My Dear Volaticus

by kittenvks

Disclaimer: I own nothing

warnings: HPDM, slash, yaoi, homosexuality. Don't like it? Don't read it. Flamers to the left.

Chapter Eight: Misunderstandings

When Harry finally slid through the Potions door, he was still fifteen minutes early. No one wanted to be late to Snape's class though, so it was mostly full. Glancing up at the board he realized that Snape had asked them to pair up for a project. He scowled and turned to see who was available. Of course, Seamus and Nott. Hermione and Ron were sitting together, which was for the best. Ron's grades were too low not too and Blaise had taken a seat next to Draco and was currently staring at him, though Draco was blatantly not. Harry seriously considered turning to run and just taking a zero for the day. Blaise cleared his throat, saying something quietly to Draco before gathering his things and moving to sit next to Nott, who was not happy about this development. Draco's head shot up, watching his fellow Slytherins in confusion. Then he saw Harry and quickly turned his head back, glaring heatedly at his book.

Sighing, Harry plopped down next to the blonde, sending Blaise a greatful look. He just nodded curtly back, one quick movement, his dark dreadlocks barely swaying, before looking down at his own book. The looks on Ron and Hermione's faces were of relief. Seamus seemed irritated. Though Harry found that he much felt the same way his friends did, at least Draco hadn't tried to mollest him... yet. Harry glanced over at the blonde who was blatantly still ignoring him. They were in the back of the class, which was unusual for Draco as he normally chose to sit up front. Glancing up, Harry realized no one was looking at him now, Neville rushing in having drawn away their attention.

Now that he wasn't being scrutinized Harry felt a bit more relaxed and felt bad for his Slytherin friend. He really thought Harry had chosen Seamus, when in fact, Harry had been rather turned off. It was obviously bothering him. He had ignored Ron blatantly since they'd become friends, and occassionally Hermione but never Harry. Realizing that this was where their friendship had gone so soon Harry felt even worse. He couldn't help but to remember the kisses they had shared. Draco had not once forced himself onto Harry. He glanced over at Draco who was now staring at the floor, only occassionally shooting glares at the oblivious Blaise. Harry's heart sped up a bit at this, realizing he'd made him so miserable. Just by thinking that he'd chosen Seamus.

Slowly, Harry reached out under the table to grab Draco's hand, squeezing it gently. Draco stiffened for a brief moment before relaxing and giving Harry an incredulous and questioning look.

"I didn't choose Seamus. I haven't chosen anyone, you misunderstood. That was my fault, and I'm sorry," Harry whispered, not letting go of the blonde's hand. Draco's eyes squinted just a bit, for only a moment or two before he relaxed and squeezed Harry's hand back, grinning.

"I'd like to see you again, tonight, I'd like to talk about this," Draco whispered back, shrugging.

"It's been an insane day, Draco, I will probably just want to go to bed when it's over. Can we do it tomorrow?" Harry asked, meeting the concerned mercury gaze with his own. Draco looked a bit disappointed but nodded.

"Tomorrow, mon ami." he whispered, turning to face the front of the class as Snape wooshed in, looking irritated. He softened a bit seeing Draco, and instructed them to turn to a specific page and begin working on the Wolfsbane potion. Class was almost over but Harry and Draco were doing well, chatting amicably about the uses of the potion when another catastophe struck. Harry wasn't sure what had happened but he'd heard Blaise yell at Draco right before a loud explosion, pieces of cauldron flying everywhere. This seemed to cause a chain reaction, and one after the other, cauldrons began exploding. The room filled with a dense, bitter smoke before Harry could think. Snape was yelling to follow the light of his wand and to stay down, to crawl out. They had to get out.

Harry hit the floor, crawling under the desk- still unable to see anything. A piece of cauldron flew and hit the wall behind him with a crash. Harry spun around and then cursed. Now he was confused, unsure of which way to go. People's voices were echoing, yelling, and the explosions were drowning out any useful information. He could hear Hermione and Ron calling for him, but he couldn't tell in which direction. He was too far back to see Snape's wand. Reaching out, Harry felt around for Draco, but couldn't find the blonde either. Snape was screaming at student's to carry the wounded away and Blaise was yelling for Draco. At least, Harry thought it was Blaise. He was arguing with Snape about whether he was or was not going back in. Snarling surrounded him and Harry was suddenly frightened. He realized that he was alone and in close vecinity to one of the Volaticus, though he didn't know which one. Someone growled nearby. Okay, so there were two. At least now the explosions had stopped. Harry began crawling, hoping not to touch anyone seriously wounded.

