Chapter 23 – The Veela Council Steps In (or Never Anger a Malfoy)

Lucius and Severus approached Voldemort as he sat in his throne on the dais. Several others of the Inner Circle were already standing silently in attendance. The two newly arrived Death Eaters each bent to one knee and bowed their heads.

Voldemort allowed them to stay in that position for several long minutes before he finally said "Lucius, Severus, rise." He waited until they gracefully stood and then asked "What news do you bring me this evening?"

Lucius took a step forward. "My Lord, I am pleased to let you know that Harry Potter has accepted the bond with my son. We are another step closer to turning him to your service."

The serpent face of the Dark Lord considered the news. "How powerful was the bond? Was it felt by anyone else?"

The blonde inclined his head respectfully. "I believe it was felt throughout the castle, my Lord."

Voldemort frowned and looked at the Potions Master. "Can you confirm this, Severus?"

The tall taciturn man nodded once. "I can, My Lord. I was down in the dungeon and felt it from there."

The pale figured leaned back in his chair considering. He fixed Lucius with a sharp glance and his red eyes bored into the other man. "This is much faster than you anticipated, is it not Lucius? What precipitated the bonding?"

Lucius inclined his head and tried to keep his voice level rather than let the rage he felt be recognized. "My son and Harry Potter were both injured in a Quidditch match. While they were unconscious, Millicent Bulstrode kidnapped my son, dosed him with a lust potion and herself with a fertility potion in an effort to break the bond to Potter and force one on a newly conceived child."

Voldemort's eyes narrowed and he snapped his fingers. Peter Pettigrew stumbled up to the throne and knelt. His master grabbed his arm and threw back the sleeve to reveal the dark mark. He pressed his wand against it and Pettigrew hissed in discomfort. Voldemort threw the arm away from him and kicked at the kneeling figure, who scrambled quickly to avoid the blow.

"Continue Lucius" he hissed. "I am most interested in the story."

"While the girl did succeed in forcing my son to couple, she did not become pregnant. However, we feared for his life and his sanity as his bond to Potter had not been accepted. It was possible that this action could so disgust the Potter brat that he would choose to reject my son. Fortunately, Potter's Gryffindor nature won out and after saving my son's life, he accepted the bond."

A figure came hurrying into the room and quickly knelt trembling before the throne. "My Lord, you summoned me?" asked Terrance Bulstrode.

"Yes, my servant. You are my servant are you not, Bulstrode?"

"Of course, My Lord! I was just inventorying the storehouse as you requested…"

"Silence" the cold voice hissed. "Tell me servant, why if I commanded that Harry Potter be untouched until I said otherwise did a member of your family seek to interfere with his bond with the Malfoy heir?"

Bulstrode's head snapped up in horror to meet cold red eyes. The Dark Lord continued "You did tell your family and servants that he was to be untouched, did you not?"

The man's face paled as he stuttered "I…I…did not think…did not realize…"

"Crucio!" hissed Voldemort. "You did not think? I gave all of my servants' specific instructions. All you needed to do was relay my commands. Instead, your spawn nearly destroyed my plans." The voice was cold as the man writhed in agony on the floor. After a long minute, his master released the spell only to cast "Petrificus Totalus".

He ignored the immobile man on the stone floor and returned his attention to Lucius. "So Potter's sense of honor ignored what occurred and he formed the bond. Very good." He leaned back in his chair and considered, while his Death Eaters remained respectfully silent. Finally his red eyes returned to Lucius. "I believe the speed of the plan can be moved up, Lucius. If Potter has already accepted the bond, turning him should be easier than ever. You have until the New Year." Before Lucius could make a case for the original timeline, the Dark Lord continued "Do not disappoint me. You see what happens to those who disappoint me." He indicated the figure on the floor. "He is yours to do with as you choose for the damage to your heir."

"You are very generous, My Lord" Lucius said respectfully. He waved his wand over the immobilized figure and cast "Mobilicorpus". He and Severus bowed deeply and at a wave of dismissal from Voldemort's hand, they left with the immobile Bulstrode behind them.

Two hallways later, Lucius moved into an empty room with the captive and the Potions Master. "I had planned to financially cripple your family after the unprovoked assault on my son" Lucius disclosed in a glacial voice to Bulstrode. The man's eyes widened while the rest of his body was immobilized. "Our Master expects me to torture and kill you as a warning to others to obey his commands. What do you think Severus?

