Author's Note: Warning - this chapter contains references to non-consensual sex and mild slash

Chapter 20 – Sia'thurirl

Harry's eyes narrowed as he looked at Vincent Crabbe. "What do you mean, Draco is missing?"

The Slytherin met the intense green eyes without flinching. "You were both brought here after you crashed. You had a concussion and Draco had a dislocated shoulder besides being banged up. Pomfrey fixed you both up, dosed Draco with a sleeping potion, told us to leave you alone and then sent us away. After that, apparently she went into her office. Next thing she remembers is Dumbledore Ennervating her."

Shock covered the dark-haired teen's face. "Someone stunned her? What does Dumbledore say? Has anyone left the grounds? Were the wards violated? When did this happen?"

Hermione laid a hand on his arm and looked at him with anxious eyes as he blasted out the questions. "It's been nearly four hours since Madame Pomfrey was found. Professor Dumbledore said the wards alerted him that an offensive spell had been cast, most likely a Stupefy. He and several other teachers ran here, but found Madam Pomfrey unconscious on the floor and Draco's bed empty. The Headmaster says as far as he can tell, no one has left the grounds, but no one knows who stunned Madame Pomfrey or where Draco is."

Ron leaned forward slightly. "The Heads of each House were doing a check to confirm that no one else is missing. We let Professor McGonagall know that we would be here."

Crabbe nodded. "Pansy will let Professor Snape know that Goyle and I are here."

Harry looked at the two hulking teens. "Why are you here?"

"You're one of ours now. You need protection." He looked almost apologetically at Hermione and Ron. "Don't mean to say that you can't take care of your own, but it wouldn't be right not to have some of us here as well. Besides, Draco will probably be sent back here when he's found."

Harry shook his head. "I can't just lie here with Draco abducted." He threw his covers off and swung his feet off the bed.

A familiar voice shrilled "Just what do you think you are doing, Mr. Potter? Get back into that bed immediately." Madame Pomfrey stalked up and fixed the other students with an accusing glare. "I agreed that you could stay with Mr. Potter as long as you did not upset him when he awoke." She ran her wand over him. "You are suffering from a concussion young man, and will stay in that bed overnight."

Harry tried to stand up only to have her firmly grab his feet and swing them back up on the bed. "I won't hesitate to use a sticking charm, Mr. Potter. You are in no shape to wander the castle while recovering from a concussion."

Harry glared at her. "Madame Pomfrey, I'm feeling fine now. You fixed me up perfectly. But Draco is missing and I can't just lie here!"

"Actually Mr. Potter that is exactly what you can and will do. I know better than anyone that Mr. Malfoy is missing. If your friends explained his…disappearance…they likely also mentioned that I was stunned. The school is on lockdown and the teachers are performing a headcount and sweep. They will find him and he'll be brought back here, so you may as well wait for him."

Ydraith interrupted Harry's glaring contest with the mediwitch by saying softly in his mind "Ghergo'ir, the large young man and the healer are correct. When your bond mate is found, they will bring him back here. You would serve him better being here."

Harry collapsed back on the bed under the weight of their combined opinions. "Have Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy been notified? Are they here?"

Madame Pomfrey whisked the sheet back over him, squeezing his shoulder in comfort now that he was no longer arguing with her. "I'm sure the Headmaster notified them."

He looked up at her and noticed the strain around her eyes. "Are you all right, Poppy? Crabbe said you were stunned just before Draco disappeared?"

Her look softened for a moment before she said briskly "I'm fine, Mr. Potter." He barely heard the muttered "I can't say the same will hold true of whoever stunned me when I get my hands on them." At Crabbe's snort of amusement, she flushed and then warned the students to be sure not to upset her patient further.

The door to the infirmary opened to reveal the Headmaster and Professor Snape. They came up to his bed and the students stepped away to make room. The elderly wizard's face was grave, while the Potion Master's was impassive, although his dark eyes seemed more intense than normal.

Dumbledore asked "Harry, how are you feeling dear boy?"

