dark Lord before you will be able to accept our sincerity and we look forward to the day you will be able to have faith in our words and deeds."
Harry clamped down on his emotions in an effort to hide his shock at Narcissa's apology. What was the family up to? However, he bowed a second time to her in response and said formally "Madam Malfoy, I thank you for your apology and also look forward to the day we might be able to cooperate as allies." He thought he saw a flicker of surprise and approval at his use of Madam rather than the less formal Mrs.
As Narcissa returned to her seat, Draco stood up. "Him too? What is going on here? This has got to be an elaborate ruse" Harry thought. However, he kept his face impassive as Draco came forward and bowed, his face momentarily showing a trace of anxiety. "Potter, for the last five years I've been a prat to you. I took it personally when you rejected my offer of friendship when we met on the train for our first ride to Hogwarts. I know that my own attitude and behaviors to you and your friends caused most of the animosity between us and I would like to offer you my sincere apologies. I've written letters of apologies to Granger and Weasley and offered small tokens to help make amends and will follow up with personal apologies. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I hope over time that I will earn it."
Harry was quiet for several long moments until he was certain his voice could be indifferently polite. Finally he inclined his head and replied "Thank you for the apology. My own behavior hasn't been blameless over the years, Malfoy. If you will behave civilly going forward, then so will I." He was surprised at the brilliant smile Draco gave him. He realized he had never seen a genuine smile of pleasure on the young blonde's face, and it lit up his features.
Dumbledore beamed at them all. "Excellent, it's good to see such mature and courteous behaviors. Now I'm sure you're wondering what this is all about, my boy." He waited for Harry to acknowledge him and then continued when he received a nearly imperceptible nod. "Tell me Harry, what do you know about the Veela?"
Veela? Why in Merlin's name would he be called to Dumbledore's office to talk about veela? Why would the Malfoys apologize before then? He recalled that Fleur Delacore, the Beauxbaton Champion for the Triwizard Tournament had been a half-veela. They had researched the species then; well Hermione had researched them and shared the findings with Ron and him. They were beautiful magical creatures that could breed with wizards and had an allure to sexually attract and seduce others. Obviously it had an importance that he wasn't quite catching.
He turned to the Clan genetic memory and confirmed what he knew, as well as finding additional information. He reviewed it quickly and then focused on one memory. Veela mate for life and the Mate was not necessarily of their choosing; instead it is the most powerful and compatible creature or human available. Sexual preferences were not a consideration when the Veela identified its Mate.
Realization exploded over him and he clenched his jaw in the struggle to maintain the expressionless mask he had learned from his Clan. The Malfoys had to be part Veela and one of them had chosen him as a Mate. He considered the expressions he had seen on their faces. Lucius and Narcissa had appeared respectful and determined. Draco had looked sincere, hopeful, but also fearful as if afraid of rejection. So Draco had come into his Veela inheritance and identified him as his Mate? Mate with Draco? Not bloody likely!
He retreated into his mind and screamed his rage. "ARGH! What deity did I offend in a past life? Why is my life some sort of cosmic joke? Let's rip loving parents away and throw Harry into a cupboard for ten years, only letting him out to cook and clean. Let's throw him unprepared into a wizarding world where others waver between adoration and suspicion and scorn depending on the rumors at the time. Let's give him a few weeks where he finds love and support, letting him think he might be able to have some command over his own life and then once again subject him to the control and manipulations of others!"
He gave another inarticulate scream of fury safely in the confines of his mind. A moment later he felt Ortinoth say "Well done. Nothing more than a muscle twitched in your jaw for anyone to see. Do you feel better now?" The deep low-pitched bass voice held both affection and amusement, causing Harry to slide his eyes over to his naflosola's image.
"A little" he admitted dryly, "but not that much. Why? Why is it always me, Naflopsola? And why did Dumbledore blindside me like this?"
"Perhaps the universe gave you a Veela mate to make up for other aspects of your life, ghergo'ir. You did not absorb all of the information about Veela. They offer unconditional love and support to their Mate. That type of partner is considered to be an aspiration of most mortals."
Harry mentally shook his head. "Then it's a punishment, not a reward. This is Draco sodding Malfoy. You know how he's behaved over the last five years! You've seen my memories! There is no way I will accept it."
Ortinoth rumbled "Is that why he shows both fear and longing on his face?"