Then he felt it, feathers. Soft feathers, enveloping him as he was being pulled along the floor led in the direction that he hoped was the door out. Hermione, Blaise and Ron were now all arguing with Snape about going back in. Seamus' voice was heard, closer to them and Snape was telling him to go to the infirmary. A few more feet and Harry saw Snape's glowing wand. He felt relieved and turned into the smoke, smiling though he knew no one could see him,

"thank you, Draco!" he called back in the direction of the feathers. There was another snarl and Harry was being shoved up past the smoke and into the hallway. It wasn't Draco but Nott. Nott had led him through the smoke. And now he was very unhappy with Harry,

"What did you just call me, pet?" he hissed, having shoved Harry hard into the stone. Ron was rushing toward them, Snape was brandishing his wand with Hermione and Blaise was tackling Ron, pulling him away. Why would he do that? Harry registered, the world spinning, from having hit his head too hard on the stone. Hermione was screaming, pleading. Harry couldn't see anything much besides that, Nott's wings were blocking everyone out. They were sharp and hard as a steel blade, and red as blood. Harry struggled, kicking the Volaticus as hard as he could. Snape was trying to get into a position to stop them without getting killed or hitting Harry. "I want my kiss. I can smell that filthy idiot on your breath, I know you've kissed him. I spent a lot of money on those gifts, and you just burned them. You broke my heart Harry, I just wanted you to rescue *me*, notice *me*."

"I didn't want them and I'm sure as hell not kissing you!" Harry roared, headbutting the taller man hard in the nose, blood spurting everywhere with a satisfying crunch. Ron and Blaise cheered and then, in a flash of dark gray and black, Draco was there. He was snarling, wings held out defensively and dragging Nott away from Harry, teeth barred. His wings beat furiously, glistening with how stiff they'd become. All Harry could see in the mess was Snape raising his wand and he rushed forward, diving onto Draco and falling backwards with him with a yelp,

"Draco! No!"

The blonde's wings wrapped around Harry, protectively and Draco grabbed onto him, holding him against his chest and still snarling at Nott who was now in a total body bind, being drug from the classroom. Blaise and Ron were cheering where Hermione was using a string of expletives, flung at Nott, that Harry had never heard her use. Harry was done. No more. He pulled back, fixing the taller Volaticus with his fiercest glare, "you can't just go around trying to kill people, Draco!"

Draco scowled, his wings pulling back to disappear.

"He was trying to hurt you!" he snapped back, his head held up defiantly. Hermione and Blaise were pulling on them now, dragging them from the still smoking room.

"You were just acting on instinct, what if he'd hurt you?" Harry snapped back, pointing his finger at Draco's face. He saw the flash of rage in the silver orbs but didn't care. "That was just stupid, Draco!"

"FINE! I don't care! Do what you want!" He yelled back, turning and stomping off. Harry seethed with anger while Nott actually seemed to look proud of himself, even though he couldn't move.

"Harry!" Hermione scolded, "you can't say stuff like that!" she cried. Ron just watched Draco go, wand pointed in a threatening manner at Nott. Blaise sighed in exasperation, shooting Harry a vicious glare before chasing after his friend.

"I DO NOT CARE! I'm done. DONE Hermione! I'm not doing this any more!" Harry yelled, stomping off himself.

"Let him go," Ron said, holding out his hand to stop her but not taking his eyes off Nott. Snape while Snape checked the classroom for any still active cauldrons.

"B-but Ron, he can't say that. It's a sign of wanting Nott, and we both know that's not what he wants!" Hermione replied, throwing her arms up hopelessly. Ron scowled down at the Slytherin, kneeling to stare him in the eye,

"You hear that? He doesn't want you. I am fully capable of killing you, you worthless trash. I should for what you called 'Mione. I really should. I'm satisfied in knowing that you'll suffer. Because Harry doesn't want *you*, he never did."

Harry collapsed in the grass by Hagrid's hut, having just avoided everyone and gritted his teeth through Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. He was done for the day and hungry, but he wouldn't go inside unless he had to. He'd barely missed having to deal with Hermione and Ron four times already and Seamus was trying to follow him. Double Potions was the only class they had with the Slytherins that day, so Blaise and Draco were easily avoided. He'd heard a rumor that Nott was to be expelled the next day and he'd hoped it was true. He just layed there, staring up at the sky. He missed Remus and Sirius, wanted them to be there and explain all the chaos. Then he remembered, he was supposed to be talking to Lucius. Losing one's fortune seemed a bit important and he growled, realizing he'd have to go inside. Well, it was beginning to get a bit dark anyway.