The teen made a motion as if brushing the question away, but replied "I'm fine, Sir. Do you have any news on Draco?"

Snape responded "Miss Bulstrode is also missing. Miss Parkinson suggested I ask you about any conversations she may have had with you. The painting of Lady Miranda outside the Infirmary saw her enter and leave alone both times."

"Bulstrode! Bloody Hell." He began trying to get out of bed again only to be restrained by Madame Pomfrey. "Let me up! That basket case has done something to Draco!"

"Explain" snapped Snape.

Harry stopped struggling to glare at Snape. "She's been making snide comments about me not being worthy of him. I asked him whether there was something I should know about the two of them. He said her father had suggested a betrothal contract between them, but that nothing had come of it. She probably wants revenge for being rejected and did something when he couldn't fight back." He looked at the Headmaster. "Don't the wards let you know when a student is in danger?"

Dumbledore sighed, his grandfatherly visage concerned. "The wards let me know that an aggressive spell had been cast in the infirmary, so we knew to come here, but it doesn't tell me where each and every student is. If someone casts another aggressive spell, we may be able to narrow it down. The paintings and the ghosts are all looking, and Professor Flitwick is attempting to modify the 'Point Me' charm to isolate Mr. Malfoy."

Harry frowned, trying to control the panic that was trying to bubble up and find a release, and allowed the waves of support and encourage from his lowaar settle him. "What about the house elves?"

Snape raised an eyebrow. "What about them, Potter?"

Harry said slowly "There are at least one hundred house elves that support Hogwarts, right? House elves who can pop around the building in the blink of an eye. Couldn't they help search?"

The Potion Master's eyes snapped over to the Headmaster. "Headmaster?"

The Headmaster's eyes began twinkling again. He snapped his fingers and called out quietly "Sergey!" An ancient house elf wearing a crisp white pillowcase embroidered with the Hogwarts crest immediately popped in front of Dumbledore. He bowed low from the waist and then straightened; wisps of white hair formed a fringe around his otherwise bald head. "Yes Headmaster? How may Sergey be of service?"

The elderly wizard smiled at the Head house elf. "Two of our students are missing, a Miss Millicent Bulstrode and a Mr. Draco Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy was recovering from an injury at the time of his disappearance. Would you please ask the other house elves to search the school and if they find the students, bring them to the Infirmary? If they don't find the students, let me know that as well."

The elderly elf bowed again. "Immediately Headmaster." He snapped his fingers and disappeared.

"An excellent idea, my boy" the Headmaster said with approval. "Most people forget about house elves. Even I did not consider using them for the search."

A quiet pop sounded and everyone saw an elf appear in Madame Pomfrey's office. It looked under the desk, opened a cupboard, closed it and disappeared again. With another pop, a second elf appeared at the back of the Infirmary and checked the bathroom, then the closet. With a snap it disappeared.

"They're even checking closets and cupboards" said Hermione with approval. Although she disliked house elves being bound in servitude, she could see the benefits of a small army performing a quick search of a large building.

Harry rubbed his aching head trying to think of what he could do. He stilled as his thoughts raced towards Dobby. Snape's sharp eyes noticed the look of concentration. "Do you have another suggestion, Mr. Potter?"

The teen looked up at the Potions Master, somewhat surprised by the soft voice. "I was just wondering if Dobby is involved in the search. He is.." He paused and barely avoided looking at the Headmaster. "He was the Malfoy's house elf before being freed. Would he have a better chance of finding Draco? Maybe he can trace his magical signature better than others?"

Dumbledore smiled with a hint of amusement at the Gryffindor. "By all means, call and ask him, my boy."

Harry wondered if the Headmaster's amusement meant he knew that Dobby still served the Malfoys, but ignored the thought for now. "Dobby!"

The small house elf appeared on the foot of the teen's bed. "Yes Master Harry Potter, sir? How may Dobby be serving you?"

"Dobby, are you involved with the search for Draco?"

Bewilderment showed on the house elf's face. "A search for Master Draco? No Master Harry Potter sir. Dobby was in town getting supplies with Meecher when you called."