Severus tilted his head as if observing a recalcitrant student as he considered Bulstrode. "He was most certainly displeased with the child of a servant disobeying his direct command. One would not want that displeasure transferred to oneself, Lucius. It might be more expedient to simply behead him and send the corpse to his widow."

Terror was clearly evident in the eyes of the powerless and bound figure on the floor. Lucius smiled coldly and the captive's fright increased at the icy look on the blonde's face. His voice was smooth and horrifying in its silkiness. "I have another idea."


Albus Dumbledore stood next to Fawkes, stroking the phoenix lightly and listening to his croon. He always believed in giving second and even third chances to people. Who knew when someone could be guided back to the light and become a valuable member of society? Fawkes crooned again and the Headmaster sighed.

"Have I become so isolated, so focused on my own activities that I missed recognizing when children became capable of such heinous crimes, Fawkes?" The phoenix's song was soothing, but didn't answer the hard questions the elderly wizard had to ask himself.

The wards at the gargoyle announced his ten o'clock appointment and with a heavy sigh, the Headmaster permitted them through the wards to his office.

"Come in" he called once he knew they were at the head of the stairs, but before they could knock. The door opened and two figures came in, dressed in hooded grey cloaks with insignias of the Veela Council on the shoulders.

Each person dropped the hood, revealing a middle-aged man and woman who bowed slightly. They were each tall, slender, blonde and extremely attractive. The woman spoke in a melodious yet authoritative tone. "Headmaster Dumbledore, I am Agent Marie-Élise Duprey and this is my Mate, Agent Étienne Duprey. We are here as investigators for the Veela Council in response to the complaint filed on behalf of Lord Draco Malfoy-Black."

The elderly wizard inclined his head. "Thank you for coming so quickly. Please take a seat." He waited for the couple to be seated in front of him. "I'm sorry to have to welcome you to Hogwarts under such unpleasant circumstances" he began.

The woman leaned forward. "Please Headmaster, let us dispense with the… quel est le mot…niceties. We need to interview Lord Malfoy-Black, his Chosen Mr. Harry Potter, and then Miss Millicent Bulstrode, Madame Poppy Pomfrey, Professor Severus Snape and yourself. We would also like to speak with a house elf, who I understand is the one who actually found Lord Malfoy-Black and Miss Bulstrode."

The Headmaster nodded gravely. "I can arrange a private room for you to conduct interviews. We separated Miss Bulstrode from the other students and are holding her in guest quarters."

The woman nodded. "A private room will be adequate, although we would like to interview Lord Malfoy-Black in his private quarters. You understand we will be enacting privacy wards during the interviews, non?"

Dumbledore sighed and nodded his acceptance of the terms.

"Bon. Now, let us start with you Headmaster." Agent Étienne Duprey took out parchment and a recording quill in preparation for the interview.


A knock on the door sounded at precisely eleven o'clock, interrupting Harry's nervous drumming of his fingers on his leg. Draco was in the other room, so he strode quickly to the door and opened it.

"Good morning. We are Agents Marie-Élise and Étienne Duprey, investigators for the Veela CounciI. I believe you are expecting us?"

Harry opened the door further and waved them into the room. "Please come in. I am Harry Potter. Let me call Draco." Almost before the words were out of his mouth, Draco strode out of his room and quickly crossed to the threesome. With one quick move he pushed Harry behind him and a low growl rose in his throat as he glared at the newcomers. The Gryffindor stared at him in shock.

With an understanding smile, the two Agents inclined their heads and stepped backwards until the growling stopped. "Our apologies Lord Malfoy-Black. We had no intention to increase the strain of the past few days."

Harry's eyes swept back and forth between Draco and the investigators. Once they were several yards away, the tension eased out of the over-protective Veela. In a guarded tone he said "Are you OK, Harry?"

Harry looked at the deferential investigators and Draco's protective stance. "Yes…" he said in some confusion. "Perhaps we can be seated?"

Draco nodded curtly and stayed between the investigators and his Mate until Harry was seated, then joined him, sitting on the arm of the chair, a hand possessively on Harry's shoulder. The investigators stepped forward until Draco's form tensed again and they stopped. With an understanding nod Agent Marie-Élise Duprey said "We didn't realize you were newly bonded. The complaint was that the attacker attempted to prevent the bonding." Seeing the confusion in Harry's face, she continued "Until your bond is settled, your Mate will not permit strangers or those he believes to be untrustworthy to be within physical attacking distance."