Harry slipped carefully through the castle, grabbing the Marauder's Map and checking for Lucius Malfoy. He was, of course, in his rooms which were now passworded. Harry didn't know the password but had heard that Lucius had silenced the room so that he couldn't hear any "insufferable teenagers", and be in peace. If he wanted to talk to Lucius he would either need the password, or Draco. Scowling, Harry looked for the blonde. He was in the Great Hall. Wonderful. So was everyone else that Harry didn't want to talk to. However, Nott was in the dungeons- that was kind of a break, right? Harry scowled at this thought as he shoved the map in his bag and stormed into the Great Hall, walking straight up to Draco who was chatting with Blaise. The Gryffindors tried to stop him and talk to him, especially Hermione and Seamus, but had been ignored. Seamus had rushed from the room, looking to be in tears. Harry didn't care. He would do what Sirius asked him to, because his godfather was what was important right now.

Draco fixed him with a brief glare, turning away from Blaise,

"What do you want?" he snapped, leaning back. Pansy sniffed, leaning onto Draco's shoulder and glaring at Harry.

"Sod off Potter," she hissed. Draco winced but ignored her and Blaise just pretended that nothing was going on, staring blatantly at his plate.

"You sod off, Parkinson, you useless twat," Harry snapped, causing her to jerk back- shocked, "Draco, I need to speak with Lucius. It's important."

"For what?" Draco asked, looking on in disbelief.

"None of your business," Harry bit off the words, and then ground out a, "please." but only because he'd seen the anger flash in Draco's eyes. He briefly wondered if Draco had anything to do with Narcissa trying to take the Black fortune back. It could be. Draco *was* acting completely different than the other Volaticus'. Sirius had warned him to watch for that, in case it was some kind of trap for Voldemort. His eyes narrowed at that thought and he felt the rage bubbling up inside him. That would explain why Draco didn't seem to be as attracted to him as the other two. He was seeing red and he shrugged nonchalantly, turning to stomp off. He would just sit outside the damned door and wait. He paused at the Gryffindor table, telling Ron where he was going (just in case it was a trap in itself) but that he wanted to go alone, for Sirius. Ron nodded stiffly, glaring at Hermione who was trying to tell Harry something but being ignored.

With that, Harry grabbed a scone and an apple and left, his robes fluttering behind him. When he came to Lucius' door, a portrait of a black knight, he'd beat on the frame and yelled and had fits, taking his frustration out on the portrait (who actually ignored him) before slumping onto the floor in front of it to wait. He wanted to cry but he wouldn't. Draco was probably a Death Eater, just like Lucius. He couldn't believe he'd been attracted to the blonde, or that he'd enjoyed the kiss. He sat there, thinking it over, even chewing his food aggressively, just glaring at the portrait. It continued to ignore him and he marvelled at how much it's personality was as cold as the person who resided there.

Harry was so angry that he didn't notice when Draco had came to sit next to him until he spoke,

"Harry... you really hurt my feelings." Harry nearly jumped out of his skin, brandishing his wand at his company. He relaxed a bit when he saw that it was Draco but didn't put his wand up. Draco just shrugged and stood, walking over to the portait.

"Familia," he said, bowing a bit to the knight and the portrait swung open. Lucius was quickly standing in the doorway, looking at them both curiously. Draco spoke first, "Harry needs to speak with you, Father. I will be returning to my rooms for the night, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Draco." Lucius replied, watching his son go and scowling slightly at the off key behavior.

"Mr. Malfoy, my godfather is Sirius Black. He has written me a letter that I received this morning. I forgot all about it because of all the Volaticus commotion throughout the day but he did ask me to speak to you. It seems Narcissa is trying to regain her rights to the Black family fortune. I believe his exact words were for me to tell you, to tell her to 'kindly sod off'. I think, by the tone of the letter, that he thinks you don't know, but should. So there you are."

"Thank you, Harry. I did not know. Of course she would do something like that, Sirius can not very well come forward and defend himself can he? She's probably planning for a divorce, in all honesty. I believe Dumbledore was going to speak to you about all this business, I assume he has not?" Lucius replied, turning to glance at where his son had just disappeared. Harry shook his head, quite frankly he didn't care. Draco's feelings were not important right now.

"Sir, may I speak bluntly?" Harry asked. Lucius looked at him, a bit surprised before nodding curtly. Ever the aristrocrat. "Is Draco a Death Eater? How am I supposed to have a relationship with him with Voldemort around?" Harry hadn't meant to say it like that, he'd meant to be a bit more diplomatic but it had just came out, his temper flaring.