Harry leaned over to the house elf and looked him in the eye. "Dobby, Master Draco is missing. He was probably taken against his will. Most of the Hogwarts house elves are already searching, but I wondered if you might be able to sense or trace him better."

The small figure straightened with a look of outrage on his face while the large eyes became half-lidded in fury. "Someone has taken Master Draco? Dobby will find him!" He disappeared as Harry called "Bring him back here!"

The Pop of Dobby's disappearance was still echoing in the large room when the door opened again to reveal the elegant forms of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. The expression on their faces was grimly controlled and only the tight grip of Narcissa's hand on her husband's arm revealed her true agitation.

"We were shopping on the continent and only learned of your Floo call to the Manor minutes ago, Headmaster. What news do you have of Draco?" demanded Lucius as they neared Harry's bed.

The elderly wizard inclined his head to the concerned parents. "We hope to have good news shortly, Lucius. We already had a search underway, but Harry thought of adding the House elves and then called for your former house elf, Dobby who was away from the castle. He was most concerned and promised to find them."

Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "Them, Headmaster?"

"Miss Millicent Bulstrode was seen entering and exiting the Infirmary and is also missing."

The couple glanced at one another briefly, holding a conversation with their eyes. The mute interchange ended and Narcissa turned her eyes to Harry. With a small smile she moved to his bed as Crabbe and Goyle stepped aside for her. She laid a hand on his arm and asked softly "How are you feeling, Mr. Potter? Do you need anything?"

Harry laid his hand briefly over hers. "I only need to know that Draco is fine. My head is too hard to take much damage."

An almost imperceptible snort of amusement caused Lucius to raise an eyebrow at Snape. Before he could say anything, a loud pop could be heard from the back of the Infirmary in one of the private rooms.

Another pop brought Dobby back to Harry's bed. His eyes widened at the sight of the Malfoys. "Dobby is sorry for not being here to protect Master Draco and for not finding Master Draco sooner. Master Draco has nasty potions in him, he does. Master Draco will be very upset when they wear off."

The mediwitch was already hurrying into the private room and Harry tried to sit up again, only to be pressed back by Narcissa even though her eyes were fixed on the house elf.

Lucius leaned towards the small figure and almost hissed "Where was he and what was his condition?"

Dobby looked around at the circle of faces and the Headmaster immediately ushered the other students out of the room. "Dobby found Master Draco and that Bully girl in old guest quarters, Sir. They were…in bed. Master Draco has potions in him making him do things he wouldn't. The Bully girl also has a potion in her. I tied her up and left her there, but brought Master Draco back." He looked up tearfully at Lucius. "The potions made Master Draco not want to leave. Dobby had to force him."

Harry felt his stomach roll as Dobby's explanation continued. Bulstrode kidnapped Draco and fed him potions to take him to bed? He looked up as Lucius said quietly "Forcing him here was the right thing to do." The blonde turned to the Potions Master. "Severus, I assume you'll find out what the potions were and bring an antidote?"

The taciturn man's face was twisted with disgust and anger. "I will speak with Poppy as soon as possible." He turned to the Headmaster. "Albus, I would like the house elf to retrieve Miss Bulstrode and interrogate her."

The elderly wizard appeared both livid and nauseous. "Agreed." He turned to Dobby and asked "Would you please bring the young woman in question to the Infirmary, Dobby?" The house elf glanced briefly at Lucius and at his nod, popped away.

Moments later he returned and discarded the large girl in a bed across the room from Harry with little care. She was wrapped only in a sheet and glared furiously at the house elf until she saw Harry glowering at her from his bed. As soon as she saw him, she smiled triumphantly.

"So much for your pathetic attempts to delude Draco, Potter" she screeched. "It's too late now. I took a fertility potion to ensure I would conceive. He will bond to our baby and will marry me!"

Narcissa swayed slightly and Lucius moved immediately to support her. Snape stalked towards the naked young woman. "You brainless ignorant fool" he hissed. "You attacked a staff member. That is one crime. You abducted another student. That's a second crime. You forced potions on him, that's another. Interfering with a Veela courtship is a fourth criminal offense. Using potions to force copulation and pregnancy is Line Theft. You will be fortunate to ever see the light of day again."