Harry looked up at Draco and raised an eyebrow only to hide a grin when Draco growled low in his throat. He was surprised to realize he could feel waves of possessiveness and jealousy. "As the bond settles, you will be able to sense one another's feelings more intimately" Ydraith reminded him. The Gryffindor focused on sending calming feelings back down the bond and was rewarded with a slight easing in Draco's posture.

The male agent shared a look with the woman and then said quietly "We are a bonded couple ourselves, Lord Malfoy-Black. We are no threat to your Mate, but understand the feelings you are experiencing. We usually interview couples separately…" he held up a hand as Draco tensed and his eyes narrowed. "However, we understand that is not acceptable before the bond settles. I assume you would find a privacy ward around your Mate while we talk objectionable?" At the curt nod, the Agent continued "Then we only ask that each of you remain quiet while we talk to the other."

Agent Marie-Élise Duprey nodded to her Mate and he took out parchment and a recording quill. "Agents Marie-Élise and Étienne Duprey preparing to interview Lord Draco Malfoy-Black and Mr. Harry Potter in their quarters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Agent Étienne Duprey has initiated the interview recording."

The quill scratched on the parchment and his Mate reviewed it. "Agent Marie-Élise Duprey confirms the quill is recording accurately."

The woman looked at Draco. "Would you tell us in your words what happened this past Saturday, Lord Malfoy-Black?"

Draco took a deep breath. "Harry and I were in a House Quidditch match. We were injured and brought to the school infirmary. After Madame Pomfrey healed Harry's concussion, she healed my dislocated shoulder and then gave me a sleeping potion. The next thing I remember is being awakened to take more potions; I assumed it was Madame Pomfrey." His hand tightened on Harry's shoulder and Harry raised his left hand and began rubbing Draco's back soothingly.

"I began feeling disoriented as if my mind was almost disassociated from my body. It was as if I was watching my body react to Millicent Bulstrode. She stripped me and then herself and joined me in a bed. I didn't recognize the location, but I seemed to become more and more focused on…her. Somewhere in my mind I was screaming "No, don't touch me, leave me alone" but my body kept responding to her. At some point I realized she said something about a fertility potion and the Veela awoke…we were already…coupling…" His voice broke for a moment and Harry continued rubbing his back, sending soothing thoughts of comfort and support over the bond.

"I was able to neutralize the seed she stole from me, but my body still wanted her…It was as if there were two of me. One wanting to couple like an animal and one screaming to stop, not to betray my Mate." He took a deep breath, the pain in his voice poignantly evident. "Finally, my house elf arrived. He separated us and took me back to the infirmary and Madame Pomfrey gave me dreamless sleep."

In a gentle voice, the female agent prompted "And when the potions wore off?"

Draco closed his eyes at the memory. "When I woke up, I was back in my quarters and Harry was there. My mind was my own again and all I could think of was how ashamed I was, how disgusting, how much my Mate would despise me…" He turned his face away from Harry, who continued to rub the Veela's back and then reached over to grasp the blonde's hand. "I tried to scrub her scent and the memory of her hands off me….but it wouldn't come off. I don't know how long I tried. When I came out, Harry was still waiting. I was certain that he would reject me and I wouldn't have blamed him. I wanted to die."

The Veela turned back and looked into his Mate's emerald eyes. "I underestimated him though." He reached a hand up and caressed Harry's cheek. "He stood by me and didn't blame me." A smile began to cross his face. "He accepted my bond the next day."

After a few moments of silence, Agent Duprey said "Thank you, Lord Malfoy-Black. Is there anything you would like to add to your testimony?"

The blonde shook his head, continuing to stare at his Mate with near reverence.

"Mr. Potter, would you please tell us what happened from your perspective?"

Harry withdrew from the devoted gaze of his bond mate and looked at the two inspectors. With a deep breath he started "As Draco said, we were injured in the Quidditch game. When I regained consciousness, our friends told me that Draco was missing and no one knew where he was. They locked down the school and began a search. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor Snape came into the Infirmary and Snape said Millicent Bulstrode was also missing. She had been sniping at me ever since Draco Chose me as his True Mate. I thought she was out for revenge as her father had offered her to Draco in a marriage contract. I suggested they have the house elves search and then asked if Dobby would be able to track Draco better as a "former" member of the Malfoy household. He popped out and then Draco's parents arrived. Almost immediately Dobby returned…I think he had to knock Draco out because of the potions in order to bring him back." He felt Draco's hand on his shoulder squeeze gently.

