b3yondimaginations - haha, I searched on Google after seeing your review, and you're right. Mine was the only Draco/Charlus story. First! :P

Belldandy55555 - I'd heard it before and the Harry Potter Wiki (pretty much) confirmed the idea that James wasn't the son of Charlus and Dorea. It's more likely that they were cousins.

Thanks to all reviewers.

CHAPTER FOUR

Potter Manor was nearly as fine as the Malfoy Manor where Draco had spent his childhood. He could barely remember those halcyon days - all the misery he'd experienced crowded out the rational portion of his brain - and all he had was the now. And right now he took one look at the large bed with the fine sheets on it and burst into tears.

Charlus had given him a room of his own and promised new clothes, and it felt as if something had broken loose in Draco's chest.

It had been so long since the world had been anything approaching normal. So to look at a bed and know he would be allowed to sleep on it... He was only vaguely embarrassed by his uncontrollable weeping. Mostly he just felt incredibly grateful, as though he were being given more than he deserved.

What had he ever done that he deserved a second chance at happiness?

"Oh, please don't cry." Charlus wrapped a strong arm around Draco's shoulder and drew him close.

Draco huffed a laugh. "Do you think I would be if I had any kind of emotional control? I don't even know why it started in the first place, so how am I to tell it to stop?"

Charlus made wordless crooning sounds that Draco supposed were meant to be soothing. Really, it was the warm presence of the soulmate bond that kept him from flying apart. He could feel it thrumming warm beneath his skin, promising that he would never have to be alone ever again. And some foolish part of him wanted to believe that everything would be better.

All he had to do was hold on and be strong, and someday happiness would creep back into him. The empty places would be filled and he would be able to smile again without feeling as though it were about to crack his face.

"Have I offended you somehow?" Charlus asked, holding him only far enough away to see Draco's expression. "I thought that you might like to have a place of your own, at least until we get to know each other better."

Draco fumbled with clumsy fingers to drag the handkerchief out of Charlus' front pocket. He mopped at his face, appalled by the amount of wetness seeping out everywhere. His cheeks had probably gone all red and blotchy.

"I don't know why I'm crying," Draco admitted. "The room is lovely and you were incredibly thoughtful to think of it. I just..." He shook his head. "I suppose I'm still in some kind of shock or something. It's very nice to be out of hospital."

Charlus was still giving him that tragic eyed look, as though he wanted to bundle him up and hide him away somewhere. "Perhaps you should rest," he gently led Draco toward the big bed, "I can send a house elf to wake you in time for dinner."

Draco wanted to object that he wasn't tired, he'd just gotten out of the hospital after all, but the sight of the bed was calling to him. He couldn't help wondering if it was as comfortable as it looked.

He reached out to trace his fingers over the delicate threadwork on the coverlet and the edges of the pillowcase. Someone had been thoughtful enough to provide magical wishes of sweet dreaming and safety. He would have protection as he slept; the nightmares would all be chased away before they could even start.

Wordlessly, Draco climbed up the two short steps onto the big bed. He laid on top, not ready to commit to covers, and it was so amazingly comfortable his eyes fell shut unprompted.

He hadn't even realized how exhausted he was.

Dimly, there was the feel of a kiss pressed against his cheek, then Charlus' sweet breath as he whispered, "Only good dreams."

There must have been magic in the wish, because the nightmares that had haunted Draco for years stayed away.

* . * . *

Even knowing that Draco had been abused in a most horrible manner, Charlus had to clench his fists hard at his sides as he strode away from the guest room.

The sight of Draco's tears had affected him more than he'd imagined and he wished desperately that there was someone for him to punish. But from what Healer Merryweather had explained, Draco's grasp on who had attacked him was rather shaky.

There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Draco had been targeted by the Dark Lord. Other than that, Draco's accounting of events was confused and made no sense. Healer Merryweather said it was the result of Confundus charms and improperly performed memory charms. It was only luck that Draco had survived all that had been done to him and with his mind intact.

The thought that Draco could have died before Charlus had ever met him was a disturbing one. The kind of thing practically guaranteed to keep him up nights brooding.

Charlus went down the stairs and headed to his father's study. He figured a glass of fire whiskey might clear his mind.

He still felt restless, his thoughts disturbed, though the warm burn in his stomach was somewhat soothing. Charlus flung himself backward in an armchair and cradled his glass in his hands. He stared down into the amber depths.

Things had not gone as smoothly as he'd led Draco to believe. Sweet reasonable Dorea had become a raging harridan when informed of the divorce, but there had been nothing she could do about it. Their Marriage Contract had been magically binding.

He did feel guilt about separating a mother from her newborn baby, but she had raised such a fuss that Nigel had put his foot down. There was no way the Potter heir would be in contact with such a corrupting influence, and never mind that Dorea was Hadrian's mother.

She had seemed an inch away from declaring a blood feud between their families. Her father had nearly dragged her from the room, his eyes blazing with a rage that only the honor of the Black family had him restraining.

Charlus had been sure they would be cursed, but his father had thought ahead. There had been two aurors in the meeting room, their wands open in their hands. The whole scene had been terrible and Charlus thought he would regret Dorea Black for all the days of his life.

He knew he'd seriously wronged her. But the bond connecting him to Draco was above all that and Charlus knew he would have done much worse to be able to keep Draco. Divorce was such a minor thing in comparison.

He drained the last of his fire whiskey and rose to pour another. He wondered when he should introduce Draco to Hadrian. The baby was in the nursery under the care of Jinxy, his house elf nanny. He would grow up wanting for nothing, just as Charlus had promised.

And Charlus would keep the vow he'd made in his heart and ensure that Draco was happy as well.