The young woman sneered at her Head of House. "I am neither brainless nor ignorant. I only stunned Madame Pomfrey; I didn't injure her at all. Then a quick disillusionment and levitation spell on Draco and we went to the guest quarters that I've been using for privacy this term. He may have been groggy from the sleeping potion, but he swallowed the other potions without me forcing him. His so-called bond to Potter will be replaced by his bond to our child. And I didn't force him to have relations with me. He was practically begging for it." She smirked in defiance at the Potions Master.

Lucius voice was cold and flat. "You raped him."

"He was begging for me."

"Because you poured potions down his throat. Do you know what violating the bond to a Chosen does to a Veela? You could be charged with attempted murder."

"I am bearing your grandchild; I think I'm going to be the next Madame Malfoy"

Harry felt nauseous and revolted by the Slytherin's revelations and comments, but his thoughts were interrupted by the door opening from Draco's room. Madame Pomfrey walked out, her eyes searching the room. She began walking to the Malfoys who moved up to meet her.

"How is our son" Lucius asked quietly, his arm around his wife.

"He had both a love potion and a lust potion in his system and showed evidence of recent sexual activity. He had long gouges in his back as well as contusions on his hips. There was a large bloody bruised mark on his neck apparently made by human teeth. I gave him a dreamless sleep potion until the others wear off. You may sit with him if you would like."

The Malfoys nodded and walked into the room, closing the door behind them.

The Headmaster said quietly "Poppy, I must ask you to examine Miss Bulstrode."

The mediwitch finally noticed the young woman in the bed with the Potion Master standing over her. She moved to join him and drew her wand, casting a diagnosis spell. "There is evidence of a fertility potion in her system and minor contusions on her head and back."

Bulstrode glared at Dobby. "That house elf threw me across the room and into a wall!"

Snape ignored her and asked quietly "Is she pregnant, Poppy?"

Madame Pomfrey ran her wand down towards the young woman's stomach and muttered a quick spell. The area glowed red briefly and the mediwitch looked surprised. She cast the spell again and again the area glowed red. "No, she is not."

"WHAT" screeched the Slytherin girl. "I have to be pregnant! I took a fertility potion! I have to be carrying his baby!"

"Brainless and ignorant" sneered the Potions Master. "While his wizard side might have been controlled by the potion, his Veela side was likely able to prevent the pregnancy."

Bulstrode began screaming and struggling in the bed. "No! You're lying! I have to be pregnant! I have to be! He's going to marry me! I'm going to be the next Madame Malfoy! You're lying!"

The mediwitch summoned a vial and forced it down the hysterical girl's throat. Within moments, she had stopped struggling and had fallen asleep. Madame Pomfrey drew a curtain around her and then looked at the Headmaster.

"She should sleep for the next twelve hours, Albus. I'm worried about Mr. Malfoy though." She looked at Harry and lowered her voice. He quickly cast a listening spell on himself to hear whispers on the other side of the room. "Once the potions wear off, his Veela side may be suicidal Albus. I don't know enough about Veelas to help him as he will need to be helped. I will have to rely on his parents to set the course for his safety and recovery." The mediwitch shook her head sadly. "I've seen a lot in my day, but this is particularly foul."

The adults began walking away from the curtained area and Harry hastily canceled his spell. The Headmaster walked to the Gryffindor's bed and absently patted his foot. "Rest now, Harry. Draco's parents will let you know how he is and whether you can help with his recovery." He waited for Harry's nod of agreement and walked out, his shoulders drooping with the weight of his years.

Harry looked up as Snape came towards him. The dark eyes raked the teen's face as if searching for something. Finally he said quietly "Mr. Potter, you haven't accepted the bond with Mr. Malfoy, is that correct?"

Harry frowned slightly in confusion. "No sir. We've been working through our previous hostility. Why?"