"Professor Snape had Dobby retrieve Bulstrode and as soon as she saw me, she smirked and said she had taken fertility potions to ensure she became pregnant. She said Draco would bond with their baby and marry her. Snape told her she committed four or five crimes, but she seemed rather delusional and didn't think she had really done anything wrong. When Mr. Malfoy accused her of raping his son, she said he was begging for it." Draco's hand tightened on his shoulder, and a quick glance at the blonde's face revealed it was tight with pain. He lifted his own hand to cover the one on his shoulder. "Even though she admitted to giving him potions, she appeared convinced she would be the next Madame Malfoy. When Madame Pomfrey examined her and found she wasn't pregnant, she became hysterical and was dosed with a sleeping draught."

"Did you blame your Mate for his actions, Mr. Potter?"

Harry was appalled. "Of course not! He was drugged and forced!" He couldn't help glaring at the woman for the question.

The male agent asked "How would you describe his behavior and state of mind when he woke up?"

Harry glanced at Draco, not wanting to betray the other teen's privacy. He reluctantly said "He was devastated. He kept apologizing and was frantic with what he perceived as a betrayal of me. It took a while to convince him otherwise." A wave of affection and desire flowed through the bond and Harry felt his cheeks starting to burn.

After a few moments of silence while Agent Duprey restrained his amusement at the blushing Mate, he said "Thank you, Mr. Potter. Is there anything you would like to add to your testimony?"

Harry's voice was cold. "I want the harshest penalty possible. Death would be too kind. She nearly destroyed Draco with her actions and the penalty should reflect that."

The woman spoke up and her voice was as chilling as Harry's. "Don't worry, Mr. Potter. The Veela Council deals severely with anyone attempting to interfere with a bond. The punishment will correspond to the crime." She inclined her head to them as did her Mate. "We will leave you now and apologize again for our intrusion. We would never have trespassed on a newly bonded couple if the need hadn't been so great."

Harry stood to see them out and was amused when Draco again stood in front of him, preventing him from getting too close to the departing inspectors. After the door closed, Draco turned to face him. Harry chuckled and said "They weren't going to molest me, you know."

The blonde just enveloped him in an embrace, holding his Mate close. "The Veela is a bit protective right now. But I'm sorry you had to go through that Harry, both originally and then reliving it now."

The Gryffindor felt the slight trembling in his bond mate's frame and brought his own arms up in a hug, recognizing the need in the Veela. "It's OK, sia'thurirl. From what the books said, once the bond settles you won't feel so defensive around others."

Draco laid his head on his Mate's shoulder, relishing the closeness. He turned his face in to Harry's neck to inhale his scent, fresh air after a rain and sweet grass and vanilla and Harry.

"I did shower this morning" Harry chuckled in amusement as he realized that Draco was smelling him.

"Should have invited me to scrub your back" Draco murmured inhaling again.


Voldemort was curious with the box and note he received from Lucius Malfoy. After the normal security check to confirm there were no spells associated with the later, he opened it and began reading.

"My Lord,

Thank you again for permitting me to discipline your servant, Bulstrode. Rather than remove a repentant vassal from your service, I simply removed the source of his flawed decisions.

Respectfully Yours,

Lucius Malfoy

He wondered what Lucius was up to this time. The box wasn't large enough for a head. Perhaps he had cut out the man's heart? But that would remove Bulstrode from service. He opened up the box and withdrew the glass jar it contained. His thin lips curved upwards in sadistic amusement at what was revealed and those present shuddered at their Lord's ruthless expression.

With a wave of his wand, a pedestal was conjured next to this throne and Voldemort carefully placed the glass jar on display. A glance around the room showed that the few Death Eaters in attendance were covertly looking at the display with interest wondering why it was exhibited.

Malicious humor was evident in his tone as Voldemort declared "Lucius has such a delicious wit. I suppose the loss of his bollocks will help keep Bulstrode in line as well as ensure he spawns no other insubordinate whelps." The shock and instinctive movements of the men present to protect their own bits entertained the Dark Lord for several hours and reinforced Lucius Malfoy's reputation as someone not to be crossed.


Sia'Thurirl = My constant companion/partner