"I suppose you don't want to step inside?" Lucius offered, gesturing toward the door. Harry shook his head, hell no he wasn't going in there. Lucius nodded, "I had thought so. Now, allow *me* to speak bluntly Mr. Potter- in defense of *my* child and *your* Volaticus. All this business with the other two is ridiculous, though I know that Draco and myself appreciate the effort to follow tradition. We are a very traditional family. *You* must take control of the situation, that is your job. Now, let me tell you a bit about my son. The only real friend he has ever had would be my godson and second heir to the Malfoy properties and fortune, Blaise Zabini. In him you can entrust anything to do with Draco. They are brothers, two parts of the same soul. Much like you and that Weasley boy I suppose, though a bit more... shall we say, Slytherin. My son has never wanted for anything, ever. Especially not friends. He was perfectly content with just Blaise and myself, for the rest of his life. Of course he had little followers but he never payed them any mind. He is a loner by nature, perferring only mine and Blaise's company. I nearly died of shock when he told me he had offered you his friendship. I saw him speaking to you the day you two first met and I knew then that he had inherited the Volaticus gene from myself, and that you were his amesouer. I was trying to find a way out of Voldemort's circle when this happened, not yet having received my Dark Mark. I knew who you were, when Draco did not. So I stayed. I fought and I've done some terrible things. I still do not like muggles, and never will. I do not pretend to be a saint, Potter. However, I do care for my son. He cares for you. Therefore, I will be here. I will place my own name on your head. For *his* happiness. I can not return to Voldemort's side now. He would kill me. Rip the wings from my body. Who was it, do you think, that sent Dobby to you? That was me. For Draco. He has always been drawn to you. You hurt him, as he is hurt now. By denying his friendship. Now you question his loyalty to you. He has had multiple chances to turn you over, Mr. Potter, you should be ashamed. I heard, from Mr. Nott, what you said to him after the Potions incident. In our world, you degraded him terribly for doing what he is meant to do- protect you. I would be willing to bet half my properties that you did not even notice that he was wounded in the explosion, blocking you. So to answer your question, no, Draco is not a Death Eater. He never would betray you in such a manner. Draco is one of the few souls in this world who could not care less if you are the boy who lived. Consider that Mr. Potter, consider the burning longing and pull he has felt toward you and pushed back for your happiness. To be a proper Malfoy gentleman. I thank you and your godfather for your warning of Narcissa, good day!" Lucius finished, turning and closing the portrait behind him.

Harry walked back to the Gryffindor common rooms in shock. A thorough tongue lashing from Lucius Malfoy could really make you feel low. He'd wondered before if Lucius has ever hit Draco and now he realized that he wouldn't have had to. He made a brief stop by Dumbledore's office which only made him more miserable, the Headmaster confirming what Lucius had said and how they would be staying at Hogwarts over the upcoming summer holidays. Draco followed Harry and Lucius followed Draco, as it had really always been. Harry had merely nodded, and began trudging back to the common room, dragging his feet behind him but keeping a careful eye out for Seamus or Nott.

He needn't worry though, because Seamus and the others were waiting for him when he got back. Sitting in the common room alone, talking in hushed whispers. Of course, those stopped when he entered the room.

"Hey, Harry, you okay?" Ron asked, carefully watching the portrait close behind Harry, making sure he was alone. Hermione and Ginny retreated to the girls rooms. Harry nodded at Ron, collapsing into the chair beside his best friend. "Listen, Harry, whatever you want- I'm here for you. You're my best mate and brother. If you want to tell all these winged fools to sod off and go frollicking through the Forbidden Forrest, I shall frollick with you. I just want you to know that." he said, turning bright red and looking rather awkward. Harry remembered what Lucius said.

"According to the chief Volaticus out there- Lucius- you and I are a part of the same soul- that sort of makes us real brothers. Thank you, Ron." Harry replied, glancing at Seamus who was now layed out on the couch, pretending not to listen, and staring at the ceiling. Ron beamed back at him, a genuine Weasley smile.

"Because we are! Just ask any of the others, or Ginny. Even Mum and Dad. You're the little Weasley that couldn't grow red hair!" Ron joked, laughing. Harry laughed at that. Molly certainly did treat him as one of her own, his substitute mum. He loved her for it and wondered if she knew about the soul mate business. How would she react to Draco? To Seamus? If she knew, they'd all probably getting a Molly Weasley Howler sometime soon... though probably not Draco. That was apparently Harry's fault.