The older man sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Because if you were bonded, Mr. Malfoy would be distraught but not suicidal when he awakens. He identified you as his True Mate. Until you accept the bond, he will always be concerned that you will find him unworthy and deny him. Now that he has been 'unfaithful' to you, against his will or not, he will be desolate and grievously despondent."

"But it wasn't his fault! She dosed him with potions!"

The dark eyes searched his face again. "You comprehend that but the Veela in him will not." The Potions Master grimaced as if in pain. "You may be the only one that can save him, Mr. Potter."

Harry looked at him with wide and slightly frightened eyes. "How?"

Snape inclined his head towards the closed door. "Listen to his parents. They are each part Veela and understand what their son will be feeling." He examined Harry's face again. "Please…save my godson, Mr. Potter." He spun on his heel and left the Infirmary, leaving Harry looking after him in surprise.

"He loves his godson very much, ghergo'ir" murmured Ydraith.

The teen turned his attention inward. "What can I do, Nafldask? None of the books I read dealt with this type of situation."

"How did they present a Veela's attitude towards his True Mate?"

Harry brought up the passages in his mind. "They said once a Veela identifies his True Mate, the recognition quickly turns to affection and they become devoted to their Mate, as well as protective and possessive. Basically, the Mate is all important. They fear the Mate finding them unworthy and rejection leads to acute depression." He thought quietly for a moment. "So I need to make sure he understands that this…assault…doesn't make him unworthy in my eyes."

He felt waves of affection from his lowaar. "And listen to his parents as well, ghergo'ir. They will know more than the books."

Harry picked up his wand and waved it over the bed, turning it around until it faced the room where Draco was closeted with his parents. His brain raced trying to understand exactly what had happened, what drove Bulstrode, how Draco would react, what the Malfoys would do. Finally, he drifted off into a troubled sleep.


He woke to find Lucius Malfoy at the foot of his bed, looking at him critically. The level of light outside indicated that he had slept most of the night and dawn was approaching. "How are you feeling after your concussion, Mr. Potter?"

Harry waved his hand dismissively. "Fine sir. How is Draco?"

Lucius sighed slightly. "May I sit, Mr. Potter?" At Harry's nod, he drew a chair closer and then transfigured it to a more comfortable cushioned chair before sitting gracefully. He rested both hands on his cane and watched Harry. "My son will likely awaken in an hour or so. The gouges that…tramp's nails left on his back are healed, as are the other bruises and the bite mark on his neck. His earlier shoulder injury appears healed as well. So physically, my son will be fine."

The teen looked at the older man cautiously. "And mentally? Or emotionally?"

"That is the concern, Mr. Potter. His Veela side will see the intercourse as a betrayal to you and will believe that you will now find him unworthy. I expect him to become either catatonic or hysterical when he awakens."

Harry shook his head. "It wasn't his fault. Nothing like this was in any of the books you lent me, but I know I have to convince him that I don't find him unworthy and that I don't see what happened as a betrayal."

The older man met and held his eyes. "Words will likely have little impact. He will not only feel violated by that person, but will feel that he should have fought harder; he should have been strong enough to deny her. No matter what, the Veela in him will feel that he cheated on his Mate, regardless of the extenuating circumstances. While the wizard in him may understand your words, the Veela's emotions will overcome the wizard's comprehension."

Harry's eyes were troubled. "Then what do I do to convince him that it's OK, that I'm angry with Bulstrode, not him? That I don't believe that he cheated on me?"

The older man's eyes held his and Harry thought he saw a hint of despair and fear in them. "The attack was physical in nature. Your response may need to be physical as well."

Green eyes widened and his voice dropped to a whisper. "Um…I'm not ready to be…intimate…with Draco." His lowaar sent steadying thoughts to keep him from panicking.

"You likely won't need to go to that extreme Mr. Potter, but some form of physical contact may be needed to convince him you don't find him repulsive, tainted, or despicable. Dobby is going to bring Draco back to your quarters and Madame Pomfrey cleared you to leave as well. May I offer you a hand back to your rooms?"