Harry considered. The blonde Slytherin had looked fearful when he made his apology, as if afraid of rejection. "Oh bloody hell" he thought. What was the impact of his refusal? He scanned his Clan memories, but found no information. Apparently refusal hadn't been known to his dragon ancestors.
Harry withdrew from his mind, grateful that only several moments had passed. He looked directly at Draco. "I don't know the difference between fact and folklore. What is the impact of a Mate's rejection?"
When Harry turned to him and asked the abrupt question, Draco blinked and swallowed. He hadn't realized Harry would put the pieces of the puzzle together that quickly. Narcissa Malfoy was the one to answer.
"If the Mate finds the Veela unworthy and rejects them, the Veela has no reason to live. They become severely despondent frequently leading to suicide or a refusal to eat until they simply wither away."
Draco swallowed again, watching Harry's face intently. "Harry…" he began but stopped when Harry made an abrupt motion.
Harry fought the impulse to indulge in a violent outburst, destroying the Headmaster's office. Couldn't he have some measure of control over his life? The last few months had been heavenly with the love and support of the Clan, but apparently that was all he was allowed to enjoy before his life was turned upside down again.
"You might want to curb your magic, autgabin" Ydraith rumbled. He heard the windows begin to rattle in their frames and immediately pulled his power back. He glanced apologetically at the Headmaster and then forced himself to meet Malfoy's grey eyes. "Then I do not reject you. However, I need time and information before making a life-altering decision. If you have specific books you would like me to read, I would be pleased to review them. Perhaps in a few days we can discuss what short-term measures are needed before long-term decisions are made." He turned and left the room before anyone could respond.
Harry had to work to keep the snarl from his face. Even though the lowaar helped him maintain a composed attitude most of the time, right now he really wanted to indulge in a good loud and violent temper tantrum. Draco bloody Malfoy had chosen him as a Mate? After all the vicious comments and hexes? After insulting him, his friends, and his parents? Harry desperately wanted a future with the home life he had never known as a child. He wanted a wife and children; a real family that was grounded on love and mutual respect. Instead he had the Ferret and if he refused, the Ferret would die. Bloody hell! He didn't need another death on his conscience!
Harry turned his feet towards the Room of Requirement. As he walked back and forth, he focused on a space where he could rage without hurting anyone. The door appeared and he gave a brief smirk of approval. The room before him was magically warded, the type used to test out new spells. Practice dummies lined one wall. He imagined Malfoy's face on them as he focused hex after hex on the first dummy until it disintegrated, then he moved on to the next. When the first batch had been destroyed the room supplied more, and this time he used elemental magic to destroy them. Only when the last dummy had been destroyed did he stop and catch his breath, finally feeling the sweat soaking his shirt.
"Bloody hell" he said again, dropping to the floor. "Why is it always me?"
"Was that a rhetorical question?" asked Ydraith.
Harry growled at the good-natured tone before responding to the wordless encouragement he felt from his Clan. "Yes, I suppose it was, Nafldask. What do you suggest I do now?"
"Learn what you can about Veela. Ask your friends what they know. Young Ron and Neville might be good sources of information as their families have long wizarding histories. And of course Hermione will probably be happy to help you research." Ydraith added "You will want to talk to them regardless, to confirm that the young man apologized and to ask your friends for their reaction."
Harry grumbled mentally, but acknowledged the wisdom of the advice.
"Of course, ghergo'ir. That is why we're here after all." their voices sang to him in woven harmonies of love and support.
It was late when Harry stepped into the Gryffindor common room, but he was glad to see Ron and Hermione look up and smile at him.
Hermione stood up and exclaimed "Harry, we've been waiting for you!"
"You'll never believe what happened mate" added Ron.
Harry joined them and collapsed on the sofa. "I probably could, but tell me."
"Malfoy wrote us both letters of apology" began Hermione.
Ron interrupted. "Bloody Ferret probably has an ulterior motive"
"Mine was very proper. He apologized for calling me a Mudblood and for offending me and my friends over the years. He accepted full responsibility for his behavior. He included a first edition of "Hogwarts, A History" from the founding years as a small token of his regret."
Ron grudgingly admitted "He gave me seasoned tickets to the Chudley Cannons."
Both of his friends were watching for his reaction and noted he was not surprised. Hermione asked tentatively "Did you get an apology, Harry?"