"You red headed gits are the best," Harry replied, smiling. Ron nodded,

"Of course we are. Gryffindor colors, Harry. I'm off to bed now, I actually have classes tomorrow unlike you."

"I have Divination!" Harry protested.

"Yes, after lunch. I said 'classes'." Ron retorted, retreating up the stairs with a laugh. He paused at the top, "Seamus! Don't bloody make me come down there!" Seamus just nodded absently, acknowledging the promise. A promise because Ron didn't make threats when it concerned Harry, everyone knew that.

"You okay, Harry?" Seamus asked, rolling over to watch him. Harry shrugged,

"I just got a tongue lashing from Lucius Malfoy, I'm still trying to thaw out." Harry replied, smirking.

"Listen, Harry, I'm sorry. I really am, we both know I'm a horn dog anyway... this Volaticus stuff is hard to handle, I don't know how Malfoy handles it so cooly. It's like he's not attracted to you at all," he said, his eyes wide with apology.

"Seamus, is that what it is? Sex?" Harry asked, ignoring the sting at his words. Seamus nodded.

"That's a lot of it, mate, a pure urge to bond. We just recognize that we're connected and that's what it leads to. We're supposed to remain collected, traditional. You know me, I've never been good at that. Nott and his whole family has always just taken what they wanted, so that explains him. Malfoy, though? Harry, are you sure he's even one of us?"

"I'm not sure of anything anymore, Seamus." Harry said, gazing into the fire.

"I'd like to kiss you, Harry," Seamus said, bluntly. He moved across the room to sit in the same chair, "I really do think we'd be good together. You're the Boy Who Lived, and I'm a Gryffindor through and through. We just flow together, you know?" Harry shook his head, he really had no inkling to kiss Seamus. Though, he figured, he might as well try it. Then he'd know for sure. Afterall, Draco was a completely different person than what he though. Maybe Seamus was too. Maybe Seamus had a point, how could it work between him and Draco? Was the blonde not attracted to him at all? He shrugged, thinking he might as well try, and leaned forward to kiss the Irishman.

Of course, getting his way, Seamus went too far- too fast. Because that was Seamus, that's how he was. One of his hands tangled in Harry's hair, the other reaching down to rub Harry's member. His wings unfurled around them and stroked Harry's face. Soft. Not silk, but soft. He panicked, every warning bell in his being going off in unison. Loudly. Seamus groaned and Harry shot away from him, up the stairs. He dove onto his bed, ignoring Ron's questioning gaze and flung the curtains shut.

Seamus soon followed, Harry wasn't sure how much time had passed. Though he could hear that everyone was now asleep, all except Seamus who was just pretending to be asleep. After that many years together, Harry knew when he was pretending. He tried to calm himself, laying there, but he couldn't. What was Seamus waiting for? For him to fall asleep? He didn't like that at all and it just made him more uncomfortable. He'd never felt so unsafe in that bed, in all his years at Hogwarts. He had to get out, sleep somewhere else. But where was safe? Lucius was too close to the Room of Requirement, Filch stayed over there now, and Harry wasn't sure where his Marauder's map was. THe little gut feeling he always trusted was telling him to get out- but what if Nott was out there? The little feeling tugged at him, like it had when he'd first seen Draco in the Hospital Wing. Draco. No one could get into Draco's rooms. Nor would they be able to hurt him with the blonde keeping watch. That was definitely safe, just thinking about it made him feel better. Grabbing his favorite pillow, Harry lept from the bed and raced out of the boys rooms, and out of Gryffindor Tower. He didn't even bother putting his shoes on. Seamus was still awake after all.

Harry raced blindly down the halls, having no idea why he was so afraid now, just knowing that he was. He nearly toppled Blaise over, racing around a corner.

"Potter! It's past curfew, what are you doing?!" he snapped, righting his robes quickly.

"I- I had to get out of there... what are *you* doing out past curfew?" Harry retorted. Blaise flashed his prefect badge.

"My rounds, obviously." he said scathingly. Then, noticing the disheveled look Harry had and that he was missing his shoes, he brandished his wand- pointing it into all the dark corners, "are you being chased Potter?" he asked, suspiciously. Harry smiled, remembering what Lucius said, 'In him you can entrust anything to do with Draco'.

"No, I'm not being chased, Blaise. I think... I think I'm bloody falling for Draco Malfoy. I don't know, I just need to feel like I'm not being stalked."

"Then, go. He's in his rooms, was pouting but he's probably asleep now."

"I don't care," Harry called back over his shoulder, racing off. Blaise just shook his head, dreadlocks sliding around like snakes around his shoulders.