Harry shook his head absently as his mind reeled. "I'll just get dressed." He slipped out of bed and found his clothes in the wardrobe at the back where Madame Pomfrey always stored them. However, instead of his Quidditch uniform, another set of clothes was waiting. "Probably courtesy of Dobby" he thought.

He carried the clothes into the bathroom and laid them on the counter. After a hot shower, he felt much better and more awake. His head felt fine, so he realized the concussion must be healed. He dressed slowly and stared at himself in the mirror.

"All will be well, ghergo'ir" Ydraith assured him. "If it helps, think of your bond mate as a child. Remember how you held him at your Manor when he thought you were rejecting him? Do that again, rub his back and speak soothingly to him. That may be all he needs."

Encouraged, Harry left the Infirmary and headed to the quarters he shared with Draco. He entered quietly and looked over at Draco's room. The door was open and he could see the blonde lying on his bed. Lucius was standing on the far side of the bed looking down at his son, while Narcissa was sitting on the edge, stroking his forehead. They looked up as Harry stood in the doorway and Narcissa smiled at the teen. She stood and motioned him forward, indicating he should take her place.

"He should be waking up shortly. He's begun moving around a bit."

Harry sat on the edge of the bed and picked up Draco's hand, interlacing their fingers. He slowly rubbed his thumb over the back of the blonde's hand. In a few minutes, grey eyes opened and a soft smile appeared as the blonde realized who was holding his hand. "Harry…" he said softly.

Suddenly his eyes widened in horror and he snatched his hand away. "Oh Salazar…I need a shower. I need to wash her scent and the feel of her fingers off my skin." He avoided the dark-haired teen's eyes and rolled out of bed, almost running to the bathroom.

Harry raised troubled eyes to Draco's parents. Narcissa said softly "I left clean pajamas in the washroom for him. We'll leave you with Draco, Mr. Potter. It's your assurances he needs, not ours." The sadness that accompanied the statement was heartbreaking. They left to the sound of the shower running.

"How dare Bulstrode do this to him" he muttered. "How sick and twisted was she that she forced potions down him. And left his back gouged with her nails." He shuddered at the visualize he had. He should have done something, he thought. He should have protected the other teen. He ignored the waves of comfort from his lowaar.

The shower ran for a very long time, long enough for Harry to consider walking in and making sure Draco was all right. Twice he got up to check, but each time heard just enough noise to leave the other teen alone. Finally the shower shut off.

Several more minutes went by and then the door opened slowly. Draco was in Slytherin green silk pajamas, but the skin that Harry could see was scrubbed red and nearly raw. The blonde avoided looking at Harry and went back to his bed, got in and turned away from the other teen. "You can go" he whispered.

Harry sat on the bed and laid his hand on the other's shoulder. The blonde began shuddering and then deep racking sobs erupted from him. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, so sorry."

The dark-haired teen crawled onto the bed and gathered the sobbing teen in his arms. The blonde tried to get away, but collapsed against him sobbing when he couldn't break Harry's grip. Over and over the broken voice kept repeating "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry".

Harry stroked Draco's hair with one hand and gently rubbed his back with the other. "It wasn't your fault, Draco. You were raped for Merlin's sake. You were forced against your will because of potions. You did nothing wrong."

Draco looked away from him. "How can you stand looking at me? You'll never want me now. I betrayed you. I'm dirty, polluted. I can still feel her hands on me!"

The Gryffindor tightened his arms when he felt the other try to move away. "I don't believe you betrayed me and I don't think you're polluted." He rubbed the blonde's back soothingly. He tried to think what he could do to convince the other in a way the Veela would accept.

Softly he asked "Where do you still feel her touch, Draco?"

With another sob, the blonde cried "Almost everywhere, my face, chest, arms, back, hips…oh Merlin. I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry." He tried again to move away from his Mate.

Harry moved his hand from the back of Draco's head to his chin and tilted the blonde's face up and met the tear-filled eyes with his own. He gently stroked the blonde's face, covering his forehead, then cheeks, nose and chin, and then lightly ran his fingers over Draco's lips. "It's my hands on your face Draco. Do you feel my touch?"