"I got one in Dumbledore's office. Malfoy was there with his parents and they each apologized, plus said they were joining the opposition to the Dark Lord. I don't know if that means publicly or as spies reporting to Dumbledore."
Hermione was startled. "They're joining the fight against You-Know-Who? Why do you suppose they're changing and apologizing?"
Ron sneered "It's a scheme, I'm telling you. Just letting us get our guard down and then they'll drop us in You-Know-Who's lap!"
The young witch took a good look at Harry and noticed the weariness in his frame. "Harry, what happened? Are you all right?"
"After they apologized, Dumbledore asked me what I knew of Veelas". He stopped and watched his friend's reactions. Hermione frowned briefly and Harry swore he could almost hear the gears turning in her brain. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a silent "Oh!" Ron frowned in bewilderment, shifting his eyes between their faces.
Harry turned to him. "So tell me Ron, you're from an old family. What legends and information did you hear growing up about Veela?"
Still confused, Ron responded slowly. "Well, many old pureblood families have a bit of Veela blood in them. It was considered pretty elite at one time. Even my family had some a century or so back. Every boy growing up hoped to be picked as a Veela's Mate. They love their Mate unconditionally, never wanting or desiring another person once they find their Mate. I believe they find them through a combination of scent and touch. If their Mate dies, the Veela usually follows."
Harry nodded at the confirmation of his own memories. "What if the Mate rejects them?"
Ron looked at Harry in disbelief. "I've only heard one story about someone refusing a Veela. No one in their right mind would reject being a Veela's Mate, Harry. It's pure love and adoration from a gorgeous magical creature."
"What if the Veela was Draco Malfoy?"
Ron stopped and his eyes widened. Emotions chased across his face almost too fast to follow; comprehension, disgust, horror, consideration and finally discomfort.
"That's why he apologized" observed Hermione with enviable composure. "He loves his Mate unconditionally and doesn't want his Mate unhappy. If he was rude to your best friends, you would be unhappy, so he wants to make amends."
Harry cringed with each repetition of the word "mate". "I seriously doubt that he loves me, Hermione. I think he doesn't want me to reject him, because he would die" said Harry firmly. "At least that's what his mother said was the impact of a mate rejecting a Veela. I need to hit the Library and find out what I can about Veelas and learn whether that's true or not."
"I think it might be Harry" said Ron reluctantly. "The story I mentioned was one Mum told me about a man who refused a Veela because he was already married and the Veela died of a broken heart. It was a depressing story."
Hermione laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'll help you research Harry."
Ron added "Me too, mate." He paused for a few seconds while his face contorted before blurting out "Bloody hell, Harry! It's Malfoy. But you have the opportunity to be a Veela's Mate. But the Veela is Malfoy. But you would have the absolute devotion and support you never had growing up. But it would come from Malfoy." Ron's face twisted into a grimace and banged his head down on the table several times.
Hermione looked at Harry reproachfully. "Harry, shame on you. You broke Ron."
The dark-haired Gryffindor laughed and his mood lightened. "Well, I'm not going to make any decisions tonight. We may as well head to bed."
He and Ron bid goodnight to Hermione and went on to their dorm room. They stopped at the sight of several books piled on Harry's bed. Moving closer, they saw a parchment folded on the top book. Harry unfolded it, holding it out so that Ron could read it over his shoulder.
Mr. Potter,
Thank you for speaking with us this afternoon. I am grateful that you did not summarily reject Draco, but elected to consider the matter over time.
These are some books on Veela from the Malfoy library. I hope you find them useful.
Sincerely,
Lucius Malfoy
Harry sorted through the books, looking at the titles. They included "Veelas and their Mates", "The Veela Council: History and Laws", "Chosen by a Veela", "Prominent Veelas Through the Ages", "Veela Inheritance: Fact and Fiction", and "Wizard and Veela Culture Concessions".
"That's a lot of reading" Ron said dubiously after eyeing the multiple volumes. "And I thought just the reading for a N.E.W.T. year was bad."
Harry looked up from his perusal of the books and grinned at his friend. "You said you would help" he reminded the redhead with a smirk. He gathered the books and carefully placed them in his trunk, wondering when he would find the time for the added reading.
In order of appearance:
lowaar= indwellers
ghergo'ir = young one
Naflopsola = Grandfather
Autgabin = Grandson
Nafldask = Grandmother