Draco had been hurt too much. Charlus would protect him from experiencing anymore.

* . * . *

It felt strange to Draco to wake up so refreshed. It seemed as though he'd been carrying invisible weights forever. Every time he turned around, his emotional burden would get heavier until finally he barely felt safe to breathe.

Sleeping on that luxurious bed in Potter Manor had allowed him to rest without dreaming. He felt safe with the knowledge that Charlus was nearby.

He gave the house elf that had wakened him a brisk nod and climbed out of bed. He walked to the bathroom to relieve himself and to straighten out his appearance.

There was a jolt of shock when he saw himself in the mirror until he remembered that his appearance had been changed. He had the phenomenal, inhuman beauty of a veela now. His hair was more lustrous, his eyes seeming larger and somehow mesmerizing, and his skin had a faint sheen to it.

He wasn't human anymore and it was something he would just have to get used to. As soon as he stopped flinching away from his own reflection.

"Stop being a coward," he ordered himself before stripping off his clothes and stepping into the large mosaic tiled shower. The water started itself, magically tuned to the perfect temperature.

He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the spray.

His world had been changed. He would deal with it.

.

When Charlus came for him, Draco was dressed and waiting. He may have been wearing borrowed robes, but with a few spells he'd learned from his fashion conscious mother he looked as though he'd been fitted by a proper tailor. From the lingering look Charlus gave him, he knew he'd done a more than respectable job.

"If you'll come with me, I will take you to dinner." Charlus held out his hand, his expression almost painfully sincere. Draco could see that he meant to take their relationship seriously.

It allowed some nervous part of him to relax and he was able to reach out and take Charlus' hand. There was a spark of awareness that jumped between their fingers and he couldn't help a faint laugh.

Charlus' expression was soft. "Come. You must be starving."

"Only a little," Draco said. He followed after Charlus down the winding staircase to the dining room.

He did pull Charlus to a halt outside the door. "Is anyone going to join us?" He dreaded the thought of people all around him, but he knew he'd be able fake it if he had some warning.

Charlus looked surprised for a second, then painfully understanding. Draco didn't think he could handle any kind of pity. Not now and perhaps never.

"It's just the two of us tonight," Charlus said. And that was all.

Draco followed him into the dining room where only two place settings were waiting. There was no sign of anyone else, only the house elf in the crisp Potter uniform jacket standing by.

Draco was able to breathe again. Though he couldn't help a little self-recrimination for his weakness, he forced all that away.

He needed to be pleasant company for Charlus. He wouldn't allow himself to be anything else.

While in hospital he'd had time to consider where he was supposed to go when he was let out, and no real answer had presented itself. He was alone in this world with no money or proof of his identity. There had been some thought of finding his relatives, but Draco had already realized the futility before anyone had even said a word.

He hadn't been surprised when the rejection letter had come from some long-named solicitor. Though no one from the family had personally seen him, the Malfoys of this era had already rejected him. He had unclean creature blood that wasn't generations removed - the family head had disinherited him the minute he'd been informed.

Draco couldn't blame the Malfoys. If he could have, he would have broken off contact with himself.

"You look as though you are pondering weighty subjects." Charlus raised a questioning brow.

"Nothing very important," Draco said in what he hoped was a smooth tone. "I feel much better after my nap. I didn't realize how tired I was until I lay down."

Charlus didn't quite fiddle with his silverware, but that was mostly due to strict manners. "As your soulmate, it is my duty and my pleasure to care for you." He leaned forward intently, his brown eyes locking with Draco's. "Please let me lavish you with attention. I wish to care for you as you deserve."

Draco could feel his cheeks heating and he didn't even think to break Charlus' gaze.

A soulmate bond was ridiculously powerful. Draco had never considered it before, but now that he was feeling it... He finally understood all of the fairy stories he'd once scoffed at.

He felt connected to Charlus. Tied to him so strongly that he couldn't see any way to escape. And didn't want to anyway.

Charlus made him feel safe. Just being able to look at him gave Draco the hope that everything was going to be all right. He just had to hold on.

* . * . *

He didn't know what he was supposed to say to this stranger that was the other half of him. It was new and awkward and Draco was so beautiful Charlus found his mouth going dry.

"Do you mind that you will be living here?" He didn't add the 'With me,' though he wondered.

Draco lifted his glass and sipped his sparkling water - there was to be no wine until Healer Merryweather proclaimed him healthy enough to no longer require potions. "I'm grateful to be here. If you hadn't opened up your home... I don't know where I would have gone."

"You certainly wouldn't have ended up on the street," Charlus said. He wouldn't have allowed it. Not for a single moment.

"Thank you."

What could have been an uncomfortable silence was broken by the arrival of house elves with the next course.

The food was delicious and offered them something to talk about. Mostly Charlus watched Draco and tried to ignore the way his heart expanded in his chest, trying to choke him with the wonder and joy.

"You will have to meet Hadrian," Charlus said. "He is in the nursery with his nanny."

"Har... Hadrian?" Draco asked.

"Yes, my son and heir. He is only a week old now." Charlus smiled fondly, thinking of the tiny pink baby.

"You have a new baby, yet you've divorced your wife for me?"

"There wasn't much choice. I offered to remain married, but Dorea has that Black pride and demanded all ties be severed." Charlus shook his head. "As the Potter heir, she won't be allowed contact with Hadrian to keep her from polluting his upbringing. It was her choice."

"I've ruined your life. I never should have come here," Draco said.

"No," Charlus stated firmly. "Before I met you I don't rightly think that I existed at all. You've ruined nothing and brought me happiness. As you are grateful to be in this house, I am doubly, triply grateful to have you in my life."

There was a delightful pink blush to Draco's cheeks and his pleasure was obvious.