Harry continued to stroke Draco's face until the blonde relaxed a bit and nodded. "Whose touch do you feel?" he asked as he continued to gently caress.

"Yours" Draco admitted, closing his eyes. "Only mine?" The blonde nodded slowly. "Only yours." Harry continued to stroke the face lightly and then moved down to the blonde's neck, where Bulstrode had left an ugly bite mark, which Poppy had healed. The rawness of the skin showed how hard Draco had scrubbed it.

He moved both hand to the blonde's neck and stroked both sides gently, covering every bit of skin. Over and over he stroked it tenderly. "Whose fingers are touching you now, Draco? Whose touch do you feel?"

Grey eyes opened and lifted to his. "It won't work, Harry. I spoiled everything. It's all ruined."

Harry kept his voice low and soothing as he lightly stroked the other teen's throat. "Nothing is ruined Draco. Do you feel my touch?"

"Yes…" His gray eyes were troubled as his body trembled.

"Is it OK if I touch you or would you prefer that I stop?"

"How can you stand to touch me? I betrayed you!"

"You, Draco Malfoy, did nothing to betray me. You fought both potions and somehow kept that rapist from getting pregnant. I'm so sorry it happened to you Draco, and so amazed that somehow you were able to control your body to such a degree that she didn't get pregnant."

The blonde relaxed infinitesimally. "The Veela in me had just enough control to prevent her from getting pregnant." Harry moved his hand around to Draco's back and rubbed gentle circles. "It's my hand on you, my hand caressing you." He felt a shiver and then the blonde's voice broke. "I still feel her hands and her nails on my back. Merlin, I'm so sorry Harry!"

Harry held the other teen gently as if he was a child. "It's OK to cry, Draco. She violated you and took the choice away from you. May I give you a back rub or would that make you uncomfortable?"

Draco obediently rolled over, surprising Harry until he realized that a Veela will do almost anything for their Mate. "May I put my hands under your pajama top, Draco?"

The blonde shuddered again. "Why would you want to? I'm so dirty!"

The Gryffindor leaned over him and said softly "I do want to, but only with your permission." The blonde nodded hesitantly, and Harry slipped his hands under the silken material. He couldn't reach up to Draco's neck though, and to his surprise, Draco unbuttoned the first few buttons on his top, allowing more room.

Harry began at Draco's neck and shoulders, rubbing his hands gently over every centimeter of skin, then down the back to the waistband of the pajama bottoms and back up. Very slowly, he felt the blonde begin to relax under the gentle ministrations.

He moved from using his palms, to fingers and then gently let his nails glide lightly over the man's back where Bulstrode had raked her own nails. "My hands, Draco, my fingers and my nails. Do you feel me? It's only me touching you. Only me."

The blonde relaxed again. "I feel only you Harry." Then so softly the Gryffindor barely heard, he added "Your touch is perfect."

He rolled the other man over and knelt beside him. Starting at the blonde's shoulders, Harry ran his hands down both arms but then paused. At Draco's immediately fearful look, Harry smiled at him and asked "I don't want to make you uncomfortable Draco, but may I remove your top? It's OK to say no."

The blonde just looked confused. "Why?" Harry rubbed the silk clad arm again. "Because I wanted to make sure it was my scent on you and it's hard through the material."

Draco hesitated momentarily and then drew the top over his head, not bothering to unbutton it. He looked embarrassed, but Harry immediately went back to the other man's neck and stroked it lightly, then continued down the shoulders and ran both hands over one arm and then the other. He moved back to the shoulders and then down the chest, making sure to rub his hands lightly over every bit of exposed skin.

"Who's hands do you feel, Draco?" The other smiled tremulously. "Yours." "And whose scent is on you?" Draco smelled his arms and bent his head towards his chest. He smiled hesitantly up at Harry. "Your scent is on me."

"My scent, my hands, my touch."

"Yours," Draco agreed with a shy smile.

"Are you better now, Draco?"

The blonde hesitated and the guilt began to appear again. Harry moved quickly and held him close, rubbing his back again. "You can tell me, Draco. It's OK."

"You don't want to touch me where she's been. It's disgusting. I'm disgusting. I'm tainted. You'll never want me."

Harry focused on the feelings of friendship he had developed for the other man. He had been forced in a way Harry couldn't imagine; even if he wasn't interested in other men, how could he deny him what he needed to recover? He focused again on Draco.

"Shh, lie down, sia'thurirl." He rolled the other man over on to his stomach, and began again at the other's neck, covering his shoulders and back, this time continuing down past the waist all the while murmuring soothing comments. He rubbed the blonde's hips and gently covered the silk covered buttocks with his hands, kneading lightly. A slight moan came from the other. "Whose hands do you feel, Draco?"

"Oh Merlin…yours…."

Harry continued past the firm buttocks down each leg, covering every centimeter with his hands and rubbing lightly. He reached Draco's bare feet, and rubbed them with a light massage.

"Do you feel any touch other than mine on your back, Draco?"

"No, only you. Your touch feels so good, so right."

"Then roll over, sia'thurirl."

After a moment's hesitation, the Slytherin rolled to his back, looking somewhat embarrassed as a tenting in his pajama bottoms was evidence of his arousal.

Harry began again with the feet, massaging them lightly, and then moved up the calves and thighs. He had given only brief bursts of consideration to physical intimacy with Draco based on some of his readings, but had quickly abandoned that train of thought before now in embarrassment. But he had accepted Draco as a friend and companion, his thurirl and if this is what Draco needed to heal, then so be it.

He kept his eyes on Draco's silver eyes, and moved up from the blonde's thighs to rub his hands over the hips then moved them inward to cover the groin. Draco's eyes closed in pleasure and an inarticulate groan escaped his lips.

"My hands and my touch, Draco. You are a beautiful man and there is nothing unworthy about you."

Draco's eyes snapped open and he searched Harry's eyes for proof of his sincerity. Harry tried to control his anger at the fear still visible in the Veela's face. Bulstrode would pay for doing this to his thurirl. His hands had been spread flat across the other man's groin, but he deliberately moved to cup the blonde's arousal with his hand. "As violated as you were, you are still pure in my eyes Draco." He squeezed lightly to emphasize the point.

The squeeze was all it took for Draco to arch his back, thrusting once into Harry's grasp before releasing abruptly with a moan. For a brief moment Harry felt acute embarrassment, but repeated softly "My hands and my touch, Draco. Remember my hands and my touch, no one else can spoil that." He waited until the spasms stopped and then cast a wandless Scourgify. He moved back up the bed and lay on his back, rubbing the blonde's shoulders gently.

"Sleep Draco. I'm here." At the other's hesitation, Harry tugged him gently. Draco slid over with a contented sigh and laid his head on his Mate's shoulder while Harry wrapped an arm around him. Draco placed his hand on the Gryffindor's chest.

"Harry?"

"Yes Draco?"

"Thank you."

Harry rubbed slow circles on the other's back. "It's all right, sia'thurirl."

"What does that mean? sia'thurirl?"

Harry thought for a moment. "It's a bit hard to translate, but the closest we have is 'my never-ending or constant friend or partner', but it implies a closeness and fellowship that few attain."

The blonde stilled. "You think of me as a close friend…a partner?"

The dark-haired teen continued rubbing soothing circles on the other. "I think that in spite of you being an arrogant clothes-obsessed prat, you are an important part of my life."

He felt Draco's smile against his chest. "Sia'thurirl. I like it."

A few minutes later, Harry felt the smirk on the other's face against his chest. "What?"

"You realize that I'll probably wank to the memory of you touching me like that from now on, don't you?"

Harry snorted. "Prat." He squeezed fondly him regardless. "Go to sleep, Draco."

The blonde snuggled closer. "All right, Harry."


Ghergo'ir = Young one

Nafldask = Grandmother

Lowaar = Indwellers

Sia'thurirl = My never-ending friend/partner